"You failed!" Danzo's voice boomed in the closed room. I sat in a chair, my arms tied behind me. Blood ran down my forehead from when I had been struck with his walking stick. I fucked up, I fucked up bad this time.
"I'm sorry it won't happen again I-"
"You what? You had one job and you let a child get in the way of your mission. I cannot allow such ignorance, you know you have to be punished now."
"No please! Please anything but that! I will do anything you want but please not that!" Tears ran down my face as my body began to shake.
"Fū come in here and take your toy. She is in need of another lesson."
"With pleasure." Fū walked in the room and closed the door once Danzo left.
"Please don't, not again." I tired pleading with him, but he held an evil grin on his face.
"Aw come on blossom it was so much fun last time wasn't it." He stepped closer. His hand reached up and cupped my chin, holding me in place. I closed my eyes waiting for the impact. "Let the fun begin!" I felt his fist across my face, my eyes water and blood dripped from my lip. "Only 23 hours, 59 minutes to go blossom."
The morning rays came through Sakura's blinds lighting the room up. It had been a long night, and I had gotten very little sleep. Shortly after Hinata left, Sakura began screaming and crying in her sleep. I felt helpless. There was nothing I could do to comfort her, I even tried waking her up to stop the nightmares but the pink sleeping beauty refused to wake. All I could do was hold her while she tossed and turned and yelled into the night.
The clock read 0600, and I wonder what was going on outside. Was the village on lock down? What was the shield Sakura was talking about? I wanted to go outside and investigate but I didn't dare leave her. I would be here when she woke, I would be here if she needed anything, I would be here if we were attacked. I wasn't going to leave her side again, she didn't have to be alone anymore.
I felt the pink hair angle begin to move. "Noooooooooooo!" Sakura began screaming. Before I could even react to her being awake I felt weight on top of me, and a sharpness at my neck. I blinked and in a flash Sakura was on top of me, straddling me, a kunai at my throat. Her eyes glowing green again and tears ran down her face.
"Sakura-chan?" I called out confused. Was she is shock? Was it the poison? Sakura studied my face for a moment before lowering the kunai. I slowly reached up and placed my hand on her check. "It's okay. You are safe." Sakura looked around the room. She looked so scared. Once she realized she was in her bedroom, she relaxed a little and climbed off of me.
"Sorry." Sakura walked over to her closet and quickly began to pull out her anbu uniform.
"What are you doing?" I jumped out of bed and walked over to her. She wasn't going to leave this room until she answered my questions.
"Are the shields up? Have we been attacked?" Sakura's back was turned toward me. She removed her shirt reveling her bare back and quickly pulled on her anbu shirt. Was she not afraid to get changed in front of me?
"Sakura slow down. As far as I can tell we haven't been attacked."
She quickly turned around looking pissed. "What do you mean from what you can tell? How do you not know?"
"I've been with you the entire night I-"
"You should have been protecting the village." She cut me off. "I didn't need to be watch. You're a very skilled ninja, the village cannot afford to have you watching me if it is in danger of being attacked"
I walked forward a little taken back by her statement. How could she think we would just drop her off and then go to the gates, knowing there was no way for her to defend herself? Did she really think that little of us? I stepped closer and pulled her into a hug. I felt her body stiffen, I tighten the hug, but Sakura's arms stayed at her side. "I am glad you are alright."
"Why wouldn't I be?" Sakura pulled out of my hug and returned her back toward me once again, focusing on her uniform in front of her. "I can handle myself. I do not need you or Naruto to constantly be protecting me or looking out for me." She bent down and pulled her anbu pants over the shorts she was wearing.
"Sakura-chan I am your sensei I will always be here to look after you. You showed up in the office covered in blood, what was I supposed to do? Leave you there, not knowing what was wrong and rush to the gates to lock down the village."
"That is exactly what you should have done." She pulled on her shoes and began strapping her weapons and pouches to her side. "I am a shinobi of the Leaf, the village's needs come before my own."
"There is no way I would just turn abandon my student, especially not in the state you were in." I go to reach out and touch her, but she turned and grabbed my wrist.
"I am no longer your student. You are no longer my sensei. The day Naruto walked out of the village our roles changed." She released my hand and walked passed me and out of the bedroom.
I followed her pissed off, as she made her way in the second bedroom. "What do you think you are doing?" Sakura was sealing all different types of weapons into a scroll.
"I am getting prepare, and then heading to the Hokage Tower to wait for instructions."
"Hold a minute, we don't even know if that poison is all the way out of your system."
"We might not have a minute to spare, the sound is closing in on the village. Orochimaru could be planning to attack."
"Slow down." I blocked the door way. "Before you do anything we need to talk."
I circled around the village for the 100th time this morning, trying to find a weak spot in their shield. A pink bubble was formed around the Leaf Village and whoever designed it left no entryway but one. The only way to get in and out of the village was through the main gate, but even then you had to a person on the other side perform a special hand sign to let you through. Even if I was to copy the hand sign I would have to fight off 25 anbu just to get into the village.
