Kokoa ran. She ran fast and hard, pushing people aside, dodging carts, all in an attempt to reach the front gates before they were gone. She gasped loudly in relief, spotting ninja clad in orange.

"Please bring Sasuke-kun home," Sakura repeated through tears. Kokoa eventually slowed to a stop, trying to catch her breath.

"Kokoa-chan?" Naruto blinked in surprise.

"Oh?" Shikamaru and the others eyed her.

"Kuroki Kokoa?" Neji crossed his arms.

"Naruto, what – what are you doing? What I heard – it can't be true. You can't do this," she said.

"What?" He furrowed his brow, confused. "I thought you'd be happy. We're going to save Sasuke from Orochimaru. I promised Sakura-chan I'd bring him back no matter what."

"That's the problem. When word reached my ear, I ran here as fast as I could. Sasuke doesn't want to be saved. He left of his own free will. Don't go after him. Don't throw your lives away –"

"Are you crazy! Orochimaru has him! Of course we're going after him. He's a Leaf shinobi. He's my friend. I have to bring him back!"

"You can't save him, Naruto. He made his choice. Please –"

"Kokoa, listen to yourself. Do you know what you're saying? This is Sasuke. Don't you care –"

"Of course I do!" she spat, surprising everyone. Naruto stepped back, for the first time shaken by the look in her eyes. "Of course I do. Sasuke was all I had left! He was my home and now he's gone! Of course I care, more than anyone, but he left. He decided revenge was more important than anything, that he needed it to move on, so he's gone off to gain power. He cannot be saved. Don't waste your time. Leave him be. I had to let him go. So should you."

"I…I can't," he said, gazing to the side. "I'm going to bring him back. I'll save him for everyone. For you."

"He can't help me anymore. Not right now. Don't do this for my sake, Naruto. Don't put yourself in harm's way for someone who does not want to be saved. Let Sasuke do what he needs to do. We've both agreed to seek out our own peace. He needs this –"

"You're crazy if you think I'll let him just walk into Orochimaru's trap. I'm bringing him back. I'm bringing Sasuke home. I made a promise." He glanced at Sakura. Kokoa's eyes narrowed, fists clenched, nostrils flared.

"If we're doing this, we really need to get going," Shikamaru said. "I don't think we'll die so easily trying to bring that jerk back," he told Kokoa. "Have a little faith."

"You could always join us," Neji suggested, curious to see Uchiha Itachi's partner in action.

"I can't. I won't. I won't get in his way. Not anymore," she said.

"That's too bad," Naruto said sadly, turning his back. He started off with the others.

"I know this is all because you care for Sasuke. I don't hate you. I just wish you'd understand. Be careful, Uzumaki Naruto. Just do me a favor and don't tell him I sent you. Don't make him think I'm the one behind this. I had to let him go. I had to let him go…" She watched him disappear with the others. If she hadn't been locked up, perhaps she would have had time to convince Naruto to stay. After her release, it seemed everything began to unwind. The pieces were moving and she couldn't keep up. Kokoa turned to Sakura with dark eyes.

"How selfish," she said, her voice dangerous. Sakura pushed away the last of her tears, staring at Kokoa with wide eyes.

"W – what?"

"How selfish, to ask that of Naruto. How selfish to send him running after someone who does not want to be saved. How selfish, making him promise to bring him back when deep in his heart Naruto isn't so sure he can."

"He's doing it for you –"

"No, Sakura. He's doing it for you. I let Sasuke go the night he visited me in my jail cell. Naruto is doing this because you begged him to. You've convinced yourself and everyone that you love Sasuke, and so because he loves you, Naruto has run off to bring him back."

"Don't you know what Sasuke-kun is doing? He needs help!"

"I don't like the idea either!" She rubbed her face. "I hate that he's left, that he's gone to that snake, but Sasuke needs this. I understand that now. If we drag him back…if we keep him from what he wants…"

"He needs to be home with his friends. He has a life here."

"I know. He was my life and I was his for the longest time." She sighed deeply, dropping her shoulders. "But if you truly loved Sasuke, if you knew him you'd understand why he's left and you wouldn't get in his way, and you wouldn't put that type of a burden on Naruto." The fire returned to her eyes. Like Naruto, Sakura stepped back. She never did understand or feel safe near the Kuroki.

"All of this has to do with Sasuke-kun's brother, right?"

"Hm?"

"Sasuke-kun left for revenge because of what his brother did. All of his problems, the reason you're always in trouble, it's because of his brother. Why are you letting him do this? Why can't you just forget him?"

