Sakura could hear the beat of her heart as she was fighting Akasuna no Sasori. In some ways she was surprised she was still even alive after hours, and hours of fighting the puppet master. Luckily she was not alone, she had Lady Chiyo to pull the strings for her, however that didn't mean that this battle wasn't the hardest thing Sakura had ever done.
She gasped for breath for a few seconds before Sakura heard Sasori say something she wasn't quite expecting. "Hmph," Said the Puppet Master,"You are just like her... Strong, wise, fire burning green eyes, and petal pink hair,"
Now Sakura was entirely confused, cocked brows in all. "What?" She questioned, "What the heck are you taking about?" Now very angered. "First you try to kill me then you compliment me, and tell me I'm like someone you used to know?" Sakura retorted back, screaming with pure hatred. Sasori smirked at that, knowing he angered her.
Sasori then slipped off his cloak, and started to rise of the poisonous rope that was attached to his chest, and chuckled darkly. "I'll let you know someday, just you wait Sakura," He said with eyes shaded by his red locks, looking away.
'Wait a second... Did Sasori just say my name?' She thought completely shocked. Soon shock quickly turned to anger, and she was soon running a mad dash toward Sasori. "How dare you call me by name you emotionless bastard!" She yelled at him, with chalkra an enhanced fist. She soon hit him, which she wasn't expecting at all. It was almost like he wanted her to do that. His puppet body was now scattered everywhere. Sakura stood there shocked, eyes wide staring at the pieces of wood. Did she actually just hit the Puppet Master, and get away from it? No, Sasori would never be so foolish.
She soon leaped back towards Lady Chiyo. The old puppet lady was almost unfazed when she said the next words, "It's not nearly over yet my dear, not at all," She said while staring at the parts.
As soon as she had said that the wooden body parts comeback together again, and Sasori was soon staring at them with cold blooded eyes filled with insanity. She knew that all sense of sanity still left in him was gone. His normal chocolate brown eyes had nothing left in them. Even for a puppet like himself, Sakura felt almost sad at that, somehow.
Sasori soon brought out his trump card, the Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets. Shadows soon enveloped the sky, Sakura furrowed her brow. At the same time she felt the chalkra strings on her body disappear. "Lady Chiyo?" She asked concerned.
Lady Chiyo furrowed her brow as well, and said, " Well my dear I have my trump card to!" She then released her card, the White Secret Technique: The Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets. Sakura then smirked, and started towards Sasori's puppet collection, smashing as many as physically possible, while dodging the blades that were equipped to them, as to not get poisoned.
At this Sasori was showing the fact that he was clearly annoyed. This girl was just like that girl. It was like her clone. It was true though that this girl had clearly no idea what he was talking about when it came to the other though. He also knew this body was going to die during this fight, he knew it, however gave no hint to the other two.
Quickly the hundred puppets were all in splinters by Sakura's now bleeding fists. She was breathing heavily now, much of her chalkra spend. Scratches scattered her previous flawless white skin, now stinging very painfully.
Before Sakura could even blink a katana now struck her abdomen, with inhuman like force. Sasori was not very pleased, he really didn't want to kill this girl, for she reminded him of her. He heard her grunts of pain, and could see the fire in her eyes leave for a just a second. He also saw the old hag, with a scared look plastering her face. He smirked at that. Almost immediately he released the katana from the girl, causing her to scream in pain, he cringed at that. However she was soon healing herself, and the old hag struck her in the leg with yet another antidote. He knew exactly what was going to happen next, and he didn't want to wait for the inevitable. Just as he started to smirk the Mother and Father puppets had pierced his heart, with two poisoned katanas.
"What? Whats with the smirk you lifeless bastard?" Sakura yelled while healing herself.
Sasori nearly rolled his eyes at the rude, yet true remark, 'There she goes, cursing me yet again.'
