I am in a place,

Not quite dead…..not quite alive

It's not day….nor is it night…..

Its somewhere in between…

Where am I?

Well of course it's…

…INSANITY!

Chapter One

Part 1

They all wonder why I am like this now. My once innocent eyes now clouded with desire to kill. My once lively laugh now only appears in glee for the bloodlust that rages through me. They say that I had always been like this. That it was just choosing to resurface now.

That's a lie.

It's their fault.

All of them.

Tsunade…..

Sasuke…..

Naruto…..

Kakashi...

Sai…..

Yamato…..

They all left me….one after another.

First Sasuke, to become powerful, to take revenge.

Then Naruto, to become powerful, to bring back Sasuke.

Then Kakashi…..he left to go back to the Anbu.

Then Sai…he went back to ROOT.

Then Yamato….he followed Kakashi.

Then Tsunade, she claimed that I wasn't stable enough and that it was for my own good.

That's a lie.

I was fine….I was perfect before everyone left me. Even Rookie nine left me. They stopped inviting me to things…..they stopped talking to me…..they stopped all contact.

Why? I don't know.

Everyone pushed me into the shadows, so why are they surprised that I'm embracing them?

I was sixteen then. The first day I killed someone out of cold blood. I was sixteen. The day I left was my birthday. My sixteenth birthday.

The day I left I prepared a seal that would open one my eighteenth birthday. That means it would have opened a month ago.

This birthday was the best so far. My seventeenth was good but this was my first day as a true Akatsuki member. I have been in the organization for two years now. But this is the first day I can go out into the open.

Today we will be making our long awaited comeback. I have risen up so that I'm now second in command much to the chagrin of many who made fun of me when I first arrived.

Today I would see the surprised the looks on the people who left me. They all thought I had died….committed suicide is what Tsunade's excuse was.

I would show them that it's their fault I'm here. It's their fault that now I'm part of the group I had tried so hard to extinguish.

It's their fault I'm not the old Sakura anymore.

Part 2

I sighed rolling over in my bed. The black satin sheets stuck to my skin. My small pajamas did nothing to cover me. The shorts rode up harshly showing my white legs while the small tank top didn't even cover my midriff. It also rumpled up around my unbound chest barely covering them. My pink hair stuck to my sweaty cheeks annoying me. My arm flung across the bed listlessly, landing on what I thought was a pillow besides me.

"Oomph!" grunted the pillow.

My eyebrows scrunched together. I knew I was slightly mentally unstable but I was sure my red and black satin pillows did not talk….or grunt.

"Shhhhh! Pillows aren't supposed to talk so stop trying to make me hallucinate!" I ground out between clenched teeth as I curled up next to it enjoying the blissfulness of the coolness against my bare skin after I had kicked of the sheets.

"Sakura-hime, you should get up and put some clothes on before we go to the meeting,"

I growled and rolled away from the pillow; if it insisted to talk I would just get away from it. Then I felt myself being lifted of the bed and dumped onto the cold ground. I was up in a flash holding a kunai to the neck of the person.

"Sasori," I sighed pulling back my arm tiredly.

"Yes Sakura-hime you should really get dressed today is you're…debut if you will," he said with a small smirk.

I quietly surveyed the man in front of me. It was amazing despite him being a puppet he was attractive none the less. I had thought I had killed him with Granny Chio's help but no….he had been brought to life and put back together. His pale body contrasted greatly to the dark red satin pajama pants I kept in my room for anyone who wanted to come and sleep in there. His chuckled at my staring and pushed me gently toward the bathroom.

"Go Sakura-hime, you need to get dressed or you'll be late for the meeting and we can't have that now can we?"

I rolled my eyes and walked in listening to him walk out.

My room which was dark with black and red everything, contrasted greatly to my black and white bathroom that looked more like a spa than a normal bathroom.

I stepped into the huge shower after throwing my clothes into the hamper carelessly. I quickly turned on the hot water and started washing my long hair and shaving.

After I was happy with my hygiene I rinsed and stepped out dripping on the tiled floor. As I stared in the mirror my mind drifted back to the first day I was a ninja and I had stared in a mirror like this. Back then I had been vain and a weak kunoichi but now I was neither. Now I didn't have to be vain because I knew the men in this place were deeply attracted to me even on my worst days. I didn't need the make-up I wore to fights or the fancy clothes but they were provided and I took them. Even though I was still Sakura and still had the same petite frame my enemies were deeply disappointed when they thought I was a weak easy fight. My fist could shatter walls without chakra and with a well place tap I could kill a man.

Not only did I now have the strength and the chakra reserves I didn't have when I was in Konoha I had the skill and experience. I was a professional killer now. My chakra reserves were just as large as Naruto's maybe more. I rarely had to use even half. The only time I really used all my supply was when I fought all the Akatsuki members at once.

