This is bad. Sakura thought. The healing would take some time, and apparently time wasn't on her side. "What's your reason for coming?" Sakura questioned, Sasori.

"The leader told me to come after some ninjas because they have a useful scroll. So where is it?" The Akatsuki member was slowly making his way toward Sakura. Sakura spat on the ground in front of him.

"That's not how you respect your new master." Sasori smirked. "I might have to teach my new doll how to behave."

A black flash appeared between Sasori and Sakura. Sakura looked up. There he was. Standing in front of her as if he were her guardian angel. "Sakura, it's alright." It brought the memory of Team 7's first mission. The two rogue ninjas were heading toward Sakura to get to the bridge builder. At that exact moment Sasuke appeared in front of her and protected her. Sakura smiled. But right now she had a job to do and it was no time for reminiscing. Her chakra was flowing through her in order to eliminate the poison.

But before returning to her job she whispered, "Arigato, Sasuke-kun."

---***---

Sasuke heard the hushed words that came from Sakura's mouth and smiled a genuine smile. Not a smile of superiority. Not any other smile that ticked people off. But a pure smile that was like Sakura's.

He already had something worth fighting for. The Akatsuki member didn't look impressed. "Big whoop. You stand between my new doll and me. Do you actually think that you can defeat me?"

"Oh I already know that I'm going to kill you." Sasuke said, his eyes red with the Sharingan.

He looked clearly at his enemy. This guy wasn't really that big of a threat when you had the Sharingan. Sasori could be defeated by crushing his chakra point, where the chakra flows through. Only then could he be killed. But Sasuke needed help, so he needed to stall the Akatsuki member for a few moments until Sakura was healed.

"Demonic Black Dragon Jutsu!" Black dragons made of demonic snow came out from behind Sasuke and attacked the victim. "Phoenix Fire Jutsu!" Fire in the form of phoenixes launched after the dragons and encircled them, making an unstoppable combo. (CHA!)

"I can always defend myself against that, brat" Sasori spat out. Sasori meant to move but found that he couldn't. "W-what did you do?" He asked, his voice holding a tint of fear. Sasuke smirked.

In his hands were the ninja wires. The black wires that ninjas used to gather a corpse during a mission or capture the enemy with. The puppet master grinned. "Oh, just ninja wires. In that case I can easily cut through these." Sasori slowly got a kunai out of his holster and cut through the wires. The funny thing was…the wires didn't cut. "WHAT?!" The puppet master screamed out in frustration.

"These wires are infused with my chakra. They won't cut unless I do it myself." Sasuke explained, cleverly.

Sasuke's attack came closer until it hit Sasori with full force. Chakra leaked out of the puppet master and exploded. Sasuke released the wires and Sasori knelt to the ground, panting hard. Sakura was watching the whole thing. She had to admit she was impressed. She could feel her muscles begin the move again, and smiled.

Only a few more seconds and she could finally help Sasuke.

---***---

Sasori stood up, his whole body shaking. His breathing was rugged and his face drained of any color that used to be there. His calm eyes were turned to ones of complete alarm. "I should be happy. I found another puppet of use."

"Don't you dare call us puppets like we're worthless beings." Sakura's strong voice echoed through the forest. Sasuke smiled. It's about time. Sakura stepped beside him, her whole body surrounded by a green chakra.

Sasori's eyes widened. These ninjas were out of his league. He couldn't defend himself against one but now two? This information may be of use for the leader.

"You win this time. But next time I will kill you both." Sasori said, and did a simple seal. Purple smoke billowed from where he was. When the smoke finally cleared, the puppet master was now where to be found.

"DANG IT! HE GOT AWAY!" Sakura yelled out in frustration.

Sasuke just smirked. She looks cute when she's mad. He thought. Whoa. Pause. Rewind. Did he just comment a girl? On how cute she looked? Blah. Then his mind went back to some thought that was still stuck in his brain.

"Hey, Sakura."

"Yes, Sasuke-kun?"

"What's with the mark?"

"OH COME ON! WE JUST FOUGHT WITH AN AKATSUKI MEMBER AND ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS THE MARK??!" Sakura shouted.

"Well, it's just a simple question." The Uchiha reasoned.

"Please Sasuke. I can't tell you. It will…..ruin everything." Sakura said, her voice hushed and her face serene.

"Hn."

"Well since you're back to your old self, I guess I'll go catch us something to eat." Sakura said, instantly perking up. She started to walk toward the dark forest until she heard Sasuke's voice.

"Be careful."

She smiled although Sasuke couldn't see it. "I will." She said, then left.

---***---

While Sakura was gone for a few moments, Sasuke had time to organize his scattered thoughts.

Was he really starting to fall in love with her?

How come he actually felt admiration for her?

Why did he want to protect her?

But the most important question formed inside his brain.

What's with the mark?

The mark that sent chills down his spine. The mark that made his heart sink.

I see her differently now. I find her loyal, strong, and confident. I probably just like her as a friend. Yeah, that's it. A teammate. A comrade. A trustworthy friend in the time of need. That's it. I'm not falling for her.

He thought this in his mind.

---***---

About half an hour later Sakura came back with five well-sized fish. She grilled them over the fire and handed the three bigger ones to Sasuke. Sasuke didn't complain, after all he did use two extremely powerful jutsus that required a lot of chakra.

It was dark and the stars came out to bedazzle the dark sky. The two managed to squeeze some training time in before they fell down exhausted.

"I'll take first watch." Sakura offered.

"Are you sure?" Sasuke asked, thinking again of Sasori.

"I'll be fine. I'll live. Now go rest." Sakura insisted and forced Sasuke to go into his tent.

Using her time wisely she trained some more and propped her back against a tree. She looked up at the sky. It was beautiful. The stars twinkled and dazzled.

"Why can't I tell him about the mark?" She asked the stars. Then, right before her eyes the stars connected and the image of the spirit came.

"One thing will always lead to another. If you tell him about the mark, you'll wind up telling him about our little deal and the truth is out. If this happens you'll become a spirit earlier than planned."

"Like Sasuke-kun would tell me that he loves me." Sakura smiled, sadly.

The spirit looked down at the girl with sympathy. This girl had a strong heart.

"Obstacles cloud your future. And these obstacles are dangerous." She said.

Sakura groaned while the spirit chuckled. "Remember the mark stays a secret. Good luck." And with the final words spoken the spirit disintegrated, leaving the stars all alone.

Sakura stood still for a few moments, but then her eyelids grew heavy. She tried to resist the temptation to fall asleep, but to no avail.

The last thing she felt before she went to sleep was a warm blanket covering her cold body. Then the rest was history.

---***---Someone's Secret Base

"You failed to retrieve the scroll, Sasori?" The leader's voice thundered the room, causing the Akatsuki members to shudder.

"I admit that I did fail the mission, however I did come up with beneficial information."

"Go on."

"I came upon the two ninjas who were in charge of guarding the scroll. Konoha ninja. One kunoichi was very powerful and I planned to kill her so I may use her as a new doll. Another was an Uchiha. Both were very powerful jounin that…"

"That?"

"Could've killed me."

The leader froze.

"I think they are strong enough for our plan." Sasori said, quietly.

"The plan that we have been working on?" The Pain questioned.

"Hai."

Pain sat back in his chair, his face showing that his mind was working. His face cracked a wicked smile, one of mischief.

"Well I'll have Kakuzu go with you to see just how skilled these ninja are." The leader said. "Go and track these two shinobi. Dismissed."

"Hai." Sasori and Kakuzu vanished in thin air.

Whoever these two ninjas are, they may be the key to Akatsuki's goal. Pain thought.

---***---

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