Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 8

"Alright guys," Sakura started, clapping her hands to get the attention of her trainees, "it's becoming increasingly obvious that none of you have any previous medical-jutsu knowledge."

There was a collective groan from the group as if they thought they could get away with not having any knowledge of what they were studying.

"It's okay," Sakura said cheerily. "I wasn't put as the head medic-nin of the Aktsuki for nothing! I can whip you guys into shape to where you'll be comparable to top medic-ninja."

There was a small, unenthusiastic cheer from the group.

"More enthusiasm guys, I want to believe I'm actually doing my job for a reason," Sakura sighed. One man clapped. "...Thank you..."

Sasuke sat leaning up against the mouth of the cave. The rain that was currently pouring in Ame caused the river to flow faster meaning the waterfall was splashing him more than it usually would. He didn't mind though, it helped clear his head, and boy did it need clearing...

He was trying not to dwell on what Sakura has said about there being a lot of things she knew about Itachi that he didn't. She was just trying to get into his head. But, he couldn't stop thinking about it. His brain wanted to figure out the mystery behind his words and trying to figure it out was just frustraing. He knew his brother. He knew what his brother would want for him to do. Sakura was just an assuming - annoying - female that didn't have a filter between her brain and her mouth.

But what if she did know something about his brother that he didn't-

He scrunched his hair up in his hands and leaned his head under the waterfall. He needed to stop thinking like that. He knew his brother!

Maybe that was just it. He knew his brother, but he didn't know his brother at the end.

This time he fully submerged himself in the water and let his Chidori course through the water. He couldn't lose focus if he didn't want to be electrocuted.

Because those were exactly the kind of thoughts he didn't want going through his head.

"Okay, let's try this again," Sakura said for possibly the hundredth time that day. "Focus a small but strong amount of chakra into your hand. Then you mold it into a more compact chakra."

Sakura watched as the trainees attempted it. She smiled when she saw a couple actually manage to turn their chakra into green healing chakra. "Very good! You guys are getting better and better, just keep trying until our next training session tomorrow.

She stretched as she stood up and followed her trainees out of the room. She vaguely wondered where Sasuke was. She hadn't seen him since their argument a few days ago. She knew he had continued seperately to the hideout and not gone back to where Madara was. Free-willed as he claimed to be, he still couldn't disobey Madara's orders. The fact that he was purposfully avoiding her meant she had struck some nerve. She was okay with that, it meant she didn't have to deal with him for two whole days and it also meant that her plan was working.

Hinata couldn't help but think that if Naruto paced anymore he would start making a little indention on the hardwood floor, which would be a shame because it was such a pretty stain.

"How can they just confine me to this room? It's ridiculous!" Naruto finally burst. He had been told not to leave the room while the rest of the team scouted out the hideout. Hinata had been chosen to stay behind and babysit him like he was some child, and that added to his pile of frustrations.

He was so on edge all of the time now and he just wanted to do something about it! Maybe beat someone up, or get some revenge. Because, the most frustrating part was that at that cave there was either someone he would really want to beat up and drag his sorry butt back to Konoha, or there was somebody there that he needed to show you didn't mess with any of his friends.

Revenge would have been just swell.

Kiba squinted towards the waterfall trying to see into it through the heavy downpour of rain. He glared over at Kakashi who was using the Sharingan to complete the task easily Well, they couldn't all have special ocular jutsu.

He turned to Shikamaru to give some snarky comment and saw that he was asleep. He couldn't blame the guy. Shikamaru had to watch Naruto the whole of the previous night, and the heavy rain would make anyone sleepy. He was surprised Shikamaru had even lasted this long. Well, there went his only complaining buddy. Kakashi may have been lazy most days, but when it came to missions he was quite serious.

He sniffed his nose in a frustrated sort of way and was surprised when he actually caught a whiff of something through the copious amounts of water. He nudged Shikamaru awake. He caught Kakashi's eye and pointed to the mouth of the waterfall where they could see two outlines of people.

"I recognize the scent," Kiba whispered. "No, scents... Wait just one scent... Agh..." Kiba muttered a curse on the water under his breath while he rubbed his nose.

"Do you know who both of them are or not?" Shikamaru whispered back.

"I can't tell," Kiba answered. "I know one for sure, but the other one... It's like it's covered with some kind of block. The occasional whiff I'm getting is definitely familiar..." He took a stronger sniff and froze. "One's Sasuke. The other smells like..." He took another sniff. "It's gone again."

"Why would they want to put a block over their scent? It's not like they're trying to lose a trace," Kakashi said aloud.

