The Monster Within Me

Chapter 24: Power, Not Hatred.

Sakura pulled her hand back when she finished, Sasori slowly sat up and looked at Sakura. "Thanks." He said. "Sorry. For causing you trouble." Sakura said, looking down on her hands. "What trouble? All I witnessed was a pink brat protecting her friends. Which part of that spells out trouble?" Sasori said, standing up. "Come on." He said. "To where?" Sakura asked. "Karin and Suigetsu were looking for you." Sasori said, walking out the door only to be met with a smiling Kabuto.

They reached the kitchen and heard Karin and Suigetsu arguing about something, yet again. They both turned to Sakura when they noticed her presence. "Sakura!" They both exclaimed. "What?" Sakura said, shocked that her name was suddenly called out. "Thank you, Sakura. You saved us." Suigetsu said, grinning as he drank water.

"Um, yeah. Thank you. You even fixed my eye sight." Karin said, looking away with a small blush on her cheeks. "B-but that doesn't mean you can have my Sasuke-kun!" Karin suddenly said, pointing an accusing finger at Sakura before she crossed her arms on his chest and turned away. Sakura smiled at this. "I can't leave you guys to die." She said, grinning. Suigetsu and Karin was silent at what she said.

"Sakura-nee!" Koori shouted, jumping on Sakura from behind. "Koori!" Sakura said, grinning. "Sakura-nee! Don't you dare do that again! Don't rush in there without me by your side." Koori said, hugging Sakura's waist. "Mhmm, I'm sorry." Sakura said, hugging Koori back.

"Did you train well?" Sakura asked, smiling at Koori. "Yes, I already mastered walking on water." Koori said, grinning at Sakura. "That's great! Maybe we can start practicing on basic medical ninjutsu." Sakura said, walking towards her room. "By the way, Sakura-nee. Oro-jii-san wanted to see you." Koori said, making Sakura twitch. "I'll porbably get some nagging again." She whispered to herself, making Koori laugh. "Off you go now, Sakura-nee." Koori said, trying not to laugh. Sakura's eye twitched as sighed and went to Orochimaru's office.

Sakura knocked three times on the door and heard a come in. "You called for me, jii-san?" Sakura asked as she closed the door behind her, seeing Kabuto standing beside Orochimaru's bed. "Ahh, yes Sssakura-chan. Come ssssit bessside me." He said, smiling as he oayted the space beside him. Sakura nodded and did so.

"Next time you're going to attack the leaf pleasssse inform us firsssst." Orochimaru said, sighing. "I'm sorry." Sakura said, looking down. "Ssssakura-chan, you worried everyone here. Itachi-kun and Kissssame-kun nearly rushed out there without weaponssss at hand." Orochimaru said. Kabuto coughed at this. "But lord Orochimaru nearly rushed out there without any proper attire on." Kabuto said. "Oh shush, Kabuto-kun. Don't embarrass me infront of my niece." Orochimaru said as Kabuto and Sakura laughed.

"I guess I owe everyone an apology." Sakura said, grinning. Orochimaru smiled at her and patted her head. "I guessss you do." Orochimaru said. "Now off you go." He said, smiling. Sakura nodded and walked out of the room.

A few days after, Sakura apologized to every member. Koori's medical ninjutsu training is going well, Deidara is back up on his feet. Everything was just....boring. Sakura sighed out of boredom as a certain fishman entered the living room. "A big sigh for a small shrimp." Kisame said, laughing as Sakura gave him a glare. He plopped down on the couch with an apple at hand.

"What's got you so bored?" Kisame asked, looking at Sakura. "The bored fairy sprinkled me with her boring pixie dust." Sakura said, making Kisame laugh.

Boom

Kisame and Sakura got up in their feet as a huge explosion was heard. "Deidara?" Sakura asked. "No. He didn't saily that catch phrase of his." Kisame said. "Deidara! Get a hold of yourself!" Karin shouted as a cry of agony was heard. Kisame and Sakura ran towards Deidara's room where Karin sat by the wall with a bloody forehead.

Deidara was stopped with chakra strings before he can mold more clay bombs. "Brat, snap out of it." Sasori said, trying hard to control Deidara's figure. Sakura stood there with wide eyes and gaping mouth when she saw black and purple spects start to form on Deidara's body, starting from his chest.

A few minutes later, everyone came in Deidara's room, trying to hold him down. Deidara let out another cry of agony as the black and purple spects engulf his figure. Itachi hit Deidara's pressure point, causing Deidara to faint. But the didn't stop the black and purple spects from growing. Sakura sent a massive amount of healing chakra in Deidara's system, slowly, the black and purple spects disappeared.

"What f**king happened to him?!" Hidan asked, annoyed that his ritual was disturbed. "Tobi is worried about Deidara-senpai." Tobi said, crying. "That jutsu wassss Tsunade's technique." Orochimaru said as he stared at Deidara. "Sakura, don't take your eyes off of Deidara. I'm getting the feeling that it's bound to happen again." Pein said, returning to his office with Konan.

"I'm never going to forgive Tsunade for what she's done to Deidara." Sakura whispered to herself, tightening her fists. "You think you can defeat her with what you have now?" Sasuke asked, making Sakura to look at him. "What you need is more power, Sakura. Not hatred." Sasuke monotonously said, walking out of the room. "I know." She whispered, looking down on her hands.

To Be Continued...