Sorry it's taken soooo long for me to publish my next chapter but my computer went and died on me and so I had to save up some money so I could by another one. Man getting a decent computer pretty damn expensive. Anyways I hope you enjoy this chapter.

CHAPTER FOUR

Sakura groggily woke as the grey light of morning came through her window. Stretching out she looked at her clock, it said 6 a.m. She thought about rolling over and heading back to sleep but something didn't seem right. Sakura sat up in bed and slowly gazed around her room but she couldn't figure out what was wrong. Her gazed finally came to rest on her bed, more importantly the empty spot next to her. Finally an answer dawned on her, Orochimaru wasn't in her room.

I wonder where he is? Sakura thought.

She reluctantly got out of bed and headed towards the stairs heading downstairs. She had on a pink tank top and black pajama pants. Sakura walked down the stairs and headed towards the living room, there she found Orochimaru sitting on the couch reading from a scroll.

As Sakura entered the room, Orochimaru looked up from his scroll and smiling said in his silky voice, "You're up early today Sakura."

Sakura settled herself on the couch next to Orchimaru and after a long yawn she said, "I could say the same thing. Usually we wake up around the same time."

"I suppose so but I decided start my research today." Orochimaru said setting down the scroll he had been reading.

"What are you researching?" Sakura asked curiously.

Orochimaru smirked and said "Wait and someday soon I'll show you."

"Uh okay." Sakura said not really sure what he meant.

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Somewhere in the forest near Konoha a man in a black cloak heads towards Konohagakure Village. Suddenly he stopped on a large tree branch for a moment as he felt the Chakra of several Anbu Black Ops members hiding in the forest somewhere.

"Well well, looks like you caught me." He said amused.

Suddenly a group of five Anbu ninja appeared around him, swords already drawn. He just smiled at this and glanced around at each Anbu member. Their captain, a tall man wearing a black cloak and cat mask, stepped forward and said "Judging by the fact that you could sense our presence you must be a well trained ninja. State your name and the reasons why you are traveling towards Konohagakure Village?"

"And if I don't?" The man said smirking.

"Anbu arrest him." The captain ordered.

The Anbu members behind the cloaked man stepped forward to place restraints on him when they heard a snap from the trees around them. Suddenly all the Anbu members found themselves surrounded by ten enemy ninja but something wasn't quite right.

"What is this?!" The captain said, "These are all Konohagakure ninja?!"

"Yes these are all the ninja's from Konoha that I have killed over the years but don't worry you'll be joining them as a part of my collection. You should be honored; it isn't very often that I come across specimens like you?" The cloaked man said playfully and snapped his fingers.

The sound of battle and the screams of the Anbu ninja went echoing through the forest but their voices would never be heard by human ears again. The black cloaked man on the other hand continued to steadily make his way towards Konoha village.

"I'm making excellent timing. If I continue at this pace then I will reach Konoha by nightfall." He said.

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As they finished cleaning up from breakfast Sakura's doorbell rang. When she went to get it she found a familiar smiling blond and black haired boy in front of her.

"Hey Sakura it's been awhile." Naruto said happily.

"Oh hey Naruto, hey Sai. What are you guys doing here?" Sakura said smiling.

"We were planning on going to the hot springs and wanted to know if you wanted to join us since we haven't seen you in awhile." Naruto said.

A bit of guilt hit Sakura seeing as she promised she would go see Naruto and Sai since the Fifth Hokage had given her the week off. "Um well…"

I want to go with them but I don't want to offend Orochimaru. I mean he risked coming to Konoha just to see me, of course on the other hand I did promise to visit Naruto and Sai… Sakura thought not sure on what to do.

She looked over into the kitchen and saw Orochimaru smirking at her, clearly enjoying her dilemma. After a moment he waved her off and Sakura smiling turned back to Naruto and Sai and said "Alright sure I'll join you guys."

Sakura left with Naruto and Sai, glad that she could spend time with her friends and relieved that Orochimaru hadn't made his presence known to Naruto and Sai. I'm not really sure how I could have explained that. She thought. When they arrived at the hot springs about twenty minutes later Naruto turned to Sakura blushing and said "Say Sakura they have private new mixed bathing rooms, why don't we-"

Naruto was cut off when Sakura gave him a look that clearly said if you finish that sentence I'm going kill you.

"Well I guess we could get the normal separate rooms for men and woman." Naruto said shakily.

"Good call." Sakura said and then headed towards the woman's changing room.

"Don't feel bad Naruto I'm still here and I'd gladly enjoy sharing a private bath with you." Sai said smiling with a hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"Yeah that's great in all, but couldn't you have phrased that a little better?" Naruto complained as a woman passing by giggled and was using the edge of her shirts sleeve to wipe away what Naruto thought looked suspiciously like a small nosebleed.

"What do you mean buddy?" Sai said smiling innocently.

"Don't call me that." Naruto complained.

"Oh do you prefer to be called my special little buddy?" Sai said still smiling innocently.

"SHUT THE HELL UP SAI! I'M NOT INTO THAT SORT OF THING!" Naruto yelled his face beat red from embarrassment as the woman fell on her ass laughing and holding back a major nosebleed that she was now obviously had.

