Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters. I just own this fanfiction.

In the Rain

Several minutes before Konoha was infiltrated again, a girl with red hair and glasses sat in her jail cell, contemplating the roast beef and a glass of the most expensive wine in the village in front of her.

"Life has been cruel to me", Karin, as the girl was named, started. Next to her, the bored-looking Shinobi guarding her raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Very cruel."

"Is that so?" the man yawned. He doubted anyone making an elite ninja village feed her extravagant dishes as she pleased had lived a cruel life.

Karin nodded, expertly using her fingers to rip the meat into small pieces. Her request of silverware had been denied. It was the only thing her interrogators would deny her since Karin did not fuss too much about it.

"Of course! My village was destroyed when I was very young. I was one of its few survivors. I was forced to run away and fend for myself until…Lord Orochimaru found me."

The Bored Shinobi shivered at the name. He had seen photos of the strange, pale man. He could not wrap his head around how such a weirdo was a former Konoha ninja.

Karin did not notice the man's reaction and continued. "I was exploited by him. He forced me to do hard labor and help him experiment on innocent people…yes, Lord Orochimaru was my downfall."

Karin leaned forward, her red eyes fixed on her guard. "Tell me, sir, have you ever been in love?"

The man shrugged his shoulders noncommittally and idly wondered how they gone from Orochimaru to love. "No, not really."

"Good for you! Don't ever do it!" she exclaimed, pointing a finger at the man. "Fall in love and you'll be taken advantage of. He will use you and throw you away like trash. You're better off having one night stands."

The man blinked. Without pointing out he like females, he asked with a disgusted tone: "You fell in love with Orochimaru?"

Karin nearly choked on her food. It took several attempts before she could clear her throat. After swallowing the piece that nearly caused her death, she finally managed a, "Ew! No. I admit I like power and pretty-faces, but Lord Orochimaru was no pretty face. And between you and me, I thinking he was batting for the other team if you get what I mean. No, he was my downfall because it was through him I met his apprentice, Sasuke."

At the mentioned of this particular traitor, the shinobi's face darkened. He actually looked intimidating, which was hard to do for someone who was generally lazy.

"Uchiha", he spat bitterly. Uchiha Sasuke was the shinobi he specifically disliked. Back when the boy was still a Konoha genin, he was considered the village's treasure. Everyone respected his talent, and he was a favorite to win all his matches during his chunin exams. The village had high hopes for the boy. To see what the boy admired by all had become was more than disappointing. It was humiliating. Konoha became the laughing stock in shinobi circles and gained the reputation as the village where protégées went dark.

The Bored Shinobi could not forgive him for dishonoring his village.

"Good reaction", Karin approved and cleaned her fingers with a napkin. "You know, I gave up three meals a day, a warm bed, and plenty of clothes for Sasuke. Sure, my home was noisy, especially at night, but what can you expect when living in a prison?"

Maybe life had been hard for her, the shinobi thought. To be so young yet confined to a prison.

"You lived in a prison?"

"Yes. I was the jailer for one of Orochimaru bases", she replied, not really paying attention to her words.

Or not.

"I mean I was forced to be one."

"…"

"But that is irrelevant. What I am trying to say is don't fall in love unless you want to die. One night stands will preserve your life."

The Bored Shinobi blinked. He suddenly wished himself somewhere else, away from the crazy girl in front of him. He now had an incentive to work harder and not be placed on guard duty anymore. He would have his little sister wake him up in time starting tomorrow.

While this shinobi was preoccupied with his thoughts, Karin's eyes gleamed the moment a familiar chakra got close to her prison cell.

"Finally", Karin breathed, calling the guard's attention back to her. "It looks like our time together has come to an end."

Before the guard could move an inch, the wall behind Karin crumbled into pieces, revealing a big man with spiky, orange hair. His right fist was still in the air where he made contact with the wall.

"You sure took your time getting me out of here, Jugo", Karin complained, getting up from her spot and facing her teammate. Behind her, the guard was on his feet and unlocking her cell.

"We have to go now", Jugo told her calmly and started to walk away.

"Wait, one minute", the Shinobi growled. "You are not going anywhere!" He went for Karin. But just as he was getting to her, Jugo appeared out of nowhere, blocking him. The Bored Shinobi could do nothing but watch, shocked, as Jugo took hold of his jacket and threw him against the wall where he slid to the ground.

"Suigetsu is waiting for us."

Karin did not need to be told twice. She could feel several chakras coming her way. So with a parting look at her former guard and hoping he would heed the advice she given him, Karin followed Jugo outside.

It was the sound of the explosion followed by that of broken glass that prompted Sakura into action. She stuck her head out the office window, her eyes going along the wall up to where a gaping hole stood in what she recognized as Little Itachi's room.

Immediately, Sakura swung her body out of the window, falling until she felt chakra surged to her feet. She then sat one foot on the side of the wall followed by the other. When she mastered the balance she needed, she tore along the wall, hands flying by her side. As Sakura neared the hole, she jumped and landed on the opening's edge.

Her body tensed as she scanned the room.

Everything inside the room was thrown against the wall and was noticeably covered in water. The door was open and the guards she met earlier were on the floor, unmoving.

"What happened here?" one Shinobi demanded, landing next to Sakura.

