"Between you and the nine tails there is never a moment of sanity on your team is there?" Kisame questioned, narrowing his eyes at the pink haired girl in front of him. She stood her ground, glaring right back at him.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You both seem to have the habit of rushing into a dangerous situation without any thought to yourselves. Is this just something the two of you do or is that whole village of yours infected with stupidity?"
"Don't talk about Konoha like that! You'll never know anything about our home or the shinobi who protect it. They are loyal, strong, and willing to die for what they believe in." She growled. Kisame seemed unaffected by her declaration.
"You Leaf Shinobi astound me. How is it that you can so willingly give up your lives for someone else?" Kisame laughed dryly, looking away at the wall. "You would never see me doing that. Itachi wouldn't do it either if this situation were reversed. So why would you do this, and for an enemy no less?"
Perhaps Itachi wouldn't save her in this situation. Kisame was right, what she was doing was absolutely ridicules. But she couldn't say she was doing this entirely for herself, or even for Itachi.
"As a medical ninja I made it my sworn duty to heal those who need my assistance. It is my ninja way, but it does not apply to the enemy unless I find it necessary." She paused, clenching her fist. "Whether he lives or dies would not normally matter to me, but he saved me in that mountain. I owe him."
Kisame seemed to mull this over, but she didn't give him time to take it all in before she spoke again.
"If he dies here, it would do more harm than it would good anyways." Her tone changed, becoming something angrier. "If Itachi dies, he'll never get his revenge, and he will never come home. He'll just keep ripping us apart, until nothings left."
"So it's for the little Uchiha brat." Kisame moved into a seated position beside her, leaning an elbow on his leg. "I wouldn't waste my time hoping for his return girl. He has no concept of what's good for him, and if he does fulfill this revenge scheme of his, he will simply find something else to destroy. You would do better to forget about him and move on with your life."
"While I appreciate your opinion," Sakura replied. "I can't say that I agree. Sasuke will come back. We are his home. He has to come back to us."
"I'm not sure why you have so much faith in that brat. Then again, I never really was too sure why Itachi left him alive either. I would have killed him." Sakura rolled her eyes, trying to ignore him. "You may not want to listen to me now kid, but I know what I'm talking about. The Uchiha is bad news."
"Yeah well so is this one." She gestured to Itachi. "I guess I'm just doomed to make bad decisions around Uchiha's."
"Maybe so pinky." His sharp teeth glistened in the light with his smile. Sakura looked down, staring into Itachi's sleeping face.
"Shouldn't you be happy anyways? I'd of thought you would be advocating for me to do this rather than change my mind. After all, if I do die it won't affect you any."
"Maybe not, but I do respect your courage. I've killed shinobi with less backbone then you, and they merely cried at the thought of dying. I did want to know what could be so important to you you'd die for it." Kisame smirked. "Healing a criminal for a criminal is a reason I never expected."
"We already went over this. He's my teammate, and I'd do anything to bring him back. Naruto too."
"The Kyuubi is reckless enough."
"The Kyuubi has a name. Use it."
"I don't have to kunoichi. He is no friend of mine. He is merely a piece to collect."
Sakura spun on him, and wasn't surprised when he caught her fist in his larger hand. "Don't you ever call him that! Naruto isn't a pawn to be used in your sick twisted game! I'll never let you use him like that!"
"Says the girl who is healing the one charged with his capture." Kisame replied evenly, tightening his grip on her hand. Sakura lowered her eyes, knowing he was right. Here she was healing the one person who could possibly capture Naruto and kill him.
If she didn't heal Itachi though, and things were allowed to continue, Naruto would still have death hanging over his head. Kisame hadn't been entirely wrong, questioning her actions and saying that her reason was unexpected. It was that way because the reason she'd given was only half the truth.
More than any other motivator, she had Naruto to think about.
"He can't be allowed to simply live and do as he pleases while other countries suffer. If you cannot bring him back then I'll be forced to send a team to take him out. You understand this?"
"If it comes to that then I'll take care of him myself. I'll die with him! Naruto Uzumaki doesn't go back on a promise!"
