Disclaimer: Whatever they say, they don't have proof…DENY EVERYTHING! Yeah…I don't own Naruto.
"You wanted to see me Tsunade-sensei?" Sakura gave a slight bow towards her teacher with her hands clasped together.
"Yes, I'm sending you, Naruto, Kakashi and Sai on a scouting mission. Reports say there was a disturbance near the South-eastern border and there's a high possibility that whoever created such a disturbance is still around."
"Were there any witnesses that saw him or her?"
"They" Tsunade corrected, "There were four total; two wearing sound headbands and fitting the description of Kabuto and Sasuke. The other two wore head-bands that were crossed out and judging by their description it was Deidara and Itachi."
Sakura's face darkened. She didn't know if she was worried moreso facing Sasuke or Itachi, but either way she would confront one of the Uchiha boys and that thought wasn't easy to swallow.
"We're not bringing Sasuke back Sakura." Tsunade's blunt voice filtered through her muddled musings and Sakura gave a curt nod.
"I understand. Sasuke has killed too many of our shinobi and you can't bring someone back when they do not wish to." Sakura's piercing gaze looked into Tsunade's, "I've come to the conclusion a while ago after our last confrontation."
"Naruto said he will be the one to kill Sasuke. Kakashi will go against Itachi…"
Sakura felt the heavy weight on her chest lift. She didn't have to fight either of the two men.
"…Which means you'll face Kabuto."
"Hai." Sakura gave a respective bow when Tsunade stopped her,
"Sakura, be careful."
Sakura angled her head so she could look over her shoulder and gave her sensei a brilliant smile. She knew what Tsunade meant. Kabuto would go down easily enough for the kuniochi; her sensei was just worried that she would allow the past to cloud her judgment. Sakura was physically strong, but many people tended to think she was still the overly emotional pre-teen of ten years gone even her sensei. It irked her to no end that they would assume she would still care for a boy who not only betrayed his village for power, but broke her heart many times afterwards. No, she wasn't the same girl, grant it she still cared for him as a friend, that cannot be replaced, but once she steps on the battle field, she would discard it all to ensure her team's survival.
"I am not the girl I once was Tsunade-sensei." Sakura preformed quick hand seals and disappeared with only sakura blossoms in her wake.
Tsunade stared at the spot her student once was and frowned,
"Let's hope you don't dig too deep into the past Sakura."
Sasuke was panting and he looked over towards Kabuto,
"I thought you said Itachi would be here!"
Kabuto looked around the dust-covered cloud they were in and frowned,
"I believe you asked for an Akatsuki member Sasuke-kun."
"You got one…yeah." Another explosion caused the duo to jump into a nearby tree and with their chakra, held on as a fireball and debris shot straight up.
"This shall be a long day" Kabuto sighed and looked over towards the raven-haired man besides him and mumbled incoherent words under his breath as the man jumped down and began assaulting the blonde Akatsuki member.
He knew they traveled in twos and had specific teams, but something told him this wasn't the case. He was positive he felt another presence but it wasn't the one that belonged to Tobi and that's what perplexed him. If they're not in their usual teams then Akatsuki is planning something big…the question here was what?
Sensing an object coming towards him, he jumped away onto another tree where another kunai was heading. Quickly he pulled out two senbon and intercepted the weapon. A shadow ran to the left of him and he let loose a barrage of senbon, only for the shadow to disappear as they hit.
You might be getting your wish afterall Sasuke-kun. Kabuto disappeared from his spot in pursuit of the shadow while silently hoping he was wrong.
The foursome wove an intricate pattern as they each jumped tree to tree with astounding speed. They crossed over on every branch to ensure optimum defense as they went further away from their village. Kakashi was leading the group with Sai trailing. Naruto brought up the end while Sakura stayed in the middle. Though Sakura would normally complain over the testosterone level and how it would be better if she made up the rear (she being more observant than Naruto), she kept her mouth shut. Everyone in the group knew what they were getting into and who they were about to confront thus the air was heavy between the four.
The possibility of dying was even greater and none of them wanted to dwell upon that topic for long. Sakura, in particular, had to be conservative in using her chakra to make sure she could heal life-threatening wounds her boys were bound to accumulate. But if Tsunade was correct, then Sakura wouldn't have much of a problem taking down Kabuto, especially if they were fighting each other for nearly twenty-four hours.
Then again she thought Kabuto did get the scroll from lightening country that replenishes half your chakra. Even with half, Kabuto could prove a tad difficult to the blossom.
