Chapter 2: Isn't it Ironic

To say Naruto was frantic would have been an understatement. After Captain Yamato summoned Pakkuun and the other ninja dogs to search for Sakura's scent, they were lead to find several articles of clothing strewn about the forest in all different directions. The blonde dobe therefore came to the oh-so-brilliant conclusion that she had been kidnapped and her kidnapper had her naked, leading him to panick like a headless chicken.

Not to say that Yamato wasn't worried about her well-being either, but he was a little more concerned about who the enemy was, and why they wanted her. Was it a trap? Or was there more to it than that? Also, another question arose in his mind and he frowned.

"Naruto, have you ever tried to peek on Sakura?" He asked

"Eh?!" The blonde blushed furiously, "Y-yamato-taichou…wh-what kind of question is that?"

The man sighed, "Okay, so yes. And obviously she beat you to a pulp, right?"

"W-well…" Naruto looked away and muttered, face still red as a tomato, "I didn't see anything so I left."

"What about sneaking up or surprise attacks?"

"Oh, yeah. I spooked her one time and ended up with a bruise the size of a baseball around my eye…" Naruto trailed off, thinking about just how hard Sakura could punch and shuddering.

"So how come she wasn't able to get away this time? Surely she would have put up a fight." Yamato asked, finally making his point evident to the blonde.

"Huh…You're right. You would have thought she would have at least made enough noise to wake us up…" Naruto scratched his head.

"Exactly."

At this point Sai had returned to the group with two of the other ninja dogs, carrying her discarded shirt. "So do you think she left us on her own will?" he asked, having heard enough of the conversation.

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Not a chance! Sakura-Chan would never do that! Not in a million years!"

Yamato sighed, "I think we should keep our options open. Perhaps she was given the choice of 'come quietly or your comrades die.'" He looked at the two sternly, "it happens more often than you would think."

Pakkun spoke up, dropping her headband by Yamato's feet. "If it's any consolation, I also picked up another familiar scent on here." He looked at Naruto. "Do you still have Sasuke's headband?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah…" he turned his backpack around his shoulder and began to dig through it. "Here." He set it down for the dog.

Pakkuun took a sniff of the old headband, then sakura's. "No doubt about it." The pug nodded. "Sasuke's scent is on here as well."

"What?!" Naruto exclaimed, his opinion voicing everyone's surprise. There was a resounding gut-dropping feeling among the three of them.

"Well that clears up the question of how she was kidnapped so stealthily." Yamato sighed, "If she was even kidnapped at all."

"Y…you don't think she went voluntarily, do you?" The blonde's jaw hung open slightly, blue eyes reflecting pain but also hope.

"I don't think so, but I do believe it's a possibility."

"Ah, right. Sakura did have feelings for Sasuke before he left, correct?" Sai asked.

The blonde looked down at the two headbands lying next to each other. "She…yeah." He smiled half heartedly, "I remember one time I transformed into Sasuke back when we were kids so I could ask her what she thought of me. But she tried to kiss me, thinking I was Sasuke." He laughed bitterly, staring at the ground, "To this day she's declined almost every time I've asked her on a date." Sai and Yamato watched as the boy stared at the two headbands with a smile on his face but pain in his eyes. They knew that if it did turn out that Sakura left them willingly, it would most likely be the end for the blonde jinchuriki.

"Lets head for the next village and try to ask around." Yamato suggested, trying to change the subject. "Maybe we can get a lead on them before they get too far away"

"Hai." Naruto agreed and Sai simply nodded.

"You can let go now." Sakura sighed, tired of being dragged along by her wrist. "I'm not going to run away."

Sasuke frowned, "If the others were to catch up to us, you wouldn't want Naruto to know you betrayed them, would you?"

"…no…" she spoke quietly, hanging her head in shame.

"Then I will hold onto you." He replied simply, and they continued walking on,

They finally reached the rendezvous point Sasuke had apparently set up with his team before going after Sakura. The leader made a quick introduction of their newest member before moving on to discuss other matters.

By now, the pink haired young woman wondered if her heart could sink any lower. She felt like she had left the good kids on the street to go join up with the bad kids in the alley; she knew she should run, but she knew the ramifications of doing so as well; Needless to say, the only place she'd be going is with them.

There was another female on this teamwho made Sakura feel a little uneasy. The medical kunoichi had just given Sasuke the one gift that could never be given again, and now she was left to wonder if she was just another attempt at reviving the clan, or maybe even just some stress relief. This girl- Karin's her name, right?- was well endowed in all the right areas; for Sasuke to chose her to be on his team must have meant she was strong as well. I'm so inferior.

