Whatever it was woke her from a deep sleep. Her eyes were a blazing orange and the aura radiating from her was dangerous and filled with killing intent, her body soaked with cold sweat. There was something calling her. It wasn't just in her dreams or her head, she could feel it. Something was calling for her from the depths of...

Slowly, her legs swept off the bed and she made her way out of the room. Whatever it was, it was loud in its silence. The medic's eyes glanced around.

There.

There it was again.

Orange eyes glowed in the darkness of her apartment, watching the outside world as she heard the calls beckoning her to whatever it was that needed her. Then there was a terrible pain.

The pain was white hot and searing every part of her being. She cried out in pain for the first time since..

Lighting painted the sky and rain pelted against her balcony. She cried out once more as she coughed up blood and her stomach churned dangerously. Another bout of coughing racked her body, blood spilling from her lips. She felt like she was suffocating, as if someone was slowly torturing her.

Eventually the pain subsided, leaving the rosette on the floor, passed out lying in her blood.

A groan escaped the rosette's lips as her eyes slowly moved beneath her eyelids. "Sakura.."There was relief in a worried voice. "You gave us a scare." Slowly, emerald eyes opened, only to flinch in pain at the bright intruding light. "Sorry." The blinds were closed suddenly and she tried again.
"What... what happened?" Sakura murmured, her throat dry and her chest hurting from strangled breaths.

"I was hoping you'd be able to tell me?" At those words, her memories came rushing back, and she had to sit back with the rush of dizziness that overcame her. Her eyes flickered over to the woman who stood beside her, warm eyes waiting.

"Shishou..."

"Don't 'shishou' me... you think I'm blind, but I'm not. Not when it comes to my student. I have been letting this go long enough, now it is time for you to tell me whatever it is you need to tell me." Her voice was gentle but stern.

For the first time in a long time, Sakura felt fear. Would she be exiled? Be branded for a crime? It wasn't just her secrets, there were others too. Most of all, would her mentor and second mother be ashamed of her?

As if reading her mind, Tsunade smiled softly and sat beside her apprentice. "I may be your Hokage, but right now I am your friend. Please, talk to me.. please." Her voice was soft and filled with so much concern that it made Sakura's heart ache. Before she could think, her eyes became orange and she looked a knowing Tsunade in the eyes. "Let me show you.." The world before them melted away and her memories came rushing around them, as they had for the Uchiha heir.

When they finished, there was a shocked expression on Tsunade's face. "Danzo... but I thought the Uchiha killed him?"

"You knew about that?" It was Sakura's turn to be shocked.

"Of course. I'm the Hokage. I gave the order. Shisui came to me when Itachi told him what happened. He told me that Danzo had found out about the clan's plan for a rebellion which had been known by my grandfather, he just never did anything about it because he didn't want the village to revolt against the clan and start a civil war. It was him the one who made Itachi a double spy, and the reason Minato handed his title to me.

Minato wasn't a fool, he knew about it too and figured that if he were going to be needed in case something happened with the Kyuubi, he would have to be with his family. I, on the other hand.." Tsunade sighed, "He figured I could handle the situation. I wouldn't allow it to fester to the point of allowing the clan to go that far." Tsunade rubbed the bridge of her nose, "I gave the order to kill Danzo, he was an elder and I knew that if anyone could take him out and not leave any traces, it'd be the Uchiha... and I knew they would have the power to stop the rebellion as well. Then when things with the Kyuubi happened... unfortunately Minato and Kushina didn't make it, but the clan was taken care of, so we only had to endure one attack instead of two.

"Not all Uchiha have the same goal; not all of them are power hungry. Shisui and Itachi just want peace. They are both pacifist in their own rights. They wanted nothing to do with the rebellion, their hearts are truly with the village. Fugaku and Mikoto knew what was happening but their hands were tied as the heads of the clan..."

"And if they made the wrong move... they'd be overthrown as well and seen as traitors to their clan. If they wouldn't help the cause, they'd be considered traitors and would go down with the village." Sakura finished.

"Exactly." Tsunade gave a tired smile, exhaustion hitting her all of a sudden. "Sakura, I'm sorry. This is probably my fault just as much as.."

"No." Sakura hissed, "This is no one's fault. He could have very well done this while in the village. This could have happened regardless of if he had been removed from the village or not." Sakura looked her mentor in the eyes once more, "All that matters now is that he is properly killed."

"Well, before any of that happens, we need to find out what happened to you. What exactly caused you to pass out in your own blood."

"How long was I out for?" Sakura asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

"About three days." The medic's eyes almost popped out of her head.

