Worth Searching For

by yokokuroba

She had lost her shinobi status with a deadly poison. With a dying body and injured pride, she traveled the world to find him for more than one reason, but would he accept her after seven years of searching?

4. An Old Friend X Fighting The Past

A/N: This is the revised version of this story. I've doubled up chapters, so what was two chapters have now been combined into one. For instance, chapters one and two have been combined into just chapter one. Chapters three and four are now just chapter two and so on. So now the chapters are longer with between 9,000 and 10,000 words for each. I've also edited all the chapters that were up. I've changed my username and will also be uploading this story onto Archive of our Own under the same username yokokuroba

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or One Piece nor do I make any money from my writings.

Chapter Three: An Old Friend X Fighting The Past

Jade eyes blinked at the clothing the two taller females changed into behind the privacy of broken walls. Halter tops, skirts, and some sort of sleeveless drapes that hung from their shoulders covered the back half of their bodies all the way down to their calves, along with some expensive looking jewelry.

"I don't think that's right." Sakura stated mostly to herself, comparing it to the normal attire of desert citizens. Sanji had picked out the outfits for everyone and she hadn't failed to notice the obvious fact her own outfit hardly showed any skin. A pair of light purple pants that were tied to her waist by a light blue sash that tied off at her side while the bottom of the pants ruffled outward and tightened at her ankles by more cloth the same color as the sash. She wore dark purple sandals with light purple designs swirling around at the seams, a light purple shirt with the same designs as the shoes but as a darker shade and the shirt fell loosely around her torso, though the sleeves were held tightly together by light blue cloth at her shoulders and wrists, the material near her wrists spreading outward in the same fashion as the pants.

Two purple hair clips that had twin butterflies on them held her bangs securely to the side of her face, her long hair pulled up into a tight bun and held together by a decorative hair stick that had small bells and gems hanging down from the end. It was the only thing she had picked out herself, it having reminded her of Kakashi and the bell tests he had put Team Seven through a few times when they were growing up.

Sakura glanced around at the different outfits the cook had picked out as the blonde had his back turned to the women while Zoro and Usopp stuffed their faces with various types of food. Chopper laid down to the side by Karoo, on his back and his hooves covering his sensitive nose, trying to block out the strong scent of the perfume Nami wore. The pinkette felt pity for the small creature and she knew that if she were able to send chakra to her nose like she used to be able to out of habit, she would be smelling the flowery scent to the point of tears or suffocation as well.

"Sakura, get over here and eat something." Usopp said, causing her to look from the doctor over toward him. He had a piece of bread haphazardly stuffed into his mouth while he gestured with his hand to come toward them. "Before Zoro eats it all."

The swordsman set a disapproving frown on his face while he looked at the sniper before biting into a piece of meat. "Look who's talking." he grunted through a mouthful of food.

The pinkette smiled at them and nodded her head, "Aye." Jogging over to them, she realized then she had been using that word more often lately and the thought caused her smile to brighten at some of the memories that came with that word. Good memories during dark times.

Stopping beside Usopp, she sat down next to him and gratefully received a piece of meat from his outstretched hand. She took her time biting into it and savoring the taste, unlike the two males that continued to ravage their own food. Thinking back over the events of the day, Sakura frowned at the fact she wasn't able to find anything useful to her. Shortly after they had left the tavern and she was put on 'restriction', Sanji had left the group to go flirt with women after instructing Chopper to watch over her while he 'shopped'. Sakura had sighed at his behavior and had separated from the reindeer to shop while he found a shady place to lay. He had been extremely reluctant at first, but the harsh sun attacking his furry coat helped convince him otherwise, well that and her comment of the possibility of him getting heat stroke. It was safe to say at the time that they had all lost track of each other but had somehow managed to come together once again and start properly shopping.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sakura watched the blonde cook fawn over Vivi and her outfit while she tried to explain to him that they were crossing a desert and that the outfits he had picked out for them weren't exactly appropriate. He then turned his attention to the trio that sat on the ground, eating.

"Now, let's take a look at you guys." he smirked, and they were looking up at him with their eyebrows furrowed, their jaws chomping away on the food in their mouths. Sakura looked up at him curiously while the cook added, "Compared to the lovely ladies, you two look like sloppy bandits."

"You might want to look in a mirror." the swordsman replied, and Sakura quickly glanced between the two, sensing a rivalry that was strictly between the blonde and green-haired man.

Usopp dismissed the cook's comment and turned his head to look back at Chopper, the little reindeer in the same position as he was moments before, letting out small sounds of discomfort. "Hey, Chopper." the sniper called out through a mouthful of food. "What are you doing?"

Sakura looked ahead of her and reached for one of the bottles. She picked up a dark purple one that was among three other ones, and she put the opening to her nose before sniffing. Alcohol. Before she even had time to decide if she wanted to drink it or not, the bottle was taken from her by a tan-colored hand.

"Don't even think about drinking that." she heard a deep voice say and she looked up to see Zoro pulling the bottle toward him while he picked up another. A clearer bottle. Holding it out toward her, he put his own bottle to his lips and set a slightly stern gaze on her. "Here."

The pinkette smiled as she took the bottle from him. "Thank you." Slowly drinking it to wash down the food she ate, she focused her thoughts on other matters while she vaguely listened to the commotion the crew members made about Chopper's nose and Nami's perfume.

"At any rate," Usopp piped in, sitting to the side after the trio were done eating. "At least now we've gathered all the supplies we'll need in order to cross the desert."

"Yeah." Vivi said softly, her frowning gaze dropping down to the ground.

Nami was looking at the blue-haired woman when she added, "This oasis, you said it's called 'Yuba', right?"

Vivi turned her head toward the redhead, though she didn't look at her, keeping her eyes down toward the ground and the pinkette could tell she was contemplating something. "Yes, that's correct, but first we'll have to travel through the desert." The princess furrowed her eyebrows before she added, "That trip will most likely be a lot more difficult than any of you can even begin to imagine."

