I do not own Naruto. That would be Masashi Kishimoto.
The only thing that I own is the story line. Thanks.

"Captain Haruno, Hokage-sama wants you in her office."

"Of course she does."

In a single gulp she finished her drink before slapping down some bills and walking out of the bar, brushing past the messenger and heading towards the Hokage Tower. Effortlessly leaping onto the roofs, she was at the Hokage Office in a flash.

Without even bothering to knock the young Captain entered the office, "Tsunade-shishou, you wanted to see me?"

The legendary medical kunoichi looked up from her scroll with a mixture of annoyance and mild surprise. On the other side of the room Shizune smiled her greeting before returning to filing.

"Yes, you missed your morning exam at the hospital, why?"

Sakura merely shrugged, "I over slept."

Tsunade let out a huff of annoyance before motioning to her to come forward, "Then come here and let me take a quick look at you."

At this Shizune looked up from her folders and watched the pinkette curiously as she crossed the room. It was extremely rare for her to miss a schedule appointment, especially when there was no apparent reason too.

"I'm fine, shishou," she said defensively as Tsunade placed a glowing hand on the side of her face.

Tsunade huffed again, "I believe I am the judge of that, Sakura."

Snickering softly, Shizune quickly put away the remaining folders before picking up her trusted companion Tonton.

"They feel completely normal, I can even turn it off and on at my own will," explained Sakura, looking rather uncomfortable as her Tsunade probed around her eyes.

This time she let out an amused sighed as she backed up and sat atop her desk like she always did, "Of course you have."

Shizune rolled her eyes at the obvious gloating.

"If that was the only reason you summoned me then –"

"Hang on," said Tsunade, "I have a mission for you and a small team."

Without saying a word Shizune handed a folder to both Tsunade and Sakura, she watched Sakura warily as she merely glanced at the folder and didn't open it, "You in a rush or something?"

"Actually yes," she admitted, crossing her arms, "Jiraiya-sensei is coming home today and I wanted to meet him at the gates, he said we would have lunch and catch up."

Sakura watched the sideways glance the two shared and immediately her stomach tightened, she wasn't sure if it was because of the mission or because maybe something happened to Jiraiya.

"You team leader with be Kakashi Hatake – I'm sure that won't be a problem – and you will be accompanied by Shizune, Genma, and Tenzo," Sakura's eyes widened, "This is a hand-picked team by me personaly. I want this mission to go perfectly with no mistakes."

Still not opening her folder she glanced over at Shizune for a moment, "So this mission is off the records, like it never happened?"

Tsunade nodded, "Because of the complexity of this mission I had very few shinobi to choose from."

Sakura's gaze narrowed suspiciously, "What exactly does this mission entail? Why did it specifically have to be us five?"

"They've returned," she said matter-of-factly, "They've requested Diplomatic Immunity, to be allowed back inside of Konoha."

Sakura finally opened her folder and stared at the pictures from the Bingo Book. Eight very familiar photos staring back at her with emotionless expressions, "They've finally come back."

"Yes, and I want this to be peaceful. They surrendered, no fighting."

Her features remained calm and composed, seemingly emotionless about the situation that was now at hand.

"Your team will infiltrate their camp and then treat all wounds – whether they be old or new."

Her expression continued to remain emotionless and Tsunade couldn't help but frown at her apprentice, "Sakura this is a very important mission."

"I'm fine, shishou," she said quietly, jade eyes still glued to the contents of the folder, before she looked up to meet Shizune's unsure gaze, "I'll see you in the morning, when we leave."

Without saying another word the elder kunoichi watched as she silently shut the door behind her, Tsunade let out a long and heavy sigh after that. Moving around her desk she returned to her seat and began rubbing her temples, "These years have just flown by…"

Seven years ago, when all of the Rookie Nine abandoned Konoha, they left Sakura behind. For what reasons still remains unknown, but the reasons for Sakura refusing to search for them was also unknown. During the first year of their absence Sakura had completed her medical training with Tsunade and Shizune, before requesting a transfer to Sunagakure. There was no question as to why she wanted time away and the mission was for only medical shinobi and Sakura definitely was one of the best that Konoha had to offer. She aided in the training of Suna's medical staff while at the same time strengthening the bonds between the two allied nations.

