Paths Eventually Cross.

She looked up and was met with onyx eyes.

"Sakura huh?" He said

"Sasuke?" Sakura whispered.

He smirked.

Team Snake made their way through the forest. Then Sasuke heard yelling.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing Sakura?"

"What do you think I am doing Shikamaru, my entire family was killed and you expect me to just sit around and wait for answers that will probably never come?"

"So Shikamaru is and arguing with Sakura now that is interesting I wonder why?"Sasuke thought.

Sasuke picked up his pace signaling to his team to speed up. They all landed in the shadows above the conflict. Sasuke recognized her immediately, her pink hair, yet it seemed a lot longer and now hung loosely in two pony tails. Naruto was holding Hinata and everyone else was just watching the conflict.

"So the dobe finally realized did he?"Sasuke thought to himself. He shifted his focus back to the fight between Shikamaru and Sakura.

"I expect you to stay loyal to Konoha!"

"Ha loyal to Konoha, well I am sorry I can't be perfect like you Shikamaru"

"I don't think you get how it feels to be the last person in your entire family, no mother no father NO ONE!"

Sasuke chuckled quietly Shikamaru was stuck on that one.

"You know what? You are sounding more and more like him." Shikamaru said quieter.

Sasuke saw Sakura stiffen. He was curious how she would respond to that.

"Excuse me?" she astonished. Sasuke could see she was really pissed now.

"This whole revenge for your family, you being the only one alive and you have to do something about that, even if it means throwing away everything."

"See this is where you should shut up Shikamaru because you don't get what it is like to have your parents murdered let alone you entire fucking family its not like my parents died of old age they were only 30 and they were murdered!" Sakura said. Sasuke frowned had Sakura lost her entire family? all of them just like him?

"No, I won't shut up. You are hurting everyone I don't think you even thought of how this would affect Tsunade-sama or your friends did you?" Shikamaru said.

Sakura looked at Shikamaru and then turned to leave.

"Come on Naruto we have to go." Sakura said blankly. Naruto looked at Hinata and kissed her.

Naruto made his way to Sakura's side.

"So they are travelling together."Sasuke observed.

"No!" Shikamaru said and grabbed Sakura's upper arm. "You're not going anywhere; the only place you are going is back to Konoha."

"You no what you can go shove Konoha up your ass Shikamaru now let go of me!" Sakura said and tugged her arm but Shikamaru's grip was too strong.

"Shikamaru. Just let her go!" Naruto said and moved towards Shikamaru.

"Not until she says she will come back with us." Shikamaru said to Naruto.

"I am not coming back to Konoha until I finish what I have to do!" Sakura said "SO LET ME GO!" Sakura yelled.

"She is sounding really pissed if I don't stop this soon I don't know what could happen."Sasuke thought.

"Alright I am going down I have to sort a few things out." Sasuke informed his team.

Sasuke silently jumped down from the tree and made his way out of the shadows.

"I think she said to let her go, Shikamaru." He said. He saw Shikamaru's face once he was fully out of the shadows. Shikamaru let go of Sakura, Sasuke could see that her upper arm was red with Shikamaru's hand print. For some reason Sasuke had the urge to hit Shikamaru for doing that but he pushed it aside. He could see that Sakura hadn't realized it was him who had said anything because she kept backing towards him.

"Stop, before you bump into me."Sasuke thought but it didn't stop her at the last minute she spun around and her hands had flung up in defensive but only to land on his chest. He flinched slightly he wasn't used to being touched like that. She still didn't move her hands though, even when he said her name. He heard her whisper his name. She was staring into his eyes. He smirked he didn't know why but he was happy to see her.

Sakura was so shocked she hadn't seen him is so long and here he was standing up for her.

"Not you too?"Sakura asked herself. She turned to face Shikamaru again and walked towards him.

"Look Shikamaru, I am really sorry for everything but I can't come back now." Sakura said sadly.

"Yeah, well I am sorry to Sakura." Shikamaru said.

"Sorry for what?" Sakura asked confused.

"For this." Shikamaru said as he made hand signals

"Kage Mane no Jutsu!" Shikamaru yelled.

"What the hell Shikamaru!" Sakura yelled she tried to break free of the jutsu but nothing was working.

"Shikamaru!" Naruto yelled and ran for Sakura but Neji stopped him.

"Naruto I suggest you don't." Neji said.

"We have orders to bring you back, I tried to talk to you and get you to come back on your own will but you have forced me to take other measures." Shikamaru informed Sakura.

"Shikamaru don't you think you are going a little overboard?" Sasuke said

"Shut up, I don't need to listen to the smart ass who abandoned the village, you may have been able to push away all who cared for you but I am not willing to let Naruto and Sakura through that away." Shikamaru said to Sasuke.

"A little touchy are we Shikamaru?" Sasuke teased. Shikamaru growled. He lost his concentration for a split second but that was all Sakura needed to break free. She jumped to the side and into the shadows so that Shika couldn't get her shadow.

