Author's Note: Finally, I've brought to you the first one-shot in my Sasuke x Sakura short story collections, Sweet Temptations. Each story will be a one-shot with different themes, so I'll be sure to alert you for each one.

Title: The Next Contestant

Rating: M

Warnings: Reference to rape, some nudity...not for young eyes!

Summary: Team Seven is sent on a mission to an obscure village, where they hope to hinder a perverted man and gain information about their worst enemy. But when things take an unexpected twist, it's up to one Sasuke Uchiha to save the day!


" I don't like this. I don't like this at all."

The grumbling male voice echoed through the bright interior of the hotel room. Down on one knee, a young man of about twenty-four years of age, with long dark hair peeked at the crown and glaring obsidian eyes, bound the last cord on his teammate's silky, sexy red dress. His gaze was trained on the back of her neck, and his hands, though firm with the complicated knots, felt numb and clammy.

" Oh, Sasuke-kun, you worry too much." Twenty-three year old Sakura Haruno purred, gathering her longish pink hair off of her back and piling it atop her head. She spun away from him, keeping one jade eye fixed on the body-length mirror at the far wall. A barely perceptible nod of approval came from her fellow Jounin as he stepped forward and rested his hands on her hips, drawing her close.

Letting her fingers unknot from her tresses, the kunoichi leaned into his embrace.

Sasuke had only been home for three years, but his possessiveness over the girl he now called his had begun almost immediately. Within the first week of his return…while he was still on probation, no less…they had been dating. Many, many months later, they were still going strong.

Giggling, Sakura turned, and placed her hands to the Uchiha's chest, admiring his black shirt for a moment before shoving him back lightly, knowing any lengthy exertion of strength from her powerful arms could send him flying into some unsuspecting couples bedroom half a hallway away.

" I didn't see Naruto or Kakashi-sensei getting so worked up about this mission." The young woman commented. Her comrade grunted, crossing his arms with that old stubborn look that he hadn't shed since his Genin days.

" Yeah, well, neither of them is dating you." He groused. Sakura sighed.

She could sympathize with her partner…she hadn't been exactly happy, either, when Tsunade had elected their team for this task: They were to travel to an obscure village and hunt down a man who supposedly had details on Orochimaru's movements. The Snake Sannin was their main target, now, considering Sasuke had slaughtered half of the Akatsuki organization in a blind rage to reach…and kill…his elder brother, Itachi.

However, tempting this blundering bloke to their team's capable hands would be easier said than done. For while he was cunning, wise, able to see through almost any Genjutsu and skilled enough to interpret any Henge technique, the poor fool had a sweet tooth for women…preferably, skinny, skimpy prostitutes.

And that was where they had him.

Sasuke, however, seemed far from pleased.

" I know that Hokage-sama's orders were to let you seduce this guy, then hog tie him and drag him back to the rest of us. But there's no way I'll chance something happening to you. If I get a feeling you're in trouble, I'll intervene. To hell with the mission, you're far more important." The Uchiha heir tangled his fingers in his girlfriend's bangs, sweeping them from her wide forehead so he could plant a kiss there. For a long moment, neither moved.

Then a knock at the door disturbed their peace.

" I seriously hope you two are behaving yourselves." The lazy voice of their mentor and friend, Hatake Kakashi, came from beyond the wooden barrier. " I wouldn't like to have to explain any unusual stains on the bed to the hotel staff, you know?" Sasuke swore at his fellow Jounin, calling him nine kinds of perverted in languages Sakura barely knew. It made her giggle.

Then the door flew open, slamming the wall and nearly breaking off of its hinges. Naruto Uzumaki stood in the frameway, arms crossed, his blue eyes lively just beneath his soot-black headband.

" Yo, Sasuke, Sakura-chan, we're heading to…the bar." he uttered the words with a fake crypticness that made his Uchiha rival smack him upside the head for being insensitive. The blond howled indignantly, and then, catching sight of his pink-haired teammate, he stopped dead. Barely, he managed to mutter, " Wow, Sakura-chan, you look…" he shook his head. " Pretty. Really pretty."

The young woman gave a self-conscious twirl, and then stared down at her dress; it was red with a slightly carrot-colored glow here and there, adorned with fake glittering jewels. It ended just below her knees, making her feel uncomfortably exposed. For while she was used to wearing skirts, this felt so…wrong. So not her. Even the thin straps that held the garment in place seemed to bite into her skin in a way her normal day clothes never did. And the way her cleavage was exposed…

She sighed.

" Let's go, I'm ready." She stood up straighter, to her full five feet six inches height, just to underline that statement. Naruto nodded, and bounced on ahead, Kakashi trailing, his masked nose hidden in the depths of his porn book.

Sasuke and Sakura kept even stride together.

" Remember, I'm not going to let anything happen to you." The Uchiha repeated tightly.

