Alright, this is the time that I really need you the readers to tell me what you think. I know we have left Naruto for a little bit but I wanted to get this part of the story out of the way. It's been hard writing since I really want to get back the the blond fox we all know and love. Don't worry-I promise we will see him again soon-I mean if I don't get to write about mistivious fox spirits soon I'm gonna loose my mind! (Love Sakura and Sasuke but Naru-chan will always be my favorite character.)

As for now; I need you guys to tell me if the characters are being-well-out of character. If they are then I will change this. So yes, think of yourselves as a large group of Beta readers who check the story for errors-not spelling. If you do not like this chapter then I am going to probably go back and write a different way from 'Chaper - 9 Unsealing New Life'

As I said to MoonShadow7117: If you have Naru-chan demon child Omake ideas-send them this way! I love writing him as a cute little demon boy and the story is soon going to move away from that. Every body has to grow up at some point. *weep* Also thank you Moon-chan for the big comments-you ROCK! (I have sent you a pm and I hope you get it.)

To PuppetMaster55: Heehee, you will just have to find out. Any way I believe that even if it's clesia if someone writes well then it is still alright. (Course I'm not saying that this is going to be written proawsomely. I don't count my chickens until they hatch as the phrase goes.

To EchoUchiha: Sakura rocks in Shippuden! Love her streangth!:D

Oh as for how Sai's bird actually carried Sasuke's message. I may have to do a scene on it (Sorry that I didn't make it clear, I'm trying to be like that...) Anyway Sai's ink hawk turned into ink after deleveirng the fist message indicating Sasuke to use it. After he was done the jutsu transformed back into it's hawk form and went back to Konoha. Yes I am make all this up-I have no idea how Sai jutsu works exaztly. Thank goodness this is fan fiction though.

Any way-tell me what you think of this chapter. Hate it? Love it? It will have a hug impact on the story what ever answer you give.

Thanks,

TheNineTailedKitsune

P.S. Spelling errors may occur a lot here because I'm lazy and want to get through this part of the story. If it's a big distraction let me know and I will edit immediately.

P.P.S. I knoticed I always add p.s. at the end of all my athour comments. *rubs back of head* quoting Shikamaru-'how troublesome'.

Chapter 11 – Sarutobi's Secret

Sakura waited broadly at the gates for over an hour. 'I swear when I see Kakashi-sensei I'm gonna flatten him-CHA!'

"U-umm, Sakura-san?"

She glanced up at the voice and saw Hinata in front of her index fingers pointing together.

"Hello Hinata? Is there something you need?" Sakura asked curiously.

The girl bit her lip then bowed profusely. "I-I would l-like to join you o-on your m-mission!" she said in the loudest whisper she'd ever dared. Sakura had a little sweat drop on the side of her head.

"No need to be so formal Hinata. But can I ask why you would want to go with us?" she rubbed her head confusedly. This was an S Class mission, how had Hinata found out and for what reason did she want to go? She didn't have a previous relationship with Sasuke-no female had!

"The Hokage summoned m-my cousin N-Neji last minute, b-but he is already gone o-on a m-mission. I'm willing to t-take his place if the team w-will have me!" she bowed again and then looked up through her half length long hair hopefully. She'd been letting it grow out since the disappearance of Naruto. When Sakura was still looking at her funny she added. "I-I remember N-N-Naruto-kun had a special relationship-ship with Sasuke… I w-was hoping t-that if h-he came back-there w-would be more p-people to l-look for h-him..." She hadn't been this red since seeing her blond crush in person and was on the verge of fainting when Sakura spoke again.

"So that's it?" the pink haired girl looked at the Hyuuga Heiress with a smile of understanding. "You like Naruto a lot don't you?"

Hinata would have turned another shade of red if it were possible. "H-hai, he-he always w-was nice a-and b-believe in h-himself, h-he even b-believed i-in me a-at the Chu-Chuunin E-exams."

