A/N: Just so everyone is prepared, the motorcycle race is in the next chapter. I told you that the time would pass quickly after the first day. This is past of what is tying The Center and the necklace to the murder of Sakura's Ji-chan, so be patient. As always, props to Kishimoto-san for creating the wonderful world of Naruto. I just like to tweak it a bit every now and then with my own ideas...

CH. 20: Project Crystal Uncovered

Sakura sighed, sitting in her homeroom, surrounded by her friends and loved ones. Three weeks had passed since that first day, where everything had happened so fast. She felt her head spin as she recalled that day. It had been the first time Karin had called her sister. She still couldn't quite understand what was going on.

She felt someone put their hand on her leg and she looked over to see Gaara, still facing their teacher, squeezing her thigh under the table. She smiled and looked at her homeroom teacher. Her nose crinkled at the man who looked his namesake. The ratty Lit teacher would glare at her every so often, and she knew that he was angry she got his favorite student suspended.

It quickly spread all over the school that she had brought in an investigation team to find the 'serial rapist' who was preying on the girls at Konoha Academy. Most girls squealed and burbled about the so called 'serial rapist', but only Sakura and her group knew his true identity. That was why Sasuke was suspended.

Sakura decided to have a staring contest with Sasuke's pet wench, Kim. She suspected Sakura had something to do with her boy toy not being here for the past three weeks. Kim tried to keep the staring contest up, but failed when images flashed through Sakura's eyes. Images that scared Kim to the point she broke eye contact and asked to go to the restroom.

Sakura smirked and started the contest with Nezumi, who glared at her now that he had assigned their homework. She stared right back, her smirk getting wider when the man looked away first. He had never seen such an unusual female before. It's almost like she didn't need to blink.

A growling noise came from around her feet and she looked down to see Ichimanako and Hime, staring at Nezumi. Seems both cats knew his name meant 'rat' as well. She chuckled and reached down to pet them both. As she did, her breasts brushed against Gaara's hand on her thigh. His eyes snapped to hers and there was heat in them.

Nezumi noticed the exchange and sneered. The look Gaara turned on him made him shrink and scurry back to his desk. Sakura blushed and smiled happily at the red head. She picked Hime up and put the little cat on her shoulder, where the calico just lounged lazily. Ichimanako jumped in her lap and stared at Nezumi, making the man nervous. He REALLY didn't like cats.

After the bell rang and let her out, her classes went by quickly. Since Sakura had told Anko to meet with Kakashi after her class that first day, both of the teachers seemed happier, less tense. Sakura knew they were sleeping together, and that they were dating. She also knew that Genma had gotten his act together and had started dating Shizune.

She could still remember the look on Genma's face when Shizune had showed up at school the day after she had been promoted to head nutritionist of the school. She had been wearing a maroon halter-top blouse with black dress slacks and strapy heels. Her makeup had been done and her hair fixed.

Ebisu had been allowed back, but under strict orders not to overdo it. In return for saving his life, Ebisu would watch over the class, while Sakura taught it. It was rather enjoyable for Ebisu to learn from Sakura as well.

Before she knew it, Sakura was in her last class of the day…gym with Maito Gai. The man reminded her immensely of Lee, only with a more cheery outlook on life. Lee's mentor and father figure had been Morino Ibiki, a master torturer. Lee had learned everything Ibiki knew and then had to watch his mentor die from a poison no one could save him from…not even Sakura.

Sakura winced when she remembered holding his hand and seeing how they had gotten him. They had kidnapped his kid brother and threatened Ibiki. In the end, they had killed the kid and poisoned Ibiki. Lee had avenged his master, but still felt he didn't do enough.

Turning her thoughts from the darker images of the past, she watched as Lee regarded the older man who looked like him. Gai seemed to notice the youth looked like a young him. He gave Lee extra attention and extra exercises. This made Lee happy instead of pissing him off like it would most of the other students though. Sakura knew this Gai character would be good for Lee.

Sakura felt a presence behind her and leaned into his arms. Pale arms wrapped around her and red hair flashed in the corner of her eye as she felt warmth on her neck. He placed light kisses there. No one was paying them any attention, so he could lavish her with affection.

"Are you going to pick Karin up after school today?" he asked while nuzzling her neck. She sighed and rubbed her cheek against his.

