The Past Still Feels Like The Present

The Bamboo stretched for miles upwards creating long passageways. Sakura ran fast and hard, her heart beating furiously in her chest. It had been three years since she had found out her clan had been eliminated, found out that Konoha elders were responsible for it, found her sister again and Sasuke left…again. Three years and she was still in the same position.

Sakura looked around for some kind of opening but for the moment saw none. It was almost night light was fading.

Damn this place, why did I have to come through here?!

Sakura looked behind her, the dark figure was almost on her, then she saw it an opening to the right, Sakura took it and skid around the corner, she put her hand on the ground to stop her from falling and then pounced forward again. She checked behind her again, two more figures had joined the first and they were now all walking.

Something isn't right

Sakura looked ahead, and saw another figure up ahead stopping her from continuing. She skid to a stop the dust from the ground lifted into the air creating a dusty barrier between her and the fourth figure, she looked around quickly taking in her options. At the time the fourth figure had no clear visual of her.

Looks like I have to go up.

Sakura took a few quick steps back and ran towards the wall, at the last minute she jumped left and placed her feet on the bamboo wall, she quickly shifted chakra to her feet and began to run across the wall. Suddenly a large hand grabbed her wrist, bringing her back down into the dust; he swung her around and thrust her into the bamboo wall, his right hand smashing into her left shoulder holding her against the wall. She held back her scream. Suddenly the dust exploded away from them. Sakura looked up at the man that had her pinned he just stood there and looked at her.

"Sasuke." Sakura gritted through the pain.

Sasuke said nothing.

Sakura looked to the right, there stood Karin, Juugo and Suigetsu.

Sasuke remained staring at Sakura "Leave us." He said to the others.

They all made their way back and out of sight.

"What are you doing out here?" Sasuke said his hand remaining in Sakura's shoulder, Sakura looked at his eyes and realized.

"You killed him." Sakura said quietly.

"Killed your sister yet?" Sasuke said rudely

Suddenly Sasuke felt a warm sticky liquid, he looked at his hand, blood was slowly dripping from under his fingers onto the top of his hand.

Sakura looked down at her shoulder.

"Great, now look what you have done, get off me." Sakura said and hit his wrist with her free hand. Sasuke calmly released her shoulder, Sakura walked to the other side of him, giving them space, she lifted the sleeves of her shirt a little so she could see the cut, she grabbed her bleeding shoulder and her hand started glowing green. Less than a couple of seconds later she stopped, the cut was still very visible and red.

"My sister may as well be dead." Sakura said as she looked at her shoulder. "She has joined the Akatsuki." Sakura said.

Sakura began to walk away.

Sasuke suddenly disappeared from behind her and was infront of her blocking her way out.

Sakura looked into his chest and sighed.

"Look, I would really like to go home now…I am tired."

"You're not going anywhere."

She looked up at him.

"What?" Sakura asked

"You're healing abilities could come in some use." Sasuke said.

"Naruto won't let you." Sakura said.

"Naruto isn't here…Our goals are the same…he will see you again." Sasuke said simply.

"And what if I refuse?" Sakura questioned.

Sasuke looked at Sakura.

"Let's just say it is probably better if you didn't." Sasuke warned.

Sakura looked at him seriously

"Fine." She gave in.

Sasuke looked past her, Sakura turned around Juugo, Karin and Suigetsu were making their way towards them.

Karin reached them first; she caught a glimpse of red on Sasuke

"Sasuke! Are you alright?" She fussed

"I'm fine."

Karin suddenly turned to Sakura.

"What did you do to Sasuke!?"

Sakura laughed and looked to Sasuke.

"Who is this?"

No one answered her.

"Who are you anyway!?" Karin fumed.

Sakura smiled.

God this is what I must have looked like all those years ago.

"Answer me!" Karin yelled and started to advance towards Sakura her hand outstretched to grab her shoulder.

Just before Karin touched Sakura's shoulder, Sakura grabbed her wrist and spun her arm behind her back.

Juugo and Suigetsu stared in shock, Sasuke on the other hand was not that surprised.

Sakura leaned in to Karin's ear.

"Now listen closely, there are two things you should never do with me they are tell me what to do and touch me at all."

Sakura released her and stepped back.

Karin glared at Sakura.

"Are you sure it is wise to have this crazy bitch around us?" Karin said dangerously.

"Karin just shut the fuck up." Suigetsu said.

"No!" Karin yelled and was about to say something else, when Sasuke had finally had it.

"Will both of you shut the fuck up!" Sasuke scolded "The fact is we need a proper medic on this team whether you like it…or not." Sasuke finished mainly looking at Karin.

Sakura looked at them all in silence, she noticed as she glanced over Sasuke that he looked uneasy.

"Let's go." He instructed.

They all turned and headed down the long bamboo passage, they moved swiftly and quietly. They saw the way out just when Karin noticed something.

