Well that's annoying i accidentally lost all my edits, excuse for the time wait to post again, i got shafted by one deadline after another so i had little to no time to write more. I have been doing a lot of reading and research so hopefully you can see it in my writing, I've been trying to improve my descriptions more and make a more varied read for you all. But please continue to review and give me feedback because it helps amazingly well. especially since this is my first story and i don't know many of the tips or trends of the fan-fic world.

Please continue your support, cheers.

p.s. nearly had to do the edits three times. ~.~

Sakura and Sasuke's point of view, a day later as the storm had passed, somewhere in the land of fire.

Two shinobi were seen walking down the road. One had a dark blue cloak covering him and long black hair that covered his left eye. The other worse a white with red rims on the bottom of the cloak and showed bright bubble-gum pink hair. The pair was none other than Sasuke and Sakura, walking in a comfortable silence and side by side. Instead of his usual glare, Sasuke was looking around him and a mildly interested look. Since Naruto had proved that there was more to the world than simple hatred. Sasuke looked up and around and noticed the world around him and how peaceful it really felt. For this reason, you could argue that he even enjoyed Sakura's company. Her companionship was one of mutual desire, one of which Sasuke hadn't experienced since he abandoned the Leaf Village.

As for Sakura, her heart was finally settled. From crush to full blown love, Sasuke had been a heavy weight. With all things said and done she finally was able to be with him. She had noticed the Uchiha had developed some quirks. for example, this one, neither had spoken in around an hour but he was lost in deep thought and it was easy to read his face. He was debating many things to himself. Sakura was curious to what was going through his mind but dared not to ask, in case he took things the wrong way. Last thing she wanted was to ruin her bonds that she worked so hard to maintain.

The pair were walking to a village west from the Leaf. It was another simple farming village but one ran by a rich noble. His name was Tsunchi Origarna, from what she heard the name was one of the better types of noble. Often not ripping off those who worked on his land. Instead they were spending money on interesting artefacts. Of which Sasuke had a good guess that he had one of those coveted pages that Fukushi was willing to kill others for. Sasuke already knew the man from his travels and so he doubted there would be any trouble seeing him now. So the two walked on, the sun was surprisingly hot in the late summer months despite the miserable weather that poured the day before. Despite the shade provided by the trees to either side of the road provided the cooling relief from the heat the air was still humid and made everything clammy to the touch. After an hour of walking down the main road the shinobi turned off to a relatively small track leading up the hill and past a few fields with tall un-ripe grain growing in long rows. Occasionally a gentle breeze shifted the grain in waves like the ocean and lightly tugged of Sakuras and Sasuke's hair.

"You're a lot quieter than you used to be." Sasuke's voice cut through the silence, snapping Sakura out of her own daze.

She sighed. "It's nothing, just one of those days I guess."

"If you're worried about offending me, you can put those thoughts to rest you know." He looked over his shoulder at her.

"I'm just not used to you like this, you tried to kill me before."

"Sorry." Sakura looked with a shocked expression at the man while he broke eye contact and looked away. "I don't expect you to forgive me."

"Call me and idiot, but I already have."

"But I haven't done anything to earn forgiveness, not yet anyway, hmph, you're sounding like Naruto."

"You don't need to, you know that I love you."

"Then at least let me earn your affection."

Sakura stopped dead in the road. Had he just said that? Did he mean it? Sasuke could only chuckle to himself.

"Is it really that surprising? You're one of the people I've hurt the most so I could never be truly forgiven if I don't first redeem myself in your eyes." Sasuke continued. He was always vague about his true feeling but Sakura was slowly adding up the clues left behind. Maybe he was being won over by her? After all he was only accepted by two people, Sakura and Naruto. But before Sakura could continue, Sasuke pointed out that they were there.

The pair walked through a wooden gateway to see an open garden leading up to a small hill where the eastern style mansion stood. The hillside had three tiers of garden that snaked up towards the house itself. There were many streams, ponds, exotic looking plants. Everything protected by high walls making each tiers feel like itself own world. Sakura, who had some knowledge of plants spied several rare herbs among the flowers which were still in their summer bloom. Ino would love it here.

Soon they reached the grand entrance and Sasuke knocked on the large oak double doors. After a minute of waiting a young man opened the door, he was in his late teens and wearing formal work ware. He politely bowed at the shinobi.