"Tell the Hokage, the boy has been taken and –" Sakura commanded, her voice calm and steady, not exposing how scared and angry she was. Her eyes followed a group of shinobi heading towards the prison. From a distance, the village alarms were heard, signaling all to the danger. "I'm going to get him back."

"Do you have everything you need this time?" White Zetzu asked.

"No", Sasuke replied shortly, irritated by the Thing's presence. Apparently, it was to remain by Sasuke's side at all times while Madara and Zetzu's black side were out.

In Zetzu's words, he was Sasuke's guard, left behind to make sure the transplant went smoothly.

In Sasuke's words, Zetzu was the babysitter, left behind to make sure he – Sasuke – sat put and did not poke his nose on Madara's business.

Unfortunately for Zetsu, his job had barley began, and he had already failed.

If Zetzu had found Sasuke just a couple of minutes before he did, he could have prevented the Uchiha from learning of a pink-haired boy named Sasuke.

A boy sharing his name was nothing new to the young Uchiha. Many boys did, especially in Konoha, home to Sarutobi Sasuke. In his Academy year alone, there had been three Sasukes apart from him.

What made him pause and rewind was that this Sasuke had pink hair. Pink hair was not common. He only seen one person with that unnatural hair color, and his gut feeling was telling him the boy was connected to her; a relative of hers was probably the case.

Sasuke picked up a scroll from his drawer before heading to Zetsu; his kanata was secured in his other hand.

"Why you need a scroll and sword when we are going to the operation room is beyond me", Zetsu commented, moving ahead of Sasuke in order to guide him.

Sasuke remained quiet. He refused to give an explanation to a subordinate, especially one belonging to Madara. Besides, he couldn't explain to a spy – because that was Zetsu's other job description – that he always carried his belongings with him. It never hurt to be vigilant and have tools on standby if danger ever came.

And danger was sure to come from what he seen in the last couple of days.

There was Madara using Suigetsu and Jugo without consulting him, and Madara bringing the boy with the pink hair – pink hair! He could just feel the boy was related to Sakura, that hair color was a trademark of her family.

The boy said he was five, so he obviously wasn't Sakura's son, and Sakura was not that kind of a girl.

He could be her brother, but the problem was the boy had to have been born while Sasuke was in the village. If that had been the case, then Sakura would have told him at some point about her "adorable baby brother." And Sasuke – who prided himself on many things including having a good memory – could not recall Sakura ever mentioning her brother.

It was down to the boy being a cousin or distant relative of hers, but the same problem remained. Even if the boy was Sakura's cousin, Sasuke would have heard about him because that was how Sakura was. She liked to talk his ear off about her life and that of her civilian family. Furthermore, he was sure the Haruno family was native to Konoha. He would have seen more pink hair in other villages otherwise. So if the boy was a Haruno, he had to be from Konoha, which meant…

Shoosh

Sasuke jumped to the side, taking his kanata from its sheath. In front of him, Zetsu fell to the floor, lying there with a large fang through his head. Standing several feet behind was a cloaked figure; his face was covered by the shadows of the hood he wore.

Sasuke's body fell to a defensive stance. His eyes going cold and calculating as he felt the familiar chakra, the chakra he felt on the day he met the boy.

"Who are you?" Sasuke asked.

"If you want to know, then follow me", the same voice of an overly pleasant man responded. Without waiting for an answer, he turned, leaving behind an overly curious Sasuke.

Looking down at the motionless Zetsu, Sasuke approached him before kicking him.

No reaction came from the dead Akatsuki. But there was a reaction from Sasuke.

His body stiffened as his vision wavered and blurred. He felt as blood trickled down his cheek, coming from his eyes.

"Not now!" he said, backing against the wall to stop his body from swaying.

"Now is the perfect time, Sasuke."

Sasuke turned to the direction the cloaked man spoke from. Through the bur, he could only make out colors to a small degree. He could see grey covered the top of the man's head.

Sasuke growled, falling to his knees as the sharp pain in his head intensified. He closed his eyes, hoping it would help.

"Oh my, you don't look good" Sasuke heard. The voice echoed in head, making the pain worse. "This is what happens when you used that Sharingan of yours too much."

The man was no longer pleasant. His tone had changed to condescending.

"That tone. I know that tone."

There were only two people he knew whom dared to use that condescending tone with him. And one he already killed.

"Kabuto", Sasuke said. "What are you doing here?"

Kabuto chuckled. "I see you are still as pleasant as ever, Sasuke. And to answer your question, I came to make you a proposition. Tell me, what do you want the most, your sight or … your family?"

The distance between the prison and forest was closer than Karin originally thought. Something she was grateful for. Once in the forest, they could easily lose the guards trailing after them.

"Jugo, two o'clock!" Karin shouted as she felt a chakra approach them from the side.

In the blink of an eye, her teammate brought down another guard, crushing down the man with a single hand. Without waiting to make sure the guard was dead or alive, they moved on.

It was around this time – as they dodge attacks, Jugo took down more guards, and they tore through the forest – a thought occurred to Karin.

She didn't know if it was because she was tired and her body demanded some rest or the thought of returning to the Akatsuki meant certain death. Whatever the reason was, it didn't matter because it occurred to her that she didn't have to return. There were no friends there for her and no epic romance waiting to happen.

There was nothing in it for her.

"Karin, we have to hurry", Jugo said beside her, annoyed at her for stopping.

"Give me a second."

