Title: Crystal Destiny
Author: Scarasuke
Date of Publication: 26-09-2021
Fandom: Naruto, The Last Airbender
Fanfiction Protagonist: Haruno Sakura-centric.
Main Characters: Haruno Sakura, Sokka, Avatar Aang, Katara.
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Summary:
Konoha was invaded in the middle of Chūnin Exams, Orochimaru lead the charge and attacked their Hokage, the One-Tailed Jinchuriki has gone on rampage, and Sakura found herself blanking out ; with the last memory of herself protecting her teammate from the enraged Ichibi.
She expected to at least find herself in the hospital, but when she regained consciousness at the middle of a argument between two troublesome Water Tribe siblings, Sakura knew that her life was about to change permanently. For the better or for the worst, only time could really tell.
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The Chunin Exams . . . It was a event hosted by all the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Every four months, the exams to test out the potential Genin takes place, so they can show to the civilians that the peace treaties are still being considered, if not signed already. It's a occurrence that happens so the villages can show-off the power of their military; subtly warning them that the generations will become stronger to carry out the will of their Kage.
However, now sitting besides her rival while watching the fights of her fellow comrades, Sakura felt like she was missing something. Having been a viewer on a Chunin Exam hosted by Konoha before, she could say that she has never felt the same tense atmosphere that she's feeling now. Something heavy and dark was coming from across the horizons, but the rosette couldn't quite put her finger on what it was exactly. Their seniors, Ninja in the upper ranks who have come and visited the Academy back when she was a student, always said that you have to trust your gut when you are a Shinobi because it can save your life someday.
That, alone, put her on edge. She felt the hair on her arms erupt into chilly goosebumps, and her neck tensing along with her shoulders. Her back felt tingly; like when someone was watching you with bad intention and with killing intent. Sakura did everything in her will to stop the trembling of her body, half-succeeding when she decided to curl her fingers into fists; clenching the material of her biker shorts.
". . . attack similar to the rumbling of a thousand birds." Sakura zoned back, the voice of Gai-sensei, a Taijutsu specialist and rival to her own sensei, Hatake Kakashi, spoke almost gravely. It was then that she realised that Sasuke was running full speed towards the protective wall Gaara of the Sand had put up, the new technique he learned chirping brightly on his hand.
"And that's why that technique is called . . ." Sasuke pierced his shaking hand fiercely through Gaara's sand wall. "Chidori: One Thousand Birds!"
Sakura's eyes, along with pretty much everyone else's, widened at the sight of such extraordinary skill. If she wasn't so much on edge, she might as well have gasped out loud at how ridiculously cool he looked. However, as the rosette looked around, she felt a small sense of pride surging through her for the boy down at the arena; he left everyone on the stadium speechless.
"The Chidori . . . also known as the Lighting Blade," Gai-sensei smirked, and it was so out of place that it took Sakura a bit taken aback when she turned to look at him in curiousity; having used to the man being more silly than that.
"Lighting Blade?" She questioned, making some of the Rookie Nine members pay close attention as they too, were much too curious to find out about it.
"Lighting Blade is another name for the jutsu derived from Kakashi's ability to cut through lighting to use that technique."
Kakashi-sensei? Does that mean that the jutsu Sasuke is using right now is her sensei's?
"The real technique is called Chidori . . ." He continued, and the rosette couldn't help but feel a little impatient since he was slightly repeating himself. "The secret is the speed of his jab that surpasses any human limitations, and the intensity of the chakra on his arm . . ."
Sakura pursed her lips, the grip on her shorts tightening in anticipation; feeling the thirst for knowledge getting the best of her as she leaned sideways to her seat. How does Gai-sensei know so much about this? From the way he was talking, the rosette clearly underestimated his friendship with Kakashi-sensei.
"And the arm turns virtually into the equivalent of the swing of a celebrated sword that cuts through everything." Gai glanced back at Kakashi with slightly narrowed dark eyes. "But what a reckless technique . . ."
The reprimand was clearly for Kakashi, but the tone of the man's voice made her shift in the seat uncomfortably, like she was the one being scolded instead.
Kakashi reciprocated his actions, narrowing his eyes down at him. "That's not for you to say . . ."
