The kunai chapter eight: Blood and confusion.
By Gasha Aisu.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
A/N: special thanks to "charl" who gave me the longest review in my life, and bothered to tell me that he/she/it loves this story. This chapter especially for you! (By the way, I'm female, so I don't think "dude" is appropriate /smile/)
Sasuke watched her fall with wide eyes. Naruto stilled in battle, despite the danger. And all seemed in to go in slow mode.
Her hair dancing around her. Her hands unclenching and releasing the weapon she had, had in her hand.
Her eyes half lidded, directed directly into Sasuke's eyes. Her eyes softening before they dimmed.
Naruto standing shocked, completely still. His eyes not saddened, for he could not understand nor believe what happened.
Sasuke yelling her name, his eyes widening in what could've been panic had anger not clouded it. Naruto finally understanding and yelling as well, his eyes turning as red as Sasuke's.
Sasuke breaking the hold the jutsu had on him and grabbing his windmill and speeding at her killer. Naruto baring his clawed hands and speeding at a group of enemies.
Then sound and feeling returned, easing the time back into it's normal pace. Sasuke was hardly aware of it, as his narrowed eyes only saw those who had to die. His windmill claimed the first victim, but Sasuke was cold to the feared look in his enemies eyes. The feeling of skin slicing open and seeing the blood stain the windmill he had in his hand, it all didn't matter, it all was useless.
He failed to bring back Sakura. She died still being what he had forced her to be. Even though she actually made herself like this, he knew he was responsible. Now he would never be able to fix his mistake.
Naruto felt the skin being ripped open, he felt the blood gushing over his hands, but it seemed so unimportant now. Sakura would never be the same, he would never have his friend back… Just as he turned his murderous eyes to another group of, now disturbed, enemies he suddenly saw Hinata flash before his eyes. No, he would not go on a killer rampage even though Sakura died. He didn't want to change, he didn't want to be bitter. Suddenly feeling cold and unfeeling, Naruto just stood. The blood was still dripping of his hands, but they were normal now, as were his eyes. The kyuubi protested, but it fell on deaf ears. Naruto watched, detached, as Sasuke continued. The boy never made a sound as his steel flashed quick and deadly. Now it was more clear then ever that Sasuke used to be evil.
Yet somehow, Naruto failed to feel sorry for his enemies.
o.0.o.
Pain.
Pain…on her back.
Burning.
Burning in her lungs, she needed to breathe.
Yet as she tried she swallowed blood and immediately broke in a coughing fit. Slowly her surroundings came back to her. The grass the was lying on, and was tickling her nose. The small breeze that ruffled her hair and brought the smell of blood with it.
Slowly she blinked.
Blood. She was used to it, but only now it brought a slight frown on her face. Were Naruto and Sasuke hurt?
Another weak cough.
The ground shaking slightly with footsteps of running people. Someone standing near her. A enemy. It was coming closer…
She needed to defeat her enemies, only then could she protect her village. She needed to help Sasuke and Naruto, they were outnumbered by far.
The enemy was now within her range.
Could she move?
Pain.
But her muscles seemed to work.
A weapon, the one she dropped, near her hand.
Pain on her back, making it difficult to move.
She needed to move. Pain didn't matter, it was unimportant. It didn't matter if she suffered. She needed to move.
Blood lot's of blood, and a lot of her.
Darkness came for a second, but she blinked it away. Her fingers slowly curling around her weapon.
Sakura never really knew she moved, it was instinct that drove her for her enemy had discovered she was still alive.
Still alive.
But her enemy was now slowly falling to the ground. Sakura coughed weakly again, her arm falling with the enemy, for her kunai was still buried in him. Her favourite weapon.
Breathing heavily, but not moving from her position, her green eyes slowly, coolly, took in the situation. Her arm stilled at her side as her kunai slipped out the enemy before he hit the ground. With one knee on the ground, and one in front of her, she sat crouched yet still ready for battle if necessary.
