Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Naruto. And now with my stupid extra electrician bills I'll NEVER be able to buy it!

Chapter 15

Hate Me

"…Sasuke?"

Sasuke braced himself as she turned. He ignored the stirring in his stomach as he watched her, eyes wide.

She was just like he remembered.

Beautiful.

For a moment he returned to those pleasant times when he, Sakura, and Naruto were a team, walking down the streets of Konoha. Naruto would be strolling out front, talking over his shoulder at them, while Sakura tagged along beside Sasuke, getting as close to him as possible as she bantered and giggled about something.

Perfect.

And then the image shifted, to the moment when Sakura had grabbed his hand, stopping his attack on Itachi.

And his rage came back in an instant. He threw three kunai, which thudded into the soft earth where Sakura had been kneeling. One of them sliced a few stems of the flowers she'd been planting.

Sakura…you brought this upon yourself.

She landed on her feet, eyes full of hurt, though they were still serious and perceptive. She watched his movements suspiciously. Sasuke lunged forward, trying to catch her off guard. You're weak Sakura. You can't hope to fight me.

This is what you get, Sakura. This is what happens to those I vow to kill. Those who betray me.

Sakura jumped backwards, grabbing one of the kunai that had been embedded into the ground, throwing it up to block the rain of shuriken that came at her from where Sasuke stood.

Sakura watched him, her fingers shaking slightly as she gripped the kunai tighter.

Sasuke…how could you do this? Why?

But she knew why. He wanted to kill her because she had gone with his brother. She, the one he had always trusted had, in his eyes, broken that trust and betrayed him. The old Sakura would have fallen down and cried, begging Sasuke to forgive her. To take her back because she was sorry. That she'd never do it again…

But Sakura didn't.

She merely got into a fighting stance, tensing her muscles and ignoring the conscience in the back of her mind and the way her stomach fluttered and a small part of her screamed at her and told her it wasn't too late to go back with Sasuke now, if she just said she was sorry.

Stop it Sakura! This is Sasuke! This is Sasuke-kun! You love him, remember?

Don't do it. You don't have to prove anything. Go back with him. Tell him you're sorry. Ask for his forgiveness…

But ANBU Sakura was back.

It was surprising to Sakura, the fact that she could still be a strong kunoichi around Sasuke. She'd always faltered and been distracted around her long-time crush. But not anymore…even as she felt the hurt and the sting of his words from when she had left the Konoha shinobi for the Akatsuki and she saw the hatred burning in his crimson Sharingan eyes…she remained strong. She had to.

To prove to herself that she was strong…she couldn't back down.

And then maybe, Itachi would see that she was strong too.

His leg shot forward and Sakura brought up her arm, blocking it. His fist came next, which she grabbed in her other hand. She let out a small grunt as she threw him across the clearing.

She didn't want to kill him…she just had to wear him out. She had to defeat him. She could win and show him that she was the strongest. That she had succeeded. She wasn't that damn weak kunoichi who had fawned over him for so many years.

Little Sakura-chan seemed to disappear completely. ANBU Sakura was in complete control. And every little thing Sasuke had ever done to her rose up in front of her eyes. And suddenly Sakura's own anger rushed up from behind the barriers she had placed, and she took a deep breath. "You bastard."

Sakura, why are talking to Sasuke-kun like that? I love Sasuke-kun! Don't do this!

He slowly stood from where he had landed on the ground, wiping the small amount of blood off of his bottom lip. His eyes narrowed. "You don't have a right to call me that. You're the one who betrayed me."

He's right, Sakura. We betrayed him. Ask him to forgive us. He'll do it. He said he loved me before. He'll love me again and I'll be happy

Sakura's eyes narrowed as she gritted her teeth. "You stubborn ass. I didn't betray you!"

I wouldn't be happy. I can't be happy living a lie.

"You went with Itachi—"

"I stopped you from killing needlessly." Sakura finished, gripping the kunai tighter. She felt chakra building up around Sasuke. She looked up into his crimson Sharingan and narrowed her own eyes; "You've always judged people too quickly, Sasuke."

