Summary: Sakura had always been a nuisance. She begged Naruto and Sasuke to take her with them. Ever since the explosion, she's been missing. Had she just gotten in to way again, or had she saved their lives? Now, Orochimaru is looking for her for reasons unknown. Sasuke and Naruto must find her first, before she falls into evil hands. What would Orochimaru want with the kunoichi anyway?
"Please!" pleaded Sakura. She clasped her hands together and stared and Sasuke and Naruto. "I wont get in the way! I'll help out all I can! And besides, what if one of you get hurt? I could heal you! My training with Tsunade-sensei is would come in handy! PLEASE!"
Naruto sighed. "Sakura-chan, you could get hurt to. Remember what happened last time we went to Orochimaru's castle?"
"That was 2 years ago!" Her eyes shot to Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun I know I sound really annoying! But please believe me! I could be more help then you!"
For a minute Sasuke thought she was going to cry. He closed his eyes to think. He opened them and looked at the kunoichi. Sasuke couldn't help but grin. He looked at Naruto who smiled also. "Fine." He said bluntly. "But don't expect us to come and save you like some Prince Charming."
"Hai!"
That night Sakura got all of her stuff ready for the next morning's departure. She packed kunai knifes, shrunken, scrolls, a hairbrush, extra clothes and underwear, and last some medic jutsu scrolls that might come in handy. She looked around her room. It was small yet spacious. She should really consider redecorating. Maybe a nice shade of red…or pink, but her parents wouldn't allow it.
"Oh I'm so excited!" she said aloud. All she wanted was to go on a dangerous mission with Sasuke and Naruto, to prove she can take care of herself. She was tired of being protected. Now with Tsunade's training, she could be the protector. But, Sasuke and Naruto are still much stronger then her. They could take care of themselves.
When morning came, Sakura was the first one to the meeting spot. They would be traveling to Sound Country. After a while she saw Sasuke walk up the bridge.
"Hey Sasuke-kun!" greeted Sakura.
"Hn." Was all she got in response. It's better then nothing
"Ah, here comes Naruto!" she said. "HEY NARUTO!" She waved for him to come over. Sasuke looked at her with confusion. She didn't normally greet Naruto warmly.
Naruto looked up to see Sakura waving at him. He waved back. "HI SAKURA-CHAN!" If only she would love him as much as she loved Sasuke. He knew that would never happen. But at least he could give it a try.
"Hey Sakura-chan, after this is over, wanna go on a date?" he asked desperately.
'WHAT? I'D NEVER GO ON A DATE WITH YOU, YOU PATHETIC LOSER!'Shouted Inner-Sakura.
Sakura looked at him. She kind of felt sorry for him. She didn't want to go, but she didn't want to look like a mean, stupid, weak, Sasuke groupie. "Um. I don't know Naruto. I might be a little tired after that. …Maybe some other time."
'I knew it…wait…what did she say?' Hope shot out in his eyes. "What was that?"
Sakura stared at the blonde. "Maybe some other time." She didn't bother to look at Sasuke…though it killed her slightly inside. She looked toward the sky. 'My obsession with Sasuke-kun is probably what makes me so weak. If I want to be a good enough ninja for him, I most show no fear. I must put my mission before my feelings.'
"Sakura…"
Sakura looked to the owner of the voice who called her name. She found herself looking into onyx eyes. Her heart nearly beat out of her chest at the thought of what he was going to say.
"You got toilet paper on your shoe…"
Sakura's eyes widened as she looked down to her left foot. Sure enough, there was toilet paper glued to the bottom of her shoe. Fortunately, it was clean and pure white. Her face glowed red as she bent down and picked it up. She stared at it, wondering where it came from.
She turned to Naruto and held the toilet paper out. "…Want some?"
It was an hour later when Kakashi finally came. "I was helping an old lady across the street. She walked .01 miles per hour so that's why it took so long. I come here to tell you good luck on this mission. We're all counting on you."
"What? You're not coming with us!"
