A/N: hello everyone! Thank you for all the reviews and please keep them coming! I love reading everyone's thoughts and it's great motivation for me to start cranking out the next chapter. This one is more Sasuke focused, and I also wanted to let everyone know that the events of this story do not particular line up with the events of the anime. Some things are out of order but the plot will still be good so don't worry. Again, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!

"I'm done."

Roughly, a set of hands released the severed tree from its grasp and onto the bare ground. The weight of the bark shifted onto the dirt and caused it to unsettle, flying upwards and mingling into the air around it. Hot rays of sun cascaded down on the backs of the two men who stood on the outskirts of town, causing sweat and exhaustion to build. A slight gust of wind would blow occasionally, but the scorching temperature did not allow for it to carry any cooling relief.

Sasuke placed his two hands together and dusted the debris off from them, giving some attention to the way they throbbed from the friction. Perspiration gather around his hairline and slicked down the back of his neck, causing his shirt to be damp in moisture. The tree end he just placed down was rolled to the side by another set of hands and placed with the other trees gathered earlier.

"Ah, no. Not yet."

Beside the hefty amount of trunks collected, Yamato stood with his arms crossed and shook his head at the young male. Like Sasuke, sweat dribbled down his forehead but the anbu-turned-jonin was not depleted in energy. Mostly because his task was revolved around ensuring Sasuke completed all of his assigned tasks.

Sasuke looked over at him with an unperturbed eye, "I gathered all of the trees."

It had taken most of the day, just as Sasuke had suspected. Since the crack of dawn and the routine knocks at his door, Sasuke had been given daily assignments since his return to Konoha. Most, if not the entirety, of them have been focused on village development. The repaving of the streets, sanitizing the nearby lakes, and the now current clearing down of trees were each considered small tasks to the everyday shinobi.

However, Sasuke currently deemed himself almost less than an average leaf ninja.

Later into the night and roughly two weeks after his first meeting with the Sixth Hokage, the dark-haired male was escorted back to the presence of Tsunade, who was flanked by Kakashi and Yamato. To say that Sasuke was surprised would be an overstatement.

It was just a couple of days prior that Kakashi arrived at his doorstep and asked for a moment to spare while tucking a book into his back pocket. Before Sasuke could utter a single syllable, the gray-haired male waltzed in and found himself a seat to get comfortable in. Sasuke simply shut the door and turned to face his former sensei.

"What is it?" his rough voice made the question sound more like a statement.

Kakashi lazily reached behind his head and leaned back in a relaxed manner. "What? Can't a teacher come to check on the well-being of his past student?" His eyes crinkled in glee, causing lines to form at the sides.

Sasuke's face didn't move a muscle, "Kakashi."

His eyes held their joyful state for another second before dropping the facade and returning to normal. "Fine, fine," Kakashi waved his other hand at him and sat forward to lean his elbows onto his knees. "The administration board has been caught in several meetings since you arrived."

He continued to stand at the door, looking at Kakashi with an uninterested gaze, "and?"

"And many are unhappy with the fact that Lady Tsunade allowed you to come back with barely any repremandment."

Sasuke felt the corner of his lips turn downward, and he said nothing

"They deemed you untrustworthy and a danger to the whole village," Kakashi said lowly. "A demand for your immediate removal was also discussed, alongside a permanent ban and your execution if you were found within a radius of the village border."

Sasuke felt his lips lowered themselves further downward, settling into a scowl.

"However," Kakashi's voice perked, "our wonderful Hokage was able to calm their worries in exchange for your compliance."

"Compliance."

"Yes, compliance," he repeated back to Sasuke. He placed his chin into the palm of one hand and leaned to the side, "For your citizenship here, some personal privileges have to be restricted."

Sasuke's fingers began to curl into a fist, "restricted?"

His former teacher eyed Sasuke's tightening grip and calmly looked back at him, "For you to be fully pardoned of your crimes and live here freely, you will be assigned community service and kept under supervision." His voice carried a gentle tone, careful of each word that came from his lips. "And… your chakra will be sealed."

With a death-tight fist, words flew from Sasuke's mouth without a second thought. "No."

Kakashi sighed, almost expecting his reaction, and was quick to counter him, "I can't say that I blame you Sasuke, but you must considerably think about this." He peered at Sasuke's hand again, noticing tension radiating from the boy. "Your past actions do make you a threat. A large one in fact. No village other than us would even allow you to be within the vicinity of them. The deal being offered is a fair one."

