Chapter 35: Healing the Phoenix

A/N: Hey guys, I'd like to inform you that this story's coming to an end. Probably a few more chapters and its done. Show your appreciation… Read and Review.

Ino sent a report to the hokage stating the initial incident. Naruto and the others tried to find Sakura but to no avail.

His feet brought him to a distant flower field though he didn't know why. His green eyes searched the vast colorful field and found a particular shade of pink. Stealthily, he approached her. She did not even stir when he lay beside her.

Sakura's body needed rest and she can't help but agree. In an instant, the genjutsu began its invasion yet again.

Sakura's dream

A silver haired man was chained to the wall as another man cruelly whipped his bare back. His screams of pain echoed in the entire cell. "Kamui-san!" Sakura screamed but in her dream she realized that she was just an audience and not a character.

"Where is your brother?" the man with a whip roared as he cracked it against his victim's back. "I don't know," Kamui answered. "That goddamned brother of yours took a page out of 'the book.' That spell revives the dead. I want to know why," the man pulled his hair to make Kamui face him. "I told you… I don't know," he answered sternly as blood.

In that moment, another man entered the dark cell and reported "The traitor has been located. He is in a distant village. It appears that he has resurrected his dead lover named Reika now called the blood countess." "Hmm... it appears you have nothing to do with it but remember this Kamui… you are alive because of us… do what you're supposed to do," the man broke the chain with only his whip.

Kamui's body landed hard on the cold floor. "Hai…" he answered as he clenched his fist.

Meanwhile, Gaara stared at her sleeping form. Relishing in her intoxicating presence before she turns into a spitfire, he stroked her cheeks and played with her pink hair.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto shouted and started to run to them. Sakura started stirring. "Naruto, be quiet," the sand master moderated his voice. Gaara looked back at Sakura, in an instant, her eyes shot open and she sat up abruptly.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" She immediately stood up and distanced herself from him. The red haired ninja only looked at her with longing in his eyes. "Sakura-chan!" Naruto stopped running when he saw the confrontation between Gaara and Sakura.

"If you come near me again… genjutsu or not… I will kill you…" in her eyes was an intense intent to kill and something else Gaara cannot comprehend. "Saku…" Naruto stepped forwards but was held in place by the sand. Sakura's eyes turned blood red and an ominous chakra started surrounding her.

In a whirl of sand, Naruto and Gaara disappeared. Sakura panted as she resumed to her normal self. "Why are you doing this to me Kamui-san… why are you showing me all these things," she said to herself as she sank to the ground.

Gaara and Naruto materialized with a gust of sand at Kagura's office. "That was quick thinking Gaara," Naruto was about to shout at Gaara to ask him why they had to leave Sakura like that but when he heard a familiar voice he turned his head. "Tsunade-baa-chan!" the blond ninja pointed at the hokage rudely. "That's really rude of you Naruto," a man beside Tsunade sighed. "Ero-senin too," he did the same with Jiraiya.

"What is happening to her?" the sand master broke the senseless conversation. "Well I can say that she thinks that you, Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru and Ino are all dead. And if you try to approach her she will go berserk thinking you're all just a product of a genjutsu. As of this moment, I can only suggest that the five of you should stay clear from Sakura… that is the only way I can talk to her normal self." Tsunade detailed in.

Gaara clenched his fist in aggravation. "Understood," he replied then he was gone in another whirl of sand. "What are you planning?" Jiraiya asked her. "I plan on visiting my apprentice." She answered him casually as they walked out of the office followed by a very confused Naruto.

Seating on a huge rock, Sakura watched as the petals get blown away by the wind. Sensing a familiar chakra, she quickly turned around. "Tsunade-sama…" she slowly stood up. Tsunade removed her overcoat which had a symbol for gamble then started to walk towards her apprentice.

"Sakura… defend yourself!" the blond lady dashed towards Sakura. Upon reflex, Sakura blocked both her punches with her bare hands but was then caught by her strong kick that sent her crashing on the nearest boulder. "Tsunade-sama… what are you doing?" the battered kunoichi held her aching side. As she looked at her sensei's eyes, she saw her total seriousness. Then she began attacking again, Sakura was more than ready to defend.

Gaara and the others were alerted upon sensing a clashing of chakra. They dashed to the scene to be halted by Jiraiya. "Just watch…" he said sternly as he cocked his head at the two fighting kunoichis.

Sakura was receiving more blows than the ones she was making. Tsunade was not holding back at all, in one kick she sent her apprentice floating into the air then punched her back to the ground with great force. Sakura landed on the ground hard… creating a huge crater by her fall.

Her entire body was screaming with pain as her mind was totally confused. Sakura struggled to get up but to no avail. Aside from lacking physical strength, she was losing her determination to fight back as well.

