Important A/N: Good morning, afternoon or evening depending on the time of day you are reading this. As you all know, Ms, Crimson and I are going to leave the country in about a week for the rest of our summer so this week will be spent mostly preparing for that trip. In addition, I will also be starting my assignments required of all incoming S.D.S.C.P.A. students this week. Altogether, this means we will have very little time to work on the story. Sorry for this disappointing news dear readers.

On the bright side, here's another chapter to saturate your hungry eyes and your thirsting minds for the next month. Starting this chapter, the story will no longer contain any spoilers, but not to imply every single word of this story was derived from the manga, unless that spoiler would improve its plot. So, for those select few who are too lazy to read the manga on your own, tough luck.

Disclaimer: When life gives you Naruto, you cry like a baby because he doesn't belong to you.

Warning: Rated M. M=Mature for content not suitable to persons under 18 years of age but is not totally restricted. Ratings, it's in the FanFictions. (Everyone already has this knowledge written in their brains, even kids as young as 13 years old feast their eyes on the smut and action that only comes from this writers' haven.)

Normal

'Thoughts/Flashbacks`

'Inner`

"Dialogue"

Without further ado Men and Women, or boys and girls is more appropriate, from the marvelously written playwrights of Ms. Crimson and Mr. Obsidian, we bring you All I Want Is.

"Don't worry! I'll bring him back! Promise of a lifetime!"

-Naruto Chapter 183 Page 14

Sai stopped on a giant branch that the late Hokage's current dwelling place was located under. Climbing down the tree, he stepped quietly onto the soft dirt of the earth and hid in the shadows near the tent to see if he could gather any vital information before he reported his findings to the blonde haired woman. It seemed Tsunade had awoken from her coma since he could identify her smooth commanding voice conversing with her black haired assistant, Shizune. Stepping closer to the large shelter, he listened more closely through the thin material of the yellow tent to the words being spoken. In shorter terms, he was eavesdropping.

The usually emotionless dark haired shinobi was able to pick up only tiny snippets of their talk but not the entire conversation. From what he was able to hear and comprehend, it appeared the two kunoichi inside were discussing the current complications that had arose in Konoha. From their spiteful tones of voices, he determined that they didn't really like Danzo all that much. In fact, it really sounded like they wanted to strangle the old man, cut his impaired body into small chunks and pieces then bury them deep underground where no one would ever be able to find them.

He couldn't blame their hateful emotions though and their loathsome tones of voices since he himself despised the broken bodied geezer. Sai never liked the mysterious man even when he had first joined Root. At every approving nod and each accepting smile the old man sent his way, he would return them with one of his own fake grins. There was something about his presence and the way he would smirk knowingly to one of his most loyal subordinates that made Sai develop distrust for him. To this very day, Sai still disliked the man and never explained all the fine details of his missions and activities in his monthly reports. Not one ounce of regret or guilt plagued his heart as he honestly confessed to himself that he directly and intentionally lied to the disgusting Elder's face.

"Why couldn't Sakura explain this message herself?" Tsunade's solemn voice rang out in the still afternoon air. Sai's ears perked up at the sound of Sakura's name and his dark eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. So Konoha's Cherry Blossom had written a message for the Godaime Hokage?

'Herself? ` Judging from the earnest question she had just asked Shizune and from the worry and concern laced into her troubled voice, he was able to conclude three options. Sakura had either one: been thrown into jail for acts of rebellion (his pale pink lips formed a small smirk at the idea since that option was the most probable due to her naturally feisty attitude), two: had ran away on her own mission to save someone important to her (Sai's midnight orbs narrowed as he thought of the one person no, man, she was hopelessly and irrevocably in love with and didn't want killed; her precious Sasuke-kun) or three: had been captured by a group of strong male ninja intending to use her for the sole purpose of attaining pleasure (his narrowed orbs darkened as he imagined ripping the limbs off those vile pieces of shit if they so much as touched a pink strand of hair on her beautiful head).

Deep inside, he was secretly hoping for option number one to be chosen. He would never admit it out loud but he cared for his enticing pink haired teammate a lot more than he should. The strong feelings he held for his appealing looking comrade was either: love, lust or just ordinary friendship. Which of these feelings was the true honest to God emotion he felt? He didn't really know but, he knew one thing. Getting Sakura out of prison would be way easier as opposed to actually going out into the forest to stop her from doing something stupid, or saving her from a bunch of hormonal perverts.

