A/N: I want to thank everyone who has alerted this story and thank you to all the reviewers. Kaze and Kiba, EbonyEye, Sakura's Indecision, naoman16...thank you all so very, very much for your reviews and your thoughts on the story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and please let me know what you think.
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No matter how hard she resisted the urge, tears still streamed down her face as she hugged the former Root member. Sai was slow to return the embrace and even then he simply patted her lightly on the back before withdrawing his hands. He was slowly re-learning his emotions but this was new territory for him. Sakura wiped her eyes as she pulled away from him and graced him with her large smile.
"Sai, Kami it's so good to see you."
"Where have you been Sakura? My group just met with Kakashi's earlier today and he explained you had been missing for four days." his mono-toned voice asked.
"It's a long story but to sum it up I was Madara's captive during that time."
Sai's eyes widened with this new found knowledge. "How is it that you are still alive? And why is Sasuke-kun traveling with you?"
"Yet again a long story that I unfortunately do not have time to share. Where is Kaka-sensei?"
"A few hours to the north." he replied.
"Great. Come on, we need to meet up with him." Sakura went to walk away but Sai stopped her with a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Perhaps we should have him meet us halfway. I do not think it would be wise to show up in camp with the Uchiha siblings."
Sakura looked back to the party she was traveling with. "Yeah, you're right."
"I will send him the message." Sai took his ink and parchment from his pack and quickly drew two small sparrows. He activated his jutsu and the group watched them leap from the page and disappear over the trees. Sai moved closer to Sakura in order to whisper to her. "Is it safe to be traveling with them? Uchiha Itachi does not appear to be a danger at this moment but I am unfamiliar with his character. Sasuke-kun tried to kill you last time you met. Sakura, is everything truly okay?"
Sakura was stunned as she looked into Sai's face. While he was doing much better in gauging a person's feelings and the atmosphere of a situation, she was surprised at the level of concern in his words. Right then Sai looked like he was truly worried about her.
"Itachi-san is an ally. He wants to help us end this war and I do not believe he is a threat to anyone from the Allied Forces. I'm not sure what's going on with Sasuke but Itachi-san assures me he is no threat to us at the moment."
"At the moment?" Sai questioned.
Sakura sighed heavily. "That's what I said, but Itachi-san has not lied to me once; withheld the truth, yes, but lied no. Plus, he's the reason I'm alive and free. I feel we can trust what he says."
Sai studied her for a moment before turning to look at the group of men behind her. His eyes held Sasuke's for a moment longer than the rest before he turned back. "Alright Sakura, we'll meet with Kakashi."
"Thank you Sai." she said quietly and motioned the group to come up to them. "We'll be meeting with Kaka-sensei shortly. Itachi-san, I'm afraid you're going to have to explain things to him as well."
"That is not a problem for me Sakura-san."
"Okay, let's head out then."
The walk through the forest was more uncomfortable than before. Sakura quickly glanced at Sasuke's face but he still had his emotionless mask in place. She was sure he had to be feeling some sort of anxiety over the situation. He was about to willingly walk into an area full of people who, not only a week before, had been his enemy. First though, he had to meet with his former sensei who he had attacked last time he saw him. She had to give him credit. Not a single emotion flickered over his face when he learned their destination. His ability to keep a calm facade was truly impressive.
The tension in the air was too much for her once again so she decided to pass the time speaking with Sai on the events of the war. She learned team ten had already faced Asuma and sealed him. Her heart wept for the pain she knew her friends went through.
Sai told her they had already lost a great many soldiers. While she was sad about the loss, she couldn't stop the relief she felt when she learned none of them were her friends. Tsunade's deceased love, Dan had also already been sealed by a team from Konoha but those were all the former allies he knew that had been stopped.
"Who did your group fight against?" she asked him after a while.
"Sasori and Deidara. We were successful in sealing them both. However, after speaking with Kankuro, Sasori's soul was put at ease and he...died again I suppose I should say."
"I'm glad you were able to seal Deidara." Sakura said. "I'm also glad about Sasori. Chiyo-baasama would be glad to know he finally found peace."
They traveled in silence for a while until Sai spoke again. His words almost hesitant this time. "There was...another person at the fight." Sakura turned to look at him as he spoke with more emotion than she had ever heard from him. Sai turned his sad gaze onto hers as he admitted, "I had to fight my brother."
She gasped loudly at his admission and immediately grabbed his hand to offer her support. He smiled slightly to her and allowed her to continue holding his hand as they walked. "Well, I fought him in the beginning anyway. After we bound the other two I faced him and prepared myself to fight. We didn't have to continue though. My book was open to our picture and he was able to see it. He smiled at me and said seeing my drawing was finally able to free his soul."
Sakura wiped the tears that ran down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry Sai."
