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CH 15 Broken

Both, Neji and Sakura, are still kissing. When Naruto yells for Sakura to hit the stage.

"SUKIIII-CHAAAAN!" Naruto yells in his boisterous way.

And they pull apart breathlessly; Sakura can't help but react to his kisses with a silly grin and a blissful look on her face.

"Come on let's go, it's your turn" he says still a bit out of breath, but slowly regaining his usual stoic composure. He takes her hand and begins leading her to the stage.

However before he can drag her off, she asks him to "wait".

Neji turns back to look at her with a curious face.

" :small pants: You have to make me a promise" she says still catching her breath and recovering from the fervor that had just passed between them.

"What is it" he says with cautious eyes.

"Promise me you'll keep your emotions in check and won't let them interfere with your match" she says, with knowing eyes. She doesn't want her friend Hinata to get trashed so badly.

Neji who thinks this is such a simple request because he always has his emotions in check, agrees with no hesitation.

"I always keep my emotions in check" he says full of confidence.

"Promise me." Sakura still pushes for him to wholeheartedly swear to keep his word.

"I promise" he says certain that there is no way he can break his promise.

Satisfied with that answer Sakura continues to follow him. Their connecting hands still producing little shock waves of pleasure within them both.

When they get to the stadium Sakura heads to the stage where Ino is waiting for her to start their match, while Neji goes upstairs and joins his team.

"Suki I never thought I'd be fighting you" Ino says in a hard tone.

Eehh I can't say the same, thought Sakura.

Sakura and Ino's relationship has been different this time around. Seeing how they never fought over Sasuke they still are very good friends. However the inklings of rivalry are never fully extinguished between them.

So Sakura and Ino start fighting. They pretty much follow the same old taijutsu tricks they did the first time around. A :kick: here, a :swipe: there until suddenly Ino gets the wide open shot to punch Sakura in the face just like last time. Of course she changes her mind at the last minute and slaps Sakura instead. :slap!:

BIIIIIG MISTAKE, punching her would have been way better.

Sakura :snaps!: Her mind instantly taking her to a flashback of her old self during the dark days and then…it got ugly.

She takes in a deep breath and releases it in one go. From there on out she instantly loses control of her body and does not remember clearly what happens next.

A deep growl starts arising from her throat as she slowly turns back to face Ino. :Grrrrrrrrr:

Sakura keeps her head low as her eye balls roll up to look at Ino. The look on her face is one of total malice!

"You shouldn't have done that" Sakura says, her voice gone dark and completely unrecognizable.

Sakura :SLAMS: her right foot into the ground in front of her causing the floor to reverberate with the intensity of its power. She shoots out massive chakra with that kick and zones in on the now terrified Ino, trapping her with her technique. Ino instantly becomes paralyzed.

Then she brings her right arm forward lifting it in a motion similar to Gaara's :desert coffin:. The only difference is Sakura's curled fingers are pointing up to the sky.

Sakura invades Ino's mind with an extremely powerful genjutsu. Ino can't see, hear, feel or think. She has no control whatsoever; she is completely subservient to Sakura's whims.

Ino's body begins to lift along with Sakura's rising hand. A loud sound sort of like a woman screaming only more distorted starts becoming apparent. It starts out like a low screech and rapidly increases to an explosive level SHRIEK! When Ino is high in the air Sakura twists her wrist to the side, the motion looking like she is turning a knob in the air.

Sasuke and Naruto immediately yell for Sakura to stop!

"STOP IT SUKI!" Sasuke yells terrified at what's become of Sakura.

Naruto also desperate for Sakura to stop, bellows "SUKI-CHAN!"

Even Neji, Gaara, Lee, Shikamaru and Choji yell for her to stop.

"SUKI STOP!" Neji shouts frantic to break through to her.

"SUKI-SAN!" Gaara yells not even knowing who the girl down there is anymore.

:Gasp!: It takes their combined voices for Sakura to break out of the awful trance. Instantly the shrieking stops and Sakura gently lowers Ino's body to the floor. Although she is too late, she has already done big time damage to Ino's mind.

Silence passes through the room, leaving everyone in a state of shock not knowing what has just transpired. It's like the calm after a powerful storm.

When the quick moment passes, medical ninja burst through the room. A lot of hustle and bustle takes place around Ino to help heal her. Sakura doesn't feel like going back to her team and dealing with their many questions. She would have the same issue with Itachi and favors instead to take comfort in her beloved's arms. Everyone's eyes follow her every move, with so many unanswered questions running through their mind.

"Neji" she whimpers and falls into his embrace. He hugs her back, but is dumbfounded at what has just happened.

"Are you alright?" he asks genuinely worried for Sakura.

She shakes her head to say that she is NOT ok. "No, but I will be" she says while looking into his eyes. That one small gesture helping her greatly on the road to recovery. She leans her head against his shoulder and closes her eyes. His steady heart beat pounding within his chest providing even more comfort to Sakura.

