A/N: Hi everyone. I know some of you wrote in a review that you wanted to see more of Sakura's development in her new village, and I put some of that in there, but since this is a going to be a KakaSaku story, I wanted to move things along. Hope it's still to everyone's liking. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

The first three months had flown by. Sakura was now well-known with water style jutsu. Kazuya arrived on the training field, just as Sakura was creating large pillars of water. Kazuya stopped next to Ranmaru, who had overseen Sakura's training up until now. Aside from water style jutsu, he had also taught her how to use a sword and a few minor genjutsu. Silently the two men watched as Sakura expanded the pillars in size. The water changed form and several spears of water were shot at nearby trees, unrooting them and causing them to fall over.

Kazuya nodded approvingly. „Seems you still got it."

Ranmaru chuckled darkly. „You forget who trained you since you were old enough to hold a kunai…."

„What do you think?" Kazuya said, his concentration back to watching Sakura practice her jutsu.

„She has potential," Ranmaru said. „I had her chakra records pulled from the archive and they tested her as A to S. They weren't wrong, but Konoha neglected to provide her with an adequate teacher. She doesn't need a lot of help while training, she can manage on just a little help. She figures out a lot just by herself. I think she'll live up to my expectations."

„I'll give her go then," Kazuya said, dropping his bag to the ground and striding over to where Sakura was standing on the water. „Sakura," Kazuya yelled. „Get ready to defend yourself."

Sakura made the water pillars around her change again. More spears were formed and shot towards Kazuya who easily avoided them. He was in front of her faster than expected. Water shot up in front of Sakura, blocking the punch Kazuya had thrown at her.

As the water fell back into the lake, Kazuya was gone. Sakura looked around, and quickly spotted him hiding just behind the tree line. A series of hand signs was formed. „Water style, water dragon jutsu."

The training grounds flooded and Sakura smiled at how much she had improved. She yelped loudly when she felt a pair of strong arms twist hers behind her back and holding a kunai at her throat. „You've gotten better," Kazuya's rough voice rasped. „But you still have a long way to go until you can beat me."

Kazuya released Sakura and nodded. „But I am impressed with your progress."

Sakura couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at her lips. Even as a child she was the kind of student who wanted the teachers approval. Getting it from Kazuya felt as some sort of recognition that she belonged on his team, even when he made her feel most unwelcome. She had heard him when he told Ranmaru that he would've had her pack her bags and go home. But it wasn't only the kindness of Ranmaru, the friendly Lucy and Akira, or the appraisal of Kazuya that made her feel better. It was a redheaded knucklehead that reminded her so much of Naruto, that made her feel right at home.

„I'll train you from now on," Kazuya said. „And you will be a great shinobi."

Sakura nodded, finally feeling like she truly belonged.

XOXOXO

Naruto pushed his fist in the air as he dispatched the last of the highwaymen that had attacked him and his team. He smiled brightly at Kakashi who nodded at his student. Naruto had come a long way since Kakashi had decided to train him. Aside from several new jutsu, Naruto had found a calmness that he didn't have before. He wasn't just training to protect the village, or to become stronger. Tsunade had gone ahead and named him as a potential successor. He couldn't let her down. All that was missing was the only person he really wanted to see him become Hokage. The one person he would protect over all else. Sakura. Someday we'll be together again. And… You'll be proud.

Kakashi lead the way back to Konoha. The arguments within the team had seized, but only because he had asked Naruto to control himself. A team that was constantly arguing couldn't function properly. He had told Shirley the same thing, but only after finding out that this was her last chance at being a ninja. He had always considered himself a smooth-talker and this had once again proven that he was talented in more fields than one.

During a short break, Kakashi caught Naruto reading a letter. „Who is it from?" Kakashi asked, seeing Naruto smile.

„Sakura," Naruto said. „Want me to read what she wrote?"

Kakashi nodded. „Let's hear it."

