Summary: While out training on one of her only days off, Sakura is struck with a strange arrow to her heart. Strange things start to occur but not only with her. Mainly Gaa/Saku, slight Sasu/Saku, Sasu/Naru, Hin/Nej, Ino/Shika/Tem triangle (end couple is a surprise). There may be others.

Regular disclaimers apply throughout the story

Author's note: I arose from the grave again if anybody cares. Please, R & R, enjoy!

P.S: Sorry for spelling and grammar errors, I don't have spell check.

Author's note 2: Grammar and spelling errors fixed and the chapter has been changed a bit. As you can see I'M BACK! Yeah, since I lost my groove for this story, I figured it would be in my, and your, best interest to start from the beginning. I'm revising chapters in the attempt to remind myself what I was doing and where I was going, that way, I could continue with the story and maybe finally finish it. I made a promise and I plan to keep it!

"Blah" talking

Blah thoughts

Blah other voice in head

Ugh...someone get the name of that jutsu that hit me Sakura thought with a groan as she absentmindedly crushed the alarm clock that woke her with one lazy hand. Her hair was a complete mess and she could barely manage to lift herself to her feet and stay on them, the cold floor biting into her skin. Note to self; sleep with socks on. Sakura took several deep breaths and fought the sudden surge of dizziness. Not giving the occurance so much as a second though, she trudged her way to her bathroom, her normal attire of red Chinese shirt, khaki skirt and black shorts in hand with some clean underwear.

Today was her much needed day of rest and relaxation. Tsunade had... insisted on her having a break, saying something along the lines of her working herself sick. She even made Naruto 'escort' her home early and make sure that she rest today. That's why the said nin was snoring loudly on her couch, snot bubble and all. Sakura had to chuckle as she adjusted the temperature of the shower knobs, setting it to almost scalding. This woke her up, but she still felt dizzy.

Stepping out a full and even five minutes later, brush in hand, she proceeded to brush her wet hair before she finished dressing. Clad in only her white cotton bra and panties, (she never did get into the Victoria's secret fad like her dear friends Ino and Tenten,) and secretly Hinata Sakura added to herself with a giggle, finishing her hair by putting on her forehead protector as a head band like she usually did and dawning her usual attire. Surely nobody would mind if I decided to train a little, besides, I have to catch up for skipping two days ago Sakura thought, nodding to herself before sneaking out of the house with ease and leaving a note for Naruto for when he wakes, telling him to make himself at home. She'd be back in time to go with him to meet up with Gaara and his siblings that evening.

Locking the door behind herself, she made her way to the nearest exit, the eastern gate, before beginning a vigorous run around Kohona and ending at a secluded spot in the forest. This was her training spot for when she was going to train on her own. Doing a quick scan of her surroundings she smiled to herself, slipping on her gloves and began her stretches.

...3 hours later

Sakura was sweating, sore, hot, and extremely pleased with herself. Not only had she done a number on the surrounding area, but she managed to save all the animals that got in the way of her attacks or from falling objects and managed to hold back at the last minute giving the trees minimal damage. But the boulders...they didn't fare to well...if there were any left...nope, none were left, just rubble. Sakura was very proud of herself, a small fox perched on her shoulder with a raccoon nibbling on a piece of Sakura's lunch. But out of the corner of her eye she could see a strange cat. From what Sakura analyzed, the ears were a bit large and it had something like a small horn on its forehead, tail split in two. One eye was blue, and one almost white, staring at her from under a bush.

Sakura knew from the way it held itself and from what she's learned from Kiba and his sister, the feline didn't have much longer to live if the festering wounds on its legs and stomach weren't treated soon and even then it was a slim to none chance. Sakura was trying to lure it out with her patience. But the thing just stared at her, their eyes locked in a stare down of sorts.

