EDITED: Jan 29th, 2008.

This kinda chapter, is what happens when you suck at writing. Holy geez, thank god I went back to fix it.

This was incredibly hard to re-write. Let's hope it pleases you all.

Sorry for any OOCness, or grammar mistakes!

Happy Readings! (:

-

Not so Weak Anymore

Chapter Seventeen

Keep it together now

-

-

-

What are you suffering for?
Your pride or some kind of personal war?
And will you throw it away?
For nothing more than a simple taste?

-

"So why did you guys need a w-week before f-finally coming here? What happened with those nin on t-the way here?"

Leaning back in a chair in the main lobby, Yugi replied, "We fought them, and it turns out they were sound ninja. They got away from us in the battle, bur we followed them to get more information about Kenji. We came across some valuable information."

Daisuke spoke up, curious himself, "Well, what happened?"

"That Uchiha kid, he was sent to Konoha to spy on Konoha for Orochimaru and Sound. They made it look as though Sasuke had killed Orochimaru and he was siding with Konoha again."

Hinata stared blankly at Yugi, not knowing what reaction to take.

"But I don't think they will need his services anymore."

Hinata raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

Ryo spoke up, "Because Orochimaru is dead. Kenji killed him."

Hinata was beyond confused, "wait, Kenji wasn't suppose to come for–"

" –another eight months. Correct, but Kenji somehow came back in advance. We're not to sure how he killed Orochimaru, but he did. He's currently learning about the world today however, and is planning an attack of some kind. However, he won't attack until those eight months, because his powers haven't come back yet. Because he came back so early, he isn't anywhere near full strength." Kouji explained to the Hyuuga heiress. She looked down in disbelief.

"W-wow…"

Yugi decided to change the subject, "So what's this about Konoha nin's and the Uchiha boy here?"

"T-They just appeared a few days ago on a mission. We were startled, but we wouldn't have been so s-startled if Sasuke didn't appear. That s-surprised us the most…especially Rin…"

Yugi nodded, understanding.

The sound of a door opening form the lobby. In walked Ino and Shikamaru.

Ino looked around confused, "hey, when did you guys arrive?!"

Everyone stared at her, and then at Shikamaru, unsure of what to say.

"He knows." She stated, "Shikamaru, these are the people I am traveling with." She said pointing to everyone.

They all looked at her with a stupid expression, "Why the hell did you tell him!?" Sora said openly. Ino gave an innocent look.

"Heh, well long story really. See, I didn't realize–"

At that moment, Tenten and Neji came down the stairs into the lobby. All eyes were on the two.

Yugi sighed, "You've all got some explaining to do."

-

"What the hell is going on here?"

No one spoke. The sound of wind blowing was the only possible noise heard. Sasuke glared at Akito, "Who are you?"

Akito pulled out a kunai to arm himself, "That's none of your concern. Rin, come on. We have to go."

Sakura gave an innocent nod, and then proceeded towards the door where Akito was waiting. However, she was stopped when Sasuke came in front of her.

"What's going on Sakura?"

Sakura had her eyes as wide as saucers, unsure of what to do. Akito eye's widened as Sasuke had said her real name.

"Her name isn't Sakura, its Rin."

Sasuke ignored Akito and kept his attention on Sakura, "Damnit Sakura, answer me!"

"I-I can't…"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

Sakura stared at with a blank expression, "Because you're the enemy."

-

"Is this all true?"

Yugi nodded, "all of it."

Neji growled, "I knew we could never trust the Uchiha!"

"Though were not positive he's still siding with sound. They haven't received word from him in awhile." Yugi said.

The two boys understood. A few questions bugged the two shinobi about the girls though.

Neji spoke first, "Why did they have to fake there deaths?"

"It was to take away suspicions about them being who they are. With the fear of Kenji coming back, death seemed to take away all suspicions. Plus, no one in Konoha could have been able to train these girls to the level they need to be at."

"Then why didn't you tell the Hokage in secret? It would have saved a lot of time and tears?" Shikamaru added.

