Hi guys! Welcome! How are you guys?
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I managed to upload it on Christmas...yaaay!
I'll name this chapter. 'Let it begin' ...,...,...,...Thank you very much Ninja girl.
Now question for this chapter: How was your Christmas day?
Special thanks to my Beta-readers: Artist-kun and - GreyHowler
Enjoy:
Naruto stared at Sasuke, who was holding Sakura in his arms. He was shocked that Sasuke would stand so calmly next such an evil man, but also relieved to see that they were okay.
"Sasuke, Sakura-chan! Come back! Sasuke, you don't need to go to that snake bastard to get stronger! You can get even stronger in the Leaf. Don't go down to that path Sasuke!" yelled Naruto, "And Sakura-chan, why? Why did you follow him?"
He didn't notice Sakura was unconscious. She had fallen unconscious while she was hugging Sasuke; He looked down at her when he noticed that her grip on him had loosened. As she was about to fall, Sasuke wrapped his arm around her back, letting her head rest on his shoulder while her feet lightly touched the ground.
"You bastard! What did you do to her? You better not have hurt her!"
Sasuke started to laugh maniacally. His laugh carried through the entire clearing area. Naruto was very confused, 'Why the hell is he laughing?'
"It's about time you came out. Orochimaru is waiting for you; you should leave now," said Kimimaro when Sasuke's laugh died down.
With that said Sasuke looked down again at the unconscious Sakura in his arms and adjusted her position so she was being carried bridal style before taking off.
"Wait! Come ba-" he was cut off by Kimimaro's bone blade cutting his cheek. 'Damn it, I have to finish this guy quick' thought Naruto frustrated.
Naruto used Multi_shadow_clone_jutsu: causing over a hundred clones of himself to appear around Kimimaro. However, within a blink of an eye, over half of them were killed, covering the clearing area with a cloud of smoke. Kimimaro swiftly dodged all the attacks and began attacking back, killing more of the clones which turned into more puffs of smoke to conceal the clearing.
While the smoke filled the area, Naruto and one of his clones joined and started to form the Rasengan. Once it was ready, he lunged forward to attack Kimimaro but was easily stopped.
Naruto was starting to have trouble fighting Kimimaro, even with all the clones. Kimimaro's Taijutsu skills were more than enough to match for Naruto's superior numbers. The Rasengan didn't work either; Kimimaro was too fast and strong plus Naruto found Kimimaro gross, the way he was using his own bone as a weapon. Kimimaro swung his bone at Naruto's head, but was stopped by Rock Lee and Gaara.
"Naruto! Go get Sasuke and Sakura. We'll take care of this guy" shouted Lee.
"You sure?" asked Naruto worriedly.
"Save Sakura-san! I'm sure she has a reason or maybe she was forced to do this" responded Lee.
"Go save your friend from the darkness like you saved me", Gaara encouraged him.
"Right!" shouted Naruto and took off to pursue Sasuke and Sakura.
.
.
Sasuke heard Naruto shouting their names over and over again, but ignored it as he jumped from branch to branch. He felt movements against his arm and looked down,
"Sakura..."
Sakura opened her blurry eyes. Even with the leaves of the trees blocking the sun, it was too bright so she covered her eyes with her hand. When she felt the wind on her face and heard Sasuke's voice, she looked up and what she saw scared her half to death. Sasuke's left eye had turned to a golden color and the curse mark had spread across his face. She reached up and stroked his cheek where the curse mark was spread. She immediately stopped after realizing what she was doing and responded to his call, "Y-you called?."
"Hold onto me. I'm going to pick up my speed". Sakura did what she was told and she slowly clenched his shirt.
"Hold on tighter"
Sakura was startled by his order but said nothing and complied. She clenched his shirt even more and rested her head on his chest. Sasuke was slightly shocked at this, but he suppressed his true emotions as per usual and started to run even faster.
Sakura felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest at any moment and she was incredibly red in the face. She was both nervous and excited. Millions of thoughts were racing through her head and she couldn't believe how physically close they were. The two being like this seemed like a heavenly dream to her but she knew she shouldn't focus on that now.