Sakura's patience was weakening from her worry. The small creature was in obvious pain and she, being the medic that she was, wanted to help it. Thinking back on past experiences, she remembered how Kiba had made a cat come to him because Hinata wanted it, I swear she has her team wrapped around her finger. Even Neji does whatever she wants, no matter how bad Sakura cringed. The memory of Neji holding boxes and bags stacked high in his arms last Christmas, all of which were Hinata's gift purchases. Sakura had felt sorry for him but he didn't complain and turned down her offer of aid. Miraculously, he hadn't dropped anything and hadn't crashed. He was probably trying to impress her...but that's beside the point, what did Kiba do…?

Finally, thought coming to mind with a sudden memory, she concentrated her chakra into her hand, not to much, but enough for the creature to sense it. Holding out her hand to it she kept her face neutral as an aura of warmth enveloped her, this coaxed the creature too slowly, almost excruciatingly slowly, approach her, holding its nose out to her and smelling her hand cautiously.

Sakura waited patiently, unmoving save for her breathing. She barely even blinked. Not till the creature began nuzzling her hand and let itself be pulled onto her lap did she relax, barely disturbing the raccoon and fox as they fed off of the lunch that she'd given them. Sakura quickly, but gently maneuvered the feline onto its back.

Sakura could barely hold in the cringe and felt tears sting the back of her eyes, barely noticing two extremely large and extremely familiar chakras heading her way. The feline's whole stomach was a mass of burnt and rotting flesh infected and crusted with dried blood and puss. Fleas and ticks could be found all over the small animal and she reeked of death. Sakura could barely hold back a sob as she went medic mode and went to work, starting by wrapping her chakra around the cat, cleaning it of all the dirt, blood, puss, dead skin and fur, and the fleas and ticks. Then she sent some chakra to the cat's brain and blocked the pain receptors so the animal wouldn't suffer before she started to actually heal it.

The two chakras were now nearly on top of her but she still didn't realize as she finished her task. The cat thanked her with a series of licks, nuzzles and meows, rubbing herself against Sakura making her laugh out. She watched the cat's antics for a little while as it played with the fox and raccoon.

The two chakras where only a few yards behind her now, but she still didn't sense them. It was almost as if she couldn't sense it, like something was blocking her senses, as if Sakura were drugged. Nothing triggered any of her senses. Her vision began to blur as the cat stared into her eyes, white eye starting to glow as its form began to distort all too clearly before Sakura's eyes. She was deaf to all that was around her so she couldn't hear a familiar yet alarmed voice call for her to get away. She couldn't even move her body but that didn't matter. The cat before her was no longer a cat of any type but an arrow of the darkest metals glistening in the fading sunlight.

Sakura couldn't even think, she was so dazed, her body was frozen and there was nothing that Sakura could do but watch in horror as the arrow launched itself at her before a cocoon of sand wrapped itself around her.

Naruto woke with a start at the sound of the door closing...where am I, Naruto thought in his hazy mental state, accidentally rolling off of the couch from which he'd been sleeping. Taking a good look around his surroundings, he realized that he was not in his bedroom but in a rather simple white and beige clean living room. Clean white furniture, clean beige carpet, sleek plasma screen TV, clean glass coffee table and corner table. Oh yeah! This is Sakura's house...that means that... "Tsunade-obaachan is gonna' kill me!" Naruto exclaimed as he quickly fixed himself up and made a mad dash to the door, just barely noticing the note left by Sakura on the white washed wooden table by the door.

Lifting the note into his field of vision, Naruto read:

Hey Naruto

Sorry I left before you could wake. I went out to get some much needed training done. I should be back by the sunset so we can go see Gaara when he arrives. Make yourself home till I get back, just don't destroy anything or else.

Yours truly,

Sakura

Naruto growled I swear she'll work herself to death! Naruto thought in irritation, putting on his shoes and tossing the note aside before marching out in search of his workaholic best friend.