How was she able to get away from me earlier? I was irritated. Orochimaru wanted Sakura, and I had no idea why. She was never a strong ninja, she did not come from a powerful clan. Besides being the apprentice of the fifth Hokage, what importance was she?
I did not like to be kept waiting, but I've been outside of this stupid hell hole for the past ten hours and I have yet to spot Sakura. Where could she be hiding? I needed to grab her while the poison was still taking effect. I was alone, but with the poison still in her system it should not be a problem getting her out of the village.
After Sakura had left I went around and used amaterasu to destroy all the bodies and any proof that someone was even there. I then went around to the other two base camps and ordered everyone to head back to the hideout. There was no point in being stationed there anymore, since the element of surprise could no longer be used. I had no choice but to sit here, and wait for the barrier to go down in order to grab her.
"There is nothing to talk about Kakashi now move out of my way so I can go speak with the Hokage." I was annoyed. I was pissed. How did I allow myself to be injured? How did I allow myself to pass out in front of my team, in front of Kakashi? No wonder he stayed with me all night, he thinks I am weak and pathetic. They all think I can't handle myself, they all still look at me as the weak thirteen year old genin.
"Why didn't you tell me about your parents Sakura-chan?"
What? I stopped dead in my tracks. "Who told you?"
"Why didn't you come to me? Why did you not tell me when Team 7 reformed?" Kakashi didn't seem pissed, he seemed hurt.
"How could I tell you? I didn't even know where you were." My eyes dropped to the ground. "When I found out they died you were the first person I wanted to go running to. I wanted to run to you and have you tell me everything would be okay, that everything was fine."
"Why didn't you? I would have been there for you I would have-"
"I couldn't find you Kakashi."
"What?" My eyes were still looking at the ground fighting back tears.
"I went looking for you. I went to your apartment, and the cemetery. I waited by the memorial stone, but I still couldn't find you. After a few days it hit me. I was no longer a part of Team 7, you were no longer my sensei and I was on my own."
"Sakura-chan…..I had no idea…I am so sorry." I looked up with a blank expression. I felt numb. He left me. He left me and because I felt like I had no one to turn to, I turned to the wrong person and now I must sleep in the bed I made.
"Let's go we need to report to the Hokage." Before Kakashi could protest I reached out and grabbed his arm, transporting us to the Hokage Tower.
I heard three knocks on the door. I was standing in the Hokage's office with the rest of the Konoha 12. It had been a long night. We had been on guard the entire night waiting for an attack and when nothing came everyone just became more and more nervous. "Come in." Tsunade's voice boomed in the office. I turned to see who else would be joining us when Sakura and Kakashi came walking in.
Sakura was dressed in an anbu uniform and Kakashi's vest was stained with blood. "Why are you covered in blood sensei?" I asked confused as to why he would be covered in blood if there had yet to be an attack.
"It's from last night." Kakashi shot a glance at Sakura, but her eyes were locked on Tsunade.
"What has been going on master?" Sakura stepped forward. Her mask was attached to her hip and her long pink hair was tied back into some type of a braid. Her right shoulder was wrapped in gauze.
"Nothing has happened yet. Are you sure we in danger of being attacked?" Tsunade glanced at a report in front of her. I was confused. Last night after we left to gather the ninja all we were told was to be ready for an attack. No one would say who was attacking or what the purpose of the attack was. Everyone was left in the dark, even the higher ranking ninja like Guy Sensei and Captain Yamato.
"Can someone explain what is going on?" Neji stepped forward clearly annoyed. He was staring at Sakura, everyone was. There it hit me, no one knew she was in anbu. This is the first time everyone is realizing what rank she holds.
"Sakura, since you were not able to report last night would you care to explain what happened?"
"Hai M'Lady." Sakura paused for a moment and turned to face the rest of the room. "I was traveling back from Suna when I came across a base camp. There was about eighty-five men, I am guessing from the Sound. They were stationed about twelve hours from the main gate. I was attacked, but managed to escape with a hostage-"
"If there were eighty five men why haven't we seen a single shinobi outside of the village?" Shikamaru stepped forward. He was the logistic one among our group and he thought by now there would have been at least one ninja spotted or sensed nearby.
"Because I killed them." Everyone around us gasped. "M'Lady I have reason to believe that Orochimaru may be behind this."
"What makes you think that?" Everyone in the room was quite waiting for Sakura to respond, but she remained silent. Her face looked as if she was torn on what to stay.
"M'Lady if you do not mind I would like to report my reasoning in private."
"I see, very well everyone please exist my office and go back to your posts."
"No!" I crossed my arms over my chest. "I am not going anywhere until I am told what the hell is going on." I looked around and my comrades seemed to agree with me. I locked eyes with Sakura and she gave me a pissed off look.
"Are you challenging my authority Naruto?" Tsunade grabbed something on her desk probably getting ready to throw it at me, but I didn't make down.