She couldn't let him die. It may be selfish of her, but Naruto has taken a place in her heart that even Sasuke couldn't compete with. Did she love him, yes, but it would never be as she loved Sasuke. Choosing between the two, the very idea didn't settle well with her. Somehow though, she knew deep in her heart what her choice would be.
She was making it right now, by choosing to heal the criminal in front of her.
"Am I less of a person for doing this?"
Kisame shrugged, his smile fading. "You're asking a criminal if your actions are justified. Not the wisest of choices. Tell me kunoichi do you even have any remnant of sanity?"
"I don't know anymore. I've always been academically smart, but now would be the time to use those smarts for a purpose other than this. I just…can't. I must be insane to be having these thoughts." Sakura shivered, clenching her arms tightly. By doing this she would be betraying Konoha. But, if it would keep Naruto safe, just for a little longer, she would do it. She had to keep them all together. They would find a way to bring Sasuke back without resorting to unnecessary death.
"My cooperation with you isn't a betrayal of Akatsuki" Kisame replied roughly, as if reading her thoughts. "I have no intentions of leaving the organization, or helping you any further then your involvement with my goals. If you feel the same way about your village, I wouldn't worry. This is just a means to an end."
"A means to an end huh." Sakura sighed, rolling up her sleeve to expose her vein. She could live with that. Even if it was just a blissful lie, she would believe it to protect her friends.
"Now that you've finished ranting, let's get this started."
Xoxoxo
Naruto Uzumaki was never known to have a tight hold on his emotions. Even after his years of training, in traumatic situations he found it difficult to control anything he did. The Kyuubi was an ever persistent entity in his mind, focusing dark thoughts into his mind in a crazed attempt to take hold of him.
The girl will die. It whispered. You aren't strong enough to save her alone. I can help you. Let me help you.
Lord forgive him he was tempted, so tempted to take that offer. To feel the darkness rush into him, breathe life into his veins and give him the means to find one of the ones most important to him. The one he should have been able to protect. It would be so easy to let go of his tight reins and be what everyone feared him to be.
He'd promised himself a long time ago that he wouldn't rely on the fox's power. If he couldn't face challenges on his own, what good would he be as a Hokage? Relying on someone else's power for the rest of their life was not what Naruto pictured in his idea of a leader. A leader relied on those around him, yes, but there had to be some of their own abilities in the picture as well.
He would wipe away the fears people had about him, and earn the title of Hokage.
Use me!
"Naruto, the avalanche has iced over everything. Sorting through the snow is futile at this point." Kakashi shouted from his position atop Sai's ink bird. His Sharingon blazed, tired from the recent battle and the search through the snow for any sign of his student. "We need to also consider the mission. Our target could still be alive."
"So are we just going to give up on her?!" Naruto yelled, turning to face his teammates with raw anger on his face. "I don't abandon my friends Kakashi-sensei! I am not worse than scum!"
"I know Naruto. I'm not telling you to abandon her." Kakashi murmured, looking suddenly sad. He knew more than anyone that abandoning your friends was a terrible thing, and his only female student was dear to him. He would never risk her safety if he didn't think she could handle herself.
Convincing the hot blooded shinobi in front of them that was she probably okay for the moment, now that was a mission all in itself. He knew all too well how Naruto's temper got him into trouble, and on top of the situation they were already in, that wouldn't be a welcome action.
"It's likely she is further toward the base of the mountain, if she has not already found a way out of it." Kakashi added, after a moment of thought.
"I am not so sure." Sai spoke. "Much of our chakra was spent on the battle, and if the same applies to Sakura she may have suffered injuries from the fall that rendered her unconscious. If we are accurate in presuming Itachi Uchiha fell with her, she may otherwise be held up by him."
Kakashi gave Sai a look, and he shrugged in response, not quite sure what the older man looked so irked about.
"Which is why we need to search faster!" Naruto yelled, feeling a burst of renewed energy. Itachi Uchiha was not a foe he took less than seriously. His own experiences fighting against him hadn't turned out to well, and Sakura was alone with the guy. If he hurt her he would kill him!
You can be strong enough to kill him. Use my power!
"Easy Naruto. Remember, Sakura is a trained medical ninja and a smart girl. She can handle herself until we find her." Kakashi reminded, holding his hand out to Naruto. "Now get on and let's move further downward. Hoshigaki Kisame is already on the move, and I'd hate to risk him finding her or the target before we do."
