Disclaimer: Do you reckon if I gave the owner a cookie, he would let me own Naruto instead??? Thought not...dang it!
Hindrance: Chapter 2 - Discovered
Sakura's limbs were bathed in the eerie glow of the moonlight as she sprinted. No sound could be heard apart from the consistent clunk of her sandals as they connected with the terracotta roof tiles. Panting slightly, she smiled as she slowed down to a slight jog. In the near distance, the building that she was looking for was clearly visible.
Halting on the rooftop opposite, Sakura eyed it critically while her breathing retuned to normal. The structure had about five floors in total. Various windows were smashed, allowing the threadbare curtains inside to flutter feebly. Judging by the way the concrete building leaned at an angle upon its foundations, she guessed that this was the cheapest inn for miles around. According to her source, hoards of rogue ninja stayed there to escape the police. For criminals to reside there undetected, the manager was either tight-lipped or well-paid. Sakura thought the latter to be the more likely option.
'So this is what Akatsuki have been downgraded to. For an S-Class organization with bounties coming out of their ear holes, you would have thought they'd pick a classier accommodation.'
'God this place is a pig sty! Their accountant must be such a stingy sod! Sound like anyone we know, eh Sakura?' Her inner mind smirked slyly while inspecting her fingernails.
'Shut the hell up. All shinobi know that a certain amount of money needs to be reserved for emergencies…We just save more than some is all.' Sakura tried desperately to stand her ground against the lame accusations. Her friends always teased her for being controlling with money, Inner Sakura being no different.
Waving off her retort, she replied in a bored tone: 'If you say so. Besides that, you should probably move your lazy ass before daybreak if you want to find the target.'
Sakura hissed under her breath as her inner personality mocked her. Resigning to the truth, she somersaulted towards the ground, concealed by the shadows. Landing on all fours, the impact remained smooth, her flexible joints supporting the increase of pressure. She stood up and wedged her hands on her hips as she performed a mental checklist of the equipment in her backpack:
'Medic Equipment, sedatives, senbon needles, spare kunai, shuriken, exploding tags, food pills…I think that's everything.' She traced her shoulder strap over her collarbone until her fingertips reassuringly curled around the handle of her katana.
'That's everything.' Sakura confirmed to herself. She never went anywhere without her sword; even when sleeping, it was within close range of an outstretched hand. This particular weapon was given to Sakura by Tsunade on her 15th birthday. Crafted to her measurements and fighting style, it was in a word…beautiful. Cranes and Sakura trees graced the hand supports, incorporating brushstrokes of colour. This being such a distinctive pattern, her katana, along with the wielder, had become a legend throughout the shinobi nations. Beautiful as it was though, very few people had seen it in use. Those that lived to see it drawn again were either extremely lucky, or an ally.
Before entering the inn, Sakura removed her mask. Her pink hair now tumbled past her shoulders to swing below her waist, effectively obscuring her earpiece from prying eyes. Her hair had grown long once again. It was now considered her trademark, along with her fighting abilities.
She sighed heavily. 'Fighting would be so much simpler in this circumstance, not to mention quicker. I just hope what that guy in the bar said was the truth…even if I did drug him.'
30 Minutes Earlier
Condensation gathered into droplets, coating her palm with moisture as she held her glass. Her sake, so far had been untouched and she was lapping up the information the barman was telling her. Taking another swig from the surreptitiously drugged drink Sakura had offered the man, he continued to slur answers to her questions.
"Could you tell me sir if you have heard of a certain group that goes by the name of 'Akatsuki'?"
"Hmm, I get all sorts of folk in here, not all of them wanted either. They're a rough looking bunch. If I had the guts, I'd send them on their way, they scare the customers away ye see. Loose it though whenever I get near them. Most I can do is offering them a drink."
Sakura nodded with what she hoped to be an understanding look on her face. Whistling through his teeth, the man carried on; apparently glad he had a captive audience.
