Sorry it has taken me sooo freaking long! I've had horrible writers block with this chapter and I'm postive it shows. This isn't one of my best chapters I admit but I'm getting it out of the way. Next chapter will be way better I promise.

Thank you for the reviews, I always enjoy reading them! And thank you again for your patience!

Chap 18-- A desert in the Heart

love is not lost, it dies like all things do, buried in the backyard where a lone dove cries, and waits for broken wings to heal...to fly again someday

-Flashback-

The graduated academy students stood in lines of three all within their perspective team. The room was quiet as everyone thought of their current state and if continuing on would be for the best. Fear of death was lingering in their thoughts.

Sakura stood behind Sasuke with fear shining in her green gaze and she begged with all her soul that he would raise his hand and give up. She watched with agonized eyes as his grip on his left shoulder tightened, his body trembling from the insufferable pain. She was mindless that her body trembled with him. Sakura held her hand to her chest wishing to reach out and hold him, but fear of rejection kept her steady.

She was fighting with herself. Her desire to help him was outweighing her will to please him. If she interfered like she desired, he would surely hate her for it but again, she needed to help. He couldn't last, he wasn't strong enough. The bruise upon his skin was having an effect on him she was too naïve to understand. Someone had to help him. She was incapable of it being as young as she was. And as weak as she was. Kakashi would help Sasuke with the pain. Someone would.

But as she raised her hand, Sasuke turned to her so suddenly and smacked her hand down. "Be quiet about this bruise." He bit.

Tears came to her eyes. He was fighting her because he wanted to be strong but she knew better. She knew he was in pain and she was going to help no matter the horrible words he spoke. "Why are you acting so tough? I don't want to see you suffering anymore. I…"

"It doesn't matter to you. You're just being noisy." She gaped at him, agony filled her that he would say something like that but it only proved his desperation. His hand dropped away from hers and he turned from her just barely enough so his eyes were no longer seen. "I told you before, I am an avenger. This isn't just an exam to me. I don't care about being a Chuunin either. Am I strong? I just want the answer to that. I'm going to fight the strong guys and those strong guys are here." He turned to her now, with determination in his gaze, and an unwavering strength she hated and envied at the same time. "I will not allow even you to take away my path."

--End

Sakura curled tighter in a ball staring at the closed and locked balcony doors. The shades were drawn tight to let no morning sun work it's way upon her dismal form. She had no tears, no strength to cry even if she wanted to. Sasuke took every ounce of will she ever had just liked he had done during the chuunin exams. She felt just as small now as then, just as helpless and weak. And just as scared.

Sasuke had said those words to her again. Those words that could rip apart all self control and leave her a sniveling mess. She had not been prepared for it. She had not seen it coming. It was proof to something she tried not to believe. It showed Sasuke was still there, inside the foreign body of a man she didn't want to know.

The pain to finally see what he had become was unbearable.

Oh, kami how she wish he was dead! It would make moving on so much simpler. She could learn to forget. She could pretend that on some level he had loved her and live happily believing in that. Or she could dream that he was somewhere, waiting for her to save him. Even that idea filled her with strength and love. She would do anything to go back in time, to the place where Naruto and her searched for their beloved teammate with no hope of ever actually finding him.

But the man she wanted to save...was different. He was...

Not different at all.

Tears breached over her lids now and a sob clogged in her throat. She had wanted to believe so very much that he had changed but he hadn't! He was still the same boy that left her on the cold bench. Still the same boy that had touched her so intimately. He was the one that had come to her room to seek refuge from the terrible vengeance in his heart. And he was the one that tried to kill her…

Why? Why couldn't he be DEAD!

"Sakura." Kiba's voice broke through her thoughts and a hand touched her shoulder. She didn't flinch away this time and she felt him lay behind her, his body snug against hers, a large arm wrapping around her stomach, holding her tight against his chest. And though normally, the pain she felt would lessen, it instead strengthened so violently she convulsed. "Let me in." He whispered in her ear pleadingly. "Let me heal your heart." She rapidly shook her head, burying her face further and further into the pillow as more tears fell from her eyes and her body shivered so terribly the bed shook with her. "What happened?" He begged again. "He tried to kill you before, what was different this time? What did he say to you?"

Sakura felt the sickening nausea rise in her stomach, a feeling betrayal brought to her. She had betrayed Sasuke and everything that she stood for by being with Kiba. Why hadn't she waited for him to return? Why had she given in to a man she did not love?

