Disclaimer (2): Again, don't own Naruto. Hentai 500, its coming...you watch...the list stands at 150 so far...

To the Ends Of the Earth: Naruto X Sakura

Chapter 2: Choices

Previously in Chapter 1...

[Movie clip mode]
Naruto: "Wait for me... I will return in the winter."

Kiba: "I'm sorry.. But he died in action."

Sakura: "No... I refuse to believe it..."

Kakashi: "I miss him also, but war brings the worst out of us."

Naruto: "...s...sakura...aahh..."

"...he...he's alive."

Sakura had woken up to the dead of the night; cold sweat was on her soft skin. The moonlight was still shining through her window, the crickets chirping in the still of the night. She was breathing fairly hard, for the visions of what she had just seen were almost...real. She could almost feel Naruto, through some kind of link.

"Was that real? Or was I just dreaming?"

She thought to herself, as she wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. This feeling inside of her, almost like an anxiety attack, her heart stopped, but began beating fast, her lungs felt as if she were hit by a gust of frozen air, the wind getting knocked out of her. But this feeling, the feeling of life, the feeling that he was alive...

"It was so real, I could almost feel him."

She tried to go back to sleep, but the mental image of him being chained up, and being taken as a prisoner kept her from going back to sleep. She would go see Ino in the next morning.

On the next morning, she went to go see Ino, about the vision she saw last night. Naturally, Ino said...

"Sakura, we all miss Naruto, but what you're talking about is crazy. He's not alive." Her best friend said, as she was tending to her flower shop.

Sakura tried to reason with Ino. "But what I saw last night was so real! It felt as if I could see through his eyes, feel what was going on through his mind! Somehow I know it, he's still out there...and I'm-"

"Sakura no! How would Naruto feel if you went out there and looked for him? It's too dangerous, even if you just became ANBU, and fully qualified for solo missions, he struggled to keep you OUT of harms way, not for you to go out there and get killed." Ino replied.

"Of all people, I thought you would understand. Then tell me something, if it were Shikamaru out there, and even without your Advanced Bloodline (Mind Control/Telepathy) you both share a bond only loved ones would, no? If you knew he was still alive, would you not go out to save him?"

Ino looked away, and sighed heavily. She knew that Sakura was right, but what she was going to do wasn't the right thing. "I would. But even if the war is over, it's still no-man's land (hostile territory). And how would you find him?"

"I'll find him. Or die trying. He would do the same, even if he didn't want me to get into trouble, he would do the same for me. Now it's my turn to bring him back." Sakura began to leave Ino's shop, as she knew Ino wouldn't permit her to go, but instead she was stopped.

"...Sakura wait." Ino called out to her friend, and she turned around. "I may not be able to stop you, but at least I can help. Go see Shikamaru for some Intel (intelligence/info), he may at least give you a head start."

Sakura smiled, and walked over to hug her best friend. "Thank you, Ino."

"Ahhhhggghhh! The price I pay for being your friend. How utter troublesome." Ino shook her head, embraced her friend, possibly for the last time, and shooed her away to go see Shikamaru. "Good luck, and if he is alive, bring that idiot back to us."

Sakura went to go see Shikamaru at his office near the Godaime's Office. He was sitting at a table that was piled with stacks of papers, all unorganized and it looked as if the tower of papers was going to fall over at any moment. But as usual, Shikamaru wasn't even filling them out, or even looking at them. He was just sitting there, leaning back on his chair, and spacing out. He looked as if he was sleeping with his eyes open, but then he noticed that Sakura had just walked in.

"I already know what you want, and what you're going to ask me, just by looking at you."

Sakura wasn't sure if she should be relieved or worried. "Then...you can help me?"

Shikamaru sat upright; he leaned forward over his desk with his elbows on the table, and his hand covering his mouth. He looked at Sakura with dark eyes and gave a heavy sigh. "You know. When I asked him to come with me to save that wretched Uchiha, he volunteered without hesitation. I told him that we may never get a chance to see Konoha again if we failed."

Sakura looked at the Chief Strategist of Konoha, and listened intently. "..."

