Hey guysss… I just want to say how truly grateful I am to have people read my work.

T^T I am honestly crying tears of joy.

I will keep on writing, yeah?

Without further ado I proudly present to you the next chapter~!

Star Crossed

Chapter 3: The Key

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"Foolish human. Your goal is impossible to achieve," the demon laughed darkly as his menacing chakra enveloped his host like a cocoon.

"You wish to control the world by casting a powerful genjutsu. Have you ever thought that maybe, the Jubi would kill you instead? I am sure you are aware of how the tailed beasts were created. We are just fragments of the great Jubi. Without the 'key' you can never unlock it's full potential, even if you attempted to combine all nine of the tailed beasts," the demon added.

"Key? What key?" he asked. His visible right eye narrowed as he eyed the demon suspiciously.

"Your plan will not work without the key. It is said that the Sage of the Six Paths had locked away the remains of the Jubi after it was separated into nine tailed beasts. Like the tailed beasts, the key was released to the world. But, it's identity remains unknown. At least to you humans," the Yonbi answered.

"You will tell me what I need to know," he ordered. His visible eye glowing red.

"The key has the ability to heal and resurrect the dead. This is why it holds the power to recreate the Jubi. It only resurfaced after the Kyubi was resealed into another host. You will never find it. The Sage of the Six Paths would have made sure of it."

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"Deidara-senpai! Can't we take a break? We've been walking for days. It's not like this job is so important. We only need to collect the money for killing two missing-nins. There's no need to rush!" Tobi whined. His orange mask concealed his face but Deidara could almost imagine his expression with his childish pout. Tobi had never revealed his face. But dealing with his goofy personality was enough for him.

"Senpai! How about we make camp here and you can make clay statues of Tobi," he added, his voice dripping with excitement. Immediately, he dropped onto the ground with a heavy thud. He lay on his stomach and rested his chin on his hands that formed a V shape. His legs were in the air.

"How's this pose Senpai?" he asked innocently.

Deidara felt his eyes twitch. How the hell did this guy ever managed to enter Akatsuki?

"I'm not going to waste my clay on you, yeah!" He answered angrily. His arms crossed across his chest as he sat down opposite him. He might as well take a break. They had been walking for the past two days to find the nearest Bounty Office to collect their reward for removing two missing-nins from the Bingo Book. Collecting funds were one of the few tasks Akatsuki members had to complete besides extracting tailed beasts.

"But Deidara-senpai, aren't you always wasting your clay blowing things up? Isn't it better to make use of the clay to make statues of Tobi?" He asked still using his innocent tone.

That was the last straw.

Deidara grabbed Tobi by the collar of his Akatsuki cloak and started shaking him vigorously. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MY ART?" He screamed at the top of his lungs. This time for sure he was going to blow the damned guy up.

He was about to stuff his hands into his clay pouch when he felt something heavy on his shoulder. One of his clay birds had landed. He usually sent some of his clay birds to scout the area and keep an eye on the enemy, though he preferred them to blow up. He dropped Tobi and gently removed the clay bird from his shoulder. Images instantly filled his mind when in contact. He could feel the blood drain from his face and his body growing tense. What was he supposed to feel? Relief? His hand swallowed the clay bird.

"Get up, yeah. We've got to contact Leader," he said distractedly to his comrade.

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Neji had just returned from one of his missions. He was tired, hungry and grumpy. But he had something to do first. Instead of heading towards the Hyuga Residence he started to walk his way towards the Konoha Hospital.

He nodded at the lady at the counter and walked right in. He had been in the hospital multiple times; he had memorized the way to Sakura's room by heart. As he neared her room, he felt a familiar presence. He masked his chakra.

"Hatake, I still don't think it's safe enough for her to go to any missions. The Akatsuki wants her for unknown reasons," a voice said. He could recognize the Godaime's voice anywhere.

"But one of them stabbed her. Surely, they think she is already dead," the other voice said.

"That may be true since they haven't been any advances for the past six months. She wasn't supposed to survive that blow, you know," she finished her sentence softly.

"She's stronger than you think Hokage-sama. But enough talk. I think we should welcome our eaves dropper into the room."

The hospital doors opened and both the Godaime and the Copy nin exited the room. Neji bowed in respect. The Godaime had her blonde hair tied up in her customary ponytails. Her light brown eyes studied Neji before she left with the Copy nin in tow.

