So I managed to stay true to my word and put the rest of the chapter up in a week, woot! As always, thank you for reading/reviewing/alerting/favoriting, you all are amazing! I have to do some catching up in some of my school work, but once I do, I'll be able to post another chapter. Don't worry though, it won't take me too long, cross my heart :). On a sidenote, running into your English professors at the bars always lead to hilarity, blackmail, and most importantly, free booze!
Kishimoto own's Naruto, not me :(, but I would totally love to be on his creative staff (if he has one).
Meeting Again for the First Time (cont'd)
Sakura stared into the campfire, hypnotized by the flames and rhythmic breathing of her teammates in slumber as she idly played with a kunai in her hands. Her team had decided that the watch shift would change every two hours, so that each member got at least six hours of sleep. Sakura had volunteered to go first so that her six hours would be uninterrupted. She had spent the last hour and a half lost in her thoughts, wondering how Naruto would react when they finally reunited. She missed him and desperately needed his infectious personality. It was ironic, as a Gennin she had wished he would just go away and leave her alone, but now that she had experienced life without him, she couldn't wait to be near him again and hear him endearingly call her "Sakura-chan."
What are you doing?, Inner Sakura demanded, interrupting her thoughts.
"I'm taking the first watch," Sakura answered, annoyed at the presence of her pushy subconscious.
Why aren't you making your escape now while they're sleeping? Inner Sakura snapped.
"I don't think I like your tone," Sakura replied, calmly cleaning under her nails with the sharp blade.
And I don't think I like how you're acting like a dumb bitch right now. I swear to god, do I have to do everything for you? Inner Sakura snarled. We have to get the hell away from them before they find out what you did to the Old Bitch. Once they find out, they'll lock you back up in that hospital and throw away the key. Is that what you want?
"You know it's not," Sakura said quietly.
Then kill them, slit their throats in their sleep, Inner Sakura ordered softly. It'll be quick and easy. It'll provide the perfect escape.
"I don't want to," Sakura protested, voice shaky. She clutched the kunai tightly as if it would help her fight against the voice in her head.
Sakura, if you leave now they'll just follow you and detain you, Inner Sakura growled in frustration. Is that what you want?
"No, I don't want to go back, I'd rather die than go back," Sakura answered, desperation now appearing in her tone.
Then do what we both know has to be done. Kill them Sakura.
Sakura glanced at the slumbering ANBU members on her team warily. She didn't want to hurt them, but she couldn't resist her subconscious's commands. As much as she knew she wanted to fight, she would never be able to be rid of her subconscious. Tsunade had tried to rid her of Inner Sakura when she sealed her away, and look what happened. The demon was free while the Hokage was dead, slain by the hand of her student under the influence of that sinister voice.
Slowly, she stood and turned towards her sleeping teammates, no longer able to resist the commanding tone that resided within her mind. Her feet stumbled slightly as she dragged them towards the direction of her awaiting victims in a vain attempt to prolong the inevitable. Trembling in regret and a shaky resolve, she came to a stop and loomed over the closest sleeping bag. She kneeled down beside the motionless lump and took a deep breath to work up the courage.
You can do this Sakura, whispered Inner Sakura encouragingly. I believe in you.
Gripping the kunai firmly to stop the shaking of her hand, she held it up next to her face, poised to descend upon the slumbering shinobi and put him to rest permanently. She grasped a corner of the sleeping bag and quickly ripped it off, what she saw made her gasp and stilled her hand that was already moving towards a killing blow. A very awake Sai stared up at her knowingly.
"What are you doing Sakura?" Sai asked calmly.
"I'm just waking you up because it's your turn to take the next watch," Sakura replied innocently, thinking of the lie instantly.
"I see, and the kunai in your hand is for?" Sai inquired, making his way out of his makeshift bed.
Sakura stared down at the small weapon in her hand as if she had forgotten that she had been holding it. "I had it out just in case someone decided to ambush us," Sakura explained, trying to sound as convincing as possible.
