"I thought you said we would be doing a power assessment," Sasuke commented as they moved through the trees.

His cousin looked at him and raised a single eyebrow. "Do you think it's smart for us to have a pow-wow before we track down an Akatsuki member that also happens to be an Uchiha? Not to mention his fishy looking partner?"

"I guess that's at least a decent excuse as to why I can't punch you," Sasuke admitted, causing his cousin to shake his head and look up at the leaves as they jumped from branch to branch.

"Is this what having a little brother is actually like?" Shisui asked and from his tone, Sasuke figured he didn't have a say in it. "I think I've been spoiled with Tachi- you're a downright menace."

Sasuke's lips fell into a flat line and glared at his cousin.

Apparently sensing his annoyance, Shisui spared him a glance and grinned. "It's okay, squirt. Diverse personalities among a family is healthy."

"What did I even do to piss you off?" Sasuke questioned, watching his cousin's playful grin fall into a grim frown.

"Trust me," Shisui said seriously. "You don't want to know."

"Yes, I do," Sasuke immediately countered back but his cousin shook his head.

"No, you don't," Shisui insisted and this time, his stare held something almost akin to pity in it. "When I tell you that you don't want to know, squirt, you need to trust me. Being pissed at you is really just an outlet for my anger 'cause I can't actually punch the jerk. And if I'm irrationally mad about it, there's no telling what you'll do."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sasuke asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It means you're a fragile emotional mess," Shisui snorted, a knowing smile now playing at his lips. "Don't think I don't know about you and Sakura-chan having a lover's spat. I know you both enough to put two and two together without anyone saying anything."

Sasuke remained silent- he knew that anything he said would confirm his nosy cousin's suspicions. And truthfully, his entire family understood that he and Sakura could be labeled as 'complicated' currently. He didn't need Shisui of all people to tell him that he and Sakura were not seeing eye to eye right now. He knew that perfectly well on his own.

"Where are we going?" Sasuke decided to ask, knowing his cousin would continue with this conversation until forced to think about their actual mission.

"Earth Country," Shisui answered. "I saw that Kisame was assigned the responsibility of capturing the Four-Tails Jinchūriki. And he supposedly left Iwa but has been sighted in some of the nearby villages."

"Iwa can't stand Konoha," Sasuke pointed out and Shisui nodded.

"Hence the two-man team," He explained. "We're treating this like a stealth mission once we leave the Land of Fire. Any Iwa shinobi that spot us unannounced could be the perfect ammunition to spark an unnecessary war."

"And we're two of the fastest shinobi that can't be traced," Sasuke added, glancing at his cousin.

"I've also got the ability to disable anyone that comes within a 250-yard radius of us," Shisui noted. "They can suspect us but we'll be too far gone by the time they get out of my genjutsu. Even the Tsuchikage won't start a war for that."

"Sounds like asking for trouble," Sasuke said and his cousin shrugged.

"We're hunting down the Akatsuki, squirt. Of course it's asking for trouble."

Sakura couldn't help but feel like a failure. Asuma had still died on the mission- though from the bits that Shikamaru managed to tell both her and Naruto, it happened differently. She was never really close with Team 10's sensei- in fact she was pretty sure in her old life, the man used her name as an incentive for Ino to get stronger. But that was the extent of it. Sakura knew how much Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji all looked up to him, as well as Konohamaru. And Kurenai was pregnant with their child.

Asuma was still killed in Hidan, and to her, the way it happened didn't even matter. He still died. Team 10 lost their sensei. His child would never know their father. Even though the details had been different, it still happened.

Though, Shikamaru got his revenge and stepped up just as he had in her old life. Naruto developed that ridiculous jutsu that would literally destroy his arm until he mastered Sage mode.

Which, ultimately brought them to the news they got last week. Jiraiya had gone to Ame around the same time Sasuke and Shisui left. His messenger frog appeared a week ago. Jiraiya was still killed as well.

And this, this she couldn't help but feel personally responsible for.

"Jiraiya, please let Sakura speak to you," Tsunade requested but he shook his head.

"Don't tell me you've grown soft, Tsunade," He teased, crossing his arms and closing his eyes. "You'd reveal something as top secret as that just to change my fate. I'd think you felt something for me if that were the case. But it's not, right?"