Tsunade walked to the edge of the crater to see her apprentice in a helpless state. In truth, she wanted so badly to help her but she maintained her cool and kept her façade. "What's wrong? Why won't you get up?" she bragged as she looked down and crossed her arms.

Gaara gritted his teeth and clenched his fist at the scene he was witnessing but he trust Tsunade so he stood his ground. Naruto and the others were as helpless as Gaara, they all stood there watching the scenes unfold.

She lifted her head to see her sensei pitying her. "Are you really Sakura? Or are you just a pathetic little girl dreaming of protecting everyone without lifting a finger?" Sakura's eyes grew fierce as she struggled to get up but her body protested.

"If you're really my student, Sakura, prove it. After all the things she has experienced, I'm confident that she's now stronger than me… that she can surpass me." Sakura felt something like an electric current traveling through her entire body as she somehow regained her strength.

"Surpass me…" that statement rang in her head as she got up as if she didn't receive any hard blows. Tsunade-sama… you came all the way here to wake me up from my feeble daydreaming. She then smiled as she jumped to the opposite edge of the crater.

Sakura threw a kunai into the center of the crater and tossed her ninja pack away from her. Tsunade smirked as she saw her apprentice's actions.

"So it's finally beginning," Jiraiya eyed the two figures intently. "Ero-senin… what do you mean?" Naruto pulled on his sleeve to have him answer his persistent question. "Sakura discarded her bag as a sign that the battle will be an unarmed combat. The kunai in the center of the field will be a last resort. If ever one of them gets desperate, that person will take the kunai and use it to attack. It is also a symbol of a battle between equals." The sanin explained as the others listened but their eyes remained fastened on the impeding battle.

Tsunade ran to the right and Sakura did too. Each of them never broke their eyes contact. They collided with the greatest impact. Their chakras clashed as they blocked their opponent's attacks.

It has already been a while but not one was able to land an attack on her opponent. The landscape was filled with holes and crates from their missed blows. Both knowing their opponent's attack pattern, all they did was block and had no chance to attack.

I can't keep it like this. Knowing Sakura, she's already seeing the weaknesses of my attacks. Tsunade panted as she stared at her opponent. Though it's her first time fighting with me this seriously… she's getting better with every moment though she's already injured from my previous attacks.

I'm not doing this only for myself… she side glanced to see the others. Though they're only mere illusions… I want them to see… that somehow… I've become stronger. Just like how Sasuke killed Orochimaru… just like how Naruto defeated Jiraiya and just like how Gaara tamed the Shukaku.

Sakura closed her eyes then opened them immediately. She made a hand seal that surprised Tsunade. "Don't tell me…" Sakura sprinted towards her. "Kage Bunshin no Justu!" five clones materialized and surrounded Tsunade. The pink haired kunoichi then started another hand seal. Horse… Tiger… the lady hokage saw the seals. Too obvious Sakura… she planned to dash away but her feet were held in place by wet sand. "His technique is hard to copy so I had to improvise…." Sakura grinned as she performed the seals. Amazing… she copied her teammate's technique without a sharingan plus the fact that she imitated Gaara's Desert by mixing water with the sand thereby controlling only the water soaked sand with her water technique.

"Katon, Grand Fireball technique!" She and her clones blew out massive flames to engulf her captive. Thanks to her inhuman strength, Tsunade was able to leap out before the flames did damage. "Don't underestimate me Sakura… I'm one of the Sanin if I may remind you…" she said as she was landing. "I agree," Tsunade's eyes widened in surprise as she felt Sakura behind her. I didn't even feel her presence...

Sakura began a series of attacks but was deflected. Gathering her chakra in her fist, she punched Tsunade with all her might though her opponent blocked her attack, the impact made her target descend wit great velocity into the crater that was made earlier.

She performed another hand seal. Then Sakura held out her right hand, she focused her chakra until it swirled into a ball of lightning.

The lady hokage struggled to get up but found her body reacting weirdly. As she tried to lean on her elbows, her knees would flex and as she tried to move her hand her toes would flex. I see… I can't believe she used my own technique against me.

"That technique is…" Sasuke blurted out as he watched the heated battle. "A combination of Chidori and Rasenggan…" Jiraiya finished it for him. It's difficult mastering more than two elements but then Sakura has now mastered three… but I still stand corrected. In this rate… the possibility of her winning against Tsunade is more than half.

Sakura neared her target but then Tsunade grabbed the kunai and targeted Sakura's face. Having no time to react, Sakura was sent backwards by the impact of the kunai.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto saw that the kunai had hit its target. Everyone drew their breaths.

Tsunade stood up quickly regaining the natural function of her body. Sakura stood on the edge of the crater with the kunai in between her teeth and bleeding lips. Later then she felt an immense pain on her side; she was shocked to find it badly bleeding. Her attack still hit me…

Sakura spat out the kunai as Tsunade looked at her fiercely. The lady hokage formed fast hand seals and almost immediately her wounds healed as tattoos became visible but then disappeared after awhile. "Genesis of Rebirth!"

