Sakura vanishes with Sai and her voice echoes around, "Just let me handle this thing myself. Just let me deal with that guy Sasuke." Naruto gasps and tries to run around… looking for a way out, 'Sakura! Stop!'

He sees a faint figure and it seems to be other ghosts. He walks backwards to not get noticed. But the smell of his humanity lingers and so the ghosts get to spot him. He starts to run away… around the endless grounds of Sai's nightmare.

There is nowhere to hide. The only thing Naruto can do is to run… until his legs reach their limits and for him to finally fall down to the invisible floor. Naruto rises up and shakes his head to avoid getting weak and exhausted. He looks around and sees the group of ghosts approaching. He sits up and tries to stand, knowing that he couldn't but he has to. Naruto winces in pain and he struggles to get up, 'Dammit, I have to get out of here. I know what Sasuke did to Sakura is surely unforgivable. And I know I am also responsible for this. But she's corrupting herself…'

"Do you seriously believe that?"

'Who are you?' Naruto looks around and sees the place seems to freeze. He looks around more and sees a bloody patient standing in front of him. He is also half-burnt and blond. His head is dropped and seems to try and hide his face from Naruto. The voice says yet again, "There's no way you don't know me. We've met before, haven't we?" He raises his head and Naruto sees… himself, burnt and tortured. The one at the ceiling to be exact. Naruto pulls himself back and the other Naruto raises his arms to his sides like trying to claim to be not harmful, "We've met again."

"What do you mean?" Naruto asks the other him and the guy responds, "This is Sai's Realm and this is where they keep naughty ghosts. Just call me the Dark Naruto. Where was I? Heh. There, do you seriously believe you're responsible for the things? Don't you think you're innocent?"

"I…"

"Oh yes, you are the reason WHY Sakura was attacked by those head ghosts. But didn't you know that what she said is what made Sasuke grow so angry towards her? It's not really your fault… if Sakura sees you as a toy she owns." Dark Naruto vanishes and Naruto stays frozen at the ground.

'Sakura… sees me as a toy?' Naruto gets dazed by the matter and the hordes of ghosts are coming. The blond closes his eyes and tears run down his eyes, 'I…'

Dreamcatcher Nights

Rei Haruno

Chapter 6: The Brother

'The bringer of the Curse flies at the place again…'

"Naruto." A soft voice of a female calls Naruto and he opens his eyes. It is Hinata and Naruto tries to stand up from the floor. He gazes at the clock and can't make out the numbers displayed by the digital clock. Hinata helps him up and sits him at the wheelchair, "It's already night time. We have to go to Sasuke, right?"

"…" Naruto wonders and looks at Hinata, "Sakura… she said she will be dealing with Sasuke alone." Hinata gasps and rolls the chair towards Sasuke's room, "Then we have to hurry! Sasuke has harmed her once. He can do that again!" Naruto, keeping what Dark Naruto has told him a while ago… 'Am I… that worthless to be a toy to her?'

"Naruto." Hinata says in a very serious voice which earns Naruto's attention so fast, "Never listen to an entity from Sai's realm. They will all lie to you." Naruto twitches and asks, "How'd you know I—"

"I can tell from the aura inside your room a while ago." Hinata rolls faster and Naruto exclaims, "You mean— you mean it's all a lie?" Hinata stops and goes in front of him. She bends down a bit and smiles, "I'm not really sure… since I am not really sure which ghost you've talked to. It's not just that Sai's little minions… even Karin's puppets and Sasuke's confidants are locked up in Sai's realm. Do you know which one did you talked to?"

"… I'm not sure." Naruto drops his head and Hinata walks back behind him and rolls the wheelchair forward again. Naruto then closes his eyes, 'Is he telling the truth? Or is he just lying? I don't know what to think or do. Sasuke… please appear before me and tell me you won't hurt her.'

"She deserves to die."

Naruto and Hinata twitches and they look at a direction. The burning room appears at the one nearest to them and Sasuke crawls out of the door. Naruto suddenly stands up and runs to Sasuke much to Hinata's surprise. He kneels down and asks, "Oi, Sasuke. Did you find Sakura? Do you know where she is?"

