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Reminder: Sakura's clothes; a red, hooded short-sleeve top, black fingerless gloves, low-heeled, knee-high black boots , and black shorts. To complete the outfit, she wrapped a red shawl around her hips.

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Special thanks to my Beta-Reader: GreyHowler

~Before Sakura's kidnapping~

Gradually, news of Orochimaru's death spread throughout the villages, sprouting more rumors and outlandish tales until Tsunade was finally forced to tell Naruto of the true circumstances surrounding the powerful ninja's death.

While Naruto seemed very happy to know the truth, Sasuke and Sakura had still not returned to the Konoha. Naruto had pinned all his hopes on his two friends returning once Orochimaru had been defeated, but they hadn't.

He was devastated and kept questioning Jiraiya why they hadn't returned yet. Jiraiya managed to endure Naruto's complaining for two solid days before he took Naruto aside and explained to him that, because the two Leaf ninja had not returned, they had likely chosen their own path and would not be returning until they completed the mission they were on, if ever.

"What the hell do you mean?!" Naruto lashed out, "Why not! How could they not come back now that Orochimaru's gone?!"

"Sasuke is obsessed with getting revenge." Jiraiya answered, "He'll try to find Akatsuki so he can kill his brother, Itachi. Apparently with Sakura by his side."

"That bastard again! Damn him!" Naruto cursed, "Shit!"

He rushed to the Hokage tower. Curious what kind if conclusion Naruto had come up with, Jiraiya decided to follow him. Once inside the Hokage room, Naruto told Tsunade the plan he had come up with, to find Sasuke and Sakura. Sasuke's desire was to get revenge for his family's murderer. That means he was going after Itachi. If he found Itachi, he would find Sasuke and Sakura. Better yet, if he captured Itachi and brought him back to the village, Sasuke and Sakura would have no choice but to come back.

Kakashi who was standing in between the doorstep, heard everything and ironically also came to Tsunade to tell her the exact same conclusion Naruto had come up with. He created a plan to find his students or Itachi.

Kakashi took his team and Team Eight as well as Ino and Yamato to help the search. Ino as Sakura's replacement in Team Kakashi and Yamato as Kurenai's replacement due to her pregnancy vacation in Team Eight.

The Konoha ninja split into groups; Kakashi and Pakkun formed into a two man group. Kiba and Akamaru did the same. Ino, Sai and Shino were all accompanied by two of Kakashi's Ninja Dogs. Hinata and Yamato accompanied Naruto for extra protection due to him being Akatsuki's target.

Ino's Ninja Dogs caught Sasuke's scent and led her to an unfamiliar town. Once there, the Dogs lost the scent and Ino was forced to search the crowd herself. She was unable to find Sasuke and unknowingly walked past the redheaded glasses-girl, Karin. Although she looked rather suspicious, she disappeared into the crowd before Ino could question her.

After seeing the strange explosion, Naruto's group decided to explore at the explosion site, where Sasuke had battled Deidara. Once there, Kiba immediately went to work searching for Sasuke and Sakura's scent.

xXx

When Karin brought the news of sensory ninjas coming their way, Hebi immediately left and started to search for Sakura. Knowing the Leaf team possessed scent trackers, Karin tore up one of Sasuke's shirt and had Jugo given a bird a strip and send it out in opposite direction to keep anyone from finding their group.

xXx

The Leaf ninja continued following the wrong scent and was unable to find Sakura's scent. Neither Kiba nor the Ninja dogs were able to pick it up. It had simply disappeared. Had something happened to Sakura?

Naruto refused to believe such a thing and put all of his focus on finding Sasuke. If he found Sasuke, he'd know what had happened to Sakura.

They continued following the wrong scent until Kiba had noticed something. He was finally able to track Sakura's scent, but not only was she in a different town which is on the opposite of where they are going, he had also tracked Sasuke's scent there.

Without second guessing, Naruto wanted to go where Sakura's scent was at the moment.

"Sasuke and Sakura are on the move!" Kiba yelled to his teammates, then his face scrunched up in confusion.

"We gotta hurry! They're probably going straight for Itachi!" Naruto yelled back.

