Sakura tried to go back to sleep after she assured Kiba and the rest of her pack that she was fine, and that she was only dreaming. She couldn't though. Every time she closed her eyes she would hear the blood curdling screams, the same screams that had filled her head when Sasuke had looked at her with his sharingan.
She laid there not sleeping for hours, until the walls of her tent lightly began to glow with the rising of the sun. She pulled herself off her cot, and went to the showering stalls. She had always preferred to shower alone, away from prying eyes. She quickly cleansed herself and dressed in her usual cargo pants and long shirt. She checked her watch, seven thirty. She still had a while before she had to leave. She wandered the vacant grounds, finding herself walking towards the "kennels." Which was actually just an area where the familiar wolves made their own.
She sat down at the base of a tree, waiting to see if one of the wolves would come over. She saw three grey heads lift and look over at her. They pulled themselves up and walked over and laid down around her.
"Hello Haimaru brothers." She said softly and she let her hand run through the closest fur. She let her head rest against the tree. She heard the thump of tails as she greeted them. Slowly her eyes started to close and she faded to sleep.
Her eyes snapped open and she looked down at her watch: eight forty three. "Shit!" She jumped up disturbing the three large wolves that surrounded her. She looked down at them and gave a small smile. "Sorry boys." She then took off running towards the north east training fields.
She panted as she made her way to the training grounds. She saw that Naruto and Sasuke were already there and waiting. The moment that she saw the Uchiha her blood began to run cold. She glared at him, and stalked over to where he was standing.
"Yooou." She growled out. The two boys looked over at the direction she was coming. "You!" she repeated as she slowly began to jog forward. She ran up to Sasuke and stopped only inched from his face.
"What did you do?" She snarled at him clenching her hands to fists. Sasukes eyes widened and his brows dropped down.
"What are you talking about?" He took a step back, and she took a step forward.
"What did you fucking do in my head?"
"What?"
"The screams! The dreams! What the fuck did you do in there!" She spat out. Sasuke had collected himself and his face was back to being stoic.
"You're delusional, I did nothing." He began to walk away. Sakura ran in front of him and glared. He just turned away and started leaning on a tree. "You don't scare me." Sakura clenched her jaw. She walked up to Sasuke their noses almost touching.
"Maybe everyone should just cool down." Naruto said as he gingerly approached them.
"Stay out of this Naruto!" She yelled, her fists growing heavier. She pulled back and slammed her hand into the tree Sasuke was leaning on. There was sharp snapping sound as the large tree began to fall taking Sasuke with it. She stood above him panting, glaring at him. "If you decide to get into my head again and drag up shit with out my permission, I will kill you." She turned away and walked into the field.
Naruto walked up to Sasuke with wide eyes and offered him a hand. Sasuke grunted but took it and and stood up. "What was that all about?" Sasuke shook his head.
"I don't know." They stood together looking over at Sakura. "Are you going to go and talk to her dobe?"
"Naa not right now. I mean I don't want to look like that tree."
"Hn."
Sakura sat in the field with her back facing her team mates. After calming herself she replayed the conversation, and began to believe that Sasuke may be telling the truth. He had looked genuinely shocked at her verbal attack. She sighed and pulled some long grass and began to braid it. Her mind began to wander to the dream that she had last night. She knew it wasn't a dream, but a repression, and one that when wished she could shove right back were it came from. She heard foot steps approaching. She heard the grass rustle next to her. She knew it was Sasuke, she could smell him on approach.
"The sharingan doesn't work like that." He looked over at her and she looked up. "There are a lot of things that my clan's eyes can do, but we cannot go into people's heads. I can pull you into mine but that's it." She sighed and laid back on the ground.
"Look, I am sorry I freaked out on you. Yesterday when you looked at me with your sharingan and looked into my eyes, I felt something in the back of my head. I just assumed." She murmured. She lifted her arms and put them under her head.
"Hn." Sasuke sounded. Sakura looked over at him, and noticed him looking intently at something. She followed his gaze to a sliver of flesh she had exposed between her shirt and her pants. She knew he was looking at scars. Blushing she pulled her shirt down an sat up.