Laying a hand on his arm, the kunoichi met his gaze earnestly.

" Sasuke, I'll be fine."

" But you're a ninja!" The young man exploded. " Not a damn prostitute!"

" you're right…I am a ninja. Meaning I can handle myself. Tsunade-sensei was telling me just the other day that she had to perform a similar mission when she was a Chunnin…one rank below us! And she didn't need help from Jiraiya or…well, neither of her teammates had to step in." The girl finished uncomfortably. Orochimaru's name was taboo with their squad, never spoken and thus rarely thought of.

They reached the bar Naruto had mentioned, and Kakashi ordered them all some sake. They sat in a comfy booth to enjoy the beverages and swap stories. Sakura drank hers for the affect of calming her nerves, which it did, slightly. She knew this place well, because her team had come in here four or five times recently, learning every angle of it, every hiding place, every alcove.

A hallway stretched out beside the counter, with white-door rooms facing each other across threadbare green carpet. These were the places where costumers went to

" tumble", as Naruto had so eloquently put it on a previous inspection. At the very end, in an old office, was where the rest of Team Seven would wait for Sakura to do what had to be done…that being whipping an unsuspecting fool's ass.

As they sat and waited, Sasuke folded his hands before him, rested his elbows on the booth's tabletop, and pressed his lips to his fingers. His dark eyes studied the dais nearby, where some women were dancing rather suggestively. It became obvious, however, that they were earning no attention. The five or six men gathered around were staring directly in this direction. Directly towards…

The Uchiha snarled as one of the onlookers licked his lips hungrily and pointed to Sakura, who was playing chess with a bag of beans and a board drawn on a napkin, competing against Naruto. Spitting under his breath, Sasuke wrapped his arm protectively around his girlfriend's waist.

Sakura started a bit at the contact, gazing sidelong at the young heir. His eyes challenged some men over by the dancing stage. While the kunoichi appreciated his affection, his jealousy, it was also a danger to the mission. If anyone realized she wasn't really a prostitute…

As if he sensed her thoughts, Kakashi cleared his throat loudly. Sasuke shot a glare his way, and his hold tightened. Naruto groaned under his breath, and Sakura sidled sideways, escaping the Uchiha's touch. He looked slightly offended, for a moment, before his face went blank, and he stared back at those spectators, eyes narrowed.

At that moment, the door opened. Naruto, who could see without turning around and being obvious, lifted his queen. Sliding it around all of his friend's pieces he knocked her king over, before meeting her eyes.

" Checkmate." he murmured.

Sasuke felt his gut tighten, just as Sakura gave a swift nod and rose. She smoothed her hands over her dress, and then started as the Uchiha grasped her palm.

" Stay safe, and don't forget what I said." He growled lowly. She nodded, moved her other hand to brush his cheek…and then her fingers slid like water through his grasp. Sasuke closed his eyes, remembering her touch as he heard the heels of her shoes clicking away, towards their victim.

Sakura was nervous about this mission as soon as she saw the man. Hitori…that's what someone had said, maybe Tsunade, but she didn't really remember. The man was unshaven, wearing a pale khaki top and a purple cloth that fell to his knees, just above dark pants. Yes, he definitely worked with Orochimaru…but he must really be drunk to wear such an obvious giveaway in public.

Good. If he was completely conked out, tying him up would be a breeze. But since she couldn't make a scene…that had been the deal with the bar owner, who was so graciously allowing them to make their grab here…she had to take him away.

So, donning her best seductive voice, Sakura lowered herself onto the bar stool beside the man. She ordered sake for both of them, and then turned.

" Hey there, big boy." Suppressing the urge to shudder, Sakura rested a hand on the man's shoulder. His dark eyes lit up as she went on, " I haven't seen you before."

" I should say the same. And who are you, Miss Lovely?" Hitori demanded.

" Me? I'm just a wayward kitten looking for some…milk." The kunoichi pulled what she hoped was a sexy, small smile. She comforted herself by remembering that they were doing this to take down the man who had hurt her precious Sasuke.

" Well, then, Kitty." The man crooned. " What's your profession?"

Is he on to me? Sakura wondered briefly. She glanced at the stage, and then recaptured her smirk. " Oh, I'm a pole dancer." She supplied. " What about you?"

" I do odd jobs, here and there. No boss, no master." Hitori boasted.

Yeah, right. The kunoichi grumbled internally. Aloud, she said, " Oh, with all that traveling, then, you must be tired. Maybe I can help you, or ease your pain?" The words were like poison in her mouth. The man's grin turned devilish, and the next thing Sakura knew, his hand was moving on her inner thigh, chafing the fabric against her skin. She shivered, and felt eyes burning into her, from front…and from back.

Don't blow it, Sasuke. She snapped mentally. Thankfully, he didn't.

