Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Author's Note: Thank you for the influx of comments and messages. I feel so much better talking to other people and knowing I am not alone with my feelings. I am trying to be more positive and adjusting to the shock but it will still take some time. I have had a thought though…I might attempt a series of one shots of all the characters to explain the time between 699 and 700 in my own way. It will respect the characters and their feelings and try to explore things that have been ignored or forgotten. It might even explore a period after 700. I want to really explore Naruto and Sakura's relationship/friendship. Do you think I should try or not bother?

From the Heart

Chapter 12

Karin bent over resting her hands on her thighs as she tried to desperately catch her breathe. The crazy pink haired medic of the leaf village had dragged her into the war zone at such speed it took time for her to keep up. She looked ahead of her and saw Sakura standing with her back to a tree, turning slightly to watch the scene that was several metres away from them.

They had remained as quiet as they could and heard most of the conversation between the pair. Sasuke claimed to seek revolution and wanted to kill all the kage and anyone that sought to get in his way. He had some crazy idea about ruling the world and becoming some immortal evil lord that everyone could focus all of their hate on. Even Karin had to admit that his madness was intensifying and scary. But when she suddenly sensed the atmosphere had changed somewhat her senses heightened.

"Their chakra…" Karin wheezed out, placing a hand to her forehead and leaning on the tree next to her rival. It was overwhelming.

Naruto and Sasuke both stood facing one another in an open clearing miles from the village hidden in the leaf. Both men were preparing for battle and emitting intense auras. As usual Naruto's burned brightly like a warm blazing fire and Sasuke's glimmered silently providing a cold shiver through both girl's bodies.

"Do you think he will be able to stop him?" Karin asked, not taking her eyes off the dark haired Uchiha.

Sakura caste a sideways glance at the pale face of the red head as she pushed her glasses further up her nose. She couldn't help but notice that was a nervous habit of hers. "If anyone can do it Naruto can…" she tried to reassure the woman next to her as much as herself. She looked from Sasuke's dark expression and his manic grin to Naruto's pained but determined face.

"So what now?" Karin asked, watching her carefully, "We can't just go running in, neither of us will stand a chance against that"

Sakura's gaze was fixed on her two close friends and team mates. Usually she would be torn watching the pair fight and her heart would ache, screaming for them to stop. Yet right now all she felt was an intense anger burning deep within her as images of their past experiences as a team flowed through her and the constant feeling of following in their shadows. Naruto always put himself at risk for the sake of everyone else. Putting their happiness before his own and it annoyed her. As for Sasuke, he thought of himself as being more important and pushed everyone to one side. He never truly understood her and was too absorbed in his own narrow minded world. She had had enough.

Taking in a deep breathe Sakura focused her mind. Using some of the left over bandages she took from Naruto's apartment she proceeded to wrap them around her knuckles, clenching her fists to ensure she still had plenty of movement.

"What are you doing?!" Karin tried to protest, instantly backing away as she realised the tone of her voice might have been a little too loud. Luckily for her the pair was so focussed on each other that they barely noticed anything around them.

"Tell me the moment their chakra changes as they prepare for an attack" Sakura ordered.

Karin was stunned, this woman was crazy, she seriously wasn't thinking straight. The chakra from these two guys was immense and far surpassed the two of them combined. In fact Karin reckoned that even with Suigetsu and Juugo on their side it would be pretty impossible. Yet at the same time she couldn't help but feel a little respect for the woman standing beside her. The woman had balls and did not hesitate in her actions. In fact, Karin couldn't help but think back to the nervous wreck of a woman that was ordered by Sasuke once to finish her off. The woman that cried over her as her heart broke at the realisation that she couldn't stop him. The woman she had come to sympathise with.

She felt a sudden change in the atmosphere and it forced her to concentrate on the situation at hand. "Now…" she confirmed.

