My apologies to those who have to read this story again in its entirety.

Chapter 25: The End: Part One

I do not own Naruto.

A large outcropping of rock on the outskirts of Fire country served as the rendezvous point. It loomed through the tree line ahead as the remnants of Team Seven did their best to travel in relative peace.

Sakura supported Naruto as they maneuvered through the trees. She worried about her friend, not just because of his injuries, but because of the strong emotional tension she felt between him Sasuke.

Sasuke stayed in front of them. The medic could see him watching them every so often out of the corner of his eye. He said nothing to either of them until they arrived at the base of the rock.

"We'll wait here."

Exhausted, Sakura sank down, letting Naruto recline against the smooth vertical wall of stone. She sighed and made to lean back herself when Sasuke grabbed her upper arm. The medic's nerves were already raw and she scowled, ready to lay into the Uchiha with all the venom her voice could muster.

"Sakura, a moment." His touch was gentle and his words more of a request than a command. The healer felt the anger rush out of her and she allowed Sasuke to help her to her feet.

"The others know of the plan?"

He shook his head. "No. It was necessary to make Naruto's escape believable."

She followed the Uchiha up onto a ledge of rock level with the tops of the trees. Sasuke crossed his arms and stared out at the horizon. He didn't say anything.

"Is there something you wanted, Sasuke?" Sakura asked.

The lack of affectionate honorific still bothered him. He continued to stare out at the landscape. "There is something."

A breeze curled around them and Sakura sucked in the cool air. For a brief moment, as she relished the sensation, she forgot about the person next to her who was now watching her intently.

Sasuke froze as a look of complete rapture came over his former teammate. The hard edge he had come to know melted, leaving her exposed. He saw Sakura as he remembered her, carefree despite the burden of shinobi responsibility. Her hair whipped around. Her eyes closed. A hint of a smile graced her lips.

After the long intake of breath, Sakura's eyes opened again and her smile vanished. She realized Sasuke was staring at her, and her she tensed again under his watch. "You were saying?" she asked.

Still watching her, the Uchiha frowned. "I want you to stay away from Suigetsu."

"What?"

"He's got motives of his own."

"And you don't want me giving away your valuable secrets?" Sakura sat down. "Don't worry, Sasuke."

"You're irritating me, Sakura."

"Seriously?" She scooted away as he sat down next to her. "You know, you have a lot of nerve—"

"I am not worried about me."

She paused. "Right. You're thinking of me?" Her words were sarcastic, and she almost laughed. But Sasuke's frown deepened at her comment. His silence made her shift nervously. The mirth in her voice faded and she swallowed hard. "Sasuke," she found she could only whisper, "I'm haunted by the faces of our friends. I can still smell the smoke and taste the dirt from Konoha's last moments. You have to realize whatever kindnesses you extend to me now are heavily tarnished. You can't fault me for feeling the way I do."

"You should not let your feelings control you."

She shook her head. "No, you're not allowed to give that lecture. Your whole life has been lived in anger."

He didn't reply.

"I should go back down to Naruto. I know what you really wanted to know, and you don't need to worry. I'll keep my end of the deal. I gave you my word."

She hopped off the rock and Sasuke let her go. He remained where he was, listening to the pleasant chattering from Naruto and the healer below.

Again Sasuke found himself wondering if the end really justified the means. Everything he had come to know was threatened by the presence of two people he had once cared deeply about. They made him doubt his plans. They made him think about the emotional ramifications of his actions. They made him regret. And though it was hard to admit, Sasuke wanted to begin to heal the wounds he left open in the wake that was his revenge. He wanted to be at peace.

Playing both sides against the middle was becoming infinitely harder.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I can't believe you didn't tell us!" Karin's shrill scream echoed off the rock, shattering the fragile peace that accompanied the dawn. "After all we've been through! She could have killed one of us!"

Off to the side, barely hiding his amusement, Naruto stifled a laugh. Sakura rolled her eyes and continued to run her fingers through her hair, newly wet from a quick wash in the nearby stream.

"She couldn't have killed me," Suigetsu glared at the medic. "She had to drug me to pull it off."

"I didn't have to drug you," Sakura replied calmly. "I simply wanted to." She looked up at him, her gaze mischievous.

Momentarily taken aback, Suigetsu paused and then broke into a fit of laughter. His chuckles eventually tapered off and he shook his head. "Someday, Sakura. Someday."

Leaning against the rock, Sasuke frowned.