Yugi shook his head, "No, it was safer with their deaths being publicized the way it was. Plus, knowing the Hokage, she wouldn't have let us go through with this. Now, you two mustn't tell a soul about what you have just learned. If anyone else learns about this, it can spread like a wildfire. I trust you two enough to keep this a secret. Now, will you swear to keep this a secret?"

Both boys nodding, understanding the consequences of their actions if this spreads. However, both boys thought the same thing.

"We want to come along."

-

"What?!"

"You heard me! Y-You're still working with Sound!"

"Sakur–"

"Don't lie Sasuke-kun! I can tell, just by the way that you speak your going to betray Konoha again."

Sakura's eyes were beginning to weld up with tears. Sasuke didn't know what to think.

Before any more words we're exchanged, Sasuke jumped out of the way, as Akito threw a kunai at him. Sakura herself got out of the way of the kunai as it was heading in her direction too.

Akito came up beside Sakura, "You alright?"

Sakura nodded, whipping away the tears in her eyes, "Yeah, I'm fine."

Nodding, the two got up and turned to Sasuke, who now had his Sharingan activated. An angry expression was on his face.

What is with Sakura?!

Sasuke oddly remembered something that happened not to long ago… back at that club, when the two fought. Sakura had some crazy chakra surge…

"Does this have anything to do with that power you had during your last mission Sakura?"

Sakura froze.

It did,

It most definitely did.

"I told you, her name isn't Sakura!" Akito yelled at the Uchiha, trying to cover up for Sakura.

"Shut up. I know Sakura, and she's standing right beside you."

Akito bit down on his lip, losing patience with the Uchiha. Honestly, they were stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Sakura felt like speaking up this time, "Why do you care about me now Sasuke-kun? You never did in our genin years."

Sasuke was caught of guard. He wasn't expecting that question.

"Well?" Sakura said growing impatient. Sasuke didn't know what to say. Did he care enough that Sakura was gone?

No.

…

Yes.

Getting annoyed with waiting, Akito charged at Sasuke, with his kunai ready.

CLING.

-

"No, we don't need your help!"

"Sora."

Yugi narrowed his eyes at the dark haired nin. They didn't need his attitude.

"Well, it's true."

Ino pouted, "I think they should come! They are some of the strongest shinobi around!"

Kouji shook his head, "No, don't you see? It would cause too many problems for them to come! First, planning a death scenario is out of the question. Second, it would seem too ironic for them to 'disappear.' Thirdly, were fine without them, fourth, what about the Uchiha? If he finds out about this, God knows what he'll tell everyone in sound!"

With that, Ino was silenced. She didn't know what to say. She just turned to Yugi, "Well?!"

Yugi replied back simply, "no."

Ino gapped, "B-But why not?!"

"I'm sorry girls, but I must agree with Kouji and the valuable points he made. We don't have time to prepare for this, things would get suspicious, and the two Konoha Shinobi don't know what there dealing with, and the Uchiha and his links with Sound. It's out of the question."

Ino, Tenten and Hinata had somber looks on their faces. Yugi thought of another idea however.

"But we can use you two boys to our advantage. You will be our contact with Konoha. We will send you messages we get about any kind of attack by Sound. Also, we will tell you about the girl's progress and when they will return. Also, I don't want you to notify the Hokage about this. Its best she didn't know–Only you two. Don't tell Anyone! Eventually I will send word that you may notify the Hokage. However, for now, keep what you've learned to yourself." Yugi asked. The two boys nodded.

"You have our word." Shikamaru added.

Yugi grinned, "Good good! Now, what's taking Rin and Akito so long? It doesn't take that long to get to the rooftop."

The three girls and two Uchiha shrugged. Shikamaru and Neji glanced at each other and then back to Yugi.

"Sasuke was up on the roof."

The room was silent for a second.

Uh oh…

(btw, this was a flashback. It is purposely in italics.)

-

CLING.

Sasuke's sword went flying through the air and hit the fence, as Akito's kunai landed on the ground.

