The next day Sakura rose early 'Apparently to early' Inner pouted preparing to throw a tantrum when soft rustling greet's her ears and she watches Kakuzu rise and stand from the bed throwing a quick glance at the still sleeping Hidan she calls out to the tall man "Kakuzu-san are you heading to breakfast" she asks pleasantly "Hn" taking that as yes "May I come with you" she dips her head respectfully "Fine, but stay close" Kakuzu snaps stalking out of the bedroom door Sakura practically gluing herself to his side as he walked down the long halls of the base and to the kitchen to be met with Pein and a blue-haired woman who was whipping up a breakfast for everyone in the base.
"Hey miss may I help with that" Sakura asks sweetly drawing Pein's gaze who sighed in exasperation "I told Hidan to keep an eye on you" and slides his chair back to stand and give Hidan a lecture "Leader I'm watching her" Kakuzu speaks up from his seat next to Sakura Pein sits back down while Konan watched all of this 'Aww she's absolutely adorable' Konan squeals internally "Hi sweety what's your name" Konan walks over to Sakura letting the bacon cook a bit longer so that it would be nice and crispy "Sakura Aburame" the little pink-haired girl states "My name is Konan" she introduces herself to the cutest girl she had ever met.
"As for your question I think I've got it covered this time" Konan finally answers Sakura's question patting Sakura on her head gently before walking back over to finish breakfast before plating up all the food and setting it on the table Sakura waited patiently letting the others get there food first before grabbing a plate and choosing her selection of breakfast as other members start trickling into the kitchen at the smell of food sitting back down in her seat Sakura ate quietly not wanting to draw to much attention to herself and cause trouble for Leader who suddenly looked angry.
Sakura scoots over on her chair just a tiny bit feeling wary of the orange-haired man when someone calls out to Kakuzu "Hey stitchboy who's the pink-haired thing attached to your side yeah" a blue eyed blonde asks 'And we had been doing so well' Inner pouts sulkily "This is Sakura, Deidara you idiot" Konan hisses angrily defending Sakura "Why is she here yeah" Deidara shifts away from the angry woman "Apparently she is Hidan's apprentice" Kisame speaks up entering the room followed by Itachi who nods in agreement "No way that can't be true yea" Deidara declares suddenly.
"But it is true and you better fucking believe it" Hidan comes flying into the kitchen he had woken up to an empty room Kakuzu and Sakura missing "Fucking bitch why didn't you wait for me" Hidan pulls out the only seat left which was next to Sakura effectively sandwhiching Sakura inbetween the two men on either side of her "Because Hidan I know how to behave unlike you" Sakura grins cheekily causing everyone to inch away from Hidan all except for Kakuzu and Pein "You got me bitch" Hidan chuckles ruffling her pink hair again.
With that breakfast is finished in peace as Sakura is introduced to the last two members Sasori and Zetsu helping Konan wash the dishes before allowing Hidan to pull her out of the kitchen and into an inside training ground not for training though just to relax until someone decided to bother them "Hey Hidan let see how many people we can freak out" Sakura suddenly spoke up feeling utterly bored in that moment "Doing fucking what exactly" Hidan asks curiously "Don't cuss when someone talks to you for the rest of the day" Sakura challenges bravely knowing exactly how creepy it was when Hidan didn't cuss.
"Fine Sakura" Hidan nods in acceptance taking the challenge on because honestly it would be some fun right as that thought went through his head he saw Kisame headed their way Samehada slung over his shoulder "Hey Kisame you going for some training" he calls out smirking internally when the blue man nearly stumbles in shock "Yes I am" he calls back regaining his footing and continuing on his way only to be stopped again "Mind if I join you" Hidan asks nicely and Kisame almost ran away screaming at that moment.
