A few days later Sakura got a message from Hidan 'Hidan says he doesn't know what you did but Pein disbanded the Akatsuki and disappeared along with his partner Konan' Jashin relayed having become use to doing so whenever his agents on earth wished to converse with one another.
Sakura jolted from where she was seated next to Kushina "Sakura what is it, the only reason you'd react like that is if he said something" Tsunade honed in on her apprentices action and immediately knew that Jashin had spoken again.
"The Akatsuki was disbanded, Pein and Konan vanished to somewhere" Sakura informed, smiling maniacally on the inside that Jashin's action of bringing back the soul that had once resided in Pein had unforeseen good results.
Her brother jerked this time "EHHH are you sure Sakura-chan what could have caused them to do that now when they've already done so much and hunted down other Jinchuuriki even captured them" Naruto choked out.
It hit him and the others before she spoke "Well you see when I was held captive there Jashin realized that the leader Pein was simply a dead body being controlled by someone, so when I left he brought the soul that belonged to that body back" Sakura admitted with a smile.
Rising from the couch to go tell her Father because he really needed to know this piece of news "Let me come with you Sakura" Tobirama also stood, unwilling to let the girl out of his eyesight after what happened the last time.
She didn't argue not that he expected her to really as they both exited the house together then in sync body flickered across the village to the Hokage Tower and entered the office just as a messenger arrived with a letter for Minato.
Minato smiled apologetically at his daughter and read the letter first only to grow pale "Sakura you should read this if Jashin hasn't already informed you" Minato thrust the letter out towards his daughter who took it and read it over.
Not even a flicker of surprise "Kinda already knew, that's what we were coming here to tell you Hokage-sama but the fact that they want me to meet them I didn't know about that" Sakura explained with a frown.
Because she really didn't want to see Pein or whoever he really is now that he couldn't use that body anymore, ever again to be honest, though when Minato pursed his lips she knew that he was going to send her regardless.
And she was right in the next moment "You'll go, Itachi will go with you as a former agent, he'll be able to tell if their lying, the meeting place is in the Land of Waves" Minato said, inwardly hating the fact that once again he had to send his daughter out on a dangerous mission.
What was worse was that Sakura seemed to not want to go either this time as she blanched in response to the meeting place "Out of all the places they could choose it has to be Land of Waves" Sakura cringed.
Vividly remembering her first death there "I take it you have a history there Sakura" Tobirama commented and she nodded with a grimace not elaborating so he quirked a brow down at her until she sighed.
"First mission it went from C to A rank on us, Land of Waves is also where I learned about everything, I just never thought I'd ever have to go back there" Sakura winced, carefully explaining so the two males caught on.
And now Minato really didn't want to send her "Sorry Sakura there's no one I trust more" Minato apologized still intending on sending her regardless, thankfully Sakura understood and argued very little as she turned on her heel with a missive in hand.
Tobirama and Minato watched her go with matching expressions "I for one will be glad when this business with the Akatsuki is finished, I'm getting tired of watching my granddaughter tear herself to pieces to get rid of those bastards for other people" Tobirama sneered.
"Your not the only one Tobirama, at this point I'm ready to head out into battle myself just so I don't have to see Sakura fight anymore, she's done enough" Minato frowned deeply, knowing he couldn't which really bothered him.
Half an hour later to many's chagrin Itachi and Sakura were on their way to the Land of Waves to meet with the former Akatsuki Leaders "This could be a trap Sakura" Itachi reminded nearly an hour of silence later.
Sakura bobbed her head "Definitely a possibility Itachi and I'm not to keen on trusting them either at the moment but orders are orders and I can't go against Dad" Sakura said, intending on carrying out his command no matter what the cost.
Fortunately the Uchiha at her side understood "Well even if it is I'm ready to fight, I've been given another chance to battle for my country and should things come down to that I'll be the first one to throw myself into the line of fire" Itachi declared.
