I would like to say a quick thank you to ever one who has read my story, and especially to those who reviewed

I would like to say a quick thank you to ever one who has read my story, and especially to those who reviewed. Your feedback was all amazing and I'm so glad you all enjoy it! Not only is it amazing to know you like it, but its very encouraging to hear, and really makes me want to put out an amazing chapter for you! You have all been so wonderful; I have no idea how to thank you all enough.

I realise I sound a little to grateful when at the moment I only have about 14 reviews, but I've gotten a lot on Deviant ART as well. I've made many friends there, and the response- no matter the size- is overwhelming for me. This is the first time I've actually put my foot down and worked hard to get my story out there and recognized so even if its small, it still means a lot to me!

So I urge you to keep watching out for my chapters, and can stick with me till the end! You are all very special to me, even if we've never met!! (I know I'm a bit of a hippy, bare with me I'm very tired)

Now without further delay, I give you chapter 10! (Witch turned out REALLY long. I'm sorry)

Chapter 10

"What do you mean you just CAN'T??" Ino yelled, she was angry and Sakura could tell. She wouldn't expect Ino to understand. They had been bickering for the last little while, because Sakura refused. It was to dangerous

"I mean that I can't! Do you understand what you're asking me Ino?? You are asking me to fake a kidnapping and take you to a criminal organization! Ino this-" Sakura was cut off

Ino Stood "This is MY chance Sakura! I need out of That God Damn Village!! I don't want to be SAFE! I don't want to be the Hokage's student, I don't want to be head nurse, I don't want to live such a generic life! I want to feel the rush of excitement waking up in the morning and knowing that there is someone out for you. Know you could die at any moment, by the hands of those who were once your comrades…." Ino took a deep breath, "Want to feel that rush…wither it be good or bad…I want it so much" She looked at the rock ceiling of the cave.

Sakura looked at the girl. She sympathized with her. Adventure was like a drug for some people, and Ino was one of them, "Ino, do you realise what you want? You want to be a criminal!"

"Yes I do!" Ino snapped and looked into Sakura's eyes

"You want to be a murderer; A Thief; A Betrayer of your Country?" Sakura looked deep into the Yamanaca girl's eyes

Ino gaze grew intense, "Yes. I want to be FEARED. I want to spill someone's blood of my own accord, not that of a Hokage or Country Lord" Ino Breathed heavily with anger, and her voice spewed daggers.

Sakura's eyes grew wide with Shock. Sakura had killed people before. She'd had to. A few times for the leaf village, another few for the Akatsuki, and shed never once enjoyed it or wanted to. And here was Ino, a medical Nin, and she WANTED to kill someone. She wanted to kill, because she could. She wanted to kill to prove her freedom. Ino had always enjoyed her life, but it must not have been enough for her. She wanted everything. Ino was greedy for life. She wanted to feel alive, and to do so she wanted to be bad.

Sakura thought of the Akatsuki. She knew a member who was kind of like that, and he was considered a huge asset to the organization. Would they want someone like Ino? Pein would probably put her straight into the trials with all the guts she has. She'd be a member before she knew it

Sakura sighed, and walked up to Ino. They looked each other in the eyes for a moment. Then Sakura raised her arm, and slapped Ino right across the face, causing the blonde to fall back to the stone ground, and look up at Sakura in shock.

Sakura looked down at Ino, her eyes brimming with disgust.

"I will take you with me, But only because Leader would want to meet someone like you. This is just my loyalty to the Akatsuki. You also know too much."

Sakura's fists clenched, "And here's some advice. One, don't you ever treat taking someone's life as a sign of your independence. It makes you a monster if you kill for personal gain."

Ino nodded, she wouldn't say it but she didn't mind being a monster

"And Two, if this is a ploy to catch the Akatsuki in anyway, and if any members' blood spills at your fault…." Sakura turned and looked at the fire, "I will snap your neck myself." With that she walked over to the cave entrance, leaving a scared and shocked Ino alone by the fire.

Sakura walked at least 3 feet ahead of Ino at all times. Ino knew better then to step any closer. Ino watched the pink haired girl walk sternly in front of her. They had been walking for 6 straight hours. Luckily they both had great stamina and could do such just fine.

