Here's chapter 11! Sorry I'm late with it! I was hugely busy with a bunch of stuff and I honestly forgot D:
Disclaimer : I own nothing! Except an extreme dislike towards my dropout brother!
I was fifteen years old, Gaara being fourteen, when I woke up on my stomach in his bed to find him tracing his fingers along my back. "What is this?" He questioned when he saw my eyes were open. I frowned into my pillow.
"It's a summoning tattoo…" I explained after a moment of relishing in the fact that I had woken up in the same bed as Gaara, both of us naked.
"For what?" He asked curiously.
"About two months before I met you I made a pact with shinobi tigers." I said with a small yawn.
"Hm…" Gaara hummed thoughtfully, and I closed my eyes as he traced the symbols on my back with his fingertips. His touch soothed me back to sleep, and I woke up an hour later with a smile still on my face.
"God damn it is cold out." I hissed softly under my breath as I ran silently through the icy wasteland that I was tracking Gaara through. He had several hours of a head start, and with my chakra acting all out of whack, it was harder for me to catch up than it would have been. Not to mention I had no idea he was going this far north, so I was freezing my ass off in desert attire. With my chakra misbehaving, I couldn't use that to heat myself up, so I was stuck freezing to half death until I reached where he was. Luckily he had stopped moving much, which made it easier on me. At least I wasn't still trying to go faster than him so I could catch up.
Damn. Spoke too soon. I thought when I felt his chakra spike and start moving. He was staying in the same immediate area, but I could tell from his chakra's fluctuations that he was fighting. Immediately I began to panic, forcing myself to calm down. This happens every time he fights, Sakura. You freak out, then he comes out okay, and you're fine… Except the last time. I winced at the memory, pushing myself faster. Besides… I thought, narrowing my eyes as I dashed full speed towards Gaara. He's barely using any chakra. He's in no danger. I tried to convince myself, but I was still worried.
I ran as fast as I could towards him, and felt a small amount of relief when I saw the building in the near distance. Without even thinking, I leapt down into the hole in the roof of the building the second I reached it. For a moment, I thought about the last time I had seen Gaara, his face calm with eternal sleep, and I felt terror grip me. But then I landed and heard Gaara's voice from several yards away, and I instantly relaxed. God, I've become such a pansy. I thought as I narrowed my eyes.
"We have walked through the darkness of this world… That's why we are able to see even a sliver of light. Both back then, and even now." Gaara said in a serious tone and I noticed I had landed just out of their sight.
"I have long since closed my eyes. My only goal is in the darkness." I very vaguely recognized the dark toned voice.
"Don't make this personal. You're the Kazekage." Kankurou's voice stated sternly.
"…Gaara…" Temari murmured in a similar tone, and I heard something moving.
"Yeah… I know." Gaara said coolly, and I heard more noise that I immediately recognized as his sand. I stood up from my kneeling position and turned towards where the voices were, only to freeze when I saw someone pinned to the wall a few feet away by a blade that was coursing with electricity.
"I can't believe I had to defend myself with Amateratsu… I see you're absolute defense is still alive and well, even if you weren't not too long ago." The voice chuckled darkly, and I narrowed my eyes. Just as I had begun to move to get around the pillar, I saw that Kankurou, Gaara, Temari, and some other shinobi I didn't recognize had attacked as well. The attacks combined, creating a massive explosion surrounded the person. When the dust cleared, I frown at the sight of a massive skeleton surrounding the person.
"Gaara… My defense is even more absolute than yours." The man chuckled. Seeing him now, I was surprised to recognize him as none other than Sasuke. At that moment, I realized that no one seemed to have noticed my presence.
"Is this… The power of your darkness?" Gaara mused with narrowed eyes, and Sasuke smirked at him.
"Only those with the double mangekyo Sharingan can use this, the third power… Susanoo." He said almost proudly.
"Susanoo?" Gaara murmured questioningly.
"Tch. Uchiha… He's always hiding something…" Kankurou scoffed as he glared at the man.
"Darui! Sand shinobi! Retreat!" A Kumogakure shinobi suddenly shouted, and my eyes widened as the skeletal figure started to destroy the pillars. The pillars? Shit! He's- My thoughts were cut off by the ceiling collapsing completely on top of everyone. I immediately ran over to where Gaara and his siblings, along with one of the Kumo shinobi's, and saw that Gaara was summoning sand above them. I swiftly leapt on top of the sand, knowing that Gaara was immediately alerted to the fact that someone was on top of it, and slammed my fists into the falling chunks of rock.
I hit boulder after boulder for about twenty seconds before we were completely surrounded by pebbles and dust. I had a couple of scratches on my hands, but was otherwise unharmed. I felt the sand starting to dissipate, so I quickly jumped off of it, but landed in front of them instead of going to hide once more. "Are you guys okay?" I asked them worriedly, but was immediately slammed into by Temari.
