Quote of the chapter: "After a hurricane, comes a rainbow." -Fireworks by Katy Perry

All mistakes are mine.

Most of your questions will be answered in this chapter.

I'll be including 'Worth a Penny' at Naruto Watty Awards this coming July, I hope you'll support it! :D

I dedicate this chapter to Airi15 because she is currently sick right now so I hope you get well soon Airi! Magpagaling ka! :)

Enjoy! :D

~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~

~cнαpтer 18: wιѕe мeɴ~

"Operation:Secrets out, Start!"

The three boys dashed off to begin their designated mission.

~

Ino's POV

Why do I feel so dizzy? Why does my head hurt so much?

I tried to flick my eyes open but I felt cloth blocking, everything was dark. I moved my hands though it seems to be locked up. I can't move.

Crap, what happened? All I remember was combing my hair and I stood up to my closet then everything went black. Oh gosh am I in a coma?

"YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY WITH THIS! ONCE I GET MY HANDS ON MY NEW COLLECTION OF SHURIKENS OH-HUH-HO YOU GUYS ARE SOOOO DEAD!"

I recognized that voice...Wait shuriken? Is that Tenten?!

"Tenten? Are you here?" I whispered to my right where I heard the voice's location.

"I-Ino? HOW DARE YOU KIDNAP ME?! AFTER ALL THA-"

"I DIDN'T KIDNAP YOU! I CAN'T EVEN SEE A DAMN THING AND MY HANDS ARE ALL TIED UP, GENIUS!" I retorted back at her direction.

"Whoops. Well, I guess we're both hostages?" I heard Tenten reply with nervousness in her tone.

"Urrghh. What's with all the noise? Wait, what the- Where the heck am I? Oh shit am I dead?!" I heard a male voice coming from my left.

Did he just say shit? "Kiba, is that you?!"

"I-Ino?" He said with shock in his voice.

"The one and only."

"A-Are we all tied u-up? I-I can't see a thing, g-gomen." A girl's voice added with a shy tone.

Shy? Too kind? "Hinata? You're here too?!" I asked.

"Damn, Ino how could you identify the voices? I'm at a loss here." Tenten commented.

I shrugged as my response, but I doubt that she saw since we're probably all tied up.

"Tch."

Even if it's not that loud, I believe that all of us heard that with the quietness in the room.

"Woah Sasuke is that you? Man, I can't believe you got caught too." Kiba told with a slight laugh which I now guess that Sasuke rolled his eyes at Kiba's statement.

Silence echoed the place. I think the room is quite large since our voices seems to be a far from each other. I was about to ask for our plan to escape until we all heard the door creaked open.

A loud 'thud' was heard.

"ITEEEEE! OI! WHOEVER YOU ARE I'M GONNA KILL YOU, DATTEBAYO! YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS, YOU BASTARD!"

Third person's POV

Obviously, all of them knew that it was Naruto.

"Just shut up, dobe." Sasuke responded, thinking of a final step for a plan to escape.

"Teme?? THEY CAPTURED YOU TOO?!"

"Quiet." A new male voice ordered though it wasn't familiar to them so they thought that it was probably the man who is responsible for all this mess.

"HEY! WHY DID YOU TIE US UP HUH?! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT WITH US?!" Tenten blurted out as she gritted her teeth with her anger rising up. Her temper and strength is just like Sakura's.

The man ignored Tenten's questions. "They're all up. Should we do it now?"

Sasuke cursed under his breath. "Based from his voice, it's impossible for him to be older than us. He's probably in the same age as us but who would- Shit. Don't tell me it's...?"

"Take of their blindfolds." Another boy commanded.

Once all blindfolds were off they cleared their visions to see the masterminds.

"Gaara..." Just as Sasuke predicted then he gave a death-glare to the three.

"Gaara? Shikamaru? Neji? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!" Naruto shouted as his eyes widen. He couldn't believe that his friends betrayed him.

"N-Neji-nii san? H-How come?" The shy Hyuuga muttered with disbelief.

Tenten's jaw dropped, she couldn't believe it or may be accept it. Her eyesight blurred as tears blocked her eyes. "Neji...why?"

"WHAT THE HELL DID WE EVER DO TO YOU GUYS?!" Kiba added with the same rate of displeasure. He glared at the three boys. "AND I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE FRIENDS!"

