DISCLAIMER: Oh! I forgot about this…Well, sadly, I don't own Naruto. And I didn't own him in the previous chapters either
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Something rustled in the bushes.
"Are?" Sakura instinctively turned her head to look, forgetting the current situation she was in.
Neji, with his eyes closed now, did not notice the kunoichi turn her head, and continued to lean forward. After a few seconds, and no contact, his eyes snapped open in confusion. Neji's eyes followed Sakura's, and he failed to notice his precarious positioning. Now that the boy's attention was drawn away from balance, he lost it, and then fell flat on top of Sakura who squealed in surprise.
"N-nani…Neji-kun?"
Of course, at this time the thing in the bushes chose to show itself.
Sasuke and Lee promptly walked in on the scene.
For a few seconds there was silence as the four stared at one another. Sakura's face was quickly changing to a deep, deep red.
"Nan de…" she whispered to herself. Neji seemed to be in a state of shock and didn't come to grips with how seriously wrong the current state he was in was; and how questionable his position looked.
Sasuke, often referred to as the human ice cube, averted his eyes and managed to show no emotion.
Lee on the other hand…
"Sakura-san!" He cried out incredulously. "Neji!"
At this outburst Shikamaru and Naruto had woken, each jumping out from their tents with kunai in their hands.
Again silence ensued.
"What the hell?" Naruto roared. This caused Neji to start and realize where he was. He quickly picked himself up which allowed Sakura room to breathe again.
Shikamaru just sighed angrily, a vein pulsing in his temple.
Neji scowled, trying to act like nothing happened and hide any blush that dare penetrate his face.
Both Naruto and Lee were now yelling at Neji. Sakura used this distraction to stand and approach Sasuke.
"Sasuke-kun…Why are you here?" She asked. The boy continued to stare off into the distance.
"If a mission has to do with Sound-nin, it has to do with me. I spoke with Tsunade-sama about this. She agreed to let me go as long as I brought Lee." He then turned and grabbed a hold of Sakura's wrist.
"Come with me. We have something to discuss."
"Wh-what? If it's about Nej-"
"No," Sasuke cut her off sharply and started leading her through the woods.
No one but Shikamaru noticed them leave.
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"Where are we going?" Sakura asked a minute later. She was answered with only the chirping of birds and footsteps on the forest floor.
After another minute of walking Sasuke stopped moving. They were in grove of trees, lush with a multitude of plants.
Insulation.
The kunoichi's heart skipped a beat. Sakura swallowed hard.
"A-ano-"
"Did you tell anyone?" The raven-haired boy asked bluntly, staring straight into her emerald eyes.
The cherry blossom was having trouble keeping her eyes up.
"Tell…what?"
"About yesterday," his dark eyes never blinked.
Oh.
"N-no! I-but-why? What happened-I!" She had unconsciously pushed the moment out of her mind, but it all came flooding back to her, and she was unable to form a complete sentence. Sakura then absent mindedly rubbed her arms where the bruises from his fingers were.
Sasuke's face shifted slightly and he looked a tad relieved.
"Demo, why does it matter Sasuke? What happened?"
"You can't tell anyone about it, Sakura." He used her name to emphasize his point.
"Why Sasuke! Why won't you let anyone help you? I don't understand…!"
"No one needs to know."
"But Sasuke!"
"Damn it, Sakura!" His hand flew past her face and punched the tree behind her. "You-"
Sasuke's eyes suddenly grew wide, his voice and mouth cut off.
Sakura had pushed herself forward, locking her soft lips onto his own.
The wind blew softly and leaves sparkled in the small rays of sunlight, celebrating the moment.
The kiss was short and unrequited. Somehow, though, it felt life-changing all the same. Sakura pulled her face away and then wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. Tears were falling down her cheeks now, and when she laid her head on his chest they soaked through his shirt.
"You're so cold and alone, Sasuke…but like this, you're so warm," There was a tiny smile on her face.
Sasuke was stunned. Never…this had never…He was in shock. The boy's outstretched arm fell limp next to his side.
She needed to let go. It was a plain and simple fact. Sasuke resisted, not actually wanting this to happen. His curse seal was now starting to pain him more, a constant reminder that letting go was more important. If she didn't he could end up hurting her again.