"Why do want to know where she is? If she's going pathetic about getting rid of me, I don't care." Sasuke sits up and Naruto grabs Sasuke's shoulder to make an outburst but Sasuke suddenly says, "They might be heading to the archives. Izuna guards the place and only… his brother is allowed to enter the place. Sai must be helping that woman… but it'll be very hard to get in the archives without Izuna's brother's permission. Sai knows that as well."

"If it's going to be dangerous… then we have to stop them." Naruto is about to run to a direction but fire draws a circle around him. It's so high that he couldn't cross. He yells at Sasuke as he flings to the guy, "What are you doing?" Sasuke smirks and floats in mid-air, "I'll take care of that girl. Just so you wait, Naruto. All you have to do now is to rest." Hinata only gazes at the scene, unable to know what she can do to help Naruto. Sasuke calls Hinata's attention, "You watch over Karin and Naruto. Tell Karin she'll be fine later."

"Don't kill the girl." Hinata says and Sasuke shows his bloodshot eyes and laughs out, "If she can survive what I'm about to do, that is!" He disappears and Naruto begins to get suffocated by the fire surrounding him. He struggles for air but everything's getting eaten by the fire. He collapses to the ground and makes Hinata gasps in worry. He stares at the empty hallway and whispers, "… Don't…"

000ooo000

"So where exactly are we going?" Sakura asks Sai and the guy smiles at her, "In the most forbidden part of the MedCenter. Even Sasuke is afraid of that place. But if you wanted to kill Sasuke or end the curse, that is where you should look for answers." Sakura looks straight at the horizon and thinks, 'Once I got rid of Sasuke, I'll be getting out of this place. And I will never ever talk to Uzumaki again. Dammit, I should have never visited him to begin with.'

"Sakura." Sai calls the pinky and she turns to him… to see his serious face directed at the dark horizon where they gaze at a double door, "We're almost there. A very powerful spirit with the name of Izuna lies within. Though Sasuke's a bit more powerful, I can't say he'll be a piece of cake for us?" He smiles at her and she raises a brow, "So how am I exactly going to fight?"

"Such an easy question."

"Who's that?" Sakura gets alerted and Sai looks around to see no one. He gazes at Sakura, "Sakura. Here comes a spirit bound… either within my Realm or within the archives. Be careful in listening to them. Their words are poisonous." Sakura nods and she calms down a bit and asks, "How did you say so, spirit?"

"I know exactly how to escape your fate… and how to kill Sasuke." Sakura scowls and says, "I cannot trust you. I don't believe everything you say. So there is a way to do so."

"First you should know how to pull out your powers and then you can kill Sasuke."

"Powers?"

"What is it that you desire?"

"Freedom… from my current state… and kill Sasuke… and Naruto."

"Do you want to do it with your own hands?"

"Yes."

"Are you willing to spill human blood in this place? Are you willing to bathe in blood?"

"I am. I'll do whatever it takes."

"Sakura! Stop! It's amplifying your madness!" Sai warns her but she then smirks very maliciously. Dark aura starts to seep from her and her eyes are turning red. Sai steps back and is contemplating whatever step he can to… lessen the mess he'll be pushing Naruto towards. Sakura then laughs out loud and yells, "I will kill!"

"Not good." Sai vanishes from the place and Sakura starts to destroy the walls, "I'll get you for that!"

000ooo000

Naruto wakes up in his room with the other humans right there and Hinata is also there. He sits up much to their surprise. His mother embraces her son and she asks, "Naruto! What's happening? Where is Miss Sakura? She's gone." Naruto twitches and looks at Hinata. She nods and says, "She's bathing in so much hatred and she has gone mad. She must be with Sai and tries to do something with her condition."

"Then why didn't she even tell me?" Ino cries and Kiba says, "Do you know where she is?" The girl shakes her head and she looks at Karin, "Karin, it's almost time. Are you ready?" The redhead nods and they all gaze at the clock. Naruto gets surprise with the time as the clock reads 1:29. He gulps… not knowing what they are waiting for.

