NEXT CHAPTER!! I finally figured out what I'm doing, and this chapter is GREAT!!! –Huge smile- 'Nuff talk, let's go to the chapter!! Oh, and I'm not writing who's POV it is anymore. It's better that way.

"Michira!" She turned to see a man running towards her. He nodded. She turned back to me.

"Well, Kakashi Hatake, I really would love to kill you, but sadly, it isn't part of the plan… yet. I'm afraid I have to go now, but I'll come back to visit you and the Leaf Village soon enough." I glared at her. As long as the kids were safe, I could care less about her. A puff of smoke and she was gone, along with the man. I rushed over to where Gaara's sand had been to see them all standing around. Good. Everyone had left. I jumped along the trees until I came to the middle of the scene. I saw Sakura talking to Naruto. 'Wait, Sakura talking to Naruto?'

"I'm fine," I smiled, "but we need to get everyone to the Leaf village. Quickly."

"Oh, yeah! In case those guys come back!!"

"Don't worry about that," I jumped down. "They're not coming back, but we should get all of you back to the village."

"Kakashi-sensei?!?! What… what are you doing here?!?!"

"Don't worry about it, just follow me, all of you."

I ran quickly to the Hokage building and rushed up the stairs. Out of breath, I reached the top and saw Shizune standing in front of the door, as always.

"I... I have important news about… the special mission…" I said through deep breaths. "They've all returned… with the prisoners…" Shizune had a shocked look on her face.

"Oh, w-well, I'll surely alert my lady right a-"

"No need." The door had opened and Tsunade had stepped out. "Take me to them. I need to speak with Kakashi."

"WOW!!! Look at this place, it's AMAZING!!!" Aria shouted. "Hey, hey Kasumi!!! Come here!! Look at that!!!" She pointed to the large rock that had the four Hokage's heads carved into it. "Isn't it AWESOME!!!!"

"Aria, when did you get so… I don't know… perky?" Kasumi asked.

"I don't know," Aria shrugged, "I guess I always have been, but getting locked in a cage with little food and no sunlight kind of dampens the spirit, don't you think?" I turned away from the scene. I looked over to the benches, but all of the seats were already taken. I sighed and walked a little bit, but tripped and then stumbled a few feet.

"Hey, you okay?" I looked up and saw Sasuke walking over.

"Y-yeah, I'm just… I don't feel well and I… I really need to sit down." He was silent a moment, but then put my arm around him and his around me.

"Come on, I'll find a place for you to sit." He walked away from the gate where we had been gathered over to a tree with a small, two-person bench underneath. We could still see over where the others were gathered. I sat down and he sat next to me.

"Um… thanks…" I mumbled, almost to myself. I really didn't want to talk to Sasuke. If I did, I might… become my old self again and… and… be useless…

"Are you alright, Sakura?" Crap, he's talking to me! I nodded slowly. I felt his eyes on me. I looked to my away form him more, not wanting to see his face. Well, I wanted to see his face, and that was why I was looking away. I felt his hand on my shoulder. I couldn't help but turn and look at him. His eyes were narrowed worriedly and he was frowning.

"Sakura, please tell me if something's wrong." I won't cry… I won't!! I'm stronger than that now, and I won't cry!!!!

"Nothing's wrong. I promise." I kept looking at him. Now I wouldn't let myself look away. I was going to face him like a ninja and not some silly little girl. He didn't look away either. Silence fell. Then he spoke.

"Okay." His eyes looked away, and he seemed to be thinking. He turned back and said, "You don't seem…" It was like he couldn't bring himself to say it. My old self wanted to know, but the me I'm trying to be didn't want anything to do with it. I felt completely torn! "You seem different." That was it? It was almost… anticlimactic. "I mean," Oh come on, there's more? "you fought really well back there… and you… you weren't, you know…" SAY IT ALREADY!!! CHA!!! "acting like a fan girl." I realized he wasn't looking at me anymore. I just sat there, brilliantly, lost in my thoughts. Then I comprehended I was supposed to say something thirty seconds later.

