This is my first fic, and I've been reading for months now, and only recently set up this account to start writing. My writing probably won't be very consistent, but that's because I'm taking the time to make it as well written as I can, while working it around my busy life.

If you're interested, 'Running Up That Hill' by Placebo was going through my head when I thought of this fic. Listen to it as you read if you'd like. For me at least, it certainly sets the mood.

Disclaimer: This is going to be the only one. It goes without saying that no-one on this site really owns anything.

Sakura's Boys

.:. -/ \- .:

Coming Home

Sasuke Uchiha was running at full speed, panting, and heaving, his hands bleeding and throbbing. His wounds were slowing his top speed to that of a lowly Genin, but the raven haired man could not go any faster. He cursed his bad luck as he stumbled, though he was able to prevent himself from falling over. There were no trees here, just rock and dirt. He had no cover from the enemy, and as a Shinobi, he knew what his chances were of making it to his destination alive if he was to be spotted coming this way.

But still he pushed on, every step harder than the last. Sweat soaked him and blood caked his skin. The moisture from his perspiration ran over his wounds, stinging him. He winced, his eyes only on the goal in front of him as he struggled to remain upright. It was a trial in and of itself, and he was not surprised. Considering who it was that he had just fought, and the kind of power he had to obtain in order to fight at that level, there was no room for surprise at the extent of his wounds. He hadn't expected it to be easy, but the traitor had gone down with much more effort than he'd intended on making.

Sasuke clutched his side in pain at the memory, but forced his thoughts to focus on where he was going. It was the only sanctuary for him now, after everything. People would never forgive him for what he had done, and others still may try to kill him. But the Fourth Great Shinobi War was finally over, so he hoped they would at least understand what he had been through, and why he had had to do what he did.

The familiar horizon brought a smile to his face and with renewed vigour, he started to increase his speed. It was not far now.

But what awaited his eyes was not the sight he had anticipated. It was so different, so wrong. He stood still now, staring out over the ruins of what he had been fighting for. He had made a deal with the enemy for this. He had suffered to come here, to make it safe. That day, so long ago, had kept him going, and now it crept into his heart, more like a nightmare.

Yes, Sasuke Uchiha remembered that day very well…

.:. -/ \- .:

Sasuke crept through the woods that surrounded Konoha. He was looking for the caravan, the entourage for a lack of a better word, accompanying the fifth Hokage. She was travelling alongside civilians, coming back from her visit the daimyo of the land of fire, so after another day's travel, they were resting comfortably, in a plush tent, rather than on tree branches, or in sleeping bags around a campfire, they couldn't risk keeping lit for long.

The sentinels keeping watch did not notice the Uchiha as he activated his Sharingan and cast a powerful genjutsu around himself. He needed to get into the tent with the sleeping Hokage without drawing attention to himself, also expecting to leave just as stealthily.

He pushed the flap aside, after looking into the eyes of the sentinel posted directly outside the entrance. Even if he couldn't see him, he'd definitely notice the flap of the tent miraculously opening itself. So the raven haired man entered unchallenged and drew his Kusanagi. The sword was a source of comfort for him now, now that he had lost everything else. He stepped silently over to the sleeping blonde after casting simple sleeping jutsus over the two Kunoichi sharing the tent with her. Even if Lady Tsunade screamed, they could not waken now.

But he did not want her to scream.

Sasuke towered over her, holding his sword to her throat and watched as she instinctively squirmed, her eyes snapping open at the cold touch of the steel. She made to move out from under him, as any well trained ninja was capable of doing, and even managed to avoid his Sharingan. Unable to threaten her with her own life, Sasuke quickly repositioned his sword to the tender flesh of one of the Kunoichi sleeping peacefully only three feet away.

The girl was very pretty, with long dark hair and a figure that made him think more mature thoughts. It was not his intention to rid this world of such beauty.

"Do not call to your security detail," he warned the Hokage, whispering hoarsely. "Or her blood will be on your hands."

Tsunade watched him carefully, though still, she avoided his Sharingan. She was obviously weighing her options, and realising she would not be able to close the distance between them before this young woman joined the ranks of the dead. Finally, she nodded her head.

"What is it you want, Uchiha?"

He kept his sword to the girl's throat, but shifted his body to indicate he was ready to leave at a moment's notice if she decided to attack regardless. He had no intention of letting himself be caught after all.

"I want you to look me in the eye, Hokage-sama."

Surprised at the suffix, she almost complied. "Deactivate the Sharingan first."

He remained motionless for a moment, not wanting to comply. But he had come looking for her, not the other way around. If he was going to leave here with what he wanted, then this was but the first in a long list of things he was going to have to do to make his goal possible. It wasn't a dream, it was never a dream; this was going to happen, no matter what.

Reluctantly, Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan and grunted softly to let her know what he had done. But he would not remove his Kusanagi, in case she decided to attack.

"And your sword," she said, not looking down at the peaceful face of the girl he held captive.

Sasuke shook his head as brown eyes met black. "No."

