The Mind of the Cherry Blossom

by animea-hime

She has returned. But there seems to be something she knows that they don’t. Before it’s too late she must tell them & save Konoha, at the same time, she must confront her heart and mind about her feelings to a certain Uchiha.. Simple right? SxS Rated T

3. Trials of Sakura

Chapter 2: Trials of Sakura

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Yes, you may exclaim, 'Finally!' I'm really sorry for the delay, but I offically am assignment and exam free!! I am FREE!! Anyway, for those who are interested, I have recently posted a couple of reviews of anime/manga series (more like rants) on my profile, so if you have time to look and read, please do!! Enjoy TMoTCB chapter 2, chapter 3 will come as soon as editing is finished, see, I HAVE been working!

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Summary: She has returned. But there seems to be something she knows that they don't. Before it's too late she must tell them and save Konoha, at the same time, she must confront her heart, mind and soul about her feelings to a certain Uchiha. Simple enough right? What if it seemed every thing and one was against her? What would she do? Did her training for five years prepare her for the future that is about to come? Sasusaku. Rated T for violence.

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'Thoughts'

'Inner selves'

"Talking"

FLASH BACK…

P.O.V

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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does.

---

Recap:

"Well done Team Kakashi on a successful mission" Tsunade smiled, greeting them as she entered her office. Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Come in" Tsunade said. Slowly the door opened to reveal the village elders, Danzou and a slightly nervous Shizune.

"Danzou? What are you doing here?" Tsunade growled.

"Please excuse us Tsunade-hime" Danzou sneered "But there is a matter at hand that must be addressed"

"Which is?" Tsunade asked.

"The trial of Haruno Sakura for treason" the female elder announced.

Suddenly the entire room went tense.

End Recap.

---

"Please excuse us Tsunade-hime" Danzou sneered "But there is a matter at hand that must be addressed"

"Which is?" Tsunade asked.

"The trial of Haruno Sakura" the female elder announced.

Suddenly the entire room went tense. Instantly, fingers were clicked and in that second the pink haired woman was apprehended by at least five ANBU ops as her chakra points were sealed off by one of the Hyuuga members. Enduring the pain, Sakura fell to the ground as she recollected her self, trying to ignore the chains and chakra strings that were binding into her skin.

'Itai' Sakura cursed inwardly as she looked up at the elders, trying to break the urge to glare at them as a collar was placed around her neck.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed as he ran up to the woman who was still trying to break through the pain.

"The less you struggle the less pain you will feel" the female elder insisted "You shall be detained until your trial; but more than likely, you will be executed for your crime" she sneered.

"Take her away" Danzou ordered, instantly the pink haired girl was out of their sights and so were the ANBU ops that were holding her down.

"What do you mean the trial of Haruno Sakura?!" Tsunade boomed, behind her was Naruto ready to shout the exact same.

"What do you think?" the elder female glared.

"What for?!" Naruto growled.

"For abandoning the village! What do you think?!" Danzou glared.

"Her trial shall be in two months on the 28th of March, until then Team Kakashi has a mission" the elder declared.

'Is that date some curse to her or something?!' all of team Kakashi exclaimed inwardly.

"What mission?" Tsunade glared.

"Rumours have been going around that Akatsuki are in Snow and are moving, but to where they're moving is unknown, Team Kakashi is to find out what their motives are" the female elder explained.

'…' Tsunade stared blankly at the elders for a moment.

"Their team shall consist of Uzamaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Sai, Hatake Kakashi as well as Yamanaka Ino and Shizune as medics" Danzou said.

"No! I'm not going on any mission without Sakura-chan!" Naruto declared.

"You will! Or I will have detained!" the female elder shouted.

"You!-"

"Let's get this mission over and done with Naruto, so we can be back before Sakura's trial" Sasuke said.

"Fine" Naruto muttered "let's go guys"

"Aa" Sasuke grunted before all four males exited the room angrily.

"Shizune, go find Yamanaka and tell her she has a mission to prepare for" Tsunade ordered, inwardly glaring at the elders and Danzou.

"Remember Tsunade-hime, just because she's your apprentice does not mean she can just slide away without punishment" Danzou commented before they left.

---

As weeks passed, the date of Sakura's trial was drawing nearer and nearer while her team seemed to be getting further and further away from Konoha as they continued to track the Akatsuki; or at least that's what the rumour was. The Konoha twelve were more than shocked when they learnt that Sakura was in one of Konoha's high security prisons and further more, when they learnt of the lengths that the elders had taken to keep her detained, they were terrified for her well being.

Inside the high security prison, in a separate bolted shut holding cell sat a deranged and almost completely malnourished pink haired female who was held back to the bench she was sitting on the and the wall she was leaning on by heavy duty chains and yards of chakra strings around her wrists, ankles and neck, as well as every single one of her fingers, just for safe measure. Along with the many binds, her chakra points were sealed off daily to make sure she couldn't use any of her jutsus or that so called 'pesky' blood line trait. Opposite her was the door to the holding cell which was pretty much bolted tight with additional other traps and bits and pieces that kept her inside. Settling for glaring at the door opposite her, Sakura continued to plot some type of escape ignoring the desperate cries and calls that were seemingly coming towards her holding cell.

Brought out of her mind by the sound of her holding cell unlocking and opening Sakura glanced up to see Ino and Shizune right in front of her with distressed faces. In front of them were barred doors, separating the three females. Inwardly glaring at them for a moment, she waited for them to catch their lost breathe before they began to talk.

"Sakura-san! We need your help!" Shizune exclaimed.

"What could you possibly need my help for Shizune, after all, weren't you the one who technically put me in here?" Sakura asked mockingly; some how knowing that the mission that her and her team went on didn't go as planned.

"W-what are you talking about?" Shizune stammered.

"Don't think I don't know that you went behind your great Tsunade-sama's back and told the elders I was abandoning the village" Sakura scoffed.

"I was only thinking of the village's safety!" Shizune retorted.

"I hardly think so-"

"Please, Sakura-chan we need your help!" Ino exclaimed.

"With what?" Sakura asked monotonously.

"Naruto, Sasuke, they…they-"

"What did they do this time?" Sakura asked immediately, slightly concerned.

"They…they…"

"During our mission to track the Akatsuki some things happened and both changed form-"

"What do you mean changed form?" Sakura growled as she stood up abruptly only to be pulled back down by the changes, glancing down at her wrists and ankles, Sakura could tell right now, in pitch black that they were most likely swollen, bruised, infected and blistering.

"Naruto, he had tails, orange tails! Sasuke had these weird wings! His hair grew! Naruto's fingernails grew to, it's like he was the-"

"Kyubi" Sakura finished off "Wait, what do you mean Sasuke transformed?" Sakura asked "And aside that, Naruto transforming in no big deal you just have to use the seal on him and he's as good as new"

"He transformed! His hair was half way down his back, his skin turned black, his face was completely different!" Shizune exclaimed.

"Impossible" Sakura scoffed, sitting back down in a more comfortable position "besides that, what does that have to do with me?"

"Both are terribly injured, half way through their fighting, they two got confused and began fighting each other violently" Shizune frowned.

"Then go heal them" Sakura replied bored.

"They won't allow us or any one to heal them! They're barely conscious, but every time we try to heal them they move away and begin to kick and scream, well that's Naruto, but both refuse to let us heal them" Shizune frowned.

"Well then let them die" Sakura shrugged.

"What?!" Ino exclaimed.

"How can you say that about your own team mates?!" Shizune growled.

"Well first off, because I can, second off, what do you think I could do huh? I have been in here for god knows how long and tied up! For Kami's sake, I have no chakra to give off since some one decided to tell the elders I so called abandoned the village, I see no reason to help you" Sakura scoffed.

"Look, okay, I'm sorry, but please save them, without them our village will loose great military power!" Shizune frowned.

"You'll have to do something more to convince me, aside the fact I can't and military power won't matter to me since more than likely, as soon as the end of my trial is finished I will be dead" Sakura shrugged.

"You traitor" Shizune hissed.

"You're one to talk Shizune, you went behind Tsunade-sama's back and told the village elders the wrong information" Sakura scoffed.

"What do you mean?" Shizune asked calmly as she possibly could.

"That is classified information, go ask Tsunade-sama, that is, if she'll listen to you, traitor" Sakura sneered.

"W-what are you talking-"

"Oh by the way, that last mission you went on, was completely pointless, I already knew where the Akatsuki were heading, and if you were correct in the sense that both of my team mates 'transformed' then I guarantee you that the Akatsuki have been delayed and will arrive here in about two to three weeks" Sakura voiced "And in fact they should have been here at about now"

"H-how would you know?" Shizune gaped "WHO TOLD YOU?!"

"Guard, can you please close the door, I no longer want to see the face of a traitor, oh, Shizune, Ino, don't think I don't know both of you went behind Tsunade-sama's back numerous times, maybe next time if you are thinking of the welfare of Konoha maybe you should think in the long run and not what will make you look good in front of the elders" Sakura smirked as the doors to the holding cell were bolted shut and tied up again.

---

"She won't heal them" Shizune sighed in distaste as she returned into the Hokage's office where Tsunade and Kakashi were sitting really worried. Behind her was Ino, also upset.

"Why?" Kakashi asked, obviously frowning.

"She believes it's of no benefit to her since she reckons more than likely she'll be executed" Ino replied.

"Then Kakashi and I shall go to talk to her" Tsunade announced.

"Oh she also said something about the Akatsuki coming in about two to three weeks" Shizune said as she followed Tsunade out the door.

"Shizune, I believe you should stop following me, I know it was you who told the elders about Sakura leaving the village, you really shouldn't have, you've caused this village a great amount of despair now" Tsunade growled before she left with Kakashi behind her.

---

"Sakura, please heal your team mates" Tsunade ordered as the gates to the Haruno female's holding cell opened.

"What's in it for me?" Sakura asked.

"We can get you out-"

"How exactly? Hmm? These bonds aren't exactly easy to break, and aside that, my chakra points are still blocked off and without any chakra I can't heal anyone-"

"Sakura-chan" a new voice peeped.

"Hinata-san? I see, well if you can get me out of here, I will heal my team mates" Sakura said.

"You make one more move Hyuuga-san and I shall have you detained for trying to break free and criminal!" Danzou proclaimed. Behind him were the village elders as well as Shizune and Ino.

"But…" Hinata murmured "Naruto-kun…"

"We can easily heal both of them, all we have to do-"

"Is knock them out? Highly impossible, the shock from being knocked out will most likely kill them, and further more, to heal the injuries both sustained would take many hours with many medics and by the time one is healed the other will be dead" Tsunade glared.

"I refuse to allow you to bring out this traitor" the village elder female declared.

"Then pick one of the boys; Uchiha or Uzamaki" Tsunade ordered.

"..."

"B-but, Tsunade-sama" Shizune began "even if we allow Sakura-san out, she still would be able to only heal as slowly as us"

"…" Tsunade glared at her so called apprentice.

"On the contrary Shizune, I only take a few minutes to heal both" Sakura said.

"Impossible, you have no proof!" Shizune glared.

"There's no way you could!" Ino declared "You haven't got any kind of ability to do that!"

"To heal it depends on a great ability of chakra control and chakra, if you have neither you can't heal or be a medic and not only that it takes time, you can't heal both in a matter of minutes after you see those wounds!" Shizune insisted.

"Don't blame me if people have more trust in me than you, you brought it upon your self" Sakura declared

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Shizune frowned.

"We have remained in this village all our lives and remained completely loyal compared to you who left for five years! Our ability shouldn't even be compared to your pathetic ability!" Ino growled.

"Hinata please unblock my chakra points"

"Thank you Sakura-chan" Hinata whispered before she began unblocking her chakra points effortlessly.

"Aa" Sakura grunted. Suddenly, she felt the warmth of her chakra back in her and ready to be used. Instantly, Sakura pulled on the chains that bound her down, breaking the restraints effortlessly. In seconds Sakura whipped out two kunai, which seemed to be coated in a purple liquid.

"W-what are you doing with those?" Shizune stammered.

