Guys, this all to my fellow New Jersey & New York viewers - Stay safe! Both areas were declared to be in a state of emergency last night, 10-14 inches of snow all of today and into tomorrow. Guys, stay safe. Oddly enough, none of my classes were canceled today. But, I choose not to be dumbass and I totally just did not go to school. Anyone else so sick of the snow? My area averages three snowfalls a week that are greater than two inches. I hate this. grrrr.

~ sdfghjkl this story is surely coming to an end. I just finished the remaining chapters - about 2, & maybe an epilogue - after I finished chapter 10. I've had enough of Naruto stories for a while actually lol. The new Sonic Boom has me a little intrigued, & I might write a little about the new Amy Rose. Just maybe. I might have secretly wrote something already actually, but shush. Don't tell anyone. c:

Disclaimer, do not own.

Enjoy!

Sakura POV

Itachi explained, "Orochimaru was seen coming back suspiciously late several nights ago. His armor obviously burned in several places by a skilled fire-archer." Itachi moved his eye contact from me to Sasuke, "Our spies in Lufeng later informed me that a certain Shikamaru Nara, one of the princess' private guards, faced battle with Orochimaru. Meaning, he was purposely deep within the walls of Lufeng."

"What does this have to deal with anything?" Sasuke asked impatiently.

"The ingredients of the poison that effectively killed our father only grow within the walls of the Lufeng castle. None of our spies dare venture that far into enemy lands. Orochimaru is the only one capable of having these ingredients." Itachi explained.

"I do not believe this. I would rather her," Sasuke pointed to me, "kill my father than have my uncle murder his own brother." He sighed out exasperated.

Itachi kept hard eye-contact with his brother and continued, "It is the truth. Mother has evidence of Orochimaru's whereabouts during the poisoning—"

Sasuke interrupted, "Why is everyone turning on each other? Even mother is in on this…" Sasuke's eyes widened as he realized something, "You have known about Orochimaru's treachery for a while now."

Itachi could only nod in a agreement. Sasuke continued, "And you, of course, choose to leave me out of the loop." He concluded and stood with his head hung low.

As if realizing something, Sasuke snapped his head up, "I do not believe this in any way." He drew out his sword with that statement.

Itachi did not seemed surprised, "You talk of peace and question treachery. Yet, you raise the sword I bestowed upon you, towards your own brother." Itachi stated.

"Do not try to turn this around to make me look like the bad guy," Sasuke held a pained expression until he turned to me. "The only clear traitor lies on the other side of these bars."

We held glares, obvious that I did not want to back down. My spit-fire decision wavered under his gaze. Sasuke just had all his trust betrayed. My glare faltered until I felt myself look away under the pressure of those onyx eyes. I would rather him think I was a traitor than continue to adulterate his view of his family. My gaze was replaced with only a sad face of guilt. His glare softened to stare of curiosity, no doubt wondering why I gave up so easily.

Sasuke bit his lip in question, and raised his voice to say in a more comforting manner, "I am sorry for that accusation. You are not a traitor. I understand the want for protectio—"

A blast sounded from above and cut off his sentence before he could continue. "Damn Lufeng soldiers are invading! They want to take back their princess!" The guard of the dungeon yelled from the top of the stairs.

"I do not trust you." Sasuke looked towards Itachi.

"Then deal with it." Itachi brushed him off, his thoughts preoccupied with formulating a plan at this attack, "Protect the princess at all costs. We hold her here under the pretense that she is a hostage, it was only a matter of time this would happen." Itachi ran up the stairs.

The dungeon door closed with a bang, and the piercing guilt compelled me to talk to him. "Sasuke, I am sorry for deceiving you."

"Your apologies are not needed." Why won't he look at me? "I wanted to explain, however was interrupted. Naruto informed me the reason why you were here… Seeking refuge." I inwardly cringed, seeing the web of lies extending more and more. However, that is what he believed, and this is what I will stick with for now.

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun." We shared another moment of eye contact, this time of genuine interest of one another. Sasuke slowly made his way toward me. Once within distance of the bars, he cut through them like they were nothing.

The way he moved his sword was as if it was an extension of his own arm. Being away from training stopped me from seeing his battle-tactics. Previously, I was innocent to a half-naked Sasuke – my only thoughts being to training harder to kick that bastard's ass. Now, a half-naked, sweating Sasuke only issued a red blush to start from neck to cheeks. When did my view of his change? The cold, stoic prince turned into a caring, hot prince. I cringed, but made sure to look away before he came near and observed my reaction.

