The Black Cherry Blossom

Chapter Three: When Lightning Strikes

The six days it took them to travel across both Oto and Yugakure were mostly spent in silence, aside from the occasional sounds of eating and Kisame's ungodly snoring, the trip was refreshingly nice. Sakura had noticed things about them both during the days in their company, while Kisame was a joker who loved picking on his partner, he genuinely cared about his well being. Itachi on the other hand, seemed eager to be rid of his blue-skinned companion.

Not surprising from a cold-hearted man.

While she watched them, she became increasingly aware of how close they were to Konoha borders. As she noticed this, her anxiety spiked and she became extremely cautious of her surroundings. Noticing her current predicament, Itachi slowed and turned toward her.

"They won't see you Sakura-san. They won't hear or sense you either, not unless we want them to."

Her dark eyes narrowed in confusion, trying to figure out how exactly that was possible. She racked her brain, trying to figure out how exactly they were able to foil someone's own senses so easily. As she walked with them, she felt the answer coming to her the more she looked at them. They wore very specific attire in public, their cloak was always present, that she knew. But maybe there was another element that ensured their protection? She felt her eyes unabashedly roam over both their figures, looking for anything that she'd never noticed before.

Then she saw it.

On both of their ring-fingers, lay silver rings etched with a different character. How had she not seen them before? She felt incredibly silly, usually she noticed anything and everything there was about her opponent.

It was her job.

Yeah, it WAS our job. Not anymore, now we belong to the Akatsuki. Our job is whatever they want us to do, be whatever they want us to be.

Yes I know that, do you think I'm stupid?

I'm not answering that.

Fuck you.

"Have you figured it out yet Sakura-san?"

"My name is Sakura, and yes, I have. Its your rings, their infused with chakra to provide a constant shield from outside senses. The only reason I can see them is because you've allowed me to, I can sense it's energy."

"Good, you realize you'll receive one of these with your cloak right?"

"Yes, make the color pink please. I assume the kanji is something that is given after you've earned it?"

Itachi nodded, his eyes remaining on the road ahead of them.

"The kanji will appear after you've earned the name it see's fit to give, the rings are, in a way... Alive. You'll understand once you get yours."

Sakura nodded and turned her attention to the road ahead, a jolt of surprise going through her as she saw the cliffs of Otogakure. From here she could very faintly see the outline of an Island. Confused, she turned toward the two men beside her, only then noticing the hidden trapdoor in the ground. Wordlessly, she moved toward the two of them, her eyes locked on the door with blatant curiosity. Kisame climbed down first, then Sakura, and finally Itachi. As she stepped onto the floor, she noticed the dripping cave-like walls around her. The tunnel was lit with glowworms that littered the ceiling, their blueish glow able to be seen for miles.

"This is the only way into the Forgotten Isle, we've made sure of it. The cliffs of the Isle are so steep they cannot be climbed, even with the help of chakra. This is our home, our only true sanctuary. But more importantly, this is where Leader-sama needs to stay."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see soon enough."

Choosing not to argue further, she merely nodded and once again fell silent. The road through the tunnel lasted for almost an hour before the smooth ground began to gain a gravelly, rocky feeling to it. As she watched, the mouth of the tunnel widened and grew jagged like a cave, which in truth was what it turned out to be. They came out on the western shore of a small island, the darkening sky above her only just beginning to shimmer with the midnight stars. She allowed herself to look at them only briefly, silently wishing for a thunderstorm to roar and crack above her.

"So where is the Base?"

"On the Isle of course, this is its Sister Island. One we use to deter any trailing followers from reaching our Home.. Most of them follow us here and when we 'vanish', they search the Island. Often falling prey to the many predators and traps we've laid out, traps that are cleaned weekly and then re-set."

"Those poor stupid bastards.."

Itachi chuckled, surprising her. He'd been quiet almost this entire trip, it had mainly been Kisame answering all her questions. Feeling her mouth quirk slightly, she eyed him with benign amusement. Their demeanor had changed drastically, while they were on the mainland they were both cold and not at all willing to talk much, but now they were laughing. Their posture had relaxed and the two of them seemed more... comfortable, around her. She followed them through a certain path on the Island, careful not to spring any traps. As they passed though the smaller second tunnel, she watched in awe as the beauty of the Forgotten Isle hit her. It was obvious a town had once been here, while the concrete ruins around her were overgrown, she could very plainly see the outlines of the houses and shops.

Then just down the way, was the ruins of a Kage Tower.

"I take it we live in the Tower?"

"No, we live under it. We had Zetsu and Deidara create our true base underground, so if somebody ever does figure out where we live at, they won't be able to blow us up."

Thats pretty smart... but in the event of a cave-in, their fucked.

Not really, their bomb expert should be able to blast the doorway open again.

Hn.

Sakura shook her head, once again pushing the demon back into her mind. The vain creature only helped her when she saw fit, any other time she sassed her and irritated the hell out of her. As they made their way underground, she began to hear yelling and cursing. It sounded familiar, increasingly familiar...

That sounds like.. Deidara?

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!? The roses go over THERE! NOT THERE YOU COCKSUCKER OVER THERE!"

"Tobi is a good boy! Tobi is sorry! Tobi does it right this time!"

"FOR FUCKS SAKE ARE YOU TRYING TO PISS ME OFF!?"

"WILL YOU TWO SHUT THE FUCK UP!? I'M TRYING TO SACRIFICE TO JASHIN!"

Sakura smiled, an unfamiliar weight lifting from her chest. For the first time in almost a year, she felt almost... peaceful. Calm. Slowly she allowed herself to relax, the tension leaving her body was almost painful. Unaware of Itachi and Kisame's eyes on her, she cracked her neck and let her chakra flare around her, the vibrant green energy flickering and dancing like fire. They watched the grass below her grow longer and greener than they've seen in years, and once again, Itachi watched her with open curiosity.

It was obvious she had great amounts of power within her bones, not just meaning the ungodly physical strength she possessed. But it seemed like she never allowed herself to slip out of her cautious control, like she feared what she could, or perhaps would, do. He had to stop himself from laughing, Sakura was a woman of many things, but it didn't seem like she knew the meaning of fear anymore. Suddenly he watched the chakra seep back into her, the calm control once again making her tense. Turning in her direction, he smirked at her.

"Welcome to the Akatsuki."

I am INCREDIBLY sorry for the wait on this one, for some damn reason my laptop wont connect to the internet now..

The good news it that chapter four is halfway done now, the bad news is that i'm going to be running back and forth between computers until the issue is fixed... which may take awhile...

Anyway, you know the drill. R & R please, I live for reviews man!

Much Love,

BlackRose999