Neji entered the room. Sakura was no longer connected to the machinery. She was capable enough to breathe on her own. He let out a small sigh of relief. He did not like the machines and needles. He found the rise and fall of her chest comforting, as he knew she was alive and breathing. Over the years she had grown stronger thanks to the Godaime and Kakashi. He knew she had help from other as well. Lee had helped her with her taijutsu while he had helped her with her ninjutsu. Every time they spared, there would always end up destroying the training grounds. Leaving huge holes and blood everywhere. He could almost remember how he had first decided to help her train a few years back.

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Neji walked towards the Hyuga Residence. He had done his part in attending the party with Gai, Tenten and Lee. It did not mean he could not leave early. He had made full use of his shinobi skills to sneak his way to the exit and leave quietly. Watching his friends get drunk was not a welcoming idea. Knowing the fact that his former sensei and Lee would end up challenging each other and doing absurd things like running around Konoha a thousand times with their hands or doing a thousand push-up with heavy weights on their backs. He could not understand why people would do such a thing. But he knew better than to step in. The challenges were just a way for them to bond. He was lucky he did not have to wear the horrible green suit. He shuddered when he imagined himself in the green suit. Oh, great. It was going to take hours and hours of hardcore training to remove the image from his head.

He had almost reached his backdoor entrance when he heard loud rustling behind him. A trespasser? He thought. He grabbed a kunai from his kunai holster and threw it into the shadows. He did not hear a thunk, so that meant that it had not hit his target.

"Show yourself!" He ordered already in a battle stance. He did not like to waste his time removing trespassers. He was going to make sure the trespasser is dealt with seriously for entering the Hyuga Residence without proper reason. The trespasser staggered out of the shadows with the kunai in his-her-hand.

"Haruno-san? What are you doing here? Don't you know this is private property?" He asked. He could easily recognize her bright pink hair that was cut short. She was dressed in a black dress with a slit that rode high up her thigh revealing silky pale skin. She looked up her emerald eyes unfocused and confused. She narrowed her eyes as if trying to get a better view of him.

"Neji-san! What are you doing here?" She slurred. She twirled the kunai on her index finger. She was drunk. Her cheeks were flushed as pink as her hair and her movements were sluggish. But it still amazed him how she had managed to catch the kunai in her drunken state.

"I was just on my way home. Don't worry about me," she slurred some more. She took one step forward before falling face down on the ground. Neji sighed; can this night get any better? He thought bitterly.

He had left her in one of the spare rooms before heading towards his room to rest.

The next day he woke up to the dull sound of metal against wood. He scratched his head and leaned against the doorframe of the exit door leading to his personal training grounds. Before him was the pink haired kunoichi still wearing her black dress and throwing shuriken at the wooden targets. She aimed the shuriken easily. What amazed him was the fact that she had no hangover. Hell, she was training! She must have noticed his presence and turned to look at him. Emerald connected with grey. Her green orbs travelled from his face to his bare upper body. He had left the room without a shirt. She stared appreciatively before looking away blushing furiously at the thought that she was ogling openly. He raised one of his eyebrows, amused at the sight.

"What are doing?" he asked casually ignoring what had just happened a few seconds ago.

"Oh! I was trying to find the exit. I stumbled here instead. So I decided to train for a while before leaving. Sorry I woke you up," She said avoiding his gaze.

"You were doing it wrong," he said matter-of-factly.

"What?"

"The way your standing is wrong. Your weight is not distributed evenly. The way your throwing is also wrong. You won't be able to hit the target properly if you don't use your whole arm strength. By just using your wrist is not effective enough. And your not eve-" he could not finish his sentence as the ground started to shake and split into two from where he was standing. He fell into the hole, caught off guard. Before he could try to get out, the two halves joined together again, trapping him. Only his head was free, the rest of his body was trapped underground.

He looked up shocked. The kunoichi was scowling.

"Why don't you teach me your mighty tricks oh, great Hyuga," she said mockingly her hands on her hips. She started to mumble incoherent curses under her breath. She had a very colourful vocabulary. She wiped her hands of the dirt and swiftly left the training grounds. It took him a while to register what had happened and a longer while to get himself out of the hole. He cleaned himself and got dressed quickly before leaving the Hyuga Residence in a hurry. He had a score to settle.

He barged right into the kunoichi's office and found her examining a half-naked Genma.

"What? Neji-san, do you mind?" She said, her hands left Genma's bare chest to rest at her hips.

"It's okay. You already removed most of the poison from my body. I'll just sleep the rest off," Genma said while putting on his shirt. He smiled briefly at Neji before he left the room closing the door behind him.