Dear Naruto,

I know this letter is long overdue, but I've been very busy. The leader of Waterfall, Ranmaru, has been training me. He says that I have great potential and that after he's done with me, Kazuya Higurashi will take over. Kazuya is the team leader of the team that they've assigned me to. I know you want me to come home, but I have no idea when I'll be back.

Ranmaru tested my chakra. I'm a water type user and I'm able to use a fair amount of jutsu now. Someday I'll show you all that I've learned so far. I'm working on a jutsu of my own. You know, like you have the Rasenshuriken, I'll have a jutsu of my own too.

I didn't want to break this to you in a letter, but I'm seeing someone. His name is Kenji Uzumaki. And yes, he is related to you. There's an entire Uzumaki clan here. The strange thing is, none of them have your hair color! Most of them have red hair or a brownish red hair color.

Kenji makes me feel like I'm close to you. Like I can feel you living inside of him. It's hard to explain. Whenever I'm with him I feel a warmth and a calmness that I've never felt before. He makes me smile and laugh until I cry. He makes me feel loved and wanted in a way I've never felt before. Being around him feels right.

Naruto, you will always be the most important person in my life. You changed me. Seeing you never give up, gave me the courage to stand up after falling down. Thank you for loving me, Naruto.

I miss you and I think about you everyday. Be safe, and look after Sai and Kakashi-sensei. Give those two my love, won't you?

Love,

Sakura.

Naruto carefully folded the letter and put it back in his bag. He blinked back a few tears before smiling brightly at Kakashi. „She seems to be doing okay," he said with false cheeriness.

„You miss her," Kakashi stated.

Naruto nodded. „I've loved her my entire life," he confessed. „But I never had the courage to tell her. I figured being close to her as a friend was better than not having her in my life at all."

Kakashi nodded. His mind went to Obito who died before being to confess his love to Rin. Both Obito and Rin died during the last shinobi war and now that they were on the verge of another war, a part of Kakashi felt sorry for Naruto. Odds were that one of them would die, before Naruto would have the chance to tell Sakura about how he really felt.

„What about you Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked. „Is there anyone in your life?"

Kakashi shook his head. He would spare women his broken mind. His life was a tragedy. Lost his teammate just when they were starting to get along. Rin died by his own hand. He couldn't bother any woman with this. He would stick with one-night-stands whenever he needed to relieve himself. He just wasn't fit to be someone's boyfriend, partner or husband. Unless, he could find someone who was as messed up as he was.

Sai had sat against a tree, listening quietly to the conversation. He furrowed his brow before smiling his usual fake smile. „So you both want to have a woman, but neither has gotten very far," Sai concluded.

Kakashi sighed. How did Sai come to that conclusion? He was very popular with the other sex. He just didn't want to burden anyone. Sometimes he missed the good old days when Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were his students and the listened to his every word. These days he was stuck with A loudmouth girl, an emotionless Root member and the number one knuckle headed had changed drastically over the last couple of years.

„What?!" Naruto responded a little late to Sai's comment. „I just didn't want to ruin our friendship."

Sai stared at Naruto evenly before pulling a book out of his back. He read quietly before nodded. „That may be true."

Naruto sighed. He had really bought that? Truth was, he was afraid of her turning him down, so he wouldn't tell her how he really felt. Now he was wondering if that had been the right thing to do. Was he sad that she had someone else now?

Looking towards the west, Naruto's thoughts lingered in Sakura. Her eyes, her hair, her kind smile. Someday he would muster up the courage to her about his feelings.

XOXOXO

Sometime later…..

Sakura hid behind a tree, her eyes found Akira doing the same just a few feet away from her. They were luring their target into a trap, only the plan was taking a longer than expected. In the back of her mind, Sakura wondered if something had gone wrong. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Lucy's sugary sweet voice pierce the quiet evening air. The only one missing was Kazuya. Lucy was supposed to lure one guy away, so they could capture him alive. And Kazuya would 'take care' of the other guy. Meaning he would most likely kill him first chance he got.