"The deal is for them to strip me completely of my chakra and leave me defenseless," he corrected.

The gray-haired male shook his head, "No, not completely. Tsunade made sure that at least a tenth of your reserves would still be accessible."

Black eyes narrowed at the man in front of him. Was this some sick joke?

"They're asking for only a year," Kakashi added, "your peers are not the ones wary of you, Sasuke. It's only to reassure the administration and to give the common people a sense of reassurance, that's all."

Sasuke scoffed, "How do I know that this isn't some planned to ultimately do away with me."

"Because I'm here telling you about it. I'm here asking for your consent to this agreement," Kakashi replied. "Do not forget that you still have a choice here. If the deal is not something you are willing to take then you are free to leave at any time from now."

A beat of silence filled the space between the two men, allowing Sasuke a moment to retreat to the back of his mind. Kakashi's words weighed heavily on the thoughts that flowed through his consciousness, outweighing the consequences and benefits that could arise from this situation. Sasuke flashed back to the moments following Itachi's death and to the long period he spent forcefully confining himself to the small walls of the cabin he resided in.

Covered in dried, old blood and grime, a heavy strain was placed on Sasuke's chest that day. A burden much greater than the one he carried with him as he deflected the very village he now stood in. Sasuke accurately remembered the way he willed himself to get up and get out of that dreadful place, and he clearly remembered the way his body failed to obey him. It was not from exhaustion, he knew, but from the lack of sheer desire for himself. He no longer had a purpose, and that sole fact struck Sasuke to his very core.

One sun after another rose to the sky and fell to the horizon as each day passed. As each day passed, Sasuke continued to lay on that bed, blocking out any thoughts that threaten to question himself. But those were the only thoughts that would even cross the boy's mind, assaulting him with self doubt and… regret possibly? He forcefully shut out those questions as quickly as they appeared, not willing to risk whatever turmoil that it brought with it.

Instead, his mind focused on the color orange. The way Sasuke gazed out his window from his bed to look at the trees and rolling hills that were beginning to morph into breathtaking shades of oranges. He focused on how every morning the sun's rays would crash through the minuscule cracks of his roof and fill his dark cabin with lines of orange. Sasuke also thought of the way his eyes instantly caught onto the shade of orange that stood in front of his door after he forced himself to see who was behind knocking.

The recent image of Naruto standing before him with gleaming blue eyes and a wide smile was scorched into Sasuke's memory, and for once he did not fight it. His mind went from that moment to the day that he stood alongside Naruto and a certain pink-haired comrade. Kakashi stood behind, ruffling their heads and ushering them to smile at the camera in front of them. With a hand on his hip and a less burdened scowl, Sasuke remembered, despite being much younger at the time, how that late evening bled an assortment of oranges and reds that wildly danced across the sky.

He pulled himself away from his thoughts, and returned to his current self standing before Kakashi. Sasuke looked to his right, gazing out at the window he opened just before the masked ninja walked in, and noticed in the sky the same hues he reminisced just moments ago. Konoha seemed to be filled with shades of oranges, he quietly noted to himself.

Kakashi continued to sit, watching as the tightly clenched fist Sasuke held slowly loosen to hang by his side. Unrooted from his spot by the door, Sasuke looked back to his former teacher.

"I consent to the deal."

The night of the sealing went by smoothly and practically quick too. Most of the gathering was Tsunade taking the time to explain Sasuke's arrangements and the procedure of the seal. He curtly nodded at her, not saying a single word throughout the entire meeting, and turned to face his back to Yamato. With an arrangement of hand signs and a swift placement of a hand onto the Uchiha's back, Sasuke felt the hum of chakra fill his body and entangle with his reserves. He stiffly stood there, enduring the foreign sensation of his pathways being closed and the way his body became significantly weakened.

Once Yamato was done, Tsunade thanked Sasuke for his time and stated that he may return home. And so he did, softly trekking the gravel path that led to the small apartment he now resided in. After that day, Sasuke allowed himself to fall into a routine. Wake at sunrise. Leave with Yamato. Complete his task for the day. Return home. Repeat.

It was simple, he knew. But it surely was enough for him.

The tasks were mundane, even he himself considered them to be easy to accomplish within the day, but Sasuke failed to consider his now sealed chakra reserves. With only a tenth of what he once had, Sasuke's capacity was almost no better than his past 12-year-old self. It did not make the tasks difficult, per say, but it did cause Sasuke rely much more on physical endurance without the aid of his chakra, which ultimately caused his body to be pushed quicker to exhaustion than he would've liked. Nonetheless, he still was able to complete his job within the end of the day.