Ha! If only she knew. Sakura had her dealings with deserts before and she always turned out just fine, but now wasn't the time to bring that up. At least not yet. Everyone had their eyes on the princess, and she continued, the concern laced in her voice, "There's no telling what might happen out there. One wrong step at any moment in a desert land like this and there's no guarantee that we'll all survive. I'm still a little reluctant about asking you to follow me into such a dangerous place."

Sakura felt a soft smile tug at the corner of her lips as the princess continued and she listened to her words carefully as she stated that she was reluctant to ask them to follow her into such a dangerous place. The pinkette's expression softened when Vivi finally looked up with her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes set with determination as she asked them to help save her country. Each of them had their own reactions to the female and the former shinobi let those words seep into her mind for a few moments.

Standing up with everyone, she smiled up at the princess and said calmly, "I've traveled across deserts before." Everyone turned their gazes to her, some mildly surprised.

"You have?" Chopper asked curiously.

Sakura nodded in response but kept her eyes on Vivi. "Yes, it's been almost nine years since the last time I traveled across one, but I know of the dangers it holds and my body adapts quickly to the climate." Tilting her head to the side and with a gentle smile, she added, "I can help everyone out as well by finding water sources and anything dangerous to look out for."

Vivi smiled brightly down at the pink-haired female, feeling that she was no longer skeptical of her and had accepted her, despite her family's former title. "Thank you. I'd appreciate that."

"At least we won't be going in blindly." Sanji stated, grateful at least two of them had experience in this sort of field.

However, the easygoing atmosphere between them all slowly vanished with an abrupt question from the crew's sniper, "How old were you again?"

~SCENE CHANGE~

Sakura looked out at the city that was to the right of the ship, her eyes gazing over the buildings in the distance. She stood in the crow's nest, her hand placed on the mast that came up through the center of it. She was smiling softly out at the city, slowly taking in the beautiful sight of the structured buildings.

The pinkette had made her way back to the ship before anyone else and some had stayed behind in their hiding place while the others had left to search for Luffy. She had become hesitant around the princess once she found out her family name, but that had slowly begun to change. She didn't completely trust her yet, but she couldn't put the blame on the citizens. She would help them either way. If there was going to be a civil war, she would want to help them and save as many as possible.

The princess aside, Sakura didn't want those people to suffer. She had seen war before and the prospect of having to witness it again scared her. Especially with the lack of her chakra. How was she supposed to help these people? She had no idea. She didn't want to see anyone die, but it looked like she didn't have a choice in the matter. She was just too weak and she doubted the war wouldn't happen. Things never turned out alright in the end without at least some bloodshed. The Uchiha massacre was proof of that. But… How was she going to help them?

Her thoughts didn't last long as a sudden pain shot through her chest, causing her to gasp and her eyes to widen. Sakura instantly fell down to her knees, her hand clutching her shirt over her heart, the organ feeling like it was going to burst at any moment. A sudden sweat began to drip down her body and the female lowered herself down to the wood underneath her completely. Ragged breaths escaped through her mouth. It was so hot and so hard to breathe.

Her back arched and she let out a grunt as pain shot through her once more, making her feel like she had been struck with electricity. Her entire body was sweating and it had nothing to do with the heat. Minutes passed by of excruciating pain and Sakura was barely breathing. With each inch her body moved, it would send another wave of pain through her. It was best to wait it out. Not that she could do much else. Her body was weak and her mind felt like a pile of mush. She couldn't concentrate on anything other than wanting the pain to stop. It went from electrifying jolts to feeling like her body was boiling over a roaring fire.

Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes, which were clenched tightly shut and the pinkette waited patiently for the agonizing pain to subside, desperately hoping that none of the crew members came back and found her in such a state.

Sakura managed to keep her groans and grunts muffled under her breath, being careful not to make her presence known if there happened to be anyone down below on the ship. She didn't think there were though, but it never hurt to be too careful. None of them knew the extent in which the poison affected her body and she wanted it to stay that way. They were already treating her like she was a fragile doll. She didn't need that behavior to increase. Especially the doctor and swordsman, she noted. It was sort of natural for the doctor to be concerned about her health, most likely seeing her as his patient ever since they met. The older male, however, was a more complex case and she could only assume it was because of her small size that he treated her more gently than he did the others.

After what felt like hours, the pain finally subsided and instead of sitting up, the pinkette didn't move. Her tiny body trembled in short tremors and soft gasps drew past her lips while her brain began to focus on nothing in particular now that the pain was gone. Relief filled her being and she almost felt like crying even further at the new comfortable feeling as she continued to lay down on the wood. Her body quickly relaxed, and the thick air felt cool against the sweat on her skin, showing just how scorching her body had been against the hot temperature of the weather surrounding the desert country.

Her eyes were closed, and her breathing slowly began to even out, her previously aching body twitching every few moments in order to get accustomed to not having to scream out in agony. A slight breeze blew past the area, and it caused goosebumps to rise on her skin, the cool air sending chills down her spine. Now that her previously racing mind finally had a break and could focus on something, she began to retrace what her thoughts were before that attack happened on her unsuspecting body.

Oh, that's right… Vivi and this country.

Resisting the urge to turn onto her back and look up at the sky since she knew it would only hurt her currently sensitive eyes, she continued to lay down on her stomach on the floorboard of the crow's nest. She didn't even want to go back to thinking about the princess. Despite her being a good person, the ex-kunoichi couldn't even look at her without being reminded of her past and she hated it. She had nothing against this country or its people. She just hated the Celestial Dragons and everything they stood for.

Sakura kept herself from reaching behind her and stroking her fingers down her back, where their symbol was burnt into her back years ago. Very few people had seen it, and she was incredibly reluctant to allow the two females on the ship to see it. Although, she supposed it was because if she had made a big deal out of it, then they would have known that something was wrong. She would then have had to tell them that it was nothing and she would have had to look at their concerned faces. Vivi had done a good job at hiding her own response to the mark on her back.