"Three days?!"

"You were in this sort of..." Tsunade was grasping at a way to explain it, "A coma.. but not? You were in a very deep sleep, had it not been for all the brain activity you were showing and the fact that your eyes were moving beneath your eyelids and that you were breathing on your own, it could have been mistaken for a coma. I have never seen anything like it before. It's like your body shut itself down.."

"Before I could respond to the calling.." Sakura whispered, emerald eyes turning orange once more.

"Calling?" Tsunade asked, her eyes watching as her apprentice shifted a bit.

"There was something calling me... it wasn't a voice, I don't think. It was something else. I can't explain it. As if someone or something was begging for me to come find it." Sakura looked to her mentor, "I need to control whatever I am before I go after him. I have a feeling he isn't alone and the fight won't be that easy. He made me this way, and I have a feeling I'm not the only one... and he may know my weakness."

"I don't think that's the case, him making you this way nor him knowing your weakness, I mean." Tsunade answered after some thought. "I saw..." she hated herself for this, "I saw flashes of it when I trained you. I could feel it somewhere inside you, it was one of the main reasons I agreed to train you. Yes, you showed immense promise and your chakra control is crazy amazing, sometimes putting my own to shame...

"But there was this... something inside you that was stifled by everything else. I worked you hard not only because of your potential,but because whatever that may have been, I wanted you to be strong enough to handle it should it ever come out."

This emission had Sakura on edge. "It's always been there?" She whispered.

"Ino saw it too. She said during the Chunnin exams you had this alter ego, but there was something else there too, but obviously at the time she was more worried about the lunatic trying to kill her." Tsunade mused lightly, "At any rate, have you never felt it before?"

"I guess, maybe I did? I mean, there were times when I was angry, and not just annoyed sort of angry, but angry. To the point of wanting to gut someone sort of angry. To the point I wanted to..." Sakura shook her head and sighed deeply, "I don't know. I just thought it was because of hormones and stuff since I was going through puberty, maybe because of inner and stuff, I didn't think it was because something else was there." She admitted finally.

Tsunade nodded, "Well, now you know and it seems you have some very faithful followers who are willing to be by your side." She smiled brightly, "I couldn't be more sure of your success. It will be dangerous and it will be all or nothing. I know you can do it, though. I know you can win." Slowly, Tsunade removed herself from beside Sakura, "But I cannot get involved. As much as I want to kick his ass with you for what he's done, Danzo was presumed dead for unknown reasons. If any of this came to light, it would start a war here in seconds. The Uchiha would have risked everything for nothing and you'd have to worry about a lot more than a missing Danzo."

"I understand, Lady Tsunade." Sakura smiled weakly.

"I am still by your side, and I will do what I can to help cover the tracks of all of this - so, please... just come home safe and be do what needs to be done. Get your revenge and protect your village."

"What if I can't do it. What if I cannot control whatever I am?" Sakura whispered. For a moment, Tsunade caught a flash of the fear of the girl who stared up at the hooded man and pleaded with her eyes.

"You can and you will. This isn't just on your shoulders anymore, Sakura. There are people who love and care about you. We will all make sure you are you at the end of this." There wasn't any room for argument in her tone, and she remembered Nara saying the same thing.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"Alright, enough of this mushy shit. Your friends have been bugs up my ass for the last three days and it's been bothering the shit out of me. Get your ass up and get dressed, they're all in the waiting room."

"Okay, Neji, I'm going to need you to watch me with your byakugan, just keep track of how much chakra I'm using. Shikamaru and Ino-pig, just keep an eye on us, if Neji gives you the cue that it's going too far, do what we've discussed. Itachi, Shisui, Sasuke - keep an eye on Naruto. If the Kyuubi starts getting out of control, stop him. Sai, if things get too far, fly everyone out of here. Naruto - don't hold back. "

"Got it." All voices said in unison, their eyes trained on the medic.

On the training field, Naruto stood across from the rosette and they stared at each other for a long stretch of time. He waited patiently as Sakura reached deep within herself. They were all on edge, anxious about it all. Sakura wasn't sure what would happen, let alone if she could even get herself to that place - usually it happened when she was angry or under duress, she had never called on it willingly.

"I'm trying..." Sakura murmured.

After some time, Sakura growled, she was getting annoyed with herself.

"How about you guys just fight and let it happen naturally." Suggested Shisui. Sakura and Naruto looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

After about an hour of fighting, nothing had happened. Slowing down, Sakura sighed deeply and lie on the ground. She decided maybe meditation would help. Closing her eyes, Sakura cleared her mind. The world around her melted around and it came again.