Hidan snickers internally this time as Kisame freezes on the spot Sakura was holding her hand to her mouth and biting down on it harshly to keep herself from laughing loudly "Sure" Kisame calls back after a few minutes before continuing onward Hidan and herself trailing him as he went further into until reaching a huge lake and Sakura stares in awe before shaking herself out of her thoughts to watch the entertainment being played out before her after the training session in which neither male won Kisame grabbed his sword and escaped before Hidan could say anything else.
"That was awesome he was practically pissing himself in fear" Sakura finally laughs causing Hidan to nod in agreement "Let's go find out next victim" Sakura announces eyes shining in amusement the next person they came across was Kakuzu and she reached out to stop Hidan but it was already to late and she cringes waiting for the man to retaliate but he stands there just staring before walking passed them pressing his hand on top of her head briefly before continuing on causing Sakura to blink and shake her head.
Her amusement dying down quickly after that she allowed Hidan to have his fun putting on a smile every time he looked at her before allowing dark thoughts to consume her until she realized that somehow she had lost Hidan in the halls of the base and now she was lost turning down several more halls Sakura was even more confused so sighing she slid down a wall waiting until someone came looking for her and soon she had dozed into a light sleep and that's how Pein found her.
Hidan had come pounding on his door never mind the fact that Hidan hadn't used a single cuss word apparently he had lost Sakura somewhere in the base and now he couldn't find her and so when Konan turned pleading amber eyes on him Pein offered to go find the girl himself promising to punish the man once she had been found a few hallways later and he really couldn't stop his lips from twitching upward in a small smile before picking up the surprisingly light girl.
Carrying the sleeping girl back to his office he deposits her on the couch allowing her to sleep until he could be bothered to either wake her and send her back or send for Hidan Pein supposed that it would be a good punishiment for the silver-haired man let him worry over the girl for a few hours to remind him that Sakura couldn't be left to her own devices especially when she didn't know her way around the large underground base.
Sakura awoke from her nap awhile later to the scratching of pen on paper and she slowly cracked open an eye to stare around the room she was in deducing that it could only be Leader's office Sakura sat up stretching Pein seeing that she was awake now paused in signing his name on the document "You should go Hidan's probably about to begin tearing the base apart looking for you" he lets out a small chuckle before continuing on in his work while Sakura rushed from the room slamming into the exact person she was looking for.
"Fucking bitch do you have any idea how worried I've been" Hidan snarls picking Sakura up and squeezing her tightly showing his rare affection "I'm sorry" Sakura wheezes out in apology before Hidan sets her on her feet allowing her to breathe again "Don't fucking get lost again do you hear me" he scolds turning on his heel and heading back to his room Sakura following him quickly it appeared their little game of freak people out was over as Hidan was back to cussing up a storm.
"I hear you Hidan" Sakura sighs sitting on her bed when a hiss emits from Sasuke and she turns her head to look at him "What is it Sasuke" Sakura asks picking up the tiny kit who falls silent at her proximity holding Sasuke close Sakura lays back on her bed sighing again when Hidan speaks up "Hey bitch I just thought of something" he grins widely "Yeah what is it Hidan" she asks curiously "I'm gonna take you to Jashin's temple" he chuckles out and Sakura sits up her interest peaked.
"Sounds awesome" she squeals quietly not wanting to disturb Kakuzu who sat silently on his bed "Stay here I'll go fucking ask if I can take ya" and with that he hops up from his bed and re-exits the room causing her to flop back with a soft groan when her mattress shifts she sits up again "Kakuzu-san" Sakura asks in confusion as he separates a pile of money from his wad of cash and sets it in front of her "In case you want to get any souvenirs in town before you leave" the man shrugs his kind gesture done for the day.
Sakura knew better than to complain though and quickly stuffs the money in her wallet meanwhile in Pein's office "Come on Leader let us fucking go" Hidan curses restraining himself from saying anything else "Alright fine but all of us will be going I have business in that area and we need to change bases anyway" Pein finally sighs out causing Hidan to yell and race out of his office in his hurry to pack up his few valuable items 'Why can't I have normal shinobi' Pein thought eye twitching in mild annoyance.
