Chapter Text
The sight of trees blurring together as the strong scent of wood and wet leaves filled the air. Padding the walls of nose as she ran across the forest floor. All in search of one person who left after training earlier that day. She had chased after him in the effort of having some alone time with her one true love. Despite the many rejections she had received in the past. Such dejecting rejections did not deter her from her life one true goal of seeking his attention. The very reason was she had been following him to this part of the forest. The last known direction she had seen him run off in.
Thus, the personal mission of one Sakura Haruno continued. Not letting his disappearance in the dark forest deter her. Even though the sun was now waning in the sky above. Causing the sky to turn into a brilliant shade of orange, pink, and blue. Ignoring the darkness that was quickly approaching. The lingering fear she might be lost now growing in the pit of her stomach. Knowing she was far away from the prying eyes of the village. Both shinobi and civilians alike. Yet, she continued in this lush location. Allowing her bullheadedness, strong will, and stubbornness take over to guide her in this wayward direction. Gut telling her that she would find something or someone along this path. Hoping that would be her crush at the end. Fulling her heart as she covered more of the terrain at high speed, at least to her, while her head scanned side to side. Not truly paying attention to the world around her.
To focused on her desire that was she was blind to certain things that decorated the very forest. Things she came to realize too late as she found her world changing all too quickly to a vastly different vision. Pain shooting up her leg as that very thing hit her foot. Making her trip and hitting the ground of the forest floor ridiculously hard. Landing on lush grass, fallen leaves, and old branches with a heavy thud. Sakura groaned as she looked downwards to what she had tripped over to see a hard, hearty, old root that jutted out of the ground.
Sakura sighed as her shoulders dropped. Feeling that this was a sign to end her endeavor in finding Sasuke. Sitting up did she was able to examine her ankle to see that nothing was wrong. Luckily for her. Nothing more than a bit of pain. She started to get up so she could finally return home. She did not want her parents to worry about where she was. It was already late and beyond the normal time she would have returned home. That was the plan, but something had caught her eye. Something grey and dull was jutting out of the ground. Near where she had landed a mere moment ago. Sakura shuddered at the thought of being nearly skewered by the piece of metal, but she shook the thought out of her head. It was something that did not happen. Instead, she focused on the piece of metal and where it went to. Eyes traveled to the ground before going over to a hole to which it was next. A hole surrounded by other pieces of metal, rocks, decayed concrete, moss, grass, and a large branch next to the opening. The hole had been created by the fallen branch from long ago. Causing whatever housed in the ground to collapse in certain places.
Crawling over to the hole to peer inside. Seeing only darkness deep within as the glow of the dying sun illuminating the edges of the hole. Sakura knew she could not get any closer to the edge, but she was very curious. Wondering what was down there. But that was not the only thing on her mind. She was also surprised such a hole exists here. It blended so well into the scenery that one could mistake this as a den for a fox or rabbit. Both were rare sights for the region, but they still existed somewhere in the forest. It was a miracle she did not fall right into it.
Letting out another sigh relief upon realizing. Happy that tripping headfirst into the ground had saved her life. The revelation of having such a narrow escape did not deter her curiosity about the odd pit in the ground. Because a den would not contain this amount of metal and concrete within. Meaning it was an entrance to something else. Sakura gulped as the darkness peered back at her. A little scared of what could be inside, but she had to be brave. If she did not go in now, this would become a regret later. Since did not know if she would be able to find this place again. Taking a deep breath to calm herself down before sitting up once more. Hands finding their way to a pocket strapped to her leg. Fumbling around until her fingers grazed something small and slick. Grabbing it before pulling out a miniature flashlight. An item usually frowned upon because using it broke protocols for stealth but…
Sakura bit her lip apprehensively as she turned on the torch. Its bright beam illuminating the darkness in front of her. Allowing her to see a mass of grey, black, silver, and brown. Squinting at the sight was she able to make out that she was looking at a hallway and set of doors that were covered in rust spots. Along with decaying vegetation sprawling along the walls.
“Weird,” Sakura muttered out in a quite tone. Slightly confused to what was in front of her. Mind coming to conclusion that this was an old bunker. While it was not unusual for shinobi villages to have a secret underground base. Each one having their own kind of use whenever it was created. It was just so strange to have one so close to the village. Where it could be easily found by anyone. Though it was a nonsensical worry by how decayed and rotten this place had become. Showing that no one had found it in years.
Although it brought about a bunch of other questions, she had to find answers too. So, she shakily mustered up her courage once again to scoot over the edge of the hole. Legs setting on a pile of dirt, rock, and rubble her light had flashed upon earlier. Creating a small mound for her to slide down slowly until reaching the stable ground below.
Eyes scanned what the torch could reach. Its bright white light dulled the already barren walls. Shadows created by the numerous cracks and edges are the only thing breaking such a lifeless scene. A shudder ran down the pinkette spine as she thought of what could have happened here. Looking back up to the only way out to see the world above had finally gotten dark. The once lush canopy is now a monstrous evergreen. Blotting out the beautiful night sky high above the world. Telling her that it was far too late now to escape the very curiosity that made her step within.
Her lips thinned once more did she turned back to the hallway. Dusting herself off as she stood before tentatively walking inwards. Letting the boundless shadows consume her as she explored.
TO BE CONTINUED…