.
"Sakura...hold on tight and don't let go of me. No matter what" he ordered.
Sakura wanted to ask him what he meant by this but stopped when she gasped in astonishment. They have reached a large clearing area with two statues on each side and in-between the two was a gigantic waterfall. She had never seen anything like it before, but suddenly remembered that she had read about it somewhere.
"The Valley of the End" she whispered, 'Goodbye everyone, I'm sorry,' she thought.
She snapped out of her thought when Sasuke spoke. "Remember what I just told you" he said as he looked down at her.
'Hold on tight and don't let go of you. No matter what' she thought. When she nodded and looked up wondering what he meant by that.
That's when she got her answer, at least the first part ~hold on tight~. Sasuke jumped from the first giant statue, over the gap between the statues and landed on the other. While in the air, Sakura was amazed and scared at the same time. Afraid she might fall, she pushed her face against his chest.
She peeked and sighed out of relief when they landed but froze instantly when she heard someone yelling from across the gap. "SASUKE, SAKURA WAIT!"
Sakura wanted to look, but she couldn't. She couldn't look at the person she betrayed so she kept silent and didn't move.
.
Sasuke gave a smirk and started to laugh maniacally. Sakura didn't look at him, she too was frightened. She had no idea what Sasuke was doing or thinking or even what he had turned into. He turned towards the darkness to become stronger and turned away from his friends and the village, from the people that cared for him just to seek revenge. To Sakura it was wrong and messed up, but she had no choice but to stay by his side and watch over him.
She snapped out of her thoughts when Sasuke spoke. "Hn. What do you want, Naruto?."
"I want you two to come back!" he shouted.
"Go back? Why should I go back to that pathetic excuse of a village?". Sasuke turned to face Naruto.
"It's not pathetic! You could get even stronger if you stay with people like Kakashi-sensei" he argued back.
"You can't achieve anything there. You will only get weaker."
"You're wrong! Say something Sakura-chan! You know I'm right, right"?! he shouted while looking at his female friend in Sasuke's arm. Her face was still turned away. She clenched onto Sasuke's shirt tighter when she heard Naruto. She didn't know what to say or how to face him.
"Are you forcing her to leave with you! What did you do to her?!" he shouted further, looking mad at Sasuke. Because of the lack of response from Sakura, Naruto was still thinking that she might still be unconscious. Sasuke spoke again, just when Sakura wanted to say something.
"She just wanted to follow in my footsteps to get stronger...she can't achieve that at the village" said Sasuke smirking and turned back around, facing towards the path he should take to reach Orochimaru's hideout. He whispered so only Sakura could hear him, "Remember what I told you. Do it and stay quiet"
"I'm going to bring you and Sakura back if that's the last thing I do". said Naruto and launched at Sasuke. Sasuke turned around once again and kicked Naruto's stomach, then dropped Sakura's feet to punch Naruto in the face. He was sent flying into the water at the bottom of the waterfall. Sasuke grinned when he saw how much damage he had dealt to Naruto. He didn't know he had so much power because of this whole development with his curse seal. Luckily Sakura had obeyed Sasuke's order, held on tight and didn't fall when he released one of his hands.
Sasuke put Sakura behind a boulder, ordering her to stay there quietly and not to interfere. As he was about to leave to fight Naruto, Sakura held his wrist, stopping him from going. Sasuke looked back at her and gave her a glare.
"Y-you should be careful. There is something you don't know...,..." she hesitated for a bit, wondering if she should tell him but plowed on before she could change her mind, "Naruto has some special power within him. He is the one the nine-tailed fox was sealed in".
"Hn." said Sasuke. He jerked his wrist of Sakura's grip then jumped down to fight Naruto. Sakura felt a pang of guilt as she watched the two friend begin to fight. She looked around and finally noticed not one of the sound ninja are here. That meant that Naruto had either beaten them all, or he had help.
