He had left her.

Sakura wrapped her arms around her knees, hating the feeling of the tears welling up in her eyes as she lingered in the doorway. Madara had run away, just like Sasuke had, and all she could do was watch. Her hands curled into fists. She was too small and weak to venture out after him, even if she still somehow had access to her mokuton. It drained her too much, or so the small trickle of blood from her nostril told her. At least she hadn't passed out that time… That was a small mercy.

Dimly, she heard the golden-haired elf catch up to her, but she was too busy valiantly trying to hold back the tears and the sobs. Because it was Sasuke all over again. Madara was going to get hurt – she could feel it in her bones – and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She was useless, yet again, and this time there would be no way to train herself up in two years. Because she would still be painfully short, and she had the steep inclination Madara wasn't going anywhere near as safe as going to Orochimaru would be. Sakura snorted, a choked sob which soon had her wrapped in a hug by the familiar bright-soothing warmth. She missed Madara's raging-inferno warmth already.

Scowling, Sakura glared at the collar of the tunic she was cuddled against, hating the fact she sounded so damned dependent on a grumpy git who'd ditched her – his best clue – for some suspicious wolves. Huffing, she slumped forwards, hiding her face as she heard more footsteps approaching. Wasn't Madara supposed to be an awesome war veteran who was mildly intelligent and good at figuring out opponent's strategies?

'Infinite Tsukuyomi,' Inner chimed in.

And yes, of course. That explained everything. Sakura sighed. Madara was a First Class Idiot of the highest order. And now he needed his dumb arse rescued. Her sniffles stopped, but the comforting pats on her back didn't. Sakura allowed herself to bask in the safety of the embrace for a short while longer. After all, she wouldn't be feeling particularly safe again anytime soon.

There was no Naruto there for her to send after him this time. Well not one she trusted so much to listen to her and chase after an Uchiha idiot unrelentingly. Though she did admit Glorfindel did a damn good job of at least looking somewhat like her old friend. She wasn't going to be left behind ever again. Who gave a damn if Madara was better at surviving in a strange unfamiliar world than she was? She knew how to use a knife, and she knew where Madara had been taken. Now all she needed to do was get herself the right equipment and outwear, and then run like hell.

Elves, she had learnt, were fast runners though more so when they travelled on horses. Though in the dense woodland, it would be hard for a horse to traverse the distance… unless they found the trail she could faintly remember seeing in the dream. Sakura thought over the tall horses, sighing as she realised she would probably have to use one if she wanted to chase after Madara and make it in good time to rescue him from his idiocy.

Horse riding couldn't be too difficult, could it?

It was.

Horses were confusing, especially to a shinobi who was so used to travelling via the trees. Not that she could really do that anymore. Though Sakura didn't let that stop her as she clung to the saddle, praying she didn't fall off – though she had gotten better at breaking her fall over her last few weeks of exploration.

Losing her minders earlier on in the day had been simple, as had breaking into the kitchens and the armoury to find food and weapons befitting of her size. Now, Sakura rode hesitantly, using the meagre knowledge she had gained from missions involving horses to guide the one she rode along.

'There!' Inner's voice rang out, and Sakura's gaze snapped onto the trail barely visible in the foliage, a smile on her face as she rode north into the dark green tree leaves, leaving the safety of Imladris behind in favour of chasing after her idiot. She was going to be insufferably smug in front of Madara when she rescued him. Not to mention she was going to throw as many scathing remarks his way as she could. He'd deserve it for being a complete and utter idiot. Though Sakura supposed he couldn't help being an Uchiha – the clan of notorious idiots, or so it seemed to her. The few she'd known and heard about had been stupid.

Then again, they hadn't had all the knowledge she contained in her tiny head, so Sakura supposed she couldn't blame them too much. She was just awesome, and she was going to rescue Madara so awesomely. And make him kiss her feet and worship her. Sakura cackled at the thought. He would then come to the realisation that she was the best, and that would be that.

