Sakura

I loud explosion reached my ears and I stumbled back, grabbing on to the railing of the gallery for support as I was almost thrown over the edge by the impact. When it settled and I found that I was all alone in the gallery overlooking the stadium, I'd thought Temari had fallen over the side like I almost had, but then I'd realized: she'd jumped, using her war fan to brace her fall.

My second response was to look for my parents to figure out what was going on. Naruto and Shikamaru were gone and the rest of the crowd looked like they'd been sedated with a genjutsu.

Wracking my gaze around the stadium I saw my parents move onto the orange planed roof top and started barking orders to everyone else; they're disguises made out of chakra rippled and for a moment I was able to identify everyone who was here: Deidara, Tobi, and Kisame. Glancing around some more I spotted Temari in the arena dragging Gaara away.

Suddenly Kisame -with dark skin and normal teeth and eyes- Tobi –clad in his usual mask- were standing behind me. "Sakura-hime, Leader-sama instructed us to take you to safety." Before I could protest Kisame grabbed my arm and swung me onto the roof.

I held in my scream and grabbed the nearest stable thing –the ledge and swung myself up, landing on my feet. Steadying myself and crouching to grab hold the shingles, so I could look around again to see Orochimaru and the Third Hokage fighting. A wall of purple chakra surrounded them and ANBUs watched the display unable to penetrate the barrier. I saw Naruto, Kakashi, and Shikamaru fighting off Sound ninja in the stands. Then I saw Sasuke make a mad dash after Gaara.

My eyes narrowed.

"Be safe..." I whispered. Orochimaru turned his head to me and smiled. His unkind eyes sent a shiver down my spine and I felt frozen like a thief caught in the act.

"Sakura-hime, come on." I broke eye contact and started running.

Orochimaru

A flash of pink caught my eye and I turned my head to watch the Akatsuki Hime swing herself upright onto the roof above the gallery and scan the stadium from her position. Then her midnight colored eyes caught mine and shock registered in her features…Hmm, where there's Sakura…I tilted my head in the other direction and spotted a white haired man and a redhead, both with distinct facial piercings. Pain and Konan are somewhere behind. I smirked and watched the little demon carrier being escorted off the battlefield I'd made by two other Akatsuki members.

I had to kidnap her very observant bodyguard in order to get this far in my plan –but by the direction they were heading in I was sure they'd find him dying somewhere in the forest right now.

It amused me on how protective they were of her and how they thought for the slightest second that they could keep her safe in Konaha. But as long as that little brat carried the Chiryō-shi no Saku, the healing demon I'd collected, I was hell-bent on getting back what was stolen from me.

Unlike the Jinchuuriki, Saku could remain undetected and grew as Sakura would in power, and with her years and wisdom, Sakura would become a valuable asset to the Akatsuki –and Pain didn't even know it.

I have to admit she was strong on her own too; she had inherited Konan's stubbornness and Pein's chakra control and kekkei genkai. I could tell by the piercings that gleamed on either ear that she could learn to wield the Rinngan as well.

With this in mind, I found myself debating on which Genin I should take from my once home.

The Sharingan, one the few Uchiha's left, my cursed marked, Sasuke Uchiha.

Or the Rinngan, the Akatsuki born, Sakura Risame.

Both were skilled and they leaned on each other for support and were a few of the best in the Genin ranks. Maybe both?

"Orochimaru…"

I turned to my old master and smiled. "Sensei, I'm surprised you haven't realized..." The old man's face grew questioning. "You have a traitor in you mix."

"Sasuke Uchiha is not yours' yet."

"No, I mean Sakura Kurosu." His eyes grew wide. "She is the only child of the Akatsuki leader, Lord Pain. She's a Rinngan wielder and the Akatsuki's hime."

"Why are you telling me this? If I am not going to live?" He asked, his lack of reaction annoyed me but I simply shrugged.

"She not yet old enough for me to take, she'll betray you all in due time." With that I attacked.

Sakura

I was free falling out of the trees. The wind picked up and rushed past me, leafs were caught in my hair and my eyes lulled open as I sensed something to land of. I twisted my body, skillfully, and landed on the tree branch below, jerking my head back I spotted a black cloak in the distance.

"C'mon you slow poke!" I yelled back. Tobi was only a few paces behind me and Kisame still went at an old man's pace, having lifted his masking jutsu he went back to his blue-skinned, blue-haired self.

"Tobi thinks Sakura-hime should slow down. Fishy-sempai had to fight off the Music Note-nin, Miss Sakura-hime-sama!" the complaining, twisted-masked, loud-mouthed man called in a bubbly voice, landing beside me and I felt Saku's presence sink further within me. Right before we'd left the village, and Tobi moved closer to me, her last message was for me to run and run fast –from what, or whom, I was sure it wasn't from the mayhem back in Konaha. No matter how many times I'd tried to contact her I'd be answered by her silence.

"You sensed Itachi's chakra around here somewhere right?" I asked, trying to change the subject, and Tobi nodded eagerly. Kisame landed on the branch next to us. "You snail, what took you so long?"

Kisame's brows knitted and he jabbed a thumb behind him with an apologetic grin. "Sakura-hime, you've got to see this! The Kyuubi container and the Shukaku container are going at it!" Kisame laughed.

"The Kyuubi container? The Nine Tails?" I asked. "Who is it?"

All I knew about the Tailed Beasts is that Pein collected them and killed them off to harvest their chakra. When in doing so it killed the 'containers' -or the people who were possessed by them.