'I hope Jirobo is okay...I mean, he was the nicest one among the four sound ninjas' she thought. That's when she heard loud noises; the battle between them had begun. She hoped someone would stop them, like before.
.
.
The bang Sakura heard was Naruto and Sasuke unleashing the Rasengan and Chidori respectively which caused each other to fly backwards.
Naruto suddenly realized something and looked around. He clenched his teeth together, angered he didn't notice it sooner. "Where is she?! Where is Sakura-chan! What have you done to her!"
"Heh," Sasuke chuckled, "She's long gone...probably with Orochimaru, waiting for me"
"You're lying! She was unconscious in your arms! Where did you put her! You didn't kill her, right!?"
Sakura still sat behind the boulder and hearing boys' argument, peeked a little that only Sasuke could see her. 'That's why he told me to stay quiet,' she thought as she watched them battle.
"Maybe she's gone, maybe she's dead. Why do you care?". Enraged after hearing this, Naruto called on the powers of the Nine-tails within him. Surprised by the insidious chakra he sensed, Sasuke watched in slight awe as Naruto's wounds healed and his strength and speed increased exponentially. Sasuke thought back before he fought Naruto...,...Sakura did warn him about something.
'This is what she was talking about,' he thought. He glanced at Sakura, who was trying really hard to look at the battle while hiding her presence from Naruto.
"Why would you go so far just to stop me?" Sasuke asked angrily.
"You were always better than me and admired by everyone and I hated you. I was so pissed when we were assigned to the same team, but now you're like a brother to me! You still think you're better than everyone; but the decision you're making right now is wrong! There are better ways to get stronger. You need to come back to the village before you do something even more stupid and get yourself killed before I can defeat you" Naruto retorted.
Sakura felt like crying she heard such a beautiful speech from the one she always thought he's an idiot. Sadly, it didn't effect on Sasuke who was thinking that it was already too late. His decision is final and tightened his headband. He needed to finish this battle quickly.
Naruto manifesting a fox-shaped cloak and Sasuke entering his cursed seal's second level. Sasuke clashes his Chidori again with Naruto's Rasengan. Sakura gasped as the battle continued and what she saw scared her.
Sasuke had let the curse seal take over; his hair was longer along with his fingernails had grown till they looked like claws. His skin was darker and a black star appeared on his nose. But the thing that scared her the most were the demonic hand-like wings that grew out of his back.
Naruto was being engulfed by the Nine tails chakra, turning his own chakra red and bubbling out. Long ears and a tail grew from the chakra energy and his hands turned into claws.
Their combined energy created a dome for them to fight in. Sasuke punched Naruto and Naruto scratched Sasuke's headband. Sakura hid behind the boulder; waiting for the trembling to stop. She was too scared to look after seeing a gigantic black chakra sphere.
When the black chakra faded, Sakura came out from behind the boulder to see the result. Naruto was lying on the ground and Sasuke was standing over him.
"Sasuke-kun!" she yelled and ran towards him when he fell to his knees. Sasuke's headband fell off and onto the ground next to Naruto. Sakura put one of his arms around her neck and helped him stand up.
"Let's go" he said in a low tone.
Sakura had a hard time trying not to look back. She wanted to know if Naruto was dead or alive, but knew she shouldn't. The rain started to pour as they approached Orochimaru's hideout. Just before they entered, Sakura paused, not sure if what they were doing was the right thing. She wanted to go back to the village and apologize, but knew Sasuke would go to Orochimaru with or without her.
She asked Sasuke if he was okay. Getting no response from him, they continued walking until they found themselves in a large room.
xXx
"Welcome Sasuke" greeted Orochimaru.
"And it would seem we have another guest" spat Kabuto, appearing from the shadows to stand next to Orochimaru.
Sakura almost growled at him; it was his fault that Sasuke was standing here like this. At the same time, Sakura was scared out of her mind. She knew that even the Hokage was no match for this snake bastard and she had nowhere enough strength to come close to the Hokage. She didn't know what to do or to say when Orochimaru asked for her name. All she knew is she shouldn't show her dissatisfaction to him. She held Sasuke's arm tighter around her neck, took a deep breath and finally spoke.