In the second year Kakashi and Sakura formed an unforeseen bond which led to him training Sakura, much like he had done with Sasuke before the chunin exams. This led to a rise an interest of Anko Mitarashi, former student of the Sannin Orochimaru, who decided that she herself would pass along her knowledge. She taught Sakura the ways of Orochimaru, much like he would have done with Sasuke were he still alive today. This allowed Sakura to pass both the chunin and jonin exams.

After which she was assigned an off the records, extremely classified and unrated mission. She was not seen for almost two years.

When Sakura finally returned to Konoha, she had become a completely different person. Something many noticed immediately. But despite having been gone for so long she again left to train with Jiraiya and the toads.

During the six year, on a mission in Amegakure, Sakura lost her closest friend and teammate in battle. Having been unable to save their life she returned to Konoha utterly devastated, causing her to request leave to Suna.

Since her last and final trip to Suna, Tsunade noticed how much more withdrawn Sakura had become.

"Shizune?"

The brunette filing papers looked up, "Yes, Shishou?"

"I'm going to need much more sake for this mission," she replied with a groan, "Please have some delivered."

"Yes, of course."

Sakura leaned against the black granite of the Memorial Stone, her mind still trying to wrap around the idea of their return. She wasn't exactly sure how she was supposed to feel – happy or sad – mostly she felt anger though. They had abandoned me, she would tell herself over and over again, but knowing that still didn't make it any easier.

Sometimes she wished they had been killed while on their own, that bounty hunters managed to find and catch them. Other times she would worry herself over their well-being, if they were ill or injured.

"I thought I'd find you here…"

Pulled from her own whirlpool of thoughts she stared blankly up at the large ape like man.

"Hey Jiraiya-sensei," she greeted softly, "It's been a while."

An understanding look crossed his features and he patted her shoulder, "Come on, let me take you out for dinner. We can catch up at Ichiraku if you would like?"

She nodded and rose to her feet, brushing off the remants of dust from her shorts.

"How did your mission go?"

"Much better than I had anticipated it would go," he admitted, "How about you, anything happen while I was away?"

"You were only gone a couple of weeks," she noted, as they walked down the path.

"But a lot can happen in a week," he countered.

Sakura merely shrugged and for most of the way they walked in silence, her mind still wrapped around the mission she had received earlier that day.

Going through the motions, they took a relatively secluded farthest away from other customers, ensuring their privacy.

"Sakura," he said after a while, pulling her again from her troubled thoughts, "I know about your mission."

Jade eyes rose from the table immediately, she was more surprised than anything.

"I know it's a lot to soak in," he continued, "Are you okay with doing this mission?"

She watched the sweat fall from her glass to the table, "Honestly, I don't know. Professionally this is what I signed up for as a Captain of an ANBU squad, but personally… that's a whole different story."

"You never were one to follow the rules, Sakura," he commented, causing her to smirk for the first time that day.

"I will never put my mission before my comrades – no matter what the mission may be."

Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively, "I know, I know. But back to the topic at hand, do you need someone to take your place on the team? There is not a single person that would question that decision."

Sakura leaned against the seat, "No, I accepted the mission. I'm going."

Silence fell over them as they ate their meal. Jiraiya finally looked up with an odd expression.

"In a way Sakura, I am envious of you."

She set down her water with a confused expression, "Of me?"

"Your former teammates have chosen on their own free will to return to Konoha, whereas I had to drag mine back – literally. Team Hiruzen was a lot like Team Seven, how Sasuke defected from Konoha the same as Orochimaru, and how Naruto left for unknown personal reasons. Perhaps this is the universes way of giving you a second chance."

"A second chance?"

He nodded, "A second chance that my team was never rewarded."

Shizune tapped her foot impatiently; she had arrived early at the gates because of the severity of their mission. She had been the first one there, Sakura only shortly after, and then Genma had arrived. Sakura sat in the dirt with Genma playing a game of Go Fish to pass the time, Shizune taping her foot away.

"Is he always this late?"

"Yup," answered Genma.

"Pretty much," agreed Sakura, while drawing a card.

