Chapter 3

She woke up with fat droplets of sweat prickling her forehead. Sakura didn't just have a nightmare; she was woken by a surge of pain in her chest akin to a heart attack. The pinkette made her way to the dress table and gazed at her pale reflection in the mirror. Fingers touched her chest scar and it felt hot. Her eyebrows creased as she noticed that it was only midnight. After a quick, rational thought, Sakura knew it was best to only tell Tsunade about this in the morning. She gazed out her room window to see the moon shining bright and being perfectly round.

It was the first fullmoon of the cycle.

"Teme, it was a good drinking session last night eh?" Naruto draped a hand on his shoulder in a rather uncomfortable manner as the boisterous blond was shorter by an inch or two than Sasuke.

"Alcohol gives you courage." Sai nodded as he rubbed his chin.

"You should've seen how Yamato-sensei was repeating things and it annoyed the hell outta Kakashi-sensei! The Thousand Years of Pain finally appeared after such a long time!" Naruto held his tummy as he guffawed. Sasuke merely gave out a small chuckle. Sai tried to laugh as openly as Naruto which made the two best friend stare at him oddly.

"Too bad Ugly wasn't there. I bet she'd be punching us for all the things we said." Sai continued.

"Yeah, what a waste Sakura-chan didn't come! Ne, teme, speaking of Sakura-chan, have you even spoken to her?" Naruto nudged his friend.

"No."

"What?! Why not? I thought you said you're going to make amends with everyone! Kakashi-sensei and I- done. You've even apologized to Karin! Why the hell not Sakura-chan?!"

"She's always busy." He stated the half-truth. Sasuke just didn't know how to face her, not quite yet especially after the guilt-trip Karin took him. He needs time to compose what he should be saying to his former teammate.

"Yeah, you're right teme."

Sasuke let out a grunt of relief when Naruto decided to drop it and whistled as they went to take a look at the half destroyed Uchiha compound.

"Sakura, what's the matter?"

"Shishou, yesterday night, the scar was hot to the touch and I felt pain, it was like a very short heart attack." Sakura unzipped part of her red top with trembling hands to show her shishou the scar which now has an even darker shade of brown.

"Hmm... I think we need to go to the hospital. Come."

After several experiments and discussions with Shizune, neither women found anything concrete about Sakura's scar and the foreign chakra which was running active now.

"Sakura, I'll try to find something to kill it off. But for now, I'm really sorry I can't do much. Remember the jutsu I taught you on how to repress foreign chakra?"

"Yes, Shishou."

"When you feel pain again, try using that jutsu. I hope it'll help." The Hokage was unsatisfied that even she- one of the world's top doctor couldn't do anything to help her beloved pupil.

"Tsunade-sama, you have to go back to the office now to prepare for Sasuke Uchiha's trial." Shizune reminded.

Sakura gasped, her whole body shaking. All the pinkette could think of was the worst situation. She pictured Sasuke being executed in front of all of Konoha, or even by lethal injection. Tears welled up in her eyes when she imagined herself visiting his grave everyday for the rest of her life. She didn't want to get used to seeing his name being engraved on a tomb stone. Shizune and Tsunade each rested a hand on her shoulder to snap her out of her horrible thoughts.

"I-I haven't even got the chance to talk to him yet..." She let out in a lowly whisper.

"Sakura, being Hokage, you know I can't reveal much. I'll just tell you this: Don't cry, smile. Besides, you should worry more about your condition than that Uchiha." Tsunade was hoping she got the subtle message.

A big grin plastered across her face as she waved goodbye to her shishou and senpai.

A particular cheerful rosette was skipping arm in arm with Ino along the market streets.

"Oi, Forehead, why so cheerful today? Ne, Sasuke and you are already..." Ino wiggled her two thumbs.

"Pig! No, you think too much! Oh, come!" She dragged the pretty blonde doll into a shop.

"Hi pretty kunoichis, welcome! We make the best hitai-ate here. Please, look around." The shop keeper motioned around his store as both girls nodded and smile in return.

"Sakura, why are we in a hitai-ate shop? Yours looks pretty fine to me." Ino muttered to her ear.

"Oh, it's not for me." Sakura picked up a standard Konoha hitai-ate and went to the shopkeeper. "Excuse me sir, is this the hitai-ate with the newly improved fabric?"

"Yes miss. It's fire-resistant and rather strong so it doesn't tear or gets cut easily. It's also very airy so that the wearer wouldn't sweat as much when they wear this."