With the two shinobi looking down, an old man was holding on to both of their wrists, stopping them from moving.

Clunk.

The sound of a knock out echoed out, as Kouji zipped behind Sasuke and knocked him out. Sasuke's body fell to the ground, motionless.

"Saku! You okay!?" Sakura looked behind herself, and there was Ino, Hinata, Tenten and the two Uchiha kids running too her. She nodded.

"Yeah, nothing too bad happened."

Coming out from behind Ino, Neji and Shikamaru appeared. Sakura stared wide-eye at them.

"They know." Tenten said. Sakura smiled at the two in acknowledgement.

Looking behind herself, Sakura saw Yugi bent down beside Sasuke, while Ryo, Akito and Sora crowded around. Sakura walked up beside the three.

"What's he doing?"

Ryo spoke up, "He's using a memory loss jutsu. It's another one of the Tenshi clan's specialties. By erasing his dream, this whole event was nothing more then a dream to him."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, "Just a dream? Wait, won't he–"

"–He'll vaguely remember what happened, but only in a dream. Most people forget their dreams right away anyway, and I doubt he's going to remember this dream forever." Sora said cutting her off.

Sakura nodded and looked down at the Uchiha, with a white light emitting from Yugi's hand, over his forehead. Yugi looked up to Akito.

"That was an unnecessary move Akito."

Akito looked down in displeasure, "I know… I just didn't know what to do. He found out so I–"

"–had no idea what you were doing. I'm disappointed with your actions Akito."

Akito nodded at his old sensei, "I'm sorry."

Sakura felt bad. This all happened because it was her fault. She had to put her album together on the roof, when she knew the Konoha gang was around, and they could easily find out of her.

The rest of the group came around and surrounded Sasuke and Yugi. After a few more moments, the white light stopped emitting from Yugi's hands, as he whipped his forehead, "alright, I'm done with him. He'll wake up in the morning."

Shikamaru and Neji nodded. Shikamaru went and slung one of his arms around his shoulder, as Neji went over to the fence and pulled out his katana.

"So what are you guys gunna do with him now?" Ino asked curiously. Shikamaru shrugged, "I guess we'll keep an eye on him and see what goes on between him and sound. If anything significant happens, we will notify the Hokage."

Yugi agreed with that decision. He then clapped his hands together, "Well, that's enough drama for one night. Everyone, off to bed! Tomorrow we leave."

"Wha!? But you just got–"

"that's an order Miki." Yugi said with a broad voice, silencing the blonde. She stayed quiet, not wanting to object anymore.

Everyone began heading down the stairs, but Sakura stayed up on the roof, collecting her thoughts. She wasn't alone though. Both Uchiha kids came up to Sakura.

"So that's Sasuke Uchiha. He's one of us…" Akira said ending her sentence softly. Sakura nodded.

"Yeah, that's him." She assured her.

"He's strong, isn't he?" Daisuke asked. Sakura nodded, "very. Thankfully, nothing bad happened today."

Daisuke nodded, "Alright, let's go to bed then. I can't wait to change out of this crazy outfit."

Akira laughed at her friend as the two proceeded towards the stairwell. As Sakura was about to follow, someone put a hand on her shoulder.

"oh, Akito!"

Turning around, Akito had her album and shoe box in his hand. Handing them to her, she thanked him. He then spoke up,

"Sorry about that whole thing…"

Sakura shook her head, "no, none of this was your fault. I'm actually glad you came. I had no idea what to say to him."

He nodded. Sakura gave a somber look, "but I'm sorry for getting you in trouble with Yugi. That was…my fault."

"No it wa–"

"Yes it was." She said speaking over him. Akito didn't feel the need to argue with her anymore.

"Alright. Let's go then."

Sakura nodded, "yeah."

-

Can you say… garbage?

I can. I still don't know why I wrote this chapter. It was SOO bad when I first wrote it. Ughness.

Don't review, yeah? this chapter doesn't deserve any praise.

Shellzonfire