Hi There!

This is my second SasuSaku fanfiction that I am writing! I recently finished my first one, Under the Rising Spring. It is complete, so if you are itching to read my little headcanon on the relationship between Sasuke and Sakura during the blank period, feel free to check it out and review it for me! (Sorry about the shameless plug, lol)

As you may know, I originally had two chapters of Ascension completed, but after writing down the plot and major events that I want to cover throughout this entire story, I found that the first two chapters already had major inconsistencies in order to make the story I want to write work, and that I needed to re-work some things. So, Ascension is being restarted anew, however many of the same elements that I was originally planning to implement are still very much going to be in the story. While writing Under the Rising Spring, I felt that it definitely could have been better organized, so I want to make sure I do that with Ascension, especially since this will be set in an AU. I plan on this story to be around 20 chapters long.

I want to thank everyone who is taking the time to read this, and I really hope that I can create a story that you guys will love. I love to write in my free time and escape to other worlds! Doing this also really helps with my creative writing, which I feel I can always improve upon.

I really hope that you guys will leave me reviews of what you think, and constructive criticism.

Chapter I: The Red of Fate

Red is the color of death,

but also the color of fate,

surrender to me

succumb to death

"A marriage, with my daughter?"

Sasuke watched, his calloused right hand resting casually, yet alert on his sword Kusanagi that was tied to his waist as he watched his King, Madara negotiate with the Haruno clan head.

"Yes. A show of political alliance." Madara confirmed. Madara had jet black hair, long and unruly, and wore an elaborate red armor that included arm guards, and a chest plate, with armored plates that extended down the front, sides and back down to his knees. His face was serious, almost ruthless, his charcoal eyes cold and menacing.

"You think that by marriage, it will automatically gain the loyalty of our people?" Kizashi challenged, as if the thought of it was ridiculous. Sasuke watched as the Haruno clan head held his hands in fists, a displeased frown on his face, his eyebrows furrowed as he stood in challenge to the Uchiha. The man was odd, with dull pink hair, wearing white clothes that were covered by a bright red set of armor, though his was much less elaborate than the Uchiha king, his consisting of a red chest place, with red arm guards and red shin guards.

"If you are to be guaranteed that the wrath of the Uchiha do not wipe out your very existence, yes." Madara sneered. "I don't see how you have any options of refusal."

Kizashi gritted his teeth. "No, I suppose not. I guess I should not have been so naive to think that the Uchiha would not invade the free clans and force us under your rule." Kizashi concluded bitterly.

"You all have been left unchecked for too long. What good are you, if you are not under the control of a powerful clan that can guide you? Offer you the way to live your lives?" Madara countered. Sasuke watched as this only irritated the pink haired man even more, yet he knew that he had to of been feeling helpless in his predicament.

"No harm is to come to my daughter?" Kizashi bartered, though his tone held skepticism, and if Madara noticed it, he had chosen to ignore it.

"So long as she obeys our wishes." Madara sneered.

Kizashi had nothing further to say as he turned his heel to leave, not giving the king any bow of respect. In irritation, Sasuke grabbed his sword at the thought of someone disrespecting his king in such a way, though Madara motioned for him to stop as they watched his retreating form.

"Watch your anger, Sasuke." Madara began. "His insolence won't matter by tomorrow morning anyway."

Sasuke frowned. What did he mean by that? However, Sasuke dared not bother to ask. He didn't need to. All he cared about was doing what Madara instructed him to do.

"Sakura." Kizashi called as he entered their home. Though the head of their clan, the Haruno's were modest people. They didn't live in fancy houses, or have much for riches as they were a clan who lived off the land and of their own free will. Their house was quaint, small in a sense, but a beautiful home. The place where Sakura had lived her whole of eighteen years.

"Father, I've been worried!" Sakura ran to her father, embracing him in a hug. She had been worried about him ever since the Uchiha had demanded he meet with the clan head. It had happened so suddenly. They had invaded their territory in the night, scaring their people into thinking that they were here to take their land and lives.

"Sakura, we need to talk. Come, and sit down." Kizashi said, as he gave an uncomfortable sigh. Sakura knew this expression from anywhere. Her father often did it when he was frustrated with something, or didn't know what to do or how to approach something. His face was sad, and Sakura knew that something was wrong. However, she did as her father asked, sitting beside them in their living room. The room was dimly lit, a small table in the middle of it. There was a cabinet that held books and other trinkets on one wall, and a large window behind them that the endless night could be seen through.

"They want you to agree to a political marriage." Kizashi began, causing his daughter to gasp in surprise, and somewhat in relief too. Her first worry was that the Uchiha had come to end their lives, and the fear of it had settled deep into the pit of her stomach.

"M-marriage? Why?" Sakura asked, a little puzzled. What would a marriage to her offer them? Would something like that really protect her people?

"I… don't know. Something doesn't feel right about it. The circumstances seem odd. I don't like the idea of it." Kizashi admitted.

"But if we don't comply with their wishes, then what?" Sakura questioned, worried that she already knew the answer to her question.

