Team Hebi traveled for days in the search for Itachi. They weren't making much progress. No one had seen any Akatsuki movement for a while. It was getting late so Sasuke decided to check into a hotel. They all got their rooms and went to bed. Sakura looked up at the ceiling and couldn't sleep. No matter what she did, she just couldn't fall asleep. She wondered how her parents were doing. How Ino and Naruto were doing. But the one thing she wondered the most, every day and night was why did Sasuke bring her along? She wasn't strong, nor talented, except in genjutsu and she was just a beginner at medical jutsus from Tsunade at the time. He could have easily knocked her out and left. Why did he take her along? She couldn't sleep so she left her room and wandered around the hotel.

Meanwhile, Sasuke was also just laying in bed not being able to sleep. What if they can't find Itachi? What if he dies before he gets the chance? Sasuke shook his head. No. No one else can kill him except him. Only he was strong enough to do that. Sasuke looked out the window in the night sky. At the same time, he saw Sakura outside.

"What the heck is she doing?" Sasuke thought.

Sasuke ran out of his room and went outside. He followed Sakura to see where she would go. She walked for about ten minutes before stopping at a lake. She took off her shoes and dipped her feet into the water. Sasuke stood behind a tree and watched.

"Why did he bring me along to Orochimaru? I wasn't strong or anything... I was weak.. and I know that." Sakura laid down and looked up at the night sky. "Maybe there's a reason. Maybe I'll know one day."

"Why did I bring her along? What made me trust her?" Sasuke thought.

"It's amazing how far I'll go for someone who doesn't love me back..." Sakura said.

Sasuke turned around and left Sakura with her thoughts. As he was walking back to his hotel room, questions entered his mind. Why did he bring her along? Why does she still love him after all this time? She lost everything to be with him. Would he do the same? He didn't know, back when he was a kid, family was everything to him, and now... he has only one left and was on the search to kill him. As for friends, he left them all back, but Sakura, no matter what he did, Sakura always pushed pass the wall he tried to put up between them. He walked into his room and fell asleep to his thoughts.

Sakura laid down gazing up at the stars. The sight was breathtaking and would be so romantic. It felt like years since she's last seen them. She saw them every now and then while in Orochimaru's hideout, but only for a couple seconds. She let it seep into her and relax. Sakura then walked back into her hotel room. She looked at the clock. She had been out there for 2 hours. She was amazed at how fast time went. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

The next morning, Sakura woke up and started to get ready to leave. She then remembered that she left the Team 7 picture back at the base. There was no way she was going to be able to go back and get it. She took a quick shower and got dressed. She made sure that nothing was being left behind and walked out the door. Sasuke was the first one out the door.

"As usual, we're the first two out huh?" Sakura asked.

"I guess so." Sasuke said.

"Maybe I'll know one day why I brought her along."

"Maybe I'll know one day why he brought me along."

"What are you two doing?" Karin asked.

"None of your business." Sakura said.

"Don't you dare thinking about taking Sasuke away from me!" Karin said.

"We're just...friends." Sakura said.

"I'm not yours." Sasuke said.

"But Sasuke-" Karin said.

"No Karin. I am not yours. And I never will be!" Sasuke said.

"S-Sasuke I.." Karin stuttered.

"Karin, don't be such a burden. If you continue to be like this I will just find someone else to take your place." Sasuke said.

Karin bit her lip and didn't say anything but shot a death glare at Sakura. Sakura ignored it and pointed out Jugo coming out of his room. Now, Suigetsu just needed to get his ass out of bed.

"Sakura, can you go wake up Suigestu?" Sasuke asked.

"Sure thing." Sakura said.

Sakura opened the door to Suigestu's room. Of course he wouldn't lock it. Sakura found the curtains and opened them. The sunlight entered the room and shone in Suigetsu's eyes.

"Hey Sasuke! What the hell is your prob-!"

The blanket fell to the ground and Sakura saw Suigetsu. Now normally, you would think he'd wear clothes while he slept, but no... and at that moment Sakura screamed.

"Oh my god!" Suigestsu shouted.

Sakura ran towards the door but bumped into Sasuke as he ran inside. Sakura fell down to the floor with her cheeks red. Sasuke looked at Sakura and then at Suigetsu. Suigetsu was covering himself with his blanket.

"Sakura, wait outside." Sasuke said.

