WHEREVER YOU ARE
Haruno Sakura, daughter to one of Konoha's heroes. Uchiha Sasuke, Chuunin, who might just be more of a disgrace to his Clan than his brother. Sakura knew going on this mission with him would be a mistake. That she would fall in love with him all over again, and the worst part was - she was right.
Road to Ninja Universe. SasuSaku.
Chapter 20 – No Light, No Light
"You are the night-time fear,
You are the morning when it's clear.
When it's over you'll start,
You're my head, you're my heart."
They stood in the Uchiha Compound. It was deserted, much like the rest of Konoha, but the sound sounds of battle raged on not too far from them. Sakura turned to look at Sasuke. He was dressed in his Chuunin vest for the first time and she watched as he secured his forehead protector around his head. He looked more handsome than ever to her. He looked ready for battle. You're stuck with me now.
Sasuke caught her staring and lifted a brow. "Can't get enough, huh?"
Sakura smirked, "I can't help it when you look that good."
Sasuke threw her a pleasantly surprised look, his hand finding her thigh easily.
Behind them Itachi groaned and Sakura blushed, turning her head away. Sasuke grinned at his brother.
"If you two are quite done." Itachi said, unable to hide his own smile. "It's time."
Sakura sat up and the rest of the Akatsuki members gathered around them, they looked far too intimidating to be mercenaries, Sakura could imagine them trying to take over the world, though. "Our objective here is simple. Push back anyone who opposes Konoha and restore peace. By any means necessary." Konan said, pushing her arm out. Pain was there first, covering her hand with his. One by one hands piled on. Sasuke and Sakura shared a look.
The Akatsuki members nodded at each other. "Scatter!" Konan yelled and the Akatsuki members disappeared. All but Itachi. He turned to them, "Let's go."
Sasuke and Sakura stood and joined Itachi, running into the chaos.
x-x-x-x
"Oh, it's rare for you to come here," the sinister voice said. "What a delightful surprise, boy."
Menma's feet waded through the shallow water, stopping only when he reached the gate. His fingers curled around the bar and lifeless eyes peered into the cage. "Let me guess, you've come here for my power?" the monster asked. Menma didn't move, he continued to stare into the cage – a shell of himself. "What do you want, boy?"
"I want…to kill."
The Kyuubi leaned in, a devilish smile on his face. "Very well."
Kiba grabbed Ino around the waist, hauling her away from Menma as Shizune took hold of Hinata's body. "W-What is happening to him?" Ino whispered.
Menma's body seemed to pulse with power as a red chakra began to seep from his skin. A growl ripped from his mouth, long canines visible through his mouth. His eyes were red and slitted when he looked up. The red chakra bubbled, enveloping his body. One…two…three tails appearing behind him immediately.
"Menma! No!" Kushina screamed, Minato held her back as she reached for her son, but Menma was beyond hearing and reason. Another growl ripped from him before he threw his head back and screamed. He fell forward, onto all fours, his head whipping around, searching for something. And he found it in Mikoto, she was facing off against a group of Hyuuga, several of their bodies at her feet. Menma took off.
"Menma!" Kushina called for him again. The white figures leapt onto her and Minato, blocking them from view. A fourth tail appeared on Menma. The red chakra formed a hand and Menma threw everyone out of his way, enemy and ally alike. They flew aside as he went by them, that red hand reaching out and grabbing Mikoto, she had a split second to look surprised before Menma threw her. She hit the wall hard, blood flying from her lips. She caught herself on her knees and looked up, eyes narrowed. Menma took off towards her, fifth tail bubbling up.
Sakura, Sasuke and Itachi dropped down next to Kiba and Sakura tensed up. "Is that…Menma? But…how?" and then she saw her. Hinata in Shizune's arms. Ino's hands caked with blood. Sakura took a step back but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Sasuke.
Sakura swallowed her tears. Forcing her eyes back towards Menma. "Where is Kakashi-sensei or Minato-san?" she found it difficult to speak.
"You knew about this?" Kiba asked in disbelief, indicating to where Menma was still chasing down Mikoto. Four arms of red chakra now forcing her into a corner.
Sakura's lips thinned and she nodded. "Yes. The Kyuubi was sealed into Naruto after he was born."
Kiba's head whipped towards her. "The Kyuubi?!"
"Yes. The Kyuubi belongs to the Fire Country. Kushina-san had the Kyuubi before Naruto."
"This is insane."
A deep blue chakra took shape around Mikoto, forming into a large warrior. "What the fuck?" Sakura whispered.
"The Susanoo." Itachi said, watching the scene with narrowed eyes. "Another benefit of the Mangekyou Sharingan."
