A/N: Hey everyone! Just wanted to give you all a heads up! If you don't follow me on my social media accounts(located at the bottom of the chapter or on my profile if you need them), be sure to at least catch up on my blog posts on my blog! I am giving updates to exciting news for Priestess Sakura, and it'll give you a heads up on things to come. That way you all want be like shocked or anything, haha! My blog site is: ruby1235fanfiction. blogspot. com (with no spaces).

Only ONE chapter left until the end of Priestess Sakura: The Beginning. Be sure to go on my blog tomorrow! I am releasing the name of the sequel to this story, and some news on the sequel! :)

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"Quiet!" Tsunade called out to silence the whispers. "It is highly important that we do not allow this capture to happen. The plan now is to have all Jounin level ninja remain here. Chunin level will go wake our Genin up, and then assign them the job of evacuating our citizens to safety. The hospital will be secured by anbu, so that will be the only building the genin will not need to evacuate. Once the Chunin are done, they are to return back here for further instruction from our Jounin. Lastly, I need to speak to Sasuke Uchiha and Hinata Hyuga about Sakura's current condition. You all need to do this quickly, is that understood?"

"Yes Hokage-sama!" Was the unanimous answer, before everyone started moving.

Naruto's POV

Taking in a sharp breath, Naruto opened his eyes quickly, but shut them a moment later. Why are the lights so bright? He thought as he sat up, and opened his eyes again. At first his vision was blurry, and he saw an outlined figure standing at the end of his bed. When his eyes finally adjusted, he stared at the figure. It was the woman he saw earlier… "Ah!" He exclaimed, before pointing at her. "You're that lady I saw at the training grounds that one day!"

The woman smiled at Naruto. "You are correct," she said, her eyes closed, as she chuckled lightly.

Naruto's mouth fell slightly ajar as he took in the woman. When she opened her eyes again, he found himself drawn to her emerald green eyes.

At Naruto's staring, the woman suddenly held a look of irritation, as a vein throbbed in her forehead. "Stop staring at me, or I'll make you die for real this time!"

"Ah! Sorry!" Naruto apologized, feeling his cheeks grow warm at the realization that he had been staring. Grinning, he scratched the side of his head. "You just remind me of someone I know…" He trailed off, before laughing. His thoughts on Sakura. "The same hot temper too."

"I do not have a temper!" The woman argued, however that just made her eyes widen, before she softened her expression. A smile back on her face. "Just come with me already. I'm going to take you somewhere."

Deciding to trust this woman, Naruto moved to get up from the hospital bed. Eager to get out of the hospital. But, when he turned to his bed to see his body was still laying on it, he paled. "What in the hell is going on here?! That's me! I didn't make a shadow clone! I-"

"For kami's sake, can you stop focusing on the small details, and come on?" The woman asked, interrupting his panic.

Giving another glance to his body, Naruto followed this woman out of his room, and down the wing of the hospital. After a good two minutes of walking, he scratched his head again. "What exactly are we doing?"

The woman sighed at Naruto's question, as she crossed her arms. Her hands slipping into the sleeves of her kimono. "Your attention span is shorter that a goldfish… As I said before we left your room, I am taking you somewhere," she said, before she rolled her eyes. "You are just like him, it kills me."

"Just like who?" Naruto asked, as they stopped outside a room.

The woman didn't respond, as she just disappeared.

"Huh?!" Naruto questioned loudly, looking all around. "Where did she-" He was interrupted by a hand resting on his shoulder, and he stiffened at the contact. He had felt this feeling before, and he swallowed the lump in his throat. "Dad."

"Son," the familiar deeper voice of his father came from behind him.

Naruto turned, and to his surprise, there was his dad, but his mom stood right beside him. "Mom?"

"Hello Naruto," Kushina greeted, a cheeky grin on her face. "To think we'd get to see each other again. What a lucky occasion this is?"

"Why are you here? What's going on?" Naruto asked, confused… before he shook his head. "Not that I'm not happy to see you two, but-"

"Son," Minato interrupted, a light expression on his face, but a serious note in his eyes. "We don't have much time, and we'll try to give you all the information we can."

Naruto nodded once then. "Alright, then tell me."

"Let's go in here," Kushina said, motioning to the door that the woman who had been leading Naruto here stopped in front of.

Naruto turned, and suddenly seemed to recognize where they were. "Hey, this is Sakura's room," he said, before walking into the room. Indeed it was his pink haired teammates room. She was still unconscious in her bed, and the machine's beeping didn't seem to bother him that much. He was used to it. "Why do we need to talk in here?"

"Because," Kushina started, her eyes glancing to her husband, before back at their son. "Well, your dad would be better at explaining."

Naruto turned to look at his parents then. "What? This is a little weird-"

"The connection that you have with this young woman," Minato interrupted his son, his eyes going from Sakura to his son. "You've recognized it's strengthening over the past few weeks."

It was quiet for a moment, and Naruto remember the times over the mission he had connected with Sakura. In ways the others didn't understand. There was that dream we had about that person burying those comma things, then there was the fact that I knew what the comma's were before Sakura told everyone, and that language that Sakura and I can see and understand… "I guess so, but it's not that big of a deal-"

"That's where you are wrong," Minato said, interrupting his son once again. "It's a huge deal. You're connection with her is only the start to what is eternal relationship."