Ino's eyes extended in surprise, she doesn't know if she should be glad or mad. Glad that it was just her 'friends' and they would be safe or mad for capturing them and maybe she can die in the hands of her beloved one.

"Just listen first." Shikamaru interrupted.

"We are not going to hurt you. We just need you to listen. This is very important." Neji added with an apologetic yet serious expression.

That's when Tenten snap. "THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST INVITE US RATHER THAN KIDNAPPING US AND TIED US ALL UP?!"

"Because you wouldn't agree to come so we did it by force."

"Why won't we agree?" Ino asked.

"Everyone shut up, this is about Sakura!" Gaara demanded, even though he always has a stoic expression. This time he was giving them a very stern look which is quite scary. By just saying her name, they all shut their mouths and thought why does this concern the pinkette.

"If you wanted to talk privately about Sakura then why didn't you just say so?" Kiba questioned as he shifted his gaze down.

"Ami, that's why. We'll take of the locks just promise you won't leave. This is very important and all of you needs to know but I suppose you got an idea on what we're talking about, right Uchiha?" Neji said as they all nodded and they untied the ropes and removed the locks.

If possible, Sasuke's death glare went more intense. Shikamaru noticed and mentally smirked. "He knows."

After freeing them from the ropes and locks, they all sat down and faced to a screen.

"Just watch and we'll explain afterwards. Proof #1." Shikamaru told as he pressed the play button.

The video was like a surveillance camera and they noticed that the setting is on the Konoha high along the hallway while on the sides are classrooms and lockers.(THIS SCENE IS TAKEN FROM CHAP 8)

Sakura was at her locker then she left and went to the girl's restroom. It was seen that Ami was at the side of the door, waiting for Sakura to go out. When Sakura went out of the room, she tripped on Ami's foot as Sakura's chest and head hit the floor. Ami also kick Sakura a couple of times.

"Why did you...?" Sakura coughed as she got up.

"You are so dumb and stupid!" Ami yelled. she glanced to her right.

Gaara paused the video. "As you can see, Ami looked to her right, but she didn't look at her left which was where I caught the scene." He tapped as the video continued to play.

Ami punched her at the stomach as Sakura grimaced. She grabbed Sakura's collar and shouted out loud. "Uchiha Sasuke is MINE!!! I already told you that before!"

Ami angrily slammed Sakura to the lockers which caused a blaring noise. Sakura accepted the pain inside as she fell.

"You're just a fangirl." She managed to reply between pants as she stood up, weakly.

"SHUT UP!" Ami got really pissed off and was about to take another blow on Sakura until someone stopped her attack. Ami shrieked by the sudden action. She quickly closed her eyes.

"Don't touch her." An anonymous person said and caught Sakura. In a blink of an eye, they were gone as Ami ran away.

The video stopped as it end, Shikamaru closed the laptop and explained. "This video was taken during dismissal at the second week after school started. As what Gaara said a while ago, he saw Sakura that time and immediately told us but we needed an evidence. Since the Hyuuga clan owns Konoha High, Neji was able to hack into the security system to get a copy of the surveillance cameras."

"Do you have any guess on who saved Sakura?" Neji asked them then turned to the Uchiha.

All eyes darted on Sasuke who was still busy squeezing his fist with his usual stoic expression to notice that all of them was staring at him.

Gaara decided to give him a little push, not literally. "Do you have an idea, Sasuke?"

Sasuke glared daggers at Gaara as his response.

Gaara's mouth curved into a simper. "Don't worry, I was there and saw you rescue her even though you were quite fast."

"Hn." He simply answered and looked away.

The others calmed themselves down when they let them speak. Kiba punched the floor as he thought of false matters for not being there for his best friend. Naruto and Ino had the same thoughts of Sasuke caring for Sakura though a bit surprised on Ami's actions towards Sakura as well as Hinata and Tenten.

"Moving on to Proof #2." Neji stated and waited for him to get their attention to proceed. "Can you recall the time when we went to the movies and we thought that Sakura didn't show up? The truth was Ami didn't ask Sakura to come with us though when we were on our way to Ichiraku's, when we passed by the big space with the other hallway at the other side of the building I saw Sakura walked by and was shocked to see us so she ran off." (GO TO CHAP 9)

Shikamaru took over the next as he sat down. "Proof #3. The time I asked you about Sakura's whereabouts, you guys said that she was probably absent since you didn't see her in class. Turns out, she was present. She was staying at the bench over the school's garden where she usually stayed now." (GO TO CHAP 10)

Gaara shoved his hands inside the pockets of his jeans while he leaned at the wall. "Lastly, Proof #4. As you all know, Sakura is hanging out with me and my siblings. Ever wonder how that happened?"

