New story! World up to chapter 350, ignores development from then…yep, I'm still obsessed with the old story.

Synopsis: When the news ("Uchiha Sasuke is dead") reaches Konoha, Sakura loses herself to insanity. She vows to save him, at any cost - to chase power, and leave everything behind. Dark/Slight AU/SasuSaku/ItaSaku.
Naruto - Rated: T (Violence & Language) - English - Suspense/Romance - Sakura H. & Sasuke U. & Itachi U.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its storyline, or characters. However, this fanfiction is based on Naruto, and is my creation.

Labyrinth

Chapter 1: Insanity

"Sakura…"

Worried emerald eyes sought, and found, the source of the voice. Broken eyes, those shattered and gleaming chips of sapphire, met her own. A broken voice, too, issued to tell her the news:

"Sasuke…is dead."

...

If you asked anyone in Konoha who Haruno Sakura was, they would turn their faces away. If they spoke, they might recall a bright youth full of potential, a girl with intelligence and drive. If they spoke, they might bitterly tell you of her love for Uchiha Sasuke; how it charmed them and renewed hope in the innocence of life, and then darkened it once more. If they spoke, they might tell you that she is long gone, and it's true – depending on your view of it. They will speak no more, and of that, you are left to find for yourself.

...

The Day Before the End

...

Sakura wiped the perspiration of her forehead as Tsunade-hime clapped her on the back.

"Well done!" her mentor breathed with exhaustion and pride. "I promise you, I have nothing left for you to learn!"

"Thank you, shishou," Sakura dropped her head in the most respectful bow she could muster. At last, she had learned the Godaime Hokage's final technique, and after years and years of training! From simple endurance training to the earth-shattering taijutsu, from the most basic healing palm to the Creation Rebirth – and at last, at sixteen years of age, Sakura had reached her mentor.

She could finally allow herself a breath of pride. From the outset, she had no outstanding abilities or physical prowess, a familial technique to boast of – only her intelligence and days to weeks to months – and years! of practice, building up to experience; and those alone. And after the shame of struggling after her friends for so long, she could not protect them as well.

"I'd say when the jounin exams come along, you'll be well-prepared," Tsunade gave a lazy smile. "But that's out of my jurisdiction. Now, run along, you have Databook Examinations to attend later this evening."

Her best student ran a self-conscious hand through her vibrant but messed hair. "Oh, yeah…" Sakura muttered sheepishly.

"Get going then!" Tsunade laughed, and Sakura was out the door and walking through the busy morning streets of Konoha.

The sky was pale and the air was cool, but the ninja village was stirring with activity – a day just like any other day. Sakura couldn't contain her joy, passing by fellow shinobi with an irrepressible smile. The Databook Examination, which ninjas either feared or were all too eager to go for, was the annual recording of an individual's skills and aptitude. She remembered too well the days where she dreaded these. When she was weak, but too frustrated to try to train, when she would stare shamefully at her feet when her name was called. But now, the accurate statistics would reflect what she was now: a true Konoha shinobi.

As she neared her apartment to prepare for the exams, she couldn't resist allowing herself a forbidden thought about him.

Sasuke…I'm not so weak now…I've gotten so very far, and I'm strong enough to bring you back to Konoha!

Little did she know that that the next day would crush her hopes, and grind them under fate's heel until they were dust.

...

that afternoon

...

Naruto bounded out of the Examination hall with a grin, and into Sakura's arms.

"What'd you get?" she exhaled breathlessly.

"Awesome," was his beaming reply, ignoring other logical answers. He tossed her the ornate scroll with the score, and she intently pored over it.

"A 45!" she squealed. "Naruto…you're only sixteen!"

He shrugged, but his own joy and pride weren't lost. "I could've done better. What about you, Sakura-chan?"

She wordlessly handed him her own scroll. It read:

"Databook Examination: Haruno Sakura, Fire Elemental

Ninjutsu: 4
Taijutsu: 5
Genjutsu: 4
Intelligence: 5 (Naruto showed her his 3.5 and she face-palmed)
Strength: 5
Speed: 4
Stamina: 4
Hand seals: 4
Weaponry: 3 (Sakura grimaced)
Chakra Control: 5

Total: 43 out of 50"

Naruto whooped, and Sakura caught the flying scroll as he let go, laughing as she fell into a hug.

She caught Ino's playful glare – she held up three and then six fingers for Sakura to see – and gave a grin, which her old friend returned.

"Congrats, Idiot and Ugly," Sai fell in with his comrades and put his elbow on her shoulder, but she didn't protest as usual.

