For a millisecond. Only for a millisecond did Karin witness Sasukes exterior fluctuate.
Only for a fraction of a second did his chakra quaver.
Then his emotionless wall was back up.
Karins glossed eyes narrowed slightly.
Chidori dissipated into thin air, and the Uchiha dropped his arm to his side before turning to face the feminine voice that had unknowingly saved Karins life.
In a swift, fluid movement Sakura leaped over the crater that Danzou had left in his wake.
'Who..who is she?' Karin stared at the pink haired woman who was only yards away from she and Sasuke.
"Sakura."
Fiery emerald orbs didn't even flicker when he spoke her name in an effortless, unruffled manner. Her name seemed to linger in his mouth for a second, and his expert eyes looked her over. She was proud of herself. If the Chidori wielder had even uttered something in a tone so velvet years ago, she'd practically have orgasmed.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to join you. I'm abandoning Konoha," Her bold gaze met his slightly curious one.
'She's an old team mate..?' Karins vision was blurred, but she could see a look of obvious determination adorned the pinkettes gorgeous features.
"What's in it for me if you come along? What are you plotting?" His tone had hardened and smoothed into what it usually was.
"I'm not plotting anything," She immediately shot back, "Ive been regretting not going with you ever since the day you left the Hidden Leaf!"
Sasukes obsidian gaze narrowed slightly.
"Please, I'll do whatever you want! I don't want to have anymore regrets!"
Sakura was proud of herself for not hesitating. The Uchihas powerful aura was all the information she needed. He wasn't the Sasuke she had encountered months ago at Orochimarus base. Back then he had been a dangerous opponent, but now he was down right savage. Being within such close proximity to him was like standing on top of a mountain during a severe thunderstorm. It was awe-inspiring but frightening beyond belief as well.
"And do you know what I want?"
"I don't care. I'll do whatever you ask!" She countered.
"I want to destroy Konoha."
Sakura remained unflustered at the mortifying words that had just left his mouth.
Don't mess up.
"Will you really be able to destroy the Hidden Leaf for me?" He was daring her.
Sakura nodded lightly before adding quickly, "Yes. If you asked me to."
"Then prove it," He paused and motioned to the red haired woman who lay bleeding beside him.
"Finish her off. Then I'll believe you."
Sakura nodded a second time and withdrew a kunai from her cloak. "Who is she?"
"A member of the group Taka, of which I founded." Sakura began to walk towards the Uchiha and the slowly fading woman,
"As you can see, she's useless." He paused before continuing,
"Sakura, youre a medical ninja right? You can replace her. This will all work out just fine."
Sasuke watched with suspicious orbs as she kneeled at Karins side, and slowly began to inspect the girls wounds. They were fatal, but not yet deadly. She had suffered a small ammount of blood loss of which could easily be restored with rest.
"Well Sakura? You can't do it?"
Removing her cloak and unbuttoning her pouch only to place it infront of her, Sakura responded. "I'm able to heal her," She retrieved a small bottle from her pack and set it on the cold cement her legs had contact with. "Your team has better chances if they have two medical ninja."
Sasuke raised one perfect raven eyebrow at the sight before him. Judging by Karins wounds, they were obviously bad. He was no idiot when it came to the limits of a mednin. If she was saying she could heal Karin in such a nonchalant tone, then she must be one of the elites in the medical foodchain. How amusing. The worthless member of his former team had finally decided to improve herself.
"You're able?"
"Hai," She began, as she contunued re-checking Karins vitals. "I was trained under Tsunade herself." Sakura inwardly threw a sadistic little party at the fact that she had purposefully removed the instinctive suffix that she always pinned to her dear senseis name. If she had forgotten, and unknowingly added the honorable add-on, Sasuke would have definitely doubted her loyalty. She inwardly scoffed. Odds are he wouldve tied her to the monsterous oak that was shielding the trio from the suns radiant rays, and stabbed her to death.
"Your team has better chances if they have two medical ninja."
"Heal her."
Sakura lifted the bloodied girl, and allowed her head to rest on her arm, as green chakra oozed from her pale fingertips, and entered the redheads bruised body.
Karin closed her eyes, allowing the pain to be sucked out of her aching body.
Onyx orbs never left Sakuras quietly working form.
