Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto.

When Broken

You need to move on.

Chapter Two: To be by your Side

Sakura hugs her knees as she remains in the cramped room. Kabuto had given her a smile before disappearing. He said he would be back soon, how soon was soon? Sakura lifted one of her hands in the dim light and noticed that she was shaking. Was she afraid? Was it fear?

What was she afraid of?

Sakura stands up. There was nothing left for her to be afraid of beyond that door. Sasuke had already shown her how much he cared about her when he pushed her away, when he tried to kill her. She still loved him though, that would never change. She would be there to protect him, to help him, whether if he liked it or not. He needed her, and she knew that.

Sakura walks down the dark corridor listening to the echoes of her own footprints. Every few feet there was a stubby torch lighting a fragment of the hallway. She saw a few doors but ignored them because she knew Sasuke was not beyond any of them. She heard quiet sobbing behind one of the doors and walked passed it with indifference. Her emotions didn't shed for anyone else but him. She had given up her family and friends back in Konoha as proof.

Near the end of the corridor, Sakura sees stairs. They were long-standing and cranky, but she could see a brighter light coming from beyond it, so she follows it through. Another hallway lay dimly in front of her when she reaches the top of the stairs. Sakura places her hand on the wall, unsure of what to do next. The hallway was brighter with more torches lying against the wall.

Sakura was about to turn back before she got lost, when she heard faint laughter.

A chill went through her skin as she somehow recognized the unnerving laughter. Orochimaru, she was certain. Without another coherent thought, Sakura rushes down the hallway to where she suspected the laughter had come from. She held her breath as she neared the doorway. The chakra level she felt was absurd. The concentration… was astounding… ludicrous.

"Wonderful!" Orochimaru boasts from across the thin wooden door. "Truly this is something to behold! Marvelous Sasuke, you are simply marvelous! Just as I expected."

Sakura freezes as she hears his name. It was so beautiful in her ears, even from the voice of a madman. She leaned against the wall beside the door and lowered to peek through the gap. She could see a glowing blue light around Sasuke. Chakra. It was truly a spectacular sight, he was stronger than she had ever known.

Kabuto had been knocked against the wall, he stares at Sasuke with seemingly envious eyes.

"The perfect vessel you are. Perfect…" Orochimaru continues to murmur.

Sakura's muscles tighten. Was Orochimaru going to steal Sasuke's body? She had heard rumors of him planning to do so, and didn't quite believe in the truth of it. She wasn't going to take any chances though. She would never allow Sasuke's body to be taken. It was his and his only, for she knew it would never be hers.

Sakura was about to burst into the room when Kabuto stopped her.

"It's a pity that he came too late then isn't it?" He croaks.

Sakura watches through a crack to see Orochimaru's strained face. "Indeed." He hisses. "I couldn't wait any longer. That body was rotting."

"You can wait three years can't you?" Kabuto challenges.

Orochimaru cackles loudly, Sasuke looks at him with apathy. "Of course! Of course! I can train him in this time! He will be wonderful when he is ready! He will be simply… wonderful. Everything will be perfect in three year's time. And time is nothing valuable to me, I am immortal after all." Orochimaru starts to dance around Sasuke, taking in every aspect of his perfection. "I will make you strong, Sasuke. I will grant your heart deepest desire… revenge."

That one word brought more life into Sasuke than Sakura had ever seen. His eyes narrowed just by a fraction of an inch, and mouth made the smallest twitch, but Sakura saw it all. In every aspect Sasuke was showing delight in Orochimaru's promise. This was what he wanted. Revenge. He wanted his brother's corpse.

Orochimaru guffaws at Sasuke's expression. "That's right my boy. Such fury and passion, that's what I like to see! Anger, hatred, these are what make a man stronger! And believe me boy, you will be the strongest."

Kabuto dusts his pants after standing up. "How should we begin his training?"

"That boy needs some rest! Some food in his stomach. His body will be mine someday, so we must treat it with consideration. Prepare him some food and have him rest. We'll begin training him tomorrow." Orochimaru hisses. He walks passed Kabuto and out through the opposite door leaving the two alone.

They stare at one another warily. Sakura isn't sure if what she is seeing is rivalry between the two or simple hatred, but she dismisses her assumptions when Kabuto smiles.

"Well Master Sasuke. Shall I take you to your room?"

Sasuke cocks his head ever so slightly to the side and Kabuto walks to the door without another word. Sasuke follows.

Sakura rushes back in her room where she'd been left in. She didn't know why she ran, but she wasn't ready to see Sasuke yet. It was too soon. Kabuto said Orochimaru would train her as well, and she decided to take his word for it. If she could become stronger, then maybe she could be useful to him. Perhaps then… Then Sasuke would allow her to remain on his side.

Then she wouldn't be 'annoying'. Then she wouldn't be a burden. She would become somebody Sasuke could rely on. Sakura was ready to devote herself to anything she believed in benefit for Sasuke. She knew that where she stood now, she was useless. Pathetic and weak, but if she could train, if she could learn more things, build up her chakra, her strength, then maybe… Just maybe… He wouldn't look away from her without a second glance.

Until then, Sakura could remain patient. She could bid her time, three years left her plenty.

It was a little later when Kabuto finally returned. "Why didn't you want Sasuke to see you?" He asks.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Kabuto smirks. "Oh I think you know very well what I'm talking about. There isn't much you can get away with here."

Sakura bit her lip. "He… I… I'm too weak. I don't want him to see me… like this."

"Weak and pathetic?" Kabuto questions brightly.

Sakura stares at him, in disbelief of his candor. "You said Orochimaru would train me."

"I did say that."

Sakura frowns. "He will right? I will listen, I will do anything."

Again Kabuto smiles. "That's what I like to hear from a girl like you. Orochimaru will be pleased to know you're so determined."

"So for now… I don't want Sasuke to know… Not yet. He can't." Sakura whispers.

Kabuto carefully glances over Sakura, weighing her words as she stared at the ground. "Very well. You will remain a secret until you wish for him to know." Sakura brightens a little. "But for now Sakura, Orochimaru needs to rest. His body is tired from the stress it's gone under. You should take this opportunity to rest as well. You won't get many chances once the training starts."

Sakura nodded. Kabuto took out a few blankets and laid it on the ground for her. "Stay in this room for now. I'll bring you some food."

"Wait Kabuto…" Sakura murmurs when he's at the door.

He turns slightly to her, waiting.

"Am I… Am I doing the right thing?" She questions. She needed reassurance.

Kabuto smiles. "There is no right or wrong in this world. Only what you choose." Then he disappears.

Sakura stares at where Kabuto had been for a period, before she finally recovered. She hated herself for being so irresolute. Sasuke had been so certain, she'd seen it in his eyes, the determination… The willpower. Everyone seemed to have it but her. Even Naruto, Ino, Neji… What was it that they had that she didn't?

Was she just destined to be weak?

Well then, she would definitely prove them wrong. She had Orochimaru now.

To be continued…

Author's Note

Uh obviously this started out as an intended SasuSaku thing… but I don't know… Sometimes I get this really anxious feeling when I follow mainstream pairings. I feel like I have a lot of freedom with a corrupt Sakura, so I don't know where I'd really like to take this. I need your feedback!

LEAVE A REVIEW! owo

-creativename

Next time on "Severed":

Sakura finally begins her trained with Orochimaru, but can she keep up with it? Orochimaru begins by teaching Sakura a new, deadly ability. Will she be able to prove herself to the man? Or will she wither away in failure and rejection?