Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
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The forest is dark and foreboding, but there is peace in its sullen ambiance. His eyes flicker over the thick, dark trunks of the trees that rise steadily into the sky, braches interlocking like giant arms linked together, protecting their home. The trees are densely packed together, the silver shine of the moonlight only a slow trickle between its branches.
He presses his palm against a rough tree bark and breathes in the scent of the forest. The musty scent of leaves after rainfall. The warm soil packed against the earth by scurrying animals. The scent of things in different stages of blooming and growth. A heavy weight fills his chest. This forest smells too much like home. He curls his palm into a fist and he grits his teeth. He will avenge their home. A gentle hand on his shoulder breaks him out of his thoughts.
"Neji?"
He looks into her vibrant emerald eyes that seem to glisten under the moonlight, and nods. Behind her, his cousin is already setting up camp. Neji follows her retreating back and together they help his cousin set up camp, and soon enough, the three of them are seated around the fire he's made, watching as the flames crackle and lick at the logs, it's emanating heat penetrating the cold, frigid air.
"This is a lifesaver. Thank you, Neji." White pearly eyes look at his charge, watching as she scoots closer to the flames, hands stretched out for defrosting. "It's freezing!" In the flickering ambers of the fire, her pink hair is dyed a bright orange, and her sparkling emerald eyes take an almost golden shine.
Despite the fact that Neji is of similar mind, he says nothing.
"I'm so glad we have each other." His cousin scoots close to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Neji feels his heart twist as he thinks of who else he wished was here. Beautiful hazel eyes and a shy smile flash in his mind's eye, and he shuts his eyes.
Tenten.
As if sensing his hurt, Hinata lifts her head to look up at him. "I'm sorry, Neji-nii. I didn't mean to –"
"It's fine, Hinata." There is no point in thinking of what-could-have-beens. Neji has learnt that no amount of praying and silent hoping will bring her back, or turn all of this into a terrible nightmare, and he has made his peace with it. His vengeance, however, will come when he crushes that bastard's windpipe with his own bare hands. He clenches his fists and turns his attention back to their charge.
The journey ahead of them will not be an easy one, he has known this since they made their escape in the middle of the night as their home and everyone they loved burned to the ground two months ago, but he will protect her with his life. He knows that Hinata will too. Sakura is nothing like the Elders say she should be. Said, he corrects himself. She is nothing like the dainty, soft-spoken heir to the throne she is made to portray herself as. With them, she has always been outspoken. She is smart, funny, caring, and so, so kind. He smirks. And Kami knows she doesn't need their protection. She is excellent with a dagger and even better with a bow and arrow, exactly like an elf should be.
"We should get some rest. Neji, do you mind taking first watch?" When Sakura speaks, her voice is soft, like liquid honey, but the underlying authority is undeniable. "I'll take second. Hinata, I'll wake you for third watch." Neji nods, and in an instant he is taking to the trees.
…
"Hinata! Wake up!"
Sakura's emerald eyes gleam in the dark as she shakes Hinata awake, voice laced with urgency and her actions hurried. Behind her, Neji is already burying the fire with dirt, and within seconds they are bathed in darkness. She watches as Hinata's eyes blink once, twice, before snapping open, and when their eyes meet, Sakura knows she understands. The forest is quiet; eerily so, and they know they aren't alone.
Out of the corner of her eye Sakura catches a glimpse of something gleaming in the moonlight and her eyes narrow as her arms immediately snap upwards, catching the blade of a katana between her palms. She shoves the blade away from her, taking satisfaction in the way the hilt of it smacks her attacker in the forehead. She rises to her full height and watches him with calculating eyes. He staggers backwards, and she advances with a hard kick to his chest that sends him to the ground. She picks up the sounds of metal clashing somewhere in the background, and knows that Neji and Hinata have found opponents of their own. She can barely make out the silhouette of her attacker, her eyes are slow to adjust to the darkness but from what she can make out of him, he is no elf. He is easily a whole head taller than her, his form lean and muscled and his eyes gleam red. Human. She pulls out her twin daggers, and is immediately forced to block his attack.
He's fast.
They trade several blows, and immediately Sakura knows that this man is different to most they've encountered. Assassin? Or a hunter?
