Someone Screaming

Alternate Story – Dim Light

Ayane Selznick

The light has surrendered to the darkness as it swallowed up the morning till afternoon's bright. The lone wolf Missing Nin touched the food that Sakura brought to him earlier. He never stopped thinking how they will judge his actions but he has no choice but to abide with what's declared for him.

During the hours he spent thinking of possible things that might occur to him after he was out of this cell; he was having a little hope that this village won't be too harsh to him. Didn't they bow before him when he was just a kid? He belonged to one of the prestigious clan that helped a lot in the village, but he wasn't asking something in return. What he wanted to have was a decent place where he could stay and probably… to get stronger.

He was already a fool when he surrendered to Orochimaru but now that the snake-bastard was dead, he doesn't know where to go to. Long time ago, he said that camaraderie won't help him get stronger. It was just a pathetic thing to believe in. He thought that he wasn't able to get stronger from them. Emotions would just weaken him. It would just be in his way. That's why he's cold, dark and alone. He believed that through that, he won't be tied down to a so-called emotion and he would become really strong.

He's wrong.

Of course, he didn't know he's wrong because no one's telling him. But then again, he's stubborn to understand things like these as well as listening to whoever was planning to lecture him about it.

After some minutes later, he finished eating his meal and shoved the basket aside. He resumed lying down on the futon and stared at the small window where he could visibly see the transformation in the sky.

I'm back to zero. He disappointedly said to himself. I'm back to the place where I don't have information about that man. What else could I possibly do with my status? They're depriving me to do things on my own and I'm pretty sure that they're going to make me a guinea pig for observation. I won't be able to tail every Akatsuki to locate that man.

He narrowed his eyes and continued.

I'm sure that they're also on a hunt for them. If luck is in my side, I'm going to jump on it and fight that man. There are some people who already have information about the organization. All I need is time to know the details.

He shifted a little as he got tired of watching the sky. He looked at the forgotten basket that he shoved earlier when suddenly a voice rang inside his head.

"I will just consider you as a Missing Nin then."

Somehow those words affected him. If she would consider him as a common Missing Nin then he's an enemy to her. If she would treat him as an enemy then their bonds will be broken…

But why does he felt agitated on this matter? Didn't he want this to happen? She won't be appearing every now and then to pester him. However deep down inside he felt that a little piece in him faded from what she said. It broke a piece of his heart. And his hopes died down.

He narrowed his eyes towards the basket as if it was the person he's thinking about.

No matter how dark my path is… I will accept it… I won't let anyone be in my way… Not even this village, that dead last and…

A blurry image of Haruno Sakura suddenly flashed in his mind.

…not even you Sakura…

When he closed his eyes he easily drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

The next day all ninjas reported to their duties. Medical Ninjas didn't have to hurry for there were no emergency cases. So far things were stable in the village. Only few people, mostly higher rank ninjas, knew about Sasuke and his verdict. Most of them didn't know what has bestowed to him so everybody got curious.

The once shy and stuttering Hyuuga appeared behind Haruno Sakura who was busying herself reading the patients' record. To be able to know that Hinata was there, she gently knocked on the door that was already open. Sakura jerked slightly and turned around to meet Hinata.

"Hinata." She acknowledged her assistant.

Her assistant bowed politely and went inside. "Sakura-san, Naruto-kun told me that Jiraiya-sama and Anko-sama left this morning."

Sakura lifted a brow at her news. "Oh? Did he tell you why?"

Hinata shook her head. "He didn't know why but he said he'll be waiting for you outside."

The pink haired Medic tilted her head, "Why would he wait for me?"

"He wanted the two of you to know what happened from yesterday's decision. He wanted to ask the Hokage about Sasuke's condition and he wanted you to be there, too."

Sakura rubbed her temple and glanced at the records. After what happened during his visit to Sasuke she didn't want to see him again. But she would be a hypocrite if she said that she wasn't concern at all. With a sigh she looked at Hinata with tired eyes.

"Okay." She stood up and took off her gloves, "Oh by the way Hinata."

"Yes?"

"Please look after my patients. Their names are already in the record." She turned around and disappeared with a cloud of smoke.

Hinata bowed as the Head disappeared.

Sakura reappeared outside the Konoha Hospital. She easily spotted the blond spiky hair Jounin leaning against the wall, strangely quiet. She knew that he felt her presence and yet he was just standing there as if reminiscing something.

"Naruto." She called out and noticed his eyes glancing to her.

His eyes didn't bring the same adoration during their childhood days. It didn't show how much he tried so hard for her to notice him. But she knows that even though that adoration faded away, his love for her would never die. They are siblings after all… sibling by heart.