Without a hint of hesitation the pink haired kunoichi punched her fist into the ground beneath them. The knock on effect was literally earth shattering. Deep cracks formed and stretched out towards the two opponents forcing them to jump back. In an instant Sakura disappeared from Karin's view.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto watched in awe as the familiar figure came running towards them. Her sudden appearance had disrupted both men's line of thought and their attacks had momentarily been cancelled.

"You are such a nuisance" Sasuke spoke up in irritation and exasperation, suddenly summoning his chidori armour, he focussed his senses to reach out and sense her presence.

Reaching to pull out his sword he channelled more of the lightning power down the blade and focussed his next attack.

Karin watched from the sidelines in anticipation. Everything seemed to happen so quickly in the dimming light. Sasuke's lightning cast shadows across the ground helping to provide some light on their situation but visibility was not perfect. The blinking image of pink hair flashed behind Sasuke and then in front of him with a surprising speed. What are you doing?! That won't work! Karin shouted in her mind as her chakra reading ability identified the use of a shadow clone. Her suspicions were confirmed when the Uchiha sent lightning spikes from his body to pierce through two clones as they appeared behind him. They disappeared in a puff of smoke. No! Karin clenched a fist against her chest.

"Sakura-chan, no!" Naruto shouted, running closer and producing several shadow clones of his own desperately attempting to act as a diversion as his anger turned to concern. The clones threw themselves into the mix, dissipating one at a time, forcing visibility to become restrictive.

"You seriously think you could beat me with such cheap tricks?" Sasuke's cold voice announced. As the smoke cleared Naruto's heart sank and he stumbled backwards.

Get a hold of yourself kid, Kurama warned, witnessing everything and feeling the rising empty feeling that threatened to consume his master. Now was not the time to lose his guard. Yet the sight before them wasn't pretty. Sasuke's lightning sword pierced through Sakura and blood poured out, dripping slowly on the ground in a large pool at his feet. She coughed and gripped hold of the blade with both of her hands, refusing to let go.

…..

"WHAT?!" Ino bellowed, she turned to look at Shikamaru, "We have to do something!" she argued.

"Do what? You know Naruto said he wanted us not to interfere" the intelligence officer replied with an aggravated sigh.

"But Sakura-san went after them!" Lee pitched in, clearly concerned for the wellbeing of the girl he liked.

"I know what Naruto wanted but I have to agree with Ino on this, we can't just let this go. Naruto has already done too much for us. We need to help him" Sai pitched in.

There was silence for a moment. The sounds of chairs scraping along the floor caused Shikamaru to raise his head. Temari, Kankuro and Gaara headed out of the restaurant.

"It isn't our village or our fight" the puppet master announced.

"As Kazekage Lord Gaara cannot be seen to be taking part in other people's affairs" Temari added.

"I understand" Shikamaru replied, standing from his position he turned to face them, "Gaara, can I please ask you a favour. It would help if Kakashi and the others didn't find out about this straight away…will you buy us some time?"

The remaining friends all waited patiently for the man's reply. He may be their age but at this moment he was the most powerful in the room in politics and strength. Gaara nodded, "Leave it to us"

"But Gaara!" Kankaro protested as he followed his brother out of the restaurant.

Temari turned and glanced over at the man she had spent most of the day with, "It's been fun" she said with a smile, "we should do it again sometime" she finished. With that she winked at him and left the room.

"So what now?" Choji asked, coming into the conversation at last.

"We find them" Shikamaru announced "and put an end to this once and for all".

…

Sasuke's expression changed from success to a hint of concern as he realised his mistake a little too late. He casually swung Sakura's figure to one side, drawing out his sword. "To think that you managed to trap me into a genjutsu so easily" he commented. His eye techniques were supposed to be the best in all genjutsu but to be outplayed so easily surprised him. Sakura had some hidden talent after all, although it was most likely due to the spontaneous blurriness his eyes forced upon him. She had been lucky this time, but he promised himself it wouldn't happen again.

