Naruto runs through the corridors, not caring of all the nurses that could have seen him. He is all bloody and there are nine long chains with barb wires connected to him like tails that are floating behind him… ready to sting when necessary. Sakura, Ino, Karin and Kiba are running towards the same direction where Karin claims to pick up Sasuke and Hinata's energies. They bump into Naruto and they get surprised with the tails behind him. They continue running towards the direction and like a recent scene, Naruto witnesses Hinata getting burned by Sasuke's flames of hatred, "Hinata!"

Sasuke doesn't turn to look at him and Hinata continues to scream. Naruto runs to Hinata but Sakura stops him by pulling him with her rope made of ashes from her other hand, "Naruto, don't get too near! Hinata's going to be fine! Remember what Sasuke did to me?" Naruto stops struggling and painfully watches Hinata getting burned with Sasuke's flames. Karin then gazes at Sasuke… noticing that his aura is slowly… vanishing. She widens her eyes and yells, "Sasuke! Stop!"

"…" No response comes from him and then Karin feels heart-breaking dread. She falls from the ceiling with her fishtail made of concrete and Kiba somehow catches her. The others look at her and then back to D. Hinata's side when a voice speaks, "I guess I haven't missed the show yet." They see Sai with a man with long spiky hair standing behind D. Hinata. Karin cries, "Lord Madara…"

"Don't get…" Madara starts walking towards D. Hinata and the girl begs, "Too near, Lord… Madara… you might… get hurt…" Madara smirks and looks at Sasuke… who has his bangs covering his face right now. He answers D. Hinata while still gazing at Sasuke, "No need to fret, Hinata. It won't be long." Then he shoots a glare at Naruto, "I never thought Dark Naruto would give up… he even gave you his tails. However, whether he did it or not, I will still win. And you will lose, Sa-su-ke." Upon pronouncing the raven's name, Madara gives his gaze back at him.

"…" Sasuke continues to remain silent and then the flames extinguishes on its own. Naruto twitches and looks at Sasuke… who happens to just start staggering a bit and then falls to the side. Naruto breaks Sakura's ash whip in an instant and catches the guy and assists him in sitting down. Naruto calls him to wake up, "Sasuke! Hey! Sasuke!"

Dreamcatcher Nights

Rei Haruno –Sakura no Imooto-

Chapter 9: Awaited Awakening

'I never thought I would lose you like this… but I have to…'

"Poor child." Madara continues to speak as Sai helps D. Hinata up, "He gave away most of his energy to get little Sakura back from Sai's Realm… just to prevent you from crying out loud, Naruto. Then he fights Dark Hinata with his all… since he can't manage if he will cut down. Now, he's getting all weak… but I still have more moves to play. I hope you can keep up with that. The eclipse might have passed but the full moon is still in these blood-painted skies. Tonight, I shall do it all… over again." The three of them vanishes and Naruto grinds his teeth madly and balls his fists in self-hatred. He punches the floor three times and curses at every hit, "Dammit. Dammit. Dammit."

"N-Naruto." Karin says as her lower body turns into of a human's again and Sakura feels the ashes wearing off her. Naruto turns to Karin and she says, "We still have time before dark. We better…" She stands up with Kiba's help, "We better think of a way to stop Lo— uh, Madara from summoning Dark Sai. If he does, we're finished." Karin says and they agree to retreat for now…

000ooo000

"Why didn't Sasuke vanish?" Naruto asks Karin as they stare at the sleeping Sasuke at the bed. And then Karin points out, "The same reason why you can still walk. But we can't say it's the effect of the eclipse because it's already over and the night time hasn't really started." Sakura nods and she gazes at Ino and Kiba, "Are you really sure you're alright? The both of you?" Ino smiles and enthusiastically nods, "Yes, Sakura. We will stay here… no matter what happens!"

"…" Karin then sighs and looks around as she says, "The whole hospital seems to be aware of this certain phenomenon and their efforts are somehow appreciated. I know you—" She shoots a gaze at Naruto, "You wouldn't let anyone get hurt and that will slow down our actions. But since the hospital staff is cautious enough, we shouldn't bother thinking about the innocents. Now I wanted to tell you that without Sasuke, we don't stand a chance against even Hinata herself."

