Chapter-26

Sasuke and Sakura were trying to find Naruto when suddenly a huge snake came in front of them. Orochimaru was standing about it.

"I cant let you go so easily. Let's see if you can take my scroll. He pulled it out, stretched his tung out like a snake and wrapped it around his scroll. And then he swallowed it.

Sasuke saw him with a disgusted look. Damn it! We need that scroll. And he wont go without a fight. Suddenly came towards the branch he and Sakura were standing on and broke it. They jumped to different trees. Sakura was a little lower than Sasuke. The snake came for Sakura.

No. damn it! I have to do something! Sasuke was about to jump when Sakura eld out her hand as if telling him to stay put. When the snake almost reached her, Sakura punched it face. HARD. It flew back and crashed into a tree. Sasuke just looked at the scene with shock and amazement. He then looked at Sakura who was watching Orochimaru. She's really amazing. Suddenly the snake lurged forward and attacked Sasuke. He saw while jumping that Orochimaru was looking in his eyes with greed. Then Sasuke noticed that he had activated sharingan. The snake came again, he kept dodging. He was still in shock and seeing Orochimaru getting closer and closer to him was too much for him he started panicking.

"Don't come near me! Stay away!" screamed Sasuke while throwing some shuriken towards the snake but they were useless. Damn it, I cant win against this guy. Snake again came for him but he didn't move. Sakura saw that and she clenched her teeth and pushed Sasuke away before the snake came for him. She landed on her side, grazing her arm against the wood.

"Sakura! What are you doing? You're hurt!" asked Sasuke frantically

"What am I doing? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Wake up and fight. Don't give up just because he is strong. You are too."

Sasuke stared at her with wide eyes and then he slowly pulled her up. They both faced Orochimaru and ran ahead. Then suddenly Naruto came down and held the snake back by sticking two kunai in the snake's face.

"What's the matter? You scared?"

The snake shook his head which made Naruto lose his grip and he crashed in to tree. He jumped towards the snake with red eyes. The nine tailed fox's chakra was leaking and he didn't have any control over it.

Orochimaru saw him coming and was shocked when he saw Naruto's eyes. This kid…It can't be…

Naruto lunged at him but Orochimaru sent some snakes from under his sleeve and they binded Naruto. He kept struggling but couldn't free himself. Orochimaru then focused chakra on his fingers which had sealing jutsu and crashed that hand in his stomach to make the nine tailed fox's chakra stop from leaking. Naruto screamed and then fainted.

"Naruto!" screamed Sakura

She was going crazy. It is just like last time. Damn it I cant do a thing! She was cursing herself while Sasuke had his eyes wide, seeing Naruto limp is Orochimaru's hands. He then threw Naruto but Sakura snapped out and threw a kunai that made him stuck limply at a tree so he wouldn't fall.

"Now it's your turn."

Sakura was angry and she lunged at him but the snake moved away which resulted in her punching a tree which blew up in smithereens. This girl…she's just like Tsunade. But he couldn't think about it for long when Sasuke started attacking. Sasuke expertly deflected all of Orochimaru's attacks and tools he threw at him. He kept jumping around in circles.

"Running wont do you any good, Sasuke-kun. But I must say your sharingan is sharp. Not as sharp as itachi though."

Sasuke glared at him. He knows Itachi?

"Don't say his name in front of me!"

"You need power right? I can give It to you. You just have to seek me."

"Shut up. I'm not gonna go to you. You attacked Sakura and Naruto."

Then Sasuke pulled the strings he had woven around the tree Orochimaru had been standing on. He ties him to the bark and released fire which travelled the strings and finally started burning him.

Sakura came down to stand beside him. She also looked at the bark where he was trapped. But then suddenly he started laughing.

"Very good Sasuke-un. I am impressed. As a parting gift, I will give you something…"

He trailed of and weaved some hand signs and then started stretching out his neck towards him. Sakura knew what was gonna happen. But Sasuke couldn't move because he used up too much chakra. That only left one choice. Sakura pushed Sasuke away and Orochimaru couldn't stop so he bit her on the back of her neck and retreated.

"Impudent girl. You shouldn't have interfered. But I guess you will also do just fine. You have that caliber. Goodbye." And with that he vanished inside a tree.

Sasuke just watch as Orochimaru bit her and left. Then he ran Sakura who was kneeling on the branch while holding her neck in pain.

"You idiot! Wy did you do that?!"

"Sorry. My body moved on its own"

And then she started screaming. The pain was blinding.

"Sakura! Hey, are you okay? Speak to me!"

But she just kept screaming in agony.

Sasuke held her close to his chest and held her hand. She was squeezing it so tight he thought his fingers would break. She continued screaming and then she went limp against his chest.

"Sakura? Hey, Sakura! Wake up! Wake up! Please. Please wake up." Sasuke asked her pleadingly but she didn't even move. He held her closer and buried his head in her shoulder. That's when he saw the curse mark Orochimaru had left her. It looked like three cherry blossom leaves in a circle.

Damn it. Damn it, Sakura. You're so stupid. I need to get them both somewhere safe. Anybody can attack right now.

And with that , Sasuke picked up Sakura and cradled her head in his shoulder. Don't die. Don't die. Please. He kept chanting that till they reached somewhere safe.

Sasuke found a hollow tree and he said Sakura and Naruto in there. He checked on Naruto but there was no visible damage. Why is he unconscious then? But when he turned to Sakura his stomach just dopped. She had become pale and sickly. Sasuke also saw that she had a fever now. He quickly wet his handkerchief with his water bottle and took off Sakura's headband. He saw she had some bandages wrapped around her head. He decided not to open them and then he just put the cloth on her head.

