*Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. All rights are reserved for Kishimoto.
**Warning: This fanfiction contains mature themes that can be distressing. Such as Self- harm, mental illness, substance abuse, etc.
Her body felt hot. She was on fire. Even the air burned her lungs with each breath she took. Why was it a furnace in her tent? The closed space was hot and smelt strangely metallic. Sakura tossed around, trying to peel the blanket from her frame, but was met with resistance. She couldn't move. Struggling to bring her arms to her chest, she began to panic. Something slick and moist coated her hands. It felt grimy. She could feel it on her backside and in her hair. It made her skin crawl with how it soaked her clothing, clinging to her like sticky sap, making her feel more suffocated. She couldn't move. She pressed her palms up to be met with a plastic-like texture. It felt like elastic. She pushed and heaved against the material, only to have it snap back into place.
She began to wildly attack at the barrier, to no avail. It was an inferno. She couldn't breathe. She was suffocating. Her lungs ached and burned, begging for my air. It felt like a vacuum. The muscles in her chest tightened with each breath. Gasps escaped her throat as the tiny, confined place closed in on her. She began to scream when a tiny slit became visible. She pushed through, coughing and wheezing, desperately trying to fill her lungs with air.
Once she had calmed herself, she looked down at the black bag that enveloped her body. She glanced around searching frantically, her pupils shifting wildly, from side to side. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She was back in her apartment. How was she back? She left Konoha!
Sakura went to push out of the zippered bag to stand when she froze. Something caught her eye. Her eyes focused inside to where she was currently seated. She now knew what the metallic smell was. It was blood. The crimson liquid filled the bag, saturating everything it touched. The smell made Sakura gag. She began to wrench, holding her nose. She was covered in it. The last time she had smelt this much blood was during the war.
Sakura scrambled to her feet, her clothes becoming heavy and dripping rapidly onto the floor. Her hands desperately attacked her clothing wanting to be free from its hold. She ripped off her tank and pants, leaving her in her underwear. Her eyes scanned meticulously up and down her frame, even going as far as to check herself twice. No wound. Not even a scratch. Then who's blood is this she asked herself.
Sakura brought her attention to her door. It was ajar and had blood dripping from the handle. Her body seemed to move on its own as she pushed the door open completely. Searching into the darkness that was her apartment, she found nothing but a black void staring back at her. A cool breeze rolled over her as she stood in the door frame. It made a chill run up her spine as she had the feeling someone was watching her. Someone or something was at the end of the hallway. It felt ominous but she couldn't refrain from finding out what it was.
Slowly, step by step, she crept through her apartment. Her hands used the wall as a guide in the dark. On instinct, she tucked herself closely against the wall, praying to anchor her form to anything solid. Sakura started to breathe erratically. It was nearly impossible to keep her legs from shaking. The air that hit her skin seemed to be pulling her in. Her insides were screaming with every slight creak of the floorboards. She paused, readjusting her footing, as she made her way down the hallway. It seemed longer than before. Stretching with no end in sight.
Sakura stopped when a faint glow began to illuminate the end of the hall. The blue tone made everything look cold. She could now see there was a trail of blood from the living room to her bedroom. Small footsteps led past where she stood, leaving a map of their movement on the floor. Then it caught her eye. A foot.
A small pale foot stuck out at the end. The sole was upwards as if someone was lying on the ground. Her breathing hitched in her throat. She couldn't help but hold her breath. Unsure if she move forward, she hesitated. What was she doing? She should just go back to her room. Why move forward. What if it was a trap? She contemplated announcing her presence. Even just turning around.
*SLOSH*
The foot disappeared; a sick wet dragging sound accompanied it. Sakura stiffened. She immediately pulled back and ran to her room. As she grew closer to the door, it slammed shut. Before she could grab the handle, it had disappeared. Her hands swept up and down the wood, looking for her lifeline. Frantically clawing. Praying she had missed it in the dark and it was still there.
She froze when she heard it.
Something was behind her. Whatever it was, it was whispering.