"I'm supposed to. I-" She didn't get to finish as she hissed and started swatting at her shirt. She looked down and saw her necklace glowing. She panicked and looked at him. "Obaa-chan and Karin are in danger. I have to go…get everyone to the house and wait for my arrival." she hissed and disappeared abruptly. He calmly walked over to where the others were standing and sent his sand to set off the fire alarm.

Once the students changed and went outside, Gaara told the other's what Sakura had said and they slipped away, leaving a note for Tsunade explaining where they went.

Sakura appeared right in her grandmother's bedroom. There was a man standing over her grandmother, who looked like she'd been hit in the face. Sakura roared and rushed the man. Caught off guard by someone who wasn't supposed to be there, the man went down with a crash. Sakura sat on his chest and pounded him until he was unconscious. She lifted the mask off his face to reveal one of the sleepers that worked for The Center.

"What's going on?" Her grandmother asked in a frightened voice. Sakura went to her grandmother and wrapped the older woman in her loving arms.

"Obaa-chan…The Center is making their move. I'm sending some of Ji-chan's best agents to stay with you. No one goes in or out unless it's run by me first…okay?" she asked looking the older woman in the eyes. Enzeru nodded her consent and sat on her bed.

"I have to go check on Karin now…I felt her in danger too. I will call you and let you know, okay?" with that, she disappeared and reappeared in the holding cell Karin was currently in. There were a few men in there with her. Kari was backed against the bars, eyes wide with fear.

"You're that rich bitch from T.V., aren't you?" one guy asked his yellow teeth gleaming nastily in the fluorescent light. Karin backed up further as the guard watched a smirk on his face.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size, dick head?" she asked from the shadows. The guard stood to attention, his hand on his gun. Sakura's eyes were sterling, glowing with an anger that was radiating from her body.

"I didn't know there was another bitch in here…" he said and looked at Sakura. His eyes widened at the feral look about her. Sakura gave him a vicious smile, fanged teeth showing.

"Stay the fuck away from my little sister if you want to keep your dick moron." she hissed, her hair starting to float around her. The man was either more confident in himself than he should be or completely stupid, because he rushed Sakura.

Sakura disappeared from her spot only to appear behind the guard, her short sword drawn. "I know you are not a cop…you are a sleeper sent by The Center to dispose of Karin, just like your buddy at my obaa-chan's home. Your buddy is breathing blood right now…you want to join him?" she hissed, pressing her sword more tightly against the man's throat. When he dropped his weapons, she gave one evil laugh and slit his throat. The men in the cell all gasped.

The man who had been intimidating Karin backed off immediately. Sakura could feel the fear coming off them in waves. She did her memory alteration on them all, including Karin, so that there was no guard, and disposed of the body. Sakura hugged Karin and told her to sit tight. Sakura glared menacingly at the men, her eyes flashing dangerously. She disappeared and reappeared right in front of the police chief.

The middle aged chief grabbed his chest in fright. "You're slipping Takeru. There was a sleeper in the holding cells. His target was Karin…I go there in time, but Karin was almost raped. I didn't convince my Ji-chan to recommend you for this position so that you could sit around and act stupid. You are much better at your job than that. Now…I want Karin released into my custody so that I can protect her from The Center. They are targeting people close to me, which mean you may be in danger as well. I'll send one of my guys to watch you." She sat down and started signing the papers the man was rapidly pulling out.

"Why are you suddenly so intent on taking Karin with you? As I recall, you couldn't stand her and wanted her dead not too long ago." The chief noticed the shift of emotions on Sakura's face.

"I had a vision Takeru…I NEVER ignore a vision. She…Karin called me three weeks ago…she called me nee-san and apologized. She was crying and I could hear the sorrow and guilt in her voice. She may be a good actress, but my senses never fail." Sakura looked at the middle aged man, then finished signing.

"She's all yours Hatori-sama. I will let you know that everything is in order." He said in a businesslike tone. He escorted her out and back to the holding cells where there were about six men huddled in a corner away from Karin. Karin had a stunned look on her face. Sakura ran to her and saw blood on the floor in front of the young woman, and the injured party only a few feet away, a look of terror on his scraggly face.

"Karin…what-" she never got to finish because Karin fell into her arms and started crying. Karin clutched at her and sobbed like her whole family had just died. Sakura held her tight.

"I…He…scared. I…I didn't mean to hurt him…I was…it…" she continued sobbing, her whole frame wracked with convulsions. Sakura's eyes turned silver and she turned the look on the frightened man. Sakura gasped when she picked the incident out of the man's mind.

