Konnichiwa! :) So, sorry 'bout the cliffy but here it is... Hope you like it. :) (BTW. In the last chapter it was GENJUTSU RELEASE not reveal.) (ANOTHER BTW. This was set after Itachi's death so Taka's already formed and their still in the Akatsuki.)
Here goes...
_
[Sakura's POV]
I gasped along with the others and stood there frozen and wordless.
I could only stare. I lost control of my senses. I couldn't move.
We all stood there waiting for someone to make the next move. Nobody moved though.
Even he didn't move.
Slowly, we all looked at Naruto. His head was faced down and he was obviously deep in thought. His hair fell over his eyes a bit...
Emo...
His hands were curled up into tight fists and sweat was slowly falling from his face.
We carefully watched his movements. He slowly looked up to face him.
"Sasuke." He said his name then we all looked at him.
He smirked.
I know he's the bad guy now and there were times when he tried to kill Naruto, Kakashi-sensei and even... me but... There was still a part of me that belonged to him and that part of me would be his forever. Even if I've already lost faith in him I still... love him and I can't lie to myself. It was the truth.
"Sasuke." I thought out loud. I saw everyone's heads turn toward me... Even his.
"Sakura." He said with a smirk still on his face.
I could burst into tears right now. Remembering that night he left me at that bench.
'Thank you.'
His words echoed in my head over and over again. But I stayed strong.
Never show the enemy any emotion.
...The enemy...
I frowned. I couldn't help it. A tear fell from my eye.
"Huh?" I heard him say.
"Sasuke... You have guts showing your face here. After all you've done! After all we've been through! How could you." [A/N: By 'we' I mean Team 7. :)] I said, in tears now.
His smirk faded and his face became emotionless but there was guilt in his eyes. So much guilt for all the wrong things he's done.
"Sasuke..." I heard Kakashi-sensei say with surprise in his voice.
"That cloak..." He said with pure shock.
That was the second surprise. He was wearing an... Akatsuki cloak.
"Your... an Akatsuki?" Naruto said with anger, hurt and shock in his voice.
My tears had faded now and I was just as surprised as everyone else.
"You noticed. Heh." He said, the smirk returning to his face.
"Sasuke... Why?" I asked him.
"Well... It's a long story that I have no interest of sharing." He said darkly.
"Grr..." Akamaru snarled at him. Kiba looked at him with anger too. He had the same look Akamaru had.
"Hmph." He said coldly.
"Sasuke. C'mon. Let's get rid of them already." We heard an unfamiliar guy's voice. He was very near. He was behind Sasuke, hiding in the shadows.
"Hn. Relax, Suigetsu. You'll have your chance." Sasuke said.
Suddenly, a guy with white hair that had a light blue tint and purple eyes appeared.
"Suigetsu Hozuki." I heard Kakashi-sensei say.
He was pertaining to the person that had just appeared.
"Knowledgeable as always Kakashi." Sasuke said.
"S-Suigetsu Hozuki?" I asked. I wanted to know more about this guy.
"Yes. Suigestu Hozuki. He hails from Kirigakure, The Village Hidden in the Mist. Reputed to be the "Reincarnation of Kijin'. He is a prodigy in the art of murder as he chops off his opponent limbs before beheading them. He is... quite powerful." Kakashi-sensei said.
"So, in other words. This guy is bad news. Just like Sasuke." Shikamaru said then he looked at Ino.
Ino looked back at him.
"What?" She said, irritated by the fact that Shikamaru was staring at her.
"Well... I just said something against Sasuke. Usually, you'd beat me up."Shikamaru said.
"Hmph. Forget it. Sasuke's different now. He's not the same Sasuke we knew 3 years ago. He's changed and he's evil. Therefore, our enemy... MY enemy." Ino said in a flat tone.
"Hmm... Yes, you could say that." Kakashi-sensei said.
"Huh?" Ino said.
"Shikamaru's right. This guy... These guys... Are bad news." Kakashi-sensei said.
"Quite powerful you say huh?" Suigetsu said, insulted.
"I AM VERY powerful. Sasuke, let me show them." He said ready to fight. He held his sword up in a fighting position.
"Heh." Sasuke smirked again.
"Suigetsu. Patience is a virtue. Relax." We heard a girl now.
Somewhere in my head, her voice was very familiar.
A girl with red hair, red eyes and glasses appeared.
Now I know...
"Karin." I stated.
"Hmph. So... The Sasuke-stealing BRAT knows me. I'm flattered." She said sarcastically.