"You, Sai-kun?"

"You beat me, Ugly," he admitted a humorous grimace. It always surprised but enjoyed Sakura to see his emotional development. "I got a 40." He sighed, and then, "But you can have your skills, at least I am beautiful." He demonstrated with a model's pose, earning a well-aimed punch in the solar plexus.

"So," Sakura said brightly, turning to Naruto. "Let's eat out to celebrate!"

"Ramen!"

"No!" Punch.

The three struggled out of the Exam hall and into the sunset, but they were soon approached by the Godaime Hokage. Her face was grave, but she attempted a wan smile for her favorite teenagers in Konoha.

"Firstly," she interrupted Naruto's cheerful greeting, "Congratulations, I received the scores. The three of you have done very well. Secondly…" Tsunade trailed off and looked at the dying sunlight.

"Shishou…? What's wrong?" Sakura asked tentatively.

"Earlier this afternoon, there was a coupe involving the village of Sound…and Sasuke. As you know, we are nearing the time of Orochimaru's body transfer. Today, Orochimaru has unexpectedly taken the initiative."

Sakura's intake of breath fell sharply in the murmur of the settling village. She faltered, "It's…too soon," echoed by Naruto, who unconsciously gripped her hand for mutual strength. Sai kindly did the same for the other.

"I know…I know." Tsunade laid her hands on their shoulders. "There were explosions and the village appears to be ruined. Our spies only found so much; we can only wait for details tomorrow."

Their unsaid fears numbered from political to emotional, but their collective presence was nearly tangible. Finally, the Godaime Hokage detached herself and told the three to rest. As she walked away, Sakura could only murmur, "It's going to be all right…"

No one, even she, was convinced by the hopeful deception.

...

Early morning; the End

...

Sakura was out of bed before the sun rose, skimming the skyline of Konoha in quiet jumps to Tsunade's office. She hadn't slept very well – Sasuke and his wellbeing had taken over her mind with more presence than she had ever allowed in the past two and a half years. Naruto and Sai were already waiting for her there, quiet nods traded for greeting. Together, they knocked on Tsunade's door.

The Godaime Hokage greeted them promptly with shadows under her eyes and marked weariness.

"The spies reported an hour ago," she said softly. "There isn't a lot of good news. The village of Sound has been obliterated, and Orochimaru and Sasuke are nowhere to be seen."

She gestured for the three of them to sit and set out cups of tea; Sakura noticed that there was no sake to be seen.

"The first team of spies are resting now, I've just sent the second to Sound."

"Where are Kakashi-sensei and Yamato-sensei?" Sai finally asked.

"They requested to be a part of the investigation," Tsunade said grimly. "I couldn't refuse them. They're on their way to Sound as we speak."

Naruto shot up. "Let me go, too!"

"I can't allow that." The hokage responded firmly. "Naruto, we can't let you anywhere near Sound!"

Sai grabbed Naruto's shoulder and sat him down. "It's stupid to try to find Sasuke now."

"He might be okay," Sakura offered, though her heart too demanded to participate in the search.

Naruto turned away and was about to retort when a knock sounded on the door.

"Enter," Tsunade allowed, and Danzo entered. He gave a curt nod to Sai, who immediately stood to join his side.

"Hokage-sama, I request a meeting of the council about this…unrest." His lips quirked, as if amused. Sakura and Naruto stared, wondering about what he found uplifting in the situation.

"Good. I was about to announce one myself," she said calmly. "Naruto, Sakura, I order you to return to your homes and rest. Wait for my further word."

The two wordlessly brushed past Danzo, Sakura giving a questioning look toward Sai. He gave a slight shake of the head, his eyes not meeting hers.

Naruto and Sakura found themselves at the torii bridge where Team 7 had trained, eons ago.

"I don't know what I'll do…if teme is…dead…" Naruto admitted. He was sitting on the bridge, feet dangling, sapphire eyes staring into the slow river.

"I know, Naruto, I know…" Sakura sighed. "Yesterday, things seemed almost perfect. Like we were ready to bring him back, and things would go back to normal."

"Team 7," Naruto agreed.

Sakura leaned to rest her face on his shoulder, eyes burning with unshed tears. And they remained like this for the rest of the afternoon until the summons came.

...

Night, the End

...