It was quiet for a long moment, before Naruto shook his head. "I think you have this wrong. You see, I used to like Sakura, and she always loved Sasuke. I was always jealous, and I competed with Sasuke for her affection. But, now I know that she and Sasuke are meant to be together. As I have someone else that I… uh… like in a more than friends way…" he trailed off, feeling awkward talking about this with his parents.

"That's not the kind of relationship I was referring to," Minato said, resting his hand on his forehead, as he sighed.

Kushina only grinned at her son. "It's that blue haired beauty that's been watching over you as you've been unconscious in your room, isn't it?"

Naruto's eyes widened. "You know about Hinata? Wait! She's been in my room-"

"Of course I know-" Kushina broke off at her husband's look, as she waived a hand at her son. "This isn't the time to talk about romance, let's get back to what your father was saying."

"Alright. As I was saying, you and Sakura have an eternal relationship. Not in romance, but in friendship. She has a destiny that is bigger than anything you can imagine. You play a part in her achieving her destiny, as her companion. Her counterpart if you will. Your destiny is to stand beside her and be there for her."

"Be there for her as a friend, a shoulder to cry on, a good laugh, a sound board for her to bounce ideas off of, a training partner, and someone who challenges her to do her best at any point she may feel like she can't," Kushina added, a big smile on her face.

Naruto stared at his parents for a long moment, before rubbing the back of his head. "Can you… I don't know… repeat all that again?"

Both his parents started laughing at their son's words, just in time for two new presences to join the room. Naruto recognized them easily. "Hey! You're Sakura's parents!"

"Naruto," Sakura's mom greeted politely with a nod of her head.

Sakura's dad, on the other hand, greeted Naruto with a slap on the back. "What's going on Naruto? You're not causing my daughter hell by getting injured again, are you?"

Naruto only leaned over to Sakura's dad. "Hey, not in front of my parents. They are going to thing I'm injury prone."

"I hate to break it to you, but you have appeared nearly bleeding to death in my kitchen for it not to be noticeable that you are indeed injury prone," Sakura's dad said, grinning at Naruto.

Sakura's mother look to Kushina, a smile on her face. "It seems like they are listening to you one minute, and as soon as you're done talking, they don't remember a thing you've said."

"Tell me about it," Kushina said, laughing along with Sakura's mother.

"Alright son," Minato said, getting Naruto's attention again. "Focus this time, alright?" He asked, before repeating what he said again.

Naruto nodded finally. "Alright, I'm destined to be friend's with Sakura. That's not that big of a deal."

"Do you accept this?" Minato asked.

"What?" Naruto countered, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean by do I accept this? Of course I do. Sakura's already one of my best friends."

"What you are agreeing to is a much bigger responsibility Naruto," Kushina said, smiling at her son. "Once you agree to this, you have to stand by Sakura's side. She'll need you."

"That's right Naruto," Sakura's father said, nodding at him. "You've got to be absolutely sure you can handle it."

Naruto opened his mouth to respond, but that's when he noticed something in the corner of his eye. Turning to see two people standing on the opposite side of Sakura's bed, he frowned. "Why are you in here?" He questioned them.

One was a woman with long dark red hair, braided all the way down her back, and bright green emerald eyes. The other was a man, his hair was white, but he was not old. His own eyes were a smoky grey color. Both of their eyes had been focused on Sakura, before looking to Naruto.

"Just watching over," the woman said, a smile on her face.

"You can't just go into Sakura's room!" Naruto exclaimed, a frown on his face. "It's family and friends only!"

The man joined the woman in smiling, and he spoke this time. "We know that."

Naruto opened his mouth to say more, when he felt a smack on the shoulder. Looking over to see it was his mom, he raised an eyebrow. "Mom?"

"Pay attention, we're running out of time," Kushina said, her face serious for the first time since she showed up.

"Son? Do you accept this responsibility?" Minato asked his son again.

Naruto was quiet, as he walked forward to Sakura's bedside. His hand moving to rest on top of Sakura's hand. Staring at her peaceful face for a moment, he nodded. "Yes."

"Do you really understand what you are being asked?" The man with the white hair and grey eyes asked him.

"You don't know me!" Naruto exclaimed, suddenly defensive. "Of course I accept it! I would die for her! Believe it!"

The two strangers smiled at each other, before the woman spoke. "Sakurina is in the right hands."

And then they were gone. Naruto looked around the room then. "Where in the hell did they go?"

"That not important son," Minato said, before they were suddenly back in Naruto's room. "We're running out of time, and since you accept. We need to start."

"Start what?" Naruto asked, turning to see his body on his bed again. It made him shiver.

"All you need to remember is that it's for Sakura," Kushina told him.

"It'll be painful," Sakura's mother told him, a concerned expression on her face.

Naruto grinned then. "Don't worry! I'll be fine!"

"Very well then," Sakura's dad said, before he and Minato's hands lit up with chakra. "Prepare yourself Naruto."

Naruto didn't get to respond as his dad and Sakura's dad put their chakra covered hands on his shoulder. Feeling sudden pain, he yelled out.

The Hokage Tower

"I believe we've got a set strategy," Tsunade said, her fingers intertwined, and she rested her chin on them. Eyeing the council seated at the table.

"It's four thirty now. I believe we've made good time," Kakashi spoke, sitting a few seats away from the Hokage.

"Our strategy is solid. We've got plenty of backups if it falters though," Shikamaru added, sitting beside his dad. He was one of the newest members of the council, and the first of his generation to be invited to sit on the council. She still looks concerned. He thought, before sharing a look with his dad, before speaking to the Hokage again. "We have more time to strategize further if you're still concerned."