She saw the Chidori building in his hand, the brought blue and white chakra lighting up the clearing. He was resorting to that move already? Of course, Sakura could feel his anger clearly. It was almost tangible.

"Shut up!" And he began charging across the clearing, his Chidori singing.

Sakura slammed her fists into the ground, forcing up boulders and earth everywhere.

Sasuke jumped, smirking as he passed the debris. Sakura was so foolish sometimes. Did she truly believe she could surprise him with her attack? His Sharingan could predict her movements. He couldn't be fooled by such a simple trick.

When suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his back as he flew into a tree on the other side of the clearing. It snapped in two, shooting splinters beneath his skin. He landed on the ground, his Chidori fading as he breathed in the smell of the damp earth. He stood shakily, breathing raggedly.

He brushed the dirt off of his pants.

He saw Sakura standing on the other side of the clearing, fists clenched. She was watching him angrily, her gaze hard, cold…and hurt. He'd expected the hurt and pain, but nothing else. He'd expected Sakura to beg him to forgive her.

He'd expected her to be weak, like she had always been.

He was wrong.

A drop of sweat slid down his forehead. He blinked it away as he continued to watch her. To watch this Sakura that he had never seen before. She was so…strong. Surely this was the ANBU captain that he had heard so much about.

But was it Sakura? How could the weak member of team seven be an ANBU captain?

"You never let people explain anything, you just jump to conclusions. You ruin people's lives that way, or didn't you know that already?" Sakura continued harshly.

Sasuke watched her calculatingly. How had she predicted his movements? Surely she couldn't have caught up with him. He was faster than she was. Sasuke created a clone, sending it towards Sakura while he went around the back, unsheathing his sword.

"Did my brother teach you to fight like this, Sakura?" Keep her distracted. She's always been easy to trick and divert.

Sakura let out a small, scathing laugh as she dodged his clone's oncoming attacks. "Do you have so little faith in me, Sasuke? I became an ANBU captain on my own, without Itachi's help." She knew she'd struck a nerve, calling Itachi by his first name so casually around Sasuke. She'd almost been tempted to say Itachi-kun, but she knew she would have gone too far. And in truth…she didn't want to hurt Sasuke. In the back of her mind, she wanted him to forgive her.

But there was nothing to forgive. She'd done nothing wrong.

"Or is that what bother's you? The fact that the weakest kunoichi in all of Konoha is stronger than you?"

Sasuke let out a growl as he shot forward, sword ready. Sakura parried with her kunai, kicking back his clone in the process. They were locked together, face to face. Sasuke's blood red eyes glared into Sakura's cool jade.

"Because if I'm stronger than you, it means you are completely weak. It means you accomplished nothing. It means that you can never avenge your Clan—"

Sasuke let out a strangled roar as he pushed forward, catching Sakura off-balance. She fell onto the ground with a gasp, before jumping back up. But he was in her guard. Sasuke shot his sword forward.

Time seemed to slow.

He felt his blade go cleanly through and saw Sakura's beautiful eyes widen in surprise and pain.

Sasuke felt her dying weight fall against him as she coughed. Her blood stained the back of his shirt. He felt the warmth from them as they seeped through the thin cloth.

My god. I killed Sakura…A part of him moaned in anguish. But it was suppressed. Sasuke breathed raggedly as he whispered into her dying ear. "You're still a weakling, Sakura. This is what you get for betraying me. This is what you get for going with him."

Suddenly there was a soft chuckle from the dead weight leaning against him, in a voice very different than Sakura's. "Stop the tough act. You're just being a self-righteous bastard, Sasuke-kun." His name was purred.

Sasuke tried to back up, but his arms were held in place. He blinked as the illusion disappeared. Wooden fingers gripped him roughly, and course wood brushed against his cheek. He looked down into the face of a puppet, painted like a geisha.

He was turned around expertly, and he couldn't move. He struggled, but he couldn't escape. He looked to the porch and froze.

Sakura was sitting down, leaning against one of the support beams. Small strings of chakra went from her to the geisha puppet holding him.

