Chapter 12: Fighting

I want to start by saying sorry I know I always say I will be updating more often but it's been really hard with summer ending. I got school things to worry about and personal things lining up one right after another right now. I ended up sick and in and out of the hospital this last month a few times so that also made things harder for me to update. So I am deeply sorry I will do my best in updating as often as I possibly can hopefully it will be once a week if not every other week if I work on it here and there.

I also want to say thank you to everyone who still reads this and follows it. I hope that you all enjoy the ride with this story I enjoy writing it and hope you all enjoy reading just as much. ^^

Also I want to thank the Guest member that reviewed I have honestly forgotten about the story until I saw that review and remembered so thanks. I love the reviews I look forward to more in the future, I like to know what you all think of my story thus far and any suggestions for the future.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I wish I did oh well.

Fighting

Itachi's P.O.V

'I can't believe we are still sitting here in this base when I could be looking for her, its already been 2 weeks' I couldn't stop thinking about what could be possibly be going on while she was in the hands of Orochimaru. I closed my eyes as I sat on a bolder just outside the cloud village as I waited for Kisame to come back so we could head back to the base in the Rain village. Once we made it back we would be able to get some time to find which base Orochimaru was hiding at.

"Ready kid?" I opened my eyes and looked up at Kisame who was holding his sword on his shoulder just looking at me smiling with all his fishy teeth. "Hm" this caused him to chuckle as I stood we started walking back to the base we considered home.

After 3 hours of walking Kisame finally said something pulling me from all my inner thoughts an fights about Sakura's situation. "Thinking about her kid?" I knew Kisame knew about my feelings for Sakura but I was still careful he was a S-rank killer after all we weren't supposed to have such feelings anymore.

"Hm" I just kept walking not really sure what I could tell him about my thoughts towards Orochimaru. I also wasn't sure if Kisame himself knew that my cover in the Akatsuki was flawed 'if Orochimaru knew would Kisame?' I shook the thought from my head if he in fact did know he would be closed to what I could consider to be an alliance since he hasn't told Pain.

"Kid I may not be boy genius but I do know a thing or two about certain things" I understood what he was saying but still I knew that I had to protect the women I loved and the village I cared for. With both things in dire need I was having a hard time finding a way to protect both without possibly putting the other in danger. "Ok" that was all I could say to his statement that I hoped would end what he was trying to make a conversation.

Kisame chuckled "I see this another thing you won't say a word on, but I will say this when it comes time for you to go after her I want to be there and I expect a few shots at Orochimaru for myself." I smirked to myself and then decided to up the pace we were moving at, if we were to find her we needed to hurry. With that I started running back to the base as Kisame followed behind laughing.

Sasuke's P.O.V

"There's no one here Sasuke, we should keep looking maybe they moved her" I clenched my fists tighter leaving half-moon shapes on the palm of my hands. It had been 3 weeks and still no sign of her anywhere, it had taken us this long just to find the base here in the Rain village. It looked the same as the day I left except no one was here, there was no sign that Sakura had even been here besides the few strands here and there of her hair.

I felt a hand on my shoulder but I couldn't care to even glare at the person who was touching me, "Were going to find her Sasuke, believe it." I looked at the blonde headed dork I thought of as a brother, even Naruto looked pained and tired. We had been running almost nonstop since we left the village we never slept long enough to really be rested, and now it was showing we were at the only place we could think to find her and she wasn't here.

"Let's leave the area in case someone comes and wait for a few days to see if we see any activity alright" Kakashi grabbed his bag and jumped up into a tree waiting for us to follow. "Come on Sasuke" Naruto looked at me as if to reassure me then jumped after Kakashi. I sighed to myself and looked at the front of the base where I had last seen Sakura the memory of her being broken was burned into my mind as I closed my eyes to try to get the image to disappear.

I turned my back on the base and followed after my teammates. We made a small camp about a mile out from the base, far enough for us to watch for chakra signs but not close enough that if they noticed us first they would find us before we had time to run. So now all we could do was wait, wait for someone to come back, wait for a sign of Sakura, wait for anything that would bring her back to us.

Sakura's P.O.V

"Buzz Buzz Buzz…." I rolled over slowly and rubbed my eyes "I'm up I'm up" I sat up and swung my legs over the side of my bed. I stretched my arms above my head before standing up, I looked over to the door and there was a plate with food slid through a small gap that was unlocked from the other side. I stood up and walked over and grabbed the plate from the floor and walked back to my bed and sat down. I looked at the plate and sighed to myself 'same old apple and slim cereal' I grabbed the apple and slowly bit into it savoring every bit since I didn't like the cereal. I finished the apple slowly as I counted the minutes before I would have to leave the room again. 'We can do this, it's just until I can break free' I tried to keep myself positive but after what I've seen and done these last 3 weeks I was by far different and far from positive.

