Part One

Chapter Twelve; Journey the Dark Path

(Sakura's Pov)

It's been two weeks since I defected from my village and left everything behind. I'd saved up a decent amount of money through my brief career as a genin, D-rank missions don't pay much, but enough to keep my afloat for the moment, I'd worked some odd jobs for people in small villages along the way, either for a place to sleep, or a few coins to pay my way. I plowed fields, weeded gardens, repaired carts, disposed of bandits.

I was now just outside the boarders of Suna, the sun was setting, several orange and pinks casting across the sky, the temperature here was considerably hotter than Konoha, which was pretty warm weather to begin with, but as the sun began to set it was becoming fierce. I had built a fire, and was now making repairs to Hanami, fixing the flawed designs.

What makes you so sure this woman will accept your offer? She's a member of this village's council, is she not?

That's irrelevant at the moment, I may be a missing Nin in Konohagakure, but Suna isn't our allies.

The best responded with cackling, husky laughter, Do not confuse bravery with stupidity, girl. What makes you think these people wouldn't attack you on a whim?

You would allow that? I shot back cockily, growing used to the voice in my mind, no matter how chilling. I ignored the pulsation of warmth that spread out through my bandaged marking of the Jubi, narrowing my eyes at the insidious breast that had mad delusions of me walking to his side in becoming a tyrant.

His responding snort was enough to raise the hairs on the back of my throat, I'd watch what you say to me girl. I may just follow you into the underworld and make a snack of your innards.

"I don't think going to the same place." I remarked dryly as I brushed my paintbrush across the smooth wood surface of the once Geisha-resembling puppet, although after what it had been used for- It didn't seem fit anymore. Its face was now the smooth, black lines of a dragon. I closed my eyes, breathing in the inky smell that followed the dark paint.

Che, Che. Little girl, you'll kill just as I have, don't delude yourself by assuming a position on a pedestal.

I reminded silent, backing away from the drying puppet to pull a dusted scroll from my pack, running my fingers over the surface fondly, closing my eyes to relish in it's feel before I pulled the small string that kept it shut, it rolled open slowly, revealing the map to the large, ancient map, a puff of dust making me cough as it erupted from the map.

Eh, a summoning contract? Where on earth did you get that?

I sneered and laid out the map before me, drawing a kunai and slicing through my palm, hissing in pain at the sensation before dragging my fingertips through the pooling blood of my hands before I began elegantly writing my name, "It was with me since I became an orphan." I spoke absentmindedly, continuing to swiftly create letter by letter.

And what beast will you be signing this contract with, little girl?

My features pulled into a grin as the last of my name was signed off, "Umihebi"

Sea Serpents? My, my. You're quite the strange one.

I shielded my eyes from the responsive puff of smoke, looking at the large-dog sized serpent that appeared before me, balancing on it's belly despite the lack of legs not seeming to have trouble keeping balance, it's similarities to a traditional looking dragon were striking, the serpent focused it's milky colored eyes on me, "A Haruno, I presume?" It questioned in a gruff, male voice.

"H-hai." I responded, its appearance all together intimidating, I probably should have summoned it a bit closer to a water source.

It looked over me with its pupil-less milky colored eyes, sizing me up. I squirmed a bit under the intense glare, earning comment-less snort from the Jubi. The serpent sighed, slithering forward; it took everything I had not to jump back in surprise.

"I am Umiziki." It spoke, seeming to stretch straighter and look at me blankly.

"Are you going to accept the contract agreement, or what?" I sighed, eyes looking to the sea serpent before me warily, not meaning to sound disrespectful, I'm sure there would have been a better time to sign the contract, I just didn't have much room for error now that I had made myself a missing nin.

The serpent laughed haughtily at my blunt words, I hoped that was a sign of acceptance. "I like you, headstrong, just like Ame." It spoke; I paused, offering a questioning glance at the creature before me, "Ame?"

The creature grinned, it's thousands of tiny needle-like teeth gleaming an ominous crimson, I presumed it was just a trick of the light, but if I would have taken a second glace into the cat-like grin, maybe I would have seen bits and pieces of flesh.

"You're just like your mother. Density and all." It snickered casually, my blood was spiking with curiosity, and by the way the creature looked at me, I wouldn't doubt the serpent could smell it.

"You knew my mother?" I questioned, leaning forward to stare intently into the milky eyes of the creature before me, its grin widened, and I almost reared back, there was a bit of flesh and blood in its teeth, it took everything I had not to squeal and jump back, but I needed this damn thing to like me.

"That's a story for another time, young Haruno. We accept your offer." It spoke, leaning forward, I looked at it questionably before a spike of immense pain shot through my forearm, I couldn't hold back the groan of pain as thousands of pin-point teeth sank into me, before I could retaliate the beast had disappeared into a cloud of smoke and I was left in the middle of the clearing, holding my bleeding appendage.

"What the fuck was that?!" I snapped to no one, trying to heal the wound, but it was forcing out my chakra, or maybe I just didn't have enough from all the traveling and whatnot, I don't really care, my arm fucking hurt, I would have rather taken a kunai to the back than this, it was festering, my arm was smoking with immense heat, poison? Acid? Kami, it hurts.

Ancient acceptance amongst beasts. It's marked you, to assure you can no longer make contracts with other creatures, the serpents have claimed you as their own. The Jubi drawled out as if speaking of the weather, Sea serpents are infamous man eaters, but loyal nonetheless. Their saliva is acidic, that won't heal no matter what you try, you're just wasting chakra.

