Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, a very talented man by the name of Kishimoto Masashi does, thank you so much for creating such an amazing Manga and Anime for us, we are forever in your debt.

Blinded Chapter 7

-Lady DragonHeart

It was to early in the morning for the stars to completely go away. Sasuke glared at them as they continued to twinkle relentlessly. They seemed to be laughing at him as if he was some silly joke. He scoffed as he punched the tree.

Sweat dripped down his nose as he fell down beside the tree. He had been training hard throughout the night trying to rid himself of the images. Those dreams, they seemed so real, yet he knew differently. All the visions he had of her while he slept were feign. She was no longer the innocent Cherry Blossom that everyone had once know her as. He could almost feel pity for her. Almost.

He had loved her a one point in his life, maybe even several. All love was blocked from his heart now. It hurt him to show emotion, it was to detrimental when it came to killing. He cried once when he saw Suku, but part of him laughed in betrayal for the reckoning to come.

"Filthy little slut!" A voice in his head called.

"Shut up!" Sasuke sneered back

"She promised herself just for you. She broke her promise! No one breaks their promises to you my precious Sasuke!" The voice jeered at him.

"Leave me alone!" Sasuke grabbed at his ears to stop the sound.

"You liked it..." It whispered

"I don't know what you talking about." Sasuke pushed himself off the ground and began walking.

"Yes you do. You liked the way she cried out, the way she squirmed under your touch and caress." He could feel the voice smiling in his head. Images of her body chained and mutilated flashed through his mind.

Sasuke growled as he punched a fist full of charka through a tree.

"Getting angry know are we my little prodigy?" It laughed at him.

"If you won't shut up I'll make you!" Sasuke took off running through the woods.

"And how do you propose to do th--." The voice was cut off as Sasuke ran his head into a tree and blacked out.

Dream

"Sasuke!" He could hear her call for him. He smirked in pleasure as she called out for her hero; little did she know.

"Where did you put it little Cherry Blossom?" He whispered in her ear.

"I, I don't know what your talking about." Her body shook as his touch sent massive amounts of charka through her spine.

"I think you do." He placed his hand over her uncovered breast and sent another wave of charka through her body.

She whimpered as he continued his relentless shock therapy.

"I know you little blossom of spring, I know you."


Ino laughed wholeheartedly as she helped Sakura cross the hospital lawn. Almost all of the petal-haired girl's weight was on Ino, yet Sakura still found it difficult to hold herself up.

"If Lee can do this, so can I." Sakura proclaimed as the duo continued across the lush grass.

"Yah, well Lee's problem didn't start with rods being driven through his joints." Ino shook her head at her friend.

"I didn't have rods driven through all my joints." Sakura pointed out.

"Okay, the majority." Ino corrected herself; "Remind me exactly why we are out here again?" Ino smiled at her companion.

"No one in this village seems to think that I can did Jack Shit, so—with your help—I'm going to get myself back in shape." Sakura fell to the ground as gracefully as she could and positioned her self in the set up position.

"Oh." Ino rolled her eyes and set down next to Sakura to help her set up.

"Don't worry, while no one is in my room I work on my crunches; it's just that I can never get out of bed to work my legs." Sakura reassured her friend who looked rather skeptical.

Ino did her best to warrant the other female from straining herself to greatly as they worked well into the day. As the day passed on, Sakura gained better use of her toes, but not her legs. It seemed that everything she tried just wouldn't help. She even went so far as to 'will' them to move; didn't work. Ino set by her the whole time, helping her keep pace and forcing her to stop when she more then needed a break.

"You can't just come out here one day and expect a miracle to happen Sakura. It takes time, and we have plenty of it." Ino rubbed Sakura on the back and smiled.

Sakura just shook her head, "Sasuke did it, Naruto did it, even Lee did it. So why the hell can't I do it!" She yelled hitting the dirt with her fists; "What makes me so different from them! Why am I always the on that gets captured and always needs protection!" If Sakura had the ability to cry, there would have been tears; but sadly there were none.

"Who cares if those idiots can do it! What matters is that you are alive, that you are here with your friends and family, that Suku didn't loose you. That's all that matters Sakura, not that you don't have super, abnormal, ninja abilities that help you survive none believable events." Ino shook Sakura's shoulders; "We all wish we were stronger or smarter Sakura, but sometimes we are given the abilities we have for a reason. Lets not let that reason go to waist now." Ino gave Sakura a reassuring smile.

Sakura gave a small laugh, "That was probably the most intelligent thing I've ever heard you say."

"Yah, well it hurt my head." Ino laughed with her friend.

"Thanks Ino." Sakura groped for her friend's knee.

"Don't mention it." Ino too Sakura's hand in hers and placed it on her knee.

"There you two are." Both girls turned at the sound of Naruto's voice; "I've been looking for you everywhere." Naruto set down next to Sakura.

"Nice to feel wanted." Sakura smiled at him.

"Sure." Naruto rolled his eyes then looked over at Ino; "She didn't work herself to hard did she?"

"I kept her pretty much in check." Ino waved him off; "Is Lee still going to bring Suku up here for the night?"