"A…kekkei genkai…right under The Center's nose?" she looked down at Karin, who continued to bawl. Sakura stroked her long blonde curls. "Shhhh…Karin, I will explain what happened later. Right now, I have to heal him or he is going to die from blood loss. You sit here and wait for me to come back, okay?" she talked to Karin like she talked to an extremely upset Sai. When upset, Sai was very unstable and didn't distinguish between friend and foe.

"O-okay…nee-san." she whispered, her sobs turning to sniffles. Sakura smiled at the girl and stood, walking over to the man holding onto his stomach like he was holding in his guts. Sakura knelt by him and glared at him.

"I told you not to mess with her. I warned you this would happen and you didn't listen. If I knew that Karin would recover no problem I would let your guts spill on the floor. But I won't allow her hands to be stained with blood for protecting herself from the likes of you." Sakura hissed and shoved her hand against the man's stomach, making him wince.

"I'll heal you enough so you don't die…but that is ALL I will do. The damage to your…assets…is permanent, and I wouldn't fix it even if you asked me to. It's what you deserve for trying to rape a nineteen year old girl after being warned to stay away from her." She stood and went back to Karin, helping the girl up.

"I have to collect my things, nee-san." she said quietly, allowing Sakura to lead her out of the cell. Sakura smiled at her and led her to the bail desk. They collected her affects and headed for the chief's office. Sakura heard yelling and recognized Minotsu's voice. She noticed Karin cringed away from the voice and hid behind her. Sakura wrapped her arm around Karin and fine tuned her jinchuriki hearing to eavesdrop on them.

"WHERE is my daughter!? What do you mean you released her into Hatori-sama's custody!? I AM Hatori-sama!" Minotsu's ranting was cut off when the chief made his position clear.

"I may be indebted to your father for recommending me for this job, Hatori-SAN, but I hold no allegiance to you or yours. My allegiance is to this city and its people. Karin-san ASKED to be released into Sakura-sama's custody and I merely complied with the wishes of a GROWN WOMAN. Now if you would be so kind, LEAVE before I have you arrested." Sakura chuckled and looked at Karin, who looked away. Sakura could feel her distaste at the thought of going with her father.

"Karin…is it true? Did you ask to be put in my custody?" she asked softly, pulling the girl out of sight when she heard the door slam open. She felt Karin tense as Minotsu passed, fuming at being dismissed by a lowly police chief.

"Hai, nee-san. There is something I have to show you. Ji-chan left it to me to explain what was happening. He also told me to stay away from…my…father…" her voice broke when she said 'father' and Sakura looked worried.

"Let's go to Obaa-chan's. I told her that I would let her know you were safe. She was terribly worried about you." Sakura saw tears form in the blonde's eyes.

"I can never go back there, nee-san. Not to her, to okaa-san…daddy…" she started crying softly when she referred to Minotsu. Sakura became seriously worried and tried to transfer Karin's pain to herself. When she touched Karin, it was like a brick wall was slammed into her face. Sakura gasped and looked at the girl, stunned.

"We can go to my house but Godaime-sama is sure to want to talk to you about this. I told her the circumstances, but…there is something you have to know Karin-chan…" she made the girl look up at her, emerald meeting amethyst. Karin nodded and looked at her expectantly. Sakura took a deep breath.

"When Ji-chan found me, I couldn't remember anything or anyone from my past. Three weeks ago, I found the only living relative I have left. When we touched, my memories returned and so did hers. We had been separated for ten years and both suffered what everyone though permanent memory loss. I have an older sister, named Tsunade. She is the dean of the school I go to and you will be attending starting tomorrow. No one can ever learn of my relation to her or she will be in danger. I can protect her, but she has her pride. I will protect you with my life Karin. Ji-chan loved you and even though you piss me off sometimes, I love you too." Karin's eyes filled with tears once more and she bawls against the shorter girl's shoulder. Karin, feeling awkward, took her heels off and looked slightly up at Sakura.

Sakura was surprised; she had never known Karin was shorter than her. Karin, being a few months older than Sakura, had always flaunted the fact she appeared taller and older and prettier when they were growing up. When Sakura had hit puberty, however, more of the attention shifted from Karin to the mysterious girl, who was gorgeous.

