Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 15
As a celebration of Friday the 13, 2013 and the birthday of Supernatural, and to all of your lovely and supportive reviews here is the next chapter!
It was a few weeks after Sasuke had given the Uchiha scrolls to Tsunade, when Sakura was called into her office for a mission. Ever since she told Tsunade the truth, she has been sent on more C rank and B ranks either it was with a chuunin team or by herself. It made her feel special, that Tsunade trusted enough to send her on these mission despite her status as a genin.
Strolling casually down the busy Konoha street she basked under the warm sunlight.
These few weeks she constantly replayed what Sasuke had said to her that night. 'You better be damn sure that this plan of yours to involve the Hokage works.' He was pissed at her alright, but she really did believe that Tsunade would help. However, with every passing day she began to doubt herself bit by bit due to the lack of reply from the female hokage in regards to this matter. Did she forget? Was the evidence not convincing? Did she just ruin any chance of Itachi returning to Konoha? All of these concerns weighted down on her, resulting in that she started to avoid Sasuke like the plague. Every time she would see him walking down the street, or at the training field she would turn and run the other way, fearing what he might say to her.
She knew she had to face him someday, but maybe when she has mentally and emotionally prepared herself for anything that could come out of his mouth. Since she wasn't prepared yet, she was going to stick to avoiding.
Sighing, she fixed her hitai-ate as she trekked down the busy street heading towards the Hokage tower. Just this morning she was called in for an important medic mission.
Bustling through the masses of people she caught sight of a familiar chicken ass hair style.
'Shit'
She froze in place as she watched the raven haired male walk towards her. His eyes boring into hers. 'Abort, ABORT' She mentally urged herself to move. Shifting her eyes nervously in search of any possible exit routes. 'Roof' Pumping chakra to her feet, she landed on the roof top of a nearby shop. 'NOW RUN' Continuously collecting chakra to her feet, she leaped across the roof tops and headed towards the Hokage tower, not bothering to spare a glance at the Uchiha.
These few weeks for Sasuke was a nightmare, although he was also send on more higher ranking missions, he's mind hardly ever seemed to focus on them. Rather he's been getting antsy about the lack of reply from the Hokage in regards to the matter concerning Itachi.
But of course being an Uchiha meant that he hid his anxiety very well.
Now for most people there are many ways to deal with anxiety, whether it's mediation or indulging in sweets. For Sasuke it was tomatoes, it was something about the way they looked and tasted that calmed his nerves. So these few days, he hung around grocery stands quite often, picking and buying these red fruits.
He had just bought a batch and was walking back home, when he caught sight of Sakura. He watched as her eyes turn from recognition to shock in less than a second before she jumped away. He wasn't stupid, he knew she was avoiding him. But he didn't understand why. He admit he was a bit harsh to her that night, but it wasn't like he was going to bit her head off. Sure, he was annoyed at the lack of response from the Hokage, but he wasn't particularly all that mad at Sakura. He knew these things took time, he just didn't like waiting part so much. In fact, these few days he became slightly amused by how fast Sakura would bolt the other direction whenever she saw him. It was surprising how despite being a ninja, she wasn't too great at being subtle.
But he's Sasuke Uchiha, he's not going to go chasing after her. So he just simply watched her run away every time.
"Tsunade-sama." Sakura said in a professional tone as she closed the office door behind her. The older woman looked up from behind her desk, and handed over a small scroll to the girl.
"It's a simple mission. I just need some specialized herbs that grow on the outskirts of the fire nation."
After scanning over the mission details, Sakura placed the small scroll into her medic pouch, before giving Tsunade a small nod.
"Be careful." Tsunade called out before Sakura fully left the office.
"I will."
Letting his long white hair flutter in the breeze behind him, he gave one last look at the underground base. He would not fail Orochimaru-sama.
Keeping an impassive face he ran into the forest leading to the fire village.
Fixing her hitai-ate and repositioning her medic pack, she jumped across the roof tops of the village heading towards the gates. Once she arrived, she gave a small wave at Kotetsu and Izumo before leaving the village.
