AN: And now, the reason behind all this madness.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Hidden Chapter 9: Origin
"Listen Closely." Mrs. Haruno whispered. Tsunade, Sasuke and Naruto all leaned their heads in to hear her out. She sighed.
**Flashback**
Sakura sat silently by herself watching the sunset. Tears fell from her eyes; still she didn't make a peep. Her father had just passed away, but she couldn't let herself break down. So if she was to cry, she would to it silently, and privately. Perhaps Naruto's pride was rubbing off on her…
Light footsteps echoed behind her, though, she didn't pay attention to them. "Sakura…" her mother said softly. She came up next to her and hugged her. The older woman was crying, she could tell, her mother was going to break soon. Sakura looked at her mother and wrapped her arms around her. The two mourned their loss together…
Sakura glanced at her mother, almost with angry eyes. She didn't like seeing her mother cry, and by the way she was sobbing now, she knew things would never be the same for her. Especially since, her mother now had to be the strong one. She wiped the tears away. "Sakura," her mother continued, "I'm sorry. Your father, he-…he was a great man and-…he never said it but he really-"
"Whatever you're trying to say, mother…" Sakura stated dully. "Just say it…" she placed her right hand under her chin.
Her mother's eyes widened. She grabbed her arm. "Sakura!" she looked at the back of her hand. A small pink jewel was embedded in the back. Her speech wavered. "When… when did you get this?!" Sakura pulled her hand back and held it with the other.
"I… I didn't even know I had it." She stared at the pink jewel. She couldn't pull her eyes away.
"How can you now notice it!? It's your hand for godsake!" her mom was sobbing.
"What the hell mom! I'm sorry. Jeez…I never saw it till… now." Her mother sighed.
"I'm sorry Sakura, let me see your hand." Sakura gave her mother a quizzical look but did it anyway. "Your father had this too… I guess you inherited it after all…"
"What… are you talking about? Father had one of these too?" Sakura gaped.
"Three, to be exact, One on his left hand, one on his right and one on his forehead."
"Really… how come I never saw them?"
"They only appear during battle, and when you first receive them. They're quite powerful actually."
Sakura's eyes widened. 'Does that mean… I can become stronger?' she asked herself.
"Let me explain something Sakura… you're happy right now aren't you? You can become stronger, and maybe Sasuke-kun will finally acknowledge you." Her mother smiled slightly, "It's more of a curse then a blessing Sakura." That wiped the excited expression off her face instantly. Her mother continued. "It's… what killed your father."
Sakura gasped. "Wha-…what did you say?"
"It killed your father Sakura…" Tears fell from her eyes, "I'm sorry." Her mother embraced her daughter lovingly, "I'm sorry… I don't want to lose you too…I planned on telling you when I came up here, I just didn't think… you'd…"
"Mom," Sakura whispered, "Tell me…what… exactly is this?" She held up her hand. The jewel shined. Her mother remained silent, "Mom. Tell. Me."
Her mother pulled back slightly and wiped her eyes, "Sakura, you weren't supposed to inherit it." She looked away. "Your father and I were married because my gene was dominant to his," She stroked Sakura's pink hair, "See? You have my hair, but I guess… it slipped through." Sakura smiled slightly. "Do you know why we named you Sakura after the cherry blossom?" She shook her head. "Well, for one, you have the color hair, and two it's a suiting plant. See, in order to survive a plant absorbs sunlight to make its own food, correct?" Sakura nodded, "Well, in this case, the jewels embedded in you absorb light and create charka that you can use in battle. Depending on the color jewel you inherit, you receive different things. The pink happens to be the most powerful, because well, the print around the jewel is the shape of a Sakura blossom, and Sakura blossoms are originally pink. Right?" Her mother smiled, "You're blooming."
"It doesn't sound so bad to me mom. Are you sure it's what killed father?" Her mother glared at her.
"Of course I'm sure. Like I said, it's more of a curse then a blessing. See, a few years ago a female ninja developed this seal from it seems, out of nowhere. Her village began to get curious, despite how much she wanted to hide it. After all, she had a child and a husband to take care of. So, the village's baron wanted to test its power. He ordered other ninjas to kidnap her, and they succeeded…She was brought to an obscured area outside of the village and kept there as an experiment. They locked her away in a dark dungeon (that means, her jewel can't absorb light.) They over worked her, abused her, raped her and even threatened to kill her child if she didn't cooperate." Sakura placed a hand over her mouth and gasped. Her mother coughed slightly.
