Chapter Ten

"Sasuke please, STOP!" Naruto-being the knuckle head ninja he is- showed up just in time to step in between his two team mates, though nothing would have happened. Sakura stayed where she was beside the dying Karin. Her eyes began to water once again with the scene that unfolded in front of her.

Both Kakashi and Naruto jumped away from their confused friend to where Sakura was still planted in the ground. The white haired man knelt down beside Sakura and whispered something in her ear. She nodded as she regained consciousness to turn around to Karin. The pink haired medic slugged her arm around her neck to only jump away to the rubble that still stood strong, while the remaining team seven stared down their confused opposite. The intensity began to grow, especially between Naruto and Sasuke.

"Naruto, take Sakura and that girl away from here while I take care of him." Sakura looked up with her big green eyes full of shock and anger. Just as she was to protest to her sensei, Naruto spoke up.

"No Kakashi-sensei, I have to do this." Her tears began to fill her green eyes once again as she quickly shut them remembering she was still in the process of healing Karin.

The red haired Uzumaki looked up to the pinkette who cried over the exchanging of words between her team mates. The two lashed out at each other with such vile intensity that it could be felt from miles away.

As Karin saw this happen, she thought to herself, "Don't cry, please don't cry. Dammit, now I'm crying." The tears ran down both girls faces as they remembered a Sasuke they once knew. Suddenly the call of Rasengan, and the chirps of a thousand birds could be heard. Both boys screamed their jutsu's at the top of their lungs as they quickly darted for one another.

"Chidori!"

"Rasengan!"

Sakura snapped her head in time to see the bright flash emit from their clash. Before she covered herself over Karin, she had seen Kakashi quickly jump away from the area he had been.

From the cloud of water and smoke, two bodies went flying from the directions they had originally come from. When there was no longer a ripple remaining in the blue water, the two got back up weakly from where they landed. Kakashi was now standing beside Naruto, while Madara suddenly appeared behind Sasuke. The mysterious masked man spoke words to Sasuke that couldn't be heard as he had nodded in a sort of agreement. Naruto yelled out before they had disappeared.

"You'll come back to Konoha no matter what Sasuke!" Sasuke lift up his hand in defense to the man behind him, as he responded back to the blondie.

"It's hopeless Naruto! There's nothing that you can do anymore! I will destroy the hidden leaf faster than you can think!"

"I didn't say it would be me! When we clashed fists I knew you saw it too! I will make sure it will happen, you bet your ass on that!" All eyes quickly averted to the raven haired boy who stood frozen with a face more confused than before.

Within seconds he was gone, along with the masked man behind him. Silence filled the canyon walls as all three persons thought about the events that had passed.

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The Fourth Great Ninja War battle was only yet to begin. Tobi who was now turned Madara, was the whole reason this catastrophe has been born. Villages were on high alert, as were secret alliances being formed. The five kage were constantly meeting to keep things in order.

Every shinobi available were either training or prepared to go out to battlefronts. Rumors had been circling around that there were imposters posing as fellow ninja, slowly decreasing their lines of defense. Sakura Haruno stayed at the hospital as much as she possibly could to keep anymore ninja out of the place.

"Sakura-chan, there you are!"

"Oh, hello Shizune." Sakura nodded as she continued to walk down the corridor while checking on her patients.

"Sakura, Lady Tsunade would like to see you at her office."

"Isn't she supposed to be on her way the Hidden Sand village to meet the other four Kage's?"

"Yes, that is why she wanted to talk to you." Sakura looked at her check board to see she was basically down her round. She nodded to Shizune as they both walked back down the hallway to the front entrance.

The streets were filled with people as always, but happiness was not something they wore on their faces. Her eyes filled with grief as she knew that someone she loved was the cause of all this worry and sorrow.

The hokage mansion was back up and running as were many other shinobi like Sakura. It was busier than usual due to the fact that they could be attacked at any minute. As Sakura walked through the familiar hallways she tried to remain at ease, only wanting to do one thing that had been on her mind for quite a while. She lightly tapped her small hand on the door. In a few short seconds Lady Tsunade called her in.

The room was filled with stacks of unfinished paper work with two other nin standing beside the hokgae's desk. Lady Tsunade, whom is usually seen sitting in her chair, is now facing the window that overlooks the village below. She turns around to greet Sakura with a warm smile.

"You called for me Lady Tsunade?"

"Yes I did. Sakura, as you know I'm going to be going to the Hidden Sand to meet with the other kage to speak about forming an alliance. I am also going to be having Shizune stay behind to take care of things around here, and I would like you to take her place to come with me."

"But wouldn't it be best for Shizune to come with you instead of me?" Sakura questioned at the sudden information.

"Shizune was my first choice, but with the cases of these clones I need someone I can trust with experience in these types of things." The pinkette nodded her head in agreement, as she secretly wanted to get away from the village.

The team that was to escort the hokage was to leave by the next couple of hours. Sakura returned to her home to pack things for the nine day trip. Saying her goodbyes to her parents, she left with the party to the Hidden Sand.

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Nine Days Later the ninja alliance was officially formed, with Gaara as their leader. Sakura was glad to see how much he had changed due to Naruto's contagious hopefulness.

Almost everyone she knew had hardly anything to hope for, but now she could see the change in their faces. Even Sasuke Uchiha. The last time she had seen him wasn't the best, but whatever Naruto had said or done to him triggered something. Sakura smiled with pride as she stepped out of the Hidden Sand to head back to Konoha, alongside her the other two ninja that were first with her.

Lady Tsunade had stayed behind to make plans with the other kage. It would take at least a day to get back to the village if they don't take any rests, or two if they took their time. All three had decided to enjoy their leisure with nothing to rush them. The trip would be long and quiet, hopefully with nothing to worry.