The Curse
Chapter Four: Shadows
The Border Village had been evacuated weeks ago. Judging by the lack of maintenance in the streets and surrounding buildings, Sakura deduced that it was a very abrupt decision. Going into the abandoned houses and looking through the deserted shops, Sakura noticed that many valuable items had been left behind without a care. There were also no signs of an attack since there were no clear indications of battle, blood, or corpses.
Yet, what would make an entire Village up and leave without the thought of packing?
Were they driven off? Forced away? Ordered?
With a frown, Sakura continued through the Medical Clinic – which she had luckily found at the center of the Village – stepping over upturned shelves and desks, mindful of the shards of glass from broken medicinal bottles on the floor. The ravaged condition of the room caused Sakura's skepticism to return, fingering her kunai knife with acute awareness, green eyes scanning over the chaos, wondering what had happened and if it had any direct connection to the Village's evacuation.
"Hello?" Sakura called out, her voice echoing in the empty rooms as she jumped over a fallen chair, "Is anyone here?"
Again, silence greeted her, causing Sakura to huff with irritation, absently blowing a strand of pink hair from her face.
Entering another room, Sakura flicked on the light switch, breathing a sigh of relief when the lights turned on, viridian eyes brightening when she caught sight of a very important looking Office at the end of the small hallway. Important because it was at the end of the Hallway and had the words 'Files' just below the window.
"Alright," Sakura breathed as she walked forward, reaching the door without problem, fingers curling around the cool handle, and pulled…
…Only to find it locked.
Sakura sighed, blowing more pink hair out of her face while the lights above her began to flicker. With an annoyed frown, Sakura glared at the iridescent bulbs balefully before pulling the door again, using her chakra-enhanced fists to pry the entryway open. The metal whined against the pressure before it gave in, allowing the door to swing freely and Sakura to smile in triumph as she stepped inside the room, turning on another light.
It was a small room, the walls acting as shelves with numerous amounts of Scrolls and Documents, a lone table in the middle of the area, most likely used for studiers or set-aside papers. Immediately, Sakura noticed the scattered papers and Scrolls around the table, some even in the corner of the room, as if thrown there because it was of no use. The kunoichi took a curious step forward, still checking her surroundings, before she stood just a foot away from the desk.
Her own picture stared right at her.
Frowning, Sakura took up the image, recognizing it as the formal picture she had taken after passing the Jounin Exams. Looking back at the table, where she removed the photo, Sakura found her file, clearly flipped through with her information and mission accomplishments. Heart-rate speeding up, Sakura began to search the other scattered papers, jade eyes widening when she found the files of Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Hyuuga Hinata, and Hyuuga Neji, also thoroughly read through.
Leaf Ninja. Why would these files be opened and perused? Who did it?
Continuing her search through the scattered items, Sakura tensed when she came upon a bump among the papers. Removing the obstacles Sakura was surprised to find a wooden handle. Under it were more Scrolls, the coarse parchment somewhat familiar, with inky scrawled writing, some words crossed out in agitation.
'We ask for the assistance of a number of your skilled Shinobi–"
'Aid is asked in the form of Nara– Yamanaka– Hyuuga– Haruno–"
'Medical Attention is asked of from Hidden Leaf–'
'Hokage-sama, we ask that you send your best Medic–'
'Help is needed in the form of Supplies and Healers–'
'Please inform Haruno Sakura that Rain–'
Sakura narrowed her green eyes on the words that were glaring at her, recognizing the style of writing. Left hand shot out to grab her Missions Scroll from her belt, unrolling it in haste before putting the official-looking document beside the mess-ups.
The writing style matched.
With a frown, Sakura allowed her right hand to glide towards the wooden handle, picking the object up and carefully turning it over, its flattened side staring up at her.
It was a stamp. An official stamp of the Border Village and the red ink still on the molding corresponded perfectly with the one on her Mission Scroll.
