Ultamite
Summary: Sakura is coming home from a mission when she hears a sound in the bushes. Stopping, she finds a gravely wounded black tiger. Thinking it just a wounded animal, she helps it, not knowing that one day she would bond with it, and in bonding, be given a power unlike any other. Rated T. Takes place during Shippuuden. Sasuke is in Konoha.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but I do own the plot.
"moo" speech
'moo' thoughts
'moo' Inner Sakura
'moo' Tari
'moo' Sakura mind speaking
Me: ok, the polls are in with very few results. You all suck...jk, lol. But I only got one vote! WAAAAAAA!!
Sakura: 1
Tenten: 0
So Sakura will be the main character in this story.
Prolouge
In the ninja world, there is a rank that is higher than Kage. Even higher than Sannin. Ultamite. This rank is exceedingly rare. A ninja can only be given this rank when they have proven themselves against the Kages, the Sannin, and have been given Kami's blessing. The first Ultimate ever to be chosen was a young woman named Sakura Haruno. She was presented with this rank after preforming her own jutsu, Inner Destruction. This jutsu has two versions; Intestinal Attack and Heart Explosion. Intestinal Attack uses the intestines to attack the vital organs, putting the opponent in excrutiating pain and killing them slowly, making them beg for death. Heart Explosion is more merciful. One wave of agonizing pain, then it's over. This jutsu is now forbidden so only Sakura can use it. But we are going to begin earlier, when Sakura is on her back from a mission when she hears a noise from the bush.
Chapter One
Sakura lept through the trees at high speed, eager to get home, but still keeping alert for sounds other than the tomp of her stepping on tree branches and the rustle of leaves as she leaps past them. Suddenly, Sakura stops, landing on a tree branch and only keeping her footing with chakra. Sakura strained her hearing, listening for the sound again. Sakura whipped her head around as she heard a rustle in the bush to her left. She pulled out a kunai and held it at the ready as she creeped over to the bush. Arms length away, she reaches out and whips the bush aside, ready to defend. Sakura's eyes widen. In the bush was a wounded black tiger with white stripes. It looked to be only 5 months old but it reached the top of Sakura's stomach and was big enough to ride on. Sakura quickly puts away her kunai and walks over to it, bending down. Seeing her, the tiger raises it's head and looks deep into her eyes. Sakura stared back, getting the feeling that she was being incased in the sorrow and pain filled amber. Sakura blinked and looked into the eyes, seeing herself trapped in the amber like a bug(AN: I got that idea from a book.). Sakura speaks gently, hestitently stretching out her hand to pet it.
"Shhh. There there, it's ok. I won't hurt you. I only want to help." the creature kept her gaze before lowering it's head onto it's paws. Sakura lightly touched the tigers back, and when nothing happened, proceeded to check the wound. After a quick analysis, Sakura found it was a deep kunai wound. Deep, and possibly fatal if she didn't act fast. Offering more gentle words, she reaches out to the wound, green chakra engulfing her hands. Sakura sat, concentrating on keeping the animal alive. The tiger stayed still, almost knowing that this girl could save it. Sakura kept at it, frist stopping the blood, reconnecting the veins, then slowly and gently knitting the flesh back together. Half an hour passed and Sakura finished, wiping her hands on a cloth from her bag. The tiger looked at her again and Sakura felt herself being absorbed into the amber again, this time seeing herself as herself, a friend, and not a helpless bug. Sakura smiled gently and petted the tiger, scratching it behind the left ear, earning a purr(AN: do tigers purr?). Sakua wondered how she knew that but shrugged it off. She started to rise but felt a paw on her hand. Looking down, she saw that it was attached to the tiger. Sakura looked into it's eyes and saw a pleading. She sighed.
'I have such weak will power when it comes to cute animals.' she thought and bent down, whispering to the tiger.
"Would you like to come with me?" the tiger slowly nodded and Sakura smiled. She got up and the tiger followed. Sakura was about to set off when she stopped.
"I have to give you a name." Sakura said and thought for awhile before smiling again.
"How about Tari?" the tiger nodded and Sakura smile grew wider. She was about to set off when she heard something. A voice.
'What is your name?'
Sakura looked around. It was a beautiful feminine voice, clearing belonging to a female. She looked around but only saw Tari. Sakura's eye's widened.
"Did, did you just speak?"
'Techniqually, I am mind speaking. You can too.'
"How?"
'Imagine you are speaking directly to me, but speak in your head.' Sakura nodded and tried.
'Testing, one two three. Hey, I did it! Yes! Woo Hoo!' Tari smirked at her masters antics.
'Now, what is your name?' Tari asked with the gentleness and patience of a mother.
'Huh? Oh, I'm Sakura Haruno.' Tari nodded and crouched down. Sakura cocked her head to one side in question.
'Hop on. I can carry you back. You can project the route to me. Just imagine it inside your head and I will see it.' Sakura nodded and closed her eyes, projecting the route back to Konoha. Tari closed her eyes and viewed them. Trees, all alike, flashing by, a fork, the left route, trees with a brighter green leaf, a tree with a mark, left at it, trees with darker bark and more vibrant leafs, a clearing. Suddenly, it wavers and gives way to a dirt road, leading to a beautiful town. Tari opened her eyes. When Sakura asked if she got it, Tari nodded and crouched, allowing Sakura to get onto her back.
'Crouch low and hold tight, we'll be going at a fast pace.' Sakura nodded and clutched the silky fur beneath her. Tari leaped onto a branch and set off, going fast enough to let wind tear at Sakura's eyes, making them water. Sakura tried to keep her eyes open, but had to close them from the wind. A little while later, Tari slowed down and stopped. Sakura cracked open her eyes and noticed they were in the clearing. Sakura got off of Tari wobbily and released the Genjutsu. The pair walked along the dirt road and soon arrived at Konoha. They stopped outside the gates, Sakura turning to Tari.
'Are you with me? No matter what happens?' Sakura asked. She had taken a liking to the tigers gentleness and didn't want to lose her.
'For now and forever, I will stay by your side.' Sakura smiled and hugged Tari around the neck, fighting back the tears at the thought of losing her. Tari waited until Sakura finished, then proceeded beside her through the gates and into the town, heading for the Hokage tower.
Me: Hi! I hope you like the chapter! I tried to put in alot of detail, so tell me if I did ok or not! XD Please review and NO FLAMERS!!