Chapter 2 The figure in the Darkness
They walked in silence towards the Konoha village. As they neared Konoha the buildings could be seen standing tall. Sakura wondered how such a place as the Uchiha village could have been destroyed like that.
"Sensei?"
" Hmm?"
" What happened to the Uchiha village? I mean I know it was destroyed, but how and why?" Sakura looked at Kakashi.
" You surprise me Sakura. I would have thought you would have known." Kakashi looked down and smiled at her. He's toying with me. She thought. There was something about the way Kakashi was acting though. She looked at him again. He seemed deep in thought, which wasn't like him at all.
" Maybe I'll tell you later... After a few missions." He said. Sakura knew something was up. She wondered if the incident earlier on had triggered something in Kakashi's mind, but decided to let it go. She put her hand in her kunai case. The small box that Kakashi had given her was still there. She longed to know what lay inside. She also wondered if the note and the box had something to do with Sasuke. She didn't have time to worry about such inquisitive matters at the time.
When they got to the Hokage's headquarters, they were given a long lecture, from the Hokage, about being late for missions.
" I'm sorry sir," Sakura said," It won't happen agian I promise."
" Let's hope not." replied the Hokage. After that, they made their way up to the mission room and werer given a stack of missions they were to do for the day. They walked the dogs from the pound, pulled weeds, cleaned the river and taught at the ninja academy. It was almost dark when they finished. They walked down the road to the Ramen Shop and got dinner.( Since it was only Sakura and Kakashi left in his squad.) Sakura thanked Kakashi for the meal and turned to leave.
She walked out into the busy streets of Konoha. She was almost to the road. She tried to think about why the voice had sounded so familiar. She knew she had her that voice before, but she couldn't remember from where. She was so deep in thought she didn't even hear Kakashi call her.
" SAKURA!" She stopped.
" Sasuke?" She turned and ran into someone.
" Sorry." She mumbled. The figure stopped, looked at her for a moment, then kept on walking. Sakura caught a glimpse of the figure's face. She noticed the same red eyes Sasuke had, but yet they were not his. They seemed more distant, hurtful, yet saddening at the same time. It seemed vaguely familiar. After a few seconds she felt as if she was being watched again. She turned. Time seemed to stop in it's tracks. At the end of the road, the figure Sakura had bumped into was staring at her. The figure was barely visible in the dim light. Sakura stared at the figure. Why does he look so familiar. Sakura thought.
" Sakura," It whispered. The figure brought up a hand as if to guide her to where it was. She took a few steps toward the figure.
" SAKURA!" Kakashi yelled. Then the figure disappeared. Everything went back to normal.
" Sakura," Kakashi walked up to her, " Sakura, are you alright?" She didn't hear him. She was still staring at the spot where the figure disappeared.
" Sakura!" He said a little louder. She looks as if she's in a trance. Kakashi thought.
" Wha---" She looked at Kakashi. " I'm sorry. Yes." Well it seems she's back to normal now. He thought. Something wasn't right though. He had an idea.
" Sakura, Wait here for a moment." She nodded, then looked back at the place where she had seen the figure. Kakashi looked up. Nothing was there.
"Hmmm" Kakashi walked up to the top of the hill. A small alleyway led into the Hyuga villages, but there was another path going beyond it.
" What the hell, " Kakashi said, "This wasn't here this morning." He walked back into the alley. The path kept going on. It went beyond the Hyuga villages. He stopped, remembering that Sakura was waiting for him in the middle of the sidewalk, he turned to walk out of the alley. Sakura stood in his way. He jumped.
" Sakura, you startled me." That's strange. I didn't sense her come up. What's going on. He thought.
" I'm sorry, I got kind of scared out there by myself." He looked at her. She still had the same strange look she had when he found her. He looked back at the alleyway. The path seemed to glow. He heard a voice behind him. He looked back at Sakura, but she had gone into that trance again. The words she spoke were again not her own but, would haunt him for many nights.
"The path is set... Walk the road of eternity and death within your mind becomes reality in your dreams... "