"A trap?!" Sakura whispered fiercely, turning her head quickly to the open door, only to find it, and the hallway beyond, empty.
No. If it were a trap, it should have already been sprung and she couldn't feel any other chakras within the vicinity. But who would want her to come? Why her specifically? And what about Shikamaru, Ino, Hinata, and Neji? Were they in danger? Were they the targets?
Or perhaps they called for her help but they had no way of meeting her. Perhaps the person who asked for her had to evacuate with the Village.
"I should find the Villagers who left…" Sakura murmured as she released the stamp and tucked in her Mission Scroll again, "They could be in a Village not far from here," She sighed, scanning the room one last time before leaving, "I'll look at their Administrations Building first."
Sakura hastily made her way to the exit, passed the hallway with the flickering lights and the lobby area where the chaos remained. She was just about to leave the building into the darkness of night when something by the secretarial counter caught her attention. With a questioning frown, Sakura cautiously moved past the desk, emerald eyes following the shadowed dirt trail into another room, disappearing behind a closed door with the numbers 102 glinting in the dim light. More curious than ever, Sakura knelt down to look at the trail more closely, her gloved finger touching the thick substance before bringing it to her nose.
Jade eyes snapped open. Blood!
Instantly, Sakura was on her feet, Medical Instincts kicking in as she pulled the door open, viridian eyes widening even more with stunned shock, mouth dropping open in disbelief. The room was a simple patient's room, complete with a sink, bed, and a lone window where the moon's light entered through. Yet even with the moon's dull glow as her illumination, Sakura could clearly make out the blood covering almost every inch of the room. There were gruesome handprints, deep crimson stains on the floor and covering the bed sheets, the trail from before leading to and through the open window, gossamer drapes blowing lightly in the evening breeze.
Was someone out there, in the Village? Mortally wounded? Did he or she send the call for help? No, she probably would have seen blood in the 'Files' Room. Was a killer on the loose?
"Kami…" Sakura breathed as she turned around and left the room with rapid speed, her hands trembling as she pushed the double doors of the Clinic open and leaving her to take in misty air.
The wise thing to do would have been to examine the room, and as a Medic it would have been all too easy for her. She could have obtained valuable – useful – clues from the scene. But something didn't sit well with Sakura. She didn't want to stay in that room not only because of the horrific sight but also because her heart couldn't take it.
Was she afraid?
"Get a grip, Sakura," The Medic berated herself, emerald eyes instantly taking in her dark, hazy surroundings, hands already removing a small lantern from her bag, "Having Sasuke-kun and his Fire Jutsus around would prove very useful right about now…"
Once her lantern had been lit, Sakura took in her environment, noticing that the night did nothing to help her vision – in fact it made it worse – before recalling from memory what the Village's set-up was like. While the Clinic was in the center of the Village so was the Administrations Building, and if Sakura remembered correctly, the Administrations Building was right across the Square, directly opposite of the Clinic.
With a deep breath, Sakura walked forward, green eyes narrowed with determination, adjusting to the murky fog, but to no avail her vision could only go about five feet ahead of her. Slowly she walked, one hand holding up her trusty lantern while the other readily gripped her kunai knife.
And then she saw something.
There was a shadow, a figure in the distance, still obscured from the mist but something was there. Not knowing whether it was friend or foe, Sakura slowed her steps, her kunai knife taking the front, the hand with her lantern moving back. Step by step she edged closer, form ready to spring into action at the slightest of threatening movement.
Closer and closer, the figure began to take a definite shape.
"Hello?" Sakura called warily.
Another step. The mist began to slightly clear as she moved closer.
She found a stone fountain figurine.
Exhaling with amounting aggravation, Sakura allowed her kunai hand to drop and her lantern hand to rise, examining the stone form with contempt, a deep frown on her features, pink brows furrowed in frustration. Huffing, Sakura passed the fountain, intent on finally making it to the Administrations Building, her feet stomping slightly, physically displaying her bad mood.
