Hello. My name is Sakura Haruno. I will be one of the lucky ones to have survived to see 28 years. My world is… not something you would like. The Akatsuki destroyed it. There was no hero; no one to stand in their way and really fight. They rose with next to no resistance, and crushed those that were foolish enough to resist. One by one… the great villages fell, leaving only mine behind. I work in the hospital as a medical ninja, healing up the aftermath of the destruction, and carrying a vast secret. I work for them. Call me what you wish, but it was the only way I could see to save my family… I work for them, and they let my son live. Besides, killing me would be useless. I'm the only medical ninja left with any amount of real skill. My tutor was a legend, and so I have risen to the same level. I invented the poison chakra nature, and passed the Kekkei Genkai to my son. Who was his father? Well…
Screaming entered the Pinkette's ears as she regained consciousness. Feeling groggy, she sat up and looked around, to find her vision clouded with crimson. Placing a hand on her forehead, she pulled it away and found it covered in blood. What had she hit? Oh yeah. The wall surrounding Konohagakure had been blasted apart and she'd been hit in the head by a flying bit of rubble. Around her, the village was on fire and among the fighting hordes she saw a small amount of men standing around wearing black cloaks, red clouds patterned into the fabric. The Akatsuki had come. The last of the resistance was being squashed and she was in the thick of the fighting.
Suddenly, a black shadow stretched across her torso, and she looked up, her head pounding, to see a man standing over her. He was wearing khaki cargo pants, and a blue shirt with mesh sleeves and collar. A strange metal necklace hung around his neck, and around his waist was what looked like the tattered remains of a black cloak. He had on a forehead protector which bore the hidden leaf village symbol, but it was crossed out. He was definitely an Akatsuki member. His ebony black hair was tied back into a loose ponytail, and his eyes gleamed blood red in the firelight. Was it the sharingan? Was this…?
"Are you alright?" The question was so unexpected that she sat, blinking up at him for a moment before she realized that his lips had moved and he was, in fact, speaking to her. However, his tone of voice was so cold, it matched the icy gleam in his eyes, and she wondered what his intention was. "…Yes… I think so." She stumbled up to her feet, immediately swaying dangerously, as her head pounded in protest, and all of her thoughts were processed sluggishly… the man in front of her caught her from falling to the floor, by placing his hands on her shoulder. As she was lifted up and carried bridal style, she lost consciousness.
It's not like I don't WANT to tell you who Hetaka's father was. It's just that… the memory isn't exactly a welcome one. I don't know why I ever trusted that… well, anyways. This is my diary. Because the story has to be documented somehow… maybe when all of us are dead, and the control of the Akatsuki is over, this'll be the only means of find out the true story. Or maybe it'll just be an account of many… Whatever the case, this is what really happened. You see, when the fourth Hokage trapped the 9-tails within the body of his son, he had no idea that the son would then die as an infant. His loss is still felt. People who dream of redemption sit and wonder if things could have been different… had he survived. At least one good thing came of his death. The 9-tails went with him, thus destroying the Akatsuki's original goal of recreating the ten-tails Jinchurikki. A fleeting glimmer of light within this oppressed world…
Sunlight falling onto the female's eyes woke her as she rolled over in her sleep. Letting out a groan, she rolled onto her stomach and grabbed the pillow beneath her head, placing it over her face to shield her eyes. She felt like she'd been hit by a bus, every muscle in her body ached, and her head was beginning to pound again. Wait a second, pillow? She didn't remember being in a bed when she'd lost consciousness. Where was she? Her eyes snapped open and she sat up in a rush. Her vision swam as dizziness overtook her head, and she realized she had bandages covering her forehead. She was in a hospital room, but it wasn't one she recognized. It wasn't one of the standard rooms of the Konoha hospital, and she would know- she knew that building inside and out. The curtains over the window were black with a large red cloud stitched into the middle of the stretch of fabric. Akatsuki? What was she doing here?
The door opened and she turned to see who it was, on her guard instantly, even though she realized she was in no fit state to fight. A woman walked in, with a blue flower in her blue hair, and blue eyes narrowed as she saw that the patient was awake. She wore an Akatsuki cloak, and was carrying a basket full of fresh bandages in her hands. "You're awake." It was more of a statement, than a question. The pinkette nodded, this time, careful not to move her head too fast. "Who are you?" She asked, looking up at the woman as she unloaded the bandages and pulled up a chair. "My name is Konan." There was no murderous intent in the woman's voice as she said it. She seemed pleasant, for a member of the Akatsuki. "And you?"