Sakura nodded, "I wonder, how do you figure Sasuke and Naruto have a close relationship. They hardily showed it at all."

"I-I saw him a-a year a-ago b-before he d-disappeared… N-Naruto was e-eating r-ramen a-and g-got m-mad at s-some n-ninja. He-he called S-Sasuke h-his b-brother."

Sakura's face fell remembering the incident before Naruto's fox mind had fully taken over, or so it seemed to her. "Yeah, I didn't even know he felt that way until that day." She said.

"I-I want t-to br-bring him h-home." Hinata was looking at her feet shuffling them. "I-I want t-to show h-him how s-strong I a-am, how s-strong I-I'm g-going to b-be."

Sakura smiled again, some how she understood exactly what the girl meant. She cared for Naruto like Sakura did for Sasuke. It may not have been the love that she wanted-or even understood at this point in her life, but it was a love all the same. "I see you've already packed for the trip, it's going to be a bit of a journey." She said motioning to the small pack on Hinata's back with her eyes. Hinata blushed again then smiled.

"T-thank you Sakura-san."

###

"Sakura-Sakura!" some one was shaking her shoulder. The team had camped out under the stars only a few miles from the Valley of the End. Sakura blinked, "Huh, what's wrong Hinata? Is it my turn to take watch?"

The dark violet haired girl shook her head quickly. "It's Sai-I activated my Byukugan while he thought I was asleep and I saw him heading for the valley!" This made Sakura bolt up right. That pale dirty mouth idiot! Did he want to endanger the mission?

"I'm going to-"

"Hold on Sakura," Kakashi was finishing up packing there few things. "I've been keeping an eye on Sai for a while now and I have a feeling his mission is a bit different then our own." Kakashi crossed his arms thoughtfully. "It was one of his messenger birds that brought back that letter from Sasuke, right Sakura?"

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Danzo might be planning to have a certain missing Uchiha assassinated."

"What!" Sakura hissed she didn't completely understand but she trusted her Sensei. Her blood was boiling.

She knew Sai was a jerk and couldn't show true emotion even if it killed him. But to do this? They were teammates even if only for a short while!

"Remember he is still with ROOT and that loyalty has been bashed into him since he was young. Either way though, this mission is obviously going underneath both the Hokage and Councils noses." Kakashi taped a figure to his own nose. "I say we watch and wait until the time is right to strike."

Meanwhile Sai was waiting on the edge near the mountains waterfall when out of the shadows came a form.

"Are you the one called Sai?" a cold even voice spoke out and Sai smiled in his direction.

"You would be correct. Uchiha Sasuke I presume?" In a flash of movement a katana was pressed to the pale boys throat, Sharingan blazing behind him.

"I'm not sure you'll live if you get that answer? Now, what do you want?"

"I've come to join Orochimaru as a 'go between' for him and Danzo."

There was a pause, "Anything else?"

"You're friend the ugly pink banshee, you find her annoying?"

"You're trying my patience…"

"Haruno Sakura, the girl who sent you the first message. She is loud and violent yet keeps insisting she has some kind of bond with you." For a brief second Sasuke's eyes widened and then he slit Sai's throat. The ANBU disappeared in a slash of ink.

"It's more polite to address someone personally."

"Yes, you are correct. But if that had been my neck I'm sure I'd be quite dead by now." Sai gave a fake laugh now pressing even harder. "So is it true? Do you not care about her at all? All she does is rant about you and how she's going to bring you back to Konoha."

"You know what…?" Sasuke sheathed his weapon with his Uchiha smirk. "You talk to much." He preformed some hand seals and then brought his fingers to his lips. "Katongoukakyuu no jutsu!" he blew a fireball strait at the artist who had to jump out of the way. Needless to say this alerted the others to their location immediately.

"Now, now Sasuke is that anyway to treat one of Lord Orochimaru's guests?" Kabuto entered to his right pushing his glasses up. Sasuke gave a 'huh,' and ignored him.