The minute hand moves and they hear Karin cry and see dark smokes seeping in her body. She walks to the wall and hugs it… she camouflages with it and the two merges like magic. The center holds more secrets than they imagine and they see Karin back to her normal ghost state. She smirks as she swims around the walls, "Lord Madara surely knows how to please me. Hinata, I'll be looking for— no need." She grows serious and they all turn to the mirror.

The reflection grows bloody and soon the whole room gets bloody. The women restrain their screams and they see Sai go through the door. He smiles at them, "Greetings, everyone. Hello, my name is Sai and I'm here to—"

"Tell us where Sakura is." Naruto says as he stands up from his bed. Sai drops the happy façade and looks at Karin, "Karin, do you know where Sasuke could be? We have a big problem." Karin twitches and Hinata asks Sai, earning his attention, "What's happening? Did you head for the Archives?"

"I was careless." Sai drops his head, "I didn't really know… and I am not aware that Izuna's back roaming the place." The clueless people stare at him and Karin asks, "So what if Izuna's back?"

"That means Madara's back as well… and he's going to take one into eternal damnation again. Karin, you're lucky, Naruto has already saved you." Sai says and he further explains, "Having you out the curse, Madara is trying to get another soul and turn her into something like us to shower more blood. In short, he needs someone to replace Karin." Sai looks at Naruto and drops his head in apology, "I know it's half my fault but I have to throw this thing at you, Naruto, because you managed to save Karin. You can still manage to save Sakura from this. She currently in Madara's hold and you won't be able to talk to her. All you can hear is the resentful Sakura… which she calls herself the Dark Sakura."

"Dark Sakura?" Ino echoes and Naruto suddenly twitches, "Huh? Is she like possessed by another ghost?" Sai shakes his head and says, "It's like… another part of one's soul. The human soul always has yin-yang balance and in Sakura's place, Dark Sakura completes her." Naruto is quite taken aback but then he manages to ask, "Are they even allowed to talk?" Karin gets near Naruto and asks something, "Let it out, savior. I know you're trying to ask something."

"Later when we're done with saving Sakura." Naruto answers and Hinata suddenly remembers something. She looks at Karin as the redhead coincidentally gazes at her as well. The redhead asks the dark haired femme, "What's wrong, Hinata?" Hinata drops her head and she whispers, "Sasuke… he said he will be dealing with Sakura on his own. Do you think he's going to kill her?"

"Seriously…" Sai holds Naruto's shoulder and gives an assured look, "He'll think it's better than to be like us." Naruto is about to say something when the three (Naruto, Karin and Sai) suddenly disappears from their sight. Kushina clasps her hands together like praying, "Naruto… please, take care."

000ooo000

Sasuke walks towards the archives and he knows someone will be welcoming him. He looks at the horizon… and waits for the moving figure to get near enough for him to recognize whoever that is. She walks and she ends up in front of him like yards away. She raises her bowed head and he sees the new face Sakura harbors. Her eyes are strong red and her face looks horrible (somehow comparable to an ugly vampire baring the fangs) A malicious smirk rises from her lips, "Sasuke, you walked exactly within my trap. Now, you're going to die."

"Revert back… I'll recall the effects of my flames." He says which shocks Dark Sakura and he continues, "I'm not letting Madara play with another soul in this hospital." The Dark Sakura laughs and she says, "So you mean you are willing to end the curse so he won't be able to damn another one? Are you willing to die?"

"…"

"How sure are you?" She takes a step forward and her loose tongue starts to lick her lips, "How sure are you that that stupid dumbass Naruto Uzumaki can save everyone? He just had pure luck with Karin… he never knew what to do!" Sasuke closes his eyes and opens them again, "He sure knows what to do. You'll see that when they get here."

"Oh really? Then you won't live long enough to witness that!" A red liquid starts to form behind her and she instantly wields a red bow with unlimited arrows. She starts to aim at Sasuke and the guy has no choice but to fight. He shapes his flames into swords and he will be attacking Sakura with it.

