Sakura's steps seemed heavy and her shoulder weighed down with a burden. It was night, late at night even – about two am. Her steps led her to Naruto's tent, a place she had been several times the following month. Would this be over? Her hand reached out to push the opening aside, when voices was heard. Curiosity getting the better of her, she stayed outside. The first voice she heard was Naruto's.

"Listen; I would gladly go into Konoha to save your girlfriend, but we simply can't afford risking the lives of our finest ninjas! It would simply be a waste of resources. I know your girlfriend means the world to you, but damnit, look at this logically, it just can't work. Unless it is a mission to save someone who will defiantly benefit us in the war, then I can do it, but not…like this"

The ninja marched out, anger clearly showing in his face. Sakura moved away from the opening and let him through. He gazed at Sakura with a grim expression. "I'll bet the Hokage would do anything to save you" she clenched her hands and gave him a small bow, which left him puzzled.

Sakura watched the ninja leave, and placed a hand on her chest, above her heart. She had to tell Naruto, having innerly hoped that he would find a way to help her. Help her get her parents back. Now…

…she closed her eyes and clenched her fist, when she suddenly felt herself being pulled into the tent by two strong arms. A head nuzzled itself into her neck, grinning. "You know you can't hide from me out there". Sakura turned her head around surprised and accidentally smashed her forehead against his. They both gave a loud hiss out loud, and Naruto brought a hand to his forehead.

"Okay, Sakura, you better warn me next time you do that."

She snorted and tried to get out of his grip, but he just held her tighter, still grinning. "Hey? Where are you running to? I want to spend some time with you before we divide the camp." His hands held her hips tenderly. "I mean, it will take so long before we'll see each other again"

Sakura's green eyes turned and looked at him lovingly. "Don't go and die on me Hokage-sama, because they'll probably promote me Hokage, and you know that isn't like me."

He smiled and let her go. "I'll see you at the departure"

-

"Run – run – cling to your life"

"There is no use in running – you'll die sooner or later"

-

Tohru stood confused, looking at the angry Kazekage and her father. Naruto was the first to speak. "What are you saying? She isn't here? Are you sure she hasn't gone ahead or something?"

Gaara shook his head, crossing his arms. "She isn't anywhere near the camp, the Hyuugas have looked for her. She has to have left during the night" Naruto grabbed his head, and the brown-haired girl could see the frustration and clearly…the hurt and anger.

"Damnit! Why the hell did she run this time! Damnit!!"

Gaara looked around and motioned the ninjas to continue working with the moving. Naruto needed to sit down.

"Shit – damnit…"

There was an almost unbearable silence, and Gaara sat down too.

Naruto continued. "Why did Sakura run away?"

The Kazekage sighed. "She could've been captured."

The Hokage disagreed and shook his head. "She is unable to get caught without us noticing – she has had to leave…"

Tohru looked down at her feet, clutching the necklace Sakura had given her when she came back. A small pendant from the lightning country.

-

"Tohru, stay with Naruto – you'll be safe with him, and not with me. He will protect you from the Akatsuki"

-

Kozuki gasped when he felt himself being pulled off the road. It was dark, and he had suddenly felt himself want to run towards something. It was this familiar feeling he felt of family and yet a small lingering feeling of hate. He was scared when he met the green eyes of a woman staring down at him. He was about to scream out when he felt her gloved hand cover his mouth.

Sakura looked at him with a troubled expression, as if she didn't know what she was doing. "Kozuki…stay quiet and everything will be alright"

-

"I believe you know where Uchiha Sasuke's reincarnation is."

-

Temari sat up in her bed, the wound in her stomach hurt as she did so, and she needed to lie down. The opening to the tent was pushed aside, and Shikamaru walked in with Ino and their boy Asuma. His eyes showed his inability to sleep, and he looked at her as if he had witnessed the most horrible thing in the world.

"Shikamaru…"

Ino moved past him, and started to inspect her, but Temari stared at him with a confused expression. Ino didn't even say anything.

"Temari – why didn't you tell me?"

She looked even more confused. "told you what?"

There was a silence, until Asuma cried out and reached out for Temari on the bed. Shikamaru crossed his arms. "You and Asuma are going back to Suna, it is too unsafe for a wounded you and him."

"Shikamaru what haven't I told you?"

