Unforgiven Sin

A/N: Sorry about the emoness of my rant last chapter. I feel a lot better now, but I do have some questions to answer.

CrossLeggedSpider: Unfortunately, everyone in the Elysian Fields forgets those that have gone to Tartarus. Basically, Kakashi can't completely forget in his subconcious mind because Naruto is his soulmate and he is not complete without him, that's why no matter how happy he is, he feels like something is missing. But don't fret, Kakashi will come to his senses soon...with a little help.

Lady Laran: Yep, Kyuubi made a cameo. We figured that Kyuubi would no longer be sealed in Naruto if Naruto died and this is the result. I'm glad you liked the scene between Sakura, Iruka and Sasuke. We did our best to make it as emotional as possible, because this scene was suppose to be very deep and emotional.

Pangasius: You are partially right. Yes it's seems that Sakumo is acting as a replacement, but when you are being tortured mercilessly, he is Naruto's only source of comfort and visa versa. The love between them was developed out of being each other's only comfort in a place where comfort is a scarce thing. They are not in love, Sakumo is in love with the way that Naruto makes him feel needed again, Naruto is in love with the fact that he's not alone even in a place such as Tartarus. It's a bond that is difficult to explain.

spriggan_d: In this chapter you will find out what Sasuke's true purpose is. And though Itachi is mentioned, he will not make an appearance. We will just assume that he is in the Elysian Fields because though he did what he had done, his intentions were made clear in the end that he only did it to protect the village and prevent a war. Also taking into account that he couldn't kill his brother because Sasuke was much too precious to him.

solitare1: I agree. That way you can know when a new chapter is posted to a fic you've been reading. Thanks for your encoraging words, Acherona and I both need it.

Sexy Sesshy: Thanks. We hope you enjoy this chapter and the rest to come.

Now on to the next chapter...

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Chapter 4

Sakura sat straight up in the bed she was now sharing with the academy teacher. For months now she'd been having the same dream over and over. Naruto was in pain and being brutalized in a dark and frightening place. And the last thing he would say before she awakened would always be "Tesukette!"

She placed a shaky, thin and pale hand on her forehead to wipe away the sweat. What did this dream mean? Did Naruto need her now even after his death?

Iruka woke when his lover sat up ramrod straight in their bed, panting and with wild eyes, the bedsheets tangled around her body. He sat up beside her and stroked over a sweaty back as the young woman tried to compose herself. She'd been waking up like this every night for a long time now and Iruka was getting worried about her health, she was pale with dark blue circles under her eyes. He rubbed a thumb over her smooth cheek and quietly asked. "Was it the same dream?"

"Hai...always the same, Naruto suffering and in pain...begging for someone to save him," Her voice cracked slightly, "I wish I knew what it meant...I wish I had an answer. I can't stand that dream. It hurts so bad when I dream of Naruto suffering like that."

The brunette held her tighter as if trying to share his strength with her. He didn't understand what this meant, he'd heard about recurring night terrors but this was the exact same dream every single night. It had to mean something. Iruka wished he knew what was going on and he wished he could spare his love from the pain. Sakura was his most precious person, the other half of his soul, he would never let anything happen to her.

"I wish I had the answer too." He said. "We need to find out what's going on, you can't continue living like this. You worry me love." At the last words he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss, just to reassure himself that she was still there. Iruka was terrified that he would lose her, like he'd lost all other´s dear to him.

The pinkette pulled her lover closer, as she returned the kiss, deepening it and pulling him gently on top of her as she lowered herself back down to the bed. One of her small pale hands gently stoked his strong tanned back as the other ran through chestnut locks as they kissed.

Feeling Sakura's delicate hands on him caused Iruka to come undone and he kissed her deeply, hungrily luring her tongue to dance with his own and savoring the taste that was pure Sakura. He would never get enough of her, she was alluring and intoxicating. With every touch small sparks of electricity shot through the brunette and had him craving more. He pulled the sheet off her slender body so that he could get to that pale silky skin and in between drowning kisses he whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too," She murmured softly as her nude legs parted to let him lay between them. She longed to feel his nude body against hers. She always felt alive and free when Iruka made love to her. And she needed him now, the comfort of becoming one with him in that short moment. "Make love to me please, koi."

