A/N Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness!!!! I am SO sorry for the delay. I had the worst writers block. This chapter was hard for me to write. Also I want to thank you all for reading my story and I want to give a special thanks to ApplelovesApple, sasusaku0129, Sanin Sakura, sakura the lover, sasusakufan2357, and StrongerThanISeem for reviewing the last chapter. I'm REALLY grateful:D

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

"Talking"

'Thinking'

'Memories'

Sound

Chapter 3: Akatsuki's Attack

The three of them packed up camp and headed out to go back to the hideout. They were all quietly traveling. Sakura was still in shock.

'Oh no. The Akatsuki are after me.' She thought. 'Is it because of that.

Sasuke looked over at Sakura and saw her worried expression. 'What's wrong?'

They kept traveling in silence.

'Sakura began walking over to Naruto's house for the surprise he said they had for her.'

'"It must be because of my birthday today, thought Sakura."'

'As she was walking she saw an old lady struggling with some bags. So she went over to help her out, but when she did she ended up making the bags fall and everything splatter on the ground.'

'"Thanks a lot," grumbled the lady. "Your such a useless girl."'

Sakura's eyes threatened to spill over with tears so she quickly shook her head and tried to calm down.

'What should I do? What if they are after me?' Thought Sakura. 'I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me.'

Sakura began to feel light headed. Then everything went dark. "Naruto", she whispered before she lost consciousness.

Sakura began to fall fast towards the ground. Sasuke turned back and he saw her fall. "Sakura", he yelled as he ran over to try and catch her.

He dived onto the ground to catch her and in the process got cut up really bad. Sasuke looked at Sakura in his arms and he saw her pained expression. It made him feel weird inside for some reason.

Kabuto came over and took Sakura from his hands. Sasuke stood up but immediately fell back to the ground.

"Stay put", said Kabuto with a medical, uncaring voice. "I'll treat Sakura and then I'll come treat your wounds."

"Hn, I'm fine," growled Sasuke as he stood up. Pain flashed over his face because of his wounds. "Just take care of Sakura, we don't want her to slow us down."

"Hahahaha", Kabuto began to laugh. "Whatever you say master," he replied in a sarcastic tone.

"Hn", was all he replied as he walked away into the woods.

'That guy,' thought Kabuto. 'It seems that she's his only weakness.'

As Kabuto treated Sakura she kept squirming and sweating. Memories were flooding her head as she lay there.

Sasuke was walking in the woods until he came across a stream. He began to walk towards it but fell to the ground.

"Damnit", cursed Sasuke as he looked at his wounds. They were deep and they hurt like Hell.

'Why did I save her anyway? My body just acted on its own', thought Sasuke. 'Damnit, what is with that girl anyway?'

"That girl is so damn usel-" Sasuke stopped in mid sentence when he remembered the hurt look in Sakura's eyes the last time he said that.

'Damnit, why does she do this to me? I better keep my distance from her, she'll only slow me down and get in the way,' he told himself.

Sasuke then walked over to the stream and cleaned his wounds. He took off his shirt and ripped it to use as bandages.

Then once he was cleaned up he realized it was getting dark so he went back to camp and when he got there he saw Sakura awake and sitting by the fire.

She looked over at him when she heard him. She saw the bandages on him and realized they must be from when he caught her. She may have lost consciousness but she still felt his arms when he caught her.

Sasuke saw her sitting there by the fire with a tired and pleading look on her face.

Sasuke turned away from her and went into his tent.

When Sasuke walked away like that she cringed and her eyes watered. 'I guess I really am useless,' she thought. Then she just began to cry and let all her tears out. After she cried all she could she went to her tent and tried to get some sleep.

XXXXXXX

A few hours later.

"Sasuke", came Kabuto's voice. "Wake Sakura up and lets go! We are already late as it is. Now that Sakura has had some rest we need to head out."

"Wake her up yourself", came the cold reply. Then Sasuke walked ahead.

'What's with him? Normally he would want to see her,' thought Kabuto. 'Oh well.'

Once Kabuto woke Sakura up the headed out. They had already wasted enough time as it is.

They were traveling branch to branch with Sasuke up ahead and Sakura following behind.

"Pick up the speed or else we won't have a place to go home to," ordered Sasuke in an unusually cold voice.

Sakura turned away from Sasuke. 'He has been even more cold than usual. Is it because of getting hurt while saving me?' thought Sakura with a pained expression tainting her beautiful jade eyes.

