Chapter One
Healing
"Because I love you..."
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He stood before me in all his glory. Spiked jet black hair, pale bloodied skin, dark emotionless eyes, and at that moment, I fell in love all over again. His perfect lips parted and he spoke to her. The motionless lump on the ground, staring up at him with love and pain and confusion. Her half-lidded eyes widened in shock and horror as he took a step toward her, sword raised, face stoic.
My heart pounded.
He was going to kill her!
"Sasuke!" I shouted. His eyes were on me in a second, still the beautiful grey I always loved to gaze at. A part of me stirred. Was I not a threat enough for him to turn on the Sharingan?
Don't underestimate me, Sasuke. I thought, moving my feet farther apart, muscles tight, ready to move at a moment's notice.
"Sakura…" His voice sent shivers through my body. "What are you doing here?" His eyes shifted behind me, clearly searching for any other chakras that might have been hidden. "Where are the others?"
"It's just me." I replied, ignoring his first question. His eyes narrowed and his fingers tightened around his katana.
"What are you doing…here?" He repeated, clearly annoyed that I did not answer the first time.
I straightened up, fingers moving toward my kunai pouch at my hip, eyes locked on his.
"I'm here to stop you, Sasuke!" I saw his body tense for a second, then the smirk was on his face.
"You?" If he had been anyone but Sasuke, he would have laughed out loud. But Sasuke doesn't laugh. Sasuke doesn't show emotion. "Leave, Sakura. This is your one and only warning. I don't have time to waste on you." Then he turned to the red head woman on the ground.
Surveying her, I knew she was going to die from blood loss in a few moments anyway. My eyes narrowed. Sasuke…what have you done? This isn't the Sasuke I know.
Bending my knees, I pulled out a kunai. Chakra flowed into the bottom of my feet. This is it!
I saw his eyes widen just the slightest. I swung my right arm around and my left raised just in time to block his sword as he swung it toward me. I gripped my kunai tighter at his neck and pushed chakra into my left hand to be evenly matched against his physical strength.
Hm. Impressive as always, Sasuke.
His beautiful eyes narrowed in irritation and he lowered his sword arm and sheathed Kusanagi before tilting his head away from the kunai and smirking at me.
"Well done, Sakura. I'm impressed." Then, he was gone. The shock lasted mere seconds and I whirled around to face him. Standing where I was just seconds before, he smirked at me. "But you can't hope to defeat me. Now…" His face broke out into a grin and I winced. He seemed almost deranged. "…time to die."
I jumped back to the woman on the ground and got on my knees, still facing Sasuke. I extended my left arm and pressed it against her back. I took a quick survey of her injuries and frowned. Her wounds were from the Chidori. Why would Sasuke attempt to kill his teammate? What had she done?
Then again, I haven't really done anything to him either and he's trying to kill me. The thought saddened me. My face remained emotionless as I kept watch on him, simultaneously pumping healing chakra into the woman. Her strained breathing became easier and she glanced up at me.
"What are you doing?" She whispered, her voice laced with confusion.
"What does it look like? I'm healing you. Now don't move or else you'll hurt yourself more." Sasuke had yet to move, but watched me with those grey eyes.
"You…fool…" She hissed, laying her head back on the ground, too exhausted to hold herself up any more. "You can't…defeat him…"
"Let me worry about that." I smiled down at her. "You just try to get better ok?"
"Sakura!" Sasuke called over to me. I looked up, attention focused on him again. "You must truly wish to die. Not only do you challenge me, knowing I am way out of your league. But you waste your chakra on someone who will die anyway. And…" The grin was back. "…you even turn your attention away from me. You've got guts, I'll give you that."
The woman's wounds were healed enough to ensure her survival. I wasted no more chakra on her and stood to face him.
"I told you, Sasuke! I'm going to take you back to Konoha! I'm going to stop whatever you're planning!" The grin faded, and the maniac was gone, replaced by the stoic Sasuke I missed dearly.
"Do you know…" he said quietly, eyes distant. "…what it is that I'm planning, Sakura?"
I shook my head no.
"I will…" His eyes narrowed. "…destroy Konoha!"