"Both of these are covered in a deadly mixture of nearly all my poisons I had going to the Lightning Country, once placed in the body the person has about ten seconds to live" Sakura said "Watch and learn" Instantly, Sakura stabbed her self with both poison covered kunai and then ripped them out forcefully before tossing them onto the ground. Gasping in terror as blood poured for her body and out of her mouth, Ino and Shizune (thinking they were good medics) began to run towards the girl before they stopped when they saw what Sakura had just done. She put her own hand into her wound.

"W-what a-are you-"

Instantly as the time seemed to be drawing nearer and nearer to her death, Sakura pulled her hand out and as her hand was being pulled out it looked like clear white strings were being pulled out by her hand. As the length of these so called strings increased the amount of blood around her wound decreased and it appeared to be actually sealing up while the colour of the strings changed to a purple colour. When the wound was finally healed, Sakura seemed to give one last pull on the string like material before they were ripped off and Sakura was as good as new. Wiping the blood from her chin Sakura stared at Shizune and Ino for a moment.

"You're right Ino, our medical ability is not even comparable" Sakura sneered "And when you do surpass Tsunade-sama, if you can even get there, then you can consider the possible chance that you can actually be in the same league as my self"

"H-how"

"Please, I'm not revealing how I did that, it's my own special trick, maybe when you can heal people in a matter of seconds without hand seals, I might consider telling you" Sakura sneered before she walked out of the jail cell without a care.

---

Walking into the room both injured Team seven males lay in, Sakura sighed as she gave both boys a once over. Walking over to them, both slowly began to struggle, knowing that some one was going to try and heal them. Smirking inwardly, Sakura sighed outwardly.

"Oi, Chicken-head, Dobe, stop, it's me, Sakura" Sakura said quietly. Both seemed to stop thrashing about when they heard her voice.

"S-sakura-c-chan?" Naruto rasped.

"Quiet now, you'll be healed in seconds" Sakura reassured quietly before she performed a quick couple of hand seals. Like before, both males began healing simultaneously as Sakura stared at them relieved, but still kept an impassive façade. As she promised, the two males were healed down to the last tiny scratch before they both sat up, as good as new.

"S-sakura-c-chan" Naruto exclaimed as he looked at her.

"Sakura" Sasuke whispered in relief.

"How do you feel?" Sakura asked, behind her was Tsunade and Kakashi, amazed at her ability.

"Great, as good as new!" Naruto grinned a cat-like grin.

"Yea, I'm all good too" Sasuke nodded.

"Good" Sakura nodded smiling fakely before that smile vanished and an annoyed façade replaced her happy one "YOU TWO ARE SUCH BAKAS!" Sakura growled before hitting them both on the head before returning to her annoyed façade which was almost a mocking face.

"Eh?" Naruto grunted as he held his head in pain.

"Geez, next time just let some one else heal you! You were disrupting my sleep, geez, I had just gotten comfortable too; do you realize how hard it is to sleep sitting up in that cell?" Sakura huffed angrily (yet some what playfully).

"Hehe, gomen Sakura-chan" Naruto laughed nervously "But no one can heal us like you do" Naruto grinned childishly.

"Next time, think about it though, you were practically dead!" Sakura sighed.

"Gomen, but if one member of Team Kakashi suffers, we all do" Naruto grinned.

"Geez, you guys" Sakura sighed.

"Sakura" Tsunade called out in a serious tone.

"You sure you want to know here?-" Sakura asked seriously as she continued to face her two team mates.

Suddenly the door to the room flung open and Sakura was once again caught by ANBU ops.

"Your poor judgment will cost us the village Tsunade-hime" the village elder sneered as she stepped into the room.

"Then I suppose you want to loose great military power?" Tsunade glared.

"No, but you could have merely knocked the two out-"

"If I knocked them out, they would have been dead! I already told you that!" Tsunade growled "Further more, they are now as good as new in the five minutes that Sakura-chan has been in here and can continue to go on missions immediately if I say so!"

"No matter your ill bred apprentice will go back under custody-"

"She's damn innocent!" Naruto shouted.

"Naruto, don't worry about it" Sakura shrugged "If they want to lock me away that's fine by me, they just got to remember who they will be affecting in the long run, I for one can see this incident happening all over again, they should just know that what you guys failed to learn about in your last mission, I know every single detail, well anyway, ja, see you in about two weeks?" Sakura shrugged as she began to move out of the hospital room, which forced the ANBU ops to move with her.

"What do you know?" one of the elders growled.

"I am choosing to remain silent right now, it's no benefit for me to tell you information I know, oh and when you come across Shizune and Ino, tell them I said they suck at being a shinobi, I'm baffled to see how they obtained the genin rank" Sakura smirked triumphantly as she walked out leaving a gaping pair of elders.

"Geez, Sakura-chan…" Naruto sighed.

"That's our Sakura" Kakashi chuckled.

"She's hasn't changed one bit" Sasuke sighed. Instantly all three males began to leave when they were stopped by Shizune who was at the door; who looked slightly worried.

"You guys shouldn't leave just yet, you just got healed!" Shizune exclaimed.

"Tch! Unlike your healing ability Sakura's is top notch so we don't have to waste time indoors recuperating" Sasuke scoffed as he passed by the black haired woman, annoyed at her after learning she was the snitch which got Sakura locked up.

"Shizune-nee-chan, Sakura-chan doesn't deserve to be on trial on her birthday" Naruto frowned following Sasuke.

"Geez, those three, they haven't changed since they were genin, well I guess that's a good thing, their team work is rock solid" Kakashi mused before leaving.

"Tsunade-sama, about Sakura-san…" Shizune began.

"I don't want to hear it, not only have you gone behind my back, valuable information is now lost because you have locked Sakura away" Tsunade glowered.

"What do you mean?" Shizune exclaimed.

"Sakura-chan didn't leave the village-"

"That's positively outrageous! She went right up and told you she was leaving!" Shizune exclaimed. Behind her were the village elders agreeing.

"Chose what you want to believe, but remember you must take responsibility of your own actions"

---

"Maybe we should go-"

"Sasuke-kun" Kagaimi squealed as she ran up to the Uchiha.

"Oh hi Kagaimi-chan" Naruto grinned.

"Hn" Sasuke grunted.

"I haven't seen you in ages! Shizune-chan said you were in the hospital, daijobou?" Kagaimi asked.

"Aa" Sasuke grunted.

"Did you guys hear?" Kagaimi questioned.

"What?" Naruto asked.

"I'm being placed on your team!" Kagaimi squealed.

"That's impossible, you're a chuunin, we're ANBU" Naruto frowned.

"I got moved up two ranks since the village elders think I'm ready for it" Kagaimi grinned.

"But it's already a five man team!" Naruto gaped.

"Oh they said I was going to replace Sakura-chan" Kagaimi squealed some more "isn't that great Sasuke-kun? We're on the same team!"

"Aa-"

"No it's not! You are not replacing Sakura-chan! I refuse to allow you to take over Sakura-chan's place!" Naruto growled.

"You're going to have to learn to adjust eventually Naruto" Kagaimi insisted.

"No I refuse! Besides, Sakura-chan is our medic-"

"So? I have medic skills, Shizune-chan taught me!" Kagaimi frowned.

"Well then we may as well dig our graves" Naruto murmured.

"Naruto please stop beating down on my fiancé" Sasuke sighed.

"No! You may be able to accept Sakura-chan being replaced, but I sure can't! Sakura-chan couldn't stand it when you were replaced by Sai, and I can't stand some one else replacing Sakura-chan after Team Kakashi became full again!" Naruto growled.

"Team Kakashi will be full again! Kagaimi will replace Sakura so it's the same! Sakura might end up dead any way so it doesn't matter!" Sasuke glared "Kagaimi skills will be just as good as any other medic out there, so it's okay!"

"She may have skills of other medics, but Sakura-chan is no other medic" Naruto growled before he walked away, angry at his best friend.

---

"Sakura-chan, daijobou?" Naruto asked from behind the cell door, upset as he watched his pink haired team mate look up at him bored.

"Yea, I'm fine, why are you here?" Sakura asked.

"Can't a team mate come and see another?" Naruto asked.

"I guess" Sakura chuckled.

"Anyway, I brought you some ramen from Ichiraku" Naruto grinned as he brought out two tubs, filled with ramen.

"Thanks Naruto" Sakura smiled as she walked towards Naruto who handed her the ramen container through the cell bars before sitting down and eating; Sakura copying him.

"Itadakimasu" both seemed to smile as they shared a meal together.

"See, Team Kakashi is still the same, we go out for ramen" Naruto smiled a forced smile.

"Thanks Naruto" Sakura smiled.

Sakura smiled slightly before digging into the ramen Naruto had given her "I guess you're right Naruto"

"Hmm?" Naruto questioned as he slurped his ramen.

"Ichiraku ramen is the best" Sakura smiled.

"You bet!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Eating without us are you?" Kakashi questioned as he appeared behind Naruto, which scared the blonde haired boy a slight amount. Faking pain, Kakashi grinned before sitting down with a serving of ramen for him self. Behind him, Sai and Sasuke also had a serving of ramen and sat down.

"Itadakimasu!" they all exclaimed.

"Thanks guys" Sakura smiled, holding back the tears of joy she felt coming up.

"Hey, what member of Team Kakashi does, the rest to do" Kakashi shrugged.

"If that's how it goes how come you guys didn't wait for me?!" a new voice wailed. Instantly, Kagaimi came out of the shadows with ramen in her hands like everyone else.

"What do you mean-"

"YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF TEAM KAKASHI!" Naruto growled. Suddenly without any warning, Kagaimi seemed to trip on her own to feet before the bowl of ramen in her hands began to spill every where, and splashed right onto Sakura, who sat shock stricken for a moment before her face changed into a distorted look of pain. Trying to ignore the burns, Sakura looked up confused at Sasuke's fiancé, slowly comprehending what was just said.

"Yes I am!" Kagaimi growled back "It's that Sakura who isn't a part of Team Kakashi anymore! I don't see why you guys are here!" Kagaimi exclaimed, glaring and pointing at Sakura, who was still suffering from the burns of the hot soup.

"Just leave" Naruto spat before he turned his attention to Sakura, who was still twitching for the heat of the soup.

"You'll be okay; I'll get Tsunade-baa-chan!" Naruto exclaimed before he disappeared from sight for about a second before he dragged back a baffled looking Tsunade.

"Sakura-chan daijobou?" Tsunade asked.

"Aa" Sakura grunted "The burns aren't really that bad" Sakura replied.

"Why are you healing her? She'll be dead soon anyway!" Kagaimi glared.

"Kagaimi-san, I advise you to keep your mouth shut right now" Sakura stated.

"What can you do? You're tied up!" Kagaimi sneered.

"On the contrary" Sakura smirked. Instantly she stood up and pulled on the chains that held her down breaking them just as easily as before.

"H-how-"

"It seems that they seemed to forget to block my chakra points" Sakura smirked as her burn wounds began to heal instantly without any hand seals or any movement of her body "They really should start remembering if they're going to keep me down that they have to block my chakra points, after all, I'm Tsunade-sama's apprentice" Sakura sneered as she moved back into the darkness of her cell before she hit the wall and smashed it with an effortless tap of her finger. Instantly the wall fell to the ground as sunlight poured into the dark cell and dust began to mix with the falling debris making it impossible to see anything.

"S-sakura-c-chan" Naruto gasped.

"Ugly?" Sai questioned as he tried to point out her finger in the blinding light.

"Sakura!" Kakashi coughed as he breathed in the dust, holding onto the bars which separated Sakura and the rest of the people in the jail cell.

"Che, No one can keep Haruno Sakura down with such pathetic restraints" Sakura commented with her figure still covered by the flying dust and debris.

"Tsunade-sama, I shall be waiting for you" her voice whispered before she disappeared in a flash, in her place as the dust and debris finally cleared was a small scattered pile of cherry blossom petals.

"Sakura-chan just dug her self an even deeper hole…" Naruto mused.

"That girl…" Kakashi sighed.

"She was just waiting for something like this to arise" Sai noticed.

Looking down at his fiancé, Sasuke noticed a slight playing smirk on her features, but decided to think better of it for the moment as the member of Team Kakashi all remained silent. Looking around, something finally occurred to Team Kakashi.

