Disclaimer: Still don't own Naruto

Author's note: I don't even like this chapter very much but it is nessicary to write. Please read and review

Onto the Darkness

Naruto didn't complain much about having Sakura help him pack, he was just happy to have the company, he still didn't want to be left alone. He didn't blame himself for Sasuke's death anymore, but he still wasn't himself, not yet anyway. Sakura had made up her own mind; that Naruto was in need of her help, not just to pack. But to still get over Sasuke, she was not feeling as bad about the situation as he was, however whether or not she would admit it, she was not there because Naruto was still grieving, she was helping the person most precious to her.

"Sakura-chan, here, I think I will need this don't you," (handing her a couple of scrolls).

"Huh?" She had been day dreaming. "Yes, you might need those."

"Hey, Naruto, are you sure you are up for this mission?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well going to find this person, it could take us a long time, and we could run into, 'them'."

A small smirk came across his face, "Why are you worried about this mission?"

She blushed, "Well, I this is the first mission in a long one, not only that but it is an A-ranked, so confrontation is guaranteed. And well I… was just about… um" she felt like Hinata, why couldn't she talk to Naruto all of a sudden.

"I am worried about you too."

"How did he know what I was going to say?" she thought.

"I have already lost one teammate…" she paused before he finished her sentence. The thought of losing Naruto was too much for her to bear.

"I don't want to lose you or anybody else either and if this mission brings me one step closer to being able to save those close to me, I'll do it."

They finished packing in silence. Sakura left Naruto's apartment, still worried. As she walked home she began to worry more and more about the upcoming mission. Through the night she worried less about the mission but more about her friend and what it could mean if they ran into the Akatsuki on this mission.

The sun rose as Team Kakashi waited at the city gates for all its members to assemble. Sai was the first to arrive on this foggy morning followed closely by Sakura then Naruto. That stood in silence, each lost in their thoughts. Kakashi soon arrived, late but not as late as usual and even he seemed to be worried about their mission.

"Okay, we are heading into the former land of Darkness. Naruto, Sakura…"

"Yes." They replied in unison

"You two have had a slight experience in the place were we are traveling to."

"How is that possible, Kakashi-sensei, I have never even heard of this place until yesterday," said the pink-haired kuniochi.

"No, you shouldn't have heard of it, even I know very little about. In fact talking to people in the village about this place would be like talking to them about the Kyuubi. From what I understand our village fought against a former shinobi village that used to be there but from what I gathered we lost more shinobi to the land, than to the other village."

"THEN WERE THE HELL COULD WE HAVE GOTTEN EXPERIENCE IN A PLACE LIKE THAT?!" yelled Naruto.

"The Forest of Death."

They all looked shocked, except for Sai, who kept his usual emotionless face.

"Yes, the Forest of Death was created specifically to train our village's shinobi in the dangers they would face in the Land of Darkness while we warred with that village."

"So if a village were to survive in a place like that then why didn't we study about it at the Academy?" asked Sakura.

"Good question Sakura. The answer is because it has been completely wiped out. From what I gathered, our two villages were at a stalemate and with the loose of life growing ever greater, a ceasefire was signed but peace was never declared. About 15 and a half years ago, we were on the verge of another war with the village…" he trailed off.

"Then what happend?" Naruto seemed to be reading the minds of his companions.

"Nothing, a scouting party was sent into look over the area but the village was almost in complete ruins and every villager was gone. Nobody truly knows what happened to them and we don't really want to know. Probably destroyed by whatever was in that land, you don't build a village in a place like that and expect it to last long."

After a short silence Sakura spoke up, "And it is believed the person with the eight-tailed demon is living there?"

"It makes sense; I mean only a complete fool would go to a place like that."

"But we are going there," Naruto said with a note of panic in his voice as if he was relieving his five days in the Forest of Death.

"So I guess that makes us fools," this was the first thing Sai had said all morning and he said with the false smile he usually wore.

"Not real comforting," stated Naruto.

"Well Naruto, he makes a point. So, if we are finished talking I say we head out. It is a five day trip over some pretty rough terrain."

With that Team Kakashi set out to the Land of Darkness.

A five day trip ahead of them two eyes looked upon the team, as it took its first steps toward their destination.

"Well, it appears that within five days I will be getting more company,I best prepare to make them… welcome," the owner of the eyes said with a sinister smirk and a snicker.