Sakura and Itachi met up with Kisame to have their meal the next morning. For two people about to face enemies who were known to be damn near immortal Kisame had never seen such a peaceful pair. He had known when they met the kunoichi that she would be good for Itachi, and now he could see how good he was for her. The sorrow that Kisame had been able to feel radiating off of the kunoichi since she had returned to them had vanished. She may have changed, but she would survive. Once they had finished their meal, which the men were pleasantly surprised to see Sakura partake in, they were off.
It wasn't long before they were able to pick up signs of fairly recent battles; they were on the right track. It shouldn't take them long to be able to locate their prey now. Itachi led them carefully all of them cautious to keep their presence well hidden. They wanted to be sure that they were the ones to spring the trap not the other way around. Finally sometime after noon they finally were able to feel several chakras flaring. Sakura cast Itachi a quick glance and he nodded in reply. They had found the two Akatsuki members and they were currently engaged in battle. Silently they watched the pair fighting three shinobi. It was over quick and showed Sakura that this would not prove to be an easy fight. Her team fought together much better than she had witnessed the pair before them, but the two men were undeniably strong. All too soon Itachi gave them the sign and they swooped down on their prey.
"What is the meaning of this Uchiha?" Kakuzu asked after dodging Itachi's initial attack.
"The meaning should be clear," Itachi told him, "your days of immortality have come to an end."
"If the first Hokage of your village could not stop me you do not stand a chance," Kakuzu scoffed. "Your foolish Uchiha pride shall prove to be your downfall."
Instead of responding with words Itachi released a flock of crows in his direction with shurken hidden within. A few of them managed to hit his opponent but did little harm. That was fine with him he just had to get him angry enough to release his hearts from his body.
"What the hell is this shit about?" Hidan asked Kisame who along with Sakura was facing him. "Wait a minute that is the jinjuriki huh, so Itachi is actually ditching Akatsuki for that bitch. Who would have ever thought Mr. Stick up his Ass would have it in him."
"Shut up," Kisame told him as he released Samehada from its bindings.
Sakura launched several senbon at him managing to catch him in the arm with two.
"Stupid slut that hurt," the immortal gripped as he reached up and plucked them from his arm.
Kisame kept him busy deflecting his giant scythe with Samehada while Sakura dodged about randomly inflicting small wounds on him with her long range weapons. While the wounds themselves were mere annoyances the unspoken plan was for her to dose him with as much poison as she could to see if it had any effect.
"Damn it," finally he pulled his scythe back to his side, "that whore has been poisoning me. It won't kill me ya know?"
"We knew that," Kisame smirked, "but it sure as hell has slowed you down."
With that Kisame rushed in and was able to place a large gash in the other man's side. Much to Sakura's revulsion he seemed to relish the pain. She looked over to check on Itachi and saw that somehow he had managed to take down one of the hearts. Four more to go. She started to try to signal Kisame to go help Itachi when Hidan managed to cut the blue man's arm. He licked the blood off and started to make his way to a ritualistic looking circle. That was it she wanted Kisame out of this fight now. She needed to get Hidan's attention firmly locked on her before he could start inflicting major damage on her partner. Without a word she jumped between the two and punched the ground causing it to crack open and Hidan to lose his footing. Before he could get up she signaled for Kisame to join Itachi. This one would be all hers.
"Fuck that was awesome," the foul mouthed shinobi gave her a huge smile. "You did that with just your fist. Come on kunoichi show me what you've got. Go all demon on me or something."
Sakura smirked at him and was more than happy to oblige. She watched her opponent's face closely and saw that he was thrilled with her in this form. Seemingly out of nowhere she felt the approach of five chakra signatures and she was able to recognize every one of them. She would have to try to end this quickly or things could get ugly fast.
"So why are you guys fighting the Akatsuki?" Hidan enquired as he took in the sight of the girl's glowing eyes.
"Survival," Sakura graced him with an answer.
"Wow you sure are a big talker," the silver haired man laughed, "I can see why you and the Uchiha get along so well."
Sakura didn't reply instead choosing to launch several more kunai at him this time tied to explosive tags.
"Kakashi sensei she needs our help," Naruto proclaimed.
"Naruto if you jump in right now you will only get in the way," Kakashi sighed. "We need to observe for a moment before jumping in."
Sakura pulled her katana to deflect the scythe that the laughing mad man had sent at her. The blade easily batted his scythe to the ground. She kept her eyes on him as he began to use the chain to reel his weapon back in.
"Nice job kunoichi," he smiled before launching a new attack in her direction.
"Sakura-chan," Naruto yelled out distracting the pink haired kunoichi for just a moment.
It was enough. In that one second the scythe managed to graze her cheek causing a small line of blood to drip down her face.
