"Are we getting close to them, Itachi-san?" Sakura asked the elder Uchiha. They'd been traveling for fifteen minutes in silence, the group subconsciously keeping an eye out for threats or strange chakra.

Itachi activated his Sharingan to the first level and cast his senses farther. "Coming up here."

"Cool. Thanks." Sakura nodded in reply. She smiled slightly at the man. She'd heard the true story of Itachi Uchiha from Naruto, and had felt bad. This whole time, they'd thought he was a monster. He must've suffered a lot from the pain he felt.

Itachi dipped his head at the girl, a small smile gracing his lips. He liked Sasuke's future wife. She was his brother's perfect balance, Sasuke was silent and she was loud. Sasuke was the moon, and she was the sun. Sasuke was darkness and Sakura was light. She balanced him out, Itachi liked how it worked out.

But he couldn't help but admire the young kunoichi. He'd heard she took down Sasori with the help of his grandmother. He'd sparred with Sasori of the Red Sand before, and he was certainly a challenge.

"Itachi." Sasuke said, looking at his brother suspiciously. He'd been eyeing Sakura in a way Sasuke didn't feel quite comfortable with. He couldn't quite help the thought- maybe he'll snap and kill her too, just because she's close to me. Maybe Itachi was lying about everything, and is planning to kill everyone I might care about.

"Hn?" Itachi shook himself out of his own thoughts at the sound of his brother's voice. "Yes, otouto?"

Laying it on thick there, aren't you, Nii-san. Sasuke huffed. Otouto. He shook his head. How long had it been since Sasuke heard that without malice or mockery in the tone?

Years.

If only Itachi had told him the truth sooner, maybe things wouldn't be the way they were. Maybe Sasuke wouldn't be wary of him, uncertain if he could ever truly trust his brother again. Maybe things would be different. But they weren't, and Sasuke still hadn't completely let go of the distrust and hatred. That would come with time, as all things did.

"We're here." Kakashi stopped and ducked behind a tree. There they were; the Akatsuki. They had stopped for a quick break, it appeared. The prisoners must've not been able to go on.

Kisame was leaning against a tree, catching his breath. Tobi was talking to "Deidara-senpai' about random things like how pretty the butterflies were in Konoha, while Deidara clearly looked ready to strangle him. Zetsu was studiously ignoring them both. The Venus flytrap Akatsuki member and Konan was making oragami with just a few moves of her fingers. The only person missing was Pain.

"Crap." Naruto winced. "They brought the whole family, eh?"

"Almost. Pain-sama isn't here. He might be too tired from another fight. And if they heard you say that they would gut you and feed your remains to Kisame's sharks." Itachi told the blonde, recalling some interesting interactions between the members when Tobi tried to become too familiar. Itachi didn't trust 'Tobi' for one second. He was the real threat, right now, though Kisame is definitely close second. Itachi was concerned that Tobi might be Madara in disguise, somehow.

Naruto gulped. "Well. Friendly bunch, as usual."

Sakura had to laugh, and even Sasuke spared a smirk.l at the little interaction. At that, Sakura went crazy. Not out loud, obviously, but inner Sakura was doing backflips and shooting fireworks.

Man, it's so nice to have Team 7 back again. I mean, Sai and Yamato are great, but they aren't Sasuke-kun. Am I right, Sakura?

What are you talking about now, Inner???

Just pointing out that you miss Sasuke-kun.

You're a pain, you know that? Now is not the time for side comments from you. They have Sasuke's teammates.

Why are we supposed to care about Sasuke's wannabe teammates???

And this is why I'M in control.

No, seriously.

Why do you think we're doing this?

Because Sasuke-kun is....?

I swear to Kami, I will find some way to get rid of you.

Sasuke watched Sakura with a confused expression. One minute she was embarrassed, then angry, and then annoyed, then thoughtful. She appeared to be having a conversation with someone, but no one had said anything to her.

Girls are so confusing. Sasuke shook his head and rolled his eyes. He noticed Suigetsu not far away, chatting with Tobi. He was away from the team and leaning seated with his back to the tree. Sure, he had a black eye and bandaged head, but he seemed the most responsive. He had clearly been the less injured teammate, so maybe Suigetsu had used some of his nonexistent charm to get out of the worst of the torture. Tobi seemed to like him well enough, after all.