A soon as Naruto was a few steps away from Sakura's home, a large and ominous growl was emitted from within him. Naruto laughed sheepishly as he thought of his last non ramen meal last night. As much as Naruto loved Sakura's cooking, Naruto believed that he couldn't function without his ramen. A trip to Ichiraku's was in order. Sakura could wait a little longer, it's not like she'd be in danger any time soon. Naruto started to jog, already tasting his precious ramen.

"Yo"

"Hey Kakashi-sensei," Naruto greeted. Giving his former sensei his patented grin, the blonde took up the stool to the right of Kakashi.

"Hey, Naruto-kun, what'll ya' like?" Ichiraku greeted warmly.

"I'm feeling for...pork and miso ramen." Naruto ordered, swinging his long legs back and forth merrily. Sakura's break momentarily forgotten.

Naruto had unknowingly spent a full hour talking to Kakashi, catching up on old times as it were. They hadn't realized the passage of time until Shikamaru joined in the conversation.

"Oh Crap!" Naruto exclaimed, palm striking his forehead as he remembered his much forgotten task. "Tsunade-obaachan is gonna' kill me!"

"What's up?" Kakashi questioned, humor evident in his eyes.

"I was supposed to be making sure that Sakura-chan was resting today. But she left while I was sleeping." Naruto whined.

"How troublesome, that woman is going to work herself to death." Shikamaru sighed.

"Exactly!" Naruto agreed whole heartedly.

"How is Sakura anyway?" Kakashi was truly curious about his little kunoichi, having seen less and less of her since the beginning of the whole Sasuke incident. Maybe I should teach her a few new jutsu, she should like that. Kakashi thought absently as Naruto began to fill him in.

"She's on a power trip, I swear! It's always, 'I have to get stronger, I have to get stronger. No more me getting in the way.' Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that head of hers." Naruto began, arms crossed in his thinking pose. "Geez, the girl's the best medic nin second only to obaachan, she's got super human strength, she's hot as hell, smart as hell, but nooooooo, it's never enough for that girl. It's no wonder she hasn't got a boyfriend!" Naruto finished as Hinata and Neji joined them.

"Plus she takes on more tasks then she can handle without a single complain." Neji added, pulling aside the curtain for Hinata to enter, a testament to how time has changed his feeling for the Hyuuga heir.

"She never takes a day off, never goes out to have fun, she's a workaholic!" Naruto froze at the voice. "I see that she's evaded even you, Naruto-kun" Naruto looked behind him as the sickening feeling of dread took root in the pit of his stomach.

"Obaachan,…" Naruto smiled nervously before receiving a sharp whack on his head. "Itai," Naruto cringed as he rubbed the bump atop his head, just noticing a group of people behind her. "Gaara? Kankuro? Temari? What are you guys doin' here so soon?" Naruto laughed hopping off his chair and giving them a friend's greeting, a bear hug to Temari, a regular hug between guys (no idea what to call it, I'm a girl) to Kankuro, and a hand shake to the hesitant Gaara.

"So she got away I presume?" Tsunade smiled half-heartedly, worried for the condition of her student.

"...yeah, I was sound asleep when she left her house," Naruto sighed in defeat

"Do you know where she trains?" Tsunade inquired, sporting a similar expression to the younger blond.

"Yea-no...when she trains with someone it's in and entirely different area then when she trains alone." Naruto explained. "Do you have any idea?"

"All I know is that she runs the whole perimeter of Kohona a couple times before actually training and then her training ranges from two to five hours, depending on the amount of time she's given and how healthy she is. She was catching a cold, so she should be done soon." Tsunade informed.

"So I'll just head in the general direction of the forest. Then, when I catch her, I'm locking her up in her room." Naruto promised himself.

"I'll help." Hinata whispered, much to Neji's discomfort.

"Me too I guess, the girl's even got Ino worried." Shikamaru offered, knowing that if he didn't do anything, Ino would tan his hide.

"I'll help as well." Neji smiled kindly.

"Perfect!" Tsunade smiled, "While Naruto goes to fetch Sakura, you guys set the place up so that she can't get out."