Naruto frowned, biting his lip. When blood flowed down his chin he frowned more, knowing that it was the pierce of a fang that had caused the injury to his mouth. He was losing the battle, and nothing good would come from it.
"I have sent mice into the snow to search ahead." Sai added, watching Naruto's hesitation carefully. He was all too familiar with the signs of inner turmoil, but he couldn't decide what the blonde was fighting against. Perhaps he already believed Sakura to be dead, and the grief was getting to him? should he try and comfort him?
'No,' Sai thought, remembering the last time he'd tried to comfort the knucklehead. He'd somehow misinterpreted the action and had tried to attack him, despite his rational explanation. In this particular scenario, with emotions high as they were, Sai decided it was best to refrain from comfort and focus on what he knew best. The mission.
"Everything will be fine." Kakashi murmured, holding out his hand further for emphasis.
Naruto nodded, taking Kakashi's hand. When he was fully on the ink bird he turned to look to the piles of snow around them, hoping Sakura wasn't somewhere under it freezing to death. He couldn't bear losing another teammate.
Use me.
'No.' Naruto replied, shaking his head. 'I'll rescue Sakura with my own power. You just sit back and watch!'
Xoxoxo
Sakura felt strange, not the pleasant kind of strange either, more a sickening kind. A foreign chakra in her body felt different then she'd expected, like a poison in her bloodstream eating away at her. Itachi Uchiha's chakra was hot, and made her want to scratch at her skin.
She'd immediately channeled her chakra to the antibodies upon entrance, trying to keep any bit of the disease from spreading into her body. The effort wouldn't be a wasted one. She couldn't afford to die, not before she'd accomplished everything she wanted to. Still, it was hard to tell if she had gotten it all, and the odds were ever against her.
Even time was not on her side. For this particular procedure, her body had to act as a healing incubator for at least five hours before she could return the antibodies to his body. Proper cleansing time for cells usually accounted for an hour or two in the host body, but for such elaborate procedure as this the time had to be at least double the normal amount. The extra hour is a precaution, like double checking a locked door before you leave your home.
She hadn't quite explained this to Kisame before starting the removal process, and now she was faced with quite a few dangerous questions.
How would Kisame react to the new information? What if her friends found her before the five hour period was over? What if Itachi woke up before that time? How would he even react to the situation?
Why had she gone through with this, if she knew how long it would take?
"Your strangely quiet girl."
Kisame looked over at her from his position against the wall. He'd watched her through the entire procedure, making comments and asking questions about nothing in particular. She may have been more inclined to oblige his curiosity if not for the complexity of the procedure and the amount of focus necessary to complete it.
After his fourth comment at her supposed "lack of intelligence" she'd promptly told him to leave or die. He hadn't spoken another word afterwards, though she doubted he thought her much of a threat.
Sakura rubber her flushed cheek, closing her eyes.
"I'm worried." She admitted after mulling it over. What could Kisame possibly do to her if she revealed the truth? He needed her. Killing her would not be in his best interest. Still, the threat he'd made earlier was not one she desired to happen.
"About what?"
"I'd forgotten to mention a tiny bit of information regarding my involvement." Kisame cracked his knuckles, gesturing for her to continue. "The incubation process in my body will take five hours to cleanse the antibodies. If I return them too early it will have no effect, and if I don't return them at all Itachi will certainly die."
Kisame frowned, rubbing his hand along the hilt of his Samahada. "That will be a problem if your friends find us here first. With that teacher of yours tracking skills, I wouldn't bet on us having more than two hours here at most. You've put yourself in quite a predicament."
Sakura nodded, knowing he was right. It wouldn't be long before her friends found them. They certainly wouldn't understand what she was doing, and she wouldn't blame them for not understanding. This was wrong, no matter the circumstance.
So what then? Would she go with them and pretend nothing had happened? No, Kisame would never let her escape without healing Itachi. He'd sooner try and kill her team before letting that happen. Naruto would no doubt lose him temper as well and cause more trouble than this was worth.
Naruto…
She'd gotten so caught up in the panic she'd forgotten the very reason for her actions. The reason she had to stay with Itachi, and finish the procedure.