"It's all I wanted…to just be here with you, for you, a confident. A constant." Sakura's tears fell harder. "Why do you still refuse people…" her voice grew softer, "Refuse me…?"
"Let go of me."
The words came out all wrong. Sakura instantly released him, stepping back from the Uchiha.
Sasuke was mentally berating himself. He watched as she drew her hand to her mouth and turned, dashing away into the underbrush. Once out of eyesight, Sasuke fell against the tree and slid to a seating position, holding the curse seal and staring at his shaking right hand.
"Damn it," he cursed. "Damn Orochimaru. Damn my dead brother. Damn everyone!"
Everything Sasuke ever wanted was always taken from him. His family, his status, his…
Sakura had always said she loved him. Now, she had shown it. But…
Sasuke didn't know what love was.
He didn't understand. After losing the entire Uchiha clan, he had sealed himself up, fearing to have a like for anything, lest it be destroyed again.
Why had he refused Sakura?
She would be in the way. If he thought about her, he could never reach his potential. He didn't want more people involved in his downward spiral.
But it was over now. Itachi was dead.
Orochimaru was not.
Sasuke cursed again. What did the bastard want with him now? Was he still after his body and sharingan? Why was it reacting whenever he was close to Sakura?
Sasuke hit the ground with his fist, and then stood up to follow the pink-haired girl's path.
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"Silly Sasuke-kun," said an evil, dark, and somewhat raspy voice that echoed through the shadowed room. "Run away from me the first time. Avoided me the second. But he does not know that I can still control him."
- "In return from gaining power from the cursed seal you will be under Orochimaru-sama's control. We have no freedom." -
"However, Sasuke has become an annoyance. I do not have the patience to wait for my soldiers to catch him, and if I were to go to him now, Tsunade or Jiraiya would be in my way,"
Glasses flashed in the darkness.
"You have given up on him?"
"Oh, no, no. I know there is more than one way to catch an Uchiha, however."
"An heir…" muttered the man with glasses.
"I am immortal. I have the time to wait for it. And then, I will destroy Konoha."
Laughter rang through the shadowed room.
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Sakura had run for a while now. She had reached a clearing; a grassy meadow with flowers blooming all around. The kunoichi was in no mood to enjoy it now however. She had fallen to her knees and was crying just like she had six years ago.
"Why…" She whispered. "Why?"
"Sakura?"
The pink-haired girl jumped at the voice. She quickly wiped her eyes, trying to hide the fact that she was crying.
"Neji-kun…" She looked up at him. "H-how did you find me?" She asked. Sakura wasn't even aware that he had followed her the entire time. Remembering what had happened just a half-hour ago, she started turning pink. It was a strange combination, blushing and crying.
'Crying again,' thought Neji. Damn Uchiha.
"Sakura," he said again, "Have you ever wondered why so many Ninja have expressed 'feelings' for you?"
"N-nani? Why are you asking me this?" She looked up at his tall figure.
"Many men around your age are feeling pressure from their relatives to marry." Neji continued, ignoring her questions. "They want to have someone to carry on their clan incase they die some time soon in a mission. A Ninja's life is very unpredictable."
Sakura's brows were pushing together in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"When the Ninja are walking the streets, or on missions, they pay attention to the kunoichi, judging which girl they would have advance their clan. Frankly, there aren't many women your age who are both Shinobi and possess strength. Ino has Shikamaru. Hinata…well, she's my cousin. TenTen…" He trailed off.
- "Neji, have you found someone suitable to bear an heir to the family? With your skills, a child could become extremely powerful, given the right mother."
The boy turned his head to the side. "TenTen," he said.
"You know she's gone."
"There is one other. She's on my team." -
"Not to say there is no attraction. I suppose that would be useful for…" Neji stopped again. Sakura had pulled herself to her feet and backed up from the boy. The girl was sickened by his words. Was it all really true?
"Neji…"
"Love is no longer considered a legitimate reason to marry." Neji stepped forward, coming closer to her. "Sakura, I -"
His eyes suddenly grew wide.
"What?" Sakura asked. His body movements had stopped entirely. "What?" She asked more forcefully this time. Neji coughed, and blood spattered onto Sakura's face. "Neji!" She cried, as the boy coughed again. Sakura raised her arm to block the fluid. The Hyuuga fell face forward onto the ground. That's when Sakura could see the kunai sticking straight out from between his shoulder blades. Her body tensed instantly. Who had thrown…
Several more weapons flew past her head. She ducked instinctively and then jumped into the trees. She heard more sounds of whistling and jumped away, running through the open area. Another kunai passed in front of her, and more shuriken around her body.
