Ha ha, hey kiddoes! Sorry it took me so long to update; I wasn't quite sure where to take this chapter… I hope you all like where I did though.

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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

~Italics mean Sakura's dream~

Chapter 20: Truth

"Hatake-sensei." A cold feminine voice acknowledge from the hallway.

Wait, that couldn't be his Sakura, could it?

Kakashi shivered slightly as his eyes wandered to the voice's owner… short pink hair, hardened emerald eyes. Yep, it was Sakura, but he currently wasn't so sure on the his part.

Kakashi walked a few steps closer to the girl, and couldn't fight the smile that came to his lips. She was beautiful, even more so than she had been. Her body had matured, not too much, but just enough. She had become simply breath taking.

"Sakura," Kakashi's mind slightly became foggy as he spoke the girl's name. "It's been a while."

"It has," Sakura commented coldly while stepping a few inches back. She leaned against the wall and looked directly into the older jounin's eye. "Where's Naruto?"

"I assume he hasn't returned, yet?" Kakashi spoke with a light tone of confusion. He tilted his head back to glance at Sakura with a questioning eye. "Why?"

Sakura kept quiet as she slowly walked back into the hospital room she had walked out of when Kakashi had arrived. She tried to ignore Kakashi, but he followed after her quickly; he wasn't finished talking to her yet, and he wasn't going to let her try and escape now.

Kakashi opened his mouth to speak, but stopped at seeing the slightly pale form of Kankuro in front of him. "It was a weird poison," Sakura spoke out loud. Her eyes were glanced back at Kakashi; she noted the questioning look in his eye. "I had never seen it before."

"But you were still able to treat it," Kakashi commented as he walked beside the girl. She had obviously became stronger in his absence; Kakashi's heart wrenched slightly at the thought. She had grown so much… she was probably a totally different person, now.

Sakura nodded her head, and brought out a few vials from her medical skirt. "I also made extra," Sakura said while handing the silver haired man two vials. "Extra antidotes. The other one is for Naruto… whenever he decides to arrive..."

"You do know I haven't seen Naruto since I left Konoha, don't you?" Kakashi asked while looking to the pink haired girl. Sakura stopped and turned slightly to look into Kakashi's eye; she was checking for the truth in his statement. "We had separate missions."

Taking a deep breath, Sakura turned away from the silver haired man. She started to walk slowly over to the door; she needed to leave. She needed to put as much space between her and the man before her. "You two still left me behind… you three did, when you promised you wouldn't," Sakura muttered as she left the room.

Taking a deep breath himself, Kakashi chose to follow after the young girl. He wouldn't let her end it like that; end their relationship through a lie. As Kakashi left the room to follow Sakura, however, he noticed someone else had already stopped her.

"How were you able to save him?" The elder, Kakashi knew as Chiyo, asked. She was a part of the Suna council; one out of two of the high council siblings. Taking a good look at the woman, Kakashi realized he saw recognition and surprise in the elder's eyes. She was probably surprised Sakura could save someone, when she herself, could not.

"I was able to draw out the poison with my chakra," Sakura answered as she drew chakra to her hand. A bright green light surrounded her hand, and Sakura brought it closer to the older woman's face. "As I absorbed the poison, I healed the damaged particles the poison caused. It was tough, but with the aide of a few herbs I managed to do it."

"I have only met one other medical ninja that reminds me of yourself," the elder stated with a slight dislike in her tone. Chiyo stated, rather then asked, "Tsunade is your sensei, then."

Sakura nodded her head stiffly, and then glanced back to Kakashi. The silver haired male was staring intensely into the pinkette's eyes. She hadn't been able to escape from Kakashi like she had wanted… maybe it was time to just face him, and let things fall where they were meant to.

"I still need to talk to you, Sakura," Kakashi stated while taking the pink haired girl's hand, lightly. Kakashi noticed instantly that the girl didn't pull away; she actually seemed to lean into his touch. "Please excuse us, Chiyo-sama."

