A/N: So, yeah. I know I've deleted it...but hey, I've reuploaded it again because I felt I needed to add more for a first chapter. Anyways, have a read and please do leave reviews, suggestions or whatever. I will have to apologize in advance since I know most characters here will be Super OOC. Thank you!

Chapter 1

"Let's play, Gaara-kun." Those words reached his ears. A hand waited in front of his kneeling form. He looked up and despite the darkness shrouding them, an encouraging smile formed in her lips. A hand reached out for it. Wait, whose was it? He glanced down and saw that it was his. Why? Why did he take her hand? And why was her verdant eyes held so much conviction when she was but a child? Is she an idiot for associating herself with a monster? She could be…but why does that gaze glinted in both courage and innocence?

And in right there and then, something happened. Something throbbed. His chest throbbed and constricted that he can't breathe…no, his breathing quickened. But despite such painful descriptions, why can't he found the pain? And if he might admit, it was something he liked. Her face…she was beauty. Her eyes…his saving grace.

He woke up with a start and only then did he realize that his chest was heaving as it took large amounts of air. He was sweating bullets even in the middle of the cold night of the Suna desert. Funny, now that he was able to sleep, he's wishing that he can't, just to…just to keep himself in from falling back into insanity and start another killing spree among his beloved people. Yes, he was the Kazekage and along with that esteemed title, that enshrined him in a high pedestal, the responsibility of a clear and matured thinking.

But…

For how long will he keep his sanity? A day? A week? A month? A year? He doesn't know anymore. That dream…no, nightmare he just had. He was certain that never in his entire life has something of that sort happened; a happy childhood memory, innocent like the young girl who offered her helping hand to him, an accursed. Has he fallen back into insanity, that he was now deluding himself with things he has secretly so craved for?

Or…

Was it all reality? A memory long forgotten and repressed by all the blood lust, by the demon and by the sands and only now, that the peace was brought by the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, that his memories being unearthed. That girl…it was only her smile that he can make out of the olden, fuzzy memories but he was sure…sure as the sands was his domain that her name was beyond the cold, barren place he called home.

Yes, she's the spring field of cherry blossoms.

Sakura Haruno was on a mission.

To think that after the Fourth Shinobi World War, everything would be in better shape. Wrong. This was just the beginning of those arduous tasks that they'll have to undertake to rebuild the casualties. And to think that she will be able to get some sleep tonight! Not. For God's sake, it's been almost, what? A year—that's right, a year—and she's still stuck in this hell hole called hospital, healing the injured. Just how many people and what's with the continuous patients? The war's supposed to be over and here they were parading like medics were immortal. Here's some news, they weren't. Seriously, were they doing this just for the sake of being healed? Granted, they worked in reconstructing buildings, day and night and they were bound to be hurt by a hammer, nail or whatever. Can't they just take it easy? She's seriously reconsidering her career path.

She's drained of chakra.

She's tired.

She's sleepless.

And most of all, at her age, she's still not yet hooked up on someone who could give her that tender loving care. Well, there was Sasuke…

Yeah, like he'll return and whisk her off into the sunset. If Sakura cold know any better, that chicken head won't return ever again. And that was why, for what seemed like a thousand—no; maybe not a thousand but you get the idea—time, he refused her company. And she could swear that was the last straw for her. Konoha might have forgiven him but this heart—Sakura momentarily placed her hands over her chest—won't. Okay, they'll be friends but she, as a maiden of pure heart, won't have her tails wagging at the first sight of him.

"Oi, Billboard Brow!" A voice called from beside her. Lost in her thought, she was able locate and sit her fatigued ass in the hospital lounge. She looked towards the source of the voice and there stood a woman much older than her. She was blonde and her bangs covered half of her face. For someone, who boasted her beauty and feminine wiles to any man—single or not—Ino, really hid her face well. What a twisted logic she has.

"Ino-pig." Sakura acknowledged her long time friend. Yes, friend. It was peculiar, though. After everything—which mainly consisted of Sasuke this and Sasuke that—that they've fought about, their friendship was rekindled by a gesture of apologies and of course, shopping. Not one to withhold her female sensibilities and the prospect of having her best friend back, Sakura found her place. Not being in the pig's shadow, not leaving her to eat dust but beside her as equals. Hell, Naruto and Sasuke shouldn't be the only people with a BFF. She too, of course, has to have that kind of luxury…well, except for tearing the limbs out. That was so ugly and women like her and Ino don't do ugly. Thank you very much.

"What's got y…what the hell, girl!" The blonde practically screamed in her face. If Sakura has the energy, she would have silenced her friend with a glare. "You look like you've died, resurrected and then died again. What's with the eye bags?"

Sakura sighed and rubbed her temples. Lately, she's been having these weird things. Weird like she's going to puke any second and these barrages of headaches just won't stop bothering her. Looking at her companion's face, she could see that, one, she's impatient; two, she's worried and three, she's masking her worry with a frown. "I'm tired." She said simply.

Ino waited for a while and held out the back of her palms in her neck. Her face having these weird contortions that was, ugh so not pretty. And then she withdrew her hands and looked at her with another dose of worry. "You're coming down with a fever."

