Author's notes: WELL. the last chappy was interesting. this one shall be even better. ahha. i hope you like it :) annd please review? .. you better. BWHAHA. )

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His lonely footsteps echoed through the hallway. He neared the room as he could hear voices from within. His katana hitting silently against his leg with each step he took. The light from the few torches in the hallway made his raven coloured hair even more darker.

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He turned to face a figure sitting in a chair covered by darkness. Only the bandanged head and the snake-like eyes were visible. He smirked as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose lifting his head. "Are you sure she's the one?" He asked looking at the dark figure sitting in the center of the room. "Are you questioning me Kabuto?" The man simply shook his head. "Of course not master, it's just..I've seen what she's capabale of and it doesn't seem as though she could fit the description. " he said walking over to a small table pushed up against a wall with lit candles, the wax almost all gone and a few scattered scrolls. He picked up a brush as he dipped it in ink and began writing on the scroll. " If we send him, you're certain he'll get the job done." he asked glancing over at the dark figure as he simply began to laugh. "I have no doubts in my new found apprentice."

The door suddenly opened slowly as a figure walked in. Masked by the darkness the figure slowly walked in. The figure in the chair turned his head as he smirked licking his lips. "We have a very important mission for you. " he said eyeing the figure. " I told you I don't run your errands." the dark figure replied coldly. "Errand? Why boy, this is important to me and your training." he said with a smirk. "Kabuto, give him the scroll with the details." Kabuto nodded as he turned and slowly made his way over to the dark figure handing him the scroll. The figure in the shadows took the scroll as he turned to exit. "Don't let me down, Sasuke-kun." the figure from the chair called out as he began to laugh maniacaly. Sasuke then dissapeared.

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Neji held up his hand as his signaled for them to stop.They all stopped on a nearby branch and watched Neji a bit confused. He motioned for them to wait as he dissapeared reappearing on a branch a few trees ahead of them. He let out a sigh as he motioned for them to come closer. They all appeared near him as they awaited further instructions.

Sakura fiddled with her ANBU mask. She didn't know why they had insisted she wear one anyway.

Flashback.

"Sakura. " Tsunade called out as she saw Sakura leaving her apartment heading for the front gate. "Here," she said handing Sakura and ANBU outfit equipped with the mask. "You will need to wear this outfit for the mission?" Tsunade said turning to leave. "Why Tsuande-sensai?" Sakura asked puzzled. She was only a jounin and didn't understand why she had to wear the ANBU outfit. Tsunade stopped as she sighed. "It's for your own protection, just trust me." and with that Tsunade dissapeared out of sight.

End of flashback.

Sakura sighed as she turned her attention to Neji.

" The village is past those gates. Using my Byakugan, I've searched the inside of the village and it seems to be abandoned. There is a temple in the middle." Neji explained. "No doubt where the scrolls would be hidden." Shikamaru added. "Exactly." Neji said with a nod. "We'll move in, in two man teams. Naruto, Shikamaru, you two will go in together using the entrance on the side. Sakura and I will enter through the front. Something is not right and this place should be busy with people. That means two things: either Takashi has already been here and slain everyone in sight, or, they've abandoned the city. Avoid engaging in combat if at all possible." Neji said turning to leave. " We will all meet at the temple." "Hai." they all responded as they dissapeared.

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Soonafter, Sakura and Neji arrived at the front gates. One of the gates to the small city was already opened. Cautiously, Neji and Sakura entered the city. Neji's byakugan activated he searched the area making sure there was no one following them. He didn't find anyone. They slowly walked down the mainstreet of the town . They soon approached the temple as they spotted Naruto and Shikamaru appraoching as well.

All four leaf shinobi stood in front of the temple looking at it. "Naruto, take Sakura inside and retreive the scrolls. Shikamaru and I will stand guard out here." Naruto and Sakura nodded as they dissapeared and soon reappeared in front of the temple doors. "You ready?" Naruto asked looking at Sakura. Sakura let out a sigh as she nodded. They reached their arms out to open the doors when they stopped at the sound of laughter. They turned around to see someone standing on a nearby building.

"Well well little cousin, you've done well in leading me here." the figure said with a smirk as it jumped down and landed but a few feet from Neji and Shikamaru. Multiple figures appeared behind him, on rooftops and beside him. "Takashi!" Sakura said clenching her hand into a fist. "You see, we were thinking of ambushing you a while back, but decided to let you lead us to the scrolls and we'd simply kill you there, after thanking you of course." he said with a wide grin. "You son of a ! " Sakura said as she ran forward. " Sakura!" Neji called stepping front of her holding her back.