"Something's not right!" Kiba mused loud enough for everyone else to hear, "Sasuke's scent just split up! It's going all over the place in a lot of different directions!"

"How?" Ino asked.

"They must have an extremely talented chakra-sensor on their side. That's how they led us the wrong way the first time."

"Hey! I found Sakura's scent…..she's with one of Sasuke's. Which scent am I supposed to track?!" Kiba asked.

"S-Sakura's?" Hinata asked.

"That might just be another trick to fool us. We don't know for sure..." Replied Yamato.

"Arg. I'm tired of this!" Naruto yelled and used his Shadow_Clone_Jutsu. Dozens of Narutos scattered on al direction, following all the different Sasuke-trails.

xXx

'Orochimaru is dead….what does it have to take for you guys to come back!' One of Naruto's clone thought, 'Sakura-Chan….why?! Why aren't you bringing him back! Why did you leave?!'

He immediately snapped out of his thoughts when he saw Sasuke with Sakura and three other people.

"Sasuke! Sakura-Chan!" He yelled but was easily defeated by Sasuke's Chidori.

After receiving the Clone's memory, Naruto yells;

"I found him! He's with Sakura-Chan!" He yelled and led the way. Just then Kiba noticed Sakura's scent once again disappeared.

"I saw her with Sasuke! He was the real Sasuke" Naruto yelled furiously, "Damn it! What the hell is going on!"

xXx

~After Sakura's kidnapping~

Sakura slowly regained consciousness but didn't open her eyes. She listened carefully for anything that would help her figure out where she was, who was in the room, or how to escape. The first sensation she noticed was a feeling of something hard, two somethings, one across her shoulder blades and another beneath her knees. She could hear footsteps echoing through the room and felt her legs swing back and forth in tandem. She was being carried somewhere.

"Are you finally awake?" asked a voice. Her breath hitched a bit as she realized who it was that had caught on to her pretense. Sakura opened her eyes to stare into Itachi's eyes, searching for his intentions. He stopped walking and gently lowered her to the ground, keeping a hand on her back to steady her as she regained her balance. He stepped away as soon as she no longer needed him.

Sakura looked around the room. It was rather large, vast meeting hall which had the symbol of the Uchiha framing the doorway on either side. At the front of the room, elevated above rest of the room by a platform was a throne. A small table sat beside the throne for the occupant's convenience.

The Uchiha crest was emblazoned on either side of the throne and two tomoe-like shaped below those as well. Directly behind the seat is a poster which has the kanji surrounded by eight swirls. The design of the throne itself allowed for the poster to be clearly visible behind it.

"Where are we?" Sakura asked.

"This used to be a base of the Uchiha clan." Itachi answered as he walked towards the throne and sat down.

"What do you want?"

"I merely want to talk to you." he replied as he leaned his elbows on his knees and folded his fingers together.

"You want to talk?" Sakura asked bitterly, crossing her arms and taking a haughty stance, "That's why you decided to knock me unconscious and kidnap me?"

"I want to talk to you, alone, before Sasuke comes here to have our final battle."

"Why should I listen to you?" Sakura raised her voice, "You're the one who causes suffering for Sasuke! For walking down the wrong path!"

"What is it about my brother that makes you care about him so much?" Itachi questioned Sakura, voice still calm, almost patronizing, "He's a rogue ninja who abandoned the village and you joined him. You left behind all your friends, your schooling, and your family, all for him. Why?"

Sakura uncrossed her arms and clenched her hands into fists at her sides, bowing her head and closing her eyes tightly in frustration. "I joined him because I had no choice. I couldn't convince him to stay and the only other way to make sure he was safe was for me to join him," she replied. She raised her head to stare directly at Itachi, trying to appear defiant, but failing miserably as a sob caught in her throat and a tear ran down her cheek, "and I love him…"

"You love him?" Itachi sounded surprised that his little brother already had someone crushing on him. Sakura's tears dried instantly at the tone of his voice and her frustration and anger came roaring back. She took a firm step forward,

"Yes, I've been in love with Sasuke since childhood have spent my entire life trying to get him to notice me. At first it was because of his good looks and his calm, collecting attitude…..but after becoming teammates, I realized he's imperfections and suffering and I started to love as a person, for his personality. I know he doesn't love me back so the only way I can express that love is to protect and help him any way I can."

