By Silver Dragonfly
Chapter 06 - Fox, Dragon, Phoenix
Sakura slowly turned; her eyes taking careful scrutiny over the terrain surrounding her
impromptu fortress. Well-- shelter was probably a better term for the small enclave
created by the roots of one of the giant trees in the forest. Her initial layer of defense
had been a very complex genjutsu that completely hid the enclave from the outside.
After that, she had taken the time to set several traps pausing between them to check on
Sasuke and Naruto.
At first Naruto had seemed to fret, but soon after he seemed to calm down into a deep
sleep. This was a good sign she thought. Unless he failed to wake up at all. Sasuke, on
the other hand, had been struggling against a high fever and dreams that she couldn't
even begin to imagine. The strange markings that had appeared on his neck and
shoulder near where Orochimaru had bit him also worried her greatly. She had no idea
just what the snake-like creep had done to her teammates and she was worried that
neither of them would come out of it unscathed. And worry was about all she had left to
do as she watched over them; traps set all over the surrounding area. Please wake-up
soon... Please be all right... She mentally whispered.
A slight rustling in the bushes just outside the enclave drew her attention and Sakura
tensed, her kunai held readily. She watched steadily as a small red-orange form pulled
itself clear of the bushed and then stared at her. A fox... what in the world is a baby
fox doing here!
The kit watched her for a moment and then seemed to decide she was no threat and
made a beeline for Naruto. Upon reaching the unconscious boy's side the kit licked
his face and made soft whimpering and barking sounds, as though he was trying to
wake him up. Sakura watched, too stunned to react, as the fox seemed to give up trying
to wake her teammate up and instead set about curling around his neck and wriggling
into his jacket. Sakura blinked, it was obvious the fox was no threat and seemed to be
fond of Naruto. When would Naruto have made friends with a fox? And why? She
thought to herself, then scenes from their recent ordeal flashed through her mind.
Their enemy only chuckled as he brought Naruto up only inches from his face and met
the boy's angry glare steadily. "So the nine-tails brat is still alive..." His tongue slithered
around, lifting Naruto's jacket away from his stomach to reveal the now-visible seal
beneath.
"Oh my, the seal is visible... when your emotions are heightened... the power of the
nine-tails overflows...interesting."
Sakura's eyes widened as the information their enemy was giving them reached her...
Naruto carried the nine-tails. "Sasuke! Naruto is--!!"
"--FIVE PART SEAL!" Their enemy shouted, plunging his fingers into Naruto's stomach
around the black spiral marking.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Naruto screamed and then fell silent as he
blacked out in the enemies hold.
Naruto was the vessel that held the nine-tails. Why hadn't she noticed it before! It made
so many things clear. Why all the adults save for a precious few always looked at him with
hatred, why her own parents seemed uneasy whenever she mentioned him, why
Naruto was so determined to prove himself, and why Naruto had appeared so
unbelievably strong. He could draw on the nine-tails power. She looked at her
blond-haired teammate with new eyes, it was no wonder he always struggled so much.
Then she smiled. But Naruto was still Naruto, and she would tell him she thought so at
the first opportunity. That, and ask him just when was it he made friends with the fox
and why he hadn't introduced them. After all, the little guy was cute.
Sakura was startled out of her thoughts on Naruto when Sasuke suddenly cried out.
Sakura quickly turned to the dark haired boy carefully changing the damp cloth she
had placed on his forehead. "Sasuke-kun..." She whispered. What did he do to you?
Off in the distance a morning dove sang, heralding the coming morning.
Sakura turned from Sasuke as she heard a chattering. She soon found the source in
the form of a red-brown squirrel that was making a beeline right for her. What in the
world? First the fox, now a squirrel... but the squirrel doesn't have the same excuse as
the fox.. oh no the trap! With that thought she threw a kunai, planting the dark blade
only inches in front of the squirrel and causing to it to turn and run the other way. "That
was close..." She breathed.