They all looked at each other and shrugged.

"I'm sure you all remember the event that Yamanaka Ino got sick and fainted during our class, right? It was dismissal time that Ami met up with Sakura. I didn't catch the whole scene, but all I caught up was Ami about to attack Sakura though Sakura was already in her blocking position. I hurriedly went over and blocked Ami's grasp from Sakura then I ordered her to leave. When she left, Sakura told me why Ami almost hurt her which was to back off from Sasuke." He shifted his vision at the raging Uchiha then glanced at everyone in the room. "The main point is, Hotaru Ami was my former classmate at Sunagakure Elementary School." (GO TO CHAP 13)

All were startled or their eyes widen in surprise, excluding Neji and Shikamaru who already knew the whole story.

"Back in the old days, she used to fangirl over me which was very irritating along with other girls. Until she stalked guys over the internet and a certain Uchiha caught her eyes. In all honesty when we transferred her in Konohagakure High, I got away from her and she stopped her flirting since she has a new one to fangirl over so I was glad. Though I did not expect to see her as new student here in Konoha. I planned on warning you as soon as possible but she just clings to all of you and the only people I could advise was Shikamaru and Neji since Ami seems to ignore them at times." Gaara slightly lowered his head as a bow. "I apologize for not telling you sooner."

"Why did you tell us just now?!" Ino asked gloomily yet angrily. She didn't even realize that she was weeping until she felt droplets of tears stroll her cheeks.

Shikamaru had expected Ino's question and prepared his answer ahead of time. "Because we waited for you guys to act up the first move since you have closer bonds with Sakura than us."

Hearing his words, Ino kept her mouth shut.

Apparently, half of it was also her fault for not noticing it early so she stayed in her sitting position as tears stream down to her chin with her hands cupped up to cover her face.

Shikamaru mentally sighed and comforted the platinum blonde as her crying shoulder.

Kiba, who heard the whole incident and chose to keep quiet, had his hand held at his forehead as transparent fluid drop unto the floor from his eyes while he gritted his teeth, showing its sharpness.

Naruto was in a similar state with Kiba. He treated Sakura as his own sister and letting her get hurt like that was disappointment to him for not defending her.

They are men, but that doesn't mean that they can't show their weakness for once. It may be dramatic that they cried over a plain situation, though seeing your best friend went through the hardships, pain and looked like you betrayed him/her for a mean person isn't as simple as it said it would be.

They did cry, but not because of sadness and pity. It's because of regret and anger. Regret for making her feel invisible and anger for letting Ami do that to her.

"So that's why you captured us? To keep away from Ami?" Tenten silently asked.

"Exactly."

Hinata and Tenten did not shed tears though their eyes were watery since they kept it all inside. It is obvious in their current appearance that they feel sorrow and mourn but nothing can change the past, just focus on the present to result a successful future.

Sasuke, on the other hand, retained his silence though inside was madness. His hands clasped into fists until his blood trickled even just a bit, his jaw clenched as he was staring into space like he was in a battle with someone in his brain.

In Sasuke's dictionary, Sakura is considered his only female friend that he has a close bond with. Since Sakura is important to Sasuke-even though she denies it-he sworn to protect his friends, especially his loved ones.

That was his mistake, he hurt her, left her and betrayed her.

Worst case of all, he wasn't there when she needed him.

...or so he thought.

Naruto stood up without a word and went to the door.

"Where are you going?" Neji asked, prepared to stop him.

Naruto held the door knob and halted to reply. "To Sakura-chan's."

~

Sakura's POV

I was currently switching channels at the television, searching for a show that interests me at the moment.

I heard a door bell sound and volunteered to open the door since Misa-san was still busy at the kitchen while I was at the living room. "Misa-san, I'll get the door!"

I saw her giving a thumbs up over the kitchen door.

Wondering who it could be, I twisted the door knob and opened it. My eyes was wide as tires when I saw who it was. This was very unexpected.

It was Ino and the others, excluding Ami.


Heck, even Sasuke was there. I took a closer look at them and noticed that they all have sad expression on their faces. You can see from Ino's face that she's been crying, and a stain of tears at Naruto's and Kiba's cheeks as Hinata and Tenten both have pinkish eyes.