"Oh… well, thanks, I guess." Well, that was interesting, wasn't it? Don't make yourself look like an idiot, think before you talk!! "I am trying to change. I don't want to be useless anymore." He quickly returned his gaze to me again. I started blushing, despite my will to change. I didn't look away though. It's a start, right?

"Useless? …You aren't useless, Sakura. What made you think that?" As I pondered this question, my blushing ended. I was reluctant to answer, but I forced the words from my mouth.

"You did." Before he had a chance to say anything, we heard someone yelling something.

"Hey listen up all of you!" It was Tsunade. Sasuke had stood up and was offering his hand to me. I grabbed it and he pulled me up, and then I practically fell on top of him! My cheeks were probably red with embarrassment, but I was surprised at how very tired and weak I was feeling.

"Are you alright?" Sasuke asked again.

"I'm sorry. I… I'm probably just really hungry and tired from the run over. I should be fine when I get some rest." He supported me as we walked back to where Tsunade was talking.

"…villages. For now, you'll stay here until you're ready to leave." Her eyes darted briefly to where I was standing. "I've arranged for all of you to stay in some of the Konoha hotels for now. I'm warning you they will be crowded, and you'll probably have to live with a few roommates for a while. So I suggest you figure out who you'll be staying with." The others all began to chat again and to form little groups. Tsunade was walking over. "Sakura, I'm glad to see you again. Is… something wrong?" Sasuke pulled his arm off of me and I stood up straight.

"I'm just really tired." I saw her look at my hand. "Oh, don't worry about this," I raised my hand up. "It'll be fine." She smiled.

"Glad to here it. You do look tired, Sakura. Why don't you head on home?" I nodded.

"Yes… that… that would be good… I need to rest… and… sleep…" I laughed. "Tsunade… you look funny… you're all fuzzy…" Everything was fuzzy! I laughed again and faintly comprehended the thrill of falling…

"Sakura!" I reached forward and caught her before she landed face down on the ground.

"Let me see her!" Tsunade shouted. I rolled Sakura over onto her back and Tsunade looked her over. Sakura was mumbling incoherent words and her eyes were half closed. I looked up and a crowd had formed. Naruto was running over, shouting.

"Quiet!" Tsunade barked. Naruto shut up fast and sat down next to me.

"Sasuke, what happened to Sakura?" he whispered. I shook my head.

"I don't know. One second she was fine and the next…"

"I'm an idiot! Why didn't I think of that before?!" I looked up at Tsunade. She reached for Sakura's hand and started unwrapping the bandages. "Let's get these off, they obviously aren't helping…" she muttered.

"What's wrong, Tsunade? Will she be okay?" Naruto asked.

"She's lost too much blood. This wound is really bad. I'll heal it, but that won't solve our problem. She needs to be taken to the hospital!" Tsunade placed her hand on Sakura's and it began to glow a blue-green color. The wound began healing.

"I'll take her." I suggested. She nodded, without even glancing up at me. When she was finished, she turned to me and nodded, signifying me to go. I stood, holding Sakura in my arms, and charged for the hospital. I jumped from rooftop to rooftop, hearing the confused voices fade away. I looked down at Sakura. Her pink hair was covering most of her face and she had cuts and bruises from the earlier fight. Her eyes were still open, but just barely. I saw the hospital up ahead and jumped down from the roof. I reached the emergency room door when Sakura suddenly flinched. I looked back at her.

"Sasuke…" she said in a voice that was almost a whisper. Then her body went completely lifeless in my arms…

MUAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so glad I got this up tonight!! I had to study for this huge test tomorrow, plus I was at my friend's house till five working on a soap opera we're doing for media club… -Dies- WHAT HAPPENED TO SAKURA!?!? Is she dead? What about Sasuke? What will Haruka do about Gaara? What happened to Aria when she saw Naruto? What the hell is up with Kasumi!?!?!? WHY AM I ASKING YOU ALL THESE QUESTIONS!?!?!? I LOVE THIS CHAPTER!!!!!!! I AM CRAZY!!!! WEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know, I just noticed that I die a lot... Anyway...

-Bye.

-Me.

-Read the next chapter. Or else.