It was already night when they finally found his path. The nose of a dog never lied, neither the presence of a familiar chakra, closer and closer to them. He wasn't far. Despite her determination, for a brief moment she felt like the last time she saw him. No, definitely, this time was different. That made her shiver.

- Stop here, Akamaru.

- This chakra… - mumbled Sakura.

- It's him, and he's not alone. I feel more three chakras with him. They must belong to his team mates. Four ninjas, all too strong. – Kiba looked quietly to Lee.

- Don't even think that we're going to let you go there all by yourself. Abandoning friends it's so not youthful, Sakura-chan… Sa… Sakura-chan? Are you listening to me?

- Yeah… I'm sorry, Lee, but I was thinking of a way to get to where they are without being discovered. Let's be clear: I won't give up. Not now. I'm so close. We're so close, Sas… Drop it, Sakura.

- This isn't good, Kiba-kun.

- I know… Damn.

Sakura looked around. It probably was midnight, too late to carry on. They were in a forest, near to the Rain Country. The sky announced rain, due to the fog that was forbidding them to look further. Although they were wearing their winter covers, the snow that had fallen all day turned the air and the soil unbearable cold. However, there was nothing to do but pass the night outside.

- I know it's not nice, but we have to stay here for a few hours. – said Sakura.

- What's the plan? – asked Kiba, still unsure of what Sakura might be preparing. Lee and him didn't want her to pursue with her absurd goal.

- Let's take a nap. Before sunrise, I'll leave too do a better search of the place where the target is, and you get back toward the others and…

- Sorry Sakura, we can't do that. It's not right! We know you're strong, but… You're conscious that you can't beat him by yourself, aren't you? – said an indignant Lee, trying to call her to reason.

- I appreciate everything you've done for me, and for him. You're help was precious. I wouldn't be here if it weren't you too, Kiba… Lee. And I know I can't beat him by myself, but my intention isn't… Never mind. This is something I need… I have to do alone.

Sakura wouldn't change her mind, so, when the only noise was silence, they decided to get some rest and start the trip in the next day.

When Lee was already sleeping, Kiba asked Sakura:

- Hey, are you sure about this? We can send a message to the others and wait till they get here to help us out…

- Kiba, I've decided. I won't take my word back. I won't fail again.

- This isn't failing, Sakura!

Kiba looked at Sakura and understood that her determination was unbreakable. He also understood that all of this was a test she gave to herself to surpass. She wanted to show to everyone that she was no longer a child nor a naive girl. She also wanted to convince everybody that she doesn't care anymore by the person she's prepared to kill.

- I'll regret this, and Naruto is going to kill me… You're going there alone, but me and Lee are going to call the others to help in anything necessary. So, please, be very careful.

- Thank you so much, Kiba. – Sakura smiled a little.

- You don't have to worry about Lee. I'll keep him quiet and explain him the situation. If he starts talking about "his cherry blossom", "Sakura-chan", "love and youth", I hide his green latex suit that he loves so much. – Kiba tried to cheer the climate up a bit.

They both laughed in silence so that Lee wouldn't wake up. Finally, everyone was sleeping. Or so it seemed…

Sooo, this is not only my first published fanfic, but also my first first fanfic. It's not over yet, but I would appreciate some feedback, especially about my english. The story in this first chapter isn't developed yet, but comes a little bit in the sequence of one of the last chapter of the manga. I'm with some ideas in my head, so I want to write them and post them here quickly so people can read it. But there's got to be someone reading this, right? *.*

See ya!