"We don't –"

Fine, she would ditch the Akatsuki, but what kind of a life would she have? She had nowhere to go and, as Konoha's interrogators kindly reminded her, she was considered an international criminal along with the other members of Taka. Was she strong to brave it on her own and start from scratch?

"What are you two doing?" Karin vaguely registered Suigetsu's voice.

"She won't move."

"Then make her", Suigetsu suggested.

Leave it to Suigetsu to be a savage. "I'm not going" Karin snapped.

"Heh?" Suigetsu stared back with large eyes until they narrow with suspicion. "Are you kidding? We don't have time for jokes, Karin."

The answer was yes. Using her abilities, she had a chance to make it on her own. She could find a nice, secluded village where she could wait out the war. Oh, thinking about it sounded so nice to her.

She would do it.

Karin adjusted her glasses and a firm tone repeated. "I'm not going. I refuse to be a too…" She stopped talking and pointed at the black sack Suigetsu had over his shoulder. "What you got there?" That sack was large enough to fit a body and judging by its shape it look like there was an actual body inside it, although small.

"Sasuke's –wait, we don't have time for this. Are you coming or not?"

Crossing her arms, Karin held on to her decision. "No. I'm not."

Jugo and Seigutsu shared a look. It seem that it was hard for them to believe Sasuke's number one fan refused to go back to the object of her obsession.

"Karin", Jugo said tried one last time, sounding concerned. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

Her reply was a stubborn nod of her head. Despite how warm it felt to have at least one person worrying about her, there was no way a show of concern would dissuade her from her decision.

Both boys were surprise. They didn't say anything until Suigetsu whistled his disbelief, the passing wind carrying away the tune.

"Then this is where we say goodbye." Jugo said.

Suigetsu took out a scroll from his pocket and threw one last disappointing look at Karin's direction.

Watching the two of them preparing to leave, an uncomfortable knot formed in Karin's stomach. She never had friends, but Jugo and Suigetsu were her teammates. She owed them for old times sake.

"Wait!" She shouted before they could activate the teleportation jutsu. "Be…be careful with Sasuke. He tried to kill me. He could try the same with you."

Neither Suigetsu nor Jugo showed a reaction. Karin grew uncomfortable under their gaze. Maybe she should have just kept quiet. They had no reason to believe her.

"We know", Suigetsu finally said.

"You do? But then why are – Wait, don't tell me. I thought you should know," she said in a hurried voice. "And you do, so it's no longer my concern. Thank you for breaking me out and see you around."

"Let's hope not", Karin thought, going the opposite direction, away from her former team and the incoming chakras.

Karin heard the sound of wind being sucked, signaling the activation of the teleportation jutsu, and she turned in time to see the cloud of smoke from the jutsu disappear. With a heavy sigh, Karin turned back and met a pair of angry, blue eyes.

"How did - ?"

With no time to react, she was pinned to a tree with a kunai pressed to her throat.

"Tell me where the kid is."

Karin looked closely at her attacker and widened her eyes as she recognized him. He was the blonde Uzumaki, Sasuke's former teammate and the one with the dazzling chakra. But his chakra was different. It felt cold to her and conflicted like a storm.

"Where is he?" he repeated with a snarl, pressing the kunai further. She could feel in sharpness against her skin. One wrong move from her, and she was a goner.

"I…I don't k-know", she struggled to say, perspire accumulating in her forehead. It was crossing her mind that this boy would kill her. He looked savaged with the fangs growing in his mouth. Reason was gone from his eyes, consumed by wild anger.

"I should have gone with them", Karin regretted, thinking this would be her last thought before meeting kami-sama on the other side.

It seemed Kami-sama had other plans in stored for her.

"Naruto!" Karin heard someone yell and felt the kunai on her throat loosened. Uzumaki's eyes cleared a bit as his chakra became less dark.

Karin glanced at her savior and could have groaned if she could.

"Not you again!"

A surprised expression flashed trough Haruno Sakura's face as she recognized Karin. Clearly, the medic never expected to find her here…out of jail. She turned back to Uzumaki, disapproval written all over her face.

"Hey, hey! Hurry up and tell him to release me. I'm going to die here!"

"Let her go, Naruto", Haruno said in tone that match the hardness in her eyes.

"She knows where they took him", Naruto said but still did what he was told.

While the two teammates had their staring contest, Karin fell to her knees, muddling them on the wet floor.

That was a close call. Once again, she almost lost her life to a Konoha Shinobi. And to make matters worse, she never felt him coming. How annoying!

Finally regaining a bit of her fiery spirit, Karin spoke.

"I told you. I DON'T know about a boy", she said, wishing her voice had sounded stronger instead of hoarse and weak.

Haruno looked carefully at her, trying to weight the truth of her words. Finally, when she was satisfied Karin was telling the truth, she said, "One of your teammates - the one with water jutsu – kidnapped a child from this village."

A light bulb turned on Karin's head. She knew it! She knew it! So she was not Jugo and Suigetsu's sole mission in Konoha. The sack Fish Breath was carrying was the boy these two were talking about.

"You do know about him," Uzumaki growled. The dark chakra emanating from him again was overwhelming Karin. She quickly turned to the pink haired kunoichi.

"I saw Suigetsu carrying the boy. But that's all I know of him. I swear, upon my village's honor, that's the truth."

"But you know where they took him." It was Naruto again.

