I didn't celebrate last chapter, but YAY CHAPTER 15! I was so happy I've gotten to 15. –Huge grin- Anyway, um… chapter time. -Insert something funny here-

I sat on the bed. I sighed. It had been about a week and I still had no clue what I would do. Would I join her and believe what she says or…? There was a knock on the door.

"Sakura? I have some news from your village."

"News?" What could it be? Michira opened the door and walked in.

"Yes. I've heard news from Hayato that Sasuke has left the village." My mouth flew open and I felt tears at the back of my eyes.

"What? He left? Where? With who? Why?" She sat down next to me.

"He left with Orochimaru. He apparently wants to become stronger, probably to kill Itachi."

"Why would he leave us all behind? How could he do that?" I paused. "That's what… I would be doing… if I joined you."

"No, Sakura, that isn't true. You would be helping. You would have a noble reason and even then, no one would know that you chose to leave the leaf village."

"Maybe, but, Sasuke's reason is noble, too. He wants revenge on his brother for killing his clan, right?"

"Revenge is not noble. Orochimaru only wants Sasuke to use him as a vessel for his soul. You could be the one to save him, you know." I looked up at her. "You will get very strong with my guidance, Sakura. You will be stronger even than Uchiha Sasuke."

"Stronger than…? No, no that's a lie. I couldn't ever be stronger than Sasuke! He's the strongest of them all!"

"Of course you'll never be stronger with that attitude." She snapped. "You have to believe that you can be strong. Don't you want to be powerful? Don't you want the ability to control others and give them the right direction? You are smarter than him, Sakura. He's not smart enough to direct people correctly, so he will become corrupt without guidance. You are better than that. You have the capability of learning right from wrong and knowing the path to choose. You can be a leader. You can be so much better than what you think you are." She sighed. "I hope you think about it, Sakura. I know you'll make the right choice and I hope that that choice is with me. You would be a very talented student and I would be proud to call you my apprentice." She stood and headed towards the door. I slowly watched without a word as she closed the door behind her. I could be strong? I could be stronger than Sasuke? Another thought jumped into my head. 'He's not coming to rescue me…' Sasuke was becoming corrupt, wasn't he? He was turning to Orochimaru. I had to stop him. I wouldn't let him turn evil.

I would stay with Michira.

I walked into the huge shop.

"Whoa, it's like a forest of flowers in here!" I smiled and thought to myself 'Don't get lost, Aria!' Kasumi and Haruka had already gone back to their villages by now. Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro were gone, too. I was glad I didn't have to leave let. I didn't want to leave Naruto behind. I had heard he just returned from that Sasuke mission with Kakashi. I had stopped the team right before they left the village, so I knew a little bit about what they were doing.

"Where are you guys going?" Naruto turned.

"We're going to go rescue Sasuke!"

"Huh? What happened to Sasuke?"

"It's kind of a long story and we don't have much time to explain it." Shikamaru had said. I nodded.

"Well, if anyone can rescue him, it's you, Naruto." I smiled at him.

"Thanks Aria, I promise I'll bring him back, no matter what! That is my nindo: My ninja way!" I stepped up to him and hugged him.

"You better come back in one piece, Uzumaki Naruto. I'll be sure to welcome Sasuke back when you rescue him."

"Hey, you're Aria, right?" The voice snapped me back to the present. "You were rescued from that Michira person?"

"Yep, that's me!" I gave her the peace sign. She laughed.

"Wow, you act just like Naruto! So what are you looking for?"

"Oh I'm going to bring Naruto a flower. I heard he just came back."

"Oh really? Well do you want a flower that's says 'I hope you get better soon' then?"

"Actually, now that I think of it, I should get him some sort of flower that means celebration or something. He did return after his mission and I'm sure it was a success."

"Well that would be a… let me think… A Casablanca Lily! Here, there over here!" She ran down the aisle to some very beautiful white lilies. She picked one and handed it to me. After I had paid, I headed to the hospital as fast as I could. I reached the reception desk and the lady told me that Naruto's injuries weren't life threatening. She told me where his room was and I walked calmly the rest of the way. I reached the door and went to turn the handle but I overheard someone talking.

"So, did he really?" It was Shikamaru.

"Yeah," Naruto said, "Sasuke escaped." No… Naruto hadn't been able to bring Sasuke back? My brother… but he was so strong… I knew how strong he was… why couldn't he…?

"Here for a visit?" I turned.

"Oh, um, yeah Grandma Tsunade." Naruto called her that and I had started calling her that, too.

"Well let's go on in then." She opened the door and I slowly followed behind her. I looked at Naruto when I stepped in. He looked away. I sat down on the bed next to him.

"Come on, Naruto, you haven't failed… you… you could still bring him back. I know you will. You promised, the promise of a lifetime and I know that you will be the one to bring him back to Konoha." I kissed him on the cheek. He smiled at me.

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks Aria, you always know just what to say!" I hugged him and whispered into his ear, "I should know, I am your big sister after all."

"Naruto," Tsunade cut in, "Sakura still hasn't returned and I have a feeling that if she's being held captive she won't escape easily… if at all." She sounded very grave and I felt Naruto wince at her words. "So you need two new members on your squad."

"Two new…?" He turned to me and looked at me hopefully.

"Naruto, I told you. I'm a Genin of the Cloud village and I can't stay."

"Naruto, are you crazy?" Shikamaru said. "You can't ask someone from another village to join a different one. That's just like becoming a rogue ninja."

"I have a feeling it's more complicated than that, isn't it?" She looked at me knowingly and I knew she knew.

"But how did you find out?" She smirked.

"It wasn't very hard. You look the same, act the same, plus I was there, don't forget, when the Fox attacked. I knew about the missing child." Her smile faded and became more serious. "But where have you been?" I sighed.

"Well I ran off because I was scared and just wanted to get away from it all and then I met Kabuto. He took me back to the Sound village and I stayed there for a few years, training with Kabuto. I had never been an exceptional fighter, though, and eventually Orochimaru said that I was of no use to him and he told Kabuto to get rid of me. Kabuto didn't want to just leave me to die so he took me into the Land of Lighting I just wandered around for a few months until a kind family found me and took me in." Shikamaru looked totally shocked. I had forgotten about him… Tsunade had a very serious look on her face.

"Well, Aria, you are a Genin of the Cloud but you are from the Leaf and I would not refuse to let you stay here." A rush of hope washed through me. "Although if you feel like you still belong to the Cloud village you may refuse. The decision is yours, Uzumaki Aria."

I came up with the Aria idea just like last night! I was laughing maniacally, but that might have been from a combination of awesomeness and lack of oxygen to the brain due to lack of sleep… hehe… well I'm gonna post this and then QUICKLY TAKE A SHOWER BYE!!

-GO AWAY I GOTTA WATCH NARUTO!!