Authors note: I'm incredibly sorry for the long wait! My laptop broke, but it's all fixed now so hopefully I'll be updating more often.

Also, before you read on, know that I've updated the previous two chapters. Most of all its just fixing up some writing mistakes or changing a minor detail that won't affect the storyline, but I wanted to make chapter 2 longer so I added in a little bit from Ino's point of view and I decided I'm going to keep running with that occasionally for some of the story. It's the last section of chapter two and is probably worth checking out considering the next bit I write from Inos POV may not make sense if you haven't read it. Totally up to you though (obviously)

This chapters a little short, but I think I got all the information in that I need to, if I added in any more then I think I would be overloading all the information you can take in at once, haha. I felt like I should've done a little more considering how long it's been since I've posted, but I'm hoping that from here on in I'll be posting regularly so fingers crossed you guys can bear with me!

Anyways, enjoy the chapter! XXX

It had been about a week since the incident, and apart from a slight ache in her leg, Sakura was fully healed. The miracles of medical ninjustu never ceased to surprise her, even if she was experienced in the art herself.

Now that she was fully healed she no longer needed to be confined to her house with daily hospital check-ups, meaning that she was just itching for a mission, and with the new information that had been revealed this week about the Akatsuki, she was hoping it was something that would lead her to find Naruto.

She had made her way up the Hokage Tower with a spring in her step, but that spring vanished and was replaced with caution once she saw the commotion coming from outside the Tsunades office.

"I want two teams of ANBU and two teams of medical ninja to get out there pronto!" Tsunade barked. Sakura had to flatten herself against the wall to avoid being trampled by the numerous shinobi that flung themselves out of the room barely a second after the order had been given.

The chaos had come and gone in less than a few seconds, leaving Sakura to wonder what it was that had caused it all. She stepped carefully into Tsunade's office, scared of what news was awaiting her.

Tsunade was sitting at her desk, eyes shut tight and brows furrowed. Her fingers massaged her temples, a sign that she was in deep thought. Shizune stood beside her, clutching Tonton, and going by the looks on their faces, Sakura could tell something bad had happened.

"M-Milady," Sakura stumbled. Tsunade responded with a twitch of her eyebrow. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I was just on my way here to see if there were any missions available and I couldn't help noticing that – "

"It's Kakashi," Tsunade interrupted, opening her eyes to look at Sakura straight in the face.

Sakura's stomach dropped. "What happened to him?"

There was a moment of silence. Tsunade took in a deep breath, but didn't say anything. It was obvious that she was worried just as much as Sakura was – these past few years weren't any better for her than they had been for Sakura.

"If I may, milady," interjected Shizune. Tsunade nodded. "We haven't confirmed that anything bad has happened to Kakashi himself," at that, Sakuras face lit up. "But, his whole squad has been in an incident." Sakuras face dropped again. Shit.

"What happened?" Sakura all but demanded.

Shizune remained calm, "They were supposed finish the mission that you two had started, but they were ambushed. From the report we can gather that the majority of shinobi who went on the mission are severely injured, and there weren't enough medical nins to look after them all."

She couldn't believe her ears. Ambushed?

A harsh lump appeared in Sakura's throat, but she refused to let herself cry. She took in a deep breath, and forced words out of her mouth before her voice could crack. "It'll take the team you sent too long to get there! Please let me help… I may not be able to get them any faster, but I've been trained by the Hokage herself, and I-I…" She closed her eyes, begging the tears to leave. "I need to help Kakashi," she breathed. "He's the last member of Team Seven; I need to make sure he's okay."

"He will be okay," Tsunade assured her, although by the tone of her voice Sakura wondered if she believed the words that were coming out of her own mouth. "Kakashi the copy nin won't go down so easily, you should know that yourself, Sakura."

Sakura balled her hands into fists at her side. "Of course I know that. He was my sensei, and he's the last member of the original Team Seven in Konohagakure. That's why I need to help him!"

Tsunade clenched her jaw and shot an angry look in Sakura's direction. Sakura wasn't quite sure what she had done to earn such a look, but even so she braced herself to get yelled at.

"Sakura, I know you want to help Kakashi. I believe he's alright, and it may be hard to regain your composure being unsure of that, but I have a mission for you. It's an important mission, but if you want to wait until it's confirmed that Kakashi is okay then you may turn it down, just this once."

Sakura blinked back in surprise as the words that came out of Tsunade's mouth weren't that of scolding but words of comfort. "Thank you, milady. What is this mission about, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Its top secret, but I can tell you it's to do with the Akatsuki."

Sakura's eyes widened. "If I don't take this mission, will it be passed on to someone else?"

Tsunade nodded. "I can hold it til tonight, but the importance of it means that if you don't take it I would have to give it to someone else. If you would like to, come back at six tonight and give me your decision."

Sakura nodded. "Thank you, Lady Hokage. I will see you tonight."