Well, she could trust her judgment. After all, Ino has been volunteering her time here in the hospital to minimize the freaking, colossal workloads, instead of guarding her oh-so, immaculate flower shop. And Sakura was thankful for that. So, just like the good pink-haired friend she was, she conceded. And besides, there's a rule in this hospital—hell, all hospital—that a patient must not, repeat, not argue with a medic or you're dead.

"Do you want me to accompany you?" The blonde suggested after a moment of relative silence. "Or I'll have Sai to…"

She declined. Ino and Sai. She could still remember the day when she heard the news from this diva. That one was truly a shocker. Who would have thought that her fellow team mate of a Snow White and flabby, exposed stomach could actually grow a heart? There really was a miracle upon this world…or it could be just all Ino.

"Nah, if I know any better, you'll just escape this dark hell and be on your merry way." She joked, making the blonde chuckle. "Okay, I better go."

"Take care and don't forget our hair spa tomorrow!" Ino called as Sakura retreated towards the exit and was greeted by the sight of the full moon and the twinkling stars.

And the rustling in the bushes.

She quickly drew a kunai and threw it towards the leaves. The clinking sound of metal against metal resounded in the dead of night. Movements followed and the figure went towards the trees. Sakura took out multiple shurikens from her pouch and pounced away from the rustling area. But before she could launch her weapons, thousands of white feathers blinded her vision.

'Shit. A Sleep-Inducing Genjutsu.' That's right. The clinking sound of the metals might have triggered the genjutsu. Sakura panicked but quickly recomposed herself. She'd done this before when she was still a genin. She can do this again. Stopping and disrupting her flow of chakra, she released herself. Nothing happened. Everything blurred to utter haziness. It was too powerful and she was too tired and drained to even create a disruption in her flow of chakra. Just as she was about to close her eyes, she heard someone. She heard…herself?

"SHANNARO!" Her eyes fluttered open as it regained their energy and she soon found herself staring at the flurries of feathers. Yep, she was still in genjutsu but there was striking contrast in the white background because there, in the center of the plumed field was her…no, she was black. Jet black all over her body but she could tell, that this one with the word shouted a while ago written in her forehead...it was her inner personality. And just as usual, she was angry.

Before, whenever Inner Sakura threw a fit, she would grow larger and larger but this time, she wasn't. From the black figure's stance, there was a growing darkness that continuously swallowed the remnants of feathers in its wake. It grew bigger until she too was swallowed by the void and everything went blank until she regained consciousness.

She was still standing but the night has now become quiet. Not dead quiet, just peaceful quiet and staring down at her was her best friend donning a look that practically reprimanded her. Come to think of it, whenever Ino was around her, her other self would kick start and prove useful. Like that last time in the Chuunin Exams…

"Never mind the hair spa. If you're not going home, I'm taking you here." And that was when the blonde grasped her hands and literally dragged her towards the hell hole called hospital.

A cloaked figure slithered across a hallway lit by torches, flames illuminating what supposed to be a dark place. The casted shadows revealed land formations. Stalactites and stalagmites spiked from the earthen walls, ground and ceiling. It was a cave and in haste, he was able to reach the room by the end of the path in just mere seconds.

'I almost had her.' The figure cursed internally. Just when he was about to take her, that…that black thing appeared out of nowhere. What was it? It was the question that he kept replaying all over in his mind like a broken record. Just when she was drained of all of her chakra, tired and can't fight or dispel his genjutsu, that happened. Whatever that was!

"Orochimaru-sama." The figure spoke in a raspy voice. Before him, sitting beside a table lit with a lone candle, was his leader. He was reading and beside him was a dozen of scrolls and books. Those were notes that pointed only to one thing, his obsession. His one true wish. Immortality.

"Kabuto." Orochimaru hissed, closing the book and resting it upon his lap. He looked up with a serious expression as the flame casting his sickly pallid complexion and serpentine features a menacing glow. "Have you brought good news?"

"Yes." Kabuto took off his hood, revealing appearance similar to that of his master's.

"And what of it?" Orochimaru's ears perked up, eyebrows raised and stood from his position in interest all the while eyes glinting with mirth.

"Tsunade's…" The subordinate started only to be halted.

"Tsunade?!" The Konoha traitor exclaimed, voice rising in surprise as thoughts ran rampant in his head. He'd come this far and only to find out that the answer that he's looking for was exactly right under his very nose. How stupid of him to not have taken an action earlier when he still has that chance, when Jiraiya, that brat and that pig-holding girl have yet to come. That thought suddenly had him livid only to realize that doing so would cause no positive outcomes. He quickly composed himself and gestured for his loyal servant to continue.

Kabuto cleared his throat, his mindset already shaken by his master's sudden outburst. "Tsunade's apprentice, Sakura Haruno is confirmed to have mastered the seal."