Naruto was racing ahead, almost out of sight. Sakura jumped after, crying "Wait!" still, her friend disappeared out of sight. Sakura realized that he had bravely suppressed a lot of anger, but that was control was lost. She skidded to a stop in front of the office and launched up the walls, hopping breathlessly over the stairs and in front of Tsunade's door minutes later. Her heart pounded with fear as she anticipated what the news would bring.

Sasuke-kun...you can't be dead...! Sakura slowly approached the room.

The entrance was slightly ajar, and a choking sound was emitting from within. Kakashi and Yamato were leaning against the office wall, seemingly exhausted and infinitely older. Sai refused to meet her eyes as he stood stiffly besides Danzo, whose expression was unreadable. Tsunade's eyes raised to meet hers, then sadly turned away to look at the hunched form of Naruto.

The kunoichi approached her friend, and the obscured figure he was kneeling in front of.

"Naruto…?" she asked tentatively.

"Sakura…"

Worried emerald eyes sought, and found, the source of the voice. Broken eyes, those shattered and gleaming chips of sapphire, met her own. A broken voice, too, issued to tell her the news:

"Sasuke…is dead."

And there, on the floor surrounded by the reunited Team 7, was the lifeless body of Uchiha Sasuke.

...

"What is insanity, anyway?

Is it when you scream and everyone else whispers,

Or is it when you fight for what's right,

even when everyone else think you are wrong?"

-Unknown

...

"Council is now in session." Tsunade's voice rang throughout the cold antechamber. The circular room had her at its head, Sasuke's blanketed body on a stone table a few feet from her. Team 7 sat as witnesses nearby, while the council men and women had taken their rank places on the marble benches along the walls.

"I apologize for the lateness," she said curtly. "However, this crisis must be attended to. Hatake Kakashi will now relay what he discovered during the investigation."

Sakura was still in shock, trembling as her eyes darted from the strange body just a few steps away, and to her weary sensei. A small voice whispered at the back of her head: It's not him, it's a lie, they're lying to you, don't believe it, he's alive he's alive he'salivelivelive…

She clenched her fists in her medic's skirt, which had a strange smear of blood. She must've cut herself in the forest in her sprint to the office…

"Yamato and I, as you know, traveled to the source of the previous day's explosions," Kakashi began at the podium. "The village of Sound. It was ruined, and desolate of life. There were many bodies, of both captives and ninja. There were no traces of foreign invasion, so we conclude that there was internal unrest."

Ruins! Screamed the voice in Sakura's mind. She shut her eyes tightly. What the hell's wrong with me?

"At the heart of the destruction, Orochimaru's body," he gestured at another wrapped figure that Sakura had not even noticed. "Was found."

Murmurs filled the hall. Danzo demanded for its unveiling, and Kakashi grimly complied – Sakura heard shocked whispers and gasps resounding throughout, but she felt too sick to look.

Dead dead Orochimaru's dead they've got it all WRONG Sasuke's alive, he won he's alive, he's stronger than this

Naruto rested a hand on her shoulder, but Sakura found herself inexplicably wresting away from his touch. "Don't touch me!" she whispered harshly, avoiding his hurt eyes.

"And nearby was Uchiha Sasuke's body." A hush fell upon the council.

It's not his not him. Sakura's fingernails had cut crescents into her palm.

"We have brought back both bodies. We will return to Sound tomorrow and report further." Kakashi bowed to the silent crowd. "That is it."

Tsunade replaced him at the podium. "We will meet again, tomorrow. Council is dismiss-"

Sakura stared as a katana suddenly protruded from her mentor's shoulder.

"Tch, too high," she barely caught Danzo's muttered complaint as his figure was finally registered in her vision. The silence was pierced by a scream from a council woman. Naruto was up, but suddenly, three Root shinobi were pinning him down – and Sakura too.

When she recovered her senses and threw them off, she caught a glimpse of Tsunade, hunched over the podium with her eyes squeezed shut. Kakashi, Yamato, Sai, and Naruto were nowhere to be seen.

"Shishou!" she screamed, scrambling over the bodies of council members and punching Root shinobi away as she ran towards Tsunade. The Godaime Hokage weakly raised her head.

"Sakura…run…"

Sakura instead grappled with her mentor, slinging a bloody arm over her shoulder.

"We have to get you out!" The hokage's weak protests fell on deaf ears as Sakura determinedly struggled to exit the chamber.

Then she her eyes fell upon Danzo standing over Sasuke's body, and her vision flashed crimson.

Anger and utter hatred filled her heart.

"Get away from him!" she screamed – then the hokage's body was suddenly lifted from her shoulders.

