A/N: The much awaited for chapter ten! As I was writing this, I was listening to a particular song that made the emotions in this chapter that much stronger. To add to the atmosphere, please listen to 'Los Angeles' by Peter Bradley Adams. You will cry!

...

The hotel was small and quaint, quite different from the one she had stepped in before. Only this time, she could actually feel the chakra signature here; their target was still in this building.

"Well they certainly don't have a preference for hotels," Suigetsu noted, stepping up beside her. With impressed eyes, he looked all around at the homey furnishings and refreshing atmosphere. The place was meant to induce relaxation; a thing that people like him knew nothing of. Perhaps that was why the cherry haired kunoichi chose this place. After the story they heard at the last place, she would need someplace quiet and peaceful to recuperate.

"At least there are no perverts everywhere," Karin muttered under her breath before walking towards the old man standing behind the desk. The old man glanced up at them and sighed deeply.

"Can I help you?" he asked, almost boredly.

"Yes, in fact, you can help us," Karin said," We're looking for an old friend of ours. She has pink hair and is traveling with two others. A young man and a little girl."

The old man sighed again and shot her a hard look. "Old friends, huh? Why do I seem to doubt that?" he asked her, and knew he was right when she bit her lower lip.

"If you mean harm, then you would've come in here blazing with weapons," he continued," Which you didn't. But I must warn you, if you cause any ill will, there will be hell to pay."

Karin smiled victoriously. This man was much more cooperative than the last one. Not to mention very intelligent. He obviously knew he couldn't stop them and wanted to set a peaceful atmosphere for the fateful meeting.

"Much appreciated, old man," Suigetsu cheered and grinned toothily at the man, who looked at his features with disgust," So where is the little sprite, by the way?"

"On one condition," the old man interrupted him, sending him a dark glare. Stunned, Suigetsu froze and stared back at the old man.

"The only one to go is him," a finger was then pointed directly at Juugo.

Both Karin and Suigetsu jaws dropped, eyes wide and confused.

Juugo just stared blankly at the old man, and when he finally figured it out, he sighed.

"Because I'm a kid, right?" he asked, cursing whatever had turned him into a child when he had healed Sasuke way back when.

The old man nodded, smiling," She loves children. And she won't be as wary when it's just you."

"Damn, why didn't we think of that before?" Suigetsu muttered, earning a sharp whack from Karin.

"We agree," she turned back to the man," Now hurry it up, we need to get a message to her."

"Hmph," the old man grunted and stepped out from his desk," But you two must stay here, where I can keep an eye on you."

"Yeah yeah, whatever," she rolled her eyes.

Narrowing his eyes at her one last time, the old man turned and led Juugo towards the back of the hotel. Once he was out of sight, Suigetsu looked at Karin with a stunned expression.

"Are we really gonna sit here and wait?"

"No, you dumbass," Karin growled at him," Ever heard of a clone?"

"Ohhhh."

"Sheesh. Idiot."

...

There was a small greenhouse located behind the hotel. Juugo watched with fascination as they passed elderly ladies having tea in quaint gardens. The gardens surrounded the greenhouse, where beautiful flowers and plants could be found. The man notice Juugo staring and chuckled.

"The owner comes from a very tropical land and misses the atmosphere," he answered," Many of these plants have medicinal qualities, but no one ever came that could use them. Luckily, the very young woman you are searching for came and is in the process of developing many medicines from our gardens."

Juugo raised an eyebrow at him. Sakura was a medic-nin? Sasuke never mentioned that.

Soon enough, they approached the back of the greenhouse, where two females were hard at work over a small stove and pot. The smell of herbs filled the air, as well as the voice of the elder female instructing her protege how to make the medicine.

"The bark from the aspen tree is a natural pain relievant," Haruno Sakura spoke in a motherly tone, watching with careful eyes as a blonde headed child measured the ingredient and poured it into the pot," Good, Kirei. Now what herb combines everything?"

"Haruno-san, you have company," the man announced. Sakura sighed, never turning towards them though her protege did.

"It was smart of you to let only one in, Koyuke-san," she said, but Juugo suspected a hint of doubt in her voice. Did she know that Karin and Suigetsu were still around? "I can take it from here," Sakura finally turned to the two of them, but narrowed her eyes when she saw how young Juugo was.

