Disclaimer: -knock, knock- JUCHKO opens door to find RANDOM-FAN, "Hi, I was just wondering if you own-" Door slams shut.

Chapter 52: Searching

By the end of the first day, Sakura had read through countless books, with nothing of importance to show for it. However, even with Ayaka and her cousins' help, she had gotten through less than a tenth of the library. There was still so much left to read and not nearly enough time to do so. It was because of that, that Sakura decided to stay in the library even after she had sent her cousins to bed (she'd tried to do the same for Ayaka, but unlike with her cousins, it didn't work).

Sakura and Ayaka read throughout the night, only taking little naps when they couldn't keep their eyes open any longer. They were so busy with searching the books that they didn't even realize it was morning until Sakura's cousins walked in, and behind them came Hiraku, carrying a tray of food. Sakura only looked away from her book long enough to take the food and thank him before she returned to reading while she ate; Ayaka followed suite.

The young Hoshi's didn't bat an eye at the lack of conversation. They understood how important this was to Sakura, and they were wiling to help their Pillar however they could, so they had skimmed books. However, Noya had noticed a problem. Almost all of the books Sakura and Ayaka had pulled out as possibilities were beyond the twins' reading ability, and only slightly fewer of them were beyond his capability.

And so, he decided he'd continue reading the books while having the twins work on decoding the journal. After all, they weren't sure what all was in the journal, and for all they knew, it may hold the answers they were seeking. There was another thing they'd tried to do on behalf of their Pillar's goal, and that was try to ask Hiraku to let Sakura go outside so that she could go to the Knowing (since her tool for getting there was apparently the stars, just as the twins' father's had been a crystal orb). However, that attempt had failed. Hiraku refused to let Sakura go out when they had just been attacked by Grass ninja.

The hours flew by, and soon it was almost lunchtime. Noya took a moment to rest his eyes, glancing around the room. Sakura and Ayaka were continuing to read, unaware of the time. The twins were getting antsy…and by the looks of it, Inuka was thinking about getting some food while Hanako was itching to try out something she'd learned from the journal. Noya sighed and was just about to close his book when the doors to the Library were opened, and not by Hiraku, either. It was Itachi.

All three of them froze, watching discreetly as he made his way across the room. However, Ayaka barely glanced up at him before returning to her book…and Sakura didn't look up at all, though whether that was due to not noticing him or ignoring him, Noya couldn't tell. Itachi, however, continued to approach them, obviously not minding that they weren't paying him any heed. He had almost reached them when he was forced stop as a kunai flew towards his head.

He caught it effortlessly, not even bothering to glare at Sakura, who had yet to even look up from her book. "What kind of greeting was that, Sakura?"

Sakura read a few more lines before slowly setting down her book. As she looked at Itachi, her eyes were steely. "Ayaka, take my cousins to their room and get them lunch." She didn't need to explain why, she knew Ayaka would understand. Ayaka, of course, did as Sakura asked immediately, and soon it was just the two of them.

Sakura waited a few moments after the door closed before speaking quietly, though not without force, "You never told me Naruto was here! Did you think I'd just stand by and let him die?" Sakura paused, but Itachi didn't say anything.

Sakura stood up and took a few steps towards him, "The least you could have done was give me a hint! If you had, I would have been able to start this search weeks ago! But no! Now Naruto's life is hanging by a thread, and I have less than a week to save him! You should have told me outright, or warned me, or something!" Sakura curled her hands into fists to hide their shaking as she almost shouted, "Why didn't you!"

There was a long silence as Itachi fingered the kunai she had thrown at him, studying her intently. He noted her attempt to disguise her shaking hands as well as her pale skin and the bags that were beginning to form under her eyes. Finally he said, monotone, "Because I knew you'd react like this."

"Of course I would; your hiding it only makes things worse! How do you think I feel, knowing that my boyfriend was going to let my best friend die!" Itachi didn't say anything, just looked at her emotionlessly. "You don't even care that you sentenced Naruto to death, do you?"

