Author's Note: Hey everyone! How are you? Well, here's the next chapter. So far I'm really excited about this story and how it's coming along. I couldn't wait for this update, because I wanted to let all of you know that I made an amv for the fanfic, which you could find on Youtube. The name of the amv is called Dedara and Sakura Collide (Better Version) my SN on youtube is Akiny82. I'll be putting up a link for it on my profile...so you could try there. If not, just go to you tube and type in my sn. Well, Hope you like the amv as well as this chapter. Jya-ne!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Requested by: Crazy Neko Girl

Special Thanks: From here on out, I have to give special thanks to Megumi-Sachou and my sister. Both of them gave me idea's to make this story as unique as possible

Sakura's eyes slowly opened only to be met with a pair of Brown and Blue eyes. The looks on their face was twisted in concern for the girl on the ground. She closed her eyes again as she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She slowly sat up and found that someone was helping her up. She opened her eyes to see that Naruto had knelled down besides her. A small blush crossed her cheeks briefly at how close his face was to her own. He looked deeply into her eyes as he spoke.

"Sakura-chan...are you ok?" He asked out of concern.

"I guess..." A weak smile came across her face as she looked at both him and Tsunade. "I suppose I heard Tsunade-sama wrong. I thought that she said that Dei-kun betrayed the village by joining that notorious group...Akatsuki." She laughed softly as she stood up, with Naruto's help. "Forgive me for-" She was interrupted by Tsunade who spoke in a no nonsense tone.

"Sakura, get it through your head that I'm serious." At this point, Tsunade was getting annoyed and she didn't want to dwell on the topic...for it was something that struck her deeply too. Sakura looked at her with widen eyes and her bottom jaw dropped. Tears swelled up in her eyes and the next thing they knew, she dropped to her knees crying uncontrollably. Naruto once again dropped down by her side wrapping an arm around her, whispering soothing words into her ear.

"Was it me? Did I do something wrong?" She cried out as the tears rocked her body. "Why...why did he do this?"

Sakura was unaware of how much time passed and for the second time that day she felt unbelievably weak. She continued to sit on the ground as she look up at Tsunade waiting for what ever answer she was willing to give her. Tsunade in turn sighed deeply as she found a near by armchair to sit on.

"Where do I begin?" She said more to herself as she rubbed at her temples.

"I don't care where you start, all I want is answers!" Sakura growled in anger. Any hints of anger on her face instantly melted away when Tsunade returned the look ten times fold. Sakura realized she'd gone a bit too far.

"Watch your tone with me young lady! I know your parents raised you to show better respect!" She said in a low treating voice which caused both Naruto and Sakrua to shrink back in fear.

"Yes madam. Please forgive me for my rudeness." Sakura said humbly.

Tsunade simply nodded her head as she continued. "Sakura, you must realize that you didn't do anything wrong." She said softly.

"When you left, he began to change. He was starting to lack in his school work and he was beginning to start a lot of trouble for everyone. Now alone, these actions weren't much to cause alarm. However," She paused for a second as an unreadable look crossed her face. "5 years ago, his parents died in a horrible accident. It was tragic enough when they were alive, how they would hardly give him any attention. Well, when it came time for him to learn about his parents will, they didn't leave anything to him. As a matter of fact, they denied the fact tat they had a child.

Tsunade shook her head as a sad look crossed her face. "Poor child...I could still remember the look on his face. It still remains a mystery why if they didn't care at all, why keep him in that house? Maybe part of them somewhere deep inside cared? I don't know, Anyway, it was from that day forward that he went from bad to worst. He was too much to handle at times so most of the orphanages didn't want to take him in."

"One day a year after his parents death, he simply disappeared. He never came back. We tried to look for him but with no success. Finally about a couple of years ago, we learned from one of our spies posted in another village that they saw a young man fitting Deidara's description, wearing the trade mark cloak of the Akatsuki."

After Tsunade's explanation, there was a very long tense pause before Sakura spoke up. "I see..." She said quietly as she rested her hands on her lap. She was looking down, so Tsunade and Naruto couldn't tell what look was on her face. Before anyone could say anything, she spoke up again. "Has there been any attempt to find him lately?" She asked calmly.

Another pause, then Tsunade spoke. "Sakura, many members of Akatsuki are S class criminals. I wouldn't be surprised if had to commit a very serious crime just to be accepted. Please listen to me Sakura, it's not worth-"

"He's worth everything to me, Tsunade-sama. He saved me from my insecurities when I was little. He taught me so much in the short time I've lived here." She once again spoke quietly. She looked up and locked eyes with the Hokage and the said Hokage saw a genital yet determined look across the girl's face.

"He saved me and I in turn want to save him." She spoke in a determined, yet respectful tone. Both Tsunade and Naruto looked at her in shock. They had a feeling where she was going with this...

