"He is more ruthless than last time, and that's saying something."
"You were lucky he left you alive, Jiraiya. With those wounds even I had difficulties healing you."
"Tsunade is right, Jiraiya. Even in his weakened state we are no match for him. We must devise a plan before doing anything reckless like that again."
As Sakura passed her mother's chambers, she could hear the hushed whispers of the many gods who had gathered at their palace to convene a war council.
Three weeks had passed ever since that night when darkness was unleashed in the west. Every corner of the heavens shook with the force of the devastation, and many plants and trees withered away. Even though her mother was able to heal their garden, which was now in full bloom again, she could not heal everything.
The malign force in the west was felt below the heavens as well, as death and decay enveloped the human world, taking more lives with them than usual. For the first time in a long time, her mother had to tend to both mortals and gods, as many of her divine kin were hurt severely fighting the new member of their pantheon.
Though, as far as Sakura had heard, he was not new at all. She had only gathered bits and pieces of information about this deity, because everybody was adamantly keeping her in the dark, but what she did know was that he was old, practically ancient. There were even rumours about him being a dusk god.
But that would be impossible, Sakura mused silently, the last dusk god was defeated eons ago.
She did not yet know why he suddenly reappeared, but for the last three weeks, he had done nothing but lay waste to the heavens. Fortunately, Sakura was still safe, as her mother's palace seemed to be too far away for his wrath to reach. At least for now.
Sakura's hand wandered to her chest, as she thought back to that night of darkness and devastation three weeks ago. When that blazing red light flashed across the sky, she had felt a surge of energy bursting from heart and rushing through her entire being. Never before had she felt so energetic and so full of power.
Alas, that feeling did not last. Upon awakening from her unconscious slumber, Sakura had reverted back to her old, weak self, and she did not like that one bit.
What was even more peculiar, her recurring dream plagued her longer and more often now. The blurry edges of her vision were more pronounced and detailed, and she felt the horror of the battle and the heat of his gaze more intently.
Despite the many mysteries surrounding this deity and this enigmatic energy he emitted, the young goddess was certain of one thing: somehow, he must be tied to that unexplainable force pulling her to the west, since she only started feeling it since his arrival.
Something was telling Sakura there was more to this god than the pure annihilation he seemed to leave in his wake, and she was determined to find it out.
The pink-haired goddess was torn from her thoughts when she heard the doors to her mother's office open. She watched curiously as the war council exchanged ominous glances and hushed murmurs before everybody left Tsunade's chambers.
Sensing her mother approach her, Sakura laid down the book she had been pretending to read and looked up. "What were you discussing?"
Her mother sighed tiredly and waved her hand, conjuring a glass of wine that appeared out of thin air. Slumping down to the cushions next to Sakura, she took a generous gulp and groaned, "You know full well I will not answer that."
The young goddess turned to look intently at her mother. "Kakashi was on time for once, and he is never on time, so it must be important."
"It is, as a matter of fact, but it still does not concern you. The only thing you need to know is that I have something urgent to take care of. It should not take too long, but while I am gone you are to remain at this palace, am I understood?"
A look of worry crossed Sakura's fair features and she furrowed her brows. "Are you going to confront… you know, him."
Tsunade's expression softened at hearing her daughter's concern. "Don't you worry about that. Besides, I'm not one of those weak lesser gods, it takes far more to bring me down."
"So you are going to fight him."
Sakura watched her mother's caramel eyes harden again. "I told you not to worry about it. I promise I shall be back in a few days. All you have to do it stay inside the palace and wait for me, understood?"
Averting her gaze and looking passively at her hands folded in her lap, Sakura sighed, "Yes, mother."
The pink-haired goddess played the role of the saddened daughter perfectly, disappointed to be left out of the action once again. Yet on the inside, Sakura could not wait for her mother to leave the palace. That would finally provide her with the much-needed opportunity to find out about that mysterious force in the west without having her efforts thwarted at every turn.
Tonight, Sakura decided excitedly, as soon as her mother left, she was going on an adventure.
It was a day's ride until the young goddess reached the first withered tree.
She had heard rumours that wherever this terrifying god went, he brought death and decay with him. It would seem his presence alone was enough to let all living things around him wither.
Just like the man in my dream, Sakura mused silently.
The goddess looked back and took in the heavenly nature behind her. Her mother's healing touch had enveloped most of the east and brought back life to the vegetation after its destruction three weeks prior.
Yet this barren tree in front of her was proof that not even the mighty goddess of healing could hold back the withering and putrefaction that always seemed to precede him.
As much as she mourned the death of nature in front of her, it meant he was near.
Dismounting her horse, the goddess patted the animal and murmured, "This bleakness is no place for you. I will walk from now on. You return home." She led the stallion in the opposite direction facing east and commanded it to return to the palace.
