Author's Notes: OOKAYYY WELLLL this chapter shall be very interesting, very interesting indeed. What will Sakura think of team hebi? What will she think of KARIN? We shall see. :)

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Sasuke walked with an unconcious Sakura in his arms. He walked for hours into the forest, heading no where specific. He could feel his body beginning to shut down, but he ignored the pain and he knew he had to get as far away as possible before nightfall. He had to make sure Sakura was safe. He looked down at her porcelin face, for a split second she had reminded him of an angel sleeping. He looked back up as he could feel his shirt sticking to his wounds from the blood drying as some of it was still trickling down.

Sasuke reached a stream as he looked up and saw the sun beginning to set. He walked over to a large oak tree as he gently layed Sakura against it. He turned and headed towards the lake. He stepped in as he felt the cool water against his skin. He continued walking in until the water was up to waist. There was a small waterfall behind him as the sun had completely set and the moonlight shone down upon the water.

He began washing his wounds as he slowly took off his shirt and bathed some more. The cool water against his skin and wounds felt nice. Although, his wounds began to sting after a while due to how deep they were. He then grabbed his shirt as he slowly stepped out of the stream and walked over to another tree as he hung his wet and torn shirt over a branch.

A smirk appeared on his face, "I was wondering how long it would be until you guys showed up."

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Tsunade sighed as she stood in the middle of Konoha's biggest hospital room that now contained all the injured shinobi. She watched them all sleep as she drag her finger along the end of Naruto's bed and stepped outside the room. She left the hospital and headed for her office. She looked up at the moon.

She entered her office as she headed for her chair and saw someone standing by the window. She recognized the hair. "Jiraiya?" she asked pausing in front of her desk.

He turned around once he heard her almost surprised, he held something in his hands as he hid it behind his back. "Uh..Tsunade, hi. I didn't hear you come in." he said with a smile.

"Okay.." she said a little suspicious as she stepped closer to him. "What are you doing here?" she asked as she noticed him hiding something.

"Oh well I thought I would come by and...see if you were alright?" he said with a triumphant brave smile.

"Oh? Well..I'll be okay." she said as she walked over to the window and looked out over Konoha."What do you have behind your back?" she asked without looking at him.

Jiraiya's smile faded as his eyes widened . "Uhh.. nothing." he said with a wide smile.

Tsunade sighed as she looked over at him. "Don't make me brake your arms, what is it Jiraiya?" she said stepping closer.

Jiraiya stepped back as Tsunade stepped closer, he was finally back into a wall.

Tsunade was inches away as she pulled back her fist and threw it forward but then stopped. Jiraiya was holding something out in front of him, in a defensive mannor. "Flowers?" Tsunade asked curiously as she took a step back and sighed."You had flowers this whole time and were scared to tell me about it, you know I don't care for the presents you have for your little late night girls. You don't have to keep it a secret." she said with a smirk as she turned to look out the window again.

"They're not for any late night girl.." Jiraiya said as he walked closer.

"Oh? So you just bought flowers for-" she was cut off.

"They're for you, Tsunade." Jiraiya said softly.

Tsunade's eyes widened as she turned to look at Jiraiya, "F-for me?" she said shocked.

"Yes, for you." he said with a smile as he held them out to her.

"But, why?" she asked taking the flowers.

"Can't I simply do something nice without being questioned." he said crossing his arms.

Tsunade let out a small laugh. "I guess so." she said as she placed the flowers on her desk and turned to face him again. "Well, thanky ou Jiraiya." she said with a small smile as she turned and looked out the window once more.

"Tsunade.." Jiraiya said stepping closer.

"Hn?" Tsuande said oblivious to what was happening as she turned and looked at him.

He stood there looking at her in a way he never looked at her before, there was something different about his eyes. Tsunade noticed.

"Jiraiya.." she said slowly as she was alomost lost in his eyes.

He lifted his hand under her chin.

They're lips met.

Tsunade's eyes widened as she just stood there, her cheeks turning away. She didn't move, or pull away, she didn't want to. She closed her eyes as Jiraiya deepend the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he wrapped his around her waist.

Shizune stood outside her office as she slowly opened the door put stopped. She saw the too kissing in the moonlight. A smile spread across her face as she slowly backed out closing the door behind her.

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Her mouth nearly dropped to the ground when she saw Sasuke without a shirt and dripping wet.

"Oi Sasuke, put some clothes on, Karin's going to have a heartattack." Suigetsu said with a smirk.

Karin hit him in the back of the head as Sasuke just rolled his eyes.

