Konoha ninjas were running toward Lightning Country and at the same time Team Hebi was leaving. Both teams came to a stop when they saw each other. Naruto and Ino were shocked but then started to smile.

"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted.

"Sakura!" Ino shouted.

"Those are your friends?" Suigetsu asked.

"Naruto. It's been a while." Sasuke said.

"We're here to take you guys back Sakura!" Ino said.

"Yes take her with you guys! Then I can have Sasuke all to myself." Karin thought.

"I have no interest in going back to Konoha." Sakura said.

"What are you talking about? Konoha is your home! Where your family and friends are!" Ino said.

"This is something I have to do." Sakura said.

"If you guys don't come back, you won't be classified as missing nin, but criminals. You guys wouldn't be able to come back after your revenge if you wanted to." Shikamaru said.

"It doesn't matter to me. As long as I get my revenge, nothing else matters." Sasuke said.

"What about you Sakura? You still have your parents. Do you even know how they've been this years?" Neji asked.

Sakura flinched at the mention of her parents. She missed them so much. Everyday she wanted to sneak back into Konoha and check up on her parents. She didn't even formally say good bye.

"Why are you bring them into this? This is about me and my decision." Sakura said.

"You're right. Why did you leave Sakura? Because you wanted to be with Sasuke? You're so selfish." Neji said.

"Maybe I am, what does it matter to you. Besides, I'm stronger than I ever would have been if I stayed in Konoha. I bet I could kick your ass within five minutes." Sakura said.

"What?" Neji shouted.

"Calm down Neji. She's just trying to get under your skin." Shikamaru said.

"Stop it Sakura! This isn't you!" Ino said.

"And you know me?" Sakura asked.

"We're best friends. Of course I do." Ino said.

"No, you know the old me." Sakura said.

"If you want to bring us back, you're going to have to beat us first." Sasuke said.

"I'll really kick your ass this time!" Naruto said.

Sasuke took out his sword and pointed it toward Naruto. Naruto summoned clones and charged straight at Sasuke. Sakura fought against Ino, Karin against Hinata, Suigetsu against Shikamaru and Choji, and Jugo against Neji. Trees were covered in shurikens and kunais within seconds. Jugo had started going beserk and Neji was having to dodge every second, but landed a few punches and kicks. Suigetsu was moving around to dodge Choji but then suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.

"What the hell? Why can't I move?" Suigetsu asked.

"Kagemane no Jutsu complete." Shikamaru said.

"Crap. He got caught." Sakura said.

Ino threw a kunai and it slightly grazed Sakura in the stomach. Sakura turned back to Ino and threw a punch toward her. Ino dodged and kicked Sakura in the side. Sakura then threw kunais and shurikens, Ino dodged some of them but some hit her.

"Sasuke, neither of us can win. You and I both know, if we were to fight till the end, both of us would die." Naruto said.

"No. You're wrong. I will win and if anyone's dying, it will be you." Sasuke said.

"We have no time for this. We have to finish this off quick." Sakura thought.

Sakura punched the ground leaving a huge crack in the ground. Shikamaru let Suigetsu go as he jumped. The hole now existed between Team Hebi and Konoha. Sasuke used Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu causing the trees to go on fire and make a huge fire wall between them. Team Hebi used this distraction to escape.

"God damn it!" Naruto shouted.

"We can't split up when facing Sasuke and Sakura. We need to attack them together." Shikamaru said.

"I agree, but the one with the orange hair is pretty dangerous too. If we can also contain him in the beginning I think the other two would be easier." Neji said.

"The girl doesn't seem like the fighting type." Hinata said.

"We need to form a plan so next time they don't get away. If we split up, we don't have a chance." Neji said.

"Alright then, Naruto you will.."

Team Hebi slowed down once Karin felt that their chakra traces were gone.

"So I'm going to guess that Naruto was the one I remind you of." Suigetsu said.

"Yeah, that's him." Sakura said.

