As an author I feel really ashamed of myself for not updating sooner. I didn't intentionally abandon this story. Life just got extremely hectic for me. I had been studying super hard for my AP tests (I'm a nerd whatever :P) when my parents announced we were moving across the country. So instead of writing I just immersed all my time with my buddies. BUT I'M BACK 3 and I'm going to finish this story because of all you lovely reviewers.
Disclaimer: Uh, yea I'm broke so I obviously don't own Naruto and don't have to money if somebody sued me -_-
Sakura felt ten sets of eyes intently staring at her. She shifted as she came out of her almost coma induced state. Though, she almost wished she hadn't even opened her eyes.
Each of the boys she had come to hold dear in heart of expressions of hurt and betrayal. She had an odd sense that the beautiful maiden had made her appearance and announced the tiny details of their dealings. She winced knowing they were probably going to lecture her.
"What is this deal about" Pein said gruffly. He was trying in vain to hold in his anguish.
Sakura bowed her head and let her hair cover her face before she answered solemnly, " I simply traded myself for the ability to destroy two threats."
Kakashi dropped his beloved orange book in mud from shock, Naruto started wailing and promising Kami he'd give up ramen to keep Sakura, Sasuke punched a nearby tree, Pein grasped the area where his heart was as he felt it breaking, and Itachi stormed off.
Sakura bolted after Itachi begging for him to listen to her. "Itachi, please just understand"
Itachi angrily turned around and demanded "No, I just got you back. Did you not think we all could of defeated him together! Your life is more valuable than this!"
Sakura knew he had made a point, "I know but I was scared and I just wanted to be the one protecting everyone. I don't get how you don't understand that." Tears had already begun pouring down her face.
Itachi turned around with his sharigan spinning and without thinking shouted, "Why don't you just go ahead and leave and make this less hard on us."
Sakura did not wait for much longer as she sprinted back to the make-shift camp. Before she entered she tried to compose herself before she made the final preperations to say goodbye.
"You guys I need to get going, I'm really sorry and I want you to know that I did this because I love you" Sakura was shaking because she knew whatever reply came next was going to be heartbreaking. Instead she hear an oddly unfamilar voice.
All in the camp shouted in unison, "We plan on finding you and bringing you back". Then Naruto threw in his signature believe it and a poor imitation of Gai's good guy pose. She smiled and hugged each of them.
She took her arrows and walked about five miles due east where she began to concentrate her chakra. Soon the dreary forest blended into the breathtaking pond she had visited on earlier occasions.
A white mist began to envelope around her and the beautiful woman appeared. She noticed Sakura's depressed aura and deemed to give her at least some good news.
"Dear child, I intend to let you leave after I train you so you can bring down the true darkness in your world." Her voice shaking the somber reverie Sakura felt herself drowning in.
Sakura couldn't tell if she felt happiness elate in her first or if she felt dread as she felt another impossible task at hand.
"After I kill this person, I'm free from this place forever right?" Sakura silently prayed that whatever Kami was listening he'd allow her to see Itachi again. They hadn't ended on right terms and that needed to be fixed.
"Yes, I just need to train your new eyes and that pesky dragon of yours too" the Lady chuckled humored by something she must have been thinking.
"Why are my eyes so special" Sakura was always the inquisitive type. She wanted to know what kind of power she possessed.
"Aa, long ago the Sharigan and Rinnegan were one. Though a great war split the powers into two seperate groups. You my child are the final heir to the combination of these eyes."
Sakura stood there dumbfounded. All this information was hitting her like a train and she wasn't fully grasping it.
"Though, unlike your brother you cannot control dead bodies. The combination allows you to create any genjutsu while attacking with any kind of elemental jutsu." The lady smiled as if she were giving Sakura the best gift in the world.
"Who am I training to kill?" Sakura knew this was vital information and could either change the course of the trainings intensity.
"Madara Uchiha" and Sakura suddenly felt sick all over again.
(Back at the camp)
Itachi raked his hands through his hair. He knew he shouldn't of yelled. What Sakura had done was honorable and he should of respected her descision, but on the other hand he knew he just wanted her to be with him.
He headed towards the camp fully intending on apologizing as soon as he arrived. Except when he did arrive he save four men with the most somber looks on their faces. Itachi asked a question by a simple eyebrow raise.
Pein saw this and nodded, "She's gone and now we are trying to figure out how to get her back."
Itachi felt his whole world begin to crumble as the fight began to hit him like bricks. He regretted every bit of it and now there was a strong possibility she may never come back.
(with Sakura)
Sakura rolled onto her side as she dodged the oncoming chakra filled fist. She activated her eyes and began to view all possible blindspots while throwing the woman into an eerie genjutsu. Unlike Itachi's hers showed the owner absolute peace.
The woman was entranced as she walked further out into the sea. She was completely unaware of the swells Sakura had been creating until she had been knocked down with a tidal wave. Through some kind of luck the woman broke the genjutsu and smiled.
"You've down well Sakura. You are improving rapidly" she continued smiling when her next sentence came, "For your hard work I'll allow you to write one person in the alternate reality you call home."
Sakura lunged forward and hugged her , "Thank you so much... Uh, lady? or what do I call you?"
"You may call me Azumi" she laughed at the childish antics of her student.
With a simple wave of her hand parchment and a pen appeared. Sakura instantly began to work on her letter to her brother. Within minutes she had finished her letter and watched as a majestic phoenix took the letter.
All the boys had traveled to where Sakura had been last and were looking for clues on where her possible whereabouts could be. Naruto began complaining after the first hour but after a threat of three Sharigan and a Rinnegan he shut his mouth quickly.
Itachi tensed as he heard a piercing cry and immeadiately grabbed a kunai to possibly defend himself from the threat.
Pein noticed Itachi's posture and looked to see a giant phoenix diving straight towards him. As it hovered only a few feet away it dropped a piece of parchment into his hands. He quickly opened it to read it and his heart almost stopped at the message.
Dear brother,
I guess I've become quite the deal maker. I'm currently training to eliminate one last threat and then I can be with all of you forever. I'm sorry to put you through this. Tell everyone I love them and will be seeing them soon
Love, Sakura.
The letter managed to reach everybody's eyes and then Itachi had the pleasure of reading it last. Tears of joys pricked the corners of his eyes. Maybe just maybe he had a shot to fix everything when she returned.