Disclaimer: I make no profit in posting this story online. A couple of slight disappointments I guess because some readers don't leave reviews anymore. *sigh*

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"Talking"

"Thinking"

"Biju speaking"

["Talking" Mindscape]

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PETALS OF HOPE
CHAPTER 16

In a village up north, a group of four young travelers can be found in a small tea shop. A red headed female bickering with another white haired teen. In front of them, a tall orange haired young man looking incredulously at them, questioning their sanity. From one corner, their leader, stared into a non-existent object in front of him.

"Uhm… Sasuke. You're spacing out." Juugo commented in a sly tone.

"Hn." The Uchiha's monotonous reply. Completely ignoring the commotion around him, the dark haired youth stood abruptly. But before he took one step, he threw a kunai between the quarrelling couple.

"W-what the hell?" Shouted Suigetsu.

Karin paled as her tears started to fall. "Why, Sasuke-kun?"

"You may have fool them but not me. Show yourself." The raven said dangerously, his Sharingan activated, his left hand on top of his sword.

"Very impressive, Uchiha Sasuke. You really are Itachi's younger brother." Tobi commented cheerfully as he materializes infront of Team Hebi, ignoring the others surprised gasps. Juugo immediately took action as he punched the masked Akatsuki. Unfortunately, his fists passed thru the cloaked figure.

"?"

"What do you want?" Sasuke asks dangerously. Hating the very mention of that man's name. His hands balled into fists, feeling spiteful more than ever.

Tobi smiled in anticipation. "I came to offer you a deal of a lifetime." The orange masked figure said as he took an empty stick from Suigetsu's plate of dango, observing every piece.

"…"

"Your brother, Itachi…" Sasuke's eyes stared murderously at him. "… Killed everyone you loved." Tobi started. "Why don't you return the favor tenfold?"

Sasuke laughs maliciously. "Don't talk about shit like that. HE doesn't know how to love…"

"You're wrong, little one…" Tobi commented, stopping Sasuke from uttering another word.

"Liar!" The Uchiha shouted.

"No I'm not." The masked Akatsuki answered truthfully. "In fact, I know where to find HER. The woman he cared for so deeply. You'd be quite surprised, I tell you…" Tapping his fingers, Tobi waved his hand and from nowhere, he produced a hitae-ate. It has red cloth with the symbol of the hidden village of the Leaf. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

"This belongs to her." Tobi said. "A kunoichi from that disgusting village. Kill her, and then you will have your vengeance."

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Sasuke couldn't believe what he'd just heard. That man knew how to love? Impossible.

"Sasuke-kun…" Karin asks tentatively, feeling the tension within her leaders emotion. Juugo and Suigetsu were still beside her. "What are you planning to do?"

The Uchiha tightly gripped the hitae-ate and spoke calmly. "We're going to Konoha…"

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Konoha

"Sai?" Sakura heard Hinata gasps in surprise.

"Hello, ugly…" Sai said in a cheerful voice with that familiar smile. However, unlike his previous fake ones, his expression was… heartbreaking.

"W-why?" The pink haired asks, letting her guard down. Sai took a kunai and pointed it at her.

"If you don't do anything, I will be forced to kill Hyuga Hinata and capture you… Child of the Rain…" Sai answered calmly.

"Damn it!" Sakura cursed as she activated her Rinnegan. Silently, she expanded her reach and tried to locate the others especially Itachi and then she ran at Sai. Concentrating enough chakra to her fists, she punched the ground they were standing at. Appearing behind her former teammate, Sakura grips Sai's right arm before he can even make a move and tossed him below the rubble with enough force to knock him down. But Sai dissolved into a Sumi Bunshin (Ink Clone Technique).

"What the?" Sakura gritted her teeth in irritation.

"Behind you!" Hinata warned her as she engaged to fight another set of ANBU Root operatives wearing white masks that suddenly showed up in the vicinity.

"These guys are starting to annoy me…" Sakura blocks Sai's drop kick and quickly lands beside Hinata. "I need you to form a shield around us as I try to disable them all at once." The pink haired whispered to the Hyuga.

"Okay." Hinata nodded as she started to release chakra and rotated around themselves, tossing several ANBU Roots that attacked them.

Feeling that her preparation is enough, Sakura then muttered the technique her brother taught her. "Chakra Explosion!" Bits of chakra formed from her hands. As Hinata rotates, the pink haired used the movement of the revolving sphere to fire her concentrated chakra with explosive powers enough to incapacitate their attackers. After Hinata's spin, the devastation of the entire area was so intense; the lot was unrecognizable. Most of the ANBUs were scattered around, wounded, but not life threatening.