"Can we help too?" Temari asked, volunteering both her brothers as well, much to their dismay. "Gaara can go with you and get Sakura."

"Great!" Naruto laughed before grabbing Gaara's arm and running for the forest. They'd wasted a whole other hour, but now there would be no distractions.

Another hour later and the two were very irritated. They'd searched the whole western and southern part of the forest.

"WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?" Naruto cried in exasperation, tugging at his gold hair. That was before Gaara felt Sakura's familiar healing chakra. This disturbed him a little.

Why is she healing? Gaara asked himself as he launched himself in the direction he felt her. She's east of here. Naruto could only follow, demanding to know what was up. Gaara just ignored him as he picked up his pace. He just couldn't shake the feeling that Sakura was in trouble. Not necessarily in danger, but that didn't stop Gaara from feeling this way. This almost scared him more, Why do I feel this way?

Two tail is here! A voice echoed in his head.

Gaara visibly paled. He knew that voice all to well; Shukaku. The voice was weak, barely louder than a whisper, but it was still him.

Naruto noticed the sudden change in Gaara's complexion and instantly became worried. He was about to say something but then he also felt Sakura's healing power. Something wasn't right and he was worried. A few moments later it dimmed before it stopped, she must be finished. That didn't stop the feeling of urgency from coursing through his veins as he slowly started to surpass Gaara in speed.

They could just barely see her now, pink hair sticking out like a beacon in the night. They could hear her tired laughter and for an instant they were relieved, until all her laughter ceased and everything in the forest went silent.

Gaara was the first to see the cat as it began to alter its shape to that of a deadly arrow, but Naruto was the first to speak. Calling out her name as loud as he possibly could, Naruto felt raw terror claw at his heart as he and Gaara tried to grasp her attention. Naruto called and called, his voice going hoarse as he struggled to maintain both his pace and his breathing.

MOVE WOMAN was all that Gaara could think as he and Naruto watched in horror as one of the most renown kunoichi just sat and stared at black arrow. She didn't even move to acknowledge them. Is she that frightened? Gaara managed to ponder as sheer panic began to sink in. Without thinking, he summoned his sand to form a cocoon around the terrified woman, but it didn't work. He could only watch in dismay as the arrow fazed threw the impenetrable sand, before the heart wrenching sound of Sakura's scream pierced through the silence of the forest.

This can't be happening! Naruto thought as tears cascaded down his face unhindered. Landing next to the collapsing cocoon of sand, Naruto found Sakura laying there, eyes wide and unseeing, mouth agape with the arrow pierced through her heart. It was as if the world came shattering around him as one of his dearest and closest friends lay in silent agony on the ground before him. Her shallow and erratic breaths were the only indication that she was alive.

"SAKURA!" Naruto cried at the top of his lungs, his body shaking with sorrow as he carefully pulled Sakura into his arms. He looked at the arrow that protruded from her back and breast with confusion. His mind refusing to compute any solid thoughts as he gently shook her, trying to get some form of response from the young woman in his arms.

Gaara just stared blankly at the scene playing out before him, his hand clenching at the fabric over his heart. Tears stung the back of his eyes and his lips silently called her name, his voice frozen within his throat.

This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. Why was this happening? She can't...she can't die. I won't let her.

Gaara took one shaky step forward, his vision tunneling. Gaara took another, surer step, the sound of Naruto's sad cries and howls echoing and merging with the background.

"Sakura," Gaara finally said, as if he was speaking for the first time. The sound of her name leaving his lips snapped him out of his reverie, as if her name alone could bring him strength.

Gaining control over his resolve, Gaara took another step forward, noting how Naruto stilled. "Naruto," Gaara called, taking another step forward.

Naruto turned, his eyes glowing red as a sinister aura began to leak from his body. Black tears streamed down his face as he tightened his hold of Sakura, his need to save and protect evident.

"Naruto," Gaara called again, fearing for Sakura's safety.

