Sorry for long wait. I just had some doubts over my writing and planning abilities, but yeah. that's what kept me from updating in two months. I'll try to update more often. Yeah. Enjoy

Sakura had to fight back a squeal when she saw Sasuke. It had been two few days since he had been checked into the hospital, and she had been worried sick. And now, here he was, on their training grounds, slouched against a tree with his arms crossed and just looking oh so cool.

However, the words of both her Sensei and Hinata held her tongue.

How Naruto-Sensei had taught her about how her obsession with Sasuke was damaging, both to her aspirations to becoming a shinobi as well as winning his affections.

How Hinata had told her off for assuming her assuming her misery was related to Sasuke and not her own problems.

Sakura looked down at her feet as she remembered that confrontation. Even after all of her promises and attempts, when she saw her teammate devastated, she immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was Sasuke the girl was upset about.

Hinata's words rung through her, perhaps especially because it was Hinata. The sweetest, most non judgemental person in the world. To be berated by such a sweet, caring girl…

But she never did stop to think about why Hinata was like that, did she? She never did think about anyone else's problems, having grown up in a safe and loving environment. The only problem she had ever really faced throughout most of her life was how to get Sasuke to like her. And, after facing the real pain that Sasuke had to live with, she thought she finally had understood him a bit more.

But she had forgotten other people had pain, too.

"... Are you just going to stand there or are you going to say something?"

Sakura leaped out of her thoughts, surprised at her crush's sudden question. She was both flustered at being caught with her mind loose as well as curious as to what would bring him to initiate conversation with her.

Luckily, she broke out of her stupor quite easily. "Are you alr-"

"I'm fine," Sasuke said simply, before seeing the girl's reaction to his sudden interjection. He sighed. "I'm an Uchiha," he further expanded. "Obtaining the Sharingan is a challenge we all must overcome."

Sakura looked up at him. "Actually, I was more concerned about your br-"

""I said, I'm fine," Sasuke snapped, and Sakura felt her head hang once more. He turned away, feeling the tiniest bit bad about what he did. "What about you? He did a number on you, didn't he?"

Sakura grimaced, not exactly too thrilled with being reminded of her less than stellar performance in that last battle. However, she tried to remind herself that not many ninjas would stand a chance against someone like Itachi Uchiha, even jonin. But even still…

"I'm… fine," she said simply, not really wanting to get too much deeper into the topic. She fully realized the irony of saying that after what she said to Sasuke, but fortunately for her he simply shook his head and ignored it.

It wasn't much longer till they heard their third member arrive. They both turned their heads to face the Hyuga heiress, with Sasuke giving her a brief nod before returning to his brooding.

Sakura looked down. She still felt horrible about the previous day, and she knew she needed to-"

"I'm sorry!"

Sakura blinked, surprised at Hinata's sudden apology. 'Why is she…?'

"No, Hinata- I'm sorry-"

"But… I... yelled at-"

"... You were right, Hinata," Sakura said distraught. "I- I shouldn't have assumed-"

"It's… it's alright, really Sakura-"

"No, I just-"

"... Are you two just going to apologize all day?"

Both girls turned to face the Uchiha, who seemed to break out of his dark stupor to address them.

"Because if you're not going to take this seriously and just regret everything, then this team will never work out."

"Sasuke-" Sakura whispered, but he cut her off.

"Look, I have spent the past few years seeking revenge against one man," Sasuke said coldly and without emotion, his eyes noticeably dimming. "... A few days ago, I finally met that man again. And… I failed," he admitted, his hands crunching up in anger. "I failed miserably. And it was only then… I realized."

He turned to face the two bewildered girls. "I can't do this myself. No matter how hard I try, I will never be able to defeat my brother by myself. I will need teammates, who are strong enough to help me gain the strength to do that. But if you are just going to stand around and doubt yourselves, then you aren't worth my time."

Sakura and Hinata looked at the boy with awe and surprise. Whatever they expected today, it certainly wasn't for Sasuke to say he needed their help to be strong enough.

"Well, could have used a bit of work on the delivery, but I suppose it will do."

The three genin jumped in surprise, their hands reaching for their respective kunais as a new intruder appeared in a swirl of leaves. "Yo," their Sensei said lazily, and they all relaxed their grips.

"So, everyone ready for another day of training?" he asked casually.

All three genin did not even hesitate in nodding their approval.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had been a ninja for many years. After a lifetime of shinobi activity, culminating in his position as one of the most powerful ninja in the world, there wasn't much that could surprise him anymore. But life had a way of throwing surprises at him, as it did this morning when an ANBU came with an urgent message from Team Gai.

"... And not a single survivor?"

"None that they could find, Lord Hokage," the ANBU replied glumly. It was obvious that hearing of such an atrocity had infuriated the ANBU, even through the famed cold exterior of the ANBU. "Nor any hint about who was behind such an attack."