A puppet jutsu…where did she learn that? Sasuke thought angrily. I was being beaten by a puppet? Sakura was sitting there the entire time… He remembered hearing the soft 'thunk' as something was placed upon the porch. He had thought Sakura had been putting down some gardening tools.

But Sakura had merely been sitting down and waiting, her puppet drawing Sasuke in.

And he was completely at her mercy.

Sakura stood, slowly walking up to him. Her hands shook as she stopped in front of him.

Slap.

Sasuke felt the bright sting. He would have reached up his hand to rub his red cheek, but it was impossible to do with his arms caught behind his back. His Sharingan blazed as he tried to break free of the puppet.

Sakura breathed in a ragged breath, glaring at him. She would not cry. "How the hell dare you? Who are you, to talk to me about betrayal?"

Sasuke continued to merely watch her.

"You who left me for Orochimaru…who betrayed all of Konoha…who betrayed me for power?" She shook her head as she gave a hurt, dry smile and a short laugh. "You are one hypocritical bastard."

Sasuke shifted. He didn't like what he was hearing. Sakura always had a way of making him listen, even when they were younger. And she could always…always make him doubt himself.

"You tell me that you loved me. That we could have had a family together if I went back with you and let you kill Itachi. Sasuke, do you even know what love is?"

He said nothing.

"Of course you don't. You've never been loved by anyone, so how could you have known what it was like? You never let anyone love you after that night, because you were afraid of being hurt again. I tried Sasuke. I tried and you never let me in." She clenched her hands, not liking the sadness that had entered her voice. Be strong.

"What makes you think you can waltz back into my life and decide that it's finally time to take notice of my feelings? I spent my entire life waiting for you to love me. I was waiting for so long." She felt more anger rush forward, but she suppressed it. Because underneath the anger was…pity.

Sasuke resisted the urge to clamp his eyes shut and cover his ears like a little child. He felt as if his mother was yelling at him for doing something wrong and he was about to be punished for it. He didn't want to hear her get angry. It had always made him afraid. It took so much to make her angry. Surely it was bad.

"I am done waiting." She gave a small sigh as she ran a hand through her hair, looking up at him, eyes a simple, leaf green filled with weariness. "I loved all three of you. My boys." She let out another sad laugh. "I loved you all, even if it wasn't how you wanted to be loved. Naruto wanted more than sisterly love. Kakashi was like you; he didn't want to be hurt again. And I guess…I guess you just wanted companionship back then. But I was foolish. I was a young, naïve girl who wanted a boyfriend."

She reached out a hand and dropped it. Her voice took on a bitter tone. "And then you took my trust and my love and you killed it. You left me. I begged you to take me with you. I told you I would follow you to the ends of the earth. All I ever wanted was to make you happy. I thought…I thought that you loving me and me making you happy would make me happy."

Sasuke was a prisoner, he could only sit and watch her. Listen to her words that struck true and forced him to realize his own faults.

"And you left me. Because even then, your revenge has always been more important to you than anything else. What happens, Sasuke, when it's over? I won't be waiting for you anymore. What will you do after its all over and done with?"

Sasuke opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"What will you do then, Sasuke-kun?" She asked sarcastically, her eyes glittering. "Because you will have no one. You'll have no friends. No one to love. You'll be alone again. You'll have nothing. You will have given up everything for your small moment of fading glory."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. You're wrong Sakura. It won't fade. I have to kill him for what he's done to my family and me. And now…for taking you away from me. He deserves to die for ruining my life.

"I've never betrayed you. I've always loved you. I still do…but not in that sense, ne?" She gave another sigh as she lifted a hand, touching his cheek with a small, sardonic smile. "How can I?"

Sakura…come back with me. I'll forgive you. Oh god how can I not? I thought I was ready to kill you but…I…I can't

"You never let me explain myself before, Sasuke. And now, you have to listen to me. You need to know why I chose what I did. I did it because they are my friends: Sasori, Deidara, Kisame. I did it because it is my shinobi way. And I did it because I wanted to get away from those hurtful things you said to me."