The man Sakura and Akira were supposed to capture was practically slobbering all over Lucy, but she didn't once break character. She was pretending to be a prostitute who was into kicky stuff. Sakura could hardly control her laughter when Kazuya explained that Lucy would take on the role of the prostitute, because Sakura was too easily recognized as someone form Waterfall.

Lucy started to strip off some of her clothes as she beckoned the man to join her on the cold forest floor. With his attention fully on Lucy and his pants down to his ankles, Sakura stuck him with a needle right in the middle of his left buttocks. The man looked over his shoulder in panic, just before the sleeping drug took hold of his senses and put him into a deep sleep.

Lucy groaned as she pushed their perverted target of off her and put her clothes back on. „I hate playing the bait," she complained.

Akira smiled slightly and blushed, looking at the skimpy outfit that Lucy was currently wearing. „I don't understand why Kazuya-sensei always picks me to do the dirty work," she continued to complain.

„Because you're a dirty girl," Sakura said, unable to control herself and she started laughing.

„Really?!" Lucy huffed. „You're the one with a boyfriend. I seem to repel the opposite sex, instead of attracting them."

„What's all the fuss about?" Kazuya asked emerging from the bushes. His eyes went to the victim, back to the laughing Sakura. „Do you think this is a joke? This is a very high paying job, not a laughing matter."

„Lucy," Sakura managed, before bursting into more laughing.

Kazuya looked at Lucy. „What about you?"

„I don't get why I always have to play the bait," Lucy complained. „I'm more likely to repel men, instead of attracting them."

Kazuya turned over the victim with his foot and stared the way his pants were. „Looks to me like he was pretty interested."

„Great," Lucy huffed. „I attract ugly weirdos."

„Well beauty isn't everything," Kazuya said as he rearranged their victims clothes and hoisted him onto his back. „But you know why I told you to be the bait. Sakura is too easily recognized with her pink hair."

„She could dye her hair the next time."

„And you're the more experienced shinobi," Kazuya said. „Sakura still has to officially be named jounin." Kazuya got up and looked at Lucy, smiling broadly. „And you are really good at playing the bait."

„Great," Lucy said. „That makes me feel so much better."

„Good. Let's go."

Back at Waterfall, Sakura closed the door behind her kicked off her shoes. She was usually the kind of person to keep things tidy, but it was late and she was so ready to go to bed and fall asleep in Kenji's arms. Quietly Sakura moved through the house, first putting away her bag with medical supplies and then she went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. She looked at a picture that hung on the wall. It was one Naruto had send her. It was picture of him celebrating making chuunin, on it was Sai, Kakashi and Naruto. Missions like these made her miss her old team. Although she would often get mad at either Naruto or Sai, she loved them.

Sakura jumped when she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders. Turning around she smiled at Kenji, while quickly drying the tears that had managed to escape her eyes. His big blue eyes softened. „You still miss them?"

Sakura nodded. „Some days more than others." She paused and leaned against Kenji. „Today Lucy was complaining to Kazuya about always being the bait…. It reminded me of how Naruto would always whine to Kakashi-sensei about why he never bothered teaching him the chidori."

Kenji wrapped his arms around Sakura and kissed her. „You know…. If you ever decide to return to Konoha, I'll come with you."

Sakura shook her head. „No," she said, pushing out of his arms. „We decided. We're staying here, and in the summer I'll be Sakura Uzumaki. Remember?"

A smile formed on Kenji's face, before turning back to that soft look that he always had when Sakura was feeling sad. „I just want you to know, that you don't have to feel like you have to stay here because of me. The choice will always be yours."

Not once since she first heard the news that she had to leave Konoha had she felt this much at home. Though the memories of Naruto and Sai still weighed heavily on her. After everything they had been through together, she had just left that life behind and she had started anew in Waterfall. Would Naruto forgive her for this?