"You should have seen the pair that was in here the other night. I could tell it was them from those cloaks they wear. The first fellow must have been over 7 feet tall; no way would I have wanted to mess with him, not after I saw the giant sword the guy carried.' He raised his eyebrows as he remembered what happened. Taking another generous gulp of sake, the barman narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice for dramatic effect. 'Saying that, I think it was the other man who scared me the most. One look into his eyes almost makes you want to scream out loud. Mentally…it's torture. You know he can kill you in an instant, but no matter how much you want to run, it's like some force is holding you in place.' Shuddering visibly, he downed the last of his drink. 'I hope I never see those eyes again. Such horrible, red eyes."
"Itachi…"
"Sorry miss, did you say something?"
Sakura raised her eyes to the man's features. The drugged glaze upon his eyes was fading. She would have to finish up quickly.
"It's nothing, don't worry. Excuse me sir, but do you possibly know where those two men are lodging at the moment?" She inwardly crossed her fingers.
"You could try the hotel a few streets North from here. Massive concrete building, you can't really miss it. I wouldn't advise staying there though miss, a young girl like you should be careful around rogue ninjas and the like."
The stool Sakura perched on made an audible squeak of protest as she slid to the floor. Leaving her sake filled to the brim, she left enough money on the counter, including a tip for the barman's trouble. She thanked him with a small bow and left the bar. The tinkle of the doorbell resounded in her ears as the door closed behind her.
'Itachi Uchiha…I've found you.'
Two streets away, another bell echoed innocently through the streets. It swung methodically backwards and forwards, in time with a walking pace. The straw hat it was attached to was pulled low over the occupants face; all that could be seen through the shadows was the hint of a strong, masculine jaw. Both said man and his companion wore long cloaks, with red clouds adorning a black background. The stench of blood emanated from their clothing, but if anything, this seemed to excite the taller man who was grinning broadly, shark-like teeth protruding slightly.
A clammy mist enveloped them as they travelled, deterring citizens from walking pass them. Sure enough, not one person could be seen on the road as they returned to the inn they were currently staying at.
Grit was disrupted upon the ground as a large, bound sword was dragged over the surface. The shark man flexed his muscles, swinging the sword upward to rest on his shoulder. The ends of the bandages were ripped, showing a jagged, rough finish underneath. Blood coated the tip, dripping slowly to the ground.
"Hmmm, so what do we do now? The last batch of possibilities showed no match for us, and all the while, Leader continues to get restless. We need to find the weapon soon. What is our new plan of action?"
Silence lapsed between the two. Most other people would have felt uncomfortable within the tangible silence that surrounded them, however, this was obviously a common occurrence, for the shark man continued to wait for an answer. The seconds kept ticking.
"We wait…" He raised his head several inches upwards. A sinister glow came from his scarlet eyes, reflecting onto his feminine lashes. Something big was about to happen and he wasn't one to neglect his curious side.
The taller man scoffed. His partner was definitely up to something and he generally didn't disappoint. He shifted his sword higher up onto his shoulder.
'Ah, so we wait again…'
Termites had obviously feasted upon the edges of the door Sakura stood before. A dim sliver of light could be seen of the inside around the worn edges of the door. The latch open, Sakura cringed mentally when it creaked. Shutting it, she turned her attention to the reception room of the dingy inn.
A pallid yellow light lit the room, coming from several 40 watt bulbs hanging limp from the ceiling. Cigarette smoke stained the walls, engrained into the dated, patterned wallpaper. The faint tune from a sound system could be heard in another room. The wooden floor muffled her footsteps slightly as she walked over to the desk; judging from the build up of dust, it had obviously not been cleaned in a while. Inner Sakura muttered her disgust with the words 'gross' and 'men' clearly distinguishable.
Leaning her elbows upon the counter, hip slung at an angle and ankles crossed behind her, she waited for the manager. Sure enough, the low sound of obscenities accompanied with rough shuffling came from the opposite room. Sakura dinged the bell on the counter to make sure he knew her presence-and for kicks.
