I am soooooo sorry about the super late update; I started college last week, and have been preparing for it. I don't know how much updating I'll do until I'm completely settled in at college, but maybe your reviews would inspire me to write more chapters sooner. : )
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
P.S. Pollll on the profile :) You're welcome for the update
XxxX
Sakura found it hard to open her eyes as she awoke in the darkness of her cell once again. She was still tired, still drained of chakra, and her back was still ringing in pain; Sakura knew she would have to heal it again. Sighing slightly, Sakura shifted herself into a more comfortable position against the cell wall; currently her position on the floor was adding even more pain to her back.
Sakura sighed in contentment as she placed an emerald green glowing hand to the small of her back. Sakura was glad that it wasn't as severe as the injury had been previously; that would have taken a lot more chakra.
Cringing slightly, Sakura cursed the blue skinned man; she had healed this injury earlier, and if he hadn't thrown her so harshly against the wall, it would still be healed, damn it.
Thinking back on Kisame, Sakura cursed again remembering the chakra drain that had occurred. She would never be able to escape this place if she wasn't able to store chakra.
Sakura removed her hand from her back, and sighed slightly as she slumped her shoulders. Closing her eyes completely, Sakura leaned further back into the wall as she tried to find a way out of her current predicament.
It was obvious Kisame was going to come back and drain her chakra away; she needed to find a way to store her chakra… a way to keep her chakra away from Kisame's damned sword.
Almost as if a light bulb appeared above her head, Sakura got an idea. Frowning slightly, she brought both of her hands together to form a tiger seal; Tsunade had taught this to her during a training session years earlier, but she had never really tried it. Sakura just hoped it worked, and hoped the seal and chakra pulse this jutsu would cause would go unnoticed by her captors, though it probably wouldn't.
Concentrating on her forehead, a small emerald diamond began to appear. Taking a breath inward, Sakura allowed herself to pour most of her chakra into the small diamond shape; the exertion of chakra caused a slight ripple in the air.
After only a few short mintues, Sakura sensed movement outside her cell, and knew someone was going to enter her room. Cursing herself for her own carelessness, Sakura stopped the movement of her chakra, and hid the new diamond mark on her forehead behind her bangs.
The door slammed open a second later, and Sakura frowned slightly as she stared into the eyes of the Akatsuki leader.
Pein walked into the room with an air of nonchalance. He walked toward Sakura's cell door, opened it, and just stood before her.
"Do not make me ask," Pein muttered as he glared towards Sakura. Sakura smirked slightly in triumph, but quickly hid said reaction.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sakura muttered with bitter indifference.
Pein glared at the pinkette before him; Sakura knew exactly what he was talking about. Pein had felt a sudden surge of chakra. Glaring sharply at Sakura, Pein took a step closer.
Raising a fist, Pein went to slap Sakura in the face; Sakura's own hand flew up to her defense, and prevented the slap from connecting.
"You are lying," Pein stated bluntly as he retracted his fist from Sakura's grasp; his glare intensified as Sakura's lip turned slightly upward. Sakura's eyes still glared up in defiance, until Pein spoke again. "Stand up."
"No," Sakura muttered with a slight glare of her own. She moved to turn her head away; Pein's hand prevented her from doing so.
"Stand up," Pein said again; this time his voice was not so calm. Sakura was about to protest, but Pein again interrupted her. "Stand up, and come with me. We need to talk about our arrangement…"
Nodding her head slightly, Sakura stood, but still held an heir of confidence. Pein waited for Sakura to walk in front of him, which she did. Turning her head around slightly, Sakura watched as Pein appeared right behind her.
Sakura felt the breath on her ear before she comprehended his closeness. "I will find out what you did in this room, girl." His voice was cold; it sent cold shivers up and down her spine.
Resisting the urge to shiver on impulse, Sakura walked to the cell door, and peered out into the hallway. Glaring at Kisame, Kisame in turn smirked at the girl.
"Follow Kisame," Pein was still too close for Sakura to practically breathe correctly. Speeding up her pace slightly, Pein followed just as quickly behind with a twisted smirk on his face.
The lights in the hallway were dull, but still brighter than Sakura's cell. Blinking slightly, Sakura's eyes began to focus and became alert almost instantly.
Sakura's eyes were glued to the walls and the hallways as she followed the big blue man further down the hallway. If Pein would only give her another few feet, she was sure she could race down one of the hallways and escape…
Following Kisame as he took a sharp right, she felt Pein hot on her heels. It was obvious they weren't giving her an inch; they weren't giving her any chance to escape. Maybe she would be able to fight her way out of here.
Laughing mentally, Sakura shook her head. She was able to defeat one member of the Akatsuki with the help of a stronger, more experienced shinobi; how the hell would she be able to defeat two of the strongest Akatsuki members all by herself?
