Haruno Sakura and the War of Two Worlds

By Inner Self

Don't know why I put so many Japanese phrases in the last one. My Naruto characters are supposed to speak in English dub. Ha.

Chapter 14: "The Ritual"

"Be careful of the curse that falls on young lovers
Starts so soft and sweet and turns them to hunters
A man who's pure of heart and says his prayers by night
May still become a wolf when the autumn moon is bright"

-Howl, Florence + The Machine

On a mid-august morning, Sakura woke to the usual disappearance of Itachi. He routinely woke first and she followed after fifteen minutes or so. And like usual, she could detect that he had drifted over to her side of the bed. It infuriated her, as many things had lately. She was so easily angered by him, but she soon found out that Harry's sulking, Ron's constant victories in chess, Draco's constant sneering face, and Hermione's lectures bothered her (but she held her temper, unlike the time in potions). Constantly she felt the urge to punch these people, but reasoned that the gloomy, cramped house was getting to her. Oh, and Sasuke. Of course her moodiness was all Sasuke's fault, which was why the others were giving her (and Harry) as much space as possible. Back to her current ire: Itachi had taken to moving onto her side of the bed in the middle of the night. Was it harmless? Sakura thought it inexcusable.

'I could kill him,' she thought grouchily. Her ex-teammate's brother was a nuisance from the day she met him. Her stomach growled. Her 'ire' as she deemed it would have to wait. Sakura decided, as she got dressed for the day, that the problem was not worthy of her attentions. She would mention it in passing and settle it civilly. She made the bed with a flick of her wand and headed for the kitchen.

The clock on the kitchen wall said seven o' clock. Every day she ate her morning yogurt with granola at seven o' clock and maybe had some eggs. She would wash it down with a glass of milk (for strong bones, the better to punch people with). Remus was in the kitchen that morning. He was facing the sink and using the cutting board to chop thin pieces of meat. Apparently, only Molly felt the need to remember household spells A to Z. Sakura did not want to frighten him and allowed her feet to move with enough sound for him to realize her presence. Then she approached his side. "What are you fixing?"

"Protein shake," he replied. "I'm coming down with something, as I often do. I thought a protein shake might increase my resistance to the bug."

Sakura thought to offer a spare pepper up potion.

"I had one just in case, but thanks."

Sakura nodded. Her stomach growled. She went over to the fridge. Her eyes drifted back to the cut of meat Remus was dicing, his brow collecting sweat as he worked. The meat smelled heavenly. Today, Sakura thought meat for breakfast was a pleasant idea.

"Mr. Lupin," she called over cautiously. He gave a questioning 'hmm' in response.

"Are you going to use all that?" He paused in cutting. Remus Lupin knew damn well why he wanted this meat, why he would prefer to eat it all in one go as is, but the politeness in his character called for him to put it in a blender and make it mildly presentable. His civil side, on most days, would be disgusted at the way he messily cut the bloody pound of sirloin. Because of this, Sakura's question, asked during the breakfast hour, peaked his curiosity. Surely she was going to prepare it properly, unlike himself. Then again, his sharp ears distinctly caught the way her tongue wet her lips.

"There is extra in the freezer. I just put it there so it will not require thawing." While she stuck her head in the freezer, Remus quickly licked a couple of his bloodied fingers. He allowed this animalistic indulgence. His primal urges were peaking on the day of the full moon and would not be assuaged until the midnight hour.

Sakura set to dicing once Remus moved to the blender. He made his shake as he watched Sakura dice. He detected an abnormal amount of perspiration in her brow as well. Her work was slow, her breathing slightly labored, her heartbeat approximately 90 beats per minute. She realized none of this, but he had noticed throughout the weeks that her heart rate had not dipped below seventy. For one so fit, it should have been sixty or less. This he knew from a chat he once had with Madame Pomfrey. He told that he was off to see Dumbledore and she gave a distracted nod. When he got out of her line of sight, Remus Lupin waited for what he thought inevitable. Within a minute after his disappearance from her side, she contemplated it, and she did it. She picked up a piece of raw sirloin and experimentally placed it on her tongue.

Remus Lupin had a feeling that the meeting was about this, whatever this was, possessing the girl to eat raw meat. He quietly closed the door, careful not to spill his mug. With eyes closed, Sakura thought raw sirloin tasted better than any sushi delicacy.