"Apparently, she left to attend to some important matters that had come up." Shizune's grim reply reached his attentive ears. Sai's facial expression and tense muscles relaxed only slightly as option number two was picked. Sakura running away on her own mission was still very, as the pineapple haired shinobi always says, "Troublesome." The dark haired male sighed as he thought about the petal haired woman who had left the village on a quest to save the Uchiha.

'Why are Naruto and Sakura unable to forget about that damned man when that very same man had already forgotten about them!? The bastard Uchiha even proclaimed himself that he had cut all bonds with them from long ago! He had said they meant nothing to him so why? Why did those two idiots still strive to bring him back when the dream was absolutely futile? Oh right, it's because they, up to this very day, loved and cared for him like a family.` Sai thought bitterly, jealousy enveloping his heart with its ugly green hand.

He wouldn't deny the feeling any longer and he wouldn't try to avoid it either since the emotion was very real and wouldn't go away. His body knew it, his mind knew it and his heart knew it. The dark haired shinobi was, plain and simple, jealous of the Uchiha. Another sigh escaped his pale lips as he thought about his two ignorant teammates and their precious Sasuke-kun.

"Shizune!" Tsunade's command boomed inside the tent.

"Hai, Tsunade-sama!" Shizune replied eagerly.

"Get me some sake." You could hear the dark haired kunoichi gasp in bewilderment at the busty blonde's order. At once her small meek voice began reprimanding the Hokage for even thinking about sake when she had just awoken from a coma. Nevertheless, Tsunade's deadly tone made Shizune sigh in defeat and leave to take care of her master's request.

Sai smirked at the blonde's famous obsession towards sake. She always drank the warm tart liquid. You could tell from the pink tint on her cheeks and from her slightly clouded amber eyes every time someone reported to her office. He stood up and was about to head inside the large tent when her low smooth voice called out to him.

"You can come in now." She said coolly. So she had known that he was hiding outside the tent listening intently to their every word. An impressed smirk appeared on his flawless features as he gave small praise for the fiery woman.

He entered through the flap of the tent and instantly recognized the Godaime's pale yellow colored pigtails and her warm caramel eyes. She looked thin and fragile with deathly pale skin hanging onto her flesh and her wise almond shaped eyes were tired with age and fighting. There were bags under her hazel irises and her breathing was a little labored. At that moment, Sai was able to distinguish the elderly woman residing deep within the Hokage's young looking face. He was able to perceive that deep inside her wrinkleless and flawless looking body was a woman that had already experienced so much in life and possessed great wisdom to share with the entire village. He saw a woman that was fiery and hot on the outside but gentle and compassionate on the inside.

Sai's inky orbs softened as he evaluated the famous legendary loser. She was still worn from Pain's invasion and her body looked fatigued. He knew a few more days of rest would restore her back to her normally blazing self. Looking back at her pale face he saw a knowing mischievous smirk adorned on her weary looking features

"I just finished absorbing the details of a few problems and already I have another one?" She accused amusingly. Sai just shrugged his shoulders and stared at the blonde haired kunoichi sitting in front of him. Tsunade sighed as she finally asked him what he wanted, "Why are you here?"

"I have some important news from Kakashi regarding the real leader of Akatsuki that I need to report to you." He answered in a cool tone. Her honeysuckle irises narrowed and her eyebrows knit together in deep thought at Sai's reply.

'The real leader of Akatsuki huh? ` She was searching through her brain for any memories involving Akatsuki in which a person might have let slip or gave hints on who the organization's true leader was. She chewed on her thumb in concentration but then sighed in frustration as her mind came up blank.

"Okay Sai, spill it. Tell me everything." Tsunade ordered in a solemn voice.

"The first thing you need to know is that Naruto went into Kyuubi form and had reached eight tails in his fight with the sixth Pain." Sai said gravely. Tsunade's ochre orbs widened with shock.

'N-Naruto reached eight tails!? Oh Kami-sama please let this report end well. ` She was worried now for Naruto's well being but before she could ask, Sai interrupted with even more astonishing news.

"Right before his ninth tail began to take form the Fourth Hokage had appeared in his mind and calmed him down. I don't know what exactly their conversation entailed but judging from Naruto's immediate return to his normal self, I'd say that the Fourth did something to seal the Kyuubi's power once again. Also, it would seem that the Yondaime Hokage is Naruto's father."

