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"So... we need to create the ultimate Bijuu?" Yondaime asked the specialist. They were in a tavern far from Konoha's strong walls. "To finish the evil?"

The small, balding man nodded. "Yes yes Hokage-Sama... Keeping the nine-tails for last. It's currently... ah... loose which may cause a problem."

Bang. The Hokage's fist came down on the table. Hard. "I will not seal it inside anyone, you hear?!" His blue eyes, usually so warm, had hardened. "I couldn't."

"Then you lose the chance to save everyone. You need to gather the strongest, most driven Shinobi from all the countries..."

"The most evil." Yondaime growled.

"In some respects yes... You need them to extract the Bijuu and transfer it."

"Into the ultimate Bijuu."

"Yes. All nine."

Yondaime leaned back in his chair, anxiously flicking his fingers on the table's edge.

"Why must they be already sealed?"

The man tittered. "So that they don't kill you when you try to subdue them."

"I can't believe I'm even contemplating this..." Yondaime hissed to himself. Then he thought of that village... the little girl. "How do you seal a Bijuu?"

When Kushina was found to be pregnant, Yondaime's heart soared; they were having a child. But when realization dawned, and he remembered their purpose, his soaring heart dropped like a rock into his stomach.

Damn it!

He punched a wall; causing bits of plaster to flake off the otherwise neat building.

Why does the world need to be fixed so badly? How could it get into such an extreme situation without anyone trying to stop it?

Sitting in that room, watching their son battle with other Shinobi, his heart so pure, so good, they found their answer... and it wasn't the answer they'd expected to find.

It made them wiser, though the knowledge hurt.

"So it was all meaningless?" Kushina whispered eyes downcast. Yondaime smiled a small, sad smile.

"I don't believe that for a minute." He answered. "His life has helped make him who he is. We set out to heal the world... and he is doing it now. All we have to do now is help him."

"How?"

"Stop what we started."

"Again, I ask, how?"

"Wait until he comes, then call off the Akatsuki long enough to explain. Then we fight them. Together."

Sakura grimaced. This was hard. Trust them? Not trust them? She'd never... forgive them that would be too hard. Because of what they did, Naruto was beaten, bullied, hated by those he wished to protect.

And it's no use me getting all righteous... I was as bad as them. I remember so many times, just turning away because, at first, my mother's hand guided me, then I turned him down when all he offered was one date, because I thought he was an idiot... well... ok he's still an idiot but... too kind.

He'll forgive the bastards... Damn him.

Yeah he will, so I should too... Well, eventually I will, but for now, I'll go with whatever he decides.

Sakura turned to look at the boy behind her, he had his eyes focused on her, as her eyes widened in surprise he said, quite simply, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Whatever you think, Sakura-chan. I trust you."

Shit!

Haha, you're fucked girl. It's your choice if he leaves his parents or not!

Well?

Oh whatever, tell me when you make a choice.

Eep

Sakura turned to the most respected ninja ever to grace Konoha.

"How long do we have before Akatsuki show up?"

The blond man looked at her, grinning.

Damn it, why does he have to grin like Naruto? It just makes me want to trust him, damn it!

"Two hours... Itachi and Kisame have been sent away."

"Sent away? You think they'll obey you?" Sakura's mind recalled their faces; they were too cold, too powerful to be commanded.

But Minato's face looked genuinely taken aback, as did his wife's. They hadn't even thought of it as a possibility. "Of course they will."

Before Sakura could say anything, a silver streak rushed past and caught Minato in a tight hug... Naruto sidled up to Sakura and put his chin on her shoulder, resting his head against hers.

"Looks like Kakashi-sensei heard the whole thing... He's glad to see his sensei again." The blond Jinchuuriki murmured. Sakura couldn't help relaxing. They only had two hours... but she felt safe.

STOP BEING MUSHY AND CONCENTRATE ON NOT LETTING US GET CAPTURED!!! Both Bijuu practically screamed, causing their two vessels to wince. Yamato blinked and sat up.

"Oh yes..." He smiled. "Now I remember why I fainted!" He beamed up at Yondaime placidly.

Damn... Sakura sighed. Am I the only one who doesn't trust them?!