"Well-"

The door to their meeting room was opened, and one of the Jounin who was apart of the information gathering appeared. "Tsunade-sama! It appears the enemy are covering ground quicker than we anticipated."

"How far away are they now?" Tsunade asked, her serious look solid on her face.

"It appears that are crossing over the boarder of the fire country. A good five to six hours away from the village at the speed they are traveling," the ninja replied.

Tsunade nodded once, and stood up. "Alright, let's go out," she said, before she and the council moved out to the big room where the Jounin and Chunin waited. The room silenced much easier than it did the first time she came out. "It appears the enemy is traveling faster than we anticipated. So we're giving out team assignments now. We'll have you all split into three teams. Team A will be led by Kakashi."

Kakashi stepped forward then. "When you find out if you've been assigned to my team, then be prepared to leave the village at five. We'll be traveling ahead to start setting up traps for the enemy to slow them down," he said, before his eyes glanced to Shikamaru. "Team B will be led by Shikamaru."

Shikamaru nodded at Kakashi, before he spoke. "Those in my team will have a bit of extra time to get prepared, and we will be leaving at six. We'll meet up with Team A, and get into position to defend against those who make it past the traps," he said, before he looked to Tsunade, and then his eyes searched through the crowd of ninja. "Team C will be led by Hinata and Ino."

Tsunade stepped forward, as her eyes went to the two female kunoichi. Both held looks of surprise on their faces. "Team C will be made up of our medical ninja. Hinata, you and half of Team C will be accompanying Team A, just incase things don't go as planned, and the enemy gets to the team before they can set the traps. Ino, your half of Team C will remain with Team B. Understand?"

"Yes," Hinata and Ino said, before sharing a look.

"Alright, Team A and Hinata's half of Team C, you will be leaving in thirty minutes. Once you find out you are apart of either team, then you need to get your stuff prepared to leave," Tsunade announced.

Sakura's POV

"Would you open your eyes already?"

A rather loud voice had been what brought Sakura out of her groggy sleepy state, and into consciousness. Realizing she was awake, she groaned softly.

"You're awake. So why aren't you going to open your damn eyes?"

Hearing the same loud voice again, Sakura shook her head, and opened her eyes. Finding herself face to face with an unfamiliar face, and the first thing that came from her was a loud scream. The stranger jumped back at her sudden scream, and Sakura finished the job by pushing the person the rest of the way away from her. "Get away from me!" She exclaimed, before noticing where she was. I'm in a hospital room… Last thing I remember, I was in the training grounds, I was dizzy and the light was bothering me… then what?

The strange guy noticed her distraction, and stepped a bit closer to her again.

However, Sakura sensed him immediately, and she pointed at him. "Don't you dare to take another step towards me, or I swear-"

"Relax," the guy interrupted, his hands up to motion calmness. "Don't attack me. I'm the good guy. I'm here to help you."

Sakura began to take in the guy's appearance. Honey blonde colored spiky hair, and those watery light blue eyes. Those whisker like markings on his face. He looks like… Naruto. Raising an eyebrow, she frowned, before finally sighing. "Talk."

Seeing she had calmed, the guy nodded once, and smiled. "As I said, I am here to help you…" he chuckled then. "I'm sorry, you just look like a friend of mine."

"Who is this person? Why are you even here? I don't understand what's going on," Sakura said, shaking her head again. "You are honestly just creeping me out, and if this is a nightmare, I would be expecting the dark purple moon to come from your soul."

The guy grinned at her words. "You'll catch on to why you remind me of someone eventually."

A vein throbbed in Sakura's forehead, as she growled. "Then why in the hell would you mention that if you wouldn't tell me who it was in the first place?!"

That had the guy laughing. "Yep, you are definitely just like her alright."

Sakura growled again, and crossed her arms. "Give me a reason why you're here, or I'll kick you the hell out of here."

"Short answer?" The guys asked her, and when she nodded, he nodded as well. "You are a priestess."

Silence was Sakura's response, as she blinked at the guy. "I'm sorry, can you repeat that? I think my stupid freak show hearing isn't working right."

The guy laughed at her, before repeating himself. "You are a priestess."

Again with the silence, this time Sakura held an unsettling look. "That's what I thought you said…" she trailed off, before jumping up from her bed. Propping her hands on her hips, she frowned. "Well, this little dream or nightmare I'm having is getting out of control."

"This isn't a dream," the guy told her, watching her frown. "You have the same frown lines as her too."

Sakura turned back to face the guy head on to give him a piece of her mind, but froze. Noticing her body was still laying on her bed. "What the hell? Am I dead?" She questioned, approaching the bedside, and her eyes on the monitors surrounding the bed. "The monitors say I'm not dead, but when you are living you are not supposed to see your own body. Unless it is a shadow clone or something, and I don't just make shadow clones when I'm unconscious. So either this stupid mark has given me the ability to make shadow clones in my sleep, which if that's what it's here for, these past two-almost three-weeks was a big waste of my time. Or this is not a shadow clone, that's my actual body. Which, in that case, you're going to start talking right now. Or else you will be responsible for me finally losing my mind, and Tsunade will finally get to fill up that space on the psych floor I know she has saved for me."