There was barely a pause before Itachi said harshly, "No, I don't. He was my target, you know that." Sakura was taken aback. He watched as her face paled, making her flushed cheeks standout. Itachi's eyes narrowed, "Grow up, Sakura, this is the real world. Ninja follow their orders and kill their enemies; that, or they are killed. There is no middle ground." He watched as her face flushed even more and her fists began to visibly shake; however, he couldn't gauge if this was a sign that the truth was dawning on her, or that she was about to retaliate.

Her shaking hands clinched together even tighter than before, and for a moment Itachi thought she might try to hit him. Instead she spun around angrily so she wouldn't have to look at him as she spoke, "Maybe that is the way things are, and maybe you're fine with it , but I'm not!" The shaking was beginning to spread from her fists, up her arms, to her shoulders as she continued.

"I've never been able to follow all one hundred rules of shinobi conduct to a T…because I've never been able to ignore my emotions…and maybe that's the reason I've never been the best ninja, but…" The shaking became more prominent as she continued, "…but I don't mind. As long as I'm strong enough to protect those I care about, I don't need to be 'the best'"

Sakura paused, then said quietly, "…and right now, the only answer I can find is to take up my father's wager…and so I'll do whatever it takes to beat the clock. Call me foolish if you want to. Say I'm dreaming a childish dream, but…" She started walking back towards her book, "…I don't want…to have to l-" Sakura cut herself off as she sat down and picked up her book.

As she searched for her place, she said, "I suppose it doesn't matter if it's just a…a dream…or not. I'll succeed or I'll…" Sakura's voice threatened to crack, "I'll succeed…there is no other option." Her eyes scurried down the page, searching for the proper line. Without looking up, and without asking, she knew instinctively that Itachi had somewhere he had to go, so she said, "Please tell the others that they can come back once they've finished lunch."

Itachi didn't respond, and all she heard were his feet treading nearly silent across the floor. As she began to read, she expected him to leave as silently as he had come, however, he didn't. As she heard the door open, she also heard Itachi's voice say quietly, "Don't forget to take care of yourself." Then the door closed, and she was alone. One hand strayed to her necklace, and as she continued reading, she mentally noted that he had taken her kunai with him.


All three Hoshi's had eaten as quickly as possible, then returned to the journal, hoping to find something useful. Noya flipped through the pages, trying to find where they had left off, when a drawing caught his eye. Noya held his breath as he looked at the page he had randomly turned to. There was a drawing on both pages, a title, and then a lot of writing underneath the drawings. One was a drawing of eyes that had no pupils, and had vein like things popping out from the sides, while the other…was a drawing of the Hoshi Eyes.

Noya instantly investigated, and soon he'd been able to pick out enough words to tell that this passage held information on what the Hoshi's Eyes could do…but some of what he'd read, he'd never heard of before. 'This means…' he thought as he flipped a few more pages to find other drawings similar to the other two, 'She needs to see this!'

Noya was about to announce to the twins what he'd found, when Inuka, who was staring out the window, said in a quiet voice, "You guys, I've been thinking, and…" She turned, her face showing deep concern. Noya and Hanako shared a glance, it was abnormal for Inuka to be anything but chipper. "Is it just me, or has Lady Sakura not moved from the library…or been upstairs for…a while?"

It took them a moment to understand, but when they did, they instantly paled. If Sakura hadn't been upstairs, then Sakura couldn't be getting Nature's Light; and if she wasn't getting Nature's Light, then…things could take a turn for the worst. As the severity of the situation settled upon them, silence overtook them.

Hanako was the first to come out of her stupor, and after a few more moments of thoughtful silence, she broke the other two out of their stupors by saying, "We know we'll never be able to make Lady Sakura abandon her books to come up here for Nature's Light, so…If she won't come to Nature's Light, we'll have to do what we can to bring Nature's Light to her."

Inuka blurted out, "But how are we going to do that? It's not like we can just pick up the sun and bring it down to her!"