"Yeah, yeah! I heard you the first goddamned time." A stringy man edged his way around the corner. His dark, lank hair hung around his hollowed cheekbones, giving him a drawn-out look. Inner Sakura shouted in protest:
'You mean we have to seduce this…' A pause gave her time to look at him once again, 'Ugh, thing!' She scowled at the man with her face contorted.
'And you think I actually want to? It's the only non-violent way to get the information out of him without arousing suspicion.' She pouted dejectedly.
The manager's eyes widened briefly as he caught sight of Sakura; he obviously wasn't used to seeing good-looking kunoichi in his inn. Sakura flashed him a bright smile which made the man blush. His eyes travelled over her, taking in the sight, gaze lingering on some features more than others.
'Why that perverted pig! If he does ANYTHING lecherous to us, I'm gonna castrate him! CHA! Inner Sakura roared with anger, pumping her fists.
"Is there anything that I could do for you, miss?" The barman made his way around the front desk, fingers tracing the wood on the edge.
"Sir, I was wondering if you could tell me what room 'Uchiha Itachi' is staying in. I was informed that he was here." Sakura blinked in an innocent manner, an action far from the truth. "I'm a medic…see?" She gestured to the cross emblem tied around her right arm.
Hooking his thumbs in the belt loops of his pants, he rested his weight upon the wooden side. Narrowing his eyes suspiciously, a smirk appeared upon his chapped lips. "Is that the only business you have with him?" He bent down, tilting his head somewhat to eye her closely. Too close for her liking. "Well I can't imagine a little girl like you to pose much threat to any shinobi staying here…sure I'll give you his room number."
Sakura's eye twitched and a low growl formed in her throat. '…Little girl? He'd do better than to underestimate me!'
The manager returned to behind the counter. Skim reading through the names in a tattered logging book, he tapped his finger pad on a particular line and spun on his heels. He removed a key from its wall hook. It was swung teasingly upon its key ring in front of Sakura's face, hanging from the manager's outstretched finger. Sakura started to tap her foot from irritation, but it was well hidden as she smiled seductively. She reached to pluck the key out of his hands, when it was snatched away from her reach. She pouted up at the manager, while her fists curled.
"I'll give it to you…only if you spend some time with me…" The smirk plastered on his face widened, giving the man a maddening appearance. "…Alone."
With that comment, Sakura's resolve snapped cleanly in two. 'Right, that's it!'
Her chakra level fluctuated beyond normality. The sheer pressure of her energy source caused the bulbs overhead to smash. Chips of glass rained down on their heads, causing the manager to shield his face with his arms. Sakura's chakra continued to rise, acting as a beacon to other ninjas. Her aura darkened considerably, a murderous intent being emitted from her body. Emerald green eyes flashed to black. Kanji rose from her fingertips and snaked up her arms like serpents, effectively tattooing her limbs with deep red symbols. The air grew heavy, thick and dense, making it difficult for the manager to breathe. He backed up against the wall, cowering, barely managing to stay upright. Sakura was apathetic to his current state, swallowed by power; an experience completely novel to her.
"Where is he?" Sakura ground the question out, her voice as deep and as hollow as her eyes, which were now focused upon the insignificant form of the manager before her. Her fingertips glowed white with chakra, focused into spheres of light upon each digit. She raised her hands up to direct at the man. He whimpered in fright. The light grew until sparks snapped and flickered.
"Tell me…where the Uchiha is damn it!" Sakura took a measured step forward. A breeze to the left side of her face alerted her of danger. Several pink hairs severed and drifted haphazardly to the ground. A kunai was now embedded deeply within the desk before her. Blood bubbled to the surface of her cheek and dribbled down to her chin. A sharp thin cut appeared stretching from her ear to her nose.
"So, you're the source of that chakra fluctuation." A deep masculine voice came from behind her.
Sakura's head whipped to the side, ebony eyes focusing upon the man who threw the kunai. Next to him stood his partner, a man seven foot tall with blue hued skin…Hoshigaki Kisame. Sakura drew forth her healing chakra and touched her cheekbone, the mark disappearing in under a second, leaving new skin in its place.
