I do not own these series, nor do I make any money off of this.

"talking"

'thinking'

Chapter 79: The World They Left Behind

When their weapons became useless, Sasuke began forming Chidori. He replaced his sword on his back making sure it didn't get in the way as he charged up his Chidori to its full power. Naruto summoned two clones. Still in Sage Mode, Naruto formed his Rasenshuriken. Both Sasuke and Naruto ran at each other. Just as their jutsus were about to collide, hands grabbed Naruto and Sasuke's wrists. Madara separated them.

"Don't interfere," Sasuke ordered.

"Foolish," Madara said. "I won't let this continue. This fight is over."

"Let go!" Naruto growled.

"Nine-Tails," Madara said calmly grasping Naruto's wrist tighter.

Sasuke smirked. He used his free hand to make another Chidori. Madara had to let them go and stepped back. His Sharingan spinned as he watched Sasuke slam his Chidori into Naruto's stomach. But since Naruto had called on the Kyuubi's power, the wound was already healing. Naruto called up a Rasengan and slammed it into the remaining chakra of the Chidori. Just as they collided, Madara's Kamui activated. However, since his Chakra was messed up due to holding back Sasuke's Chidori and Naruto's Rasenshuriken, a portal-like hole appeared under Naruto and Sasuke. Sakura watched in horror as purple, red, and blue chakra surrounded Naruto and Sasuke, freezing them to the spot. They screamed out in pain before falling to their knees, unconscious. The darkness below them consumed them and they vanished. Madara stood shocked, not knowing what just happened. Kakashi, and Yamato began to panic as Sakura cried out both Naruto and Sasuke's names. Sai stood confused. They watched the portal close. Madara shook his head and then vanished. Sakura fell to her knees crying as Sai hugged her. Kakashi and Yamato looked at each other not sure what to do. They sat down besides Sakura and just waited.

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Madara arrived at the hideout and walked past Sasuke's Team Taka, ignoring them. Even when Zetsu tried to say something, Madara simply glared at him before slamming the door of his room in his face. Zetsu stood in surprise as the sound of something breaking hit his ears. Madara's tantrum lasted for nearly fifteen minutes. Not knowing what to do, Zetsu remained silent. Madara soon opened the door, sharingan spinning. "Find whatever you can on Time-Space Jutsus." Zetsu didn't hesitate to follow the order.

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Team Kakashi had waited for several days for Naruto and Sasuke. When a week and a half went by and there was no sign of them, Kakashi made the decision that they had to return to Konoha to give Tsunade the news. She had been almost as angry as Madara was. She wanted nothing more than them to be back just so she could punish them for worrying her. Tsunade hated to admit that she was even worried about Sasuke. She kept telling herself that the only reason she was worried about him was because of Naruto. The only thing that made her not worry about them was the fact that they were together. No one understood why they felt this way. But even Sakura was convinced that wherever they were, they were together and that they were safe.

"It has been over a week," Sakura said. She was sitting with Sai on top of the Fourth's Head on Hokage Mountain, watching the sun set.

"You're worried," Sai said, closing the book he was reading. It was on the human emotions a person felt during the loss of a loved one. Where he found it, no one knew, but Sai also had a knack for finding strange books.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Sakura said.

"Are you worried about just Naruto?" Sai asked. "Or are you worried about both of them?"

"I don't know," Sakura said. She pulled her legs towards her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "I still love Sasuke. Even after everything he has done, I still love him. What is wrong with me? Why can't I love someone else? Why can't I love Naruto?"

"Because Naruto isn't the one for you," Sai said. "But neither is Sasuke."

"I started to believe that when Sasuke came back, we'd get together, get married, have kids, and be happy," Sakura said. "And since Hinata loves Naruto, I pictured them two getting together the same way. I sometimes dream of a future where Naruto is Hokage and his children are running around causing trouble for Iruka-sensei. But in these dreams, neither Hinata nor I are by his side. I always see Sasuke there, smiling. When I dream of just Sasuke, he never had a smile on his face no matter what I picture around him. Not until Naruto appears."

"It seems you are beginning to see what I have," Kakashi said. Sai and Sakura turned to see him standing with Tsunade and Iruka beside him. "Those two have always had something special."

"I know," Sakura said. "I'm sure you heard it too, what Naruto said after Sasuke killed Danzo."