"Ah, Sasuke, we weren't expecting you. Please follow me to my master, they are in the greenhouse." The man signalled them in and the pair followed him through the building to a central courthouse with a glass ceiling and more plants with water features in the centre of the room. Tsunchi and his wife were sitting together and watching the fish swim in the pond. They were an elderly couple wearing equally smart robes of dark purples and bright golds. The wife being more ornate than the man. They both had similar grey hair and spent their golden years enjoying the wealth they had worked to get. Clearly not like most nobles who were born into such luxuries. The two looked up and instantly recognised the Uchiha.

"Oo! Sasuke, what a surprise, come sit. Bring your girlfriend here too." The elder woman spoke with enthusiasm and caused Sakura to blush a bright pink, almost to the colour of her hair. "I knew you would attract such a beautiful young woman, eee I told you didn't I dear?"

The old man chuckled. "Yes, you're right as ever." The young pair sat with the Origarna couple. Sasuke slightly smirked with amusement.

"I agree you seem to have quite the foresight in such things." Sasuke replied and caused Sakura to blush more.

"So how about introductions, what's your name sweetie?" The wife spoke.

"I-I'm Sakura Haruno." She gave a bow and a deep breath.

"I'm Kazuko and this is my husband, Tsunchi." The elderly lady smiled.

"So, what brings you two here?" Tsunchi spoke. "Not that I might you coming here. We enjoy the company, just we also know that you're a man of business." He gestured at the two guests to take a seat out of the numerous The same man who showed them in came back with some tea and started to pour a cup for the two shinobi who took up their drinks and quietly sipped before Sasuke replied.

"You are right, but we are after something of yours, at least I hope you have it. If not I hope that your connections could still help us to find what we are looking for."

"Oh? becoming a collector yourself?" Tsunchi smiled. "Taking it after me? Very well see if I can help you."

"We are looking for a particular type of artefact, a page but written in an unknown language which I believe is from the far west. The page should look faded and about A-three large, flat but I am sure many of them are rolled up by now."

The old man leaned back and thought deeply about his collection. After a minute or two he looked like he remembered something and spoke. "Follow me." He slowly got up and signalled for Sasuke to follow. Sakura decided to stay and talk to Kazuko, she felt bad leaving her by herself and she was sure Sasuke had a better idea of the house than she did.

Tsunchi's library was impressive. A large room spanning two stories and had many ladders and staircases leading to separate showcases of many object found throughout the world. Many objects included rare books, jewellery, weapons, armour, and other trinkets and small secrets of the world. Tsunchi lead Sasuke to his study which was a much smaller room behind the library but equally full of interesting research that Sasuke was sure he'd find interesting if he had the time, but a shinobi's life he had and so a shinobi's life he must lead.

"It's interesting you should ask for that because I got one page two months ago, and another last week. Their price plummeted for some reason but I think they are very interesting. Especially when some are given the names of 'Cursed pages'. I'm afraid I just can't help myself. While I don't believe in curses. I do know our world holds many mysteries."

"You know you're right, the paper isn't cursed." Sasuke clarified and the many muttered in agreement. "But there is someone going after these pages and he's been killing anyone who has them. This is why I was going to ask for them off you."

"Hmm that does sound bad. It's nice to see you thought of us though." Tsunchi chuckled as he emptied the content of an envelope. "I tried to translate through this company that had recently set up, ah what's their name. 'Scrutator curators'. I think, they seemed to be keen on artefacts so I thought I would give them a try."

The two men crowded around the study table and Sasuke picked up the sheet of paper and glanced over. His sharingan activated as he glanced over the page, the crimson red picking up all the details instantly. Somehow recognising the words just like he was able to understand the spirit left in Fukushi's head. He had no actual knowledge of the language but the sharingan neatly filled out the gaps and somehow Sasuke understood.

"Yeah, it's a page I'm looking for, although it looks different to the ones I've seen before." He looked up at his host who had seen the sharingan before when Sasuke was last here so he wasn't fazed by it. They gazed at the letter next to it, there were two, one had all the administration and that their translation was successful. The second page was the translation itself. A page of story about a battle between all eight major families of the far west. While the families didn't own much of the land they still held themselves as the most important powers. The repeated skirmishes only lead to the eight families into stalemates. Wealth and strategy as well as numbers equalled each other on every attempt, being so far from each other and allowing each family to flourish under their own steam. Soon each of the greater families grew tired of fighting for names sake and decided to end on a tournament. Each looser, by death or surrender, had to provide the rest who were at the point undefeated a secret or resource of their family. Meaning the first looser had to give something to seven families while the winner of all eight families gave nothing. The page mentioned nothing of the winning order but mentioned that the Solaris Family took last place, not through defeat but they did not mind sharing some of their 'power' with the other families. Sasuke assumed they meant ninjutsu. In turn they earned respect despite the defeat. While the Lapis family ultimately won, they did so undignified as they were the only who didn't offer a close family member of their main branch to be their champion but instead a infamous warrior who killed more than subdued his opponents. The Lapis Family ended up losing the most as the other families turned their backs on them out of shame or disgust. Dates of this suggests that this happened a very long time ago, long before the shinobi villages were founded in the known world.