"4 people are coming this way Sasuke." Karin quickly said.

"We have to move faster." Sasuke said.

They picked up their pace. Sasuke infront Suigetsu next, Sakura, Karin and then Juugo.

Suddenly the bamboo on the left burst open, a quick figure made a dash for Suigetsu, just before he hit him, Suigetsu sunk to the ground in a puddle of water, once the figure had passed over him he regained normal form. Sasuke had stopped and looked at the scene; another 3 men came from the hole in the bamboo. One moved to Sasuke the other two to Juugo and Sakura. Everyone was concentrating on an opponent except Karin. She observed the scene before her. Then she noticed the first guy that had come through was charging his hands with electricity and was directing it at Suigetsu. Karin could see that Sakura was almost right next to Suigetsu.

Perfect.

Karin began to run and Sakura, everyone else was focused on their opponent. When Karin got close enough to Sakura she rammed into her side. Sakura skid to the side. Her eyes widened when she looked infront of her, Suigetsu's opponent had just released his lightning. Sakura quickly looked to what had pushed her, she saw Karin standing their with a slight smile on her face. Sakura quickly looked back at what was coming towards her.

I can't move out of the way because Suigetsu is behind me and electricity could really hurt him, and then I would get the shitload from Sasuke.

Sakura took a deep breath and brought her hands up just before the lightning hit her, the electricity went straight into her palms, the lightning lit up the small space. Sakura's hands began to shake.

I should be able to hold this type of power…what is wrong with me?

Sakura brought her hands to her chest and closed her eyes, she quickly thrust her arms out to the sides of her and opened her palm's. The Lightning exploded away from Sakura's body. Sasuke could see the chakra bursting away from Sakura like a smoke cloud, she was standing in the middle. The force blew everyone off their feet except Sakura. The Lightning travelled all the way up the bamboo into the sky.

Sakura lowered her arms shakily. She looked around Sasuke, Karin, Suigetsu and Juugo were getting up from the dirt, the attackers lay dead.

"Whoa what the hell was that!?" Suigetsu cried in amazement.

Sakura only had one thing in her mind at that moment, she glared at Karin, who was now staring at her disbelievingly. Sakura quickly walked over to her and grabbed her by the throat dragging her to the wall and thrusting her against it.

"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?! YOU COULD OF GOT SOMEONE KILLED!" Sakura yelled at her.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Karin gasped

"Why you little…" Sakura began to tighten her grip.

"Sakura, let go of her." Came Sasuke's voice. Sakura quickly glared at him but didn't loosen her grip. Sasuke disappeared and was right next to her then. Sakura spun her head back and looked at him, Sasuke had his hand around her wrist, Sakura felt a sudden stiffness in her wrist.

"I said let her go, Sakura." Sasuke repeated. Sakura still did not move, Sasuke then tightened his grip on Sakura.

Sakura finally let go and jerked her wrist from Sasuke's grip and glared at him before walking past him to the exit.

She is such a manipulative bitch…And he is protecting her! I can't believe him!

By Nightfall they had set up camp, Hawk had a tent each, Sakura had only a blanket.

She cleaned up her shoulder wound which had reopened from the fight before and ate some dinner.

Sakura was the last to be awake. She sat on the log infront of the fire. Thunder cracked and it began to rain, the fire suddenly went out and Sakura was left to sit in darkness apart from the occasional lightning strike that lit the sky.

"Great." Sakura mumbled to herself. "I now have to sleep in the rain."

She looked around for some type of cover. Her eyes lay upon a branch with thick leaves hovering above it.

She jumped up bringing her blanket with her. She sat down on top of the branch wrapping the blanket around her and pulling her knees up to her chest.

Sakura noticed movement in the corner of her eye, she slowly looked over, Karin was coming out of her tent.

Sakura watched her as she moved around cautiously, then she suddenly turned her face up to Sakura, she walked closer and jumped up.

"You should give up now." Sakura said staring into the rain.

"Hm, as far as I am concerned you aren't even a real team member so when I start listening to you, we are all in trouble."

"Why did you even come out here?" Sakura said.

"Making sure you hadn't done a runner." Karin simply said.

"Rich, coming from the person who tried to almost kill me." Sakura said.

Karin looked at her. Sakura stood up and stared back. She could no longer hear the sound of rain.

Sakura slid down to the ground and pulled the blanket over her and fell into a light sleep.

"What are you doing?! You are meant to be on watch." Karin said.

Sakura didn't answer.

"I will tell Sasuke you put us all in danger because you didn't do this simple duty!" Karin threatened.

"I'm not sure if you have realized yet Karin but I couldn't give a shit what you tell Sasuke, and if it is such and easy task then why don't you do it?" Sakura said sleepily.

Sakura slowly drifted into a restless sleep.

Pein stood at the end of the dark hall, Sakura looked at him, then she heard a laugh, she quickly shot her eyes to next to Pein.