"Ano…where's Tsunade-baa-chan?" Naruto asked.

"I bet she's gone to look for Sakura" Kakashi said.

"What ever knowledge Ugly has; must be very important if it will affect the future of the village" Sai mused.

"Very important" Kakashi nodded.

---

"You took your time coming" a voice said under a long black cloak. With their face hidden by a black covered mask, the two covered in dark cloaks were concealed by the night in a far off field which was only familiar to a few people.

"Yes, well you know how hard it is to get rid of annoying followers like her" the other person said. Both seemed female.

"Everything is better written is it not?" the first asked.

"Indeed" the second person seemed to nod as she was handed a slightly large scroll.

"Remember, this meeting never happened" the first whispered before she disappeared from sight.

"Of course" the second said as she disappeared like the first.

---

"This is bad; if Sakura-chan doesn't appear soon; she'll totally be dead meat!" Naruto exclaimed. Five hours after she broke out of the maximum security jail, they had yet to find her and it was slowly arising suspicion to what she was doing and if she was actually innocent.

"Err…Dickless…" Sai gaped.

"What are you gaping at Sai-teme?" Naruto asked as he averted his gaze to whatever Sai was looking at. Realizing what he was gaping at; he too gaped in shock.

---

'Geez, what's Tsunade-sama thinking? This really is one big drama' Sakura sighed from inside the jail cell she was assigned. Sitting on the slightly raised bench; her arms, ankles and neck were bound again and the wall was just as it was before she supposedly smashed it to pieces.

'All this just to find out what the Akatsuki are planning? I think it'd be rather obvious…' Sakura remarked 'Move over…'

FLASH BACK…

"During our mission to track the Akatsuki some things happened and both changed form-"

"What do you mean changed form?" Sakura growled as she stood up abruptly only to be pulled back down by the changes, glancing down at her wrists and ankles, Sakura could tell right now, in pitch black that they were most likely swollen, bruised, infected and blistering.

"Naruto, he had tails, orange tails! Sasuke had these weird wings! His hair grew! Naruto's fingernails grew to, it's like he was the-"

"Kyubi" Sakura finished off "Wait, what do you mean Sasuke transformed?" Sakura asked "And aside that, Naruto transforming in no big deal you just have to use the seal on him and he's as good as new"

"He transformed! His hair was half way down his back, his skin turned black, his face was completely different!" Shizune exclaimed.

…END FLASH BACK

'There's no way Sasuke could have transformed! Naruto; yes it is possible he still has the Kyubi inside him; but Sasuke? He has nothing to make him transform! I removed the curse seal from him myself! And even if I didn't Orochimaru is long gone! It wouldn't be able to work if he's dead!' Sakura paused as her eyes widened 'No impossible! I killed him! I even made sure it was his body! I brought back the head myself!-'

"Sakura-chan!" a voiced sighed in relief.Looking up, Sakura was surprised to see Naruto and Sai in front of the wall of bars.

"What are you two doing in here?" Sakura asked.

"What are you doing in here?! Didn't you break out?" Naruto exclaimed.

"Well…not entirely…break out isn't the correct term…" Sakura murmured.

"But you smashed the wall behind you!" Naruto argued.

"Not really" Sakura chuckled "You really shouldn't believe what your eyes tell you all the time"

"You mean…" Sai muttered.

"Yup! Genjutsu!" Sakura smirked.

"Since when?" Sai asked calmly.

"Hmm…can't tell you" Sakura sneered.

"…right…"

"You guys better go back to your partners, knowing those two they're most likely going sick with worry" Sakura said.

"Oh yea! Hinata-chan here I come!" Naruto exclaimed before he bolted out of the door of the jail.

"I can stay here for a bit longer-"
"Sai, don't worry about Ino said to me; she was probably trying to get a certain someone to recognise her as a good medic and something that's actually helpful" Sakura advised.

"…right, I'm going" Sai nodded nervously before he too left.

"Tsunade-sama, you can come out now" Sakura announced to the darkness. The sound of footsteps echoed until the said person reached the jail cell.

"The information you gave me is quite detailed" Tsunade mused.

"Of course" Sakura scoffed.

"But I have a feeling that there are some bits and pieces missing in there" Tsunade voiced.

"Possibly" Sakura shrugged.

"You can be very irritating at times" Tsunade twitched.

"Who's the one in the jail cell right now?" Sakura glared.

"…I better be going before anyone notices I'm gone" Tsunade muttered.

---

'So they actually did replace me huh?' Sakura chuckled bitterly. Some how, she knew (a week after when Shizune came to her for help), deep down that her team mates and supposedly close friends had moved on and accepted she was a traitor who was going to die sooner or later and used Sasuke's fiancé as an escape route 'A lot has changed since I have stepped foot outside'

---

'Screaming?' Sakura questioned as she was awoken from her sleep. Glaring at the blocked off cell door, Sakura closed her eyes in hope that she would be able to hear whatever was going on outside easier.

'Footsteps' Sakura noticed 'They're getting louder too; same with those screams and yells, what the hell is going on out there? Can't I get any sleep here?!' Sakura cursed 'I can't even tell who's coming towards my cell; the chakra pattern isn't familiar…' Suddenly the footsteps stopped. Slowly the metal doors creaked open. Opening her eyes Sakura glared at the person who was causing all the noise.

"Who the hell do you think you are creating such a ruckus when people are trying…to…" Sakura gasped "…sleep" she ended quietly 'Impossible!' "I killed you!!"

"Now, now, Sakura-chan, you wouldn't want to be disturbing the sleep of other inmates would you?" the hissing voice sneered.

"What are you doing here?!" Sakura demanded.

"In search of a new body" he smirked "And I have found the perfect one" with that said, his neck extended much like a snake and headed straight towards the pink haired woman. Struggling to break free of her chains and binds, Sakura gasped in pain with she felt the horrible sensation of being bitten in the neck. With the task completed; the figure retracted his neck and disappeared.

Wincing in immense pain, Sakura continued to struggle in the hopes of getting out of the restraints and possibly scratch at the pain if only to relieve her self of a small amount of what she was feeling. Oblivious to the hurried footsteps, Sakura began to shake and flail violently with the feeling of being pulled apart so close to reality. Then she felt something different, a warm and incredibly inviting feeling rushed through her.

Her chakra.

No.

It wasn't her chakra. Widening her eyes in quick realization, Sakura effortlessly broke free of the binds which kept her down and crashed out of the jail cell (once again); fleeing the scene as quickly as her body could possibly allow.

Behind her the faint calls of her name were heard as she raced further and further from the holding prison.

---

"What do we do? What the hell is wrong with Sakura-chan?!" Naruto exclaimed as the three younger males of Team Kakashi followed the fleeing woman.

"If we knew we'd tell you" Sai grunted.

"Didn't the guards say he was here?" Naruto asked.

"Yea, but that's impossible; Sakura beheaded him; I saw it with my own eyes" Sasuke said.

"Then what the hell has gotten into Ugly?" Sai cursed.

"I don't know, but what ever it is, it's gone and made a mess of things" Sasuke noticed as the jumped over the slightly destroyed town of Konoha.

"Oi; what's that dome?" Naruto asked; pointing to an almost completely clear coloured dome that was forming in one of many of Sakura's training grounds that she used to use.

"That is one of Sakura's shields" Sasuke noticed "But it's much bigger than usual"

"Let's go!" Sai exclaimed as the three of them raced faster to the dome.

---

Sakura screeched in pain. Falling into a fetus position on the ground Sakura continued to claw at her neck as if to try and remove the source of her pain. Fighting the pain Sakura to move upward so she was on her hands and knees and began to slowly stand before falling straight down again as odd black marks began slithering across her skin burning her with the evil chakra. Screaming in pain Sakura clutched her head as the pain began surfacing to her brain as if wanting to burst out of her own skull.

---

"Since when did Sakura-chan have the curse seal?" Naruto asked with concern as they continued to try and break into the barrier Sakura has set up.

"She never had the curse seal before to my knowledge" Sasuke said.

"Doesn't it look different to other curse seals?" Sai questioned.

"Much different" Sasuke noticed 'It closely resembles the marks she had five years ago'

Suddenly all three males stared in shock.

"Hey guys, I know this is kind of a stupid question. But should her body be going that brown colour? Is her hair supposed to be that dark usually? And err...are her eyes supposed to look that dark and evil?"

"No way" Sai gasped.

"Level three curse seal" Sasuke gaped as brown claw like wings sprouted from the back of the pink haired girl, ripping her white kimono to make room for the wings which had just sprouted.

"We gotta get in there!" Naruto exclaimed as he began banging his body against the invisible shield.

"Don't bother Dobe" Sasuke sighed as he sat on the ground calmly.

"How can you be so calm teme?! Sakura-chan is in danger!" Naruto shouted.

"No she isn't-"

"What do you mean?" Sai asked.

"More than likely, Sakura has put up this shield to keep her in not us out" Sasuke said.

"Why would she do that?" Naruto asked.

"Probably some where in Sakura's subconscious she is aware of what would happen while the curse seal is activated and so to prevent everything being completely destroyed in an unconscious rampage, Sakura has put up the seal in her sane mind to keep her in" Sasuke said.

"No one can in; no one can get out" Sai remarked as he sat down like Sasuke "Well we better get comfortable; knowing Ugly she'll destroy this place in about ten minutes but still go for more"

"Fine, but if she's hurt after this; I'm blaming you two" Naruto glared as he sat down as well. Moments passed as Sakura remained in the fetus position while as the horrendous curse seal monster struggling to remain in control of her own actions; the ground around was barely recognizable making it impossible to actually see the girl. Then something caught their attention.

"Hey guys, what's that?" Naruto asked. Inside; where Sakura was something was surfacing from the ground.

"It looks like roots…" Sai mused.

"Yea" Sasuke nodded.

"Umm…why are roots coming up from the ground?" Naruto asked.

"Dobe; its Sakura's kekkei genkai remember? Elemental control" Sasuke sighed.

"Then why are they coming up now?" Naruto frowned.

Instantly the rising roots shot towards Sakura and wrapped around her figure, holding her in place with no means of being able to move at all. With Sakura caught in her own technique, the roots began tossing Sakura around madly while keeping her in a strong hold.

"Sakura-chan! You guys said to just relax well look at what's happening now! Sakura-chan is getting hurt!" Naruto exclaimed standing up.

"Dobe, she's in the ANBU for a reason" Sasuke sighed, still sitting on the ground.

"Something like this won't put her out of commission; Ugly's probably doing this purposely anyway" Sai said.

"What do you mean? Why would Sakura-chan purposely attack herself?!" Naruto growled.

"So she could knock her self unconscious, if she knocks her out, then the curse seal will recede and she'll be back to normal" Sai explained.

"Oh" Naruto nodded "So she probably realized this on her own?"

"Most likely, I mean, she is technically in the ANBU for a reason" Sasuke shrugged watching the pink hair which was flying everywhere yet still remained in two buns (messy ones mind you).

Suddenly the barrier began to fall and the ground began to move back into the flat landscape that it was previously before the pink haired woman tore it up. Looking up in the sky, all three males gasped. Dashing forward, all three moved as fast as she possibly could to catch the girl which was about to hit the ground at full speed (considering she was falling from roughly ten kilometres in the air). Jumping upward, Sasuke effortlessly leaped forward and caught the girl in his arms (bridal style) and landed back on the ground which was back to its normal state. Looking up at the sky, all three males sighed in relief as they watched the sun set for the day.

---

Birds whistled in the morning breeze as leaves danced around them outside a hospital room. Perched on a branch of a tree near the hospital, birds seemed to watch the world go by while watching the pink haired woman sleep. With sunlight pouring in and the refreshing morning breeze bringing in the new day, it was only a matter of time before the pink haired woman who was sleeping would awake. Inside the hospital room aside the bed in which the girl was sleeping on were a vase of flowers on the wooden side table which sat next to the bed and opposite the table and bed was an arm chair for those visiting the patients. Wearing what seemed to be a white t-shirt as a top, her pink hair remained messy from the day before while around her head was a round of bandages which was presumably keeping a large amount of blood from pouring out.