"There goes my simple Mission," Sakura grumbled under breath as she finally reached the Administrations Building, yanking the door open harder than she intended.
As opposed to the Clinic, the Administrations Building was organized and hardly untouched, its objects remaining the way they had since their owners left. Flicking the light switch on and creeping carefully through the empty hallways, Sakura found the Administrations Records Room and began searching for any recent documents. Fortunately for her, the most recent documents were scattered messily atop the desktop.
'Negotiations with Bird Country Fulfilled.'
'Bridge over Rain Valley Completed…Trade with Bird Country will commence immediately…'
'Disappearances Continue in Rain Country Border Village…Disappearances in Bird Country.'
'Murders…No Bodies Found…Blood Found…Signs of Struggle/Battle Found…'
'Call for Aid from Bird Country and Earth Country.'
'Evacuation of Rain Country Border Village will commence by order of Rain Country Leader.'
'Disappearance Count: 36 Shinobi and Civilian (Not Including Bird and Earth Countries)'
Viridian orbs widened with surprise as she continued to read through the Village's Records. It seemed evacuation had happened when disappearances started occurring in the Border Village, specifically after a Bridge had been built over the Valley to connect Rain and Bird Countries. But what caused the disappearances? Did they never find the source of it? Did they ever solve the mystery?
Sakura looked around the quiet – empty – Records Room…Apparently not.
But why was nothing done? Perhaps the Rain Leader was too busy to really see to the problem? Admittedly he was occupied with the aftermath events of the past War. But was evacuation the only answer?
Flipping through the records again Sakura stopped at a loose, crinkled paper. Pulling the parchment out more, Sakura frowned with concern when she found dried blood in the form of finger prints and frantically scrawled writing.
'Room 102…Patient Satsuma Yoshiro found at Rain Valley Bridge. Comatose for one week…Woke up with symptoms of Mental Instability, talking incoherently, blood-shot eyes, high-fever, and would continuously be found with self-inflicted wounds…Highly unstable and dangerous…Not safe to travel.'
Sakura blinked. Mental Instability? Wasn't that why she was called? Was Satsuma Yoshiro calling for her?And if unfit for travel, was he intentionally left behind? Sakura frowned, folding the paper and placing it in her pouch for further observation and use, just in case she did find Yoshiro. Perhaps he had escaped through the Clinic's Window and was wandering through the Village.
"How can I find him in this mist though," Sakura sighed as she put the folders back on the table, "This would be a lot easier if I had some help."
'…Ha…Ha…Ha…Ha…Ha…'
Sakura stiffened, her hands, resting on the table, curled into fists as she listened to the faint sound. With tense shoulders, the Medic focused her keen hearing, trying to decipher the owner, the origin, and the words. It sounded like a little girl, but it echoed, as if there were more children chanting with her. And it seemed like laughter, but something didn't seem right about it, it was a broken laughter, almost like a mantra of a repeated word rather than a smooth laugh of happiness or joy.
It seemed rather terrifying actually.
'…Ha…Ha…Ha…Ha…'
Expression melting into determination, Sakura pulled out a couple kunai knives, positioning them between her fingers, realizing that if there was anyone out there, especially defenseless children accompanied with rumors of disappearances, then it was best that she went out and found them. However, she couldn't fathom why children would be left behind.
'…Come and play with me…'
Viridian eyes narrowed as Sakura moved through the Administrations Building with silent speed towards the exit, chakra spreading to find any forms of life, but finding none. The voices were getting louder the more she moved, the kunoichi having to stop several times to try and locate where they were coming from, because it almost sounded like several ricochets than a single sound coming from an actual origination point.
'…Ha…Ha…Ha…'
Finally, Sakura reached the Administration Building exit, pushing the door open with a grunt and entering once more into the foggy air, the door shutting loudly behind her.
The voices had stopped.
"What is going on?" The pink-haired Kunoichi muttered in bewilderment, moving forward towards the stone fountain and seeing its silhouette take form through the thick mist. However, movement near the fountain stopped the Medical Jounin in her tracks and her armed hand immediately moved into the defensive.
