Well I'm glad that many of you have been enjoying the story thus far. I'm sorry if I seem to be dragging it, I just always have a tendency to do that. Hehe, well anywho I want to thank Chikako-chan for helping me out with this fic. Sorry if this took a while...I had some writers block. lol... now enough of my rambling, here is the third chapter!!

Among the Ashes

Silence fell upon the two...Both lost somewhere in each others eyes. Naruto's deep blue eyes had not changed...so sad and full like the vast oceans in the mist. His features now older, matured and narrow, skin full and not pale like hers. He seemed so far away...Even if she tried her voice could not reach him. He stood where the light could touch him now. He was no longer lingering in the darkness, alone, lost...where currently she and Sasuke were...He could see the vast skies and those blinding colors of hope, where the sun could warm his face and where loneliness was a myth. He was high in the harmonic winds...Sakura and Sasuke however where among the ashes. Lost somewhere in dark embers of aflame memories and lost horizons. However this didn't bother Sakura. It merely pained her that she could not join hm...not yet anyway. It was too soon...she was after all dead.

While Sakura found herself lost in thought, Naruto had already made his move. Shoving Sakura into the nearest tree, his eyes flared with fury. His teeth grit, and fist shaking with some unknown vengeance. The strangers eyes where just like hers. Like the spring leaves falling the day she had left him. Pained, and weighed with some heavy burden. The same eyes that Sasuke had left for him to heal. Even the crisp clear tears were the same. Falling like clear dew drops.

Sakura came too just seconds later, feeling the tree shove against her back. She let out a small grunt and could feel Naruto's weight holding her back.

Sakura felt a bitter smile curve her unseen lips. Her eyes now cold, shifting to fit the situation. Sakura held Naruto's hand, which was set clenching her Akatsuki coat. He twitched. His cheeks heated with a bright pink color. Her hands where soft like silk,"What's the matter Kitsune?" Sakura said in a slightly deep seductive tone, "A woman never touch you before?" she asked teasingly. She felt slightly awkward, but now was not the time to hold back.

Naruto's face turned red. In that instant Sakura shot a quick jab into his side. Naruto limped falling over to the ground, releasing Sakura as he felt the entire left side of his body go numb. His leg had just suddenly gave out. Sakura stepped over him. Naruto was quick to recover, she had not thrown a vital hit to paralyze him for long. He swiftly shot up, aiming for her face, but she had dodged easily. She moved smoothly, as if gliding in the ground, gently shifting to one side as to allow Naruto's force to throw him off balance. He stumbled, but used that as an advantage. He let out his arms to break his fall, then shifted his weight back, taking Sakura by surprise and landing a kick strait to her back. She fell to her knees. Naruto stood above her, he had gotten smarter in her absence. No doubt training with Shikimaru or Lee. She looked up. A sigh escaped her.

"What are you going to do Kitsune? Smack me around? Or save your friends..." She said slyly. Naruto gave a puzzled look. Sakura looked beyond him to see that the vines began to move and swallow Hinata. He looked back to the stranger beneath him. She was calm, "...You only have time for one task." she added coldly.

"Who...Who the hell are you?!" He asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Sakura could no longer bear to look at him. "You better hurry..." she said lowly.Her face now completely hidden as her head sunk Naruto broke from his curiosity and looked back to Hinata whom was almost consumed by the black thorns. He rushed to her.

Sakura rose from the ground and in swift sweep of the wind, vanished with in the falling leaves.

Naruto reached for Hinata's hand when the vines died away, rotting and crumbling into dust to be carried away by the breeze. Naruto caught Hinata's limp body just as she fell. Neji sleeping soundly near her. He looked to see all his friends safe, unharmed, sleeping and lost in some sad dream. Naruto smiled in a sad way. He had been careless...That strangers eyes were just like hers that he couldn't think. He felt foolish. All was silent now...hollow and the air was filled with forgotten whispers.

Sakura felt the rough bark of the trees as she fled the scene. She had wasted to much time as it was. Kisame was probably angry that she hadn't done away with them quickly. No doubt he'd think of her soft...Itachi was in no need of her if she was to revert to those foolish feelings of warmth again. He would remind her what she was dealing with...to maybe leave her to rot in that awful world of his sharingan. She had experienced that once...endless hours of torture and pain. The terror and dread and thoughts of suicide in that world were constant, no hope, and no room for any other thoughts beside the pain...Itachi never showed her any mercy, he needed her cold.