"Wha –" Sakura whirled around and saw Sai coldly throw Tsunade to the floor. His expression was blank, as if he had been hypnotized.

"Good, Sai, now take care of the girl," Danzo ordered carelessly. He lifted the blanket from Sasuke's face and smiled in delight.

"Sai! What are you doing?" Sakura screamed as she evaded a near slice from the Root shinobi's drawn blade. Her mind raced with possibilities, landing on betrayal. Anger took over reason, and she landed a heavy punch on his collarbone. Her old friend slammed into the wall and slumped over, unconscious. Root members surrounded her – Sakura and a few council members were the only moving targets. One feinted an attack as another swept his leg under her feet; she slid out of reach in the nick of time and counterattacked. Two down. Reason took over her adrenaline-rushed mind as she surveyed her replaced attackers and the rest of the chamber. Tsunade was out cold and out of reach, but a few council members were attempting to heal her. The remainders had circled around the healers and the hokage, fending off Root members, to Sakura's utter gratitude. But Danzo…

The very man, calmly ignoring his chaotic surroundings, had opened a scroll and was now glancing to and fro, occasionally at the lifeless body before him.

With calculated skill, Sakura knocked her surrounding enemies unconscious, breaking a sweat to keep them alive for interrogation. Panting, she whirled to face the perpetrator. He had finally glanced up and noticed her evident success, with obvious annoyance. Her eyes shot towards his hand, incriminatingly near Sasuke's closed eyelids.

"You filthy traitor," Sakura hissed as she approached. In the back of her mind, reason was screaming for her to escape – she could fight Root members, but one of Konoha's most experienced and dangerous shinobi? She could run, get reinforcements – but there was this.

Sasuke was dead.

She couldn't save him now, but for all of her love, blind and one-sided and foolish, she could not allow his body to be desecrated.

In an almost detached manner, Sakura reached for her gloves and slid them on, keeping her eyes constantly trained on Danzo's impassive face. He too, readied for a skirmish and distanced himself from the valuable Sharingan holder. He had discarded bandages from his arms, revealing a horrific collection of Sharingan eyes, but Sakura felt that nothing could shock her now. Only cool rage collected as she settled into stance.

In a split second, Sakura had lunged at him with a chakra-packed fist and he had thrown a marble bench – she instantly pulverized it, but he appeared behind the dust with the bloodied katana. She escaped with a shallow cut on her shoulder.

"You realize you can't win, girl," he rasped. "Nothing you can do will surpass my Sharingan."

That didn't stop the kunoichi from rebounding off the chamber wall with a forceful kick; the momentum and his one-eyed lack of depth perception allowing her to grab his arm and throw him up. She leapt and followed through with an aerial blow to his stomach, and Danzo crashed into the floor. Sakura backed off warily, she hadn't gauged how sleep-deprived and mentally exhausted she was. The strange voice was still whispering in the back of her mind, uttering vengeances and sobbing for her lost comrades. It was also screaming for Danzo's death, forcing Sakura's adrenaline and heighted emotions to intensify.

She clutched her head in panic as the shinobi rose, cursing as he was forced to remove the bandage around his eye to recover full vision.

"You're wasting my time and energy," he spat. "Come, let's get this over with, Tsunade's brat."

He launched on the offensive, and Sakura evaded. Each near blow rang in her ears, multiplying the sibilant whispers in her head.

In frustration, she lashed out. A foolish move, as she was caught midair and impaled on the wall behind with his katana. The blade slid through her side and her breath hitched painfully. Paralyzed for the moment, Sakura could only watch as Danzo approached. He carelessly palmed the katana's hilt, and Sakura gritted her teeth as the blade moved deeper. She recklessly leaned forward and spat in the tyrant's face. His expression contorted from gloating to wrath, and he slapped her with his gauntleted palm. She took the moment to wrench out the katana and bring up her knee, catching him by surprise in the gut.

He doubled over, and Sakura flipped the katana deftly in her hands.

"A 3 in weaponry indeed," she hissed as stabbed him above the heart as he did to the hokage. She pulled the sword away as he dropped like a stone. The victorious kunoichi wearily stumbled away to rest an arm on the wall, pressing the other hand against her vicious stab wound. Flickers of emerald chakra sparked to life and the wound slowly began to knit together.

She tensed as she felt a hand grasp her ankle in a vice-like grip. Her enemy wasn't quite done yet.

Then the insanity whispered in her mind: Why don't you kill him? Sakura froze; she had killed only twice before on S-rank missions, and the experiences were distasteful. And never had she thought of slaying a fellow shinobi of Konoha…but the insanity fed her another inspiration. It seized her, and without further thought she gently knelt by Danzo to heal him too.