Its low hush tone, loud enough to hear, but not enough to interpret what it was saying. The sound sent shivers down Sakura's skin. Even though it was so low, it echoed in the silence of the space. Slowly, Sakura turned her body. She held her breath half expecting someone to be there; it was a relief when there wasn't. That relief vanished when the whispering turned to a low sob. That sound terrified her. It reminded her of a child when they pretended to cry, but it was too low for any human. Its distorted tone reverberated in Sakura's bones. She had never heard anything like it.
One shaky step, one after another, she made her way back down the hallway. She didn't know what to expect. Her stomach was turning, and her heart was pounding. She felt sick. As she was a foot away from rounding the corner, the crying stopped.
Sakura rested her hand on her chest trying to settle her heart. With a deep inhale, she found the courage stepped towards the living room.
The blood drained from Sakura's face.
There was nothing there.
There was nothing there.
There was nothing there
How was there nothing there?
Sakura was unsure of what to do. None of this made sense. Her thoughts were interrupted by the blue light flickering. Sakura glanced over to the light then flinched when something landed on her face. Her knee-jerk reaction was to dab the wet spot with her finger. She brought it to where she could examine it and her eyes widened. Blood.
Sakura held her breath.
She didn't want to look up. Then she was hit with another moist drop.
Then another.
Reluctantly, she looked up. Her mouth fell at what she was seeing.
There in a pool of blood, lay a blonde woman on the ceiling. She was positioned to where her back was to Sakura. Her face was angled to the side but her long blonde hair covered her facial features. Sakura sunk to the floor; eyes wide in horror. She couldn't look away! She had seen this before. Why was she seeing this? She began to cry hysterically holding her head. Then the woman croaked. Sakura froze. She looked up and she wasn't in her apartment anymore. She was there.
God no. Any place but here! She was now in a dimly lit cavern. Sakura unable to control herself, scrambled to her feet began, frantically beating on the cave walls. She clawed wildly, trying to find any rock that would hold her. Anything! This is how she got out before, she could do it again she told herself!
A guttural croak filled the silence of the cave. It stopped Sakura in her tracks. She immediately ceasing her clawing. Her heartbeat was ringing in her ears. She had no control over her body, hyperventilating as she turned to see the source of the voice.
The same body from before stood motionless. Blonde dirty locks waterfalled in front, concealing their face. Sakura backed away, hitting the wall behind her. Her eyes were wide and brimming with tears. Even though she could not see its gaze, she could feel its stare. It was watching her.
It stood motionless, holding something in its arms. It was a blanket with something inside. Sakura dared not to take her attention off it. It began sobbing. That horrible sobbing, like it was unable to speak so it howled. Then a sickening crack sounded through the cave. On a shaky leg, it took a step. With each step, it seemed to be overexaggerating in a rocking movement. Its feet drug in the dirt, all the while swaying in its hobbled rhythm.
Sakura was frozen to the wall. Her nails dug into the earthy mound, holding her steady.
It stopped when it was arm's length from Sakura.
She shook in place, waiting for it to move.
It ceased its moans as it looked down to what it held. Sakura didn't take her eyes off of it. She refused to blink.
Its head snapped up with a loud crack. Even covered with the blonde hair, Sakura could feel its gaze.
"Your baby." It whispered slowly
Sakura could feel the hot tears sting her cheeks. She couldn't stop herself. Her eyes drifted towards the blanket.
Sakura shot up in the tent she was staying in. Her hands gripped and patted her body frantically. Air wouldn't feel her lungs fast enough. In a panic, she kicked off her blanket that clung to her sweaty skin and ran to the tent's exit. She struggled to get the zipper, fumbling with the tiny metal. In one thrust, she ripped a hole in the material, crashing hard on the rocks. A grunting noise escaped her lips. Her body couldn't stop hyperventilating. Sucking and heaving, it wasn't enough. She was dying. She was going to explode. She stayed on her knees, holding her chest. Just stop.
It wasn't real.
It wasn't real.