"Come on bitch, Kakuzu pack up your stuff we are moving bases and visiting Jashin's temple all in one go" Hidan charges back into the room violet eyes wild and soon the entire Akatsuki was on the move Sakura and Hidan had left a little earlier so that Sakura could get some souvenirs from a couple of shops like Kakuzu had suggested after awhile the rest of the Akatsuki caught up with them and a day later after not stopping to rest and Hidan having to carry Sakura as she slept they ran into trouble.
Wherever Sakura went trouble always followed her Hidan thought briefly as the man stops their group by standing cockily in front of them before his eyes narrowed on Hidan who carried Sakura "Hand the girl over you kidnappers and I'll let you go slightly unharmed" the man calls out flashing a slashed out headband in their direction "Why would we do that when the girl is perfectly capable of leaving anytime she wishes" Pein speaks up from the back where he had been speaking with Konan.
"Why is she knocked out then" the man smirks thinking he had them "She's not knocked out you dumb fucker now shut the hell up and let her sleep" the silver-haired man that was carrying the pinkette hissed quietly but alas his words weren't quiet enough and sure enough the girl slowly came awake with a yawn "What's going on Hidan" Sakura asks "This fucker thinks we kidnapped you" Hidan's eyes snap down to her before setting Sakura on her feet so that she could see the ninja that had idiotically approached the Akatsuki.
"Little girl I suggest you step away from them they are rogue ninja's" the man beckons Sakura forward with his hand sighing in frustration when she doesn't move from her spot next to Hidan "So are you or did you just forget that little fact" Sakura frowns at him she had been sleeping so well and now she had to walk again "Fine I'll admit that I also am a rogue but at least I don't go around murdering innocents like them" the man calls out smugly thinking that again he had them caught.
"I wouldn't call the people they kill innocent in fact what these guys are doing are a whole heap of more help than what other rogues do" Sakura crosses her arms angrily over her chest glaring now at the man who dared insult the Akatsuki blinking the guy stares at her stupidly "They've clearly brainwashed you no matter little girl I'll save you from them" the man announces with a smile that was supposed to be reassuring but only further pissed Sakura off "May I Pein-san" she turns emerald eyes on the leader.
"As long as you finish it quickly" Pein sighs and the group as a whole take a step back giving Sakura room for her fight "Cha" she pumps her fist in the air charging forward smirking and before the guy realized what happened he was sitting on the ground groaning in pain "That's what you get for messing with me" Sakura smirks the chakra scalpel she had used fading from her hand as she walks with the Akatsuki again as they start forward seeing that the fight was over and they would get no more trouble from that person.
"I'm so fucking proud of you bitch" Hidan hugs her to his side before releasing her and Sakura smiles up at him happily "Thanks Hidan" she bobs her head up and down a few times before looking forward so that she didn't run into anyone and soon enough they had reached the new base but instead of Hidan dragging her off to room with him and Kakuzu again Konan took her by the arm and showed her to her own room that had a bed in it "I figured you'd be more comfortable with a bed of your own" the blue-haired woman smiles sweetly at her.
"Thanks Konan-san but I really didn't mind the arrangement from before" Sakura admits sheepishly "Tell me sweetie do you like Hidan" Konan finally asks sitting on the bed this causes Sakura to choke on air and cough deeply "No absolutely not Hidan is like an older brother a very annoying older brother at that to me and I have someone I like" her face burns red at the end of her sentence and Konan peers at her curiosity in her amber eyes "And does this boy that you like, like you back" she asks.
Sakura nods because that's all she really could do before getting up on the bed and laying back with a content sigh before she had time to really relax the door slams open and Hidan comes in the room "Come on Jashin's temple waits for fucking no one" he nearly yells and Sakura scrambles up off the bed throwing a later over her shoulder at Konan who sighed she had hoped to get a little more information out of the girl and now she had to wait until Sakura got back so that she could talk to her more.
