Chapter 26: Desperation

A/N: OMG, the exams are coming this week. I can't believe I just dreamt of an exam paper swallowing me alive!

Without a sound, Sakura approached the two bodies that hang on the wall. Upon closer inspection, there was a weak rise and fall from their chest. "They're still alive," her mind proclaimed. Without further thought, she carefully removed the impaled kunai from their shoulders. Her parents only made harsh sounds when she did this.

She laid them on the floor and started the new technique she came up with, I haven't used this technique in a real situation but there's no time to hesitate. It only takes the slightest distraction for me to fail… and if I do… they will die. I'll take those odds… she though of as she began to make quick hand seals. She closed her eyes and let her chakra flow through her hands that was above their wounds.

"Look, she's already here Akito," a ninja fro the dark said. "This will be easy though the boss did not order us, I'm sure he'll be delighted when we take her, right Sorata?" the other one replied as they stepped out of the darkness.

This is bad! I haven't notice their presence before… I can't stop now… they'll… die! Her mind panicked as her body sat there motionless while her chakra flowed gently on her hands.

Meanwhile…

Azrael rolled over the floor and let the blood cover his white fur. In an instant, she dashed out of the house and tried to pick the scent of the people she was looking for. Success, she sprinted as if there was no tomorrow.

Naruto and Sasuke was in the ramen stand as they both eat heartily the hot ramen. "Hey trying to celebrate without us," a person said from behind. Naruto looked back "Shikamaru, Ino want to eat… but it's on you," he said happily. "Typical," Ino complained.

Shikamaru and Ino were just about to sit down when there was a commotion from the streets. "Look it's a bleeding tiger cub," one of the vendors exclaimed. They all looked at the street knowing the only tiger club in Konoha right now is… "Azrael," Naruto called. The tiger cub dashed to the ramen stand and started pulling Naruto's punch.

Sasuke immediately took out his kunai so did Shikamaru and Ino. "Wha-What's happening?" Naruto questioned as he was bending over to take Azrael. "Naruto, Azrael's not injured… it's someone else's blood," Sasuke informed him and as soon as he did. He and the two dashed to the place they all thought of.

The ninja with a psyche approached Sakura. "Look Sorata, she's not moving," the man named Akito said as he played with his weapon. "She's trying to heal her parents… how sweet," this man with long grey hair and a bleeding katana said sarcastically. "It looks like her technique requires absolute concentration," "Too bad," they both raised their weapons ready to slash but…

Six kunai shot from the passageway and in reflex they deflected it. "You're opponent is here!" Naruto exclaimed as his eyes turn into yellow. "None of you is going to lay a finger on her," a boy with raven hair declared as his eye turn crimson.

"To rescue their maiden… how cute," Sorata said making his voice sound-like a girl. "Too bad," Akito said as they lunged forward to make an attack.

Sasuke did not dare to use his fire technique when Sakura was behind them so he dealt with his psyche wielding opponent "manually". Sparks sprinkled around Sakura as the two battled against Naruto and Sasuke. Sasuke, Naruto… thank you… her mind rejoiced as she focused her energy on hastening the healing.

Sasuke read through his moves, took out his strings and wrapped it around Akito's neck, he was about to pull the strings fatally when Akito sliced through the strings and impaled his shoulders with two of his psyches.

"Sasuke!" Naruto exclaimed as he dashed in front of Sasuke to shield him against Sorata's incoming slash. Blood streaked through the walls but Naruto held his ground. "Naruto!" Sasuke said as he pulled out the impaling weapon on his shoulders.

"Looks like we have no choice," Sasuke smirked hearing Naruto's statement. "Ah, it looks that way," he said as he started to form quick hand seals while Naruto made his clone and started maneuvering his chakra on his hand.

Sorata and Akito dashed forward to stop their incoming technique but… it was too late for them. "CHIDORI!" "RASENGGAN!"

Sasuke deflected the psyche with his own hand as he planted his chidori in Akito's chest. Naruto used his feet to encase Sorata's katana and dig his rasenggan on his opponent's stomach.

Surprised by the injures they received, they jumped back. "Looks like you're no ordinary brats," Sorata said as he winced in pain. "Too bad were no ordinary as well," Akito said as Naruto and Sasuke observed their wound healing rapidly. "What the hell!" Naruto cursed as he and Sasuke took out their kunai ready again for battle.

This time they were the one to attack first. Simultaneously thinking, Naruto and Sasuke took out their shuriken and threw it at them. "You should be careful about throwing those things," Sorata said as he stood there. "You could hurt someone," Akito continued as he smirked. In an instant, blood again streaked the walls.