There was silence and Ino looked between the two of them, before standing up. "I am going to find some new bandages for you Temari-san"

He looked at her, and Temari looked at him, reaching out for Asuma, but was unable to without hissing. With their child safely planted by her side, he finally spoke.

"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"

Her eyes widened. "…… pregnant?"

The room went quiet and Asuma looked from his father to his mother and back again.

"I was pregnant?"

"Sakura was the one operating you when you got hurt. She told me… that it was either the child or you. If you had told me that you were pregnant, this would never have happened, we could have transferred you to Suna and you would be safe and"

"Shikamaru"

He stared at her.

Her voice broke the uncomfortable air.

"Please…I didn't know, just…just don't. Okay?"

-

Two days had passed already, and Naruto sat in his tent. It was only Konoha ninjas that were in this camp now. He and Gaara had decided to divide the camp into Konoha and Suna. Suna was supposed to attack Konoha from the front, while Konoha would do it from the back, since they knew the area better.

He was troubled.

He lay down on his bed, and covered his eyes. He couldn't believe, he simply couldn't. Had he done something wrong? Why was she running away again? Where was she?

Did she even love him?

Frustrated by his trail of thoughts he slammed his hand into the pillow, and closed his eyes hard. Naruto scolded himself. He was supposed to be the Hokage, this shouldn't affect him. He should have known this from the start – he should have known that she would sooner or later run away.

Maybe if he had approached her differently when she came to the camp...? Once again he groaned out loud at his own thoughts, and sat up.

"Damnit – damnit – stop it. She is not here, there is nothing you could do – you got to move on, we have to get Konoha back." He opened his blue eyes when he could smell her on the pillow. Unconsciously, his hand moved across it as if he might feel her just a bit. "It wouldn't have been different than if she had gone with Gaara instead."

He sat up when the memories of their nights together became too much. He stood up, deciding that this time, he wouldn't chase her down.

-

Sakura turned in the bed, so her head faced the man beside her. Her pink hair sprawled all over the pillow, as she felt a hand stroke it away from her face. Drowsily, she opened her eyes and stared tiredly at him. "Mmm – Naruto, what is it?"

He didn't say anything, and she just sighed, closing her eyes and scooted closer to him. "What is on your mind?"She spoke quietly.

"Sakura – do you think Sasuke blames us?"

The tent went silent.

"I don't know" her voice didn't sound tired anymore, and he felt her hand place itself on his stomach as if she was seeking comfort. "I...think Sasuke is happy where he is."

The crickets could be heard outside, and Naruto brought his arm around her, holding her.

"Remember...when he died, I said. How can I smile, laugh knowing I killed my best friend. However, now... I can't see what else that could have happened. I mean, it hurts...even today, but...I think this is how it is supposed to be"

Sakura closed her eyes, and placed her head near his, taking his hand in his.

"...I wouldn't want this any other way" he whispered, and buried his head in the pillow, closing his own eyes.

-

Sakura held the tiny Kozuki's hand hard in hers, as they entered the Hokage-tower. She had felt a strange sensation in her body when she stepped into the city. Tsunade had been standing in the large gate, as if she was waiting for her to do this horrible mistake.

She couldn't tell Naruto about her parents – why? If she had done so he would've forbidden her to go, saying her life was much more important in the battle. Gaara would have said the same. There is no doubt that Naruto would have understood her pain, and done his best to comfort her.

However, Sakura would not let her parents be lost to Orochimaru just like Sasuke.

She felt like crying.

Because she was giving Orochimaru Sasuke's reincarnation, in exchange for her parents. She was a horrible human. Kozuki was scared, and held unto her tightly. She had only seen him once or twice, but already it seemed like he had known her his whole life, and entrusted the very same thing to her.

Then she saw him – Kabuto, and her eyes widened.

"How?" was her only response.

He pushed the glasses up his nose, and showed her the way to the office with his arm. "Everything will be explained inside Haruno-sama"

She frowned, but strangely, she found herself being led by Kozuki to the room. The door was made of wood, but to her it was just as hard as metal, and had a stench of blood. The handle felt as if it was burning off her skin –

She really felt like crying.

When she opened the door, all she could see was the monstrous face of Orochimaru at one end, and four Akatsukis turning their heads towards her. Kozuki gave a yelp when she accidentally grabbed his arm too tightly.

Zetsu, Deidara, Tobi and Kisame stood there, all of them staring at her, and then at the child at her hands. Orochimaru smirked. "I told you I could bring her here, let's start the ceremony"

-

The first time he saw her like that, it scared him half to death. Her clothes ragged and hair messed in a brute manner. She was covered with rashes, open wounds, especially the one that went from her elbow to her shoulder.

