Tsuki: I'm ba-aaaack! *wags tail rapidly* Okay here's the not-long awaited sequel to 'Change of Heart'. I would highly recommend reading that one before you come to this one. Well, in this one we reach the fight between the selected ninja and Kabuto, how will things play out? You won't find out in this chapter. :3 Muahahaha!

This will take place right where Change of Heart left off, after the picnic, so don't get confused. This will (like the other one) not be in anyone's POV, because you can add more detail when it's not. This time around, disclaimer is by Kakashi-sensei! *applause*

Kakashi: Tsuki does not own Naruto nor will she ever. Hey Tsuki, look there's a picture of you in my book! Wow, you look great!

Tsuki: What?!?! *snarls* I would run if I was you!!

Kakashi: *runs*

Tsuki: Here it goes everyone, and remember, please review! *runs after Kakashi with pack of shadow wolves*

^..^

Sakura walked down the road feeling very accomplished. The gathering went better than expected, and Sasuke finally let emotions seep through to some extent. Well, far more than she had ever seen that of course. Jinxy, the quite, cuddly black cat, had gone home with Sasuke this time around, but that was okay with her. Sasuke would need the company now, especially after the picnic.

He looked very vulnerable at the end. His face was tear streaked, and his cheeks were tinted with a blush from crying so much. Let's just say it was a sight you don't see often. Naruto had helped him up, it was time for him to go home, but he had looked at her the entire time, his eyes filled with a longing, or pleading rather. It hurt to watch him go after such an event, but she knew he had a time-limit out there.

She made her way to the Hokage's Tower, as to get further details of the assault against Kabuto Yakushi they were planning. He was dangerously close to Konoha, and action needed to be taken. She, being the go-get-em kind of girl she was, decided to enroll herself for a guaranteed position in this mission, which Lady Tsunade less than happily obliged to. Soon the tower was in sight, and she entered the Hokage's office without hesitation, seeing as Shizune wasn't there to schedule an appointment of some sort. Tsunade currently had a bottle of sake in hand, but was not drunk yet. Perhaps she had only just begun drinking on this day.

"Tsunade-shishou, I would like some more information on this mission." She demanded.

"What more is there to say, Sakura? We leave in a matter of two to three days time depending on his actions."

"Yes but how many nin will be accompanying us?" Tsunade seemed bored by the questions and continued sipping her drink.

"Including you, around let's say, 15. I've hired some select ANBU. You, Kakashi, Naruto, Neji, Kiba, Lee, and a few others." Sakura nodded.

"What time would we be departing and where would this battle take place? What are the requirements, the instructions?"

"All in due time Sakura. I will tell you when you are summoned. For now, can't you just leave me be? Ah yes, how'd your little reuniting go?"

She smiled. "It went very well."

The next day, Sakura prepared her usual visit to Sasuke's. Since he was still on house arrest, he could not yet visit her instead, though she wasn't quite sure if he even would. She slipped on her usual outfit, and strode out the door, this time no Jinxy at her heels.

She waved to various citizens, and they smiled in return, Konoha was such a beautiful, kind place. Why would anyone want to wage war against such a serene community? She kicked a pebble and watched as it clinked against the Uchiha Compound gates. The ANBU guard nodded to her as she opened the gate, and he opened the shoji door for her. Today the main house had a warmer feeling to it, perhaps it was just because the sun was shining so brightly outside today, or maybe it was just the change of atmosphere that Sasuke had going for him.

Said boy sat looking out at the garden again, as he usually did, with Jinxy purring away on the table next to him. Sasuke tilted his head slightly towards her, and nodded. Sakura smiled knowing that meant 'hello, how are you?' when it came to him. She accepted the fact, however, that he would never become much of a talker.

"Good morning, Sasuke-kun!" He smirked inwardly at the common suffix she had once used so often ago when accompanying it with his name and his name only. "How are you?" She pat his hand once, in a friendly gesture and sat down, Sasuke grunting in response. "That's good!" She laughed.

"Where's Naruto?" He glanced one way, then back to the garden.

"He'll be here soon, he's out with Hinata, and the two have become very close actually! I'm glad to see her breaking out of her shell though, I mean, I don't know her that well, but she always seemed so shy. It's deathly obvious she likes Naruto though, poor little Hyuuga, Naruto's just too oblivious to notice." She laughed again, a soft, child-like sound. Sasuke didn't say anything, and she continued.

"So how has Jinxy been? She looks a lot healthier." The cat meowed and stretched out on the table. "I hope you don't mind her staying over here, of course it doesn't look like you do. Having an animal around is probably nice, its better company than those ANBU I suppose. You know, they say animal therapy is really great, it's a good thing you found Jinxy in that sense, I suppose."