"I don't know what is wrong with you Shika but there is no way in hell I am going back to Konoha with you." Sakura said.

"Well then, Sakura you might be coming home a little battered." Shikamaru threatened.

I really don't want to hurt her she is still my friend I just hate to see her throw everything away, so I won't go full throttle unless it is really necessary.Shikamaru thought.

"You wish it could be that easy." Sakura said as she got in a fighting stance.

"Well this might be my chance to see if she has improved."Sasuke thought, he looked over to where Naruto was being held back by Neji.

"But first I will move Naruto; I don't think Sakura would be too happy if Naruto was caught."

Sasuke ran over to where Naruto was and grabbed him by his collar dragging him back to where he stood 5 seconds ago.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing teme?" Naruto yelled at Sasuke.

"Just shut up dobe do you want to go back to Konoha?" Sasuke asked calmly.

"Well, maybe but not at the moment." Naruto said confused by Sasuke's question.

"Then shut up and sit still." Sasuke instructed.

Sakura had just got in a fighting stance when Shikamaru came racing towards her kicking and punching at her all she could do was dodge. She flipped backwards and landed in a crouch she built up chakra in her fist and slammed it into the ground a huge crater formed around her forcing Shikamaru to jump into the air.

Wrong choice Shika!Sakura thought. She transferred the chakra to her feet and pushed herself into the air towards Shikamaru once she reached him she looked at him and brought her leg down on his neck. He went flying towards the ground and nothing could stop him. He smashed into the middle of the crater soon after Sakura landed next to him.

That was too easy. Sakura thought to herself slightly confused. Then something happened that she didn't expect Shikamaru's leg came flying out and swept her off her feet she landed flat on her back she was gasping for the air that had been knocked out of her lungs. Shikamaru came and picked her up holding her infront of him.

"You loose." He simply said.

Sakura smiled.

"I don't think so." Sakura said and swung her leg up into Shikamaru's chin his head swung back and Sakura leaped out of his grasp. Sakura rested back into the fighting stance. Shikamaru recovered and glared at her he ran at her and then disappeared just before he reached her he reappeared behind her and kicked her back and the he was infront of her again his knee flew up and connected with her collar bone she felt every part of it shatter.

"ARGH!!" She screamed. She got up slowly hand on her broken collar bone, a green chakra started to engulf her hand.

"She is healing herself?"Sasuke thought.

Sakura ran up to Shikamaru

"Ranshinshō!" she yelled and hit Shikamaru in the head.

Shikamaru went to swing his right arm but his left swung instead, throwing him off balance.

"What the hell did you do?" Shikamaru yelled at Sakura.

"It is something Tsunade taught me it is called Ranshinshō by attacking your brain stem with chakra which is converted into electricity I can switch your brains movement signals to your legs and arms, so like you just tried then, if you move your right arm your left arm will rise instead and same with your legs." Sakura said. "So I am guessing for a time it will be difficult for you to fight properly."

Whoa well it seems she has learnt something; Shikamaru is not an easy target to get to like that.Sasuke thought.

"Now Shikamaru, don't come after me this time most likely you wont be able to move properly for another day though."

Sakura turned to leave with Naruto but Neji had a different idea he raced towards them. Sasuke turned around

"Chidori!" Sasuke yelled. His whole body was engulfed by the lightning.

Neji stopped and backed away, Sasuke disengaged the Chidori and turned to continue following Sakura and Naruto.

When Sasuke reached Naruto and Sakura Naruto was lying stretched out in the middle of the ground and Sakura was rubbing her collar bone.

Sasuke raised his hand and flicked his fingers. Juugo, Suigetsu and Karin arrived behind Sasuke.

"What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked. Sakura looked up at him.

"My clan has been murdered, so I guess that kind of means I am the last Haruno, so I decided to go find out the shit who killed them, I am told it was an Akatsuki member but I think differently so my plan is to find the Akatsuki and find out who did kill them." Sakura said to Sasuke.

"And what exactly do you plan on doing once you find out who did kill your clan?" Sasuke asked.

"I don't know probably kill them." Sakura shrugged.

"You know that is probably the shittest plan I have heard since Naruto made the last mission plan." Sasuke said.

"HEY!" Naruto yelled.

"I don't see you coming up with anything better." Sakura said.

"Well what are you doing out here?" Naruto asked still annoyed at Sasuke's last comment.

"What do you think?" Sasuke said

"Still trying to kill your brother from what I have seen." Sakura mumbled

"What did you say?" Sasuke said as he turned to Sakura.

Suigetsu chuckled. Oooo she is in for it now.

"I just said from what I have seen you obviously haven't killed Itachi yet." Sakura said.

"And what makes you say that?" Sasuke asked

"Well, I don't know, possibly because I saw Itachi about a night or two ago." Sakura stated blankly.

