Hi guys Haruai here sasusaku-EienAi isn't here at the moment, I'll explain after you've read the new chapter. Anyway I have some news for you guys whether it's good or bad I'll leave up to you to decide. That will be at the end as well.
Alright I'll let you get to reading now cos it's a bit later than usual, hope you guys like it and don't find it too boring.
Disclaimer: Why do wonderful dreams only last for a moment, I still don't own Naruto!
Chapter 5
"Hey snake face, get your ugly face off my team-mates!"
Naruto stood tall on the branches above the three with his hands on his hips and an angered look on his face as he glared at the slimy man that still had his teeth sunken into his friends and team-mates.
Orochimaru withdrew both of his heads with a cackle before they rejoined and became one head again, he looked to the two he had just bitten to see them seething in pain as three tomoes in a circle pattern appeared on Sasuke's shoulder, and a spiralling black vine circling around a pink cherry blossom formed just to the front of Sakura's shoulder.
"It is done...now I must wait to see which one survives the gift I have given them" Orochimaru said in a mumble as a smirk appeared on his face "But which one is strong enough?...the child from the peace loving clan...or...the child from the clan who strives for power" he muttered to himself completely forgetting about the blonde knuckleheaded ninja that was getting pissed at being ignored and the fact that the sick sleazy looking man just had his mouth...mouths on his two friends made him feel all queasy in the stomach.
"HEY!"
Naruto jumped down from the tree he was in and now found himself standing three feet away from the man "What did you do to them?" he growled as Orochimaru turned to look at the boy with a bored look, "I have helped them to achieve what they want most" Orochimaru said with sly smirk.
Naruto looked behind the man to see that his two team-mates were still bound to the tree by the snake he thought he had killed not long ago...obviously not.
Sasuke was as pale as if death had just knocked on his door and was attempting to take him back to the hell it came from, his eyes were shut tightly and his whole body was shaking in pain. From where Naruto was standing Sakura didn't look much better but she looked to be handling it better.
Naruto turned his furious eyes that were slowly changing from blue to red towards a smirking Orochimaru "What the...HELL DID YOU DO TO THEM!" he yelled and lunged for the man with his fist ready to wipe that smirk off his face along with his face altogether. "Ah I heard the Jinchuuriki of the kyuubi was on this team" Orochimaru chuckled as he dodged the punch the boy aimed for his face.
Naruto became more angered when he heard his two team-mates scream in pain before it went silent, a soft red glow appeared around Naruto and the marks on his face became darker and his pupils became slits in the sea of red as he once again charged at Orochimaru but this time faster.
'Let me have control boy' a gruff voice said from inside of Naruto's head.
'Who are you?' he asked the voice.
'I am the nine-tails that resides within you' it said.
'Th...the nine-tails' he stuttered in his mind.
'Yes, now let me have control of your body and I will avenge your friends'
Naruto was unsure of what the nine-tails was saying, it felt like it was not to be trusted. Iruka had told him of the nine-tails attack thirteen years ago and he also told Naruto that the seal on his stomach was there to stop the beast from taking control of him and wreaking havoc on the world once more.
'No'
'Foolish human...you will fail without me'
'I will not fail!'
The voice laughed 'We shall see boy, we shall see'
The red glow around Naruto's body decreased a little but didn't disappear as Naruto raced towards Orochimaru his hands were making hand signs while holding his kunai "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" about forty Naruto's appeared beside him and all forty one Naruto's made a bee line towards the bastard.
'Interesting' Orochimaru thought before a malicious laugh left his mouth, in the next instant snakes shot out of his mouth and started attacking the Naruto's. After the clones had disappeared in puffs of smoke that had yet to dissipate. Naruto used the smoke to his advantage and attacked from above, he headed for the man kunai first.
Naruto was so close now that he could feel the victory looming, but when he was just in reach a pale white hand shot up and wrapped itself around the boy's neck. Naruto's hands shot up to the clammy hand and tried to get free but the grip was too tight. "You foolish little boy" Orochimaru snarled "You have no idea who I am"
Naruto glared at the man "I..I don't c..care who you...a..are" he struggled to say as the grip tightened around his neck "I'm g..go..ing to ki...kill you" Orochimaru couldn't help but laugh at the boy "Really now...I don't see how that would be possible"
Naruto glared at the man as his vision started to see black dots from lack of oxygen. 'I have to do something' anger welled up in him again and he could hear the nine-tails laughing as it's chakra seeped out again Orochimaru noticed this and did hand signs on his free hand and it began to glow a purple colour "I don't think so" he said before plunging his glowing hand into Naruto's stomach where the seal for the nine-tails was and creating another seal around it strengthening it causing the chakra to be sucked back into Naruto's body.
Naruto screamed as loud as he could as his stomach felt like it was on fire.
~O~
As his fangs sunk into her skin she couldn't help it, Sakura let out a blood curdling scream. She could hear Sasuke in agony next to her as well but the pain was too great for her to even look at him. Then a voice was heard "Hey snake face, get your ugly face off my team-mates!" she would have laughed at him if she was too preoccupied trying to stay awake.
His fangs left her neck but the pain got greater, her body was uncontrollably shaking as the substance that he injected her with went through her body.
'Sakura' that voice...she had heard it before...who was it.
'Sakura listen to me' it felt so comforting to her. But she did as she was told and listened to the voice.
'My child I can help you take the pain away for the moment' it said
'H..how' Sakura managed to ask.
'I can take some of the pain away from you and pass it onto me'
Sakura didn't understand what the voice was saying.
'I..it hurts so much'
"AHHHHH!" A scream was heard but she hadn't realised that scream had come from her.
'Sakura listen to me, I can help you but you need to concentrate..forget about the pain, and concentrate on me'
'I..I can't...it hurt's' it felt like her body was going to explode with the pain, if only that stupid snake wasn't there she could curl up in a ball and wait for death to take the pain away.
'Sakura! You have to do this or you will die and your family will never be avenged!' the voice had a hasty stern tone about it that shocked Sakura. The thought of her family and the men that took them made it easy for her to do as inner said, she began to concentrate on nothing but her mother and father. Their faces, their smells, the smiles that would great her in the morning or the morning hugs and kisses she would receive from them or the hugs and kisses she would get when she finished academy.
Her heart ached to feel those little things that meant so much to her.