*********
Deep in Sasuke's mind a battle was being fought. A battle that left Sasuke staring in
stunned silence as the blue form of a dragon snarled and attacked a hissing violet-black
snake. The dragon he knew had to be Ryukai; the blue of his scales was truth enough
of that. But the snake... the snake had to have been from their enemy. The snake
seemed to be trying to slip past the dragon, but every time Ryukai blocked it. Either
by launching into an attack or by putting himself between them. Then the snake made
a mistake and Ryukai had him in his claws. The large dragon turned to look at Sasuke.
"What is that thing..." Sasuke asked pointing to the writhing snake trapped in the
dragon's claws.
"It is a curse seal. A curse seal designed to bring you to the owner." Ryukai
answered while watching Sasuke.
Sasuke looked skeptically at the snake. "How is that supposed to take me to that
snake freak?"
"By leading you to him with the promise of power." Responded the dragon.
Sasuke's eyebrows shot up. "With power..." He eyed the snake a little closer.
"Don't be foolish!!" Ryukai snarled. "With that power will come a heavy
price. He will use you for whatever end he sees fit."
"And just what is your price then?! You too promise strength and power don't you?"
Ryukai's eyes darkened; the only visible sign of his anger. The snake in his claws
squirmed as the dragon's grip tightened. "Foolish foolish boy. You have no idea what
is truly going on. I know about your brother and what he did...and I also know why.
But you are too foolish to think for yourself and I won't tell you any more of my or
any other guardian's history until you learn to think. I will let you decide for yourself
witch path you will follow, but know this. Your teammates also have the ability to bond
with a guardian, in fact, your rival already has. Think about that before you decide
which path to take and what to live for. I leave you to face this snake, but if you finally
decide that you have something greater to live for I will be waiting... and yet that choice
will not remain open forever. You cannot defeat this curse alone, and I cannot defeat it
for you. Until we talk again Uchiha Sasuke." And with that the dragon faded into
blue, fainter and more hidden then before.
The snake coiled in upon itself; looking and tasting the air for any further sign of the
dragon. When it found none, it turned its head towards Sasuke and reared up high.
Sasuke stared, then reached instinctively for kunai and shuriken, only they weren't
there. Before he could react the snake was on him and memories began to flash before
him-- memories twisted to the snakes desire.
*********
"Now lets finish this..." The bandage wrapped Sound-nin stated as he lifted his speaker
encased right arm to deliver the finishing blow.
"LEE-SAN!!! NO! I WON'T LET YOU!!!" Sakura screamed as she launched a set of
kunai. I also... I also can... Her attack proved futile as they were intercepted
and sent back at her by the Sound-nin's teammate.
Air pressure... He blasted back my shuriken. Sakura eyed the Sound-nin who
now faced her then let out a scream as her hair was suddenly pulled in a painful twist.
She looked back over her shoulder to see the female nin of the Sound Genin team
holding her hair and looking down at her with a sneer.
"Your hair has more luster then mine--What a joke--A female ninja going for beauty.
If you have time to treat your hair, then train. Hey Zaku, kill that Sasuke guy in front
of this sexy ninja.." The female Sound-nin stated as she tightened her hold on Sakura's
hair. "Teach her a lesson in the way of a shinobi."
No!! Sasuke-kun!!
"Sounds like a good idea." Zaku responded taking several steps towards the enclave
where Sakura's teammates lay.
"Don't move." The sound-nin holding her hair ordered as Sakura's fingers clenched
into the dirt on either side of her. I can't allow that... but I can't move... I am still--just
getting in the way! I can't stand it! Always being protected. This time I thought... this
time I thought I could protect those precious to me... but Lee-san... you fought to
protect me... just like Naruto... just like Sasuke... there's no one left to protect me or
the ones precious too me... I will protect them... I WILL PROTECT THEM!!! Her right
hand silently removed a kunai from her holster, her fingers gripping the handle tightly.
"Just what do you think you're doing? That's useless against me." The sound-nin who
held her hair declared noticing Sakura's movements.
"What are you talking about?" Sakura asked with confidence.
