The Circle on Her Back

A Naruto Fan Fiction by nishikaze

Just how hard will Sakura fight to protect the two men she loves the most from the monster whose only goal is to kill them both?

The sky was overcast but the wind was calm. She was as still as the wind, waiting, watching. Her senses were on full alert, but she was not tense. Despite herself, despite her reason for waiting there, she felt nothing but calm. She had no fear, no anger; nothing but an overriding sense of destiny. She had made a promise to protect, a promise to be useful. This was her time.

She felt him before she actually saw him. She knew instantly he hadn't noticed her yet, her chakra suppressed, she was hidden, but not for long. He would not get past her. She was would be the mountain that he would have to defeat before he could move on, towards his real goal. She would not be defeated. They were counting on her.

She knew the moment he noticed her. He appeared before her in an instant, hoping to rattle her resolve. She didn't flinch. "Mmmmm… Well look at this. A little lost lamb in the dark forest. Aren't you afraid of being gobbled by the big, bad wolf, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura merely studied him. He looked very much like a monster from a child's fairytale. Almost noting remained of Kabuto's once fair skin. Most of his face had changed to an unhealthy shade of purple and with it the visage of his former master Orochimaru. He still had his pale blue-grey hair and he still wore his specticles. She found that vaguely amusing.

"What's the matter little girl? Wolf got your tounge?" He taunted as he took a step towards her, "I have no interest in you little girl, so if you walk away I'll let you live."

"I'm afraid I can't do that Kabuto." Her voice sounded bored to her ears.

"Oh really? Why not?"

Sakura looked him square in the eyes, "Because I am here to kill you."

Chapter 1: Little Red Riding Hood

Sakura and Kakashi were both disturbed by Kabuto's self-imposed transformation into Orochimaru. Naruto had told them of it soon after he met Kabuto on the road. They were still looking for Sasuke at the time, and Naruto was obsessed with completing the task. Only Hinata's concerned report calmed Naruto down long enough to tell them all of Kabuto's obsession with himself and Sasuke.

The other's had camped for the night when Sakura decided to make her move. She casually approached Kakashi, who was leaning against a tree, his nose in the ever present Icha Icha novel. She slipped around behind him, brushing his shoulder as she did so. Soon after she left the clearing, and out of the earshot of the others, she stopped. Kakashi appeared at her side. "What did you want, Sakura-chan?"

The pink-haired ninja turned to her former sensei, "I'm concerned about what Naruto said about Kabuto."

"Ah," He sighed, "I had a feeling."

"Orochimaru can not be resurrected Kakashi. He needs to stay dead. You and I both know that." There was venom in her voice and her steady, but he could see the rage hidden behind the jade of her eyes.

Kakashi regarded her steadily for a pregnant moment before answering her. "Sakura, this isn't your fight."

"I know that," She snapped. The harshness of her tone must have startled her, because she took a deep breath and clamed down before she continued. "Kabuto, by his own admition, is growing more powerful by the moment. He wants to be consumed by Orochimaru. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to bring him down for good."

Again Kakashi studied her for a moment before answering. "You're right, of course. Our mission however is to bring back Sasuke. We can't all go after Kabuto instead."

"That's why only one of us should go after him."

Kakashi eyes widened as he began to realize her intent. "You want to be the one to take him down."

She nodded, "I'm the one who stands the best chance, but…"

She paused and stepped away. She turned from him as she took a deep breath. She spun back towards him and looked him square in the eyes. "I have a plan."