She needed him to show her that kind of sorrow, or else revenge against Orochimaru was pointless. She just hoped Naruto, when the time came, would understand.

Sakura was swift. She landed from tree to tree with ease, she could see the entrance gate now. The mark of the Uchiha faded on the rotted wood. Now that she was there, she could tell that the Uchiha had been a wealthy clan. This part of the village was exceptionally large...like a city within itself. Small shops and warehouses could be spotted. Houses reached for miles even, all empty and abandoned now. To think, that this large place had once been filled with people. It made her skin crawl. This place was a grave site.

She jumped into the streets. The moon high over head full shining high above her. She kept to running at a slow pace. Just in case someone had followed her. She couldn't risk anything.

She stepped lightly, walking cautiously on the roof of the main house. It was silent, but she knew for a fact that Kisame was inside raiding through the treasures for this certain scroll. She sighed and sat upon the roof top. Walking in now would be a waste of time, he would only send her out to guard anyway...Kisame always thought of Sakura as a waste of time. Sakura thought so too at first...But Itachi seemed to believe in her. It was always strange...he would never let anyone think otherwise. Not even Sakura.

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It was late into the afternoon. The sun was close to the horizon, not yet gone but faded and the sky was blazed with bright orange in the sky. Sakura lay flat on her back in some open field somewhere out in the vast woods of the fire country. Her eyes faded and dull, her fingers sore, bruised and blood seeping from the countless scrapes. Clothes torn, and her then broken arm hung lifelessly on the ground. One of her eyes was patched with bandages and some blood fell from her forehead. Hair tangled and her face a bit pale.

Kunai surrounded her body and her left shoulder was pierced with a shuriken. She took slow and meaningless breaths to relax herself as Itachi instructed many times before, but the pain was constant. She panted, her vision blurred as she could see Itachi's long and ominous shadow looming over her fractured body.

Kisame's figure came into view as well. His blue features smudged with beady black eyes and red. She blinked to see that blood was dripping from the side of his face. Itachi's sharp gaze gleaming with annoyance and anger. It wasn't good enough. He knelt down and gently touched the side of Sakura's face. He was cold and so gently, Sakura felt a sharp pain tug at her spine. Her breath was now fast. Itachi said nothing, but then gabbed her shirt collar and lifted her up. Sakura let out a small whimper as she felt her body rise, everything hurt.

"I told you Itachi...The girl is weak, she is useless and just dead weight. I say you leave her here this time..." Kismae spat wiping his cheek with his sleeve.

Itachi didn't respond. His eyes rather burned into Sakura's. Despite her broken body her eyes flamed with a dark desire. "I said to not let your left down didn't I?" Itachi said dangerously.

Sakura said nothing but pulled from his gaze. Itachi pulled at her shirt and forced her to look at him once again. She found herself glaring back at him with unsure eyes. But still she did not say anything.

"Are mocking me kaga?" Itachi asked in a low tone. "Here I am wasting my time for you, and you can't even give me a fraction of my expectation..." Itachi spat bitterly. Sakura grit her teeth, "Are you really that weak?" Itachi added pulling Sakura's collar more. Sakura felt the pain in her shoulder as she tried to clench her fist.

She did not answer. Itachi grew frustrated and pulled Sakura closer, ripping her collar and punching Sakura hard on her left side. She sat up and coughed, holding to her side and feeling a new pain to her bruised body. Her shirt now revealed her chest, which was bleeding as well and covered with bandages. She breathed slow and heavy.

"Now...I doubt you'll leave that left side open again." Itachi said bitterly.

"This is a waste Itachi...This girl is good for nothing...You should have let her die." Kisame said.

Itachi gave a cold glance. "Are you questioning my judgement Kisame?" Itachi asked.

Kisame did not dare answer. He merely looked to the broken kunoichi who was now standing. Her hair fell lightly in her face. Kisame nodded the question off and Itachi turned to face Sakura. Her face solem and empty showing no emotion. She reached for her right shoulder and gripped it. Pain surged though her arm, but without any change in her expression she pushed her shoulder back into place. It cracked and in a loud 'POP' she was able to move her arm once again.

Without any other word Sakura charged forward to Kisame. Kisame was taken off guard but Sakura did not aim to harm him, she merely used his shoulder as a point in which to flip over to reach Itachi.