Chiyo nodded and entered Kankuro's room. Taking in a deep sigh, Kakashi pulled Sakura down a few hallways until they reached an empty hospital room. As they walked however, Sakura's mind was racing. How long had it been since she and Kakashi had actually talked together, alone?

"I never wanted to leave you behind, Sakura," Kakashi stated as he placed a gentle hand on the girl's cheek. He really didn't want to hold anything back from the girl, not now anyway.

"You're lying," Sakura said as she unconsciously leaned against Kakashi's gentle hand. Realizing what she was doing, however, she quickly tried to create as much space as possible between herself and the silver haired man.

"I could never lie to you," Kakashi stated while his eye gleamed at her. He took a few steps forward and leaned his arms against the wall beside Sakura's head. His head soon began moving closer to her own.

Sakura's mind went blank as her back hit the wall; her eyes grew wide as Kakashi's face got closer to her own. Taking a deep breath, she could only say the thing that had been replaying in her mind since he'd left.

"But you've already lied to me Kakashi," Sakura said so softly Kakashi almost didn't hear it. "You've already betrayed my trust…"

Kakashi stopped his advancement as his face was an inch or so away from her own. His eye moved to watch hers; they were in obvious turmoil.

"You left me, Kakashi," Sakura said with no more power in her voice; she sounded almost hollow. "You wouldn't even allow me to talk to Tsunade… you just left."

Kakashi's eye widened at the tone of her voice; she seemed so lost. Sakura's eyes were glued to the floor, though Kakashi knew her eyes would be just as lost as her voice was. Taking two of his fingers, Kakashi used them to lift Sakura's chin up slightly.

"Did you read the note I left you Sakura?" Kakashi asked quietly; his fingers still located just below her chin. His hand started to move downward though, and settled gently on her shoulder. Seeing the look in her eyes now, Kakashi knew she hadn't. "You didn't see it, did you?"

Sakura shook her head quickly, eyes glanced up to Kakashi. "…You… you left me a note?" Her voice was soft as she said this.

"Of course I did," Kakashi stated while caressing her shoulder lightly. "I would have never left without an explanation. I wanted to warn you about Naruto and Jiraiya-sama leaving."

"Jiraiya-sama?" Sakura asked as her eyes seemed to glaze over. "Tsunade said you and Naruto- Tsunade."

Sakura's eyes held a bit of understanding, and she practically collapsed against the wall; Kakashi's hands were the only thing that prevented her from doing so. "Tsunade lied to me…"

"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, Sakura," Kakashi stated as his both his hands slid to Sakura's shoulders. He gave them a light squeeze and Sakura's eyes landed on his own.

"I need time to think, Kakashi," Sakura said with a bit of hesitation. She had just been betrayed by someone she trusted… and someone she had believed had betrayed her really had not. She was beyond confused.

"I understand," Kakashi said shifted to back away, before he did, however, his lips left a soft kiss on her own. Backing away from Sakura, Kakashi smiled slightly as the pinkette's hand came up to caress her lips lightly.

"Whether Naruto arrives by then, or not, we'll be leaving in a few hours," Kakashi commented softly as he took a few steps away from Sakura. "Try to relax until then."

Kakashi walked out of the hospital room with a sigh. It had been so long since he had seen Sakura, he couldn't stop the soft kiss he had given her. He was almost forced to kiss her, he really couldn't stop himself.

Sighing again, Kakashi stuck his hands in his pockets, and left the hospital. He'd wait for Naruto at the Suna gate. Thinking of the young blonde, Kakashi knew he'd be coming soon; Naruto refused to miss anything.

---

Sakura leaned against the hospital room wall and let a huge breath out of her lungs. "How could Tsunade lie to me?" Sakura asked herself quietly.

Closing her eyes, Sakura allowed herself to slowly slide down the wall. As her rear reached the floor, Sakura's head fell against her knees. She had brought her knees up to hug against her body.

Sighing again, Sakura fell into the deep depths of sleep. She was too emotionally drained to even stop herself.

---

Her eyes opened, and Sakura recognized the forest before her… She had been having these type of dreams ever since Orochimaru bit her shoulder…

"SSSsakuraa," a voice hissed through the dark forest. Sakura stood from her crouched position and glanced around the forest before her. "Come to me, Sssssakura."