During her recent few missions with chuunin teams she's become quite acquainted with the two village guards. They made her feel right at home whenever she missioned with them. Always cracking jokes or pulling pranks, she felt like one of the guys.
"Be careful Sakura-chan!" Kotetsu and Izumo shouted after the girl.
"I WILL!" She shouted back, a large smile on her face.
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Trekking through the muddy slops down the mountain ranges that surrounded the hidden leaf village, a small scowl was present on her face. So much for this being an easy mission. Getting the herbs weren't a problem, the problem was the returning home part.
The herbs were situated on the highest peaks of the mountains and since this region had rained during the past few days, it made the journey going down these rocky cliffs extremely dangerous. She already fell twice, and during these two time she got numerous gashes across her face, arms and legs.
Growling under her breath, she slipped on the mud again. This time landing painfully on her butt. Her clothing was completely drenched in the cold wet dirt and her hair had streaks of brown in it. Hoisting her medic bag with the herbs securely placed in it, she gathered chakra to her palms and feet before attempting to slide down.
"Teshi Sendan"
Sakura turned her head up to look at the top of mountain peak. Blearily she could make out the silhouette of a slightly older male. His long white hair flowing behind him.
A sharp pain hit her square in the shoulder. Looking down she winced as she pulled out what seemed like the tip of the finger bone. 'What?' More hits landed on her. Grunting in pain, her eyes widened as she saw the male rapidly approach her.
'Shit'
Forgetting about her earlier attempts to be careful while descending from the mountain, she pushed herself into an upright position before sprinting down. She was almost nearing the bottom before she tripped over a jagged rock on the side of the rocky mountain and somersaulted the rest of the way down. She didn't fully stop till her back painfully collided with the side of tree on the bottom of the mountain ranges.
Rolling out of the way, she dodged another five rounds of finger bone bullets, which embedded themselves deeply into the trunk.
'Shit, shit, shit! Why the hell am I under attack?'
Sasuke searched through the village for signs of his pink haired teammate. Not to long ago, one of the ANBUs had approached him and ordered him to go to the Hokage tower. Feeling the unknown need to tell Sakura that Tsunade has news regarding Itachi, he's been searching for the girl for the past ten minutes. He went to her house, training field, ichiraku, and the hospital. Yet, she could not be found.
Stuffing his hands into his pockets he trudged down the busy street towards the Hokage tower. He'll just have to find her afterwards.
"SASUKE-KUN!" A loud screech came from his left, as a sudden weight was added to his back.
"What do you want, Yamanaka?" He gave her an annoyed glare, as he rudely shoved the blond off.
"Ne, ne Sasuke-kun? Since Naruto and Forehead girl isn't here how would you like to spend some quality time with me?" She gave him a flirtatious wink, as she started to trace a long manicured finger across his chest.
Swatting it away his glare hardened. "No."
"But, Sasuke-kun!" Ino whined as she made another attempt to grab Sasuke's arm.
Dodging her attempt, he eyes full of malice. "You disgust me." With that he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"EH? SASUKE-KUN?"
"What the hell do you want?" Sakura growled as she dodged another one of sharp bones he threw at her. Seriously what kind of freak was this guy? Using his own bones as weapons?
"Orochimaru-sama wants you." His tone was soft and carried a gentle undertone.
"Then you're going to have to kill me." Sakura pulled out her black, leather fighting gloves and slipped them on. "Cause there is no way in hell I'll go with you."
"I do not wish to harm you." Said Kimimaro. "However, I will do everything in my power to subdue you and bring you to Orochimaru-sama."
He launched two sharpened ribs at her. Ducking, she let the two weaponry sail over her head.
"You're going to have to do better than that." Clenching her fist, she threw it at the ground watching in satisfaction when she saw the shocked expression on his face as the earth beneath him shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces. Pushing off the non broken piece of land, she propelled herself towards the older male, chakra scalpels ready at hand.
Thrusting her attacks at Kimimaro, she watched as he gracefully countered it by forcefully protruding his own bones from his body.