"Same sense of humor too," the guy said, laughing at her analysis of the situation. "Well, I can assure you, that you are not going to lose your mind… at least not because of me," the guy said, before shaking his head at her. "Anyway, as I was saying, you are a priestess. From the Hidden Espiritus Santos Village, meaning-"

"Hidden Holy Spirits Village," Sakura interrupted to translate what he was saying, before crossing her arms. "Yeah, I speak that language. Now can you continue, and not waste my time?"

"Has anyone ever told you how impatient you are? Because, you are one of the most impatient people I have ever had to talk to," the guy said, smirking at her, as he crossed his arms. "Although she probably has you beat for the actual most impatient person."

"Okay one, I am not impatient," Sakura retorted, frowning at the guy. "And two, who in the hell is 'she'? You keep mentioning her all the time. Why are you being so damn secretive? I'm pretty sure that I am most likely hallucinating, so it is not like anything you say is going to be heard by other people. I'm really good at keeping secrets from my friends… Hinata though, she's another story. I can't keep anything from her. She's got like this sixth sense that is dedicated to knowing everything I'm doing before I do it, and if I'm hiding something from her. Which usually she finds out in like five seconds, and that's actually kind of really annoying."

The guy laughed again. "Well, look at it this way, if you don't let me explain now, I'm going to run out of time, and you are going to be on your own. Completely clueless."

Narrowing her eyes at this man in front of her, Sakura growled again. "And a third thing, every time I look at you, or whenever you open your mouth, I get the urge to hit you until you die." Just like Naruto.

The guy smirked at this news. "I'll take that as a go ahead and continue," he said, before continuing on. "Your parents were the highest power in Espiritus Santos. The village-"

"Wait a damn minute. You are saying my parents were basically royalty in this Holy Spirit Village place," Sakura said slowly, before shaking her head. "My parents have lived in Konoha all their lives. There is no way that's true."

"Actually Sakura," a voice from behind Sakura said, making Sakura freeze up.

"He's correct," another voice said.

Turning slowly around, Sakura's eyes met those of her parents. "Mom… Daddy…?" Was all she managed, before bolting towards them. Touching them both, her mouth dropped open when her she noticed she could feel them. Hugging them then, she felt tears form in her eyes. "I've missed you two so much."

"Hey sweetheart," Sakura's mom greeted.

"How are you baby girl?" Her dad questioned.

Sakura pulled back from her father's embrace. Through her tears, she tried her hardest to form words. "I… I'm… Fine… Really."

"We're so proud of what you've accomplished," her mother told her, smiling at her. "We've been watching over you."

The honey blonde haired guy cleared his throat then, and Sakura narrowed her eyes at him. "You rude little interrupting jackass-"

"Sakura Haruno!" Her mother exclaimed, interrupting her. Her hands propped on her hips, and a raised eyebrow. "That foul language that comes out of your mouth needs to stop right this minute."

At her mom's scolding Sakura grumbled, and wiped at her eyes. "Yes mom."

Sakura father chuckled then. "This gentleman you are with is correct Sakura. He's right about the Holy Spirit Village."

"So why does the records you two have say that you've lived in Konoha all your lives? Your parents lived in Konoha, and so on?" Sakura asked, confused.

It was quiet for a long moment before Sakura's mother smiled softly. "Because it's true Sakura. We are from Konoha."

"I don't understand…" Sakura said slowly, shaking her head. "Then why did he say-"

"Sakura," Sakura's mother interrupted, resting her hand lightly on her daughter's shoulder.

"We adopted you," Sakura's father finished for her mother, when it seemed she wasn't able to say more.

Sakura stiffened up at that, and her mouth dropped open in surprise. "When?"

"When you were almost six years old," her mother replied, frowning slightly when Sakura stepped away from her hand.

It was quiet for a long time. Sakura remained staring at her parents in disbelief. The first movement was made by the guy on the other side of the room. "When you were five years old, your home village was attacked. A lot of people died in that battle. Your birth parents included. They died protecting you. A team from Konoha brought you back here where shortly after your arrival, a woman came with instructions on what to do for you. All the secrets that needed to be kept, and all the information for the people who would take care of her. That's when your adoptive parents were chosen."

Sakura's eyes began watering again, this time not because she was happy, as she looked to her parents. "You were chosen for me?"

"Sakura, baby," her mom started, shaking her head at her. "It's not like you think. We wanted a child for a long time, and the Hokage knew we did. He allowed us to come meet you, and the connection between us was there the second we laid eyes on you."

Unable to get passed this news, Sakura brought a hand to cover her mouth, and felt herself shaking slightly.

"We're running out of time," the honey blonde haired guy said, moving towards the door of her room.

Sakura's attention snapped back to the guy, as he left her room. Along with her parents. She scrambled over to the door to follow them. But, once out in the hall, she found that she was alone. Everything in the hall seemed dimmed and fuzzy. The lights on the ceiling were shining, but not a lot. They flickered occasionally. Making her notice a pattern for her to follow. Starting in that direction, she was surrounded by the guy and her parents again, making her jump slightly.

"Sakura, baby. I know it's sudden, but try to understand," Sakura's mom said to her daughter, frowning. "We love you more than anything in this world."

"I know you guys love me," Sakura said, still stiff as she continued walking down the hall. "But, you just told me I was adopted. How else do you expect me to respond?"

"Sakura your response is perfectly normal," her father said, as his hand rested on his daughter's shoulder. "You can take time to let it sink in."

"But, not right now," the blonde haired guy said.