"So, I assume you got the sword." Sasuke said looking at Suigetsu.

Suigetsu smiled as he unsheathed the sword on his back and swung it around showing off. "Hell yes, check this out. " he said doing a few moves with it. "It's a shame Zabuza would leave behind such a beauty." he said staring at the zanbuto.

"Who's the chick?" Jugo asked as he spotted Sakura.

Suigetsu quickly sheathed his sword and headed over to Jugo was standing near Sakura. "Is that you're new girlfriend?" he teased as he crouched down and looked at her.

Karin's eyes quickly averted from Sasuke as she saw Sakura.

Girlfriend

She didn't like Sakura already. She clenched her hands into fists as she too joined her teammates over where Sakura was laying.

Sasuke simply sighed as he stood in front of Sakura blocking their view. "You will leave her alone." he said in a demanding voice.

"Why, who is she?" Suigetsu asked standing up.

"Her name is Sakura." Sasuke said as he placed his hands on his hips.

Karin's eyes widened, she knew of Sakura. She was Sasuke's previous teammate when he was in Konoha.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Suigetsu asked with a smirk.

Sasuke simply glared at him. "Don't be stupid." and with that Sasuke walked away.

Karin let out a sigh of relief as she heard that him and Sakura weren't involved.

"Well Karin, it looks like you're safe..for now. I don't know how you're going to compete with her." Suigetsu said with a smirk as he walked towards the stream.

Karin glared at Suigetsu.

Jugo grabbed some wood and laid it in a pile as Sasuke made a few handsigns and lit the fire.

Jugo took a seat beside the fire as Karin stood near it.

Sasuke grabbed his shirt that was partially dry as he walked over to Jugo and Karin. "You guys should get some rest now. I'll take the first shift tonight." Jugo nodded as he layed down beside the fire and closed his eyes. Suigetsu layed near the stream beginning to fall asleep and Karin layed down as she pretended to sleep.

Sasuke sat near Sakura as he leaned against a tree, one let outstretched and the other pulled up to his chest. He rested one arm on his leg as he leaned his head back and looked up at the night's sky. He glanced over at Sakura as he saw her shiver. He grabbed his shirt as he stood and went over to her. He placed his shirt over her as he sat down beside her now.

Karin saw what had happend as she clenched her hands into fists and rolled over facing the other way muttering something under her breath.

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"Do not engage in battle unless you need to. Is that clear?" Tsunade said as she sat at her desk speaking with the dark figure that stood in front of her. Jiraiya leaned against the wall.

The figure nodded as he turned and exited the room.

"Are you sure he's strong enough?" Jiraiya asked heading towards Tsunade.

Tsunade sighed. "I hope so."

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Sakura opened her eyes as she looked around. She saw unfamiliar faces as she quickly sat up. She looked down as she saw a white piece of fabric over her. She pifted it up to examine it when she saw the Uchiha emblem. "Sasuke.." she said quietly as she looked around once more. All three faces were staring at her now.

"Sakura." a voice called from the side.

Sakura quickly looked as she saw Sasuke, a smile appeared on her face as she rose to her feet still holding Sasuke's shirt. "Sasuke." she said as she took a step towards him.

"I'm glad you're awake." he said with his monotone voice.

"Where are we? Who are they..and what happend to Gaara." Salura asked looking at Sasuke.

Sasuke sighed. " Follow me." he said as he walked to the stream and Sakura followed.

Karin and Suigetsu watched as Jugo stood rather uninterested in their personal affairs.

"What do you think he's saying to her?" Karin asked Suigetsu.

"I don't know, he's probably confessing his undying love for her." he answered with a smirk.

Karin glared at him as she smaked him.

Suigetsu grabbed his face as he glared at her.

Jugo just rolled his eyes.

Sakura raised her hands to her chest as she turned and faced the stream.

Gaara's..dead.

She repeated in her head as she wanted to cry, but forced back the tears.

"Sakura," Sasuke said as Sakura turned and looked at him. "I have to go take care of a few problems so I want you to-"

Sakura cut him off.

"You want me to return to Konoha, I know." she said as she lowered her head.

"No." Sasuke answered as Sakura quickly lifted her head.

"What?"

"I want you to stay here until I return." he said looking into her jade eyes with his Onyx ones.

Sakura nodded.

"Promise?" Sasuke said as he took a step closer.

Karin watched as Sasuke stepped closer to Sakura and she clenched her hands into fists.

"I promise." she said with a smile.

Sasuke turneed to head back to the group.

