Maro's POV
I pressed my ear to the door,listening to the conversation between Lord Orochimaru and Kabuto. Their voices were too soft for them to be talking about the weather or other pleasant topics. 'A secret!A secret! ' every nerve in my body screamed. I pressed my ear against the door. FINALLY! I could hear them. "Akatsuki has been awfully quiet lately." Orochimaru said. "I think they're planning something." Kabuto remarked. "Maro could be part of this. Think about it." he went on. 'Oh no!They suspect something!' I took a deep breath. 'Acting time.' I burst through the door angrily. Or at least that was what I was acting like. "How dare you Kabuto! I followed my orders without complaint or hesitation and you claim that I'm still in league with Akatsuki!" I yelled. Kabuto planted himself in front of me,hands on his hips. "Of course. You were there too long. And when you saw me in Konoha you ran. I'm willing to bet you told them that Lord Orochimaru had planned for you to be taken in by them and gather information. They probably gave you fake information and sent you back with a plan of their own." Kabuto retorted. Orochimaru watched us bicker from behind Kabuto,a smirk in place. I took a deep breath and gave Kabuto a sweet smile. He looked surprised for a split second giving me time to focus on Orochimaru. I walked over and gave him a hug. "Lord Orochimaru is my one and only daddy. My family. Why would I betray him for an group of criminals thrown together by an idiot who is obsessed with only himself?" I asked Kabuto. He recovered from his shock. "Remove your hands from Lord Orochimaru!" he ordered. Orochimaru patted me on the head. "Now now Kabuto. Maro may have a point. What possible reason could Maro have to betray me. I made sure she ended up at home again in my plan unlike having to live in a village like Sasuke." he said. I froze. "Sasuke?" I asked. The door creaked open and Sasuke came in. "I'm back." he said. "Sasuke! Weren't you in Konoha?" I asked. Sasuke shrugged. "Didn't suit me. Besides,Itachi isn't dead yet." he answered. I let go of Orochimaru. "Excuse me. I suddenly don't feel well." I lied,bowing and running out.
Regular POV
"Sasuke!!Sasuke!!" Sakura yelled running into Sasuke's apartment. Her calls were met with silence. "Sasuke?" she asked looking around. Naruto,who finally caught up with her, ran in. "Where is he?" Naruto asked. "I don't know." Sakura replied. She noticed a note from Sasuke on the couch. "He's gone back to Orochimaru. Hasn't he?" Naruto asked seeing Sakura's face as she read the letter. Sakura nodded and then burst into tears. "Sa....Sakura?" Naruto asked,panicked. "I'm okay Naruto.. It's just.. I lost Sasuke and then I got him back but then I lost Ino. So now that I lost Sasuke,will I get Ino back?" she asked,wiping tears away with her glove. Naruto smiled sadly. "I'm not sure but maybe you will Sakura." he assured her.
Sasori's POV
I opened my eyes again,blinking frantically. But for some reason I still saw Naru. Or at least a smaller version of her. "Am I still asleep?" I asked. "No. I'm merely projecting myself with a great amount of chakra." she answered. I sighed. "So that was Maro's past?" I asked. "Yes. She was taken in by the man who became known as the Fourth Hokage. I was sealed inside her by the Second Hokage. At that time Maro was two and did not understand much about combat. Therefore she didn't remember her parents death. All she knows is Orochimaru found her and took her under his wing." Naru replied. "You talk too much." I commented. Naru swatted me with one of her tails. "Respect." she growled. I sighed. "Alright alright. Now you should go back to Maro. I'll take care of things here." Naru vanished before I could even finish. "Rude mutt." I muttered.
Regular POV
Ino stared at the Leaf village. It was in a panicked state. She could see Shikamaru and some other chunins receiving their orders from Tsunade. And then she saw Sakura sitting on the swing outside the Academy. She was hanging her head sadly and tears were streaming down her face. Against her better judgment,Ino leapt down from her position and ran to her old home. No one was there so she ran to her room and began searching. When she found what she was looking for she grabbed it and ran out.
Maro's POV
I leaned against my bedroom wall. "Naru. What do I do? I can't wait anymore. Having Sasuke-sempai here changes everything. I don't want to hurt him. But I don't want to stay here." I whispered. I could see Naru's smile in the shattered mirror. "Patience Maro. All hunters only get what they want if they have patience." she said. I nodded. "Thank you." I whispered.
Regular POV
Sakura glanced up as Ino approached. "Hey there Sakura!" Ino greeted,sitting next to Sakura on the swing. "Why are you here?" Sakura asked. Ino pushed the swing back and forth. "Well. Akatsuki and Konoha have a bit of a peace going on for now so why not? Anyway..why are you crying..billboard brow?" Ino teased. Sakura smiled through her tears. "It's Sasuke. He's gone back to Orochimaru." she replied. Ino mentally added 'Tell Pein about Sasuke' to her to-do list. "He'll come back. I bet you." she reassured Sakura. She stood up. "Alright billboard brow. I have to go." she announced. "Wait. Why did you come? Ino pig?" Sakura asked. She smiled at the childhood 'nicknames'. Ino smiled herself. "To see you smile Sakura. I'll be going on a dangerous mission soon and I always want to see your smiling face. I want to remember you as always smiling,if I, if I don't make it back. And you better remember me as your ass-kicking best friend." Ino ordered. "Wait Ino!" Sakura cried. But Ino turned and ran,tears also streaming down her face. 'I'm sorry Sakura. So sorry.'