It was bright and early when Sakura woke up, she stretched her arms high above her head letting out a soft yawn looking around the room she was in. Looking beside her she saw her friend peacefully resting in her bed. She could hear Naruto's soft snores from their room. Shaking her head Sakura looked out the window catching sight of someone sitting on the edge of a wall a few meters away.

Quickly changing back into her travel clothes Sakura did her best to stay quiet as not to wake up her sleeping roommate. Slipping out of the hotel Sakura made her way closer to the figure she noticed that it was Sai. "Sai?"

Walking closer she caught sight of Sai's sketch book. "Never figured you for the artistic type." Turning around he stared at her confused watching her get closer to him. "Looks can be deceiving." He watched her bend over studying his latest piece.

"Don't I know it. Y'know for someone so rough on the outside you seem pretty sensitive on the inside." she grinned "That fake smile again...Don't tell me you're gonna slug me now?"

Sakura smirked at the male. "Only if you give me a reason." she snickered to herself "I'm only playing with you. So what are you sketching?" Looking over more closely she made a huh sound actually liking the piece. "I would've thought that a place like this would have you drawing landscape but this is an abstract. It's still nice what are you calling it?"

The art piece itself was incredible it was like watching the wind travel through the air carrying bits of leaves. The colors were magnificent it could almost be a galaxy of the world, or anything else. It was just so beautiful. "Don't know…"

"You don't have a title for it yet?"

Sai grinned to himself though he felt no emotion "There was no title...I mean I've drawn thousands, if not tens of thousands of sketches over time but I've never titled any of them." Sakura made another huh sound "I thought all artist name their work? Even if it's just something simple to convey the thoughts, feelings, and emotions they felt and experienced while creating the piece…"

Sai went back to his art processing over what Sakura had said. "Honestly whenever I try to give them titles, nothing good comes to mind." Sakura glanced at his face "The right words escape me and I just don't feel anything."

Naruto grumbled walking out to grab both Sakura and Sai having caught the last part of what Sai had said "Is that why you're such an incentive jerk?" Both Sakura and Sai turned around staring at the boy. "Captain Yamato says it's time to go, so if you wouldn't mind."

Naruto walked closer actually taking a peek at what Sai had been drawing rolling his eyes as he gave the other male an annoyed look. "Hmph. That drawing is nothing special. I've seen Kira make tons of those when we were younger."

Sai gave him another fake smile "Sure. Just like you."

Naruto snarled glaring hatefully at Sai "Thats it! I've had it! I hate you! Ugh if you've got a problem with me, don't give me that fake smile! Just say it! And I'll fight you anytime!"

Sai smiled "But I don't hate you, Naruto." Naruto gave him a confused look "As a matter of fact, I don't feel anything toward you at all, good or bad." Naruto looked even more annoyed than he was at that moment while Sakura looked concerned. "Please just go on ahead. I'll catch up as soon as I've packed."

Sakura bent down picking up a book "I'll help." she stared at the book confused staring at the white haired boy on the cover "This...it's not a printed copy. Did you draw this too?" Extending the book over to Sai "Yeah…"

"Wow your very own picture book…"

Naruto let out another Hmph sound scrunching his face in disgust. Sakura got a great big smile on her face "Hey while we're on the road is it okay if I flip through this?"

"Sorry but no. It's not finished yet...Plus I don't really show it to others…" Sakura gave the boy a confused look unsure what he means "Because it belongs to my older brother."Kira and Yamato glanced at one another. Could it be that they were all starting to put aside their differences and are starting to work together? Most likely not but it was nice to see the three of them being civil towards one another.

They waited for the three to get close before hitting the road once again. Sakura was quick to notice how easy Kira and Captain Yamato spoke. She watched as the girl made a jab at the older male causing him to chuckle, they spoke as if they were old friends.

"Can you tell me again how Kakashi ended up in the hospital? He can be quite heroic don't you agree?" Both Naruto and Sakura got a weird look to cross their faces at hearing that. Was this guy interested in Kakashi?

Kira laughed nervously scratching the back of her neck feeling a burn from how hot the metal of her hand was against her skin "Captain Yamato you know already. There isn't much more to tell you."

