Twisted

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Ino, Shikamaru, Neji and Kiba were jumping from one tree to another to in a very rapid pace as they tried to find their friends in the fastest way as possible.

"Akamaru, have you found something?" Kiba asked his pet dog when it suddenly stopped.

Akamaru jumped down from the tree to the forest floor then he started to sniff around before starting to bark at a pile of leaves. Neji went to Akamaru's side and began to rummage the leaves on the ground for any clues of their friends' whereabouts until he saw a shred of Sakura's clothing drenched in blood.

"That came from Sakura' clothes," Ino said from behind Neji.

"The blood is still a bit fresh. They can't be that far from here," Neji declared as he examined the piece of cloth.

"Can you lead us to them, Akamaru?" Kiba asked as his dog started t sniff around the area once again.

After a few seconds, Akamaru barked at its owner while lifting paw towards the east.

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Sweat dripped on Hinata's face as she tried to ran faster, away from the few Sound nins, who were still pursuing her while carrying a still unconscious Naruto on her back. She knew that she was getting exhausted but the more she looked at Naruto's peaceful face, the more determined she had become to bring Naruto to safety. I won't let them harm you, Naruto-kun. Her musings were interrupted as a kunai flew past her and Naruto. Glancing behind her, she saw five sound nins following closely behind her, which caused her to lose concentration and slip from the tree towards the muddy ground. Not wanting to cause anymore harm to her beloved, Hinata quickly switched positions with him so that she would take the full impact when they hit the ground. When they did hit the ground, she felt pain throughout her entire body but she ignored it and shakily stood up. She was about to carry Naruto again when a fuuma shuriken flew between her and Naruto causing Hinata to jump back.

"There is now no escape, silly little girl," a voice said from the trees.

Hinata turned to the direction of the voice and saw the Sound nins before her. Shit!

"Give the Kyuubi to us," demanded another.

Hinata didn't respond but she pulled out a kunai from her pouch and prepared to defend herself.

"How about we strike a deal? We would let you leave this place unharmed and safe in exchange for that you would give to us the Kyuubi without resistance. So what would it be little girl?" the apparent leader of the Sound nins said.

"I would never leave Naruto behind. I would rather die than give Naruto to you without putting up a fight," Hinata said with determination.

"Suit yourself. We did give you a chance, after all." With that being said the Sound nins began to attack Hinata.

A blue light surrounded Hinata's palms as she waited for their attacks. She then sent all of the shurikens and the kunais away from her by rotating her arms. After an exchange of blows, she was able to take down one of the Sound nins but she also ended up with a deep gash on her shoulders. Then Hinata's eyes widens as she noticed a Sound nin performing a series of hand seals that could cause serious injury if the jutsu was completed. She then shifted her gaze to the other enemies heading her way then to Naruto. There's not enough time. Think fast Hinata. Think. Her entire serious expression changed into a confused one when she noticed that her enemies suddenly stopped their movements. Huh? What happened?

"Ino, Shikamaru, Kiba and Neji-niisan," Hinata exclaimed as Neji and the others appeared behind the enemy nins.

Shikamaru and Kiba knocked out the Sound nins then tied them so they won't escape. Neji was scanning the area if there were still enemies lurking there while Ino help Hinata out.

"Are you alright Hinata-sama?" Neji asked his cousin, slightly concerned, while studying her condition.

"I'm fine but I'm worried about Naruto," she answered.

"Where is Sakura?" Ino asked Hinata, after not seeing her bestfriend anywhere.

"I don't know where she is. We got separated earlier when she fell down the tree after taking a blow meant for me. She told me to run and take Naruto away from there."

"What do you mean you don't know where she is? How could you just leave her behind? She is your friend, god damn it," Ino angrily screamed at Hinata, shaking the already frightened and confused girl.

"I'm sorry. I just didn't know what to do," Hinata said.

"Sorry? Is that all you can say? Sorry?" Ino screamed once again.

"Ino, calm down," Shikamaru said as he pried Ino's fingers of Hinata's shoulders. He just finished tying the Sound nins with chakra infused rope when he heard Ino scream at Hinata.