"Got ya," Hidan smirked as he licked his weapon sampling the small amount of blood that he had collected. His body then changed no longer did he look like any other man. Instead he took on a black and white appearance that reminded her a little of Zetsu, or a completely bat shit crazy mime. "That has to be the most delicious blood that I have ever tasted. You will make a fine offering to Jashin."
"We shall see about that," Sakura commented before her former team came down ready to join her in battle. Their arrival proved to be enough of a diversion to allow the religious freak to make his way to his circle.
Sakura's teammates watched in horror as the man buried a kunai into his own arm and within seconds a stream of blood could be seen running down Sakura's arm.
"Relish the pain kunoichi," the man smiled at her, "it is what proves that you are still alive."
Sakura tightened her stance after putting her blade back in its sheath. She had to get him out of that damn circle. She began her lightning fast approach only to have several of Naruto's shadow clones get in her way. She growled before pulling out two kunai and ruthlessly dispatching the blonde clones. She pushed forward even as the Hot Springs Shinobi slashed deeply into his thigh a mirror image wound appearing on her own leg. Pain was temporary she smirked; to lose this battle would be permanent. At last she was within range and used her chakra tail to knock him out of his circle before jumping into it and reducing the ground that it was drawn on to pebbles.
"Holy shit did you see that?" Hidan asked as he pulled himself up from the ground wiping some blood away from his lips. "I hurt her and then she smiles and that had to be one of the coolest things in the world when you hit me with that fucking tail and demolished my circle. I want to change sides."
Sakura and all of her teammates who were working on holding back Naruto couldn't help but to give him a skeptical look. He wanted to change sides?
"Oh come on," he almost whined, "I don't even like Akatsuki. Hell I didn't even find out about Pein's world peace plan until after I joined. Do I really look like a guy who really would join in some stupid shit like that. You guys are more interesting. I want to change sides."
"Prove it," Sakura told him while leveling him with a cold stare.
"Prove it huh," Hidan glanced at the battle raging between his partner and the jinjuriki's companions before he got an evil smirk on his face.
Without taking his eyes off of the Sakura's face he sent his scythe flying across the battlefield. He quickly retrieved it with a flick of his chain before licking the blade clean and tossing it to the girl who quickly caught it. He then withdrew a kunai and drew a hasty ritualistic circle on the ground before plunging the weapon directly into his heart. She looked over to Itachi's battle and saw that Kakuzu went down to his knees giving Kisame plenty of time to plunge Samehada through his one remaining heart. When the fight was finished all three groups stood appraising each other.
"Why are you here?" Sakura finally decided to break the silence and spoke to her former team.
"We came to bring you home," Sasuke told her taking a step towards her.
"She is going nowhere," Itachi replied as he appeared at Sakura's side.
"That is not your decision," Sasuke hissed at his older brother.
"I am not leaving," Sakura told them as she started to turn to walk away.
"Sakura, Lady Tsunade sent us to bring you back to Konoha," Kakashi said.
"Tell her I do not desire to return to Konoha," Sakura called over her shoulder as she began to walk away.
"Sakura-chan you have to come home," Naruto plead.
"If I refuse will you fight me as you did Sasuke?" Sakura questioned as she began to heal a few wounds on Kisame.
"You will be coming home with us today," Sasuke growled.
"Do not press the issue Uchiha," she replied.
"Calm down everyone," Shikamaru scratched the back of his head as he stepped forward and politely bowed his head in Itachi's direction. "Tsunade told us to come get you, but she said that if she was with you guys we aren't allowed to engage in battle. How are you doing Sakura?"
"I am doing fine thank you Shikamaru," she politely responded.
"Been kidnapped and forced to travel with any creepy Akatsuki guys lately?" The lazy genius yawned as he asked her the question.
"No," she told him.
"Well there you have it," he turned and shrugged as he looked at the Leaf team. "Under orders of the Hokage disengage and report to her immediately."
"Sakura we just want to take you home," Kakashi tried one final time, "we want to protect you. This mess is too dangerous."
"Konoha isn't my home," She faced her former sensei as she spoke to him.
"Don't say that Sakura-chan," Naruto told her.
"I did not. Konoha did," Sakura informed him as something caught Sasuke's eye.
"Are you wearing his necklace?" Sasuke spat.
"She is," Itachi was the one to reply.
"Shit this is getting old," Hidan stepped forward with his menacing scythe. "Look the bitch said that she doesn't want to go anywhere with you losers. Unless you want to fight all four of us you better get the hell out of here now."
"Will you fight us to stay Sakura?" The sad look in Naruto's eyes would have once torn at her heart.
"If I must," her resolve was firm.
"This isn't over," Sasuke warned them as the team was left with no option but to retreat.
For the second time in Team 7's history they had a teammate who refused to return to Konoha. Sasuke had adjusted to life back within her walls, but as they made their way back to give Tsunade their report they couldn't help but wonder if Sakura ever could.