REWRITTEN! I have found my chapter guideline and due to some contradictions, I have chosen to re-write some chapters or parts. Please read to refresh your memory!
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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, that much is given. (I'm only putting this up once)
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Lurking Within
(Part 1 of the trilogy)
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Chapter 00: Prologue
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Her breath quicken and her heart pounded as she raced through the forest. She was in search for someone worthy, someone who will become her successor. A harsh howl broke the tensed atmosphere, spurring her to break into a faster run. She could feel the others' presence behind her. She snapped her head back and gave a snarl, baring her teeth as her feet still continued to run; dodging and turning through the thick forest. A dark force leaped from behind and tackled her, knocking her off the trees. A pair of ivory wings sprouted from her back, helping her land roughly to the ground. Their heavy breathing was everywhere. It was suffocating. Precious life dripped out from her side and with each moment that passed, she was slowly slipping away. Shaking her head vehemently, she gathered all the strength she had left and pushed harder; she had to make it out alive. From beneath her tattered kimono, a long and fuzzy tail emerged. Wrapping it around her wound tightly, she hoped to borrow some more time. Emitting another snarl, she gathered some chakra in her feet and speed off to the best of her ability. Above her the pounding of their footsteps echoed in the quiet forest and she knew there was only little time before they attack once more.
There!
She could see fire and a village, this was her only chance. Her bloody tail furrowed away and her wings disappeared in a burst of feathers as she neared the village entrance.
Grabbing the closest guard within her reach, she played the damsel in distress and fell apart in his arms. Everything from then was a blur, she could hear the fading sounds of fighting as the guard raced to the closest medical facility. Soon, she can feel it, she shall claim a successor. Her entire being tingled as she neared their destination; her successor was there. She felt herself being passed to another before placed on a bed.
"Call for Haruno!"
The medics around her were bustling around, trying to save what was left of her life. Her clothes were ripped away for a closer look. "Her wounds, they are healing on their own!" The medic stumbled back and the door slammed open, "I'm here! State situation."
It was pure instinct, as she was told it would be. Not even analyzing the girl she was about to claim, she acted. Snapping open her eyes, she took a bite. Ignoring the blood that gushed forth, she pushed all her life and powers into the girl. She faintly heard the girl gasp in surprise as others tried to pry them apart. A flick of her tail soon solved that problem.
"Alert Tsunade-sama!" The medic screamed, her voice shaking in fear.
She didn't know who came to the rescue of this young girl, but she barely had enough energy to fight the savior. She had lost too much blood. With the last amount of strength in her, she felt a part of her slipped into the girl's mind. Releasing her grip on the unconscious girl, she gave a small sigh as her tail disappeared and her eyes lost its sharpness. A pair of wings, however, appeared and enveloped her in its cocoon. She allowed a smirk to grace her face. Ah, so it was the demon who has chosen the girl, not the angel.
The door to the room slammed open with such a force, the door almost fell off its hinges. She slowly turned her eyes to the entrance. A blond woman was standing there in disbelief as she stared at the girl on the floor. Crossing the room, the blond woman held on to the unconscious girl tightly.
"Sakura..." She whispered.
Her eyes were filled with pain at the sight of the bloodied girl laying unconscious with blood gushing down her neck. The woman's eyes turned and stared accusingly at the winged woman on the bed, "What have you done to her!"
The darkness became was slowly closing in, consuming her numbing body. It was evident that her body was begin to shut down.
With her last breath, she muttered an apology and said, "Haruno Sakura, you are my successor."
And with that, she became dead to the world.
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