Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Man, life sucks for me.

THE NEXT MORNING/SAKURA POV:

My eyes fluttered open and I looked around the campsite. Naruto, who appeared to have been on guard, was snoring gently. Shino and Neji were both facing the burnt out fire, still asleep. Kakashi leaned against a nearby tree, also asleep. I felt an arm tighten around my waist and I knew Shikumaru was also still asleep. My head pounded and I repressed the urge to groan.

What the hell happened last night?

You had a bad nightmare…about Orochimaru.

Hn. You don't have to go any farther, I remember now.

I'm so sorry hime!

Why? You didn't do anything…hey!

What?

You still haven't told me why you call me hime!

Another time.

You said that before.

After the mission.

Deal.

"Sakura…go back to bed, you troublesome woman."

"Morning to you to Shikum-"

I raised my head, feeling something in my bones. Shikumaru groaned and removed his arm from my waist, allowing me to stand. I quickly pulled my katana from its sheath, which rested next to me. I gently prodded Neji's side, effectively waking him up.

"Sakura? What-"

"Scan the area and wake everyone up. I'll be back in a moment."

He nodded and stood, activating his Byakugan while gently nudging Shino. I turned and took off, flying across the trees. How had we not noticed this last night!

I felt it…

Why didn't you tell me?

You needed to rest.

I stopped, catching myself on a branch quickly. Holding my wrist, I quickly unwrapped the bandages hiding the curse mark. Once they had been removed, I watched as the seal pulsed and began to push out across my skin. Gritting my teeth, I stood and turned back to head to camp, pushing the seal back.

"Sakura!"

I meet with the team halfway there. I nodded to Neji.

"You're right. The base is barley 100 miles away."

I gritted my teeth.

"Damn, how did I miss it last night!"

Kakashi rested his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. I sighed and nodded.

"Alright, this is how it's going to happen."

AS THEY NEAR THE BASE/NORMAL POV:

The group ran quickly. Suddenly Sakura dropped back, landing on the forest floor roughly. Everyone dropped beside her, Neji kneeling beside her and grasping her wrist.

"You didn't tell me it was acting up."

She grinned, wincing slightly. Kakashi shot her a frown.

"I'm fine. We need to get moving again."

They all flew back to the branches. Naruto speed up, taking his spot next to Sakura.

"Sakura, be careful alright?"

"Only if you are Naruto."

He grinned.

"Me? 'Course!"

Sakura laughed and suddenly ducked, dodging the ninja that flew over her head, right into a cloud of Shino's bugs.

"Stay together!"

Sakura grabbed the back of Naruto's jacket and pulled him out of the way of an enemy as she punched one in the face, causing the skull to cave in. He nodded gratefully and threw a kunai through an approaching shinobi's throat. The team quickly flew through the Sound shinobi, making headway towards the entrance of the base.

"Shino! Move!"

Shino dodged, narrowly missing a kunai to the skull only to be hit by a giant shuriken. He tumbled back, Shikumaru catching him and Sakura jumping over them to kick the ninja's skull in.

"Cover us!"

Kakashi, Naruto, and Neji all jumped to stand between the fallen Shino and the Sound ninja. Sakura quickly pulled the shuriken out of Shino's stomach and began to run her hands over his stomach. Shikumaru gently set his head down on the ground while jumping up to block an approaching enemy. Sakura bit her lip.

"Fucking hell. Shikumaru!"

He turned to her.

"Stay with Shino. I'll be right back."

He nodded and settled beside Shino, holding down a cloth to slow the bleeding like Sakura instructed him to. She stood and passed her other three teammates, nodding to Naruto. He grinned and began to make a Rasengan. Sakura smirked and picked him up, quickly spinning him around. His Rasengan hit all 15 of the remaining ninja, effectively downing them. Sakura set him down and they turned to Shino's side. Sakura frowned and moved to take Shikumaru's place.

"We need to get him back to the village. Shikumaru."

The shadow shinobi nodded and stood, letting Sakura and Neji carefully place Shino on his back.

"You need to move fast. Don't worry about hurting him, if you don't make it in time he'll die. Now go!"

He nodded and took off. The remaining in the group took off to the entrance of the hideout, killing enemy nin as they advanced.

"Why couldn't you heal him?"

"His lung was punctured. I managed to patch it up, but he was poisoned and I can't heal an unknown poison in the middle of battle."

Naruto nodded, bashing in the skull of some ninja who was screaming about vengeance.

"Hm, you all made it far."

The group stopped, Sakura sneering when she spotted Kabuto. He chuckled, pushing his glasses farther up his nose. They glittered in the dim light.

"Heh, the blonde kid isn't dead yet. Sasuke-kun always did say he would die first. I'm sure he'll be surprised."

Naruto twitched. Sakura turned to him.

"Don't Naruto. That's what he wants!"

Kabuto snorted.

"Oh please. Like I'd waist time on someone as insignificant as him."

Naruto growled. Sakura grabbed Neji and pulled him out of the way as Naruto's chakra began to leak out heavily. Kabuto chuckled and turned, running off down a hallway. Sakura spotted him and dragged Neji with her.

"Take care of Naruto, Kakashi! Get him out of here!"