"You saw him?" Sasuke asked

"Um yeah that is kind of what I just said." Sakura said. "You want to kill Itachi right and I want to find who killed my parents and both of those people are kind of in the Akatsuki, I was thinking what if we teamed up that way we can both get our goals done and probably a lot easier."

Sasuke thought for a minute.

Well she does have skill when it comes to healing and the dobe over there even though I hate to admit it but he is pretty strong combining all our skills together would make things a lot easier.

"See now your starting to develop some kind of a plan." Sasuke said

"Right, I take that as a yes then." Sakura said.

"Hn."

Sakura smiled. He was still partly the same.

"What about us Sasuke-kun?" Karin asked

"For now it is too suspicious for six people to want to join the Akatsuki at the same time, you guys will join in a couple of weeks but for the time you will go your own way I expect to see you guys in the Akatsuki quarters in a few weeks." Sasuke informed.

"But…but are you sure you don't need us now?" Karin cried

"Yes." Sasuke said bluntly.

There is something between Sasuke and that Sakura it is as plain as day. Suigetsu thought whilst walking away.

"Yeah, Team 7 is back and in full throttle!" Naruto yelled.

Sakura looked at Sasuke with a withdrawn expression, he looked back. Sakura got up and walked towards the river.

"Wait here Naruto." Sasuke said and went to follow Sakura.

"Sure I will just be ordered around like some 5 year old, I AM 18 NOW I AM A MAN!" Naruto yelled irritated.

The Moon reflected strongly on the water. Sakura swirled her finger round and round in the cool water creating ripples across the calm water.

Sasuke slowly and quietly walked up to Sakura.

"I thought that you would be quieter considering you're meant to be the Uchiha Genius." Sakura said.

"Hn, that title is overrated." Sasuke said as he sat down next to Sakura.

"Is it?" Sakura asked.

"Yes." Sasuke said bluntly.

Sakura curled her knees up to her chest resting her head on them.

"Was it hard?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke lay back. "What?"

"You know leaving everyone behind."

Sasuke stopped before he gave his answer "No."

"I think you're lying."

Sasuke quickly sat up and moved his mouth to her ear and whispered. "And how exactly do you know that?"

Sakura got up and made her way back to Naruto but not before saying over her shoulder. "You hesitated before you answered."

Naruto lay stretched out looking at the stars. Now he had seen Hinata he desperately she was here with him, but he knew it was too dangerous and he didn't want to put her in a situation like that. He heard footsteps; he lifted his head slightly to see who it was that was coming back. It was Sakura she walked over to him and lay down next to him. They lay there for a moment completely silent.

"Naruto?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think Konoha would have a reason to kill my family?" she asked

Naruto thought for a minute. "I don't know but from what I have heard from you about that conversation I think your family found something that got the elders scared, but I have no idea what.." He heard her sigh. Naruto looked over at Sakura her eyes were closed. Naruto smiled, he got up and went to get her blanket. He unrolled it and carefully placed it over her sleeping form. She shifted and rolled to her side. Naruto studied her, she looked peaceful when she slept but he knew that she had many things racing through her mind. At that moment Sasuke walked into the camp, Naruto saw his eyes quickly flicker over to Sakura but just as quickly his expression went back to…blank.

Naruto moved back and sat next to the fire, Sasuke sat opposite him next to where Sakura slept.

"So, Teme how's the snake going?" Naruto asked trying to start up a conversation

"Are you trying to small talk with me Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

"You got a problem if I am?" Naruto shot back

"No." Sasuke said

"Well then answer my question." Naruto said.

"He is dead." Sasuke said blankly.

"Let me guess, you did it because you got bored with him." Naruto said and started to laugh.

"If that is your way of saying he couldn't teach me anymore, then yes." Sasuke said seriously.

Naruto stopped laughing instantly and looked at Sasuke.

"Whoa, you were serious." Naruto said looking at Sasuke more seriously now.

"Hn, big deal." Sasuke said, poking at the fire. "How long has Tsunade been teaching Sakura?"

"What makes you say that she is being taught by Tsunade?" Naruto said.

"Dobe it is pretty obvious, the only person I know who has strength and healing ability like Sakura displayed before is Tsunade."

"Oh, is it really that obvious?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke looked at Naruto disappointed.

"Ok, ok so maybe she has been Tsunade's apprentice since you left and learnt how to use some super strength and become a medic-Nin and joined the ANBU or at least was apart of them before we left, but no real big deal why do you want to know?" Naruto said not realizing how much he had stunned Sasuke with all the things he had said Sakura had acquired.

Sasuke snapped out of his surprise.

"Nothing, nothing at all." Sasuke said and looked down at Sakura.

6 years she has been under Tsunade's teaching it almost seems that she has acquired Tsunade's attitude as well. But most of all it seems she has even managed to surpassed Tsunade.

"Well you don't mind taking first watch do you…?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke didn't say anything.

"Ok, night." Naruto said and lay down under his blanket.

Next Chapter: Plans Turn Into Actions