I don't own Naruto okay? I had put this story on the back burner for awhile but a few ideas came back. Hopefully I can get further on this and wrap it up by next spring, if not the end of this year. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

Naruto jumped from tree to tree, heading with the rest of his ANBU squad to the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. Itachi Uchiha was there and the orders were to kill him on sight. He was likely going to be see with either Kisame or Deidara, so they needed to be aware. This was Sasuke's goal. But I am the one doing it. Well at least I am with my ANBU squad. But with the way he has been acting lately, he doesn't deserve his revenge. Naruto thought as he strengthened his resolve to fulfill the mission. As the border drew ever near, the captain signaled for the squad to meet up.

"Okay, we are getting closer to the area that Itachi was last sighted in. This is not going to be a simple mission however. Reports say Itachi may be impaired with a serious illness but that is no reason to drop your guard. He was a former ANBU captain himself so he would know a lot of our tricks and secrets. Codes have been updated since he was in, but he may pick up on them quickly. If you see him, do not hesitate." The captain said.

"Do not look into his eyes either." Naruto added. Having had many sparing matches with Sasuke over the years, he learned a few tricks about dealing with the Sharingan. "Try to keep an eye on his feet. The stances change and you can pick up on the attack that way."

"That is really tough." Another ANBU member said.

"It's the best chance you have to avoid being caught in a genjutsu." Naruto explained.

"Thanks for that insight Naruto." The captain said as a ink bird landed on his shoulder.

"That's one of Sai's jutsu..." Naruto said.

The captain took the note from the bird and read it. " Sasuke Uchiha has fled the village and is hot on Itachi's trail. A special squad has been assigned to try and bring him back of Kakashi Hatake, Shikamaru Nara, Chouji Akamichi, Kiba Inuzuka, Neji Hyuuga and Sai have been sent out. This message is to inform you of that and if you manage to meet up with Sasuke before the squad can, capture Sasuke and notify the squad and bring him back to Konoha for trial. Deadly force has been authorized if he cannot be captured." The captain read. "You heard the note guys. We are to stick to the main mission of trying to kill Itachi, but it is a possibility that we may run into Sasuke along the way ourselves and while there is a squad trying to capture him, he is likely heading the same way that we are and if we can do it, then we are to. But if for some reason he cannot be captured, we will kill him." The captain looked over to Naruto. "Is this going to be a problem for you Uzumaki?"

Naruto looked down and sighed. Sasuke was his best friend and he had worked hard to bring him back to the village and have the elders allow him back in. Most of the time when a ninja went rouge, they were never to go back to their home village and would be executed if captured. But with him, Kakashi and Sakura testifying for him, they had managed to allow him to return to a normal life in the village. However, with the change in attitude he had had since Sakura's miscarriage and what he had done to blame her and make her feel bad for something that could happen to anyone, this changed a lot of how Naruto saw Sasuke now. "I understand the mission Captain. If it comes to that, then it comes to that." Naruto said, thinking of the mark on Sakura's face last time he had seen her.

"Good." The ANBU captain said. "I was worried I would have to kick you off this mission. You're a valuable asset Uzumaki, don't want personal feelings to get in the way."

"Trust me sir, they won't." Naruto said with a stern look on his face.

Sakura looked at the food on her plate with anticipation. She had not been released just quite yet, as Tsunade had wanted to speak with her about what had happened. It was not going to be easy for her to come to terms with it all, with Sasuke's change anything like that. But at the same time, she had to remember where she was and who she was. How far she'd come from when she had become a genin herself. As the sun began to set, she looked out the window and sighed. Once again, Sasuke had left the village to kill Itachi and Naruto and several of the others who had first taken the chunin exams when she did her first time went to get him back. And once again she was left out of it. Growling in rage, she smacked the tray with her remaining dinner aside as the door opened to Tsunade standing there with a bowl of rice spread out at her feet.

"Lady Tsunade!" Sakura said embarrassed. "I'm sorry! I just-"

"Let me guess, felt guilty you were left behind again while a bunch of other shinobi you know and care about are off trying to bring Sasuke back." Tsunade said as Sakura looked away. "I can tell I am right here." She said as she sat down beside Sakura's bed. "And no amount of 'It's not your fault' will make that go away until you come to that conclusion on your own."

"I just, trained so hard and so long and for what?" Sakura said. "To be the useless one left behind and for Sasuke to still be consumed by darkness."

"That's Sasuke's problem. Not yours." Tsunade said. "And you weren't useless. You didn't blindly follow in some foolish attempt to make him love you or anything like that. You stood up to him and stood for what was right. Just because you didn't convince him to stay or bring him back does not mean you were useless to the mission. Because of you we know what he intended to do. It could have taken days for us to piece this together without you saying anything and if you held it back, then who knows what could have happened. You are not useless or weak."

Sakura looked at the stern but caring face on Tsunade. She was like a second mother to Sakura and what she aspired to be like in her training as a kunochi and even more so as she went further into the medical ninjutusu fields. Everyone knew of Tsunade's status as a Sannin and Hokage and her skills as a medical ninja. She was one of the ones who build the very corps that Sakura belonged to as a medical ninja. Leaving the affinity she had for her as her sensei, Tsunade complementing her achievements was no easy task. And she was right about her mastering the 100 healings jutsu when Shizune, her aide and one of her earlier apprentices, hadn't been able to. This was not an easy jutsu to be able to master. And Sakura did it. "I just feel like this is some sick joke."