Neji watched the scene calmly and silently, switching his gaze from Hinata, who was comforted by Kiba, then to Ino, who was silently weeping with Shikamaru's arms wrapped around her. "Shikamaru take Ino, Hinata and Naruto back to the village with the prisoners and tell the Hokage what has happened. Kiba and I will continue searching for Sakura," Neji said.

Shikamaru nodded and lead the way back to Konoha dragging the prisoners with him while Ino and Hinata carried Naruto. "Sakura's a strong kunoichi, Ino. You shouldn't worry that much. Have faith in her abilities. After all, she is Godaime Hokage's prized apprentice," Shikamaru told Ino without glancing at her. Noticing that she had somehow calmed down, he turned his full attention back to where they were going.

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A fist slammed down on a table causing every single nin in the room to flinch. "Its been two days since I sent all of you to find Sakura and you still haven't found her," Tsunade shouted at every nin standing in front of her desk which was piled up with tons of paper. Tsunade then took a long deep breath before turning once again to the nins in front of her.

"Shikamaru, gather your friends except Naruto. I am assigning you to a mission to find Sakura and the Hidden Village of Sound. Kakashi, Yamato and Gai the three of you are going with them. Dismissed," Tsunade said.

Tsunade rubbed her temples as the nins exited the room one by one the nin left the room leaving her and Shizune behind.

Shizune looked at her master with worry. Tsunade had already lost a lot of important people in her life. She lost her younger brother, her boyfriend, her sensei, and then her teammates and now Sakura's missing. She knew that Tsunade cared for Sakura as a daughter. She watched as Tsunade pour another cup of sake while looking at the picture frames on her desk that held her picture with her loved ones. She then noticed that Tsunade's eyes lingered on the last picture, the one with Tsunade and Sakura smiling side by side.

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A breeze blew softly through a window in the hospital room where Naruto was currently staying. Ino, Tenten and Hinata were patiently waiting for any news on Sakura's whereabouts. It was the perfect picture of peacefulness but beneath their calm exterior, everything was chaotic. Shikamaru entered the room closing the door gently behind him.

Ino looked at Shikamaru expectantly, silently asking him if they have found Sakura. He answered by sadly shaking his head as a negative.

Tears welled up in Ino's eyes before turning to Hinata who was sitting silently by Naruto's side. "This is all your fault. If you didn't leave her behind then none of this would happen," Ino hissed at Hinata.

Tenten, who had noticed earlier the tension between her friends, decided to interfere in her sister-in-law's defense when Hinata didn't move or speak at all. "Your not the only one who lost someone in the war. She almost lost Naruto. So shut the hell up," Tenten said, glaring at her.

"If she was a true friend then she should have stayed with Sakura instead of running away for her own safety," Ino spat looking murderously at Hinata.

"That is enough Ino. Hinata only followed the Hokage's orders. If Hinata stayed behind then enemy nin would have captured Naruto making Sakura's sacrifice of taking the blow of the attack meant for Hinata completely useless," Shikamaru reasoned out in an attempt to stop the fight.

Ino fell silent and went out of the room. They all know that she was crying but she shouldn't have blamed everything on Hinata.

"I'm sorry for that outburst, Hinata. She has always been hot tempered. Don't worry she'll come around," Shikamaru said before leaving the room. He let out a deep sigh before following Ino out of the room. Troublesome…

Hinata still haven't moved from her position. She just sat there looking at the floor that caused Tenten to worry about her. She knew how stressed out Hinata was.

Suddenly, they heard Naruto groaned before sitting up on his bed. "Hinata-chan?" Naruto said in a raspy voice while trying to smile at her. "What happened? Are you okay? How long was I out? Where are Sasuke and Sakura?"

Hinata bowed her head then she told him everything that had happened. Tenten decided to leave the two alone and quietly went out of the room.

"It's okay Hinata-chan. It isn't your fault," Naruto reassured Hinata, who was worried that Naruto would hate her. "It's getting late. You should go home now, Hinata. I'll be fine,"

Hinata nodded. "You're right. I still have to pack for the mission tomorrow," she mumbled before pecking Naruto on the lips. "I'll visit you tomorrow before I leave at dawn."

"What mission?" Naruto asked her seriously.

"Well, the mission is to find and retrieve Sakura. They believed she was captured by the nins from Otogakure," she answered.