Naruto whined his response, nuzzling Sakura's cheek like a kit would its mother. "Imotoue," Naruto's demonic voice whimpered, his eyes, more than his voice, begging for help. He clutched Sakura's pain ridden form to his chest as he silently pleaded for this nightmare to end.

Gaara felt his heart clench as he looked at the beauty that was Sakura. He needed to be strong and get Sakura to help, but seeing Sakura's prone form clutched in Naruto's arms, silently screaming with eyes staring unblinkingly at some unseen horror almost made him break. He didn't know what to do. What could he do?

A barely audible moan broke Gaara out of his stupor, jarring both him and Naruto into action. Naruto, with the aura of the Kyubi caressing his form, lifted Sakura into the cradle of his arms as Gaara summoned his sand. The sand lifted the three into the air before spiraling around their bodies, forming a tornado of sand that traveled through the skies at near impossible speeds.

Sakura's home came into view moments later, the sand becoming a wave before shattering the windows and depositing the three nin into the once pristine living room.

"What's the meaning of this?" Tsunade demanded.

"Sakura," was all Gaara could choke out before Tsunade managed to yank the young woman out of Naruto's arms.

Naruto howled and made an attempted to take Sakura back, his energy building up for an attack, but Gaara would have none of it.

"She's going to help her!" Gaara snapped, his voice thick with emotion as he grappled against Naruto.

Naruto whimpered again, calling out for his little sister in high pitched barks and yips.

"She's getting help. She's going to be…fine." Gaara felt his breath come out in gasps as his fear came back in droves. "She's going to be fine." Gaara repeated, but whether or not it was for Naruto's benefit, or his own, was a mystery.

Both their hearts stopped when Sakura's screams of agony dwarfed all sound.

It hurts! Was all Sakura could think as she screamed her agony. She could vaguely feel her tears as they cascaded down her face. So great was her pain that all she wished for was an end. That was the last thought she was capable of thinking of as all her nails felt as if they were being ripped out and replaced with razors, cutting through her calloused fingers.

It felt as if her skin was being torn off and like all her bones were breaking only to heal before doing it again. Her spinal chord felt as if it was being stretched and pulled out from her tail bone: Skin and muscles, tissues and nerves, ligaments and sinews all being stretched and snapped as they covered her lengthened spine. Pricks soon followed as if needles were being drawn out of her nerve endings.

Her screams only got louder as she grasped whatever she could get a hold of, someone's hand, but she could barely tell whose it was, she just gripped tightly, shattering the bones of that hand in her monstrous grip. But it wouldn't give her any relief; the pain only grew as it traveled to her head. No more tears would come no matter how hard she screamed; now blood fell in the place of her tears. Her eyes stung, as if a hundred needles were being stabbed into them repeatedly from the back of her eyes. Her ears felt as if they were being pulled and stretched to the top of her head before going through the same feeling of the needles coming out of her nerve endings in her ears.

Then the pain subsided.

Sakura panted hoarsely as she felt herself being collected into a strong pair of arms, most likely the owner of the hand she shattered. She could barely cough out an apology as she wrapped herself around him, feeling the body stiffen beneath her. Sakura filled her nostrils with his intoxicating scent. The scent calmed her, almost lulling her into a dreamless sleep. She would have, if her pain hadn't returned a hundred fold.

Sakura tried to let go of the body beneath her, fearing that she would severely harm him in her fit of pain like his hand, but his hold on her tightened before all sense of feeling was drowned out by her suffering.

It was now attacking her insides, her organs. Her heartbeat was erratic, her breathing was short and labored. Clenching her entire body for the inevitable on slot of pain, but then she remembered the one holding her. She would not be the cause of a friend's pain, no matter what.

"L-let me...let me go." She begged, trying to open her eyes but to no avail. "I'll shatter you." she coughed, tasting some of her blood come out of her panting mouth.

"No." The voice would have been smooth, velvety, calming, but the pain he was trying to fight was evident in her pain ridden ears. His arms tightened around her.

