Chapter Forty Four

"Third shift sucks." Naruto muttered as his eyes burned inside his skull bone, his brain throbbed in pain from lack of sleep and selfcare. Team seven accompanied along with Kakashi piled into the compact elevator of their apartment building. The team had finished their shift of guard duty on the gates of the leaf village, there was a high rush of missions into the village so now many of their shinobi were deployed.

Team seven and others had been working around the clock to make sure the protection of their precious home never slacked. Kakashi attached onto their squad making it a five manned team in order to pull the doubles.

Naruto's belly grumped with contempt causing him to groan out, he needed food and sleep before the village meeting today! The meeting was about the new restrictions on how many shinobi can leave the village at once. Naruto didn't understand why the meeting would be called for today, when over half the shinobi weren't even inside the village to attend it!

Tsunade was not pleased so many ninjas were able to leave the village without anyone noticing how big of a problem this would bring until it presented itself.

Kakashi checked his phone once more, anger bubbled his blood not seeing a reply waiting to greet him after a long shift. The silver haired shinobi was feeling gravity weigh on his shoulders and his lower back tensed up.

Three long weeks without her touch, without her inside his arms and with the lack of sleep piling onto his shoulders, it was too much for Kakashi to bare. He needed to see her, he needed to hear Sakura's voice.

Kakashi quickly texted her phone number as the elevator opened its doors, he threatened to travel back to the waterfall village again if she didn't reply. Kakashi would make that horrid trip if it meant he got to see her again, he fully believed just one touch, one word from those beautiful lips of hers would calm the storm raging inside his chest.

Kakashi wasn't quite sure what happened the last day he was with her, they had breakfast together and then she got dressed in her gear claiming she had to get to the river village for some reasoning she wouldn't tell him. She used the fact Kakashi couldn't remain outside the leaf village much longer without being marked rogue to drop him off home without so much as a hug or wave goodbye.

What scorched Kakashi to his bones even more than the cold shoulder was the fact he knew Itachi was by her side and he wasn't.

Carver puckered his lips watching Kakashi's hard gaze on his phone, he had been snappy lately, it was clear as a sunny day the reasoning behind his attitude. Carver hadn't heard much from Sakura in the past weeks, he figured she was busy doing whatever a commander does. Carver didn't want Kakashi's famous death glare turned onto him, so he kept his mouth shut about the topic.

Kakashi's heart quickly fluttered in his chest, seeing her name unexpectedly pop onto the screen. Without any thought he opened her text message, feeling starved of her attention: 'I am in the village.'

Kakashi snapped his eyes to his apartment door walking into view. Sakura was here? He quickened his pace; he couldn't wait to get his arms around her. He had a hundred things going through his head that he wanted to do with her as he quickly began to unlock his front door. His hand wouldn't stop trembling from the excitement numbing his fingers.

Kakashi was going to punish her for the bad behavior, he was determined he warned her while he stayed inside her house, but she relapsed quickly and ghosted him without so much as a warning to prepare him. Kakashi had envisioned every steamy little detail he was going to do to her when he slipped his arms around her again.

"What in the seven hells in this?!" Kakashi looked over hearing Raiden's annoyed voice. "That is my cereal!" Kakashi moved to gaze into the rowdy shinobi's apartment, his heart dropped seeing her signature hair color.

Sakura leaned over the little bar eating a bowl of cereal leaning on her arm watching the team move into the apartment. To Kakashi's dismay, Dawn and Diem were also inside the apartment sitting on the couch watching TV looking like they were killing time.

"What are you guys doing here?" Carver asked kicking off the shoes off his sore feet.

"Don't know." Sakura answered eating another spoonful.

"You don't know something?" Carver laughed looking over at Dawn and Diem who shrugged, they knew just as much as Sakura did.

"It doesn't happen often, but it does happen." Diem yawned, "For once we know about as much as you all do."

"Rude." Raiden muttered as Kakashi moved towards Sakura, his eye was locked on her as she ate watching the people sitting around the living room.

"Who called you here?" Carver asked.