"CHA! Shut up you Sasuke-obsessed fan girl! Sasuke still LOVES ME MORE THAN YOU. CHA!" Inner Sakura said.
Inner Sakura? Heh. Long time no see.
"Hmph. Whatever. Sasuke's yours all you want. I couldn't care less." I said calmly. Expertly hiding all the pain and hurt that should have been in that sentence.
I noticed the smirk on Sasuke's face disappear and he looked a bit hurt at what I said.
"That's what you get for leaving me! CHA!" Inner Sakura said.
Boy, your appearing a lot aren't you Inner?
"Huh?" Karin and Sasuke said at the same time.
"AH! We spoke at the same time. You know, they say that when two people speak at the same time... It means that they love each other..." Karin said all flirtatious, her hand around Sasuke's shoulder.
"GET YOUR MAN-HANDS AWAY FROM MY SASUKE! CHA!" Inner said. Again.
What the-? Inner? (Are you making up for lost screen time? ...)
Sasuke removed her hands from his shoulder.
"They don't say that Karin. Only you do." He told her coldly.
She looked hurt... The same look Sasuke had when I told Karin that she could have him.
"Hmph!" Karin turned away from Sasuke.
"Enough of this shenanigan! Let's finish this so we can return." Sasuke said.
I have a bad feeling about this.
[Naruto's POV]
So Sasuke and two goons appeared before us, interrupting our mission to find Hinata. That mission was of high importance but this was pretty important too.
We haven't seen Sasuke in 3 years... Except for the various times he tried to kill us but now, we were talking. It was different.
He was with a white-haired, purple-eyed guy and a red-haired, red-eyed girl that was obviously infatuated with him. Much like Sakura, Ino and all the others girls in our academy when we were still academy students.
"Enough of this shenanigan! let's finish this so we can return." Sasuke said in a that's-an-order kind of tone.
"Return where?" I asked.
He only looked at me with cold eyes. Like, it should be obvious or something.
...
Right.
"Return to... the Akatsuki hideout..." I said with certainty.
That was the second thing. He was an Akatsuki now. Like his brother before him. I can't believe how low he's gone. Joining the Akatsuki. We used to fight those guys and now he's one of them.
the Akatsuki. They 'wanna capture the tailed beasts. But why? They've killed a lot of jinchuriki like Roshi, Utakata and a lot more. They even almost killed Gaara but Chiyo resurrected him. Now, there were only two jinchuriki left in the world. Me and Killer Bee.
In other words, the Akatsuki was bad news. They're the enemy and now... Sasuke is too.
I frowned at my thought.
I couldn't bring myself to believe that Sasuke was the enemy now. I just couldn't. We had a bond and whatever he does. That bond will never ever be broken. Never.
"Your slow, as usual, but quicker now than before." He insulted me.
My eyes narrowed for a second with anger at his insult but they returned to normal. I was used to Sasuke calling me a loser, a failure or whatever and maybe in the past I believed him for a while but I got used to it and it didn't affect me anymore.
"Hn. So, what's your business with us?" I asked him.
True, this was important but we have to find Hinata first. That was our mission and we can't abandon it.
"Ugh." Neji gasped.
"What is it Neji?" Tenten asked him.
"It's... Hinata... She's close. She's... Right in front of us." Neji said with his Byakugan activated.
"Huh? But..." I said then looked at Sasuke.
He snickered.
"Oh yeah. Hinata Hyuuga. Juugo!" Sasuke called out.
Another goon. Great.
Suddenly, a tall guy wearing an Akatsuki cloak, like the rest of them, appeared. He was very tall and had spiky orange hair and orange eyes to match.
Even worse, he was carrying an unconscious Hinata on his shoulders!
"LET HER GO!" I screamed.
"Naruto..." I heard Sakura say.
My emotions were overflowing. Sadness, pain... I had flash backs of the shy moments Hinata had when she was with me. I remembered her 'Naruto-shaped' rice balls. How she blushed and sometimes fainted when I talk to her. All the time she went out of her way just to help me, aid me. Through it all... She was always smiling. I always made her happy. And now, her letter... It contained... everything. I promised myself I'd save her. And I will. Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes.
After I snapped out of my thoughts I felt power surging through my veins. The air suddenly felt hot but I didn't feel like burning. The heat felt natural. I initially knew it was the Nine-tailed Fox's chakra and power that was doing this. Normally, I'd do my best to stop this but this time was different. I couldn't. Actually, I didn't want to. Seeing Hinata there made me so mad. TOO mad. I felt my canines getting sharper and I knew my 'whiskers' thickened and my eyes were already red. My eyebrows pushed together in anger. I clenched my fists tight. I could see the reddish-orange chakra that surrounded me.
