I returned to the village shortly after the Akatsuki's departure. No one noticed me as I bounded across the large walls that surrounded it and landed safely inside. I aimed for a back alleyway so that I would not be seen by anyone that would wonder where I had been. Rising out of the crouch I was perched in, I smoothed out the crinkles in my dress and the tangles in my hair, eliminating any sign that I had been active recently. I felt hollow, not knowing when I would be able to see them again. However, I knew that this solution was much better than watching them be killed, or having to be the one to kill them. Standing strong, I began to casually walk towards the hokage's office for a scheduled meeting.
I arrived somewhat late even though I had rushed to get here. Sasuke and Lady Tsunade were already focused on a map that had been pinned to the wall. This time they were joined by Shikamaru, who looked in my direction as I slid the door open. He seemed bored, whereas Sasuke just ignored me. Lady Tsunade gave me a brief recap on the discussion they had been having about where to look begin looking for the Akatsuki while the boys were debating whether or not the Lightning Country seemed a likely place. They suddenly broke out into an argument and I sighed. Today was going to be a long day.
After hours of planning we had gotten almost nowhere. I was now walking down the main street which was emptying rapidly as the sun lowered itself below the horizon. Fuming, I kicked a stone and stopped moving as I watched it scrape across the ground. I got a few stares from those who were still out but I didn't care. I was furious. Not about the little progress we had gotten done during the session with Lady Tsunade, nor about the fact that I was plotting to kill my friends. Not even the heated argument that had arisen managed to anger me. Thing was, Sasuke had not spoken to me once. He hadn't even looked at me. I didn't understand. What had happened between last night and this morning that would have made him ignore me? Had I imagined last night's events after all?
Though it was dark when I arrived at my house I knew that there was no way I would be able to sleep. Anger still bubbled within my veins, boiling with time. I decided to go to the one place I knew I would be able to unleash myself. The training grounds. Memories of that first night with Sasuke flooded my mind as I arrived, almost making me go dizzy. I got a grip on myself and clenched my fist, the images only making me more angry. In the entire night I spent on those grounds I threw one punch. That was it. After I threw that single punch I collapsed and began to cry.
I fell asleep there in the center of that clearing. I was cold and I was only in my dress, but I was so overcome with exhaustion that I didn't care. My body pulled itself into a protective fetal position in an attempt to keep warm as I began to slip into unconsciousness. Images flashed through my mind relentlessly. Akatsuki members were dead, pools of blood collected around their bodies. Itachi's was mangled, almost unrecognizable except for his blood red sharingan eyes which appeared hollow and haunting. I screamed.
I awoke in a cool sweat, still in the clearing. My body was shaking traumatically. As my blurry vision focused I saw Sasuke. I called out to him. He was walking away from me even as I began to beg him to stay. I panicked as the black of the night encased me. Tears streamed down my face and I screamed Sasuke's name once more. There was no response. I felt the pressure of the darkness around me crush my lungs as I began to gasp for breath. With every inhale I felt more dizzy. Finally, everything went black.