"Thank you." he murmured. "I suppose I should look at the good that came out of it. I was able to see my brother again and I know now that his soul is free of any regrets. It also reminded me of the many emotions Root forced me to lock away. While I know I have much still to work on, I think I will be able to grasp them easier and express myself better now."
"You know I will be here to help you with anything you need Sai." she said, tears still welling up in her eyes.
"Of course. Thank you Sakura."
She glanced over her shoulder quickly. Sasuke was looking downward, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Sai's experience probably registered all to well with her former team mate and he must be empathizing with the situation. She gave Sai's hand another gentle squeeze before letting go. A familiar howl rang throughout the forest causing the party to stop. Several chakra signatures surrounded the group, yet none were human.
Kakashi walked out of the trees, his hitate pulled up and his sharingan visible to everyone. Pakkun stood at his side.
"Sakura, are you alright?"
She smiled at her sensei. Though he was taking in the entire scene in a second and his stance suggested he was ready to fight at any given moment, his voice was completely relaxed; as if he had nothing else to do.
"I'm okay Kaka-sensei."
"I'm glad to hear that. Now, would you mind filling me in on this interesting set of circumstances I see before me?"
She cringed slightly at that. Kakashi rarely raised his voice to anyone, however, you could easily gauge his mood by the wording of his sentences. She knew by this statement he was not a happy person.
"I believe I can explain this Hatake Kakashi." Itachi said as he stepped forward.
"Uchiha Itachi." Kakashi replied as he watched the missing-nin closely. Their gazes held for a moment before Kakashi relaxed somewhat. "Alright, explain yourself please."
Sakura sat beside Sai on a fallen tree as Kakashi spoke to Itachi. They had moved far enough away that they could speak without fear of being heard but not so far that Kakashi couldn't see the rest of the group at all times. Sasuke stood beside Itachi but had yet to say anything that Sakura could see. She watched her sensei closely. So far his demeanor wasn't giving anything away. While she wasn't entirely sure about the circumstances that had supposedly changed Sasuke's mind about Konoha, she was pretty confident that Kakashi was hearing them all now. Oh he would have questions for her she was sure of that, but with all the chaos still going on, she was fairly certain the inquisition would wait. What remained to be seen at the time was whether or not Kakashi would allow Itachi and Sasuke to follow them.
If Sasuke truly meant no ill will towards Konoha and instead had turned his hatred on Madara, which seemed likely at this point, then she couldn't deny he would be an invaluable asset to their side of the war. While she hadn't seen him fight lately, just knowing that he was able to attack the eight tails host, Danzo, and all the kages at the meeting and still be alive was a testament to his abilities. Her friends lives were too important to her and she would be willing to use whatever means necessary to ensure their safety. Even if that meant accepting Sasuke's help.
"Sakura, come here please." she heard Kakashi call out.
She slowly rose and made her way over to where he was speaking with the Uchihas.
"Yes Kaka-sensei?" she asked
His gaze was much softer than before as he studied her form. "Are you really okay?"
"Yes, I am. Thanks to Itachi-san that is."
"He told me about Madara taking you captive. I was worried when you disappeared but him taking you was not something I thought about. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I was more than a little shocked myself."
Kakashi nodded his head to indicate Itachi. "So I take it what Itachi has been telling me is the truth?"
Sakura tilted her head slightly. "Well, I obviously don't know what he told you but it's true that I was captured by Madara, have managed to block the jutsu from affecting Itachi-san, and yes I believe he's telling the truth when he says he wants to help us end the war."
"And what about Sasuke?"
Sakura resisted the urge to turn and look at the person in question. "I can't say for sure Kaka-sensei. All I know is Itachi-san is vouching for his intentions." A wry smile crossed her face as she laughed humorlessly. "I would have never thought I'd find myself in a position to trust Itachi-san as much as I do."
Kakashi smiled his half smile for her. "And I never thought I'd be fighting against once dead enemies and allies. It's war. Gotta learn to roll with the punches." Kakashi lost his smile as he turned to face his former student once more.
"Obviously I don't trust you, but at least I can keep an eye on you this way. I'll take Itachi's word about everything for now. A word of warning though Sasuke. If at any time I think you are a danger to any of the allied shinobi I won't hesitate to kill you."
Former student and teacher stared each other down. Sakura felt chills run down her spine at the level of intensity being passed between the two. Kakashi was speaking the truth and no one in that clearing doubted his words after seeing the look on his face. A silent understanding passed between the two before Kakashi once again turned to Sakura.
"The troops are just up ahead. I see your chakra has been fully restored so I'm gonna have to ask you to aide in the healing. The other med-nin's are there but so many are wounded."
"Of course. Lead the way sensei."
