Chapter 26: The Conclusion Of Sasuke, Sakura, & Naruto

Itachi and Kisame stare at the ruined village in front of them while standing on top of Konoha's wall.

"Looks like Konoha had it rough" Kisame said grinning.

"Aa... There's no reason for us to further damage it..." Itachi said in a blank expression.

Kisame looks at him from the corner of his eyes, "Why? Don't tell me you still miss your old village?"

"No... Not at all..." Itachi said in a monotone.

ΩΩΩ

Two days after the battle, all of Konoha's Shinobi are gathered on the roof of the Hokage Tower, where the funeral of the late Sandaime Hokage is being held.

Sakura sighed, closing her eyes, "I wonder... If I had warned the Hokage before Orochimaru attacked... Will it change the outcome of the battle..."

"Sakura..." Sasuke said pulling her out of her reverie, "It's time to go."

Sakura nodded, "Hai."

"Bye, Iruka-sensei" Naruto said waving at his former teacher while running towards his waiting teammates.

Iruka wave back with a small smile on his face as he watch Naruto run towards his team, "Bye... Naruto..."

ΩΩΩ

"Hey, you two look good together, are you guys on a date?" Kakashi ask smiling behind his mask as he watch Kurenai and Asuma walk towards him.

Kurenai turn her head to the side to hide her blushing face, "Baka! Anko asked me to pick up some sweets for her."

"What about you? What are you doing here? Are you picking up some sweets too?" Asuma ask raising an eye brow, wondering what the former ANBU captain is doing outside a Dango Shop.

Kakashi shook his head, "Not really... Sometimes I stop by to buy some stuff... Right now I'm waiting for someone... I'm waiting for Sasuke."

"Sasuke? I think I saw him earlier with Sakura" Kurenai said.

Asuma blink, "Why is he with Sakura? Is Naruto with them too?"

Kurenai shook her head, "No he's not."

"Then why... Matte, is Sasuke the guy Sakura's dating?" Asuma ask his eyes widening in realization.

Itachi narrowed his eyes, tightening his hold on the tea cup in his hand.

Sasuke walk towards his sensei, "Kakashi... It's very rare for you to arrive first..." He said raising an eye brow with half surprise, half annoyed expression on his face, "And why the hell are you three talking about my relationship with Sakura?"

Asuma rub the back of his head sheepishly, "It's nothing..."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes suspiciously, deciding not to dwell on it, he looks inside the shop only to see the two clocked figures he saw earlier was gone. "Why am I here? You know I hate sweets" he said crossing his arms on his chest.

"It doesn't matter..." Kakashi said looking at the two Jōnins from the corner of his eyes.

Kurenai and Asuma nodded before disappearing in a puff of smoke to go who knows where, Sasuke raise an eye brow while staring at the place where the two Jōnins were standing moments ago.

Sakura was sitting on top of the Sandaime Hokage's head, She close her eyes sensing Itachi and Kisame's chakra making it out of Konoha with Asuma and Kurenai's chakra in pursuit. She started doing some hand seals, "I, Inu, Tori, Hitsuji, Tat-"

"Sakura..." A very familiar voice behind her ask cutting her off.

She turn around with a raise eye brow, "What are you doing here?"

Sasori gave her a pointed look, "The question is... What were you planning on doing if I hadn't interrupted you?"

"I was going to spy on Itachi and Kisame" Sakura admitted not bothering to make an excuse.

"Why is that, un?" Deidara ask standing beside his partner.

Sakura shrug, "I don't know, curiosity? I'm going to ask again, what are you doing here?"

"We're here to deliver a message..." Sasori said sitting beside her.

Sakura narrowed her eyes, "What message?"

Jiraiya walk towards Ichiraku Ramen seeing the person he was looking for sitting on the stool happily eating his precious ramen, "I heard this is where you go to all the time, you always come here to eat ramen..."

Naruto turn to him, his mouth full of ramen, "Ero-sennin?"

Sakura raise an eye brow, "A mission?"

Sasori nodded, "Hai... Your father wants you to infiltrate Orochimaru's headquarter in Oto, find the scroll where all the location of his hideouts are listed, and to get rid of anyone who gets in your way."

"Why?" Sakura ask confuse, "I thought Zetsu knows where all his hideouts are..."