"What the hell?" Sakura asked as she ran. A kunai was now positioned in her hand.
Sudden laughter made her stop. Yet another kunai flew through the air towards her head. She lifted her own to stop it, and was shocked when the knife disappeared as it hit.
"Genjutsu!" The kunoichi was shocked. She then felt something cut her cheek. It was just a small cut, and a drop of blood fell from it, but then several more followed. They were all over; making rips in her clothes and drawing blood from all exposed skin.
More laughter. Sakura tried to bring her hands together to focus chakra, but found only one would move. Her left hand was frozen in mid-air.
"Wires…" She said in realization. When her attacker had thrown the illusions, he had been hiding wires within them, and now she was caught in their web! Sakura struggled for a few more seconds, thinking she could break the string surrounding her. It was futile. If she moved, she'd only get cut up worse.
"Damn it…" The kunoichi raised her right hand, and formed a fist. For a second she concentrated, and then drove her hand into the Earth directly in front of her, releasing her chakra in an instant. The ground broke apart beneath her and rocks jutted up all around. As she fell, she heard snapping. Her left arm felt free now, and she chanced movement. Her body part now moved as she wished, and Sakura quickly formed a few seals, and when the girl landed on the ground, her body started to disappear. It was a move she had begged Kurenai to teach her, one the Jounin had used against Itachi at one point. It would make her look invisible to people and give an opening to attack.
Since Sakura knew the area above her was free of wires, she jumped up as high as possible, and made her way towards the edge of the forest. She luckily made it with only a few more cuts.
"Now, where is he?" She asked herself.
"You'll never find me," Answered a voice, echoing around the area, making it impossible to pinpoint. Sakura pulled out a kunai and daringly threw it into the bushes. Without warning it was thrown back at her.
'Another illusion?' Sakura ducked it, and the kunai went straight through the tree. Sakura looked down, her emerald eyes searching. What could she do? Her gaze found the hole she'd made in the ground.
'If I continue that, I'll be underneath his wires…' She thought. The cherry blossom aimed herself toward her previous attack and she leapt from the tree, landing another chakra punch, breaking the ground apart even more. To her surprise, a man was standing before her.
"Genjutsu," He said. Sakura had found herself again and dashed behind him, still invisible. She continued to use the jutsu, making a tree appear out of thin air and its roots catching the man. He did not struggle though. Sakura emerged from the tree, ready to strike, when she felt extremely hot. Burning hot…
Sakura screamed in pain. The illusion was gone, and now it was just her lying on the ground covered in dirt and scratches. The man was standing just a few feet away smirking. The kunoichi pulled herself up and went to a direct attack. Her foot was about to connect with her attacker when she again felt like she was on fire. Her leg was…burning? The sound-nin laughed. She aimed a fist for his face. Just as she was about to connect she saw it. A burning chakra had grown around him, and touching it was like touching fire. She instantly jumped back. Close range would not work.
"Do you like it? My special ability - turning chakra into fire. You can't touch me for fear of third degree burns."
Sakura glared at him. But what he said was true. She already felt the blisters on her exposed leg mixing with the pain of her numerous cuts. The foreign ninja then jumped out of the small hole Sakura had made, daring her to follow. There was no way. If she went back up she would be severed by the wires. If she tried to get close, he would burn her. Could she withstand the burns? The girl ran and punched the earth wall, breaking a hole. She started digging, thinking that her idea could work. Above, the sound-nin laughed.
"We'll catch you eventually Sakura. It is what he desires."
There was no response. Sakura was underground, pushing herself up to where he stood. Her hand then exploded from the dirt, latching onto his ankle. Immediately she felt the burning pain. But she had to stand it; there was no other way to get close.
Sakura's cries of pain were muffled by the dirt around her. With her opposite hand she punched the ground above, breaking lose the dirt and dragging the man down to her level. He gasped, not expecting her be able to do such a thing. Her hand would now likely be suffering third-degree burns. Sakura held in the tears of pain and pulled out a kunai. Without thinking she plunged it into her surprised attacker right below his left shoulder…his heart. Now the sound-nin screamed, and both hit the ground. Sakura was cradling her hand, not fully realizing what she had done.