"It will end all of our lives. They won't let a single soul live. No woman... or child." Kizashi growled. "I should have protected our people better! We should have-"

"No." Sakura interrupted, her voice wavering, but firm. "If that's what they want, then I will do it to protect my people."

"I don't know how I could ask this of you, my daughter." Kizashi sighed, his body language conveyed defeat. Sakura could feel the sorrow in his voice, the helplessness her father was feeling, the failure he probably felt he was.

"You don't have to. To be honest, I was afraid that you would never come back. I was afraid that if they killed you, I would be able to do nothing for our people. Father I -" Sakura could feel the tears that stung at her eyes that threatened to fall. Her emotions were an uncertain wreck as she felt the relief of her father coming home, and the dreaded fear of what was to come. In an instant, their way of life had been threatened.

"You are my daughter, Sakura. You will always find a way to protect the people that you love." Kizashi encouraged, trying to console his daughter. "You are so much like your mother. So much stronger and braver than you ever will know."

Sakura embraced her father in a tight hug, feeling the warmth of his familiar arms wrapped around her in his fatherly embrace. However, the sound of a large explosion immediately separated them from their embrace as their small home shook with the vibration.

In a panic, Sakura raced to the window only to be met with a scene of horror.

Without thinking, and ignoring the panicked call from her father, she hastily ripped open their wooden front door, sprinting outside. People were screaming everywhere. What was going on? How could they? How could the Uchiha attack them like this?! Had the talks of political marriage been a ploy to keep them unaware of their true intentions?

She raced towards the main village, willing her feet to carry her faster than they were, as the fires that engulfed the buildings became wild and large, angrily burning everything they touched, the sound of wood crackling in the heat, and the screams of the night only getting louder.

Tears began to stream down her face as her chest tightened up in an unbearable knot and the urge to hurl the contents of her stomach almost became too great. Her heart felt like it was being stabbed.

It was too late though.

The stench of death and spilled blood polluted the air as Sakura's eyes were met with the sight of dead bodies piled on the streets of the town, the pathways stained red. The walls painted in their blood.

"Sakura, Sak-" Sakura immediately ran over to a man on the floor, clutching his chest as his clothes became soaked in his blood.

"Who did this to you? What-" Sakura begged as she quickly moved to heal him. The gift she had been given. Her palms began to glow green. If he was alive she would save him.

"No don't Sakura don't let them see-"

Sakura wanted to sob. What did he mean?

Suddenly, two women came running across the road in front of her, screaming, as a sword impaled them from behind, their bodies lifeless and spilling blood as they fell to the ground with a loud thud right before her eyes.

Sakura was petrified. The man she had been trying to help was gone too. She couldn't save him.

In front of her however, stood a younger looking man dressed fully in black. He had dark hair, fashioned in messy spikes, but most prominent of all was the red glowing eyes that were eerily beautiful. He was god-like and like no one Sakura had ever seen before in his life. He didn't look like he belonged in this world.

She had never been more terrified in her life.

The man had spotted her, turning his attention towards her, his sword firmly gripped in his right hand, drenched in the blood of the villagers he had slaughtered. He began to walk towards her, as if in no hurry, as if he could kill her in the blink of an instant if he so chose too.

Sakura willed her feet to move, but her body wouldn't respond. She felt like screaming, but nothing came out as the black dressed figure approached her, his red eyes fixated on her, his face cold and unforgiving.

"Sasuke, enough!" A voice called, causing the figure to stop momentarily as his head turned towards the direction of the speaker. Sakura's attention became fixated on the man who had commanded the killer in front of her to stop. The man looked eerily similar with his long black hair and haunting red eyes.

"I've seen what I need to. Take her prisoner." The voice commanded. "Everyone else is dead."

Sakura's eyes widened in fear as she willed her body to move, to run away, to resist, to scream and fight, but instead, she felt a sharp pain in her neck as her world went black.

Death.

Sasuke had always been a harbinger of death. His life revolved around it. Death was one of the few things that he was very familiar with.

He locked away any emotions he had, indifferent as he struck down one person after another, their screams filling his ears and their blood staining his clothes and the ground he walked on.

He spotted two women, who were trembling, taking off once he saw them and began to make his way to end their lives as well. He watched, almost in amusement as they screamed, trying to run away from him as if they could escape death.

He cut them down easily, mercilessly as their last screams filled the air as their bodies fell the the bloodstained earth with an audible thud.

That's when he saw it. The flash of pink.

He turned to see a woman, her face dirty, her pink hair disheveled yet exotically beautiful. He had never seen anything like it. He was almost drawn to it. She wore a red tunic that was form fitting with black shorts underneath, with shin length black boots.

She looked up at him and for a moment he was stunned.

The fierce green eyes that looked at him in hate and fear. Her face that was feminine and gentle however, despite the wrath of her expression. A goddess in this world ruled by hate. For a moment, he hesitated, taking his time as he walked towards the frightened woman.