"Anytime love." Iruka whispered as he kissed his way down her neck feeling her pulse jump and speed up under his lips. His large tanned hands caressed her body and landed on her high firm breasts tweaking the nipples to erect nubs.

"You are so beautiful." He said as he took one rosy nipple in his mouth and suckled it gently, his nimble fingers paying the other one attention. She was so soft and wonderful underneath him and Iruka was hard as a rock, he rubbed his arousal against one of her creamy thighs as he continued to give her pleasure. After a while he moved from her chest, licking and kissing his way downwards, rejoicing in the pants and mewls that spilled from half parted red lips.

"Mmmm..." The aroused kunoichi rubbed her small delicate hands over her breasts, lovingly caressing the places where his lips had been. She felt the source of her femininity pulsing with need as her passage began to moisten the closer her lover's mouth got to that special place.

Iruka kissed the soft skin of her lower stomach and felt it quiver under his touch. As he worked his way lower she spread her thighs more and it made him smile lovingly against her skin. When he got to his destination the chuunin parted the folds of her flower with gentle fingers before licking the sensitive nub softly. Sakura's hips jerked and she arched upwards off the bed as he continued to lick. Iruka pointed his tongue and slowly penetrated her moist hole before withdrawing again, several times he did this, mimicking what he would be doing with his cock shortly.

"Are you ready?" He asked as he watched her with half lidded, lustful eyes. He needed to be inside her, to feel her squeezing his member in her velvety grip. The taste of her essence on his tongue was driving him crazy with need.

"Ngn..." She whimpered softly at the loss of his tongue and mouth, but turned her lust glazed emerald eyes to chocolate ones that only mirrored her own desire, "H-hai...I need you, koi...need you...please."

Hastily Iruka positioned himself between silky thighs, leaning down and kissing Sakura as he slowly entered her. She was slick and hot and tight and she felt like pure heaven around his dick. He grabbed one of her slender legs and hooked it over his shoulder so that he could penetrate her deeper. After a few slow thrusts he picked up speed and reveled in the wonderful friction.

"Aaaarhhh...You feel so good Koi, so wonderful..." Iruka panted as he slammed into the pinkette beneath him. The rocking union of their bodies sent the headboard pounding against the wall.

"Haaaaaaaaahh! Iruka-koi! More!" Sakura mewled out, as her fingers coiled in the the bedding beneath her, the cock stroking her insides bringing her closer and closer to climax. She felt the sweat forming in beads on her forehead and chest slowly trickled down her skin, the cold air forming goose bumps along their trails. But her body was too hot and too filled with pleasure to notice the simple chills.

Iruka buried his fingers in damp pink hair as he pistoned in and out of her tight heat. He was so close, the telltale tingling along his spine and tightening of his stomach already happening. Sakura was like a velvet glove around his hard cock drawing him deeper inside her body.

"Ahhh love...c-can I come inside?" He asked in a strained voice as he tried to hold himself back from just slamming into her. Untangling his fingers from her hair he rose on shaky arms to look down at the girl under him. Iruka loved her with every part of his soul and being inside her was perfection.

Sakura was panting too hard to answer but only nodded her head vigorously with a moan as she pushed down against the hard member insider her. She was so close and she wanted to feel his warm nectar filling her. She whimpered as she pushed down again against the member trying to get him to move again.

With a groan Iruka started thrusting again, giving up all pretences of holding back. One hand reached between their bodies and rubbing her tiny nub, wanting her to have as much pleasure as possible. His head fell down and he buried his face in her neck as the orgasm ripped through him causing his back to arch and his toes curl. As Iruka came deep inside her, filling her up with his white ribbons of come he could only repeat her name as a mantra. Nothing else in the world mattered except the glorious and enticing woman beneath him.

"Sakura, Sakura......Ssssssssssssssssakura...."

"Aaaaaaaaaaah! I-Irukaaa!" The pinkette's back arched upwards, her breasts pressing against his chest and her body flush with his as the wave of orgasm crashed down on her. Her passage tightened around the softening member inside her as if to squeeze every last drop of his seed out of him. Her hands, which had swiftly wrapped around her lover, clung to his back the tips of her finger digging slightly into the skin as the wave of climax over took her.