Thinking about that time even further, Sakura had to give the two teenagers some credit. They had seen her body completely naked, yet neither of them commented on the large number of scars adorning her body, especially her back. Perhaps it was because they didn't want to upset or offend her. Only two other people had seen that damn mark on her body, and she had the word of both of them that they wouldn't tell anybody about it. It wasn't so much as an insult to her pride as it was a constant reminder of her past and she had decided long ago she would like it to be removed. It was also irritating how she had to make sure her back was constantly covered so nobody saw the mark. She didn't want the marines called on her because she was an 'escaped slave'.

The pinkette almost scoffed at the thought. That bastard had left her for dead and the other had toyed with her…

Shaking her head harshly against the wood pressing into the side of her face, she forced those thoughts out of her mind and focused on something much more heart lifting. Like sleep.

Sakura didn't even realize how exhausted she was until she felt her consciousness slipping, the sound of birds overhead chirping loudly to themselves. It wasn't but a few moments and she was sleeping soundly in the very same position, her chest rising and falling gently.

~SCENE CHANGE~

Harsh footsteps could be heard stomping through the dark and solemn dungeon, two different sets of feet making their way to a specific cell while they passed by countless others, which were filled with various other prisoners. The two, muscular men held an arm up by one of their own while a petite body limply swayed as they continued to walk. Pink hair fell down over bruised and dirt-ridden cheeks while blood rolled down her face from the side of her head.

They eventually came up to her cell and the door was swung open before the female was tossed inside carelessly. Her small body landed on the ground with a soft cracking noise and the door to the cell was slammed shut before it was locked with a key. Glazed over, jade eyes stared ahead of her and she vaguely listened while the men grumbled about her from outside the metal cell.

"Stupid child. Doesn't she realize she wouldn't have to go through this if she just listened to what the Young Master told her?"

"There's nothing that we can do about that. If she wants to be a fool, then let her be one."

A feral smirk passed the former man's mouth, and she could hear the amusement in his voice when he said, "It doesn't matter anyway. She'll be dead soon if she keeps this up."

"She didn't even wince today. What a freak."

The two men walked off and Sakura allowed some emotion to come back into her face as her back ached and stung in pain, blood no doubt staining the cloth that hung over her shoulders and covered most of her body.

"Why don't you just tell him what he wants to know, Saku-chan?" a small and gentle voice said from beside her, the cell to the left of hers.

"That worried about my wellbeing, Peanut?" Sakura replied and though she was facing toward where the small girl was, she didn't look at her. The little child had been there before she had arrived there herself, stating that she was an orphan and that she didn't have a name. The child did seem to rather enjoy peanuts however and would occasionally receive them upon 'good behavior', thus how she received her nickname. The pinkette was sure it was more of a way to mock her somehow. What she was doing there in the first place, Sakura had no idea.

"Aye."

The short, but cute, reply had the former kunoichi closing her eyes and smiling softly. It was nice to know someone in this hellish place was looking out for her and cared about her. "I can't tell him what I don't know."

"You could at least make something up, so you don't get punished."

Sakura finally opened her eyes and set her gaze on the young girl. She was sitting at the bars that separated their cells, her small hands circling around the metal as she looked at the pinkette with genuine concern in her large, bright, brown eyes. A light shade of olive-colored skin, sandy brown colored hair that stopped at her collarbones, thin lips, and a small nose adorned her features. Like everyone else, her body was lacking in weight and nutrients, and it showed on her body, but despite that, she was still pretty cute.

Sitting up and pulling her knees to her chest, she wrapped her arms around her legs and put her chin on her knees. Facing toward the entrance of her cell, her eyes darted down to the cold, stone floor. "He'll just be even more pissed off when he finds out that I lied."

A moment of unsettled silence passed between them, though Sakura paid no mind to it. She was too busy trying to ignore the pain in her limbs. She was glad she had all those years as a shinobi, otherwise, she would have already screamed her throat dry by that point. She was used to pain, she could endure it, but that didn't mean she didn't feel it.

"Is the man you're looking for really worth this?" Peanut asked, a deep frown on her face. She didn't like to see the female so beaten down. What made it worse was the way she would smile to try to cover up how much she was suffering.

As if reading the child's mind, a weak smile found its way onto Sakura's mouth, her pink eyebrows furrowed in thought. "I don't know." She knew she had to look pitiful, broken, and beaten down, but she didn't care. Clenching her eyes shut and squeezing her legs to her chest tighter, she forced herself to smile more. "But I won't know until I find him."

~SCENE CHANGE~

Sakura woke up to what sounded like fighting, and she let out a low groan as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. She realized then that she probably should have found a better place to rest when she felt the cramps and aches in her joints and muscles. Standing up, she didn't sense any danger in the air, and she was met with the sight of the burnt wreckage of ships straight ahead of them. Jade eyes blinked at the scene, wondering what happened, but knowing that the ship wasn't in any danger. Stretching her arms above her head, she made a mental note to work out the sore and tense muscles in her body later.

Slowly making her way down the mast, she kept her eyes lowered so as not to look at the bright sky and indirectly blind herself after having just woken up. The events of the dream had escaped her mind by the time she was halfway down, and her feet eventually touched the bottom by the time the rest of the crew were making their way to the center deck.

"Hey, Sakura. Where have you been?" the navigator asked curiously while the others looked at her as well. They had noticed she wasn't on the deck anywhere, but Sanji had insisted she was fine and not to worry about her.

The pinkette rubbed the sleep from her eyes once again and she was sure there were red markings going down the side of her face where she had slept against the wood. She pointed her finger up at the crow's nest and replied softly, "I overslept."

"We figured that might have been the case." Usopp replied and Sakura lowered her hands down by her side, only to receive a few chuckles.