Kiba shrugged while Shikamaru stayed concentrated on the two people. "What should we do?" Kiba asked.

Kakashi shrugged. "One thing is certain," He whispered. "We keep the knowledge that Sasuke is here a secret from Naruto."

"Right," both Kiba and Shikamaru responded.

"Hey," Shikamaru whispered, "They're coming out."

Kiba inhaled. For some reason he had a feeling they would get caught.

All three pairs of eyes narrowed as they tried to see through the waterfall better. They didn't squint for long when Sasuke stepped out from behind the waterfall.

"Sasuke!" A definitely feminine voice called out. Sasuke visibly stiffened and refused to turn around. The owner of the voice stepped out from behind the waterfall wearing an Akatsuki cloak with the traditional hat covering her face.

"Can you tell who it is?" Shikamaru mouthed to Kakashi who just shook his head in response. It must have been the member known as Akatsuki's Thunder.

"Are you going to be a little useful this trip or do I need to do everything myself?" the girl asked clearly frustrated.

"I wasn't assigned to teach them, that's your job," Sasuke responded. "I was told to do nothing but watch your incapable back against my will."

"Still obediently following Madara I see," the girl mocked.

Sasuke finally turned towards the girl. "You've pushed me almost to my limits this mission. I'll warn you now not to push me any further or I will find a way to physically harm you."

"Do I look intimidated to you?" the girl asked. Kiba, Shikamaru, and Kakashi honestly didn't know, but they assumed she wasn't. Sasuke simply brushed past her and into the woods surrounding the area. The girl let out a frustrated sigh and brought a hand up to her hat. Shikamaru, Kakashi, and Kiba waited with baited breath. Was she going to take it off? Her hand froze unexpectedly and she turned directly to where they were situated. The three held their breath and froze completely. They had to hold back a sharp intake of breath when the girl's eyes became visible through the tassles.

They were most definitely an easily recognizable shade of red.

Kakashi signaled for them to leave and they were gone without a trace.

"Oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap," Sakura thought over and over in her head as she paced in the cave. What were they doing here? Why here of all places in the world? What made the situation worse is that they saw her and Sasuke! They also saw her- no. There was a possibility that they didn't see it.

Everything else aside the fact that they were here complicated things immensely. She would have to move carefully from here on out. She couldn't leave the cave. Another question came to mind. Should she tell Sasuke?

No. That was easy to answer. She couldn't let him find out at all costs.

"Oh crap," She thought to herself again.

Sasuke wondered aimlessly through the forest with no set destination in mind. There was a town a little ways off, but he had no intention of going to it. He let out a frustrated sigh as he ran a hand through his hair.

Why was he letting Sakura get to him like this? Was it because she was really twenty times more annoying or was it just because her appearance, added to his frustration with Madara, was making him on edge all the time and completely at a loss for what he should do. He thought he had everything figured out; that he was in control of his own life.

Then Sakura showed up and proved he didn't. Her jabs about him being under Madara were becoming increasingly more obviously true. He couldn't get rid of her, and he couldn't start his attack on Konoha without Madara's help.

He was confused...

Kakashi entered the hotel room they were staying in and was greeted with a sign he had not been expecting. Tables were overturned the beds were all messed up, the window was broken, and Hinata was lying unconscious on the floor.

The worst part was that Naruto was no where to be seen.

"Oh... Crap..." Kiba said upon entering the room.

Sasuke stuffed his hand in his pockets and continued on. He refused to dwell on the thought that he was confused. He was better than his confusion.

He didn't have to try and get his mind off the subject for very long when a punch was landed on his jaw. He flew fifteen feet and was stopped by a tree.

How had he not sensed someone's presence? Was he that out of it today? He got shakily to his feet and looked to see who his attacker was. He wiped the blood off his cheek and spit some out of his mouth as he identified his attacker.

Naruto...

Aaaaaand that's a wrap! Kind of a jumpy chapter (point of view wise), but I think I like how it turned out. It's also a little short. I'm sorry. What do you guys think about Sasuke in this chapter? Did I do a halfway decent job of keeping him in character? (I'm pretty sure I fail in every chapter though...)

This chapter probably has the most "comedy" in it.

I think Kiba was probably the most fun part to write in this chapter.

A big MASSIVE thank yu to: sakuraharuno003, LadyMartel4000, sharkswillruledaWORLD, infinityXisXme, theheartstourniquet, blondebarbievamp, Awesome(My guest reviewer :)), CiiCiinREX, mishuu, and Twisted Musalih. RAWK ON YU GUYS!

The Fuzz \|/