Panting and with a racing heart Iruka pulled out of her passage and collapsed on top of her but quickly rolled them over so that Sakura's head was resting against his sweaty chest. He gently combed away damp locks of hair from her temples and forehead and gave her a sweet kiss on the tip of her nose. Her body was soft and pliant in his arms and her wonderful green eyes were dazed and sleepy, he really hoped she could sleep a few hours now.

"I love you." He said as he tucked her head underneath his chin and just listened to the reassuring, rhythmic beating of her heart.

"I love you too," She murmured before she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Tomorrow, she would worry about what to do about the dreams but right now she would rest with the comfort of her lovers arms around her.

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Iruka was walking towards the Hokage tower to meet Sakura. She'd been training with Tsunade and he wanted to walk her home. Lately he'd been almost paranoid to let her out of his sight, afraid that he would lose her. He knew that this was a problem he had to deal with, Sakura was a strong and independent shinobi and she had to face dangers on every mission. In his head he knew all this but his heart was telling him to grab her, hold her close and never let go.

Iruka saw the large red building at the end of the street and tried to relax his tense shoulders, he didn't want to worry Sakura, he'd deal with this on his own.

Sakura had planned on going to the library after her training. She had this nagging feeling that she would find the answers to her dreams there. She slowly stepped down the long steps of the tower towards the bottom when on the last four steps she saw Iruka heading towards her, "Iruka...is something wrong? You look...worried..."

"No...nothing wrong." Iruka said with forced easiness as he wrapped his arms around his love and gave her a hug. "I just wanted to see you and maybe walk you home...or do you have plans?" Iruka asked brow furrowed.

"I planned on going to the library to read up on a few things, but you're welcome to join me," She smiled softly as she took his hand in hers, "Sasuke isn't healing as quickly as Tsunade thought he would. He's going to be spending a couple more days in the infirmary, then he's going to have to stand before the council for his defection and for treason against the village."

"He should be punished for his crimes, yet I'm glad that he's alive...Naruto would have wanted that." Iruka said softly as he held Sakura's small hand in his own, squeezing it gently. "I'll walk you to the library but then I have to go. Kotetzu mentioned something about Genma being depressed after losing Raido in the last battle. I want to see how he's holding up." He stopped to look at his love. "I'll meet you later, when you're done." It took all of Iruka's strength to let go of Sakura's hand but he knew he had to do this or he would end up suffocating them both. He smiled gently at her and continued walking.

"Give my regards to Genma and tell him I'm sorry for his loss," The kunoichi said softly, sighing softly before speaking again, "Come back by the library and walk me home. I might be a while."

"I'll be here." Iruka said as he leaned in for a quick kiss, ignoring the villagers that stared at the unlikely couple. "Don't tire yourself out completely in you research, I need you to stay safe." He stole another quick kiss and waved at her as she disappeared inside Konoha library. When he couldn't see her anymore he turned on his heal and walked towards Genma. 'So much loss.' he thought as he walked. 'Oh Naruto if only you were here...'

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It seemed like Sakura had come to a dead end a few hours before, until a peculiar little book fell from one of the shelves. When she looked into it, it turned out to be a greek myth about a man named Orpheus and his quest to retrieve his wife, Eurydice, from the underworld. She poured over the book, finding that the story held more fact than fiction. She had seen many strange things occur in her lifetime so it wasn't far from believable.

The pinkette learned that the underworld's most common of entrances was the river of Styx. She would have to go and see for herself if this was true and if it was, then she was going to get Naruto back, no matter what the cost. And if it was, she needed to be prepared. She knew she didn't have musical talent, so she would need other ways to get on the ferry, and past the three headed dog Cerberus.

She poured through every book she could find on the underworld and those that survived going into it. And she found the story of Psyche.

Again Iruka stood by a set of stairs waiting for Sakura, seeing Genma had been sad but he knew that the man would live on. Someday he would be able to laugh again. Night had fallen and the air had a slight bite to it. Just as he was about to enter the library looking for Sakura she exited the large doors, there was a strange glow in her eyes and she looked really excited. Something had happened in the library, the only question was...what?

"Koi, how long have I kept you waiting?" She glanced at the night sky, with a slight frown, "I didn't mean to make you wait until night...I just...I found something that may help me...and got a little excited."