A manic grin spread on her face.

As she sent healing chakra through his body, she slowly pressured the back of his neck with her palm. Confusion registered in his eyes, but he was paralyzed – Sakura had used the Ranshinshō that the Godaime Hokage used on Kabuto to disable the mental connections over bodily control. She stepped back to survey her handiwork.

"I want you to be alive to experience this," she murmured with an eerily kind voice. She was about to kneel when a quavering voice inquired, "Haruno-san?"

Her head snapped to the source, a shuddering council man. She surveyed the small party behind him, and was coldly pleased to see that Tsunade was stabilized, albeit unconscious.

"Get out." She snapped. "Leave the hokage and let me take care of this."

"But –"

"Get out!"

The assembly stumbled out of the bloodied chamber and Sakura repaid her attention to Danzo. The seed the insanity had planted in her mind blossomed as she knelt.

"Creation Rebir-" Sakura began, then stopped – her lips curved in an almost-smile. "No," she said calmly. "Not really…it's a rejection of creation, isn't it?"

She placed her palms on Danzo, and nudged his chakra with hers so that his would be spent in the jutsu's doing. Her part would be entirely effortless, she would be the overseer of his agony…

Danzo screamed as his wounds healed…but as his Sharingan eyes finally acknowledged his foreign body and rejected his presence. They popped from the artificial sockets, leaving scarred skin that was healing over from Sakura's influence.

When she was done, his body was whole again, and bereft of the Uchiha's stolen power. Sakura saw that the pain had overloaded his mind, and he was barely alive. He would remain a blithering fool for the rest of his life, the medic-nin was certain.

She left his body on the floor and gently approached her mentor's. Tsunade was breathing lightly. Her student tsked over the patched stab wound and furthered the amateur healing. Her patient's eyes fluttered open.

"…Sakura…?" The faint blue eyes registered Sakura's presence with a faint look of worry. A trembling hand reached to wipe an unnoticed smear of blood off of Sakura's face.

"Shh…" Sakura murmured reassuringly. "Everything's all right, shishou."

"I'm glad…Is everyone safe?"

At this point, only Sakura's humanity kept her staying for Tsunade. The whispers were urging her to leave Konoha…

"I'm leaving, shishou," Sakura touched her mentor's temple with a negligible chakra signal, and the hokage was instantly in a restful sleep.

She stood again and walked slowly to Sasuke's side, swaying slightly from exhaustion.

She surveyed him for a long moment, burning the image into memory. His dark, longer hair framing his pale face, lavender shadows under closed eyes and dark lashes. Pale and slightly bloodied lips. A tired expression, but more peaceful than she had ever seen. On a whim, Sakura pressed her ear to his heart, and found no rhythm.

She tiredly pressed her lips to his forehead. She said goodbye.

Then she allowed the Insanity to overtake her bitter and broken heart.

"Sasuke-kun…" her breath fell lightly, giddily. "I'll find you again, I promise. I'll come back…" for her cold intellect knew that Konoha would preserve the Uchiha heir's body despite his betrayal…

"And I'll save you."

She kissed his brow again, and wedded this promise to her heart.

She then left the chamber, her insanity prompting her to gently take two of the Sharingan eyes left on the spattered floor.

...

By midnight, she had swept through the abandoned Hokage's office and taken forbidden scrolls and records. She would learn all there was to know about the Uchiha clan, and any skill concerning resurrection.

By dawn, she had unhesitatingly dragged a kunai against her Konoha head-protector and tucked it in under her opened collar. She stood on the gate of the grave village, eyes staring into the rising sun.

They were emerald, and a spark of insanity danced in the center of both eyes. They were emerald, and ringed with the Sharingan insignia in gold.

She calmly surveyed the horizons. She slowly stepped on the last boundary to break, between Konoha, herself, and the world.

And Sakura leapt.

...

"I would reach beyond death - to take your hand - "

Dawn, the First Day

...

To be continued...

Lengthy first chapter! xD I hope you guys enjoy this new story…rated for violence, but I hope that doesn't deter you too much from the story line.

Sakura begins her quest to revive Sasuke…insane and in love, now a missing-nin with the Uchiha's Sharingan.

Will contain SasuSaku and ItaSaku in the future. How is Sasuke romantically involved when he's dead? You'll have to find out xD Next chapter will contain explanations for the rest of Konoha during Sakura's absence.