Rationing her food and water came easily to her – and she was grateful for her strange small body which required less sleep than an average child of her age or there abouts would need, as well as the lack of hunger and thirst which would have otherwise plagued her if she'd been back in her usual body. Though her usual body probably would have already caught up with Madara, because then she'd have had access to her chakra.

Sighing quietly, she continued to ride north, careful to stop by streams and other water sources when her horse needed a rest, always listening to the faint whispers of the trees around her. The ones which told her she was on the right path, because unlike a certain idiot she listened to their warnings and knowledge. Misfortune only befell those who refused to heed them, and Sakura wasn't one of them. Though in hindsight, Madara probably couldn't hear the trees. She was just that special. Or Inner was, at least.

Days and nights trickled by, the skies above her remaining unchanged and Sakura eventually lost count of how long she had been away, but the reminder of the beautiful city she had left behind for a certain idiot who'd better be damn well pleased she came to rescue him came in the form of a certain golden-haired elf, and a few others who, Sakura soon realised, had definitely tracked her path northward.

"Seriously?" Sakura grumbled, clinging to the saddle for dear life, every single part of her tiny body aching as she upped the speed to a gallop. Maybe it was because of the horse? she mused, thinking about how if maybe she just left the horse with them… then maybe they wouldn't follow… and they'd just let her go on to a place the trees called Gundabad by her lonesome.

'Ha!' Inner snorted. 'I doubt that will happen,' she said. 'Or do you forget how precious children are to the Eldar?'

"A girl can dream," Sakura muttered, scowling at the realisation they would catch up within the day. She was too small, and far too unaccustomed to riding on a horse, while the group behind her were that much more experienced. And that much stronger too, damn their full-sized adult bodies. Sakura pouted furiously, only able to watch as either Elladan or Elrohir drew up alongside her, grasping the reins despite one of her tiny hands desperately trying to bat the grip away.

Then Sakura was left to deal with a particular golden-haired elf who was staring down at her sternly – an expression on his face which made her want to curl up into a ball in shame. Not like that would ever happen. She chewed on her lip. She was going to rescue Madara whether or not they liked it.

"Little one," Glorfindel's voice was perilously soft, and uncharacteristically reminded her of her mother's tone before she was due for a good scolding. "Exactly what do you think you are doing out here?"

Sakura pointed north, staring back at him flatly – refusing to give into that scolding stare. "Madara."

One golden brow raised. "Whilst I will commend you for having your friend's best interests at heart, I am afraid the fact of the matter is that you came out here by yourself, despite having numerous more capable adults to turn to."

Sakura puffed out her cheeks. More capable. She didn't need to be reminded of how lacking she was. But she had to do it. She had to prove she wasn't just someone to be protected. She was a warrior, even if she had been shrunk into the form of a tiny elf child.

"I know you and your dear friend have been alone for a long while yet, but you have returned to us now. Let us find your friend, for there is strength in numbers, and that sort of strength is needed once you travel north."

"Tch." Sakura clicked her tongue as she was lifted from the saddle of her horse, instead seated in front of the golden-haired elf who'd seemingly spent days tracking an elfling he barely knew. "Will you come with me then?" she grumbled, stiffening at the hand which mussed her hair.

"You misunderstand," Glorfindel said. "You will be returning home to the safety of Imladris with Elladan, whilst the rest of us will finish searching for your dear friend. These woods are not safe for one such as yourself."

"I can defend myself," Sakura grumbled. She had a few daggers strapped on her person, and elves could jump fairly high – even baby ones – and if not, ankles and calves were always good targets to bring enemies down to a better stabbing angle.

"Sakura—"

"I have to!" She screwed her eyes shut, wanting to fall prey to the pleading, concerned eyes which stared down at her. "Otherwise I'll never be able to do anything for myself."

"This is not your fight."

"Pssh." Sakura folded her arms. It was her fight, even if the other couldn't see that much, she knew it deep in her heart. Fight logic with logic. "If these woods are so dangerous, then wouldn't I be better off travelling in a larger group?" she spoke, keeping her back straight as she pressed on, not letting the older elf interrupt her. "Besides, I know the name of the place where Madara's been taken, so if you let me come with you I'll tell you."