Now this one is long... by my standards...

I hope you like it...


Chapter 7: Meeting Unwanted Fate

"Naruto, I don't know how you can eat so much." Sakura said to him as she watched him eat his tenth bowel of ramen. It would always remain a mystery. Where could he possible fit all that ramen?

"It's called having a healthy appetite." He responded, a foxish grin on his face.

"Eating ten bowels of ramen isn't healthy." She looked at the clock, "Oh man, I'm going to be late for training." Grabbing her belongings and paying for her meal, she waved goodbye to Naruto who had started on his eleventh bowel.

"Good luck Sakura-Chan!" she heard him yell, a smile spread on her face. Naruto could always make her smile.

Thinking back on her destination, a sense of dread filled her. Tsunade sensei was going to kill her if she was late for another training session, Sakura thought as she jumped from rook to roof. This would be the third time this week. Maybe she was spending too much time with Kakashi.

The training ground came into view. Landing softly upon one of the branches of one of the larger tress, she looked around for her sensei, "You're late."

She flinched at the enraged voice of her sensei before looking down, "I'm sorry. Naruto insisted I have a bowel of ramen with him today." She jumped down from the tree, landing just in front of the Hokage. "I promise it won't happen again."

She sighed, "You promised that last time, and the time before that." Taking a few steps forward, Tsunade placed her hands upon Sakura's shoulders, "This training is important, not only for you, but for everyone."

Sakura hated when the guilt card was played, "I know sensei, I've just been…… distracted, and with the hospital and missions, my mind is-."

"I know that, but you need to find a way to balance all your thoughts. Clear your head of all unnecessary clutter and focus on what needs to be done. Alright?" her eyes bore into her.

Sakura stared at her, "Alright." Easier said than done, she thought as an image of Sasuke came into her mind. How long had it been since she last laid eyes on him? At least a year, maybe more. A painful ache raced through her heart. Hurry back Sasuke, she thought.

"Are you ladies ready to begin?" they turned to face her old sensei, a smile hidden beneath his mask.

"I believe so, Kakashi." Tsunade said as she moved herself behind Sakura. She waited patiently as everything faded into darkness. The cloth being tied around Sakura's eyes was soft upon her flesh.

Letting herself adjust to her lack of sight, she felt Kakashi's chakra level rise, indicating that he had activated his famous Sharingan. A pang shot through her heart as a stray thought of Sasuke slipped into her mind.

"To defeat Itachi, you must learn to fight without the use of sight. We don't want you falling into his trap." She heard Tsunade say.

Sakura sighed; she heard those words every time she trained. She knew how and why she trained this way, no reminder was needed. Ever since the contact they meet in cloud told them of the Akatsuki's plan, many members of Anbu Black Ops were being trained specifically to fight each member. The only other Shinobi she new that was also being trained was Neji. Naruto had wanted to, but Tsunade had turned him down since he was one of their primary targets. She herself had been lucky enough to get chosen to fight Itachi. Oh joy,

She new Sai also wanted to be apart of this training, but was also turned down because of his rank. He was still a Jounin when the people were chosen. When he was finally moved up he insisted on taking her place to fight Itachi. Again he was turned down. She heard from him almost everyday how dangerous and stupid this mission was, how she could get killed or worse. She knew deep down that he liked her as more than a friend but….

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt Kakashi race towards her. She was barely able to catch his fist before it made contact with her face. "Stop daydreaming." Her sensei yelled. Tightening her grip upon his fist, she lifted him off the ground; rotating her body, she threw him as hard as she could. Her reflexes quickened as she caught a kunai he threw at her between two fingers and sent it right back at him. After months of this training her other senses had become incredibly heightened.

Suddenly Sakura felt another chakra approach and stop beside where her sensei stood, fear stanching his body, "Hokage-sama, we have a problem."

"What is it?" her voice filled with concern. Both I and Kakashi stopped where we were to listen.

"Two Akatsuki members have been spotted coming towards the village." Everything fell silent. Removing the cover from her eyes, Sakura saw the anger rise in Tsunade's own eyes, her fists clenched tightly.