Sakura waited outside with Karin and Jugo. Sakura closed her eyes trying to get rid of the image. She heard Sasuke and Suigetsu through the door. There were some crashes and shouting. After a couple minutes, Sasuke and Suigetsu walked out, fully dressed now. Sakura tried to avoid Suigestu's looks. They traveled some more until they decided to stop for lunch. Jugo was to gather food, Suigestu was to refill the canteens, Sasuke was to gather firewood, and Sakura and Karin were to cook the food once Jugo came back. Suigetsu came back with all the canteens and tossed Sakura and Karin's to them.

"Hey Sakura, can we talk?" Suigetsu asked.

"Uhh, sure." Sakura said.

Sakura got up from the table and followed Suigetsu. Sasuke came back and saw them leaving. Sasuke knelt down and started the fire.

"Where did they go off to?" Sasuke asked.

"Suigetsu wanted to talk to her..." Karin said.

Sasuke looked off toward the direction and got up and started to walk into the woods. Karin got up and quickly got in front of Sasuke.

"What are you doing?" Sasuke said.

"Sasuke, I want you." Karin said.

Karin pulled down the zipper of her shirt revealing her bra and took off her shirt. She pushed Sasuke to a tree and was about to kiss him, but before he could push her off, he heard something drop to the floor. Karin and Sasuke turned to look over in the direction the sound came from. Sakura and Suigetsu had seen them. The canteen Sakura was holding was the object that fell and all the water had come out. Without thinking, Sakura ran back into the woods holding back her tears. Sasuke pushed Karin off and ran toward her. Karin grabbed her shirt and quickly put it back on.

"Look what you've done. You've managed to not only make Sasuke angry, but Sakura sad." Suigetsu said.

"What does she care? She said they were only friends." Karin said.

"But she never said she never loved him." Suigetsu said.

"What are you getting at?" Karin asked.

"Think about it. Sasuke and Sakura knew each other since they were kids, and then they were put in a team together, and for years they were training together at Orochimaru. Do you really think that after all this time, Sakura doesn't have feelings for Sasuke, even after seeing her run away like that? And better yet, you think Sasuke doesn't feel something under his cold hearted exterior, at least a little bit for Sakura?" Suigetsu asked.

"Sasuke will be mine." Karin said.

Sakura stopped at a tree and leaned against it. She couldn't forget the scene she had just witnessed. She pushed back her tears. She remembered the day she first saw Sasuke, and when she and he became team mates, and then how he let her come with him, she thought maybe just maybe, he did have some sort of feelings for her, but no...

"I guess he actually liked Karin... not me. I guess being a jerk to her was just an act..." Sakura said.

"Sakura.." Sasuke said.

Sakura turned around to see Sasuke. She blinked and wondered why he came.

"Why aren't you with Karin?" Sakura asked trying to sound unemotional.

"It's not what you think." Sasuke said.

"What do you mean? I know what I saw." Sakura said.

"She came onto me." Sasuke said.

"She...did? But why are you telling me this? Why does it have anything to do with me?" Sakura asked.

"Because I know." Sasuke said.

"Know what?" Sakura asked.

"I heard you last night. I know how you feel." Sasuke said.

"You...what?" Sakura asked.

By now, Sakura had turned bright red in her cheeks. If he heard her last night, the he heard the last thing she said? About her loving him?

"I heard you say that you love me." Sasuke said.

"W-What? Y-You must have heard w-wrong. I did not say that." Sakura said.

"Then what did you say?" Sasuke asked.

"I-I don't know. But it definently wasn't that." Sakura said.

"So you don't love me anymore?" Sasuke asked.

"Let's say I do. That doesn't mean anything's going to happen." Sakura said.

Sasuke didn't say anything. He looked at her trying to figure what to say. Why was it so hard to she was right? For some reason, he couldn't say it.

"Right Sasuke-kun? I'm right... aren't I?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah... you're right." Sasuke said.

Sakura plastered on a small smile, just like that night when she asked if he's always hated her. That can't be all true now. Even if he didn't love her, he didn't hate her. Sasuke felt as if something had just disappeared. Something he had all along but didn't know it. Sasuke and Sakura walked back to camp and everyone started to eat. It was completely silent. Jugo who had missed the scene didn't understand why it was quiet, but since he was quiet himself he didn't mind. They started to travel once again. Sakura hung out in the back of the group and watched Sasuke lead the group. Maybe this was her destiny, to be close enough to watch each other's backs, but not close enough to be break the small barrier left between them.