I looked up and looked at Sasuke. He had a calm expression he already saw this form of me. But that was my one-tailed form. This was different. I felt more power than before.
I didn't know what was going on. I didn't care. Because at that moment I forgot everything. Bonds, friendship. everything. I only remembered Hinata and our mission. But everything else was gone...
[Sakura's POV]
After another goon with orange hair and orange eyes appeared with an unconscious Hinata on his shoulder we knew something bad was 'gonna happen.
I immediately looked at Naruto and things didn't look good. He was looking down again. His fists clenched together. The moment the air suddenly became hot we knew.
I continued looking at Naruto.
"Huh?" I heard Shikamaru say. I looked at him. He was holding Ino.
"Ino!" I screamed.
"Shikamaru! What's going on?" I asked him.
"Well... I think she sensed chakra that was too powerful. She couldn't take it. So, she collapsed." He explained.
Oh no.
I went over to Shikamaru and Ino, avoiding Naruto.
"Ino. I she 'gonna be okay?" I asked again.
"Well... I don't know. This is the first time she collapsed from sensing chakra. And the chakra's probably very, very strong 'cuz Ino's chakra sensing abilities aren't that high." Shikamaru said.
"Oh no. We 'gotta get her out of here. A battle's 'gonna occur soon. C'mon." I said.
"No. I'll take her back to the village. They need you Sakura. Stay here." He told me.
Well, can't argue with that.
"Okay." I said.
As Shikamaru was just about to take off with Ino. She coughed.
"No. I can fight. the sudden burst of chakra just shocked me. I can handle it now. Besides, I can't let Sakura have all the glory." She smiled, a weak but heartfelt smile.
I smiled too.
"Okay." I said.
I helped her up.
"Let's do this. I'm ready for anything." She said.
At that moment we both knew that the feud... was over and our friendship was back. In fact, it was never lost.
I smiled at that thought.
But the heat increasing in the air snapped me out of my thoughts and back to reality.
I saw Naruto on the ground... on all fours. In his... Five-tailed Jinchuriki form?
"Kakashi-sensei! Five Tails?" I asked him with alarm in my voice.
"There's nothing we can do. We just have to stand back and wait until Naruto needs help." He said.
WHAT?
"But! Kakashi-sensei! Don't you have a Sealing Jutsu or something?" I asked him.
We needed to control Naruto or else... We could all die. All of us... Including Naruto himself.
"Afraid not. I already used it once." Kakashi-sensei said.
That's right. I remember. That one time when he turned into his Four-tailed form. He almost killed us but kakashi-sensei sealed him just in time. But this time... It was different. It was Five-tails and there's an 80% chance that he'll get angrier and change into his Six-tailed form. There's no telling what could happen.
I heard Naruto growling.
I looked at him again.
Right now, his clothes should have been burned and his skin should start burning too. But he looked perfectly fine. He had his clothes and he wasn't burning. He wasn't starting to burn. he looked normal, except for the chakra and the tails, but other than that he still looked human.
"GIVE HINATA BACK!" He said in his own voice but it was mixed with a deeper, darker voice.
The Nine-tailed Fox's voice?
I don't know.
"Ugh." I heard into grunt. I looked at her and saw that she was weakening. Her knees were bent and she looked like she was 'gonna fall any second.
"Ino. Are you okay? We can take you back to the village..." I offered. She really didn't look good.
"I-I'm fine. Don't worry." She stuttered.
Ino? STUTTERING? There's a first.
"Okay then." I said with hesitation.
We looked back at Naruto and what was going on.
He was still snarling at Sasuke.
The air was getting hotter and hotter by the minute and in a few hours we'll be cooked to perfection.
What am I 'gonna do?
"N...N-NARUTO! Don't do this! You'll destroy us all! Including yourself! PLEASE! STOP!" I said, tears almost falling from my eyes.
"Please..." I gave him a hopeful look.
He turned around and looked at me. His eyes were still filled with rage.
I stepped back half a step out of fear. He was looking at me with those eyes...
If looks could kill I'd be dead now.
"Don't worry Sakura. This'll all be over soon." He assured me the he turned around and focused on Sasuke again.
My eyes widened in shock and so did Kakashi-sensei's.
He can... speak?
But... He's in his FIVE-tailed Form. Kakashi-sensei said that he can only control his actions until Three-tails but when the fourth tail appears... He loses control. He attacks anyone, friend or foe. What's going on?