000ooo000

Naruto, Sai and Karin are travelling and Karin yells, "Dammit, Lord Madara's disrupting the aura flows. I can't tell where the archive is." Sai agrees and Naruto looks around. The hallways start to grow identical to get even the head ghosts lost in the maze within the center. Naruto then starts to feel a familiar presence and the two other looks at a certain direction. A figure leans at the wall and who is concealed by the shadows, "Oi, Naruto. Your head is surely twisted, isn't it? I told you, you can never take Sakura back now."

"I won't believe you. I can do this." Naruto turns to the shadow, "Dark Naruto." The two twitches and Dark Naruto walks outside the shadow. He gives a smirk and greets the head ghosts, gazing at Sai, "Greetings. I see you are trying your best to kill Naruto, huh." Karin has her eyes wide and Sai says, "How… how come you two are… separated?"

"Nice question." Dark Naruto laughs and he says, "It's too early for you to know. But I can help you with something else. Instead of looking for the archives, you better look for Sasuke. I don't know how long he can keep up with the situation." Naruto twitches and Karin scowls at the figure as it disappears. Sai wonders and he looks at Karin. Karin says, "I guess we should better hurry. I don't like that 'keep up with the situation' that Dark Naruto has mentioned."

000ooo000

'Red.

All I see is red. Starting from the red liquid that drips from my forehead to the figures embracing everything in the center.

Hot.

I feel extreme pain whenever those figures of red spiky smoke kiss my body. And it feels like…

Burning.

I look around… seeing nothing but the white smoke filling up the room. My lungs start to stop from breathing in the poisonous air and weakness starts to creep within me. I fall hardly to the supposed-to-be cold floor and pant for the next minutes of survival… which is impossible to happen.

Death.

It seems to creep and rob me of my hopes of living. Am I…

Dying…'

Sasuke looks at the burning door and sees… more like thinks… a figure is standing behind it. He tries to crawl, slowly and trying to conserve as much air and energy as possible, to the door until it opens. A man with long dark hair stands there. Half his face is covered by the mane and his eyes are of pure red. The man kneels down and reaches out a hand… and Sasuke tries to reach for it.

"Do you want to live longer, my dear?"

'As long as… I can… I want to. Please save me!'

"Perfect answer."

…

'But that was a mistake. I shouldn't have taken his hand by then.' Sasuke tries to get kind to take Sakura lightly and manage not to kill her… 'I don't like this girl… but getting turned into a head ghost like me is more than my flames' punishment. I'm not letting anyone else in again. This could be a sudden change of hearts but I have to do this… for Naruto. He doesn't want to lose her as much as I don't want to lose him. I know the pain he will suffer from if ever she completely turns into one of us… or die and be trapped there at Sai's realm.'

"Is that ALL!" Dark Sakura yells and charges a bow with her dark aura. She fires it at Sasuke and he tries to deflect it. But it goes through the flame sword and hits Sasuke at the shoulder. He winces a bit and looks at Dark Sakura. She yells again with both anger and malice, "Don't take me lightly! Let me see why everyone is so damn afraid of you!"

"I didn't see you will get turned into a head ghost, Sakura." Sasuke says as he effortlessly pulls out the bow from his shoulder and drops it at the floor. He lets the flame sword vanish and floats in mid-air, "I was trying to wait for Naruto's arrival but I guess things will have to be not exactly as I planned. Now, I'll be killing you… and keeping you at Sai's Realm. You will only be freed when the time comes." The place begins to burn… as well as Sasuke. Just as how it did before Sasuke has somewhat cursed her. She grinds her teeth and she loads another arrow, "It won't be like before, Sasuke. I can kill you now."

She charges the arrow and she fires it Sasuke. The arrow burns yards before it reaches him which left Sakura dumbfounded, "How was that even possible?" The guy's bloodshot eyes come out and he smirks with a great deal of malice, "Now, I will show you… how it feels to be killed by ME!"