'I believe I may know who it was,' Hiruzen dimly thought, but did not share that information with the jounin in front of him. "... Thank you, Frog. Inform Team Naruto to report to my office." The ANBU nodded before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

The Third Hokage turned to look out his window, at the village he was duty bound to protect. And now, here comes an enemy that could destroy an entire ninja village without hesitation or survivors. Could he possibly protect his village from such a danger?

He had hoped Itachi could at the very least stall them from enacting their plans until they were ready for them, but it looked like that wasn't the case. Despite this, Itachi was still their best chance at standing a chance against those monsters.

Being undercover at such a monstrous organization was not what Itachi would call one of the most pleasing assignments one could obtain as a ninja. He had to do many horrible things, things that only added to his countless sins. Even so, he still had held true to the belief that he was, at the very least, helping to stop such monsters from achieving their goals for the world.

Standing here, having no other choice but to perform the sealing sign in unison with the rest of the Akatsuki, watching as he drew the last ounce of life be sucked from a poor, innocent girl who had no doubt encountered a life of tragedy before her untimely death… it was enough to make him fear as if all of his sacrifices were in vain.

Even so, he had to maintain the mission at all costs. And that was why he knowingly played directly into such an evil and unspeakable act.

It was all in the service of the Leaf.

"W-what?" Hinata stammered, completely and utterly shocked by the details of their most recent mission.

"...I see," Naruto nodded, his eyes closed as he seemed to calmly digest this information of the inside, of course, he was seeming. 'Damn it… The Akatsuki has made their move...'

Sakura gulped. A threat that wiped out an entire ninja village? That seemed like a lot for an inexperienced genin team… "With all due respect, Lord Hokage…" tee pink haired genin began.

Hiruzen simply shook his head. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I know what you're going to say, but it is the duty of a ninja to accept any mission in which they are assigned without question." Heeding this warning, Sakura withdrew her objection, though she still looked frightened.

Hinata looked downward. She, too, had been nervous about this mission. Although she would not have objected audibly, to the Hokage's face no less, she nevertheless had hoped she would not have to go inspect a decimated village. However, it would appear as if she had no choice, so she attempted to summon up all of her courage.

"Team Gai is currently surveying the site. You are to leave at once and support him in any way you can. Naruto, Gai will be in charge of this mission. Understood?"

"Aye, Hokage-sama!" Naruto saluted with as much dignity as he could muster through the rage, though none of his three genin gave anything more than a small nod. The four young ninja soon left the Hokage to his thoughts and paperwork. The four ninja wasted no time getting ready or dawdling, instead following their Sensei into a run directly for the village gate.

Hinata followed behind the rest, her mind focused on who they said they would be helping on this mission. Gai. Gai's team. Neji was on his team. Her cousin. She would be on a mission with her cousin.

She took a deep breath, attempting to calm herself down. An entire village was were bigger issues at hand than her cousin's attempts to demean her.

"It doesn't make sense," Sakura said suddenly as they were passing the village gate."What kind of shinobi could defeat an entire village? The Waterfall was supposed to be one of the stronger minor villages..." she wondered out loud as the three of them leapt into the tree branches.

Naruto looked at Sasuke, his mind debating whether or not he should tell them. At last, he figured that they had a right to know. "I think I have an idea," Naruto stated. None of his genin asked anything but instead turned to him inquisitively, so he continued. "... I believe it to be the same organization that Itachi Uchiha belongs to."

Those words were almost enough to stop Sasuke in his tracks. They did, however, cause a deep chill to run down his spine. "What did you-?"

"You remember how Itachi was taken from our fight by another shinobi using a strange jutsu wearing the same cloak he was, right?" Naruto interrupted. "We believe they're the Akatsuki, a group of missing ninja from all over the Shinobi World, each just as powerful and dangerous as Itachi… perhaps even more so."

Sasuke felt his fist clench as he continued jumping from tree branch to tree branch. 'So, you ran to a whole collection of scumbags like yourself, Itachi...' he thought angrily, his hatred practically physical and causing the others to look at him in worry. 'Fine. Then I'll just kill you and all of your traitorous "friends" as well!'

'Sasuke...' Sakura thought worriedly to herself as she looked at her crush.

"But… why would they attack the Waterfall?" Hinata asked timidly, secretly hoping to distract everyone from Sasuke's anger.

Naruto gulped. He knew exactly the reason, but worried about telling his students about Jinchurikis just yet. After all, he might need to explain his own status to them as well… and who knows how they would react?

"They don't need a reason, Hinata," Sasuke answered, saving Naruto from having to answer her. "They kill and destroy just because that's the kind of scum they are."

Naruto looked at Sasuke, noticing the anger and hatred in his eyes. 'Well.. he's not wrong,' he admitted to himself. "Whatever their reason, we have a mission, and we are going to complete it. Team Seven, move out!"