She sighed and he realised she had known what his answer was going to be. It didn't move the disappointment from her face however. The fifth Hokage, the sole remaining Sannin, and the renown medical specialist; she was a force to be reckoned with, no matter what title she went by. This was why Sasuke would not give her an opening to attack, at least not until she had heard him out.

"Speak Uchiha," she said, her face furious, but her voice even.

"I have a deal for you," he said coolly, ignoring her as she raised her eyebrows at him. "I know you've been searching for Madara, but you can't catch him. He crosses dimensions before you can pin him down."

Tsunade nodded. "And?"

"And, I can give him to you."

.:. -/ \- .:

The dark figure stood on the top of the Hokage Monument, his hair buffeted by the wind. It had grown longer but still retained the form of the jet black spiky hair he had had since childhood. His dark eyes pierced the mist surrounding the village hidden in the leaves, surprised by the level of destruction done to his old home. It made him angry, just thinking about how peaceful it had once looked, compared to now.

Sasuke did not activate his Sharingan. Any chakra usage from him now would hurt him. He needed longer to recover, even though he believed he had successfully thrown off his pursuers by approaching Konoha from the least likely direction. His wounds continued to hurt as he stepped closer to the edge and looked directly downwards, but they were no longer his main concern.

The last time he had come here, the village hidden in the leaves had not been in ruins. A sharp intake of breath; he struggled to breathe as he saw what was left of his home. The mist hovering over the debris was not normal. It had been set off like a high security alert, to warn those who knew what it meant that this place was not only empty, but potentially booby trapped.

Had it all been for nothing? It would seem that after all that fighting and all of his sacrifice that all he'd managed to do was be absent as the people he had once cherished died and suffered as a result. They had clearly gone out fighting. Certain events had not only awakened Sasuke's desire to protect his village again, but had clearly been a waste of time. Was there no-one left?

Making a decision, and certainly one he was not straining himself to do, he climbed down off of the top of the monuments, noting the deplorable state of the stone faces. He swallowed heavily, his eyes raking over the scene. The Hokage Monuments were well known all over the world, but few outside of the Shinobi villages ever saw them. They were no longer the impeccable images of past and present leaders, but a mockery of the sacrifice and hardship endured by leaf Shinobi to maintain the will of fire. Now look at them.

The first and second Hokage faces were demolished, as though the protruding rock had literally been scooped out, making Sasuke shiver involuntarily, disturbing mental images bloodying his eyesight. The third Hokage's face had split in half, with the pre-existing crack over the surface rupturing the carving like a miniature earthquake. The fourth Hokage's face was the least cracked, but was still broken beyond repair, with holes littering the surface – it looked like someone had used it for target practise.

Sasuke landed lithely on the nose of the fourth, fighting the spasms of pain wracking his body. He badly needed a medic, which was why he had taken the "back road" into Konoha, so to speak. But clearly, that was no longer going to be possible. He looked up and stared into the chiselled face of the fifth, wondering if she was even still alive. Her stone face was not broken, but warped, her features twisted as easily as if she was made of mud. How had this been done without breaking the stonework? It scared him to think that someone out there would be capable of doing this to rock on this level.

After a few more minutes of musing on the situation, he climbed down to street level. What a joke. There was no longer any indication that there had ever been any kind of road here, let alone that the rubble he had landed on instead of even ground was from now non-existent buildings. The dust had yet to settle, making him think this had happened not too long ago, but there was also something else in the air, besides dust and a smokescreen set up to warn invading Shinobi.

Ignoring the renewed pain in his eyes, Sasuke activated his Sharingan to keep an eye out for booby traps but saw none as he made his way through. There was nothing left, like he had guessed, no signs of life anywhere. He continued to follow his nose however, more convinced now than ever that there was something else going on here. The air was stale and heavy, making him nervous and agitated. Even though no-one else was around, he still would not let this show on his face. He had lost his Kusanagi in his fight with the traitor, feeling that a part of him had also been torn in two as it broke. The only weapon he had left was his Sharingan. He had lost everything else.

Eventually, Sasuke stopped, looking around. He was in the ruins of his home, the Uchiha compound. It had not been spared this rampage. He growled, gripping his fractures ribs angrily. The Sharingan died in his eyes as he struggled to breathe. This was what he could smell; the heavy taste of blood in the air. But why had it led him here of all places?

And fighting his own desire to destroy something, Sasuke did not see the first kunai coming. It slammed heavily into his shoulder before he could register he was under attack. He let out an involuntary groan, in both pain and shock, and spun around as he pulled it free from his body. There was someone still alive here alright.

They circled him like pack animals, though as soundlessly as the ninja they were. He activated his Sharingan through sheer force of will, trying to see who they were. It hurt him to use his chakra, but he didn't have a choice. Clearly these Shinobi had not gotten the memo that Sasuke Uchiha was no longer their enemy. Though he knew there would be those who would attack him like this anyway.

Sasuke braced himself for the next volley of kunai, but suddenly he couldn't move his body. Something had a hold of him and he no longer had the stamina to break free from such a childish jutsu. His injuries were more than debilitating, they were about to get him killed. That was his last thought before he saw black.

.:. -/ \- .:

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