"Oh come on, you know how exciting it is to talk about it." Kira laughed to herself again avoiding his questioning look, it was different with Kakashi. She trusted Kakashi whole-heartedly,she knew he would never break her trust, they've been through so much that there was no reason that she could ever hide anything from her brother. Sure Yamato and her had worked together but they weren't close. Not like her and Kakashi.

"I've been meaning to ask you, how do you know Captain Yamato?" Sakura interrupted causing the two to stop in their walk to stare at the pinket. Kira laughed again scratching the back of her neck gripping the long bits of hair every so often. "We've had a few missions together."

Naruto and Sakura nodded in understanding. "Now it makes sense. I thought he was just some creeper trying to get with you." Naruto shrugged throwing an arm around his best friends shoulders pulling her close to him.

"Naru you're so weird." she shook her head but the smile was there. Captain Yamato sputtered staring at Naruto shocked. Was that how they saw him? As a sort of creep to the younger girl?

They continued on walking well into the night till Captain Yamato said it was good enough for the day. It was inside the cabin Captain Yamato was able to create for the night that everyone got the game plan. "Everyone, come here for a bit. And Sakura there's something I'd like you to tell me."

Sakura made a face of confusion "What is it?"

"It's about Sasori of the Akatsuki. I got Sasori's file from the sand as a starter, but tell me his behavior, characteristics and habits. Because you're the only one who has ever seen Sasori." Naruto shifted his head to the side confused. "Why are you asking that?"

"It's because of the Akatsuki spy working with Orochimaru. He'll be meeting with Sasori tomorrow at the Tenchi bridge...right Captain Yamato?"

Yamato nodded at Kira's words. "Correct. He might see through it right away, but its best to transform into Sasori to approach him." Kira sat beside Naruto leaning against him.

Sai shook his head and spoke bluntly "Being a spy brings its fair share of risks, so he will most likely be on his guard."

Yamato nodded looking back at Sakura. "Just in case this is a trap set by the Akatsuki, I will go ahead alone first. You will all be on standby waiting for my instructions."

"Given that there was an Akatsuki spy in the sand, Yuura and that he said it when he was about to die, I don't really think he was lying…"

Kira shook her head at Sakura's words "It is possible that he was lying. We don't have much on Sasori to begin with and he probably could be toying with us as a last laugh." The gray haired girl muttered to the group.

"Still, that spy, he must be extremely skillful…"

"Our objective is purely capture. Under no circumstances must the target be killed. Even if it results in battle. Yamato explained "If they are killed, we will have lost a valuable information source. This mission is more difficult than simply defeating the enemy. Given that it's a target mission, I'll be the first to go in. and you will act as backup."

Kira thought it was funny that Captain Yamato had to repeat himself again about the plan but she figured it was more for Naruto's sake. "The strategy is simple. First I will restrain the target. Second, if I fail to restrain them and a battle situation arises, you will all prepare to fight. I'll signal you in that case. And if we reach a situation as in part two, then we must fight via the buddy system. When one person moves, the other will look after them. The principle of the system is mutual support."

Ah the buddy system, reminds her of one of their missions where Kira and Yamato had to be partners and defeat an enemy in a neighboring village. "Now...I'll decide on the buddies. First, Naruto, Sai, and Kira." Kira could hear Naruto's annoyed groan vibrate through her brain. "Second, Sakura and myself."

"But…"

"While you and Kira are both well trained in Medical Jutsu, Sakura you again know what Sasori's message was. So that you are not injured yourself, I will be with you. Kira I trust you are okay with my decision."

Nodding her head Kira gave a small smile. "Of course, I can take after those two if they get injured." Naruto grumbled glaring at Sai. "Naruto don't start."

"But why do we have to…"

"Naruto. You and Sai are strong and could work well together. I get it, he's an ass but so was Sasuke and you two became best friends. We're doing this so that we can find him. Bring him home. Don't you want to bring Sasuke back?"

Naruto frowned looking away. "So can you please just do this for me." Naruto looked back at his best friend watching her messing with her metal arm. She had this look on her face that she was worried she was practically begging him to work with Sai.

Her nails scraping at the metal echoed through his ears setting him on edge until he couldn't take it anymore. "Okay fine!"