She smiled to herself despite the circumstances. This was a first time in a long time since the new team seven has been together and finally she could show them and Sasuke just how dangerous she could be. And show Itachi how she won't be easily pushed down…no she shall show everyone how fearsome she could become.
Oh the irony of it all, from one Uchiha to the next; proving herself worthy of their respect. She shook her head and focused on the mission, she couldn't afford one slip-up.
"We've company…yeah." Deidara jumped away from the huffing Uchiha as Kabuto was tossed unceremoniously to the ground. Itachi joined his partner and only briefly looked over his brother,
"Hatake, Kyuubi, and Haruno." He then picked up a faint signature, "and that other brat."
Deidara looked at the two boys and easily encased them in his clay, "Don't move or you'll blow up…yeah."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "What do you want with those weak fools?"
Itachi didn't merit his little brother a glance and felt what was left of his chakra spike. In all consideration, his little brother was still that naïve boy he left many years ago. Perhaps he should tell Sasuke..? But what good will it do for a boy who's too far gone? Absolutely nothing.
Casting a glance towards Deidara he clearly stated who he was after and Deidara shrugged his shoulders,
"I get the rest…yeah?" Deidara didn't like the whole situation. He could barely manage Hatake during their last confrontation but the Kyuubi and the other kid? He'll have to lure them away from Itachi and Sakura. Lazily he cast a glance at the struggling duo and smirked,
"I have an idea…yeah." Quickly, clay left his hand and he began molding replicas of the two while implementing a small amount of chakra into them both.
Kakashi abruptly stopped and noted the unusual silence. It could only mean one thing…
A hundred shuriken flew out from all angles and everyone dispersed to avoid them. Kakashi caught sight of Diedara,
"I want you Hatake…yeah."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes before looking over at everyone who were engaged in their own battle. Sakura was taking on Kabuto while Naruto was on Sasuke, and Itachi fighting Sai.
The original plan has fallen through, but hopefully his team will pull through. Kakashi whipped out some kunai and launched them, shortly following after them.
Sai was surprised when the elder Uchiha exploded and barely managed a curse before a sharp pain overtook his head and he slumped down with his drawing pad clutched tightly at his side.
"What the hell?" Sakura jumped away as Kabuto exploded. Spinning around, she delivered a kick towards the person behind her, only for it to be caught in a tight grip.
"Itachi" she spat the name out, "What happened to Sai?"
He didn't respond to her and went to knock her out, but the kuniochi had other plans.
Using her abnormal strength, she pulled her leg free and punched him in the stomach. Itachi flew through the trees and landed a few feet from where Sasuke and Kabuto were imprisoned. The pink-haired woman followed with unheard of speed and Itachi caught her well-aimed punch at the head, barely able to contain the wince as bones disintegrated under her brute force.
Sakura jumped back a few feet to asses the situation only for her gaze to land on Sasuke and Kabito.
If Sasuke is here than is Naruto fighting another dummy like I did? But that would mean…
"You" she was rather calm as she looked the Uchiha in the eye, "Planned this whole setup. You somehow knew Sasuke and Kabuto were going to be around and decided to use them for your advantage, knowing full well that team seven will be the one to go after Sasuke."
"Very good Sakura, even my brother couldn't figure that much out."
Sakura wearily eyed him and then her gaze went back to Sasuke.
"I don't want to go back" Sasuke voiced with anger lacing his words, "Not until I kill you Itachi-"
A cold laugh interrupted him and surprisingly it came from Sakura who held no mirth in her eyes, just coldness that unnerved the younger Uchiha.
"You honestly think we came here to save you? We were going to kill you because you were too much of a liability being alive anywhere." Her harsh words cut Sasuke but to hide it, he smirked,
"What no Sasuke-kun."
Sakura didn't react and instead turned towards Itachi, "Shut him up so we can fight."
Uchiha Itachi, for the first time in a long time, smirked,
"You want to die at an early age?"
Sakura reciprocated his gesture and took a defensive stance, "If I was then I would've found a stronger opponent to battle."
So Sakura doesn't seem to care for Sasuke anymore, but what of the battle between Sakura and Itachi? I admit she's pretty gutsy and her last remark was great, but who will come out victorious?
And what did Tsunade mean about Sakura?
Hmm there's something fishy a foot and soon you guys will find out what it is that's causing this mass confusion.
Until then...
Have some brownies! YUM!
Reviews are appreciated!