She groaned and crossed her arms, "What is the point to having a meeting time if he doesn't even show up on time?!"

Sakura shrugged, "It's nothing new, he's always been like this. Ever since I was a genin."

Genma laughed at that, "Oh he started this crap long before you were a genin Sakura. I think it happened not that long after –"

"Yo!"

They looked at the silver-haired man with gravity defying hair, each having expressions of varying annoyance. Though he did take note that Shizune looked ready to kill him, had taken any longer to meet with them.

"Sorry I took so long, I was helping this old woman cross the street and while doing so a black cat crossed my path. Which of course meant I had to –"

"Yeah, yeah," interrupted Sakura, "You went the long way around so as not to cross pathes with the cat again."

Genma raised an amused eyebrow, "Heard this one before, have we?"

"Maybe once or twice," she teased, earning gentle tussle of her hair from her former sensei.

"Are you all ready to go?" he asked, not bothering to lower his arm from her shoulders.

"Hai."

"Yes."

"Sure."

Kakashi rose an eyebrow at the pinkette beside him, "Sure?"

"Mhm, sure."

Shizune rolled her eyes and pushed the two toward the gates, knowing that Sakura could talk circles around Kakashi just as he could talk them around her. It was something they chose to do when they wanted to piss off someone in the group.

"Anxious, sweetheart?" teased Genma, earning himself a punch from the still aggravated medic.

"This mission is important, it's like none of you even care about it!"

Realizing what she said, she quickly looked to Sakura who had gone slightly rigid against Kakashi, "I don't care about it."

"Sakura I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking at all – "

"It's alright Shizune, I'm not upset with you," she muttered while removing Kakashi's arm from around her, "Did Tsunade-shishou give you the paperwork for the examinations?"

Shizune nodded, "They're in my pack."

"Then let's go," said Kakashi, walking out the gates.

The four had gotten about a mile from Konoha when Sakura suddenly called out to Kakashi, "Where's Tenzo? Wasn't he supposed to be joining us?"

Kakashi glanced back at her, "He's leading the ANBU team up once we reach our final destination and we've made contact with him."

She said nothing and they continued on through the day and most of the night.

Traveling like this felt amazing, she felt like a true shinobi again, after being cooped up in the hospital working double and triple shifts, running and feeling chakra flowing through every extremity and converting into energy – it felt absolutely amazing. It felt as if no time had passed when they slowed to a walk, finding themselves in the arid landscape between Wind and Fire. The trees had become scraggly and the underbrush was mostly shrubbery – to Sakura it was hardly worth calling a forest when compared to the lush, verdant moss and ferns, tall monolithic trees standing sentinel in woodlands so ancient they stretched on for hundreds of miles – but it was cover.

Kakashi stopped, "Let's make camp here for a couple of hours. When the sun rises we'll make our final stretch for their camp."

"I think I heard a stream not too far off, I think I'm going to rinse off," commented Shizune, "I haven't run like that in a long time."

Sakura sideways glanced at Genma who was watching the woman he deeply cared about depart from their small group. Feeling her watchful gaze, Genma turned to Sakura with a nervous yet amused expression.

"You're not going to let her wonder off on her own are you?" Sakura finally asked.

"Nope!"

Dropping his pack Genma raced after Shizune, causing Kakashi to chuckle softly behind his mask.

"I'm assuming subtlty was never his strong suit?"

"Not when it comes to Shizune, they've been teammates for a long time."

Sakura nodded and Kakashi watched as she stretched her arms, "I remember him when Shizune returned with Tsunade. They've been together ever since."

Kakashi remained silent and dropped down beside his pack, before pulling his Icha Icha book out, causing Sakura to snort amusedly. Pointedly ignoring her, he continued to read the book while she dug through her pack. After a while of silence he looked up and a look of amazement covered his features, Sakura sat with her back against the tree kneading clay into the shape of small birds – much like the ones known to be made by the blonde member of Akatsuki.

"Don't worry," she suddenly said, "They won't explode unless I mold them with chakra."

Kakashi rose his only visible eyebrow, "You can make them explode?"

She nodded.

"When did you learn to do that?"

"Uuuh…"

"You don't remember?" he asked curiously.

