Chapter One: The Uchiha Sasuke Retrieval Mission.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I am writing this story for entertainment values only, and aren't making any money out of it. This is a disclaimer for the whole story. Lyrics are: Leave out all the rest, by Linkin Park.
In this story, everything that has happened in the first Naruto series has happened; This is like my version of Shippuden. I hope you enjoy. :)
I dreamed I was missing, you were so scared;
But no one would listen, cause no one else cared.
After my dreaming, I woke with this fear;
What am I leaving, when I'm done here.
Don't be afraid..
Ive taken my beating, ive shared what ive made.
I'm strong on the surface, not all the way through.
Ive never been perfect, but neither have you.
Forgetting..
All the hurt inside, you've learned to hide so well.
Pretending..
Someone else can come and save me from myself.
I cant be who you are,
I cant be who you are.
So if your asking me,
I want you to know..
When my time comes, forget the wrongs that ive done;
Help me leave behind some, reasons to be missed.
Don't resent me,
And when your feeling empty, keep me in your memory.
Leave out all the rest,
Leave out all the rest.
It had been three years since Uchiha Sasuke had left Konohagakure; and the three remaining members of team seven, along with, Sai the ink artist, and Yamato the genetically altered test subject of Orochimaru's, were currently out on an S-Ranked mission, to find out if the information they had received, was indeed true.
An anonymous contact of Jiraiya's had told him that, Uchiha Sasuke had succeeded in searching out, and defeating his brother, in a fight to the death. Therefore, leaving the Konoha shinobi to wonder why he hadn't yet returned home, to where he belonged. Another anonymous contact of the Toad-Sannin's had explained to him, when asked, that Orochimaru's organisation has many bases, even in places outside the country of sound. To avoid being discovered, they switch bases on a weekly basis, using jutsu. He had even said that their current location was on a small island, in a lake to the north; and that, Uchiha Sasuke should also be there.
And so, the small group of shinobi were travelling along the waters of a lake to the north, where they could see a small island up ahead. They were all rushing with the knowledge that, it was only a matter of time before the Snake-Sannin detected their presents and evacuated the base, with Sasuke; which he had done many times before-- which would only lead to another wild goose chase.
It was at this point, that the pink-haired kunoichi of the team, started to feel nervous. She hadn't seen her childhood crush in three long years; and she didn't know whether to be worried or excited. In the short amount of time she had had to think -whilst they were travelling- she had prepared herself for the worst possible outcome; that being, Sasuke didn't want to come home. But now that the team were drawing closer, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and the rate of her pulse quickening, with each step closer she took.
The rocky terrain of the small island began to grow more and more into view, and Sakura's thoughts couldn't help but stray. Now at the age of sixteen, she was curious to know what the traitorous Uchiha would look like. Would his silky-raven strands be longer or would he have kept them short? Did his hair still defy gravity at the back -resembling that of a chickens butt- that she loved so much? Would his eyes be an even darker shade of onyx then they used to be? She wondered how he would be. Would he have that same calm, relaxed aura? Did he still hide all his pain, behind that blank poker face? As much as it hurt her, deep down, she had a feeling that he would be even more closed of than before; be colder and more unaffected about the way he made people feel.
As they drew closer still, the pinkette started to ponder whether he even cared about them anymore; if he really did manage to cut off all his ties, to his only remaining family, team seven; or if he would just try to kill them too.
He was a different Sasuke now, probably more emotionally cut off, than he had been when he left, she realized, with a twinge of pain. There was a huge chance that he would try to kill them, the more rational side of her thought; but Sakura didn't want to believe it for a second. This was the Sasuke that managed to kill his only brother, only remaining relative; for revenge. With him, at the moment, anything was possible.
As they reached land, their pace sped up -it was easier to run along solid ground than water after all- though they were travelling more cautiously than before. A while away they could see a watch tower, with a few men looking in their direction; this mission was getting steadily, more and more dangerous, as they continued. But it wasn't Ranked S for nothing, and they had readily took it, in hopes of bringing their comrade and friend back home. Nobody was backing down; like hell they had made it this far for nothing.
Sakura glanced up, and to the backs of her team mates; and realized, with a sigh of defeat, that she was no better now, than she used to be. Still, even after all the rough training with her shishou, she was a burden to her team. She knew she was slowing them down; that they could have been there by now if it wasn't for her; but for a reason unknown to her, they let her tag along anyway. She was weak, and she was always going to be. No matter how much she trained, and pushed herself; sometimes it felt like she was destined to be, from the start.
