Disclaimer: I do not own any of the copyrighted material mentioned in this fic.

Chapter Three: True Intentions

(Re-written, Re-edited, 4-2-06)

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"This can't be possible! These numbers just don't add up!" Flipping through the file once more, the frustrated Hokage threw the manila folder across the room; causing papers to spew about.

"Tsunade..." Shizune, Tsunade's apprentice, attempted to calm her superior down. Her efforts was seemingly ignored, as the furious Hokage pushed her way out of the office.

"Shizune! Find me Shaw, NOW!" Shizune nodded timidly as she went to fetch an address book.

Of all of the years she had spent with Tsunade, Shizune was well aware of the moments when it would be wise avoid her. And now was definitely one of those times.

"When I'm through with him, he's gonna wish he was never born!" Tsunade shouted in the hall as Shizune smiled to herself while flipped to the 'S' section of the white pages.

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Reaching into her pocket, Sakura pulled out a latch with various keys attached to the loop. Identifying the one she needed, Sakura inserted it into the lock. Nudging the door open, she stepped into the foyer, taking off her shoes out of respect.

Making her way toward's Ino's stained glass Tiffany lamp, Sakura pauses to admire it's beauty before flicking on the switch. "Ino, she always knew how to appreciate the finer things in life." Rolling her eyes, Sakura takes off her jacket and throws it onto the white leather couch; adding some disorder to the otherwise well kept loft.

Now, to get to work.

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"I hate watering her plants."

Sakura frowned inwardly, knowing that this simple task was one of the only things left to give her a purpose in life.

Ino was gone.

Six months ago she did what Sakura yearned for the courage to attempt; Ino simple got up and left. There were no-goodbyes, but Sakura was grateful for that, in her condition she couldn't bear with that kind of anguish.

All Ino left her was a direct to the point note.

'Leaving tomorrow. Take care of my plants while I am away, love Ino.'

It took Sakura a few weeks to realize that it wasn't just a mission. They weren't planing on telling her of Ino's permanent departure. But the buzz around town was inevitable.

Sakura may have been sick, but not delusional enough to not catch the drift.

"The geraniums are blooming," Sakura said tonelessly as she poured the blue "Miracle Grow" into the ceramic pot. Placing the watering can onto the counter, Sakura looked out the window for a moment.

"I miss her. I miss her and I miss him..."

"If it makes you feel any better I've missed you as well." Sakura jumped back startled, accidently knocking down the watering can and spilling it's blue contents onto the marble floor.

"How did you get in here?" Taking a towel off the oven's handle, Sakura began to wipe up the mess.

The girl did not speak, simply smiling at Sakura.

"This isn't funny! You're breaking and entering! In fact, who are you anyway?" Sakura wasn't in the mood to deal with this little puff of enigma.

She wanted some answers. NOW.

"He's cute..." With one hand on her boney hip, the girl eyes a photo of Sakura and the rest of her genin class, more importantly, Sasuke.

Picking up the frame the girl's eyes widened, almost as if she was taking in information.

"He suffered through so much. Like you." Placing the frame down, the girl leaned her body against the couch.

"Well you know what they say, (1)Tempus omnia sed memorias privat; time deprives all but memories."

"What are you?" The question slipped Sakura's lips, as she lost control of her sanity once more.

The girl shook her head. "Some people can feel memories. Maybe I'm one of them."

Sakura wasn't sure what to make of that information; she was more concerned with getting the giant blue stain off Ino's kitchen tile. By the time Sakura looked up from the floor, the girl was gone.

Maybe she left the same way she came in, Sakura theorized.

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"Shaw!" Tsunade grinded her teeth as the man nonchalantly stood in front of the Godaime.

"Like I said before, you took it to yourself to terminate 'Root' and I took it to myself to restrict the amount and quality of missions being assigned to Konoha." He kept his voice coo and collected, as if he was oblivious to the woman simmering with rage before him.

"I'm going to kill you!" The man rolled his eyes. "No, you are not. It's not like you shouldn't have been expecting this, we 'had' a deal."

"It's not like I 'wanted' to terminate the team. They were Konoha's best. But things were getting out of control. The powers were shifting. As Hokage I have the right to make decisions on what I think is best for Konoha."

"Godaime, were you ever told that you are a bad decision maker?" That's it, Tsunade told herself. She wasn't going to take this.

"You son of a, urgh! You have no right to restrict Konoha missions. This is blackmail. Are you aware of the effects this may have on 'our' village!"

"I am very well aware. And I have every right to restrict the mission to, as you may put it, 'our' village. As I said before, we 'had' a deal."

"I should have you killed. I can have you killed. Even better, I can kill you." Tsunade was furious, not to mention for the first time in awhile, scared. If the village was restricted missions, there would be utter chaos plus a major loss in funds.

"I took it to myself for my company to re-distribute the missions it would have reserved for Konoha to the other villages. Konoha had it's chance to flourish, now let the others. Or maybe you just can't face the fact that your does not hold the monopoly it once held on the 'ninja' market."

"Shaw, you're sick. You are single-handedly destroying Konoha. What about the families here? You have a family, what if it was them?" Tsunade pleaded.

"Hm, my daughter isn't a ninja. So how would this apply to me again?" He was taunting her.

"I'm begging you, please, not for me, for the people." Tsunade was desperate.

"Now this is just pathetic. I just can't stand to see someone as powerful as you beg. Now don't get all down on your knees about it."

Reaching down, Shaw pulled out a stack of papers from his briefcase.

"8 B-rank, 4 A-rank." C and D will still be given to the village, but I'm going to restrict all of the higher missions."

Tsunade bit her lip, wanting to protest, but knowing that there was nothing more she could possibly do.

"The citizens of Konoha have no idea how lucky they are for having a Hokage like you."

Tsunade nodded as the men hand her the papers. "About Root, I'll try my best." Shaw soon exited the room, but the tension still remained.

The truth is, Tsunade has no intentions of re-establishing Root, but she isn't going to let him know that.

Or at least not until everything gets sorted out.

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A/N:

Shaw is based off (err, ripped off) of Shinobi Shaw, Hellfire Club ninja dude.

And for all of you pondering the 'peasant girl's' identity, read between the lines, I gave her identity away.

Thanks for all the support!