"Hmm…"

"Ah, I understand."

She smirked and smashed the birds back together; too engrossed in the clay creatures she was creating he set down his book and watched. It was a sort of sobering feeling, watching Sakura work, reminding him of when Sai would pull out his sketchbook and draw during their down times.

A low three note whistle broke the silence between them and Sakura watched as Shizune entered their small campsite, followed by Genma.

"Did you have a nice bath?" teased Sakura, wriggling her eyebrows at the two brunettes.

Shizune said nothing; her blushing face said it all, while Genma looked prouder than ever.

"Yes we did," he confirmed happily.

Rolling her eyes she then pretended to vomit, making Shizune push her playfully.

"You're just jealous," she retorted, sticking her chin in the air.

"No, I'm really not."

Immediately sensing her change in tone, Shizune turned her attention away from Sakura and back onto Genma.

At some point Sakura had dozed off and Kakashi looked up from his book to check on his close friend and teammate. He noticed her shiver and without a second thought, puller her close to his chest, allowing her to soak in his own body heat.

"Better?" he questioned quietly, not wanting to wake the other two team members.

She murmured softly and leaned back against him more, "Much."

Years ago this situation would have seemed insane and extremely weird, but a lot has changed within the past years. Sakura knew she was one of the only people allowed inside his personal space and as he was in hers. Things became much grayer between the two, the line dividing teacher and student having had blurred.

"You two look so cute," chuckled Genma, effectively waking up Sakura and earning a glare from Kakashi.

"You know," she yawned, while rising to her feet, "You're a real ass."

Laughing he returned to packing up his things, much like the others. Sakura, having packed up her things before dozing off, allowed herself to stretch out her muscles.

From the corner of her eye she saw Kakashi doing the same, attempting to work out the knots he had in his shoulders and neck. Letting out an inaudible sigh she moved behind him and swatted away his gloved hand, replacing them with her own. Immediately he relaxed under the pinkettes expert touch, "Thank you, Sakura, what would I ever do without you."

She thought for a moment before smirking, "Die a painful death due to your own stubbornness and refusal to seek help or medical attention."

"Hmm, you're probably right," he agreed.

Genma walked back from wherever he'd gone off too and turned his attention to the little massage session before looking over to Shizune.

Not one to miss an opportunity to ruffle his teammate's feathers, Genma turned toward Shizune and mimicked Sakura's movements, wagging his eyebrows suggestively. He was rewarded with a slightly revolted look from the medic, and all of them laughed.

"Alright, alright," said Kakashi while slinging his pack over his shoulder, "Let's head out. We need to reach there before nightfall."

Withdrawing back inside herself, the four continued their trek onward, moving much faster than they had the day before.

It wasn't until late afternoon that they reached the seemingly vacant camp. An unsettling feeling began to flow through Sakura's entire body, causing the pinkette to look at their team leader.

"Seems a little too quiet," Shizune noted as she pulled a kunai from her pack, Genma doing the same.

Sakura sniffed the air, picking up linger traces of iron, "Someone's bleeding."

Realizing that they had walked right into a genjutsu, Kakashi quickly clapped his hands together, "Release!"

"Did it work?" Genma asked quietly, before whipping around to block the sudden attack, "Who the fuck are you?"

"I thought they said no fighting?!" growled Shizune, holding senborn between her fingers.

"They lied!" commented Kakashi, "Do not kill any of them."

"Can I seriously harm?" questioned the pinkette darkly, kicking back the masked man before her.

"Sakura…"

The pinkette froze, that achingly familiar voice breathed her name and made every single muscle in her body freeze up. Jade eyes hardened as the man she had just kicked pulled off the mask.

She stared at her former teammate with an unreadable expression. He had grown so much she wouldn't have recognized him from behind; he stood almost eye-to-eye with Kakashi. There wasn't a single stitch of orange on him; he wore the same dark and muted shades as Kakashi and Genma as well. Only his tanned, Kyuubi-marked face and piercing cerulean blue eyes were familiar, though even his face had changed a little. He'd become so handsome (not that she would ever admit to it)… and he looked so much like the Fourth Hokage it was almost creepy (1).

"Sakura is it – is it really you?"

