Everyone had turned their attention to what Sakura had been staring fearfully at. Sasuke was up and conscious. Surrounded by a huge wall of the purple chakra that was coming from the cursed mark on his back. The left hand side of his body looked as though it was on fire. Once the red marks died down, Sakura could see black marks covering his pale skin. Sasuke's eyes were a bright red, the Sharingan activated.

"Sakura, who did this to you?" Sasuke asked calmly.

The female member of Team 7 was too horrified to respond. This wasn't Sasuke at all, the marks and that terrifying low voice that hinted at death and pain. It reminded Sakura of Orochimaru. This was his work.

"You don't need to worry; this is just the power flowing through me. I never felt better and this was a gift from him. To walk the path that I do means I must have power, no matter the cost" Sasuke replied.

Sakura still didn't say a word. A gift? That Orochimaru guy was a creep and the most evil man Sakura had ever encountered. What exactly had happened to her teammate?

"I will ask you again. Tell me which one of these people did this to you Sakura" Sasuke asked in a deadly voice.

"That would be me" Zaku said proudly.

Sasuke snapped his attention to the Sound Ninja immediately. Realising the danger of the situation, Ino and her team quickly returned to the bushes so as not to be caught in the crossfire.

Dosu stared at Sasuke. The chakra the boy was producing, it changed the whole plan. They couldn't fight that, he was much too strong and too powerful. But Zaku apparently hadn't caught on. He lifted his arms outwards and aimed a Sonic Air Blast right at Sasuke.

When the air cleared, Sasuke was nowhere to be found. Sakura looked around fearfully; she had to put a stop to this fight. That cursed mark was taking over.

"Fire Style! Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Sasuke yelled and shot fireballs towards Zaku.

"Hmph yeah right" Zaku said and attempted to fight back with another air style attack. Shuriken quickly appeared instead of the flames and tore into Zaku's flesh.

Before Sakura could even blink, Sasuke was behind Zaku in an instant. One foot was on his back and he held both of Zaku's arms behind him.

"These arms of yours, you seem to be very attached to them" Sasuke said, eyes wide and smiling sadistically as he pulled on the joints connecting Zaku's arms to his body.

Sakura could hear each of the joints popping as Sasuke ripped Zaku's arms from his body.

I have to do something! I have to stop him!

"Sasuke stop! This isn't you! What are you doing!?" Sakura yelled and ran forward, intent on stopping her teammate.

"STAY OUT OF MY WAY!" Sasuke roared and looked at Sakura murderously before shoving her onto the ground.

Sakura hissed in pain as her body connected with the ground again. She looked up at Sasuke and could feel the tears forming in her eyes. Everything hurt so much and the boy standing in front of her was not her teammate or friend. He was evil.

Sasuke stopped when he realised what he had done. He had pushed her, when she was already so hurt and bruised and damaged from the fights she had been in before he had awoken. She was upset and hurt and he pushed her. How could he push her? She was scared of him; her eyes told him as much. How could he ever make her scared of him?

As quickly as it had erupted, the murderous intent was gone. The black markings on his body began to recede and Sasuke sank to his knees. Once he had regained a little strength, Sasuke made a move towards Sakura but Sakura shuffled back a little.

"Please don't. I'm sorry Sakura. I didn't mean to hurt you, I'd never hurt you I promise. I don't know what this is but don't look at me like that. Like I'm a monster" Sasuke said quietly.

Sakura noticed the flames were leaving his body and the dark chakra from before was gone, she moved toward her teammates slowly. Putting a hand on his back, Sakura rubbed soothing circles and Sasuke rested his head in the crook of her neck breathing deeply.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what this is. What I am" Sasuke muttered against Sakura's neck, rubbing gently on the newly forming bruise on her arm.

"It's okay Sasuke" Sakura replied, finding her voice at last.

Her mind was jumbled, and she was tired oh so very tired but Sasuke needed her now to get through this, Sakura was very glad he and Naruto were safe.

"You are strong Sasuke Uchiha. Much stronger than we could have imagined. We will leave you our scroll in exchange for you letting us go" Dosu said, picking up his teammates and placing their scroll on the ground.

Everyone watched as they departed, Sakura felt her strength give way as she bent forward a little and let out raspy short breaths. Sasuke wrapped his arm around her back but Sakura flinched and he slowly withdrew it and rubbed her arm gently instead.

"I had no idea that the Uchiha clan had such powerful chakra" Neji muttered.

Ino had gone to look after Lee and Shikamaru and Choji decided that they were going to try and wake Naruto.

Sasuke looked at Sakura and wondered how much she must have endured to protect him and Naruto and hated himself for not being there to protect her. He would never forgive himself for hurting her.

Just what am I now?