Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.

Chapter Two

Never Was I Strong On My Own


Dark crimson seemed to flood the entire landscape. The trees were painted, the ground was soaked and the river was clouded with—

Blood.

The sun was beginning to set, casting the world into vibrant oranges and reds—the world itself appeared to be bleeding all around her. Shadows eerily danced along her vision, giving Sakura the false hope that someone had been spared from the gruesome massacre.

You're weak. You've always been too weak. How can you protect those you love? You can hardly protect yourself.

Sakura stood amongst the bloody scene, utterly alone and the weight of her inadequacies crushed her soul. Her hands shook violently as she ran them through her tresses, changing her pink hair to a dull and matted red. She surveyed her own body hesitantly; fearful of what she might see.

Blood. It was everywhere. On her face, arms, legs…

A whimper escaped her lips as she resisted the urge to sob uselessly beside the corpses in front of her.

"Sakura…" a voice whispered, echoing around her—a voice so achingly familiar that her heart shot to her throat. But, for whatever reason, she could not recall a name. It frustratingly tugged at the edges of her mind, begging Sakura to discover the answer before it was too late.

She began running. She ran from the images of bodies that littered the ground—those of her teammates, friends and teachers. Naruto, Sai, Kakashi, Ino, Neji, Tsunade and countless others, not a single one had been spared. Who held that kind of power to slaughter them all? Why did she not remember?

Abruptly, a shadow darted across her vision. Disappearing soundlessly, it took off into the trees, almost beckoning Sakura to follow. She complied and put as much speed into her steps as she could.

The shadow stopped and stood in front of a towering statue—it was evidently waiting for her. Oddly enough, Sakura could not make out the exact form of the looming sculpture. She instinctually understood that it was meant to serve as an imposing figure, due to its hulking mass. But, the details of the statue were hazy, they kept morphing from one creature to the next—it never took a definitive shape. The energy surrounding the statue caused the blood in Sakura's veins to freeze and her limbs to lock in place. Dread plagued her mind as she began to visibly tremble.

Unhurriedly rising from its crouch, the shadow turned and menacing onyx met jade.

"It was you then? What the fuck is the matter with you?" the pinkette screamed in defiance. Anger surged through her being, destroying the previous sense of fear that had kept her from moving. She was able to connect the voice she had heard to a face—it all made such painful sense.

"I won't allow you to kill anyone else. You die here. You die now." Her words contained the confidence she did not truly feel. If she fought this person, no matter the outcome, she would undoubtedly die. She would not walk away from the battle with her life.

Even if they are gone, I won't let them die in vain. I'll die knowing he goes with me.

Taking her stance, Sakura faced him with purpose. She had failed to protect them, but she would still fight.

Knowing the words to rile him, she sneered. "Look at what you've become. Are you powerful enough now? Did you find what you've desired? Or are you still chasing after a goal you can never obtain?"

His expression remained unnervingly blank, not an ounce of emotion crossed his features. Then, as if in slow motion, his lips twisted into a hideous smirk, his eyes grew mocking and arrogant.

"Poor, Sakura. Were you content with your power, your own abilities? It's pathetic really—because you still are weak. You could never reach what I've finally obtained."

"Shut the fuck up, Sasuke. Attack me then—kill me. I don't need to monologue about my prowess. Show me this power you're so proud of."

Sasuke chuckled and shifted his posture. "You shouldn't be too hasty. Only fools rush in blindly without gauging their enemy and I've never picked you for a fool."

Her mouth widened into a predator-like smile, baring her teeth. Taking a step closer, she gathered charka into her hands, preparing to sacrifice her life. "I know your tricks. I know the way you fight."

"Are you so certain?" he queried in a dangerous tone. He deliberately closed his eyelids and, a second later, they flashed open.

Terror gripped her heart, all bravado gone. The game had just changed significantly and not in her favor. No, no, no, no—

"What have you done?" the breath left her lungs, she felt like she was choking. Unbridled tears streamed down her cheeks. "You sick son of a bitch."

His eyes had revealed it all to her, he truly was—

Sakura registered another person inside her room, jarring her awake and out of the vicious nightmare her mind had concocted.

