(Kirlian)Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto…if I did im pretty sure none of you people would be reading this right now.
Ash and Flames took over the sky and earth in a mass of battle. Trees no longer existed for use of cool shade but as hot torches lighting more on their way around the Konoha. The village itself was far beyond destroyed. The echoes of the first death still rang close to every person's ear and the eerie sound of death began to plague the village battle field.
Inside the fiery inferno houses lay in ruin and memories lost to the flames and blood shed. People from old to infant lay dead on the ground. Ninja ran around battling and destroying everything all in the name of protection or destruction. Babies cried as they clinged to their mother's blood soaked bodies trying to wake them up, limbs scattered across the village. Ninja dashed around not taking notice to the horrors around them. But not Sakura, she watched the horror with confident and yet sad eyes. She had spent the last two days of battle bringing out the dead and injured. After all she was a medical ninja and it was her duty to save lives...not take them…not yet. Sakura rested in her spot at the edge of the safe camp outside the village watching everything. She had received many burns that had damaged her skin but nothing too permanent. Most the ninja where badly injured….Sakura looked back at the cot she sat by.
The ninja Ino lay next to her and one bed over Hinata sat eating what she could off a small plate. Sakura sighed and got up. Hinata then looked up at her with a worried look. Silence passed then a nod of understanding. That's all there seemed to be these past few days. Silence and whispers. Sakura went to a tree that seemed to be still in use to shade and sat under it as a post. It was her responsibility so keep an eye out for the enemy though she was sure the others had them pretty locked in the hell hole.
Who was the enemy that lay waste to the Konoha? Orochimaru of course…but this time it would be a lot harder to beat him. Word had spread from the village hidden in the sand that Orochimaru had taken the vessel he had tried so hard to obtain. That Naruto and Sakura had spent the last four years trying to rescue and bring back to his senses. The one person Sakura still held deep eternal feelings for…Sasuke Uchiha.
It had happened a month ago. Temari had returned in sorrow to the village. Everyone being happy that they had finally finished the last mission in victory had no idea that her news would bring down the Konoha almost literally. Sakura looked back at that moment.
Shikamaru sat in a chair play a game of cards with Naruto at the table. Both playing foul moves as Sakura walked in leading Temari in. She smiled at Temari who hadn't smiled the whole time. But Temari was more focused on other things and ran to Shikamaru then whispered something in his ear. Tears almost seemed to flood out of the strong noble girl's heart as Shikamaru dropped his cards. They yelled for a moment at each other as Naruto stood up in confusion. Sakura looked up also quite bewildered at the site of shock and tears. Suddenly Shikamaru shoved his way past Sakura at the door and Temari followed. Sakura and Naruto only glanced at each other before running out the door to follow them. Tsunade let the stressed four into her office almost unwillingly. She gave a drunken smile as Shikamaru asked her to sit down. Everyone seemed to be in her office that moment. Shikamaru respoke Temari's words in almost a shout and not without a few chokes of his own.
The others only watched in silence. Tsunade stood up.
"So it's been three years" Tsunade whispered.
Sakura and Naruto who didn't know what Shikamaru had been yelling about in the first place now knew…the image in there head immediately angered them. Sakuras heart almost tore in two. But Tsunade and she had a deep dark secret. Naruto the only other person to even partially know the dark plan bit his lip and chocked back a yell. Tsunade gave a stern look to the depressed looking Sakura and then to a terrified looking Naruto.
Tsunade then spoke again, words never to be forgotten for it would change the face of the Konoha forever.
"act as if nothing has happened…expect the worst and when I hereby declare the Konoha at a state of panic…..I will authorize the using of unauthorized jutsus….go now and prepare…I expect Orochimaru to arrive in less the 48 hours…Temari couldn't have been to far ahead."
Fortunately Orochimaru did not arrive within two days. This gave Sakura time…she left the village the day right after the announcement with Tsunade, Neji, and Temari. Neji was the only ANBU of the group and though Naruto had the fighting ability of the Anbu he had been so busy with missions he hadn't had time to take the exams. They had luckily returned two days before the attack with a promise of in the success of the Konoha ninja.
