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A/N: Heya, faithful readers! Glad you decided to continue past the prologue. To understand this chapter, I hope you read the manga. If not, the only thing you really need to know is that at one point Kisame and Suigetsu started battling when Sasuke went off after Itachi. Back to the point, this chapter is much longer, being that it is an actual chapter. I'm happy that I got reviews, but if you're bothering to read the story, please review! I've seen the hits. –grins- Anyway, with no further delay, onto the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but if I did, Sakura would have matured much faster

Redemption

Chapter Two: Retrieval


Leaves rustled as the team moved swiftly through the trees. The sky was still dark and the air hung heavy over the forest. Kakashi slowed and the others followed his lead.

"Let's break here for a few hours," he said softly.

"But Kakashi-sensei," Naruto began. "No Naruto," Sakura interrupted, "we should stop for now. None of us who were actually sleeping when Tsunade summoned us had been asleep long. Besides, we've been moving for a few hours. The sun should rise in a couple hours. We can continue then."

"They're right, Naruto-kun. Just for a little while, okay?" Hinata pleaded.

Naruto sighed. "Fine, but not for long. We need to find the teme!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.


Elsewhere around the same time

Pain. It was everywhere, burning through his body like fire. He wasn't complaining though; his goal was complete at long last. He smiled. Revenge is sweet. His new goal was now to find his stupid team and tend to his injuries. He would decide what to do after that. He grasped his left arm, which was in exceptional pain. Looking down, he saw the blood seep through his fingers and trail down his hand. He glanced down farther towards his dragging feet. He was leaving a trail of blood in the leaves and grass. He sighed in pained frustration.

"Shit."

They were close, his team. If he could only reach them, even if someone stumbled upon the trail, it wouldn't matter. He hurried as fast as he could through the dank forest towards their location. Minutes later, yelling could be heard. He sped up in apprehension.

"Come on, come on," he muttered under his breath. Suddenly he broke out from the forest and stood near the walls of a town, surveying two men fighting. A woman and another man stood by, watching the fight.

"Suigetsu!" he yelled in annoyance. Suigetsu dodged a blow from Kisame and looked back. Sasuke grimaced when Karin turned and squealed his name. She came running to him and Juugo just stood there. The surprise was evident on Suigetsu and Kisame's faces.

"You did it then, Sasuke?" Karin gasped impatiently. Sasuke nodded.

"And you won?" Suigetsu asked. Sasuke smirked, and nodded again.

"Against whom?" Kisame questioned with growing suspicion. Sasuke's smirk widened.

"Itachi. He's dead."

Kisame seemed to freeze in place. "You're lying."

"Go see for yourself," Sasuke replied coolly. "Itachi Uchiha is dead."

Kisame growled in annoyance, and in a flash, he was gone to check on Itachi. 'I need a medic' Sasuke thought, ignoring Karin. Juugo approached Sasuke and stopped a few feet short of him.

"I guess you don't need us anymore do you then, since the purpose of Hebi is completed?" he asked stoically. Sasuke nodded.

"That's right."

Suigetsu didn't seem to care much, but Karin was obviously distraught.

"But Sasuke," she started. Sasuke glared at her in annoyance, silently warning her to stay quiet. She heeded him, for once. She was none too happy about it though. Sasuke's gaze shifted towards the town.

"I don't need you guys anymore, so you can go. My first goal is complete. Hebi is disbanded." He turned and started for the town. Yet one last minute plead.

"Sasuke, let me at least get you to the hospital then," Karin said. "It's the least I can do."

Sasuke looked back at her suspiciously, and then nodded. "Fine. But that's it," he said. "Then you leave."

She smiled. "Of course!"


After a few hours for a break, they had headed off again the next day and traveled for several more hours. None of them had eaten since the night before and Naruto was getting impatient.

"Okay," Sakura said, stopping and pointing at a town in the distance. "Naruto, we can break there for a bit to get food. Kakashi and I will see if we can get any information about Sasuke." She looked around for approval. Everyone agreed, and they set off for the town.

