A Reason to Leave; A Reason to Love

Disclaimer: I Do NOT own Naruto

Chapter 8: Just Can't Help but Care…Sakura's POV

It has been about 6 months since I had been fully apart of the Akatsuki and the Shinobi world known of my identity and affiliation. I was surprised when word got out and Konoha didn't do anything, especially since I knew their secrets. It irked me that they did nothing, no word was heard that they were sending someone to come and get me.

In fact the last time I even heard of them coming after me was when I ran in that bitch Ino and my old teammates. Apparently Ino had been switched to my old team. Well it's not like I care, or so I told myself.

I enjoyed my time hear at the Akatsuki base and was very glad that the members mostly all saw each others as equals. Nobody would claim to be stronger, though it was understood that when it came to pairs Itachi was stronger than Kisame, Sasori greater than Deidara, Kakuzu better than Hidan, and I knew I was not as good as Madara. Weird that I was paired up with him, put he had a bad temper and mine matched his.

Everybody would spar together and held nothing back; this had lead to me having quite a nice collection of broken ribs. This I was glad of, nobody underestimated each other and intervened in a fight. It was refreshing to not be treated so delicately by teammates.

Yes on missions with Madara-aka Tobi- he would protect every now and then. But not annoyingly so that I would out right yell at him and didn't make me consider leaving. It was nice hear, with all of them. I considered them all my friends and constantly said 'friends' so that they would not try and further their relationships with me.

I knew of their feelings as they all made them quite clear to me on any occasion that they could and Konan always laughed at me troubles. And the headaches that they caused, usually making me throw something at her in retaliation.

I could give examples of their ways of flirting, some more obvious than others. Hidan screaming at the top of his lungs so the base shook that I was 'hot as fuck, bitch' and we should spend more time together. Deidara sculpting me as I slept-stalker-and then leaving it on my nightstand with a note saying how cute I was while I slept. Itachi loaning me poetry books that he thought I might like while staring directly into my eyes, then sweeping the hair out of my eyes. And Madara forcing me up against walls, and then me hitting him over the head. Kisame carrying me bridal style from room to room just because he wanted to. Kakuzu giving me money! The last was the most shocking and had me gaping at him for a week. I was a little insulted by that. What was I a hooker?

It wasn't that none of them were unattractive; they are all very good looking. It was just that I didn't like the thought of favoring one and then having it all blow up in my face. They were all good guys besides their killing needs. But it kind of was expected with their crazy looks. I mean Deidara could grin like a killing maniac. It sometimes freaked me out sometimes from how happy he looked.

"Sakura-chan!" I heard exclaimed from the end of the hallways. I turned around to see 'Tobi' barreling straight for me and transported immediately to my room. Thereby escaping the insane man who never seemed to leave me alone. I heard banging on my door and immediately regretted running away as he was most likely just going to be more persistent.

"Yes," I called out tentatively, not really wanting to get him angry since he like me had a short fuse.

"Pein, he wants to see you in his office. The other members have already been assembled," he no longer had his childish voice. His deep bass voice rang throughout my room and after comprehending his words I ran out. As I ran out I grabbed his hand and dragged him with me to the meeting room.

When we arrived all of the members were seated with their partners and I let go of Madara's hand and walked over to the only seats left and looked at Pein. When Madara sat next to me he nodded his head for Pein to begin. "Zetsu has gotten information that Konoha is finally sending people after you. And they know where we are. Perhaps that was what they were waiting for as to make sure they wouldn't be sending their Shinobi out and then turn out nothing. The Kyuubi vessel will be with them and Uchiha Sasuke will be as well. They will be arriving here by 7AM tomorrow. Prepare yourselves, take the Kyuubi, do not let them take Sakura while she is fighting, and above all. Kill the rest of them."

Everybody looked at me at the last part. Each with their eyes asking if I would be able to do it. Asking if I could kill my old friends, if I had totally destroyed those ties. Looking at Pein I nodded my head and said, "I understand." And after that all of the rest nodded their heads in understanding. Pein dismissed us with a nod of his head and left the room with Konan behind him.

Tomorrow needed serious mental preparation. What would I say? How should I act?

I left the room and headed for my own. For once the other members did not try to stop or deter me. They knew I needed to be fully prepared for anything and that is was best if I was left along for a while to sort things out.

