I only wish they could update the Manga sooner. Can't wait for Naruto and Kurama's tag team battle with Bee and the Hachibi against the other tailed beasts. Yipee!

Disclaimer: Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto.

CHAPTER 9

Previously…

Sakura and Itachi escaped 'Tobi'. Unfortunately, the Uchiha was severely injured.

Danzo started his plan to invade Konoha with the help of his Anbu Root.

Meanwhile, Kagura returned to Amekagure to confront an old enemy.

XoXoXoXoX

Sakura drew a tired breath but was contended with her work. With a happy smile on her face, she looks at Itachi. He is sleeping like a baby. His breathing sounded clear. He looks better than the last time.

["Well done," Inner Sakura congratulated her with a big grin on her face.]

She almost ran out of chakra. Well, with her Rinnegan, she was able to save Itachi's life. That is far more important. She could still use Taijutsu to fight back.

Regenerating his damaged organs was a piece of cake (think of Kabuto's special ability). His eyes were another matter. She needed someone who has the ability the see the right amount of chakra that is needed to be able to heal Itachi's eyes. Someone from the Hyuga clan perhaps.

The pink haired kunoichi sighed. "I wonder how he did all of this?" Sakura look thoughtful as she thinks of her brother. The Uchiha also came from the same ancestor, yet with their excessive use of the Sharingan, it had some side effects unlike their family. From what she observed, the Uchiha has great powers far beyond the limitations of any Kekkei genkai. However, it comes with a price; fatigue, blindness, or even death.

According to the scrolls, the Sage entrusted his strength, his dreams and legacy to his two sons. The eldest, who inherited the Sages' eyes (his powerful chakra and spiritual energy) who believed that power is the true key to peace; and the youngest son, who inherited the Sages' body (his powerful will and physical energy) who believed that love was the key to peace.

The Uchiha and the Senju clans were direct descendants of those brothers. Looking back, she remembers her conversation with Konan.

Flashback:

"Huh? Weird…" Sakura scratched her head in confusion.

"What's wrong?" Konan asks from the bookshelf behind her.

"The Uchiha and the Senju clan built Konoha, right? So that means, our family came from Konoha itself."

"That's a possibility. But who could have guessed? Besides, those two clans multiplied tremendously throughout the centuries. And so are their offspring's. Some went on their own, to build a new life outside the village; while others stayed. Your sister, Lady Kagura, said that both of your parents were born here in Amekagure." Konan explained.

"Oh, I see," Sakura looked relieved.

Konan smiled knowingly. The question itself has another meaning but she didn't want to point the obvious so she teased the pink haired Kunoichi a little bit. "You and Itachi will be just fine." She said jokingly.

Sakura blushed.

"Both of you might come from the same root, but it doesn't decide the future the two of you will have," Konan patted Sakura's arm playfully.

"No, it is not… What I mean…" Sakura shook her head in denial. Now she looks like a cherry.

Konan laughed.

End of flashback.

Sakura smiled with a sigh. Itachi will be out for days. His chakra level is so low, she wondered how he managed to stand and fight back in the meadow. This must be what 'Tobi' meant about Itachi's body not as perfect as it used to be. Well, if he would ask her own opinion about this matter, that 'Monster' is wrong on one account. Despite the sickly looking Itachi, he still looks heavenly. Sakura's face turns beet red.

["Snap out of your day dreaming, you pervert!" We have to move. Now!" Inner Sakura shouted at her.]

"Right. Have to find a safer place for both of us. But… Where? Come on Sakura. Think. Think hard."

["Do you really have to ask?" Inner Sakura blew a raspberry at her.]

"But what if… They treat me as an enemy because of my association with Akatsuki," Sakura was trying to sound casual, yet she was afraid. Afraid of what their reaction might be.

["For crying out loud, you are Sakura of Amekagure. A child of Rain. Bearer of the Rinnegan, the most powerful Kekkei genkai this world has ever known. Some of those brats in Akatsuki are afraid of you. Yet, here you are, cowering in fear of their possible reaction? Get a grip, bitch!" Inner Sakura yelled her lungs out, screeching at her.]

