Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the show which is named after him, nor do I own any of the characters which appear in the aforementioned show yadda yadda yadda.
This is for a contest, directed by Ketsueki no Kuki, go there for the rules etc.
Pairing: Pein X Sakura
Type: Chaptered Story
Warnings: Will probably have OOC (Out of Character) characters. I apologize if there is OOC characters in the story, I will do my best to...do my best? May also have swearing and bad language.
Set: This story is set in the ninja realm.
Word Count: 2568
Was edited by the Beta, Hopelina.
Wonderful
+*+ Chapter One +*+
Ino watched her best friend sadly. The pinkette was crouched in the corner of the concrete jail cell, a blank look in her pastel green eyes. She'd been like that ever since the council had declared her too dangerous to live among normal society.
The council, on top of imprisoning her, intended to execute her before the end of the week. Apparently, being stronger than your Hokage was a crime.
After finding out that Sakura was imprisoned, Ino had marched over to the Hokage Tower with the rest of the younger generation, demanding to know what Tsunade was going to do about it.
*_+_* Flash Back *_+_*
A large group of young-looking nin marched in the direction of the Hokage's tower in the center of the village. They all wore terrifyingly angry looks on their faces, but no expression was more frightening than that which belonged to Ino Yamanaka and Naruto Uzumaki, who led them.
Angry muttering emitted from the group as they made their way past. And then it clicked.
Even the civilians had heard about the imprisonment of the brilliant and kind medic-nin, Sakura Haruno. They'd all thought about uprising, but what could civilians do? They didn't know that she was going to be executed at the end of the week.
After five agonizing minutes, the troop of nin arrived and broke their way in, ignoring the ANBU and secretary ordering them to stop.
Some took the elevator, and the rest took the stairs. Grim masks replaced the anger as they braced themselves.
They would do anything for Sakura. Although not all of them knew her personally, they'd respected all the great things they heard she'd done. For some, like Ino and Naruto, Konoha wouldn't be the same without her.
Everyone gathered around Tsunade's office door and, after sharing a look with Naruto, Ino shoved the door open.
Tsunade looked up from her paperwork and half-heartedly glared at them.
"We demand that you release Sakura Haruno!" Ino shouted at the blonde Hokage.
Tsunade sighed, and put down the pen she'd signed her paperwork with.
"It's not that simple. I've already attempted to release her, but to no avail."
"What do you mean? You're the Hokage!" Naruto yelled, unconvinced.
"It was the council's decision. I really had no choice in the matter..." Tsunade averted her gaze from the group of teens in front of her. They had no idea who really ran this village- it certainly wasn't her. She was just a puppet who was forced to do all the paperwork...
"That's bullshit!" Erupted a loud, unknown voice from the crowd.
Everyone gaped.
"If you really cared about Sakura, as you claim to, you wouldn't let someone lock her up in a cell!"
It was Hinata. She was actually shouting, without stuttering. And she swore!
Her gaze downcast, tears cascaded down her cheeks. Though Tsunade felt slightly sorry for her, Hinata had had no right to accuse her of not caring for both her best student and best friend.
Tsunade stood straight up and slammed her hands down on the desk, causing it to break right in half. Everyone flinched, watching the many papers float down to the ground.
"I tried everything! I know pretty damn well that Sakura would never betray us, but the council forced my hand! Damn it!" Tears welled up Tsunade's hazel eyes. She snarled. "She's to be executed at the end of the week."
"On what grounds?" Neji spoke up now, hushing the protesting teens around him.
"A danger to the village," Tsunade replied, collapsing back onto her chair. "As you know, she's now much stronger than me. When the council discovered that, they immediately took action."
"But-" Naruto was cut off.
"Damn it! There's nothing I can do! Why can't you understand that I tried everything?" Tsunade sprung up from her chair and swept to the window, staring out at nothing in particular. She tried, unsuccessfully, to keep the tears from blurring her vision.
Ino gave Tsunade a grim look. "If there's no hope for her in the village, why not break her out and allow her to roam as a missing nin?"
Tsunade shot a sharp gaze at Ino before her expression softened. Her face broke out in a huge grin as she raced over to Ino, lifting her up in a bone-crushing hug.
"That's an excellent idea!" Tsunade exclaimed. "Shizune! Shizune! Ino has an idea!" She released Ino before rushing over to her book case, grabbing out a bottle of sake and taking a swig.
Shizune burst in through the door, to run straight into Shino's back.
"What-"
"Shizune! Get over here right this instant!"
"But where are you, Tsunade-sama? I can't see you!"
Shino sighed. He turned around and lifted Shizune off the ground, carrying her through the tight crowd.
"Ah, thank you Shino. Just put her over there." Tsunade pointed to just beside her new make-shift desk. Shino did as he was asked and rejoined the group behind said desk.
Shizune looked at Tsunade in astonishment. Ever since Sakura had been imprisoned, Tsunade had been a wreck. She hadn't drank even a drop of sake since then, but now she looked drunk!
Shizune looked down at the demolished desk that Tsunade, Ino, Naruto and Shikamaru were crouched in front of. It was destroyed, but they still used it to draw up a plan. Though uneven and shabby, it was still a plan.
"What's going on?" Shizune questioned quietly, trying to squish the hope that was building in her chest. Perhaps it was a retrieval plan?
Tsunade looked up at Shizune, a wide grin planted on her face.
"We're planning an escape."
*_+_* End Flash Back *_+_*
Ino grinned. Soon the plan would be put into action. Soon Sakura would be set free, and enjoy her life as she saw fit.
Ino turned away from her best friend and walked out of the stuffy jail. She pasted on an upset face so that the jailer didn't get suspicious, but the grin retook her face once she was out of his sight.
