Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or One Piece nor do I make any money from my writings.

A/N: Thank you all for the reviews. I greatly appreciated them. This is a short chapter, but I hope you all will enjoy it nonetheless. I'll get back to the main plotline soon, I promise. This is just to wrap things up before then. Please read, enjoy, and review.

Chapter Ten: A Final Farewell

"What do you mean you can't send me back?!" Sakura yelled as her eyes narrowed at the male Hokage in front of her. They were still outside after she had made her request to Katsuyu. After the slug had disappeared to return to the remainder of her body, Sakura had asked Kakashi to return her to Alabasta. She had figured that he had thought everything through before she was summoned back to Konoha. She couldn't have been more wrong.

Where was Kankuro, now that she thought about it? He was the one that had brought her here and now he was nowhere in sight.

More importantly, why the hell couldn't they send her back? She didn't have time for this. Ace was still in that village and was probably wondering where she went off to. Even if he wasn't worried about her, she didn't want to just abandon him without a word.

"The jutsu we used was only a one-way teleportation." Kakashi explained, his brow furrowed and a frown hidden behind his mask. He felt bad for dragging her away from where she was at, but there was nothing he could do for her now. She had to hear this news and he had honestly expected her to accept the cure instead of furthering both her own and Katsuyu's suffering. Even if it had been a goal for years, the Sakura he knew would have thrown herself aside and given up her dreams in order to protect someone else. Although he knew that she was as stubborn as one could get and that she had told Katsuyu that she wanted to protect others, he couldn't bring himself to believe that this was the same girl he had once trained.

The Sakura looking back at him with her eyes narrowed in determination, though smaller in stature and hardly a threat to him, was a true woman. She had grown up, both mentally and spiritually. She had endured things that he could only imagine. As his dark grey eyes staredinto hers, he could see that. She had changed.

She was stronger now. She was much harder to break.

"I don't care what you used," she retorted, her tone sharp and holding a bit of sass. "Find some way to send me back this instant!"

From the way she was speaking, one would think that she would throw her hands on her hips and stomp her foot on the ground in a fit and if she were to have done that, Kakashi would have found it adorable, if only the situation wasn't so serious.

"I'm sorry, Sakura. I can't do it." he replied while the others continued to listen and watch.

The pinkette clenched her fists by her sides and narrowed her eyes ahead of her. She gritted her teeth, frustration ebbing at her nerves, the cells in her arms twitching and tempting her to reach forward to punch the man in front of her. The only reason why she didn't was because she could tell that he truly felt bad for her situation. That, and the fact that she needed to hear the news about Katsuyu. If they had just summoned her to tell her they found a cure, then she really would have gone berserk.

There was no way she would give up on finding Law. Not after all she had been through, not after she had spent so much time looking for him. There was also something else that was starting to prickle at the back of her subconsious since she had woken up a little less than a hour ago. It was just barely there, but she could definitely hear it. She could definitely feel it. It was something that shined there with the slightest bit of hope and it kept her from breaking down. Kept her from giving up for good.

There was another reason why she was looking for this mystery man. . . but what was it?

"Sakura."

Jade eyes quickly turned to look at the man that had called her, shivers running down her spine as his deep voice caressed her eardrums. Oh, how she had missed that voice. She missed it, but she didn't long for it like she used to. Her eyes met deep onyx, dark hair parted to the side to cover the circled designs of a purple eye. His lips were set into a thin, calm line and he still wore that dark cloak over his clothes with black, open-toed boots.

Sakura turned her body toward him completely, disregarding the other shinobi that were there. "Sasuke." she replied softly, her body relaxed and her eyes looking at him steadily. She had calmed down by just him saying her name. It was amazing what power he had over her with just the simplest of things sometimes, even after all this time. She knew that her feelings had wavered quite a bit since she last saw him before she left on her journey, but her loyalty to him as his wife and lover hadn't in the slightest.

She had no intention of falling in love with anyone else if she could help it or to be with anyone else. The pinkette only wanted the divorce for his sake.

To set him free.

As much as she would have liked to think that he had moved on with his life, she knew better. No one loved more than an Uchiha and they were loyal to a fault. Whether to family, to ideals, to dreams, to lovers. They were loyal.