"Itachi Uchiha…" Saying his full name out loud seemed to awaken Sakura to the circumstances. 'How did I not sense them approach?' The realisation of he mistakes brought twinges of fear to the pit of her stomach. How long had they been there? Did they know that she was tracking them? All the questions and uncertainties made her head spin wildly. The aura of chakra surrounding her faded to a faint glimmer before fizzling out. The marks covering her skin retreated back to her fingers. Blinking, her lifeless pupils returned to the jade they once were. Sakura knew she was in trouble, it was inevitable.
She acted immediately. Casting a gen-jutsu upon the two Akatsuki, she escaped from the confines of the inn. Sakura knew that wouldn't hold them for long, especially with Itachi being a master of gen-jutsu himself, but she needed all the time she could to escape from the village. Innocents did not need to suffer the consequences of this fight. Looking over her shoulder constantly while leaping over rooftops, she spoke into her transmitter:
"Kakashi, Naruto, come in! We have an emergency!" Sakura hid her chakra signature. Naruto's gravely voice could be heard distinctly from the other end.
"Sakura-Chan, you've found them?"
"You could say that, but it would also be correct to say that they've found me. I'm trying to draw them away from the buildings, but I can't hold out on my own." A few hand-signs later, and a summoned shadow clone began to sprint off in a direction 30 degrees West to where she was headed. She hoped with all her might that the shadow clone might force the duo to split up. "Team up with Kakashi and follow my tra-…"
Static drowned out the last of her sentence. Sakura veered off course when a kick placed to the side of her ribs sent her hurling towards a tree. Even though Sakura blocked the main brunt of the strike, she was thrown off of her feet. Swivelling her body, she managed to land with the balls of her feet forced against the bark, crouched into position. Her attacker stood below her, cloak rippling from the draught. She could tell that Itachi's eyes were focused on hers, prepared to release a doe-jutsu on her if she returned his gaze. Sakura was not so naïve as to fall for that trick. She concentrated the range of her vision from his neck downwards. From the tension in his muscles, she could predict his movements even before he decided himself.
Sakura thanked whichever god that was listening, Kisame was obviously sent off in the direction of her clone. It bought her time.
She delved into her pack and launched eight shuriken at his form, while pushing off from the tree towards Itachi. He dodged the stars with agility, making it appear seemingly trivial. Flipping to face in the other direction, Sakura aimed a kick towards his torso. He stooped low to the ground. Sakura could feel the presence of his back millimetres from her sole.
She skidded along the ground, hands spread and drifting along the surface to support her weight. She inhaled deeply and struck a fighting position. Her radio now lay useless on the ground, yards away from where she was standing. Naruto's dulcet tone could be heard faintly from the earpiece, calling her name profusely.
Itachi raced towards Sakura, razor sharp kunai bared in each hand. Sakura tensed her leg muscles, prepared to evade his attacks. Suddenly his form vanished before her trained eyes.
'Fast!'
She twisted her torso 90 degrees clockwise, knee swung to the side with brutal force. Sakura flooded her left limb with chakra, keeping all energy portholes open to prepare for a brutal kick at the space behind her. Her educated guess at where he was, deemed to be correct as she sensed his presence split seconds before the roof of her foot contacted Itachi's open palm. If by chance her kick had come to full effect, Itachi would currently be sporting many ruptured organs and with every possibility, be fighting for his life. Sakura smirked with smugness as she distinguished the recognisable crunch of fractured bones. Itachi may have evaded certain death when he blocked her hit, but his hand was now damaged beyond repair. He gave a grunt in response, a sure sign that he was in unbelievable pain. She widened her smirk; the playing fields were levelling out. Using the grip on her leg as leverage, she shifted her weight to her hands and attempted to ram the sole of her foot into his unguarded stomach. With lightning reflexes, Itachi seized her other foot by the ankle. His pain resistance to rival Naruto's, he tightened the clutch on her legs and swung her around at an unbelievable speed. Sakura was released until she collided with the trunk of an oak tree. Vibrations reverberated through the clearing at the contact.
