Sakura's Fall to Middle Earth

Chapter One

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Music played and hobbits sang unknown songs, laughing and giggling amongst themselves as they told tales of adventures, and of dwarfs, dragons and men and elves. They were singing of long forgotten tales of old and eating and drinking to their hearts content. Gandalf lighting fireworks for the little children and Frodo and Sam watching as their kin danced around the fire merrily.

Sakura watched all of this wearily, her stomach aching from eating and drinking of the unknown food, and her heart dropping at the thought of never being able to see the festivals of her home again. She missed home more than ever and it had only been half a day since she found herself amongst the company of Gandalf and the hobbits. They were as welcoming to her as all would be welcoming to unknown strangers. They fed her and gave her as much as she could drink, they talked with her, not minding the fact that she could hardly keep up with their happy banter for even though she recognized the language, she was not fluent, and could barely keep up and was limited in vocabulary.

She tried her best to sense their chakras, and either they hid it very well, or they did not have any at all. Which was very strange, considering everyone had to have chakra, it was apart of ones being. She watched Gandalf laugh as he gathered more fireworks. She considered her ponderings again and found that they definitely did not have any chakra.

Sam stumbled by with a girl she had known to be called Rosie.

Yep, definitely did not have an ounce of chakra.

Though, they were very welcoming and hospitable; she knew they were all thinking the same things. Where did she come from? Look at her hair and clothes, she's definitely not from around these parts. She seems too young to be showing so much skin, look at her stomach showing for all the men to see.

Self consciously Sakura wrapped her arms around her middle and laid her head against the side of the barn as she watched Frodo urge his friend to keep dancing. Now you would think with all the hustle and bustle she would join the hobbits' celebration, but all she could really do was ponder of her miss-givings and how she would get out of it.

"Sakura, come dance with dear ole' Sam."

Before she could even dissuade the bubbly hobbit from his thoughts of watching her fumble all around trying to dance, she had already been pushed into the open arms of Sam as he started to twirl her around himself. Frodo was laughing and clapping along with his dear old Uncle Bilbo, very proud of himself for bringing a smile finally to Sakura's face.

Gandalf laughed and clapped from his position near the wagon of fireworks, managing to get a perfect view of Sakura being passed around like a child's toy between folks, twirling her and dipping her in dance. She was even dancing along with them as she finally got the hang of things and was brought into the beat of the flutes and stringed instruments. Everyone was joining in the circle, watching the new girl dance with the many lads who were lined up to have a go.

She felt like a party ride as she was spun around once more, she looked helplessly back at Gandalf and Frodo as they continued to egg them on to keep dancing, even as one song changed to another. Finally, the shout of a dragon brought everyone to attention.

Wait... Dragon!

"Sakura, get down!" Frodo shouted as he pulled Bilbo down to the ground with him.

Sakura took no time dropping to her knees and covering her head with her hands as a fiery dragon flew overhead. She heard the screams of terror from the hobbits and was just about to show that darn menace a piece of her mind before it exploded in beautiful flurries of fireworks.

She sat up and looked around for Gandalf, seeing him holding two young hobbits' by the ears and saying something to each of them before he dragged them to the makeshift kitchens. She laughed behind her hand and shook her head before Bilbo was up on a makeshift stage and drawing everyone to attention.

The noise subsided.

"I shall not keep you long," he cried.

Sakura watched with curious green eyes as everyone grew quiet in await of Bilbo's speech. She could see Gandalf's sharp gaze, watching Bilbo with as much intent as she supposed he could give.

This had her curious, and even though she was out of her element, she could still sense something was off and not right. And it had everything to do with the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins.

"I have called you all together for a Purpose."

Something in the way that he said this made an impression on Sakura, and unknowingly to her, Gandalf and Frodo too.

There was almost silence, and one or two of the Tooks pricked up their ears.

"Indeed, for Three Purposes! First of all, to tell you that I am immensely fond of you all, and that eleventy-one years is too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits."

Sakura raised a brow at the buttering up he was doing. Though they took it all with stride and hadn't seemed to catch on.

