Please don't forget to visit my website: www. freewebs .com /animemangafanatic (Don't forget to take out the spaces) I do not own Naruto, only original characters and themes.

Shinrai had curled up into a ball. His hands were at his head, clutching tightly to his hair. Tears had escaped and had cascaded down his pale face. Tsuki was beside him, her hand on his shoulder. Worry was etched onto her facial features. She was truly worried about what just happened. Shinrai's screams had stopped a while ago, but he still laid there in a shocked state. The gods waited patiently for him to come out of it on his own. His widened eyes slowly finally readjusted back to its original size. Slowly, with Tsuki's help, Shinrai stood. He wiped the tears away. His eyes hardened at Byakko.

"Let's get this over with already. I have someone waiting for me."

Both gods felt a smirk coming on. Tsuki did too. Shinrai instantly clutched his head again, feeling the memories trying to slip away again.

"No. Give them back!"

"Shin-san?"

"Here in Oblivion, it's almost impossible to keep your whole self without protection. Oblivion's true purpose is to hold criminals that have been punished for all eternity."

Tsuki felt a lightbulb go off and quickly pulled out a white bead bracelet from her pocket. She quickly slipped it onto Shinrai's arm. The bracelet instantly glowed and a light barrier appeared pushing back what Tsuki thought looked like dark spirits. She instantly turned to Seiryuu for answers. Meanwhile, Shinrai felt the memories slowly come back and stay. He smiled at peace with the feeling.

"They're dreamwalkers."

"Dreamwalkers?"

Shinrai turned his attention to the conversation now too.

"Dreamwalkers are mysterious entities. Even we do not know everything about them. If you want more information about them, you will have to ask Sakura-sama."

Tsuki and Shinrai shared a look.

"That's kind of hard right now isn't it?"

Tsuki nodded.

"As long as Sakura-sama is with the Akatsuki, there isn't really much she can do or say."

The gods looked at one another, but decided against saying anything. The future would be up to them, without any help from them. They had a pretty good guess that all Sakura wanted from them was to train these two.

"You said it was made for criminals."

Seiryuu fixed his eyes on his guardian.

"Yes. Her majesty had a kind heart and made this place for the sole purpose of handling life-sentenced criminals. However, this place takes their memories to let them live the rest of their lives in peace. What happens to their soles afterwords is left up to Kami-sama."

Tsuki and Shinrai nodded their heads to show that they understood. Then something came to Shinrai's mind.

"Her majesty?"

Byakko decided to speak this time.

"Yes, Sakura Grove's queen herself."

Itachi sat in the dining hall, contemplating on the issues before him. Sakura sat across from him, her head resting on her arms. He knew that she had been getting barely any sleep. If she wasn't keeping an eye on him, Sakura was checking on Tsuki. Two days had gone by and Tsuki still slept. There was a worry in Sakura's eyes and Itachi knew it. He continued watching her sleep, not daring to wake her. Itachi glared at Kisame and Deidara, who came in laughing loudly. They instantly shut up seeing his glare. Both men sat as far away as possible and quietly talked.

Itachi returned his gaze back to his Cherry Blossom, as did his thoughts. She had risked alot lately. Sakura taught Akatsuki members to be even deadlier than they already are. She also healed his eyes perfectly. It must have taken alot of chakra to heal his eyes and send Tsuki wherever she went. If anyone found out the length Sakura went to, Konoha would be bound to mark her as a traitor. Since they knew where she was, she couldn't be marked as a missing nin. However, knowing Sakura, he knew that she would rather be marked missing, then a traitor. A traitor to a village she risked everything for since the beginning of her shinboi training. He knew he couldn't ask anymore of her, not that he did in the first place. But now he felt in debt to her. Itachi did not like being in debt. There was only one thing that he could give her that would ease her pain. He just couldn't bring himself to do it.

Just then the door slid open in a bang. Sakura's head instantly shot up and her hand was at where her kunai pouch would have been. Realizing she was weaponless, there was a momentary flicker of fear, until she realized where she was. Then, she just wiped the sleep out of her eyes. Itachi glared hard at Kakuzu and Hidan. They instantly gulped in fear. Slowly inching away, they took seats beside Kisame and Deidara. Sasori and Shiro came in followed by Naomi. When Fujiwaru entered the room, the temperature dropped. Everyone noticed Fujiwaru shaking in fear, but only Sakura caught the true look of hatred in Itachi's eyes.

After everyone took their seats, Hidan place a clothed covered object on the table. Sakura instantly knew what it was, but made no move for it. Kazuzu glove covered his hands before unveiling the god's orb. He picked it up and it swirled white. Sakura's eyes narrowed. She cursed that they got their hands on another god's orb.