[the meeting, dining room]

They all met abruptly. Itachi floo called Dumbledore and the members had arrived ten minutes later. Itachi showed them the reason for the early call, his arm securely wrapped with gauze. Sakura had, it seemed, scratched him in the middle of the night. Itachi did not confirm this in the foyer, but led them to the dining room. He had thought to provide a meal. Kingsley, Snape, McGonagall, Dumbledore, Moody, Tonks, and Arthur Weasley dug in as Lupin went to fetch something else (after profuse apology).

Everyone, except Snape and Moody, managed not to glare grouchily at Itachi. Tonks secretly reverted to dreamland and took his image with her. Itachi informed them that the meeting was indeed about Sakura. Lupin returned in time with his protein shake. Itachi caught the smell of blood and grimaced.

"Why are you drinking that?" he could not help but ask.

"Oh, this?" Lupin pretended innocence. "It is a home remedy my mother used to make. I feel a chill coming, and I get them so often. So I must prepare ahead of time."

Itachi 'hnned,' as if to say "I see."

Meanwhile, Sakura had completely devoured the bloody cut of sirloin. She quickly washed her face and hands, all the while thinking that she has preferred tempura to sushi all her life. As always, Itachi, she decided, had secrets to hide.

"As I was saying, this meeting concerns Sakura. I have entrusted her with a task that will determine the fate of our world. She will either better or worsen the situation back home. She has proven my predictions true so far, that I could leave her for a time unguarded, and her willpower would guide her. Unfortunately, I thought I would have more time to explain the situation to her."

Itachi realized with every word these people were less inclined to trust him, a stranger, than Sakura was. Perhaps he should have told her, and they could have left these people in the dark. No. She would explode on him, undoubtly, due to the current edginess of her mood. First sign of a migraine for Itachi is the babbling stage. He rubbed his temples with thumb and forefinger. If only she hadn't run into his little brother.

The room was deathly silent. He felt her presence, and in an instant (with a sigh) he was being hoisted from his chair by the collar of his shirt. With a grunt, he was viciously thrown into the table, which crumbled under the impact. The table crumpled inward, sparing those who sat around the table. She growled as she held down his prone form, "What the fuck have you done to me, Uchiha?" All occupants withdrew their wands. With the fear that she would smash him into the what remained of the table, they fired stunners in unison. Itachi assuaged his ego by realizing his confidence in these people had been the better option.

"We will move her into the basement. Enlarge the room to give plenty of space. I will explain everything as you work."

"I shall call for my wife," said Arthur. "She knows these charms best."

"Bring down the Malfoys as well. Bring everyone who is proficient in charms and defensive magic, perhaps everyone." Itachi hoisted Sakura over his shoulder.

Professor Snape snorted. To Dumbledore, he said, "Why not carry her bridal style?" Upon setting foot into the den, the Order realized the scuffle woke the Golden Trio. He sneered, "They would hear the slightest sounds of adventure or discord."

"Ah, brilliant! You three fetch the others, and I can reason with my wife, which may take a longer while," Arthur Weasley confessed. He must explain that, yes there was another werewolf (thing) in the house and no, it had not gobbled up Ginny.

[Fetching people]

"What do you suppose that was all about?" asked Ron as they trodded up the stairs.

Hermione frowned in thought. Harry said nothing. He had another nightmare about Sirius and was pretty much going to be mute all day. They knocked on Ginny's door, roused her from a heavy sleep, and told her to go downstairs. She sluggishly complied and they trucked up another flight to get Fred and George.

"Do you think we were attacked?" Ron asked. "Sakura was out cold and Itachi was sporting bruises."

Harry held back when they got to Sirius's old room. Hermione knocked on the door and sent the twins down. "Whatever it is, I am sure the Order will inform us once everyone is sent down. They climbed the final flight to Buckbeak's old room, which Kreacher had thoroughly cleaned "in the name of pureblood supremacy" i.e. for the Malfoys. Harry knocked loudly and unapologetically. Mr. Malfoy kicked Draco out of bed ("Get that, boy!") and Draco sauntered sleepily over to the door.

He glared at the Trio of do-gooders and asked for a good reason to be awakened at the ungodly hour when out of Hogwarts. Harry raised a brow and crossed his arms. Draco mocked his pose and Harry, much annoyed, sneered, "Dumbledore requires everyone to gather downstairs. So take this chance to rub your pointy nose in Order business, Malfoy."