She braced herself, feeling that familiar nausea as she began to vomit.
After her stomach emptied, she fell on her back. It was naïve to think that the nightmares would stay in the Leaf Village. Sakura's chest rose and fell as she struggled to calm herself. The sun was hot on her skin. She had laid on the rocks breathing heavily till the world came back into focus. She could hear the river. She could hear the wildlife. She could feel the Sun's warm rays. Even the feel of the rocks digging into her skin.
She laid there for some time. Her pink locks clung to her skin, ripe with sweat. She felt nauseous. Her body was already achy and slamming onto rocks just added to that festering pain. Opening her lids, she squinted at how bright the light was. It was painful. She had been running nonstop for the past two days, taking rests at night. Suna was only about a day away, and it couldn't come fast enough. Sakura had one pill left and she was saving it.
(2 days ago)
Naruto sat in his office looking over documents then scribbling his signature, repeating this motion on paper after paper. His eye barely looked up from his work when his receptionist entered the room.
She peaked her head in. "Hokage Sama."
Naruto grunted in response, continuing his scribbling.
The tiny woman pressed her hands to her knee-length skirt. "There is someone to see you." She waited in anticipation.
Naruto grunted again, this time doing a come-hither motion with his hand. The woman bowed and exited the room. Shortly after, a tall man with dark hair and eyes entered. His apathetic face was almost a replica of Naruto's old teammate.
Naruto looked up from his paper and focused on the man approaching. His eyes questioned him curiously.
"What can I do for you Sai?"
Sai gave no change in demeanor.
"That ugly bitch hit my wife last night." Sai said coldly.
Naruto straightened in his chair. His brows furrowed as he kept eye contact with Sai.
"Who hit Ino?" Naruto asked slowly, hinting at his concern.
"Pinky."
Naruto's jaw clenched. Placing his elbows on his desk, he rested his face between his hands. He took a moment to gather his thoughts, then focused on Sai once more.
"Are you sure that is what happened?" Naruto asked cautiously.
Sai's eyes narrowed, signaling his annoyance. "My wife came home in tears last night with a red welt on her cheek." He spat. Emotion was present in his usually monotone voice.
Naruto took a deep inhale. What the hell? He shook his head, still processing what Sai told him.
Naruto closed his eyes. " Is Ino and the baby okay?" He asked pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers.
Sai nodded. His eyes bore into Naruto. There was rage there. Sai for the first time was struggling to stay in his normal neutral state.
"Naruto." Sai said coldly.
Naruto focused in on Sai, absorbing his words. Giving him his full attention.
"I want Sakura punished for this. If she had been home last night, I would have sorted it myself."
His words cut the tension in the room. Naruto looked confused.
"Sakura-chan wasn't home?"
Sai nodded. "I knocked then searched for a chakra presence. She wasn't there."
Naruto began to chew on his bottom lip. "What time was this?" He asked.
"Close to midnight."
Naruto lost his train of thought when his door opened. Shikamaru walked through, his normally bored face plastered with a stern look.
"Shikamaru not now." Naruto warned.
Shikamaru made his way to Naruto's desk, hands in his pockets.
"It's about Sakura. She never showed up for her escort this morning."
"What!?" Naruto exclaimed.
Shikamaru nodded. His lips formed into a tight line.
"That's not all. "Shikamaru responded.
Naruto became still. He waited for what Shikamaru was going to say next.
"The escorts went into her apartment, and I think you should come with me to see for yourself."
Sakura found herself counting the minutes till she could take her last ration. She quickly had cleared her campsite that morning and tried her best to make it to Suna by nightfall. She was struggling. Her body felt so heavy. It was a chore just picking her feet up, one after the other. She felt sick to her stomach and the sun was bothering her eyes. Not to mention the heat did not help.
In desperation, she had taken some of her gear off. It didn't help. Nothing would cool her down. She was almost to the border for the Land of Wind. She could tell by the change in heat. The wind seemed to be carrying a dryness that was miserable. This is what her life was going to be for a while.