"Your face is all red." Luffy laughed, pointing at the side of her face and she knew that the red lines were there after all.

Sakura made a grumbling noise in return as she closed her eyes and yawned into her palm. Her head was pushed downward and her mouth quickly closed with a grunt and she could tell someone had placed their large hand on top of her head. Looking up at the person who had done it, her jade eyes widened in mirth and she smiled brightly.

"Ace-sama!" the pinkette stated, taking in the appearance of the man. He looked the same as the last time she saw him, only taller and more muscular.

"Hey there, squirt." he replied, a wide smile on his face as he looked down at the pink-haired female and was well aware of the curious glances they were getting.

Sakura immediately closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his legs, her face connecting with his thighs. The man let out an amused chuckle at her and adjusted the orange hat on his head with his left hand while he placed his right on the back of her head.

"So, you two know each other?" Luffy asked.

The pinkette kept her cheek to the dark blue fabric of Ace's shorts, a smile on her lips, and her eyes closed as she took in the fire user's unique scent. She was glad to have finally met him again after so long and the memories they shared together rushed into her mind instantly. He seemed to be doing well and that fact brightened her mood, though she wasn't sure what he was doing here instead of with his crew.

"I guess you could say we're old friends." Ace replied to his younger brother, patting the pinkette's head softly. He wanted to catch up with her to see how she had been for the past two years, but that could wait. They had plenty of time to catch up later, though he was curious as to why she would be traveling with his younger brother. The last time they were together, she had told his captain she didn't want to travel with a group for good in order to accomplish her goal. Perhaps it was the same with this crew.

Sakura looked up at the taller male, her eyes bright and said hopefully, "We'll catch up later?"

"Count on it, squirt."

~SCENE CHANGE~

Blue waves splashed upward against the yellow metal of the submarine, a lone figure standing at the bow of it, his hard, grey eyes looking ahead of him while a stoic expression grazed his features. His yellow sweatshirt swayed lightly in the breeze that helped their vessel move along smoothly. A soft sigh left his lips as he thought about how much time had passed since he first set out to sea.

His tattooed hands were stuffed into the pockets of his spotted jeans and within the right pocket, his fingers grazed metal and cloth. Curling his fingers around the object, he pulled it out of his pocket and held it up in front of him, his grey eyes looking down at it to inspect it as he had done so many times before. A metal headband with a leaf insignia in the center rested in his grasp, the red cloth attached to it falling down on each side of his hand.

The twenty-four year old wasn't sure why he kept hanging onto it. He was tempted quite a few times to just toss it aside and forget about it, but the day he had found it kept lingering in his mind whenever those thoughts would make themselves known to him.

"Can you believe that girl?" a man laughed, "A miracle doctor! As if she would find someone like that!"

He hadn't known it at the time, but that young girl had been looking for him. She had asked about him right before colliding into his legs. She hadn't looked up at him though, far too upset by the laughter that chased after her from the people in the tavern. He had picked up her headband without much thought at the time and was intending to give it back to her before she had gotten too far away, but by the time he had looked back for her, she was gone.

Unfortunately, he hadn't seen much of her face, but he remembered her bright, pink hair that was as clear as day. He was expecting to see her sometime in the future, however. It had been five years since that day, and he felt anxious and cautious about meeting the female. He knew she would find him eventually; it was a feeling deep in his gut. Most likely from the fact that not many had known his name back then. That was before he had gathered a crew and was still wandering around in the North Blue. He hadn't had a bounty back then and the only ones that had known his name or face were the ones from the Donquixote family. Well, the only ones that would possibly want to search for him.

The possibility of her working under that man had crossed his mind often, though that didn't make much sense to him when he thought about it more. Doflamingo wouldn't waste resources just to go after him and he especially wouldn't send a child after him. The small girl didn't seem to have any real malice about her either and she had seemed polite, having apologized to him for bumping into him.

The male wasn't sure how she came about to know his name, but there was still the suspicion that she was connected with Doflamingo somehow. Though, if she had been ordered to kill or capture him, she wouldn't have lost her composure like that. She would have made sure she found him, so it might have been possible she didn't hold any ill intent and that she just needed his help with something.

A smirk crossed his features at the thought, realizing there was a high possibility she was already dead. It would be a shame, really. He had no idea why, but she had stuck with him during the past five years and he couldn't wait to meet her. No one had really sought him out like that before and he was curious as to what her reasons for finding him were, as well as how she had come to find out about him. If she were still alive, would she still be looking for him, or would she have given up by now? It had been five years, so he wouldn't have doubted it. Not many people would continue looking for somebody they didn't even know, especially when they weren't ordered to. Even if their life hung in the balance, most people would still give up or die before they could reach that person. That's the way it was.

It was only a matter of time. All he had to do was wait. The dark-haired male was waiting patiently for the day that pink-haired child would find him. When that day came, he would finally get the answers he was looking for. Although, he most likely wouldn't find a child if he were to meet her now. It had been five years after all, so she would be a teenager. Nonetheless, he hoped the time would come soon, but he could still be patient. Yes, Trafalgar Law would wait.

~SCENE CHANGE~

Multiple sets of feet tracked across the sandy ground of the desert as sweat ran down their faces. The sun was high in the sky and its rays threatened to scorch the skin of the group that traveled across the land. The occasional groan left the captain's mouth, his noisy protest to the heat that bore down on them from above. He was by far the one that made the most racket during their trip across the desert so far, though he wasn't the one that should be pitied. If anyone should have sympathy, it was the doctor that was sprawled out on a wooden sled and being pulled, courtesy of the swordsman. His furry body was guaranteed to attract more heat than the rest of his companions. He certainly had Sakura's pity and it seemed Zoro's as well, since the green-haired man was willing to pull him along the ground, so he didn't have to walk as much.

