Chapter Two

Why so Catty?

Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto series.

Lee and Ino heard the thickening crunch echo and suddenly their throats were dry.

" That's the end of the little brat. Did you know cherry blossoms are known for their short lives?" Kabuto laughed.

" You SICK—" Ino started but Lee motioned her to stop.

" I had promised to protect her, this is my fault… We have to go report to the Hokage." Lee said sorrowfully.

Ino growled, " We have to kill him! I won't rest until her death is avenged!"

Lee sighed sadly and Ino noticed his eyes were welling up, but he sucked it in, " He's too strong right now. We need backup before it's too late." Ino pondered it and slowly nodded in agreement.

" Well I'd like to stay and chat but I have some business to do." Kabuto snorted and left in a blur, the chakra threads disappearing.

Naruto ran up, his whole body covered in orange chakra, and a third tail beginning to appear. He cursed loudly and colorfully, " Where is he! I need to kill him!" Lee and Ino's eyes widened and ran over to Naruto and held him back until he calmed down.

" We still have a mission Naruto, we'll kill him later. It's too dangerous to just stand here, we need back up." Lee reasoned.

" I'll show that baka back-up" Naruto was just about to perform his Mass Replication technique but his hands were stopped by Ino.

" Naruto, we understand your pain; we feel the same pain, but Lee's right. We still have a mission. Lets go quickly." Ino said quietly.

" What about Sakura?" Naruto's eyes looked down. Ino shook her head and replied they could come back for her later. Naruto grudgingly agreed and they were off.

XxxX

" We got rid of all the sound ninja but one and he is Kabuto. We need back up. We have reason to believe he has entered the village looking for the sacred scroll." Lee reported. Tsunade sighed then noticed that Sakura was nowhere to be seen. Not only that but everyone seemed to have a very depressed air around him or her.

" What has become of Sakura?" She asked grimly. Ino locked eyes with her and shook her head. " I see…Shizune! Get some ANBU on it!" Shizune nodded and left quickly, disturbed by the outcome of this mission.

" Now. For you three…" All three ninja stood straighter in acknowledgement. "I want you to pass word of Haruno's death. We'll hold a funeral in two days in her honor. I will send a ninja to retrieve her body tomorrow at, " Tsunade paused.

"The bottom of the Valley of the End," Lee continued.

" Right," Tsunade said. "Naruto!" Naruto lifted his eyes to meet the Hokage's stare, "I want you to be the one to inform Amaya Haruno." Naruto stepped back a little shocked but then nodded and left in an instant, closely followed by the two chunnin.

XxxX

It was dark and the night was surprisingly chilly. There were hundreds of cats gathered in a small area at the bottom of the valley. A striped gray cat with yellow eyes stood on a rock, seemingly the leader.

" Thank you for coming my fellow felines." It mewed. " As you can see I have chosen our next lady."

The cats meowed in excitement. Midnight continued, "She has passed the test of courage, kindness, and gentleness. She saved my life after I was starved and thoroughly beaten by a couple of human children, for that I shall bestow my gift unto her." The cat gracefully pranced over the mangled, bloody mess, coming face to face with the fifteen-year-old. " I am eternally grateful for her kindness." The cat purred. It now spoke to the rosy girl, " All of your senses will be magnified and you shall experience freedoms no other woman has ever possessed in many generations. You shall experience power and confidence, but you will also experience loneliness. You saved my life, and for that…I shall save yours." The cat's claw snipped her shirt open, " The seal!" she announced to all the other cats. They purred approvingly. The cat made a series of organized scratches on her chest, which deepened into dark lines. Her paw pressed against Sakura's blood, which was all around the human girl and pressed it in the middle of the seal. The seal glowed a teal-ish color and went to its permanent crimson color. Midnight then breathed out what seemed to be green smoked and Sakura inhaled it. Suddenly her bones realigned to its proper position, blood pumped through out her whole body and her eyes snapped open.

