I'm pretty sure this is the longest chapter I've written... it has some action in it, but the Akatsuki have not invaded Konoha yet. :) Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Deidara sat lonely in his room. They were going to leave in a few minutes for Konoha; effectively throwing off their planned schedule of attack by a half a day.
Deidara was nervous; he didn't want to attack Konoha. "Let's get going Deidara," Kisame's voice spoke from behind Deidara's door. Deidara sighed, and grabbed his bags full of clay.
"I'm coming Kisame, yeah!" Deidara stated as he walked out of his room. Seeing Kisame in full battle mode caught Deidara off guard. "Itachi-san has some things to explain to you Deidara."
The two Akatsuki members walked silently to their meeting room, and sat in their respective places. Hidan, Kakuzu and a few other members were there; Itachi sat at the head of the table.
"We are no longer attacking Konoha just to obtain the nine tailed fox," Itachi stated.
"Well that's a relief, yeah," Deidara stated. "I really didn't want to attack Konoha."
"We will be attacking Konoha in hopes of conquering and taking over the village," Itachi spoke while sending a glare Deidara's way. "I have obtained some rogue ninja to fight along side us; we will no longer have to put up with the Village hidden in the Leaves."
Deidara shivered at the coldness of Itachi's voice. He seemed very angered by something; it was probably Sakura's escape.
One of the lesser members raised his hand to speak. Kisame snorted, but Itachi nodded his head over to him.
"Are we to kill all of their ninja?" the brown haired man asked.
Itachi rested his face in the palm of his hand. "No," Itachi stated. "We will try to keep as many nins alive as possible; we are there to take over their village not to massacre it."
All the members nodded, and then stood on Itachi's command. "We will be leaving now," Itachi stated.
"What if we see Sakura?" Deidara asked. Itachi turned his back to the group; they were not able to see his face contort into a frown.
"Leave her to me," Itachi stated as he left the room. The group members gulped, but then followed their leader.
"Boy is this going to be a long day," Deidara muttered. Kisame slapped him on the back.
"You shouldn't have brought up Sakura's name, idiot!" Kisame reprimanded him. "Now he's going to be all pissy."
"Well sorry, yeah," Deidara said while following the blue skinned man.
---In Konoha---
Sakura woke up with a bad feeling. She felt something bad was going to happen today... sooner than it was supposed to. Dressing in her black shorts, red shirt, and white medic nin skirt, Sakura started heading towards the Hokage tower.
The night sky was still dark, and the sun had not peeked over the trees in the forest yet. Sakura knew it must have been around five thirty. She knew Tsunade would be at the tower, still; she practically lived there.
Reaching the tower in a matter of minutes, Sakura gracefully jumped to Tsunade's window. Rapping on the window lightly, she opened it after hearing a light "enter."
Jumping through the window, Sakura walked to one of the chairs in front of Tsunade's desk and sat down. "Somethings wrong," Sakura stated right away.
"What do you mean Sakura?" Tsunade asked. "All of the citizens have successfully been escorted to the tunnel, and most of our ninjas will be back by tonight."
"I think tonight will be to late, Tsunade-sama," Sakura stated while playing with the end of her skirt. "I know what I told you, but I have a feeling that he-they already left."
"Sakura who is this he?" Tsunade asked. She heard her apprentice screw up, and wanted to know why she was so flustered.
"Itachi," Sakura muttered while looking at the rug. "It's like I can feel he's coming closer."
"Sakura-" Tsunade was interrupted by an anbu appearing into the room.
"Forgive me, Tsunade-sama," the anbu stated. He bowed lightly, and then turned towards Sakura, and also bowed. "Sakura-sama."
"Yamato-san no need for formalities," Sakura stated as she recognized the mask. He nodded, and took off his mask.
"We have spotted some rogue ninja heading towards Konoha," Yamato stated. "One of my groups also stated that Akatsuki have been seen heading this way also."
"Fuck," Tsunade openly cursed. "We don't have enough quality ninja to take on the Akatsuki. Gai's team is out on a mission, as well as Kurenai's and Asuma's."
"Where are they?" Sakura asked. "I might be able to transport them back home in time for the battle."
"Sakura," Tsunade started.
"No, Tsunade-sama," Sakura spoke loudly. "I will not be able to rest until this is over; please give me something to do."
Tsunade nodded her head. "Gai's team should be on it's way back from Suna. They were there to tell Gaara what was happening. Asuma's and Kurenai's teams are coming back from Mist."
"I will inform Asuma and Kurenai," Yamato stated emotionlessly. Tsunade sighed, but nodded.
"Then Sakura, you will find Gai's team," Tsunade stated. "They are probably over a days walk away; please hurry."
Sakura and Yamato both nodded, and then bowed. They disappeared together in a flash; both heading opposite directions. Sakura sprinted towards one of the gates, and then through it. She knew she didn't have much time.
She had to find Gai's team, and transport them home with one of the scrolls Tsunade had given her. It would allow any team to appear in Konoha in only a moments notice.
Sakura let out a long sigh, she knew she had to succeed. She just hoped Yamato did as well.
---With Team Gai---
"Do you sense that?" Neji asked as he and his team sat around the campfire. They were currently eating breakfast, and then going to head towards Konoha.
"Ninjas trying to mask their chakra?" Tenten asked as she grabbed one of her scrolls.
Lee smirked, and stood in his battle stance; one hand behind his back, and one waiting for the enemy. "We will defeat these unyouthful enemies and then head back towards the youthful Konoha," Lee stated.
"So youthful!" Gai cried as he stood in the same stance beside Lee. If they weren't surrounded by ninja, Neji and Tenten would have sweat dropped.
"Byakugan," Neji muttered almost silently. He scanned the area. "fifty-five."