"I don't like anyone looking down on me, but you are my nee-san now…the only one I can turn to. I trust you not to take advantage of my weaknesses. Ji-chan said you were the only one I could trust in this time, and I believe him." Karin hugged the now taller girl and sniffled. Sakura felt something inside her shift…and knew that the protective instincts of Saiki were awakened fully now.

"Karin…you still don't truly understand who and what I am. I will tell you when the time is right, but you can not run from it. I don't want you to look at me like I am a monster that would break my heart. My instincts are demanding I protect you as a member of my family, and for someone like me, those instincts can not be ignored." Sakura hugged her tighter and then just disappeared, much to the dismay of the little secretary that walked around the corner just in time to see them vanish.

Gaara was pacing like a caged tiger. He did not like being away from Sakura this long without knowing the girl was alright. He felt the air by him shift slightly and then Sakura appeared, holding a small, blonde haired woman to her. Sakura's eyes were sterling and feral as he had ever seen. She was hunched over the blonde protectively.

Gaara sighed as he looked at the two women. "Mitsukai-chan…are you alright?" he asked, his voice low and soothing. Sterling eyes caught his and held. There was pain behind those eyes, secrets he could not fathom. He held his arms out to her and she glanced down at the small blonde.

A cough emerged from the girl with black hair and…pink stripes!? Gaara blinked several times, but he was sure that the hair that wasn't black was a very dark pink, almost neon in this light. The jingling of bells was heard as both Hime and Ichimanako came racing down the steps. Gaara could tell the little blonde was unconscious, but also could tell Sakura would tear anyone who touched the girl to pieces.

Gaara was a little startled when Hime suddenly grew to the size of a small tiger and Ichimanako grew even larger than the calico. Sakura laid the blonde on Ichimanako's back and grunted something at the two. The larger cat carefully made its way upstairs, Hime following to make sure the blonde didn't slip.

Gaara continued to stare at the blonde. There was something familiar about her, but he couldn't place her. He turned to Sakura when he heard a hiss. The girl before him had emerald eyes once more, filled with tears. Her teeth were clenched and her fists balled. He stepped before her and looked down at her.

"Koi…what's wrong? What has upset you to the point of Saiki's instincts taking over you?" Sakura was trembling, he could feel it. He saw a few tears hit the floor, and knew for certain they were hers, and no one else's. Gaara's eyes narrowed dangerously and he let out a menacing growl. He took his love into his arms and disappeared with a whirl of sand.

Kiba could smell the salty tears. He had jumped up and raced to see what was wrong, only to find a sight he dreaded. Sakura, more feral than even he could achieve, holding a small blonde woman. Kiba kept his mouth shut; he knew that if he spoke he was a dead man. He heard Gaara speaking to her softly, and saw the red head open his arms to their leader. Kiba noticed the calculating look on the jinchuriki female's face, then heard her call for her cats.

Having been raised in a house that could speak to animals naturally, he wasn't surprised that Sakura trusted her animals more than her team at that moment. The blonde was passed out, and resembled Sakura greatly, if only through the obvious love Sakura held for the girl. Both cats came barreling down the stairs. Kiba didn't understand what the felines were talking about, but he could hear the command in Sakura's soft grunts.

He stood there, amazed, as the collars around the cats' necks started to glow and both cats grew to a hundred times their original sizes. Ichimanako looked like a small elephant, even bigger than Akamaru. Kiba watched with hesitation on his face as Sakura deposited the small woman on the larger cat's back and grunted at them, sending them upstairs to an unused bedroom.

Kiba looked at Gaara once more and saw the change that overcame the red head immediately. He turned more feral, protective. He watched as the jurinchiki male wrapped his arms around the female and disappeared in a whirl of sand. Kiba sat on the floor, his legs crossed over one another, his hands clamping his ankles. 'Just what the hell is going on!?' he asked himself, looking up at the ceiling.

The others were pacing frantically. They knew that something had gone wrong with Sakura's family in Kagure, and they were all worried. It was Shikamaru who finally broke the silence. "I'm going to go talk to Takeru…maybe he can tell me what is going on…" he was about to perform the disappearing jutsu when a low voice stopped him.

"Don't bother…it will only upset nee-san. She has been through enough because of me." a small blonde woman appeared in the doorway, her face draw with sadness and lack of nourishment. Temari and Kankuro gasped at the sight. They had seen her before.

