Once again, I do not own Naruto.
Heated Blood: Chapter 4
Standing silently at the pale door, Sakura paused and glanced at the horizon. The sun was nearly set...Sakura was running short on time. Sasuke had agreed to go and collect Naruto. He and Sakura had speed from the old Uchiha complex and dashed to the other side of Konoha. They made it in record time. Sasuke agreed to stick to the shadows so that Sakura could explain things to Naruto. She doubted she'd be able to get in any words if Naruto saw Sasuke. Hell, it was amazing no one's seen him yet! Unsurprisingly with the news in the paper, though, the streets were abandoned, with everyone inside their safe havens, waiting for the anbu to catch this killer.
'Well no use standing around...' Sakura knocked on the door and frowned when no answer came. Knocking again, a little louder this time, she again heard no answer. She knew he was there, she sensed his chakra inside. Getting angry, Sakura reared back and punched through the door. The doors shattered into little pieces and a shocked and sleep ridden Naruto scrambled over the back of the couch, taking the couch with him. With his legs in the air, drool still fresh on his chin and the couch half on him, he groaned. Poor Naruto, he was still trying to wake up...
"What the hell..." Naruto stood up, clad in only his ducky boxers. He ran his hand through his bed-ridden hair and looked at Sakura lost. Sakura nearly smiled.
"Time to get up Naruto. We're leaving." Sakura waited patiently as Naruto yawned and gave her an 'I know you just didn't' look. He didn't pull it off very well.
"But I just got back from a mission yesterday! I swear Tsunade's gone senile." He grumbled and then looked down. Blushing, he took off towards his bedroom and slammed the door shut. Walking over to the door, she stood beside it and sighed.
"It isn't a mission, Naruto...I've got to tell you something important. It's got to deal with the murders here in Konoha." She heard Naruto scrambling around and several times she could have sworn he broke something. Finally he walked out and sighed.
"If it isn't a mission, then why did you break down the door and wake me up? If it has to deal with the murders, why don't you tell Tsunade." He grumbled, looking at her a little peevishly. She crossed her arms and glared.
"Quit getting your boxers in a bunch! It happens to involve my life and the lives of others. I can't tell Tsunade cause not only do I not have enough time to, but there is another reason. I'll get to that in a second though...you know that this killer has been targeting pink headed young women right? Well that murderer is actually after me. When I went to Tsunade this morning she gave me some information concerning the causes of death." She paused and looked at Naruto. Naruto was looking at her with full concentration. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, listening.
"Uh huh, go on." He nodded towards her to continue.
"Well they had been completely drained of blood, and there had been no signs of a struggle. After I found that out I decided to snoop around and see if what she said was true. I don't know if they were completely drained of blood or not, but there were no signs of a struggle. I knew those two women. They would have put up some type of fight..." Sighing, Sakura saw Naruto frown.
"And where do I come in?" He whispered, confusion spread across his face.
"See this is where it gets hard...One of the murders had taken place inside the Uchiha manor. I had to go there to look at Mina's murder site...right after I had finished there...he came." Naruto's eyes snapped over towards Sakura's and he drew in his breath.
"The murderer?" He walked in front of her. She shook her head.
"No..." Naruto's eyebrows furrowed together and then he glanced behind Sakura. She heard his intake of breath.
"No, me you dobe." Sasuke stepped out of the shadows and stepped beside Sakura. Naruto took a step back.
"Sasuke...your here...your back..." Naruto was shocked and it showed. Sasuke sighed. Sasuke watched the shock turn into sadness and then to anger. He knew Naruto was going to be difficult.
"I'm only here to save her life, Naruto. We cannot wait any longer. We need to leave soon." He stared at Naruto, waiting for him to react.
"Only to save her life? What's this killer got against her? Leave? I am not leaving anywhere until I get some answers!" Naruto stood straight and glared at Sasuke. Sighing, Sasuke crossed his arms.
"Naruto, this...killer has his sights on killing Sakura. If we stay, I have no doubt in my mind that he will kill us all. You just don't know how powerful he is. That is all I have the time to tell you. We are short on time. I'll...I'll explain more later, but we need to go. We should have already been long gone but we came to get you, dobe. Sakura wouldn't let me leave you behind." Naruto scratched his head and let out a long sigh.
"Sasuke...I...I can't..." Naruto began but Sakura growled and stepped up towards Naruto.