His team did have a better chance of success with an extra medical ninja, but if the Pinkette proved herself to be of higher value then Karin, then the redhead would without a doubt be deleted from Team Taka. The same rule applied vise-versa. The last thing the Uchiha needed was an overly annoying kunoichi clinging to him constantly and getting in the way of things. His attention focused back to Sakuras expertise movements. She seemed to know exactly what she was doing.
Where was the little genin who had professed her love for him years ago?
"We're almost there." Kakashi murmured, "I can sense..I can sense their chakras."
Kakashi adressed the rest of the group as he began, louder this time. "Everyone. They're just beyond this clearing. Keep your guard up. And don't," He sped up to Naruto to give him a stern look. "do anything on impulse." He was able to finish just before the blonde charged across the spacious field that seperated the small group of Shinobi from his rival, and the girl he'd trade anything for.
Sakura-chan..
Naruto ran threw the thick grass almost violently.
What were you thinking?
"I healed the majority of your wounds," Sakura began, as Karin sat up. "Here," She had retrived the small bottle that sat beside her. "You were poisoned. It's not fatal, but it's still something that can't simply be looked over. This is an antidote. It doesn't taste good but it'll cure the poison." She slid the small bottle over to Karin and watched with slight amusement as the woman opened the small piece of glass only to sniff at it. Sakura smiled, "It's not going to kill you, I promise." Narrowing her crimson eyes, Karin opened her mouth and cringed when the bottles contents made contact with her tongue. Reaching into her medical kit once more, Sakura handed Karin a water cantine as to chase the vile taste that had made its way into her mouth. Almost greedily, the redhaired woman snatched the cantine from Sakura and chugged it.
Sakura stood up and fastened her pouch back to her skirt, and brushed off whatever dirt may have clung to her thighs.
Karin watched the girl as she continued to take advantage of the cantine.
Bright pink hair. Porcelain blemish free skin. Large glistening emerald eyes. This girl was like the walking embodiment of spring. Karin set the cantine down and stood up aswell, flexing her muscles and bending her digits. Her chakra was the warmest one the tracker had ever felt aswell. Which only added to her proof of this-girl-is-spring-in-a-body list.
Her eyes passed the healer and set themselves on her team leader.
Hissing inwardly, she questioned how long he had been staring at the abnormally warm petite konoha nin. Jealousy rose in her throat when she realized his eyes hadn't wavered away from her since she'd arrived. Infact, he was still staring at her. Following Sasukes eyes, she watched the girl aswell, as if to test and see if she were doing anything that Sasuke might have found suspicious.
Slightly irritated when she noted the girl was simply checking the straps on the fabric of her leather boots, Karin fought off the urge to scream.
Who the hell was this little shit, and what the hell did she think she was doing letting HER Sasuke-kun watch her so damn intently!
Said man tensed, and flash stepped infront of the two kunochi. Sakura blinked a couple times, as did Karin. Sasukes eyes narrowed as he stared at the clearing that was on the opposite side of the large oak tree as the bridge he had left in ruins.
"Nani? Sasuke-kun? What's happening? Sasuke-kun? Sasuke-ku-!" Karin began, only to be cut off by Sasukes outstretched hand, which warned her to stop. Sakura cringed as a sense of deja vu washed over her.
Onyx orbs slowly turned red as he let out an audible hiss.
And then Sakura saw it. Her gaze followed Sasukes, and she found herself watching Naruto, Kakashi, Sai, Kiba, Yamato, and Lee all make their way out of the thick grass of the clearing.
She swallowed all the salivia that had accumulated in her throat.
Even from a good number of yards away, she could see Narutos eyes had taken on a rusty shade, and his pupils had the charecteristics of a fox.
"Sasuke!" He screamed, he sounded completely furious. Sakura swallowed again.
This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. She'd assumed that Yamato, Kakashi, and Naruto would be far too preoccupied with the three men she'd left unconscious to have enough time to find her. She inwardly kicked herself. Of course Kakashi would suspect something, knowing her better than most. He knew she wasn't the type to take Narutos decline to stop running after Sasuke so softly. He knew how damn stubborn and headstrong she was, granted it was something else she had picked up from her shishou. Of course Kakashi had suspected something. Of course he proceeded to inform Naruto. Of course the blonde flew in whatever direction she may have been. How could it be a shock? She ground her molars together. How utterly foolish of her.
