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As the sun began rise and bath the land with it's light. Illuminating the area cover under in the darkness of night. Though within a cave located somewhere within the Land of Fire this light covering the land outside even managed to make it way into there as well.
Thus with the rising sun, Sakura reverted back to normal from the statue she had been turning into at night recently. Freed from the genjustu that cast upon her to keep the pink hair girl from realizing her 'condition' yet.
This was unavoidable topic now since she was only wearing a hospital gown and Naruto's jacket when was draped around her shoulders.
'Huh…where am I' Sakura thought
Though now that she was back to normal there would be no keeping this under wraps from her until they got more…well any detailed information about what was exactly done to her.
'Okay this is really strange' Sakura thought as she took a better look at her surrounding to notice that she was inside what appeared to be a cave and her feet were staring to get cold from standing bare foot on the stone ground.
Across from her she noticed that Naruto was sleeping facing her direction and their was shadow clone also sleeping facing the opposite direction almost as if he had been watching her for a long time. How long she was not sure as her last clear memories was being in the hospital awaiting to be seen.
Well it did not take long for Sakura to process what she thought was going on and acted how she thought was just and fair.
"Nnnnaaarrruuutttooo!" Sakura yelled loudly and in anger tone as she could not believe that he must had taken her from the hospital as this had to be the dumbest thing he ever done as there was no telling just what would be his punishment for this.
"Sakura-chan wait a minute let me explain there a good explanation for all of this just calm down and listen to me okay" Naruto said in panicky tone as her yelling his name snapping out of his dream and his clone as well who also backing up the real Naruto's word.
"NO EXCUSE! Do you know how much trouble you are going to be in for this" Sakura told her as she began cracking her knuckles in preparation of dishing out her own punishment first.
"None as he actually saved you from someone else that wanted to take advantage of your condition for their own purposes" Jiraiya told her causing the pink hair girl to stop in her track as the sight of him.
"But Jiraiya-sama, Naruto kidnapped me from the hospital before it could be discover what causing me problems this last four days" Sakura told him.
"That something we think that we have managed to discover why you developed this 'condition'. Though that is pretty much all we have managed to learned based off how it effects you. Although you are probably not going to believe us but it true. However change into these clothes here" the Sanin told her.
'My clothes from the other day I guess there nothing the matter with wearing them again until I can get told what going on' Sakura thought as she then wonder about sudden gap she had in her memory. First time it happened she was at Naruto's door and then at the Hokage's Office. Now she was in cave after clearly remembering be in the hospital.
Five minute later….
Sakura now fully dressed in her old clothes from the other day joined Naruto and Jiraiya wanted to hearing what was going on.
"Alright Sakura you remember be stiff one night and then the next falling asleep almost immediately after sunset" the white hair man asked to which she just nodded.
"Then the following day I went to Naruto's, waiting for him to answer, and the next thing I know I am the Hokage's office. Then from the hospital to here " Sakura said wondering what all this had to do with what going on with her.
"Sakura-chan it seem that Snake Bastard we ran into in the Forest of Death did something to you that causing you to turn to stone at night" Naruto told her.
At this Sakura just laughed as that was the dumbest thing she had ever heard that was just was not possible as you could turn someone into stone.
Yet the face she saw on her teammate and the Frog Sanin told her that this was not a joke.
"You guys are joking, right? Tell me Naruto this is just a joke. Come me tell me you are joking, right" Sakura pleaded as she did not want to this to be real.
"Believe me Sakura-chan I wish that I was but I saw you as statue twice already and you were solid stone both time" Naruto informed her.
"No you are lying that can not be true. You are both lying to me" Sakura yelled refusing to believe what she was being told as she left the cave and ran off.
"Sakura-chan wait" Naruto yelled as he when after her leaving Jiraiya to signing as he expected something like this too happen .
Yet while Naruto was going after Sakura he would be looking out for the both of them since it was not like Danzo would not be giving up this easily after failing to get something that he wanted.
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Meanwhile back Konoha at that very moment….
Mr. and Mrs. Haruno were demanding to know where their daughter was as Danzo had stopped by their house and told them everything or more like everything that he wanted to them to know really.
"Your daughter is currently out on mission with Jiraiya and one of her teammates in search of Tusnade" the Third informed them preventing Danzo from warping things to fit his purpose anymore.
"Why would you seen her along with a Sanin and the demon to find another Sanin just one month before the Chunin Exams finals" Mr. Haruno asked.