"We should be meeting up with Naruto and the others tomorrow," Sai said, changing the subject. "You should go to bed so you'll be refreshed for the journey. We've got a boat to catch."
"You're right," Sakura said, quickly moving to her sleeping bag, and climbing in. "Good-night, Sai." She wasn't concerned that he was speaking to her without looking at her, she didn't want to look at him either. However, she was quite surprised with how calm he was being despite having caught her attempting to murder him. Sasuke had been less than calm when she had attempted to kill him.
"Good-night Sakura-chan," the artist nin whispered, risking a glance in her direction and noticing that she still clung to the kunai as if it could provide her with some kind of protection. Unfortunately for her, there was no weapon that could protect her from the demon that plagued her existence.
As he sensed the medic slowly drift off to dreamland, he let out a shaky sigh of relief. He suspected that Sakura would have tried to kill all three of them if he hadn't of caught her off guard by being awake. He was awakened by the sound of her voice as she talked to herself, a nasty habit that he noticed was just getting worse. Although he couldn't hear exactly what she was saying, his instincts told him to be on guard as he sensed her walking towards him. His instincts had been confirmed as soon as he saw the kunai poised in her hand, ready to slash his throat open. What disturbed him the most though, was the look on her face. She looked so guilty and remorseful, as if these actions weren't her own but someone else's. He knew they should have taken her back to Konoha. He stared into the flames and sighed. What would Naruto think when he was reunited with the now slightly schizophrenic medic? How badly would Naruto kick his ass when he saw those scars on her wrists, when he saw her act out of character, when they were finally forced to restrain her to keep her from hurting herself or those around her?
"So this is where they decided to hide the remaining Jinchurikis," Shikamaru commented, looking around the small island shrouded in greenery as he led his team off the boat that had brought them to the secret island.
"Where's the welcoming committee?" Neji remarked dryly, noting the lack of human presence.
"Did they leave and not tell Kakashi-sama their new location?" asked Sai.
"Use your Byakugan to see if we can find them," Sakura suggested. "Then we can hunt them down and beat them for not giving us a proper greeting," she added playfully cracking her knuckles.
Neji nodded in agreement and turned on his kekkei genkai. He scanned the area, searching for the presence of other chakra signatures. He let his eyes briefly rest on Sakura and noted that her chakra flow seemed to be improving somewhat. Perhaps being closer to Naruto would in fact improve her condition. Regaining his focus, he noticed what appeared to be decaying ruins not too far from where they were standing. Sharpening his search, he detected the presence of several chakra signatures within the ruins.
"I found them," he said, pointing towards the remains of an ancient temple.
"Let's go," Shikamaru ordered, walking swiftly towards the ruins.
Ecstatic that she was just meters away from a reunion with her old team mate, Sakura ran ahead of the group, eager to finally see her old friend. She was desperate to be around someone who had always accepted her for who she was. Naruto would always care for her no matter what she did. Perhaps she could even confess to him what she did, maybe they could run away together…
Don't even think about it, Inner Sakura threatened. I need you to stay quiet about that incident. If I can't trust you to keep your mouth shut, then I could always ensure your silence by locking you away up here while I have my fun out there…
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise, but she made no effort to contradict the sinister voice. Instead, she focused on the sanctuary that awaited her within Naruto's arms when she finally saw him.
Oh honey, Inner Sakura sniped, Foxy can't save you from me.
Sakura squeezed her eyes shut in a vain attempt to block out the grating laughter inside her head as she quickened her pace and ran into the corroding temple. With her team hot on her heels, they all came to a complete stop as they came into contact with familiar Konoha shinobi and unfamiliar Kumo shinobi. Everyone turned to the sudden presence of the medic and her team, but Sakura was too busy scanning the crowd for Naruto. She let out a cry of joy as she immediately spotted the blonde member of Team 7. She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him tightly and buried her face in his chest. She clung to him desperately like he was her anchor, a means to prevent from being swept away by the tumultuous emotions swirling within her. As she felt the warmth of his body pressed against her own and breathed in his natural scent flooding her senses, she believed for the briefest of moments that everything was going to be okay. He would be able to help her, to save her, but most importantly, she wouldn't be alone anymore.
