I am REALLY, REALLY sorry about this super late update. The last few weeks have been hectic with TWO major tests in two weeks, finding out that there was a bloody summer reading assignment due on the day of class, finals, a piano recital and then finding out that my Vietnamese language school teacher would be my mom of all people. After that, it was a nightmare of writer's block. Sometimes, I think that someone is out to get me. -.- Well, enjoy the chapter and review if you wish.

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Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anything that sounds similar or the same to other animes. I just own the plot.

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Chapter 7

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Dawn was a little ways off, but Sasuke was naturally an early riser, so he woke up first. He was a bit amused that he actually slept without the usual nightmares, and the realized that, strangely, his arm had gone numb.

Once fully opening his eyes, he saw a mass of pink near him. Sakura had her head pillowed on his upper arm and her hands were lightly fisting his shirt. As for him, he still had his arms around her protectively and almost possessively. And from the feeling of his legs, their legs must've twined themselves during the night.

Looking at the clock, it was five A.M. and there was no training with the team until the mess that was made was cleared up. Still, no matter what happened, Sasuke still had to train himself.

Slowly and carefully, as to not disturb the rosette, he tried to untangle them. Tried that was.

Sakura was on the edge of consciousness and sleep. She was warm and still wanted to sleep more, so when the warm thing that was around was moving and trying to move away, she mentally growled. Sakura was very content to having the warm thing stay and she made sure that it did. To that end, she quickly wrapped her arms around Sasuke's neck and moved closer, effectively stilling Sasuke's attempts at leaving to train. Her head moved closer to the hollow of his neck and promptly went back to sleep.

Sasuke was in a pinch. On one hand, he wanted to get of the bed, go train, and forget this happened. On the other hand, and by yelling of his Inner, he kind of wanted to stay in bed.

So he once more tried to pry her arms from around him. This only served to make Sakura grip harder.

Without any other options left, he just settled in more and went back to sleep.

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When Sasuke opened his eyes again, it was eight and Sakura was no where in sight. Admittedly, he slightly panicked for a few seconds before he heard pots and pans banging in the kitchen.

"Sakura?"

"Morning. I may not be able to eat, but I can cook to some extent."

"How many times a day do you have to feed?"

"Once a day. Probably around the same time as yesterday."

"Hn."

After finishing breakfast and washing the dished, Sakura brought up something that was currently bothering her.

"Um, Sasuke?"

"Hn."

"I feel kinda funny. A bit more bloodthirsty."

Time stopped as the words and the full implication of what Sakura said sunk in.

"Sakura, let me see the chains."

Sakura had a feeling about where this was going, but didn't say anything, just quietly did as he asked.

Sasuke gentle took her hand and looked over the chains. It looked like there wasn't any-there! It was small, but long crack. Nearly invisible and almost going from the bottom of the cuff to the top.

"There's a crack. It looks like you're right, Nakago found a way to crack the chains. We better get to the Third."

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"Well, why wake me up so early?" The Third was grumpy and still groggy from sleep.

"It's-"

"My chains cracked."

That simple and blunt statement woke the Third quickly enough.

"When and how?"

"They most likely broken last night, and I'm not really sure how they broke. Chances are, Nakago found a way around her aversion. It's not really surprising that she'd try to get me back this soon. I'm her strongest weapon and therefore a danger when in the hands of those she considers enemies."

"Hm, the chains will be a fifty-fifty ratio on the chains. Right now it's twenty-five chakra and seventy-five metal."

"Alright, then."

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After getting new chains, they went off training in a nearby forest, but still, there was a hint of disturbance. The birds did not sing, there were no little animals rustling, just silence.

A sudden rumble went through the village. There had never been an earthquake in Konoha, so why would one strike now? Simple, it wasn't one. Not that the civilians and most of the shinobis would know differently.

The ground around the two cracked and rumbled. Soon the ground split open and what came out where creatures of Nakago. Yet, the coloring of yellow, purple, and orange weren't there. The sense of that they were without will was no longer there. As if they had a measure of intelligence instead of the blind faithfulness.

Immediately the creatures attacked Sakura and Sasuke. There main objective was to bring back the girl by any means possible. Secondary orders were to kill any that got in their way.

The creature that surrounded them were shaped rather like cattle, with horny plates the color of metallic gray-blue instead of hair. They were not clumsy, however, and were the as tall at the shoulder as any full grown wolf. Nor were the heads or legs cattle like, they bore no resemblance to any creature Sasuke had ever seen. From sharp, backswept horns, to wide slitted eyes, to fanged mouths, their heads were as alien and as purposeful as any packed beast that Sasuke had seen.

Sakura was definitely scared of these creatures. Sasuke could tell that much from how she fearfully whispered, "Wyrsa."

"You know what these are?"

"They, they're Nakago's hunters and devourers. They'll mostly be used to devour Nakago's enemies souls. Very rarely will they hunt down a Fallen One, since we're usually under Nakago's complete control."

"Fallen Ones?"

"That's me. I've fallen to the darkness. Accepted the abyss of insanity."

"Any way to kill them?"

"No idea. I've never fought against them."

Sasuke mentally groaned.

The wyrsa began attacking and when they attack, it's in little groups. Meaning even more damage at the same time.

Today was just not his day.

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For the most part, it wasn't too bad. To kill the wyrsa, you have to aim for its underside where there weren't any plating. Though it was still hard, they rarely ever reared their heads, exposing the fleshly undersides, so careful aiming is a must. Added to that, they were strong and were lot more agile than they look.