"Sasuke", began Sakura.

"No talking or we'll be slowed down," he replied in a monotone voice. "Don't slow us down."

Sakura looked down and Sasuke looked at her. 'Oh great she's going to cry again.'

'"Sakura don't let what these people say bother you." Naruto came over and saw how Sakura tried to help the old lady with the bag and made everything spill.

"You aren't useless. I don't know what I would do without all you do for me."'

Sakura never understood what he meant by that.

When Sakura looked up she didn't have a sad look in her eyes. She looked angry and determined.

She dashed up way ahead of Sasuke and left him in the dust. Then when she was far up ahead she yelled over her shoulder, "Make sure you don't slow me down." Then she ran further ahead.

Sasuke just grunted and picked up his speed until he caught up to Sakura. Kabuto just laughed.

'That's it!' screamed Sakura in her head. 'I won't let this stuff effect me anymore. If the Akatsuki are after me then I'll just have to kick their sorry Asses and send them home.'

XXXXXXXXX

Then shortly after they reached the hideout. The sun was beginning to rise. And they could see the hideout. It was damaged badly. They couldn't believe it.

When they got closer they saw only one of Orochimaru's henchman. And two Akatsuki. Kisame and Diedara. Apparently the others left after most of the damage was done and left two behind to finish up.

Sasuke was getting ready to run toward the Akatsuki when Sakura grabbed his arm.

"Let go Sakura", he growled.

"Look," she replied with annoyance. "I know you hate me and don't want me here, but I am here and we have to work together. And we can't just go charging in we need a plan."

Sasuke yanked his arm away from Sakura and grumbled as he sat down for them to make a plan.

"Okay we know that Diedara makes exploding clay sculptors and Kisame drains your chakra with his sword. So we need to get the clay away from Diedara and the Sword from Kisame then they will be pretty much useless," Sakura began explaining.

"Well, well, well aren't you the informed one," smirked Kabuto. Then he leaned over and whispered in Sasuke's ear. "You've got yourself a great girl here."

Sasuke just growled a terrifying growl and glared daggers at Kabuto. Kabuto just laughed.

"Would you too cut it out and pay attention," growled Sakura in such a terrifying way that it shut them up.

"Hn", replied Sasuke but he stopped the glaring.

"Well we should split into two groups. Sakura you team up with Orochimaru's henchman and take on Kisame. Sasuke and I will take Diedara," said Kabuto. Then looking at Sasuke he said, "Is that okay with you, Your Royal Rottenness?"

Sasuke just grumbled some more.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Now we just need to decide how to separate them from there weapons," wondered Sakura.

"Easy we just run over there and take them," said a very cocky Sasuke.

"It's not that easy," replied Sakura. "If you remember correctly they took out most of our hideout."

"Well they haven't taken me on yet. I won't lose," replied Sasuke and then before Sakura could stop him he was running toward Deidara.

"Idiot", grumbled Sakura. "I guess we're just winging it. Then Sakura stood and ran toward Kisame.

Laughing, Kabuto began to head toward Deidara.

When Sakura got over to Orochimaru's henchman, Minoru (made him up), who had been badly injured before Sakura got there, she asked him what happened and what was going on.

"Orochimaru and most of our men left for a mission right before the Akatsuki attacked. We were at a disadvantage. We don't know what they are after," Minoru said.

"Well lookie here. She came right to us," Kisame smirked when he saw Sakura.

'So they are after me. I won't lose!'

"This is too easy", laughed Kisame as he readied himself for battle.

"Do you really think you can beat me!" Sakura yelled. "Ha in your dreams. I'll wipe the floor with you."

"Enough talking lets get down to business."

Kisame ran at Sakura.

XXXXXXXX

Sasuke and Kabuto were now facing Deidara. Deidara was looking over at Sakura. Then he turned to look at Sasuke and Kabuto as they approached.

"It was too kind of you to bring her right to us," said Deidara with a laugh. "You saved us a lot of trouble so I suppose I should thank you."

Sasuke's eyes widened. 'They're after Sakura! Damnit we should have made her stay back.'

"What do you want with her!" growled Sasuke in such a terrifying manner it almost gave him shivers.

"Tsk, tsk, don't tell me you have her but you don't even know the power she possesses. To be expected from you slime," said Deidara with a smirk. "Once we posses her then you'll see what she's capable of."

"You'll have to get past me first,' yelled Sasuke as he charged Deidara.