Sasuke frowned a little. "So how did they translate this?"

"What do you mean?" The old man looked at Sasuke curiously.

"It's from a very far place where they don't speak our language." Sasuke sighed as he put the translation down. "You said you had this for two months. That is no time to work out something as complex as a language."

"So you think that they know about this far off place?" The man thought for a moment while Sasuke kept silent, he closed his eyes to listen to what Tsunchi would conclude. "I guess it would make sense if they are after the pages too. Most nobles mind their own business and have nothing to do with the larger politics. They would be perfect targets to turn in pages, and if they just copy and return them. No one would be the wiser over it."

"Do you mind if I take these? After all you're a target if you keep them."

"Hm yeah take them, I don't want any trouble. But Sasuke my dear boy. If this rogue shinobi is taking them by force, then why change tactics?"

"I don't know, maybe if he is wanting to keep quiet then I guess it would be a sound strategy. But the time lines don't add up. Our shinobi problem has been illusive for almost three weeks now." Sasuke gritted his teeth. "I don't want to admit this, but it feels like someone else knows about the pages."

"I don't have many details but I've never seen you worked up over something, take the pages and I hope things aren't as bad as it seems." Tsunchi sighed heavily, he loved collecting but hated letting go. Nevertheless, two sheets of paper were not worth his or his families' life.

"There is something you could help me with. Firstly, tell me where you had gone to get that translation, secondly could you find out who is selling more of those pages and send the information to the Leaf, tell them I asked you to."

"Oh hmm, best I can do is an address to where to post the artefacts, a collection point in the town of Kawazu. It's about a day's walk away although it is evening now. You and your partner could rest here."

"No thank you, we've asked enough of you and like to head off as soon as possible." Sasuke quickly had gone to work storing the two pages into a sealing scroll and pocketing it in one of many hidden pockets. Without much to say Sasuke returned to Sakura who was busy chatting to lady Origarna about how Sasuke had saved their son from a farming accident, they were very grateful of his abilities and later learned exactly how powerful the man was.

"Sakura, we're leaving."

"Oh but Sasuke dear it's getting late." Kazuko chimed out

"I already offered them dear, they have to be somewhere." Tsunchi interrupted.

"Something came up and we have to investigate, Tsunchi if you could find out anything please remember to contact the Leaf over it." Sasuke headed to the main doorway just as Sakura patter herself down and bowed in thanks. She followed Sasuke to the main doorway and the pair walked out into the setting sun, the evening insects starting to make their move now. Sasuke walked at a much faster pace than Sakura was expecting and she had to run to catch up.

"Sasuke, why the rush?" Sakura called out before she could reach him.

"Someone else is after the pages. And not Fukushi or Monica" Sakura froze momentarily to this.

"He told me something, Fukushi, that those pages contained 'death jutsu'." The two marched down the road towards the main highway.

"He might know something that we don't. It'll explain his reckless behaviour. if he has pressure to get them"

"Doesn't excuse him for killing many people."

"Right, but this is far from a mad man, desperate, but not mad."

"So where are we heading? Are we going to find Fukushi? You seem like you know where you're going."

"I managed to get an address, I doubt it'll be this easy but it's a better start than who most missions go on."

"I can go on all night, we should hurry."

"Good." Sasuke nodded and if he could smile he would have to Sakura right now as the moment called for it.

Through their enhanced paced from their shinobi skilled the two ninja arrived at the supposed address for collecting artefacts. The building looked plain and sat separated from the nearby town. They had been running through the night and it had not quite reached morning when the early risers would wake up and start their daily routines. Picking a good vantage point in the trees so they could see the front of the building. Plane as it looked it also showed that it was new as well. The wood wasn't weathered and moss had not yet grown over the stone walls. Sasuke and Sakura rested in silence, their plan was to catch whoever entered the building and go on from there. A simple plan that should not go wrong. Sasuke was first to sleep, Sakura persuaded him that he would be more useful during more lively hours for people to enter the building. Hours ticked by and not even a traveller had passed by. Much to Sasuke's surprise, Sakura kept up a serious face the entire time. Concentrating intensely when she was on watch and allowing Sasuke to concentrate when she was resting. More mature than he had remembered, as it was back to his turn to rest now he was remembering his time as a genin in Team 7.

