The Princess just arrived at the temple wearing a long sleeve green dress and a white cloak on top of her dress hiding her face and bruises that she obtain last night. Along her way to the garden of the Goddess Kaguya, an acolyte suddenly greeted her making her startled. She was certain that no one would notice her since she is good in hiding ever since she became an abandoned princess. She thought that someone had noticed her again like the acolyte she met back then, who was capable of noticing her. But when she glanced at who it was, made her sigh in relief. It was the same acolyte she met back then, but what made her sigh is that she was glad that it was not someone else since no one should catch a glimpse of her except the Cardinal's disciples.

"You're the lady I met at the fountain the other day. I don't know if you still remember me. But I just want to ask, what's your name?" the acolyte started with a straight face.

Sakura removes her hoodie revealing her face with a hanfu veil as always to greet the acolyte. When she took a glance at his vivid green eyes it made her flinch all of a sudden. His aura had so much dark horrid sensation on it but at the same time so...melancholy.

"Um, Miss, are you okay?... Why are suddenly crying?" he asked feeling a bit worried about the lady who suddenly had tears streaming down her eyes. He immediately looked for his handkerchief in his pocket, since that is the only thing he can think of to comfort her because comforting is really not his special thing.

Sakura wiped her tears using her hands and said that it was just a speck of dirt that suddenly flew through her eyes. But the acolyte did not hear it and immediately gave his handkerchief. No matter how much she wants to refuse it, she doesn't have a choice since the guy was really sincere to help her, and rejecting it might cause awkwardness.

"Arigatou!" she said before reaching for the handkerchief. "By the way, I'm Ha-Sakura, what about you?" she said while smiling underneath her mask but you can still see her smile through her emerald eyes making the acolyte flush slightly at her beauty. At first, she felt a little uneasy about mentioning her actual name since she always use her fake name "Hana" when meeting with people. However, looking at the acolyte's eyes change her mind.

"It's Kimimaro, Lady Sakura". Sakura felt a little surprised at the lady added to her name, although using an honorary title to someone who always visits the temple is the commoner's customary.

"There is no need to use such an honorary title for a commoner like me,"

"A commoner? But your manner of speaking is comparable to Nobles, it is so precise just like his eminence," he said making Sakura sweatdrop at herself for being accustomed to the etiquette that she had forgotten that she is disguising as a commoner.

"Really? I guess it is because I am always having a conversation with his eminence that I got accustomed to speaking like a noble,"

"You are close with His Eminence?"

"Not really. But I can say, slightly?" she answered while roaming her eyes to look for a presence of a person that might hear them, fortunately, no one is there.

"What do you mean, slightly?" he asked confusedly.

"I am kinda close with his eminence because I often go to his chamber every time I confess my sins, but not as close as you think we are. Because he is still in a high position so getting close to a commoner like me is not suitable for an individual like him with a high status," she said lying with the first part of 'confessing a sin' to hide her connections with the Cardinal.

"So, that is why you're here again?" he asked while Sakura nodded in return.

"By the way, are you one of his eminence acolytes?" she asked remembering Kabuto's story about Orochimaru's disciples.

"Hai!"

"I always heard your story from his deacon,"

"Really? I thought it was his eminence who told you about me. Actually, I admire his eminence more than anyone in the world. But no matter how hard I try to be loyal for he to notice my talent. For his eyes his deacon still is the best," he said while looking at the distance making the mood glum.

"Kimimaro-san!" Sakura called while gesturing at Kimimaro to step closer to her. He stepped closer and what she did made him stunned in his position.

Sakura pats his head while saying, "His Eminence is infamous for having a cold personality. Despite that, he didn't abandon you, right? So don't push yourself too hard for him to notice you because ever since you became his acolyte, he already noticed your capability. And that is what's best," she finished while pointing her forefinger at his chest, revealing a light blush on the acolyte's cheeks.

"R-right, Arigatou," he answered still blushing.

"No problem!" she said while smiling so warmly. "I should go now, his eminence must be waiting for me at his chamber," she added to excuse herself to avoid making trouble if someone sees them.