'Good girl' the voice cooed.
As soon she thought about them the pain almost instantly felt like it was sucked from her and became more bearable, it was still there but she could at least move now 'Thank you' she said in her head.
'I..it was m..my plea..sure' the voice said with a groan 'H..hurry I don't think I...I can h..hold it for l...long'
Sakura felt guilty that she was the cause of the voice's distress but was thankful that she had her there to help. She looked to her left to see Sasuke with his head down "Sasuke" she whispered but he didn't move. She tried again a little louder "Sasuke" still no response, he had passed out.
There were grunts and poofing noises in front of her and when she looked up a look of shock and disgust crossed her face for there not too far ahead of her was Orochimaru with half a dozen snakes coming out of his mouth and was attacking Naruto clones 'Eww...' she thought as a bout of nausea passed over her 'I have to get this snake off us' she was able to get her hands out from under the snake and made quick hand signs.
The snake instantly released its hold of the pair when an electric current went thought its body, she didn't stop the current until the snake was no longer moving. Lucky for her Orochimaru hadn't noticed that she was now free, she made sure Sasuke was okay before she slipped around the trees with her chakra masked.
As she got closer she faltered in her step, Naruto was now being suspended in the air by his throat and the snakes hand was glowing a purple colour "I don't think so" Orochimaru said to Naruto before he plunged his hand into Naruto's stomach causing the blonde to scream in pain.
"NOOO!"
She rushed forward which the man was not expecting, he released the blonde who fell to the ground still. Sakura had thought he was dead and she could see red as she charged at Orochimaru, Orochimaru stepped back "Interesting...most of my subjects that receive my gift don't regain consciousness for some time"
He kept on jumping away from the furious girl "You are very special.." he smiled a crooked smile "And don't worry the boy will be fine" he defiantly did not want this one after him for revenge with her power, Sakura stopped her assault and ran to Naruto's side as Orochimaru began to fade but before he did he spoke to her "You and Sasuke will come to me for more power...and when you do I'll be waiting" and he was gone.
"Naruto" Sakura shook the boy "Naruto wake up!" he groaned "Come my precious ramen...I'll protect you" the boy said and began snoring. Sakura chuckled and shook her head, trust Naruto to sleep at a time like this. She dragged him over to where Sasuke was before she fell to her knees as the pain started to intensify again, a groan left her lips as she felt the being inside her head struggle to hold onto the pain.
'Can you hold on a little longer?'
'I..I'll try'
The pain once again receded to a comfortable pressure 'How much more do we have to put up with' she asked herself. This was not what she thought the second part of the chuunin exams would be like...not one bit. A groan from Sasuke got her attention, she could see the boy was sweating come to think of it she was sweating as well "It must be what he did to us" She whispered as she pulled a cloth from her pack and wet it before putting it over his head.
She pulled another cloth from her pack and wet it before running it around her neck and over her face wiping the sweat and dirt from her, it felt so good and cool against her headed skin. Sasuke moaned again and Sakura placed her hand on his cheek "I'm sorry I couldn't stop him" she whispered his head seemed to lean into her touch as if he had heard her and he was telling her it wasn't her fault.
~O~
It had been a few hours since the fight with Orochimaru and nothing had happened, the pain from the bite came back twice but inner was able to pull it back but neither of them was sure how much longer she could hold it back for. But it was coming back at a steady pace, there was a groan from her left and Sakura looked to find Naruto sitting up.
"Naruto...Your awake" Sakura couldn't deny the relieved feeling as she watched the boy rub his head "What happened?" he asked looking around, his eyes landed on an unconscious Sasuke and the memory of the snaky bastard "S..Sasuke!" he crawled to the boy with a worried look on his face "What's wrong with him" he looked up and to Sakura, the instant his eyes landed on her face he was by her side "Sakura are you okay" he asked the deathly pale girl that was wet with sweat. "I..I'm fine.." she groaned as the pain became more intense "W...we have to get h..help for Sas..uke"
Naruto couldn't help but worry over his female team-mate when she was sitting in front of him holding her neck and her eyes were shut tightly as she breathed deeply. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you Sakura" Naruto said as he placed a hand on Sakura's. the girl became still and her lips became a thin line "I should have been there to stop him from hurting you"
Naruto was unaware of what he was doing when Sakura's eyes shot open and a glare was directed towards him, but the boy was looking down so he didn't see it 'Does he really think of me as that weak that I can't protect myself' she thought to herself as anger at the blonde rose inside her 'Do they all think that I am weak?'
Flashbacks of their previous encounters with the enemy popped into her head, first was when the demon brothers attacked them when they were protecting Tazuna the bridge builder.
FLASHBACK
Sakura jumped in front of Tazuna as one of the mist ninja headed for him "Tazuna sir, stay behind me and I will protect you" Sakura said as she pulled shuriken out of her pouch, she aimed them at the ninja and threw them. The shuriken would have been a direct hit if not for the gauntlet on his arm that he used as a shield.
He pulled his right hand back with the poison soaked claw on it as he came closer, Sakura prepared herself for the impact but it never came. A flash of black and blue was seen before Sasuke was standing in front of her "I've got you covered" was all he said as he stood ready for the impact, in the next instant Kakashi had both ninja under his arms in a head lock unconscious.
END FLASHBACK
Sasuke had jumped in front of her to protect her, she felt the anger bubble up even more as she thought about when they got back from that mission and ran into the sand siblings.
FLASHBACK
Sakura and Naruto were walking down the street to meet with the other two members of team 7 when "NARUTO!"
The pair looked up to see a kid running towards them, the boy had on some kind of silver hat that covered his dark brown hair leaving it to stick out at the top. He had on a yellow shirt and grey pants, around his neck was a very long blue scarf that Sakura was hoping he would trip over. As the boy got closer they could see his wide dark panicked eyes.
"NARUTO! SAVE ME!"
He ran behind Naruto and hid "Konohamaru what's the matter?" Naruto asked worried for his new friend "I...I didn't mean t..to do it" the boy stuttered "You didn't mean to do what?" Sakura asked eyeing the boy who had just noticed her, a grin appeared on the boys face his fear forgotten "Hey Naruto you didn't tell me you had a girlfriend"
Both Naruto and Sakura looked at the boy with wide eyes and open mouths, Sakura was the first to regain her composure "Why you little sh..." she was interrupted when two people walked up to them and Konohamaru ran into one trying to get away from Sakura's fist.