Oo
As they walked along the path alone, Sakura couldn't help but think where that damn toilet paper came from. She went to the bathroom before she came, but she checked. …She must have stepped on a stray on the way to the meeting spot. But for some reason, it was bugging the crap out of her. And Sasuke noticed! He would soon forget about it…but he NOTICED! …What was he doing staring at her feet anyway? If Naruto were the one to notice, it wouldn't be as bad. It happens to him all the time!
"Sakura…" came Sasuke's voice again.
Sakura's faced reddened as her eyes shot straight to her feet to see if that mysterious strip of toilet paper was there again. To her relief, there were just her shoes and feet. She turned to Sasuke.
"Yes?"
"We're under attack." He pulled out a kunai knife and activated his Sharingan.
'BAKA! You were to busy thinking about embarrassment that you weren't paying attention! I can't believe I'm related to you!'
Sakura really didn't really want to deal with Inner-Sakura at this moment.
'I'm sorry! I can't help it! And besides…Sasuke didn't have to be so blunt about the attack and the toilet paper…'
'SHUT UP! WE'RE BEING ATTACKED REMEMBER?'
'Oh yeah…'
Sakura grabbed a kunai out and looked for the enemy. She sensed a lot of chakra…but she soon realized that it was just a lot of people. Bandits probably. Good thing Tsunade taught her how to sense chakra well, otherwise she would be freaking out for nothing.
She looked around and saw a dark shadow moving in the woods. 'There they are.' She threw the kunai in that direction, and soon heard a scream of agony. More guys appeared out of the bushes holding weapons. The big one, obviously the leader, pointed to Sakura and opened his mouth.
"You killed my brother! You filthy wench I'll kill you!" he shouted. He took out a dagger and ran towards her.
Sakura easily dodged him. The guy was so big that he ran extremely slowly. She threw some shuriken while still in mid air. She did a couple of hand signs and disappeared with a poof. The shuriken hit the big guy in the shoulder, causing him to take a step back. Sakura appeared behind him and gave a hard blow to the back of his head. She disappeared again and reappeared in front of him this time, giving him a blow in the stomach. He stumbled back and fell on the ground with the big thump.
"Boss is down, RETREAT!" shouted one of the bandits. A flash of smoke appeared, and when it cleared they were all gone.
Sakura smiled and walked back to the rest of Team 7.
"Whoa Sakura-chan that was awesome!" shouted Naruto. "When did you ever get to learn that?"
She smirked. "Don't think that I just learned medical stuff while training with Tsunade-sensei." She closed her eyes.
/Flashback/
"Come on Sakura!" shouted Tsunade as she jumped in the air. "I know you can do better then that!"
"I could if you would stop moving so quickly!" shouted Sakura sarcastically.
/End flashback/
"…Any way, should we get going?"
They walked for a couple more hours until the sun went down. They stopped and set camp on a clearing in the woods. Naruto brought some ramen and a water heater for food. Sakura decided to go to the stream to wash up while Sasuke and Naruto got camp ready.
"Hey Sasuke…" Naruto said as he got out all of the food. "Do you really think that Sakura learned how to fight from Tsunade?"
"That's what she said," stated Sasuke emotionless. "The Hokage is that strong so maybe Sakura can be that strong too." 'But wow, that was really amazing for Sakura…'
"I don't know…" muttered Naruto. "She always goes off by herself sometimes, and doesn't come back for more then 7 hours. You think she's been training?"
Oo
Sakura looked at herself in the reflection of the water. Her hair needed washing, as so did her face. 'Maybe I should take a bath…or maybe I shouldn't care what I look like.' She studied the reflection closer. 'But if I have time, it wouldn't hurt to look nice.' She looked around to see if anyone was there. She didn't sense any chakra near aside from Naruto and Sasuke's. She stripped off her dress. She folded it down and laid it on a rock that was visible, so if Naruto or Sasuke would come by they would know she was taking a bath…hopefully. She took off her fishnet shirt and her green pants, putting them, with her shoes, next to her dress.
"Ah," she moaned as she slid in the water. The water was cool, and the current brought it up against her body, and it felt good. She dipped her head under it, letting the water flow through her hair. 'Who ever knew cold water would feel so good.'
Oo
"Alright! The food is all set to go!" shouted Naruto in a proud stance. "Now all we need to do is go get water!" He threw a bucket at Sasuke. Naruto hoped it would hit him, but he just caught it in mid air. He looked at it.