Kisame stopped in front of a large wooden door. Sakura's eyes darted to Kisame's hands as he began making rapid hand signs. In a few short moments, the door before them unlocked, and Kisame quickly walked inside.
Feeling Pein step closer to her, Sakura quickly followed Kisame inside the room. The lights were incredibly bright as she stepped into this seemingly sterile and bright room. Thinking nostalgically, it reminded Sakura of the hospital she used to work at, back in Konoha.
Taking a few steps further into the room, Sakura's eyes began to roam the contents. Instantly, Sakura's eyes darted to the surgical equipment, and the coffin-like containers that lay scattered throughout the large room; the containers that were large enough to fit bodies in.
Raising a slight eyebrow, Sakura walked closer to one of the coffins. It was a large dark brown box, but there were tubes that flowed in and out that connected to a mechanical machine.
Sakura had seen machines like this before; the machines in front of her reminded her very much of those she had seen Kabuto use when Konoha had invaded Sound.
Snapping back to reality, Sakura walked closer to the machines. Eyeing the tubes, Sakura idly wondered if they were breathing tubes. Stepping even closer, Sakura's hand caressed the top of the container slightly.
"You're curious, aren't you?" Pein spoke as he closed the door the group of three had entered from. A slight smirk appeared on his face as he walked toward the container Sakura was standing by. His hand slowly caressed the top of the wood as he walked to the end of the container passing Sakura slowly. "This is what I need you for; your abilities for."
Sakura's eyes darted towards Pein's hands as he began opening the box. Her eyes widened at what lay beneath the cover.
There lay Sasori of the Red Sand; Sakura was almost positive she would never see him again; she had nightmares about said shinobi; the only thing that made her feel better was the fact that he was dead,
The read head that lay in the coffin before her was as still as a stone; he was dead and Sakura knew it. Eyeing the tubes again, Sakura began to think they were a method of preservation; a way to preserve the body without having it decompose.
That's when Sakura realized something, Sasori's body… it appeared to be actual skin, unlike the last time the two met. Sakura's eyes darted upward towards Pein's; her holding questions, his holding answers.
"What-"
"We will discuss our agreement before we continue," Pein spoke as he shut the coffin lid. Sakura nodded slightly as her eyes wandered to Kisame; he stood stoically next to another container further in the back of the room.
"You will become a full member of the Akatsuki, and do anything I require you to," Pein spoke easily as he watched Sakura for a reaction. He watched as Sakura flinched slightly and glared toward him. "Of course there is something I will be offering you… but there really will be no choice in the matter."
"What is the offer?" Sakura questioned as she eyed Kisame before glancing back to Pein.
"Kyuubi," Pein spoke easily. "We will stop chasing after the Kyuubi if you agree to join the Akatsuki, and help us with the resurrection of our fallen comrades."
"The-" Sakura's throat was suddenly dry, and it felt like air wasn't properly getting to her lungs. Pein's offer surprised her; he completely shocked her. "The resurrection of Akatsuki in exchange for Naruto's life?"
"Yes," Pein stated with a nod. Sakura's mind again danced with the possibilities of this deal. It was possible that what Pein had said was truthful, but Sakura doubted that very much. It was obvious Akatsuki had been after the nine-tailed beasts for some time; he wouldn't just give up the chance for world domination when he was so close to obtaining it.
Sakura's eyes hardened as she looked to Pein. "How do I know you will fulfill your end of the bargain once I resurrect these members?" Sakura questioned quietly as her eyes watched Pein's face for a reaction. He didn't give one; not that Sakura was really expecting it.
"You don't," Pein spoke effortlessly. He watched as Sakura's mouth dropped slightly, and he smirked at her reaction. "Believe it or not, Akatsuki is a respectable organization. We try to honor the promises we make; this is because we make very few promises."
"So I have your word you will not harm Naruto?" Sakura questioned as she watched Pein. Pein's smirk widened for a slim second, and then disappeared all together.
"You have my word that I will not harm Naruto Uzumaki," Pein spoke with an affirmative head nod.
Sakura sucked in a slight gasp of breath. "I agree to those terms," Sakura nodded as she took a step closer to the coffin.
XxxX
The group of five made it to Suna quicker then planned; it only took them a day and a half to reach the sand country. The five rested very little as they tried to increase even their lightning speed to make it to the village as soon as possible.
Stopping in front of the Suna wall, Naruto waited for a guard to escort them to the Kazekage building. The five did not have to wait long before the recognizable shape of Kankuro appeared before them.
The normally chipper male was unusually somber, and incredibly quiet. Seeing the group of five, however, he allowed a small smile to break on his saddened mask. "Welcome to Suna my friends."
"We need to see Gaara," Naruto stated immediately. Kankuro nodded quickly, and started racing towards the Kazekage building.