Sasuke looked down at the ground. He suddenly felt a small wave of guilt, which was strange. He had never felt guilty about any of his actions. Only one before…when he had left Sakura the first time.

"I wasn't betraying you. I was running away." She stood tall. "But I have no regrets. Everything happens for a reason. My shinobi way is to protect the ones I love. I love you, but I love them too." And I love him…

"Things can never go back to the way they were. I don't want to turn back time, and I wouldn't even if I could. Some things just happen and we have to accept them, ne? And I think, Sasuke, that it is time you understand that too."

And then she reached forward and kissed him lightly on the forehead.

Sasuke's eyes widened for a small second.

Can you understand how important this is to me now, Sasuke? That kiss, it was a promise. It's special, even if you don't understand it. That kiss means everything.

And suddenly the puppet let him go. It seemed to shrink, until it became a small doll. It landed on the ground with a small thump, the chakra gone. Sakura was watching him with a sad, sympathetic gaze.

Waiting.

Sasuke clenched his hands.

Sakura watched him, wondering what he was going to do. Would he attack her again? If he did…she'd have to hurt him. She'd have to fight him. And she'd have to win.

He lifted his hand and brushed a lock of her hair out of her eyes. He dropped his hand like a dead weight, looking at her.

…

…

…

The Sharingan was gone, replaced by a deep, navy blue.

…

…

…

"Very well. I…forgive you."

Sakura shook her head. "I don't need your forgiveness, Sasuke. I didn't' do anything wrong."

Sasuke looked out at the trees with a small grunt. "Hn." He turned to see Sakura looking down at her ruined garden. "After I kill Itachi, will you come back to Konoha with me?"

Sakura gave a small sigh. "No, Sasuke." She didn't say anything more about Itachi. And she didn't voice her opinions about how she doubted he could beat him. She was…afraid for that moment. She didn't know what she'd do. And she didn't want to think about it.

"Why?" His brows furrowed in confusion.

"I have my own place now. And my dream and shinobi way lead me far from Konoha." She touched his arm. "I know you can't understand it, and I know you don't like it. But all I ask…is that you consider the fact that it might make me happy, to be where I belong."

I waited too long, didn't I Sakura? And now you're too far from me. I can never get you back. It's all my fault.

But like you said…things happen for a reason, don't they. I guess this is me accepting that.

Sasuke reached into his pocket. He pulled out a headband, handing it to Sakura. "Here. It's yours."

Sakura reached for it, before pressing it back into his hands with a small shake of her head. "I want you to keep it, Sasuke. As a sign of our friendship. You will always be my friend, Sasuke. One of my precious people."

It struck him deeply. Her words had always been precious and important to him. But now…more so than ever…they meant everything. A small warmth crept into his chest. It had been so cold before. But he wondered if maybe, by accepting this, he could gain back a bit more warmth.

Sasuke reached behind his head and undid his own headband. He handed it to Sakura.

"Here."

Sakura hesitantly took it, before slipping it into place on her forehead.

His headband? Is all forgiven then?

Oh Sasuke…I know how hard this is for you, but I have to do it. I hope you can forgive me for my choices. I know they hurt you but I…I want to know what ti feels like to be happy.

Even for just a little.

Sasuke was tying on her old headband. They stared at each other for a moment as Sakura gave a shaky smile.

"Thank you."

Sasuke's eyes widened slightly as he remembered that night so long ago, when he had left Sakura for Sound. The last words he'd said to her.

"Thank you."

And then he'd knocked her unconscious.

Sadly, he knew it was because she was going to leave. Either that, or he was. It was a parting to them now, those two simple words. But it wasn't as sad as he had thought. He still loved her. She was his teammate and one of the only people who had ever understood him. He could never be like that with anyone else.

But Sasuke still hated Itachi. He would never forgive him. And he still resented Sakura slightly for stopping him. But he could not deny that Sakura was right. He had to accept some things.

And Sakura being with the Akatsuki members was one of those things. Even if it meant that she was near Itachi. Because there was nothing he could do to stop her. He would get stronger, and he would fight Itachi. And then, just maybe, he could prove to her that she should come back to him.

