Chapter 1- Back home.

She stepped through the gates of the small village. She was followed by her three best friends.

'I'm home.' She sighed happily. Turning around to her friends, she noticed they didn't look too happy.

"What's wrong?" She asked them all.

"…" Sakura glared at her red haired friend.

"Gaara?" She persisted. Kankuro and Temari paid no attention to Sakura and walked through the gates of the village. Gaara folded his arms across his chest.

"You didn't have to come back…" He sighed to her. Sakura smiled lightly.

"I know." She began. "But I wanted too." She turned around to walk into the village herself. But halted when she realized Gaara wasn't following her. She turned around and sighed.

"Are you coming?" she moaned. Gaara shrugged and closed his eyes.

"Why did you bring us?" He moaned. Sakura walked back to him and held his hand.

"You're my best friends!" she giggled. "That's why!" Gaara opened his eyes as he was being dragged into Konoha.

'Damn Sakura and her inhuman strength!' he cursed in his head. He had no choice but to follow her now.

They had caught up with Gaara's siblings. They now all walked to Tsunade's office. On their way, they heard constant whispers.

"What are they looking at?" Kankuro hissed under his breath. Sakura glared back at him.

"Duh!" She sarcastically commented back. "You're from the Suna, the sand country! You're not exactly welcome here." She turned to Gaara, who was lurking behind them. He looked extremely agitated. Sakura frowned slightly and began to walk slower to walk with him.

"Ignore them" She gestured. He looked up at her and smirked slightly.

"Fine." He scowled, but Sakura knew he would be fine.

Arriving at Tsunade's, Sakura knocked heavily on her door.

"Coming!" A worried voice shouted from inside. They door opened up rather quickly.

"Shizune!" Sakura gleamed, leaping at her friend. Shizune looked stunned but hugged back anyway.

"W-What are you doing back?" Shizune stuttered.

"Nice welcome!" Kankuro muttered to Temari. He elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to gasp. Shizune looked up and noticed the three sand ninja.

"S-S-Sakura?" She gaped. Sakura looked at Shizune with a confused glare. "What are Kankuro, Temari and Gaara doing behind you?" Shizune took a step back into the building. Sakura turned around. 'Dammit! I forgot about them…' Sakura shouted inwardly.

"Oh!" Sakura nervously chuckled. "They are my friends! Don't worry, they won't cause any trouble." She reassured her. Shizune nodded and allowed the ninja to enter the building. Outside Tsunade's office, Shizune stopped them.

"Strangely." Shizune stated. "Tsunade has been expecting you recently." Sakura nodded, puzzled, but entered the room. Temari and Kankuro began to follow her. But Sakura held up her hand.

"Alone" She told them, they both took a step back. Leaving a terrified Shizune alone with the three sand ninja.

"SAKURA!" Tsunade yelled around her room. Sakura grinned widely and walked over to her desk. But before she could sit down, Tsunade embraced her tightly.

"I knew you'd return soon!" She gleefully said. "Two years was too long!" Sakura forced Tsunade off her before she strangled her further.

"I know" Sakura replied. "I couldn't resist coming back to Konoha." Tsunade smiled at Sakura and then returned to her seat.

"How long will you be staying for?" Tsunade asked.

"Hopefully for a very long time." She answered. "But, tell me." Sakura sternly said. Tsunade sat up straight.

"How is every one?" She smiled again. "Yourself, Ino, Jiraya. And Sasuke!" Sakura laughed. Tsunade frowned at her last sentence. She knew Sakura had feelings for the young Uchiha.

"Sakura…" Tsunade sighed sadly. "I'm fine. And so is Ino. You can see her later." Tsunade stood up and walked over to a confused Sakura.

"But…Sasuke." She began. But Sakura interrupted with her concerns.

"Where is he?" She panicked "Is he hurt? Dead? What? Tell me!" She demanded. Tsunade could see the tears start to fill Sakura's eyes. She couldn't bear to tell her the truth.

"No!" Tsunade replied, shaking her hands ferociously. "He's fine. But there's some thing you should know about him…" She began. Sakura perked up and began to walk out the room. Freezing at the door.

"If he's fine…" She smirked. "He can tell me himself." Sakura then happily skipped out the room. Tsunade sat down again and continuously banged her head against her desk.

Walking out the building, she was followed by her three friends.

"Bye!" She shouted back to a retreating Shizune. Sakura turned back around and continued walking.

"Where to now, Sakura?" Temari asked.

"Akatsuki Head quarters." Sakura replied stoically.

"Alright!" Kankuro beamed, charging ahead before freezing "Where's that?" He sheepishly asked Sakura. Sakura smiled childishly before frowning slightly.

"Sorry guys." She began to explain. "I can't take you. You'll give me away. You'll have to back to my flat and start to unpack." Kankuro frowned and Gaara looked emotionless any way.

"C'mon! Sakura?" Temari pleaded. "Just between us girls?" She pouted. But Sakura shook her head.

"No can do." Sakura frowned. "Now quick!" She shooed. "Go!" And with that, Kankuro and Temari sadly walked away. But Gaara stood firm.

"Leave, Gaara" She stated. Gaara smirked before turning away with his siblings. Sakura smirked and carried on walking to the Akatsuki HQ. 'You'll always have a place here, in the Akatsuki' Itachi told her.

She just hoped that offer still stood.

She arrived at the Akatsuki head quarters about half an hour later. She let herself in, just like she used to do. The hall was empty, and extremely quiet. Sakura didn't like it.

She walked around, but no one, not even Itachi was there.

'Weird' she thought 'No body is here'

"Ah!" she screamed, falling over. She had been struck down.

"What are you doing here?" A man's voice yelled, holding to the floor. Sakura quickly turned around and kicked him away.

'ANBU' Sakura snarled. He flew across the hall and into a mirror. Sakura jumped up and stood in a defence stance. They both charged at each other. Fumbling around the room, attack after attack, Sakura stood her ground and waited for the right moment. When that time came, she took out a kunai and cut his mask in half. As the ANBU held his mask together, Sakura kicked him to the floor and took his mask away from his face. Her eyes widened.

"S-S-Sasuke?" She stammered.