"Thought you could get away from me did ya?" one of them said, both Sakura and Naruto had to hold back their laughter at the sight of the one now holding the boy in the air. He had a completely black suit on from his feet to the head piece with the...cat ears
His face had purple paint on it, it was as if he was wearing eye shadow lipstick and the blush went a bit haywire with it going over his cheeks and forehead, there was also purple paint going from his coloured bottom lip to his covered neck in the form of a triangle.
'Wow Halloween prank gone wrong' Sakura thought to herself before looking to the girl that stood next to the cat man, she had blonde hair that spiked up at the back in four directions her dark blue eyes looked towards cat man with amusement as he scared the kid to death as she leaned on a huge fan, Sakura couldn't work out why these two were in Konoha 'Are they even here with permission?' she was going to voice her thoughts but Naruto spoke before her.
"Hey let Konohamaru go you big cat wannabe!"
Sakura snickered at the blonde as cat man glared at him, the girl laughed as well and Konohamaru looked like he was about to pee himself with laughter as he was held in the air. But not for long as he was thrown to the ground before cat man pulled that big thing with bushy brown hair on top off his back "Cocky little shit aren't ya...we'll see just how cocky you are after I get through with you" he growled.
The blonde girl put her hand on his shoulder "Kankuro they aren't worth it and Gaara will be pissed if we were late" she whispered to him but Sakura was able to hear. A look of fear passed across both of their faces at the mention of this Gaara person but it was gone as quickly as it came "I don't care Temari I hate bratty kids that think they're good..." he then looked at the girl called Temari with what looked like a pout "Besides he called me a cat wannabe...I am not a cat!"
Sakura raised an eyebrow 'Are they for real?' Temari sighed "Fine but if we're late it's your fault" and she went back to leaning on her big ass fan. Kankuro made a move to attack Naruto who was completely ignoring him and snickering with the kid. Sakura pulled out a kunai and threw with at him and hit the funny looking back pack.
"I don't think so" she said glaring at him "And Naruto..." she turned to look at him "Pay attention to cat man when he is attacking you" Naruto sweat-dropped and nodded his head, a new bout of laughter about ready to break through. Kankuro's face started to turn red as he glared daggers at Sakura "Why you little bitch, you'll pay for that" Sakura crouched in a defensive stance ready for him to attack but when he was about to lunge for her he was once again stopped by a...stone.
"You touch her and you will be sorry" came the calm bored voice of the third member of team 7 who was sitting in a tree as if it was a lounge chair, Sakura could see the frustration and anger in Kankuro's face. She felt a little sorry for him...but he did start it.
"Oh come on will ya" Kankuro growled "Not another one" Sakura could almost see him stomping his foot as he whined. "Stop being the hero Sasuke-teme.." Naruto growled and he did stomp his foot "I was going to save Sakura" Sakura couldn't help but roll her eyes "I don't need saving by either of you...now stay out of our way" she growled glaring at both of her boys before looking to Kankuro "Well what are you waiting for...an invitation?"
Kankuro smirked "After this you'll keep your mouth closed...pinky"
They both lunged at each other with a kunai in hand but before they could reach each other another figure materialised in the middle and sand flew up and around the pair restraining them, the sand moved them and in the next instant they were both being flung backwards.
Kankuro flew into a tree with a groan and Sakura was thrown into something soft that grunted on impact. She looked up and saw a head of black and eyes just as black looking back at her a hint of worry in them "A..are you okay?" Sasuke asked, Sakura nodded her head "Yeah...thanks" she said and a "Hn" was her reply.
Naruto stood in front of his fallen team-mates to protect them "Kankuro you embarrass me again and you will regret it" the new comer said in a low menacing tone, Sakura looked up at him. He looked to be they're age or younger unlike the other two that were defiantly older, he had short spiky red hair and pale green eyes that had black circles around them as if he needed sleep and as he glared at them an evil gleam was seen. Sakura couldn't help but shiver as she and Sasuke stood up.
On his forehead was a kanji tattoo that meant love, he was carrying a gourd on his back that Sakura thought held waster since they looked like they were sand ninja and the desert where the village was is very hot.
After he spoke to the pair behind him he turned his eyes to the three and a half in front of him, of course Konohamaru didn't stay for long then there was three "You" he said motioning towards Sakura "If we cross paths again...I won't hesitate to kill you" the threat felt real enough to Sakura by the way his eyes screamed danger to her.
"There's not a chance in hell buddy" Naruto said moving in front of her "You'll have to get through me to get to her" Sasuke stepped forward not saying anything but the message was clear as day 'And me too' his posture sang out.
The boy ignored Naruto and looked at Sasuke "Who are you and your female comrade?" Sasuke smirked at Naruto as he grumbled about no-one wanting to know who he was "I am Sasuke Uchiha" he said and Sakura stood next to him "And I am Sakura Haruno" there was looks of shock on Temari and Kankuro's faces when they said their names but dared not to speak 'This kid must be Gaara'
"And you?" Sasuke asked, the boy turned away and began to walk away Sakura thought he wasn't going to say anything but he turned his head "Gaara" was all that was said before the three disappeared.
END FLASHBACK
Again he had saved her and they both either said that she needed protection or their body language said it. Sakura couldn't believe that they saw her as weak and needed protection from them. 'I am not weak' she went to stand but where the bite was pulsed and she ended up falling. She closed her eyes and as she fell she heard the voice in her head speak.
'I'm sorry'
The pain came back full force if not more as she screamed, her whole body stared convulsing and she could hear the panicked voice of Naruto "Sakura! Sakura are you okay what's happening?" the only thing she could do was scream as the pain became more intense.
"Sakura my youthful cherry blossom" another voice, a picture of a boy with round black eyes that sat just under what looked like two big scruffy caterpillars and shiny black hair in a bowl cut smiling at her with blinding white teeth giving her a thumbs up who wore green spandex. "What has done this to my youthful flower" was the last thing Sakura heard before her consciousness slipped away and the pain with it.