Yamato's hand gestured to the trees that were piled to the side of them, snapping Sasuke out of his thoughts and bringing him back to the reality of the world.

"You gathered them all, yes, but now you must cut them all for lumber and firewood."

Sasuke pursed his lips and gave a single nod to the dark-eyed male. Yamato stepped forward with an ax and handed it to Sasuke who firmly grasped it.

Balancing the heavy tool in his left hand, he looked at the pile before glancing over at Yamato. "How much?" he asked.

"All of it."

Without a reply, Sasuke readied himself as he raised the tool over his head. With a single heave, he brought it down with a clean slice. Yamato moved around to prep the tree trunks for Sasuke to work on while throwing the completed ones to a bin on the side. Slice by slice, Sasuke evenly divided the trees placed before him, easily following the downward motion of the ax. The hot rays of the sun died down to a soothing warmth as it began to lower, and the wind that blew finally allowed some coolness to it.

With another heavy thud, the tree was cracked in two before Sasuke used the ax to split it into even sections. The repeated thuds of a sharp blade meeting wood echoed in the field around them, continuing without pause since the Uchiha began swinging.

Two more hours went by before Sasuke had completely finished, and by that time the sun was well set into the night. With the soft chirping of crickets around them, Sasuke outstretched his arm to return the ax to Yamato who accepted it. Once the heavy metal left his hand, Sasuke restrained the urge to roll his shoulder back in relief.

"Good work today Sasuke," the jonin said, placing the ax behind his neck, "you're free to go home now." He watched as Sasuke glanced at the large bin of chopped wood and give a final nod before turning his back to leave.

The moon was beginning to shine in the sky, allowing a slight shadow to be cast with each step that Sasuke took home. The quiet air of the field slowly buzzed with liveliness as he walked closer to the center of the village. Lights from inside the buildings beamed through the windows and illuminated the dim road, allowing him to see the soft silhouettes of people ahead. Several villagers were littered around the street, chatting with one another or engaging in a purchase with the small number of merchants that were still open.

His sandals harshly crunched against the gravel ground underneath them as he walked closer to the stand he had frequented the nights prior. A hush came over the group of people Sasuke walked past, frozen in their spots but still willing to peer at the approaching Uchiha with judging eyes. Not allowing a fraction of his attention to be paid toward them, Sasuke continued to pass by and approached the door of the shop.

The blinding lanterns from inside flooded Sasuke's senses as he casually walked in, inhaling the sweet smell of paste while his eyes roamed the empty seats around him. Usually Sasuke would not take any time out of his day to wander the village, much less come to a dango shop of all places, but since his first visit he could not help himself from coming more often.

Nights like these, being the only times he came, made this location favorable for Sasuke. Despite selling a popular dish, the late hours did not seem to cater to many, which allowed the empty restaurant to give the dark-haired male a sense of solitude and privacy for a brief moment.

Other than the elderly woman who came to take his order and later place the dish before him, Sasuke's interaction with people was kept at a bare minimum. Whether the woman knew of Sasuke's reputation or cared for it, she did not show any signs during the occasional nights of his presence, and he was glad for that.

Walking to an empty chair, Sasuke sat down and propped both elbows onto the table, hands clasping each other in front of his face. Allowing his eyes to close, he patiently waited for the usual woman to come and take his order. But after a few minutes had passed, Sasuke realized that the woman had yet to come and opened his eyes to quickly roam the tables around him.

His dark eyes jumped from one empty seat to another before suddenly settling on a single spot in the room. Sasuke felt his body naturally stiffen, taking in the single table that was tucked into the corner and almost appearing out of place. He was unsure of how he missed this detail when walking into the room and silently cursed himself for his carelessness. Unwavering from his seat, Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the figure that sat at the sole table, realizing that they had been watching him ever since he had arrived.

His large dark eyes reminded Sasuke of Yamato's unpleasant ones, however his skin was much paler while his hair mirrored the same shade of his eyes. A large scroll was set to the side to lean against the wall, and when Sasuke angled himself, he noticed the gleam of the leaf hitai-ate tied to his forehead.

Lips turning downwards, Sasuke felt as if he had seen the male before.

"Uchiha."

