Author's Notes: Here is my newly updated story. I just wanted to let everyone know that I read each and every review, and though I may not reply, I take all comments to heart. I am, as always, open to constructive critisism. I love to hear from those who read my story, hey it's part of the reason I write!
Disclaimer: I have not, nor ever, owned Naruto.
Shattered Fate
Chapter 3
Leaving the hidden lair of Pein was actually rather easy, all things considered. Why wouldn't it be, after all, the perimeter defenses are meant to keep people out, not to stop them from leaving, thought Sakura with a satisfied smile. However it was because of this reason that Karin was kept around.
Unfortunately Karin was a sensory-type Shinobi, on other words she could sense another chakra and hide anyone else's as well. That was why the base was hidden so well, Karin suppressed the chakra it took to maintain the illusion that hid the lair. It was the only reason Sakura could think of why she was not dead at this point.
Sakura could also conceal her chakra as well, but her skills were of much better on the outside, rather than in.
Two kilometers away from the base, Sakura turned sharply to the north, towards Grass. A known ally to the Fire Nation and more importantly, to the Village Hidden in the moved quickly through the land, her slightly frayed cloak billowing in the wind, her mind for once completely blank.
The sun kissed her face warming her chilled skin, the fragrance of cherry blossoms tickled her senses. She was free. An illusion only, but one she gladly reveled in. Four weeks away from them. Four weeks of not having Karin come in and out of my room whenever she pleases. Four weeks of not having Pain watch my every move, of not having to guard my every thought and movement. She could not describe the fierce joy that it brought her to be so free!
It was this reason, and this reason alone, that she gladly went on these assassinations. She could care less of the politics of the world, of what 'Kage ruled which Village, or what Nation was allied with whom.
It was the freedom, the release of that horrible place, which allowed her to take the lives of others. Of strangers of whom she had no history, no quarrel. Walking corpses. That's all they are to me. I will kill a hundred more just like them, gladly, willingly, if it would keep me away from him.
But that would never be possible. Nothing and no one could ever take her away from Pein. He held the chains of her life in his hands. She would never escape.
Stop it! For now, you are away. Live in the moment, Sakura. In these hours alone, you are free. Do not allow Pain to take even this from you.
That small reminder helped calm her rage and she turned her face to the sun, allowing herself to smile, something she did rarely these days, and knew the miles would pass far to quickly, before she must assume her guise once more.
For now, she was Sakura, unfettered and running in the sun.
It was enough. It had to be.
Sakura walked through the door of the Red Moon Inn, the hood of her beige cloak drawn tightly against her face so that it cast only shadows. The bar downstairs also worked as the front desk. It was a shoddy place, at the far end of the Grass Village, and only the less-than-honest or the very poor stayed at the Red Moon Inn.
It was perfect.
Sakura waited at the far end of the bar for the barman to see her. Knowing she was being watched, she allowed a nonchalance of appearance. Leaning over, her back to the crowd, she rested her arms on the bar. They were bare, save for two black bands on each wrist.
"Hey there babe, how about a drink and some friendly company." Asked a disreputable looking Shinobi. Sakura didn't bother to even look at him. "Not interested." She told him in a bored tone.
The Shinobi grabbed her wrist. "It wasn't a request." He growled at her, when some of his comrades began roaring with laughter at her outright refusal. His grip was strong. Strong enough that he pulled her arm off the bar, probably to drag her over to his friends.
Sakura grabbed his wrist with her left hand and twisted it hard. The bones in his wrist snapped in half, the sickening sound half-masked by the man's cries of anguish as the bones just stopped of breaking through the skin.
Sakura didn't even break a sweat.
She hung onto his wrist a moment longer, his thoughts incoherent from pain, before allowing him to drop to the ground. He immediately curled up into the fetal position, cradling his broken wrist, whimpering.
Sakura turned to look at the room, the hood of her cloak still casting her face in dark shadows. "Anyone else 'want' my company?" her tone a bored, silky menace. The crowd quickly looked away from her, no one daring to speak. She looked to the man's friends, who watched her warily.