"Perfect! I'll have this please."

Sakura placed the brand new hitai-ate carefully into her pouch and off the girls went to a dango shop and indulged themselves in sweet confectioneries.

"Bye Ino!" Sakura waved.

"K, have fun eating with Naruto and your Sasuke-kun!" Ino teased.

"Yeah yeah. Tell your mom I said hi!" The two friends then went their separate ways.

The medic-nin took on a rather slow yet graceful gait to the newly built Ramen Ichiraku noodle bar. Her heart flutters a bit thinking of how she would be meeting Sasuke eye to eye again. This time, without animosity of any sort and not when he was laying unconscious on a hospital bed. A tender smile crept up to her lips as she touched her pouch, waiting for tomorrow to present the Uchiha his brand new hitai-ate.

Lost in her thoughts, Sakura did not notice she was a few steps away from the noodle bar until she heard Naruto's booming voice calling out to her.

"Oi, Sakura-chan! Over here!" He tapped on a bar stool next to him as Sakura ran up to her boisterous teammate.

"Ohaiyo, Naruto!" She beamed. "Oh, where's everyone? Did you trick me for a date? Baka!" Sakura slapped his arm with a little more strength than required.

"That hurts! Sakura-chan!" Naruto rubbed the red patch of his skin to soothe the pain. "Ne, Kakashi-sensei would be late as always. Yamato-sensei said he couldn't make it today. No idea why though. As for teme, he'll be coming with Sai...just about now!" He was waving like a maniac towards two small figures.

The pain crept up again, Sakura's breathing got a little heavier.

"Oi, teme! Sai! Come quick! Why are you guys walking so slow? You two on a date or something?!" Naruto joked.

Sasuke stopped in his footsteps for a while. He knew they were going to meet tonight but he was still nervous to see the rosette in person again. Maybe tonight could be all about team bonding and easy going chatters. His apologies can be made tomorrow. And then... he'll start to know her again; and then... he will allow whatever supernatural force it is out there to take him and her to wherever they are suppose to go, and he hopes, they'll go to the same place together. Sasuke smiled to the ground and continued his walk.

Smooth white hands were gripping onto her chest. Nails dug deep into them as Sakura tried to fight off the pain. Another hand of hers were clasping tightly onto the wooden table, making her knuckles paper white. She broke out in cold sweat and the color from her face was totally drained, leaving it green and pale.

She heaved as she tried the repressing jutsu but it did not help at all.

Sasuke and Sai was nearing them now.

Her pain intensifies.

"Oh, Sakura-chan! What... what's wrong, you're paler than Sai! And you're sweating!" Naruto's voice filled with concern and shock to see his female teammate suddenly looking so...tortured.

"No-nothing Naruto. I'm sorry but I need to leave now." Without even hearing his protests, Sakura fled straight to Tsunade's office.

She left. Sasuke couldn't believe it. Just as Naruto called out to them, she fled the restaurant like a tiger held captive finally freed.

He frowned when he sat at the stool she was sitting earlier on. The seat still gave off some of her body heat.

"Why did Sakura go off like that?" Sasuke asked in a rather sulky tone.

"Yeah, why was Ugly fleeing?" Sai said as he jots down stuff in his notebook.

"I don't know... she looked like she was... in pain." Naruto's eyebrows knitted together.

"Is it because of me?" Sasuke looked at his friend.

"No idea teme, she seemed fine with our gathering. I-I think I would want to go check on her. Sorry, I guess tonight's a no-go. Can you guys inform Kakashi-sensei?"

"Hn."

Naruto left for Sakura's house but was disappointed to find out that she wasn't home.

Sasuke, Sai and Kakashi stayed on at the ramen bar to have dinner.

"Sasuke, tomorrow's your trial." The copy-nin said.

"I know."

"You don't seem worried." Sai joined in their conversation.

"I'm not."

"He doesn't need to be." Kakashi finished his green tea in a flash. "I shouldn't be saying anything but it's a given. Everyone knows already, you'll be free Sasuke. Welcome back."

"Hn." Sasuke gave out a sly smile as he allowed his thoughts drift towards a future with his precious people and another potential future that consisted of a girl with baby pink hair.

I ought to try...

The raven haired nin mused.

It was rude of her to not knock but she herself was frightened by the foreign chakra in her body too.

"Sakura! Knock next time."

"Shishou," She was still panting from the quick run. "The chakra flared up again."