"I honestly don't know what you mean Naruto." Sai said as he started walking towards the men's changing room smiling the whole way.

"Somehow I doubt that." Naruto said doubtfully as he followed Sai in to the room.

After they had finished removing their clothing and wrapped a towel around their waists, Sai and Naruto walked out onto men's side of the hot spring. Luckily no one else was there.

Naruto discarded his towel and stepped into the water. He and Sai sat down on the side with a wooden wall separating the men and women's side of the hot spring. "Hey Sakura are you alone there?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah." she responded in a relaxed voice on the other side of the wall.

"So how come we haven't seen you in awhile, I though Granma Tsunade gave you the week off?" Naruto asked.

"Well…" Sakura said wondering how much she could say.

Yeah because it's not like I can just say sorry Naruto but I've been seeing Orochimaru. You know the man who was involved in that small menial attack that killed the Third Hokage and nearly destroyed Konohagakure village. Sakura thought.

"Maybe she has a lover?" Sai said suggested lightheartedly.

"Say what!" Sakura said panicking and turned her head around to face Sai, forgetting about the wooden wall between them and making a very audible thud as her head hit the wall.

"Damn it that hurt." Sakura muttered.

"I doubt that Sai." Naruto said to the black hair boy.

"Maybe he's a secret. Who knows maybe she's hooked up with captain Yamatto?" Sai replied.

"No she's known Kakashi longer than him so if it'd be one of the Jonin's it'd be him." Naruto said teasingly.

"It could be that she's invented an imaginary Sasuke lover." Sai said.

"Shut up you two! He's not an imaginary Sasuke!" Sakura said angrily without thinking.

Realizing what she had said Sakura thought, Crap now they want to know who it is! Damn it I'm so stupid, STUPID!

"Y-You've really got a boyfriend!" Naruto said both surprised and disappointedly, "Great now I'll never get to date you."

"So who is it Kakashi or Yamotto?" Sai asked through the wall.

"Um…well…" Sakura said not entirely sure what to say at this point.

"What about us?" A familiar voice said.

Naruto and Sai turned around while Sakura stood up and looked over the wall to find Kakashi and Yamotto walking through the water to where Naruto and Sai now sat.

"So what about us?" Kakashi asked again.

"We are just wondering which one of you two is Sakura's secret lover." Sai said smiling.

"Well it's not me so guess its Yamotto here." Kakashi said drawing everyone's attention to Yamotto.

"No it's not me." Yamotto said uneasy with this particular form of attention.

"I don't think of Kakashi or Yamotto that way Sai!" Sakura said completely embarrassed.

"Well you didn't start looking on this side of the fence until they entered. See something you like?" Sai said again smiling innocently before a wooden bucket mysteriously smacked him in the face.

"Sakura how could you?! Kakashi-sensei is too old for you!" Naruto wined, embarrassing Sakura further.

"Well I'm…flattered Sakura but I don't think I'm your type, maybe we should just stay friends." Kakashi said rubbing the back of his neck and smiling nervously.

"I'm not involved with Kakashi-sensei Naruto." Sakura said trying to calm down hoping everyone would let it go.

"Well who is the lucky young man?" Yamotto asked.

Blushing Sakura had no idea what to say. She definitely couldn't tell them the truth but she really didn't want to lie to her friends either. Crap why can't they just forget all about this! Sakura thought apprehensively.

"Hey guys I'm getting hungry, how about we get something to eat at the restaurant here in the hot springs." Kakashi said lazily.

"Right I'll meet you guys in the restaurant!" Sakura said and quickly rushed off, glad for the excuse to get away.

I hadn't actually thought of Orochimaru as my lover though. I wonder what he would think about that. Sakura thought blushing as she went to go change into her clothes.

At the restaurant Sakura saw her friends already over at a table. As she walked toward the group, Sakura braced herself for the onslaught of questions that she was sure Naruto had and sure enough as soon as she sat down at the table, Naruto began asked his questions as faster than she thought possible.

"So Sakura who is your lover? What's he look like? It's not someone I know is it? Wait is it Rock Lee from Guys team? Why him and not me Sakura?"

"Take it easy Naruto, give the girl some space." Kakashi said.

"Huh?" Was all Naruto could say.

"Look have some trust in Sakura, if she's involved with someone then she'll introduce to him to us when she's ready. Right Sakura?" Kakashi said smile through his mask.

"Yeah of course." Sakura said grateful for Kakashi coming to her aid.

Thank you Kakashi-sensei, I really appreciate it. Sakura thought.

"Alright I guess so." Naruto said clearly not happy.

Team seven spent most of the afternoon just hanging out and talking. It felt good that Sakura could take the time to be with her friend who she rarely saw between working in the hospital and training with Tsunade. In fact the only time she really saw her friends are if they are sent on missions together or if one of them ended up in the hospital due to an injury. As the day wore on each member of team seven began leaving for one reason or another until it was only Naruto and Sakura left.

"Well it's getting late and I should be going." Sakura said.

"Oh okay. Why don't I walk you home?" Naruto said smiling.

