Upside Down

Chapter Two

[Cold]

I miss you, Naruto. I want to keep going, I really do… but I feel so cold.

And this… this house no longer feels like home.

…

Sakura's right hand caressed her bruised cheek. She stared back at the so familiar blue eyes in absolute shock. Naruto had just hit her. Naruto, the one that always held back during sparring sessions. Naruto, who always waited until late in the night, after her hospital duties to make sure she was alright – to ask her about her day.

Just breathe.

The whole thing seemed so surreal that she even started to wonder if she was finally losing it. Had Naruto just slapped her?

Stay calm, Sakura.

She took a quick mental photograph of her surroundings. She spotted Kakashi-sensei leaning against the wall, arms crossed around his chest and looking utterly bored. It was as if this was an everyday situation. Next to the silver-haired man was Shikamaru. His usual lazy characteristic was replaced with a sardonic personality. His lips were curved into a scary smirk.

Not too far away from him was Kurenai and Hinata. Both women stared back at Sakura while whispering, no doubt sharing not-so-nice words about her.

She clenched her hands and forced herself to remain quiet and swallow her pride. It was obvious that she was in great disadvantage. She raised her head and stared back at the strange, frightening young man that looked exactly like the Naruto she knew.

"I'm sorry…"

The blonde-haired boy sighed and nodded, "I am so sorry I hit you Sakura-chan! I have been worried about you… and to think that you could have died…"

Sakura nodded back. She had no idea what to say. Her brain was seriously damaged at this point. It flashed angrily like a thunderstorm, urging her to beat the hell of this person to a pulp. But she couldn't. She needed to hold herself together – she was in a dangerous territory.

"But you are okay! And that is all that matters!" Naruto offered her a grin and Sakura's stomach turned upside down. Unlike all the others, there was something off about Naruto. Something seemed to be missing…

She let out a small gasp. Naruto's whiskers were gone! Seriously, if they were impersonating her comrades, at the very least they should have done it right.

"Master!" a sudden loud voice boomed into the great hall. Sakura slowly turned around and gasped in shock at the sight of the Third Hokage walked towards them with a grave expression adorning his wrinkled features, "Master! It's terrible! The prisoner… he escaped,"

A heavy tension hung in the silent hall. Naruto was visibly shaking and ran a trembling hand through his messy blond-hair. Then he sighed and calmly turned around to face the others, "Well? What are you waiting for? Find… and kill him."

By the look on everyone's faces, the pink-haired kunoichi could immediately tell that this prisoner was probably someone that they knew. Their hesitation said it all.

"Now," Naruto's voice was incredibly low and so ominous that made her cringe. The others nodded shortly and quickly left the room.

With everyone gone, Sakura took the opportunity to scout the area. She was not going to look for the prisoner. She was going to find a way out of that nightmare and she was going to do it fast. After turning into different hallways, Sakura found herself facing a beautiful tall white oak door. Biting her lower lip, she peeked over her shoulder and was glad to find that she was all alone.

She stared at the door knob for a few seconds and then the curiosity took the best of her. Swallowing hard, she turned the knob to the left and almost squealed in delight when the door gave in. Pushing the door open, Sakura stared at the outstanding room in awe.

The walls were filled with bookshelves that almost reached the ceiling – giving her the impression that she was intruding into a small private library. She closed the door and her gaze fell on the enormous desk. It was a very organized desk. Whoever owned it seemed to be somewhat obsessed with cleaning and organizing. Walking around the desk, Sakura sat down on the blue cushioned chair. She let out a small sigh escape as her fingers brushed her still stinging cheek.

Naruto… Naruto would never hit her.

Her gaze darted around the desk, spotting a thick red journal. A cold shiver ran up her spine as she reached for it. With a trembling hand she opened the journal at a random page. She stood still, her eyes wide in horror as she read the title.

15th October

Sasuke is captured.

It finally happened. I will probably remember this day for the rest of my life. We captured Sasuke – that despicable traitor that sold out all my secrets to the enemy. It still hurts, his betrayal. But the thought of being closer and closer to my goal heals these wounds and only pushes me forward with more devotion.

Of course Sakura pleaded to keep him alive. She reminded me of that young girl back at Konoha, the one that stood in the sidelines crying and begging me not to kill her parents. I don't know why but I heeded to her begging. Perhaps, I still have a heart after all.

Either way, I sent Sasuke down to the torturing chambers. I have full trust in Ibiki's and Anko's skills to get all the necessary information of that Uchiha trash. I hope that we get something good enough to be able to bring down the Rain country. This war is growing tiresome.

Sakura dropped the journal on the desk and stared at it as if it contained a deadly disease. The words were carved in her mind, her brain tried hard to decipher what the hell she had just read.

