The Pain of Love

Note: hey hey! new story! please review if u like it! XD

~*~

In the Konoha Village

Sakura stared calmly at the Jounin and the fellow members of the ANBU. They had summoned her to take care of a problem...apparently a dangerous one, one that they couldn't handle by themselves. After Sasuke left a few years ago, she had given up her long time crush on him and focused on her training. She had been fascinated by the hunter-nins whose path would sometimes cross with hers. Sakura had known that if there was anything in the world she'd even consider doing...it would becoming a hunter-nin.

She tapped her fingers impatiently before asking in a deceptively contained voice, "What seems to be the matter here? I've received very specific instructions from you to desert my last mission."

The ANBU remained silent. Apparently they were having a hard time trying to find their tongues. Kakashi was the first to recover...however while his voice was it's normal casual tone...his eyes looked upon her with pity and pain.

"Sakura...we have a very important mission for you," he announced slowly...almost reluctantly. "The ANBU has been searching for him for years...and there's no one's seen hair or hide of him..."

Sakura face was one of cool professional interest. She tilted her eyebrows questioningly. "Go on," she urged politely when she noticed Kakashi's hesitant expression. She leaned back against her leather chair, all the while maintaining eye contact.

"This man...," Kakashi took a few shallow breaths before continuing, "Has committed too many felonies...his head is wanted in all five of the countries."

She nodded her emerald eyes flaring with interest. "What crimes has he committed?" when she noticed the tension in the room, she added, "His latest one."

The ANBU winced in fear and anticipation. Sakura had been gone from Konoha for many years...she had accomplished her dream of becoming one of the best hunter-nins in history. She was now even stronger then Kakashi and the rest of the ANBU put together. Her skill with charka and weapons were well know everywhere.

An old man slowly pushed himself out of his chair and faced her. Sakura stared at him in disbelief while her mouth opened and closed like a dead fish. The man was the Hokage...he had aged so much from the last time she'd seen him.

He held up his hand ordering silence which everyone instantly obliged. "You really want to know what he did?" he said not bothering to turn around to face Sakura.

"Yes," she answered confidently, although inside she felt her stomach churn nervously. "In order to complete a mission, a ninja has to know their opponent inside and out. Has too know all their secrets....all their thoughts." Sakura flashed her first smile when she saw the Hokage's disconcerted look. "After all...that's what you would always say to our team."

The silence deepened. The Hokage stared at the ground while he tried to organize his thoughts. Whether she knew it or not Sakura was still deeply connected with her old teammates and friends. Whenever she visited the Konoha village, she would always stop by and spend a few hours at the Ramen Shop with Naruto and the rest of her friends. But she'd been busy the last few years...apparently something was wrong...the Sound Ninjas were appearing everywhere. They weren't in hiding anymore...they were up to something.

The Hokage took a deep breath before beginning, "This man destroyed something very precious to someone...someone that I once knew," he paused to stare straight into Sakura's eyes. "He murdered them...in the most brutal way possible."

Sakura felt a chill creep up her spine...however she remained passive. "What did he do?" she asked cautiously, unaware that she was clasping her hands tightly together.

"He killed a child...and a mother," he whispered solemnly, his frown deepening. "Their bodies were so disfigured...it was almost impossible to identify them...it was so...,' the Hokage shuddered with fear and disgust. "So...cruel..."

"The women's name was Kari and it was her twenty-fifth birthday. Her husband went to town to buy her a birthday present...however when he came back," he swallowed the bile that clogged his throat. "He saw his wife all cut up...her arms and feat were gone. She way lying against the house...holding a tiny bundle...their child. The man went forward...hoping that somehow his child had survived...somehow..."

"The bundle was covered in blood...the skin had been ribbed off the baby and the eyes...it's eyes were lying on the ground," said the Hokage trying to get the words through his mouth. "The girl...the mother didn't have an ounce of blood left in her...instead the cuts on her body....bled cooking oils."

For the first time since he began, the Hokage turned towards Sakura with a sickened expression on his face. "He cooked them...cooked them alive."

Sakura couldn't contain her shudder. They were right...that man was dangerous...so cruel. She felt her eyes moist with tears...while her fist slammed down upon the desk. That women didn't deserve it...she was too young. Sakura worked hard to keep her stomach down. And the boy...the child...didn't do anything...was innocent. But now...wouldn't have a chance at life...a chance to test his wits and ability in the world. To die so young...

"Sakura...I want you to promise me something," said the Hokage studying her carefully. When Sakura nodded reluctantly, he began, "I want you to promise that you won't hold back...that you'd give the man everything he deserves. That you won't let you emotions get in the way." he said gently.

Kakashi turned away as if he knew something that she didn't. Sakura shot him a puzzled glance that he naturally ignored. "Oh course I'd destroy him," she said slowly, "After all he's done...death would be too kind."

"Do you promise," the Hokage persisted relentlessly, his voice trembling slightly. "He needs to be eliminated...and you're the only one strong enough," he said almost pleadingly. "I'm not strong enough anymore...I'm old."

Sakura sighed lightly before replying, "I promise," she said slowly when she saw Kakashi bow his head in sadness and pain. For some reason...she had a feeling that it wasn't the answer that Kakashi was looking for.