Ah, right. She remembered now back at the preliminaries, Kakashi-sensei was clearly shocked when Rock Lee, one of Gai students and literally his miniature copy, learned opening the Chakra Gates. He was actually very against a Genin learning such a powerful technique . . . but then again, as Sakura thought it over, she sweatdropped at both of those hypocrites.
Kakashi crouched down with a happy-go-lucky, close-eyed smile. His hand coming up to cup mockingly his mouth like he was saying a secret. "Right, Lee?" He asked, making the injured boy turn towards him with a frown.
Yup . . . she guessed it right.
"It's beyond my scope of comprehension but . . . it's an awesome technique!" Her lips tilted up to a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes as she turned back on watching the fight, her eyes brightening up when she realized that Sasuke's hand has long bypassed the sand dome. That was so--
"-- AHHHHHHH! BLOOD . . ! MY BLOOD IS . . !"
Everything stilled, her emerald green eyes widening when her crush tried getting back his hand, only for electricity to surge out from it in a attempt for freedom, making her stand up straight on her seat as she started growing concerned, breath hitching on her throat.
The Uchiha managed successfully to free his hand, immediately jumping back from the source of danger. However, Sakura never expected for a flimsy light brown thing to come right out of the 'cocoon' with Sasuke as it's target.
Kakashi-sensei and Gai-sensei gaped at the scene. "What is it?" The latter voiced out, and she couldn't help it when she felt her heart beating faster than usual, her worry now visible on her face like an open book.
The flimsy thing started retreating back, and while that was happening, the rosette couldn't help but look towards the remaining two Sand Siblings, Temari and Kankuro, and seeing them panicking from across the stands. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, gaze never leaving their terrified expressions, when a loud roar echoed through-out the arena, making her survival instincts go crazy as her head snapped back towards the fight.
The bad feeling from before came back to her ten-fold, and her body reacted way faster than her mind did. She shot up from her seat, back straightening and eyes quickly darting around as Gaara's sand slowly dissolved around him. The redhead was panting heavily, clutching the bloody injury on his shoulder while his crazy-veined eyes opened with a glare; pupils dilated in obvious madness and zero coherence.
"Sakura?" She heard Ino calling her name in question, but she sounded so far away than what she actually was that it might as well have been a fragment of her imagination. "Sa . . . ku . . ."
She could feel it, the heavy yet silky sensation of the Genjutsu trying to invade her chakra system. It felt like she was floating on the waters of a hot summer sea, but she was totally indifferent to the disturbing waves trying to break her peace.
She formed the proper seal, eyes hardening. "Kai!" The Genjutsu around her was immediately dispelled.
What is going on . . ? Why does this feel like a trap? Her eyes sought out again the Sand Siblings, eyes unreadable.
Is this . . . Is this what one calls a invasion? They surely didn't . . . no, no, no. Suna are their allies, they wouldn't . . .
Oh, but they would.
Smoke erupted from the Kage box, and everything turned into absolute chaos.
"Hokage-sama!" Gai exclaimed, and Sakura had to take a step back as a black blur appeared in front of her for a second.
Konoha ANBU, she thought with relief. They were heading to their Hokage, and the rosette felt like she could breath a little easier now at the knowledge of it. Nevertheless, that didn't last long when a purple cube surrounded the Hokage and the Kazekage, leaving the ANBU Agents in despair.
"They're not ordinary Ninja . . ." Kakashi-sensei noted. "If they have out-maneuvered ANBU members."
Suddenly, Sakura watched keenly as a black-hooded figure appeared down the steps in front of them, instead of rushing to help their leader. It seemed that the two teacher's shared her train of thoughts as they stood on alert.
"What are you doing? Hokage-sama is in danger!" Gai bellowed.
Instead of answering though, unlike some more relaxed Shinobi, the dark ANBU-that-was-really-not-an-ANBU formed a tiger seal. Not even milliseconds after they did, four more grey masked-nin appeared besides them, making them stand out and accidentally revealing they were of superior rank compared to the newcomers.
"What a bummer . . ." Kakashi drawled out in a seemingly tired, yet exasperated tone.
"I didn't expect the enemy to be disguised as an ANBU member." Gai glared down at their opponents. "Was he the one who used the illusion technique?"
Kakashi hummed in confirmation. "There is no doubt about it."