"If there is a threat to our village we have a right to know who were are going up against, if we are expected to have a winning chance." Shikamaru stated.
"Yeah! We have been kept in the dark all night. What is going on Sakura?" Kiba asked.
Sakura looked back at Tsunade, and Tsunade gave her a nodded, telling her to proceed. "Once the last ninja fell I ran into Sasuke Uchiha." Once that name left her lips I felt sick to my stomach. "He was able to injure me, allowing a poison to slip into my system. Once that happened I had no choice but to flee with the hostage."
"Where is the hostage now?" Tsunade seemed pissed. Had she not been told that Sakura had brought someone into the village?
"I left him to Kotetsu. He was supposed to take the hostage to Ibiki while I reported to you."
"I see. Kakashi, Yamato go and see what the hostage has said so far." Both men nodded. Kakashi snuck another glance at Sakura-chan before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
"How is the shield holding?" Sakura turned her attention back toward Tsunade, almost ignoring the fact all of us were in the room.
"The shield is performing perfectly."
"If that is the case call everyone off, send them home. No one can get in or out of the village without someone performing that hand sign and letting them in."
"Sakura-chan why should we go home. You just said Orochimaru was involved. Shouldn't we be on guard?" I stepped closer to Sakura, placing a hand on her shoulder. I was relieved to see she was okay. My heart broke seeing her last night, and I had spent half the night freaking out about her. It wasn't until I ran into Hinata that I calmed down, because she had assured me Sakura would be alright in the morning.
"I created that shield. If it held all night, it won't break until I release it. I can't sense any foreign charka signatures for miles. You guys need rest. The sound will be not attacking today, so go home and rest. So you all are prepared for when and if they do."
"But Sakura-chan.." I whined.
"Everyone go home and rest, you are dismissed." Granny Tsunade ordered. Everyone glanced at one another before they began filling out of the room. I walked out of the office and waited for Sakura-chan to come out so I could ask her if she wanted to get Ramen with me, but she didn't come out. I walked back into the office to find both Tsunade and Sakura-chan gone.
"What the hell?" I looked around the office confused.
"What's wrong?" Shikamaru asked behind me making me jump.
"They are gone."
"They probably went to see about the hostage. Come on Naruto we are all going to get BBQ. Want to come with?"
I nodded and we walked outside of the office together. When we reached the streets I noticed all the shinobi that were stationed around the rooftops were now gone. Had they been called off as well? The walk to the BBQ restaurant was silent. Everyone seemed lost in thought. Choji seemed to be the only one happy as we sat down at the table.
"Anyone else confused as to what just happened?" Ino asked as she put her meat on the grill.
"When did Sakura become an anbu?" Neji locked eyes with mine.
"I don't know. We didn't find out until a few weeks ago."
"What do you mean you do not know? What kind of a teammate does not know what rank their comrades hold?" I was taken back by Neji comment. What kind of a teammate was I? Sakura-chan felt like she couldn't come to me. Had I not been there for Sakura like I thought I had?
"Ugly didn't tell us. We found out on our last mission when Kakashi noticed the anbu marking on her arm. She had been hiding it from us for the last six months, so there is no telling how long she had been a member of anbu." Sai commented.
"Why was Sakura-chan traveling back from Suna alone?" Hinata poked her two index fingers together looking down on the table.
"She was coming back with the second version of a treaty between Suna and Konoha, she is trying to improve the relationship between the two villages. Gaara had asked for her to become Ambassador and she had accepted, that is where she has been the last few weeks." I explained. Sakura had been in the forest all alone when she was attacked, I should have been there to protect her. After I explained what had been going on, conversation died down, and everyone just focused on eating. We had been up all night long and we were tired and hungry, and none of us had the energy to piece the rest of the puzzle back together.
The white gauze that was wrapped around my hand was now covered in red. I was in the anbu building in one of the integration rooms, with my hostage trying to get information out of him, but he wouldn't budge. He was more afraid of Sasuke and Orochimaru than he was of me, well at least for now.
I pulled my hand back and pushed forward into the poisoner's gut, making sure to miss any important internal organs. I was trying physical torture first, to see if he would break. I did not want to use my other methods but if things did not progress soon I would have no choice but to.
"Why were you stationed by the Leaf?" My question was answered with silence. I punched him again this time in his chest. I could hear a rib break and he let out a scream. "Just let me what I want to know and this is will stop. You let me everything you know and I will even heal you."
"Never!" The prisoner was chained to the wall in a standing position, his arm above his head, leaving his body wide out to attacks.
"Very well." My eyes glowed green and darkness filled the room. When the lights came back on I had a women sitting in the chair in front of me, her hands tied behind her back. The prisoner locked eyes with the women and he instantly began shaking in fear. The women in front of him was his wife.
"Now I am going to ask you again, why are you stationed by the Leaf?" Nothing. "Fine have it your way, but just remember you are making me do this." I picked up a kunai and pushed it into the women's shoulder.