I was up now and awake so I walked over by my door threw on my shoes and waited for the door to unlock. "CLICK" I watched as the door slowly opened after it unlocked and I walked out of my room down the long hall way that was my new path to hell I thought. As I walked down the hall way I thought about how much I missed my family and friends and longed to go home. I sighed as I continued walking the way things were looking for me none of them would even want me home now.

I finally saw a small light down the hall which meant I was close to the pit, some where I promised myself I would never think about once I was free of this place. Still lost in thought I had a hard time fighting back some tears as I thought about how many people I've had to kill to stay alive these last 3 weeks and how many more may be to come. 'What will everyone think when I get back home, shinobi do what they must but I'm killing for a game' I sighed again and walked into the room with the pit.

I walked up to the edge of the pit and looked around the large room, there was another girl small possibly a year older then myself, a boy who looked about 5, and a larger man who could easily squish me between two of his fingers. I looked up at the hole in the top of the base that let the only sunlight in the whole base as far as I knew and smiled 'at least they give us the pleasure of seeing the sun before we die.'

We all looked at each other than like every other day the bell that would signal our final minutes for some rang and we jumped into the pit. Once inside the pit we all backed against the walls and waited for some masked man to drop some weapons inside the pit. Once the masked man walked to the edge we all watched as he jumped up and dumped a small bin of a few kunai and other small suriken into the pit. It seemed like minutes as I watched the weapons fall into the pit and fall the ground and then just like that it was all out bloody war between us four for our life.

The girl that was in the arena with me went straight for the young boy, my heart cried out for him I wouldn't have the heart to kill him I would die before that. So that left me to face the giant man, I had a bit of an advantage over him I was small so I was faster than him which allowed me to get a few kunai more than him.

We stood in a fighting stance facing each other for a few seconds he had this horrible smile spread across his face. He had a large scar across one of his eyes and plenty more down his arms that I could see, and he was missing a few teeth. I tried to think of a quick strategy to take him down fast in hope that I wouldn't get teamed up by the girl and him. 'Ok Sakura calm, he's taller and larger then you so you have speed. He's also got some injures so he's probably got a weak spot it's just getting close enough to find it.' I ran towards him fast at first it seemed liked he expected it but I slide on the dirt and went between his legs and took a kunai out and shoved it as hard as I could into his calf.

He instantly went to one knee "Stupid bitch!" I quickly got to my feet and grabbed another kunai trying to find were to attack next. He got up quicker than I expected though he turned around and faced me and started running limp towards me it threw me of guard for a second. He almost had me that second almost coast me my life but I quickly ducked his fist that was headed for me and grabbed the back of his shoulder. He must have known what was coming next because he tried his hardest to pull out of my grip I held my breath and stuck my kunai into his throat.

I stood up and pulled my kunai out of his leg and neck, he was laying in his own pool of blood that was now another bright stain on the sand. I let out the breath I was holding only to be knocked flat on my back hard into the sand, I had to blink a few times to get the black dots to clear from my vision.

Once the dots were gone I stood up quickly and the girl from earlier was running right at me which gave me no time to try to figure something out. I watched her run towards me and realized that her right arm was hanging slightly low for regular, 'the boy must have dislocated her shoulder which can hinder her fighting for up to 15 minutes before numbing where she would be able to fight and not feel it.' I jumped away and started running around trying to buy myself sometime to think of a plan.

'Me and the giant's fight was close to 10 minutes plus her hit and now this running she has at most maybe 3 minutes before she will be able to use that arm again I need to make this count.' I stopped running and turned around and ran straight at her the shock that ran across her face was all I needed to reassure myself that she had no idea I knew about her arm. I threw a kunai at her as she dodged it I pushed myself to run faster as I grabbed her other arm and popped the bone out of place. "AHHH!" she screamed as I watched both her arms hang limp to her sides she dropped her kunai that she was holding onto, '1 minute left' I took a deep breath and grabbed my last kunai.

I turned around and pushed the kunai as hard as I could into where her left lung should have been it wasn't and instant death but it would bleed and fill her lungs within seconds which would cause her to die. She started coughing as she fell face down into the sand as blood started to pool out of her mouth, I fell to my knees in front of her and tried to catch my breath.

I suddenly heard clapping, I didn't look to see who it was coming from though, I did though look over to the younger boy who looked beat up and gutted. I closed my eyes for a second as I sent my heart out for that boy, then I looked over to the giant I fought earlier then back to the girl. I pulled myself together and stood up, there was a door that appeared in the wall of the pit and Orochimaru walked through it and over to me smiling that horrible smile he had. "I have something special for you today my dear Sa-ku-ra" the way he said my name sent millions of chills down my spine whatever he was going to do was nothing good for me.