Then he lunged at me. Chakra pulsed throughout his body, yet he did not draw his katana.
Full body Chidori! I pumped chakra through my body, hardening it into a shield. I knew it would do almost nothing to defend against his Chidori, the ultimate assassination technique, but it would defend me from the paralysis effect.
I blocked his punches and kicks with my arms, wincing as every collision sent a shockwave through my body. The shield was working good enough, my body wasn't numb.
He pulled out the katana and swung. It clashed with my kunai and I pumped chakra into my arms and legs to push him back. The Sharingan glared at me, then.
"Don't…look into his eyes!" I heard the woman hiss and I was instantly caught in his genjutsu.
"Damn it!" I hissed, feeling my body freeze up. He walked toward me slowly, eyes locked on mine. I bit my lip in vain, knowing full well that a distraction through pain would not help me break free of this genjutsu. The Sharingan was more fearsome than any other dojutsu. I had to think quickly.
"You've improved, Sakura." He spoke quietly. "And I hear that you're a medic, now."
"What of it?" I snapped, frustration coursing through me as I struggled to get free.
"Your skills could be used to fulfill my goal…" He seemed to be talking mostly to himself. "I'll make you a proposition. Kill Karin, and I'll let you come with me." By Karin, I assumed he was referring to the woman I'd just healed.
"She's your teammate." I avoided the question. "Why would you kill her?"
"She's of no more use to me, as you can see."
"So you throw her away like trash?" I was angry and hurt. This wasn't the Sasuke I knew! Sasuke!!! Where are you?!
"Pawns on chessboard are meant to be used." He replied matter-of-factly. "They are disposable. Dispensable. Once their usefulness runs out, they become worthless." I let out a bitter laugh.
"You're insane." I snapped. "This isn't the Sasuke I knew. This isn't the Uchiha Sasuke who held himself high with the pride and dignity of his clan!" His eyes flashed, then.
And he laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
And it was sickening. My stomach twisted at the sound.
"What pride? What dignity?" The grin was back. "Don't speak of my clan as if you know anything, Sakura." Then it was gone. And his face was pained and angry. "Bring me…Itachi. Bring me…my clan." He tilted his head to the side and his left eye flashed with a strange Sharingan. "Bring them back to me and then I'll stop!!!"
"Release!!" I shouted, pushing wave after wave of chakra through my body. The genjutsu released and I lunged to the side just fast enough to avoid his Ameterasu. The black flame sparked then vanished and I turned my eyes on him. The Sharingan was gone and his eye was bleeding. He fell to his knee, gasping for air.
The last battle must have worn him out…I thought, straightening up. And good thing too. It took up almost all of my chakra to get out of that genjutsu.
I knew, then, that if I was to kill Uchiha Sasuke, this would be the time. When he is most worn out and at a disadvantage. The kunoichi within me pushed me forward. My face remained impassive as I stepped closer to him. This is it…She hissed in the back of my mind. Kill the traitor! End this now! He's not our Sasuke. He's a demon! Destroy him!!
But…the Sakura within me…the humanity with me fought back. Memories flashed before my eyes of our genin days. He protected me, he cared for me although I was a nuisance. I remembered those brief moments when he'd smile. I remembered the scarce compliments he used to give me. I remembered the lunches we had, the hours of training we shared, the missions, the exams, the hardships, the pain, the lunches at Ichiraku, the sleep overs, the laughs, the tears, the blood, the sweat, the anger, the hurt, the frustration, the happiness, the joy, the hugs the hands held-- We. Were. A. Team.
No tears fell when I reached him and bent down. He did not move, still not considering me a threat.
Never underestimate your opponent, Sasuke…
I reached out my hand and touched him, wincing as a weak Chidori coursed through my body. I pushed my chakra into his body and paralyzed him. His eyes snapped to me, wide with anger and hatred. I nearly faltered, my heart clenching in pain at the sight.
But I had decided not to give in. And I did not give in.
My chakra flowed into his body stitching, cleaning, restoring, repairing, healing every broken part of him it could reach. Except one… I thought bitterly. His soul which is damaged beyond my abilities to heal. I can't help him…
"What the hell…are you doing?" He gasped out, clenching his eyes tight.
