Page 6
Chapter one
"Why are these curtains shut? It's a beautiful day outside." Sakura said while walking over to open them.
"I will bring Sasuke back, I haven't given up! I will keep my promise!" Naruto said with desperation in his voice. Shikamaru looked back and forth between them.
"It's ok Naruto I know you did your best." Shikamaru lifted his arms in the air as if in surrender.
"Sakura he did his best…"
"I will bring him back! Just you wait!" Naruto had cut Shikamaru off with his words. Sakura still looking doubtful looked over to Naruto. Sasuke had done so much to him it was amazing that he was able to sit up. So she nodded her head in thanks as tears started to push their way down her cheeks. Tsunade thinking it would be good to leave them alone, she motioned to Shikamaru to follow. With the room silent Naruto could hear the tears hit the hard floor. Each time a new type of pain was released. He failed, when Sakura really needed him. He failed, when his team needed him. He failed, when Sasuke needed him.
Never again would he fail like this. He let so many people down, and he felt like he had lost something in the process. He did lose something; he lost his only brother that cared. The only person who pushed him harder than he ever pushed himself; no, he would never fail again.
***
Nightfall came and Sakura hadn't left the hospital. She was asleep in a chair next to the bed when Naruto awoke. He noticed how tired she looked and attempted to get her more comfortable, but when he tried to move her she woke up.
"What is it Naruto?" Cursing under his breath Naruto looked at her.
"I was trying to make you rest better. Sakura, you can't do this to yourself. You need to sleep."
"No I don't! Naruto, you're hurt because of me! How can I sleep knowing what I've done to you?" Naruto looked down at his hands.
"I would have done it anyway. It's not your fault because you sent me out, if you didn't send me I still would have gone. I've never told anyone this but, I think of him as my brother, and I'd hate to see anything happen to him. And just between us," Naruto looked over at Sakura. "I know that he would hate to see anything happen to us too." Sakura grabbed her shoulders while she started to cry uncontrollably. Naruto reached over and started to rub her back in tiny circles, trying to comfort her.
"Naruto, I-it's s-so h-hard, I d-didn't t-think I-I would b-be s-so torn u-up by t-this."
"Me neither." Naruto pulled Sakura up and laid her down beside him so she could rest on him. Sakura leaned into his shoulder and cried herself to sleep.
Flashback: "Sakura, who did this to you? Who was it?"
"That would be me." Sasuke turned to look at the guy who had spoken. He had a huge grin on his face. Sasuke turned his full attention on him as the marks on the left side of his face started to spread to the right. The man with the grin on his face put his hands together and made a hand sign.
"Dosu, what's the matter? You're not getting cold feet are you? Dosu turned toward his teammate urgently.
"No Zaku! You don't understand!"
"It doesn't matter I'll finish them off in one vel swoop! SUPPER SONIC SLICING WAVE!" Debris went everywhere, and Zaku felt spent. When the dust died down there was no one there. Dosu looked around and spotted them.
"In creatable, he got both of his teammates out of harm's way!" Sasuke turned so he could see his enemy. He quickly made hand signs.
"Fire style, phoenix flower jutsu!" Zaku grinned.
"Slicing sound wave!" The flames disappeared leaving shuriken still coming.
"In the flames, shuriken! Ahh!" Zaku dodged the weapons, but Sasuke appeared right in front of him and grabbed both of his arms. Know on his knees Zaku could only look behind and watch. Sasuke put his right foot on Zaku's back and started to pull.
"You seem to be very proud of these arms of yours, very attached to them." Zaku's eyes widened.
"No, what are you doing?" Sasuke grinned widely and pulled really hard. Everyone heard the cracking of bone while Zaku screamed and fell to the ground. Sasuke still smiling turned his head over to Dosu.
"It looks like you're the only one left. I hope you make things more interesting than your friend did." Sasuke started to walk over to a shaking Dosu. Sakura feeling like she should do something got up quickly and started running toward Sasuke crying.
"NO!! STOP!!!!" She grabbed a hold of Sasuke and held on for dear life while she sobbed into his back. "Don't do it, stop. Please!" Sasuke finding himself again felt the marks receding, then collapsed. Sakura collapsed too then started to rub small circles along his back.