XOXOXO

It was a cold winter night, but he was almost there. Kakashi had told him to go to this village for help. They were closest and allies to the Leaf, they would send help. Frantically he looked around, while holding his right arm with his left. Exactly where was the entrance to this village?

A sharp sound drew the young man's attention and a female voice spoke low and menacing. „Who are you and what are you doing here?"

„I'm Sai, from the Hidden Leaf," Sai said calmly and he turned to the woman to show her his headband. „I need your help. They're after the Nine-tails."

Without a second thought, the woman whistled and another shin obi appeared. „Wake Ranmaru," she said. „We have a help request from the Leaf."

While the other shin obi left, the female shinobi led Sai into the village. He was so tired and beat up that he could barely walk in a straight line. His eyes roamed the dark streets and he couldn't help but be amazed by how a village was able to actually be hidden like this. The village lay behind a waterfall, and was also surrounded by one giant round waterfall that filled the many rivers that ran through the village. The trees would shield the village from view in the summer, which explained the extra security in the winter.

Sai was led into a building to the far end of the village. On the third floor, the female ninja wanted to knock on the door, but before her hand hit the door, they were already told to enter.

Inside stood a desk, and behind it sat a man with long black hair. He looked like he had been pulled from his bed, yet he still managed to look like a leader. Ranmaru's eyes roamed over Sai, resting on the Leaf headband he wore. „Speak," he ordered.

„We were attacked," Sai spoke quickly. „About twelve miles west of here, near the border. They're after the nine-tails."

„Yuki," Ranmura said. „Wake Kazuya and his team. After that gather me team two of the ANBU."

The female ninja nodded and disappeared. „I don't have many ninja available," Ranmaru said, getting up and gesturing Sai to sit down. „But I will do everything within my power to help you."

„Thank you," Sai said softly, grateful to have found help. Yet he couldn't make himself sit down. He knew that if he rested now, he wouldn't be able to get back up.

„How many were with you and with how many was the enemy?"

Sai had to think. „We were with two teams. Eight ninja. They were with….. I don't know… It was… It was dark and they came out of nowhere."

The door to Ranmaru's office opened and Kazuya, along with his team stepped inside. Sakura looked past Kazuya and quickly pushed past him when she realized that it was Sai who standing in the middle of the office.

„Sai!"

Sai smiled when he saw Sakura. Not once had it occurred to him that this was the village to which they had send her. The relief was almost enough to bring him to tears, yet he never showed it. Sakura instantly started to heal him, while listening to Ranmaru's orders.

„Save your chakra," Kazuya ordered when he realized that it was the Akatsuki they were dealing with. He looked at the rest of his team. „If there's anything you need to go on this mission, go grab it now, we leave in fifteen minutes."

Like the others Sakura ran to her apartment, the apartment she now shared with Kenji. He was still out on a mission, so she wouldn't have a chance to say goodbye. Instead she quickly wrote him a note, hoping she'd be back before he'd get around to reading it.

On the road outside the village, Kazuya summoned two wolves. „Kaito, go with Sakura and Akira to towards the fires."

„We're splitting up?" Sai asked frantically. „We all have to go to those fires, that's where Naruto is!"

„Sakura is a powerful water style user, she can handle it," Kazuya said calmly. „You, Lucy and me will go to rescue that other team."

„But"

„Listen kid. I know you're very worried, but I need you to tell who the enemy is and who isn't. Unless you want me to kill everyone in my sight and then write a report that says collateral damage."

Sai looked down in defeat. He wanted to save Naruto, but he couldn't abandon his comrades from Team Gai. „Alright."

„Move," Kazya said, before changing his direction to where Sai pointed out, was the last location where he had seen any member from team Gai.

