A night of deep reflection and chakra control did little to sooth Sakura's frayed nerves. Any thought had to be carefully controlled so as not to tread on the unstable mental ground of dealing with the reality of her parent's deaths. She had no time to wallow in misery and guilt. She had six suspects to track down and defeat in less than 20 days. Once she found a player, it wouldn't just be a matter of determining if they were guilty, she also would have to fight for the ownership over her dagger and for her life. She struggled over placing Hasumi in the list of suspects. He had shown his loyalty by protecting her life time after time but how could she place trust in the someone she had only known for a handful of days? Her path to revenge her parent's murder didn't have room for sentimentality.

She let out a deep breath and she finally got out of bed. She pulled aside the window curtain. The light was harsh and the sun straight overhead. Iruka must have left for work hours ago. Sakura pulled the window up and ducked her head out. It took a minute for her sleep dulled senses to spot the two flares of chakra from the constant anbu guard. Then she realized that within the house there were two familiar signatures. She pulled her head back in and shut the window. She couldn't predict how Sasuke and Kakashi would try and console her. Even with the past year on Team Seven she didn't have a strong read on them. This conversation would be awkward at best and she would need to be on high alert to avoid letting her true plans for the next few weeks leak out.

When Sakura entered the living room, Sasuke looked even more stoic than usual, leaning one wall and Kakashi's crickled-eyed smile, from where he sat at the table, seemed more an expression of worry.

"So, I assume you've heard?" Sakura asked bluntly, as she sat across from Kakashi.

He pushed a mug of what smelled like tea toward her.

"Sakura…" He paused, choosing his words, "Sasuke, Naruto, and I aren't unfamiliar to loss. It's different for everyone but I wanted to make sure that you can rely on us, your team and friends, to help you grieve."

Sakura took a sip of tea and throttled a surge of emotion. She couldn't let them comfort her and let her driving force of rage and sorrow be dampened.

"Thank you Sensei, I appreciate it." She said softly into the steam from the tea.

Kakashi leaned forward, "Sakura, look at me."

She steeled herself and moved her eyes up and met his gaze. The eye contact sent a thrill of alarm through her.

"I need you to promise me that you won't take revenge." Sakura stiffened as Kakashi continued, "Revenge is an easy goal to cling to but you would be putting your life in danger for something that can't undo what has been done."

Sakura mindfully smoothed her expression and glanced at Sasuke. His arms were crossed, his fingers digging into his arms, and a frown marred his face. She could say with absolute certainty that Sasuke did not agree with that thought.

"I can't lie and say that I'm not filled with anger and that I think that the murder shouldn't be punished for what they've done." Her voice shook, despite herself and she took a breath to continue, "But I've been fighting for too long and I'm exhausted. I'll I want is for this 'Game' to be over and for the Hokage to bring those at fault to justice."

Kakashi studied her face then smiled, placing a hand over one of hers.

"Good. I'm afraid Sasuke and I have to train over the next few weeks but Naruto will remain in the village. I'll fill him in before we leave." He said, rising from his seat.

Sakura followed his lead, in her haste, spilling her tea.

"Wait!" She started, then hesitated at Kakashi's surprised expression, "I… I don't want anyone else to know about all this. Not at least, until the danger passes. No one else should be hurt because of me."

Kakashi sighed, "Yes, I understand. For now, I'll give everyone an excuse for your absence."

He reached to ruffle her hair. Then let his hand fall to her shoulder.

"I knew your parents Sakura. They were good people. I'm so sorry this happened while you were under my care." He said lowly, then turned and walked to the door, "Meet me at the front gate when you're ready, Sasuke."

When the sound of the door signified Kakashi's departure Sasuke sighed and straightened, closing the distance between them.

"Look, I don't know how to act in this situation or what to say to make you feel better." He frowned and hunched his shoulders, "I know when my family was murdered I couldn't talk to anyone about it. Kakashi told you not to go looking for revenge but I can't tell you not to do so. I live only for my revenge. If that were taken from me, I couldn't see a reason to continue living."

Sakura needed to consider how much she should let Sasuke know. Could she trust him with her plan?

"Tch." Sasuke let out a sound of irritation, "I guess, what I'm saying, is that whatever you decide to do, I support."

"Thank you, Sasuke. I don't know-" Sakura started.