"But I'm better looking don't you think?" Suigetsu asked.

"Sure, you can believe that." Sakura said.

"I'm hurt." Suigetsu said.

"Haha, well, I'm not going to choose something like that. That's so awkward." Sakura said.

"Ah, but you would choose Sasuke over somebody everytime." Suigetsu said.

"See that's different." Sakura said.

"Why? Because you love him?" Suigetsu asked.

"Because he is, there's no contest." Sakura said.

Karin growled and Suigetsu laughed. Sakura took one look at Sasuke. He didn't look back nor did it look like he was paying any attention. All Sasuke ever wanted was his revenge, but then what? What was next? What if it turns out to be a neverending cycle? What if something happens after he gets his revenge?

"I'm thinking too much..." Sakura thought.

"There's a town nearby. We should go stock up on supplies." Sasuke said.

"Good idea." Sakura said.

"Finally, we get to rest." Suigetsu said.

"We've barely been running, how are you already tired?" Karin asked.

"Let's see you carry this big sword around." Suigetsu said.

"Did you know Zabuza well?" Sakura asked.

"Oh, you know him?" Suigetsu asked.

"You could say that." Sakura said.

"Well, he was part of this pact made in Kirigakure called the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen of the Mist. Now I'm collecting all their swords." Suigetsu said.

"That explains it, but why? Is there something special about them?" Sakura asked.

"Well, I didn't get in, and now I resent them for that, and besides they're all dead now, except one. What do they need their swords for?" Suigetsu asked.

"I see." Sakura asked.

"So Sakura, have you actually met Itachi before?" Suigetsu asked.

"I don't think so... not that I remember anyways... why do you ask?" Sakura said.

"Just curious. Trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together." Suigetsu said.

"What puzzle?" Sakura asked.

"Of the complicated relationship you guys have. What exactly made you go to Orochimaru anyways? There must have been a reason right? Everyone knows Sasuke's reason, but what about you?" Suigetsu asked.

"Honestly, I don't know myself. The only thought I had back then was I don't want Sasuke to leave. Maybe I should've screamed and had people come and stop him. But I knew that if I did that Saske would probably hate me forever, and my only other option was to go with him. And so here I am today." Sakura said.

"Interesting. So basically what you're saying is that Sasuke could have knocked you out and left you but he didn't. He took you along." Suigetsu said.

"Yeah I guess that pretty much is it." Sakura said. "So anything ever happen between you too?" Suigetsu asked.

"Why are you so interested in our relationship?" Sakura asked.

"Because nobody else completely understands why Sasuke Uchiha brought along a girl with him." Suigetsu explained.

"Well nobody else needs to know but Sasuke, I guess." Sakura said.

"Sakura, you've changed a bit in this past few days. I mean you actually laugh and talk. I thought you were like Sasuke, all quiet and emotionless." Suigetsu said.

"Well, I had to act that way or else I don't think I could've gone through all the things I had to witness there..." Sakura said.

"I guess it all makes sense." Suigetsu said.

They finally arrived in town. They split up to go buy food and and weapons. Sakura and Karin, Suigetsu and Jugo, and Sasuke went off to do what they needed to do. Sakura and Karin went to the market to buy food. As they were in the aisle looking at snacks, Sakura felt dizzy and put her hand on her forehead and was losing her balance.

"Hey what's wrong with you?" Karin asked.

Sakura started to knock down some of the stuff off the shelves, and then fainted to the floor. Karin knelt down and shook her.

"Hey wake up!" Karin shouted.

People started gathering around them. Sakura started to stir after a couple minutes and got up. She held her head and started to get up. People moved out of the way and asked if she was okay.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's buy the stuff and get out of here." Sakura said.

They got to the cashier and bought the food and left. Sakura suddenly stopped and Karin did soon after.

"What is it?" Karin asked.

"D-Don't tell Sasuke about this." Sakura said.

"Don't you want Sasuke to care and worry about you?" Karin asked.