"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."

This was unexpected in all aspects and rather difficult for Sakura to understand. There was some scattered clapping, but most of them were trying to work it out and see if it came to a compliment. Sakura was among those few who understood exactly what he was saying, and she found him very rude at that moment.

"Secondly, to celebrate my birthday."

Sakura clapped along with the cheers again.

"I should say: Our birthday. For it is, of course, also the birthday of my heir and nephew, Frodo. He comes of age and into his inheritance today."

Sakura smiled as Frodo was bombarded with young hobbits clapping him on the back and showing the congratulations.

"Thank you very much for coming to my little party."

Obstinate silence. They all feared that a song or some poetry was now imminent; and they were getting bored. Sakura however was very curious of this little detail Bilbo was giving out. She had not a clue as to what he was talking about, and wondered why everyone was so quiet, when just seconds ago they were as loud as humanly possible.

He paused for a moment. "Thirdly and finally," he said, "I wish to make an announcement." He spoke this last word so loudly and suddenly that everyone sat up who still could. "I regret to announce that – though, as I said, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to spend among you – this is the end. I am going. I am leaving now. Good-bye!"

The whole Shire was in amok as Bilbo suddenly disappeared right before their very eyes and a giant flash following right after. Sakura's green eyes were immediately alert and the ninja in her was already trying to make sense of what had happened to the elder hobbit. She caught Gandalf's eyes and they stared at one another for a long moment, neither moving or saying anything to anyone as everyone around them scoured the whole place it seemed, looking for Bilbo.

All too soon they both broke eye contact and led their sights on exactly the same thing at the same time. Bilbo's Hole.

Sakura was there in a flash, waiting in the shadows as Gandalf ran in a hurry towards Bilbo's hole in the Hill. She kept to the ground and in stealth listened with keen ears as there went a little banter between the two as soon as Gandalf walked into the cozy home.

"Hello!" said Bilbo as Sakura listened from under the windowsill. "I wondered if you would turn up." He spoke she supposed, to Gandalf.

"I am glad to find you visible," replied the wizard.

So he did know about Bilbo's little vanishing act after all. Sakura thought to herself.

"I wanted to catch you and have a few final words. I suppose you feel that everything has gone off splendidly and according to plan?"

Sakura furrowed her brows, wishing they would stop talking in riddles and say what needed to be said so she could make sense of it all.

"Yes, I do," said Bilbo. "Though that flash was surprising: it quite startled me, let alone the others. A little addition of your own, I suppose?"

"It was. You have wisely kept that ring secret all these years, and it seemed to be necessary to give your guests something else that would seem to explain your sudden vanishment."

A ring? Thought Sakura as she cupped her chin, pondering what sort of jutsu could pull off that sort of trick just from a jewel? Though, now that she had been here for a little bit of time, she'd come to think that nothing of her old home was here and that something more powerful was involved. That in which told her she shouldn't be surprised that a ring could turn someone invisible.

"And would spoil my joke?You are an interfering old busybody," laughed Bilbo, "but I expect you know best, as usual."

"I do – when I know anything. But I don't feel too sure about this whole affair. It has now come to the final point. You have had your joke, and alarmed or offended most of your relations, and given the whole Shire something to talk about for nine days, or ninety-nine more likely. Are you going any further?"

Sakura hoped not.

"Yes, I am."

Oh great.

"I feel I need a holiday, a very long holiday, as I have told you before. Probably a

permanent holiday: I don't expect I shall return. In fact, I don't mean to, and I have made all arrangements." He said rather darkly.

Sakura peeked her head over the window to see if she could see them, her eyes immediately spotted Bilbo and Gandalf, the former holding something in his hand as he twirled it in his fingers, his back to Gandalf. She noticed that he was looking at that ring a little oddly, though.

"I am old, Gandalf," he said to the old wizard softly. "I don't look it, but I am beginning to feel it in my heart of hearts." He snorted. "Why, I feel all stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can't be right. I need a change, or something."