She stopped beside him and watched the morning sky grace upon them.

"Why do you want me to go with you?"

"We are the only ones that have the permission to know Sasuke's situation." Naruto answered as he tilted his head to look at face to face with his former teammate.

Sakura stared back to him but resumed to look at the road ahead of them.

"I thought you wouldn't care for him…"

Naruto gave her a pout to which Sakura reacted with a chuckle. "Just kidding."

He easily noticed the way she said those words. It was like she doesn't want to go with him to inquire about the judgment. It was as if her words were not for him but more to herself.

"You went to visit Sasuke-teme yesterday." It was more of a statement than a question.

She lowered her head and revealed to him her solemn yet cheerless eyes. She didn't stare at him but more to the ground as she recalled the conversation she had with Sasuke.

"He didn't want us to care for him anymore… but we still care. I know why I'm doing this but I can't seem to understand why he wants to push us away." Her voice could only resemble a whisper when she said this.

Naruto looked at her for a second to study her face as well as the words she uttered. She was right. Sasuke had been that way ever since they were Genins. He didn't like it when people were meddling at his business. He wanted to solve his problem in his own way. Although it was strange that they were capable of having teamwork at times their lives are at stake.

He looked up on the sky and smiled sadly. "He didn't want to feel the pain of losing loved ones again." He suddenly uttered out of the blue.

Sakura was surprised at his words that she quickly turned her head to him. She didn't catch what Naruto wanted to tell to her. But Naruto just looked back at her and smiled.

"He said those words during the Sand and Sound invasion." He reached out to touch her shoulder and continued, "Sakura-chan, even though he always shows that he doesn't care about us or telling us not to care about him, he needs us. He needed to get out of his shell."

She lowered her head again. Of course, she still believed in that but she doesn't have a lot of patience to stand his unpleasant behavior. If she was able to endure him during their childhood days, she's different now. She wanted to know everything. She didn't want to be so dumb to chase him again without knowing him. She wanted to know why he was like that.

Sakura finally made a decision as she slowly looked up to Naruto.

"You successfully convinced me to come with you. Let's go."

With such speed they raced towards the Hokage tower.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

She hated mornings but she mostly hated issues continuously digging her brain. When she neglected paper works in her desk, she glared at the door.

"Shizune, I told you not to knock at this moment!" She yelled but the continuous knocking on the door irritated her. "Shi—"

"Hokage-sama, it's me." A young feminine voice sounded from the other side of the door.

The Hokage knew who it was. She sighed loudly and relaxed at her seat. She shoved all the scrolls and the pen and ink and placed her elbows at the desk.

"Come in."

When the door opened, Tsunade watched as her protégé and Jiraiya's protégé entered together. They both have the same look on their faces. They were both serious. When Naruto closed the door, they both bowed before her.

"Good morning, Hokage-sama." They said in chorus.

"Morning…" She replied and noticed the graveness of the atmosphere the moment they entered the room. "So what brings you two here?"

Sakura decided not to speak for a while so she let Naruto do the talking. She'll interrupt if Naruto would be talking senseless things.

"Is he going to stay?" The blond Jounin straightforwardly asked as he stared at the Hokage's eyes.

"He will stay." Tsunade noticed that both of them sighed in relief. "Unfortunately, he needed to be observed."

Naruto raised a brow, "He'll stay in prison." He said as his expression turned depressed.

The Hokage closed her eyes as she replied, "He'll stay there for a while until I remove the Cursed Seal. He would be a walking psychotic murderer if we let him do what he wants."

Sakura knew what this topic is going so she decided to butt in, "Why did you send out Jiraiya-sama and Anko-sama? What's going on?"

The Hokage looked at her protégé. She's really proud of her keen observation.

"Don't worry. We're not in chaos. I sent them to search for methods of completely removing the Cursed Seal in Sasuke and Anko. It's strange that even though Orochimaru is dead the Cursed Seal remains. Although Orochimaru won't be able to conquer their bodies the Cursed Seal alone is a threat. You both know that it corrupts a person's mind. So if Sasuke went insane he'll activate the Cursed Seal's full power and without knowing it… he might destroy our village."

Both of them knew that once the dark power removed from him he would be a common shinobi. It's not like he's going to be weak, it's just he won't be able to get super natural Chakra that rivals the power of his brother.

His brother…!

"Wait a second…" Naruto interrupted.

Sakura and Tsunade stared at him.

"Did you notify him? I'm sure he's not going to say yes. He relies from that power so much." He reasoned out but not wanting to defend Sasuke.

Sakura thought that Naruto has a point. Of course, Sasuke had been longing to have that kind of power to match Itachi's level. She knew that Sasuke always think that he's far behind his brother's level so even though the power is evil he accepted it willingly.

