Me: So here is the next chapter in possibly a while. Not quite sure but I have been slacking in the homework department so I think I need I break to catch up.
Warning! Lots of flashbacks! Oh and some randomness!
Don't Own Naruto!
Enjoy!
Recap:
"He'll be here." Gaara said disappearing into the arena to wait as the time limit reached its final seconds. Then in a whirl of leaves, two people appeared into the arena.
"Just in time Kakashi, if you had come a second later Sasuke would've been disqualified." Genma said.
"I told you Naruto." Sakura said loud enough for everyone in the battle arena to hear. "And look he decided to wear a new outfit to impress everyone!"
End Recap
Normal POV
After Kakashi left the stadium to the stands the battle begun, Sasuke was trying to hit Gaara, but of course he wasn't fast enough to get past Gaara's sand. The Sasuke began to circle Gaara much like Lee had this time his attacks getting past the shield, hitting Gaara. Having enough Gaara caught Sasuke in his sand and whipped him across the stadium into the wall leaving a dent in it.
Before Sasuke could even get up more sand was coming his way. Trying to dodge Sasuke ran up the wall, stopping almost all the way and doing hand signs. A noise erupted the stadium that sounded like many birds churping. Sakura gasped as Sasuke ran down and hit Gaara with what looked to be chakra. Gaara screamed out in pain.
"Gaara!" Sakura shouted wanting to run down there and help him. It was the first time she saw him bleed.
"Looks like the demon is really human underneath all the sand." Sasuke sneered as he went in for another attack while Gaara was holding his wound. But that's when everyone in the stands began to fall asleep and Sasuke stopped in mid-attack. "Its time." Sasuke said as he jumped over the stadium walls as sound nin began attacking. The Kazekage began fighting the Hokage.
"Orochimaru." The Third stated as the fight was led to the roof of a building and a wall put up around it so no one interfered.
"Go after him Gaara, you have to stop him before he gets away." Genma said before fighting off a sound nin.
"Sakura we have to help!" Naruto shouted over the chaos but when he turned to her she wasn't there. "Oh no." Naruto said quietly before getting a team together.
With Sakura…(Sakura's POV)
"Your coming Sakura?" Sasuke said with a smirk. I just nodded to him and continued running to the destination that only we knew because of the curse. When we arrived to the meeting place Sasuke struck up a conversation. "Can't even spare a few words for the only person you will be seeing after this?"
"What do you want me to say Sasuke?" I replied in a monotone not even sparing him a glance as I leaned back into the tree I was sitting on. Sasuke didn't say anything after that as we waited. Surprisingly no one found us during this time, but it was probably due to the chaos back in the village that no one realized our disappearance.
After a while about an hour four sound ninja came to meet us, the ones that were doing the barrier for Orochimaru's and the Thirds fight I noticed. Interesting.
"Looks like both decided to show." the grey maybe silver haired one said, well one of them. I noticed he had a twin on his back? Whatever I wasn't here for a freak show, I had a place to be.
I tried to think of my reasonings for doing this. But I couldn't, it was as if I wasn't in control anymore. My body just moved. Oh no, I'm not in control, somewhere during Sasuke and Gaara's fight Momo took over knowing this was coming. But why?
Just enjoy the ride kid, time for a change. Momo said, but her voice was different. Darker, more sinister.
"Enough of this. Lets go." Momo made me say making my cold voice leaving no room for argument, but alas someone had to make a comment.
"Who put you incharge bitch?" The female of the group asked. Then in a flash I was behind her with a kunai to her neck. She was pissed and reached to grab something in her belt like thing. I smirked when she came up empty-handed.
"It was a suggestion that I highly recommend you listen to." I whispered in her ear, venom leaking out of my voice. I didn't need to say I'd kill her, she knew that would be the consequence. Sasuke was wide eyed at my actions never seeing me do something like that, but he smirked obviously taking a liking to my actions. What a masochsist. I let her go and walked away from the group, them following after me. Sasuke was by my side soon, a smirk played out on his face as he turned his head toward me.
"So the real you finally comes out."
"You have no clue of who I am Sasuke." I told him before taking off in a sprint. It was true, seeing as this was Momo. But I don't get how she got control without my changing features. I also seemed in control of my mind just not my body or my voice. I guess I had no control.