Concluding his little spiel with a determined nod, Sakura smiled kindly up at him "Then I'll make sure to save you just in case things go bad, Sasuke, Izumi-san and your parents will want to see you come back after all" Sakura smirked.
Itachi chuckled lightly, with that they both faced forward and an entire day later they had arrived at their destination the little village she'd first died in, the former Akatsuki leaders chosen meeting place and how it had changed.
As Sakura looked around with wide eyes only to be interrupted by origami "Konan, must be her signal to let us know their already here and to follow it" Itachi informed, recognizing the use of paper jutsu by Pein's partner.
"Lets go then Itachi" Sakura said, tensing minutely as they walked through the forest until they happened upon a large tree house and who would happen to be waiting for them none other than Konan herself.
Amber and green irises clashed as the two kunoichi stared at one another for a couple of minutes "He's waiting for you" Konan finally spoke when neither Itachi or Sakura said a thing, before turning on her heels and leading the way up into the tree house.
Both shinobi were about to be very surprised when they came face to face with a red head 'The one controlling the formerly dead body' Jashin confirmed Sakura's suspicions the moment she felt his chakra which was reminiscent of Pein's.
Verdant orbs narrowed "Thank you for coming, you might only know me as Pein the bastard who killed you repeatedly a few days ago but my actual name is Nagato" the redhead rasped knowing that she probably hated him.
The girl in question quirked a fuschia brow "Explain why now did you decide to disband Akatsuki, what changed" Itachi stepped forward, sharingan flashing at the duo in front of him, penetrating them with his red-eyed glare.
Nagato sighed before nodding over to the corner where someone slept "Yahiko, a friend we thought long since lost to us came back, now I have a question for you, how did you do it" Nagato questioned forcefully.
Glaring at Sakura "Not me Nagato-san, Jashin-sama, he did it to mess with you basically, plus you kind of pissed him off" Sakura informed bluntly, admitting the truth, which was not taken well unfortunately.
"Jashin is not real, you simply have a special gift that grants you immortality, like a kekkeigenkai, but the god of slaughter that you and Hidan follow does not exist" Nagato declared so certain of this fact.
Until Sakura laughed "Shall I prove it to you then….very well, Oh Mighty Jashin, God of this world, God of my flesh, God of my mind, God of my innermost will, every part of this world is within your power" Sakura smirked.
Only to begin chanting, malevolent chakra flared in anticipation coming from her and practically suffocating those around her except for Itachi "You are within every part of this world, every part of me is within your power, you are within ever part of me" Sakura prayed.
Putting her hands together "Of my own free will, I acknowledge your power, of my own free will, I now present myself unto you" Sakura finished by slashing her wrists allowing her blood to spill onto the floor.
A voice heard by few filled the non-believers minds in a rush of malevolent chakra until then Itachi hadn't truly believed either but when he heard a voice whisper in his mind he knew the truth at long last.
Jashin wasn't simply a made up being, he was real, had considerable chakra and Sakura had been born from that power "But how, Hidan follows Jashin as well and he's never done anything like this, never been able to prove that the god of slaughter exists like you just did" Konan frowned.
"Because all Hidan is concerned about is the slaughtering part of the religion, I follow all the rules, the rituals, the chants everything, I was born in a village that worshiped Jashin-sama, my parents were acolytes and I was born from his power, I'm Sakura Haruno, the Goddess of Slaughter" Sakura informed.
Nagato stared at her "You sure don't act like a goddess of slaughter, given that I've barely seen any evidence of you enacting the slaughtering ritual that Hidan does, not on any of the former members of Akatsuki anyway" Nagato commented.
Wary of this girl in front of him, she'd be the lone person to stop him if it came down to it "Who's to say I haven't, but your right I never killed any of them, they killed themselves by coming after me and my friends like fools" Sakura curled her lip.
Konan narrowed her amber orbs "Kisame, he is the only one that we sent after you specifically to confirm your immortality, how did he end up being sent back to Mist and executed, that's an explanation I want to hear" Konan demanded.
