26 Little Petals

26 Little Petals

Untitled Part II

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, never have. I'm not making any money out of this story.

By xox Bra's Unrequited Romance xox

Alright, so maybe it wasn't the best plan. No, not at all. Some how, finally ambushing Orochimaru in his own hideout wasn't the smartest idea the Hokage had ever had. But still Sakura hid out in the bushes with fifty other elite ninja and clenched her teeth in thought how ridiculously stupid it was.

Even she had more sense than this brain dead leader they called the Hokage. Once Naruto over powered him the better. She and even Naruto knew that the sand Kazekage would be more than willing to send a hundred of his troops into Orochimaru's lair and be backed up by fifty leaf Ninjas. That plan would have sure fire success. No way could Orochimaru have enough power and men to defeat one hundred and fifty elite ninjas. He didn't have fully functioning arms anymore so his power had decreased dramatically.

'And that's what he wants Sasuke for…' Sakura thought, her lips pursing.

Sasuke had been oblivious to it at the time, at the time he had left. He had only seen the power, the amazing power Orochimaru would give him, nothing else. He hadn't seen Orochimaru's intentions and if he had certainly not to a full extent. He thought he'd be in control once Orochimaru took his body, but that's exactly what he would do; take his body. She couldn't let that happen. She would never let that happen.

That was why she agreed to the mission in the first place. Anyone offered it in their right mind would have said no. But it was another chance to get Sasuke back, another chance to see Sasuke and well, if everything didn't work out, a chance to save Sasuke's body at least. He deserved that much after all. That was the only reason the Hokage had asked her, because he knew she would go.

She did still love him. She always had. Yes, she had taken Ino's advice and tried to get over him, but the dead fact was she couldn't. She couldn't get over him, however hard she tried. She had liked him, she had gotten to know him and it developed into a love. It may not have been mutual but it was love.

Well it wasn't mutual up until two months ago.

The healed bite mark on her neck throbbed. Why did it cause her such pain? He hadn't cursed her, because she had had no symptoms and had woke up the next morning as fresh as a daisy. It had healed over a month ago yet it still throbbed as if it was fresh. The medic had no known reason to the pain.

There was movement. Her eyes looked on in interest. She heard the ninja next to her shuffle.

It was a shadow, in a lit room. It moved across the fireplace, as smooth as a serpent. Sakura saw its sick face. It was that worm Kabuto, his glasses gleamed as his smile widened. Slowly he made his way to the open window of his white stone dome.

The words he spoke out of his mouth still haunt Sakura till this day.

"I want the Haruno…"

She saw her team mate next to her snap her head over to her. Slowly, she looked over to the lead ninja for actions.

"Stay down," He signaled.

"I know you're there little Sakura-Chan," Kabuto continued, "I know you're all there. We've known for quite some time. Leave now and we won't kill every single one of you. But Haruno, you must stay or consider all forty nine of you dead."

Sakura's head snapped over to the lead ninja. For once, he seemed at loss for action. Slowly, he raised his hand and pointed towards the dome shaped hideaway,

Attack.

And that's exactly what they did, their stealth forgotten for the time being. Kunais collided and soon, the north side of the structure was down. The swarm of Orochimaru's army poured out like cockroaches being disturbed in their nest.

Sakura did as every medical ninja did. She stayed behind; in five minutes she would enter the battle, healing anyone that needed it. But for now, she kept her emerald eyes peeled. Both for danger and her love.

Maybe it was because Sakura was about to go down and help, or maybe it was because her mind was so wrapped up in Sasuke that she didn't see anybody behind her. She didn't see him, but she did feel him. She felt him wrap his slimy hand around her mouth and the hard hand to her neck. After that all she saw was black.

It was dark and moist when she woke up. Still groggy she sat up, peering around her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She was in a cell. A moldy, grimy old rusted cell. The bars were a rusted metal, the floor icy stone with any type of vegetation growing through it. In the corner laid a skeleton, its empty eyes staring right through her, its hand connected to the wall secured by a rusted nail. The nail sunk into the wall, right between the two bones in the hand. Sakura swore she could still hear the screams of agony as the nail was hammered into the victims arm. She only prayed Sasuke didn't do it.