"Let me assist you to his eminence chamber," he said unexpectedly making her surprised.

"You don't need to. I can take care of myself". Sakura was gonna step forward to proceed to where she is going, but she got halted when Kimimaro hold her left wrist.

Sakura looked back at him while raising her eyebrows making him feel a little timid at the situation.

"Uh, honestly I want to talk to you, more," he said while feeling hesitant but at the same time eager to know more about the lady.

"Alright, please lead the way," Sakura said while smiling. Although she wants to refuse the acolyte's request since she can't have another man to suffer by her side. But if she gives her curse a lot of thought, she might find out how to handle it without avoiding it. Also, his past makes her eager to know the guy especially since she felt something from him that she wants to know about. Like he has an incredible capability that she can gain an advantage from.

While walking Sakura started the conversation so that Kimimaro would feel comfortable.

"How long have you been serving, his eminence?"

"Since my whole clan was wiped out by the people from the Kirigakure*". Kimimaro felt reluctant about telling his past but every time he was with Sakura he always felt comfortable for some reason.

(AN: Kirigakure or Water Country in my story but in the orig it's The land/village of water)

"Why would they do that?". Sakura is aware that his past is what makes his aura so melancholy, but she only cares for now is his capability. However, when she notices his sudden glum expression, changes her motive." I apologize if that question might be too personal for you to talk about, but you know what? No matter how cruel your past may be, as long as you are alive, your present changes everything for the better," she added comforting the man beside her while smiling gently at him.

"You don't need to apologize. I am just anxious what would your reaction be if I told you, what I am born at?"

"Then, try me," she responded without giving it some thought while smiling.

"Alright..., my clan was annihilated because...we were born demons. My Father told me that my clan was born just to kill people and made them suffer to show them our ferocity. Further, we are fed only for people's misery, sorrow, and torture. I don't understand anything about those, but when I met his eminence. I finally understand that I live only if I have a master to order me to kill someone and that's what's made me alive until now," Sakura was speechless after listening to his background. Because she finally realizes that Kimimaro is not just an acolyte to the temple but Orochimaru's pawn for assassination. If he is capable of killing people with no mercy, there is no doubt that he is the one who Orochimaru ordered to kill the third Cardinal in line before he directly attain it without hardship. Additionally, the horrid aura she sees on him was the intent of killing someone without mercy and the melancholy feeling was his fear of being left alone in this world.

It breaks Sakura's heart to see this kind of people looking for somebody to be with them, so they can feel that they exist. But it was only being taken advantage of by the people who find them useful.

"So, you live if someone leads your life?" she asked being reminded of Kabuto's similarities to the acolyte.

"Hai!"

Sakura sighed in disappointment at Kimimaro's response making him curious.

"Did I make you frightened?"

"No, ... Not at all. I just have another question for you. What if your master died? What would you do?" Sakura asked while clenching her fist suppressing her anger to the people who only live because of someone. She literally hates those people and every time she meets one, she can't think of anything but to punch their faces.

"Then, I should also die..." After responding Sakura suddenly pull his alb's collar towards her making Kimimaro widen his eyes in surprise, especially at how strong her grip was.

"Is that what Orochimaru told you? or your father? How many times do I have to tell to people that you live not always for others, you live also for yourself? It is not selfish to have some special treatment or care for yourself. When your clan was annihilated and before meeting with Orochimaru-sama, do you have someone who takes care of you? No, no one, right?" she let out while frowning at him making him surprised at the sudden facade of the lady.

"..."

"The only one who takes care of you that time is none other than yourself!" Sakura finished, still grasping his alb.

"What is happening in here?"

A deacon unexpectedly came after hearing all the yelling coming from the pinkette. Sakura immediately let go of Kimimaro's alb and wipe her tears then change her complexion before looking at the Deacon.

"Oh, Kabuto-san, I'm sorry if I was a bit late and–"

"What happened in here?" Kabuto furiously asked while glaring at the acolyte ignoring Sakura for the first time.

