For days after the incident, the only places Sakura had seen was the bottom of the Hokage tower or the Konoha hospital. ANBU watched her and escorted her to and from the hospital. They ran tests on her, attaching wires to her head. She didn't know what was happening to her and all they told her was that they were helping her. She asked to see her parents, her friends, but they just kept telling her soon.

She looked around her room. They tried to make the room as cozy as possible. It was decorated with a pink lamp, pink bedding, and they brought her favorite stuffed slug toy from home. They gave her books, and a desk trying to make the place look as normal as possible, but with a cold stone floor, and a small window for light and fresh air, it was hard for Sakura not to feel like she had done something wrong, that something was wrong with her.

Sakura just wanted to go home. She wanted to hug her parents. She wanted to see her friends. She didn't understand what was happening to her and no one would tell her.

ANBU stayed inside her room, and outside the door, keeping a close eye on her. It was for her own protection, so she was told. She walked over to one of the ANBU, hoping to get an answer out of him.

"Can I go home yet?"

"Not yet, soon."

Sakura looked up at the ANBU ninja, concentrating, she's heard this voice before it's so familiar to her. Her eyes went wide at the realization.

"Ita-"

"Sh. We go by codenames, not our real names."

Sakura couldn't help but hug him. Finally, someone familiar was around her during this confusing time. He wasn't Sasuke, but he was close enough. He was a friend, and right now that was all she could ask for. Someone familiar. Someone she trusted.

Itachi patted her head in an attempt to comfort her. It was all he could do in this situation. Sakura began to cry and hug his legs tighter.

The large door opened and more ANBU appeared at the door. One of them had a cat mask with three red stripes and had long purple hair. The other had spiky silver hair and a dog mask. Itachi looked toward them, and they gave Itachi a quick nod. It was time for another trip to the hospital. He knelt down so he was eye-level.

"They're going to take you to the hospital. You've been there already a few times."

"Can you come with me?"

"Okay," Itachi patted her head and looked toward the other two, giving them a nod of approval.

Sakura held tight onto Itachi's pant with one hand, and her slug toy in the other. While walking to the hospital, she noticed the stares from the other villagers as they walked. Their stares and whispers only made Sakura hide behind his legs even more. She gripped tighter onto Itachi until they arrived at the hospital.

The two ANBU guarded the door as they walked into the usual hospital. Sakura sat on the bed and squirmed as they attached wires to her head. They were really sticky and made her hair feel awful after. She gripped her toy the more nervous she got. The doctors and nurses told her they were measuring her brain waves, to understand what it is that's inside her, or happening to her. She just didn't understand why she couldn't be with her parents or see her friends.

Itachi stood next to her. He even let her squeeze his hand when she got nervous during the tests they conducted. Sakura was more than ready to leave when by the time the tests were done.

Someone she hadn't seen before walked into the room as opposed to her usual doctor. She had long wavy layered black hair and bright ruby eyes. Interacting with more strangers only made her squirm and uncomfortable.

"Hello there. My name is Kurenai. I'm here to help you, Sakura."

"H-How?"

"I'm going to make sure that what happened to you at school doesn't happen again."

"You can do that? I won't be a monster anymore?"

Kurenai blinked at Sakura's choice of words. She's just a girl. What happened to her wasn't her fault and yet everyone will avoid her like the plague. Just like what happened eight years ago.

"Can I sit next to you?"

Sakura nods and scoots over to make some space for her. Kurenai takes a seat and tries to comfort her. "You're not a monster. There's something in your mind, that's separate from you. It's dangerous. But that doesn't mean you are, just something inside of you. Do you understand?"

"I-I think so."

"Now what I'm going to do is going to take a long time, and it will be difficult for you. Is that okay?" Kurenai began to remove the wires from Sakura's head.

"Can I finally see my parents and my friends after?"

"Oh, that reminds me," Kurenai sat up and opened the door. She motioned for people to come inside. Sakura's parents rushed through the door and Sakura jumped off the table and into their arms. She missed them so much.

"Oh, Sakura. Are you okay? We've been so worried!" Mebuki hugged her daughter tighter.

"I really missed you, Mommy."

Sasuke's head peeked through the door, wondering if it was time for them to enter too. Naruto barged into the room without a second thought at the family reunion in front of him. Sasuke, Ino, Shikamaru, and Chōji sighed as they followed him inside.

"Sakura-chan! We're so glad you're okay!" Naruto grinned. "Sasuke was getting impatient. He even threatened the doctors and nurses to let him see you! Ow!"

Sasuke stepped on Naruto's foot as his cheeks turned pink. Sakura smiled at her boys and hugged them. Then walked to Ino, Shikamaru, and Chōji and gave them hugs for being such good friends.

"Are the doctors being nice? You tell me if they weren't. My dad is teaching me a technique that allows me to get into their heads. I can embarrass them and make them regret it! Shikamaru's dad is teaching him their Kage Mane no Jutsu so he could help too!"

"Oi, Ino! I never agreed to that! That sounds troublesome."

Sakura smiled, the first time in days.

"The most important question hasn't been asked!" Chōji said. "Have you been eating well?"

"It's okay. It's not like I've been able to go to Ichiraku or Yakiniku Q."

"Then you haven't been eating well at all! We should all go get some barbeque!"

