Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Naruto if I did then Neji wouldn't have died, as I still feel that Neji's death in the canonical Manga and anime events from Naruto Shippuden, and I can tell you all Neji will live so no fear.

There will be many more changes as well within the story and I know many from the last chapter are hoping for a threesome with Naruto Sakura and Ino, as I said I am still thinking about this, and if I do, then I will build it up.

Chapter 17: Final Hope

Naruto and Dark Sakura stood before one another; the blonde-haired young man was determined to stop her and to get the real Sakura back no matter what. "A pity this has come to this, after all, you do look rather cute," she said with an evil smile on her face since it seemed Sakura's growing feelings towards him was starting to rub off on her, and then she realized that Orochimaru was expecting her to join him once this was over. "A shame that Snake Ass won't ever find that out."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Silly Naruto, haven't you figured it out by now?" asked Dark Sakura while shaking her head, rather dumbfounded by how slow he could be, and especially in a battle like this. "I have no intention of ever joining that idiotOrochimaru if only he knew…"

It was then that the two continued their clash with one another, both were becoming more evenly matched which worried Naruto as it proved to be a sign that the Inner had been getting stronger especially with her increased power and skill. "Crap!" he muttered, mentally cursing as he found his shoulder getting cut.

"You know, I'm glad that Saku-chan protected Sasuke from being affected by Orochimaru and his cursed mark," said the inner, in deep thought at how much stronger she had become that fateful moment. And how this fight would be her first step in actually putting her plan to eliminate Orochimaru and proves that no one could ever control her into motion. "Had he been successful then maybe things would have gone differently."

Naruto only remained silent over what this Dark Sakura said, and he couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Sakura never got that dammed mark on her neck.

However, he knew that it was pointless in thinking about what-if's right now he needed to do everything in his power to help Sakura and beat her darker half that's taking control of her body.

The darker said, however, only looked at Naruto with a smile on her face seeing the pain that he was in knowing that she still needed to get away from Naruto.

Watching the battle was the mysterious ninja known as Akira, he became somewhat intrigued in the confrontation between Naruto and Dark Sakura, especially with how much he truly cared for the girl whom this dark Inner inhabits. "Now this is rather interesting," he said to himself, wanting to see how this would go between the two since in some form or another it could work out to his advantage.

It wasn't too long until another Akatsuki member joined Akira; it was none other than Zetsu who wanted to see what Akira was doing right now. "What are you doing Akira-san?" The White half of Zetsu asked with a smile.

The Black half of Zetsu looked down at the two Ninja from Konoha and knew that this would be an exciting fight, but he wanted to know what Akira was doing here. "So this is what has got your interest Akira; still Pain would like to talk to you."

Akira nodded, but he was still, focused on the fight. "Yes tell Pain I will contact him once this fight is over I get the feeling this girl could help us."

Back down with Naruto and Sakura the two looked at each other knowing that the other was going to make a move at any moment, it was merely waiting for them to make it right now.

"I'm sorry, Sakura…" he said to himself, doing his hand signs and preparing one of his signature Jutsus to help him win even if it meant injuring the girl he loved to do so. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Dark Sakura looked at Naruto with a smile on her face seeing the clones once more and got ready to deal with them as she got into a fighting stance as two clones charged towards her.

Seeing the first clone coming towards her Dark Sakura quickly dodged the attack by ducking down to the ground and, before doing a handstand and kicking the clone with her feet sending him flying into the air.

The second clone after seeing this, he quickly went in for the attack as Sakura looked to see this a gave a spinning kick to the other clones face, while Dark Sakura had a smirk on her face.

Still, having a smile on her face, Dark Sakura looked over to Naruto as she was back on her feet seeing both clones disappear into smoke. "Well, Naruto is that the best you do?" She asked smirking at him. "Make clones and then..." Before Dark Sakura could finish, she was punched in the face by Naruto as she looked at the one she had talked to, seeing he was a Shadow Clone.

All Dark Sakura could do was look at the real Naruto with anger on her face knowing he must have hidden while she was dealing with the first two clones he made and then sent to attack her. A mistake she wasn't going to make a second time.

Naruto, seeing this was a chance to grab her and capture her maybe Tsunade could find a way to bring back Sakura and lock away this dark half using Sakura's body right now.

Naruto soon charged towards Sakura, as she was still recovering. "I won't give up on her," Naruto thought as he was almost close to her he just needed to tackle her to the ground.

However, the moment Naruto was in reach Sakura quickly grabbed Naruto by the neck while breathing deeply. "Nice try, but not good enough."

Dark Sakura started smiling, glancing into Naruto's eyes as she had her hand gripping his neck but didn't tighten it. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not going to kill you…" she spoke with an evil smile since there were only a few whom she knew would be useful to her in her plans. "I want you alive, especially as you have a chance to help me… Maybe Ino as well, a real shame she's not here."

"What plans?" wondered Naruto, gritting his teeth as he tried to free himself from Dark Sakura's grasp but so far, he didn't have much luck and he could her chuckling at his efforts. "You're not making any sense at all!"

"Aren't I? Besides I can't reveal them to you right now; otherwise, it would spoil the surprise" Dark Sakura replied knowing that Orochimaru might have someone keeping an eye on him. And possibly ordered to bring her back though she could care less about that fool as to her, he sealed his fate for causing the mark to be on her body in the first place. "Although you might get at least a hint but only if you join me. Think about it; together we can do great things, you and I."

"Damn it…" Naruto gritted his teeth; this was going to be even harder than he initially thought and knew that he needed to try a different approach to get through to the real Sakura fast.

With a smile on her face, she looked at Naruto making sure to tighten her grip on Naruto's neck. "What don't want to come with me. I mean everyone looks at you in Konoha with disgust?"

Naruto said nothing but looked at Dark Sakura. "No, I won't join you!"

Ino could've sworn she heard something and Ino looked at the direction which Naruto and some of the others had gone to hoping to help. "What's up?" asked Tenten, knowing that whatever caused the blonde-haired female Team 10 member to tense up wasn't good news.

"I thought I heard Naruto…" answered Ino with a frown on her face, starting to have a bad feeling something was happening but wasn't sure what and especially as it's already bad enough that Sakura had been kidnapped last night when they least expected it. "He might be in trouble…"

"How can you tell?"

Ino shook her head, wishing she had an answer for Tenten and prayed that it was just her hearing things otherwise who knows what could happen. "I'm not sure…" she replied to her friend from Team 9 as she prayed once this was over they'd be able to find a way to remove the mark from her childhood friend's neck for good. "Can things get any worse?"

Before Tenten could say anything, they heard a familiar wicked female chuckle and both she and Ino cursed the moment they recognized that voice. "Crap, why now of all times…" she muttered as they saw that Ami, Fuki, and Kasumi had arrived at the scene with each of them being amused overhearing what became of Sakura. "What are you three doing here?"

The three girls only looked at Ino and Tenten to frown knowing how they picked on Sakura when she was younger. "Well, we came because we heard what's happened to that forehead freak," Ami said with a scoff in her voice.

Fuki nodded as she tried to hold back a laugh knowing what happened to Sakura not that she cared what could happen to the pink haired ninja right now, the thought alone made her smile along with her friends.

Kasumi laughed at this, and it was something that neither Ino nor Tenten liked this as they looked at her holding back the anger they felt right now towards the three. "We don't care what happens to that forehead, hell we hope that Naruto fails or they kill each other."

"Are you saying that you don't want Naruto or the others to save Sakura?!" exclaimed Ino in disbelief at what Ami was saying, those three were never nice to her or Sakura, to begin with, but this was low even for them. "How can you say something like this?!"

"Why not? Besides, it would be one less weakling to worry about" said Kasumi with a shrug, she too couldn't care less whether Sakura was, saved or not as long as they enjoyed the possible bad news regarding the pinkette. "Also while we're at it, why do you even care about her anyway?"

