Chapter 2

My mind became fuzzy; I knew it was from the overuse of chakra that the spell caused. I peeled away the layers of bloody clothe having to cut some of it off.

"Did someone see me?"

"…"

Un surprisingly Inner didn't answer. She was usually gone, away in someplace in my mind that I could never reach.

Keeping my wings folded close to my body I walked into the bathroom that branched right off my bedroom. I readied the water for a shower and while waiting for it to heat up I looked into the mirror above the sink.

I studied my reflection for a few minutes glancing first to my pink hair. It had lightened considerably from its bubble gum tint to a pink that reminded me of the pale pink roses that I often saw at Ino-pig's flower shop. It was a great contrast to the pine green color my eyes that stood out against my pale skin. My forehead was still wider than was normal but was hardly noticeable anymore. My nose was small and my lips were pale. But all that was covered by dark circles showing a lack of sleep and blood splattered across my cheeks and in my hair.

I sighed turning a little to glance at my feathers in the mirror. They were stained pink with flecks of dried blood.

Seeing steam coming from the shower I turn away from the mirror and went to clean away the dried blood.

Twenty minutes later, I had sealed away my wings I changed into a black long-sleeved male's night shirt not caring to put on any underwear and went to bed to sleep for as long as I could. My last thought before I succumbed to darkness was ' Who was standing at the edge of the meadow?'.

That night my dreams were filled with blood, red eyes, and men wearing red clouds.

oxoxo

After waking up and completing my morning rituals, I looked through my closet pulling out the uniform that I had taken a liking to a few weeks ago. It was black spandex shorts under brown shorts and bandage covered chest that hid the seals, all hidden by a fishnet shirt under a kimono style jacket tied together by a belt. Metal wires threaded the belt, and poison filled senbon. I kept the same style boots though now they stopped mid-shin. I strapped on my kunai pouch and an extra belt that hung loosely on my right hip. The belt held vials filled with different types of poisons that were of my own creation. A third belt that wrapped around my stomach, had pockets that held dry herbs that can be made into an antidote quickly if needed. I began wrapping bandages from mid bicep to hand, covering the old demon scar. The scar had healed but the chakra fused into it had begun to spread. It was not noticeable at night, but in the sunlight the chakra seemed to stain my skin in angry red flames.

Grabbing an apple on my way out, I made my way into the market before heading to the training grounds. It wasn't long before I crossed paths with Karin and some other of my ex-friends. I knew I should have taken the rooftops.

I was turning to walk the other way when, "Hey Sakura! Where do you think your running off to?"

Turning back around I scoff, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

While Karin fumed, my eyes travel over the other people. Ino was to the right of Karin with Sasuke to the left, a hand wrapped lazily around her waist. Naruto stood beside Sasuke oddly quiet, he seemed to be thinking intensely on something while staring at the ground.

"Why would a weakling like you be heading there? Shouldn't you be healing booboos at the hospital, oh wait that's right you were fired for being crazy." Ino exclaims placing a hand on her cocked hip and grinning smugly. Karin started laughing while draping herself over Sasuke.

"What? Had to resort to imaginary friends to keep you company, Forehead?"

Her laughter reminded me of a witches cackle, though I knew that it actually sounded husky and sexy. I held back the flinch that came from the name and insult; I just kept eating my apple looking at them with a bored expression knowing it would piss them off. And pissed off they were, Sasuke growled, Ino huffed and Karin's face grew red. Oddly enough Naruto was still silent but now he was looking at me.

Karin opened her mouth to shriek at me but I cut her off. "You're boring me so I'm just going to walk away. Bye." And I had turned halfway toward the training grounds when Naruto finally spoke.

"Sakura why have you been such a bitch lately?" His voice was serious but was also filled with curiosity.

I tilted my head, hopeing to hide my stinging eyes from their view. A shaky breath past my lips before looking up into his face.

"Why do you care?" I gave him a disgusted snort before continuing, "Naruto, you really let me down. I really wonder what goes on in that head of yours." I sighed shaking my head. This was actually the longest I've talked to Naruto for a long time and already I feel tired. "I'll resign from the team if you want. Naruto…when did you start becoming so blind? " I didn't glare. I didn't have the heart for it. I turned away from them and transported away.

Appearing in front of the oak doors that lead into Tsunade's office I straightened my back and shoulders. I had stopped calling Tsunade, Shisou, when she accepted Karin under her wing as an apprentice even though Karin never showed up for practice without a lousy excuse Tsunade just blamed me. I now refer to her as any other underling would.

Knocking on the door to warn her that I was there, after hearing an irritated 'Come In' I entered.

Her office was the same as always, a mess, her desk was placed to face the oak doors in front of the large windows that gave a view of the village and the Hokage Mountain. Piles of paper work were stacked all over the floor and desk, with a few sake bottles laying empty around on the floor or broken by walls and behind the doors. Without me and with Shizune on vacation being pregnant with Kakashi's child, Tsunade had been slaking on her paperwork and started drinking even more than she use to.