"Oh little cousin, don't worry, you'll get your chance to die. Then you can join your parents." he said with an evil grin. "I'm going to kill you !" Sakura yelled as she struggled from Neji's grip. "We'll see." Takashi responded as he lifted his hand. "Well, this was nice but I have some other buisness to attend to." he dissapeared then reappeared beside Naruto kicking him off of the Temple steps as he gave a final wave than dissapeared into the temple several elite sound nin guarding the door.

"Kuso!" Naruto said standing to his feet. He brushed himself off as he looked around and his eyes widened. There were about 50 elite sound nin that had them surrounded. "This can't be good." Naruto said backing up into Neji.

Neji released Sakura as he stood in front of her, Shikamaru and Naruto standing on the other sides of her protecting her. "Sakura," Neji said still looking ahead. "You have to get into that temple and get the scrolls before Takashi does." Neji said as he brought up his hand and deflected a few kunai.

"But Neji, there are too many of them, you need my help!" Sakura protested. " Sakura, don't argue, just go!" Neji demanded looking over his shoulder at him. "But Neji-" "Now Sakura! GO!" He finally yelled raising his voice. Sakura, Naruto and Shikamaru stood shocked, that was the first time they ever heard Neji yell at someone. Sakura nodded as she jumped back and dissapeared reappearing in front of the temple doors and the elite ninja that were guarding it.

"Shikamaru!" Neji yelled deflecting more kunai. Shikamaru nodded as he reappeared beside Sakura, his hands placed together as the elite ninja were about to attack Sakura when they stopped. Sakura looked down to see the dark shadows stretched out frmo Shikamaru around their ankles. "Sakura, go!" Shikamaru yelled. Sakura nodded as she jumped over the ninja and stood in front of the doors turning and looking at her comrades in battle, severly outnumberd.

"I..I can't leave you!" Sakura yelled clenching her hand into a fist. "Sakura, go!" Shikamaru yelled holding the shadow possestion jutsu as a few kunai caught his leg and he winced in pain. "Shikarmaru!" Sakura yelled as she turned from the open door and headed towards her injured comrade as she was forcefully knocked back. She flew through the door and hit the ground. She rose to her feet as she saw Naruto who had just kicked her inside of the temple. "Sakura, we're depending on you." he said as he began closing the doors and she saw several kunai hit him in the back. She quickly ran to the door that slammed shut. "Naruto!!" she yelled as she banged against the door. She lowered her head,she could easily break down the door with her strength, but she understood what she had to do.

"She turned and looked at the entrance of the temple, she slowly made her way through. There were torches dimly lit that helped her see a little better. She walked down a narrow hallway that opened up to a large room. The room was filled with burning candles as she quickly shot into the shadows as she saw a figure standing in the middle of the room in front of an altar.

"Give me the scrolls old man." Takashi said lifting an elderly man, who looked to be the keeper of the temple and Haruno scrolls, into the air. The elderly man sighed as he lifted a talisman out of his pocked and gave it to Takashi. "And what am I supposed to do with this?!" Takashi growled as he clutched the talisman in his hand. "You place it on the altar..and it..it reveals the scrolls." the elderly man said weakly pointing at the altar. A wide grin crossed Takashi's face, "Excellent." he said as he took out a kunai and stabbed the elderly man in the abdomen with it. "You're of no further use to me." and with that he threw him to the side.

He walked up to the altar as he placed the talisman in the middle and the altar began to shake. He stepped back as it lowered down and split apart revealing a glass case which held scrolls. He opened the top of the case as he reached out and pulled out the two scrolls encased inside. He tucked them into his robes as he turned to leave but stopped. "Ah, Sakura." he said with a smirk.

"Give me the scrolls Takashi." she said sternly, her hand clenched into a fist. Takashi simply laughed as he took a few steps forward. "Who's going to stop me, you?" he said laughing once more. "Please, I'd rather not waste my time." He said as he began walking away. She pulled out a kunai and threw it towards him with perfect speed and precision as it knicked his arm. He stopped as he looked at the blood dripping from his arm and he slowly turned to face Sakura. "Alright then, if you're so anxious to die." he said as he pulled out a kunai. He threw the kunai as Sakura deflected it easily and he dissapeared reappearing in front of her. His head beside hers as he had stuck her with a kunai.