"Yeah, last we checked you didn't like billboard brow to begin with!" reminded Fuki, being aware of how Ino and Sakura were rivals when it came to them becoming, a ninja. Ever since that whole thing with Orochimaru and eventually the revelation that Sakura and Ino's respective mothers were once rivals with one another and with Naruto's late mother it seemed things were starting to change for the better which the three didn't look too pleased about hearing. "We'd thought you too would be happy if that idiot failed in his mission just like he failed so many times before."

"Well you thought wrong!" snapped Ino, becoming more and more angry over what Ami, Fuki, and Kasumi were saying especially about Sakura which made her look ready to slap them so hard it would make them regret all the nasty remarks only to see Tenten placing a hand on her shoulder. "Tenten?"

"Forget it; they're not worth it."

Ino looked at Tenten and nodded knowing they needed to head off and help Sakura and Naruto before the fight that's going on right now was going to finish with Ino not sure who would win or who was even fighting. "I just hope it's not who I think it is." Ino thought with a worried look on her face.

"I'm not giving up… I'm not giving up on you Sakura!" Naruto thought, rubbing his throat as he looked at Dark Sakura.

"Shadow Clone no Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as he summoned several clones, each one grabbing the other, forming a line of clones. Naruto used them to turn himself back around, and landed a kick on Sakura in return, sending her flying into the eye of one of the statues.

"Did that wake you up!?" Naruto yelled his anger was growing yet again.

"Yeah… I've been awake… more awake then I have been ever since I became part of this body! I'm more awake than you will ever be!" Dark Sakura said as she got up, and quickly jumped to Naruto, sending him flying away with a powerful punch.

"I have had to sit in her mind… watching waiting hoping for opportunities to break free do you have any idea what it is like to be held prisoner from the moment you're born? To begin your life lacking any form of freedom!? Being chained and trapped to such a weak and feeble mind with no hope of ever escaping from it!? Spendingmonth'seven years of your life only able to listen and watch life through another's eyes!? No, you don't!"

Naruto looked at Dark Sakura with a frown on her face not sure what to say once she said this to him. "I won't stop until I free Sakura, because I care for her, and nothing will change that."

Deep within her mind, Sakura's eyes shot open hearing Naruto as she whispered his name, while Dark Sakura stopped holding her head as she looked at Naruto with anger on her face.

"This annoying little shit… he's the only person who has been able to free Sakura from the prison I put her in. I have to kill him… here and now then I will forever be free!" Dark Sakura concluded. She charged forward, straight at Naruto. Naruto did the same, and they met halfway up the statue.

After exchanging blows, they split Sakura flew higher up the statue, and Naruto landed on the water below. "You are all that stands in my way of finally being free! I'm going to kill you! Right here! Right now!" Dark Sakura said.

"There's no doubt… that's not Sakura the killing intent whoever that is she does want to kill me." Naruto thought as he observed her get out of the water. He remained flat on the water, not getting out. "If Sakura is in there… how could she let this person try and kill me so easily?" He pondered in the back of his mind. He slowly got out of the water, tears in his eyes.

Dark Sakura threw several kunai at Naruto, forcing him to jump into the air; she flew above him and kicked him into the statue's feet. As Naruto emerges from the rock, she landed next to him, and punched him, throwing him up into the air. She jumped after him, and grabbed him, and threw him downwards, following him immediately.

"Sakura… could you let her kill me this easily? What do you need what does it take to wake you up?" Naruto pondered as he's grabbed, by the shirt, and suspended into the air.

"You're not blocking this one…!" Dark Sakura said as she looked at Naruto with a smirk as her right hand soon started to form into a bladed rock. "I'm going to stab you with this and watch you bleed out."

"Whatever it takes… I'll use it to wake you up Sakura… fox give me your power." Naruto said to the fox.

"ABOUT TIME…" The Kyuubi responded as a red aura begins growing around Naruto, and his body showed the signs of the Nine-Tails chakra.

"It's too late, Naruto!" Dark Sakura said as she swung at him.

"Heh… so you prevented me from hitting your heart at the last second worthless…" Dark Sakura said as she pulled her hand out of Naruto's chest, leaving a massive hole. "He can't breathe… he will most likely bleed out anyway, but I better make sure…" She thought, grabbing onto his neck.

"I understand now… Sakura, it's not that you're waiting for me to wake you up; it's that she won't let you wake up yet, so that's my only option…" Naruto thought.

Naruto snapped his hand on hers, gripping it hard enough to make her let go. At that moment he kicked her away, putting distance between them.

"This red chakra… what is this power? What!" Sakura pondered as she noticed something behind Naruto.

The waters around Naruto began to violently churn as an aura of intense hate and pain surrounds Naruto. Sakura watched as the chakra surrounded him. Dark Sakura suddenly saw the image of a massive red fox behind Naruto, as power began to surge from him. Naruto's wound in his chest started closing quickly until it completely disappeared.

"How…how is he, healing so quickly this shouldn't be possible!?" Sakura thought as she observed Naruto's wound closing.

"Sakura I know you can hear me! I won't let her kill you! Even if I have to break every bone in your body, I won't let her keep you sealed!" Naruto yelled as he unleashed a massive aura of chakra and dashed forward at incredible speed. "WOOOAAAAAAHHHHH!" Naruto yelled as he swung his claw at Sakura's body. Even as Dark Sakura blocked, he blasted through, sending her flying deep into the water.

"Damn… what is this power? I can't win with brute force… I have to use her techniques…" Dark Sakura thought knowing she would have to use them to beat Naruto and get away from both him and Orochimaru.

"Nocturnal Sakura Blossoms," Dark Sakura said, summoning a more powerful version of Sakura's Blooming Sakura's. Dark petals began flying out of the water, surging forward at Naruto.

Naruto lets out a mighty roar, using pure chakra to blast the petals away, scattering the attack. "you like something she was working on but not perfected yet guess some of her moves are pointless just like she is Naruto."

"What? With just chakra…" Dark Sakura thought as she was sent back into the water by the blast. "He's too fast…" She thought as Naruto dove into the water, landing dozens of blows on her until he sent her flying out of the water into the knee of one of the statues. He jumped after her, smashing her deeper into the rock as he crashed full force into her.

"Wake up already! If you're, not done yet, I'll smash you like a stick and bring you back to Konoha!" Naruto yelled angrily.

"Hehehe… shut up you still don't get it she's not coming back you can destroy this body a thousand, times over, but a broken soul cannot reclaim its body no matter what you try SAKURA IS DEAD!" Dark Sakura yelled. "Why, can't you get that through your stupid head already Naruto!? You don't know what I have been through! Watching another person's, life unable to control my own! Why can't you give on her and let me go!" She continued, kicking Naruto away.

Naruto's gaze turned away from her, as he looked for the answer. "Simply… because I know what it's like to be on the sidelines only able to watch as others succeed… to only be able to watch as others have fun to be left alone with no hope of freedom But then I found friends… I found her… and I can't let her go…Because I care for her and I won't let her down!" Naruto yelled as his aura grew stronger while Dark Sakura looked at Naruto.

Dark Sakura looked out at Naruto, finally realizing that their desperation was both just as intense. "Heh… I guess I got no choice… I'm going to have to go full force on him…" Dark Sakura thought as she drew the full strength of her Level 1 curse, surrounding her with its dark aura. "Come… Naruto! I will throw you back into your pit on loneliness!"

"So… you're finally showing your true strength now?" Naruto questioned as he looked at Dark Sakura seeing the smile that was on her face.

"You know the pain of loneliness… you understand better than anyone else what it's like to be hopeless I will show you my suffering! I will shatter all of your connections and throw you back into that pit. I will make you understand true hopelessness!" Dark Sakura said. "The time for small talk is over… we're ending this now come."

The ground shattered at Naruto's charge. He sped almost instantly to Dark Sakura, his claw aimed straight at her head.

"Hehehe… Hey, where are you aiming at Naruto?" Dark Sakura said as his claw passed straight through her. "Over here." She said as her decoy shattered into hundreds of black Sakura petals.