" oh, you can relieve more than that." Hitori murmured. " More than tiredness, more than pain…" He fondled her some more, and Sakura was more then ready to bludgeon his face in…but then, the whole scene issue…

She extracted a key from the tiny folded pocket on the side of her dress, and dropped it on the counter.

" Come to the room for a good time." She purred. Moving gracefully, she rose, and glanced back over her shoulder. " Don't keep me waiting, Hitori. I don't like men who take a long time to deliver the goods." She winked, and then headed down the hallway. A glance at the booth showed her that Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke were already in the office, waiting for her.

Reaching the tenth room, two down from that last door, where her team waited, the kunoichi ducked inside. The plan was that, then Hitori arrived, she would have her kunai at the ready…the ones she had strapped to her thighs for the intimidation attack. She doubted she'd have to use them. Then, using chakra-forced ropes that were bound around her waist lightly, she would tie him up. Case closed.

As Sakura bent to loosen the pouches on her legs, she felt the door open. It slammed into her back, sending her rolling. Stunned, the girl still managed to drag the knives free. She bounded to her feet just in time to see Hitori shut the door…and lock it.

" Hey, what's…?" The kunoichi began in what she hoped was a smooth voice. The man snarled, all pretense of happiness gone.

" You filthy bitch, I'm not stupid. I never told you my name, but you knew. You're after me, aren't you? Well, it'll never work!" He rushed the girl, pinning her to the wall with large callused hands. The weapons fell from her palms and clattered under the bed as the girl lurched forward. Pain had spiked through her spine, but now she was going limp, her legs starting to feel numb.

Hitori swept her off of her feet, and threw her onto the bed. Sakura stared up at him in horror, biting her lip. This chain of events was unpredicted. And still, her lower body was frozen.

Did he really hit me that hard? She wondered frantically. That didn't seem possible, but for whatever reason her legs just wouldn't follow her brain's commands to move like hell and get her out of there.

Hitori crouched on the bed beside her. His putrid breath, smelling strongly of alcohol, wafted across Sakura's face as he spoke.

" You may be a liar, but you're still game, Kitty."

And her heart went cold.


Sasuke paced the office, arms crossed, head bent as he counted the steps from one wall to another. Naruto lounged across the conference table, counting cracks in the ceiling, and of course, Kakashi was reading his perverted book. All three men, though loose, were anything but relaxed as they waited for their female teammate.

The Uchiha turned to stare at the door again, and Naruto sighed, turning his cheek parallel to the hard wooden surface of the desk so he could watch his friend.

" Yo, bastard, give it a rest, why don't you? You're driving me nuts." He complained moodily, with a slight taunt to his voice.

" Welcome to my world." The Uchiha snarled back. He resumed his pacing, and Naruto sat up, shaking his blond head furiously, ridding his eyes of the unruly bangs that had shadowed them a moment before.

" She'll come, Sasuke…Sakura-chan is strong."

" I never said she wasn't. But she's also in danger." The young man countered coldly. He glanced at the clock on the far wall. Then, with a shake of his head, he moved back to the far wall and started pacing.

Kakashi's eyes lifted over the edge of his book, and he looked amused.

" Sasuke, you burn calories walking back and forth. If you keep doing that, you'll be stick-thin by the time Sakura comes back." With a total lack of response, the Uchiha boy showed his usual disregard to the advice of others.

It was then that they heard it…faint, but still existent: A scream.

The three men didn't even bother glancing at each other. They had reached the office door before their minds had even registered what had happened.

Sakura was in danger.


The kunoichi wailed in pain as Hitori slammed her up against the wall behind the bed. His hands pinned her wrists above her head as he planted sloppy, wet kisses down her exposed collarbone, towards her breasts. Her legs were still numb, so Sakura resisted by twisting erratically, left and right, keeping her assailant darting after his goal.

After a moment, he released one of her hands, moving to slap her into submission. Using her greater speed and strength, Sakura hefted her fist back and punched him in the face. Unfortunately, the angle of their bodies made it so that her knuckles only grazed his nose, sending him reeling, instead of propelling him into, say, the next country.

Hurling herself onto the floor, Sakura scooped up the nearest of her kunai and flung it at Hitori. He dodged easily, holding his bleeding face. The kunoichi attempted to rise, but fell back. Her lower body was still numb, and her back hurt like hell. It seemed a nerve had been pinched, or something along those lines.

Desperate, Sakura crawled over to the door. There was a two-inch crack at the bottom. Unable to reach up to the knob, the girl placed her mouth to the small opening and screamed as loud as she could.

" SASUKE-KUN!"