Sakura's feet stopped her outside a closed hospital door then, and she frowned. "I'm supposed to go in here," she said, eyeing the door, and that was the feeling she had. Going inside, she found herself looking at Naruto. Unconscious on a hospital bed. "Naruto is sick."

"He's your companion," the guy explained.

Sakura raised an eyebrow at the guy. "That sounds so weird. I mean yeah, he's my teammate, but I-"

"Sakura, for goodness sake don't interrupt him when he's about to explain," Sakura's mom said, her mother-knows-best tone on point.

The familiar motherly tone made Sakura feel like a defiant little kid again, as she couldn't help her smart ass comment that came from her mouth next. "It doesn't count as interrupting if the creepy guy isn't saying anything when I start to speak."

"Sakura," Sakura's father said, shaking his head at her, as he chuckled.

Seeing her dad laughing along with her being a smart ass felt familiar to Sakura, as that was one of their many little jokes. Turning back to the guy she sighed. "Hurry up and talk. I need more chances to interrupt you."

This seemed to amuse the guy, but he refrained from commenting on it. "He is… your counterpart, if you will. Your other half. Your destiny will only just be beginning, and his destiny is to stand by your side and be here for you."

"Wait," Sakura said, her fingers going to her forehead so she could press down on her temples. "You are telling me that he's destined to be my friend…"

"Yes," the guy replied simply, smirking at her look of confusion. "In the past generations, the priestess in your blood line always had someone beside them to help them, heal them, love them, and council them. In your case, this is that someone."

Sakura stared at Naruto for a long moment, before she sighed. "Damn, if I would have known I was going to be stuck with Naruto as my eternal friend, I would have requested someone quieter, and who didn't piss me off every five seconds."

That had her dad laughing, and her mom rolling her eyes. "Sakura, you know that's not how you think of him."

Laughing along with her dad, Sakura shrugged. "You're right," she said, before her laughter stopped short. Seeing the guy had gone and disappeared again, she looked back to her parents. "Did you two know he was my eternal friend when you were still alive?"

It was quiet for a moment, before her mom shook her head. "Not at first. But, as years passed, it became clear to us."

"Is he sick because of me?" Sakura asked, she was standing at Naruto's bedside now. Her hand resting on top of his, although she knew he couldn't feel it.

"No," her father answered. "He's not sick, just like you aren't."

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked, before suddenly they were no longer in Naruto's room, and back on the wing they had walked from. "I know this wing…" she trailed off. Looking to her parents. "Am I in a coma?"

"Sort of," her mother says, before shaking her head. "You and Naruto are in coma-like state's. Not a real coma."

Sakura blinked a few times, before shaking her head back at her parents. "My IQ is ridiculously high, but I feel like you two are speaking another language sometimes. I mean, I apparently can speak two languages myself, the second being one that I still don't know what it is or how I know it. But, you two are always on a whole different level."

Her parents laughed at that. "You are intelligent Sakura, I feel like it's more of you just having years of practice of purposely avoiding listening to us talk on and on," her mother said, actually smirking at her daughter.

Sakura shrugged her shoulders at that. "Well, there is only so many times I can hear 'Sakura you're grounded for breaking-insert usually expensive item-again', before I completely drown it out."

Again with the laughter, this time Sakura joined her parents. Her father was smiling at her. "You're always cracking us up."

The Hokage Tower

Hinata re-counted her kunai in her pouch once more, before putting it where it belonged. Her eyes focused up at the ceiling, as she took a deep breath. Sakura and Naruto will be just fine. We can handle this.

"Hey."

Hinata jumped slightly at the voice behind her. Turning to see Neji, she brought a hand to her chest. "You scared me."

"Your head is in the clouds," was all Neji said, before crossing his arms over his chest. "Tsunade told me that she has anbu all around the hospital. The floor Sakura and Naruto are on is heavily guarded. I thought you should know… that they are both safe."

"That's good to hear," Hinata replied slowly, still unable to shake the worried feeling she had.

Neji noticed that Hinata was still distracted, and was going to bring it up. But, Sasuke started approaching, and he held off.

Sasuke stopped by them, his eyes going from Neji to Hinata. Focusing more on here eyes, he noticed her distraction as well. Stepping forward, he rested a hand on her shoulder, getting her eyes to focus on his. "We'll get rid of these enemy nin. We won't let them get to Sakura or Naruto. Stop worrying so much."

"That's all I ever can do," Hinata replied with a sigh, before frowning deeply. "If Sakura was awake right now, she would be leading the medical ninja. Not me. Not Ino. Sakura's good enough to run two teams, in two separate locations, and have everything under control. Hell, she could do it without needing to even leave the village herself."

"Sakura is an exceptionally talented medical ninja," Neji said in agreement.

"But, you and Ino are too," Sasuke added, noting the surprise in both Hinata's and Neji's eyes. "I believe you'll be just fine. You better do a good job though, or when Sakura wakes up she'll hear about this, and will make sure you don't forget it for the rest of your life."

"Alright let's get ready to go!" Shikamaru called out to Team A before Hinata could respond.

Hinata just smiled, and nodded once at Sasuke. When he let go of her shoulder, she turned, and hugged Neji without warning. "Be careful okay?"

Neji, slightly uncomfortable at first, returned the hug, before releasing her. "You as well."

Hinata turned away from the two guys then, knowing they were both on Team B, and she wouldn't be seeing them until later. Her eyes went to the medical nin of her half of Team C. "Alright, you heard Shikamaru, let's get ready!"