Sakura's expression darkened in remembrance "Hoshigaki tried to rape me and in my panic to get away accessed a power that I previously couldn't, I wielded Jashin-sama's chakra that is a part of me" Sakura admitted.
Itachi set his hand on her shoulder helping her to calm herself "But it was Raikage-sama's decision to send him to Mist after he was healed and chained with chakra suppression cuffs" Sakura finished.
Hating to talk about that day even though she no longer had nightmares about it, she could still remember quite clearly "Tried to rape you….those were not my orders, he was only supposed to confirm our suspicions" Nagato furrowed his brow.
Guilt eating away at him "Madara…before Kisame left, Madara spoke to him and you know he's always been more loyal to Madara for some reason Nagato" Konan snapped her fingers, suddenly remembering the odd scene.
Just then the hatch to the tree house flung open and someone Sakura hadn't seen for almost three years appeared "Ogawa-san" Sakura blinked in surprise when the blue haired man realized he wasn't alone in the tree house.
Though at the use of his name and her familiar features easily recognized her "Kid it's been a long time not since the last round of the Chunin Exam, you sure grew up" Ogawa smirked not sure if he could really call her a kid anymore.
"That's what happens when we go long periods of time without seeing one another, how have things been here in the Land of Waves, no trouble I hope from bandits or the like right" Sakura snorted lightly.
Ogawa eyed the others with Sakura "Later if you have time for it, but right now it looks like your busy so I'll be leaving now" Ogawa saluted, disappearing down the ladder again, shutting the hatch behind him as he left.
Sakura rubbed her temples "Sakura who was that, he seemed to be a thug, don't tell me you actually befriended that fiend" Itachi frowned at the kunoichi wondering about a lot of things now that he actually had a chance to ask.
Her smile flattened "He was there for my first death, Ogawa-san stayed with me when I was drowning on my own blood and when I really thought I was dying until I came back" Sakura informed.
"You mean this is the place that Otouto always vaguely mentions" Itachi choked out, slightly horrified to find out that they were in the small village that Sakura had experienced her first true death thanks to the Akatsuki leaders.
One of whom decided to clear their throat to steer the conversation back onto the topic at hand "In any case, we, Konan and I wish to help put an end to Tobi's machinations now that it's clear to us that doing it his way would have ended with our ruin anyway" Nagato declared.
Both Itachi and Sakura shared a look with one another "So basically what your saying is that you want to be cleared of your criminal history like Itachi was" Sakura inquired not sure if she could really trust the two in front of her as they nodded.
"If it helps we were being manipulated by the fake Madara to and if not for Danzo's involvement the Akatsuki organization would have never become as it did" Konan chimed in, daring to hope that they could be forgiven for their countless sins against humanity.
Itachi grit his teeth and Sakura became murderous "WHAT…..What do you mean if not for Danzo's involvement" Sakura very nearly yelled before remembering that there was someone sleeping over on the couch.
Neither Konan or Nagato expected such a violent reaction, Itachi however had suspected considering the rumors he'd heard "Well Danzo was the one who manipulated Hanzo of the Salamander which resulted in Yahiko's death" Nagato admitted.
"Fucking bastard he sure like to screw people over didn't he Itachi" Sakura sneered, hating Danzo even more now as she realized how much Danzo had done to screw the Leaf Village over several times probably, more than she even knew most likely.
Itachi nodded quietly "Indeed Sakura, indeed, but we can't simply decide your request on our own, so we'll stay here for a couple of days and correspond with Hokage-sama via my crow summons until Lord Fourth decides on something" Itachi explained.
Reaching a stopping point hopefully "Right I'm going to go find Ogawa now and find out what's gone on here" Sakura announced vanishing in a flurry of her namesake, Itachi rubbed his forehead looking exhausted.
And his former boss raised a soft red brow in response "Tell me how it is to be on the receiving end of her generosity Itachi" Nagato questioned, deciding he would get in a few more questions now that the girl was gone.