Juugo didn't even notice the old man leaving until Sakura gestured him to join them at the table. He moved forward and took a seat beside the blonde child, who was staring at him with wide eyes. Ignoring her, he looked at Sakura. He opened his mouth-

"I know why you're here," she interrupted him, fixing him with a hard stare. With a frown, he noticed that it was very similar to Sasuke's. "And I'm going to tell you that I don't give a damn," she continued," Sasuke broke ties with us years ago. That was his own choice."

"Haruno-san-" he tried to explain, but she held out a hand to stop him again.

"Just...Stop. I don't care anymore," she ordered, but Juugo didn't miss that look in her eye. She was trying to be strong, but there was an underlying doubt behind her eyes. Looking at her, Juugo realized something. She was tired. Exhausted. Hopeless. Sasuke himself had admitted to betraying her; she had said that he broke ties with them; how long had she sat in the village, waiting for him to return? How long had she hoped that her waiting would pay up; hoping that her teammate would realize the wrong he's done and come home, or at least apologize to her? He could see it: She was tired of being hopeful and then being broken down piece by piece.

"I just want you and your damn team to leave and never come back," she said and Juugo thought it sounded like an ultimatum. How much he wanted to heed her wishes and leave, never to return. She wanted to be left alone, to be able to heal in peace without the emotional pain that always followed Uchiha Sasuke. But Juugo had a job to do. His loyalty was to Sasuke and Sasuke alone, and even though he didn't agree with his team leader's choices, he couldn't just turn around and refuse his request. He would bring the two of them together, even if only for Sasuke to finally have his closure regarding his ex-teammate.

"I can't do that, Haruno-san," he shook his head and within a few seconds, found himself staring down the blade of a kunai knife. Above that kunai was the angered face of one Haruno Sakura, glaring at him with such hatred and malice. But no matter how much hatred built up in those eyes, all Juugo could see was her pain. She was fighting off her desperation with anger, trying to be emotionless like Sasuke. But she wasn't Sasuke; she couldn't hide her emotions or her pain with a blank face, but she could try with an angry one.

"Tell me something, Juugo," she spoke and Juugo wondered how she knew his name," Why is your little team after me? Did Sasuke really send you? Or are you doing this of your own accord, thinking that Sasuke and I want to see each other again? If so, then you've been horribly misinformed. Sasuke would not have sent you; he despises our team; wants nothing to do with it. And if this was your choice, then you really don't know that the world would be much more peaceful if we never saw each other again."

"Haruno-san," he frowned at her, not fazed by her words in the least," He is looking for you. You must mean something important to him if he's going all the way to send us after you."

Then Sakura did something so unexpected that both he and her protege jumped in their seats. Pulling back her kunai, she began chuckling. Laughing still, she sat back on her cushion and faced Juugo once more. "He really hasn't told you anything, has he?" it wasn't a question, it was a statement.

Juugo raised his eyebrow.

"Four years ago, we started out as a Genin Team. During out time together, he always looked down on me, calling me annoying and telling me that I was always in the way. When he betrayed us for Orochimaru, do you know what he did? He left me unconcious on a cold hard bench where anyone could've attacked me, then when our other teammate, our best friend, went after him, he nearly killed him too. The next time I saw him, he tried to kill both of us and our new teammate. And all this time, he tells us how much he hates us and the bonds we formed as children, saying that he would do anything to break them. So you tell me this, does that sound like the kind of man who cares about his important people? Sasuke doesn't have anyone important to him. We're all just pawns of his in his plan for revenge."

Juugo couldn't say anything, for he knew it was true. Sasuke just didn't care about other people, only his revenge. The Uchiha himself admitted for hurting his ex-teammates, saying that he had tried to kill them, but who knew exactly just what he'd done? The emotional damage he wreaked on those who cared about him was devastating and something this pink-haired woman couldn't forget. The pain Sasuke's caused to both her and the ones she loves torments her every day and he expects her to forget everything and forgive him? Even Juugo couldn't find it in himself to forgive his team leader for what he's done.

"Haruno-san," he spoke quietly, looking into her emerald eyes, so full of emotion yet so blank," I guess there's only one thing I have to ask you then."