Sakura paused, took a deep breath and glared harder at Itachi,

"Even if I had to betray my village, my friends and my family just to be with him to try to prevent him from walking down a darker path. Even if I….even if he….even if he I have to watch him kill you!"

"Even if he kills you for getting in his way?" asked Itachi calmly, seemingly unaffected by Sakura's heartfelt speech.

"Yes," she answered without hesitation, "Even if he kills me. I know I tried my best to make sure I made my feelings known before taking my last breath."

"Hmpf." Itachi smiled and leaned back in his throne, now resting one elbow on the armrest and settling his cheek on his fist, "I'll tell you something, but it is up to you whether or not to believe me."

xXx

"Karin!" Sasuke glared at her, then turned back to glare at the Leaf Ninja surrounding their little group.

"I-I-I'm sorry!" she wailed dramatically, "I wasn't concentrating…"
Because she had been focusing so hard on finding Itachi, she had neglected to keep an eye out for the Leaf Ninja. Hence, they had been found and subsequently surrounded.

"Great…" Suigetsu muttered and watched for movement among their attackers.

"Sasuke! Where is Sakura-Chan?!" Naruto yelled.

"Calm down, Naruto." Kakashi said, trying to maintain a relatively peaceful atmosphere, "We are here to bring you back. Where is Sakura?"

"We don't have time for this!" Suigetsu yelled frustrated, "Can we just kill them?!"

"No, I told you. We have no-kill rule." Sasuke answered.

"Fine, whatever…" Suigetsu replied and darted forward.

Under Yamato's formation, Hinata, Kiba and Akamaru moved to attack Suigetsu, but he easily dodged their blows. Jugo launched forward, curse mark activated, against Kakashi, Shino and Sai. Ino and Karin stayed where they were and watched the fight progress. Ino stared at the Karin. She was same redheaded glasses-girl from the town. Ino knew she was rather suspicious, too bad Ino lost her into the crowd.
Yamato used his Wood_Jutsu in an attempt to capture Suigetsu, but Suigetsu simply dissolved into a puddle.

Naruto charged at Sasuke, both using their signature techniques. After their first clash, they both stepped back for a moment and eyed each other carefully.

"Itachi took Sakura, I have to go after them!" Sasuke yelled.

"Then let us help! We'll help you save Sakura, then you can come back to the village…" Naruto replied.

"Why should I let you help me?! You'll just get in my way! I've lost everything! I'm not going to lose her too…"

"You won't! We're not gonna let her die!"

"Even if you help, you'll just stop me from getting my revenge. I'm not gonna lose that either!"

Sasuke used his Chidori as Naruto used his Rasengan again. They collided harshly with each other and the resulting blast sent both ninja flying backwards. Kakashi and Jugo broke away from each other in time to prevent their teammates from plowing painfully into the dirt. Suigetsu also noticed the lull in the fight and backed quickly away from his opponents, stopping next to Karin.

"What's more important; saving Sakura-Chan or having your revenge?!" Naruto snapped.

Kakashi's eye widened in surprise and confusion. "Saving Sakura?" he asked and looked down at the boy in his arm for an answer.

"What's more important; saving Sakura or forcing us to go back to the village?!" Sasuke retorted.

"We don't time for this…." Suigetsu mumbled, "Sasuke, we'll distract them. You go after Itachi."

"No need…" said a voice behind them. Karin flinched and spun around. This was the second time someone had sneaked up behind them without her noticing. No wonder, though. His billowing cloak revealed that he was part of the Akatsuki. Karin felt a little better. But what was a member of the Akatsuki doing there?

"What do you want?" Sasuke questioned him.

"My name is Tobi. I'm here for a distraction." he answered.

Sasuke gritted his teeth, but accepted Tobi's offer. Now that all the Leaf were together, Hebi simply darted off in the opposite direction. Tobi simply stood where he was; he didn't even turn around to watch them leave.

Naruto growl and ran after Sasuke, but Tobi silently appeared in front of him.