"Please stop! It hurts!" The women began to shake from the pain as blood ran down her shoulder and onto the floor.
"Don't hurt her! She has nothing to do with this!" He screamed.
"Tell me what I want to know and I will release the women."
"I can't he will kill me!" He pulled on his arms trying to break the chains, but he was held in place. He was panicking. In front of him was the love of his life, but if he spoke he was certain he would be killed. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he didn't know what to do.
I pulled out another kunai and placed it near her stomach. "No not my stomach!" The women begged. "Anywhere but my stomach!"
"Why anywhere but there?" I asked with annoyance in my voice.
"I am pregnant! Please anywhere but there! Please do not hurt my baby!" Her screams filled the room and tears began to run down the prisoner's face. Did he not know the women was pregnant?
I walked behind the women and placed the weapon at her throat, slightly cutting in. "Nooo, leave her alone it's me you want!"
I pressed deeper into her throat, blood began to drip from the wound and the girl bit back a scream. "Answer my questions and I will let her walk out of here alive. Why are you in the Leaf?"
"I can't tell you. He will kill me. He will kill my-
"3" I pressed deeper into her neck.
"Just tell her what she wants to know!" The women begged with her lover but he remained silent.
"2" I began to press even deeper.
"Leave her alone!"
"1" I began to drag the kunai across her neck.
"I'll tell you! I'll tell you! Just stop! Please I will let you anything you want." I stopped and singled at the camera video. In no time two anbu come into the room and pulled the women out.
"Now I will not ask you again. If you do answer my question then the men have been order to kill her without hesitation. Why are you in the leaf?"
"We are looking for a girl."
"What girl?"
"I don't know. All we were told was that the girl was the desciple of the Hokage." I froze. So they were here for me. "Once we found her, we were to return to the Sound and had her over to Orochimaru."
"Why does Orochimaru want this girl?"
"I don't known."
"Sadly I believe you don't." I released my genjutsu.
The prisoner looked around confused. He didn't have a starch on him. No broken bones, no blood on the floor from his lover. Nothing.
"What?"
"The mind can play tricks on those who are weak. Don't worry your lover is safe, we have not touched her. The leaf are not monsters like the sound." And with that I walked out of the room.
Kakashi, Yamato, Ibiki and Tsunade came walking out of the surveillance room.
"Did you find out why they are here?" Tsunade asked.
I nodded and kept walking.
"Sakura-chan why are they here?" Kakashi called out.
"They are here for me." Tsunade gasped and before Kakashi could grab me I disappeared into a cloud of cherry blossoms.
"Has any word come from Konoha yet?" She should have already made it back to the Leaf and sent word that she had arrived safely. She should have sent word two days ago. Did something happen?
"No, you don't think something went wrong do you?" Temari leaned against my desk, wearing a worried expression. This was so out of character for Sakura-chan, she always sent word whenever she arrived home.
"If we do not get word by tomorrow night I am sending you and Kankuro to the Leaf to ensure she got there safely." If I could I would be running there right now, but unfortunately I cannot leave my post, at least not yet.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in" I called out, as I sit up straighter at my desk. I couldn't help but look at my photo of the four of us. Temari had insisted that we needed a new sibling photo and argued that Sakura should be in the picture to since she was family after all. In the photo Sakura is standing in between Kankuro and I, while Temari was sitting down in front. I couldn't help but stare at the picture. Since she left, I no longer felt whole. I wanted her with me, by my side.
"Lord Kazekage." Baki walked in and bowed. "There is something important I need to discuss with you before the feudal lord gets here." I nodded and motioned for him to take a seat.
"There has been problems between the two feudal lords already."
"How can that be? They haven't even been presented with a draft of the treaty." Temari was dumfounded, so was I. How did they even know we were forming a new treaty?
"It seems the Fire Lord has a condition that must be meet in order for the treaty to be valid." Baki seemed hesitant. He didn't seem sure if he should finish the next sentence.
"Go on." I encourage.
"He is requesting you be marriage."
What? Did I just hear me correctly? Married? But the only girl I am interested in would never marry a man like me.
Walking down the halls gave me and an uneasy feeling. I wasn't looking forward for a meeting with Danzo, he wasn't going to be happy with my performance. I bite down on my lip nervously. I reached his office and I could already tell this meeting wasn't going to be pleasant.
"Get in here now!" He yelled before I even had a chance to knock on the door. I took a deep breath and walked in. Danzo pointed at a chair in the middle of his office and told me to take a seat. I did as I was told, even though I could sense Fū standing in the corner. "Status report now!" He boomed.
"The Sound had another base camp set up on the board. All the men were eliminated but one, he is currently in the integration room at the anbu headquarters." I reached into my back pouch and pulled out a folder. It was my mission report. It contained every little detail, well expect for my run in with Sasuke.
"Why are they here?" Danzo grabbed the file and began to examine the information.
"Orochimaru knows." I could feel Fū's charka spike behind me. Danzo's aura quickly began darker.