"Wait right there Hidan" Pein's voice calls out from down the hallway and Hidan freezes in his tracks causing Sakura to crash into him and fall on her ass a few moments later she had picked herself up from the ground as the Akatsuki members appear in the hall Pein leading them "Alright Hidan lead the way to this temple" he gestures for Hidan to start walking as Deidara groans from the back of the group "I don't understand why we have to go to yeah" he whines loudly a moment later he is smacked on the back of his head.
"Shut up Deidara" Kisame scolds none of them were happy about being forced into the outing but he wasn't going to moan and bitch about it because sometimesninja had to do things they didn't like all the time it was just the shinobi way of life thoroughly scolded Deidara falls silent and 20 minutes later they arrive at the weirdest temple any of them had seen before it was only familiar to two of the people that being Hidan and Sakura as they recognize Jashin's mark above the temple.
Entering the temple Sakura looked around in awe while the others were a little curious but not to curious "Come here Sakura" Hidan gestures for her to follow him eagerly as he leads her down a little hall to the main sacrificial hall "Ooooh we're in luck guess what you get to experience your first ritual" Hidan smirks down at Sakura only to pause at the look in her eyes "Um Sakura" his forehead creases when she starts laughing drawing everyones attention "Hidan I've already made my first sacrifice to Lord Jashin" Sakura answers seriously now finished with her laughter.
"That's impossible when did you become immortal" Hidan crouches down in front of her "It was when Sasuke died I kinda snapped but it was only temporary immortality I don't have it now" Sakura admits staring blankly lost in her thoughts of sadness again eyeing the obviously broken girl Itachi approaches her "You really cared for Sasuke didn't you Sakura-san" he asks shaking her out of her thoughts "Well not in the way you think I did and at first I outright disliked him but nobody not even Sasuke deserved to die like that" Sakura admits.
Suddenly the temple didn't seem as interesting as before to Hidan as he watches his little protege "What you need is closure obviously you still have things left to tell this boy and I know just the person who can help us" Hidan speaks up seriously for once sounding wise as Sakura looks up at him he knew exactly what he had to do to help Sakura start healing from the death of a friend "Lord Jashin" he says simply watching as Sakura's eyes light up in determination at the thought.
With that Hidan set up the ritual and Sakura learned something new that day "Jashin Lord of Slaughter sweep us away into your garden of death" Hidan prayed at the stone altar before nudging Sakura in the side to do the same while the others watched on in confusion as the two simultaneously convulsed and then slumped on the ground their hearts not beating Kakuzu having seen Hidan do this particular ritual before wasn't worried 'Ok I am for the girl' he admits only to himself.
Inside Jashin's garden "My two favorite followers what can I do for you today" Jashin asks politely he already knew what they were there for Jashin just wanted to hear it said "Sakura here wants so fucking closure with icecubes little brother" Hidan bows at the waist prompting Sakura to do the same before nodding in acquiesce "Yes, Lord Jashin there are so many things left unsaid" she sighs bitterly knowing that she should have already let this go but couldn't find it in herself to do so "If that's the case why don't you come out boy so that my follower can talk to you" Jashin calls out smirking to someone over his shoulder.
Sakura watched in fascination as the shadows bend and stretch before ripping pulling back to reveal "SASUKE-KUN" she shrieks running headlong into the confused boy and sending them crashing to the ground with a loud oomph from Sasuke "Sakura where is this" Sasuke twists his head this way and that trying to get a good look at his surroundings "Nevermind that Sasuke I have so many things I want to tell you" Sakura bounces on his stomach causing Sasuke to wince but chuckle at his pink-haired teammate.