Sai who had landed not too far in front of them smiled. "Will we be going them?"

Kabato nodded his head and motioned for both of them to follow.

At this point Hinata had deactivated her byakugan and was looking awestruck.

"What is it?" Sakura asked.

"H-he's going w-with them…"

"What?"

"S-Sai j-just w-went with O-Orochimaru a-and S-Sasuke."

"But I thought he was going to try and kill Sasuke!" Sakura cried, they'd stopped moving through the trees after Hinata's statement and were now close to the valley. Sakura bit her lip knowing she needed to be quite. 'Stupid-you're going to give your position away!'

Kakashi had put a hand to his chin. "Interesting, but with the way he talks about Sasuke… I have a hard time seeing him turn traitor." He looked over at the two girls seriously. "Sai may still plan to kill him, but then there is the chance Danzo is trying to infiltrate Oto."

Sakura felt her face burn up even more. All this time they were just being used. She'd thought at some point maybe-just maybe-Sai had some feelings-but she was wrong. She turned her head away from the others feeling ashamed.

"W-what do w-we d-do no-ow K-Kakashi-sensei?" Hinata asked carefully. It was Sakura who answered.

"We go after Sasuke." She had her back to them and her fist raised. "I don't care what Danzo-or the council wants. I'm getting him back and if Sai get's in my way…" she cracked her knuckles threateningly.

"Well that's all fine and good Sakura, but don't you think we should have a plan first?" Kakashi waved a hand in his usual easy going tone. He continued even though the girl gave no response. He then became the serious joinin that had promoted him to AMUB captain so long ago. "As I said before; first we watch and wait. Judging by what Hinata saw Sasuke can handle himself. Let's see if he still comes to meet you at the valley. Knowing Sasuke he will not pass up the chance for the information you have on his brother."

Sakura nodded. "But what about Orochimaru? It could be a trap." She hated the thought of her old teammate planning to captor-or kill them, but they couldn't out rule it. Saskue was an enemy of Konoha. 'Konoha's enemy or not, he is still my friend.'

"Chances are we were going to have to deal with him eventually. Sasuke wanted you to come alone… I'm willing to bet this little meeting is a secret even from Orochimaru."

"T-that's p-pretty f-far fetch t-to hope for…"

Sakura bit her lip and looked up at the sky. "We have little less then three hours… I believe Sasuke can beat Sai if he has to. Alright, we wait."

###

It hadn't been long since they arrived at Orochimaru's hide out with a teleportation technique. Sai had been given a room and locked inside. He showed no complaints and when he was sure no one was spying on him, began painting in one of his scrolls. Hundreds of little creatures spilled from the paper scurrying off in different directions under the door. All that the creatures would see and hear would be shared into his own memory. His mission was to gather as much information on Orochimaru as possible along with the assassination of Uchiha Sasuke. So far everything was going according to plan. He'd already met the snake and given him the scroll that contained Danzo's message.

After an hour of sitting at his bed with a blank face he stood and opened the door. One of his creatures had already unlocked it for him. It was time for phase two to commence and he already knew which room the Uchiha resided in.

Deep into the hide out Sai opened the door to the room where his mission lay seeming asleep. He conjured a group of snakes that slowly slithered over the boy ready to strangle him. A moment later the creatures were dispersed from an aura of immensely menacing chakra. Two Sharingan eyes penetrated the darkness and glared coldly at the artist.

"What do you want?"

Sai smiled, "My mission is to kill the rogue ninja Uchiha Sasuke."

Sasuke scoffed but didn't bother to stand.

"I knew you were just a spy. I don't know why that snake is putting up with you."

"You haven't answered my question." Sai still smiled but this time there was an air of coolness coming from him.

"What?"

"About the monstrous Haruno-san."

"I don't know anyone by that name."

"She does nothing but talk about you all the time… Strange that you can't remember someone who seems so close to you?"

