Author's Note: Enjoy.


5—Same Mistake.

It had been another week before Sakura was released from the hospital. She sighed in relief as she was able to walk by herself again. Ino had met her at the entrance of the hospital, telling her that Tsunade told her she could use a girlfriend.

"You didn't have to do this, Ino," Sakura stated wearily. She eyed the blonde girl nervously, she didn't want to talk, and she just wanted to get home, step into a nice warm bath, and sit there till fingers wrinkled.

"Oh no you don't! You're not getting out of this that easily. It's easier to talk with me first before they run tests on you in the Intel Unit." Ino stated, waving her finger at the pink-haired teen.

Sakura rolled her eyes, "I'd rather do the test. I don't have to talk about it."

Ino looked over to her long time frenemy, "You don't mean that."

"What if I do?" Sakura challenged.

Ino sighed, "Tsunade said you've been having major mood swings…listen Sakura, I'm your friend, sure we have our moments, but I care about you, you've come from a—"

"Many women have been through similar cases, what makes me different! I can handle this, I'm no different. I wanted a challenging mission!" Sakura said before stomping off. Ino watched as Sakura stormed off, Ino followed slowly behind.

Sakura looked back after about ten minutes, "Stop following me."

Ino just shook her head, "No."

"Stop being stubborn, go home, Ino."

"I'd rather not." Ino retorted. Sakura huffed, crossing her arms.

"I want to be left alone," Sakura mumbled, sitting down on a bench.

Ino nodded, "We all want that after a long mission, but Sakura you're the victim, so you asked for a challenging mission, that doesn't mean you deserved what you received." Ino stated.

Sakura only played with the hem of her skirt. The girls remained quiet for a moment before Sakura spoke, "The nightmares are awful."

Ino wiped the tear, "Do you remember anything?"

Sakura shook her head, "No…I mean parts, but they don't have faces, it's as though my memories been wiped clean. All I remember are voices, but their muffled, I remember the feeling, the—" Sakura paused, "Ino…I don't remember who had done it. I mean is it weird when I say I felt as though I knew the guy? In a weird way, I knew it wasn't the head guy or the henchman…but it's right, but in a way I knew it wasn't them…it was calm, rushed, awkward, but I can't put a face to the feeling! I just know it wasn't that Takeo guy…but something about it…"

Ino only listened as she held Sakura's hand tightly, "It's okay Sakura, that's getting somewhere at least."

Sakura nodded, trying to figure out the odd feeling that she knew who had done it. If she could only put a face to who it was she'd know.

Sasuke with his arms tucked under his head lounged on his bed staring up at the ceiling. He didn't bother leaving his apartment. He didn't want to accidently bump into Sakura, he knew she had gotten out today.

An abrupt knock woke Sasuke from his restless sleep. He lifted himself from the couch, stretching his back tiredly.

"What." Sasuke knew it was Naruto, but he knew Naruto wouldn't want to see him either. Sasuke heard Naruto sigh.

"Thought I'd let you know, Sakura has been released from the hospital today."

Sasuke had a headache. He knew the right thing would admit to Sakura that it was him, that he was the sick pervert, that Naruto was right, he could've done something, but to what expense? Sakura's pain or worse her life? He was thinking on the spot. He tried to convince himself that Sakura probably didn't even remember. Sasuke shook his head. Of course she remembered.

Looking around his room, he tried not to admit he had locked himself in his room, hiding away from admitting the truth to Sakura or worse, finding out Naruto had told her. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, Naruto wouldn't dare.

In one quick motion, Sasuke headed for the door of his apartment. He wasn't even going to think about Sakura, he'd just leave and try to find her without thinking.

As he walked throughout the village, he couldn't tried to avoid Naruto, but to no avail, it's as though the blonde had been stalking him.

Naruto walked beside Sasuke quietly. Eventually one of the teens had to break and talk, but Sasuke knew it wouldn't be him.

"You going see Sakura?" Naruto asked, Sasuke smirked to himself.

"Hn," Sasuke answered, looking away from the blonde.

"Well good, I know exactly where she is!" Naruto said grabbing Sasuke's arm.

Naruto dragged Sasuke all the way to a park where Sakura sat talking with Ino.

"Let go, Dobe," Sasuke growled. Naruto looked at the boy suspiciously before letting go, "Don't worry I'll stay."

"Good. Now get over there." Naruto stated with a slight shove to Sasuke. The girls noticed the two boys arguing, Sasuke was glaring at Naruto.

"Just get over there already, there watching." Naruto said, Sasuke sighed.

As he approached the two girls, Ino eyed him while Sakura only tensed, her green eyes looking pained by his presence. Maybe she knew? No she'd have attacked me by now if she had found out it was me…she's looks like she's going to cry...annoying.

"Sakura. A word?" Sasuke stated before glaring at Ino. Ino only glared back.

"Excuse you Uchiha, whatever happened to a thing called manners?" Ino spat.

"Just go." Sasuke stated, staring at Sakura. Her eyes were wide with confusion.

