Thorns And Petals Chapter 1

XXX

It's been three years since Madara and Sasuke attacked the village. Sakura thought as she stared outside the large window in Tsunade's office. After they lost, they suddenly disappeared . Just where could they be hiding?

Even though it has been three years, so much has changed in Konoha. Naruto was only days from becoming the next Hokage, Kakashi and groups of ANBU were on the look out for the Akatsuki, and as for Sakura...

"Sakura," Tsunade walked into the office, "there you are. Just where have you been?"

Sakura smiled at her old teacher. "Just thinking to myself. Does the ANBU need me?"

"They've been so busy." Tsunade let out a long sigh as she sunk into her chair by the desk. "We just started sending out search groups for Madara and the rest of the Akatsuki. Why don't you want to help them out?"

"I do. It's just this is my first day as an ANBU and I'm doubting myself."

Tsunade gave her a stern look. "And why are you doing that?"

"Because..." Sakura's eyes soften. "I've been slacking off lately. Naruto and Sai have been doing so much for Konoha. As for me..."

Sakura turned around to look outside.

"I've been falling behind and disappointing them."

"Don't say stuff like that. You've been helpful! You healed all of injured villagers and ninjas during the war. It is because of you we have a village."

Yet, my healing abilities have been failing me. I'm becoming a fighter like Sasuke and Naruto...

Tsunade stood up and patted Sakura's shoulders.

"If you are still doubting yourself, how about you go on a special mission?"

"A special mission?" Sakura grew interested.

"I want you to go on a solo search party to track down Uchiha Sasuke and the other Akatsuki. I believe in you."

"I'm afraid I can't take that offer."

"What?"

Sakura walked towards the door and looked at Tsunade one more time.

"I don't want to face him just yet. I need to go train."

"But Sakura!"

Tsunade stopped talking when she realized Sakura was already gone.

"Troublesome girl. Ever since that fight between her and Sasuke, she hasn't been herself. I hope you get your mind straight Sakura."

XXX

"What are the plans now Madara?"

Spinning his mask around, the head Uchiha looked over at Sasuke. That was a good question, what were the plans? Konoha defeated them and Madara's plan of using Sasuke and his team failed. The tracker, Karin, along with the others were captured and they were too weak to go battle Konoha.

"Madara." Sasuke glared at Madara. "Do you have answer?"

"Why should I answer to you? You were the one who failed me."

"It wasn't my fault." Sasuke stood up and glared down at the bored Uchiha. "It was because of Naruto, he got in my way! And Sakura..."

Sasuke rubbed his neck, the place where Sakura stabbed him.

"She actually attacked me and caused me to bleed badly to the point where I was too weak to fight."

Madara rolled his eyes. There he goes again, making up excuses. He was getting pretty sick of Sasuke, he's been getting on his last nerves.

"How about you make up the plan for once?"

"You want me to make up a plan?" Sasuke gave Madara a strange look. "That isn't like you."

Because you're so annoying. Madara told himself. "Yes... Have any ideas?"

Sasuke went into deep thought and smiled evilly. "We can bring the Akatsuki back from the dead."

Bring the Akatsuki from the dead? Was the boy insane? Actually, Madara knew that answer. He was VERY insane. The only person who could bring people back from death was Orochimaru and he was long gone.

"Before you ask," Sasuke walked over to Madara, "Kabuto has gained Orochimaru's talents. Which means he can bring them back to life."

"Kabuto?" Madara nearly hissed. There was no way he could trust that snake. He was worse than Orochimaru.

"Relax, I'll talk to him." Sasuke walked out of the room.

Stupid Sasuke, he's only going to use you like how I am using you. Madara sneered under his breath. Since he's gone, I can finally leave this place to get some fresh air.

With a wave of a hand, Madara disappeared.

XXX

Walking on the boarder of Konoha, a cloaked man smiled evilly. He was here, the place where she lived. The girl that killed him. The man pulled down his hood to show off his crimson red hair. She may not know it but Sasori had plans in store for Sakura Haruno.

"Sakura chan, where the hell are you going?"

She's heading this way? Has she improved to the point she can track me down?

Sasori looked around and jumped up in a nearby tree. Running below him was no other than Sakura Haruno, being stalked by a blonde hair boy. The Kyuubi?

"Stop following me Naruto," the kunoichi turned around to her friend, "I need to think to myself."

"How can you reject that mission from Tsunade? It was the perfect chance of finding Sasuke!"

"I'm tired of chasing down Sasuke!" Sakura destroyed a close by tree. "You can go searching for him for the rest of your life, I have other goals in mind!"

That girl murdered that tree. Sasori sighed. Good thing I wasn't in it.