The great plan was unfolding. Sakura knew it….all the ninja knew it….Sakura then looked into the fire and glared as she saw Neji fly over the top of a roof near by. He was speeding through the air as if he had just been punched by a sledge hammer. Sakura raced to catch him her memories being interrupted. She caught him and fell to the floor…at least she had caught him. She looked up at the now flaming tree. She turned around and yelled to a near by medic.
"MOVE THE CAMP BACK NOW….EVACUATE, THE BATTLE IS DRAWING CLOSER!!!!"
The medic could only nod but it seemed she was too afraid. She was one of Sakuras apprentices and Sakura had no time to get her to move. Suddenly Neji got up and glared whipping the crimson liquid from his lip. Sakura turned and ran to the girl stopping in her tracks to look back. Neji looked at her with a grin and jumped back. Sakura then continued to yell at the girl who then left to evacuate. As for Sakura, she was headed into hell with a batch of kunai and her courage as her guides. Sakura hoped she had enough of both to last her through the rest of the battle.
Naruto adjusted his head band as he ran towards the remains of his apartment. He could find spare kunai and scrolls in there for use. The house was mostly burnt up but he knew that his box of ninja tools was probably safe. Crashing in a roll through his window she raced towards the box finding it in under five seconds. More of Orochimaru's laggies would arrive soon, and it already seemed as if he and Kakashi had killed a thousand. Naruto clutched the deep wound at his side and opened the box. Stashing the kunai into his pocket and any open area that could be used he then began to write jutsus on scrolls so he wouldn't be totally in for it if he ran out of kunai and shuriken.
The glass had only added to his mass supply of cuts but after two days his normal chakra supply was deeply run out and those cuts would look a whole lot better if they somehow transformed into usable weapons or chakra. Naruto took his one minute to rest. His side was bleeding and he had no time to deal with it if he went out. He watched as flames slowly began to take over his house. He stood up and tore off a piece of his sheets from his bed and tied it around his wound.
"Damn!" Naruto grunted as the wound began to sting.
She then turned to leave out the window once more. But a small needle flew past his head. Naruto's eyes followed it towards the other wall as he gasped.
"Shit!"
The needle hit the other wall and the house combusted. Smoke and fire rose in a pillar into the air smoke followed it just as high. Sakura gasped as she entered the fiery inferno. Standing on a roof top she watched as the pillar of fire sent a gust of ash polluted wind towards her. She covered her eyes and head and ducked behind the roof as it came towards her. She then got up and whipped her face as she jumped to the ground. Running along the stone street no matter what way she looked she found fire and smoke. Rock lee raced over to her and gave her a stern look.
"What the news Lee?!" Sakura yelled over the crackling of flames.
"Naruto was in the blast…it was his house, most of the ninja have retreated to conserve chakra….we all are over worked and most of us cant hold out…Sakura you have to get out of here! You'll die…" Lee pleaded.
"Any word on there where about of Orochimaru or Kabuto…those are the two you guys have to worry about. The rest leave to the Anbu."
"No but Neji was seen battling Kabuto an hour ago…they started to head in the direction of the camps…but Neji is fighting a new opponent…so both Orochimaru and Kabuto are missing. Meanwhile doesn't worry about it….ill help you get the remaining injured out and then you must rest and help keep the injured to recuperate."
"Im sorry lee….get the injured out! Im going in!" Sakura yelled at last and then jumped into the smoke.
Lee made an attempt to follow her but stood in his spot. He wanted Sakura to be safe, and this was no place for someone like her. He ran out and decided he too was too injured and in lack of his natural "punch" so he would make a few rounds to get the remaining injured and recuperate. Lee turned too look up at the flames a sad and angered expression took over his face. No one knew how was injured or who was even dead anymore…everything was in chaos and it seemed to Lee….only hope would guide them from here on out. Thank god he had a lot of it.