Looks that way! Her inhabitant laughed, peals of way-too-happy laughter echoed around the inside of Sakura's skull. She put a hand to her head.

"Damn..." Naruto looked at her in concern and understanding.

"They're getting louder." He whispered. Pulling her to him in an embrace, he narrowed his eyes in regret. "I'm sorry Sakura-chan..."

"You're... what? Baka! Nothing about anything is ever your fault, when have you ever done anything wrong?" She smiled, forgetting for just a moment that they weren't alone. Naruto frowned.

"I didn't keep my promise..." He whispered, so softly she barely caught the words. When she heard though, it was with pain.

"Forget your promise; we'll both bring him back. Together, remember?"

Kakashi looked back at the two young ninja; he was unable to stop himself feeling a moment of doubt. When Sasuke came back... would Sakura leave Naruto behind?

Sakura's eyes glared up at him, those sentiments... she'd felt them, in her heart, she'd felt Kakashi's doubts when he looked at her with Naruto. "Kakashi-sensei..." Her voice was filled with barely strained fury. The silver haired Jounin's visible eye widened slightly.

What? She can't have... can she? Aw jeez, now I have to watch even my thoughts around the girl... Well, anyway... Support from the village should arrive in around two hours too, so hopefully we won't be left alone with Akatsuki too long.

"We need to fortify the building. Akatsuki could arrive at any moment."

"Two hours was what I told them." The fourth frowned a little at his student, holding up two fingers in a "peace" sign. But he couldn't hold that face for long after the reunion, and he grinned again. "But I like your thinking Kakashi!"

"You should Minato-sensei... Hokage-Sama... you trained me." Kushina laughed and rolled up her sleeves to show curled fists.

"All right! Let's get ready to pound those suckers!" Yamato put a hand on her shoulder to stop her running off to prepare.

"Erm... Kushina-chan? We need a plan darling." The man pulled her back and the red haired woman squinted at him playfully.

"Then plan! We can't sit here and not do anything!" Kushina pouted. Sakura and Naruto could not help but blink in unison at the couple before them.

Creepy... Thought Naruto, looking from his parents to Sakura.They're exactly like...

Sakura looked back at Naruto. They're exactly like us.

As if they'd read each other's minds, the two young ninjas exchanged weak smiles. Kakashi, Yamato and Sai, who had quietly entered the room, noticed the same thing and smiled, even Sai, smiled one of his genuine ones... even if it was more of a mocking smirk...

"Let's do this!" Kushina prodded.

Naruto looked at his mother. "Yeah! Come on! No time to waste!" They both ran off down the corridor leaving their partners standing together watching them.

"Baka." Sakura muttered.

"That woman..." Minato frowned.

They looked at each other and sighed, trudging off after the two more... energetic members of the group. Sakura couldn't help a small smile.

Maybe these two aren't all bad...

Team Hebi had surrounded the Akatsuki building at this point, Sasuke concentrating a little too hard (some would call it obsessing) on what Karin could have sensed when she said similar to Naruto's chakra... another Jinchuuriki? No. The Jinchuurikis had wildly different Chakra signatures; he had learned that it was impossible to tell from simply sensing their chakra if they were a Jinchuuriki.

He had decided to wait... eventually Itachi would come to them, this time, Sasuke would kill him right.

The Uchiha teenager looked up as Suigetsu approached.

"Heyy, Sasuke... What do you want us to do?" The man asked, tilting his head and letting his mid-length hair swing through the action. He grinned maliciously and produced a blade. "How about we take care of those inside huh, for a little fun to pass the time?"

Sasuke managed to hold back a grimace... He really had become their babysitter... "Patience you Baka... We'll have our fun soon." He frowned and pushed at the boy before him, who scampered off to inform Karin and "that bastard" Juugo.

Sasuke looked out at the sky. Come swiftly unto me... Brother. He silently bade the man who was always on his mind.

Yamato and Kakashi were enjoying the relaxation period with some of Kushina's sake. "My private stash!" She'd said, quite simply. Yondaime had raised his eyebrows and laughed mildly when Sai asked him about the building's architecture, a weird response? Not really. Sai had nicknamed him "Shaggy-Sama.", which Sakura maintains is his most accurate nickname to date.