"Perhaps the sharingan knocked loose a wall you built." Sasuke said softly. "You know the sprites can look into people's minds." Sakura immediately thought of Ino. There was no way she wanted that type of crazy in her head.
"I am good being the only one in here." She tapped her forehead.
"It may help with your chakra network, there may mental blocks on top of... physical." He ran a hand through his inky hair. She looked over at him.
"Why are you being nice to me?" He furrowed his brow, quite for a second.
"We are stuck on this team together. It is in my best interest that my team mates are at the top of their game." Sakura rolled her eyes and nodded her head.
"Why are you always late!" Naruto screamed down the field. They turned their heads and saw Kakashi strolling up. They pulled themselves up and walked over.
"So what happened here?" Kakashi pointed to the downed tree. Naruto pointed to Sakura, Kakashi's eye widen in shock. "You did that?" She nodded. "Hmm."
"We will be having weapon training today. We will start with the basics then try to figure out what weapon suits each of you." He pulled out some scrolls and unlocked them. Out popped kunias, swords, battle hammer, bow and arrows, shurikans, and bladed tekkos. "So every one please pick up kunias and shurikans." He pointed to the pile of weapons. "Actually wait." He pulled out another stroll and unsealed it. "I have brought you your new tactical gear and uniforms." Out of the scroll came three black and white outfits.
Sakura walked forward and he handed her a bundle of cloths. She unfolded them and held them out to get a better look. The pants where black cargo, she looked then over and put them down. Then she came to the shirts, first was a black high necked tank top, and then a grey sleeveless vest to place over it. "Are we to change into these now." Kakashi nodded.
"Are there any that have sleeves?" She mumble to him looking down. Kakashi kit his brows at her.
"No I am afraid not." She sighed.
"Alright then." She looked over to her team mates and they had already began to strip and get into their new cloths. She blushed for a second. "I am going to change over there." She walked into the forest and took cover behind a large tree trunk. She stripped her cloths quickly and placed her new ones on. They had a bit of a snugger feel then she was use to, especially the tank top, that clung onto her body as a second skin. She raised he hand and ran them over her bare arms. Most of her left a was completely distorted due to a scar, it looked like she had been in a fire, from her shoulder to the middle of her fore arm. Her right arm had line after line or ragged scars running it's length. She took an uneasy breath and walked out to the field to her team.
She could feel their eyes on her exposed skin. She crossed her arms in front of her trying to minimize the amount of skin. She wasn't kidding herself and she knew that no matter how she positioned her body those scars were on full display. She looked up to Kakashi surveying her arms. He then looked away cleared his throat.
"Gather your kunias and shurikans. First we are going to go over throwing weapons." Kakashi walked away and began to mark trees. She could feel the two boys still staring, but she refused to look at them. She crouched down and began to collect her weapons and placed them in pockets and pouches. Naruto and Sasuke quickly followed her lead. "Ok goal is to hit as many targets as possible." Kakashi said as he walked back. "Who is going first?"
Naruto jumped forward, a large grin on his face. He quickly dispensed his weapons. They hit the tree with with loud thunks. A few had hit the target, but most where in choatic patterns.
"Dobe," Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Think you can do any better?"
Sasuke grunted as he lined up and starting throwing his kunia. Each hit the target directly with loud thunks. Once he had finished hitting all his target he turned and smirked at his teammates. Naruto clenched his teeth and fists. Kakashi walked to the tree line and cleared out the kunias and shurikans. He motioned to Sakura. She stepped forward and began throw her weapons. She hit every target but one. Kakashi smiled at her. She just nodded.
"It seems you have to work on your focus Naruto." Kakashi ran a hand over his mask. "Why don't Sakura and Sasuke start to spar with hand to hand weapons. Try to figure out which one feels the most natural to you." They nodded and walked back to the weapon pile. Sakura looked at her options and bit her lip. She looked up as Sasuke immediately picked up a katana. He tested the the weight and balance before finally settling on it. She took a breath and picked up a katana also. He smirked at her as she tried to check the balance, but she had no clue what she was doing.