"That information is top secret as for why I send Naruto and Sakura in the first place. Its because neither of them do not have anyone to help train them. Naruto for the final round of the Chunin Exam which he qualified for and Sakura just in general. Their own Jonin instructor is busy training Sasuke somewhere and Jiraiya who just happened in town. Thus he agreed to taking up the slack that Kakashi was leaving behind by focusing his efforts on Sasuke" the Hokage informed him.
"Then why was does Sakura need to be with Jiraiya. Could not she have just been given another instructor within Konoha" Mrs Haruno inquired.
"Your daughter has chakra control that surpasses almost every her own age and beyond in some cases. Thus in addition to help with the finding Tusnade, she will be asked to take Sakura on as her apprentice or the very least teach her some things. Since between Naruto, Sasuke, and herself, Sakura is clearly the smartest one amongst them yet beyond her brains and charka control the rest of her abilities are lacking when compare to them. Thus the why while Naruto and her are getting trained by Jiraiya if possible Tusnade will be asked to train your daughter. If she refuses then Jiraiya will merely continue to train them in Kakashi's place " Sarutobi told them.
Sakura's parents were pleased and very excited over the fact that their daughter could possible get trained by not one but two of the legendary Sanins even if it was for just a short time. This overshadowing the fact that Naruto was there. Leaving a pissed off Danzo when he learned his attempt to use Sakura's parents to force the Third's hand in punishing Naruto failed as he had no idea the details of the mission just the basic.
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Back with Sakura….
She spend most of the day running away but in the opposite direction of where Konoha was. This was not what was on her mind the during this time. Though now she thought a number of other things as she was now sitting by lake she come across. Finally getting tired, she realized just how far she had come and wondering if this was side effect of what Orochimaru had done to her as well. Running for this long was not something she would have be able to do before. Yet her mind was distracted from these thoughts back to the ones she had while running.
'Why can not I remember what happened back then I know I was scared stiff but there nothing else about that encounter I have forgotten. At least there should not be' she thought as her memories of that day were still crystal clear.
The killer intent Orochimaru used on them mere genin was overkill in her book. That was not something that she would have expected a Sanin to do even if they were a missing nin. Naruto showing up and actually challenge him while questioning Sasuke-kun being the real deal or not. Seriously Naruto did not feel what they had as he did not need to do anything other then stand there release his killer intent to make Sasuke and her shake like tree leaves on a windy day.
It was while she was looking at her reflection in the lake that she noticed Naruto appear behind her.
"How did you do that as I did not even know you were there until just now" Sakura asked as normally she tell the blond was coming from a mile away.
"Sakura-chan while I might be loud and wear this orange jumpsuit. That does not mean I can not be stealthy and hide from people's view when I desire to. Otherwise how would you explain the fact that I managed to paint all Hokage's face on Hokage Mountain without anyone noticing until I was done. Believe me those face are not small and I did it before I learned the Kage Bunshin. I was up there for over two hours painting those faces without anyone noticing" he told her.
"I guess that make sense as Kakashi-sensei does tell people you are the number one at surprising people, but what your telling me can not be true it just can not" Sakura said.
"Do not worry Sakura-chan we will find Tusnade and then she will know what to do about your condition" her blond teammate told her with complete confidence.
"What is she can not do anything for me" the pink hair girl asked.
"What if I am stuck turning to stone every night for the rest of my life which be twice as long now since I am only a person during the day" she continued while making gestures with her hands
"Then I look for a way to change you back for the rest of my life as I would not leave you like this since you do not deserve to have this done to you" the blond told her
"Naruto I do not…" Sakura began before she began feeling funny as felt that stiffen from Forest of Death returning and looked to see the setting sun and then down at her own hands to see they were indeed transforming to cold grey stone.
"Naru…." Sakura tried to speak again but was cut off as she completely changed into statue of solid stone with her mouth frozen in mid speech and worried expression now adorned her face. Silent message her eyes seem to give before change to vacant orbs. As they were seemingly pleading with Naruto to watch over her and make sure nothing happened to her overnight.
"Hey kid we need to get going as we only have month to find Tusnade as well only a month to get you ready for your match in the finals. Neji Hyuga is in a different league then Inuzuka boy you fought to get there" Jiraiya told him as he appeared before Naruto
Naruto nodded then created some shadow clones to carry his petrified teammate being careful with her as possible.
"You know I could carry her myself then you would not have to use the Kage Bunshin just to do it yourself" Jiraiya offered.
"No way I am going to do it as Sakura-chan trusted me to watch over her so that want I going to do Ero-Sanin" Naruto told him as he and his shadow clones followed after him with stone teammate in tow.