"Help him if you want, just get him away from me." She turned her back to them and signaled for the barmen. He approached with a bland look on his face.
No doubt he has seen this many times before. Which was why she wasn't worried about retaliation.
"Can I help you?" he asked in an equally bland voice.
"I need a room." She told him, holding out a few coins for him to view.
"Upstairs to the left. Dinner is served at seven." He told her, opening his palm for her to drop the coins in.
"I'll remember. Where do you keep your messenger birds?" she asked him, her voice losing the threatening tone, once more bored again.
The bar eyed her askew, but shrugged. "Two building's down. Ask for Jubei." Sakura nodded her head, took the key with her room number on it and left the bar. She would send her message first. She doubted she would be in this town for very long.
Jubei?" Sakura called out as she came into a white washed building with no sign, but the cooing of many birds told her she was in the right place. "Come up!" called down a voice from up above the stairs.
Sakura climbed the stairs, a kunai hidden beneath her cloak. The stairs led to the stop of the room, where the birds nested. The sun was baking the roof. "Eh, a visitor. What might I do for you?" asked an older looking man with more lines than face and a shock of white hair that stuck out everywhere.
The sight of this man made Sakura smile and vanish the kunai beneath her cloak. No need to alarm him.
"I need to send a message." She told him pleasantly. "Where to?" he asked, replacing a snow white dove in her cage with obvious affection. Sakura hesitated on telling him who she wanted to contact, but the old man chuckled at her obvious reluctance.
"Just tell me the village Girl." He told her, handing her a tiny scroll and inkpot. "Konoha." She told him. He grunted at that. "Hmmmm, let me see. Write your message Girl, while I choose my bird."
Sakura smiled very faintly at being addressed as Girl, but she shrugged and wrote a quick script.
Hinata,
I am in Grass, staying at the Red Moon Inn.
Saio
It was short and to the point, very similar in fact to the ones she normally sent when she was close by. "All done?" asked Jubei as she rolled up the tiny piece of paper and stuck into the tube. "Done." She told him, turning back to him. He held a medium-size dark gray dove.
"This is Saki, he's flown to Konoha many a time. Who'll expect him?" Sakura sighed. "The Hyuga Clan." She told him. Much to her surprise, Jubei let out a hearty laughter. "Very well indeed. Will it be Lady Hinata, or my Lord Neji?"
Sakura stared at him for a moment, wondering how he knew the Hyuga leader and her cousin. She was instantly on her guard. Jubei waved her off. "Easy Girl. Lady Hinata and that mad cousin of hers did me a good turn, oh some several years ago. I remember them and they in turn take good care of my birds."
Sakura relaxed slightly. Neji was not one for going out of his way to help strangers, but it is the type of thing Hinata would do. Hell she took me. Sakura snorted at that. "Hinata will be receiving my message." She finally told him.
Jubei nodded his head. "Expecting a reply?" he asked properly. Sakura shrugged her shoulders. "Possibly," she pretended to hesitate, "If she does….I'll be at the Red Moon Inn." Jubei nodded his head, and cupped the bird in his hand.
Sakura watched with mild interest as he bent his head to the bird, whispering something she could not hear. The bird perked up and seconds later was winging through the sky.
"If Lady Hinata does send a message back, I'll send Saki to you. Where is your room located?" Jubei told her, still watching his bird as it winged out of sight. "Upstairs, North Wall. Fourth room." She told him, liking the crusty old man. He nodded and waved her off.
"Wait….what about your fee?" she asked. He had not asked for payment. "When you get your message, we'll talk fee." He told her, and turned his back to her in dismissal.
Sakura could only stare at him, perhaps he thinks I cannot pay?, she did after all, look like a wandering waif. But then shrugged and made her way back down the stairs. What concern was it to her if he did not ask for payment?In the meantime she would go back to her room and look over the information Pein had supplied her on the Uchiha Clan while she waited for Hinata's reply.
She was sure she would hear back long before it was time for supper.