"M-my name is S-Sakura Haruno" she introduced herself.
After her introduction, he asked her why she's here. Sasuke spoke for, her taking his arm off her neck.
"She followed me to gain power as well. We can't accomplish that in that weak village" Sasuke thought for a moment about something and looked straight into Orochimaru's eyes.
"I want to get stronger. I need to find someone. I need to get answers from him. Even if I have to kill him" she said with determination. Orochimaru took a liking to her tone and eyes of determination and welcomed her. Sasuke stared at her; she didn't tell him about this and got a little curious about this certain someone she is talking about.
"T-thank you Orochimaru" she said as she bowed her head.
"Well at least someone has manner" said Orochimaru, looking at Sasuke.
"Whatever" said Sasuke as he walked to one of the walls and leaned against it.
"Heh, no manners at all. Sakura will start tomorrow with your training with Kabuto...and Kabuto go and tend Sasuke's wounds" said Orochimaru further.
"I-if I may Orochimaru. Can I train alone for now?" she asked a little worried how he might react to this selfish request. Much to her surprise Orochimaru only asked 'why'.
"I-I want t-to master some things first before trying something new. And also c-could I be the one to...heal Sasuke?
Kabuto began to say something, but Orochimaru - interest in this girl -cut him off. "Very well, Sakura. You may do both. Kabuto, show her to Sasuke's room. Because we weren't expecting you, Sakura, you will have to share rooms with Sasuke."
Kabuto growled quietly, then beckoned for Sasuke and Sakura to follow him to their room.
Having shown Sasuke and Sakura's room, Kabuto turned back the way they had come. Sasuke opened the door and walked in with Sakura trailing behind. There were two beds opposite of each other pushed against the wall. Sasuke walked over to the bed on the right and took off his shirt, allowing Sakura to heal his injuries. Sakura could feel her face getting hot; they were alone in a room they shared and Sasuke had no shirt on. She tried to focus only on healing the wounds, but couldn't stop staring
"Thanks. Now go to sleep" he said when she had finished. She walked to the bathroom where she bandaged her wounds she gotten from Sasuke's nails. She left the bathroom and went back to their room and lay down on her bed. Sakura stared at the ceiling, wondering for what seemed like the millionth time whether she had made the right decision.
.
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"Tsunade-sama!". Shizune shouted as ran into Tsunade's office.
"What is it?" asked Tsunade, putting down some documents.
"Naruto and the others returned but some of them are seriously injured! The medical team needs your help!" she reported.
"I'll be right there!" yelled Tsunade.
Before Shizune left, she paused and added another sentence..
"They returned...without Sasuke and Sakura", said Shizune quietly and walked out of the Hokage office.
Once Shizune was gone, Tsunade shattered her window with her fist. "Damn it!"
xXx
Tsunade ran to the operating room to help the other medics. Shikamaru and Kiba weren't seriously injured, just a few broken bones and one stab wound. Neji was suffering from internal bleeding in the head, but was treated with the help of Shizune and other medics.
Choji was in the most critical condition and almost died. His heart beat was faint and his breathing slowed down. Tsunade was able to lessen the after effect of the pills he took and managed to keep him stable condition. Naruto wasn't seriously injured because of the Nine-tail's energy had lessened the damage and healed him fairly quickly.
xXx
Sakura couldn't sleep; something was bothering her. She sat up, checked if Sasuke was asleep and sneaked out of the room. However Sasuke wasn't asleep and saw her leaving, but he didn't care and stayed in his bed.
Sakura walked around the hideout, hoping she wouldn't get lost until she found a group of sound ninjas talking. She decided to hide and eavesdrop on them. When she heard them talking about searching for the sound ninjas that had met Sasuke and Sakura, she confronted them.
"You guys are going to search for them?! C-can I come with you guys?" as she said this, she finally realized that was what was bothering her: she was worried about Jirobo; he hadn't returned yet. She didn't know why she was so worried for him, just that she wanted at least one person here who wasn't so cold to her.
