Shades of Grey

Chapter 77

Sasuke finally had found a lead. He had located a traveling merchant in Sound who had just returned from Lightening. The man clearly recalled a girl from his travels who fit Sakura's description; few ever forgot the girl's signature hair. He smirked to himself. If he found her, he would find Itachi. Soon his brother's blood would run down his hands. Then Sasuke would no longer have to be an avenger and would be able to at last devote his all to his Sakura.

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"He sure is pushing himself." Naruto shook his head.

"He is blinded by his hate." Sai commented. "That is all that drives the traitor now."

"Luckily for us it also blinds him to the fact that he should cover his tracks." Kakashi gave an eye crinkle.

"Well we had better catch up with him quick." Shikamaru sighed. "If he catches up to Sakura first there is no telling what might happen."

"He won't hurt her." Naruto tried to assure himself that his faith was not misplaced as he and the rest of the team pushed themselves even harder to bring their misguided teammate home.

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"They are here." Sakura spoke into her communicator on her fifth day of surveillance. "Let me know when you are all in position."

"Five minutes." Itachi replied.

"Same here." Kisame answered for himself and Hidan.

Sakura began her countdown as she watched the blonde walk into the store. Much to her dismay he was followed by a man in an orange mask and an Akatsuki cloak, a man who seemed to be skipping.

"Update." Itachi's voice sounded in her ear.

"Deidara entered the art supply along with his skipping partner." Honestly how could she be expected to kill someone who was skipping?

"Fucking reject." Hidan commented.

"I am going to get him out of their before he can restock his clay." Sakura told her team.

"Be careful kid." Kisame warned.

Sakura tucked her book into one of the pockets of Itachi's cloak before casually walking to the entrance of the shop and letting her chakra flare. Within seconds Deidara hastily excited the shop with Tobi in tow.

"Deidara." She inclined her head in greeting.

"Who is the pretty lady?" Tobi asked in an innocent voice.

"That is Sakura." The blonde answered before turning his attention back to the kunoichi. "What are you doing here?"

"That should be obvious." She firmly held his gaze. "I was looking for you."

"Didn't get enough of me last time?" He smirked. "Where is your Uchiha?"

"I do not know, nor do I care." Sakura told him.

"The fool actually left you." The blonde laughed.

"Do you need help finding him?" Tobi offered.

"No, I am here to kill your partner." The kunoichi replied.

"You want to fight Sakura?" Deidara gave her a malicious smile. "That did not work out so well for you last time."

"I have all of my chakra this time; you will not win." She informed him sounding as cold as ice.

"Fine kunoichi." He smiled.

"We leave the village first." The pink haired kunoichi demanded.

"Still a sucker." Deidara laughed even as he started to follow her out of the village. He still had not restocked his clay, but he had more than enough to handle her.