Chapter 23

Ibiki was right to go ahead. With Sasuke injured, it was slow going. She didn't mind though. Naruto walked besides her talking with excitement. He was telling her of his mission. Something to do with a race. She told him of how he had defeated their enemy and helped their friend win the race. It all sounded very exciting.

He then asked for her story. She told him and could tell the other two were listening as well.

"An Alliance huh. Can we really trust that Gaara guy?" Naruto muttered.

"I think so. In the time I spent with him he was different." She said.

"I hope your right. He scared me quite a bit." Sakura told her.

"Don't worry Sakura! If he tries anything I'll save you with my Rasengan!" Naruto cried out.

Sakura rolled her eyes, but grinned at her goofy teammate.

"Speaking of which. Didn't you say you were going to show it to me?" Akari asked.

Naruto was happy to oblige. They stopped for a moment as he made a shadow clone. The two narutos put their hands together. In moments Akari could feel the pull of very strong chakra. In awe she took a closer look as a ball of light appeared in her friend's hand. She laughed in excitement as he destroyed a boulder with it. It completely shattered.

"That was amazing!" She was still laughing.

He blushed at her compliment and grinned at her. Casually he put his hands behind his head and they continued. After a while, Akari noticed Sakura struggling with Sasuke. Naruto offered to take her place.

"No. I'll do it. Your clones will come in handy if we get attacked." Akari told him.

He agreed and took the lead. Akari took her turn supporting Sasuke. He didn't seem too happy about it. It wasn't until the others were farther ahead that he spoke.

"So you're trusting the idiot to lead." He muttered.

"Yes. I am. He's more than capable of getting us home."

Akari gritted her teeth. He could be so frustrating sometimes!

"Whatever. Here I thought it was because you like him." He said coldly.

"Of course I like him!" She retorted.

She saw hurt flash across his face. It was gone so quick she thought she imagined it. He didn't meet her eyes and glared at the ground. She then realized what he meant.

"As a friend! And nothing more." She mumbled.

He blinked in surprise and looked at her.

"Oh. Well I saw him holding your hand so I thought…"

"He was comforting me! That's something friends do." She rolled her eyes.

He smiled lightly. The sight made her breath catch. She was hoping that she could get over her feelings for him but it was proving to be impossible. Biting her lip she stared up ahead at Sakura. What was she to do about this?

"Akari. What are your reasons?" He whispered.

She turned to face him again, confused.

"You said you had other reasons to be an A.N.B.U besides him."

"Oh."

She took a while before answering.

"Gaara said that Naruto fights and gets stronger to protect his friends. I guess that my reason. To protect my friends and family and the village I love. Sure, I could do that as a Jonin but I also needed a release. Like you, I was angered by your brother's betrayal. Not for myself but for you. I was angry with him for putting you through that. I needed a way to let out it out. This is it. To kill with no mercy. No remorse. It works better than keeping it bottled up."

"If you bottle it up, it's a whole lot stronger when you finally release it." He muttered.

She frowned. He was still stuck in his ways. She needed to tell him soon. Maybe once he's healed. Itachi had said she could chose when. It was time.

They made it to the village without incident. Akari handed Sasuke off to his teammates as she made her way to the Hokages office. Lady Tsunade was waiting for her. She was immediately congratulated.

"You did very well! A lot better than I hoped. Ibiki informed me of your skills against the enemy and I'm impressed."

Akari bowed to her Hokage.

"Thank you my Lady." She said.

"Like promised, you will work directly under me. No one else. In time, a man by the name of Danzo will approach you. He likes to have the best in his Root Organization. Don't trust him."

"Of course. I'm yours to command Lady Tsunade."

"Good. You must be tired. Rest and then go to the A.N.B.U corps tomorrow morning. You'll work with them unless I need you."

Akari nodded and left the building. She went straight home and greeted her family. Only Riko was home. Their sister was still on a mission in the Land of Water. She had dinner and listened to Riko as he told them of his mission. Then she went to bed.

The next few days she met the with A.N.B.U corps and trained. Every day it was with someone different. They didn't put her on a permanent team in case the Hokage needed her. She would go where she was needed. Akari even met Tenzo again.

One day she was walking by the hospital when she felt it. Two strong attacks were about to collide. She leaped to the nearest roof and saw something that made her blood run cold. Naruto and Sasuke were using their strongest attacks on each other! If they made contact it wouldn't be good! She was ready to interfere but someone rushed past her. Kakashi reached them in time. The attacks were deflected and hit a pair of water towers.

Akari was breathing hard. What the hell were they thinking! They're best friends! Her heart pounded against her chest. She stood there calming down, while Kakashi reprimanded his students. Sasuke had had enough and left the roof. She was planning to go to him but the look on his face stopped her. It was pure rage. She saw where he was staring and knew why. The tower Naruto hit was completely destroyed from the back.

Sasuke disappeared and Akari made her way to the park. She needed to think. She found a shady spot under a tree and stared up at its branches. Rays of sunlight poured through the gaps. The wind blew gently and the leaves rustled. It was very relaxing. Her body was no longer tense.

She had to do something about Sasuke. He was willing to hurt Naruto to prove he was stronger. Her mind went back to the towers. At first glance it looked as if Sasuke's chidori was the strongest. Until you see the full extent of Naruto's Rasengan. It devastated the water tower. No wonder Sasuke was angry. He felt weaker than Naruto.

