"Sorry I'm late. I had to help an old lady cross the street," the Leaf's Copy Ninja waved as he entered.

"You used that line last time," Sakura said, a little annoyed.

"I did? Well, it doesn't make it any less true does it?" he responded as he leaned against the wall.

"Anyway…" Sakura started and rolled her eyes, " what do you think should be done about him?"

"Well if he's genuinely turned, that would be a benefit to the leafs military strength and future, but the question is if he's just doing this to get a little slack on his leash," he stroked his chin.

"The kages aren't pleased, but they are of less concern for the moment. His true motives are where this decision lies. Kakashi, I'd like you to look into his eyes when his bandages are removed today and see whether we can trust his words or not. If we can, I want to start planning for talks with the other villages." Tsunade said, arranging some papers on her desk.

"Hai hai," he got up.

"'I'll work out the details, but I hope we can rely on him in the future as an asset not a liability."

Story Break

"I guess plan B will have to do," Karin said as she studied the scroll carefully.

"Don't give me that nonsense. Those four were some of my best men," he punched the stone wall next to her head.

"Don't lose your temper. This plan will work as well. I would have much preferred we use the formula for the Suna version, but the Sound version should whittle down their defenses enough for us to retrieve him.

"It better work," he complained, "or else I'll have your head, Miss."

"Rest easy, you will have a Sharingan user at your side soon enough," she remained completely calm and eventually the Otokage blinked at the stare down.

"Get the chakra storage scrolls ready. We leave immediately while that blonde headed brat is outta town.". he barked and the ninjas assembled made their preparations to move towards Konoha.

"Keep that radio skimmer with you. I don't want any surprises," he ordered Karin.

Story Break

The four labored on into the night, pushing themselves to get back home with the precious cargo. They ate soldier pills and only stopped to get some water and keep the ninja sedated while they moved. Their visit and check in at Outpost Eight for water went without incident.

Story break

" Nice to see you again sensei," Sasuke smirked.

"It's nice to have all you kids back together again, don't you think?" he laughed and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Alright, well it's time for them to come off Sasuke. When I remove them, you'll need to blink as much as you can. Your eyes will be very sensitive to light as you are now," she closed off what little light was in the room and replaced it with a faint candle.

"Alright," he said and bowed his head slightly. Her dexterous hands unfastened the ties on the back of his head as the white cloth dribbled down to his lap.

"I'm going to remove the eye covering pads, so be ready," she removed them and placed them aside. Sasuke's eyes met the world for the first time in a great while in little stops and starts, but eventually they opened all the way.

"Would you look at that," Kakashi said with a slight chuckle.

"Oh my," Sakura looked at his face illuminated by the flickering candle as he raised his head. Two orbs were fixed upon her, the right, black as a raven's feathers, and the other with three tamoe.

"What is it?' he asked, though he soon remembered the familiar tug of his own Sharingan.

"First, can you see with both of your eyes," Sakura asked, inspecting her work.

"Yes, I can see perfectly well, though I can tell my Sharingan won't deactivate in my right eye now."

"I'm sorry, that's a complication I was worried about. Does it cause you any difficulties?" she checked his eye movement.

"No, my own bloodline won't cause me any problems. I'm only curious if my left will also activate when I ask it to," his eyes followed the marker she was using to test his field of vision.

"I'd lay off of it for a while, but your right makes me more confident that it will work, but I can't guarantee it,"

"I understand. I'll give it a while before I try anything with it," he relaxed his shoulders.

Now that you do have your sight back, there's something I need to ask you," Kakashi pulled back the forehead protector to reveal his eye. "Do you intend to serve the leaf loyally and without any reservation?"

"Yes," he looked him right in the eye unflinchingly.

"Do you really care about Sakura or are you merely trying to use her for your own agenda?" he asked to Sasuke's surprise. The break was short, but the Uchiha was caught off guard and for an instant his defenses fell. So small was this twitch Sakura barely saw it and wasn't sure it actually happened.