"Sakura!" She exclaimed, hugging me tightly. I hugged her back, but my attention was completely focused on the person behind her. My green eyes focused on his turquoise blue ones, and I was stunned to see relief and happiness in them as they stared at me. Temari broke away from the hug and followed my gaze to Gaara, smiling slightly. My eyes drifted away from him and towards Kankurou, who looked different than the last time I saw him, but they finally settled on the puppet behind him.
I frowned at the puppet, then immediately froze when I recognized it. Sasori's puppet body… I realized with shock and horror. I never cared for my so-called father, but it still horrified me to see his body being used like that. I forced my gaze away from it and turned around to see the Raikage and his Kumogakure shinobi waiting for us. "This meeting is about the Akatsuki hunting the Jinchuuriki." I stated with a hint of a question, and Temari nodded. "I see. Excuse me, then." I walked away from them and was about to jump out of the large hole in the roof when Gaara's voice stopped me. I glanced at him and saw his silent request, and nodded.
"I saw Kakashi when I was running here. I'll be there." I stated before jumping out of the hole.
"Sakura?" Kakashi blinked in surprise when I jumped onto the roof of the hut where Naruto was sitting. I had landed just behind Naruto, immediately putting my elbows on his shoulders and resting my chin on my hands, leaning completely against him. Naruto looking up at me and I grinned.
"Hey there, blondie." I said teasingly to him and Naruto frowned deeply. "Oh shit. What happened?" I asked, switching to a completely serious tone instantly, standing up right and looking at him with a frown.
"Er… Who are you?" I looked over to see an unfamiliar man standing there.
"Sakura… This is Yamato, the team leader of Naruto's group when I'm busy." Kakashi explained and I gave him a short wave.
"Heya. I'm Saki." I said cheerily. "Ex-Sunagakure Shinobi and current Exilee."
"Never thought I hear anyone say that so happily." Yamato said with a frown.
"Probably because most people don't say 'Well fuck that' and continue giving a helping hand anyways." I said with a shrug, and he frowned deeper.
"Why are you here, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked with a frown and I turned on my heel to face him.
"Long story, really. Did you hear that Akatsuki attacked me and totally kicked my ass?" I asked him curiously and he shook his head.
"Why was Akatsuki after you?" He asked with a scowl, my words making him hate the organization even more.
"Apparently I have like a twenty million bounty on my head." I said with a sigh, then held up my hands helplessly. "I guess that's what happens when you get ordered to assassinate your own Kage. Anyways, when I woke up from my coma a month later, I heard about Konoha. Naturally, I flipped. Then I was informed that there was a Kage meeting. So, naturally, I followed Gaara, but I had no idea where the hell he was going, so that's why I'm dressed like this." I pointed to the thin yukata I wore. "Speaking of, do you think we could have this talk inside? I'm damn near hypothermic."
Ten minutes later, I was sitting in the hut as close to the fire as I could be without getting burned. "Sakura, if you're a medic-nin, why don't you just use your chakra to keep yourself warm?" Kakashi pointed out and I frowned at him.
"Because I can't." I stated calmly.
"Why can't you?" Yamato butted in curiously.
"Because I can't use chakra properly anymore. I could barely even break a few rocks not to long ago." I said as though I was talking about the snow being cold. "Anyways," I continued before anyone could ask any more questions, "I ran into Gaara and he told me he wanted to speak with me when everything was over. I told him I saw you, Kakashi, while I was chasing him, and that I would be here when he was done." I said, answering his earlier question. "Which brings up my question. Why are you all here?" I asked curiously.
"We… tried and failed at convincing the Raikage to stop going after Sasuke." Kakashi said after a moment, and I saw Naruto's fists clench in anger and sadness.
"I… don't understand." I admitted reluctantly. "Why is he going after Sasuke?"
"It's because Sasuke's joined the Akatsuki." Yamato said with a sigh, and I glanced at Naruto to see the anger and sadness clear on his face.
"Hey, Naruto?" I chirped to get his attention. He blinked at me questioningly. "I'm still freezing, see?" I held up my shivering hand for demonstration. "Could you do me a favor and get some more wood for the fire? I would do it myself, but it would take me a while without any chakra." I grumbled unhappily and Naruto nodded.
"Sure, Sakura-chan." He said and got up to leave, shooting me a grateful look before leaving.
"Don't." I said calmly as Yamato started to make a hand sign. He looked at me questioningly. "He'll be fine. Besides, I have something watching him right now. If anything happens, I'll know." I said, lightly tapping my temple with a smile.
"You do?" Kakashi frowned and I nodded.
"Why haven't I sensed anything?" Yamato asked with a deep frown.
"It would ruin it if it could be sensed, wouldn't it?" I raised my eyebrows at him and he frowned, nodding in acceptance. Well if that wasn't the most bullshit lie I've ever told, I don't know what is. Oh well... Naruto isn't protected, but at least he can be alone for a little while. "Anyways, now that he's gone, could you please tell me what in the fuck happened while I was unconscious?"
Here ya are! Hope you enjoyed it! Please review =)