Naruto turned around and struck at her again, with the same results. As he turned to attack her a third time, she dodged and vanished. Naruto felt his head receiving a full force punch from her fist as she punched him from below, sending him flying into the water. She gave chase, and just as Naruto exited the water, she then kicked him up into the air and sent him flying back in.

"Fool… such obvious attacks are useless." Dark Sakura thought as she reached down to grab him.

"I can't… get back up Sakura I can't hit her," Naruto thought as he looked over to Sakura with hope still on his face.

"SO WEAK I WILL GIVE YOU MORE POWER… CRUSH THIS ARROGANT BRAT!"The Kyuubi said, unleashing more strength.

"What?" Dark Sakura said as Naruto got up, and large red bubbles started pouring out of his body. They began forming an aura around him until his body had a layer of solid red chakra covering him. His body began to morph, even more, as his teeth start to get sharper, his claws grew longer, and his eyes become blood red. His body gets down on all fours, as a red chakra tail grows out of his back.

"This power… so this is what they were after…" Dark Sakura thought as she remembered what happened when Itachi abducted Sakura.

Naruto roared as he sped towards Sakura even faster than before."Shit too quick." She thought as Naruto raced behind her, just as his claw swiped at her, Sakura activated her jutsu, dodging it barely.

Dark Sakura was sent flying away as a second attack hits her full force. "Impossible… the chakra itself attacked me? It must have a will of its own…" She thought as she got up from his attack. "Close range combat it's suicide against that…"

"The chakra protected him?" Dark Sakura noted as Naruto drew his hand back to swing. "Relax… at this range, he can't reach me…" She thought as she prepared herself.

Dark Sakura was thrown back as Naruto unleashed the chakra and made it stretch out, allowing him to attack her from far away. Naruto continued the attack; forcing Dark Sakura to pull out every bit of energy she could from her first stage to block his attacks.

Naruto yelled as he pulled her back from the wall, using the same hand he hit her with earlier. He sent her right back to the wall with a skull-shattering punch.

"… Hehehe I'm not hurt… but I am surprised… to be forced to use this stage so soon after getting it I don't even know how stable it is… but I do know it's good enough…" Dark Sakura mumbled as she stood up. "Naruto… you are strong; you are special, but I am even more special!" Dark Sakura said as she activated her 2nd stage curse seal.

"Huh," asked Fuki, as she and her friends felt a small chill in the air and then turned to see that there was somebody behind them… someone whom they've never seen before in their entire life though at the same time knew they needed to be ready in case he was a hostile threat to them given how the village was already in an uproar over the kidnapping of Sakura. "Who are you?"

"Relax, I am not here to harm you or your friends… you could argue that I came to help you."

"Oh really?" remarked Ami with a scowl on her face, still distrusting towards the cloaked man whom they were talking to and both her friends were looking ready to attack him should it be some trick… "Help us with what exactly?"

"Yeah!" added Kasumi, getting ready to reach for her kunai and her eyes narrowed at the cloaked figure standing before them which made them wonder how he was able to get into the Hidden Leaf Village completely undetected. "For all we know, you could be some fucked up old man wanting to have his way with us."

Fuki nodded silently agreeing with her friend, which made the cloaked man shake his head as he didn't blame them for not trusting him. "I know what you girls want" he spoke as he wanted to make an offer that even they couldn't refuse. "To ensure that Sakura Haruno never returns to the Hidden Leaf Village."

However, this made the three girls in question even more shocked, especially as he seemed to be knowledgeable about their dislike towards Sakura and the fact she had been, kidnapped. "How do you…" Kasumi tried to speak only to be interrupted, with a small chuckle.

"I have my ways" he replied to her, an evil grin formed on his face as he knew that the three were strong in the way of the Ninja, but he felt there might be something holding them back from their true powers… something he wanted to rectify. "Besides, I might be able to offer some assistance."

"Oh really?" Ami asked sarcastically, not so easily convinced nor were Kasumi and Fuki as they knew there were already some complications to that offer. "How would you do so? Especially with some of those losers already on the mission right now?"

"Plus for all we know, they've already succeeded and are bringing her back right now" added Fuki, her arms crossed at the man in question. "What makes you think we can trust you or that we can get rid of that pink-haired bitch?"

The unknown man only continued to look at the three girls with a smile knowing that they hated Sakura and thanks to the information he gathered what they had done to Sakura in their younger days. "Yes, I know you hate the girl and what she can do."

The three girls looked at him knowing he was right, Sakura was no longer the weak girl they picked on, and Ami blamed this on Ino. "Yes, we want to put Sakura back in her place or better for her to die."

"If you'll kindly follow me, you'll get the answers you seek."

The three girls decided to have a word with one another, especially regarding whether to follow the man or not. "So what do you think?" wondered Kasumi, glancing at her two friends. "Should we go with him?"

"Maybe, but on the other hand, we don't know much about this guy," remarked Ami as she still didn't like this one bit and suspected it could be a trap. "What if we end up being the next ones to go missing when we least expect it."

"Yeah, that's true" commented Fuki, just as distrustful towards the unknown man as the other two girls and their desire to make sure they were, rid of Sakura proved to be even greater and possibly even Ino Yamanaka not to mention there was someone they were rather interested in this. "However, this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity which is something we can't pass up."

Hearing this made Kasumi and Ami think this over, still unsure of what they were going to do. "Well let's just play along with this guy for now, and maybe we'll see if he's telling the truth" suggested Ami much to the surprise of Fuki and Kasumi.

"Wait, are you sure about this?"

"Yep, if anything we might make this work to our advantage as well," said Ami, as she started getting an idea that could benefit all three of them, should things not work out between them and that unknown man who approached them. "Think of it as a win for us either way."

Kasumi and Fuki both remained silent as they were wondering what Ami had in mind regarding what they intend to do. "What exactly is it that you have in mind?" the former asked out of curiosity.

"Oh, you'll just have to wait and see for now" Ami replied to her friends, having a feeling that they'll all get what they wanted and perhaps even become stronger than they were before. "Besides, what is that man going to do other than make up some empty words?"

"You have an excellent point there."

"Oh but I can promise you, as the three of you will get the power you want and to put the Haruno girl in her place, together you three will become stronger than her," The man said with a smile as he soon showed who he was shocking the three.

"I know this well," he said as he pulled his hood down reviling him to be Kabuto. "As I serve the one that gave the girl the mark that has given her the power you've heard about Lord Orochimaru."

It was at this moment that Ami, Kasumi, and Fuki couldn't believe what they were seeing let alone hearing upon the man revealing his identity within the secluded area. "Wait, you're Kabuto?" muttered Kasumi in dismay as she and her friends were at a loss of words.

"Then that means you must have been the one…"

"I serve Lord Orochimaru who placed the seal onto Sakura Haruno's neck, yes of course"Kabuto finished for Ami, seeing the shocked expression on all three girls and knew there was something else he needed to tell them. "If I am, to be honest, Lord Orochimaru never intended to have her cursed with the seal… he was going after Sasuke, and that girl ended up protecting him as a result which ultimately proved to be her downfall."

"S-Sasuke?!" exclaimed Fuki, thinking about the boy whom they admire and how he had been the real target of this bastard the whole time which reignited her distrust towards him as well as Ami and Kasumi's with all three being ready to attack them. "What did you hope to gain by having tried to put the mark on him?"

"My Lord has his reasons; unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be thanks to young Sakura" Kabuto replied while keeping his cool, he then grinned wider as in case something was to go wrong these girls could prove to be a suitable substitute for Sakura but only if he played his cards right. "And from what I learned, she didn't wish to come to him willingly, so we had her brought to him…. A shame really, Sasuke would have wanted to train under Lord Orochimaru."

Ami, Kasumi, and Fuki stayed utterly silent as they glared at Kabutowhose presence remained unknown throughout the entire village mainly due to the uproar of Sakura's kidnapping. "Now, as I said before… I can help you in making sure Sakura would never return and maybe even get rid of Ino Yamanaka as well to be on the safe side" he spoke, reminding them of the deal he wanted to make with the three. "However, I want something in return."