Sakura crouched and cowered behind the seats, her whole body trembling as she peeked from the gaps between the chairs. The killing intent was suffocating her, yet at this moment she logically knew she couldn't do anything. What could a normal Genin do to help two legendary Jonin take down the obviously monstrous wannabe ANBU-nin? Rationally, she could only lessen the burden and take herself out of here as fast as possible; before anyone got hurt because of her thoughtless stupidity.
"They have quite a number of people," Kakashi observed.
"We were too careless," Gai furrowed his bushy eyebrows, scowling. "On top of that, they have Hokage-sama . . ." He trailed off, his eyes widening as he looked over her shoulder. "Kakashi, look inside the field."
At this, both Kakashi and Sakura turned to see what he was referring to. Her eyes squinted, seeing the blue and white robes clashing with the red and white ones. The Kazekage had pointed a kunai at Hokage-sama's neck. She felt her fists clenching until she pressed crescent scars against her palm. Suna . . . how could they--
Time suddenly stopped, and she felt like she couldn't breath.
White skin to the point of turning grey. Amber, snake-like eyes. A triumph grin plastered firmly on his lips, and long black hair could be discerned with difficulty under the blue-white Wind Kage hat.
She couldn't believe it, her eyes widening as she stood up. "Orochimaru!"
No . . . No, why is he here? What could he possibly want? Is he after Sasuke-kun again? Does . . .
"Sasuke-kun!" Her eyes snapped immediately to the arena, but between the proctor chewing on a senbon, and who Sakura recognized as the Sand Sibling's sensei, no one else was down there. That realization has her panicking beyond comprehension, but she knows it's not time to completely lose her cool right now. She needed to focus!
"Huh?" She looked up at the sound of two loud whooshes, her pink hair flattering along the breeze and her eyes widening in fear at the sight of two senior Ninja coming down at her with the intent to slice off her throat completely.
Sakura . . . Sakura didn't want to die!
She crouched down yet again, doing the mistake of ducking her head and cradling her face to her knees instead of trying to dodge. She panicked, she didn't know what to do but hide like she did from her bullies back at the Academy. Only, this wasn't school anymore, this was the playing field and the rosette was miserably losing at it like a drunken gambler.
That was when Kakashi-sensei saved her. He appeared in front of her, shielding her from the lethal blows and killing them in the process. The execution was so quick that she froze; unable to believe it until she remembered a very important fact that she had treated it previously with indifference. Her sensei was a former ANBU Captain, things like killing probably came to him as easily as breathing.
"Sakura," His voice . . . his voice was warm and full of compassion as he peered down at her with his signature, close-eyed smile. "Stay like that for a moment. I'm going to decrease the number of enemies."
Ah, yes. Please do that. That what she planned to do anyway, so no need to tell her twice.
And Fire Jutsu, war cries (courtesy of Maito Gai), kunai clanging with kunai filled the air and made the stadium smell like a bloody battlefield . . . which is exactly what it is, at this point. The scent of blood filled her nostrils, and she couldn't help but gag slightly from the smell. She never liked it; she loathes the metallic of it actually.
"Sakura!" Kakashi-sensei's voice was no longer warm, but sharp this time. Her back straightened unconsciously, and she was ready to accept any type of orders from her leader. "I'm glad that I taught you about illusionary techniques during the survival training . . . you have talent in that area."
Warmth bloomed in her chest, and she acknowledged Kakashi's compliment. After all this comes to an end, she'll try to become better at it.
"Dispel the illusionary technique, and wake up Naruto and Shikamaru," She glanced back at her sleeping former classmate and current teammate, who was drooling and snoring at the same time, before looking back at her teacher. "Naruto will be happy . . . It's the first mission we had in a long time."
Wait, what? "Mission . . ?"
Kakashi remained in front of her, watching carefully the flying kunai in case someone targets her. Then, he can target their throat himself instead. "Proceed with caution," He advised her. "This is an A-Rank mission, just like the mission in the country of Wave."
What . . . She gaped. eyebrows furrowing in concern. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
She yelped when her sensei stabbed the enemy-nin and suddenly threw him towards her way, forcing her to duck to the side to avoid getting hit. She rose back up, her eyebrows furrowing and green eyes shining with concern. "Sensei! What do you mean by an A-Rank mission in this situation? What are we supposed to do?"