"You don't have to say anything, I understand. I'll make a full report to the Hokage," he waved goodbye to the two, but before he could leave the room a strange sound floated in through the newly opened door to which the three quickly dispelled the sleepiness that fell over them.

"Looks like we're under attack by some sort of genjutsu," Kakashi said, still shaking off the effects of the technique. The hallway was lined with unconscious shinobi that were caught off guard by the Sound's attack.

"Are they?" Sakura asked, concerned.

"No, they've only knocked them out," he checked the breathing and pulse of one of them in the hall. "This is likely an invasion attempt. I don't know how many of the other ninja are awake and there's no doubt they'll breach the gate with such a skeleton force still alert, so I'll need as much help as I can get fending them off and waking the others. Sasuke, here's your chance to prove your loyalty."

Sasuke merely nodded and extended his hands, to which Sakura unlocked them. He grabbed a kunai pouch off of an unconscious shinobi nearby and threw on some clothes from a nearby clean laundry pile.

"Let's go," Kakashi motioned for them to follow him and they set out into the village.

Story Break

:Naruto yawns and takes a knee with the load on his back.

"Weren't we supposed to meet him here?" Naruto asked.

"This does seem like the place," Tenten looked around.

A faint noise filtered through the trees.

"A genjustu? This one must be enormous!" Hinata commented as she peered at the sound artillery rolled out outside the gate.

"Looks like a new large scale knockout genjutsu," Neji looked over the resting bodies inside the walls.

"I've got an idea on how to get rid of the things that are making the noise, but I'll need as many explosive tags as I can get my hands on," Naruto suggested.

"Have you lost it? We should make contact with the others before we try to attack them," Neji chided him.

"Hear me out. I'm going to use transformed clones in order to place explosive tags on the artillery. This works better alone," he countered.

"Fine, why don't you take care of that and we'll get the reinforcements," Neji folded his arms in disgust.

The others lent him some explosive tags, but as they turned to run away Naruto spoke up half-timidly, "Um, which way is it?" to which the team face faulted.

"That way," they all pointed.

"I'll go with you and help you find your way Naruto," Hinata grabbed his hand and they set off as the rest headed to get reinforcements where they could.

"Thanks Hinata," he caught up and ran along side her.

Naruto transformed into a generic looking Sound-nin and created clones. Hinata directed each of them at their target.

Before too long, the whole front was devastated and the clones disappeared leaving no trace of the assailant.

Just as the sound died down a unit of 20 or 30 jounin threw open the gate and stood in front of the confused Sound-nin. Hinata, who had been watching up until this point gasped a little at what she saw, Sasuke standing right next to Kakashi at the gate.

Story Break

"Looks like someone disabled the amplifiers," Kakashi noted to himself.

"What are your orders?" Sasuke asked.

"Let's attack the left flank, they seem to have taken the worst of it and we can't afford to get pinned in with such a small force, so we'll be careful until help arrives.," he said watching the Sound-nin scurry about, attempting to leave.

"Sasuke and Chouji, you're with me," he motioned for them. "The rest of you I'll leave with Shikaku and Gai to attack as you see fit and protect the gate from any surprise attack."

"Acknowledged," they seemed to say in unison.

"Gai-sensei, I thought Nara-san was the Jounin commander?" Lee whispered to Gai.

"It's best to just leave it alone. Kakashi is my rival after all and has a keen strategic mind. If he thought it would be better to do it another way, he would have pulled rank on him." Gai replied with a grin and thumbs up and Lee responded with an understanding tapping of his fist on his palm.

The team left as the central division tried to shift over to cover the left flank, but were met with a firewall from Sasuke. Chouji used the meat tank technique to trample a good portion of the ninjas who had decided to stand and fight. Some were too paralyzed from fear at the sight of Sasuke to move, while others were merely foolhardy. Of those remaining, not a single one could hold their kunai steady. The unit was in complete disarray and falling over themselves trying to flee. The central division was in full retreat as well as commanders tried to wrangle the force back into order.