Once there I flopped onto my hammock bed and stared at the tree painted ceiling. Breathing slowly to stop my racing heart I tried to figure things out. Lily came to me and jumped up on the hammock bed that connected to the ceiling with metal chains covered in vines. She laid her massive head down on my shoulder, looking at me with her large brown eyes. I sighed and rubbed her head. She could sense that something was wrong with me.

"I'll be fine," I told her, but I knew I was trying to reassure myself that when the time came they wouldn't affect me. That I would be able to kill them, to extract the Kyuubi from Naruto, to not care about them.

Racing through the Forest…Naruto's POV

I knew they were all wrong in their report. There was no way sweet, innocent, weak Sakura-chan would join the Akatsuki. She was most likely kidnapped and used to lure us all out. To taunt us by saying she had joined while they kept her chained up in the dungeons of their evil lair as she cried her eyes out. Hoping I would come and save her. Well I was coming to get her, to save her from their evil clutches.

"Why are we even saving ugly? She's a traitor and joined the Akatsuki," I heard Sai say and felt my blood boil at his accusation. There was no way he actually thought she would betray them that much as to join the Akatsuki. "I mean yeah we allowed the emo back, but he's actually strong and has a right in Konoha."

I lost it and forced Sai up against a tree, his head smashing into the tree. "How can you say that? Sakura-chan belongs in Konoha for being the great medic that she is. And she didn't join the Akatsuki; there is no way in hell that she would actually join them. They most likely took her for being a medic!" I yelled at Sai, not able to take his FALSE accusations of Sakura anymore.

"Dobe, we all know that. Sakura could never make it into the Akatsuki, she's too annoying. I mean really Sai is just an idiot who buys anything people say. So shut up," teme said, his bored voice the same as when we got him back to Konoha. I was happy teme was back, but the team wasn't complete till Sakura was there and I could protect her from anything.

"Don't call me Dobe…teme," I grumbled to myself and they continued off into the trees with everybody else behind me. The Konoha 11 along with Sasuke and his team were all here, to take Sakura back with us to Konoha. The senseis were here as well but they were spread out and communicating by headset. We needed to make sure nobody was coming our way in any direction.

Don't worry Sakura-chan, we're coming for you, I thought and unconsciously sped up hoping to get there faster.

Akatsuki base…Sakura's POV…6 AM

I was laughing hard, nearly crying from the feeling. Deidara was currently tickling me on my bed. He had burst into my room with a large grin on his face and jumped on me. It was most surprising since I had thought I had locked the door and hadn't heard him picking it. Maybe I was too lost in thought to hear him picking it? I don't really know.

But then Kisame had come running at my shrieks and had jumped on the bed to get Deidara off. That of course made the bed crash into the ground and knock the air out of me. And I was still laughing. It was distracting, and I was thinking that was Deidara's plan so I wouldn't second guess myself on the battle that was quickly approaching.

Pushing them off me and sighing at my bed that had collapsed on the ground I walked over to my closet to pick out something to wear. I plucked out a black set of loose ninja pants, black combat boots, black long sleeved top with red clouds outlined in white, and forehead protector with a slash in it. I never wore it, but today was a special occasion and it would signify that I was a nuke-ninja now. Hopefully those idiots would understand that it was actually there. Most likely they would point at me and accuse me of not being the real Sakura.

Even if my reputation had spread far they wouldn't believe it, even if they would see it. I guess I would just have to beat it into their skulls before they all died today. This way they would all realize how far I had really come since I was the pathetic little girl they all thought they knew. It was time to prove myself. To show them, all of them who I truly was now.

Shooing Deidara and Kisame out of my room I got dressed and grabbed my spear. As I tied the forehead protector around my forehead-the proper way. I also grabbed my cloak and ring, to signify me being apart of the Akatsuki. I exited my room with my spear and other weapons just in time to hear the alarms blare in recognition of an intruder coming straight for the base and closing in. Relaxing myself by taking a few deep breaths I met the others at the door to find all of them waiting for me. Madara held my right hand and Itachi held my left, it calmed me that they were there by my side. That all of them were there by my side to support me.

We took off from the base to an open clearing let our chalkra flare. To direct them to our location, it worked as soon as we did it I felt them all shift to our direction. I stood behind Kisame and Itachi while Hidan was behind me. Deidara was already up in the air looking like a maniac.