Itachi hadn't expected that either and gave a faint smile as Sakura unsheathed her kunai and lunged at him. He was ready to brush her off, but just before she could get him, she vanished in thin air. Itachi was taken a back, but turned to see she had reappeared behind him. She ran toward him and shifted as to hit him low with her kunai. Itachi easily moved aside gripping Sakura's arm and aiming for her left side again.

Sakura panicked, using her new and renewed arm, she lodged her elbow into Itachi's face. He released her, but the blow did not do any shock ranking damage. Itachi spun back from it and in a blink of an eye quickly grabbed Sakura's throat. She made an odd choking noise, but to Itachi's amusement she did not back down from fighting. She threw a swift kick to his right side and was able to somehow escape Itachi's grip. Without thinking she leapt up taking another Kunai and lodging it into Itachi's stomach.

Her eyes flaring with fire, while at the same time exhausted and beat. "...You...ba-bastard..." she breathed as Itachi's face was twisted with an unknown emotion. "...You..ripped my shirt..." she said smiling, but the smile quickly dissipated when Itachi's body suddenly dissolved into a puff of smoke; Her kunai lodged into a straw dummy. She felt her arms grow weak. Pain that was suppressed by anger suddenly surged though her once more. Vision one again blurred and faded and now no steam left to burn. Sakura twitched slightly and fell back.

Kisame sighed, nodding his head as Itachi appeared and caught Sakura's limp body before hitting the ground. His face now settle. Sakura could make him out only faintly "Itachi-sama?" she muttered.

"Better...Now once more, Sakura." his voice melted in her memory...It was the first time he had said her name.

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Sakura lay out on the roof top looking aimlessly at the moon. Thinking of that she remembered that she had repeated the same attack patterns 50 times that day, as well as several others even more times. She wasn't sure how she was able to do that, she remembered she was severely injured and bed rested for a month.

Sakura sighed at that. Itachi sulked all that month, and was so touchy about anything. This made her smile at the least. It was fun watching Kisame be scolded for everything. Sakura let out a small giggle, when a small noise caught her attention. She looked out to the vast maze or rooftops. Nothing. All was still, eerie and cold, but Sakura was no fool, she could see that someone had attempted genjutsu.

Shadows were still, no longer dancing with the winds of the night and a faint chakra trail aura could be felt. It was odd seeing as how she and Kisame were the only living beings there until then. Sakura looked around, still nothing. She lifted her arms and made a hand sign. Her chakra focused in her finger tips, she could feel the small sensation. She lifted her arm and in a quick slice cut through the spell easily. A sudden gust of wind followed as the scenery of the maze faded away. Now the leaves rubbed against one another singing soothingly with the howling of the wind.

"Kisame?" she said silently. She was attempting to contact him through a unique jutsu the Akatsuki had invented for such occasions.

"Well, well, you're here? What took you so long girl?" he asked annoyingly.

"Never mind...We have company." she said bluntly.

"Oh really? Can you make out who?" he asked grouchily

"Hmm..Nu-uh...the spirit haku is interfering." she responded still looking out to the city.

"Damn...well see if you can stall our guest..." Kisame said with a sigh.

"...Me?...Why don't we just leave? Haven't you found the scroll?!" Sakura asked in a heated tone

"No...This damn maze is filled with traps...Itachi wasn't kidding when he said 'be careful'." Kisame said jokingly.

Sakura let out a sigh, "Kisame..." she whined "...now is the not the time to be an idiot..."

"Ok, Ok...Im almost toward the main chamber, stall for as long as you can kid." he said leaving Sakura to her own thoughts.

"Damn." she grumbled. She made a final look out to the city before running to the farther side and jumping back into the streets. It was empty, the breeze scattering papers and dried blood stained the pavement. She walked for a few moments. They were following her. She felt a hole in her stomach...no doubt that whoever was following her was someone from her past. It made her shake with discomfort. After a time of walking, Sakura came to an open street; wide, open even. Perfect for confrontation. Blood was spread more here than any other place in the small town. It was cold, and a certain feeling of sadness crept over her body. She froze, her senses flared with uneasiness and panic.

