Chapter 4: Decisions and Actions
"Please?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Please?"
"Damn it Naruto. I said no!"
"But baa-chan-"
"Baka, you call me that again and I will take you off of this mission!"
"Please?"
"NARUTO!"
"Excuse me, I hope I'm not interrupting." Both blondes' heads snapped to the doorway and sent nasty glares to the poor Jonin. "I guess I am."
"Kakashi, you're on time for once." Tsunade sighed as she took a seat on the edge of the kyuubi vessel's bed. "That means that you can get Naruto to eat his damn vegetables."
"I refuse. Just let me have a bowl of ramen instead." Naruto said casually while throwing a pleading look to Kakashi.
"Naruto, the sooner you eat the food, the sooner we can leave to find Sakura." Kakashi said simply as he leaned against the wall facing Naruto.
"But, Kakashi-sensei. I don't want to eat it!" Naruto crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the floor.
"Naruto, you are lucky am I letting you out early. If it wasn't for that Kyuubi's quick healing powers and my fear for Sakura I would make you stay in bed longer. Now eat!" Tsunade was very annoyed now.
"But-"
"I give you full permission to shove the food down his throat. If it's not gone by the time I get back, Naruto is off the mission." Tsunade stood up abruptly, cutting off Naruto as she spoke to Kakashi, and walked out of the room, leaving a fuming Naruto and an annoyed Kakashi.
"Tsunade-sama, you requested to see me?" Tsunade looked up from the papers that were stationed in front of her as the Shinobi walked into the room.
Tsunade mentally cursed herself for requesting him seeing as though she had just gotten back from visiting Naruto and really needed to finish up some work.
"Yes I did." Tsunade made eye contact with the visitor and then pushed some papers to the side. "I have a request, and yet it's a demand. Please sit." Tsunade motioned for the Hyuuga prodigy to sit down. He did obediently.
"What is it that you need, Hokage-sama?" Neji asked a bit confused. Since when has this woman ever requested anything?
"I have thought long and hard about this and I have come to only one conclusion. If or when you find my apprentice, she will most likely not have a large portion of her chakra. Because of this little factor we must be aware of, I have deemed that a single medic ninja isn't going to be enough with Sakura out of the picture. I want Hyuuga Hinata on this mission with you." As Tsunade spoke she noticed Neji tense up visibly.
"I am sorry, Tsunade-sama, but I do not think it would be wise to bring along my cousin. True, she is a good medic, but Yamanaka Ino will be enough for us." Neji argued while trying to be polite.
"I disagree. Both Ino and Hinata are only basic medics. Neither have enough experience to be able to heal continuously nor will they be able to heal major injuries completely. Sending the two would be a bonus for you. With just Ino on the mission, the team will suffer greatly." Tsunade replied as she leaned back in her chair.
"If I may be so bold, Hokage-sama, why are you requesting me to bring my cousin when you, the hokage, can just place her on the team?" Neji asked, still confused.
"That isn't what I wanted to request. That would be the demand." Tsunade replied. "I fear that this mission will be extremely difficult for Hinata. Naruto will be very pre-occupied with Sakura and Sasuke and I doubt that he will pay much attention to Hinata's over all welfare. All I ask is that you keep a close eye on her."
"Hai, Tsunade-sama." Neji replied as he stood up.
"Dismissed. I will see you very soon when you come in for your mission briefing." Tsunade went straight back to work, signing endless amounts of papers.
"One more and then you will be done and then we can go."
"Gross."
"Eat it."
"Nasty. You owe me."
"I owe you nothing!"
"You said you would buy me ramen if I ate all of this food. Believe it!"
"Fine. Just eat it."
Naruto took the last bite out of his broccoli reluctantly and swallowed while forming a disgusted face.
"See not so bad." Kakashi's only visible eye crinkled, making it obvious that he was smiling beneath that mask of his.
"Kakashi-sensei, do you think that they are okay?" Naruto wasn't looking at anything in particular, but he was glaring furiously in the direction his eyes were set.