Bursting through the foliage came Naruto with Kakashi and Sasuke right on his heels. They seemed to be trying to slow Naruto down but the moment he saw the Akatsuki he screamed furiously, "Where is Sakura-chan? What have you done with her?" He looked absolutely livid as his eyes turned red by the Kyuubi seeping in through rage. Sasuke's eyes were glued to Itachi and Kakashi was in a fighting position as the others finally came out of the foliage.

Pein stepped forward with a blank face as he regarded them all and I noticed that his fingers were twitching. Obviously he was a little annoyed with Naruto, this was understandable as most people became like this around him. Lily brushed against my hand and Akilina was with Deidara, up in the skies. "Kyuubi container, I know exactly where she is, but it seems that you cannot locate her. And as for what we have done to her, you are mistaken. We have done nothing. We offered a job and she took it willingly. So now that is done and we may finally have what we have been waiting for." And like that I stepped around them all and took a place next to Pein and raised my head to meet their eyes. I pushed my bangs back and revealed the slash in my forehead protector.

Naruto looked the most hurt of them all as he raised a hand out toward me and with crystal tears lining his eyes, weakly said, "Sakura-chan…is that really you?" It pulled on my heart strings to see Naruto like this and I couldn't form words to reply to him. And just nodded with a blank face, as that was all I could muster. Not wanting him to speak again and shake my resolve I moved my head to Pain and he nodded his head. Giving us the permission to begin, not even waiting for the others I charged in and headed straight for Sai. I never liked him, and knew he would be the main one to be talking trash about me. I could kill him, I knew that.

Lily was faster than me so got behind him and roared as I jumped up into the air to avoid the attack. Sai Stumbled forward at the force and fell and I quickly came down on him before I was forced to back flip away. In front of me stood Kakashi, he looked conflicted in his eyes, even the Sharingan did. But I couldn't let him affect me like this, it wasn't right-they had betrayed me. Steeling myself I charged forward with the grace that came with hard work. Quickly forming hand signs I blew an orange wispy fire at him that spread out instead of going straight. The fire hardened and became crystal fire and rained down on him. I wanted to look away as I saw him bleed, but I tried to convince myself that this was what he deserved. But it hurt; it made me sad to know this is what it had come to for an old broken team like ours. Looking over to Lily I realized she was going up against Sai with Akilina.

"Sakura, please just come back with us and stop this all. I'm sorry I was a terrible Sensei to you. I'm sorry I doubted you and took your presence for granted. I'm sorry I drove you away. So please, stop all of this," Kakashi pleaded with me. He had said the words I had so wanted to hear from all of team 7. And his words nearly made me break, but it was too late now, words would not help. Charging forward I punched him square in the gut, he seemed to be taking whatever I threw at him. He wasn't trying to get out of the way, even as I felt his ribs shatter he seemed to be saying 'I'll take this, because I failed you' and that made me want to cry all the more.

I dove into him and forced him into the forest with me. I backed him up against a tree and held his two larger hands in one of my own. I looked up at him and took a kunai in my other hand and forced it against his throat. Trying to hold back the tears. "Then prove your sorry Kakashi. Words don't mean anything anymore. You betrayed my trust, belittled me and tried to control my life without even consulting me. You had no right to do that. I'm stronger now and you still won't acknowledge it, and I've tried so hard. Can't you see it, see me stronger that ever? If you are really sorry you will fight me with everything you have, show me that you see me as an equal as to not hold back." And then I jumped away and held my kunai up and got into a defensive stance. "Don't hold back on me. I was offered the job as an Akatsuki member because they saw how strong I am. They didn't think I was weak like you all did. They don't hold back on me and make me push myself harder. They are a true team as to not act like you all did to me."

Kakashi pushed himself off the tree and looked at the ground. Finally he rose his head and looked me square in the eye. His sharingan swirled and he said, "If that is what you wish than I will not hold back on you. I will beat you to a bloody pulp and finally reunite my team. And this time I won't neglect you." He disappeared and reappeared in front of me and blew a fire jutsu directly in my face. I jumped back and blew fire as well to parry his. When the flames died down I stood up tall from my branch, above him. I said, "You'll try but I think I'll be the victorious one here today. I like it here."