~O~
Naruto had turned his back on her for a second to look at a squirrel when he heard her scream, he turned to see her hit the ground and her body started shaking and thrashing around. He ran to her and held her down by the shoulders "Sakura!" she screamed again "Sakura are you okay what's happening?" only her screams were his answer "What do I do" he was panicking now "Sa..." he was cut off by a blast of black and green "Sakura my youthful cherry blossom" and the Gai-sensei look alike was by her side.
Rock lee or bushy-brows as Naruto dubbed him looked towards him with tear filled eyes "What has done this to my youthful flower?" Naruto sweat-dropped 'No wonder Sakura refused his offer of boyfriend...he's creepy...Sakura, Sasuke...don't leave me alone with him!' on the inside Naruto was crying his eyes out and shaking the Sasuke and Sakura in his head awake.
Naruto looked down at Sakura when she stopped moving and screaming, at first he was worried that she died but her chest was rising slowly and he could feel a small quiver from her body every now and then as he held her. "Naruto" he looked to the boy beside him, "Naruto what happened to your youthful team-mates?"
Naruto looked at him for a moment "Team-mates?...Oh crap Sasuke!" Naruto remembered the boy had also been bitten by Orochimaru. Sasuke was still laying there with a slightly moist rag on his forehead 'You really are an idiot Naruto...who would forget about his team-mates' he chided himself, he looked to Lee with a serious look "We have to look after them until they wake up"
Lee wasn't very sure about that "Shouldn't we take them to the jounin in charge of this unyouthful event?" Naruto glared at him "No! Sasuke and Sakura both need to complete this, it is out of the question that it ends here. We will finish this test together and get stronger together...Believe it!" Naruto gave him a wide grin and a thumbs up.
"Okay I will do anything for my youthful flower and if I can't protect her with my life than I will do one thousand laps around this unyouthful forest, and if I can't ru..." Naruto tuned him out as he looked to his two team-mates with a sad look as they slightly shook 'I wasn't there for you before...but I will protect you both with my life until the day I die...'
~O~
"Mother? Father? Where are you!" an eight year old yelled as he looked for his mother and father in the empty house that was his family's home. Sasuke was afraid that what he saw out on the street was the fate of his family. He walked into the kitchen, there was no sign of them anywhere. Next was the bedrooms, not even Itachi was there 'Where are they?' he was beginning to panic now.
The last room that he was yet to check was the room where they kept all their scrolls weapons and a shrine, a noise was heard in the room than a thud "Mother, Father is that you?" the frightened boy asked, his voice cracking. There was no answer as he approached the door, his hand shakily reached for the door. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he opened his eyes and opened the door.
~O~
Naruto and lee took it in turns to watch over the two fallen members of team seven for the next day, Naruto was getting worried because they hadn't woken up yet "Why aren't they waking up!" he growled to no-one in particular as Lee was sleeping. "Maybe I should have taken them to the creepy lady" he said thinking of the purple haired woman that was freaky.
"That would have been a very good idea" a voice said from the trees and two sets of snickers were heard following it "Yeah...but it's too late now" came another voice. Naruto looked around with a kunai in hand "Bushy-brows" no answer "Let the boy sleep while he can" came a feminine voice. Naruto heightened his senses "Who are you and what do you want!" Naruto yelled into the forest.
Three laughs were heard "Just the boy and girl" three ninja stepped out of the trees with nasty smirks on their faces. The first Naruto saw had his head wrapped up in bandages leaving only his left eye visible with his sound head-band on his forehead, he had a grey shirt with sleeves that were too long for him, his pants were grey cargo pants. There was also some big fluffy looking thing strapped to his back.
The other male unlike the first didn't have any bandages on his face showing his sly smirk. His black hair was spiked up, his shirt was yellow and the sleeve stopped at his elbows where black arm-bands went the rest of the way he also wore the same pants as the first dude. Naruto instantly didn't like him.
The girl of the group had incredibly long black hair, Naruto could have sworn he saw it touch the ground. She had on a short sleeved grey/creamy shirt, she had the same arm-bands that the second male had on. She was wearing the same pants as the other two only she had a skirt of the same colour that reached mid thigh.
"Like hell you'll even get near them!" Naruto growled "Bushy-brows!" he threw his sandal at the sleeping boy and hit him in the head. "Oh Gai-sensei! my youthful cherry blossom loves me!" the boy shot up with a bright smile and a thumbs up. All four ninja in the area sweat-dropped "LEE!" Naruto yelled gaining the boys attention.
Lee looked to Naruto and spotted the three standing in front of him, lee joined Naruto in a defensive stance to protect the one he loved and her team-mates.
~O~
"NO!" Sakura wiped her head around to the scream only to find herself looking at...herself as a six year old, she was standing at the door to her uncle's house crying as she looked to the people in front of her 'No...please stop go away!' Sakura tried to say as she watched her nightmare unfold once again right in front of her like a dream.
"You could have stopped it if you were stronger" a voice said from behind her and a cold pale hand landed on her shoulder, Sakura was hesitant to turn around but she had to when Madara pulled the sword from her father's chest. As her eyes found the person next to her. Her eyes widened and a gasp left her mouth.
~O~
Sasuke opened the door to find two dark mounds in the middle of the floor and a dark liquid slowly coming closer to him "Mother, father?" he was about to move towards the mound but as he took a step his world became dark and he couldn't see a foot in front of him. Suddenly there was a small light big enough to see a little in front of him and it was slowly getting bigger and the room was coming into view.
But something changed, Sasuke knew what the mound was...it was his mother and father 'W..what's happening?' he could now hear a child crying, he looked to the sound and found a small child crying over the mound and someone in the shadows behind them 'LOOK OUT!' Sasuke tried to say but it only came out in his head.
Sasuke could do nothing but watch as the shadow materialised into his brother Itachi, and he then realised that the child on the ground was him as Itachi tortured his younger self with the deaths of his clan in the mongekyou sharingan.
After Itachi had tortured the boy and left, Sasuke's younger self stood with his head hung low and his bangs falling over his moist eyes as he turned in the direction of Sasuke. "You could have saved them" the boy said slowly lifting his head "But...you were too weak" the boy's head shot up the rest of the way and a malicious smirk adorned his face.