"What in the world are you talking about?"

"I need to find the man that brought Sasuke to the evil side." Sakura's green eyes were in rage. "The man called Madara Uchiha."

"He's long gone Sakura, he's never coming back here." Naruto was getting annoyed.

"You say that now, but I'm sure he's planning something big. Something that could end the lives of everyone we know. I'm out of here. I'm not going to sit around and let things get out of hand."

"Wait Sakura!" Naruto chased after Sakura.

It was too late. She mad a hand sign and disappeared. Still in the tree Sasori chuckled softly.

So she's going after that mad man? Not if I stop her first.

Sasori looked down at the Kyuubi and left within seconds.

XXX

"That Sasuke is a bastard." Madara sighed, eating a large bowl of popcorn he had bought from a close by village. "Thinking he's so cool, well he isn't. And I'm sure the rest of the Akatsuki would agree with me... If they were alive."

Madara eyes glanced a flashy store. It had "interesting" pictures of women on it... A lot of women... Walking out of that store, a group of middle age girls surrounded Madara.

"Hey there sexy." Cooed a girl with straight black hair. "How about you come buy me a drink?"

"Screw a drink," a blonde shouted, wrapping her arms around one of Madara's arm, "get me your body!"

Crap, hookers.

"No." Madara pushed them off.

"Hey," The third girl walked up to him. "Have I seen you before?"

Madara didn't have to look hard at her before he knew who she was. It was Karin, Sasuke's old team mate. Why was she with a group of girls like them?

Because she is like them. Madara told himself.

"I've never seen you before." Madara continued to walk of with his popcorn. Just leave me alone and let me enjoy my damn popcorn.

"Hold on!" Karin ran over to him, leaving the other women in the dust. "You're Madara! Tell me how Sasuke kun is doing?"

Tell her that he died in a hole. Maybe then she'll leave you alone.

Okay... Madara was going insane. Since when did he started to talk to himself?

"Sasuke is under my rule now, he would kill you if I ordered him to." He tried to scare her off.

"He wouldn't kill me, he loves me!" Karin was following him like a sick puppy.

He loves you so much that he stabbed your boob. Madara looked down at her chest. Well, the place where your boobs should be at.

"Stop following me Karin." Madara demanded. But his serious command was useless when he stuffed his mouth with popcorn.

"Look at you Madara, how sad! You need to get in better shape."

I can say the same about you. Madara noticed that she was larger. Wonder who's the daddy of that damned child?

"Farewell KARIN..." His eyebrows twitched when he mention it's name.

"NO!"

Madara dashed off, leaving the red head to cry alone.

XXX

"Well this is perfect," Sakura started scouting on the ground, "I lost the map!"

When she finally figured she lost it in Konoha, she leaned against a rock the size of a house. She was lost, had no food, and her brain was pounding out of her skull.

I blame Naruto. Sakura rolled her eyes, looking around the strange area. Just where am I?

Yes, Sakura was an ANBU that had no idea where the bleep she was at. Ironic much?

Sakura sighed. She might as well be on another planet.

"That crazy chick..."

Sakura shot up as she heard a man's voice coming closer to her. She hid behind the piller to get a good look at the stranger. He had long black hair and fire red eyes. If she didn't know any better, she could mistaken him for Sasuke. But the man coming closer to her didn't have hatred in his eyes... And Sasuke wouldn't be carrying around a bowl of popcorn.

"Next time I see her..." The man continued on mumbling.

He noticed the large rock and sat down near it, just on the opposite side of Sakura.

He doesn't look dangerous, perhaps I can ask him where I'm at.

Just in case, Sakura pulled out a bottle of poison, dipped some kunai in it, put the jar back in her backpack, and put the kunai back in the pouch on her right leg. She was ready to kill, even if it was a man that was holding a bowl of the randomest food.

"Hello sir," Sakura walked around the rock and greeted him, "I'm afraid I'm lost, do you know where I am?"

Madara looked up at her and nearly chocked on a piece of popcorn. It was the Kyuubi's friend! The one with insane strength and medical powers! What was her name... Sakura? Yeah, Sakura! Hold on, why was he afraid of her? She's lost. If he could kill her off, it would be one less medic in Konoha.

Madara's hands itched for some ninja stars, but instead, he pulled out a map.

"Here you go." He gave her the map. "You can have it, I have no use for it."

"Thank you so much!" Sakura smiled and bowed down to him. "Farewell!"

As she ran off, Madara smiled to himself.

She's pretty cute when I'm not battling her, he laughed, But I seriously have to head back before Sasuke loses his mind again.

Looking at Sakura as she headed to a small village, Madara sighed and headed back to the hideout.