Sasuke interrupted, "You and I are the same. We are rooted in pain, and have no choice but to gain strength to survive." He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek, "I believe you can do whatever it takes, Sakura."

A moment passed while Sakura struggled to react to this earnest side of Sasuke. He cleared his throat and removed his hand.

"Well, anyway, I have to get going. Kakashi is waiting." He said as he moved to leave.

"Sasuke, wait." Sakura said, stopping him before the door. He turned slightly, and she continued, "I don't know what's going to happen to me or if … if I will be able to see you and Naruto pass the Chunin Exams. I'm not afraid for myself anymore but I need you to know that I want to continue being on Team Seven."

Sasuke frowned, "We all die Sakura. Make sure you die in a way of your choosing. Or hey," he lightly smiled, "worse case scenario, Naruto comes to your rescue while yelling about friendship and integrity."

Sakura smiled ruefully, "He does like to butt in. Thank you Sasuke, I can't wait to see your match against Garaa. Try not to die."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, "You too."

He turned to leave. An impulse grabbed her and she grabbed his arm and pulled him into a hug. She gripped him tightly. He tensed but eventually wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you Sasuke." She whispered into his hair.

She let him go and turned to one side, wiping her eyes. Sasuke turned and left without another word. Sakura leaned against the wall and let out a breath.

"I have to say that that was the most disgusting display of pre-teen emotion I have ever seen." Growled the familiar voice.

She groaned, "Oh right, I'm never allowed to be alone anymore. Whoops, forgot."

"Please don't tell me you have feelings for that little insect? He talks big but I doubt he knows what it really means to sacrifice for strength and power."

'What you're jealous?' Sakura shot back, walking back into her room, 'I don't think we have time for petty lines of question like that one.'

Wrath let out a laugh, "Very true. The first goal today is to get you out of this constant surveillance so we can do some real training."

'Easier said than done,' She thought as she found some bags containing her things and ruffled through them. Iruka had been thoughtful enough to grab most of her clothes, ninja tools and scrolls, and books. The sight of her traditional red dress made her pause. A wave of memory hit her. Her mother had designed and sown it for her as a reward for becoming genin. Sakura's eyes filled and her face contorted as she relived that moment, felt her mother envelop her in a hug, smelt her perfume, remembered how proud she had been. Wiping furiously at her eyes, Sakura brusquely shoved the dress away. Instead, she dressed in a simple black shirt and spandex shorts.

She used her headband to tuck her uneven hair fully back.

'Ok. I'm ready. Now how are we getting out of here?'

"First step is to create a shadow clone."

Sakura paused, surprised. 'Like the ones Naruto creates? I don't have enough chakra for that.'

"Are you an idiot? What did you spend all night doing? You know exactly how much of my chakra runs through you."

Sakura huffed and closed her eyes and formed a seal, tentatively shaping the technique. Combining Wrath's chakra with hers was tricky and left her sweating and flushed with the heat. His chakra roared and spiked violently and unexpectedly. The only way to mesh her normally still and deep reserve of chakra was disturb and agitate it. Her practiced tight control needed to be loosened and she felt wisps of chakra escaping her. Not good. The anbu couldn't be aware of her manipulation. She grit her teeth and tried harder.

She didn't know how long it took but when she finally released the last seal the chakra raged through her hands without escaping the boundaries she set. At that exact moment of release, she instantly suppressed all of the chakra within her. It was as if she were damming a flood with a twig but somehow, she managed it

She opened her eyes to the sight of a perfect clone. Sakura flinched at seeing her. She looked wane and pale. Her eyes glinted out from deep bags and even her clone looked serious and stoic. She looked nothing like her old, boy crazy self. Her clone shot her a thumbs up, sat, and began to meditate.

'Now what?' Sakura asked, already exhausted and desparing of getting any training done.

"Now, we are going on a trip."

Suddenly, Sakura's arms shot up and flashed through a long series of hand seals. Sakura gasped, only to realize she couldn't breath or move.

'What the fuck are you doing to me!' She screamed, spiraling into panic.

Sakura's mouth moved with Wrath's words, "Quiet, brat."

Wrath finished the set of seals then bit her thumb. He traced the air, the blood hanging, suspended in the air. The diagram finished, the blood condensed into a ball, and then into a pin point and vanished. A moment passed, then, soundlessly, black exploded from the spot and enveloped all in sight.