Sharingan faded to reveal tired onyx eyes "Sometimes I wish she'd be more selfish after everything she's been through not once has she been given a chance to simply enjoy life as she should, instead Sakura-san is repeatedly sacrificing herself just so no one else has to be hurt" Itachi sighed.
Making Nagato and Konan aware of the fact that their adversary or hopefully soon to be former adversary was selfless and did things not for herself but for others, here they'd been moaning over the fact that Yahiko was gone and there was someone who continued on regardless of loss.
The hatch swung open again and in crawled two people that none of them recognized "Amegakure shinobi and a Leaf Shinobi huh" the tall one growled reaching for the large sword on his back at the invaders in his home.
"Hold on Zabuza-sama, perhaps we could get information out of them about some Leaf Shinobi we met, who killed us, Kakashi Hatake for one and his students, Naruto and Sasuke, I don't recall the kunoichi's name unfortunately" the younger one inquired.
Itachi blinked slowly and rubbed his temples again as a migraine pounded through his skull much worse this time around "Zabuza Momochi huh, you know I do remember Otouto mentioning something about how he had to fight against a ice kekkeigenkai user a few years ago" Itachi said.
Unsure if this was Jashin's doing as well or what but he knew this would be especially bad if Sakura came back at this particular moment, just as Itachi thought that Sakura returned only to freeze upon sighting the two familiar Mist-nin.
Zabuza reacted and swung Kubikiribocho intent on hacking through Kakashi's grown up kunoichi only Sakura had no intention of letting that huge sword ever touch her as she jumped and landed neatly on the tip of the blade then stopped focusing chakra into her legs.
With that she became three times heavier making it so Zabuza couldn't hold up his sword any longer "Don't you know it's rude to attack people Momochi" Sakura asked, keeping her full weight on the end of his sword.
So he couldn't pull it back, Zabuza grunted as he struggled regardless before finally giving in a couple minutes later 'I might have brought those two back by mistake' Jashin mused, realizing that these two were enemies not allies in the least.
No matter by the time his daughter was through they'd be allies more than likely "You are not the brat I remember, last time you practically passed out from my KI and you even became hysterical when I captured Hatake in the water prison jutsu" Zabuza grumbled.
"Because you don't scare me anymore Zabuza and I refuse to lose anymore people that are important to me" Sakura informed bluntly in the most truthful sounding tone, stepping back at long last and Zabuza hooked his sword onto his back.
The two stared at one another, then Zabuza turned his back, grabbed Haku and disappeared to a different part of the tree house that was his home "Well that was interesting" the formerly asleep person commented letting out a yawn as he woke up from his sleep.
Brown orbs alighted on Sakura in that moment and appraised her silently, the pretty pinkette wasn't interested in the least though "Have you already sent a message Itachi" Sakura looked to her companion on the mission.
He shook his head realizing he'd forgotten in the chaos "I'll do it now, is there an inn here in the village that we can rest in" Itachi asked knowing that she would have scouted while she was out and about.
Sakura grimaced "No, but I can ask some friends, I'm sure Tsunami-san wouldn't mind" the rosette offered, vanishing again when Itachi nodded this time and appearing in front of that house in a swirl of cherry blossoms.
She took a moment to take it in before knocking on the door "Sakura what the hell are you doing here" Tazuna was the one to answer a couple minutes later, only to be very surprised upon seeing the girl in front of him after almost three years had gone by.
"Mission in the area, I thought I'd come ask if you and Tsunami-san would be amenable to putting me and mission partner up for a few nights" Sakura inquired, looking more exhausted by the minute the longer she stood there.
Tazuna scrambled backwards and found where his daughter was hiding in the house "Tsunami, Sakura's here and she wants to know if we could…." Tazuna trailed off when Tsunami disappeared on him.
Hurrying for the front door herself so he quickly followed and arrived in time to see Tsunami throw her arms around Sakura and squeeze the teenager in a hug "You don't even have to ask Sakura, you and your teammates are welcome here in our home" Tsunami declared.