"Do you even know where to go, girl?" The one with too many arms said. He was right next to me as I turned to him. I shook my head and he chuckled obviously knowing the answer already. Frankly I was just going straight, I needed to run, it kept me calm. "Luckily you were going the right way, but why don't I take the lead for a while?"
"If you can keep up." I smirked at him and picked up the pace, the sun was setting already, we had been running for a while but only at a relaxed pace. He smirked at me and sped up, I did the same getting in front of him and staying there no matter how much he increased his speed. He slowed down a lot, so I came to a stop in the clearing to see what was going on.
"Alright you two, before we get all the way to Lord Orochimaru's its time for you to die."
"What the hell are you talking about." Sasuke said in outrage. I stayed calm not one emotion on my blank face.
"Its to activate the second stage of the seal, to get it you must 'die' but don't worry you'll live through it." Sakon explained chuckling. Sasuke still didn't get it apparently.
"Its not actual death, you just get in a death like state during the process Chicken Ass." I explained, using my old childhood nickname for him, well using ass instead of butt. Its much easier to say. That's when something caught my attention, making me get on high alert. The others felt it too. A group heading our way, fast.
"Shit!" Tayuya cursed.
"Hurry and take these, then get in the barrel." Sakon said. We were given a drug that I asumed would give us the death like state. Sasuke and I looked at it before putting it in our mouth, Sasuke swallowed it right away, however I kept it in my mouth.
Swallow it! Momo ordered me, I smirked on the inside as I kept some control over my actions. But my control was slipping until a group popped out of the bushes and into the clearing. Okay maybe it was just one, but I knew others were here too.
"Sakura!" Naruto shouted to me. He rushed to get to me, but was stopped by Jugo, the biggest one in the group. I winced when he crashed into a tree, head first.
"Get in the barrel Sakura!" I was ordered. I complyed by getting in but once the lid was shut I spit the pill out, crushing it just in case Momo decided to take control.
What are you doing!? Momo shouted at me. But I ignored her, as I listened to the shouts on the outside. Why did I go in this stupid barrel again? Oh right Momo still has some control.
"Give them back!" I heard Naruto shout, but I couldn't help but feel that it was meant for just me. I heard the rustle of sand by my barrel and I knew it was Gaara. Pain shot through my head, and I clutched it in agony. Momo was trying to get full control but I held her back as much as I could. Somehow in her quest for control Momo triggered something as memories flashed through my mind, some being more clear than others.
Flashback
Sasori, Sakura, and Gaara were surrounded as they fought to protect the bridge builder Tazuna. Sasori looks to Sakura, who smirks and nodds. In an instant the Zabuza's were nothing but a puddle of water, with no one on Sasori's squad moving a muscle.
"Hm, seems like you got a rival Haku." Zabuza said to the masked boy next to him. Haku just nodded.
"Gaara guard Tazuna, Sakura take the masked kid." Sasori instructed, Gaara scowled at him getting the worst job but nodded and moved in front of the bridge builder. Sakura smirked at the opportunity.
"Your sending the girl?" Zabuza mocked taking out his sword and sending it toward Sasori. Sasori's puppet took the blow, but Sakura appeared behind Zabuza ready with a kick while he couldn't react. But she was blocked by Haku.
"I believe I am your opponent." He said, Sakura just nodded before getting in a fighting stance.
"Your loss." Sakura said. The two went at it each with great speed, both blocking and atacking. They were at a standstill, Sakura having one of Haku's hands and Haku having one of Sakura's.
"You can't beat me, your at a disadvantage." Haku told her.
"Oh really, care to fill me in?"
"One, we are surrounded by water. Two you can't use one of your hands." Haku said and began doing hand signs with his free hand.
"Hand signs with one hand!? No way!" Sakura exclaimed. The water rose around her and began forming needles. Then they came down at lightning speed, but to Haku's surprise not one hit her. Sakura smirked and broke away kicking Haku away at the same time.
"How is that possible?" Haku said in shock.
"You were only right about one thing. Water is my element, just like its yours. I made the water melt before it touched me." Sakura explained.
"Interesting, but let's see how you handle this." Haku said as he began more hand signs. The water rose again but this time froze into mirrors. "Your fast, but its time I showed you what real speed is."