'So the little brat finally found out who his father was huh? Now, if only he'd realize he got his impish happy-go-lucky fiery attitude from his beautiful kind mother, Uzumaki Kushina. ` She thought with an amused and warm glow in her toffee colored eyes. Her heart really went out for the boy since he never knew his parents. The little brat must be dancing around the village knowing his father was the great Yondaime Hokage; Konoha's Yellow Flash the greatest hero yet.

Sai's tone turned serious and professional as he spoke his next words, "The Yondaime Hokage revealed the identity of the true leader of Akatsuki to be...Uchiha Madara." Tsunade's eyes widened and her plump pink lips dropped open in total disbelief. There was no way! Her grandfather had defeated him in the Valley of the End!

"As of right now, Naruto-kun, Kakashi-sensei and Yamato-san are on their way to the meeting of the Five Kages to inform Raikage of the truth about Akatsuki. They also desire to convince him to forgive Sasuke and to allow Konoha to take care of Uchiha." Sai said monotonously.

Tsunade's already wide eyes widened even more at the news of the three male shinobis. "…T-Th…Th-Th…They…what!?" She yelled out furiously in the next instant. Team Seven was going to be death of her! At that exact moment Shizune came running in with only one bottle of sake tucked safely under her left arm and a tightly gripped kunai in her right.

"What's wrong Tsunade-sama!? Is there an intruder!?" Shizune looked at the absolutely terrifying expression on her mentor's face and then at the emotionless serious face of the young Root Anbu shinobi standing right next to her.

'What's going on!?` She thought with confusion shining in her bag-rimmed orbs.

"Shizune! You stay here with the boy and whatever happens, do not tell anyone anything. I need to attend to some very serious matters that just came up. Understood!?" Tsunade spoke in a firm voice, every word laced with all seriousness; the Hokage looked absolutely deadly right now.

"H-Hai!" She stammered out her prompt reply and with that word of assurance, the dangerous blonde haired woman was gone. Shizune turned to the young man next to year with questioning eyes. Sai stared back at the Godaime's assistant and shrugged his shoulders taking out a brush and paper. He was going to prepare some animals in the case he was sent out to provide backup for the foolish ninja.

Her expression was livid and her angry honeysuckle eyes were loaded with numerous unanswered questions. Questions that she would definitely get answers for from those loathsome Elders even if she had to force the replies out of their crippled old bodies. Focusing her mind and chakra to zone in on the two geezers' chakra signatures, she found that they were not too far away from her own tent. They were resting in a slightly smaller light blue tent on the outskirts of the campsite. Coming to an abrupt halt at the entrance to their tent by using the heels of her sandals, yeah she was that angry, she barged in through the flap like she owned the small dwelling place.

Inside, Homura and Koharu were seated on a comfortable looking couch conversing about the future of Konoha. Catching sight of their wrinkly and snobby looking faces only served to fuel her growing rage.

Stopping their discussion about what Konohagakure's next course of action should be, the two wise ancients looked up at the fuming blonde that had stomped into their temporary shelter. The woman, Koharu, opened her mouth to demand a reason as to why the other fiery woman had just come waltzing into Homura's and her tent.

"Tsunade-hime, why are you here?" The wise old woman asked coldly.

Tsunade countered the question with a question of her own; a question she would have never thought of ever asking had it not been for Sai's recent visit, "What really happened to…Uchiha Madara?" She demanded in a lethal voice. The times they were currently facing gave no more room for secrets to be kept. Everything hidden, every lie, every cover-up, every false story, needed to be accounted for now if the village wanted even a small chance at survival.

The two Elders turned to look at one another and gave each other a knowing look. They knew deep down that with the recent events taking place, the question would undoubtedly arise. They knew that they couldn't keep the dark horrifying truth of what really happened to one of Konoha's great clans all those years ago a cover-up story any longer; even if it was indirectly imposed. They also knew that now that Akatsuki had started moving, in a desperate attempt to collect all the tailed-beasts, secrets could no longer be kept as secrets if they wanted the village they were protecting so much to thrive and exist.

Homura and Koharu turned back to Tsunade with steady somber eyes. They would tell her everything and…they did. They told her everything that unknowingly to them, Madara had told the sole survivor of their story.