Upon that thought, she ripped from his hold and ran to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her and locking it with a brutal twist. Her back hit it and her body shook with the sobs that she kept locked tightly behind knit lips and squeezed her eyes shut. She slid to the ground, hating the being she was.

If she had been stronger, like she pretended to be, she would have waited for Sasuke. Now instead she had betrayed him. How could she ever face him again?

--

Kiba sighed with agonized burden. The whine at the door told him that everyone that had recently been trying to get in, left. He didn't care where they had gone, he was just relieved they were. Two hours of fighting against them had caused enough aggravation for him. He opened the door for his dog and watched as Akamaru sauntered depressingly over to the bathroom door and laid upon the floor with his nose pressed against the crack at the bottom of the screen and whined pleadingly.

Kiba sat roughly on the bed and watched with distant interest. Something different had happened this time. Sasuke had said something or did something that forced her mind in another direction. He understood her better then anyone did. It was a connection they had shared for a long time. But he was incapable of figuring it out this time and that only left him feeling empty.

--

When Naruto entered he was greeted by the whole team. Except Kiba and Sakura. His eyes dropped dejectedly as he thought about them. His hands clenched at his side in his anger, hating Kiba so much more for being Sakura's savior.

He swallowed his thoughts when Garra called his name and he looked up to find all eyes were on him. He gave a weak smile, and with sorrowful intention he skipped over Hinata's gaze that were searching for his own. His emotions were too wild at the moment to allow her to see.

"Your team will be leaving shortly." Gaara thusly informed and his eyes moved over to Baki to finish with the report.

"Your Hokage informed us that there some movement on the Oto-nins. A group of three broke into Konoha's base and stole Sasuke's sword. It was an amazing feat considering where the sword had been hidden, but they seemed to have direct access to the information. There might have been some inside help, the Hokage is looking into it. Other news however is the reason you will be leaving. The team that had headed to Kumogakure were betrayed by the Raikage as predicted. No one was hurt. The team going to Iwagakure made it there and that is whom you will be trading with. You are to meet them at Tori no Kuni right outside the capital city and make the trade."

"Why are we trading?" Naruto asked, a bit of fear vibrating in his voice. He didn't want to be apart from Sasuke. He needed to stay with him to help.

"Those are orders." Baki replied coldly.

Naruto tightened his fists, momentarily hating his ninja life. He detested the fact that he had to follow orders when it was against his better judgment. How could the Hokage think that he would or could leave Sasuke after three years of being separated from him? He didn't know how but he was going to find someway around trading if it was at all possible.

Naruto looked up and smiled sheepishly when all eyes were on him again. He scratched the back of his head nervously and laughed forcibly.

"Well?" Baki questioned but when he saw the ninja's eyes widened in confusion he sighed in aggravation, "I said," he managed with a sharp bite to his tone. "Over 50 Oto-nin are at our gates waiting for you to leave. What do you plan to do?"

His blue eyes instantly darkened as his hyperactive energy pumped new life into him. A fight sounded just like what he needed.

--

Sakura stayed underneath the burning spray of the water and stared up at the ceiling. Her body fought against her, to move away from the streaming waterfall but she forced herself to stay and endure the physical pain. It was mildly welcome and took most of her mental agony behind closed doors. In other words, the burning shower was working. It was clearing away the guilt she had been consumed in for the last half hour.

A high pitched whine sounded at the door and her eyes momentarily drifted to it. If it wasn't for the fire her skin was experiencing everything that she had just escaped from would have blown right back in her face. So for that very reason, she turned the knob on the water to be a bit hotter and hissed when it scorched her.

Her mind was clearing now and resolve was strengthening in her. Decisions were forming and realizations were becoming brighter. Pain was weakening as hope began building higher and higher.

A smile now broached her lips when she thought about last night. Sasuke's eyes had been wide and wild darting back and forth between her own, searching for fear or weakness, and she had shown none. Her pride was strengthened just a bit from that.

Her heart hastened remembering the troubled expression that had shined so swiftly in his eyes as he contemplated killing her. He hadn't gone through with it and though that was an interesting twist in and of its self, the words he had spoken to her had mangled up the reason she wanted to believe in. Sasuke was telling her that she was only alive because he knew if he killed her, he would be unable to escape anytime soon.

And though that's what he wanted her to believe, her instincts told her something else and now that her mind was no longer occupied with the guilt and the overwhelming sickness of hatred for herself and for the never changing Sasuke, she could see clearer staring at the ceiling.