When she steadied herself again, the kunoichi glanced up to see what the man was doing. She gasped; his chest was covered in blood and the kunai…
The kunai was sticking straight out from where his heart should be.
"Damn girl. Sooner or later we will catch you," his voiced faded with every syllable until he became lifeless, limp, and then dead.
Dead.
The word echoed around her mind as she crawled out of the hole in ground, being careful to avoid using her opposite hand. The girl's mind was absolutely numb, the tears flowing unchecked.
Sakura lifted her shaking, burned hand, covered in blood and cuts.
Dead. He was dead. She'd never…never…
'Dead. You killed him. And you didn't even think about doing it.' Her inner-self was accusing her. Sakura's eyes closed. The pain and the shock of death were filling her. All she could see now was black as consciousness faded from her.
Sasuke managed to catch Sakura before she collapsed to the ground.
He had watched the entire thing. And, if Sasuke were to be honest with himself, he would say that he was somewhat amazed.
This was Haruno Sakura? This as little crybaby Sakura who was always in need of rescuing?
She had just killed someone. It wasn't that he was appalled; Sasuke had killed several men before. No, Sasuke might've actually been proud. Sakura had truly grown up. It was just a shame the fact had caused the girl to faint.
The Uchiha had remembered a few things from the academy about first aid, one of them being something about putting the knees above the head when someone faints. So Sasuke set her down on flat ground and pulled her knees onto a rock she'd unearthed during her fight.
'Where did she get such massive strength?' He wondered.
Sasuke then walked over to where Neji was still laying unconscious.
"Hyuuga, your ability is useless if everyone knows about the blind-spot." The raven-haired boy reached down and wrenched the kunai from his back. Neji was lucky that it had not gone deep enough to strike his spinal cord.
'Why had he been knocked out so easily?'
Sasuke took a step to the right and saw a small sparkle. The boy kneeled down and pushed Neji's long black hair out of the way. Two senbon were stuck through his neck. Sasuke proceeded to pull these out, which caused Neji to twitch and start coughing. The Uchiha was strongly reminded of his fight so long ago with the boy named Haku.
"Uchiha," Neji hissed, pushing himself off of the ground and turning to face the boy. Sasuke showed no emotion, just stuck his hands in his pockets. He then walked out of Neji's line of sight and heard the boy gasp.
"What the…what the hell happened?"
"After you were put into sleep by these," he held up the senbon, "Sakura was attacked by a sound-nin."
"Ah," apparently the Hyuuga wasn't new to her abilities.
"Is she okay? Do you even care?"
"I did not take the time to examine her. However, she did faint after realizing she had killed her attacker."
"Killed…" Neji trailed off. "Fine. I'll wait until she wakes up. You can go tell the others we're okay."
Sasuke watched Neji stroll towards the fallen Kunoichi.
"No. I don't trust you alone with her," He announced bluntly. Neji looked over his shoulder at the sharingan user and smirked,
"Oh? Taken a sudden interest in Sakura now?" His voice was taunting.
"She's my teammate,"
Neji laughed uncharacteristically.
"Did you think about that when you left her crying her eyes out in Konoha six years ago? You weren't there to see her desperation."
That was a stab in the gut. Sasuke chose not to reply. There wasn't anything he could really say. Yes, his actions had been selfish. No one would ever understand though.
"After being her teammate for only six months I was able to see the true strength in her. She just never chose to show it until you left. She would cry at night, and during the day train with Tsunade, Naruto, and I until she was dead tired. She blamed herself, you know. She thought it was her own fault you left. Sakura thought that if she was stronger she could have stopped you; that you would have cared for her more. Damn it Sasuke, you've been killing the most skilled kunoichi Konoha has had in a long time."
The dark eyed boy looked away. No one would ever understand.
But the question now remained: What did Orochimaru want with Sakura?
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A/N: Hope this cleared up some things for you. Bah, I have it all in my head, it just resists coming down. I usually dream about this stuff and that's where it comes from
Thanks so much for the reviews! You make me so happy
PLEAS LET ME KNOW IF YOU'RE CONFUSED! I tend to do this in my stories…
Yeah, I know, Neji is completely OOC. But whatever. It's been six years
Sasuke will start to be OOC here soon too.