Feeling his menacing chakra and looking into his furious eyes that wanted to take out the truth from her by force if he had to, Karin answered the question that had been asked of her since she was captured. Before, no matter what method was used on her, Karin didn't cave. But one look at Uzumaki made her spill out the truth. Who wouldn't when they could feel the kyuubi's fowl chakra mingling with the boy's with each second that was used to interrogate Karin. It was only a matter of time before Uzumaki lost his control over the demon, and Karin had no intention of being near the vicinity.

So she gave them something that would save her neck, thinking that the moment she had an opening she would make her escape to freedom.

Without meeting their eyes, Karin took a heart-shaped object from inside her blouse and handed it to them.

"…this is…" Uzumaki trailed off, no longer sounding intimidating. Next to him, the medic raised her eyebrow, making Karin feel offended.

"What? Don't look at me like that. You liked Sasuke too, right? I'm sure you have one too."

Karin watched in satisfaction as Haruno's skin turned red. The medic shot a panicked look at Uzumaki whom was studying the picture frame, turning it up and down. Sakura coughed.

"Ahem, how will this help us?" she asked

"You open it, obviously. Behind the picture, you will find a piece of paper pasted to it. After these hands signs – and yes it's one tiger followed by another – bring your hand over the marking. That will lead you to the Akatsuki if Sasuke is with them", she told them, praying silently this was her opportunity to escape.

The two ninjas turned their backs to her, but there was enough space between them for her to see them opening frame.

Careful not to attract their attention, Karin rose to her feet.

"What is this?" Haruno asked, looking for Karin. She was so confused by the tomoe on the paper that she didn't stop to wonder why Karin was now standing a few feet away from them.

" You just had to look up! Didn't you?" To Sakura, Karin replied, "A teleportation jutsu scroll. One of three to be exact. Sasuke took the scrolls before leaving Lord Orochimaru's lair. As you can see, I cut the main piece from mine and attached it to the picture."

The usual look of hatred and disgust that followed the name graced their features at the mentioned of the Sannin

"So it's Orochimaru's creation?" Haruno asked.

"He designed the scrolls based on the fourth Hokage's technique, I think…I don't remember too well, but it's not important. You just need to say Sasuke's name or think of him while you have the hand over the seal. It will work, no matter the distance, as long as Sasuke has his scroll with him." She wondered if the interrogation would be over soon. They had places to be, and she had an escape to make.

But it was not going to be the case. "Wait a minute, you had this on you all this time, but you didn't use it. Why?" the damned Uzumaki asked suspiciously.

Karin could not help but flinch at the personal question.

Of course she thought of using it! In the early days of her capture, she wanted so much to return to her team, to Sasuke. She would then take the picture out, and, just as she was about to use the justu, her guards would walk in. To avoid suspicion, she pretended the reason for taking out the picture was to talk to it. After several incidents of this, the guards become accustomed to her bizarre habit.

But as much as her heart screamed at her to return, she never allowed herself to use the jutsu. She was proud to be a girl with enough sense to keep a distance between her and a lunatic. Sense these Konoha Shinobi seem to lack by the looks of it.

"That's none of your business Uzumaki. I told you all I know and given you your ticket to the Akatsuki. Now, if you excuse me, I'm leaving."

Karin had not taken two steps when her path was blocked, again…by a hyuga.

"Oh Shit!"

Kakashi's office was full with bickering Shinobi. Each one wanting to have his say in the matter the Hokage had resolved by making – what they secretly labeled- another "irrational" decision.

"It is a mistake. No matter what rank they have, that squad is too green for this mission. You can't send children to battle the Akatsuki. We need the army, the army I tell you." One Shinobi cried.

"You are forgetting Naruto battled the Akatsuki before and won. We need to trust this time won't be different from the last." Another said.

"I still don't see how they could have been promoted. With all due respect Hokage, but we have a protocol we have followed-"

Said Hokage was not listening to them. His ears were for the Nara father and son. At the moment, the pair was briefing Kakashi on how the Akatsuki had managed to get inside the village without detection. From what their initial inspections of the compromise sites indicated, the boy with the liquid body made use of the puddles around the village to sneak to the hospital by transforming his body to water and passing as one. By the time the guards at the door noticed something was wrong, the Kirigakure ninja had the boy secured and was more than capable in dealing with the guards.

As for the one who freed the Karin girl, he literally made his openings. And if anyone crossed his path, his fits made sure they could not raise the alarm.

"Do you hear something", Shikamaru asked, raising his head from the group. All men nodded. They could hear loud, protesting voices making their way to the office. One of the shinobi started to walk to the door, intending to find out what the commotion was about.

Bang

The door flew open, slamming the man on the face, and the Kumogakure kunoichi came in. Closely behind her, Kakashi's guards followed, looking scandalize.

"You can't just barged in here without permission", one of the said outraged.

"My foot slipped." Samui's cooled gazed was immediately on Kakashi. "Lord Hokage, I apologize for my rudeness, but I must speak with you."

Her firm posture and eyes transmitted the message she would not take a no for an answer.

"Alright", Kakashi said slowly. " I'll hear what the lady was to say. You are all dismissed."

Despite the new alliance, no one in the room wanted to leave their leader with a member of a village they had, until recently, considered hostile. They had doubts about Kakashi and his leadership, but he was still their leader. No one wanted him to face an untimely death, especially when they did not have a backup to replace him if such an event occurred.

"I will be fine. I assure you the title of Hokage has not taken my power away", Kakashi said.