"I'm going to wake her up." Naruto says, earning their gazes, "I promised her that if ever I end this curse, I will never let her vanish without a smile." Sakura smiles a little helpless one, "That's so Naruto. Anyway, we have to deal with Sai and the other ghosts as well."

"No." Karin says and looks at Sakura, "Sai is not our enemy. He's pressured to come with Madara… everyone is. But I won't let him wake Dark Sai up. He shouldn't wake up… he shouldn't." Naruto then sits at the edge of the bed and asks after he strokes at those raven locks, "What can Dark Sai do?"

"Something Sasuke wouldn't."

Everyone looks at Karin and she looks at the floor, "It is what Sasuke had told me… it's just Hinata and Sasuke that knows what Dark Sai can do. But Sasuke has told me that no matter what happens he shouldn't be awakened. And when Sasuke says he's dangerous… he really is." Naruto clutches his other hand and then the clock starts to go faster. Sakura sees the day go on in a much different pace. She frowns at the scenery outside and Karin looks at the window as well, "Izuna's working on his magic. We need to stop him from completely—"

It is too late, though. It's hard to stop him anyway. The five watched in horror as the sunset speeds up in a second. Sasuke groans a little and Naruto notices him. The blond smiles his relief, "Sasuke, you're awake." The raven looks at him and decides to sit up… with the blond's assistance. Karin gets to him and says, "Sasuke, are you feeling fine now?"

"What time is it?" Sasuke says and then Naruto looks outside, "We can't tell." Sasuke follows suit and sees how the sun vanish into the dark horizon of the night. He frowns and stands up, "There's a little exhibition Madara is willing to put into play…"

"Then what's next?" Sakura asks and the group starts walking outside the room. They watch the hallways transform into what they look like in the Ghost Realm. Kiba and Ino gulp as Naruto and Sakura feels something different. The latter two develop their ghost features and Sasuke stares at Naruto's deadly tails. He then asks, "Naruto… w-where did you get those?"

"Huh? These?" Naruto gazes over his shoulder to see the slowly wriggling chain tails, "I got it from Dark Naruto. It's bit scary but—" Sasuke looks away as Karin runs through the wall and emerge as the wall mermaid again. She circles around and gazes at Sasuke, "Sasuke, the archives is giving off a large aura. You think they are there?"

"No, Karin. We're going somewhere else." Sasuke then gazes at Naruto and walks ahead of the group. Naruto frowns and runs to catch up with the raven as the others begin walking as well. Naruto asks Sasuke, "What can Dark Sai do, Sasuke? Karin has told us that guy is extremely dangerous." Sasuke refuse to answer and then Naruto tugs the raven ghost. Sasuke gazes at Naruto and the blond says, "You cannot just hide anything now, Sasuke. Let me help you."

"You don't have to worry about Dark Sai…" Sasuke faces Naruto and gently takes off those tan fingers off his arm, "Because you won't be able to even see him. All you have to worry about is Madara. No one else." The blond then grabs Sasuke's hand with the same he used to tug the raven, "And you're making me worry about you. And I'm not going to stop until you tell me what the hell are you planning."

"…" Sasuke looks at him eye-to-eye and then he smiles, "Thank you." He takes off Naruto's hand and continues walking ahead. Karin swims near Naruto and then she whispers, "Sasuke never tells anyone what he is planning. Because the moment he does… Madara will know. Let's just trust him in this… like how you always do." She swims towards Sasuke and Kiba puts a hand on Naruto's shoulder, "That dude knows what he's doing. And he's the only one that knows how to stop this madness…"

"That's why I'm getting worried." Naruto murmurs, loud enough for Ino and Sakura who are approaching him to hear, "He is the only one who knows what he's doing… and he doesn't care what will happen to him after that." Sakura gazes at Naruto and then to the distant Sasuke, "He's less cooperative than Karin. I wonder what makes every ghost so loyal to him. Madara even needs to taint their souls for them to obey him."