The right flank attempted to move over to counter the attack and protect the lines as the central division was reorganized and brought back to the front, but were met Naruto appearing with Hinata on the back edge of the right unit. The enemy was beginning to think they were encircled, so they retreated back into the forest to concentrate their forces and break the line that didn't exist behind them. Lee and Gai followed in behind.

"Let's keep the Sound running Lee," the two ran off at the Nara's signal. The two met up with Kakashi's group and the troops continued to move back as the main force of Konoha reached the gate and prepared to move on them as well. The Sound began to scatter, but they were met with Naruto and Sasuke at their flank and ran straight ahead, some trampling other ninja in the hasty retreat.

Finally, the ninja emerged into the clearing that had been made into a makeshift headquarters for the assault.

"You fools," the Otokage snapped like a thunderclap and struck a crack in the earth the length of the clearing, stopping his troops in their tracks. The troops snapped out of their fear and began to turn and face the oncoming force with a resurrected Team 7 at it's point and Hinata by Naruto's side.

The enemy barely stood a chance. Their numbers were greater for a moment, but the quality of the Leaf ninja that were unaffected or awoken quickly far surpassed the rank and file of the Sound and each passing second, more Leaf ninja awoke and were poised to strike.

The kage was backed up against the river they had set camp against. In his desperation, he called out for Sasuke.

"So you've decided to become a dog of the Leaf once more? Come back to the Sound. You don't belong with them," he smirked.

"I am not a dog. I am a hawk and I will roost where I see fit. If a snake should happen by my nest, I will consume it and not leave a single scrap," he readied a chidori.

"So that's how it is, hmm?" he readied his mighty fists to strike, but was met with a blow to the back of the head from Sakura.

"You didn't have to do that," the blue light faded from his hand.

"Yes, but you're a part of Team 7 again, and I won't let you run off on your own," she cracked her knuckles.

"You little *****," the Otokage stumbled to his feet and rubbed his head, a little woozy. The rest of the Sound was too busy trying to stay alive to protect the kage.

A blow dart emerged from the shadows and was sliced in half by a quick chidori: sharp spear.

"I'm leaving this one to you Sasuke," Sakura jumped out after Karin and Sasuke refocused just in time to dodge a swing by the behemoth in front of him.

"I'm sorry, I just don't have the time to play with you anymore," Sasuke grabbed a nearby sword and sliced the Otokage in half with a lightning enhanced strike and headed off after Sakura.

He found a beaten and bruised Karin under an infuriated Sakura's heel. Sakura's aura could be felt from miles away.

"Good, you're here Sasuke," Karin said weakly, "Please help me," she reached out to him.

"No," he pierced the ground near her head and left the sword there.

"My eyes are clear now. I no longer seek the path I did before. Do not follow me. Leave this place and never bring yourself before me again," he spoke to her slowly in a cold tone with his back turned. Sasuke and Sakura began to leave, and Karin made one last dash at Sakura with the sword she struggled to pull from the ground, only to trip and lose the sword from her grip. His eyes pierced her with a glare as cold as ice and he turned back for the fight, which was quickly turning into a slaughter for the Sound. A few were lost on the Leaf side, but many many more had fallen for the Sound.

Story Break

Hinata and Naruto had been fighting back to back for a while now. The sweat flew from their foreheads as their close quarters combat work almost seemed a dance. Those who were there that day often tell of the two acting as one in a monstrous display of coordination and power that drove back whole platoons with a single fluid movement.

Neji and Tenten relieved them from time to time to rest, and the enemy would hold their ground or only fall back slightly as they covered the retreat, but as soon as they rejoined the battle, they ran for their lives.

Finally, the forces, divided and leaderless, shattered and scattered, to which Tsunade ordered a cease of pursuit. The remaining Soiund were so decimated that it would take generations before they could muster the strength to even be considered a minor village again.

Story Break

A day or so later.

"You wished to see us Father?" Hinata knocked on the door and Naruto tried his best to be cordial by following her lead.

