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THE MISSION DURING THE WAR – CHAPTER THREE
STAND OFF
"Tsunade-sama. We have exhausted all of our resources and have managed to find where the attack originated...but cannot ascertain a trail." Raido sighs in defeat as he relays his teams efforts via mind link.
Currently, the team are awaiting instruction on the outskirts of the village before making the journey back to the war zone. The com corps connection to the Godaime through Inoichi and the communication expert stationed in Konoha, makes communicating as efficient as the radios allowed on regular missions.
Tsunades strained voice echoes throughout the team leaders mind as she sighs heavily. The Hokage is obviously distressed with the news, as expected. "Raido-san. I will have Inoichi connect Sai for more information. I feel a close comrade of Sakura will be of help." The feminine voice rings out.
"Hai." Raido calls Sai over silently with a wave of his gloved hand.
Once connected, the dark haired ex root member explains their efforts in further detail.
"We have canvassed the area with an aerial team using my justu as well full ground work by all shinobi available but have uncovered nothing. There are obvious signs of an attack but that is as far as we can go." The usually stoic man is tense as he palms his temples momentarily.
"Tsunade-sama if I may speak my mind?" Sai asks.
There is a silence before the Hokage gives affirmation.
"It is very hard to understand my feelings, but I think that I must be very worried about Sakura-chan. My body is exerting signs I have never seen before. I really tried my hardest." He sighs outwardly as his team observe the unusual behaviour. Then, taking in a visible deep breath, Sai's hail of thoughts travel through the link at an amazing rate. "There is no blood at the scene or belongings. I can tell you that Sakura has full levels of chakra. I gave her one of my chakra pills before she went to wash at the stream." He pauses before relaying the most important part. "As Sakura-chan's friend and team mate, I can say that it is out of character for her to act on her own without having a good reason. So I looked into the break out records once more and found a discrepancy. I have not told my team as yet but Karin, the sensory shinobi from the traitors team was not found in the escape. After reading the woman's file I have surmised that Sakura is much stronger and strategic than this untrained woman. If she has been captured I feel it is an intentional strategy to meet with the Uchiha. Sakura is much like Naruto-kun and will do whatever she can for the traitor. If we go looking for her, I fear she will be killed. Furthermore, without Karin's special ability it will be almost impossible to find them. Sasuke has proved in the past that he is very adept at being unseen."
Tsunade's wry chuckle can be heard throughout the teens mind. "Ah Sakura, what are you up to?"
"Tsunade-sama Sakura-chan is alive. I just know it." Sai speaks matter of factly.
"I have no doubt Sai. I can't believe I am saying this but...move out. If Sakura does not want to be found we won't have any luck. The battle is growing fierce and we can use all hands on deck. Keep the information you found to yourself for now and I will assign Team Kakashi to this mission once time permits." The Hokage decides quickly. Her spirits risen some with this new development.
Still, Team 7 may very well be the death of her.
Looking up at his current team, Sai nods as the communication is lost.
"We are to head out. A team will take care of this later." He tells them walking over to his pack.
Raido looks surprised but prepares to leave as well.
"Okay people. Let's head out."
"Hai!" Choruses through the forest as the shinobi set out in a fast paced run.
xxx
The two women travel at break neck speed, as Karin uses her skills as a rogue to remain off the radar. The pink haired shinobi has been tied up, but the Konoha nin is certain it would be easy to break the binds. At the start of the journey Sakura hoped that Karin would leave a trail to be tracked. When she realises how efficient the love sick girl really is at being unseen, the pinkette is surprised. Sakura wonders if she should leave her own pink locks as bread crumbs, but thinks better of it in the end. If she is going to come upon Sasuke and make a play, then the medic must be undercover. It is a very risky shot but Sakura is confident in her abilities now. She is prepared for 'what' he is, and has grown since their last encounter. If the move can be executed convincingly enough, the cherry blossom may have a chance to get behind enemy lines and live. If someone were to track them and find the hiding spot, she is certain the Uchiha will kill her without a thought. Ruining everything with one swift swing of his katana at the first sign of trouble. Yes, going in alone with no back up is very dangerous. In every manual and any class the kunoichi has taken she has listened to this cardinal rule. Though, sometimes to get what you love you must break all the rules. Sakura knows that if Naruto had any kind of shot to find Sasuke he would take it in an instant.