"Is that so?" wondered Ami, wanting to get straight to the point and hopefully he'll give them an answer quickly before they decided to change their minds on the whole thing. "Then tell us while you can because we're very busy girls."

"That's right" added Fuki, starring daggers at Kabuto and Kasumi nodded with the desire to triple team the enemy should there be anything funny coming from him.

"It's just a simple request in exchange for what you desire" he spoke, his grin forming once more as he revealed what he needed them to do. "All you have to do is join me, and perhaps you'll become even more powerful than you could ever imagine."

"Join you?"

Kabuto nodded as he looked at the three knowing that they were simple tools that Orochimaru wanted hell this was only a clone he sent here while the real version of him was off to grab Sakura, where she was fighting Naruto right now. "Fools they are only going to be used to make Sakura stay with us."

The three girls looked at each other wondering if they should take the offer, after all, they had failed in becoming Ninja, something they hated and that Sakura became one.

After remaining silent, the three girls looked at Kabuto and nodded they didn't care all the three girls cared for right now was making sure that Sakura suffered. "Yes, we'll join you," Ami said with a smirk on her face.

Kabuto grinned the moment the three girls made their decision. Unbeknownst that he was being spied on by none other than Itachi Uchiha. "So, it seems that he's much more resourceful than we thought," he said to himself as he glanced down at Kabuto and his three new allies while remaining in the shadows.

"Yes, we may need to inform Pain about this."

Itachi nodded his head to his female partner, Konan and then realized something. "What of Akira?" he asked as he had a feeling that their fellow Akatsuki member was elsewhere.

"I'm not certain at this moment," remarked Konan as she knew that Akira would be making his very own preparations just in case they had additional complications that needed to be, addressed. "For now let us head back, odds are we'll be facing the traitor sometime in the future."

With a nod of his head, Itachi complied to the female Akatsuki member. "Very well, although I still have to wonder why Akira hasn't killed him yet" he spoke as they were ready to depart from their scouting mission.

Konan couldn't blame Itachi for feeling this way, especially as Akira and Orochimaru had some history with one another before the latter's betrayal though she knew that he might have his reasons which may be, revealed the next time they cross paths with him.

"I hope you like this Naruto; this is the 2nd stage of my curse mark I wonder what I'll look like," Sakura said with wonder as she looked at Naruto feeling the change coming over her body.

Her very flesh begins to appear to peel away into small petals that constantly flake off of her. Slowly her skin shed off as a darker skin beneath it is revealed.

Naruto was at a loss of words when he saw what Sakura was transforming, and the young Ninja knew this was bad. As if the first stage of the mark on her body wasn't already bad enough and wondered just what he was dealing with right now still, he couldn't give up as Naruto was determined to get through to the girl he loved even if it killed him.

As the last bits of Sakura's pink flesh fall away, her 2nd stage form is, revealed, her eyes remained green, but the outside had changed to black too where her forehead another darker mark formed while in the center was a green diamond, on the side of her checks with darker strips across them.

Dark Sakura moaned as rocks grow out now only from her shoulders, but she also had some growing on her hands four on each of her knuckles, Naruto just watched the transformation taking place seeing the pain that Sakura was in currently.

More rocks and formed all around Sakura's waste as the pink haired girl painted. "Sakura..." Naruto said with a whisper seeing what is going on and saw a grey tail ripping out from behind Sakura which also had rocks on too.

"Let's finish this… here and now!" Dark Sakura yelled out while Naruto charges forward, sending both his fists at her.

Naruto was sent flying back as the aura in her hands formed a shield the blocks Naruto's attack. He smashed into the other statue on the other side of the river, opposite to Sakura.

"Damn it… I can't keep this form up much longer… I have to end this right now." Dark Sakura thought as she felt some of her injuries opening up again.

"What? I can't feel my left arm…" Naruto thought as notices as his left-hand falls limp. His arm begins burning from the chakra around him.

"That power of yours to… of course there was a risk… you know, this place is called the "Valley of the End." I mean this is the perfect setting isn't it Naruto?" Dark Sakura said while Naruto remained silent, lifting his right arm looking at Sakura.

Dark Sakura knew full well that she needed a plan, not only to escape but possibly to make Naruto and Ino, exactly like her in some form or another though she also had to be careful as she never seen this kind of chakra before. "You know, I'm surprised he never attempted to use that Sexy Jutsu of his…" she thought to herself as while the normal Sakura didn't like it, she, on the other hand, found it to be rather attractive. "Maybe if I find a way to infect Naruto then maybe he could stay in that form, and we can have fun…. Oh well, first things first."

She couldn't stop thinking about the possibility of having Naruto and Ino as her mates, both having the same stages she did and especially as they would do wonders by her side especially without Orochimaru trying to control her. On the other hand, it was somewhat disappointing that Ino wasn't present with Naruto as it would've further worked out to her advantage, but she'll worry about that latter as for now, she still had this battle to finish.

"Right… I said the time for words was over we finish this now!" Dark Sakura says as she begins focusing all of her dark energy into her left hand.

Naruto begins focusing all of his Nine-Tails Chakra into his right hand, slowly forming a massive red Rasengan.

Dark Sakura only looked on with a smirk knowing she needed to think of something as she watched Naruto closely knowing she needed a plan to beat the Rasengan.

It was then that she prepared to transfer Chakra into her feet, determined to increase her speed to gain the advantage in the battle. "If I learned anything from little Saku-chan, it's to be, prepared when facing an opponent," she thought to herself, charging in at Naruto and suspecting he would have a Shadow Clone try to keep her distracted.

As expected, one did show up and came towards her, but she was not worried as she thought it would be just one Shadow Clone keeping her from the real Naruto. Soon enough, three clones of Dark Sakura appeared as she was going to send two of them to take down the original only to find two additional Shadow Clones coming to the fray.

However, this made the corrupted Inner curse as she and her two clones clashed with the three Shadow Clones, although her increased speed was giving her the advantage. "Sorry, but I don't have time to mess with the likes of you!" she yelled, punching one clone in the face.

Naruto scowled, needing more time to complete his Rasengan and could see one of his Shadow Clones sadly biting the dust. "Come on, just a little longer…" he muttered while cursing the Nine-Tailed Fox for not giving him enough chakra… he was praying to god that the two remaining clones would be able to last longer than the fallen one did.

From the way things were going right now, it wasn't looking good as both clones were being worn down by Dark Sakura and her two clones. "Stay out of my way!" yelled the Inner, not needing to waste any more time as she made her way towards the real Naruto and was more determined than ever to set her plan to counter his attack into motion.

She took out a shuriken and tossed it at Naruto. However, a hidden Shadow Clone came from the shadows and blocked it with his shuriken. "Damn you!" she screamed in anger, knowing this was starting to become annoyed right now.

The Naruto clone and Dark Sakura each threw a punch to their face, both of which connected at the same time which showed that despite Naruto getting injured he was not going to give up until he's finally won that battle. "Just what am I dealing with here?" she asked, as she needed to take that clone out quickly.

The clone looked on with a smile knowing that all he needed to do right now was hold off Dark Sakura a little longer for the real Naruto to finish with his Rasengan.

Using her tail to grab the clone by the ankle, before throwing him into a cliff as Inner looked at Naruto the real one with anger on her face. "Okay, you're going to pay for that!" She yelled at her enemy.

"I will save you Sakura, Rasengan!" Naruto yelled as he finally completed the Rasengan made of pure Nine-Tails chakra. He jumped into the fray, charging straight at her.

As the two collide, the chakra from the jutsu imploded, and then expands violently, surrounding them in a swirling vortex of chakra.

"You felt that didn't you?" A deep voice asked, but it also laughed when talking.

Gaara stopped dead in his tracks, having thought he heard a roar. "What's up, Gaara?" asked Temari as her red-haired Teammate tense up a bit and he turned to face her, realizing that something was happening and yet he couldn't tell what it was much like Ino back at the Hidden Leaf Village.