"Sakura. Naruto. Kiba." Ino whispers and the three gazes at her. She looks away and outs a little, "Let's grab some beach when we get out of here." Sakura smiles and nods and Kiba laughs, "Hell yeah!" Naruto smiles a little as well and then Karin emerges above them, "Hey, slow pokes, what do you think you're doing? We do not the luxury of time to spend. We're in a hurry, remember?"

"Karin." Naruto looks at her with a smile, "Come with us to the beach when we're done, okay? You're already alive, right?" The red head twitches and blushes, "Like I can wear bikini with these stitches. Let's just hurry, Sasuke's waiting." She swims back to where she should be and we run to chase her. Naruto equips his determined eyes, 'She's right… Sasuke's waiting…'

===/\\\===

"Brother." Izuna whispers as they are standing at a very dark place where D. Hinata is sitting at the floor, swaying madly as she hums some sort of lullaby her mother used to sing. Sai is also there sitting above a certain ritual circle and is wrapped in chains. Madara seems to be waiting for their arrival and he whispers, "Izuna, I don't want you to interfere… anymore."

"But Brother… I can't just watch these things."

"Oh yes. You are going to." His brother hiss and Izuna drops his head. He gazes at Sai and the brunet says, "Izuna… you know you have to do something. You are the only one Lord Madara can't control." Izuna wants to say something but he decides to keep it to himself. He then calls D. Hinata's attention, "Hinata, what are you singing?"

"Mother's… lullaby…" she answers… breaking the humming for a while and continues after…

"Any minute now, your Dad's assistant will come. Are you ready, Hinata?" Madara smirks and it freezes her for a moment. She then gazes at Madara with teary eyes, "He's coming?" Madara gives a reassuring nod and she flings to the opposite direction. She then slips her fingers through her hair and pulls on it as she bangs her head around, "NO! NO! NO!" Izuna looks at Madara and watches his brother get all smug for agitating the woman. He then looks at Sai and the brunet says, "Izuna, you knew what will happen, right?"

"I do." He answers and then Sai smirks, "Dammit. Why just now? Seriously, I won't really care if we have done this years before." Madara gazes at him as well as Izuna does… both listening to what the brunet has to say. He continues despite D. Hinata's cries, "Because by then, Naruto isn't here. The innocent and loving intern Naruto Karakuri…" Madara frowns and Izuna keeps his eyes to the ground. Madara then smirks and seems to get entertained by the chained brunet, "Did Sasuke tell you about Naruto?"

"Tell me, Lord Madara." Sai throw some dagger looks at Madara, "What do you feel… killing your very own—" Madara frowns at him again… and something like a strong force hits Sai… forcing him to shut up. Accidentally, it also hits D. Hinata and it has thrown her somehow away. She cries again and Madara smiles devilishly, "My bad. Shut up now, Hinata. Save your tantrums for later."

"Neji-nii-san…" She cries a bit… struggling to get herself in a sitting position. She then sobs some more, "Mister…" Then a portal draws… revealing Sasuke and the others. Madara laughs out loud and yells with his very own sinister voice, "Sasuke! Naruto! Karin! Welcome! Any minute now, Dark Sai will rise and you won't be able to do anything about it!"

"I can…" Sasuke says and D. Hinata immediately summons her IV Dragon and attacks Sasuke… however, Naruto whips his tails to disperse the dragon… much to Sasuke and D. Hinata's surprise. The blond says, "Hinata! Wake up! Your dad will never come back here! I've promised you, right!" Madara frowns and airs another shockwave to hit D. Hinata, Naruto and Sasuke.

However, one tail strikes at the ground and seems to split the wave in half. But after that, the tail breaks into pieces and Naruto winces in pain. The three targets are not hit and D. Hinata gazes at Naruto. Naruto then yells, "Hey! You're not going to have your way with things!"