And the real battle started there. We fought getting a few bruises and cuts here and there as we made our way back to the main fighting area. Kakashi pushed me out of the trees and I flipped to land on my feet, but still slid back a bit as I dug my heels into the ground. Kakashi was panting, he wasn't old but he was running out of chalkra from all our jutsus that we threw at one another.

Everybody in the clearing took us in, two proud and strong Shinobi battling with everything they had. One fighting to put everything out of their mind one battling for forgiveness. Neither were willing to lose the fight. As they continued so did the Akatsuki and the Konoha Shinobi had to as well. "Is this what you truly want Sakura? To have your friends fight against you, to make them watch as you do terrible things?" He was throwing a wide variety of taijutsu techniques at me and drove me back. But I wanted him to force me this way so that I could get closer to the center of the area.

"They aren't my friends anymore, because if true friends thought you were weak and wanted you to be safe, they wouldn't have tried to force me into something I didn't want to do. They would've helped me become stronger and trained with me. And as for my reasoning for Akatsuki, I justify myself with their reasoning for the start of the Akatsuki," I said as I blew a wind jutsu at him that was laced with blades that cut him up. And in the middle of it he disappeared and I jumped to the center of the area.

Kakashi appeared in front of me as I forced my fist into the ground and the whole clearing shattered like that. Some were smart enough to jump in the air-The Akatsuki and a few of Konoha's. But others were too tired to jump and were caught in the debris that soon became the terrain. Kakashi was one of the ones caught and I punched him at his heart and sent him flying across the field. He couldn't get up anymore, that had most likely mad a rib go into his heart. I appeared next to him and was about to bring my spear down but was stopped when Kakashi said, "You got what you wanted, huh? I didn't hold back I promise you that. I hope your happy and please just smile for me one last time. Because the reason I wanted you safe was because I loved you, Sakura."

My heart stopped at those words. Why did he have to say that now? It made tears appear in my eyes and my vision go blotchy, I smiled and my tears fell on his face. Then I disappeared from the field all together. I had felt Ino coming, felt the medical chalkra that would save him.

I couldn't take his words; I cared too much about him. Because out of all of them I still cared too much about him. And I knew my duties to Akatsuki to kill him but it pained me, and I was scared. So I ran. I didn't care if it was cowardly to run away after he said that. I didn't want to deal with this anymore. So running was what I was going to do. But as I ran and shed the cloak and ring I felt the tears finally fall. All my hard work and preparation all disappeared with those words. Kakashi was the worst opponent I could've faced.

I kept running and felt Akilina and Lily behinds me. We kept running, kept moving for hours and I never felt anyone follow. I has concealed myself and trapped our scents around us with a barrier so as not to be caught. I made my way to a mountain, and kept going till it was dark and I kept myself in a cave in the mountain. I had run away from everything again. The first time I ran from the betrayal and pain, now I was running from love. I was crying still and didn't try and hold them back; it was because before I had tried to press down my emotions. And never moved on, but now I had to forget about that and face it.

Suddenly I felt a shift and jumped up. I looked around and noticed that Lily and Akilina were no longer there. And then I felt a hot and soothing feeling encompass me and I felt rigid and then it all went black. I fell asleep watching as one last tear fell and turned to crystal.

Akatsuki's POV

We watched as she took off from her position beside Kakashi. She couldn't kill him and we saw the tears fall, she was still in pain and we had never noticed it. Everything in the clearing had stopped as soon as she left. We all took off after her to get her back to the Akatsuki as she was the ray of light among us. But her scent and chalkra had disappeared. But still we all pressed on, determined to fined her.

Kakashi's POV

I watched as my love, Sakura, took off once more. The tears she shed of the pain we all caused her made my heart break a little more. But I would find her if it was the last thing I did. Because I loved her, the way she laughed when she was happy, how her brow creased in concentration, how her face would light up with a smile when she would learn something knew. I would find her.

3RD Person POV

And so a promise was made in the hearts that loved the cherry blossom. A promise that would take them on an adventure of another kind. And that would only lead to tragedy for all who once knew the blossom. And it began anew, a search began.

I am going to make a sequel to this but only if you want this. This one is now complete! I hope you liked it!

~Ja-ne~