"How is that possible? They only way they would know is if you opened up your mouth!" Fū spat from behind me.
"You know there is no way I could have told anyone what happened. Not with this seal on me."
"The girl is correct. He must have a spy among us." Danzo walked back to his desk, with the file in hand. He placed the file in the cabinet and pulled out another file. "It states here that you were injured during your encounter with the camp." I nodded. How the hell did he find out about that if I only passed out in front of Team 7 and Tsunade? "Does the fifth know why the sound is coming?" I nodded again, knowing that was strike two. "When you returned to the village you went straight to the fifth instead of coming to me, correct?" I nodded. Fuck, strike three and I'm out.
"You know I cannot stand for disrespect child."
"The village needed to be put on lockdown, the Hokage is the only one-"
"Shut up!" Fū stepped behind me, gripping down on my shoulders.
"Due to your actions the fifth is now on alert. If you would have reported to me first, the anbu would have been stationed around the village to protect it without raising questions. But instead of coming to your master you ran to your team. Where does your loyalty lay child?" Danzo walked in front of his desk, eyeing me.
He already knew the answer to his question. He knew the only loyalty I had was to my village, to my people. My loyalty did not lay with him, it never did. I used him just like he used me.
I remained silent, which only pissed off the two males in the room. I knew what was coming but I didn't care. This was the path I choose. I was more than prepared to deal with the consequences of my actions, as long as my village was safe. As long as the children lived in peace, then I could endure any punishment that was to come my way.
"Your actions cannot be tolerated." I closed my eyes. "Wilted blossom." The room around me began to spin and darkness threated to take over. I felt my body being picked up from the chair and carried out of the room. I knew that pain would come shortly. I glanced down the hall and saw no one there to help. Kakashi's image flashed before my eyes before I allowed the darkness to fully take over….
Three days. It's been three days and I haven't been able to find her. I have been to her apartment and to the hospital but nothing. She was still in the village, the shield was still up. There was no way she could have left. Where the hell is she? Tsunade was concerned. She had sent out a team of anbu to find Sakura but they had turned up empty. Tsunade thought Sakura-chan was scared and ran off and hide somewhere, but I had a gut feeling that something was wrong.
I signed giving up my search for the day. Hopefully she shows up soon or else the Hokage is prepared to turn the entire village upside down in order to find her. I could almost pick up on her charka signature, but it was too weak to tell me anything besides the fact that she was still inside the Leaf.
"Yo Kakashi-sensei!" I turned to see the knuckle-head running down the main road, making his way toward me with Sai and Yamato behind him.
"Hey!" I raised my hand and gave a small wave. The boys ran up huffing and puffing. "Is something the matter?"
"We were wondering if you wanted to go with us and train." Naruto had a huge smile on his face. Of course he was happy, he had no idea that something was wrong. No one was told of Sakura's disappearance expect the anbu who were sent to search for her. Naruto thought she was working long hours at the hospital again, and didn't question why he hadn't seen the pink hair beauty lately.
I nodded my head and proceed to follow my team to Team 7's trainings grounds. As we got closer the earth below us began to shake. "Is an earthquake happening?" Sai asked.
"No." I shocked my head. I knew those shakes. Those where caused from a large amount of charka connecting with the ground, and I knew of only one Leaf shinobi who had the skill and power to create those powerful quakes. Before I even knew what I was doing, I was sprinting toward our training grounds. Sakura had to be there. That was the only thing I could think as I pushed onto the field. But what I saw next, I wasn't prepared for.
Sakura stood in the middle of a carter. Our training fields were completely destroyed. Trees all around were knocked down. There were massive carters that littered the fields. It look as if the training grounds had become a battle field. I pulled up my headband, revealing my sharingan and scanned the area. Had she been attacked? Was there a fight? I looked around the area and found nothing. There was no other shinobi around expect for the members of Team 7.
I start to walk closer to the carter where Sakura-chan stood. Her charka seemed all out of whack. Her normal warm welcoming aura was now replaced with darkness and anger. "Sakura-chan." I call out but she keeps her back to me.
The pink beauty was dressed in a completely different attire from the last time I saw her. Her short-sleeve red shirt was replaced by a tight black long-sleeve jounin shirt. Black fingerless gloves were on her hands. She wore medium wash skinny jeans with black kunoichi sandals. Her body was almost completely covered. Only her face and keck were visible. Why is she dressed so differently?
"Sakura-chan." I call again but no response. I jump into the carter and I can hear her panting. "Where have you been?" I step closer to her but she takes a step forward, clearly wanting to keep a distance between us.
"I've been training." Her words come out broken and soft, almost weak. I watch as her body begins to shake and her legs buckle, causing her to fall onto her knees. In a flash I am at her side, an arm around her back trying to support her. Her eyes are locked on the ground, and it seems as if she is trying to focus on steading her breathing. I go to pick her up when she begins to scream in pain. As quick as she was in my arms, I released her.
