"Sakura…thank you"…

Sakura sprung up from her bed for the 4th time this week. She had been having this dream ever since she started waking up in the Akatsuki headquarters. 3 years ago, when she was 17, she came looking for Akatsuki to become a member. Instead of looking for Sasuke, she was going to wait for him to come to her. From gaining the trust of Uchiha Itachi, she had been able to go on a few missions with him and Kisame.

Flashback 3 Years Ago- Konoha

"103, 104, 105…" Sakura grunted out as she continued her individual training. She was tired of waiting for Sasuke to come back. So she thought up a plan. Ever since she heard from Jiraiya that Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke's brother, was a member of Akatusuki, she knew what to do.

"Sakura, what are you doing?!" Naruto's loud voice made her lose count in her push-ups.

"Baka! Now I lost count!" She yelled at her childhood friend. He stood there in awe wondering what she was doing. Although he wouldn't admit it, he was worried about her. He had seen Sakura training every day now for a month. And it wasn't just training… It was hardcore. As if she needed to add more to the strength she had learned from Tsunade. Not knowing was else to say, Naruto backed away from the training Kunoichi. (a/n Wow…not knowing what to say…that's a first lol. jkjk.

-Fast Forward to that Night-

A seventeen year old Sakura had gathered her things and was ready to leave the village. She had her head up, but when she looked to her side, she saw Naruto standing there looking heartbroken. He stood there as Sakura walked by. Not too long after, he told her not to leave. He didn't understand what she was doing. All of a sudden she appeared behind him. It was like a repeat from when she was twelve. It broke her heart, it was all too familiar.

"Naruto… Thank you…" She didn't want to be exactly like the raven haired boy, so instead of knocking Naruto out, she performed a few hand signs, and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Naruto stood there. For the first time in his life he was quiet. Stunned. Hurt. He had just lost another one of the most important people in his life.

End Flashback

Never the less, she left. She had detached herself from Konoha. Possibly forever, just to find the man she loved.

"Sakura," a Sharingan eyed man said "Get out of bed. Get dressed. We're leaving." She followed her orders, and put on her black and red clouded Akatsuki jacket. She also wore her old forehead protector. Now, Konoha's symbol was crossed out. A symbol of her being a missing-nin. When she was ready, she smiled sweetly at Itachi and Kisame. She hadn't changed much. She had grown though.

Her hair was long again, but she now pulled it up in a messy bun. Her bangs hung over her forehead protector. She had grown taller and more like a woman. Not only had she grown physically, but she had grown mentally, and had grown as a ninja. She had developed many of her own jutsus. She even figured out how to copy Kakashi's and Sasuke's chidori.

Sakura's Jade eyes glinted as she stepped out into the sunlight. It was a beautiful day to go look for the Six-Tailed beast. (a/n This beast has not yet been seen, or caught or anything. Which is why I'm using it… Haha)

"Who's the host?" Sakura asked Kisame. (a/n The host is the person who contains the beast. Like Naruto is the Nine-Tail's host)

"Some one from Sunagakure," He answered non-enthusiastically.

"There's another host there besides Gaara? Well not anymore. We've already gotten the one-tailed" Sakura stated/asked once again.

"Yes. I see you never got into the habit of calling him the Kazekage. That's terrible manners." Sakura didn't feel like answering this.

'Ever since I stepped out of Konoha's gates, I've had a hard time talking about my former ties… It's so annoying.' Sakura thought. Her partners knew this and Kisame often brought the conversation to "Itachi's baby brother" or the "Demon fox kid". It would then result in Kisame getting punched through a tree or Kisame's sword to her neck. Itachi would then stop them with ease.

She was walking in-between her two fellow Akatsuki members. She looked at both of them, and they all nodded their heads, and started running full speed to Sunagakure. (a/n I'm gonna skip the rest of the trip. We're now in Sunagakure)

They arrived at the gate. They stood there for a couple of seconds. Sakura wasn't so sure about this. She wasn't looking forward to seeing the red haired boy. Before she could think, she all of a sudden saw a blur of raven blue and onyx.