Sakura's expression turns ugly. "Nobody calls me 'Bitch' and gets away with it. I've been coping all these years to your annoying voice. If you don't stop your constant shouting, I will kill you!"

[Inner Sakura ignored her outburst like she didn't hear her at all. "Feeling better?"]

Sakura calmed instantly. "At times like this, I could really rely on you. Thanks a lot, Inner Me." She smiled to herself.

Sakura still had a few chakra left. She performed a jutsu to put Itachi inside a scroll. It would be difficult to carry him around in this state. She carefully tucked the scroll inside her cloak. Knowing that something precious is inside of it. Sakura smiled serenely. "There, you need to rest, Itachi. I know you want to go back and fight him. But this is much more appropriate. I will not let you waste your life ever again. Not on my watch."

Sakura stood and flexed her muscles. She had been sitting for too long. "I guess, I'll drop by the others and say hello." With that thought, Sakura cheered up. She steps forward to start her journey to go back to Konoha. Suddenly, she felt herself dissolving into petals. "What the?"

Moments later, Sakura appeared in a very familiar place. Team 7's training ground.

"Konoha," Sakura breathed with a sigh of relief. She felt safer after today's events. Cherry blossom petals fall lightly on her as she passes out.

XoXoXoXoX

"Huh?" Naruto stopped walking.

["You feel that?" The Kyuubi asks.]

Since Naruto's breakdown, the two shared a silent understanding that they both needed each other. They started an unusual friendship that drew them closer. Oh, they still argue from time to time, fight each other, receiving murderous glares from one another. But Naruto and the Kyuubi knew that fate brought them together for a reason.

"Naruto-kun, what's wrong?" Hinata turned around when she felt his reluctance to leave the tower.

"Do you mind if we pass by our old training ground?" Naruto said with an awkward expression on his face.

["Give me a break, brat. Since when did you ever need her permission, huh? Is she your mother?" The Kyuubi said with a smirked on his face.

"Hey! Have some respect, you big fluffy fox. If you don't have anything nice to say to Hina-chan, shut your mouth up." Naruto said with a growl while glaring at the Kyuubi.]

The Hyuga smiled. Naruto may not speak out loud, but she knew he still misses his friends. And most of the time, he wanted to reminisce Team 7's good old days. "No. I don't mind at all." She smiled sweetly. Naruto grinned widely as he scratched his nose.

As they entered the clearing, Hinata noticed several petals of Cherry blossoms scattered everywhere. "That's strange? There are no Sakura trees in this area except in the park. How odd?" Hinata almost reached the edge of the clearing when she saw something. "Naruto-kun, look," Hinata pointed her finger in the middle of the training ground, just beside the three wooden poles used for shuriken training. A cloaked figure with red swirling clouds. "That must be…?"

"Akatsuki," Naruto gasped. He immediately pulled out a kunai from his pouched and held Hinata back.

"Wait, Naruto…"

"Hinata, please stay back. Let me handle this," Naruto created two shadow clones to protect her as he approached the figure cautiously.

Hinata didn't argue. But remembering what happened earlier, "The woman with the Rinnegan, the Cherry blossom petals, Akatsuki…" As that thought comes to her mind, Naruto reaches the Akatsuki and pushed the figure back showing its face.

Hinata shouted from behind, as she runs toward Naruto, ignoring his clones. "Naruto, its Sakura-chan…"

"What?" Naruto didn't hear the last part as he dragged the figure to show its face. When he looked closely, he saw a very familiar hair. Naruto almost choked his words, "S-Sakura? It is you, Sakura."

XoXoXoXoX

Sakura slowly opened her eyes, staring at someone's face. His eyes look familiar. It has the color of the skies and it looks like he was about to cry. Three whiskered marks on both cheeks. Blond hair. His annoying grin. "Too close," Sakura suddenly snaps her eyes open, "You pervert!" The pink-haired kunoichi punches Naruto in the face, throwing him a couple of yards away, even farther than the trees where she noticed Hinata standing. His clones disappeared the instant she hit Naruto. "Oops!"