"It's okay love, I didn't wait long." He took hold of her warm hand having it warm his cold one as they started to walk towards their home. "What did you find Sakura-chan?" Iruka asked curiously.

"Well...it's difficult to explain," She honestly didn't want to share this information with anyone until she had made the attempt. She knew that if she told Iruka that he would only worry more about her and she didn't want him to worry. "I'll explain it to you later. Tell me how is Genma? Is he okay?"

Iruka looked at her, sensing that she was hiding something from him but he didn't want to pressure her. He hoped she would be comfortable enough to let him know soon enough. "Genma will be okay, he is sad and in mourning but in time he'll be okay. I'll visit him again soon" Iruka said as he unlocked the door to their apartment. "What are your plans for tomorrow?"

"Tsunade-sama mentioned something about sending me on a two-week solo mission, but I won't be sure until tomorrow." Sakura answered laying her head against the older man's shoulder. "If I do go, though, I'll think of you every day."

Iruka's heart clenched painfully at the thought of Sakura going away alone for two weeks. Why hadn't he heard anything about this mission before now? Breathing heavily he turned away from Sakura pretending to be busy taking his chuunin vest off, he didn't want her to see how upset he was. 'I have to let her go.' He thought to himself. "If you do go on the mission just promise me one thing...Promise me you'll come back to me..."

"I will, I have to," She smiled as she wrapped her arms around him from behind, "You're the one that made me alive again after losing so much. As long as you live, I will live. I refuse to die any sooner."

Iruka turned around and embraced her back, burying his nose in her hair and breathed in her flowery scent. "I'll miss you so much." He said and held her tighter, molding her slender body against his own. "Be careful and be safe."

Sakura snuggled into the academy teacher's chest. She was right at the very beginning when she had set foot in his home for the first time, Iruka was home. Her home. And she knew that she couldn't live the rest of her life without him. So she had to succeed. She had to survive getting Naruto back.

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Sakumo watched the black haired demon carrying a bloodied and broken Naruto back to their dark and dank cell. Sakumo hurried after the demon having trouble keeping up with his longs strides on his weakened legs. The whole thing had been a nightmare, being forced to watch his Sunshine being violated in the worst possible ways, hearing him scream and not being able to do anything about it. As Despair gently placed the blond on the stone-floor, touching a golden tress of hair carefully, Sakumo rushed forward throwing himself to his knees by the bleeding blond touching his shoulder as lightly as a butterfly. The last thing he wanted was to hurt the blond more. "Naruto..." He called frantically.


Despair watched them with something akin to pity in his crimson eyes before he walked out and locked the door behind him.

But before he left, his red eyes glanced over at the pair. How dare Strife break a pure innocent angel like this. Forcing the boy to be raped over and over again by the ones he had dispatched to protect his precious people. Pein, Kyuubi, Deidara, Sasori, Kazuzu, and countless others took turns tearing into the weakened blond...He wished he had returned sooner to stop the madness before it began, "Watch over him, I shall return with medicines for his wounds. Speak of this to no one."

And with that said he disappeared.

Sakumo looked after Despair with wide eyes, that was the very first time he had heard some kindness in the demon's voice. It was Naruto's doing, the gentle angel changed everyone around him, spreading his light through even the deepest darkness. Again he gently nudged the blond. "N-Naruto..." Sakumo was afraid, Naruto was barely breathing, he looked so small and broken lying on the dark dirty floor.

Empty blue eyes fluttered half open as they settled on Sakumo. He was broken...totally. Outside and in. He closed his eyes slowly and a moment went by before he reopened them again, "C-cold..."

Sakumo hurriedly lay down beside the blond as close as he could without hurting the other, he tried to give his body heat to the blond to warm him if even a tiny bit. His heart broke as he'd looked into the blonds' eyes, the usually shining azure eyes were empty and dull. He raged against the bastards who had done this. Why was he so weak? Why hadn't he been able to protect his Sunshine. Anger and bitterness clawed inside his stomach, for the first time since he's been sent to hell he knew what hate really was.

Footsteps echoed in the dank corridors coming closer and closer, Sakumo wrapped a bone-thin arm around the blond, if someone came for him again they would really have to kill him to get to the blond. Days of weakness were over.