"That's… terrible." She whispered. Her mother nodded.
"Years went by and they still would not release her. She began to grow psychotic. Finally, she snapped. The baron, in front of her eyes beheaded her husband and tortured her son. Though, they released her son afterward. They still demanded that she release its power or else they would kill him too. Of course, she didn't know what it was, she didn't know how to release it. They left her for a while and during that time; she began to develop two minds. One with all her inner thoughts where she would curse her enemies and herself, who remained calm and composed. However, because of the rape she had to go through, she bore about three children. One of which, inherited the gene. They too had two minds."
Fear shot down Sakura's spine. Her mother continued, " Anyway, as for the lady, the second mind began to benefit her. She learned how to control it and mentally torture her guards, for fun, of course, but she developed a second jewel, and soon, a third. However, as soon as the third developed her mind became unstable. The inner became the outer and she could no longer control herself. Eventually, her seals and her own mind were the cause of her death." Mrs. Haruno looked at her daughter. Sakura looked absolutely terrified. She hugged her daughter securely.
"And her child…?" She asked softly.
"The child… I'm not sure…Listen Sakura, it's only a myth. Though, it just might be true, considering, your father- …" She began crying again. "Sakura, its those seals… they-…"
"Mother… is there a way to beat the curse? Is there a way I can control my body even after I have the third seal?"
Her mother nodded, "There's a problem though, the third seal comes at anytime. So you don't know and you must always be on guard."
"Mom…" she begged.
"Sakura… in order to beat the curse you have to get stronger so that your body, physically, and mentally, will be able to hold it. However, the process is painful. When your second seal comes, the pain is torturous and the third is 100 times as bad. If your body can't handle it, your mental self will-…" Her mother choked.
"So, if I can't become stronger, at anytime for…" Sakura gulped, "the rest of my life… or at least until I get the third seal, my mind will…" Her mother nodded. "I'll need help then…"
Her mom interrupted, "No! You can't. They… Sakura, even if they helped, they can't last over 6, 7, even 20 years training with you. Believe me… the seals will torture your body slowly, but on the outside you no one will see anything. If you can train yourself so that your body can sustain the seals… then you should have no problem."
Sakura nodded, "Then…I need to start training…and I don't want Naruto or Kakashi-sensei to worry…Can't they help? If only for a little while?"
"Perhaps…Sakura… don't you die on me." Her mother whispered. Sakura nodded and hugged her firmly.
"Mom… I'll do my best."
Days became months, yet Sakura would not give up her training. She missed get togethers with friends; she even stopped talking to some of them. Her mother broke down, and was in no condition to do anything in her state. Sakura had to take care of things at home now.
She wasn't even there to welcome Sasuke home. She actually lost almost all her feeling for him, but when she saw him again the feelings arose, so she distanced herself further. She didn't want to get distracted. After all, it was only a schoolgirl crush… right?
Her mother became worse, and Sakura had lost all patience with her. She began to get irritated by everyone, and pretty soon she just didn't feel like talking to anyone at all anymore. That was until Naruto had asked her to come train with Sasuke and him again. She agreed…
**End flashback**
"That… is why she's…" Mrs. Haruno couldn't continue. "I thought she would be strong enough to train on her own, but it seems…" She stroked her daughter's forehead. "She'll wake soon…' "I don't want to lose her too…"
Tsunade nodded. "Mrs. Haruno… we'll help her… we'll do whatever we can right boys?" She addressed the other two. They nodded.
'… So this is why… Sakura… I might lose you…' Sasuke's eyes narrowed. 'but I won't let that happen. You won't be taken away from me too.'
TBC…
AN: Ok… since this chapter was extremely long and quite boring I ended it here. Oh well, despite that, I hope that explains… almost everything. Ahh, and to answer Haze's question, Naruto is a jounin. I can't picture him as an ANBU can you?
Sorry it took a while… my teachers increased their homework assignments… especially now, since ehh finals, reviews… etc. etc. Well, I'll update as often as I can. Next Chapter: Some time for the couples to… hmm get along better? *cough, Neji gets what's coming to him.*cough
Ok so if you got confused, If Sakura can't be strong enough to hold the third seal, inner Sakura will kill her. (That's where she is … she's in omission right now) Basically, it was just a long explanation and the history of the seal. And yes, Her father got killed by his inner self also. Well, you guys will have to wait around to see what happens to Sakura ne? eheehe