The rain clashing down hard upon both of them, and even with the bijuu inside of him he felt terribly human. Her hard breath told him how hard she had fought, how many wounds she had had to heal, and just how many scars she would get when they got home.

He had promised her that they would go home.

However, what worried him the most was the sword that went through her stomach and out on the other side. She looked horribly, bruised and ugly, and it reminded him so much of the Chunnin exam.

She bit down her lip and slowly and carefully pulled the sword out. It didn't help much that he had almost electrocuted her with the Chidori when he stabbed it through her. Sakura just couldn't make herself hate him.

The emerald eyes weren't fixed on her blond-haired friend, but on the body of the snake prince, Uchiha Sasuke. With a swift move she turned her head upwards and closed her eyes.

Naruto was already crying…-

-…so he didn't notice when she slowly began to sob that way. Her whole body shook, the horrible feeling of just standing there fully soaked, with tears streaming down your face, while you cried out loud.

-

Kabuto closed the door behind them, and saw Sakura stand immobile in the middle of the floor. Her green eyes reflected the morning sun that had begun to rise in front of them.

"How...how can you be alive...at the same time as Kabuto?"

Orochimaru chuckled and moved in front of the desk, and crossed his arms. "Kabuto used my powers, that is correct, but I couldn't gain full control of him – but how lucky was I? You two killed the host where my powers were locked. With him gone, I was free to take over one of my older hosts, which I was so lucky to keep in a locked place, where the body doesn't rot."

He could feel how she slowly began to see the connection.

"So, I took over the body, weakened as I was though, I barely had the power to move. Now, Kabuto found me mysteriously, and nursed me back to health. Now...I couldn't get my revenge on Sasuke any longer, but I could get my revenge on Uzumaki Naruto, who nearly destroyed everything I held dear"

Suddenly Kozuki was pulled out of her grasp, and the Akatsuki members jumped forward, and held Sakura tightly, so she couldn't interrupt. "Why is the Akatsuki here then!"

Orochimaru smirked. "I will get Naruto through you – and they will get Naruto too, so they can fulfil their plan – also, I believe they want to get rid of you"

She screamed. "Why!?"

Deidara whispered. "You have not kept our agreement. Tohru has to be with you, and not Naruto-kun or anybody else. So you actually know too much for your own good, we have to get rid of you"

Sakura felt as if she was ready to collapse, but then the door opened and in stepped three persons. A sound ninja and her parents were thrown towards the circle in the middle. Sakura yelled out. "Mom! Dad!"

Both turned their heads towards her, but were thrown to the ground roughly by Kabuto, who bound them to floor by chakra strings. Sakura's mother looked up; her short pink hair had fallen into her face. Her father stared at her pleadingly, as if he was expecting her to save them. However, it was quite impossible with Akatsuki holding her like that.

"Mother!"

Orochimaru stepped forward and took Kozuki and placed him in the same circle. The little boy was crying. Sakura's mother buried her head into the ground out of fear and her husband glanced at her sadly, and then looked at his daughter who struggled in those cloaked men's' arms. He couldn't make out her words, and all he felt was the suddenly chill that went down his spine.

The circle lit up and everyone within it started screaming as if they were experiencing an enormous pain. The room was strangely coloured blue and Orochimaru licked his mouth in satisfaction when both of Sakura's parents and Kozuki fell to the ground – and the earlier sound ninja suddenly fell too even though he was out of the circle.

"Mom! Dad!"

There was silence, and all of the Akatsuki members' eyes were focussed on the sound ninja, who seemed to awaken too. His legs were wobbly as if he had not been walking for years. His white hair turned black, and his face became slightly sharper in its shape.

Orochimaru walked over to him, and placed a hand on the ninja's forehead and pushed it upwards. Sakura's eyes widened.

A perfect copy of a 17 year old Uchiha Sasuke, just without his trademark red eyes. His dark eyes caught hers with that cold look she had seen before.

"..."

Orochimaru spoke. "Do you remember your past life? Kozuki?"

The Sasuke replica looked at him with narrowed eyes. "I am not Kozuki" his eyes went back to Sakura's and the Akatsuki members.

"I am Uchiha Sasuke"

-

Cliff hanger! Only two/three chapters left!