A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry I didn't update as fast as I promised. It was my birthday like 3 days ago and some of my friends came over and… well, I was really busy. But, now I'm on spring break so I'll try to update more and more, so please look forward to seeing the future chapters!!

Me: -cries-

Sakura: Hey Shadow-chan, what's wrong?

Me: MY BEAUTIFUL LIST!!!! WAAAHHH!!! THE LIST THAT HAD THE PEOPLE'S NAMES TO SAY THE DISCLAIMER GOT BURNED!!!!!! AHHHH!!! IT'S NOTHIN' BUT ASH!!!!! –falls to the floor- WHO WOULD DO SUCH A HORRIBLE THING!!!!

Sasuke: -walks by-

Sakura: A…ano…. –looks over at Sasuke and runs away-

Me: -looks at Sasuke and glares- You…. Fire jutsu… –runs over to him and punches him- HOW DARE YOU BURN MY PRETTY LIST!!!!!!! RAWR!!! –continues punching him-

Sakura: Hehe… anyways, while that's going on, Shadowymind doesn't own Naruto, its characters, or the existing plot. –holds up peace sign-

Recap:

Sakura fumed. "Sheesh, doesn't this guy have any respect for privacy?! But, if it means I can leave this place…"

Sakura heaved a huge sigh and said, "Understood. I guess we have a deal."

Sasuke nodded, standing up, and silently left the room.

Still on the floor, Sakura crossed her arms while glaring at his retreating figure. "Seriously, that guy…"

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"Ne, Naruto," Ino comforted, kneeling down beside him, "we can find Sasuke and Sakura. I know it. If we just-"

"No," Naruto cut her off. "It's no use just forget it. It's over."

End Recap:

Ino and Shikamaru stared at Naruto, their eyes wide and their faces stricken with disbelief.

"Naruto…" Ino trailed off, sadness clear in her eyes.

The usually cheerful and energetic ninja gradually stood up, his legs wobbling slightly from sitting for an extended period of time. Ever so slowly, he started to make his way to the hospital, a shadow covering his cerulean blue eyes, like a veil.

All of a sudden, Shikamaru intervened.

"No, you can't quit now… Why would you just completely cast this whole thing aside all of a sudden?! What about the promise we all made to bring them back?!!"

Naruto stopped mid-step and abruptly swiveled around to face the possessor of the voice.

"'Why' , Shikamaru? You're asking me 'why'?" Naruto asked, his voice pained. "We've been trying to bring them back for years now. We've wasted most of our lives trying to bring them back."

"Demo, Naruto, we may have a chance. Maybe these past years haven't been wasted," Ino argued back.

"So what?! Besides, even if we do bring them back," Naruto turned to face the three wooden poles, "what makes you think they'll just stay here and follow orders like obedient little dogs? What makes you think everything will be the same again?!!"

A moment of silence lingered in the open air that stood between each of them. Then, it was Shikamaru's turn to turn his back.

"Whatever," Shikamaru said, as he started walking away. "Oh and just to let you know, for once you're the one being troublesome and I'm not the one being lazy."

He continued his walk towards his current destination. Ino looked up at Naruto with pleading, tear-filled eyes before running after Shikamaru.

Naruto then wordlessly walked to the hospital at a slow, monotonous pace. Their words seemed to echo across his mind, but he didn't bother to give any of it a second thought.

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Two shinobi passed through the poorly lit hallway. You could hear the rhythm of their breathing through the black masks that covered the lower half of their faces, and with every step they took, you could hear skin rubbing off their Oto uniforms.

They had just emerged from a discussion with their leader and received orders to tail Sakura Haruno, a member of the second generation of the Sannin. They were to make sure that she wouldn't do anything suspicious or try to escape whenever she left the hideout.

They cockily agreed to the assignment. After all, how much trouble could one woman be, a Sannin or not?

They arrived in front of the room that she was currently residing in. One of them knocked on the metal door, making a "clang clang" sound.

No answer.

They made this attempt again, thinking that she probably didn't hear the first knock.

Once again, no answer.

Starting to get irritated, the second shinobi pushed the first one out of the way and slammed his heavy fists on the door. The resulting sound seemed to travel across the whole compund, and it was now impossible to not hear from inside the enclosed room.

Still no answer.

They both had enough of this crap and decided to just barge into the room. They were greeted by the sunset's light which was creeping in through the open window. They were also greeted by an empty, lifeless space… That meant, no Sakura.

After realizing so, their hearts started to pound frantically as they thought of the punishment that would be given to them.

Although, after one of them had calmed down, he noticed the piece of paper that was hanging above the open window. It was held simply by a kunai, so they had no trouble getting it down.

They read through what was written on it. The note was short and simple, but it got them to exchange nervous glances.

After that little episode, they quickly rushed out of the room to find Sasuke. Surprisingly, he was where they had left him after their little meeting.

"Why did you come back here?" Sasuke asked the moment they set foot in the room.

"Gomen, Sasuke-sama," the first one apologized. "When we went into the room, she was nowhere to be found."

Sasuke's eyes flashed momentarily into his Sharingan, terrifying the two subordinates before him.

The second one, trying to contain his immense fear, openly said, "W-we did find this note above the open window in her room."

He came forward and handed Sasuke the note. He snatched the piece of paper out of his hand and started to read it. It read:

Sasuke,

Your little tag-along group was taking too long so I decided to go out by myself. I'll probably be back before morning. I hope you don't mind!

-Sakura

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A/N: Intense chapter! Sakura you little rebel! XD R & R everyone!!! See ya in the next chappie!