Sakura's POV

"You and Naruto are in a sort of sleep like state," Sakura's mother explained after Sakura and her husband had calmed their laughter.

"It started to affect you once you had opened the box," Sakura's father added.

"Oh…" Sakura started, trailing off, before her eyes widened a little. "Oh! I get it! I opened the box, and thought it did nothing. But, Neji said that it may have already done what it was supposed to… and it affected Naruto too. Just more slowly than it did me."

"That's right," her mother confirmed, nodding her head once. "Your priestess abilities are awakening with your seventeenth birthday. Meaning that you are in transition now."

"Okay… whatever in the hell that means," Sakura mumbled, confused yet again.

"Sakura," her mother said, her tone sharp, and held warning.

Rolling her eyes at her mother's warning tone, Sakura crossed her arms. "Mom, I think I'm enough to speak however I want to-"

"Sakura," Her mother interrupted, propping her hands on her hips.

Sakura sighed, and looked to her father. "Dad."

"Listen to your mother Sakura," her father replied, chuckling. "Anyway, your abilities are not something we can talk to you about, because we don't know much. That's something you'll have to discover on your own."

"That's fine. I know that even if you two did know something, you probably wouldn't tell me just to torture me," Sakura said, before focusing on her dad. "Or it's because mom's still made about me breaking her vase."

That made her dad laugh again, and her mom just smiled irritably. "It was two vases and your grandmother's lamp."

Laughing at her mother's correction, Sakura shook it off, and changed the subject. "It's still acceptable to call you two my parents, right? You know, since technically you two adopted me."

"We're still your parents Sakura," her father replied, a smile still on his face. "Even if we're not by birth, that doesn't matter to us, and we hope it won't matter to you."

"Good, because you two raised me," Sakura said, before frowning. "Although, it's not like I'm disrespecting my birth parents or anything, I just don't remember them-" Stopping as she felt a presence behind her, she turned slowly, and frowned. Two people stood nearly a good thirty feet away. Side by side, their eyes on her. One was a woman with long red hair, with green eyes, and the other was man with shorter white hair, with grey eyes. The sight of them made her stiffen up, and frown. "Who are you?" She questioned them, and when they didn't respond, she glanced back at her parents. "Mom. Dad. These people are freaking me out."

"Go closer to them," her dad said, crossing his arms over his chest. An encouraging smile on his face.

Sakura nodded, before moving closer to these two people. Leaving the feeling of warmth she got from her parents made her frown, but she was surprised that when she approached these two people, the warmth came back. Her questions were lost on the tip of her tongue, as she felt comfortable oddly enough. Squinting her eyes to study these people. She wanted to speak, but the ability was beyond her.

The man spoke to her then. "You've grown into such a bright young woman."

The woman nodded in agreement, a warm smile on her face. "A very one at that, Sakurina."

Then they disappeared. Gone. Into thin air. Sakura frowned, and shook her head. "Mom. Dad. I know you two must have made some friends since you died an all, but the least you could do is make sure they comprehend how to say my name right," she said, as she turned back around to face her parents. But, they were just walking back into her room. Seeing her body, she shivered slightly, before looking to her parents who held serious expressions on their faces.

"There is a huge battle going on at this moment Sakura," her father told her, his expression now serious. "Your friends are fighting for you out there. The opposing force is large and growing steadily. If you don't take control of it, this battle will not end in the Leaf's favor."

"Here," her mother said, holding out a package that appeared all of a sudden. "It's important you hold onto this."

Frowning as she accepted the package, Sakura stared at her parents. "Am I really a priestess? Because this feels all dramatic, and like something that would be in a bedtime story you tell your four year old to get her to shut up and go to sleep."

Her parents both laughed at that. "Sakura, you take being imaginative and creative to whole different level," her mother said, before she nodded her head at her daughter. "You are a priestess, Sakura."

"And don't you forget it. You are of royal blood. A pure blooded priestess," her father continued on, smiling alongside his wife. "Your home country may have not been the biggest, but it was powerful. We raised you to be respectful of how you grew up, and we expect you to treat this with the same respect."

"Then, I'll have to be sure to not let you two down," Sakura said, moving to hug them both. "I'll try to talk to you two again soon. I love you." The lights in the room started to get brighter, as she turned to go back to her bed. Sitting down, her eyes went to the clock nearest the bed. It's 6:41. Just a minute more until I will be legitimately seventeen years old. She thought, as the light around her continued to grow. The clock hand continued to tick closer and closer to the twelve. Thirty seconds. She just looked to where her parents were. The light getting bright enough to where they were fading away.

"We love you too Sakura…"

Then she saw only white light, and then a change in conscious.

In Sakura's mind

Suddenly surrounded by bushes that towered over her, Sakura took in a deep breath, and glanced around. Coming to realize everything towered over her. Looking down, she was in a much younger girl's body. A white lace gown covered her, and she wore no shoes on her feet.

Starting through the maze of towering bushes that were a clipped to perfect square shapes, she felt herself having to stand on her tiptoes to try to look over them.

"Sakura!"

The voice was a little bit distant, but she felt like it was familiar. Without warning the young body she was in shot forward. Running throughout the maze, the feeling of the wind going past her, made her want to laugh. So she did, a childish giggle as she turned another corner of the maze of bushes.

"Sakura! Where are you?!"

