Hi guys! Welcome, welcome! This is just the beginning of the story...I wanted to post at least the beginning of this story, don't worry about my other story. I'm still working on it. I actually wanted to finish my first story before writing another story, but I had this one in my mind for a while now, like a while! Trust me. I wanted it to get off my mind and well...,...now you have it...enjoy!
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It was the middle of the night. The wind blew through the trees, and everyone was asleep in their homes. Yet, two people stood in the street, facing each other right under the shining moon. The silent street filled with the soft sound of Sakura's sobs as she pleaded with the one she loved not to leave her. Scared that he was slipping into the darkness and that all she could do was stand and watch, she confessed her love for him and begged him not to leave the village. However, seeing that there was no seed of doubt in his mind that she could bloom, she felt she had only one option left.
"I'll help you with your revenge; just please stay," she paused, "and if you can't..."
She was so overwhelmed that she didn't even know what was coming out of her mouth. After everything she had just said, there was no going back. Taking a deep breath before asking the one thing that could change everything between them, she whispered, "Take me with you, Sasuke-kun."
"You're annoying," Sasuke told her in his usual monotone voice, slowly turning around and looking her in the eye. For a brief moment, he stared at the weeping girl before him, her eyes glistening like two twin stars caught under the weight of her emotions. He could see the desperation etched on her face and felt the haunting echoes of her sobs ripple through the stillness of the night.
Deep inside, he wrestled with the conflicting feelings swirling within him—affection for her, his teammate, yet an overwhelming urge to push her away. He had made up his mind, and there was no going back from that. Turning around, he slowly walked away—from her and the village.
"Don't leave me!" she yelled, her voice breaking the fragile silence as she took a step forward, instinctively reaching out as though her fingers could grasp hold of his retreating form and pull him back. "If you go, I'll scream and—"
Sasuke moved from several feet in front of Sakura to directly behind her in a flash of speed, silencing her with the whisper of his breath against her ear. She froze, startled by the sudden force of his presence.
"Sakura," he whispered. "Thank you for everything."
Sakura's eyes widened, wondering why he was thankful when he was leaving her behind. She felt a pang of confusion mixed with despair. Having a gut feeling of what was about to happen, Sakura quickly turned around and slapped his hand away in the process. Jumping a few meters back before he could succeed in knocking her unconscious, she took a defensive position.
Sasuke stared at her, shocked by her sudden defensive movement, but he managed to compose himself before she could read his expression. He asked her why she was willing to go so far for him.
"I'm not going to let you do this alone. Besides, I also want to get stronger. I need to get stronger," she answered, determination shining in her eyes.
Sasuke's heart fluttered at her unwavering resolve, but doubt clouded his mind. He had chosen a path soaked in vengeance—one he thought she couldn't possibly understand. Yet there was something in her eyes that intrigued him: a spark of courage he had never seen in her before. It was as if she was standing in front of him not as the same teammate he had known.
"Just don't get in my way," he warned her, walking past her while trying to hide his smirk. Sakura's heart raced in disbelief. Had he just agreed? The excitement was nearly stifling, but a sense of uncertainty still hung in the air. She had decided to walk down this perilous path beside him, yet she couldn't help but wonder what it truly meant for both of them.
"Y-yes!" she yelled in surprise, clutching her fists tightly in an attempt to hold back the exhilaration that bubbled inside her as she tried to catch up to him.
As Sasuke walked out of the village, he paused, glancing back at her and asking Sakura for the last time if she was sure she wanted to do this. If she was ready to betray the village, her friends, and family. Was she ready to live a life of hatred? Because this was her last chance to turn back.
Closing her eyes, she took a long, deep breath, as if it were going to be her last. She made up her mind, and there would be no going back. Every thought echoed in her mind—the sacrifices she had made, the friends she treasured, and the dreams that seemed to crash against the harsh reality of their existence. Yet, the flickering flame of determination burned brighter than ever.
"I don't mind, as long as I'm with you. I told you already, I'm not going to let you do this alone," Sakura answered with confidence, opening her eyes to meet the intensity of Sasuke's gaze. He looked at her apprehensively, an unfathomable weight hanging in the air between them.
"Alright," he finally said, the faintest hint of a smile ghosting across his lips. "Then let's begin."
Before leaving the village, Sakura swept her gaze one last time over the place she had called home.
'Naruto, Kakashi-sensei, Mom, Dad... I'm sorry,' she thought to herself. With one final look back, she turned to join Sasuke.
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Walking up a hill outside the village, Sakura noticed four strange shinobi she had never seen before standing there. Their attire consisted of a beige-colored, sleeveless tunic with a symbol on the hem, paired with black pants and a purple, rope-like belt tied in an inverted bow around their waists.
'Who are they?' she thought.
The first one, Sakon, had dark blue hair, a smirk on his face, and his head slightly tilted down. Another head protruded from the back of his upper back and hung limply, causing the hair to cover its face.
The second, Jirobo, was a large and imposing young man with orange hair, fair skin, and narrowed, slanted orange eyes.