"Sasuke, stop!" The voice of his King ringed through the silence. He looked over to Madara, who was walking up to them from behind. He did as he was told.

"I've seen what I need to. Take her prisoner." He commanded. "Everyone else is dead."

Why would Madara keep this woman alive? This otherworldly being with pink hair and green eyes?

He could see her hate towards his King. He could see her fear. Sasuke did as he was commanded without a second thought, knocking the woman out.

"What is it you want her alive for?" Sasuke inquired as she fell to the ground, unconscious with a loud thud.

"I watched her try to heal an old man." Madara replied. For a brief moment, a look of surprise crossed Sasuke's features before he regained his stoic composure. Healing? He thought that ability had died out in the Haruno clan.

"Hn." Sasuke flicked his sword, Kusanagi, splattering the blood on it's blade on the ground to clean it before sheathing it.

"Take her back to camp. Make sure she is restrained." Madara instructed to the other Uchiha men that were with him.

"You did well, Sasuke." Madara praised as the pink haired woman was being carried away by the other men who had accompanied Madara.

"Well, as you said, they were unsuspecting. Though I can't say it was exactly a clean move." Sasuke advised.

Madara laughed, amused. "To think you would worry about such a thing, Sasuke. You are young, but a good general. But don't forget that we do what we need to in order to gain power. No matter what strategy."

Sasuke watched as his King began to walk after the men that were carrying their prisoner, following soon after him. For the first time in a long time, something about this didn't feel right.

When Sakura awoke, it was dark, and she was laying on something cold and hard. It was quiet, eerily quiet, and her head hurt. Her whole body ached.

Suddenly everything came rushing back. The red eyes, the black, the death…

Almost in a panic she stood up, running to the bars in front of her, realizing that she was in a prison cell. Her eyes were still adjusting, but there was a dim light and a figure that sat calmly, still, and almost ethereal beside it.

"There's no escape." came a low, masculine and haunting voice that sent a shiver down Sakura's spine as the dark figure stood from its seated position.

"Where am I? Who are you?" Sakura demanded, though her voice was fearful. Her eyes now adjusted to the darker lighting revealed him however.

The man she had seen before. Fear immediately overtook Sakura's body as she began to tremble at the familiarity, however he looked different. His eyes were not red, instead they were a charcoal black and looked as if they could consume her very being. Sakura stumbled backwards, her instincts tell her to get as far away from this man as possible.

"Quiet." He snapped, his voice almost a growl. "I should have ended your life when I had the chance." he mocked. Sakura gritted her teeth, her back against the furthest wall.

"Then why didn't you?!" She spat in return. "I would be better off dead than in this hell!"

She knew that she had angered him by his low growl as he threw the cell gate open, storming towards her, his eyes once again red, and ruthless. No matter how terrified Sakura was, she couldn't help but stare directly into them. She tried to push herself further back into the wall as if she could sink into it and disappear, the cold stone stinging her skin.

"Don't think I won't, the moment Madara deems you expendable." He spat venomously. He was so close, his breath fanning on Sakura's face, causing a chill to run down her spine and the hair at the nape of her neck to stand on edge. She could feel her heart thundering in her chest and hear it thundering in her ears. The tension was undeniable between them as her viridian eyes met his red ones in defiance.

Snapping his eyes away from her however, he shoved her from the wall, drawing his sword in a split second, pointing it at her neck. He could easily strike and kill.

"Madara instructed me to take you to him." He began. Sakura gulped, immediately feeling her body heat up from the anxiety. "Don't think that I won't hesitate to kill you the moment you try anything." He threatened. Sakura's eyes were transfixed on the edge of his blade that was at her neck before looking back at the god-like man in front of her, the red glow of his eyes making him appear more demon-like in the darkness.

She didn't say anything as Sasuke motioned for her to start walking out of the cell with him following closely in tow, his sword was effortlessly sheathed as he trailed behind her, watching her like a hawk. Roughly, he grabbed her left arm with his right hand, leading her out of the prison area and up a long flight of stone stairs that were dimly lit. His hands were calloused and rough against her skin, no doubt from his swordsmanship.

They reached what Sakura assumed was the main floor of the castle, and it was barren and dark, as if it were made to fit the darkness of the Uchiha. Simple, but red tapestries adorned the walls, proudly displaying the uchiwa fan, the clan symbol of the Uchiha. The hallway she was being led through had many windows however, the moonlight shining brightly through it. The hallway felt as cold as the prison cell had.

It wasn't long before Sasuke opened a large door, shoving Sakura into the room causing the woman to stumble a little as she shakily raised her head to see Madara sitting leisurely on a throne chair, his legs crossed and an amused egotistical expression on his face.

"Do you know why you are alive?" Madara asked darkly, as Sakura regained her composure.

"N-no." Sakura answered, trembling.

"I noticed that you have a chakra healing ability. I was told that ability had died out in the Haruno clan." Madara began. "So I find it odd that you were using it the other night, on that old man."

Sweat began to roll down Sakura's forehead, as fear was rampaging through her very being.