"I apologize Kabuto-sensei, Sakura scolded me for... for not doing my job properly as an acolyte. Thanks to her I fully understand my mistakes. So thank you Sakura!" he said while bowing at her.

"Is that it?" Kabuto asked while glaring more intensely at the acolyte after hearing him mention her actual name casually.

"Hai!" he answered feeling a bit uncomfortable at the stares Kabuto's sending him.

"Then you may leave now," he said still glaring at him.

Before the acolyte left for his dismissal he take a glance first at Sakura and then leave the two in the hallway. After he was fully gone in the hallway Kabuto suddenly dragged Sakura's right wrist and enter the Goddess Kaguya's garden then pin her to the wall, not realizing that he is adding more bruises to her body.

"Itai, Kabuto, Itai!" Sakura muttered while trying to disentangle the deacon's tight grip but it was ignored by Kabuto who was still frowning at her and gripping her wrist tightly.

"How long have you been lying to us?" he asked making Sakura widen her eyes. But Kabuto still tightens his grip hurting her more.

"ITAI!" she muttered loudly once more feeling more pain at the grip. After hearing her loud utter Kabuto finally gets back to himself controlling his temper while releasing his grip on her worriedly.

"I'm sorry...I'm really sorry... I was *sigh* I'm sorry..." he said while panicking at what he had done to her wrist. He rubs her right wrist softly that obtain the bruise from his grip while looking at her worriedly. Sakura pulled her hand and tie it with the acolyte's handkerchief that she forgot to give back.

"Can you not heal it?". Judging by his question there is no doubt that he found out her hidden capability.

"No, I can only heal someone except myself, and this kind of bruise will only heal through time," she answered calmly suppressing the pain she felt when she was pinned on the wall. While tying the handkerchief using her left hand, kabuto noticed that she was having a hard time tying it so he tried to help her.

"Here, I'll tie it–" he said but Sakura step back while looking seriously at him.

He was gonna apologize again but Sakura spoke cutting him.

"I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry if I lied to you and to Orochimaru-sama about my blessed capability. But, I won't apologize for not trusting you," she stated with a straight face.

"Why? His Eminence trusts you a lot. He even do anything just for you, cared a lot for you, and think all the time about you. So why can't you trust him?"

"Do you think it is easy for me as an abandoned princess to just easily trust anyone? I've been abandoned by the people that I cared for in my whole life, trying to survive with this goddamn curse than a blessing. Do you think it is easy?!" she said angrily while suppressing the tears in her eyes. Though he is aware of her being an abandoned princess however he can't understand anything she feels about being abandoned by the people you care about. Because ever since his parents died Orochimaru is his only family so no one has ever abandoned him.

As minute goes by thinking about what to say to Sakura made him realize something.

"Then, if you don't trust anyone. Why does Kimimaro know your actual name?"

"It's my choice" she answered while looking at his eyes.

"Your choice? You're better than that Sakura. I thought you wouldn't want another guy to be part of your curse that is why you are hiding from them. But why does it look like your–"

"Enough! Haven't you heard what I said? It's my choice, but that doesn't mean I trust him. Am I not allowed to have my own choice? You do what you want without any of my concerns. So can you not do the same?". After saying this Kabuto pin her again to the wall and look intensely at her eyes while suppressing his anger for a reason he doesn't understand. He sighed before resting his forehead on her shoulder.

"I don't understand. Why am I feeling like this? I don't know if this is your blessings curse or my own feelings?"

"What do you mean?"

"I hate it!..." he said before lifting his head and then staring through her glimmering emerald eyes. "I hate and despise all the men every time I see them near you. And every time I look at your eyes it feels like I am disobeying his eminence more and more," he expressed. Sakura knew this would happen eventually but she never knew that this would happen right now.

"This is what I told you back then. Don't get too close to me, because this is what my curse does to every man I met. I thought you already knew that?"