"If only you had more power" the boy said as he placed his hand on his face and dragged his fingers down the left side revealing yellow eyes with a thin slit in the middle and a deathly pale complexion "I can give you that power" came the voice of Orochimaru who now stood before Sasuke "Let the power I have given you flow through you and come to me"
~O~
"One down one to go" mummy man as Naruto put it now known as Dosu said to Naruto as Lee collapsed on the ground from Dosu's sound amplifier that is able to amplify and generate sonic waves that with the vibration's he used to attack Lee's inner ear and immobile the boy who was now lying flat on the ground "Na..Naruto protect S..Sakura" he whispered before he passed out.
Naruto glared at the man, they had managed to knock the other male out that was known as Zaku but the girl Kin managed to wake him up and now Naruto was on his own against three powerful ninja...or so he thought.
Off into the bushes sat the members of team 10 "What do we do, Sasuke is hurt" Ino was almost crying as she watched the boy on the ground. The one next to her rolled his eyes "You do know there are four of them there...don't you?" his name was Shikamaru, he had dark brown hair that was tied at the back and spiked out like a pineapple with dark brown lazy eyes.
"Sasuke is the only one I care about"
He looked at the girl next to him before turning to the boy next to him with a roll of his eyes and a mumbled "Troublesome". The boy's name was Chouji and he was Shikamaru's best friend, Chouji was a chubby boy who had light brown spiky hair and dark brown eyes he had a red swirl on either side of his face. These two boys looked normal...well Shikamaru was the laziest ninja out there but he was the smartest ninja around with an IQ of over 200, Chouji on the other hand was very sensitive to his weight and when it was brought up and the word fat was used he became very aggressive and dangerous to the user of the word 'Fat', but he would do anything for food.
Team 10 watched as Naruto tried to fend off the enemy "You know this is going to get ugly soon" Chouji said as he chomped on a packet of chips and watched, Ino turned to glare at him "How can you eat when my poor Sasuke is hurt you Fa..." a hand was placed over her mouth before the word was let out. "Ino we know how much you care...love I mean love him" Shikamaru quickly said after the glare he got from her "But if we don't do something Sasuke and the others are going to die"
"Sasu..." Ino was about to say something when Chouji slapped her in the face with his packet of chips as he pointed to where the group was "Look" the three looked to find while they were talking another two ninja showed up.
Up in the tree's sat the other team members of Lee's team, Neji Hyuuga who had long brown hair tied in a low pony-tail with pearl coloured eyes that were glaring at the shinobi with his byakugan activated and Tenten who had dark chocolate brown hair that was tied in two buns on either side of her head and her deep brown eyes matched her team-mates intensity as she played with a kunai
"Those two are Neji Hyuuga the prodigy of the Hyuuga clan and Tenten who is considered a weapons master aren't they Shikamaru?" Chouji asked as he watched the pair exchange some words with the sound genin "Ah" Shikamaru watched the interaction but something was off. 'Why is Neji hesitating?'
"Come on I want to save Sasuke so he will love me forever" Ino said as she tried to pull the boys out of the bush, Shikamaru watched as Neji looked towards the Uchiha. Something a deep purple was swirling around the boy that looked like...'No it can't be' "Ino no we have to stay here...something bad is about to happen and we don't want to be caught in it" he pulled Ino down. "Bu..." she was once again cut off "Trust me" Shikamaru said as he watched Sasuke stand after waking up.
~O~
Sasuke could feel the power rush through him as he stood up 'This power...this feeling is...amazing' he looked at his surroundings to find Sakura laying next to him unconscious and Naruto on his knees with a ninja holding a kunai to his throat. There was the weird guy in the green jump suit laying on the ground and not far from him stood two more ninja that were dressed the same as the woman behind Naruto.
Sasuke glared at the three not bothering about the other five ninja in the background. He glared at the woman holding Naruto.
Naruto watched as Sasuke looked around before his murderous sharingan glare fell on the bitch with the kunai behind him ready to slit his throat, he looked...different.
Don't get him wrong, he was happy that his team-mate was awake but the purple energy flowing around him and the red splotches on the left side of his body was unsettling. "Release him" Sasuke said in a low threatening voice as he glared at the girl. Naruto could feel the kunai shaking, although he couldn't blame her. He was actually afraid of the Uchiha as well.
"And if she doesn't?" came the smart-ass reply from Zaku, as he smirked at the dark haired boy. Sasuke turned his glare to Zaku and a smirk appeared on his face, as they all watched what the boy would do, the red marks began to move across his body like a flame until it could be seen everywhere before the flames became black.
Zaku held his hands out in front of himself revealing his secret weapon, an air tube in each hand that would allow him to shoot strong blasts of air at his opponent "Kin get out of the road...I'm going to obliterate these brats!"
Kin released her hold of Naruto and raced towards Dosu to get out of Zaku's way. "Supersonic slicing wave!" a massive powerful blast came from Zaku's hands and headed straight for team 7.
"Haha see that they didn't stand a chance" Zaku said after the dust from his jutsu cleared and there was no sign of the three. A scoff and snicker was heard behind the three sound ninja, and with wide eyes all three turned around to face a very much alive team 7. "WHAT! But...how did you miss my attack, no-one can escape it" Zaku was in shock to say the least, he couldn't work out how some little punk ass kids could escape his most powerful jutsu without even a scratch.
"You hold yourself and your pathetic jutsu's to highly" Sasuke stated as he placed a still unconscious Sakura on the ground next to where Naruto was standing, before he stood and faced Zaku with a glare. "You're in trouble now" Naruto said with a laugh "Stay out of this" both Zaku and Sasuke said simultaneously, "Keep Sakura away from this, dobe" Sasuke said not even turning around as a fireball left his mouth.
Naruto stared at the boy that was moments ago standing before him but now in a fight with Zaku, 'I didn't even see him move let alone make hand signs...how'd he get so fast?'
~O~
Sakura gasped at the sight before her, a girl her age with dull green eyes and equally dull pink waist length hair stood beside her. Sakura would have thought the girl was her but the girl looked dead. Sakura stumbled backwards "W..who are you?" the girl turned to her and laughed. Sakura gasped, the girl sounded just like she did on those rare occasions when she laughed at Naruto.
"What's the matter...don't you even recognise yourself?" the girl tilted her head to the side as if she was confused, and an eerie smirk appeared on her face. "N..no I...you're dead!" the girl chuckled "And so will you if you don't gain more power" she turned and watched what was happening.
