Chapter Two—Rescue Team

Disclaimer: You know the drill, Naruto isn't mine blah blah, but I found it interesting, so I'm going to give it a try, okies?

She didn't know for how long she traveled, over the time, she lost track of how many times the sun rose and set, dimly aware that her surroundings were changing drastically, but she only cared to get away. She knew that in order not to be found, in case someone saw through her fake death, she would have to put a lot of distance between her and the Hunter-nins would be needed. In her constant moving, she rarely rested, barely ate, using chakra to help enhance her eyesight, and night vision. When she finally stopped, she had no idea where she was, and collapsed gratefully on the mossy ground, under the cool vintage of a large tree.

Feeling the strong urge to sleep, and rest, she pushed it away first carefully looking over her surroundings. What she saw actually surprised her. In Konoha she was used to seeing large trees, but the ones surrounding her were giants in comparison. As for the forest itself…her eyes drank in the beauty of it, light and darkness had never mixed so well before in her mind. In all living things, including trees, chakra existed, and it emitted out with smooth flowing pulses that swept over her, soothing her, making her smile to herself dreamily. It was like stepping into a dream really.

Snorting at herself, she pinched her arm just to make sure that she wasn't dreaming, and grimaced faintly. Assured she wasn't asleep yet, she sighed to herself, and wiped her forehead, brushing back her dirtied hair. Looking down at herself she made a face at the filth covering her body. She really needed to clean…however…sleep was calling to her strongly. With a frown she set up traps around her, and activated them to warn her of any attack. Then satisfied, she curled into herself against the tree comfortably; she fell asleep within the chakra's flowing over her.

The chuunin ninjas were gathered in a room talking amongst themselves about the disappearance/death of one of their fellow members. The females were all near tears, or numb with shock, the males muttering denials to themselves, and their sensei's and Hokage.

"She can't be dead!" A short black haired boy with thick eyebrows. "Sakura-chan was beautiful, an angel! She was strong! She was going to marry me!"

"Lee…"

Tsunade looked on with blank eyes as Gai tried to calm down his student, only to break down into tears hugging the boy to him as they wailed. The other teens all began to talk again, this time louder.

"She's not dead."

Silence abruptly fell at the dark cool voice. Kakashi looked to the shadows. "What do you mean…Sasuke?" He asked calmly.

"Sakura." Sasuke said slowly, and very quietly. "Is not dead."

The others all stared at him. Finally, Naruto found his voice. "How do you know bastard?"

The raven-haired boy took out objects from his pockets, her forehead protector, the strip of cloth from her shirt, some of her hair, and a shuriken. "If Sakura was killed, why would the killer take the trouble of leaving all this behind as clues, yet disappear with her body?" He looked at them all, nothing showing on his face, his eyes found Tsunade. "Sakura didn't die, she faked her death, and ran away." He looked to the shuriken. "If she was dead, none of these would have been left there, or else, had they, her body would have been as well. Why take the time to hide someone whose dead? Unless they aren't. Besides." He added more quietly. "She wouldn't leave this shuriken behind, no matter what."

"Why is that?" Neji asked out of the blue, from where he was.

A humourless smile rose on the other males face. "Because it was mine. She took it in a fight, and never returned it."

Silence fell once more, none daring to breath. Tsunade looked at the raven-haired male. "Once again Sasuke…we've underestimated you. But how do you know she ran? She could have been taken…again." She finished in a whisper.

At that, a hint of anger crossed Sasuke's face as he thought of his brother and the Akatsuki. "I don't." He said coolly. "That's why I want you to allow a team to go in search of her."

Surprise filled them all. Naruto's eyes narrowed on his teammate. "Since when have you cared so much about Sakura?" He asked suspiciously.

Under their eyes Sasuke narrowed his own dangerously. "She's a teammate." He said coldly. "And one of the best medic-nins in Konoha. Even I can admit that."

Ah, but can you admit your true feelings? Kakashi wondered watching his student as the others muttered to themselves. Finally Tsunade spoke. "As you will Uchiha Sasuke. Who will you take with you?"

He glanced at her formal tone, but answered without a second thought, or hesitation. "Naruto, Neji, Tenten…Hinata."

"What?" Naruto exclaimed. "Hinata? Why?"

"N-Naruto!" Hinata's voice snapped at him, surprising most of them. She gave him a dark look. Sasuke levelled a glare on the blonde as well. "She has healer experience, we'll need her." He said monotone.

"I wish to go as well!" Lee blurted out. "I need to fine Sakura-chan."

"No." Sasuke didn't bother looking at the other male.

"But I am one of the best—"

"You may be." Sasuke gritted out. "But that's why I didn't choose you. Others are needed here, in case of trouble. And there are missions to think of."