End of Flashback:
In the morning, Naruto awoke feeling cold. Then he remembered what happened the night before and wondered where Sakura went. Without her there it felt like there was a huge hole inside Naruto's chest. Moving the covers to get out of bed, Naruto winced. He had almost forgotten he had wounds; still not letting them stop him he swung his legs over the side and attempted to stand. After his legs adjusted to standing, he went over to the closet to see if his jumpsuit was there. It was, along with a small backpack. There was a note attached to it.
Naruto,
I left you some cloths and weapons in the pack along with food and water, get dressed and meet me at the gate. We're going to look for Sasuke.
Sakura.
p.s. don't tell lady Tsunade or Kakashi- sensei.
Naruto catching on fast put on the cloths hanging up and pulled the strap of the pack over his shoulder. Walking over to the window, he looked out over the village. He may never see it again… but that didn't matter. What mattered now was getting out before anyone could notice. Opening the window, Naruto vaulted over and landed on the roof below. Once he regained his balance he started jumping from roof top to roof top in an attempt to not get noticed. When he was insight of the gate, he slowed down. Once he was on the roof before he reached the gate he looked around for Sakura. He saw her in the alleyway behind the building that he was on. Naruto left his perch and raced down the side of the wall and landed right beside Sakura. Sakura glanced over at Naruto and smiled.
"You made it!" Naruto grinned widely.
"Of course I did. There's absolutely no way that I'll let you go looking for Sasuke without me. Now, what's the plan?" Sakura looked over to the gate.
"Well, I was thinking that we tell the guard that we were on a mission to the sand village and show him this scroll." Sakura pulled out a green scroll from her pack and opened it. The scroll had like a code in it that was directed to the Kazekage. Naruto put his thumb up in the air with a huge toothy grin on his face.
"Nice work Sakura! Let's go all ready!" Sakura nodded.
"Yeah, now don't say anything ok. I'll handle it." Naruto put his hand down and got serious.
"Right, I'll follow your lead so I don't make any more mistakes." Sakura nodded then moved around the corner and started heading for the gate, Naruto was right behind her. When they approached, the guard stood up and waited for them to get closer before he said something.
"I have to know why you guys are leaving, and where you are going." Sakura looked up at the guard and smiled sweetly.
"We're going to the sand village to deliver this document." She held up the scroll. The man took a good look at the scroll then smiled.
"Of course, you may pass. Giki, open the gate!" The gate slowly opened and Sakura bowed he head slightly then walked through with Naruto on her left just following. After they were far enough away Naruto jumped up in the air many times before he turned to Sakura.
"That was awesome Sakura! You're a natural!" Sakura smiling shrugged her shoulders.
"It was nothing Naruto. Now would you stop jumping around like an idiot and come with me?" Naruto grabbed a hold of Sakura's arm and started to sing "We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of OZ!"
***
Sasuke awoke with a start. Something was wrong, something was really wrong. While trying to place the feeling of unease Sasuke got out of his bed and went over to his new closet to sort through some cloths hanging up. All of the cloths were lame, and looked like it wouldn't be able to move in. They all looked tight fitting and very uncomfortable, well it could have been worse… no it couldn't, first he had nothing comfortable to wear, second Orochimaru never gave him a straight answer, and third Kabuto always gave him a dirty look whenever Orochimaru talked about "his new vessel." It was annoying. Almost as annoying as when Naruto would decide to go off on "his dream." A stab of pain went through Sasuke's chest as he thought of Naruto. He shook his head to clear the thought's, then put a blank face so no one would notice, then pulled one of the hangers out and put the clothes on. It was a plain tank top that showed his muscles off with tight black pants that felt more like spandex. It wasn't what Sasuke would call comfortable but it worked. After putting them on he started to walk around the room he was staying in so he could get a good view of his surroundings. There were no windows, only a candle for light, a desk in the far right corner, a door that led into his own bathroom with a shower, and there was a glass case by the bed where Sasuke guessed was for weapons. After going through everything he found his shirts and shorts then gladly put them on instead. Once comfortable Sasuke decided to go out into the compound and learn his way around. Checking to see if there was a lock on the door Sasuke heard someone coming in his direction.
Acting like nothing was wrong he found the lock to his door then shut it behind him. Walking in the opposite direction of the person coming down the hall Sasuke heard a silent chuckle.