Sakura's expression softened "Thank you so much Tsunami-san" Sakura murmured, returning the woman's hug, Tsunami released her after another minute and she returned to the tree house in a flutter of her namesake again.
"Everything's been done, message sent, lodging secured and now we wait" Itachi nodded, pleased that things seemed to be going well for them at the moment when Sakura nodded in confirmation after he looked at her.
Konan was surprised at their efficiency but decided against asking, instead another question came to mind "One thing I'd like to know is how did you always know when we were targeting people" Konan questioned.
Viridian orbs flashed her way "Hidan, once we brought Itachi back, he was our insider, who would send me information via Jashin-sama….there's no point in getting angry now is there, when your trying to redeem yourselves" Sakura quirked a brow.
When Nagato grit his teeth "I suppose not, in fact I can believe it now, he was always trying to disobey regardless since he was so devoted to his religion" Nagato sighed, calming down now that there was little reason to be upset over someone being a spy in the now disbanded organization.
Just as Sakura was contemplating returning to Tazuna's house, something happened like it always does whenever she leaves the village, a familiar chakra filled her senses and she went rigid, so did Itachi and the others in the room.
'The Uchiha boy says Danzo was rescued by Tobi and is more than likely on his way to you daughter' Jashin warned a second to late, Sakura had to reign in her desire to slaughter the bastard though.
As she bit her lip harshly making it bleed "Hello Nagato, Konan, Yahiko, Itachi, brat" the fake Madara showed himself before them, intent on ending the main contenders on the opposing side once and for all.
Sakura slanted him a murderous glare "Who are you really" Itachi took over seeing that his companion was unable to speak from how furious she was with their enemy, it was amusing mostly because he knew it wouldn't last long before she was flinging insults like mud.
The weirdo in an orange swirly mask turned towards him at being spoken to "Your dying to know aren't you" the impostor asked in a mocking tone, upon realizing that he was distracted Sakura discreetly whipped out her ink and ink brush.
And set to drawing Mito's barrier seal, her smile was decidedly frightening as the only one to notice her actions so far happened to be Yahiko "To bad, I don't intend on answering, good luck dealing with Danzo" the fake informed.
Attempting to use whatever jutsu it was that allowed him to faze in and out of existence only to stay rooted in place "You can try again if you want but your not leaving any time soon, thanks to the seal at your feet courtesy my great, great aunt Mito" Sakura chimed in.
Rising to her feet now that she was finished "Danzo is also easily dealt with once we kill him that is" Nagato said, intent on going out there and getting revenge for Yahiko's death, Sakura stopped him however.
"No more killing Nagato-san or did you forget what you called us out here for, his death is not the answer, Danzo will face judgement for his sins but it won't be today nor will it be for a reason such as revenge" Sakura reminded.
Purple ringed orbs narrowed before Nagato took a step back "Did she just say great, great Aunt Mito, as in Mito Uzumaki, your first Hokage's wife and the former matriarch of the Uzumaki clan" Konan questioned.
Suddenly remembering what Sakura had said "Correct when Sakura returned from her two year trip with Tsunade-sama, Mito-sama recognized Sakura as being an almost exact copy of her sister in law Sena Uzumaki who happened to be Tobirama-sama's wife that no one knew about" Itachi said.
"In any case I'm going to seal this guy up in one of my scrolls then deal with Danzo to bring back to Leaf, it will also serve as proof that your willing to work with us to take out the other two that remain, Zetsu and Kakuzu" Sakura informed.
The fake Madara who hadn't said a word was quickly sealed away in Sakura's storage scroll glad that dealing with the Akatsuki Organization was almost finished "Will you be able to handle him on your own Sakura" Itachi frowned.
Watching as she took a deep, deep breath "I can't keep being afraid of the bastard Itachi-san, he turned my life into a living nightmare until Dad came back because Lord Third couldn't do the deed himself but I won't have him free to run loose and cause more trouble" Sakura said.