Sasuke's windmill was red, and he didn't seem to tire. There was a white fury coming from him that confused Sakura. Did he care that much? Naruto. Naruto was standing, looking surprised at Sasuke with a detached expression. Only when a enemy came to close, did Naruto move. He took out the enemy just as fast as Sasuke. Then, Naruto was forced into more action as finally all of the enemies, about 17, attacked.
They needed her.
One hand supported itself on her raised knee as she slowly stood up. Then she closed her eyes.
"I need to keep moving,"
The Sakura looked up from her chained position. Inner Sakura raised her head.
"Give me a reason, besides duty, to move this dieing beaten body,"
The Sakura nodded, and the chains once again released her.
Sakura opened her eyes and looked once more.
Only now did she see the tears gathering at the corner of Naruto's eyes. Only now did she see the pain in Sasuke's eyes. Only now, was it important. She was releasing her emotions to much and too fast. Yet a ninja's strength lied in their emotions and their will to continue living, or completing her purpose. If Sakura wouldn't do this, if Sakura wouldn't show her emotions this, then her body would simply be useless. Then she would be a bother once again.
The Sakura was brutally smashed back, but it didn't seem to mind. Tears were gathering at the corner of her eyes, but her eyes stood determent. Then the Sakura closed her eyes and the chains glowed. Inner Sakura did the same.
"Please," the Sakura said calmly, "They're still important. Save them. Don't let them get hurt too much,"
"Only the village matters,"
The Sakura looked up. Her eyes more calm then ever seen to the outside world, and even Sakura herself was surprised about how calm her emotions were.
"If that was true, you would let them do this themselves. They're strong and they would survive, but they would get hurt badly. And even though it doesn't compromise the mission, it does matter," The Sakura replied.
It was silenced for a while, and when she spoke again, it gave off more power then ever before, even more then in her last fight.
"But they do. Sasuke and Naruto matter, I won't let them get hurt,"
When Sakura opened her eyes, they were completely calm and detached. Finally she found the will to lift her tired body, and the grabbed to kunai. With a pained grunt, she jumped high in the air, finishing off two enemies for the surprised Naruto.
She landed softly, but still felt it through her complete body. Pain.
She needed to hurry.
Before darkness could take her, Sakura took off. Her arms stretched out behind her, as her eyes slowly filled with passion. One kunai was thrown,while grabbing one kunai with both her hands she selected her target.
There was one men Sasuke hadn't been able to defeat from the start. He was twice as big as Sakura was, and had more chakra then both her as Sasuke. But Sakura was a medical ninja, and she knew were to hit him to kill him. Keeping her eyes on his shoulder blades, she increased speed.
A ninja yelled out to warn him, but Naruto was more quick then him, silencing him before he could fully out the warning.
Sasuke was fencing of both him as another, keeping on defence for he had no opportunity for attack. He would seriously be hurt if she wouldn't hurry.
Allowing more passion to take her, Sakura once again increased speed. She didn't know why Sasuke seemed to be the only one having trouble until her eyes glanced around. Everyone of the ninja's seemed focussed on Sasuke, and she understood why. They all seemed to have some kind of seal.
They were Orichimaru's men. Apparently he hadn't taken it lightly when Sasuke left him to avenge his family.
The men Sasuke had been battling from the start was in his final stage of his seal.
Determent Sakura raised her kunai.
A men called out before Naruto could stop him, and the huge men turned to look behind him, while fending of Sasuke.
Sakura jumped, and her body screamed at her. Sweat and blood were making her hair stick to her face and neck, but Sakura ignored it. Wind cooled her heated and feverish body as she slowly lowered towards her target. The height had helped her escape her enemies gaze. Sasuke kept him busy, making it impossible for him to escape, yet he didn't seem to know she was alive yet, so he as well had missed her. Sakura's eyes turned cold, as her hands stopped shaking from exhaustion.
She landed softly and immediately ran to him. Silently she flung herself forward and buried her kunai between his shoulder blades. She missed by inches, for her vision was blurry because of her injuries. The man cried out and cursed like a wild animal. Sasuke looked surprised for a moment, before he attacked again to save her.