"Hold on a minute Sasuke! Orochimaru wants to see you." Stopping in his tracks Sasuke slowly turned to see Kabuto grinning slightly, and then wave his hand in the direction that he wanted to go. Curious as to find out what exactly Orochimaru wanted Sasuke didn't feel like putting up much of a fight so he just followed Kabuto down the hall he had just came from. Once they reached the end of it Kabuto knocked on the door that they stopped in front of.
"Come in," Kabuto opened the door gently and ushered Sasuke in. Sasuke took a quick look around to get his bearings before Orochimaru could say anything. Kabuto cleared his throat and tapped Sasuke on the shoulder.
"Show some respect!" Orochimaru smirked.
"Oh come now Kabuto, be nice to the boy, he doesn't know any better. Now Sasuke, you have been very patient with me so, I'll reward you with some training with your new sensei." Sasuke still with a blank face gave Orochimaru death glare.
"I did not come here to fool around. Now if you don't get serious with me, I'll leave right now and find someone else to teach me." Orochimaru's smirk disappeared replaced by a scowl.
"You're probably thinking that you're too good for us and you'd rather do things on your own. Well guess what kid; you have no idea who you're messing with." Sasuke smirked.
"I know exactly who I'm messing with. The snake that thinks he knows everything, well guess what you old basterd you have no idea who you're messing with." Orochimaru rose to his feet.
"You watch your mouth Sasuke."
"Why don't you make me?"
"Kabuto teach Sasuke some manners." Kabuto grinned and made a hand sign. Sasuke activated his new sharing one and waited for Kabuto to move. He did, with blue surrounding his right hand.
("I've seen this before, when I fought that guy in the preliminary exam. Uh, does he really think that will work."?)
("Getting around this kids sharingone is not going to be easy. I might have to resort to food pills, if that happens I won't have much left after they wear off. I have to finish him off quickly.") Kabuto moved to the left of Sasuke and attacked, he quickly moved out of the way and punched Kabuto hard enough to send him flying into the wall. Shaking his head to clear the fuzziness Kabuto was surprised, he shouldn't be able to hit that hard unless the sound ninja four did their job and put him to second state. No matter he would just keep an eye out for an opening.
***
After walking 20 miles Naruto and Sakura decided it would be a good time to make camp. The place they choose was well protected from the weather, so it wouldn't rain on them much. There was a creek not far from where they were, and it was not very open so they could hind quickly if needed to. Sakura dropping her pack on the ground looked over to Naruto.
"Ok, do you want to make the tent, or fetch the water and wood?" Naruto dropped his pack also then turned toward Sakura.
"I think I'll get the water and wood, since I'm not the best at building things." Sakura smiled.
"Yeah, good point." Sakura started searching through her pack until she found the tarp. Naruto making sure Sakura could handle it watched until she looked like she knew what she was doing. Judging that she would be ok, Naruto started walking toward the sound of the water to get enough for the night, he could just get some more for the next morning.
Back at camp Sakura had already put the tent up and was looking for rocks to make a pit so the fire would stay in one place. While searching Sakura got a weird feeling in her right leg, after a while it started to hurt. Soon she couldn't even walk on it, ("What's wrong with it?") she thought as she started to crawl back to camp. Not long after she reached the camp had she started to hurt in her left leg too. Sakura applied pressure to try and help the pain go way, but it just increased. Tears welled up in her eyes as the pain got so bad it was hard to bear.
Naruto made it back to camp with full arms of wood, and then dropped them next to what looked like the beginning of a fire pit. Then his heart dropped as he realized Sakura wasn't there. Searching franticly for Sakura he noticed that the tent was partly open. Naruto quickly dashed over to the tent and found Sakura in the corner holding her legs to her chest while crying silently.
"What's the matter Sakura?" Sakura looked up from where she was sitting and pointed to her legs, they seemed to be normal but Naruto could have been wrong.
"They hurt Naruto! They hurt so bad, I can't even stand! I have no idea why!" Naruto moving to get beside Sakura carefully moved he leg so he could examine it.
"Well there are no broken bones and no puncture wounds so if I remember what grandma Tsunade told me, it has to be a mental thing. What were you thinking before thins happened?"
"I guess I was thinking to get enough rocks so the fire wouldn't get out of control." Naruto rubbed his chin in thought.
"Really? So why are your legs doing this?"
