A/N: Another chapter of Defection! Remember to review and to check out my other story: Keeper of Secrets!

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"You're starting to sound like the Uchiha brat." The blonde Iwa nin said, eyeing Sakura from the corner of his eye. He was currently in the living room with Sakura, waiting for the others to come. Sakura had just said what had happened in Pein's office, and how she would destroy anything that got in the way of her goal.

He watched as Sakura scowled at him before crossing her arms across her chest. She glared at Deidera, disdain glowing in the emerald orbs. "Shut up." She hissed.

Sakura was already on edge as it was, and now Deidera was reminding her about her old teammate? Did he have a death sentence or was he too keen on making his own entertainment? She once again scowled when the blonde chuckled at her, and ruffled her pink mane. She slapped his hand away, feeling the tongues of his palm sticking out. "You're disgusting." She mumbled.

Deidera gave a smirk. "Oh but Sakura dear, you love it."

The rosette scoffed at the thought. Why did she choose to talk to the bomber again? Was it because he resembled Ino? Of course not, she hated Ino the same as she hated the rest of Konoha. Was it because his eyes were blue like Naruto's? No, just the thought of Naruto sent her astray. Oh yeah, she remembered why.

Deidera was the only one who irritated her the least.

Yes, the least annoying to her. Kisame could easily take his place, but the annoying nicknames boiled her to the core. The constant use of "Pinky" and "Princess" got to her almost as much as it did when Hidan called her "Bitch."

This is why she preferred Deidera even though he never seized to piss her off. In fact, they all did. The only ones who didn't were Konan, who she rarely spoke to, and Pein, because she had no choice but to follow his orders and was more than happy to oblige.

"Ay, Pink Bitch. They're coming closer. Time for you to show your true colors." Hidan said, peering from the doorway.

Sakura scowled at her nickname. "I swear by the god Jashin that I will detach your head and you'll never find it again if you call me a bitch again."

Hidan smirked and yelled "Bitch!" before disappearing from the rosette's sight.

Deidera chuckled at the disgruntled pink haired girl and offered her his hand. She gladly took it and was led outside of the base. Together, they jumped away from the entrance and into the forest that surrounded Amegakure.

Sakura jumped from tree to tree, not bothering to pay attention to what was in front of her. Her mind was miles away, thinking about this confrontation. She could see how all of her former friends would be. It was the first time she would see them after defecting, and she especially didn't want to see Sasuke. She had heard he came back to Konoha. His name brought unwanted memories to the forefront of her mind, and she hated what she had become, all because of Sasuke.

She would not show weakness, especially if the Uchiha was there. He was the one who started calling her weak, all those years ago.

He was the one who made her want to get stronger. He was the one who further encouraged others to call her weak. He was ultimately the reason for her defection.

And boy, he would pay for the hell she had been through.

He would pay by being part of Konoha's demise.

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The trip towards the Konoha plantoon was not a good one. Deidera had completely annoyed her with his constant encouragement. "You'll be fine," and "Don't worry! You'll kick their asses!" were all that came out of the blond's mouth. She wished Kakuzu, the Akatsuki's former member and bounty hunter, was there to stitch the blond's mouth shut.

"And Sakura ,yeah, I know the Kyuubi container will probably get mad, so I just want you to know that-"

Yeah, Deidera definitely didn't know she wasn't listening.

But as soon as they reached the area near where the Konoha ninjas were, Deidera quieted down. He felt for the Akatsuki's chakra signatures, and felt them surrounding the small clearing they were not too far from.

Deidera and Sakura moved closer, Deidera never leaving the pink haired girl's side. As Sakura got closer, the more her heart pounded. This was it. She would confront her old team, her old friends.

She peeked over a branch and saw the orange hue of the fire. Her eyes scanned the small clearing, aware that Deidera was watching her every move. Kakashi was leaning against a tree the farthest from her, his signature orange book in his hands. She saw Naruto on one side of the camp, while Sasuke was on the other. It seemed they had another fight, Sakura mused. Naruto was pouting, his arms crossed with his back towards the fuming Uchiha. Sakura could practically feel the annoyed vibes coming off of the black haired ninja.

