I'm sprinting in the direction I saw Gaara go. I've killed two Sound by now and I'm pretty sure I saw Kankuro and Shino fighting, but that doesn't matter now. Naruto was chasing after Gaara as well as Sasuke. Both Jinchurikis could destroy the whole Leaf. Hopefully, the boys will be smart enough to lead Gaara away from the village. But that's not the only reason I need to stop this; I won't let Gaara fail himself. He was making progress, and I'm not letting him go back under.

When I find them all, Sakura is bound to a damned tree. "Worthless!" I snarl viciously.

Sasuke is marveling. Marveling at Gaara and Naruto. Marveling at what they're standing on. Gaara is on a huge badger-like creature, while Naruto stands on a huge toad. Scratch that, the toad just turned into the nine-tail. Ah, hell.

I get to the tree Sasuke is at quicker then I should be able to. "Is that . . . ?" he whispers.

"It's the nine-tailed fox, yes." I say firmly. "They need to stop this."

Sasuke doesn't know what to do. I look at the two; I have no idea who is winning.

"Gaara-kun!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

He glances at me, but goes back to the fight. Sasuke looks at me like I'm insane.

"What are you doing? We can't stop this."

I shake my head, stubbornness kicking in, "I have to try. I can't let them destroy each other."

I'm crying, well not really crying more like sprung a leak in my eyes. I have no sobs to let free from my lips. I try to get closer to them, but there are no more trees where they are fighting. I can't just run up to them either, I'll get squished in a heart-beat. I exhale sharply, and then fling a kunai at them in a feeble attempt to get their attention.

Gaara doesn't even look at me, but his sand unconsciously grabs my ankles and drags me to the ground. I'm stuck, worthless just like Sakura. No, I refuse to be.

I start growling like an animal and trying to pry and pull my foot away from the sand. It's not working; it only hurts my ankle and wrist more. I make a split decision that I would think foolish at any other time. But this is time for the foolish to be used.

I take both my hands and place them on the area of sand that is on top of my feet. I can hear Sasuke yelling warnings at me, but I pay them no mind. I inhale quickly then do what I have planned before I back out.

"Lighting Fist: Splitting Bolt!" I whisper to myself.

This time, when the electricity spills from my fingertips it's in a controlled straight line. It splits the sand in two, giving me time to jump out of the way. I don't think I needed that anyway now. The sand has weakened, and doesn't try to capture me again.

When I leap back onto the limb, I can see that Naruto and Gaara have blasted each other out of the sky, and the beast have vanished. My feet carry me to the boys before my mind tells them to. I jump from tree to tree quickly and gracefully. I see them lying on the ground.

Naruto is crawling towards Gaara and before I can stop him he punches him in the face. He speaks to him fiercely, but there is compassion in his words. I start crying again, just tears. I don't bother to disturb them with my pitiful sobs.

When Naruto is done speaking, I fling my arms around Gaara and lay on top of him. I let a few broken breaths escape, but other than that I'm quiet. A tear drops on his face as I sit up and look down at him.

I don't try to get Gaara back when Kankuro and Temari some to get him. I don't look up at either of them, and they leave quickly. I stand then look down at Naruto.

"Thank you," I say quietly. He smiles weakly at me.

I nod at him, and then transport him to the hospital.

The Hokage is dead. Well, that's what everyone has repeated to me in grieving voices, but I don't believe it. As long as I can remember, the old man has been the head of The Leaf. I can't see anyone else being Hokage. There is no way we can function without him.

Today is the funeral. I'm dressed in black pants and a long-sleeved black V-neck with black fingerless gloves. I walk silently with Gontei and Uncle Sate to the burial ground.

Our family sits next to the Nara family. When Shiky sees the state that I'm in, he puts a gentle hand on my shoulder and gives me a weak smile. I struggle to return it.

When it's time to say our goodbyes, I walk up to the front while staring at my feet. I touch the casket as a single tear rolls down my face and lands onto the flower I have brought. I place it with the others, and then sit back down.

Tears seem pointless to me now. They only ever get in the way. A good ninja doesn't cry anyway. I won't cry anymore, I swear it.

I sprint to the gates. Team Baki left today. I just have to hold on to the hope that Kankuro waited for me. The hope that he really did mean it when he said he loved me. When I get there, no one is in sight. I sigh sadly, broken inside.

I lean against the gates and stare hard at the ground. I should've known better. It's Kankuro. He probably got tired of trying to get in my pants. I was only his catch of the day. He showed me off to everyone, just to throw me away again.

I thought I was the best actor. I'm not happy with being second under Kankuro.

Someone taps my shoulder. "What?" I snap.

I look up into Kankuro's eyes. "I'm only saying goodbye." He says softly as if not to upset me.

He kisses my forehead, my nose, and then my lips. I don't care that he's in the doghouse for forfeiting his match. He came to say goodbye to me, that's all that matters. I kiss him back; a goodbye kiss for the ages. Our lips are pressed together for a long time.

"Bye Po-chan," He whispers in my ear when we break apart.

I smile as we embrace and whisper back, "Bye Kuro-kun."

He leaves, but this time, it's with a warmth that we will see each other again.

AN: This wasn't a very long chapter, but it got the job done. The next few chapters will be focused on Popori and Shikamaru interacting with each other. ;) Yes, of course, she will have to be involved in Sasuke's defection from Konoha.