They walked out to the middle of the field. He gracefully positioned his blade and stood in a defensive stance. Sakura grimaced as she fumbled with her katana, and mimicked his stance. He looked at her and gave her a nod. He began to charge at her full speed. She lifted her blade just as his was about to come down at her. There was a loud clash and she could feel the force vibrate through her arms. He attempted to place blows, but she blocked them with ease. Something felt off. She had no clue what she was doing and he should have been able to take her down quickly. Her eyes had remained on his hands and katana trying to guess his moves. She then met his eyes and she could see he was unfocused. She jumped back. He ran at her and proceeded with another half hearted assault. She could feel the anger bubbling with each blow she was deflecting. Sasuke jumped back. Sakura then threw her katana to the side. She started to charge after him. His eyes widened at her not expecting that move. She jumped and balling her fists in mid air and let it slam to the ground. The earth was pushed up under Sasuke's feet causing him to be thrown a few feet. He hit the earth and had the wind pushed out of him. Sakura stood above him.
"What is your issue?" She asked as she crossed her arms. He furrow his brows and shook his head. "Oh come on. You should have been able to take me down in seconds with your katana. I have no idea how to wield one and it seems you are pretty proficient." His eyes met hers then glanced down to her arms. He quickly moved his eyes back to her. He began to stand up. "Oh is that it? Well take a good look Uchiha, they aren't going anywhere." She held out her arms glaring at him. He raised a brow and looked down then quickly up. "Look at it and get over it." He swallowed before scanning her arms.
"Why did you pick up a katana?' He asked as he tore his eyes off of the angry scarred skin.
"Packs don't use hand to hand weapons, typically if we are fighting close, we use tiajutsu or have already phased." She spat at him letting her arms drop.
"Then phase." he raised one eyebrow.
"I can't." She kept her gaze steely.
"What do you mean? I saw you in the elevator." He cocked his head, but his face remained blank.
"There are two phases, the first is kinda what you saw, but half and half the second is full wolf. I can't go into phase two, never have been able to," She replied sternly.
"hn," He placed the katana on his back and walked away back the weapon pile. She watched as he looked over each item then would occasionally glance back. He then bent down and picked up a pair of long bladed tekkos. He walked over and handed them to her. "Try these."
Sakura ran her fingers through the holes and pushed it down to the webbing of her finger. She clenched her fist over the metal that was in her palm, on the top of her knuckles following her fingers three four inch blades shot out.
"It'll be like having your claws out." She gave him a smile. He just nodded at her drawing his katana and again took a defensive stance. She let her hands fall to her side and snarled at him. They ran forward and clashed with a mighty force. She had his katana caught between the blades pushing down on the metal above her knuckles. She let out an audible growl, as she felt her nails and teeth elongating. He smiled at her when her eyes began to flash dangerously.
With a jump they broke apart, the circled each other. Then Sasuke charged her again he had lifted his katana above his head, sakura began to charge at him then slid on her side, knocking out his legs as she crashed to him. She grabbed his ankles and pulled him under her, straddling her waist. She had her tekka pushed against his throat. "quit fucking around and come at me full force." She snarled. Sasuke looked up at her with wide eyes.
"I underestimated you." He mumbled, his hand reaching and grabbing onto her wrists. "You should keep these, they suit you." She rolled off of him. He stood up positioning his blade in front of himself.
"Again" He looked down then looked up his eyes flashing red. Sakura immediately looked away letting her fists fall to her side.
"Turn those off," she said staring at the ground.
"Why?"
"I don't need you knocking down any other walls." She refused to look at him.
"Who wants to spar with me?" Naruto ran up between them, his chest puffed and a grin on his face. Sasuke let his katana drop.
"Spar with Sakura." He walked to the edge of the field by Kakashi and took a seat next to him. Naruto gave her a large grin.
"Hold up let me get a weapon," He ran over and scanned the pile. Naruto and Sakura spared several times, each time he picked a different weapon. Sakura tried to pay attention but she kept hearing whispers and murmurs on the wind. It had seemed that Kakashi and Sasuke were having a heated conversation between them. Naruto stopped the spar, and ran over to the weapon pile. She looked around at all the arrows that littered the ground.
