Orochimaru: The Phantom Of The Opera. Chapter 9.
Later that day, Iruka and Kakashi were in their office looking at the notes that Orochimaru sent them.
"I wonder. Did Orochimaru really write all these notes during his six month absence out of Konoha?" Kakashi wondered.
"Who knows, Kakashi? Who knows? What does your note say?" Iruka asked as Kakashi read his note from Orochimaru to Iruka:
"Dear Kakashi. We need another bassoonist, and a trombonist. As you can tell, they are deaf, and I want them fired because of that. I want someone to play the melody right, or else the show will be a disaster."
Iruka read his note:
"Dear Iruka. Not only do I want you to fire the current bassoonist and trombonist, but I also want you to fire some of the chorus girls, but only the deaf ones. However, I want a minor role assigned to some of them who can't even act."
Karin and Jugo came bursting through the office in anger.
"Outrage!"
"What's wrong now, Karin?" Iruka groaned.
"Have you even seen the size of my part? Remember that time the Phantom wanted Sakura to play the pageboy in "Il Muto," and have me play the Countess to which our roles were reversed because of what happened during the play? Well now, he's given Sakura the main role again in "Don Juan Triumphant," and I'm just one of the chorus members! Why does Sakura always get to be the main star of the Phantom's shows and not me?! This is totally not fair! I want her fired!" Karin screamed.
"Want who fired?"
Karin turned around and saw Sakura standing with Itachi, Sasuke, Naruto, Tsunade, and Ino.
"Sakura, you've been chosen as the main star of the Phantom's new opera "Don Juan Triumphant,"" Kakashi said.
"What?" Sakura asked as she read the note from Orochimaru:
"Greetings, everyone. I must tell you everything before rehearsals start. Karin needs to learn how to act. We can't have her running around the stage, acting as if she's the main star because she's not. If Jugo's going to play the role of Don Juan, he needs to lose some weight. My managers must learn that they are working in an office, not my theater. As for Sakura Haruno, I believe that she'll do a great job for her part in the play because she has a fantastic voice. Although she must learn to play her part, I hope you will allow her to return to me, her teacher."
"See?! I told you Sakura was behind this!" Karin yelled.
"Shut up, Karin! I don't want any part in this!" Sakura shrieked.
"Do you have any better ideas, Sakura?" Iruka asked.
"No. Like I said, I'm not doing it, and that's that!" Sakura declared.
"Oh, I see. You're just too scared that the Phantom's going to try and capture you again! Is that right, Sakura? I knew you were always weak," Karin said.
"No...," Sakura mumbled as she started backing into a corner.
"Look at her! She's nothing but a coward!" Karin bullied.
"That's enough! Look, if we're going to try and figure out a way to capture the Phantom, we must have all the guards be at every door. However, if Sakura sings her part, he'll definitely come, but only for her," Sasuke said.
"You can't," Sakura voiced as everyone started looking at her. "He's too strong."
"Don't tell me you're on his side. I knew you were behind this all along, Sakura," Karin commented with a smirk.
"Stop it, Karin! You've picked on me for far too long now! I'm going insane! Just leave me alone!" Sakura spat as she ran off crying.
"Now look what you've done, Karin! You made Sakura cry!" Sasuke shouted as he followed Sakura while calling her name.
By the time he found Sakura, the door to the ballet dormitories were closed, and he could hear Sakura crying.
Sasuke knocked on the door.
"Sakura? It's me, Sasuke. Can I come in?" he asked her.
Sakura opened the door and let Sasuke inside. They went to her bed, and sat down.
"Sasuke. I'm scared. Please don't make me do this. I've been through so much drama already. First, you betray Konoha by going to Orochimaru, then you come back into my life, Orochimaru becomes my Angel Of Music, and now this. I don't want to be a part of this. All I know is that he'll take me, and he'll never let me see you again. He won't let me go. It's just like that time when he went after you and the Uchiha Clan's power, and gave you the Curse Seal just so you could get your revenge on Itachi for killing everyone in your family except you. Now, Orochimaru's after me. He's a monster. I don't want to do this play, but if I refuse, he'll kill someone. I know it. Not only that, but I can never get him out of my mind. He'll always be there singing songs in my head. It will never end if he finds me. I'm scared, Sasuke. I don't know what to do. I don't want to go to him. I want to stay here in Konoha with you," Sakura voiced as she started to weep.
"Sakura. Look at me," Sasuke said, giving her a serious look. "Look. Don't think that I don't care about you, but now, every hope and every prayer lies in your hands. You have to play this part. After that, it'll all be over, and we can be together."
Sasuke and Sakura started to kiss passionately, removed all their clothing, landed on the bed, and began to make love. During their lovemaking, all of a sudden, Sakura mumbled something.
"Orochimaru."
Sasuke stopped kissing Sakura, looked at her and asked:
"Did you say something?"
"No. Nothing. I didn't say anything. You must have been hearing things, Sasuke," Sakura lied.
"No I wasn't. I heard you say something. What did you say, Sakura?" Sasuke questioned her suspisciously.
"I didn't say anything, Sasuke. Like I said before, you must have been hearing things," Sakura fibbed.
"Don't lie to me, Sakura. What did you say?" Sasuke asked Sakura again. A guilty look appeared on her face as she told him:
"Fine. I said Orochimaru's name."
"I can't believe this! I come back to Konoha after a two-and-a-half year journey with Naruto and Jiraiya, and right after I return, you're already starting to think of Orochimaru! Now, right after you become my fiancee, it's like I mean nothing to you now! So much for the proposal," Sasuke grumbled.
"Sasuke, please. I can explain," Sakura was about to put a hand on his shoulder until he shouted:
"Don't touch me! Leave me alone!"
"You know, it's funny. Right after you left Konoha and Orochimaru became my Angel Of Music, it's as if he was filling the hole left in my heart when you abandoned me. Then, all of a sudden, you come back into the picture and try to ruin my life! I guess you can say this is what you get for breaking my heart," Sakura said, crying. She put her clothes back on, and was about to leave Sasuke alone in the room until he told her one last thing.
"How could you fall in love with a murderous monster like Orochimaru? You have to make a decision, Sakura. It's either me or him."
Sakura ignored Sasuke, and left the Konoha Opera House.