Orochimaru lead my into a different lab room than usual, there weren't any medical tools or bed but large tubes that looked to have people in them. Then there was another person in the room that I haven't seen around before but once he turned around I instantly recognized him "Kabuto?" he smiled as his glasses reflected the light "Sakura, Orochimaru-san good choice" Orochimaru laughed lightly at his comment.

I stopped walking and backed up a few steps, Orochimaru seemed to noticed and turned and looked at me "Scared my dear? I promise you will be thankful once I'm done" I kept backing away from him but my back hit something cold. I pressed my hands against the unknown object and realized it was one of the tubes but this one had no one in it. Orochimaru took a few steps towards me, than Kabuto rushed me and grabbed both my arms holding me still as I fought back. Orochimaru smiled and moved my hair from my shoulder and leaned closer to me I struggled to get away but Kabuto's grip was to strong and I had no chakra. Finally I felt his teeth sink into my neck and then the pain started "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" then black took over.

Itachi's P.O.V

Kisame and I were finally close to the Hidden Rain village, it had taken us 4 days to make it back as we continued to run for the base, the whole run all I could do was think of what Kisame had said to me. If even though he may not know that I'm a spy he did share one thing with me that would keep him from telling Pain of suspicious behavior. He wanted Orochimaru just as dead as I did, whatever his reason we both were in agreement we were going to kill and soon.

Once we got close to the base I noticed a few things were off, one of the traps were sent off but that could have been anything there were many more that someone would have set off if someone did come. Kisame walked straight into the base as I followed, once we were inside I walked straight to the couch and sat down. I wanted to hurry my search for Sakura but I had no idea where to start looking Orochimaru was one of the most secretive people in the shinobi world. This was going to be a hard task even with Kisame's help looking for him, I tried to think about everything I knew about him from the previous Hokage's.

"Kid take a break we can start looking tomorrow" Kisame walked in front of me and looked down at me. "I need to find her Orochimaru is a sick bastard" Kisame laughed, "Kid I know but tomorrow we can find some lie and ask Pain to find him for us but its late at least rest so tomorrow you can think more." He was right I desperately needed sleep and if I was to help or find Sakura I needed to be at my best for her.

"Hm" I stood up and walked to the back of the base and went to take a shower 'I know this won't stop me from worrying about her but maybe it will be enough to help me get some sleep.' As I walked away I could hear Kisame laughing "See ya tomorrow kid" I wouldn't consider Kisame a friend but in the situation I was in he was the closest person I had to talk to right now and I was thankful for his understanding.

Sasuke's P.O.V

It's been 4 since we decided to watch this base with no signs of anyone coming or going yet I was being to lose my mind. I hadn't been getting much if any sleep I've been worrying about Sakura and if she was still hurt or not. Also I was worried about what Orochimaru had said to us before I last saw her what if Itachi didn't have her what if this whole time we've been waiting for him and she's with Orochimaru.

I tried to stop myself from thinking about it any further, the more I tried to think of where she was or what could be going on the more impatient and upset I got and right now we were all on edge. Naruto looked like he'd been through a war, he didn't try to cheer me up anymore and there was no more smiling he was a zombie without Sakura. Kakashi wasn't as showy as Naruto and maybe myself he looked pained and upset but still calm and collective. Kakashi for all purposes saw Sakura as a daughter I could only imagine what he was thinking about.

"There's movement near the base" Neji, he and team Gai had been sent as our back up and arrived later during the first night we had made camp. We all were on edge and high alert now waiting for him to tell us something, anything really and we would be on the move in seconds.

"There's only two, males, one has a high chakra level and the other has a chakra that seems to be coming from a weapon maybe." That sounded about right from what I could remember "Itachi and Kisame" they all looked over at me Kakashi was the first to speak "Are you sure Sasuke?" I nodded "Itachi has one of the highest chakra levels next to the Hokage's, and there was a large blue fish like man who carried a sword with him that ate your chakra."

Everyone took in the information I had given them and they were thinking it over I turned to Neji "Sakura?" everyone seemed to tense when I said her name. In all honesty we were all being to lose hope she had been missing almost 4 weeks now with no sign of her where abouts. Neji looked at me and shook his head "No just the two males" I clenched my fists we had been hiding out here waiting for her when our suspicions were right she was with Orochimaru.

Kakashi looked at me then to Naruto, I knew that look I had been around Kakashi enough we were not about to like what was going to be said next. "Now that we have determined that Sakura is not in the care of Itachi or Kisame we have to assume she was in fact taken by Orochimaru." Team Gai nodded me and Naruto on the other hand tensed and waited to hear the rest of what Kakashi was going to say. "We need to send a message to Lady Hokage, she may not want us to go after someone as wanted and dangerous as Orochimaru."

