Shadows on the Cherry Blossom
Summary: When Sasuke defeats Naruto and Sakura again, still refusing to come home, Kyuubi sends Sakura back in time to go on the Sasuke Retrival mission. He thinks that if she will, just maybe she can help them bring him home....and back to his original self. (SasuSaku)
Disclaimer: Damn! I even wished on my birthday that I would own Naruto, but I still don't! Now that's out of the way!
Authoress's Message: Guys, I am ssooooooo sorry!! This chapter was promised like 6 of months ago, but I just couldn't get it up in time. I've been so busy! I really will try to get the next chapter up sooner! I am so sorry. This is the chapter where the twist finally comes in. It starts off a little similar to the episode in the series, but it really differs about mid-chapter. Thanks for being so patient. I really hate waiting for updates too, so I feel bad about making you readers wait for so long. And I did get a 15th reviewer for the dedication! This chapter is for you, LunaxJonah!
Chapter 2: The Sasuke Retrieval Mission Begins!(again)
The wind rushed through Sakura's face as she traveled high-speed though the air in a straight line through the forest, jumping from tree to tree. Shikamaru had arranged for Kiba to take the lead, placing himself behind the boy with such a keen nose. Next in the line was Naruto, followed by Choji. Neji was at the end of line. Sakura traveled just ahead of Neji.
As much as she wanted to just fly by and pass Choji, even everyone else, and rush to Sasuke, she had to restrain herself. After all, she had no way of tracking him without Kiba and Akamaru to follow his scent and she could get ambushed. If any of them strayed from the others, their chances of success,even survival, would be greatly lessened. Besides, the squad she was in was well-formed, and everyone had something of their own they could bring to help with the mission that was totally unique. Somehow she just had to believe that they could bring Sasuke back to the Leaf Village. Sakura just seemed to know that their mission would be a success. She just wanted to bring her loved one and commrad back to safety.
The pink haired kuinochi pushed her troubling thoughts away and focused on moving forward even more quickly.
But the worries still came rushing back.
Can we reach him fast enough?
Focus on moving, Sakura! Inner Sakura mentally scolded.
What are Orochimaru's plans for him anyway?
Stop worrying and just move faster!
Sakura's rather agrivating and confusing conflicts going on in her own mind ended ereuptly as Shikamaru stopped and leaped onto a nearby tree branch without a sound. Kiba doubled back and jumped onto a branch beside Shikamaru. The rest of the squad did the same on command.
"Have the rest of you noticed those four down below?" Shikamaru asked.
They all indicated that they had by nodding, except for Sakura, who was too distracted by her own thoughts. Who could really blame her though? She looked down and saw three men and one woman all dressed in Orochimaru's clothing-a white shirt with a purple rope belt and dark pants. There were only those four though.............Where was---?
"But where's Sasuke? Isn't he supposed to be with them?" Naruto asked a little too loudly.
"Lower your voice! Do you want them to attack us?" Kiba hissed.
"Sasuke isn't with them. Even my Byakugan can't sense his outline," Neji mumbled.
"Sasuke's scent is faint, isn't it, Akamaru?"
"Aarf! Aarf!" (Transation: Yep)
Shikamaru chimed in, "Well, they sure have gone to a lot of trouble just to kill him. I find it unlikely that he is dead. The only thing we can do at this point is ambush Orochimaru's bitches and try to find out what's up."
"I'm game,"Kiba obeyed, with similar comments coming from the rest of the squad at about the same time.
"All right,"Shikamaru continued. "We are going to sneak down and take cover on the ground. When I give this signal"-he silently slid a strand of his chakra into the form of a lizard-"we are going to all charge and take our enemies by suprise. Of course, it's quite obvious that their fighting levels surpass ours' greatly, but we outnumber them as well. Keep in mind that the goal of this attack is not to defeat the enemies;it is to find out what they've done with Sasuke."
Shikamaru quickly but silently darted behind a bush on the ground, and Neji, Choji, Naruto, Kiba, and Sakura followed his lead and took cover near him. They remained as still as a stone during the fifteen seconds before Shikamaru gave his signal. As soon as the five squad members saw the black chakra lizard, they sprung into action with Shikamaru only about a second behind them. Naruto jumped up and charged through the air at the Sound ninja with grey hair and narrow eyes with four of his shadow clones behind him. They all pounded on their enemy from different directions.
Kiba flung himself towards the only girl Sound ninja with Akamaru at his side. The boy and his canine companion pummeled the witch to the ground.
Choiji and Sakura worked together to take the most heavyset man of the gang down. After Choiji knocked the ninja down with Human Boulder, Sakura pinned him down with her thrown kunai.