"Be careful!"

Sakura and Neji ran down the hall, losing sight of Kabuto but coming upon Sasuke, who was walking out of his room, a red-head following him.

"Sasuke!"

The boy turned, a silver chain around his neck glittering. Sakura smiled when she realized it was her own chakra chain, though she felt a few links missing, meaning he had needed them. His eyes widened and Neji tensed behind her slightly.

"Sakura. Hyuuga."

"Uchiha."

Sakura rolled her eyes and stepped closer to Sasuke. The red-head, who had remained silent and behind Sasuke slightly, took a step around him and stood in front of him.

"What do you want with Sasuke-kun?"

Sakura quirked a brow and looked at Sasuke.

"New girlfriend?"

He rolled his eyes in irritation and grasped the red-head's shoulder, pushing her to the side. The red-head pouted, eyeing Neji slightly, who twitched.

"Die!"

Sakura turned lightly, grabbing the attacking shinobi by the neck and squeezing, causing a loud crack to echo through the room. She dropped the body and turned back to Sasuke.

"Neji, go hold off any others. Take the drooling red-head with you."

"Taichou, I can't-"

"It's an order Hyuuga."

He nodded, grabbing the kunoichi still drooling at him by her wrist and running off. Sasuke stared at the body on the floor.

"I knew you'd get stronger."

Sakura smiled.

"Come back Sasuke. You don't need this anymore."

He frowned, looking around him slowly. So long he'd spent here, though memories of Team 7 made them bearable. He could tell Orochimaru was growing weak and would want his body. Sakura was right; it was time to go home. He could pursue his brother another day.

"No…no I don't."

Suddenly, something tackled Sakura from behind. She sprawled to the ground, reaching for the body that tackled her and quickly grabbed it, throwing it in the opposite direction. Standing, Sakura realized it was the red-head from before.

"What the fucking hell is with that chick?"

"Stay away from my Sasuke-kun bitch!"

Sakura raised a brow at Sasuke who sighed and shrugged, walking toward Neji, who had appeared.

"Come on Sakura. We need to get going. Naruto destroyed the foundation of the base. It's going to collapse."

Sasuke sighed.

"Hot-headed blond."

Sakura chuckled and nodded, turning to follow the two boys. The ground shook violently, throwing their balance.

"Kukuku."

An explosion went off in front of Sakura, making the wall crumble, blocking then path between her and Sasuke and Neji. Said ninja where both coughing.

"Sakura?"

"I'm fine Neji. Take Sasuke and get out, I'll follow soon."

"Hell fucking no."

On the other side of the wall, Neji shot Sasuke a surprised glance. The Uchiha seemed as though he were in pain, grasping his curse mark with one hand and the chain around his neck with another. The chain was shortening slowly and Neji noticed it was Sakura's chakra pouring into the Uchiha's body. Sakura growled, grasping her wrist tightly.

"Just go!"

"Sakura. What a nice surprise."

Sakura turned on her knees, scrambling to her feet when she saw Orochimaru and Kabuto in front of her. Vaguely, she felt Sasuke and Neji making their way out of the collapsing base and Sakura grinned.

"Lost your next vessel Oro-baka. How does it feel?"

"Like my plan worked."

Sakura frowned. Kabuto chuckled and circled her, coming up behind her. She stood tensely, her hand still grasping the curse mark as it pulsed.

"Sasuke was always a bonus, Sa-ku-ra."

Sakura growled, gritting her teeth and dodging a kunai Kabuto threw at her. They were playing with her, damn it and it pissed her off! Orochimaru grinned, licking his lips.

"I don't need to change bodies for another few months. It was you I was after. I hear you've grown in power since I saw you last."

The kunoichi kneeled, swinging her foot low to try and sweep Kabuto off his feet. He dodged, aiming a kick to her head, which she blocked. Grabbing a kunai from her pocket, she threw it up to block Kabuto's. They clashed loudly, the sound of metal grinding on metal echoing through the room.

"Be careful with my pet, Kabuto."

"This place it collapsing, Orochimaru. At least you'll die with me."

Orochimaru and Kabuto shared an amused look, both chuckling at Sakura.

"It won't collapse, my pet."

"Don't call me that!"

She dodged a hit from Kabuto, staggering when the curse mark flooded her senses. She fell to the floor, landing on her knees. Through her double vision, she watched as Orochimaru approached her.

"What do you want with me?"

"I want to see the extent of your power. That curse mark you have it special, you know. It doesn't need to be advanced because it's already at the last stage. All you have to do it let its power flood you and you will truly have used my gift to you."

"It's not a gift."

"Oh, alright. Kukuku, it's a curse then."

He kneeled down, grabbing her chin with his hand tightly.

"Either way, I'll make you break and then you'll be the perfect pet."

Sakura chuckled.

"I can't use the seal…if I've got no chakra."

Orochimaru gave her a confused look and then pulled away in pain as she forced her chakra out of her body. As the chakra exited her body in waves, her eyes began to close and she fell unconscious. The last thing she felt was Yukiaka calling for her.

END OF CHAPTER

Kami, I keep screwing up the endings. Jeez. Oh and Taichou means captain.

Review please?

Eris-R-Renee