Title: A Change of heart

Author: Anne-twilight

Genre: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Warning: Some words aren't appropriate for 13 and below.

Summary: Sakura had a change of heart. Since Sasuke don't like her, she given him up and put all of her attention on practicing and making herself strong. She doesn't want to be weak. But she doesn't know that this change might catch some unexpected attention... (NejSakSas)

Chapter XII: Sprinkle Of Truth

Naruto yelled as Sasuke's fist hit him straight in his left cheek. He was thrown in the ground by the force.

"I said stop cursing. Does a four word sentence complicate you?"

"But you didn't have to knock me!" Naruto complained.

"You know that I have too. So shut up." Sasuke focused his attention at the pink-haired girl outside the barrier again. He wished that he had his chakra back because if he doesn't, he'll lose Sakura without her even knowing...

Never knowing that...

Sakura's heart thundered against her chest, matching the thunders and lightning outside the house in rhythm.

What will happen to her now? There is no way she could defeat Orochimaru.

Death.

"Do you believe in fate, Haruno Sakura?" Orochimaru asked almost randomly, still not moving a muscle in his position. He smirked ever so slightly when the cotton-candy haired girl narrowed her eyes at him.

Even though Sakura knew that Orochimaru was obviously aware of her sudden fear, she decided to answer. She was determined to make a little chitchat and getting-to-know with him. That, itself, would make the time go futhur faster.

"Do not get me wrong, Orochimaru-san, but I do not believe in fate. Like other said, fate is fate. You have nothing to do against it." She said, making her speech a little slower in an attempt to annoy him.

A sparkle of interest make it's way on the other one's eyes. He smiled half-heartedly.

"Why?"

Sakura, on the other hand, was scared inside. Seeing Orochimaru smile was the last thing she will ever wished for. She had seen many horror movies many times before and it only unnerved her. But having a view of his smile is just simply scary. End of the story.

"None of your business, but I'm saying anyways. I didn't believe in fate in the reason that if my friends are going to die tomorrow and I don't have any position to stop it. Because it's fate. You have nothing to do against it. I hope you have a lesson in my raining words of wisdom." Sakura said sarcastically, gazing at him in boredom.

"It is very much appreciated." Orochimaru insulted back. He gazes at the wall clock he had been staring for a while now.

10:58 p.m

One more hour to go and the ninja's will regain their ability to use several types of jutsu. Orochimaru had a thought that to be able to get Uchiha Sasuke he needed to fight the little girl not merely 5 feet away from him.

"What else can I do for you?" Sakura asked again, anticipating the time that Orochimaru would just give up and leave them alone with their own business.

"Uchiha Sasuke, of course. But... I've known you long enough. I am sure that you're not going to give-up Sasuke-kun because you lov-" He was cutted off when firm warm hands wrapped around his neck. For once, he was astonished; he didn't even predict that one coming.

Haruno Sakura surely changes a lot more. Not only physically but also emotionally and in strength.

"I dare you to continue." She hissed as she narrowed her eyes into slits at him. Sakura was almost in the tiptoes because of Orochimaru's height but that didn't ruin her composure.

"The truth hurts, doesn't it?" Orochimaru winced when her hands tightened more around his neck, choking him.

"It is the past. I didn't require you to repeat what had happened so long ago." Her fury grew when he smirked at her direction.

"Why, the little cherry blossom is in fury. How utterly astonishing. But don't worry my dear, because you caught my attention so much that I would want you over Uchiha Sasuke. Isn't that great?" Orochimaru softly whispered at her, it was so soft that Sakura could barely hear it.

"No. That wasn't great at all." Sakura let go of Orochimaru's neck and sighed. Lazily, she casted the tall man in front of her a look and shrugged slightly. "I don't think that the cloning technique would affect me. So get your ass in front of me, Orochimaru-san."

In a blink of an eye, Orochimaru's snickering face appeared above her. "You impress me. I think I should go now as a gift for all of you."

He gave the pink-haired girl a long stare before turning his heel and walking towards the door. Seeing this, Sakura gave a small sigh of relief.

Orochimaru took hold of the doorknob for a heartbeat then immediately drop his hand back to his side.

Haruno Sakura froze when he slowly faced her again with a deathly calm facade. In some other reasons, she couldn't see his eyes because of dark shadows covering it.

"Did you know that I remember something very important?" He said in a conversational manner, still didn't looking up.