And so it was with great hesitation that all Shinobi filed out of the office, throwing suspicious looks at the kunoichi's way and in Shikamaru's case muttering "troublesome woman."

Once the door was shut, Samui spoke.

"I'll get to the point, Hokage", she began. "Your village was just infiltrated, one of your people kidnapped by Akatsuki, and Uzumaki Naruto is going after them, but you have not done anything to get him back. "

"I send his teammates after him", Kakashi offered, thinking of Neji, Sai, and one very pissed off Sakura.

"To aid him you mean."

Kakashi fell silent. If he was not careful, his plan to bring back Sasuke alive would be discovered.

"What is it that you want...What is your surname?" he asked abruptly, trying at least to sound respectful when addressing her.

Not to be fazed by the sudden change of topic, Samui replied calmly. "I don't have one. Samui is fined, Lord Hokage. And in response to your other question, I think you are forgetting the purpose for which this alliance was created, Sir. All hidden villages swore to protect the remaining host of the tail demons – to prevent them from being captured by Madara. You are handing Uzumaki in a silver platter with your underhanded actions."

"Underhanded?"

"Yes, underhanded. Have you informed the other Kages about this situation, Sir?

Now that he thought about it, Kakashi had not. With the discovery of the boy and another infiltration, Kakashi forgot to send a message to the other kages. In fact, the last correspondence he had with the other shadows was a message he sent informing them of the village's invasion.

This wasn't good.

Bound by their alliance, the other villages would respond with reinforcements. Luckily, the reinforcements had yet to arrive, which was good if his latest plan was to succeed. But if the Kages knew of the latest development, not only would those reinforcements get here faster than he could say "Icha Icha Paradise", the Kages would come personally.

Until everything with Sasuke was settled, he had to prevent the kages from knowing what was really occurring in Konoha.

Kakashi's realized too late that he had remained quiet and his silence had been taken as suspicious. Without warning, Samui walked forward until the desk was the only barrier between her and Kakashi. Her cool eyes grew hot with dislike something that Kakashi was taken back about. He had assumed the kunoichi was nothing but respectful to her superiors.

"I was told by many of your grand deeds, Hokage. You are celebrated as fearsome in battle and worthy of being an elite ninja. The Kazekage and even my Kage think highly of you too. It is said you are the only Shinobi in this village they trust the most after Uzumaki…I think popular opinion is overrated", Samui said before turning and leaving the room.

As he watched her leave, the corner of Kakashi's lips lifted, forming a smile underneath his mask. He felt amused by what the kunoichi said. She was not the first one to bluntly state his shortcomings. And had she stayed a moment longer, Kakashi would have told her how little he cared about other's opinions. He stopped being that kind of a man a long time ago.

Naruto and Sakura tensed at the sight of Neji and Sai, both looking disapproving, though Sai looked less compared to their captain. With an air of authority, Neji walked past the Taka girl and headed straight to where the pair stood while Sai moved to block Karin.

"Where do you two think you're going?" he demanded.

Sakura wondered if she was meant to always be in Neji's bad side. She had just earned some respect from him thanks to her shield only to lose it in a couple of hours.

"We are going after the kid", Naruto replied at once.

"I know you are, but why – "

"Because is what we do", Sakura said, using the words that would motivate her overly honorable captain to let them go. "We fight for our village, and we protect those in the village. That boy…that boy is one of us. Trust me."

What she had said might not have been true. Technically, the elder Itachi was considered a deserter, and Sakura had no idea to what village boy's mother belonged to.

Neji sighed. He still looked as tired as the day before. "Listen you two. I had no intention of asking you why you were going after the enemy. I think I know the two of you well by now and going on a rescue mission is something you would do. What I will not tolerate is recklessness and – most importantly – failure. You don't leave your team behind. We went over this. To win we need combine power. Stop trying to do things by yourself."

"So you are saying…" Sakura lingered on the last word, waiting for Neji to finish.

"We are going after them. It's the Hokage's order. Besides, our initial target should be with them. We are to recover the boy, and…" Neji hesitated as he looked at the wary Sakura. "I have a message for you from the Hokage."

"It better not be what I'm thinking", her inner threatened.

Sakura's stomach churned with dread as she remembered the last conversation she had with Kakashi. The man had to be insane. There was no way she could save a criminal, especially when she had come to terms with his impending death by her hand.

"What is it?" she asked, thinking that it was better to get it over with.

"Don't let him die, Sakura."

Sakura quietly sucked in her breath. He did it. Kakashi gave the order again.

"Right", she breathed, flexing her hand into a fist in an effort to stop her self from screaming with frustration.

Without noticing Sakura's brooding, Neji went into action mode.

"How were you planning on getting to the boy?" he asked, crossing his arms in expectation.

Naruto raised Uchiha's picture. "The Taka girl said this will teleport us to where Sasuke is."

Choosing to not comment on the picture, Neji took the frame and scrutinizing the symbol behind.

"Heh, a tomoe" he muttered. "Sai, tie the girl and come over here. The guards should not be too far off."

Two ink snakes slither from Sai's scroll, going for Karin. Karin yelped and ran, but her speed was no match for the snakes. They reached her and slithered up to her hands, using their body to bind her them behind her back.

"You have everything with you?" Neji asked the group as soon Sai reached the group, taking the empty between Neji and Naruto. They all nodded. There was little they could take for the mission. None of them was wearing their uniform. With all the commotion, they had no time to change out of their civilian clothes. But at least, they had the sense to carry weapons with them at all times.