"Why are we just walking like normal travellers?" she asked bravely

"Because it's easier to cover our tracks this way." Sakura stated not even turning to see the blonde

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that witch ever member is on guard has to cover up traces of travelers on the path, so I'm making witch ever one it is' life easier"

"Gracious as ever Sakura-chan," a voice said softly behind Sakura, she turned around, "It been a long time, un."

"DEI-SAN!!" Sakura said excitedly and threw her arms around the man, "Dei-san I missed you so much!"

Ino looked at the two, shocked. She hadn't even seen, heard or sensed him till he spoke. He was good.

"Sakura, let go of me, I do not approve of hugs, un!!" The blonde struggled out of the girls grasp

"Sorry Dei-san!" Sakura let go and bowed

Deidara gave a slight laugh, "It good you're back, un! Now onto the next order of business…"

Sakura stood straight and looked to him, "Yes, senpai?"

"Why is someone tagging along with you, un?" He turned around and looked Ino in the eyes

Suddenly shock rose to both of their faces, "WHAT THE HELL?" They both yelled at the same time, though Deidara's ended in 'un'

Sakura looked to Deidara and then Ino, who were both scowling at each other, "Wow. I didn't realise how alike you to look!" Sakura smiled and tried to cover her giggles.

"Why the hell did you bring her, un?!" Deidara said still starring Ino down

"That was the price for her helping me escape. She's a medic-nin and she's trained for mind jutsus. Also her attitude is something Leader wouldn't mind as an addition." Sakura said, her smile fading

Deidara looked away from Ino and looked to Sakura, "Well I would be the last to doubt your judgment Sakura-chan. Come on Ill take you guys the rest of the way, un" Deidara smiled at Sakura. He obviously understood the situation at least a little.

They started walking again, and Ino trailed behind listening to Sakura and Deidara's insignificant chatter. She hadn't seen Sakura smile so whole heartedly in a very long time.

"So you owe this girl? And she wants become a member?" Pein asked the pink haired woman in front of him, who bowed politely

"Yes, leader sir"

Pein sighed. He knew Sakura wouldn't bring him back someone useless. He trusted her judgement almost as much as he did Konan's.

"Alright, she is in trial period. She will have to prove her worth to the Akatsuki." Pein stated flatly, "Now go see the rest of the members. Many people have been missing you"

"Hy!" Sakura stated happily. She then turned to leave

"And by the way," Pein added, "It's good your back"

Sakura smiled and exited.

She looked to Ino as she closed Pein's office door and she sighed, "You're in trial mode, so you'll stay in the infirmary for now." She then looked to Deidara, "I have to go see everyone so will you take her there for me?"

Deidara nodded, smiling to his dear friend and looked to the blonde girl looking similar to himself, "come on, un." And he headed off, soon followed by Ino.

Sakura watched them walk down the hall. She sighed and headed for the living room. She smiled as she smelt the aroma coming from the kitchen. If things were the same as they used to be, Kisame and Konan were cooking. She smiled; she would stop in there next. She entered the living room to see it the same as it was when she left. The back of the couch facing the door- Sakura had pointed out several times how stupid this was, but the other members were to lazy to think up a new arrangement, and frankly Sakura was, too- She saw Tobi sitting on the floor in front of the TV Hidan mumbling something about how stupid the show was from the left corner of the couch, and Kakuzu sat on the right counting what looked like checks. Sakura looked left and right, beside Kakuzu on the end table sat the remote. Sakura thought for a second and got down and crawled over. She sneakily grabbed it then crawled over the middle of the back of the couch. She then stood up quickly and changed it to the Christian Hymn network (Their motto: All Hymns all the time), witch she'd memorized for these such purposes.

Hidan screamed and jumped up, and looked around for the culprit, and saw Sakura standing behind the couch laughing historically,

"BITCH IT'S NOT FUNNY!! TURN IT OFF!!" He screamed covering his ears.

Sakura did as told, "Didn't you miss me Hida-chan!?" Sakura asked playfully

"Fuck no." Hidan yelled sitting back down and crossing his arms.

Sakura giggled, she knew he had by the tone in his voice. Sakura went to state that he was lying, when she was glomped by Tobi

"SAKURA-CHAN! SAKURA-CHAN! I missed you! Everyone missed you!!" Tobi said so fast Sakura almost couldn't understand him.

Sakura laughed, "I missed you and everyone, too Tobi. But can you please get off me?"

