Chappie nine is now up! Yippee!

Suigetsu: I'm finally introduced in this fanfic. –Grins but then winces in pain-

Me: Awww poor Sui-chan. –kisses his forehead-

CHAPTER 9-Confusion

After a long weekend, the gang had to go back to school. The bell hadn't rung so the gang sat under a tree.

"Do you think Orochimaru gave up?" asked Tenten.

"He might have," said Naruto. "I mean, he's not attacking anymore."

Sakura shook her head, "It just means he's preparing for something big." Tenten and Naruto looked at each other and gulped.

"I did some research on Orochimaru myself," said Shikamaru. "All the information on him is all ANBU protected."

Sakura nodded, "It will be dangerous if the information gets leaked. Also, if Orochimaru gets a hold of it, he can change it and that will lead the ANBU to danger."

"Ah, but danger is your middle name. Isn't that right . . . Sakura?" a voice said. It was a boy who looked about eighteen. He had purple eyes and shaggy white hair that had blue highlights on the tips. He was wearing a purple tank top and white jeans. He gave the gang a toothy grin and showed his white pointy teeth.

"Yo." He greeted.

Sakura sighed, "What are you doing here?"

The boy shrugged, "I was bored so I might as well come back to Konoha."

"Who are you?" asked Ino.

The boy chuckled, "My apologies. I'm Suigetsu, Sakura's ANBU partner. Don't worry, I know you guys already; Yamanaka Ino, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Nara Shikamaru, Hyuuga Neji, Tenten and Hyuuga Hinata." He pointed to each person as he called out their names.

He sat down next to Sakura and put an arm around her, "Miss me?"

Sakura rolled her eyes, "Stop kidding around Suigetsu."

Suigetsu sighed and released her from his hold, "Still the ice queen, I see."

"So Suigetsu-san," said Hinata. "Are you attending this school now?"

"Yup," said Suigetsu, He then looked at Sasuke and grinned. "So you're Sakura's boyfriend huh?"

"What?" Sasuke said confused.

"He is not my boyfriend." Sakura said as she crossed her arms.

Suigetsu shook his head, "Just when I thought you were growing up. Sakura, do you want to die single and virgin?"

Sakura twitched and bonked him on the head. Suigetsu cried out in pain, "What? You know it's the truth!"

"Hn." Sakura replied.

"Sakura-chan," said Naruto. "You should stop hanging around teme. You're picking up his bad habits."

"Shut up Dobe." Sasuke told the blonde.

The bell rang signaling the students to head to class.

Suigetsu got up and gave the gang a two-fingered salute, "See ya."

"Suigetsu, I hope you haven't forgotten." Sakura told him.

"Forgotten what?" asked Suigetsu. Then he grinned sheepishly as he realized what Sakura was talking about. "About that . . ."

"You are so dead." Sakura told him with a death glare. Suigetsu laughed sheepishly and waved as he ran towards the school building.

Sakura rubbed her temples, "Let's go to class."

Kakashi introduced Suigetsu to the class. Sakura put on her fake smile for the class and greeted him like everyone else did.

"Suigetsu you will sit next to Sakura," announced Kakashi. "Sakura please raise your hand."

Sakura raised her hand and sent Suigetsu a glare but he grinned and calmly sat next to her. Kakashi began his lesson on Marine Life.

Sakura looked at Suigetsu, "I told you to do some research on that restaurant."

Suigetsu shrugged, "I didn't do any research because one, I got kicked out of that place for getting in a fight with a customer and two, I think it's best that you do the investigation by yourself; it's your mother's case were talking about." Suigetsu was Sakura's best friend and he knew Sakura's mother was Matsumoto Yuki.

Two years ago, he had discovered Sakura was tracking her mother's killer but Sakura told him to stay out of it. He agreed but he helped her out and gave her information that might be useful.

Sakura rolled her eyes, "How am I supposed to go to Kiri without getting questioned by the presidents and the ANBU?"

Suigetsu smirked and leaned in his chair, "Just watch."

Sakura didn't know what he meant so she focused on Kakashi's lesson. Finally the bell rang. Suigetsu grinned, "Here we go."

"Before you go," said Kakashi. "I have a surprise for you. As suggested by the principal, I'll be taking the class on a field trip this weekend to Kiri to study more about the Marine Life chapter. Please bring a letter signed by your parents to show that they approve of you going on this trip."

The class cheered as Kakashi left. Neji and Shikamaru followed Naruto who ran out of the class shouting "FIELD TRIP!"

Ino, Hinata and Tenten also walked out of the class talking about the trip. The only people left in class were Sasuke, Sakura and Suigetsu.

Sakura looked at Suigetsu baffled, "You . . ."

Suigetsu sighed, "Yeah it was me. As I said earlier, I didn't do any research since I got kicked out from the place and I felt you should do the investigation since it's your mother we're talking about."

"He knows?" Sasuke asked Sakura.

"Yes," said Sakura. "He and Itachi-san are the ones who know about my bloodline besides the presidents and Madara."

"Anyway," said Suigetsu. "I bumped into the principal, Tsunade, the day before when I had just returned. It started to rain so we stopped at a café and talked about random things like school and stuff. She told me that she wanted Kakashi to do something special for the Marine Life chapter he was going to teach.

I gave Tsunade the idea of the field trip to Kiri since Kiri has a water land where there are all kinds of fish and marine life. She called him immediately called him and threatened him to agree to the trip or he would get his balls ripped off.