Sasuke trotted the kitchen moving past Kakashi to get juice from the fridge. He turned and stopped staring at Sakura as she leaned over the counter. Sasuke tilted his head as his eyes scanned over the plump peach. Kakashi deepened his glare onto the raven-haired man as he checked out Commander Haruno.

Sakura was half listening to everyone when her phone beeped, she looked over and pulled her eyebrows together seeing Kakashi's name pop onto the screen, she tapped the message open: 'If you don't stop leaning over that counter, I'll bend you over and show everyone in this room who your boss truly is.'

Sakura pulled her lips together; her heart fluttered the delightful butterflies rolled down into her lower abdomen stirring up lustful wishes for Kakashi to act on his threat. But Sakura found herself obeying to his command as she stood from leaning over the counter, Kakashi smirked under his mask as Sasuke lost his free show.

"Tsunade." Sakura answered Carver's question putting her used bowl into the sink, she could feel Kakashi's eyes burning her back.

"Granny called you here?" Naruto yawned.

"Yes." Sakura answered.

"Why?"

"Don't know." Sakura repeated. "Our meeting with her is soon."

"So, you're here for just a meeting?" Raiden asked Sakura looking at Dawn and Diem.

"Yes." Sakura said.

"So, are you three coming back from like a battle or...?" Raiden pursed his lips looking at the pinkette.

"No." Sakura replied.

"Are you headed to one after this?" Carver wondered,

"No?" Sakura laughed, "Believe it or not we do more things than just going fight to fight."

"Since when?" Carver asked,

"I evolved." Sakura shot back.

"Now you do it?" Raiden scoffed, "You couldn't have done that while we still worked for you?!"

"Nope." Sakura smirked.

"Why are you two here then?" Carver turned to the two commanders on the couch, the truth was Sakura only brought them because she knew they had been missing Carver and Raiden.

"I thought they could use some fresh air." Sakura answered for them.

"How--Wouldn't the Waterfall Village have fresher air since there is more vegetation there?" Carver thought out loud.

Diem's lips parted about to shoot a snarky comment until the toilet flushing caused everyone to turn to the bathroom. Carver and Raiden looked at each other and then to Sakura.

"Who the fuck else did you bring?" Carver asked,

"Are you bringing your entire village to our place now!?" Raiden added, Sakura simply sat on one of the bar stools.

"I brought a present." Sakura said.

"Oh!" Raiden perked, "Why didn't you lead with that!?"

"It isn't for you." Diem rolled his eyes.

"What the fuck then!?" Raiden threw his hands up in the air, "This is a community center now?"

The bathroom door opened; a relaxed Itachi walked out into the living room. Sakura almost laughed at the thick silence that settled itself inside the room. Carver looked from Sakura to Itachi with an open mouth.

"Itachi?" Sasuke breathed breaking the shell of silence, Itachi grinned seeing his little brothers stunned face. "I-I killed you-" Sasuke shook his head feeling a cold sweat soak is body, believing this to be another dream. "-you're supposed to be dead."

"Clearly that didn't stick." Carver muttered as he turned to Sakura, "What-"

"He was under the Reaper's control." Sakura answered reading the question in Carver's confused expression.

"Yup!" Diem yawned, stretching his arms above his head. "They tried to use Itachi to bring us down but failed."

"Really?" Carver breathed looking at Itachi's foreign face, it felt surreal after all this time to see him standing only feet away. Carver remembered the day he and his team buried Itachi six feet into the earth, he recalled the pain of carving his name into his gravestone. "It's good to see you." Carver breathed as he stood.

"You look so different!" Itachi laughed as he hugged Carver.

"Well yeah!" Raiden chirped, "It has been years! We are not babies anymore!"

"I can see that." Itachi looked between the two soldiers. "I never once thought you two would settle down inside a village again."

"Neither did we." Raiden laughed,

"Yeah." Carver nodded, "Didn't know we were the type."

Sasuke stood frozen in place staring at his elder brother, his chest squeezed tight almost making it difficult for him to breathe.

"Itachi?" Sasuke repeated,

"Why is this so shocking?" Dawn wondered, "Your sensei died and came back, so did like how many leaf shinobi?"