Twitching slightly from the brightness of the sunlight, the sleeping Sakura slowly stirred in her sleep before waking up completely. Lifting her slightly heavy eyelids, she looked at the environment around her and easily identified it as the hospital. Slowly sitting up, Sakura massaged the nape of her neck where the curse seal burned her skin before looking out at the world from the window next to the bed. Hours later the door opened. Turning her attention to the sudden sound Sakura was hardly surprised to find her team mates at the door, who weren't surprised she was awake.

"Ohayou" Sakura smiled.

"Aa"

"Ohayou Sakura-chan" Naruto greeted.

"What Dickless said Ugly" Sai sneered.

"How long have I been in here?" Sakura asked as the three males came into the room and towards her.

"Hmm…I'd say less than twelve hours" Sai said.

"I see" Sakura nodded.

"How long have you been awake, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked.

"Not that long" Sakura lied "About five minutes, hey what happened?"

"You don't remember?" Sasuke asked bewildered.

"It's kind of blurry" Sakura said "I remember being in the prison cell, then some one came into my cell…and…" Sakura murmured as she trailed off at the end.

"And?" Naruto asked.

"Orochimaru" Sakura spat with venom.

"What about that bastard?" Naruto growled.

"He's the one who came into my cell…" Sakura glowered "bastard!" Sakura growled as she punched the bed in frustration. Suddenly the bed broke in two as Sakura fell with it.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed as he went to help her.

"Remember your strength Ugly…" Sai twitched.

"Yea, yea" Sakura sighed as she got off the broken bed, revealing that she was wearing black bike shorts underneath the plain white t-shirt.

"The curse seal shouldn't be much of a big deal for you" Sasuke mused "Can't you just remove it off your self like you did with me?"

"…" Sakura averted her attention away from Sasuke and towards the outside world.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto questioned.

"How do I put this?" Sakura murmured to her self.

"Put what?"

"…" Sakura sighed "The jutsu I used to remove you of the curse seal wasn't a removing jutsu"

"What was it?" Sasuke asked.

"It was a transferring jutsu" Sakura said.

"Transferring?" Sasuke asked.

"How?"

"The jutsu; it works between the one using the jutsu and the one it's used on. Simply put, I took the curse seal you had" Sakura explained.

"And where did you place it?" Sai asked.

"Into my body" Sakura said.

"So basically you've had the curse seal for ten years plus?!" Sasuke exclaimed.

"No-"

"How?"

"When I used the jutsu previously, I had…things in my body which would kill off anything foreign that entered and was not wanted, so I didn't technically have it, but now, those certain things that killed off things like curse seals is gone" Sakura said.

"Then can't you just get it back?" Naruto asked.

"No" Sakura frowned.

"Why not?" Naruto asked, confused.

"Well…it would require at least five years preparation and a couple of…other things, I'm not exactly sure since I have never done it before" Sakura explained. Noticing her uneasiness when it came to answering the questions, Sai and Sasuke quickly changed the subject, knowing if they didn't Naruto would keep asking until he got an answer.

"Sakura, why did Orochimaru give you the curse seal?" Sasuke asked.

"Yea why did he?" Naruto asked.

'Thanks Sasuke' Sakura smiled mentally "Hmm…if I remember he said something about a new body" Sakura said.

"Perverted Pedophile" Naruto hissed while Sasuke and Sai thought the exact same thing.

Sakura sweatdropped "Anyway, do you guys know where my clothes are?" Sakura asked, taking off the bandages off her head 'I can feel blood around my head again, thank Kami!'

"They were no longer in one piece so the hospital decided to toss them, but your gloves and shorts were kept" Sai said.

"Geez, that sucks" Sakura sighed.

"Since they had to get rid of the clothes, they went and bought you another one to act as a temporary one though"

"Where is it?"

"In the draw of the side table" Sasuke said.

"Thanks" Sakura nodded as she went over to the side table and pulled open the draw revealing a pink and red kimono with a hearts and sakura petals pattern over it in white. Jumping back in slight fear Sakura eyed the kimono suspiciously.

"What?" Sasuke asked.

"What the hell is this?!" Sakura exclaimed as she pulled out the pink and red kimono.

"Wow, pretty" Naruto exclaimed.

"Who the hell picked it?!" Sakura exclaimed.

"I think they got Ino and Shizune to" Sai said.

"I'm going to kill them" Sakura murmured evilly.

"Don't kill them" Naruto sweatdropped "It's not that bad, it's the same style as your previous one, just in a different colour" Naruto reassured.

"…fine…get out so I can change" Sakura ordered. Instantly, the three got out, leaving her to change into the pink monstrosity. Moments passed before Sakura was quickly changed and allowed the three back in.

"Sakura…where did your cloak come from?" Sasuke asked twitching at the long black coat which she was wearing over the kimono so no pink or red was seen.

"Don't be surprised of anything any more Sasuke" Sakura murmured.

"Aren't you going to fix your hair?" Naruto asked looking at her hair which was a complete mess.

"I will…when I get home…" Sakura muttered.

"No way! I wanna see how long your hair is!" Naruto frowned as he pounced onto the black cloaked girl and began wrestling with the hair ties on her head while holding her in place.

"Hey! What the hell?-" Suddenly there was a little click and the room went silent.

"Sakura-chan what was that?" Naruto asked nervously "it came from your hair when I took out both of the hair ties"

"Drop down!" Sakura exclaimed as she fell to the ground as two shuriken came out from the buns of her hair, releasing the long locks but at the same time went flying at incredible speeds, almost going through the walls of the hospital room. Glancing nervously at the shuriken which had missed their hair by an inch Sai and Sasuke turned their attention back to Sakura who was getting up, obviously annoyed.

"You had shuriken in your hair?" Sai gaped.

"Umm…yea…" Sakura sweatdropped. Suddenly all three males paused as they watched Sakura stand and her hair fall to the ground.

"Woah…Sakura-chan your hair is so long" Naruto exclaimed ass he quickly glanced at the pile of pink hair at Sakura feet.

"Yea, I know, it get's annoying at times which is why I keep it tied up" Sakura sighed.

"Why not cut it?" Sai asked.

"Couldn't be bothered, been to busy to anyway" Sakura explained as her hair began moving by itself. Slowly, twirling hair was divided into two and brought up into two buns in the same style as she had previously before she tied them up and inserted a shuriken into each one.

"How'd you do that?!" Naruto gaped.

"By controlling my chakra and moving it through my hair, I can basically control my hair"

"Oh I see" Naruto nodded "That is so cool!"

"I suppose" Sakura shrugged "Well anyway-"

Instantly the door opened revealing Shizune and Ino with the elders behind them.

"Haruno Sakura you are to be detained" the elder female announced before clicking her fingers. Again like before ANBU ops came out of the shadows and caught the girl who was smirking.

"I'm sorry, but I won't be caught that easily" Sakura stated before her figure disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto gasped.

"Go! Find her!" the elder commanded.

"She shouldn't have gotten far, the wound to her head should be slowing her down slightly" Shizune said, then something caught her eyes "She took off her bandages?!"

"Yea, a while back-"

"Why didn't you stop her?!" Ino exclaimed "No matter how good a medic she is, she had a serious head injury!"

---

"Tsunade-sama, this is becoming annoying, let's just tell them everything, we may as well now anyway"

"Yea, we better; I need you back on the field"

"You got the scrolls?"

"Yea, let's go!"

---

"Hmm, not really, by the time we arrived at the hospital last night she was already healed, we just placed her here since it was easier and she needed to be cleaned up, besides we had no room in any of our places" Naruto grinned.

"What?!" Shizune exclaimed.

"There's no way, she was unconscious!" Ino retorted.

"Sakura's medical abilities have far surpassed those of any medical field while conscious; unconscious, she is able to heal her self perfectly without any problems" Sasuke explained.

"Like Dickless said, we only really brought her here since for one, we have no room in any of our houses, two we can't get to her house since it's been blocked by a powerful genjutsu and three; she needed to be cleaned up, considering the amount of blood on her clothes and how torn up they were" Sai stated "Do you actually want three males undressing and dressing Ugly?"

"…"

Suddenly there were two loud explosions in the centre of the room.

"Oh good, they're still here" a voice seemed to note from the middle where clouds of smoke were beginning to disperse.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto questioned.

"The one and only" Sakura smirked as the dust cleared.

"Tsunade-sama?!" Shizune gasped when she saw the blonde haired woman.

"Sakura" Tsunade said.

"Right" Sakura nodded. Instantly, following the silent command, Sakura performed a couple of hand seals before every single person in the room disappeared.

---

Reappearing in the Hokage's office, aside Tsunade and Sakura the inhabitants looked extremely confused and wary; already inside the room was Kakashi waiting. Looking at Tsunade and Sakura, they became cautious when Sakura began performing another set of hand seals.

"Is it complete Sakura?" Tsunade asked.

"All done" Sakura nodded.

"What is the meaning of this?!" the elder female growled.

"Sit" Tsunade ordered, pointing to the table and the set of low chairs that were set up in the middle of everyone.

"How much do you want the safety of this village to remain?" Sakura asked as she sat down.

"What do you mean? Of course, the safety of the village is a top priority" the male elder scoffed.

"Then you will revoke the sentence and trial of Haruno Sakura" Tsunade declared.

"Why?! She is nothing but a traitor!" Shizune growled.

"Shizune-san" Sakura said monotonously "I advise you to keep quiet until addressed other wise it could end fatal to you"

"…"

"Good, now as Tsunade-sama was saying, revoke the charges against me and I can guarantee that the safety of the village in the future is improved by at least a fraction" Sakura stated.

"How can you?"

"I have knowledge concerning the village, however, I have no reason to give out such information without anything in it for me" Sakura said.

"Fine, all charges will be revoked against you" the elder male declared.

"Good, sign this so we have proof of this taking place" Tsunade ordered showing them a piece of paper which had said that they were revoking the charges against Sakura. Hesitantly, both elders signed the document. Instantly with the document signed it was gone in a flash.

"Now with that out of the way, what's this knowledge you know?!" the elder female questioned.

"The village will be attacked in almost two weeks, I guarantee it" Sakura said.

"By whom?!"

"Who else? The Akatsuki, this is the only alliance that is a threat to Konoha and the shinobi world" Sakura stated.

"How would you know? That information should have been known to your team before but they knew nothing of it!" the elder female growled.

"Did you honestly think I would betray Konoha?" Sakura scoffed.

"You did! I heard it with my own ears!" Shizune growled.

"Didn't I tell you to keep quiet?!" Sakura glared.

"…"

"These past five years…no more, almost these past eight years; Sakura has been on a mission" Tsunade stated.

"A mission?" Sasuke asked.

"Correct" Sakura nodded.

"Doing what?" Kakashi asked.

"Gathering information concerning the Akatsuki" Tsunade said "She didn't leave, she was put on a top secret mission; all of what you heard was an act"

"W-what? Then why not tell me?!" Shizune frowned.

"The mission was top secret" Tsunade repeated.

"Then why not tell us?" the female elder asked.

"It was top secret" Tsunade repeated.

"Then why did she take the mission?" the male elder asked.

"She's one of my most trusted ANBU ops" Tsunade replied.

"But you only inducted her into the ANBU when she returned!" Shizune frowned.

"Officially, I was inducted way before Sasuke returned to the village but it was never announced" Sakura stated.

"She was tested by ANBU head captains at the time; her status as a jounin was all an act so no one remained suspicious when she went around the villages scoping for information for me about the Akatsuki" Tsunade explained "No one questioned it before when she was inducted, they assumed she didn't want publicity, and so most who didn't know thought she was a jounin, those who knew her ranking in the ANBU called her of a superior suffix because of that"

"Nearly every single encounter Tsunade and I had been all an act to exchange information" Sakura explained.

"But half of those she was drunk!" Shizune exclaimed "And I was there!"

"Again that was an act, every single time she was supposedly drunk she wasn't, if you smelt her breathe you would have noticed immediately and concerning while you were there, yes, we exchanged information during those times too, it was simply coded information or discreetly given"

"No way…" Shizune gaped.

"By the way, Tsunade-sama" Sakura said.