"Long range is not your bag!" She shouted over time him. He nodded at her an looked down his hand scratching his chin. Sakura began to walk the field. She looked over ay Kakashi and Sasuke and they just sat there watching the two of them. Her eyes narrowed at them, trying to figure out what they were talking about. Their faces showed nothing. A sudden blow to her stomach had her falling backward, her breath knocked out. She looked over to see Naruto coming after her with the battle hammer. She rolled over and stood up quickly dodging another blow.
"I wasn't even ready!" She growled at him.
"Sorry Sakura!" He yelled but kept coming at her. He was swinging ever which way, all Sakura could do was go on defense and making sure that she wasn't hit by the deadly hammer. She was getting tired, and it was becoming difficult to keep up. Her dodging was slowing, and Naruto landed another blow but this time to her back. She grunted at the impact, falling roughly to the ground. Before she was aware she was pushing chakra down her leg . She rolled onto her back and putting her hands besides her head, she lifted her legs to her chest. She pushed them out and pushed up with her arms. She jumped to the air and hit the ground hard as Naruto was nearly on top of her. The ground exploded sending Naruto flying back. She crouched down panting.
Kakashi made his way on to the field. "I think we are good for today. It seems that you have all made weapon choices." he looked at them. "We will meet back here tomorrow at nine."
"So you mean ten right?" Naruto laughed. Kakashi just looked at him with a dull stare.
"I mean nine." Naruto just grunted at him.
They started to clear out the field and collect their belongings. Sakura picked up her cloths and headed back into the forest. She quickly changed into her daily wear cloths. Though she was going to have to be more comfortable with her uniform, as that was going to become what she wore the most. She neatly folded her pile of cloths.
"Hey ya want to grab some ramen with me and the blood sucker?" Naruto bounced up to her.
"You are going with Sasuke for ramen?" Her brow arched.
"Yeah, I guess he eats regular food too. Crazy, right?" She gave him a smirk.
"Maybe another time. I am kinda beat, and need to try and get some sleep." Out of the corner of her eye she could see Sasuke walking up looking at her.
"Ya sure? We can have some team bonding time!" He loudly asked.
"I'm sure, just not feeling it tonight." She patted him on the shoulders. He gave a small frown.
"Ok Sakura, next time?"
"Next time for sure." She smiled at him. She began to walk back to her camp feeling surprised that she actually didn't mind her team as much as she thought that she would. Hell even Sasuke wasn't as bad as she thought.
She finally reached her camp and the smell of food made her stomach tighten. When was the last time she had eaten? Was it last night? She made her way to the center of the caravans were a large group was gathered around a fire. She saw Kiba sitting on a log and plopped down next to him.
"When's the food going to be done. I am starving." She leaned against him. He looked over at her and smiled
"Well hello Sakura, it is nice to see you also." He jabbed his elbow lightly in her side. She hissed at the pain. "Are you ok? I didn't know you were hurt." His face worried.
"It's ok, we just had hand to hand weapon training today. Took a war hammer to the side and back." She grimaced remembering the feeling of the hard metal hitting her.
"Oh you guys are going hard core. I thought that you would have been reading the whole time. Itachi said that Kakashi can be a bit lazy." He laughed.
"Well he didn't spar with us, just sat there and watched. I think he may have been reading a book." She smirked. "What are you guys up to?"
"We have been running training with tracking, and distant attacks." He pondered for a second. "I think that I know how the teams are set up!" He stood up. "I think we have distance, mid, and closed combat divisions." He puffed his chest out proudly. Sakura thought about it for a minute.
"You may be right."
"And you guys seem to be our tanks!" He smiled at her. She knitted her eyebrow.
"But why wouldn't you be a tank?"
"Well most of my attacks start from a distance to get some power in them. They are effective close up, but if I can start with enough run way, so to speak, then it doubles the power." She shook her head at him, it seemed to make sense. Kiba gave her a smile and started to turn to get some food. "Looks like grub is done, want me to grab ya a plate?"