Visions of Sasuke and Itachi flooded her mind. Both drenched in blood and Sasuke in tears. She had never seen this before...bodies now lay in the street, all rotted and corpse like. Sasuke screaming among them and Itachi...high on top of the phone post, eyes blood shot and the moon red. The sky a dark shade of violet and the smell of cherry blossoms was now in the air. Sakura blinked a few times to see if it was real, but in that instant the vision faded away and the cold blade of a kunai was aimed at her throat.

Sakura made no sudden movements. Her eyes drifted to meet those of her old sensei, Kakashi. She felt her heart drop, but she dare not show it.

His mask still covered his face. Both eyes exposed, shringan and all. Kurenai and Gai lined behind him crossing their arms and glaring unkindly toward her. She was still unreconized.

"So Tsunade-sama was right..." Kakashi said laid back "You bastard's keep coming..."

Sakura sighed. "If your worried about that Kitsune of yours...don't worry, he ain't my assignment." Sakura said lazily. "...Not this time anyway." she added smugly.

"I don't think your in any position to talk tough." Kurenai spat.

Sakura glanced at her, "This coming from a woman who attempted that pathetic excuse for Genjutsu."

Kurenai made a move toward her but Gai, stopped her. "Don't." he said simply. He could sense something odd about this masked stranger.

"Well...aren't you a spunky one..." Kakashi said sadly. "...Reminds me of...S.." Before he could finish Sakura slammed her fist into his face and sent him flying into Kurenai.

"You talk to much." she said wounded. Anger now flared in her body at the mention of her former self. Gai acted fast, rushing forward to through her off guard, but Sakura was more than ready. She knew that Gai's specialty was in taijutsu, close range combat was in his favor, so she stepped back, moving away as not to let Gai reach her and she sent a hail of Kunai to him. He back flipped dodging the blades. He smiled and threw shuriken. Sakura, rather than dodge, caught each one in her hands. A sudden rush filled her, and in the heat threw the shuriken back at him. But the shuriken flew with incredible speed. Whizzing past him that he could barely see them. His shoulder then slit open and bled intensely, a shuriken had gone strait through him cutting his shoulder deep.

Kurenai then ran past him. Her hair falling messily into her face which was torn in anger. She made a series of hand signs and clones sprouted from her body. Each now doing another series of hand signs to attempt more genjutsu. Sakura knew the pattern, it was her special move. She faded to dust, vanishing from sight, while Kakashi now stood before her. He readied his sharingan and Sakura made the first move. She ran toward him, knowing he would do the same. She shot more shuriken at him, but before they hit Kakashi appeared behind her.

Sakura stopped and her lodged his elbow in her face. Sakura flew into the wall, but instantly got up. She had tolerated more pain than that. She straitened her hat, She could not be exposed no matter what. Standing now she created another series of hand signs. Vines shot from the ground and tore through the cement. They lunged out to Kakashi.

Kakashi then formatted a pattern of signs of his own. One Sakura knew to well, "Phoenix flower Jutsu!"

Flames burned the vines to ash, Sakura froze at the small memory of Sasuke. He lunged to her now and replicated her jutsu and vines then engulfed her. Sakura felt the thorns tear through her flesh. Fresh blood now on the floor. Kurenai and her clones crept behind her. All holding kunai and ready to stab her. Sakura felt dread come over her. Anger and sadness mixing in at the memories of Sasuke and his betrayal. Regret of hurting Naruto and now being attacked rather than welcomed home by her teachers and sensei's. All these emotions held back and suddenly Sakura felt an odd surge in her body. She felt a sort of tingling sensation creep up her left arm and onto her face. Black marks now marked her pale skin, weaving and curving as to resemble vines and flowers themselves. Kakashi froze, as did Kurenai.

"What..in the world?" Kakshi whispered as he stared in marvel at the young girl. Her eyes now fading from bright jade green to a deep black ember.

"Kakashi?" Kurenai asked, but before anything else was said Sakura lifted her head.

"You wouldn't understand." she mumbled when her back began to burn as if on fire. She made a small whimper when black wings sprouted from Sakura's body. Her hat tipped from her head, as her coat tore off. Locks of bright pink hair fell in front of her face and her body lay in midair. Kakashi stared in disbelief, and attempted to take a good look at her face. But smoke rose from an unknown source and a shadowed figure jumped and caught Sakura's body.

The smoke faded and to the surprise Itachi stood there, holding the body of the unknown Sakura. His red and black coat placed as to cover her face. His face grim and angered, as Sakura shifted slightly.