"Oh right" Tsunade nodded as she pulled out three large scrolls and placed them on the table in front of the elders.

"That is the information I have compiled over eight years, perhaps when you have time, you should read it, I'm sure we all realize why the Akatsuki will be here, use this time to prepare" Sakura suggested before she disabled what ever jutsu she had created and left the room.

"Why would the Akatsuki be here?" Ino asked.

"Ino, not now" Tsunade stated before she too left the Hokage office.

"What does the Akatsuki want here?!" Ino demanded.

"They want me" Naruto replied gravely before leaving.

"Why do they want Naruto?!" Ino asked.

"…"

"He's the Kyubi vessel" the elder male answered before Sasuke and Sai left.

"Oh" Ino murmured.

---

"What are you doing here Sakura?" Sasuke asked as he loamed over the pink haired girl. Next to him were Naruto and Sai and behind him was Kakashi. Currently the whole of Team Kakashi was in the library.

"Doing a little research" Sakura replied from behind the books and scrolls she had spread out in front of her.

"So the first thing you do as you get out of jail is do research?" Kakashi twitched.

"What can I say? It just wouldn't be me other wise" Sakura grinned.

"So what are you researching?" Naruto asked.

"Oh nothing in particular" Sakura murmured.

"It doesn't look like it" Naruto frowned "I can't make heads or tails of anything in your script in front of you that you're writing"

"Hmm?" Sakura frowned confused as she looked over her work.

"Is that even a known language Ugly?" Sai asked.

"Oh!" Sakura exclaimed in realization "It's coded, bad habit of mine" Sakura sweatdropped.

"I'll say" Sai murmured.

"I get it!" Naruto exclaimed happily.

"Really?" Sasuke, Sai, Sakura and Kakashi asked, gaping.

"Yea of course! What an interesting way of keeping your self amused during your research Sakura-chan!" Naruto grinned.

'He's a little off…' Sakura sweatdropped "I suppose you could put it that way…"

"By the way..." Sasuke began.

"Hmm?"

"The day for Kagaimi and my wedding has been decided…" Sasuke said.

"When is it?" Sakura asked.

"…The 28th of March" Sasuke replied hesitantly "Kagaimi thought it'd be the perfect day for it since it's kinda in the middle of spring"

"Oh I see, what time?" Sakura asked.

"She decided that it'd be perfect to have it in the early morning" Sasuke replied.

"…oh, so where is it?" Sakura asked.

"An open field, just outside Konoha, which is found deep in the forest and is surrounded by cherry blossom trees; Kagaimi found it a while back she said and thought it was 'perfect" Sasuke replied. Sakura froze.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked; confused to why she looked so shock stricken.

"Ah…g-g-gomen nasai! I-I-I just remembered…I have to go some where" Sakura whispered hastily as she packed up her gear and everything she had splayed out in front of her before leaving right out of the door of the library with her bangs covering her eyes.

"M-matte, Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed as he chased after her.

"What's with Ugly? Is she that upset she is going to have to sit through your wedding?" Sai asked.

"That place you described Sasuke…" Kakashi murmured.

"It isn't!" Sai growled.

"Aa" Sasuke nodded carefully.

---

"Sakura-chan! Chotto matte!" Naruto shouted as he chased after her. Before he could even catch up to her she jumped up into the air and fell back down only to be caught by Guyver who appeared conveniently.

---

'This is so wrong…' Sakura mused. Sitting down on a large rock in the middle of the forest Sakura continued thinking about the information that Sasuke had given her. Suddenly a figure appeared behind her back.

"Hey Chicken-head" Sakura said quietly.

"Look, Sakura…" Sasuke muttered.

"You don't have to worry about me Sasuke; I'm just here thinking of way a way to get rid of the damn curse seal" Sakura lied.

"No your not, I know you're thinking about the details of my wedding" Sasuke stated.

"Yea, you're right on that one" Sakura sighed "But what can I do about it huh? I'm sure Kagaimi-san didn't plan it on that day on purpose or in that location on purpose" Sakura muttered quietly "However, I can not allow you do have your wedding there on that date" Sakura declared angrily.

"Why not?! Why don't you just get over your clan's death huh?! You said your self it wasn't done on purpose-"

"I'm sorry Sasuke, but you don't seem to understand the predicament I'm in, this is sacred ground we're talking about, no one can just go onto it without permission!" Sakura glared.

"You do!"

"That's because I am part if that family!" Sakura retorted.

"You just don't want to see me getting married! I bet you still have feelings for me! If you didn't you wouldn't care where I got married, it's no big deal!" Sasuke sneered.

"Don't you understand what I'm saying?! I said I no longer have feelings for you; it was a childish school girl crush! And if it isn't such a big deal then why not just put a genjutsu over your clan's graveyard, I'm sure it'd be equally as perfect!" Sakura snarled.

"You think I'm going to disrespect my family by allowing god knows who to trample over their graves when they have been resting peacefully!" Sasuke fired back.

"I'm glad we think the same way Uchiha" Sakura spoke quietly as she stood up on top of the rock.

"There's no comparison to my clan and your clan!-" Sasuke gasped in shock as he was caught in a string of vines and pulled into the rock they were both standing on.

"You're right Uchiha, there is no comparison. Our families may have similar pasts; being annulated, traitors in the family and all but at least the latest generation didn't go traitor and aim to kill their own family on their own" Sakura seethed as she head a kunai to his neck.

"You left the village too!" Sasuke growled.

"Have you not been listening to anything that has been said in the last couple of hours or so?!" Sakura exclaimed angrily; pressing the kunai against his neck even tighter "I was on a fucking mission!"

"…"

"You know what Uchiha, you're not worth my breath any more" Sakura muttered as she jumped off the rock.

"Hey don't just leave me here!" Sasuke growled.

"Oh, you know, I heard there was a storm coming" Sakura sneered before she left in a cloud of smoke.

"SAKURA!!" Sasuke yelled.

---

"Hey; is it me, or has the tension risen again in this team?" Naruto whispered to Sai and Kakashi as they all watched Sasuke and Sakura operate as they began to make preparations for when the Akatsuki would attack.

"That's about accurate" Kakashi replied back quietly; sweatdropping inwardly at the cold shoulder both were giving to the other.

"Dobe, don't be stupid, Haruno isn't on this team" Sasuke sneered.

"Yes she is-"

"He's right Naruto, I'm just here because Tsunade-sama asked me to do a couple of things, maybe that medic of yours should see to that wound you just got" Sakura voiced as she about continuing her task.

"What wound?" Naruto asked.

"Lower right leg" Sakura replied.

"Ahh! Sakura-chan, help me!" Naruto cried.

"I have no obligation to assist you since technically it would be of no benefit to me who is not part of your team" Sakura replied before she left quietly.

"Teme, did I ever mention how much of a bastard you are?" Naruto glared.

"…"

---

"Is everything set up Tsunade-sama?" Sakura asked.

"Yes, every possible entrance has shinobi stationed at them prepared for when they come; citizens have already been evacuated through the under ground tunnel you created a while back" Tsunade nodded.

"Good, now, we just have to make sure they don't obtain their target and put them out of commission so they can't move onto the next target" Sakura voiced.

"And we intend to" Tsunade agreed.

"Let's remain prepared; the Akatsuki could strike as soon as midnight strikes" Sakura mused.

"Right! Keep near your old team; you have the most experience when it comes to facing the Akatsuki and more than likely those two will end up knocking each other out and tell Kagaimi-san she is to report to the hospital" Tsunade ordered.

"Hai" Sakura nodded before bowing and disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

---

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto grinned, waving to the pink haired kunoichi who was advancing towards them on Guyver.

"Yo" Sakura greeted waving her hand in a lazy attitude.

"You joining us again?" Sai asked.

"For the time being, I have been assigned to keep guard here for obvious reasons" Sakura replied "Remember Naruto, as much as you may want to fight them; keep it to a limit, we don't want you getting taken away any time soon do we?"

"Who would protect my Hinata-chan if I was taken?" Naruto grinned.

"Get lost! We don't need you here!" a high pitched voice growled.

"Practice what you preach Kagaimi!" Naruto glared.

"What?! I'm your team mate now not her!" Kagaimi declared.

"You are correct, however I've been put here for the time being under Tsunade-sama's orders and under those orders, you have to go to the hospital Kagaimi-san" Sakura stated.

"What?!" Kagaimi yelled.

'You heard me; Guyver-kun" Sakura voiced as she jumped up and landed on Guyver's back. Sitting down, Guyver lowered to the ground and nuzzled into a comfortable sitting position.

"You better go Kagaimi" Kakashi said.

"No!"

Suddenly something exploded in front of the group of six. Covering their eyes from the dust that just blew up from the force of the explosion, the six tried to make out who was coming towards them, knowing full well that some one was heading towards them and that person was after Naruto.

"It's begun" Sakura whispered to her self "Guyver-kun!" Sakura shouted as Guyver flew up into the air blowing away the dust that had yet to disappear.

"It's…" Naruto muttered as he tried to make out the figures which were heading towards them.

"No way…" Sai gaped.

"Shit" Kakashi cursed.

"…" Sasuke snarled glaring at one of the figures in particular.

"I don't believe it…" Sakura gaped.

"What are you all standing there for?! Let's go!" Kagaimi declared before she began racing towards the Akatsuki figures.

"Tch, don't take us lightly un" the blonde Akatsuki member sneered.

"No wait Kagaimi-san!" Sakura shouted "Guyver-kun!" Sakura pleaded quickly. Understanding the command, Guyver flapped his wings quickly before soaring towards Kagaimi who was about to be attacked by a clay bomb. Heading towards the clay bomb, Sakura kneeled on Guyver's back before slowly standing up and collected the clay bomb in her hands before tossing upwards into the air and shooting it with her precisely aimed shuriken.

"What the hell are you doing? I'm not that stupid to not know how to get rid a lump of clay!" Kagaimi glared.

"That wasn't normal clay fool!" Sakura shouted "Sasuke tell your fiancé to leave!"

"Kagaimi" Sasuke muttered.

"But Sasuke-kun!"

"Go Kagaimi, it will be safer for you" Sasuke said.

"Hai" she sulked before she left towards the hospital.

"Well, well, Sakura-san, your bird has gotten bigger since I last saw him un" Deidara commented looking up at the flying bird "but I think mine is bigger un" he sneered from on top of his clay bird which took flight so it was at the same level as Guyver.

"Your's isn't living!" Sakura snarled "What the hell? Why are so many members here?"

"Leader-san thought it was about time we got what we've been meaning to get for a while un" Deidara explained as both looked down at the already ensuring battles. Sasuke was versing Itachi (which was almost an entirely even battle) while Naruto was fending off Tobi and Kakashi and Sai were against Hidan and Kazuku leaving Kagaimi to try and fight against Zetsu and Kisame while leaving.

"Shit Kagaimi" Sakura cursed "Guyver-kun, down" Sakura commanded. Obeying the order, Guyver descended towards Kagaimi only to be stopped by Deidara and his clay bird.

"Your fight is with me right now, move and I'll blow her up right now un" Deidara threatened pointing to a little clay bug which was sticking to the back of Kagaimi.

"You bastard; let her leave!" Sakura seethed as she began shooting shots of water from no where towards Deidara and his bird.

"Fine; Kisame, Zetsu let her leave she isn't worth your strength anyway un" Deidara sneered; to which Kisame and Zetsu nodded and let her pass.

"Aren't you after the Kyubi?"

"Yes we are, however, we have a different target in mind for today's mission un" Deidara smirked 'Smart, she won't use fire knowing full well that if she does the clay will explode' Deidara noted as he dodged the bullets of water and now ice barely; getting hit many times.

"Like what? There's nothing that's of an extreme value to the Akatsuki in Konoha" Sakura declared as the small clay bombs and water bullets collided; creating minor explosions.

"On the contrary, there is un" Deidara smirked as both moved away from the massive explosion they just created.

"Like what?!" Sakura demanded tossing her shuriken towards Deidara who deflected them with his own.

"Not what; who un"

"Who then? Haven't you already got the other tail beasts aside Kyubi and Shukaku?!" Sakura asked.

Deidara smirked.

