"There it is..." Sasuke muttered as he approached the village. He looked back, "Suigetsu's still catching up. He'll get here eventually."

He saw four figures waiting at the gate. Two Anbu, Gaara, and... Sakura?

"Sasuke!" Sakura called happily, waving to him.

"Sakura." Sasuke smiled as he slowed down and stopped just inside the gate.

"Glad you made it." Sakura beamed as she wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly.

"How did you know I'd be here?"

"I'm here on business." Sakura explained as he pointed to the tattoo on her upper arm, "for the Anbu."

"Ah." Sasuke smiled. Sakura made Anbu... He chuckled inwardly.

"Anyways, let's go!" She grabbed his hand and walked close by his side.

"So how's the child?" Gaara asked.

"Child?!" Sasuke nearly shouted.

"Well, yeah. What are you talking about?" Sakura and Gaara stopped and turned to him, "don't tell me you forgot about your own daughter..."

"Daughter?!" Sasuke was at a loss for words, "was my playboy self in this world really that clingy?!"

"Sasuke, are you okay?" Gaara asked, worried, "we need to talk about the Akatsuki and their leader."

"Come on. Let's go." Sakura held his face, her forehead resting on his, "I don't know what could be going on with you right now, but you'll manage. I know you. So it'll be fine."

"Y-yeah." Sasuke stuttered, feeling his face burn.

"I love you."

"Wh--"

Sasuke jumped up, nearly falling off the branch he was perched on.

It was just a dream.

"Oi, Sasuke. You're a deep sleeper." Suigetsu cackled, "I tried to wake you..."

"What time is it?!" Sasuke dropped next to him, "crap. We need to get going."

"Fine." Suigetsu shrugged as they continued running, "but I really don't see the rush, Suna's just right here."

That dream... Sasuke murmured as they entered the village and walked through, I had a daughter... Sakura was here... What was it?!

"So you came on behalf of Lord Hokage, regarding..."

"The Akatsuki." Sasuke informed Gaara at the Kazekage's headquarters.

"I see..." Gaara sighed, "Naruto Uzumaki... He was a good friend... I guess things change."

"Yeah..." Sasuke looked away, "you wouldn't happen to have any leads here?"

Gaara opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated. He cleared his throat before shaking his head, "None. Sorry. But as soon as things come in, we'll be sure to notify you or the Hokage directly."

"Thank you." Sasuke thanked as he bowed in respect to him, then turned to leave, Suigetsu following close behind.

"So what now, Sasuke?"

"Now? Meet up with someone."

"Oi, Sasuke! Your girl-sensors going off again? Been too long since you've seen a girl... Like what. Two, three nights?"

Sasuke glared at Suigetsu, "no, you idiot. I have a subordinate gathering information."

"A subordinate? Wait a second, not that girl, is it? How are you planning on finding her?"

"I was able to memorize her chakra signature. I can sense where she is if we're close enough."

Suigetsu rolled his eyes, "oh yeah, sure. You're just looking for an excuse to see her again."

"Maybe, maybe not." Sasuke shrugged, Of course not....

"Fine, whatever. Let's just go. The more we wait here, the more time we waste here." Suigetsu took a sip from his water bottle and started walking off, "so where to, team leader? Suna was a no-go."

" Didn't you see him, though?"

"Who?"

"Gaara's hiding something. He hesitated when I asked him about any leads." Sasuke rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, "we're going back."

"Aw come on, I'm tired of all this..." Suigetsu groaned.

"Do you want to go back to Karin?"

Suigetsu shook his head, "hell no."

"Then enough complaints." Sasuke turned back around and ran back into the village, "Suigetsu, stay out here. I'm going in on recon."

"Why is it always me?"

"Because you always seem to be the one who knows what you're doing, out of my current options." Sasuke sighed, "you'll know when to come in."

"Yeah, yeah." Suigetsu scratched the back of his neck as Sasuke ran in, silently passing every ninja that crossed his path until he reached the Kazekage's headquarters. He stopped right at the door and listened intently.

"You didn't say a thing."

"I couldn't."

The conversation between Gaara and Kankuro unfolded.

"What if he could've had that chance of helping us?"

"He couldn't have. You've seen how strong Naruto has become. He may not even be strong enough to defeat him."

Kankuro scoffed, "maybe. But your chances of getting out of this deal..."

"Are even slimmer if we get the Hidden Leaf involved. Remember, it's them they're really after. Best we keep the Leaf out of arms reach for as long as we can. If we need help, it can't be from them."

"But..." Kankuro slammed his fists down onto the table, "don't you see?! That's what they're trying to do! That's their whole point! Is to make ties with other villages weaker! Shouldn't we be doing our own recon outside of our alliance with the Akatsuki for the villages' benefits?"

"Perhaps..."

No way... Sasuke stumbled back. The Akatsuki's got Gaara... The Kazekage... And the entire village... Right in the palm of their hand...

"Well, well..."

Sasuke grabbed his katana, but got thrown out the window before he could attack whoever was standing behind him, "damn..."

He landed swiftly and took in his opponents that landed before him.