Karin hadn't been thrilled about a new addition to the team, much less a female addition, but had been warned before hand that if she had any qualms, she could leave. The redhead decided she could put up with the new girl for a little while until Sasuke was done with her—then, she'd have him all back to herself, she thought with a smirk. Sasuke didn't seem like the clingy type and Karin couldn't see him holding onto Sakura for more than he needed her for. Speaking of which…what does he need this chick for anyways? All she seems like is emotional baggage.

"Madara had promised me his cooperation in helping me take down the elders in exchange for our loyalty to Akatsuki." Sasuke explained, "Now that we have given them the 8-tails, all that is left is my mission. However, I want to make absolutely sure that Madara was telling the truth, and seeing as I can't look him in the eyes to use my technique, the only way to find out is to go to the man who really knows everything that happened that night…my brother."

"But didn't you kill him?" the one named Suigetsu questioned.

"When I was training under Orochimaru, I learned more than just fighting techniques…" Sasuke explained, "He also showed me how to bring back the dead."

Sakura's jaw dropped slightly and eyes widened. He can't be serious! That's a forbidden jutsu!

Having caught her expression, Sasuke closed his eyes, "However, the technique requires very precise chakra control and knowledge of medical jutsu. And knowing that I killed his master, I highly doubt Kabuto is willing to do anything I ask."

Now it's all fitting into place… She thought to herself. She pulled her plain black cloak closer to her as a chill ran up her spine. But as she thought of his implications, she frowned, defiance building up in her, "What makes you think I'm going to cooperate?" she said, finally speaking her mind.

Sasuke smirked, sending her into a Tsukiyomi of their previous misbehavior, then taking her out. "Need I remind you?"

Sakura bit her lip as she worked to fight the blush forming on her face. Anyone would have thought he was using the jutsu to instill fear into her, but only they knew what he was really referring to. She nodded humbly, looking down in shame, and earning a wicked grin from Karin.

"I really wouldn't want to get on Sasuke-sama's bad side if I were you." She leaned over to whisper.

Sakura, however, was not afraid of the red-headed girl and turned to glare at her, "And I wouldn't advise you get on mine either."

"Psh. What can you do? You're just a medical ninja." Karin set her hands on her well formed hips. "Like you know anything about combat?"

"Sheesh Karin, one of these days you're going to be eating your words for breakfast, lunch and dinner!" Suigetsu rolled his eyes as he leaned against a familiar looking sword.

Sakura looked over at him, the sword, then Sasuke, "is that…zabuza's sword?" she asked knowingly, yet in disbelief.

"Heh, the one and only!" Suigetsu gloated freely.

She wanted to run. She wanted to be anywhere but here. How could Sasuke team up with someone who would steal something so sacred? Granted, they had fought Zabuza for a long period of time, but she remembered how he went down so heroically, killing the one man who oppressed the tiny village hidden in the mist. She remembered how Sasuke and Naruto fought together to save their sensei; she remembered how they protected each other against Haku; She remembered when they were all still a team. Memories flooded back to her, as they did quite often, but now, she wanted nothing more than to get rid of them.

Because now, Sasuke was different. He had tried to tell them, Sai had tried to tell them, Kabuto and Orochimaru had tried to tell them…the Sasuke they once knew was no more. And now she knew just how right they had all been, and how much she hadn't and didn't want to hear it. He was teaming up with the enemy, with only one mindset and no consideration for anyone or anything else. And they all tried to warn her.

"What's wrong? Afraid of weapons?" Karin taunted.

Sakura glared, "The only thing I'm afraid of is not having the chance to shove your foot in your mouth."

Sasuke rubbed his temples. He really should have thought of this. Well, to be quite honest, he did, but had hoped Sakura had been mature enough to handle Karin's airs. "If you two don't shut up, I won't hesitate to kill you both," he said so simply that Sakura felt herself want to melt into the ground. She knew he wouldn't, but the way he had said it could have made anyone have second thoughts about uttering another word.

"Aw, Sasuke, don't be so harsh! Wouldn't it be fun to see Karin get her ass handed to her?" Suigetsu teased, "and I'm interested in what your new girlfriend can do."

"I WILL kill you!" Karin threatened, and Sakura giggled. Well, at least she had Suigetsu on her side. Karin looked like she was going to throw a punch at the man, but then stopped, "We've got to get out of here. I can sense their chakra moving closer."

"Sure it's them?" Sakura asked

Karin glared, "I know the chakra of Konoha Shinobi when I sense it." She smirked, "It feels like shit."

The pink haired kunoichi was about to retort when Suigetsu made the comeback for her, "and how would you know what that feels like how? Oh wait, you take your baths with the pigs, I forgot." Karin rolled up her sleeves, ready to pound the water-type. "And as much as you want to insult Sakura-san, I think you've forgotten that Sasuke is a former Konoha shinobi as well. You might want to think before you speak."

