The Fourth Great Shinobi War

A/N: Here it is!

I open my eyes, sweat coating my body. Itachi draped over me, his low breathing in my ear. His breathing is deep-not surprising- but it's pained as well. His illness is affecting him even now. I want to save him- but- but his Uchiha pride stands in the way. Why is it that he cant be picky when it comes to the food he eats, what we watch on tv or even the hilimiliation that he is put through when with the guys- but this has to be something is one hundered percent certain of. Nothing can change his mind.

I want to just rush to Kohona and just... make Sasuke forgive him! I would just pumble him into the dirt if he didn't. I want them to get along agian and most of all, I want them to see each other as the people they are, not the monsters that everyone makes them out to be. I would do anything to achive that.

They deserve that happiness, if anyone in the world.

"Don't think about Sasuke and I," Itachi whispers, out of breath. As of lately he is tired a lot more and is more likely to catch something and yet-once again!- he refuses to let me help him. "It only bums you out."

I snort and hug my sweating weasel, "Of course it does," I whisper into his heaving chest. "You are dying and you wont let me help you at all! What am I suppose to do other then be bummed out? Laugh? Cause that's not gonna happen just so you know."

Itachi is quiet for a few moments, his breath evening out, before he says, "I'm handling it. Once I've spoken to Sasuke, I'll allow you to heal me, but not until then."

I pull back and stare at my nearly unseeing weasel. His pure black eyes hone in on my body but unable to find my face. "I wish I could see you..." he says softly, eyes sadden. I open my mouth to retort but he continues before I get the chance, "When I am forgiven by my little brother, Sakura, not before then. I told you."

Pouting, I lay my head back down on Itachi's steadily breathing chest. His breathing has evened out-which is good. I close my eyes and let the slow inhale and exhale of the air in Itachi's chest lead me into a pleasent sleep.

I'm going back to the village. It's been about 9 days since I left to come out here. I told Lady Tsunade that I was investigating a disturbence that was called in. I did... like 3 days ago. I went and did that right away. Turned out that there was a bunch of bandits out there stealing Old Man Renold's cattle.

My puppies and I took care of them quickly and then went to searching for Pein's hidden village. I've only been in the base for about a day and a half. Now I must return so no one get's suspicious.

I kiss Itachi's lips as he bids me farwell. Hidan and Kakuzu are my escorts to the edge of the fire country. Pein is way too paranoid.

"I'll talk to Sasuke about you," I tell him.

"Sakura, please just-" I turn on my heel and race off, still tired but not willing to argue with Itachi. I feel bad about being so rude but I didn't want him to say that he didn't wnat me to get involved. It makes me feel helpless. I used to always feel that, but not anymore. I will never feel like that again as long as I have the strength and will to fight.

"How are you feeling, brat?" Kakuzu asks, keeping even pace with me. Hidan on the other hand was further ahead of me. I purse my lips in thought. I am feeling better but Kakuzu's questions arn't always as straight forward as they seem.

I think about my answer carefully and speak slowly to judge his reaction. "Physically, I'm still a little shaken. Mentally, everything is still hazy and coming back as unfamiliar and yet familiar at the same time." I say, his reaction positive so I continue, jumping onto a branch as we enter the forest. "While on the other hand, I can't help but think about this war and what it means to the entire ninja populas."

Kakuzu's curious green eyes glide over to me. "Yes... very interesting." he says lowly.

"What a boring way of looking at things, Sakura," Hidan shouts from far up ahead. "And would you hurry the fuck up? I will leave both your sorry asses in the fucking dust!"

I laugh and speed up a bit more, being mindful of my energy.

Kakuzu growls deeply. "What an ass-cracker. I hope a bunch of riled up ANBU hear that big ass mouth of his and take him out." he snarls, speeding up past me and deeper into the forest to take out his partner.

What in the world am I going to say to Tsunade when I get back there? How can I convince her that we need to go to war with the Emperor? How do I tell her I'm with the Akatsuki? What the hell am I gonna do?

As I parted with Hidan and Kakuzu (turns out that Hidan is immune to getting not only decapitated, but having fire being breathed down his neck and then super cooled by ice cold water- it held no affect other then piss him off) I slow down, my energy sapping away. I'm kinda far from the village but I don't want to stop to rest because that would take more time.

Plus I have a soldier pill with me. That's a good thing.

I walk part of the way then pop the pill in and feel the energy return. Let's just hope it can get me all the way to the village before I have a major crash and pass out in the forest. If I get eaten by a giant snake, I will be so pissed.

I'm about 5 miles from the village, making great time. But something worries me... the entire forest has been silent for the past hour. I get closer and hear voices. Many voice, being unmindfully loud. I slow down and sneak forward, being weary. Is it an enemy? It can't be the sameuri, though, they would never be this careless. Or would they?

I push some bushes aside and gasp softly. It wasn't like 20 guys being really loud. It was roughly 5000 menand women talking quietly. They were in straight lines, but all looking at the people around then and making idle conversation. All were clad in different forms of armor. The majority were ninja. Strange thing, though, is that they were all from different countries.

There is a lightening village Jounin talking to a mist village ANBU. I also spot a man that looks like he's a laborer- like he had come straight from the feilds in the Grass country.

What the hell is going on?

I sneak way back to avoid being heard by any of the multiple ninjas in that large group. I circle around the large perimiter and head fast and frantic to the gates. I yell that I'm back to the guards but don't stop to sign myself back in. Is this war? Are these people here to fight? Why are they all from different countires?

I run into the tower and all the way up to my Master's office. The ANBU stationed there, stare at me a moment before knocking on the softly. "Ma'am, Miss Haruno is here. Shall we let her in?"

"Yes, let her in," my Master's voice is muffled. The door opens and I step in, then it closes behind me but I can't help but feel that I'm trapped in some kind of vice grip.

Lady Tsunade is sitting at her desk with the elders on either side of her with Shizune in the far corner with TonTon in her arms. There is two men in armer, one was Sand and the other was Rock, then there was a beast of a man before me. Standing at almost 7 feet with heavy, thick armer, dark curly black hair and blazing green eyes. His skin a dark brown from travling out in the blazing sun.

Finally, there is a man in the chair rght in front of my Master, sitting polietly in the offered chair. His hair also black but much shorter and he wasn't nearly as big maybe about 6 feet with identical green eyes, although they are pessimistic and calm. His skin also tanned to a golden brown. They both must of been travling for quite some time.

"General Tatsuba," my Master get's all our attention, "this is my pupil, Sakura Haruno. Sakura, this is General Tatsuba from the Land of Rice Patties." she points to the man in the seat then to the big man standing before me, still watching me. "And this is General Mokiono from the Water Capital's guard."

I polietly shake both their hands, unsure now of what I wanted to say. One is from the Land of Rice Patties (by the way, I had no idea that they hand an army. I should probably do better study on the other lands) and the other is a guard in the Water countries' capital... that means this guy helps oversee the safty of the Daimio. Holy crap.

"So," I say slowly, standing next to my Master, catiously. I feel safe next to her. Lame, I know. "What is going on?"

"Generals Tatsuba and Mokiono have come here to ask for our help in attacking the Land of Iron." Tsunade says slowly. My jaw drops but before I can say anything she conitnues, "They want help to force all the sameuri off our Holy Lands."

A/N: Thank you to everyone who commented on Puppies 8, Mistake 0. How was this? Let me know what you think!