It turned out that the 'thing' she had spotted far in the distance from where she had been, was a group of people (plus a horse). She noticed that they were the people who had all stood together toward the end of the meeting. This, of course, meant that her guide was also a part of the group. There were nine of them and Sakura identified four of them as the shorties and another as the horse that they seemed to have taken a liking to (at least one of them had). She also recognised the four other companions. One was the auburn haired- bearded- shortie who had attacked the Ring with his axe and one of the others was a handsome male with long blonde hair. The man with the long beard and pointy hat led the group, his robes proving to not hinder him in the least. Also in the group was the man who had been staring at the Ring like it was some sort of deity. Sakura had heard his muffled muttering throughout the whole of the meeting and it hadn't failed to get on her nerves.

She watched as they walked, slowly getting further and further away from the majestic place they had been staying at. Sakura followed them, a genjutsu hiding her from sight. She made sure to cover any tracks that they somehow failed to and occasionally raced ahead to scan for any danger.

The group was slow and the pinkette took to admiring their surroundings as they walked. It not only helped ward away boredom, but it also kept her aware of the environment. She made sure to constantly be on guard in case of an ambush and the quiet yet constant ring of voices, courtesy of the shorties, acted as white noise to her ears.

~{*.*}~

"We must hold this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there our road turns east to Mordor."

The mouthwatering scent of bacon and sausages hung in the air as the sound of swords clashing and fire crackling was free for any ears to hear.

"Two, one, five. Good. Very good."

Boromir was teaching the Hobbits how to wield a sword and so far, their training was going well.

"Move your feet." Aragorn advised as he observed their training, his pipe in his mouth.

"Hmm. Quite good, Pippin." Merry said as he watched said boy clash swords with Boromir.

"Thanks." Replied a slightly breathless Pippin.

"Faster." Boromir commanded as he moved on to spar with Merry who met his sword in a loud clash.

"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way round. Gandalf, we could pass through the mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome." The loud voice of Gimli rang through the area as he tried to convince the wizard, who was seated on a large rock, to let them travel through the mines of Moria.

"No, Gimli. I would not take that road through Moria unless I had no other choice."

The only elf in the group stood on top of a rock as he looked far into the distance. What looked like a dark mist caught his eye and from behind him Gandalf's mood turned sour.

"Ha! Sorry." Boromir apologised as he accidently struck Pippin. Said Hobbit retaliated by kicking the taller man in the shin, causing him to groan in pain. Merry joined the fray and they ended up tackling Boromir onto the ground.

"For the Shire!"

"Hold him, Merry."

The previous sword fight turned into a wrestling match as Aragorn chuckled in amusement. Boromir laughed as he struggled in their hold.

"He's got my arms..!"

"What is that?" Sam asked as the sound of the wrestling match continued in the background. The hobbit had caught sight of the same thing that Legolas and Gandalf had and was staring up at it as it moved closer.

"Nothing. A wisp of cloud." Gimli shook off Sam's worries.

"It's moving fast.. Against the wind." Boromir spoke, panting slightly as he stood up from his previous brawl with Pippin and Merry. His face showed no sign of the previous joy and amusement he had portrayed and he readied himself next to Aragorn.

"Crebain from Dunland." Legolas identified the dark blotches in the sky.

Aragorn yelled at everyone to hide as he grabbed his sword.

"Frodo! Sam! Take cover!" His voice sounded as the group rushed around, gathering their things and putting out the campfire. They hid behind the several boulders and large rocks just before loud cawing was heard as a large flock of what looked like dark birds flew over the area.

Cautiously, the group came out of hiding as they stared after the noisy creatures.

"Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched." Gandalf said as the group crowded around him. "We must take the Pass of Caradhras." He turned to look at a snowy mountain in the distance.

~{*.*}~

Sakura travelled silently behind the group of men (and a horse). They were walking up a snowy mountain and the temperature difference was clear. She had had to don her cloak as well as her chunin vest in hopes of trapping as much of her body heat as she could. As well as wearing more layers than usual, Sakura was circulating her chakra around her body. As a result, she was keeping nice and toasty whilst the shorties in the group ahead of her were shivering like a leaf on a branch in the middle of a storm.

Another reason she had for being thankful for her chakra was the fact that she was able to walk on top of the snow. This not only prevented her from getting frostbite on her bare toes but also meant that she wasn't leaving behind footprints in the thick, white blanket that covered the mountains.