"Ten for you my youthful friends; I will take fifteen!" Lee stated as he charged towards the bushes.
"So full of youth!" Gai sang proudly as he too charged onto the on coming ninjas.
The battle began as Tenten effortlessly flung two kunai at an enemy nin; once pierced his head the other his heart.
Neji stood in the hole he created from his rotation as several nin tried to attack them with their own kunai. To the left of him, Neji could see Gai and Lee racking up an endless number of bodies.
To his right, Tenten was perched on a tree throwing kunai after kunai. Neji smirked as he moved his body into rotation again. This time he focused on the kunai the offending enemies threw. Concentrating his chakra into the kunai, he was able to attach some sort of chakra strings to them, and he flung the kunai back to their previous owners.
Ten ninja lay dead only feet away from Neji. Using his Byakugan, he searched for more enemies. "More ninja coming," Neji yelled to Gai.
Gai slammed his foot into a nin's head, and the nin flew into a tree. "Number!"
"Too many!" Neji stated as he started to run towards his companions.
The four stood back to back as what seemed like hundreds of ninja circled them. Tenten sighed as she took the large scroll off of her back. She flew into the air while unwrapping the scroll. "Dragon Scattering Destruction!" Tenten hollered as a large dragon appeared from her scroll. The dragon spinned in the air rapidly and fired an endless amount of projectile weapons towards their enemies.
This seemed to help only a little, as after the front line of ninja fell dead, the next line stepped forth ready to battle.
Tenten flew swiftly back to the ground, and placed the scroll behind her back. "So what are we going to do now?" Tenten asked.
An earthquake caused her teammates not to respond as many of the enemies fell into cracks the earth made. Smiling to himself, Neji sighed in relief.
"Don't worry; it's just Haruno," Neji spoke as the pinkette came into full view. She seemed to be breathing rapidly; like she had been sprinting before this battle interrupted her.
She ran towards the group of four. Catching her breath, Sakura was able to speak. "Tsunade-sama needs you back now," Sakura spoke. "The Akatsuki will arrive in Konoha sooner than planned."
Team Gai nodded as Sakura opened her sealed scroll and bit her finger. "Here we go," Sakura muttered as she rubbed her finger along the scroll. A bright flash was seen, and then the group of five disappeared.
The scroll allowed anyone within a five foot radius escape to the safety of Konoha. The group appeared in front of the Hokage's tower, and team Gai went in to report.
Sakura sighed, and walked to Naruto's apartment; she had to warn him. Knocking on the apartment door Sakura opened it without even waiting for him to answer. She walked into the living room, and found a peculiar sight.
Naruto lay on his couch, obviously asleep. The weird thing was Hinata lay next to him; protectively in his arms.
"I thought Tsunade-sama said team Kurenai was on a mission," Sakura muttered to herself. Sighing, she walked over to the two, and woke the sleeping couple.
"What's wrong Sakura-Chan?" Naruto asked as he saw the worry in Sakura's eyes.
"The Akatsuki are going to attack later today," Sakura spoke. "You have to be on high alert."
Naruto nodded, and hugged an already blushing Hinata. "Be safe, Hinata-Chan," he said quietly as he kissed her cheek.
Sakura smiled at the cuteness of the two, and walked out of his apartment. Next was Kakashi; she was going to wake Sasuke last.
Arriving at her old sensei's apartment she knocked on the door loudly. "You already know it's unlocked Sakura," she heard Kakashi's voice from the inside of the room. She opened the door, and walked into his living room.
She almost laughed when she saw him reading his Icha Icha Paradise book on the couch. "Why didn't you just come in like normal Sakura?" Kakashi asked lazily as he stood up from his previous position; book still in hand.
"Well after seeing Naruto and Hinata cuddling at Naruto's apartment, I just wanted to be safe," Sakura spoke sarcastically.
Kakashi smiled under his mask; you could tell because his cheeks crinkled. "Were they now?" Kakashi asked.
Sakura nodded, and sat on one of Kakashi's chairs. "What's wrong Sakura?" Kakashi asked; he didn't even look from his book.
"The Akatsuki are attacking earlier than planned," Sakura stated. "Be ready for an attack later today."
"That's not what I was talking about Sakura," Kakashi spoke as he set down his book. He looked into her eyes; his full of concern. "What's wrong? Is it Sasuke?"
"Kakashi, you know Sasuke and I are just friends; he's like my older brother, and Naruto my younger," Sakura stated with a soft smile.
"It's definitely a guy though," Kakashi stated. Sakura's eyes widened, and then Kakashi sighed. "He's an Akatsuki member isn't he Sakura?"
Sakura's smile faded. "Yes... he is. Kakashi I don't know. He seems to really need someone, and we hit it off right away, but everything is just so wrong," Sakura spoke freely.
Kakashi stood up, and walked towards Sakura. Wrapping her up in a hug, she gladly hugged him back. "Sakura, you know you've always followed your heart. I guess it's just a question of if Konoha is more important to you or he is."
"I don't know," Sakura spoke honestly. Kakashi nodded in understanding, and walked back over to his couch.
"Think about it Sakura," Kakashi stated. "You'll probably have to make the decision soon."
Sakura nodded, and head towards the exit. "Thanks Kakashi," Sakura spoke as she left his apartment. "Now to Sasuke's."
Sakura walked leisurely towards Sasuke's house. She really did have to think and make a decision. She knew she would never betray Konoha, but she really wanted to be with Itachi.
Sighing, Sakura walked into the Uchiha district; her mission was to wake up a hopefully still slumbering Uchiha.
She was surprised when she found an Uchiha outside of his house. It just wasn't the one she was expecting...
"Itachi?"