Wow! I'm really surprised. You really do like me *sniffs* I mean my story^^

I just wish getting a boyfriend would be this easy. Oops~

Anyways, thank you so much for liking and supporting this story. I was so inspired, so I decided to post this chapter ASAP. Sorry if it's a little short. I didn't reach my quota. I was trying to increase my word count in every chapter. But suspense is good. Right? Hahaha=)

I only wish I could own Naruto. Unfortunately, I am not. Masashi Kishimoto still has every right.

Enjoy reading~

CHAPTER 8

16 years ago. Amekagure.

"Sakura, sweetheart, what are you doing in the mud. Where is your older sister? She should be here watching over you."

"Ma-ma," Little Sakura laughs happily as she sees her mother. Waving both of her hands covered in mud.

"Goodness child. You look…" The woman seems to be short of the right words as she gazes at her youngest child.

"She looks just fine," Kagura appeared behind as she made funny faces to make her sister laugh. She then clips a stem of Lionheart in her sister's ears.

"Why did you allow your sister to play in this filthy place…? What if she gets sick… Or…"

Kagura grins at her mother and took Sakura in her arms. Little Sakura giggles happily.

"Relax mother. There is nothing to worry about. Sakura is also a Child of the Rain. And this 'rain' will always protect her no matter what."

The older woman shook her head in disagreement, "But this 'rain' also causes children like Sakura to get sick. If your father learns about this, he will definitely scold you as well." Sakura embraces her doll tightly as she looks at both of them with wonder on her cherub like face.

Two shadows emerge from the shadow behind the three. Nagato smiled at the sight of them and runs eagerly to hold his baby sister. Sakura shouted in delight as she saw her brother.

"Ladies, did I hear the two of you arguing about something?" Father asks.

Kagura was about to answer her father when they heard a loud explosion coming from the villages direction.

Their parents looked alarmed. "They are here."

"It's so soon," Sakura's mother hugs her children in worry. "We have to do it now or it will be too late."

"But," Father was skeptical.

"I don't want my children to suffer because of this stupid war. Please. For our children," Tears started to fall from Mother's eyes.

Kagura looks at her parent's panicked reactions. "Father? Mother? What are you planning to do? Please, tell me. I might be able to help…"

Father smiled gently at Kagura, "Always take care of your brother and sister, okay?" He kissed both of Kagura's cheeks and her forehead. Same gestures were done to Nagato and Sakura.

The little girl seems to understand the commotion happening around her as she started to cry.

"Hush, my love. Everything will be alright. Mama promised. Hmmm," Mother's smile looks broken.

Nagato clenches his fists in frustration. But Father put his hand on the young boy's head, "A day will come, when you will be able to find the answer, the means to end this war. And when that day comes, me and your mother will smile for you from where we are. Be brave, Son."

They hug one another as if they knew that it will be the last time they'll see each other. The end to their happiness.

The skies of Amekagure seem to feel their inner turmoil. It started to rain heavily.

Blazing red eyes shine among the darkness. Greed can be felt from the outside. It surrounds the newcomer like air.

"There you are," The shadow smiled, showing its pointed teeth. "All of you… Your power; your eyes will be mine."

Father blocks his path and attacks him.

Mother looks in her children's eyes and whispered silently, "When I told you to, run as far as you can from here, do you understand?"

"But, Mother?" Kagura felt danger from that man. She must warn her Father.

"Go!" Mother pushes her children away, "Run!"

"No!"

"Kagura, stop!"

"Nagato!"

XoXoXoXoX

Present time. Border between Amekagure and Konoha.

"Sakura!" A hand touches Sakura's cheek, trying to wake her up.

Sakura screamed.

"Princess, it's me. Calm down," Itachi puts his arm around her, trying to comfort the tear-stricken Sakura. "It's just a nightmare, shhh."

"Mother and Father died as they tried to protect us from that man. How could he do these things. He's a monster." Sakura sobbed helplessly. She buries her face in Itachi's chest, seeking comfort. When she felt something wet. Smells like… blood?

"Itachi? My God, you are bleeding." Sakura was shocked to see the amount of blood in his shirt.

"It's nothing. Just a scratch," He shrugged dismissively.

"Damn it, you moron. If you continue to act like this, I am going to kill you myself." Sakura literally dragged him as she forces him to stand beside the large boulder, ensuring they are deeply covered. She made a barrier using her Rinnegan to shield and protect them from any more harm (think of the barrier as an illusion or Genjutsu, when someone passes through, it will mislead the intruder to go the other way. (Author's Note: If you are familiar with Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, one of her vampire characters has this ability. Her name is Renata, if I'm not mistaken^^))

"Impressive," Itachi smiled at Sakura making the pink-haired ninja to blush a little. "What about your arm?" He asks.