The only ones that appeared to be unaffected by the heat were the princess and pinkette, her body having gotten used to the heat shortly after they began their trek. However, one thing that distracted Sakura from the atmosphere was her thoughts. Traveling across the desert again brought back memories of her second attempt at becoming a chuunin and when she fought against the Akatsuki to rescue Gaara. Sasori of the Red Sand. The side of her lips tilted upward in a small smile, remembering that battle with Elder Chiyo. She had been able to show off the results of her training during that mission and she had felt such pride back then.

Letting out a sigh, she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind, otherwise she would dwell on them all day and feel bad. She couldn't compare her current self to her past one. She might have lost her strength and chakra, but she still had grown stronger. She grew wiser, more mature, and had learned many things to help her survive in this harsh world. She wasn't a weak and helpless child in need of saving. She didn't depend on people to help her, nor did she seek assistance, which was more than she could say for her past self. So, in a way, she was proud of herself, for that and for making it this far.

Sakura let her gaze travel to her right and her jade eyes landed on the man that walked beside her, causing her expression to soften. Her features turned gentle without any protest as she took him in and her tense muscles eased out a bit, a feeling of warmth and reassurance filling her. The Whitebeard pirate walked beside her, his stride calm and confident as he looked ahead of him, taking in the surrounding area with slight caution.

After he had told everyone about his goal of finding someone named Blackbeard and asking to accompany them on their journey to Yuba, they had walked off to the side together. Staying true to his statement, he was willing to share some time alone with her so they could catch up with what had happened over the two years of not seeing each other. She hadn't been surprised to find out Blackbeard was actually Marshall Teach and that he had killed a crewmate. When she had spent time with the crew and the few times she had spoken with that man, she had never felt comfortable with him, as if knowing he wasn't any good or trustworthy.

Ace had asked about her goal and if she had found Law yet, which she had solemnly stated was a negative. After discussing how she ended up going back to the North Blue after they had dropped her off into the Grand Line and how she found out that Law did exist, she told him about how the poison was affecting her body even more. He didn't seem pleased her memory was being affected as well and though he knew he couldn't help her with her condition, he didn't want her to get any worse.

The fire-user was aware of how much the pinkette had been through during her journey and he was relieved to hear she hadn't been through anymore harsh times since his captain had found her. He had also asked her why she would join his brother's crew, the knowledge of their relation not a surprise to her, considering he had told her he had a younger brother while she was with him. Sakura had told him that she decided to let fate carry her toward her goal and that she felt if she stayed with Luffy and his crew long enough, she would find Law. All she had to do until then was live and wait. Although, in the back of her mind, she had a feeling those two things were going to be difficult.

Another thing that was becoming more apparent the more time she spent with the loudmouthed captain was the inkling suspicion that… she knew him. It was a tiny voice in the back of her mind, whispering to her when her gaze landed on him. She couldn't hear the words, but she got the notion. She had felt like that once before… With Ace when she had first seen him. However, it wasn't as strong as the one she felt when looking at Luffy. Had she met him before? She couldn't remember… but she had a feeling that was also a part of the reason she wanted to stay with him for the time being. She was curious. Who was this teenage boy to her?

Sakura hadn't realized her eyes had landed on the young teen until he glanced back at her, as if sensing her gaze on him. Her jade eyes slowly widened, if only slightly, when his parted lips turned into a soft smile that was directed only at her. It was so different from his usual smiles and goofy grins, and it held a deeper meaning than she could grasp at that moment. Unable to look him in the eye any further, she looked away. A warm feeling crept into her chest, and she welcomed it. Slowly, a small smile stretched across her lips as her gaze continued to rake over the sand to the side of her, unaware her dark-haired friend next to her had caught the exchange between her and his little brother. She also didn't catch the way his own smile formed on his mouth or how adoring it was before he looked back ahead of him, Luffy doing the same.

The small female turned her attention back ahead of her and a slight breeze blew past them, causing the sweat on their bodies to cool down tremendously and goosebumps rose on her skin underneath her clothes.

"Ah, that breeze feels good." Usopp stated in joy, his arms spread outward and his mouth open while his eyes were closed in bliss. The ruffled sand that was brought along with the breeze entered the sniper's mouth and it was an easy target considering how wide he had it open. The male immediately slumped over and started hacking and sputtering, causing their captain to laugh at him in amusement.

"Mmhmm." Nami replied, a gleeful smile on her lips and her brown eyes closed as she hummed, ignoring the gagging sounds of the man she had replied to, who was now having his back patted awkwardly by the cook.

The pinkette furrowed her eyebrows at the earthy grains that flowed across the ground in swirling motions. A deep and thoughtful frown adorned her lips as she watched the movements closely. Something about this desert seemed odd, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She could sense something menacing about it, as if it had a mind of its own in some manner and for the life of her, she couldn't get the image of Gaara out of the back of her head. She wasn't sure if it was because of memories anymore or if it was for an entirely different reason.

Sakura let her thoughts go back to the town they had shortly passed awhile back. It was obvious the land was going through a drought. The canal had dried, and the plants were dying, if not dead, but that was what had the former kunoichi puzzled. She could understand why the people would migrate to another location and their previous buildings of residence were in ruins. Collapsed buildings and damaged structures, but she would have figured that the people accustomed to living in the desert would make stronger buildings than that, at least against a normal sandstorm. She had been in quite a few before herself and had to sit them out so she was familiar with how powerful they could be, but these people should know their land better than that.

It wasn't a normal sandstorm that caused that amount of destruction, it had to be stronger. Although she supposed a large creature could have caused it, but with the drought, that was unlikely since they would gather to a constant water source. That brought up another matter. The drought couldn't have lasted three years in that town. Some of the trees she had seen there weren't completely dead. They still had leaves and stems that were green. The issue with the dance powder and rain stealing happened three years ago. That town had suffered afterward so that wasn't the cause of it and there should still have been water under the ground.