"What the?" Sakura questioned as Haku entered a mirror. That's when the attacks came. Senbon in every direction aimed at her giving her scratches everywhere. Sakura tried to find the source but found she was unable as an image of Haku appeared on all the mirrors surrounding her. 'great what do I do now?' Sasori had his puppet throw a kunai in the direction of the mirrors.
"Your brat is as good as dead in Haku's crystal mirrors." Zabuza said. Before the kunai could do any damage, Haku came out and caught it.
"He caught it." Sakura said in awe. As Haku was about to return to his mirror he was kicked in the face leaving a mark across his mask and knocking him out of his jutsu.
"The Number One Hyper Active Ninja has arrived!" Naruto shouted as he enters the scene.
End Flashback
Flashback
"Way to go Knucklehead, know we're both trapped!" Sakura shouted at Naruto. Naruto rubbed the back of his head and laughed sheepishly. He then gets serious and makes clones trying to attack the mirrors. They are all immediately defeated by Haku. That's when the attacks turn to them as more senbon are released. This time they take more serious damage, but Sakura falls and ends up flattening into a puddle.
CRASH!
"What is going on?" Haku asks as he sees a mirror break followed by another until the one he is in is the only one remaining. Behind him Sakura punches the mirror breaking it with her incredible strength.
"No where left to hide." Sakura said and just as Haku dodged her attack Naruto came from behind hitting Haku with an attack of his own.
"But how did you?"
"Your little distraction. I replaced myself with a water clone and made my escape." Sakura explained as she attacked Haku with Naruto. Haku flew backwards his mask flying off. Sakura was about to deliver the final blow when Haku disappeared. Sakura looked to Sasori to see his puppet with a sword through Haku's heart in front of Zabuza.
End Flashback
Flashback
"I cannot believe you two." Sasori said in distaste as he watched Naruto and Sakura scarf down bowl after bowl of ramen. "How can you watch this?"
"Me, I'm betting on Sakura." Gaara told him.
"Wait they are doing this because of a bet?"
"Yeah Naruto bet he could eat more ramen than anyone. Sakura challenged him and I bet with Naruto that she would win." Gaara explained as he continued to keep score.
"Whose paying for this?" Sasori questioned.
"The loser." Gaara said.
"You both reached 15." Gaara announced. Naruto and Sakura were both slowing down, but Sakura had an ace up her sleeve. She pumped some chakra in her stomach to help it digest the food faster. Sakura smirked as she ordered another bowl as Naruto couldn't seem to finish his.
"Sakura's up by one Naruto." Gaara said. Naruto groaned and struggled to finish his bowl, ordering another. Sakura was still pretending to slow down, and Naruto hurried and scarfed down his bowl putting him up by one.
"Now Naruto's up." Naruto grinned in victory before Sakura picked up the pace again, finishing her bowl ordering another and finishing that one as well. Naruto collapsed at the sight.
"Guess that means I win, with 18 bowls to your 17 unless you want to continue." Sakura said smirking.
"Too, full." Naruto said.
"Never thought I'd hear those words come out of his mouth." Sasori said in surprise.
"Well you won't be full after you have to pay for the 35 bowls of ramen." Sakura laughed.
"That and the money you owe me for losing to Sakura." Gaara added.
End Flashback
Flashback
"Why am I doing this again?" Sakura complained.
"It's a dare Sakura, you have to." Hinata told her.
"You shouldn't of picked dare if you can't do it." Temari mocked. Sakura glared at her.
"But its just so disgusting in there." Sakura said.
"He's your teammate."
"That's how I know its worse than you people think." Sakura told them.
"Just go in get his dirty clothes and put them on." Hinata said
"Let's get this over with." Sakura said before holding her breath, entering the small apartment room, grabbing a set of dirty clothes (they weren't hard to find, everything was on the floor) and raced out. She let go the breath she was holding, but regretted it the reak of the clothes entering her nose.
"Ugh you weren't kidding, does he know the meaning of hygiene?" Temari complained.
"Lets hurry and get those on you Sakura." Hinata said holding her nose.
Back at the house…
Flashes went off, as the girls took pictures of Sakura, modeling Naruto's clothes. Each girl had a nose clip so they wouldn't smell them. Sakura was digusted and went fast wanting to get the clothes off.
