Shades of Grey

Chapter 82

"There had better be a damned good reason for this." Tsunade mumbled as she walked through the tunnel that led from her home to her office.

Shikamaru had been on ANBU guard duty and the little brat had the nerve to come wake her in the middle of the night. Hell, she was still drunk. He claimed there were visitors that could not wait until morning. Whatever this was about had better be damned important. When they reached the hall outside her office, she was surprised to see Team 7 waiting at its doors.

"Alright just what the hell is this about?" The Hokage demanded.

"They wanted to see you all." Shikamaru explained. When he opened the large double doors two figures came into view.

There was no mistaking who they were. Standing within the office clothed in Akatsuki robes were none other than Sakura Haruno and Itachi Uchiha. Tsunade quickly rushed everyone in from the hall and preformed the jutsu necessary to soundproof her office. It would not do for anyone to overhear this conversation.

"You have a lot of nerve just waltzing back into Konoha after that last stunt you pulled." Tsunade grumbled as she went around her desk to face the two shinobi.

"Hn." Itachi replied knowing that he would not be welcomed within the village walls, but he had been adamant that Sakura would not attend this meeting alone.

"I wasn't talking to you Uchiha." The Hokage snapped. "Haruno I cannot believe that after killing one of the village elders you assume that you can just show up whenever you want to. I was preparing to have Danzo arrested when you made your little move."

"Merely arresting him would not have been justice." Sakura shrugged as Itachi's eyes widened.

"So, you didn't know?" Tsunade smirked when she saw the Uchiha's reaction. "Your friend here decided before leaving the village to relieve him of his head."

"He chose his fate long ago." Sakura said. "I was honored to repay him for his deceit."

"Honored or not, you are now one of Konoha's most wanted missing nin." Kakashi spoke up. "Sakura that wasn't part of our deal."

"How is Obito?" The kunoichi asked her sensei ignoring his angry tone.

"He remembers who he is." Kakashi answered all his anger having left him. Sakura may have deceived him but were he in her shoes he would have done the same. No matter what happened he would forever be in her debt.

"Sakura-chan why are you wearing that outfit again?" Naruto whined as he asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

"I came to inform you that Pein has been destroyed." Sakura answered.

"So Akatsuki is no more?" Sai asked.

"Akatsuki is alive and well." Itachi answered. He looked down at the kunoichi at his side it would seem that she would never cease to surprise him.

"Explain." Tsunade demanded.

"In the process of eliminating Pein some of the tailed beasts escaped." Sakura informed them. "Two of our members are currently hunting them. My partner and I will join them once we are finished here."

"Under whose orders?" Sasuke spoke for the first time since entering the room.

"Mine." Sakura answered.

"Yours." Tsunade sighed. "This is just great. First you murder Danzo, and now you take over a terrorist organization. What exactly are Akatsuki's new goals?"

"Our goals are not important." Itachi told them.

"If Konoha is ever in trouble we will fight for her." Sakura added. "You have a strong ally in Akatsuki."