"Alright but do you think we could talk comfortably meaning you aren't sitting on my stomach bouncing and Im not laying down" Sasuke wheazes out "Of course" Sakura nearly shrieks out sliding of Sasuke's stomach smoothly and sitting on the ground indian style just now realizing that they were alone Hidan and Jashin had given them some privacy when Sasuke was sat upright she turned to him eagerly opening her mouth to start her questions when he interrupts "Firstly Sakura did you just call me Sasuke-kun, and secondly where are we at least tell me that much" Sasuke asks curiously "Ooops oh well your an important friend and it doesn't mean what you think and secondly this is Lord Jashin's garden" Sakura gestures all around her briefly.
"Alright who is Jashin and how did he bring me here" Sasuke asks again interest peaked "Ok don't be surprised but Jashin is the God of Slaughter and I follow him it's not what you think Sasuke, I only off bad guys" Sakura grins sheepishly seeing the horrifying look in Sasuke's onyx eyes "And as for how he brought you here I'm really not sure Jashin could probably do anything he wants if he wanted to if you know what I mean" Sakura answers his second question "So you said you have some things to tell me" Sasuke spoke up after a few minutes of processing the information Sakura had given him.
"Yes, I met Itachi" here Sakura brightened "He was saddened by your death Sasuke, Itachi-san still cares" Sakura announces to Sasuke's disbelief though he supposed he could believe her just this once "Also I'm sorry for always being horrible to you Sasuke and always laughing at you and insulting you and never trying to get along" with that said tears begin coursing down Sakura's cheeks and Sasuke's eyes widen in shock as his death flashes through him eyes "I'm really dead then aren't I" he asks defeated "Yes and I swear to avenge you by sacrificing the one responsible" Sakura seethes out repressed fury radiating from her.
"Sakura revenge isn't worth it if you let it consume you I know that now call it insight from my colossal mistakes" Sasuke wipes her tears off her cheeks now that it was clear that she was done crying "Oh don't you worry Sasuke, I'll get my revenge and I'll do it with a clear head too" Sakura rubbed her face "Oh Lord Jashin gave me a little ferret that looks just like you so I named him" Sakura squeals suddenly and in sync "Sasuke" both teens say together causing Sakura to laugh happily the sadness she had been feeling fading as if it had never been there the longer she sat and talked to Sasuke.
"Sakura I feel my time running out here and there's one last thing I have to tell you before I go" Sasuke suddenly announces his body fading slowly "What is it Sasuke" Sakura furrows her eyebrows together in concern "I've been with Shisui my brother will know that name tell Itachi that Danzou is up to his tricks again he dug up my grave you can't let Danzou ruin the Uchiha anymore than he already has Sakura please I entrust the protection of the last remaining Uchiha to you because I know that you can" Sasuke speaks quickly fading faster until he was gone and then the shadows are ripped apart and she could see Hidan and Jashin again her thought's a swirling torrent of hate at what Sasuke had just told her.
"You were right Hidan, I definitely needed that and Thank you Lord Jashin for giving me the chance to get my feelings out" Sakura bows at the waist and both men one unearthly and the other earth bound could tell that Sakura was eager to leave but she was being polite about it Jashin waves them off and suddenly they woke up back in their own bodies Sakura flew to her feet and looked around frantically shocking the others when she runs over to Itachi and practically glues herself to his side "Hi" she squeaks out panting breathlessly.
"Itachi-san, I talked to Sasuke in Jashin's garden and Sasuke had some things of importance to tell me" she whispers and Itachi tilts his head down to look at her before nodding at her unasked question "Let's go back to the base it's clear we are done here" Hidan speaks up noticing the angry glint in Sakura's emerald eyes and wisely keeps himself from cussing the particular glint usually meant he was about to get clobbered but it was apparent that this anger was directed at someone else.