I was about to protest but as always the big mouth beat me to it, "WHAT!" everyone's eyes went wide at his sudden outburst yell. "Shhhh, Naruto there going to hear us" Ten Ten tried to calm Naruto but we all knew there was nothing we could do to calm him. I myself didn't even want to he had every right to be upset 'we all know how dangerous Orochimaru was but did that mean we were going to abandon Sakura to him?' "So were just going to go home hell no Sakura is out there fighting to stay alive right now! I'm going to find her believe I promise I refuse to go home without her."

Kakashi seemed to break after hearing Naruto, it was understandable we were family after all, true Team Gai was around often enough but they didn't have that extra bond like we did to Sakura. "Let's send Lady Fifth a message and wait to hear from her before we jump the gun Naruto" Kakashi sounded hurt he knew our chances at being sent after Orochimaru were thin. "Do not lose faith Naruto, Lady Hokage knows of our determination and our skill! We can't give up Naruto we can still fight just like Sakura-chan is just like Gai sensei always says 'Keep pushing with all your youthfulness.'"

Neji and Ten Ten looked at each other and smiled Gai was crying, and Kakashi and Naruto were smiling Lee sure knew how to make tense situations lighten. "That's my student Lee!"Gai was such a drama king along with his mini Lee, Neji sat down and started writing a letter to Lady Tsunade. Naruto finally calmed down "Yeah believe it!" Kakashi looked over to me he knew I wasn't as easily settled as everyone else.

Kakashi walked over next to me and spoke so only I could hear him, "Were going to get her back Sasuke none of us our going to let her go like that" I crossed my arms over my chest "Hm." Kakashi chuckled "You should get some sleep before Lee and Naruto up stage you in your rescue" with that he walked back by everyone else.

Kakashi knew I more than anyone wanted to save her because I felt to blame for the reason she was in whatever horrible situation she was in. I knew he was right was tired as I was they both would easily do all the rescuing and since we now had something to go off of by tomorrow morning we would be heading home or to search for Sakura again so I needed sleep. I walked over by my tent and got inside and laid down it was hard to think about sleeping but since I hadn't had any in so long it over came me in seconds.

Sakura's P.O.V

1 week later….

'It's so hot….why is everything burning? My head hurts, what happened?' I struggled to wake myself up but it was a wasted effort nothing I did was waking me. 'Ok Sakura think, focus what is the last thing you remember?' I was trying to recall anything that might help me remember something anything, but all I was getting was black fuzz.

'"Shhh" water? Why can I hear running water?' I tried to move my arms or legs anything thankfully my body was waking itself finally and my arm moved. I tried to move my arm to my face but something stopped it, I forced my eyes to open but was blinded by a bright white light. I squinted as I tried to get my eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness, finally I could see I was strapped to a hospital bed.

I looked down at my arm and it was tied to the side of the bed with little room to move it, my legs seemed to be the same. I heard something rustle as I turned to see what caused the noise I saw another person strapped to a bed similar to my own. The boy next to me was larger than myself he had bright orange hair that oddly reminded me of Naruto, 'I wonder what everyone's doing? I really miss everyone, Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, Tsunade, Itachi….' "Mmmm" I blinked out of my thoughts and looked back at the boy.

The boy started to wake up, I watched him try to move like I had seconds ago, "Yo-you're tied down" my voice cracked a few times probably from lack of use. I couldn't remember the last time I used my voice, actually I couldn't really remember anything about what caused me to be here except Orochimaru and Kabuto attacked me.

The boy opened his eyes and looked over at me for a second then nodded and looked up at the ceiling. "Your new" that was a weird statement, "Uh huh" 'who is this guy and why is here also, and how does he know I'm new here?' "It will stop hurting after about a month" I continued to look at this strange boy 'WHAT? A week what the hell is wrong with me what does he mean?'

"Can you tell me what happened?" the boy looked over at me and for a second I swear he looked so pained at my question then he looked back to the ceiling. "Orochimaru has a number of people here, he watches us, all of us and waits for the right time." I knew Orochimaru was behind this I also knew he watched everyone fight daily, "What do you mean right time? Time for what exactly?" The boy closed his eyes and sighed "He waits until he feels we are strong enough without chakra or any help from others, detached from feelings more less. Once he feels we've reached that point he poisons us with his curse mark. It makes us stronger but less in control most people die from it, it takes over and kills them mentally some commit suicide." I felt like my stomach was doing flips I knew somewhere inside me this boy was telling the truth and I was afraid I would die now from whatever Orochimaru had done to me.