"What do you want?"
The small group of Shinobi had walked closer to the trio, and were now only a handful of yards away from them.
'This boys chakra..' Karin thought, 'even from this distance..it's like it's dominating everyone elses..'
Sakuras gaze fell. She couldn't look at Naruto. Not like this. He didn't know what was really happening. To him, all he saw was a traitor.
Eyeing Sasuke from the corner of her eye, she mused. Not like I can tell him now anyways.
If she did reveal the real reason for her being with the Uchiha at the moment, she didn't doubt that he'd kill her. No, she was stronger then that. He would attempt to kill her. Jade flickered over Narutos flustered form. Obviously he'd attack her dear team mate aswell.
"Give Sakura-chan back you fucking bastard," He seethed. "I'm not letting you take her away from me."
"Take her?" Sasuke chuckled darkly, "She wasn't ever yours to begin with."
Green eyes widened as she lifted her head once more only to have her vision blocked by the back of Sasukes profile.
When had he stepped directly infront of her?
"You fucking bastard!" Naruto screamed.
'Please don't charge. please don't please don't please do-'
Sasuke abruptly pulled the petite girl out from behind him, and wrapped one muscular arm around her waste as he pressed her tiny body to his chest. Using his free hand, he withdrew Kusanagi and held it only inches away from Sakuras exposed throat. All in one swift, fluid movement.
The six shinobi before the three nukenins all held expressions of sheer horror.
"Sasuke, don't!" Kakashi quickly cut in, his single eye locked on Sasukes infamous sword.
Sakura fought off the tears that were threatening to fall when her eyes met Narutos.
Never once had she ever seen his ultramarine eyes fall victim to so many emotions.
"She is here on her own, free will." Sasuke set his chin on Sakuras shoulder, and bore his obsidean orbs into Narutos saphire ones as he continued. "I have no intentions of giving her back," He practically hissed the last part.
"You fucking bastard.." Naruto was shaking. "Get your god damned hands off of her! Don't fucking touch her like that!"
Sasuke cackled lightly against Sakuras throat, causing her to blush as his hot breath came into contact with her skin.
"Why, Naruto?" She could practically here the smirk in his tone as he continued to mock the jinchuriki. "Does it bother you?" Slowly, his pearly whites nipped at Sakuras neck. "Does it bother you, Naruto?"
He breathed against her neck as he continued to trace small bites along the rosette.
Sakura squeezed her eyes shut, and bit her bottom lip. She could hardly call what Sasuke was doing intimate.
He was branding her.
Infront of Naruto.
Why?
Because it hurt him.
He was entertained by the visible pain it inflicted on his long time rival.
Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.
Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.
Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.
Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.
Don't cry. Don't cry-
"Tell them, Sakura." Sasuke exhaled on her neck. "Tell him how you chose me over him." Then, in a whisper so only she could hear, he murmured into the shell of her ear, "Or i'll cut him like a fish."
She couldn't even bare to imagine Narutos current expression. She couldn't.
Lightly tracing circles on Sakuras hip, Sasuke ordered again. "Tell them, Sakura."
"Sakura-chan.."
She forced her eyes open when Narutos broken voice met her ears.
"Tell me it's not true." His tone was barely a whisper, as he stared into her now watery emerald orbs.
"Sakura-chan, please.." He sounded so desperate.
She couldn't speak.
She couldn't tell him what he wanted to hear.
To him, she had betrayed him.
In the most painful of circumstances.
"Sakura-chan.."
"I..I'm sorry-"
"Tell me it's not fucking true Sakura-chan!" He roared, throwing himself onto his knees before her.
His hands fisted his hair as he continued to scream. "She belongs in Konoha, Sasuke. With me. And everyone else." Sakuras sadened expression quickly twisted as Narutos figure enguled itself with bubbily, violent orange chakra.
"Like I said," Sasuke replied cooly, unaffected by Narutos malicious appearance. "I have no intentions of giving her back."
Sakura bit her lower lip even harder.
Before she could register anything else, her vision became blurred.
Much to her struggling dismay, everything turned black.
QUE CLIFFHANGER~
A/n: c: Super duper long chappy. I'll update again soon! Read/review and keep the feedback coming you guys!