The other attacking shinobi backed away and removed their masks as well, each members of the Rookie 9 that they had been assigned to bring back to Konoha.

"Yes."

She watched as his gaze shifted momentarily from her to another group, and her eyes locked with onyx. Her full attention was now focused solely on the man leading the group joining them, Sasuke Uchiha. Her mind barely registered the shabby travel cloak he wore.

"Sakura…"

The silence between the two was defining as their gazes held one another. Subtly he took in the woman before him. The first thing he noticed was that her hitai-ate was gone, and that small detail told him a lot about the current version of the woman standing before him. He guessed that like him, she still had it somewhere. Ninja didn't give up their hitai-ate. Ever. It was a symbol of what they were, even if they scratched it out and held no loyalty to the village whose icon was engraved on it. Her face was different as well, but that was to be expected after so many years. The roundness of a young girl barely out of childhood was gone, her soft angular features thinned out and elegant. She was a grown woman now, and far more beautiful than he remembered… but memories became clouded with time and pictures in the Bingo books never did anyone justice (2).

He took in the rest of her appearance, letting his eyes wander slowly over her figure, noticing with small amusement that she didn't seem to have gotten any taller. She still had the same preference in clothing; sleeveless shirt with a high collar that zipped in front, fingerless gloves, very short formfitting shorts under a buckled apron he knew held medical supplies and other more sinister items, and her usual knee-high leather boots. Everything she wore was black, and large step away from the maroons she used to wear when she was younger (2).

"It has been quite a long time," he finally said, breaking the unsettling silence.

She nodded, "Yes, but that doesn't explain why you're here, Uchiha."

Shizune smirked slightly, knowing that the petite pinkette could hold her own against any opponent. She also knew that Sakura was subtly baiting him, wanting any reason to fight him, to end him here and now.

"I wish to return to Konoha," he gestured to the others around him, "And to offer my help with the new rising organization."

Genma scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest while rolling a senborn around in his mouth, "What makes you think we need or even want your help? You all abandoned Konoha, why should we trust any of you?"

From the corner of her eye she saw Naruto's hurt expression, Sasuke answered, "I'm sure you don't, but our return to Konoha is not your decision to make, it is the Hokage's."

Shizune glared down the Uchiha, "Good thing the Hokage sent her only two apprentices to evaluate each and every one of you."

Sasuke said nothing to that and for a moment Sakura thought she saw concern pass through those onyx eyes.

"I understand if you deny my re-entry, but please do not condemn the others to the same decision as mine will be."

Kakashi looked down at the Uchiha now, "They left Konoha, same as you; their fate will be the same as yours."

"That isn't fair, Kakashi-sensei!" exclaimed Naruto, moving to stand beside Sasuke now.

The aloof ninja glared at Naruto now, "I am not your sensei."

Dropping his shoulders, Sakura watched while feeling slightly sadistic.

Feeling as if this was going to go nowhere, Shizune stepped forward, "I want all of you to return to your own quarters, you will remain there unless summoned. Sakura and I will visit each one of you for physical and mental examinations."

She then looked to Kakashi, "Will you please send the message to Tenzo, along with alerting Tsunade-shishou that we have arrived safely?"

He nodded and walked a little ways away.

"And Sakura, please summon the ninken and have one posted outside each of their quarters."

"I have a question."

Sakura looked boredly to whom had spoken and immediately schooled her expression.

"Hinata Hyūga, correct?" asked Shizune.

She nodded meekly, "What if you share quarters?"

Sakura had now tuned out Shizune's orders, too stunned by the fact that the timid Hyūga Heiress no longer stuttered and had the courage to speak up on behalf of everyone around. In total honesty, Sakura held no ill-will towards the girl. The only problem that Sakura held with her and many others was the fact that they had so easily left her behind.

"Can you summon the ninken, please?" repeated Shizune, pulling Sakura from her thoughts.

Sakura's former teammates watched with interest as she bit hard into her thumb and did the same hand-signs they'd seen Kakashi do. In a puff of smoke ten ninken sat awaiting instructions, eight of them were recognized as Kakashi's. Two however were unknown to them, both were very large wolves – one white and one black.

Shizune glanced over at the quiet pinkette, "We should start soon."