"I'm not sure…" answered the red-headed male Sand Village Ninja, his eyes changing direction…. To where whatever he heard must've come from he didn't know. "I had this feeling I heard some kind, of creature… it sounded like a creature, but in actuality, it sounded like someone we know."

The news made Temari frown. "Someone we know yet it sounded like a creature… what exactly do you mean?" she asked again, hoping to get some kind answers from him.

Gaara shook his head; it's highly unlikely that it could've been someone they were familiar with at least. "I have no idea," he replied simply and soon another voice was, heard from the back of his mind.

"It's familiar alright, I can tell that for certain just as you did!"

The male Sand Village Ninja frowned the moment he heard the voice in his mind and knew it was only a matter of time before they 'talked' to one another again. "Been a while since you last said anything," he thought.

"Didn't have a reason to speak, though I can feel it…" said the voice, it wasn't really in the mood to chat when it's clear that not only did the voice sound familiar… the chakra coming from the direction which Gaara had turned his gaze at had gotten its attention as well. "Yes, that's Nine-Tails chakra."

"Wait, the Nine-Tails chakra?"Gaara mentally asked of the voice, somewhat surprised as he never expected one of the other Tailed Beasts to be nearby. "You're saying that…"

"Yes, it seems that whatever's going on is causing the Nine-Tails chakra to be unleashed" the voice replied, somewhat dumbfounded that Gaara hadn't figured it out sooner, but it couldn't be, helped as even he had no clue on what's happening. "As for the voice, I have a feeling I know who it might be."

"Is that so?"

The Shukaku nodded, feeling that the Kyuubi was trying to break free from Naruto and knew he was fighting the pink hair girl and the Shukaku wondered who would win the fight. "Not that it matters you and your siblings wasted time, fighting the fools."

Gaara remained silent knowing that the Shukaku was right, both he and his siblings had been busy fighting Orochimaru's men or the ones that hadn't been taken care of by Chōji and Neji. "Hmm, maybe..."

Ino sighed, really wishing that she had gone with Naruto in rescuing Sakura more than ever as Ino had a bad feeling inside her, which wasn't going to go away. "Damn it, I wish I knew what was happening," she said to herself sadly, hating the fact she couldn't do anything to help.

It was then that she noticed her mother approaching her, although glad to see her that didn't change the way she felt. "How are Sakura's parents holding up?" she asked, praying there might be some good news to make her feel at ease.

"Mebuki's still worried about her daughter and praying to god that she can be, saved" answered Ino's mother with some sadness in her voice, wishing she had some good news to tell her only daughter. "As for Kizashi, he hadn't returned from his search yet."

"I see…"

Ino's mother saw that her child was starting to feel sad, not that she blamed her or anything and it reminded her of something that transpired when she was that age. "You're worried about her, aren't you?" she asked.

Ino looked at her mother and slowly nodded her head; part of her wished she hadn't started her rivalry with Sakura back when they were younger. "More than you possibly know"Ino replied to the older woman as she hoped it was all a bad dream that she's having, and she could wake up to see her childhood friend was indeed safe and sound.

The brunette frown, sitting down next to Ino and wished that she could cheer her up, then again she wanted to help her friend Mebuki feel better too, but so far she hadn't had much luck in doing so. "I understand how you feel" she spoke as she thought back to her early days. "Mebuki and I were worried when Naruto's mother Kushina had been gone missing during a mission."

"Huh?" wondered Ino, her eyes widening in surprise and looked up towards her mother. "Is this true, mom?"

"Yes, it was sometime after the three of us became friends with one another"Ino's mother replied with a sad smile, reflecting on how she and her friends had started to get to know each other, this made them realize there were more similarities between the three. Then they originally thought even when things took a turn for the worse when the Nine-Tails attacked years later which resulted in the eventual deaths of Minato and Kushina. "It was a rescue mission, and the three of us were among those specifically chosen for it… Trust me; it wasn't exactly fun especially when we got attacked by a group of rogue ninjas that none of us were aware of at the time…"

The blonde-haired girl wasn't sure how to respond, even more so at the fact, her mother and Sakura's had gone through a similar situation to what was happening right now. "Mom, I…" she tried to speak yet the words failed to come out.

Her mother only looked at her daughter knowing she is worried for her friend and was also happy to see her maybe move past her crush for Sasuke, something she never liked. "I do hope that Sakura is safe. I'm not sure what would happen to Ino if she lost Sakura."

Sakura sat in the darkness once again, but no torment followed her like usual. No words no images from her evil self just nothing at all as she sat alone in pure and silent darkness. As time passed, her body started hurting.

At first, it was only some parts of her body that was in pain, but as time passed more and more of her body felt pain it's as if something was hurting her suddenly her entire body began burning with intense pain she couldn't handle it.

Right now Sakura had no idea what her Dark Inner was doing, but she did hear Naruto call her name Sakura knew Naruto was fighting her and right now the young teen wanted to help. "Naruto I want to help you but..."

Sakura closed her eyes in pain as she tried to take back her body, only to look at her dark self. "You need to give up Saku-chan this body belongs to me now, so you might as well sit back and enjoy the show well as much as you can see."

Falling to her knees, Sakura could only look up to her dark self with anger on her face as she tried to stand back to her feet. "I won't give up; I will keep fighting until I get my body back from you!"

Her dark self laughed looking at her weaker half with a smile. "Oh, my dear sweet Saku-chan, there is no fighting this, I've won your body is mine," Inner said with a giggle as she looked at Sakura.

Breathing deeply Sakura looked into Inners eyes with anger and hatred over everything that's happened. "Go to hell; I'll keep fighting you!" Sakura screamed while looking at her Inner directly in the eyes.

"And I won't give up either you had your time Saku-chan," Inner said with hatred of her own. "Now it's my turn to be in control, NOT YOU!"

"Naruto will save me I know he will, then you will be locked back deep within my mind," Sakura said as she gritted her teeth in anger at her Inner self.

"Not if I have anything to say about it! Besides, I'm in my second stage thanks to the Cursed Seal that idiot Orochimaru placed which means you won't be taking back your body anything soon."

Sakura said nothing as she looked at her Inner, and she knew that her dark half was right, but that wasn't going to stop Sakura from fighting and taking back her body. "I'll keep fighting you because I know it's what Naruto would do."

Dark Sakura could only look at her other half with a frown. "Fine then, I'll lock you away within my mind!" Dark Sakura said with anger.

"Well you better get used to it because I know Naruto's going to kick your ass, and if you think he will love you, then you're crazier than I thought," Sakura told her dark self, and she knew that she was right in that Naruto wouldn't love her darker half.

Dark Sakura said nothing as she looked at her good-half in anger, which only made Sakura smile weakly knowing she needed to wait for Naruto to beat Inner.

"Fine then I will just have to make you lose all hope in being in control of your body again, and I know how I will do that dear Saku-chan," Inner said as a smirk formed on her face.

Sakura, however only looked at her counterpart with a frown, before her face when white with fear knowing what her Inner self was planning to do which worried Sakura.

"I can't wait for you to see what I will do," Inner said with a smirk looking at Sakura before she vanished from their mind while Sakura was screaming at Inner.

"I just don't get it…" muttered Naruto, both he and Dark Sakura were on the verge of exhaustion though he was not one to give up so easily especially when he's fighting for someone he cared about it hurts him. "How exactly can you be so evenly matched with me? Almost to the point where I'm in a fight with Sasuke if he had been the one with the mark on his neck…"

"You're not the only one with hidden tricks up your sleeve" Dark Sakura replied, knowing it was going to take more than just powerful Jutsus to take her down. Though at the same time her being weakened and injured as the fight progressed would be as it may give Sakura a chance to retake her body which was something she couldn't allow. "Besides, you and Saku-chan have been training hard if memory serves which not only made her stronger, it made me stronger as well."