Naruto coughed as he opened his eyes. How long had he been passed out for. He felt stronger…a lot. Was the Kyuubi giving him strength? Obviously the fox inside thought it wasn't time to use it because it had only been enough to let Naruto have the energy to keep fighting...or in this matter get himself out. All around him the fire and ash swirled and blazed high like an oven. Naruto desperately tried to budge the concrete slap smashing his legs to the wood below him. She squirmed and writhed in pain as the wood cut deep into his legs. He didn't want to call out though for fear and enemy find him and take him in his trapped position. He hoped especially Sasuke…or Orochimaru wouldn't show up. That would be awful.
Kakashi and Anko suddenly arrived in the fire. Anko immediately set to work smashing the wood and concrete. Kakashi helped Naruto up and looked around. Naruto stood up but crashed again. His blood spilled over the concrete as a huge peg of wood stuck through his leg. Naruto gripped it as Kakashi glared. There was no time. Here came the last few of Orochimaru's laggies. Kakashi jumped up to lead them away as Anko looked over the would. Her face was badly burnt and scrapped. Her arms and legs were also in no better condition. She looked at it then went to place her hands over the wound. Naruto shoved it away.
"No…ill get it out…" Naruto shouted over the flames and other horrifying sounds.
"You're kidding me you'll die of blood loss!" She shouted back stubbornly.
"I can heal it don't worry save your chakra and get the wounded out…your about ready to die yourself."
"Naruto let me!"
"No….Its almost time..."
"For what, what are you talking about?"
"You'll find out…now go!" Naruto grinned as Anko gave him a bewildered look and jumped off into the flames to distract the on coming sound ninja.
Naruto had no choice but to wait and pray Sakura got to him safely. The time was approaching so fast it mad him almost too nervous to carry out this plan. Her looked at his leg and began to break the wood just enough to move. He wouldn't pull it out until he had something to wrap it up. Through the flames he heard a voice and he jumped on one leg to the wall. Sakura came jumping in. Blasting a slab of concrete with one punch. She then swiftly attended to Naruto's leg not letting him speak. Both where way to nervous.
Sakura looked at him healing his wound. Naruto grabbed her hand and pushed it away. She looked up.
"But-…" Sakura whispered
"If you don't conserve it the plan wont work…helps me up and let's gets out of this fire!" He said confidently.
"Right!"
Sakura got to her feet and took Naruto's arm gently and slung it over her shoulders. Grabbing it with her right hand she placed a hand around his waist and helped him up. Her stood up and walked fine. They began to stagger out. Sakura thought the plan through.
Tsunade gave an awkward look at the symbols Sakura had drawn on the ground. The blood from her thumb and easily turned the grass red. Sakura continued the complex jutsus circle without looking at her sensei. She worked diligently and finally Tsunade gave in.
"Sakura what is this?" She asked
"It's the circle" she replied.
"The circle?"
"Tsunade is it possible to remove a soul from a body"
"Yes by killing it…but if your talking in medical terms there a few jutsus you can combine to do so but there is no guarantee it will work. Most ends in both victim and doctor get their souls sucked out and die."
"Yes but it is possible….and what if you combined them with a reviving jutsus, the one that forcefully wakes people up even from commas…you know the knew one the sand village medics came up with."
"You mean the soul rise jutsus…that jutsu is meant for comma patients…but I must remind you Sakura that…don't tell me…"
"Yes I think I found the jutsu to counter Orochimaru"
"Oh? Explain…this to me"
Sakura smiled at her teacher and bent down back to her circle completing it and then turning to her sensei.
"I need your approval but before you say anything please hear me out…"
"Im listening"
"This circle is for the…"
"Soul expel jutsu I know…."