"I see you got yourself out. I was going to see you after my shift to help you out," Sakura said casually while walking towards her desk.

"Hn."

"Look. Do you need something?"

"I was here to inform you that I would take you up on your offer."

"Offer? What offer? I didn't make an offer."

"Yes you did, Haruno-san."

"Call me Sakura."

"Sakura… You specifically asked me to teach you a couple of my mighty tricks."

"What? You want to help with my training?"

He shrugged. "Meet me at my training grounds tomorrow at dawn," He said coolly before leaving the office with the kunoichi's mouth agape and her eyes wide with disbelief.

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Lee had joined soon after that. The three of them had grown closer. And he had learned to care for her. Both of them had joined ANBU and their team was one of the best few, with him leading.

The attacks from Akatsuki had only started a year ago. The Akatsuki were stubborn and wanted her at all costs. It was strange. But Sakura was well known for her exceptional healing abilities second to only the legendary sannin herself. He figured that they needed her for that. Konoha could not lose someone as important as Sakura. She was one of the best few medic nins. And he would swim in his own blood just to keep her away from harm. He knew she could take care of herself and that she did kill one of the members of Akatsuki. He was still not going to take any chances. If the Akatsuki wanted her, they would have to go through him first.

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His projection flickered. He stood at the forefinger on the right hand. He had managed to contact Leader. Tobi stood opposite him at the thumb on the left hand. He waved his arms in the air trying to catch his attention. He scowled. They were waiting for Leader and Konan to appear. Soon an image started to form at both his sides. Konan appeared in his right while Leader appeared on the other. Their projections were see-through and only their eyes could be seen. He could see Leader's ringed gaze and Konan's grey eyes, both showing signs of annoyance. He smirked. Looks like we were interrupting something.

"What is it Deidara? I don't have the patience to deal with your whining today. I have other… important matters at hand," he said his voice filled with annoyance and his gaze fell on the member next to him.

"When have I ever whined, yeah?" Deidara said defensively.

"That was that time when you kept begging to get out. And then there was the time during the Sanbi extraction. And the time when-" Tobi never managed to finish his sentence when Deidara screamed in frustration.

"I don't have time for this foolishness," Leader said.

"One of my clay birds I left in Konoha returned to me, yeah. The kunoichi's alive," he said looking once again at his Leader's projection. Leader did not answer immediately.

"Deidara. I'll give you a new assignment. You are to bring her to me. Alive. No accidental stabbing," he said his tone serious.

"But we're all the way at Kumogakure. It would take a week to get to Konoha and a few more days to get to Ame, yeah. That is if she is cooperative. Can't I just bring pieces of her? Why do you need a Leaf shinobi alive anyway?"

"There you go whining again," Tobi said in a singsong voice.

"Just do as I say. She plays an important role in or plans," he said with a tone of finality and his projection disappeared. Soon. Konan's projection disappeared too.

Great. Now he had to go all the way to Konoha.

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He flipped through the pages of the book. Skimming through the difficult kanji. Key? What key? What a ridiculous lie! His visible eye stopped when he found what he was looking for.

"The Sage of the Six Paths had separated the Jubi's power to nine different monstrous entities and the beasts were scattered across the world. The remains of the Jubi were then entombed within a colossal stone prison and hurled into the heavens, creating the moon. As a final precaution, he used the last of his chakra to bound the tomb locking it forever. The only way to release the chakra bounds was by unlocking it using the key. The key's identity is unknown. But researchers and historians have called it the Sage's Messenger and the Sage's Last Breath. It was believed that it was a flower but some believed it was a being completely made up of the Sage's remaining chakra."

"IMPOSSIBLE!" He shouted seething with rage. He continued to flip through the pages.

"Few people have seen the key. Some have seen it the form of animals, some in the form of a flower. Only one has seen it in the form of a human: Okai Reita, a fellow countryman in Otogakure. Very few believe her words. The sightings were only reported after the sudden release of the Kyubi. After the Kyubi was resealed into another host, the sightings stopped. It is said that the key was wandering aimlessly and grew weak. Some believed that it found a host. Some said it disappeared and returned to the Sage."

"Okai Reita? Looks like I'll have someone to pay her a visit."

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Teheee. I LOVE Neji. Couldn't stop myself from putting a little NejiSaku. Oh and if you squint you could see Pein/Konan XD

I love Tobi too.

Open to any advice and suggestions. Please review, yeah?

Chapter 4 will be coming next~