The man she loved was still alive, and whole, and here, and gorgeous! She bit her lip, closing her eyes to take in the sight of his closeness. Her hand drifted to her neck where his handprint was left in a bruising color. The hole he had given her had crusted over and she felt along the wound, wincing but smiling nonetheless. He hadn't killed her, despite his blinding hatred.

Tears formed in her eyes over the happiness of that realization. Naruto had been right from the start. Oh, how she needed her best friend; to apologize for ever doubting him. Naruto had finally gotten him back!

A grin broke on her lips and she nearly laughed with hysterics. She had never been so happy before she almost couldn't contain it.

She snapped off the water and dried herself with a hurry. Sakura paid no mind when she got dressed in front of the bewildered Kiba, who stared at the transformation the shower had brought. Sakura smiled at him, paying no mind to the pain she was undoubtedly going to cause him. The shower had done the trick, renewed all of what she had been fighting for from the start. She kissed his cheek as she passed and hurried out the door.

She was only greeted by the people walking in, hurried and patient-less, making their way to their perspective rooms. She caught Ino's arm, the last one to enter, "What's going on?"

"Well, look who decided to come out of hiding--"

"There's no time for that." Shikmaru chided from their team's bedroom and Ino scoffed, stomping her way into the room to scowl him.

It clicked in an instant and she was inside her room packing her stuff along with Kiba who quietly went about cleaning up the room. Sakura felt none of the uncertainty Kiba watched her with. The smile on her lips was too much to quell and it only brightened as she thought about Sasuke. There may be a battle coming ahead, but there was no way she was going to lose him again. Even if she had to leave with him this time, she was staying by his side for the rest of her life.

--

Naruto saw the change in her the moment their eyes connected. Her jubilant attitude was breathtaking and nearly encompassed him too but he continued on his wayward path with fisted hands. He could only imagine that Kiba was the one that made her so damned happy. And that filled him with the necessary rage to keep him a good distance from her. Whenever she came near his person he found someone else to talk to on the way to the exit of Suna. Dealing with her was not something he was ready for. He was still encompassed in what Sasuke was doing here.

Upon thinking of him, his eyes drifted to the man in the center, walking blind-folded and restrained, not fighting them, almost content or smug on where he was. More proof that Sasuke himself knew he could escape if he wanted. And yet he refrained. Why? What was Sasuke doing here? What was his plans?

Naruto shook his head and stared straight again. He was doubting his best friend, what kind of person did that make him? Sasuke was with them to get help, to rid himself of Orochimaru and Oto. Naruto had to believe in that.

His eyes darkened when the large wooden doors of the town started to creak open slowly. The whole village was locked up tight in their homes, soldiers lined the wall ready for any attack Oto had to give. But Naruto knew Oto wasn't looking for a fight with Suna. They just wanted Sasuke. Naruto had no plans to make Suna fight, he would deliver Sasuke and then rightly take him back with a vengeance. Though they were outnumbered, there was no doubt in his mind that losing was even a theory.

A small snort was heard from behind and against his better judgment he glanced back and came to a abrupt stop. A six-by-six foot box of sand had suddenly appeared beside Shikamaru in the middle of the walkway. Said ninja was currently looking at it with a raised eyebrow before he yawned and stretched, "Well," Shikamaru scratched the back of his head, "there goes that idea."

"Damn it, Gaara." Came Temari's muffled scream.

Naruto's eyes bulged as he realized Temari was inside the sand and he wobbled over to it, touching the box. "What are you doing in there, Temari?" A muffled curse was his only reply.

Shikamaru leaned against it with his hands in his pockets, his eyes to the sky seemingly undisturbed to the fact that his girlfriend was trapped inside a sand box. "Apparently he doesn't want you to come with us."

"I don't give a shit." She hissed. "Garra! Let me out of this now or you're going to regret! I'm going with them!"

"Way to make him want to kill me."

"Shut it."

Naruto twisted his body when TenTen's voice suddenly hit his hearing, "You can't make me leave." She bit dangerously toward Lee.

He shifted back to the box then back to TenTen. Oh, he had no clue which conversation would be more entertaining! Temari stuck in a sand box was hilarious enough but watching TenTen get all riled up was amusing in and of itself!

