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Warning! Manga and Anime spoiler(s)

Absolute Devotion

Chapter 3: Traveling

Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean, through the desert, snow
We'll say goodbye to the friends we know
This is our Exodus…

At dawn she left Konoha, she was not alone. Naruto was with her, he also believed they could find him. She knew that he cared for her and their leader; he however did not know that she cared for Kakashi in a slightly different light. Another joined them a few moments later, Sasuke he wanted to find his mentor as well. After all these years he's finally come around. Burdened with killing is brother, his own kin he suffered greatly. No one knew what happened behind closed doors except three, Sakura, Naruto and Kakashi. He trusted them, they were family.

They didn't know how long it would take to find him; they would do everything necessary to find him. He had to be alive, he just had to be. Looking back she was smiling at the Hokage monument, this is it…Good bye.

They traveled for weeks, months over harsh landscape. They made their way though the different countries. Down into tea country along the coast searching for clues along the fishing villages, up into wind country they moved, the heat was unbearable but they managed. The deserts drew up no clues to his whereabouts; they needed to take a different approach. Eventually they got a clue they needed to go north. It wasn't even the most reliable tip either; they had seen him months ago. And they couldn't even tell them how long ago that had been.

Taking the long path north over the mountain regions. They tried once again to gathering information as they went seems no one has seen him, yet everyone knows of him. It was obvious that it would take more to find him then just randomly asking. After some time they did get some information, even though again it was not reliable. They said he was heading to Snow country, it was a long shot but they had nothing to lose by going there. Reaching Snow, harsh snow and wind filled the air. Getting around was going to be brutal, even more so then the smoldering deserts.

Sakura was worse for wear, she hadn't been sleeping and the two boys knew it. Her hair was limp and not as glossy as it once had been, she had pulled it into a horrible pony-tail. Her eyes had little dark rings under them. Sasuke had taken evaluation of her condition and promptly told her to get some sleep.

"Sakura, you need to get sleep."

"No I can't, not till I find him."

"No, this is not a request Sakura; I'm ordering you to get some sleep." She looked at her comrade, maybe he was right. Getting up from the table she went upstairs to the room they shared. Sleep waved over her, she had a dreamless night. She would wake to a slightly familiar room and to unfamiliar music. She'd abandon everything she knew, everything for him. I would give up everything…Everything to see him again…Aitai.


New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know

The next day they would travel again, the landscapes of Snow were rough and constantly changing. The towns in Snow are far and few between. They had stopped at a tailors shop; buying heavy outer-wear for the harsh environment they continued their search. Aitai, Kakashi aitai … is the only thing she could think. This isn't fair, how long has it been?

Months strung together, bonds between the three grew as they learned more about each other. Her two friends eventually found out about her true feelings over sake one night. However to her surprise they had already know, at least they suspected that was the way it was. She couldn't deny it anymore; she loved the three men in her life. She'd give up everything for them all to be back together in the village. Their village.

TBC

Notes:
I comment in my LJ about this chapter. Again Grammar and spelling is my fault, Naruto moments never escape me with out a proof-reader "Shut up and go out with me!" instead of "Go on a mission with me." yeah thats pretty extreme but not far from the truth. Let me know if there's mistakes.