CHAPTER ONE.
To take the ultimate
I could still feel it.
The blood stained upon my hands.
It has been a year. A years since their departure from this mortal plain… and yet the memory rushes forth from the depths of my slumber waking me in my moment of tranquility.
And then the dream begins once more…
flashback:
Running through the forest leaping upon the branches I struggle to keep pace with the rest. Why has it come to this? Why has this happened? His words…what are they supposed to mean?
I recount the memory that has unfolded only moments ago…
We had received vital information stating that he has again made his appearance within the regions of this land. Perhaps Sasuke's retrieval had angered him and he has finally devised a ploy to lure the Uchiha back into his captivity. Yes, after a long absence from his home…after what seemed to be an eternity of longing he had finally returned…Sasuke…my Sasuke… the boy who had stolen my existence from the beginnings of my youth…the one that had refused my persistent heart.
Sasuke.
His retrieval was not to be said as one easy task. It had taken almost 4 years before we could reach him…and in the end the damages were far too extensive. Even with the help of our newfound allegiances with Sai, Gaara, Chiyo and the rest… the remnants of what Sasuke used to be…seemed to have vanished beyond all forms of retribution.
And yet, I could not lose hope.
No, I made a solemn vow together with Naruto and Kakashi-sensei that we would restore our family—team seven—to what it was before the nuisance of Orochimaru occurred… and so after his successful retrieval began the painstaking mission of returning him to being…Sasuke. Slowly, day-by-day we would remind him of bits and pieces of his forgotten past. A task that people looked down upon on what they had labeled as "Konoha's traitor." But we never gave up…and soon he returned to us. It relieved me to realize that he was not completely lost. However, with his memories restored…so was his insatiable desire to claim the life of the man that had caused him so much pain. It would seem that with his memories…the memories shared with us, came a consequence…the consequence that caused him to leave and seek power… the consequence that allowed him to submit to Orochimaru's curse. It is something that we all feared and hoped would just dissipate into oblivion. However, that piece…is what would allow us to mould him back into who he was…but this time we would all be cautious of this presence within him, ever mindful that the cursed seal that had labeled him as Orochimaru's prize remained dormant upon him. So we swore—Naruto, Kakashi and I—that no matter what befalls our lives we would remind our Sasuke of his true strength so that he would not see the need to seek such destructive means to achieve his goal.
So again he was Sasuke.
The raven-haired stoic persona of a genius bent on restoring his clan—the clan that Itachi had forsaken for power.
Once again, he was Uchiha Sasuke, the genius heir…the avenger
And soon team seven, together with its new member; Sai became a family once more.
He had now…truly returned to us.
However the information bestowed upon us by the Godaime a while ago sent shivers up and down my soul. I peered into the eyes of my beloved and found them empty…no…they were not empty, for they were filled with that same deadly gaze that had consumed him four years prior. Would he really return to Orochimaru if he were to ask him for his assistance? No, I—we –would not allow such a thing to happen. Not even on my very life…
So we were all sent, Sasuke included, despite the Godaime's best wishes his persistence prevailed and he accompanied us into the storm. We leaped forth into the onslaught of the rain and soon he was within our sights. The man who took him away…
Orochimaru.
He stared at us with dread with Kabuto by his side.
"What is it that you want?" growled Sasuke, Kakashi-sensei now standing within a close proximity as to restrain Sasuke. By my side I could sense Naruto's chakra emitting hatred and Sai just stood poised and unfazed as ever…I could only look onward hoping that we leave with only minor casualties…if that was possible.
"Sasuke-kun, why so impatient and forceful? It's as though you have learned nothing from me at all…I was just passing through…besides this time…" he paused, scanning the environment around him "my business does not include you…at least…not yet…"
"If you're business includes no one from this village then I suggest that you---"
"But you are mistaken Kakashi-kun…" he smirked "I said my business did not include Sasuke-kun…however my intentions are directed upon another youthful…presence…"
He looked at me.
And I froze…what? Why? It couldn't be….me?
This little act has seemed to catch the attention of my fellow companions and before I could respond, Sasuke broke free of Kakshi's hold and proceeded to unleash an outcry of jutsus towards Orochimaru's direction. Kabuto, who has until now remained silent retaliated with his own series of counter attacks.
And so our battle began.
Sai and Naruto worked on restraining Kabuto as Kakashi-sensei and I tried to somber Sasuke who was now prevailing against his battle…well until Orochimaru unleashed his sword and sliced through Sasuke's body… In haste I grabbed hold of Sasuke as Kakashi-sensei began forming hand seals for a barrier to enclose us as I healed Sasuke's injury.
I could feel him fall limp upon my shoulders…the cursed seal starting to activate once more. I gathered all the chakra that I could muster within the palms of my hand and pressed it closely upon his burden. Soon, the wound faded into nothing more than traces of the blood that it had left stained on his cold sweating body. I then began to form my own set of hand seals to suppress the cursed seal from fully activating. In the years of his absence I have devoted every waking hour of my existence perfecting sealing jutsus…if ever such a day to use them would arise.