Itachi smiled grimly in understanding, realizing it wasn't just him or the trio from Ame that had, had their lives ruined by Danzo, he'd almost done the same to Sakura, simply because she'd refused to bow down to him.
With that Sakura marched from the tree-house yet again "You know I actually thought she was going to kill that guy" Yahiko commented, rubbing his arms a little as he remembered the terrifying smile.
"Just be thankful she didn't, I highly doubt this tree-house would have survived the fight" Itachi grimaced, knowing how destructive the girl could be, given who her mentor was and it wouldn't be to long before Sakura surpassed the woman in strength.
Probably only a few more years, considering that Tsunade was focusing on raising her daughter "Really, she's so delicate looking though" Yahiko furrowed his brow in confusion, in answer to his question the whole tree shook from what felt like an earthquake.
Konan and Nagato shared a look with each other and peered out the window where they could see the fight between Sakura and Danzo "Never underestimate that girl is all the warning you'll get from me" Nagato grimaced.
Fighting back the wince when Danzo was thrown through the air like a rag-doll it was the first time he'd ever felt sympathy for the man as Sakura pounced like a tiger on her prey, slamming her heel into Danzo's ribcage.
No doubt breaking every single rib, there was fury and loathing in her eyes as she avoided getting hit by the jutsu he set off at pointblank range before spewing out a wave of discolored liquid and throwing a net over Danzo ending the fight.
"Ah her sticky webbing net, coated in chakra reversed engineered from the tree climbing exercise to act as a adhesive and catch the unsuspecting in it like a fly in a spiderweb" Itachi noted, having also been watching.
Then after healing Danzo of the life-threatening injuries she'd dealt him, he was sealed away in a scroll like Tobi "Well done, though I do think he doesn't deserve to live, that's out of our hands" Konan praised when Sakura entered through the hatch.
Kunai in hand as she trimmed her hair to be neat and even once again since some of it had been sliced off thanks to Danzo using a wind jutsu, luckily he wasn't able to do any more than that because he'd had the implanted sharingan taken from him.
"Anyway it's late, we probably won't receive news until tomorrow so we should probably go to bed Itachi-san" Sakura sighed, inwardly glad to be free of her ridiculously long hair, it had been down past her waist after all.
Unable to argue with that logic Itachi and Sakura bid goodnight to the trio and headed for Tazuna's where Tsunami graciously fed the two a late dinner then showed her guests to the guestrooms where futons had already been set out for them and not long after they went to sleep.
Less than a day later they got a letter back from Minato who wrote that he wished to meet the Akatsuki Leaders face to face himself before he passed judgement on them "Guess we go back then" Itachi.
Sakura nodded in response "Fast travel or are we walking" she asked all prepared to summon Ivory because she just knew that walking would bring them more trouble especially with the former Akatsuki leaders on their heels.
"Fast travel so summon Ivory please, I'll go ahead first with Nagato-san" Itachi decided in the next moment that it was better to leave behind the little land of waves as quickly as possible to avoid running into anymore problems that Zetsu would send their way.
A minute later Ivory was stood at her mistress's side and though he wanted to object, Nagato climbed onto the back of that terrifying wolf behind Itachi where they disappeared through a rift that would take them back to Leaf to Konan's worry.
Two hours later Ivory was back and the next one sent ahead was the bluenette "Err" Yahiko said awkwardly when they were waiting for Ivory to return, Sakura snorted softly but shook her head not saying a word.
And not long after they were on their way to Leaf where Itachi was waiting patiently for them at the gates "Hokage-sama had them escorted to his office already, go on back to the house Sakura-san, I'll escort Yahiko-san myself" Itachi explained.
When she looked around for the older duo "Right, have these, tell Dad that he should apply great Aunt Mito's seal to the cell of this ones, it's Tobi remember" Sakura reminded, scribbling something on one of the scrolls.
Before turning and body flickering despite Yahiko's protest as he led silently to the Hokage Tower where his friends were already in a meeting with Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash and who else would be there but his old sensei Jiraiya, along with Tsunade Senju.