"Yeah." Diem agreed, "This really shouldn't be anything new." He finished with a laugh.

"This is different." Sakura said, Kakashi's exposed eye locked on her as he sat in the free stool beside the grounded commander.

"Yeah-Yeah." Diem waved.

"Itachi!" Sasuke cried, tears spilled over as he ran into his elder brother's arms. Itachi laughed as he hugged Sasuke back.

"I'm right here."

"But I-"

"But now I am back." Itachi responded. "It's all going to be ok now."

"I'm so sorry!"

"I forgave you a long time ago." Itachi smiled, "Please stop crying."

"I'm not crying!" Sasuke snapped, salty tears spilled over the edges of his eyes as he pulled from his brother's grasp. "I am looking at my dead brother, who I killed! I am going to be a little stunned!" Sasuke snapped at the room full of eyes that watched him in his rare vulnerable moment.

"I suppose so." Itachi agreed.

"You five are going to be late." Sakura grinned.

"Huh?" Naruto turned to look at her, "Aw the meeting!" He whined, he never got a chance to eat or even take a nap!

"Forget the meeting-" Raiden said gesturing to Itachi, their dead friend had just returned! Who cares about a stupid meeting now!?

"Isn't it mandatory?" Sakura wondered,

"How the hell do you know that?" Carver wondered.

"I know everything." Sakura smirked.

"But-"

"How about you take Itachi with you?" Sakura cut Raiden off, "Let him see the village after all these years, you get to your meeting and everyone wins."

"What's in it for you?" Carver asked feeling this was oddly to easy.

"Nothing." Sakura shrugged. "I'm stuck here until I speak with Tsunade."

"About what?" Carver wanted to know.

"I don't know." Sakura shrugged.

"Bullshit."

"What is the punishment if your late to the meeting?" Sakura asked.

"I hate you." Carver said, "You know that right?"

"You love me like a shot of whiskey." Sakura rolled her eyes, "Get going."

"Fine!" Carver said, playfully throwing his hands in the air. "Are you at least going to be here when we get back?"

"Are you going to bring me food?" Sakura counted.

"Maybe."

"Then maybe I'll be here."

"Alright then."

"Alright." Sakura smiled as Carver followed everyone out of the room, Kakashi didn't move as Sakura turned to her two commanders. "You two as well."

"Ugh!" Diem groaned; Sakura agreed with Tsunade when she got called here to lend out her two commanders to stand watch as the leaf shinobi are all collected, so the leaf village would not be exposed and open to attack.

"There better be so much food when we get back!" Diem grumbled following Dawn out of the apartment.

"That is all Carver." Sakura joked as the door shut, once it was closed, she turned her head but was thrown off the stool. Sakura smiled, feeling Kakashi slammed her against the wall, his hand behind her head protecting it from a concussion. "I see you have missed me." Sakura dangerously commented staring into his swirling lust filled orb.

P.O.V. Sasuke Uchiha

I stared at Itachi feeling foggy, like I was walking around inside a hollow dream of mine. I couldn't believe I was standing beside him again, after all these twisted years of painful memories and hatred between us. After I ended his life and then discovered the gritty truth, here he stood before me with a beating heart, a pair of breathing lungs and a smile on his face.

Itachi appeared to be how I remembered him on the day I killed him. It felt as if fate had somehow sealed him away inside a time capsule and finally delivered him back to me as my second chance inside the leaf village was beginning to look clear. I was on team seven with Naruto, I had a nice home to return to at the end of the day. After all these years Sakura was alive and now finally my brother was too...

I tilted my head staring at his face as we wait inside the arena. Shikaku Nara the head of the jonin department was taking the floor as he began to speak, but I didn't care about him I just stared at Itachi's face. He still held his fair complexion I remembered; he had our matching onyx eyes under which had long pronounced tear-troughs he inherited from our father. His jet-black hair was pulled back in a low ponytail while his face was framed with bangs.