The entire trek back to the base Sakura stayed firmly glued to Itachi's side twisting her head every which way that she could completely alert of her surroundings when they were safely inside the underground base Sakura relaxed following Itachi to his room which was right across from hers "What is it Sakura-san" Itachi asked when they were hidden behind a sound-proofing jutsu and the door was locked "Sasuke told me to tell you that that he's seen Shisui and that Danzou was up to his old tricks again whatever that means" Sakura reeled off quickly causing Itachi's sharigan to blaze to life in anger "He also dug up Sasuke's grave" she finishes a nervous smile on her lips "He what" Itachi hisses out furious at the thought of someone doing something that atrocious.
This was about Sasuke his precious little brother sure he had probably mentally scarred the boy but he still loved him despite that "Sakura-san you should get some rest I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be hectic" Itachi told the pink-haired girl removing the jutsu she had put up and exiting the room stalking down the hall cloak flapping in the wind as he walked Itachi had to talk to Pein something had to be done about Danzou and he wouldn't let the man ruin the Uchiha name any further with his greedy obsession of the Sharigan.
"Leader something has to be done about Danzou from the Leaf Village, I'm not usually one to complain but he has gone to far" Itachi immediately announces when he has permission to enter Pein's office "I assume this has something to do with Sakura-san" Pein sighs suddenly wishing he had sent the girl back home and not allowed her to stay she was proving far more trouble than his organization combined "Yes, apparently she talked to Sasuke in Jashin's garden and he told her some interesting things" the sharigan heir folds himself into a chair completely on edge from this.
Pein lets out a long suffering sigh "Konan gather the members we are going to the Leaf Village" he orders the blue-haired woman "Of course Pein" Konan answers politely before she disappears in a swirl of paper a few minutes later the entire Akatsuki stood before him the only person missing was Sakura, Pein looked to Konan "She's asleep, I think we should settle this matter ourselves and not involve her anymore than we need to besides with the information she's given us we can finally get our revenge" Konan shrugs "We need her to validate our proof" Itachi spoke.
"Ah didn't think about that" Konan giggles sheepishly before heading out the door again 10 minutes later the two females walked through the door one yawning widely Sakura blinks for a few moments before holding still her body tense like a spring set to release at moments notice "Sakura" Pein addresses her mulling over his words "We can't take the time to travel to the Leaf Village is there any transportation methods you would suggest" he finally sighs out hating to ask but wanting to get this issue settled and over with before it became a huge problem to them.
Sakura nods slowly while wondering if the little bit she had would be enough to get the entire group to her home "Yes" she finally answers looking as if she was in pain while holding up her wrist for Pein to see "How is that tiny bit of sand going to help up" Kisame snarls at her and Sakura presses herself into Hidan's side who looked furious but it was Kakuzu who spoke up "That sand protects her, if she says it will work, I for one will believe it" Kakuzu defends Sakura all with out wasting a single moment.
"So how does the sand work Sakura-san" Pein asks while staring at Kakuzu like he was an alien "Well it's hard to explain but I can show you" Sakura grins sheepishly and they all watch in amazement as the sand surrounds her and she disappears only to reappear a few minutes later next to Konan waving "And does it work with other people" he asks again and Sakura nods taking Konan's hand and Pein watches as the two females disappear again and appear closer to him just to prove and that was enough for Pein who nods in complete acceptance.
"Ok the village should be asleep so it makes our job easier of getting to Lady Hokage" Sakura spoke up remembering that from memory "Ok if you could just put a hand on my shoulder and each of you are touching this should work" she says again mentally pleading to the sand that it deliver them safely to the Hidden Leaf Village when the sand encases them all blocking their vision and making it dark Sakura knew that it was working and suddenly she wondered what else she could with the sand but that thought would have to come later.
Several minutes later they are set down in the middle of the Leaf Village when Sakura could see again she looked around and then to some of the Akatsuki's amusement started glaring at the sand "You couldn't have set us down any closer" she snaps softly before shaking her head and leading the entire group through the village avoiding people by ducking into dark alleys every so often before finally arriving at the steps that led up to the Hokage Tower where she could still feel Lady Tsunade's chakra in her office obviously still working, Sakura took a deep breath.