Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the criteria involved. I hope that you do not steal my story, though.

Heh heh... My school has been keeping me busy. Today, though, we have a snow day because of a big blizzard! Yay! I'm gonna write to my hearts' content!

If you haven't read my Tenten x Neji fanfic, then you should read it. It will let you understand a little of what's going on.

Do not bash my pairings, or flame me, the author.

There's a secret meaning in the title of this chapter. "He loves me, he loves me not…" Is a common phrase used by girls who pluck off the petals of a flower to see if the one they love loves them. It's a pretty stupid thing, but I used it. Get it? A lotus is a flower!

Where we left off…

When Konoha was having their annual Lotus Festival, Sakura screamed from the direction of the village. What is going to happen? Read to find out!

He loves me, he loves me not…

“SAKURA!!!” Ino called at the top of her lungs. She ran toward the cry at full speed.

“Ino, what’s going on?!” Shikamaru demanded on the way.

Sakura had passed out. Far before Ino could reach her, the culprit enshrouded in black lifted her into his arms and dashed off in great haste.

“Ugh…” Sakura moaned. She was lying on an old wood floor. She lifted her head. This feeling felt similar. She had felt it that day… Sasuke had knocked her out to silence her cries. She moved her head a little higher to see that across the room there was a man in black clothing. She then saw the marks of the curse of Orochimaru. She whipped it up higher to see the cold eyes she had seen that many years ago. It was Sasuke.

“Sasuke…” she managed to gasp. Tears flew down her face like a waterfall. She almost embraced him, but realized that he was still under Orochimaru’s control. He was the one who had kidnapped her.

“Sasuke, what do you want with me?” she asked in fear. She had now regained all her strength and had sat up to see him.

“Give me the shield scroll. Now.” He demanded.

“How…How do you know about it.”

“It is my order to steal it from Haruno Sakura, by all means nessecary.”

“I suppose that means murder as well.”

He smirked, “Of course.”

Sakura felt as though her heart was shattered into 1,000 pieces. The real Sasuke would not do this. She had to break through to him.

“But it is rather odd. What’s left of my old heart is fighting against me, telling me not to.”

Sakura gasped. Could Sasuke still have a fragment of his heart?

Sasuke Flashback to Earlier That Day

“Sasuke, today is the Lotus festival in Konoha. It is the perfect chance to take the sealing scroll that prevents us from attacking Konoha once again, don’t you agree?” Orochimaru encouraged.

“Yes.”

“Although, it will not be the easiest task. A young woman in the village is keeping it under close guard. She keeps it protected at all times. Even when she is sleeping, she keeps a barrier active to surround her.” Orochimaru explained

Sasuke smirked. Then I guess that crosses out the stealth mission, eh?

“Exactly. Confront her and obtain the scroll at all costs. And let’s see a little blood fly, OK?

“Understood.” Sasuke confirmed.

“Here is a picture of the victim. Haruno Sakura.”

He passed the photograph over to him.

“Haruno Sakura… That sounds so familiar…” Sasuke pondered. He took a look at it. He gasped.

“My head- It hurts- I know her... Why is it so painful???” he yelled in his head in agony.