"Don't get in my way!" Naruto yelled out of frustration and used his Rasengan. Tobi managed to dodge it and used his Whac-A-Mole Technique, to strike every single member of the Leaf team down.

Naruto lifted his face from the dirt and groaned. He could just barely still see Sasuke.

"Sasuke, wait! Don't let Sakura-Chan die! Come back!" he yelled desperately.

Sasuke and his team ignored Naruto and kept running full speed to where Itachi is waiting for them.

xXx

Sakura stood rooted to her spot, shaking and sweating. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. There was no way. How could the village she loved so much, the village that was so peaceful and beautiful would do something like this….

"W-why should I b-believe you?!" she stuttered, "Why are you telling me this, anyway!"

"Because I trust you will take care of Sasuke," he answered, as calm as ever, "This is something I won't tell him. I won't have the chance to. As soon as he comes barging through that door, he will fight me to the death"

Sakura lowered her gaze to the ground. She felt sick; the whole room was spinning around her. Should she believe what he just said? Was he telling the truth? The village she lived in, she loved now seemed completely different.

Nekobaa had once showed her a picture of Itachi and Sasuke together. They were both smiling happily and their eyes held so much love for each other. Was Itachi really the kind of person who would act like a villain and kill his entire clan just to save his brother? The same brother who would, any minute now, come through that door and kill him for that unforgivable action?

'What….what should I do, Sasuke?' thought Sakura. Another hot tear rolled down her cheek.

xXx

Sasuke's team finally reached the Uchiha hideout, where they were greeted by Kisame. Kisame told them as per Itachi's orders, that only Sasuke would be permitted to enter. Suigetsu protested heartily. He wanted to make sure Sakura was safe and alive. Sasuke, however, quickly broke off that protest and told the group to stay put as he ventured into the hideout, ready to finish off Itachi once and for al.

"Just make sure Sakura is safe." Suigetsu requested.

"Hn."

Sasuke walked through the Uchiha hideout, wandering through the halls into the main room. Itachi sat on his throne, waiting for him. The minute Sasuke stepped foot into the room, Itachi asked,

"What do you see with your Sharingan, little brother?"

Sasuke gritted his teeth and bit back a reply, "You, dead at my hands."

"Dead huh," Itachi replied thoughtfully, "What else?"

Sasuke paused. He had not expected this. Cautiously, he looked around and saw something in one of the nearer corners. His eyes widened when he realized it was Sakura, unconscious. The moment he had laid eyes on his brother, Sasuke had completely forgotten about Sakura. He walked up to her, she was still breathing but out cold.

"What did you do to her?!"

"Nothing important." Itachi answered.

Realizing that his life's goal was finally in front of him, Sasuke removed his bandages as he launched a volley of shuriken at Itachi. Itachi easily dodged the attack and fired his own at Sasuke. They launched themselves at each other, both determined to win. Sasuke attempted to strike with his Chidori Sharp Spear. Itachi used his Early Sacrifice technique to jump on Sasuke's shoulder, evading his attack and slammed him against the wall.

As he continued to lock Sasuke's grip, Itachi's shadow clone came from above, throwing kunai at Sasuke. Sasuke forced a snake out of his cursed seal and used it to shield himself, simultaneously freeing himself from Itachi's grip.

Sasuke threw a Fire Jutsu_Great Fireball Jutsu at Itachi, who just barely evaded it, leaping into the air only for Sasuke to unseal and summon two fuma shuriken. He hurled them at Itachi. Once again, Itachi managed to avoid the attack, but Sasuke pulled the shuriken with wire strings, altering their course, and succeeded in stabbing Itachi.

"Using your Tsukuyomi on Sakura, is causing some side effects…..how does it feel?" Sasuke mocked. He rushed towards Itachi with Chidori in hand. Itachi dodged it. The Chidori collided with the ceiling, creating a massive hole.

They both use the Great Fire_Ball Jutsu, their flames clashing against one another. Itachi unleashed the Amaterasu ability from his right Mangekyō Sharingan to create inextinguishable black flames that smothered Sasuke's orange flames instantly and went on to burn Sasuke himself.