"What's wrong?" I question. The parts of her body that was visible, showed no sign of injury. I take a closer look at her clothes and they are covered in dust and dirt. Her forehead covered in sweat. How long had she been out here training?
"I'm fine, just don't touch me!" She spat begin gritted teeth. I release my hand that was around her back.
"Where have you been?" I asked again.
"I've been there training." Sakura slowly started to stand back up. I look over my shoulder and see Naruto, Yamato and Sai standing in the clearing. Yamato had a hand placed on Naruto's shoulder, maybe holding Naruto back, allowing me to talk to Sakura alone.
"Error try again. There is no way you have been out here the entree time, we have been searching everywhere for you."
"Why?" She asked as she began to make her way out of the carter.
"Why? Because you tell us Orochimaru is after you and then you completely disappear. Where the hell have you been Sakura?" At this point I am pissed. I pissed she left without informing us where she was going. I'm pissed that they are after her. I am pissed that she hadn't answered my questions form the other day. But mostly I am pissed at myself because she felt she could no longer run to me when she needed help.
Sakura goes to walk off when I reach out and grab her wrist. Her wrist feels different, it feels as if something is wrapped around it. Before I can ask what is wrong she rips her hand out of mine, glaring at me. Her hand glows green and she applies it to where I grabbed her. Did I hurt her?
"Oye Sakura-chan!" Naruto comes running up to us, trapping Sakura is a bear hug. I could see her body tense up, and her bite down on her lip.
"Let go Naruto." Her voice is unsteady, and her body is shaking. What the hell is going on?
"What's wrong Sakura-chan?" Naruto releases his hug and Sakura's face showed nothing but pain.
"I have to go I'll see you later." She quickly says before she vanishes into thin air once again.
"Wait!" I call out but it's too late she is gone.
"Oye what just happened?" Naruto asks staring where Sakura was.
"I have no idea." I push my hands into my pockets, annoyed at the whole situation.
"You two are idiots." Sai comments staring at me.
"What did you say you asswhole!?" Naruto yells before I could even respond to the comment.
"Did you not realize something is wrong just by the way she is dressed?" Naruto shock his head no. "She was covering up her skin for a reason. When you touched her Naruto she was is obvious pain."
"What does that mean Sai?" Naruto asked.
"You're an idiot dickless. Sakura is obviously injured. Which is why she is covered up."
"Enjoy your training session. I forgot I am late for a meeting see you later." I waved my hand and walk off. If Sakura is injured, who did it?
Don't worry blossom, you can push me away all you want but I will always come running after you.
That fucking shield was still in place. I've been waiting out here for four days and nothing. How long are they planning on having that shield up? I walk around the bounder again trying to spot Sakura. Early she was in the training fields. I had no idea she had become so strong. When did Sakura get this powerful?
I watched her destroy the training grounds in the matter of seconds. I then watched amazed as she continued to destroy everything around her. Her skills were impressive to watch. Sakura had grown so much, why did I not see this side of her when she ran into me months ago?
What is even more questioning is why she ran once the loser hugged her? I need to talk with Sakura, if only this fucking shield would come down, I would have no problem slipping to the village and taking my prize.
Orochimaru didn't like to be kept waiting. And I didn't like to be kept in the dark. I know she has improved but what could possess him to want her?
All I can do is wait around and then move once I am given my window of opportunity.
"Why do you think they are after you Sakura-chan?" Tsunade hadn't question why I had disappeared for three days, she probably though I had ran off somewhere to hide. If only she knew, then maybe it could be stopped. But this stupid fucking mark prevents me from telling any Leaf Shinobi what was going on.
"The hostage said the disciple of the fifth Hokage, it didn't seem they knew my name. He could be after me for my medical training. Maybe he has become injured and cannot be healed by Kabuto."
"I see. " Tsunade laced her fingers together and rested her chin on her hands. She was conflicted on what to do, I could see it in her face.
"How long do you want me to keep the shields up? I do not think it is necessary any longer. If we keep patrol up, I don't see there being a problem. The women and children are still frightened from the activity the other night, and the shield is a constant reminder that something is wrong."
"I agree but on one condition."
"What is that M'Lady?"
"I want you placed with a body guard at all times."
"M'Lady I don't think that is-"
"It wasn't a request Sakura it was an order, and besides I have the perfect ninja in mind for the job." I kept quiet, I knew my master to well and I knew I had no chance at winning this battle. I took a deep breath and nodded.
As if on cue Kakashi came walking through the door obviously in distress. "What is wrong Kakashi?"
Kakashi spotted me in the office and instantly relaxed. "I was just coming here to report that I saw Sakura at the training fields, but it seems I made the trip over here for nothing."
"Well I wouldn't say it was for nothing. I have a special mission for you." Please god have the body guard be Naruto or even Sai! Please don't have it be Kakashi! I mentally screamed.
"What is the mission?" Kakashi's eyes had not left me since walking into the room. I felt creped out. Why was he staring so intensely?
