The next chapter awaits! Enjoy.

Sasuke has had chakra exhaustion before, but never like this. Breathing itself was tiring, the weight of his chest making a normally effortless task difficult. This was the closest he felt to death ever since that night. Sasuke sighed and tried to roll over, but gave up in the end. He would have made too much noise and the last thing he wanted to do was wake up his teammates and have them see him like this.

Weak.

He hated it.

He hated how he was the only one out of his teammates that had to be carried back.

Even the Dobe was able to walk back on his own after the fight, and Sasuke knew he had gotten more than a few senbon in his body, so why was he himself, so weak?

When had Naruto surpassed him?

During the Academy he was dead last, the place where he belonged. He didn't train, pay attention during class, or take the shinobi life style seriously. He was annoying, loud, and inconsiderate for those who were trying to learn, who had goals that had to be accomplished, like him.

Naruto was in the way.

The only good thing the Dobe did was treat him as a shinobi, someone dangerous and skilled. He didn't treat him like glass like the rest of their classmates, and he didn't bother him as much as the stupid fangirls did. And perhaps, he was the only person who could somewhat understand him, since Sasuke knew Naruto was an orphan too.

But the two of them were too different, the Dobe wasn't like him, didn't have everything he ever loved ripped away from him. Didn't have the weight of his clan on his back like him. Didn't have a drive to be better like him.

Didn't have someone he had to kill.

Sasuke trained, and trained, and trained. Trained so much he became the top of the class, Rookie of the Year. Sasuke was obviously better.

But Sasuke was also the one stuck in bed, while the Dobe was not.

He clenched his fists and struggled to hold back his rising frustration. He could feel the water pooling in his eyes and the last thing he wanted to do was cry. That was something he only did in his compound behind closed doors. He would never forgive himself if he did it and his teammates saw him.

Sasuke focused back on his breathing, like that Yamanaka told him all those years ago, and was able to calm himself. Sasuke continued his deep breathing when he heard the rustle of blankets from his left. His eyes moved towards the sound.

Sakura.

He hated her.

Well, he hated how much he didn't hate her.

And deep down, he knew he would never be able to hate her. She was just too...

Uchiha.

Sasuke couldn't believe it himself, but there were times in the Academy where he would look at her and think he was staring at his family. The way she held herself, the self assuredness of her words, her intelligence. Even when she wasn't the best at something, which was rare, there was never a time when he thought lesser of her. On occasion he had to do a double take because she reminded him of his Father.

Didn't that just make him never want to leave the compound ever again.

She was too Uchiha for him to handle.

Maybe it was her eyes. Always focused ahead on something, driven and unyielding.

They reminded him of his own.

It didn't help she was the least annoying classmate out of the group too, and that in and of itself made her the most annoying to him. He could feel himself regressing around her, acting like the kid he used to be before that man ruined everything and he hated it.

Hated how much he wanted to be friends with her.

Sasuke knew she wasn't a real Uchiha, there were things she would do that were pure 'Haruno' as she would say, but she was close enough to one that on occasion he felt happy.

He wasn't allowed to feel happy, not until he had avenged his family.

So when she became friends with the Dobe and started calling him Naruto but still called himself Uchiha...he was just so angry.

As a result, he blew up and made their already tense relationship worse.

It got better, but still, she was friends with the Dobe.

How could she become friends with the idiot who caused her to be uncomfortable? He saw it in the Academy, on their missions and everything in between. It wasn't that obvious, but Sasuke was good at reading an Uchiha's body language and Sakura was close enough to one he could see through her.

Himself and her were very similar, both liked training and had goals.

So why did she never approach him?

He knew she was serious about being a shinobi, probably the only ones who really were in their class were himself, Sakura, Shino, and that Hyuga girl.

He would have liked to train with her more, they were teammates.

He looked at Sakura again.

Should he approach her? Sasuke knew she would be a good training partner, she was good at genjutsu, and he was an Uchiha so he should learn how to do that.

She was right there, she only just moved a little while ago, so she was probably awake.

He opened his mouth to whisper to her when he felt a fire roll down his back.

He closed it and faced the ceiling.

No.

He wasn't allowed to have friends, people to care about. He didn't need anyone besides himself, they wouldn't understand.

No one would understand, or be capable of helping.

They would only hold him back. Once he was dead Sasuke could reach out, but not a moment before.

This was something he had to do on his own.

Sasuke continued to lay in his bed awake, his mind too active for himself to silence. He took the time to meditate to hopefully get some rest, he would rather not have Sakura look at him like he was the Dobe if he woke up looking worse than the day before. Hours past like that when he heard a voice coming from the left.