The newly born girl looked around her surroundings curiously. She saw small bugs crawling about two hundred feet away from her and she viciously licked her lips. She found herself in a four-legged position and she tested her newly found agility and flexibility as she climbed the mountain to the top in no more than ten seconds. She felt exhilarated and powerful. She quickly ran--her chakra bursting through her veins and her craving for life intensified.

XxxX

Amaya opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling that shadowed the bright sun of the morning. Her eyes were still tired and swollen and she realized her nightmare was real.

Last night was the worst night of her life. Her daughter had died…no she was murdered.

She unwillingly got out of bed and looked in the mirror. Her light pink hair was messy and her blue eyes were red with strain. Amaya slowly walked around the house. Everything reminding her of Sakura, everything smelled like Sakura. Her only light had faded in her heart.

Something she had feared to do almost dragged her to do it.

Yesterday, after Naruto had knocked on her door, he told her the horrid news with his own eyes tear-drenched. He offered to stay a while and take care of her. Amaya refused but Naruto insisted. Naruto proved to be comforting company as they sipped soup, lit sakura-scented candles and cried together like it was the last time they would ever get to. He left at nine-thirty and Amaya thanked him profusely.

Amaya remembered walking up the stairs and through the hallway to go to bed but her eye caught the door at the end. Amaya gulped and strutted to the door. She knew it was silly to even look but she wanted to see if Sakura was there and if this had all been a cruel joke. She slammed the door open only to see an empty room and the window open. Amaya tightened her sweater over her body bitterly. The woman walked to the window and closed it. She looked at Sakura's dresser, which was full of pictures of her and her friends. Amaya picked up an especially cozy picture of herself holding Sakura tightly and Sakura smiling widely, giving a peace sign behind her mom's head. Amaya laughed a little and took the picture with her to her own room and slowly fell asleep with it clutched to her heart.

Amaya snapped out of her thoughts and took a deep breath. She gave into temptations knowing she'd just cause herself pain again and opened Sakura's door. Amaya was surprised to see open and empty cartons of sushi spread through out the whole floor. She gradually picked them up until it led to the top of Sakura's tall bookcase. Amaya looked up at the top of the bookcase and screamed.

Apparently she had gotten someone's attention because a ninja wearing an ANBU mask burst through her house to where Amaya was. The ninja was about to talk to her but stopped, noticing why the woman was so horrified. Right on top of the bookcase was a pink kunoichi sleeping peacefully and very much alive.

XxxX

Tsunade was actually filing through some paperwork feeling for once a little bit hung over. After Kabuto disappeared and getting the message that her apprentice had died, her night was not very pleasurable and she basically got herself drunk.

Shizune stared at Tsunade worriedly. No matter how much sake Tsunade had consumed, she had never seen her hung over. They were both taken out of their distractions instantly by a pounding knock and a few of Tsunade's guards yelling at someone. The person knocking did not wait to be replied to and the door flew open as the woman ran right up to the Hokage.

"Goodness Woman." Was all Tsunade could choke out, seeing the face of Amaya Haruno. To her surprise Amaya was not distressed or even sad, but she was ecstatic.

" She's alive! Sakura's alive!" tears welled up in the mother's eyes as she laughed like some maniac. " Please don't tell me this was all a cruel joke!" Amaya tried to look angry but she was overcome with joy of her daughter alive, on a bookcase or no. Tsunade growled and began to wonder if Naruto, Lee, and Ino were playing a joke. It didn't seem like a joke that any of them would play though. That joke…would not be a joke at all. As if it was an answer to their question, there was a polite knock on the door and three ANBU entered.

" Uh. Yes?" Tsunade coughed. The ANBU looked at Amaya and Tsunade nodded, giving them approval to speak in front of her.

" We went to retrieve Haruno's body at the Valley of the End, but all we found was a large pool of her blood, foot prints, and other unknown prints." An ANBU reported. " With all the blood loss she is definitely dead. We have suspicions that she was stolen for experiments by Kabuto but no real evidence." Tsunade contemplated for a couple of minutes.