She smirked at the scene. Some things never change.

The scene was just like the old days, only this time she wasn't in front of them, helplessly trying to stop the hostility. This time she was spying on them, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

It was part of her plan. Her old team didn't know how she has changed. She no longer bothered to think about Konoha while it still stood. Her team had full faith they could bring her back.

And that would be their downfall.

Sakura's eyes followed Sasuke as he perched himself by the fire. Naruto was still pouting, his back facing the rest of the team. This, Sakura thought, would be the perfect time.

She quietly moved to a branch where she could be seen, and was satisfied when no one followed. They all knew of what she would do. Her Akatsuki teammates were going to let her play with them. She was the predator and they were her prey. And she would have fun playing with her food.

"Some things never change."

All three heads simultaneously snapped at the sound of her voice. All three faces had their own version of shock.

Naruto, well being Naruto, had his jaw completely unhinged and his mouth completely open. His bright blue eyes were wide open. Kakashi's one visible eyes was as wide as Naruto's, shock emitting from every fiber in his being. Sasuke, being the ever emotionally retarded Uchiha, had the same indifferent face in place. Only Sakura caught the slight widening in his eye, with a following twitch in his right one.

This, Sakura thought, would be more fun than she had planned.

Naruto was the first one to recover her sudden appearance. "Sakura-chan! Where have you been this whole time! Come back to Konoha! It's dangerous here, the Akatsuki are around!"

Sakura resisted the urge to smirk as she felt the silent laughter of her teammates through the cover of the branches. They were getting a kick out of watching, Sakura knew. She chose to not wear her Akatsuki cloak or ring for this occasion, wanting to thoroughly speak to them before ambushing them.

Sakura only stared at Naruto and complied, saying "Naruto, did you ever give a thought why I left? Why I'm a missing nin? Why I finally scratched my headband?" She said, fingering the headband tied around her neck.

Naruto's eyes followed her hand and widened as he took in the large scratch across the metal. "Sa….Sakura-chan…."

Sakura continued, knowing she had the blond ninja where she wanted him. "You do not know who I am anymore Naruto. I left for acknowledgement. I left to get more powerful than before. I left to be used as a priceless tool. And most important of all? I left to mean something to people."

Sakura stared as the blond failed to form words. He mindlessly stared at his old teammate, gaping like a fish.

As she saw their conversation was over, she was about to give the signal to her fellow Akatsuki. It was time to end this. As she raised her hand to give the go, Sasuke spoke.

"You meant something to us." He stated. Sakura didn't know if it was just her imagination, but she thought she heard the care in his voice that had been absent since their childhood years. It made her pause before lowering her hand again.

Of course Sasuke Uchiha would be the one to make her hold off the attack longer. It was always about Sasuke, wasn't it? Her will to become stronger from her apprenticeship under Tsunade was all about making people see Sakura wasn't weak. And especially to show to the Uchiha she was no longer weak like he had repeatedly told her when she was twelve.

"Sasuke." She said. She watched as he seemed distracted when she acknowledged him. And then, she realized it was because of the absence of the honorific she always used. The forever mocking 'kun' suffix. She never used that honorific with anyone. She felt it was a terrible memory of her weakness. She never wanted to go back to that ever again.

"You won't change my mind." She whispered, jumping from her spot on the branch to stand only inches away from the last Uchiha. "I'm too broken to be fixed."

Sasuke observed her through his onyx eyes, endless pools of black. He didn't know what to make of his teammate. Was this really Sakura? The girl who cried that night he left the village, who begged to go with him? Who confessed her love to him? This was Sakura Haruno? This was the weak pink haired girl he knew?

"What happened." He said. What changed her so much she was barely recognizable?

"You left." She simply said.

Her body retreated away from the Uchiha, internally scolding herself for getting so close for him. This was the reason he had to die with Konoha. He caused this change within her. In her eyes, he was the evil in her life. He would pay with his own, and even then the pain would not be enough for her.