Sakura thought he needed a lot more than some journey, more like mental medicine or something of the same sort. He was talking like a complete lunatic.

"I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains, I might find somewhere where I can finish my book..."

And Sakura stopped listening after that. They were just talking amongst themselves now, not really saying anything of any importance. She wondered what exactly was going to happen once Bilbo left. What was this ring they were talking about, and how did it have the power of turning people invisible, Sakura shook her head.

Then she heard Gandalf yell and poked her head back up to see the old wizard looming over a frightened Bilbo. The ninja in her told her to go and rescue the poor, terrified hobbit, but the curiosity told her to stay and wait it out. A part of her knew Gandalf would never hurt a hobbit, he seemed to treasure them too much to do that sort of thing.

She waited a few more moments before she became alert again, watching Bilbo walk out of the home with a great sigh of relief, or dread, she could not guess, but he went on his way either way and she had half a mind to jump out of the way as a staff came bounding in the direction of her head. "Hey! Watch it!" She snapped, grabbing her head as if it had already been offended.

"I say, Sakura, how dare you eavesdrop on two old men?"

"Eavesdrop? I was just as curious as you to see what that old man was up to! You can't blame me for my stealth, it was your own fault for not catching me sooner." She snapped back, forgetting her place all too quickly.

"Oh," Gandalf said, an eyebrow lifting right under his hat. "I believe there is a great deal about you that you are not telling, fare Sakura. Why don't you come in for some tea, and we'll discuss more about where you came from."

Sakura had no choice but to do as he said. He was a wizard of these parts, and maybe he could help her find a way back home. "Alright."

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"It is as I figured," Gandalf said sagely. "you are definitely not from around here, anywhere really. I suppose the real question is, how to get you back?"

Sakura nodded in agreement. "Yes, I've been going through my head of all sorts of jutsu that could have been used, but my mind is coming up blank. I'm sorry that I have to trouble you, Gandalf."

"No trouble at all my lady, you are just lost right now. But do not fear, in time I'm sure you'll find your way home. But right now, we're about to have a guest, so why don't you keep the meeting I had with Bilbo between you and I, hmmm?"

Before she could answer, along came Frodo, calling for Bilbo.

"Gandalf, Sakura...?" Frodo looked around the dark home and sighed as he held out the ring in his hand that he found on the floor. "He's left, hasn't he?" He asked Gandalf. He didn't wait for a response. "I always knew he would leave. I just didn't expect him to do it so soon."

Gandalf walked over to Frodo, and gently closed his hand over the ring. "This is Bilbo's ring, he left it to you and all his treasures."

Sakura's curiosity for this ring was starting to reach its peak, but she feared asking about it.

"Keep it safe, keep it hidden." Gandalf advised. "Now, I must go an attend to some business." He told them, gathering his staff and his hat as he neared the door.

"But you've only just arrived, I don't understand." Frodo cried.

Neither do I. Thought Sakura.

Gandalf smiled and took Frodo by the shoulders. "Hobbits are really magnificent creatures. I won't be long, keep Sakura out of trouble. I'll be back shortly."

And with that, he left Sakura and Frodo standing in the little home, alone. Frodo looked back at Sakura and shrugged helplessly. "I suppose I'll set you up a room." He said more to himself than to Sakura as she quickly bounded after Gandalf at full speed.

"You're just going to leave me here!" Sakura exclaimed as she clamored on to the carriage as Gandalf rode away.

"From what you told me you are a warrior and a protector. I need you to look after Frodo for me." He told her gently, halting the carriage so she wouldn't get lost on her way back.

"What is going on, is there something you're not telling Frodo and I about?" She asked, her eyes narrowing on the old man. "Why would I need to protect Frodo?"

Gandalf smiled knowingly. "All I ask is that you keep Frodo safe."

Sakura was in doubts. She wanted to know more, but knew she would get nothing out of Gandalf now. So she let him go on his way, leaving her standing in the middle of the dirt road, alone, and lost as of what to do. She held back her helpless tears and smacked her cheeks to snap her out of her depression. She was stronger and wiser than her old self. She'll find a way out of this mess if it was the last thing she ever did.