Kakashi glanced back at her. "Sasuke went after Gaara-" Oh, she's going to die right here, right now. "-of the Sand and the others." The kunai in his hand glinted as his slid his thumb harshly against the sharp metal, growing a line of blood. "You need to dispel the illusionary technique from Naruto and Shikamaru, and go after Sasuke."
Only Naruto and Shikamaru? But wouldn't it be better if they had a bigger squad for this? "But if that's the case, I should wake up Ino and Choji and go in a bigger group . . ."
"There are already many Sand and Sound ninja in the village," He said, and the rosette wanted to scream at him because it literally made no sense to her! "Movement with more than four people, a basic platoon, will result in a decrease in swiftness, and it will become more difficult to conceal yourselves from the enemy."
. . . Okay, yeah, he got a point.
"You learned that in the control exercises in the Academy, correct?"
'Fucking bastard-sensei!' Inner Sakura emerged with her hands clenched into fists, and white eyes narrowing over to a fierce glare. 'I will not tolerate this blatant mocking, shannaro!'
Sakura batted away her inner self, squeezing her deep down in a matter of milliseconds. Her eyes shone with understanding. "Oh, yes! Since we're moving with four people, you're going to come with us, Kakashi-sensei?" She questioned, hands gripping the back of the seats hopefully.
"No, I can't leave this place," Kakashi said, going along some familiar hand seals. Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram. He pressed his bloody thumb on a extra character's back. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
In a poof of smoke a small pug appeared; with brown fur and darker snout and ears, wearing a blue best with the heno-heno-moheji seal, a Konoha headband resting on top of it's head, and a bandage wrapped around it's right front leg. Sakura found it a little funny how at the moment she looked at the pug's eyes, they were almost identical to Kakashi-sensei's languorous gaze.
"Pakkun here will chase after Sasuke through his scent." Her teacher informed her.
What.
"Is he the other teammate, that doggy?" She asked in clear disbelief.
To her surprise, the small pug merely jumped from the place it was to another sleeping and slumped over man's back, getting right into her face and looking at her dead in the eyes.
"Hey, little girl," His tone was gruff, and very deep. So the doggy was male. "Don't call me a cute doggy." He demanded, causing her to sweatdrop in slight anxiousness. She didn't say cute, though . . .
"Okay, Sakura . . ." The voice of her sensei made her pay attention to him fully. "Your mission starts now."
And the rosette nodded, eyes glimmering with stubbornness to get this done successfully.
The mission will be a mission failure.
Sakura has many worries and many doubts that they'll make it out of this alive and well. Not to mention, their squad needs someone to play the decoy so the other two, three if you include the doggy, could have more chances in surviving, and also higher chances of mission success. Still, she couldn't help but tremble at the realization that someone may not come back from this alive.
And her gut told her it will not be Naruto or Shikamaru, but she herself.
The rosette never really relied in her intuition. She was more of a in-matter-of-fact Ninja, one who relied in confirmed sources rather than assumptions and conspiracies, but despite what many say; that you need to trust your gut to survive, Sakura was more prone to trust her instincts.
And her instincts were mostly, if not always, right.
"Play . . . the decoy?" She asked as they jumped from tree to tree, for once Naruto being more quiet than she has ever seen him.
"Yes," Shikamaru admitted, dark eyes hard. "If the person can stop them, they won't be able to get the location of the other three. Then we can lose the pursuers, but the decoy will most likely . . . die."
Her eyes widened, and both she and Naruto immediately stopped running, landing safely in different branch trees. She looked at Shikamaru, who had their backs turned to them, and felt like she was suffocating; like someone was forcing the oxygen out of her. Her thoughts were right . . . and for once, she wanted to take everything back and say she was wrong from the very beginning.
Silence surrounded them, the only sound coming from birds chirping in harmony at midst of all this chaos. Her heart beat loudly, hands clenching into fists.
"So? Who wants to take the job?" Shikamaru asked, as if he's waiting for them to protest.
She couldn't. Not because she isn't willing to play the decoy so the boys can get as far away from here, to get to Sasuke and complete their quest, but because her skills are far beyond under than what this is being required. She couldn't possibly fight them; she didn't have anything within her grasp to do something. The cognizance of her weakness caused her to bite her lower lip, feeling ashamed at her lack of contribution to the team.