Body on autopilot, her fingers wrapped around the cold handle of a kunai hidden in the sheets and launched it at the intruder with blinding speed, not bothering to rise from her pillow. Instead of the expected grunt or hiss of pain, Sakura was met with the unsatisfying and grinding sound of metal burrowing into concrete.

"You are quite ill-tempered in the morning, Ugly."

"Kami, Sai. How many times do I have to tell you, don't wake me up like that." Sakura grumbled, entirely annoyed that her sleep had been disturbed.

Her internal clock estimated that she had about two hours before she had to be awake. "What do you want?" the pinkette rolled back over, throwing a pillow over her head in a weak attempt to ignore the dark-haired male.

Sai's expression changed, adopting a more serious look. "We have to go to the border today. Are you prepared if we run into…anyone?" he questioned vaguely, leaning over her prone form. His tone suggested he had been mulling over the question for hours, possibly days. Undeniably, Sai had chosen each word with care, a distinctive trait that Sakura was fully privy to. He was infamous for his brutally honest insults and nicknames, but even those were thought over.

In truth, Sai was unsure of what to expect from Sakura. She had yet to show any changes in her behavior or attitude. Her demeanor remained the same—like it was a typical mission, a task to successfully complete. However, that could not be farther from the truth.

Every night, without fail, Sai would sense her chakra fluctuate with the nightmares that afflicted her normally dreamless sleep. Consequentially, because of the amount of time they had spent together, he was more attuned to her than their other teammates and so there he was. He knew the source of her mental distress and was there to offer what little support or comfort he could.

Realizing his implication, Sakura pulled her body into a sitting position, rolling her shoulders back. The coverlet pooled around her waist and exposed the black mesh top she wore. "I doubt we'll see him, of all people. But, I'm aware of our orders if we do. I'm your Taichou after all." She stated arrogantly, flashing a playful smile.

"Sakura…" he chastised quietly.

She dropped the nonchalant act and ran a hand through her long hair, shoving it all to one side. Her jade orbs iced over and her voice came out harder than steel. "We will eliminate those deemed enemies to Konoha, Sai. There's nothing else to it. I know you're worried that I'll lapse back into an emotional mess—but, that girl isn't me anymore. You haven't seen her in years, don't feel the need to coddle or worry about me."

With a sigh, he pulled the blanket from her body and watched as Sakura's eyes flew wide open in shock.

"Damn it, it's too cold in here! Give it back." She demanded, shooting up from the bed and stalking over to the corner where the artist had retreated.

"You better gear up now so we can finish this mission sooner. We don't have all day, Ugly," he taunted, while deftly keeping the blanket out of her grasp. Her agitation increased with each passing second.

Finally, using her speed, Sakura ripped it from his hands and threw herself back on the mattress, throwing him a triumphant look. "I suggest you drop the nickname," she murmured silkily, a barely perceptible edge to her tone. The threat failed soundly though, due to her being wrapped in the coverlet, looking more like a bristling kitten than a fierce ANBU operative.

Sai's lips tilted up, anticipating her reaction to his next words. "Who said it was a nickname, Ugly? It could merely be an observation."

A kunai flew dangerously close to his head, lodging itself into the concrete wall—beside the one she had tossed previously. He had almost not had enough time to dodge.

"Would you like to repeat your observation?"

A shaky breath left him. "That won't be necessary, Taichou."

While Sai teased her quite often, he knew when to shut his mouth. Rarely did Sakura unleash her calm, yet deadly, anger on her comrades. When she did, however, it was frightening. The dark-haired artist did not feel too comfortable invoking her wrath so early in the morning.

Smirking, she rose from the bed and placed a hand on her hip. "That's what I thought. Now," she lifted a hand, gesturing towards the door, "get out. I'll be ready in five minutes."

Watching him go, Sakura set to changing into the traditional hunter-nin attire. It was similar to the ANBU uniform; just with a few modifications made to carry and conceal more weapons. The clothing was entirely black, with a long-sleeved, high-necked shirt, a breast plate, arm and shin guards, long gloves that reached to the elbows and standard shinobi pants that tucked into her sandals.