"How do you plan on finding Itachi?" Ino asked.

"We'll bring him to us.." Naruto said.

"How so?" Ino asked.

"By me." Naruto said.

"By you?" Ino asked.

"Don't be foolish Naruto! If Akatsuki gets a hold of you, you are as good as dead!" Tsunade said.

Naruto pulled out Sasuke's headband. It had a slash and Naruto remembered their fight. The fight where he lost both of his best friends. Tsunade and Jiraiya looked at each other. They knew Naruto was never going to give up.

"You forget who you're talking to Tsunade-baachan. It'll be me taking your place as the 6th Hokage after I defeat Akatsuki." Naruto said.

"Fine. You have three months. Only three months to bring Sasuke and Sakura back. If you can't, I'm sorry but they will have to be criminals. As much as I don't want to, I have to." Tsunade said.

"That's more than enough time." Naruto said.

"Assemble your team and leave right away. You don't want to waste time." Tsunade said.

Naruto and Ino nodded and then ran out the Hookage's office. Ino and Naruto split up to find team mates. After gathering them up, they met at the Konoha entrance. Ino gathered Shikamaru and Chouji, while Naruto found Hinata and Neji.

"Three months? You think we can find them?" Chouji asked.

"We have to... or else.." Ino said.

"Or else what?" Shikamaru asked.

"They'll become criminals and not missing nin! That can't happen!" Naruto said.

"Let's say we do find them. Who's to say they'll come back?" Neji asked.

"I'll force them back!" Naruto said.

"And what if the punishment will end up in death anyways? I'm pretty sure Sakura and Sasuke already gave Orochimaru secrets of Konoha." Neji said.

"Neji-kun! You shouldn't be so negative." Hinata said.

"Am I wrong? You know the rules are strict. Wouldn't it be better if they just stayed away and alive?" Neji asked.

"Well, I'm going to take that chance. I'm sick of being a two man team! I want my team mates back! This time for sure... it will happen!" Naruto said.

"How are we supposed to find them?" Shikamaru asked.

"We have to bring Akatsuki to us." Naruto said.

"That's right! What did you mean by that earlier?" Ino asked.

"Because right now, Akatsuki is collecting the tailed demons, and we have one right here." Naruto said as he pointed to himself.

"Y-You? You mean... you have a tailed beast inside you?" Shikamaru asked.

Everyone looked at Naruto with shocked expressions. No way, Naruto had that much power inside him this whole time?

"Yeah.." Naruto said.

"How long have you known?" Neji asked.

"For a couple years now, but that's beside the point. If we can lure Itachi out to me, Sasuke and Sakura will find us." Naruto said.

"How many are there?" Chouji asked.

"Nine, I heard they have seven out of the nine right now. They're either saving me for last or planning to come after me next, either way, we have to make sure they come after me, and that they send Itachi to do it." Naruto said.

"Are you sure about this?" Shikamaru asked.

"It's the only option we have right now." Naruto said.

Naruto put his hand out. They all looked at each other and then Naruto. One by one, they put their hand on top of each other's. They quickly entered the forest to lure Akatsuki out to them.

"This better work. Or else, we'll have to go looking for them, and who knows how long that could take." Naruto thought.

"Can we stop yet? Man I'm so tired." Suigetsu said.

"Sasuke. Maybe we better stop and set up camp, it's getting late." Sakura said.

"Alright. We'll stop and set up camp for now. But as soon as the sun starts to rise, we're moving again." Sasuke said.

"Got it." everyone said.

They all set up tent. Boys in one side and girls on the other. Sakura laid in her sleeping bag. She couldn't sleep again and took a walk into the woods. Sasuke had started to wake up as Sakura was getting out of her sleeping bag. He got out of his and followed her. Sakura stopped in the middle of the forest and took out a kunai. Sasuke quickly transported behind her as she threw the kunai toward the tree he was at.

"Sakura... it's just me." Sasuke said.

"Sasuke what are you?-"

"Shh.." Sasuke said.

He backed her against the tree and kissed her. Sakura was first shocked, but then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back as he put his hands on her waist.

Chapter done! :D Because it was so late I made it really long! Almost 3000 words! Woot record! I know the whole SasuSaku thing was really early... but, come on, they've been stuck to each other for like 3-4 years now! So please don't criticize me for the earliness! D: LOL. Review and favorite quick enough and the next chapter will be soon! ^.^