XOXOXO

Kakashi panted as he used his mangekyo sharingan to blow yet another big fire style jutsu away. His reserves were running low, and Naruto couldn't help much since he was both a wind style user and a close ranged fighter. This guy was high up in the sky, and Kakashi had been unsuccessful in trapping this guy with his sharingan.

What Kakashi did know was that this was Kirin, the first flame. A rogue ninja from the hidden Sand, and now a member of the Akatsuki. Another jutsu came their way and Kakashi pulled Naruto with him as he hid behind a large rock.

„Come now Kakashi," Kirin said. „I expected more of a challenge from Konoha's Copy ninja. Or is it that you just want to live, because I'm willing to cut you a deal. Give me the jinjuuriki and I'll let you go."

Kakashi chuckled. „Sounds good to me, but this is my future boss. So it wouldn't be a good idea to hand him over only save him afterwards."

„You really think he'll live to see daybreak, do you?" Kirin asked mockingly. „Did you hit your heard."

A Naruto-clone appeared behind Kirin. „Rasengan," he yelled as he drew his hand back to deliver his jutsu.

Kirin easily grabbed his arm and twisted it so the Rasengan hit the clone who was using the jutsu. „Clever distraction," Kirin said. „But you'll have to better than that. You have one minute to change your mind regarding my offer. Otherwise you both die tonight."

Kakashi closed his fist. „On my mark, you run."

„Kakashi-sensei", Naruto pleaded. „I'm not leaving you to die."

„I'll be fine," Kakashi said. „But I can't fight if I'm concerned for you. Run."

„Time's up!"

Kakashi looked at Kirin and his sharingan recognized the jutsu he was about to use. „Fire style. Cranial carver."

A large tidal wave of flames was making its way to Kakashi and Naruto, and Kakashi new that he wouldn't have the time to gather the chakra needed to blow this jutsu away. All that was left was hope that he could stall the jutsu with water style attacks. Kakashi took a deep breath and let it out in surprise. In front of him appeared a girl with pink hair, and a boy with black hair. Both were forming hand signs. „Water style," Sakura said. „Giant vortex jutsu."

„Earth style," the boy said. „Rock armor jutsu."

The water from Sakura's jutsu was easily evaporated by the flames. Akira's jutsu kicked in causing the ground open and change to protect them from the jutsu. Naruto who had been ready to do as ordered by Kakashi, also looked at his rescuers. His mouth fell open, and tears fell. Not once since the beginning of the battle had he hoped that he'd be granted his final wish in life. He got to see Sakura one more time before losing his life.

„Ready?" Akira asked Sakura.

Sakura nodded. „As ready as I'll ever be."

The ground turned to normal and Kirin started laughing loudly at the four shinobi. „Is this what you were stalling for, Copy ninja? A boy and a girl, barely out of diapers."

„He's talking about you," Sakura said to Akira.

„I've been potty trained for a while now, you ugly old goat!"

Kirin resumed laughing. „This is unworthy of my time. Hand over the jinjuuriki."

„Fuck you," Sakura yelled. Her eyes skimmed over Kirin, trying to find some kind of weakness.

Kirin stopped for a moment and looked more closely at the two ninja who had joined the fight. Pink hair. A boy who could change the landscape. „I see now," Kirin said. „You're a Haruno and he's probably Akira The Rock Mushi. Correct?"

Sakura and Akira looked at each other. „So unfair," Sakura whined. „He knows your name but not mine. Come on! Am I not a great ninja too?"

„I don't know what you're playing at girl," Kirin said. „But Akane Haruno died over four years ago. And there hasn't been a Haruno like her since. I doubt that you are able to defeat me."

„Okay," Sakura said, forming the hand sign called tiger.

Kirin looked next to him and raid his arms in defense as a waterclone had popped up beside him and exploded.

„Nice," Akira said as he watched a small army of Sakura clones attack Kirin. „So how many did you make?"