She realized her mistake when she heard Naruto said, "What! How come I'm not part of this mission?"

"The Hokage said that you still have not recovered from your injuries and that it would be best if you stay behind," Hinata replied.

"Where's Tsunade-baa-chan?" he asked as he stand up from his bed, angry at the thought of him not being allowed to help find his friend.

"She's a-at he-her o-office," Hinata answered scared of Naruto.

Naruto's eyes softened when he noticed that Hinata was scared of him. "Don't worry Hinata. I'm not angry with you. It's just that they should have let me find Sakura too," Naruto said softly as he hugged Hinata. "Well let's go to Tsunade-baa-chan's office."

With that they walk silently to Tsunade's office. Upon their arrival, they knocked softly on the door. "Come in."

"Tsunade-baa-chan what do you mean I can't come and help save Sakura?" Naruto asked her angrily.

Tsunade sighed before looking tiredly up at him. "You are still not in the condition to fight. Go back to the hospital and rest," Tsunade said before turning away from him, dismissing him with a wave of a hand.

Naruto noticed that Tsunade's eyes were puffy and red from crying but he still continued on. All he wanted to do was to find Sakura and nothing is going to stop him. "Sakura's my friend and I'm going to find her whether you like it or not," Naruto said before turning around and walking his way towards the door. He turned the door's knob then he quietly told her, "I already lost Sasuke. I don't want to lose another important person in my life."

Tsunade didn't say anything for a while before sighing in defeat. "I would allow you to join the mission but promise me that you would return unharmed. You are, after all, you are a candidate for the next Hokage."

"I promise baa-chan," he solemnly told her.

"I expect that you would fulfill your promise," Tsunade said before leaving the room. If I didn't allow him to join, he would have gone to find Sakura alone. He would stop at nothing to find his friend even if he has to defy my orders. When he comes back should I retire early and announce him as the Rokudaime.

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Sasuke was silently walking on the hallways of Orochimaru's palace when one of his subordinates tried to get his attention.

"What is it? Sasuke asked the man who bowed to him in utmost respect, slightly annoyed that his moment of peace was interrupted.

"Sasuke-sama, Kai and the others have returned from their mission," the Sound nin informed Sasuke.

"Very well. Tell Kai to bring Sakura to me when she wakes up," Sasuke ordered before continuing his way to the training grounds.

"As you wish master," the man said bowing at Sasuke.

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Sakura groaned as the sunlight hit her face. She placed an arm over her eyes in an attempt to block the sunlight before she slowly sat up on the bed. Wait this is not my room… "Where am I?" The events of past week flashed back in her mind.

She looked about the unfamiliar room that was painted pale yellow. Not bad. It consisted of a queen size bed made of wood with red fluffy sheets spread on top of it, a dresser and a mirror, a black cabinet with red petals engraved on it, and a large bathroom.

Her examination of the room was interrupted when a man in his early forties entered the room. "Who are you? Where is this place? What do you want from me?" Sakura asked the old man.

But that man ignored her questions and instead handed her a purple kimono with jasmines printed all over it and a red sash to go with it. "Wear this. The master wants you to join him for breakfast. I would be waiting outside when you are through changing." He then walked out of the room.

Sakura sighed while looking at the door before grabbing the clothes the man left her with and started to put them on. When she was finally done, she went out of her room and saw the man patiently waiting for her. "Follow me."

They then started to walk in a maze of hallways before stopping at two huge doors.

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Sasuke was waiting patiently for Kai and Sakura's arrival. Kai is probably having a problem with Sakura. Sakura has always been anything but docile.

He turned his gaze away from his from the window and to the double doors across the dining table when he heard the door slowly open.

To be continued...

A/N: Hi everyone sorry for the long update. I was working on my research paper for English 4. Anyways I would like to thank the following people:

waterlover64

Confuzzled239

MuLan12365

Animexloverxx

starfireyumiabi

caren

Storms-winter

HeartAngel

s.s.n.t.

This is my third story. Thank you again for reviewing!

Next chapter:

"Why would you want me to spar with you? Sakura asked confused at everything that was going on.

"I want to assess your skills," he answered smoothly.

"For what?" she inquired further although she knew she was pushing her luck.

"To know if you're worthy enough..."