I've finished this chapter. Now I hope you guys enjoy it. I'll get the next chapter up asap
Disclaimer: I already told you i own nothing not even shadow since he's technically sasuke
Ch. 4: The Old Witch
One dark night, an old lady walked into Konoha. She kept her snow white hair in a bun and her dark eyes looked at the world as if she were laughing at its foolishness. She hobbled slightly as older people tend to do but she didn't appear to be helpless. One the contrary, people were instinctively afraid of her. She wore nothing to indicate that she was or ever had been a shinobi. Her clothes had seen better days but they didn't looked like rags just yet. She had a cane made of wood that appeared to be poorly carved. The only thing of value she carried was a necklace with a ruby pendant in the shape of a six pointed star.
The old lady paused in front of a house and cackled, "So this is where he lives now. I can't wait to see if how he's doing now."
--
Sakura woke up and stretched. She glanced over at the darked furred wolf laying next to her. 'What could have happened to him?' she wondered. 'Who turned him into a wolf and why?' She would probably never know the answers to these questions. In the two months that shadow had been here he still hadn't remembered anything. The medic wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. All she knew was that she was determined to help him and that this time she wouldn't let him go. She didn't care what she had to do but he would stay home this time. Even if she had to tie him up and stuff him in a closet. Sakura considered that thought and shook her head. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that.
Sakura slid out of the bed and got into the shower. When she came out Shadow was awake and sitting by the window. As usual when he saw her in a towel he shot out of the room like a rocket. She couldn't help but laugh. Sure she could get dress in the bathroom but this was entirely too funny. She just couldn't miss the opportunity. Sakura got dressed and headed down stairs.
After they had eaten, the two of them walked through the village towards the hospital. Sakura frowned when she saw an old woman she didn't recognize. The lady watched her and Shadow as they passed. If Sakura didn't know better she would swear the old woman recognized Shadow. Though Sakura believed that she was imaging things because there was no way a stranger could know who Shadow was...could she? Of course not. Even the rest of the village didn't recognize him. How in the world would a complete stranger know that Shadow was Sasuke.
Shadow watched the old woman carefully. For some reason she seemed familiar but he wasn't sure why. Then again this could be another case where Sasuke's memories were coming into play. Shadow was no longer sure if he was Sasuke or Shadow. If he remembered something he could never be sure if it was his memory or this unknown man's. Then again he could be Sasuke. Then these were his memories. God he hoped not. Shadow did not want to be Sasuke Uchiha. From what he had heard and remembered Sasuke was a jerk that wouldn't know a good life if it bit him. If Sasuke had any brain at all he would have stayed in Konoha instead of running off.
The old woman cackled as she watched Shadow and Sakura go through their day, "Well, deary. It looks like you can see clearly without your memories. I think it's time I speak to you personally. But not as a wolf." She pointed at Shadow and began to whisper, "When night fall call on me. Then what once was be again."
Shadow felt something strange come over him but then it was gone. He chose to ignore it as he followed Sakura home. She had had a bad day at the hospital and needed his support. A team had returned from a mission that day and they hadn't been in good shape. One of them hadn't made it at all. The other two were still in critical condition. Sakura had done everything she could but she was still down about it.
Shadow laid beside her on the bed as she read the charts to decide what could be done tomorrow for the surviving two. The sun went down and suddenly he had the urge to go out. It was just like it had been the first time he had transformed only stronger. He stood and licked Sakura's hand to get her attention. She looked at him curiously.
"What is it, Shadow?"
'I don't know. Something is calling me.'
"Is it safe? Should we get Kakashi?"
He shook his head, 'I don't think it's dangerous. I have to go. It won't let me rest until I do.'
"Alright but I'm coming with you."
He nodded then jumped down. Sakura followed her four legged friend through the village until they reached the training grounds. They both stopped when they saw the old woman standing there. She turned to them and cackled.
"Well, I see you brought your friend with you. That's excellent. I wanted to meet her anyway."
Sakura was about to say something when a yelp caught her attention. She looked over as saw Shadow was laying down in pain. She rushed over to him then glared at the old woman.
"What did you do to him?" she demanded.
The woman smiled, "I'm triggering his transformation, deary. I thought you'd be happy."
Sakura's eyes widened. When she looked back at Shadow she saw that the woman was right. Shadow's fur seemed to be getting shorter and his body was changing shape before her eyes. The whole process had to be painful because he was crying out in pain the entire time. When it was finished Shadow laid there panting for breath. Sakura quickly looked away because he had no clothes on. Now she knew how he felt whens he came out of the bathroom. The old woman snapped fingers and Shadow suddenly had clothes on.
