(UPDATED: MAY 21, 2021)

Summary: It has been five days since he last received a report from Uzumaki Naruto, who was currently running a diplomatic mission in the mysterious land of the Woods. And now, there it was. A sealed black scroll lying on the desk of the Rokudaime Hokage, just waiting to be opened. The presence of the black scroll meant only one thing. Uzumaki Naruto was in the danger and calling for immediate aid. Without giving it another thought, there they were ANBU team one and five, dispatched to recover one of their own. How did a simple diplomatic mission evolved into something far beyond S-rank? /ShinobiAU/Non-Massacre/ItaSakuRelationship

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fan-fiction. I do not own Naruto.

A/N:

Hello! Masayume here,

there are a few things to mention before we start with the story:

1) This story is an AU/Non-Massacre

2) It is a thriller/mystery/horror/supernatural story interspersed with a little bit of romance

3) Yes, we are in the Shinobi world

4) Yes, Hatake Kakashi is now the sixth Hokage

5) No, the Uchiha massacre did not happen - all very much alive thanks to Shisui's Kotoamatsukami,

6) Sasuke never left Konohagakure (which is why Sasuke will be different in this story)

7) No, Obito did not survive at Kannabi Bridge - hence Minato and Kushina survived, enabling Naruto to grow up in a loving home (this was a personal choice, I wanted to write Naruto in a story where he indeed had loving parents his whole life - but nothing like the Menma bit)

Lastly, this story has been rated M - you have been warned.

Happy Reading! ^^

Prologue

It was dark within the confines of the ancient shrine, hidden deep within the haunted woods. Her eyes slowly opened, as she awakened from her forced slumber to the sound of the old rotting window shutters creaking in the wind. Sakura breathed rapidly as she sat up, her shaky hand reaching for the back of her head. As her fingertips gently touched the throbbing space at the back of her head, she winced in pain as her fingers became soaked with her fresh blood — she did not hesitate, quickly she let the green glow of her chakra slip from her fingers and onto the small wound, sealing it with quick precision.

It took her a moment to gather herself as her eyes adjusted in the darkness, allowing her to make out the shape of her surroundings. At first, she glanced towards the exposed window, watching as the misty rain drizzled onto the old cedar floor. A shiver ran down her spine, as coldness enveloped her. Her eyes shifted to take in her surroundings. She was in the middle of a small empty room on the upper level of the shrine— the room had only two archways in opposite directions of one another.

There was no sign of her teammates. Just her, alone in an abandoned shrine in the middle of the night. Then, as if it meant to welcome her, a childlike voice called out, beckoning her to come closer into the darkness.

"Come and play with me"

"Come and play"

She rose to her feet quickly, her heart pounding against her chest as she took the archway on the left, hoping to leave the disembodied voice behind.

"Ha..ha..ha"

Her pace quickened. She made her way down the hall, trying to ignore the sound of her footsteps — as with each step she took the old wood beneath her feet creaked. She sped up more, rushing down the endless hall as dread settled in the pit of her stomach.

"Ha..ha..ha"

As she reached the end of the hallway, she came to a large room that housed a large and elaborate staircase that led to the lower level. Her eyes flashed around, noticing a shift in movement in her peripheral vision. She breathed heavily through her mouth, trying to remain calm, as she glanced down to the lower level — the distance between the two floors was much larger than what she expected, a fall from this height would be dangerous, even for shinobi. She touched the partly rotted railing of the dilapidated wooden staircase, taking a step forward, only for her foot to go through the wooden step. She plunged down, wedging her leg up to her calf between the steps. The railing she was holding onto cracked under the pressure, falling below with a loud thud.

"Shit," she swore under her breath, as she steadied herself.

For a moment, she stopped her ministrations and she glanced down to the lower level. There twenty feet below, the sound of sudden rustling of the door stole her attention. Her heart was going to jump out of her chest. Then as the doors slid open, a familiar figure appeared. She felt a wave of relief wash over her as she recognized the ANBU captain standing in the doorway — his red Sharingan eyes blazing.

"Sakura!" he called out to her.

"Itachi, this whole place is unstable," she said.

"It's gonna be alright Sakura. Let's get you out of here," he replied.

His red eyes flickered around the room, observing their surroundings. Sakura reached down her leg, managing to free it from the confinement. She glanced down to Itachi as she straightened herself up.

"Jump, I'll catch you," he called to her as he stood just under spot where the broken railing fell prior.

He readied himself for her fall. She nodded and as she was ready to take the dive, the voice returned once more but this time its playful undertone was gone. Instead, it was a threatening, guttural sound.

"No, I want you stay!"