Karin backed down, bringing down the boiling pot of water to an even bubbling. Point for Suigetsu.

"Lets move." Sasuke commanded sharply, walking past the bickering bunch. The door slammed shut to the abandoned shack with a creak and a bang. Juugo went out silently, followed by Karin, who didn't feel up to bickering anymore.

"Don't mind Karin." Suigetsu comforted the new girl, "She's just jealous 'cause Sasuke won't lay an eye on her. And she's all talk…pretty useless in battle too. I don't even know why he's dragging her along, except that she's good at sensing chakra and supplying it to others."

Sakura smiled slightly to him before following the others out, "She reminds me of my old self, a little bit."

"DAMNIT!"

The creeky old shack reverberated with the sound of Naruto slamming his fist on the wall, "We were so close…" he knelt down to the floor, fingertips running along the splintery wall as tears fell from his eyes, "Sakura-chan…" he whispered.

Why? Why was it that every time they got so close, it seemed like the enemy always managed to slip through their hands? All of the villagers whom they had talked to had claimed to have seen her. A couple of them confirmed that it had seemed like Sakura was being dragged along against her will, which gave Naruto a little comfort, but made him want to pound Sasuke that much more.

Sai wasn't in much of a better mood either. Though he was happy to be feeling emotions, the pain they caused him were uncomfortable and unusual to him. He knelt next to Naruto and set a hand on his shoulder--his book told him that's what friends do in such situations. Naruto looked up to see there were tears in his teammate's eyes as well.

"Sai…are you crying?"

The former ROOT member nodded with his trademark smile. "Yes…it seems Sakura was someone special to me as well. I think I am beginning to understand the meaning of bonds." Naruto smiled weakly and sai continued, "And I am understanding why one would want to protect them..." he paused, "that is why I vow to help you bring Sakura and Sasuke-kun back."

The smile on the blonde's face became official. This was just like what Sakura said to him when Sasuke had gotten away with Orochimaru not too long ago. Together. They would bring back their teammates together, and they would stop at nothing until they did. Now, it was all he lived for, and he wouldn't let anything, not even death, stop him. Naruto stood up, wiping his tears away with his sleeve. "Thank you, Sai."

"As much as I would like to go after Sakura and Sasuke, I think it's best that we report this back to the Hokage and let her decide what actions should be taken." Yamato spoke up once the two were finished speaking.

Naruto wanted to protest, but was too tired and worn out to argue. Nodding silently, he followed the former ANBU officer out of the rickety shack, only to be faced with a breathtaking view of Keikoku lake, situated between the tall mountains of the Goroku range. The sun was peaking through the misty air between the mountains, glistening against the waters of the lake, and bathing the whole valley in a erethreal golden glow.

And it was just what the blonde jinchuriki needed to get his hopes back up.

Sakura watched at a distance as her former team walked in the reverse direction, back to Konha, back home. A feeling of sickness and longing welled up inside her as she watched them leave, partly wanting to be found and rescued. She wanted to be with them, laughing at Sai's social awkwardness or playfully beating-up Naruto for his thick-headedness. That was where she belonged—not here, with this pack of wolves on a mission to seek and destroy.

"Lets go." The leader of the pack commanded, and they set off in the opposite direction, Sasuke leading the group and Sakura following behind.

Often times as they walked, Suigetsu would try to make conversation with her, which she found to be somewhat relieving.

"Everybody's traveling with Sasuke for their own reason, but we're all sorta interconnected too." He explained.

"Whats your reason?" she asked

He pointed to the sword on his back, "I want to collect all the swords of greatest swordsmen. My next goal is the samehanda wielded by Hokashige Kisame."

"Kisame…he's the blue guy that traveled around with Itachi, right?" she asked in a low whisper, having learned that merely mentioning Sasuke's older -deceased- brother often times put the young Uchiha in a foul mood.

"Hai. We grew up in the same village." He explained.

"I was told, the Samehanda can absorb and consume the chakra of it's victims, right?"

"Yup. And there's no other sword out there like it." He gazed off dreamily.

"Soo…why's Karin tagging along?"

Suigetsu rolled his eyes, "She claimed she had something to do as well, but no one knows what it is. Most likely she just wants to be by Sasuke." He explained, and Sakura felt a surge of jealousy form in the pit of her stomach. "But it's funny, 'cause he always ignores her when she hits on him. We all know she doesn't have a chance, but she refuses to give up." He whispered. She laughed, it reminded her of Naruto a little bit.

Suddenly she felt relief and a heady feeling of power. She whispered to him even quieter, "so, he's never like, slept with her or anything?"

Suigetsu laughed out loud, "Are you kidding?" the amphibious swordsman let out a guffaw that 'caused Karin to look back with anger. She knew they were whispering about something, and most likely it was her. But she continued walking.