"I still am going to find you again Sakura, someday and tell you what I was talking about earlier..." He said just loud enough just for her to hear. He knew this wasn't his end, not even close. "However, until then I have a reward for you, in ten days time, one of my spies that has much information revolving Orochimaru will meet me at the Tenchi Bridge in grass country... However I don't think..."
He never finished. Sakura gasped. It was over. The most exhilarating time in Sakura's life was now over. She collapsed on her knees, and sighed. Sakura, however still questioned what the Puppet Master was talking about though, he said that they would see each other again, but how? He was dead. His lifeless body was right before her very own life filled one.
Sakura soon dismissed the thought, turned to Lady Chiyo, and smiled happily. "It's over Lady Chiyo," She said. The Elder merely nodded, resealed the puppets, and turned toward the opening of the cave. Sakura followed, leaving the shell of a once human Puppet Master.
Sasori awoke from his decades long rest. His vision was blurred. Well, after all it has been well over twenty years since he has truly human. He could hear his stomach growl quietly, and found that he could see clearly once again.
He looked around the room and noticed that there was a small fireplace, that was still burning. He also found that there was a distinct chill in the air. He saw that there was no windows what so ever. While his eyes wandered around the room he found that he was not alone. For there was Anare, his trusty servant, that was once his student, meditating in her chair. She was at least 25 by now, but she looked almost exactly the same as she did 10 years ago, long blonde hair tied in a high pony tail, and normal purple kunoichi cloths she always wore. He smirked at his student cleverness. She had also become immortal herself as well. However her method was different then simply becoming a puppet.
'She must have been reading though my journals,' Sasori thought. 'Or some type of Jutsu perhaps?'
After that thought he slowly, and most exhaustingly rose from bed, and into a sitting position. From the sudden movement Anare jumped from her mediation stance into a fighting one. Then just as quickly sighed, regaining her normal cocky posture, grinned at her former teacher. "So," She began nonchalantly," You finally died?"
She had ended the question in a tone of mockery, in which he had never enjoyed. Sasori glared at the girl, but she didn't even flinch, she just chuckled, and said, "You have no idea how boring it's been waiting for you finally wake up, ya know," She said in a bored tone, yet with a twinge of annoyance.
He narrowed his eyes at her, "Che! Now she's starting to talk like me when I'm annoyed, oh wait, I am!" Sasori fumed in his mind, still showing a bored look of his face.
He was surprised he hadn't killed this girl long ago, when he still had the chance. However he couldn't no matter how badly he wanted to, and she knew that. This girl was too important, he needed her to keep his human self alive enough to still be here after his other half died. Anare was a puppeteer, and a medical ninja, a formidable one for both, but Sasori would never say that aloud.
"Enlighten me," Sasori said with a bored tone, while rubbing his eyes, "Where did you take me this time?"
Many years ago when they both still had aging bodies, Anare would often drag him to places with powerful people, so he could make more human puppets. Anare always loved dragging the puppet master around, for she loved see new places in the world.
Anare suddenly turned serious, "We're in the Land of Snow, however just as you requested, no where near Yukigakture." She said in an almost whisper. Sasori narrowed him eyes at the girl. She was never truly serious unless something was problematic.
He soon got rid of the thought as he heard his stomach growl. He was now even more annoyed by this situation, as Anare was now laughing at him from his predicament. She stopped mid laugh when she forgot to ask something very important. She suddenly nearly screamed it, "Wait a second! Who the hell killed you? Your like, unbeatable, let alone immortal in your puppet state!"
Sasori cringed at the sudden outburst, now furious at the blonde haired girl. "Just get me some food then I shall tell you of a girl I met, and my reunion with my old hag. Also, don't keep me waiting."
Even though his mood wasn't in the highest of sprits, he was too tired to start an unneeded argument.
She smiled, hearing that trademark statement out of the puppet master. She decided to annoy him a little more by giving him a solute, and saying, "Right away, Sasori-Sama!" Soon racing out of the room leaving a very fuming Sasori.