"Sakura—"

"It's fine, Ino, I'll be right with you." Sakura said, before standing and walking slowly behind Sasuke. He led her out of ear shot from Ino, nervously he turned, trying to find the perfect way to phrase what happened.

"Sakura, I need to tell you something." Sasuke started.

"Yeah?" Sakura looked at him with big green eyes, watching as her face gently smiled, she was hiding her pain from him. He sighed. I can't tell her…not now…Something crossed Sakura's face that made her move slightly away from him. Sasuke tensed.

"You look better than when I had found you." Sasuke stated before quickly leaving her with her puzzled expression.

"You're such a bastard." Naruto said walking away with the raven-haired teen. Sasuke only glared when Naruto started making choking noises.

"I didn't choke, dumbass, it's not the right time." Sasuke stated looking at the blonde boy angrily.

"Yeah you choked alright. It'll never be the right time, Sasuke, now is the best time before you avoid it forever."

"I'll tell her…just give her time…" Sasuke looked back at the girls, Sakura caught his eye and immediately turned away from him. That's if she doesn't already know it's me, Sasuke thought to himself.

Sakura sat staring at her room in disbelief, she had been gone nearly two months, and the place still remained the same, while she felt as though everything had changed. She sighed, making her way over to her bed. When she laid down, her eyes fluttered shut, and she tried to dream of happier times.

"Sakura….I-I'm sorry…Sakura…" the muffled voices still sounded so far away. Sakura tried to open her eyes, she thrashed around trying to get free, trying to know who was doing this to her. She felt someone push inside her, the break, and then the quick movements that followed.

She tried to speak, but her voice wasn't coming out.

"Relax…please…" that voice, it sounded so familiar, but distant, Sakura cried out. She couldn't take it anymore, she tried moving, but someone held her down, she tried screaming, but someone was pressing against her chest uncomfortably.

"Hn," the last grunt, the final push, Sakura felt herself float away. She swore she knew who was doing this to her, that voice…

Sakura woke with a start. Sweaty and anxious she looked around her darkened room. She tried to relax, but something about the nightmare, the familiarity she felt, she wanted to throw up. Sakura ran to her bathroom, hoping that the feeling would go away, but when she looked down at the toilet, she let everything she had eaten come right back up.

Tsunade looked through the scrolls in hopes she'd find some sort of clue as to what the seal meant, it was jagged and connected to her spine. Whatever the seal was tracking, it needed to be solved before it escalated into a threat.

"Lady Tsunade?" Shizune peeked in the room at her superior.

"Hm?" the blonde looked up distantly.

"It's about that seal you're looking into—" Shizune began. Tsunade's eyes lighted up, she waved her in.

"Have you found something?!"

Shizune looked down at the scroll, "I might have some sort of answer about the seals origins, but I'm still not sure what its tracking."

"Come in, come in."

Shizune took a breath before she began reading, "Well this seal is from legends, and it was invented when the first bloodline had come upon most of the beginning countries. It's a seal that tracks Kekkei Genkai gestation. When the bloodlines had first come about, the clansman would protect the Kekkei Genkai with their lives because of its rarity, but eventually the clansman had adopted this type of ceremony throughout centuries out of habit most probably don't perform whatever the ceremonies are, they aren't written down anywhere. This seal, is what most bloodlines had feared when it came to Kekkei Genkai gestation, it's like harvesting, it tracks the growth of Kekkei Genkai. The users of such a seal have long died out in legends though," Shizune paused looking up at the Hokage.

Tsunade sat awe-struck, "If this seal is in legends as being a threat, what is the threat does it suck out chakra, kill…"

Shizune shook her head, "No, it's like tracking a scent, it's just there to track the well-being of the Kekkei Genkai, except the thing is Sakura doesn't have Kekkei Genkai, so I'm not sure why they would place such a Jutsu on her. The scroll doesn't have much detail, mostly because the clansman of the bloodline traits have performed ceremonies unknown centuries ago to protect what little they had, nowadays there isn't a threat…so I'm still unsure." Shizune concluded folding the scroll and placing it upon Tsunade's desk carefully.

"Shizune…get me Hyuuga Hiashi," Tsunade stood, turning towards the window overlooking the village, "Also get me Kakashi, I need to confirm something."

Sakura felt awful, her stomach felt like she would never eat again, everything she tried, came right back up. When she tried to get some sleep her nightmares took over and woke her from her slumber. She'd wake feverish and trembling, she couldn't stand it.

She stepped into the warm tub, balancing herself before sitting comfortably against the back of the bath. The water rippled softly, until it settled around her. Sakura felt as though she could fall asleep right in the tub, but decided to clean herself. She felt sweaty her dreams didn't make it easy for her conscious to rest.

"Mm," she moaned tipping her head back and sinking into the warm depths. She closed her eyes softly relaxing in the steam that filled the bathroom.

"Hiashi what do you think about the scroll?" Tsunade asked the Hyuuga. The man looked up from the scroll puzzled.