"Perfect." The defected Sannin hissed in glee. He was indeed proven correct. Ever since he saw his only female former teammate's jutsu in their fight, he hypothesized it could be useful for him in attaining his desire. However, the fact that she's a Sannin added another factor into the equation. That woman will definitely won't let things slide so easily. She will put off a fight and he will not be defeated another time. But this girl…was an easy target. And she may as well serve as his next body. He turned to his subordinate, grinning in triumph. "We must plan our course of actions."

"Oy! Sakura-chan!"

Sakura cringed at the sound of his voice. It was an early morning and she had just gotten out of the hospital and away from Ino's clutches and already, she had to deal with another blonde. What a sick game this world was playing. Naruto waved his hands in front of her, eyes and overall form glinting in mischief and…what the hell?! Are those women behind his back? And what's this? They're even blushing like…like…well, like her when she still salivated at Sasuke's sexy back.

"Okay, mind explaining how on this early morning you already got…" Okay, she can't say it. What has the ninja world coming into? This was way weird. Naruto and Fangirls? Pfftt. Puh-lease! Like she's gonna believe that. If she didn't know any better, those women were the combination of Henge and Kage Bunshin or better yet, she was trapped in a genjutsu like last night. Smooth, Naruto. Very smooth. Where was Inner Sakura when you need her?

Abruptly, she stopped the flow of her chakra in her body and in an instant, applied an even greater force to disrupt whoever son of a Shannaro's flow of chakra.

And then nothing came up.

Must be that Harem Technique. Sick bastard. She narrowed her eyes in scrutiny in one of the girls beside her idiot blond of a teammate and that little miss scampered off…as in ran and hid behind Naruto and not poof-ed out of existence.

'Oh, dear Lord…' She gulped.

"What? Fangirls? Well, you gotta blame that to the 'ole Uzumaki charm." He pointed his thumbs towards him and grinned from ear to ear.

Sakura never even fought the need to roll her eyes. Apparently, one of his heart's deepest, darkest desire has been granted. Be followed by stuck-up bitches. Oh, well… she sighed, the shinobi world owed too much from this young man. Maybe it's time that the world will finally cut him some slack.

"Okay…" She started. Giving him an earful would definitely be a waste of her time and energy, so she just relented. "Just don't forget to be responsible. You're already eighteen." Then she spun around on her heels and trudged back towards somewhere that didn't have any drooling fangirls.

'Hypocrite!' Her inner personality seemed to have revolted. Yeah, right. Once upon a long time ago, she was one of them…and maybe up until now, she was one. An annoyance.

"Huh? What?" Naruto seemed to have snapped from his basking into women's giggles and ran towards the quickly disappearing heap of pink hair. "Wait! Sakura-chan!" He shouted. "SAKURA-CHAAANNN!"

She heard the annoying screech of her teammate, followed by the scuffling of a hundred shoes and the whining of those little missies. A headache was starting to form. This was not her day and this has to end in an instant. She spun again to glare at all the source of her agony. They stopped. She smirked, made hand seals and disappeared in a cloud of cherry blossom petals.

With no particular destination in mind, somehow the wind took her into the place she least expected to be. It was the bench; the bench where she tried so hard to stop Sasuke from leaving when they were still genins. For a moment, bitterness seemed to have washed over her. She shook her head to clear herself of such feelings as she took a seat.

'It's all in the past.' She thought to herself. Sasuke's back. And he promised me that he'll return. Then what? Took her away in a white steed and run into the sunset? Ha! Those were nothing but childish whims. It's already been a year since he left to travel the world with different perspective, so to speak and still, no news of him ever reached Konoha. Then something dawned upon her. 'Do I love him? Did I even love him?'

She pondered this for a while. Did she? Or it's nothing but another obsession?

"Found you!" She didn't got the time to answer those mental questions because some annoying brat poof-ed in existence in front of her, making her stumble and land on her butt on the concrete.

"What the hell?! Naruto!" She shouted in embarrassment as she quickly collected herself up.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan…" Then his face turned apologetic. Wow! How Naruto was able to change moods in less than a second was beyond her. Well, not exactly…if she remembered correctly, she too, can.

"Sheesh. Okay, fine. At least no one saw me landing on my butt." She rolled her eyes and brushed off any dust particles in her clothes.

"Not that…" He whined.

"Then what?" She scrunched up her face in confusion.

"It's just that…I'm very excited to be…you know, accepted. Have a family…"

"It's alright." Her voice took on a calmer and reassuring tone. "Then from now, I'll be your sister. You can even at our house anytime."

"Really?" He looked up.

"Just don't mention this to the whole Konoha. And no requesting of extras or ramen."

"Yosh!"

"Wait! It doesn't guarantee that I won't punch the living daylights out of you, should the need ever arises to." She rubbed her temples. Her head started to throb again and she felt her body growing weaker. This can't be right. She squinted her eyes to fight the growing dimness. And there's something wrong with her nose. There's something blocking her from breathing. She put her fingers to touch it and felt liquid touch her skin upon contact. She looked and there it was…blood.

"Sakura-chan!"

It was the last thing she heard before she felt her body falling out of balance and the dimness turned darker and darker until unconsciousness finally took over her. But this time, no Inner Sakura to save her.