"Shh, it's okay Sakura." this was another voice, calming and motherly. Sakura just barely noticed a needle injecting something into her bloodstream.

The effects were almost instant, numbing her to most of the pain. It still hurt like hell, but it was nothing compared to what she felt mere moments ago. She breathed in deeply, finally opening her eyes.

Ino was kneeling a few feet in front of her, kept a safe distance by Shikamaru as she struggled against him so that she could hold her dear friend. Her mouth was moving, her lips reciting a prayer as she slowly reached for her. The smooth skin of her fingers grazing against Sakura's arm in an attempt to give some form of comfort.

The others were kept at bay by a demonic Naruto, Sakura's eyes widening as two of the Kyubi's tails jerked around behind him. His yips and barks daring anyone to approach her as his eyes darted back and forth between her, Ino, and the crowding nin present. The few glimpses Sakura caught of Naruto's face made her heart clench when she saw the black tears cascade down his cheeks.

Kakashi knelt as close as Naruto would allow. He fought with his own body, the need to move and come to her aid barely being held at bay. Kakashi's eyes barely blinked, his sharingan glowing as silent tears pooled at the corners of his eyes. Sakura vaguely heard Kakashi's breath as he mouthed words of fear, sorrow and disdain.

Hinata was in the corner wrapped in Neji's arms as she cried, both having their Byakugan activated. Their faces were white as sheets as their eyes scanned her. It was as if they saw something within her, their eyes sharing the same emotions as Kakashi.

Kiba and Shino sat in front of Hinata, their bodies serving as living shields. The two maintained non-threatening stances as they watched both Naruto and Sakura. But there was no fear in their eyes, only sorrow; sorrow that touched Sakura's heart because it meant that they cared for her well being, even though they weren't as close as she would have liked.

Akamaru was on his back in front of the four nin, his eyes glued to Naruto's pacing form. He was telling Naruto through his body language that he, like the nin behind him, were no threat to Sakura's well being. He was the only one that did not show fear to the evening's events. Sakura smiled at that, sensing rather than knowing that Akamaru knew that she was going to be okay.

Chouji was the only other not looking at Sakura, his eyes glued to the pacing Naruto. His hands were enlarged and at the ready, reading the Kyubi-possessed nin in case he acted against his teammates that were within his ring.

Gai and Tenten held Lee against the farthest wall, a waterfall of tears falling from the males' eyes. This make Sakura laugh, her breath coming out in short gasps as her breath fought to even itself out. Upon seeing this, Lee's tears dried up and he smiled at her after relaxing against his sensei's and Tenten's hold.

Temari and Kankuro were huddled together off to the side, worry evident in their eyes. Their bodies as close as Naruto would allow. Kunai were clasped in their hands ready to attack should the need arise. Sakura cocked her head to the side at that, her head bumping against something solid, but she thought nothing much of it.

Tsunade was to her immediate left, one hand stroking her shoulder in a soothing fashion while the other held a needle. She looked so much older, even though she still maintained her twenty year old body. Her eyes were hollow, as if she had clocked out and her movements were done automatically and her face was expressionless, like a statue. Sakura reached up to caress her cheek, happy to see some of the light return into her sensei's eyes.

Who's holding me then? Sakura thought hazily, as her eyes fell on Naruto again with a smile. He was on his belly, slowly crawling over to her, thinking that it made him less threatening. He then placed his head on her lap and fell asleep with a parting imotoue, his demonic aura seeping back into his skin. Sakura finally looked behind her.

It was Gaara.

His face was set in a cringe, but other than that, he wouldn't let anything show. On further analysis, Sakura spied the shattered hand that he was trying to hide.

"I'm sorry." Her voice was still haggard, the double edged affect of the morphine not really working, almost as if she were immune to the side affects, but for that, she was thankful. Summoning her chakra to her hands and ignoring the sudden jolt of pain, Sakura snatched Gaara's injured hand and started to reset the bones of his hand and heal them. His hand was almost perfect before the pain became too great and Sakura had to stop. Again, Sakura looked around; Eyes searching for Tsunade's when she realized something off about everyone in the room.