"It wasn't meant to be funny..." Sai whispered as he was left by the door by a tittering Minato, he leant against the door and sighed.

I still have a lot to learn...

"Hey... Where's Dickless and Ugly Dog?" Kushina whipped around to glare at him, Minato, too, gave the boy a look that would kill. Kakashi simply laughed and held up a hand of peace.

"They're on the roof... you must remember Sai, this could be their last two hours together. Give them time." Yamato nodded in agreement.

"It's hard for them."

"Why?" Sai asked, irritated. "Why does it matter so much? If we die, we die, that's the way of the Ninja. We die for our mission, that's how it works."

"Maybe you're right... but what's harder than dying... is being left behind." Kakashi whispered; catching his sensei's attention as a tear slipped under the mask he wore.

Sai's expression softened, but not because of Kakashi. His eyes were distant, lost in some long lost memory. Kushina opened her mouth to say something but her husband put a hand on her arm to silence her.

A gentle breeze ruffled Naruto's hair as he stood on the roof; his eyes were solemn and sincere as he looked at the girl standing not far in front of him, her back turned and her face hidden. He could hear the odd little sob that she tried to hide as she hastily wiped her eyes before clasping her hands in silent prayer.

As the breeze picked up again, whipping pink tendrils about her head, Sakura turned to look at her lover, leaves scattered around them, Naruto felt one land on his forehead and picked it off, looking at it sombrely.

"For Konoha." It was all she had to say, and he knew that she was thinking like him. He smiled softly.

"For Konoha." He agreed. "But that doesn't make it easier. I only ever wanted to..." He swallowed, Sakura took some small steps forwards and rested her head on his shoulder. "I only ever wanted to protect you..." He lifted a hand and cupped her chin, looking closely at her face. "That's all I ever wanted, and now, here we are about to fight all of Akatsuki together. This is hard."

Sakura sighed. "It's time to stop protecting me... Naruto, I'm not weak like before-"

"You?! Weak?! That's not what I remember!"

"Baka! Shut up and let me finish! I'm not weak like before, so let me fight. We did say that we would fight together from now on." She pushed at his shoulder, but he resisted and pulled her into a tight embrace, clutching her shoulders.

"I understand Sakura-chan... it's not that I think you're weak, I think the exact opposite!" He grinned. "It's just that... that's how I keep going." He kept smiling but looked a little embarrassed as he finished, "I... keep going for you. To protect that which is most precious." The girl smiled warmly and nestled into his coat.

"I guess I can understand that... you... kind of drove me too." She blushed and Kushina, who was watching from the trap door that led up to the roof, smiled.

Don't worry children... words will come easier with time. You'll see.

She slid back down the ladder to her husband who was looking up with smiling eyes. "They're still a little awkward." He sighed, "Remember when we were like that?" Kushina giggled.

"We were exactly like that. Should we tell them all that we know now?"

He sighed, "I think that it's time, don't you?"

"Way overdue in my opinion."

Sakura's eyes closed. "Don't you dare die, Baka." She whispered, her breath catching as she admitted the fear she felt. "If it gets to that point, promise me that you'll leave before you die, get yourself healed."

Naruto closed his eyes, fighting what he wanted to say, what he wanted to ask. "You make it sound like you won't be the one doing the healing."

"I might not be."

"Sakura-chan... I can't promise that I'll leave you, I can't leave you. If I promise that... it will be on the condition that you do too."

"..."

"Sakura-chan?" His voice trembled, "It's not easy is it? Making a promise that it's impossible to keep." He stroked her hair, pulling pink strands between his fingers in an attempt to soothe. She just kept still, weeping quietly.

"No... It isn't easy... it's fricking impossible!" She looked up at him with angry tears streaming down her face. "But if you die, Naruto... I swear I'll kill you!"

Naruto laughed happily. "Sakura-chan! You forget! I can't die until I become Hokage!"

"Rokudaime Naruto... Sounds good!" She smiled, cheered by his unwavering optimism and dreams. "Sounds... right." She put her arms around his neck and kissed him as though she would never get another chance.

Is this the beginning of the end for Naruto and Sakura? As Akatsuki close in and Team Hebi waits in the shadows how will this end for Konoha?

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