Hearing this made Naruto mutter a curse, as he charged in and Dark Sakura did the same their hands meeting in a struggle to try and overpower the other. "Just admit it, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon," she said with an evil smile on her face as she was going to enjoy remaining in the outside world. "Saku-Chan's probably crying her eyes out over not being able to see her precious Naruto-Kun ever again not that it matters."

The remark caused Naruto to scowl, even more, knowing it couldn't be true and he won't believe her. "You're wrong, I don't believe a word you say!" snapped the blonde-haired young man, which was the only thing he could say before he found himself feeling pain on his left shoulder. "Aaaahhh!"

This distraction was more than enough for Dark Sakura to knee him in the gut, sending him flying back as she turned her attention towards the one responsible."A shame, you were always one to let your guard down at the worst possible moment" began what appeared to be one of Naruto's Shadow Clones though his voice was off as it wasn't his usual voice as he glanced at the real Naruto who had a kunai on his shoulder. "Didn't Kakashi-sensei teach you not to make such a mistake in a life or death situation?"

Naruto couldn't believe what he was seeing as the clone who injured him disappeared in a puff of white smoke, and in his place was Dark Sakura with her evil smile looking down on the boy. "Damn it" he growled, clutching his wounded shoulder and using all his might to pull the blood-strained kunai out.

The Nine-Tailed Fox shook his head from inside Naruto. "What an idiot…" he muttered, although it was enough for Naruto to get angry at the demon.

"Hey!" snapped the young boy with a scowl, biting his lip as he grasped his injured shoulder and hoped the Nine-Tails chakra would be enough to heal it like with the other injuries he received earlier in the fight. "Not a good time for insults!"

"It's the truth!" the Nine-Tails replied again, though he knew that the young male Ninja made a valid point and wanted him to stay focused on the fight at hand. "Keep your eyes on that girl for now and don't make that mistake again!"

Dark Sakura nodded to her clone, and it vanished without a trace. "As I said earlier, I'm not going to kill you right now" she spoke as she slowly approached the boy. "Just let me leave and maybe, just maybe there could be some kind, of arrangement we can make in the future."

Instead of giving Dark Sakura a response, he just glared at her especially as he never expected her to use the Transformation Jutsu to disguise herself as him. And use a clone of her to be a distraction; part of him was it was like when he used a similar trick against Kiba and Akamaru during the Chunin Exams, but on the other hand, he needed to think of something else to stop her fast. "Well, I'm waiting for your answer" she spoke again as she didn't all day.

"No…"

However, this, in turn, made Dark Sakura scowl again, glaring at the boy she had become quite impressed with as she hoped she didn't hear things. "What was that now?" she asked him while wanting to make sure it wasn't his answer.

"I said no…" he spoke, getting back onto his feet once more as he didn't bother looking Dark Sakura in the eye and wanted to show he too had some hidden surprises left for the likes of her. "There's no way I'm going to lose Sakura, I made a promise back at the Hidden Leaf Village, and I'm going to keep it…"

Dark Sakura saw the Nine-Tails Chakra surrounding his body again, growling at how stubborn the boy was getting by the minute. "Just what are you?" she asked, still in shock that any other opponent would've been, finished after prolonged fighting and yet he looked as if he wanted to keep going until he died.

"Someone who is fighting for what he believes in" Naruto replied, blood dripping from his mouth and a grin on his face as he decided to make his next attack count.

"You are truly that stupid, are you?" mocked Dark Sakura, knowing that nothing was going to make him change his mind which meant there was only one way, but at the same time, it could give her a chance to test out her new abilities to its maximum. "Try as you might, there's nothing you can do now…"

"Is that so… Well, let's see if I can prove you wrong!"

Without another word, Naruto charged towards Dark Sakura, and she proceeded in doing the same both their fists aimed at one another despite being on the verge of complete collapse. "This attack is going to be the decider," he thought as he was looking for an opening to unleash what he believed to be the final blow.

Dark Sakura looked at Naruto with a frown as her anger at the blonde haired ninja; she was looking around knowing she needed to find an escape. "I need to get away, Saku chan is fighting back; I need to end this now!"

Charging forward Dark Sakura used her tail taking a swing at Naruto smacking him in the face making him fall to the ground while Dark Sakura readied her fist to punch the fool that was standing in the way of her freedom.

Shaking his head and opening his eyes Naruto saw the oncoming fist and moved out the way by rolling away as he jumped back on his feet, and Naruto looked over to Sakura seeing her remove her fist from the ground. "Damn this isn't going well; I need to end this fight."

Dark Sakura looked at Naruto with a scowl on her face seeing Naruto was charging towards her, fists at the ready and heading towards her, and Dark Sakura simply smirked at him. "What a fool, charging at me like this."

Once Naruto was in close range of Dark Sakura, he jumped in the air which surprised her as he back-flipped over her before punching Dark Sakura in the face. "Fuck!" She cursed landing on the ground.

Naruto gave a glance to her ready to attack her again. "Like I said I'd break your bones to bring you back home and make sure Sakura's free from your control!" Naruto cried out heading to attack the one he loved again.

Only this time Dark Sakura used her tail to wrap it around Naruto's neck as she smirked at him pulling him close to her face. "You know it's a shame that I have to kill you, but you brought this on yourself Naruto, you could have just let me go."

Naruto only coughed as he looked into Dark Sakura's eyes trying to get her tail off his neck as she tightened it choking him. "What you've got nothing to say, nothing to add Naruto?"Dark Sakura asked with a smirk.

Naruto couldn't say anything as Dark Sakura smirked at him seeing his eyes looking into hers, while Naruto tried to free himself. "Not going to work I've got you, like I said it's a shame you couldn't let me go, now I'll have to kill you."

Holding onto her tail still, Naruto opened his mouth before biting down on Dark Sakura's tail as hard as he could, which caused Dark Sakura to scream. "Stupid idiot, that fucking hurt Naruto!" She yelled slamming Naruto away and off her tail.

Landing on the water, Naruto looked up to see Dark Sakura holding her tail as she looked at the blonde with hatred in her eyes. Once again the two rushed towards each other punching the other in the face before Dark Sakura kicked him in the stomach as Naruto coughed up blood.

Dark Sakura was in no better shape, but she was not about to give in, she would have freedom and not get locked up deep within Saku-chans mind. "No, No, I can't lose. I won't go back to being trapped within her mind. I won't!"

Naruto gasping looked at Sakura hearing this breathing deeply. "I don't care I'll save Sakura. Because if I let you go you'll end up hurting more people and who knows what Orochimaru will do to you or your body."

When he said, this Naruto was looking at what had happened to Sakura's body and the new form she had thanks to the curse mark that Orochimaru gave her. Seeing this Dark Sakura only looked at Naruto with a smirk as she looked down to see her reflection. "Oh, don't you like the way I look. I have to say I think I look sexy, don't you agree?"

There was no response coming from Naruto, although he had to admit she did look sexy it wasn't Sakura, a girl whom he would find sexy no matter what. "No comment huh?" he heard Dark Sakura ask, somewhat disappointed and had a feeling he knew why. "You're still thinking about Saku-chan aren't you? Oh, don't worry, that won't last for long!"

Naruto said nothing looking at Sakura, thinking on what to do knowing that with her tail she would use it as a weapon again. "I need to keep away from her tail," Naruto thought as he tightened his fist.

Dark Sakura only growled already growing tired of this back and forth with her and Naruto, all she wanted to do right now was end this fight. As she tightened her fist, Dark Sakura looked at Naruto with one more frown before both charged at each other.

Naruto and Dark Sakura's fists met with one another, the former needing to borrow even more chakra than ever from the Nine-Tails something he had never done before. And hopefully won't have the do ever again to remain on par but in her new appearance, it seemed she was starting to get the advantage over him, especially with her new tail.

A few seconds later, the two separated for a moment and then immediately attacked again with Dark Sakura attempting to use her knee against Naruto which the young man briefly blocked before dodging a punch thrown at him. He soon tried to punch her right back only to see her evade and he countered another blow from her.