"Where's the other one?"

Hidan looked at Fujiwaru.

"Couldn't get to it. By the time we got to Rock, those princesses had escaped undetected with it."

Sakura felt a huge relief overtake her body. Seiryuu had his orb, Byakko's was here, and Genbu's was hidden with the Rock princesses. All that was left was her's, and there no was no way that anyone was getting it. Sakura kept her cool so no one would expect anything.

"All that's left is Suzaku's, yeah?"

They all, but Itachi and Sakura, nodded in response to Deidara.

"The question is where did those rouges hide it?"

They all nodded at Kisame. Itachi's eyes cut to Sakura, who was clearly ignoring this conversation for some reason. Sakura turned her head to him, feeling his eyes on her. Sakura shrugged her shoulders. Itachi turned back to the orb.

"Let's make sure this time..."

Naomi cut her eyes to Sakura.

"...That a certain person doesn't get their hands on it."

Sakura turned to Naomi.

"And let's make certain that a certain idiot doesn't anger the gods again."

Naomi glared hard at the pink Anbu captain, who in return just yawned in boredom.

"That is so it."

Naomi quickly appeared at Sakura's side with a katana drawn. She brought it straight down, thinking she had Sakura. However, in a blink of an eye, Sakura was gone. When everyone reblinked, Sakura had Naomi's katana in hand and it was based at her neck. Naomi broke out in a cold sweat and gulped in nervousness. They all noticed the cold tint to Sakura's emerald eyes. Sakura pushed Naomi up against the wall and slow dug the katana between her shoulder and neck. She dug right into the bundle of nerves, the most painful place to get hit on the body. Naomi screamed in pain. Everyone quickly acted. Itachi pulled Sakura away. Kisame and Sasori held Naomi back. Deidara carefully looked at the katana wound, debating the best way to take it out, without causing further damage.

"Bitch!"

"Sticks and stones, Naomi-chan."

"Let me go! I'm going to swipe that smirk off her smug face."

"Fujiri-san."

Everyone stopped hearing the ice in Itachi's tone.

"Deidara-san, take Fujiri-san to the medic in town. I have a strong suspicious that Cherry Blossom here won't do it, no matter what we do to her."

Deidara chuckled.

"As you wish, yeah."

Deidara took a firm hold onto Naomi's arm and led her out of the compound. Itachi took hold of Sakura's hand and yanked her out of the dining hall. They walked quietly, but steadly, down the open hallway. He slightly turned his head to look at her. Sakura was clearly pissed and she was showing it now, only because he was the only one there to witness it. Her eyes looked up at him. She carefully examined his expression. Upon not being able to decipher it, Sakura became bored with him and his stoic expression.

"What?"

He could clearly hear the bite that went with the quick quip of a question.

"Since when have you been that strong?"

Sakura smirked and Itachi felt a little unnerved.

"I have alot more things up my sleeve than you think, Ita-kun."

Itachi raised an eyebrow at her and her mockery.

"I see you must be getting back to normal. Your poor sense of humor is coming back."

"My poor sense of humor? At least I have one you damn ice prick of a man."

Itachi quickly whirled around and pushed her right up against the wall. He slowly leaned in. Sakura waited patiently for the kiss that she knew was bound to come. His one hand pinned her tiny wrists above her. He pushed his knees inbetween her shaking legs. He smirked at her cute blush. She really was too cute for words sometimes. It was absolutely too tempting sometimes. An inch from her lips and a chuckle accidently escaped past his lips. It was then that Sakura realized what was going on. Itachi released her and pushed away from her body. He tried extremely hard to hold in the chest racking laugh that was trying to escape him. As he walked away, Sakura glared at his back. He shortly stopped and slightly turned to her.

"As you can see Cherry Blossom, my sense of humor is perfectly in tact. Just like everything else, wouldn't you agree?"

By his smirk, Sakura knew very well what he was getting at.

"You're not that good."

"Enough to make you scream out everytime."

Sakura turned to the shade of cherry and Itachi walked off chuckling to himself. Sakura went after him in a run. When she caught up, she hit him square in the back. He turned annoyed at her. Sakura stuck her tongue out at him as she escaped. Itachi rubbed the sore spot.

"Childish."

Naruto ran up the long stairway of the Hokage's tower. Sasuke and Kakashi slowly lagged behind. The two men took their time walking up the stairs. They held more patience then the over-energetic blonde boy. They really didn't understand his need to hurry. The situation was probably the same, but they also didn't understand how that body of his operates either. All Naruto ever ate was ramen. Something would eventually give, right?