"I know..." Sakura let out a quiet sigh, "I was just waiting for Tenzo to show up."

"Lier," commented Shizune while rising to her feet.

Sakura shrugged, "We should start over there and work our way down, then back up."

Having nothing against her idea, they walked over to the first tent and entered. Immeditatly Sakura recognized those baby blue eyes and long golden hair.

"Please state your name," ordered Shizune, getting straight to business.

"Ino Yamanaka," she answered quietly, eyes fixed upon Sakura.

Sakura watched silently as Shizune continued with her questions, unaware that she Shizune had been requested to take mental notes of the pinkettes behavior.

"Date of Birth?"

"September 23."

"Parents?"

Ino saw the corner of Sakura's mouth turn down slightly before whispering something into Shizune's ear. Unsure if she was supposed to answer still or not, Ino sat there quietly.

"Parent?" corrected Shizune.

"Inoichi Yamanaka… mother deceased…"

Her shoulders fell as she said this, Sakura knew why too. Her mother had died during her absence from Konoha, she wasn't there when she passed or for the funeral.

"Have you received any medical treatment? Any life-threatening injuries?"

Slowly and carefully Ino lifted up her shirt and revealed a long jagged scar across her side and lower abdomen, "Thankfully it wasn't life threatening, but yes. I had used the Mystic Palm Technique."

"You don't have to explain," muttered Sakura coolly while crossing the small space to take a closer look at the scars, "Does anyone other than you have basic medical knowledge?"

Shizune's eyebrow rose slightly at Sakura's tone, it wasn't anger or disappointment, she sounded genuinely concerned about her once best friend.

"Karin does, not that I would ever lump her in with a medic-nin. She barely keeps up when we would travel."

At this Sakura and Shizune wrinkled their noses, they had heard of Karin years before Naruto left Konoha. Karin was the only female on Sasuke's team while he was with Orochimaru.

"And it isn't like we had immediate access to hospitals if anyone was injured; we just had to make do with what little knowledge we knew and what little we had."

Sakura backed away and Ino's looked down to her bare and scar-less stomach.

"I won't feel sorry for you," Sakura said tonelessly, "You abandoned your village and your family."

Ino looked to the ground, "Sakura I… I'm sorry."

Shizune glared at Ino before looking to her teammate, "Please continue with the physical examinations of the others, I will check their mental stability during that time."

Not saying another word Sakura left the tent and Shizune stared down the blond kunoichi before her. Shizune knew that she pales in comparison to Tsuande or Sakura's anger, but when she wanted to she was definitely intimidating.

"Let me start with saying this," began Shizune darkly, "You may be allowed back inside of Konoha's walls, but you will never be forgiven for the hell that you have put Sakura through."

Kakashi walked over to Sakura, noticing that she stood before one of the two remaining tents that she needed to enter. He had been watching her the whole time, moving from tent to tent.

"You doing okay?"

She shook her head and lean it against his shoulder, "No, but it doesn't make a difference either way."

"That is true," he admitted, "I'll be waiting outside if you need anything."

She gave him a small knowing smile, "Thank you, Kakashi-senpai."

He smirked and she entered the tent.

Sensing her entrance Naruto rose his head and cerulean eyes searched her jade ones desperately, looking for anything in the depths of them.

"Hey Sakura…"

She said nothing.

"I couldn't wait to see you again," he continued softly, voice raspy, "I thought you'd be so happy to see us again… to see me again…"

She remained silent, simply continued staring at him as if he had never spoken.

Finally, after what had seemed like an eternity she spoke quietly.

"Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash."

His eyes filled with so much pain that she felt her heart squeeze just the slightest. She knew he knew who had spoken those words to them over ten years ago, on their first mission as genin and as a team.

"Sakura I – I'm so sorry…"

She snorted indignantly before placing her hand on his forearm, "Not as sorry as you will be."

Her hand stopped glowing as the tent flap flew open, Tenzo standing there in his ANBU uniform, mask off to the side.

"Yamato?" asked Naruto confused.

Ignoring him, Sakura stepped back from Naruto, "Hey Tenzo-senpai, glad you could join the party."

He nodded, "Good to see you again as well, Sakura."