Sakura pulled her cloak and goggles on once the dirt began to turn to sand. With every step, she could feel her shoes fill with the warm mineral. The desert seemed to stretch into oblivion. For a normal person, this journey would be dangerous. It would be so easy to get lost and never be found. Maybe that would happen to Sakura.
She was close to Suna now but still had a way to go. Sakura had to admit it. She was scared. She was finally coming to terms that she would have to address the mess she was in. In her heart, she knew how hard this was going to be. That all this was inevitable. A part of her just hoped that regardless, the nightmares would stop.
Her hand found its way into her pocket, clutching the pill case. It was still there. Sakura sighed in relief. Then she stiffened.
Something under the ground was rumbling. Sakura eyed her surroundings, scoping the land out. She saw nothing in between the gusts of sand leaving the dunes. The rumble happened again. She had an idea but was unsure if it would work. Sakura had come up with a sensory technique that could locate any chakra presence. The problem was she had only ever used in buildings. Somewhere where there was a solid foundation. Nothing like this.
Sakura crouched down, gusts of sand beating against her goggles. She closed her eyes, struggling to focus her chakra into her right index and middle finger. It was harder than she remembered. She had never done it with this little chakra. She let out a shaky exhale then inserted her two fingers into the sand.
She waited and waited. Then she felt silly. How stupid of her to think this would work. Her eyes widened as she felt a pulse. She could sense very small signatures of wildlife, but this was a big bump. The pulse happened again. It was big. It was really big and fast. Whatever it was, it was moving towards Sakura at an alarming pace.
Naruto could not settle his nerves the entire way to Sakura's apartment. He kept replaying their last interaction in his mind. Did he miss something? Then he remembered her concern with someone coming into her apartment. Shikamaru, Naruto, and Sai jumped from building to building. With a quick leap, they dismounted close to her home. Ninja secured the perimeter outside her apartment. The number of shinobi there made Naruto uncomfortable.
They came to the entrance, Shinobi bowing in Naruto's presence. They passed the door frame and Naruto's blood ran cold. The holes in the wall, the mess, the blood. Naruto clenched his fists, till they turned white. "Is there any sign of Sakura-chan?" He spoke his words through clenched teeth.
Shikamaru grunted in response.
Naruto brought his attention to Sai. He stood near the couch, picking up a bag that was on the coffee table. Naruto eyed his hands curiously.
" Ino brought her food last night. "Sai stated.
Why would she leave it out?" A shinobi questioned.
Shikamaru didn't take his eyes off the bloody holes that lined the wall.
"Sakura must have been in a hurry." Shikamaru murmured.
"What made pinky want to leave so fast?" Sai questioned.
Naruto was unsure of what to do. None of this made sense. He believed in Sakura's abilities to protect herself, but this was different. Their last meeting, she seemed scared.
"There's more Naruto. "
Naruto focused back on Shikamaru.
His eyes met Narutos, full of apprehension. Shikamaru hesitated, then spoke.
"The shinobi scoping the area found something."
Naruto's eyebrows furrowed. He waited for what felt like an eternity.
"Someone was scoping this place out." Shikamaru's words made Naruto's stomach drop. He shifted his eyes to Sai, hoping it was him. Sai shook his head in response.
"Damn it." Naruto hissed. Sakura wasn't wrong. Someone had been watching her. If they were watching her then who's to say they weren't inside her apartment. Naruto turned on his heel heading out of her apartment.
"Oi, Naruto. Where are you going?" Shikamaru called out.
Naruto didn't turn back to Shikamaru. He kept his stride as he knew where he needed to go next for answers. There's one other person that could possibly help Naruto out.
"I'm going to the hospital. I have to talk to Shizune." He yelled before he began speeding in the direction of his destination.
A/N: Wow! Thank you to everyone that has read the chapters so far! As stated before, I have an upload schedule and will try to maintain a weekly chapter update. I start classes next week and my internship…so we will see how frequently I can update. Again, thank you for the support. It means the world to me.
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