Betrayal

Chapter 3: Surprises

Sasuke's POV

I'm slowly making my way into the compound of the apartments my ex teammate used to live in. The feeling of nostalgia hits me as the memories of Naruto and me walking Sakura home after a mission come flooding in. When I first met the both of them there was no doubt in my mind that I thought the two of them were painfully annoying. However as time went by and after all the missions we've been on, I've learned to grow an unbreakable bond with the two of them. They kept me sane for the most part, but that didn't stop me from seeking more power so I can fullfil my life long goal of killing my brother.

So I left. Ever since we got back to Konoha, I've been starting to doubt my decision of leaving in the first place, but the two of them knew even they couldn't stop me from wanting to get stronger. At least Naruto could understand because a year later he left to train as well. I'm wondering if Naruto has that feeling, too.

I look down at the invitation Ino made to make sure the apartment number I remember is correct.

Konoha's 11 Reunion Dinner

When? As soon as the two dweebs come back from God knows where

Time? 5 pm!

Where? Sakura's old apartment: Floor 5, Door 536

The dinner is going to be a potluck! Bring something special for all of us to enjoy!

PS: you should probably bring a little more than enough since Choji might end up eating more than he should.

If I would've know the dinner was going to be the same night Naruto and I came back I would've just hosted it my house. I have this odd feeling about having it in one of our possibly dead best friend's apartment. Pfft, best friend? Would she even consider me a best friend anymore? What best friend dismisses the fact she was captured or even killed by S rank criminals?

When I first heard about Sakura's disappearance I was out training with the team I'm apart of now, Team Taka. We were taking a short break when Tsunade's slug unexpectedly turned up in a tree we we're sitting under. My first instinct was to come back home, but I didn't want to put my training on hold. I figured at least Naruto would come back and help with the search. But now that I know he didn't, I have feelings of regret in the pit of my stomach.

Another part of me assumed she was already dead. She couldn't go up against the Akatsuki, especially not alone. I mean she barely fought on any of the missions we had together when we were on a team. Sakura winning a match against them is a like Naruto becoming top of our class back at the academy: an unrealistic dream.

I kept pushing the whole Sakura problem aside and continued to focus on getting stronger, telling myself I would deal with it later. Then a whole year went by, now here we are. It's all finally coming down on me all at once and that's why I kept pushing away in the first place. Sakura brought out feelings that I never cared to have, feelings that me feel weak, the same ones that made her weak. If I'm being honest with myself, some dark, dark part of me wanted her to be dead so I didn't have to face those feelings.

God, I'm loosing it, I thought to myself. As I try to get my mind to focus on the mission at hand and not on feelings that could get in the way, I suddenly get this chill run down my back. I'm about to activate my sharingan when I turn a corner and see someone wearing bright orange clothes with a dumb look on his face.

"Naruto?"

The dweeb turns his head to face me and a look of relief washes over his face. "Sasuke!" Naruto runs over to me waving. "Boy am I glad to see you! I am kinda lost. I thought I knew we're Sakura-chan's apartment was, but I can't seem to remember. All the doors look exactly the same."