"Someone's coming." She hissed in a hushed tone. Sasuke immediately stood up to look and sure enough a single man, carrying nothing but the clothes on his back, walked up and unlocked the front of the shop. He hadn't noticed the two shinobi approach from behind.

"Excuse me, I was wondering is this the place to post artefacts to 'Scrutator curators'."

The man jumped as he hadn't realised he had company. "Oh hmph you know there is a deposit box."

"True but I wanted to ask you something, you see my partner and myself are representatives of Tsunchi, who had used your services and wanted to not only use you again but meet up with you personally." Sasuke lied, Sakura knew because he was smiling and had a positive tone added to his voice, he sounded like Sai trying to fit in. However, she herself had also taken on a smiley persona and nodded at the man.

"Yes if possible could you direct us to the company themselves."

"Hmm sorry I can't I am just a runner." The man looked them up and down. "Why did he use shinobi for just a messenger job?"

"Well who else better to do a job than us?"

"Hmph well I can't help you."

"But you must deliver it to someone?" Sasuke interrupted.

"You sure you want to know?"

"Yes it would be a great help." Sakura smiled once more. But the man slumped a little and slowly turned to point somewhere into the bushes.

"There."

A deafening bang, like the sound of thunder and a cloud of smoke erupted from the bush. Sasuke immediately activated his sharingan and without missing a beat he tilted his head out of the way as the round projectile missed where his head was a split second ago. Followed by a dull thud of the wood behind. The two shinobi did not stick around. Splitting off and throwing kunai into the smoke. The runner simply ducked and hid in the building.

Meanwhile about fifty paces away and cursing to every god under the stars. Was a second man in a crouched position. He had a kunai in his leg and was tried to stuff the next shot in the barrel. 'We weren't told that shinobi would find out about us, fuck this. I need to get out of here' He half muttered and half thought to himself. He threw himself onto the floor and trying to ignore the white-hot pain from the kunai in his leg. He took aim only to see the space in front of the building empty.

"Fuck they are fast." He scanned the area to see anything. "Come on one was bright pink for fuck sake." He pushed himself up to try and move. Wobbling on his leg. He felt a blade press against his throat. Through fear he tensed up and froze like a statue.

"Interesting, you have no shinobi skills yourself. So, who might you be?" Sasuke spoke with cold venom dripping in his worlds. Sakura kept her guard up and scanned the immediate area for reinforcements. Before the captured man could say anything a second shot somewhere much further rang out. The two ninja moved but Sasuke quickly realised that they weren't the target. The man who had tried to shoot Sasuke was blown back by the force of the shot. They could feel the chakra in the air as the projectile was enhanced by some sort of jutsu. The killed man quickly turned to dirt right before their eyes and crumbled half into a pile while his legs and lower torso was still made of human flesh.

Sakura covered her mouth in shock as the man was far beyond saving right now. The two knew where the shot came from and took cover by the trees nearby but the wait felt like agonising hours. Before Sasuke decided to test the waters and peak to see if he could spot the second attacker.

"Whoever it was, they are gone." Sasuke spoke after standing out fully. Sakura ad himself walked to the obviously dead man. "Ah, damn the equipment was damaged. a effective jutsu for covering evidence3." They observed that only the muzzle of the rifle was left intact but the ammo or the powder that Sasuke saw him use was destroyed and turned to dirt. He still picked up the remains and sealed them into a scroll. They both turned to the building and looked at eachother.

"Do you think he knows anything?" Sakura gloomily suggested before the pair walked towards the building, Sasuke needn't answer that question. They burst through the door to see a man sitting on the desk and waiting for the shinobi to return. Once he saw them enter.

"I take it he's dead then?"

"We didn't kill him." Sasuke said.

"Someone else shot him. With err whatever those weapons were called" Sakura added.

The man shook his head. "I don't know either. Honest!" He flinched as Sasuke drew out his sword. "The man you killed hired me, no one else. I was to man the shop and he kept watch for any unsavoury visitors. He was cocky though, he definitely was not a ninja but said he could take one out. I am guessing that he was wrong."

"So you really don't know anything."

"I wish I did, but he told me to keep my mouth shut and not ask questions."

Sasuke sighed. "I don't think we will find anything else out, they must have had a contingency plan. He turned with a flick of his cloak and replaced his sword by his hip. Sakura turned around, a little more cautiously but left with her beloved.

"Wait, I do know one thing. I am sorry I couldn't help you more, but, we never worked in the rain."

"Right." Was Sasuke's only response.

The two shinobi walked down away from the building.

"What now Sasuke?"

"We need to talk to the Hokage, it's a bit too important for a letter now."