Sasuke's posture remained, but his eyes narrowed even further, being the only response given to him.

Despite picking up on the sudden strained atmosphere, Sai continued his unrelenting stare at the male sitting several feet diagonal from him. Shifting his body to face the same direction of his gaze, Sai spoke again, "I was your replacement for Team Seven. We've met."

At that moment, the heaviness in Sasuke's chest made its presence known again, weighing itself down deeply and forcing him to finally recognize the person speaking to him. Against his wishes, cruel memories crossed Sasuke's mind and compelled him to relive those moments once again. Flashes of Kakashi's plead to stop as he narrowly dodged his attack. Naruto's scream as he lunged forward with a rasengan in one hand. Hot tears on Sakura's face as Sasuke held her by the throat. All of the memories were too real, too clear, despite being long ago, and all of it felt too much to relive as Sasuke sat in a dango shop with Sai still gaping at him.

He looked away. "I remember," Sasuke said.

"Good," Sai replied, tone almost harsh. "I heard rumors of you being in town, but I guess it took me until now to fully believe that it was true."

"Hm."

"You know," he continued, not paying any mind to Sasuke's passive response, "I always thought Naruto was an idiot for constantly trying to get you back." Sai broke his gaze and placed both hands onto his lap, "I could never fathom what he saw in you, but to keep up with his need for you to come home was almost too draining for me and Sakura to bear."

His words were true, Sasuke knew that, and the unforgivneness of his voice made it clear to him that some disdain was held for the sharingan wielder. And truthfully, he could not blame him for harboring such feelings. Though Sasuke had turned his head to face the arrangement of advertisements adorning the wall beside him, he still kept his attention on Sai, silently but attentively listening to his words. Regardless of whether he knew Sasuke was paying attention to him or not, Sai opened his mouth to speak again, letting his monotonous voice travel across the room.

"But seeing you here now, with my very own eyes," he said, turning his chin to look at the Uchiha once again, "I trust that whatever good Naruto saw in you is true."

Sasuke faintly picked up on the slight change of his tone, the way his words still held a slight edge but also some empathy to them. Tearing his eyes away from the walls, Sasuke willingly locked gazes with Sai, not asking for a challenge but simply hoping to understand what the pale boy was trying to gain from his speech. Sasuke didn't know much about him other than having some recognition of who he was, nor did he have any interest to further investigate what this person wanted with him. However, peering into Sai's dark irises with his own did cause some questions to bubble in the back of his throat.

Before Sasuke could bring himself to respond, Sai had risen from his seat, hand grabbing at the dango sitting on his plate. Sliding the last mochi ball off the stick and into his mouth, he reached for his large scroll and slung it over his back.

"I hope you find whatever you're looking for here, Uchiha," were his final words as he placed the skewer back onto the plate and left the establishment, not bothering to cast him another glance before leaving.

Though they were still sharp, Sai's words were also entirely genuine, contrasting the blank expression that was present throughout his short monologue. But instead of finding relief in having solitude once again, Sasuke's chest tightened as his mind echoed the words spoken to him mere seconds ago.

I hope you find whatever you're looking for here

Just that sentence alone was enough to cause Sasuke's consciousness to release the dam he had been diligently preventing from opening once again. Streams of emotions, memories, and the pain that was endured collided into each other as they surfaced and forced Sasuke to acknowledge each one of them. But as quickly as the flood had broken open, he swiftly shoved each one behind another wall until he was left with just one.

Uncertainty

A few minutes had passed by the time the familiar elderly woman had left the kitchen. Cleaning off her hands and slowly approaching the front, she stopped walking once she noticed that all the tables in the entryway were completely empty. With a shrug, she hummed to herself in amusement, certain that she saw a dark haired patron walk in only moments ago.


He was merely a few feet away from his porch steps when he stopped to acknowledge the figure leaning against the door.

Sai's aloof expression took in the presence of Kakashi, mouth automatically greeting him as he approached the older male who tilted his chin in return. As the masked ninja stood there with his arms crossed and precarious eyes looking back, Sai could sense that something was amiss. And for Kakashi to physically come seek him out at such an hour only confirmed his suspicions.

"We've been summoned by the Hokage."

Sai was quick to respond, "For what reason?"

The silver haired male shook his head, "I was not told, but it's best if we don't keep her waiting."