"Jiraiya-san, please," Sakura implored. "I don't even know the full details, just the thing you learn. It could change everything."

"That's all I need to know, then," Jiraiya said, sighing before he opened his eyes to look at the two. "My life is not one that is worth risking the fate of this reality for. Can you say for certain that changing this will result in a better future?"

"Not for certain, no," Sakura admitted but continued when Jiraiya unfolded his arms as if to emphasize his point. "But it could save our home, Jiraiya-san. Think of Naruto."

"I am," Jiraiya said, his gaze hardening. "I believe Naruto is the Child of Prophecy. He's learned all he will for me. My role is complete. Let me do what I need to do to protect this village."

"You don't want to take the chance that this could endanger everyone further," Tsunade said in a controlled tone, though she struggled to keep it even as she continued. "But we have an advantage here, Jiraiya. We know the outcome and how it will endanger the village. You're saying that isn't sufficient enough reason to change it?"

"I'm saying that I don't want my fate to be any different than it was always meant to be," Jiraiya told them calmly. "Besides, I can already read the situation well enough. Who's to say that won't be enough to change it? You both worry too much. Sakura-chan, you're even more emotional than Tsunade, so don't let that interfere with your duty to this village."

"Right now, you're the one interfering with my duty to this village," Sakura responded harshly. "I'm trying to save Naruto." She took a deep breath and willed herself not to think of Naruto when they found out about Jiraiya in her old life. "Naruto is the most important person in this world. All three of us know this. I'm trying to save my best friend from going through what he did."

"Did he not come out stronger?" Jiraiya asked and Sakura opened her mouth but then closed it.

Naruto had come out stronger. Because that was who he was as a person. He would come out on top of almost everything this world threw at them. Every obstacle, every loss, and every enemy he would encounter shaped him into the beloved person she held so dearly to her heart.

"Sometimes, the pain of loss is a better teacher than any lesson someone living could give," Jiraiya said wisely. "That is all I have left to give Naruto. He'll be just fine. He has the rest of Team 7. He has you and Tsunade. Hell, he even has the Uchiha clan behind him. He's going to grow stronger than me soon. Might as well make an exit and be known as a legend. That sounds like a great ending, actually. Oh, but I won't have the time to write this story, huh?"

Throughout the entire conversation, this was the only portion that actually made him look regretful. "Such a shame," He shook his head. "You'll have to tell my tale to the Academy kids, Tsunade. Consider it my last request."

"You," Tsunade started, biting her lip as she focused on one of her childhood best friends. Sakura imagined it was similar to how she felt about Naruto. "You coward. You took up training Naruto and now you're just done. You're going to choose to keep your fate the same despite the fact that we can change it."

"You always did know me best, Tsunade," Jiraiya said softly and in that moment, Sakura felt as though she was intruding on something. She knew Jiraiya loved Tsunade. Naruto had told her in her old life. And though Tsunade never voiced it, Sakura knew her master loved Jiraiya as well. She had just closed off her heart after Dan.

Sakura understood her master more than anyone would ever know. And watching them now, Sakura couldn't help but see her and her idiotic best friend during the war. How her best friend died despite her attempts to keep his heart beating. But without Kurama, Naruto would never be able to wake up again. And he never did in her old life.

"I'll forbid you to go," Tsunade whispered and Jiraiya grinned.

"Like I cater to village rules," He told her. "Bet against me. You never win."

"Jiraiya-"

"Tsunade, I'm going."

Maybe if she had just blurted it out, she could have changed his fate. But as it was, they were left with a coded message and a broken Naruto.

Sakura couldn't find him for the majority of the night. She searched most of the village and his known haunts, but it wasn't until Iruka passed her that he informed her of where Naruto was.

In her old life, Sakura never managed to cross paths with Iruka. She had searched for Naruto but never found him. She found Shizune and took care of Tsunade.

But in this life, Sakura was determined to find her best friend. She couldn't help but feel completely responsible for Jiraiya's death. And when she saw him on that bench, with fresh tears streaming down his face and falling into a puddle of what looked like a melted popsicle, Sakura couldn't help the tears in her own eyes.

"Naruto," She whispered, coming up to him and knelt on the ground, careful to avoid the puddle that was definitely a melted orange popsicle.