"Duly noted, Scar-Head," Malfoy sneered back with an identical pose, just before he slammed the door in Scar-Head's face. Behind the door, Draco's mother chastised his slamming of doors and ungentlemanly conduct toward the head of house. Oh yeah. Sirius left the house to Harry. Harry's shoulders slumped and he was back to his deaf-mute routine.

The Malfoys opened the door not five minutes after. They were surprisingly quick risers. "What is all this about?" Lord Malfoy inquired as they descended.

"Dunno," Ron replied.

Hermione had been reviewing the facts over and over during their assigned rounds, and it finally clicked. She remembered the way Sakura was thrown over Mr. Uchiha's back, her arms dangling past his lower back. Abruptly, she gasped. Draco jumped, and then sneered at her.

"Her hands!" Everyone paused and looked to her. Surely they would know soon enough, but her predictions intrigued them. "The nails of her hands were sharp and pronounced; claw-like. Tonight is the full moon…"

Scoffing, Lord Malfoy cut her off. "Must you contrive such notions? Weres transform at the sight of the full moon and partially on the nights leading up to it. As far as I know, today will be as sunny as the day before."

Hermione held her tongue. She was certain of what she saw. She knew the facts, and did not contrive anything, but she could not fathom the reason behind the facts. She needed more facts, facts that Mr. Uchiha had kept from them. So she would hold her tongue and absorb what Mr. Uchiha would tell them.

[in the den]

The children gathered amongst themselves. Well, Fred and George went into a corner and talked business. The children gathered together, and Lord and Lady Malfoy got cozy on the loveseat. Itachi alone came up from the basement.

"We are preparing for a ritual," he said bluntly. "I have explained the details to the others, and now I explain them to you. Haruno Sakura has something valuable in her possession, something I entrusted to her. It is not a curse unless she allows it to be, or for some reason becomes unstable."

Hermione asked, "What could make the…object unstable?"

"Emotional, mental, and environmental factors. I gave Sakura an ancient magic. It is not entirely light or dark magic. I chose to give this…possession to Sakura because she was the perfect candidate. Her inner strength is astounding, but too long have I left her to care for it without a proper seal. The seal she has now requires her usual optimistic self to hold it in place. She must think of my foolish brother a lot. I had mostly dismissed her mood, but I forgot that medics know well how to hide their emotions. Also, I thought the confession could wait.

"Her recent emotional and physical conflicts have weakened the seal I placed, and it must be reinforced. Without giving her preamble, the Order subdued her. We will prepare the sealing ritual, teach you the spells required of you, and then awake her. All of you must be certain that you are prepared before the ritual begins."

Ron, feeling the weight of the world, gulped audibly.

"Ron, calm down," chided Hermione. "Obviously, we are required to do nothing but sustain the spell. No doubt the Order members will need to take breaks. This is just like the healing sessin with Madame Pomfrey after the Battle at the Ministry." Hermione was easily relieved by this notion she contrived.

Ginny wondered, "I wonder just how similar."

"Says you. Harry and I weren't even allowed to help, remember?"

With no further questions, the second group went down to the basement. The floor was cold cement. Sakura, who Itachi had laid on the floor, was now suspended by a mobilicorpus spell. He taught them the spell. It was simple, of course, because he had modified a fuuinjutsu for wizards. "You will point your wands at Sakura," he said, "and urge her not to give up."

"Gather in a large circle," Itachi requested of the Order and its affiliates. They did as he requested. If we do not succeed, I will be forced to kill Sakura. Take this time to meditate and focus the thoughts you will send her. Professor Snape, remove the spell."

Sakura drifted down to the floor. Itachi knelt down beside her and rolled up her shirt. On second thought, he checked that she wore a bra and removed the shirt, placing it beneath her. Next, he bit his thumb, drawing a copious amount of blood.

He started with metal and went clockwise: wood, water, fire, and earth. "Jin, muh, shue, huoe, tue," he spoke the ancient words (1). He left space between the Great Seal and placed five kanji for fuuin (seal) in that spot on his second round. In the center he placed kage (shadow).

Kage was separated by a bold circle. The Great Seal of the elements was thick with blood and blended together, like in the unrefined kanji of ancient texts. Paradoxically, a sharp circular stroke separated the flourishes of the inner part from the supplementary fuuin symbols.

Itachi bit down on his thumb again to restart blood flow. Next he placed lines of kanji that fanned out from the seal onto the floor in a great circle. When he finished, he instructed the others to step into a small enough circle that their feet touched the edges of the floor seals. "For our purposes, I have chosen the Great Seal. This seal is modified from one of he two strongest seals I know. The five great elements will seal the minor kage element. She is to inherit your will. If the seal ever breaks, she will be calmed by your spirit. Once she is calmed, the seal can recharge."