She set about wrapping her calves and securing shuriken in the bandages. She fastened her katana across her back after examining the blade and packed several other kunai, shuriken and senbon in a weapons pouch. A few exploding tags would not hurt, either.

Sakura put the navy blue cloak over her shoulders and lifted the hood, carefully placing her waist length braid inside so it would not be a hindrance.

"Why don't you cut your hair, Sakura? It'll continue to get in your way as you train. Long hair is a luxury that kunoichi usually can't afford." Her blonde teacher asked as the pink-haired girl moved through advanced katas.

Skeptically, a fifteen-year-old Sakura straightened out of her controlled pose and raised an eyebrow at the older woman. "What about you, Tsunade-shishou? Yours is only a little bit shorter than mine. I'll cut mine if you do too," she challenged light-heartedly.

Tsunade reeled back, appalled. "I can indulge because I'm stuck in that damn office all day! First Shizune takes my sake and now you want my hair? I'm the Hokage! I'll do as I damn well please!" She grabbed one ponytail and held it affectionately, glaring at Sakura.

"Hai, hai, shishou. You don't have to cut your hair. And I won't be cutting mine either."

"Hmph, fine. Don't listen to your wise Hokage."

Pausing, Sakura gazed at the sky, as if lost in a different world, her eyes taking on a far-away look. "Someone told me once that long hair suited me. I guess I've grown it out since then."

Sakura shook her head; she needed to remain focused on the present.

The Mizukage had delivered the hunter-nin uniform to Sakura the night before, disclosing her unease with the operation. They had conversed in full detail of what was expected of the mission. Knowing how delicate this operation needed to be, the pinkette could not allow herself to become inattentive in anyway. Dealing with Otogakure and its shinobi always required the utmost planning and quick thinking. Orochimaru was a cunning and strategizing individual, Sakura needed to stay alert and on guard.

So not to disturb the rest of her team, Sakura performed a teleportation jutsu and met Sai on the roof of the tower. He wordlessly handed her the porcelain mask and they took off towards the border, hoping that everything would run smoothly.


Hatake Kakashi was furious. What had the Hokage been thinking? How could she have sent their team to Mist? This was too personal, it hit too close to home. Tsunade had to be aware of the repercussions—how would this affect Sakura?

Truthfully, Kakashi hardly interacted with the sole female member of Team Seven. After Naruto left with Jiraiya, Sakura trained mainly with the Godaime. She distanced herself from the Copy-nin and he allowed her the space she obviously wanted. Still, he watched from afar—checking in on her frequently without her knowledge. Loyalty and obligation denied Kakashi the option of ignoring the pinkette altogether—she was still a part of his team and therefore, under his protection—even if he had never actually been considered a sensei to her.

Nevertheless, he knew that somewhere along the way, after all these years, Sakura had caught up to him. She led her own squad of ANBU and was the epitome of a powerful kunoichi. She was a true shinobi, exactly what she had aspired to be.

The silver-haired jōnin stepped down from the window sill, his most beloved Icha Icha Paradise in hand. Outwardly, he looked calm and stoic as ever, but his spiked chakra and aura were giveaways to the tension underneath, the storm that raged under his skin.

"What do you want, Hatake?" she called from her desk, not glancing in his direction.

"Well, it looks like the last member of my genin team has tragically gone missing. I was inquiring of her whereabouts. You know—concerned sensei and all." He waved his hand noncommittally, seemingly unaffected.

Tsunade sighed, her frustration mounting. "I definitely do not need this right now. She's a grown woman, Kakashi. I trained her—she is capable of taking care of herself as well as her comrades. Besides, she hasn't been your student for years. Your doubts are pointless and uncalled for, have some faith."

"You know who has been seen in that area recently, correct?" he dropped the aloofness, distinctly hardening his voice.

Instantly, the room seemed to drop in temperature. "I know. And like I said, I am confident in my own student. You should be too. Now, get out of my office." Rage colored her tone, her body taut with deadly intent. Kakashi felt as if he was nearly suffocating.