"Wait." Sakura said as Sasuke immeadiatly halted. " Your wounds, let me heal them." she said taking a step closer.

Sasuke nodded.

She grabbed his arm as she led him to the side of the stream and instructed him to kneel beside it. She ripped a piece of her clothing as she dipped it into the water. She knelt down behind him as she washed the blood from the wound on his shoulder. The wound created when Gaara's sand went straight through his shoulder. She gradually moved to the front side of him as she washed the blood away from the shoulder wound in the front. She moved down and washed the wound on his chest left from the kunai. She then held her hands out to the shoulder wound as green chakra surrounded her hands and the wound began healing instantaneously.

"She's a medic-nin." Suigetsu said fascinated.

"Oh, so what. " Karin said crossing her arms.

"Look at how quickly Sasuke's wounds are healing. A wound like that would take days to heal, even if treated by a medic-nin. But she's healing it at an amazing speed. She's no regular nin." he said informativly.

Karin just watched furious that Sakura was in close contact with Sasuke.

Sakura finished healing the wound on his shoulder as she moved to the wound on his chest. She concentrated on healing his wound as she didn't even notice he was staring at her.

Sasuke watched as she healed his wounds. Now he knew, she wasn't healing him because of an oath she had taken or because she had to. She was healing him because she wanted to, because she cared. A small smile formed on Sasuke's face as it quickly dissapeared as quickly as it appeared.

Suigetsu and Karin however, saw it and their eyes widened.

Sakura finished healing the wound on his chest as she ran her fingers over the area where his wound used to be and Sasuke jumped. "What's wrong? Did I heal it wrong..?" Sakura asked quickly looking up at him.

"You're fingers are cold." Sasuke said looking down at her.

"Oh. " she said with a smile. "Sorry, I didn't know it would make you jump." she said with a small giggle as Sasuke just looked at her.

He loved seeing her smile and happy, something he hadn't seen in such a long time. Something he made dissapear from her when he left..

Sasuke rose to his feet as Sakura stood as well. He walked over to the group as Sakura walked over to the tree she was layed upon earlier and she looked at the team members.

"Suigetsu, Jugo come on." Sasuke said as the other two nodded and stood beside him. "Karin, you and Sakura will stay here." Sasuke said as he turned to leave.

"Wait, what! I have to stay with her!" Karin protested as she stepped forward. " But why can't i just come with you Sasuke-kun " Karin said pleadingly.

Sakura stopped as she quickly looked over at Karin when she heard what she called Sasuke.

Sasuke-kun

"Because, you two will have to stay here. Don't argue Karin." Sasuke said in a commanding tone. And with that, Sasuke gave a final glance to Sakura as him and the other two dissapeared.

Once they were gone Sakura and Karin glared at each other for a moment before Sakura picked up Sasuke's shirt and sat against the tree. She placed the shirt to the side as she unstrapped her pouch that she had om the back of her belt. She opened it up as she counted the weapons she had left. She had about six kunai's, several shurikan and fifteen special ANBU needles. She pulled out one of the needles as she placed her pouch aside. She glanced up at Karin who averted her gaze as Sakura looked at her. Sakura smirked as she took out string from her medic pac, origanlly used to sew up wounds. She wrapped it around the needle as she tore cloth from her clothing and began to sew Sasuke's shirt.

Karin paced back and forth in front of the stream as she glanced over at Sakura every now and then and watched her sew Sasuke's shirt with a smirk on her face. This made Karin even more angry as she clutched her hands into fists. " I must find a way for them to hate each other." She turned her head as she recognized familiar chakra heading their way. She saw Sasuke,Suigetsu and Jugo heading their way. Karin ran up to them as she stopped in front of them. "Hi Sasuke-kun." she purred as she held her hands together and smiled. Her orange-red hair was uneven, one side was long while the other short, and her glasses perched on the bridge of her nose.

Sasuke simply nodded his head. "Where's Sakura." he said looking over her as he walked by and headed towards Sakura.

Karin's hands fell by her side as her head hung low and she sighed.

Jugo continued on as he walked behind Sasuke.

Suigetsu crossed his arms as he let out a chuckle. "Give it up Karin, you've lost him." he said as he walked by.

She lifted her head as she turned slowly and glared at them as she saw Sasuke stop in front of Sakura. "No I haven't." she said with an evil smirk.

Suigetsu stopped and turned "Hn? What are you planning Karin, I know that look."

"You'll see." she said as she turned to walk away.

"Eh, be careful. She could kick your butt you know." he said as he turned to walk away.

