Full Summary: On the third year after Sasuke left, Sakura and Naruto set out on a search and retrieval mission. After a meeting with Sasuke, things change and he has to team up with Naruto to save Sakura. Will Sakura's hope fade away to nothing? Will Sasuke finally come back home to the Leaf Village? Will he save her in time or will his brother get to her? Slight OOC and has Inner Sasuke. R&R

Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, I would be working on the next manga than write fanfictions, right? Besides, the plot is way too complicated for me to write!

Author's Note: Uh...hi? I'm a bit new at writing fanfictions, so go easy on the critizism, please! My first story on the site, so here's a bit of what I can do. Hope you like it!

Bold = Thinking

Bold/Italics = Inner

It's been exactly three years; I don't see why I bothered counting the days since he'd left...

I was watching the clouds, a trait I got from being around Shikamaru, Ino's current boyfriend, about to drift off into the past memories when an obnoxiously loud sound rang through the air. Birds took to the sky shading it with a burst of colors. It reminded me of Sai's paintings, he was getting better at adding emotion. Well, so much for cloud watching. But that sound was a little too familiar to my liking...

"SAKURA-CHAN!" screamed Naruto's unmistakable voice. That annoying knucklehead! My ears were ringing from the unexpected noise and I held my head in annoyance. I didn't understand why Hinata-chan liked him. I just wanted to shut out the world and think. I guess that's too much to ask, especially today…

I had hoped Naruto wouldn't come here; to Training Ground 7. This was where it all began; we became Team 7, the first Team that Kakashi-sensei passed. The place looked so untouched and unchanged, like it did back when we had that first bell test. We hadn't spent much time here after... he left us. Our last bell test had taken place further out and the area was put back to the way it was before. Sacred ground, our own special place. I wondered what would happen if we all sparred again. Would we rip the place apart? We've certainly become better shinobi…

"I'm here Naruto-kun!" I replied, trying to suppress the sadness in my voice.

"Hey! Sakura-chan, we've got a mission from Tsunade Baa-chan!" he blurted out. Naruto seemed pretty happy today. He's been happier ever since he started dating Hinata-chan about two months ago. Naruto did most of the talking in their relationship while Hinata listened to every word. I bet she's the only one who could spend more than fifteen minutes with him and not be annoyed. Opposites really do attract... I'm happy for them, and proud of Hinata-chan for finally admitting her feelings to Naruto. It seemed as though he forgot what today was… I wish he would just sit still and be quiet or maybe even talk slower for once.

Oh well… They don't call him the number one hyperactive, most unpredictable knucklehead ninja for nothing.

"I'll meet you there in a second Naruto-kun," I replied with a small fake smile, hoping he would think it was real. Who knew knowing Sai could be helpful? His fake smiles really do come in handy. I have to remember to thank him next time I see him. Well, I gave up trying to teach Naruto to show Lady Tsunade some respect a while back.

"Ok," he replied. "Just don't take too long, like you regularly do, Sakura-chan…" I heard him say the last bit under his breath. I guess he didn't hear the strain in my voice.

WAIT A SECOND, WHAT DID HE JUST SAY?

"Did you say something? Eh, Naruto-kun?" I asked with an incredibly sweet voice, an evil glare forming on my face.

"CHA! I'll punch you so hard you'll go through five walls!" my inner screeched.

I tried to ignore my evil intentions. If I didn't, Hinata-chan wouldn't speak to me anymore. I wasn't that distant that I always take forever, right?

"NO! I mean, I said nothing! Nothing at all," Naruto added quickly, with fear evident in his eyes. He knows that I only say 'Naruto-kun' with that sweet tone if he was in trouble with me.

"Just please hurry. I want to get this done so I can go eat at Ichiraku with Hinata-chan later!" Well, it looks like someone's excited.

I can't believe he didn't notice Hinata-chan until she confessed her love to him. Now, they're one of the cutest couples in all of Konoha. Naruto left quickly in a flash of black, yellow and orange. Lady Tsunade mentioned something about him being just like the Fourth Hokage. My thoughts drifted back to Team 7 once again.

'Sasuke-kun, where are you? You know we all miss you...'

As if he could hear me. Even if he did, he wouldn't listen to me...

You see, Sasuke-kun still hasn't come back yet. I fear for him, even though he nearly killed me during our last encounter. This undying love never seems to fade. It's like a parched throat that is never satisfied, always wanting more. I have been waiting for him to come back ever since the day he left me on that cold stone bench three years ago...

I ran quickly to get to the Hokage mansion. I decided to take the long way for it gave me more time to think.

"Sakura-chan, you're finally here!" I heard Naruto yell. We went in and I had to run to catch up to him. As a medic, I know that eating that much ramen all the time is unhealthy. So, where did he get all of that energy? I guess Naruto's just another one of life's mysteries.

As we neared the front of Lady Tsunade's door, Naruto finally slowed down. I knocked and waited, hearing a familiar voice say, "Come in." Naruto and I slowly entered the room and Lady Tsunade soon gave us our mission details.

The mission was to go to the border of the Sound to investigate a sighting of Team Hebi around the area. If Sasuke was seen, we had permission to capture and return him to the Hidden Leaf. Our team quickly started out and hurried to the border. I was glad I was team leader, I'd make sure we'd get there quickly. Our back up squad consisted of Neji, Tenten, Kiba and Hinata. Since Neji was a jounin, he would be the best on back up for a surprise attack.

I couldn't believe we were out for him, again. Especially since today was the day he left the village… The betrayal of Uchiha Sasuke anniversary…

Sasuke… We're coming for you and we're not stopping no matter what!

So, how was it? Remember to review so I know what you want me to change or do! I'm open to all suggestions. I'll try update as soon as I can!

- 4321rayray signing off!