„Plenty," Sakura answered. „So here's what we're going to do. When he's defeated my clones he'll use another of those powerful fire style jutsu. Kakashi?" Sakura looked over her shoulder. „I need you to blow that jutsu away." Sakura turned her gaze back to Akira. „When I start forming the hand signs for my counter jutsu, I want you to sneak up behind him and do a close ranged attack. Doesn't mater if it hits. Kirin will be forced to land on the ground where the real me will take him out with a single blow."

Kakashi took a closer look at Sakura and realized that it was indeed a well made clone.

„Everything is already in place."

„You set this up while we were coming here?" Akira asked.

Sakura nodded. „That's why I'm a little insulted that he doesn't know my name."

„What do I do?" Naruto asked.

Sakura smiled. „You get to be the bait."

„Almost," Akira said, looking up as the last few clones threw themselves at Kirin.

„This ends now," Kirin shouted and he formed his hand signs at an incredible speed.

„Wait for it," Sakura said as she formed hand signs of her own.

„Fire style, Grand inferno jutsu."

„Wait for it," Sakura said as she finished her own hand signs. „Now!"

Kakashi's sharingan changed shape into the mangekyo. „Kamui."

The large fire style jutsu disappeared, causing Kirin to grunt in annoyance. He heard a noise behind him and raised his arms in defense as Akira attacked him with a kunai. Looking back at Kakashi, he saw that Sakura was done now calling forth five pillars of water.

„Water style. Five pillar jutsu," Sakura said.

The pillars each started shooting of water arrows in Kirin's direction, forcing him to land on the ground. The last things his eyes registered was Sakura forming a quick chain of hand signs. She touched the ground for a second and spoke. „Summoning, phantom wolf strike."

Her fist never even made contact with Kirin, who had tried to escape her punch, but she didn't need to hit him, she only had to get close. Kirin's lifeless body fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Kakashi's knees gave out and he fell unto his knees. He could barely believe what he had just witnessed. It was like a ghost and eaten the life out of Kirin. Just like that, he was defeated. Looking to the side, the water pillars disappeared and the water clone dispelled itself.

Sakura kneeled next to Kirin's body. She pulled a scroll from her bag and laid it next to the corpse. A few hand signs were made and the body was absorbed into the scroll. Sakura put the scroll away and simply laid down on the forest floor, looking up at a dark cloudy sky.

As Naruto saw Sakura lie down, he rushed over to her. „Sakura?"

Sakura smiled and murmured. „So tired."

Akira showed up right next to Kakashi. „Are you alright?"

Kakashi nodded. „That jutsu."

„One of Sakura's originals," Akira said. „But we should get somewhere a little more out of this clearing. We're too exposed like this. Sakura!"

„Yeah?"

„Shouldn't we contact Kazuya-sensei?"

„His wolf is around here somewhere," Sakura called back. „Have him do it."

„Are you okay Sakura?" Naruto asked. „That was amazing."

„Thanks Naruto," Sakura said sitting up and swinging her arms around him. „I'm so happy to see you!"

XOXOXO

„Oh that is disgusting," Kazuya said as he looked at Gai and Lee. The white Zetsu were all defeated, and now it was just a matter of finding out who was still alive. Obviously those two were still alive, just knocked out. Neji had joined them a while back, and Tenten was hiding, because she was too banged up to do anything.

Looking further, Lucy found the body of a girl. „Is she one of yours?" Lucy asked Sai.

Sai nodded. A sense of sadness took hold of him as he looked at the lifeless body go Shirley. She never stood a chance against the Akatsuki, yet she had tried to save herself. So this was what war felt like.

The wolf Kazuya had send with Sakura and Akira emerged from the bushes, holding a note.

Enemy defeated, what next?"

Kazuya recognized the handwriting. So he wrote back. Stay put until reinforcements arrive. I will find you.

Kazuya handed the note back to the wolf and turned his attention towards finding shelter for the remainder of the night. The next day would probably be a very long day.

Thank you for reading! Drop me a line, to let me know what you think.