"I...Itachi-sama?" she asked embarrassed.

" Silence Kaga." he ordered as he let her down. Sakura obeyed and hooded her face, As she stared to Itachi who was dressed in a long black coat, not that of the akatsuki, juts a tench long enough to cover his body. It was open slightly to show his chest, and his hair was tied in a messy ponytail. He was dashing in every sense, in which Sakura had to blush underneath.

"Itachi!" Kakashi let out.

"..." Itachi merely stared at him. "...Long time no see...Kakashi." he said smoothly.

Kurenai dispelled her jutsu and shivered. Her last encounter with Itachi almost proved fatal. She was still a bit shaken from it. Kakashi was also shaken from their last fight. Being stabbed for three days was not pleasant.

Itachi looked to Sakura and smiled bitterly. He placed his hand to cup her cheek. His eyes deep red, seeing Sakura's shame. "...Are you hurt?" he asked

Sakura felt weak from his touch. "No.." she answered plainly.

"Good." he said firmly. His eyes traveled back to meet Kakashi. "You know...Kakashi...flowers are fragile beings." Itachi said smiling, placing his hand on her shoulder. "...You shouldn't be so rough with them."

"What are you talking about?" Kakashi asked irritated.

"Hmm...you haven't noticed?" Itachi asked in return. "Hehe...Well then this might be a bit more interesting." he added coldly.

"Cut the act Itachi...What do you want here?" Kakashi asked angered.

"Hmph..Rest assured your Naruto Is safe. He is not my primary concern." Itachi said lazily. "...My concern rest in her." He said holding Sakura closer.

"Itachi..." she whined.

"Oh really...You don't strike me as Boyfriend material." Kakashi teased.

"Eh." Itachi shrugged, "...She's special."

"Special?"

"Yes..." Itachi smiled smugly. "Kaga!" he said sharply.

"Hai..." Sakura answered

"No more games. Kill him." Itachi ordered shoving her forward grasping the coat, allowing it to slip off Sakura's body. She was exposed. Her bright pink hair, still faded eyes and a soft pale complection, it was in fact the supposed dead Sakura Haruno. Sakura stood doll like as she looked to her former teacher Kakashi. He was stunned, speechless as he looked to the marked young Kunoichi. Her body limp and a tad torn from their fight. Wings hung over her back like that of a fairy. Kurenai looked in horror, and Gai gave a small gasp.

"Sakura?" Kakashi let out weakly.

Sakura could give no response. How could she? After this, and lying all this time. Not coming home, not letting anyone know she was alive. It was too much to stand. Kakashi let his guard fall. He stepped forward, looking blankly to her. Eyes glazed over with tears, as he reached out and touched her face. "Is it really...you?" he asked, his voice torn and weary.

"Kakashi!" Gai cried. "Snap out of it!"

Kakashi ignored him. This lifeless body that resembled his spunky bright student was too much. He never cried, never felt bothered. But looking to her, feeling her flesh once again was enough to break him. He had cared for her deeply. Naruto and Sasuke alike, they all vowed in their own way to protect her. The guilt of allowing Orochimaru take another student made him sick when she passed. Body unfound and no clue where he had made off to. Once gone is gone...But here she was...back from the dead and in the flesh. His mind so numb he hadn't even taken the transformation jutsu into consideration.

Sakura neither smiled or shed a tear. She merely stood there, exposed, empty and broken. The warmth of Kakashi's touch was almost sickening. She hadn't felt that warmth in a long time. She could feel Itachi's burning gaze, but despite the threat she ran her fingers through Kakashi's hair. It was soft, silk like. This brought a tear and a bitter smile to her face. Kakashi breathing slowly.

"Gomen-nasai...Kakashi-Sensei." Sakura said bringing herself to speak. Kakashi looked up and to his surprise found that Sakura had lodged a kunai in the side of his throat. Blood ran down the side of his body. Like paint spilling onto paper it sunk into the street, staining the grey stone for years to come. He fell, eyes blank and cold, not a thought was left in him. Kakashi now slept.

"KAKASHI!!" Kurenai screamed horrifingly.

"..K...Ka..." Gai was at a loss.

Sakura stepped back, Itachi smiling non the less. "Excellent Sakura. Our message is sent." Itachi said slowly.