Madara had a smirk on his face as he spoke to the younger Sakura "...and thank you for your mother" Sakura watched as her younger self tried to get to them before Noki and Madara disappeared with her mother "You could have saved them all...if you had more power" her dead self said "You are too weak to even save the ones you care for now" the girl turned to her with a snarl "Weak and pathetic..."
Sakura couldn't help but let the tears fall that were building up, 'I am weak...even Naruto thinks I am' the girl started to disappear along with the light bringing Sakura into darkness but before it was completely black the girl spoke to her "Go to him...go to him and gain power, he will give you what you need to complete your revenge...he is waiting" and then everything went black.
~O~
"SASUKE! STOP!" as Sakura regained her consciousness that was the first thing she heard before she even opened her eyes. She stood up and looked around, Naruto was standing a little in front of her with his back to her watching something she couldn't see. The weird boy that asked her to be his girlfriend was sprawled out on the ground, she vaguely remembered his voice before she passed out.
There was another two ninja that she had no clue as to who they were standing at the far end of the field they were in and staring at something with wide eyes, there was another two chakra signatures directly in front of Naruto. One just like the others she had no clue who it was and the other was very familiar yet very different at the same time, it was stronger and threatening to overpower everything around them.
She sidestepped and was able to see Sasuke holding another ninja by the arms while his knee rested on the ninja's back ready to break his arms. It should have shocked her to see him like that but what did shock her was his appearance, purple chakra swirled around him that was very powerful and black flames were all over his body.
A gasp left her lips as she looked to herself, she could see red chakra swirling around her body and lifting up the ground where her feet were. Black vine like patterns were going up the left side of her body, and most of all was the power she felt within her 'Is this the gift he was talking about?' a smirk appeared on her face 'I feel more powerful than ever before' she looked up as she heard a loud cracking sound and a scream from the ninja that just had his arms broken by Sasuke. A scoff left her lips and a whispered "Pussy" as she watched Sasuke make his way towards the other two.
'Sakura you must stop this'inner said in a frantic voice.
'Why' Sakura didn't want to stop Sasuke, she wanted to join him.
'This is wrong and you know it, now stop him!'
Sakura sighed 'You aren't going to shut up until I do aren't you'
'No, now move it'
Sakura huffed but did as she was told 'This sucks shit' Sakura walked past Naruto who stopped yelling at Sasuke to stop, his mouth now hanging open. The other ninja became even more scared...if that was possible, as Sakura walked over to Sasuke. When she reached him she grabbed a hold of his arm and as soon as she did the chakra that was swirling around the two of them combined and their power seemed to increase.
"They're not worth your energy" Sakura said in a bored tone, Sasuke glared at the two ninja that were shaking like a leaf before he grunted "Your lucky she stopped me" Sakura removed her hand from his arm and in that instant both of their marks receded and they fell to the ground panting.
"I will give you our heaven scroll on the condition that you let us leave" Dosu said as he placed the scroll on the ground before Sasuke and Sakura before picking Zaku up who groaned in pain "You are too powerful to face now...but if we cross paths again one of us will die...and I assure you it won't be me" Sakura and Sasuke looked at each other before looking at the retreating ninja and their injured team-mate.
As the marks receded their minds became clearer, it was as if the marks were controlling them and their thoughts because a look of total shock and disgust appeared on Sasuke's face as he looked at his shaking hands "W..what did I...do" Sakura watched as the boy beside her was almost having a panic attack.
"I..I almost killed him" Sasuke looked at Sakura with scared eyes "What...am I?" Sakura placed her hand on his shaking ones "Sasuke you are not a monster...it was what he did to us" Sasuke knew who 'he' was and looked Sakura in the eyes as she spoke "I could feel myself wanting to show them my power and...and destroy them...as well"
"Even though I knew it was wrong watching you do it but...I...wanted to do the same thing" a look of disgust appeared on Sakura's face as she turned away from him "I.." she was cut off when a pair of arms circled around her and Sasuke bringing them extremely close. "I am so glad you guys are okay" came the voice of Naruto as he hugged his team-mates.
After a moment Sakura pushed away from them and Sasuke pushed Naruto off him with a "Get off dobe" before he stood. And dusted himself off. He held out a hand to each of his team-mates who took it and they all stood together. They looked around the area to find Lee's team-mates by his side, the girl shaking him awake and the guy looking at them with a defensive glare.
Three more ninja popped out of the bushes with wide eyes, they were team 10. "So that was a little scary but...COOL!" Naruto jumped up and down "How'd you get so fast teme?" he asked looking at the boy. Sasuke on the other hand was looking at the ground with no intentions of answering the blonde "I mean bushy-brows and me could only knock out the dude with the wind arms before Bushy-brows was knocked out...I still don't know how mummy-man did it but he did" Sasuke's eyes shot up to Naruto's face Sakura joining him in staring at the boy as he babbled "he explained it but I wasn't listening...anyway you wake up and they run away with their tails between their legs"
'Were they that strong?' Sasuke couldn't believe it, if Lee couldn't fight them with Naruto's help...then how strong was he?
He was lost in his thoughts until a groan was heard next to him, he looked to Sakura to find her with her head down and her hand on her forehead. He was about to ask her if she was okay but "Sasuke" now he understood her position. Enter Sasuke's biggest fan-girl "Oh Sasuke my love" a blonde blur later and Ino had attacked herself to Sasuke's arm and was...hugging him. "I'm so happy you are safe"
"Ino" Sakura growled "Let him go and go annoy your own team" she said looking up and glaring at the blonde. "For your information billboard brow, my Sasuke likes it when I'm with him..don't you Sasuke" she said sweetly to the boy who only groaned as he tried to detach himself from her. Sakura didn't feel like fighting with the girl today so she sighed "Fine" and walked away over to Ino's team-mates leaving Sasuke to stare at her retreating back almost pleading for her to come back and help him.
~O~
It had been a few weeks since the forest of death and many things had changed one being six of the genin were chosen to be chuunin, Shikamaru, Neji, Tenten, Sasuke, Sakura, and a very surprising Naruto were the new chuunin. Naruto had made a new friend in Gaara after forcing the boy to see that he had people that loved him and he needed to protect after Gaara and the Sand ninja tried to destroy Konoha on the orders of their Kazekage which turned out to be Orochimaru who had killed the Kazekage long before the exams.