"Yah, like hell she could." and with that Karin dissapeared into the trees.

"Hi Sasuke." Sakura said with a grin as Sasuke approached her. "Here, I fixed your shirt." she said handing him the shirt.

Sasuke took the shirt as he looked at it. It was almost as good as new. He looked back up at Sakura as she was smiling. "I'm glad you're still here." he said as he turned and walked away. "Jugo, come with me and gather firewood. Suigetsu, Sakura, Karin you three stay here. Wait, where's Karin?" Sasuke asked looking around.

"Uhh.. I think she went to grab something." Suigetsu said.

"Okay well, we'll be back soon." Sasuke said as him and Jugo dissapeared into the forest.

"So, Sakura is it?" Suigetsu said lifting a foot ontop of a rock as he leaned on his leg.

"Yes.." she said as she looked at him.

"Hm, I've heard lots about you. " he said with a smirk.

"Oh yah? And what have you heard." she said as she leaned against a tree.

"Well, I've heard that you've managed to surpass one of the great sannin. That's quite the accomplishment."

Sakura looked down at the ground.

Tsunade-sama

It's been so long since she last saw her. She wondered how she was doing, and if she was worried about her. Surely this man didn't think that Sakura was stronger than Tsunade, that's nonsense.

"Oh, that quite something but I doubt I'm stronger than her." she said " who told you this?"

"Don't worry young one, I have my sources. Welp, nature calls." Suigetsu said with a smirk as he walked into the forest.

Sakura sighed as she walked over to the stream and stared down at her reflection and sighed. She missed everyone, Naruto, Tsunade-sama, Kakashi-sensai, and everyone else. Even Ino. She was broken from her train of thoughts as she heard her name.

"Sakura."

She turned and saw Sasuke standing there. "Hi Sasuke! I thought you were-" he interrupted her.

"Listen Sakura, I think it would be better for us all if you left." he said staring at her with his emotionless onyx eyes.

Sakura looked at him in shock. "But Sasuke I thought you said.."

"Nevermind what I said, you shouldn't be here anymore, just pack up your things and go." he said in a more rude tone.

"Sasuke..I thought.."

"I loved you? Ha, you were greatly mistaken. I only love one person, and she's not you." he said crossing his arms. "Now leave Sakura or I'll be forced to hurt you."

"She's not me? Then who is she? Is it Karin!" Sakura said clutching her hand into a fist.

"You catch on quick. Now leave !" he yelled

Sakura stood frozen in place as she wanted to burst out crying, she wanted to drop to her knee's and beg him to love her instead of Karin. She didn't, she was stronger then that. She walked past Sasuke as she walked towards the tree she was at earlier.

Sasuke had a huge grin on his face as he dissapeared.

Suigetsu walked back into the area as he saw Sakura packing her things. "Sakura, what are you doing?" he asked standing puzzled.

"I'm leaving." she replied coldly.

"What, why?" he asked shocked. He heard footsteps as he turned his head and saw Karin walk into the area with a wide grin on her face. "Karin, Sakura's leaving."

Karin's grin grew wider. "Aw, that's too bad." she said sarcastically as Sakura shot her a glare.

"Sakura, what are you doing?" a voice said from above her.

Sakura stopped and looked up. "What do you think I'm doing Sasuke, I'm leaving, like you told me to." she said as she continued puttint everything into her pouch.

"What are you talking about, I never told you to leave." he said confused.

Sakura stood as she grabbed her pouch. "You know, for a minute there, I actually thought you cared."

Karin tried hard to retrain herself from laughing as she watched the two fight. Suigetsu noticed this as he grabbed her and dragged her into the forest. "Alright Karin, spill." he said crossing his arms.

"Hm? What are you talking about." she said with a wide grin on her face.

"You know what I'm talking about, what did you do?" he said crossing his arms.

"Sakura, you're talking nonsense." Sasuke said as he glared at her.

"Don't worry Sasuke, I'll be out of your way soon enough." She said as she walked past him.

Jugo watched as she began walking away."You're just going to let her go like that." he said after watching the whole fight.

Sasuke just shrugged. "Let her go."

Sakura stopped as she turned her head over her shoulder and looked at him. "I hope you and Karin are very happy together." she said as she dissapeared into the forest.

Sasuke stood a bit confused as he walked over to the stream.

I don't understand...

Sakura felt the tears threatening to fall as she refused to cry. She stopped as she heard voices. She saw Karin and Suigetsu talking. She hid and tried to listen in.

