THE DARKNESS OF SAKURA

"MULTI SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!!"

Naruto stands triumphant over the murderous ninja. They had been assassinating prominent authoritative figures across the many lands. They tried to hit Konoha next next…they failed. "Honestly Naruto, do you always have to be such a show off?"

Naruto turns and relaxes his arms behind his head in that lazy way of his. "Of course! If I'm gonna be Hokage someday I gotta let everybody know how strong I am." Naruto smiles. "Besides, I thought you liked it when I showed off…Sakura."

Sakura wipes the sweat from her brow and tightens her gloves. A gentle breeze whizzes in through the forest, blowing through her pink, short hair. Shorter was better, especially since she was a lot more active in missions. Long hair really did get in the way. When asked if she would ever grow it back out, Sakura had always refused. This new cut was a symbol of her strength, determination, and heart…she wasn't afraid to commit self-sacrifice if it meant protecting the ones she loved. The young kunoichi slouches her body weight to the right and places a hand on her hip. "Ch'yeah right! You're such an idiot. What I see in you I'll never know."

Just at that moment, a soft, relaxed voice says from above, "Alright you two, knock it off. Team mates shouldn't quarrel. Instead they should focus on one another and reach deep down----."

"Let's go get ramen Sakura!"

"Sure." The two walk away, leaving Kakashi in the middle of his lecture. Kakashi, sitting on a tree branch above, sighs out and thinks, "I miss when they clung to my every word…" His eye focuses on their hands laced together and he sulks even more.

Once the assassins are turned in, Sakura and Naruto find each other walking in town together, arms laced. Kakashi vanishes; claiming that a new issue of favorite "novel" was out today. It was just like him to abandon his comrades for a love story! Naruto chatters on happily, pleased at everyone staring at them. It was true…Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno were an item. Two and a half months had passed since they first decided to take their relationship to a whole other level. Sakura had finally given up on Sasuke and found great comfort in Naruto, who seemed to understand how she felt. She chuckles to herself as she remembers him declaring that night under the moon, "I'm not letting you go! No matter how bad it may seem, you don't have to cry anymore cuz you have me." He had scratched at his cheek and admitted solemnly, "I know I'm not as smart as the others. And I'll admit that with what I am, I am…" he had hesitated, "…dangerous. But," Naruto exclaimed, "I will protect you! No matter what." He winked at her. "Believe it!"

Sakura chuckles again at his face. So sure and yet, so scared. Why people feared Naruto she would never fully comprehend. He was kind to her…"Sakura…" Her head turns around immediately.

Naruto, who had been rambling on about how he completed the mission, notices the sudden movement and asks, "What is it?"

"Nothing! I thought I heard…nothing," she tries to regain her composure. The suddenly familiar throbbing in her head rises up as it had been doing for the last month, and a strange fire burns inside of her. And then the voice came again; stronger, louder. "SAKURA!" She clutches at her hair and falls to her knees, giving a surprising yell of pain at the straining sound in her head. Immediately Naruto is at her side. "Sakura? What's wrong?" The villagers begin to enclose them. Her breath becomes hard and rapid. Sakura gasps for air, straining at every breeze to catch it in her lungs. The world begins to grow black. But there is a sudden movement beside her. Kakashi grabs hold of his once pupil and vanishes. In that time she had passed out.

The days pass slowly it seems. In her sleep Sakura was floating in darkness. She would try to scream, hoping that someone would hear her, but there was never any indication of life…just darkness. In time, the chunin stopped fighting the blackness. She couldn't struggle. Instead, Sakura gave in to the darkness and let it consume her entire being.

"Sakura! You're awake!"

She turns her weary green eyes to Naruto and gives him a look of annoyance. "Too loud. Be quiet!" she mutters, head wheeling.

"Sorry babe," he whispers. "How are you feeling?" Naruto rubs his eyes, the purple underneath now noticeable to his girlfriend. He had never left her side. His voice was one that she recognized now; speaking to her, trying to coax her out of the darkness. It was quiet, so weak she barely heard it. She gave up on that voice too.

"Terrible," her voice rasps. "What happened?"

He shrugs. "Beats me. I think Grandma knows, but she won't talk. You just fell out in the street." Naruto adds sadly, "We never did get ramen…"

Sakura hits her boyfriend upside the head and declares fiercely, "Glad to know you cared more about the ramen than me!!" But before Naruto can respond the doors of the hospital room open and in steps Kotetsu Hagane. He looks casual and bored. Kotetsu sighs and leans against the door post. "Good, you're up. The Hokage wants to see you both right away…if you can manage Sakura." Kotetsu winks at the fellow chunin and they both smile. Naruto frowns and coughs aloud. He didn't like the fact that Kotetsu and Sakura were friends. Jealousy was getting the better of him. He competed against Sasuke for Sakura (though it really seemed as if he competed against Sakura for herself??) even after the Uchiha descendant had left. Naruto wasn't about to go through the same thing with the handsome Kotetsu!