Sakura still hung on her kunai, never releasing it and never getting out of harms way. Blood was flowing over her hands and staining her shirt. The enemy turned around wildly, and although her bruised body flung around, he only managed to hurt himself, for the kunai was buried to deep and her hold was too strong. Finally he turned around so fast and strong that her hands slipped because of the blood that had made the metal slippery. Yet the man only managed to kill himself, for the kunai sliced to the side because of her weight and force of the turn, killing him before he even hit the ground. Sakura slowly closed her eyes as she flew through the air, and knew she would feel terrible pain when she hit the ground.
But something soft, safe and warm caught her. And in surprised Sakura opened her eyes, although slowly. Dark eyes met her, and Sakura was surprised of what she saw in them.
Protective nature, worry, deep, too deep affection, and even mild anger.
Sakura knew he wouldn't give up, when darkness closed in on her. Sakura knew she had betrayed to much of herself to hope for that. Sakura knew she had to fight him, for she also knew that he was slowly beginning to care too much about her.
She didn't need him to care.
Sasuke! The Sakura yelled.
She didn't want him to care.
Sasuke-kun!
She needed to fix things before they got out of hand… Slowly her eyes closed and she hated herself for her weakness.
For she felt save in a murderers arms.
0.o.0.
They were talking when she woke up. They were arguing about the mission, whether they had to give up or not. Sasuke was arguing that they could not continue like this. Naruto was disagreeing, which wasn't so strange for that was just how Naruto worked.
"We're wounded Naruto," She could hear Sasuke, there was a annoyed edge in his voice, he didn't like this either.
"We can continue," Naruto argued. Sakura tried to open her eyes, but found that they felt very heavy. She could feel a soft…blanket? Beneath her and the warmth on her face made her think she was near a fire. Finally she managed to open them. She was indeed on a blanket on her back, besides the fire. Naruto and Sasuke were sitting across from her, Sasuke staring into the flames, Naruto frowning besides him. Sasuke opened his mouth, but Sakura forced herself upright, distracting him from what he was going to say.
"We're going to continue," Sakura said flatly, "I won't be a hindrance,"
Sasuke shook his head, his raven locks swinging gently. Naruto didn't argue, but she saw doubt slowly starting to fill his eyes.
"I can force my body-"
"You'll be useless for next mission," Sasuke interrupted her, and her eyes snapped to him. Empty green met cold black, and they stared in silence for a while. Finally Sasuke straightened his back.
"We're going back," he stated, "Otherwise you'll won't be able to serve the village any longer. Besides, I'm injured as well, and so is Naruto,"
It was only now that Sakura noticed the bandages around Naruto's middle and Sasuke's chest. She frowned, slightly annoyed for her lack of notice, but her vision was still blurry and the world seemed to be spinning, so she figured her body couldn't function like it was supposed to. She was a weapon to the village, but she needed to stay sharp to be useful. If continuing this mission meant that she would become useless…
She nodded, and the matter was settled.
0.0.
Sakura watched silently as her companions put the fire out and repacked their things. They had rested for eight hours before going home for it was a long journey to go. Naruto was obviously back to his cheery self as he hummed under his breath while packing his things. Sasuke was silent, ever so often reaching up to his chest before dropping his hand and continuing what he was doing. Sakura's chakra hadn't come back to her yet, so she hadn't been able to heal them.
Slowly Sakura managed to stand in hopes of putting the blanket away which she had lied on all this time. But she swayed for exhaustion was getting the best of her, and now more then ever was she aware of her injuries and what pain they brought her. She dropped to the ground and she frowned slightly. Had she felt anything she would've cursed in frustration, but Sakura was oddly numb. It seemed that the Sakura was keeping quiet for a while. She still didn't like the uselessness of her body, but there was nothing she could do about it.