"CHA!" She gave a victorious shout as she landed a hit on his chest that managed to send him flying into the ground. Landing on top of him she prepared to do her chakra absorption jutsu, but was stopped when she felt several of his ribs penetrate through her stomach, before retreating back into his body. Stumbling backwards, she gave a small gasp of pain. Numbly she stared down at the four holes that sloshed out blood from her perforated belly. 'Shit' Changing the offensive blue glow of her chakra to a medic green as she began to repair the damage.
"I do not wish to further hurt you Sakura-san, so please come with me." Kimimaro tried again, as he offered out a hand.
"And as I said, over my dead body." She gritted as she hastily stitched up the wound. There was no time to properly heal the injury, since two sharpened tibias flew straight at her head.
"I thought you weren't trying to kill me?" Sakura mocked as she stared at the two white skeletal pieced lodged in the tree behind her.
"I'm not, but I will do everything in my power to subdue you for Orochimaru-sama." He calmly replied as he charged towards her pulling out a long protruding bone from his back. Using it as a sword he slashed it at her, grazing her cheek as it past. This guy was fast. Not as fast as Sasuke, but still fast. His movements were smooth, almost trance-like. Sakura soon found herself memorized by his movements. Another nick to the shoulder, snapped her back to reality.
Twisting her body to the side, she sent a chakra filled kick to Kimimaro's side. She heard the sound of bones cracking.
"Kanashibari no Jutsu."
Sakura watched as Kimimaro froze in his spot, trapped in a horrifying genjutsu of his own death. It was the same technique Orochimaru had used on her and Sasuke the first time in the forest of death.
"It's over." Sakura panted. Performing this genjutsu always took a lot out of her, and it didn't help her situation with her waveringly low chakra levels. Running towards the sound ninja she had her chakra scalpels ready, but before she could slice the carotid, Kimimaro moved out of the way. Her green eyes widened. This was impossible, he shouldn't be able to move.
"I've been with Orochimaru-sama all my life. I have a way out of all his genjutsu techniques." Kimimaro answered her thoughts, as he delivered a power kick to her stomach.
Flying back, Sakura felt her back painfully collide with the rough bark of a tree. The wind knocked out from her.
"You put up a good fight."
Sakura gasped in pain as she saw what seemed to be an extended spinal cord stabbed into her stomach.
"But now it's time for you to come with me."
She felt her consciousness wavering. This couldn't be happening, not to her, not now. She couldn't be taken by Orochimaru. She'd rather die then be his vessel. Pushing herself past her limits, she grabbed the spinal cord and pulled it out from her. Bitting her lips from screaming out as she fell to the ground clutching her bleeding abdomen.
"Just kill me." Sakura spat at the man with a certain degree of venom.
Kimimaro stared at the girl curiously. He couldn't comprehend why she was so against going to Orochimaru. Grabbing the girl by the front of her collar, he pulled her up to her feet. "You're coming with me."
She felt herself being dragged across the shattered earth. Her body almost out of chakra there was no way she was able to fight back. 'No' Something wet trailed down her face. Great. She was crying. How pathetic.
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'Use me.' A sinister voice ranged out from within her. The mark around her neck throbbed.
'No, I refuse to let it take me over.' Sakura fought to kept her will strong, and the seal working.
'I'm your only chance...it's me or Orochimaru.'
Sakura's resolved faltered. She didn't want to go be some vessel for Orochimaru and she will stop at nothing to accomplish this, even if it meant using the curse mark. Closing her eyes, she let herself fall into unconsciousness, and the curse mark take over.
"So I presume you've been anxious these past few weeks?" Tsunade asked with an amused smirk, as she stared at the stoic boy.
"No." He replied briskly, not wanting to give this sadistic Hokage the satisfaction that he had been indeed very nerve racked these past few weeks.
Tsunade's smirk grew, when she heard the quick reply from the boy.
"Do you have to scroll or not."
