Chapter IV

Till We Meet Again?

" Have there been any reports of Sakura?" asked Tsunade to an ANBU member.

" She has not been found yet Hokage-sama." the ANBU answered.

Tsunade sighed. It has been three days since Haruno Sakura was kidnapped... The fifth Hokage had been pondering the turn of events... And she felt fear for the missing shinobi. The reason was perhaps because those who kidnapped Sakura were strong, and the two suspects Kakashi told her were known as assasins... Thus, it would be unreasonable for them to kidnap anybody and keep him or her alive...unless they have a very important reason.

Tsunade kept thinking of the possible reasons why they (whoever "they" are) would kidnap Sakura.

"It would not be about Sasuke, of course..." the Hokage thought, knowing that it had almost been a year since the two saw each other.

Then, if there is no apparent reason, the truth might be the thing she feared the most.
" She might be dead..." Tsunade whispered to herself.

" You may go now. " she ordered the ANBU.

But the circumstances are a lot more complicated than what the Hokage thinks. If she had known that Sasuke and Sakura DID meet before she was kidnapped, then she might understand...

As the snow continued to cover the leaf country Konoha, cold hearts desire for the warmth they thought they would never find...

In a prison cell

Sakura was awakened by the sound of dripping water.

"Apparently, I am in an underground cave," she said while surveying her damp sorroundings.

Sakura alerted her senses for any possible hints of who her captors are.

Hours have passed and the place was eerily quiet. Sakura heard her stomach groan in hunger.

"I don't even have any idea what time is it," She whispered to herself miserably.

"So you have awakened pretty shinobi?" asked a voice.

" Who are you?" said Sakura standing up in alarm.

The owner of the voice hissed in anger. " You should be asking why you're still alive, pathetic ninja!"

"If that is what you want, then why am I STILL alive? What am I doing here? And where is "here"?"

Sakura bombarded the strange person with her questions.

"Don't take us wrong, you are not special or anything like that... Let's just say that Konoha is in a very dangerous position right now..." said the person.

Sakura smirked at the figure still hidden in the darkness. " Tsunade-sama will not fall for silly traps like this... I told her I wanted to help Konoha, and I will understand if they have already stopped searching for me!"

"Partly correct for a whelp like you. Yes, we are keeping you to beat your dear Fifth Hokage, but that will come after a greater reason..." the figure laughed.

"What do you mean? I told you, there is no sense in keeping me here... No one will come to rescue me! They probably even thought I'm dead..." Sakura answered.

"Just shut up and watch things happen... don't worry, you will die eventually...but right now, I need you alive... If I just push things too far, I'll accomplish two of the greatest goals the OTHERS have failed to accomplish." The voice was almost whispering to itself.

As the person stepped out of the darkness, Sakura gasped in recognition. Those snake-like eyes... the tremendous power.

Konoha is indeed in a VERY dangerous position.

At Orochimaru's Place

"You are rapidly improving Sasuke-kun..." commented Orochimaru on his pupil.

"I know, but this is still not enough..." Sasuke answered.

"Not enough eh? I have thought you almost everything I know. You are probably the strongest shinobi alive. What would you do then Sasuke if you got everything you want? Do not be mistaken that you will take me by surprise my student...Your part of the bargain will FOREVER be paid..." Orochimaru laughed at Sasuke. A shrill, empty laugh that sounded threatening instead of joyful.

" Believe me, you wold not be able to get rid of me easily..."

Sasuke smirked at the threat. Orochimaru has NOTHING to use against him. He had nothing to lose... yet as he said those words to himself, his thoughts keep straying to a pink-haired shinobi he had been trying so hard to forget...

"I'm afraid to tell you that the possibilities depend on the situations! So right now, just enjoy thinking that I cannot leave yet!" said Sasuke and angrily stalked to the woods.

Konoha

"Come on, cheer up, Naruto!" Kakashi said to the blonde shinobi.

"Stop pretending, Kakashi-sensei. I know you are as worried about her as I am." answered Naruto.

Kakashi looked at his student sadly. He thought that perhaps what he needed was time to get over this. Sakura has been missing for three days... and Naruto was right, he was worried about her and afraid. But the two of them have already searched the whole vicinity, even the outskirts of the country. No trace of her was found.