She now stood in the middle of the site, the fire warming her back as her eyes rested on her old sensei. "Kakashi." She said. "Long time no see. Although, I've gone longer without you. Like the two years you failed to teach me once Sasuke left and Naruto went to train with Jiraya?" The hostility in her voice was easily detected behind her calm tone.

Kakashi flinched at her words. They were very true, and Kakashi regretted his ignorance to his former student. It wasn't like he intentionally ignored Sakura. He always tried to treat her with respect. His hands had been so filled with Sasuke and Naruto, he knew Sakura would be fine. And when both left, it was almost like a breath of fresh air. It seemed he just didn't realize how his neglect settled with Sakura.

He knew he was also a cause of her defection.

She did leave to be acknowledged for her power after all.

"I don't need your pity. I already know I'm a giant disappointment to you." Sakura's bitter voice knocked the Copy Nin back to the present.

Kakashi stared at the rosette mildly taken back and was about to reply when she cut him off. "I can see it in your eye. You pity me for the ignorance everyone has towards me. How no one even cares that I'm more powerful than you or Naruto. Or that I've far surpassed LadyTsunade. No one cares. No one believes."

Sakura turned her head away. "It seems in the end, I'll always be 'weak, little Sakura Haruno.'"

Sasuke knew that had been a blow towards him. He was the one who always said she was weak. And even though he didn't want to, he didn't believe when she said she had even surpassed Hokage level.

"Ignorance is the worst thing to feign, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke was shocked by the amount of sarcasm and hatred that wormed their way into that one suffix. She said it almost as if it were a taboo.

Sakura continued on. "And Naruto. I thought I was your best friend. Your one and only 'Sakura-chan.'"

Naruto cut her off in desperation. "You are my Sakura-chan!"

"No I'm not. I was never yours. I guess I wasn't your best friend either. You never saw the subtle hints I always gave, about how unhappy Konoha made me. Or how I never seemed to smile anymore? You were just too hung up about Hinata weren't you? How she had suddenly emerged herself in her relationship with Kiba? You were so surprised. But I wasn't. That distraction caused me to fall deeper into the despair I lived with everyday. But I'm getting angsty, aren't I?"

Sakura swiftly jumped and landed on the branch she stood on before. She reached behind her and took her Akatsuki cloak from her weapons pouch. "Tell me," She purred as she slipped her arms through the sleeves, "How do you think your Sakura has blossomed?"

"No…" Naruto whispered, staring at the red clouds that adorned the black fabric.

Sakura gave a dark chuckle. "Oh, Naruto. But it is. The weak, useless Sakura Haruno realized she wasn't happy in Konoha. She wanted more, some place where she would be accepted and used to her full extent. Not cooped in a hospital. Who other than the Akatsuki would find her? I am now a proud member of the Akatsuki. I am their medic nin and kunoichi who stands with them, not behind being protected. And now," Sakura raised her hand and gave the signal, "You will realize my true extent!"

Cloaked bodies simultaneously dropped from the trees. Sakura turned to look at all of them and stayed placed on Deidera, who stood to her right. The Iwa nin looked at her and smirked. "You sound like the Uchiha brat again."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Deidera this isn't the time. We have a job to do."

He scoffed. "So you get to have your fun and I don't get mine?"

Sakura snorted before reaching for her weapons. She was about to disappear when she looked the blond straight in the eye and chuckled. "You're the happiest in the air dropping bombs." The cunning kunoichi vanished before Deidera could get a word in.

Sasuke stared at the couple, paying more attention when he heard his name. What was their relationship? How could Sakura join the Akatsuki just to prove a point!? He knew she was strong. He knew what she was capable of. He knew her almost as well as she knew herself.

What was she trying to get at?

He would never admit the feeling he got whenever he thought of those emerald eyes and pink locks of hair. These days he wasn't acting like himself. He would never hear the end of it if Naruto knew he felt this way. Endless loops of "Tell Sakura-chan!" or "Don't be an idiot Teme!"