Footsteps resonated throughout the Square and a tiny figure ran away from the stone stature, its darkened form disappearing through the mist, causing Sakura's heart to leap in her chest with surprise before she took off after it with chakra-enhanced speed, expression tight with resolve. She had to catch the strange figure and get some answers, and judging from its small build, the figure was only a child.
"Wait!" Sakura called out as she moved hurriedly through the streets, absently wondering how a child could outrun her Ninja speed, "Come back!!"
'Come play with me…'
"Where are you!?" Sakura shouted, narrowing her eyes against the cool mist and cursing the darkness night had brought, "I'm here to help you!"
'…Ha…Ha…Ha…Ha…'
Footsteps sounded behind the kunoichi and Sakura immediately whirled around, pink hair flying with her sharp movements, jade eyes catching nothing as the footsteps faded away. Irritated, Sakura followed the muffled noises, winding her through the many streets of the Border Village and annoyingly getting her lost in the thick fog.
'Come play with me……Come…'
The little girl's voice was growing fainter and it was becoming increasingly harder for Sakura to make out where it was coming from. If the child would just stop running around and leading her in circles!
"Where are you?!" Sakura tried again, yelling out into the darkness.
A very masculine, pained groan answered her.
Whirling towards the source, Sakura crouched down, half-expecting to be attacked, while another part of her brain quickly registered that the voice she had just heard was hardly a child's. Viridian orbs narrowed, looking passed the dense fog as best as she could, her trained sight registering a dark figure in the distance, larger in comparison to the one she had seen in the Village Square.
"Hello?" The Medic called out hesitantly, still wary that this new figure could be an enemy Shinobi.
Her only answer was another agonized groan, one that echoed in the silence, prompting Sakura to immediately spread her chakra and determine the figure's intentions, whether it was strengthened for battle or weakened.
It seemed to be the latter. However, not only was it weakened, the form's chakra wasn't developed either.
Which meant a Civilian!
Expression firm, Sakura quickly took off, chakra surging towards her feet to boost her speed as her jade eyes frantically scanned her surroundings, still alert that this could be a trap. As she advanced closer towards the hunched figure, Sakura heard her feet pound against the floor, the sound different from that of dirt or cobblestone ground. She was running on wood.
"…The Bridge," Sakura realized as she briefly looked to her side, acknowledging the steel railings and the deep Valley beyond.
Another agonized moan reached her ears and Sakura grunted as she ran the last few meters towards the fallen figure, her peripherals catching the growing trail of blood, smudged against the wooden overpass she ran on. Apparently there wasn't much blood when she first began running the wooden passage, but the man seemed to have fallen and was currently dragging himself along towards her, the blood tracks becoming more prominent the more she approached him.
"Don't move!" Sakura instructed as she finally reached him, placing down her lantern and kneeling down, already beginning to channel healing chakra into her hands, "I'm here to help you!"
The Medic made quick work of turning him over – since he was lying on his stomach – absently confused to see that his head was facing eastward, the way she had just come from. If he was going towards her, why was the blood showing otherwise? Pushing the thought aside, Sakura quickly analyzed the man's condition, noting the multiple lacerations over his stomach and arms, the dark shadows under his bloodshot eyes, the paleness of his skin, and the amount of blood that was emerging from his wounds.
"What happened to you…?" Sakura breathed as she instantly put her green-chakra-covered hands over his abdomen, unaffected by the blood that was escaping the man's mouth and landing on her green, Jounin-Flak Jacket.
The man coughed, more crimson liquid escaping his mouth as Sakura quickly tried to close up his wounds, only to be tasked with even more, hidden injuries on his legs and head.
"Don't talk," Sakura soothed, locking concentrated viridian orbs onto panicked brown, "Save your strength……You have so many broken bones…Punctured lungs, deep gouges…Kami, how did you get out here with all of these wounds? Why?"