"Hokage-Sama I wanted to request to be taken off of Team 7, I'm not a welcome teammate anymore and thought that it be best to allow Karin to replace me. I would also like to request if there was a solo mission I could complete?" I stared Tsunade right in the eye but tried to keep my eyes soft, unchallenging. It hurt to ask to be removed from the team that I had been with since I was a genin but I don't want to fight anymore. Anymore strain and I will snap, maybe go on a killing spree, Karin being the first to die.

Tearing myself from the happy image of Karin screaming only to focus on what Tsunade was saying.

"Sakura what has happened to you? You were such a promising apprentice now I'm hearing that you talk to imaginary voices, skipping out on missions, beating up Karin for no reason? How could you let your jealousy get in the way of your duty as a Kunoichi?" I gaped. I was not expecting this answer at all.

Snapping my jaw shut with an audible clip, my face felt strange and a glance at my reflection in the window showed why. It had become so sad, tired, and empty, a rare expression that I hadn't worn in years. Turning back, I stare at Tsunade knowing she wouldn't believe me even if I denied her accusations. I say with as much of a neutral voice as I could, "I will repeat my request since you must have misheard me the first time, I want to be taken off of Team 7 and I want a solo mission." away from these webs of lies. Okay so I didn't succeed in keeping my temper in check but I had always had trouble with my temper.

Tsunade looked taken aback by the venom that had laced my words near the end. She then grew angry.

"You obviously need a break to control your emotions, Sakura you have been taken off of Team 7 and will be going on a month long scouting mission near the border between Rain and Fire country. There have been sightings of a large group of rouges calling them selves the Blessed Ones. They're said to be an organization blessed by Kami and has a say in who lives or dies. I want you to learn to control your emotions while seeing if these rumors are true. Come back in a months time if you have information on these rouges and if there organization is a threat. Now, GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!" She had handed me the mission scroll and before she could throw a sake bottle at me I disappeared.

I had appeared in my apartment and walked into my room to gather my gear when a pain in my lower stomach had me falling onto my knees with a cry. It was so intense that it had tears brimming in my eyes. Biting my lip I curled up in a ball waiting for the pain to pass.

I've had these pains in the past I actually think they had started right after the Chunin exams, but they weren't nearly as bad as this one. While they had felt like I had just been stabbed this one felt as if I was hit by the Chidori that kept tearing up my skin and burning the edges to a crisp. Training with Kakashi-Sensei and past fights with Sasuke had given me a lot of experience with the Chidori.

Pain not fading I started pumping soothing chakra to my stomach. I tried to let my body handle small wounds and minor pains on itself to not waste chakra or become an addict. I seen other medic-nin who had used their chakra for every little ache and cut and now they were practically useless in my opinion, they developed a dangerously low tolerance for pain. Pitiful really.

After five minutes of sending chakra to what I thought was the source the pain, it finally ebbed away a little to the point where it was bearable.

Standing up slowly I tried not to flinch. I started packing what I would need for the mission while reading the mission scroll.

Blessed Ones

Mission Class: B-Rank

A group of rouges consisting of both ninjas and civilians

who believe that they have been blessed by

Kami and have been reported to burn villages and stolen children and women.

One such member had been brought in for questioning but died on the first day of interrogation.

Subject committed suicide by a pill sewed into the lining of his sleeve.

All that the subject had spoken of was that they were the messengers of Kami that will cleanse the earth,

The forgivers of sin and the punishers of innocence.

Subject had been labeled clinically insane and delusional.

Last known sighting of the group on the border of Rain and Fire the Hokage of

Amegakure has given permission to the Leaf ninja to pass over the border and enter

Rain without suspicion as long as there are no attempts on the Hokage or his people.

.

.

.

That was it? Wow no wonder this mission wasn't labeled any higher than B-rank.

'What mission?'

'Oh inner your back I was starting to get lonely'

'ahh really' inner asked looking smug.

'Nope.'

'You heartless bitch!'

'I know you are but what am I?'

'bitch'

'I know you are but what am I?'

'coward'

'I know y-'

'Shut up! You're a fucking stupid unwanted pink haired freak who kills random people!' she screamed panting.

'…wow. So that's how you see yourself? I'm impressed you could be so honest with your self'

'Ahhhhhhhhh!'

.

.

.

'inner?'

'…'

'Oh shit! She fainted! Lol now I feel bad'

I don't know what she expected we practically have this argument on a daily basis and gone over the fact that every time we insult each other we are insulting ourselves. Its funny most of the time.

While I left Inner to sleep I finished packing food for a few days and grabbed money that should last a while and if not I could take some bounty's. I also changed my outfit considering the weather of Rain country. I switched shorts and spandex for long dark brown pants keeping the belts and retying my kunai pouch to my leg. I also changed into a thicker kimono style shirt with the Haruno symbol on the back. I kept the boots. Grabbing my black hooded cloak and my bag I jumped out of the apartment from my bedroom window.

The pain in my stomach had subsided greatly and was now just a dull ache. This is the longest any of the episodes had stayed. I was pondering on why that was as I was leaping across the roofs in the direction of the main gate.

I stopped when I noticed that someone was behind me. I turned in the direction of the pursuer to find that it was Naruto. I was shocked but as he opened his mouth my surprise turned into disgust.