"And, can I dare ask, what is that?" She replied politely, able to recover from her nervousness with collective composure and calm voice. And to her surprise he started to tell a story.

"There is a husband and wife that is so powerful and so wealthy that even the ants is afraid of them. They are one beautiful family. They had a very admirable little baby girl named Cherry derived from the Cherry Blossom. Many had admired them and at the same time many despised them. One cold summer night, assassins killed the couple. But the baby girl was taken away from the couple before they were killed. And just a mere old-servant woman escaped with the baby girl. Say Haruno, isn't that story worth while?" Orochimaru finally turn to look at Sakura in the eyes seriously, which definitely gave her the creeps.

Obviously enough, she didn't show it.

"It was a great story indeed. But I can not see anything that relates with our situation." She replied impatiently, tapping her left foot slightly on the floor.

"Oh, can't you see how it relates to you?" He insulted back and took several steps forward. Orochimaru bit back a smirk when he felt the girl's chakra flared up.

She shrugged.

"How selfish your mother had been to you, then. Not to tell the truth..." He trailed up as three kunai had been thrown at his direction. He dodges them all in time and smiled at Sakura.

"Don't you dare speak anything harsh against my mother again. I know that I can't win over you but I surely know that I won't give up so easily." She hissed again and dangerously narrowed her eyes, clenching and unclenching her hands.

"But it is your right to know the truth, is it not?"

"And what is that, that you know about me that I already don't know?" Sakura asked, mocking him, reaching in her pouch for another three kunais.

"Simple. You're not a Haruno."

AN: I'm sorry in advance in the reason of not updating soon. I've been very busy these days. School is giving me lots of headaches. Being a senior in high school was not as easy as I thought. So please forgive this silly author, ne?

And also, I really appreciate all those who reviewed. Please keep on reviewing, it really gave me lots of inspiration to write.

Please review.

Lady Light, oh is that confusing? Let me explain further, Hatake Kakashi planned all of this, starting from the stuck-to-the-house up to now. This is for Sakura to know about her past more. I hope this is clearer to you now. ;; Cookie6, I hope you like this chapter. Thank you for fully supporting this story! wun-liddo-babi, [smiles] New chapter for you. Thanks for the review! swt-angel-babi3, hmm.. Thanks for the review!!! Anfu, Vietnam looks nowadays? [sighs] The truth is, I don't really know. I wish I could be at Vietnam too, but Philipines is too far. But if you want to know, ask my very kind beta, oOoshortayoOo. Thanks for the review! kelsey krinkles, yeah. Thanks for the review! Magicians of the Yami, I like your penname! Really. Anyways, thanks for the review! Shy-Lil-Dreamer, Thanks for the review! agent vash, [peek slightly at the monitor] No! Please don't be angry!! I promise I will not add another cliffhanger next time!! Thanks for reviewing! kun0ichi SaKuRa028, Opo, filipina akong tunay. Ahh, yung website ko? Ganito, may kwento kasi yon. Ang dami ko nang sinubukang name tapos laging meron nang nauna. Pagkatapos ng 10 minutes, sumuko na ako. Nainis ba, kaya un. Nakakainis ung pinangalan ko. [snickers] Ang pathetic no? [shrugs] Pero ok naman. Natuwa ako sa reaction ng mga kaklase ko. Kaya ayun. Hehehe. Salamat ng marami sa review! [Napahaba ata ung kwento ko.. oh well ] The Sadist, I'm sorry for the lack of romance. But I promise that it will appear in later chapters. Thanks for reviewing! Jan-chan, A million thanks! Thank you very much! rogue solus, you love it? You do?? Thank you!! sasuke-chidori93, how touching. [sniffles] Thank you! Tears of the Pheonix, Thank you for the great review! dark-anime-junkie, Thanks for reviewing twice! joahnna, isang billiong salamat sa palagiang pagbasa nito. Alam mo ba nalulungkot akong tunay dahil wala na ang Naruto? Hindi na siya iniair. Sa ibang banda, maraming salamat muli. [Bakit ba ang makata ko ngaun? Siguro tinamaan nanaman ng kaautistikan.] Arrana, Yes! Your guess is correct, but slightly only. Anxiety and angst will flow in later chapters. My beta? She's a very friendly and responsible beta. The way oOoshortayoOo writes a story never fail to amaze me. I think no need for a temporary beta. Thanks for reviewing!!

And again, thanks to vivian-chan or oOoshortayoOo for editing this story!

Please review, for fast update!

Anne