"Would you like me to force you out? Leave, before I remove something vital."

Not needing a third warning, Kakashi vanished in a puff of smoke.

Please be careful, Sakura. Come home safe.


After an hour of traveling through the dense forest, Sakura unexpectedly halted all movement and crouched low on a branch.

"What is it?" Sai landed to her right, picking up on her unease. The opaque fog made it difficult to see much of anything. Reaching out with his chakra, he located nothing nearby that would cause for alarm. On the other hand, he knew that his captain possessed keen sensing abilities and perhaps, had picked up on something he had not detected.

Sakura did not budge; her entire body was tensed like a spring, ready to lash out. Sai thought that she either did not hear him or was purposely disregarding the question. He figured it was the latter. Moments later she replied, "It's nothing. Let's continue."

The stiffness in her body did not go unnoticed by him as she raced ahead. Sai kept his eyes rooted to her back, recognizing her outright lie.

Sakura was the closest thing Sai had to family, a sister—he had a bond. A term he never thought would be used in conjunction with himself. It still felt like a new, alien concept to him, the fact that he had someone he wished to protect. Growing up in Root, and under Danzo's guiding hand, Sai had been taught that emotional attachments were detrimental, meager little things that could be broken. Ultimately, they made a person weak and vulnerable.

His way of life altered drastically after Sakura was brought into Sai's world.

They were introduced a little over three years ago and he had not known what to make of the strange, pink-haired female. She was an enigma to him, an individual to observe and then evaluate. He had not realized—not seen—how much the easily-riled girl had impacted him until much later.

Since their first encounter, Sai never passed up an opportunity to goad and infuriate her. Seeing Sakura's reactions captivated him. Emotions were still part of the unknown; he had been taught to not dwell on such trivial things as feelings. He was made to believe that emotions were useless to shinobi—he served merely as a tool for his village, nothing more.

However, as Sai influenced and trained Sakura how to conceal and limit emotion, she influenced him in kind. For the first time in his eighteen years, he understood that bonds and expressing one's self were healthy; they were a part of being human. He was human, not an inanimate object.

Sakura is confusing, though, Sai mused. Before, she had been embarrassingly predictable, her face and thoughts were decipherable no matter the occasion. Promptly taking to his instructions though, she was able master her own calm, stoic mask flawlessly.

When deemed necessary, Sakura would fall into ANBU Captain-mode. That detached side of the pinkette made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He never wanted to be on the receiving end of her jutsu if she was serious or looking for a kill. Observing her now, it was clear that whatever she had sensed put her on edge, which did not sit well with him at all.

Clamping down on his wandering thoughts, Sai returned his attention back to the mission. He would need his wits about him.


"Neji, did they leave for the border already?"

Tenten stood outside Neji's door, concern etched on her features. "It would seem so," he responded. "I imagine they'll be returning later this afternoon."

"What if they need back up—what if we don't get there in time? If there's a base close by, who knows how many enemy ninja could ambush them? I know their teamwork is top notch, but they can't take a whole army. What if Orochimaru…?"

Neji exhaled, slightly annoyed with her endless rant. He needed to say the words that would reassure her. Unfortunately, he was most definitely not known for his lengthy conversations or attempts at comforting others.

"Tenten, we'll know if they need us. Sakura left one of her summons with the Mizukage. Regardless, I doubt Orochimaru would be there. He needs to be closer to Otogakure, he can't go too far since he is the Kage. Despite his disgusting nature, he knows he can't be away from his precious science experiments for too long."

She staggered back, astonished at his scathing tone. She never truly realized the blatant hatred and revulsion Neji harbored for Orochimaru. While she wished for the snake Sannin's demise like any villager in Konoha, she knew her loathing was not as deep or intense as Neji's or Sakura's.

"I know you're right, but I still have this feeling. Like there's a missing piece we haven't put together with everything else."

Ushering her inside, Neji closed the door and checked to confirm that no one was in close proximity to his room to overhear their discussion.

"I know what you mean, Tenten. With all the information we have, it all points to one conclusion. There's no base on Kiri, but one within the Land of Water. That still doesn't give us a reason why, though. It's a long journey from Sound, it's inconvenient. So why?"