Tobi jumped up quickly and obediently. He then helped her up and grabbed her hand, "Konan-senpai will want to see you!! Come on!!" with that she was dragged off to find the other Akatsuki members

"So do you understand, un?" Deidara asked after explaining to Ino the basics of the Akatsuki. The girl was sitting on the hospital bed in front of him.

The blonde girl nodded and looked up at him. She just sighed and looked down.

"I'm guessing you feel guilty, un. For putting Sakura in the position you did." Deidara asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Ino looked up again, this time her eyes proving him correct.

"As you should, un. You exploited Sakura for her loyalty. But I warn you," Deidara said, "If you try anything like that again, I can assure you will have many enemies in very high places un."

Ino nodded and mumbled, "I understand that. I just wanted it so badly…"

"It? What's it, un?" Deidara asked

"Adventure; Freedom. I want a life where I can do what I want when I want with little responsibility. Thinking of it now, I feel so selfish." Ino put her palms to her face

Deidara felt a slight twinge in his stomach. Those were some of the same reasons he loved his art so much. The freedom of creating and destroying what you pleased… It was exhilarating to say the least. He felt him and this girl would get along well.

"Well we are kind of lucky Sakura brought you, un. We all travel in pairs, but Leader wants another person on my team un, because apparently our success rate is down…un" Deidara said trying to divert the topic away from something so personal.

"Why would your success rates be low? From what I know of you you're quite a Ninja." Ino said looking up to him

"Un…." Deidara scratched the side of his head with his index finger, "I keep beating the crap outta my partner, Un. He's a huge idiot, un?! He does THE most idiotic things, and he just boils my blood, un!"

"You say un more when your angry," Ino stated, face still in her palms

Deidara raised his one eye brow, "Natural Impulse. Get used to it."

"I'm guessing un is like an accent? You get it from the place you live. I met some island people who did the same thing." She looked up to him, "but your from the stone….hum….ill have to figure this one out someday" Ino put her face back in her palms.

Interesting Girl, un… Deidara looked at her. She was a lot like Sakura, but so different that he didn't feel he would have that same relationship with her. He wasn't sure what to make of her.

Then he heard the crash, and an ever innocent 'Sorry' from and scurries that sounded a lot like his retarded partner Tobi. Anger crossed Deidara's face, "Looks like I have to take care of something. Your free to wander the Hide out, but not to leave."

With that Deidara headed out to find the filth he had to call 'partner'

Sakura watch Tobi leave the kitchen, she sighed knowing Deidara would torture the poor guy, Sakura looked to the angered Kisame who was now covered and standing in hot water and boiled vegetables.

Sakura smiled guiltily, "I'm sorry, this was my fault, he was just so excited." Sakura got down and turned the pot on the floor right side up and began gathering up the vegetables.

"No its not, it's that brat running around and getting in peoples way!" Kisame growled

"Kisame, calm down your steaming!" Konan remarked, helping Sakura pick up the veggies

"It's the Hot water!!" Kisame said threw gritted teeth

"And your temper isn't helping it! Now go wash off, me and Sakura will finish Dinner." Konan said picking up the now almost full pot. Sakura stood up, and looked up at Kisame. She put her one knuckle to her lip and gave a light giggle

"Uh, Kisame-senpai?' Sakura said softly with a quirky smile on her lips

Kisame looked to her; usually it meant she knew something he didn't if he remembered right, "What?"

"You have," Sakura reached up and touched his hair, then brought something white down with her arm, "Cauliflower in you hair"

Kisame looked at the Cauliflower and growled, "I am going to kill that guy good!" Kisame stomped off to clean up

Sakura looked to Konan who had set down the pot, and had turned to look at Sakura. Smiles slowly crept across their faces

"I MISSED YOU!!" both girls screamed as the leapt into each others arms.

"I'm sorry I was gone so long!! YOU have to tell me everything I missed!" Sakura squealed slightly

"Oh you won't believe everything you missed!" Konan said pull out of their hug and look Sakura in the face, "Come on help me finish dinner and I will tell you!"

Sakura slowly opened the ever familiar wooden door, and peered into the dark room that was once hers and Sasori's. Barely anything had changed, except the room was exceptionally clean, witch proved for all the time she'd been gone, he'd been troubled. Her face fell into sadness at the thought of him worrying for her, and being in as much pain as she was. Sakura felt like she had barely survived it, and she had been human her whole life. She only knew she would get through it, because she lived through Sasuke's death, and carried on. Sasori hadn't been human for years. Did he still love her?