Despair stepped back into the cell, bringing a large box of medicines and a bowl with a clean cloth. "Sakumo, take this bowl to Styx and get some of it's water, though deadly to those alive, it has healing properties to those that are dead." He commanded as he set the case down beside the blond and knelt down beside him, taking off his ring, "If anyone questions you being there, show them this and tell them I sent you there. Go."

Sakumo hurried out the door and down he winding corridors, he closed his ears to the screams of those around him. Torn hands reached after him as he ran and he held both the bowl and the ring in a death-grip, afraid to lose them. Suddenly a fist came out of nowhere and Sakumo was down on the floor. He looked up into pitch black eyes and a fanged smirk. Sakumo looked at Strife defiantly, he needed to get to Styx so that Naruto could be healed. Not even this demon would stop him.

"Well, well, well." Strife chucked as he ran a clawed finger down Sakumo's hollowed cheek. "Look who has regained his spine...I guess I'll just have to rip it out again." The pressure of the claw on his face hardened and pierced his skin causing a small trickle of blood running down his cheek and neck.

Trying not to flinch at the cruel touch and without thinking Sakumo took the ring Despair had given him and thrust it in the blond demon's face.

"Is my favorite little toy running an errand for my aniki? I'm sure he won't mind you being a tad bit late, ne?" The blond haired immortal slammed the white haired prisoner against the cold stone wall. He forced open the man's emaciated legs and pressed his clothed member against the pale globes of his captive. "It still seems you haven't quite learned your place."


Sakumo felt like he would throw up as Strife pushed his cock against him. He needed to help Naruto. He relaxed against the wall and brought his hand down to undo the demon’s pants, the sooner this was over with the sooner he could get the water from Styx.

Strife groaned as Sakumo stroked his member to full hardness, he then grabbed the coarse silver hair making the smaller man look at him. “On your knees pet, make it wet before I fuck you."

Silently and without protest Sakumo sunk down on his knees preparing to take the hard pulsating cock in his mouth. ‘Just get it over with’ played like a mantra in his head, ‘just play along, it’ll be over soon’.

"And just what do you think you are doing, Strife. I sent this slave to retrieve something for me and I need it right away!" The angry tone of the raven suddenly startled the blond immortal, as Despair's phantom copy stood there before them. "Stop bothering him and let him do his task!"

Strife sneered and with a last vicious tug on silver tresses he threw Sakumo to the ground and went in search of another slave to take care of his erection, there were plenty of them around after all.

Sakumo climbed to his feet and hurried towards the river. There were no more interruptions and when he got to Styx he filled the bowl with the dark glittering water and he carried it carefully along the dimly lit corridors and back to his cell. He wondered how Naruto was doing and he really hoped the water would help.

The real Despair was assessing the young blonde's many injuries when the silver haired man re entered the cell, "He's in very bad condition. His soul is fractured and his mind scattered. He isn't even fit to torture anymore. Hurry, bring the water here."

Sakumo hurried over to the slumped blond on the floor, making sure he didn't spill any water as he placed the bowl on the floor with a low clank. "What do we do now?" He asked and turned worried eyes towards Despair.

"You will sit down and stay out of my way until I'm finished," The raven commanded as he started cleaning every wound on the deathly thin blond. He wanted to take the blond away from this place. He wanted to make the blond his most prized concubine, but if the beautiful boy didn't love him in return or even had any feelings for him, then it would be empty.

Sakumo watched Despair tenderly cleaning Naruto's wounds, he'd never seen the demon this way. His crimson eyes held a longing in them and Sakumo knew it was because of Naruto, he felt a slight pang of jealousy but brushed it away. Despair was helping the blond, that was all that mattered. Besides Naruto wasn't his anyway, no matter how much he'd fallen in love with his Sunshine; the blond didn't belong to him...never would.


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Sakura silently walked towards the gate as the quarter moon shown overhead. She had secretly asked for three weeks vacation so that she could go on this journey. She was going to see if it was possible...If she could get Naruto back.

A dark shadow appeared from behind a building, as the moon shone on the figure it revealed pale skin and spiky dark hair. Onyx eyes watched the pink haired girl sneaking towards the gate on her way out of the village. He hurried to catch up to her. He grabbed her arm from behind and spun her around so that she was facing him. "What do you think you're doing Sakura?"