Tenten anxiously paced the room, twirling a shuriken absentmindedly. "Orochimaru has established several hideouts throughout each of the great shinobi nations and the smaller countries, but most of the population of the Land of Water is in Kirigakure. Would they have one set up on an island right off the coast?"

A similar theory had been proposed by the Mizukage and most had readily agreed with the possibility. Capturing an island for resources was something Orochimaru would do—they were mostly isolated and not overly populated with any kind of life.

An ideal spot for his experimentation, Neji thought bitterly.

What else was there? It could not be that straightforward or simple. Materials could be found much closer, why travel the distance? Was there a certain aspect that drew the attention from Oto? Was Orochimaru ensuring that his ninjas' actions were noticeable?

Neji's mind was going in circles. For someone who claimed to not miss a thing with his kekkei genkai, the Hyūga genius knew he had not fully grasped the situation.

"No matter how much we consider the options, we won't see anything new for now. Let's wait for Sakura and Sai. We need to get to our own patrols."

Tenten faced him; her fingers gripped the shuriken until her knuckles went white. "I guess I can't stop worrying. Taichou is strong, but Orochimaru has always been a sore subject for her."

"He is for most of Konoha, Tenten."

There was so much more to it than that and yet, Neji refused to acknowledge it out loud.


They inspected their surroundings thoroughly; looking for indication that pointed to the existence of a hideout in Kirigakure.

The search went on for hours. It was now mid-day and most of the mist had evaporated, giving the duo more visibility and possibly catching what might have been missed. However, there seemed to be nothing to find.

Completely exasperated, Sakura was prepared to give an order to return when her senses picked up a chakra signature. Sai fell into step next her, having felt the newcomer as well.

With a few hand gestures in code, something only those who were properly trained in ANBU would be able to comprehend, they separated and hid amongst the trees. They were not far from the sea, making the vicinity ideal for an ambush.

Estimating their opponent to be about a jōnin level, Sakura was unconcerned for the impending battle. She would be able to incapacitate him without using much of her chakra.

Both ninja silenced their breathing and blended into the shadows, ears listening intently for their paper bombs to be detonated.

The explosions followed shortly.

Now!

Their target tried desperately to locate a means of escape after he identified the partially concealed chakra levels of the disguised Konoha-nin. He knew he was outmatched in the most extreme sense of the word.

"Damn!" the man whirled, flashing his headband. It displayed his loyalty to Otogakure.

Sakura relaxed her combative stance and brandished a kunai from her thigh holster. "You are trespassing on Kirigakure's lands. You either need to present a mission scroll or surrender to us. Failure to comply will result in death." Her voice was ominous and unforgiving.

Sound doesn't have a treaty with Kiri. He won't have a scroll allowing him to cross their borders. The best option is to attack, but he is sorely out of his league. What will you do next? Her inner voice mused as Sakura waited for her opponent to make the first move.

The man sneered. "Like hell I'll surrender," he shouted, rapidly weaving hand signs.

"You will die, then."

He did not see her move, not even a flicker of color to track. He was then abruptly flying through the air, pain radiating from his torso. A scream of agony ripped through him as he landed firmly into tree, blood pouring out of his mouth from the hit he had taken to his sternum.

"You bastard…I'll kill you…" he managed to get out, clutching at the collar of his shirt.

Sakura stood in front of the man, killing intent coming off of her in waves. Reaching down, she gripped his neck and dragged him up to her height.

"It's in your best interest to be cooperative. Do you have any comrades nearby? Did you come here with a team?"

"Eat shit," he snarled at her.

An invisible pressure threw Sakura back several meters—she was able to right herself in midair and land on her feet. She had anticipated his attack and manipulated her chakra to take the worst of the crushing force, leaving her just barely winded.

The Sound shinobi had managed to wrench himself from her grasp before his attack, his breathing labored at the effort it took to stand. Wiping blood from his chin, he grinned crazily. "Sound vibrations…hurt like a bitch, don't they?"

This is barely passable for pain, you ass. Wait until I get my hands on you and you'll truly feel pain. She mentally rolled her eyes at how self-assured the man was.