Sakura knew they were rhetorical questions, especially when she had instructed the man to refrain from speaking. But that didn't stop the Medical Jounin from thinking about it. She couldn't see how a man with his injuries would be able to get as far as he did, let alone move. His clothes were soaked with blood and she could already feel through her chakra analysis that something was terribly wrong with his internal organs. His heart was beating too fast for comfort too.
"You need to calm down," Sakura whispered as she checked his side, mentally wondering how she was going to move the man to one of the abandoned houses for better treatment, specifically away from the cold night had brought, "I'm here to help you."
The man gurgled another response but failed again, succeeding in allowing more crimson liquid to dribble down his chest, leaving Sakura to hurriedly wipe away the blood and move him into a sitting position, that way he wouldn't choke on the thick substance. Cursing, Sakura quickly pulled off her Jounin Vest and pushed her Medical Bag behind him, allowing the male to use the two objects as a pillow to help prop him up, leaving her hands free to continue healing.
"Are you aware of where you are?" Sakura asked as she briefly met her emerald eyes with his deep brown, seeing the fatigue starting to catch up with him and his body; but she couldn't have him falling unconscious on her, "Keep your eyes on me, and stay awake. Do you know where you are? Nod your head."
His half-lidded auburn eyes trained on her sluggishly before her nodded his head, the gesture jerky. Sakura offered a small half-smile in assurance as she began seeing to his lungs, sweat already shining on her forehead from the amount of chakra she was using to tend to all the man's injuries.
"I'm Sakura," She greeted, hoping to calm the man down and slow his still-rapidly beating heart, "…Tell me, are you Satsuma Yoshiro? Just nod."
The man's eyes narrowed slightly, almost as if assessing her before they slid shut in weariness and he nodded again, the movement a little more firm.
"…They're coming for me…" Sakura's head snapped up as she stared at Yoshiro, his voice raspy, still thick with blood, but she heard his words clearly.
"Who?"
Yoshiro shook his head, his eyes rolling around causing Sakura's pink brows to furrow with concern, "…They're coming for me…They're coming……They're coming…"
Sakura frowned. Remembering the small, blood-stained piece of paper in her pouch – the one she had found in the Administrations Records Room – Sakura recalled that Satsuma Yoshiro had mental instability. Was this what the paper meant? His wounds? Did he self-inflict them? Was Yoshiro delusional? If so, then she would have to be even more careful with handling them.
"…No one's here, Yoshiro-san," Sakura assured as she returned to her healing, "I'm here, just me, and I'm going to help you."
The man shook his head in protest, more blood spilling from his mouth causing Sakura to surge more healing chakra into his internal systems, "…No! Coming. They're coming for me……There's another…A-And they're coming!"
Sakura frowned as she surged blue chakra into one of her hands, using her enhanced strength to push Yoshiro's struggling form back down, wanting him to cease his resistance so she could efficiently perform her healing Jutsu.
"You need to stay still Yoshiro-san…You're injuries shouldn't be jarred."
Jade eyes frantically searched around for other injuries, one hand hovered over Yoshiro's abdomen while the other kept his weakly floundering form in place. However, her jade eyes drifted, looking towards his feet to see even more blood, smudged from his movement, leading towards the Bird Country Forest side of the Bridge, the opposite of where she came from. Looking back to Yoshiro critically, she couldn't help but wonder, where – which way – did he come from?
A firm grip took her arm, Sakura surprised by the brute strength, her gaze connecting with Yoshiro's as he stared at her intently, his brown eyes wild, "…They'll be coming…For me…A-And…They'll be coming for you too…"
His quiet, raspy tone and the words he spoke caused an involuntary shiver to rush up her spine, watching with bewilderment as Yoshiro's eyes slid passed her, focusing on something else.