"Aren't you supposed to be in the hospital recovering?" Sakura yanked herself free and stood standing stock still in the place where 4 years prior, Sasuke had been standing, "I'm going somewhere, where I am going is none of your concern, Sasuke."

Sasuke looked at Sakura with unreadable black eyes, she was so different from the girl he once knew. His shoulder hurt from when she tore herself from his grip, he wasn't fully recovered yet. Sasuke didn't show his pain though, he was an Uchiha and emotions of any kind were a weakness. Again he looked into determined emerald hues. "Don't do this, you have people who care about you. Have you learned nothing from my mistake?" It hurt Sasuke's pride to admit that leaving Konoha had been a mistake but after all that had happened, and the fact that Naruto and Sakura had stayed stronger than him, he had to admit that he never should have left. Sasuke also knew that he had to be honest if he were to get through to the pink haired girl. He shoved his face close to Sakura's, staring straight into her eyes. "I won't let you leave, I'll stop you by force if I have to."

Emerald eyes narrowed at the raven, this situation was all too familiar except the roles were reversed, "You've not quite recovered completely yet and I'll be damned if I allow you to stand in my way. There is nothing in this world that will stop me from doing what I'm going to do. Not you, not Iruka, not anyone! And if you get in my way again, I will kill you, despite Naruto's wishes."

Sasuke wrapped his arms around his former teammate again, ignoring the pain spreading throughout his body as she struggled against his hold. "Then do it Sakura, kill me!" Sasuke said in an emotionless voice. "My life has been forfeited anyway, you on the other hand, you still have loved ones...For Iruka, Kakashi-sensei and N-Naruto I will stop you...I need to keep you safe. Don't you understand? Saving you even from yourself is the only way I can make amends." The raved leaned down and placed his forehead against the pink haired girls. "Please...Please Sakura-chan, don't go."

"NO!" The young kunoichi growled in his grip, "I'm going to save Naruto! And I'm not going to let you or anyone stop me! He's in pain! He needs me!!" She pushed the Uchiha off of her, "Let me go! I have to go save Naruto!" She darted off towards the gates once more.

Sasuke panted, trying to regain his bearings after being pushed off like that. His whole body was burning with pain. Quickly he chased after the pink haired girl and tackled her to the ground a few steps from the gate. "Is this for Naruto? What do you mean he's in pain?" The raven was full of questions and he wouldn't let go until he had the answers. "No matter what, if you think you can help him then let me help you!"

"No! I don't want your help. And Naruto deserves better!" Sakura growled trying to get off the ground, "And he would do the same thing for me, so I will do this for him. He committed an unforgivable sin when he died, and I'm not going to allow his soul to suffer for this one wrong when he's done so much good."

Sasuke pushed her lithe body into the ground harder, refusing to let go. "You're right, Naruto spent his life doing good and looking out for others. I want to help him too." He looked down at the girl he was straddling. "He would do this for any of his loved ones and if he's suffering like you say he is then I need to help. I can be of help to you...Don't throw that away because you're angry!"

"If you're going just to mock him or to hurt him again...I'll kill you...if you EVER hurt him again, I'll kill you," The pinkette beneath the raven swore to him, "You crushed him once by leaving, and you crushed him twice by making him feel like a failure. Three times the charm, Sasuke...and you won't survive the third time."

Sasuke's onyx eyes widened. "I'm not doing this to hurt him...I really want to help him, to make up for some of the pain I have caused." He looked at Sakura. "If I end up hurting him I'll let you kill me without a fight. Naruto changes the world around him for the better, he needs to be here so let's go get him." Sasuke released Sakura and stood up, leaning down he offered the kunoichi a pale slender hand. "What do you say?"

"Okay fine. I'll tell you the plan...but you can't deviate from it okay?" The kunoichi took the hand and got onto her feet, "If things go well, we might be able to get Kakashi back as well."


Sasuke watched Sakura brush the dirt from her outfit in amusement, it seemed like somethings hadn't changed. "I promise to follow your lead Sakura-chan, you can use me as your weapon. Now let's do this."