Moments later, Sakura and Naruto begin their short journey. Silence floats between them. "What happened to me?" Sakura ponders. Uneasiness sets in, prompting Sakura to breathe in quite rapidly. Not wanting to stress herself out, she begins to put her mind on other things. The young chunin looks at a group of small trees and smiles; she couldn't wait for this year's cherry blossom festival and the trees would be turning soon. And then her eyes look up. She expects to see a peaceful blue, not the gray dark cast that faced her. Naruto says, "A storm's brewin'."

"Yeah. A bad one too."

They arrive to their destination and open the door leading into the Hokage's office. Lady Tsunade intertwines her fingers together and says, "Naruto, Sakura, you've finally arrived…good." She looks at her niece Shizune and asks, "Where's Kakashi?"

"Right here," replies a voice in the window. Kakashi climbs in and places a hand behind his head. "Sorry I'm late, but there was this cat stuck in a tree---."

Naruto scorns, "No one wants to hear your fake excuses Kakashi-sensei." Kakashi hangs his head in defeat…Damn.

But the cheerful mood is brought to an abrupt halt as Lady Tsunade yells out, "Enough fooling around! This is serious!!" Her expression portrays that she meant every word she says. Immediate attention is the result of her angry outburst and Team 7 falls in line before her. Naruto and Sakura twinge at the emptiness of the lineup. There was always something missing. Tsunade sighs and leans back into her chair. "We've got trouble."

Naruto, as usual, jumping the gun replies haughtily, "Is that all?! Geez. What kind of trouble Grandma? We can handle it."

"Shut up Naruto!" Tsunade snaps.

He's taken back at first. Then…"Aw c'mon Grandma! It can't be that ---"

"Orochimaru's back." Naruto stiffens and growls out angrily. Where there's Orochimaru, there's…

Shizune explains, "There was an attack not far from Konoha. Resources tell us he's headed here."

Sakura asks curiously, her hand extended, "What could he possibly want here. He's got Sasuke, what else--?" It didn't make sense to her. Though part of her was happy that he would be here, and that they would get their chance to convince him to stay, something wasn't right. Why come back? And with Orochimaru no less? Had Sasuke really sunken that deep into treachery and lies?

Tsunade turns away. "You."

"What?"

"He's after you Sakura."

A heavy weight strikes Sakura so hard she nearly falls. That couldn't be possible. "Is this some kind of joke Tsunade? This isn't funny. What would Orochimaru want with me."

The Hokage stands from her desk. This day had always been coming and she regretted it deeply. Tsunade's trust and bond with Sakura made this all the more difficult. "Because…you're his daughter." Silence. Naruto is completely dumb-founded, unconsciously taking a step back away from his girlfriend. Kakashi says nothing. He had already known. This was not what he had wished for. Tsunade explains while watching the still, cold Sakura, "You know you remember. A long time ago, Orochimaru fell in love wit your mother and you were conceived. At that time Orochimaru was still a traitor. He manipulated your mother. After you were born your mother forced him to leave. But he came back and took you with him." Memories begin to resurface in Sakura's mind: snake-eyes taking her out of the cradle at night…"He raised you to be evil…taught you things, powers that has yet to come to you. Even as a child, you were a great threat to the Leaf Village."…studying and learning new jutsu's even at that young of an age…"After a few years, Anbu Black Ops found you, and you've been living in Konoha ever since."

The day the Black Ops found them…Sakura screamed and hid. She was afraid. Her fath---Orochimaru---looked for amongst the turmoil, screaming for her: "Sakura! Sakura!" And behind the rocks, he found and took her into his arms…but before they could escape…

A tear slides down her soft cheek. Tsunade feels sympathy for her pupil.

…Kunai found their way into the back of Orochimaru. "Sa-Sakura. I'll…come for you – just wait…for…me…" and he moved no more. "Daddy? Daddy!"

It was all so confusing. To forget and then remember; and then to have always been told that a man was your enemy, but your memories are filled with love. She shakes her head. If Orochimaru was good, then that was only because she was just like him…evil. "No."

"Sakura, I know this is hard, "Kakashi starts.

She turns accusing eyes on him. "You KNEW!" The look of hate that Haruno has shot her sensei was enough to stop his heart. Perhaps he should copy that stare? Kakashi does his best not to show how hurt he is and continues on, "We have to take severe measure not to keep you safe."

"Safe how?" she questions loudly. "Orochimaru has allies…servants everywhere!!!" She throws her hands up in anger and paces the floor. "Village of the sand," she lists, "Village of the sound, the mist, land of waves?...EVERYWHERE!" She stops pacing and stares at Tsunade. "For all we know he could have followers here."

"Never in MY village," proclaims Tsunade angrily.

Naruto says defiantly," Don't worry. There's no way Orochimaru has the manpower to take us on again." And then sweetly to, "Sakura? We'll protect you."