Naruto burst threw the closed door. Tsunade looked up from her desk. Shizune stopped short on putting down a hot cup of green tea. Both of their hands had instinctively reached for a hidden kunai. Noticing it was only Naruto, they went back to their usual routines. The Hokage shook her head, realizing everything that had been going on up to this point was wearing on her tirelessly. She coudln't even detect when it was just Naruto. The boy pouted seeing them ignoring him.

"I'll get proper respect..."

"When you're Hokage, yeah, yeah."

Naruto pouted even more for being cut off by the current Hokage. She just smirked as she sipped her tea.

"I imagine you're here for the daily report on Hanryo-san."

"Yeah, he is my friend after all."

Tsunade stared at him. Naruto looked at her in question.

"What?"

"You make friends rather fast don't you?"

Naruto laughed, scratching the back of his head. A light tint of pink on his cheeks.

"I guess I'm just that amazing of a person."

"Only you would think so."

Naruto whirled around angry at a certain Uchiha.

"Teme!"

"Dobe, you should just stop before you get hurt."

Naruto was about to attack him when one of the side doors opened and Yuu walked in. Naruto turned his full attention onto her. A look of hope on his face. Upon the shake of Yuu's head, Naruto looked down like a beated dog. He too was worried about Shinrai.

"No changes at all?"

"I'm afraid not, Naruto-kun."

Naruto pouted. Sasuke kicked him in the back. Naruto whirled around again. This time he was ready to take his anger out on him. Kakashi held the fox boy back.

"No, Naruto-kun, not this time. Maybe later."

Naruto obeyed his mentor. Naruto sat beside Yuu. She looked at him in confusion.

"I just thought you could use the company."

Yuu smiled gratefully at him.

Itachi went looking for Sakura. She had once again disappeared from his side. He was a little tired of this. Truthfully, they gave her way too much freedom and care for a prisoner. Itachi just couldn't bring himself to do anything to hurt her anymore. He blamed the fact that he was becoming soft. With that aside though, he had a very good suspicion about where she was.

Reaching a vacant room, near their own, Itachi entered to find Sakura sitting by the bedside. Tsuki slept, while her spirit dwelled elsewhere. Itachi came to stand at her side. She slowly slid her eyes open, before closing them again. Itachi placed a hand at the base of her neck. Sakura gave a faint smirk.

"Come to tempt me again, man of darkness."

Itachi smirked.

"Would you like me to, fair maiden of light?"

Itachi leaned into her ear.

"We'll have an audience however. I did not know you had such a fetish."

Sakura smirked again.

"I won't be tempted, dear man. Nor will I give into your deluded fantasy."

Itachi stood back with a chuckle. Sakura's expression grew serious.

"Itachi."

"Hn?"

"I need to go for a bit."

Itachi's expression became grave.

"I'm afraid you cannot leave. You should already be well aware of this fact, Cherry Blossom."

"Itachi, I didn't explain this to anyone. When this technique is used, if one does not finish their task within two weeks, they're souls will be trapped in oblivion."

Itachi didn't like the sound of that. Sakura turned to him with a faint smile.

"I didn't mean physically. No matter what, do not wake me."

Itachi didn't understand. Sakura waved him over to her. Itachi obliged her request. Sakura leaned into his body. Placing her head in the crook of his shoulder, Sakura closed her eyes once again. Itachi didn't understand. She whispered some words in a language that Itachi did not understand, but her body soon went limp. He whispered her name but got no response. He lifted her unconscious body, since he didn't feel like staying in that kneeled position. Itachi backed up against the nearest wall, taking Sakura with him. Adjusting her body into a more comfortable position, he sat and wondered what she was planning on doing. Itachi sighed.

"What do you mean by I shouldn't wake you? Foolish girl."

Itachi rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"No, the one that is truly foolish is me."

"Can I ask something?"

All eyes turned to Shinrai. He shuffled his feet, nervously, under the unwavering gazes.

"What is Saku-chan's connection to her majesty?"

Both gods turned their heads in a rapid movement. Neither one answered Shinrai's question. Their gazes were locked onto something else. Slowly, a dark form appeared. It slowly opened it's eyes. Red, they were as red as blood, and as violent as murder. Tsuki took a step back in fear. Shinrai swallowed a growing lump in his throat.

Neither god seemed to really worry about it, until another one appeared, and then another. Soon several surrounded them in a large circle. Seiryuu let out what apppeared to be a warning roar. Byakko hunched back, ready to let out the next roar. However, the numbers continued to grow. Byakko let out the next roar. The spirits did not heed to their warnings however. Tsuki looked at Seiryuu with worry.