"I am going to release the shields later tonight, but I need someone to be with Sakura at all time in case of an attack I-"
"I would like to be the one to guard Sakura." Kakashi interrupted before Tsunade could even finish her sentence.
"If you would have waited a minute you would have known I picked you for the mission." Tsunade said annoyed. Kakashi had recently developed a habit of cutting her off, and she was not too happy about it.
"My apologies Hokage-sama." Kakashi took a step closer to me, and before I knew it he cupped his hand with mine and raised my arm up.
"Kakashi what are you doing?" Tsunade questioned.
Kakashi didn't answer, he just pulled down my long-sleeve showing my injuries. A gasp escaped Tsunade's lips and I hung my head. Damnit! Damnit! Damnit! Was all I could think. Danzo had punished me severely for not coming to him first. My entrée body was covered in injuries. He let Fū unload on me for three days. It hurt to move, it hurt to just have my clothes touching my skin.
As soon as I was released from the foundation I went straight home to change and then to the training fields. I had so much pent up anger and hate that I needed to unload it. It hurt like hell to train, but I had too. The sound was approaching and regardless if I was injured or not I had to be ready.
"When the hell did that happen?" Tsunade asked jumping up from her desk, making her way toward us. I looked up Kakashi and sent him a nasty glare. How dare he! He had no right! I am not his student, I do not need his protection! I can handle my own!
"It happened during the attack with the sound. I didn't start bruising until I woke up the next morning, but by then we needed to focus on the possibility of an attack. I didn't think a couple scraps and bruises was a big deal."
"Kakashi take her to the hospital immediately and then home, she needs rest." Kakashi nodded and proceeded to dragged me out of the room.
"What the hell was that for?" I took my hand out of his as we reached the streets.
"Those weren't from your fight with the sound. Hinata and Tsunade both scanned you, and the only injury you had was on your shoulder. Now do you care to tell me what happened." I shook my head no and stayed quite the entrée time to the hospital.
Once at the hospital Kakashi handed me over to Shizune and told her to keep an eye on me so I didn't blot. When we got inside of the examination room Shizune had me remove my shirt and pants. She was taken back at the injuries I had. She tried her best to heal them, but the type of tools and jutsu used during my punishment prevent any medical ninjutsu to be of help. The only thing that would heal my wound was time.
She took pictures of the injuries, probably to show Tsunade later. After three hours, my body was feeling a little better. Shizune applied some cream that was designed to help fight infection and carefully wrapped the bigger injuries. Once done I carefully got dressed. Not once during the examination did she ask what happened. All she asked if I was alright and if I wanted to talk about it. When I said I was fine and that there was nothing to talk about she left it at that.
We walked down the hall and into the waiting room where kaka ski was sitting in a chair reading one of his books. "Make sure she gets a lot of rest Kakashi." He nodded and we walked to my apartment. The walk was awkward, neither of us talked. It was clear we were both pissed at each other.
Once inside my apartment Kakashi was the first to break the silence. "What is going on Sakura-chan?"
"There is nothing to talk about Kakashi." I walked into my bedroom hoping it would stop the conservation but he followed.
"When did you become a member of the Foundation?" Kakashi stepped in the room and shut the bedroom door, trapping us inside.
"How did you-"
"I found the uniform in your closet. When did you join?"
"You had no right to go through my things." I clenched my fists.
"You had no right to run off and join the Foundation. Does Tsunade know?"
"No." I look into my window and notice the shield coming down. Tsunade must have taken it down on her way home. I turn around to look at Kakashi to see he is wearing a soft expression.
"When did you join Sakura-chan?" He walked over to my bed and took a seat.
"Two weeks after my parents were killed I joined."
"Why?"
I don't know what came over me. But something inside just snapped. "Why? Why! Because when they died I felt alone! Naruto was gone! Orochimaru had Sasuke! And where were you? You turned me over to Tsunade and disappeared!"
"Sakura-chan calm down."
"No I will not clam down! You left me, you left me all alone! And because you did that I-" I stopped screaming realizing I was losing my temper.
"What did you do Sakura-chan?" Kakashi's voice was so soft and calming. He didn't seem angry at the fact I was screaming at him…blaming him.
"I turned to someone for help because I felt useless and weak." Kakashi stood up and pulled me into a light hug.
"Sakura-chan I am sorry I failed you. You needed me and I wasn't there and if I could I would go back and change what happened I would. Why does Tsunade not know you are in the Foundation?" I just shock my head unable to explain the situation. "Sakura-chan I am not going to let anyone to hurt you again." He released the hug and cupped his hands around my cheeks.
"Kakashi there is nothing you can do. I belong to the Foundation please stay out of it."
"Was Danzo the one to injury you? Is he the reason why Orochimaru is after you?" His eyes locked on mine and I could feel the tears begin to form in the corner of my eyes. I remained silent and Kakashi took that as a yes. "How bad are you hurt?"
"I am fine Kakashi." He drops his hands from my face and looks down disappointed at my actions. "There is nothing I can't handle."