Shikamaru caught the tanned Sound Ninja with black spiky hair with Shadow Possesion Jutsu while Neji scanned the area with his Byakugan for any sign of Sasuke. It was then that he noticed the coffin. He could see an outline in it, but whether it was Sasuke's or not, he could not tell. Would the Sound Ninja really have gone to this much trouble just to kill the Leaf Village Genin?
The woman of the gang pummeled Kiba and Akamaru off of her and the heavyset ninja broke free of the kunai and fought past Sakura and Choiji. The grey-haired ninja fought off Naruto's Shadow Clones and Naruto himself. The woman then punched Shikamaru hard in the face which broke the spiky haired ninja free of Shadow Possession Jutsu.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" the woman spat. "Genin trying to save their commrad no doubt?"
Authoress's Note: Shikamaru is actually Chounin, Tayuya. You bitch! xD!
"Well, we don't have time for them to get in our way. We have got to bring Orochimaru his new vessel in time. I'll stay behind and keep this kiddos busy," the heavy set Sound Ninja informed his fellow teammates. He then trapped Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, Choiji, Neji, and Kiba in a circle made out of earth, or rather, sand.
Each member of the squad tried using their own jutsu to break though one of the walls, but all to no avail. Every time they made a hole in the wall, it filled back up before they could escape.
" These walls are made entirely out of powerful chakra," Neji announced. "That is why we can't break through it. Of course, that ninja outside is controlling it, so if we can figure out where he is positioned, we can probably break out by attacking the side of the wall that is opposite of his position, which is his weak point."
Shikamaru tricked the Sound Ninja into speaking, revealing his position on the wall. Choiji then attacked the side of the wall opposite of the ninja's position. The hole in the wall filled up rather slowly, so the whole squad mangaged to escape.
The enemy realized what had happened, so he stopped using his jutsu and blocked the Sasuke Retrival Squad's path.
"You may have escaped my trap, but you won't escape from me!" the heavyset ninja known as Jirobo growled.
It was then that Choiji decided, "Go on without me you guys, and catch up with Sasuke! I can hold this guy off!"
"Ok. Just be careful. This guy is tough!" Shikamaru was reluctant to leave his teammate and best friend behind, but it was for the sake of the mission. Sakura, Naruto, Neji, Kiba, and Shikamaru continued on their pursuit of the three remaining Sound Ninja.
"Well that ambush totally failed! All of that work and we still don't know where Sasuke is!" Naruto fumed.
"Actually we do," Neji said with a calm look on his face. "The Sound Ninja are carrying a coffin with them. There was a human figure in it, but my Byakugan couldn't make it out. My guess is that they are keeping Sasuke in there."
Panic shot through Sakura's entire body. "You don't think that they?!"--"I still think that they are going to too much trouble just to kill him. Something fishy is going on and the only way we are going to get to the bottom of it is to catch up to those ninja,"Shikamaru cut her off.
The squad continued following the Sound Ninja's scent trail with Akamaru and Kiba's help in silence. Once again, they reached the three ninja and were stopped.
"These Genin again? How did they manage to get past Jirobo? Hnph. It looks like there is one less than there was before though," the female ninja pondered.
"Well they won't be able to get past me," the dark-skined ninja declared, passing the coffin on to his grey-haired commrad. "You guys go on ahead."
Sticky material that closely resembled a spider web shot out of the ninja's hands, aimed at Shikamaru and Naruto. They were caught in the web. Using his Byakugan, Neji realized that the web was made entirely out of chakra, making an escape impossible without being able to see the chakra flow like he could. Helping Naruto and Shikamaru escape, Neji stayed behind to fight the Sound Ninja and let the others move on.
The squad reached the remainder of the Sound Ninja again. Kiba stayed behind to hold off the grey-haired ninja. And after catching up with the final ninja, Shikamaru took on the female sound ninja, telling Sakura and Naruto to go on and retrieve the coffin, which the grey-haired ninja left in a field not far away, being unable to pass it on to the woman.
The remainder of the retrieval squad, Naruto and Sakura, quickly made their way to the field where the coffin was. Both were very anxious to reach the other member of Squad 7.
Sakura couldn't restrain herself anymore. Breaking into a sprint, she darted towards the field.
Just be okay, Sasuke!
Her feet thundered as she ran.
Just be alive!
She had almost reached the coffin.
Just come back home!
Naruto had caught up to her, and they were only steps away from the coffin. They were just about to open it when they heard feet hitting the ground behind them and spun around to see another one of Orochimaru's minons running towards them holding a bone as a sword. He had silver hair in a ponytail and his presence gave off intimidating vibes.
"Go, Sakura! I'll hold him off! Take the coffin!" Naruto commanded.
