Shades of Grey

Chapter 51

"You are sure?" Tsunade questioned with a frown on her face.

"Afraid so." Kakashi rubbed the back of his head. "Sakura confirmed everything and more."

"I cannot believe that she would willingly join the Akatsuki." Tsunade argued. "Hell, they are hunting the Kyuubi, even if she tried to join them, they would just kill her to remove it."

"I do not believe that she has joined them." Sai spoke up in defense of his teammate. "It seems that she has only partnered up with Itachi and Kisame. Her eyes told it all; she was alarmed to find out that we knew about them. She was concerned for their safety."

"The hell she was." Sasuke bitterly cut in. "She never showed any emotion other than the joy she felt when killing those Sound nin."

"Watch it Uchiha." Tsunade warned as she finally opened the scroll that had been delivered to her from her apprentice. What she read caused her eyes to widen.

"What is wrong?" Kakashi did not miss the fear that played across his Hokage's face.

"Sakura is in a lot of danger." Tsunade sighed and passed the scroll to the Copy-nin. "That explains a lot. I have had ANBU following Danzo for some time now. I believe that not only is he likely guilty of that atrocity, but he is our leak to Akatsuki."

"Why haven't you brought him in then?" Naruto demanded.

"He is a respected Elder of this village." The blonde woman growled not liking being questioned. "I have to have enough evidence before leveling charges like that at him. At any rate, that does not matter right now. Sakura and Itachi Uchiha are both in grave danger."

"Just why the hell should that matter to anyone?" Sasuke practically roared.

"Perhaps you should read this and find out." Sai suggested offering him the scroll that Kakashi had passed on to him.

"I don't give a shit about anything she says." The Uchiha refused to take it.

"You aren't going anywhere until you read that scroll Uchiha." Tsunade told him.

The Hokage watched the young man reluctantly take it into his hands. He could not have been more than a few lines into the carefully thought out letter before his eyes widened. By the time he reached the end he ground his teeth together as he crushed it in his shaking fist.

"Damn it Sakura." He growled. "You have always been too tender hearted for your own good."

"You're right." Naruto agreed. "She always has been that way. How do you think Sakura would have reacted after hearing all of that?"

"This does nothing to excuse him." Sasuke snapped back.

"I am sure that to you it doesn't." Tsunade acknowledged.

"We have to help her." Naruto turned his attention to the Hokage.

"I cannot make this an official mission." Tsunade sighed. "Konoha isn't ready to learn of all this. You are ordered not to leave the gates until morning. You won't do her any good in the shape you all are in."

"We will meet at the gates at five in the morning." Sasuke spoke surprising them all with his willingness to go on this mission. He then locked eyes with Tsunade's. "I will bring her back to Konoha. You had better figure out how to prepare them for that."

Tsunade didn't argue with him. Sakura's banishment had been a direct result of Danzo's meddling, and now they all knew exactly what kind of a snake he was. She only worried about whether Sakura would be able to survive what she was certain would happen between the two Uchiha's when they met.