"What am I supposed to do with this dobe?" asked Sasuke bitterly.
"Go get water! Did you not just hear me a few seconds ago?"
Sasuke didn't get answer. He was already on his way to the stream, where a certain pink haired kunoichi was bathing. (WHO IS IT! It makes me wonder…)
Sasuke walked down the path to the stream. He noticed something on a rock in the distance. As he walked closer he realized that it was familiar…yet he couldn't figure out what it was. As he got close he saw that it was an outfit…but whose? Suddenly it hit him. It was Sakura's! Was she in trouble? Why are her clothes off? He ran down the path to find any other trace of Sakura. He stopped dead in his tracks when he got there.
There was Sakura…perfectly untouched in the stream, naked. Her eyes widened as she screamed.
"AHHHHHH!" She threw rocks, sticks, anything she could find until he was gone.
She got out, and put on her clothes. She didn't want to go to the campsite just yet. She wouldn't be able to bear it. Who would? Sasuke just saw her naked. NAKED! Either he is really stupid or really perverted.
Oo
"Sasuke…you look red." Naruto went over to Sasuke. "Are you getting a fever?"
"…No." Sasuke looked at Naruto…who was truly confused. He threw the bucket at him.
"Where's the water?"
"I don't think we can use that water."
"Why not?" Naruto looked at the bucket. "Don't tell me its salt water…"
"AHHHH!"
Naruto and Sasuke looked to the direction where the scream came from. It was from the stream! Suddenly, Sakura came running down the path…with her clothes on.
"Orochimaru…" she said in between gasps. "Knows…we're here…he's…attacking…with four…other sound…ninja." She finally stopped next to them taking deep breaths. She didn't look at Sasuke, just Naruto or off to some distance.
A big explosion exploded next to them, making the jump into the trees. They looked to see Orochimaru surrounded by 4 sound nin. They were ones they've never seen before though. One was a girl, and the other three were guys. They all looked tough.
Sasuke smirked. "Looks like a mission has just come to us."
It was now that Sakura realized that she was scared. Scared to death of what was going to happen. She found Orochimaru staring at her right in the eye. She looked out to Sasuke. He jumped at Orochimaru with a kunai knife in his hand. But he stopped in midair as another kunai knife stabbed him in the back. His lifeless body fell to the floor as blood drained from the wound.
Tears flowed through Sakura's eyes. No way this could be true. Sasuke can't die that easily.
Oo
Sasuke stared at Sakura. She was trembling, and tears started to weld up in here eyes. He followed her gaze and saw that Orochimaru was looking at her. 'Genjutsu.' He thought right away. He jumped toward Orochimaru, but one of the male ninja got in his way. Sasuke took out a kunai knife and attacked him, but was blocked by another kunai knife. He jumped up, the other guy jumped too. He attacked, but was again blocked.
'This is taking to long…Sakura, hold on.'
Oo
'This has to be a dream…or something else.' Sakura thought. She looked down to the body that lay still on the ground. "No."
Oo
"No." came out of Sakura's mouth. Sasuke looked at her hearing her voice. Her trembling arms starting rising slowly. She put her fingers through her other fingers. She was breaking the genjutsu! "Kai!" She fell down as if she fainted.
The female ninja of the group jumped over to Sakura's body. She took a kunai knife and jabbed it through Sakura's chest, but a big puff of smoke appeared, and it Sakura's place was a log. The ninja looked behind her to see Sakura coming after he with a kunai. She jumped out of the way, causing the kunai to just scrape her.
Is it any wonder why I'm scaredSakura jumped back. 'Damn, missed her…'
"Hm, you'll never be able to beat me. Your just to weak." Laughed the women. Her voice was a little deep. This was partly the reason why Sakura laughed.
If I was a little younger would I care?"What's so funny?"
"Is it just me, or are you the one with the bleeding shoulder?" Sakura smirked. "I hate people like you, acting all tough, when really a 2 year old could beat them. Your nothing but a pathetic piece of shit." 'Whoa…did that just come out of my mouth?'
