Disclaimer

K. I'm not sure if I have to write these things but I will. I don't claim any rights to Naruto or the charecters. I give full credit to the rightful owners, blah, blah, blah. Except my story line. I mean I have no problem with them using it in Naruto, but I want credit if they do. lmao.

Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat.

-Malcolm S. Forbes

Sasuke bolted forward and tackled Sakura out of harm's way, deflecting another metal pole with his katana. Naruto and Neji were still standing in the doorway, frozen in place, but Jugo was standing beside Sasuke in a second - his cursed seal activated. Jugo's arms wrapped around the pair and he jumped back to the leaf nins.

"Nagato." Sakura said quietly, slipping away from Sasuke and the other three. "I heard your story."

"And?" The black-haired man asked, tilting his head to the side. "What is your answer, Sakura. Do you still want your revenge?"

Sakura tilted her head to the side. "After hearing that?" She asked, he nodded and she frowned. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"Like I said, girl. Hate breeds Revenge which just brings more hate." He muttered, looking away from her and shaking his head in disgust.

"But, I'll choose not to. Wanna know why?" She asked playfully, slipping back onto the bench behind her. It was his turn to frown and he nodded. "Cause, you're right. I've seen hatred tear someone apart from the inside out. It ruined his life and ruined the lives of those around him, through no fault of his own. If I were to kill you, Onee-chan would end up like Sasuke. And I couldn't live with myself if she ended up like that because of me."

"So, you refuse to kill me because you care for Konan?" Nagato finished, his eyes flickering between the Shinobi around her before landing on her again.

"No, because if she were to end up hating me, she would come to kill me. If I were to die, Sasuke, Naruto and who knows who else would come after her. If she died, the rest of the Akatsuki would go after them and we'd have another war." She paused, a smile slipping across her face. "I've heard your story, and you can't imagine how sorry I am for your lose, but I cannot forgive what you two have done. However, I won't kill you unless I'm provoked. Because if there is anything that could be considered 'peace' in this world, I'm gonna find it. And when I do, I'm not letting go for anything. That is my answer, do what you like with it."

Sasuke and Neji looked down at her, both realizing just how much she sounded like Naruto in that moment. Naruto shook his head and stepped towards the two Akatsuki.

"She's wrong." He told them. The four ninja behind him froze, watching him complete confusion. "If there is any hint in of peace in this world, we will find it. All of Jinchuuriki will find that peace and hold it to this world."

Sakura stood up and grinned at her brother, before turning back to Nagato and Konan.

"Was that the answer you were looking for?" She asked them, pulling herself back into a standing position.

"Other Akatsuki have appeared, Sasuke." Karin warned, a hint of fear creeping into her voice. "I'm pretty sure this was a trap. What are your orders?"

"Let me have Kisame." Suigetsu snapped, obviously yelling at a leaf nin.

"Wait for us, Karin. We'll be there in a moment." Sasuke responded, grabbing Sakura's wrist and turning towards the doorway

"Like hell! I'm not waiting!" Suigetsu cried.

Neji tossed Sakura a Comm device before she could complain, she slipped it on and moved to follow Sasuke.

"Sakura." Nagato addressed her quietly, she sighed and turned towards him. "I have not heard a determination like that in a very long time. Since Yahiko was still alive."

"I'm gonna go ahead and assume you're telling me this for a reason?" Sakura asked, rolling her eyes.

"I will choose to give you my support, because your answer piqued my interest."

Konan spun around to look at her Leader. "But, Nagato, if you do that, you'll di-"

"I am aware of the consequences, Konan. Just look at her." He waved his hand in Sakura's direction, almost airily. "She sounds so much like Yahiko. And I would give him my life, if he asked. This is the least I could do for his memory."

Sakura frowned and looked at the four Shinobi behind her. They all shrugged in response.

"Sakura, as I am sure you are aware, you, Naruto, and Sasuke are all Jincuuriki." The three leaf ninja froze. "I will give you my powers, just to see how far you are able to proceed. Konan, I beg you to trust my judgement. Do not hold my death against these people."

"Death..." Sakura repeated slowly. Panic flashed across her face and she pulled out of Sasuke's grip, running forward. "No! Nagato, you can't just kill yourself! C'mon, you're the leader of the Akatsuki and here you are, taking the back exit! You can't leave Konan like that! What's wrong with y-"

"Drop it, Sakura." Konan hissed, tears prickling at her eyes. "I will give them my full support, Nagato."