I had forgotten how similar Itachi and I were in appearance, I smiled to myself as I turned to the lecture below on the ground floor of the arena. Itachi and I could run this village and steal all the women's hearts.

I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned at that thought, I didn't want the countless woman inside the leaf village or any other village for that matter. I wanted the only one who wanted absolutely nothing to do with me.

"Are you alright?" Itachi questioned me again.

"Yes." I muttered quickly scrambling to fix my piqued face, I felt my face blush under his gaze. Itachi and I sat a few rows behind the group that made up my team and most of my acquaintances.

"You have grown strong." Itachi commented after a moment, "I am proud of you Sasuke." Itachi grinned causing my face to heat.

"I-I don't--thank you..." I muttered looking at my feet.

The truth about my brother and his heroic sacrifice flooded the villages after his death thanks to Naruto, everyone knew about what he had done for our village. Everyone was watching him with wide shocked eyes, I didn't understand the looks

We just had eight of our own dead shinobi return to us, why was Itachi any different?

Many people as we made our way here came up and thanked him, shook his hand and questioned if he was here to stay. His paused smile had me puzzled, where else would he want to be than right here inside the place he died to protect? I was the only family he had in this world; he should want to be here with me.

"How long have you been back?" I wondered, he didn't appear to be stiff like Kakashi and the others were when they returned from the reapers control.

"A couple weeks."

"W-Weeks!?" I shouted turning to face him. "What--Where the hell have you been all this time!?"

"Inside the Waterfall Village." Itachi answered so casually.

"What, why?!"

"Because-" Itachi chuckled, "-I had just returned from the dead, I was out of my mind and needed time to adjust."

"You couldn't adjust here?" I snapped.

"I was safe-"

"That place is the farthest thing from safe-"

"Sasuke." Itachi's voice was soothing as he spoke to me. "I was completely safe under Sakura's care-"

"You were...You were with Sakura?"

"Yes, she was the one after all who freed me from being under the reapers possession."

"But then why didn't she bring you here?" I questioned.

"I needed time." He shrugged.

"Time for what?"

"To understand."

"Understand what?!" I felt the muscles in my shoulders tense from feeling flustered!

"That I had died but was returned and given a second chance at life. When I came to...my head was spinning, I found out the team I had grown so fond of before dying had all fallen in battle. I needed time to morn their deaths and adjust to being alive."

"You could have done that here."

"You wouldn't have understood."

"But Sakura would have?"

"She does, and she did."

"How?"

"Because she knew them." Itachi smiled, "She hired those people she had to bury, she trained them, and she loved them as she made them her family; just as I did."

"I am your family."

"You are."

"Those people-"

"You don't need blood to be family." I could feel Itachi was trying to teach me a lesson, but I didn't need it.

"I know." I muttered looking at the back of Naruto's blond head.

"So-" Itachi grinned.

"Huh?" I frowned seeing the sly smile of his face.

"Is there anyone special in your life yet?" Itachi wiggled his eyebrows.

"Wh-What?" I muttered looking away from him, her glaring green eyes reflected themselves inside my mind. "No..."

"Are you sure?" Itachi teased me, "It doesn't sound like you-"

"Maybe...I don't know." I snapped wanting this conversation to end.

"How don't you know?"

"She doesn't live inside the village."

"Oh? Well that doesn't necessarily mean you can't be with her." Itachi smiled at me,

"She is in love with another man."

"O-Oh..."

"And she doesn't like me very much."

"Who...Who is this girl?" Itachi wondered,

"Commander Haruno-" I answered turning to look at him. "-of the Waterfall Village." Itachi and I stared at each other for a long second, I smiled at him. "You were her teammate, right?"

"Y-Yes."

"You think you could get her to come around to liking me?" I wondered, "I don't know what else to do."

"You said she was in love with another man?" Itachi questioned.

"Yeah!" I darkly laughed, "A dead one!"

"A dead one?"

"She was with Kakashi Hatake for a while, but then he died and came back kind of like you, but he didn't remember being with her."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I think I maybe have a shot at getting her attention now." I smiled to myself. "Once she realizes Kakashi-"

"He was inside her village." Itachi cut me off,

"What?" My heart soured over.