"I knew that, but I--I can't just prevent my feelings especially since you already filled my head. And I can't just stop thinking about you..." he said before placing his forehead to her forehead while looking at her emerald eyes. Sakura doesn't care about it because this should do to comfort him, especially since that is the only thing she can think of every time there's a guy falls for her, to comfort them. She can't just easily stop their feelings towards her, because what will be the outcome of her curse, will be and can't ever be changed. Even if she tried to make them hate her, it won't be able to stop them from loving her.

After a moment Kabuto remembers his master that he wants to surprise Sakura with something which is why he came to look for her. He lifts his head and said:

"Forget about what just happened," he said while she nod in return. "By the way, I forgot to mention I came looking for you because his eminence has a surprise he wants to show you,".

Thereafter saying this they proceeded to the Cardinal's chamber without talking to each other. But then, Sakura suddenly halted and said something to break the silence, making Kabuto halt from walking and look straight at the long hallway towards the Cardinals chamber waiting for her to say something.

"About me lying about my capability, was my intention. I don't care if you are gonna tell it to Orochimaru-sama. But I advise you not for now, because if you do. His plan will fall into the midst of my hand". Kabuto's eyes widened after hearing this. It feels like the Sakura he knows was completely different just now. No, she is always different he is just neglecting it because he likes her comfortable facade more than the natural facade she's showing right now.

Scrutinizing her words made Kabuto understand what her statement's intentions are. She is telling a warning to Kabuto while showing her true facade that she keeps hiding from them. A facade that is more powerful than Orochimaru. He wants to tell it to His eminence because if Sakura holds their plan, then there is no doubt that she can easily smash all of the pieces they work hard that build and achieve. But, a part of him is preventing him from telling the truth, and that is what he is confused about.

Is it because she is becoming more and more of a threat to them as time goes by? Or is it because he noticed something from her that is a better master capability than Orochimaru?

Kabuto proceeded from walking without saying anything. While Sakura doesn't care about his silence because the answer already depends on him.

Currently at the Cardinal's chamber.

"What did you call me here for, Orochimaru-sama?" she asked while roaming her eyes through the chamber of the Cardinal feeling uncomfortable all of a sudden. Like there are a lot of stares in every corner of the room.

"Oh, Hime, you're finally here!" he excitedly greeted before caressing her cheeks.

"Um, you look so excited. Kabuto-san told me that you are going to show me a surprise,"

"So that is what he told you?..." he said before glaring at Kabuto for spitting such a lie. "That is not a surprise hime. But an ally that you can gain benefits from."

"Ally?"

"Yes, an ally from a mercenary..." he said while lifting his hand revealing the mercenaries who were invisible earlier now standing on the ceiling wearing black cloaks hiding their faces underneath their hoodies. Sakura felt shivers down her spine after revealing their presence. She doesn't understand why but all of them had a vastly dark horrid aura surrounding them.

"So she's the blessed girl?" one of them asked making them vanish at the ceiling and now standing in front of them.

"Precisely, she's the girl that I would like to introduce to all of you. She is not just a blessed girl by our Mother God but also a princess from a powerful kingdom called, 'Hana'" he introduces making Sakura feel apprehensive. It is hard to believe that the man who doesn't want to see her with another man is introducing her to them. Furthermore, he even introduces her to her real background which they keep as confidential before.

Sakura wants to interrupt Orochimaru for further exposure to her identity. But if she tried too, it will still uncover no matter what. So instead of stopping him, she let him say whatever he wants. Because if this is his plan without her knowing, then she should also find a counter.

Sakura owes a lot from Orochimaru in the past that she wants to repay. But if he continues to control her like a doll and use her for solely his advantage, then she won't tolerate it anymore. If he can gain benefits from using her, then she should also gain more than his benefits, no matter what.

"Her name is Sakura, but call her with honorary, since she will eventually regain her title once I attain my goal," he said proudly to himself.

"Pardon my intrusion, Orochimaru-sama, but I object..." she started making the cardinal smirk at her unexpected repudiate.

"Sakura, why refuse? Haven't you noticed the opportunity you can gain from them?"