She looked at the rusted rails. It would only take minimal amount of strength to snap them like a twig but then what? Sakura decided that it was better than sitting in here waiting for death to reach her, or worse.

Groggily she got to her feet, her body screaming at her to rest. Slowly she gathered enough strength in her right fist to send a punch flying at the rusted iron bars.

Sparks filled the room and Sakura was thrown back in a wave of pain and power. Her body smashed up against the wall, her back hitting the nail protruding out. Her scream of agony must have echoed throughout the building because she could still hear it even when she stopped.

The bars had a jutsu on them. How could she have been so stupid not to look for it first?! Sakura didn't have much time to think however because at that moment, a figure appeared in front of her cell.

"You stupid little girl," He spat, his hateful eyes flashing. "Konoha ninja have always been the dumbest."

Sakura squinted. She didn't know this guy, probably Orochimaru's servant. But he was big, almost three times the size of Sakura and he was loaded with weapons. Sakura couldn't tell if they were for show or he actually had skill. If it was the latter, she didn't want to mess with him.

He unlocked and swung the cell door open. "You're coming with me," He hissed as he grabbed Sakura's arm and pulling her out of the cell.

Sakura struggled to walk, her knees giving away as he pulled her down corridor after corridor. His grip was so tight she thought he'd break her arm; there was no chance of escaping. She didn't even know if there was anyone left out side to escape to. Who knew how long she was out for?

"Where are you taking me?" She choked out.

"Shut up," was the rough reply. "Orochimaru want to see you."

Sakura shuddered, Orochimaru wanted to see her…

The man led her to two large doors. Raising a hand, he knocked on one of the large, heavy wooden doors. When no answer came, he grasped the iron door knob and pushed it open, dragging Sakura through. He released his grip on her arm as he threw her in, sending her to the ground.

It was like a peasant and an emperor as Sakura looked up. The peasant bowing down to the leader, like in all those movies, the only thing that was wrong was that Sakura had an infinite hate for him.

He sat on his thrown like the best thing in this world, his thin face and greasy long hair, his bony hands and piercing eyes. They stared down at her, stabbing at her like knives.

"I know what you can do…" He said, the words slipping out of his mouth like slime. "You can heal."

Sakura nodded.

"I want you to heal my arms."

"I won't," She spat.

"You will!" He roared. "Or I will kill everyone of your little team mates out there and I will make you watch."

Sakura looked at him, unyielding.

Suddenly, his expression changed and he smiled. A sick, distorted smile crept onto his face. "Let's make a deal. You're up for that, a proposition?"

Sakura eyed him. "What sort of proposition?"

"A win-win situation, you heal my arms, I give you something you've been wanting," He explained.

Sasuke…Sakura's mind raced. Would he give her Sasuke? No, certainly not! He was much too valuable to give to her and after all these years. It wouldn't be Sasuke.

"What of yours could I possibly want?" She drawled.

"A treaty," He said.

"A treaty?!" Sakura cried, "A treaty for what?!"

"A treaty that secures the Land of Fire against further attacks of my people," Orochimaru said. "Clearly a reasonable trade seeing as we wiped out Salmoikagure two months ago and that village had a population of five thousand people. I only sent in ten to do the job. So you see Sakura, to avoid anymore… regrettable circumstances, get the Hokage to sign the treaty after you finish healing my arms. I'll send one of mine to accompany you."

"No," Sakura said, "No. You know as well as I do that in the world we live in, treaties are worth as much as the piece of paper their written on."

Orochimaru shrugged, "Fine. Not like I cared anyway. I'll get what I want; I just thought you might want something out of it. You may have been more co-operative. Maybe I can offer you something else…"

Don't say Sasuke, don't say Sasuke…

"I want nothing of yours," Sakura replied. "I will not heal your arms, rot in hell."

Orochimaru's eyes flashed, rage burned within them. Wordlessly he raised his hand and Sakura suddenly felt her entire body being constricted. If he had this much power with retarded arms, imagine his full power, Imagine his power if he takes Sasuke body as his own.