"What are they? What should we do?"

Seiryuu looked down at his guardian.

"The first thing you must do is not fear them. They will have no power over you once you have total control of your powers."

Shinrai scoffed.

"Great, but right now, we're novices. We're sitting ducks in a hunters' paradise."

Byakko smirked at his guardian's spunk.

The spirits began to move closer. Seiryuu and Byakko both let out warning shots. However, more came from the little that was taken out. The more they closed in, the more the fired off. Shinrai performed some hand seals but nothing came of it.

"Regular jutsus will not work here, Hanryo, Shinrai."

Shinrai once again scoff.

"Really, big ducks."

Tsuki felt a smirk in such a dire situation. The gods grew frustrated with the situation. The spirits were not leaving them be. They then came at them in a blinding speed. No one had time to react to it. A flame shot out and protected them though. The spirits gave off a loud, shrieking wail. Everyone's eyes turned to the intruders. Sakura stood there. Her hand was extended, and a flame enveloped around her arm. Sakura's eyes were ice cold.

"Be gone, prisoners of the void."

They did not paid heed to Sakura's warning. They came at her now. Sakura shot out another flame. Once again, they shrieked in pain as they burned with the fire. She moved closer to the group. Byakko and Seiryuu gave a slight bow of head to her. Tsuki smiled happily at the reinforcement. Shinrai couldn't believe he was seeing her again after all the time that had passed.

"Sakura-sama, what are those things?"

Sakura looked at Tsuki before turning her head to address the matter with them. She then turned to her friends.

"This must stay secret no matter what."

They both nodded in understanding. Sakura placed a hand to her chest. A red glow emitted from her chest. Then she pulled it out right out of her chest; the red fire orb of Suzaku. Tsuki gasped in surprise. Shinrai couldn't believe it. Sakura had hidden the already missing orb inside herself. Then again no one would look for it there, since only a handful knew that she was the last of the guardians.

"Suzaku-sama, would you be so kind as to deal with this? I apologize for summoning you from your slumber."

The orb reacted to Sakura's voice and chakra. The red swirl rapidly went. It shook from all the movement. A large light escaped the orb. It was as hot as fire, but it did not burn them. However, the spirits did burn and they screamed an ear piercing one. The light died back into the orb and Sakura sighed as the spirits were burned away. She turned to her friends and their respective gods. She bowed slightly to them. Tsuki quickly gave her a hug.

"What were they?"

Sakura turned to Shinrai.

"The are all that is left of the prisoners that are sent here and died. Those that die here are sometimes forgiven by Kami-sama and able to pass into nirvana. However, if the crimes and hatred are too deep into their souls, they will be condemned to remain here until Kami-sama has decided that they may leave. It's not likely though. They loose all since and reason. They're memories had been taken by the dreamwalkers long ago, so they have nothing to turn them back."

Tsuki and Shinrai both gulped.

"Why are we forced to obtain control here?"

Sakura turned from Shinrai to Tsuki. Her expression seemed a little pensive.

"It's here that you can only find one thing."

Sakura continued seeing as they both didn't know what it was.

"Oblivion isn't just a prison. It's a safe to the power of the orbs."

Sakura made Tsuki hold out her palm spreadout. Tsuki looked at her in question.

"Imagine the orb, and call it back."

Tsuki closed her eyes as instructed. She remembered clearly what it looked it. She focused on the image and repeatedly thought of it just appearing in her hands. Shinrai looked at Sakura skeptically. Sakura just smiled knowingly. A few seconds later, Tsuki felt a huge weight lay in her hands. Snapping open her eyes, the orb sat in her hands unharmed. Tsuki smiled at Sakura in success. Sakura gave an eerie knowing smile. She pushed Tsuki away from her. The girl gave a gasp of surprise as she felt herself falling. Falling down, past what seemed to be the ground. It rippled as her body passed through it. Sakura's image soon vanished.

Tsuki continued to fall. She closed her eyes, beginning to feel a little nauseous. The cold air turned warm, and Tsuki opened her eyes. It was extremely blue. Tsuki fell threw clouds, and she was falling towards an ocean. She could not see any land anywhere she looked. She looked back down and Seiryuu waited for her, hovering above the waves. The closer she got the slower she fell. Tsuki finally came to a stop just above the water. She turned to Seiryuu for answers.

"This is my domain, Tanaka, Tsuki. You are now residing within my dimension."

Shinrai turned onto Sakura. She just gave him a raised eyebrow and a questioning look as a response. Shinrai grabbed her by the shoulders in anger.