"Kakashi, he showed up at her house." Itachi clarified.

"How-Why-When-?" My circled the drain.

"I don't know, a couple weeks ago possibly. I asked him what he was doing around the Waterfall Village and all he said was he was on vacation-where are you going!?" Itachi yelled I jumped up from my seat.

"I have to go!" I called over my shoulder. I ran out of the arena at full speed, I thought I had more time! I was more of an idiot than Naruto was! I should have known when Kakashi just vanished for two weeks without any word he was going to her. I thought...I thought he didn't want to be with her, since she was once a student of his. How could I have been so stupid!?

Sakura was...she was the only thing in this world that could leave me speechless. When she looks at me with those eyes of hers, I just want to fall to pieces. I thought now that Kakashi believed it was wrong for a student and sensei to be together, I would have more time to win her over; clearly, I was wrong.

I dashed through the leaf village in search for the woman with long pink hair. I prayed she and her two commanders hadn't taken off back to their home just yet. I needed to talk with Sakura, I needed to see her and tell her how I felt.

Sakura or her commanders were not inside the Hokage Tower like I had thought they would have been. I growled inside my chest as I turned and headed to the only other place, I knew she would be.

I didn't knock on the door; I just twisted the doorknob open and stormed in. My heart fluttered seeing her sitting on his couch, she was leaning on her arm lazily watching the television screen. The moment her eyes found me I wanted to melt into the wooden floor.

"Sasuke?" My name never sounded so sexy, she can turn me on by just the sound of her voice.

"Sakura." I breathed closing the door to Kakashi's apartment, I scanned the area not seeing him. Could Kakashi possibly be inside the shinobi meeting where I was supposed to be?

"That is my name." Sakura muttered looking at with a dulled expression over that gorgeous face.

"I-" I realized I had no idea what to say.

"You?" Sakura trailed off, "Where is your brother?"

"He is still at the meeting I think."

"You think?" Sakura questioned, "You just left him alone?"

"I-"

"Do you care to say more than just that?" Sakura snapped.

"I'm sorry." I found words.

"Ok." Sakura shrugged as if I had said nothing at all.

"What?"

"You can go now." Sakura said,

"But-"

"Shouldn't you be at the meeting?" Sakura wondered.

"Yes." I sighed, "But I wanted to find you."

"I would prefer if you didn't." Sakura muttered, "Get to your meeting before-"

"I said I am sorry." I repeated.

"And?"

"What do you mean 'and'?" I scoffed.

"Do you want a cookie for that?"

"Sakura-" I stepped closer to her. "-I was such a fool-"

"Yeah." Sakura agreed cutting me off making me smile.

"-I could never admit to when I was in the wrong, I could never apologize for when I hurt someone and...I just want to say I am sorry."

"For?"

"The way I treated you when we were kids."

"Really?"

"Yes." I breathed. "I should have said this years ago, I never should have left you on that bench and I should never have brushed you off like I did."

"Mmm." Sakura hummed, still leaning on her arm watching me. "Why now?"

"What?"

"Why now?" She repeated,

"What do you-"

"Why do you feel the need to apologize to me now after all these years?"

"Because..."

"Because?" Sakura trailed on, "Because I returned from being declared dead as a Commander and not as the weak little girl you knew?"

"No, I...I wanted to--I just..."

"Either spit it out or leave!" Sakura snapped sounding irritated.

"You!" I shouted, "It was you, just one look from your eyes stops me cold in my tracks and I am left scrambling to figure out what to say next, but I always come up so empty handed when it comes to talking with you."

"Did you read that off a website?"

"No." I shook my head. "I have cared for you for so long, you and Naruto were the reasons I left the Leaf Village-"

"So, your blaming us now?"

"No! I just...I realized I was becoming attached and that would have made me weak but now that I have learnt that I was stupid for thinking that I can't find words to express how badly my heart burnt when I laid flowers down on your grave-"

"Aw." Sakura tilted her head. "You poor thing, do you want me to get you some tissues and a tampon?"