The group of five followed quickly after the swift moving puppeteer. It had been a while since any of them had been to Suna; if Naruto remember correctly the last time he had been to Suna was when Team Kakashi had rescued Gaara… and when Sakura had saved Kankuro.
"Are there refugees from Konoha here, Kankuro?" Naruto asked quickly as he thought back to his pink haired friend.
"Yes," Kankuro said as he sighed deeply. "Not as many as I would have liked to see, however."
"How many?" Neji spoke as he matched steps with the puppeteer.
"A little over twenty," Kankuro said softly as the group arrived in front of the Kazekage building. "Fifteen shinobi, five civilians."
"That few?" Naruto questioned as his voice saddened greatly. His shoulders immediately began to slump, and he and his fellow shinobi quickly followed Kankuro into the Kazekage building.
"Some may have went to Mist, Naruto," Shikamaru spoke easily as they continued to follow Kankuro. "We have better ties with Suna, and whoever attacked Konoha would probably know that. Suna is closer, but only by a few days travel. We will have more shinobi in Mist, I guarantee it."
The rest of the two minute walk to Gaara's office was done in silence, as had most of their journey from Konoha. Knocking on the door to the office, Kankuro opened the door without even acknowledgement. Leading the five shinobi inside, they stood face to face with Suna's Kazekage.
"Gaara," Naruto spoke with a slight crack in his voice. Stepping towards the red haired man, Naruto hugged him tightly before letting go, and looking him in the eye. "Who did this?"
"Naruto… You need to sit down," Gaara spoke quietly and sternly. Nodding to the rest of his companions, they too sat down. "I was only able to interview a few of the shinobi that arrived here; one of them was Tsunade."
"Tsunade-baachan is okay?" Naruto questioned with a slight smile. "What about Kakashi-sensei, and Hinata-Chan; what about Sakura-Chan?"
The group watched as Gaara cringed slightly. Sitting in his chair, Gaara's face turned somber. "We have heard from our allies in Mist that a few shinobi have made it to their village safely; Kakashi-san, and Hyuuga-san being a few of them… we have, however, not heard anything about Sakura's whereabouts."
"But Sakura-" Naruto was cut off quickly by a door shutting.
"Sakura didn't give up," Tsunade's voice spoke softly as she walked into the room. Her face was slightly wrinkled, and she seemed to be completely worn out. Naruto stood and walked towards the elder blond as he gave her a tight squeeze. "I think… I think you need to sit down for this, Naruto."
Nodding slightly with a bit of confusion, Naruto walked back to his chair and sat down. "The Akatsuki arrived in Konoha about a half day after you guys left," Tsunade started out slowly as she walked to Gaara's desk. Leaning slightly against it, she turned towards her shinobi. "It was an unexpected invasion; they had recruited more shinobi then we had anticipated. Their leader was actually the Kage of Rain; we didn't stand a chance.
"The battle lasted for over a day, and I was severely injured; I was able to take out several Akatsuki before then however. Sakura was able to heal me, but just as she was finishing I was made aware that Kisame Hoshigaki had arrived, and severely injured me again… that's all I remember."
Shikamaru's eyes widened slightly. "How did you arrive here, then, Tsunade-sama?"
"It's a transportation jutsu I taught her… she was able to send me to the Suna hospital…" Tsunade's eyes watered slightly before she continued. "She-she didn't transport herself… she couldn't. I can only give medical ninja one transportation scroll… I should have given her two."
The group of five guys' eyes widened slightly as they watched their Hokage break down in front of them; she was completely broken. The village she was suppose to protect was destroyed, and she couldn't find her apprentice's; the apprentice that had risked her life for her Hokage… in Tsunade's eyes she had failed as a leader.
"We need to go back to Konoha immediately," it was Sasuke who spoke first. "We may have a chance to follow the Akatsuki's trail back to their hideout; we also want to look for any survivors."
"That's not a bad idea, Sasuke," Shikamaru spoke as he shifted in his seat. "They would never expect a counter attack so early… and if the Akatsuki took any of our shinobi captive, we should plan a rescue before it becomes too late."
Nodding his head slightly, Naruto looked toward Gaara, who had been incredibly quiet up until this point. "What do you think, Gaara?" Naruto asked as his voice softened slightly.
"I cannot allow any of my shinobi to accompany you back to Konoha," Gaara spoke as his eyes were focused on his desk. "The council and I are both worried for the sake of our own village; I can send a message to Mist to set up a rendezvous point with the rest of the Konoha shinobi, and I can protect any of you here, but that is all I can offer."
Naruto smiled slightly as he stood. Putting his hand out, he shook Gaara's hand before responding. "I can't expect you to endanger your village, Gaara. Send word to Mist we'll be meeting up in Konoha in three days time."