" Amaya, are you sure that was your daughter? Maybe it was a replication or even a hallucination."

" No Hokage-sama, it was definitely Sakura. An ANBU was there to witness it too. I know it had to be my Sakura because she wouldn't wake up and that's how the real Sakura is…a stubborn sleeper." Amaya grinned.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, slightly afraid if Haruno had gone insane, then something amazing happened.

" Sorry I'm late Tsunade-sama! My head really hurts for some reason, and I was a mess so I had to get washed up….oh I'm sorry…am I interrupting something?" The girl nervously looked around at all the ANBU and a grinning Amaya.

"Um…no, not at all Sakura-chan." Tsunade's eyes were wide but her lip line soon matched Amaya's.

XxxX

Naruto was eating his ramen slowly for once, perhaps in honor of his best female friend. He stared into the brown abyss, not really thinking about anything except Sakura. If she were here he would probably be eating his fifth bowl of ramen rapidly and Sakura would now come up and sit with him after her training. She would then order chicken ramen then stare at him in utter disgust at his table manners. He would then bluntly ask Sakura how training went and she would change the subject. She would probably comment on how Shikamaru looked different today or how buff she noticed Choji was getting. Then she would ask him how training went for him today and if he'd received any rescue missions for Sasuke yet. He would probably shake his head in disappointment about the mission but then he'd yell how much stronger he was getting and then he'd probably complain about the stupid missions he had to do today. Then he'd want to compliment Sakura on how pretty she is but he'd get really nervous. Sakura would give him a weird, curious look and he'd scarf down some more ramen.

Naruto wondered what would have happened if he actually did compliment Sakura out loud. Naruto had never seriously complimented anyone let alone Sakura. But he wished he had before she was gone. His hair hid his eyes as he looked down again, " Sakura" he whispered so that no one would hear, " You are very pretty." Naruto felt kind of stupid but everything he thought left him as he felt a breath on his neck. He turned around swiftly but didn't see anyone, so he turned his head the other way but didn't see anyone. He did this about twenty times to find no one. He was so sure he had felt a breath on his neck, then as an answer he heard a feminine giggle. His eyes widened. That sounded like Sakura. Was it her ghost! That freaked Naruto out. He grudgingly looked to his right and saw no one. He sighed.

"You think I'm pretty?"

" AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Naruto fell backwards and quickly stood up. " SAKURA-CHAN! You're! You're! You're Alive! Or are you dead! AHHH You're a ghost!" He poked Sakura successfully feeling her skin, "How'd you hear me, how'd you, where'd you, how are you alive!" Naruto's eyes were so big, the skin around his eyes stretched to its limit.

" Full of surprises I guess," Sakura laughed. She casually leaned her cheek on her fist, her gaze never leaving Naruto. Naruto gaped for a few minutes and finally sat down again.

Ayame, was the only one working at the ramen bar and she had seen the whole ordeal in amazement.

Naruto lowered his voice, " How'd you survive? I saw you fall, I tried to save you but my fingers…they" he choked, "they barely missed yours. You were…" Naruto trailed off.

Sakura's brow furrowed, " did I die? Why is everyone acting so strange around me?"

Naruto's eyes widened again, " You mean you don't remember anything? I saw you!"

Sakura squinted her eyes and she tried to remember. Sudden memories of Naruto, Lee, and Ino tied up came to her mind. She remembered being held loosely by Kabuto and he dropped her over a huge cliff. She remembered feeling useless and terrified, then she saw Naruto with a strange chakra around him, leaping and trying to grab her hand. For one moment she thought she was saved, then her fingers slipped passed his and she saw the ground closing up on her. She saw a familiar cat then….

Unexpectedly, a severe migraine hit her. Naruto touched Sakura's arms in concern and her eyes flashed at Naruto. His hands quickly tore away and he stared at Sakura. She grinned, " Hey Naruto, wanna take a walk?" Naruto nodded and they sped towards the edge of town—their favorite hangout.