"I..." I started. I was 'gonna try and stop him one more time but before I could say anything, Naruto started to run towards Sasuke at full speed.
"NARUTO!" I screamed but he didn't look back. He was dead serious about Hinata.
I couldn't do anything at this point. It was too late. There was nothing we could do...
"AAAARRRGGGHHH!" Naruto screamed as he charged for the tall guy holding Hinata.
The person, apparently named Jugo, had a calm expression before Naruto started to attack him and when he did Jugo lost his calm, serene expression and turned into a monster. His arm became a giant weapon with spikes. He kept swinging it at Naruto but Naruto was too fast. He couldn't hit him, every time the weapon came close, Naruto disappeared. Naruto had incredible speed. Inhuman speed...
"Grrr..." Jugo snarled out of frustration. He lost his arm then transformed into a monster. His skin turned dark and he gained black sclera in his eyes. H0is elbows had sharper edgings, his nails sharpened, he grew horns at the top of his head that extended to his cheeks, and on his back are what appears to be six jet boosters like appendages.
He was a monster.
He charged at Naruto. But, again, Naruto was too fast. Even with Jugo's jet boosters turned on. He was still too slow.
Naruto ran to him again. But he didn't look like he was 'gonna attack. Suddenly, in a blink of an eye, he was back to his first position. He held Hinata in his arms then gave it to Kakashi-sensei. I looked at Hinata. I felt pity for her. She was bruised all over and she had deep cuts and wounds on her arms and face. Her clothes were slightly shattered, probably cut by kunai. And she had a minor burn on both her arms, where the sleeves of her jacket were a mess.
"Take her back to the village." Naruto ordered Kakashi-sensei with his voice still mixed with the other voice.
At first Kakashi-sensei looked surprised as Naruto (and the Nine-tailed Fox) gave him an order. But he said yes anyway.
"No. I'll take Hinata back to the village. They need you here Kakashi-sensei. Don't worry. I'll take care of her." Ino offered with a smile.
Something was wrong...
"Huh?" I said as Shikamaru threw a kunai at Ino.
I didn't scream, I waited for the outcome of his actions.
After a few second a cloud of smoke appeared then 'Ino' disappeared.
"What?" I said.
I was so confused right now.
"Pretty clever." Karin said, appearing after the smoke had disappeared.
"What the- Where's Ino?" I yelled.
"Right here." Tenten said.
"Huh?" I said.
Okay, I'm the most confused girl on Earth! What's going on!
"What? But I- She was- Ugh. I'll get you again." karin said then returned to Sasuke's side.
...Sasuke's side. A place I wish I could be...
"Sakura! Wacth out!" I heard Rock Lee.
"Huh?" I snapped out of my thoughts but it was too late I saw Jugo coming at me with his hand molded into a sharp blade.
"SAKURA!" Rock Lee screamed then he covered me. Good thing Jugo missed us.
"Uhh... Thanks Lee." I smiled.
He smiled too and, of course, he was blushing.
Oh boy.
"Uhmm... Get off me please." I said.
"Oh. I am so sorry!" He said as he got off me and helped me up.
"It's okay. I'll be more alert from now on." I said.
"Good!" He smiled.
"Wait... What happened to Hinata?" I asked him.
"Guy-sensei brought her back to the village." He said.
"Oh. Okay." I said then we turned our focus back to the battle.
Naruto still had Five tails... I guess that's a good thing. Let's just hope he doesn't go Six or more...
He was now up against Jugo AND Suigetsu, the white haired guy with Zabuza's blade.
Suigetsu swung the sword at Naruto who was busy fighting Jugo.
"Naruto! Watch out!" I screamed.
It would seem that he heard me as he jumped in the air leaving Suigetsu swinging his sword towards Jugo. His sword had momentum of course. He tried to stop the sword with all his force. But by the time he stopped it, it had already cut deep through Jugo. he quickly pulled out the sword and ran to Jugo to help him out.
When the blade cut Jugo all his weapon disappeared, his eyes and skin returned to their normal state. He collapsed. He was unconscious on the floor.
Naruto was on the ground again.
I saw Sasuke shake his head.
"Karin. Get Jugo and Suigetsu back to the hideout and explain what happened. I'll handle this." Sasuke said.
"But... Sasuke..." Karin started to object.
"Do it!" He told her in a this-is-an-order-so-do-it! voice.
She couldn't argue anymore.
"O-okay..." She said with hesitation then she, Suigetsu and the injured Jugo disappeard, leaving only Sasuke.
"Let's finish this." Sasuke said.