"They'll take us both," He whispered, eyes widening, leaving Sakura to whip her head around to follow his stare, suspecting an enemy attack, "…They're here…"
She could feel Yoshiro tense under her hand, but her eyes were locked on the end of the Bridge, the mist parting conveniently, allowing her to see farther, as well as the shadowed figure standing silently at the end of it. The Medic froze, because even though she couldn't see a face, that figure was, without a doubt, staring at them.
"…They're here…" Yoshiro mumbled as he gripped her arm tighter, "Please…Please don't let them take me…"
"Who are they?" Sakura whispered, afraid that if she spoke loudly, the unknown, foreboding figure would attack; already it looked like it was slowly walking towards them.
"…The Curse…" Yoshiro responded softly, his grip on her arm now bruising her flesh, "The Curse…They're coming!" Sakura snapped her head towards him as he began to yell in fear, "Don't! Don't let them take me!!!"
However, before Sakura could respond, could allow a reassurance to leave her lips, the grip on her arm was tugged and she felt Yoshiro's body jerk causing another terrified shout to escape his throat. Turning wide green eyes towards Yoshiro's abdomen, she saw his body give another jerk, her stare darting towards Yoshiro's feet where, to her horror, shadowed hands had grabbed, pulling at his ankles.
"Wha–?" The Medic breathed as she stared wide eyes at the dark hand pulling incessantly at Yoshiro's feet.
"No!" Yoshiro yelled as he was pulled completely away from Sakura's stunned arms, his brown eyes wide with panic as he tried to grab for Sakura, his nails grasping at the wooden walkway with no success as he was dragged to the other end of the Bridge where the lone figure silently stood, "Not again! No!! Help me!"
Yoshiro's terrified screams instantly brought Sakura back to reality, watching as the man was dragged forcefully away, his injured body leaving another blood trail, the mist converging again and removing the man and the dark figure from her sights. Her mind argued that this battle was out of her element while another, more logical part of her mind, retorted that it was only a Jutsu, a Kekkei Genkai of some sort that was causing this fear to creep through her trembling limbs. Shaking her head, Sakura frowned with determination as she removed her kunai from her thigh holster, standing up and taking off after the bloodied trail Yoshiro's body left behind. She had to save him!
"What the hell was that?" Sakura growled as she ran across the Bridge towards the Bird Country Forests, hearing the faint yells of Yoshiro in its darkened depths.
'Ha…Ha…Ha…Ha…'
Sakura cursed, hearing the children's broken chant echo through the shadowed foliage, absently wondering if that was the trap all along. Berating herself for leaving her lantern behind, Sakura ran blindly through the forests' depths, trying to follow the faintest of screams that Yoshiro uttered.
"HELP ME!!!"
"I'm coming!" Sakura cried out, her heart beating rapidly, the fear slowly swallowing her heart as she ran deeper into unknown territory, "Yoshiro!!"
'Come play with me…Ha…Ha…Ha…'
"NO!!! HELP!!!"
Sakura's breath was coming quickly now, her heart hammering, the blood rushing through her ears. She never expected this on her Mission, she couldn't think. The darkness was becoming too unbearable and the screams, the screams were terrifying.
"I'm coming," Sakura whispered faintly, jade eyes wide as she looked around frantically for any clues, "…Kami…"
"AHHHHH!!!"
Sakura's heart stopped as she heard the agonized yell echo throughout the dark forests. Her fingers trembled as her sweat-covered hand tried to keep a firm grip on her kunai. Her mind couldn't process properly. She didn't know what to do. Run like hell? Find Yoshiro?
"Kami…" Sakura breathed again as she anxiously pushed the button of her earpiece, trying to attain some sort of communication, "…N-Naruto……Sasuke-kun…"
'Come play with me…'
Sakura whirled around, taking a step back as she held out her kunai knife; viridian eyes wide as she stared at the small figure standing near the low branches of a tree, the moon's pale glow helping Sakura ascertain its small silhouette.
"Who are you!?" Sakura asked as strongly as she could, her sense of smell already picking up the strong traces of blood and death, "Where's Yoshiro!?"