"Alright take those off and burn them, then take a major shower!" Temari ordered Sakura. But Sakura was gone at 'take those off.' After her shower Sakura came out in a towel, needing directions.
"Seems like your ready for the other part of your dare." Temari smirked and showed her the door to the room she needed. "Remember, boxers." Temari said before leaving. Sakura sighed and went through the drawers grabbing a pair of black boxers and a red t-shirt. Finding it suitable she changed exited the room taking her towel with her, making sure to leave nothing behind. Sakura sniffed the shirt admiring the scent. 'thank god these are clean!'
"Is there any reason you have my clothes on Sakura?" An amused voice asked her as she was in the hallway. Sakura looked up with wide eyes and blushed.
"Um…" Sakura was at loss for words. What was she supposed to tell her teammate? It was your sisters fault for giving her the dare?
"My boxers no less." He continued.
"Well you see Gaara, I um…" Sakura started forgetting what she was going to say as Gaara approached her stopping right in front of her with an amused smirk on his face a look saying I-can't-wait-to-hear-what-you-come-up-with.
"Well?" Gaara pressed
"Temari dared me to do it." Sakura blurted out. Gaara chuckled and leaned to her ear.
"Just make sure I get those back." Gaara whispered huskily before entering his room leaving a blushing Sakura behind.
End Flashback
Flashback
"Your insane you old hag!" Sakura shouted as she dodged the on coming soccer balls that were coming at her at an amazing speed.
"It's the only way to become a good medic. You have to stay alive if you want to save people. I told you I wouldn't go easy on you just because you are my daughter." Tsunade shouted back kicking more soccer balls. One nailed Sakura in the gut sending her flying back into a tree. Sakura fell on her knees, panting and gripping her stomach.
"Get up." Tsunade ordered. Sakura stood her legs wobbling slightly before another onslaught of soccer balls came at her. Sakura continued to dodge. Tired of this Sakura let one come straight at her before punching it back at Tsunade.
"Take that you hag!" Sakura shouted as it hit her, sending her back a little. But this just set her off, Tsunade charged at Sakura and Sakura took off running for her life.
End Flashback
Flashback
"Why do we need catra control anyway?
"Its chakra Naruto." Sakura corrected.
"Whatever chakra, answer the question."
"Chakra control is essential for every jutsu you do, chakra is not an unlimited supply if you use too much you'll waste it, if you don't use enough the jutsu is ineffective." Sasori explained. "Now your training is simple, climb the trees; without using your hands."
Sasori preceeded to demonstrate climbing the tree with ease like it was walking on normal ground. The three stared at him in awe, and Naruto was bouncing up and down ready to try.
"Use a kunai to mark your place, then next time try to get higher. You might need a running start to help you." Sasori said and the three prepared then ran toward a tree. Sasori looked to Gaara and saw he was pretty far for his first shot. 'just what I expected.' Sasori thought. He then turned to Naruto and saw he was on the ground with a bump on his head. 'can't say I didn't expect that.' He then turned to see how the female member of their squad was doing when she shouted to them.
"Hey guys this is fun!" Sakura shouted from a high branch of the tree she was training on.
"Woah way to go Sakura!" Naruto cheered. Gaara frowned, 'how did she do that?' he thought.
"Well it seems that the female of our squad has the best chakra control. You two could learn some things from Sakura." Sasori congradulated.
End Flashback
Flashback
"Your crazy Shikamaru, that cloud does not look like a flower." Sakura huffed.
"What does it look like then?" Shikamaru questioned.
"A cloud. And here I thought you were supposed to be the genuis." Sakura teased, going back to watching the clouds with her friend. Shikamaru chuckled before doing the same.
End Flashback
Flashback
"Hey Kanky watcha doin?" Sakura asked.
"Fixing my puppet." He said not looking up at her too absorbed in his work.
"Whats wrong with it?" Sakura asked.
"Its joints need oiling, its cracked in a few places and the arm is broken." Kankuro told her.
"Oh let me know when your dolly is all better alright?"
"Okay." Kankuro said
"Have fun with your dolly Kanky." Sakura said cheerfully before leaving.