Sasuke didn't answer so Sai continued. "Our mission was to be her back up for when you went to see her. It was a cover for me to leave the village after the Hokage assigned your Kakashi-sensei to keep watch on me. I'm sure my absence has been noticed by now... Are you not going to go to her?"

"And why would I do that? Like you said, it was just a cover for you to get here."

Sai's expression never changed. "I don't believe Orochimaru knows of this meeting. You're trying to keep the information from me so it doesn't leak out to him."

"I thought you were going to kill me."

"Haha, the truth is… I am going against my orders because I want to know…" he paused. "If this bond she's always speaking of is really worth protecting. You see, I think she is a key for me to find the feelings I lost."

"You're a fool."

"Yes, I suppose I am."

"Get out."

###

Sakura waited on the edge of the valley looking down at the waters crashing below. It was almost time.

"Sakura."

Her heart stopped when she heard the voice. She turned.

"Sasuke…"

The fourteen year old stood there clad in a high collar white shirt and violet pants tied with a rope. The Uchiha Fan was on his back. Sakura could never mistake his face.

His eyes were Sharingan and it put a chill down the girls back to have them directed at her. "Tell me what you know and I'll let you live."

Sakura bit her lip. "…Sasuke..."

His eye's narrowed. "That's not the right answer." a seconded later he was behind her his blade ready to strike. "Tell me what you know about Itachi, where is he?"

"I… don't know."

She dodged as his blade came down to slice her back. "I don't want to fight you Sasuke." He ignored her and their furious battle of strike and dodge took them to the center of the lake below.

"Why are you doing this?" Sakura shouted at him.

"You-I told you there is nothing left in the village for me." He said coldly across from her. "Your idiot friend, he kept going on about some sort of bond… well…" he looked sickingly at her. "I've come here to serve it."

"…What?" she couldn't believe her ears. Had Sai said that to him… and what was Sasuke talking about? She just couldn't-no-didn't want to accept what he said.

"You heard me Sakura, you and the village are weak. I can't learn anything from there to help reach my goal."

Sakura's face darkened and she bowed her head hiding her eyes in shadow. "Weak… huh, Sasuke-kun?" she began gathering chakra to her fist. "Do you find this to be weak?" she demanded punching strait into the water. There was an incredible boom and splash as the lick wood separated from the force casing a small tsunami. After both had jumped out of the way they were following each other on opposite mountain sides. Soon Sakura was on the head of the first Hokage and Sasuke on Uchiha Madara. They stood facing each other both standing on the defense.

"Sasuke, I want you to know something important about your goals. I know why Uchiha Itachi massacred your clan."

Sasuke's face suddenly changed. "What?"

"It was never entirely Itachi's fault Sasuke…"

"That's a lie!"

Sakura shook her head, "No it isn't." she reached into the pouch at her side. "I have the proof right here. A secret diary with a complete account from the Third Hokage himself. Sasuke, Itachi may be a murderer but he was also manipulated into to that role."

"Shut up! My brother was a monster only set on attaining his own goals-he killed everyone just to test his own abilities!"

"But he didn't kill you."

"Only so I could be his next stone to step over. But I'm not going to be-I'm going to be the rock that breaks him and makes him fall!" Sasuke's emotions had gotten the better of him and the curse mark was going into its next level. "There is nothing you can say that will change my mind."

Sakura felt her heart break and this time dug two gloves out of her ninja pack. She slipped them on. "Unfortunately Sasuke I'm taking you home-even if that means breaking every bone in your body." Her eyes were on fire thought she looked calm. Chakra was already being focused into her tightened fists.

Two others were beside her in an instant. "Kakashi-senesei, Hinata? I told you to let me deal with him."

"Not like this Sakura. I've seen the power that curse mark gives him, and he's not playing around with you anymore."

"Who said I was playing in the first place?" the Uchiha's eye's narrowed as his hair paled and his skin darkened covered by Orochimarus curse, the hand like wings on his back unfurling.

"Now it's time for you to die!"