"Forget him?"

"If you hadn't run off to meet Sasuke-kun's brother you wouldn't have been in jail and you could have been there for him. If he didn't kill the clan, Sasuke-kun wouldn't have left for Orochimaru's. If you just forgot about his brother, you and Sasuke-kun could have had a normal life without all the fighting. If you just confessed and took the blame, none of this would have happened."

"Confessed what?" She came face to face with Sakura. "Tell me."

"Konoha says you helped kill all the Uchiha. Just admit it. After all that's happened, you still love his brother. You still love that monster. That can only mean that you helped. You couldn't have confessed, for Sasuke-kun's sake?"

"Oh, now I warned you last time to never speak of Itachi. You don't know him. You don't know anything, so don't you dare mention him. And I can't confess because I'm not guilty. I'm not the same girl I was a few weeks ago. I've got my shit together. I won't take this." She smirked, pushing her shoulder with a finger. "Leave Sasuke alone. Stop pretending like you understand because you don't. And don't you ever burden Naruto. Don't you ever make him promise you something he can't follow through on. And most importantly, never speak of Uchiha Itachi."

"You're out of your mind," Sakura spat, turning away from her.

"Am I?"

"You're crazy! You're – what is your problem!" Sakura had enough, enough of her threats, enough of her bullying.

"I have lost everything over and over again. My life, everything I held dear, all of it stripped away three different times. I've always been left with the mess, picking up the pieces but never having enough to fix myself. When you lose what you love, it changes you. My father, my Itachi, and now Sasuke…you couldn't possibly understand. Maybe if I come and take everything from you, maybe then you'd begin to see what I'm talking about!" she shouted, words so similar to what Sasuke had uttered to Kakashi not long ago.

"That's why I'm crazy. That's my problem. Growing up an orphan, not knowing who my parents were, and then losing the boy I loved in the way I did. And now Sasuke who was the only one who truly understood me…I'm just broken. I'm broken, but this time I've found most of the pieces and I've managed to pick myself up off the floor."

Sakura sighed. She didn't know where to start. What could she say to Kokoa? There would never be an understanding between them. There would always be tension, bitter feelings, a rift. Sakura turned and started off without another word, leaving Kokoa alone by the gate. For a moment, Kokoa stared sadly at the ground. How familiar it was, for someone to turn their back. For a moment she mourned her loss. Sasuke really was gone. But Akihiko's warning and instruction flooded her mind. If she ever wanted to see Sasuke and Itachi again, she had to find the document and leave. She had to get out.

He had a long journey this time, but Itachi didn't mind. This was something he wanted to do. Something he needed. He stepped off the boulder, adjusting his clothes, and took a moment, slipping a hand into his cloak, long, painted fingers wrapping around the old parchment, clutching tight.

The heavens opened, and he suddenly found himself caught in the downpour, soaked to the bone, everything drenched but the document he swore to protect all these years. He dropped his head back with shut eyes, smiling a sick smile in the violent rain at the possibility of seeing his precious Kokoa again.

One. Naruto was the only one to set eyes on Sasuke, every other member of the team falling behind in order for him to move ahead. After a bit of yelling and a hard punch to the face, the two stood before each other, Naruto breathing heavily, fists clenched; Sasuke calmly spitting blood with eyes so hollow they left his friend speechless.

"If you won't listen, if you won't do this for me, then what about Kokoa? Eh!" Naruto spat. Sasuke's eyes widened just enough for Naruto to notice, and the blond took advantage of his weakness for the girl.

"What about h –"

"After all she's done for you. After all you've been through, you're just leaving her?"

"It's complicated. You could never understand," Sasuke said, trying to brush it off, desperate to avoid the subject. He had only focused on moving forward since he left Konoha, too afraid and too guilty to look back.

"Doesn't she mean anything to you, Sasuke?"

"What does it matter? It's no concern of yours, Naruto."

"Don't you care? Don't you care at all!"

"Of course I do!" He lunged forward, eyes ablaze, voice sharp. "More than anyone, more than anything! She's everything to me! She's my world!"

"Then why are you doing this to her, causing her so much pain, leaving her all alone?" Naruto pushed. He wanted Sasuke angry. He wanted him to feel something, to remember he was human. "I know you have feelings for her. I can see it in the way you look at her, the way you treat her, how you say her name. You love her –"

"Shut up, Naruto!" He stomped his foot. "Shut up about stupid things, about love and romance. This isn't some novel, some story with a happy ending. It's reality, a tragic one at that. You think I have time for that stuff? You're insane."

