Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

A/N It has come to my attention that I may not have been clear about Sakura's Sharingan. Both of her eyes were slashed and Tobi gave her two Sharingan eyes. She has two black eyes now. I'm sorry if I confused any of you because of this.

Chapter 8

The temporary Team Seven walked through the gates of Konoha, back from their mission at Tenchi Bridge. Somehow, Sai was with them too as he seemed to have had a change of heart upon seeing Naruto's bond with Sasuke. A bond that he wanted Naruto to prove to him existed.

Ino was sad that they weren't able to bring Sasuke back but... he was so powerful. He had shocked her so easily within a few seconds and had no difficulty attempting to kill Naruto. They were lucky that Orochumaru decided to spare them in hopes that they would kill more Akatsuki members.

But, she could still feel that horrible aura that surrounded Sakura. When her former best friend was towering over her, killing intent being radiated from her body, Ino felt that, if she wasn't already immbolised, that she wouldn't have been able to move.

Sakura had demonstrated her abilities in Wood Style but hadn't utilised her Sharingan. Imagine how much more frightening she would have looked with red, blood-thirsty eyes.

Sakura would be hell in human form.

The next day, Ino gave her mission statement to the Hokage along with her team. Tsunade pressed her lips into a thin line upon hearing both Ino's and Sai's desertion but she didn't comment on it. And then, the blonde had left to drown her sorrows by eating her weight in dumplings.

She's so strong. The Team Ten Kunoichi thought as she pushed her last dumpling to the tip of the stick. With the way I am now, how can I bring her back? Suddenly, the dumpling fell to the table and rolled onto the floor. Normally, Ino would've thrown a tantrum and cry at the loss of her beloved food - Anko would be disappointed - but she was so deep in thought that she barely even noticed it fall.

What can I do? An idea struck her mind. It was so crazy that she immediately pushed it away. But, it popped back up again, refusing to be turned away, and she couldn't ignore it.

If I want to bring Forehead back... Then I have to! The blonde ran out, stepping on the forgotten dumpling as she did so.

The next day, Ino was once again at the Hokage's office. But not by request this time.

She had cut her hair, most of it. Some of her blonde locks remained at shoulder length. It got in the way for Sakura...

"I want to be your apprentice!" She shouted fiercely at Tsunade.

The Godaime narrowed her eyes at the chunin. "Why?"

"I have to get stronger, I have to bring Forehead back!" Ino began. "I was so... weak to her. I couldn't do anything, and I know that I can't be weak when I drag her back here."

"And if she doesn't want to come back?" The Fifth asked. "Will all this training go to waste?"

"No!" She was quick to respond. "She will come back, I'm not accepting 'no' as an answer." Clenching her fists, she asked again. "Will you train me?"

Tsunade let a small smile appear on her face. If Ino was willing to bring back her old student - and she could also have a new student - who was she to say no? Ino had that same fire in her eyes, that determination, that led to the Godaime teaching Sakura.

"It won't be easy. Prepare yourself."

"Oops." Sakura said as a kunai she had been swinging on her finger shot off, almost stabbing Deidara. He looked at her, fuming. "Sorry. You were in the way."

"You bit-" The blonde began to shriek, only to be interrupted by their leader - Pein (or Leader-sama).

His holographic form appeared to the group of Akatsuki members. Only Deidara and Sakura were there for real, the others projected themselves into the hideout.

"Now that Sasori is dead, I have allowed Tobi to join the organisation." Pein began.

"Tobi thanks you, Leader-sama!" The man with the orange mask shouted, saluting the Rinnegan user.

Inwardly, Sakura smirked. All of the fools in the Akatsuki didn't know that it was Madara underneath that mask, that Tobi possessed the Sharingan and that they were all being played by the clown-like member of the group.

"Hidan, Kakuzu." Pein got their attention. He instructed them to collect more bodies as more money was needed. The immortal duo phased away, the Jashin worshipper mumbling something about running out of condoms. The cherry blossom rolled her eyes. He thinks that's the reason I won't have sex with him...

"Yes, the real reason you are no longer acting like a slag is because you're stropping about not being able to capture a jinchuriki." Inner Sakura explained. Outer Sakura cringed at the accuracy.

"Sakura," The leader turned to her. "Zetsu has been keeping an eye on Yuguto Nii and she has been travelling around in the outskirts of the Land of Lightning, moving further away each day. Your assignment is to capture her, alive."

Yes, finally!

"I'll- I'll do my best!" A familiar voice rang in her head. "Shannaro!" The pinkette cringed at the old battle cry she used to scream.

"Understood." She replied, containing her excitement.

Before Deidara could complain, it was announced that he would be travelling with Tobi from now on while Sakura would be travelling solo.

Fine by me. No one to get in the way. The cherry blossom thought.

"What, Shikamaru-kun?" Ino asked, opening one of her eyes. She was currently meditating and the disturbance was unwanted. She needed to have accurate chakra control to store her chakra. No distractions.

"You're pushing yourself." The genius said to her.

"I'm training." She replied. "What? A girl can't try?"

The lazy boy sighed, not wanting to get into an arguement about gender. "How troublesome..." He imagined receiving an earful from Ino. "Tsunade-sama has called us for a meeting." He informed her.

