A.N.

Bless all of those who have reviewed, faved, and followed my story. I really, truly appreciate it!

If you have not kept up with the manga from here on out there may be spoilers.

Disclaimer: Naruto does NOT belong to me.

Sayuri and any characters that have not and will not appear in the manga and/or anime are completely original.

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"I can't lose you." Neji murmured and pulled her to him. "Understand?" Carefully she reached for his head with one hand while her other went to his back as she pulled him close.

"I'm sorry, Neji." She stroked his brown locks as he held her as long he pleased.

Brown eyes focused on the clear blue sky. I'm sorry Itachi…

She had let him down, she couldn't convince Sasuke to return and now they were going to war. What could she do? She didn't have anything to offer him. Sasuke wanted revenge, while she wanted peace. She felt Neji slide his hands to her back, clutching her black shirt and suddenly she felt guilty. Here was a man that cared for he that wanted the best for her and all she could do was think about the man that had let her down in every way. Sayuri closed her eyes confused, irritated, and saddened. What was she supposed to do?

Emotions

Kakashi stared at the two elders as they murmured to each other, not really paying any attention to what they were saying. If he were to be honest he'd rather be fighting Akatsuki than standing here, listening to the two talk about their next move. He fought the urge to roll his eyes as they talked of Danzo and how much of a pity it was that he was no longer with them. Thinking back to what Tobi had said about the two former ninja he wasn't all too eager to even be in their presence.

"We can't be part of the joint force without a leader." Homura said finally after some thought.

Koharu sighed. "There's no other choice…" she turned to the silver haired jounin. "We'll support you as our choice for Hokage…" she said rather reluctantly.

"Knock, knock." The three turned to the entrance of the small house. Without waiting to be acknowledged, Moriyo stepped inside, a grin on her face. "Hey, Scarecrow!"

"Insolent girl, do you not have any manners? We were discussing urgent matters!" Koharu scolded. Moriyo rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"You think I'd come here because I want to see you two geezers?" She scoffed. "I came here to deliver a message."

"What is it?" Homura asked his attention on the female jounin.

"Lady Tsunade is awake and well." Ignoring their slightly shocked looks she turned to the man at her side. "Looks like you won't be Hokage."

Kakashi sighed in relief. Now he didn't have to worry about running a village. "Well then…" he bowed at the two elders. "I guess I'll be taking my leave now. Have a good day."

"Yeah, bye." Moriyo turned on her heel and followed him out.

The silver haired man turned to the woman at his side as soon as they stepped out of the building. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." She answered innocently as the two began to head back into town.

Kakashi narrowed his eye at her. "Don't play dumb." She raised a brow at him. "You've never been rude or disrespectful to the elders until today. What's wrong?"

"Absolutely nothing." He stopped walking and crossed his arms.

Moriyo pursed her lips and glanced up at him unsure. She sighed in defeat as she noticed the determined gleam in his eye. She'd seen it plenty of times before when he wanted information on Kaminari several years ago. Knowing him, he wouldn't drop it until he got what he wanted.

Sighing in defeat she stuffed her hands in her pockets and turned around. "Follow me."

"Where are we going?"

Moriyo glanced at him. "You're awfully curious today." The man shrugged. "My new apartment, I need to show you something."

XXX

Light and dark brown eyes stared at the sign that said 'Intel' in black paint. Noticing the still dripping paint she figured it was done in a hurry. Sighing she made her way inside the building gaining the attention of two ANBU that stood by the door.

"Lady Sayuri!" She felt her eye twitch as they bowed.

"I thought I told you this before, it's just Sayuri. No honorific." The brunette scolded rather irritated. She had been in the ANBU for a year and a half now, and they still kept calling her that.

"Our apologies ma'am." The one to the right wearing a rooster mask quickly amended.

"I'm not 'ma'am' either!" she saw him stiffen and she shook her head, they'll never learn. "I came to talk to the redhead that was brought in by Kakashi sensei."

"Right!" She turned to the other ANBU in a dog mask. "Follow me."

She was led further into the building following a small hallway until they reached a heavily guarded door. Four ANBU stood by it, all standing at attention as they noticed the brunette.

"Lady Sayuri." They all said simultaneously and bowed.

She growled. "I'm not—you know what, never mind!" she huffed crossing her arms.

"Sayuri." She turned and saw Ibiki standing behind her looking as indifferent as ever.

Finally somebody that gets it! Sayuri happily bowed. "Ibiki-sensei..." She glanced at the man holding a fried pork cutlet bowl and looked at the man questioningly.

"She won't cooperate unless we give in to her conditions." He explained.

Sayuri blinked up at him. "Conditions? You don't take conditions, sensei." She raised a brow. "You have a soft spot for girls don't you?" the man stiffened.