"You should put that thing on the ground" Karin told them in a resentful voice as Neji - with Sakura's help - activated the jutsu.

They huddled together, looking down at the paper. For a few awkward moments after Neji brought down his hand, nothing happened. Sakura was starting to wonder if Karin had lied when she saw the tomoe move in circles. It started off slow but with each turned it gained speed, and the circle grew. Soon, the tomoe was nothing but a flash. It was then when Sakura felt her body being pulled and heard the wind being sucked in. She fought it at first, not knowing what was happening until she saw a small black whole at the center of the scroll.

Neji was the first to be sucked into it followed by Sai and then Naruto. As Sakura's body bent forward, she shut her eyes close.

"Captain, we found the prisoner!" was the last thing she heard before she too disappeared into the whole.

The part of the forest they were walking through was dark, wet, and void of animal sound. The only sound heard was of the raindrops hitting against the leaves or landing on the running river.

Kabuto was at the front of their two-man party. His heavy cloak and over large hood were effective in covering him completely. Walking a step or sometimes two behind was Sasuke, his narrowed eyes never straying from his "guide." As he wordlessly followed Kabuto, he was reminded of how difficult self-restraint came to him. His hands burned with the want of beating Madara's location from Kabuto.

"They are alive."

Memories of what went back in the hideout played in Sasuke's mind willingly.

"Tell me, what do you want the most, your sight or…your family?"

"My family is dead", Sasuke snarled, his words heavy with hate.

The medic's laughter ran through the corridor, making Sasuke raise his head. "Oh, Sasuke. I'm sorry, but it's just…this is too funny. All this time what you have been yearning for the most has been so close. It's ironic. To think that you and that little…" Kabuto chuckled one last time before composing himself and saying softly, "Trust me, Sasuke. Your family is alive and Madara will keep you from them."

In that moment, Sasuke forgot about his pain and his impending blindness. Kabuto's words echoed loudly in his head, making his body trembled.

"It can't be true. They are gone. They are all gone."

It had to be a lie. "What sick game are you playing?" Sasuke said quietly; his anger barley contained.

"No, game. I know where they are…or will be. All you have to do is follow me."

It was Sasuke's turn to laugh. He was impulsive not stupid. "Why would I trust you? For all I know, I would be walking to a trap."

Kabuto fell to a contemplative silence before speaking again.

"How about an agreement? All I'm asking you to do is to follow me. If you do, not only will you see your family, but I'll also give you a gift. As a matter of fact, I'll give it to you now since I don't have any intention of carrying you."

He heard Kabuto's steps making their way to him. Sasuke struggled to get up, pushing away the pain of his pounding head.

"Take this."

Sasuke felt something being dangled in front of him. He slapped Kabuto's arm away from him and heard Kabuto sigh, sounding like a parent did when dealing with his child's temper tantrum.

"It's not poisoned, Sasuke. Think of it as an incentive. With this little potion, the effects of the mangekyo sharingan will be held back temporarily. Don't you want to see your family? To save them from Madara?"

Against his better judgment but not quite believing Kabuto Sasuke snapped, "Why would he hurt them? They are his clan."

"He will do that much and more. But you can save them if you come with me, or you can choose to stay and realize I told you the truth when you see their dead bodies laying before you."

A bright spark Sasuke thought had been extinguished years ago came to life. It was small like the flame from a match. It quietly danced inside Sasuke taunting him. It was hope, so small, yet strong enough to make Sasuke reach for Kabuto's potion. His hand closed on a flask. He brought it to his nose and sniffed the odorless potion.

"How long is a while?" Sasuke asked, remembering what Kabuto had said earlier.

"Long enough for you to find the truth."

"And the catch? I know you are not doing this for free."

"Everything comes with a price. And let's say the price for my little gift has not been determined. But I will let you know as soon as I decide what it is."

It was not an answer Sasuke liked, but at the moment, he could not think of another option. There was a possibility his family was alive, and he could not be powerless to help them.

He would not loose them again. He would not be alone anymore.

In one gulp, he swallowed the repulsive potion.

The effects were immediate.

He felt a pulse go through his body, and, as more followed, he got on his hands. His breathing quickened. And then everything in front of him was clear again. The fog in his eyes was gone and so was pain. He could see.

Back in the forest, a begrudging Sasuke had to admit the effectiveness of Kabuto's potion. Not only did it bring back his sight, it had given him more power. He could feel the hot energy in his body, assuring no one would stop him.

It was a feeling he liked. And one he usually did anything to keep.

"Can't we move faster?" Sasuke asked, breaking the silence they had been keeping since they left the hideout.

Kabuto jumped over a fallen tree, the bottom part of his cloak lifting as he descended and revealing a thick, white mass with scales curled around his feet. If Sasuke wasn't mistaken, the mass looked like a snake. Jumping over the tree, Sasuke maintained his eyes on the white mass now uncurling itself.

Kabuto looked back at him, a smile playing on his lips. "We don't need to. We will get there just in time to see your darling family arrive", he said and kept on walking.

Sasuke followed, but this time he was more cautious than before. His body was ready to form seals and jump back if he had to.

The trail they were on ascended, becoming rockier. As they kept on walking, there were less and less trees around, allowing for more light to get through.