His attacks are mostly offensive and her defence is perfect, but somewhere along the line she thinks he must be sick of this little game they are playing. She gasps as she watches a purple blaze of bone and muscle extend from his right arm, and doesn't have enough time to dodge as it explodes towards her, sending her tumbling backwards. She curses as she feels a searing pain through her abdomen. Sakura barely has enough time to scramble to her feet as she watches the purple arm form a sword, swinging at her in a large wild arc. She watches as strands of her hair are shorn off, and somewhere in the distance she hears Neji scream her name. The rhombus on her forehead glows and black ribbon-like markings extend across her face before disappearing down her neck, and she watches as the man in front of her growls before his skeletal arm makes another swipe for her. This time, she expects it and ducks out of the way and then suddenly shoves her fist forward, planting it squarely in the middle of his chest. He is sent backwards and collides with the trunk of a tree, and Sakura smirks when she hears the wood splinter underneath his weight.
She gets no warning as his red eyes gleam with anger, and in the blink of an eye she finds herself engaged in close combat with him. He manages to land a hit on her already bruised stomach, and she staggers backwards as he elbows her in the face, followed by a backhand, and she hits the ground. Pain ripples through her in waves and her lungs constrict as the air is knocked out of them. He is advancing on her, and she desperately reaches for her much smaller dagger she keeps strapped to the inside of her thigh, just in time to press it into his stomach as the edge of his katana meets the delicate flesh of her neck. She meets his gaze, and is surprised when she sees what she thinks is a hint of awe in them. Sakura clears her throat.
"So…stalemate?"
She watches as he lets out a long, defeated sigh before the blade of his katana is removed from her neck, and she in kind removes her dagger from his stomach. What she doesn't expect is for him to extend an arm out to her. Cautiously, Sakura takes his hand and he pulls her up with ease, and she is startled by the jolt of electricity she feels when they touch.
"Oi, teme! What are you doing? You're supposed to kill her!"
Sakura turns around, and even though she can only make out silhouettes, she can see that Neji and Hinata have clearly won their battle, their opponent's arms are tied and his sword is in Hinata's hands. Neji's seal across his forehead is glowing green in the darkness like a beacon, and she watches as the three of them make their way towards her.
Not long after, Sakura finds themselves sitting around a fire, this time made by her attacker. She steals another glance at him. His arms are thick with muscle, legs corded with sinew and his chest is so broad she finds herself wondering if she would be able to wrap her arms around him with her fingertips touching. She chastises herself for even thinking about him in such a way. It was only moments ago that he had tried to kill her. The flickering flames cause deep shadows to fall across his features, emphasizing his tall, aristocratic nose and his high cheekbones. A spark of desire flares unexpectedly through Sakura as she watches, hypnotised by the movement of his lips as he explains why they had attacked them and she feels her mouth go dry. Her cheeks burn at the unbidden surge of longing. She doesn't even know this man, for Kami's sake!
But…why does it feel like I do?
"We're contracted assassins for the organisation Akatsuki. I'm sure you've heard of them?"
"Yes. But what business do humans have with us? We've barely, if at all, had any interactions with your kind." Neji's voice is hard with distrust.
"We were contracted by an elf. For some reason, someone really wants her dead. We were promised a large sum of money if we got the job done."
She watches in slow motion as his eyes drag from the crackling flames and up until they meet hers, and his lips lift up into a cocky smirk.
"Like what you see, Sa-ku-ra?"
In an instant Neji has his bow and arrow aimed at him, Hinata has her hand on his elbow and his blond companion has his sword pressed into Hinata's side.
Sakura exhales, feeling her temples throb. It unnerves her, the way this man makes her feel. She is thankful Neji is protective. He will keep her grounded, will make sure her eyes are focused only on what they need to do.
"Sakura is royalty, and you will address her so."
"Aa. My sincerest apologies, Sakura-hime."
Chills run through her body at the deep rumble of his voice. Throughout the whole ordeal, her eyes never leave his. Trying to regain her composure, she squares her shoulders and lifts her chin up.
"Since you seem to know me, it is only fair I learn your name."
"Uchiha Sasuke." Sakura frowns. Uchiha. This name is not one she is familiar with, but it does have ring a bell, in the recesses of her mind. She watches as Sasuke jerks his head in the blonde's direction. "This idiot is Uzumaki Naruto."
…
A/N: What do you guys think? If there's enough interest I will continue this, will be another multific. Please read and review so I know your thoughts! xx