Title: Sakura's Home
Author: Winter Ashby (rosweldrmr)
Disclaimer: Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto-sama. I don't own anything about Naruto, this is just for fun and if I did own Naruto I wouldn't have to right this, because I would have a team of very talented people turning this into a saga right now...
Rating: K+
Warning: this not only has spoilers until Manga 270ish, but it's kind of required for you to know what's going on. I use a lot of the Gaara mission, just made it AUish.
Summary: Sakura was kicked out of Konoha five years ago but now has been asked to return… She will meet old friends and be faced with the consequences of her actions. Future AU Sakura centric. No pairings, and you need to be up to date in the manga and series.
Authors Notes: Thanks to all my reviewers... you all rock. Especially Sandstorm626 - You really got me going on this. I hope this was a speedy enough update for you:)

Chapter 10 – Inside

Tsunade simple narrowed her eyes again, hanging just over the crest of her intertwined fingers. "Kakashi-san must be balanced." She finally was able to reply after a few minutes of suppressing the overwhelming need to scream. "The sharingan was never a part of his chakra flow, so it was always out of phase with the rest of his body. I'm surprised that something like this hasn't happened sooner. But he is strong, and only uses it when he has to. However with the added stress of the Mange Sharingan and facing Itachi, his body just couldn't take anymore."

"How do you get inside?" her patience was wearing thin and Sakura could tell that being told about chakra control and balance from her student was aggravating. It was bad enough that she knew of no way to help Kakashi, but the great slug healer was being told what to do by her former apprentice was insulting. Sakura proceeded hastily, but respectfully.

"Using a variation of Ino's Shin Ran Shin no jutsu, she can transport my conscious mind first into herself, and then into Kakashi's body. Then it's just a matter of time before I can balance his chakra." Sakura sat, waiting for the decision to come. Even though she knew that the final choice would be made by the elders, she could have sworn, for a second, that she saw a glimmer of hope dance through those sullen brown eyes.

"I see." She responded, leaning back from her desk into the soft, billowy chair. "Then he can be brought out of the dimension." Then just as soon as the moment of relaxation had appeared it was gone. "What are the risks?" She was no fool; she understood that there must be heavy risks associated with this kind of action. But being a chronic gambler hopefully gave her enough reason to consider letting her do it.

"The only risks associated with this will be mine. Ino and Kakashi will in no time be in any danger." She was stalling, she knew it. She didn't want to have to admit out loud that there was a chance things could go really wrong. But Tsunade pinned her with those familiar eyes, and she had to keep her hands from balling up the fabric of her outfit like she did when she was younger. There was no way she was going to let herself fidget. She looked up and faced her decision. "There is a chance that I won't be able to come back. I've never done this before, but from what I understand, there is a risk of being sucked into his mind and unable to dispel the illusion." She was quietly contemplating the thought of wondering, lost, for all time inside another person's mind when Tsunade abruptly stood. It was unexpected, to be sure. And part of her wanted to cower at the sheer massive chakra her sensei was releasing.

"Naruto is not to be told about this." She concluded after a few moments of inward contemplation. Tsunade's down turned glance and resolute features indicated that she was standing at the precipice of allowing Sakura to potentially sacrifice herself to save Kakashi. Sakura silently thanked her for being so understanding. With the shame that she and Sasuke brought to the village, she would take the example from Sasuke and make her last action that of self sacrifice. In her last moment, at least she would be able to redeem herself a little.

"Understood." she responded in kind, quietly with all the thanks she couldn't express. She knew it must have been hard on Tsunade, but she was a great leader and a reasonable woman. Surely she understood the desire to protect precious people. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama." She stood too and bowed deeply in exchange for the life she was about to throw away. "If I may…" Sakura spoke from her bowed position at the edge of the desk. "Tsunade-sama, I would like to pay my respects…"

"I understand." She cut her off, already sensing where this request was leading. Sakura looked up just in time to see her wave her finger in the air, beckoning. Sakura spun around just as the tiles of the roof panel were being pulled aside and a body came soundlessly to drop at her feet. She hadn't even felt the presence. The shock of seeing the hooded, masked figure descend from only a few feet behind her was unsettling.

She felt nothing coming from them. It wasn't as if they were a void, but instead she extended her chakra cloud to entwine with theirs, but found nothing. It was like he wasn't real; she'd never encountered anything like it before. She couldn't tell who it was, or if she even knew them. She was pretty sure it was a man, but underneath all those robes, it was hard to be sure. All she could do was stand there; feebly wait for something to happen. He didn't appear hostile, and for that she was thankful. However, he also didn't appear to be someone she remembered. She didn't like the idea that someone was now a member of ANBU that she didn't know. That would mean he was an outsider. She couldn't think of a single person who could have masked their chakra flow so completely. It was meaningless to do, unless they were aware of her sensing abilities.

That idea disturbed her even more. It meant that this person knew her, knew about her process of chakra sensing and had developed his own response to that. It meant she did know this person, and they spent a considerable amount of time training to be able to face specifically her. She didn't like that idea in the least. It could even be anyone she'd seen earlier who just now felt the need to conceal themselves. Or this person could have been following her for days and she wouldn't have even known. Needless to say, she did not like the current situation at all.

"Take her to the memorial stone. Don't let her out of your sight, understood." There was a nod, but no words. She couldn't even sense the air around him shift as he moved. "When she is done, bring her back here. I will have spoken to the elders and Ino by then." Another nod, another chill ran down her spine. Sakura was about to request a different escort when she was interrupted. "Dismissed."

And that seemed to be the end of the discussion. She stood, dumbfounded, not really understanding what just happened, but thoroughly displeased. Tsunade seemed to be unaware of the anger building in her and simply turned her back, facing the now midday sun. She had to turn when she heard the click of the handle of the door turning, she hadn't even been aware of his movements. She didn't like this one bit.

But she bowed, obediently and kept her eyes fixed on the immovable figure in front of her. "Yes ma'am." Sakura let herself rise and turn away from all that was familiar and semi-comforting to be led into the hall with a figure she was convinced had a personal vendetta against her. But then again, there were a great many of her former comrades who harbored such a hatred for her.

She walked a few steps behind him as he briskly made his way down the hall once again. Except this time, she was sure there were eyes watching her, from above, to the sides in the cracks in the walls, and oddly enough from his back. It was like she could feel him watching her, even with his back to her. It was unsettling and utterly disconcerting.

She extended her chakra field, desperately trying to get any kind of idea about who this person was. But once again, it was like he did exist. Her chakra passed right over him, as if it was an illusion. She focused her chakra to her ears, trying to sense any indication that the footsteps and breathing were real. She couldn't tell. She wasn't even sure if all this was real anymore.

It wasn't like how Lee had no chakra, because she could still feel him. She could still sense the way the air heated around him limbs, and the way the earth crunched under his feet. But this person was like a hallucination. She couldn't even hear him breathing and for one wild, insane moment she was tempted to try and touch him – just to see if her fingers passed through empty space.

But she had the sinking suspicion that trying to touch the person that hates you isn't a good idea. He had to be real, she knew of no clones or illusions like this. And Tsunade seemed completely at ease with letting her go off with this person. How had she been able to tell he was there when Sakura couldn't? Had Tsunade asked him to hide there, knowing that she was coming? She couldn't be sure but she was slowly going crazy trying to figure out who this person was.

All she knew was that she was following this man, she assumed, who obviously had a grudge against her, and was leading her right back to the place where she needed to be but in no way was ready to face – especially not in the company of someone like him. How could she mourn while she was being watched with hateful eyes? She was one second away from trying to sense his life force but was interrupted.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Not unless you want to die."