His gaze shifted to Naruto who cowered slightly, taking a step back from the pair.

"Has the temporary mess been set up?"

Tenzo smirked at this, "Of course, the food is being prepared as we speak."

"Good, please have all the traitors rounded up then, we'll speak about traveling plans while they eat."

Tenzo exited the room and Sakura grasped Naruto's upper arm tightly, half dragging him behind her and towards the newly built wooden building.

"Ow, Sakura-chan that hurts," he whined.

"Stop using the suffix – you lost that privilege the day that you left," he practically hissed, glaring at him over her shoulder.

She released his arm and allowed him to enter the building, the newly arrived ANBU who were posted outside of the others quarters following her lead.

Naruto sat at one of the tables, watching as others filled in. He felt worse for the others, knowing that whatever Sakura said or did to him was well deserved, especially after what he had done to her.

"How are you doing, Naruto-kun?"

Cerulean eyes met red-rimmed opal ones. In one swift motion Naruto pulled her against his chest, burying his nose in her raven hair. His arms tightened around her small frame as he nuzzled his face in that perfect place between neck and shoulder, "Hinata I'm so sorry that I put you through this over the years. Thank you, thank you so much."

"It was my choice to come with you," she said firmly, forcing him to look up at her eyes, "Do not blame yourself."

"I know but –"

"Hey!"

"Oh, no! Kiba!" exclaimed Ino, hurrying over to the fallen man.

Hinata hurried over to her fallen teammate, Naruto on her heels.

"Captain Haruno!"

In moments Sakura and Shizune rushed inside.

"What happened?" demanded Sakura, sensing the ANBU's urgency.

"Captain?" Naruto whispered to Sasuke, who seemed just as surprised as he was, "When did she become a captain?"

"He's collapsed," called out Ino.

Sakura and the ANBU lifted the unconscious man atop one of the tables and Shizune ripped his shirt open and began checking his vital signs. Noticing the odd discoloration around his lips she frowned.

Naruto followed closely behind Sakura and Shizune. Everyone parted for them and quickly they ripped open his shirt.

"He's been poisoned," hissed Sakura, observing the same thing.

"Will Kiba be okay?" asked Hinata as she held back Akamaru, "He'll be okay, right?"

"He'll be just fine," reassured Shizune, earning an unreadable look from Sakura, "I need all of you to back away and give us some room."

The two woman immediately set to work, knowing that this would be a race against time. Sending chakra into him they began their search for the main concentration of the poison. Locating it fairly quickly, Sakura lifted his hand and pushed away the reminits of sleeve. There was a small and absurdly shallow scratch around three inches long on the back of his hand.

"Poisoned senborn," she said, causing Shizune to withdraw her chakra.

"Well don't look at me," she defended, "It wasn't one of mine, I carry an antidote for my poisons."

Rolling her eyes the pair returned to the research of this toxin.

He was getting worse; his eyes were glazed over and he was growing feverish, small beads of sweat beginning to drip down his face and neck. His breathing was becoming labored, and she closed her own eyes and frowned in concentration.

"It's almost like the one that Zetsu uses," said Sakura.

Shizune grimaced, "That man is seriously creepy."

"What did Kiba do the past few days that would have allowed him to be poisoned?" questioned Kakashi, making his presence known.

"Kiba and Akamaru had been sent out on a recon mission, looking for familiar scents in the nearby town two days ago," explained Sasuke, "We had this suspicion that we were being followed and watched."

Sakura met Shizune's gaze and without saying a word the brunette went over to examine Akamaru.

"You're right, he's fighting the poison as well, but oddly enough he doesn't seem to be as bad off as Kiba is," informed Shizune, "It's almost like he knew he'd been poisoned."

"Ninken are extremely intelligent animals," interjected Kakashi, "He probably did know that he was poisoned and tried to remove it the best way he could."

"Shizune, I'm going to begin the healing now."

"But there isn't a way to extract the poison here?" she said uncertainly.

"I know, I'm going to neutralize and break it down. His body is going to have to burn it off with the fever but his life will no longer be in danger."

"Thank goodness," breathed Hinata, having sat holding Kiba's head in her lap the entire time.