A tear fell down her cheek thinking of Sasori holding her in his strong arms, and not loving her.

She sat down on the bed, Sasori was out on a mission still. He'd been sent out a day or so before Sakura returned. He would be back within the week. She laid down on the bed, the smell and feel of her head on the pillow comforting her. She thought of everything Konan had said shed missed.

Konan and Pein were now engaged. Pein wanted to get her a ring, but Konan didn't want a trace that she had a significant other on her. They would know they were married and that was enough for her.

Itachi had left the Akatsuki. After perfecting the shadow clone technique to a degree were it left a body behind, and using it to escape death at his brother's hands, he went into hiding for months, fallen for a woman, married and had children, he had finally left. His oldest, she would be about 10 or so now. He had always said he would leave to take care of his family, but he never had. The man was losing his vision ever so much every day. He had told Sakura once that he dreaded the day when he couldn't see his beautiful child's face. It had brought tears to her eyes, and she offered to research for a way to give him sight, and he said he was already researching a jutsu he had Heard Gaara doing, third eye. He probably still had some sight left, and was probably still researching were ever he was.

Kisame had finally perfected his chakra mixing and could use Water and Earth chakra perfectly. That's why he had gotten Konan to teach him to cook, to learn about mixing things together, and how different things mixed make different tastes. He'd become an amazing chief, and dinner that night had proved it. Even after Konan and Sakura washed and re boiled the veggies, they still held the tastes of the spices Kisame had mixed. Even Deidara's hands enjoyed them. He was screaming at the table that he couldn't eat with his fingers because the mouths were stealing his carrots.

Hidan's head had finally healed back to his body from when Sakura cut it off 3 years ago. When Kakuzu took out his stitches, Konan said she learned new curse words.

Kakuzu, who had also been working on the 'perfect clone' technique, had overly perfected, and made one so perfect, it had Kakuzu's immortality, and he had to kill it. Thanks to that battle, there was a new valley in stone country; And Kakuzu is still recovering his chakra.

Zetzu was still just Zetzu; he still grew plants in his closet and argued with himself.

Tobi was still Tobi, though probably a little stronger from evading Deidara's attacks.

Deidara was as he ever was, secluded and cocky. Konan was worried that he wouldn't get by without Sakura, since she was the only one he used to talk to, but Sakura wasn't worried, she knew he would be fine, he knew she'd kick his ass if he were reckless

Sakura rolled over so she was now lying on her back. She looked towards the closet. She stood up and walked over to it, opening it to see her clothes neatly placed on the right, how she remembered always putting them, and Sasori's to the left, almost as neat as Sakura's. She reached out and touched her Akatsuki wait cloak. She felt the fabric she had sewn together almost all on her own. She remembered how it was supposed to be a normal cloak, but she had messed up really bad, so Sasori fixed it by making it a waist cloak, then he made sure he watched her when she made her shirt, and added the silver details on her boots shed bout in the nearby village.

She thought of all the things she'd done wearing that waist cloak. The people she'd struck fear into; the merchants who wouldn't deal with her because of it; the blood that had been spilled on it; all in the name of her family. Haruno mind as well not even exist, she didn't speak that name most of the time. Her loyalties lied, spelt out in the blood of her victim. She sighed. She remembered every face she'd killed as a konoichi. She'd done wrong so many times, but she had learned that this was the way of the world. People die and people prosper. She had to choose witch one she wanted, and not to turn back, and shed done it alright. One day when she was old, she would maybe look back and hate herself for these thoughts, but it helped her live through the day, so she would have to get over it.

She closed the closet door softly, and went back to the bed. She lay down on her side, the left closest to the closet, on her back. Uncomfortable, she rolled over and faced away from Sasori's side. She closed her eyes, and could almost feel his arms wrap around her. That was how he woke her up most mornings. He would wrap his arms around her and pull her close. He would kiss he shoulder and whisper in her ear. He made her excited to wake up.

She thought about how Sasori used to look at her, and how she looked at him. She loved him for years before she told him. She hoped he'd known she at least cared by the way she looked at him. She prayed he did. That he knew it warmed her heart to even think about him.

She thought about all the mornings she'd spent with him, and she slowly fell asleep.