"K-Karin?" Temari stuttered, looking at Kankuro. Kankuro's face was one of pure shock. He couldn't take his eyes away from her. She was wrapped in a thick, fluffy white robe, her hair was wet, and she was MUCH shorter than the last time he'd seen her.

"Hai…I am the INFAMOUS Hatori Karin, playgirl and tease, at your service." she spat the introduction and looked away. She could feel their questioning glances, but it was the figure that radiated the need to hold her that made her look up once more. She looked at the brunette man with black eyes with black clothing that was staring at her. She blushed a little when she remembered she had nothing on under the robe.

"What are you doing her?" Neji's voice was cold and calculating, thinking of the various ways that she could have gotten in without them knowing. She gave the white eyed young man a scowl and stuck out her tongue.

"OBVIOUSLY I was brought here, you baka. I was just release from jail today after maiming a wanna-be rapist. They thought I was too dangerous to keep because I spilt someone's guts on the floor. What the hell do you think?" her sarcasm took everyone back, especially Neji, who had never had a woman talk to him like that. The blonde continued to grumble until she noticed the brunette looking at her from the living room. He had red markings under his eyes and he was staring at her like he'd seen a ghost.

"An Inuzuka…nee-san sure has some odd friends…" she murmured and looked back at them. She arched a brow at the rather large group standing between her and the refrigerator. "Mind parting like the red sea so that I can grab some food? Nee-san told me to shower and get food before she introduced me to her 'crew' but I guess things have gotten a little out of order." Amethyst eyes regarded the people before her. She had explored a little before coming down. She knew that at least three other girls were living here besides Sakura.

"What's this?" one of the males reached out to take something that was sticking out of her pocket. Karin noticed it was Ji-chan's letter and dropped into a fighting stance. She had never been trained, but it seemed her body knew what to do. She growled at the youth with black hair and eyes that seemed so child like on the outside, but had emotionless eyes.

"Touch that and I will remove that hand, little artist. That is for my nee-san to read, not the likes of any of you." she hissed and ran out of the kitchen and back upstairs, slamming her door. Kankuro, for some reason, could feel her tears. He growled and looked at them all.

"Way to go assholes…you made her cry!" he took off up the stairs, sixteen pairs of eyes staring at him. It was then his statement hit his older sister.

"Wait…how does he know she's crying!?" no one could answer that, so they waited for Sakura. Neji stared uneasily upstairs, his instincts telling him something wasn't right about that girl. He decided to voice his opinion to the others.

"Something's wrong with this picture. There is something not right about her…" He saw the others looking at him curiously. He then felt a wind at his back and stiffened immediately.

"You're right…there IS something wrong with her. She…isn't human either." the voice was low and sad, tears lining it. Neji whirled around to see Sakura, tear stains covering her face, leaning back against Gaara, who looked like he could kill at the moment.

"What do you mean, she isn't human?" Tenten asked carefully, watching the other girl's reaction carefully.

"I don't know…but I intend to find out. All I picked up from her was pain and sadness. She has hidden a lot of what she's been through, or it's been locked away for her. I managed to brush Minotsu's mind on his way out. He was thinking of Karin, not as his beloved daughter, but as a failed attempt at Project Crystal. Then there is Ji-chan's letter-" she never got to finish because there was a loud crash and screaming.

"HENTAI!! GET OUT OF HERE YOU PERVERT!!" Sakura stiffened as she heard someone tumbling down the stairs. She also heard someone yelling, though it seemed he kept getting interrupted and it was obvious now who was falling down the stairs.

"I…didn't….know…you were…naked!" he yelled, then finally crashed at the bottom of the stairs, eyes swirly and mouth gaping open in pain. He had landed on his head, his legs thrown over his shoulders as if he'd been pushed down the stairs backwards and landed on them that way.

Karin appeared at the top of the stairs, her face bright red with embarrassment and anger. She had the robe wrapped tightly around her. She sniffed and stomped back into her room while the others gaped at her.

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So...what you guys think? I told you it was part of what was going on with Sakura's investigations into her grandfather's murder. I couldn't help but lighten Karin's mood with a good old bit of peeping tom on Kankuro's part. Anyways...i have people asking me about Sakura and Sasuke's race. That is in the next chapter. Sasuke's been hard at work trying to find a way to cheat and win. Luckily Sakura's bike is tamperproof!! JA!!

ch. glossary:

koi--> love, sweetheart

baka--> retard (Karin uses it as retard, not idiot)