Chapter 66 Not Sakura

I woke to an unfamiliar ceiling. After a blink or two, I remembered why the ceiling looked unfamiliar. Sitting up, I looked around the room to find myself alone. I frowned, closing my eyes to feel the chakra around me.

"Next room over."

I found them in the next room over, they were all gathered there as though having a meeting. Seeing as I was alone, it must mean no one else was hurt enough to need rest. That was good at least.

I stood on shaky legs and staggered over to the window. It was fixed now, much like the rest of the inn. The ceiling was reconstructed from wood as was the entire inn. The building recked of Hashirama's chakra. Yamato was busy it seems. I brushed my hand against the smooth surface, a nostalgia overtaking me. Cool chakra. His chakra was always cool and calm like a forest, unlike the raging fire of my own. I often wonder if he were born an Uchiha, would the curse corrupt him?

"You're awake."

I flinched, whirling around to find Sasuke, standing in the doorway. I hadn't sensed him coming.

"What?" he asked, seeing the look on my face. "You act like you didn't already know I was coming."

I said nothing. "If you're up it must mean you're feeling better," He placed a bowl of soup on a chabudai and beckoned me to him. "Come and eat something, you must be hungry."

I didn't agree, walking over to sit at the table. I reached for the bowl but Sasuke grabbed my hand. I looked up at his frowning face.

"You're quiet," he said, his eyes narrowing, before turning red.

Beautiful.

It didn't matter how many times I saw it, those eyes would always look beautiful.

"Tired," I said, looking away from him. He let go of my hand then. So I drank the soup as he watched. Ramen. I felt sorry for Naruto who no doubt had to share his stash.

"How is everyone?" I asked, putting down the bowl. "I'm assuming no one is hurt."

"We got patched up."

"Oh?" I tilted my head. Was there another Medical nin nearby?

"Tsunade," Sasuke answered my unasked question. "She said you two talked before."

The memory of the woman in the onsen surfaced. "Right… she was here wasn't she."

"You don't seem excited," Sasuke noted. I looked over at him with a questioning look.

"Hm?"

"Tsunade's your idol. You won't shut up about how cool she was, now she's here and you don't even squeal?"

I gave him a blank look. If he expected me to squeal I would gladly kill him.

"Tired," I said, simply falling back to lie on the floor, my arm as my pillow. "How's Sora and Chiriku?"

"They're fine," Sasuke sighed. "Sora is complaining that he wanted to fight and so is Naruto. I haven't told him that they were after him as well. None of us have."

"Good,'' I nodded, closing my eyes. "We don't want him doing anything crazy. Once the monks are in the temple they will be safe. That place is near impenetrable."

"Will they really be safe once they're there?" Sasuke asked. "Sora destroyed the place before, right. What's to stop the Uzumakis from doing the same?"

I opened my eyes and frowned. The Akatsuki attacked the temple looking for Naruto in the original timeline. While they wouldn't be looking for Naruto, What's to stop them from walking in and taking Sora? The mission means nothing if they're gonna get kidnapped as soon as we turn our backs.

I sighed and got to my feet. It was better to get rid of the lure, so they wouldn't be interested in them anymore.

"Let go," I said as I walked past Sasuke.

"What do you plan to do?"

"Nip it in the bud."

We walked back into the room as they were discussing the best path to take to reach the temple quickly. They would have to make haste in case they were attacked again. The faster they reach the temple the safer their client will be.

"The temple isn't safe," Sasuke said as he walked up to them. Everyone looked as he spoke and Chiriku looked offended.

"The sealed Iron Walls are impenetrable!" He yelled. As a monk of the fire temple, he had great pride in his home, and those walls were what the temple was known for.

"It's been destroyed once, there are people in this world far stronger than a Jinchuriki."

Chiriku went silent.

Sora looked confused but stayed quiet about the matter. I looked over to find Tsunade and Shizune sitting in the corner watching the scene. I wanted to ask, but Sora's case was more important.

Naruto looked worriedly at Sora. "What are we gonna do?" he asked with bright blue eyes.

I rolled up my sleeve and channeled chakra that revealed my arm sleeve of seals.

"We get rid of the problem," I answered, biting my thumb and rubbing blood over a specific seal. My arm glowed and then became transparent.

Naruto sprung to his feet and hid behind the nearest shelter, Sora.

"Why did you bring out your death hand?" He asked, shaking.

He's scared of ghosts.

I wanted to sigh but I smiled instead.

"It's fine, I'm going to get rid of the problem with it."

I walked up to Sora and Naruto abandoned him to hide behind Sasuke.

"What do you mean get rid of the problem?" Chiriku asked, stepping in front of Sora. "Are they not after his chakra, how do you intend to get rid of the problem?"

'Was he always so protective of Sora?' I wondered, frowning at him.

Probably.

"The people who attacked us are after Sora's chakra as you thought. We need to remove it before sending you back," Kakashi explained.

"Remove his chakra!?" Shizuka exclaimed. I glanced at them.

"I think I get the gist of what's going on now. I never expected the leaf to give their jinchuriki to the fire temple but I suppose they do have an incredible defense," Tsunade said.

"Huh?" Naruto looked at her as though she were crazy. Thankfully Sasuke stopped him from correcting her.

Sora's frustration grew, he didn't understand what was said but he wasn't dumb enough not to know we spoke about him.

"The chakra is linked to its host, there's no way you'll be able to remove the chakra without hurting him, or worse!" Shizune was feeling chatty and explained the risk as if we were oblivious.

"I object!" Chiriku took a battle stance and the shinobis reached for their leg pouch. I sighed.

"Sora."

The boy looked at me with panicked eyes.

"The people that attacked are after what's inside you, I can take it away and they will leave you alone, would you like that?" I gave him the choice.