The third, Tayuya, was a fair-skinned girl with long, untamed dark pink hair that fell past her shoulders, with long parted bangs framing either side of her face and one between her eyes.
And the fourth, Kidomaru, was a dark-skinned shinobi with black, shaggy hair tied into a ponytail and black eyes. He had six arms and an eye on his forehead that was usually closed and concealed under his black forehead protector, which bore the symbol of The Village Hidden in the Sound.
'Sound Village? Are they waiting for Sasuke?' Sakura thought nervously.
She returned to reality when Sakon first spoke, breaking the silence. He went on his knees and apologized to Sasuke for their behavior during their first encounter.
"What's with the change of attitude? Whatever, let's go," Sasuke replied, waving off Sakon's apology with a flick of his wrist. His voice remained steady, but the irritation flickering in his eyes hinted at the limits of his patience as he walked past him.
"Orochimaru-sama never said anything about someone else coming along, Sasuke." Kidomaru's voice dripped with a mix of curiosity and challenge as he sized Sakura up from head to toe.
"She has the same goal and seeks power from Orochimaru. She came of her own free will," Sasuke explained without looking back at Sakura.
Sakura felt an unsettling wave of anxiety wash over her as the strange group of shinobi scrutinized her. She had sworn to accompany Sasuke to prove her strength and allegiance, yet uncertainty was creeping up like thorny vines around her heart.
"You think that just wanting power is enough to convince Orochimaru to train you?" Tayuya stepped forward, her voice laced with contempt. "He doesn't just hand out gifts to wannabe shinobi."
Sakura knew she had to think of something, needed to do something fast, or she'd be left behind—or worse, get killed. She knew she had to drop the sweet girl act if she wanted to get stronger and stay by Sasuke's side. Hanging her head slightly, she let her bangs fall into her face to hide her expression as laughter escaped her lips. It was a low, confident laugh—one that surprised even her.
"Do you have a problem with that?" she said slowly, looking back up with such a bloodlust expression that caught everyone off guard. "I followed him on my own. I want to get stronger, and Orochimaru is the key to that. You want to stop me? Go ahead, I dare you."
"But I promise you this: Orochimaru would have been delighted if he knew I was seeking him. And if he finds out that one of you killed me," she paused and walked past them to stand next to Sasuke, "who knows what he might do to you?"
Sakura's bold words rattled the group, and the air grew thick with tension. Sasuke, standing beside her, couldn't help but turn his head slightly, intrigued by the fierceness she was suddenly exhibiting.
"Is that so?" Tayuya stepped forward, still towering over her with a dismissive grin. "You really think you can pull one over on Orochimaru? You think your bravery impresses anyone here?"
Sakura felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks, but she refused to back down. "I'm not here to impress you. At the village, I was trained under Tsunade, Orochimaru's former teammate—one of the Sannin. The very same person Orochimaru went to ask to heal his arms. I'm pretty sure he would be interested in what I learned from her."
Having had enough of this, Tayuya launched an attack just to prove how weak Sakura really was. With a swift motion, she aimed a kick toward Sakura's abdomen, but to her surprise, Sakura sidestepped just in time. The move caught Tayuya off guard. Instead of retreating, Sakura launched herself at Tayuya, smashing her face into the ground and grabbing one of her arms in a death grip.
"You wouldn't mind if I break one of your arms, would you?" she taunted, her voice low and menacing, accompanied by a bright smile, as if she were enjoying the situation. Even though he wasn't showing it, Sasuke was quite shocked by Sakura's transformation. The girl he had known—the one who had cried for him mere moments ago—was now unleashing an intensity he had never witnessed before. She felt powerful in this moment, aware that she had crossed a threshold into a world where kindness meant little and strength meant everything.
"Y-you bitch!" Tayuya cursed, struggling futilely beneath Sakura's grip. Sakura tightened her hold, and for a fleeting moment, the enchantment of violence surged through her veins. The thrill was intoxicating.
"Enough." Sasuke's voice sliced through the chaotic atmosphere, and the sudden authority compelled Sakura to immediately release Tayuya, who scrambled back to her feet, rubbing the bruised spot where Sakura had slammed her down.
"Enough of your petty squabbles," Kidomaru interjected, crossing his six arms in disbelief, "Welcome, Sakura. Just remember; don't get in our way, or you'll die."
Sakura straightened, heart pounding with adrenaline. She was scared and couldn't believe what she had just done but was also elated that she had been 'accepted.' She was glad she was able to stay with Sasuke but sad about her friends and family. She shook off her thoughts about the village. She had already made her decision; she couldn't back down now, especially after what she had done to the Sound ninja girl.
Sasuke looked sideways at her, an odd mix of pride and unvoiced concern in his eyes. While he didn't overtly show it, her bold behaviour intrigued him—it was this essence that he wished he had seen before.
"Let it begin," said Sasuke, looking back at the village before departing and making their way to Orochimaru.
~To Be Continued~
Thank you for reading! This is just the beginning, that's why it's a little short.
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