"This isn't a big deal. It's just a one time thing. There's no need for him to fret about it." Sakura said.

"I don't believe you." Karin said.

"Fine you can believe what you want. Just don't tell Sasuke." Sakura said.

"Fine, I won't. It's not like I want to see him be so overprotective of you anyways. But your chakra level has increased, how the hell did that happen?" Karin said.

"It didn't. Maybe your detection skils aren't really as great at everyone thinks." Sakura said.

"I'm the best damn tracker there is. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have been over at Orochimaru's in the first place." Karin said.

"Yeah yeah whatever." Sakura said.

"Hmph." Karin grunted.

"God damn it. It started again... I thought it was over..." Sakura thought.

-flashback to two years ago-

"Well, it seems like it's working." Kabuto said.

"What the hell did you inject me with?" Sakura asked.

"Quiet now, we wouldn't want to wake up Sasuke-kun." Kabuto said.

"I don't fucking care! What did you inject me with you bastard?" Sakura asked.

Kabuto knelt down to her and held her face in his hands

"Such vulgar words coming from such a pretty girl." Kabuto said.

"Don't touch me!" Sakura said.

Kabuto smirked and held the syringe he injected her with. He refilled it with the same liquid and put it on a shelf. He knelt back down next to her.

"You'll feel dizzy at times, possibly even faint, but after that period, you will be much stronger. But, if it doesn't stop after two years, then you're body cannot control the chakra and will start to reject it. Even your normal chakra will start to be rejected and then you may die." Kabuto said.

-flashback ends-

"It has to stop soon. If it doesn't im screwed!" Sakura thought.

"Sakura. Sakura." Sasuke said.

"Huh? What?" Sakura asked.

"I said, did you get everything we needed?" Sasuke asked.

"Yeah, but we might be running low on medical supplies. We should go stock up on some more." Sakura said.

"Alright. That's our last stop and then we leave." Sasuke said.

"Sasuke doesn't know about this." Sakura thought.

"What's with Sakura? She's acting weird, the last time she spaced out was before the Chunnin exams back in Konoha." Sasuke thought.

They arrived at the pharmacy and Sakura looked through everything making sure she got all she needed. Afterwards, they left town again in search of Itachi.

"What's going on with you? You haven't been this like since after the mission with Zabuza and Haku." Sasuke said.

"Nothing's wrong. I'm just tired, that's all." Sakura said.

"Sakura, after five to six years, I can tell when you're lying." Sasuke said.

"I-I'm not lying. Why would I lie to you?" Sakura asked.

"I don't know, but you are." Sasuke said.

"I'm not lying Sasuke. I swear." Sakura said.

"Fine then. Get more sleep tonight." Sasuke said.

"Alright I will." Sakura said.

Sakura looked over at Karin to make sure she wasn't going to say anything. It didn't look like it so Sakura knew she could keep things hidden for a while longer. After some traveling, they checked into a hotel with separate rooms. Karin was in her pjs and as she was going to knock on Sasuke's door she heard something.

"Okay good night Sasuke-kun. See you tomorrow morning." Sakura said.

Sakura opened the door and Karin turned her back as Sakura walked to her room. Karin then knocked on the door of Sasuke's room.

"Sasuke-kun?" Karin called.

"What do you want Karin?" Sasuke asked.

"Just to say goodnight." Karin said.

"Bye Karin." Sasuke said.

Karin walked back into her room. Meanwhile Sakura laid in her bed and thought about the event in the market. If it wasn't for Karin liking Sasuke she may not have gotten away with Sasuke figuring it out. In just two months she'll find out whether she'll die or live. Hopefully they can find Itachi soon. Something told her she will need to do something for Sasuke that day. She just didn't know what. Meanwhile Sasuke wondered what was really going on with Sakura. He knew something was up. It's just a matter of what.

Here's the end of the chapter! :D Sorry it's so late. School and what not :P