Being a member of Konoha's elite anbu, it was not unlikely for Sai to be summoned by the Godaime frequently. With his supervision over investigations and quarantine cases over the past years, Sai's presence in the Hokage office was in fact quite often. However, to be summoned by the leader of Team Seven himself made Sai believe that this was a much more complicated matter, making his breath sit uneasily on his chest. But so, he simply gave a nod and swiftly followed Kakashi through the village.

At this time, the moon was brightly lit and hung high in the sky, casting a dark shadow over the empty walkways of the village center. Doors were tightly shut, and all remaining lights were dimmed as the residents of Konoha retreated into their house to rest. The only building that emitted light was that of the Hokage tower, to which its front entrance was flanked by two masked men.

One guard welcomed the presence of both Kakashi and Sai before allowing them inside, guiding them through the winding hallways of the building. Door after door passed, and hollow footsteps traveled from one wall to the other before the three men halted. The masked gentlemen rapped his knuckles against the door, knocking until a voice rang out from within.

"Enter."

Bright fluorescent lighting spilled out into the dark hall as Kakashi walked into the room with Sai behind. Giving a tip of his head to Tsuande, the guard shut the door and left.

"Tsunade-sama," Sai bowed as he entered, taking his place toward the center of the room. Kakashi stood by his side and gave a silent bow as well.

She stood with her back to them, staring out from the large windows overlooking the entirety of Konoha. Endless stacks of paper filled all corners of the room, toppling over each other and scattering across the floor. Her desk was haphazardly littered with documents, some completed and others disregarded into a crumpled mess. It was a familiar scene for all who have entered the Hokage's office, but what caught Sai's attention was the single scroll neatly placed on top.

"I called you both here because I am at a standstill," she said with her back still facing them, foot tapping against the slick floor. She shifted her weight to expose the bottle of sake held in her hand, nearly empty and swishing violently in the glass container.

"May I ask why, Tsunade-sama?" Sai replied back, eyes quickly shifting between the tightly clasped liquor and scroll on the desk. It didn't take much for him to connect the two together.

At his inquiry, Tsuanade moved to inclined her head toward the dark-haired male before fully turning to face Sai and Kakashi. Her gaze was sharp, and her movements were smooth, but both men clearly saw the slight apprehension hidden behind her demeanor. She approached her desk and placed a heavy hand onto it while leaning forward.

"I've arranged a search and rescue assignment with the best men that Konoha has to offer," she began, voice low. "But we are nearing the second week into this mission, and so far it has led us nowhere."

Kakashi's posture straightened, "How may we assist you?"

Her lips pressed together, tightening into a frown, and a second of silence passed. With a sigh, she raised the glass to her lips, consumed the remainder of sake left, and set the drink down onto the wooden tabletop. Her fingers swiftly moved to the scroll and tossed it to the masked-ninja.

Catching it with ease, Kakashi's own hands unrolled the parchment. Sai watched Kakashi scan its contents and took note of the sudden seriousness in the jonin's body. With his eyes locked onto Tsunade's, Kakashi held out the script for Sai to take.

Doing the same as his team leader, Sai glossed over the words written onto the scroll and also felt himself grimace at the information. She informed him of her mission two months prior, and he knew her arrival was due. But it did not cross his mind, until this moment, that much time has transpired since then.

"I received this from the Kazekage the same night Sakura left Sunagakure," Tsuande placed her other hand onto the table and stared down at the clutter of paper before her. "She should have returned by now, and it's extremely unlikely that she would go elsewhere without notifying me."

"Perhaps the neighboring villages?"

Tsunade shook her head at Kakashi, "We've checked and so far we haven't seen any signs of her."

"What about the trail?" Sai asked.

"I had my men do a sweep of it, and the trail itself does not seem out of the ordinary."

Pausing, she lowered herself into her chair and clasped both hands together. "However, I was just informed that something was found a few miles from it."

"A trace," the dark-haired male murmured,

"Possibly," she answered, "I am asking you two to lead this mission. We are running out of time and both of you are the only ones that can fully understand and efficiently run this case."

They both nodded.

"Also," her voice grew more serious, filling the room with a tense air, "it is crucial that none of what we spoke of is uttered to anyone else. This needs to be as contained as possible, especially away from Naruto."

Each person understood the possible consequences of the situation. With the increasing threat of Akatsuki looming over all the villages, Naruto's sudden departure to find Sasuke forced everyone to be on high alert. The boy's return back to Konoha finally restored some sense of calmness, but it was certain that he would leave once more to find his female comrade if the situation was known. For the sake of all, it was imperative for the orange-ninja to not take off again.