"Don't push it," Sasuke's monotone voice sounded from besides her. She turned her head to look at him. He was crouched besides her, his bag pack slung over one shoulder and he was frowning slightly. Sakura gazed at him but she still felt oddly numb. Had that last act finally killed of her emotions? Was she then finally a complete weapon?
She felt nothing.
"I'll carry you back," Sasuke stated, and it wasn't an offer. She knew she couldn't refuse so she only nodded briefly.
"Ne, ne, hurry up will ya?" Naruto suddenly said, "Hinata-chan is waiting for me,"
Sakura didn't feel the normal pull of her emotions of affection that she normally needed to kill. Sasuke smirked at Naruto.
"You're the one who was packing up slow, idiot, we were waiting for you," He challenged.
It was the truth and they all knew it. Yet Naruto happily argued back, it was obvious that the old band of companionship the two used to share was back. Sasuke smirked, casually replying before throwing his back pack at Naruto, obviously aiming for the head.
"Hey! What was that for!" Naruto exclaimed loudly even though he had caught it safely. Sasuke snorted.
"I need to carry Sakura, I can't do that with that on my back," Sasuke said, frowning at Naruto. Naruto blinked innocently before it finally dawned on him that others didn't heal as fast as he did. Eight hours had done him good, and although he wasn't fully healed yet he wasn't as badly injured as he was before. There were definitely advantages of having a demon locked inside of you.
Sakura could feel Sasuke staring at her and when she turned her head he only raised an eyebrow. Sakura slowly stood and Sasuke quickly rapped the blanked up and put it in her backpack. Sakura took her backpack from him and strapped it on her back. She didn't wince as it fell against her bruised and slightly wounded back, but she knew Sasuke knew when his eyes flashed. When had he learned to read people so well? She wondered but didn't feel any curiosity.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her but didn't voice any thought about her injuries. Instead he only turned and bend through his knees so that she could easily climb on his back.
Even when Sakura touched him and brought her arms around his neck she didn't feel anything. It confused her slightly. When Sasuke's hands locked beneath her knees and he took off, she didn't feel anything either.
It was only now that Sakura realised that even though had been mostly empty, there was always a slightly pull of emotions under an ice cold surface. She had felt that pull when Ino yelled at her, obviously hurt. She had felt it when she had seen the defeat in Tsunade's eyes. She had felt it when she saw Naruto's eyes, especially with him. But it had always been to little to notice. As if you light a small fire beneath thick ice, you didn't feel it but when it flickered out you noticed the lack of it. She had obviously felt things with Sasuke, but now she only felt his body beneath her.
So, it seemed that she had finally accomplished what she had always wanted.
Sasuke and Naruto moved swiftly and silently, for a moment Sakura looked at the trees passing with an detached expression. She knew she was safe with her team mates so she closed her eyes and rested her head on Sasuke's shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked, his voice carefully neutral.
"Meditating," Sakura replied simply. She could feel his shoulders relax slightly.
Knowing that he wouldn't disturb her she let herself sink. She wanted to heal herself but somehow she was drifting to that place, wanting to see if her emotions really were gone.
It was oddly dark. The Sakura and Inner Sakura normally radiated some light, but now everything seemed dark. The pieces of the chains were drifting in the air, for gravity did not exist in ones mind. The chains were either broken or bend, as if some big explosion destroyed them. Between the pieces of the chains drifted the Sakura, her eyes closed and her mouth slightly open. Inner Sakura lied in the whole of the wall she used to be chained to. Something destroyed the wall in a perfect circle in which she lied, for gravity also not, not exist in ones mind. Blood was flowing from both their wounds, those of inner Sakura slowly drifting down, but the blood of the Sakura stained the chains and everything else it encountered flowing as liquid in the air. Suddenly the eyes of the Sakura slowly opened and locked with her eyes.
"They're safe,"
The Sakura smiled slightly and some of the wounds closed. But most were still open, staining the air and staining the Sakura herself.
"I think you got what you wanted," the Sakura said, even her voice seemed broken.
"how?"
"Our body is more broken then you think," Inner Sakura replied, her eyes half lidded and dull, her body unmoving in the hole of the wall.