"I'm not sure, we've never performed such a thing since earlier times. I've only heard of Kekkei Genkai sealing—which isn't a threat to the bloodlines because of the numbers…the sealing normally would tract pregnancy, the so called ceremonies that were performed were to protect the women of the clan from getting kidnapped, but like I said, I've seen a ceremony performed before because there hasn't been a threat—is there one?" Hiashi asked standing from his seat to hand Tsunade the scroll back.

Tsunade shrugged, "I'm not sure, this ceremony how is it performed?"

Hiashi looked to the woman startled, "I-I'm not sure, all I know is that once the couple performs the binding, then the man typically cannot stray far from the woman, for safety reasons."

Shizune nodded, "Hiashi, do you know if it's a chakra binding?" Hiashi turned to the woman shaking his head.

"I'm not sure, my clan hasn't performed that kind of ritual for centuries. The caster of this seal, poses a threat to the Kekkei Genkai holder, typically the male, because it will threaten the passing of the bloodline."

Tsunade sighed, "And if by chance, the woman is sealed?"

Hiashi eyed the women nervously, "Then the male counterpart didn't do his job correctly." Tsunade ground her teeth together, "But it would also mean that woman would be tracked, her pregnancy is being monitored by the seal. The seal grows stronger as the pregnancy gets further along. Once she goes into labor, the seal breaks, causing an alert to go off to the caster."

Tsunade clenched her fists, "The woman is she in danger afterwards?"

Hiashi nodded, "High risk. Once the caster has finished acquiring what he's tracked for nine months, the woman is of no use any more…after labor the woman is killed by the sealing itself."

Shizune felt her eyes widen.

"Is there something wrong?" Hiashi stood from his seat.

"And of the child?" Tsunade asked almost hesitant, knowing the answer.

"Taken from the mother. Depends on the Kekkei Genkai, but typically an infant's bloodline is fresh, like birth, so it's easy to just take the blood from the child, it's a disgraceful thing." Hiashi concluded.

"Hiashi, the sealer, they cannot stray far either?"

"That is correct. The sealer wouldn't be near the woman though, he doesn't have to watch the development. The seal monitors that for the sealer. Although, once the seal breaks it's sort of like a transportation Jutsu, the sealer if he does remain far, then the seal would help the caster arrive in time to take the child," Hiashi paused for a moment, "Lady Hokage, is there some danger to a bloodline?"

"Possibly…do you know of any clan that would perform such a ceremony still or still know how?"

"I haven't heard anything like that. I do know that the Uchiha clan held themselves typically high on a pedestal for their pregnancy ceremonies, although with them you'd never be able to tell if a woman was pregnant, until she was carrying it in her arms. I'm not sure why they were so high strung. But they are long gone…so I doubt any clan performs the ceremony anymore…that's the only clan that would've probably continued the ceremony even today, so vain."

"Thank you, Hiashi, you've helped a lot." Tsunade stated, Hiashi bowed leaving the room with a puzzled expression.

Tsunade closed her eyes for a moment before looking over a certain silver-haired copycat ninja. He looked grim, the one eye that shown was staring intently at the Hokage.

"Kakashi, I assume you now understand why I've called you." Kakashi nodded in response, he stood, walking towards the desk.

"Sakura, she's being tracked for a pregnancy that will create a bloodline trait? Kekkei Genkai?" Kakashi spoke softly, looking at the blonde woman with displeasure. He thought of his pink-haired former student and how she'd react to such a seal. Kakashi clenched his teeth, Kekkei Genkai that could only mean—

"Uchiha Sasuke," Kakashi announced grimly. That ignorant son of a—

"In the report he was the first to enter the room. I wouldn't assume he did this on purpose, I doubt he'd even realize what was happening let alone know that there is a specific ceremony that protects woman who carry such a burden."

"But Sakura," Kakashi began.

"Sakura probably doesn't realize she could be pregnant. She probably thinks it's a side effect of being in such a position." Tsunade interrupted.

"And what of this seal?" Kakashi asked.

"Whoever had cast it, wasn't their first time, it's too detailed, too time consuming, to know right away. Whoever cast it had experience with others…" Tsunade sighed, "My guess, the caster knows no Kekkei Genkai users perform such a ceremony anymore because times have changed, the security is probably lowered to be like regular Shinobi, and the caster took advantage of this."

"Can't the child be taken out before it gets too far, the seal grows more powerful as the pregnancy carries on, so the less risk to Sakura?" Kakashi asked watching as Tsunade shook her head quickly.

"That is out of the question, yes the risk seems to be lower in earlier trimesters, but that doesn't mean that it'll end well for Sakura, the seal could recognize this, you heard Hiashi, once the woman is used for her purpose the seal kills her off!" Tsunade slammed her fists angrily.

"Lady Tsunade, what happens now?" Shizune asked nervously.

"We have a little chat with Uchiha Sasuke, I want to know what happened in that room. Whoever cast this doesn't care for Sakura. The real target is Sasuke." Tsunade ground out angrily.


Author's Note: Thanks for reading, I'm updating as quick as I can. The chapter titles are related to the songs I've been listening to when I write. Same Mistake by James Blunt. Thanks again! I'll update as soon as I can! 3