"If you attack Konoha, I will have to fight you. So save up your hatred and take it all on me, I'm the only one who can take it! It's the only thing I can do! I will shoulder your hatred and die with you! Because I'm your friend!"

"Yes," Kakashi said. "It was a promise that if one should die, then so would the other. If he has to kill Sasuke, then he will make sure that Sasuke kills him as well."

"Suicide?" Iruka asked.

"No," Kakashi said, shaking his head. "It's more than that."

"He loves him," Sai said. All eyes turned to him. His hand moved along the cover of the book he had been reading. "Naruto may not know it but he is in love with Sasuke." He looked down. "I'm not sure how Sasuke feels though."

"I don't think any of us know," Kakashi said. "But if I had to guess, I'd say he does. Naruto has always been the one person that Sasuke saw as just that, a human. The same could be said about Naruto. He only saw Sasuke as Sasuke and nothing else. Many of us saw Sasuke as the last remaining Uchiha, the survivor of the Uchiha Massacre, but Naruto saw none of that. He never put Sasuke on a pedestal."

Sakura flinched at that. She knew that she had been one of those people that had. Just like all the other girls, Sakura fell for Sasuke mostly for his looks and his pedigree. Slowly, this had changed when they became a team. She began to see Sasuke as just another person, one she cared for above all others. Naruto was in a similar position in her heart, but she loved Sasuke even more. If she had to give words to how she felt she'd say that she loved Naruto like a brother while she loved Sasuke as a possible future husband. She knew these feelings were foolish since Sasuke will never love her back, but she couldn't help how she felt. "I guess I really need to give up then."

Tsunade put a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Don't think of it as giving up but as moving on."

"Yeah," Sai said. "There is even someone out there for you, Ugly."

Kakashi, Iruka, and Tsunade just shook their heads as Sakura stomped away from a bleeding Sai. Sakura had punched him in the head, something Sai should have seen coming. Sai held his bleeding head with a smile and Tsunade couldn't help but laugh as Kakashi helped him to his feet. She healed his wounds since what he had said had given Sakura the last push out of her depression.

Kakashi looked at the sky. 'I really do hope you are safe. Both of you. Naruto. Sasuke.'

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"There's nothing here!" Madara yelled. "Why isn't there anything about that portal? Did you even look?"

"We looked everywhere," Karin shivered. "We even check Orochimaru's libraries."

"What if we tried recreating what happened?" Suigetsu asked.

"We already tried that with the White Zetsus," Madara slammed a fist down on the armrest of what looked to be a throne. "They were only destroyed by the collision of jutsus. I even tried replicating my chakra status at the time."

"Why does it matter?" Suigetsu asked. "You could take over the world even without Sasuke and the Kyuubi Kid."

"That's none of your business," Madara hissed. "Leave." He waved them off. Karin, Suigetsu, and Juugo took their leave with gratitude. Madara slumped backwards into his seat. "Should I just change the plan?"

"You need all of the Tailed-Beasts to summon the World Tree," Zetsu said. "And you may need Sasuke to help control it."

"Sasuke isn't necessary," Madara admitted. "I was planning on having him act in my place as a younger body would better suit as the host for the Tree, but it isn't needed. My body alone is strong enough. Naruto however…" Madara trailed off. "They are alive since Kabuto hasn't been able to use Edo Tensei on them."

"How much does he know?" Zetsu wondered out loud.

"Only as much as he needs to," Madara answered. He closed his eyes. Zetsu took this as the signal to leave. He headed for the door, only for Madara's voice to stop him. "Three months. If we can't find them in three months, we'll change our plan." Zetsu nodded.

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Informing the rest of the Konoha Thirteen members or Naruto's disappearance hadn't been easy. Ino and Sakura had to comfort Hinata. Shikamaru surprised everyone when he broke his glass of water. He apologized for the glass before falling silent. Choji, being the closest to him, placed a hand on his shoulder. Shikamaru flinched, but allowed the comforting hand. Kiba's growl was feral. His instincts were going haywire. Shino simply pushed his glasses backwards, but everyone could tell that he was angry. Tenten had to hold back Lee while Neji struggled to hold back his emotions. He knew that Hinata was having a hard time, especially with her feelings, but he was having a hard time with his own.