He didn't even acknowledge her, keeping his stare on the ground and the tears in her eyes started to fall as she saw his heartbroken state.

"Mikoto and Itachi-nii are worried about you," Sakura told him, watching him for a moment before she continued. "I'm worried too."

Naruto shook his head and somehow, Sakura understood. "Can I sit with you, then?"

When Naruto didn't say anything against that, she stood up and sat on the bench next to her best friend. She took both of his hands in hers and leaned her head onto his shoulder. He gripped her hands tightly as his sobs began to choke up in his throat. Sakura let her tears fall silently onto their laps and wondered how she just never could seem to save Naruto from his pain. Her best friend was there for her no matter what, in both of the lives she's led. And this seemed to be the best she could manage for him.

After a while, Sakura managed to coax Naruto into going to the Uchiha compound with her and the two spent the night in Sasuke's room, sprawled out on sheets they stole from his bed, despite the absence of their teammate. They did this exact thing as kids, almost always complaining that the hard floor wasn't comfortable but also refusing to sleep in separate rooms so they could all have their own bed. Sasuke would probably be incredibly annoyed with them when he found out, but Sakura didn't exactly care. For her, the selfish reason for going to the compound was that it was comforting to her. To be with a family that loved the both of them so much and understood when to pry and when to leave tea outside the door. She figured Naruto would feel at least similarly. And when he managed to lull himself into a sleep next to her, Sakura felt somewhat accomplished, despite the fact that she knew it was just because he was emotionally drained.

Shikamaru found them at the compound the next day and got Naruto to go on a walk with him. They shared a knowing look with each other before the Nara heir led Naruto wherever.

And then, later that day, Naruto left for Mt. Myoboku for Sage training. Sakura conversed with Shikamaru and managed to convince him to let her tell him what the message meant. Konoha prepared for an attack, with Tsunade citing it as the natural response to the loss of a shinobi who had been sent to Ame on a mission. She let it be known that there would be multiple intruders, each of them having connected sight and the rinnegan. It was the most Tsunade and Shikamaru would allow her to say and Itachi supported their choice.

"We cannot act like we have all the information and plan for the events of your past life, Sakura," Tsunade said. "We cannot be certain that events will play out exactly as they had."

"Yes, shishou."

So, when the first Pain attacked a week after Naruto left, Sakura and Shikamaru immediately jumped into action. He headed for Kurenai and she followed the path she originally ran. Except on her way this time, she could feel the difference in her body. It was the exact feeling she felt during the war, when her mark was unleashed. It was equally exhilarating and relieving at the same time. She would have her mark in mere minutes. She could keep Itachi's illness from worsening until she figured out the details in her newest hypothesis.

Sakura saw the centipede head for that old woman and child once again, stepping in and demolishing the creature with a single punch. She healed the child and sent them off towards the evacuation routes.

"Sakura!" Iruka called and she looked to her old Academy teacher.

"It's the Akatsuki, isn't it?" Sakura inquired and he nodded.

"Yes, that's tall we know for sure at this point," He said and looked at the smoke beginning to ride into the sky and they both heard the shouts of ninja and civilians alike filling the air. "You need to head to the hospital. I'm sure there's an entire surge of wounded there."

"Of course," Sakura nodded, giving her old teacher one last look. "Good luck, Iruka-sensei."

"You too."

Sakura headed for the hospital, knowing that it was in a dire state but was stopped when one of the Path's landed in front of her. Her eyes widened at the long haired Path that grinned at her.

"Pink hair," He confirmed, holding out a hand. "You've been chosen by Pain. We have been instructed to take you alive, but if you resist, your soul will do just fine."

Sakura's eyes widened, as she pinpointed which power this Path had. This was the one Ino and Shizune encountered in her old life. The one that took Shizune's soul.

Sakura changed her stance and scanned the area for any of the other Path's. But it appeared as though they were alone, so she just had to focus on this single one. Her genjutsu tricks were useless against the rinnegan, but in a few more moments, she'll have three years worth of stored chakra added to her arsenal. She'd just have to do this the way she would have in her old life- with brute strength and logic.

"I'm a medical ninja," She said to the Path. "I am required by protocol to flee any head-on battle when there are still those enabled fight. Fortunately for us both, I'm no ordinary medical ninja."