"You" another person answered as she was caught in a long wrap of trees roots. Turning her attention to the voice, Sakura gaped.

"Long time no see, Kura-chan" her older sister sneered as she shot fire balls towards the girl which were blocked by a wall of water.

"What the hell?" Sakura growled "Guyver-kun, escape!" Sakura ordered; understanding the order, the bird flew away leaving Sakura suspended in mid-air; caught in the trees roots her brother had captured her in.

"You have two options Saku-chan" Daiki declared.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto gasped as he looked up for a second from his battle to check on her. In that second he was knocked back down by Tobi who used a fire jutsu.

"You don't have time to be looking else where" Tobi giggled.

"See, I told you we would be protecting her!" Kagaimi snarled.

"Kagaimi!" Sakura gasped as she shot her body towards the ground "Dodge!" Sakura ordered; watching Kisame and Zetsu gang up on her.

"As Daiki was saying; you have two options; you come with us, and we leave peacefully or we don't and you will come with us none the less" Hikari declared.

"You're five years late! I have nothing of value to the Akatsuki any more!" Sakura glowered "And besides…I chose neither!" Sakura sneered as her form exploded in a cloud of smoke leaving a log in her place.

"Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu!" Sakura shouted as water dragons shot from her palms towards Hikari and Daiki; hitting them in one go.

"You will come with us one way or another Saku-chan" Daiki proclaimed as the earth began shooting up from the ground aiming to hit her, missing her barely.

"Tch" Sakura glared as she flipped out of the way landing on five metres back. On her last jump she twisted on her palms and brought out a handful of shuriken before tossing them in her spin towards her brother and sister. With wind picking up the force the shuriken were traveling at increased and it seemed the number of shuriken that were flying towards them were also increasing.

"Simple tricks won't work" Hikari sneered as both Daiki and her self dodged them effortlessly.

"On the contrary" Sakura smirked as she drew her hands in, pulling on thin almost completely invisible strings which brought the shuriken back and into the backs of Hikari, Daiki and oddly Deidara as well.

"Hey! You know how to use those funny strings like Sasori no danna un!" Deidara exclaimed.

"I picked up a few things in the past five years" Sakura commented as she watched them pull the shuriken out.

"SAKURA!" Sasuke shouted.

Turning around; Sakura stared wide-eyed. Ducking in seconds out of pure instinct Sakura narrowly missed the Samehada that flew right across her head. Growling, Sakura, while still near the ground, punched the ground near Kisame's feet, throwing him off balance and away from her so she could stand again. Standing up as soon as Kisame was away from her; Sakura cursed as she looked around her.

"Damn" Sakura hissed in frustration and in pain as she tried to block out the draining pain from her neck.

"Now, you see, all you had to do was come quietly" Hikari sneered watching from the outside of the circle that surrounded the pink haired girl with Daiki and Itachi. Instantly the six that surrounded her charged forward. Growling at the advancing attack, Sakura moved her feet into a different stance before she delivered a knife block to Kisame in the gut and following through with an elbow to Tobi stomach which kicked both of them back and away from her for the moment. Jumping up the second, Sakura kicked out to both sides, hitting Hidan and Kazuku in the head before landing and side kicking Deidara away. Relieved that she had a bit more space, she slammed the ground with an axe kick destroying it into rubble and throwing her opponents off balance allowing her old team mates those few seconds to come back to back with her so they were prepared for the incoming fight.

"Hehe, it's just like old times ne?" Naruto grinned.

"When in the hell did we all verse Akatsuki together in the past?" Sakura asked.

"We didn't" Sai said.

"But that's because you were being a hog and fought them on your own" Kakashi sneered.

"Aa" Sasuke nodded.

"Let's go medicore on them for now" Kakashi muttered quietly.

"Aa" Sai, Sakura and Sasuke nodded.

"Yosh!" Naruto grinned "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto shouted as thousands of clones of himself were created and populated the area they were going to fight in "Let's go!" he exclaimed as the clones began charging towards Tobi and Zetsu.

"Katon: Housenka no jutsu!" Sasuke grunted as balls of fire were shot from his mouth and towards Kisame and Itachi.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" Kakashi smirked as copies of him self were created at the same time that Sai's black painted beasts were and began launching attacks towards Hidan and Kazuku.

"Suiro no Jutsu!" Sakura exclaimed quickly as Hikari, Daiki and Deidara were caught in a ball of water which held them in like a prison would. Smirking, Sakura willed the chakra into her hands and pointed towards the three balls of water "Boom" she whispered as jolts of lightning were shot towards them; each exploding on contact. Suddenly Sakura gasped in pain; forcing her to kneel on the ground in the strange shock of pain.

"Damn it not now" Sakura cursed.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed as he saw kneel in pain.

"Kura-chan" Hikari voiced as Deidara, Daiki and her self began advancing towards her; surrounding her

"Sakura move!" Kakashi ordered.

"That was a dirty but smart trick" Daiki growled.

"Damn it Ugly, hurry up and get out of it or you really will be Ugly!" Sai yelled.

"But, that won't stop us un" Deidara grinned evilly as his clay was wrapped around the pink haired girl with tree roots that encased her previously.

It seemed all their yelling was being out to waste with them all fighting in their own battles and Sakura completely oblivious to anything but the draining pain from her neck. Without realizing she had been lifted, Sakura felt wind rushing through her. Glancing up, Sakura looked slightly relieved knowing she was in Sasuke's arms not some else's.

"Hand her over or both of you go boom un" Deidara threatened.

"Shit!" Sakura cursed as she began wriggling her way through the exploding clay.

"Sasuke in three" Sakura whispered quietly.

"Aa" Sasuke nodded discreetly.

"3"

"2"

"1!" Sakura exclaimed as she effortlessly broke through the exploding clay as Sasuke moved away in time.

"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu" both shouted as flames shot out of their mouth into the battlefield around them exploding the exploding clay and nearly burning their opponents had Hikari not stopped the flames.

"Do something better than that shrimp" Kisame sneered.

"Sakura, just kill them like you did in our last mission!" Sasuke ordered. Sakura froze but nodded after a moment.

"Oh, how did she kill in your last mission?" Daiki questioned.

"Was it possibly like this?" Hikari questioned as she smirked at an innocent bystander who randomly exploded leaving his body unidentifiable. Sakura froze.

"Oh so it was?" Daiki sneered.

"Tell you what, if you come with us Kura-chan, we'll leave this city in peace; you and I both know we could kill this entire town in a matter of minutes" Hikari smirked.

"What the hell do you want with Sakura-chan?!" Naruto growled. The question was left unanswered as walls of earth were brought up splitting up Team Kakashi; leaving Sakura separated and facing the Akatsuki members alone.

---

"Damn it every step we take the ground blocks us off!" Naruto cursed. Suddenly there was a scream of immense pain. The Team Kakashi males froze.

"SAKURA!" Kakashi and Sasuke yelled.

"UGLY!"

"SAKURA-CHAN!"

"This is bad; she's up against eight Akatsuki members!" Sai growled.

"We have to get in there!" Kakashi declared. Suddenly the earth wall fell to their feet.

"…no…" Sasuke gasped.

"…s-sakura-chan…" Naruto whispered in remorse.

"…Tsunade-sama is going to kill us…" Kakashi mused in slight humour.

"Not the time Kakashi" Sai grumbled at the sight in front of them. Well it wasn't much of a sight since there was any thing or body there!

"They've taken Sakura-chan…" Naruto cried.

"Ugly was wrong for once…and for once…I wish for some odd reason she had been right…" Sai murmured angrily.

---

Sakura gasped as she jumped up from the position she was previously in. Now she was sitting. Looking around, she could barely make anything out since she was covered in a blanket of darkness. Using the sense of touch, Sakura could immediately tell she was in a bed.

'Hospital?' Sakura questioned for a moment before she ran her fingers over the material 'No; there's no hospital with kind of material for bed sheets; this material is soft and furry, like mink' she analysed. Falling on her back Sakura stared up at the presumable ceiling.

'The pillows are very soft, like the ones I have inside my room' Sakura mused 'Where am I? What am I doing here?' she questioned as she looked from side to side. The only indication of any source of light was far from her position and looked like it came from the next room from under the presumable door. Closing her eyes, there was no change to the darkness, yet some how it made it easier for Sakura to think. Thinking back Sakura tried to focus on how on earth she ended up here.

FLASH BACK…

The Akatsuki surrounded her and were leering at her with viciously excited grins; much like a hunter which was certain it was going to get its prey. Stepping back in slight fear, Sakura began to move her hands quickly in the hope she could set up the shield that had aided her many times before. Sakura gasped as she attempted to move her hands into the final hand seal. Her movements were blocked. Looking down at her hands; Sakura growled. Daiki used his kekkei genkai to hold her hands and body still by using plant roots.

'Not good' Sakura cursed as she prepared to move a clump of earth to block any attacks that were to be thrown at her from the charging Akatsuki.

"That won't work my dear Saku-chan" Daiki sneered as the earth wall was brought back down and the attacks that were against her attacked her at full throttle. In seconds she was engulfed by the force of clay bombs, fire and various assortments of weapons.

As those attack hit; instantly all she saw was darkness.

…END FLASH BACK

'Damn, this isn't good! How long have I been here? It seems like my wounds have healed completely, so that means at least a day…' Sakura realized as she jumped out of the bed and to the side where she landed on soft carpet; almost as soft as the bed covers. Suddenly there was a click coming from the entrance of where ever she was being held. As the door began to creak open Sakura moved her hands to where her kunai pouch would be only to realize she had no weapons on her. Cursing at her predicament, the pink haired kunoichi performed a quick set of hand seals before her hands began glowing a hazy blue. Slowly moving her feet into more appropriate stance, Sakura prepared her self for the enemy which was most likely opening the door to check on her; momentarily blinding her with the light from the outside and the light which was switched on.

"Oh, you're finally awake un. You sure sleep a lot; you've been out of it for about two weeks un" A voice noted. Taking mere seconds for her eyes to adjust Sakura gaze was set back towards the intruder of the room.

"…Deidara" Sakura grunted.

"You don't need to show such hostilities" Deidara sneered "So stop with the chakra scalpel"

"I don't think any one can take you seriously in that get up anyway" another voice sneered. She knew it by heart oddly. Looking at her opponents for a moment, Sakura realized they were still in their black and red cloud cloaks.

"Kisame" Sakura seethed. Glaring inwardly, Sakura straightened her stance and dispelled her chakra scalpel and looked over her form and the room she was in. Inwardly, Sakura had to agree with Kisame when he said no one would take her seriously in the outfit she was wearing. It was slightly off the shoulder and reached down to the middle of her solar plexus where in the centre a bright pink bow was tied neatly. Tightened under her breasts and above them, the night gown if you will was extremely poofy and had lace going on the rim of the gown which reached to her mid thigh. In the colour of light pink it had two layers in a dress style and long sleeves which had bows on the ends adding to the frilly and very girly attire.

Looking around the room; Sakura felt extremely out of place when she realized how odd the style of the room was. In a typical Victorian; rich style the walls were a soft apricot pink with soft white carpet under her bare feet and two crystal chandeliers that lite up the previously dark place. On the large queen sized bed which reached up to her belly button, the bed was layered with thick quilts and soft pillows covered in pink frilly silky satin material. Looking up, Sakura gaped at the canopy that covered the large bed, staring in slight awe at how elegant it looked in the slight dirty rose gold colour. Giving the room another quick look with her eyes without moving, Sakura noticed the amount of soft pinks used as well as theme of plush rabbits which was spread throughout the room like a disease.

"I thought I was a prisoner?" Sakura questioned.

"Leader-san said that this room was to be made specifically for you" Kisame explained begrudgingly "Don't think you got special treatment or anything; all our rooms are like this!"

"What do you people want with me?!" Sakura growled.

"That will be answered soon" Kisame stated.

"I want answer now damn it! I have nothing the Akatsuki want!" Sakura growled ferociously.

"Don't worry Sakura-san; your questions will be answered soon; we will return in an hour; by then, Leader-san expects that you will be prepared to dine with us, an appropriate dress is ready for you in the closet over there un" Deidara announced.

"Remember if you don't oblige; things could turn uncomfortable for you" Kisame added.