"I-I have had it since I was a young child." Sakura responded.

"Well," Madara began. "Lucky for you, I'll give you a chance to live. If you obey that is."

Sakura drew in a sharp breath, her chest feeling tight. What would she have to forfeit in exchange for her life? Her father had told her that her gift was rare, and that she had to take special care of it. Was she the reason that they decided to invade her lands in the first place?

"What do you want from me?" She inquired, her voice shaking. A laugh sounded from the Uchiha king.

"A timid thing, aren't you?"

Sakura felt insulted by his words, immediately hating the way that she was indeed, afraid.

"I have heard of your ruthlessness. I don't for a minute assume that you won't just kill me." Sakura retorted, her anger giving her voice some firmness. The unamused expression replaced Madara's face once again.

"Well well, I see you have some grit." He continued. "No matter. You aren't wrong. I could slay you any time I see fit. However, I feel your abilities could be useful. If you want to stay alive, then you will heal my army when I command it." Madara offered.

Sakura gritted her teeth, clenching her fist. She wanted to refuse, she wanted to wipe that smug look off that man's face. She furrowed her brows, her eyes clenching shut as she allowed her anger to burst.

"I would rather die than be your tool!" She screamed. "Where is my father?! Where are my people! You-" Immediately, Sasuke grabbed her arms, twisting them behind her, causing her to let out a sharp yelp of pain. Madara was glaring at her now, irritated by her outburst.

"Sasuke, let her go." He commanded. Sakura felt his hard hands release her as he let out an agitated grunt. Sakura fell to the floor, rubbing her wrists.

"Your father is dead. Now, perhaps I should be the one to inquire about you." Madara hissed. Sakura's eyes widened in horror, knowing that there was no lie in his words. They really had slaughtered everyone, including her father. She could feel the tears immediately begin to sting at her eyes as she fought them back.

"My name is Sakura Haruno. Kizashi Haruno was my father." She croaked, trying to keep from sobbing.

"Ah, so you were his daughter." Madara wondered aloud. "Well, no matter. I'm putting you under Sasuke's command now since he is the general of my army."

Sakura looked up at the man who towered behind her. He stared at her, almost as if trying to figure her out, his mouth set in a thin line. His eyes were no longer red and had returned to the color of the black endless pits that threatened to swallow her.

"I have no interest in babysitting this woman." Sasuke refused as he looked at his King.

"Well, I'm handing her off to you. As you know, if you think that she will cause more problems than good, end her." Madara answered, almost nonchalantly as if her life were a toy.

Well, it was a toy. For them.

Sakura stiffened as Sasuke's rough hands reached down to yank her up onto her feet, pulling her onto her feet in one fluid motion like she was a sack of flour as he mumbled something under his breath.

"I will grant you a room to stay in, unless you would prefer to stay in a prison cell." Madara informed.

"Go to hell!" Sakura cursed, earning her a sharp shove from Sasuke as he pushed her out of the room, shutting the door loudly behind him.

"Watch how you speak!" He threateningly growled as he began to lead her away.

No other words were exchanged between them as Sasuke led her back down to the cell, unceremoniously shoving her inside before shutting the metal gate on her once again. Sakura glared at him, watching as he stomped away before she slumped against the wall, breaking into a sob at the realization that her father had been brutally murdered, and that she had left him to that fate, alone.

That woman was frustratingly defiant, and he hated how her defiance challenged him and interested him.

Sasuke angrily stomped away from the cell, unable to get the fierce look of defiance in her viridian eyes out of his mind.

Those eyes were strangely beautiful and alluring, and Sasuke hated the way they locked with his, and the way that his body reacted to them as if it had a mind of its own.

He had never met such a woman like her before in his entire life.

The way that her soft skin and petite frame felt in his hands were foreign, and he felt almost sinful touching it, wanting to retract contact from her the moment he touched her.

Despite the fact that she was no one of value, that she was insignificant to everything that he believed in, every time everything he knew dictated that he end her, there was an unfamiliar restraint. As if some part of him was begging him not to.

While normally he would not tolerate such insolence from anyone, for some reason he found himself currently giving her empty threats.

How long would his patience last? Would he end her, sooner than later?

Sasuke walked through the cold empty halls that he had guided her through, making his way back to his chambers.

No, he would not allow himself to be distracted, allow himself to feel anything other than what he knew he needed to, and that was the determination to serve Madara. His loyalty to his clan and fulfilling their ideas was all that mattered to him.

As he neared his room, ready to try and let sleep take him, he found Madara casually leaning on the wall beside the doors to his room.

"I see you are still ruthless, despite your hesitation." He commented casually, a dark look in his eye.

"I see no reason to treat that woman to any luxuries if she is defiant." Sasuke stated, keeping his expression stoic.

"Yet, I can see unusual hesitation." Madara observed. Sasuke frowned.

"Do you doubt my loyalty to you?" He questioned flatly. Madara smirked.