They had changed course after the events from earlier of which Sakura was still mulling over. Everything seemed normal enough; the group were on another one of their frequent breaks and one of the shorties had been cooking everybody food (as he usually did every time they stopped to rest). One of the men had been training two of the shorties to fight using swords whilst her guide watched from the sidelines, shouting what she presumed were either words of encouragement or advice (judging by the tone of voice it was most likely the latter). The fourth shortie, the one with the Ring, had been watching his friends train as well and the three other members of the group were settled off to the side. The one with the long robes was talking to the auburn haired- bearded- shortie and the blonde haired male was keeping an eye on their surroundings- an action that Sakura approved of.

Then, the pinkette had spotted something that looked almost ominous in the sky. Smudges of black imperfected the peaceful blue and Sakura sent chakra to both her ears and her eyes in hopes of gaining some clue as to what it was. She winced at the loud squawks that filled her sensitive ears and scrunched her eyes up in pain. The next thing she knew, garbled shouts rang around her as the group turned panicked. She cut off the chakra enhancing her sight and hearing and observed the cluster of people as they hurriedly grabbed their possessions and hid.

It was just in time too, for a large flock of black feathered birds passed overhead, their number so large that when they grouped together, they cast a shadow on the ground. Sakura had momentarily been rendered speechless by the loud squawking coming out of the many birds' beaks and if not for her reflexes a few of the dark creatures that were especially close to the ground would have flown into her.

After a few long moments passed the dark birds were once again a dark cloud in the distance and the group came out from hiding. Words were exchanged and the men packed their stuff away more comfortably before hiding any evidence of their short stay and resuming their travels.

That left them where they are now, as explained before, Sakura was currently tailing the group as they scaled the mountains. It was snowy, it was cold and Sakura was extremely bored. Her previous tactic of examining the environment was proving to be rather unhelpful as all that was visible were the mountains around them as well as snow, lots and lots of snow. The sky as well as the clouds were clear for them to see and the pinkette was tempted to pull a Shikamaru and cloud gaze.

Thinking about the Nara made her heart clench. She missed her friends terribly and just hoped that they were alive. She hoped that the war would end soon, in their favour, if it hadn't already. She wished with all her heart that nobody else would die. She had already seen enough manslaughter to get her through her next lives and she didn't want anyone else to die. She hated that she wasn't there to help those back in her world. She despised the fact that she wouldn't be able to heal any of her friends who might be injured. Her role as a medic meant that she was supposed to help those who couldn't help themselves. It meant that she was the one that people would turn to as a last hope, as a saving grace. When there was no one left that was when you know that a medic failed. When everyone dies that's when you know that a medic had fallen. Often on missions if a medic was on the team they would be protected by their comrades until their teammates could protect them no longer and that was when the medic would play their role. Sakura had spent her life being the one who was sheltered and shielded from harm's way. Her teammates had always stood in front of her, leaving her to watch their backs even after her training with Tsunade and after Sasuke left. She didn't like it. In fact, she loathed it but she put up with it for one sole reason: she was a medic.

Everyone knew she could hold her own. She was more than capable of taking out a small army with her fists but it wasn't until she unlocked the Byakugo that she could dismiss/ break the medic ninja rules and fight.

Sakura still remembered the rules of which her mentor herself created:

No medic ninja shall ever stop medical treatment until the lives of their party members have come to an end.

No medic ninja shall ever stand on the front lines.

No medic ninja shall ever die until they are the last of their platoon.

Only those medic ninja who have mastered the Strength of a Hundred Technique of the ninja art Creation Rebirth are permitted to discard the above-mentioned laws.

She had finally achieved the technique after three long years of constantly directing most of her chakra towards the seal on her forehead only to be launched into a foreign land with no clear way of getting back home.

Before she could venture deeper into her thoughts, her ears picked up on the sound of one of the shorties falling over. He groaned as he stumbled and landed on the ground in the snow.

Her guide yelled something, most likely the male's name, as he rushed over to help the dark haired shortie. He helped the blue eyed male up, said male dusted off some of the snow on his clothes before reaching up to where his collar bone was and parting his clothes. It looked as if he was fumbling to find something and curious, Sakura walked closer to him. She still had the genjutsu cast over her and so the group were unable to see her. This, however, did not mean they couldn't come into contact with her and Sakura had to be careful to not lose her focus and accidentally release the technique.