"Then you should grow up and be realistic Naruto. We did our best to search for her. And now, even the Anbu, after three days of searching still could not find her. You should be preparing yourself for whatever results they may find..." answered Kakashi.

"How can you say that without feelings Kakashi-sensei? She was your student, no, more than that... she is like a little sister to you! I can't believe you!" answered Naruto angrily.

Kakashi did not answer. He is not used to feelings like this. He wanted to blame himself for all the misfortunes that have befallen his students. First, Sasuke, now Sakura. He can't afford to provoke Naruto to do something rash and endanger his life.

The blonde shinobi almost cried in front of his sensei. But no, he has changed. If he is to save Sakura, he must believe in himself. Silently, Naruto decided to walk and think for a while.

Chance Encounter

Naruto was surprised to see another shinobi trying to find comfort in the silence of the woods. Somehow, he felt a familiar feeling, as if he knew what went inside the mind of the strange shinobi. When he got nearer, he stopped and realized why.

Sasuke was angered by the presence of another person in his training grounds.

He turned around and looked at the person in the eye... The same sense of familiarity crept to the Uchiha.

The person facing him knew him more than he likes to admit... his best friend...or enemy?

The tension broke. In a split second, Naruto's hands were on Sasuke's neck.

"What did you do to her you bastard?" Naruto asked, his eyes burning with anger.

When Sasuke did not answer, Naruto punched him consecutively, with all his strength. Finally, as the haze of anger cleared, Naruto stopped and looked at his opponent.

" Are you calm enough, dobe?" Sasuke asked while wiping blood from his lips.

" I asked Sakura-chan if she would let me kill you when we meet again..." Naruto said.

Sasuke just smirked. " I don't understand what you are saying... In fact, I am surprised to find you here... You went out to find me and kill me for her?"

" You are still the same cool, unfeeling Sasuke I met... the same Sasuke she loved... I wish she just let me kill you!" Naruto answered.

"Spill it out dobe, what the hell is wrong? I am annoyed enough that I could kill you right now!" Sasuke said.

"Then kill me! You have been saying that ever since." Naruto answered.

Sasuke whirled in anger and formed the Chidori. He charged at Naruto. The blonde shinobi formed the Rasengan.

The former best friends are locked in a struggle.

" You never cared about her didn't you? Well be happy, you're annoying team mate is missing! Perhaps dead... It doesn't matter to you... Perhaps you even had something to do about it!" Naruto said angrily while pushing the Chidori.

Sasuke froze. The chidori suddenly disappeared and with expert maneuvering, he caught Naruto's arm and slammed it into a tree.

" Sakura is missing?" Sasuke asked.

" Why would you care?" Naruto answered.

Sasuke started to walk away.

Then Naruto started to say something.

"If some of the old Sasuke still remains in you... Then, I wish I can rely on you to save her, just like before... but it may be too late..." said Naruto.

"So that's what's bothering you? Go back to Konoha, dobe..." said Sasuke as he went away.

Naruto punched the nearest tree in anger and turned his back on him.

In Orochimaru's place

"Who would have imagined that the weak pink-haired ninja would be the key for my goals?" said Orochimaru.

"We would stick to the bargain, Orochimaru. We will help you conquer Konoha AFTER the Kyuubi (nine-tails) falls into our hands." said a voice shrouded in shadows.

" Do not worry old friend, he will come for her... Just make sure you guard the entrance to the cave well,its the only one here and undoubtedly, they will find it..." said Orochimaru.

"Your ace student seems missing. How will you keep him here? He is powerful you know..." said the voice.

"There will always be a way for that," said Orochimaru.

The two figures were so concentrated on their deal that they did not notice a raven-haired shinobi clenching his fists in anger , listening to them.

Back to Konoha

"Naruto! I was looking for you! The ANBU have found a suspicious place..." Kakashi said.

Naruto did not need the entire report to scram and save one of the most important persons in his life.

In the prison cell

Sakura could not see well in the darkness. All of a sudden, she could hear someone opening the prison door.

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A/N: Here it is, an action-filled chapter 4! Who is coming for Sakura? What will Orochimaru do to Sasuke if he tries to leave? What will happen to our pink-haired kunocihi? REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!