"I'm taking you with me kunoichi."
What?
Sakura struggled to stand, finding the effort much harder than it'd been before. Did the process really cripple her so badly? No, surely not. It had to be the effects of the soldier pill wearing off. With that waning energy she'd soon be down for the count unless she could recover another way.
"I warned you that I would be taking you if I thought it was necessary. While I'm sure I could take on that team of yours, I'm not risking it. I'm taking you and Itachi out of here."
Kisame was serious, and she didn't have any more time to think on the matter. She knew what needed to be done, and while she didn't want to go with the brute there wasn't much choice left for her. Staying would be forfeiting the procedure, and more trouble for her team.
"You will let me go." She stated, crossing her arms.
"You would trust the word of a villain? Again I question your sanity." Kisame laughed, shaking his head at her. "I hardly think a yes would suit you."
"If you don't give me a truthful answer, I will not go with you. I will fight you to the end."
"By all means, fight. It will get you nowhere kunoichi."
Sakura frowned, panic settling in once more. She hadn't expected that answer. All she'd wanted was a simply yes. She couldn't go so he could kill her when she was finished.
She lacked the strength to take him on…so her intelligence would have to be enough.
"Itachi is in no condition to be out in that weather." She argued, deciding his partner was the best form of persuasion she had to keep him here. After all the trouble he'd gone through to make sure the Uchiha would get well, she doubted he would risk worsening his condition to prove a point.
"You're right girl, but I never intended for us to travel straight through the cold air." At Sakura's estranged look he added, "My water prison jutsu should do nicely to block out the harsher weather."
"So you want to drown us instead of freezing us?" A snort echoed through the cave. "You really are smart."
"Watch your mouth girl. You'd do well to remember you have no power here."
Sakura glared, fist clenching. How dare he speak of relying on her to heal Itachi, and then tell her she had no power here! He may be better fit for battle then she, but her skills were the real treasure. Kisame Hoshigaki would be nothing without her help now.
"I'm the one risking my life to help your partner. I think I have more power then you believe."
Kisame looked ready to rip her apart, but somehow managed to contain his temper. It wouldn't do any good to rip her to shreds now. If Itachi died because of his foolishness there would only be trouble to follow. Patience.
"The water prison jutsu can be altered enough to allow air, brat. You'd think you would have learned that from that teacher of yours."
Sakura bristled, raising herself to stand.
Only to fall forward rather quickly, and slam right into Kisame's stomach. His arm came around the catch her awkwardly, but she couldn't find the strength to raise herself. It was like her entire body had turned to jello, leaving her venerable and disoriented.
"What are you doing girl?"
Well it's not like she'd done it on purpose! What did he assume she liked falling over onto enemies?
"I was injured before meeting you stupid, and combined with the procedure I've just done as well as the soldier pill wearing off, I'd say I'm just about beat. Don't go getting any stupid ideas just because you happened to be my landing place." For all the exhaustion taking hold in her body, she still had that fiery temper to rescue her.
"Can't say that I'm complaining. This makes things easier." Before she could fully comprehend what he'd said Kisame had thrown her over his shoulder before leaning down and picking up Itachi much the same way.
"Let me go you brute!" Her scream came out weaker than normal and familiar black spots were entering her vision. This time though, they weren't fading, instead growing larger. She couldn't pass out now, not like this.
"Quiet kid, we have a long way to go." With that Kisame made a simple hand sign, and a wall of water formed around them. The air Sakura had felt earlier from the entrance was gone, though she couldn't say it wasn't cold. Still, the jutsu was effective at keeping out the harsher weather. Perhaps Kisame was smarter then he appeared to be.
"I have to…return…Naruto…" Her words slurred, eyes shutting slowly. She faintly heard Kisame chuckle before everything went dark.
"Sleep well kunoichi." He murmured, leaping out the entrance. The water prison jutsu could be seen quite easily from afar, and surely those teammates of the girls would notice him heading down the mountain. He hadn't lied when he said he'd rather not engage them, so he'd come up with a plan to distract them long enough for him to be off the mountain and out of their reach. He wanted them to know he'd taken her, but it would do him little good if they got to him before the girls procedure was finished.