Sakura was about to answer when she noticed Itachi leaning sloppily on the tree as his body slides slowly to the ground. He started to cough blood. Lots of blood.

"This isn't just an injury," Sakura thought with alarm. She immediately ripped off his front shirt, looking at his wound. "This is bad. This is really really bad," she reactivated her Rinnegan and scanned Itachi's condition. His right lung already collapsed. The kunai barely missed his heart by inches with other medical conditions so severe; she couldn't imagine how he manages to survive each day.

"He must be in so much pain," Sakura felt herself crying for this man. No wonder her sister was so defensive about her relationship with Itachi. Being an Empath, Kagura feels Itachi's pain.

"You should not cry for me, Princess. Your tears are precious. They shouldn't be wasted to someone like me," Itachi whispered. He raised his hands to remove Sakura's tears.

Sakura catches his hand, and holds it tightly. "Do you really wanted to die at Sasuke's hands because of what you did to your family?" She asks morosely.

"That and everything else, I suppose." Itachi curses silently. His eyes are starting to blur. "No. Not now. I still wanted to see her face. Please, give me more time." He prayed for the nth time. Hoping that God would listen to him one more time. He had so many things to do, yet his time is running out. "I'm sorry," He apologized to Sakura.

"I do not accept your apology," Sakura snaps back angrily. "You are a lot worse than Naruto," she gritted her teeth in frustration.

Itachi closes his eyes. His fingers grasps dirt. He don't want Sakura to see him like this. He is so pathetic.

Sakura started to heal Itachi's wounds. It would take all her concentration to heal the others. "This is a battle I am capable of winning. And I'm not going to lose." She told herself, with a determined expression on her face.

XoXoXoXoX

Konoha

Beneath the village, in an underground tunnel created by the early ancestors of Konoha, a lone figure stands at the same spot where the Hokage monument could be found. An enormous cave surrounded by the Firsts legacy. Roots that built the great village of the hidden Leaf.

Half of the figures face and body is covered in bandaged. His eye scrutinizes the scene before him.

"Sir?"

"All of Root are waiting for your orders. Shall we proceed with the 'Invasion'?" Two Anbu black ops stand behind him, waiting for the old man to respond. They look at one another, urging the other to speak again.

Shimura Danzo drops his crane, making a sharp sound that echoed in that place. Around them, hundreds of Anbu Root was looking impassively at the men in the middle.

"Konoha needs an iron hand to ensure its strength. We must protect it at all costs. Remove those who continue to destroy it from the inside." He opens his eyes and looks at everyone. With his jaw set, he gave the order. "Proceed with the 'Extermination'. Konoha needs us." As Danzo said the words, his men disappeared in puffs of smoke.

In front of Danzo, ten of his strongest Anbu Root remains as they wait for their leaders final words.

"Aah, Konoha. She will be mine… Forever," Danzo said with a thoughtful smile on his face as he looks at his men.

"Do not fail me on this one," He told the ten. "Dismissed."

The ten left in a swirl of leaves and smoke.

XoXoXoXoX

Amekagure, Akatsuki's hideout

Its halls were empty.

Darkness surrounds every corner.

Kagura walked without difficulty. If Sakura was here, she would light up the entire place much to Kakuzu's annoyance. Sakura had this aversion to the dark. Her little sister hated it. Fearful of her wrath, the Akatsuki doted on her like a true princess; especially her brother Nagato. Only Itachi imposes Sakura to follow the rules, much to her sister's annoyance. He always contradicts her. Those two tend to fight most of the time as Sakura always loses her patience with Itachi's no nonsense and dominant attitude. Like oil and water. Kagura smiled.

Just when she approaches the main hall, she noticed a few things. No one was in sight. Everyone was gone. She couldn't feel or sense a single soul, except for one. Kagura was so glad that her brother actually listened to her.

"Ah, Nagato. You never really changed at all," Kagura muses to herself. She opens the door.

"Welcome home, Princess Kagura. I've been waiting for you for a very long time."

XoXoXoXoX

Next chapter will be Sakura's return to the village of Konoha.

Shucks, I think I'm having a hard time writing these stupid actions scenes. What a bummer. *Sigh*

Oh yes, everyone, please review.

Thanks thanks. Mwuahhugs!