"Of course not!" the plate in his hands was suddenly gone. He watched as the young brunette walked into the room closing the door behind her.

XXX

Red eyes turned to the entrance where Sayuri stood, following her as she walked over to the table and placed the bowl before her.

"Your food…" Sayuri muttered as she took a seat directly across from Karin.

The redhead stared at her plate before looking up at the girl again. Sayuri…Her mind supplied. She had heard the Uchiha mumble her name when unconscious and had always wondered who the hell she was, and why Sasuke called out for her. At the summit when Sasuke had asked her where the brunette was she had been reluctant to say anything out of fear that she'd be cast aside by the Uchiha. At the samurai bridge she was surprised to see her there, and was taken aback by the way her presence had calmed the avenger, if only for a few moments.

Now she had the girl right before her and what surprised her was the fact that she was just that. A girl…a fourteen year old girl. Karin didn't know what to say. How had a fourteen year old wormed herself into Sasuke's heart while, she, a grown sixteen year old, could never get close to him.

"Here's the deal." Her voice brought Karin out of her thoughts. "You are going to tell us everything you know about Sasuke Uchiha and Kabuto. So eat up, because I'm not going to negotiate with you."

Karin took a bite out of her pork and eyed the girl as she swallowed her food. "Demanding little thing, aren't you?" She saw her eyes narrow. "Odd pair of eyes you've got there."

"What do you know about Akatsuki?" Sayuri asked, ignoring the teen's statement.

She ate her rice before answering. "They're after the eight and nine tailed beasts. Madara is the one heading all of it and Sasuke's working with him. We only joined them because Sasuke wanted to use them, but I guess that doesn't matter anymore."

"What about Kabuto?"

"Heck should I know. The creeper disappeared after Orochimaru died." She swallowed her last bite of the pork. "You're suppressing your own chakra…why?"

Sayuri narrowed her eyes at the redhead. "We're not here to talk about me."

"Don't care. I don't have much information on Akatsuki. I was just tagging along, any information I give you would be something you already knew. It'd be a waste of your time."

She's right…Sayuri thought regretfully. "You worked for Orochimaru though…so whatever information you can give us on him could help us find out what Kabuto is up to."

"Fine…" Karin huffed and watched Sayuri sigh and move to stand, but she wasn't ready to be left alone again. She liked the people in Konoha, their chakra was warm and carefree like…Naruto's…She thought. The brunette's chakra wasn't any different it was just as bright as the blondes, so she continued.

"What's your relationship with Sasuke?" She watched Sayuri freeze. "How do you know him?"

"That's none of your business." She pushed herself up from the chair.

"I was just wondering, since your chakras reacted with one another." Now she had her attention. Karin tilted her head as she leaned back in her seat and examined the heiress. "At the summit it was discreet but I noticed that your chakras reached out to each others. Then at the bridge it happened again, but it was more intense. Your chakra and his mingled…like they wanted to become one."

Sayuri narrowed her eyes at Karin. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"It's simple." The redhead smiled. "You're in love with him."

Sayuri gripped her chair uneasily. "I'm not."

"Yes, you are." She crossed her arms. "And I hate to admit it, but the ass hole is in love with you too."

The brunette shook her head and sighed. "Sakura loves him…I don't."

"Of course you don't, because you're in love with him. Sakura, she thinks she's in love but she's not."

Karin watched as Sayuri's grip on her chair loosened as the girl took a breath. "All right, listen. I am not in love with the Uchiha, and even if I was, I gave up. He's not coming back…he's not the same as before. She whispered the last part but Karin heard it anyways.

"Now you're lying." Karin ignored the angered look she received from the brunette. "I told you before, I can see chakra, and I know when you're lying…even when you're lying to yourself." She held up a hand to keep the girl from retorting. "You weren't the one to give up, Sakura was."

"Sakura…?" Sayuri narrowed her eyes as Karin nodded.

"Yes…and do you know why?" Hesitantly Sayuri shook her head. "Because, even when she chickened out at the last minute, she was ready to kill him, while you tried to reason with him even at the end."

The door to the room opened, as silver haired ANBU entered. That was when Karin saw it, Sayuri's chakra fluctuated and changed its nature to that of earth for a small second before returning back to its natural water like nature. Red eyes narrowed as she concentrated on the ANBU's chakra which proved to be that of earth.

Interesting…She thought.

The ANBU looked from one girl to the other before settling on the younger of the two. "Sayuri, Kenji is asking for you." The brunette nodded and turned to follow the ANBU out.

"I'd stop repressing that chakra of yours, if I were you." Sayuri stopped and looked over her shoulder to the redhead that adjusted her glasses. "It's taking a heavy toll on your body…if you keep at it, it'll burst and you won't know how to control it."

Sayuri turned and pushed the man in front of her out quickly following after.