"It took all we had to keep it moving," the Sakura said, her voice soft.
"Now we'll never have Sasuke," inner Sakura said, a bitter smile on her broken face.
"Ino will cry," the Sakura softly said, "Naruto will be hurt but he won't show it,"
Suddenly a wind blew her hair around and tears escaped the Sakura to join the blood in the air.
"Sakura?" the voice of Sasuke sounded. His tone was mixed with worry and confusion.
"I will miss them," the Sakura softly said and more tears joined the other, "I don't want to die,"
"We won't be there to ever laugh with them, nor to protect them," Inner Sakura said, "it was foolish to hope,"
"But hope we did," the Sakura said, her voice shaking.
"Naruto!" Sasuke called.
"What?" Naruto called back, confused.
"She's crying!"
"I locked you up for a reason,"
"But you released us!" The Sakura cried passionately, "We're not useless! Having emotions is not a weakness, having none is! It means that you can't handle them,"
"If you can't handle your own emotions," inner Sakura said, "What can you handle?"
"They're useless in a life of a shinobi,"
"Did they not safe you, twice this mission?" the Sakura softly asked, her eyes slowly dying.
"Never mind, she won't listen anyway," inner Sakura said bitterly, "We'll die anyway,"
"I don't want to die," the Sakura said again, her voice soft and broken.
"You're not going to die, Sakura!" Sasuke's voice suddenly broke through, lightening the area with new light.
"Get lost! You have nothing to do with this,"
"Sasuke-kun," the Sakura cried.
"What's going on?" Sasuke demanded. Naruto looked up from staring at Sakura. They had lied her down on the grass the minute she started crying. Her eyes never stopped crying but her face was oddly impassive.
"Tsunade once told me that Sakura used an dangerous technique to lock her emotions," Naruto explained, his words unusually careful, "And that she had the power to kill them,"
"Kill…her own emotions?" Sasuke asked, his voice icy but eyes wide. Naruto nodded gravely.
"Our only hope was that she hadn't yet, she seemed to be waiting for something, or perhaps even hesitating to do so," Naruto explained and he swallowed. His voice shook when he continued.
"She might be trying to kill them now,"
"I could destroy you forever,"
The Sakura only smiled sadly. It was strange how she could go from desperate calling to complete silence from one second to the next.
"Yeah, go ahead and kill us," inner Sakura challenged her eyes slowly becoming alive again, "You'll be sorry when you need us,"
"Does he mean so much to you?"
"You mean to me," the Sakura replied, "does he mean so much to me? Because we're still you,"
"Not for long if she kills us," inner Sakura spat bitterly.
"How do I keep you alive?"
The Sakura twisted in the air, her green eyes slowly becoming bright.
"Let me take over," the Sakura said, "just for a few minutes, enough to keep the fire burning,"
Her eyes flickered, indeed like a fire, a fire dying.
"Let us live," the Sakura pleaded, "Keep the chance for humanity, don't destroy us and stay like that forever,"
"You'll die," inner Sakura said, softly strangely enough.
Suddenly the bandages Sakura had turned red with blood soaking through. Both Sasuke's as Naruto's eyes widened. New wounds opened, on strange places she hadn't even taken a blow on. The skin on her forehead split open and blood flooded through, between and over her eyes.
"S-Sakura?" Naruto stuttered his eyes giving away his panic.
Only the strongest will survive, in battle and out of battle.
Sasuke frowned before grabbing his bandages and trying to stop the flow.
If keeping emotions means being stronger…
"Naruto!" Sasuke snapped bringing the bow out of his trance and making him grab his backpack in a hurry.
Then there is no other way…
Both boys tried their best but the blood flow was almost unstoppable.
But I will keep you locked when I can.
Both boys froze as Sakura finally moved, as she did the blood flow stopped almost at once although the wounds did remain.
Her eyes snapped open and locked with Sasuke's. Sasuke's breath caught in his throat as he saw nothing but raw emotion in them. Her eyes watered over and tears escaped them. As the first drops hit the ground she suddenly shot up and caught Sasuke in a desperate hold.