Green light enveloped both us within the chambers of Kakashi-sensei's barrier. This display of skill seemed to have attracted the attention of our enemies and soon the fighting subdued. Before Sensei could react Orochimaru found his place in front of me.
He stood before me as I latched myself onto Sasuke fearing that he would once again vanish from my sight…He stood towering upon his fallen frame and my trembling being. Even in all the strength and courage that I have attained throughout the years I still could not face this man…no…this demon.
His words…
"It seems that the kunoichi has grown in strength as well…just as I would expect from Tsunade's apprentice…but we shall see how far you have reached in your expertise…"
What did he mean?
"Show me how much you've grown…"
What interests him in my abilities? Then again, what would interest him in me?
"It is time for you to show me if you have what it takes to revive your heart…"
"Go now and show me…all will be waiting"
I could see the rest running to my rescue but with those final words Orochimaru vanished in a puff of smoke together with Kabuto.
Those words…
Why?
Me?
These thoughts raise suspicion and dread within me… I keep running in the depths of the sleeping forest… running as fast as my feet would take me I jolt in another attempt to keep pace with Naruto, Kakashi-sensei and the rest…what did he mean? We were headed back to the village to seek more medical attentionfor Sasuke who now had mobility once more…though weak and still frail he hung upon Sai's shoulders for support.
Still… it surprises me…was he testing me? Did he not want Sasuke back? It was true, Sasuke had finally returned to us after a 4 year of absence he had finally returned…so why did he not claim him once more when he had the chance?
Surely he still needed him as a vessel…
He fought with us… and yet he showed no interest in claiming the Uchiha…instead…he directed his senses upon me…but why? Why leave me with those words.
"Now, show me how much you have really grown…"
"It's time for you to show me if you have what it takes to revive your heart…"
"Go now and show me…all will be waiting"
And then it hits me. Hard in the cold weather it hits me and I run faster than the rest.
"Sakura-chan! Wait up! Where are you going!"
"There's something I have to confirm Naruto!" I scream back…I needed to know…he couldn't…could he?
I reach the village gates and tremble with anticipation and fear.
"Please let me be wrong…" I whisper into the wind. I could feel the presence of the rest still trailing behind me. Sasuke now seemed to be conscious of the events and prodded for the rest to keep track of me. I run as fast as my feet could allow me… though my chakra was now depleted I muster a few more surges through my feet to allow me a more flawless flight. As I reach my destination I stop.
It was open.
The door…
The door to my house was battered and open…
"no…"
I rush inside "Tou-san! Oka-saan!" I search their rooms. Empty… "Lin!" I call for my sister's name. Enter her room and found it empty as well.
The living room…
Nothing…
Kitchen…
Nothing…
Bathrooms…
Nothing…
…nothing…
I emerge from my house and almost tackled Naruto.
"Sakura-chan!" he screams, but his screams fail in comparison to the voices screaming waves of despair within my mind…I ran through the slumbering streets of Konoha, praying above all forms of hope that they are found…safe…I turn every corner…run over each bridge…Naruto, Sensei, Sai and Sasuke still at my tail
Finally I embark on one alleyway…and find the end to my search.
My eyes stared in disbelief….
I stood still…shaken by this…this…sight…hoping that soon I would awake from this dream.
There before my eyes…were the bodies of my family…
Father…
Mother….
Lin…
Their dead naked bodies pinned against the alley way with kunai knives…their eyes opened and mouths agape…blood still trickling down their fallen frame. I approach…numb and broken…and yet… tears did not greet me… I couldn't…I just couldn't….
I slowly approach the bodies of my family and slowly and steadily releasing each of them from the kunai's hold… I began with my Father…taking out each stake that drove through his arms…his legs… I wrap him in my arms and set him on the ground…closing his eyes and kissing him on the forhead.
"Tou-san…"
I stood once more and retrieved my mother…carefully and delicately placing her next to my father's fallen frame…I look upon her sleeping features and see how much pain she endured in the time it took for her life to be taken away…. "Oka-saan"
Before I turn around to recover my sister…Naruto and the others have now discovered my location…Each stood in disbelief…each silent…
"Sakura…cha—" Naruto tried to muster…but stopped as I did not respond nor flinch…instead I continued with my task.
I turned around one last time to recover my sister, her face so young and yet filled with so much… despair. I place her in between my sleeping parents…their heads resting on spaces in my lap… I take off my cloak and lay it upon their bodies….
I did not contain enough chakra to recover them…
And even if I had… it would all be too late…
So I did what I could…
Gathering the remaining drops of chakra within my hands… I placed them upon my family and heal their wounds…restoring their bodies to what they were before death sought them…
However, I could not return their lives…
All I could do was heal their wounds…
"Forgive me…" I bow my head in between theirs "In the end...this is all I could do for you… forgive me…"
And so…
The rain began to pour upon me…crying the tears that my numbed form could not conjure…
"Forgive me…"