Sasuke caught his attention, and Suigetsu's eyes widened, then his lips spread into a grin, revealing his shark-like teeth.

"Hey, Tobi-san? I think I heard something over there in the woods, mind checking it out?" Sui asked innocently, pointing (as best he could, with his tied hands) to the woods the farthest away from the hidden people.

"Okay!" Tobi said happily. "Tobi will be right back!" He skipped off, telling Zetsu he would be back. Zetsu was confused, and followed him, the white side shouting for Tobi to wait up, while the black grumbled about how Tobi was running everywhere.

Sasuke snuck a little closer, and hid in the bushes directly behind Suigetsu.

"Pst, Suigetsu," Sasuke whispered. Naruto rolled in next to him and gave Sasuke a confused look. "What are you doing?"

"Sasuke, ma man, about time you got here." Sui snickered. "The Akatsuki really have no idea how to take care of visitors. And the room service was terrible. I was thinking about demanding a refund, but Karin said we--"

"Suigetsu, we don't have time." Sasuke hissed. "We're going to break you out, then storm the camp. I'm going to slip a kunai under the bush, and you're going to cut yourself loose and join us in the bushes. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it. Who's with you?" Sui asked, having heard Naruto roll in. Sakura gestured for them to hurry up, so Sasuke hurridly took the kunai and slipped it under the bush like he said he'd do, making sure it was within Suigetsu reach.

"Naruto Uzumaki." Sasuke answered distractedly, waiting until he heard the scratch of the knife against the rope to poke his head around the tree again.

Naruto smiled. "Nice to meet ya." He said to Suigetsu when they heard the rope snap.

"Oh, the blonde dude that's obsessed with you? I thought he was our enemy." Suigetsu scooted farther into the shadows silently so he wouldn't be noticed, then used the back of the tree to get behind the bushes where the two boys were. The three of them knelt awkwardly behind the bush, each concealing their chakra.

Naruto had to grin when Sasuke replied, "Not anymore." Sasuke glared at the blonde, noticing his reaction. "It's a long story, I'll explain when we get out of here." He told the white haired boy.

Naruto and Sui looked at each other, then both, (being the friendlier ones in their respective groups) nodded at each other and shook hands, ignoring the less than friendly situation around them.

"Naruto, this is Suigetsu, Sui, this is Naruto. The dobe." Sasuke introduced them to each other.

"Ah, the one Sasuke is always complaining about?" Suigetsu laughed quietly, obviously still aware of the S-ranked criminals sitting right behind them.

"Yep, that's me!" Naruto said, and they immediately hit it off. Sasuke shuddered as the two of them started talking instead of paying attention to their mission. It honestly was a miracle Naruto was still alive.

With the little band of people they had brought, they would be lucky to take down one Akatsuki member, much less the five of them. Konan, Kisame, Deidara, Tobi and Zetsu would each be normally be tough to deal with alone. And they were together, now.

While Naruto and Suigetsu were chatting nervously about how annoying Sasuke is and which type of ramen was the best, Sasuke peeked out of the bushes and noticed Kakashi and Itachi in their places. Sakura was also in her spot.

"I can tell we're going to get along." Naruto laughed.

"Ditto!" Suigetsu exclaimed happily.

"As much as I'm hating the bonding going on, we have a job to do." Sasuke hissed at the two of them, basically telling them all to knock it off. He looked back through the bushes, and waited for the signal from either Sakura or Kakashi.

Suigetsu chuckled madly, nudging Sasuke in the shoulder. "Aww, is Sasuke jealous that I'm stealing his best friend?"

"Don't worry, Sasuke, you can share." Naruto struggled to contain his laughter.

How did I get stuck with the idiots...? Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Unless you want to just ditch Karin and Juugo and wait for the Akatsuki to find us and kill us, I suggest you two shut up right now."

"I honestly wouldn't mind leaving Karin..." Sui said, thoughtfully. "Juugo is the only good company in this group."