Sakura gasped for air, she could feel her lungs burning. There was no way she could get out; it was like being on the receiving end of Gaara's sand coffin though a lot more painful. He would let her out if he even heard a whimper; Orochimaru wouldn't let her out till she was dead.

Suddenly she felt herself being thrown, thrown into the brick wall to her left. Her body smashed hopelessly against it. She should have been dead, she should have been, but for some unknown reason she wasn't. She was barely alive... Barely conscious, but she was. She felt pain everywhere, bones where shattered, ligaments not only stretched but snapped and her lungs pressed against her cracked and broken ribs every gasp for air. Among the pain however, there was one thing she felt; the throbbing in her neck.

Orochimaru got off his thrown and made his way down to Sakura and was surprised to find that she was still breathing. He made a mental note to never lose control like that again. He had almost killed one of the few chances he had of getting his strength back. However, it may make her respect him all the more.

"Still alive?" He hissed.

Sakura closed her eyes, embracing the inevitable, embracing death. Her life didn't flash before her eyes, nothing did. All she could feel was the throbbing in her neck. Where was Sasuke? She was dying and all she wanted was him.

"Orochimaru?"

The doors swung open and a figure walked in. Sakura couldn't see whoever it was, he vision clouded by blood and in weakness. His voice was crisp and deep, she knew it. She knew it instantly.

"W-What are you doing?" He exclaimed, his eyes going wider.

Orochimaru chuckled, "Come now Sasuke, you've tortured many in your time. I'm just making sure she knows whose boss." The snake gave Sakura a hard kick in the back, the medic ninja just whimpered in agony.

He could feel his anger boil. "No," He said sternly, "Not to Sakura. Get the hell away from her now."

Orochimaru smirked, "Don't be foolish Sasuke; she's needs to be put in her place. If she'd co-operated in the first place we wouldn't be in this situation. But wait," Orochimaru's voice raised a few octaves. "Why do you care for someone Sasuke? That isn't like you, what's gotten into you. You're showing weakness."

"I won't tell you again, get away from her or I will kill you," Sasuke seethed through clenched teeth. His fists tightened.

Orochimaru grabbed a handful of her strawberry hair and yanked her head up. "I'll kill her now Sasuke, then we'll have nothing to worry about."

He swore.

The kunai was drawn fast out of his pocket and threw with immense accuracy at Orochimaru's head. He was too fast though. He jumped, pulling Sakura up with him. The small blade flew through the hair. Miraculously, it weaved its way through Sakura's locks, cutting them and letting her fall down to the ground. She coughed and spluttered.

"I warned you," He hissed.

"You're being foolish Sasuke."

He looked at his ex tutor, Sharingan swirling rapidly.

"No, I'm not."

That was it, Sasuke wouldn't take this anymore. He had captured and tortured Sakura while he had sent Sasuke out on a day mission. He felt his anger peak, along with his strength. Today was the day; he'd kill Orochimaru right here, right now.

Orochimaru landed gracefully, his hands on his hips. "So what do you plan to do Sasuke?" He asked.

"Kill you," He replied simply.

Orochimaru didn't have time to speak. Sasuke disappeared on the spot and re appeared in front of the Serpent, kunai raised. Orochimaru blocked the small blade as it was thrown down aimed at his chest.

Frustrated, Sasuke swung his leg around, aiming for a deadly kick in the head. It impacted with Orochimaru's forearm.

"You won't be able to kill me Sasuke. I know all your moves, I was the one that showed you them…" Orochimaru seethed as he blocked a Chakra filled punch.

He didn't listen, he couldn't listen. There was no way he would back down now, all he needed was something original, something Orochimaru hadn't seen. Punch after punch, each unsuccessful, he was unsure if he possessed something other than the Grand Fire Ball that Orochimaru didn't teach him.

It was at that time Orochimaru started to fight back. Throwing a chakra filled punch at his now ex-student, it impacted with his jaw and sent him into the wall behind him. The white stone cracked under the enormous pressure.

Though he wasn't done yet. A few hand signals and he had gathered Chakra between his palms, cradling it like a baby.

"Now Sasuke," He began, cradling the ball of energy. "This is your last chance, Stop fighting now and forget about the girl and have all the power in the world. Or continue fighting, die and get neither. I know which one I would choose."