'Did that just come out of Sakura's mouth?' thought Naruto as he was fighting another sound ninja. Naruto jumped in the air and threw shrunken at him. He dodged and did some hand seals.
"Wild Boar no Jutsu!" he shouted. A load of boars came out of nowhere and charged at Naruto. Naruto jumped, but they just kept coming. He covered his face as he let them trample him.
"Big words," started the woman. "For such a small girl. I know who you are. Haruno Sakura…the weakest kunoichi in all of Konoha. The one who obsessed over her looks instead of her training. Don't think you can fool me."
I'm feeling like these walls are growing strongerSasuke sneaked a look at Sakura. Her eyes were showing signs of both anger and sadness. She looked like she was going to snap.
"Ah!" cried the ninja he was fighting. Sasuke hadn't realized it, but he had just slit him across the throat. He was dead within a few seconds. He looked to find Orochimaru…or at least another one of the sound ninjas. He saw one of them fighting Naruto, and the female fighting Sakura…where was the other one?
He felt a sudden pain in his left shoulder. He turned his head around to see a shuriken wedged deep within him. He looked around to see where it came from. He activated his Sharingan and sought to find out.
I don't know if this cage can hold me any longerSakura laughed again. "You must have heard that along time ago." She charged at the kunoichi with great speed. But before she got there she disappeared and appeared behind her. She then disappeared into the trees and threw the kunai knife from there. Following it, she took out another one. Once the sound ninja dodged the one she threw, Sakura threw the one she had her hand now.
You never dreamed you'd have to live your life so guarded
Sakura followed the one she threw and took out another one. Again, the sound ninja dodged it easily. She did this in that fashion about five more times, until she ran out of kunai knives.
"Heh, looks like you just wasted all you kunai…" The woman looked in Sakura's eyes. "Your finished."
Cause I'll find a way to make you feel discarded
All Sakura did was smile as she revealed another kunai.
"You'll never get me with that. You're even more weaker then you look."
I'm not afraid of tomorrow
I'm only scared of myself
It feels like my insides are all on fire
And I'm looking through the eyes of someone else
Instead of throwing the kunai at her opponent, Sakura threw it to the side.
"HA! You just wasted you last kunai!" The woman laughed. "And all this time I thought you had something planned up your sleeve! What a baka I am!" She took out another kunai and lunged at Sakura. Sakura just stood there, smiling.
I never thought they'd want me to go even faster
Never thought I took my foot off the gas
Naruto kicked the ninja that was attacking him. He heard a crack and grinned. "He wasn't so tough." He thought out loud. He looked over to Sasuke, who was having trouble with the ninja who was attacking him. He ran over to assist him, but a jingle caught his attention. He looked over to Sakura.
The kunai she had thrown landed with a jingle, which caught the attention of the other kunoichi. She looked away, but looked back to find a fist coming towards her face. Sakura's blow hit her so hard that she flew back and landed on a tree, the same tree that the kunai was thrown at. It fell down and landed on the woman's head. She was dead.
"HAH!" shouted Sakura. "AND YOU JUST FELL FOR THE OLDEST TRICK IN THE BOOK!"
'And she called us pathetic!' laughed Inner-Sakura.
Everybody loves to be in on the pressure
But I know they're all waiting for the crash
Sakura ran towards Naruto.
"Where's Sasuke-kun?" she asked in a cheery, carefree voice.
Sasuke had finished off his opponent and was now looking for Orochimaru. He just didn't seem to be there. Did he leave his comrades behind and just left? Or was he just hiding and waiting for the perfect time to strike.
You never dreamed you'd have to live your life so guarded
Cause I'll find a way to make you feel discarded
Things have changed, you've become a complication
'There he is!' Sasuke thought. He jumped into the bushes and attacked the figure. It turned out just to be a substitution. He looked around. 'He has to be around here somewhere…'
Can't make it through another day's humiliation
Sakura saw a snaky figure come up to Sasuke.
"Naruto!" she cried.
Naruto caught on and both of them ran towards Sasuke.
Sakura grabbed a random kunai out of the ground and went towards Sasuke. She jumped on him and pulled him down, while Naruto appeared out of nowhere and threw a kunai at Orochimaru. Unfortunately, Orochimaru caught it with his tongue.