Pivoting on her heel, Sakura switched directions and began running north, making her way to the sea. Just as expected, he was right on her tail.

Sakura had to keep things brief, she could not display too many of her trademark abilities. She settled for her general water techniques, typical for Kirigakure ninja, as their Mizukage had recommended her to do. She formed her own seals and laid a genjutsu right on the sands, giving an illusion of him defeating her.

"Kirigakure no Jutsu," she whispered and expelled mist from her mouth. It quickly enveloped the area, successfully keeping Sakura hidden and obscuring the Sound-nin's vision as he broke from the genjutsu.

The mist covered her well enough as she approached from behind, cloaking her presence seamlessly. Her hand glowed with medical chakra, sending an electrical pulse through his system. He collapsed instantly, unconscious and completely at her mercy.

"Were you able to find any others?"

Sai came into view as the jutsu dissipated. "None, Taichou," he reported.

Gesturing to the body, she said, "Get him. I'm going to let the Mizukage know we're on our way."

He did not argue and simply threw the man over his shoulder.


The dark bird materialized onto the Mizukage's desk, his wings flapping anxiously, but with purpose. He unblinkingly stared her down; conveying the message his mistress had sent him to represent—a signal of a victorious operation.

Mei could not help the grin that spread across her face. They had one of the bastards in custody. At last, they were getting somewhere.

"Ao, get the room set for them. Make sure it's prepared with the essentials as well as what Sakura personally requested."

He stepped out of the shadows and bowed low. As a bodyguard of his Kage, Ao was never too far from her unless it was absolutely necessary. "Of course, Mizukage-sama. Did they say who or how many were captured?"

"No, although Sakura assured me she would bring back one and kill whoever was left. I'll go by her word. Get going!"

Mei went back to stroking the beautiful bird, mulling over the best course of action to take. She needed to send a hawk back to Tsunade, informing her of the events so far. Maybe the Hokage could give her some new insight on how to proceed. Better yet, the auburn-haired woman considered off-handedly, the beloved past apprentice of the Godaime could likely offer similar counsel.

Mei reached for a blank scroll.


Sai lead the journey home while Sakura guarded his back since he was occupied with the dead weight of the man he carried.

"Taichou…why did you use that jutsu?" Sai's voice reached her ears, hushed, yet genuinely curious.

She could have used a quicker and more effective jutsu or method of assault. Frankly, Sai did not know why they had made their presence known. They usually operated on stealth and took down unsuspecting targets.

"Sakura-san, from my understanding, you are proficient in water attacks, correct?"

"Hai. I have been trained in that element due to my affinity for water, Mizukage-sama." Sakura confirmed, uncertain of where the conversation was going.

The Mizukage nodded with an amused look in her green eyes. "Then, if you do come into contact with Sound shinobi, I believe it would be less suspicious if you fought them. We do not want our enemies knowing how troubled we are of their whereabouts, especially since we have assistance from another village."

"I agree. My partner and I have already decided it would be more beneficial for me to engage alone while he surveyed from a safe distance. If successful, we'll be bringing back one hostage for questioning."

"An interrogation room will be waiting for you."

At that moment, her hood flapped in the wind and came close to exposing her eye-catching mane. She reached her hand up and better secured the material over her hair.

Sakura, not wanting to disclose too much in such a public area, spoke cautiously. "Shinobi can't show their cards all at once."

As he processed her answer, Sai failed to notice their audience—who had been observing since Sakura first picked up on their chakra hours before.

The unknown entity immediately retreated at her words.

How interesting, little Sakura-chan.


A/N: Happy belated Fourth of July to everyone in the USA! And to everyone who does not live in the USA, I hope the Fourth day in July was magnificent. I hope you enjoyed chapter two of Desiderium, I had so much fun writing it. Please tell me your thoughts with a review and follow/favorite so you can get notified when I update! I generally add a chapter once a week and I plan to stick to that schedule, for now anyway.

A big thank you to everyone who follow/favorited this story! It truly means a lot to me that people like reading my story!

-Shiromikki