After the three days trudging though Suna, and the few days just to get back into Konoha Sakura was completely exhausted. Physically because of the journey, and her battle with Akasuna no Sasori. Emotionally, because of Lady Chiyo's sacrifice, and her bringing Gaara back from the dead.
As she lay down for bed that night in Konoha, she still wondered what Sasori was talking about when they said they would meet again. After all she and Lady Chiyo had killed him. His puppet body was still laying in that cave in River Country, after all. However she still couldn't shake that thought.
It was almost like she had wanted to see him again. 'Wait what?' She thought as she stared at her ceiling blushing.
'I hate that lifeless bastard!' She thought trying to convince herself.
'Hehe you like Sasori don't cha?' Inner Sakura asked mischievously.
"Like hell I do!" She screamed, not realizing until too late that she had said it aloud. She blushed even more.
'Oh please both of us know that he's incredibly hot!' Inner retorted back.
Well, at least that they could agree on. However it wasn't only that, that puzzled her. What he said was getting to her even more than Inner getting on her nerves. What he said made almost no sense, and why he had said it Sakura didn't get. "Well, all I know right now is that I need to get some sleep, and tell Lady Tsunade about my quest to grass country."
That is if she wanted to have someone go with her.
When Anare soon left the room, all happiness from her disappeared. It wasn't because of Sasori being back, she was happy for him to finally be awake again after so long. However, all she showed right now was an act. For Anare was helplessly in love with the Puppet Master's partner in the Akatsuki. Yes, that's right everyone, she loved Deidara, the psychotic bomb master mind, the one that had been quietly helping her with Sasori for almost over three years.
She soon felt her eyes water, but didn't dare let them flow. She didn't want Sasori to suspect anything out of her. It was hard enough to gain his trust the first time, and she didn't want to break that. For she couldn't tell him about her feelings of Deidara, and about what they fought about last time they met. Which, sadly was over a month ago...
She soon dismissed those unhelpful thoughts, and grabbed Sasori's favorite soup, Miso. She felt the warmth of it, steaming up to her face, causing her to shiver.
"It's far to cold in this place..." She mumbled silently, partially annoyed.
Why Sasori had even thought of this place was mind boggling. It was true though that he had indeed hated the climate of his hidden village, but even so, this place was just too cold. She soon realized that she was lost in her train of thought, then just as quickly looked at the clock. She's been here for twenty minutes! She panicked, and then raced out of the kitchen and down the hall to Sasori's room.
'Oh God, oh God! Sasori is going to be pissed!' She thought panicking, while running down the chilly halls.
When she opened the door, she found a kunai heading straight for her head. She yelped, and ducked making sure to not spill the still hot soup.
"That's for making me wait so damn long," He stated, glaring at the blonde haired kunoichi, who just sweat-dropped at her predicament. She noticed that he was now sitting in a desk with a rather bored posture. "Also, Anare, I would like you to retrieve my puppets, from the former Akatsuki base in river county. It shouldn't be too hard to find," He ordered more than asked.
With that, she put the soup on the desk, and went back to the doorframe leaning against it, with a cocky smirk tugging at her lips. "You know, you still have to tell me how you died. By the way, Sasori-Sama, Deidara will be here soon to give you back your puppets."
Sasori glared at the girl for his unneeded nickname, but soon dismissed it, and cocked a brow. He was a bit confused as to why she had mentioned Deidara. When the hell did they meet?
"What? You don't honestly think I could stay out here in snow country, for years with no one to talk to, and nothing to do?" She stated, making it sound like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Sasori just nodded calmly, and started on his soup.
"Now can you please tell me how you died?" She asked annoyed from having to wait.
Sasori smirked, and told his story. She noticed the times he said the name "Sakura" he seemed to start off in a daze, but she wasn't entirely sure. After awhile, she decided to get a bit more comfortable, so she sat on the floor, no matter how cold is was.