"What, Team Ten?" The blonde questioned to which her teammate shook his head.

"Something about the Akatsuki's movements."

Ino froze. It had been a while since her run in with Sakura. She had constantly been training, already having a bit of knowledge with Tsunade's teachings. Did she really want to get into contact already?

I need to take every chance to see her. Ino thought, running out of her house to the Hokage Tower. Unfortunately, she left Shikamaru behind who scratched his head before following after her.

"Akatsuki!" Someone yelled, terror filling their voice. Sakura lazily strolled through the small village, not a care in the world about the people screaming in fear around her. Well, she didn't care before someone decided to throw a rock at her.

She disposed of him quickly.

"Monster!" A woman yelled, cradling her dead son's head. The rogue ninja payed no mind to her.

Sakura had realised that her money was running out. So, naturally, she stole some from a random village on the way to capture the Two-Tails. She wanted to treat herself to some dumplings to fire her up for the upcoming battle. And if that meant she had to kill a bunch of nobodies, then she was fine with that.

Ten minutes and a village burnt to the ground later, Sakura was running through the forest, jumping from tree to tree with a pack of dumplings concealed within her cloak. She had learnt to savour them over the years.

"Oi, bitch! Stop dreaming about dumplings and focus on those three chakra signatures!" Inner Sakura said, getting Sakura's attention.

It was this annoying itch in her head. Three chakra signatures - one decent and two fairly large - were moving behind her. But, they were so far away that she presumed they didn't know she was there due to the fact that she had to hide her chakra signature every time she travelled.

Knowing that she wouldn't be at peace without knowing who they were, the pinkette sunk into the bark of a tree, hiding herself.With such large chakra, what idiots wouldn't conceal themselves? She thought.

She waited for a while, the only enjoyment she had was what she thought of in her mind. Upon capturing the Nibi, Sakura decided that she was going to shove it in Deidara's face for three days instead of two.

Once the chakra signatures were closing in, the cherry blossom prepared herself for the reveal.

And what a shock it was.

"Sasuke-kun, aren't you going a bit fast?" Kabuto asked. The Uchiha made no response.

"He's excited, Kabuto." Orochimaru responded. "He heard his girlfriend is near."

"She's not my girlfriend." The former Konoha genin decided to speak this time.

"Right, right..." The medic sighed. "I'm just glad she killed a lot of people there. Saved me the job of doing it myself to collect some bodies."

Sakura wanted to laugh. They were searching for her. When she was young, she would have done anything for Sasuke-kun to look for her. Now, she thought it was funny.

Hmm. Sakura assessed Sasuke's looks. He still looked good, his hair needed some work though. But, as a single woman, she did appreciate the bare chest. It really got her going.

"Ew." Inner Sakura commented. Outer Sakura shrugged in response.

Oh, she knew she had to keep under the radar... But, to hell with that! She already destroyed a village, what would having a little fun with Sasuke do?

Sakura raised her chakra level slightly and immediately saw Sasuke's facial expression change. His eyes snapped to her concealed form on the tree. Narrowing his eyebrows, he noticed something strange on the tree. Was it the pattern on the bark? Was it thicker on some part? Was it the pink-haired girl smirking at him while wearing an Akatsuki cloak?

Definitely the last one.

When he was told of Sakura's new group, Sasuke outwardly showed his shock by denying it and then angrily breaking something. It resulted in him being teased for having a girlfriend in the Akatsuki.

"Oh, come on, Sasuke-kun. It hasn't been that long, has it?" Sakura asked as her former teammate hadn't said anything. "I'll give you a hint, alright. 'Sasuke-kun!'". She squealed it loudly, laughing like a maniac after.

Orochimaru and Kabuto only watched the reunion from the side.

Withdrawing his sword, Sasuke prepared to fight her. He didn't know why, maybe he was mad. Though, she was in the Akatsuki and would probably know information on Itachi.

"You look mad." Sakura deduced. "I thought you would get mad after I showed you these." Activating her Sharingan, she laughed when Sasuke looked like her was going to throw up.

"How do you have those?!" He spat at her.

"That's none of your concern." The cherry blossom replied.

"You're not an Uchiha." The man said.

"No, Sasuke. I'm more of an Uchiha than you ever were."

Wood shot out of the trees, attempting to wrap around Sasuke. If he was shocked, he didn't show it. Lightning danced around his hand and he destroyed the pinkette's attacks.

He's fast. Sakura thought, assessing how he dodged her... Wood. But with her Sharingan, she could keep up with him.

However, she only wanted a taste of him. She couldn't afford to have a full on battle, she had a job to do. So, she quickly used a genjutsu on her body which camoflaged her into her surroundings. Dropping her chakra levels, she fled while Sasuke continued to destroy her onslaught of Wood.

He noticed her disappearance quickly though and began to pursue her. But, she got away faster than he thought.

"Fuck!" He yelled, grabbing onto a cherry blossom petal and tearing it to shreds. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion when looking at the green leaves on the trees.

Sakura skipped away with a spring in her step. That was fun. She thought.

"I'm so glad that Sasuke-kun wanted to train with me." A younger Sakura announced in her head.

Oh, shut up. The pinkette rolled her eyes.