"Thanks Naruto but I'll be fine. It's only now just starting to get dark and besides what moron would try to harm a ninja.

"Yeah I guess you have a point, see you later then Sakura." Naruto said smiling before heading home himself.

It only took Sakura about fifteen minutes to get back home. Inside she found Orochimaru sitting in a chair in her living room pouring over six or seven scrolls laid out on the coffee table before him.

Sakura walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck and said "So what are you doing?"

Orochimaru smiled up at her and said "So how was your time with your friends?"

"It was fun but you didn't exactly answer question you know." Sakura said smirking.

Orochimaru smiled and turned in his chair while at the same time pulling Sakura too him. She collapsed in his lap and Orochimaru wrapped his arms around her while whispering in her ear, "Its research for developing a new technique for protecting what I treasure most but as I said before you'll have to wait and see."

"So what exactly do you treasure most?" Sakura asked leaning her head against his chest.

"Well there's my life and ambition I need to protect…" Orochimaru said.

" Oh." Sakura said a little disappointed.

"But before any of that there's a certain little pink haired girl that I feel the need to keep safe.

"Good answer." Sakura said chuckling.

Orochimaru said in his silky voice "Glad you approve."

They sat in silence for a few minutes just enjoying each other's company before Orochimaru said "Why don't we go out for a walk." Orochimaru suggested.

"And how are you going to go out anywhere in Konoha?" Sakura said incredulously, "Last time I check you were still an S-Rank criminal."

"Don't worry no will be able to recognize me after a make a few…adjustments." Orochimaru smirked.

Right before Sakura's eyes Orochimaru's face warped and changed. His long black hair turned silver which he set in a loose pony tail, his pale skin took on a tan color that almost looked normal, and his golden serpent eyes became dark grey orbs.

"Wow I can barely recognize you." Sakura said amazed.

"So are you ready to go?" Orochimaru asked.

"Okay." Sakura replied.

_________________________

"Well it looks like I've made it." The black cloaked man said as looked out over Konohagakure Village from the tree branch he stood on.

It had taken him a full day to reach Konoha but now he was here and so close to completing his mission. Orochimaru should be here somewhere in the village. Once I finish my mission with Tsunade I'll have to go find him and his new pet, this becoming quite troublesome. Kabuto Yakushi thought as he adjusted his glasses.

"Well at least I got several more bodies that I can experiment on." Kabuto said as he remembers the Anbu ninja that had attacked him earlier, "I always hate it when I run low on human bodies."

Kabuto leapt towards Konohagakure Village eager to finish the mission that Orochimaru had given him.

________________________

Sakura and Orochimaru had wandered Konoha until they ended up in the training grounds where Kakashi and team seven had done the bell test.

"This place bring backs memories." Sakura said smiling as she remembered Naruto being tied to the stump as Sasuke and she fed him their lunch.

"Yes, I remember Sarutobi-sensei testing Jiraiya, Tsunade, and myself here." Orochimaru said nostalgically.

Orochimaru took Sakura's hand and lead her underneath a nearby tree. Standing there, Sakura she noticed that Orochimaru's face had returned to normal and there was a strange look in his eyes. It looked like happiness in its purist form; all the malice and darkness that usually clouded his soul seemed to have been stripped away for a moment revealing the love and contentment he felt when he was around the pink haired girl that he had come to treasure.

"Sakura," Orochimaru said in a loving voice, "I have to go away for a while."

Tears began to gather in Sakura's eyes but she held them back and in a weak voice she said "Yeah I figured you would be leaving soon…and I…I guess this means…it's the end for us."

Suddenly Sakura found herself in Orochimaru's arms, his lips capturing hers in a passionate kiss.

"I'll never let you go." Orochimaru whispered as his lips left hers.

"You'll come back then? You won't forget me?" Sakura asked desperately as tears finally began to fall from her eyes.

Wiping away her tears, Orochimaru pulled her closer to him and said smiling "Forget you? I could never do that. One month. If everything goes as I planned then I'll be back in one month."

"I'll be here waiting." Sakura said with a smile before Orochimaru disappeared into the night.

_______________________

Kabuto was walking back through to forest and away from Konoha when he felt a familiar dark chakra approaching him. Kabuto froze as he saw a smiling Orochimaru walking towards him. How Orochimaru had gotten in front of him Kabuto didn't know but as always a wave of fear flooded his body when Orochimaru approached him.

Forcing his body to relax Kabuto smiled and said "I've complete my mission Lord Orochimaru."

"You delivered my message to Tsunade then?" Orochimaru asked.

"As requested. Fortunately no one in Konoha sensed my presence." Kabuto said smiling.

"Good job Kabuto lets head back to Otogakure." Orochimaru said turning to go.

"Lord Orochimaru how do you think Tsunade will respond to your message?" Kabuto asked.

"We'll have to wait and see," Orochimaru said amused "But one way or another, the Akatsuki and Konoha will no longer threaten my goals and ambition."

Well that's chapter four. I hope you liked it! Please review the chapter and if there is anything I can do to make the story more enjoyable please tell me and as always thanks for reading.