I do not own Naruto

CHAPTER 9

Flashback:

"You're kidding me right? Itachi ni-san... there's just no way!" she exclaimed with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"I'm sure of it Sakura, I had looked into his heart and he had feelings for you... "Itachi replied "...and I think you should go back to him, you don't want to crush his heart do you now?"

"I'll go back if you insist so much but please just stay close if I might just change my mind...Ok?" she said hugging Itachi who in turn nodded as an answer to the question. Sakura moved away and started walking towards the konoha shinobi, Itachi who was looking at her retreating figure jumped into the trees closely following Sakura.

End of Flashback

Sakura pov:

I did just as Itachi ni-san had told me to. I went back to find my team mates I could sense quite of a few of my friend's chakras. Two of the chakra's were closer and a little apart from the others. I hid in the bushes only to find Sasuke with...Karin.

What happened next crushed my heart. I could hear it shattering. She had hugged him and he just stood there unmoving. Tears started to form in my eyes and began to flow down my cheeks and my hand instinctively went up to my chest as if trying to soothe the pain in my heart.

This was all the motivation I needed I stepped out infront of the two both shocked to see my tear grazed face. He whispered my name in such a soft voice it made my heart clutch but she stared at me with such hate all I could do was glare back.

"Thanks for helping me make my choice..."i said quietly but loud enough for the two infront of me to hear.

Normal pov:

Hope coursed through Sasuke, he thought she was finally going to come back with them.

"So you're coming back then?" he asked smirking. She just smiled at him and to his utter surprise shook her head. Then out of no where another figure completely covered in a black cloak with red clouds appeared beside her. It was his brother, hate filled his system as he leaped at Itachi. Only to be faced by sakura who had jumped infront of Itachi and was blocking his path.

"Sakura move!" Sasuke ordered his former pink haired team mate.

"You are not going to hurt Itachi ni-san...I won't let you" she said .

"NI-SAN?"sasuke screamed since when had she called him her ni-san. Sakura held twin kunais in both hands ready to strike. From Behind Sasuke the red headed girl overtook him and struck at Sakura. Sakura dodged her attack and managed to land a fist full of chakra into her stomach causing her to fall back and land into trees. Yet Karin still stood shakily and walked towards Sakura. Feeling no pity for the girl Sakura jumped up into the air and used one of the moves she had inherited from tsunade.

"HEAVEN'S KICK OF PAIN"

The force of Sakura's kick had sent Karin flying down into the rocks. She screamed in pain when the rocks hit her. Looking back she saw sasuke and Itachi both caught up in their own battle.

The other of the team was busy fighting the other Akatsuki which came here to help. Deidera, Tobi and Konan. In other words her new family and friends. Smiling she ran to where Hinata and Tenten were fighting Konan. Appearing behind both she hugged them from behind whispered a small "thank you" and knocked them out from behind.

Next she turned to Naruto to whom she just smiled sadly at before signaling Deidera who knocked him out.

"I'm Sorry Sakura-chan..." he said just before becoming unconscious. Konan and Tobi knocked the others out just before she before she broke down. Konan came and hugged her just like a mother would have done. She looked at Sakura sympathetically and quietly pointed to Sasuke. Both Itachi and Sasuke were worn out. Just as Sasuke was about to strike at Itachi, Sakura appeared before him and took the blow instead. The katana sasuke used pierced Sakura through the stomach.

"Why?" Sasuke whispered still in a state of bewilderment as to why she had taken the attack that was meant for his brother. She ignored all the pain in her body, moved closer and wrapped her arms around him.

"I won't let my precious people hurt each other, even if they hate each other...good bye Sasuke, I love you" she whispered just before planting a kiss on Sasuke's cheek. Sakura's smiling face was the last thing he saw before being knocked out by Itachi. Sasuke dropped to the ground but Sakura as fell she was caught by Itachi who slowly pulled the katana out of her stomach. Sakura winced in pain when it was finally out of her.

"I'll heal myself guys." she said smiling. Sakura said as she began healing herself. At a point her wings appeared from her back and unfurled. She finished healing the internal organ that had been damaged and explained to them why she needed the angel powers. She waited for criticism and accusations of her being a monster but got none. Konan too had unfurled her paper wings and was smiling broadly at Sakura. Itachi just smirked.

"Whoa Sakura-chan! You must be really strong if you're an angel...heck you're even prettier than Konan."Deidera said which earned him a punch on the head by Konan. Tobi just stayed silent but was jumping up and down. Sakura smiled at her new family, at whom she had known for even less than a day yet they took her transformation better than the people she had known for years.

"Let's go Pein will be waiting for us..." Itachi said bringing Sakura out of her trance. They started walking along with Sakura ,she was between Itachi and Konan. This was the moment that had told her that her new life had finally begun.

She just grinned even wider in response.

With the team of Konoha shinobi:

Sasuke's eyes snapped open as he rubbed his head in pain. He recalled what had happened...sakura he thought. It hurt, his heart hurt like hell. The fist he had balled up at his sides were bleeding because of his nails which had been piercing his skin. Sasuke punched the tree beside him. All sorts of emotion was building up inside him. Hate, regret, sorrow, anger and finally pain of losing the girl he loved. He began stuffing his hands in his pockets but felt something cool in there. His eyes widened in shock. It was cherry blossom crystal with tints of black on it's petals. That's all sasuke could take, he fell to his knees and cried for the very first time after the uchiha massacre, he cried for Sakura, the girl he used to call weak and annoying and more importantly the only one whom he had ever loved.

Others who had woken up were Tenten and Hinata. Tenten was cursing out loud for failing to help one of her friends. Sakura who had taught her to keep smiling even when the times were tough and things wouldn't turn out her way. Clutching her brown locks she let the tears finally fall. A crack of thunder could be heard from the skies...Hinata Hyuga was shaking...Sakura's gone... wrapping her arms around herself she fell to her knees letting her tears fall. Sakura, her first friend and also the one who got Naruto and herself together as a couple. Both Hinata and Tenten who were emotional wrecks took out kunais. Hinata sliced her hair so that it only reached an inch below her shoulder. Tenten on the other hand had cut off her buns and her hair just reached above her shoulders.

"Consider this as our promise to you sakura, we won't stop until you come back... even if we have to train our butts off to get as strong as you." Tenten said to no one in particular.

"We won't ever give up!" exclaimed Naruto his eyes tear stained, his mouth set in a frown.

"For Sakura-chan!" Hinata said with more confidence then ever even though her eyes were still glazed with tears.

"It's troublesome but since you were ino's best friend... I'll do everything I can for you." Shikamaru said as a tear slipped from his eye and sadness filled him from the death of his girlfriend and now loss one of his friends.

"I promised to protect you till the end Sakura-san" Lee eyes still sore from crying.

Neji, Shino and Kiba stayed quiet but nodded their heads in approval as to what their friends had said. Karin stood in utter shock as to how many people were behind the pink headed kunoichi.

"Wait for me... I promise I'll get you back, if its the last thing I do" Sasuke said his voice cracking and his face shadowed by his bangs. Worried Naruto walked over and put a hand on Sasuke's shoulder causing him to turn around.

Eyes widened as the uchiha's face came into view and shocked gasps were heard among the group. Hinata wanted to so much as to go and comfort Sasuke but she knew it was not her place to do that only one thing could help him and this was Sakura.

"Don't worry we'll bring her back...just you wait." Naruto said smiling at Sasuke. The uchiha just stared and tried wiping his tears but when he looked at the sleeve he tried wiping them with his eyes widened and he realized why his tears had shocked everyone.

Sasuke wasn't just crying...he had been shedding tears of blood.