At least Sasuke and Sakura together managed to kill about thirty of them. However, they still had roughly ten more packs to go and each pack has about ten individual wyrsa.

Unfortunately, the wyrsa concentrated on separating Sasuke and Sakura, which they didn't notice or the fact that it was really working.

Sasuke was steadily working on getting rid of the wave of wyrsa going at him. That was until he saw a flash from the corner of his eye.

It was Sakura. At first he had assumed that she had gotten rid of her wave and she was going to help him, but woe betide that assumption. Her wave was right behind her and they weren't attacking at all. Her eyes from before were back, black and dull green instead of white and lively viridian sea foam. The chains were off- wait! Chains off would mean that Nakago's in control, oh damn! He was so screwed. Sasuke had to admit that had had trouble fighting Sakura when Nakago was in control.

"So this is Nakago's most powerful, most ruthless fallen angel." An unfamiliar smooth voice spoke from the cavern. Definitely not Nakago since this voice was very male and masculine sounding.

"Who are-"

"Leareth. Nice to meet you, however short it may be. Now then, wyrsa and Sakura, we leave." The voice become smoother, having almost a greasy quality to it. Sasuke nearly gagged at it.

"You are not Nakago, so how can you give out orders like this?" It wasn't Sasuke who said this, though he would've dearly love to, but Sakura. "You should have no control over the wyrsa or me. Though it seems that they did your bidding readily enough." Her voice was flat and full of distrust.

"I've killed Nakago. You and everything that's she's created are now mine. Though it seems that I will have to work on breaking you to my will. You are a lot more powerful than your sister Fallen Ones."

"Nakago still lives on in me."

"Not for long I assure you. Wyrsa! Capture her!"

It was as Leareth said. The wyrsa did as they were told. Sakura did try to put up a fight, but the sheer numbers, which seemed to increase with every kill were overwhelming.

"As for you, as much as I would love to experiment with you, I'll have to focus on controlling this Fallen One. Just go to sleep, hmm?"

Sasuke, who until then had been neatly restrained by the wyrsa, collapsed. Before he fell into unconsciousness, the one called Leareth said, "To our dimension, now. These ninja will be unable to follow if we do so."

Then, black.

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When Sasuke finally woke, it was to bight fluorescent lighting, a stale sterilized smell, and to white walls. To put it simply, he was in the hospital.

Before he could even sit up, the door burst open along with a loud, "TEME!"

Just what I need, the stupid dobe yelling when I just woke up.

"Teme! Where's Sakura?"

Sasuke slowly turned toward the loudmouth and his teacher who quietly walked in and said, "She's not with you guys?"

"She's not with you?"

"I wouldn't be asking you if I knew where she was."

"You're supposed to be watching her!"

"Che, shut up dobe.'

"So, where is she?!"

With a calmness that Kakashi wasn't really feeling, he said, "Naruto, calm down. Sasuke, we found Sakura's chains or at least what's left of them. Not only were they chewed on, they looked as though they had been ripped off, melted, and corroded with something. What happen?"

"Sakura and I were leaving from the Hokage when we were surrounded. We were surrounded by What Sakura called wyrsa. While we were fighting, the wyrsa managed to separate us. They probably took that time to get rid of the chains because she soon attacked me."

"So Nakago's back."

"No, she's dead."

"So then how?" Kakashi didn't look worried but under the mask and inwardly, he was very worried. For someone or something to be able to defeat and kill Nakago… it was truly frightening to think of what could possibly happen.

"Someone by the name Leareth. Said something about another dimension and that we wouldn't be able to follow."

"I'll take this up to the Hokage. He might be able to figure out a way into this dimension."

"Hn."

"By the way, your brother's back."

Kakashi counted to three in his head; 1.…2.…3.… and right on the three:

"HN!" (What the hell! Already?!)-translation.

"Yes, he's with the Hokage," Kakasji answered back with some really couldn't help but feel amusement at he's normally apathetic student's shock.

"Actually, I'm right here Hatake-san."

"Hm?" Everyone slowly turned to the window and there was the prodigy of the clan: Uchiha Itachi.

Normally he'd be in the Akatsuki cloak, but he changed into black shirt and pants, along with a leaf hitai-ite. He also had a faint smirk playing on his lips.

Kakashi was amused.

Naruto was confused.

Sasuke was frowning and a rather curt, "What are you doing here?" came out.

"I live here foolish otouto. And the child that actually beat me and my partner was taken?"

Sasuke really shouldn't have woken up today.

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"Quite the dilemma foolish otouto."

"Shut up Aniki." Sasuke gritted his teeth in annoyance and hope to all the gods and goddess he knew that his brother would go away. Unfortunately, it seemed that whatever higher power or powers there were, they enjoyed his sufferings.

"Well, unfortunately, the Third has no idea how to get into or out of dimensions nor does he know of anyone that does."

"How are we going to save Sakura-chan, Itachi-teme?!"

"Naruto, stop. You happen to be insulting the prodigy of the village and someone how can quite easily mop the floor with you." Kakashi hoped that his loudmouth student would stop insulting people who could potentially wipe him off the face of the earth.

"Silence, Naruto-san. I know of someone who can transport others to and from different dimensions. However, it will take a week at most to get here with the device to go there."

"A week?!"

"Yes, a week. It is better than a month."

The guys of Team 7 weren't about to argue about that. How knows what this Leareth person might do to Sakura if they were to go after her in a month?

"What is this man's name?"

"Urahara Kisuke."

"Hmm, we'll just leave you two brothers to talk. Naruto, let's go."

"Un!"

Yup, someone up there was out to get Sasuke.