She gave a small 'tsk' sound. This boy was impatient as always. Pulling open her desk drawer, she took two scrolls out, and tossed them to Sasuke. "I talked to those sleazy elders, and managed to retrieve a copy of the original mission scroll."
Sasuke stared at the tiny objects in his hand.
"I suppose with this, Itachi can be wiped from all charges laid out against him." She continued.
He could finally bring Itachi home. A small smirk manifested on his face. "Where's Sakura?"
Tsunade's eyes slightly widened at the question. He was asking about her student? A sly smile adorned lips, and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
"She's on a mission."
Sakura watched as if through a viewing box, as her body violently tore away from Kimimaro's grip. Her once pale skin, was now covered in the inky black marking that glowed red. Her green bright eyes vanished behind a pair of predator red. Who ever this person was, it was no longer her.
She saw the slight hint of fear in Kimimaro's eyes, when she threw herself on top of him ripping at him with her bare hands. It seems like this body felt no pain. Even when every bone in Kimimaro's body erupted from beneath the skin and lodge themselves into her as a form of defense, she felt no pain.
A voice that wasn't like her normal cheery feminine one cackled from her mouth. Her body was thrown back like a rag doll, by the now evolved form of Kimimaro. His skin washed away into a darker shade as the bones that protruded from his body grew in size. His eye faded into a black and yellow color.
So this is what the second level of the curse mark looked like, she mused sardonically as she watched herself pick herself up from the ground, and charged at the man again. This time she moved faster towards him. Before Kimimaro even had time to move, she was on top of him again, her chakra enhanced hands slammed down on him repeatedly. Blood coughed up from his mouth and spattered onto her face.
"GET OFF." She heard him growl, as he send on of his rib bones into her shoulder. However, she made no motion to get off, instead she grabbed the bone that was impaled into her and snapped it in half.
Sakura watched her hand ensnarled around the male's neck and tightened. A blue chakra glow encased her hand as she ripped out his trachea. A maniacal laugh escaped her mouth as the man beneath her spasmed and made guttural noises as blood spew out from the open wound, drenching her hand. She heard herself laugh harder when she saw the life leave his eyes.
She had just killed a man in cold blood and felt nothing.
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Pushing herself up from the man, she stumbled a few steps back and slumped down against a tree. The curse mark slowly receded back to the base of her neck and the pain from her wounds became apparent to her.
A scream filled the silent forest as she rolled onto her side clutching all her wounds. She looked like a human shish kabob. Holes from Kimimaro's bones littered all around her torso. But, something felt different. Apart from the stinging pain of her physical wounds, there was a burning sensation spreading through her insides. It was the same kind of pain she felt when she first received the curse mark. Weakly using what's left of her chakra she scanned her body to try and figure out what was was a toxin spreading in her body, slowly eating away at her organs. She didn't sense the use of poison from the male ninja, so that meant that the curse mark released some sort of toxin within her. Closing her eyes she gave another pained scream.
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Whimpering, she tried stop the bleeding from her stomach. The burning sensation had now left her body, instead it was just the stinging pain from her numerous wounds. Her vision blurred and her brain was starting to shut down, but just before she black out one thought crossed her mind.
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Her body was rejecting the curse mark, and with every use, it was slowly killing her.
Like what I did with the curse mark? Didn't want Sakura to get to strong...cause that would be really blehh in some sense... and i tried to keep Kimimaro in character. I actually read the wiki for him, and it's said that he's kinda like Juugo. Gentle in nature, and hates conflicts.
I also realized that i really like cliff hangers... Don't like reading them in other people's stories but i love using them in mine (For those that are reading my 'letting go' story know what i mean...) I'm sadistic i know... XD
Anyways please leave a review! (The amount of reviews I get for this chapter will determine whether or not I'll post the next chapter by Sunday!)
Sorry for the lack of sasusaku interaction in this chapter...but there is a reason for it! Also side note: I love the Brotp of Sakura and Ino, so for those waiting for a Best friend between them it'll come soon like in a chapter or two. Time skip is also coming soon, and itachi will arrive soon for those that are patiently awaiting him. :D