"Yeah, it obviously isn't Sasuke." Naruto smirked. "He never was good company."

"He mostly acts constipated and emo around us." Suigetsu said bluntly. Sasuke looked back at the two of them and glared heatedly, and Naruto doubled over, trying to contain the spasms of laughter in his chest.

"I will kill you both before the Akatsuki can if you don't shut up right now." Sasuke turned around again and didn't look back.

Suigetsu and Naruto calmed their laughing, but still chuckled quietly every once in a while. There still was the matter of the Akatsuki members sitting at most nine feet away. Tobi and Zetsu were likely still prancing through the woods, but that left the rest of them. Hopefully their plan would work.

I can already tell those two together are going to be a pain in the future. Sasuke rolled his eyes again, and glued them on Sakura. This time, he wasn't looking at those idiots.

Then her eyes widened and a kid came out of nowhere, dropping smoke bombs in the clearing the Akatsuki were sitting. He was attacking.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Sasuke scowled.

"What? What is it?" Naruto asked, noticing the smoke and crawling out of his position.

"It's your idiot future son!" Sasuke shouted to him over the screams.

Apparently as soon as they saw Boruto, Kakashi and Itachi had jumped in to help, making Sakura have to abandon her post as well. Dammit, nothing is going according to plan.

Sasuke groaned in frustration. "I guess we have to go help." He leapt into the fray, scanning for something to do that didn't deviate from the original plan.

Suigetsu was looking at Naruto in surprise. "You have a-- a son???"

"He's from the future, like Sasuke said, it's a long story that I will try to explain later, maybe." Naruto said, pulling Suigetsu into the battle.

Somehow, Boruto was using the Rasengan. Sasuke resisted the urge to cough because of the smoke. He put his hand over his mouth mouth started the Chidori. Kakashi already had his up, and he was locked in combat with both Deidara and Kisame. He was getting reasonably beaten down. Deidara was a long distance fighter, usually, but as of right now he was leaping along throwing bombs to distract Kakashi while Kisame backed him into a tree with his well placed water jets.

Sakura was fighting Konan, and Sasuke froze when he saw her impressive strength. He'd only heard rumors of Tsunade's strength, but he'd known Sakura was training with the woman. Then he shook his head and moved to attack someone else. He activated the Sharingan to help see in the smoke.

He noticed Sarada not far away from where he was, cutting the cuffs off Karin and Juugo. She met Sasuke's gaze and mouthed, "Cover me."

Sasuke nodded and turned to Sui and Naruto. Naruto was already using the Rasengan and fighting the leader. Suigetsu had drawn the Executioner's Blade that the Akatsuki had apparently brought with them (Kisame, probably, for sentimental value) and his face became solemn. Kisame dropped out of his fight with Kakashi when a Swordsman arrived on the battlefield, and from the manic glee in both of their eyes, Sasuke had a feeling that both of them had been itching for this.

"Well would you look what the cat dragged in..." Kisame chuckled, brandishing Samehada. He unwrapped a little of the cloth covering it. "Itachi-san's kid brother. Where is he, anyway?"

He hasn't seen Itachi yet.

"Oh, hadn't you heard?" Sasuke asked innocently, drawing his sword. "I killed him."

Kisame's eyes visibly widened. "I'd known he was ill, but let a kid like you beat him? He's reached a new low, I guess."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. This bastard doesn't have a right to talk about Itachi.

Sarada looked up from her work at the yell of outrage. "Okay, this probably wasn't the best way to do things. I am so grounded when this is over..."

Karin coughed, rubbing the blood off her face. She looked up at Sarada weakly. "Who are you?" She was in bad shape, like Itachi had guessed.

Sarada continued to cut her restraints. "Oh, sorry, Aunt Karin, I'm Sarada Uchiha."

"Sarada... Uchiha...? Thought.... they all.... died...." Karin said, rubbing her injured hands. They had red marks on them from the cuffs.

"I'm Sasuke's daughter." She clarified, moving onto Juugo. Karin stood up and looked around, blinking slowly as if she was just waking up.

Juugo wasn't in as bad shape, he was just looking tired. He did have plenty of wounds Sarada and Sakura would have to take care of if they survived.

