Hey guys! Sorry it took me longer to finish this chapter for some reason, so thanks for being patient. I just got my first reviews ever recently, so I am very grateful and happy that my story is doing well. Some of you have given me some criticism to help improve my story, so I will try to use that knowledge as best I can to make this story more enjoyable for you all. As always, thank you for the support and enjoy!

I don't own Naruto or any of its characters this story was made for entertainment.

"Inner"

"Thoughts"

"Normal talking"

To Sakura

As Sakura got farther and farther away from the village, she let herself relax a little more. By now, her nails had grown to be longer and sharper; she had small fangs that can still hide in her mouth, her senses have sharpened, and finally, her eyes have turned from their usual emerald green to emerald green with hints of hazel. She was very excited by the thoughts of her running free through these woods without a care of who and what she is, the safety of her friends, and the secrets she holds being exposed. It was maddening, for her to wait so long for the freedom that seemed so close, but the time was not yet right as she ran to her destination. She has to restrain herself until she hides away within her paradise where she can keep her secrets from being exposed. Her anticipation to change form grew as she got closer and closer to her secret place even though if she changed now she would be in extreme pain. The transformation was never meant to be a painful process. In fact, it was supposed to be an empowering feeling that engulfs one's body, but there is another side to this gift. In addition to the empowering feeling, it is a part of a person's being, and if it is restrained for too long or if the mind and spirit are not aligned, it can become painful when the transformation does take place. It would try to force its way to the surface like a beast fighting for its freedom, but Sakura had the ability to fight against such a beast. It may have left her drained and in a bit of pain, but she would be able to maintain her human shape. She learned at some point that to make the transformation nearly painless she needed to be completely accepting and relaxed otherwise she would feel the agony of holding out for so long. Just as she thought that she couldn't take the wait anymore, she saw the entrance to her secret paradise. In front of her stood a seemingly rocky cliff with a large boulder that seemed to be from a rockslide covering the entrance. She pushed the boulder out of the entrance of a cave then walked inside. She replaced the boulder at the entrance, and ran through a maze of tunnels. Eventually, she reached the end of the maze, had arrived at her beautiful safe haven that only she has been able to find. She sighed as she remembered how she found this place when she was 8 years old.

Sakura flashback

Sakura was running through the woods trying to find a place where she could secretly change form, but as time passed, she changed more and more. Even though she was 8 years old, she was aware of the dangers of the world around her. Her family had warned her before that, centuries ago her clansmen were captured because of their amazingly strong bodies, and their ability to change into wolves. Men had no choice but to fight in wars for different villages across the land while children and women were slaves and hostages. Their savior was one of Sakura's ancestors that had escaped her fate, and saved the children. Once the children were safe, all of her kin began to escape, or achieve revenge on those that have caused harm to the Haruno lineage. Finally, those that decided to follow her ancestor hid with a strong jutsu within their village that they had created.

However, that village was no more. Sakura is the final Haruno with no safe haven for her to hide in. Her mind was getting hazy, and she started to feel the urge to hunt, to kill, and to run. She already had claws, fangs, and dog-ears by the time she came across a cave. Sakura praised kami, as she rushed deep into the cave. Sakura felt that she was deep enough, and began to change form. At the end of her transformation, stood a young, silvery pink wolf with green and hazel eyes that seemed to glow in the dark. Knowing she didn't need to hold it back anymore, she raised her head in a long howl, and began to follow the scent of prey farther into the cave. She ran as fast as she could use her instincts and improved eyesight to maneuver around the tight corners of the maze. She could not believe her eyes at what she saw at the end of the maze. In front of her, stood an underground waterfall, which made a lake surrounded by a gorgeous green forest that was bursting with life. That was the moment when she decided to make this place her own special safe haven, and to protect it to the best of her abilities.

Back to the present Sakura

Sakura sighed, as she wondered why she didn't decide to live here instead of living inside the village. "Maybe it's because you decided to get attached to a certain couple of traveling merchants that you now call Mom and Dad? Even though you said that you were going stay here by yourself and protect it to the best of your abilities." Inner said as if she didn't know that was the right answer. "Shut up Inner. I don't need your patronizing right now." Sakura thought back while she allowed herself to grow a tail and dog-ears. She set off into the forest until she found a hill covered in grass, flowers, and herbs hidden behind two large camellia bushes. Inside that hill is where her den lies. Many years ago, she decided she needed a place for her to live if the time ever came for her to leave the village, and started building her den from a small hole in the hill to its current glorious state. The outside may not look like much, but it is what is inside of the den that matters. Inside the den, it became tall enough to fit 6- 7-foot men in every room, and the average room could fit eight or more people. She modeled the inside of her den to look like a real house with lights, smooth and solid walls ,and she even made a kitchen and bathrooms using water from the water fall to make them function. It was a lot of hard work, but Sakura now truly felt at home in her den that she made herself. She walked into her den using the front entrance with a wooden door to get inside, and began to set-up her den for her stay for the 2 weeks she will be staying.

After she was satisfied with her den, she went into the woods outside her den, so she could finally allow herself the pleasures that the transformation could bring. Eventually, she reached a clearing for her to relax, and absorbed the warmth from the sunlight that would peek through the trees while Inner was shivering with anticipation from inside her mind. She let go one by one all of her worries that have plagued her mind until this moment, and relaxed as the warmth seeped into her skin. It began with Silvery-pink hair sprouted from her skin, her head started to change shape, she would crouch down onto all fours as her hands, and feet turned into paws. After what seemed like forever, even though it was actually only an hour, and she was already partly changed before she completely took the form complete wolf from in all her glory. She was bigger than even a large adult wolf, and she had a lean form despite the strength she held in this form. The transformation only stung a little, but it was nothing compared to what it could have been. Once Sakura was sure she was completely finished, she and Inner let lose a long howl before she took off into the deep part of the forest in search of prey and fun.

To an Akatsuki hideout

Thump Thump Thump

"Come in" A deep voice from behind a door answered.

"You wished to see us leader-sama?" A silky, deep voice asked.

"Yes. I have an important mission for you two."

Well it took me a while, but I was able to finish this chapter. I hope you enjoyed this, and I will work on the next the chapter. I hope to see you., well not really see but you get the point, next time.