Disclaiminer: I do not own Naruto...

Chapter 1- The Turning Tide

The wind that night howled ominously; even more ominously than previous nights. The earth had sensed something misplaced in the atmosphere and responded with profound mysterious cries. Pink, luminous strands were intertwined in the atmosphere's kneading fingers as they sporadically entangled the locks of hair. Glassy pine orbs surveyed the peaceful, resting village, and with one last sullen glance, the pink head of hair whirled around. Soon, the figure slowly shrunk within the sight lines of the resting village.

7 years later

Superiority and pride lay within the dust of the prison cell. It was a tragedy really, that she was now ensnared within four cold pitiless walls without the company of her favorite companion, alcohol. Tsunade sat, with her spinal column against the stony wall, dazed and depleted. Hollow footsteps resonating from outside the prison cell roused the woman from her state as her subconscious fell back into the state of consciousness. The footsteps now were no longer hollow as the door creaked open allowing a sliver of eerie light to enter.

A sickening familiar laugh ricochet throughout the flinty atmosphere. The laughter slowly died out, but the repulsive voice remained. "Tsunade," it spoke with the sordid music it had used before, "why look so down? You do not enjoy my hospitality?"

A low and sarcastic chuckle was produced from the woman. Raising her eyes which now vehemently held disgust and fury, she spat, "Orochimaru, you have Konoha already… What more do you want!" All she received was another sickening grin, "Release them!"

Calm, comedic, and mocking he replied, "I suppose I should think of the years that we've been teammates and with respect to you, release your precious ANBU…. But… I cannot. You see, I still need the password into the vault in order to access those forbidden jutsu that I dearly desire."

The hokage's voice rose to a higher octave, "As long as there's Konoha shinobi left fighting out there, you will NEVER break us down."

"Well, I suppose you will be more willing if Jiraiya were 'persuaded'" he finished in a slithery grotesque tone.

"You think I'll give in to you and betray my village for JIRAIYA!"

"I suppose you think I am an idiot… I was wondering… why you're still here when breaking those chains would be a simple matter to you…" He had her where he wanted her, and she knew it. The snake sannin left, leaving the echoing thud of the door being closed as the sound of his footsteps gradually dissipated. Unfortunately, he was right. She knew Jiraiya was still within his clutches, and she knew she could not afford to make a rash move. Hanging her head in desperation, she could do no more but once again drift off to an alternate reality.

------------------------

The hours slowly trickled by as Tsunade found that she rather enjoyed the alternate reality her subconscious had invented for her. She found the tranquility to be much more pleasant than the blood thirsty war her shinobi was waging outside. This war had already been lost, and she knew that those remaining on the outside were combating in a futile battle. The rookie nine, who once had been the future of Konoha, were now imprisoned and tortured on a daily basis.

Though Tsunade knew the sliver of hope and fire still remained within the hearts of the shinobi, she no longer found that courage. Naruto was dead. She could not live in denial. She knew it all too well. The fire that once existed in her soul simmered down to a mere ember that could be snuffed out at any given moment of the day. Now, she placed her hope in her knowledge of Konoha's vault password to save Jiraiya and possibly Konoha. She took a deep breath, and as soon as she glanced up, Tsunade saw that the handle of the prison door was being fondled with from the outside.

Slowly, the door creaked open once again and a pair of soft footsteps filled the hokage's eardrum. These footsteps would've never been detected if one wasn't a skilled, elite shinobi. "What do you want? Unless you've come to bring me sake, go away."

A soft feminine chuckle reached the woman's ears. The voice was familiar; so familiar that the blond woman slowly raised her eyes. A soft gasp filled the prison cell. The dark figure stood valiantly before the hokage. Its eyes glistened with mischief as a smile made its way upon its face. Silence encompassed the small prison cell and finally, the Godaime spoke, "Long time no see…Sakura."