Naruto's head flipped back to Temari who screamed a stream of curses to her brother and then went back to TenTen. With determination, he decided she would be less damaging to his ears. TenTen's voice wasn't nearly so scratchy as Temari's.

Folding his arms, he slandered over to the side of the street were Team Gai stood and eased himself against a lamp post nonchalantly listening in while staring up at the sky.

"I can fight just fine." She lamely fought with clenched teeth.

"TenTen, please. Think of the baby."

"Shut up about it. I'm fine…it will be fine." she ground out forcibly, her cheeks reddening at the idea of calling the human growing inside her an 'it'.

"You can't possibly protect yourself well enough against what's out there." Lee begged gently trying not to cause too much of a scene but he noticed much too late that they were already being stared at by mostly everyone. He scanned the area and then widened when he saw Naruto. With a straightened back he went to him, "Naruto." The blond dropped his wide blue eyes in surprise.

"Don't you say anything." TenTen threatened and grabbed for a long katana from her backpack.

Lee faltered for only a moment, "Please make TenTen return to Konoha."

"Make her?" He asked incredulously, glancing swiftly to TenTen and gulping down air that suddenly seemed too thin.

"Yes, you are our leader, and therefore you can tell her to return."

He shook his head with fear rolling down his spine, "I don't think so, geji mau."

"TenTen is with child." He whispered softly, even though everyone else on the team knew except Naruto.

"Son of a bitch." She went to attack but a fast hand rested on her wrist. She glared at the hand and then Neji's face which was impassive while he stared vehemently at the ground, saying nothing.

Naruto's eyes bugged out of his skull and they went straight to her stomach. Though he couldn't see anything, TenTen suddenly became a completely different person in his eyes. A woman: weak and breakable; vulnerable and defenseless. He swallowed and lifted his gaze slowly and cringed upon spotting the seething rage in her brown eyes. The gaze reminded him of what type of woman TenTen really was.

Boy, was he at a loss.

His voice came out before any thought. "Let's take a vote." Naruto nodded to himself instantly liking the idea. Votes always sound great, all the pressure fell from him instantly and he almost smiled if it wasn't for the sharp look Neji and Lee gave him instantly. He stiffened and took a step back just incase they wanted to fight this out physically.

"There will be no vote. I am staying and performing my job as a ninja. Anyone who wishes to stop me, can challenge me."

Well, what should he do now? Naruto looked instinctively for help from Sakura but she was on the other side of the walkway laughing and smiling with Ino at her side, both were staring at the box in the middle of the street, probably poking fun at the woman trapped inside.

Naruto moved his gaze to Sasuke who sat on the sandy road seemingly concentrating behind his mask ignoring everything else. Akamaru sat beside him, between him and Sakura, defensively.

It appeared he would get no help in the situation. And with that notion in mind, he was no challenge for TenTen. "Well…" He eased into it, scratching his head, "You're protecting Sasuke so it shouldn't be a problem. As long as you don't let your guard down like last time."

"Last time was a fluke." She growled immediately but stuffed her weapon back in her bag and straightened out of her fighting position.

Lee sighed, "Fine, TenTen, but allow us to help."

Her anger was nearly completely faded now that she was no longer being forced to leave and with a forced smile, she regrettably nodded in agreement.

Since that confrontation was fixing itself, Naruto quickly turned his attention back to Shikamaru and Temari. Her voice muffled, sounded with aggravation, "If you don't release me, I'll tell." A few grains of sand faltered and fell to the earth. "I mean it, Gaara."

"Tell?" Shikamaru voiced, "Tell who?"

"I'll do it." She threatened, ignoring Shikamaru.

The silence was thick as everyone waited for Gaara's sand to respond to the idle threat. When the wind blew, a few grains dripped down. Then with sudden haste the sand whipped away childishly, revealing the very enraged female in it's wake. Her eyes were to the sky and upon the high ledge, Gaara stood in his white robes with folded arms. Temari smiked, "Good little brother." A small sand tornado whirled to life in front of them pushing the doors open harshly with a loud bang as it hit the stone walls. Temari laughed lightly.

Naruto blinked watching the older woman take the first steps toward the doors with a triumphant pace. Shaking his head slightly he mumbled to Shikamaru, "She's scary."

"Hm. You're telling me."

The line of Oto-nins could be seen in the distance. A hazy sand storm was blowing between them but whether it was natural or not was up for debate. "Set up formations." Naruto ordered taking the front with a little jump in his step. All his troubles nearly forgotten at the sight before him. A battle was certainly something he desired. "How many?"

