Naruto and his team reached Orochimaru's hideout hours before sunrise. They came to two passageways, so they chose to separate ways. Shikamaru and Temari entered the first one, and Naruto at the second.
After entering, Naruto walked cautiously but he was somewhat in a hurry. It was pitch dark, so he was having a hard time finding the right way.
----
In his room, Sasuke was arranging his shurikens and kunais as if he was getting ready for a fight, though he wasn't thinking about something that. "Why was she here? She shouldn't be here." Sasuke was obviously worried about Sakura. He treated her coldly when they met earlier, but the truth is, he was somehow glad. When he saw her face again after so many years, he felt happy. He always concealed his feelings towards her, and because of that, he unawarely said, "I don't want to see you." Sasuke realized it now… "I shouldn't have said that. What was is thinking?! I'm sorry… Sakura…" he regretfully said to himself.
It was already 2:00 in the morning. It was still dark, but the moon was still out in the sky, emitting a silver-like light.
Sakura was already resting in the room provided for her. She was exhausted the whole day. She went to the forest to gather some ingredients for the medicines that she was about to make, and other tasks that Orochimaru gave her. Sleeping in her bed, she felt someone entered the room. She immediately rose to see who the person at the door was.
Her eyes widened before saying, "Sa… Sasuke-kun!"
"Shhh… Sakura—" he said, but Sakura interrupted, "Sasuke-kun, what are you doing here? Are you still angry at me?"
"No, no, no…" he shook his head, "It wasn't like that. I wasn't angry with you, I was just surprised, I'm really sorry…"
"No, it's alright, don't worry about it," she smiled softly.
He looked directly at her, "Sakura, you shouldn't be here. Orochimaru is very dangerous. No one knows what he'll do to you. You may even…" Sasuke stopped before saying the word "die."
"No, I won't leave. I would never do that," she said bravely.
"But, Sakura,"
"I told you, I won't leave," she breathed out, "I've been waiting to see you, and this is the only way. Even Orochimaru kills me… I wouldn't care."
"Sakura, why, why are you like this?! You're being stupid!" he shouted at her, "It's not like you. You're smart enough to know what's right to do. And…," he looked down, "…and I don't want you to die…"
"Sasuke…kun…" Sakura was shocked when she heard Sasuke said that. Tears streamed from her eyes. "Thank you… But, I've already decided."
"Sakura!"
"Sasuke-kun, we have always longed for you to come back, but you didn't. I would only leave if you would go back to Konoha."
"Sakura, you know I can't do that."
"You can't? Then I won't leave also," she stubbornly said.
Before Sasuke could say anything, they heard footsteps outside the room and it instantly silenced them. They waited for a few minutes to pass, and the person outside seemed to have passed.
Sasuke said in a low voice, "Sakura, leave at once. You're going to regret that you've stayed here." And with that, he disappeared.
-----
Naruto ended up in a very wide valley. He seemed to have lost his way. It was still dark, but the moon is shining upon him and the valley, making a lovely view. And still, Naruto didn't know where else to go. "Maybe Shikamaru and Temari got the right way after all. Oh, I should've picked the other passageway."
"Welcome," a voice said.
Naruto looked around. He knew it was Orochimaru. His voice was very recognizable. "Where are you?! Why are you hiding? Maybe you're afraid of me, eh?" he mocked him. He figured out that this would be the easiest way to make Orochimaru show himself.
Then Orochimaru appeared a few feet away from him. "How dare you say that! You little fox!"
"Where is Sakura-chan?! Show her!!" he shouted at him.
Orochimaru smirked, "Well… If she's even here, do you think she'd even come back with you?" he insulted him.
Naruto growled, "You…!!" When he was starting to release his chakra, Temari and Shikamaru suddenly appeared at the scene. "Naruto!" the two shouted.
"Well, I see we have some additional company here…" hissed Orochimaru.
The two jumped beside Naruto. "Naruto, go ahead of us, well try to hold that snake back and you go find Sakura," said Shikamaru.
Naruto didn't hesitate, "Thanks Shikamaru, and take care you two." He hurriedly ran and entered an underground passage, thinking that it is the right way.
While he was running in a corridor that was only lighted by few torches, he met Sasuke. And he was halted when he saw him standing there.
"Sasuke!" Naruto just being cautious, stood up in a fighting stance and took a kunai.
"Naruto, I don't intend to fight you. I know you're here to get Sakura. I'll take you to her," he said.
"What?! Sasuke's going to help me?? It's not like him…," Naruto thought to himself. He thought to stay away from Sasuke or just believe and follow him, but he chose the latter.
"Come this way," said Sasuke as he ran followed by Naruto.
Naruto asked him, "Why are you helping me?"
"Let me ask you too, why are you following me now?"
Naruto was silenced at that question. He didn't dare ask him again. Sasuke then went to the right corridor and stood in front at the first door that was there. He knocked.
"Please open this," said Sasuke.
And the door slowly opened. "Sasuke-kun?" said Sakura while somewhat hiding behind the door.
"Sa—" Sasuke was suddenly interrupted by Naruto when he heard Sakura's voice. He immediately faced her.
"Sakura-chan!"
"N—Naruto?! W—What are you doing here?"
"What kind of a question is that? Of course, I'm here to save you."
"No," she shook her head, "I won't come, I'll never leave Sasuke alone!!" she yelled.
"Sakura… You should go now, this may be your only chance to leave," said Sasuke.
Then they heard a loud explosion above. And it made the ground tremble.
"What's that?!?!" Naruto shouted. Then he remembered that his friends were still fighting Orochimaru. "Oh,no. They could be in trouble!"
"Let's go, Naruto," declared Sasuke. "Come with us, Sakura." The two nodded.
Then they hurriedly ran to the exit of the underground hideout. And when they came out, their eyes widened at what they saw.