Granted that some of the leaves were still green from some water, there should have been more than that. A few sandstorms wouldn't have caused that much damage to the water supply. Something else was at work here and she had a feeling it was connected to Crocodile. The ex-kunoichi was aware that the warlord was a devil fruit eater, though she didn't know what his ability was. Perhaps it was similar to Gaara's ability. That would explain the feeling she kept getting from the sand surrounding her. Her body was warning her.

Jade eyes squinted a bit as they took in a dark figure in the distance, slowly but surely approaching them. She couldn't make out any features, although she could tell it was a person. As soon as she noticed them, they disappeared into the horizon, and it caused her to furrow her eyebrows. She knew she wasn't imagining that and something inside of her gut stirred. Something was about to happen.

~SCENE CHANGE~

Sakura couldn't believe her eyes when she found a dark figure sitting on top of a large boulder, his features incredibly familiar to her. She had seen the figure approaching her group multiple times, each time getting closer until finally, she was able to make him out. The sun had been starting to set by the time she got close enough to him and she had run off toward him, leaving the crew behind to watch her. Nami and Vivi had called out to her, asking where she was going, and telling her to be careful. She had dismissed them however, excitement and joy flooding her veins and urging her to keep running to the man that sat on top of the boulder.

Now she stood before him, her eyes wide with disbelief, but her mouth wide in a bright smile. It had been over seven years since she last saw him. She hadn't expected to see that grin of his ever again, especially not in this desert. He was grinning down at her as his purple makeup adorned his adultlike features. He was wearing his usual black attire, though now sporting multiple belts going across his torso to hold up the multiple large scrolls on his back, even more so than she last saw.

"Kankuro." she said softly, and her expression softened greatly. She took in his appearance even as the setting sun behind him stabbed into her eyes, but she dared not look away, afraid if she did, he would disappear. She silently prayed he wasn't a figment of her imagination or perhaps a mirage created by the desert. Seeing Ace had made her happy, but it was nothing compared to seeing the puppet master again.

The jounin felt his grin turn into a smile as he replied, "Fancy meeting you here of all places, Sakura."

A breath she hadn't realized she had been holding escaped her, relieved he was real after all. "Kankuro." she repeated without much thought. She was just so thrilled to meet someone from her past as a shinobi. It had been so long, and she was worried about how everyone was doing. At least the middle of the Sand siblings was doing well, from what she could see.

The male jumped down from his sitting position and landed in front of her before being immediately embraced by the small female. Sakura had jumped up into his torso, her arms attempting to wrap around his chest and the puppeteer let out a chuckle before wrapping his own arms around her. He held her tightly to his torso while the Straw Hats and company stopped a few ways away and watched them curiously.

"Who is that?" Usopp asked, taking in the appearance of the man that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"No idea." Luffy replied, doing the same and the rest of the crew had the same question as the sniper, but it was obvious it was someone Sakura knew very well and felt comfortable around if she embraced him so joyfully.

The only one that had an idea of who the male character could be was the fire-user. Having known the girl's past as a shinobi, he figured the odd-looking man was a former comrade of hers. Although, that didn't stop his dark eyes from paying attention to their movements. It was already in his nature to make sure that the pinkette stayed safe and he wouldn't hesitate to attack, if need be, even if he was an old friend.

Sakura felt herself being placed down on the ground and she let her hands travel down to Kankuro's. She held them gingerly while they looked at each other and with curiosity in her tone, she asked, "What are you doing here, Kankuro?"

The pinkette knew other shinobi had been crossing the border between their continent and into the New World. Word about her crossing over had gotten out somehow and many of their people had gotten curious and traveled to the new lands. That was how they began to be labeled as a different race of people almost. They were rare and highly sought after at times and most of them were captured by high level marines and sold off as slaves or killed. The barrier was placed up around them for a reason and it seemed the Government thought they were too dangerous to be free and run around as they pleased. She found out the Government and Navy also kept tabs on what happened inside of the barrier, which most likely explained the crack in the barrier. It was there to allow access to the men that went there to spy and see how things were going.

They had known who she was almost immediately after seeing her for the first time and were tempted to have her executed, silently frightened at the thought of having one of the Legendary Sannin running around. She would have been if it weren't for that fat pig of a bastard that bought her at such a high price. She supposed he had bought her because of the thrill of controlling something dangerous and untamable such as a shinobi like her, although she wasn't much of one at the time. More satisfaction for when he broke her.

Why they wanted her kind when there were other shinobi born in the New World outside of the barrier, she didn't know. Why they thought they were too dangerous when there were even scarier creatures and people out in the world, she didn't know either.

That was the fate of her kind that crossed the border. She was just lucky to have been able to escape it. So, to see Kankuro standing before her, looking much like he did the day she last saw him, relief filled her being.

"Since the incident with you, the Five Kage felt it was necessary to learn more about the world outside of the barrier." he replied calmly, "I've been assigned to gathering herbs and information in order to prevent something like that happening with someone else."

Sakura nodded her head in understanding and was glad the Hidden villages were taking action against this.

"I'm glad to see you're still alive, Sakura." the Sand shinobi added, and she could see it in his eyes he was telling the truth. "Everyone will be so relieved to find out they were right to believe in you."

Sakura's smile softened at that, and she felt adoration for her former comrades that believed she wouldn't die so easily, despite their earlier warnings and claiming of her doing so. "It's been so long. I can't wait to be able to go back to Konoha."

The pinkette was aware the others had sat down to the side and that a few of them were straining their ears to try to pick up on her conversation with her old comrade, but she dismissed it. It seemed they were making camp for the night, the sun slowly dying down even more, and it was sure to bring about freezing temperatures along with the starry night.

"That reminds me, I was the one that was most acquainted with Konoha shinobi when they sent a group out to search, so I was asked personally by a certain Uchiha to give you something if I were to run into you."

Sakura's eyes widened and her expression showed how surprised she was by his calm and clearly amused statement and his smug smirk only deepened by her reaction. He could see the wheels turning in her mind, no doubt wondering what it was and why he would give something to her.