Neji responded with his activated eyes, "52."

"We have twelve hours to get to Tori no Kuni. Without problems, it will take ten. So, we're barreling through this. TenTen, Ino, Shino and Shikamaru, you all are to run as fast as you can with Sasuke in the center. The rest of us will take on whoever attacks. Don't stop running."

"Hai." They shouted in unison.

"I'll go out first. You five follow directly behind. " With a quick order forty clones popped into existence as he ran at the line of ninjas.

"Wait." Neji's voice sounded suddenly but Naruto was too lost with blood lust to care and the caretakers of Sasuke had no choice but to follow still as their leader made his move.

The sky darkened catching Naruto's quick attention. The line of Oto-nins did not move from they're position fifty meters away and now he could see bright smiles directed smugly at him. He snapped his eyes up only to see the millions of arrows ready to let gravity take wing and fall directly upon them. "Kuso." His clones instinctively jumped upon him to protect him from the brutal onslaught.

TenTen shoved Ino to the ground, and stepped on her back to boost herself into the air, twirling her scrolls with acrobatic finesse, destroying the hundreds of arrows that searched for a body to harm.

Shino's bugs encompassed Shikamaru and himself and a hard shell was formed impassable to the measly weapons that lashed upon them.

The realization hit only five seconds afterwards. No one had protected Sasuke.

The moment the raging noise of the arrows tips diving into the sand around them ended, they turned their attention to the man in the center of them.

Naruto shoved the few copies that were left off of him, squirming his way out of the mess and with wide fearful eyes turned to find the rest of his team. The fear that had blinded his gaze quickly turned to amazement however. Sasuke stood calm and still, seemingly motionless, a hundred arrows formed a tight circle around him, as if by some miracle they were able to dodge his body right before they reached him.

The silence was deafening as they stared at their ward, perturbed by his relaxed demeanor. He was blind, unable to respond to the danger that had lashed down upon him. Yet he dodged it. Or maybe he didn't need to dodge it.

Naruto brows knit with confused anxiety. How had Sasuke done it? What powers did the man possess that made him so impenetrable?

His thoughts were cut off as the rest of the group came running up to them. Sakura was the first to question, "Is anyone hurt?" Quick 'nos' were her response and her eyes rested on him, waiting for him to answer. But his voice was clogged and he only managed to shake his head as his gaze went back to Sasuke.

"Let's go." Neji ordered catching Naruto distracted expression. He took charge but put a mental note to scold the blond ninja later. However, he too felt great confusion now toward the Uchiha heir. It was suddenly very obvious what was truly going on. Neji wondered briefly if he should inform Sakura and Naruto of what he had seen or if he should allow them their delusions. He flicked his lavender eyes to TenTen, her confusion was bright when she caught his gaze but he paid no mind to it. Frustration and anger were boiling inside him. The fight hadn't even started and TenTen was in more danger then she needed to be. If she had agreed to go back to Konoha, she would be out of harm's way and yet she decided to stay. Neji turned his back on her and took lead of the team, throwing himself in the mindset that the sooner they take care of these ninjas, the sooner TenTen will be safe.

The Oto-nins were furious that they're plan hadn't fazed the opposing team and their war cries echoed in the desert terrain as they ran at them with swords and fists raised.

--

An hour later, and the progress they were making was very little. Naruto turned an eye to Suna, the giant wall that surrounded the village could still be seen even if vaguely, telling him if they didn't end this soon, they were not going to make the trade.

A small smile appeared on his lips. Somehow that information didn't bother him.

He snapped his eyes back at the person before him, slamming a fist in the gut, then dropping down to swipe the man's legs out from under him but the guy jumped swiftly over him and slammed a fist in his back. Naruto cringed, numbness quickly overwhelmed his left shoulder but he ignored the blinding pain to elbow the man in the chin, knocking him unconscious. The body thumbed when it hit the sandy ground.

He looked out at the battlefield. Only ten of the original 52 where either unconscious or dead. They were putting up one hell of a fight. He looked over to Sakura who was partnered up with Kiba. She was not using her chakra and fought with a katana in one hand and a shuriken in the other. Her eyes kept leaving her opponent and going to the group running at a faltering pace. The worry was obvious.

The four protecting Sasuke were not making progress like he had desired. They kept stopping because the attackers were reaching them. Telling Naruto that their defense wasn't good enough.