Yamato nodded "Thank you, but in light of what I just told you this isn't standard procedure, but half of tomorrow will be focused on pair simulation I know about you four comes from your files. I need to assess first hand your battle skills the makeup of your jutsu etcetera. Clearly its the only way I'm ever going to forge this team into cohesive fighting unit it needs to be. Kakashi sensei may have favored a more lax approach but I am not he."

The next day Yamato watched and fought with both Sai and Naruto studying their movements before moving onto Sakura and Kira. Those two worked so in sync then both Naruto and Sai. While Kira took a blunt of the attacks Sakura's strategy to capture was just perfect enough for them to capture their enemy.

At the end of it Kira was huffing and puffing with Sakura grins on their faces at having their sensei tied up between them. "Good work ladies."

"I wonder what Sasuke would have done in this scenario? Would he have fought while covering you? Somehow I doubt it." Sakura frowned holding her hands in front of her chest worried. "He betrayed our village and tried to kill you. And you still consider him a comrade?"

"Yes...and I would still do anything to save him. Even team up with you." There was a long awkward silence before Sai spoke up again "This obsession with Sasuke it's absurd."

Kira smacked her head feeling her hand dig into hard bone."No matter what you think Sai, it doesn't matter. We want to save Sasuke. We want him to be safe and come home. Things might not return to normal but at least he'd be safe." Kira spoke up for the first time in a long time about Sasuke. "We understand the things he's done and that this might be a stupid mission but it doesn't matter. We're willing to sacrifice our lives to help Sasuke realize he isn't alone in this world."

Kira threw her arm over Naruto's shoulder giving him a small smile "Naruto thinks of Sasuke as a brother. You have an older brother so you must know what thats like."

"No."

Sakura, Kira, and Naruto stared at the boy confused. "Remember our conversation about the picture titles I don't have feelings."

What? What does that even mean?! "Explain."

"I mean exactly what I said." Naruto slipped free of Kira's grasp and walked over to a tree needing to be alone. She heard he crunch of bark as he moved his hands to make a fist. "Sakura said you have a brother. Just imagine how you'd feel if your brother disappeared on you and left you like Sasuke had."

Sai looked at the beast like girl giving her another fake smile "Ah well you see...my brother is dead." Kira's eyes widen in surprise, his brother was dead? Kira could tell you exactly how she would feel if Kakashi had died. Lost. Alone. Constantly depressed.

"Even more of a reason to feel something, then…"

"And what face would I make to show that I did? One like that?" Kira growled to herself clenching her fists storming over to Naruto. He practically ignored her when she stood by him grabbing his bag from his hands to make him look at her. "Sai I don't…"

Naruto just barely glanced up before looking away again "When my brother died, I didn't know what kind of expression I was supposed to be making."

Reaching forward Kira pushed Naruto into a tree glaring at him. "Listen and listen good Naru." she growled her eyes burning a bright red as she clutched onto his jacket. "We're going to bring Sasuke home. I'll drag him back if I have to. He's going to come home."

Naruto slowly nodded reaching over placing a hand on her shoulder "I'll make sure he doesn't try anything like last time." he whispered softly. The two pulled each other into a hug "I love you Naru, please don't let him keep getting to you like that."

"No promises...But I'll try for you."

Yamato spoke up bringing the teens back to him. "Enough chit chat. We're falling behind schedule so everyone grab your packs." Sakura nodded glaring at Sai as she walked towards her bag. "Lucky you, Sai. Truth be told I was just about to clobber you again. I told you if you kept bad mouthing Sasuke I wouldn't hold back. The only reason I didn't knock you into tomorrow was because of what Naruto said. That in order to rescue Sasuke, he'd team up with even you. For once, he's being more forgiving than I am...but if you can help us get our teammate backI can't afford to hurt you."

Letting out another sigh Kira started picking her her metal arm again. "Look Sai is right that Sasuke betrayed us. There's no denying that. Sasuke isn't my most favorite being at the moment, he's part of the reason I got this." She held out her arm letting the sun hit the metal watching it shine in the across their eyes. "And I still think he's an ass but don't think I'm going to sit back and let him get away again." Sakura and Naruto nodded. Kira being the only one able to able to talk ill of Sasuke.

"Sakura...you and Naruto, how do I say this...you're being considerate of his feelings am I right? Kira while agreeing with me also is being considerate as well am I correct?" Kira shrugged her shoulders "I really don't understand how such feelings come about though there was something about it in this book."