"Who are they?" she asked threw clenched teeth.

The messenger flinched before answering, "We believe it to be Hoshigaki Kisame and Uchiha Itachi." Sakura's mouth fell open. "We sent scouts, jounin, to go and check it out."

Tsunade turned to her, frustration and angry seeping through her eyes, "Training is over. Get into gear and head out." She turned to Kakashi, "Go and retrieve the Hyuuga and meet the Anbu team at the gate."

Sakura only nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Reappearing at the Anbu center, she slipped on her white chest, leg and arm shields. Placing her Anbu mask upon her upper arm, she quickly tied her hair loosely behind her. Once all her kunai and other weapons were in place she quickened her pace and raced off to the gate.

As she approached the gate, Sakura saw Tsunade, Neji, and five other Anbu members. "Good, your all here now." She yelled, "The goal is not to kill them, but to move them away from the village. If you happen to have an opportunity to exterminate them, by all means take it. Are we clear?" All of them nodded, "Move out."

Each one speed off in a different direction, Sakura sped up her pace as she searched the forest grounds.

"Sakura, what is your position?" she heard Neji say on the mic she wore.

"Northeast of the gate, estimated two miles form the gate." She said to him, "Where are you?"

"North of the gate, estimated, a half mile from your location."

"Any luck." Sakura asked.

"None, you?"

"No." she declared as she stopped in a clearing to catch her breath. "Maybe this was a false alarm."

"They sent a girl to find us." A low voice said behind her. Sakura turned and sneered at the two cloaked figures behind her, "And a young one at that." The shark smirked.

"Sakura, what's going on? Answer me!" Neji screamed in her ear.

"I found them." She whispered through clenched teeth.

"I'm on my way." Was all she heard from him before she was left alone with the two men.

"Just deal with her so we can continue." Said Itachi, impatient present in his tone. Kisame stepped forward, a dark playful grin on his face. She had no idea what to do, Neji was the one trained to fight this man. Leaping backwards, Sakura tried to put space between them until Neji could arrive to help her. Taking a kunai she quickly tied a paper bomb to it and threw it in his direction. He easily dodged it and laughed before it exploded taking him by surprise.

Now all the Anbu in the area would come to this spot. Landing firmly on her feet, she watched as the shark unsheathed Samehada, his infamous sword. The large weapon hit the floor with a thud as he continued to smirk at her. He was really starting to annoy her with that smirk.

Suddenly a Shuriken sliced into his arm causing him to drop the sword. Sakura turned toward the direction it came to see the white eyes Shinobi. "It's about time you got here." She yelled.

"Sorry about that." He smiled at her.

"Why you little… you're going to pay for that." The shark said as his attention turned to Neji. Sakura took this opportunity to move in a position to attack Itachi.

"It seems you can't handle this alone anymore." The older Uchiha said as he removed the large hat from on top of his head. He cast his eyes in her direction. Sakura new the plan. She and Neji would try and separate the two so they would be easier targets. Placing her Anbu mask in place, her vision went dark, protecting her from Itachi's Sharingan. She turned and ran deeper into the woods knowing Itachi was right on her tail. Perfect. As she approached another clearing, Sakura slowed down and stopped before turning to face him.

Just like Kakashi, she felt his chakra rise as he leveled up his Sharingan. Her whole body tensed as she waited for him to make the first move. "You don't know what you got your self into." Was all he said as he slid the cloak off his body.

Inside, Sakura felt as if her breath was caught in her throat, her voice left her body. With her sight no longer with her, she slowly tried to adjust to her condition. Her stance hardened as she waited for his attack. Her wait wasn't long as she heard the sound of his cloak hit the ground and his racing footsteps in her direction. It took all her courage, all her strength, not to run away, not to run for the safety. She pulled out a kunai and blocked his own just in time, the scraping of metal against metal filled her ears as they both pushed against each other.

She would not lose to him, not after what she went through because of him. He was the one that hurt Sasuke, the reason he left her, the reason she wasn't with him. It was all the fault of the man in front of her. She might not be able to see him, but she new that face well enough to let her hate rise.