"And when you asked him to bring Sasuke back, he risked his life, just for you. Only for you." He lifted his head, and then looked directly at Sakura. "You have a choice. I didn't lie to him, and I won't lie to you. The info I have may only have a 10% chance of you bringing him back, much less if YOU even come back alive."

"And the other?" She asked, although knowing what he would say.

"Live. Live for him." He said what he had to say, now he would hear her answer.

Sakura paused at those words, and thought about what Shikamaru said. "He is my life. He would go to hell for me, and back. Now, it is I who will go to hell, and bring HIM back."

Shikamaru grinned; it was an honest and determined answer. He sighed, but nodded his head as to agree with her. "I can only point in the general direction. It is you that has to walk the path."

He handed her a file full of papers and maps. She took it from him and thanked him for his help. "Thank you, Shikamaru. Thank you for everything."

Shikamaru wheeled his chair around, and turned his back as she walked out. "Tell me something. How did a punk, trouble maker, ever end up with a girl like you?"

Sakura chuckled, and smiled. "Hah. The same way, a lazy genius like you ended up with a control freak like Ino."

Shikamaru folded his arms, and grinned. "Love. What a troubling matter."

Sakura left his office and headed back home. It was time to prepare, prepare for her quest to find the only man who loved her, Naruto.

As she arrived home, she began to pack and gear up. First she put on her light ANBU gear; the arm-guards, the leg-guards, and the sleeveless vest. Next she began to pack for light travel, but also for survival. She then took Naruto's headband, and tucked that away into her small backpack. She then took his katana; she had tended to it, and strapped it to her back tightly. Finally, and most importantly, she packed all of the letters. Perhaps somehow, they will give clue to how to track him, and as memories along the road. After completely gearing up, to her surprise, there was a visitor outside of her apartment complex waiting for her.

"You must be as crazy as he is, going out into the Grasslands."

Sakura turned around and saw the familiar face. It was Kiba again. "Kiba..."

"I couldn't find him out there. But I know you will. It's dangerous out there, you can't let your guard down for a second. If the ninja don't get you, the grass will. You'll understand what I mean by that. I would go with you, but you wouldn't have me travel with you. But perhaps, I can help." Kiba whistled into the open, and suddenly a white wolf came running to his side. "This is Shiro. Naruto saved him from a trap, in the middle of a raid. Ever since, he's been by his side. I'm sure he's written to you about it. He can help you, he's a wolf breed, very loyal, and strong. He knows the land and can at least guide you on safe paths."

Sakura knelt over to pet Shiro, who then licked her face, as the wolf recognized her face. Naruto must have shown the wolf pictures, so that he would befriend her when they had returned. "Thank you Kiba. I don't know how to-"

"Just bring him back. And be careful. Don't trust anyone, you are a foreigner in a hostile country, who LOST the war. Just don't tell them you're from Konoha. Good luck Sakura, and Godspeed." Kiba gave his last goodbyes, and left howling away.

"So Shiro, huh?" Sakura looked at the wolf, he came up to her knee height, and was fairly big. She looked into his eyes, and they found the mutual bond. She then took out Naruto's headband and the wolf recognized the scent, so it woofed. Sakura then tied the headband around Shiro's left paw/leg, and the wolf took it as a sign of goodwill. Now she was ready, they reached the Western Gate of Konoha.

This was it; perhaps the last time she may see home, or any of her friends ever again. Now she travel to the ends of the earth, to bring back her beloved, Naruto.

To Be Continued...

A/N: This was just the build up for Sakura. Sorry if this wasn't a strong chapter like the first, but it'll get better, you'll see. Cliffhanger this time wasn't as bad, but still a bit of a question. I think my main thing about this fic is, normally you have fics where Naruto is the one who goes out to great lengths just for Sakura. Well this time, it's Sakura's turn to bring him home. I'm sorry if it seems like it's turning into a "Saving Private Ryan" thingy, but it's not, well not all of it. Next chapter, I'm gonna experiment with something new again, well not new-new, but maybe a little semi-new. Thnx again for reading, please R&R!