He wasn't without mercy, despite his reputation. The girl had chosen to face the possibility of death for his partner, and in return he would allow her to return to her friends once her job was done.
Still, teasing the little girl was more fun than giving her the truth. As much as he appreciated his partner, he had never been able to get much emotion out of him. This girl though, she got angry at the slightest things. How she managed to become a kunoichi with those fluttering emotions was beyond him.
She hadn't even noticed that he'd created several water clones after she'd requested him to build a fire. At first he'd simply marked it down as her being a pathetic shinobi, but her argument earlier after she'd fallen gave him a whole new perspective. To be that tired, must have been some fall they took.
Still, it did worry him to see her in that state, because that means Itachi was much worse off. He truly hadn't seen Itachi unconscious before, and certainly not so weak as to remain that way while someone touched him. Whatever was going on with him could really kill him.
The idea of that didn't settle to well with Kisame. He'd never had too many problems losing a partner, or killing one for that matter, but Itachi Uchiha had grown on him. The partnership they had worked, and he looked up to the Uchiha more then he probably should.
The girls question had startled him. Akatsuki members were always told to be absolutely dedicated to the mission. Losing a member certainly did have its setbacks, as they'd seen with Sasori and Deidara, but it was a necessary loss. Kisame had been prepared to take the same risk with his own partner.
At least, until he'd seen him fall through the cave ground.
Itachi Uchiha had always been so prepared, like nothing could touch him. The fact that he'd let something like that catch him off guard had been startling. As soon as he'd cleared the avalanche he'd spent ten minutes watching the snow for any sign of his partner, or even the stupid pink haired brat. If one of them came up surely the other one would as well.
Neither of them had.
Kisame couldn't remember the last time he'd actually worried about someone. He would never admit the notion out loud, but in that moment he'd reacted without even a second thought.
Yahagi had been forgotten from his mind, and he'd started moving down the mountain. He remembered hearing the Kyuubi burst from the snow somewhere behind him, but he hadn't paid much attention. His focus remained on Itachi.
Until he realized what he'd been doing.
His mind had snapped back to the mission, and he'd made it clear that Yahagi's remains were to be found first, and then he'd go in search of his partner.
Kisame clenched his fist, tightening his hold on the kunoichi over his shoulder.
She'd been wrong about his choice, and he didn't know just how he felt about that.
Xoxoxo
The barrage of Kisame water clones had caught them completely off guard. Kakashi had been the first one to sight them, and since the first attacked they hadn't stopped.
"Where is the real one?!" Naruto screamed, punching through the face of the closest Kisame to him. When it dissolved into nothing but water he cursed. That was the ninth one he'd destroyed with nothing to show for it.
"What's wrong nine tails? Losing your temper?" The Kisame clone joked, dodging another one of the boy's attacks.
"Calm down Naruto." Kakashi chastised, lifting the hitai attai around his eye, revealing the Sharingan. A quick sweep through the clones revealed that the real Kisame wasn't among them. He had to be hiding somewhere, waiting for the opportune moment. With all of them scattered and unprepared this would be the perfect opportunity for the Akatsuki member to strike.
Sai finished off the clone in front of him, looking back at Kakashi. "He does not appear to be attacking with strong purpose. Does this mean our mission has been a failure?"
Kakashi watched Naruto tear through the clones, considering Sai's question. The Akatsuki member was certainly making it easy to destroy his clones, not like he'd fought in the past. If he'd located Yahagi and disposed of him, that would explain the lack of power behind his attack. He'd already suspected the mission was forfeit.
Yet, that brought the question of why. Why would Kisame Hoshigaki even bother with an attack if he'd already taken care of Yahagi?
It was possible that he was simply buying more time for himself to locate his partner, and worried they were getting too close. Though surely his clones would fight with more power if that were the case.
The buying time theory did seem to be the best choice, but now for what? If he had found the Uchiha he would have already left with him, and there would have been no need for such a diversion. If he were still looking it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for him to want to use a diversion, but he seemed more the type to search without resorting to that method.
"You aren't still looking for the girl now are you? What a waste of time." A loud laugh pierced the air, forcing Kakashi's gaze to the left. Naruto was fighting with one of the last clones, and this one seemed to be giving him a hard time.