"So, you are resisting?" He inquired as she smirked.

"I'll never bow down to the likes of the Akatsuki," She said proudly. "Or any ninja that aims to harm the ones I love, even if I'm severely outmatched. You don't hold a candle to the monsters I've fought."

"You are the Kyuubi Jinchuriki's teammate," He told her, his gaze leaving hers for a moment and stared at the sky. "And Uchiha Sasuke's as well. I'm not allowed to kill you, it seems. It does not matter, you seem to have a death wish regardless of my orders."

"Who's orders?" Sakura asked, but then the Path moved towards her at a frightening speed. She side-stepped the man and used her forearm to stop his hand from coming down onto her head. He continued to put pressure on her forearm, his other hand coming around, but she grabbed his wrist in a vice-like grip.

"Who's orders?" She asked fiercely, frowning when the Path remained silent. Then, she felt the mark slowly become evident on her forehead and it felt so reassuring. She smirked. "You picked a bad day to come for Naruto. And to come for me. Let Obito know that I'm not easy to catch."

When the mark was completed, Sakura swung her foot into the Path's abdomen, sending him flying across the village. She jumped after him, internally thanking herself for at least sending him towards the wooded, unpopulated are of the village rather than the center of it. When she appeared above him, she used her fist to knock him into the ground, there sheer impact causing the earth to shatter around the crater his body caused.

With the Path's body utterly broken, Sakura landed by his side and carefully took the rods out of his body. Even though she wasn't directly touching them, she could feel the negative chakra. She worked quickly, so the Path wouldn't receive anymore of Nagato's chakra and be able to move around despite the body being essentially unusable. Once that was completed, Sakura stood up and frowned.

She had gone back in time and hoped to change this invasion. But she had to hurry if she wanted to get to the hospital and save the lives she had in her old life. Before that, she touched her forehead and smiled.

"The boys are going to hate that I have this," She mused, thinking back to both of her boys. They cited her being the medical ninja the reason to exclude her from fights and to step in and take hits for her. Now, she could fight back that she was excempt from that particular rule.

She then wondered what both were doing right now. Neither were here the last time the invasion occurred, or at least when it first started, but this time it was different. Shisui and Sasuke should have been home by now. They were due back a few days ago. And Naruto. . . Naruto would come exactly when they needed him to. When she needed him to, actually.

She wondered if they would both show up. Naruto would- Tsunade already sent a messenger for him. But as for Sasuke. . . Sakura wasn't sure where he was. She had no idea if he and Shisui were even okay. Having them would be an immense help today. She sighed, looking at the village and then to the outskirts of the village where she knew at least one person who was still here to help, even if the doctor in her hated the idea.

Sakura bit her thumb and for the first time in this life, summoned Katsuyu. She held the mini slug in her hand and wondered if they would see the Three-Way Deadlock in this life as they had in her old one. Sasuke wasn't Orochimaru's student, so he didn't have a contract with snakes, though she knew that like his brother and cousin had a blood contract with crows and ravens, he had formed one with hawks in his old life.

"Sakura-chan!" The slug greeted. "You unleashed your mark! Tsunade-sama is so proud! She says you should be in the hospital and not the woods."

"I took down one of the Path's," Sakura informed her. "I'm headed for the hospital now. But I need to reverse summon you and two more of your fragments to Itachi-nii. He has a scroll already. I don't want to take the chance that he engages in a battle and gets worse. Mikoto and Izumi should both be with him now. Tell them it's the Akatsuki leader, Pain, attacking and that they're after Naruto. They need to evacuate somewhere underground and they need to do it now."

"Of course, Sakura-chan," The slug said, disappearing from her hand. She took a breath and headed for the hospital.

Because while she could now be considered an offensive player, Sakura knew that her best work would always lie within the medical field. She kept her head low and avoided anymore battles- if Pain wanted her, then he was most likely taking orders from Obito. And if Obito wanted her. . . Sakura didn't wanted to ponder about that right now.

She had to focus. And she had to get to the hospital where she knew she'd survive Pain's Almighty Push. She didn't want to take the chance of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Once she arrived, she worked to get the chaos under control without anyone telling her she needed to take charge. Choji had shown up and wished her luck, while she hurried to the most injured shinobi.

It was going to be a long day.