"But you said she means the most to you. So she doesn't?"

"She does…" He turned his face, eyes shut, desperate to shake the guilt, desperate to shake his feelings for her; his love for the girl who only loved his brother.

"If she's your everything, Sasuke, why abandon your world?" Naruto stepped closer, watching his friend. He saw the sadness in his face, the pain in his eyes.

"Because Itachi was once my world, and until I make him pay for all the blood and tears he's spilt, it won't end. I'm doing this for me and Kokoa. It's so we can move on. It's so we can let go."

"You're never going to let go, Sasuke. That's just who you are. What comes after revenge? You kill him and then what! There's nothing. It changes nothing. So why not stay with your friends, stay with me, with Kokoa-chan?"

"Because it's just too late, Naruto. It's too late now!"

"No, it isn't! You can come back! She's at home waiting for you! Desperate to see you safe again! You can have that, Sasuke. You can be with her. You can love her –"

"You just don't get it! Stop being so stupid, so blind, Naruto! I have things I have to do, a goal to keep. I'm an avenger. Besides…I'd just be wasting my time. She loves Itachi, and nothing will change that. Why should I go back to someone knowing they'll never be mine? What is there for me in Konoha besides silly games and a false hope that maybe things will be ok if I'm with her?"

"Sasuke…"

"You weren't supposed to be here. Did she send you? I thought we made our peace. How could she betray –"

"Kokoa didn't send me, Sasuke. She saw me before I left, tried convincing me to stay. She didn't want me getting in your way. She said I had to let you go the same way she did. She doesn't have any role in this."

And it hurt, struck him like an arrow to the heart, shook him to the core. She said I had to let you go the same way she did. She doesn't have any role in this. Sasuke was the one who told Kokoa they didn't need each other anymore, that they had to go their separate ways. He was the one who turned his back and left her hysterical and alone in that dark prison cell.

He was the one who wanted this, who wanted to leave, who wanted power and revenge, and yet in that moment Sasuke found himself in a lot of pain – hurting and scared – betrayed. Kokoa had stepped back, let him go, given him everything he asked for, but he stood there with wide eyes and parted lips, devastated to hear that she hadn't sent Naruto after him, that she herself wasn't with him, that she really did let him go in order to find Itachi and her own peace. This time, she had turned her back on him, or so he thought.

"Just come back with me. We can fix this, Sasuke," Naruto said. "Revenge isn't worth it. Come home. Come back to Team 7. Come back to Kokoa-chan." He pleaded one last time. Sasuke moved a foot, slowly turning to face Naruto with dead eyes.

"You're too late, Naruto. You're too late now, Naruto."

Naruto still hadn't returned. Even worse, Kakashi was sent out after him. As badly as she wanted to go, Kokoa did not. As desperate as she was to have Sasuke beside her once again, she stayed in Konoha and busied herself with finding Akihiko's document. She started in the library and went from there. It wouldn't be easy to find. She would have to be careful and not draw attention to herself. She needed time. Unfortunately, time was not something she had much of. With all the commotion Sasuke and Naruto caused and Tsunade trying to figure things out, she worried about what lurked in the shadows. She wondered just how long Danzo would wait before making a move, before wiping her off the map just as he had done to her father.

Each step echoed loudly in the dim cave. Torches flickered. The air sat cool and still.

"Heh, Sasuke-kun, at last. You are the vessel I've chosen."

"Tch," Sasuke turned his face as he followed Orochimaru and Kabuto through the dark, winding halls.

"What's with the sour expression? You're finally here. This is what you wanted, is it not?"

"Perhaps he regrets it, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto said. "Maybe he's having second thoughts –"

"Not at all," Sasuke cut him off.

"Then what's with the solemn face?" he pressed, pushing up his glasses. "Could it be…that girl?" Kabuto said, his tone teasing. Sasuke stiffened, avoiding eye contact.

"Ho? Kuroki Kokoa? Omoshiroi," Orochimaru grinned. "An interesting woman she is, and what a marvelous shinobi she'll become once she discovers the kekkei genkai sleeping in her."

"Kekkei genkai?" Sasuke met his eyes. "Kokoa?" he asked in disbelief.

"Don't take it personally, Sasuke-kun. I don't think she knew about it either," he laughed. "Now that you mention it, when she met up with me not too long ago, she offered to take your place."

"What?" It seemed all Sasuke could do at the moment was stare at Orochimaru with parted lips, desperate for answers.

