Chapter 14

Everyone who was left on the battlefield was now left in silence. The ANBU were still uncomfortably close to Deidara.

Tsunade stood there facing away from the others. A small breeze passed through, picking up her pigtails as it went. Her white undershirt was covered with blood and dirt. Clenching her fist, she was disappointed that Orochimaru had managed to avoid death by her hands yet again.

"Tsunade-sama..." said an ANBU who suddenly appeared kneeling behind her.

"Have the ANBU squads return to the village...Tell everyone they can return to their homes, the fight is over," said Tsunade, not even turning to look at him.

Everyone was disappointed, not just Tsunade. Once again they were unable to save Sasuke, but they were thankful that they all still had their lives and the village was not harmed.

After the ANBU disappeared, Tsunade turned around to face the remaining members of this mission gone awry.

"Tomorrow you will all have to explain this to me. Until then, I'm going to say that there is no problem...right?" she said, looking from one Akatsuki member to another until her eyes rested on Itachi.

Itachi nodded, giving his silent agreement that this was over...for now. They weren't ready to take the Kyuubi, and until that time they would not move without the orders of the other Akatsuki members now that the situation had changed. Sakura's position was no longer what it once was, and they felt they no longer needed to maintain her.

As the Konoha shinobi turned to leave, Sakura was left standing between the two parties.

Stopping, Tsunade spoke to Sakura without turning around, "Sakura...I expect to see you tomorrow morning for a full report..." With that last note, Tsunade continued on as the others followed.

Naruto remained, his eyes on Sakura. As he trusted her, he gave her a nod, then turned to follow the others.

Sakura did not look up until they had left. Turning to Itachi, she looked him in the eyes, her own filling with tears. Glancing at Deidara and Kisame, she couldn't work up the courage to say anything in front of them.

"Well, Deidara," said Kisame. "I think it's time we head back."

"See you around, Sakura," grinned Deidara. Together, he and Kisame began to walk into the depths of the forest, leaving Itachi and Sakura alone.

"Ano..." whispered Sakura. "Arigatou...Arigatou gozaimashita..."

She smiled that same fake smile she gave Naruto when she didn't want to show her pain. Itachi looked on at her, his face emotionless as usual. He did not say anything.

Smiling a fake smile again, Sakura knew that she was wasting her breath waiting for him to speak. Itachi had started for her but before he could reach her, Sakura ran towards Konoha before a tear could fall, leaving Itachi behind.

Crying as she ran back, Sakura's heart burned and she couldn't stop gasping. She could not see any way for her to have a life with Akastuki. It was just impossible with all the obligations she had left in Konoha. Her mother must have suffered, and Sakura could not let herself be tempted into abandoning her duties to the village and the bonds that she had. Most of all, she could not leave Naruto.

Itachi stood there watching her back as she ran away. He did not call out to her, but remained there until he could no longer see her.

"Itachi..." came a voice from the shadows. "What are you doing?"

Once again, Kisame and Deidara were eavesdropping on him.

"Are you just going to leave it like this?" continued Kisame.

Still facing the direction that Sakura ran off in, Itachi let a breeze catch his untied bangs as he stood there contemplating. He did not know what to do in a situation like this.

"Come on," said Deidara. "You can catch up...but if you're that invalid, I can send the bird..."

"No..." said Itachi. "Let her go..."

Turning his back to Konoha, Itachi walked away into the night, leaving nothing but the sound of the wind trailing behind.

As the team entered the gates, Sakura trailed behind them. They all said goodnight to each other before parting ways, eager to return home for some much needed rest.

"Sakura-chan..." said Naruto.

"Hmm?" she responded, this time not bothering to give a smile.

"Arigatou..." he went on. "After losing Sasuke, I really don't know what I'd do without you..."

"Don't worry Naruto...I won't leave you..." said Sakura softly, then smiled a thoughtful smile. In that moment, Naruto understood just how much she loved and cared for him. He would always be able to count on her, and he would always be able to trust that she would be there when the time came for taking Sasuke back.

Naruto then did something he had never done before...He hugged her while she was still concious.

Her eyes welling up, Sakura burst into tears and hugged him back. Her fingers dug into his jacket as she poured out her heart's sorrow.

Naruto squeezed her and held her tight. He was thankful that she had given up on Itachi to have a full life, but at the same time he felt guilty that he was rejoicing over her selfless act that caused her so much pain and anguish. He didn't know what to say, so he just held her as she cried.

Finally getting back up, Sakura wiped the rest of the tears from her face.

"Arigatou Naruto-kun," she stuttered before smiling. "I'm better now."

Returning her smile, Naruto said, "let's take a walk," and so they did.

Naruto and Sakura walked down the streets of Konoha that were now silent again after the villagers returned to their homes. The only company they had were the streetlamps that lit their path. They did not know where they were going, but their subconcious minds did. Before they knew it, they were walking back to where it all began.

Before them stood the very same bench where Naruto found Sakura crying before this whole ordeal started. However, this bench meant much more to them than that.

Here was the bench that they ate lunch on the first day Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke became a team. It was the same bench that Naruto almost kissed Sakura, even though he was disguised as Sasuke. For Sakura it meant the beginning and breaking of her bond with Sasuke. Everything significant that had to do with their relationship as a team happened here at this spot, and as they sat down, the cold chill of the concrete reminded them of just how cold life could be.

"Sakura-chan..." began Naruto. "What do you think would have happened if you left Konoha?"

For a while Sakura sat comtemplating that question she had already asked herself.

"I don't know...When you actually stop to think about it, I can kill other shinobi and handle being hurt, but when it comes to love, I guess none of that helps one bit. I'm not sure what would have happened...Maybe Itachi would have given me up..." After a long pause, Sakura whispered, "...or maybe not..."

Sinking her head, Sakura leaned back. Naruto was sitting hunched over, looking at his feet.

"You still smell like blood," he said.

"I do?" said Sakura, picking at her shirt and smelling it. "Gross."

"I thought you were going to die," said Naruto. "It drove me crazy. I didn't know what would happen if I lost you. It was the same way when you almost left... I'm glad you chose to stay..."

"Baka...Like I said before, I could never leave you." With that, Sakura smiled at him.

Naruto was comforted at last. He couldn't let go of it until he finally said everything that he needed to say. In his heart, Naruto was glad to know that he would always have someone by his side, and that someone, was Sakura.

"Come on," he said. "I'll walk you home..."