She raised an eyebrow at him, but waited for him to continue. She was used to waiting.

"Now that you've started a new life outside of Konohagakure... are you happy?"

...

"Are you happy? What kind of question is that?" Karin scowled, crouching outside the door. Suigetsu crouched right beside her, his ear pressed against the wooden door. On his face was a look of deviousness; he obviously enjoyed eavesdropping too much. But one had to wonder what was going through Juugo's mind. Sure, even Karin had been surprised by the hurt and anger running between Sasuke and Sakura, but when did Juugo ever think of refusing Sasuke anything? Why was he asking Haruno such useless questions? Did he think she had a say in this?

"She will be happy as long as she has us," a dark voice spoke right in her ear and Karin stiffened. There was someone right behind her. She heard the ominous sound of a sword being drawn and beside her, Suigetsu's eyes widened. There was a flurry of movement and the next thing she knew, she was facedown on the floor, feeling something very sharp digging into her back.

She heard the door opening and a loud THUD as Suigetsu was thrown in roughly. She herself was picked up by the scruff of her neck (in large hands as warm as molten lava) and tossed in after him. But perhaps the most terrifying thing about the whole ordeal...she couldn't feel the person's chakra. He was right beside her, hovering over her like a vulture, yet she sensed not a drop of chakra in his body. Had she not felt his hands on the back of her neck; had she not heard his voice; he would've been nothing more than a ghost. Something unreal.

"When spying on conversations not concerning you, it's stupid to not check for guards," the man above her spoke and Suigetsu let out a gawk. Glancing up, she saw a foot on Suigetsu's back, pushing him facedown into the floor. A sword hung by the leg pushing her teammate down; a deadly yet beautiful katana carved from the finest of Japanese steel. Following the leg and sword, she identified the mysterious man. Most of his body was covered by a black and green mottled cloak, but his clothes underneath were undeniably woodsman clothing. He held his katana in his right hand and his left was cautiously placed on the hip not facing her, where she guessed another katana rested. Angry blue eyes glared out from underneath brown bangs, piercing everyone in the room with daggers of ice. Karin froze; he was not a ghost alright, but how could he have no chakra? He was something unreal.

"Y-You..." she sat up, sitting with her back against the wall so she could face everyone but kept her eyes on the samurai," What are you? You have no chakra in your body. But that's impossible; even civilians have chakra, even if they can't use it."

The man smirked, playfully but still dark, and another voice spoke up. "Sora-nii doesn't have chakra. He's not like you ninja, but he's way better," a small and excited voice told her; it sounded like a child. Turning her head, Karin saw the other occupants of the room, eyes landing first on Kirei. Eyes just as blue as Sora's looked at her, but were framed by blonde hair and shone with childlike innocence. The girl couldn't have been any older than nine.

"Kirei, let us handle it. Watch and listen," another female voice ordered and the kid fell silent. It was then that Karin looked at the last person.

So this was Haruno Sakura. Karin had to admit that Zetsu was right. She wasn't beautiful (exotic, but not beautiful) but there was something entrancing about her. Maybe it was the way she held herself, full of pride and determination, that made people want to look at her. Maybe it was the regal way her eyes landed on all of them, like a mother watching her children and wanting to help them, but had to let them learn by their own mistakes, that drew people to her. But Karin could see through it all; she could see what was so magical about this single kunoichi.

It was just as Zetsu said. Her beauty derived from her ability to give strength to others and saving none for herself. Behind the blank face and regal posture was someone broken down and beaten. Even at first glance, Karin saw the hurt, exhaustion, and desperation in those green eyes; Haruno Sakura was always on the thin edge of a knife, never falling but still waivering. That kind of control had a grace in itself; a grace that everyone strived for. To have pain in their hearts and eyes, but still be standing, forever if they have to. Haruno Sakura was still standing, and Karin had a suspicion that she always would be.

She was beautiful. She was something ethereal; a symbol of hope that spread out to everyone who laid eyes on her. She had an undeniable inner strength and she willingly gave that strength out to everyone.

Ruby red eyes softened, gazing at this worn down yet regal woman. All the hate that Karin had built up against Sasuke's ex-teammate melted away and she was perfectly okay with that. Maybe it was because of this quiet gift of Haruno Sakura's that Sasuke wanted her back. Karin couldn't see how anyone could turn their back on a woman such as this; Sasuke had and now he was regretting it.