One of the sound ninja in front of her was against the idea of taking her. She might still be exhausted from her trip. Sakura noticed everyone was being polite to her and asked, "Why are you so nice to me? I only just got here. You shouldn't even be considering letting me out. I might escape and tell everyone where your hideout is"
"You are important to Orochimaru-sama...meaning he trusts you. And you are the only one who has manners among all the favorites of Orochimaru-sama " answered one of them.
"Does that mean I can come with you?" Sakura asked one more time. They hesitated at first, but agreed in the end when they saw Orochimaru signaling from the shadow, signaling them to let her go. They gave her a coat to shield her from the rain outside.
.
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"I finally have Sasuke!" said Orochimaru, greedily.
"Yes, but was it wise to let her go with them?" asked Kabuto.
"Trust me. This will make everything easier. " said Orochimaru and started to laugh maniacally.
xXx
Meanwhile Naruto was looking lifelessly at the headband that used to be Sasuke's. It felt like his soul left his body. Everyone was in the same room, disappointed in themselves for failing this mission. Lee wasn't injured enough for him to stay in the hospital thanks to Gaara, but still choose to stay with the others; he failed this mission. The room was silent for a long time until Choji finally spoke,
"Sakura...,...she will never forgive me" he said quietly. Everyone looked at him and Naruto asked the first question that popped into everyone's mind.
"What do you mean, Choji?"
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(Flashback) During the fight between Choji and Jirobo.
Choji struck Jirobo down and said, "I hear insults about myself everyday, but I won't let anybody diss Shikamaru!".
Choji then channeled all of his chakra into his left fist to prepare the Butterfly Bullet Bombing technique. Realizing that his life would probably end, Jirobo said his last words out loud..."Looks like I won't come back...Sakura"...
Choji wasn't able to stop his attack after hearing those words. Choji punched him in the chest for eating the last chip and insulting Shikamaru, creating a giant crater and crushing Jirobo's heart, killing him instantly.
(End of flashback)
"I think...I killed a friend of Sakura..." finished Choji, his voice trembling like was about to cry.
xXx
While Choji was telling his story, Sakura was standing lifeless before Jirobo's dead body on the ground. She removed her hoodie slowly when she first saw him...she couldn't believe he was dead...The rain poured down on her head hard enough that nobody saw her crying.
"My lady, you'll be soaked and might get a cold...Please put your hoodie back on" said one of the sound ninjas. Sakura neither respond nor move; she kept staring at Jirobo. She remembered right before Sasuke knocked her unconscious, she had told Jirobo to be there when she woke up...and he promised he would.
They found the other three sound ninja's bodies, including with Kimimaro, buried them and started to go back to Orochimaru's hideout to report to him. She stayed quiet the whole trip back, when they got there, she walked somberly back to her room where Sasuke was lying on his bed. He noticed her eyes weren't shining like they usually were. They were dim and the way she walked looked like she has lost both her mind and soul.
Sasuke knew he should say something to her, but he was speechless. She was soaking wet and he could easily read her face that she had seen something she didn't want to or shouldn't have seen.
"Did you kill Naruto?" she asked him blankly.
"Hn, I don't know. You should dry yourself and go to bed." he answered, acting like it didn't concern him seeing her soaking wet. He was about to turn around to face the wall, but was startled what Sakura said next.
"You should have killed him...at least one of them should have died. It's not fair!" she said quietly. Her expression was still blank and her eyes still dim.
Sasuke sighed, stood up and went to the bathroom. He grabbed a towel, and, just as Sakura felt she was about to lose her mind, he threw it at her face.
"You should learn to control your emotions or you'll lose your mind. Go take a shower, cool your head and go to bed." he ordered her and lie back down on his bed.
Sakura obeyed. Slowly walked to the bathroom and took a shower. She cried silently to herself in the steamy water so Sasuke wouldn't hear. 'I will never forgive them!'
~to be continued~
Thank you for reading!
Reminder: My question for this chapter: How was your Christmas day?
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