Once close, Sasuke extended his hand toward me. "I will fulfill Naruto's promise of a lifetime, and protect you."

I took his hand hesitantly and hopped over the remains of the bars. Once by him, he pulled and held his arm protectively over my waist.

Finally taking note of our close proximity, my eyes rebelled against and dropped down to his lips. How would they feel against mine? Despite his calloused hands and rough personality, Sasuke's lips looked soft. Silky. Like they would fit perfectly against mine.

Snapping out of my thoughts I looked back up to make eye contact, he undoubtedly saw where my focus was previously. He gave the lightest smirk and simply leaned his chin against my forehead.

"Maybe another time. Let us get you to safety." Without another second to hesitate, Sasuke lifted me into his arms, bridal-style, "We will find Orochimaru at once to join him."

"What?" I yelled, "But Itachi made it clear that he is a traitor."

"I do not trust my brother. I have always been suspicious of him, and you should be also. I know Itachi." He snarled possessively, and silenced any opposing reasoning that I would bring up.

Sasuke is incredibly stubborn, but I did not take him so foolish to join sides with the obvious enemy. Trust was an obvious problem within the Uchiha's, I noted inwardly to tread lightly on the touchy subject.

Once up the stairs, Sasuke softly dropped me down back to my own two feet on the ground. I knew where Orochimaru was, but I also knew where Itachi should be. Without a second thought, I ran towards the room that the Captains used to share. Itachi would look for Shino, he needed more backing.

Sasuke yelled for me to come back, only to chase after me – I refuse to give up so easily. Like a cat closing in on a mouse, he caught up with ease and pounced, grabbing me and hoisting me over the shoulder.

"Sakura!" Neji exclaimed as he sliced through another solider, seeing me from the distance.

I stilled in Sasuke's arms, this was not going to end well.

This gained the attention of Shikamaru not too far away. He readied his own sword for battle. But it was evident to everyone. Sasuke was cornered. Neji slowly drew out his sword in a want of angry-revenge, until I squeezed-through his arms and ran in between.

"Stop! I am here," I held my hands up in defense. "You got what you wanted. Let's go." I looked from Neji to Shikamaru.

"He is the enemy Sakura, or have you forgotten?" Neji exclaimed, "I am ready to kill him using whatever means necessary." He once again readied his sword.

"I am not the enemy, or have you forgotten. How would people react if they knew the first officer killed his commanding princess?" Neji faltered with a cringe, still angry.

I grabbed Sasuke's shoulder and pushed him in a direction away from here, "Go!"

Sasuke looked between the Lufeng men, with an obvious angry and possessive hold on me. Moving my chin so I can properly face him, "I will be okay." I stated to him with a comforting voice. With a nervous glance, Sasuke ran towards the chamber room.

"What the hell was that Sakura? We were this close from ending the war." Neji commented, losing his regular cool. "You are the center of all problems in the world, can you believe that?" Neji exclaimed before running a hand through his hair.

Without noticing, Shikamaru crept behind me.. and with him came darkness.

- xXx-

"Shikamaru, explain to me why the hell am I bound to a poll?"

"I had to knock you out and force you here, to ensure you would not flee back to lover-boy." Shikamaru commented back, outlining the curve of the tent with his finger.

"What makes you think he will hurt me?" I ignored the comment of lover-boy.

"Because he has sided with Orochimaru." Shikamaru informed.

He really is that foolish.

I blanched at the thought of him fighting alongside that snake-monster, "That's not the Sasuke I know."

"Then I guess you did not know him very well."

"Itachi and the rest? Shino and Naruto, where are they?"

"The royal family has scattered, I am unaware of their whereabouts. Shino… I believe he is being held captive in the throne room. Naruto, well you should have seen Neji's face when he saw Naruto."

"He almost beat me half-to-death." Naruto's voice filled the tent and I was brought to attention to him and Neji entering the tent.

My face obviously showed my question. My eyes slowly glanced in-between the two, not believing they knew each other prior to the war, "I was engaged to Neji's cousin – Hinata-chan. Sweet, sweet Hinata-chan – so adorable and so—"

"Get to the point, Naruto." Neji rubbed his temples in impatience.