After what was seemed like years, Sasori was finished. The entire time all she did was nod. Which was surprising to Sasori, she usually at least asks a few questions here and there, but didn't this time. Not once. She must have enjoyed my hearing about my fight with Sakura, and my old hag. "Soooo," She starts, "Your telling me that you got beat by a girl, and your grandmother?" She said with a mischievous grin.
Sasori glared at the girl, but Anare didn't care, Sasori's glare was something that she had grown accustomed to over the years. "Well," She says while getting up from the floor, starting to stretch, "When do you plan to meet her again?
Sasori actually hadn't thought that far ahead yet. He then face-palmed at his problem. Anare wasn't going to leave him alone until he brought her here as least to meet her, but that was preposterous! He had no need to bring her here unless...
Sasori got out of his chair, and left the room, leaving a very confused Anare behind. "I'm guessing you have a plan then?" She shouted to Sasori, looking out of the door with just her head sticking out.
'Yes, indeed I do have a plan, however I would need my puppets to do so,' he thought while pacing the kitchen and dinning room. That was when he felt a familiar chalkra signature right outside. One that he knew all to well.
"Oi! He heard a voice say, "I'm freezing out here, un!" Said the same voice, that was now pounding on the main door. Sasori chuckled, almost glad to hear Deidara's annoying tone once again.
Sasori then decided it was best to get as far away from the door as possible. 'All things considered, I'd much prefer to not get blown to pieces when I just wakened," Sasori thought, leaping towards the doorway to the patio, which was on the opposite side of the main entrance.
Just as he finished his thought he a small explosion scattered near the doorway, causing Anare to quickly come to his side. Seeing a smirking Deidara now coming into the now blown up doorframe Sasori frowned, he knew what was going to happen next. Anare was standing next to him bangs covering her eyes, but he could see the veins popping out of her head.
"Ahhhh Sasori no Danna. Your back from the dead so soon, yeah?" He said with his trademark smirk.
Anare growled by Sasori's side, and soon popped her head out with a severely angered look, and said, "You freaking bastard!" She growled."You dare make my door explode like it's nothing? It's the dead of winter in snow country! Your such a lunatic!"
Deidara who always wore a smirk suddenly frowned, he didn't like when she yelled at him like that. Deidara then quickly took a scroll from his cloak, and threw it to Sasori. He then motioned for Deidara to come over, while telling Anare to leave. She scoffed at them both mumbling too herself as she walked down the hall, steam still rising from her head.
When Sasori heard a door slam, he told Deidara of his plans to meet up with a certain pink haired kunoichi. When Sasori was done Deidara cocked his brow. He was shocked that he cared enough to actually let this girl live after killing him, let alone telling her the story. The story that changed Sasori into a lifeless murdered, but as it may seem, Sasori seemed to respect the pink haired girl Sakura with this secret story that so few know.
Deidara then smiled mischievously at the puppet master, gaining him a cold glare from his former partner. Deidara then nudged his arm, grinning from ear to ear saying, "Heh he! Sasori no Danna is getting soft, yeah!"
Sasori then glared at the bomber, using one of his chalkra stings to grab a newly sharpened knife from the kitchen. Then within a matter of nanoseconds he was behind Deidara with a knife at his throat, making Deidara grin once again, and replied, "I'll take that as a yes then, un."
With that Sasori simply sighed, removing the knife from his neck, and walked out the newly exploded doorway, telling Anare to get the house back in order, while grabbing a few extra things, with Deidara soon following him to find the girl named "Sakura".
Once dawn approached Sakura left on her journey to grass country. The thing was she was leaving alone. She now knew what Sasori had meant now, well at least she hoped she was right. As she was jumping from tree to tree, no one had attacked her. Not even a gang of worthless thieves. It was a bad omen, and she knew it.
First edited chapter. Will do more.
This was originally 3 chapters, but I thought that they were much too short so I made them 1.
This is my first story, and yes I like to add my own characters and such, like Anare. The next chapter will be on Tenchi Bridge, and that battle.
Please Review!
Ja-ne!
-Cassandra
