Chapter seven here! I'm not sure how far this one is gonna take me. We're just getting started. Ya know? Nothing exciting has happened yet. Sure we've got the dramatic stuff but we need something that'll go 'Bang'! If you catch my drift. Anyways lets get started yes? Sweet!

Chapter 7

Sasuke's P.O.V.

Faint screaming could be heard as we opened the back door and stepped off the porch.

Something was really wrong. I'd had an uneasy feeling ever since leaving Sakura with Tsunade late yesterday afternoon. It was a foreboding kind of feeling, the one that leaves dread in the pit of your stomach like a useless weight.

So when I saw someone brake from the tree line stumbling while desperately trying to get away I knew something was wrong, terribly so.

Smoke was rising in the distance behind the figure and casting a haze where ever it touched.

The figure slammed into me then and screamed as I grabbed their shoulders.

My fingers slid through the blood covered skin as I finally recognized who it was, Sakura.

A loud explosion came from the direction she had run from and the force of it nearly knocked me off my feet.

Her eyes were heavily glazed and panic coated every inch of her body as she screamed, begged, and pleaded to be released. Even as unconsciousness was gripping her she kept fighting me.

Many scents lingered on her skin but none so strong as the blood and smoke. Bloody crescent shaped fingernail marks were dug into her skin of her shoulders and arms. A circular puncture mark on her neck looked pretty deep, if the trail of blood running down her neck and collar bone, into her shirt was any indication.

"What the hell was that"? I heard Naruto finally ask from behind me. He froze when he got a good look at Sakura.

Her shirt was stained with blood and I'm not sure how much of it was actually hers. A bruise was beginning to blossom across her throat underneath the blood dripped there and was looking more and more like a pair of hands. Her head fell back as she finally lost consciousness, the fight leaving her body.

She moaned in her sleep as I shifted her. I slipped my hands under her knees as I picked her up. Her arms dangled to the side as her head flopped back.

I turned to the house as the door was wrenched open just before I got there.

"Tsunade, have to get Tsunade". Sakura mumbled in her sleep.

"Oh my god"! I heard my mother shout when she saw Sakura's state. Her hands pressed against her heart and mouth as her eyes widened.

"Itachi"! My father shouted into the house. He appeared a second later.

He assessed Sakura quietly as he wait for our father to speak. The hardening of his eyes told me he wasn't happy in the slightest.

"What the hell is going on? Where did that explosion come from, and why's Sakura-Chan in that state"? Naruto asks loudly tugging fistfuls of his hair harshly.

"I don't know". I told him quietly. Alternating between looking at Sakura's face and the billowing smoke rising in the distance in massive clouds.

"Sasuke-Kun give her to me and go check out her house, ring Tsunade now"! She said seriously, holding her arms out for Sakura.

I'd just placed Sakura securely in my mothers arms and made sure she had a good grip on her when my cell phone started vibrating and then ringing. Six texts hit my phone at once and Hyuga was calling. I hit the talk button.

"Uchiha", he said before I spoke. "What the hell is going on. Hinata and I heard an explosion and we can see smoke. It's coming from The direction of Sakura's house". I told him the small bit of information I had and that he needed to get down here as well as to spread the word to the pack to meet down at her house immediately.

After I hung up Itachi, our father, Naruto and I ran into the trees heading the way Sakura had stumbled from and the disaster that awaited.

Mikoto's P.O.V.

As soon as the guys left I rushed into the house with Sakura calling for Natsumi. She appeared at my side slightly out of breath and asked me what I needed.

I told her to run ahead of me and prepare the bath in my room and then set out some clothes for Sakura to be changed into when I was done.

She disappeared from sight instantly. Natsumi is very fast so I often have her do the things I need done quickly.

Just as I figured she was adding the last things to the bath water when I entered. I thanked her as she stood up and left. Shutting the door on her way out.

I slowly striped Sakura's clothes off taking care to avoid any injuries I could see. I tried not to wince at the many bruises and cuts marking her skin up. Some were shallow looking almost like paper cuts. They could have been made by thorns when she was running past.

When I took her shirt off I saw a green crystal slide closer to me. It flashed with unnatural light, almost waving at me. I stared at it for a second until Sakura groaned and shifted uncomfortably.

I slipped her shorts off before settling her in the water. As I'd figured it turned slightly pink as it rinsed the blood from her skin and injuries.

The dark finger shaped bruises on her neck and shoulders had me worried. They were so dark. I tried not to think about the amount of pressure that had to be applied to get something like that.