"Yes and I have combined it with another jutsu circle sorta like the Soul expel to add an extra punch. This itself would use about half my chakra supplies just to get the soul out and needs high concentration to remove the soul correctly without damaging it. You then extract the soul sorta backwards from the way Orochimaru put his in. Ill leave it to who ever is next to me to destroy the soul by forming a chakra barrier and crushing the soul within…I cant perform the second step until that's done….we probably need Neji's eyes to see the chakra flow around the spirit. Unfortunately I then precede to the next circle which confuses me still…I was hoping you could help me…See one the soul is gone the body is left but since Orochimaru doesn't kill his vessel because that in turn kills the body he leaves the soul locked inside. It my job to find the seal and unlock it…I figured out how but…" Sakura posed biting her lip.
Tsunade raised her brow. "You need the same type of chakra as the soul your trying to release isn't that right."
"right but…Orochimaru will be gone so there is no way for us to get it…and that means the body stays in a comma…."Sakura looked down cast at the ground.
"Itachi…" Tsunade whispered to herself.
"What?!" Sakura gasped.
Tsunade bent down to her student and smiled. She then patted her head lightly and grinned her normal smirk and stood up. Looking down on her 18 year old student she had to hand it to the pink hair kounichi.
"You've surpassed me Sakura…im very impressed you came up with this jutsu…but it will need a lot more training. Training I can only supervise…because it seems there is nothing more I can teach you." Tsunade placed her hands on her hips.
"You…really mean it." Sakura gazed at her teacher shocked to be called her equal…sure she had just come up with a very highly risky jutsu to counter Orochimaru's but she still had much she could learn from her sensei.
"Kakashi warned me you would pass me when you where ready…hm Sakura im amazed at the fact you came up with this…I mean I have always had a though about it but you fixed all the problems in the cycle…it seems we finally have a way…that might be able to save…Sasuke Uchiha."
"I hope so…" Sakura sighed sadly loosing confidence already.
Tsunade punched her shoulder lightly winking. "Hey kid, training begins tomorrow at 6:00 am sharp….don't be late."
Naruto's wound continued to slowly heal itself up but the blood also continued to flow out. Sakura struggled with his weight. The ash in the air was making it too hard to breathe and with the lack of oxygen they wouldn't make it to a safer and more aired out area. She turned to Naruto and gave him a reassuring smile as he continued to struggle.
Both continued staggering down along the road. Helping each other and looking for a way out. Naruto suddenly fell to one leg and growled at his legs condition. If only Sakura could use her chakra Naruto would be healed by now. Naruto gazed at her with a grin.
"Don't worry ill be up soon…lets just take a break."
"Naruto we have to get to an area with more fresh air…you'll die of carbon monoxide poisoning…"
"Eh im fine! My leg is almost better.. Look"
Naruto proceeded to lift his pant leg soaked with blood and show a now penny sized wound. Sakura sighed in relief but it wasn't over yet.
"CRASH!"
Sakura and Naruto turned to the path in front of them and gasped in shock to see Ankos body lying on the ground limp. She struggled to get up again but was only successful in turning her head. She looked up in anger behind Naruto and Sakura. The pair looked at her with an odd look then watched as she closed her eyes and then both whirled around.
The sun at first caught their gazes and suddenly Sakura was reminded of the time she had been to Orochimaru's hid out and the sun had glared her from seeing him just like this time. Naruto gasped and then his face turned to a growl. Sakura eyes almost began to water. Her legs couldn't move she was so nervous. Naruto took Sakuras shaking hand and clamped it tight as if a sign. Both then gave a glare in the direction of the person standing on top the burning roof. Anger and hate fled through their bodies in compulsions to kill so large both shook violently with rage. The ash and the flames made the scene almost to appropriate. Everything was forgotten as both the Konoha ninja stared at the man they once knew…to be Sasuke Uchiha. Sakura could only hold herself back at the site of his evil smirk that crossed the mans she loved face.
Author Note: well there is my first chapter of my new fic. This time there is going to be a hell of a lot more tragedy. This fic has a lot of death and hate in it but I promise it will turn up soon. Basically I had another fic sorta like this if anyone has read "Bleeding in my Heart" then you would know…well this one isn't so happy. I tried to plan this story so it went more with the actual manga series better. Hopefully it works.