Sui went back to whispering, "He doesn't even look at her. I have my suspicions that he's gay, but there's really no telling."

Sakura blushed a little bit, remembering Konohamaru's male version of the harem jutsu, then turned even more red at the thought of their rendezvous in the cave, "No, no. I know he's straight. I'm just surprised…I mean, Karin is quite pretty and well endowed…I just figured…"

He shook his head, "But she flaunts it, which combined with her shitty attitude is a major turn-off." He grinned, "If I had to chose between a girl like you and a girl like her, I'd chose you in a second."

She shook her head laughing, "thanks." She knew he was hitting on her, but she had the feeling that it was just that kind of flirt that wasn't anything serious.

Night fell on the crew as they walked and, being in no hurry, they decided to stop and set up camp. They had to be careful, however; Realizing that the Raikage was on the hunt for his brother's murderer (oh the irony, Sakura thought) the quintet had to stay on alert.

The five ate a quick dinner, cut somewhat short by some alarming behavior on Sasuke's part. As they ate the plain white rice, Sasuke suddenly dropped his chopsticks, grasping his eye in pain.

"It's the Sharingan, isn't it?" Sakura was the first one to say anything.

He glared upward at her, being met with an equally defiant stare back. Acknowledging her her intensity, he lowered his guard and nodded.

"Let me see what I can do." She offered, and Sasuke, being in such pain that the whole side of his face felt like it was being hammered in, was in no position to refuse.

"What can you do?" Karin challenged.

"Sasuke wasn't the only one who became a Sanin's apprentice." She sat down next to him and hovered her hands over his eye, replying rather matter-of-factly as her hands began to glow a green healing aura.

"The two other Sanin were Tsunade and Jiraya, correct?" Juugo asked, finally seeming to take interest in the conversation.

She nodded, "Tsunade-sama taught me everything I know."

Sasuke looked at her, seeming to understand where she was going with the conversation. "And Jiraya trained Naruto." He stated simply, quietly.

Concentrating on examining his eye, it took Sakura a few minutes to respond, "It's ironic, isn't it?"

"Hn."

The chakra around her hands faded as she set them down in her lap. "You shouldn't use that sharingan very often. When you do, it's stressing the optic nerves responsible for carrying what you see to the brain and breaking down the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves, which is causing your blurry vision and pain. I can gather some ingredients for a medicine that will help rebuild that sheath and slow down the progression, but if you continue using it, you'll eventually go blind." She explained objectively and warningly. Little did she know, jaw-dropped Karin would never doubt her medical abilities again.

Sasuke stood up wordlessly and went into his tent, leaving the three original Team Hebi members in awe of what just took place. Sakura worked on picking up the rice bowl Sasuke had dropped and cleaning up her own, acting as if nothing had happened.

"Oi, Sakura-san." Suigetsu spoke up, "Who's this Naruto he spoke of?"

"Our other teammate, he…" She began to speak more, then passed it off as a grunt, wanting to leave the conversation at that as she gathered everyone's empty dishes and worked to discard them.

"He was down at the lake today, you idiot." Karin reminded him rather harshly.

"Oh, the blonde haired kid. I remember now."

She wished they would shut up. She wanted to forget about Naruto, forget about her past, forget about how much she missed everyone. Perhaps that was why Sasuke was always so cold, perhaps that's why she felt him go rigid when Sasuke said his name. It reminded him of the past, a past he wanted so desperately to forget. Especially now, she assumed. Sasuke had told them that he wanted to kill the elders, but there was something about the way he had said it that implied that the rest of the village would go down as well—the very same village he had grown up in as a child.

"Who was the other guy he was with? The black haired one." Sui prodded for more answers.

Though her back was turned to them as she rolled out her mat, she clenched her fists tightly. "That was Sai." She responded. "I'm going to bed now." Sakura announced with a slight snap to her voice.

Suigetsu yawned loudly, stretching his arms above his head, "Yeah, I guess I'll check in now too."

Juugo, who sat up in one of the tree branches, had already offered to keep watch and nodded silently. He watched as Karin rolled out her mat and Suigetsu put out the fire. Though it was a rather chilly night, the smoke only gave away their position; The blankets and Akatsuki cloaks kept everyone warm enough, so the fire was no longer needed.

How Ironic.

RA: and that's that. Sorry that this chapter took so long to get up. My inspiration is running a little low, but I've got a pretty good idea where I want this to go and things that I want to incorporate, so I should be updating more frequently.

Also, I suppose I forgot to mention this, but the story is following chapter 415 of the manga, minus the whole Naruto training with Fukasaku. Though I think that might come in later; Haha, I like to make things up as I go. Planning just doesn't suit me XP