'Wish me luck Naruto.' Sakura thinks as she runs through the plan once more.
Karin has not spoken a word since the start of the trip and Sakura is thankful. In a way, she feels bad for the girl who is trying so hard to get something that is out of her reach. The pinkette can sympathise.
'But isn't that what I'm doing?' Sakura asks herself before shaking her head just a little.
No. She does love Sasuke and will not lie to herself...but now is different. Sakura will do what needs to be done no matter what, because of that love.
This is her last attempt. If she is unable to see a glint of the Sasuke of the Leaf then she will have to save him from himself. By killing him, Sakura will be able to relieve Sasuke from the pain of being an Uchiha.
If she must die with him to achieve her goal, then so be it.
It is her turn to protect her boys. If she can make this sacrifice, then Sakura is certain that Naruto can pave the way for the future.
Sighing inwardly the pinkette wishes for there to be another way. If all goes to plan, she will observe her mark before making a move.
They can both emerge from this as better people, or both die for the greater cause.
Sakura will protect her village until the end.
Whether that end is near or not, she cannot say.
xxx
"Oof!" Sakura falls to the ground as Karin puts her foot to the back of her knees. The pinkette spits out the earth that has made its way into her mouth. Glaring up at Karin from a side vantage, she wonders if they are near.
"Shush." Karin tells her quickly as she crouches down beside her. "Your chakra. Mask it, I know you can." The red heads voice is lowered as she works on Sakura's bindings, tightening the rope significantly.
"We are almost there and I don't want any funny business from you. Sasuke-kun knows your chakra, I noticed the last time...Well, you remember what happened." Karin stands up once more pulling Sakura along with her. "From here we walk." The red head says as she points in the direction of their destination. Gripping the pinkettes shoulder, Karin pushes her roughly into step.
"Okay okay. No need to be such a bitch about it." Sakura mutters as she pushes on. Her chakra is completely masked now and her mind is in over drive. It is almost time. 'Time to set it up.'
"Hey Red, how far away from the place are we?" The medic did an internship in the under ground for a short period and learnt that it is important to keep your opponent riled up. 'Don't give them time to think.' The deep voice of Ibiki rings throughout her head. 'I won't.' The woman thinks determinedly.
"Don't call me that! How would you feel if I called you pinky?" Karin spits at her back.
"I imagine I would be okay with that. After all, my hair is pink." Her voice is cheerful, smirking as Karin growls low from behind her.
"Shut up!" Another jab to the back, "Don't be such a cunt." The chakra user is visibly riled now.
'Good.' Sakura thinks.
"When we arrive you are to stay quiet, medic. I cannot say if you will live or die but I plan to bargain you for good graces. A medic with such ability is hard to come by."
"Thank you for the compliment." Sakura's tone is now condescending. If only Karin knew of her true skills as a shinobi.
"I said shut up! You will not have priority. You mean nothing to Sasuke-kun." Sakura has to bite her tongue to stop from laughing.
When she has commanded herself she replies, "Sorry, just making conversation."
The grip on her binds grows strong and the Leaf kunoichi notices the distinct slowing in her captors steps.
"Well the time for talking is over. We are here." Karin whispers lowly as she steps forward grabbing hold the hair at the base of Sakura's neck. Her hand tightens into a fist pulling her head back.
"Good. I was getting sick of your shit." The pinkette states, using her strength to pull herself out of the hold before smashing her head backwards. The loud crunch that follows is music to her ears.
"Bitch you broke my nose!" Karin screeches.
In an instant, Sakura is behind the bleeding woman, effectively holding her in place with the mediocre bindings.
xxx
Meanwhile, underground, very close by-
"Did you feel that?" Suigestu asks as a distinct spike in chakra surges before disappearing.