Sakura then turned around again, took one deep breath to gather her courage, and started walking.
The pinkette did not know where exactly she was headed, but she knew if she just followed the call from the west there would be something or someone waiting for her at the end.
As her feet guided her through the bleak surroundings, Sakura started feeling a tingling in her chest. It started out as a tentative shiver, but the longer she walked the stronger it grew. Instead of tiring of her hike and needing a rest as was usual for her weak state, the pink-haired deity could feel herself grow more and more energetic the closer she got to the force in the west.
Sakura excitedly hoped that maybe she would once again experience that powerful surge she had felt three weeks ago.
Maybe if I find whatever is calling me from the west, I will finally receive my full powers, the young goddess thought eagerly.
Her excitement waned, however, when she suddenly saw signs of a battle. Weapons were lying all around her; some stuck in the earth and in tree trunks, others stuck in the lifeless forms of perished gods. Blood was pooling from their wounds and dying the ashen earth crimson. Fire crackled here and there, enveloping what little was left of nature in its burning blaze.
Sakura felt like she had been transported right into her recurring dream. She stood amidst death and ruin that very much resembled what she saw time and time again in her nightly vision.
Releasing a shaky breath, the pinkette closed her jade eyes for a moment, silently praying for the fallen gods. When she opened them again, she could feel a single tear roll down her cheek. It pained her that so many of her brethren had fallen in the last weeks, yet at the same time she was glad it was no one she knew personally.
Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she continued onwards. Despite the terrifying and cruel nature of this god, Sakura still had to confront him, she was certain of that.
The closer she got to him, the louder the sounds of battle grew. The frightened goddess realised she had to tread carefully now, lest she might be somehow embroiled in the fighting, too.
Just as she was about to dash around a tree to follow the battle screams, she saw a mop of blonde hair. She gasped in shock when she saw the body of the blonde goddess laying there, lifeless. Sakura's heart pounded in her chest at the thought of finding her mother's dead body on the battlefield. As much as the thought pained her, she had to find out who it was.
Tentatively, as if approaching a wild animal, she stumbled towards the form and knelt down beside it. There were no signs of life, yet the pinkette could not see the goddesses face, as she had her back turned to her. With shaky fingers, Sakura grasped the woman's cheek and turned it towards her, only to cry out in dismay.
It was Tsunade.
Sakura felt like life itself was knocked out of her in that moment as she was overwhelmed with heart-breaking grief. Unable to look at her battered body, Sakura closed her eyes and buried her face in her mother's chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
Only when she felt a hand in her hair, did she look up again to find her mother's caramel eyes shining weakly at her. "My child," Tsunade whispered with a raspy voice.
Shocked, yet overjoyed to find her mother still alive, Sakura allowed herself for the first time to take in her form. Bruises and half-healed wounds marred her entire body, yet that was to be expected after a battle.
What surprised Sakura the most was the fact that suddenly, her mother looked like she had aged a thousand years in one day. The skin on her arms limply hung from her bones and her face showed deep wrinkles that have never been there before.
Suppressing another sob, Sakura frantically asked, "Mother, what happened to you?"
Tsunade sighed weakly and looked up at her daughter. Raising her wobbly fingers, she spoke a little clearer now, "You must flee. He cannot have you."
"I'm taking you with me. We will go back to the palace and you will heal yourself, won't you?" Sakura asked in a pleading tone.
She watched as her mother lowered her hand again and laid it on her stomach. Tsunade closed her eyes and let out a pained sigh. "You are weak, you cannot carry me. I will only slow you down."
Sakura shook her head vehemently as a look of determination settled on her features. "I am not weak, mother. I can carry you, trust me. I am not leaving you here on this wretched battlefield to die alone."
One corner of Tsunade's lips turned up in a weak, albeit assuring smile. "I will not die, I promise... I still have my Sōzō Saisei… but you do not. Sakura, go back home…" Her mother's words grew weaker and weaker. Before closing her eyes, Tsunade activated her Creation Rebirth technique and Sakura watched in amazement as her wounds started to heal themselves. "He must not get to you," the blonde-haired goddess whispered weakly before falling in a deep slumber.
Sakura remained seated at her mother's side for a few more moments to make sure the most fatal wounds had closed up, debating with herself whether or not to really go back to safety or to find what she was looking for.
Her mother could not stop her, Sakura realised. And it would take at least a few hours before she woke up again, she knew that much. Tsunade would be none the wiser.
I have never got this close to him before, and I probably will not get another chance, she mused silently.
Getting up on her feet and sparing her mother one last look, she made a decision.
Sakura closed her eyes to concentrate on his presence, and then headed in his direction.