"And here we are", Kabuto said, stopping behind the only group of trees. "Go head, Sasuke, take a look."

Cautiously, Sasuke walked over to where Kabuto was, flatted his back against a tree, and looked back. Standing in the middle of the rocky cliff was Madara. The older man's hand rested on top of the pink-haired boy's head. They both seemed to be waiting for something, seeing as the boy's head kept turning from one direction to another.

"When will they get here?" Sasuke was close enough to hear the boy's impatient voice.

"Soon, feel for your self", Madara said, adopting Toby's voice and taking a familiar scroll from inside his sleeve and handing it to the boy. "Feel how it's growing hot? It means they have activated the jutsu. Your brother is on his way."

Sasuke's hand flew to the scroll tucked to his waist. Could it…could it be a fake? Madara must have switched them when Sasuke was not looking. Seeing his possession in Madara's hands nearly drove Sasuke to bolt from his spot and go after the scroll. He hated others touching what was his.

Kabuto's words held him back.

"Don't waste the only opportunity you have on a scroll. A scroll, if I am not mistaken, you stole from Orochimaru. It's not yours."

Sasuke snorted quietly. The young Uchiha never regarded taking Orochimaru's little experiment as theft. He thought of it more along the lines of repayment for being the snake's pupil for three years.

"AH! It burned me."

By the time Sasuke looked back, the boy and Madara were taking cover behind a rock. The scroll was in the ground; a burst of wind was erupting from it and causing a cloud of dust to rise. Long before the dust had settled and the scroll had gone cold, Sasuke knew who had teleported. So it did not come as a surprise to see Suigetsu and Jugo being thrown out of the scroll.

As both boys rose, they showed no signs of guilt for using Sasuke's scrolls without their leader's permission. Jugo was his usual quiet self, and Suigetsu…Suigetsu was struggling with a sack he had over his shoulder

"Let go of me!" a boy cried from inside the sack.

"Stay put or I'll cut you", Suigetsu warned to which the boy responded by putting extra effort into his battle with Suigetsu. "Is he the boy you wanted because he seems more like a little demon to me?" he directed the question to Madara, whom was guiding the pink-haired boy by the hand.

"Why don't we ask, this little fellow? Boy is he your brother?"

Kabuto moved closer to Sasuke and whispered with what Sasuke could only describe as delight: "Here it comes, Sasuke. The big revelation."

One big revelation that gave Sasuke the shock of his life

"Itachi?" the pink-haired Sasuke called.

"What? What did he say?" Sasuke snapped his head towards Kabuto.

"Watch", Kabuto mouthed silently. Sasuke reluctantly turned back and saw whoever was in the sack stopped struggling, allowing Suigetsu to bring him down and to quickly released him from the sack.

Sasuke stretched his neck forward, his mouth opening.

A child nearly the same age as pink-haired Sasuke sat on the ground. Like the other boy, his eyes were bandaged, and bruises in the process of healing covered his arms and legs. It was not these aspects of his appearance that made Jugo demand what was going on and Suigetsu look away guiltily.

Sasuke stood tense as he stared at the boy with the raven hair and olive skin. He didn't know what Kabuto saw in his face, but he wouldn't be surprise if he looked like he had just seen a ghost.

"Sasu? " the younger version of Sasuke asked in a small voice, sounding uncertain. Then in a much louder voice full of urgency he yelled: "Sasu! Sasu, is it you?"

Sasu broke away from Madara, falling in the process. "OW", he cried, bringing his scratch knee to his face.

"Sasu, are you hurt? Wait for me. I'm coming", the other boy yelled and began crawling in Sasu's direction.

Sasuke watched the boys until Jugo spoke, stepping to where Madara was.

"That boy is an Uchiha", he said.

"No", Madara corrected, switching back to his original voice. "Both are."

Madara appeared before the reunited boys in a blink of an eye, his right hand reaching for them.

Madara's words had not sunk in yet when, without knowing why, Sasuke reacted. He left the cover of the trees, getting in between the boys and Madara and slashing the older Uchiha's hand with his Kanata. Madara was forced back. His hand rested by his side, forgotten and bleeding as all his attention was on Sasuke.

"I suppose Zetzu is dead if you're here", Madara said.

"You don't seem surprised", Sasuke said, keeping his Kanata drawn and ready to attack. Behind him, one of the children started to cry. He didn't have to guess whom.

"I'm an Uchiha. We don't trust others but our own. Even then we don't do it lightly."

Sasuke knew he was right. It was one of the first lessons his father taught him. And Itachi was one example of why one should still be wary of their clan men.

"Is it true what you said? Are these two Uchiha?" Sasuke asked.

Madara's red eye looked directly at Sasuke. "What do you think, Sasuke?"

"They can't be. No one from the clan was left to fathered the two except –"

"It wasn't your brother, Sasuke", Kabuto said from the left, relishing the situation. He had removed his hood, allowing for Sasuke to see his face.

For a second, Sasuke thought he was looking at Orochimaru. Like his master, Kabuto's skin was pasty white and his eyes were like pupils of a snake with purple markings around them. Those eyes moved over the two boys.

"Children, tell my friend here who your parents are."

Sasu opened his mouth to speak, but the one he called Itachi seized his arm, stopping him.

"That is right", Kabuto said, understanding what was going on. "You can't speak to strangers, but I'm not a stranger. Remember me, Sasu? I'm the one who treated your wounds. I'm a medical ninja just like your mother"

Sasu nodded his head and whispered to his brother, "I know him, big brother."