And Sasuke was loyal to her. She could tell by looking into those deep, dark eyes. There was no guilt there whatsoever, nothing there to tell her that he had fallen in love with someone else.

"I can send you back."

"Eh?" the pinkette responded, her eyes widening slightly, not having expected that response. Her eyebrows shot up and her mouth parted while her heart skipped a bit in relief and anticipation. As much as she loved being able to see him again and the opportunity to catch up with him was tempting, she really had to get back to where she had been. However, before she could do that, there was something that she had to do and it involved the dark haired male.

"I want a divorce." It slipped out before she could have possibly controlled it enough to stop it. Her eyes widened in sync with everyone else's, surprise spreading throughout the area and leaving an awkward silence in its wake.

Jade eyes were having a staring contest with onyx, showing Sasuke had been surprised by her outburst as well. Embarrassment swam through the pinkette's stomach and cheeks, turning them a bright pink. Quickly turning her head, Sakura adverted her eyes from the male and settled on looking at the grass to the side. Bringing up her hands, her fingers laced together in front of her stomach and fidgeted. What an awful thing to say to him after he had just offered to send her back to her new friends. He probably thought that she was ungrateful.

"Its just that. . ." she began awkwardly, nervousness poking through her soft voice. She would risk looking up at his expression every few moments to guage his reaction and she was relieved to see that he had calmed down. It showed that he was listening to her and waiting for her to explain herself. "Um. . ."

The Uchiha closed his eyes and a soft smile adorned his lips while he let out a shallow breath. His gaze returned to her and met her own and with his head tilted slightly, he continued to smile at her. "Follow me."

Sakura lowered her hands to her sides and blinked as the male turned and began to walk away. Following after him immediately, anticipation and anxiety stirred in her stomach, making it burn. Her skin itched and her mind wandered. What was he planning on doing? Where was he taking her to?

The pinkette followed behind him silently, watching his back as he continued to walk in front of her. He seemed so calm, so confident, so much stronger than before. If she wasn't mistaken, she could swear that he had grown taller as well. Then again, it had been seven years. She had left when she was nineteen, so he should have been due for another growth spurt.

It didn't take long to get further into the village and she watched as he stopped in front of a door to a large house. On the walls on both sides of the front door was the Uchiha crest, large, bold, and full of pride. The male opened the door while the female finished catching up to him. Turning the knob and pushing the door open, he stepped aside and looked back at the pinkette, a small smile on his lips. He was holding the door open for her.

Sakura instantly raised her shoulders in embarrassment while a blush colored her cheeks. A soft, sweet smile grazed her mouth and she kept her eyes downcast while she walked forward. Stepping passed the door, she entered a large hallway that had closed doors attached to each side aligning all the way down to the end of the hall. Green eyes blinked in astonishment.

"I live here by myself." he spoke up from behind her and she turned her head to look at him as he walked passed her. He continued down the hall without taking off his shoes and the female followed after him. The halls were bland so there wasn't much to look at. She was content with keeping her gaze on the back of his form. "Naruto used to live here before he married Hinata."

The pinkette widened her eyes in surprise at the news. "They got married?"

"Ah." he replied before stopping in front of a wooden, sliding door. Pulling it open, he stepped inside and watched as she followed.

"That's good." Sakura said while smiling softly down at the ground, which was now covered with carpet instead of wood. It was about time they had gotten together. At least they had moved on with their lives. Not that she expected them to stop moving forward because she had left. She was happy for them.

Sakura looked up to see the dark haired male make his way to a dark grey couch in the middle of the living room. It was a large room, a coffee table in the very center, a couch on two sides of it opposite of each other. On the opposite side of her was a large fireplace, the mantle filled with pictures of their team, of Naruto on his wedding day, old pictures of his family, of him and Itachi. Pictures of her and of their wedding day.

The sight almost brought tears to her eyes, a burning sensation behind them and her throat constricted painfully with a sudden dryness. Sasuke turned his silent gaze to her, expectation hidden behind his dark eyes. Swalling a thick lump that had made its way into her throat and forcefully drowning out her nervousness, she made her way forward. Her gaze was downcast and her hands were folded in front of her stomach. Guilt and an awkward sense of shame ate at her heart. With those feelings stirring aroung inside of her, she sat down on the couch opposite of him, her legs and fingers trembling.

"Sakura."