"You have yet to answer my question, Haruno-san," Juugo spoke up. Sakura shot him a look, but they all could see it. Her eyes just could not lie.

From lying on the floor, Suigetsu observed all of this with confused eyes. He saw Juugo and Sakura sitting across from each other, as if simply having tea. He saw how Karin looked around at everyone but froze on their target. He had been expecting hatred and rage to rise up in the redhead's eyes, but it was the complete opposite. Instead, her gaze softened and she stared at Sakura as if in awe.

"Uhh, did I miss something here?" he blinked at the scene before him. Holding his stomach (damn, that brat shoved the hilt of his katana into his gut) and moved to sit up, but a foot placed on his back halted all movements.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll stay down," Sora warned, growling menacingly at the mist nin below him. He pressed down on Suigetsu's back to emphasize his point. Growling back, Suigetsu turned his head to glare at the samurai. He contemplated hacking the boy to pieces with his sword, but a warning look from Juugo stopped him. Grudgingly, he laid back down, resting his chin on his forearms.

"This sucks."

"And you," Sora now directed his glare at Karin and Juugo," Get away from Sakura and my baby sister and leave. I want all of you gone. Stop following us. Stop coming after us. Is that clear? And tell your stupid little boss to back off or I'll chop his arms and legs off."

Suigetsu couldn't help but snicker, imagining this scruff of a man challenging Sasuke. The poor boy would be killed in two seconds flat, samurai or not.

"Don't be ridiculous, Sora-kun," Sakura spoke up and Suigetsu smirked. Finally, at least someone knew they were no match for Uchiha Sas-

"If anyone gets to cut something off Sasuke, it would be me," she finished and Suigetsu had the suspicion that she wasn't talking about arms or legs. More like a head, but which one Suigetsu couldn't be sure of.

"You're a violent woman," he mused, grinning from ear to ear. This little spitfire was becoming a source of great amusement to him. His amusement only grew when she glared darkly at him.

"Don't tempt me to make you my first target," she growled and Sora pressed down harder on Suigetsu's back. But he couldn't wipe that grin from the shark boy's face.

"I don't think you fully understand us, Haruno-san," Juugo started talking, fearing a fight would erupt between Suigetsu and Sora," We're here because Sasuke told us to find and retrieve you. This wasn't our own idea. We simply can't leave without you or he'll keep sending us after you."

"Then I guess you'd better learn to disobey orders," she snapped back at him," I don't care if he threatened to kill you; I doubt I'm that important anyways. But I'm not going with you."

"Sasuke didn't threaten to kill us..." Juugo said with a calm face and Sakura opened her mouth to make yet another snappy remark. But what Juugo said next threw her off balance," Kisame did."

"K-Kisame?" she spluttered, ignoring the questioning look from Kirei," Hoshigake Kisame threatened to kill you?"

Juugo nodded," He said he would if we didn't find you and bring you back safely to Uzumaki Naruto."

Watching this, Karin noticed something strange. At the mention of Naruto, she saw how Sora's face tightened. He bit his lip slightly and averted his eyes towards the wall. She saw a shade of guilt in his eyes and she frowned; so he had a secret to hide and it regarded Naruto. Inwardly, she swore, wishing upon wishes that she could see his chakra and perhaps determine what he was feeling.

"Why would Kisame give a damn?" Sakura demanded, catching Karin's attention again," I've never even met the bastard."

"It's because he thinks it's his duty to finish a promise Itachi made with Naruto," Suigetsu blurted out, getting bored with this twenty questions game," Apparently the two vowed to keep you safe from harm or whatever."

The next sequence of events happened so fast that Suigetsu simply did not know what was occuring at the time, nor what to do about it. All he knew is that he felt a strong pressure on his back where Sora's foot lied and something was cutting deep into his arm. As he was forced face down into the floor, he realized that the sword brat was currently standing on him and cutting his arm with that damn sword. Above him, he heard the shing of metal against metal, before the tell-tale swish of a sword cutting through air. In his peripheral vision, he saw Sora standing on his back, the katana in his right hand cutting into Suigetsu's arm. In his left hand he held his other katana, blocking an attack from Juugo with a kunai.