"Sakura, I am being ser-"

"And I am not buying it." She smirked leaning against the couch.

"When I was younger all I cared about was my clan and getting revenge. I didn't care how dirty I needed to make my hands or how far I had to go to reach my goals. I didn't even realize how filled with darkness I was. I didn't feel the demons that danced behind my eyes and I truly never thought I could love someone; I believed my life ended the day Itachi slaughtered my clan."

"Is there a point in any of this?" Sakura sighed.

"You were never afraid of what was lurking inside of me-"

"No one was ever afraid of you." Sakura laughed, "You give yourself way too much credit."

"Maybe your right, but I am just trying to get you to understand-"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do I need to understand your point of view for your actions?" Sakura voice was silky smooth as her eyes scorched me.

"Because I love you." I breathed, Sakura and I locked eyes for so long I felt my leg twitch. I wanted to walk up to her, I wanted to wrap my arms around her like I seen him do hundreds of times and I wanted to feel her lips against mine.

"That-" Sakura smiled as she rose to her feet off the couch. "-is the biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard-" She laughed; my mouth dropped open as she shook her head.

"Sakura-"

"You weren't interested in me until I made something of myself." Sakura said, "That's the only reason your barking up my tree. You can leave now."

"I am not leaving." I stepped forward following her into the kitchen, she went to the open the fridge, but I slammed it shut. "You're not listening."

"You're the one not listening."

"I know I broke all your trust in me, but-"

"If you know that then why are we having this conversation?" Sakura turned to face me, annoyed I blocked her from the soda sitting inside the refrigerator.

"Because I want a second chance." I answered, she scoffed at me.

"I don't do second chances."

"I hear something different." I accused.

"What does that mean?"

"Kakashi's vacation was inside the Waterfall Village."

"So, what if it was?" She shrugged, "That has nothing to do with you."

"He basically disowned you!" I shouted, throwing my arms up in the air. "He claimed you as his student and that your relationship was disgusting and yet your sleeping with him again!?"

"Like I said-" Her voice was steady but her eyes here igniting, "-that has nothing to do with you."

"You gave him a second chance-"

"He died in battle protecting his village and the people he loves." She snapped at me. "He didn't run off like a fucking twat in some monopoly scheme in order to get power."

"I made my mistakes in life, I am still trying to right those wrongs but if you give me a chance Sakura, I can make you happy-"

"I don't need you to make me happy." She said turning to walk away from me.

"Don't walk away from me!" I grabbed her arm; I saw her flinch in pain as I twisted her back around to face me. I saw the anger trace her facial features; my brain fogged over as I felt my body move in front of her. I grabbed her neck, pushing her against the kitchen wall as I forced my leg in between hers.

"I am going to kill you." She breathed; I could hear the pain in her voice as she glared into my eyes. I leaned against her injured side, putting pressure on her open wound keeping her inside my grasp.

"Please listen to me." I found myself begging. "I can't go back to standing on the sidelines watching you like I have been-"

"Oh-" Sakura laughed. "-that's not an unsettling thought."

"You're going to hear me out!" I snapped gripping her neck tighter blocking her sarcastic comments from sliding out. I licked my lips as my eyes scanned over her lips, they were so soft and plump. Every desire inside my body urged me to lean in, I felt my eyes slowly close as I bent forward.

I pictured this moment a thousand times inside my head, my heart fluttered sending flying butterflies into my stomach. This was the first time I ever felt this towards another woman, Sakura was the only person to make me feel-my thoughts were cut off by the head as I felt a tight hand grip the back of my shirt. I was pulled back with such ease, almost like I was a rag doll. My brain couldn't register what had happened until I was laying on my back staring up at the ceiling.

I blinked a few times as my soul entered my body I slowly sat up, I was thrown against the front wall, a large hole that size of my body rested behind me. I blinked; I didn't feel any pain as I rose to my feet looking back towards the kitchen. My breath hitched in my throat as I saw Kakashi standing in between Sakura and myself, he stood before me wearing his baggy black pants and only a mask. His silver hair was damp, telling me he had been in the shower and not at the shinobi meeting like I had inspected.