He smiled softly at her. "Thank you, my friend." His body slowly started glowing, it kept getting brighter until it hurt their eyes to watch him - but it was one of those moments that you couldn't tear your eyes from.

His glowing form slowly started to break apart, into three separate balls of light. The instant they were seperate, they shot towards the five ninjas or - more specifically - the three Jinchuuriki. They had no time to defend themselves, as the light spheres hit them and spread across their bodies. The glow slowly faded into themselves as Nagato fell forward, dead.

Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke all looked up at each other. The glow was barely visible. Sakura pulled up the bottom part of her shirt so she could look at the glowing seal on her stomach. The glow was swirling along the black marks, like water draining out of a set of pipes. They watched until the white glow was gone and the black markings had disappeared again. Sakura looked up at the blue-haired Akatsuki.

"Konan... Onee-chan, I'm so sor-"

"Don't, Sakura... Just... just go fight and hit 'em and extra time for me... alright?" Konan asked, looking up at the five ninjas with a defeated expression.

"I'll hit them twice. You and Nagato. See you!" She waved over her shoulder and gestured to the others to follow her down the hallway. She hit the Comm button. "Hiya, everyone!" She chirped immediately, when they were out of Konan's earshot. "How're you all doing?"

"Shut it, Pinky!" Karin snapped, anger flashing through her voice. "Listen, next time you run away, I'm pounding you through a wall!"

"Wouldn't have it any other way, Karin." Was Sakura's simple response, as she pulled out a handful of shuriken. "So, what's the plan, boys?"

No one responded but Sakura just laughed again and hit the Comm button. "So, everyone okay? No problems in your lives?" She asked conversationally, as if she wasn't racing to save all their lives.

"Just you, ForeHead Girl." Ino responded with a laugh.

"Just like always." Sakura responded with a soft sigh.

"Hey! You let the living Barbie Doll call Sakura horrible names but yell at me whenever I do! That's preferencial treatment, Sasuke!" Karin cried in annoyance.

"Well, that's cause Sasuke actually likes me, Karin. Unlike you two." Sakura laughed again and - surprisingly - so did Ino and Karin.

"Well, now that we just created the world's weirdest friendship, can we carry on?" Sasuke asked, looking at the three people behind him.

"Sure thing, Bossman!" Naruto yelled, shoving more chakra into his feet and racing forward.

The three others ran forward, as well, and ended up at the front within seconds.

Kisame, Kakuzu, Hidan, and Itachi were standing halfway between the Akatsuki Manor and the forest line - where their friends were. Their legs were spread and they all had their weapons held in front of them. The four Akatsuki were ready for a fight.

"Geez, sensai, you'd think one death would be enough for you." Sakura said, clasping her hands behind her head nonchalantly.

"Yeah, Itachi. How are you even alive?!" Sasuke snarled, holding his katana in his brother's direction.

"You forgot to check for a pulse when you 'killed' me, Sasuke. A fatal mistake." Itachi responded, readying the kunai he was holding. His eyes slowly moved over the ninjas in front of him. Jugo, Neji, and Sasuke were all holding defensive positions, but Sakura seemed completely relaxed. "You don't seem to nervous about this, Sakura."

She just shrugged, her eyes slowly skimming the treeline behind thier opponent.

"Do you actually believe those others will help you, right?" Hidan asked, his tone held pure laughter as the ninja behind him slowly stepped outside the foliage

"Course not. I'm pretty sure that Naruto, Sasuke and I are the only ones who will be able to put a scratch on you four." She responded, ignoring the hurt looks that her friends sent her.

"Then what's with the smugness, Cherry Blossum?" Kisame asked, looking at her in confusion.

She grinned and raised her hand, so that it was above her head. Her index finger slowly moved away from her fist, pointing. Every ninja in the small field looked up.

The bright, shining fullmoon shone down on them from above. The Leaf ninja and Sasuke's team stared at the glowing circle in pure confusion, but the Akatsuki froze.

"I haven't taken those pills since Deidara died." Sakura said, rolling her shoulders in a shrug. "I'm interested to see what happens."

"Sakura? You mean..." Sasuke's voice trailed off as he watched her curiously.

"Yup. Time to go Jinchuurik on their asses."

Okay, I made used to make what I think Nagato's Seal should look like. It's on my DeviantArt page so take a look if it confuses you, you'll need to see it later. :3 Ciao! (The link is on my page.)