Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Naruto. Only this story.

Ch 26: The Dark Master

4 more days past.

A whole week had gone by and Sakura still was not allowed to leave the hospital. By the end of the fourth day she started sneaking around the halls hanging out with and sometimes healing the ill and the injured. It actually felt kind of nice going back to her old roots of being a medical ninja.

After her private 'meeting' with Itachi he told her he was going to see what he could do to get her out of trouble and then left. Ever since then she hasn't been able to see him; her 'guards' (Naruto and Kakashi) always claimed he was busy. Sakura desperately wanted to see him again.

Just when Sakura thought this was going to be another ordinary day Naruto and Kakashi came through her hospital room doors looking quite anxious.

"Sakura" Kakashi says

"What's wrong?"

"You need to come with us." Was all he replied.

Seeing how she wasn't going to get any answers from Kakashi she turned to Naruto.

"Naruto what's going on?"

"You'll see soon enough Suki-chan"

Sakura was lead out of the Hospital doors and into a coliseum-like room in the Hokage tower. As soon as Sakura set her eyes on the amount and type of people in that room she knew what was about to happen. She was now healthy enough to withstand a formal interrogation and for an internationally wanted criminal like her, she was going to be interrogated in front of all five villages.

She was seated and tied up in the middle of the room, so that everyone could see her.

They want to extract my secrets, well fine! Let them try.

On the upside Sakura is now healthy and therefore all her strength has returned. She was ready and would resist as much as she could.

Right across from Sakura were the five kages: Gaara, Mei Terumi, Itachi Uchiha, 'A' the Raikage, and Onoki the Tsuchikage.

Gaara had on his pokerface, but she could see the worry and concern written all over his eyes. Itachi was seated in the center and right in front of Sakura. Anko would be the speaker for the interrogation, but the question was: who would be interrogating her? Could it be Ibiki?

Itachi obviously had something up his sleeve and it had some part with her to telling the truth.

"Sakura Haruno you are an internationally wanted criminal and will now be questioned in front of those who you have wronged to see the depth of your crimes. We will then weigh theses crimes and determine a just punishment. Is there anything you would like to say?" Anko said.

Sakura looked over at Itachi and could read nothing from him; he was like a blank wall. Sakura nodded her head 'no' and waited for her interrogator to step up.

As soon as he stepped forth Sakura knew she would be reliving one of her darkest nightmares. How could he! She just froze. She couldn't move, she couldn't breathe. She just sat there frozen. Her muscles turned to jelly, she felt as if all her strength ran out from her in one fell swoop. Her heart started pounding faster and faster with every step he took toward her direction. Externally Sakura was trying to put on a brave front, but internally Sakura was shaking and screaming her head off! Aah!

He just kept getting closer and closer to her, until he was within arm's reach. Then he finally stopped make a statement to the assembly.

Something about his technique projecting what was in her mind to the various masses. By now she wasn't listening anymore; she could only stare up at him in fear.

She had no chance.

"Just relax Sakura and let me into your mind…" he said.

That's when Sakura closed her eyes and her whole world started to go black.

No my master…please don't.

Now they would finally get a glimpse into the truth.

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Back in Sakura's Time…

In a flash the world everyone knew was gone and they were instantly thrust into the life that was once Sakura's. If you could even call it a life. This hellish hole was truly dark. The sun was completely nonexistent; the only resemblance that there even was a sun was a dim light during the supposal time of day. Even though the light was little, the remaining people cherished that light, because when night came around darkness engulfed everything.

The scene shifted to feature a familiar pinkette. There by candle light Sakura sat in front of a big fancy dresser; brushing her hair in the colossal castle that now ruled over the people. The villages were wiped out long ago and in their place rose a tyrant who controlled all the lingering people.

Sakura was finishing getting ready for bed when she called out to her guards.

"Guards!" she yelled.

The two guards that were posted at her door came in and kneeled down on one knee while bowing their heads.

"Yes, mistress? What would you have of us?"

"Have you found him?"

"No, mistress."

Sakura sighed knowing what this would mean. She put her thumb and pointer finger against her forehead applying pressure trying to alleviate the already building headache.

She waved away the guards wanting to be left alone.

"Go, leave me."

The guards left as quietly as they entered knowing full well to leave her alone. She was mad and for good reason. He was at it again.

He always does this to me.

Sakura walked over to her bed, slipped in, and turned off the candle light. Alone.

She would be sleeping alone again.

The next day Sakura decided to go to the fields and see what their peasants were doing. It became routine for Sakura to check on her people weekly. That way there would be no uprisings against the castle.

"Karin saddle my horse for me. I'm going out towards the towns."

"Yes, my mistress" she said and left to fulfill her command.

Sakura was the reigning queen of this new world. No one questioned her authority. If she commanded you to jump you wouldn't ask 'how high'. You would jump first then hope to god that it was high enough. She had become a cruel and bitter tyrant. The people were very aware of this and as a result they never defied her.

Karin finished prepping her horse and brought it over to Sakura.

" You took forever. A turtle would be ashamed of you!" Sakura harshly took the reins from Karin and jumped on her horse.

Karin could only cringe in fear and shrank away bowing her head the entire time.

Pfft. Sakura didn't care about Karin. She didn't even like the girl. She only took pity on her because she once reminded her of herself.