Sasuke looked up, his Sharingan flashing. "So do I…"

He disappeared silently, his stealth and speed his best talents. He ran across the wall, defying the laws of gravity and straight for the serpent, two Fuuma Shuriken swirling madly in his hands as was his Sharingan. The machete blades spun through the air as Sasuke descended to the ground, behind his former teacher. It would be absolute suicide to attack from the front and whilst charging in an attack, his ex teacher would be too slow to block his attacks. This would be it.

The blades spun around as Sasuke inched closer. The Uchiha pulled his pulled his left arm back and sent the Shuriken was flying through the air a deadly wheel of razor sharp knives.

That was it, he hadn't turned around yet. He was done for. The Shuriken would slice him in half and he would be dead.

The Shuriken swirled through the air, inching closer to Orochimaru's body. He hadn't turned around and the Shuriken ripped right through his back and out the other side.

Right through a Shadow Clone.

Sasuke snapped his head back, his right Shuriken slowed down in his hand. He had just hit a clone… Not Orochimaru. So where was he? Sasuke didn't think he really wanted to find out.

"Over here…"

The voice sent shivers down her spine. Sasuke turned around, his blood red eyes swirling dangerously. Deep inside, he could feel his gut wrench.

Orochimaru stood behind him, in the exact spot where the clone was just moments before. He smirked at him, cradling the large amount of Chakra in his hands.

"Time to die Sasuke…"

The room was engulfed in light and all Sasuke could feel was the ball of Chakra pressing agonizingly against his chest, throwing him backwards. It wasn't until he hit the wall that he really felt the blast. His cry of defeat echoed through the room. Sakura was unconscious on the floor.

The light subsided and Sasuke looked on in agony. How did that happen? How could he loose? How could he loose everything? Sakura and his life; he wasn't dead yet, but soon enough he would be.

Sasuke sunk to the ground, unable to move, unable to speak, a bloody mess. He shut his eyes hard, it wasn't Uchiha to give up like this, but what else could he do? It was true, Orochimaru had taught him everything that he knew today, apart from the few years at the Ninja academy and that was hardly enough to kill Orochimaru.

"Sasuke, you'll never be able to defeat me," The voice echoed in his brain, the ninjas piercing eyes haunted him.

He remembered now… When he was fourteen he had been put on a mission to obliterate the rogue ninja Immakagure. It hadn't been Sasuke that had killed him, it hadn't been Naruto and as Kakashi had explained to him later it was Sakura. She had an expert sense of chakra, perfect chakra control, with that she had been able to deal a fatal blow of the right amount of chakra with still some to spare in case he didn't die. Kakashi had been over the moon about Sakura's victory, and well, though Sasuke was a little jealous but his brain was already contemplating about how perfect Chakra control would benefit the Uchiha clan.

Kakashi pulled him to the side the next training lesson.

"Do you want to learn a new technique Sasuke? I was going to keep it till your fifteenth birthday, but I think you ready for it now," He had told him, his mask wrinkling into a smirk.

"Alright," Sasuke had replied.

"Okay Sasuke, it's called the Chidori and it goes like this…"

Sasuke's eyes snapped open, Sharingan swirling madly.

It's called the Chidori…

That was it! That was the only technique that Orochimaru hadn't taught him, the only technique that Orochimaru hadn't seen. Kakashi had taught him the Chidori.

Slowly the wounded ninja rose.

Orochimaru chuckled, "Still alive Sasuke-kun?"

"Yes…" Sasuke seethed through clenched teeth. He watched Orochimaru gather more Chakra into his hands.

This was it, the only chance his body would give him. His arms would probably hemorrhage even now when he used it. But everything came at a price. Quickly and skillfully he made hand signs. Orochimaru laughed.

"Come now Sasuke, You can't really have been thinking of doing a jutsu, I've taught you all you know!" Orochimaru exclaimed. Sasuke didn't reply. Orochimaru watched his hand signs carefully, trying to read them, knowing what jutsu Sasuke was about to perform. 'Ox, Rabbit and Monkey? I've never heard of that jutsu before. I didn't teach him that either.'