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Time came and went and days turned in to weeks and weeks turned into months as Gandalf still had not shown up. The first few days were hard on Sakura, She would spend her days in the forest where they had found her and sit in the same spot she landed, meditating for hours trying to get a sense of something that was just not there. Sakura mourned the thought of ever getting home. She had been gone for so long she wondered if they had given up, thinking she were dead or ran away to never return again. She feared Gandalf would never come back to help her find her way home. Not that the hobbits were unwelcoming to her, they were very kind and generous, but she missed Konoha and all her friends and family.

Though as time passed Sakura grewe so busy learning and getting acquainted with new things that she hardly had time to wonder when Gandalf would show up. But always, when she was lying in her bed to sleep, she would let her mind wonder back to her home, and the people she missed dearly. She wanted to go home so bad in those times. That's when she would feel the most homesick. Sometimes when she would be laughing with Pippin and Merry, she'd remember Naruto and how he always use to make her laugh.

She had grown quite close with the four hobbits, they always tried to make her feel at home, and welcome. Which she was very thankful for, she didn't know what she would do if she didn't have them by her side. And the hobbits of the Shire were starting to get quite use to her. She showed them things, and they taught her their language each day, almost to where she was almost fluent, but she still had her problems with the R's and other things too, but she didn't like to dwell on the negative.

Pippin had practically become her little brother, even though by age he was way much older, but he was like a little boy, really. What with his childish looks and his equally childish personality. He was like Naruto's carbon copy, just not as loud.

She loved spending time with Frodo, he was very curious about where she'd come from. Though it was hard to explain how she got there, it was quite enjoyable to see his eyes light up whenever she talked about Konoha and her many adventures. As he liked to call the missions she had had over the years.

Sam was very much intrigued with her abilities to heal, though, she was scared to even try and use it for fear that nothing would happen and she'd be completely defenseless in this new world she managed to land herself in. But she knew a lot about herbs and natural medicine that she showed him everyday things that would be helpful during times when a doctor wasn't going to be around.

Merry was a fighter, he loved to try and sneak attack her almost every day. Even though she hadn't tried to use any of her ninja abilities, she still had many of her own devices that she had learned without the use of jutsu, it was pure technique that she developed a keen sense of hearing and learning to adapt to her surroundings that she always managed to catch him right before he would tackle her to the ground.

The hobbit women found her remarkably odd and beautiful all at the same time. They had made her change into different clothes, but Sakura absolutely refused to wear a dress, so they all settled for a pair of nice fitting trousers and long sleeve shirt that was loose around the arms but was belted in the middle. Luckily her boots fit the ensemble so she didn't have to worry about finding new shoes.

She worried about Gandalf almost everyday, hoping he was trying to find her a way home. And if he wasn't; she hoped that he would arrive soon so that they could figure out how to get her home. She was beginning to love the Shire and the hobbits, but she couldn't help but miss her home and worry whether or not everyone was okay. She hoped beyond all reason, that Tsunade was trying to figure out a way to bring her back. Surely they had to know where she was. Or if not, at least know what had gotten her in this mess in the first place.

She could only wait for now... It was a very good thing that she was patient, or she would have killed herself a long time ago.

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It was late one night when Gandalf finally showed up; it was dark in the house and Frodo and Sakura were just saying goodbye to Sam when Sakura sensed something was off. She didn't address her thoughts out loud, for fear of frightening Frodo, so she kept on guard as they walked in the house, immediately sensing they were not alone.

She quickly turned and pulled Frodo behind her, and snatched the hand that was trying to grab at Frodo, twisting it and pulling it behind the strangers back! "Who are you?!" She shouted, it was still dark so she couldn't tell and they didn't have chakra so she couldn't sense who it was either. Her skills were practically useless if she couldn't tell if they were friend or foe.

"Sakura!"

That was odd, she didn't know the enemy knew her name.

"Sakura," Frodo cried. "that's Gandalf."

Oh...

"Oh." She said, releasing Gandalf as he turned to face the two, rubbing his wrist and grumbling under his breath.