"Sasuke-kun…" she whispered, the image of her ex-teammate printed in her mind. She couldn't stop now. She returned her troubled gaze at the journal and hesitantly, she turned the page.

24th October

Grass Country

It felt good. I hadn't felt as good in my entire life as I watched the troops burn the village down to ashes. The screams that came out from the frightened women and their children as they watched their men and homes being torn apart. We kept a few men for hard labor work. We are running short on slaves. I might have a word about this with Shikamaru later. I don't know what he's up to, but our slaves have suffered a toll in numbers.

Sakura and Itachi were in charge of the operation. I was surprised that that good-for-nothing girl was up to the task. Of course that the Uchiha made up for the lack of her talent as Kunoichi.

Still no sign of the eight-tailed beast. Soon, my plan will be completed. I am so close to obtain everything I ever wanted.

What the hell? Was Naruto ordering all of this? Who were these people!? This whole new reality was simply too much for her to deal with. Eyes widening, her brain nudged at the previous trail of thought.

A new reality? Was it even possible? Sure, she had read all those fantasy books and even heard rumours of Konoha's weird scientists mentioning that they were working on ways to be able to penetrate through time holes and different dimensions. Of course, she always considered it to be complete gibberish. But now? Considering her circumstances – she was not so sure anymore.

Right now, she was welcoming any other crazy-like explanations.

28th November

Sakura is fatally wounded.

Water country was so easy. It was like watching tiny ants drowning in small droplets of rain. I enjoyed watching as they dropped dead, the thick red blood flowing like a river as if celebrating my arrival. At that time everything was perfect – until they came – and ruined everything.

The Akatsuki.

It was a tough battle and it is with much regret that not a single one of them died. On the other hand, they injured several of our own. No one that mattered anyway.

Only Sakura mattered.

Hoshigaki Kisame and Sakura engaged in a fight. What was she thinking? How could she possibly think that she stood a chance against him? What if I hadn't been there? Did she actually think she could count on the others to risk their neck to save her?

If I didn't need her for the last part of my plan, I would gladly pick Hoshigaki's sword up and cut her head off myself.

Sakura felt dizzy and wondered if her heart was still beating. Her eyes were stuck on the finishing lines, those written words were like poison that consumed her core at the mere thought of Naruto wanting her dead.

But this is not Naruto, not my Naruto.

She dropped the red journal and leaned her back against the cushioned chair. Her eyes started to water up. How did she get of this mess? More importantly how did she get home? Because this was not home. It couldn't be.

Naruto wouldn't kill anyone much less slaughter entire villages. And why would he be after the tailed-beasts? Nothing made sense!

With a resigned sigh, Sakura got up and prepared herself to leave. As she did so, she clumsily let something heavy fall on the floor. Gasping and turning around, she stared down at the broken frame, more specifically at the picture.

Suddenly, it seemed like air was non-existence as she stood there staring at the picture for what seemed to be like an eternity. She recognized herself – a twelve-year-old Sakura looking oddly serious. Her gaze moved to the left and her lips parted in surprise at the sight of a dark-haired boy smile at the camera. Since when did Sasuke smile? Her green eyes turned to look at Naruto who on his turn looked as if he had been forced to be in the picture.

A warmth sensation spread through her entire body as she focused on the smiling boy. Sasuke had a handsome smile.

"I think I'll keep this," the young medic-nin whispered at herself as she cut the other 'Sakura' and 'Naruto' off the picture. With a heavy sigh and preparing herself to get the hell out of there, she was suddenly frozen to the spot when she heard alarming loud voices coming from the hallway.

Her legs shook and she feared that her knees might give up on her so she inhaled deeply and tried to calm down. Quickly spinning around, she searched for a hiding spot – and there was none. She cursed her bad luck as the sounds grew louder and louder, an indication that they were getting dangerously close.

She ran a trembling hand through her messy pink-hair as she stared at the door. She needed to get out and fast. As she was trying to find a way to escape, her heart came to a sudden stop when the door was quickly wrenched open. She stood there like a statue, her wide green eyes staring straight into crimson ones.

She absorbed every single detail. He was tall, definitely taller than her. His T-shirt looked like it had been white once but it was now dirty and grayish. His once beautiful dark-hair was now longer and greasy. His pants were ragged and his feet were naked and covered with filth.

"Sasuke-kun…"

Sakura found herself stepping backwards as if his intense glare burned. Only now she realized how poor his condition was. His left eye was swollen and completely black. He had several nasty and infected cuts across his face that clearly needed to be attended to. He also looked so skinny and it was obvious that they have been starving him.