"I hope so. Sometimes it feels like I haven't seen him in weeks. Oh, no wait, I haven't seen him in months have I?" Sadness overcame the trio; "Hey, it's not that bad, really." She tried to reassure them.

"Who ever did this to you Sakura is going to pay, dearly." Naruto clinched his fist. Sakura placed a searching hand on his shoulder. Her hand slowly traveled down his arm to embrace his fist.

"Too much has been lost as it is. I couldn't bear to loose you or anyone else for that matter."

Naruto nodded in understanding. 'If only she knew...' He thought back to the conversation he had just had with the Hokage.

Flash back

"Naruto this is no longer a trivial matter." Tsunade voice was bleak as she set at her desk. Her chin rested on her knuckles as she leaned over the desk.

"I wasn't aware that this matter was trivial." Tsunade shot him a sharp glare.

"We need that antidote. No matter what I do to Sakura I don't think it's going to happen fast enough..." She trailed off and looked out her window.

"Warui Utsuwa. How do I get to him?" Naruto growled as he walked up to her desk and placed his hands on it.

"Sakura has the way-."

"No! She is not coming with us!" Naruto interrupted the Hokage sweeping his hand angrily across her desk.

"Set down!" Tsunade pushed herself off the desk and pointed at Naruto's seat.

With an evil glare and a sneer, Naruto settled back down into his seat.

"If you would let me finish you would learn that I have no intention of sending Sakura back out there. Sakura is the only one that knows the way to Warui Utsuwa 'home'." She took a deep breath; "It has been rather difficult to encourage recollection of the 'map' since the events." Tsunade said the last sentence rather slowly as if unsure of it's wording.

Naruto just gave her a confused look; "What?"

Tsunade growled and rubbed her temples; "She doesn't clearly remember!"

"Oh...Well why didn't you just say that in the first place." Naruto scratched his head and gave a nervous laugh. Tsunade shook her head and grabbed a few folders that were scattered on the ground.

Naruto's face turned serious as he walked over to Tsunade and helped her pick up the folders. "Who's going?" He asked.

"See for yourself." Tsunade handed him the folders.

Naruto stood and flipped through the folders, "This all?"

"Yah." Tsunade grabbed a glass from the counter and a bottle of aspirin from one of her drawer. "You're dismissed." She wavered her hand then set back down.

Naruto turned right before he touched the doorknob; "Neji, him and Sakura, they..." He shook his head and Tsunade just smiled.

"Did they what Naruto?" She raised an eyebrow.

Naruto looked back down at the files; at Neji's name; "Nothing." With that he walked out the door.

End Flash Back

'According to the report, it's stealth. Go in, kill anyone that you come in contact with, seize Warui Utsuwa until you have the antidote then kill him. Gather all records that can be found then report back home.'

Naruto ran the idea over in his head. 'Simple.' He thought sarcastically; 'The only problem is that the only person that can get us there is blind and doesn't 'quite' remember.' Naruto sighed.

"Anything the matter Naruto?" Sakura touched his arm.

"Nothing to worry about, just a little indigestion." Naruto smiled.

Sakura nodded reluctantly, knowing good and well that something was wrong.

"It's getting close to suppertime I believe." Ino stood up and stretched.

"You're leaving?" Sakura question her friend.

"As much as I would love to, I can't stay with you all day and night. Two males back home just might starve." She winked, gave Sakura a good-bye kiss, and was gone.

"You look like you could use a good swim." Naruto turned towards Sakura.

"Oh I couldn't. Suku will be coming by any moment." Sakura just shook her head.

"Oh come on. It's only just now 6; Suku won't be here for several more hours." Naruto stood up and reached for Sakura's hand; "Besides you need to relax after such a long day of training."

"I suppose a little swim won't hurt me." She accepted Naruto's hand and they were off to the lake.

This is the part of the page where I give thanks to several reviewers.

fire dagger: You were my first review, yay! I hope you know that I did start writing another chapter after you beeped in.

Sakura Li 2: you were the only person to review more then once, maybe it's not that bad of a story after all. Oh thank you for your words of encouragment.

== insomic reada: Yes it is Gaara...

X2DarkLord: Everyone is just getting to smart for me dang it!

Chibi-Vega: I would never dare leave you hanging so especially in Sakura's case. P.S. When are you going to update Distant Thoughts humm?

Jake: I believe I've already commented in the last chapter, but oh well, I always laugh.

Cuito: Thank you, and it will continue.

Chi: I hate it that you are anonymous so I cannot e-mail you the thanks and love. I really appreciate it and don't worry; I'll get to Suku some more. ;)

The Sadist: I love those types of reviews they always make me want to write. Because of just your few words I know how to make my story better and more applicable—(I think that the right word for the moment) hum, lets try suitable—for the reading audience. I wish you were not 'anonymous' for when I first got your review I almost peed my pants with happiness. Thank you once again and I encourage you to read further to tell me what you liked or what you think I should do more of.

I think that's it so far, but I would like to think all of you for reading my story I appreciate it great amounts.

Lady Dragon Heart