"Thanks I will." Kankuro said. "Hey wait! Its not a doll!!"
End Flashback
Everyone. You all helped me and I was stupid and left you all.
Its not to late. A voice sounded in her head. Momo? Talk about mood swings, you were the one who forced me to go! It's the curse, its affecting me to drag you to Orochimaru. Make your choice Sakura, like I said its not to late. Momo said before fading into the back of my mind. So it's the curse seal, that's why she's been acting different. That's when I heard people outside of this stupid barrel.
"You stupid boy, its too late to get your friends back." Tayayu said.
"Give me Sakura!!" Naruto shouted. He was always fighting for me, never giving up.
"Sakura chose to come to us, she doesn't want to go back." Tayayu sneered. But she was wrong, I did want to go back. I heard a growl then something slam into a tree.
"Shut up." Gaara seethed, anger acting as venom as I could practically feel the pressure of the sand on Tayuya.
"Stick to the plan you two!" Shikamaru ordered. Seems like he was leading this pack of misfit chunin. But where were Kiba, Neji, Kankuro and Temari? I knew they were here earlier. Wait where is Jugo and Kidimaru? Shit! Gaara growled again.
"Gaara!" Naruto shouted. Double shit! He was letting Shukaku out.
"Gaara calm down!" Naruto called. Alright enough games, time to show them whose side I was on. I kicked through the barrel with my inhuman strength surprising the entire group
"You shouldn't be alive!" Tayuya shouted. Gaara got angrier at her statement.
"I didn't swallow the pill, stupid." I told her. Time to break this party up. I punched the ground causing an earthquake before jumping over them and running away taking Sasuke's barrel with me. I ran through the forest back toward the leaf village and pulled out my walkie talkie Tsunade gave me for emergencies. "Blondie, come in blondie." I said into the device, our code names. She was drunk when she thought of it, really drunk.
"This is blondie, good to hear from you Pinky." Tsunade answered, a certain happiness that I wasn't gone to Orochimaru for good.
"You two blondie, but we are going to need back up, Gaara's going Shukaku, I'm on the run with the Uchiha in a barrel, Temari, Kiba, Neji and Kankuro's location is unknown to me. I believe they are in battle with two of the sound nins, two more are after me along with Shikamaru, Naruto and Gaara." I explained the situation to her.
"Backup sent pinky, how far are you from the enemey?"
"Depends who you consider an enemey. Gaara is the closest to me at the moment, gaining as we speak, the others are in my range so I can still sense them but they're pretty far."
"Alright, what about the Uchiha?"
"I think it might be too late. We were given a pill that would send us to a death like state to release the second stage in the curse, I didn't take it but he did. Like I said before he's in a barrel thinking he's on the way to Orochimaru."
"I see, do you think he could become a threat to the village if he returned?" Tsunade asked.
"Definitely, if the first stage of the curse is as powerful as it is, I don't really want to see the second. I think you will be able to see the results of it for those fighting at the moment. Besides if he left already, he won't want to come back, he chose to die for power."
"Alright pinky, abandon him. He's a traitor now."
"Should I kill him?" I asked.
"No, leave him."
"Blondie, he could become a threat. If Orochimaru takes over his body or even if Sasuke is too late and gets trained he will get stronger and possibly attack the village."
"Pinky even if that is true, he is not in Orochimaru's hands yet. You could be trailed for treason right now if you kill him. I'm doing the best I can to keep you from severe punishment as it is right now. We will deal with him before its too late." Tsunade said. I almost forgot about punishment.
"Is the Third alright with this?"
"Sakura the Third is dead. He was killed by Orochimaru." Tsunade told me. I gasped, a tear sliding down my face. Uh oh I thought as sand wizzed by my head. Looks like I didn't have as much time as I thought.
"Alright consider the Uchiha left behind then." I said quickly throwing the barrel at Gaara. Gaara caught it with his sand and threw it behing him.
"What was that pinky?" Tsunade asked.
"I got to go, Gaara's on my tail." I said before turning off the walkie talkie. "Alright Gaara, come and get me." I said before speeding up getting more distance between the two of us. But Gaara shocked me by transporting in front of me and slamming me into a tree with sand, effectively trapping me there.