Tsunade smiled. "I'll see you then, Sakura. Don't worry too much."

Sakura left the tower feeling conflicted. In all honesty, she wanted to wait until Kakashi got back home until she went outside of the village. It wasn't that she was reliant on him, she just wanted to make sure he came home okay, but if she did end up staying home she would be wasting an opportunity to get her precious old teammate back. Tsunade said the mission would be given to someone else if Sakura didn't take it, which would be reason enough for anyone else to stay home and wait for their loved ones to come back, but Sakura didn't trust anyone else enough to do the mission unless it was someone as close to Naruto as herself, and that would limit her to two people; Kakashi and Tsunade, both of who were unable to do it.

Sakura sighed to herself and tried to drop the matter from her mind. She would have all day to decide what she wanted to do.

Walking through the bustling streets of Konoha, she found herself reminiscing about the times when the original team seven were all together. Maybe they would reunite one day and scoff down some ramen together and laugh at Naruto's ridiculous appetite. Or maybe not.

She felt anger stir inside her, a feeling she had become familiar with over the past few years. If it wasn't for the Akatsuki, they would still be together creating more memories. They took her friends away from her, and it was the most horrible feeling she had ever felt. Sasuke and Naruto… She had grown to believe Sasuke was long gone, but if the Akatsuki were defeated, would come home? If the Akatsuki were defeated, would Naruto still be missing? If the Akatsuki was defeated, would she still feel so frustrated?

I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else, she thought.

I can't let what happened to our team happen to anyone else.

I will stop the Akatsuki!

Sakura didn't have to give a second thought to it. She was stupid for not thinking this in the first place. She had to take that mission, not just for herself, but for the rest of the shinobi world to. She would be the one to take them down.

She turned on her heels and stormed back to Tsunades office.

Deidara sat at the long table of the Akatsuki meeting room with his head on his hands. The table was the only piece of furniture in the entire room, which left him feeling bored at the fact that there was nothing to look at, not to mention that every single current Akatsuki member had been in there for nearly ten minutes and nobody had spoken a word.

Tobi sat beside him, fidgeting. "Ooh, Leader, please speak! Tobi is getting restless and is wondering what is of utmost importance that we all have to be here. Maybe we're going to play a game of I spy?"

Deidara glared at him. "Hn. I spy with what? The only thing in here is a table."

"I spy with my little eye something beginning with P! Dingdingdingding, time is up," he said, without giving a moment to think "The thing beginning with P is… Deidara-senpai!" He pointed at Deidara, who cocked his eyebrow at him.

"P?"

"P for Party-Pooper!" he exclaimed.

Before Deidara could growl at him, Pain, who was standing at the head if the table, spoke up.

"As much as I appreciate the enthusiasm, Tobi, this is a very important meeting. And it seems it is time to begin my explanation." He looked at Konan sitting beside him. "As we all know, there was a reason why I decided to put our ultimate mission on hiatus. That reason is no more."

Deidara's eyes opened wide in disbelief. What Pain said probably meant one of two two things; Konan had recovered from her supposed incurable disease, or they had found new, strong members to face the last of the Jinchuriki.

"Konan has recovered, and we have found new members," he said, confirming both of Deidaras suspicions. "Not only that, but our new members have a lead on the lost nine tails. We have two more Jinchuriki to go, then we can carry out what we have waited so long to do."

What had before been a boring silence was now an eruption of noise.

"Congratulations Konan!" grinned Kisame. "We knew you could do it!"

Deidara smiled. Secretly, he hated the organisation, but Konan was always there for everyone, almost like a mother figure. He had been sad when he found out she was sick, and would make her clay sculptures in his spare time as gifts; at first Pain wouldn't allow it because he believed they were explosive, but once Deidara explained they were just for decorative purposes he was fine with it. Hearing she was better was a relief, until it dawned on him;

The Akatsuki would now continue on their war torn path.

He kept the smile on his face for Konans sake, but he really felt like going and blowing something up.

"We will continue celebrations later," said Pain, "but for now I would like you to meet our two new members. You may enter."

The door on the far left side of the room opened, revealing two figures, contrasting in appearances.

The first was a woman with long, blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was tall and of average weight. She looked like the typical girl Deidara would pick up at clubs; boring, but attractive enough to keep him entertained.

The second figure was a short, fragile looking boy. His hair was as short but messy, and as white as his skin, but what really struck Deidara was his eyes; they were the darkest, deepest black he had ever seen. Looking at them gave him a shiver, so he averted his eyes to the woman, who smiled at everyone who was gazing at the pair.

"Hello," she said cheerfully. "It's nice to meet you all. This here is my friend Mitsuko. He doesn't have a last name. I found him a few years back and named him myself. At the time I wasn't sure if he was a boy or a girl 'cause his hair was so long, so the names a little feminine but I think it suits him!" She giggled, clapping her hands together. "Oh, and I'm Megumi. Megumi Namikaze!"