"I promised you…" I whispered, catching his attention. "I promised you all those years ago that I would do anything for you…"
"A foolish little girl you were, huh Sakura?" He was bitter, angered at the thought that I was incapacitating him. He couldn't move, not even tilt his head.
"Hm. So it would seem…" I replied, wiping the sweat dripping from my brow. I was running low on chakra, but I knew I had to heal most of his injuries before I stopped. "But…I don't go back on my word, Sasuke. I can't help you accomplish your goal, because it seems that your goal is to destroy my home."
"Tch."
"I will stand and fight against you when the time comes, Sasuke." My eyes watched him watch me. "But…this is all I can give you now. I will heal your cuts and bruises, repair your ribs and internal organs. I will stitch back your heart…but I'm sorry, I can't heal your soul."
A lone tear fell on his cheek and he glanced up at me. My emotionless mask was still intact, for which I was grateful.
"Until the time comes when we face each other as enemies…" I pulled my hand back and he breathed in deep and jumped back as soon as he regained mobility. "…until that time, Sasuke, you will always have a friend in me. Do not forget."
I stood and faced him, fisting my hands to keep the shaking at bay. Too much. I used up too much chakra. Reaching into my pouch, I pulled out a purple pill and popped it in my mouth. The chakra pill will last me another two hours at most. I had to reach a safe location by then or else I was done for.
"You're still as foolish as you were back then, Sakura." His voice was cold, but the craziness I'd sensed in him earlier was gone.
"Will you kill me now, Sasuke?" I asked calmly. He watched me silently for a few moments before turning away and pulling off his shirt. My eyes landed on the curse mark on his back. The transformation was instantaneous. Mutated wings grew out of his back, the skin color shifted to a grayish-blue color, his hair grew longer and lighter in color. Then, he was in the air, disappearing from my sight within seconds.
A groan from behind me caught my attention.
Karin was pushing herself up on her knees, shaking and swaying dangerously. I made my way back to her, catching her just before she hit the ground. She stared up at me.
"Wow, you are one lucky bitch to have faced Sasuke and lived through it." She mumbled, clearly not fully conscious. I ignored the comment and helped her stand up.
"I healed most of your injuries." I said to her quietly. "You're…you were Sasuke's ally right?"
"Of course!" She snapped, as though offended I would even ask. "Don't believe anything he says, he still needs me. He was just tired…he wasn't thinking right."
I pitied her, then, for loving someone so dearly to the point that she would deceive herself to numb the pain. But, then again, I knew all about that didn't I?
"So, where will you go now?" I asked, letting her go once I was sure she was steady enough on her own. "Sasuke's gone, and he obviously has no desire to find you again." The look on her face reminded me of myself years ago.
"He'll come back for me! He doesn't know it yet, but he needs me. I'm the one there when he needs chakra the most. He takes mine…he'll come back for me…I know he will…" She bit her lip.
"So, you'll wait for him here?"
"I-I…"
"Konoha shinobi are on their way over here, following my scent." I told her, knowing well that Kiba and Akamaru were coming after me with Lee and Kakashi. "If you stay here, they'll either kill you or take you hostage."
"What-- then where the hell am I supposed to go?" She was almost at the point of hysteria. I knew I would regret it later, but I had to.
"Come with me." I said. Her eyes widened and she hesitated.
"Why would you take me with you? What's the difference between you and the other Konoha shinobi? How do I know you won't kill me either?"
"Would I have healed you if I had any intention of killing you?" I replied, turning to the direction of my destination. Northwest. Konoha. "It's your decision. I'm low on chakra and so are you. You have no food and neither do I. but I, at least, know a place to rest and eat. I'm leaving with or without you. It's your choice whether you want to follow or not."
She was quiet and I'd had it with her. Turning away, I made my way toward the forest.
"Wait!" I glanced back. "I just want to know one thing." Her eyes watched me carefully. "Why…are you helping me?"
I pondered for a few moments, but the answer came instantaneous.
"Because that is my ninja way."
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"Kiba-kun! Are we almost there?" Lee shouted over to Kiba. Akamaru barked and Kiba sniffed along with him.