The tiny form tilted its head to the side, before slowly, slowly moving forward towards the direct light of the moon. Sakura's breath hitched as she looked upon pale-white skin, wide, wild eyes, blood-stained cheeks, and dark, ebony hair.
She looked like a corpse.
'Come play with me…' The girl whispered musically, her lips pulling into an eerie smile.
It was then that the girl took another step forward, Sakura realizing that something was clutched in her fragile hand. Eyeing her warily, the Medic watched another step be taken before the thing grasped in her hand was bathed in the moon's glow.
Satsuma Yoshiro's foot.
Sakura paled, taking a step back.
'Come play with me…' The girl repeated with the same smile, her lips stretching even further, 'Ha…Ha…Ha…Haruno Sakura…'
Jade eyes wide, Sakura did the only thing her mind could process.
"Get out! Run!!"
With admirable speed, Sakura pulled from her pouch three kunai, the silent sizzle echoing in the clearing causing the tiny girl's smile to lessen. Lending chakra to her throw, Sakura let her kunai fly, the fire from the exploding tags lighting the way, causing Sakura to seize up with anxiety as she saw several more eyes looming in the darkness. Spinning around, not waiting for the inevitable explosion, Sakura ran, pushing as much chakra into her legs and feet as she possibly could.
The explosion sounded behind her, several screams echoed, and the faint light helped Sakura's direction.
'Come play with me.'
Looking to her right, Sakura immediately jumped away when she saw the little girl running alongside her, the same smile on her face. Pink brows furrowing, Sakura quickly removed her Summoning Scroll, swiftly biting into her lip and using her blood to write various characters. It took only moments before Sakura was wielding her large Battle Axe, the heavy weapon of steel giving her some reassurance as she ran back towards the Border Rain Village, swinging with all her might towards the tiny girl, who only disappeared into the shadows.
"Damn it!" Sakura cursed as she rested the large weapon onto her shoulder as she ran, not desiring to stop but feeling a little more secure with her heavy weaponry.
'Ha…Ha…Haruno Sakura. Come play with me.'
The Medic didn't even have to look as she swung her large blade, waiting for but not expecting the weapon to connect with anything. The darkness was disallowing her from seeing which direction she was going, whether it was right or not, and the mist did nothing to help either.
Just as Sakura was about to take to the trees, something grasped her by the shoulders, a slight pain rocketed through her arms as sharpness pierced through her skin and she was being lifted off the ground. Flailing wildly as she watched herself go higher and higher, Sakura tried her best to break free from the grip, but the hold was firm and slightly painful. With chakra-enhanced strength, she hoisted her Battle Axe, prepared to strike her captor and adjust herself to the pain of the fall, but the clutch on her shoulder tightened, jade eyes widening as her arms went limp from the pressure, her fingers just barely keeping a hold on her Axe.
"What?"
A small, black orb fell before her, her viridian gaze following the object as it disappeared below into the forest's shadows. Moments later an explosion followed and screams of pain echoed in the surrounding area. Another black orb fell eliciting the same results and then another. However, the third and final one did not result in agonizing screams, just complete silence.
Wincing from the pain, Sakura began to observe her environment, noticing the still-thick mist and the pale light of the moon. The direction she was being taken to was the Border Rain Village, the Bridge over the Valley and the blood stains atop it, not hard to miss. Looking at her shoulder, Sakura narrowed her eyes in speculation as she stared at the huge talons digging into her flesh, but not enough to draw blood. Gazing up directly, she noticed that her captor was an Eagle, a large one at that, wearing the garb of an Animal Summoning.
"Who are you?!" Sakura called out, pink hair dancing wildly with the wind current.
A head poked out from over the Eagle's large wings, dark blue eyes narrowed down at her decisively, and shoulder-length brown locks also whipping around his face from the wind. Sakura's green eyes conveyed her surprise with his appearance, not at all expecting a boy her age to be in the area nor her rescuer. Or perhaps captor rather than rescuer. She frowned suspiciously when his head disappeared.