"Coming!" She called back, as she continued forward. Her much older mind was confused at this. Not sure as to why she was saying these things, or feeling this way. Feeling so happy. As she reached the next corner, a feeling of happiness really hit her. It felt as if whatever was around this corner was the source of this happiness. Just as she reached it, everything turned white again.

Out of Sakura's mind

"Ah!" Sakura shouted out, sitting up straight, and gasping for air. Her eyes opened to find her in her hospital room, and she looked to the clock. The hand had just passed the twelve. I'm seventeen… was any of that real? She thought, before the sound of explosions in the distance hit her ears. I'm going to take that as a probably. She turned so her legs were hanging off the bed, and she felt a big head rush. "Why do I feel like I have a massive hangover?" She asked allowed to the empty room, before beginning to un-attach herself from everything she was hooked up to. Her heart monitor, the oxygen hose, and then the IV. Growling at the sloppy way the IV had been put in. Well that'll bruise later.

Moving to stand up then, she felt different again. Something isn't right. She thought, as she looked around the room. The view from her eye level was different, going to the mirror in the room, her mouth fell open slightly. She looked different. Her hair had grown out a little past her shoulders, even though she cut it shorter just a few days ago. Her eyes sparkled their usual emerald green, but for some reason, her face looked different. Sharper almost. She appeared a good two inches taller, and that's what made her difference when she stood up.

And I may not be completely sure, but it looks like the girls grew a little bit too. She thought, as her hands went to her chest, and her eyes left the mirror for a moment to look. So I get the title priestess, and it gives me bigger boobs? This is just a great day already. Hearing explosions in the distance again, she frowned. Alright, it would make it a great day if there wasn't a war going on.

Saku Inner: Well, it looks like you're still just as stupid. I thought this transition would change that, but I guess not.

Sakura narrowed her eyes at her inner's insulting words. And I thought this mark would get rid of you, but guess what? You're still here. We can both be disappointed.

Saku Inner: I don't need you to tell me that. And can you get yourself together? I don't want you embarrassing me.

Sakura: No one knows you exist aside from Tsunade, Hana, Hinata, Neji, and Naruto. And trust me, they don't care about you."

Saku Inner: Sakura! Just stop focusing on the fact that you have bigger boobs! There is a freaking war going on over you incase you forgot!

"Right," Sakura said aloud, before looking back to the mirror. Looking herself over again, she smirked. "I feel so much more like a woman."

Saku Inner: Sakura!

"Shut up Inner," Sakura mumbled, before she sighed heavily. Turning, she adjusted the hospital gown so she could see her mark in the mirror. Raising an eyebrow at the sight of it, as it was now a dark onyx black color, against her skin tone, it showed out a lot more than it used to. It was still the same hollow star, the element symbols in white ink were still there, along with the extra lines Neji showed her at the diner. But, now there were golden lines coming from the bottom of the star that went a few inches down her back. They formed triangular like tails, which seemed to represent a shooting star.

Catching sight of something resting on the end of her bed in the mirror's reflection, she turned, and walked over to it. It was the package her mom had handed her. Resting right under the box. The box! She thought, as she started to do the hand seals to unlock it. How did this get here? It was in my bedside table- Hinata. Hinata, must have brought it. When the box unlocked, she opened it, and was surprised to see it was no longer empty. There were three scrolls that fit inside the box. Picking one up, she frowned. How did these get in here?

Hearing explosions in the distance again, she set the scroll back into the box. Probably the same way that the package mom gave me got here… some creepy freak show magic shit that happens all the damn time around me. Closing the box, it locked again, and she moved it. Grabbing the package, she opened it to find clothes in it. I wonder if my parents knew my body was going to change like it did. Sure, it wasn't too significant of a change, but I did grow two inches taller, and I'm fairly certain that I am a whole cup size bigger in a bra.

Saku Inner: Again! Keep your focus on the battle going on, not your freaking cup size!

Smirking at her inner's anger, Sakura started to put on the clothes. She was surprised that they were fitting her perfectly. It was a white tank top that, that stopped just below her belly button, the back was completely lace. The bottoms were black shorts that were shorter to give her more free movement. Over that was a white sheer long skirt that stopped around her ankles when she was moving, but when she stood still it went to the floor. The skirt had a slit down the front of it, starting at midthigh level, so when she when she walked the skirt wouldn't get in her way. Her shoes were black boots that went to mid-calf. Grabbing the next thing in the package, she frowned. It was just long strand of sheer white fabric.

Saku Inner: That goes around your arm. Just start a couple inches past your shoulder- there you go. Tie it after the third loop around your arm.

Doing as her inner instructed, Sakura raised an eyebrow. This must be some traditional shit.

Saku Inner: Your parents were intending you to treat this with maturity and respect. So far you are more insulting than you were before this.

Sakura rolled her eyes. Okay, not traditional shit then… would stupid fashion accessory suffice? Was all she thought, before grabbing the black fingerless gloves next that were lace on the hands, but leather on her knuckles. Pausing at the last item in the box, she picked it up and frowned. It was a silver chain necklace, with a red crystal hanging off of it. Great, another damn necklace.

Saku Inner: Sakura-

Sakura: Give it a rest Inner! I know! Maturity, respect, blah, blah, blah!

Eyeing the necklace for a moment, before she slipped the necklace on, Sakura propped her hands on her hips. Okay, now I'm dressed like a priestess badass, but without the badass part. Where are my weapons? Looking to a bag that held her weapons in it, she moved to reach for her katana first.

Saku Inner: Not that one!