Madara felt a powerful force drawing nearer. It was that same divine entity he had felt the moment he reappeared in the heavens; the same longing feeling that had plagued him for the last three weeks.
It had never been this close before, however, and he finally had to find out what it was.
Sheathing his sword, the dusk god teleported himself away from his battle and towards the unknown presence.
He found himself in a forest. As he took his first step towards the young deity, the grass underneath his feet turned ashen, and the trees around him withered away.
A rush of excitement filled Madara as he felt the unknown pull grow more and more intense. The closer he got to the source, the stronger he seemed to become. He had not yet regained his full powers, but it seemed whatever this force was it was gradually restoring his might.
Smirking deviously, the dusk god pondered that maybe by confronting this deity he would finally be able to regain his full strength and unleash his true wrath.
As he strut through the forest and watched the vegetation around him die, Madara's gaze was suddenly drawn to a tree that stood in full bloom before him. For some peculiar reason, it did not bow to his putrefying aura.
But then he felt it, so strong and intense he could almost taste it: the powerful presence of the youngest of all the dawn gods right behind that tree.
Drawing his sword silently, he stepped around and raised the tip of his katana. His pitch-black eyes took in the sight in front of him.
A young goddess stood with her back turned to him and the blade of his sword pressed against her throat. She was wearing an elegant gown that was tied around her slim waist by a silky red ribbon. Her long tresses had the most peculiar of colours, that of sakura blossoms. One half cascaded down her slender back, the other was pinned in an intricate updo and secured with golden kanzashi with pearls and flowers dangling from them.
Madara did not expect something so… delicate to be the embodiment of such a powerful force. Nevertheless, he was intrigued.
Despite having the cold metal of his sword against her neck, Madara could not sense any fear coming from the petite goddess. Instead he could clearly feel a hint of… was that excitement? Her emotional state was not the only curiosity, however, as Madara felt himself reacting strangely to her presence as well. His mind viewed her as the enemy, yet his body undoubtedly felt the surprising need to be close to her.
Shaking away his bewildering thoughts, Madara decided to break their intense silence.
"A young doe like you has no business wandering around such dangerous woods."
When she opened her mouth to answer, Madara heard no traces of anxiety in her voice. Instead, she spoke with such as matter-of-factness as if she had known him all his life.
"I am not wandering around. I came here on purpose."
Chuckling deeply, Madara went on, "Is that so? And why, pray tell, would you do that? Have you not seen the bloodshed and carnage? You do not seem like a goddess who would willingly seek out a battle."
"I am not here to seek out a battle. I am here to seek out you," she spoke softly.
Her calm answer surprised him. Madara asked himself if she felt the same pull he did, if their meeting now was not by chance, but fate. He decided to find out how much she really knew for her age.
"I can sense that you are the youngest of all of them. You probably do not even know who I am."
The pink-haired goddess in front of him lightly shook her head before answering, "I do not. But I came to find out."
A sinister grin settled on the dusk god's lips as he teased, "You must have a death wish, then. Maybe I should grant you that wish."
Madara was just about to press his katana more firmly against her pale skin, when she raised her melodic voice again, "You can feel it too, can't you? That pull… between us…"
So he was right, she did feel the same force of attraction. He could sense there was more coming, so he silently waited for the goddess to continue.
"I have felt it for a three weeks now, ever since that night when the sky turned black and the earth shattered beneath my feet. Some force has been pulling me to the west and I did not know why. But now that you are here with me, I realise it has been pulling me towards you. And something tells me you feel it, too."
There was something akin to delight in her voice when she spoke to him, Madara realised. As if she were actually glad to be in his presence. As if he were some kind of beacon of hope that she had been searching for all her life to guide her through the very darkness that he himself was causing.
The raven god was torn from his confusing thoughts when he saw her head slowly turning to face him. Raising his blade, he pressed it firmly against her jaw, preventing her from looking at him.
He was no beacon of hope, Madara thought grimly. He was a warrior god, bringing misery upon the world and death upon his enemies. And she was no exception.
The dusk god finally realised why he reacted so intensely to her presence. For some reason, being close to her made him stronger. Madara could only imagine how much stronger he would be once he vanquished her. This young goddess might be holding the key to reawakening his full powers. And he wanted that key back.
"You are right, I have been feeling something. The thirst for revenge and the urge to punish each and every one of the dawn gods for my banishment. Unfortunately for you, you are one of them," he growled threateningly, leaning closer to her still form.
Madara removed his katana from her throat, and whispered, "Farewell, little doe."
Then, he ran his sword through her back.
Note: Soooo yeah... Madara thrust something long and hard into Sakura, though it's by far not as pleasant as it could have been. Dirty humour aside, I hope you enjoyed it. As always, reviews keep me going so type away my lovelies. ^_^