The Darkness Within the Light

Chapter 2

Breaking Down

Okay guys I got great reviews...but I would like to know...should I bold the speeches? I had it suggested to stop...so I'd like to take a poll

(I will be going that this time)

Thanks guys...I wasn't going to keep writing this...just throw it away...I didn't think most people would like it...but I was wrong...so I will continue to write

Oh and this is the last time I'm going to say this: I don't own Naruto

-Sakura-

Sakura did not sleep at all last night...all she did was cry. She cried so hard and so much that it got to the point where she could not cry. She lay in her bed all night, clutching her pillow so hard she tore a hole in it. That night seemed to last forever...like each second was it's own year...but like all things...it did end. Sakura forced herself out of bed and over to the mirror...she looked horrible, dark shadows under her eyes, her hair was a tangle of pink, her eyes were dull and showed nothing but pain. She was a true broken spirit.

She got ready in a haze, not caring what she looked like. She trudged throw Konoha, everyone was staring at her, nobody knew...not yet. As she made her way through the village she ran into the person she hated the most. Ino stared at her, an expression of shock on her face. "You ok?" she asked.

"Yeah...I'm fine..." replied Sakura, her voice hoarse.

Ino stared at her skeptically. "You don't look fine...is something wrong?"

"No...everything's fine...just fine..." said Sakura, struggling to keep the pain out of her voice.

"Sakura there's no reason to lie to me...come on I'm going to find out eventually...it's better if you just..." started Ino.

"Just leave me alone Ino!" interrupted Sakura pushing past her.

Ino looked annoyed as she stared after her, then she followed. "Come on...you can tell me!"

Sakura wiped around to face her, anger in her eyes...if she had any tears left, she would be crying right now. She clenched her fist. "I'll give you three seconds to get away from me...if you don't I swear I'll..."

"Relax Sakura...jeez I was just curious..." sighed Ino before vanishing.

Sakura scowled after her, then whipped around and stalked to the hospital. When she opened the door, she did it so roughly she ripped it off it's hinges. On the other side of the door stood Shizune, a shocked expression on her face. "Um..." she said.

Sakura stormed on past her, into the hospital. Shizune shook her head and followed her. When she caught up, she grabbed her wrist and pulled her into an empty room. "Sakura...please...tell me what's wrong..."

Sakura didn't know why...but a few seconds later she was sitting on a hospital bed, sobbing. Somehow she was able to cry again. As soon as she broke down Shizune was beside her, giving her support. "Tell me what happened Sakura..."

Sakura couldn't believe she was breaking down in front of Shizune of all people...Shizune always stayed out of things...and had grown some-what jealous as Sakura progressed, to the point where they were equals. Yet, here she was crying. "N...Naruto..." she mumbled between sobs.

Somehow Shizune understood her and asked. "What about him?"

"H...he's...g...gone..." gasped Sakura.

A flicker of surprise entered Shizune's eyes, but she quickly hid it. "Are you sure?" Sakura nodded. Then she asked. "Why?"

"He...w...wanted...t...t...to...prot...protect K...Konoha..." said Sakura her voice heavy with pain.

Shizune nodded and put her hand on Sakura's shoulder, trying to comfort her. "I think you need to talk to Tsuande-sama..."

-Naruto-

A cold wind blew through the trees, causing them to sway and the leaves to crackle. Against one of these great trees, sat Naruto. He was staring, his eyes blank at a burning fire, that illuminated the dark clearing, up until this point, he had been apologizing, to someone who couldn't hear him.

He had run for most of the night...he had picked a random direction and stuck to it. He wasn't exactly sure where he was...somewhere in Ame no Kuni (Land of Rain). He knew that the leader of Akatsuki was in Amegakure...because of Ero-sennin...he gulped, Ero-sennin...

He closed his eyes...wondering what Jiraiya would do when he found out he was missing...and if he found him...well that wouldn't be good.

Anyway, he thought he was a genious...hiding so close to the enemy...he thought they'd never find him. Normally he would laugh, but he wasn't normal...he wasn't himself...he was in physical agony to be away from Konoha...away from her...

He couldn't even think her name...if he did...it felt like he was being stabbed in the heart. 'Why the hell was I so stupid!? I could have taken her with me!' he thought, even though he knew that could never happen. He was still having an inner debate...even though...it was too late to change his mind.

Right now he wanted to die...but his ego wouldn't let him...his ego wouldn't let him waltz into Amegakure and announce that they could begin to extract. No, his ego would forced him to put up a fight...to take as many Akatsuki members down with him as he could.

He had been avoiding that dark place within him, the dark place that they wanted...he knew as soon as he entered that horrible place the Kyuubi would be pissed. What he was doing was practically suicidal...

He could feel the Kyuubi's rage flowing through him, but he sorrow drowned out the fiery rage, keeping him in control. The truth was...he wasn't too worried about Akatsuki coming to Konoha. What he was really worried about was himself. Lately...the Kyuubi's influence over him had been growing stronger...he got angry easier...the real reason he left...was it was getting stronger...and he didn't want to hurt anyone...especially her.

It had gotten to the point...where they could hear each other's thoughts...and sometimes...they could communicate through those thoughts. The first time he had heard the Kyuubi's voice inside of his head he had been too scared to come out of his apartment...he stayed in there for two long days.

Now he was frightened...that he was losing himself...that the next time he lost control and the cloak formed around him...that next time...he wouldn't be able to come back...and that he would hurt the people he cared about. He had told no one...not even Jiraiya about this new connection between him and the demon...he didn't need another reason for everyone to hate him.

He curled up in a ball, his arms around his knees. He sat there for awhile, listening to the Kyuubi's gruesome thoughts. Suddenly that dark presence from earlier returned, he looked around...nothing. "Who's there?" he called out.

He got no reply, not that he was expecting one. Then suddenly, as soon as it came...it vanished.

Naruto blinked, confused...maybe he was going insane...maybe he was slowly losing his sanity...he wasn't quite sure of anything right now...so it was possible. Whatever this strange presence was...it wasn't good.

Suddenly he heard a snicker, it took him a minute to realize it had been in his head. What's up with you? he thought.

A dark voice, coated with laughter answered him. You're losing your mind kit...and when you finally snap...then I will be the one in control.

Naruto gulped, knowing the Kyuubi was right...knowing that there was little...or nothing he could do to stop it.

"Did he see you?"

"I don't think so..."'

"Good..."

"I don't get why you're so interested in him...why not just kill him..."

"Now...what fun would that be?"

"I don't know...I think you're making a mistake...this could end badly..."

"Are you doubting my abilities?"

"No...but...we've never dealt with anything like this before..."

"You have not...but I have."

"What do you want me to do next?"

"Just continue watching him...I want to be prepared...I will not underestimate him...not this time!"

Well that's it...let me know what you think...