"We need the dog to look for Sasuke," The Nara continued. "Which means . . ."
No . . . He can't possibly mean . . . She gritted her teeth, exhaling a shaky sigh.
Naruto's fists clenched as he looked seriously back at them. "Okay dattebayo, I'll-"
"-the only choice left is me." Shikamaru waved him off, doing like he didn't even heard him.
"Shikamaru?!" She exclaimed in disbelief, heart trembling at the sight of his hunched figure.
"Why you?!" Naruto protested loudly.
"It's better than being annihilated," Shikamaru said, causing the rosette to wince. "Also, the only one who can pull of this decoy perfectly and have a high chance of surviving within this group," He flipped over them, landing on a branch from the way they were coming. ". . . is me."
The two members of Team Seven continued looking at him with various emotions.
The Nara Heir chuckled. "The Shadow Imitation was originally made to stop the enemy anyway," He looked away from them. "I'll catch up to you guys later. Hurry up and go."
Naruto took a long glance at him, before nodding. "We're counting on you, Shikamaru!"
The latter raised a hand in acknowledgement.
"Sakura-chan . . ." The voice of her teammate brought her back, and she glanced at him, seeing the same determined expression that she has on his face.
She nodded her okay, and the two looked back at their current teammate for what may be the last time, before taking off. Who would have thought Shikamaru could be such a reliable guy? She really hasn't expected that, but no matter how much she trusted him she couldn't help but worry about him ; which was quite evident by her reluctant steps on the branches. That was until the hesitation turned into completely into faith, and the worries about the Nara lessened, making their mission the sole thing on her mind.
And while they traveled through the trees, Sakura came to discover that the pug, Pakkun, was actually using the same shampoo as her. If that didn't traumatized her, then she doesn't know what else would. He even has more glossy fur than her hair . . . ugh, priorities Sakura. She chided herself in her mind.
Shikamaru successfully managed to stop their pursuers, but they didn't know for how long. Either way, he managed to win them time and that alone is more than enough. The fact that, despite her doubts of trusting a so-called coward like her former Nara classmate, he won them over made her feel guilty for even doubting him in the first place.
Pakkun sniffed the air. "This is . . ."
Naruto felt his eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "You smell the shampoo again?!"
The pug merely threw him a lazy glance. "No, it's Sasuke." He looked forward again, a small sweat forming on the left side of his visual. "There are some scents near him, as well."
Sakura and Naruto glanced at each other in relief. "Finally . . ." The former voiced out.
Pakkun's nonexistent eyebrows furrowed over in a deadpanned expression. "They've stopped completely. Are they going to fight?" He questioned, more to himself than anyone else.
The rosette doesn't know, but the answer is most likely yes. Sasuke-kun . . . when did he become such a troublemaker? She couldn't help but purse her lips in thought. Shouldn't they, as Genin of Konoha, help with protecting the village by keeping the civilians and the Academy students safe? Instead, because Sasuke took off to complete his match in the middle of a freaking invasion, they were ordered to stop him from furthering his mistake. If it was anyone else, she would have found it unbecoming of a Shinobi of his calibre. Still, he was Sasuke, he knows what he's doing . . . right?
She couldn't help but feel a tinge of bitterness towards her crush.
"Hurry up!" Pakkun barked, and the two picked up their speed. "Oi! There is someone other than us going after Sasuke!"
"Who?!" The Uzumaki demanded immediately.
"An enemy? An ally?" She immediately asked.
Pakkun closed his eyes. "I don't know, but . . ."
The eyes of the two members of Team Seven hardened, their gaze burning at the pug's back.
"But?" Naruto urged.
Pakkun took a few seconds to answer, and what he said made Sakura's blood run cold as she gulped down her fear, and Naruto's eyes widened.
"It's not human . . ." He sweatdropped, gritting his teeth. "This is bad."
Pakkun and Sakura stopped, but Naruto bypassed them due to his hurried running. The blond looked back in question. "Sakura-chan?" BANG! He smashed face-first into a thick tree, his body leaning back and tears spluttered around from his pain. "Why did you stop all of the sudden, 'ttebayo?!"