"Have you contacted the Kazekage about it?" Neji asked.

"We sent a messenger this morning," Tsunade said. "We are thinking about sending a team to Suna to do some research."

"My team should go," Gai said. "We are already familiar with Suna."

"For now, I think it would be best to send Neji and Shikamaru," Tsunade said. "The rest of Team Gai already has a mission. Konoha is still in the middle of rebuilding, we have to make sure not to lower our guard. We don't know if Madara isn't still a danger. Without Naruto and the Kyuubi, we have no idea what he'll do. He may just use the first seven Bijuu. I already contacted the Raikage. Killer Bee and Gyuki are safe, but we don't know how long that will be for. The Raikage has refused our help. The other Kage are busy making sure their nations are up for a war in case Madara still plans on attacking them." She motioned to Shizune. Shizune handed every one a folder. "Those are your missions." Some of the members of the Konoha Thirteen wanted to argue, but they knew Naruto would want them to put Konoha above him. Each team left until only Team Kakashi were left behind.

"Are you going to explain this?" Kakashi asked, opening his folder and showing its blank contents.

"There has been some more disturbing news," Tsunade said. "Kabuto has resurfaced."

"What does that bastard want?" Sakura asked.

"It looks like he found the Snake Sage," Tsunade said. "We sent a team to find him to make sure he doesn't go to Madara. They engaged him in battle, but Anko was captured. Yamato and the rest of the team are still keeping an eye on him. If they find a chance, they will save Anko and dispose of Kabuto."

"What is our mission?" Sai asked.

"You are to back them up," Tsunade answered. "Sakura, Anko may need medical attention. Kakashi, Sai, if necessary, one of you may have to get rid of Kabuto." Team Kakashi didn't say anything. Tsunade sent them off before grabbing a bottle of sake. Shizune didn't stop her.

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Yamato's kunai met with Kakashi's. Realizing who it was, Yamato lowered his kuani. "Jeez Kakashi-Senpai. You should sneak up on me like that."

"Mah, I wasn't worried," Kakashi waved off Yamato's complaints. Sakura and Sai approach the group quietly. "What's going on?"

"Kabuto seems to be using Anko for something," Raido said. "But we don't know what. We can't get any closer since he summoned several snakes that sound off an alarm when something approaches the cave. They swarmed one of Aoba's crows."

Aoba nodded. "The other crows saw this and stayed back. We're thinking about using them to clear the snakes as best as we can. Yamato will use the ground as a way towards Kabuto."

"I have a better idea," Kakashi said. "Sakura."

"Right!" She was already pulling down her gloves. She moved to a few feet away from the snakes. Yamato, Kakashi, and Sai pulled back. Aoba and Raido looked at them in confusion. "Shannaro!" She slammed her fist into the ground. Aoba and Raido's jaws dropped as the ground was destroyed and they were forced to dodge some flying rocks. The ground swallowed the snakes. Sakura's punch shook the cave, alerting Kabuto to their presence. He cursed as he left Anko to see who dared to interrupt him. Upon seeing Sakura, he frowned. Kakashi and Yamato moved quickly. Yamato captured Kabuto with his Wood Jutsu while Kakashi charged at him with a Chidori. Sakura stepped backwards as she watched Kakashi's Chidori hit Kabuto's chest.

"Tsk… Healing Jutsus," Kakashi groaned.

"I healed myself before your attack even hit me," Kabuto said, breaking free from Yamato's wood bindings. "I'm a bit surprised to find out that the Chidori is easier to heal than the Rasengan. Naruto's at least had some after effects." He lifted his head, letting everyone take in his snake-like appearance. It resembled Orochimaru. "If you think I'm so easy to take down, you're more foolish than I thought."

"My Team is smarter than you think," Kakashi said. Sai jumped down from a wolf, swinging a sword. Kabuto's scales blocked it. He moved to attack Sai, only to see Sakura. He raised his arms in preparation to protect himself from her punch, but instead, Sakura ran right past him. Her goal was to grab Anko and get her to safety. Kabuto cursed as she did just that. Sakura instantly began to heal Anko while Aoba and Raido stood as guards. "It doesn't look like this is going to be easy." He raised his hands to make signs, only for Yamato's wood to pull his arms away from each other. His legs were pulled back and he fell forward as Yamato used his Wood Release: Stocks jutsu. Kabuto tried to move, but the jutsu suppressed his chakra, rendering him unable to retaliate. Kabuto opened his mouth to say something, but Kakashi didn't want to hear it. Without hesitating, he ran a kunai across Kabuto's throat. Yamato was about to disperse his jutsu when Kakashi stopped him. "Wait! We don't know if he's hiding something. Orochimaru was able to live through much worse. Sai."