"Akatsuki..." He recognized the black-hooded cloaks and smirked, "so you guys really don't have the Kazekage on a very long leash, do you?"

"Not at all." One figure smirked at the gesture of a hand sign, "we don't tolerate spies. Especially from other villages."

"Isn't it only natural? That two allied forces look out for one another?"

"That's bull." The other figure stated bluntly.

"Hn. Call it what you want. We won't be allowing you freaks anywhere near the Sand Village." Sasuke held his katana out, ready to fight.

"You see." One figure yanked his hood back, "we have no business with you."

"Heh." Sasuke smirked, "well, you can't say you don't have business with your own village... Shikamaru."

"That's enough." Shikamaru huffed, "I've got enough hatred towards you, I can take out this entire village with Shino's help, here."

Sasuke peered at the other figure and recognized the mysterious, dark glasses, "yeah. Sure. Let's see what you've got."

"Heh." Shikamaru smirked, and before Sasuke could make any other move, he was being held down, "shadow possession jutsu, complete."

"Yeah. I see what you're doing, here." Sasuke studied the beetles pouring out of Shino's sleeves and crawling towards him, "but just like you, I have my own reinforcements."

Suddenly, a figure dropped in between the three and threw three kunai perfectly, straight at Shikamaru.

"Tch!" The Nara jerked to one side, evading the assault, "Shino!"

"On it." The bug-user ran up to the ANBU that came to Sasuke's rescue and engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

"This is a waste of time." Shikamaru muttered.

"Good." As she had her opponent at an arm's length away, she wove hand signs, "fire style, fireball jutsu!"

A ball of flames headed straight for the shadow strangler, who had completely jumped out of the way and cut off his jutsu in the process.

"Damn it..." Shikamaru turned to Shino, "we need to get out of here. It's her."

"Agreed."

She wove more hand signs, "mud style, mud wall jutsu!" She slammed her palms onto the ground, and before her, a large wall shot up and separated the two Akatsuki members from her and Sasuke. She glanced back at him, "you okay?"

"Y-yeah..." Sasuke was still a little dazed from what he'd just witnessed, "Sakura... Are you... Really this strong?"

"What?"

"N-nothing." Sasuke looked away, "we just need to get rid of these guys."

Sakura glanced cautiously around the wall, "too late. Those cowards, they retreated."

"But..." Sasuke followed her towards the entrance of the village. She was right. There was absolutely no trace of them anywhere near them.

"Oi, Sasuke!" Suigetsu ran up to the two, "you were right. I heard the commotion and came running. Guess I still didn't make it in time, though." He chuckled uncomfortably.

"Whatever." Sasuke glanced down at his hand, "damn. I need to get to the Akatsuki..."

Sakura watched him for a small moment, "is it still..."

"I need to get back to my universe... This is obviously an alternate universe and I... Damn it..." Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"Sasuke, whattaya mean?!" Suigetsu stared at his friend incredulously and let out a nervous chuckle.

"This..." Sakura turned to him, "this isn't where he's originally from, and he's not the Sasuke you know. He and this Sasuke switched places, and now the playboy you knew switched universes with this more serious and cold-blooded Sasuke."

Sasuke didn't turn to look at either of them. For that matter, he didn't even move or make even the slightest motion. Finally, he turned around, "Suigetsu, this is Sakura. She's my... Former teammate."

"Heh." Suigetsu smirked, "I'm sure there's a pretty face under that mask. Are you single?"

"Shut up." Sakura looked at him, "I'm not in any romantically involved relationship, and I'm not looking to be in one, thank you very much."

"Ouch." Suigetsu chuckled, "wow, she's a feisty one, Sasuke. Heh-heh, did she reject you too?"

"Let's go." Sasuke didn't even acknowledge his question as he turned away from the two, "we need to find another place to meet and figure out another way to get the Akatsuki out of the shadows and into the open."

"Okay." Suigetsu took one last glance at Sakura before running to catch up with Sasuke. Then he lowered his voice, "psst, ah, you're not gonna let her tag along, are you?"

"Of course I will."

"Oh, well..." Suigetsu coughed, "if you're just going to need her at night, I don't think she's worth hauling around everywhere. So do you really need her? I mean, we haven't seen her face, she's got no chest under that armor, and she doesn't seem very feminine... There are so many more girls you can pick up on the way..."

Sasuke snapped. He turned to his partner, anger boiling inside him, "I've seen her face, first of all. Second, this is my teammate you're talking about. A close comrade. I don't care about how small her chest is, nor do I care how feminine she is. She's strong, smart, and a wise kunoichi, and you're right, I do need her, but for entirely different reasons. For you, I couldn't care less what you desire to do with your time in bed, whether it be alone or with a girl. But no one, not you or even me, is sleeping with Sakura. Do I make myself clear?"

Both Suigetsu and even Sakura just stared at the Uchiha for a long while as he didn't even wait for a response, turned, then continued walking away from the village, "well..." Suigetsu swallowed hard, "she's right... You're definitely not the Sasuke I know..."

_____________________

"Here. This cave looks fine." Sasuke glanced around the cave, "I've already sent out a message to Orochimaru, that I'd be away from the village for a while."