"Oh really, Naruto? Well as expected from Dark Naruto who has served me longer than Sasuke has… such power. But do you think that alone is enough for you to win over me?" Madara smirks and he raises his arms and dark circles beside Sai appear. There shoot out hands and dashes towards Kiba and Ino. Naruto tries to save them as well as Sakura would love to… but Madara catches them off guard and throws them off with another shockwave along with Sasuke and Karin.

Kiba and Ino start to struggle at the hands and they try to stand up from the hit. Naruto grinds his teeth and Sasuke rises up only to stare at the scene before them. Kiba and Ino calls for them and then Sai starts screaming in pain. Izuna clutches his fist… doing nothing but witness the awakening… of another Dark Soul. D. Hinata looks at Madara with innocence and plea and she whispers, "Lord Madara… stop hurting Mister… please?"

"Hinata." Madara smiles and then he eyes at her, "Mister didn't keep his promise to you. Don't you remember? He vanished and then your dad came to kill you." She has her eyes widen and then Naruto yells, "Hinata! Don't… listen to him!" She then looks at Naruto… then back to Madara. Madara smirks and says, "Hinata, no one ELSE can keep their promise to you. They all should die."

"Why?" D. Hinata cries again… and then she screams yet again, "WHY CAN NO ONE SAVE ME!" The hands start to squeeze Kiba and Ino as D. Hinata starts her psycho movements. Sakura yells as she goes running towards the Ino, "Ino, hang on! I'm coming!" Sai raises his head and one of his arms manages to slip through the chains. It gets to Sakura and grabs her neck… pushing her off and pinning her to the ground. Sakura yells as she tries to take off the hand, "Sai! What are you doing! Let me go!"

Karin is incredibly frozen by fear… watching the show from the background. She is just recovering from the throw and she can't do anything. She cannot possibly summon her bloody hands there at Sai's Realm. All she can do is watch… anticipating the grim rise of Dark Sai. She looks at Naruto… then to Sasuke, D. Hinata, Madara, Sakura and Izuna. Then she looks at Sai as the guy starts talking with utter pain, "Sakura, Naruto… do not risk taking them now. These circles will only devour you!"

"No…" Sakura cries as Ino tries to reach out her hand to Sakura, "Sakura! Help me! I don't want to die!" But then Sakura turns into ashes to escape from Sai's grasp and it travelled fast to get Ino. However, it has been too late. The hands submerge into the dark hole and they can only hear the two scream like they are getting torn apart. Sakura turns back into her human image and screams, "Ino! Kiba! No!" Sai looks away… trying to mute the sounds of extreme pain.

A fire whip holds Sakura by the waist and drags her back to where Karin is. She struggles as she is getting dragged, "Sasuke! No! I can't let them suffer down there!" Sasuke says emotionlessly… eyes locked at Madara, "It's already too late." Sakura stares at him with wide eyes that couldn't believe what he has just said. Naruto shuts his eyes to let tears flow and then angrily says, "Damn you, Madara! I'm going to kill you!"

"Heh. Leave your drama for later, you still have one more opponent to fight… as you listen to your friends' scream as Dark Sai devours them." Madara smirks and then D. Hinata stops moving… tears covering her face turns to blood. She whispers as she looks up at the 'ceiling', "Mister… why… why… why…" She then drops her head and glares at Naruto, "WHY DO YOU HAVE TO HURT ME, TOO!"

The dragon gets revived and it seems to get stronger… since Naruto blocks it with another tail and the other tails block the stinging tubes as they come. Then a strange voice rings inside Naruto's head, "Oi, Naruto. Can you hear me?"

'Dark Naruto?'

"Hell yeah. Tell Hinata Madara killed you in the fire. No buts! Just tell her he did!"

'But… what if she won't believe me? What if believes in Madara more?'

"Listen to me, brat. Madara has bigger plans than keeping Dark Hinata. Whether she believes you now or not, it won't change the fact that she is not needed anymore!"

'Not needed anymore? No, he can't harm her too!'

"So try and do something!"

Naruto decides to do what is told… then maybe it can reverse the situation. He yells, "Hinata! I… I didn't break my promise! He… killed me with the fire! He is the one who stopped me from keeping my promise! He's the one who wants your Father to come!" She twitches and stops attacking and the blond successfully disperses another dragon. D. Hinata turns to Madara with a fling and asks with a broken voice, "You killed him? Did you?"

