Chapter-45

It had been 3 years since Sakura left. She had collaborated with Itachi and decided to attack the members when they left to capture the Jinchuriki. Sakura told him that they would start that after 3 years. So she laid low and and kept collecting data about the movements of Akatsuki and the Jinchuriki. Currently she was hiding in some bushes around Orochimaru's den. Itachi told her to get rid of him first as he would be quite a hindrance. So there she was, hiding and waiting for any opening. Finally after getting frustrated, she punched the door and it flew away. She sensed Orochimaru's chakra and went after him. By the looks of it, many people had been locked away in jail type chambers. Probably for experimentation. That damn Kabuto is sure creepy. She broke the locks and told them to leave. They all cried and thanked her and ran away. Sakura moved forward. It had been only a short while when suddenly a scalpel came at her. She moved her head and it went by.

"Why don't you show yourself, Kabuto?"

"Heh. I'm impressed to see you here. Have you decided to take up my offer and you came to become the next vessel? We are in a hurry, you see."

"Yeah I'll put Orochimaru's grief short lived. But first I must get rid of you, you bastard."

" Bring it then. I've never actually seen you fight so surprise me."

"Oh I will." She replied smirking

Kabuto took out a kunai and lunged at her. She dodged with agility and precision. Then she jumped back and strongly waved her hand in front of Kabuto's face. He flew back and hit a wall. He spat out the blood from his mouth and sent snakes at her. When they wrapped around her, she stretched her arms and legs with such force that snakes flew away from her. What? How did she do that? Kabuto had a grave expression as he lunched forward with chakra with sharp edges around his dominant hand. He grazed Sakura's cheek but she jumped backwards. When he came at her again, she let him run close to her and as soon as he was in range, she pumped chakra in her fist and hit him straight in the rib cage. His ribs cracked from the impact. He staggered back and held his ribs. Damn it. She uses chakra just like that Tsunade. As soon as he started to heal himself, Sakura appeared below him and swiped her kick on the legs which made him fall down. She towered over him

"It's over."

And plunged a kunai in his chest. She put him under a genjutsu as well.

"When you get out of my genjutsu, you'll find it too late to heal yourself." And after saying that she went ahead. She spotted Orochimaru in his bed, sleeping. Well this makes things easier. She jumped over and drove two kunai in his feet. He woke up screaming.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Can't you see? Killing you."

And then she drove a small blade in his chest and stomach. He coughed out a lot of blood and started breathing raspily.

"Damn you…" he screamed as he felt a blinding pain in his head.

"I just messed with your chakra network in your head. You'll die soon."

And she waited till his pulse stopped. Then she left.

Sakura had a drastic change over these three years. She had grown taller, looked more mature and beautiful, had a fit and attractive body. For missions, she always wore black. Her outfit would always be A black shirt with a black jacket zipped till middle, black shorts and heel ninja boots. But she had also changed emotionally. She had a great control over her emotions and could control her rage wherever it was necessary. Nobody really paid attention to her because she worked at a book store. She lived in total anonymity.

She reached at her house around midnight. She was about to open the door when she felt someone was inside. She slowly opened the door and sighed in relief.

"Hi Itachi-san! Its been a while."

"Hello Sakura. yes indeed. Did you finish your mission?"

"Yup" she replied cheerily.

"Good. I have to tell you something important."

"Okay, what is it?"

"Sasori and Diedara are planning to attack Suna to capture Gaara. As he is the Kazekage, he cannot leave the village so you must deal with Sasori and Diedara. You know their weaknesses and strengths, right?"

She nodded.

"Good. They will attack tomorrow. I'll take care of Diedara. Since you have already fought with Sasori, you can win easily."

"Okay."

Coming back to Konoha, Naruto and Sasuke were sparring. They had grown up a lot. Naruto wore an orange and black jacket with orange pants. While Sasuke wore the normal shinobi gear like Kakashi. When they were done sparing, they took a break and started criticizing each other which later turned into a fight. They suddenly stopped as they remembered Sakura wasn't with them. Sakura… I want you to come back. Please. Thought Sasuke with a grim face. Maybe she isn't even alive…

"She's not dead, Sasuke." Naruto said gravely as if he read his mind

"hn."

They started heading back to their homes. Sasuke just kept thinking about Sakura. He couldn't stop thinking about her no matter how hard he tried. He never forgot about her. How could he? She was so annoying, making him feel weird emotions by just laughing or aur just by looking at him with her eyes. He entered his room and sat on the bed, deep in thought. Finally he groaned landed his head on his pillow and said, "Come back, you idiot." As he sulked.

Naruto was also wondering about Sakura. I hope you're okay, Sakura. Sasuke and I will rescue you for sure. And then he went to bed.

The next day came and Sakura put on her mission gear and waited for Itachi's crow for a signal to come. Itachi was around in the forest near Suna. Itachi kept looking until his eyes fell on the red and black cloaks of two figures, most probably Diedara and Sasori, going towards the village. Itachi sent his crow and jumped out towards Diedara. Sakura got the signal and ran out and cornered Sasori.

" What do you think you're doing Itachi?" asked Diedara angrily.

"Stopping you." And as he said that he disappeared in the form of crows leaving his body. It was all red. Itachi appeared with a sword and kept piercing him as he screamed louder and louder and finally died in the Tsukuyomi. He undid it and found Diedara lying in the sand, unconscious. Then he plunged a kunai in his chest, jumped back, barely surviving the explosion of his body. Looks like he had a mouth in his chest too.

Itachi turned to Sakura who had blew apart Sasori and was avoiding his attacks. Itachi started advancing towards them when Sakura yelled out,

"No. Don't come any closer. Everything he has is dipped in poison and he made himself a puppet so genjutsu wouldn't work on him. I'll handle him." She said stubbornly

Itachi sighed and watched her fight. Still a worry wat, you'll never change, will you? He thought amusingly.

Suddenly Itachi heard a crunching sound. He looked and found that Sasori had stabbed her in her side of the stomach.

"Sakura!"

"I'm fine! I have the antidote." She said as she jabbed a vial filled with antidote of the poison he made.

"How do you know about me and my poison?"

Sakura grinned as she drove the sword further in her side which made Sasori stumble towards her and as soon as he came in range, she took out a kunai and jabbed it into his cylinder in the of his heart which contained his real mind and heart. He dropped dead and Sakura drew out the blade with a groan and nodded at Itachi. They returned to Sakura's house. Sakura healed her wound and sat outside in her house's shade. Itachi saw her and came to sit with her. There was a comfortable silence.

"What do you think they are doing?" asked Itachi

"I don't know, probably sparring and then bickering. I always punched both of them when they bickered over stupid stuff." She remembered sadly.

"Sasuke is very different from the Sasuke you showed in the future."

"Yeah. It shocked me too. Kakashi sensei said that I had something to do with it but I hardly believe that. He just thinks I'm annoying." She said with a chuckle

No he doesn't.

"Do you still love him?"

Sakura looked down sadly and said "Yes. So much so that it makes me want to twist around and be with him."

"Hmm I also believe you had something to do with it."

Sakura looked at him as if he was crazy. He gave a light laugh

"You always take care of people you love. You even went as far as to get the curse mark so Sasuke would be safe. You are truly a remarkable person, Sakura. knowingly or unknowingly, you've helped a lot of people. Even someone like me." Said Itachi as he watched the horizon.

"Thank you, Itachi-san." She said while smiling.

Itachi gave a small smirk back and they both relaxed.