Of course just when she was starting to feel a bit better everyone starts rushing towards her, unable to hold back their curiosity.

"Suki-chan!" Naruto howls "What was that! I've never seen you use that technique before! You looked scary!"

Even Sasuke who was mad at her comes to see if she's ok.

Shikamaru and Choji give her the evil eye and wonder what the hell she is. While Sakura buries her body into Neji even further, in hopes to put some distance between her and the mob of boys.

"Suki my love, don't ever do that again" Lee says while taking one of her hands in his.

"That's enough" Neji states fed up with the crowd of onlookers. "The best thing to do right now is to give her some space." He says while snatching her hand back from Lee. Don't touch, his dominant qualities taking rise.

He didn't get any retorts from anyone. Seeing how he was the strongest genin in Konoha, that is very understandable. And Sasuke wasn't quite ready to start talking to Sakura again.

Everyone started retreating back to their places… well everyone except Naruto and…Gaara.

While Naruto remains anxiously observing in the background, Gaara doesn't and has something to say.

"You are not her master" he said in his usual impassive voice. That one word 'master' causing Sakura's body to instantly stiffen in fear.

Neji misunderstands and thinks that Gaara is making her feel uncomfortable on purpose. His eyes narrow in menace and he is about to go off on Gaara when he is cut off "Who do y-"

Gaara ignores him and continues on to speak his piece "Suki, I am here for you if you need me" his calm voice warmer than what it usually is and holding a thread of worry for her. Sakura then lifts up her head from Neji and reaches out to squeeze Gaara's hand in gratitude.

"Thank you" she says and gives him a small smile in appreciation.

You can't see it, but just then Gaara's heart gives a delightful lurch at the sound of her voice and the feel of her hand. He then moves off to the other side of the stands to be with his team and the preliminary matches continue.

Tenten loses to Temari, Shikamaru goes next and wins, followed by Naruto who also wins against Kiba, then …it's Neji's turn.

The names Hyuga Hinata and Hyuga Neji flashing across the board.

"Neji-kun remember the promise you made me" Sakura reminds Neji and hugs him one more time before he has to go fight.

However he does not hug her back, his body instantly becomes rigid and he gives her a hard stare. A million thoughts pass through his mind, but he ultimately nods in agreement and travels down to meet his opponent.

Neji stares at Hinata and greets her "I never thought I'd be facing you, Hinata-sama" .

"Nor I brother" she says in her timid way.

"Before we begin, I'd like to say something Hinata-sama. Forfeit now, you were never meant to be a shinobi." He tells her with spiteful eyes, Hinata can only look at him with distraught eyes.

"You are too kind,…You wish for harmony and avoid conflict. You agree with others never resisting" he says his voice one of contempt.

"NEJI!" Sakura shouts cutting off the rest of his scathing remarks. "Can't you see she's trying! Stop tormenting her! "

Irritated Neji stops berating Hinata to give Sakura a mean look. Sakura stands up straight, shoulders back, head held high, defiant and won't let him intimidate her. "Are you going to keep your word or Not!" she says her voice giving him a warning.

Neji clenches his jaw in frustration and tears his gaze from her to look back at Hinata. Instead of spewing anymore of his hateful comments he settles for a hard stare and tells her "Nevertheless You cannot change your-"

Before he can finish his sentence he is interrupted. This time by Naruto who shouts out to Hinata's aid "YOU CAN!" clearly fed up with Neji's venom also "Stop deciding things about people idiot! Kick that Bstard's A5s Hinata!"

God He's annoying Neji wishes Naruto would just shut up.

"Hinata stand up for yourself! This is hard to watch!" Naruto shouts, annoying Neji even further.

That was just the boost Hinata needed and she gathered her courage and put her ferocious face on.

Her eyes have changed "So you won't forfeit…I'm not responsible for what happens" Neji said

You better not Neji! You made me a promise! Sakura was aggravated at Neji, but she couldn't blame him for feeling so strongly. If she had thought her dad had been sacrificed for the main family she'd be pissed at them too. However…that's not what happened.

"Defend yourself, my brother" Hinata tells him and with that they begin fighting.

The gentle fist style used in all its glory. There were other moments where Neji would say things Sakura didn't think were necessary like calling Hinata a loser, but I digress. Sakura wanted to call him out on it, but she couldn't take away Hinata's chance for growth either.

"I don't go back on my word…that is also my ninja way" she said as she lifts herself up to charge at Neji .

She tries to fight as best she can, which is admirable, but Neji is way out of her league.

Neji slams his palm up her chin delivering a fatal blow, but Hinata is able to shake it off and go at him again. However this time Neji puts a quick end to her hopeless attacks and smashes his palm into her chest, incapacitating her completely.

"A deciding blow to the heart" Guy says "She will not be getting back up"

Oh yeah thought Sakura Just watch.