Sakura snatched up the coffin and ran like lightning towards the opposite direction of the Leaf Village. She couldn't head back now for the rather large chance there were more Sound Ninja waiting for her squad to return so that they could take the coffin back. She couldn't take on a number of the ninja alone. So she just kept on running. When she was a good distance away from the field where Naruto and the ninja were, she stopped and opened the coffin.
Please, just---
It was empty. Sakura fell to her knees in despiration. Where was Sasuke now?
But there was still hope.
He could have escaped.
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About an hour earlier in Orochimaru's current hideout.
"GGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Orochimaru screeched in pain. His arms were burning like fire and he couldn't take the pain any longer. "The......others....getting Sasuke....have........failed. I'll have.........to get........a.........new...........vessel now. But..........I still...........want...........Sasuke..............He.........will be..............the next vessel.............."
"Would you like me to fetch him now, my Lord?" Kabuto offered.
"NO! I WANT YOU TO FETCH HIM NEXT GENERATION!" the snake demon exploded.
"Understood. I'll be on my way."
"Look..............for a.................coffin...............................He'll.........be in it.......................................Don't open it........................................If..........you............do.......................he could die....................It'll open.............when...............he's ready.............................for it.........to......................."
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Naruto's POV
What is this guy? Naruto thought. He can use his bones........as weapons?
"You don't stand a chance against me," his opponent sneered. "You might as well dig a whole in the ground and get in it. Save me some trouble."
"WHEN THIS IS OVER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE ONE IN THE GROUND, NOT ME!" Naruto bellowed with rage. "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The ninja quickly took out the shadow clones with his bone, or rather, sword.
This guy's too fast for me.......
Naruto saw the bone swinging toward him and he quickly sprung into defense when there was a flash of green and---
Hey, I've seen that jumpsuit before!
"Bushy Brows?!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Yes, it is I, Rock Lee, the Hidden Leaf Village's Handsom Devil!"
"What are you doing here?"
"Watch out, Naruto!" Rock Lee warned just in time for Naruto to counterattack his opponent.
"I am here to help bring Sasuke back," Rock Lee replied moments later. "Get going and help Sakura rescue Sasuke. I can take this guy."
"Okay, "Naruto decided, slowly jogging off. "But I'm warning you, this guy uses his bones as swords."
"I got it," Rock Lee acknowledged with a suprised look on his face.
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Sakura's POV
Sakura looked around for any sign of Sasuke. No luck. She saw a familar figure, one she'd hoped she'd never see again, only a few yards away. He hadn't spotted her; Kabuto hadn't.
He's probably looking for the coffin. What to do?If he sees the coffin's empty, or if it's too light when he picks it up, he'll know Sasuke's escaped. Then, he'll capture him again. I can't let that happen!
Sakura's next thought suprised even herself.
I should get in the coffin so that Sasuke will be safe.
Even though she could suffocate in that coffin, she didn't care as long as Sasuke would be okay. Even if it meant going into Orochimaru's hideout herself, she didn't care. Her determination drowned out her fear.
Sakura got into the coffin and closed the lid.
Not long after, she heard footsteps draw near and she felt herself be lifted up within the coffin by hands that she knew were Kabuto's. It was her time to stop being a hendrience. She was going to be the one to save her teammate from harm this time. Her only wish was that she could just see her Sasuke-kun again. But if not, at least he'd be okay.
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Naruto's POV
Naruto sprinted through the open land and into another forest, sides heaving. There was a figure in the distance--Kabuto!
"How did that jerk-!" Naruto hissed to himself when he realized that the grey-haired weasel was carrying the coffin. And what was more was that Naruto spotted a strand of pink hair poking out of the coffin. "Sakura!" his scream came out in more of a muted whisper.
He then heard running, and rotated his body in the direction of the sound. That familar navy blue shirt met his crystal blue eyes.
Naruto broke into a sprint towards that navy shirt, within it of course, was Sasuke Uchiha. He didn't have a choice;it was his mission to retrieve Sasuke and bring him back to Konoha. Even so, he shuddered knowing that dead or alive-he prayed alive-Sakura was being taken into Orochimaru's clutches, and he didn't have time to wonder why.
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CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!! OOOOHOOHOOO, I AM EVIL, AREN'T I?! I hope you guys liked it, and I'm going to try to get the next chapter up much faster. I once again apologize that this update took so long!! I'M SORRY!!!!! (I'm a bit melo-dramatic aren't I? xD!)
PLEASE REVIEW AND THE NEXT DEDICATION GOES TO THE 25TH REVIEWER!!!
Thanks for reading and reviewing! Ja ne!
-Ninja Fox of the Fire