It took a moment for Naruto to regain his composure and identify what Sasuke had just said. A moment before he thought his world would crash and burn but the image of Sakura's body on the ground shimmering and disappearing as the Uchiha broke the spell on them both filled him with relief. Yet he knew it was far from over and she was still at risk.

Sasuke turned around to face the darkness of the woods behind him, "Enough games Sakura, it won't take long for me to figure out where you are"

As Naruto slowly composed himself he couldn't help but feel anger and frustration at the fact that Sakura was once again trying to interfere. Years ago she had desperately run out in between them both to try to stop them from fighting. At the time neither of them could stop their attack and if not for Kakashi-sensei they could have killed her. Naruto had asked her to not interfere and he saw the pain and suffering she was going through, but she couldn't understand the bond between him and Sasuke. It was only something that the other party could feel. "Sakura-chan, don't get in the way!" he shouted out to the air as he prepared more shadow clones.

"Is that all you can do?" Sasuke asked as Naruto's clones attempted to assault him once more. Sasuke used his taijutsu and kenjutsu abilities to defeat them all and narrowly avoid the rasengan that threatened to come down on top of him. "Hmph, predictable as always" he muttered, clearly disatisifed and toying with Naruto. He dashed behind the blond hero as his rasengan impacted into a tree behind them.

"Sasuke no don't do it!" Karin's voice shouted from behind the trees as he brought his sword down towards Naruto with the intention of cutting him in two.

At that moment the ground beneath them opened up and a blur of pink and black separated the two men, successfully taking Sasuke off guard and landing an upper cut that sent him flying metres away.

Naruto stood watching Sakura's back. He was a little stunned. She had just used the same technique he had against Neji that time yet had pulled it off in a smooth fashion. The fact that for the first time in history Sakura had hit Sasuke almost made him feel proud to be there to see it.

"AND YOU!"

Sakura's voice bellowed with anger as she spun around on the village hero. He couldn't stop himself from stepping back, even the beasts inside of him felt intimidated by her sudden demonic aura.

"What happened to working together?!" she demanded, pushing him as she stepped closer. "When will you get it into that thick skull of yours that we are a team!"

Naruto's eyes widened at her passion and he became lost for words, but when he sensed movement behind her he instinctively pulled her behind him, instantly silencing her.

"This isn't good" Karin whispered from beside them.

"Hmph, looks like we have another rat" Sasuke muttered to himself as he put his sword away and started to use some hand seals. Sakura immediatey identified what these were and turned to the red head.

"Sorry Karin"

Karin barely had time to respond as Sakura channelled chakra through her hand and sent the kunoichi flying in the opposite direction as Naruto pulled her away and tried to shield them both with his tailed beast cloak.

Karin soon realised that if not for the quick thinking of the medic she would most likely be dead as she watched flames burn brightly, threatening to consume the forest. Shit that was close! She quivered. Sweat poured from her brow and she forced herself to breathe in oxygen and regain her composure. I seriously hope they know what they are doing, she thought.

Sasuke scanned the area in front of him and proceeded to use his sharingan, looks like she got away, he realised, deciding in the end to let it go. Karin was no threat to him and he knew she would not dare get in his way. Besides, depending on the outcome of this fight she would probably be handy to have around, given her bloods ability to heal him and replenish his strength. He turned his attention back to the others but suddenly found him self stuck in a trap.

"Shadow possession jutsu complete" Shikamaru announced from the sidelines, "I have to say, if not for the fire you produced it wouldn't have been as successful"

"Wait a go Shikamaru!" Ino shouted, fisting the air.

"You really think this is enough to hold me?" Sasuke asked, already feeling the man struggle to maintain his hold on him. Shikamaru was smart but his chakra limit was worse than Sakura's.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Sakura shouted from the other side of Sasuke, clearly disappointed to see Ino and the others. This was their fight.

"That is no way to show your gratification, we were worried about you!" Ino protested.

"Don't interfere!" Naruto argued.