My once cut short hair was now to the backs of my knees and my once bright mint green eyes were now deep viridian. My once small chest was now rival to Tsunade's. I was beautiful even if I did say so myself.

I then started to dress. Over my massive chest I put a blood red corset styled tube top that was open in the front. Attached to that was fish-netting that went only over the sides and up over my shoulders like a tank-top. My stomach still showed as was my back. Only the sides and hips were covered with it. The fish-netting was similar to a jumpsuit and went into shorts and after I had slipped on a blood red thong I pulled the shorts over my legs but you couldn't really tell because the fish-netting only started about six inches below the navel and unless I was without the skirt that I always wore you'd rarely see where it started. I then slipped on the skirt; it as well was blood red and had a slit clear up to my hip, which showed where I wore my holster and forehead protector. It, on the other hand instead of red and black accents had a white belt looping around my hips and white accents. The front of the skirt dipped about two inches but mostly covered by my belt. Then under that I wore white high heeled boots. The heels were actually also used as knives in my fights and were permanently stained red. After that I slipped my crimson gloves on which had the fingers cut out and came up above my elbows. Then at the end they had fish-netting. After all that I slipped my cloak on. I had personalized it and cut away the shoulders so my shoulders were always bare, and the sleeves were much too wide almost like a kimono.

Finally I was done dressing. But then I had to apply my make-up. Around my eyes I lined them darkly with eyeliner the same color as my skirt and tube top. The edges fanned out both on top and bottom giving me a kind of mystical look. It was my signature. As a cause of my wild makeup and strange outfit many thought I was other worldly being.

I straightened my back and stood with dignified grace as I stepped with the silence that only a ninja of my power could have. They were meeting in the normal room I could hear them with my enhanced hearing. I walked in silently waiting to be acknowledged. I didn't have to wait long. Konan noticed me not long after and walked over to me holding out a beautifully manicured hand.

"Welcome Sakura-hime, the boys do not notice you and probably won't until the meeting begins so I advise you come on up and sit in your seat," she said her soft voice brushing just the edges of my hearing.

I nodded smiling slightly still holding her hand. It felt odd, her being only about three years older than me but her attitude and demeanor made her seem years older. Many said the same about me so I knew how she must feel, having so many people demand her maturity. That's why we connected so quickly.

I stepped up the slight rise where my chair which looked more like a throne than an actual chair was sitting by Peins. Mandra had decided to keep order by staying in the shadows sometimes coming through innocent Tobi. Though I didn't feel it was right having someone as innocent as Tobi, Mandra had gently reminded me, in a way I was more innocent than Tobi was by far.

The Akatsuki had become the family I never got to have. Mandra was like the father or older brother I never got to have, Pein and Konan were like the distant cousins that you loved dearly but hid it well. Hidan and Kisme were like the crazy drunk uncles. Kuzuku was like the money loving uncle. Sasori was like a sort of creepy distant cousin but you knew he loved you deep down. Deidara if he was a girl he'd be the long lost sister but sadly he was born a male so he was the long lost brother. And then there was Tobi the younger brother with a dark side, and Itachi the silent protective older brother. Zetsu, both sides were like creepy cousins that had slight problems but still cared in their own way. They were all like a big family. And I was the one in the middle, I wasn't over protected but I knew in a heartbeat they'd all protect me if the need should arise.

Soon I was seated comfortably my legs crossed daintily waiting for Pein to come and for the meeting to start. Konan stood beside me our hands still intertwined. She knew I was a bundle of nerves and ran her thumb over my knuckles. Her hand looked quite a bit bigger than mine and was manicured with blue. Everything stopped and Pein walked in. Konan smiled at me slightly squeezing my hand and walking down the steps of the platform and seating herself at the table in front of the two seats on the lower level.

The others looked surprised that I was there and looked like I had been there for a while. They hadn't seen me enter not had they felt my chakra. I smiled at them slightly taking a deep breath before masking my face into perfect indifference.

"Sakura-hime," Pein greeted bowing his head at me.

"Pein-kun," I acknowledged calmly while my heartbeat sped up. Today was the day that everything would change.

Pein said just that, "Today will be the day we come out of the shadows, stronger and fiercer then before. Sakura-hime is with us now and that makes up invincible!"

The group cheered grinning at me. I allowed my lips to tilt up and stood with the grace of a cat.

"Two years ago I sealed a box. I gave it to the Hokage the day I left Konoha. In it is my ninja resignation; I set it for my eighteenth birthday. That was a month ago. It also has a dagger covered in my blood. They will be having a 'mourning' session that confirms my 'death'. They will not know that I stand among you. It also has a scrap of Itachi-kun's cloak. They have most likely already identified it. When we strike they will not know I am with you. But when they are all together that is the only time you can let on that I'm alive…..is that clear?"