"That would be great." She smiled at him. Once Kiba returned they ate their meal quietly. Once her belly was full she felt her eyelids start to droop.
"You should hit the hay you look exhausted." Kiba said taking her plate from her hands. She gave him a small nod and sought out her cot. Falling asleep only a few moments after laying down.
She woke again with screams. She had the same dream. A few people asked her if she was ok through her tent door, and she had reassured them she was fine. She tried to sleep again, but the screams were still haunting. She slowly sat up, feeling as if her arms and legs were weighted down. She exited her tent and looked at the position of the moon. It was just past midnight. She sighed with the realization that she had only slept for three hours, and most of them had been fitful.
She had found herself walking through the camp to the kennel area. Most of the wolves were off with their familiar wolves hunting but a few remained and were laying around.
"Hey guys," She greeted as she entered their area. "Anyone up for a walk this evening?" As she asked and three grey head bobbed up. They stretched as they walked over to her.
"Ahh, the brothers again." She let her hand run down the back of two of them. "I am a lucky one to have three hansom guys around me." They swished their tails and began to rub the side of their large heads against her thighs and hip.
They began to wander into the woods with out a particular place to go. The air had grown cooler and crisper during the night, which felt good on Sakura's skin. She looked up and watched the stars shine down on her. They walked nearly five miles when the hair on SaKura's neck began to raise. She looked down at the wolves flanking her, their ears had begun to flatten to their heads, the fur on their flanks began to rise.
"You feel it to." She murmered. She lowered her body slightly coiling her muscles. The wolves beginning to stalk around her. Then she smelled it. Blood, there was a lot of blood somewhere. She followed the scent to small field, on one end a small pond casting the lights of the moon and stars. She stalked forward smelling the air, following the scent she stopped directly in front of the pool. The smell was so strong, but there was nothing there. She looked down at the wolves and they seemed to be pacing at the waters edge. She straightened for a minute and smelled again. No it should be right under her feet. She began pacing the water line with the wolves. Out of the corner of her eye he saw a bubble explode to the surface. She stilled and watched as a few more followed. With out even thinking she started to pull her shoes off.
"Stay here, and watch for me." She looked at the position of the moon. "If the moon reached that tree line, go back to camp and get Tsume, Hana, or Kiba." The wolves snapped their jaws in understanding. She then began to wade into the water until it was up to her waist. She then dove down. The water was cold and shocked her skin but she pushed herself down into the dark depths. She struggled to see anything as she was enveloped in darkness. She swam to the side and began to try and feel for some type of opening. Just as her lungs began to burn she found it, the opening to an underground cave. She swam until her head burst from the water. She gulped the air, and pulled herself onto the earth.
The smell hit her harder then Naruto's war hammer. Blood, burnt flesh, fear, sulfur, earth, and a floral scent. There was also an indescribable scent that she knew that she had smelled before. She couldn't pin point it . She pulled herself up and looked around the cavern. There was a soft glow of crystals that surrounded her. She seemed to be in some type of hallway the glow stronger at the end of it. The walls glisten with moisture, moss hanging on the rough ledges. She crouched down and slowly crept closer to the opening.
Once she entered the large opening her hand flung to her mouth, both to stop the vomit coming up and to catch the scream. There was blood, body parts and carcasses all over. There air was hazy with smoke. She looked around and it was as if she walked in on a some morbid tableau. Shaking she forced herself to move in further, to look for survivors. She walked over body after body, her feet sliding over the blood that coated the floor. No one was alive. She stopped and checked the pulse on a few of the bodies, but nothing. The air was so still and quite she could have heard the ants making work of the soil above. She heard a small moan, her head snapping in the direction of the sound. Then she saw a fluttering of movement. She tried to run over but her feet kept on slipping. Sliding to a stop she she finally made her way to a boy, no more then 13. He was laying there with terrified glazed eyes his breath gurgling with each in take. Her hand shaking she pushed his blonde hair away from his face revealing a brutal gash. He weakly lifted up his arms and grabbed onto her hand. She gave him a small smile attempting to hold in her panic.