She could feel the blood beginning to trickle down her abdomen, she , however, had caught his wrist so the kunai wasn't pushed in all the way. "I'm going to kill you like I killed your father," he spoke into her ear as he leaned closer, "right after he begged for his life." he whispered in her ear. "Bastard!" Sakura yelled as she grabbed his wrist tighter and forced the kunai out of her abdomen and she punched him right in the stomache sending him flying across the room into the wall as a piece of the wall chipped off.

He slowly stood clenching his stomache as he began spitting up blood. "Not bad. You're strong" he said straightening up. He reached into the sleeves of his robe as he backflipped flicking his hands out as several kunai flew towards Sakura. Sakura backflipped out of the way, however one kunai caught her and scratched the side of her ANBU mask. She smirked.

This thing came in handy afterall.

She thought to herself as she looked up at her cousin. "Why do you wear that silly thing. Take it off." he demanded. "No." she replied as she charged towards his, her fist pulled back when suddenly she stopped as she coughed up some blood. She looked down as she saw a katana in her stomache. She quickly felt her back as it didn't go all the way through her. She looked up at Takashi who was wearing a wide grin as he looked down upon her. "Beg for you life, Sakura." he said pushing the katana in further as she let out a cry in pain and spit blood into his face. "Never!" She said as she lifted her feet and kicked off his chest causing the katana to slide out of her stomache. She was bent down on one knee as she held her stomache which was now bleeding severly. She looked up and saw that he was knocked off balance. She looked to her side as she spotted a hallway. She quickly rose to her feet and headed for the hallway.

She ran down the narrow hallway as her footsteps echoed. She could hear him behind her calling out her name and laughing. She stopped as she reached the end of the hallway, there was a door. She turned the knob and ran in as she did her best to barracade the door with a desk and a few chairs. She walked to the other side of the room as she leaned against the wall beside the fireplace. She was breathing heavily as she looked down at her wound once more and winced in pain. She began feeling light headed as she reached up and held onto a torch attactched to the wall as it was slowly brought down and she heard something move. She turned her attention to the fireplace as it slowly began to shift to the side. Sakura glanced back from the door to the fireplace as she could hear him banging agains the door to gain entry. The chairs were knocked down and the desk was being pushed out of the way. With limited options she walked through the small opening beside the fireplace.

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"Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!" puffs of smoke were seen everywhere as a bunch of Naruto clones appeared to help fight off the multiple numbers of elite sound ninja. Shikamaru, Naruto and Neji were forced up against the temple doors as they fought to fend off the ninja.

"We've managed to take out some of them, but we're still greatly outnumberd." Shikarmaru informed them holding a wound on his side. Breathing heavy Neji nodded as he looked around at the remaining sound nin. "Watch out!" Naruto yelled as several sound nin charged at them. They suddenly stopped and dropped to the ground. Pools of blood began to form beneathe them.

"What the?" Naruto asked looking around. He spotted two figures standing on top of a narby building. They two figures were wearing black cloaks with red clouds. Naruto, Shikamaru, and Neji all stared wide-eyed.

"The Akatsuki! What are they doing here! Are they working with the sound?!" Naruto asked surprised. Shikamaru shook his head. "No, the sound and Akatsuki hate each other." "They're after the scrolls no doubt." Neji said breathing heavily.

A few ninja attacked the two members of the Akatsuki as they killed the ninja with ease. "Are they going to help us kill them?" Naruto asked witnessing the ninja's being killed. "They're not killing the sound ninja to help us, they're killing them to help themselves." Neji said in his cool monotone voice. "As soon as they're done with the sound ninja, they'll come after us and there's no way we're strong enough to take even one of them out with just the three of us." Neji said as he backed up against the doors even more. "So what do we do?" Naruto asked worried as he threw kunai at some of the elite ninja. "Stay alive." Neji responded standing straight and getting into a fighting position again.

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Sakura walked through the dimly lit room. She grabbed a torch off the wall as she used it to see better. Her foot caught something as she tripped and fell forward, the torch fell out of her hands as it landed a few feet in front of her, but not on the ground. Suddenly the whole room lit up. Sakura slowly stood as the torch fell into a firepit in the middle of the room.

How convienient.

Sakura had a better look at the walls as she could see all the markings and writings on it. There was a symbol for each element on one wall. Sakura placed her hand on the wall as she used it for support. Blood from her hands were smeared on the wall from her touching it. She walked over to a wall as she wiped away the cobwebs smearing her blood once more as she saw her family name.