XXXXXXXX

Kisame ran fast at Sakura with his chakra-sucking sword pointing right at her. Sakura didn't move.

'Too easy', thought Kisame. He struck her.

Then there was a poof and then Kisame went flying face first into the dirt.

"Did you seriously think I was stupid enough to just run out here with no plan," smirked Sakura as she landed on the ground behind Kisame.

XXXXXXXX

POOF

Smoke surrounded Deidara and then a clay bird came flying out carrying Deidara.

"Pathetic."

"Do you think you stupid little clay can save you? Well your wrong," yelled Sasuke.

Then Sasuke jumped into the air and pulled out a big shuriken and threw it at the clay bird Deidara was riding on.

Sasuke cut of the birds wing and Deidara came crashing to the ground.

"Hmpf," said Sasuke. "What good is your clay. You'll just keep making it and I'll keep destroying it."

"Sasuke watch out", yelled Kabuto and Sasuke looked down and a group of clay spiders jumped at Sasuke.

BANG

XXXXXXX

Sakura looked over to see what happened and all she could see was smoke engulfing the whole area.

'Sasuke were are you?' her mind screamed.

"Gotcha", came Kisame's voice as he hit her in the arm with his sword.

"AHHHHH", screamed Sakura in pain as Kisame began to drain her chakra.

"You can't allow things to distract you in battle," said Kabuto with a smile. "Or you will end up getting yourself killed."

XXXXXXXX

At of the smoke jumped Sasuke.

'Whew, I dodged them just in time.'

Then Sasuke looked over and saw Sakura injured.

"Sakura", he whispered right then there was another explosion and Sasuke went flying back into a tree.

"Pathetic", laughed Deidara. "You let yourself be distracted and I was able to injure you. What kind of ninja lets himself lose focus like that?"

"Damnit!" cursed Sasuke as he slowly stood. "I wont be making that mistake again."

Sasuke brought out his chidori and ran at Deidara.

XXXXXXX

Sakura gathered all her strength and despite the fact that her chakra was being drained she still delivered a chakra filled punch straight to his ribs. He backed up a bit.

"Are you o.k. Sakura?" Minoru asked when he saw her.

"I'm fine," she said and then she ripped her sleeve and bandaged her arm.

Sakura threw some kunai at Kisame and then after he dodged them she appeared behind his back and was about to strike.

Then,

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

XXXXXXXX

Sasuke stopped in his tracks and looked over and saw Sakura with Kisame's sword through her stomach. He herd her scream.

It made him hurt inside and he stopped what he was doing and ran toward Sakura.

"Sakura!"

"Sasuke", yelled Kabuto when he saw Sasuke running toward Sakura and Kisame.

XXXXXXX

Sakura was screaming in so much pain. It was a serious wound by itself but Kisame was also draining her chakra.

"Sasuke", she whispered. Then she opened her eyes and saw Sasuke coming toward her. Her eyes widened. 'Sasuke.'

She tried to tell him to stay away but the words wouldn't come out.

Then when Sasuke got close he pulled out his sword from Sakura and stabbed Sasuke right by his heart.

Sakura's eyes widened in horror.

Then Deidara through and explosive at Sasuke and blasted Sasuke back. Sasuke laid on the ground in a pool of blood and unconscious.

"I warned him", laughed Deidara. Then he turned his attention to Kabuto who ran at him. Kisame easily knocked Kabuto unconscious and then they focused on Sakura.

Sakura's eyes watered as she stared at Sasuke in a pool of his own blood.

"I guess what we heard was true. You really are a useless worthless girl", laughed Kisame.

"I heard that it was because of her weakness that we were able to kill so many in Konoha that day", smirked Deidara.

"What a useless girl now her companions were killed because of her weakness," laughed Kisame.

"Pathetic", replied Deidara with a huge smile on his face.

"No", whispered Sakura as memories came back.

'"It was your fault all of those men died. It was because of you that it happened. Because you were too weak to help. You were the only one who could do anything and you failed. Your so useless."'

"NOOOOOO!!!" screamed Sakura as her hair and eyes darkened. Then there was a huge explosion that destroyed everything in the nearby area.

Kisame and Deidara were thrown back.

Then Sakura with tears streaming down her face collapsed to the ground and lost consciousness.

A/N SOOOOOOO SORRY for the delay. I had terrible writers block and school is so hard. I know the fighting scene wasn't the best but they aren't my specialty. I'll try to have better fighting scenes later though. Thanks so much for reading. Please read and review. Till next time. Bye!