Sasuke activated his curse mark and shield himself with his wing. Before the Amaterasu consumed him completely, Sasuke reverted back to his normal state and used his Chidori Sharp Spear to create a hole beneath him to avoid being burned by Itachi's Amaterasu.

Reactivating his curse mark second stage once more, Sasuke used Fire Jutsu_Great Dragon Fire Technique, creating a dragon-head fireball that burst through the roof, missing Itachi and firing off into the cloud.

As Sasuke's curse mark receded once more, storm clouds suddenly began to rumble above them.

With a jolt, Itachi realized that Sasuke had created them from the heat of his Fire Jutsu_ Great Dragon Fire Jutsu and Itachi's own inextinguishable Amaterasu.

Sasuke created a Shadow Clone and jumped up on the edge of the broken ceiling that overlooked the hideout. His clone rushed towards the unconscious Sakura and picked her up. It jumped up to the ceiling and stood next to his Original.

Sasuke looked at Sakura and gritted his teeth, furious that his brother would resort to such a cowardly actions as to use Sakura as a hostage, 'I'm almost done….just hang on…' he thought. He looked back at Itachi and started to control the thunder,

"Disappear with the thunder." said Sasuke and used his new Jutsu, Kirin, in an attempt to kill Itachi. Lightning flared all around him, tearing up the floor and walls of the Uchiha Hideout, completely destroying it.

Sasuke dropped his hands in exhaustion, gasping for air, believing he had finally won. A pile of rubble shifted and Itachi stood up, completely unharmed due to his Susanoo, a colossal chakra guardian exclusive to those who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan in both eyes. He shielded himself.

Sasuke's clone stepped forward and carefully put Sakura's body down on the floor before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Cautiously, Sasuke knelt down next to her and checked for injuries, either from Itachi's or his Jutsus. After seeing nothing was wrong, he put his full focus back on Itachi, silently wondering how his brother was still alive hoping he had enough chakra to defeat his brother.

Suddenly, Sasuke doubled over, clutching at his curse mark. The repressed portion of Orochimaru that Sasuke had absorbed had begun to take over his body. The remaining drops of chakra Sasuke had left were depleted as he struggled to keep Orochimaru from waking up. Sasuke screamed as Orochimaru used the Eight branches Jutsu. Eight white snakes burst out of Sasuke's curse mark as he screamed again. Orochimaru himself exits from on the snake's mouths.

"You finally show yourself…" Itachi muttered.

"Here is finally my chance!" Orochimaru yells, "It's all thanks to you! Thank you for forcing Sasuke to expand the chakra he used to keep me suppressed! Now I'll take his body for own and defeat-"

Before Orochimaru could finish his sentence, Itachi used his Susanoo's Sword of Totsuka, which had the ability to seal any soul and trapped it forever in a Genjutsu. Itachi decapitated seven of the Orochimaru's snakes and managed to seal Orochimaru away, removing Sasuke's curse mark at the same time.

However, in doing so, Itachi used the last of his chakra, reducing Susanoo to its most basic form. Unaware of Orochimaru's resurfacing and Itachi's subsequent rescue, Sasuke rushed towards Itachi, Chidori in hand. Itachi was growing weaker by the second and an excited smile crossed Sasuke's face as he noticed an opening in his brother's defense.

His hand hit something solid and the Chidori light spread out from the point of impact. Blood dripped from the wound. He released his Jutsu and the light faded, along his smile.

As the light vanished, the first thing Sasuke noticed was the color; it wasn't the black tinged with red he had expected, but rather a light pink quickly being consumed by a dark crimson.

Sasuke's head jerked up to look at Itachi, silently pleading with him for this to be a Genjutsu his brother had greated. Sasuke's heart dropped into his stomach when he saw the horrified expression on Itachi's face. It was real. Sakura was standing with her back to Sasuke, both hands extended to stop the brothers from fighting.

"S-S-Sakura….." Sasuke stuttered.

Sakura coughed. Red drops splattered on the ground and stained her teeth. She raised her eyes to Itachi and took a shaky breath,

"D-don't r-run awa-y." she whispered before her legs gave out and she collapsed between the two shell-shocked brothers.

~To Be Continued~

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