"Can we just go already?" Naruto growled no longer wanting to listen to Sai speak. "If we're not in place before noon tomorrow this mission is over before it even starts." For once Naruto was right. He took charge. It was another night before we meet up with the spy. During the night Sakura told Captain Yamato exactly how Sasori acted and spoke making him seem exactly as Kira remembered him to be.

Sakura, Kira, Naruto, and Sai sat in the sidelines waiting for the signal to help. It surprised three of the four kids to see such a familiar face on the bridge. Kabuto. Unfortunately due to the wind it was hard to hear exactly what was being said.

There was a small discussion on whether Yamato should have just grabbed Kabuto or not but Orochimaru came to the meeting point! Kira growled to herself glaring at the long haired male. Sai watched a dim glow start to emit from the girl's eyes. "Orochimaru…" She growled snarling to herself, imagings flashing through her mind of watching the blood slip from a fresh wound around his neck. His pale skin turning whiter, the life leaving his eyes for good.

She snarled again watching Kabuto attack Yamato this time. 'I knew he was a fucking traitor.'

'Kira calm yourself you remember what Kakashi said. You can't let your emotions run wild.' Kira glared at the girl for bursting in on her thoughts. Yamato lifted his hand revealing the signal. The four of them shot towards Yamato landing beside him ready for battle. Kira felt her body itching for blood shed.

"You again…"

"Piss of fuck face." Kira snarled glaring at the gray haired male her heart hammering hard in her chest. She was in such a need for bloodshed. "Well, now isn't this a pleasant reunion, and you've brought the Nine tailed." Naruto snarled slowly losing control of himself.

"Excellent, I've been waiting for such an opportunity to see which one is stronger now. Naruto or Sasuke...I'm sure Sasuke will be pleased to see that his beloved little water spirit is still alive indeed." Kabuto chuckled glancing over at Orochimaru pleased. "I agree, he has been quite moody since her passing."

Kira growled louder "The only thing dead here is your hairstyle!" Kira snapped sounding more like a younger Naruto with the insult. "Give...Sasuke...Back!" Oh no.

Naruto was being controlled by his emotions. It must be just seeing Orochimaru and Kabuto again brought back bad memories that he could no longer hold back on the urges. Naruto didn't have a constant training to be able to control his emotions like Kira had.

"Give Sasuke back? You're getting off track." Kabuto spoke smugly fixing his glasses again. "Sasuke came to us on his own accord. Because he wanted to. Why can't you just accept the truth."

"Because he told me he'd come home." Kira growled surprising the male. "Sasuke told me he'd come home after he got everything from Orochimaru." Kira snapped towards the two. "He told me that he'd come back so that…" She paused unable to bring the words to surface.

"He told you what? He'd come back for you? They you two could have a family together?" Sakura gasped at Kabuto's words. "He thinks your dead Kira. He's willing to give Orochimaru his body and soul." Sakura stared at Kira waiting for her to deny what Kabuto said.

Instead she saw her clenching her fingers tight against her weapons a nasty glare in her eye. "You really love making my life difficult don't you." she growled to herself starting to feel the wonderful high that appeared whenever she got lost in her anger.

Kabuto snickered giving the group of five his best smile while mocking them. "Oh it does help make my day watching you suffer Kira."

"Shut up four eyes!" Sakura screamed. "You don't understand how people feel! You only know cold logic!" It was one of the first times that Sakura yelled out in battle. She hasn't acted this was in a long time.

"If you want to know about Sasuke, you'll have to force me to tell you...that is if you can." A loud explosion surrounded the group. Kira jumped out of the way watching as one tailed Naruto chased after Orochimaru. Rushing forward Kira had gripped tight onto Naruto's arm keeping him locked at her side for now. She could feel the chakra burning through her skin but ignored it as best as she could.

"Naru, naru listen to me…" She tried to get his attention as best as she could but he was losing himself to the anger. "You need to calm down some. Listen to me please Naru." She silently begged gripping tighter on his arm. His eyes looked over towards her. "We're going to get him. I promise you, we'll get Sasuke home." He was starting to calm down with her words.

Well he was anyways until Orochimaru spoke again. "So thats why He was chosen to be your guard dog, eh? Seems some of my experiments came in handy afterall." Experiments? What Experiments? "Konoha ought to be more grateful to me. Don't you think? My cute little experiment?"