Her hands gripped the kunai tighter as she jumped back and threw it in his direction. The smell of blood filled her nose. She smiled inside. The sound of his curse was in soft as he pulled the weapon from his body and let it fall to the floor. It wasn't long till she was interrupted in her celebrating with a Shuriken in her left side. She cried out and fell to her knees. Why didn't she hear it? Damnit, she needed to focus. Her concentration was on killing this man. She had no intention of letting him live. She pulled out the pointed star from her bloodied flesh and let it drop at her feet. She listened as she heard the sound of his angered foot steps rush for her. Her heart hardened as she waited for the impact. His fist aimed for her head which she easily dodged. Her back arched as her hands found the floor lifting her legs in the air to kick him under the chin.

He dodged and grabbed a hold on her leg. Spinning her around, he threw her body against a nearby tree and let her body hit the ground. She quickly gained herself and was able to block his kick before he hit her abdomen.

Suddenly, he began putting pressure upon her hands with the foot she had just blocked, his strength crushing her against the bark of the tree. Both her hands held underneath his foot, leaving her defenseless. "I tire of you." he said, his voice filled with boredom. She heard him pull out a kunai. Damn him. The steal felt cool as he slid the tip of the kunai down her neck to the front of her chest plate. The black shirt tore with ease at the touch of the sharp blade, the white plate proved harder.

He stopped. It was as if everything froze. Why had he stopped? With her eyes covered she could not tell what was happening. The metal slid against her skin once more, the sound of his kunai scraping metal filled her ears once more. Sasuke's necklace. He saw the necklace. "So, you have won the affection of my foolish little brother." He chuckled, "I had planned on making your death quick, but now I think I will make you suffer."

One hand reached for her mask, letting it fall to the dirt floor with a thud. Sakura shut her eyes. She would not fall for his trap. She would not look into his eyes. "It makes me wonder what my little brother sees in you." He lifted her chin in his grip, her eyes clenched shut, "How much will his heart break knowing I killed another person he cared for. You must be something special for him to give you our deceased mother's necklace."

She spat in his face, "She's dead because of you."

Another chuckle, "Open your eyes for me." She didn't move, never would she do anything for this man. "Very well then, you leave me no choice."

Sakura gasped, eyes shooting wide as a kunai broke the flesh of her stomach and pierce deep inside her. Pain shot through her body. It was two late. Crimson caught jade and she was trapped.

Everything went dark; Sakura felt a deathly chill race over her body causing a lone tear to form in her eyes. "What are you most afraid of little blossom?" his tone mocking her. A single finger traced the curve of her face, her body trembled as his icy breath grazed the flesh of her neck, one hand slipping around her waist. His hand gripped her chin, forcing her to look at a figure forming in front of her.

Her eyes went wide, "Sasuke-Kun." The raven haired boy that held her heart stood before her, the cursed seal over taking his body. A dark smile on his face as he held a kunai in one hand, taking the few steps towards her.

"I know what your fear, that he will turn on you again." He chuckled once more, "That he doesn't really love you." She tried to shake her head, close her eyes, but she couldn't. All Sakura could do was watch as Sasuke walked over to her and plunged the kunai into all ready blood soaked stomach. She didn't know what her hurt more, the pain from the kunai or the look she witnessed on her love's face.

Sakura body fell numb after hours of torture as Itachi held her from behind and Sasuke thrusted the blade into her body. She could breathe when it all went dark once more, his laugh echoing in her ears. His face came into focus as her eyes fluttered open. He stood up, pulling a sword from his waist. Sakura could only watch through half opened eyes as he raised the blade above his head, determination in his eyes.

She shut her eyes and waited for death to take her, for the blade to end her life. It never came. It took what was left of her strength to open her eyes. Two figures now stood before her limp body. She eyed the man before her, his back to her, his blade stopping Itachi's. Her strength leaving her body, she gave one last look at the raven haired man that saved her and a smile came to her face. Her lids became heavy as she softly gasped "Sasuke-Kun."


tada... I hope u liked it

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