Sakura stared in shock as she fell to the ground and silently watched the two leave the room and close the door; presumably locking it. Looking around the room in full scale this time; Sakura out of all the things she noticed; noticed one thing.

'There are no windows to this room'

Trudging over to the said closet (which was made out of a rich mahogany wood and painted white Sakura gaped in shock.

'What's with all the dresses?! All the clothes?!' Sakura exclaimed inwardly as she stared at the clothes inside the wooden closet.

All of them were very elegant; each with a completely different design to the last and a different colour to the last; it seemed the only thing each had in common was that they were all long ball gowns. Searching through the gowns, Sakura eventually found one that was some what appealing to her and pulled it out. Taking it over to the bed; Sakura stripped her self of the night gown she was wearing and slipped into the gown she had chosen. In the colours of light pastel aqua colours the gown was in a similar style to that of a kimono with the only different being that instead of it completely covering her shoulders and up to her neck it showed off her flawless skin and covered right up to where her breasts began. The top layer reaching down to her mid thigh like her usual attire, the layer below fell to the soles of her feet and dragged on the ground as she moved. With the dark obi secured and tied properly where it should sit, Sakura slipped on the arm sleeves that added to the straight style of the dress. Refusing to go out without any indication of what clan she was from she kept her black choker on and breathed in deeply as she stepped towards the dressing table which had a full length mirror beside it. Leaving her hair how she had it normally, Sakura sat on the bed and waited for her 'escorts' of sorts to come and get her while at the same time thinking of all possible reason to why she was being held captive.

Suddenly the door opened revealing Deidara and Kisame at the door both still wearing the black cloaks.

"Good to see you're ready" Kisame voiced looking over her figure.

"Come un" Deidara ordered. Staring at them for a moment, Sakura hesitantly slowly followed the two S-class criminals to supposedly 'dine'. As she stepped out of the room, Sakura stepped back unconsciously as something covered her vision. Out of pure reaction, she moved into a stiff fighting stance.

"Sorry Sakura-san but we can't risk anything about our hide out right now un" Deidara sneered. Swallowing the hard lump in her throat, Sakura nodded meekly before being dragged through the presumably halls of the Akatsuki lair. It was after about ten minutes of walking did the trio finally stop for a moment before continuing to walk; Sakura's guess was that a door had to be opened or something similar to that because after they stopped she heard a feint click and the creaking of hinges. As the sound of a door closing commenced, the blindfold which blocked the pink haired kuniochi's view was taken from her head allowing Sakura to identify where she was.

'No windows…it must mean that we are under ground…I guess that means no chakra infused taijutsu' Sakura grumbled inwardly. Looking around, taking note of everything else Sakura noticed that all the members of the Akatsuki that she knew existed where there in the room sitting down in most likely assigned seats at the dining table. From the opposite end of the room; at the head of the table sat Pein and opposite him at the other end of the table sat Konan. From Pein, on the right, sat Kazuku then Hidan followed by Hikari and Daiki then Zetsu while on the left were Tobi then two spare seats Itachi and then another spare seat.

"Welcome Sakura-hime" Pein welcomed.

"What do you want with me?" Sakura growled.

"That shall be answered soon, now come sit and eat" Pein smirked "Surely you're hungry after being unconscious for two weeks" Understanding the order, Deidara dragged the pink haired girl to the spare seats and forced her to take the seat next to Itachi while he sat next to Tobi. On the other side of Itachi, Kisame had already taken the seat.

"Nice choice in dress Kura-chan, although I would have chosen a different colour" Hikari sneered as her gaze bore into her younger sister's soul. Suppressing the urge to shiver, Sakura mentally glared at the older Haruno female.

"And what colour would you have preferred Hikari?" Sakura seethed.

"Oh, something other than puke green" Hikari sneered.

"Well, next time you chose, frankly I don't care, now tell me what the fuck you want with me!" Sakura demanded glaring at Pein.

"Hush Sakura-hime, let's eat" Pein insisted as meals were brought out by what looks like clones of each member in the organisation and placed in front of each person.

"I hope the food meets your satisfaction Sakura-hime" Pein smiled wickedly.

'What sick joke is this? If they wanted to capture the Kyubi from Naruto and use me as a hostage they wouldn't treat me like this…they could be after her; but they should know by now that it isn't just done over night…' Sakura wondered as she stared at the food with suspicion 'Poisoned?' Sakura wondered as she watched the others eat secretly.

"What's wrong Sakura-hime? You have yet to touch your food" Pein asked.

"Yea, Sakura-hime un, what's wrong?" Deidara smirked.

"I'm for some odd reason in no mood to eat" Sakura glared, stomping on Deidara's foot underneath the table making him wince in pain.

"Eat" Daiki ordered.

"Don't order me around bastard" Sakura glared.

"Come on Kura-hime, you should eat; you're still a growing lady; if you want to live up to the reputation of the person who surpassed the Godaime of Konoha, shouldn't you at least look the part? Flat-chest" Hikari sneered. Sakura blinked oddly as she stared at her older sister.

"Eat" Daiki repeated "If you are to ever have children you need to learn to get any energy possible, and with that flat chest, I don't think any male will be attracted"

Sakura stared weirdly at her brother.

Sakura stared weirdly at her older siblings 'This is probably the point where I scream 'perverts' or something…I think…this is one of those times when I should be incredibly freaked out'

"…I found it odd that you as my older siblings are telling me these sorts of things…have you your selves gotten into any relationships?" Sakura asked nervously.

"…Hikari has" Daiki stated.

"With whom?" Sakura questioned, not believing it at all.

"Who else?" Hikari sneered.

"…?" Sakura raised both her eye brows questioningly.

"Me" a voice said to her right. Turning her attention to the right, Sakura choked on her own spit.

'That was unexpected for some reason' Sakura mused.

"…"

"So then Kura-hime, how far have you come with the other Uchiha" Hikari smirked. Sakura blinked and then blushed a slight amount.

"H-he and I are merely friends" Sakura scoffed.

"I heard you have kissed numerous times before though" Deidara sneered.

"…Yes, that has happened a couple of times before, but, it was merely on accident-"

"Really, I recall a few that I heard were totally on purpose" Daiki smirked.

FLASH BACK…

Sliding into her skirts effortlessly, all that remained were her top layers but before she was able to even lift her arms to slid them over her pink head she was engulfed by a deep and loving hug from Sasuke.

"S-sasuke?" Sakura stuttered, turning her head to look at him.

"Don't even joke around when saying you wouldn't be missed" Sasuke whispered into her ears from behind.

"I-I w-wasn't" Sakura gulped.

"Then don't you don't ever consider being serious about it either" Sasuke said seriously, turning her to face him.

"Nani? Daijobou-mmph" Sakura exclaimed as she stared wide.

Sasuke had just locked lips with her.

And he tasted…

Heavenly…

Giving into the mind numbing kiss, Sakura moved her arms around his torso, hugging him closer to her exposed top half.

As minutes passed the two finally broke free, breathing heavily, each stared into each others eyes.

Silence ensured, engulfing the entire scene.

…END FLASH BACK

"Okay, so once we kissed, but he was the one who initiated contact" Sakura scoffed.

"And so have you gotten any further?" Hidan questioned.

"Why are we talking about this?" Sakura glared.

"Don't we have a right to know about out little Imotou-chan?" Daiki questioned.

"…"

"So have you gotten any further?" Kazuku questioned.

"Why would we? He's engaged" Sakura scoffed.

"To whom?" Itachi asked.

"Her name is Kagaimi; err….long black hair tied up ito two pig tails, blue eyes, likes pink I assume" Sakura shrugged.

"I see, when are they going to get married and where?" Konan questioned.

"When: 28th of March-"

"That's gotta kinda sting" Deidara mused.

"Where: In a large blank field just outside of Konoha surrounded by cherry blossom trees and basically in the middle of the forest" Sakura finished.

"They're getting married where?!" Daiki growled as he stood up and glared down at the girl.

"You heard me" Sakura stated and sent a glare back with as much force as his "Why should you care anyway? Murderer"

"…"

"Anyway, come on Sakura-hime, please eat, we have no reason to poison you or anything to the like; we need to…speak…with you" Pein stated. Looking towards the man who called out to her, Sakura suppressed a shiver that went down her spine as she looked into his red eyes. Glaring momentarily, Sakura looked down at the food that was served to her. Like everyone else around her, it was elegantly presented on a pearl white plate with silver cutlery to her left. Picking up the silver fork, Sakura pecked at the garden salad that was served on the side for a moment before actually spearing a small cherry tomato with the said fork. Inspecting it suspiciously, Sakura ate the small fruit slowly, trying to detect if there were any poisons in the food given to her like the 'host' said there weren't. Finding nothing in particular odd with the small fruit, Sakura swallowed it and continued eating the rest of the salad.

"Hurry up and eat girl, this food isn't exactly cheap you know" Kazuku glared.

"Sakura-hime, really, are you that suspicious of us?" Deidara sneered.

"…to be honest" Sakura said as she placed the fork down "Yes"

"I'm actually kind of hurt Saku-hime" Daiki sighed "Aren't we your beloved onii-sama and onee-sama"

"…I believe blood relation is our only relation now" Sakura replied.

"What about me, Sakura-hime? Your beloved sparring partner?" Deidara pouted.

"Did I ever amount to claiming you were a beloved sparring partner? I don't believe so and aside that, I can not ignore the whole 'trying to destroy the world and kill off mercilessly' thing you have going on around here" Sakura stated.

"Well then, since it seems you won't eat any longer" Konan spoke up.

"Geez, what a waste" Kazuku grumbled.

"Tobi will eat it up!" Tobi chirped before he stole the girl's plate.

"Greedy!" Kazuku glared.

'Woah, they do speak' Sakura mused quietly as she looked around at the mysterious evil organisation she had supposedly eaten with.

"What do you want with me?" Sakura growled.

"Later, surely you would like to freshen up after being in bed for so long, Hikari-san, would you sure you Imotou-hime the bathrooms?" Pein requested.

"I want answers now!" Sakura growled.

"Not yet Sakura-hime" Pein insisted.

"Come Ku-ra-hi-me" Hikari sneered as she pulled the pink girl out of her seat, blindfolded her and dragged her to the bathroom, supposedly.

---

"Oh yea, just so you know, unlike the pathetic Konoha security, your points have actually been blocked, so don't even think about trying to leave here, it's impossible" Hikari whispered into the pink haired girl's ear before she was tossed into the bathroom.

---

"I'm of no use to the Akatsuki…what the hell do they want?" Sakura cursed as she washed her self quietly.

---

This went on for weeks. She would change into extravagant outfits which constantly changed with each passing day then she would eat marvelous food with the Akatsuki formally and once they even got off the topic of 'I-hate-you-what-the-hell-do-you-want?!' and had an actual conversation like normal people leaving Sakura more than confused. She was never really allowed to leave the room she was placed in for the first…few weeks (it felt like that to Sakura) one of the members would generally come and collect her if they wanted her for something. Occasionally, it would be one of her older siblings, and despite the tense air at the beginning, to Sakura, it honestly felt if they were bonding again, like when she was five.

In her honest feeling, she wanted to forget why she was here and just sink into this fake world where she and her siblings were together again; it must have been one of the biggest things she would miss in her life time. They would laugh, joke and have fun. However, she never understood the reason behind the room she had been stuck in. It confused her greatly, it was like the room of a princess or something and even though she was constantly called 'hime' she knew deep down she was far from it. To honest, in a way, she really did feel like one of those fairy tale princesses where the girl is waited on hands and foot no matter the situation, but she thought, that in reality, it was a trick to lower her guard; it was hard to make a judgment on the situation…

But then, something made her judgment falter…

FLASH BACK…

Sakura sighed for the umpteenth time that day. Here she was in her…cell of sorts, sitting on the end of the bed, completely bored to death, quite frankly. Sakura preferred the cell in Konoha, at least there she could focus on something, and there was nothing to do AT ALL! There was no paper and pen to draw with, there was no window to drown into the scenery, she had already organised the new set of clothing she had received in the closet six times in the past hour and she had re-made the bed ten times before that! And there was no way she would reduce her self to talking to stuffed bunnies like she did when she was five!