Noya, having understood what Hanako had meant, waved his finger at her, "Inuka, think! What is it that will allow us to bring even a little of Nature's Light to Lady Sakura?"

Inuka thought, and finally it dawned on her, but as it did, it sparked something else as well, "But that's not good enough, is it? She won't survive forever with just that."

This time Hanako answered her sister as she started to drag her towards the door, "True, it's only a temporary solution. However, this way, at least we won't be going against her wishes…and she shouldn't die." Hanako opened the door just in time to see the edge of a robe disappear silently around a far corner. Ignoring that, she turned to Ayaka to place her request.


Sakura had just finished the last book in her stack and was about to go look for more books when she heard the doors to the library open, and four sets of feet heading in her direction. Sakura picked up the books she'd finished with and deposited them in the quickly expanding pile on the floor. She then turned to greet her cousins and couldn't help noticing that each held a candle, as did Ayaka who came behind them. However, Sakura shrugged the oddity off; more light when you were reading never hurt anyone.

They set their burdens down around the room, then hurried to her, handing her the open journal. Noya spoke for them, "Lady Sakura, we found a passage in here about our Eyes, and from what I've been able to read, it may hold something that could help you."

Sakura thanked him, then turned to Ayaka, "Could you please pull out more books while we work on this." Ayaka just nodded and moved to a distant bookcase. Sakura then sat down and her cousins settled around her to look at what was written on the page.

Finally they worked out what was written. Most of it were things they already knew, however, there were a few things that Sakura hadn't known. For some reason, the part that stood out to her was about Hoshi's in general, rather than what Hoshi's were capable of. It read: The Hoshi are a docile people, and it is said that some of them can make other creatures calm, and even obedient, with their gentleness. However, not all Hoshi's have this innate ability, and not all discover that they do until very late in life. Of course, as with many Hoshi abilities, this awakes with the Hoshi's Awakening, though it is possible that it will never be utilized.

It went on to say much more, but this part stood out, though Sakura couldn't guess as to why. Sakura stopped thinking about the passage, however, when she noticed the picture on the opposite page for the first time. It was a drawing of the Byakugan, no doubt about it, but why…Sakura flipped the page, then continued flipping the pages. There were thirty eight pages with drawings, and not just with eye abilities, but other Kekkei Genkai as well.

Sakura looked up from the journal as a thump sounded on the table near her. She turned to her left, and found Ayaka had dumped a pile of books on her table. Ayaka gave her a smile, then took one of the books, sat down, and started reading, reminding Sakura that that was what she should be doing as well. The journal may have been interesting, however it could wait, these books could not. She handed the journal to her cousins, then got back to work.

Time flew by, and finally Sakura tore her eyes from the book she had just finished; she glanced up wearily, thinking absentmindedly that she needed a new pile of books, when something caught her eye. All around the empty room there were candles. She was too tired to come up with the reason why her cousins would feel a need to do something like this, but none the less she could tell that they were trying to help her.

Sakura couldn't stop a tired smile from spreading across her face as she stood up and went in search of more books.


There, I know it's a little short…and maybe choppy, but at least I was able to finish it in time to update.

Oh, yeah, I keep forgetting to say this, but in case you didn't already know, I try to keep the top of my Profile relatively well updated on how things are coming along. I also try to post if I will be unable to update. So, if you are wondering when the next chapter will be posted, look there.

Once again I can't promise to be able to update next Saturday, but I will try.

Reviews, constructive criticisms, and people going to my forum/DeviantART account are welcome to have some cyber-gum…flamers, on the other hand, will be left out in the cold. Now, on to the SHORT pretty list!

Thanks to: xoBreathe, bellacullen3, flyingsnails (its your choice), Crimson Eyed Sakura, ItaDeiPei (that will be adressed later), xokatherine229, ozeki, Okinawa Angel, 321noeoen123, Mitsuki Sakura Uchiha, .assassinator, Hao'sAnjul (I never told about the fight in detail, I only mentioned it), (I hope you get better soon), & Uchiha :] for reviewing!