"You talk a lot." He stated. Sakura blushed slightly at the ill-mannered comment; she had forgotten how blunt Sasuke could be.

"Yes well you don't talk enough." He was silent for a moment.

"Touché." She was then thrown into a fit of giggles at his most-likely-not-supposed-to-be-funny comment, and he smirked. The feeling of seeing her laugh because of him was no doubt better than the feeling of seeing her cry for that same reason. Naruto soon walked out to the garden, with a big smile on his face.

"Hey guess what, wait, Sakura what's so funny?" He asked.

She was still smiling, her face red from the laughter. "Nothing Naruto, and what is it?"

"Hinata likes me! She told me, she did, she did!" Sakura clapped.

"I'm so glad you finally figured out! Poor girl must've been so nervous!"

"Yeah she just told me and then ran off."

"Aww, that's cute."

"Yup," he pat Sasuke on the back hard enough to make him lean forward slightly. "Hey Sasuke, good to see you again!" Sasuke only grunted in his usual reply. Naruto took it as a 'likewise'. "I was thinking, we should get together like that more often! How about we go down to the bridge!"

"Now?" Sakura looked at him skeptically. "Are you sure? Will the ANBU let us?"

"Sure they will, we just have to ask, after all, we have friends here watching him!"

"Oh yeah, like who?" Naruto looked around the house with the two until he found the white haired girl he sought.

"Tsuki-chan, I have a favor!" Said girl perked up a bit when she saw Naruto.

"Sure, we'd- I mean I'd be glad to help you!" She was still trying to break the habit of not using the royal 'we' when referring to herself.

"Great, could Sakura and I take Sasuke out for a little while? We're capable ANBU!" She glanced at Sakura who nodded, and sighed.

"I suppose, just don't be out too long." Naruto smiled.

"Thanks Tsuki, I owe you!" He ran off and she yelled after him.

"You owe me for a lot more things than just that!!" Sakura and Sasuke followed Naruto as he ran excitedly out the door, to the road.

"This is going to be so nice! Just like old times!" They ran to catch up with Naruto, and soon stood at the bridge where they had so often met as kids. Sasuke noticed Sakura and Naruto both stood in their classic spots, and couldn't help himself from leaning back casually against the railing.

"I have to admit, this is pretty nice." Sakura looked out at the sparkling water beneath them. "It's too bad we can't go back, to that time I mean… That'd be nice." The team was silent at that remark, and the tension slowly began building. Sakura couldn't think of anything to say to break it though, and was on edge as the minutes passed by painfully slow. Why'd I have to say that? Stupid, stupid Sakura! She quietly groaned, not catching the attention of the others. The trio stood perfectly still, and she couldn't take it anymore.

"Naruto, did you hear?" She knew he wouldn't be terribly happy about the news, but she already had his attention. "I get to, uh, assist on the upcoming mission…"

"The one against Kabuto?" He asked warily. She nodded, and he seemed to be confused. "Sakura, why?"

"I don't know, I just wanted to get out of Konoha, and do something interesting. I haven't been on any really exciting missions in a while."

"This is going to be really dangerous Sakura, I don't think you should go." She began to flare up, Naruto had forgotten that the mention of her not being able to do something because it was too dangerous (possibly labeling her as weak), was quite the touchy subject around our pink haired friend.

"What right do you have to tell me what I should and shouldn't do?" She huffed, and Naruto sighed.

"I have the right as your friend. And you know I didn't mean it in that way Sakura, it's just someone should be here to visit Sasuke, and I just don't want you getting hurt." This did not soften her anger.

"Sasuke can take care of himself for a little while; he's not made of glass Naruto!" Sasuke himself didn't like how they talked as if he wasn't there, so he stood up to make his presence known. It got their attention, and the arguing immediately stopped. "Oh, sorry about that Sasuke, I just meant… well are you okay with being on your own for a day or so?" He didn't answer, and began to walk back towards the Uchiha Compound with his hands shoved in his pockets.

Naruto sighed, and walked after Sasuke. "I'll get him home. I'll see you tomorrow Sakura, and I guess if we're called in, I'll pick you up on my way to Grandma Tsunade's." Sakura just nodded, feeling a little bad for the way she handled what Naruto said. Stupid girl…again. It was just one little sentence, and you know he said it out of the kindness of his heart… he didn't mean it like that…

She walked down the road back to her house, and began to pack her bag of everything she'd need for the mission. Whether they care or not, I am going on this mission. Sakura wasn't sure why she was so determined, but she just couldn't let this chance to finally kill Kabuto slip away from her.

^..^

Tsuki: *panting from chasing Kakashi and smiles* There you have it. It was kind of a suckish chapter, I know, but I'm really busy doing homework and stuff right now. The next ones will be a lot better I promise, and I have big plans! So stay tuned! ;]