"What?" Tsunade ran up to her.

"The pain gotten so strong. And I tried the repressing jutsu, it rendered useless. Nothing could stop it. But I don't feel the pain now."

"Tsunade-sama, that's really weird." Shizune added.

"I was at Ramen Ichiraku with Naruto when it started but as I left that place, the pain receded."

"Do you think something triggered it? Like, the smell of some ingredients in the ramen soup?" Shizune continued.

"Sakura, I will need to extract some cells from that scar." Tsunade took a petri dish and scrapped dead skin cells from her student's blemish. The Fifth Hokage was quite sure traces of the foreign chakra would be in those dead cells.

"While we try and find something to help curb it, take this pill and eat it if the pain ever comes. I hope it helps."

"Thank you Shizune-senpai. Please, don't tell anyone yet."

"Why not Sakura?"

"Shishou, with Sasuke-kun's trial tomorrow, I'm pretty certain it's good news. I don't want to dampen everyone's spirits. Please..." She requested.

"I will concede with you for the time being. Go home and rest now. You can come in late for hospital duty tomorrow."

"Thanks shishou!"

As she approached her house, the pain started up again. But this time, it was only a tinge. So she bored with it.

The pain never did left even after the pinkette had taken a cold shower and sipped on her hot tea. When she laid in her bed next to the window, she felt the foreign chakra flared up a little more, making her heart a little more painful at the same time.

Sakura rolled around her bed and willed herself to either get numb towards the pain or sleep it off but failed. So, she popped the pill Shizune made for her and felt better but was still very disturbed and uncomfortable to fall into peaceful slumber.

Sakura was irked because she couldn't understand what was happening to her body. Before her mind finally tires out, she made a mental note to visit the Konoha library some time soon.

Obsidian eyes targeted a particular window few roofs away. He was happy the girl went home safely.

Sasuke stayed for as long until she finally fell asleep. He could see that she was restless and her face had this... uncomfortable tort to it.

He knew something is definitely wrong with her and he will find out what is it soon.

At night, Sai wrote in his notebook:

Ugly fleed the restaurant scene just as Sasuke and I arrived. Why? Doesn't Ugly loves Sasuke?

Love means wanting to see that person everyday right? This is confusing.

Sasuke was clearly upset about it.

He cares for Ugly... I think. Saw him looking into Ugly's room just now.

The verdict was recited and Sasuke Uchiha was a Konoha shinobi once again.

Naruto yelled out his signature "Dattebayo."

Kakashi merely nodded in agreement to Team 7's happiness.

Sai smiled, partially happy that he was relieved off monitoring duty but mostly to see Naruto finally getting his 'brother' back.

Hands gripping tightly onto the brand new hitai-ate she bought, every step Sakura skipped to her team tampered with joy. As she neared them, the pain came on again and quickly escalated.

Sakura immediately swallowed another pill and it relieved her of the chest burn a little. Enough for her to beam up to them and call out their names.

"Sasuke-kun! Naruto! Kakashi-sensei! Sai!" She waved, one hand hid behind her back with Sasuke's new hitai-ate.

They walked towards her. The chakra flared up menacingly again and a second pill didn't help much.

Her breathing hitched and her knees wobbled.

Naruto noticed. Kakashi and Sai too. Sasuke saw it.

Sakura felt she couldn't control her actions anymore. Her nails dug deep into her skin and scratched and scratched and scratched- creamy white skin tore and revealed fresh, red blood.

Orochimaru cackled in the same deep dark cave he meditated in.

"Peeeerfecttttt. Thisssss army will be coooompleted ssssssoon." He slithered across a colossal mass of rocks.

With a prick on his thumb and the standard summon jutsu hand seals performed, several tiny leaf snakes appeared before the legendary missing Sannin.

"I want yooouu all to ssssssssppppy on Konohaaaa. Report to me newsssssss of the lasssssst ssssstandinggggg Uchiha."

A/N:

So, it's full moon! And the 'curse' is activated!

In my story, Yamato survived, Kabuto dies and all the Kages survived! Since so far the manga had Neji, Shikaku, Inoichi dead, they shall remain dead.

Those repressing jutsu and jazz... and pills and all... I made them up alright, so if it contradicts with any canon jutsu and theory, please don't flame me! Hahaha...

How was this chapter?! Reviews! (Give me some insight, I can tell writer's block is going to happen soon...)

Have a nice weekend!