Lee looked surprised, before he started to smile as his eyes showed the intense emotions he was feeling. "I am one of the best. And you leave me here to protect the village! Thank you Sasuke-san!"

"Yeah whatever." The other male muttered.

Tsunade looked at the adults gathered, then at the chosen ninjas. "You agree to this?" She asked.

"Hell yes!" Naruto shouted.

"Of course." Tenten answered as Neji nodded. Hinata smiled shyly her agreement. Tsunade nodded curtly. "The rest may leave." She said quietly. Reluctantly the others left, all except for the chosen team to search for Sakura, and Kakashi. Tsuande closed her eyes. "It is my belief, that something, triggered Sakura to do this." She opened her eyes looking at the chuunin in front of her. "Lately…she had been acting strange, more distant than usual. For this, this is not only a search, but a retrieval." She paused again. "I am classifying this as an A-rank mission."

Tenten's eyes widened slightly as Naruto stared dumbly. Neji shifted. "A-rank Tsunade-sama?" He questioned carefully.

The woman's face was hard. "You have not seen Sakura in nearly three years, or more. You have no idea of the powerful potential she had hidden within her."

"Sakura hates to kill." Sasuke frowned. The Hokage's silence made them uneasy. Finally she spoke. "You were gone for three years Sasuke, during that time as Naruto trained under Jiraiya, Sakura came under my wing. Although she refused to tell us anything of what happened to her in the Akatsuki's hands…I've seen in her eyes when she saw a wounded person. I've seen the horrors that haunt her when she sees a dead person. I know that she has killed someone, and while in a way she might regret it, I think that she also didn't have any true guilt over it either."

"So you want us to be careful of her." Neji spoke.

"Very careful." Tsunade agreed. "Just bring her back." They nodded and started to leave. "And Sasuke…" she called as he came to the door. He looked back slightly. Tsunade sighed. "I'm giving you permission to use any means necessary to bring her back." His onyx eyes narrowed, but he nodded curtly and walked out.

Any means necessary huh…she won't like that…

Something was probing against her traps. Keeping her body relaxed, Sakura opened her eyes slowly and peered out from beneath her bangs carefully. Only to stare openly. "Wha—?"

A giant wolf, and she did mean giant, the animals head came to her chest easily, was standing in front of her, its powerful black body shining oddly within the morning light, golden eyes looked over her shield around her, sniffing cautiously before looking directly at her. Staring she reached out with her chakra, and 'touched' the wolf. The animal stiffened at first, but soon calmed, and looked at her steadily. Feeling no sense of malicious from it, Sakura slowly let down her shields and traps.

For a long moment, kunoichi and wolf regarded each other silently. Finally Sakura leaned back fully raising a brow. "Are you here to kill me?" She asked. "Or just stare?"

To her surprise, the wolf snorted in disgust. Then a presence brushed over her mind, she flinched surprised, but relaxed a second later. It wasn't hurting her. She opened her mind, and clear images filled her head, showing flashes of things. Blinking she shook her head and suddenly laughed lightly. "So…you want me to follow you there huh?" She smirked and stood up flipping her hair back. "All right. You're on."

The wolf gave a toothy grin and sent another image before turning with a slick of its tail, and leapt away into the trees. She raised a brow, but followed readily. Strange wolf. She thought to herself. It's not an ordinary one that's for sure…odd, he reminds me of—no don't think of him…

Scowling at herself for thinking of him she flipped and landed on a branch, beside the black wolf, and looked down. Her eyes widened slightly. "Wow…" Below was a glen with a deep pool of crystal water, capture the raining waterfalls essence as denser vegetation grew all around. In the middle of the large pool, a stone was placed; it looked like it was floating really. Eying it, she jumped down, and landed on the grassy banks, and glanced at the wolf that followed her. Golden eyes met emerald, and images were passed between them.

Behind their meanings, she could sense words, and concentrating, picked them out. 'You run from your home, and past…I offer you sanctuary here.' Her eyes widened with shock as she scowled at the wolf. "How the hell do you know that?" She demanded.

Amusement filled her, though it wasn't her humour. Her eyes narrowed further as she regarded the wolf. "Think that's funny do you?" She asked softly. "You've got a weird sense of humour for an animal."

The wolf snorted again, this time with scorn. Images flickered, and the words came to her mind more easily. She frowned listening with her head tilted. 'I am more than an animal young one, I am called the Kage wolf, a sacred ki.' The wolf looked at her with a serious intent. "Kage wolf?" Her brow furrowed. "I see…" her face cleared as she regarded the wolf. "Well…Kage…since you know all my secrets." She smiled slightly with a bitter twist. "Why don't you tell me yours?"

"Ahh, all in good time milady…first…you must meet me." Her head swung over to the mysterious voice, and she was met with dark crimson eyes.

Uppdatte! Here ya go and I hope ya'll enjoyed it!
Storm