They sighed as if they were suffering from a great burden, as if their hearts pleaded to be forgiven because their woeful spirits knew what they had done and they were guilty of a very grave sin. "Let us take you back, Tsunade-hime, to Konoha's very beginnings…" Homura began grimly in his gravelly voice and he didn't say humble since there was no humbleness about the way Konohagakure was established. Their city was formed due to all the fighting the First Great Ninja War had generated with all the violence revolving around two immensely powerful clans; the Senjuu and the Uchiha. Oh yes, every person in that small tent thought, this was going to be a very long day.

The two ancients of Konoha took turns sighing when it was their turn and took long pauses to reign in their overwhelming emotions. Telling the true story of the Uchiha Massacre was very discomforting and an extremely arduous task. The topic itself was already overly delicate so explaining every single detail from how it all began to how it all ended was painstakingly complicated and strenuous work. Every single emotion they had so carefully locked away into the deepest ravines of their hearts from that fateful night, came flooding back with tremendous force. It was almost too much for them to handle but they did it, they told her everything; all of it.

Tsunade had some eye poppers and some jaw dropping moments but, nothing could compare to the utterly remorseful and the totally devastated expression she bore at those horrible words. "Itachi wiped out his entire clan…on the orders of…Konoha." Homura said with so much regret laced into his words; just like the guilty man he was. Everything she thought she knew about the Uchiha's was plucked right off the shelf from the library of knowledge in her mind, and thrown into a raging fire. The Uchiha's, one of Konoha's most powerful clans if not the most powerful, had been completely wiped off from the face of the Earth on the orders of Konoha!? That sorrowful question kept replaying in her mind, solidifying the horrible truth.

Konoha was responsible for that clan's destruction. Konoha was at fault for the loss of many innocent lives. Konoha was to blame for all the interminable sadness and pain that Uchiha Sasuke had to suffer from. Tsunade wanted to throw up and beat herself into a bloody pulp because she had been living for these past few years thinking it was the Uchihas' own fault for raising such a bloodthirsty monster. Itachi had been innocent and Konoha had been guilty.

Despite all the mind numbing news and heartbreaking words, Tsunade had absorbed each and every bit of information they had fed her and memorized them into the very depths of her mind. When the lives of a whole community, a whole village, were put into your two hands, you had to be able to adapt to any situation that threatened those two hands from letting go. So that's what Tsunade did. She accepted the cold hard truth no matter how much her heart grieved for it to be false and leveled her head.

She would make sure that once Konohagakure was up and running again, everyone would know of the truth. She would make sure not one soul lived without realizing this: that the Uchiha's were a kind and gentle clan that had only sought the right to live peacefully in the village, but turned bitter because of the ill will the villagers had sent their way. It was the citizens', no, all of the village's fault the respectable clan wasn't here living happily and she would make sure Uchiha Sasuke got his well deserved apology from every single inhabitant of the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

"Idate." Sakura said warmly, a giant smile gracing her lips. She hadn't seen him since that race back in the Land of Tea. He was already quite the good-looking young man back then. They were thirteen while he had been sixteen so now that she was sixteen that meant that the brunette in front of her was nineteen. Now he was a very handsome, still young, man with warm inviting chocolate orbs and soft messy hair. He had broad shoulders and a broad chest to match and his skin was flawless and was slightly tanned. Plus, Idate was tall! The top of her head only reached his mouth! Overall she gave an approving and admiring look at the man in front of her.

Idate could only smile warmly in return revealing a set of perfectly straight pearly whites. Sakura blushed and almost swooned at his charming smile. If he set one foot in Konoha, she was sure it would make all the women go crazy with lust. A cocky smirk adorned his handsome face at the pink tint, which only darkened at the look he directed towards her, which flamed on her cheeks. Long gone was the naïve little girl he had met a few years ago and now in front of him, stood a very alluring, very beautiful young woman with curves in all the right places. To add to her already appealing body, her skin was absolutely flawless and looked so soft to the touch and her eyes were a startling emerald green, in contrast to her short silky hair which framed her face perfectly. She looked fragile but he knew she was far from it.

"Wow Sakura…you've grown." He said admiringly, a charming smile decorating his handsome face once again. Sakura could only giggle in reply as Idate shamelessly ogled her a second time. "Geez Idate. I know I'm giving you rock hard hard-ons but could you tone down your staring? I'm a little scared of that look in your eyes; it's like you want to eat me." She teased, her rosy pink lips forming a coy smile. "Trust me…I definitely would." He muttered shamelessly with a devilish smirk, no blush on his face, while staring at her breasts.