"I am afraid it is too late for that now" Sai spoke up, landing beside them after jumping down from his ink drawn hawk.

…

"Yo Karin there you are, we have been looking everywhere for you!"

Karin's back shot up straight as the water ninja's voice etched her skin.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

"Hey is that any way to treat the people that have come here to help" he replied.

"Sasuke isn't looking too good" Juugo pointed out, "Should we help him?" he asked.

"No!" Karin spat, "he got himself into this mess, it is his own problem. Besides…" she wasn't able to finish her words but the other two men exchanged a look of understanding. She, like them, were worried about their friend.

Suigetsu pulled out his sword and walked past her, "Sorry I don't take orders from you". He had the intention of going to help Sasuke out as a loyal friend but was stopped in his tracks buy a set of kunai that landed at his feet. "Hmph, looks like I don't need to go anywhere after all" he grinned. He looked up at the trees above him and saw the pink top of the leaf villages weapons master as she jumped down to stand in front of him, her own sword readied.

"We would appreciate it if you didn't get involved" the familiar voice of the taijutsu master appeared from the shadows as green landed beside his team mate.

Suigetsu shrugged and tapped his sword on his shoulder, "sorry but I am not the type to care about other people's problems. The way I see it Sasuke is out numbered and I owe him a debt"

"As do I" Juugo stepped forward, ensuring Karin was behind them.

"You idiots, do you even understand why they are fighting?!" Karin snapped, standing up and adjusting her glasses. "Sasuke is losing himself to darkness and his aura is becoming dark, if we don't stop him he will destroy every bond he has ever created, including us!"

"So?" the water ninja replied, "all I have to do is prove to him I am useful" he grinned, sharp teeth glistening. "So, which one of you want to take me on?"

"I will" Tenten replied.

…

"Shit I can't hold this for much longer" Shikamaru announced.

"I can't do anything with his mind…it is too dark and strong!" Ino added, her jutsu failing and leaving her weak.

The red flames behind them slowly started to turn dark.

"Get out of the way!" Naruto shouted, warning them just in time. Choji acted quickly and enlarged his hands, grapping his friends and getting them to safety. The fire of Amaretsu moved and took shape as Sasuke controlled it, forcing the trio to run further afield. Sasuke then turned his attention back to team Kakashi. A large skeleton like man of armour slowly appeared and they instantly knew this to be one of Sasuke's ultimate attacks, Susanoo.

Naruto acted quickly and started to summon his own wind like giant Rasengan which acted as an absorption sphere. He looked at Sai who nodded in understanding and grabbed Sakura around the waist before summoning his bird once more and pulling them to safety. Sakura barely had time to process what happened and was forced to watch the two attack one another from a distance.

Shikamaru watched in dismay as white light met pure darkness in one great mass of chakra. Grabbing the other two by their wrists he pulled them low to the ground as a wave of wind threatened to up root the land around them.

Naruto struggled to hold the power of his attack against Sasuke. He felt the bones in his arm threaten to break and he clenched his teeth, forcing himself to bear with it and push through. He chastised himself for not concentrating more and was upset that the others intervened. Now he had their safety to worry about as much as his own and it caused him great discomfort. Yet he had no time for thought as his feet formed a trench in the ground behind him. Sasuke was pushing him back and he felt himself weakening.

"Sakura what are you doing?!" Sai protested as she broke free from his grasp and positioned herself, ready to jump.

"He needs help!" she shouted.

"But you could be killed!" he protested, "Naruto wouldn't…"

Sakura turned on him and her facial expression was one he had never seen on her before, "I don't care what Naruto wants, what about what I want?!" her words silenced him and with that she dove down and landed behind Naruto.

Naruto felt a delicate hand place itself on his back and he suddenly realised that he wasn't alone. He couldn't see who it was but he knew it was Sakura. "I told you before I am not some weak woman who can stand and watch from the sidelines as the people I love destroy themselves!" she snapped. As worried as he was for her he couldn't help but smile at the admission she just made.