The others lifted their wands and concentrated on the thoughts they wanted to give Sakura. Apparently all they had to do was aim their thoughts at the fuuin seals.

Itachi knelt beside Sakura and pat her cheek to wake her up. "I need you to listen and listen only," he told her as soon as she was conscious enough to comprehend. "I am sealing away something that I placed in your protection. You should know what it is—severed kyuubi chakra. I did this to you to protect Naruto. I apologize. I left that part out when we made our deal. I thought it best that you were not aware of this possession until I brought you here."

She glared at him, though he ears mentally perked up at the thought of her friend. "What did you do to me?"

"I made you one of the determining forces in Madara's war. The task you have been given needs time and it requires a pure-hearted vessel. As Naruto's best friend, I thought you would be a good choice. You are good. Your love for him is pure. Your reason to accomplish this—task—is not fueled by greed."

"Am I to become a jinchuuriki?" she asked. Her heartbeat sped up.

"I promise to tell you after I perform the evil-sealing method." Her eyes widened. That was the technique Kakashi used to hold back Orochimaru's influence on Sasuke. Would it be enough? She looked down. The Great Seal had been modified for a single-minded purpose: sealing some darkness within her. So in order for this task to help Naruto, she needed to stay cleansed of impurity. Easy enough for Sakura when she wasn't possessed by a demon, hence, the ritual at present. Sakura sighed in resignation. She was a pretty damn good candidate.

"You have done well so far," he said, echoing her thoughts, "to have fought unaided so long. The fight will only get worse. The chakra is growing quickly. Two years have passed and the fourth tail is about to generate. Sakura do you trust me?"

She nodded, first hesitantly, then confidently. His eyes flickered with a show of relief. "Also, I have heard that this technique is quite painful for a shinobi." If he saw Sakura cringe, he did not show it. "I can assuage the mental pain with my mangekyou, but you will feel bodily pain upon awakening."

"Sounds easy enough," Sakura said and smirked confidently. "I'm ready."

He released the doujutsu, sending her to the most beautiful place he could think of. She slumped into his arms. He laid her down, careful of the dried seals on her body. "Give however much you can," he asked of them. "Nothing more is required. We are sure to have enough for the fuuin seals, and I will handle the rest."

Itachi formed the initiation seals (2). "Tori…inoshishi…inu…ryuu…usagi… uma…saru…ushi…hitsugi…nezumi…hebi…tora…nin." On nin, Itachi's palm pressed into Sakura's abdomen, and the sealing began. An hour later, she was tucked into bed.

When Sakura woke, the first thing she detected was Itachi. "What time is it?"

"It is almost nine. There is a meeting at ten o' clock. Do you want something to eat?"

"Will you tell me now?"

"Is it all right if I wait an hour?"

"Alright," she said and made to get up. "I'm sore, Itachi-san. Can you help me to the shower?"

He did, and he set her on the edge of the tub.

"Itei! It's cold," she complained.

"The ritual has made the receptors of your skin sensitive. I will set the water for you."

"Thank-you," she said as he laid her towel somewhere easy to reach. He nodded and left.

Sakura soothed the ache out of her muscles with a warm soak and some green chakra. She returned to their bedroom with a pink towel wrapped securely around her body. He was not there. She called out for him. Oh. He was waiting outside.

"Do you need any more assistance?"

"No…," she started, but on second thought, "Actually, could you wait and help me down the stairs? You know, in case of a muscle spasm?"

"All right," he replied. Once she was dressed, they walked down the stairs, Sakura wrapping her arm loosely with his. To think, Sasuke's brother, ex-Akatsuki, was fighting the good fight. Sakura finally believed it, despite all the crap he'd abstained from telling her. Perhaps, if she whittled it out of him patiently, it would be easier for him. He was a shinobi, and what he'd done was in the past. In their world, the end justified the means.

[Peace out]

Phonetic spelling (I hope) of the Mandarin words for metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

Just seeing if you know your animals (and because the wizards cast spells in dog latin.) Bird, boar, dog, dragon, hare, horse, monkey, ox, ram, rat, serpent, tiger, human (people).

See you next time in Chapter 15: Professor Uchiha and Mediwitch Sakura!

(We've had action, now for some fun! And character development. Harry and Draco are due for some. And Hermione. Oh, I best not spoil it ^^)