You two can go and investigate the restaurant while the others are at the water land. Don't worry; I'll cover for you guys. I'll just make something up and tell your friends and the teachers. Trust me; I can sound very convincing when I want to."

Sakura stared at Suigetsu. Then she tackled him with a hug and kissed his cheek. Then she looked at him with gratitude, "ANBU base number 9. Vault number 7; Combination is 21/17/27. I would have told you sooner but I wanted to see you suffer a bit." Suigetsu's lips tilted upward to form a grin.

Sakura exited the room. Sasuke looked at Suigetsu who was grinning like crazy after what Sakura had told him. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "What's Vault number 7?"

"It's where my mentor's sword is kept," said Suigetsu. "His name was Momochi Zabuza and he died seven years ago in an ANBU assassination mission. I wanted his sword but no one would tell me where it was. But now, it'll finally be mine." Suigetsu exited the class.

Sasuke sighed and went to his next class.

After school was over, Sakura and Sasuke met up at Sakura's house. They were in the research room, preparing for their trip for Kiri.

"We'll need a map to the restaurant," said sakura. "Also, we have to work fast since there's a time limit; we arrive at Kiri by eight o'clock this weekend and go to the restaurant. We can investigate the area around the restaurant for an hour since the restaurant only opens at nine. Once it opens, we'll investigate.

The class leaves the water land probably by three o'clock or earlier so we'll get approximately eight hours to complete the work. I told Suigetsu to call us if there is anything we need to know of." Sasuke nodded.

"I already got a map," said Sasuke. "I got a printout of it yesterday." He handed Sakura the printout. Sakura took it and placed it on the table. She grabbed a sharpie and drew an 'X' at the place where the restaurant was.

"'X' marks the spot." Sakura said with a smirk.

She then went to the shelf and grabbed something from the top of it. She walked back to Sasuke and took his hand.

"Take this." Sakura said as she put something in Sasuke's hand; a chain that had the pendant of a Yang.

"What's this for?" asked Sasuke.

"For good luck," said Sakura. She pulled out a chain from around her neck. Her chain had a pendant of a Yin; the two were a set. "It belonged to my parents. I want you to have that."

"Why?" asked Sasuke.

Sakura gave a small smile, "I guess . . . I trust you."

Sasuke stared at Sakura as she went and sat at the computer. She trusted him. She had finally learned to trust and she started off with him. Sasuke gave a soft smile and went to Sakura. He leaned down so that his lips were at her ear.

"Thank you." He whispered.

Sakura turned her head and gazed into his eyes. Slowly, they leaned in and their lips met. This kiss was different from the one that they shared a few days ago. It was more heated and more passionate.

Sakura suddenly pulled away, "We shouldn't be doing this."

Sasuke wanted to say something but stopped himself when he saw Sakura's confused and somewhat frightened expression. He sighed, "I'm sorry." Sakura nodded and the two went back to what they were doing.

Sasuke reached home and went to his room. He lay on his bed and shook his head. He couldn't stop thinking about Sakura. When he closed his eyes, images of the pink haired agent would pop up.

She made his heart beat fast, she made him want to be different, and she made him feel like he could do anything if he tried.

He recalled the feeling of having Sakura's lips on his. He wanted to be near her all the time; to hold her, kiss her . . .

Sasuke shook his head. What was the pink haired agent doing to his mind?

Sakura went to her room and sat on the floor. She hugged her knees and closed her eyes. The kiss she had shared with Sasuke was so passionate. She was tempted to kiss those lips again.

Sasuke made her feel safe and loved, he made her happy and she trusted him. Her heart always skipped a beat when she saw him and her insides would turn to mush when he kissed her or touched her.

'Have I fallen in love with him?' She thought to herself.

Sakura was baffled at what she had thought and gave a dry chuckle. 'The Haruno Sakura in love? Yeah right, and pigs fly.'

An image of Sasuke smirking popped up in her mind and she felt heat rush to her cheeks. If this wasn't love . . . then what was it?

Sakura sighed and shook her head. No doubt about it; she was in love with Uchiha Sasuke.

She recalled Madara's words, 'Love? Love is just a burden. Love brings pain and sorrow; it's stupid. It weakens even the most powerful people in the world. It's best if you avoid it. Love only yourself, that's the only way you can attain power.'

Sakura knew she should let go before it was too late but another voice spoke in her mind; her mother's voice, 'Sakura dear, love doesn't bring pain. Love is what keeps everyone alive and what makes you strong. It is not by loving yourself that you gain power, you attain it by loving others. Don't let it go, now that you have found it.'

The voices of Madara and her mother echoed in her mind.

"I don't know!" Sakura yelled. A tear slid down her cheek. "I'm . . . so confused."

For the first time in years, Sakura cried. She was afraid and confused and there was no one there to comfort her or give her words of advice. She was all alone. Her life was already tangled up after her mother died and now, Sasuke came into her life and she fell in love with him. She hated Sasuke for the way he made her feel but still . . . that didn't stop her from loving him.

She felt helpless as a deer in the headlights. Sakura cried and cried until she fell asleep on the floor of her bedroom. The cold breeze from her window made her shiver so she curled up into a ball.

'Mom,' she thought. 'You don't know how much I need you.'

Suigetsu: I am so kickass!

Me:-smirk- Told ya.

Me and Suigetsu: Please review! ^_^