It seemed not even Kabuto knew what Orochimaru was talking about. Orochimaru lifted his hand to cover his torn face while he spoke "There was a time I sought the power of a shinobi who was not only the ultimate woodstyle ninjutsu master but someone who could control the tailed beasts. Namely the first Hokage." Kira and Naruto listened intently knowing what he was going to say next would be horrible. "So I extracted his DNA and inserted it into the cells of sixty children. Unfortunately they died rapidly one after the other, their inferior bodies rejected the superior genetic material. I thought that they all perished. I can't believe there was a survivor."

Orochimaru killed so many children...and he didn't even care!? Her grip was released on Naruto's arm a new wave of anger coursing through her veins. She was going to kill him. End his existence and save other from being affected by this horrible creature.

Sakura gulped watching red and blue chakra wrap around her two friends. This wasn't good at all. Three tails appeared from Naruto. Kira growled hearing Kabuto start to move. Shooting behind she'd end him first. The sheer force of chakra control water broke the bridge in two sending the male crashing down below. She could still hear him chuckling.

"KIRA!" whipping her head over to Yamato she snarled to herself seeing the disapproval look on his face. "Calm yourself is this what Kakashi would want from you?!" Growling again she looking down at the male she oh so desperately wanted to play with his blood and watch him dangle from the ceiling like a puppet by his tendons.

The bridge was broken though. She had destroyed the bridge. Calming down some her eyes widen. Sakura was passed out on the crumbling bridge. Sai who was supposed to catch Sakura flew off ignoring her letting her fall. Shooting forward she grasped onto Sakura's ankle and gripped onto the remainder of the bridge. She grunted feeling the weight dip her down low threatening her to fall. No.

She wouldn't fall. With little maneuvering she was able to swing Sakura up above and onto safe land before pulling herself up. "I know you're upset but you mustn't…"

Kira sent a glare at Yamato's way. "I've heard this speech so many times. Knock it off. Naruto needs help." Control your emotions, don't let her escape, don't talk to her. Well god damn it she was so compelling and she hasn't hurt her before. Kakashi and the rest of the village knew little to nothing about Dragon spirits. She's learnt more from Kaida than she has with her village.

Nothing has happened yet and she was more than ready to learn more from the beast. The group of three soon joined by Kabuto so four watched in the distance as loud screams of a monster like cry echoed through the distance. An incredible battle that none of the knew was happening. The loud explosions and then a body was thrown over to their side again.

"Amazing, so thats how far Naruto would go to rescue Sasuke. The boy is gone. Only the beast remains. What a pitiful child." Sakura unable to hear Kabuto's words anymore ran towards the four tails tears streaming down her face.

"Sakura are you an idiot?!" Kira screamed chasing after her again. It was like they were back on the roof of the hospital again! "Naruto! Please don't do this! I'll rescue Sasuke!" She stumbled giving Kira the perfect chance to grab hold of Sakura's arm "I'm begging you, stop this now…" A small cry escaped her lips as her body was flung backwards away from Naruto.

Kira was growling at this point. "He's not himself! You can't just...ACK!" Kira cried out feeling her flesh sizzle and burn. One of the tails had wrapped around her body like a snake and lifted her in the air. She withered in pain feeling her skin start to melt off as she was thrown into a tree. The feeling of her skull hitting the hard bark of tree hurt far less than Naruto's tail.

Sakura rushed to her side trying to heal her as best as she could "I'm so sorry Kira!" She sobbed shaking as she held her hands over the girl. While Yamato took care of Naruto, Sakura was doing her best but her emotions were clouded with fear and sadness. "I was trying to...I thought…" more tears fell at this point.

"Go away…" she muttered pushing the girl back. The pain while unbearable would pass. She needed to help Naruto. Slowly sitting up she tried to get to her feet. They didn't have much time, who knows where Orochimaru was...but glancing over she noticed that Yamato had Kabuto trapped in a wood binding. Seems we could use him to our advantage. Hopefully.

Okay thats it for now. I gotta get ready for an early morning and I know it's not much but I'll try to get some writing tomorrow if I'm not too busy. Maybe have another update friday but again who knows with my busy schedule. Hope you all liked it!