The jounin male reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a scroll. Kneeling, he placed the scroll on the ground. The pinkette arched an eyebrow as she watched him unroll it and place his hand over the markings circling around on the center of the material. Not a moment later, a puff of smoke came out of the scroll, and it caught the attention of the rest of the group near them that hadn't been looking at them beforehand. Sakura blinked a few times before the smoke cleared and her eyes widened once more when she saw what Kankuro was holding in his hands.

She couldn't tell exactly what it was yet, but what was covering it had her bring a hand to her mouth to stifle a soft gasp. A black cloth wrapped around a long item in a wooden box, shielding it from sight, and what had caught her attention was the proud crest of the Uchiha resting on the cloth. She instantly knew it was one of his shirts and he was giving it to her to proudly wear it like she had once done.

Kankuro stood up and held out the item toward her and waited patiently for her to lift her hands and grasp it in her small fingers. When he felt that she had a solid grasp on the gift, he let go and pulled his hands back, dropping them down by his sides. "I'm sure you'll know how to use it, Sakura. You bring pride to your village, even now."

Sakura furrowed her pink eyebrows and for the first time in years, she felt true pride course through her and she knew it was due to the jounin's words. Although, she was more grateful than anything. He had been holding onto this, solely for her sake and she appreciated it greatly.

"Thank you." she said softly, her head lowered downward and her bangs covering her eyes from sight. Dark eyes watched as a single tear slid down her cheek and down her chin before falling to the sandy ground beneath them. It soaked into the surface and caused the sand to darken around the spot where it had landed. A frown grazed the male's features before the pinkette pulled the gift into her chest tightly and tilted her head upward enough for him to see most of her face. Her eyes were closed, and a grateful and adoring smile was on her lips as another tear escaped her closed lids. "Thank you so much, Kankuro."

He merely smiled in return and nodded. He was glad to have met the fiery kunoichi once again and he knew she was still a shinobi of Konoha at heart, even after everything. She would go back home after she accomplished her goal, and they would wait for her. Konoha had tried to stop her from leaving at first, but with her stubborn departure, everyone had begun to realize she wasn't so helpless as they made her out to be. She had proved herself on many occasions she was strong, and they believed that she was alive, that she would come back to them and Kankuro had now proven their faith wasn't in vain. Sakura was alive and she was strong.

At least that's what he wanted to believe… Things weren't that simple, and she was sure to find that out very soon. She would return home quicker than she would think, and good news was not waiting for her. She would have to come to a decision very soon about her future, but now wasn't the time for that. He was just glad she was alive.

~SCENE CHANGE~

Kankuro had left shortly before the sun had fully set and after Sakura had made a few requests to him, some of which he wasn't entirely happy about, but what could he do? He owed her for saving not only his life, but also his younger brother's. If it weren't for her, Chiyo would have died against her own grandson, therefore, she wouldn't have been able to bring Gaara back to life. Kakashi and Naruto wouldn't have been of any help to the old woman either, considering neither of them would have been able to fight off his poison. Sakura wasn't one to hold past actions over other people though and hadn't done so with him, merely asking him to do a few things for her, which was one main reason why he had relented to her.

He had left after that and with wishing each other good luck and to be careful, he left on his way to continue his own mission. She had seen him off and was bombarded with various questions from the group she had stayed behind with. They were all curious as to who he was, what he had to say to her, what he had given her, and more. She had answered all of them patiently, telling them he was an old friend that she wasn't expecting to see and that she didn't know what it was he had given her.

Sakura was on the verge of finding out as she sat near the roaring fire Ace had made for them. Everyone was doing their own thing while she stared down at the cloth-wrapped item, her curiosity slowly settling in more and more the longer she looked down at it. She was sure it was some kind of weapon. Sasuke wouldn't have sent her something useless after all. Although she couldn't fathom why he would have something sent to her at all, married or not. He wasn't the type of man to send her gifts, or anything at all for that matter. Not if it required to show affection or concern for her. So, this item had her very curious, if not cautious. Her suspicion would have been comical, if not sad.

The stars sparkled brightly up in the sky and the moon shone over the sandy horizon, giving her plenty of light to see, along with the crackle of the fire next to her. Without wasting any more time, she began to unfold the cloth and the black material landed on either side of her folded legs in front of her. After a few moments, she pulled the shirt all the way from the item and set it aside on her lap. She would pull it on later so as not to lose it and then she began to open the box that covered the item from prying eyes. Her jade eyes widened in surprise yet again as she removed the cover and was met with the sight of a long, familiar sword. The sheath and hilt were the same color, had no spectacular or beautiful designs, had no guard, and it gave off the vibe of electrifying power that it had consumed on many occasions. It was Sasuke's…

Sakura placed her fingers inside of the box and slowly pulled the sword out while not being able to grasp why Sasuke would give her his prized possession. A small smile adorned her lips at the thought, and she would be eternally grateful toward him and his consideration. At least now, she wouldn't have to fight barehanded. She would be able to protect herself with his sword. As to why he would give it to her, she could only imagine. Perhaps he felt guilty for his reaction to her wanting to leave the village seven years ago. He was one of the first among many that claimed she was on a fool's quest. There had to be a reason and perhaps he was expecting it back at a later date, but for now, she would use it or at least hold onto it.

Holding the weapon down in her lap, she began to ponder what her future would hold. This sword was a relic, a reminder of her past, something she couldn't escape. It brought back both good and bad memories of the Uchiha and their time together. That brought on another thought to the pinkette, which caused her to frown. All she really had were her memories. She had decided to travel with this group to find Law so she could be cured, so she could move on, but was she really moving on? Law and her warped reasons for finding him aside, what else was going on with her? Perhaps she could figure that out in time.