Sasuke in his shock knew nothing else to do except hold her. Her whole body shook with the sobs she was releasing and Sasuke tightened his hold on her, trying to stop it with force for he knew no other way. Finally Sakura's hold loosened and she leaned back so she could look at him. Her breath was coming in short gasps and her eyes were wide as if seeing Sasuke for the first time.
"I missed you," she said her voice hoarse. Both Sasuke's as Naruto's eyes widened at her emotional words. She turned slightly and her eyes locked with Naruto's bright blue ones. Her hands had slide down to hold Sasuke's shirt from the front, and her eyes were as bright as they used to be.
"I'm so sorry Naruto," Sakura sobbed and new tears gathered in her eyes, "I'm so sorry I hurt you, but I knew no other way I...,"
But Naruto shook his head and smiled slightly.
"It's okay Sakura-chan," he said and his grin grew with his next words, "Everything will be okay now, right?"
Sakura lowered her eyes and shook her head, then she turned back to Sasuke.
"I only have a few moments," her voice shook but she swallowed bravely, "before she…before I lock my emotions again,"
She held the attention of both boys like she never had before as she struggled with what to say. Her hands tightened her hold helplessly as she couldn't find the words. Sasuke slowly raised one hand and covered one hand with his own. Her bright green eyes snapped back to his eyes, which were softened slightly.
"Don't give up," Sakura finally whispered, "please…"
She broke down again, pushing herself against Sasuke and burying her head under his chin. He hold her for he knew that was what he had to do.
"Please don't let me die!" she cried out, "Please don't give up on me!"
Sasuke slowly rubbed her back, but his confused eyes met those of Naruto. Naruto's eyes were darkened in his normal look of determination.
"Don't worry Sakura-chan!" he called loudly and his voice shook with his own suppressed emotions, "We won't give up! Everything will be okay,"
Sasuke tightened his hold with those words but said nothing.
"Thank you," Sakura whispered. Sasuke rested his head on her head.
"Everything will be okay," he promised gruffly.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun," Sakura whispered and closed her eyes.
They were dead when she opened them again. Slowly she pushed Sasuke away even though he half heartily tried to resist and she tried to stand, only her body gave out form under her. A slight frown came on her face before it turned neutral again.
"Let's head back, my apologies for the interruption," Sakura said her voice as empty as before, "Please ignore what just happened,"
Sasuke smirked and Naruto grinned.
"No chance in hell Sakura," Sasuke told her in a low voice and Naruto grinned at her.
"Everything will be okay!" he insured her again, his eyes brighter then ever before, "We'll be one complete team again,"
Sakura gazed at the two before she narrowed her eyes.
"Let's just get home,"
Naruto winked at her before grabbing his and Sasuke's backpack. Sakura silently put on hers again and she could feel Sasuke's eyes on her. She pushed her pink hair away from her vision and met his stare dead on.
"You'll only get hurt," she told him. He smirked at her again.
"Thanks for your concern,"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Fool,"
Sasuke raised his eyebrow before turning and offering her his back again. Sakura climbed on again, now very aware of the fire under the ice.
It was a mistake, she knew, a big mistake to let the Sakura out. Now she would have to fight in order to stay the weapon. She narrowed her eyes.
It would be a fight she would win.
To be continued.
You guys almost offend me! You really think I would finish a character off in such a…a…not dramatic and without details boring way? Honestly, I wouldn't think about it .
So, Sakura has a huge problem, the guys have good spirits, but still their mission seems failed. What will be the consequences? And how will the two try to get the old Sakura back?
You won't know until I've updated, muhahahaha!
You probably would want to know why I haven't updated for so long. Mainly the hell called school, I simply can't find the peace in order to write. And when the holidays approached and I had time, I got the flue and could only write junk.
But I managed to update! And I hope you enjoyed it.
My apologies for the long time it took me to update, and until next time.
Gasha Aisu