"Wha--"
I WILL PROTECT THEM! Sakura raised her hand and sliced cleanly through her hair
between her head and the Shinobi's grip. Deep within her mind and heart a tiny flame
burst into full inferno. I always thought of myself as a proud shinobi. I always said I
liked Sasuke-kun...I would lecture Naruto as if I was better than him...But all I did... But
all I did was watch you guys from behind. She slowly began to rise to her feet. Yet...
they always fought to protect me. Lee-san you said you like me, and with your back to
me risked your life and fought. I feel like I've learned from you. I want to become like
you guys. Everyone--this time get a good look at my back!
Suddenly, before Sakura could take a step further, her vision was filled with red and
gold flames. She glanced around quickly and stared in complete shock as she found
herself facing a great red and gold bird.
"Hello Sakura. We meet at last."
"Who...Who are you?"
"I am the leader of the animal spirit clan phoenix. I am Hitori and I am your partner.
This day you have chosen to grow and live to protect those precious to you and with that
decision our bond awakened. We are one Sakura.
Human and Animal Spirit -- Girl and Phoenix -- Sakura and Hitori.
My power shall be your power--the flames of renewal and rebirth. Now go and protect
those precious to you!"
Sakura blinked and found herself staring at the three Sound-nin. Then she realized
she wasn't so tired; didn't feel so worn out.
"Kin! Kill her!" Zaku shouted.
Sakura smirked readying several kunai. I can do this! I can protect them! She
quickly performed the seals of Kawamari, completing them just as Kin hit her from
behind. She vanished in a poof, leaving a log in her place.
"Kawamari. What does she think she's doing, using such a basic jutsu? From the right!"
Zaku muttered as he then countered the barrage of kunai Sakura had thrown with
zankuuha. His eyes quickly scanned for her next attack, spotting her from above once
more with a barrage of kunai. He countered. "Kawamari again!" he called and quickly
began to scan for her next point of attack--until blood dripped onto his face. He looked
up only to see her coming straight at him. It wasn't Kawamari!
In a tangle of arms, cloth, pink hair, and blood the pair went down. Sakura held tightly to
a kunai embedded in her opponent's shoulder, her teeth clamped down on his right
forearm.
I won't let you kill Sasuke! I won't let you hurt those precious to me! Sakura cried
mentally as Zaku began to beat her repetitively in his attempts to dislodge her from his
arm. "The flames of renewal, rebirth, and righteousness are yours. Use them!" A
now familiar voice echoed in her mind. Sakura blocked out the pain as best as she could
and reached for her inner self, and found the well of flaming power. With determination
she grabbed hold of it.
Zaku screamed as suddenly every portion of his body touching the girls began to burn
as if in direct contact with flames. With a final hard punch he knocked her loose and
sent her rolling. He clutched his forearm where his shirt and arm guard had been nearly
completely burned away. "What the hell was that...Bitch. You'll pay for that."
Three sudden blurs moved in between Team Seven and the Sound Genin.
"Pfft... More weirdoes have appeared," Zaku grumbled.
"Ino..." Sakura whispered.
"Sakura--I won't lose to you. I already told you that." The blond haired female shinobi
answered without looking back.
**********
Sasuke looked around him hurriedly. He was still in the same place as before… but the
blue was gone. A faint sniffling sound caught his attention and he turned quickly to
spot a younger boy standing opposite him. Who is…
"Mom and Dad… didn't have to die…"
It's the younger me!
"In the end, if you don't have the strength—you can't do anything. Because I didn't
have strength—the clan was wiped out. Everyone was killed…No—You! You let them
die!"
No…
"If only you had the strength…" As if to taunt him, the younger version of himself clawed
at one eye, peeling away skin to reveal the amber eye of a snake. Sasuke stood stunned,
mesmerized by the taunt of power; and in that moment—the seal had him.
The metaphorical snake that represent the seal twined round his body with it head
draped lazily over his shoulder by Sasuke's head. The snake had won.