Sakura put a strong grip on his chin and brought his flirtatiously warm chocolate orbs to meet her own pools of jade glinting with silent amusement. A few seconds later though, her amused expression turned serious and her eyes turned hard. Idate raised an auburn eyebrow at her sudden change in demeanor and at remembering that his journey to Konoha was abruptly interrupted. With his eyes, he asked her to explain why she had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Sakura sighed and looked at Idate with something akin to desperation lingering inside her deep viridian pools. "Idate…are you…by any chance…headed to Konoha?" Idate's muddy brown orbs widened at the rosette's coincidental question.

"Yes…" He replied slowly thinking of any reason as to why Sakura would need to know that. "When I heard about…you know…" His deep masculine voice was low and gentle remembering the news of Konoha being invaded by Akatsuki and being almost totally decimated, "I told Wasabi-sama that I would run over and help out as much as I could to rebuild the village. After all, you guys helped me win the race a few years ago for the honor of the clan so I thought I'd repay my debt." Sakura let out a great sigh of relief at the answer that she was hoping to hear.

"Idate…" She started softly, "Could you maybe hand deliver this message to Tsunade-sama? I have something very important I need to do." Sakura looked up at the man standing before her with pleading eyes. He was her only chance, well not really since she could always find another animal but that would take hours and it would only delay her mission more, to deliver this vital report.

Idate stared at the ground with a thoughtful expression then looked back at her and his eyes crinkled into half moons as he answered with a large smile, "Sure beautiful, anything for a woman as lovely as you." He replied back flirtatiously but truth backed up his every word. Sakura's whole face lit up at his answer and pulled him into a bone crushing hug with her face buried deep into his chest. Idate tensed at the girl's sudden assault but then slowly relaxed as he wrapped his arms around her petite form and held her gently. He laughed as he heard her muttering something inaudibly and teased her brazenly by whispering into her ear in a husky voice, "I know you want to just kiss and lick my very sexy body all over at this moment but, I have a village to help restore and a message to deliver."

Sakura let go at once with a dark blush burning on her cheeks at his implication and smacked his arm hard which earned her a loud yelp of pain and a groan. Giving him one last bright smile and a kiss on his cheek, Sakura murmured a tender goodbye then vanished with the wind. Idate snapped out of his stunned stupor when the pink haired beauty had kissed him and swore loudly as he raced towards the Village Hidden in the Leaves with great speed. At this rate he would never make it until he was ninety!

On the outside, he muttered gentle curses with no malicious intent towards the petal haired woman yet his earthy irises revealed otherwise. Deep inside, he was praying to Kami-sama to keep her safe and he was wishing her the best of luck on whatever mission she was on.

A pink blur whizzed through the trees as she tried to make up for lost time because each minute, each precious second, was majorly vital to save the Uchiha's ass. She had spent a total of thirty minutes searching for something to deliver her damned message! Sakura's muscles were on fire and they screamed for her to at least slow down but she wouldn't; she couldn't. No more time could be wasted because every second lost was a second death approached closer to him. Her emerald eyes hardened with determination and she gritted her teeth as she ignored the searing pain in her tired muscles. She would rescue that bastard even if her legs fell off from pure exhaustion.

A total of six shinobi traveled through the forest of the Land of Fire as they ran with all purposefulness to reach the Kages' conference. The three oblivious Kumo ninja ran with a tiny special seed situated deep within the blond man's knapsack. The small seed was used as a tracking device by the three Konoha shinobi silently trailing and following the chakra signals it emitted. The brown haired man of their team was attuned to that chakra and so they were able to tag along.

Naruto's pools of sea blue focused on the three cloud ninjas a distance away. They were going through so much trouble to rescue their master and he promised them he would help find their teacher no matter what. He was able to tell from the looks in their eyes that they genuinely cared about the man named, Killerbee, even though he was a jinchuuriki. Those shinobi up ahead weren't afraid of the monster that was sealed within this certain man and instead adored him. The dark red haired female especially loved their master since she was the angriest one out of the three. Naruto's eccentric blue eyes softened as he thought about the bond their team shared. They were similar to Team Seven with the exception of their sensei being unwillingly taken while his team lost their close friend/brother who willingly left.

Naruto remembered the promise he had made to Sakura three years ago when the teme had first ran away. She had looked so torn, so heartbroken at that time, he couldn't stand it. With a brave face and in an equally brave voice, he had declared with a grand smile that he would bring Sasuke back. That was his promise to his rosette haired teammate/sister; his promise of a lifetime. He wouldn't break that promise because he would definitely bring Sasuke back home where he belonged and nothing would be able to stop him; absolutely and positively nothing.