"It's going to be ok," She cooed at him. She tore his shirt off and inspected him, there was a puncture on his right chest and it could have punctured his lung it was hard to tell. She then saw a long cut on his stomach. She could see the layers of fat and muscles that were separated. She couldn't see any innards, but the gaping hole was pooling with blood. Then she looked down at his leg. There was a massive hole on his inner thigh. His condition was fatal. If it were one or possibly even two of these wounds, she may have been able to save him, but not with this many. She looked back at him her eyes softening. "My name is Sakura, and I am going to be here for you." She took his hands in hers.
"My clan." She inwardly cringed, but she kept smiling. He tried to turn his head but she touched his chin and bringing him back to look at her.
"They'll all be there when you wake up." He gave her a small smile coughing up blood. "They are just waiting for you." She whispered stroking the bridge of his nose. She could feel the tears start rolling down her cheek.
"I am so scared." His voice his voice began to shake as he let out a sob.
"I know but, it's going to be ok." She sat cross legged and pulled him into her lap. She stroked his hair and began to hum. Then a song was whispering past her lips. A song from long ago, one that her mother use to sing to her.
"Be not afraid, come follow me
Answer my call and I'll set you free'
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice, I will remain
I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone
The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow
Ne'er do I sleep throughout all the cold winter long
I am the force that in springtime will grow
I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future
I'll Bring you my peace
I'll Bring you my peace and your wounds, they will heal
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice
I am the voice of the past that will always be
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice of the future
I am the voice.
She felt the rattle of his last breath, his body going from tense to limp. She looked down at his face. His eyes were half open staring up at her. She ran her hand over his lids and closed his lids. She sat for a moment holding her breath, then a heart wrenching cry escaped her lips.
"Sakura." She heard a soft voice near the entrance. She looked over to see Sasuke standing there. His eyes glowing red and wide with shock. His lips parted over. She looked away and let the sobs rake her body. She felt his hand gingerly touch her shoulder. She jumped at the contact. He crouched down and gently pulled the boys body from her lap. He hand falling to the ground when her lap was empty. He then gathered her up into her arms and carried her back through the tunnel.
"I am going to need you to swim ok?" He sat her down and took her face in his hands. She nodded at him. He dove into the water first. She glanced behind her again. She took a deep breath and followed him in.
She broke water of the pond and started to pull herself out.
"Can you call off your wolves?" Sasuke asked from the center of the pond. She looked over to see the three pacing the edge, growling and snapping at him.
"Brothers," She called. The wolves slowed to a stop and looked at her. "He is not a threat. But I need you to go get Tsume." They eyes Sasuke then glanced back at her. "It's ok, just go as fast as you can." The quickly rubbed against her as she left the water an stood up. They ran off with agitated yips.
Once the wolves were out of sight Sakura fell to knees and unloaded the contents of her stomach. She felt Sasuke come up behind her and rub her pack and pulled back her hair. She kept on retching until her body couldn't handle it anymore. Her whole body was shaking. She crawled away to clean grass and sat down with her knees pulled into her chest. She concentrated on her breathing to calm herself.
"How long were you there?" she asked as a shaky hand ran though her dripping hair
"When you found the boy." He sat down next to her.
"There were no other survivors?"
" No his and yours were the only chakra down there." She nodded at him. They sat there staring at the smooth water of the pond.
"Why are you here?" She looked over at him.
"I was hunting. There was a news report of a murderer who ran into the woods." He turned and looked at her, "I had saw you earlier with the wolves. When I was coming back I saw them at the pond. They looked agitated. I thought that something had happened to you. I went to look." He shrugged as he looked away.
She nodded at him and looked back to the pond. Tears freely flowing, her shoulders shaking as her breath hiccuped in. Tentatively Sasuke put his hand on her back and rubbed.
Thank you all for the review, follows, and faves! It means a ton! I am having a ton of fun writing this out!
The song is the Wolf Song.. The version that I know is by the Celtic Women. I am pretty sure it is an older song though.
Thank you once again! I hope you enjoy. I apologize for the errors in it, but I am writing this in my very limited spare time.