Disclaimer: Naruto.. not owned by me…

Chapter 1: The Scroll

Sakura slit her enemy's throat silently and let him fall. She was prepared for more of a fight, but apparently no one cared about the scroll which was being kept in the very next room. She entered the room cautiously, not wanting to set off any traps, if there were any. Just as she was going to take another step, she realized the room was completely empty. What the hell? She looked around again and immediately realized it was a genjutsu Tch, almost had me there.

"Kai!" The picture before her blurred, and now she saw a group of ninja surrounded around the scroll in question. She took a combat stance and examined her opponents. For such an important scroll, these guards don't look anything higher than chuunin. She smirked, this was going to be easy.

One of the ninja who looked as if he'd pee himself any second charged her head on and she dodged his blow and counter attacked, kicking him in the stomach he flew into another of his teammates. And the fight began; more of them charged her as she created chakra scalpels. She ran towards the oncoming ninjas with surprising speed and expertly hit each and every one of them with her scalpels. They all fell to their feet clutching their internal injuries groaning in pain. Another ninja who had stayed back started making hand seals for a wind ninjutsu.

"Futon Kazekiri no Jut-" He didn't finish performing the jutsu, for Sakura immediately appeared behind him and struck him from behind using her chakra enhanced strength. The ninja flew into the wall across the room and a huge crack began extending across the wall. Shit. Time to leave! Sakura grabbed the scroll, channeled chakra into her feet and sped past the remaining guards.

The hideout was coming down fast and Sakura did not want to be caught under it. She retraced her mental map of the hideout and forced more chakra into her feet. She heard many screams beyond the falling rubble and reached the stairway leading outside. Jumping over them, she finally saw the light from the moon shining in from the opening of the hideout, and was relieved once she made it out into the clearing. Yes! Close call though... But the moment was short lived as the ground beneath her shook. She quickly jumped towards the forest, and jumped onto a high branch. She turned to see the hideout completely destroyed. Sakura sighed, Well... that went well, now time to head back home. Sakura looked up to seethe moon directly over head so she assumed it was around midnight, Maybe I'll just find a place to set up camp first and then head out in the morning. She went about a mile away from the destroyed hideout and called it a night.

At dawn she awoke and looked at the scroll she was to bring back to Konoha. So this is it huh? The Forbidden scroll with no name. I don't understand how these people got a hold of a scroll of such importance. Whatever, lucky for me that I didn't have to fight more than I did. Sakura got up and packed her things then set off for Konoha. It would take about a day or two before Sakura would be home again so she started jumping through the trees. A few hours had passed before Sakura's senses were on high alert. There was an unfamiliar chakra signature coming at her, and fast. There was only one but it felt incredibly strong. "Ugh, what now? I'm pretty sure there were no survivors from the fallen hideout!" She increased her speed trying to put as much distance between them as she could. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on her side as she felt another chakra signature ahead of her. This one much stronger than the one coming at her from behind. She slowed her pace and was about to change course and jump to the next branch when one of her pursuer's blocked her path.

Sakura froze in place when she saw the black cloak with red clouds on it. "Fuck my life." Akatsuki. Great. Just great. Sakura thought. W-we can take him! Inner Sakura shouted with slight hesitation, Sakura furrowed her brow at her.

This Akatsuki member had blue skin, gills, and a huge sword he was holding behind his back. Having read up on the Akatsuki organization, she knew this profile belonged to Hoshigaki Kisame, former member of the Seven Swordsman of the Mist and the sword on his back was known as Samehada which can absorb an abundant amount of one's chakra. Kisame chuckled at her statement, "Well, look what we have here, a kunoichi with pink hair." Sakura's eye twitched. "What a contradiction huh, Itachi?" Sakura's eyes almost popped out of her head as she felt said persons chakra a few yards behind her. She turned her head slightly to see Uchiha Itachi standing behind her with a passive expression.

"What do you want?" Sakura demanded. Kisame grinned, showing rows of sharp pointy teeth.

"Your carrying something of great importance are you not kunoichi? We'll be taking it." Kisame said with his toothy grin as he swung his sword out in front of him.

Her eyes narrowed, Maybe I can bluff them, "I have no idea what you're talking about." She was surprised by the firmness in her voice.

"I believe you do. We went to that hideout to find it completely in ruins; we followed the remnants of chakra to you, kunoichi." Uchiha Itachi stated with no emotions whatsoever.

"Give us the scroll." The demand sent a shiver down her spine. Sakura assessed her situation, fight or flight. She was up against two S-Ranked criminals, who were Akatsuki, one of which being the infamous Sharingan user and the other an elite sword user. The situation was not looking good for her at all.

I want to live. Inner Sakura stated flatly. No arguments there, flight it is. Sakura agreed as she reached into her pouch and took out two kunai with explosive tags attached then threw one in each of her pursuer's direction. They exploded, forcing both Itachi and Kisame to jump away.

Sakura took advantage of the momentary distraction and started jumping through the trees as fast as she could. Already she could feel both of them following her. What now! I'm still about a day away from Konoha! Her thoughts ended as she dodged Kisame's Samehada only to have him swing at her again in mid air. She executed a back flip onto the branch behind her and Kisame followed. She immediately gathered chakra into her fist and punched the tree they stood on causing the branch to break and splinter catching Kisame off guard. Sakura kept on jumping through the trees while kisame staggered and kept after her.

"I have to admit she's pretty skilled this kunoichi." He said to Itachi.

"She's the gondaime's apprentice, don't underestimate her." Itachi stared at said girl and sped up. Sakura didn't need to glance behind her to know that Itachi was coming closer, she looked back anyways just as Itachi threw some shuriken her way. She dodged, jumping to another branch only for Itachi to appear next to her and punch her. Hard.

Her body crashed through two trees until she caught onto a branch before she hit the forest floor. Her back ached from the impact and she sent chakra to her wounds to heal, He didn't even use chakra to enhance his strength, yet he sent me that far. Kisame came at her this time and swung his Samehada, Sakura ducked and made to hit Kisame's legs but he jumped and swung again.

Sakura felt weird after that swing and tried to call on her chakra, which had dropped low. What the- I know I haven't used this much chak- SHOOT, I forgot about his swords ability to suck chakra away! Kisame saw Sakura's confused look turn to one of realization. He laughed, "So you know of my Samehada's ability! Too bad it's over for you kunoichi." He swung again, Sakura dodged just barely, Dammit getting low on chakra.. running might as well be as bad as fighting these guys! Itachi appeared next to kisame.

"The scroll, kunoichi." Then it hit her, the scroll. The situation definitely called for a last resort and it was better than dying, she backed up as a bead of sweat ran down her face as she reached into her pouch and pulled the scroll out. Itachi's eyes narrowed, "Kisame." Kisame ran towards her just as she opened the scroll, bit her thumb and gave the scroll her blood as needed for the jutsu.

Reviews and constructive criticism welcome, flames, not so much... I hope some of you will like my story, and I also hope that people will send me ideas, because I just might use them. I'll do my best to stick with what has really happened. The rest of what I need I've hopefully learned from reading other stories. Enjoy :]