"I don't. I know that you are here to help me achieve my goal and make it a reality. I just find this rather intriguing is all." Madara replied nonchalantly, waving his hand in dismissal as he pushed himself from the wall, beginning to walk away, his back turned towards Sasuke. "However, Sasuke," Madara paused, his footsteps stilling, turning his head to look back at his general. "Betrayal would not be treated lightly, even if it were you."

Sasuke watched as Madara continued off after his passive warning. Sasuke clenched his fist, glaring at the back of Madara, disliking that this woman had so obviously shown that he could hesitate. That there was some part of him that could be weak.

When Madara faded out of view, he slipped into his room, slamming his door shut roughly with his irritation. Unceremoniously, he began to take off his armor and cloak, letting it drop to the floor, but leaving Kusanagi attached at his hip. Sasuke walked over to his desk, glancing at the picture he kept of his mother, father, and older brother.

If it wasn't for this war, maybe they wouldn't be dead.

Sasuke had worked hard to become someone Madara could trust, even if it was at the expense of the humanity he probably has lost. Nothing could ever help him regain that after the death of those that he held dear. He had made that his reason for fighting, his reason for killing. His reason for following Madara to the end of hell.

Not only was he left to fend for his own, but even his best friend had betrayed him, believing that his way wouldn't be good enough. Believing that those murderers had a better ideal for this world.

Sasuke was alone.

A small ray of light coming from the small window in Sakura's cell began to filter into the dark cold room, causing the pinkette to slowly open her eyes, revealing their viridian color as she brought her hands to her face to try and rub the sleepiness away.

Her eyes were swollen, she could tell from the sobbing that she had done the night before in the despair of her father's death.

There was no one waiting outside her cell this time as she huddled in the corner that she had fallen asleep in. She was not sure how long she had actually slept, and felt the soreness and weakness in her body.

What is it she should do from here?

Everything that she had ever known, everyone that she had ever loved, they were all gone.

Would her life be worth living?

The empty darkness of this prison offered her no comfort. Would she stay here until she rotted away, becoming nothing but another death in this war? She wasn't sure, but she felt that maybe she had drifted back to sleep momentarily as a dream came to her.

"Sakura, you are a special girl. Your gift can save many lives. It's like Spring, bringing new life to those in need. Remember, my kind sweet beautiful girl, that every life is worth saving."

"Yes, I know, but what if that person tried to hurt me?"

She couldn't see her face, the woman who spoke to her, but she was kind. She could feel a warmth, familiar as if she had known it all her life.

"Sakura, remember, that peace is always brought by love. I will watch over you, always. Don't forget your kindness, your resolve."

"But the world is cruel, everyone I love is gone. Everything I know is gone…"

"Despair breeds hatred. Would you give into despair?" The voice asked. "Is it worth to give up on everything that could be?"

The figure began fading away, as if a distance began to grow between them. Sakura yearned to chase after it.

"Wait! Don't go! Wait I-"

She wasn't sure how much time passed when she awoke from her dream before she heard the sound of footsteps coming towards her, though she could tell by the heaviness of them that they did not belong to someone heavy, making them most likely a female's footsteps.

When the figure came into view, Sakura was relieved to find that her assumption was right.

A black haired woman with black hair eyes, just like Madara and Sasuke came into view, holding a plate plain rice and vegetables. She must clearly be part of the Uchiha clan. Sakura eyed the woman carefully from the corner of her cell, watching as she opened the cell gate, placing the food down on the floor before closing the gate behind her and walking away.

The woman had looked terrified.

Staring at the food for a moment, Sakura wondered whether she should eat it or not? Her stomach protested at her hesitance, begging her to fill her body with some kind of nutrient, but Sakura's mind was stubborn. Her grief bred defiance.

She didn't know how long it was before she heard another set of footsteps that came, becoming louder as they neared her cell. Sakura was still sitting in the corner, her knees tucked up into her chest as she buried her face into her arms that were wrapped atop them.

"Do you plan to just starve yourself?" A harsh voice grunted, though Sakura knew immediately who it belonged to.

Silence. Sakura felt no desire to answer his question, as she refused to move. She wanted to hide her face. She didn't want him to see the evidence of her grief. She heard the cell door open and his heavy footsteps enter, the stone loud underneath his footsteps as he stalked towards her sulking form.

"There's work to be done, but if you want to rot in this cell, fine." The voice conceded. Sakura lifted her head, her eyes meeting with Sasuke's. For a moment, she thought she saw a momentary glimpse of a shocked look on his face before it was quickly replaced by his cold expression. He looked slightly different in the light of the sun. Perhaps less menacing, and more humanlike.

"And if I don't go?" Sakura asked quietly.

"Then we have no need of you." Sasuke reminded her.

"What is it you want?"

There was a pause before she received an answer.

"We have men who have been wounded. They need treatment, and are more likely to survive with your abilities." Sasuke stated. Sakura stared at her hands for a moment, thinking what a curse her abilities had turned out to be, before clenching them, remembering her dream.

Without a word, Sakura brought herself to her feet, her eyes meeting Sasuke's.

