Chapter TWO
No one lowered their weapons but neither 'Gaara' nor 'Sakura' looked threatened or showed any signs on retaliating.
"What do you mean, 'the Latest Center Core'?" Nagato asked.
"What do I mean?" The girl repeated. "I'm sorry, but I do not seem to be able to comprehend the questions...?"
"That is the relationship between you and the Core?" Itachi asked.
"It is as I have said." The girl told him. "I am the current Center Core."
This time, Zetsu opened his mouth, but the sound of an explosion cut him off before he could say anything.
Gaara glanced up and blinked a few times.
"Sakura?" Gaara looked down at Sakura.
"No breach." She confirmed.
Gaara flexed his fingers one by one. "Yeah."
Konan's voice once again was heard through the earpiece. "Hello? I've been trying to get through for the past few minutes. Did something happen?"
Nagato checked his earpiece. "Nothing." He said. "We're fine."
"Okay. Anyways, want a report?"
"Yes."
"Danzo is trying to breakthrough by knocking down a wall, or something. You felt the explosion, right?"
Nagato hummed. "Yes."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
"A few sticks of dynamite won't be able to break through." Gaara said. "I didn't even feel anything."
"Who's that? Is there someone else in there?"
"Who is that woman?" Gaara asked. "Is she an Akatsuki?"
"There is someone else here." Nagato told Konon, then glanced at the redhead, "Why?"
The teen turned to the girl still sitting patiently on the capsule. "Sakura."
Sakura snapped her fingers, and suddenly, all Nagato could hear was static.
Nagato's eyes widened and he tightened his grip on his weapon. The rest of the members who had been listening in on the conversation through their own earpieces all tensed as well.
"What did you..."
"The Root Diagram has control over all electronic devices within the Kage no kuni." She said. "I am the Core, the Root Diagram."
Nagato raised his weapon, getting sick of the game they seemed to be playing. They would have to bring these two back for interrogation. "We're leaving." He said. He placed a hand on the trigger. "You'll have to come with us."
Instantly, Gaara's expression changed. His eyes flashed and he moved suddenly, positioning himself in front of Sakura. He held out his palms on front of him. He froze there, not making any more signs of movement. He simply watched, his green eyes piercing into them.
"They do not believe us." Sakura murmured. "Do not worry, Gaara, this is all within my predictions."
Itachi narrowed his eyes. 'Predictions...'
Sakura stood up and came to stand right behind Gaara, so that she could look over his shoulder at them. "Come to believe us; 4;16;28." She said.
Zetsu opened his mouth but Sakura cut him off. "Contact from Konon; 4:04;08." She said. Sakura snapped her fingers again and the static vanished. Nagot subconsciously glanced at his watch, and just at the numbers flashed to show 4:04, his earpiece buzzed.
"What is going on, Nagato? The connection just simply cut again. If there's bad signal, you should tell me first, you know?"
Konan took a deep breath, as if trying to calm down. "Hello?"
Nagato stared at the seconds that kept blinking and changing.
"Hello?"
"...yeah?"
"Gods, I was worried."
Nagato glanced over at Itachi, who happened to be the closest to him, then Sasori and Zetsu.
"Next explosion; 4:05;56." Sakura continued. "No damage."
A few seconds later, a slightly louder explosion shook the building. Once again, Gaara flexed his fingers, then shook his head.
"Still no dent." Konan reported.
"Attempt breakthrough of front entrance; 4;06;21; No damage." Sakura narrowed her eyes just a little. "Danzo notified of missing Akatsuki members; 4;24;44." She stopped there.
Nagato glanced at his team again. "So?"
"This doesn't make any sense." Sasori said quietly. "The Root Diagram is a Supercomputer..."
Itachi turned and fixed his hooded gaze on Sakura and Gaara, who had yet to move from their spots. "Who are you?"
Gaara finally opened his mouth. "I am Gaara, the Sabaku Defense-"
"Anything else?" Itachi asked.
"I am but a mere being, designed to protect the Core." Gaara replied. "Though currently, I am also the 'Unidentified Trespasser'."
Itachi turned to Sakura. "And you?"
"I am the Current Core of the Root Diagram." Sakura repeated. "To be precise, I am the eighth Core."
Itachi thought back to the previous versions. Version Sakura had been the eighth update..."Nagato..."
The redhead nodded. "We...cannot jump to conclusions, nor do we have enough evidence to put together a story." He said. "However, it is true that Danzo tried to hide this. Why else would no one know about this." He gestured towards the two standing in front of them. "However, robotic technology isn't so advanced that each individual AI can make their own decisions..." He said, then paused if a thought had hit him. "Wasn't there a research published a few months ago? The one on drawing out human intelligence and combining it with machinery to be able to control hundreds of machines through a single source?"
Zetsu's eyes widened and Sasori stiffened. "If they are actually..." He trailed off.
Sakura stepped past Gaara and held out her hands. Sasori carefully took one, his gaze dark. He slowly pulled back. "Warm."
Sakura blinked at him. "Time?" She asked.
Nagato checked his watch.
4;16
"Say we believe you." Zetsu said. "What happens then?"
"You take us with you." Sakura said without missing a beat. "Believe me, we can help you."
"Help us?" Sasori asked. "We don't need help-"
"But you do." Sakura cut in. "Do you not want to know the truth behind Shimura Danzo and his ROOT organization?"
Nagato thought back to the file he had given Zetsu.
"You have eight minutes until Danzo realizes your absence." Sakura said quietly. "You must leave now." She turned to Gaara. "Gaara, lock down."
The redhead nodded and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, the ground began shaking.
"Nagato? Are you okay? Can you hear me?" Konan asked.
"We must leave immediately." Sakura said. "This building will collapse the moment it is given the signal."
"Nagato? Who-"
Sakura snapped her fingers, and once again, the static sound came back to life.
"Are you going to come?" Sakura asked.
Nagato lowered his weapon and nodded on behalf of the rest of the Akatsuki. They all had questions, but they would have to get out first.
Here's chapter two!
Darque: Meh, so, not much movement in this one.
Raven: It's just a little more information, I...we guess.
Darque: Anyways, it'll probably be more exciting next chapter.
Raven: So look forward to that!
Darque: Yes. Look forward to it.
Raven: Don't copy me.
Darque: What else could I have said?
Raven: I dunno?
Darque: Anyways, it was raining today and on the way to school today, I was soaked cause my bus stop was by the sea and I had to close my umbrella cause the wind was so strong.
Raven: That sounds like something you'd like.
Darque: Yup! I just didn't understand why everyone was shivering.
Raven: It's cause that's what people do when it's cold.
Darque: But it wasn't cold.
Raven: You have this immunity to the cold.
Darque: That's good, right?
Raven: If only a little of your cold immune-ness managed to transfer itself into brain power.
Darque: What?
Raven: Yeah...If only.
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