"You didn't know that either? Heh, Kokoa-chan offered to take your place. She offered herself to me so I would leave you alone, and I almost accepted. I considered it, but she has not unlocked her power. She is not ready. Even I couldn't help her with that. Besides, you've been my choice for a while. It seems she'll have to put up with Konoha on her own for now."

"Orochimaru-sama, why not bring her along regardless? Surely she would have followed Sasuke-kun. The girl has nothing. A Kuroki is valuable," Kabuto explained. Sasuke glanced between the two, in awe at how they spoke so highly of the girl he had grown up with. There was more to her story. There were secrets to Kokoa he did not know, secrets she had just recently discovered about herself. Was leaving her now the worst thing he had done? Was she really that desperate to keep him home?

"A Kuroki is valuable, especially Akihiko's daughter, but she wouldn't make things easy for us. No, Kokoa has a fire to her, like her father."

"Will she come back for Sasuke-kun? Like Uzumaki Naruto just did, Orochimaru-sama?"

"I think Kokoa has other plans for now. I think she will let Sasuke-kun do as he pleases. She doesn't have time to waste. She can't spend her time chasing after him."

"Orochimaru-sama, what makes you think she'll just give up? Sasuke here is her only friend and family. She has more cause to follow him than Naruto."

"Sasuke-kun and Kokoa are in a race, both fighting against time to get to the man who caused their hell. Kokoa will not chase after Sasuke-kun. She will not because she's going to get to Uchiha Itachi before he is confronted by his younger brother. Kokoa's goal is no longer fighting to stay strong against Konoha, nor is it protecting Sasuke. It's getting to her beloved Itachi."

Sasuke's fists tightened. How easy it was for the two to talk about him as if he wasn't there. How calm they were. How casual and normal all of this was for them. Most importantly, how easy it was to speak about Itachi and what he had done, like it meant nothing.

"You're making a face again," Orochimaru commented, gazing down at him.

"Hn, it doesn't matter how, just give me power." He ignored Kabuto taking offense at his tone.

"He may look different now, but that's still Orochimaru-sama. If you value your life, you'd watch your mouth," he warned. Sasuke turned to Kabuto, eyes brimming with hatred, with pain, guilt, and an overwhelming desire to destroy the man who caused it all. The medic froze, eyes wide.

'His chakra! What is this?' He kept his guard up. Sasuke was not the same child he was during the Chunin Exams. He had changed. Orochimaru on the other hand, eyed the boy closely, lips spreading into a smirk.

'Yes. My future is in this child.'

Kokoa's heart raced as she approached the door, fingers twitching above the knob. She was terrified. How bad was he? She had heard Nara Shikamaru and the others were rushed back to the village for treatment after facing off against Orochimaru's Otogakure no Shinobi Gonin Shū, the Sound Five; Hyuga Neji and Akimichi Chouju returning with the heaviest damage. Kakashi had arrived too late. Naruto was alone. Sasuke was gone. Kokoa was afraid to see Naruto, afraid to see his injuries as well as the pain in his eyes. Sasuke was a brother to him. Just like her, Naruto lost part of his family. And by being unable to bring Sasuke back, he also failed on his promise to Sakura. She stepped inside.

"I received reliable information about Akatsuki from a certain source. Looks like they won't be coming after you for another few years," Jiraiya said, sitting on the window sill. He did not turn to Kokoa at first.

"I don't care about that," Naruto said, bandaged hands resting in his lap as he sat upright in the hospital bed. "That's years from now. I don't have time to waste training."

"What do you mean?"

"I have to chase down Sasuke as soon as possible! He might get killed by Orochimaru!"

"So you've figured out Orochimaru's true intentions; why he wants Sasuke." The Sannin crossed his arms.

"You – you know too?"

"Sasuke is his next vessel. Orochimaru now has the sharingan," Kokoa finally spoke, drawing Naruto's attention.

"K –Kokoa-chan? When did you get here?" He turned to her.

"Just now," she replied softly.

"Kokoa-chan, I'm sorr –"

"Enough, Naruto." She stopped him, raising a hand. "It's ok."

"No, it's not. I couldn't bring Sasuke back. He was your only family. I know. I tried, but I'm not giving up. I won't."

"Naruto –"

"And I know you're going to keep telling me he doesn't want to be saved. Even if that's the case, I'm not giving up on him. I won't let him slip away."

"Hai," she whispered, watching him with sad eyes.

"Orochimaru can use this body transfer technique once every three years. Sasuke was a bit late in getting there, so Orochimaru already switched. If it helps at all, Kokoa, he'll be safe for another three years at least," Jiraiya said.