I glanced at everyone after my miniature speech.

They all immediately nodded, even Pein. It was funny even though officially I was only the second in command everyone knew who wore the pants in the organization.

"Then let's give the Konoha scum a surprise of their life shall we?" my lips twisted into an evil smirk, eyes dancing with mirth.

Everyone stood and started smiling in a similar way and started walking out the door. I simply transported myself out side to meet them.

They all started off at a run as soon as their feet hit the grass outside the compound. As soon as the last person was out I followed easily coming to the front where Pein and Konan were.

"How are we gonna do this Pein?" I asked quietly.

"We'll just walk in," he smiled at me his pierced lips twisting in a deliciously sinister way.

My lips mirrored the look and said,

"Fine with me….but can we make it dramatic?"

"Of course Princess, you'll be in front,"

"Are we going to wear out hats?" called Deidara.

"No only Sakura-hime will wear anything over her head and that'll just be her hood," replied Konan.

The group grunted affirmative. Soon we were in the forest that surrounded Konoha. I glanced back and locked eyes with Itachi. It was strange, as viridian clashed with Sharringan and a mutual agreement passed between us.

No matter what the leaders or the inhabitants did to us we recognized it as our home and Kami did it feel good to be home. He smiled one of his rare smiles as we all dropped to the ground silently.

"They're in my old training grounds…." I said trailing off.

I looked around at the trees I had numerous races in with Naruto. My heart ached at the memory but I pushed it down with a shake of my head.

'He betrayed you…get a hold of yourself!' chastised Inner Sakura

'True…but that doesn't make it hurt any less…'

She fell silent with that.

"Come," I said motioning my hands for them to come over to me, "When my team starts to say their…. 'Good memories' about me that's when we'll make our presence known….is that clear?"

They all nodded at me and we walked that way. Everyone was there; some were standing stone cold while some were sniffling pathetically. I nearly snorted aloud. If they cared this much back then I would have still been there. My lips twisted in a sneer as some of the Rookie Nine said there 'goodbyes' to me. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to be greeted by Deidara's face.

"You ok?" he asked quietly his breath fanning my hair back slightly.

I turned my glare onto the people surrounding my 'grave', "I've never been better…..I can't wait to see the looks on their faces,"

I watched silently as my ex team went up and started speaking about me.

"Sakura was a wonderful teammate; she was hardworking and always carried her weight-," started Yamato.

At that moment I nodded to the others and pulled a black hood up over my face hiding it easily.

"If that was true why the hell did you run her out of this town hmm?" I yelled out stepping from the cover of the bushes with the others on my heels.

Everyone there stood hurriedly and pulled out weapons.

"Tut tut tut," I clicked my tongue shaking my head, "That's not nice to draw your weapons on someone you thought was such a wonderful teammate now is it?"

"What the hell are you talking about? Sakura is dead!" yelled Naruto, "And there's no way in hell she'd join a group of scum like you!"

That hit me…hard….

"That's right…" I said shaking my hood back so everyone could see my lower face, "Ninjas who disregard the rules and who are missing Nin are scum…" I paused and took a deep breath slipping my hood back still hiding my hair but not my face, "But Naruto you forgot one key part to that, 'But those who abandon their friends, those are the ones who are lower than scum.' Did you forget that part hmmm?"

The ones behind my were smirking I knew and were looking at me proudly,

"You abandoned Sakura! Called her insane and refused to train her! Disregarded her love for you, left her alone in her pain! And you call US scum?" called Deidara.

I turned and looked at him smiling my little smile and whispered, "Thank you Dei-kun,"

"What are you talking about? We did it for her own good! What do you know or care about it anyway?" yelled Kakashi.

I felt everyone stiffen behind me and held up a hand.

"Surely you Kakashi can tell why I care, surely you Kiba can smell me can you not? Have you become that weak?" I questioned.

Kiba bristled, "What the fuck do you mean?" he snarled.

I laughed out loud, "I'll take that as a yes," I looked at them pulled my hood out of my face letting them see me for the first time in two years.

"Surely you can smell an ex comrade….or have you forgotten my presence that much?" I asked again.

Everyone looked shocked and hurt.

Naruto took a step forward as did everyone from my ex team did. Even Sasuke stepped forward with a surprised wide eyed look. Naruto hesitantly reached out a hand, it was shaking.

"Sakura-Chan?" he whispered hoarsely.

After he said that my cruel laugh echoed through my old home's forest…

"Hello Naruto-kun" I said sarcastically.