Chapter 85 Unknown seal.

"So what you're saying is," Shikamaru took a breath. "There are other worlds out there?"

"Yep," I replied, biting into a dango and, for some reason, sitting on Neji's lap.

"How do you even know all this?" he asked, doubting me; or perhaps trying to stay ignorant. That wouldn't do since they were my first line of defense against the alien invasion.

I unsealed a scroll and tossed it to them.

"Kaguya wasn't the first nor the last to descend from the heavens," I explained as Shikamsru opened the scroll and the others crowded around him. "Moryo is a demon from another world that tried to destroy the world and create a one-thousand-year kingdom; with his Ghost Army, he partnered with a shinobi clan to achieve his goal." They stared at my depiction of Moryo's true form as I ate another dango. I ate in the morning, but I felt famished from chakra exhaustion.

"I've heard about that," Neji spoke from behind me. "Using an invulnerable army, a shinobi tried to conquer the continent. They were unstoppable and brought the land to the brink of destruction."

"What happened? Naruto asked.

"A priestess from the land of Demons sealed Moryo away and stopped the chaos," Taking the last Dango of the stick. "She sealed the body in the land of swamp and his soul in the land of demons." I held the dango and stick apart to demonstrate. "Without the power of the demon, the shinobi clan fell, and peace returned." I snapped the stick and ate the Dango.

Shikamaru looked at my amazing drawing with serious eyes.

"Hey, Sakura?" I Looked over at the Nara. "What happened to that Kaguya woman.?" he asked. I looked over at the mural. It didn't show the sealing, I realized, or the ten tails; interesting.

"Her sons sealed her away, and she became the moon," I replied flatly.

"The moon!?"

My ears rang from their yelling.

"Yes, the moon," I sighed. "There was no such thing as a moon back then. Using a technique, the brothers sealed their mother away, and she became a glowing rock in the sky."

"Wait," Naruto looked horrid. "Why did they seal her away?"

I looked into his blue eyes and remained silent. Should I tell them the truth or what the world believed?

"She was too powerful," Sasuke muttered. Everyone looked at him, shocked, including me. "She was powerful enough to end all war, right? They were probably scared of her."

Naruto looked disheartened, gripping his stomach.

"Her own children…"

"So gloomy," I muttered aloud. "Let's not jump to conclusions." I'd let someone else explain what happened back then. "Maybe something happened that forced them to fight?"

"But they're family; why didn't they just talk about it?" Naruto yelled.

"How could you do this to me?"

"Family are suppose to love each other no matter what!" Naruto spoke with passion.

"I've done everything for you."

"So why," his voice trembled.

"Don't leave me all alone!"

I felt cold.

Sasuke comforted Naruto and tried to explain that sometimes families don't get along. I could hear their words, clearly feel Sasuke's affection and protectiveness over Naruto grow, and yet.

Neji was the first to notice, I felt. Pale eyes looked at me, trying to see me without the Byakugan. Shikamaru noticed next, looking over at me when I remained quiet for too long. I bit my lip when the tension rose. I needed to move, needed to act. Just then, Naruto's blue eyes were replaced by another. His grin replaced by a knowing smirk.

"Elder sister," he said in a condescending tone. "What can you do for me today?"

I stood abruptly, my plate falling to the carpet floor. All eyes were on me now, but I couldn't see. The stronghold became a ballroom, and my friend became vultures. I couldn't breathe.

Warm hands covered my eyes as my vision turned red.

Leave it to me.

"Excuse me," my lips moved on their own, and my distorted voice spoke. Before anyone could react, I was gone, a lone spring fly fluttering where I once stood.

I gasped as I fell onto cold snow. I was outside atop one of the mountains. My breath was visible in the cold air as I panted. It's been a while since I thought of the past.

They were faint, but I still remembered the pain from my past. The feeling of loneliness and emptiness was a darkness that swallowed me. The memories were sealed and guarded by Madara, who mediated. He held all my memories and showed me only what was necessary. But, once in a while, they would come out only to fade, never to be remembered again.

Hot tears ran down my face for no reason. I didn't remember what upset me; I didn't care about my past.

I sobbed.

Falling onto the snow-covered ground, I sobbed without reason. It was cold, yet I didn't move, curling into myself as the darkness licked at my mind.

"What am I doing?"

Sakura?

"Why am I?"

Sakura!

"What am I?"

"I don't think I've ever seen you so low."

I flinched at the sudden voice, not our own. Too late, I felt the lightning of Kakashi's chakra; it was calm as rain.

He scooped me into his arms and brushed the snow off me. I looked up at him, confused at why he was there. A lone dark eye looked down at me before smiling.

"Let's get you somewhere warm," he said, resting my head on his shoulder as he stood. I reached out with my senses and found Yamato nearby. He must have been the one to rat me out. What a pain.

We returned to the hotel. I was relieved Kakashi didn't bring me back to the stronghold. We were in his assigned room instead of mine; looking around, it looked abandoned and not lived in at all. As expected of Kakashi, he didn't leave any trace of himself.

"Let's get you out of those wet clothes," He spoke, but I didn't register his words until my dress was over my head. I glared at him as he looked at me expectantly.

"You have to be the only person eager to get me naked," I complained, taking off my chest bandage that was now wet.

"Oh, don't feel bad. Sasuke is just conscious of your scar, is all," he chuckled as my face heated. I was going to kill him the moment he was no longer useful.

You'll be waiting a while.

Kakashi paused in his attempt at dressing me to stare at my back.

"What's this?" he muttered, brushing a hand over her lower back. I glared over my shoulder at him.

"What's what?"

"You have a diamond mark here," he explained, touching the spot for emphasis. "It feels like a seal. What does it do?"