And it wasn't Sakura's.

"You have been giving me a lot of trouble little girl."

Sasuke's already still body froze even more.

"Ah, ah ah. If you try to do anything I won't hesitate to kill your teammates. I'm not as kind as that Haku boy. This was already a borderline world anyways, I'm about ready to cut our losses."

Sasuke could feel his heart pounding in his chest as adrenaline kicked into his system. He slightly tilted his head and opened his eyes, and they widened at what he saw.

Wasn't that the Ice User? Wasn't he dead? Sasuke saw Sakura relax, though if looks could kill that boy would be dead ten times over.

"Better. Now we are going for a little walk, and you are going to tell me who's helping you ok? I knew you were annoying but I didn't expect the useless one to cause so much trouble."

He roughly grabbed Sakura by the arm and the two jumped out the window.

Sasuke shot up in a flash, and had to hold his head as the state of his body hit him all over again. He looked over at the only remaining teammate and shouted.

"Dobe!"

He didn't stir.

Sasuke took the closest thing to him, which happened to be Sakura's medic bag, and hurled it at him.

"Naruto!"

"Gah! Teme what was that for!" Naruto rubbed his face as he glared at him.

"Sakura needs us, go wake Kakashi."

A sly smile formed on the Dobe's face, Sasuke hated that look and wanted to punch him.

"Sakura huh? Did you cave and ask to be friends, did your jealousy finally get to you?" Sasuke pushed down the flush of anger.

"Shut up Dobe! Sakura is in danger and she needs help. Go wake Kakashi!"

Naruto's face dropped into a grim expression as he stood and swiftly gathered his gear. He made a few clones and sent one out of the room to their sleeping Jonin.

"What happened?"

Sasuke explained as he did his best to get his gear together in his exhausted state. He could feel the Dobe's eyes on him but he ignored it.

"Maybe you should stay here. I can go rescue Sakura-chan with Kakashi-sensei."

He glared.

"Hn." No way was he being left behind again.

He wasn't weak.

Naruto glared right back.

"Hey, what exactly can you do? Sakura-chan told me how bad chakra exhaustion is, and being in danger or no, she would kill me if I let you hurt yourself."

"Even chakra exhausted my aim is better than yours. I can do more with my kunai and shuriken like this than you ever will. I'm going."

"Ugh fine! But a clone will carry you, you're not slowing me down."

The Dobe darted out the window before he could even protest. A clone approached him with a pout and offered him his back. Sasuke reluctantly climbed on.

"The only reason I'm carrying you is because Sakura-chan needs us. Don't get used to it Teme."

"Hn."

The only reason he climbed on was because Sakura needed him. He wasn't going to loose the person he disliked least in this world.

.

Sasuke and the clone caught up to Naruto in the forest, he had stopped a fair ways in and was pulling at his blonde hair.

"I lost their trail, I'm not sure which way they went."

Sasuke looked around and could barely see anything in the dark. Knowing Sakura there was no way she would take being kidnapped lying down, she would have left a trail of some sort. He had recovered some chakra since the fight earlier that day, it would have to be enough.

Sasuke turned on his Sharingan and quickly scanned the surroundings. His eyes darted back and forth when he stopped on a lone pink strand wedged into some tree bark.

Found her.

He shut his eyes off and swayed backwards, the clone had to stutter step to keep him upright.

"She went to the right, she left her hair on a tree."

"Of course she would! Sakura-chan is really smart after all." Naruto flashed a bright smile before narrowing his eyes at him.

"Don't you dare turn your eyeballs on again Teme, I know what I'm looking for now."

"Hn."

The three headed off.

After a while of running Naruto held up a hand, and tilted his head. Sasuke must of been seeing things because he thought he saw his eyes glow read for a moment.

"I hear them over there, get ready Teme. Don't screw up my valiant rescue of Sakura-chan."

"Hn."

Kakashi better hurry up before he ends the Dobe.

Using all of the skills they learned in the Academy, because Kakashi taught them jack shit as far as Sasuke was concerned, the genin crept in the direction Naruto pointed to previously.

"So what, we're all just puppets to you? Is that why that man was here? You used him to create a 'Gato' because there wasn't one."

"So it's really true." Naruto whispered in disbelief.

Sakura dodged an ice senbon that flew her way and Sasuke had to hold Naruto back from charging in.

"You idiot! Make some clones and have them flank him, you could get Sakura killed if you're aren't careful." Sasuke hissed.

Naruto violently shrugged him off, but made the sign anyways.