"What in the hell does that mean-" Sakura stopped, catching sight of a different katana leaning against the edge of the table that had her weapons on it. Picking it up, she raised an eyebrow. Grabbing the hilt, she pulled the katana out of its sheath. A shiny silver blade, a white hilt, and two red ribbons wrapped around the hilt. Putting the katana back in it's sheath, she grinned. This'll do. She attached it to her back, before turning back to her other weapons. Now I just need my other weapons and-

Saku inner: You don't need them. All you need is yourself. You were only given the katana since your new. Your other weapons will be given to you later. For now you will have to try out your new abilities.

Sakura: I guess so…

Saku Inner: Why aren't you arguing back?

Sakura: Because, I'm still that girl that will do something crazy, but I know when to be responsible. My parents basically said I would have to take matters into my own hands now, and if I don't, I'll fuck everything up for everyone.

Saku Inner: Well just five seconds ago you were the same stupid Sakura that I knew before. So I find that hard to believe.

Sakura: Thanks for the confidence Inner. Glad to know I've got you on my side.

Naruto's POV

Feeling the pain lessen considerably, his parents had disappeared, and he was blinded by a bright light. Then he opened his eyes, only to find himself staring at darkness. "I've gone blind!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, turning around in alarmed state now. Suddenly he felt the bed leave from underneath him, then he was falling, and then he hit a solid flat surface. "Ow…" he grumbled, before noticing that he had something wrapped around him. Moving it around, he was able to see as the cause of his "blindness" had been the hospital blankets tangled around him. "Oh…"

The sound of explosions hitting his ears, perked him up. Jumping up from the ground, he felt an oddness to his stance. Stepping to the mirror, his eyes widened. "Gah!" His hair had grew considerably longer, nearing his dad's length, and it looked a bit odd on him. Eyeing his muscles, he flexed his arms, and noted the muscle toning had increased. I'm taller. he thought, feeling odd at the height he was at now.

Nine Tails: It's time for you to go change. You have things to do boy!

Hearing the Nine Tails freely talk to him again, Naruto shook his head. "I don't know how I feel about you being able to talk to me whenever you want now," he said aloud, before turning and going to a package his mom had given him before he woke up. Opening it to realize it's clothes, his head dropped. Damn. I was hoping for some cool new weapons. He thought, before pulling off his white hospital shirt, and that's when he noticed the marking on his shoulder. It was a hollow star, like the one Sakura had on her back, but it was only the star. It had a plain circle around it, with black lines like tree branches branching away from the circle. The black lines of tree branches went to almost the middle of his elbow, and up to branch a little around his upper shoulder. Wow… I've never been one for tattoo's, but this looks cool!

Nine Tails: Your literally the most stupid host I've ever had.

"Hey! Don't insult me you Nine Tails you…!" Naruto trailed off angrily.

Nine Tails: For future notice, when I say something to you, don't speak out loud to reply. Those around you are going to think your crazy… Now focus!

Naruto grumbled, but started to change. Into a dark grey shirt, with it's sleeves cut off, and it defined his muscular arms more. The collar of the shirt was high, but it left a small scoop so it wasn't tight against his neck. His black necklace cord was visible. Then he changed into black ninja pants, and black ninja shoes. Going to weapon up then, he stopped at the sight of the Nine Tails Katana. I had that sealed away.

Nine Tails: I brought it out. You are going to have to start using it. As long as some of the other weapons there.

Naruto shook his head at the sight of the katana and the other weapons. He put the katana on his back, before grabbing the dagger next. I never use stuff like this though.

Nine Tails: You are going to have to learn then.

Naruto continued with his other weapons, as he heard more explosions in the background. His thoughts went to one person. Sakura.

Sakura's POV

Inner Saku: Can you just stop being so damn stubborn for more than five seconds?

Sakura: I'm not being stubborn! I just think that if I get this all new powerful priestess ability I think I should be able to get rid of you somehow.

Inner Saku: Too bad! You can't get rid of me, because I am a packaged deal no matter what ability you get!

Sakura: That's stupidest thing I've ever heard! I want a refund!

Inner Saku: For kami's sake! Get over it! You're wasting time arguing with me! You should be going out to fight!

The sound of explosions kept Sakura from replying back to her Inner. Damn. She thought, before straightening up, as her thoughts went to Naruto. I need to go find him- Stopping her thought, she spun around to face the door, and stared at it.

A moment later the door slid open quickly, and Naruto stepped into the room. Closing the door behind himself before looking to Sakura. Freezing in that spot.

Taking in each other's new appearances, Sakura nodded once to Naruto, after the sound of more explosions went off. Not needing to say anything to one another, they moved to the window. Focusing her eyes on the window it opened with a burst of wind coming from the hand she raised to open it herself. Not thinking much of it, she and Naruto jumped out the window, and down to the ground in front of the hospital. Noting the lack of citizens in Konoha's streets.

"They evacuated," Sakura said slowly, before glancing to Naruto.

"Your plan?" Naruto countered, looking back at her.

Sakura was quiet for a moment, before looking ahead of them. "We're just going to head in, there isn't any plan here," was all she said, before taking off. Naruto right beside her, as the sound of more explosions went off at the distance.

A/N: So the priestess and her eternal friend head off to fight! What will come of this battle?

Prepare yourselves for this battle in the final chapter of Priestess Sakura: The Beginning that will be going up next Friday!

Remember, the name of the sequel will be released tomorrow on my blog!

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