"I wouldn't worry too much about dying you've been here for a week already and you're still breathing. Most don't make it that far, but that doesn't mean anything for your future. Orochimaru is using us so that when his time comes he can over take one of our bodies so in the end you could still die. Or if he feels you're of no need any more he will have you killed." I looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath it felt like my throat was getting tighter every second.

'So I'll never get to go home…I'll never leave this place, and even if my friends find me I'll be a risk to them' I closed my eyes and felt a single hot tear stream down my cheek, I bit my lip and opened my eyes. "Jugo..." I turned and looked over at the boy "My names Jugo" I smiled "My names Sakura." "Well Sakura think positively, you're going to be stronger, and if you enjoy fighting you get to fight others that have the curse mark. Besides you're not dead so that's good right?" I tried to smile as I looked up at the ceiling, "Yet…"

1 month later…

"BOOM!" there was dust everywhere and a nice new hole in the wall, I smiled to myself and waited patiently before attacking again. "Oi Jugo you alright?" I could hear him chuckle and I smiled as I pulled my leg back ready to start running if need be. "Ugh, Sakura do you think you could stop throwing me around please" I smiled and watched him pull himself out of the new hole in the wall. "But Jugo what fun would that be?" he looked up at me and smiled.

Me and Jugo had slowly become best friends in the time I had been here, ever since the day in woke up changed he's had my back. At first I was scared that if I trusted him he would turn one day and kill me but it hasn't been like that. After a few days of just talking to him while we were in that room I found out Jugo is really kind hearted and never wanted to hurt anyone ever. Jugo had a soft spot towards animals also which I found cute for someone his size it looked strange to someone who didn't know him but I thought it was cute now. We helped each other with dealing with our new curse marks, some days were better than others but we worked through it together.

About a week ago Jugo's curse mark took over while we were sparing and he hurt me badly I just got out of the hospital wing 2 days ago. Jugo still blames himself and has been kind of distant since then but we were still best of friends. I to have lost control over my curse mark a few times once with Jugo he easily subdued me though so not to hurt either of us but on another occasion when I was sparing with another boy I ended up killing him. Jugo and I realized that the less we cared the easier it made things for us after some of the things we had seen neither of us would be normal again but we tried to hold onto some of our humanity. Most days it felt like we were monsters just killers out for fun, but other days were better like when we would get to hang out for extra time while Orochimaru was away from the base. It was the only normal time we got to just be friends and not the monsters he's created in us.

"Let's rest some we've been training all morning Sakura" I smiled and nodded as I walked over towards Jugo. "Alright" he smiled and sat down on the ground and leaned back on part of the arenas wall. I walked up next to him and sat him front of him with my legs out in front of me and my arms behind me holding me up. We sat in quite for a few minutes as I caught my breath from the fight and Jugo stared up at the opening in the base.

"Sakura?..." I looked over at Jugo as he continued to eye the small space that allowed us the only sunlight in the base. "What's up Jugo?" he never looked at me it was like he was lost in thought. "I hope your friends save you from this place" my eyes widen in shock as he said that to me I sat up straight and looked at him. "Jugo, my friends.." he barely smiled which I could see was forced, "You shouldn't have to stay here, you had a life and friends you can still have a life if you could get out."

I shook my head "Jugo, you deserve to be free of this place as much as I do don't think otherwise. Also I don't even think my friends no where I am or if I'm even still alive. It's been two months since I last saw any of them." I sighed as I looked down at the sand under my legs 'they should all have moved on without me, they deserve to continue with their lives even if mine stops here.'

Jugo looked over at me I could feel him staring at the side of my face so I tried my hardest to smile as I looked over at him. "Jugo promise me something" he looked at me and nodded "If you get a chance to run take it and don't worry about me, but if you have the chance please don't leave me…." Jugo nodded and smiled. "Sakura I wouldn't leave you here your too kind and loving to be stuck in a hell like this" I smiled it was nice to have a friend in a time like this.

Jugo and I knew our chances of escaping were 0% but knowing that if the other had the chance to leave they would take it and live for us both. "BEEEEEEEP" Jugo and I sighed as we got to our feet, "I'll see you tomorrow then?" I nodded and smiled "No quitting tomorrow either Jugo" I laughed as his face looked pained. He smiled as we walked out of the arena once getting to our halls he smiled "Enjoy the rest of your day if you can" I smiled "You too" with that we parted ways and headed back to our cells.

I finally made it to my cell but instead of my cell door being closed it was open, when I stepped inside Kabuto turned to me and smiled. "Sakura" I crossed my arms over my chest, "What do you want Kabuto?" Kabuto chuckled and walked passed me to the door, "Not what I want my dear what Orochimaru wants."