"Can you let me finish first to what I am about to say, Orochimaru-sama?," Sakura asked while showing her smile through her eyes making the Cardinal feel a little surprised at her sudden irreverence. His deacon notice it so he was gonna interrupt and said something but his master raise his hand gesturing to not speak a single word or else.

"That was unexpected. Although I felt a little disrespected by your action just now, I will let it pass. But, if you are gonna enunciate something that is to decline the alliances then, don't ever continue saying what you wished for. But, if it is beyond my expectations then do so," he let out sounded like a warning to Sakura. But it didn't affect her since what she is going to say was far more than his anticipations.

"I apologize for making it sounds disrespectful to you. Regardless, I've never said anything to refuse the alliances. What I am about to say is rather than making them my ally. I want to be their benefactor, instead," she declared making the mercenaries a little taken aback at her ridiculous request.

Being a mercenary benefactor is not an easy job. Because you need a lot of powers and money for them to not able to betray you easily. Also, you need to be stronger than them so you gain a lot more respect from them as a benefactor.

"Heh, such a st*p*d sl*t *ss b*tch!" one of the mercenaries mumbled while stepping closer to Sakura, snickering behind his hoodie. "Are you making fun of us b*itch? Asking to be our g*dd*mn benefactor, what the f*ck. Are you f*ck*ng crazy?" he added while laughing causing his hoodie to slide from his head revealing his face. He had silver hair and distinctive pinkish-purple eyes while foolishly grinning at her.

He lean a little bit closer to her and was gonna say something to mock her but it was cut by Sakura when she said: "What do you think? Old man with a filthy mouth," while smiling.

"What the f*ck did you say, b*tch?" he asked while feeling annoyed at her smile.

"Woah, woah. Hidan, control your sh*ts. She will be one of our allies," a tall man said stopping his fellow from his tantrum.

"Allies? Haven't you heard what she f*ck*ng said? A f*ck*ng Benefactor? " he shouted while pointing his finger at her. The tall man removes his hoodie revealing his face wearing a grey mask showing only his emerald eyes with no pupils and helps his fellow mercenary to calm down.

The Deacon notices the tension in the room, and he really wants to cut in because if this tension continues Sakura would be in danger, however he can't merely said anything since he was forbid from talking. On the other hand, the Cardinal feels disgruntled at the indecent manner of his precious gem just now.

"Sakura, what do you mean a benefactor?" he started. "Do you even know what does that mean? You can't even provide for yourself to live, you still need my aid. Therefore, how can you lead a strong mercenary with that fragile body of yours?"

"Frankly speaking, you underestimated me too much there, Orochimaru-sama. But, I won't blame you, since that's what you only know about me. Thus, becoming their benefactor would provide us more merit from each other than simply an ally," she inquired with a straight face. Orochimaru was gonna say something to stop Sakura with her nonsense, but he was cut in by the short guy who removes his hoodie revealing his long blonde hair in a ponytail with slanted blue eyes while clapping his hand to applaud her in a mock way.

"How entertaining yet so st*p*d. Do you even hear yourself, woman? Or you are just so st*p*d that you can't even comprehend, what you are saying?" he said while walking closer to her while grinning. He was gonna touch her hair but he got halted when Kabuto walk in front of her as protection. "Oh, how cute!... Isn't this so bold of you to show so much affection to her in front of your master?" he asked while the edge of his blade was pointed at his kidney. If he hadn't blocked the blade, Sakura might have already been stabbed, that is what he thought. But he hadn't known that she already notices it from the start.

The blonde man was gonna step back and cease with his little fun play, but he got halted when he notices the blade waiting on his back to stab him.

"Why stop? I thought you want to play. If I were you, I won't step back for my little entertainment," she mocks while pointing to the blade she got from Kabuto's cloak that he hadn't noticed earlier. Everyone including the Cardinal was stunned in their position by how fast she is.

This is the first time that Kabuto notices that she is hiding more capabilities and lies to them than he thought. Therefore, from the start, everything she has done to them was already a set-up for her plan, which means she is more than a threat to them than he thinks she is.

*

To be continued...