"There's a stench of blood three kilometers north of here. Sakura's scent leads that way, so we're on the right track." Kiba replied.
"I do not understand why Sakura-san would betray us in this way." Lee mumbled to himself, remembering Sakura's stunt with the sleep powder.
"Sakura wanted to face Sasuke alone." Sai answered. "She feels like it's her duty to take him out of the picture because of the responsibility she'd placed on Naruto-kun's shoulders all those years ago. She wants to take the burden upon herself."
"That's crazy!" Kiba said, eyes narrowing at the clearing up ahead. "We are all connected to Sasuke in one way or another. She and Naruto did not have to face that responsibility alone! Those idiots!"
"Yes! We are all shinobi of Konoha and we must take care of one another!" Lee exclaimed, his eyes burning with passionate fire.
To the left of them, Kakashi listened quietly, his eyes side and heavy. Sakura…he thought, fisting his hands tight. I should not have said those words to you. It was meant to comfort you, but I know now that it was the wrong thing to say. You are much more sensitive than the rest of us, and I should have known that they would affect you differently. I'm sorry…I am the teacher, I was supposed to take the burden off your shoulders, but all I did was weigh you down even more.
"Up there!" Kiba shouted in time with Akamaru's bark.
The trees parted and they faced the battlefield. It was deserted, broken, and bloodied. No one in sight.
Kiba sniffed the air, moving ahead of them. Akamaru sniffed the pool of blood across the clearing.
"Sakura's scent is fading. She's been gone for a while, I'd say an hour and a half at least." Kiba called out. "Akamaru doesn't recognize the scent of blood over there. It's not someone from our village."
"There are no bodies, despite the blood." Lee mused out loud. "Were there no casualties?"
"No." Kakashi mumbled, stepping toward a piece of cloth caught under the rubble. "There were casualties…" He pulled it out and his right eye widened. "Kiba, can you tell who's bandage this is?"
Kiba held it close and closed his eyes, focusing on matching the scent with any of the scents he'd remembered from the past.
"It's familiar, but I can't put my finger on it." he gave the cloth back to Kakashi. "It's definitely not Sasuke's, but I've smelled it before."
"I see…" Kakashi pocketed the cloth and stood, facing the trees again. Could it…have been you? Who won, I wonder? I doubt Sasuke would have let himself die fighting the man who initiated everything…but it's hard to tell from this position.
"What do we do now?" Lee asked, his eyes watching Kakashi.
"We find Sakura." The elder man replied. "She's still out here somewhere. The fact that there is no body means that she either did not find Sasuke, or she found him and he refused to fight her. Either way, I'm sure she's alive. Kiba, Akamaru, follow the strongest trail you can find of her scent. If there's even the slightest chance that she instigated something with Sasuke then she could be hurt or in danger. We have to hurry."
"Hai!"
A hole in the wall caught Kakashi's eye. He walked to it, and touched it with the tips of his fingers. His eyes widened when he felt a spark from the stone, his fingers instantly going numb.
Chidori…He thought. So, you were here Sasuke.
He made his way toward the others, following behind. I fear for you, Sasuke…The path of an avenger is laced with darkness and pain. I would not wish that upon even my darkest enemies. Come to your senses…I fear the day will come when you and I will face each other in a life or death battle, just as the Sandaime did with his pupil, Orochimaru.
Kakashi fisted the cloth in his pocket tightly.
Sasuke…
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A/N: Well, here it is. I know I've been away for a reeaaallyyy long time, but it's just been sooo hectic and I've been suffering from major writer's block. I do have an announcement though:
If anyone would like to take any of my stories, please fill out the following and send me a PRIVATE MESSAGE. I will go through all of the forms and choose the best writer to continue my stories.
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I'll be looking forward to hearing from anyone interested. Once again, sorry for disappearing, I missed you all dearly. I hope this new story seems interesting so far. It was inspired, obviously, by the latest manga chapter, but rest assured the plot from now on will be original. Look forward to the updates, I will do my best to update regularly. I was thinking weekly or maybe every two weeks? I'll try to make the chapters long and filled with action/adventure/romance.
Read and Review! Flames accepted! I like constructive criticism. J