"SAKURA!" Naruto and Sasuke exclaimed as they saw how the two deflected their shurikens directly at Sakura. No! It can't end like this… they'll die… I must… Her mind screamed as her body dropped forward with blood staining through her clothes and into the floor.

"That's our cue I suppose," Akito said as he made a smoke screen.

They were dashing out of the house when suddenly. "I can't move," Akito said as he looked at Sorata. Sorata unsheathed was now unsheathing his sword. "So-Sorata what are you doing?" Akito exclaimed as he tried to struggle

"Shadow binding technique," "Mind control technique," A ninja with a spiked ponytail and a kunoichi with a blond hair appeared from behind. "This village never fails to astound me," Akito said as he gathered his chakra on his finger and shot it through his partner. "Nani!" Shikamaru said as he was having difficulty controlling his captive. "Ahh," Ino exclaimed as her victim started to move.

In an instant, Sorata and Akito dropped dead. "What happened?" Ino asked. "Tsk, they bit off their own tongue," he replied seeing the blood spilling out of their mouths.

Sasuke and Naruto did not go after the two instead they ran towards Sakura. Naruto carried Sakura while Sasuke checked the condition of her parents. "How is it?" Naruto asked. Sasuke got up and grimly looked at Naruto to Sakura. He shook his head.

Sasuke opened the door. Naruto stepped outside. "What happened?" Ino asked as she approached them and worried about the girl in s arms. "You got them, I see," he ignored her protest. "Yeah, they were no ordinary ninjas. It takes a lot of determination to bit off your own tongue. Whatever they're here for we can't find that out. They seemed to be bent on protecting their objective," Shikamaru replied as he glanced back at the two bodies on the ground. These two… how can they move so quickly? His mind inquired as he recalled the scene in which he and Ino using their best speed were left behind by the two.

Tsunade received the information right away and immediately she sent the fastest messenger bird to the village of Sand. "This will be difficult," she said as she looked at her apprentice lying on the hospital bed with her hands burnt from releasing too much chakra.

A falcon glided through the skies of the sand village. "This is the fastest one they had. This must be urgent," the decoder said as he removed the paper from the bird's leg. "I'll decode it," a ninja with short light blue hair volunteered. "Shizuka, alright since you're the best there is," the man said as he handed her the scroll.

Shizuka's eyes widened. "So her parents are dead eh?" she smirked. "Too bad for her," "What did the message said," the decoder inquired. "Ah there is to be a meeting for renewed alliance between the hidden leaf," she lied as she burned the scroll. "False alarm I guess. What are you doing!" the man exclaimed. "This is a standard protocol," Shizuka took advantage of the newly assigned decoder. "He's not coming… Sakura," her mind rejoiced at her victory.

Sakura's dreamed were plagued by the scenes she saw before she passed out. She sat up awake panting. "Mom! Dad!" she screamed. Naruto and Sasuke calmed her down. Looking at the two, she bowed her head. "They're dead," she said as Naruto only looked at Sasuke and Sasuke looked back at him. As if having a connection, they both nodded gradually avoiding contact with her eyes.

"I see," she said emotionless. I killed them. If only I was strong enough my technique could've worked… if only death wasn't the consequence of failure… if only I didn't take the risks. She gripped her blanket roughly. Immediately, her bulked fists were covered with Naruto's and Sasuke's. "We're here for you," they sympathized. Tears welled up on her eyes but she did not let it fall… I have no right to cry since I'm the one who caused all of this…

Naruto and Sasuke left Sakura with Ino and Shikamaru as they marched right up to the hokage's office. "Who did it?" Sasuke questioned as if Tsunade was one of his playmate. "Calm down, you two," Shizune said as she bade for the two to take their seats. "Phoenix… that was written on the wall… could this mean?" for once Naruto's thinking was right.

Tsunade nodded. "They're after her but we don't know who they are or what they want since they killed themselves. I've already send word to the Kazekage," "That's good she needs him now… more than ever," Sasuke said out of the blue as he spotted a messenger bird.

A moment later, a decoder arrived as he stated "Tsunade-sama, the Kazekage sends word that he won't be able to make it since he is still struggling with his responsibilities."

"NANI!" Naruto exclaimed as he stood up and so did Sasuke. "Is this reply accurate?" the hokage questioned the messenger. "Yes… it has the Kazekage's sign," he replied. Upon hearing this, Sasuke and Naruto walked out of the room without so much as a word. Tsunade made no move to stop them.

