Chapter Six

Chapter 6

It was another bright and sunny day in the village of Konoha. The only difference was there were villagers busy at work, fixing the devastation that Pein had brought. Naruto had successfully defeated him, and the plan he had corrupted. After all the madness subsided, Sakura was busy at work beside the Hokage. Naruto taking a short and needed break after saving the village.

Everything was okay for everyone it seemed, though Sakura had some bridged to cross. Having working by the Hokage's side, there were things she learned before anyone else could get an ear full.

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As the pink haired girl walked down the streets of the broken village, smiles of hope and sadness were directed towards her in which, she would direct them right back.

Sakura made her way up the hill, where the temporary Hokage mansion was being held. With the main one still being under construction, they moved to a Cliffside view, that over looked the entire village.

Even though it was in shambles, you could see the spirit burn strong in everyone. Before Sakura could enter the hokage's office, she was stopped by a familiar name. She pressed herself to the wall beside the open door, and keep a careful ear.

"We can't waste our time with that Uchiha anymore." Tsunade said.

"Maybe we can't, but maybe the new Team 7 can." Shizune protested.

"It would just be a waste of time Shizune. Can't you see? He's already a member of the Akatsuki. The only good that kid has done, is be rid the world of Orochimaru."

"Well if we give up, Naruto and Sakura definitely won't. They are dead set on bringing him back."

"It won't work even I won't have the power to keep him safe. There is only one choice, and you know that."

"They won't allow that choice, and YOU know that."

"Shizune! Just, save it. It's not worth the breath to argue over." Lady Tsunade sighed, along with Shizune. Ton Ton oinked in response to everything around him. "Sakura, I know you're there." She sighed as she rolled along the door frame into the room, still keeping herself pressed against the wall.

"How much did you hear, Sakura-chan?" Shizune asked in a soothing voice.

"Enough." Tsunade sighed again, as she got up from her chair to cross the room to Sakura. Her green eyes stuck to the floor until her sensei was standing in front of her.

"I know it must be hard, to go through a situation like this. We don't have much to get done today, so go home and rest." Sakura nodded as she left the temporary mansion. Tsunade could be strict at time, but of all people she knew what Sakura was going through. She also knew that Sakura needed to think things through.

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As the pink haired girl gazed at the stars outside her window, she sat on her bed with a picture frame lying in her palms. Sakura looked down to the old photo that was taken when Team 7 first became a true team.The picture wasn't the best, but it was still something Sakura cherished.

Her two other team mates had been fighting that day, only Kakashi and herself, were happy to be there. Secretly the other two boys were cherishing the moment. The anger had only been a cover up to the happiness. Tear drops fell onto the glass pane that covered the photograph. As the water fell from her green eyes, thoughts she never allowed herself to think filled her mind. Sakura had a decision to make, one she had to do on her own.

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"Why do you think Sakura called us all here?" Ten Ten asked.

"I don't know, but it must be pretty important. All the Rookie Nine will be here, even you guys." Shikamaru answered willingly.

"It's important no matter with Sakura-chan!" Rock Lee said, who still had a crush on the girl.

"I wonder if Naruto will come." Hinata whispered.

"Of course he will, he's part of the Rookie Nine, and Team 7!"

"It won't really be the Rookie Nine though." Sai said a loud, knowing that no one else were to dare say it. There was only one person missing in their little group.

"Here she comes." Ino hissed.

"Hello Sakura-chan!" Rock Lee shouted in his always happy go lucky voice. Sakura walked up to her friends, but stopped just before them.

"Where's Naruto?" Chouji asked.

"I didn't ask him to come."

"Why not?" Lee asked in a daze.

"I don't want to include him in this."

"Well he should be, if you gathered us all here." Said Shikamaru.

"It's about... It's about Sasuke. I didn't want him here, because of what I am about to tell you all. You mustn't tell him about this either." Everyone went quiet, for they had a good idea of what she was going to say. "Sasuke-kun, isn't the same anymore. He hasn't come back, even after what he planned for himself to do. They already planned it, but I told them I would do it."

"Do what." Ino asked.

"I want to be the one, to kill Sasuke."

"Naruto should really be here." Neji chimed in.

"No, I can't have that. He'll just tell me he can still save him. Sasuke, cannot be saved anymore. He's done things that cannot be forgiven so easily. If someone has to do it, I want it to be me."

"Why are you telling us then." Shikamaru said.

"Because I'm going to need your help to find him." Silence cursed the group once again, until some spoke up.

"I can help track him." Kiba offered.

"I will always be willing to help Sakura-chan!" Lee shouted.

"I will too." Sai said.

"No one else?" The remaining few looked at each other, to the empty eyes that shined back.

"I would like to, but I don't think it's my position to. I hardly knew him." A few others said the same thing, except Neji and Ino. Neji had said nothing, Ino had told her she couldn't do it. As everyone began to leave back to their own homes, Sakura reminded them once again.

"Remember, not to tell Naruto. I'll deal with him if the time comes."

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Her short pink hair bobbed through the large crowd. Her plan for the day was to return the kunai Sasuke had lent her. The young Sakura still had no idea what was going on. Just before she got to the Uchiha residence, a crowd had formed and blocked her path. Sakura pushed her way through the legs of the people taller than her.

"Excuse me, sorry, thank-you." She said in a sweet innocent voice.

"Please step back everyone, there is nothing to see here! Move along people, please return to your homes." Konoha shinobi were before all the people who were trying to get in. Sakura tried to look through the wall on ninja in front of the entrance. Beside her, there were two men talking about the happenings.

"How horrible, I wonder who did it?"

"Who knows, I just wonder if anyone survived!"

"Hopefully, maybe we can catch whoever it is fast."

"They'll never know what hit em." Just then, the wall broke then closed again. Before her, Sasuke walked along with two other shinobi. The crowd went quiet, then let a path form to let them through.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura shouted as she raced between the legs once again. When she reached a good spot to stand beside him, she caught a glimpse of his small face. His dark onyx eyes were small black holes. His black hair fell down his cheeks, his body movements were lucid. Her smile instantly disappeared from her face, worry in the bright green eyes she had. "Sasuke-kun?" She whispered once last time, before the path began to slowly patch up behind them.

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Sakura looked back up to the high entry gates that lead into the village. By her side were Kiba, Rock Lee, and Sai. She was going to come back changed for the rest of her life.

"We should get going." Kiba said. Sakura sighed and turned around.

"Yeah, we have a long way to go." The team jumped away to make their way to the Iron Country, where Sasuke was to be.