Slowly, Akari's eyes began to close. In moments she was asleep. She dreamed of a boy with dark hair and one with blue eyes. In this dream they fought. And fought. And fought. There was no winner. They both fell to the ground lifeless.

Akari gasped as someone shook her awake. She broke free and pulled a kunai to defend herself. Sweat ran down her face. She was staring at Itachi.

"It was a dream! You need to pull yourself together and find Sasuke!" He whispered harshly.

"Sasuke? Why?" She was panting.

"He's trying to leave the village! Go!"

Akari didn't hesitate. She left the Itachi and searched for his younger brother. She found him talking to Sakura. Hiding behind a tree, she listened.

"I love you so much!" Sakura cried out. Tears poured down her face.

Akari placed a hand over her mouth. Sakura had confessed.

"If you stay with me I'll make sure you won't regret it! Every day will be fun. We'll definitely be happy. I'll do anything for you. So…please. Stay here! I'll help you with your revenge. I'll do something so please stay here with me! If you can't stay…take me with you."

There was a small pause.

"You really are annoying." Was Sasuke's answer.

He then began to walk away. Sakura threatened to scream. He didn't let her. Instead he appeared behind her and knocked her out. He carried her to a nearby bench and left her there. Sasuke then continued on his way.

Akari ran ahead and leaned under a street light. She waited and he found her there. He seemed surprised.

"A girl confesses her love for you and you knock her out. Not very kind." She muttered.

"She'll get over it. I don't belong in this village. I have something I need to do." He stared at her.

"Kill you brother for murdering your clan. Yeah I know. But what if I told you he left someone else alive besides you?"

She didn't meet his eyes. Instead she stared up at the moon.

"What are you talking about? There were no survivors." He glared at her.

Before she could change her mind, Akari brought out her sharingan. Then, slowly, she faced Sasuke. His face widened in shock and disbelief. Tears formed in his eyes and he fell to his knees.

"That's impossible! How! Why! Why aren't you dead like the rest of them?" He sobbed.

"I guess he saw no reason to kill me."

"Akari! Do you know what this means?"

Sasuke stood and cleared the distance between them. He took her hands in his.

"You can come with me! Together we can find him and kill him for killing my…no OUR clan!"

Akari smiled sadly at him. She took her hands from his.

"No Sasuke. I don't want to kill him. I'm not a part of your revenge." She told him.

"He's a heartless bastard who needs to die for his crimes! He's the reason our clan is gone! My family! Your family!" He said angrily.

"NO SASUKE! Not my family! I may have been born an Uchiha but I wasn't raised as one! I'm not helping you kill him!" She was angry now.

"You could've been! If he hadn't ruined everything!" He stared at her with rage in his eyes.

"No. My parents died shortly after I was born. Even if your brother hadn't don't what he did, I would still be living with the Yoshidas. Either way I wouldn't have been a true Uchiha." She said softly.

"But you would've told me eventually. I could've shown you where we all lived and introduced you to my family. I could've shown you what it was like to be a part of a clan."

"You're living in the past Sasuke. We shouldn't be thinking of what could've been. Only of what it is now and what it will be." She told him.

"Even if you weren't raised one, your still an Uchiha. You must feel something!" He muttered.

He was right. She did feel something. Disappointment. The clan he loved so much were traitors to their village. He didn't know it, but she did. She wasn't planning on telling him this just yet. Her being an Uchiha was enough for now.

"Sasuke please understand. I don't feel anything towards those people. I just don't. I didn't know them, I don't know the people who gave birth to me. I feel no need for revenge like you do." She whispered.

"Why can't you just come with me? Please. Knowing I'm not the only one means so much to me." He sobbed.

In seconds he had her pressed against the street light. He placed a hand on her cheek and stared at her sharingan.

"I never thought I'd see someone else my age with these eyes. Now that I have I don't want to leave your side."

"Then don't." Her heart was threatening to burst out her chest.

"I can't stay here Akari. Please. I need you to come with me." He pleaded.

"If I go, you won't have a reason to come back." She told him.

He stared at her before pressing his lips to hers. Unlike with Neji, she kissed him back. This was different. She loved him. She didn't want him to leave but she knew she couldn't stop him. He needed to figure things out for himself.

After what seemed like ages, he pulled away. Pressing his forehead to hers, he spoke.

"Please. Just until it's over. Until he's gone. Then we will come back to our friends."

"Sasuke. I want to, I really do, but I need to be here." She whispered.

"Why?"

"Something is happening. I don't know what but I need to stay and protect Naruto."

He stared at her in confusion.

"Why does he need protection? Frankly I think he's doing just fine." Sasuke said annoyed.

"You've got your mission, I've got mine. Just know that I can't leave."

She held his face in her hands and brought his lips to her. It was brief but wonderful. A part of her wanted to take his offer and go. She knew better.

"Don't let them change you beyond recognition." She pleaded.

He nodded and hugged her tightly. Then he was gone, leaving her standing alone under the street light.

The next morning word had gotten out. Lady Tsunade had Shikamaru put together a team to retrieve Sasuke. Akari stood on a nearby roof watching him, Naruto, Neji, Lee, Choji, and Kiba preparing to leave. Sakura soon arrived to speak to Naruto. She had him promise to bring Sasuke back. Akari felt like it was too much to ask of him. She knew Sasuke wouldn't come back easily. Feeling him staring at her she looked towards Neji. He stared at her and nodded his own promise before turning to leave. Akari watched as her friends left in search of the Uchiha.