Well, since I wrote that last chapter, I've wanted to write more to this story, just because I love where the plot is going. I hope you all enjoy my quick update.

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Chapter 3: The Necklace

-Sakura's P.O.V-

Sai and Naruto were at my side without a moment to spare, and the guy who had grabbed me let go as kunai's were throwed at him repeatedly. Sai pulled the man up onto the shore, and I saw his muscles move with the action, and it shocked me. When had Sai gotten those muscles? He trained just as much as any other ninja. I shook my head at the thought. Right now I just needed to figure out why that guy had attacked me. Naruto held a kunai tightly against his throat.

"Who are you?" Sai asked coldly.

"I-please," squeaked the man. "I didn't mean any harm to your friend."

"Hmph," I scoffed, putting my hands on my hips. "You have a nice way of showing affection, then."

The man stood up. He wasn't tall, a few inches taller than Kaka-sensei, but much more rounder. He wore simple clothes that consisted of a tan shirt and black cut-off shorts and he was barefoot. He took a step toward me. Sai instantly stepped in front of me. At first I was pleased with the gesture, and then shook my head again.

Gah!

Why was I letting him treat me as the weaker person? I could take care of myself. I stepped around him and went to stand closer to the man, taking him in. Judging to see if he was a good person. I nodded.

"He's okay," I said to Naruto and Sai. Naruto took his kunai away from his throat and glared at the man still. Sai made a sound I couldn't distinguish, so I just ignored him.

"Why did you grab me then, if you meant me no harm?"

"I-I thought you were-were one of them," he said lowly, as if they-whoever they were-would appear any second.

"And who is 'one of them'?" Naruto asked, slightly intrigued by the man's fear.

The man suddenly reached into his pocket and I tensed. Had I judged him wrong? I sighed when he only pulled out a necklace.

"It's because of this," he answered, evading Naruto's question.

It looked no more than a regular heart locket that someone would give someone they liked as a present. I arched an eyebrow at the man.

"Well, thank you for entertaining us for a moment, but we really need to get going."

I took a step in the opposite direction of the creek but the man appeared in front of me.

"Eep," I said, the semi-word escaping my mouth before I could catch it. This man did freak me out a little. And then I felt that familiar presence beside me to my right. I glanced to Naruto and smiled at him. He was always there for me when I needed him. I looked back to where Sai still stood where I had stepped around him. What was wrong with him? I shrugged, thinking nothing more on the matter. I looked back to the man and noticed his face had gone white.

"So," Naruto tired again. "Who are 'they'?"

Suddenly the man screamed and pointed to the top of a tree on the other side of the creek. There stood seven S-ranked ninja's and they were smiling. The man shoved the necklace into my hand and said, "Only you can solve it. Solve it and be-"

That's when an arrow was shot through the man's heart and he dropped to the ground, dead beside my feet. I quickly tucked the necklace into my bandages under my shirt, and I heard the men in the trees laugh.

"Ah, we should have fun retrieving the necklace now, eh, boys?" A man who wore all black, that covered every inch of his skin asked. He skin was tan and he had very clear blue eyes. He didn't really look bad at all, but in this situation he appeared to be my enemy. A murmur of laughter was heard at his question. I glared at the men, and walked up to where Sai was standing.

"If they touch me, they're dead," I mumbled, more to myself than anyone else.

"Yes, they are," Sai said, surprising me. I spared a glance in his direction, but he was looking in the trees at the men. Had I heard that in his voice right? Could he actually…care…about me? Did he really care if a guy touched me? Surely not. But I know what I heard. I guess I would have to ask him about it later.

"So, Sai, what have you been doing while you have been away?"

"What!?" Naruto yelled, outraged. "You actually know this scum?"

I looked to Sai as well and tilted my head, waiting for his answer. Sai looked as both of us and nodded his head.

"Yes, I do know them. From long ago, though. I do not work nor associate with them any longer*. They are criminals. And I am just part of your team," he said, to reassure us that he really was on our side.

"Ha, is that right, Sai?" the man spoke again from the tree. The man jumped down from the tree and the rest of the men followed him. He was just a few feet in front of us now, and he looked more menacing with each step he took towards us. I got in a fighting position, and I saw the men smile.

"Aw, is the little girly-girl playing ninja?" one of the men mocked in the back. I clenched my fists so hard that they bled. Lucky for me I had my gloves on and no one could see them. I was about to take a step forward but Sai put his arm in front of me, blocking me from going forward.

"What do you want, *Sacremi?" Sai asked coldly, his eyes never leaving the man.

"That necklace that the pink-haired girl has."

"Sorry, but that doesn't belong to you. We are returning it to its rightful owner" he said, visibly infuriating the man. I blinked a few times. How could Sai possibly know that the necklace we had was the one Tsunade wanted us to retrieve? I shrugged, and just decided to play along and go by ear for now.

"It is too mine! If it weren't for you we never would have lost it! So, it's time to give it back," he seethed, his teeth clenched. He took a step towards me and Sai growled.

"If you touch her, you will die," he promised, and it made me shiver.

"Yeah, touch her and die. Believe it!" Naruto yelled, which actually made me smile. They both stood in front of me and I didn't object this time. I had a feeling I was about to need all the help I could get.

"Heh, as if any of you could kill me," he said, directing the statement to Sai, which made Sai look angry. Well, what could pass for angry, anyway. And so, the men started lunging at me.

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-Sai's P.O.V-

I was hurt-well, I felt what I thought was hurt when Sakura stepped around me. She didn't want me protecting her. And that made my chest ache for some reason. As the man sputtered an explanation as to why he had grabbed Sakura, I looked around at our surroundings. Something wasn't right. As soon as I thought that, Sacremi and his gang showed up. I clenched my jaw. Though I was trying to learn how to feel emotions, I knew that this was the one the book called anger, or even better yet, hate.

As the conversation went on and I found out that the necklace we had had been the one they were searching for, I heard Sakura mumble out loud, "If they touch me, they're dead."

"Yes, they are," I agreed, and I think I shocked her. Well, if she really wanted to know why I was acting the way I was she could ask me.

"If you touch her, you will die," I promised.

"Heh, as if any of you could kill me," he said, directing the statement to me. He always had to refer to the past. Well, today the past would come back to bite him in the ass. Because this time they were after Sakura, since she held the necklace, and this time, he wouldn't be able to beat him.

Because I had to protect Sakura. I was the only one who could help her figure out the code of the necklace. And so, Naruto and I crouched in front of her, and she thankfully, didn't object. And then the men lunged.

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A/N: And there is that update. So, what did you think? Press the green button and tell me!!

**Sacremi—Pronounced like Sac-re-me