Well here is some information to help you guys catch up. A list of what's up with the characters. Hope you like my updates heheh.:
Naruto: now near the level of his sensei Jiriya, he can beat the majority of the ninja in the village. He can currently control a 7 tail Kyuubi form but 8th is so hard he usually passes out in protection from full release of it. He has been training hard since the time-skip but no one knows exactly what he is learning.
Sakura Haruno: She has spent the last two years of training in perfecting her jutsu to counter Orochimaru's. Her true ability to wield chakra is unknown as of yet but she is obviously very strong and always prepared. She still harbors strong feelings for Sasuke and she will gladly give her life to bring him back. Her and Tsunade now work as a pare to perform the jutsu correctly. Sakura has matured a lot since Sasuke's departure but still has a hard time to keep from crying or jumping people with tears on sight.
Kakashi: he is pretty much the same…
Neji & Hinata: both get a long much better now and they don't fight anymore. Ever since the news reached them about Sasuke they have been working non stop to also contribute to the on coming fight. Neji's eyes can see chakra much better the Hinata's but Hinata has also come up with a jutsu to counter and dissolve chakra. Unfortunately for the good portion of this fic she is injured or to busy helping out to be in. Neji himself has great power and Sakuras ahs taken to relying on him for a number of things. Though he bares no feelings for her they have become much better friends.
Kiba & Akamaru, choji, Ino, & Shikamaru: Kiba and Akamaru are much stronger and returned to a village in flames. The immediately set into battle and their were about in the fight are unknown. Choji is dead from previase experiences with the Akatsuki; Ino is now an ANBU ninja op and certainly proves her worth. Sakura and her still don't exactly get along but Ino makes it apparent that she bares no real feeling towards Sasuke anymore. Shikamaru is one end of an alliance with the Sand village through his intimate relationship with Temari. Both are highly skilled ninja and Temari's connection to the sand help the Konoha to receive information vital to them. Its thanks to Temari they knew Orochimaru had Sasuke's body.
Kankuro & Gaara: Kankuro won't be seen much in this fic but he is very very very strong now and his brother Gaara being the Kazekage helps to maintain a relationship with the Konoha. Gaara is still depted to Naruto for his life and seems to be willing to help the Konoha as much as needed. He has brought the sand village back on its feet. (p.s. he used to Konoha as his inspiration to help the village out…but you didn't hear that from me . )
Jiriya: he is off somewhere being a pervert…sorry but he won't come in for a while.
Tsunade: Still the Hokage, she is now Sakura's sort of partner and now considers them equals in their strengths. Both find each others company very pleasing and look out for the other as if close sisters or a mother and daughter relationship.
Oroichimaru: um…he has Sasuke's body...and is more powerful…um that's about it.
Kabuto: same….pig headed jerk…while being sexy at it.
Akatsuki: most of the members are the same…
Myoko: a made up character who is a ninja under the Akatsuki spies. Though she is not an official member of the clan she gives them information out of "promised loyalty" to their leader.
Alex: she is a very powerful ninja from the sand village and has "secret" ties to Gaara. She supposedly has a secret jutsu and far surpasses that of Kakashi or Itachi in power but when it comes to common matters like what's for dinner…she lacks serious knowledge. Her partner is an unknown character who will be introduced later in the story.
Private the penguin: I lied this is Alex the ninjas partner….she is not a ninja but somewhat of a crazy girl who find pleasure in simple things. The only thing known about her character is she is super skilled with a sword and believes she is the descendant of Soji Okita from the shinsengumi and thus where a shinsengumi uniform.
Rock Lee: he is jounin now but he still has trouble because of old injuries. He is now a teacher working under Gai sensei and Iruka.
Well the about sums it up and I hope you understand everything. And well now you more prepared for next chapter. Im still working on my last fic so I might be a little late on the next chapter but here is the preview…
the climatic battle is about to begin. Rusty gears creak back into motion as time flows faster, for the battle has arrived and the truth is about to be realized…will the two brave hearts succeed in their goal or will evil and death prevails. Everyone holds their breath and bites their lips as the lights dim and the show begins.