Sakura sighed in frustration. Of course, no one knew anything about Sasuke or his team. Naruto and Hinata were getting food, and Kakashi was looking for Sasuke elsewhere. She kicked a trash can to release anger and watched it tip and roll towards a building up ahead. Sakura read the inscription near the building doors. It was a hospital. She glanced around and then shrugged. "What the hell. Why not?"

Not too far away, Sasuke grimaced angrily. The doctors kept berating him for an explanation for his numerous wounds. He figured that he would have to sneak out as soon as he could. The doctors were only one of two reasons for this decision, however. Karin stood by his hospital bed, jabbering about god knows what. He was ignoring her, as usual. He looked around. The door and Karin were on the left, and the window and freedom on the right. His eyes fixed on the window.

Downstairs, Sakura surveyed the lobby. It was somewhat busy, but there was one clerk who seemed calm. Sakura headed there, suspicion rising in her throat.

"Excuse me, miss?" she said.

The woman looked up and gave a weary smile. "Yes? How may I help you?"

Sakura smiled sweetly, hiding her anxiousness. "Is there a Sasuke Uchiha in this hospital?"

"Are you family? I'm sorry, but I can't disclose information unless you are."

Sakura hesitated for just a moment, but the tired woman didn't notice.

"He's my…fiance," Sakura lied.

"Oh! Of course. Let me check for you," the woman replied.

'She didn't even want proof?' Sakura thought.

"He is here," the woman said, "in room 204." She paused. "Oh, that's on the second floor," she added.

"Thank you," Sakura said, and hurried off. She decided not to get the remaining team members first because she didn't know how long Sasuke would stay here.

"Karin," Sasuke said, interrupting her never-ending speech, "will you go and get me a cup of water?" he asked.

Karin beamed. "Of course, Sasuke!"

And just like that, she was gone. Sasuke sighed in relief. He had hoped that would work. He figured these bandages would do for now, and decided to make a break for the window now, while he had the chance. He began to sit up when the door opened. He slumped slightly.

'That was way too fast,' he thought.

However, it wasn't Karin who walked into the room. It was a doctor. Sasuke's lips formed a thin line. 'C'mon, get it over with,' he thought.

"Sorry Sasuke-san. I just needed to check your charts." She picked them up as she said this, and then left. Sasuke began to sit up again, when the door opened yet again.

'Now it's Karin,' Sasuke thought. Instead, his eyes were greeted with the sight of pink hair.

"…Sakura…?"

Her eyes, which had widened at the sight of him, widened more at the sound of his voice.

"…Sasuke."

He was confused. "How did you find me?" he asked. She smiled.

"Why are you so shocked? We said we'd find you, after all." She paused. "Where's your team?"

"Long story."

"And we all know how much you like talking."

"Hn. Karin's here."

"In the hospital?"

He nodded.

"Then we should get going," she prompted.

He eyed her with a questioning look on his face.

"Well, what did you expect? You're coming with us."

Suddenly he smirked. "Fine. Let's go."

She was a bit surprised, but quickly walked to the bed and helped him off it. He put his left arm around her shoulder to stay steady. (deja-vu?)

"The window," he said. She looked at him blankly. "Karin," he clarified. Sakura nodded.

She landed smoothly and headed towards the ramen shop that Naruto stopped at, which was the meeting place for her and Kakashi. Sakura stopped near the shop and spotted Naruto at the counter sitting by Hinata. Kakashi was late, as always. She looked at Sasuke.

"Let's be careful about this, okay? Naruto will be…excited."

Sasuke looked blankly at Naruto's back. "Whatever."

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Why are you being so compliant?" she probed.

He turned his gaze to her now. "Save that for when everyone is listening. I don't like repeating myself," he responded.

Sakura started for a moment longer, and then gave up. "Fine. Let's go."
They made their way through the small crowd to the shop and stopped behind Naruto. As if he had sensed them standing there, Naruto slowly turned around. His eyes widened in shock, and he stood up immediately.