Pakkun looked more serious than ever. "They're getting farther away at a rapid rate . . . the scent of Sasuke and two others, that is. It seems like your teammate is going after those two."
"What?" Naruto's voice sounded far away from where she is.
"He is?" The tone of her voice was down-turned with disappointment.
The pug nodded. "The others show no signs of moving, but . . ."
Naruto looked worried, and his fist clenched while he waved it around. "We can't waste time here! Let's go after Sasuke!"
Sakura however, was more thoughtful and wasn't prone to ignore the words of someone who has been teammates with Kakashi-sensei for years. "But what . . ?" She turned her head to look at their temporary summoning teammate.
"The remaining guys are about to fight," He informed them, causing Naruto to blink in surprise. "We must take the longer route to avoid them."
"But why?" Naruto asked in a demanding voice, borderline whining. "If we do that, it'll take longer to catch up to Sasuke! Let's just go through them!"
Sakura wanted to facepalm, but she controlled down her urges. "What are you talking about, Naruto?! We don't know what will happen in a combat area. There is a possibility that we will get dragged into a battle, even if we do not wish to fight!"
"That doesn't matter!" The blond countered back, and the rosette wanted to pummel him to the ground so she can beat some sense into him. How doesn't that matter, idiot! She mentally screamed.
"Kid, our mission is to bring Sasuke back," Pakkun rationalized, and Sakura almost wiped for having at least a teammate with common sense by her side. "If we're going to accomplish that, we must avoid engagements as much as possible until we complete that mission." The pug jumped to another branch. "Let's go!"
"Roger!" Sakura immediately followed.
Naruto seemed disappointed as he pouted. "Fine, 'ttebayo." And with that, he leaped dejectedly after them.
The two members of Team Seven finally found their runaway teammate, but not in a way that they thought they would. The forest around them looked like a vandalized battlefield, fallen tall trees and wood branches were broken from what seemed to be a display of pure force of strength. The most unthinkable thing however, was that they found Sasuke slumped over a trees bough, black markings decorating his pale and bruised skin from what she knows to be the doings of the Curse Mark.
And Gaara, transformed into something . . . she doesn't know, was rushing to the Uchiha with the intent to kill.
Naruto and Sakura briefly glanced to each other, nodding. The former will go on offense, while the latter will confirm the status of their teammates.
The Uzumaki didn't hesitate. He rushed into action, running in front of his dark-haired rival in seconds, his leg extended and with a chakra-laced kick on the head, he propelled the transformed Jinchuriki meters back away from their teammate. Just as the blond landed with a crouch on the tree, panting and trying to regain his breathing, Sakura hopped over to the injured Uchiha along with Pakkun.
"Sasuke!" She called out in worry, her eyes immediately searching for any deep damage on his body.
Naruto faced the enraged Ichibi, eyes trembling. "Sa . . . Sakura-chan . . ?"
It seemed that Sasuke however wasn't unconscious as they thought he was. He could barely lift his head, his chapped lips opening up. "You . . . guys . . ."
The rosette was alarmed. From his body state, she could guess he probably fought recklessly, like that time in the preliminary rounds. And now, the Uchiha tried to sit up, loud groans of pain escaping his lips.
"So tell me Sakura-chan . . . Sakura-chan!" Naruto called out to her.
A vein throbbed out from the side of her forehead. "What do you want?!" She turned around with wide white eyes.
The blond pointed forward to the mentally unstable redhead. "This guy . . . who is he, dattebayo?!"
She humphed, but before she could say something however, Pakkun spoke up.
"His outward appearance is different, but . . . he's that guy called Gaara."
Naruto had the shock of his life, his entire frame freezing at the realization of who he is. Sakura however, could only feel rage. He was the one who hurt Sasuke-
"Hey, young girl!" Pakkun snapped her out of it, causing her to look towards the doggy. "I want you to know that I'm not the fighting style!"
Way to state the obvious and waste some precious seconds of her time. She clenched her fist, a angry vein popping from her forehead in annoyance. "I can see that just by looking at you!" She growled. Did he really passed her as someone with little brain?