The trip was a short one and in no time Sakura found herself back amongst her peers. The short burst of happiness she felt at being around her fellow shinobi again was quickly washed away by the sight that greeted her. Hundreds of shinobi lay on the ground bleeding and broken from the events of the war. Medic-nin worked quickly on each party but they were sadly understaffed for the massive work load before them. Regular shinobi ran from patient to patient distributing pain killers, chakra pills, and blood pills to the ones waiting to be treated. The stench of blood was thick and it briefly reminded Sakura of Pain's attack on the village. The mass of people laying before her were much greater in number than when the hospital collapsed but the confusion and disorganization amongst the med-nin was nearly the same.
Since everyone now wore the same hitate bearing the Allied Forces symbol it was hard to tell which village each shinobi came from. There were faces she wasn't familiar with among the med-nin but that didn't matter. They all would have to work together to treat as many as they could and hopefully save their comrades lives. As she watched another patient, obviously more critical than others, get passed over as the frantic med-nin rushed to heal someone else her patience snapped. She pulled ahead of her traveling party and stalked towards the mass of bodies; her very attitude commanding attention.
"Sakura-sama!"
"Sakura-sama, you're back!" the med-nins cried as they spotted her bright pink hair growing closer. She opened her mouth to speak to them when the shocked looks on their faces and whispers reached her.
"What is he doing here?"
"He's traveling beside Kakashi-san but he isn't in chains! Is he not a prisoner?"
"Why are both of the Uchiha's here?"
The whispers grew louder as each person began talking frantically. Healing the injured had taken a backseat to the observations of the now frightened and angered med-nin. Sakura's eyebrow twitched in frustration. She gathered a small amount of chakra into her leg and stomped her foot. Tremors racked the area as a slight crack formed under her feet. Leaves rustled in the trees as they swayed with the force of her impact. All attention was now on her.
"What the hell is going on here?" she demanded.
All eyes widened on her form and they sputtered for answers.
"Have you all completely lost your minds?" she screeched. "Did you forget your training the moment you stepped on this battlefield? Yukihito!"
"Yes ma'am?" a brown haired shinobi shot to his feet at her call.
"What is the first thing that should have been done to these patients?"
"Stabilize the worst injuries." he answered confidently.
"NO!"
He cringed at her commanding voice.
"Why does it appear no one has bothered to triage the level of injuries we have here? I have already watched minor injuries being treated when there are critical patients lying around. Just because the number of injured has increased does not mean we change the way we work! Are you hearing me?"
"Yes Sakura-sama!" A loud gathering of voices rang out.
"Good, now let's get to work properly."
Kakashi stood back with the rest of the party as they watched Sakura giving out orders and healing the wounded. The vibrant woman was definitely in her element. She moved effortlessly, flowing from patient to patient, assessing their injuries quickly and providing healing just as fast. The chaos that reigned before was all gone as the med-nins followed her direction and began working as a well oiled machine. Two of the medics quickly assessed each patient, determining the severity of their injuries without providing care. The ones who were stable were being carried to a different area by regular shinobi who weren't injured. Those people would receive treatment after the medics finished healing those left in the clearing.
The med-nins asked Sakura for advice and listened to her every order. Though many of them were from different villages, most knew who Haruno Sakura-apprentice to Tsunade was. Those that didn't simply recognized the confident authority in her voice and the knowledge it held.
Kakashi glanced over to watch Sasuke. He was surprised to see the troubled young man watching Sakura as she worked. His eyes were taking in every detail as she commanded the group of medics. The copy cat shinobi was surprised to see none of the hatred present on the young Uchiha's face; instead, it was filled with curiosity. As if he were seeing a new creature for the first time.
"Kakashi-san."
"Yes Itachi?"
"We need to have Sakura-san speak with Yamanaka Inochi as soon as possible."
"Hmm...true, although it will take another day of traveling to reach the base."
"I can reach my dad if you need me to."
Kakashi turned at the voice, slightly surprised to see team ten approaching him. He glanced over their figures, glad to see only minor injuries on the young shinobi's frames.
"Good to see you unharmed you three." he said as they came to rest in front of himself and Itachi.
"For the most part yes." Shikamaru answered. His gaze slid to Itachi's. "Since he walked in with you I didn't rush over, but Kakashi just what the hell is going on here?"
"I believe we could use your brain on this matter Shikamaru." Kakashi answered him. Shikamaru's confusion was apparent on his face but Kakashi didn't give any further answers. "Ino, could you contact your father and have him get in touch with Sakura? She has very valuable information that she needs to share with him. Oh, and you might want to give her a head's up. Wouldn't want her to get surprised when he begins speaking to her mind would we?" Kakashi smiled at her and led Shikamaru away from his team mates. They could only watch as he led him towards the Uchiha's.
