"Now you can finally tell me where Naruto is, can't you?"
"Sasuke..." Sakura murmured weakly. She looked toward Tayuya lying on the ground. "Why did you do this?"
Sasuke didn't even glance at Tayuya.
"I just wanted to test my limits."
His answer left Sakura puzzled.
"I could have easily gone around that door and grabbed her—or you. I just wanted to know if I could break through it. And as it turns out, I could. So of course I'll complete my revenge. Ever since I left Konoha, I've pushed myself harder every day. Now, tell me—where is Naruto?"
Sakura didn't reply. Sasuke's Sharingan seemed to peer straight into her heart. Finally, he let out a cold snort and turned to leave.
"I guess you don't know either."
Sakura watched him walk away, just as he had done a few years ago. Once again, he had walked away—leaving her powerless to stop him.
## Flashback: Two Years Ago ##
Sakura lay exhausted on the ground. She had just completed another grueling session with Tsunade.
Without a doubt, this was the toughest training she had ever experienced. Tsunade was extremely strict with her.
But Sakura wasn't foolish; she knew any ninja would give anything for the chance to be taught by Tsunade. Of course, she wouldn't waste such an opportunity.
Still, why had Tsunade chosen *her*? What exactly had caught Tsunade's eye? She wasn't an especially outstanding ninja. She believed before the training began, Tsunade probably didn't even know who she was. So why?
"Um... Lady Tsunade?" Sakura asked. She needed to find out.
Tsunade regarded her curiously and gestured for her to continue.
"I'm truly grateful for your guidance. It has benefited me greatly—I can feel my power growing each day. But there's something I've been wondering… why did you choose me?"
For a fleeting moment, Sakura caught a flicker of displeasure in Tsunade's furrowed brow.
Just as despair crept over her, Tsunade suddenly burst into laughter.
"You finally asked," she chuckled. "*You really want to know the reason?*"
Eager for answers, Sakura nodded fervently.
"Yes, please tell me."
Tsunade turned sharply, folding her arms across her chest.
"Since you're so eager to know, I'll tell you—it's because of Naruto, your former teammate."
Sakura's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't seen Naruto in ages; it felt like he'd vanished from the world.
"He told me, '*If you're looking for a good student,*' he said, '*take her.*' I thought he was just trying to do you a favor."
"But…" Sakura replied in disbelief, "Naruto hates me. After Sasuke left during the Chunin Exams, he told me—"
Tsunade laughed again, watching Sakura with obvious amusement.
"Don't tell me you still think you were so terribly wronged during the Chunin Exams?"
"You're luckier than the rest," he said. "He only landed one hit on you. If he truly hated you, he wouldn't even bother talking to you—he'd just completely ignore you."
"He's been avoiding me all along," Sakura countered. "I haven't seen him in months. The last time I saw him was at the hospital when he was injured and with Lady Shizune. He just said hello and asked how I was doing. Other than that, I haven't even been to his place."
Tsunade wiped the sweat from her brow.
"Looks like I really pushed him too far," she murmured under her breath.
She turned to Sakura.
"I'll arrange for you two to work together on the next mission," she said. "Then you can ask him yourself. He believes you've got what it takes to reach your goal. He said your feelings for Sasuke really touched him, and if he didn't help you, he would feel guilty. No matter what he's doing now, you are still his teammate, and there's no doubt about it—he still cares about you."
Sakura gaped at her teacher in disbelief.
"Did he really say that? Did he really mean it?"
Tsunade shrugged.
"He's not here now, so where else would he go? Since he came back at all, something must've been important enough. Naruto thinks you're stronger than you look, and I trust his judgment."
##End of Flashback##
Suddenly, Sakura turned around, ready to deliver the final blow to Sasuke—only to find him vanishing before her eyes at an astonishing speed.
"Still too slow, Sakura," she heard Sasuke whisper in her ear before her body froze, unable to move.
She hadn't even seen him move. Same as last time, his voice whispered again in her ear:
"Love doesn't give you strength. Hatred does."
That was the last thing she registered before blacking out.
"I didn't even see him… again… He's still so out of reach."
Sakura thought in despair as she fainted.
Just as Sasuke turned to leave, a figure jumped down from a tree and said,
"They just won't give up."
He turned toward the voice to see Naruto kneeling beside Tayuya.
"Naruto, you finally arrived. She said you were looking for me." Naruto didn't reply, his frown deepening as he checked Tayuya's injuries.
His hand resting on the hilt of his sword, Sasuke was about to walk toward Naruto when a voice stopped him.
"I finally found you, Sasuke. You've certainly improved."
Sasuke whirled around, locking eyes with the figure emerging from the shadows.
"Itachi..." Sasuke spat through gritted teeth.
For the moment, Naruto forgot about Sasuke and focused solely on trying to get some kind of response from Tayuya. She had taken a severe electric shock and lay critically injured. Right now, he couldn't have cared less about the Uchiha brothers' feud.
Itachi stared emotionlessly at his younger brother.
"What's wrong? Gonna yell at me again and charge headfirst like last time?" he said.
Sasuke let out a bitter laugh, but the smirk quickly faded from his face.
"You don't get me, Itachi!"
"You don't know the depth of hatred in my heart, or how much it's made me stronger!"
With that, he lunged at Itachi, and they were soon locked in a brutal hand-to-hand fight.
Meanwhile, Naruto was checking Tayuya's injuries.
Her body temperature felt normal, but she wasn't breathing anymore.
"Come on, Tayuya," he said anxiously. "Say something! Give me a sign!"
Naruto pressed his ear to her chest and cursed under his breath.
"Damn it... Don't you dare die on me now, understand? I know you're tougher than that!"
He channeled lightning chakra into his palms, took a deep breath, and said:
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>