I don't own Naruto.

Chapter Nine: Forest Travels

Sai walked up to the gate early the next morning. Sakura was already there, and looked as if she was going to jump out of her socks. "It's about time you got here. I've been waiting for an hour!" Sai yawned. "I'm glad you're excited to see your family, but, I didn't plan on waking up at four in the morning." Sakura huffed. "Well, now that you're here can we get going?" "Why would I just stand at a gate for an hour if I was going somewhere, hag?" Sakura glared and bonked him on the head. "I told you not to call me hag!" Sai rubbed his head and groaned. It's too early in the morning for this. "All right, all right, I call a truce. Shall we go?" Sakura glared at him some more, but nodded. "That's what I was waiting to hear." They made sure they had all their stuff and jumped onto the nearest tree together and sped off.

After about fifteen minutes of hopping Sai woke up enough to realize something. They hadn't gone through the main gate. He looked around. They were going through a dark and very old forest. The trees were gnarled and he saw strange creatures leering at them with red eyes. He looked down fast enough to dodge an oncoming booby trap. Why are there traps in this for...wait a minute I know where we are! He looked ahead. "Um, Sakura, why are we going through the Forest of Death?" "Because, it's faster getting to the village this way, and since I didn't kill every single one of the Akatsuki, they are going to be after my blood. They won't expect me to go through the back." Sakura glanced back at Sai out of the corner of her eye. "Why, are you scared?" Sai huffed. "No" Sakura grinned. "Good, because there is nothing scarier in this forest than me." I can just about agree with that. Sai thought.

An hour later, after getting through the death trap, they were finally back on open road. Well, as open as you wanted it to be. They were going through another, but safer, forest. "Are we going to be traveling through a forest the whole trip there?" "Hai, didn't I tell you? My village is hidden behind a dense forest. Not many can find it." Her face went grim. "Although someone must have tipped people off about it. Not many people outside of Konoha are fond of the Haruno's. They think we have too much power." Sai lowered his head. He remembered her telling him about the intrusion that killed some of her people. He didn't want to get into it so he tried to cheer her up. "You know I still love you, hag." It worked. Sakura started laughing. "Whatever Sai, it doesn't matter anyways, I already killed Konan, so she can't tell people about it anymore. Besides, I trust you." Sai smiled a true smile.

"You might as well get used to the forest, because we are going to go through about ten more in the course of two days." Sai groaned. Sakura smiled. "Hey, at least nobody can trail us through here." Sai just grunted. By nightfall, they had already covered two and half of another. They found a good spot to set up camp. Stroking the fire that he made, Sai waited for Sakura to get back from washing. They were having fish that night. Oh well, at least it's better than ramen every night. He thought back to several missions that he went on with Naruto. All he could think about was stuffing his face with ramen. Sai started chuckling. "What's so funny?" Sakura was back. "Nothing, just thinking how fish is better than ramen." It didn't take Sakura long to figure out what he was talking about. She started laughing with him. "After we eat I'll get the first shift." "Are you sure?" "I'm sure."

A while later Sakura was sitting in a tree looking out in the darkness. Sai had gone to sleep. She had lied about nobody being able to find them. Apparently someone had and she was just trying to appease Sai. She didn't know who it was; all she knew was that they had a powerful chakra, even if they stayed very far behind them. She first noticed it when she entered the second forest. She moved her hand to her back and felt to see if her Dragon Fire sword was still there. It was. It unnerved her that she couldn't tell if the person was friend or foe. He seemed to have stopped when they made camp and masked his chakra. Sakura didn't really want to leave Sai making that fire. She could not see him or feel him anywhere. She knew he was still out there somewhere though. Sakura decided she wouldn't get much sleep that night.

Sai met her up in the tree five hours later. "Why don't you go to sleep? I'll keep watch over our little shadow." Sakura's eyes widened. She thought she had hidden it. Sai raised an eyebrow at her expression. "I'm a ninja; don't think I didn't feel it to." Sakura sighed and nodded. "Be careful, if you see anything wake me immediately." Sai nodded. "I will." Sakura hopped down from the tree and went inside the tent. Well, so much for trying to hide it. I should have known better. I just hope he will be okay; he doesn't seem strong enough to fight this powerful person on his own. Sakura looked back out the tent. Sai was sitting cross-legged in the tree and painting. Sakura sweat dropped and brought her head back inside. Oh, he'll be fine, the emotionless painter. Sakura shook her and fell asleep instantly.

Two days later, they were getting closer to her village. They could still feel the person following them but they never saw him, or her. They decided to let the person follow them as long as they didn't attack. For all they knew it could be a Black Ops ANBU following them to make sure nothing happened to them. If that was the case though, it must be a new one, because trained ANBU's were untraceable. Trying to forget about it was the best thing they could do at this time. They were already so close to the village. Sakura saw something familiar and smiled. "Hey Sai?" "Hai?" "Do you see that wall up ahead?" Sai looked. He did indeed see a tall wooden structure looming through the trees. He could also see a big white circle painted on it. "The gate to your village, I assume?" Sakura nodded. "Let's go!" They went faster.

A few minutes later they were standing in front of the gate. It must have been thirty feet high. "Who goes there?" They looked up. There was a guard staring down at them from the top. "My name is Sakura Haruno and this is my friend, Sai, we are here to see my family." The guard's eyes lit up. "Sakura, the Sakura Haruno? Is it really you?" Sakura smiled. "Long time, no see, Raiford. I almost didn't recognize you." "Me either, come on in!" He opened the gates. Sakura thanked him and walked inside. She felt a sense of relief she hadn't felt in a long time. "Sai, welcome to my home, the Elemental Village." Sai looked around. It was bustling with people and the sign of the Haruno's was everywhere. It looks like this place has been restored since the incident ten years ago. Sai smiled. "This is a very nice village Sakura."

Everywhere they walked, Sakura saw old friends again. Many of them came up to her and hugged the daylights out of her. Some of them walked with them and would not stop talking. They talked about how they missed her, how much she had changed, and how she was a hero to them. They were very nice people, but it was getting a little too noisy for Sai. Apparently Sakura thought the same. "Yes, thank you, thank you, it's very nice to see you all again too. I would kind of like to get to my home sometime though." They understood and dispersed as quickly as they came. They continued on to a tall mansion that Sakura claimed to be her old home. Sai was a little intimidated by the size. They walked through the gate and knocked on the door. Sakura felt like she had butterflies in her stomach. The door opened and her house maid stood there. She gasped. "Sakura!" Sakura smiled. "Hello Mindy, it's nice to see you again too."