The other thing that had me worried was the seemingly deep, perfectly rounded puncture mark near her neck close to her shoulder blade. It was still bleeding, the wound was deep. I taped a gauze pad to it for now. I'd properly clean it with the rest of her injuries soon.

I didn't realize that Sakura's body had tensed up and she was starting to wake up until she started screaming.

"LET ME GO! Please let me go"!

I fell off the side of the tub startled. I hadn't expected her to wake up any time soon.

She was in panic mode not recognizing her surroundings or that she was safe. Her eyes were heavily glazed as she tried to stand up from the tub.

Her legs were shaking so bad I was afraid she would fall so I got up from the floor and wrapped an arm around her shoulders not caring that she was wet.

"Sakura calm down. It's okay now your safe. Shhh". I said shushing her as I rubbed her back in hopes of calming her down. The tension in her body lessened ever so slightly and a bit of recognition came to her heavily glazed eyes.

"Mi-Mikoto-S-San"? She asked her voice shaking with fear and pain. "Yes Sakura it's me. Your alright just relax now, you've got a lot of injuries again".

Her eyes rolled back into her head as she slumped against me, passing out again.

I washed her quickly, so on the off chance she woke up again she would be in a warm bed and not standing up from the middle of a bath.

After drying her off as best I could I slipped the over sized shirt onto her and pulled on the shorts before tending her injuries.

Not many of them required gauze. Mostly just a bandaid or two. The puncture on her neck needed more gauze and medical tape. That wasn't too hard to work despite the awkward angel. Having two sons insures you're familiar with all sorts of cuts, scrapes, gashes, and the like.

I called Natsumi to watch Sakura. Since she's familiar with her. I needed to check with the guys and see what they'd learned.

Ino's P.O.V.

The destruction to Sakura's house was terrifying. I couldn't believe that we'd all been here just six hours before. I remember admiring some of the decorations in the hall and now, now none of it was left.

The ones who'd attacked Sakura and Tsunade had made sure recovering anything would be next to impossible. Everything was burnt to the ground. Small fires were still burning away here and there. Having yet to be put out by the firemen.

The only reason we were able to get this close was because Sasuke's dad was chief of police. His position allowed us to get into the area and search the woods surrounding the spot where the house had stood.

There was definite signs of a struggle. A moron could tell that. Not to mention blood everywhere. A good bit of it smelled foul. Belonging to someone who hasn't had a good bath in years most likely.

Sakura's blood was here to. Concentrated mostly in one spot. Where what looked like the indention of a person was laying not too long ago. Just what hap... "Guys over here"! I heard Naruto shout. He'd found something.

He was standing next to a slumped figure covered in blood, dirt, and numerous cuts, scratches, and bruises. I just made out their hair color. Blonde. It was Tsunade.

I immediately checked for a pulse and found one beating faintly, but it was steady. I let out a sigh of relief. She wouldn't die from her injuries. Thank god for that.

She had several cuts on her most of which looked like they were made with a sharp knife. They were pretty shallow though so not a danger.

"Sakura had one of these on her neck too". I heard Sasuke say from behind me. I looked up and he gestured to the perfect circular puncture mark in her neck.

"Its a needle. She was injected with something. Come on we need to get her back to the house before a human sees her. They'll take her to the hospital if that happens".

Naruto and Sasuke grabbed her arms and hauled her up. When she was more or less standing I took the arm Sasuke was holding and he crouched in front of her. Naruto and I carefully laid her on his back and he grabbed the underside of her knees before standing slightly hunched over.

He grunted once before jogging into the trees heading for the house. The rest of us took off just as the brush moved behind us. I turned my head just in time to see two police officers step into the clearing we'd just left. Sasuke's dad entered behind them and nodded once in my direction.

I shifted forms and sprinted full force ahead to tell Mikoto we were coming and Tsunade was with us. Itachi and his pack met us half way and relayed the few things they'd been able to find out as we ran.

By the time I reached the house Mikoto was already waiting outside, an unreadable expression on her face. "Mikoto"! I said as soon as I was able to. "We found Tsunade, she's right behind me. She's hurt pretty bad though".

"Go tell Natsumi to prepare another room and more medical supplies". I jogged into the house. I'm all the confusion and chaos I hadn't had time to properly dress. I was still wearing my pajamas and no shoes. I doubt Mikoto will be upset this time.

Sakura's P.O.V.

I felt like I'd just fallen asleep when I woke up in a panic. "Tsunade"! I jumped up looking around me. The room was dim, only a small desk lap on. I heard shuffling and looked to my left. Kushina, Naruto's mother was asleep in the chair. Her arm hanging of the rest and her head tilted to the side. She was in a deep sleep, my panic hadn't woken her up.