What if he'd been mistaken and Kisame wasn't in the vicinity hiding somewhere? This diversion might not be to buy him time to locate his partner. It would be for him to make an escape.
Poof! Another one down. Two more to go.
"Our main focus is to locate Sakura. If he wanted to escape with Itachi, he wouldn't need to bother with a distraction."
Poof! One more left.
"I always imagined his character to be more mocking. Was I incorrect in my assumptions?" Sai asked.
"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked, unsure of where Sai was going with this. How did Kisame's temperament affect anything? What good would analyzing his personality do at a time like this?
Sure Sai had always been a strange one, but this analysis was far deeper.
"Well, I had expected he would have been grimmer. Most with his personality would have wanted to lower our hopes by mentioning the possibility that Sakura is dead. He said nothing of the sort, simply that we were wasting our time."
Naruto raced toward the last Kisame, swiping blindly with his kunai. Each move was dodged effortlessly, and it was beginning to piss him off. He didn't have time for this nonsense! Sakura was still trapped in the mountain! Each second could mean more danger for her!
"I will find her!" He screamed, dropping the kunai to channel energy into his palm. As the Rasengan formed he saw Kisame grin.
Then Kakashi understood. He hadn't made a quip about Sakura's death, because he knew Sakura wasn't dead. He'd come here to let them know he was ahead of them.
"You've done something with her."
Kisame's eyes met Kakashi's, amusement glimmering, before Naruto's Rasengan destroyed the last clone. As soon as the snow settled, Naruto spun to face his former teacher. His pupils were red, a sure sign of his barely withheld anger.
"What do you mean, 'done something with her'?"
When Kakashi didn't respond immediately Naruto ran up to him, grabbing his arm. "Tell me!"
"What he means is Sakura might be being held captive by Hoshigaki Kisame." Sai explained shortly. It was difficult to repress his older viewpoints, to where he'd simply shrugged off these things and continued the mission. Now he actually forced himself to think through this, and feel. What came was hurt, and he didn't like it. It made him want to hit something.
It seemed Naruto felt much the same way.
"Why? Is this some ploy to capture me?! Am I the reason she is in this mess?!"
Naruto felt his knees hit the snow covered ground, his body going numb. If he'd caused this then he'd never forgive himself. He should have been watching her more closely! If he'd just moved a little faster, maybe he could have caught her, or at least fallen with her so he could protect her. Instead he'd let himself be pulled away and swallowed under the snow like an idiot.
Why couldn't he protect his friends? What good was he if he couldn't even do that much?
Do you see now? The hurt will only grow.
"I'm not sure." Kakashi replied. "But I doubt you are the reason Naruto. Besides, captivity is just one option. It could also be possible that he attacked and left her. We have to explore all possibilities."
Sai uncovered his ink, drawing another bird. With a hand sign it came to life, waiting in the snow with wide spread wings.
"I can find a trail if I go now. You and Naruto can continue looking for her here, just in case you're right." Sai announced.
"Good idea. I'll summon Pakkun to send a message to the Hokage about this. She'll need to be made aware about the situation. We'll meet back here in an hour." Kakashi looked to Naruto, waving him along. "Let's go."
You are weak. You can't do this without me.
Naruto looked in the direction the clones had come from, glaring.
'Watch me!'
"We'll find you Sakura. I promise."
Xoxoxo
This chapter was certainly not one of my favorites to write, but I feel I got quite a few major points across. Now this is the set up for next chapter, when things really start to get moving. Bear with me though with the updates from this point because they will be slower.
Thanks for the kind reviews of anticipation (you know who you are ). They are truly encouraging and I like to know people are enjoying the story. Like I said I do have a solid direction on where I'm going, it's just writing it and some things in the middle that I'm having trouble with. Your opinions and encouragement keep me going. Thank you again!
I have to admit I'm not very good at writing for characters like Kakashi, and Sai. So if you found my view points for them to be a little too off, I'm sorry. That is just what seemed to work for me when I was thinking about how to involve them. I'll be thinking about them a little more as I go.
Thanks for reading and please review.
p.s. I did update this quicker then I wrote in my profile because I wanted to get it out there. I feel bad that the next update will take longer, so this is to pacify.