Her eyes widened and she froze.

"Naruto?" she whispered.

Then she saw it the red tail swing past behind him.

"Kill her." Pein plainly said.

Naruto looked at Sakura and smirked.

She heard another laugh in the side she jumped and looked to the side. Out came Sasuke in his full curse mark form

She looked between the both of them. She was trapped she knew as soon as she hit the wall behind her.

They lunged at her.

Sakura jolted awake.

She looked around everyone was awake and eating breakfast. Suddenly the smell hit her she looked down and her breakfast was sitting next to her.

She picked it up and placed it in her lap. She ate in silence staring at the ground. The nightmare kept replaying itself in her mind. Once she finished she began to get up.

She leaned on her left shoulder to get up. She could feel the stiffness.

God dammit why won't it heal properly!!!

Suigetsu walked past her.

"You better clean up quick we leave in 5." He said.

Sakura started to fold her blanket and packed it away.

In 5 minutes they were off.

They rushed through the trees. Sasuke at the front followed by Sakura and the others. She hadn't said a word to Sasuke all morning. The stiffness Sakura had felt earlier was still there and getting worse.

Don't think about it. She told herself.

Maybe I can use something to block the pain.

Sakura concentrated and tried to focus chakra to her shoulder to block off the pain. Almost instantly the pain grew less.

That is better.

They continued for another hour.

Sakura looked ahead there was a large gap between the trees suddenly, she looked around and saw a branch hanging over the space, she jumped for it as she stretched out the pain returned and with twice the force. As her hand grabbed the branch it got worse.

I have to hold on a little longer or I won't make it! These tree's are so fucking tall if I just dropped I would crack my head open if I fell.

Then the pain was too much Sakura let go a little early, she just missed the next tree's branch, she began to slide down it's trunk, she struck out her arm and grabbed the trunk she pumped chakra into her hands to slow the fall, but she was holding on by her left arm, she jumped between the tree's trunks and on the last jump didn't put enough power in her jump, her fingers scrapped the trunk but she couldn't get a grip.

Crap! This is going to hurt.

Sakura waited to hit the ground. Then arms wrapped around her waist and hauled her up.

Minutes later her feet found hardness again.

She focused on the chest before her. She faintly heard a.

"Can't you concentrate for one minute?"

The chest became half blurry.

She blinked trying to clear her view.

It almost had no effect.

She looked up into Sasuke's eyes.

"I…my." She was feeling faint.

She took a big breathe.

"I…need to sit down." Sakura said widening her eyes to see if she clears her eyes again.

Sakura stumbled a little Sasuke quickly grasped her forearms pulling her closer to him. Sakura slowly let her head fall under his chin.

Sakura suddenly smelt something metallic.

"Can you smell that." She whispered into him.

Sasuke breathed in, his mouth twitched. He felt a wet stickiness on the right side of his chest. He pushed Sakura back a little, blood covered her entire left shoulder, and a line of blood was trailing down her arm.

Shit that is bad and it has been like this since we met up again.

"Sakura you need to tell me how you got this." Sasuke said.

Sakura looked away, not wanting to say anything about it.

Sakura felt cold fingertips on her chin, directing it to face ahead.

"Sakura." Was all he said and looked into her eyes.

Sakura looked into his black eyes for a minute and then remembered the company they had she looked between Suigetsu, Juugo and lastly Karin who looked like she could kill them all at this moment.

Sasuke suddenly broke the eye contact and looked above her head.

"If you keep going on like this the amount of blood you will keep loosing will kill you." He simple said.

"I can just keep healing it up." Sakura said quietly.

Sasuke quickly looked down to her again.

"You can't continue like this, you need to tell me how you got this." Sasuke said quietly.

Sakura looked away; Sasuke noticed her take in a big breathe.

Sakura turned back to Sasuke.

"I was attacked by…Kai and Madara 2 days ago." Sakura said whilst she began to heal the wound up again.

Sasuke remained silent.

"She stabbed me and…I don't know what she put into but it hasn't allowed me to heal the wound properly…it is almost like a poison." Sakura explained.

Sasuke could see a million things were running through her head.

"I have to find Kai." Sakura suddenly said "And I need to go now."

Sasuke continued to say nothing.

She can't go alone what if another thing like today happened? But if I say I will come without a reason but to protect her she might think something of it.

He looked at her considering his options of what he could say.

"Now correct me if I am wrong but from what I know the next person you would be looking for is Madara…and I am looking for Kai…they are both travelling together, so you come with me and we both get what we want." Sakura suddenly said.

"Alright then, I am in." Sasuke said, he turned to look at his team.

"We will all go to the village that is further ahead but from there Sakura and I will continue alone."

"But Sasuke…" Karin began

"That is my final decision." Sasuke said firmly.

Next Chapter : Memories of The Past

Sorry i havent updated in a while =]

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