"I don't wanna die…" he said softly.

"I won't kill you," I assured him.

"Don't listen to her, Sora!?" Chiriku interjected.

"Without the chakra, the monks will have no reason to fear you."

His eyes went wide and he stared in disbelief.

"Really?" Hope shined in his eyes.

"As long as Chiriku-san informs everyone you're harmless that is," I said and that hopeful gaze turned to Chiriku. The man grimaced and I couldn't help but smile.

Manipulation was always fun.

I didn't look over at the Uchiha how's eyes I knew were judging me.

Sora walked forward past Chiriku and stood before him, his face filled with hope.

"Will it hurt?" He asked.

"It will feel uncomfortable," I spoke honestly.

He nodded. And I patted his shoulder before gripping it right.

Before he could change his mind I shoved my hand into his stomach. The transparent limb fazed into his body only interacting with chakra. Red and blood chakra danced around each other, the red overwhelming the blue, and all but devouring it. It explained why the boy's hand was permanently transformed into a demon's. With great concentration I drew the red chakra to my hand, separating it gently from the red.

In the empty space, the chakra left I placed pure chakra. Returning the half-empty reserve so the boy wouldn't feel any side effects. The red chakra swirled around my hand and I compressed it into a small marble of condensed chakra.

When everything was stable in Sora's body I removed my hand that held the marble.

Sora gasped, stumbling back into Chiriku who dutifully caught him.

"That was very uncomfortable," Sora whined holding his stomach.

"Don't you feel better?" I asked, sealing away the marble as the seal on my hand became undone.

Sora undid his bandage, tearing up as he looked at his hand. His very human hand.

"Thank you!"

My waist was grabbed as the boy hugged me tightly crying thank you over and over. I brushed his hair as the boy sobbed. I hadn't expected him to show such weakness from being rid of his curse.

'I suppose he is a child.'

So cute.

We stayed like that until the bit fell asleep from my influence via chakra.

I yawned as Chiriku took Sora back to his room.

"Do you think this will work?" Yamato asked. I leaned into him enjoying the nostalgic feeling.

"The temple will still be attacked but once they see Sora is no longer a half Jinchuriki then they should leave him alone," I told him. "Pick me up."

Yamato picked me up in his arms and I made myself comfortable. I was tired from performing that technique but it was best to avoid showing weakness.

"Sakura."

I looked over at the Uchiha whose eyes hadn't changed from their ruby red. Troublesome.

"And here I was thinking Jiraiya was the last seal master in the leaf, ''Tsunade said standing. "What is the leaf doing to make monsters like you?" She frowned and walked over to us.

She placed a hand on my forehead and cool chakra rushed through me. She really was Hashirama's descendant, I was half tempted to curl into her arms instead. I settled for rubbing my face in her palm. She looked at me oddly but I could care less, I was exhausted.

"Don't do more than you can handle," she said softly. "You shouldn't make your team worry about you like that."

She patted my head and then walked out of the room. I waited until she was far enough away before I jumped from Yamato's arms.

"Naruto," I beckoned him forward. Timidly the boy walked over to me, his blue eyes wary.

I unsealed the red marble and presented it to him. He looked at it with caution and I rolled my eyes. In a swift movement, I clasped my hand over his mouth forcing the marble down his throat.

Chakra raged forward, bouncing off the seals I placed on the room. Everyone outside remained blissfully unaware of what transpired.

Naruto fell to his knees grasping his stomach as the compressed chakra fused with his own.

"What did you do!?" Assume exclaimed, rushing to Naruto's side.

I thought for a moment and agreed that what I did wasn't the best move.

"Sorry," I apologized. "It's easier if you don't see it coming." I reached for Naruto, lifting his shirt to reveal the seal on his stomach. The seal pulsed and began to spread, a sign the seal was weakening.

I tried his seal and turned it like a cog. The seal spiraled until it reverted to its previous state and faded.

Naruto looked at me with sad eyes before fainting from the strain.

Sasuke caught his falling body and glared daggers at me.

Cold metal pressed to my neck in the next second. I looked over my shoulder to find the copy ninja, his Sharingan on full display.

"Who are you?" He asked in a threatening manner.

I couldn't help but sigh. I want to believe I was doing well in deceiving everyone. Sakura was too nice and I could never bring myself to act that way. Maybe that's why Hashirama became Hokage instead of me. I felt bitter.

"Oh whatever do you mean~" I said in an 'innocent' tone. "I am who I am."

"You're not Sakura, would never do the thing you do!" Sasuke yelled.

"Are you sure?"

"What?"

"Do you really know me?" I smirked at him. "Aren't you just acting ignorant, overlooking the thing I do because it doesn't fit with what 'your Sakura' would do?"

"T that's not true," his voice fluttered.

"Don't play games," Kakashi commanded, placing the kunai closer to my throat.

"You've overlooked a lot worse, why are you this way when I haven't done anything?"

"Who!" He demanded.

"I am Sakura Haruno."

There was a moment of silence as they realized I spoke the truth. I was Sakura and Sakura was me. We became one the moment or chakra mingled.

"That's not possible," Sasuke's eyes trembled. "You're acting way too differently!"

"I told you, I'm tired." I surged and walked over to Yamato once Kakashi released me. "Once I get some rest I'll be back to being 'your Sakura." I laughed as his face paled. Crawling into Yamato's arms and made myself comfortable. Surrounded by Hashirama's chakra. I slept.

"You're the worst," Sakura said to her other half.

"I did my best just like you asked, now sleep. I don't want to do that again either."

"Thank you for your hard work," she whispered snuggling into his embrace.

"Anything for you."

Madara revealed!

Next chapter

September 13