"Yes Tsunade-sama," they uttered. Both men quickly began devising their mission for the night. Sai can easily provide an aerial view of the area while Kakashi's sharingan would allow them to spot any outliers that are usually missed by the naked eye. They knew the plan was simple, but it was the best course of action until any signs of Sakura were found.

Tsunade listened attentively and without another word gave her nod of approval, prompting them to begin their assignment. Once they left the building, Sai reached behind himself to unfurled the scroll on his back. Brush in hand, he made large strokes onto the paper and quickly stood up to weave hand signs.

The scroll emitted a soft glow before taking form and summoning a large dove. The creature lowered itself to the ground for the two to mount and quickly fluttered its wings to ascend, flying toward the direction of Suna.

Both shinobis meticulously analyzed every detail as they followed the path to the sand village, checking for any open fields and signs for upturned land despite the darkness of the night. Occasionally, Kakashi would activate his sharingan, and Sai would summon smaller doves to closely inspect the layout. But each time, the results were inconclusive. It wasn't until they reached the halfway point, when the sun began to rise in the sky, that they began to detect something.

"Over there," Kakashi said aloud, using his hand to point. "Did you notice that?"

Sai turned his focus to the right of him, and moved his eyes in the direction. On the trail itself was the usual foliage. Tall, broad oaks with arms extending across the length of the forest floor and the occasional clear patches of ground. However, a few distances from the trail, something was amiss. He leaned forward to examine the large patch of fallen leaves and ruined bark.

"She was here."

With a landscape this big and forestry that spans for miles, it was common to see fallen trees. Natural causes like a storm or harsh winds could easily force them to collapse, but it was obvious to the two that these certain trees did not succumb to the elements. The severance between root and trunk was too clean for simple rot and decay to have done. At a distance, more fallen trees could be seen, shattered across the dirt floor. Sai clutched onto the back of the bird and willed it to fly closer.

Behind him, Kakashi reactivated his sharingan and inspected the area. A moment passed before he pointed once more to a specific spot on the ground, compelling Sai to immediately dip down and approach the field.

The lack of towering branches allowed the sun to fully cast its heat onto the area and expose all corners of the open grass. The ground was uprooted in some places, and a few marks were found decorating the trees that still stood. As they descended, the various weapons scattered around the floor twinkled as the sunlight reflected off of them.

Once their feet touch soil, Sai wandered off to another section as the gray-haired male knelt to the ground. His fingers grazed the rough cracks in the earth while his eyes followed the direction they originated from, taking in the crumbled land and wood splintered around them. Noticing the kunai that laid before him, Kakashi reached over to grab it, feeling the heaviness of the metal between his fingers.

Behind him, Sai's footsteps halted. "Kakashi."

From his lowered stance, the masked ninja peered over at the male who was a distance away. Sai, standing at the edge of where the sun could reach him, gestured near his feet. Kakashi leaned over to see what he was referring to, but the lack of light in that corner made it hard to see what it was. Standing up, he began to approach Sai, tossing the kunai in his hand down to the ground.

As he walked closer, a silhouette became clear. Tattered clothes. Shattered limbs. Foul smell. A mangled body of a man was displayed lying several feet away, dead and withering away from decomposition.

Kakashi moved forward to inspect corpse, using his foot to prod at the body, "Shinobi?"

Sai shook his head at Kakashi's question, "I didn't see any indications of him belonging to a village." The male stepped closer to Kakashi and extended his hand upward, allowing the copycat ninja to look at the object clasped in his fingers. "But I found this near him."

Kakashi quietly took the hitai-ate that was passed over to him. The plate gleamed brightly as the sun beamed against the flat metal, proudly showcasing the Konoha symbol engraved in the plaque. Looking down at the red forehead protector, Kakashi knew the finding did not provide answers but only implied a more dire situation than what was thought previously. His mask hid his slight frown.

"It's cut too clean for it to have fallen off on its own," the jonin said, looking at where the red ribbon was still tied together.

"Do you think she did it on purpose?"

"I'm not sure," Kakashi truthfully answered. "It could have happened during the fight."

Alongside the body found, they both knew that there was a struggle. And from the looks of it, it was a deadly encounter involving Sakura. The question of who the attacker was, and what their motives were rang loud between the two. One person laid dead, but how many more bodies would be found afterward? Would Sakura's be among them? The two silently pondered to themselves, allowing the newly found information to sink and simmer.