Sakura mounted her black noble steed and took off. "Let's go Angel."

From the shadows Karin watched as Sakura left. Hmph. Some angel, that evil horse bit me!

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Sakura and her soldiers fearlessly rode into town. The civilians could only sit back and watch as they were carefully examined from head to toe. Sakura was known to be very thorough and because of her strict policy against rebellions none were ever formed.

Today however was different. Sakura had had enough of her master and was herself feeling a bit rebellious.

She had split up her men claiming the scan would be faster that way, but she had really wanted some alone time. Instead of searching inside the village, Sakura had opted to scan the outskirts of it. This particular village was located in a deep valley surrounded by mountains. It was the farthest village from the castle and thus had not been searched in a while. This village also had rarely been touched when the takeover had happened and because of that, a bit of sun and blue skies shone through the cloudy afternoon.

As Sakura was slowly riding Angel she closed her eyes and lifted her head basking in the warm sun.

It's been so long since I've gotten some sun.

Then Sakura opened her eyes and saw what might be the beginning of hope. There in the sharp mountains of old, hidden away in a long forgotten cave was the beginning of what one might consider a rebellion.

And at the head of the rebellion was none other than Neji Hyuga!

Sakura's eyes widened in shock; she thought everyone from Konoha was dead! Yet here he was, she just couldn't believe her eyes.

Just then someone called out to her and she turned her head away.

A random guard rode up to her and said. "Your majesty we've checked the village and found nothing."

Throughout the whole revelation of Neji, Sakura never lost her composure. This wasn't very difficult; now days she was always walking around with an emotionless face. The only difference was that today something had happened and she actually felt something.

Seeing Neji brought Sakura back to the days of old. Back when she would run around with team 7 playing ninja and Konoha was still the great village bustling with life.

"Did you see anything my queen?" her knight asked her.

Sakura just looked down her nose at him and gave him cold eyes. The knight actually started fidgeting on his horse uncertain if he should have asked that question.

"No, I saw nothing. Let's go back." She lied. She actually lied. Now she would begin her slow descent from the throne. She would go down this slippery slope in hopes that one day Konoha will be that bustling city again and maybe she would get to see her master smile again.

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Sakura rode back to the castle with her men only to see that her master had finally come home.

She took her horse to the stables and told her men to go to their post. She would be dealing with her master alone.

As Sakura made for the study she reminisced on the good times she had with her master.

After the destruction of the five villages Sakura was a total and complete mess. She couldn't eat, she couldn't move, she would just lay in bed all day… emotionless. She was so distraught from having lost everyone and I mean everyone that she had ever loved.

Then one day he came to her. The man responsible for all that she had gone through, came. What in the hell he wanted, she didn't know, because she would not have given him anything. She hated him with such a passion. She was so convinced that if she would ever see him again one of them would surely die.

Strangely that was not the case. After so much time had passed of her wallowing in depression, she just didn't care more. She didn't have anything left in her to care. She just looked at him with blank eyes.

Back in the Past

"What do you want" she said in a zombie-like voice.

Too be honest her appearance almost unnerved him…almost.

"Join me Sakura."

"Why?"

"It will be like the old times. You and I are the only surviving members of Konoha." He said. "Besides…don't you want to have a chance to rebuild this world with me?" he finished and stretch out his hand towards her.

'No. I hate you.' She thought, but for some reason she took his hand.

After that had happened he took her back to the castle and made her his queen.

At first she didn't give a damn about him, but as time went on… ugh well you know how these things happen. He was just so different this time around and he would spend so much time with her. It started with pleasant walks through the royal garden and then the festival of the cherry blossoms first bloom. The way he just oh so gently tucked back a loose hair strand behind her ear and told her he 'loved her'. He loved her, he said. He always loved her.

For some reason this brought tears to Sakura's eyes and she just couldn't hold it in anymore. She crashed into him; bawling her eyes out on his shoulder.

Yes, he was the one who caused all her pain, but she just didn't care anymore. No, it wasn't that she didn't care anymore. It was the fact that she had no one left and she remained. After they all had left her, she remained. What was she supposed to do? She couldn't be the hero, because there was no one left to save.

This was her world now. Her reality. That she alone would have to face.

And deep down she had never stopped loving him. Her master, her prince, her husband

…her Sasuke.

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Sasuke! Gasp :o who would have thought? Lol

Sasuke is the dark master! I used the word master because long ago that could hold the same meaning as husband. That is why they are bound together! They are married! Yay! Maybe not good for Itachi hmm…I wonder what he's going to do when the flashback is over?...we'll see.

No, this is not the end. There are still more chapters to go. Yes, I said chapters as in more than one. I originally wanted to zoom through her past, but it is such an emotionally packed past; one chapter could not do it justice.

I was also listening to the song "Savior" from Rise Against throughout this chapter. :Hint: Indication of motives :Hint:

I would like to give a shout out to all my readers who have not abandoned me after all this time. Thank you.

There is one special reader who I named within the story as Sakura's dark steed. To her I would like to give an especially big thank you. I need that kick in the ass. Lol

Oblatespheroid has not gotten to go over this chapter, but I hope she will. However I did post her wonderfully magnificent ch 25 revision, if you would like to go check that out.

Another note: Now that I have gotten my creative juices flowing again expect to see the next chapter soon!