"Right, sorry. My parents were killed in the heat of war. Minato, my father, saved my village from an impending battle. My entire hometown was supposed to be casualties of one battlefront. A general on the Gaozhou side decided to kill all the citizens. Minato found out and warned everyone to scatter. In exchange, my father was willing to have his family stay behind when the general came – taking responsibility."

"His father saved three hundred people. But the general…"

"The general killed them and found me in my room, a sad looking sixteen-year-old. The general ordered Shisui to kill me, and he said he did. But he just took me under his care, back in the capitol. I am basically an Uchiha," Naruto admitted with obvious regret in his voice. "Being the enemy is obviously a reason to drop the engagement." His voice slowed to a silence.

I took in his actual background, seeing the pain Naruto went through. I could never fully understand, but that does not mean I will not try. Wishing to offer my friend comfort, but seeing I was still shackled, Shikamaru took the hint and unfastened me.

I offered Naruto a silent hug, There is only so much I can do.

My eyes trailed from the floor back to Naruto's face, nervous about how I should bring up my actual reasons to being here, "Now you know—"

Naruto interrupted, "That you were supposed to kill me, kill Sasuke, kill everyone." He did not drop eye contact, "But you did not. You showed me that peace can be achieved."

"Peace, blah blah. But first we must get back to Lufeng and get more soldiers for the impending fight." Shikamaru commented, "War is so troublesome."

I replied quickly, "Wait, by the time we get back here there will be no time. Orochimaru will kill Sasuke at first chance. No one is safe here."

"Sakura, there is no room for discussion. It is basically suicide if we charge in alone."

We will not be alone. I shared a look with Naruto and nodded, he understood. I pretended to drop the subject and followed them to breakfast.

- xXx-

"Tell me about Uchiha, Madara." I cut towards Naruto over breakfast.

Naruto looked surprised at my sudden cutting-edge question, "What is there to know? He was a power-crazed freak who had the ability to live throughout decades." he explained as he slurped his ramen.

"Why was he such a formidable foe, if he was just power-crazed?" I questioned.

"Madara was not really a person to fight.. More like a force to avoid and hopefully get rid of, like a virus." Naruto put down his ramen to continue, "He had the ability of just taking over people's bodies, using them as his own vessels."

"What? Where did he get that ability?"

"It is rumored that he has an orb of power, where he stores it. But that just does not make sense, with each body how does the power source even recognize him?" Naruto pondered for a moment, "Abilities and stuff, its not something to just explain. Maybe for another time Sakura-chan."

"But-"

"It does not matter now, he is done." Naruto cut off, clear he was done talking about this. "Listen, you are safe now and that is all that matters, "Naruto comforted at the end, patting my shoulder in hopes of extinguishing my obvious worries.

Oh how naïve.

I dropped the subject again and continued to eat my ramen, changing the subject to happier thoughts.

- xXx -

"You think you can escape again?" Shikamaru commented, sitting guard outside the tent that I just recently escaped from.

Weary this time, Shikamaru stood ready to fight me. Until, Naruto came from thin air and held him in place. "Go Sakura-chan! Go save that damsel Sasuke-teme!"

Sadly that awakened Neji from his slumber, startling me from my trance and running in the direction of the entrance to the Akatsuki.

With Neji hot on my trail, I had to use my knowledge of the land to my advantage. Remembering a small patch of Sakura-trees that I sat under with Sasuke, I headed there are slowed to a silent jump. Blending into the background of cherry trees, I heard Neji whiz past my hiding spot in a rush. I held my breath until sure I had lost him.

Dropping down and entering Akatsuki, I ran without letup to where I had last seen Pein – the meeting room. However, it was not a quick jog from the entrance to main building. Also with the fact that I was only in the city once. My memories of the paths were faded, and it took a good time to find the building itself.

Running my way up the winding stairs I crashed into an amused Sasori, "Sweetheart, you are too late. The others have already left to… take care of Sasuke and Orochimaru."

"When? Why?"

"Calm darling. Only about a few minutes ago, actually. Itachi ran here saying the situation had escalated beyond the control of his and yours. Some of the Akatsuki, Pein, Kisame, and the Uchiha left to take control."

"What is all this control about?"

"Orochimaru controls Gaozhou right now. Sasuke may be the one sitting on the throne, but it is the corrupt snake who knows what he is doing." He assessed my reaction, "In other words, they will terminate both of them."

My shocked face did not go unnoticed by Sasori, "You may catch up to them if you pushed beyond your boundary." I gave him a nod before heading in that direction.

Sasuke will not die.

Over my dead body.