"I think that…Sasuke is taking care of our beloved cherry blossom and our beloved cherry blossom is taking care of our Sasuke." Kakashi replied as he moved towards the window.
Naruto followed his movements with his eyes. "Do you think that what ever Orochimaru is demanding out of Sakura that she is giving into it?"
Kakashi stayed silently, thinking hard about the question just asked. "I think that…Sakura will follow her heart and do what she thinks will have the better out come." Kakashi said finally. "What ever it is that he wants from her, I highly doubt he's going to take no for an answer."
"I hope you're right." Naruto mumbled quietly as Tsunade suddenly walked in with five people behind her. "What's going on? Hinata? Why are you here?" Naruto question confused as the Hyuuga heiress made her way to the side of his bed.
"Hinata is joining the team. I decided that, because of how great the risks are for this mission, that two medics are better than one." Tsunade stated firmly. "This is a very delicate situation. I want you all to realize that."
"What do you mean, Tsunade-sama?" Tenten asked confused as all eyes landed on her.
"I mean that…going after Sakura is going to be very difficult if not impossible. This rescue mission is an S-class mission. Not to mention that you are also going after Uchiha Sasuke. An S-class missing ninja." Tsunade paused a moment. "We risk triggering a massive war between our two countries and sad to say, Konoha will most likely be on the loosing end. If we suffered that much damage just from a small number of Orochimaru's self proclaimed massive army, then we are all screwed."
"Do not fret, Tsunade-sama. We will get Sakura and Sasuke back in one piece." Kakashi said with a little hint of enthusiasm.
"Good. You are clear to leave once I process Naruto's papers so he can be released." Tsunade stood and left the room without another word.
"This is going to be fun." Tenten smiled as she thought about seeing her good friend once more.
"This will be quite the challenged." Ino mumbled to herself.
"We meet at the gates in an hour." Naruto was suddenly very serious.
"Hai." Every one but Kakashi and Naruto disappeared in a poof.
"Kami-sama, help us all." Kakashi mumbled quietly.
Sakura paced the room as she clenched and unclenched her fists repeatedly. She was furious. Sakura had heard every thing said after Sasuke had left the room. His entire conversation with Kabuto rang in her ears, reminding her that Sasuke still saw her as he did when she was twelve.
"That doesn't matter. I'll still bring him home." She hissed quietly to herself.
She hated to admit it, but she was still in love with the youngest Uchiha.
'If I stay, then I can prolong Orochimaru's healing and figure out a way to get Sasuke-kun and me out. Or I can escape sooner rather then later and beg Sasuke-kun to come with me. No, he would never come with me.'
'What if you started the water works and confessed our love for him?' Inner Sakura put in as Sakura continued to pace the room.
'He would never come. Sasuke-kun is…well, Sasuke-kun. He wouldn't leave Orochimaru unless he has learned everything there is to learn for him. And I doubt that he has taught Sasuke-kun everything.'
'Why don't you get him drunk?'
'I don't think an Uchiha can get drunk.' Sakura's face grew with confusion as she thought about the possibility of Sasuke being drunk. 'For that matter, I don't think any prodigal child get drunk. Neji refuses to drink, in the few encounters I had with Itachi, I noticed he didn't look like the drinking type, and Shino doesn't drink either. I don't think Sasuke is in the party boat with Naruto and Kiba.'
'You're right. We should just stand by and wait for Orochimaru to take over his body and attack Konoha and her allies.'
'Nice to know you have hope.' Sakura snarled mentally.
She was suddenly pulled from her squabble with her inner self when there was a light knock on the door. Sakura debated whether to open it or not, but decided to, thinking that it might be Sasuke in need of assistance.
'Like that would ever happen.' Sakura scoffed mentally as she approached the door.
She jerked it open, only to find…
"Kabuto."
"We need to take a break. We have been traveling for far too long." Ino hissed as the large group continued to travel through the trees.
"She's right, Naruto. Let's take a break." Kakashi put in as the blonde haired Shinobi let out a low string of profanities before jumping to the ground.