I didn't like the way he had said that to me but regardless I had to follow him as we walked down the long hall ways all I could think about was what would that snake want now. Kabuto lead me into a room I had never been before it was strangely empty except for a large chair and a small table with candles on it.

I hadn't noticed that Orochimaru was in the chair until he coughed, it sounded horrible to, 'he must me sick' "Come here Sakura." I hesitated for a moment before I walked up by him once I could see his face I knew he was sick but how he got this bad was beyond me. Orochimaru looked like he had been fighting death for years which was true but he wasn't supposed to have these problems the last time I checked. I mean that's what all these tests where for right so he could switch bodies whenever he please.

Orochimaru chuckled, the sound pulled me from my staring and thoughts of his condition. "I see you've noticed my condition is critical" I looked at him and nodded. "Sakura you are a very special test here and I need you" 'whatever it is he's planning it doesn't sound good.' "You are an excellent medic but not at your best, I need you at your best." I didn't quite understand where he was getting at, "What do you mean?"

Orochimaru looked straight at me with a serious expression, "I am sending you back to the Leaf village but you will lose all your memories of me and this base and what has gone on as so to keep this a secret. For worn you may also lose your memory of people everything else will be fine though." I could feel all the blood drain from my face, 'I get to go home…' but my stomach turned unpleasantly, 'I have to lose my memory of all the people I know.…' "When the time is right I will send for you again Sakura until then my dear." Orochimaru laughed which sent chills all down my spine when I suddenly felt a cold hand on my neck then nothing. 'Black…..is this all I will know? Darkness…..Loneliness'

Normal P.O.V

The leaf village was just waking up, the sun was rising shinobi where out on missions or just returning. Civilians where just waking up, it was a beautiful, calm morning like most. Team Gai and team Kakashi where on their way back to the village, Gai like always challenged Kakashi to a race through the gates. Kakashi and Gai where neck in neck running at full speed with Naruto and Lee right behind their sensei's. Tenten and Neji where talking as they ran after them in no particular hurry. Sasuke was last behind everyone, they had all been tired and stressed from there long search for Sakura with months of no sign of her Lady Tsunade had to pull them off the search.

Once everyone had made it to the gates the gate keepers waved to them but soon noticed the way everyone was unusually sad and depressed and noticed Sakura was not with them. Gai and Kakashi went to the Hokage tower to report everything that they had learned, which wasn't much. Lee, Tenten and Neji left to go eat then spar, they invited Naruto and Sasuke but both declined the offer.

Naruto looked to Sasuke , normally you would find all of team 7 at Ichiraku's Ramen shop but since they were missing one of the most important team members they just headed to Sasuke's house. Neither said anything they just walked together lost in their own sadness, until they walked into Sasuke's house only to be greeted by a happy Mikoto. Once she realized the aura around her boys and a missing pink haired girl they had all come to love she quickly hugged them tight and started to cry.

Sakura's P.O.V

' "Sakura?..." ' "Mmmmm" that's my name, "Ugh" my head felt so heavy, 'my eyes feel so heavy. Why am I so tired? "CHA! GET UP SAKURA!" "Who are you?" I don't understand why but I was having what seemed to be an argument with myself in my mind it all seemed strange to me. "I am your inner self, get up there's something wrong with your mind things are missing and you need to get up and start figuring it out!"

I rubbed my eyes as I pulled myself up to a sitting position; I was lying down on the grass that much I could tell. It must have rained just recently the smell was strong which was how I was able to notice I was outside. Whatever my inner self was she was right something felt off, I tried to focus on the last thing I could remember but it was hard everything was just black swirls and faces, tons of faces kept rushing through my mind. I closed my eyes tight as my head began to throb I put my hands to my temples trying to stop the pain that came once I tried remembering who these people where.

"Sakura?..." a males voice was talking to me but I couldn't open my eyes yet, "It's her go and inform Lady Hokage!" "Hai!" another males voice said. I could then feel a warm hand on my forehead "Sakura are you hurt?" I wasn't sure if this person was a friend or foe yet but he knew my name that had to mean something, plus there were no red flags going off in my head so maybe I knew him.

I forced some chakra into my head to stop the pain as I slowly opened my eyes to see a man sitting in front of me. He had on a green vest with a leaf symbol on a head band that covered the top of his head, he also had a senbon in his mouth. He was looking at me strangely I didn't know what to say to this stranger that knew my name. "CHA you look so stupid say something ask him a question maybe he knows something!" I nodded to myself my inner was right I wasn't going to figure anything out right now my mind was to messed up but maybe this guy knew something.