"Hai." she squeeked, causing her brow to furrow and her mouth to set into a grimace at the high pitched noise.

"Come." he replied simply and jade eyes looked up to see him holding up his hand lazily, palm facing downward. His body was leaning slightly to the side, making himself comfortable against the soft back of the couch. Not even thinking of the possiblity to disobey him, Sakura instantly rose to her feet. Almost dragging them across the carpet, she made her way to the spot next to him and sat down.

Sakura kept her gaze downward, her hands fidgeting in her lap and her back and legs stiff. She was so nervous. What was she supposed to say? What was she supposed to do? How should she react to this situation?

"I-" she began, but was interrupted by the male next to her.

"I didn't know if you were still alive."

Green eyes widened at the confession and her head turned so that she was looking at the side of the Uchiha's handsome face. He was frowning, his eyes aimed at the table in front of him, but he wasn't really looking at it. "I wanted to believe you were." His voice was soft and she could tell that he still wasn't used to speaking from the heart.

His fists clenched at the material of his cloak over his thighs, but he relaxed almost before it could be registered as a movement at all. "I'm glad you're alive and I was preparing myself for a divorce for a long time. The time away from everything must have finally opened your eyes."

Sakura wasn't sure how to take in what she was hearing. How was she supposed to digest this? How was she supposed to understand what he meant? Finally, she just asked, "What do you mean?"

Sasuke turned his head, his eyes looking straight into hers. They were a lighter onyx than before, almost a deep grey, and stormy with emotion. His mouth was set into a firm frown and she could see the sadness in his expression, even if he did hide it well. "You deserve happiness, Sakura."

Eh?

"I know you've been loyal to me from the very beginning." he added, gratitude echoing through his words. "I'm sorry for all that I've put you through."

Did he. . ? Did he think that she. . ?

Turning, Sakura leaned upward toward the dark haired male and put her hands on his thighs. The height difference or how small her own body was compared to his didn't register in her mind at that moment. All that mattered was that he knew the truth. The real reason why she wanted to break apart from him.

"Do you think that I want the divorce because I don't love you anymore?!" she asked, a small amount of desperation in her tone and eyes.

Sasuke seemed genuinely surprised at that moment and his wide eyes showed how confused he was. "What else could it be?"

"That's wrong!" she replied, leaning forward more and her voice rising in volume, but she wasn't yelling. "I do still love you." she confessed, "More than anyone else. Even after all this time."

Pink eyebrows furrowed and she frowned as the male continued to look at her in astonishment. "I want the divorce so that you won't be tied down." Blinking, the female tried so hard not to cry at that very moment. She was letting go of what she had yearned for and loved for so many years. It hurt more than she ever could have imagined, like letting go a part of her very soul. "I want you to find someone else that can make you happy."

She couldn't stop it any longer, tears overflowed down the sides of her eyes and down her cheeks. A deep flush covered the skin over her nose and her brow was furrowed deeply at that point. So many emotions had built up within her chest until they burst. Her eyes were still sore from having cried earlier, but now they stung from the salty liquid flowing from them. Her lips were set into a deep frown and her ears burned. Her fingers gripped into the fabric at his thighs as if desperate not to let this man slip through her grasp.

It felt like a hand had reached into her chest and gripped her heart, squeezing it with its sharp nails before twisting it around in a game of tug. A hand that belonged to her. She was causing this pain and that hurt even more, but she had to be strong and get through this, despite the heartache it caused.

"To make you happy the way that I couldn't." she admitted, the feeling of guilt and shame making themselves known to her companion. "You shouldn't have to wait years for a lover that might not even be alive." It didn't escape the Uchiha that she had completely disregarded the fact that he had once done that very thing to her, twice even, yet she had still held on and waited for him with a painful and lonely love in her heart.

Sasuke's expression softened at the words the pinkette uttered and a deep adoration set in within his chest, causing his heart to flutter. It was then that he remembered; she had always thought of him before herself. That was what made her unlike every other woman. Out of all of the women that had desired him or liked him, only Sakura had loved him unconditionally. That was why, even if they parted, there would always be a place in his heart for her. In his own way, he would always love her.

He didn't see a child before him at that moment. He saw the woman that had given up so much, had suffered so much, all because she loved him. The woman that had filled his lonely existence with love and he had fallen for her in return. It was true that he did not act on that love like most others or express it with words like she would have liked, but there was one way to show his affection for her.