"Your going whether you want to or not. Even if I have to knock you out and kidnap you! I've made up my mind but I'm not going to have you think I'm abandoning you! I'm leaving so the others will be safe...Besides I've nothing left to really look forward to in this village anymore. Both of my jobs are going downhill and everyone's went their own way...We've always wanted to be Team Seven again, Naruto. We have that chance again. Please Naruto...you two are more important to me than anything...please...I just got him back...I don't won't too loose you too." Sakura didn't know why but it was important that he go. She knew deep down inside that if she left him here, she'd never see him again. These two men were her everything. Now that Sasuke was here within her grasp, she wasn't letting neither of them go. Not ever again. It was strange, but she was dead set on that decision.
"I don't know. I mean what about everything here? I still want to be hokage and prove myself to everyone here.' Naruto sighed and looked down at his bare feet.
Sakura sighed and wrapped her arms around her long time best friend. She knew they would follow the path of missing nin and would probably never be accepted back by their peers but she wasn't about to let Sasuke disappear and let this killer kill her or any of their friends. She knew this decision would be difficult but she had a sneaky suspicion that this killer would try and go after Naruto too. They had a better chance if they left Konoha and stick together. Like old times...
"Naruto...I know this isn't an easy decision. I know you still have your dreams to fulfill. I know you don't want to leave everyone else, but we need you. Come with us and fulfill your dreams with us. We will become team seven again." Sakura stepped away and waited for Naruto to make his decision.
"Sakura..." Naruto closed his eyes for a second and everything stilled. When they opened he smiled. Sakura knew that he too had made his decision.
"Team seven again eh? All three of us together like old times...sounds good to me, believe it!" He bounded to his room and Sasuke sighed. It looks like he too had held his breath. Maybe he too sensed that if Naruto didn't go, this would be the end of the crossroad.
Sakura should have felt shame at leaving the village, but she knew it was for the better. She knew that once she left the country, she'd be considered a missing Nin. She should have felt some reluctance but all she felt was excitement. Naruto walked out of his room, holding a small bag. Thank God we managed to get rid of that huge bag without his knowledge. It would have been a pain to get him to carry something smaller.
"So when we leaving?" He threw the bag over his shoulder and waited for Sasuke to answer. Sakura patted herself down and made sure she had all of her weapons and anything else important. Sakura would just buy some more clothing and stuff later on the road. Satisfied, she started for the door.
"We're leaving now, dobe. We have to meet someone on the outskirts of the North Gate first though." Sasuke started for the door.
"Who?" Both Sakura and Naruto said simultaneously.
"My partner, Yomi." And that was all he said as they took off towards the North Gate.
………….…North Gate………………
Watching the two shinobi guarding the North gate carefully, Sakura made the hands signs for her genjutsu. After she made the last sign, the guards shot up from their seats. One took off towards the rooftops and the other ran to the side of the building, turning his back towards the trio. Simple, easy, and amusing. The guards had to be rookies.
"Okay, their distracted. Let's hurry." Sneaking past the gate, they took off towards the treetops. Sakura and Naruto followed closely behind Sasuke and soon they came to a clearing. Looking around, Sakura noticed a figure emerge from the thick foliage and soon a strange looking man emerged. Sakura couldn't help but stare. He had thick, spiky, electric blue hair and pretty, molten gold eyes. He stood at least a good head taller than Sasuke and his skin was darkly tanned and wicked looking claws graced his hands. He wore black, tight pants and a black fishnet shirt. His chest was very noticeable and very nice. Sakura could help but be thankful to have glanced at so many toned and muscled chests these past two days.
"Two? I thought you said one?" He glanced at Naruto and scowled. Naruto glared at him. Naruto wasn't sure what, but something about the man just rubbed him wrong.
"He's coming so deal." Sasuke simply glanced at the two and then towards the dark sky.
"Your partners with this cookie monster, Teme!?"Naruto yelled as he pointed at Yomi.
"Cookie Monster!? Who the hell are YOU calling cookie monster kid? Say that to my face again runt!" Yomi glared at him. Suddenly he looked at Sakura.
"I'm guessing your Sakura. My names Yomi. Sasuke's told me so much about you." Sakura smiled as he rubbed the back of his head. Sasuke had talked about her? About what she wondered?
"Nice to meet you too Yomi." Sakura almost laughed at the face Naruto made when Yomi decided to ignore him.
"Hey! Don't you ignore me! Hey I'm not..."
"Naruto, save it...he should be awake by now. We need to leave. "Sasuke was smirking at the fussing two and Sakura could only sigh. Seemed like there wouldn't be any peace and quiet for a long time.
"Fine, but this isn't over yet, cookie monster." Naruto sulled up crossed his arms and walked over towards the other end of the clearing.
"It's Yomi you runt!" Yomi growled and waved his fist threateningly.
"It's not runt you over sized cookie jar! It's Naruto! Believe it!" Naruto growled back. Sakura just laughed and Sasuke sighed. This was going to be a long night.