"Allow me to go and search for him. When I have then I will capture him and bring him back to be charged for his betrayal. But I ask that his punishment not be too sever until we know to the fullest extent his reasons for his betrayal and learn of the other crimes he may have committed."

...Ok...maybe they weren't expecting THAT, but these words proved to be even more shocking. Immediately Tsunade didn't like the idea. She knew what kind of people these Akatsuki were. Even though they pretty much kept themselves hidden from any major activities, unlike Orochimaru, she knew that they were not the type to be taken lightly.

At the same time, she knew that if Sakura was determined about something, she wouldn't back down easily. Granted it was a fine quality and all, but there were simply times where Tsunade had to firmly place her foot down no matter how much Sakura wouldn't like it.

"Please Tsunade-sama. Even if we don't capture him and we only gather information..." Sakura pleaded as she looked up at the Hokage from her position on the ground.

Tsunade in turn continued to look at the young girl. The second option that Sakura brought up seemed relatively more safer then her original plan, however, the truth of the matter was that regardless it would be an A rank mission and it could at anytime become an S rank mission. She sighed deeply as she once again rubbed at her temples. Did she honestly have a choice? It was almost like telling your teenage daughter that she was forbidden from seeing a boy whom she was dating. Sakura may rebel if she denied her request and at worst, she could simply go down hill since this news deeply affected her.

"Listen to my words carefully Sakura." She spoke up shortly after coming to a decision. Sakura in turn gave the older woman her utmost attention as Tsunade continued. "I can't believe that I'm agreeing to this, but I will grant your request..." At this point Sakura's eyes lit up dramatically. "To gather information on Deidara's were abouts."

That was all she needed to say to get Sakura jumping up and giving her a huge hug. Once Sakura calmed down, Tsunade continued, "However, this mission as you may know cannot be taken lightly. It's an A rank mission, but at anytime can become an S rank. Be prepared. You are simply to gather information and come back to report to me. Is that understood?"

A more calmer Sakura nodded her head with a serious look on her face. She was simply grateful that her request was granted. "Yes Tsunade-sama." She said softly.

"Now with that said, I'd like for you to look for another person to join your group since so far I'm assigning the mission to you and Naruto. You have an hour to look for another member and to prepare yourself for this mission. You are now dismissed." She said in an authoritative tone.

After another 'Thank you' and excited hug from Sakura, both her and Naruto bowed respectfully before leaving the room.

"Naruto." Tsunade called out before Naruto and Sakura left the room. He turned to look at the Hokage with a questioning look on his face. "I want to talk to you, stay behind for a second. Sakura, you may go ahead."

A similar confused look crossed Sakura's face. She opened her mouth to ask a question before Naruto interrupted. " Don't worry Sakura-chan. I'll meet up with you at the main gate and bring the best person I could think of." He said as he flashed her a smile. The look on her face soften up a bit as she smiled back and left. When Tsunade was sure the young girl was a good distance away, she spoke up, thus gaining Naruto's attention.

"Listen Naruto, I'll be blunt. I'm not comfortable giving this assignment to Sakura. I feel that she's not stable enough to handle this mission without proper supervision." She spoke in a quite but blunt tone.

Naruto's eyes widen at her comment and his face twisted into a look of puzzlement. "She's not stable?" He echoed.

She sighed deeply as she returned to her desk. Upon sitting, she looked up at Naruto with a serious look on her face. "Sakura, she...she really is in love with Deidara. I never would have imagined that her feelings for him would grow this much." She paused as she shook her head. "Those two, they were so close. Every time I saw one of them, the other was close behind..."

Although he was listening, he couldn't fully comprehend where she was getting at. "Tsunade-baa-chan..." He began softly, but was interrupted.

"She's going into this mission with her heart and not her mind. I want you to watch her." She said firmly as she looked at the blond haired young man in front of her.

"Excuse me?" Naruto asked in slight bewilderment as he tilted his head slightly.

"In short, I don't want her to be left along in this mission. This is another mission I'm giving just for you Naruto." She once again spoke firmly.

A more serious look came across his face as he nodded his head. "Yes, I understand." He said before bowing respectfully.

"Very well then, you are dismissed." She said as she went back to her paper work and with that Naruto left the room.

About 45 minutes later, Naruto along with Sasuke approached the main gate. Sakura was currently talking to one of the guards and didn't take notice that her teammates were already there. Now, being the prankster that he is at heart, he couldn't help the desire to sneak up on Sakura to scare her. He was about to shout 'Boo!' when the unexpected happened.

Sakura suddenly whipped around with a hand on her him and a raised eyebrow. "You know Naruto, you shouldn't-" Before she could finish, she saw as he nearly jumped out of his skin, crying out in surprise. Sakura together with Sasuke and the other two guards, looked at Naruto with a surprised look on there faces which gradually melted away into an amused look, which in turn broke way to side splitting laugher.