His team was panting, running out of energy too quickly. He had not thought about the chakra draining sun that was shining with brutal energy upon them. An hour was too long for them to be fighting under such conditions. If he didn't think of something, someone might get hurt.

A sharp female cry cut his thoughts off and he snapped his eyes to each woman within the team. He winced upon finding a ninja had struck TenTen in the stomach. But she was unhindered it seemed as she quickly snapped out a kunai, and slashed it across his neck.

That told him one thing. If they didn't hurry, Sasuke was going to be taken.

Revitalized by fear he summoned forty more clones to existence and jumped out from the fighting going on around him and ran with brutal speed to catch up to the team surrounding Sasuke. He was made aware instantly if Neji and Lee hadn't been vehemently by TenTen's side they probably would have already lost their ward to the army of Oto ninjas.

He jumped up and slammed a foot in an opponent's face and yelling, "Go!" to the team. All four quickly set in motion with a forced Sasuke following in their center.

Sakura jumped up behind him, her back brushing against his own as they faced opposing ninjas, "What should we do?" She questioned.

And though he should have an answer, he was without one to give. "Why aren't you using your chakra? It's too dangerous."

"I'm a med ninja, I need to save incase someone gets hurt. And besides, in case you haven't noticed we're in the middle of the desert. If I punch the floor, everything within a mile radius will be sucked up by quick sand."

"Well do you got any ideas?"

"What do you mean, me? You're the leader, you're suppose to have ideas."

He smirked. Though he was still at a loss at what he was going to do, it was obvious that their friendship was still intact somehow.

The ground vibrated beneath their feet wiping the happiness he had momentarily felt. "Did you feel that?" He looked over his shoulder but from her confused expression, he didn't need an answer. And he wasn't alone. Everyone stopped fighting, searching for whatever had caused the small shudder.

Then with silent deadly swiftness, sand-made hands popped up from the ground, grabbing onto the feet of every Oto-nin and pulling down, suck up the legs in quicksand. The opposing ninjas screamed in horror and fear as they wiggled with desperation and tried to claw their way out of the sinking hole.

"Gaara." Temari smiled dropping down next to them and folding up her fan tightly.

Naruto looked out to the village but seeing any person was illogical. He nodded once in silent thanks, smiling softly.

"He won't be able to keep it up." Temari informed him in a soft voice, hoping no one else could possibly hear what she was saying. "Since the bijuu was extracted he has little chakra."

"Then let's move." Naruto demanded, tightening his fists at his sides, trying desperately not to think of that horrid event. A second time when he hadn't been strong enough nor fast enough to save a friend.

kk, again sorry. Don't know when I'll get the next one out but it will be within a good time frame unlike this one. I already got it partially written and it's so much cooler then this one.

Here's a little preview: ( Warning Team Hebi alert, if you don't know who they are, chances are you won't want to read my horrible spoilers. Ps...I kind of don't know who they are either so...these are mostly my own opinions on them.)

--

Sakura scooped a hand full of water and splashed it against her face, sighing in satisfaction. The cold refreshing liquid was welcome against her heated skin and with another heavy sigh she sat back on her bottom, peaking a glance at the females beside her. "The sun sure is brutal. I kind of miss Konoha."

"Yeah, me to." Ino mumbled, laying on her stomach to glare at the campsite that sat behind the thick brush of the trees. "If I have to see them together much longer, I think I'm might puke."

"I really don't know what he sees in her." TenTen looked off nonchalantly, actually trying to be nice to the little blond. Having Ino know her big secret was much like Ino handcuffing her to be a slave. "She's a little ama." Ino smirked, knowing that insult was mostly directed at her.

"I like you better, Ino-san." Hinata whispered sheepishly.

"You guys don't have to hate her on my account. I know she's pretty cool."

"She really is." Sakura sadly admitted but patted the woman's leg, "But you are way better. And hotter."

"I really am!" She growled, slamming her fist in the ground. "Geez, I'm pathetic aren't I?" She hung her head in her hands. "I should have gone after Shino."

"You still can. I've never seen him with a girl."

"He can't be with anyone outside his clan. The bugs and all that shit. They're pretty greedy." The girls looked at her skeptically . "Oi, I'm desperate all right. Leave me alone."

"These girls seem a bit lost, huh Jugo?" The kunoichi snapped to their feet, their eyes wide and fearful when they found the two men standing unperturbed on the tree branches across the river.

--

Haha, fun fun next chapter!