Then a hand grabbed the back of her neck; she was wrenched over into a flip. Her head cracked the wall, and it was all she could do to stay conscious. Enraged, with blood still spilling from his broken nose, Hitori hefted her up and pounded her against the bed. With his free hand, he stripped away her clothing, revealing her body, covered by only her underwear and a bra, and the chakra rope on her waist. The man fumbled with the cords, leering.

" A ninja, huh? Not so powerful, are you?"

Spitting up blood, Sakura didn't bother replying. She felt drained, trying desperately to stay awake. She struggled feebly as Hitori began to fondle her chest again.

No…please…

You guys, where are you?


" SASUKE-KUN!"

The Uchiha heard the scream from the tenth room. He knelt down by the door, feeling hot breath ghost against his sandaled foot from within the chamber. Then he felt cold, hearing a whimper of pain from within, following a sharp snap, like a body smacking something unyielding.

" SAKURA!" Sasuke snarled. He reached for the doorknob, twisting it, but it held. Locked. He was being barred away from his teammate, who was likely being sexually assaulted.

Naruto was yelping at Kakashi to do something, and the Jounin was beginning to perform hand seals, summoning something that might open a path for them. Sasuke gritted his teeth, and backed against the far door. He braced himself, lowered his body, and clutched his left wrist with his right hand. Silvery-blue light glowed in his palm. Naruto and Kakashi stared in wonder and admiration as the Uchiha reared back.

" Chidori!"

He dashed forward and slammed the lightening-like attack into the door.


All of the fight had drained from Sakura.

Resisting only feebly as Hitori fondled her breasts with one hand and her bottom with the other, the girl wished it would just end…that she could pass out, or die. Anything was better than enduring this torture.

And then she realized her hearing had grown static-y, like a thousand birds were swarming into her head, bawling. And then she realized it was no illusion. That became wonderfully clear when the door flew clean off of its hinges and crashed through the wall at the back of the room…then kept going.

Hitori, laying atop Sakura, glanced around with confusion on his face…a second before he was ripped away like a leech. Sakura scrambled upright and pulled the scratchy bed blankets over her nearly-naked body just in time to see Sasuke heft back a fist and pound the man in the face, knocking him to the floor. There was a redness of hate in the Uchiha boy's eyes that had nothing to do with the Sharingan.

" You." Sasuke snarled. " Do not…" He kept Hitori pinned by his throat and summoned the Chidori with his free hand. " Mess with…"

" Yeah! Get him, Sasuke!" Naruto cheered.

" My…" The Uchiha drew his palm back as far as it could go.

Sakura held her breath.

" GIRLFRIEND!"

The Chidori ate into the man's chest, sending blood flying up to splatter the ceiling and the wall. The kunoichi cringed, ducking her head and shutting her eyes. She felt weak and mortified, as if she was not a day older than twelve again…a pathetic, useless, recently-graduated Genin who did nothing but slow her teammates down.

Finally, she began to cry, not from relief or fear but from a feeling of utter uselessness. She knew Naruto, Kakashi, and Sasuke were staring at her, but she didn't care…not until she felt the blankets begin tugged from her hand.

" S-Stop!" She blubbered. " Sasuke, what are you doing?"

The Uchiha didn't utter a word, just held up his black shirt. Then, without an explanation, he proceeded to pull it over her head, in place of that stupid, stupid gown she had been wearing. His broad shoulders shielded her bare form from her other teammates, and the girl was glad. She braced herself against her boyfriend and sighed.

When Sasuke drew back, Sakura was sorry. The warmth of his bare chest against her cheek while he dressed her had been comforting.

" Are you hurt?" The Shinobi demanded.

" M-My legs are numb." Sakura whimpered. Without another word, Sasuke scooped her up in his arms, and transferred her to his back, where she could rest her head against the curve of his neck as they walked.

The shirt, thankfully, fell to the middle of Sakura's thighs, hiding her more private places. She still felt drowsy as they left Hitori's dead body in that filthy room, but she did manage to tune into what the others were saying.

" Never again, sensei. I'm not letting her do something like that again." Sasuke was growling with barely fettered rage.

" I understand your anger, but…what if we have a mission like this one come up again?" The oldest Jounin demanded.

" Then let Naruto play the prostitute." The Uchiha retorted.

" Heeeyyy!" The blonde griped.

And, despite her trauma, Sakura giggled. She felt Sasuke release one of her legs, and he reached back to touch her hair, as though assuring himself of her safety. She snuggled against his bare back, and sighed.

They had nearly reached the exit when the gawkers from the stage stopped their team. All six men were sneering, but one stepped closer than the others.

" Looks like your bitch took a beating. She won't be any good to you now…how about giving us a go at her?" he demanded.

Without even looking, Sasuke snapped out a fist, delivering an uppercut so hard, it sent the man flying upwards so that his head stuck through the low ceiling.

As they left, Naruto surveyed the dangling, flailing body, and whistled.

" There goes the next contestant."