Deciding to get out of the situation, Suigetsu melted his body and separated his lower half from his upper, effectively escaping Sora's foot. But just as he was reattaching himself standing up, he felt his arm and leg being cut off quickly. They fell to the ground with a splash and he sighed at the samurai.

"Nice speed, but blades don't affect me," he grinned, another arm and leg sprouting where the old ones were. Sora was shocked, but hid it well as he attacked Juugo instead. Suigetsu glanced at Karin, who was pissed off and lying rigidly on the floor; she was paralyzed. Sakura and Kirei were beating a hasty retreat through the back door.

"Just where do you think you're going?" he grinned maliciously, suddenly appearing in front of them. He was expecting something akin to fear to cross their eyes, he was surprised to see both girls just smile back at him.

"Isn't it time for your nap, Suigetsu?" Sakura smiled and Suigetsu knew he was in for it now. Kirei pulled a small vial out of her sleeve and before Suigetsu could stop her, she chugged it down.

"What the-?" he stopped, confused. But then the little girl suddenly had another vial and threw that one down on the floor. A cloud of purple smoke rose from it's contents and then everything went black.

...

An hour later, he awoke to find Juugo shaking him awake. "Eh, what day is it?" he asked groggily, sitting up.

"Same day, you moron," Karin growled at him," It's only been about one hour."

"A whole hour?" Suigetsu shot up, ignoring the lightheadedness he felt," Hurry Juugo, if we go now, we can catch up to them. That brat won't get the best of me again."

"Hey!" Karin screeched at him, wishing she could move from this wall she was lying against to strangle him," Don't even think about leaving me here!" Suigetsu sneered at her.

"You're paralyzed. What good are you now?"

"It's merely a temporary paralysis jutsu," Juugo cut in, trying to reassure the helpless kunoichi," You'll be back to normal in another hour or so."

"We don't have another hour or so," Suigetsu said. Flustered and nearly flailing, Karin opened her mouth to scream at the insufferable boy, but Juugo beat her to it.

"No one's leaving you anywhere, Karin," he reassured her, which did little to soothe her. He then shot a certain look at Suigetsu that left no room for argument.

Grumbling, Suigetsu had no choice but to sit down with a huff. He glanced at the back door and got a serious expression on his face. "You have to wonder though..." he pondered aloud," They were so calm as could be until I mentioned the promise between Itachi and Naruto..."

...

"Those bastards!" Sakura sent a fist flying through a poor unfortunate tree. Kirei let out a startled squeak and stopped dead in her tracks. Never before had she seen such strength nor anger coming from her beloved Sakura. Even facing those mysterious people, acting in anger and hatred, it was nothing compared to what she saw now. Had she really just destroyed an entire tree with one punch? Since was Sakura as strong as...as this? Beside her, Sora frowned at Sakura's display of power, but just let her vent it out.

Still seething, Sakura looked back at Kirei, hearing her squeak. Upon seeing Kirei's shocked face, she felt her heart fall. Never had she meant to make the child fear her; she had simply forgotten that Kirei never knew about her strength nor the capabilities of many shinobi.

She sighed heavily, wishing she could dispel this anger she felt, but just couldn't. Instead, she fixed a look at Sora," Sora, could you take Kirei and give me some alone time?" He merely nodded once and grasped his little sister's hand in his.

"C'mon Kirei," he said soothingly, leading her away," Let's let Doc work off her anger. Remember that time when I was angry with Itachi?"

And so they were soon out of her sight. Deciding they were a sufficient distance away, Sakura returned to unleashing her anger out on the nearby trees.

"I can't believe them!" she screamed, punching a hole through a thick trunk," How could theyy do that to me?"

"I don't need their fucking protection," a tree went sailing over the clearing. ("Those bastards need to learn that we can take care of ourselves!" Inner threw in her own punches, letting loose her own fury.)

"Even after all those years," Sakura demolished a boulder," They all think I'm still. Too. Weak!" It both enfuriated and depressed her. How many years did she train? How many obstacles did she overcome alone? How many battles did she survive? She did it all by herself, for Kami's sake! And yet everyone was still trying to keep her out of harms way. Didn't she vow years ago that she wouldn't watch anyone's back any longer? She set out to become strong so she could stand beside those she wanted to and goddamnit, she did it. Why couldn't everyone else see that? And now Hoshigake Kisame, someone she's never even met and should by all rights be trying to kill her, is set on putting her back in Konoha, where it was supposedly safer for her? Fucking people! Does the word 'missing-nin' mean anything to you? She'll die the instant she sets foot in Konoha.