"Pshhh, like you don't know. It's that blond kid…ya know the one who is on your cell." Kisame laughed again and my stomach twisted like a coiling snake.

"We're going after Naruto?" I gasped. Kisame just stared at me and I glanced back in the direction he'd pointed. "We...we got to stop that fight! They'll kill each other!"

"Yeah, that would be an inconvenience to the plans." Kisame looked at my death glare. "And you'd be in a serious state of depression." He quickly added.

"Tobi; come with me. Kisame; get Itachi and bring him to the Rain Village border –no delays." Before Kisame could question my orders I took off with Tobi on my tail once again.

"Sakura-hime, Tobi doesn't think you should go against those demons." I snorted and gave him a wry look.

"I'll be fine." I jumped on another branch then leaped again, propelling myself farther away.

We reached Naruto's and Gaara's battle field in time to see a giant toad take a hit then fall back, Naruto sat on his head. Sasuke rested on a tree branch not too far away with a ninja-dog watching the whole scene. With fire-like marks twisting across his skin…

His curse mark was awakened again.

"Oh, no." I leaned closer to Tobi. "Take care of my body."

"Sakura, don't-!" I didn't spare a second thought to Tobi's deeper sounding voice.

"Be quiet." I snapped and tried to concentrate. My eyes sliding closed.

Hey are you in there? Saku…Saku I need you, please! I left a reluctant force of power touch my mind and I sighed in relief.

I'm always here. It's still the same me. We're the same. Her voice was soft and whispery as usual, but their seemed to be an underlining tiredness in her voice. Though I wish you had called me here now.

So you see what's happening? I opened my eyes to give a better image.

And I know your thoughts. I like your plan but it's divided. Whom am I to go to? Sasuke or Naruto?

Sas-Naruto! Go to Naruto and help him!

Your heart is divided Sakura. Now that you, that we know Naruto is a container you are...afraid?

I went silent for a moment. Naruto was my friend long before I knew what he was. Was I afraid? Maybe a little, but Naruto is Naruto and that is that!

That's my girl. Now release me.

"As you wish," I smiled and brought my hands together again. I had caught Sasuke attention and he looked a bit startled at my sudden appearance.

"Sakura get out of here!" He yelled I paid him no mind and cleared my thoughts, leaning further against Tobi's side as he silently watched me.

"Tanuki Neir no Jutsu! The Art of Playing Possum! Release Sakura Te Hime!" My body went limp and Saku pulled away from my body once more. Hovering in the air for a moment and watched the fight rage on with her patient green eyes.

"It always seems so hazed through your eyes, Sakura-hime."

"Protect him..." I whispered. Tobi held me bridal style and cradled my head as the sickness swept over me again, I coughed and Tobi held me closer to him as chills shook my body, I couldn't help but cling to him.

"I'll do my best." And like that she was gone again flying through the air to save Naruto.

Naruto

I felt a shiver go you my spine and I turned to see Sakura standing on the giant toad with me. But she looked…

"S-Sakura-"

"Sakura-hime is my carrier, yes. She sent me to protect you, Naruto-san. The Kyuubi demon within you is strong, but the Sand spirit is fierce." Sakura's demon stood beside me and kept her emotionless gaze on Gaara. "When Sakura-hime was young she fell very ill. Her parents stole me and imprisoned me long ago because I brought health and they let me inhabit their daughter's body so she could live. Without me she'll die, already without my presences the illness that has plagued her has come back immediately."

"Oh," she reached an arm out towards me and it filled with green and blue chakra. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm giving you some of our chakra." Her hand lay on my shoulder and I felt her power flood through me with a sudden jolt. Kyuubi smiled and relished the feeling, his back ached and he smiled with his teeth.

Ah, Chiryō-shi no Saku, It seems as though everyone is showing up at this gathering! He made growl that sounded like it was made deep inside his throat and I could image a toothy grin spread across his face.

"Where is Sakura?" I asked. "If she summons you she goes limp right?" I asked in panic. Kyuubi growled and waited for the other demon to answer so he could fight.

"A member of our organization is watching our body at the moment. Sakura-hime is in capable hands…" We heard a screech and Saku snapped her fingers. "Pay attention, boy, here he comes!"

Sakura

I felt Saku drift back into me; her presence was weak and worn. I found that the longer she's gone the more out of it I feel afterwards.

The boy is beaten, but alive. Gaara's siblings have taken him away. Sasuke is getting Naruto back to the village and…Tobi has carried us to the Akatsuki's meeting place. Your father will not be angry. He is proud.

Good...let's sleep. I'm tired. The Chuunin exams...running...this fight...

As you wish, Sakura-hime. Saku chuckled and fell back into me.

Tobi carried us through the forest and I dreamed of dark red eyes.

Ah, more Saku. Love it, love it and the Naruto/Gaara confentation and the Akatsuki ad we finally found out where that Itachi ran off to. Then Orochimaru showed up (I think he has his hot, evil moments too) and the Hokage...*sniff*...I loved that dude too. Anyways (Read below for a seminingly pointless rant)...

You know I really love Sakura character because I see a lot of myself in her, as followed:
~We both were completely in love with emotionless, jerks at the same age for a long time. (Now I have a crush on a guy who's a big Hidan fan ^/_\^)
~I was a crybaby too a long time ago and could never stand up for myself, then I became stronger and kicked the asses of the people who dared to mess with me.
~We both have wide fourheads.
~I want to become a doctor too.
~My best friend is my super girlie rival.

Please reveiw or I'll find you,

~QueenVamp