"Hai! Let's go." The pinkette took off towards the gate not bothering to see if Sasuke was following behind her. He would follow, she knew, because somewhere deep inside him, Naruto's nii-san was still there. The desire to protect his 'otouto' was coming to the surface of Sasuke's cold exterior. And they would both fight to get the blond back.


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Sasuke followed Sakura in neck-breaking speed, jumping from treetop to treetop relying on their shinobi skills to evade any obstacles hiding in the pitch black night around them. Sakura hadn't said a word to him since they started hours ago. Sasuke's body was aching, he could have used Sakura's healing touch but he was afraid to ask her. Suddenly the girl in front of him stopped abruptly and Sasuke struggled not to smash into her, his pride wouldn't have survived that. As they stopped he saw Sakura beckon him to come closer, panting slightly he walked up to the pink haired girl.


"There. That river is the one we're looking for." She glanced at Sasuke a moment noticing he was trying to hide his pain, "Where does it hurt Sasuke. I need you to be healed if you are going to help me."

The Uchiha looked embarrassed, he wasn't used to showing weakness but he knew he needed Sakura's help if he were to be any help to her at all. "It's mostly my ribs Sakura-chan, you cracked most of them and one punctured my lung." He felt the warm tingle as green chakra emitted from her palms and shattered bones set inside him. The river glittered in front of them and Sasuke wondered where they would go from here.


Sakura dug into her weapons pouch and extracted 2 gold coins, handing one to Sasuke, "Now we wait for Chiron to arrive with the ferry. We both have to give him a gold coin to get across, don't attack him Sasuke." She said pointedly, genius though he was, he also could have moments of stupid.

Sasuke raised his nose in the air not bothering to answer, he knew he could be stupid... attacking Itachi as a fresh genin hadn't been his brightest moment but he didn't like to be reminded of his stupidity. He took the coin Sakura held out for him and then they both sat down on the river bank and waited. For a long time all they saw was the dark water rushing by but then a lonely lantern emerged from seemingly out of nowhere and approached them.


Sakura rose from her place on the ground, "That must be the ferryman Chiron," She stated as she started towards the lantern light, "He normally carries the dead across the river for a single gold coin, and I have enough for me, you, Naruto, and Kakashi if he comes too."

Chiron regarded the two people standing on the river bank. His wild chestnut colored hair tumbling down his back and hazel eyes gleaming. These people weren't dead, things looked like they were about to get interesting. "Do you have the toll?" He asked them in a low voice as he steered his boat close to them. He could feel the power radiating off both of them and grinned slightly...Oh yes..very interesting indeed.


"Hai." Sakura replied as she placed a gold coin into the ferryman's hand and then stepped onto the boat. She turned back waiting for Sasuke to do the same and join her.

When both the woman and man were in the boat safely, Chiron turned it around and ferried it upstreams. His curiosity got the better of him and he asked in an amused voice. "So what business do the two of you have in the underworld?" He could see the look the exchanged from under his chestnut bangs and that peeked his interest even more. His strong arms moved the ferry along as he waited for an answer, they were almost at the Underworld harbour now, night sky had changed into a stone ceiling so fast that his "guests" hadn't even noticed yet.


"We came here to beseech the God of the underworld, because we truly believe that a friend that he took was placed wrongly in the world of the dead," The pinkette spoke confidently and did not allow fear to take her over. She was doing this not only for Naruto, but for Konoha.

Chiron snickered quietly to himself, beseech Hades...the God wasn't what you'd call merciful. Luckily Persephone was with him now and that might mellow him some. He ferried the boat to a black marble dock and watched his guest get off the boat. "I wish you luck, I truly do, don't get your hopes up though. Once Hades get his hands on a soul he is not inclined to let it go." With one last look at the strange pair in front of him he ferried the boat back into the stream, he had more souls to fetch.


Sakura watched as the ferryman glided back across the river, then reached into her pouch again. She pulled out a scroll and made a few hand signs and two plates full of odango appeared, "Take the dango off the sticks Sasuke, you may eat some to regain strength but don't eat it all we need half to get past the 3 headed dog going in, and the other half for him when we leave."

Sasuke took the sticky pieces of dango off the wooden sticks and placed them on the plates, he placed a few of them in his mouth to to regain some energy but he saved most of them. Sakura seemed to know what she was talking about so he followed her lead. After pulling all dango off their sticks he licked his fingers and watched Sakura for directions on what to do next. This place had an ominous feel to it and Sasuke couldn't help but wonder what they had gotten themselves into. A howl echoing in the great halls had shivers going down his spine.