"Sasuke had a daughter?" Karin was awake when she said that, a pout on her face. "With who?"

"Sakura Uchiha." Sarada replied nonchalantly. "Aunt Karin, do you have enough chakra to help Sasuke and Sakura over there? We kind of need your help."

"Yeah, I can help." Karin looked over at the people fighting and started walking over. "Well now, this is some rescue."

Sarada groaned. Stupid Boruto hadn't waited for her signal. Now her dad was going to be mad at her for getting everyone into this, and a lot of them would probably be pretty hurt. The Akatsuki were clearly tough cookies.

Juugo stood up to help when she got done with him. He stopped though, looking at Sarada expectantly.

Sarada looked back at him. "What are you waiting for? Go!"

"You." He replied. "Sasuke would probably want me to keep an eye on you, so I'm waiting for you." Juugo had an unspoken admiration for Sasuke that usually lead to him sticking with and defending Sasuke. Sasuke reminded him of his old friend, Kimmimaro. His daughter would undoubtedly be no different.

"Actually, Juugo, that won't be necessary, thank you." Itachi came out of nowhere and glared at Sarada.

Juugo's eyes widened, and he got ready to attack.

"Oh, I'd forgotten, Sasuke told you I was the enemy, right?" Itachi sighed at the foolishness of his little brother. "Well, no, I'm not. Go help him, I'll be there in a second."

Juugo looked at Sarada as if she gave him orders. She nodded affirmatively to her father's friend. "Go ahead, Uncle Juugo, I'm fine."

Juugo obeyed. Sarada then noticed Suigetsu whispering in Juugo's ear, then he nodded, looking significantly more comfortable, before Juugo transformed and began to attack Kisame alongside Suigetsu and Sasuke. Kakashi was still going toe to toe with Deidara, but was slowly starting to outsmart the blonde.

"Sarada." Sarada was pulled back to the sight of her uncle nodding towards the darker part of the forest. "Let's go." His voice seemed harder than normal.

"Hai, ojii-san." She replied, suddenly becoming slightly more concerned. They were leaving the fight. "Where are we going?" She took his hand, allowing him to lead her off the battlefield. It wasn't like she had any say in where she went or anything.

"I'm getting you to safety." Itachi replied curtly.

"But don't we have to go help?" Sarada asked, confused.

"Those are all shadow clones." Itachi looked at her. "If you'd let us handle this, you would know that."

Sarada looked back with her Sharingan on. The clones of Itachi, Kakashi and the rest of the gang fought for a while longer before running off in the opposite direction of the real ones.

"Aren't they heading for--"

"Konoha." Itachi nodded. "A gift for Tsunade. I'm sure she would love to have the most powerful S-ranked criminals be lured into their own cells."

"How are you doing that?" Sarada asked, completely in awe.

"It's a genjutsu that I cast after you cut Juugo loose." Itachi smirked quietly. "They only see what they want to see."

Sarada silently gaped, but let her uncle lead her back to Shisui's hideout. He has got to teach me that later...

Judging from the shouts coming from inside the house, the rest were already there.

"Oh boy." Sarada sighed.

"Sarada," Itachi looked at her.

"Yes, ojii-san?" She asked.

"Did you come up with the plan you and Boruto were using?" Itachi was referring to the, Boruto-distract-and-Sarada-untie method.

"Yes." She ducked her head in shame.

"That was a genius idea." Itachi surprised her by saying.

She looked up in shock. "What?"

"It was. You knew we were out there, and we would help you, making the distraction so, well, distracting, they wouldn't notice you sneaking Karin and Juugo out. It was a smart idea. I'm proud of you." Itachi smiled down at her. "Thanks to you, we're all in one piece, and we have Sasuke's 'team'."

Sarada broke into a grin. "Thanks, Itachi-jii. You're the best." She gave him a big hug, grinning into the fabric of the Akatsuki cloak.

He patted her head and smiled. She reminded him a great deal of Sasuke when he was little.

Sarada squeezed him once, then turned to open the door. She turned the handle and pushed it open.

"SARADA UCHIHA, JUST WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING???"

She winced.

She'd forgotten about her younger mother.