"Sa-sa-sasuke teme!"

"SHHH Naruto! Shut up! Do you want to attract everyone's attention?" Sakura hissed.

Naruto paid no heed to Sakura's warning. Hinata stood up anxiously and laid a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto-kun, calm down." Then to Sakura, "We should go now. This could get loud."

Sakura nodded in agreement and helped the still limping Sasuke away. Kakashi had appeared at that moment, and gestured towards the gates to the city. Naruto and Hinata followed. Once outside the gates and a little ways into the forest, Hinata let go of Naruto.

"Teme…if you weren't supporting yourself on Sakura-chan, I would punch you right now. I hope you know that."

Sasuke smirked. "Like you could hit me," he responded arrogantly.

"Not this again," Naruto muttered under his breath.

"OKAY," Kakashi said loudly to gather everyone's attention. "Sasuke. I think you know we have many questions for you and there's no time like the present. So firstly, why are you injured?"

Sasuke smirked. "Itachi." Blank silence greeted this. Sasuke frowned in annoyance. They didn't understand. "He's dead. I killed him."

Sakura and Kakashi exchanged glances, and Hinata gasped. Naruto's jaw dropped open.

"You did WHAT?" he exclaimed. Sasuke let out a short laugh, making everyone nervous.

"I killed him. My revenge is complete. As for my team, because I know that is your next question, they are disbanded. The purpose of Hebi has been fulfilled."

"Then…why was Karin at the hospital with you?" Sakura asked.

Naruto, Hinata, and Kakashi looked at her for an explanation. "I found Sasuke at a hospital getting treatment for his wounds and he said Karin was there. A member of his team."

Everyone's attention swung back to Sasuke.

"Hn. She wouldn't leave me alone. I was planning on ditching her soon anyway."

Naruto scowled, remembering Sakura lying on a cold bench the morning Sasuke left.

"Okay. But, I've been wondering this the whole time," Sakura said. "Why didn't you resist when I came to get you?"

Sasuke sighed. "I thought that would be clear with my earlier statements. I've finished my primary goal. Itachi is dead. There is no point in resisting your "rescue" attempt anymore."

'If this was his primary goal,' Sakura thought, 'then what is the secondary goal?'

"Anyway, if you don't want to encounter Karin, then we'd better go now. She'll be looking for me soon if she isn't already," Sasuke mentioned.

Kakashi sighed. "Alright. Naruto, Hinata, I hope you got extra food. But for now, let's go. Sakura, can you hold up Sasuke like that on the way back?"

She nodded. "Okay," he said. An instant later, they were gone.


Somewhere dark and mysterious

"Uchiha Itachi is dead? Who killed him?" asked a somewhat amazed voice.

"The younger Uchiha. Sasuke," replied Kisame.

"And you've confirmed this?"

"Yes, I have. But Pain-sama, I have some good news."
"What is it?"

"I also discovered that Uchiha Sasuke is now in company with a Konoha team. The kyuubi jinchuuriki is on the team."

"Hm. Interesting. Do you have a plan?"

"Yes, Pain-sama. The jinchuuriki is emotionally attached to a girl on this team. I can kidnap her, and lead him straight to me."

"And you will not fail?"

"I will succeed."

"…Fine. Go ahead with the plan then. I want constant updates."
" Yes, of course."


A/N: All right! Nine pages. I've had longer before, but this is decent length. Anyway, what do you think? Reviews are nice and shiny. Also, sorry this chapter took so long to come out. Surprisingly, I've been getting a lot of homework (considering I'm a senior in high school). The only times I get homework, I get it in bulk. Either I don't get any, or I get a ton. Heh. I have a break next week, so maybe I'll get another chapter out by the 23rd or so? And finally, so you can get on with your life instead of sitting here reading fanfiction, REVIEW!!

Jinchuuriki- The human host body for the Biju.

Biju- The name for tailed beasts. (Aka kyuubi, shukaku, ect…)