I walk to Sakura's house hoping it's early enough for her to still be there and late enough for her to be awake. Last night was a disaster and I feel terrible about everything. Only Ino and Choji knew what happened most of the night, so at least almost everyone got to have fun. I grimace as I recall how the night ended for me, knowing that the longer I leave things the way they are would only make things worse.

"How could you keep that from me?!" Hinata demands, her voice angry and hurt all at the same time. "Do you not trust me?" Tears now springing from her soft lavender eyes.

I lean forward unable to look her in the eye and hold my head between my hands as my elbows rest on my knees. "He's my best friend Hinata. It's complicated." I mutter, ashamed that I have nothing more to say about the situation and not a single word that will erase the tears now streaking her face.

"It really shouldn't be Naruto." She states, obviously hurt by my secrecy and lack of apology for everything that has happened the last few months.

Before I have time to even think of a boyfriend like response I hear her footsteps as she leaves the back porch, tears still staining her cheeks. Tears that I failed to take away.

The memory makes me angry at myself but even more angry at Sasuke. It took everything I had to not jump in a beat the crap out of Sasuke when Kiba had him pinned. Of course I had to play the peacekeeper, though that didn't stop me from telling Sasuke exactly what I thought. All this thinking keeps fueling my anger and once again I feel like hitting the closest thing next to me. Fortunately, it seems to always be a tree and I'm reminded of Kiba's incident and bury the feelings again.

Stepping up onto Sakura's front porch I hear the faint laughter of Sakura and Kiba. I'm envious of those two, being able to laugh after such a terrible night. I wish more than anything that Hinata and I could do that, but that would require us to be on speaking terms, and right now I'm not sure we are.

I ring the doorbell and wait as I hear Sakura call out that she's coming. I'm sorry I have to ruin a good morning for you two, I think to myself as the door opens revealing a cheerful Sakura still in her pajamas.

"Oh hey, Naruto," Sakura says the smile on her face slowly fading away. "Sorry we bailed last night."

Her apology slightly angers me. She shouldn't be apologizing for Sasuke being an ass hole. I shrug the momentary feeling away, adding it to the why I'm angry with Sasuke pile before giving Sakura an awkward smile. "Yeah about that, we need to talk. Can I come in?"

Sakura nods and allows me into the entryway where Kiba is leaning against the door frame leading to the kitchen. As soon as he sees me his face hardens. "Mind explaining what the hell happened last night." He grumbles, obviously still upset about Sasuke and his advancements last night.

I sigh and bury my hands in my pockets. "That's why I'm here. Sasuke he's, well he's on this lunatics mission." I begin to explain, though not very well as Kiba gives me an expectant eyebrow raise and Sakura just looks plain worried. "He plans to win you back Sakura," I mumble on an exasperated sigh.

I can see Sakura sigh as Kiba curses under his breath and shakes his head. "See?! I told you that snake was up to something. And after everything he put you through, bastard."

Sakura says nothing as Kiba rolls himself off the door jam and angrily leaves the room headed back into the kitchen. Once we are alone Sakura looks up at me. "I'm worried about him," Sakura whispers her eyes gleaming with concern.

I nod and look down at my feet. I would be lying if I said it wasn't the first time the thought crossed my mind. "I know what you mean. He's refused to listen to me though Sakura. I'm not sure there is anything we can do."

I've been over it a thousand times in my head and I've tried everything I can think of to try and pull him out of this hole he has dug himself. He clearly doesn't want my help and while I want to just give up my conscious just won't let me. Too many times have I replayed our friendship and how at some point he became more than a friend but a best friend. Even now he's like the brother I never had. Turning my back on him is impossible.

Sakura sighs again. "Itachi is back in town. I don't know when he came back but it might have something to do with this change." She divulges, knowing that this little bit of information holds more weight for her and I than anyone else. After all, we have been there the longest so we would know.

My eyes get wide as I flashback to freshman year when Sasuke first started acting weird. Itachi was still in town but he was giving him a hard time, over what I still don't know. Whatever it was lead to cheating on Sakura with Karin and started this whole ordeal. To hear that he was back in town made sense and dots were suddenly connecting.

Without thinking I give Sakura a tight squeeze, "Thank you for that. I won't give up on the guy just yet. Promise."

I am suddenly filled with hope that maybe there is still hope. Maybe if I corner him he will tell me what the hell is going on and maybe just maybe everything can be peaceful again. At this point, that's all I really want.

Sakura smiles at me briefly before her face dropping. "I'm sure you already know but, Hinata is pretty hurt after your fight last night."

My heart almost hits the floor knowing that our problems are bad enough for her to confide in her best friend. The last thing I want is to hurt Hinata but I have no idea how to show her that Sasuke is in the darkness and needs me to help him find the light again. Even more so now that I have had this talk with Sakura, I can't tell Hinata what she wants to hear. Knowing that tears me apart inside and words fail me.

"Hey," Sakura murmurs, her hand on my shoulder, "just talk to her okay. Talking is better than not talking."

I nod knowing she is only trying to comfort me and she is partially right. However, if talking leads to arguing then maybe not talking is better. I don't tell Sakura this though, knowing she will only disapprove that I can't patch things up with Hinata just yet. "Tell Kiba I'm sorry for lying to him this summer," I mumble before letting myself out into the cool air of November.

I thought that once all of this was out in the open that this weight would be lifted from my shoulders. But now that everyone knows what Sasuke is up to I still feel physically ill. My girlfriend isn't talking to me and my best friend is going through something that I can't seem to help with. For once in my life, I wish there were two of me. One to go make amends with Hinata and tell her she is right and the other to save Sasuke from himself. Too bad that wasn't possible.