"Fine." She replied curtly. Sasuke frowned as Sakura noticed him giving her a quick glance up and down.

"Let's go then." He commanded.

With that, Sasuke turned on his heel, in which Sakura followed. At least this way she would walk with dignity instead of being dragged by him. It was rather an unpleasant experience the night before.

The castle didn't seem quite so grim in the sunlight. Though it was still plain and almost barren, there were servants bustling around, doing their thing. Sakura felt a little uncomfortable as they glanced at her, but it seemed like something would send them scurrying away.

Sakura didn't know how long it was before Sasuke stopped. However, two women came rushing towards him, bowing.

"Clean her up." Sasuke commanded. The women bowed.

"Yes general." they responded. Sakura was caught off guard at the suddenness of it. The women didn't look at Sasuke as they turned their attention towards her, inching towards her which caused Sakura to take a couple steps back in hesitation, however Sasuke cast her a glare that made her stop in her tracks.

The two women gently grabbed her arms, pushing her away.

"This way please." One of them said quietly. Sakura surrendered her to their lead as they pulled her towards a nearby door, opening it and pulling her inside.

The whole room was a bathing area with a massive bath at the back of it. The room was steamy, and the heat was welcome upon Sakura's skin. The maids began to work on removing Sakura's clothes in which she immediately yanked herself away from their touch.

"S-sorry I've always done this myself." She apologized, upon seeing the startled look on the maid's faces.

"Okay, remove them yourself then." One of the maids responded as she gave Sakura her space. The other followed and was smaller than the maid that had spoke to her.

"Um, what are your names?" Sakura asked as she began to remove her clothes.

"Umi and Reki." The older one spoke. "I am Umi and this is my younger sister Reki. She doesn't talk really, but follows instructions." Sakura frowned. They both looked fairly young, and again had the same dark features as she had seen on every person that she had met here.

"How did you come to be a maid here?" Sakura asked, curious.

"We are orphans and so lord Madara let's us live in the worker's quarters in exchange for our work." Reki replied.

"I see…" Sakura trailed off. "W-what happened? To your parents, I mean." Sakura continued. She realized that she had bruises on her arms and legs, most likely from being in the prison and everything that had happened.

"T-they died in the war." Reki replied.

Sakura felt her heart sink. The war affected those of the Uchiha clan that died just as much as anywhere else. These poor kids were like her, their parents killed.

"Okay. Well, I can clean myself if you show me how this all works." Sakura offered, trying to change the subject.

"Come this way then." Reki instructed, her sister following her. Sakura followed them, seeing her reflection in the mirror for the first time, almost gasping at how different she looked.

Her skin was unusually pale, bruises decorating her body. Her hair was disheveled, and there was tear streaking dirt on her face. Her eyes looked dull in comparison to their usual lightness, and her eyes looked tired and puffy.

No wonder Sasuke had given her a strange look.

She almost didn't recognize herself in the mirror.

"The water faucet is here." Reki began. "You turn it like this. Unfortunately the water from the faucet is cold, but the big bath is heated." Sakura nodded. "There is a container of soap powder over there. We try to keep it dry as this is the community bath for all of us who work here."

"You mean you all share this?" Sakura inquired, curious. Reki nodded.

"Yes."

Sakura didn't ask any further questions as she began to do as Reki had instructed.

"Also, they don't like us to take a long time, and the general isn't a super patient person. We should hurry." Reki suggested. Sakura almost wanted to roll her eyes at the mention of his name. It's not like she hadn't already figured that out.

"Okay."

Sakura hurriedly began to wash the dirt and dried blood from her body. The soap did not smell of anything, but at least she felt a little cleaner. She quickly scrubbed her long pink hair, wringing it out once the soap rinsed clean. She stared at the bath, her body aching to go sit in the warm water, but she thought it was not something she should chance doing right now.

"Can I have a towel?" Sakura asked, her body shivering a little from the cold water.

"Yes, but don't you want to warm up in the bath?" Reki asked as Umi brought her a towel.

"No, it's okay."

"Okay, well there clothes just in that room over there." Reki informed, pointing Sakura in the direction of what looked like a little dressing room. Sakura hadn't noticed them before.

"What about my clothes?" Sakura questioned. Reki's face dropped.

"Well, they are dirty, but the general said you were not to wear them anymore." Reki replied. Sakura frowned.

"Fine. Just show me what I can wear, but let me keep my gloves, please." Sakura begged, following behind Reki into the dressing room. It was plain with wooden seats and square shelves. Towels were neatly folded and aligned on them, with baskets for dirty clothes and rows of folded clothes that Sakura presumed were clean. There was almost no choice of colors however as it seemed that red, navy and white were the only colors available.

She began to look through them, trying to find something acceptable for her to wear.

In the end, she settled for a red tunic and black pants. The tunic had sleeves that came down to her elbows and on the looser side while the pants were also looser but at least more fitted. She found a black tie that she could keep most of her hair out of her face with, and was glad that her shoes had been left for her.