"Yes, come in. I'd like to have a word with you two," he said in a manner that portended no ill will. The two slid the door back and entered. They found a seat in front of him and waited nervously for him to continue. Neji took a place in the back of the room behind Hiashi. The Hyuuga leader scribbled a couple of small notes and placed the paper aside.

"I have called you two before me to talk to you about your recent mission and what occurred during it," he tented his fingers and laid them on the desk in front of him.

"Nothing inappropriate happened, I swear," Naruto defended himself.

"Yes, I know. Neji has informed me well on that point, but that is not what I'm here to talk to you about," a small smirk slipped across his face.

"What do you mean?' Hinata asked.

"You've failed our little agreement. You used that adhesive on the Sound ninjas. in what I would deem a practical joke," he stated quite calmly.

"That's bull and you know it," Naruto raised his voice. "That stuff was a ninja tool before I even got a hold of it," Naruto's fury was pretty evident.

"The fact remains that you broke the rules. Are you ready to face the consequences?" he said in reply, Hinata's face turned ghastly pale.

"Please forgive me this once Hinata for breaking my ninja way," Naruto said almost silently, but loud enough that Hiashi and Hinata could make it out. "I won't let her go! I love your daughter and I'm not going to give her up over some bs technicality that you came up with. I wanted to do this the right way for her sake, but you've given me no other choice, so if we have to I'll run away with her," Hinata was a bit shocked by the sudden outburst.

"Is that so? Have you consulted with Hinata first?" he asked smugly.

"I'll run away with him! I love him and I will be together with him whether you approve of it or not!," Hinata stood up beside Naruto, half shaking.

"So you'll give up being the Hyuuga clan head for the sake of this man?" he peered at her.

"Yes!" she said without hesitation.

Hiashi's grin loomed even larger.

"Good," he smiled.

"What?" they both said in unison.

"Whoever said I'd separate you?" he laughed.

"What? But you…Huh?" Naruto started and stopped as the confusion was evident across both of their faces..

"I chose my words very carefully that day. I said 'you will respect my wishes regarding the two of you.' I never said I would forbid you from seeing one another. I wanted to see what kind of man you were for myself and whether you truly cared about my daughter. If you had backed down, I might have questioned your love for my daughter and your ability to stand up for yourself. You have passed my test, and so I will offer you a way to keep both your ninja way and still see my daughter."

"What is it?" Naruto asked, sitting down and becoming calmer.

"You will be betrothed to each other," he said with a smile. Hinata was immediately shocked at what her father had said. Naruto seemed not to know what was going on.

"What does that mean?" he whispered to Hinata.

"It means we're going to be married one day," she whispered to him. Naruto's eyes became as big as saucers and his face a little pink.

"Are you okay with someone like me being your husband?" Naruto asked a little nervously.

"Of course!," she hugged him "Are you alright with me?" she was a little nervous as well.

"Of course," he wrapped his arms around her.

"Then there is only the formality of the paperwork," he motioned for Neji, who quickly brought him the document. "Please show our honored guest in as well," he commanded Neji. A moment later Tsunade entered with Sakura following close behind.

"Seems everything went as expected," she looked down at the seated couple and the document on the table, crossing her arms and wearing a smile of satisfaction upon her face.

"Yes, thank you for coming."

"My pleasure," she waved her hand slightly.

"Granny?" Naruto wondered what was going on.

"As you are both of age, I will need both of you to sign it first," he offered the two pens and they quickly signed it.

"To make this a binding document, it requires that elder relatives of both families give their consent. I will represent Naruto in this matter," Tsunade extended her hand and Sakura placed her seal in it. Tsunade bent and marked the seal upon the paper. Hiashi followed in turn.

"You two are now bound to one another. I expect that you shall not disappoint."

"Yes, sir," Naruto was respectful for once.

"Congratulations." Sakura patted them both on the back, "I'll file this right away." Sakura took the document and placed it in an envelope to protect it from damage. Naruto and Hinata looked at each other with warmth in their hearts. As their hands slid together, their hearts beat a mile a minute.