The breakout was scheduled for tonight.
*_+_* Later that Night *_+_*
Only a few had been selected for the breakout. Neji Hyuuga was chosen for his bloodline ability, Byakugan, which gives it's user a 360 degree field of vision. On top of that, he was able to see trough any object and could see any ninja due to the chakra in their veins. Hinata had fought Neji for the position, but Neji knew that Hinata wouldn't have been able to take the possible punishment for getting caught. He'd won that fight. Shikamaru Nara was chosen for his brilliant mind and for his ability to manipulate shadows. Lastly, there was Tsunade.
Everyone but those three were backup, making sure they could get Sakura out of the village safely. Those people lay in wait, all around the forest area. They hid in the trees with their chakra concealed, close to where Tsunade, Neji, Shikamaru and Sakura would come out over the wall.
Some of the others had whined (mainly Naruto and Ino), saying they wanted to be part of the action, too. But, Tsunade stayed firm. The less people involved in the rescue attempt, the better. They eventually relented.
The team made their way stealthily, by rooftop, to the holding cells, a look of determination in their eyes. They had all bonded with Sakura at one time or another, and they would save her from her sentence if it cost them their lives.
They stopped on the roof just before the jail's roof. Neji and Shikamaru looked at Tsunade. She nodded and suddenly they were in motion. Flying down to the ground, all three landed in crouched positions. Rising to their feet in one fluid motion in the same second, they walked around to the front of the jail, where Neji stopped.
Neji activated the Byakugan, looking around to make sure no one was watching. No one was and Neji gave the others a nod. He was to stand watch outside.
Tsunade and Shikamaru entered the jail.
"What's is it? No one's allowed t' visit past four." The jailer growled. When he noticed the Hokage, his tune changed and he tried to smile, revealing blackened teeth. "Sorry Hokage, but that them there is th' rules."
"We're here to see Sakura. Council's orders." Tsunade announced in a strong, stern voice. As she glared at the jailer, she silently dared him to hinder them any further.
The jailer stood up quickly, startled by the intense scowl. "Right. Jus' one sec'nd, Ts'nade-sama!" He tried to say calmly, aiming to appease the pissed off sannin.
When he approached the blonde, she shot out a hand to punch him in the face, efficiently knocking him out.
Tsunade nodded at Shikamaru, signaling him to use his shadows to manipulate the man.
Shikamaru nodded, closing his eyes and forming the hand sign. The shadow shot forward and surrounded the man's feet.
Shikamaru opened his eyes and walked forward, the man mimicking his every movement.
Using the man, Shikamaru opened the door that led to their next obstacle.
On Ino's scouting mission, she'd noted that in the first room there was a single person keeping watch behind a desk. The second room was the room before the actual cells. In this particular room, there were at least five ANBU nin when Ino was there. Who knows how many more there were now that it was night? I mean it was perfect time for an uprising.
Shikamaru forced the unconscious man to walk into the room where the nin were he forced the man to signal the nin to move out the of the room. Then he let the man go and he fell into a heap.
The ANBU nin quickly passed the unconscious man. They fell straight into a trap.
There had been eight ANBU nin, and none had lasted five minutes against the sannin and the genius. They were taken out quickly with the combined strength of Konoha's Hokage and the tactical genius that was Shikamaru.
"Come on," Tsunade whispered, leading the two into the other room that led to the cells.
Their footsteps made no noise as they ran forward. They both felt tension and the fading adrenalin that only battle could bring.
Was Sakura really as bad as Ino said she was? Was there any hope of recovery?
Tsunade shook her thoughts away. Of course there was hope! Naruto had taught her that there was always hope.
She pushed open the door, and they fanned out, checking that there weren't any surprise nin. There wasn't and they met in front of Sakura's cell, ignoring the howls from the insane around them.
Tsunade quickly looked around in disgust. They were holding Sakura here?
She shook her thoughts away again and crushed the lock, so they could get into Sakura's cell and get her out of there.
Tsunade didn't even have to focus her chakra, already so in tune with her enormous strength, and she crushed the lock with one hand.
Pushing the door in, Shikamaru winced at the loud squeak that only came from metal doors that hadn't been oiled in years.
Tsunade walked in and, not paying attention to anything else besides her motionless student, grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her to her feet.
Tsunade took a step back. The desolate look in Sakura's eyes scared her.
"We're going to get you out of here," Tsunade whispered, getting a hold of herself. "Come on."
Sakura didn't make any motion of understanding what Tsunade had said, but Tsunade pulled her along anyway.
"Come on, Maru. Target acquired."
Shikamaru nodded once, following the sannin and his pink-haired friend out the door and into the guard room.
They walked over the pile of ANBU in the middle of the room and continued on without breaking stride.
They hurried out the door, seeing Neji with the Byakugan still activated. He was still looking around, making sure no one snuck up on them.
Tsunade patted him lightly on the back, ripping him out of his trance. He helped Sakura up properly and Tsunade turned her back on them so he could help Sakura onto the sannin's back. Sakura gripped at her shoulders weakly.
Neji nodded at Tsunade once and, deactivating the byakugan, the three jumped back onto the rooftops to begin their escape. Each of them hoped that they would reach the wall, and the forest, before being discovered.
If it came to it, they would fight to the death for their comrade.
Said comrade, Sakura, was hanging off Tsunade's back. She could barely hold on by herself, but she was slightly holding onto Tsunade's shoulders. Her grip tightened the further they got away from the jail.
+_+ End First Chapter +_+
Constructive criticism and anonymous reviewers (meaning you don't have to log in to review) welcome. If you see any mistakes please tell me. Thankyou to all my reviewers, you are all loved.
Till Next Time
The-White-Empress