"Sasu, can you tell us who your parents are?"

It was clear to Sasuke he was the only one who did not know whom the parents were. But he was staring to pick up on what Kabuto was insinuating. The thought of it made him break into sweat and almost loose his grip on his kanata. And it was getting hot. He wondered if he was the only one feeling the heat.

Sasu bit his lip. "Um…my daddy…daddy is like me. His name is Uchiha Sasuke, and my mommy is mommy. But people call her Sakura…like the trees."

Kabuto smiled at Sasuke as his snake-like tongue hung from his mouth. Half a dozen hissing white snakes slithered from under his robe and rose in front of him, forming a protective circle. "See Sasuke, I kept my promise. I brought you to your family. And now, I will take them away from you. That is my prize."

The snakes attacked, flying towards the boys and growing in size as they did. Swiftly putting his Kanata away, Sasuke snatched both boys around their waist and hauled them to the air with him. The snakes were closely behind.

"Jugo! Suigetsu!" Sasuke yelled down. "Catch and cut"

Sasuke released the boys.

Ignoring their screams, Sasuke directed his fireball jutsu at the snakes. As he maintained the flamethrower on the snakes one detach from the group, following its little preys with its mouth wide and body scorched by the fire.

Luckily Jugo and Suigetsu had moved the second Sasuke gave his command. Jugo jumped to catch the boys in the air. Enraged by his food being stolen, the snake widened its mouth and lunged. What met him midair was not Jugo and the boys. It was Suigetsu and his sword.

"Surprise", Suigetsu said and slung his sword, beheading the snake with a clean cut.

Sasuke landed in front of Jugo as he finished torching the remaining snakes. Suigetsu landed beside him.

"You can summon snakes", Sasuke said to Kabuto.

Kabuto smirked in a way he never done before. Sasuke thought this was a new Kabuto in front of him, a Kabuto that was too stupidly cocky for his own good.

"I can do that and much more", Kabuto replied. "You see, after you killed our dear master, I realized I no longer had to suppress my ambitions and in the process of achieving them I could avenge Orochimaru. Our master and I were not so different. It's the reason why the two of us got along well. We were orphaned at a young age. We sought to perfect our knowledge of all jutsu. We both hated Konoha. And now we share the goal of capturing members of a certain clan."

And with that said Kabuto extended his hand, transforming it to another white snake.

Sasuke released the power of his sharingan and was about to counter-attack when an excruciating pain hit him. He would have fell face-forward to the ground if it weren't for Suigetsu catching him. Sasuke could not stop him mouth from opening and releasing a blood-curling scream.

He felt like everything inside of him was on fire and twisting. He heard the panic screams of the children behind him and an alarmed Jugo asking him what was wrong. Lastly, he heard Kabuto.

"It looks like the potion has worn out. Do you like its side effects? I made them especially for you, Sasuke. And don't worry about your blindness; it should follow in soon."

If he could have stopped screaming and the pain, Sasuke would have told Kabuto to go straight to hell and then proceed to killing him slowly and painfully.

"I believe, Kabuto, we had a deal. You would not get Sasuke until after the war", Madara said, deeming the time perfect to make his reappearance.

"We did. As Sasuke would tell you – if he could – I usually keep my word, but circumstances change, and…I must adapt with them. I never expected to find two young Uchiha here. They may be half, but they of the clan nonetheless. And to make it juicier for me, they are the children of the Uchiha I happen to hate the most. Can you blame me for not passing the opportunity?" Kabuto asked.

It seemed like an eternity had passed but the pain lessened to where Sasuke could move without screaming. He closed his mouth and slowly raised his neck, looking for Madara whom was standing on top of a rock towering Kabuto.

"Careful Kabuto", Madara warned. "Crossing an Uchiha is never wise."

All humor was gone from Kabuto's eyes. More snakes rose from under his cloak, hissing furiously at Madara. "You Uchiha and your arrogance" he sneered and then his twisted his mouth into a begrudging smile. "But you earned that arrogance. You are a talent that cannot be denied. Here you are, nearly extinct, but forcing enemies to unite just so they can bring you down. You bring fear to this world. That is the power of the Uchiha. A power I plan to take into me."

The snake launched at Madara, but Madara stayed where he was. There was no reason for him to move when he had his handy trick in hand. The snake passed right through him without leaving a single scratch. Kabuto hissed and went for Madara only for the latter to disappear and appear a second after behind, kicking Kabuto in the back.

"Suigetsu", Sasuke whispered. "You and Jugo to take the kids and run with them."

Uchiha or not, he could not let the children get caught in the middle of battle and be killed.

"What about you?" Suigetsu asked.

Sasuke forced himself to stand without Suigetsu's help.

"I'm killing that snake."

To Be Continued

A/N: As always, a big thank-you to all the readers.

This chapter was supposed to be longer and was supposed to be up two months ago. Unfortunately, I am stuck on a very important fighting scene, and, if I wait for that fight to be ready, I'm afraid another two months would have passed.

On another note, sketches of Sakura's parents were released for the upcoming film. I was planning on having her parents appear on this fan fiction, so it's good to see what they look like. Also, it seems like her dad was a former delinquent! I will definitely work that into the story Maybe the Uchiha Twins will inherited some traits from their grandfather?