"What's that man's name?" she blurt out suddenly causing everyone in the room to jump in surprise. "It would be easier to track him down if I knew his name..."

The ANBU exchanged nervous and pitiful glances before Kakashi stepped forward. "I'll tell you," he muttered slowly. It seemed like as if he'd aged rapidly...his eyes were tired.

"The man you're looking for..."

Sakura shot him a worried glance before urging him on. Something was wrong...everyone was too nervous. They were hiding something from her...something dreadfully important. Something that would affect the course of her life...would break her heart...or mend it.

"...he had many names, but you know him as..." Kakashi paused trying to keep the tears from trickling down his cheek. For the first time in her life Sakura stared at him looking shocked...she had never seen Kakashi brought to tears. Something was dreadfully wrong...

"...his name," he choked out softly staring at the ground in shame. "his name...was..."

"Sasuke..."

~*~

Meanwhile in a forest near the Sound Village

Sasuke spat out blood while he glared at his teammates with hatred. A few years ago he had left the safety of the Konoha Village in search of Orchimaru...in search of power. A bitter smile tugged on his lips. There's always a price...except he had no idea it was so high. When he'd lived in Konoha, he had never once appreciated anything or anyone. He had been too bent on destroying Itachi...obsessed. Sasuke had taken everyone for granted....after all, he was the number one rookie.

Although he'd never admit it to anyone...he missed them. All of them; Naruto, Kakashi, and....Sakura. The only people that had actually accepted him...the only ones he'd ever cared about. He had willingly relinquished his soul to the devil...now he was nothing...nothing. Sasuke bowed his head in regret, his dark bangs framing his face.

If only...if only he hadn't been so foolish. If he'd only considered what he was doing. Sasuke felt his fingers slowly curl into fists. He'd always been thirsting for power...every since Itachi... His eyes darkened slightly. For once he couldn't blame Itachi...this time it was his own misdoing...his own fault. He could have just stayed in the village where he was welcomed...where there was love...

A lopsided smile twisted across his face causing his teammates to flinch in fear. The one that he had before he rode the killing edge...when it would be almost suicide to confront him... Even Orchimaru would take into consideration the bloodlust that flashed with an almost savage light in his eyes. The air around him began to cool...then freeze...his teammates backed away cautiously, their eyes betraying their panic.

Many have danced with him...but none have survived. A beautiful intricate dance for survival...a deadly dance between life and death. Sasuke bared his teeth into a feral smirk. He knew had to play...he was an expert...

Or the years Sasuke had gained the reputation as the Seducer...the Executioner. Oh...he had done his share of murders...and crime. He had no choice but to stay. No choice...there was no one to trust...no one...

Sasuke had matured quite drastically. His dark disheveled hair was messy like usual, while his dark onyx eyes shone with an intensity...a cruel light. His beautiful aristocratic face was a smooth and cold mask. No one had ever been able to read his emotions...he kept them tightly concealed within himself. After all emotions were a weakness...they would be a hindrance to him. However if you look deeply into his eyes...you'll see a flicker of sadness and regret...

An eerie howl shattered the silence...a gentle yet cruel sound. He felt himself shudder when he realized it was coming from deep inside of him. The devil inside of him was screaming...attacking...trying to get free. (a/n: I don't mean that's there's literary a demon inside of him...just an expression) He felt the seal...Orichmaru's curse seal begin to pump then flare furiously.

Sasuke held onto a mental picture of Sakura while he clung on desperately...trying to fight it off. Trying to stay free... Part of him welcome the power that the curse seal provided...the other side was disgusted. He was wanted to destroy his brother in a fair fight...most of all to accomplish it himself. But the power...the power that flowed in his veins...was strong...and addictive. It was like a sweet wine that enticed it's drinker.

The blood red seals spread slowly across his face while he tried to fight off the desire...the need. The wind screamed at his teammates telling them to run...to escape. Which they did...after throwing Sasuke a panicked glance. They knew they'd pushed him too far...there were times they forgot the true power that lay beneath the skin. And they knew...that they were going to pay....to pay...with their lives.

He knew that he was a match worthy of Orchimaru. Sasuke was strong enough physically and mentally to injure him...but was he strong enough to kill? To destroy? Until then he knew that he would have to lick Orichmaru's shoes...and be a good boy. Until the days comes...the day of redemption.

He fell to his knees blinded by the pain, eventually he would give in...eventually. He was an avenger...and he would do whatever it took...whatever sacrifices had to be made...

Sasuke's eyes glowed with power...the power of the Sharingan...the ability to copy...to destroy. The last indication of his heritage...his village. He was the last of the Uchilha Clan....the last loyal member. The though of Itachi made his blood boil...to an unbearable temperature. He opened his arms to the power...as the seals spread over his body. His charka exploding around him...causing the trees to burn to crisp.

For a moment all that could be seen was a could of dust as silence filled the air. The air was filled with tension...and a hatred that penetrated...saturated through the air. When the dust lifted...all that could be seen...was a pair of blood red...Sharingan eyes before it disappeared altogether.

That night the wolves feasted upon human flesh...the flesh of the Sound Ninjas. The blood red eyes flared one last time before fading silently into the darkness.

~*~