Hinata cried out her surprise but went to embrace Sakura immediately, "Sakura-chan."

"Oh no, Naruto, I didn't mean to punch you, I'm sorry." Sakura never really intended to hit him. She was taken by surprise. "Hinata, I…"

"Don't worry about him, he'll be just fine," Hinata answered quickly, she was laughing and crying at the same time. Happiness can be seen on her face.

Sakura smiled as well, "Well… I'm back." She said.

"Yes," Hinata agreed.

XoXoXoXoX

Somewhere away from Amekagure, Akatsuki's other hideout.

Konan gently opened the door and placed a tray of bottles and medicines beside the scrolls.

"It has begun," Konan said as she faced a man sitting beside the window.

"And Sakura?"

"She is with Itachi as expected. They arrived safely in Konoha."

"Very good," Nagato smiled. Konan was reluctant and Nagato noticed it immediately. "Is there a problem?"

"It's about Lady Kagura. She's…"

Nagato closes his eyes, a little crease on his forehead as he searches for his elder sister's whereabouts. "She is blocking me as usual," he said lightly. Nagato holds his hands in front of his face. His eyes seem to be staring at a faraway place.

Konan waits patiently. She knew him to well to know what exactly he was doing. Nagato is using his 'eyes' to look for his sister. While waiting, she prepares his medicines. His body is getting weaker and weaker. If she could only tell Sakura, the girl wouldn't hesitate to heal her brother but Nagato was persistent.

"I already sealed my fate when I used this technique. I can never escape death, no matter what I do." Nagato told her.

Kagura knew and that woman is as hard headed as the man itself. Kagura will not allow her brother to die that way. She will do anything in her power to save her brother.

Konan also made a decision herself. She never told Nagato, but whatever happens, she will not allow him to die. "I promised him that no matter what happens, I'll keep you safe." Konan stared at Nagato's unmoving figure. "I already lost Yahiko, I won't lose you too." Konan firms her resolve.

"Konan?"

"What is it?" Nagato opens his eyes and looks at her.

"If I told you to leave, that you must go to Sakura's side and ensure her safety, will you follow me?"

"No," Konan answered truthfully.

Nagato sighed, "I should have known." He leaned his head back with a frown on his face. "I always wonder why I'm asking the two of you to do what I want, yet neither of you ever follows me."

"Well, Lady Kagura and I knew that you will probably do something stupid." Konan shrugged her shoulders as she stared at him. "If you don't stop, we will definitely tell Sakura everything that will only make things worse. Itachi is already giving her a hard time. And if we add you to the picture, guess what she will do." Konan added sarcastically. Nagato didn't answer as she founds him already asleep. Konan shook her head and puts his medicines aside. She makes sure he is warm and comfortable before leaving the room. Kagura already instructed her what to do in case this day comes. The day she prayed so hard not to happen. A warning must be sent to the brothers of the red cloud, that the petals have started to fall. Konan wished that all will end well. Nagato couldn't take another blow if another brother will die again on his watch.

Yes. Nagato did cherish everyone in Akatsuki. They are his extended family.

As Konan watches the paper cranes leave to warn the others, she remembers one particular scroll that was written by the great Sage himself:

"Thru my sons, I entrusted everything.

My dreams

My legacy

And my precious daughter… I gave her my heart, my wisdom.

So that when the day comes, she will know what to do if her brothers fail."

Unknown to everyone, the Sage had a third child, a daughter. She was pursued by the Sages' enemies. Her existence was kept secret. Even to her brothers. When they finally caught up to her and her family, she sacrificed her life to save her children. They thought she had the answer. But they were wrong.

Konan already knew the identity of the children. From then on, she understands what she has to do. What she must do.

Their enemy must have discovered their real identity. And he wanted to use them for his own selfish reasons.

The Children of the Rain, they are the final piece of the puzzle.

"Akatsuki will stop you. I promise." Konan's conviction is set. She turns back and returns to Nagato's side. As God's angel, his guardian, she will protect him even at the expense of her own life.

XoXoXoXoX

Same drill guys…

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Love and peace… Yo!