He would have Sakura back and they would get married and restore his clan and be happy.

And everything would be perfect again.

He knew he was supposed to leave, but he never got the chance.

"Touching, Sakura. What a wonderful way to calm the beast."

Both Sakura and Sasuke turned to see Tomokazu.

Sakura's eyes widened. "No." She began in horror, standing in front of Sasuke protectively, as an instinct reaction rather than as a thought. "What are you doing here?"

My god…he's here and I'm alone. I can't let him hurt Sasuke. But…what if Tomokazu knows that I destroyed the scroll? Oh god, oh god…

"I came for the scroll, dear Sakura. You see, Sasuke was going to keep you preoccupied and kill you, while I obtained what you stole from me." He gave a cold smile. "But of course, some parts of the plan have changed."

Sakura's eyes flickered to Sasuke, but they immediately went back to Tomokazu. "Oh?"

"The scroll isn't here." Tomokazu's eyes narrowed. "And do you know what I think, Sakura?"

"You thought, Tomokazu, what a rare surprise." Sakura didn't know why she enjoyed angering him. She knew what he could do…but she had to at least feign confidence and strength.

Tomokazu's eyes narrowed dangerously, and Sakura's stomach plummeted. "I think that you need to tell me who has it."

Sakura gave a small laugh, full of fake bravado. "Don't count on it." Her hand slipped to the small scroll in her back pocket.

"Go away, Tomokazu-san. I won't help you get this scroll of yours. I will find and kill Itachi myself." Sasuke answered back coolly as he came to stand beside Sakura, instead of behind her. Sakura almost thought it was more for pride's sake than anything else, until she realized that he had no idea how strong Tomokazu was.

"Get back, Sasuke. He's dangerous."

Sasuke shot Sakura a strange look. He remembered those old times when Team Seven had been on a dangerous mission and he had jumped in front of her.

"Stay back, Sakura. This could be dangerous."

Tomokazu took a step forward. "Tell me what I want to know, Sakura, and I will spare your life and that of the weak little Uchiha."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the small insult, but he said nothing as he watched Sakura. She rubbed a thumb over a scroll tucked into the back of her pants. She stared up at Tomokazu boldly. "No. Now leave here and I promise I won't kill you." She felt a small twinge of guilt as she gave a cold smile.

"Like I did your whore." She almost regretted saying something so painful and mean, but she had to test his emotional strengths and weaknesses. She had to figure out if there was anything that could make him blow his top like when she had boasted of Itachi's strength over his. But with Sasuke present, she couldn't resort to that.

Tomokazu gave a dark laugh. "Now, now, little Sakura. That was rather low of you. I didn't think you had it in you to be so cruel."

Sasuke looked at Sakura from the corner of his eye. Her own eyes were harder, cooler now. More calculating. This was the ANBU he had heard so much about. For a second he wondered if she'd merely been playing with him before. Perhaps he would now see what Sakura was really like.

Suddenly Tomokazu appeared behind her. "But such emotional attachments are idiotic, aren't they Sakura-chan?"

Sasuke's eyes widened as he felt the chakra presence behind him. So fast…he hadn't even sensed him. He was faster than Orochimaru. Tomokazu lunged forward, slamming a kunai into Sakura's back. She disappeared in a puff of smoke, before reappearing in the air above them.

I have to fight him. I have to at least stall him until the others can get here. Oh please Sasuke, tell me you didn't come alone?

She grabbed the scroll from behind her, unraveling it in one swift movement, biting her lip and smearing the blood across it. Thanks for this one, Tenten. She murmured silently, before activating it.

Twin smoke dragons flew from the scroll, flying towards Tomokazu. He jumped into the air, dodging them. The two dragons circled back around, crossing in front of him. Then the smoke around them dissipated, revealing long chains.

Sakura grabbed the ends of them that she held and pulled roughly. The chains whipped around, links snapping tightly in place as she grabbed onto Tomokazu, tying him up in the air.

Sakura flipped backwards, grabbing her kunai and throwing it with as much force as possible and as quickly as possible towards the incarcerated Tomokazu. It struck, grazing one of the chain links slightly and making a soft twang as it cut through Tomokazu's chest.