Sakura caught one more glimpse of herself in the mirror, noting that at least she wasn't dirty and her hair was less disheveled, though her eyes were still dull, and she still had bags under them.

However, considering everything that she had just been through, she at least looked a little more like herself.

She gave her thanks to the two little girls before stepping back out into the castle hallway. She was met by a rather irritated looking Sasuke. Whatever he might have been thinking underneath his apparent irritation was hidden well by his grumpiness.

"Let's go." He commanded.

Sakura didn't say anything as she followed him. This time, he led her down a different wing of the castle, but it was obvious that it was set up a little differently. There were other women who hurried around, some with blood on them and panic. Sakura found it odd how dismissal of the scene Sasuke seemed to be, as if he was used to such things. He curtly turned to enter one of the rooms, and as Sakura walked in she could immediately smell the blood, sweat and rot that filled the room. If she had any contents in her stomach, she probably would have emptied them onto the floor, right then and there.

"These men were wounded on a scouting mission, ambushed by the Senju. Get them healed up." Sasuke demanded. Sakura sighed. The men were quiet at the sight of the general, as if they were afraid that one whine of pain out of them would end their lives.

Sakura walked towards them, unsure how she should start. She had always healed small injuries and things in her village, only having helped a gravely injured village member maybe once or twice.

"Which one of you sustained the worst injuries?" Sakura inquired as she tried to figure out what her first move would be.

"Him. Over there. His side was torn up pretty bad by a sword." One of them grunted. Sakura turned to see a man laying down in the corner of the room. Without another words she began to make her way over to him.

A man was laying on his side, looking really pale as he clutched bloodied clothes to it. Grabbing the gloves that she had kept from her clothes, she pulled them on. This was why she had wanted to keep her gloves. She had always worn them when healing people.

Carefully removing the bloodied cloth, a nasty gash was revealed underneath. Blood began to run down the man's stomach as the pressure was removed. Sakura immediately placed her hands slightly above the wound, concentrating as her hands began to glow green. She could hear the gasps of the other men as they watched.

Sakura concentrated as she willed the man's flesh to mend back together. It took a little time, but he stopped bleeding, the wound eventually closing up enough for him to get stitches and bandaged.

Rubbing the sweat that had formed on her forehead, she turned to the other men.

"Okay, who next?" She asked calmly. The men looked at each other, and at Sasuke who had been standing there, watching this whole time.

Sakura waited for their instruction and went to work on each wound that dictated needing something more than just bandages. She had probably closed up another seven major but not life threatening wounds before all of a sudden she began to feel herself become faint.

That's right. She didn't eat, and it had been a while since her last meal.

She had to push through though. She refused to show any weakness on her part, but it seemed that she wouldn't get a choice. Before she realized it, her vision went black.

Sasuke wasn't sure what exactly had happened, but all of sudden Sakura fell to the floor, eliciting panic from the soldiers that she had been healing. Sasuke frowned. This woman was already getting people worked up about her? Pathetic.

One glare from him was enough to make them all shrink away.

That stupid woman had probably used up more energy than she had. Sasuke was observant enough to realize that because she stubbornly had refused her food, she probably hadn't eaten in at least two days at this point.

Without a word, he stalked out of the room.

"Take that woman passed out on the floor to maid's quarters." He ordered to two males.

"Yes sir!"

He continued on his way. It was time for him to train anyways.

Heading down towards the training room, Sasuke found himself irritated. He had honestly been intrigued by her ability to heal, watching the skin mend right beneath her glowing green hands. As if her hands held warmth and life in their very palms.

He scoffed at himself.

He reached the training room, throwing open the door to find Madara sitting in the middle of the dirty arena.

"You're late." He commented.

"I was observing the prisoner heal our scout party that was ambushed." Sasuke answered.

"I see. I guess she does value her own life after all." Madara observed.

"Perhaps. However, if she steps out of line, I will keep my word." Sasuke replied in assurance. Madara nodded in acknowledgement, pushing himself off the ground walking to the edge of the arena to grab his favorite war fan. Sasuke withdrew Kusanagi in response, waiting for his King to return to the middle of the arena for their training. Madara had taught him a great deal of his swordsmanship even though he himself preferred to use a war fan.

"Do you remember what I said about the Senju being able to switch their tactics?" Madara inquired as the two began to circle each other in anticipation of who would strike the first blow.

"Yes. I should have thought more carefully about it before sending out that scout party." Sasuke replied, knowing that Madara was reprimanding him for his carelessness.

"Indeed. Not that their lives would have mattered."

Sasuke kept his expression stoic and unreadable. Madara was right. Life was expendable, soldiers were expendable, however, the numbers of their army would truly suffer at such recklessness. Sasuke had at least learned that they needed to be somewhat diligent in finding ways to keep their men from being killed.

"If that is so, then why bring this up?" Sasuke inquired, curious at the hot and cold attitude the King was taking.

"In a sense, we can be more powerful if less men die. And, less men will die, so long as that woman cooperates." Madara divulged as he decided to make the first move in swinging at Sasuke who deflected it easily with his sword. Madara was toying with him.