But that was only her. Only she had to face that unfortunate fate. Should Sasuke ever return to Konoha, he would be welcomed with both arms. Naruto longed for his best friend again; the Rookie's had spent too many years of their lives chasing him down; the Council wouldn't dare execute him for fear of losing the Sharingan. But she, Haruno Sakura, had nothing.

Just the thought of Sasuke made her want to destroy a few more trees and she did. He had always thought of her weak, calling her such and reveling in the pain he brought. He never cared before, why was he beginning to now? He broke those bonds three years ago.

She knew Naruto was chasing after her. As her brother, he would rather die than let anything happen to her. She could only hope that it never came to that, even though she knew Naruto would stop at nothing to change world.

("Darling Naruto... Not even you can stop the world of reality.")

And then Itachi...

Sakura choked on her tears and threw a half-hearted punch at a tree. It struck, but the tree still stood. The bark dented in around her fist and cracked halfway throughout the trunk, but the tree still stood tall. Instead of pulling back and attacking again, Sakura let her fist remain half buried and her head hung. The tears began building up in her eyes, threatening to fall like a river, and she clenched her eyes shut in attempt to stem the flow.

She thought he was different. She thought he trusted her enough to take care of herself. To be a real shinobi. He never once made her feel inferior to him, even though he would always be stronger than her. But he never went easy nor babied her when they sparred. He did what he could to make her stronger, not flaunting his obvious power above her head. To Itachi, she was always his equal.

Or so she thought.

She was okay the past few days, thinking he did what he did because of his vow. His vow was to repay her and save her life in redemption for his. Why else would he have stayed by her side when she fell in a coma? Waiting day and night, enduring the disapproval from Sora, waiting for her to open her eyes and tell him that she was okay? Why else would he come back for her at the village, giving her a chance to escape while he faced the ROOT Captain alone? To repay his debt of life.

But now...she didn't know what to think...

Did Itachi protect her, save her life...not because of his promise to...but because he thought she wasn't strong enough on her own? That she was weak? Did he truly believe the ROOT Captain would've destroyed her? And perhaps he might've, given her distressed state of mind, but Itachi could've just helped her instead of telling her to run.

Sakura was tired of running. She'd been running her entire life and she regrets it every day. Even now, she was still running away. From the Hunter-nin, from Sasuke and his team, and from Naruto. But perhaps she was running away from something more. Maybe she was running away from herself. Her weakness followed her around, chasing her down again and again. And everytime she fell, she would get back up again, only to run away again. Running from her weakness. Running from her dreams that shattered everyday.

She was tired of running. So she sat under that tree, weeping for the weak kunoichi she was. She was a strong woman, but a weak kunoichi, and sometimes, a weak woman. Her only refuge now was that lone tree. The tree scarred, but still alive and standing, just like her.

The scars ran too deep in her soul and heart, yet she still went on, painting fresh coats of white over the bloody scars, telling herself it was okay.

The tree tall and proud, even in the face of imminent doom, just like him.

He faced his own past with a straight face and unblinking eyes. This was his doing and he would have the dignity to face it. He was strong and he would stand tall.

The tree standing alone among the fallen trunks, the last survivor, just like them.

He looked up at the sky, feeling as small and insignificant as he really was. There was no one around to take away that empty feel. He was lonely and missed being with her. And a thought flashed through his mind before he shook it away. Even with the others around her, did she ever feel as lonely as he did?

...

Oh my God...This chapter was such a deep one. There was so much angst and emotion in it, not to mention I was listening to the saddest song ever, that I almost cried writing it. (I'm such a sap for crying while writing sad parts, aren't I?) Also, reading this, I was reminded of another story I read a while ago. Another oneshot about painting over scars like painting over a crack in the wall. The story is 'My White Wall' by Georgie-chan. Check it out. Yeah, there are a lot like that story, but this one is just perfect.

So high five to you Georgie-chan!