Sakura landed on the ground, giving a deep breath as Tomokazu's body fell to the ground. She watched with building dread as the clone of Tomokazu disappeared. She quickly began rapid hand signs, as he appeared a few feet away, watching her lazily.

"What an adorable little move, Sakura."

Sakura breathed in deeply as she finished her hand signs. She didn't know how well this one was going to work out, but she didn't believe she had much of a choice without it. "Daikamaitachi no Jutsu!" She felt the chakra building the wind power around her. Once Temari's signature move, Sakura had learned it from her and modified it a bit to serve her own style.

She jumped into the air before whipping her leg around in a kick. The air force and chakra sent the whirlwind level kick straight at Tomokazu. He jumped up into the air at the last moment, and the ground he had been sitting in shattered into a million pieces, as the large aftershocks of wind blew across the clearing.

Sasuke jumped back from the flying debris, blinking as his eyes stung from the dust. The wind force even from so far away was impressive. He hadn't believed Sakura had known that move. He had known it belonged to Temari of the Sand.

Puppet jutsus, wind jutsus…how did you learn so many? Surely you had to have teachers. You don't have the Sharingan like Kakashi-sensei after all.

Tomokazu did his own hand signs as he landed on a tree limb just out of harms way. He gave a small smirk as he did so. Then a large fireball was the only thing in Sakura's line of sight.

She gave a small gasp as she jumped out of the way. She felt the heat roll off of her in waves as it passed by. She blinked, feeling the sweat drip down her forehead. She saw Sasuke watching all of this cautiously. He seemed…afraid. Sakura swallowed. It Sasuke was afraid, she was petrified. But she had to do this. She had to protect Sasuke. She had to protect her precious people.

And that meant…the Sharingan.

It this didn't work, she'd waste most of her chakra she'd be completely defenseless. But she had to track his movements, and she had to use the Sharingan with her other technique. If not, it would all be over.

She didn't even have to use blood to quicken the process anymore as she finished the rapid hand signs. She had practiced the jutsu for so long now, it was second nature to her. She could send the chakra through her eyes quickly now. She opened them, and crimson eyes met deadly silver.

Tomokazu stiffened slightly, eyes widening for a fraction of a second. "How…?"

Sasuke stared at her, eyes wide in surprise. Sakura…Sharingan…surely that wasn't possible? How could Sakura possess the Sharingan? It was the kekkei genkai of the Uchiha Clan!

Then Sakura rushed forward, beginning another set of hand signs. Two clones appeared on either side of her, as each of them collected chakra into their hands, which burned an icy blue as it crackled.

It sang with the eerie melody that reminded Sasuke of the chirping of birds. His crimson eyes widened even more as he watched her. How…? Sharingan and Chidori? This isn't possible. My god…Sakura… He watched her move with a speed that matched—no surpassed his own, and it scared him slightly. She was so strong…

She could have killed me!

This guy…he's insanely strong. He's dodging Sakura's attacks like they're nothing. Most people would be gasping for breath and covered with bruises, if they weren't already dead. Who is this guy?

Sakura ran low to the ground as she Chidori burned fiery hot in her hand. She narrowed in on Tomokazu, who stood there watching. Of course, he couldn't get away with the speed she was traveling at.

I won't let you hurt them. I may be afraid of you, but I will never, ever, run away.

Sakura reached her hand back as she appeared right in front of him.

Because I am strong. I will never be weak again.

The Chidori sang in her ears as she let out a yell and slammed her fists forward. She saw Tomokazu's eyes widen slightly, before narrowing in amusement. It happened so quickly. The smirk. The cold glint in his eyes. She sharp pain in her arm as she was wrenched around.

And Suddenly Sakura was out of breath, caught against the hard body of Tomokazu, her back slamming into his chest. She let out a shaky breath as she blinked and let the Sharingan go, feeling fright and panic begin to rush forward. He didn't even try to dodge it. He just grabbed it like it was nothing. Even Itachi grimaced slightly when he grabbed Sasuke's Chidori. And mine…mine had more chakra than Sasuke's. Surely…surely he's not human.