"I see you've taken my words seriously, Sakura." He said in surprise, reaching out and patting her shoulder.

Sakura blushed and looked away awkwardly. After a few moments the air around them turned serious and she noticed how pale the old wizard looked as he got his bearings. He walked up to the hobbit and placed his hands on his shoulders. "Is it secret, is it safe?"

Sakura cocked her head to the side in confusion as Frodo nodded quickly and walked over to a chest in a corner of the room, moving things aside before he pulled out a small envelope. He handed it to Gandalf and they both watched as the wizard pulled out the ring and through it into the fire.

"What are you doing?!" Both she and Frodo cried in unison.

"Hush now." Gandalf chastised, waving them off and grabbing a pair of fire tongs and reaching into the fire to pull the ring out. "Now, hold out your hand Frodo."

Frodo took the ring and held it in his hand lightly, bouncing it around, waiting for it to cool.

"What can you see?" Gandalf said, turning away from Frodo and Sakura and leaning against the mantle.

"Nothing..." Frodo said.

"Wait," said Sakura as she looked more closely. "I see something."

"I do too, now." Frodo said with a shake of his head. "It's in some form of elvish; I can't make it out."

"No, of course not, there aren't many who can, that is the language of Mordor, which I will not utter here. In the common tongue it says: one ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. This Frodo is the One Ring. Forged in secret by Sauron, the Dark Lord."

Frodo's eyes widened in horror as Gandalf told him what exactly the ring was. Frodo couldn't believe it.

Sakura was having trouble figuring out what exactly was going and what in the world they were talking about. To her it looked like just a plain old ring.

"Take it Gandalf! Take it! I'm giving it to you!"

Sakura watched with wide eyes as Frodo thrust his hand out towards Gandalf, who practically bumped his head from backing away.

"Don't tempt me Frodo! I can not take the ring, I would wish to do things for good, but the evil power is too strong even for me."

Frodo looked crestfallen and Sakura wrapped a comforting arm around his shoulders. She felt as if she should help him, even though she was completely lost in the conversation.

"Then what must I do? The ring can not stay here." Frodo cried in worry.

"No," Gandalf said with a shake of his. "no it can not. Sauron's forces are already seeking to gain the ring for their master... They are coming Frodo."

Frodo gave a cry of dispair. "But how did they know to come here?"

"From the creature Gollum, I don't know how long he was tortured in Mordor, but he knew Bilbo had the ring, and he told them exactly where it was. Only two words left his mouth: Shire. Baggins."

"That would lead them here, to Frodo!" Sakura exclaimed, catching on to the end of their conversation.

Frodo bit his lip and looked down at the ring in his hand. "What must I do?"

Gandalf was already way ahead of them as he gathered a bag and started stuffing things in them. "You must leave, don't tell anyone, it must be in secret. Take as much as you can carry, you must leave tonight, there is no time to waste." Gandalf gave the bag to Frodo, to let him finish gathering things while he stared at Sakura. "You must go with him, my dear."

The rosette looked up at Gandalf. "For protection?"

The old wizard smiled and patted her head affectionately. "You are a very good friend, Sakura. I promise, by the end of all this, I will help you find a way home."

There was a pause, until they heard something in the bushes, all three of them paused. Sakura gathered a kunai from her pouch she had strapped to a belt about her hips. Gandalf and her exchanged looks before she was already launching herself at the window. There was a scuffle and some groans before she rose, holding Samwise Gamgee by the collar of his shirt.

Gandalf narrowed his eyes and grabbed the hobbit and threw him on the table. "Confound it all Samwise Gamgee, have you been eavesdropping?"

"I was dropping no eaves sir, honest."

"What did you hear?" Gandalf asked darkly.

"N-Nothing important, just something about a dark lord and a ring, and maybe the end of the world... You're not going to do anything drastic to me, are you?" Sam asked in fear, curling in on himself as if Gandalf was going to cast a spell right there.

"No, I have something far more better for you."

Sakura and Frodo exchanged amused looks.