"I know what I'm doing Teme. Unlike you, I want to sa–" Sasuke placed a palm over his mouth as 'Haku' stumbled closer.

"Tch, stupid body. I hate the dead ones, they never work as well." He watched the corpse grumble as it madly threw senbons towards their teammate.

"I'm right aren't I?" Sakura taunted, with that ever present Uchiha smile.

'Haku' sneered.

"I will give it to ya Useless, you are as smart as they say. Of course that's why Itachi was here, he's the best dog I have. Out of everyone he's the easiest to use. Just put the thought in his brain that it would help Sasuke and he wouldn't resist. Though forcing him to kill his clan was tougher, but I got it done in the end."

He threw a few more senbon.

"But enough of that, how are you immune? Who is helping you? Answer me!"

Sasuke started gasping for air and Naruto looked at him with concern.

This thing made his brother kill his family?

Itachi was used? Itachi was actually innocent all this time and he planned on...

He brought his hands up to his head and glared at the dead man.

Sasuke saw red.

.

Sakura was surprised to see Uchiha come flying out of the bushes, sharingan blazing as he threw shuriken at 'Haku'. It didn't last long though before he collapsed to the ground and one of the many Naruto clones that started flooding in had to grab him and pull him away.

That idiot, he didn't have to come in his state, she had it all under control. Not that she wasn't happy to see him or Naruto, but Sakura specifically ordered bed rest and she hated when she wasn't listened too.

He must of been awake when she left, because she knew for sure it wasn't Naruto. But, where was Kakashi-sensei? She left the trail specifically for him and Pakkun.

'Sakura!'

Sakura snapped out of her thoughts and leaned back in a hurry, barely dodging an ice senbon.

Ok, that was closer than she intended.

'You have to aim for the back of the neck, and take out whatever you find.'

'What are you talking about Inner?'

'Just do it! I will explain later I promise.'

'You better.'

"Naruto! Uchiha! Aim for the back of the neck!"

'Haku', who was busy dispelling clones whipped his head in her direction.

"How do you know that? There is no possible way for you to know, unless..." He let out a short laugh as he threw the last clone on his person into the woods.

"You have one of them with you, don't you? So they found this backwater world after all? I thought we killed them all. Your situation makes sense now."

Ice mirrors started to rise up around the genin.

"That won't do, we can't have you alive anymore, Useless. We'll take our chances without you around. Don't feel too bad, it's not like anyone will remember you anyways."

Sakura clenched her teeth.

No.

Not that, anything but that.

There was no way she was going to let that bastard kill her and be forgotten.

She raised her fists and flowed chakra to her legs, she never wanted to punch someone more than in this moment, and he was right there in front of her waiting with a very punchable face.

"No! You aren't killing that pathetic human, she serves me!" An orange chakra coated Naruto yelled as he jumped in front of her, landing in a crouch.

Kurama.

He must of taken control.

Kurama pounced and stabbed the corpse with his hand, preventing him from going into the mirrors, and holding him in place.

"Sickly brat, hurry up and listen to my servant."

Sakura knew it wasn't the time, but there was no way in hell she, a Haruno, was going to serve him.

"Tch." Uchiha struggled to sit up but was able to raise his body enough to flick out a couple shuriken sheering itself into the back of Haku's neck.

Upon contact of the shuriken Sakura leapt forward and punched the corpse smack dab in the face.

After the combined strike the corpse dropped to the ground, unmoving.

'Quick Sakura! You have to take it out.'

Heeding Inner's words Sakura knelt down next to the body and rolled it over so it was laying on it's stomach. She wrinkled her nose but shoved her hands into the opening when she felt an object, partially embedded in the flesh.

She pulled.

The grip it had on the body was no match for Sakura's strength and the object was freed easily. Sakura opened her palm and looked at was inside.

It was a circle.

A piece of metal, flat enough to be a coin, but hollow on the inside. In fact, it looked exactly like her clan insignia, only a black color instead of white.

What the hell was this?

"Ha! The circle! Quick lesser being take out mine, hurry! I want to enjoy the feeling of success before the idiot takes control again."

"You have one of these?" Sakura asked, holding up the ring-shaped object to the tailed beast.

"Of course you impertinent servant, we all have one."

"My name is Sakura and I'm not your servant."

"No." Uchiha interrupted.

"Take out mine first, I won't be used like my brother." Uchiha stumbled over, but not before spitting on Haku's doubly dead body.

Sakura caught him before he could fall sideways and lowered him to the ground.

'Do Uchiha's first, you will need to release your genjutsu and holding his chip will stop the Burning and all flares, at least for now.'