Sakura was hunched over gasping for breath as she finally spoke up. "Gomensai Naruto!" She said as she placed a hand gently on his shoulder. The pout on his face slowly turned to that of a small smile. Before he knew it, he started to laugh as well.

"I guess it was pretty funny." He admitted in a low voice.

"Very." A deep voice behind Sakura said with a hind of a smirk in his tone. Once of Sakura's eyebrows arched up and a puzzled look crossed her delicate face as she tried to place the voice with a face. However, she just couldn't. She turned around and when she did she was met with a nice surprise.

"Sasuke?!" She gasped in surprise as a smile crossed her lips. Not a second later, she left Naruto behind as she ran up to met her old friend.

"Sasu-Nee-San!" She cried out with joy as she embraced him in a warm hug which he gladly returned. Sasuke Uchiha...when she was younger, he was one of her closest friends along with Hinata and Deidara. She could remember playing mock ninja games during late summer afternoons. When she remembered those times, a sad frown came across her face. Sasuke of course saw this and little did he know how right he was about her thinking about HIM.

"Don't worry Saku-Amoto-Chan." He whispered in her ear. "We'll find out where he is." With that said, he pulled away from her giving her a warm smile. Sakura's smile widen. She remembered when they were little, he would always protect her from bullies when Deidara wasn't around. Unlike other girls at the time. She never had a crush on him. So rather then looking at him in a romantic way, she looked at him as more of an older brother, since she didn't have siblings of her own.

"We should start heading out now..." Naruto spoke up as he approached the two. Sakura turned to look at Naruto and then looked back to Sasuke. Her head tilted slightly as she spoke.

"Ne, Sasu-Nee-san, you're coming with us?" She asked out of curiosity.

"Yea, Naruto came over to my place and told me about the mission." Sasuke said as both him and Sakura walked towards the main gate with Naruto following close behind.

"Well, that's great! We could catch up on each other's life while we travel." Sakura said with a warm smile.

'Did I make the right choice in inviting him?' Naruto pondered as the three teens left the village, heading for the Tea Country.

At the same time, Deidara was by the lake laying down trying to get some much needed rest. His partner and himself where at the Tea Country. He was sent by the Akatsuki to pick up some information for the leader's plans as well as to silence a few people. He did his work and was now relaxing under a great Sakura tree by the lake.

He was half asleep when he heard foot steps heading towards him. He incentively knew who it was but paid him no mind. The other figure was a tall male with black spiky hair and he wore a black/orange mask that covered all of his face except for one of his eyes. He was walking over to him with two cans of juice in his hands. He walked closer to Deidara and smiled behind his mask when he noticed that he was covered in cherry petals. He then sat down next to him and held out a can to him.

"Sakura." The masked young man said casually.

Deidara slowly opened his eyes and sat up to take the can from him. "What did you say?" He asked in a slightly annoyed tone.

"Senpai is always so calm under Sakura trees." He said happily. Deidara visibly cringed when he could almost sense the smile coming from behind his partner's mask.

"What nonsense are you going about now Tobi? Un." He asked as he opened his can and started to drank the juice inside.

"I'm not speaking nonsense at all Senpai." Tobi said in his defense. "It's just that I've noticed for as long as we've been partners, that you're always so calm and relaxed when ever you are near Sakura Trees."

"You're eyes are fooling you, if that's what you believe, un." Deidara said indifferently.

"I don't think so Senpai." Tobi said. "It's more then that."

"I think you should mind your own business and do your work." Deidara said plainly as he drank more from the can. "You may be new here, but don't think you can't be easily replaced."

"I'm just curious Senpai, " Tobi spoke again, ignoring Deidara's threat. "What is it about them that you like so much?"

"Shut up." He said in a low and annoyed tone.

"Is it the color?" He asked, continuing to ignore him.

"Shut up." He said again, his voice stressing as he felt his anger rising.

"Is it the smell?" He continued to press out of curiosity as he tilted his head slightly.

"Shut your mouth right now!" He said in a low voice as his anger reached it's peak.

"Ah! I've got it! It's the name Sakura right?" He asked once he came to his own conclusion.

"SHUT THE HELL UP DAMN YOU!!!!!!!!" Deidara shouted in complete anger casing Tobi to flinch back in fear.

"Senpai?" Tobi spoke up in a small voice but was then cut off before he could say more.

"I hate that name and I hate those trees. I'm just so damn tired ok? So leave me alone and let me get some sleep got it?" He growled.

Tobi simply nodded his head as he stood up to go near the lake to skip stones. Deidara looked down at the can of juice in his hand and noticed a single cherry petal floating down before landing on the opening of his juice. At that brief moment, a flash back of him and Sakura appeared in his mind before he dismissed the thought, crushing the can in his hand and tossing it aside, before going back to sleep under the tree.