The events of hours earlier came back to me and I got up from the bed, ignoring my pounding head and the soreness around my neck. I made my way to the door stepping quietly so I didn't wake her up. I slipped out the door and made my way down the hall. I followed my nose to Tsunade, the door to the room was slightly ajar. No noise coming from the dark room. I slipped in and closed it behind me. I could tell something was wrong as I made it to her bedside. She was too quiet, Tsunade had always been a bit of a restless sleeper.

I sat on the bed and reached for her hand, it was bandaged. The rough feel of the gauze and tape was out of place on her. Throughout my entire life I couldn't recall an instance where she'd been hurt. A stack contrast to me, growing up I was always getting hurt. I wasn't exactly the most graceful child.

"Tsunade I wish we hadn't come here. So many terrible things have happened so we arrived. Just look at the state we're in. Is this what you had in mind when you said we were going home"? I was angry, the tears on my face proved as much. I'd never really been on to cry unless I got mad. "I wish we were still in Suna. Even though it was hot there I miss the friends I had. Even if they were weird". Gaara, Kankuro, and had Temari certainly been strange. I couldn't deny that they had been good friends. Even if I'd only known them for three years. The siblings were great friends.

Tsunade's hand twitched in mine and I glanced at her face. Her eyebrows were scrunched up and it looked like she was in pain. I felt her forehead, she was burning up. I told up from her bed and headed out of her room. Someone was always awake in this house. I headed for the main room to see. As I got closer I could hear voices.

"We thoroughly searched the area mother. They left no traces behind, it was all destroyed when their house burned down". I walked in at that point and four pairs of eyes looked my way with the creak of the floor.

"Sakura you're awake, how are you feeling"? Mikoto got up from her seat and came over to me. Her hand fluttered all over me. Checking bandages, bruises, and my forehead for a fever. I grasped her hand stopping her fussing. "I'm fine, better than Tsunade, she has a high fever and is in much worse shape than me. Mikoto slipped her hand from mine and cupped my cheeks. "I'm sorry Sakura, I know this hasn't been easy for you". I snorted, a fact she chose to overlook. "That's an understatement, when Tsunade said we were coming home I thought this might be a good thing. So far the only thing that has happened is that I've nearly been killed twice". I was tired of it all. "I wish we'd never come here". Instead of being hurt by my words Mikoto hugged me instead.

"We never imagined this would happen. The only thing we wanted was to tell you about your family and that you weren't alone. I knew your mother, she was one of my best friends. For many years I didn't even know you were alive. Tsunade took you and left Konoha to escape. She wanted to be sure you were thought dead by those who had been closest". She stepped back for a moment.

"It wasn't until a year and a half ago that she reached out with the news. I was overjoyed to learn that Sastsuki's only child had survived that massacre. What happened that night was a nightmare. Sakura I'm so sorry we were too late to help".

Mikoto left her alone with her thoughts shortly after.

The next few hours were barely acknowledged as I sat by Tsunade's bedside thinking. Memories filled my head of all the bad things that had happened since we moved here. However as much as the instinct to run pulled me I couldn't deny the small feeling of wanting to be here, surrounded by the people my parents had trusted and loved.

I didn't even notice when the moon started rising again not until a voice sounded in my head again.

Sakura time is running out, if you don't reestablish our bond you will no longer be able to call on this part of your spirit. Such a loss could drive you mad and ultimately claim your life. You must hurry. With everything that had happened I'd forgotten that my bond with my inner wolf had nearly been severed. I'd already forgotten about the furry ears on my head and my too sharp claw like nails.

"What am I supposed to do, how can I fix this"? At first I didn't think she'd answer my question and I almost sighed when she spoke, her voice as always more like a growl than actual words. The necklace has our bond, it needs the light of the full moon. There is more, you achieved your connection when you nearly drowned as a child. Water is absolutely necessary, a pond or a lake would be best since you can't go to the river from that day. The new information surprised me, I wasn't exactly afraid of water, but I did tend to avoid swimming and the like. I hadn't gone to the sea, river, pond or even a water park since I'd almost drowned.

This couldn't be put off though. I stood from the chair and left Tsunade's room in search of Mikoto. I found her Fugaku, Itachi, and Sasuke in the sitting room downstairs. They looked up at my appearance, having been in the middle of a conversation. "Oh Sakura-Chan, you're awake. Are you hungry? I could have something made for you". I shook my head. "Is there a nearby place with a lake or a pond"? My question seemed to take her by surprise as her eyebrows rose a fraction. "Yes, there is one very close to here". Before she could ask I briefly told her why I needed it.