Sasuke opened his eyes and slowly rose to his feet, angry violet waves of power swirling
all around him. He turned to the small clearing and the various shinobi within it, his
Sharingan eyes settling on the beaten form of his female teammate. "Sakura—Who did
this to you?" He demanded, anger at any who dare to harm the pink haired shinobi
coursing through his veins, adding more fuel to the raging inferno of hatred that gave
strength to the curse. Scrawling black marking spread over his body as they spread out
from the three-dot swirls that were the heart of the curse.
Sakura only stared at him in stunned shock. "Sasuke-kun—your body…?"
"Don't worry. Not only that—I feel power overflowing from within me. I feel… great."
Sasuke responded, raising his left hand and clenching it, watching the black scrawling
marks as they spread to cover his fist. "He gave it to me. I finally understand. I am an
avenger. Even if I must eat the devil's fruit, I am on a path where I must gain power." He
slowly turned to face the three Sound-nin. "Now—It was you guys, wasn't it?"
Sakura could only watch in shocked silence. This wasn't the Sasuke she knew. She
watched numbly as Ino's team was pulled out of the way into the bushes by Shikamaru,
but she didn't really notice; her glazed eyes focused on the form that was Sasuke.
"It's a curse seal…"A voice whispered softly in her mind. "It's managed to gain control
of his mind with hatred and anger…"
No…not Sasuke. He's stronger then that. Sakura answered back in her mind. She
couldn't believe that Sasuke could give into the seal so easily. She blinked as she
suddenly realized both she and Naruto had been moved out of the path of danger. He's
not mindless…
"It doesn't matter. The longer he stays like this, the worse it will become," Hitori responded.
Stop…Sakura's mind whispered as she watched Sasuke attack the same sound-nin she
had with ease. Stop. She cried again, her mental voice growing stronger. STOP. Her mind
voice yelled as she watched him break the shinobi's arms. This isn't Sasuke-kun… He
body began to move. "STOP!!!" She shouted wrapping her arms around Sasuke from
behind, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Stop—Please."
Sasuke stood frozen in her embrace, his muscles tensing, and then something seemed
to release and the scrawling black marks began to fade back into the swirling dots. The
crimson red of his Sharingan fading back to the normal raven black of Sasuke's eyes.
Sasuke's form slumped to the ground, Sakura kept her grip and supported him.
"Sakura…" Sasuke whispered as he realized what had happened, his breath rapid.
The curse seal…what had it done to him? Sasuke listened in a haze as the leader of the
three Sound-nin left him their scroll and at the same time, promised to continue their
fight at a later date. He hardly noticed as Team Ten and the team of Rock Lee also made
themselves known, helping to pick up the mess that was currently Team Seven. He was
to busy reliving the power of the curse seal in his mind…almost instinctively he reached
out for the comfort of the blue dragon that had been in the corner of his mind for some
time only to stop himself as he remembered the dragon's words.
"Think about that before you decide which path to take and what to live for. I leave you
to face this snake, but if you finally decide that you have something greater to live for I
will be waiting… and yet that choice will not remain open forever. You cannot defeat this
curse alone, and I cannot defeat it for you. Until we talk again Uchiha Sasuke."
Shikamaru and Chouji looked down at the unconscious form of Naruto, trying to decide
how to wake the blond Sleeping Beauty.
"Can I kick him awake?" Chouji asked. Before Shikamaru could answer there was a
sharp bark and growl as a fox kit made himself known. The small red-orange fox slipped
out of Naruto's jacket to stand on the boy's chest and growled at the two Leaf Genin.
"Zurui—be quiet…" Naruto mumbled reaching up in his sleep to lay a hand on the kit'
back. Zurui ceased growling but continued to glare at both Chouji and Shikamaru.
"How troublesome." Shikamaru grumbled.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its characters, or its story,
however the original ideas and characters in this story are mine.
Special Thanks to Rokudamime and SK for hosting! - Rokudaime will be recieving
updates prior to www)
www.silverdragonflydreams.com