The genjutsu she was using was one she had found herself interested in after a mission when she was younger. It was called 'Hiding with Camouflage Technique' or 'Chameleon Jutsu' or 'Meisaigakure no Jutsu'. It allows the user to control the reflection of light around their body using chakra, causing their form, shadow and even breathing to become invisible to the naked eye. Since they perfectly blend in with their surroundings, the user can sneak up behind an enemy without being noticed. As both their appearance and scent are camouflaged, their presence can only be revealed by the sounds the user makes. As far as she knew, only Dojutsu like the Sharingan or Byakugan can see through it.

It was extremely useful; Sakura hadn't had many chances to use it before but the situation she was in at the moment provided her the opportunity to. The only thing that could give away her position/ presence was if someone heard or touched her. The first was unlikely since every ninja was trained in stealth at least to a certain degree and she was able to muffle any sound she made with chakra. There was always a chance that someone or something accidently ran into her but because of her shinobi reflexes and cat like grace she would most likely be able to avoid physical contact with whatever was coming her way. Since the kunoichi was in this foreign land where- as far as she could tell- there were no shinobi, that should mean that she wouldn't run into anyone with the Byakugan or Sharingan.

The shortie looked up and her guide followed his gaze. Sakura's emerald orbs also followed their line of sight and there she saw the object that appeared to be at the center of some sort of dramatic play. The golden Ring that was looped around an equally expensive looking chain, lay in the snow a few meters away from them. The chain was picked up and so followed the Ring. The man who had been teaching the shorties to fight using a sword, stared at the object that was hanging on the chain he grasped in his gloved hand.

The old man who wore the pointy hat turned to see why some of the group had stopped and paused in his steps when he saw what was going on.

~{*.*}~

Aragorn had been deep in thought for the greater part of their journey since leaving Rivendell. For some reason he couldn't help but feel as if someone was watching them. He was highly aware of the mysterious being whom seemed able enough take on all of the Ringwraiths at once. It was mind boggling that anybody could even stand up to the dark riders at once, let alone without leaving a trace behind. Even he had some trouble fighting them off but the cloaked creature appeared to do so effortlessly.

The fact that the unknown being was capable of such a feat on its own was remarkable but also worrying. So far, the creature had only acted against the Nazgul but who knew where the being's loyalties lay? Sure, the cloaked figure had protected Frodo and Arwen but who knew when they could suddenly turn around and attack them. It was highly possible that they could have been after the Ring themselves, everyone seemed to be after the object after all.

He knew the Ring was extremely powerful (as well as dangerous) but the aura the golden object had emanated during the secret council was beyond what he had expected. The dark calls of the Ring were beckoning and manipulative whilst the sensation he felt whilst under whatever that was, was more overwhelming and suffocating. Sure, the Ring had a similar effect but it was somehow different. Aragorn couldn't quite explain it but that was just how it felt. He remembered the sense of power the mysterious being seemed to radiate when he had first seen them fight against the Nazgul and couldn't help but compare it to the feeling that knocked several members of the council off their feet.

He knew that he really shouldn't be mulling over the topic for so long but he couldn't help it. He liked to think that he was a rather responsible and cautious man and therefore very rarely ignored any hunches he got. His intuition was almost never wrong and as a result he trusted his instincts. He couldn't help it. He really couldn't. He knew that the mysterious creature was somewhere near, that the eyes he felt on the back of his head belonged to the peculiar being.

He just hoped that the creature, whoever they may be, was not their enemy for if they were then he did not know if they would be able to stand against them.

So far, their trip had been smooth sailing however he knew that that was the calm before the storm. The Crebain were like the storm clouds marching towards them, a distant warning of the challenges and danger that lay ahead.

Aragorn was brought out of his thoughts when Frodo slipped on the snow and tumbled down to him.

"Frodo!" He caught the hobbit and helped him stand up, steadying him as he brushed away the snow on his clothes.

The male parted his shirt, revealing bare skin and the absence of a certain Ring. The curly haired hobbit looked up and Aragorn followed his gaze to see the golden object being picked up by the chain it was looped around.

Boromir looked at the object he held in his grasp. It was a peculiar little thing. Scary that it held so much power yet intriguing and alluring at the same time. It was fascinating how such a tiny object held the power to start wars and frightening how it could end them just by being in one side's possession. The golden Ring was enticing in a way. He could hear the objects calls, its dark promises ringing in his ears. It felt like it was calling out to him, assuring him that all he ever wanted, all he could ever want, could be his and all thanks to the small, band of gold that was hung around the chain that he grasped in his hand.

"Boromir."

"'Tis a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing." He inhaled deeply, the Ring's calls singing in his ears. "Such a little thing."