XXX

"Where did you get these?" Kakashi looked from one paper to the next. On them was detailed information of Konoha's guards, the Uchiha clan as well as the Marihasha clan. He looked at Moriyo who sat beside him eating a bag of chips.

"Sayuri." he raised a brow. "Well…not directly from her, I found them hidden underneath the floorboards of her closet when I was investigating why she suddenly disappeared on us."

Kakashi stopped at flipping through pages as the picture of a dark haired, golden eyed woman caught his attention. Moriyo stared at the jounin as he released all of the other papers and held only the one of her dead friend.

Kaminari Marihasha-Eliminated

Age: 20

Rank: Jounin

Chakra: Lightning

Zenshihai: Activated-Average

Position: Advisor

Immediate Family:

Kaori Marihasha (father) Pending, Eliminated

Mitsue Marihasha (mother) Deceased

Yūkan Marihasha (brother) Pending, Eliminated

Nagisa Mizuchi (sister in law) Deceased

Sayuri Marihasha (niece) Pending

"Where did she get these?" Kakashi asked not taking his eye off the picture of his dead girlfriend.

"Danzo, or at least that's what Kenji thinks…" she rubbed her chin, thoughtfully. "I should ask her about that."

Kakashi could only stare at the picture of the golden eyed Marihasha in disbelief. So what Tobi had said at the Land of Iron was true…

XXX

Sayuri stood stiff as a board while Kenji scolded her as he paced the room, mumbling something that sounded along the lines of 'just like your father.' The dark haired man ran a hand through his hair several times in the process. Suddenly he stopped abruptly, green eyes narrowed down at her.

"You're dismissed." He sighed. Sayuri blinked up at him unsure. The man looked like he had more to say. "Go…" he almost hissed.

Alarmed the brunette rushed out of the room. She felt several of her fellow ANBU staring at her as she walked towards the exit of the ANBU's temporary head quarters, no doubt having heard their captain screaming at the teen not too long ago.

Once outside she glanced up at the sky. In the span of two hours she had managed to anger two people. She glanced to her left and spotted Hajime and Diachi in their ANBU uniforms, both of which huffed and turned away at the sight of her. Make that four people.

"Hmph!" She sniffed and stuffed her hands in her pockets. "Not like I wanted to talk to them anyway…" she grumbled as she walked along the dirt streets.

Lately it seemed like she couldn't do anything right. She couldn't save Itachi, she couldn't protect Sasuke or convince him to return to the village, she made her friends angry at her…She sighed and looked up as a couple of children ran past her giggling happily.

She missed those days. When she didn't have to take care of herself, when all she had to do was ask and she would get what she wanted, when she was oblivious to the inner workings of the ninja world. "Especially that…" Sayuri whispered as she continued her walk.

She remembered how badly she wanted to become a ninja when she was younger, and now she wished she hadn't. Maybe that was why father wanted me to become a priestess instead…She thought as the sun began to set. Having arrived at the Hokage monument she decided to make her way to the top, and she lazily climbed the stairs.

Once there she smiled at the sight of the stars. Taking a seat she tilted head up, the small smile disappearing as her eyes turned to the moon.

XXX

"I go to your room to change your bandages, but instead I find you out here." The young Uchiha frowned as he heard Madara's voice. "You should be inside, resting."

"I feel fine." He grunted as he jumped down from the rock he was sitting on and turning to the masked man. He felt as the bandages around his eyes fell down, only to be replaced by new ones. Admiring his handy work, Madara stepped back, taking the worn bandages with him.

"What are you thinking about?"

Sasuke stayed silent for a few seconds and then tilted his head toward the light of the moon. "Why did you lie to me?" When he received no answer he clarified. "About, Sayuri…why did you tell me she was dead?" He felt the aged Uchiha stiffen.

"I had really thought she was dead. She was in bad shape when I got there, I didn't have time to check on her since the Konoha ninja were heading my way." He lied easily as he crossed his arms observing Sasuke.

"Hn…" was all the teen said as he walked back into the cave. I don't believe him for a second…but I need him for now. He thought as he lay down on his bed, having become accustomed to his surroundings. He'd get her to be with him one way or another, but he had to take care of this first. She'd come around once she saw how much better life would be without Konoha.

XXX

She rolled the silver bell between her fingers, watching the object gleam under the moonlight.

"Your chakra and his mingled…like they wanted to become one." Sayuri's fingers stilled holding the bell in place. "You're in love with him." Sayuri groaned and let herself fall back unto the grass.

"No…" she shook her head. "She's wrong…I'm not 'in love' with anyone."

"I can't lose you." Neji murmured and pulled her to him. "Understand?" Carefully she reached for his head with one hand while her other went to his back as she pulled him close. Sayuri closed her eyes at the memory. Was she in love with him? Somehow the thought made her feel uncomfortable.