With a soft smile on his lips, he lifted up his hand and reached across him toward the pinkette. He watched as her eyes slightly widened while her gaze followed his hand. Reaching her, he poked his index and middle fingers on her forehead over her seal. Her eyes had shifted back toward him and without fail, the flush on her face deepened to cover her cheeks.

"Thank you." he replied softly, eternally grateful to her unyielding loyalty and love for him.

It was true that she could always come back to the village and settle down with him now that they had the cure for her, but neither of them wanted such a thing. Sasuke didn't want all those years to go to waste either. Sakura had chosen her path long ago and she was prepared to face death and whatever sufferings life would throw at her. He would accept her decision and though he hated to think about it. . .

This was goodbye.

-SCENE CHANGE-

"Are you sure you want to do this, Sakura?" a smooth and concerned voice spoke up from before the pinkette.

Sakura nodded her head and with determination set into her slightly narrowed eyes, she confirmed, "Ah."

Tsunade stood in front of her in the dark room, an old office with bookshelves aligning each wall. There were old scrolls and books filling the shelves and some were stacked on the floors. A room that was only accessible to current or former Hokage, a room with many secrets and forgotten jutsu. It was hidden away in a passageway somewhere underneath the Hokage tower, hidden so that it couldn't be accidentally found.

The blonde woman wore a nervous and concerned expression, her brow furrowed and a frown on her lips as she held a small, red scroll in her hands in front of her. She didn't want her student to go through with this. She wanted the younger woman to stop this nonsense and come back to the village. To go back to being the top medic and helping children at her hospital. Who was she to deny someone of their dream though? An impossible dream. Just like Naruto.

Naruto and Sakura. . . They were just alike, which made Tsunade feel more confident that the pinkette would be okay. She just didn't like the outcome or what it would mean for the small woman.

"I have to admit, this idea of yours is brilliant." She said as she continued to look into that strong, green gaze. It truly was a great idea and something that only Sakura could do, but it would have dire consequences. Sakura would survive if she pulled off the forbidden jutsu that was within the scroll in her hands. She would survive, but. . .

She could never go back to being a shinobi again.

"I'll be fine." Sakura said, tilting her head to the side and letting a small smile graze her lips. Her eyes were wide and bright, showing absolutely no hesitation in her decision. Everything had been cleared and she had found what she needed to do. What she wanted to do. She would risk everything she had, but she wouldn't be giving up her life. "I've made it this far."

Her lips curved at the corner, deepening her smile as she added, "A shinobi is one who endures, ne?" Tsunade's almond eyes widened as those words entered her ears and she watched as that smile on the pinkette's lips spread until they formed a bright, toothy grin, her green eyes closed. All the blonde could do was close her own eyes and let a smile form on her own mouth.

"Honestly." she breathed out on the verge of a sigh. There was no helping this situation or stopping it. The former kunoichi was going to do what she wanted no matter what. That much had been proven already. The least Tsunade could do was help her along her way.

Looking down at the female, their eyes met and the tension they had felt previously that day was completely gone. Holding out her arms, the scroll was presented to the younger female for the taking. "Use it wisely, Sakura."

"Ah." the pinkette replied, a soft smile on her features and without hesitation, she took the scroll from her shishou. Pulling it close to her chest, she looked up to meet those almond eyes once again. "Thank you, Tsunade-shishou."

The blonde woman nodded her head before she leaned down. Wrapping her arms around the smaller female, she pulled the fragile body close to her chest. Closing her eyes, she felt more than saw the surprise that coursed through Sakura. Tsunade held on tightly and she frowned at how frail the body in her arms had become, almost as if her former pupil would break if she tightened her embrace just a tad more.

It was painful. . .

'What happened to you, Sakura?' A solemn thought filled with dread and worry.

Tsunade opened her eyes a fraction when she felt arms wrap around her torso and small palms rest on her back, the pinkette relaxing into her hold. "Thank you for everything, Tsunade-sama."

"No matter what," Sakura continued, her voice soft, but laced with confidence and determination. "I will always carry on The Will of Fire."

Almond eyes closed and the older woman fought back the sting of tears as she quietly replied, "I know you will."

"I'm proud of you, Sakura."

-END OF CHAPTER TEN-

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