"No! Let's get ramen!" Naruto shouted.

"Barbeque!"

"Ramen!"

Sakura giggled at the sight of her friends. She turned to see Sasuke standing by her side. She took his hand and he squeezed back. He hadn't said a single word but that was all she needed.

Mebuki picked up Sakura and hugged her tight. She never wanted to let her daughter of her sight. She wanted to protect Sakura from everything, even from herself.

"Sakura, why don't you rest for today? Get that gel out your hair, eat a lot of good food with your friends here and then come back tomorrow?" Kurenai smiled.

"She'll be alright if she goes home right now?" Kizashi asked.

"As long as she doesn't have another traumatic incident, everything will be okay," Kurenai assured.

"What do you want to eat Sakura-chan? Is it ramen?"

"Or barbeque?"

"Well, Naruto, I don't think Ichiraku can fit us all, so I think we're going to have to go with barbeque."

"Sakura-chan," Naruto sniffles. "You're a traitor."

"Shut up, she's being reasonable. We can't all fit at Ichiraku and you know it," Sasuke scolded.

"We can go to Ichiraku tomorrow."

"Fine, but I'm getting two bowls tomorrow!"

"Like you wouldn't get two bowls if we went today."

"Shut it, Sasuke!"

"Have a good time Sakura. I'll see you tomorrow," Kurenai waved.

Sakura waved, then she looked over at Itachi, unrecognizable to everyone else. She mouthed, "thank you" and Itachi gave her a quick nod as she left with her family and friends.

After showering and wearing clean clothes, Sakura was ready to eat. The thought of eating her first hot meal in days had her stomach roaring. She grabbed the red ribbon on her bedside table and wrapped on top of her head. She felt like herself for the first time in days. She put on her favorite green dress and walked down the stairs.

Being home, she noticed the flowers in the vase were white lilies, or how the couch always had a red blanket laid across it for when she gets cold, or how she could see the sun set between the trees of her backyard. After the last few days, it felt great not seeing the inside of a hospital room or the dreary, cold, bottom of the Hokage tower.

She couldn't wait to see her friends. She walked outside and looked up at the night sky. The stars sparkled above her in the night sky and the cool night air felt refreshing on her skin.

Tonight, she was going to eat till her stomach bursts, and have fun with her friends. Then after tomorrow, she would never have to worry about losing control ever again.

Sakura heard a rustling in the bushes beside her. She turned and quickly threw a rock at the bushes. A scared squirrel ran out of the bushes. Sakura sighed, she was being paranoid. It was understandable after everything she'd been through.

She relaxed her shoulders and proceeded to turn around to walk back inside. Sakura felt a quick tap on her neck before everything turned black.

Sasuke started heading out the door to meet Naruto before walking over to Sakura's when his father called out his name. Sasuke turned to find both his parents and Itachi waiting for him. Sasuke knew this was about the clan meeting from a week ago. All he wanted to was to see Sakura. He spent the last several days unable to see her. He just wanted to have fun with his friends and not have to worry about the clan and their plan to take over Konoha.

"Sasuke, since you have made it clear you have opinions on the clan's well-being and operations, it is imperative that you attend future clan meetings to discuss our future," Fugaku said. "Your future in the clan."

"I don't want to go to war with Konoha," Sasuke said.

"If you and your brother do not want to go to war, then come up with a solution to lead our clan to a greater position in Konoha. If that is not possible, then war will be our only solution," Fugaku said.

With that, he left, and Mikoto gave both of her sons a caring look before following her husband. Itachi walked up to Sasuke. Sasuke didn't know what to think or feel. Itachi wanted to assure him things would be okay, but he wasn't sure. He was torn by the orders he has and his family. Family or Konoha? Since he couldn't say things would be okay, or work themselves out, he decided that he would instead allow his brother to have one fun night with his friends.

"Weren't you on your way out?" Itachi asked.

"Y-Yeah," Sasuke headed towards the door before he stopped. "Is everything going to be okay?"

"Just go have fun."

Sasuke nodded and headed out. He contemplated what the clan was going to decide. It seemed whatever it was, it was going to happen. It was only a matter of time now. Naruto was waiting at the edge of the Uchiha Compound entrance. Today was about Sakura, he would worry about it tomorrow.

They walked as Naruto still wished they were getting ramen instead. Sasuke rolled his eyes at his constant complaining. It wasn't like he wasn't going to wolf down the food when they got there anyways. As they reached Sakura's house, they saw her parents shouting her name.

"Sasuke! Naruto! Sakura isn't with you?!" Mebuki asked.

"N-No! We just got here!" Naruto frantically looked around.

"Is she missing?" Sasuke asked. He felt a lump in his throat as he asked. He was terrified of the answer he knew was coming.

"She wasn't in her room, and she's not out here! We found this on the ground," Mebuki pulled out a red ribbon from her pocket.

Sasuke grabbed it tightly. He knew she would never leave it around so carelessly. Something happened to Sakura. He didn't know where she was or who took her. He needed to find her.

A/N: Did you notice who the other two ANBU were? 😏 One more chapter left! I'll let you know what the sequel story title will be in the next chapter! Still undecided as of right now.

This is very late. I had only short bursts of inspiration. I also didn't exactly proofread the last half of this because I'm too tired to so if there are mistakes. Oh well.