"Sakura-chan! Where did you—" exclaimed the startled whiskered shinobi.
"I've missed you…Naruto-kun," Sakura whispered tenderly, cutting him off. She raised her head and stared at her childhood friend, resting her gaze in his crystal blue eyes. She had found her sanctuary, her safe place to hide from every wrong in her life. As she held his gaze, she briefly felt remorse for not appreciating him more, for not realizing how much she needed him in her life, for not recognizing that although she loved Sasuke, she loved Naruto too. At this epiphany, she felt her lips twitch into a genuine smile, the first she had worn in a long time.
Naruto watched transfixed at the shy smile that graced her lips. He briefly wondered if he had broken from reality, and the Kyuubi had taken on a disguise in an attempt to usurp control from the Jinchuriki. However, his doubts were immediately washed away as he felt Sakura's soft lips brush against his cheek in a chaste kiss.
Oh my, what would Hinata think if she saw this? mocked Inner Sakura, and just like that, the spell of the tender moment was destroyed, and the reality of Sakura's situation came crashing through her mind as her subconscious laughed scornfully.
The three ANBU members watched their teammate embrace the Kyuubi Jinchuriki, smirking as Naruto's cheeks flushed in surprise by Sakura's forward behavior and use of the intimate suffix.
"How long do you think before he finds out what happened to her after he left?" Shikamaru asked, without taking his gaze off the kunoichi.
"She'll act out first," Neji said with a shrug of his shoulder. "Then Naruto will demand to know what's wrong with her, and we'll have to explain. So will she, whether she feels like talking or not."
"She acted out last night," Sai said, finally speaking up, but keeping his gaze on his pink-haired teammate.
"What do you mean?" inquired Shikamaru, turning to face the artist.
"I caught her standing over me with a kunai in her hand last night," Sai explained. "She claimed she was just waking me up for my watch shift, but I think she planned to kill us while we slept and run away."
"Sakura there's something strange about you," Naruto said, catching the attention of the ANBU members.
Can you see me Foxy? Inner Sakura asked coyly.
"There's something dark here," Naruto said, glancing up at Killer Bee who stood a few feet behind Sakura. "A sinister chakra presence—" he was cut off by a cry of surprise from the Hachibi Jinchuriki, as the shark-faced Akatsuki member, who had the infamous Itachi Uchiha as a partner in crime, jumped out of Samehada and grabbed the sword from the Kumo-nin.
"Looks like you caught me kid," Kisame remarked, with a smirk. "Congratulations on controlling the Kyuubi, but I think it's time you and the aspiring rapper came back with me. Madara is waiting."
And here I was hoping I was going to get Foxy to come out and play, Inner Sakura pouted. Oh well, Jaws might prove to be somewhat entertaining, shall we?
Sakura clenched her fist and concentrated on gathering chakra into it before rushing towards the Akatsuki member already engaged in battle for an epic rematch with Gai. Unable to punish her subconscious for interrupting her intimate moment with Naruto, she decided she would work out all of her frustration on the Akatsuki member among them. She was almost tempted to release Inner Sakura, in the hopes that once she could get her blood fix, she would leave her alone for awhile, and Sakura would be able to spend some quality time with Naruto before she fled.
I'll take up that offer if it's on the table, Inner Sakura said eagerly. I am in the mood for seafood.
Coming to a decision as she neared the now fighting Kisame, Sakura's chakra-infused fist made contact with the chest of the shark-faced Akatsuki member, the tell-tale smirk twisting her lips as she watched Kisame crash into the surrounding trees in satisfactory anticipation.
I hope you all liked it...you know you wanna review it...por favor?