"Sakura why did you not come to me? Why didn't you tell me what was going on once our team reformed?"
"There is nothing to tell Kakashi. I am nothing more than a tool for my village to use. I picked my path and now I must follow it."
"Sakura you can trust me. I will not let him lay a hand on you again." It's not me I'm worried about. If you get involved he might order you for to be taken out.
"Please do not report this to Lady Tsunade."
"Sakura-chan you know I have to, I have no choice."
"Can you at least let me to be the one to tell her?" Kakashi nodded yes. My bubble popped and everything felt like it was coming down. He knew about the Foundation, but he didn't know the rest. I prayed to god he didn't know the sick things I allowed done to me in order to gain power and control.
Kakashi pulled me into another hug, and we just stood there. No one talked, no one moved. We just stood there wrapped in each other's arms. He was trying to be supportive and I was trying my hardest to keep him at a distance, but was failing miserably.
The shields came down. By now it was now after ten at night, but now was my window. I quickly entered the village through the training fields. It didn't seem like any anbu was around, in fact it seemed like most where stationed around the multiple gates around the village. Did no one think to protect the training fields? Idiots.
I made my way toward Sakura's house, a clock covering my body, my signature masked. I jumped from rooftop to rooftop hoping Sakura still lived at the same address. I arrive outside of her apartment building and jump to the trees to give me a view into her bedroom. I could feel her inside the building, but I could tell she wasn't alone. Someone was in the apartment with her, and their charka felt very familiar.
I look into her room to see her in the arms of a man. I looked closer and saw white spiky hair that could only belong to Kakashi. I feel my charka spike. I was pissed off. Why was she in his arms? Why did that anger me to see her in the arms of another?
I waited outside for Kakashi to leave but when one am came and he was still there I figured he was staying the night, which only angered me more. Why is he staying the night? Eventually they release from the hug and Kakashi leaves the bedroom. I watch as Sakura changes into sleep wear. When she removed her shirt she was covered in bandages. What the hell happened to her? She wasn't injured during our fight. Though her body was covered in bandages, it was clear that she had a perfect figurer. She was no longer the flat chested genin I knew years ago. When she pulled down her pants I was disgusted to see all the bruising and cuts.
Sakura looked as if she had been tortured. She look like one of the test subjects Orochimaru and Kabuto tested on back in the hideout. I waited for Sakura to lay down and fall asleep. Once she had been asleep for an hour I jumped up to her balcony. She never used to lock the screen when we were younger. I reach down and carefully slide the door open. I stepped into the room and the sweet smell of cherry's filled my noise.
Her bedroom door was open and I could see Kakashi sleeping on the couch in the front room. He just had to be there didn't he, I mental cursed. I walked over to her bed and looked at her. She looked so small, tiny and weak, but I knew better. I saw what she was capable off early. I wanted to take her in my arms and jump out the window, but I knew that would wake her.
I pulled out a needle from my back pocket and stepped closer. Once this was injected into her skin she would be out for 12 hours, which would give me more than enough time to get her back to the hideout. I took one last look at Kakashi before I stepped forward and injected the needle into her skin. She left out a little whimper. I withdrew the needle and bent down to pick her up.
"Sasuke!"
"So it seems the shields are finally down." Danzo stood looking out his office window in the Foundation. His little pet had screwed up his plans, but the punishment made him fell slightly better. His pet knew better, she was not taught to act this way. Danzo was wondering what her next move would be once she found out about the wedding. Would she go along with it? Would she run? Would she fight? His little cherry blossom could be so unpredictable.
"My lord." Fū walked into the room, wearing the anbu uniform and mask. He walked behind Danzo and then proceed to kneel down on one knee. "We have another problem." Danzo turned around not speaking, looking at his most loyal solider below him.
"What would that be?"
"Lady Hokage has assigned Kakashi Hatake to watch over Sakura. It also seems the Hokage was been altered to Sakura's injuries." Fū had been sent to spy on Sakura once she had left the foundation. While she was talking with Tsunade, he had been in the air ducks listening and watching, collecting information for Danzo.
Danzo tighten his grip on his wooden cane, at the rate his pet was going he would have to kill her if she didn't change. But killing Sakura wasn't something he really wanted to do. He had put too much time and energy into the girl to just end her. More importantly she was still of use to him. He thought for a moment trying to remember what he could use against Sakura to make her calm down and do whatever it was he wanted.
Then almost like a flinch of a light switch it dawned on him, children. Children were Sakura's weakness and from his spies in Suna, the children had become very fawn of her as well. But what if he took it one step further?
"No need to worry, I have a plan that will keep her in check." Danzo turned back to the window looking outward on Konoha. He was going to protect this village any way necessary and one girl's life was a small sacrifice compared to the greater good. He had killed hundreds of people for the sake of this village and Sakura would be no different if she fell into the wrong hands. "You're dismissed, but we will be keeping a close eye on her in the future."
"Hai my lord." And with that Fū disappeared and headed room.