"Sakura." Gaara said through clenched teeth. His eyes weren't jade but the gold of Shukaku, his voice was a mixture of the two, but no demonic sand parts. That was good I suppose.
"Gaara." I greeted nervously, not liking the aura surrounding him. Gaara stalked up to me, his anger suffocating me.
"Why." Gaara demanded.
"The seal." I told him but by the look he was giving me I could tell that wasn't enough so I elaborated.
"I told you that it would change me, but it ended up changing Momo. She was taking control enough that my body responded to her instead of me. Hence me leaving but certain memories knocked some sense into me. Luckily I didn't eat that pill otherwise it would have been too late."
"How do I know your not lying?" Gaara asked.
"Why would I be going back to the direction of Konoha if I was lying? Why would I not struggle against your sand." I asked him. He got a smirk on his face, knowing I was right but kept me in the sand.
"Can you let me go? I want to hug my Panda!" I pouted. He scowled at the nickname but let his sand fall allowing me to tackle him in a hug. He caught me holding me tight as if I would leave him again. I smiled into his chest. It was no fair that he got so much taller than me. Then he pulled apart to look at my face but his hands still on my waist holding me there. He brought one hand and wiped something off my cheek, it was then I realized I was crying.
"Its good to have you back Sakura." Gaara said softly.
"I should've never left in the first place." I told him. "Thanks for stopping me from making the stupidest mistake in my life."
"But I thought—
"Who do you think was in those memories? Besides you and the knucklehead brought them on, your voices and actions I heard it all." I interrupted him to explain.
"Sakura!" Naruto shouted as he ran tackling Gaara and I.
"Get off you idiot." Gaara ordered. He complied then hugged me separately, in what was a hug of death.
"Sakura don't ever do that again! I don't know what I would do without my little sister!" Naruto scolded me.
"Naruto she is turning blue, let her go before you kill her." Shikamaru told him. At that I was immediately dropped, Naruto laughing sheepishly before muttering an apology. I laughed at the knucklehead.
"Sorry Naruto, it won't happen again." I vowed.
"Of course it won't! Not on my watch!!" Naruto shouted. I giggled at his antics, typical Naruto.
"But about the little sister thing, I'm older than you." I told him.
"Yeah but I'm taller." He said standing next to me. He was only taller because his stupid spikey hair.
"Whatever." I mumbled and turned on the walkie talkie again.
"Hey blondie, hows the situation?" I asked into the device, everyone looked to me confused and wondered who blondie was.
"Back up should be there pinky. Is the Uchiha taken care of?"
"Yes, not sure where he is but I ditched him." I told her.
"What did you do?" Tsunade asked sighing.
"I threw him at Gaara when he was chasing me and Gaara threw him behind him, that's all I know." I said laughing into the walkie talkie. Stupid chicken ass. I knew Tsunade was trying to hold in a laugh and shaking her head at me.
"Whose with you pinky?"
"Gaara, Shikamaru and Naruto." I replied.
"Hey why was I said last!" Naruto complained causing Tsunade to chuckle.
"Alright head back to the village with the team pinky, Shikamaru is still in charge."
"Oh come on blondie, a trip back to the village hardly needs a leader."
"Do as I say pinky, you are under punishment as soon as you enter the village need I remind you. You don't need to add something else to add to it."
"Alright blondie, I got you. Pinky out." I said turning off the walkie talkie. The three in my group were looking at me questioningly.
"Whose blondie?" Shikamaru questioned.
"Pinky?" Naruto laughed. I popped him upside his head and turned to Shikamaru.
"Tsunade made me carry this walkie talkie everywhere, using codenames. She would only respond if I used it. She's blondie and I'm pinky." I explained.
"Who came up with those?"
"Let's just say she was drunk, very very drunk." I said. Shikamaru nodded in understanding.
"Let's head back." Shikamaru ordered, and we were on our way back to the village where my punishment awaited.
Me: Well this as I reread this chapter, it felt kind of rushed, but a lot of plot stuff was in it so…But I had some Flashback fun! Hehe it was awesome to get away from the story and just put in random bits in, hoped you liked the little bit of fluff I put in. Do you think I am taking the relationship too slow, too fast, just right? Please give me feedback!! I thrive off of it, I need it! Lol just being overdramatic sorry. Well Review! I love to here from you guys!
