Caught

Sakura and Sasuke had been traveling for two days. All she had with her was a pack on her back and a pain in her heart. Sasuke was silent leaving her to dwell on her thoughts. All she could think about was Itachi's face before he went on this mission. She hated that he felt the need to hide his pain from her. She hated that she was the villain in her own love story.

She didn't want to think about it anymore, so she sought a distraction. Sakura opened her mouth a few times to start a conversation but whenever she did no words came forth. Because she didn't know what to say.

Sasuke finally glanced at her and said, "You regret coming."

"I don't regret coming. I regret not telling Itachi the truth. I know he thinks I'm going to run off with Kakashi."

Sasuke scoffed. "I'd never let that happen."

All of Sakura's replies to that she could see ending badly, so she stuck with something simple, "Shut up Sasuke."

Sakura watched his lips twitch but was soon distracted by a figure 20 yards away. "Neh, Sasuke…" But Sasuke had already stiffened, but he kept moving forward. Eventually, Sakura realized that there were two people in front of her and not one and she knew both of them.

When they were close enough, Naruto said, "You two thought you could just sneak out of the village without us knowing about it?"

Sakura looked at Sasuke, but both men were looking at her for answers. The kunoichi nearly threw her hands up in the air with frustration. Of course, they would look at her. That's the way it had been for years now.

Kakashi intervened, "You thought we wouldn't notice that someone attempted to kill Danzo after the two of you suddenly left on a mission?"

Sakura turned and looked at Sasuke. "Sasuke Uchiha!"

"We have bigger fish to fry Sakura. I'm not going to leave the village, and my Clan unprotected. It's an opportunity he's undoubtedly would have been waiting for."

"You shouldn't have—"

"You said you were going to trust me. Was that a lie?" Sakura choked hard on her words and turned and looked away. When she composed herself, she said, "It's not about trust. I knew Danzo needed to be dealt with. We had a plan in place—one that would have worked, but you threw it all away and for what? Because Danzo might try to kill your family while you're away. You're one person Sasuke and Itachi is there to protect them." Sakura saw something flicker in Sasuke's eyes that made her stomach clench. " I think the one with trust issues here isn't me, but you."

Sasuke gave her a hard look that Sakura didn't look away from. Surprisingly, Sasuke looked away first because he was the first to realize what Kakashi had said.

"What do you mean attempt?"

"You didn't kill him," Kakashi said flatly. "But don't worry Naruto and I finished the job. He was expecting the first attempt. A second attempt so close behind it took him off guard."

Sakura smacked herself, and Sasuke smiled viciously. She had no idea what she was going to do with her wayward team. They were just too reckless. Although, who was she to talk? Here she was sneaking off with Sasuke on secret missions. Inwardly, Sakura groaned. The way things were going they were going to start a dictatorship accidentally.

"We weren't going to let him harm you, Sakura." Kakashi inserted. "The second he realized you were out of the village there would have been complications. We had to finish him off." Sasuke nodded as if every word they spouted was brilliance.

They were insane. Why did she love them all so much?

They ran out of words to say, and the quiet grew awkward which Naruto wasn't a big fan of so naturally he interrupted it with a well-timed question.

"Where are the two of you going anyway?" Naruto asked looking at them suspiciously. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"We're putting the final nail in the coffin." Sasuke said, "Are you coming with us?"

Kakashi took a few steps forward. "Final nail in what coffin? What are the two of you up to?"

Kakashi locked eyes with Sakura, and Sakura felt her pulse race as she answered the question. "The jutsu to split worlds. The man who created it, Sasuke knows who it is now."

Kakashi and Naruto froze.

"Who?" Kakashi asked hoarsely.

"Madara." Sasuke paused and let his words sink in. "And there is a version of Madara that is still alive. Sakura and I are going to kill him. Would the two of you like to join us?"

Sakura saw the unholy glee that entered Naruto's eyes at the thought of a battle and shared a look with Kakashi.

"Hell yeah!" Naruto shouted. "Team Seven forever!"

:::

Night had fallen, and they were silently setting up camp. They fell into their usual rhythm and once they were are settled Kakashi offered to take the first watch. Neither Naruto nor Sasuke fought him on it, and Sakura was trying to keep her mouth shut. She didn't want to say anything that she would regret later.

Sleep didn't come quickly. Or rather, sleep didn't come. She watched Naruto and Sasuke's still form and felt slightly jealous.

She was surprised when she felt a warm presence by her side. "What are you doing out here Sakura?"

Kakashi voice rumbled nearby. She suppressed a shudder. "We didn't lie. We're going to eliminate Madara."

"On your own? Just the two of you?"

"Are you doubting us?"

"Your skill? No. But it took more than two people last time."

"It's different this time."

"It's not." Sakura fell silent not wanting to argue. "…are you going back to Itachi?"

"I told him I was coming back. Nothing has changed Kakashi."

She heard him sigh. She barely made out the words, "No, Sakura everything has changed. I'd walk through hellfire to change it back."

a/n: Just a reminder. I started this story waaayyyyy before the completion of the Naruto manga. In light of a lot of revelations at the end I decided not to make this story match up with the manga and go with my original idea for the story.

Thanks,

JnR