"Where are you?" Sakura asked as her eyes darted around the forest.

"You know where I am," the voice said. Sakura's eyes stopped as a cave came into view. Sakura felt herself willed to move toward the cave; she didn't even stop when the voice spoke again.

"They left you," it said. "They left you, and the only one you trusted lied to you. Come to me, Sakura. I will take all your pain away."

Sakura felt her head nod, and she walked faster toward the cave. "Please take it away."

"Come to me."

---

Sakura woke up with a start. She wasn't aware what her dream meant, but her curse mark had started throbbing because of it. Placing healing chakra into her palm, she cupped her neck lovingly to try and ease the pain.

Flinching, Sakura felt her curse mark grow slightly. It was a problem that had been occurring just like her dreams. When she told Tsunade about it, Tsunade hadn't found it to be a problem…

Glancing toward the clock, Sakura stood with a soft curse. Kakashi had made it a point of telling her they would be leaving in a few hours. Standing up with a sigh, Sakura's internal clock already told herself she was running late even when the clock had already done so.

Sakura practically flew out of the room as her mind finally comprehended her lateness. Running back through the halls, Sakura stopped in Kankuro's room to check on him. She smiled slightly seeing his brown eyes watch her with slight warmness.

"Chiyo-sama told me you were the one to heal me," Kankuro commented as Sakura walked closer. Sakura nodded and pressed a green lit hand to the brunette's forehead. "Temari also told me you and your team will be the ones going to bring Gaara home…"

Sakura nodded again, and brought her hand back from Kankuro's forehead. "Thank you," Kankuro muttered as he looked to the girl. "I know we're not on the best terms, but thank you for coming to Suna in our hour of need."

"It is Konoha's pleasure," Sakura said as she bowed her head slightly. Placing a hand on Kankuro's head, Sakura added with sincere honesty, "Chiyo-sama will take care of you while we're away."

"Thank you again, Sakura-san," Kankuro called as Sakura walked out the door. Sakura sighed as she reached the hospital door; Chiyo stood before her, a pack slung over the older woman's shoulder.

"I'm going to be coming with you," Chiyo commented as she stood beside Sakura. "It is my responsibility to bring the man that did this to justice."

"I cannot allow that, Chiyo-sama," Sakura stated with a bow of her head. Sakura watched as Chiyo's eyes grew, and held a slight bit of anger. "Kankuro-san needs help recovering; I promised you would take care of him."

"You don't understand-"

"Chiyo-sama," Sakura said while grabbing the elderly woman's hand lightly. Sakura's eyes held such truth, and honesty; though they started to grow deeper, darker green. "I promise to get revenge on whatever happened to you; I cannot allow you to come with us. You would ultimately slow us down; we need to be as fast as possible if we wish to save the Kazekage."

"If you will not allow me to come with you, please take this," Chiyo said while taking out a scroll from her pack. Handing it to Sakura, Sakura noticed the wornness of the elder before her. "If you happen to meet a red head, you will have to use this…"

"I will," Sakura stated with a nod of her head. She grabbed the scroll and thanked the elder. "Thank you again, Chiyo-sama."

"Take this scroll, too," the elder called before Sakura could leave. "This will be fore the Kazekage if something happens to him…"

"Thank you," Sakura said with another bow. "I will get your revenge for you."

Sakura walked out of the hospital without glancing back at the village elder. Chiyo wouldn't belong on this mission; Sakura had seen the look in the old woman's eyes. A look of desperation; the woman looked willing to give her life for this… Sakura knew Suna wasn't ready to let one of their village elder's life go just yet, just like they weren't ready to let their Kazekage go yet...

With another tired sigh, Sakura raced toward Suna's gate. She could already feel Kakashi's chakra there. She could also feel Naruto's chakra there… Sakura wasn't sure she was ready to face them together yet, but she didn't let her hesitance stop her.

They had to save Gaara; it was their mission. And the sooner they were done with the mission, the sooner Sakura could get home and discuss something very important with Tsunade.