Hi everyone! I know I should be updating 'The Decision' if I'm updating anything, I had a spare hour to write this and thought I'd put it up! I know it's not as good as my usual standard but I wanted to give you guys SOMETHING...

Anyway, I thought I'd let you guys know that I've made a Facebook account for me to tell followers when I've updated!

I know that's a little weird, as this sort of thing is usually done on tumblr or something similar, but it's easier for me to connect to Facebook. I promise absolute secrecy if you add me using your actual name; I will only ever update using my account and I will never, EVER post on your timeline or bother you. If you want to promote your own stories, or other stories you think are good, inbox me, tell me your fanfiction name and I'll put it on my timeline. This account is only ever going to be used to tell you story progress, my ideas, my own random sayings and

advice

.

If you don't want to add me feel free to just inbox as I am public or just check up every now and then.

My Facebook name is Sakura Blossom and the profile picture is of past of my eye and a blue hat. It says that my birthday is in 1997 but that is false, though I am under the age of 20 if that makes you feel more at ease xx

Hope some of you are interested, but on with the story!

Disclaimer for every chapter in this story: I do not own Naruto; I only own the plot.

Team 7 had a mission; they were to investigate the disappearances at a nearby town. Any visitors had gone missing and all inhabitants were gone without a trace.

The mission was to find out what had happened to the villagers first and foremost and then they were, if they had not already, to find out what was the cause of the disappearances.

Team 7 weren't the naïve little genin anymore; they were fully fledged jônin now and were the strongest team in Konoha. ANBU were practically begging them to join them and Danzo was interested in having them join root; they would never let that happen even if it killed them. Sakura was now a beautiful 17 year old woman; she had beautiful feminine curves and a pretty face. She had stubbornly kept her hair short, as she thought it showed that she didn't care solely for her looks; besides she liked it like that anyway.

The boys of team 7, excluding Kakashi, were also more mature. They were even more handsome than before and still kept their stubborn rivalry. They all had one thing in common though; their fan clubs were huge, though they all knew Sakura had the biggest. This made the old team 7 members very protective of their sole female member; they didn't like that she might be taken from them despite her obvious protests to their beliefs.

It was also rumoured that even the great Itachi Uchiha was interested in Sakura; he didn't believe in pestering women who don't return a mans affections though, so he never told her how he really felt. Even though he didn't know it, Sakura had romantic feelings for him. They were good friends and she really enjoyed spending time with him; he had few good friends so she felt honoured that she was one of them. She didn't want to ruin the friendship they had by confessing; it could break him.

Sakura was currently running with her team to the abandoned village. She stopped when she heard a thump from behind her. She turned and smiled when she saw who it was. "Hey Itachi." She grinned; Itachi nodded at her a small smirk on his face. "Sakura." Sasuke and Naruto scowled, completely aware of how Itachi felt. Kakashi nodded respectively at Itachi, to which he returned. "What brings you here Itachi?" He asked curiously.

Itachi glanced at him. "The Hokage believes that my assistance may be necessary; this case has just grown a little more serious." Sakura narrowed her eyes. "How so?" She queried. Itachi looked away. "More disappearances claims came through to the village; they say that these disappearances happened only hours ago. The things that happened previous to their leaving were... sickening." He closed his eyes. "The claims came from people who escaped. They had been running for hours from a nameless supernatural being when some of their friends went missing in the middle of the night. They were found completely hysterical by some of our own ninja and brought back to the village and their missing friends were found dead and mutilated."

There was a deadly silence for a few moments. "That's why the Hokage believes that you may need more help. There's more people on standby in case things go badly and we need backup." Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke nodded tersely. Kakashi looked up. "It's getting late," He started quietly. "We need to make camp." Itachi nodded. "Right." Kakashi looked at them all. "I've only brought the one tent; it'll fit everyone in so don't worry too much."

Later that night...

Sakura woke feeling strange, she didn't know why, but she definitely did. She froze in absolute horror when she heard something outside the tent. She moved further to the side of the tent to hear better, though she did so reluctantly. Suddenly she heard the most disturbing sound in her life; she heard uncontrolled, frightened, little girl's cries. She slapped a hand to her mouth to stop herself from letting out a frightened sound. As calmly as she could, she unzipped the tent and walked out. The crying quietened and she looked around cautiously. "Hello?" she called gently. "Little girl? Are you hurt?" Silence.

SNAP.

She whirled around when she heard a twig snap and back where she came from when she heard footsteps and even louder crying. She extended her chakra and tried to sense where the being was; nothing could be picked up.

There was nothing there.

With wide eyes, she whirled around and ran as fast as she could back to the tent, zipping it up as fast as she could. Her breathing quickened when she heard the sound get closer.

As quickly as she could, she scampered over to her boys and Itachi. She was on the brink of hyperventilating, when she shook them awake frantically. "Wake up!" She begged, sobs starting to change her voice. "Oh God... Oh God...Get up!" They all groggily opened their eyes and sat up curiously until they saw Sakura's panicked face. "What's wrong?" Itachi asked sharply. She shook her head, putting a finger to her lips. "I heard a child crying and went out to investigate-" Kakashi interrupted. "Where is she then?" He asked looking around the tent expectantly. Sakura looked at him fearfully. "That's the point! There's nothing out there! I checked! Sensed for chakra and everything... there's nothing there..." She froze when she heard soft footsteps and the others stiffened in realisation. She made a distressed sound in the back of her throat when the crying started up, louder than last time. She put a hand to her mouth and grabbed Itachi's hand.

His eyes were wider than usual and it wasn't because she was holding him. "Gods..." He breathed. "There's nothing there..." Kakashi, Sasuke and Naruto froze; they didn't doubt their 'sister' but having Itachi confirm the impossible really brought it home. Suddenly the crying stopped and a hand indetation appeared at the side of the lining of the tent, right next to Sakura's head. She glanced at it, her eyes wide. "Help me..." The sobbing voice begged. "Help me..." A scream pierced the empty silence of the forest and what appeared to be blood splattered the side of the tent. Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto let out a horrified cry and their superiors gave a shocked gasp. "HELP ME!" It screamed in desperation. Suddenly, the tent began shaking. That was the end of it for Sakura and the others; Naruto in the lead, they ran out of the tent and began running as fast as they could. It didn't matter where; just away from the tent and the haunting cries of the small, frightened and dying girl.

Just for a moment, she looked back to see what had become of the tent and her eyes widened in horror and disbelief at what she saw.

There was no little girl, no blood and nothing was there to possibly shake the tent, though it was clearly moving.

There was nothing there.

OK...! I Hope you guys enjoyed that and yes; I am going to update this one too!

Do not fret! I will make 'The Decision' top priority!

Ja Ne!

Sakurablossom606 xx