"I did. Do you think -" Juugo begins.
"It's nothing." Sasuke cuts in, noticing the familiar chakra. "Just an annoyance." His voice spits out the last word as his features pull into a sneer.
"Do you want us to take care of it?" Juugo asks his leader with lowered gaze.
"Hn. No, I think it's time that I had some fun." The Uchiha stands slowly, leisurely picking up his weapon. He saunters to the entrance as if he has all day long.
'What are you doing here Sakura? Do you have a death wish?' Sasuke thinks to himself.
"Tch. Troublesome woman." The man says to himself as he opens the hatch to the entranceway.
Light seers his vision as Sasuke is met with broad daylight and a very peculiar scene.
Walking forward he views the two shinobi before him. They will not see him until he wishes to be seen, he is the gen jutsu master.
Smirking at the silly women before him Sasuke continues to observe in silence.
'Who knows, maybe they will rip each other apart. Stupid women.'
xxx
"Shut up, you are mine now!" Sakura hisses at the redhead held between her arms.
"What do you think you are doing? Sasuke-kun will come and -"
Sakura knees Karin in the back pushing her against the bindings harshly, stopping any words in their tracks.
"What will Sasuke do, hm? Save you? Get a grip Karin, Sasuke doesn't care about anyone. Are you that love sick?" Sakura loosens her grip just a little and the red head heaves in some much needed air.
"He didn't want to kill me. He had to -" Sakura pulls on the bindings once more. This girl reminds her so much of the old Sakura. It's sickening.
"You were in the way of his objective. That is all. Don't put stock into things that aren't there. That man was destroyed long ago." Karin tries to elbow Sakura in the ribs but Sakura is too quick for her. With a small amount of strength, the bindings are broken. Forming a chakra scalpel, the pinkette cuts the point of her shoulders rendering her arms useless.
Holding the woman's head back Sakura says, "I'm sorry about this." Then she lunges her hand forward, impaling the woman with the scalpel just under the ribs. With an upward thrust...Karin is a goner.
Stepping backward Sakura lets the woman fall to the earth, blood now gurgling from her mouth. The wound weeps great amounts of red as it stains the earth a deep crimson.
"Why?" Karin manages to whisper. "Sasuke-kun...Y-you love him." Her voice holds realisation. It's getting harder for Karin to speak. She is dying.
Sakura laughs at this. "Yes I do love him but that is irrelevant, I also hate him. Sasuke has never needed on wanted my love. He will tell you that love is a weakness." The pinkette steps over Karin looming into her fading eyes. "Looking at you I would be inclined to agree."
"You let your precious 'Sasuke-kun' be the death of you...Again. I saw your weakness and merely took advantage of it. Do you really think you could capture a shinobi that outranks you in every way? You led me here Karin. I hope that Kami finds you." Stepping back Sakura sighs as the woman before her fizzles out to nothing.
"You shouldn't have underestimated me." The pinkette says more to herself than the dead woman.
Turning around, Sakura surveys the area. It does not feel right, she is certain it is gen jutsu. A very well made one at that.
Lifting her hands she closes her eyes and says, "Kai."
Then, a familiar chuckle is heard.
Snapping her eyes open, Sakura comes face to face with Uchiha Sasuke, looking sinfully dangerous.
"Well, that was certainly a surprise." The amusement is clear in his baritone voice. In a flash, the raven haired man is directly in front of the pinkette. If this were an earlier encounter she would be toast, but Sakura is much quicker than before.
So there they stand, faces an inch or so apart. The Sharingan is swirling dangerously as emerald orbs glare back unfalteringly. Sasuke's hand is wrapped familiarly around Sakura's throat. Her hand is pressing strongly against his alabaster skin, her chakra scalpel scraping against his jugular as he squeezes his hand.
"Are you going to kill me Sa-ku-ra." He taunts menacingly.
A/N There is more but when I saw that sentence I felt like that was where it needed to end.
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Happy reading!
MerinxD