Sakura released the seal on her forehead and dark lines covered her features. Naruto began to feel chakra of a new force flowing through his very core, giving him strength to push through and push through he did.

The three members of team 7 were blown back from the attack on one another and lay there momentarily dazed and aching. Sai dropped down to land by his team mates and was relieved to see they were both still breathing.

Naruto sat up and his keen blue eyes searched the horizon for their opponent through the smoke and rubble. He clasped onto his right arm in pain and whinced. Sai looked down at him and Naruto immediately tried to pretend nothing was wrong.

Sakura moaned as she rubbed her head and came too from brief unconsciousness.

"Sakura-chan, do you think you could land another hit on him?" Sai asked as he felt her move beside him. Sakura studied his determined expression and followed his gaze to the man whom she had once believed she was in love with. Sasuke stood up and wavered from his position, clasping onto his left eye. She could tell by looking at him his eyesight was suffering and blood ran down his face. When will he give up?! She wondered, worried about his wellbeing despite him being their declared enemy.

"If you guys can distract him to give me the chance to get close again then I am sure I can get him" she stated confidently.

Naruto glanced over at her and smiled, her new found determination and confidence reassured him. She no longer seemed hesitant around Sasuke and he couldn't help but feel a sense of achievement from this. He then took a moment to assess her condition. She seemed on the whole unharmed, a little dirty with some scratches and bruises but nothing out of the norm. Then it dawned on him that her image was different.

"Um Sakura-chan, are you wearing my clothes?" he asked out of the blue.

Sakura's back jerked upright and her head turned in a robotic like motion as she glanced his way.

"I was wondering the same thing" Sai spoke up, "by chance have you seen Naruto's package? Was I right? Is it small?" he teased.

"Hey Sai that is uncalled for!" Naruto protested as he stood from his position, ready to beat the crap out of the guy.

"You know Sai I am beginning to wonder as to the nature of your sexuality" Sakura replied coldly as she too stood.

Sai and Naruto looked at her a little stunned and then glanced at each other momentarily. The thought seemed to send shivers down their spines and they instinctively moved away from one another.

"Why won't you just die?!" Sasuke shouted, nearly losing himself to his madness. The sudden blast of an Indra's Arrow soon forced them to separate.

Naruto rolled to one side and shouted back "why do you keep making me repeat myself? We are friends!" he announced proudly and he was one who never gave up on his friends.

Sakura smiled at his statement before making her own contribution, "and we love you" she announced honestly. Her words caught both men off guard as they glanced her way.

Ino felt herself go red at Sakura's statement and she couldn't help but feel a little jealous. How could she shout something like that so easily?! Yet when the earth shifted and she felt a dark and ominous presence she immediately called out to her friend from the shadows, "LOOK OUT!" she yelled.

Immediately Sakura turned to look in the direction from which she heard the woman's voice. When her gaze returned to Sasuke's she could see dark marks spreading across his body…the curse seal. She realised that he must be running low on chakra for him to revert to this form and she watched in horror as his body transformed into what appeared to look like a demon. With an increase in power Sasuke called forth Susanoo once more and formed his blaze release.

Naruto instinctively entered his sage mode and immediately provided himself with a protective shield, summoning shadow clones and cloaking Sakura and Sai in a shroud of kurama's chakra to protect them. The fact he was able to do this nearly all at once amazed and concerned her. His use of the tailed beasts power threatened his life span, even if they agreed to support him. "Sakura-chan, get ready" he warned and she nodded. They had worked together so much these past few years that their team work had no need for deep conversation. He was planning his distraction.

….

Author's note: Well I was on a role so I figured, why not?! I was upset that there wasn't enough team work happening and I can't help but feel more could have been done in the war. My attempt at battle scenes aren't always great but I hope it is imaginative enough at the moment.

As always let me know your comments and thoughts.

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