"You're suggesting a motive?" Sasuke realized. Madara smirked.

"Perhaps." Sasuke knew this smirk of Madara's all too well. There were many things that Madara did that even Sasuke didn't know about, but it did not stop him from serving him loyally.

Sasuke decided he would try to use his agility to find an opening to land a blow onto Madara, though it seemed that Madara was well defensed. He always was, but it never stopped Sasuke from trying.

"Opening's are not always easy to find, but when you find one," Madara began, as if tutoring. "You must get rid of it, or else you will become weak." Madara easily deflected Sasuke's attempt, sending him stumbling back. Sasuke stared at him. What was it exactly that that man surmising?

"Indeed." Sasuke agreed curtly.

"Sometimes, no matter what value they have."

Sasuke immediately knew what Madara was getting at. Sasuke gripped Kusanagi tighter, causing his knuckles to go white. Was Madara accusing him of being weak, again? Without thinking, he lunged at Madara, who in turn kicked him into the ground, pointing his war fan at Sasuke's throat.

"When are you going to come at me for real?" He taunted. Sasuke glared at him, knocking his fan with Kusanagi out of his face as he quickly got himself back up, taking a defensive stance. Madara chuckled.

"When are you going to stop letting emotions drive you?" He continued, still taunting Sasuke.

"My emotions do not drive me. They are nothing but a weakness." Sasuke affirmed, reigning in his anger, though the smirk on Madara's face threatened to fuel it even more. Sasuke's eyes had turned crimson red.

"Yes, that look of hate on your face. The look of a killer." He praised. "That's the Sasuke that I know."

In response, Madara's black eyes flashed to the crimson red of his own Uchiha blood trait.

As usual, Sasuke was still unable to best Madara at a duel, even it was training. He was ruthless.

Sasuke did not train with him often, but whenever he did, it always ended up with him getting some sort of a wound. He was lucky that this time he made it out with just a gash on his bicep. He had taunted him all evening, but Madara was the closest thing that Sasuke had to a family.

He headed towards the maid's quarters, wondering if that stubborn woman had woken up yet. It was now evening.

It was as if everyone could sense that he was in an especially foul mood this evening, as everyone he passed seemed to hide or scurry away more than usual, or perhaps he usually never paid it much mind.

Heading straight into the maid's quarters, he found it empty luckily, except for Sakura who was sitting on the side of one of the cots, staring out at the moonlight. If she had noticed his entrance into the room, she made no indication of it.

"You have limits." Sasuke announced, his low smooth voice causing the pink haired woman to jump a little bit as if she had been startled.

"Yes. I do." Sakura replied, though she did not turn her attention towards Sasuke as she continued to stare at the moonlight that came in through the sole window of the room.

Now that she wasn't dirty, Sasuke noticed the way that it reflected off of her pale skin. Her skin glowed softly in the moonlight, and for the second time Sasuke thought that she looked otherworldly.

"Do you value your life?"

That question was enough to make viridian eyes meet with his. They were a dark shade of green in the moonlight, but that same defiance and determination shone in them. This woman was a creature that Sasuke did not understand.

"Enough to know that I want to see this war end." Sakura replied ominously. Sasuke studied her face for a moment, as if trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind her words, however she averted her gaze, looking away from him once again.

Sasuke was not sure how he should respond to her words. Enough to see the war end? What had she meant by that? Did that mean that she would just do whatever she needed to in order to stay alive until that point?

"The war will end, with Madara leading the way." Sasuke finally said, stating what he believed.

"Hatred will only breed hatred." she replied, causing Sasuke to be only more confused at her strange words, yet angered by them.

"You do not know of what you speak." he spat, allowing his anger to rise.

"Sakura once again turned to him, her face showing every evidence of dislike that she had for him. He hadn't seen that look since the night that they had taken her from her home.

"Will you punish me for having a difference of opinion then?" She challenged in response. This caused Sasuke's demeanor to change, his face turning into a threatening glare.

"Don't forget that I will put you out of your misery any time I see fit."

"I'm not afraid of you!" Sakura argued, standing from the cot as if she truly was challenging the Uchiha. However, the sudden change of expression on her face indicated what Sasuke already knew. His eyes had turned crimson red as he stepped towards her. He saw the fear that flashed across her face before she tried to regain her composure. Sakura stepped back as he stepped forward, as if on instinct.

"You should be, Sakura."

Phew, it felt like this chapter took FOREVER to write!

I really hope that it was interesting enough to grab your guy's attention, and that the tension that is already between Sasuke and Sakura is conveyed. There is a sort of attraction from the beginning between these two.

Since I have the entire story plot written out, I'm really hoping that all these story chapters will flow very consistently, and that i will be able to immerse you in this little fanfiction's world!

Thank you for reading, and please leave a review for me on this chapter! I really want to know if this is something you guys would be interested in reading more and delving deeper into the story for because these chapters usually run around 10,000 words, and 20 + pages. They take a long time to write.

Let me know your thoughts!