"Kami, damn it!" I growled, halting the chakra flow to my hands, wrapping the wound with gauze, or at least attempting to, however, it just burnt through those as well, so with no other choice, I simply bit through the pain.

As the last of the sun's rays disappeared I lent my head back against the ruff surface of a tree, my eyes cast to the glittering obsidian sky, watching the stars glimmer.

As her mind faded to blackness, one thought surfaced in her mind, 'freedom'.

-X-X-X-

The sun was starting to rise, and I was steadily stomping out the last of my campfire from the night before, my eyes slightly pink and blurry from the new awakening, I was never one for mornings, speaking of, where the hell was Inner? She hated mornings just as much.

My presence is stronger and forced her further into the recesses of your impudent mortal mind.

"I liked her a whole hell of a lot more than I like you." I grumbled, sniffling with a small cough, great, I was getting sick. Stupid unpredictable bipolar Suna weather, stupid hot fucking days and freezing nights…

I cupped a hand to shield my eyes from the bright sunlight as I looked at the expanse of land ahead, I had a ways to go if I was ever going to be able to control my body, and learn how to sustain the Jubi's chakra, that, I was sure of.

The decent into darkness has begun, and I had to prepare myself for what was to come. I couldn't be the weak little girl I had been before. There were hunter nin after me now, I was marked a missing nin with inside information on Konoha, and I would surely be hunted down, not seen as a dire threat, but nuisance enough for my head to be worth something, considering the only other missing nin was Itachi Uchiha.

I groaned, clutching my hair in annoyance, it was too damn early to get myself so worked up, I was going to end up with gray hair if I kept doing this to myself. Kami, I sound like Kakashi-Sensei… Wait, no, he isn't my sensei anymore, hell, I doubt if I ever could have called him that. He taught me enough skills to kill a rabbit, but surely not enough to keep my alive; I had to learn that on my own.

I leapt forward, clutching onto one of the higher branches and pulling myself forward with a small grunt and minimal effort. I needed to get into Suna before the sun started to set, and figure out just how the hell I was going to convince this old hag to train me, from what I've read about her she's not one to just take people off the streets.

As I entered Suna (Courtesy of the Jubi telling me which sides of the gate were left unguarded) I'd been walking around aimlessly for hours, glad I didn't have my headband to attract attention, but my pink hair gave me away a bit as a foreigner.

Just when I'd come to a lake, I thought the search was over, that I was never going to find Chiyo, but then I noticed an elderly woman sitting on a dock, fishing pole in hand, looking still as death, but her chakra reserves were powerful and easily noticed, I felt a maniac grin spread across my cheeks and I raced around the curling edge of the lake, feeling myself get closer and closer to the peer.

That's when I noticed the woman wasn't moving, even as I came to stand behind her, poking her gently in the shoulder.

She sweatdropped as a loud snore came from the older woman, her eyebrow twitched in annoyance as she poked the old woman a bit harder, "Hey you-"

THWACK!

"Ow! What the hell lady!?" I groaned, rubbing the lump atop my head where this damn hag had stricken me with her fishing pole, said hag was now looking around curiously until her wrinkled features came to rest on me with a lazy 'eh?' of question.

"What is it you want, girlie? You don't look like you're from around here." She said, warily narrowing her eyes at me as her wrinkled hand buzzed with chakra, I blushed and held up my hands in defense.

"You've got it all wrong, you see- I came here because I want to learn-"

"How to become a puppet master." The old woman huffed, deflating from her prior readiness to strike as she crossed her arms and turned to face me, "I've had many a' shinobi come here and ask to me under my tutelage, what makes you think you're any better, girlie?"

I let out a small sigh and plopped down beside the old woman, "I- I have this creature within me, one I cannot control… I need to become stronger, so that I can protect those precious to me…" I said softly, placing my hands in my lap, staring down at them with glazed jade eyes.

The old woman looked thoughtful for a moment, a look of sadness on her features as she uttered a loud sigh, grabbing her fishing pole and casting a line out to the waters, where it entered with a 'plop'.

"Why do you want my help, girlie? I'm sure the slug princess wouldn't deny you." She said, spitting the last part as if poison on her lips. I wasn't sure who she was addressing, so I simply squirmed uncomfortably in my seat, allowing my legs to swing back and forth over the dock, the tips of my toes skimming the surface of the water from time to time.

"You're legendary in both poisons and puppetry, which were my first choices in training, although my sensei didn't have much to do with me, so the only things I know are self-taught and still very, very unpracticed." I whispered, embarrassment evident on my lips.

A loud, haughty laugh escaped the ender woman's lips as her hand came to slap me on the back, (Almost knocking me from the dock, damn hag) "Well, we all must start somewhere, ne girly?"

My eyes brightened and the momentary attack on my back forgotten a bright smile crossed my lips as I looked up to the elder woman.

"You mean you'll train me?" I beamed, unable to control my joy.

She sighed and shrugged, "I'm an old woman. I don't have much time left in me, and I guess I'd like for my skills to live on…"

"So in short, yes, I will take you on as my apprentice."

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BOOYAH. Chiyo is a fucking badass, I always wanted Sakura to be a puppet master, they looked so fucking awesome in the Anime. Gah, I'm so excited, the next chapter will follow along with Sakura's training, and then a time skip afterwards.

Reviews please? I love hearing feedback from my readers, makes me feel appreciated as an author.

-Sakura-Centric