The others watched in awe, watching two highly skilled medic-nin work like this was a rare sight, only seen on battlefields, so for them to witness this first hand was quite astounding. Not hearing the sinister growl from the many ninken around them Sakura spoke up, "I'm surprised he didn't realize it sooner, normally Zetsu doesn't administer a slow-acting unless he –"

"Get down!"

Without a second thought Sasuke tackled Sakura to the ground, protecting her from the sudden explosion. Sakura growled with dislike, "I don't need you to protect me, Uchiha, I can take care of myself."

Shoving him off her she returned to healing Kiba, Shizune watched Sasuke stare at her. The hollowness in her voice, the lacking of emotion in her eyes, that was something he never wanted to see in Sakura. She had always been so full of life and had that inner fire that didn't compare to anyone else's.

"Captain Haruno."

Sakura looked up at the ANBU now standing beside her, "What?"

"We've been surrounded."

She frowned, "I thought you were ANBU. Weren't you sent along to prevent things like that from happening?"

The masked man scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "Well you see…"

Sakura stretched her arms and looked over to Shizune, "Could you finish for me?"

"Of course."

"I guess I'll be aprart of the group that gets us un-surrounded," she said sarcastically.

Sasuke rose to his feet as well and reached for Kusanagi.

"If you unsheathe that, I'll break every single finger," Sakura said without even looking back at him.

She whistled loudly and the two wolves – one black and one white – rushing inside to Sakura.

"You two ready to fight?"

"Always," answered the white one.

"Yup!" added the black one.

Naruto and Sasuke took note of the fierce jade eyes each had, exactly like Sakura's. Hurrying outside she slammed the door shut.

Naruto turned to Shizune, "Did Kakashi add to his pack?"

"In a way… those two are contracted with Sakura, but her name is on his contract."

His eyes widened, being a student of the great Toad Sannin, Naruto understood what it meant to sign your name on a contract.

Silently Ino stepped forward and placed her own chakra laced hand atop Kiba's forehead, "This is amazing, I wish I could have finished my training, maybe then I could have helped him as well…"

At that comment Shizune stopped working and looked up at the people around her and for the first time since her arrival she saw them as people and not just traitors. All of them, worn out and dirty. Constantly on guard and always moving from place to place to avoid unwanted trouble while searching for a single elusive person. But even after all this time he was not found and it almost seemed like they had given up, like Sasuke had given up.

"Perhaps one day you can finish your training," said the young Hyūgu heiress.

Shizune gazed up to see their her opal eyes were bloodshot and even from so far away she could tell that they were very strained, "Let me see your eyes."

Naruto tensed as Shizune's glowing hand touched Hinata's face, "You and Sasuke both have over-used your kekki genkai, but Sakura is more skilled with healing both the Sharingan and the Byakugan."

Another explosion rattled the building, preventing Sasuke from questioning what she meant about Sakura's ability to heal his eyes.

"I SAID: STAND DOWN!"

It felt extremely odd, the joyful reunion they had hoped for was strained and uncaring. They all knew what would happen when they left, they knew leaving Sakura behind would sever ever single tie she had to them. But he hadn't expected it to be this bad, for her to be so outright cold towards them, towards Ino or Naruto.

"GET YOUR GODDAMN HANDS OFF OF HIM RIGHT NOW!"

Naruto sweat-dropped, "Some things never change…"

"I wouldn't go out there if I were you," Shizune called over her shoulder as she wrapped fresh bandages around Kiba, "She'll knock your head clean off without a second thought."

Sasuke froze mid-step before backing away from the door.

"So Shizune," Shikamaru said, making himself known, "The Hokage is allowing us to rejoin Konoha?"

Brown orbs looked up to his with an unreadable look, "She agreed to having a secret hearing with you, she never said you would be allowed to stay. You betrayed Hidden Leaf and your fellow comrades, for that you will be punished, but in my opinion," her expression darkened tremendously, "Whatever you are given as punishment, it will be nowhere near as severe as you truly deserve."

(1) - A selection from "Will of Fire", written by Cynchick

(2) - A selection from "Silver Lining", written by Cynchick

(3) - Cover Photo – Created ByStray Ink 92, title "Never Alone"