"Oi, Sakura-chan," Naruto tried unsuccessfully to whisper, "what's that loud girl's name again?"

"Loud girl?" came the exasperated shriek. "Loud girl? It's Karin!" The dark-haired woman stormed over to where Sasuke reclined silently. "Are we really going to Konoha?

The Uchiha nodded.

Pushing her glasses up further on her nose, Karin threw her arms up. "Great. That's just great. What about our deal? What about the things you promised us?"

Across from them, the pink-haired medic's interest was instantly piqued and a dangerous quiet settled over them. "What deal, Sasuke?" Sakura asked.

Karin's expression was coy. "Oh, so you two didn't know? Could you be that stupid? You didn't really think we joined Sasuke just because, did you?"

"Karin," Juugo cautioned.

But the irate woman continued. "Suigetsu gets Kakashi, Juugo gets Tsunade, and I get…" she faltered, "and I get…"

The small clearing was deathly still.

"Whatever Orochimaru promised you, Karin, cannot be expected now." Sasuke's voice was cold, and he couldn't prevent the sidelong glance at Sakura as he spoke. The medic had gone pale, presumably with rage. He guessed she knew what it was Karin had been promised. In a way, he was glad of her reaction.

The look on Karin's face changed. Her features shifted from anger to indifference, as if she had practiced the transition many times before. "It doesn't matter. I'll go to Konoha anyway. You needn't worry."

"Perhaps you should go in our stead," the healer said quietly.

Instantly Sasuke was in front of her. He didn't touch her, but his gaze bore into hers. Naruto's yelling drowned out as the Uchiha sought to dominate with his presence alone.

Sakura held her ground, unshaken by the act of dominance. She'd been in the presence of Uchihas too long to let their mind games get to her now. "Who was it going to be, Sasuke?" she asked so only he could hear. "Were you going to betray them? Or were you going to betray us…again?"

"It's not that simple."

"It is that simple. Were you going to turn over your old friends or lie to your new ones?"

Sasuke glanced around the clearing. All eyes were on him, none of them pleased. He stepped away from Sakura, unsure how to deal with her at that moment. Naruto's ranting became louder and Sasuke put up his hand. "Shut up, Naruto." He walked away from them. "We head to Konoha. Hokage Tower."

"If it still stands," Sakura added.

The Uchiha ignored her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Konoha had made little progress in the time Sakura and Naruto were absent. Once a great city, the land was now only a labyrinth of rubble and dilapidated buildings. Sasuke's group filtered in through the old gate. Hokage tower stood in the distance, though a part of it looked to be damaged by fire. The hospital seemed to have escaped any serious damage, and some small homes and businesses around seemed to have missed the onslaught of Pein's attack.

"Someday, Naruto, you will have to tell me just how you defeated the Rinnegan user." Juugo smiled at the blonde.

"Hey! You bet. You know, I had been away Sage training—"

"He didn't mean right now," Sasuke snapped.

"Naruto, you defeated Pein?" Sakura stared at him, wide-eyed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Aw, Sakura-chan, it wasn't a big deal."

"But when? I thought after I was captured…"

"Pein hadn't left Konoha. At least, not his original body," the blonde seemed thoughtful. "But it is a really long story, Sakura-chan."

"Oh."

She wasn't sure how to feel. Naruto had come a long way in a short amount of time. She was impressed, but she was also hurt that he hadn't told her. Was he worried that she would feel worthless for being defeated in her own battle with the Rinnegan user? She supposed she did feel that way.

A noise within the rubble on their left side made the group pause. From out of the shadows a figure emerged. Sakura felt her body sag in relief as she recognized a tiger Anbu mask.

"Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto, you are to come with me immediately." The voice indicated the face behind the mask was male.

"Is Tsunade-sama all right?" The medic was instantly suspicious. For an Anbu member to ignore the presence of Sasuke and address her and Naruto directly, with no question as to their well-being, was beyond ludicrous. Her brow furrowed.

"The current Hokage has been searching for you."

"Current Hokage?" Naruto glanced at his teammate. "What's wrong with granny?"

"Lady Tsunade has been replaced," the Anbu replied. "We are under the direct orders of Danzo to escort you to the tower."

"And Uchiha Sasuke?" Sakura almost whispered the name.

Restraint was evident in the shinobi's voice as he said, "Uchiha Sasuke and his team are to remain within the city. Someone else has been waiting for them."

"Who?" asked five unified voices.

Sasuke remained silent. He already knew the answer.

Madara.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Coming Soon: The End: Part Two