The Hokage looked at him, digesting the point he said.

"No, I haven't. But I'm making it a point that he's going to say yes. And I'm not going to make an offer to him."

Sakura responded, "But he's a Missing Nin and he does not regard us as companions or you as a Hokage. He takes things on his own and believes that he belongs to no one. I'm sure that he'll say no and probably it'll cause trouble once you try to force him."

Tsunade leaned back to her seat and rubbed her temples.

"You're trying to say that he must finish off his brother first before we take away that power?"

Naruto and Sakura slowly nodded.

The Godaime sighed in frustration but was glad that she was informed early about this otherwise, everything will be ruined.

"So… first things first, we locate Akatsuki, let Sasuke get in the battle with Itachi and if he wins, we'll remove the Cursed Seal."

Naruto snorted. "You think this is easy? We haven't had any information about the Akatsuki other than Sakura's previous report. How are we going to find them?"

Tsunade glared at Naruto and sighed. "I know it's not. But if we don't move fast, now that a threat is within our walls, we're in big trouble."

Her protégé suddenly spoke, "It's possible that they're after Naruto again. But I won't agree to a plan where Naruto will be used as bait."

Naruto glanced at her with sad and knowing eyes. Sakura-chan…

"That won't happen, Sakura. I won't let that happen, too."

This time, Naruto stared at the Godaime with thankful eyes. Later on, Tsunade stretched out her arms and yawned.

"Tell Shikamaru to come by noon. I need to produce a plan out of this little chat. Kakashi will arrive this day, too."

The two nodded and beamed a cheerful smile on her.

"Okay, get out and I need a rest."

They both chuckled.

"Bye, Hokage-sama."

"See ya later old hag."

"What are you planning now?" Sakura casually asked as she walked side by side with Naruto.

"Can you give Hinata-chan a break? I'm planning to have lunch with her." Naruto coolly asked and smirked when Sakura nudged his arm.

"Yeah, right, ramen for lunch. I'm begging you not to kill her because of ramen."

He chuckled at her comment and put his hands behind his head.

"What about you? What're you up to?"

"Hmm…" Sakura started thinking of what to do next however all her plans would surely go down to her duty. But then again, she needed time to relax too since there she doesn't have loads of work yet.

"I might rest a bit. I didn't have much sleep since we came home." She stretched her arms forward while her hands are locked. "I want you to notify me about Kakashi-san's arrival."

Naruto beamed a matured smile on her and nodded. However, when Sakura recomposed herself, he noticed the same eyes that he previously saw before they went to the Hokage Tower. At first he decided not to pry on her problem, but isn't he the only brother that she has? Maybe he has the right to know.

"Are you still thinking about him?"

He thought that she would be more sad than usual but what he saw made him surprise. She looked at him with a smile! She's acting so strange.

"Now you're acting like a real brother, Naruto-nii-chan." She chuckled at the new suffix she linked to his name.

"Oi stop calling me that." She chuckled more but suddenly stopped her tracks as she looked deep in his eyes.

It took her a while to tell to him the conflicts of her mind and heart.

"Why does it hurt when I see him? Why is he still affecting me in the first place?" She lifted her right hand and placed it on her chest. "Why… do I even care…?" Her last words softly tremble in the air.

She looked away and bit her lower lip. Her mannerisms clearly tells him that she's about to cry. Naruto stared at her for moment and waited for her to continue what she was saying… but it never came. So he decided to grab her shoulders gently and hugged her.

"Sakura-chan…"

Soon he heard muffled sounds in his shoulder and felt her body quiver against him. He put his hand to her head to lean on further, for her to cry more on his shoulder, and the other to rub her back, soothing her tired heart.

I don't want to shed a tear for him again… but I can't stop it…

To be continued…

Author's Note: Implied SasuSaku? Of course! If you didn't catch it then go and read this chapter again. So Sasuke will be staying nevertheless they have to locate the organization before they could even remove the cursed seal. About the Cursed Seal, well, I'm not sure about it being able to remove so the Cursed Seal arc will be derived from my researches about the seal and I will just, you know, put in my ideas. Hopefully, you liked this chapter.

I received a forwarded email from several Filipino fanfiction writers and readers. The message consists of a topic that concerns an author and the readers' reviews. It says that FF will be punishing (?) any author who responds to their reviewers. Then there was an opinion that it's a way of communicating from an author to their reviewers. I'm not starting a campaign but I'm gonna be careful so as not to delete this account and my stories. So from this day forward (until further announcements or news then I shall respond like I used to), please leave your email addresses if you want me to reply to your reviews or comments.

Thank you so much!