"Hey, uh." Suigetsu spoke up, "what about..."

"Oh." Sasuke looked him over, "I couldn't speak for you. You might have to find other alternatives."

"Hmph. Fine then." Suigetsu scoffed as he stood up and left the cave, "if you'll excuse me, I have to go send a message myself..."

Sasuke snickered to himself, then glanced over at where Sakura was standing, leaning against the wall of the cave, arms crossed. She kind of reminds me of myself... He chuckled inwardly, "so... How did you ever reach ANBU? Do you know the risks and sacrifices of Shinobi at that level?"

"Hmph. Yeah, of course." Sakura glanced up at the ceiling of the cave, "but there really was nothing to lose. After my parents abandoned me, I've had nothing else to fight for except the lives of others. And with the way I was raised, I'm ready to kill anyone who gets in my way when it comes to protecting those I love and my village."

"Wow..." Sasuke sighed, "you're nothing like the Sakura I know..."

"Huh." Sakura locked her knuckles around her arms, "the Sakura you know must be pretty weak..."

"Well..." Sasuke shut his eyes.

"Did you hear? One of the Akatsuki was actually killed. It was Sasori of the Red Sand."

"How?! He's a puppet!"

"Yeah, well, it happened."

Sasuke overheard a few of the prisoners at Orochimaru's hideout a few months back.

"Who killed him?"

"It was a leaf ninja. All by herself, I heard. With the help of Sasori's granny."

"What? 'Herself'?! You mean a chick did it?!"

"I think her name was... A flower... Blossom? Oh, Sakura."

Sasuke froze.

That name...

"If... If you leave! I'm going to scream! And..."

"Sakura... Thank you."

The first Akatsuki member to be killed was killed by his very own teammate. His own teammate that he'd underestimated quite a number of times in the past. He didn't even believe it, until he saw it, and sure enough, the same Sakura he knew and had called annoying a few times in the past was the first ninja to kill a member of the Akatsuki. Not only that, but she was also the first person to create an antidote to a poison that not even Tsunade could create. He'd acknowledged her skill long ago, but he'd never knew this side of her.

"I love you, Sasuke!"

His clenched fists relaxed as he opened his eyes and looked back up at the same yet very different girl that stood across from him, "no. She's not weak. Although I haven't seen her in a number of years, I know full well that she's capable of taking out a village with her fists."

"Heh." Sakura smirked. She brought her hand up to her face and removed her mask, "listen, I'm not in this to help you get back to where you're really from, I'm just doing this because it's also my goal to take out the Akatsuki. Not disband their group, but wipe every single one of them off the face of the earth."

He stared at her for a few moments, then sighed, "I know. Why do you think I asked for your help?"

"But..."

"I know you're strong, but I also know that you've got a vendetta to set. I'm willing to help you, that you may lend me your strength, too. Maybe if we both worked together, we could achieve both our goals at the same time. Kill two birds with one stone."

Sakura watched him carefully, then smiled, "you're not all that bad, Sasuke."

"Hn." Sasuke set his pack down and sat down, "I'm smarter than you might think."

"Yeah, don't flatter yourself." Sakura turned to look out the cave, "your partner, Suigetsu."

"He's definitely a pain in the ass sometimes. Most times."

"Agreed."

"But he still gets the job done, so I really can't complain."

"Hm."

The two were silent for another minute before Suigetsu finally returned, "that took longer than expected." He stretched out his arms before sitting down on the cave floor, "so what's the plan, Sasuke?"

"We find a way to lure in the Akatsuki. If we can't find them, then we let them find us."

"But it's..." Suigetsu tilted his head, "it's not like they're gonna come looking for us."

"Maybe they will... After Sasuke's multiple run-ins with them... And..." Sakura rubbed her elbows, "maybe it might work."

"Hm." Sasuke nodded, "or... We should head over to the other Great Shinobi Nations."

Sakura gasped before Sasuke could continue, "you..."

"The Lands of Fire and Wind are just the start." He turned to the aghast ANBU standing across from him, "I picked up on these patterns a long time ago. They're targeting the main Shinobi nations, especially since strengthening the bonds of these five great nations has been their number one priority even in the universe I'm from. Things aren't that different, here."

"Then..." Suigetsu tapped his chin, "the lands of earth, water, and lightning are the ones we need to go to."

"Yeah. Since we've already run into them back in the Village Hidden in the Sand." Sasuke nodded, "to save time, we could split up and each of us go to one village. But to be safe, we'll stick together as a squad."

"Sounds like a plan." Suigetsu grinned.

Sasuke turned to the kunoichi that had suddenly gone quiet, "Sakura?"

She gripped the cloth of her gloves, "fine. We can do that. But... You're positive this'll work?"

"Not entirely, but..." Sasuke shrugged, "it's a start. And it's the best we could come up with."

She smirked and nodded, "yeah, I guess so, huh? Alright, then. The Hidden Cloud, first?"

Sasuke nodded in agreement, his eyes never left hers, "yeah." The Hidden Cloud... For you... I think I might head to the Hidden Rain, instead... Sakura.