With great effort Hinata, not one to quit, gets back up to her feet. Everyone is stunned, well except for Sakura of course.

"Why do you stand?" Neji says, also confused at Hinata's fighting spirit "If you keep pushing yourself you'll die"

"She better NOT Neji." Sakura says in a threatening voice. This time he doesn't even glance her way. Pfft fan girls…

"From the time of your birth the responsibility of the Hyuga main house has been forced upon you…You have always hated yourself for your own weakness…But people cannot change…that is destiny" he says his voice filled with finality. "There is no need to suffer anymore. Let it Go!"

Oh shizznic, here we go. Will he or won't he keep his promise…

"That's not true brother Neji. Because I can see it…it's not me at all…The person lost and suffering within the destiny of the main and branch houses…is you"

Cricket :chirp chirp: Don't Neji please don't. Come on just let it go, Let It Gooo- aw sh1t there he goes.

"NEJI! NO!" Sakura yells desperately for him to stop his attack. He launches himself at Hinata, running full speed towards her, intending to end her life.

The four jounin along with Sakura rush to stop him. :swoop!:

One second you see Neji racing towards Hinata the next you see four jounin and Sakura stopping the raging bull that has become of Neji Hyuga.

Sakura looks at him with eyes of disappointment.

"Neji give it a rest. You gave me a warm promise not to lose your head over this main family stuff" Guy says trying to calm him down.

"Why do even the other Jounins jump in…oh more special treatment for the main family…" Neji says hatred oozing from his every word.

"Neji you promised me" Sakura told him her voice showing how dishearten and sadden she is at his broken promise.

Confident that Neji won't attack Hinata anymore the other Jounin let him go; freeing him to talk to Sakura.

He turns towards Sakura and gives her a cold look of resentment. It is hurtful for Sakura to see the tenderness his eyes once held for her now long gone. He stalks towards Sakura with the intention of causing pain.

:hmph: "Oh please, like I care about an idiotic promise I made to some pathetic fanatical girl" he says, taking out his lingering feelings of fury from his battle with Hinata on her.

:gasp: I can't believe he said that. Sakura's eyes now tearing up from his hurtful words. . But before she could break down, she caught her breath and didn't let herself feel it completely just yet. She couldn't, she had to know. So she took a small moment to gather herself as best she could and asked him.

"Do I mean so little to you" Sakura said in a quiet voice, pained over his blatant insult.

Neji :rolls his eyes:"Your either extremely emotional or extremely delusional" he spat with an ugly sneer on his face "I just met you yesterday and you've already allowed me privileges a female of worth wouldn't. How could you think a girl like that holds any value for me."

Pain. Immense Pain is all that Sakura felt right then and there. Her world was turned upside down. How could Neji ever say things like that? How could he even treat her like this? Not her Neji. He was not to long ago touching her so lightly and holding her in his arms telling her she was going to be alright. How could he? No, she wouldn't believe this. It's too painful. He would never…he loves her…he loves her…he said so himself…he loves her no matter what…always. Tears of anguish started making their way down Sakura's face. :sob:

How could he do this to me?

He doesn't…

He doesn't…

He doesn't… love me? The last thought driving a spike through her heart.

"So that makes this right." She said in a dead voice.

Neji's anger faded away as soon as he saw her crying. Now massive regret filled his chest,… but his pride wouldn't let him back down.

"It was a preliminary match, anything goes" he said in a carefully calm voice.

That's IT! Sakura's emotions snapped.

"THAT'S NO EXCUSE!, THE MATCH WAS ALREADY OVER!" she yells at him, as all her built up emotions and feelings rush out. After she was done screaming at him she brought a hand up to her face to cover a :sob:.

A moment of silence passes as her tears make their way down her face. He doesn't say anything in return, and remains still, quietly looking at her.

Sakura takes in a deep calming breath and tells him in the most composed voice she could muster "You're not the honorable man I once thought you were" her voice still a bit shakey, but better. "You've broken my heart :sniff: it was a bad idea to be with you." This early on.

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Author's Note:

So I think it might be a little longer before she is dragged away to the Akatsuki. Idk maybe four ch.

But Idk, maybe I could omit some things or maybe I'll end up adding somethings. I do know that I want to start writing the akatsuki parts.

So yeah...helpful much?

lol but I can tell you it definately will be worth the wait, I don't want to rush it along and ruin the story. It will get done, I will finish this story. promise. Not Neji promise, but for real promise.

There was also a lot of fluff in the last chapter, that was because I wanted Neji and Sakura to have some happy moment before I had to write this emotional chapter.

I guess your starting to see my writing style huh. Happy ch., Sad ch, Happy ch, Sad ch.

Predictable...who me? ;}

If you've read my other story Hold on Tight, Greatest Fear, you probably know I have a twisted mind and could very easily end the story with a sad ending or a happy ending...who knows.

Let me know what you think of the ch. and ideas are always welcome.