"Ino, watch over Sakura for us," Naruto requested. "You're not going after them are you?" Shikamaru asked. "No, we're just going to "visit" the Kazekage," Sasuke replied while he and Naruto stepped out of the room.

In the morning, Sakura woke up and tried to act normally. Ino and Azrael were there with her all the time. "Ino… thank you… but there's something I had to do," Sakura said as she hit Ino's neck making her unconscious.

The message on the wall called me Phoenix. I must go to the only place that can answer my questions… back to the beginning. Sakura said as she dashed into the woods.

"Sakura-san, I didn't expect you to come back this early," Kagura said as she received her in her office. Obviously, Kagura hasn't received the news of her parents' death so Sakura acted as if nothing had changed. "I came here to re-enter the halls of knowledge," she said with haste evident in her voice. "By all means," the lady replied.

Sakura quickly scanned every book on the shelf. Hours passed, her eyes grew watery and her hands shook but still she kept on searching. She looked around for a more suitable place for it o be hidden. Spotting something behind the staircase, there she saw what she was looking for.

Immediately, she scanned each and ever books only the hidden shelf. "This can't be right," she said as she turned the pages of yet another book. Sakura looked straight ahead "Now I know why," she said as she shut the book.

"Kagura-san. I'll be leaving," Sakura said instantly as she walked into the office. "Already, but you've just arrived," a voice behind her said. She looked back tried to force her most natural smile "Why if it isn't the judicial branch of the village," she said as she raised an eyebrow. "Sorry boys I've got to go," she said as she exited the room nearly colliding with a messenger.

Sakura immediately headed back. In the meantime, the messenger said "Kagura-san, the hokage of the hidden leaf village sends you word that the parents of Sakura-san were murdered by unknown ninjas and on the wall they've written… "Welcome back, Phoenix"." Kagura as well at the five men onside the office all sat there motionless. "She came here… at her state? Follow her!" Kagura ordered the five as they stood up.

Gaara was having a hard time managing his time and work. But he was bothered by the message earlier sent. Why would the hokage send their fastest messenger bird if its just for a common meeting? He asked himself as he stared into the barren desert.

His view was blocked by something as it broke through the window glass. Upon instinct, his sand rose to protect him. "GAARA!" a voice he knew shouted as he tried to plant a fist in his face but was blocked buy his sand. Another one tried to hit him but was blocked by his sand as well. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked as he sent them backwards. Noticing that Sasuke was now using his sharingan and Naruto had this weird red chakra, this was something serious.

"How can you do that to her!" Naruto tried to attack again but was again blocked by the sand. Her?... His eyes widened as his realization caught up. "What do you mean? What happened to Sakura?" he asked with a serious tone. "Don't play dumb. You sent word that you couldn't make it," Sasuke spat out as he attacked again. "HER PARENTS WERE MURDERED AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS I CAN'T COME!" Naruto shouted as he prepared to punch him.

His statement made the Kazekage freeze, Naruto expected that the sand would protect him again but it didn't. Instead, he received his attack without so much as a struggle.

Gaara immediately commanded his sand to take him to the decoder's office. In an instant, he was covered in sand then he disappeared leaving Naruto and Sasuke.

He arrived in his destination. "Kazekage-sama," the decoder from before acknowledged him nervously seeing his rage in his eyes. "You," his sand enveloped the frightened man "You were the one who told me he message was only about a meeting," he stated. The man quickly replied "It was Shizuka-san, she decoded the message. I only delivered it to you." Gaara eyes narrowed. "Summon Shizuka to my office," he said as the sand around the man fell and covered the Kazekage again he disappeared.

Gaara re-appeared on his office. Seeing Naruto and Sasuke, he was about to say some thing when "You were misinformed… weren't you?" Naruto said. "You would've traveled through the desert storms if you'd known," Naruto continued. "I'm not Kazekage until the next week," Gaara said as he followed Naruto and Sasuke out of the village.

Sakura ran through the forest with urgency. I must tell them this… Multiple needles shot from nowhere. Blood sprinkled the leaves.

Syaoran and the others ran as fast as they could. Halting at the sight of something, they approached the scene with caution. There was nobody there. Brick stepped on something that made his eyes wide. Bending low to retrieve it. It was a forehead protector of the hidden lead. The metal plate in shambles and the clothe torn into pieces as it soaked in a crimson liquid. As they tried to put it together, they could barely read the embroidered words "I'll be your shield against the world."

A/N: Okay review time. I mean both for me and you hehehe please give me motivation…Please R n R.