Sasuke got shakily to his feet and glared at the old woman, "What do you want from me?"
"Nothing really. I just wanted to see how you were doing these days. So how are you doing?"
He suppressed the urge to growl. In his current form it wouldn't be as effective anyway. He felt someone stand beside him to help keep him standing. His dark eyes focused on Sakura. She gave him an encouraging smile. She didn't know. He looked back at the old lady.
"Why now? It's been two months."
"I wanted to see if you've learned anything. Tell me what you believe is important now," the old woman ordered. She was suddenly very serious as she focused on Sasuke with a those penetrating dark eyes.
"The same thing. I want to get him. He will pay for what he did to me."
"Then you've learned nothing. What a pity. I guess I'll leave you for a few more weeks and see what happens. Though I will make one small change."
"What is going on here?" Sakura demanded.
The old woman looked at her with a smile, "It's very simple deary. I'm a witch and I've cursed your man over there. He'll have to live as a dog until he's learned that power is not the best way and somethings are more valuable that revenge." She turned to Sasuke, "Think carefully, Sasuke Uchiha. If you ever want these transformations to stop then you'd better catch on."
Sasuke was about to say something but there was a cloud of smoke and then she was gone. Neither of the two said a word for a moment. Sakura turned to face him and looked at him very carefully. There was a look in Shadow's eyes that hadn't been there earlier. He must remember. It was the only explanation.
"You remember everything now, don't you Sasuke-kun?"
He nodded, "I don't know how long it will last. The moment the sun rises I'll be a wolf again. I still might not remember anything in that form."
"What do you want to do?"
He faced her now. Sasuke still had Shadow's memories. He remembered the wolf's bad opinion of him. Sakura had been there to help and support him just like she always had been. The still didn't change anything. His clan was still dead and Itachi was still out there. Sasuke had made a promise that he would avenge his clan no matter what. Even if he had to leave everything else behind. All that mattered was getting Itachi.
"I want to find Itachi."
"I don't think that's possible until you break your curse."
"Then I'll break the curse."
"How?"
He looked away. How was he suppose to know. The woman only said that he had to learn something. She never really said what he had to learn.
Sakura knew that he didn't know. If he did then he would already be gone. So she released a sigh and prepared to do something she knew she would regret. The medic sat down and motioned for Sasuke to do the same. Once they were seated she looked at him.
"Tell me what happened."
He did. She listened carefully as he told her about the day he was cursed. She now knew what it was the old woman wanted Sasuke to learn. He wasn't going to like it.
"She wants you to want to stay here more than you want revenge."
He glared, "What makes you say that?"
"Think about it, Sasuke-kun. She said that you would remain cursed until you learned that some things are more important that revenge and power isn't the best way. The only way for you to free yourself is to want something more than you want revenge."
Sasuke looked up at the sky. He only had a few hours until dark. Could he admit that there was one thing that he could value more than revenge? Could he give up everything for just one person? The witch wasn't giving him much of a choice. He looked at Sakura.
"That might not be as hard as you think," he stated.
She looked at him in confusion, "What do you mean?"
He shook his head, "It's nothing. Do me a favor."
"What?"
"If I don't remember anything after I transform tell Shadow who I am. I don't like being confused even as a wolf. Orochimaru will com looking for me. Make sure you don't leave Shadow's sight."
"Shadow doesn't let me. I hope you'll be alright
Sasuke sighed and looked at the sky. The moon was setting. His time was almost up. The Uchiha pushed himself to his feet. Sakura stood in front of him as she waited for an answer. She was getting the impression she was going to be waiting for a while. The moon sank below the horizon and Sasuke felt the pain of the transformation take hold. Then his world went black.
--
Shadow woke up with a huge headache. Then he heard Sakura's voice and whimpered.
"Thank god you're alright." She hugged him. "I was so worried. Do you remember anything?"
He looked around and saw that they were still in the training field. However the sun was up and he knew it had just turned dark when they had arrived there. 'No. What happened?'
Sakura let out a sigh, "Shadow, I have something to tell you. I don't think you'll like it."
--
The old woman cackled, "Well Sasuke Uchiha. Will you learn anything this time around or will you be doomed to see everything you want and can't have forever? I didn't tell you this but you will end up in one of your two forms permanently. If you don't break the curse you'll be in a wolf's body for eternity. You have one more month. What will happen I wonder." She cackled again as she watched the wolf and the young woman in the clearing.
I hope you liked this chapter. Let me know will ya.