"You're not lying are you!" Naruto exclaimed, twisting in bed to face him. "Are you!"

"No," he replied. The gennin fell back with a sigh. "But you should forget about Sasuke, Naruto."

"Hu?" He sat up again. It hurt to see him like this. Kokoa knew Naruto's pain all too well. She understood the hope of seeing a lost loved one again. She knew how it felt to be so desperate to have someone back. She knew, but all she could do was watch.

"Sasuke went to Orochimaru on his own," Jiraiya said. "No matter what you try, he won't change. I know because I've seen many other shinobi…Sasuke is like Orochimaru. If you're thinking about bringing him back, don't even try. Only a fool would."

"He may mean nothing to you, but to me he's a friend! And he was all Kokoa had left! He's our friend, a part of our lives!"

"Would a friend injure a comrade!" Jiraiya snapped. "Just look at the condition you're in! And would a friend walk out on you while you're wasting away in a prison cell after you tried to help him?" He eyed Kokoa. She remained silent. She did not argue. She understood Jiraiya's feelings as well, for he too lost Orochimaru in the way she lost Itachi, the way Naruto lost Sasuke. He was only telling the truth.

"If you insist on going after Sasuke, I won't train you, Naruto. I'll have ANBU watch you, and depending on the issue, forbid you from leaving Konoha."

"How cruel," Kokoa said with a pained expression.

"He's no ordinary kid, Kokoa. You both know that. Akatsuki is after the Kyuubi. That's just how things are. If you don't listen to me, that's what'll happen. One day you'll face people worse than Orochimaru. Give up on Sasuke. It was only a matter of time before this happened. Don't suffer any more. Forget Sasuke. Forget the bond you shared. Aside from jutsu, shinobi must also make tough choices."

Kokoa clenched her fists, her jaw tight. She knew firsthand how impossible it was to forget someone precious to you.

"If you're going to be a ninja, you'll have to be stronger, Naruto," he continued. "If you stay blind, if you stay an idiot, you'll struggle in this world. That's the harsh truth."

"How can you ask him to –"

"All right," Naruto interrupted Kokoa. "If that's what it means to be wise, I'll be a fool my whole life!" he declared. Jiraiya blinked in surprise. "I'll think of an even greater technique and save Sasuke for sure! And then – and then I'll beat Akatsuki up!" Naruto and Kokoa saw Jiraiya struggling silently, fighting himself as he sat there gripping his knees.

"If someone like you tries to do this on their own, all you'll come up with are a bunch of useless and perverted techniques," he sighed. He leapt off the window and out onto his summoned toad. "If an idiot will stay an idiot, I suppose something could happen if he was big enough of an idiot. When you're clear to leave the hospital, you better get ready, you big idiot. Ja na."

"Osu!" The boy turned to Kokoa once Jiraiya had disappeared.

"Naruto, I know it's as if everyone is asking something of you, but I have just one request."

"What is it?"

"People told me to give up on Itachi-san, but I refused. I still haven't. So I don't expect you to give up on Sasuke even though I know he doesn't want to be saved. All I ask is that if you do go after him again in the future, that it's not for my sake."

"What do you…what do you mean?"

"Before he left, he and I sort of made peace on the subject. He needs revenge and I need Itachi's truth. While he's getting stronger, I have to get to Itachi. I can't get in his way. Not right now. So if you see him again, if you cross paths, please don't make him think I'm the one running after him. I have to let Sasuke go for now, until we meet again. I'm not depending on or burdening you, ok? It's ok, Naruto. Honest. I've accepted it."

"Something's different about you," he said, fingering the hitai-ate in his lap. He chose to spare Kokoa, to not tell her how Sasuke shattered when he heard she hadn't sent Naruto or come after him.

"I've just realized my purpose and what it is I want. I can't worry about Sasuke. This was his choice. It's time I make my own. I just need you to understand that you don't have to bring him back for me. Do you? Do you understand?"

"I do, Kokoa-chan."

"Arigato."

"What will you do now?"

"Well, I have to sort some things out, but…I need to find Itachi-san. I'm not turning my back on him. Not now. Not ever."

"Good." He grinned. "I don't get why he did what he did. Sasuke left because of him, and now he's after me with Akatsuki. He's the bad guy, but if you're so determined, Kokoa-chan, I'll help you if I can."

"I knew I liked you for a reason." She laughed softly. "Thank you."

"Maybe you can save him."

He stood in his bedroom, folding a shirt with one hand, his perverted book in the other, humming softly to himself.

"Hm?" He turned to see Kokoa in the window.

"I need your help, Kakashi-san."