Sasuke felt the pain seer through his arms but everything was worth it when he started to hear birds cheep. There were a few at first, but they dramatically increases until the screeching of one thousand birds echoed throughout the room.

"The Chidori."

He let it loose. The screaming of the birds aimed only at Orochimaru, the full force of the Chidori being let loose on him. He couldn't survive it. There was no way.

Sasuke collapsed to the ground, panting hard. He watched his former teacher's body lay in a bloody heap on the ground. That was it. He had killed Orochimaru and won everything. Slowly his blood eyes moved over to Sakura.

She laid on the floor unconscious, barely moving. Sasuke could see her chest rising up and down slowly, though he could also see many wounds seeping blood onto the cold stone floor. Slowly he reached into his pocket.

His fingers clasped on a small ball. A Soldier's Pill…He thought. But who would he give it to? Sakura or himself? He weighed out the options.

He could give it to Sakura, who would heal his own wounds. Sasuke looked down at his bloody and broken arm. But then what. He would probably pass out by that time and there was no guarantee that he would wake up. She would have to stay in this room and Kabuto was bound to come by soon enough, he would have had to have felt the amazing Chakra coming out of the room by now.

If he gave it to himself, he'd be able to sneak out of Orochimaru's lair and back to his own house. After that, he'd be able to attend to Sakura's wounds and eat something.

His decision made, Sasuke swallowed the Soldier's Pill.

He felt the affects almost instantly, power surged through his body and he felt revitalized. He stood up and walked over to Orochimaru. His ex teacher laid still in a pool of his own blood, his chest ripped open and limbs stripped to the bone.

"Bastard…" Sasuke said bitterly. His eyes died down, turning back into the endless onyx. They turned over to Sakura. He approached her, his Nin sandals tapping rhythmically on the ground.

She was probably in a worse condition that Orochimaru injuries wise. He had a hole in his chest, the only injury; Sakura had extensive injuries all over her body. He couldn't heal her, he had no idea how. The only one that could would be Kabuto, but he wasn't about to take that risk.

Sakura was badly bruised; every inch of her he looked he could see purple bruises. She had a few broken bones that he could see. A broken wrist and by the way she was struggling to breath, a few broken ribs. Her body was covered in gashes that were seeping out blood.

"Sakura…" Sasuke whispered gently, pushing back her blood tipped hair behind her ear. "Everything will be fine now… I promise."

She pulled the silk robe against her body, letting the fabric slide against her skin. Sunlight peeped through the window, highlighting the kitchen and the figure inside it making breakfast. Sakura smiled gently and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She flipped the tomato omelet in the pan and it hissed back at her in reply. Her bandaged hand turned down the heat.

"Why aren't you in bed?"

Sakura turned around, laughing. "Sasuke, you can't expect me to lie in bed all day can you? Frankly it's boring!"

The Uchiha smirked, "Welcome to my life Doctor Haruno."

Sasuke wrapped his arms around Sakura's bandaged waist gently, weaving inside the crimson silk. She smiled wrapping her arms around his neck and entangling her hands in Sasuke's hair.

"You know what," She said, her voice as smooth as the silk she was wearing. "I never got to thank you for saving my life…"

She kissed him passionately, though he seemed to take control in an instant, pushing her body against his. Her hands ran through his hair, coming out to stroke his cheek.

He broke the kiss, giving her small butterfly kisses over her lips, nose and chin. Sakura smiled as he moved down her neck, tenderly kissing where he had bitten her months ago. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her at the moment.

He picked her up bridal style and smirked. "I think you should go back to bed."

Sakura laughed, "Whatever you say Doctor Uchiha."

Oh Geez! This took me over a week to write, but hey I did it. There's an update for all of you. Actually, I might to another update into this week or next, I have a really funny idea.

It goes along the lines of…

"Sasuke, This is Manchester my families Himalayan and basically if you can't get along with Manchester, we can't continue seeing each other."

I read a comic one day and it was along the lines of that. Really good.

So there's an update for all you hungry Sasuke and Sakura lovers out there, just please remember to review. Thanks.

All my Love

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