Looking up, her eyes settled on the rambunctious captain and equally energetic crewmates that crowded around the small doctor, trying to gain some warmth from his furry body. Sakura smiled at their antics and thought of how comfortable they were with each other. They were just like family, from the way they argued to the way they huddled around each other. It made her feel nostalgic, and she knew that she shouldn't do anything that could possibly bring them down. What made her feel worse was that her past was one of those things that would drag them down and possibly harm them.

The pinkette would be considered an escaped slave if any government or navy officials found out she was still alive. They would do whatever it took to get her back and with them knowing her and her reputation, it would most likely be an admiral they sent after her. Again… The Straw Hat crew wasn't strong enough to deal with that yet, she knew. So, maybe it would be better for them if she were to erase her past, but she couldn't do it herself. She would need their help. The first step toward that was to be upfront about it and she had something in mind that could erase the evidence of her being branded as a slave.

The sound of rustling had died down and it showed that the crew was beginning to go to sleep. She had to bring it up now before they set out in the morning. "Um, everyone. Can I tell you all something?"

That immediately caught the attention of everyone, and all eyes turned to her, even ones that were previously closed. Sakura glanced over everyone with her brow furrowed and she could tell they were waiting for her to say something. Vivi and Nami sat down beside each other to her left, Ace and Sanji to her right, and Luffy, Chopper, Usopp, and Zoro huddled together in front of her on the other side of the fire.

"What is it, Sakura?" Nami asked with a frown.

Vivi spoke up next with a matching frown, "You've been quiet ever since your friend left. Is something wrong?"

The pinkette shook her head slightly before looking down at the ground. Now, she felt it was more of an obligation to tell them than anything else. She didn't want to put them in needless danger while they were unaware of the risks of letting her travel with them. "I just thought that I should let you all know since you're letting me travel with you in order to accomplish my goal."

Sakura closed her eyes and added, "Before we get to a place where I can be recognized, I'd like to inform you all of the danger that comes with adding me into your little group."

"Danger?" Usopp said nervously, not liking the sound of it at all.

"What are you talking about?" Nami asked, not sure how such a little girl could bring about any sort of danger. Although, the cook a few yards from her could come up with a few scenarios why she would be dangerous to have around after witnessing her temper at work earlier that day in the bar.

Sakura opened her eyes and gazed down at the ground. She could tell that Ace most likely already knew what she was about to discuss with the Straw Hat crew. "Three years ago, I was captured and sold off as a slave to someone of high-ranking power." she began calmly with no hesitation in her voice, "Someone with more influence than the Fleet Admiral of the Navy himself."

She could sense the immediate tension in the air as multiple bodies stiffened at her statement, but no one interrupted her as she continued, "I was with him for a year, and I was considered his prize possession for many reasons. That was until I freed most of his other slaves and he left me for dead." Despite her voice remaining calm and collected while she spoke, her insides twisted around each other, and she felt her face heat at the memories. As long as she was remembering that fat, disgusting man, she could control herself. Although, it did still fill her with anger and a sense of humiliation. Above all that, the memories filled her with fear, but nothing like what she had endured with the man after that had claimed her freedom.

"That's so horrible." Nami frowned.

Sakura looked up to meet Luffy's gaze, her brow furrowed and a frown on her soft lips. "They think I'm dead, but if word got out that I'm alive, I'll be considered an escaped slave. The authorities won't rest until I'm recaptured and taken back to that man. They'll no doubt have more marines than usual at your heels because of me." The pinkette looked to the side solemnly and she gazed down at the ground while she fidgeted with the shirt in her lap. "You'll be taking a huge risk because of that and not to mention, the continent I came from was sealed off because it was viewed as too dangerous."

The female frowned deeply at the captain when she looked back up, taking in his calm expression while everyone listened to her. "Before I was poisoned, I was renowned on my continent for my physical strength and healing abilities so when I crossed that border, the Government and Navy viewed me as an international threat. They will no doubt recognize me and attempt to capture me as well for that reason."

"You've been keeping low for the past two years by hopping from island to island without making much of a fuss." Ace said, bringing her attention to him and jade met black while a playful smirk crossed his features. "What makes you think you'll mess that up now?"

Sakura lowered her gaze to the ground for a moment before she closed her eyes and an amused smile grazed her lips. "Luffy-sama reminds me of an old friend that always managed to attract everyone's attention and get into trouble all the time." The ex-kunoichi paused before adding softly, "And this crew feels so nostalgic to me. I can't bear to mess this up without everyone knowing the risk."

Looking upward, she was met with the smiles of everyone looking at her, her expression once again serious. "So will you allow me to continue traveling with you even at such a high risk?"

"Of course." Luffy chirped, not at all caring what he might have to face in the future. He was just glad to have her along.

Sakura smiled gratefully at him and expressed her gratitude with, "Thank you." Then while holding onto Sasuke's sword and shirt, she stood up. "I do have a quick request before we start our day tomorrow."

Different sets of eyes blinked at her, and many were curious as to what she wanted. She hadn't asked any of them to do anything for her since she got there. She just seemed so independent, unwilling to rely on anyone other than herself, and so confident. Right now, she was vulnerable and laying herself bare for them to see, though still managing to hide herself over a shroud of unwillingness to expose her secrets.

The pinkette lifted her new sword for her to inspect, finding it just right to get rid of the evidence of her horrid past. It wouldn't erase her memories, but it would get rid of such awful proof of her slavery. She had once been a slave to her feelings for Sasuke and was often left feeling helpless and unable to do anything in order to save him. She had overcome that, however and it was only fitting she used a tool that belonged to him to help her overcome this as well.

With her mind set, Sakura closed her eyes for a moment before looking at the swordsman, her eyes filled with determination, and she didn't care about the pain that would assault her body if he agreed to her request. Lifting up the sword in front of her horizontally, she held it tightly and her face was undeterred, showing that she was serious. With her tone calm and collected, she let her request be known to everyone who was listening, and they all knew she was talking to Zoro.

"With this blade, I would like you to carve the mark of the slave out of my back."

~END OF CHAPTER THREE~

Thank you for reading!