Despite her new appearance, the two were starting to become evenly matched again, mainly due to the additional demon chakra that Naruto had no choice but to borrow. Unfortunately, her tail managed to strike him in the face once again, and she used that as her chance to knee him in the stomach. Flipping into the air, she then proceeded to throw several kunais at him which forced him to back away to dodge each one of the sharp blades.

Upon landing on the side of the mountain, Dark Sakura immediately followed and pressed on with her relentless attacks. Each punch being parried by Naruto despite the injuries on his body, starting to understand how Hinata felt when she fought against her cousin Neji and he almost killed her way back during the Chunin Exams, something that would lead to his eventual defeat at the hands of Naruto following his training under Jiraiya.

Naruto's thoughts are, soon broken as he dodged two to three kicks that Dark Sakura sent to him only to then be hit by a lucky punch. Although he retaliated, none of his attacks were hitting their mark which was a sign that the inner was starting to indeed regain the advantage against him.

Before he knew it, he was immediately on the defensive and could barely withstand several additional punches which knocked him off the mountain but with a few hand-signs. He created a small group of Shadow Clones and threw them to where Dark Sakura was resulting in her dodging each one up until the fifth Naruto, the original one, charged in and grabbed her.

Using all his might, he tossed her onto the mountain, causing her to crash into it and she quickly saw that the boy had a Rasengan ready. "Too slow!" she said as she moved out of the way just before the attack could hit her and clashed with the Shadow Clones that Naruto previously created.

An evil smile formed on her face as she proved to be more than capable of taking the clones on even when they attempted to use the Rasengan. She punched two of them in the face and continued countering every move that they threw and slammed one of them onto the ground, then going as far as upper cutting another, however, she saw the clones were just as persistent as the original, but she's going to make sure it would be their ultimate downfall.

"No matter how many clones you send at me Naruto, I'll keep pushing all of your clones back. So, by all means, Naruto, please keep sending them to me, and I do love punching your clones," Dark Sakura said with a smirk on her face.

One by one, each of the Shadow Clones vanished due to her powerful and lethal Jutsu until only the original Naruto remained once more, gritting his teeth as Dark Sakura had grabbed his arm. He soon delivered a kick to the chin which allowed for some distance between him and the Inner, his eyes shining red with anger as he was about to launch another attack.

"Oh, no you don't Naruto I won't give you the chance to attack me," Dark Sakura thought knowing she needed to stop whatever attack that Naruto was planning to use on her as she vanished before his eyes.

"Damn where did she go!" Naruto cried out looking around to see where Sakura was, knowing he couldn't get caught by her.

Dark Sakura then appeared behind Naruto, kunai at hand, and tried to slice him which forced him to duck under it quickly. "Damn it, she's getting a lot faster!" he muttered all while gritting his teeth as it seemed the inner was starting to become harder and harder to defeat even with the Nine-Tails chakra helping him.

With the Nine-Tails power surging throughout his body Naruto charged towards Dark Sakura punching her in the face before swiping at her feet knocking Dark Sakura to the ground, while she used her tail to smack him in the face while also use her feet to kick Naruto in the stomach.

When she did this Naruto was sent a few feet away from her, landing on his back but he kept his eyes on her while she spat some blood from her mouth. "Damn it what will it take to stop her?" Naruto asked himself, while the Kyuubi only laughed.

"Oh, its simple brat all you need to do to stop her is to kill her. Then you have won, but you're too weak with your notion of love the pink girl that you're blinded to see the girl you loved is dead," The Kyuubi said in a mocking tone while Naruto blocked the Kyuubi's voice out from his head.

Dark Sakura was on the ground, and Naruto was on his knees panting, the pinkette slowly started getting back up as she saw that the boy was so determined to stop her. That he'd be willing to use all his chakra to do so on the other hand, she wasted most of her chakra even in her newest stage, so she needed to strike fast before he attempted to retaliate.

Pulling himself up to his feet Naruto looked at Dark Sakura taking deep breaths with blood coming out from his mouth. "I'll never give up," Naruto said as he looked at Sakura.

The blonde-haired young man slowly approached her. "That idiot…" growled Dark Sakura, wanting to make it clear that she wasn't going down quietly as she got ready to perform another jutsu. "In that case, let's see how you fare against this…"

Knowing that he needed to stop her from performing another Jutsu, he could tell it would cause more harm, and the Kyuubi laughed at Naruto's weakness. "You think that will work brat; I keep telling you that she needs killing, so do it already!"

"Shut up I won't kill her. I know what I need to do you stupid fox!" Naruto thought, looking at Dark Sakura before heading towards Sakura.

Suddenly Naruto jumped up at Dark Sakura, raising his fist and ultimately kicked her in the face with two Shadow Clones appearing from different sides to further kick her into the air. Reminiscing the technique used to defeat Kiba at the Chunin Exams, and ultimately one of the Naruto's punched her, causing her to try and parry it only sending Naruto back down.

"Fuck, how can you keep using Shadow clones?" Dark Sakura cried out in anger looking at Naruto and the Kyuubi aura that was around his body.

Dark Sakura quickly attempted to put an end to Naruto like she did his clones, but the blonde-haired young man caught her hand, and it provided a perfect distraction as another Naruto punched her in the face with the one that grabbed her arm earlier disappearing. The inner was tumbling around for a moment but immediately got back to her feet.

She saw that Naruto was starting to get exhausted; the prolonged fighting and the injuries were starting to get the better of her. Without saying a word, he got his Rasengan ready, and he charged right at her, and she watched as he got closer as she smiled at Naruto.

However, he immediately collapsed onto the ground just moments before he could attempt to launch his attack. Dark Sakura smiled using this to give her advantage; Dark Sakura kicked Naruto which sent him flying for but a second until he landed back on the ground, this time on his back. She walked over the boy, pinned him down and proceeded to punch him in the face repeatedly despite him having a hand over her left eye.

It was at this point, the pinkette was starting to get more and angrier with each punch she laid on the boy, but before she could land another, he managed to headbutt her and kicked her away from him to get more breathing room.

The two were on the ground, struggling to get back up as it seemed that nothing was going to stop them from accomplishing their respective missions even if it meant the deaths of them. "Wait, Naruto he still not…" Dark Sakura thought to herself, gritting her teeth as she was still on the ground, yet her opponent was up again. "Give up already!"

"Sakura!"

"Naruto!"

Both were beating each other with simple punches and kicks; sometimes they were parried while other times they landed their mark whether it, be to their faces or their chests. Blood dripped onto the ground with each blow done, and the two were would rather die than give up in a battle of life and death.

The two continued punching each other in the face once again while Dark Sakura kneed Naruto in the stomach, while Naruto grabbed onto her hair. "I don't think so," Naruto wheezed from what Sakura did to him.

"Argh, let go of my hair, you prick!" Dark Sakura cried out trying to get free from Naruto's hold on her, but he wasn't about to let go.

Naruto said nothing to her looking at Dark Sakura with a heated glair. "No, that's not going to happen, until you let Sakura take back her body!" Naruto yelled as he headbutted Dark Sakura on her forehead.

With a growl, Dark Sakura started pulling away use her tail to slash at Naruto's face and thanks to the rocks on the end of her tail she did some more damage to him. "I said let me the fuck GO!"

"No, not until you give Sakura her body back!" Naruto yelled to her once more feeling Dark Sakura's tail hitting him in the face.

Thrashing her arms, Dark Sakura punched Naruto in the face again and again, which caused her to become angrier that Naruto no matter how many times she hit him in the face he still wouldn't let go of her hair.

Dark Sakura was thinking about what she needed to do and gave a smirk knowing what to do and cause Naruto even more damage, looking at her fists mainly the rocks on her hands she soon had a grin on her face knowing what to do and thinking back to what happened to Kin.

Smiling, even more, she looked at her hand as slowly watching her right hand becoming stone and looked up at Naruto smirking before landing a punch on Naruto's chest as he cried out in pain as blood poured out of his chest. "Damn...it..."