He promised he wouldn't stop trying until there were little Sasukes and Sakuras running around the village. He had long since accepted the fact that Sakura would never love him the way he loved her and had instead moved on. Now he only saw her as a little sister he could tease endlessly and mercilessly. He wouldn't stop trying until Sasuke was actually present to take his place as best man at Naruto's and Hinata's wedding. Surprisingly, he had discovered that he held intimate feelings for the pale eyed beauty when she had so boldly and so sincerely confessed her love for him in her valiant attempt to protect him from Pain. He would make sure Hinata's and his children ended up with at least one of Sasuke's and Sakura's kids. Naruto promised that both the bastard and his pastel haired teammate would achieve their destined happy ending with each other.

The blonde haired blue eyed man promised he would return to Konoha with Sasuke this time. Even if the teme broke his legs, he would then use one arm to hold on to the teme with an iron grip and the other to drag them back. If the lone Uchiha decided to break his arms too, he would just use his teeth to clamp down onto the raven haired man's arm and never let go so they could flop back together. If the obsidian eyed shinobi shattered all his pearly whites into dust, then he would just curse Sasuke into coming back home with him while glaring daggers at his body. Then if Sasuke truly decided to end his life, then Naruto would just haunt him for the rest of the teme's years until he returned to Konoha.

Then, once Sasuke had returned, he'd help rebuild the village and become the next Hokage. He would be put down in history as the strongest most powerful Hokage to have ever lived. Also the funniest and the handsomest if he could add. His pretty blue irises sparkled brightly with conviction and resolution to save the teme; his brother. He wouldn't fail; not this time. With those last words of determination in mind he passed Yamato and Kakashi to lead the group onwards in their mission; a white hot fire radiating from his sea colored orbs.

'What does he think he's doing!? The idiot…` Yamato thought, an annoyed expression flittering onto his features.

'Hmm it would seem Naruto's spirits have considerably risen to greater heights…` The silver haired jounin mused with a knowing smirk forming on his lips.

This rescue operation would be the first thrilling and most adrenaline pumping mission he's had in a few years. Oh yes, he would be greatly challenged and very entertained.

"Sasuke-san." Juugo's kind voice called out through the slow falling snow. Sasuke turned around from where he was sitting on a big boulder to where Juugo landed with a thud behind him, his deep inky orbs ordering the gentle spirited man to report his findings. "We've found a route. It's an underground tunnel that leads to behind the building a few hundred meters from here. Large boulders and the thick snow shield the entrances on both sides from view. Also, a forest divides the guards forming a barrier on the hill from the backside of the building with the entrance situated within the vicinity of the trees. Guarding the back entrance to the building are two heavily armed samurais." He relayed the information in a soft tone.

"There's a chance we might need to camp out for the time being." Sasuke stated coolly knowing Juugo would understand what he was asking about.

"Another underground tunnel, located within the forest, leads to a huge enclosed cave with air vents blowing in fresh air. The cave is hidden in a mountain not too far from the conference building and is not visible to the samurais." Juugo murmured quietly.

Sasuke "Hned" and gave a small acknowledging nod which was his way of saying thanks. "Karin…Suigetsu let's go. Zetsu, return to Madara. We have everything under control." The lone Uchiha ordered in a cool emotionless voice.

Suigetsu just grunted and rubbed his tired eyes as he stood up from the giant rock he was sitting on and came to where Sasuke and Juugo where standing. Karin quietly got down from the tree branch she was standing on and stood next to the handsome young male. Zetsu, at Sasuke's commanding tone of voice, glared daggers at the dark haired brat which had no effect and slowly vanished into the ground muttering curses at the man's superiority complex. Once Zetsu had disappeared, Sasuke told Juugo to lead them to the hidden cave.

Upon entering the underground tunnels, Karin immediately latched onto the muscular arm of the Uchiha pleading she was afraid of the dark and would let go once they were outside again. His deep pools of onyx closed in annoyance and a sigh escaped his closed lips. When they were outside again and headed for the next tunnel, Karin still didn't let go stating that they were going to walk inside another dark tunnel again anyways. Sasuke just grunted in irritation and trudged on towards the cave, all the while, his left eyebrow was twitching, ready to just burn the red head's arm off. At last they had reached the cave and he instantly vanished out of Karin's grasp.

