*****

Kabuto walked into the office, unarmed, escorted by multiple guards. He already knew there was no way that they'd just let him walk in, he was a branded traitor, thus the scratched headband. He needed to talk to Tsunade about Sasuke. As far as he was concerned, he couldn't care less what happened to either Kohona or Sasuke, he figured that he'd let them kill each other. Double crossing people was so easy these days...

"Kabuto," Tsunade said, "What the hell are you doing here?"

He chuckled, "Woa there, are we still a bit sore about that little incident a few years ago? I'm sorry, but let's make bygones be bygones." Tsunade was frowning, this wasn't the time to be playing around. "I have a little proposal for you. Its regarding a certain individual. Does the name Sasuke Uchiha sound familiar?"

There was shock from the Hokage and the others in the room, all but Kabuto himself and Kakashi. "So it seems you do...."

"What do you want, Kabuto?" Kakashi asked, tone increased just a bit. Whenever Kakashi did this, you knew he wasn't happy.

"Simple, I want you to find Uchiha. I've been working with him, and he's dead set on killing you. All of you, but especially Naruto. Look, you don't need me to be here all the time, but I can give you information about what he's up to."

"And why would you want to do that?"

"Because I hate him just as much, if not more, than you. He killed Orochimaru. You may have been his enemies, but you're a lot more useful then that freak."

"Okay then." Tsunade said, "What do you know?"

"I know that Sasuke knows where Naruto and Sakura are headed. And knowing him, he may try to strike."

Shock permeated Kakashi's face. Naruto's dream... Does it mean something more? Perhaps, this isn't good... "Lady fifth, perhaps it would be best if I-"

Tsunade nodded, "Go. As for Kabuto, if this information isn't correct, then you will regret it." She motioned to the guards "Please, escort him to his cell. Keep an eye on him, just in case."

Kabuto smiled. He'd planted himself into the base, no problem. He'd wait until the time was right to get word out to his people back at the sound village. Sasuke would be pleased, but he wasn't going to give him a free pass. Why would he, he killed Orochimaru. My sweet revenge on the both of you....

*****

Sakura and Naruto were two hours away from the border of the Fire nation when they decided to stop in the town to get a bite to eat. They normally stopped in towns for everything once they passed that groove, as it was deemed property of the village. At one point, they were going to put something there, but they never got around to building the compound. Naruto thought about this, it was a good spot, no towns for a couple hours, maybe they could build the compound when the village was done. He'd even do it himself if need be.

Sitting at the ramen bar, they each had their usual order, though it wasn't quite as good as the stuff at Ichiraku's place in Naruto's mind. They had talked quite a bit during their run, but Naruto still couldn't stop thinking back to that morning...

"Sakura, this morning," He asked her, "Did you mean that?"

She laughed, "Of course I did! I mean, come on, do you think I'd kiss just anyone?"

Naruto smiles to the side, "I don't know, you tell me?" He laughed, he'd been trying to ask her that all day, but couldn't get it out. If there was one thing Naruto was still had trouble with, it was approaching Sakura with things like that. He wasn't even sure why, it was just... Hard. Yes, it was easy to be himself around her, but insecurity was still part of who he was. Especially after Pain, it was a close call with Kakashi and Tsunade. He saw for just an instant that she would be all that was left, and it hurt. He wasn't about to lose the most important person to him. Sakura had become his closest friend, someone who understood everything about him, who he could turn to when he needed someone.

"Well, we'd better get going." Sakura said, rising from her stool, "Tomorrow's going to be the easy day, but today's the long one."

"Man, I can't wait for that cart...." Naruto remarked. He left the money for the meal, then quickly joined Sakura as they left the town. As they left, a figure stood behind them, simply watching them. He grabbed the phone in his pocket and walked to the back alley.

"I got them." he said, "They just left that border town, you need to be quick, they're in a hurry."

"Good thing I'm here then." a voice replied from directly behind him. It was Sasuke. He grabbed the man's neck, starting to crush it, just a tiny bit. "Thanks for the work, I can take it from here."

*****

Nighttime fell on the land of the sand, Naruto and Sakura got across just fine. They found a small town that was just seven hours away from Sunkagure, so they got a couple rooms for the night there. Naruto laid down, and began to think back to what had happened last night. The nightmares had been getting worse, but at the same time, seeing Jiraiya was a nice bit of relief. Suddenly, he heard a noise outside. He wasn't sure what it was, but it didn't sound good. He looked out the window, but saw nothing. False alarm, nothing more.

He went back to what he was doing, grabbed a book he had brought with him and relaxed. He had brought the book Jiraiya had written that hadn't sold well. The Legend of the Gutsy Ninja...He had already read more than half of it, and he enjoyed it quite a bit, far more than those other ones he wrote. Action, a character he could identify with, and most importantly, nothing to weird like the make out books. That, and his name was the same. I do wonder, why do we have the same name? I mean, who would have done that, name me off of a book character, I haven't heard anyone having it before me....

Naruto heard the sound again. And again. He was sure something was up, he just couldn't put his finger on it... Naruto grabbed his key, left the room, and headed to see what was going on. The second he got outside, he looked around. He took a few steps forward. Suddenly, Naruto found his neck being threatened by a sword that was all too familiar.

"Hello, Naruto. It's been a long time...."

"Sasuke...."

*****