Suddenly, Naruto's headband dropped onto the ground, and he felt a considerable amount of pain to his chest as he ultimately collapsed with Dark Sakura panting as she was through playing around now. "I am sorry that it had to be this way…" she said with disappointment. "You would have made an excellent ally and mate to my cause."

Her eyes were directly upon Naruto's, determined more than ever to end this in her victory. "Farwell…" she said, about ready to silence the young boy permanently and time started to slow down as the boy in question soon managed to save himself, using a punch to the chin to send Dark Sakura flying back.

Kneeling back down, Naruto bites his lower lip to fight off the pain his body was experiencing. "That was a great counter!" he heard the Nine-Tails commending him, which was a first for the demon within him to make a real compliment. "You didn't miss the fact that her new abilities started to weaken!"

Not saying a word, Naruto slowly picked up his headband and knew that the fight wasn't over just yet as saw Dark Sakura coming out of the crater with a look of disgust on her face. "Damn you just give up and accept your fate and Saku-Chan's!" she screamed with malice in her voice.

"I can't do that."

Dark Sakura only gave a deep sigh when hearing this as she looked at Naruto with a frown on her face and moved over to him. "I'm disappointed that you said that, Naruto I guess I have no option left but to kill you then."

Just as Dark Sakura was moments away from delivering the killing blow, she felt something which stopped her dead in her tracks. "W-what?!" she muttered, cursing herself as she realized that Sakura started to regain control and started holding her head in immense pain. "No, what's happening, my head it hurts?!"

Naruto looked up and saw Dark Sakura was holding her head screaming in both pain and rage but thanks to the pain in his chest Naruto was finding it hard to stay awake. "Sakura..." He said with a whisper in his voice holding onto his chest.

"Damn it… Not now!"

She barely muttered a single word as she started holding her head in even more immense pain as if she was beginning to have a migraine or something. "I can't let you kill Naruto!" she heard the real Sakura's voice from within her mind as she was starting to regain control…. Something the corrupted Inner didn't want to happen when she had been moments away from tasting freedom.

"S-Saku-chan!" growled Dark Sakura, lowering her head as she attempted to fight back and found it rather difficult due to the injuries she previously sustained even when she went into her next stage in a bid to regain her advantage. "This can't be happening!"

Naruto continued to watch before the pain in his chest became too much, and he passed out with blood still coming out from his wound, while Dark Sakura was fighting a battle within her mind.

(In Sakura's mind)

"DAMN YOU! I just got control over this body! I was so damn close! I will not let you take control back from me!" Dark Sakura yelled, but no aura surrounded her, all her strength was gone.

"Fuck you…" Sakura said as a massive white aura soon blasted out from behind her. In seconds all the darkness in her mind is wiped out. Dark Sakura begins shrinking as Sakura's white aura overwhelms her. "Die you bitch," Sakura said as she lifts her foot, and then stops on the now ant-sized Dark Sakura, crushing her.

(Out of Sakura's mind)

As she continued crawling, the curse mark calmed down, and one of the three petals vanish. Sakura felt an intense amount of relief instantly as if an enormous burden on her body was gone. She managed to stand up and wobbled over to Naruto. As she reached him, she fell onto her knees. A single tear fell from her face onto Naruto's cheek.

"Naruto… I'm… so sorry, it's my fault why, why did this have to happen to you!" Sakura said as she collapsed on Naruto's chest, which had a big hole straight through his heart.

"You think it's going to be that easy Saku-chan," A voice said within her head, which caused Sakura to growl hoping that her dark Inner was gone.

"No you're meant to be gone; leave me alone!" Sakura yelled grabbing her head already feeling her inner-self clawing it's away at her mind trying to regain control of her body once more. "I won't let you have my body again I won't!"

Laughter was all Sakura could hear, and it worried her as she tried to block the laughter out and stay in control of her body. "You think it would be that easy Saku-chan?" Her Inner said with a giggle knowing what Sakura was trying to do right now.

Falling to her knees Sakura gripped her head with tears falling from her eyes, both from the pain she was feeling in her and what happened to Naruto. "No, I can't let you..." Sakura said still fighting off her Inner, but she knew it would become a losing battle.

"Sorry but, you know I'm not going to give up, and once I have taken back control, I'm going to kill Naruto," Inner said with a smirk. "It's a shame as I wanted Naruto to be with me, but again you've taken more from me. He loves you more than me someone that would be better than you!"

Looking at the kunai that Naruto had she grabbed it knowing what she needed to do, she couldn't let her Inner self and closed her eyes. "Fine I know what I need to do then," She said as she opened her eyes and looked at Naruto and placed the Kunai close to her heart.

"Wait, hold on what do you think you're doing!" Inner yelled in a panic not wanting to die. "You're going to kill us both!" She yelled in anger at Sakura as Inner gritted her teeth.

"That's the point we both die, and I stop you from not only hurting Naruto but who knows how many people too!" Sakura yelled as Inner was already trying to come up with ways to stop Sakura from killing them both.

Inner soon began to panic thinking; what she needed to do so she could live. "Look don't do it what would Naruto say if you're dead, that's the cowards way out Saku-chan, and you know it so stop now!" Inner yelled in rage.

Sakura, however, continued to ignore what her Inner was saying knowing she wasn't going to stop; her mind was already made up. "You can say everything you want, but I've made my mind up," She said as she looked at Naruto with sadness. "Naruto I'm sorry...Mum dad I love you both."

Taking a deep breath closed her eyes, while Inner continued to yell for Sakura to stop. "Sorry but I can't let that happen, Lord Orochimaru would be displeased, after all, he's gone to get you,"

Sakura looked to see it was only to get knocked out by Kabuto as he looked down at the girl with a smile on his face, before looking at Naruto and thinking what he should do about the young ninja that was currently passed out.

Kabuto smiled picking Sakura up knowing that the clone was busy getting some old bullies that picked on Sakura when she was younger. "What fools they think they will gain power," Kabuto said with a smile as he looked at the unconscious girl. "When they are merely to keep you, or rather your darker half with Lord Orochimaru, they will learn this too late mind you."

With a smile still on his face he looked back to Naruto and knew it was best to kill him but knew Kakashi was getting closer and there wasn't any time, plus the Akatsuki wouldn't be happy with either of them, so best not to kill Naruto. "I can only hope I've made the right choice."

Without saying anything else, Kabuto quickly left the area with Sakura over his shoulder knowing Orochimaru was waiting for him, which only left Naruto alone in the place both he and Dark Sakura had their fight.

After less than two minutes Kakashi arrived with Pakkun, and already the copy ninja had fear in his eye looking around for Sakura seeing no sign of her around. "Pakkun where's Sakura?" he asked as he picked Naruto up in his arms.

Pakkun sniffed the area in which Sakura had been in only a few moments again as he found her headband on the bank of the shore. "It seems someone else was here Kakashi," Pakkun sniffed the ground some more. "I hate to say it, but they must have taken her."

Kakashi couldn't help but frown and looked down at Naruto and picked him up as Naruto for a brief moment opened his eyes, and looked around to see any sign of Sakura before he closed them once more whispering Sakura's name.

Looking at Naruto and then back to the place where the fight happened Kakashi knew that everyone back home wouldn't take this well, Orochimaru now has Sakura. "I'm sorry Naruto," Kakashi said frowning as they continued to head back to Konoha knowing they all needed to know what happened here.

A/N Okay and done, sorry this took a lot longer, but I wanted to make sure the fight was good with both Naruto and Sakura. That's one of the reasons why it took so long another is my health hasn't been that good sadly since I've been in a lot of pain too which has made it hard to write.

Yes, I know many of you are going to ask why Kabuto wants three of Sakura's old bullies, as Kabuto said it's mainly to keep Dark Sakura around and with what Orochimaru will teach Sakura in the three years, she'll have someone to use them on.

Anyway I hoped you enjoyed the chapter and you all leave a review as we have one more chapter left before the end of part one section of the story, then we move onto part two.