Sakura starts to burn again and Sakura cries in pain once more. Her dark aura seems to eaten by the flames and white smoke starts to evaporate from her. Her skin starts to burn as her fingers starts to have nice cinders. She yells and cries for mercy… help… Naruto. She hugs her body one more time and it seems Sasuke will not stop until she's dead. Her emerald eyes turns into waterfalls and her burning throat calls for a blond's name, "Naruto… help me… I'm so sorry…"

"Sasuke!" a familiar voice calls and Sasuke turns to him. He descends into the floor and says, "She's not yet dead. You still have a couple of seconds." The flames vanish in a second and Naruto widens his eyes seeing the poor Sakura… bloody and burned to the third degree. He cries and runs to her. He wants to hold her but she will be hurt if he ever did, "Sakura! Please answer me!"

"Na… ru… to…" She whispers and Naruto flings to Sasuke, "Sasuke! Can you do something? I don't want her to die! Please! Karin! Sai! Anyone!"

"Naruto… I want to be free…" Sakura whispers and Naruto looks at her, "I have… blamed you for everything. I'm sorry."

"Sakura…" Naruto cries and strong winds begin to blow from behind. The cinders embracing her starts to burn rapidly. She whispers as her dried eyes try to cry some more, "Naruto… forgive me. Let me make up for it… if ever we meet again…" Her body suddenly burned like paper and she manages to kick Naruto away before she turns into ashes… carried by the strong winds.

Sasuke squints a bit at the dark horizon and Naruto cries louder, "Sakura! No!" Karin goes to Naruto and says, "Let go back now. You have to rest."

"I couldn't save her… I failed to save her." Naruto cries some more and even Sai gets affected. He turns around and talks to Sasuke, "I know what will come next… are you going to blame me for this? I pushed Sakura to this place in the first place."

"She's the one who said yes to Madara. Not you." Sasuke walks out of sight and Karin decides to carry Naruto off with her blood hands and takes him back to the room.

000ooo000

Sasuke is sitting at his room and is gazing outside his window like usual. Since Karin is not there to visit him, he sits all alone. Then a presence walks in the room and he turns… to see Madara. The guy sits at the edge of the bed and runs his hand at Sasuke's hair, "Poor things, aren't you? Both of you failed to do what you have been trying to flaunt."

"Get out of this room." Sasuke refuses to even look at him again and continues to watch the stars. The guy then holds his chin and makes the raven fling to him, "Sasuke. If you really want to end this, why don't you just kill me?" Sasuke glares directly at the man and he continues, "But you can't. You don't want to. You are scared… that you won't be seeing that guy again."

"…"

Madara lets him go and stands up and looks at Sasuke as the boy turns away, "Sasuke."

"…"

"Looks like I have won again."

[End of Chapter Six]

Deidara: It's been a while since she last called me for this, un. Now, welcome to the end comments, un.

Sasori: Why are we always together? I'm starting to get tired of seeing you.

Deidara: Leave it, Master, un. Anyway, Rei Haruno doesn't really know what to say in this chapter, un. Oh, about Sakura, un? If she's dead, un? Hmmm…

Sasori: It depends in your perception. If you want to know if you're right, read the next one.

Deidara: The next chapter will be… full of unintended betrayal, un. Not really full but it would be the main theme, un.

Sasori: There, she came up with something to say. *takes the paper I gave* She knows that the fight is slightly resembling a RPG game… but is there any other way she can make two ghosts fight?

Deidara: So, the fight scenes will be always like that, un. There's a hint, un. Next chapter, there will be another fight… then the other upcoming chapter, un.

Sasori: The normal plan is ten chapters… but if there's some more to squeeze in, why not make it longer?

Deidara: She incredibly hates fillers, un…

Sasori: That's it for the end comments.

Deidara: Not as funny like before, un.

Sasori and Deidara: Because it's not funny to be a clown (un).

Rei: PS. Thank you for reading and supporting Dreamcatcher Nights. Please review somehow. ^_^