Sakura would be lying if she said she wasn't scared but her resolve to save Naruto pushed her forward in defiance of that fear. Soon they were upon the gate and a great three headed dog stood before them guarding it. She swallowed before taking some dango into her hands and speaking to the dog.


"Hey, boy! Look what I got for you. I got you some treats!" She said cheerfully to the dog as she tossed three dango up into the air at the dog.

Sasuke watched as all three of Cerberus's heads dived after the dango and the sound of jaws snapping was deafening. Sakura gave a sign and they both snuck past the large beast fasting on the dango. When they left the dog behind them, they entered a narrow corridor where the walls were polished to the point where it shone in the dim light. Everything was silent and to Sasuke it felt like the calm before the storm.


Sakura walked down the corridor, keeping her self guarded. Now they had to convince the King and Queen of the Underworld to let Naruto and Kakashi return to the living. The palace may have been beautiful but it was cold and the pinkette shivered as she searched for the throne room where the Death God resided.

The narrow corridor opened up into a giant hall, the walls the same polished hue as those in the corridor. Everything was black from floor to ceiling...all black. Sasuke walked close to Sakura, ready to defend her. His muscles was tense and ready to strike and he had activated his Sharingan. He could see creatures in the shadows, watching them silently as the walked along the floor towards the two thrones in the distance.


Once they were in the presence of the King and Queen, Sakura prostrated herself on the floor, pulling Sasuke down with her, "Oh, great and mighty Hades. Far have we traveled from a land that has become dead. We have come to beg you, Oh great one, to please return the light of Konoha."

Golden eyes fixed on the pink haired human and her companion kneeling before him. This was something new, he almost couldn't remember the last time a lowly human had had the courage to approach him. "What do you mean little one?" He asked softly but with steel lacing his voice.


"Aphrodite, with the power of agape love in her single finger, touched the light of Konoha's heart and he fell in love with his teacher. When his teacher fell in battle, his heart was cleft in twain and his light dimmed. So heavy was his cleft heart that he chose to follow behind his love in death, leaving our village without light or hope. He will return willingly if his love is returned with him. The fates have dealt cruelly with him. We beg of you please return them to life, return them to our village so that light and hope may live there once more." The pinkette explained though she didn't move from her place on the floor.

Dark eyebrows furrowed over sharp golden eyes at the young humans words. The king of the underworlds wasn't one to be swayed by pretty words. "So you're here for not one but two of my prizes little one. If this light you are speaking of ended his own life he is right to be judged and punished in Tartarus." Hades felt Persephone's fingers lacing together with his own and when he turned to her he saw her beautiful violet eyes look pleadingly at him.


"Hades-sama, if you had been mortal, and you're queen as well, and she had died a sad death, leaving you alone in the world and you did not have the power to bring her back... would you not want to be with her in death?" was Sakura's wise question.

Hades looked at his queen again, the thought of being without her for eternity caused an ache in his heart and he held her hand tighter. If anyone ever tried to take her away from his side he would rip their throats out and bathe in their blood. Still, rules were rules. He couldn't just go about releasing souls, then everyone would want their loved ones back. "What do you think love?" He asked his queen, he knew that she was as wise as she was beautiful.


"If this pair can convince the two souls to come back to the living, we should allow it. I would think that I could not live if you were not by my side, dearest Hades," Persephone stroked her beloved's hand with her free one, "Let them try, love. If they do not succeed, then they shall be turned away until their own deaths."

Hades regarded his queen's words and found them satisfactory. "Very well, I'll give you free access to my domain. You can try to find and convince the souls you're looking for. However if the ones you want do not agree with your wishes your souls are mine and you will be punished in Tartarus for eternity." Golden eyes narrowed. "Do not abuse my hospitality," Hades warned. "You may see other loved ones on your journey through my kingdom...You asked for two souls, no more. Remember that."


"Arigatou, Hades-sama," Sakura bowed again, then rose from her place tugging at Sasuke's robes to follow her out of the throne room and into the unknown world of the dead, "I just hope that they will both listen to us."


TBC...