………..Konoha: Sakura's Apartment…………..
"Where is she, woman!" A man with long, trailing black hair and red eyes glared at the shaking old woman. She backed into the corner and he stalked closer to her. She cradled her bruised arm and brought her knees towards her chest.
"I don't know! She hasn't been here all day! I'm telling you the truth...please...don't hurt me..." Mrs. Minamino said as his eyes took on a predatory gleam. She knew she'd die here. She just hoped Sakura could get away.
"Your lying!" Flexing his hand, claws sprung forth and the old woman screamed. He laughed and swiped through her neck and watched happily as her blood pooled around her.
"What a waste...and such a mess. I hate messes...I guess I'll just have to punish her when I find her...just you wait my blossom..." He laughed and twirled around the corpse. He then disappeared and not long afterwards, the blood caught on fire and the apartment caught aflame. Taking the other apartments with it...
………….Deep in the Forest…………
Gasping, Sakura took a swig of water from the canteen that was handed to her. They had been traveling non-stop for hours now and they finally decided to take a break.
"In five minutes we head out again. We need to get as far as we can tonight. I don't know if he's caught on to us yet or not." Sasuke walked away from the little area they decided to break at. Naruto sighed and plopped down beside her.
"I wonder how much longer we have to travel. I don't know about you but I'm dying here." Naruto took a swig of water from the canteen. A snort sounded beside them.
"We could only hope." Yomi grumbled and Naruto glared at him. Sighing, Sakura got up and walked over to the tree line. Ignoring the bickering of the two idiots, she jumped up into the tree and looked up at the stars. She rarely ever did this anymore. Not that she was too busy too, it's just she never...really ever wanted to. After she started training under Tsunade she started to lose interest in them and after she defeated Sasori she lost all interest in them. It seemed afterwards she never saw any significance in them. She figured there was no more mystery to the world. She had figured she had seen it all, but now with all these strange things going on...just maybe there was still just a little bit of mystery left. Just for her to find. Smiling, she began to connect the stars and make shapes out of them.
"Having fun?" A familiar voice said beside her. Glancing over, she saw Sasuke glancing at the stars too. She smiled even wider.
"I haven't really looked at the stars in a while. I mean, I haven't ever really wanted to..." Frowning. Sakura glanced back at the stars.
"To tell you the truth, neither have I. It always seemed that I never had the time to do so. I always had something to do or finish." Sasuke said as he looked at the beautiful dark sky.
"Why don't you ever take a break? I mean all that stress can't be good..." Sakura sat up and looked at Sasuke. He glanced at her.
"Because...If I don't keep myself busy then I remember. Anyway things get done if I keep working. It all works out in the end." He shrugged and sat up.
"What is it you don't want to remember, Sasuke?" After she said it she realized what she had said and shook her head, sighing.
"Never mind, you don't have to tell me. Not until you're ready..." Sighing, she and Sasuke sat in silence for a good while and then he stood up.
"We need to go." And that was all he said as he landed in the clearing beside Naruto, making him jump. Laughing slightly, Sakura jumped out of the tree and walked over to the small group.
'I guess you'll need to take it one step at a time. He's obviously sensitive about the subject. I'll leave him alone about it for now.' Smiling at the three men, she joined them.
"Yo Sakura, where'd you go?" Naruto stretched and stood up.
"Oh nowhere. I got tired of hearing childish banter so I decided to star gaze." Sakura smiled as Yomi and Naruto both spluttered and gasped.
"Childish banter! I'll have you know that we both were having a one on one conversation. You know man to child?" Yomi puffed out his chest and Naruto growled.
"Let me guess, you're the child?" Naruto growled at Yomi and Yomi glared. Soon they started to glare at each other. Sakura shrugged and walked off. Sasuke chuckled and followed suit.
"You coming? We're leaving now." And with that they left.
………..Near Konoha……………
The man with long, curly, black hair and red eyes paced furiously in front of his two servants. His black cloak hid his body from view and when he stood straight, he could easily have reached seven foot. His servants cowered in their grey cloaks and hid their faces with the hoods and the shadows hid their features.
"What do you mean she's not here!?" The man roared. His eyes ablaze with fury and his canines lengthened into fangs.
"Hatori-sama, we saw her leave with two men earlier. One of them was Sasuke. We're sure of it!" The cloaked creature said, bowing as he finished. The other dropped to his knees, shaking.
"So he's finally decided to show himself...a bit early but...we have no choice. Gather the men, we leave." Hatori turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving the two servants trembling. They too disappeared and everything was quiet.
Thank you for all the nice reviews so far. It warms my heart so much. Keep on reviewing and who knows, I might just surprise you all in the future.