"Who the hell is this guy?" Kiba snapped, only then noticing Itachi behind him. The older Uchiha lifted an eyebrow. To the left someone screamed, and Sakura turned. The white figures were…absorbing the Uchiha ANBU. Sasuke's fingers twitched on her shoulder. Sakura knew this was still hard for him. They were, regardless of everything, family. Horrifying screams filled the air around them. It was at that moment that the Akatsuki members flew from the sky and joined the fray. Kakuzu ripped one of the white things from an Uchiha ANBU and tossed it at Kisame who ripped it in half. There was no blood.
"What…are they?"
Mikoto's Susanoo threw Menma, who let out an animalistic cry as the chakra hands stopped his fall by grabbing onto nearby structures of broken buildings. He was no longer visible through the chakra. "I…have to find Kakashi-sensei or Minato-san. Now." Sakura said, breaking free from the group and taking off into the fray. "Sakura! Wait!" Sasuke followed, and tried to catch up.
"Kakashi-sensei! Where are you?!" Sakura looked around desperately. She couldn't see him. "Minato-san!" Sasuke reached her. "We need to find them, Sasuke." She turned to him. "Kushina-san….she told me the chakra hurts. Menma is…"
"I understand." Sasuke said his lids falling shut, and when he opened them Sakura saw his Sharingan. "I'll find…someone." Sasuke turned away, eyes scanning the area. Hands gripped Sakura's hair hard, yanking her back. Sakura cried out as she fell back, Sasuke spun as she was being dragged away. Sakura dug her heels in, meeting his red eyes. Sasuke nodded. Sending chakra into her feet, Sakura stilled her movement, she reached up, grabbing onto whoever had grabbed her and threw him forward, at Sasuke. It was one of those white things. Sasuke caught it with a punch in the face, sending it reeling back. Sakura leapt high, bringing her heel down onto its head with all her strength. It didn't get up. There was no time to celebrate. They were surrounded by more of them. Sasuke met Sakura's back halfway, his Sharingan jumping around the enemies, desperate for some kind of strategy. Menma was the priority now. They needed to find a way to stop him. Sasuke watched him and knew instinctively Menma couldn't tell friend from foe anymore. Hinata's death had pushed him over the edge.
Sasuke thought of Sakura. And he didn't blame Menma. Losing her…Sasuke would lose every sense of himself. He was sure of that now.
Itachi dropped down, Kisame right behind him. "We'll take care of this. You two find a way to stop that thing," He pointed to Menma who was still battling Mikoto erratically. Sakura's fists clenched at her sides. Menma...Menma wasn't in there right now. Sasuke grabbed her hand and they ran towards the Hokage Tower. "I think Kakashi is there." He yelled at her over the chaos but they never made it. A blast threw them apart. Sakura screamed as their hands slipped apart and she was thrown back. She flew away from him and through a window of a nearby building, hitting the opposite wall hard, it cracked under her weight and she crumbled to the floor. Sakura coughed, her fingers wet against the floor as she tried to sit up. The ringing in her ears grew louder the harder she tried.
"Sas…uke?" Sakura forced her eyes open and the blurry room swam into focus. Sasuke wasn't there. She pushed herself up and flinched at the sharp pain in her arm. A large piece of glass had struck deep into her skin and Sakura ripped it out and tossed it to the floor as she stood. Limping towards the broken wall, Sakura tried to heal the damage to her left arm. The glass had struck a never and the arm hung uselessly at her side. She reached the wall and leaned out. Mikoto's Susanoo was a few feet away. Between Sakura and Menma. His head was thrown back, a large dark ball of chakra was accumulating in his mouth. That was what hit is just now. That attack….Sakura looked around. The devastation was terrible. This part of Konoha stood in ruins.
Sasuke. Where is Sasuke?
Sakura glanced around, but she couldn't see him anywhere.
A strange sound came from Menma and Sakura's head whipped back to him. She panicked. Sakura put her hand out, it was wet with blood. "Menma! No!"
He released the ball of chakra.
Mikoto's Susanoo leapt into the air, out of the way of Menma's attack and now it was headed straight for Sakura.
And she froze.
x-x-x-x
Thanks for the reviews on the previous chapter! Please let me know if you guys enjoyed this one as well!
A teaser for the next chapter: Malevolence -
Sasuke looked around, desperate to find Sakura. He couldn't sense her anywhere close by. Sasuke knew that Menma's attack, whatever it was, had blown them apart.
Sakura screamed. The sound echoed around him, panic filling his veins, rushing through his heart. Sasuke's feet began to move – but the path was blocked. The figure looked exactly like those white things outside, but it was black. And it spoke.
Thanks for reading!
- Zana-Lee