Sakura got off Sasuke quickly and charged at Orochimaru, who was fighting off Naruto. She did some hand seals, and three clones appeared next to her. The clones jumped at him, while a puff of smoke hid Sakura. The clones were easily defeated, but one stayed.
'Hm, that's the real one…' Orochimaru grabbed a shuriken and threw it at her. I hit her in her forehead, and she screamed. He grinned, but the grin disappeared when the clone went up in smoke. 'What?'
I'm not afraid of tomorrow
I'm only scared of myself
Feels like my insides are on fire
And I'm looking through the eyes of someone else
Sasuke ran towards Orochimaru and attempted a fire jutsu. Orochimaru easily dodged it, while smacking Naruto to the ground. Naruto fell to the ground unconscious. "NARUTO!" Sasuke heard Sakura scream. He paid no mind. He kept on going after Orochimaru.
Someone else
'I have to do something, I cant just stand here like a scared puppy! But…why wont my body move?' Sakura thought. It must be some sort of binding jutsu…it has to be. 'I need to think of a plan…' Sakura tried to move her arms, but all they did was tremble. She tried harder with all her strength. Slowly, her arms went up into the cancel from. "Kai." She said silently so Orochimaru wouldn't notice. 'I've got it…but I'm betting on Sasuke's life…'
Sakura took a shuriken and scratched her arms, legs, and face up so she looked like she was beat. She made it so it looked like she was losing a lot of blood, but really it was self-genjutsu that she was taught. She picked a spot next to a tree and stabbed shuriken and kunai in it around where she will be laying. 'This better work,' said Inner-Sakura.
Is it any wonder why the answer keeps me petrified?
Is it any wonder why I'm scared?
"SASUKE HELP!" she shouted. 'I have to make it sound convincing.' Sakura screamed in "agony". Sasuke turned his head. His eyes widened at the site of Sakura all beat up almost worse then that time during the Chuunin Exams. He turned his face to Orochimaru who was smiling at Sakura.
Orochimaru lifted is pinky. "I'll go put your girlfriend out of her misery." He left Sasuke and ran straight to Sakura.
I'm not afraid of tomorrow
I'm only scared of myself
Feels like my insides are on fire
And I'm looking through the eyes of someone else
Sakura put her head down, as if she was to weak to keep it up. She took a swift look and saw that Orochimaru was running towards her.
'Perfect…'
Sasuke just stood there as if petrified.
'Dammit Sakura! You promised you wouldn't get in the way!' he thought to him self. He soon realized what was happening and tried to run to Sakura before Orochimaru got to her.
I'm not afraid of tomorrow
Is it any wonder why I'm scared
Sakura flashed Sasuke a quick smile as she secretly grabbed out a kunai, with more the 20 exploding tags on it.
I'm only scared of myself
If i was a little younger would I care?
As Orochimaru came closer, Sakura started thinking about the past. When Team 7 first formed. How she would always reject Naruto, yet get rejected by Sasuke. Going on easy missions where nothing would happen. Sleeping under the open stars, remembering it to be the best night of her life. She was only twelve then. Even now, she's still too young to die. But, if Sasuke gets to live, then it would be worth it. Maybe then, he wouldn't think of her as weak.
Feels like my insides are on fire
Feeling like these walls are growing stronger
And I'm looking through the eyes of someone else
Is it any wonder why I'm scared?
Orochimaru finally reached her, and Sasuke was far behind. He looked down at Sakura and smirked. "You my dear, have to go…"
"Oh really?"
Orochimaru's eyes widened as Sakura lifted her head and stared at him. Her cuts started to disappear, just like Tsunade's did when Orochimaru fought her. Her eyes started to glow a dark red, the color of blood. Her smile twisted in an evil way as she took out the kunai knife and stabbed it right in his gut. The exploding tags went off, causing the whole place to explode.
Sasuke grabbed Naruto and ran away from the explosions…but stayed close enough to help Sakura.
When the smoke finally cleared, everything was still there…except Sakura and Orochimaru.
Someone else
Garr! Finally done! Sorry if that was kind of long…heh. SHUT UP SPAULDING! Anyway, please review! Reviews make me happy!