He chose to rest against the wall of the cave with his left leg propped up and his right leg stretched out. His left arm rested on top of his left knee and his right arm rested on his right thigh. Sasuke was tired as fuck and needed as much rest as he could get. He looked back at all of Team Hawk and decided the whole team needed rest judging from their worn looking bodies and their fatigued expressions. Closing his obsidian orbs to finally fall asleep, they popped open wide as something or someone, had decided to lie down between his legs and against his chest with their face nestled into his neck.

Glaring at the mop of red that had appeared suddenly, he ground out in a deadly warning voice, "Karin…" The ruby eyed woman just snuggled into the warmth he provided with a contented sigh and said in low tone so no one besides Sasuke heard her, "I'm cold and I won't be able to sleep which means I can't rest. Then I won't have any energy for tomorrow and my tracking abilities won't work as well." But Sasuke just growled and told her to get off but she didn't budge. Looking at her face he saw her eyes closed and he listened to her even breathing. He deduced that she had fallen asleep so he tried to pick her up to place her against the wall but, she had latched onto his shirt. Trying one more time to lay her down against the wall, he stood up and cursed silently in his head as her hands just gripped on tighter to his white shirt.

Picking her up again, he went back to their original positions deeming it useless to even try anymore. She wasn't going to let go no matter how much he pulled on her arms or dropped her down. Plus, he was too tired and didn't want to waste any more energy on putting some distance between them. Giving one last heavy sigh he closed his weary inky irises and fell into a light sleep with the red head snuggled into his chest. Unbeknownst to him, there was a devious smirk on her face which quickly vanished as she inhaled his dark musky scent, let out one more sigh of pleasure and dozed off with her face buried into his neck.

From the other side of the cave, Suigetsu glared harshly at the two shinobi who had decided to get all lovey dovey and cozy and slept soundly in each other's arms. There was a gnawing feeling in his heart at the sight of his two companions cuddling. He felt like he wanted to rip Sasuke's head and arms off. He wanted to chop his body into little pieces with his sword and -!

Suigetsu stopped and his eyes widened at the thoughts that were plaguing his mind. The silver haired male grunted and closed his eyes to try to fall asleep.

'What the fuck is wrong with me? Tch, I'm probably just really tired. Yeah, that's it, I'm just tired. ` He said the last part over and over and eventually let the darkness of sleep consume him. His eyes closed with that reason but his painfully beating heart, was telling a whole other story.

Juugo had watched everything from his spot just inside the entrance with apprehending eyes.

'It's okay Suigetsu-san; I know Sasuke-san doesn't hold feelings like that for Karin-san. ` He thought comfortingly for the violet eyed ninja a few meters away from him. Closing his eyes with that last thought and with one last look at the two tangled up shinobi, he let sleep and rest envelop him as his body pleaded and begged for it. He wasn't afraid of going berserk because he knew Sasuke would stop him. The Uchiha was a light sleeper after all and would wake up at the first sound of his yelling.

Team Hawk slept in the cave, not knowing what or who they would encounter the following day.

Sakura stopped to catch her breath as she finally made it to the place where the meeting of the Five Kages would occur. She lied down on the tree branch and stared up at the hilltop where the building stood proudly. There were samurai surrounding the entire perimeter. They were watching over the village since they had no ninja and she knew they couldn't see her because the thick snow covered foliage of the tree she was in hid her from view.

Sakura relaxed her tired muscles and decided to rest in the tree. No use in attempting to save Sasuke if she didn't even have the energy to even deliver one normal punch. Her viridian orbs slowly shut closed as she snuggled deeper into her cloak she had brought along. Tomorrow she would see if she could find a way through that barricade of samurai then stop Sasuke. She knew he was probably camping out with his team somewhere in the forest. Her mind and body shut down for the night as she dreamt about all the good times Team Seven had when they were still together. She remembered all the memories and all the happy moments in her life when it was just Kakashi-sensei, Naruto, Sasuke and her; when it was just the four of them.

A/N: We presented you with this chapter and so we hope, dear readers, that you enjoyed it. The standard reminder still applies but not enforced if you even remember it. Advice, feedback and constructive criticism (flames included), are heartily accepted. We don't know when the next chapter will be posted but we hope you guys will sit tight and be patient. Thanks for reading everyone, we're overjoyed at all the support and alerts/favorites adds and for all the reviews we've received.

-Mr. Obsidian