They had also lost the third Hokage after he stopped Orochimaru by taking his jutsu away and killing his arms in the process. But the Hokage sacrificed himself to save the village, Naruto had gone with a pervert known as Jiraiya to retrieve the new Hokage after he turned it down himself.
While he was gone Naruto learned that Jiraiya was Orochimaru's team-mate a long time ago along with the woman Tsunade who they were looking for to be Hokage, he also learned that Sarutobi had been their sensei and that the three of them were Konoha's legendary sannin...after Jiraiya explained what a sannin was of course.
Naruto also learned that Tsunade was a very powerful kunoichi that had a temper to match and she could summon...slugs, hence the name Slug sannin. He was able to see Jiraiya and Tsunade in action when Orochimaru showed up wanting Tsunade to heel his arms who refused, that is how he came to greatly respect the power those three had as they went head to head with their summoning's Tsunade with her giant slug Katsuyu, Orochimaru with his giant snake Manda, Naruto always knew he was a snake bastard, and Jiraiya with his giant...toad Gamabunta.
Everything started to return to normal after they returned and Tsunade became Hokage and had taken Sakura on as her apprentice...that is everything except team 7. Sakura and Sasuke started distancing themselves from the team and each other, just like they had done before they became a team only without the hostility. Kakashi became worried as he watched the two, he had an idea that it was the curse marks that Orochimaru had given them but he wasn't sure. He had placed a seal around them after the first matches to stop it from influencing them but he knew that they had used their cursed marks to fight Gaara, but he could do no more for them. It was up to them now.
~O~
A figure stood in a dark room with a single flame flickering occasionally revealing the orange mask on his face as he waited for someone to come. The door behind him creaked as it opened before closing again as the newcomer stood behind him "You asked to see me Madara?" the visitor spoke in an emotionless voice. The person was the only one who knew who he really was.
"Yes, it has come to my attention that Orochimaru is seeking the Haruno girl for her power and has already marked her" he said turning around to face the person "I want you to take her from that village" he spat in disgust "And bring the cherry blossom to me...do you understand?" the figure nodded his head before walking to the door and opening it "Oh and Itachi" the dark haired man turned to face Madara "Don't fail me"
Itachi walked out of the room with a scowl on his face, silently making his way to a particular room. He entered to find his target laying on the second bed in the room "You were right" he said standing in front of the pale blue haired man "He has ordered me to bring her to him...I leave tonight" the man sat straight up on the bed and glared at Itachi
"What do you want me to do Noki?"
~O~
Sakura was on her way back to her apartment after training with Tsunade who had become her sensei when she came to the village (Sakura told herself it was a way to keep an eye on her curse mark. Sasuke had the other's and Jiraiya following him around to watch him) when she had the urge to walk to the top of the Kage mountain and just sit and think. When she reached the top there was another there, Sasuke had the same idea as Sakura did and was sitting on the head of the fourth Hokage. Sakura bit her bottom lip and was about to walk away when Sasuke spoke "You don't have to leave"
Sakura looked at him for a moment before she moved over to where he was seated and sat down a little away from him "Hi" she said he answered her with a grunt before they sat in silence.
After a while of comfortable silence, Sakura spoke "So...how ha training been?" a smirk appeared on Sasuke's face and Sakura joined him "Naruto is getting sick of being beaten" Sakura snickered "I bet he would be" another moment of silence filled the air before it was Sasuke's turn to break it.
"And you?"
Sakura looked at him for a moment before she looked out at the village "It's going good Lady Tsunade said I am advancing well, having mastered the basics of medic ninjutsu but my tomokugan has helped with that" she gave a soft laugh, "Although I think she is only teaching me to keep an eye on me so I don't get out of control" another half hearted laugh escaped her lips "Ah" was the response she got from Sasuke.
Sakura looked him for a moment than realisation hit "Kakashi-sensei and Jiraiya...right?" he gave her a curt nod before the atmosphere was once again plunged into silence. They sat there looking over the village for another hour before Sakura stood up "I guess I had better get going and get to bed" Sakura said before she started to walk away.
As she was walking away from him, she didn't see the person in the background that had been watching them for the past hour. She got a third of the way down the mountain before she became aware of the presence behind her, she pulled a kunai out of her pouch as she continued to walk down the mountain. She could almost feel the person behind her now.
She could tell from the chakra of the person that they were powerful and she felt intimidated, she needed help and the closest person was still sitting at the top of the fourth's head 'I need to get his attention...but how?' a thought popped into her head 'If I flare my chakra Sasuke would think something was wrong and come to me' with her plan set she was about to enact it when.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you"
Sakura froze at the voice behind her, after a moment she gained enough courage to turn slowly around to face the voice. Her eyes widened and she stumbled backwards, there standing in front of her was Itachi Uchiha. Sakura was very intimidated now, there was no way she could take him on her own...not the Uchiha prodigy that was an ANBU agent at age 12.
"SASUKE!"
She screamed as loud as she could in hopes of getting the young Uchiha's attention, she was about to scream again when a hand was slapped over her mouth preventing her from making and further noises other than muffled whimpers. "Foolish little girl, you shouldn't have done that" Itachi said in a low menacing tone as he held her with her back against his chest, she tried to fight him off but the Akatsuki member was too strong for her.
A sharp pain was felt in the back of her neck before her world started to go black, the last thing she heard was her name being shouted out by Sasuke as he came into view of the pair "Sa..Sasuke" she whispered before she collapsed into Itachi's arms.
~O~
Sasuke was about ready to head home himself when he heard a scream "SASUKE!" it was Sakura and she was in trouble. Sasuke jumped up and raced as fast as he could down the path towards where Sakura was, he rounded a corner and slid to a halt, there in front of him was Sakura being held by...Itachi.
"Sakura!" he yelled as the girls head started to drop, a quiet whisper of "Sa..Sasuke" was heard by the girl before she completely dropped into his brother's arms. Sasuke glared at Itachi "What did you do to her you bastard!" Itachi looked at Sasuke before his eyes fell to the girl in his arms "That is none of your business little brother"
Sasuke felt the anger explode inside him and he launched himself at Itachi "You bastard...I'll kill you!" Itachi disappeared from his line of sight only to appear behind him. "I'm not here for you little brother" Itachi said, Sasuke swung around and launched himself at Itachi again. Itachi repositioned Sakura so she was slumped over his shoulder as Sasuke charged him.