"Ten minutes tops." Naruto growled.
"Fine." Ino replied as she moved under a tree to catch her breath.
"What are you doing here?" Sakura gasped.
"Oh, I thought I would just stop by and see how you were doing." He smirked as his beady eyes looked Sakura up and down.
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking. I…um…need a shower…so I will…um…see you later on…yeah." Sakura moved to close the door, but Kabuto stopped it with his hand.
"Sakura, let me come in. It's not nice to leave people out in the cold."
"But we're inside a stuffy lair. How could it be cold?" Sakura asked oblivious.
Kabuto didn't answer, but pushed himself inside the room, closing the door behind him, and then threw himself at Sakura.
Sakura didn't have enough time to react as she was pinned to the large bed behind her with Kabuto on top.
"Stop this! Get off!" Sakura screamed as memories flooded her mind for a night not to long ago. Those horrible screams!
"Sakura, you smell so good." Kabuto moaned as he pressed his face to the nook of Sakura's neck. He thanked Kami that Sakura was still very weak and was practically useless.
Sakura struggled but it was useless. Kabuto ran kisses up her throat to her jaw line before straddling her and pressing his lips to her own.
Sakura struggled even more as his hands began to travel down her body.
"No!" She screamed, but it was useless.
"Now, now-" Kabuto placed a kiss on the corner of her mouth, "-no need to shout."
A light breeze swept through the room followed by a slam as the room's door shut loudly.
"What did I tell you about touching what's mine?"
"Do you think that we will be successful this time around?" The lazy genius asked as he rested on his back, staring at the clouds.
"No. Last time we were lucky and ran into them as they were moving Uchiha. They have had a few days head start. We will not find them, and if we do, most likely we will not be able to get to Sakura…or the Uchiha." Neji answered quietly as he watched Tenten and Hinata gather some berries while Naruto and Kakashi sat in silence. Ino was currently asleep under the protection of a large tree.
"Well, aren't you the optimistic." Shikamaru scoffed. "I am worried though."
"As am I." Neji turned slightly to look at his friend and current teammate. "I believe that this time around, we will have to just leave it up to Uchiha and Sakura to get themselves out."
"I agree." Shikamaru let out a long sigh. "This is so troublesome."
"Yes it is." Neji replied as he turned his attention back to his teammates. "Yes it is."
"Ah, Sasuke-kun." Kabuto smiled eerily as he sat up on his knees, still straddling Sakura, as the kunai pressed harder onto his neck. "I was expecting you."
"I should have guessed that you would pull a stunt like this." Sasuke growled as he literally threw Kabuto off of Sakura. "Get out. I'll deal with you later."
Sakura recognized the fear flash through Kabuto's eyes for a moment before he left the room with a departing wave.
Sasuke immediately turned his attention to Sakura who continued to lay on the bed, stunned and hyperventilating.
"Sakura." Sasuke helped the girl sit up, but she made sure to avoid his eyes. "Sakura, look at me." He demanded in the gentlest voice he could conjure up.
Sakura didn't look into his eyes. She just squeezed them shut as she mentally cursed herself as a single teat betrayed her.
"Please, look at me." Sasuke almost sounded like he was pleading with her. Almost.
Sakura shook her head no as he placed his finger under her chin, forcing her head up to look at him.
"Open your eyes." He commanded.
Sakura complied and stared into onyx eyes.
"Sasuke-kun…I…" She immediately closed her mouth.
"What is it?" He asked, trying to hide his curiosity.
"I want to go home." She whispered.
"I know. I'm going to get you out of here." Sasuke replied as Sakura opened up her mouth once more.
"I didn't finish." Sakura mumbled.
"What is it?" Sasuke asked curiosity only building.
"I want to go home, but only if you are coming with me."
Edited On: 6/13/12
Thank you so very, very much to TAISHA and BUBBLE GUM CHERRY for their ideas for this chapter. Hope everyone liked it!
Missy.