"What did you do to Tsuki-san? Where did you send her?"

Sakura smirked.

"Do you really want to know?"

By the glare that she received, Sakura was certain that he did. She gave a small chuckle.

"Do you remember what the orb of Byakko looks like?"

Shinrai thought for a moment. He searched his memories, trying to remember if he had ever seen it. He thought far, far back. Then something clicked. Kazaya was moving towards an altar. Shinrai was a few feet behind kneeling, and carefully watching for any danger. Kazaya opened the small shrine's doors and revealed a round object. It was a perfect sphere and it had a white mysterious swirl moving inside of it. He was mesmerized by it's beauty.

"Yes."

Sakura smiled.

"Then concentrate and call it here."

Shinrai opened his palm and closed his eyes. After several minutes, he reopened his eyes and looked at Sakura.

"You're not concentrating."

"Saku-chan, I have a question before I can."

"What is it?"

"One of my earlier memories, you were picked up by a woman. Her beauty was truly beyond compare, and with her was a small child that looked exactly like her."

"You mean Tsuki-chan and her mother."

Sakura knew very well what memory that Shinrai spoke of.

"What is your relationship with Tsuki-san?"

Sakura chuckled.

"That's a secret."

Shinrai just raised an eyebrow as he resumed closing his eyes and concentrating. The orb finally appeared and Shinrai felt himself being blown away. He horizontally flew across the ground, faster and faster. He was surprised by Sakura's expression. She gave one last words before her image disappeared from his mind. Her gentle smile was once again in place.

"Tsuki-san is my most important friend."

She turned to Byakko, who still resided at her side.

"Please return them soon. Send that message also to Seiryuu-sama."

Byakko nodded his head in understanding.

"Sakura-sama about your future..."

Sakura smiled knowingly at him.

"Yes, I know very well about it. My eyes are not clouded in the least for these many years."

Byakko disappeared. Sakura summoned the orb back into his hidden spot. She then concentrated into leaving oblivion. When she reopened her eyes, she was in Itachi's lap. Itachi opened his eyes, feeling her stir. Sakura smiled at him lightly. Itachi pushed hair out of her face.

"I see you're back safely."

Sakura smiled a little wider.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just a bit of a nostalgic feeling came with me."

"Nostalgic?"

Sakura chuckled.

"I'm not going to tell you."

Itachi pinched her cheek. Sakura cried out in pain. She slapped away his hand. Sakura then raised her fist but Itachi brought it down. They both glared at each other. His expression then turned to nonchalant. He nodded towards Tsuki's unmoving form.

"And her?"

Sakura's expression became dark.

"That's up to her. However, Tsuki-san does not have much time left."

"What do you mean?"

"Like I said earlier, they only have two weeks in Oblivion time. It moves alot faster there than here. In reality, they only have two days in our time."

Itachi looked at Sakura alittle unsure what to do. Sakura smiled at him.

"I'm sure they'll be fine."

"They?"

"Ah."

Sakura stood from Itachi's lap. Stretching, Sakura realized how stiff she had become. She quickly turned to Itachi, who raised an eyebrow in question.

"Is Fujiri-san back yet from the medic?"

"Why?"

Sakura darkly chuckled.

"She'll be a good warm-up."

Itachi looked at her weird.

"I can no longer tell if you're a good person or one of us."

Sakura turned to him.

"Like hell am I like you Akatsuki idiots!"

"You're being quite outspoken of late."

Sakura looked thoughtful. Then she shrugged it off.

"Oh well, let me go kill... I mean spar with Fujiri-san."

Itachi let her walk out the door.

"Fujiri-san definitely shouldn't have messed with my Cherry Blossom."

Shinrai opened his eyes to a warm wind. He could smell wheat. Slowly, he rose from the ground on which he laid. He was in an endless field of wheat. A deep blue sky laid above him. The warm wind rushed all around him. It sort of felt like the wind was becoming a part of himself.

"Wind if your special element, so it's natural to feel like it is a part of you. Mostly because it is a part of you. When we are through here, you, Hanryo, Shinrai, will have total control of the element of Wind."

Shinrai looked at Byakko with determination.

"I get this done and then I may leave."

Byakko nodded his head.

"As long as you know how to control your element, you'll be able to control all of your chakra, including the ones in your reserves."

"Reserves?"

"Yes, it is common knowledge that guardians have several reserves of chakra."

"Including Saku-chan?"

Byakko stood silent for a moment.

"Sakura-sama is a bit different. She has several thousand at her command."

Shinrai felt his jaw drop.