"Sakura-chan don't leave the village it won't get you popular or attention. Karin says that you keep making these outburst cause you're jealous of how much attention she getting." Naruto was giving me hard look which did not fit the Naruto I used to know and love.

Sad laughter echoed for a few moments. "You make me sick right now did you know that? Do you really think I'm the jealous type Naruto? Look at me!"I gestured widely at myself, "I had everything. Anything I had ever could have wanted then you, you…Ugh!"I turned away from him, shaking ever so slightly.

I don't have to explain myself to you. I'm on a mission, I'll be back in a months time." I made to leave but stopped and looked back at Naruto. "When I return I'm going to ask you a question and I want a truthful answer. Until then try and remember why things have changed."

"Sakura-

"Aren't hokages supposed to be free of corruption?"

I left then. Ignoreing his calls I sped to the gates not bothering to wave goodbye to the guards.

Jumping from branch to branch I started on the four day journey to the border.

###TIMESKIP###

I walked into a small town that resided close to the border. The last four days were routine and very uneventful. I had run out of food yesterday just as I thought I would so now I was looking for a place to eat.

Roaming down the street in my black cloak seeing if any thing would catch my eye but finding nothing appetizing. I sighed disappointed before walking into a cheap hotel. I paid for a room and dropped down onto the surprisingly clean bed.

I stared at the ceiling that had yellowed with age and sighed when my stomach growled I had a sudden urge for Dango. I laughed sitting up with a new mission, to find the nearest Dango shop. I walked to the door but before my hand touched the knob my knees buckled. Curled into a ball I groaned.

I bit my tongue to keep me from screaming. 'It hurts! Why the hell does it hurt so badly?!'

'I don't know. Shit! I don't fucking know!'

'It's never been this bad before why is it so bad now?'

'I've got it!'

"Mind shareing.' I growled outloud.

I waited for her to continue but the pain seemed to increase tenfold, drowning out anything she would have said.

I curled up even tighter my arms clutching my stomach glowing green most of my chakra running straight to the pained area. It felt as if my chakra was trying to put out a massive fire in my lower stomach.

"What's wrong with her danna, yeah?"

"Shut up brat. Just grab her before she heals whatever it is."

I heard and recognized the voices but I was too focused on the pain to care. Faintly, I felt my self being lifted by strong arms. I opened my eyes to see blonde hair. He started to move and I turned my head and saw that he was moving to the window. The pain had faded enough to let me think.

I grabbed onto the blonde that I knew was named Diedara, "My pack." My voice sounded pained and strained but strong. Good. He stopped to look down at me. I was startled at how clear his eyes were. They practically glowed, showing glints of mischief and strength and more surprisingly childish curiosity. "What, un?" his voice was deep and strong and made me feel safe. A spike of pain snapped me out of my daze making me squeeze my eyes shut and curl in to a tight ball again after a few seconds I relaxed a little, opening my eyes a little seeing worry in the blond's eyes. "My bag. Please don't leave it behind. I need it please." I practically whimpered. I just needed to stall long enough to think of a plan. "Why do you need it?"

I couldn't help glaring at the fool. I mean really.

"Diedara I don't like to be kept waiting," Sounded from the window.

"Sorry, un! She's asking for her bag, says she needs it, yeah." Diedara called out not moving from his spot but was looking at the bag.

After tensing a few more seconds the pain evaporated. Finding that I wasn't at the mercy of Diedara anymore a plan quickly formed in my head.

Curling up again with a whimper, I started making hand signs that he couldn't see. Diedara cooed at me to be quiet and that the pain would go away soon. He was also hurrying to my pack. As he bent over holding onto me with one arm while he reached down to grab the bag. Seeing my chance when his long hair moved away from the back of his neck I finished the hand signs my hands glowing a bluish green. I leaned forward my glowing hand hovering over the exposed skin, "Thank you." Was all I whispered as I touched his neck shooting chakra into the skin leaving behind a simple cherry blossom shaped mark that was actually a very complicated seal. I couldn't do too much now with my chakra depleted but this way I can track Diedara and allow me to over hear conversations. It was practically a bug. It alerts me when he is close and know where he is. It also alerts me when he's talking to someone. The seal will disappear when he is out of sight but reappears when he is within a five foot radius. It was a seal I had made when I was still an apprentice to Tsunade after finding a few books on seals in the library.

He jerked his head toward me as I gave him a satisfied smile. My hand was still on his neck so I pressed the standard pressure point. His eyes widened his lips parted about to shout a warning before he went unconscious. I caught him before he fell. I swung my bag onto my back after I had laid Diedara down gently.

"Diedara?" Sasori said from the window. He looked in from his perch on a clay bird. He growled when saw me hovering over his partner. I had squatted down to move his long blonde hair out of his face and in the way of the mark. I disappeared in a shower of feathers.

I wasn't a coward but I didn't want him noticing the mark I left and my chakra was dangerously low already and I knew I would lose in any fight I would have had with Sasori.

Now more than ever I wanted this mission to be done and over with hopefully before I have another run in with the Akatsuki.

oxoxoxoxox

~edited 11-6-14

Enjoy!