"Heh. Dark Naruto just couldn't keep his mouth shut." Madara smirks and Izuna twitches… as the voices of the mortals beneath them have disappeared. The older brother smirks bigger, "I did, Hinata. I did kill Naruto in the fire so he can't really keep his promise to you. Why, Hinata? Finally seeing things… the way they really are? You're such a naïve little girl. And you have served me well, though." D. Hinata shakes her head in denial… as dark circles again appear beside Sai.

The same two hands appear again as well. One hand dashes to D. Hinata and starts squeezing her. She starts screaming… tears and blood mixing in her face. Naruto tries to attack the hand but then Sai's arm pushes him off again. He yells, "Naruto! you can do something better than getting yourself killed!"

"But Sai!" Naruto yells… trying to condition himself from risking himself. Then Sasuke stares at Naruto… and then he speaks loud enough for Sakura to hear, "You take care of Naruto for me. If you don't, I won't hesitate to really kill you." Sakura twitches and he smiles, "I can't let Dark Sai awaken… but I'll let my other self." Sakura shoots up as Sasuke runs towards Sai's direction. The other hand is about to grab Sai but then Sasuke attacks it with his fire whip… the last of his energy.

Naruto notices his action and he yells, "Sasuke!" Sai flings to the brunet as the hand attacks him. Sai looks away and then Madara smirks bigger… already tasting the red wine of victory in his lips. Izuna gapes his mouth open, 'No! Why is Sasuke sacrificing himself! Does he even know what's he going to do?' Sakura and Karin yells, "Sasuke!" The hand gets to grab Sasuke and it squeezes him so much… but he hasn't given any groan but only small and restrained winces.

The other hand gets to squash D. Hinata… splitting her from the 'body'. But Sasuke gets taken wholly and the two are held near Madara and the latter yells in victory, "Right, Sasuke! You do know better than to awaken Dark Sai!" Sasuke smirks despite the pain, "No one can control Dark Sai… and no one can stop him. But someone can stop you… as long as I can keep him alive!" Madara reduces his smirk and they are taken downwards as D. Hinata cries, "Mister!"

"Sasuke! Hinata!" Naruto yells and then the chains wrapped around Sai get broken. Sai uses his only left aura to escape to Naruto's place. Naruto watches and listens in horror… as he hears D. Hinata scream… followed by something unknown. A very different noise and feeling… very dreadful… something more fearful than Madara's aura itself. Sai pulls Hinata's body close to where they are and Madara raises his hands again… making a big dark circle appear before him, "There's nothing you can do now, Naruto. I have already won this war!"

A being rises from the ground and it… looks like Sasuke… the burning boy. Fire circles around him and he moves his lips… but no sound is getting uttered. Naruto stands up in disbelief and shakes his head in denial. Madara declares as he laughs out loud, "I now present you my ultimate weapon! DARK SASUKE!" D. Sasuke opens his eyes and there lies black flames. The fire circling around turns into black flame and then it swallowed every one of them. Naruto yells with tears flowing from his eyes as he reaches out, "SASUKE!"

[End of Chapter Nine]

Suigetsu: Wow… that's a little intense right there. And yeah, Dark Sasuke is now awake and things will get very intense after this! And yeah, Madara played a perfect villain right there! Hahahah!

Karin: I do wonder why she has decided to freeze me and made me look like a weakling. And this chapter is way shorter than the other chapters…

Suigetsu: She even gave suggestions of you wearing a bikini! How's that gon'na look like!

Karin: You pig. I'm definitely going to make you regret that.

Rei: Yeah, watch out for my TCS: Raven on the Sunshine Bay! I will be making Karin wear bikini there for real!

Karin: Shut up, Rei Haruno.

Suigetsu: And yeah that should do it for the end comments!

Rei: Since that's M, why don't I ask Suigetsu to dance naked at TCS: RSB? What do you think, Karin?

Karin: *blush* Quit advertising another fic in here…