There were several reasons for why she would want to ask this question, and all of them passed through the girl's head in a rush, causing her head to pound. "….H-haruno. Sakura Haruno." She felt no need to lie. It was better to be rewarded for telling the truth, than to get punished for trying to deceive her caretaker, no matter who they were. "… How long have I been out?" She asked, her eyes trained on her hands resting enfolded in her lap. "2 weeks. You had us all worried. Our master wasn't sure you'd make it through, especially when we need your skills, Ms. Haruno." Of course. Why wouldn't they need her skills? She was one of the best medical ninja's left in the world. It was obvious why the Akatsuki wanted her. But… she had no intention of helping the men who had ripped her home apart.
Sakura sat still as her head injury was seen to, and the bandages were changed. "You've had quite a lump for days. I'm surprised you're awake. The others will be glad of the good news." Good news my ass. The pinkette kept her thoughts to herself, however, and continued to study her hands. When Konan was done, she lay back down in bed and sighed as the woman got up to leave. "Try to get some rest. I'll see to it you're left alone until you're well enough to talk. Until then… dinner will be brought to you in 3 hours." The door shut behind her and Sakura was left to her own thoughts.
The five Kage's were the last ones to fall. The battle lasted for 5 days and 6 nights. It started as a siege that rocked the entire world, and ended as a blow to end all blows. The spirit of the people was destroyed… whatever was left of it, anyways. Before, we were a society of people trying to protect our families. Now it's either be strong, or get killed. The Akatsuki have won, anyone who pretends otherwise is fooling themselves. I know that there are still groups of ninja leading small rebellions, but each time they rise up, they're squashed flat soon enough. I can't tell them it's my fault. That I'M the one giving the Akatsuki the answers they need. If I did, I would lose everything… not that HE'D care, I'm sure…
"What is your name?"
"Sakura Haruno."
"How old are you?"
"…17."
"What village are you from?"
"…."
Sakura glared up at the albino male questioning her. How DARE he just interrogate her without thinking? 3 more weeks had passed since she'd woken up in the Akatsuki hospital. She was sitting up in the hospital bed, the head wraps were replaced with a small bandage on her forehead, and her hair was brushed out, for once. It had grown down to the bottom of her shoulder blades in her time being bedridden. The male before her wore his blonde hair slicked back from his face, and his red eyes gleamed maliciously as he took in her weak form. Around him, three other people stood around the room. She now knew them all by name. On one side of the bed sat Konan. On the other, beside the albino, sat Kakuzu, his face was hidden by a scarf. In the corner, leaning against the window, and looking on with expressionless black eyes, stood Itachi Uchiha.
Her silence obviously frustrated Hidan, for the albino's hand came into contact with her face before she could dodge it, and her head was twisted sideways with the force of the blow. "Answer me, you stupid whore!" He said with a growl in his voice. "Hidan!" Konan cried, looking horrorstruck at the show of violence against her well-taken-care-of patient. The pinkette sat there, her face turned to the side, her long hair falling into her eyes, hiding the fact that she was fighting back tears for the stinging pain in her cheek. "….Konoha…" She muttered, trying to keep the sheer rage from entering her voice. Her hands were shaking, though it could be mistaken as fear, and not fury, that was the cause. Konan, clearly misunderstanding, reached over and grasped Sakura's shoulder reassuringly. Sakura was grateful for the gesture, and it helped to calm her down. Over time, the two had become like friends. At least Konan seemed to understand what it was like to be in Sakura's position.
The interrogation went on for over an hour. Hidan seemed to want to know everything about her, and left out no question, no matter how personal it was. When they finally left, Sakura lay in bed, feeling somewhat violated. She let her memories run through her head and was satisfied when she could remember everything about her life and her past thus far. Konan had made her see how close she'd come to having amnesia, or being in a coma for months… head injuries were no laughing matter. She was thankful she'd escaped terminal or permanent damage.
Why? Why didn't I run when I saw those black eyes narrow? Why didn't I ignore the way he looked at Hidan after he slapped me? Why did I have to notice him at all? If I'd never seen his face…. I wouldn't have to betray everyone's trust in me now… Was it fate? If it is, what did I do? What did I do to deserve such anguish? I don't know, but I suppose destiny was speeding me towards the role it had picked out for me, whether I liked it or not…
Another two hours passing found Sakura dozing off. The sun had set, and she was feeling sleepy. A soft knock woke her up from her half dreams. "….Hello?" The door opened and in the soft light of the lamp standing on the bedside table, she could see a dark figure moving into the room. There was a soft click as the door was closed, and then locked. Instantly, Sakura was on her guard. She felt the back of her neck tingle as she saw who it was that had decided to visit her at 10:30 at night. His black, cold eyes stared at her as he removed the band from his long ebony hair, and his forehead protector, Itachi moved slowly to sit in a chair by her bed. "What do YOU want?" She asked him, making no attempt to stem the hostility in her voice. Itachi let out a mirthless chuckle. "….I want you."