Then the door opened. Turning her attention to the door, Sakura raised her eyes in curiosity when her sister came into the room gleefully.

"Oh, you haven't changed out of your pajamas Kura-chan" Hikari noticed. Yea, she was still wearing what she slept in the night before; the same design as the one she woke up in weeks ago but in blue…it seemed there's every colour of the rainbow in these supposed pajamas.

"What's the point?" Sakura questioned.

"I suppose you're right, but to be honest, I was wondering how you're doing" Hikari chirped.

"Why?" Sakura ask suspiciously.

"Because knowing you, you're probably completely bored" Hikari chimed.

"No, I'm fine" Sakura lied.

"Oh okay, how do you like you're room? I decided it my self!" Hikari sang.

"…why Usagi?" Sakura asked.

"I remember when we were young you always loved the Usagi design, I thought you'd like it better" Hikari explained.

"I see" Sakura nodded "Would it matter if I liked it or not? Aren't I just a prisoner to capture the Kyubi?" Sakura questioned.

"That's just a bonus to our plans" Hikari smiled.

"What are your plans?" Sakura asked.

"Can't tell" Hikari replied gleefully.

"Hikari, can I ask you something?" Sakura asked.

"What is it?" Hikari blinked.

"Did you honestly plan to kill the clan?" Sakura asked.

"…"

"I didn't want to believe it, but then you said you guys did…but Daiki, a couple of weeks ago reacted unexpectedly…when I brought up the topic of where the younger Uchiha was getting married" Sakura murmured.

"If you want the honest answer…no we didn't" Hikari replied.

"Then why did you say you did?!" Sakura exclaimed.

"When we fought those years back…Daiki and I noticed something…"

"What?"

"We noticed how strong you had gotten, and yet you didn't show any of that strength to us, we noticed you were holding back despite of all we said and did, nothing worked, but when…we said that…you exploded unexpectedly, Daiki and I just wanted to see how strong you had gotten without us, to see if you were excelling and living well" Hikari said "It's a known fact you weren't strong as a new born, everyone in the clan was surprised that you lived as long as you did by five"

"…I don't know whether to thank you for worrying or not…" Sakura murmured quietly.

"When you told us you killed the murderers of the clan, Daichi and I were surprised, you were…so pure I suppose and being weak already, we were really surprised when you said you did kill men three times your height, we suspected you had her in you, but we didn't believe it"

"Then why did you just leave me in Suna ALONE?!"

"You were very young to understand what was going on; we were being chased because people believed we set up the massacre like Itachi-kun did…" Hikari explained "We left you alone so you could blend in easily and you wouldn't get hurt"

"…"

"Saku-chan, I know it's a rather big shock, but that's how life goes, we did it for you for some parts, but mostly ourselves" a new voice insisted. Gasping in surprise, Sakura turned to see her older brother looking at her.

"Daiki…" Sakura muttered as she digested all this information.

"Get over it please, it makes it easier on all of us, now in other matters, Deidara is extending an offer for you to train since you would most likely be bored" Daiki stated.

'He's not the same as before, he's taken a leaf out of Itachi's book' Sakura mused "I'll join you guys with training later, I just need time to think" Sakura answered.

"Okay, we'll come collect you later" Daiki nodded before leaving with Hikari behind them.

'I don't know what to do anymore…'

…END FLASH BACK

…one conversation with her siblings and everything seemed to make her world crumble, so now, sitting at the table where they dine many months after she was first captured, the pink haired kunoichi ate calmly, wearing yet another magnificent gown and sitting in between Itachi and Deidara. It was still rather tense in the room, yet it wasn't the same time. There seemed to an air of trust that they all emitting after they allowed her to walk the halls of their lair freely, un-blindfolded and un-guarded. They even let her train with a portion of her chakra and a couple of weapons in their underground training facility numerous times. She her self had healed them a couple of times when they came back from 'missions' completed beaten up.

"You've shown quite a display lately with your sparring matches lately Sakura-hime" Pein began. Cutting through the tension like a knife.

"I suppose" Sakura shrugged as she ate the salad she was served.

"You are truly a magnificent kunoichi worth of so much more than you already have" Pein complimented.

"…like what? Is there something else for me to obtain?" Sakura asked.

"You have skills; you have power, speed, agility, flexibility; accuracy. You excel in all shinobi fields; genjutsu, ninjutsu, taijutsu, it seems like you your self have more strength flowing through you than any tailed beast, and yet we all know you have none in you. You're known around the world as the woman who surpassed the Godaime; the Slug Princess in all her fields at what everyone knows now the tender age of 13 and if I must say my self you have the looks of a goddess" Pein continued "You're the art of perfection"

"…is there a point to such useless conversation?" Sakura asked twitching 'Just how old is he?'

"Of course!" Deidara glared.

"Now Sakura-hime, we will get down to business" Pein stated "It has come to our attention that over the past eight years you have been doing a lot of things concerning the Akatsuki"

'Shit' "And?"

"Aside the fact that we wanted to tell you congratulate you on being able to learn so many things of our organisation without us finding out until about three years ago, we are here to talk" Konan announced.

"You've snuck into our bases effortlessly and without any resistance what so ever"

"You have healed our members without any resistance or help what so ever"

"You've fought with us countless times and come out on top no matter what we do"

"You killed before any of us with very pathetic weapons only and horrible experience fighting"

"Keep all this in mind, as well as many other facts, we all agree on one thing" Pein stated.

"What?" Sakura frowned.

"You, Haruno Sakura shall join us" Konan shouted.

"No" Sakura growled.

"No?" Daiki questioned.

"Didn't you listen to me last time you guys said something similar to this?!" Sakura growled as she stood up from her seat "I will not abandon Konoha; I will not betray my friends! I am NOT becoming a missing nin!"

"But didn't you go back on your words for the past five years?" Hikari sneered.

"That my dear 'onee-sama' was an act!" Sakura growled "I was on a mission!"

"…oh really?" Hikari smirked.

"…yes" Sakura replied hesitantly.

"I guess we'll have to resort to other measures" Hidan mused, smirking evilly.

Backing up cautiously, Sakura managed to move about four centimetres before being stopped by the chair behind her.

"Oh don't worry Saku-chan, no measures shall involve you" Daiki confirmed.

"You stay away from Konoha, Suna and all it's inhabitants" Sakura snarled viciously.

"Well, we were thinking of that, but surely you would want the Kagaimi girl dead anyway?" Hidan questioned.

"Stay away from all of Konoha, Suna and its inhabitants" Sakura repeated, growling.

"But she took away your dearest Sasuke-kun" Deidara frowned.

"He and I are merely friends and currently only team mates" Sakura huffed "Besides, even if we were more than just that, I wouldn't care; if he is happy then I have no right to interfere with it"

"Good, all the more, motive to join the Akatsuki if you have no emotional ties to anything" Konan mused.

"Aren't you listening? I SAID NO!" Sakura shouted as she managed to flip away from the table and landed next to the wall behind her.

"Don't think you can escape so easily!" Kazuku growled.

"I didn't saying anything about escaping did I?" Sakura smirked "I guess you guys didn't realize that on the first night I was in here I noticed how parts of your walls weren't level with the rest"

"What are you planning to-"
"You wouldn't dare Kura-chan!" Hikari exclaimed.

"If you're going to plant a mine of explosive tags around you, be careful of who enters your domain, my eyes see everything"

"You're insane woman!" Kisame seethed.

"I guess the Haruno Clan will seize to exist now" Sakura smiled sadistically "We're all going to go out with a bang"

"This is so NOT art un!" Deidara growled.

"Don't do it Saku-chan! You'll kill us all" Daiki growled.

"Che" Sakura sneered under her breathe "That's the problem for when you have bases underground, maybe in the next life you'll remember this, remember you never mess with Haruno Sakura whose at full power and gets away with it! Chakra points can't be blocked forever!"

Suddenly Sakura gasped when she looked into Itachi's eyes for a split second. In seconds, images of her night mares blasted through the cells of her brain.

This clan, it wasn't supposed to be captured so easily, it is a prestigious clan, one of great power, and yet, some how, they were captured, main and branch members alike. Each person tied up like cattle about to get slaughtered; each with a blind fold, except one little girl.

Each member was slaughtered, heads chopped off, arms sawed off, legs pulled off. Blood was spilt. Floors, walls, ceilings were caked in the thick, sticky, red substance. All of which, the young girl at the age of five, stood tied up witness to the brutal massacre.

The finale was about to arise. Up straight were the young girl's parents, the leaders of the clan. Both stripped of their clothes, and hands bound behind their backs. The girl watched as her own parents; who were also blind folded; were whipped, slashed, bashed, kicked, stabbed; they were tortured; possibly for the secrets of the clan, yet they said nothing. The girl's mother was kicked down and raped before her eyes. Her father was beaten more. Blood poured over the rich floors, splattered onto the decorative walls, leaked into the tiniest of crevices; it was every where.

The more the young girl watched; the more she wanted to turn her head, and yet; she couldn't. She was forced, be it she wanted to or not, to watch the torturing of her parents.

At that final note from her parents the girl watched as her parents life was ended with a stab to the heart and then a slice off a head. More blood was spilt, staining the young cherry blossom, splattering more family blood over the main house room. The bodies, like the others, fell limp and crashed onto the ground below. Both heads, rolled towards Sakura, both looking up to her, as if to say, "You were always a failure"

The girl fell to the ground, in shock. Her parents, her clan, friends, family, the people closest to her, all killed. A great clan, a strong clan, killed by rogue ninjas. No tears fell from the girl; she was in far too much shock to cry.

The images of the slaughter repeated over and over again, these images of blood and gore repeated in her mind and yet the girl had yet to make any indication that she saw these images. Suddenly the images changed to past missions.

The death of her comrades; Momochi Zabuza and Haku; there still seemed to be no reaction.

News of Sasuke's engagement and marriage; no reaction.

Meeting her brother and sister again; nothing.

Fighting to the death countless times; nothing.

Being tortured slowly for information she refused to tell anyone; nothing, not even a wince of pain.

Watching the demon inside her disappear into thin air; the feeling of betrayal and loneliness piercing her heart over and over again; there was no reaction.

The imagined death of her nakama by her own hand; something stirred in the girl when Itachi pressed on this image. She made a wince but then there was nothing.

Again there was another image, one where her nakama were betraying her and replacing her for Kagaimi.

Images involving her nakama kept replaying over and over again getting worse and worse with each changing image.

Suddenly there was a burst of power as a figure outlined in white appeared before Itachi's eyes and loamed over him. Before he knew what was happening he was being attacked by his own genjutsu and was force to disable the jutsu as he was tossed around like a rag doll.

"Uchiha Itachi" Sakura hissed slightly warily. Looking up, Itachi gulped inwardly at the amount of evilness the girl had surging out of her body "You stay away from my mind and my nakama" Sakura ordered before smirking. Tightening her fist, she focused her chakra into the closed fist, bringing every ounce of chakra she could muster in her body to that fist.

'Gomen Konoha' Sakura whispered to her self 'And thank you Sasuke, Naruto. These past few months where we were all together again…like a family…it made me feel so whole again…'

Drawing her fist away from the wall for a moment; Sakura concentrated and compacted her chakra as tightly as she possibly could and with in seconds, slammed her fist back onto the wall. As she released the compacted chakra, the wall began to crumble into thousands of pieces forcing the wall to give out and brought down the roof above their heads which brought down the entire room. The only thing that anyone saw was darkness as the earth around them fell suffocating them in the dust and sand falling around them. With the friction of the moving earth, something was set off and in the instant that the roof caved in, an explosion erupted, blasting every one in the room out of their bodies.

'Sayonara'

---

Notes:

Hello again, I hope you liked the latest chapter! I have almost finished editing HNiS and, I know you will hate me, but I have a couple of possible stories that will come, one of them including one for pokemon, and no it's not a one-shot, I have actually written a couple of chapters but I feel that I need to fix it up and stuff like that still, so it won't come out for a while, and possibly won't come out at all. I also have a possible few one shots for Bleach, but until then, it stays at Naruto.

Haha.

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Chapter 3: Just who are you?

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