Then came the call.

It was louder this time and demanded her attention. It clawed at her mind and demanded she come to it. Then pain came, shooting through her body and made every one of her nerves stand on edge.

On the outside, everyone became alert, Crimson eyes watching her as the byakugan was taking in the scene and Naruto shooting to his feet. There was a dark aura coming from the medic, the air around them stilling and slowly turning cool.

It didn't take long for her to climb to her feet, eyes closed for a bit before opening and taking in those around her. They were bright orange, almost metallic looking. She gave each one a look over and a nod. "You rang." She mused lightly.

"You say you're the same person. Why is it you take over?" Itachi broke the silence.

"It's a bit complex. When one is angry, the ugliness inside them tends to come out. We tend the hide away those things at times, especially things that bring us such pain that it would drive us crazy. You can think of me as a manifestation of the anger, pain, fear, and whatever else there has been. There isn't one or the other, I am me. When I accept that, I won't have to be summoned, it will simply... be." Her voice was soft the whole time, she was understanding of the curiosity.

"So you want there to be full control. To be a complete person with no separation." It was the Nara that spoke next.

"Yes. Instead of multiple personalities, just one." Sakura agreed. All of them looked at each other before Sakura walked on the far end of the field, "I was brought out for a reason and I intend to help this go smoothly." Dropping into a fighting stance, she dipped her head, silently prompting Naruto to join her. Giving Nara a lingering look, he joined her across the field.

"No holding back." Sakura smiled, launching herself at the blonde without thought. The fight began and Naruto was on the defense, he moved away from her swift punches and kicks, he knew that was her specialty when it came to short range, jumping back some, he threw several kunai and watched as she deflected them easily. "I said no holding back." She growled, the aura around her getting stronger - nothing pissed Sakura off more than being made a fool of and made to look weak. She did not need someone to go easy against her. She refused to allow him this.

Neji watched as the aura spiked and the darker chakra began to leak through, he wasn't sure what to do, but he figured he'd know when to call it.

Sakura and Naruto were finally going at it, he realized that he needed to take this serious, for Sakura's sake. They wouldn't get anywhere if he didn't and she trusted him enough to let him in, he wasn't going to let that slip away. Not again. He wouldn't disappoint her again.

As things got heated, the Kyuubi started fighting for control, it was reacting to the energy coming from Sakura and Neji's voice rose, alerting the Uchiha to pay attention. Things were getting out of hand it they needed to stop it before the Kyuubi took too much control. Sakura growled deeply, orange eyes flaring and her body shaking as the aura got stronger and wisps of orange energy began to rip from her body.

"Shikamaru, now! Uchiha, get ahold of the Kyuubi!" Neji shouted. Shikamaru shot out and had Sakura implanted via the shadows he called forth and Ino began the process to get into Sakura's head to reign her back. All three Uchiha cornered Naruto and Shisui calmed him down with his Sharingan.

Suddenly, before Ino could get into her head, Sakura screamed loudly a blood curdling scream, her eyes flashing several different colors as she fell to her feet, her nose bleeding and her body shaking. Shikamaru let her go and ran to her, putting his hand around her only to pull back as if being burned by something. Sakura screamed once more as images flashed through her mind and the orange wisps became black only to slowly start to recede.

Soon, the medic passed out and left all of her friends staring at Shikamaru as he caught her. Expectant looks were tossed at the Hyuuga, wanting an explanation of what they'd just seen. "I don't know..." He finally said, "Her chakra flared and then died out all of a sudden. She's alive, just exhausted it seems."

With that being said, Shikamaru nodded and handed the medic to Shisui, "Get her home and make sure she rests. We will regroup later and talk about this." He stated calmly as the Uchiha accepted the woman into his arms.

"You passed out." Shikamaru whispered.

"I know."

"What happened?"

There was a pause in her response. Emerald eyes watched chocolate brown before responding, "I stopped myself. I didn't want to hurt anyone… so I made myself stop."

Shikamaru stared at the woman beside him with wide eyes. "You did it." He finally said softly. "You conquered your fear."

Sakura let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, "I controlled it." She smiled back, the feeling warming her soul, "I stopped myself.."

*.*.*.*.

Author's note:

I apologize for taking so long for this chapter. I'm not great at fighting scenes and I was having a bit of writer's block.. which prompted me to start ANOTHER story. Not sure how that exactly happened. It will be AU, nonmassacre with Itachi and Sakura pairing. Keep an eye out for it, haven't decided on a name yet. At any rate, thank you so much for all the follows and all the reviews, I truly do appreciate it you guys.

So, so, so much love