Sai stepped forward unrolling a large scroll. He quickly drew a seal on it. Kakashi and Yamato stepped back as Sai sealed Kabuto along with the stock jutsu into the scroll. Kakashi then lit the scroll on fire, preventing anyone from trying to break the seal. Sai looked over at Sakura who was helping Raido take Anko onto his back.

"She'll be fine," Sakura said. "She didn't have any deadly wounds. We'll bring her back to Konoha."

"Sai, go with her," Kakashi ordered. "Yamato and I will inspect the cave just in case." Sai nodded. He made a giant ink bird, letting everyone else ride it back to Konoha while he left a smaller one behind for Kakashi and Yamato.

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Madara slammed a fist down on his throne's armrest, breaking it. Zetsu had just given him the news of Kabuto's death. "He had to go off on his own, that brat!"

"What will we do now?" Zetsu asked.

Madara sighed. "Sasuke's Teammates are useless. They won't be much help in attacking Konoha or Kumo. We needed Kabuto's Edo Tensei. I can use it, but then my attention would be too focused on them then destroying Konoha. I could use them to get the Hachibi. But that still leaves us at a stand-still. We can't get the Kyuubi since we have no idea where Naruto is. And now, we might not be able to find him. Knowing him, Kakashi probably destroyed the samples Kabuto had of Naruto, if he even had any left."

"Then…" Zetsu trailed off.

"We wait. We have several White Zetsu spread out over the Five Great Nations. The moment we hear about Naruto's return, we'll move."

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Suigetsu overheard everything. He was angry at being called useless. He had no desire to obey Madara. He made his way back to the room he shared with Karin and Juugo. The two looked up at his entrance. Seeing the look on his face, they knew something was wrong. To his surprise it was Karin that asked him what was wrong. "They plan on waiting for Naruto's return."

"What about Sasuke?" Karin asked.

"They didn't say anything about him," Suigetsu admitted. "I don't think they care about Sasuke."

"I don't want to be here anymore!" Karin yelled. "I hate doing their dirty work!"

"Where will we go?" Juugo asked. Karin seemed to deflate at that.

Suigetsu smirked. "Konoha." Juugo and Karin looked at him before looking at each other. They nodded before moving to gather their things. Suigetsu grabbed the few things Sasuke had left behind. In secret, with Karin constantly using her sensory abilities, the group left the hideout. They took turns sleeping as they made their way to Konoha as fast as possible. When Madara found out about their departure, he and Zetsu instantly moved to a different hideout. Madara thought about stopping them, but he saw it as being pointless.

Suigetsu, Karin, and Juugo were led by Anbu to Tsunade. After explaining who they were and giving her all of the information they had, Tsunade had them stay in a cell. Ino read their minds to make sure what they told her was the truth. When everything came back as the truth, Tsunade had them moved into what was left of Sasuke's home with a constant Anbu guard. They agreed to work for Konoha after serving their house arrest.

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Sakura and Sai ended up spending a lot of time with Team Taka. They didn't really get along, proof in the fact that Yamato had to repair the house several times, but that didn't stop them from meeting up. Sakura learned whatever she could about Sasuke and in turn she told them about Naruto. With a little difficulty, they came to the same conclusion about Sasuke and Naruto's true feelings.

On Sasuke's seventeenth birthday, Sakura was called into Tsunade's office to help Shizune. She shivered as she read through some paperwork. It was as if someone was watching her. She had this feeling several times and some of the other members of the Konoha Thirteen said they felt the same thing sometimes. It was a bit creepy, but not exactly unpleasant. If someone was really watching them, it was someone that didn't mean any harm. She swore she once heard Naruto's voice, but she chalked it up to her lack of sleep. She missed her favorite knuckle headed ninja. Shaking her head in an attempt to free Naruto from her mind, Sakura went back to reading the paperwork, the feeling of eyes on her disappearing as well.