"Why am I outside?" the man looked at me confused like he was choosing his answer carefully, "I was going to ask you that Sakura." 'ok so maybe he doesn't know anything except my name' I sighed feeling a little hopeless about my mental situation. "How do you know my name?" the man stood up and offered me his hand, I just looked at him as I waited for his reply. He chuckled and put his hand in his pocket "Sakura you grew up in the same village as I live in you became a very powerful shinobi and medic, you have treated my wounds many times and I was there during your chunnin exams. I've basically seen you grow up, plus my former team mate is your sensei."

I looked down at the ground 'how much besides faces am I missing?' my head started hurting a part of me wanted to start crying but something inside me destroyed that feeling. 'I feel like an emotionless freak, what is wrong with me?' "That's what you need to figure out stop being a baby YEAH!" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, I heard the man move a little then sigh "Sakura you can trust me, my names Gemma I want to take you to Lady Hokage your teacher. She will help you remember things and fix this." I opened my eyes and looked up at Gemma and nodded as I pulled myself to my feet.

"Alright, Gemma" I looked at the Gemma as he smiled slightly and started to make had signs then poof nothing but smoke. I coughed once then we were in room with a blonde busty lady, a dark haired lady with a small pig in her arms, a white haired man with a head band covering one of his eyes, and a man with large eyebrows and a bowl cut hair style. Everyone in the room looked at me with a shocked look on their faces like they had seen a ghost as the man Gemma I was with bowed "Lady Hokage!" Everyone looked at me then the busty blonde lady stood up from behind her desk "Sakura?..."

Itachi's P.O.V

Months had gone by and Kisame and I were sent on mission after mission with no time to spare for us to look for Orochimaru and Sakura. My patient was running thin it seemed like my mind was always playing tricks on me I kept seeing her places or I thought I was seeing her. Kisame had stopped talking about Sakura I guess he figured it was a touchy subject which it was even the thought of her put me in a bad mood for days. It wasn't her fault or the thoughts of her it was the simple fact that I couldn't go looking for her and that was my fault.

I was almost done with my mission in the Akatsuki I had gathered as much information as I could from the position I was in. I wanted to return home but I just had to figure out what their main goal was and when they planned to execute that plan then I could go back to the leaf. The only problem with that was I didn't want to go home and not see Sakura home was only home because of her. Everywhere I would go would somehow remind me of her and I knew it I needed to find her before I returned.

Another thought I had about returning to the leaf was would they welcome me back, yes it was the elders who sent me out here but had they told the Hokage? I was considered a traitor so would there even be a home for me to go back to? I shook my head I needed to focus on this mission not everything else that had been plaguing my mind as of lately. We were sealing the 5 tails that was just captured, Pain our leader had decided that we would use the tailed beasts to start a war to stop all pain in the world but how or when I still had yet to find out.

Orochimaru was always at the sealing's but I knew he knew my secret if I tried to confront him about Sakura during one of them he could sell me out and that would be dangerous for me. Yes I could defeat most of them on my own but all of them at the same time would be something of a problem. I sighed and closed my eyes and thought about this sealing ending cause I knew Pain would send Kisame and I out on another mission since we hadn't been on one in a week.

The sealing ended and Pain dismissed almost everyone except Orochimaru, Tobi, Kisame, and myself. "Orochimaru I want a status on your research lately with all your new test patients that you've requested lately." Kisame looked over at me as I clenched my fists tight leaving half-moon shapes in the palms of my hands Orochimaru laughed and smiled his ugly smile. "Of course everything is going as planned I have one of my best tests on a scouting mission so to speak right now that's about it." Pain nodded and then turned to Tobi "Tobi I want you and Orochimaru to go in search of the 8 tails from the village Hidden in the Cloud" Orochimaru smiled, "Tobi doesn't like to work with the snake man" Tobi pouted as he looked over at Orochimaru.

How that Tobi guy got to joining the Akatsuki was beyond me I couldn't figure it out but I hadn't seen him fight either Tobi was always paired with Deidara. Pain gave Tobi a glare then Tobi left and Orochimaru laughed then followed after him leaving Kisame and myself with Pain. "Itachi Kisame you both are to head to the Leaf village in search of the nine tails." That I wasn't prepared for this would ensure that I wouldn't be able to go home as soon as I was hoping.

"Itachi since you are from the village Hidden in the Leaves you should be able to sneak in undetected along with Kisame." Kisame looked at me then to Pain and nodded Pain waved his hand and we left. Once we were back in our own minds I looked to the sky and sighed this was going to be a long stressful mission.