"Wow! Impressive." Hinata complimented her.

Sakura blushed, and smiled cheekily. "My brother taught me that. It was so intense I happen to injured myself a couple of times trying it." Scratching her cheek, the pink haired kunoichi answered and looks for Sai. From the corner of her eye, Sakura noticed Hinata's sudden pale expression. "What's wrong, Hina-chan?"

Covering her left eye, Sakura heard Sai whispering in her ear. "I'm sorry, Sakura. But, Danzo-sama isn't going to wait for you forever…"

Sakura of Amekagure then felt danger after her return in Konoha. Before she blacks out, she muttered one name.

"Itachi…"

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Konoha Tower

Itachi felt something terribly wrong. "Sakura?" The Uchiha looks from the window and tried to find her chakra signature.

"What's the matter, Itachi?" Naruto asks him.

"Sakura is in trouble… I have to find her…" Opening the window, he was about to jump when the door opens showing Hinata's wounded form.

"Hinata!" The blonde exclaims worriedly and run towards the Hyuga heiress.

"They got her…" Hinata whispered but Itachi heard it loud and clear. "I'm sorry…" The pale eyed teen cried helplessly. Naruto hovering over her, trying to heal her wounds with the little knowledge the old hag had taught him about medical jutsus.

The Uchiha stilled on his spot, frozen. His aura darkening immediately, he whispered calmly. "Don't blame yourself, Hyuga-sama." Itachi activates his Sharingan despite Hinata's slight protests. "I was to be blamed for this incompetence. This is my fault… I should have been there… protecting her…" Turning, he called from the shadows behind him.

"Kirara…"

The red headed girl appeared out of nowhere, sensing Itachi's inner turmoil. Snarling furiously that makes Naruto winced.

"We have to find her immediately, Itachi-kun." Kirara changes to her fox form, slightly bigger from her earlier form. Naruto gapes at her incredulously. "I sensed her distress from earlier. Someone she knew attacked her."

"It was Sai." Hinata said in a small voice, clutching Naruto's shirt. The blonde cursed. Itachi clenches his fists.

"Can you keep up?" The fox girl asks.

Itachi gave Kirara a droll stare. Before he took off from the windows, the Uchiha turns to the Uzumaki. "Warn the others. Seems like Danzo started to make his move." Jumping in the air, Uchiha Itachi disappeared in the forms of crows. Promising a very painful death to those who dare tried to hurt his princess.

"Whatever the consequences, I will come to save you, Sakura…" Itachi thought. "Wait for me…"

From behind, Kirara was following the Uchiha effortlessly despite Itachi's unbelievable speed. "Consequences be damned, I know that you will protect her, Itachi-kun. Even at the expense of your own life…" The fox noted. Sniffing thru the air as she sensed another not so familiar scent, the demon smiled sarcastically. "Hmm… Is it time for hunting? I wonder…"

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Konoha borders

After three years, the prodigal son returned to his abandoned homeland.

Uchiha Sasuke felt his insides tingle in anticipation as he stared from above the cliff overlooking the hidden village of the Leaf.

"Soon, you will die by my hands, Itachi…" His twin red orbs looking murderously at the scene before him. "I will start by taking your heart, and kill her in front of you… just like what you did with mine…" Sasuke promised.

Karin shivered fearfully, looking at the man in front of her. The killing intent the raven released was full of hatred. It was terrifying.

For once, Suigetsu was silent. Knowing that one wrong move and the Uchiha would finally kill him.

Juugo on the other hand was observant. The emotion Sasuke was emitting is somewhat familiar.

Losing everyone you loved, with only one way to soothe the pain.

Death.

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Author's note:
Thanks so much for reviewing the previous chapter: Toyroys, Nyaellia, Nyght elf and lucy2106. I really REALLY appreciated it^^ Love you guys… Mwuah mwuah!

Hope I did well on the fight scenes on this chapter… Anyways, till next update…

Reviews would be GREATLY welcomed. Criticisms, suggestions, etcetera… No flamers please…

BTW, I would like to promote my new story;-) Hope you don't mind checking it out… It is a SasuFemNaru story. Tell me what you think. Is it taboo? Stupid? Should I or should I not continue… *wistful thinking*

Oh well… Bye for now everyone…

Ja ne!