"I don't know! Ah! It's cramping up again!" Sakura pulled her legs in again and held them tight. Naruto didn't know what to do, if he wasn't mistaken it looked like a jutsu but he didn't know that much about medical stuff so he was at a total rock and hard place.
"Do you think that we should go back to the village and have…" Sakura's head snapped up.
"No! We can't go back! I'll be fine. We're going to keep moving until we find Sasuke. You get that; I will endure as much pain as the human body can handle even more if necessary to get him back."
"I know! But Sakura, you can't do this to yourself! I can't risk another one of my friends getting hurt because I didn't have the capability to help!"
"Naruto, I'll do this with or without you." Naruto sat back on his heels as he watched Sakura tare herself apart.
Flashback: "Naruto, you have to save Sakura if it's the last thing you do. I can hold him hear a little longer. It I fall now it just means this was as far as I was meant to go."
Naruto looked up at Sasuke.
"Sasuke…"
End of Flashback:
***
Orochimaru grinned as he watched Kabuto fall to the ground flat on his face. Sasuke had won the battle but not without injury, he couldn't move both of his legs and his right arm looked injured too. But Kabuto was worse; he had fainted from too much blood loss and couldn't move from lack of charka. Orochimaru called in a medic to get Kabuto and Sasuke to the infirmary and fix them up. He was just beaming, Sasuke was much stronger than he could have expected.
Sasuke feeling better, looked back at Orochimaru in time to see him smiling. That was great, he had just watched Kabuto go down and he was happy about it. He was definally the snake everyone said he would be, only worse. Sasuke wondered if it was all a part of some stupid plan of his, but it didn't matter. During the whole fight Sasuke was holding back, he didn't want the snake to see his true power, and he would endure pain just to see that it happened.
***
After hours of withering in pain, it finally went away. Naruto had fallen asleep on the other side of the tent looking distress and worried. Sakura couldn't blame him. She would have worried too. Wanting some fresh air Sakura quietly went around Naruto and out of the tent, her legs were working just fine now so she decided to go down to the creek not far from where they were camping.
It was beautiful out, the sun was just raising and wonderful colors were surrounding the sky. When she reached the creek she took off her sandals and stepped in. The water was cool but not cold so she went in deeper where the cool sensation could reach her knees. Looking up at the sky Sakura thought of him, and finally understood why he didn't take her with him. She would have only slowed him down, but still, she couldn't get over the fact that he left without showing that he cared when she knew that he did. Sakura could see it in his eyes that it was hurting him just as much as it was hurting her and Naruto. Why didn't he just take them with him? They could have been of help to him; with the three of them they wouldn't need that Orochimaru's help. Sakura heard a tree branch snap and grabbed her kuni waiting for the intruder to show himself. Trying to make her heart calm down, Sakura swallowed.
"I know you're there, so why don't you just show yourself!" Naruto emerged in all of his orange glory and grinned.
I kinda freaked out when you weren't at camp so I thought you would be here since I know you love the water." Sakura lowering her guard smiled back then put her kuni away. Naruto walked up to the edge of the river and sat down on his butt. Sakura slowly moved from the water and went to sit beside Naruto. "So, what's on your mind Sakura?" Sakura picked up one of the rocks nearby and threw it into the water.
"Nothing really, just thinking." Naruto leaned back on his elbows and put his feet out then crossed them.
"About what?"
"Naruto I'm not thinking of anything, so back off!"
"Sakura I was just asking, you don't have to bite my head off." Sakura looked down at the ground and started to pick at the little blades of grass that grew there.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried."
"I know, you know what? I bet that right now Sasuke is giving those snakes the attitude and Orochimaru is about fed up with him. If that happens Sasuke will be coming down this road right here cussing all the way."
"Yeah right, if that did happen he wouldn't be alive. Orochimaru wouldn't want Sasuke to give away his position." Naruto grinned.
"You think that Sasuke would go down that easily? No he wouldn't, he would wreck havoc on that place and in the end Orochimaru would be begging for him to leave." Sakura tried to smile, but she knew different. That snake would do anything to keep his home hidden. Sakura shook her head not wanting to think of that, and tried to think of something else. Naruto slowly sat up and tried to stand, he was still injured from his battle with Sasuke and he was really stiff. Sakura followed his lead and started to walk off in the direction of their camp. It was time to go and resume their search for Sasuke.