Sasuke didn't know how he tolerated the hyperactive ninja when he was younger.

But as he stared at Sakura, the Akatsuki robe comfortably wrapped around her figure, all thoughts of affection were thrown out the window. Everything screamed different. And it was all wrong. Sakura shouldn't have her headband scratched. She shouldn't be wearing Akatsuki garb. She shouldn't be conversing with the pyromaniac bomber called Deidera and she sure as hell shouldn't be able to pull such a dark smile.

"Sa-ku-ra." He said, willing her to come back after disappearing. He was met with silence.

His ears strained to hear any movement. It was then he realized all other members had also disappeared and Naruto, as well as Kakashi, were poised for battle.

Sasuke's Sharingan activated and he unsheathed his katana. He would fight for his precious person. He would keep his swear to himself he made when he caught Sakura after Gaara released her from the sand.

I will not see another person I care about die.

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Pein silently waited for his members to return. Konan stood by his side, watching through the window as the continuous rain poured down on Amegakure.

"Nagato." Konan's quiet voice broke the heavy silence filtering through the office. "Will Sakura be alright? What if she brings them back to base?"

"Konan, there is faith I hold for her. She knows this is what she had been training her whole life for. This one opportunity is what she's been waiting for. This is her destiny. She will choose the right path for herself. She will not betray the Akatuski. We've given her more to offer than Konoha or her former friends have ever tried to. Be patient Konan."

She didn't answer, but the blue haired ninja had a feeling things would turn out differently than they would predict. Although she and Sakura were not very close, they had developed a relationship from being the only females in the Akatsuki. Because of this, Konan knew how Sakura thought and how she reacted to things. Sakura knew she would terrorize them, cause them mental guilt and turmoil. Sakura would fight her former comrades, if only to prove something. And Konan also knew something Pein did not. She was the only one who knew. Sakura had told her the night before. And Konan was extremely wary of her plan. How could they know she wouldn't stay loyal to the Akatsuki? What if she didn't make it out alive?

She felt a sudden presence and sensed the team returning to the base. Showtime, Konan thought. She gave a sigh and appeared in Pein's office. The others had already arrived there. And Sakura was nowhere in sight.

"I see Sakura didn't return with you." Pein's eerily calm voice pierced every member present.

"Sakura has be captured and returned to Konoha." Deidera's serious voice stirred something within every member. Deidera was never this serious. He always was childish and his bombs were his only concern.

Konan stayed quiet as Pein continued. "Did anyone know of her plan?"

No one moved. Everyone' s breathing became shallow, anticipation surging inside of them. Konan momentarily stopped breathing, her paranoia getting the best of her. And unfortunate for her, Pein noticed.

"Konan, what is Sakura's plan?" Pein asked. But Konan knew better. It was not a question but a demand.

She took a deep breath. Sakura had told her to keep quiet, but as intelligent as the pink haired ninja was, she must have known Konan would be forced to speak. Only she would already have her plan in action.

"Sakura Haruno is planning to return to Konoha and destroy it from the inside. She has planned her own infiltration to aid the Akatsuki."

"And please do tell why she did this without my consent." Pein stared her down, and she had no reason to resist anymore.

"She wants to be the person solely responsible for Konohagakure's destruction. She is a proud member of the Akatsuki, but she wants her name to be the only one known for the Leaf''s down fall. She wants to be acknowledged for bringing down the most powerful village in the world."

"Yes, I realize that. And I know another reason why."

"What, yeah? Why would Sakura go in alone without any back up?" Deidera asked.

"Bitch doesn't need backup." Hidan muttered to himself.

No one paid attention to the Jashinist.

Pein stared straight at Deidera and responded.

"Because no matter how she feels now, she wants one last serious talk with all of her old friends. They have betrayed her, and she's going to explain to them why she left and why each is responsible. Sakura is a sensible person who is kindhearted no matter what her beliefs are."

"Sakura Haruno," Pein continued, "wants them all to die with guilt inside of them."