Sasuke was the missing prisoner.

He looked nothing like the Sasuke she knew. His crimson eyes mirrored hesitation and sheer terror. His chest heaved rapidly as if he had been running for miles. Then, his intense piercing look softened slightly for the slightest seconds only to be replaced with a suspicious hardening expression.

"Who are you?"

Sakura blinked and looked as though she had been slapped. He stepped forward and his hand clutched hard onto her arm, "Who are you?" He hissed.

"W-what?" Sakura stuttered as she tried to hide the small pieces of the photograph with her feet.

"You are not Sakura." He said quietly, his red eyes glowed with a fierce intensity as he pulled her closer to him. He eyed her more closely, his sharingan spinning slowly. This woman absolutely looked like his pink-haired childhood friend. They both appeared to have the same height and weight, the same ridiculous pink hair. But this woman was lacking something.

Where was the constant sneer on her lips or the mocking glittering in her green eyes? This woman looked absolutely innocent. There was no dark aura around her like there used to be in the Sakura he knew.

Swallowing hard, Sakura pressed herself closer to him, her face mere inches away from his, "I am Sakura," She replied and was proud to find that her voice did not fail her, "just not the Sakura everyone seems to know."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her reply. He had no time for riddles.

"He's in the master's room!" a loud voice called out from behind the closed door.

Both Sakura and Sasuke turned their heads at the same time and stared at the closed door as if the devil himself was behind it.

"Do they know about it?" Sasuke whispered, his gaze still fixed at the door.

Shaking her head, Sakura walked towards the door, "No. They don't know about it." She looked over her shoulder and offered him a small smile, "Don't worry. I am getting us out of here."

Sasuke's expression remained blank as his eyes watched her carefully – still clearly suspicious of her.

Sakura's legs felt oddly heavy with every step she took towards the door. She needed to do it. She couldn't stay in a place like this. Not in a place where her Naruto did not exist. Taking a deep breath, she clenched her right hand into a fist. The shocking memory of Naruto slapping her was all she needed. Gritting her teeth, the kunoichi crouched down and punched the floor with all her might.

There were angry and surprised screams from the other side as soon as part of the room crumbled apart blocking their way in.

Sasuke's eyes widened as he contemplated this Sakura. Yes, he was now completely sure that this Sakura was a completely different person. He blinked in surprise when she turned around to face him, offering him a soft vulnerable smile.

"We don't have much time," she said as she glanced around the room.

The young Uchiha didn't even know what to say much less what to think. Was this some sort of sick and twisted trap? For now, he had no choice but to play along.

"Uhm…" Sakura pointed her index finger at random directions as she thought things over, "Alright I got it. We should head north!" She added excitedly, "Do you have any chakra left?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Sakura furrowed her eyebrows as she stared at the opposite wall. There were already some fractures from her previous brute strength. Concentrating her chakra and feeling it flow within her; she stalked forward and brought the wall down with brute force.

Sasuke's lips parted in slight awe as he stared at the bright blue sky. He closed his eyes as the wind caressed her skin.

She smiled as she watched the dark-haired man. She felt safe now. She couldn't explain it but she felt a tiny little sparkle of hope. Not everything was lost. Sakura walked to the edge of the room and looked down. To her surprise, they were just in what seemed to be a second floor.

"Ready?" She asked.

"Let's go." He answered quietly and then jumped.

Sakura watched as he landed graciously on the pavement. Pushing her chakra to her feet, she copied him.

He had never witnessed such incompetence before. It was obvious that his little brother had some assistance in escaping. In his condition, it was highly doubtful that Sasuke would ever be able to break walls.

With a suffering sigh, he walked inside the broken office as though he owned it. He looked at the wreckage with a blank look plastered on her face. Slowly, he turned his head to face the furious blond-haired boy.

"Itachi," Naruto's voice was oddly low and sounded somewhat as if he was going to have a stroke.

"Naruto."

The Uchiha smirked discreetly as the young boy's right eye twitched in annoyance. How dare he, a simple foolish boy with simple-minded goals demand that he – an Uchiha – call him master? Masking away his indignation, Itachi approached the desk and placed a wrapped object on the table.

"I found this in her room."

Naruto looked at it with evident curiosity in his bright blue eyes. As he unwrapped it, his chin fell in shock as he stared at the object in front of him.

a/n: Third chapter will be updated soon! :D there will be more of Sakura and Sasuke : ) And a little bit of action. Would you like a very small preview?

"You what?" Ino asked as she pulled Sakura's hair, moving her head upwards so that they could face each other, "Just you know, I don't care whether you're another Sakura or not, to me you'll always be trash. Remember that."

Ack! Poor Sakura! D;