XxxX

The fox boy was about to ask Sakura about her eyes but she beat him to it, " Naruto…what was that chakra around you when you tried to save me?" Sakura said bluntly, something she rarely ever does. Naruto gulped and wondered if he should tell her. He came to the decision that Sakura should know. He didn't want to hide anything from her now.

" It's the Fox Demon's chakra." He expected Sakura to look shocked and afraid but she nodded decisively.

" I thought so…" Sakura said. A couple of silent minutes passed and Naruto was getting nervous. What was Sakura thinking? " So it was sealed within you." Naruto nodded. Then she smiled, " That's pretty cool." Naruto's jaw dropped. Was this really Sakura? And how is being shunned most of your life because of a stupid fox cool? " I mean, I'm sure the childhood wasn't so great and this explains a lot of things of how people acted, but isn't it convenient?"

Naruto raised his eyebrows, " I guess…" Naruto laughed loudly, " I guess so!" Sakura grinned at Naruto. They both laughed and had a moment of relief and joy. What happened next, Naruto did not expect…

Sakura nuzzled the blonde teen's shoulder, taking in his scent. 'Mm. Smells like shrimp ramen and sweat.' How that scent ever appealed to Sakura, she didn't know but it sure was pleasant.

Naruto could feel his face heat up rapidly and he knew he was really red. What was Sakura doing? ' I mean, it's not like I don't like it. I mean, stop thinking that!' Naruto bit his lipped then something strange occurred again. Sakura purred. "DAGH!" was all Naruto could say. This was kind of freaky. "Sa-Sa-Sakura-chan!" She opened her eyes and looked at him innocently. Naruto had to admit that was really cute. He had to suppress what he was feeling. He always had a crush on Sakura but it matured over the years he was gone and all his antics were just flirty jokes. " Sakura." He whispered, " I really want to kiss you." 'AH! Did I just say that!"

The rosy girl seemed to bring herself back to normal for a second and she blushed, "Ki-kiss me?" She had never seen Naruto look at her like that. Two years ago she would have said no, but now… " I can't!" she yelled then she immediately covered her mouth at what she said. The blue-eyed teenager looked at Sakura in dejection. " It's not you. I just… I'm sorry Naruto!" and Sakura was off in a blur.

XxxX

So fast it was inhuman, Sakura leapt through the forest. She finally found an empty spot. She did not cry, she did not pity herself, but she was angry, " Why! What was my reason!" Sakura punched the ground and everything shook like a tremendous earthquake; the ground lifted as far as she could see. Sakura looked at her fist, surprisingly fast her woes were forgotten.

…

"YES!!"

Dirt crunches. Sakura leaped to a hidden branch. She saw what it was before it even decided to make itself known. Sakura jumped back down, crouching, " Midnight?"

"Meow!" its paw raised in the air pointing at something. Amazingly the signal was unneeded because Sakura understood Midnight.

"Meow." Sakura thanked the cat. The cat cocked her head. Sakura opened her shirt a little and noticed the mark on her chest.

" What's this?" Sakura asked.

" It's a summoning charm." Midnight responded. " You know how to summon, correct?"

"Yes." Sakura answered, " So does this mean I have a contract with cats?"

"All the way to the Largest Lions," the striped cat confirmed. " I'm surprised, it's been awhile since the one I've chosen was able to speak to me" She purred delightfully.

Sakura stared at the cat, " Midnight…did you save my life?"

"Maybe." The cat teased, " Lets just say you won't be the same from now on."

" Does this mean I'm going to have more than one personality?" Sakura asked. ' Oh great.' Inner Sakura said.

"Not necessarily." Midnight added, " You'll still be Sakura, You'll just have a stronger; more confidant and agile side of you." Unknown to Sakura that was an extremely under-exaggerated comment.