Naruto only snarled.
What'll be the outcome of this?...
[Sasuke's POV]
Naruto was in his Five-tailed Jinchuriki Form now. And he can control it.
Hmph. No matter. He's still weaker than me.
"Let's finish this." I said.
He only snarled at me.
I noticed one of his tails disappeared.
Why?...
Hmph. Whatever.
I knew this was going to be a bit harder since I don't have my Curse Mark anymore but i can still do this.
I started to build up my Chidori to full power and Naruto started to build up his Rasengan, infused with the Nine-tail's chakra.
This reminded me of the time when...
NO! No, no, no, no! I can't go back. I can't be a loser like them. I can't be weak again. NO! I won't go back.
But... Everything I'm doing, everything I've done since that night I defected from Konoha... it felt wrong. Even when I killed my brother it still felt wrong. Well, maybe that's because it was. I killed my brother for the wrong reasons. I've killed a lot of innocent people and for what? Power? I let myself get eaten by evil and darkness for... power? When I really thought about it... It sounded really messed up.
NO! I did what I had to do and that's it. I don't care one bit about any of them! I don't!
Then... Why is it that when Sakura said that Karin could have me and that she "couldn't care less"... It hurt. Like, she stabbed me with those words.
And at that moment I realized... Sakura's words were right... The things she told me that night... at that bench were true.
'What your 'gonna do won't bring happiness to anyone. Not you... Not me...'
Her words echoed in my head.
I seized my Chidori and Naruto did too with his Rasengan.
I stood there and thought... about all the things I've done. The things that I once believed were the right things to do. This path that I chose. Is it possible that it was the wrong path? Maybe... I was wrong.
I looked at Naruto and instantly remembered all our missions. All the times he saved me and all the times I saved him. All the memories came back. The memories I've bee trying to forget but couldn't, came rushing back.
'You loser.' I used to always say. I smiled.
I looked at Sakura and immediately, I felt pain and guilt. The memory of that night at that bench stood out. I felt so guilty. I felt pain unimaginable. I couldn't describe it. This feeling was different...
Then I looked at Kakashi... sensei. I remembered all our missions as Team 7. The fun, the hardships, the risking of lives for one another...
At that point in time I confirmed to myself that what Sakura said was true. Power and revenge didn't give me happiness. I killed my brother for the wrong reasons, I killed innocent people, I defied my comrades... I... So many wrong things... I did them all and for what? Power? I let myself be eaten my evil and darkness for... power?
Wrong.
That was the only word to describe my actions. I was stupid, young and naive. Power-hungry. I was an idiot and I, probably, still am.
Since I already killed my brother... What was my purpose now? Destroy Konoha? I'm such an idiot. Instead of carrying on my brother's wishes I... destroy them. No. That's wrong. No.
I bent down to my knees.
"Huh?" I heard Naruto.
They were all wondering what I was 'gonna do. Quietly murmuring and guessing.
I bowed down.
I heard them all gasp.
"I... I'm sorry... For everything I've done. Please, take me back. If you won't take me as a friend, an ally or a ninja though... Please, take me as a prisoner. Please. Or if you don't wan to take me back as a friend or prisoner please... End it right here. End me. I have no purpose anymore. And... I've done wrong things and most of them are unforgivable. Please, I give you my fate." I said.
After a few seconds I looked up, to see what their reactions were. They all had the same face on: confused. They didn't know what face to put on I guess. That's understandable though. What I did was pretty bizarre and random but it was truthful.
I looked at Sakura. She looked the most confused of all. Her eyebrows were pushed together to symbolize anger yet. weakness was spread in her face. She looked hurt. Why wouldn't she...
I frowned.
"I... You... Forget it! I'm not a part of this okay! Do whatever you want!" She said weakly but in a state of pain then vanished.
I frowned again.
I really hurt her.
I looked at Naruto. He was confused too. I didn't know what he was 'gonna say.
"Well... I just want my old friend back... I say yes but I'm not the only one with a choice here." He said.
I looked at Kakashi (sensei).
"K... Kakashi-sensei?" I said. Calling him sensei for the first time.
"Well I... Wait, did you just call me sensei? I... vote yes." He said.
They all voted yes... Well, except for Shikamaru.
I thanked them of course. Then we headed back to the village.
What's 'gonna happen next... is a mystery for all of us.
_
THAT WAS IT! Did you like it? Huh? Huh? I hope you did. I worked three days non stop on this chapter. :) REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! I'll update soon. There's a deeper storyline okay? This ain't the end. :)) REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! WHOO! :)