"The trail continues that way," Sai spoke up. More branches and foliage were broken and littered on the ground ahead of them, making a makeshift path for the two to follow. "It's very likely what transpired here had traveled that way."

Pocketing Sakura's headband, Kakashi nodded and leapt toward the trees with Sai falling behind. Carefully, the two jumped from limb to limb, and only the soft clacks of sandals hitting hollow bark were heard.

They continued onward until they had traveled roughly a few miles away from the original path. Faint traces of footprints were spotted, first on the dirt floor and later on the branches. Once that trail had ran dry, the two began to follow the few shurikens embedded into the trunks of the trees. It did not take them long to stumble across another discovery.

This time, a body of a woman was found, loosely hanging across a branch with sprawled limbs. Unlike the first corpse, violent lacerations decorated her skin, showcasing the deep slash on her thigh, battered face, and kunai in her chest. Kakashi was the first to approach, closely inspecting the carcass before confirming her association with the body prior.

"It's obvious that they were following her," Sai muttered out loud as he looked down at the body before him. "But why?"

Kakashi sighed, placing his hands into his pockets with his lips set into a fine line. With no words to say, the jonin left the dark-haired male without an answer. Instead, he allowed his sharingan to swirl to life, forcing his vision to dramatically sharpen, and narrowed his eyes to look around him.

It was easy to overlook any indicators of previous human activity with a scope this large. Leaves were constantly falling, the earth was continuously swept by forceful winds, and the climate can be unpredictable at times. If both men were not careful, a crucial trace may go unnoticed. With that in mind, Kakashi roamed his eyes from one end of the forest to another before disregarded the woman's remains and leaping down to crouch onto the ground. Grabbing a fistful of dirt, he brought his hand to eye level and watched as the soil spilled through his fingers. Still on the branch and standing next to the body, Sai observed Kakashi repeat the process twice before looking back up to him.

"I almost overlooked it, but my suspicions are correct," he raised his right hand to Sai, revealing his blackened fingers. "There's a decent amount of ash mixed into the soil."

Sai's expression became perplexed, not understanding the significance behind Kakashi's uncovering. "Is that not standard?"

"Usually no," he answered back, still crouching but his gaze now completely directed forward, "normally a fire would cause this amount to be present."

"A fire during this season?"

"Not naturally" Kakashi stated and tilted his chin to lock eyes with the pale boy. "Which means…"

"... an explosion," Sai quietly finished.

The copy cat ninja nodded at his words, slapping his hands together to rid the dust from them and straightening himself to stand. He turned back to where he was once staring at and gestured his hand for Sai to look, index finger calmly pointing to the horizon. Following his direction, Sai scrutinize where the sky met the earth and felt his eyes widen.

Unknowing what to say, Sai simply followed Kakashi's lead and began to walk. As they both approached the location, the profile of darkened tree limbs and branches became more apparent and dismal. The lingering odor of smoke could be smelled as they walked deeper into charred terrain, and the foliage progressed into a deeper blackened state while the soil became thin dust that kicked into the air with each of their steps.

The radius of the blast was widely stretched, making the two men in the center of it seem rather small. All signs of nature were deemed dead and disfigured, and it was clear that any indicators of life would be impossible to find in such a state. But unlike the rest of the area that was scorched beyond recognition, a single spot a few feet away could be clearly seen, sharply contrasting and drawing the attention of both men. They approached in unison and balked at the sight.

An unmistakable outline of a human body laid at their feet.

The distance of the blast was too close for any person to withstand, much less leave behind any remnants of human remains. If Sakura was caught in this explosion, the chances of her survival were quite slim. They both knew that.

A minute of silence passed before a voice spoke up.

"We have to return to Tsunade," voice tight, Kakashi continued to stare down at the markings and spoke with a rigid back. "Quickly."

A deep pang was felt in Sai's chest, causing him to slightly hesitate at the command. His eyes traveled from Kakashi's to the body outline, and the sensation he felt cut deeper into him. It can't be, he thought. The very idea was impossible to conjure. But there they both stood, forced to come to terms with the unimaginable.

Sai tore his gaze away from the ground and removed his scroll from his back, movements robotic as he simply carried out orders. He unfurled the large parchment and watched as his fingers shook with each paint stroke.

Promptly, another bird was summoned, and without another word spoken, both men mounted the creature and left in the direction of Konoha.