"You have knowledge of restoring a broken bond"? Fugaku asked standing. I nodded. "I don't know if this will work for everyone. It might be rooted in the way you first achieved a shift. For me it was the day I nearly drowned playing with Tsunade in a field. I fell in a river and I couldn't swim, the water was too swift for me". Mikoto looked horrified her hand coming up to cover her mouth. Though they hid it better I could tell everyone was just as shocked.

"How old were you"? Mikoto asked, I could tell she was afraid of my answer. "Almost five". I looked away from her eyes. "I need to do this, please take me to the lake". Itachi and Sasuke stood up. "We'll both go with you, it's too risky by yourself". I nodded as they led me from the room and to the sliding glass door that lead to the back yard. They didn't hesitate and made for the trees, I followed just behind.

A little ways ahead I could see a break in the trees and the closer we got the more I could make out the sounds of water. The lake was big filling almost the entire clearing. The moon shown down on the center of the lake and I wasted no time walking down the dock to the very edge. I slipped off my clothes and took a deep breath before jumping into the water. It was fairly cool, but not cold. I ignored the urge to get out of the water as I went to the center of the lake where the moon was shining down. I allowed myself to sink beneath the surface and waited.

Tingles shot down my spine and my necklace shimmered, the glow getting brighter by the second. It lit up the water around me glowing brighter and brighter. Don't fight it Sakura, let me take control. Her voice was stronger than before. I closed my eyes picturing her in my mind. The spirit wolf that was me looked wild. Her hair was silver, no trace of my pink. Her eyes a fierce blue and gold. Two furry ears sat on her head the same color as mine. Her tail was just visible behind her and the she was holding her hands out in front of her palm up. I raised my hands and grasped hers without hesitation.

She rested her forehead against mine and I synchronized my breaths with her. More tingles covered my skin and I resisted the urge to fight. Slowly our spirits resonated and merged. Becoming one once more, the moment it was done I felt the shift take over. I didn't exactly want to deal with wet fur but there wasn't much choice. Being a wolf made swimming much easier for me and I made for the shore rather than try to get up on the dock. Hoping up onto dry land near Sasuke and Itachi I instantly shook my fur out flinging water everywhere. "Really Sakura"? Sasuke scowled at me wiping his face. I stretched digging my claws into the ground.

It was almost like the first time again, a weird feeling settled over me. It had only been a few days but essentially I had been missing part of myself. I almost shifted back but remembered I had taken my clothes off. I glanced at the end of the dock seeing a small lump there. Itachi followed my gaze and jogged over to get them. He handed them to me and I slipped into the tree line. Changing back I quickly dressed and walked out feeling my head as I did. No more wolf ears, my hands looked normal too. In fact all of my looked normal, no red or pink skin. No cuts, bruises, or any injuries at all.

"What's going on"? I asked feeling my arms, neck and shoulders. Even my throat didn't hurt. I was completely unharmed. "I don't know, I've never seen such a thing. Come on let's go back". Sasuke said turning towards the house. We followed him, jogging back the way we'd come.

A cold breeze swept through the air and the chill went down my spine. Feeling strange I paused and looked through the trees. The hair on my body standing up told me we were not alone, someone was there. I picked up the pace rushing ahead, not wanting to find out what the trees were hiding from view.

My P.O.V.

Close By

He'd watched the whole thing. The Haruno girl had jumped into the water and then it happened. A bright green glow had filled the clearing and she'd come out completely ok. This was not supposed to happen.

Damn it, he would definitely not be happy. Losing the bond was supposed to kill her. No one knew how to fix a broken bond anymore. That knowledge was supposed to have died out with the end of the Haruno's. His master was going to be most displeased. "I don't even want to think of the consequences when I return". He spoke out loud.

A grin twisted the man's features as the moon's light shine down on him flinging of a pair of round glasses and light gray hair. Being unable to delay the inevitable he vanished from sight a moment later.

And that's a wrap! So how we doing so far? Aside from editing this is the first chapter I've really had to write. I did make some minor changes to my original story line just to spice it up. What do ya think? Can you tell any differences? Good, bad, neutral? Come one throw a girl a bone would ya? I'm dying over here! Please, please take pity on this poor over worked author! No? How sad.

Anywho I just have one more thing to say, due to the fact that I AM working a lot (too much) I cannot promise a new chapter every week on Tuesday however I shall put my best foot forward and try. If not for sure every other week. That one I can promise. So please wait patiently, my muse is still a lazy b****. Sad but true. I love you guys and I'll see ya next time!

-SasuSaku993 Out-