"Sayuri…" His lips brushed hers in a soft kiss. "Come with me." Slowly her fingers brushed her lips, her cheeks feeling slightly warm.

One was bent on looking to the past while the other looked towards the future. Sasuke and Neji, Neji and Sasuke…Either way she put it, she knew that out of the two she liked Sasuke more than what was considered friendly. What about Neji?

"It's a little late for you to be out here so late." Her eyes opened wide as she recognized the voice. Standing above her was none other than the Hyuga. He looked down at her with a slight frown on his face.

"I could say the same about you." She replied as she pushed herself into a seating position. Neji dropped down next to her and kept his eyes on the stars above.

She cared for him, she realized, but not to the extent that she cared for Sasuke, and that was what really upset her. How was it, that she can love a guy that had done nothing more than leave, and hurt her, but can't love the guy that's always been there.

"What's troubling you?" Sayuri turned to him and shook her head.

"Nothing…" she smiled. "I was just thinking….personal problems…you know me…" she laughed. "I'm always on cloud nine."

Neji eyed her carefully. She still had the samurai outfit on and her hair was slightly mused. He couldn't help but think that regardless of what she wore, or in what condition she was in, to him she was beautiful. When they were children he hadn't put much thought into it. She was just another girl that he was assigned to look after, much like Hinata. Yet she had shown him that she was different.

Sayuri never wanted him to protect her. In fact she had saved him from drowning the day she had accidently dropped her ball into the river of her compound. As they grew up, he reluctantly grew attached to her. He would find himself visiting her often, if only to sit in silence anything just to be in her presence. Often times Tenten would tease him about visiting the girl, but he brushed it off, it was never any of her business anyway.

Then she became a Genin herself, leaving little to no time for him to visit her. When she was placed in the Chunin exam he constantly worried for her well being. When she was in the hospital due to chasing the Uchiha as he went after his brother, only to wake up with no memory at all, he felt a stab of anger and from that moment on he didn't want her anywhere near the avenger.

On the day that she regained her memories and had rushed to him, frantic about the Uchiha's departure, he felt jealousy. That was the moment that he realized that he liked her. As the years passed by, both of them trained constantly with each other trying to reach higher a higher position. It was during those three years that he found himself admiring every quirk, every outburst, everything that had to do with Sayuri he began to love.

"Earth to Neji…" He saw her wave a hand in front of him, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You know that staring is rude right." She smiled.

"Sorry." He mumbled.

Sayuri frowned. "Are you still mad at me because of what happened in the Land of Iron?" she asked nervously. The brunette never liked having him mad at her.

Neji turned away from her. When he heard of what happened at the Land of Iron, he was angry, enraged really. Sasuke was dangerous, he had joined Akatsuki and now they were going to war because of it. He clenched his fists.

"I'm really sorry." She whispered looking down at her hands. The older teen turned to her. They were going to war, and that was the reason he went looking for her. One could never know what would happen. You could live or die in the battlefield.

"Look at me." Obediently she lifted her eyes. Slowly he reached to brush some stray hair away from her face. "I'm going to say this only once, for now at least." Her brow creased in confusion; however Neji's face was completely unreadable. His hand moved to caress her cheek and watched as her face began to take on a light shade of pink. "I love you."

Brown eyes widened, neither moved as they stared at each other one in complete shock the other with calm determination. Suddenly her vision was obscured by the white material of his shirt as he held her close to him.

XXX

Kakashi lay on his bed staring at the picture of the deceased Marihasha. It was the first time in many years that he allowed himself to look at a picture of her. At the age of fourteen he had lost all the people he held close to him, his father, Obito, Rin, his sensei…all gone. It was then that he had decided that he'd never let anyone get too close to him just to spare himself the pain. Then Kaminari came along, and somehow he had become infatuated…or obsessed as Moriyo had put it.

He didn't want to get close to her, but every time he pushed her away, he came running right back. Kakashi had wanted her close but at the same time far away and with much difficulty he allowed himself to open up to the Marihasha. During their time together she gently guided him throughout the process. Soon he found himself letting people back into his life, and suddenly she was gone.

Her death took its toll on him. He found himself taking riskier missions, anything to keep his mind occupied. He threw away any items that she had left behind, any pictures, anything that reminded him of her to the point that he even changed apartments moving to the other side of town. His eye moved to the red writing.

Eliminated…he reread for what seemed like the hundredth time since he found her page. Danzo had sent someone to kill her. The page crinkled as he tightened his hold on it. "Why?" he found himself asking, receiving silence for an answer.

A.N.

Sorry there's no action at all in this chapter. In any case please review!

Just want to let you know that the more reviews I get the more motivated and inspired I get to write. So your reviews are very important to me.

Thank you.