Itachi's hand shot out and wrapped itself around Sasuke's neck, Sasuke hit the wall of the mountain with a groan "You are still too weak, you don't have enough hate to kill me" Itachi's grip tightened around Sasuke's neck. Sasuke looked to the unconscious girl over his brother's shoulder "W..why, why her?" Itachi chuckled "She is a distraction to your goal" Sasuke than found himself with Itachi's knee in his stomach.
Itachi watched as the boy coughed up blood and his eyes rolled in the back of his head as he began to lose consciousness. Once the boys eyes had closed Itachi released him and Sasuke slumped to the ground "I'm sorry" was the last thing that was heard as Itachi along with Sakura disappeared into a sea of squawking crows.
~O~
Sasuke had woken up the next day in bed with Naruto and Kakashi looking all gloomy Kakashi had told him that he was found by Kotetsu and Izumo and taken to the hospital where Tsunade had worked on him. When he asked about Sakura the atmosphere had become that thick that Sasuke felt like he was drowning in it, there was no sign of the pinkette anywhere in the fire nation but Tsunade said she wouldn't give up looking for her.
Sasuke was then left alone in his hospital bed after yelling at all of them, he sat there and his thoughts were of the girl that he had come to care about 'She was taken from me just like the other's' anger bubbled inside him as he thought about Itachi taking Sakura away. A voice was heard in his mind 'Come to me' it was that snake Orochimaru 'I can give you the power you seek' he thought about the offer and what had just happened. He had two choices either stay in the village and continue to be weak and let Itachi take every last person that meant something to him away or go to Orochimaru and become stronger and obliterate Itachi.
The decision was easy to make, Sasuke stood from his bed and got changed, he went back to his apartment and gathered his things before heading to the gates. Kotetsu and Izumo were there sleeping as usual, he slipped out of the gates and before he disappeared he looked back at the village that was his home a pang was felt in his chest but the guilty feeling of having lost another precious person to his brother outweighed it.
His head-band was pulled from his head and a kunai was dragged across the insignia before it was dropped on the ground. "Never again" was the last thing Sasuke Uchiha said as a chuunin of Konoha village hidden in the leaves.
~O~
Itachi materialised just out of the village and was met by two other Akatsuki members, one being Kisame Itachi's team-mate and the other a lifelong friend of his. "Did anyone see you there?" Itachi nodded his head "My little brother was there when I took her" a flash of sadness was seen in his eyes before it disappeared. The Akatsuki member stepped out of the shadows and took his hat off revealing none other than Noki Haruno murderer of his clan "It is for the good of the plan" Noki said as he took his unconscious cousin from Itachi. The pair began to walk away when Kisame said something "I don't get it what plan are you talking about and why aren't you taking the girl back to the hide-out?"
Both clan murderers turned to the blue man.
"The orders have changed and the plan will be revealed soon enough"
And with that they disappeared into the forest.
So how was it? And who knows what the plan is?
So As I said at the top sasusaku-EienAi cos she's been really sick with the flu a nasty chest infection and asthma so I had to write and edit this chapter all by myself lol, thank god I had her notes lol. She can bloody write can't she lol.
Anyway as of tomorrow sasusaku-EienAi will be working on her own cos I'm leaving to go to America for a uni thing for the next year, I know you all will miss me lol but look after my sis for me kay lol.
Next would be sasusaku-EienAi is starting a management job and won't be able to update as quickly as she could before but don't worry she will get there with the next chapter as soon as she's better and out of the hospital lol. It's funny having to sit here next to her and write as she tells me stuff lol I had to read some stories that have been updated the other day for her and I couldn't stop laughing as she coughed lol I'm mean I know. She also says sorry to those that she's reading stories of that have updated and she hasn't reviewed yet...she will get there..eventually lol
Now down to fun stuff
Thank you to everyone that has reviewed faved and alerted you guys rock big time
bittersweetmusicgirl thanks a lot we're glad you are loving it and your welcome;)
sunshinestar16 thanks for the review it's great to now you love the story sasusaku-EienAi says she *cough, cough* hopes you keep loving it lol
Maria W. Cullen thank you so much, and sorry bout the ending lol but don't worry they all will find each other again lol
Animefreaklizzy how was that lol and thank you so much sasusaku-EienAi hopes she keeps it enjoyable for you until the end, and if you liked the sasusaku-ness in chapter 4 you'll love what's to come in later chapters lol
Kare Love 4ever we're glad you liked it and hope you liked this one as much
Your Hoshi glad you liked it and the idea for them both getting bitten was Christiansrose's idea lol we didn't even think to have both of them bitten at the same time, I can tell you now I would love to have that blood-line as well my sister has a great imagination lol and sasusaku-EienAi hopes that she can be able to update fairly quick with her new position in her job
cowgirl137 how'd you like it other than the fact that Oro got away lol and don't worry Oro and Naruto will cross paths again...soon
caga2007 thank you very much for the review and if ever you get confused about anything just let sasusaku-EienAi know, she'll explain anything you need to be cleared up on...or try too lol
lol Kakashi is cool and yeah...I just have to say thank you so much for giving sis the confidence to put this story up I thank you very much..I'm not going to cry (wipes eyes with tissue) all I can say is thank you and hopefully I have internet where I'm going and can highjack sis's account and have a chat lol
Christiansrose lol you had my sister laughing at your review she was like everyone loves me, but yeah I have to agree with you I don't deserve stuff thrown at me unless it's chocolate and into my mouth lol and your very welcome, it was an added twist to the story that we didn't think of and hopefully these fight scenes were okay too considering they were fighting stronger people lol
WhatChuuKnowBoutMe How was that lol they got her before she went to Oro but what are they going to do with her now? And I know she is a kick-ass kunoichi lol got to love that it was actually my fav part where she attacked Kakashi as well and you're going to love the next chapter, from what I've seen of sasusaku-EienAi's notes Sakura is only going to get more bad-ass lol
Anyway I hope you guys liked this chapter I'm not as good as my sister with the writing and editing but I hope I did okay enough for you. I have to say that it was a pleasure to go this far with you guys and I'm going to miss you all very much...hugs all around lol.
As always if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask and it will be answered. It helps make If Not For You better
So for the first and last time this is Haruai signing off lol see you all when I get back
Thank you for taking the time to read.