"What are you doing Sasuke?" He questioned me. "That is no way to treat a lady."

"I-" I couldn't take my eyes away from Kakashi's body, I never in a million years expected him to be so fit. He was bigger than me, his muscles were more defined as he turned and spoke to Sakura. I moved forward; I wasn't finished talking to her.

"No." He turned to me. "Leave my apartment."

"I am not done talking-"

"I said you were."

"You're not her-"

"She isn't yours to touch." Kakashi's voice was cold and his exposed eye was hard as he looked at me.

"And she is yours?" I glared as I balled my fists.

"Yes." Kakashi nodded, my heart froze inside my chest stopping my blood from coursing inside my body.

"N-No-" The front door slammed open allowing Carver, Raiden and Naruto to come running in.

"What is going on!?" Naruto yelled looking around.

"Huh?" Raiden looked around. "What um...what did we miss?" Raiden went to look at the broken wall.

"Damn Kakashi!" Carver laughed moving to stand beside him. "Look at you!"

"Hm?" He hummed.

"Your cut!"

"I am what?" Kakashi questioned.

"It means...ah never mind." Carver shook his head turning to look at Sakura, Kakashi was placing an ice pack on her neck as Naruto stood beside her looking panicked.

"So, what fun did we miss today?" Carver turned to me.

"Sasuke you choked Sakura!?" Naruto yelled snapping his big blue innocent eyes onto me. I sighed rolling mine as everyone turned their attention to me.

"I-"

"What the hell Sasuke!?" Naruto shouted, "You could have reopened her stitches!"

"She is fine." I sighed.

"How do you know that?" Kakashi turned to me. "You're not a doctor, you don't know if you did any damage we can't see."

"She is fine-"

"It wasn't your place to put your hands on her." Kakashi's voice sent chills over my arms, it annoyed me how even after all these years some piece of me still holds him in high regard and I hated when he was disappointed in me. After my family were all taken away, Kakashi was the closest thing to a father refigure I had.

"I-I wasn't thinking-"

"If you place your hands on her again, I will do more than simply put you through a wall." Kakashi threatened, I looked away from him and to the floor.

"Wait...?" Raiden called out, "Are you two-" He pointed to Sakura, "-a thing again or..." Kakashi turned to Sakura who was leaning against the wall holding an ice pack against her soft neck.

"Yes." Kakashi answered looking into Sakura eyes, after that word left his mouth, she smiled looking away from him. I felt my chest bubble with rage, this wasn't fair! Kakashi was her sensei their relationship should not be allowed! Raiden whistled looking at Kakashi up and down, pulling the attention off me.

"I never thought you had that underneath all your clothes!" Raiden laughed, I felt my eye twitch, he didn't look that good. "Your build like a damn bookcase!"

"What does that even mean?" I muttered.

"How do you feel Sakura?" Naruto asked, I pulled my eyes to her. She tossed the icepack on the counter.

"I'm fine." She answered, I nodded. I knew she was Sakura is strong she is always fine.

"Your neck is ok though-?" Naruto went on questioning not letting this go. "-you were choked!"

"Yeah well..." Sakura smirked, "...he chokes me better." Sakura nodded towards Kakashi.

"W-What?!" Naruto's face turned bright red.

"Yes!" Raiden laughed.

"Ew." Carver shook his head. "I don't want to hear this."

"Well." Kakashi sighed, "I think that enough for one night."

"Aw come on!" Raiden whined, "It was just starting to get good."

"It's been a long day for everyone, I think its best if everyone gets some rest." Kakashi said.

"But-"

"Raiden-" Carver patted his shoulder, "-he is right. After all the man if half naked-"

"I highly doubt Kakashi cares." Raiden rolled his eyes. "Do you care that your half-"

"Out." Sakura pointed to the front door tired of the bickering. "You two were supposed to be spending time with my commanders. Where did you put them?"

"Oh yeah..." Carver trailed off. "...we will go fetch them." Carver waved turning on his heel as he dragged Raiden with him.

"Hinata will be over soon." Naruto yawned. "I better get going too."