"Who are you?!" Sakura yelled again, "What the hell is going on?!?"
"…I'll tell you once we find shelter," He answered a few moments later, his voice deep yet smooth, "…I'm the one who called for your help."
They were running double-time through Earth Country's Lands back towards the Border. Sasuke and Naruto didn't waste any time leaving Iwagakure no Sato, feeling it best that they get to Sakura as fast as they could as well as travel under the cooler temperatures that night brought to Earth Nation. Both were quiet, tired because they hadn't gotten a minute of rest, yet only concerned for reaching the Tri-Point Borders of Rain, Earth, and Bird as fast as they possibly could.
Minds were whirring with possible scenarios their teammate could have encountered. The Medic might have fought off the enemy, escaped when she could have, and knowing her heart had probably freed any other captors. Perhaps she was being held prisoner but was cleverly thinking of a way to break out and show the enemies who exactly they were messing with. Maybe she was being starved and beaten, waiting for her Team Seven Boys to rescue her. She could have disappeared like the others, could have been murdered, or caught off guard with a well-hidden trap. Each thought that crossed Sasuke's and Naruto's heads became even worse than the last, their worry digging even deeper into their souls as they thought about their pastel-haired, green-eyed friend.
Both could only hope that Sakura just returned to their designated meeting place after finding the Village abandoned. She would be safe, unharmed, smiling, and complaining, putting their unnecessary fears at ease.
Kami, they hoped.
"…What if…" Naruto started as they continued running the flat plains towards towering mountains, Sasuke's dark eyes briefly sliding his way, "…What if they have her? What if Sakura-chan's disappeared…?"
Sasuke's brows furrowed, knowing that he couldn't reassure Naruto that it wouldn't happen. The real world was filled with losses and heartache, Sasuke knew from experience. But it didn't mean he was going to give up. Haruno Sakura didn't dare give up when she and Naruto looked for him, and Sasuke sure as hell wasn't going to either.
Frowning deeply, Sasuke quickened his pace a fraction more, "…We find who did it, Naruto. And we kill them."
A/N: So, I would like to apologize for the long wait for this chapter, it had sincerely not been my intention. I've posted an extra long chapter so I really hope you like it, because we finally got to the Horror aspect of the story. Tell me if you got any shivers because that's what I'm aiming for, lol. So, I hoped you liked, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns just review or PM me, I'm pretty good at getting back to people. And I would love to hear about what you think!!
Disclaimer: I tried asking Kishimoto-san for Naruto and his friends…But I failed in attaining them…epically.
Next Chapter: Answers: Sakura confronts her mysterious rescuer and Sasuke and Naruto become skeptical.
Next Update: Last time I said 7-10 days, but with this story I really need to stretch my imagination muscles…Give me a week and a half to two weeks please?
Thank you everyone who are reading and reviewing!! You guys and girls are the best and I would love to hear your opinions!!! Much Love!!!
Additional Updates:
It All Started With: Still working on Chapter Fourteen. I start school next week so I'm hoping to update by this weekend! Keep a look out!
How Well Do You Know YOUR Soulmate?!: I know, I haven't updated this story in AGES but I read over it and I really want to finish it!! Check it out and tell me what you think please!!
Troublesome: Part Four of the 'Quote Series' starring Ino and Shikamaru!! I want to get this out soon and then do another Four Part Quote Series with the same Couples (SasuSaku, NaruHina, NejTen, InoShika)!! Check those out too!!
Forbidden Bonds: A more dark and mature story that I'm working on with multiple chapters dealing with Team Seven and how they could have fought for one another in an alternate universe, it's not Canon but takes place in same world (ninjas, kages, etc.)
And Additional One-Shots!! Check out the list on my Profile Page and tell me in a review which you would like to see updated!!! Please and Thank You!!!!
WiTh LoVe!!!
Luvinukag83
aka Len83