"What are you all staring at?" Sakura coughed a little loudly, startling Naruto into the land of the awake.

Naruto rubbed his eyes tiredly, somehow knowing that he should not be sleeping. He looked around the room before his eyes settled on the lap his head rested on. His eyes followed the shapely legs upward, lifting his head in the process before something long and black caught his eye. It took him a moment, his expression going from tired, to blank, to curious, to shocked in a span of seconds.

"...You have...you have...YOU HAVE A TAIL!" Naruto burst out. "AND CAT EARS!" Naruto continued in shock, his mind fighting to remember everything that had happened. "Are you okay!" Naruto demanded, his hands tugging at her shoulder as he searched for the arrow that was supposed to be there. Sakura didn't even flinch, not even when Naruto's hand accidentally grazed against her breast. Sakura's mind was a complete blank as she suddenly stood up from her spot between Gaara's legs, forcing Naruto to tumble backward, before she ran to the nearest bathroom.

Turning on the light that was strangely unnecessary, she looked at her image reflected off the cool, smooth surface of the mirror. Atop her head where cat ears that twitched on her command, her right ear having a pink stripe, the same shade as the rest of her hair. Her tail was also black, just barely reaching the back of her calves with a pink stripe around the end. It swished side to side involuntarily.

Bringing her hand to the surface and seeing for the first time her claws gracing her fingers. Most of her calluses were gone, making her skin smooth. Stepping out of the bathroom, she made a hasty trek to her room, tearing away her clothes all the while before she stood in front of her full body mirror, clad in only her underwear. Her skin was almost flawless. Almost all of her scars were gone. This was too much, far too much.

Looking at her hand and curling it into a fist, she slammed it into the mirror, the shards flying every which-way, watching in rapt fascination as they cut her flesh, adding to the throbbing pain she felt before all the glass that imbedded itself in her skin was pushed out and her wounds healed leaving nary a trace of injury.

Everyone could only watch as they saw a part of Sakura break. But it was Kakashi who actually entered her room and pulled her into an embrace as she burst into tears.

"What happened to me? What am I?" Sakura cried out in a new agony, an agony of the heart. "Why did this happen?" was the last thing that Sakura said before succumbing to the oblivion that was sleep, enveloped in the smell of the forest before the rain. Is this what a father's embrace feels like? Sakura thought as she felt her consciousness slip away.

The only sound that was left in that house was that of whimpers and tears. It was grating on Gaara's nerves as he watched Sakura be laid onto her bed and tucked in by her sensei. His hand still hurt, but he could only feel ashamed of himself for allowing his pain to show. It was nothing in comparison to what Sakura suffered. Gaara refused to complain. Moving out of the way, he trudged to the couch and dropped himself upon it, jumping when Tsunade grabbed his hand and finished healing it. Her eyes were blank and her movements were stiff, almost mechanic.

Everyone's movements where as such, Gaara observed, watching as Ino walked to the kitchen. A series of sounds could be heard as she began to cook dinner for everyone in an attempt to get her mind off of things. Everyone else was moving about the house in a trance like state, tidying up the house or the like. Trying to let everything set in, Gaara thought as he kept glancing in the direction of Sakura's room.

Two tail did this,

What are you still doing here? Gaara was too far beyond tired to hold a mental conversation, or pay attention to his surroundings. If he did, he would've noticed the frightful look that crossed the faces of his siblings. They noticed the look that Gaara had, and they knew whom Gaara was speaking to.

"Naruto, do you know anything of a Two tail?"

I hope you liked it!

Author's Note: If you're rereading the fic then you'll notice a couple scenes have been completely altered in their revision. What do you think, better? Worse? If nobody likes the knew revision let me know and I'll change it back if enough people hate it.

Now onwards to chapter 2!