'A chip? Inner... how much do you know?'

'Sakura, I promise I will tell you everything, but please just listen to me for now. Sha?'

'Na'rro, but you have a lot of explaining to do.'

Was Inner lying to her this whole time?

Shoving that thought to the side, because if she didn't Sakura knew she was going to have a melt down right then and there, she focused on the task at hand.

Sakura held Uchiha in her arms, his back facing her. She dismissed her genjutsu and held up a hand to the back of his neck, probing into the area.

"Oh shit."

There really was something there.

Snagging one of Uchiha's weapons Sakura sliced into the back of his neck and dislodged the object, and healed the wound with her chakra.

She held up the chip and compared it to Haku's.

It was a match.

"It's out."

"...Thanks."

A clawed hand shoved Uchiha to the side and out of her lap.

"Move worm, it's my turn."

Uchiha landed with a thud, and groaned. From the sound and Sakura's excellent medical knowledge, she knew he wasn't going to be able to move for a while.

"Oof."

Sakura grunted as the weight of Naruto's body came crashing down on her. Taking Uchiha's chip she shoved it into her chest bandages. It seemed Inner was right, the chip did stop the Burning. The why it worked a reason she would have to focus on later.

Sakura repeated the same steps as earlier, pulling out another circular chip and healing the wounds.

She reached a hand up to her own neck.

'No! Sakura you can't take yours out! You need your chip in for me to help you!'

'You swear it?'

'On your brother's body.'

Sakura let out a small gasp.

Inner was serious.

'Ok, I wont... for now.'

'Thank you Sakura, thank you.'

Sakura lowered her hand.

"Uhh, Sakura-chan? Why am I on your lap?" Naruto looked back at her over his shoulder with a blush.

Sakura sighed.

"It's a long story, let's get back to the house and I can explain what I know." And Inner can explain what she knows.

"Ok, that sounds go–" Naruto abruptly stopped speaking and tackled her to the ground.

A huge sword came flying overhead and lodged into a nearby tree.

Was that Zabuza's sword? Kubikiribocho?

"Tch, it worked better when he did it." The trio heard a voice off to the side.

Out walked Zabuza's corpse and it was an ugly sight to see. He was missing an arm, and the black belt that was tied around his chest was holding the rest of his body together. It seemed that Kakashi-sensei got him with that lightning jutsu too.

"What, did you think it was over?" He vanished before reappearing next to his blade and yanked it out.

"You really do need to die, all of you."

Sakura and Naruto stood in ready positions, Sakura placing herself in front of Uchiha and Naruto hands primed for more clones.

Sakura held the kunai from earlier still in her hand and contemplated her options. She didn't have much chakra left, but she could pull off her new genjutsu once. If Naruto could make a big enough distraction she could get him.
It turns out Sakura didn't need a plan though, because from the bushes behind Zabuza out popped Pakkun and the rest of Kakashi's pack in all of their furry glory.

In a flash of silver Kakashi appeared behind Zabuza's corpse and decapitated him with one swing.

The only sound that could be heard was that of a head hitting the ground.

Sakura rushed forward and pulled out the chip.

"Yo! Sorry I'm late but... can someone please tell me what's going on here, and what is that?" Kakashi-sensei asked in a cheerful voice.

"Something very dangerous and we need to get it out Sensei, so turn around."

"Yeah! Listen to Sakura-chan Sensei!"

"Excuse me?" Kakashi-sensei looked between his two conscious genin.

Sakura glanced at Pakkun and held up the chip.

"Pakkun this is the reason why Kakashi-sensei almost died, it needs to come out."

The small ninken walked over to his summoner.

"Kakashi, let Sakura-chan do it. It's serious."

Dog and human locked eyes, unspoken words passing between the two.

Sensei rolled his shoulders and turned around in a squat, wobbling a little on the way down. He still wasn't recovered from his chakra exhaustion so Sakura would have to watch him.

"Be careful with your poor, poor Sensei Sakura-chan. I am old and delicate, very prone to injuries too."

"Isn't that the truth." Pakkun muttered under his breath.

Not giving her Sensei a moment to change his mind, Sakura cut into the back of his neck, yanked his chip out and healed the wound.

There, good as new.

She handed Sensei the chip that came out of his body.

He tensed as he looked at it.

"So back to my previous question, what is this?"

"I don't know how to answer that Sensei, but I know someone who can."

Mark her words, Sakura will have answers.

A lot of things happened this chapter and Sakura is determined to figure out what it all means. Thanks for reading!