Normal P.O.V

Tsunade looked at Sakura as her face looked around at everyone with straight confusion and uncertainty in her eyes. I looked up from her to Kakashi as he made eye contact with me I nodded "Get me the Sasuke and Naruto now!" with that Kakashi disappeared into a puff of smoke. Shizune looked shocked still and Gemma and Gai just looked to me for the next orders. I sighed and placed my fists on my desks, "Gemma where did you find her? I need to know everything up until you came here."

Gemma explained how he was doing his rounds around the front of the village when he saw someone laying on the ground asleep. Gemma continued to say how he sent his comrade to report it to Lady Tsunade but Sakura was talking and acting weird once he got her awake so he just transported them both to her office as soon as he could. "Thank you Gemma get back to your post I will inform you later of what will be happening" Gemma bowed and disappeared into a puff of smoke as well.

Tsunade rubbed her temples as she sat back down in her chair and looked over to Shizune. "Shizune go and get me 2 Anbu members" Shizune looked at me then nodded "Hai." Shizune ran out of the room "Gai please do not tell anyone about this until I decided to inform others I do not know if this is a good thing yet" Gai nodded and left the room.

Sakura's P.O.V

I watched as everyone left the room at the busty blondes commands I figured that she must be the head of this village. Now that it was just me and the lady alone I closed my eyes and tried to remember her name her face I had seen this morning along with many other faces that rushed through my mind. I saw her in my mind but I didn't know who she was all I knew was that I had seen her face before in my life and that could mean anything.

"Sakura" I opened my eyes and looked at the busty blonde lady she looked like she was waiting for me to say something to her but what I didn't know. I didn't know what any of these people where going to expect from me some of their faces where familiar but others not so much like that man Gemma I had seen his face before but knew nothing about him, but something told me I should have known him. 'This is going to be hard I hope I'm not falling into someone's trap for all I know these people could be my enemies' "CHA you are so stupid if your gut is telling you that you should know these people then maybe it's right. You're never going to figure out what's going on until you start asking questions baka!" I sighed my inner was right again I needed answers and I needed them now.

I crossed my arms across my chest and looked at the blonde lady "Who are you?" the lady had a look of worry for a second then irritation. "I am the 5th Hokage of the village Hidden in the Leaf, Tsunade. Sakura do you not recognize me at all?" The lady named Tsunade stood up from her chair and looked at me determination written across her face.

"Tsunade? Hm no I do not know who you are but I have seen your face before, many times I think but that could still mean you are an enemy." Tsunade made a fist and hit her desk breaking it in half I stepped back all the way to the wall next to the door with a kunai in my hand ready to attack. "What the hell happened to you Sakura?!" I did not believe that question was meant for me to answer so I just stood there prepared to fight her if need be and waited for her to say something more.

"Sakura, I took you on as my apprentice about 4 years ago. When your parents died I was like a maternal figure to you I have looked out for you along with many others are you telling me you don't know anyone?" I kept my eye on Tsunade even though what she was saying made my chest feel strange I nodded in response and decided to tell her about my head. "Can I trust that you're not my enemy?" Tsunade nodded and folded her arms across her chest I took a deep breath and lowered my weapon to my side still not letting it go for safety reasons.

"When Gemma found me this morning I couldn't remember why I was outside or how I had gotten there. I thought Gemma brought me out there, but when I saw his face many faces ran through my mind but I don't know who any of them are." I looked down at my kunai "all I know is that something is wrong with my mind and I don't know what. Since I can't remember anyone or anything I have to assume everyone is my enemy." Tsunade looked at me and nodded then put her hands to her head like she was having a bad headache.

"Sakura you have been missing for a little over 5 months your team and I had to assume you were dead. Now you're here and can tell me nothing just that you know your own name." Tsunade sighed and looked over at me "I am going to have to have someone look through your mind for some answers not just for yourself but for the safety of the village also." I nodded that made sense they need to protect the village "Alright." Tsunade nodded then there was a loud BANG!

I instantly through my kunai at the source of the new noise, to my surprise it was a person and I had caught their clothes. They were stuck to the wall just outside the door that was thrown open, there was the sliver haired man again looking at the blonde haired boy who I had stuck to the wall and another boy who had dark hair and a scared looked on his face like I was a zombie.

"Sakura-chan?..." the blonde pulled my kunai out of his shirt and took a step closer to me and instinctively I took a step back and got another kunai out. The silver haired man put his hands in his pockets and closed his eyes "Naruto you're going to get yourself killed if you scare her again." I looked at them still in a defensive stance as the black haired boy took a half of step towards me "S-s-sakura-chan?" I took a step back as their faces all rushed through my head at once and all these different I guessed memories but since they were moving so face it became a blur. A sharp pain rushed to my head again causing me to drop my kunai and grab my head as I started screaming in pain.

'What is going on? Who are these people? Why won't this pain stop?' Then again nothing but the one thing I could remember the darkness….