Haruno.

Beneathe the name was the family symbol. A simple white circle. She began reading the wall aloud.

"Fire, Water, Earth, and Air.

The four essential elements that

create everything. Bestowed upon

the Haruno clan many decades ago,

they were to protect the secret of the

one who could control all elements until

the one chosen one would be able to

fulfil the phrophecy and control all elements

and use them at their will. Only the chosen one

could use these powers at their fullest and

control the elements."

Sakura looked below the writing as their was a symbol for her name. Beneathe the symbol was a tiny opening in the shape of an oval. Sakura took off the necklace she wore as it beared the same symbol and shape. She took a deep breath as she placed it in the small opening. The writing began to glow white as she backed up. The fire symbol began glowing red, the water symbolbegan glowing blue, the earth symbol began glowing green and the air symbol was glowing white. The symbols cam off the walls as they surrounded Sakura. They collided with her body as she rose into the air with the writing swirrling around her. She opened her eyes as they began to glow white and it was almost like her body was being taken over. She finally fell to the ground and didn't get up.

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"Where are you?" he called out to the dark room as he broke through the door. He searched the room as he didn't see her. "Come out, come out wherever you are cousin." he said with a widegrin as he neared the fireplace. He extended his hand to the candle holder as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He whipped around swinging his katana only to have it deflected by another.

"S..Sasuke!?" He yelled staring into Sasuke's obsidean eyes. "What are you doing here." he said narrowing his eyes as he pushed harder against his katana. "That doesn't concern you. " Sasuke said in his cold tone as he pushed harder against the katana's. "Do you have the scrolls?" he asked as he stared into the jade eyes of Takashi. "Yes but-" Sasuke cut him off. "Then you are done, return to Orochimaru." Sasuke said pulling back his katana and sheathing it. "I'm not finished her, I have to get the girl and-" Sasuke turned as he lifted Takashi off of the ground by his collar. "You're mission is done, return to Orochimaru." He said in a more harsh tone as he dropped Takashi. "Takashi stood sheathing his sword as he soon dissapeard.

Sasuke approached the candle holder as he pulled down on it and the fireplace once more shifted to the side. He entered the small opening as he walked into the now lit up room. He saw someone laying on the ground, blood surrounding them as he slowly approached them. He bent down examining the body as he sighed and slung her over his shoulder. He didn't bother taking off the mask for he didn't care much who this person was. He exited the room as he dissapeared into the darkness, unaware that he was now carrying Sakura. His Sakura.

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"Rasengan!" Naruto yelled as he ripped through a few sound nin.

"Naruto!" Neji called from the temple doors. "In here, quickly!" Naruto nodded as he ran inside of the temple, Shikamaru and Neji closing the doors behind them. They were all breathing heavily as they made their way through the narrow hallway into the bigger room. They saw the altar in the middle of the room with a dead man beside it. Neji examined the altar as he sighed. "There's no doubt the scrolls were once contained inside this glass box. They have been removed. Either by Sakura or Takashi." Neji said turning to face Naruto and Shikamaru.

Naruto turned and headed down the small dark narrow hallway that led to the room with the fireplace. Shikamaru and Neji slowly followed. Naruto walked into the dark room as he looked around. He followed the blood trail on the ground as he saw a hand print on the candle holder as he reached up and pulled down on it. The fireplace shifted once more as Shikamaru and Neji entered followed by Naruto. They examined the room as the fire still burned strongly in the middle of the room.

They spotted the blood smears on the wall and made their way over to the wall that beared Sakura's family name. Shikamaru crouched down as he saw the pool of blood. Neji examined the remaining markings on the wall as Naruto noticed something sticking out of the wall. He pulled it out as he recognized it as Sakura's necklace. He clutched it tight in his hand as he felt something hit his neck. He began feeling drowsy as he looked over to see Neji and Shikamaru already passed out on the ground. He glanced up at the figures approaching him wearing black cloaks with read clouds. Naruto slowly hit the ground as his eyes closed.

Sakura...

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Author's notes: TAA-DAA. there's Sasuke. annd Orochimaru, annd the akatsuki. woah. i really brough out a lot of people in this chappy. haha. oh man. WELL. hmm. as promised there will be fluff soo please just be patient. i wont rush it. ) anyways. REVIEW PLEASSEE and ill bring out the next one soooon. ASAP. )