In just one glance, a billion questions flutter in my mind. Why are they here? Did they cry? Why did they cry? What do they want? Am I busted? Did I do something wrong?

What. is. happening.

I secretly pinch myself and blinked twice, just in case I was a dream but it wasn't. This is reality.

When Ino saw me, she quickly embraced me and sobbed quietly. "Sakura...I..I...."

I honestly don't know what to do in a situation like this  without knowing the problem. "What happened? Why are you all here?" I patted Ino's back gently as she pulled me closer to her like it had been forever since we didn't see each other. Well that is what I felt.

"I....I'm so sorry, Sakura." Ino said between her sobs.

"W-What?"

Kiba hugged me from my waist. "I'm sorry for leaving you, Sakura."

Tenten and Hinata joined the hug as they apologized as well.

Naruto, without anymore space to hug me, squeezed my legs. "I'M SORRY SAKURA-CHAN!" He stated  with concern as he sniffed and continued to embrace my legs.

I felt clear substance stream down my face.

So they knew?

"H-How?"

Suddenly, a boy with crimson hair showed up behind. "We told them."

"Gaara?! Why? We...?"

Shikamaru pointed to Neji and Gaara. "The three of us."

"Neji? Shikamaru? You guys knew all along?" I shifted my head towards their direction.

"We just waited for a 'Go' signal to tell them. Sorry it took so long and we weren't there for you." Neji bowed slightly.

"If we only knew the real Ami before..." Kiba muttered with disgust.

"Umm...you guys can come in. It's kinda cold outside during this season." I waited for them to cut the hug as I stepped aside and they all sat at the couch.

They explained to me what happened, what they witnessed and apologized for that. Ino stopped crying as the others calmed themselves.

"It came to my mind, was it really Sasuke who saved Sakura from Ami one time?" Ino winked at Sasuke.

Sasuke just gave his usual emotionless expression. "Hn."

'Hn' in Sasuke's vocabulary, means either 'yes' or 'no'. 'Yes' if he replied with a smirk or emotionless state. 'No' if his response was with a grunt or glare.

So that means yes? He was the one who saved me and patched my wounds up? Well that was unexpected...

"Sakura-chan, Sorry for not being there for you and for making you feel invisible around us." Naruto had his head down so I can't see his face but the tone at his voice made it serious.

"Gomen, Sakura-chan." Hinata continued and bowed slightly as Tenten followed.

Kiba stared into space. "Even if you can't forgive us, you will always be my best pal, Sakura."

Ino crunched her teeth in the memory of anger as she lowered her head as well. "I know sorry can't bring up the past, but I want it to be just like the old times. I miss you, forehead."

"How I've missed that name, Ino-pig." Sakura smiled cheerfully as they all look at her with confusion. "I already forgave you guys a long time ago. I thought  that you replaced me with Ami and you guys will always be my best friends."

She stood up as they opened their arms for a group hug. "No offense, Gaara."

Gaara shrugged and gave a smile. "None taken."

"Let's go to Ichiraku just like old times, dattebayo!" Naruto grinned widely as they all agreed.

Naruto speed up to his house and grabbed his car, so did Neji.

They all walked to the cars and Sakura asked permission to Misa then was about to close the door before going to the car, until someone snatched her wrist.

Sakura was stunned to see Sasuke was the one who stopped her as he moved slowly to hold Sakura's hand then squeezed it gently.

She averted her vision up to be caught by Sasuke's gaze. Sadness and pain was written at those obsidian orbs.

"Sakura...I-"

"OI TEME! HURRY UP!" Naruto yelled from the driver's seat as Ino smacked Naruto's head. "Ino, what was that for?"

"Baka, Sasuke and Sakura were the only ones missing! You probably ruined their moment!" Ino whispered as she whacked Naruto's head again.

Anime tears fell from Naruto's eyes. "I just want ramen..."

"Sasuke?" Sakura asked with frustration.

Sasuke sighed as he tighten his grip on Sakura's hand then let go. "Just remember what I told you before during our project." He left then walked to the car.

"No one can ever replace you."

Even though it was a simple gesture, it was the way of Uchiha Sasuke on apologizing since actions are louder than words.

"Forehead, come on!" Ino shouted which caused Sakura shook her head to go back to reality and closed the door then they went to Ichiraku...just like the old times.

~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~

PUBLISHED.//4.28.2014//

Thanks for reading!

:)

~TheSketcher