" Midnight." Sakura started with another question awkwardly, " today I ran away from something that uh, I didn't want to run away from."

Midnight meowed, her gold eyes laughed, " I have no idea why you ran away from him Sakura."

Sakura blushed and laughed a little, " So you know what I'm talking about."

Midnight purred, " Of course. All I can tell you is that I've never hung on a mate for too long." The cat laughed. This answered Sakura's question unfortunately. " You, my dear are the most pleasant Cat Woman I have seeked." With that the cat was gone.

Cat woman? That was interesting. Sakura was bored quickly and she raced home.

XxxX

Sakura was in her room and it was late. She couldn't sleep for some reason. ' You, my dear are the most pleasant Cat Woman I have seeked." She remembered. She grinned maliciously. So she was a cat huh? Sakura turned to see her reflection in her mirror. She was shocked she had lived with this look for so long.

She grabbed a kunai and sliced her hair so that the front was longer than the back and the front ended in points. She took out a make-up box she had gotten for her birthday but never used. She took out a rosy gloss and chocolate-colored eye shadow. She smiled approvingly. Now the wardrobe…

One black outfit? Now that had to change. She wore black capris made of ebony shinobi silk, an extremely low V-cut leather shirt held in the middle with black ribbon tying it together and a silk undershirt under that, her sleeves transformed into gloves as it reached the tips of her fingers and her head protector laced in her shirt underneath her bosom. Lastly she wore her traditional ninja shoes.

Sakura eyes turned quickly eyeing an object on her bed. She leapt and sniffed the object and grinned toothily. It was a cat mask and there was a note underneath it. The green-eye girl easily recognized Midnight's paw print. She laughed as she closed her window. Cats were so stealthy.

The bell rang midnight. Sakura felt her chakra grow surprisingly warm. She looked in the mirror again to see her pupils slit and her hair turn red. She arched her back, happy with her flexibility—it was time to prowl.

XxxX

" No no no!" the manger of the sushi bar exclaimed the next day. " All of my fish, gone!" He wept and made a commotion.

Shino ate there regularly and came for some breakfast and this is what he faces? This did not please Shino. The bug user asked, " Do you have any idea who could've done this? Any sign?"

" No! I'm wiped clean of fish! There are no signs of a break in, just no fish!" The owner rolled on the floor.

"You don't suppose they just walked away?" Shino stated, irritated.

" I don't know, maybe! Why!"

" That's a question we all seem to ask ourselves." Shino left grumpily but keeping his cool composure only to see a pink-haired teenager watching the scene, clearly upset. " Haruno-san, is there anything I can do for you?" Sakura noticed Shino and her eyes darted to his hooded jacket, her eyes darting faster. Her caprice was unnerving, " Haruno, would you mind not looking at me like tha-" He was cut off by her hand rapidly reaching in his jacket and out in an instant. Shino really had no idea how to react to this. She laughed triumphantly. That's when Shino noticed a few of his bugs in her hand.

" What? How did you…" He was interrupted yet again when she did the weird eye thing again. " Don't you dare-" He was yet again cut off when she laughed another triumphant laugh as she held more bugs. This was disturbing. She stared at Shino but actually looking in his eyes. There was something different about her eyes. That's when she licked her lips hungrily.

"Bugs." Sakura stated simply. Shino took that as a cue to leave. He would have to mention this to someone.

Sakura laughed at herself and wondered why she had done that to Shino. She had a huge craving to play with his bugs for some reason. Sakura heard something about three blocks away and she smelled it too. The hairs on the back of her neck stuck out. She would have to deal with that later, she had training with Tsunade.

AN: Okay well that's the end of this chapter. The bigger stuff will start next chapter as Sakura goes into training with Tsunade, finds what bothered her in Konoha, and…what's this? A mission to retrieve Sasuke? And how will Naruto be affected around the new Sakura?

PS: I'm not a great writer so forgive me for the no-flow. This is just a fun pass time for me. Please don't hurt me too much in the reviews. Peace. p