Sakura sighed as she leaned back against the tree, wiping the sweat from her brow. She lifted the bottle to her lips, letting the coolness of the water slide down her throat and quench her thirst. She was tired but happy. After her brief scolding to her fellow medics, they fell into a familiar routine of assessing the injured, healing what they could, and bandaging the rest to be dealt with on a more long term basis afterward. Though their beginning had been rough, she was proud of the work done by the medic team. Lives had been saved and pain had been eased by their hands. That, more than anything, was what she loved about her job. A quite 'thank you' uttered by the healing shinobi below her always put a smile on her face.
Ino's voice registered in her occupied mind drawing her eyes upward to her blond friend.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"You okay?" the blond asked as she sat beside her friend.
"Yeah, a little tired but I already took a chakra pill."
"That's not what I meant."
"Huh?" Sakura asked as she eyed her friend.
"What happened Sakura? Why did you come back with Sasuke-kun and Itachi? I heard rumors you went missing for days."
The worry in her friend's eyes almost had her telling the whole story right then. Unfortunately, there wasn't time to share everything that happened. A war was still raging on despite the disillusionment of peace in the clearing.
"I promise when everything's over we'll talk. There's just no time right now."
Ino sat back against the tree with a huff. "There's never any time." she muttered. "Well, just as long as you remember you said it. When we get back to Konoha you will tell me everything! You hear me?"
Sakura laughed quietly at her friend's ramblings. "Yeah, I hear you."
Ino was quiet for a moment longer. "Sakura."
"Hmm?"
"Is it really okay for Sasuke-kun to be here? I mean...are we in danger or anything?"
Sakura had questioned that herself. So far, the only time Sasuke had shown any aggression was when she provoked his anger with her own. The rest of the time he was seemingly indifferent to everything going on; only paying attention to Itachi and his orders. Even now, around his former villagers, his body language wasn't aggressive, though it also didn't allow for anyone to approach him either. Shikamaru was still sitting with Kakashi and the Uchiha sibling's discussing something. Though Sasuke was looking bored with the discussion, she had seen him speak up several times.
"No, I don't think we are. I'm still not sure what's going on with him but I think we're okay for now."
"For now?" Ino asked.
That's everyones' question. Sakura thought but didn't offer any reassurances to the blond.
"Anyway, dad said he was going to contact you soon so you need to be ready to tell him what you need to. He still maintains contact with the other groups so he won't have a lot of time."
"Thanks Ino."
Her friend looked at her in concern once more before she left Sakura to find Choji. It wasn't long before Sakura heard Inochi's voice in her head. She quickly went through all the information she had on the jutsu and how to block it from the resurrected minds'. The conversation took only moments and Sakura was glad for it. Having someone else speaking in her mind was an odd sensation that wasn't entirely pleasant.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sakura saw Kakashi leading the others back to everyone. Shikamaru's brows were creased in thought and he was absently opening and closing Asuma's lighter. She could almost hear the gears of his analytical brain turning with whatever information the three sharingan users provided him.
An explosion sounded in the distance; it's aftermath soon rocking the very ground they stood on. The hundreds of shinobi in the area were immediately on alert, pulling their weapons out and searching for the source of the explosion. Over the tree tops littering the hills around them, Sakura saw the large cloud of smoke rising into the sky. Its black plumes hiding anything from sight. A horrific cry rang through the air sending the hairs on the back of Sakura's neck standing on end. It was inhuman; a booming roar that was more animalistic in nature and filled with pure fury.
"Shit." Kakashi muttered under his breath.
"What is it Kaka-sensei?" Sakura asked.
He seemed hesitant to tell her until he saw Itachi come to stand beside her, Sasuke following in his wake.
"Inochi just contacted me. Apparently Tsunade-sama and the Raikage have left the base."
"What? Why?" she asked.
He sighed heavily. "Naruto broke out of the protection barriers that were placed around him. Killer-Bee helped him and they're headed this way."
"He must've learned what's going on." Shikamaru said beside them. "There's no way he's gonna sit still when everyone's in danger."
"The baka." Sakura said quietly but a smile was on her face.
"Tsunade-sama and the Raikage are on their way to stop them." Kakashi said.
Another set of tremors ripped through the area before they once again heard the loud cry off in the distance.
"What the fuck is that?" she heard Suigetsu utter in horror.
Over the tops of the hills Sakura could see the silhouette of a monstrous creature looking down on something. Though it was far off, even she could feel the horrible chakra surrounding it. Due to the distance between them and the smoke still lingering in the air, she couldn't clearly see its features but the tails swirling behind the beast were unmistakable. She turned around and saw all three sharingan users had their eyes trained on it. The black tomoes swirling within each one.
"What is it?" she asked hesitantly.
Sasuke was the one who answered. His eyes never wavered from the beastly form but his voice deepened with the rage she felt rolling of him.
"It's Madara."
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Triage - the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition.