Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ How Long It Takes ❯ To Change ( Chapter 3 )

Yaaay for updates~! I wish I could have gotten this out sooner but I recently was on a 24 hour bus ride to Canada haha. This chapters a little short but what it lacks in words I feel it makes up for in emotion. Also I've just been busy in Canada! Haha

 

Hopefully I'll write another chappie whilst I'm up here but if I don't update for a weekish it's NOT because I'm leaving the story, its cause im having fun in Canada haha.

I duns own Naruto or any of its characters, no matter how much I may wish too.

 

Goddess Psyche: I'm happy that you heart my story haha

 

SakuraXSasuke121, gamblerrikku, and LadyNorth76: Goodness, I hate Karin too haha. I'm taking my sweet time thinking up awful things to do to her hahaha

 

Takeasadsong, Trinnerti, and Dreamergirl92813: Thanks bunches, hope you like this chappie too!

.

.

.

.

.

 

+

“Ino, you're going to wake me up right?” Sakura sat alone, huddled under a poorly made shelter as the rain pattered down around her. Mud covered her once clean skin and her hair was tangled in growing clumps. She hadn't spoken to anyone in a week; a week and so much more time that she kept up with. Her figure trembled as she pulled her ragged shirt closer, trying to retain and warmth that escaped her body. Her body shook as another bolt of lighting fell from its place in the sky, thunder rattling her chest with his intensity.

 

“It's all a bad dream and you'll wake me up right?” A tear fell from the corner of Sakura's healing wound, stinging the flesh in a way only the salty bitterness of tears could. She remembered having nightmares when she was still a child. She used to wake up crying, curling up in a position similar to the one she was currently in. Ino was the one that taught her about nightmares. Ino said that if she ever needed someone to wake her up, then she would be right there to do it. Where was Ino? Why was she still stuck in this hellish nightmare? Surely she was home, sleeping restlessly in her long time bed. Surely her long time roommate would hear her muffled cries soon and come running in to wake her up. Wouldn't she?

 

“I hope…” Sakura started, laying down to close her eyes. Maybe she could fall asleep, and wake back up at home with Ino's familiar face hovering over her. She could already see the blondes worried features in the image her mind created in the darkness that surrounded her. “You wake me up soon.”

+

.

.

.

.

.

Sakura shifted slightly, slowly awakening from her deep slumber. She vaguely registered the feeling of her arms looped around something as that same mysterious thing moved under her. What was it though? Her head was swimming in an endless fog, her limbs tingling with every step the creature under her took. A panic seized her as she tried to move, her arms and legs not listening at all. The only thing she managed was to shift her fingers, brushing them against the rough fabric of a jonin vest. So it wasn't something, its was someone. She tried to speak but her mouth seemed obnoxiously hard to move. Drugs. They had drugged her.

 

“Lemmiii offf.” She slurred slightly, trying once more to move away from who ever was carrying her piggy back style. The tips of her fingers slowly began to grow green, only to fade away quickly. Damn chakra eating ropes. The had planned this. “asttarrdsss…”

 

“Calm down Sakura,” A strong and oh so familiar voice flooded her senses. She knew she should be mad at this voice for tricking her but in her current state there was little she could do to get away from him. “We had to sedate you in order to take you back through the village. Its Kohan's standard operating procedure, no exceptions.”

 

“Kaashi.” She mumbled, nodding her head as best she could. She hadn't noticed it before but she could hear the tell tale signs of a busy town. Hundreds of feet shuffling across the road the walked, speaking in whispered murmurs at the sight of Sakura and her team. She buried her face against Kakashi's back as best she could, trying to hide herself from the prying eyes that she felt crawling across her skin. She must have fallen asleep that way, for the next moment she could hear Tsunade's voice and the stillness of her office. From what she could determine she was laying on a mobile hospital bed. Kakashi and Tsunade were the only ones in the room other than her.

 

“Please, do not remove her head band Hokage-sama.” Kakashi's voice sounded much softer now and her heart almost stopped in her chest. Would Tsunade disregard Kakashi's pleas and see her face? Her body began to move of its own accord, her arms lifting so that she could weakly hold her head band in place. The drugs were finally wearing off and she should be back to normal in a few moments. Until then she would fight to keep this headband with everything she had in her.

 

“Kashi…” Her fingers gripped the metal of her headband harder, pressing lines into the skin of her hands. Both figures turned to look at the girl, Kakashi already moving to stand beside her.

 

“Sakura? We're in Hokage-sama's office now.” Kakashi reached a hand out to touch her hair softly, pushing a few strands from her face. “Can you move?”

 

She slowly willed her body to sit, moving to swing her legs over the side of the bed. Crisp sheets crumpled under her fingers as she moved. She could hear Tsunade approaching the two; she could feel Kakashi's fingers brushing over her forehead. To bad she couldn't see anything. She wanted nothing more than to familiarize herself with Kakashi's unruly hair, or with Tsunade's bosom. She wanted to see how this village had grown in three years and see all of her friends.

 

“Ino…”Sakura finally spoke, reaching her hand out to find Kakashi's location. Once found she firmly grasped his sleeve, like a child holding onto their mothers skirt for comfort. Without being told she could she slid off the hospital bed, thankful that her normal clothing was in place instead of a flimsy hospital gown. Tugging on Kakashi's sweater she made sure she had his attention, not quiet sure if her voice was strong enough to be heard. “Let me see Ino.”

 

“Sakura,” Tsunade sighed, reaching out to touch the girls shoulder in a comforting manner. “There are many things we need to talk about before you can go out into the village. I need to know what happened while you were gone. Why did you stay away so long and why won't you remove your headban-”

 

“Ino,” Sakura's voice broke through, stronger now that the drugs had worn away completely. The grip on Kakashi's shirt became stronger, her knuckles bleeding white. “Let me see Ino.”

 

A look was exchanged briefly between Kakashi and Tsunade before the Hokage nodded, granting them permission to leave. In an instant Kakashi made the appropriate hand signs, teleporting the two away from the Hokage Tower. When they landed Sakura's senses were on high alert, though a bright smile worked its way across her lips. Stepping forward she released Kakashi and tried to feel out her best friend, listening for any sign of her movement.

“Ino?” Confusion wracked her body the minute her fingers touch something solid. It was cold beneath her skin and obviously not moving. For the first time Sakura notice the wind breezing past them only to settle again, though the rock surface under her hand remained unmoving.

 

“Kakashi…Where is she?” Sakura giggled softly, turning to the direction she assumed was facing him. His jokes were dumb but she missed them all the same. No answer came however, and she heard the brushing of his fabric as he shifted uncomfortably. As she moved to return to his side she froze, her fingers brushing against the engravings on the stone before her.

 

A name. Why would a name be carved on a rock in the middle of town? Panic seized her chest as she all to suddenly realized what it was. This was no joke. Kakashi wasn't going to chuckle softly and say Ino was behind him the whole time. Kneeling down before the great stone her fingers moved frantically, tracing over names in some attempt to locate the one she dreaded feeling. It wasn't until Kakashi's warm hand grasped hers, leading it to yet another row of names, did she find it.

 

“Ino…” She whispered softly, tears stinging at her eyes as she traced the name with her fingers over and over again, almost wishing she could rub the name away and the blonde still be there, standing beside her. Before she knew it she was raking her nails across the stone structure, not caring that blood was starting to flow down her fingers. She didn't care that Kakashi had to gently pull her away, embracing her as she cried out. She didn't notice she was even crying and she tried desperately to reach back out for that name, though she knew she'd never find it amongst the several thousand that littered the stones surface.

 

Moments passed as the two ninja sat there, Sakura quietly crying in Kakashi's arms as the normally impassive ninja stroked her hair soothingly as his own gaze rested on the stone surface. There glimmering in the light of the sun was his own friends name, his own heartache. He knew the loss Sakura was feeling as she emotionally exploded in his arms. Angry that she wasn't there, upset because it somehow was all her fault for not being able to stop it, and mostly hurt that she never got to say goodbye.

 

Every ninja went into countless battles. Some of them would die and some would live to see their loved ones again. But the more battles there were the less loved ones there were to be had. This was their way of life. They fought, often times acquiring scars that would be with their bodies forever. But loosing a fellow comrade…no, loosing a friend…it would forever scar their hearts.

 

.

.

.

.

.

Haha yes yes, another chap w/o Karin but she can be left out for a little while. I promise I haven't forgotten abt her (no matter how much I would love too) hahaha.

Thanks to all the people that reviewed last chapter! And thanks bunches to everyone getting alerts for when it updates!