Pumping a bit more chakra into her legs, to increase her speed, she started to catch up. She had nearly caught up to her blonde best-friend; when her footing slipped on a few loose rocks, nearly sending her plummeting, face first, into the dry gravel below her feet. It would have seemed luck was on her side, as Naruto caught her around the waist, lifting her back to her feet; but Haruno Sakura knew better, just like her shishou, signs of good luck were like bad omens to her. A sinking feeling came to her stomach. This was not good, not good at all.
"Daijoubu, Sakura-chan?" the blonde asked, looking slightly worried. They had been running for hours now, and he wasn't too sure that his pink-haired companion could handle anymore.
"I'm fine Naruto. Lets just keep going, ne?"
"Hai, hai." he replied happily. Naruto wasn't phased in the least about this mission; and as he ran off to join his silver-haired sensei, there was a slight bounce to his step.
He had been slightly disheartened, when he had found out that his hearts-brother had completed his ambition, and yet decided he still wasn't coming home. But Naruto being Naruto, didn't stay upset for long; and not a minute after being given the news, was demanding that he have a retrieval mission, and he have it right now!
Thus being the main reason, that they were travelling through enemy territory so blatantly now; on another 'Sasuke retrieval mission.' The group finally came to a stop outside a large metal door, that no doubt lead into the base; but they weren't getting through it anytime soon, as a few sound jounin came charging their way.
"Protect Sakura, she's our only medic." the silver-haired jounin uttered quietly, and the quartet instantly formed a protective formation, around the petite kunoichi.
Approaching, a large, bald-headed brute asked, in a gruff voice, "What brings a group of goody-goody leaf-nin out here?"
"None of your damn business!" Naruto hollered angrily, from his position on Sakura's right.
"Yeah, if you don't let us go quietly, we'll just have to use force!" the blossom-haired kunoichi shouted, with obvious dislike.
One of the other bulky men started to laugh hysterically, "What's a little thing like you going to do, if we don't."
"I would be careful if I was you. Looks can be deceiving. As a shinobi, I would have thought you would have known this by now." Kakashi stated, calmly.
The young woman clearly not seeing what was so damn funny, shouted, "Jump!" as she smashed her tiny fist into the ground, creating a giant crater as she did so.
Her team landed safely back into formation around her; and they all watched in amusement, the large men scurrying to pick themselves up.
"Not so tough now, ne?" the blonde said teasingly.
"Why you little snot!" one roared out, charging at the group.
Before he reached them though, a silver-haired man, in a purple all-in-one, appeared out of thin air, before the two groups of shinobi. "Now, now boys! That's no way to treat Orochimaru-sama's guests, now is it?"
"G-guests." One of the sound shinobi, with long-brown hair, stuttered.
"Hai. Now get back to your posts, and stop being such nuisances. If I have to report this, I'm sure Orochimaru-sama will be most displeased."
With a bow of their heads, and a few whispered apologies, they complied to their order without further problems.
Sakura stared wide-eyed, at the shinobi she knew to be Kabuto, as he turned to them, pushing his round glasses, up the bridge of his nose. The word 'guests'sounding over and over in her mind. As far as she was concerned, they were intruders not guests; she didn't know what he was up to, but she had already decided that she didn't like it.
As if he understood what she was thinking, Kabuto spoke up, into the stunned silence, "Orochimaru-sama has been expecting you. So if you would, follow me." With that he turned on his heel, in the direction of the door.
"What's the meaning of this?" Sai questioned, his distrust, lacing every word.
"Like I said, Orochimaru has been expecting you, now hurry, you don't want to make him wait; he's been rather impatient as of late.. And trust me when I say, you don't want to make him angry."
A questionable smirk spread its way across his face then, and Sakura wasn't quite sure what to make of it. She didn't have any time to say anything then, as Orochimaru's right hand man disappeared into the dark hallway, through the metal door.
Her feet automatically moved. She didn't really care where Kabuto was taking them. She could feel his presents, she knew he was in there. A bubble of anticipation made its way into her stomach, as she followed, into unknown dangers; Naruto as always, loyally, right by her side.
"Sempai, it could be a trap." the brown-haired shinobi stated, looking distrustfully at the open metal door.
"Then we fall into it cautiously." Kakashi ordered, not two steps behind his students.
Yamato and Sai exchanged glances, before following them into the dark, cave-like corridors.
Okay, for now, all I'm going to say is R&R!! I wanna know what you guys think. Like I said, the summary really does this story no justice, at all, it will be a good one people. I mean, just the plot going around in my head is getting me all excited.
Ja ne,
Rudiieee-Mikomi.x