Blood. Crimson liquid seeped copiously from her abdomen. Looking down weakly, a jagged branch could be seen jutting from her stomach. Impaled with the wood Sakura grimaced as she eased herself off. The impact against the tree granted her an agonising wound which ran straight through her body. Her breathing now came in laboured gasps, the loss of blood already affecting her concentration. Hand glowing green, she healed the wound slightly. The bleeding stopped abruptly and new tissue gave the hole a 'week old' appearance. Sakura couldn't risk healing it completely; her chakra was already depleted significantly from the days' activities and any energy needed to be conserved for the impending fight. She tested the tenderness of her wound as she moved. It smarted like hell, but it was most definitely bearable.
Her eyes flicked back to the battle scene. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw that Itachi was nowhere to be seen. She jumped down from the tree with unease. His presence was hidden well, a disconcerting position for the young kunoichi. Both participants were now injured enough to hinder their fighting abilities. She heightened her senses to pinpoint accuracy. Her head twitched in all direction to discern where he was in the clearing.
'Left?' Dark trees towered over her petite figure, their foliage rustling in the wind.
'Right?' Brambles swarmed the path, the road ahead swallowed by the darkness.
'Above?' The moon hung high in the sky, encompassed by the previous rain clouds.
Once again, the corners of her mouth curved. Her hand flexed as blue chakra surrounded it.
"BELOW!" Sakura bellowed, bringing her chakra infused punch to the ground. Chunks of compressed earth protruded upwards as the ground in front of her segmented. Clouds of dust mushroomed out when the surface cracked and Itachi shot out from his crevice. Kunai in hand, he charged at her. Sakura back flipped to avoid his attack. Itachi however, accounted for this retreat and launched the kunai at her. The blade skimmed her ANBU outfit, slicing upwards. A fine scratch was left on her skin. She glared venomously towards Itachi, not once meeting his eyes.
She gave a rough chuckle, even though the situation was far from funny. Her erratic breathing from before had clamed down to a minor discomfort.
Her eyes narrowed with resolve. "Well, I guess it can't be helped…" Sakura sighed in a whisper that was almost lost with the wind. "I'll have to use it."
Outstretched fingers reached up. They curled tightly around the handle of her katana. The hiss of metal cut through the silence of the night. Sakura drew the sword over her shoulder. Inch by inch, polished metal was uncovered from its sheath. The moonlight was reflected along the edge, tracing the tip as it glinted menacingly. She stretched her arm fully above her head, katana now an extension of her body as she gracefully swung the blade a cross her body in an arc towards her unsuspecting target…
Whew! Finished it finally! Sorry guys I couldn't upload this on Saturday, my job leaves me feeling zonked :S. Ahhh well it's here now. I hope this chapter is to your liking. I know the last one was slightly OTT on the thoughts, but they are necessary for future references to the story.
I had so much fun writing this chapter- writing a fight scene gets me so excited (not that I'm addicted to the mention of blood or anything). The next chapter is also gonna have some kick ass action. I actually started writing the third halfway through the second because I couldn't wait lol!
Thank you so much to everybody who has read and reviewed my chapters. This includes: animemistress209, ichigo14, Neji's RaDazzle, JUCHKO, DudettRin101, GaaraXxXHinata69, TeenageCrisis and xXFallenSakuraXx. Not to mention the people who have favourited and alerted hindrance!
Please comment on this chapter! Not only will you get your name up here, but the encouragement makes me write more chapters pronto hehe but please no flames; they'll be beaten with a pointy stick! Oh and if you have any queries on things you don't get….ask, and I'll explain the best I can (unless they're gonna be explained in future chapters lol)
ZOMG! I JUST SAW PETE DOHERTY AND A WOMAN WALK PAST MY WINDOW! WOW that's amazing and no I'm not kidding! That's the good thing about living in the country, the celebs swarm there, hehe. I saw Zoë Wannamaker in the pub not long ago too. God its weird being star struck lol. Sorry for the ramble!
Please Review!
Xxx bex xxX