A smile lifted from her blood stained lips. As she made her battle stance, her pink hair became lose and was soon free from its bound. In a blink, her blond opponent began attacking her with even more power than before.

"You can't beat me using copied techniques Sakura." Tsunade said as she continued landing punches on her body but was barely avoided by her opponent. "I plan on winning… even if that means killing you…" she continued as she triumphantly plunged her chakra embedded punch into her midsection making her spit out blood.

Sakura's knees shook as she stood up. "I plan on doing the same…" she let her dirty fingers comb her long hair. As if aggravated by her action, Tsunade dashed forward to land a kick on her but she leaped to evade her attack.

She again combed her hair as she smiled at her sensei. The same cycle of Sakura evading Tsunade's attack and Sakura combing her hair and again Tsunade attacking was repeated several times.

What is she doing? Whatever it is… a vein on Tsunade's forehead started palpating. "Enough!" she shouted as she made an unknown hand seal. The ground started shaking until spikes erupted from it and targeted Sakura. Sakura was so surprised that she didn't even have time to evade or even move.

The impact sent her floating into the midair. Tsunade bit her thumb and placed it on the ground. "Summoning Technique!" smoke covered the area as a huge slug materialized.

"Now Hachi!" the lady hokage ordered as she jumped on the head of the massive slug. "Hai!" the slug replied and soon it spat out acid substance on Sakura's floating form.

"SAKURA!" Gaara ran to the battlefield knowing that there's just no way to avoid the fatal attack. Sakura's eyes shot open. Turning towards the incoming attack, she smiled. The battleground was again covered with smoke.

There was a sizzling sound that ensures the acid has hit something to melt. Tsunade strained to reassure her hunch but a loud roar echoed through the entire place that made the huge rocks shake.

The sand master halted his attempts to interrupt the battle as he saw Sakura mere meters in front of him and beside her was a huge white tiger.

"Impossible!" Jiraiya exclaimed as he saw the roaring beast. "That's Byakko… the summoning technique for that beast was long forgotten!" he explained upon hearing his apprentice's questioning.

As the smoke disintegrated, Byakko sprinted forward to tackle the huge slug. Tsunade jumped out of her summoned beast and dashed towards Sakura who had her back against her.

Sakura slowly stood up. "Play time's over," she whispered as she made quick hand seals each hand performing a different combination. Impossible… no one can do different ninjutsu at the same time… Tsunade was nearing her opponent when… "Ahh!" she felt thousands of needles impaling her body.

Sakura turned around in time to see her sensei fall. "Tsunade!" Jiraiya ran to the lady hokage's side to carry her. The summoned slug disappeared but the tiger did not. Instead in slowly walked towards his summoner and looked at her with his huge blue eyes.

Byakko bent his head to get a closer look at the pink haired girl who called for him. Sakura stared into its sapphire eyes that reflected her battered image. She did not fear him on contrary… she looked straight into its eyes and ordered respect.

Rising its head, it roared and hopped over her. Sakura smirked as she pulled out her phoenix pendant. "Wake up… Whisperwind!" she felt her invisible sword materialized.

Byakko tackled an empty space near the gang as Sakura started approaching him. "Nice of you to pay me a visit," she shouted as she held her sword tighter. Five figures jumped out of the tiger's destructive attack.

"Them again!" Naruto pointed at the figures as the others readied their selves for battle.

It all happened too fast. In a blink, a silver haired man attempted to attack the sand master. He was too quick for Gaara's sand to react. His green eyes widened in surprise but then in a flash Sakura appeared in front of him.

Kamui pulled out something from his neck then muttered "Wake up… Hellscream!" a black blade materialized and soon Sakura and Kamui crossed blades. The four other intruders started attacking as well while the two continued their own battle.

Sakura searched Kamui's golden eyes as their blades repelled each other. Finally, Kamui and Sakura were face to face with Whisperwind and Hellscream in between. Battered and weakening, her hands started shaking until one of her knees gave way. Kneeling in front of her enemy as their blades were still in contact, Kamui pushed his sword down making it's edge slice through Sakura's shoulder.

Sakura screamed in pain as she felt the blade on her skin. Sand immediately surrounded Kamui form head to toe. A very angry sand master gripped the thin air in front of him "Desert Coffin!" the sand's pressure squeezed anything in between them.

Her body fell forward as the tiger disappeared in a puff of smoke. The four enemies retreated seeing what had happened to Kamui. Gaara grunted as he saw his sand held nothing but air. He then picked her unconscious body and disappeared in a whirl of sand.

"Kamui-san… why are you forcing me to hate you?" Sakura said unconsciously against the sand master's chest.

A/N: Okay guys… Read and Review please!