Deidara took a sit on her other side, "Zetsu wasn't able to get inside Orochimaru's headquarter in Otogakure, according to him, the headquarter is guarded by some strong Shinobis, we all know Zetsu is not exactly skilled in combat... Your father also said that he knows you want to find a way to get rid of your boyfriend's curse mark, so infiltrating Orochimaru's headquarter will be the perfect place for you to look for some kind of Jutsu you can use to get rid of it, it's like killing three birds with one stone... You find all of Orochimaru's hideout, get rid of some strong Shinobis, and you might be able to find a way to save your boyfriend from falling into the snake's hands."

"I see... Alright, I'll do it..." Sakura said before jumping down from the monument and landing on the cold hard ground, she looks at the cloud and close her eyes.

Swirl of Chakra images enter her mind, "Naruto is walking with Jiraiya, Sasuke's inside the Naka Shrine, Kurenai, Asuma, and Kakashi are fighting Itachi and Kisame away from Konoha, Kakashi's under Itachi's Genjutsu, and Gai is on his way to help them..."

Sakura's eyes open, "Looks like I don't have much of a choice..." She thought while walking towards her apartment.

While walking, still deep in thoughts Sakura bump into Kiba, knocking the dog off the top his head and into Sakura's arm who caught Akamaru before he can hit the ground.

"Gomen, Kiba, Akamaru, I wasn't paying attention..." Sakura said making sure Akamaru is unharmed.

Kiba rub the back of his head with a wolfish grin on his face, "It's fine Sakura, no harm done... Besides I should have known better than to expect someone who was lost in thoughts to actually watch where she's going..." he said teasingly.

Sakura raise an eye brow, amusement shining in her eyes and a smirk on her lips, "Now you're just making fun of me" she said glaring at him mockingly.

Kiba chuckled, raising both his hand in mock surrender, "I swear I'm not mocking you, oh great Sakura-sama."

Sakura shook her head, her smirk turning into a half smile, "Arigatō, Kiba... I needed that..." She said stroking Akamaru's fur causing the dog to snuggle into her.

Kiba grin at her, "Whatever problem you're facing right now, I'm sure you can handle it with your head held high and with that confident smirk you always wear."

Sakura let the small smile grace her lips, "You don't even know me that well and yet here you are giving me advice... Arigatō, Kiba."

Kiba rub the back of his head in a shy way while looking down to hide the blush on his cheeks, "No problem..."

"Why do I have to go on a work trip with a pervert like you?" Naruto ask while walking with Jiraiya.

Jiraiya grins, "Because it's a paid for work trip, we're suppose to find a certain girl, it's also a special trip... You will learn more things than what Kakashi-sensei has taught you."

Naruto put his hands behind his head, "I don't want to and I want Kakashi-sensei to teach me the Chidori."

"And also this woman she's hot and she wants to meet you..." Jiraiya said mischievously.

"You're just trying to fool me, Ero-sennin, whatever you say, I'm not going" Naruto yelled stubbornly.

Jiraiya turn around, "She knows a Jutsu even more amazing than the Chidori, since you don't want to come with me... Then I guess I'll just have to ask Sasuke to accompany me..."

Naruto's eyes widen in excitement, "Alright! Let's go. I'm going to my apartment to pack up some things, don't leave without me, Ero-sennin" he yelled while running towards the direction of his apartment.

Jiraiya smile, "Really, he is such a cute brat."

Sasuke was walking around the village, his thoughts going back to Gaara and Naruto's battle, "Naruto... How is it possible that you were able to defeat him and I wasn't... It can't be that... You're stronger than me... It's not possible" he clench his fist glaring at the ground as he walk.

"There is no value in killing the likes of you… My foolish brother… If you want to kill me… Curse me! Hate me! And live a long and unsightly life… Run away… Run away… And cling to your pitiful life. And then some day, when you have the same eyes as I do, come before me."

"Itachi... I swear... I will kill you... I will be stronger..." Sasuke thought gritting his teeth, determination shining in his onyx eyes.

Naruto is standing in front of Konoha's open gate, ready to start his journey to becoming stronger, "Teme, Sakura-chan, Kaka-sensei... I will surprise you all... And no matter what happen, I will be stronger, so I can protect those important people in my life..." He thought smirking confidently.

Sakura is sitting on the edge of the roof of her apartment building, "Sasuke-kun... I will do everything I can to make sure you don't fall in the darkness... And Naruto... I promise I'll make sure no harm will come to you, especially from the hands of my family..." She thought closing her eyes, letting the wind brush her face.

"For the sake of my clan..." Sasuke thought looking at the sky.

"... For the sake of my friends..." Naruto thought looking at the sky.

"... For the sake of my teammates..." Sakura thought looking at the sky.

"... I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN!"

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

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