I furrowed my brow.

"Seal?"

"Madara?"

Don't ask me.

I walked over to a mirror and turned back to see a diamond-shaped seal on my lower back. It resembled the "Strength of a Hundred Seal," but that wasn't where it was.

I faced the mirror and dropped the genjutsu I wore like a mask. Seals appeared on my body; most were in preparation for the fight ahead. I ignored Kakashis's gasp of interest and focused on the diamond shape on my forehead. I didn't make two nor relocate the current one, so what was the mark on my back?

Kakashi, sensing my distress, approached me.

"If it's a seal, I should be able to expand it," he offered. If he expanded the seal, we would see the "code," so to speak. I frowned. I wasn't sure if I was a seal.

Closing my eyes, and turned my senses inwards and searched for any abnormalities.

"Chakra pools blocked memories, and … I opened my eyes. There was another chakra pool where the mark was. I tried to reach it, but a barrier stopped me. I couldn't touch it.

It wasn't mine.

Is someone storing their chakra inside me?

It feels familiar.

"How so?"

"Almost like the ghetto statue, Maybe I brought it here with me?

My body trembled. I didn't have time for this. I had a war to fight; I couldn't be worrying about a suspicious mark that suddenly appeared.

"Don't worry," Kakashi's hug surprised me. "I know a traveling seal master that can take a look."

"Jiraya?"

The perverted Sage did show up after the exams, but that was for the death of the Hokage; why would he come now?

"Is he coming here?" I asked. Kakashi took on a thoughtful expression.

"Maybe," he answered. "A lot of people are attending, so he might show up. After the exams, we can always go on a mission to find him."

"I'll make a note of that," I muttered, activating my genjutsu and watching the seals fade.

"In the meantime, we should probably do something about this since we don't know what it can do," he said, staring at the mark intently.

Biting his thumb, Kakashi began scribing a seal on me.

"Oi," I warned, but he kept going.

"This is for your own good," he said as the blood seal went to the floor and the walls.

He was scripting a suppression seal, one that allowed one-way access. This was the same seal he used on Sasuke in the original timeline. I frowned at him as he worked hard to write the seal. Things were different, that was a given, but the world was becoming more unpredictable. With Orochimaru working with that unknown variable, he didn't come to the exam for Sasuke. I was worried he would and expanded my surveillance to the point of chakra exhaustion. In the end, he didn't appear, and Sasuke and Naruto were safe.

Now it seemed I was the one in danger.

Kakashi activated the seal, and it became a ring of kanji around the diamond seal. I didn't feel any different; no discomfort or feeling of missing something. I flexed my hands and threw a punch that caused the building to shake from the shockwave. My strength was fine, as was my chakra.

Kakashi watched me before nodding and handing me a pink Kimono. I frowned but put it on with his help; it was dreadfully traditional that I got suspicious. My suspicions only grew when he handed me an Haori, black with pink flower petals.

"What's going on here?" I asked. Kakashi smiled at me.

There was a knock, and Yamato fazed through the ground to kneel before us.

"It's time," he said simply. I looked at Kakashi for an explanation, but he provided none. Pointing to the walls and then his ears. I groaned and dawned the haori glaring at Kakashi all the while.

"You have to tell me something, at least," I stated. "You can't expect me to go in blind."

"The Kage summit is about to begin," he explained. I paused.

"What does that have to do with a genin like me?"

"The Jinchuriki of each village is required to attend as well since it concerns them." he looked at me expectantly, and I grinned.

"Will the Hokage be my only company?"

They were going to use me as bait, huh?

"No, your escorts will be the Uzumaki and Uchiha," he explained formally. My grin only grew. I thought they wanted complete transparency with the other Kages, but it seemed we were playing a dangerous game.

Who was it they couldn't trust with this information? I already made myself bait, but to think the Hokage would expand on that. That old man really was the worst.

"I see," I said, taking on my role as a refined noble; memories flashed and faded, and I ignored them. "We best not keep everyone waiting."

Opening the door, we walked together to the meeting room from before. Naruto and Sasuke, dressed in formal attire, stood at the door withHiruzen and Inoichi, waiting. The Hokage clapped his hands and smiled at me like he was some proud grandfather.

"Don't you look lovely, Sakura-chan," he said. I didn't miss the glare Naruto and Sasuke gave me. It seems they told the boys of their plans, at least.

"Thank you for the compliment, Hokage-sama," I bowed. The halls went silent, and I suppressed a giggle. Hiruzen coughed, and Inoichi squirmed uncomfortably.

"I suppose Kakashi has informed you of the purpose of his meeting," Hiruzen said, avoiding eye contact.

"He did, my Kage," I smiled warmly. "I will be sure to fulfill my duties as your Kunoichi."

Once more, the hall went silent, and Inoichi looked faint.

"Please refrain from hurting anyone in this meeting," he said quietly.

"Of course, Yamanaka-san," I looked at him. "I will be sure not to cause trouble for my Kage."

"Too late for that," Kakashi muttered. I smiled wickedly. So they found my work of art already, did they? I was so proud of my work. If I could fuse their bodies together, it would truly be art.

"You're making that face again, Sakura-chan," Naruto whined, and I dropped my smile, taking on an indifferent expression.

"Sorry, my little Nikko," I apologized. "Shall we?"

They nodded and opened the door. I faced the major powers of the world and smiled. Things were different, but they weren't bad. Since Naruto and Sasuke already had some character development, I don't have to worry about 'the plot.'
If everything changes, then I'll become strong enough to overcome every variable.

I'll protect everyone!

I know where I'm going, with the story I just need to make a road to get here. Hope you enjoyed the slow burns because what's coming next will be fast and loud.

Do try to keep up.

Next Chapter

July 15