Her attention however was directed to Sasuke again, as he tried and miserably failed to rise on his feet. Her heart sunk, and it physically pained her seeing him at such state. She gulped down her worry, and tried to help him sit up, only for him to shrug her off impatiently.
Inwardly, she was seething at his prideful personality. 'We have to get out of here alive, and he thinks we have time to deal with his fragile little ego?' Inner Sakura bellowed angrily.
"L-Let's run! EVERYONE!" She heard Naruto shouting, his tone borderline hysterical.
But it was too late. She heard everything before she saw it, coming towards her in the speed of light, his claw-like hand extended and ready to tear them to pieces. The low whisper of 'Sasuke' ringing in her ears, causing her eyes to widen. Her body trembled from both fear and rage, a protective gleam entering her terrified gaze as she turned around, finally catching the sight of a transformed Gaara coming towards them so fast that she had trouble picking up his blurred form.
"Die, Uchiha Sasuke!" He roared like a wild animal, and pounced on his prey.
Sakura's body moved on it's own.
The rosette placed herself in front of the boy she holds dearly in her heart, crouching slightly down with a single kunai clasped in her hands. Her eyes, a bright viridian green, were narrowed over in a determined glare; and within her very soul, the Will of Fire burned brightly within her. It sang it's way through her veins, giving her courage and filling her with the will to protect, to love, to give.
"Sakura!" The panicked voice of her blond teammate was but a mere whisper on her lugholes.
She saw the monsters eyes widen briefly, glazing over and seemingly remembering something from long ago. But that seemed to do it; his rage had increased tenfold.
"OUT OF THE WAY!" He growled, thrusting his sand-arm towards her.
"And then, it happened . . ." A soft, feminine voice rang in the air, seemingly not being heard by anyone but the ones who had the pleasure to stumble across this fairy-tale.
Sakura made all the chakra on her body to spread on her limbs, sticking herself to the branch underneath her feet. Her arms formed a 'x' in front of her protectively, her one eye closing from the sudden wind. Gaara's sand-arm impacted heavily to her body, forming bruises already from the simple deceiving and tight grasp, and her back was slammed violently against a tree behind her.
A pained groan left her lips, her body burning as her chakra somehow clashed with the Ichibi's. It was then when she realized that in the middle of her panic, she didn't cycle her chakra, put pushed it outwards to form a invisible shield between her and the Jinchuriki.
The impact caused the half-transformed One-Tails to scream out a roar as the hand immediately released her like she had some infectious disease. The Ichibi actually panted as he was blinded by a sudden source of light, his own chakra actually being sucked by the imperceptible spirit force.
Sakura's body was engulfed into the blinding light, her green gaze disappearing as it was replaced by glowing white like the snow, and the Kunoichi of the Leaf seemingly disappeared within the vortex; within the air that now has turned heavy. The forest was eerily quiet; Pakkun's eyes were blown wide as well as Sasuke's.
And then, the Uchiha started trembling. Not by rage, not by fear exactly; but by pure terror as he felt the enormous Killing Intent radiating from his knucklehead teammate.
Naruto's gaze was wide, a crazy and desperate gleam in them as he took everything that happened in a matter of seconds. His cerulean blue irises trembled, decreasing in size to the white of his eyes, which quickly turned into a incandescent bright red with a vertical black slit in the center. Red chakra started leaking out from his shivering form, his teeth sharpening.
And everyone realized, Naruto was crying.
"S-Sakura-chan . . ?"
"Sakura's chakra clashed with the Ichibi's in a moment of weakness, as the two chakra were contradicting with each other. A being of Ancient Times, contended with the Kunoichi's spiritual energy, caused it to ripple around; engulfing her into a cocoon of physical energy, and causing her mind and body to disappear from the battlefield."
And the Kyuubi. . .
The Uzumaki panted, his crazed eyes connecting with the now fearful gaze of the One-Tailed host. Thirst for vengeance, the feeling of agony coursed through his blood, and everything ensued not to chaos, but in to hell.
. . . was unleashed.
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Author's Note:
5753 Word Count.
This is dedicated to Shirako121 for inspiring me to continue writing my crossover fanfictions. After seeing what "Boulders" can travel your mind into, I'm honestly now excited to discover even more ideas and theories with you all.
Reminder that Sakura is 13-years-old in the events of this very chapter!
- Scarasuke.