"Your girlfriend spends the night with your parents living with you?"

"My parents got a house." Naruto grinned,

"Oh." Sakura nodded; she had been gone from the leaf village for so long, she had to of known a lot of things were bond to change.

"Yeah!" Naruto wrapped his arms behind his head. "They got a pretty nice house not too far from here. They wanted me to move in with them, but I couldn't move away from my team!"

"Yeah?" Sakura smiled at Naruto as he waved goodnight and left.

"Hey!" I protested as Naruto grabbed my arm taking me with him. "What gives?!"

"Sasuke..." Naruto sighed. "...it's late and-"

"I wasn't done talking to her-" I said turning to go back to Kakashi's apartment.

"It was pretty clear she was done talking to you." Naruto called out behind me.

"What?" I turned to face him.

"Sakura loves him Sasuke." Naruto sighed; his eyes pulled to the floor avoiding mine.

"He is her-"

"Kakashi is our sensei, he is not the one who trained the Reaper."

"But-"

"Sasuke she is happy, why can't that be enough for you?"

"Because he had his turn." I said.

"What?" Naruto laughed. "Kakashi died! He was taken from her-"

"I know!" I snapped, "I know all of this. It's just...it's not fair that he gets her!"

"He treats her good." Naruto said, reaching out and touching my arm trying to comfort me. "There is no doubt in my mind he will do everything in his power to protect her." I walked away from him and his annoying words. I closed and locked my door as I turned, I let out a deep breath I hadn't realized I was holding inside her presence.

I walked forward, kicking off my shoes and taking off my gear. After a quick shower and making a hot microwave meal I sat on my couch wondering where my brother was. He knew where I lived, I was sure he was fine.

"She isn't yours to touch." I closed my eyes hearing Kakashi's voice circling around inside my head taunting me. I glanced over in the direction of his apartment, she was so close to me and yet so far. I bit my jaw, he just declared her as his as if it was just that easy! My stomach rolled at the thought of her sleeping in his bed tonight, I tossed my dinner in front of me onto the coffee table.

I got up moving quickly into my bedroom hearing muffled voices. I moved towards the wall, pressing my hand against the painted foundation. I could hear her...she was inside his room.

My lungs squeezed; I opened my eyes feeling a need to gasp out for air. I felt an old familiar feeling creep out of my bones and taint my blood. That enraged anger that fueled me for years tensed the muscles in my arms feeling like pressure was building up inside my body. I shook my head trying to clear my thoughts, I moved from the wall and towards the bathroom.

Her eyes, those lips and the feeling of her neck under my hand. I growled low inside my throat as raged glowed inside my reflection. That bastard choked her, and she liked when he did it.

My fist tightened at the imagines of his hands trailing down her body and not mine. I raised my hand and punched against the wall of my bathroom, it felt good to release some of the pressure inside me. I pulled my arm back and punched the wall again, and again and then again as her glowing emerald orbs stared at me inside my brain.

I opened my eyes. I was panting, sweat coated my skin as I blinked seeing the multiple holes in the wall and my bloody hand. I turned from my own destruction inside my own apartment as I pulled my phone out and pulled up a phone number.

Her annoying blonde hair and blue eyes flashed through my mind; her high-pitched voice crawled over my skin, but I texted Ino to come over anyway.

Ino was one of my many girls that jumped at one of my texts and came over at any hour I wanted. I stared at the wall separating apartments.

Sakura would laugh in my face if I simply hit her up for sex. She held to much annoying self-respect to be an easy booty call.

I leaned my arms on my knees waiting for Ino to run here as I thought about Kakashi. He had to be crossing some line by dating a previous student, maybe a code of ethics or something.

No...Sakura was no longer a member of the leaf village and she was an adult; so even if I could get this issue brought up to Tsunade without anyone knowing it was me, it would be tossed out instantly. Maybe he would be kicked off the force as punishment.

All the years of training and guidance he had leant to me washed out the window as I felt a deep bitterness towards him, all because he had something I couldn't have.

So, now the question was, how could I bring Kakashi Hatake down?