His gloved hand that wasn't gripping the small chain reached up to touch the ring and just as the leather grazed the golden object Aragorn called his name again.

"Boromir. Give the Ring to Frodo."

The man slowly, almost hesitantly walked towards Aragorn and Frodo.

"As you wish." He said, holding out the item for Frodo to take.

The hobbit snatched it out of the man's grasp.

"I care not." He said and as if to diffuse the tension that now hung in the air as he met Aragorn's gaze, he ruffled the young hobbit's hair, chuckling as he did so.

Then, Boromir turned around and walked ahead to where the rest of the fellowship stood.

~{*.*}~

Sakura narrowed her eyes at the man holding the Ring. The atmosphere seemed to have tensed but she didn't let this affect her.

Her guide said something, possibly the other man's name but she kept emerald eyes glued to the man holding the chain of which that little gold Ring hung from.

It was like the man was in a daze as he stared at the object. He was looking at it as if it were a puzzle that he was trying to figure out. His brows were furrowed as whatever thoughts that filled his brain rushed around.

He spoke, his eyes still glued to the Ring. Sakura cursed her inability to understand whatever language the people around her were speaking and chose to get a peek of the rest of the group. They were standing behind the man with straight hair who was still grumbling on about something and they all appeared to be playing the role of spectators. Even the horse seemed like he didn't want to make a sound and interrupt whatever was going on.

Her shoulders tensed and her eye snapped to the man holding the Ring. Emerald orbs narrowed. Her guide had shouted something at the dark haired male and she was instantly on guard and prepared to snatch the golden object out of his grasp. Although she didn't quite understand the importance of the Ring, she knew that it held some level of power. So far, the land she was currently stuck in had very small signs of chakra whilst that Ring appeared to radiate malevolent chakra in waves. It also seemed like it was able to somehow manipulate others. Sakura wasn't sure if this was because of the obvious power difference the Ring had over the inhabitants of this world that turned the people into power-hungry beasts who would follow some sort of orders that the Ring perhaps gave them to do or if there was another reason entirely. Perhaps the Ring was possessed and whatever creature haunted it sent its victims to find out ways to free them or bring them back to life.

The pinkette shook her head, she was getting lost in her thoughts again.

As if brought out of whatever daze the Ring had put him under, the dark haired man slowly staggard towards her guide, the shortie and herself (though none of the group knew she was there). He held out the Ring of which was still dangling from the small chain and before she could blink, the shortie had snatched it from his grasp.

The straight haired man said something, meeting her guide's warning gaze before chuckling and messing up the shortie's already messy, dark hair. The kunoichi frowned as she watched the man walk towards where the rest of the group waited, she made a mental note to keep an eye on him before following behind her guide and the blue eyed shortie.


A/N: Finally! This took me so long and I tried my best to make it as long as possible! I started out this chapter with writer's block and ended half asleep so sorry if that's obvious (I also edited this half asleep so I'll probably have to go through it all again- feel free to tell me if I made any mistakes).

I am very sorry for not updating in like forever but as some of you may have noticed I have changed my updating schedule. I have currently published three stories (including this one) and will soon be publishing another one. I was originally publishing three times a week and although I was managing it I can't keep it up. As a result I now have my new schedule! (Yay!)

I will be updating on a regular basis during holidays (Tuesday- The Haruno Clan's Blossom; Thursday- Out of Place; and Saturday- Sakura Haruno (Child Prodigy)) and shall be trying my best to at least update once a week when it is not a holiday.

I hope this makes sense, if not then please tell me. :)

Also I'm sure many of you will be happy that Sakura has her Byakugo in this story. I tried to display more of her thoughts about home and also, I know that she probably didn't know many genjutsus in the original but this is a fanfiction and as a result not everything is going to be canon.

Sakura has been releasing the genjutsu every now and then when she separates from the group to scout ahead or check the perimeter or just hunt for some food so her she has been giving herself breaks.

Ermmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... - my tired mind trying to think of what else I wanted to say..

Oh! Sakura doesn't know much about the Ring but she kind of been forced into the role of an observer and so she's been watching how people react and as a result has been able to make up conclusions as to why the Ring seems to be at the center of attention and why people seem to be driven mad under its influence.

Sorry if certain parts of this Authors note doesn't make sense or has any mistakes, I'm really tired since I've been writing a lot and my eyes hurt so yeah..

I think that's it? If not, I'll add in whatever else later.

I apologise for any mistakes!

Hope you enjoyed!