"Sakura!" Sasuke landed on the ground in front of them, eyes narrowed and spinning with the Sharingan. He looked into Sakura's jade eyes and saw a strange fright permeating there. As if she were willing him to run away.

Tomokazu gave a small chuckle as he bent his mouth down to Sakura's ear. "The Sharingan…how amusing little Sakura. What an interesting person you are. A non Uchiha wielding their kekkei genkai. I know of only one other thing that can do that, don't you?"

Sakura stiffened as she breathed in shakily. No, he can't know. He can't. Oh god no…

"A scroll that taught a special jutsu…a jutsu that is forbidden and said to be a myth, am I correct? I had been hoping oh so ardently that the scroll Orochimaru had obtained so blindly was such a scroll." Tomokazu gave a low laugh in her ear.

"I'd had my doubts, but you've proved to me that my searching wasn't in vain, was it Sakura? Oh what a interesting kunoichi you are, blossom."

Sakura clenched her hands, but she could do nothing. She looked at Sasuke, "Sasuke, get away. Go get help. Anything. Get out of here now." She ended with a voice full of panic and fear.

Sasuke shook his head gruffly. "I won't leave you Sakura." I have to prove to you that I love you, isn't that what you want? I have to prove to myself that I am strong enough to face Itachi. If I can face this man…then surely I can kill my brother.

"Where is the scroll?"

Sakura breathed in deeply, her chest heaving as she battled within herself as to whether or not to say anything. But surely…surely she could save Sasuke if she told him the truth. Surely Sasuke could get away and wouldn't be in Tomokazu's line of attack if Sakura just told him what he wanted to know…

"I destroyed it."

"What?"

And suddenly pain erupted everywhere. Sakura screamed as it hit, feeling it consume her body. It moved up, burning everything with white-hot pain. Surely so much pain could not be made by anything human? She felt as if her soul were being ripped out.

Sasuke stared in horror and fright as Sakura screamed. He wanted to help her, but his legs wouldn't move. He was frozen in shock and fright. He could just sit and watch and listen to her unearthly screams.

Until it stopped.

He saw Sakura fall against Tomokazu like a dead weight, and for a moment, her chest did not rise. But then his Sharingan saw the small, shallow breaths she took. The silence was more frightening then the screams.

Tomokazu watched Sasuke with a small, dark smile. "Goodbye little Uchiha. Tell Itachi that if he wants his woman back, he can come to me. And don't worry, he'll find the way."

And then he disappeared.

With Sakura.

"Sakura!" Sasuke broke out of his frozen state, jumping forward as Tomokazu disappeared with a laugh. He searched desperately for any signs of chakra, but could find none. It was as if they had disappeared off the face of the earth.

"Sakura!"

His desperation and anger was short lived, as he felt an enormous burst of chakra coming closer, zeroing in on the clearing.

Four enormous chakra levels.

And one of them he had memorized since the day of his parents murder.

"Kitten! Kitten!"

"Sakura-chan, where are you yeah!?"

(A/N: Oi. Alright, I'm sorry! I humbly beg your forgiveness for the lateness of this chapter! (grovels on ground) It's actually not my fault. I had already written it halfway and had planned on finishing the rest of it on Saturday, but, fate is cruel it seems. A water pipe in my hours broke—over my room. By the time we shut the water off, it was in three inches of water. After calling the wonderful electition and all that, I was told I wasn't allowed in my room for at least three days. Today was my first day back, so I finished the end because I knew how much you were waiting for this chapter.

Really, I'm not so evil that I'd leave you for so long on such an evil cliffhanger. I'm not THAT mean. But, that's my story/excuse. So, I hope you all liked this chapter, and I can't wait till the next one.

Itachi and Sasuke confrontation? Naruto's group and Neji's group arriving as well? Oh, and don't forget Sakura and Tomokazu!

Until the next installment (which I hope to make soon because you poor people had to wait so long), Lady Hanaka says sayonara!
Question: If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest have to drown too?)