" Karin how could you do that. Sasuke is going to be very upset." Suigetsu said.

"If you tell him I'll rip your throat out!" Karin threatened.

"Why shouldn't I? What do you have to offer?." Suigetsu said with a smirk.

Karin sighed. " I'll help you track down the next sword you seek." she said

"Well then, you're secret is safe with me." he said with a smirk.

Karin sighed as she turned and left Suigetsu in the small clearing by himself.

He knows something...

Sakura thought to herself. She stepped out from behind the tree and stood in front of Suigetsu blocking his path. Suigetsu's eyes widened.

Karin walked up behind Sasuke. "It's a sham she left Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke didn't answer as he continued to stare into the water thinking.

What was she talking abuot?

I never told her to leave, in fact, I insisted she stayed.

"It's alright Sasuke-kun, I'm here to comfort you" she said with a smile as she moved closer.

"Get away from me." Sasuke answered coldly.

Karin stood motionless as she slowly backed away. "You'll see Sasuke Uchiha, I'm the one for you." she said quietly as she walked away.

"Alright Suigetsu, tell me what you know." Sakura said blocking his path.

Suigetsu smirked. "Tell you what?" he said cooly.

"Suigetsu, I'm not in the mood." she said as she clutched her hand into a fist. "Tell me what Karin did."

"What do you possibly have to offer?" he said with a smirk.

"Your life." she replied coldly as she flicked a tree causing it to break in half and topple over.

Suigetsu stood with his eyes wide. He knew she was strong, but he never imagined she could break a tree by flicking it.

Jugo walked over to Sasuke. "Sasuke, how could you let her go so easily, I thought you cared about her?" Jugo said as he stood beside him . "I mean, I know it's none of my buisness and it's not that I really care, and I know I shouldn't get involved."

"So don't." Sasuke replied coldly.

"Transformation jutsu eh? I can't believe I fell for it.." she said as she punched a tree and it too toppled over.

"Yeah, well Karin's good." he said with a smirk.

Sakura turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"To find Karin." she said coldly as she headed back to their campsite.

Suigetsu's eyes widened he stood up straight.

I better find her before Sakura does,

or she's a goner!

Suigetsu thought as he dissapeared.

Sasuke walked on the stream to the other side.

"Where are you going?" Jugo asked

"I'm going to clear my head." Sasuke answered as he dissapeared.

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Karin was sitting on a boulder just outside the campsite, her knee's pulled up to her chest as she gazed up at the moon and let out a sigh.

"You know, you had me fooled for a moment there." A voice called out from the darkness.

Karin jumped as she quickly pulled out a dagger and looked around. She stood in a defensive postion as her eyes widened when she spotted Sakura, then she stood up straight. "Sakura? What a pleasent surprise, I thought you left?" she said lowering her dagger.

"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Sakura said as she stepped out. "I know what you did Karin, you used a transformation justu to try and fool me then turned me and Sasuke against each other. But it didn't work according to plan because I'm still here, arn't I." Sakura said with a smirk.

"Clever one, arn't you? Poor Sakura, when will you realize that Sasuke is mine." Karin said with a smirk.

Sakura clenched her hand into a fist as she dove forward to punch Karin but she moved out of the way. Sakura then turned and grabbed Karin by the collar. " You wish!" She yelled as she drew her arm back and puched Karin in the stomache as Karin flew over 100 yards away through tree's.

"Hey Jugo!" Suigetsu yelled as he ran to Jugo.

"What is it now?" Jugo asked rather annoyed.

"Hey, have you seen-" Suigetsu stopped as he heard a scream and he turned. They watched as Karin came flying over some tree's and landed on the ground. "Karin."

A scream was heard as Sakura appeared through the tree's and she was in mid-air over Karin heading straight towards her with her fist pulled back.

Karin quickly stood and jumped out of the way.

Sakura's fist collided with the ground as it tore up beneathe her creating a huge crater.

Jugo and Seigetsu stood in awe as they watched what Sakura had just did.

Sakura rose to her feet as she turned and faced Karin.

Karin spit up some blood as she looked up at Sakura.

Shit this girls strong.

Karin thought to herself. She saw Sakura running straight at her, and she was fast! Karin backed up into a tree as she closed her eyes awaiting the impact.

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Author's notes : DUN DUN DUN DUNNNN ! haha. well that's that :) hope you enjoyed it. PLEASE review. I LOVE YOU ALL :)

haha.

NEXT CHAPTER ::

Chapter 11 : SAKURAvsKARIN. :)