He was on alert mode. Anybody could attack them. Sasuke just held Sakura's hand the whole time. Wishing she would wake up soon. But her face was contorted in pain. He felt really hopeless. It was now the next day, but both of them hadn't woken up. Sasuke was still holding Sakura's hand when suddenly he felt a presence in the bushes in the front. He took out his kunai and sat at the opening of the tree.

Three ninjas came out. By the looks of their headbands, they must be from the Sound village. Sasuke tightened his grip on his kunai as he stood just near the entrance so as to hide enough.

"You can come out."

Tch. Sasuke walked out and stood in front of the opening of tree. He took a defensive stance.

"Relax. We're not here to fight." Said the guy who had bandages wrapped around his face except eyes.

"Then leave."

"No, we are here to negotiate."

"Really? for what?"

"You give us that girl and we give you our scroll. Sounds simple right?"

Sasuke was shocked. Why do they want Sakura? This doesn't seem good.

"No deal. Now get lost."

"we have orders to follow, if you refuse then I guess we will have to switch to force."

"I'm not gonna let you anywhere near her." Sasuke said lividly

"We'll see about that. Go Zaku. He's all yours."

The guy with spiky black hair came forward and just smirked. Let's see how good you really are, Uchiha Sasuke.

Zaku ran ahead and stretched out his palms towards Sasuke. There were holes in his arms. And then suddenly a strong vibration and wind came towards Sasuke which made him crash against the tree. Sasuke got up and ran towards Zaku and as soon as he was about to release another vibration, Sasuke disappeared from his front and come behind his back and kicked him. Zaku fell forward but he quickly stood up and faced Sasuke.

"Let's see if you can handle this!"

Zaku released a much wide ranging vibration when sent Sasuke flying back. He got some cuts because of the strength of the vibration. He started panting. The lack of sleep was slowing him down. He then decided to do something. He again ran forward towards Zaku. Zaku released another attack but Sasuke vanished and came up just by his feet and kicked his chin hard sending him flying. He then jumped up, wrapped his hands around him and spiraled downwards. Dosu, the guy with the bandages quickly released a vibration from his vibrator to make a soil cushion for Zaku. They boh fell on that and Sasuke was thrown down. He was panting heavily and he sprained his right wrist.

Damn it. This is not good. Naruto, wake up idiot. Sakura is in danger.

Zaku came towering above him and aimed his hand at his back.

"It's over."

Then he released a vibration which made the ground shake and Sasuke cried out in pain. The attack stopped and he was half dazed. He had no strength left.

"All right Kin. Go get the girl."

No! No! I have to get up! Sakura… He tried getting up and took wobbly steps towards the tree and then he stood defensively in front of the entrance.

"Ooh you have quite a strength. Most people cant even twitch." Said Zaku with a smirk.

Kin started walking towards Sasuke and took out a senbon. Sasuke knew he wouldn't be able to fight anymore but he was not going to go down without a fight. If they want Sakura, they will have to go through me! Kin started taking steps forward when suddenly an ominous chakra started getting released from Sakura. She twitched a little. And then she started standing up. She hung her head low so as to hide her eyes.

"Sakura? Are you all right?" asked Sasuke worriedly. She seems to be a little off…

When she came out, Sasuke's eyes widened when he saw small oddly shaped black spots all over her body. She lifted her head and all Sasuke saw in them was fury.

"Sakura…"

"Who hurt you Sasuke?" she asked in a low tune

"Forget about that. Are you sure you're okay? Are you in pain?"

"Don't worry. I've never felt better" she said with a crazy smirk.

Sasuke looked at her in shock.

"Tell me. Who hurt you?"

Zaku boastingly said, "That would be me."

Sakura twisted around and glared at him. She ran ahead. Zaku released vibrations but Sakura disappeared and appeared by his side. She punched him in the ribs making them crack. She smirked at the sound. Zaku cried in pain.

"You hurt Sasuke with these arms right? Then maybe I should just make them…incapable.' She said sinisterly. She punched his shoulders making them crack and then twisted his wrists. Zaku was howling in pain and then he fainted.

Dosu was just paralyzed. I didn't think she would survive the curse mark. This is not good. We're all gonna die.

Sakura then turned to Dosu, "Now it's your turn."

Sasuke was just bewildered. What the hell happened to her. That's' not her… he remembered her smiling sweetly, taking care of others, bringing calm and peace to them. But this Sakura, she looks evil. That's not her… that's not the Sakura I know. He saw her walking towards Dosu. What she did to Zaku was just torture. I have to stop her.

"Stop, Sakura!"

She ignored him and kept walking. Sasuke quickly ran ahead of her and stood in front of her so she couldn't move forward. "Sakura, stop. I'm okay."

She tried going past him but he wouldn't let her. And then he just came close to her and kept both of his hands on her cheeks and made her look at him. She stared at him in rage but when she saw his eyes that were full of concern and fear, she quickly shut her eyes and started shaking. Sasuke didn't move. He just held her face and looked at her. Slowly the marks started receding and when they were gone, she collapsed on the ground, panting heavily.

"Sakura! You okay?"

She just kept panting and looking down. Dosu interrupted them

"I'm sorry but it seems this mission I beyond our capabilities. Here is our scroll, so let us go." Sasuke glared at him but then nodded. The sound ninjas went away. They left a white scroll.