"No one can protect me," Sakura whimpers. With a bounding leap she vanishes. Naruto begins to run after her but Shizune stops him. A simple head shake is her only rebuke; and that's enough to calm Naruto.

Meanwhile, in the forest bordering Konoha, two figures lay in wait. One holds his sword tight, finger itching. The other notes, "Have I taught you nothing?"

"Patience isn't a strong preference of mine."

Yellow eyes gleam mischievously, "And what's making you so impatient, hmm? The fact that you are returning to the place you betrayed? Or that you will see my daughter again?"

"Shut up!" Yet despite the attempt to sound threatening, his master merely laughs that sick cackle of his.

The faces and bodies of the villagers of the leaf seem to pass by slowly. Green eyes gaze up at a book stop and then at Ichiraku's Ramen shop. Everyone so happy. A dark wave of grief seems to flood over her body…grief and ANGER! After all this time the fact that a secret like this was kept from her made Sakura pissed. If it hadn't been for the fact that they were coming here, would Tsunade have ever told her? And then, if matters couldn't get any worse, a sudden form at the shop makes Sakura's stomach lurch. "Hey Sakura."

"What Ino?" she grimaces.

"Heard you were in the hospital," Ino sings out happily. "Must've got your butt kicked. Too bad I wasn't the one kicking it!"

Sakura scowls out and proceeds in walking away. However Ino has other plans. "What? Can't talk to us? Just because Lady Hokage trained you personally you're too good for us?"

"No Ino. You're just mad because it wasn't you," Sakura states with a hand on her hip. "Now leave me alone. I'm not in the mood."

Shikamaru intercepts, "Yeah Ino. I think you'd better let it go."

Choji agrees, chomping on his potato chips, "Sakura looks pissed."

Ino yells, "I'm PISSED!" The guys didn't know who to fear the most: Ino or Sakura. Ino grabs Sakura's shirt front. "No one's scared of you. I could beat you blindfolded. Just aim for your huge head!"

Sakura looks down at the pale hand on her shirt. Her eyes then raise to her assailant's. "Let me go," she says in a threatening voice.

"Yeah right!" The next thing everyone knows, Ino crashes across the street through the book store, a hair raising scream following her. Sakura's eyes portray anger, sending a chill in the air. Shikamaru runs to the store yelling, "Ino! Are you okay?" No response. She was completely unconscious. Choji stares in complete horror. Sakura…they were definently the most scared of her.

In due time Sakura left the town and headed into the Forest of Death. "I must be suicidal," she says to herself. She goes deep into the forest and finds a tree that appeals to her. It's an easy climb, and she rests on the branch, at least 30 ft. up from the ground. He pays not attention to the figures coming closer and closer.

After half an hour, the pink-headed chunin stretches, ready to return to her place, but then…Sakura's head whips around sensing something. And a kunai lands beside her. She looks on in horror to see a paper bomb attached to it. Sakura leaps off the branch seconds before it explodes. She catches hold of a nearby vine, sliding down quickly but safely until she flings her body forward and releases. She lands gracefully as a cat on the floor and gets ready to make her counterattack. "Hmm. You've gotten much stronger." That voice. Before Sakura can respond a giant snake slithers between the tree before her. And riding on it are two faces that she knows all too well. Sasuke leaps down from the snake and says coolly, "Hello…Sakura."

"Sasuke!" she snaps back angrily. "You have no business here! Leave! I'm much stronger than the last time we met. Sasuke still shows his non-chalant expression as he did before. Dually noting the threat (and believing it) he releases his Sharingan.

"That won't be necessary, my impatient apprentice." Orochimaru says to Sakura, "My dear child, won't you come. Kyo misses you…I miss you…even Sasuke misses you," he adds with a devious grin. The apprentice shoots a look.

Sakura growls, "Orochimaru!" She then gets curious. "Kyo."

"Surely you remember your pet Kyo?" he implies pointing down to the snake. She does remember. How Orochimaru gave the 22 ft Kyo to his young daughter. "He is yours," he had said "Summon him and he will always be at your side." They would. And on cold nights, the gigantuous snake would wrap his coils around and the mistress and keep her warm. Sakura feels a reassuring as she stares into the eyes of her once pet. Orochimaru notices this. "Come with us," he tempts.

"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Naruto jumps to the ground and throws a protective arm before Sakura. Kakashi lands as well.

Kyo gives a hiss of displeasure as Orochimaru cackles. "Guess this is going to be done the hard way."

Kakashi stretches. "Hey Sasuke."

Sasuke nods in acknowledgement. "Good day, Sensei." His eyes face Naruto, serious. "Naruto."

Naruto growls out angrily, "SASUKEEEEE!!"

A wind blows through the Forest of Death. It would be a while before Tsunade and the others came to help. At this moment, they were all alone.

"LET'S GO!" Naruto runs forward first. Sasuke charges his "best friend" head on. Orochimaru laughs.