"How so?" Tsunade asked.

"Well the repeat of the team going after Sasuke is almost like before, I'm not out there myself and Naruto is out there too... A lot is a lot like the first time he left." Sakura said.

"Life can be funny like that sometimes." Tsunade said. "But Kakashi and Sai weren't on the team and Naruto is assigned to go after Itachi with the ANBU squad. He didn't just up and leave and join a squad he wasn't exactly assigned to." Tsunade said. "But I do want you to focus on who you really are just in case it gets as bad as the last time. Sasuke may not be 5 of Orochimaru's cursed experiments but he is also not to be underestimated. You will be the chief of medicine when they come back for treatment. I can trust you would be able to handle that."

"Lady Tsunade..." Sakura said in astonishment. Tasks like this were usually reserved for Shizune who had more experience.

"If you are overwhelmed, naturally Shizune and I as well as the rest of the hospital will be there to back you up on this. However I think you need something to really challenge you. If you don't have that bigger goal, you stagnate and your personality can fall into weakness." Tsunade said.

"What?" Sakura said, amazed at the observation.

"I think that is why you've let Sasuke's illogical ideas about what you are supposed to be cloud your mind and guilt you." Tsunade said, knowing Sakura needed motivation. She needed reminded of who she was. Yes, there was always going to be the pain of what she did indeed lose, but the Sakura Tsunade knew could overcome and rise to any challenge that was set before her. Self-pity and misery was never something that the Sakura Tsunade was proud of had let overcome her. "But I know who you are. You are Sakura Haruno, one of my most brilliant students who honored me greatly with your skills. I was always proud to say you were my student."

"Thank you so much for those kind words." Sakura said as she perked up, grabbing her back and wincing in a little pain.

"Your spine is still bruised." Tsunade said matter of factly. "We're not in an emergency yet. Take her easy, but be ready for what may happen."

"Will do." Sakura said as she saluted Tsunade. "I'm going to physical therapy in the morning."

"Good. I want to hear how you are progressing with that when we talk after dinner tomorrow. I think we'll keep that up to make sure you're still on track. I cannot lose you. You are vital to the medical corps." Tsunade said as she left Sakura, hoping that if Sakura knew she was valuable to more than just Sasuke for purposes of restoring the clan, then she would be strong enough to put him in her past where he belonged. She did not deserve to be abused for something that happened to her beyond her control.

"Kiba, have you picked up on any clue of Sasuke's whereabouts?" Kakashi said as the team stood on a few branches looking around.

"Just a minute." Kiba said as he sniffed the air with Akamaru.

"I will help you look. Byakugan!" Neji said as he looked around, using the Byakugan's ability to see in near 360 vision and through objects. "I sense a chakra pattern that is similar to Sasuke's about 100 meters from here..."

"Kiba?" Kakashi asked.

"Something smells like Sasuke," Kiba continued to sniff. Akamaru barked and pointed towards where Neji was motioning. "Wait... yes, that's him." Kiba said.

"Let's move in quietly. How far do you have to be for your shadow possession to freeze Sasuke in place?" Kakashi asked Shikamaru.

"Closer than we are now." Shikamaru said blankly.

"Well lead the way, Neji, Kiba." Kakashi said.

Sasuke sat in a tree overlooking a valley that was often used by those traveling to Ame, where Akatsuki was last known to be using as a headquarters. There was an apothecary nearby specializing in medicine for hard to fight terminal illnesses. Sasuke was well aware of the rumors of his disease and wanted to ambush him here. The apothecary was run by a civilian who had no fighting skills but to combat disease. If he were to spring a surprise attack here, this would mean no one could stop him. In the distance, at the shop he saw a figure in a red and black cloak and straw hat come out. As he got ready to spring into action and deliver his revenge, he rose up and took one step and felt like he had a hard time moving. He then crawled along the branch, sword at the ready when he looked over and saw Naruto approach Itachi and cut him along the stomach.

"WHAT THE HELL? THAT IDIOT IS DOING WHAT I WAS MEANT TO! AND HE JUST GUT THE BASTARD!" Sasuke yelled as he tried to jump into the valley when he found he couldn't move. "OH NOW WHAT THE FUCK?" He yelled.

"Shadow possession jutsu. And you are going to come back with us." Shikamaru said.

"Fuck you. Naruto's killing Itachi. I was supposed to do that!" Sasuke said.

"That's because killing Itachi was ANBU's mission, and because Naruto's ANBU he's on it." Kakashi said as he looked at his former student with disgust. "And you never grew up. You're still the child who never listened to my wisdom. And you are losing everything you claimed to want because you let yourself be consumed with hate. Sakura, Naruto, anyone who would have stuck up for you as a comrade are going their own ways. Those who would abandon their friends are worse than scum and you abandoned them in ways you will never know. Now, to face your trial." Kakashi said.

"Make me!" Sasuke said.

"I knew this wasn't going to be easy..." Kakashi said.

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I don't see this story going on more than a few chapters, but that can be wrong. I mean one of my stories grew to 45 chapters when I didn't think it would. But whatever. I don't have much else to say for this chapter except to read (well you just did) and to review! Ciao for now,

otherrealmwriter

aka

Realm.