Chapter 6
Sakura took a deep breath and turned the page. She scanned over the questions. Only 10. Maybe this wouldn't be so long. She was just relieved to see so few. Course, this was just a pre-interrogation. If they find anything useful or come up with new information they may have to have more interrogations.
"What is the name of the group Sasuke has organized and their purpose?" She began.
Suigetsu answered quickly. "Hebi. He has a thing for snakes for some reason. I thought the snake fetish would end with Orochimaru, though. But the group's purpose is to help Sasuke obtain his goal, killing Uchiha Itachi." No new news there, just confirmed what they already knew.
"How many members are there in this group?"
Suigetsu thought for a moment and began counting quietly on his fingers before answering. "Five. Sasuke, Karin, Juugo, Me, and the unofficial member Kabuto. He still serves Sasuke." They had known the first four, but hadn't known that Kabuto was still with Sasuke.
"Why have these member been chosen?" She asked him.
"Me for my good looks and skilled swordsmanship, Karin for her knowledge and chemistry abilities, and Juugo for his strength and curse mark I think."
So far so good. Three down, seven to go. "What have each of these members been promised if they join if anything at all?"
"Whatever we want. I'm not all that clear, though, what everyone's after, but I think Karin just likes Sasuke and Juugo wants see how strong Sasuke really is, and I….. I want the Samehada sword."
Nothing too helpful there, but that wasn't his fault. "How long has the group been together?"
"Four years now."
"Has the group done anything significant in those years?"
"Not really. We just try to track Uchiha Itachi. Met him once, but his Mangekyou allowed him to give us the slip."
Now for a harder one. "Where is the group's hideout?"
Suigetsu became more serious looking. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that." Sakura's head shot up and she looked at him.
"Why not?" She asked.
"I'm not permitted," He replied.
Sakura could feel the tension in the air. "Suigetsu, please…" He shook his head. Sakura saw Tsunade hang hers. "Please, Tsunade-sama. Wait one minute!" Tsunade nodded. Sakura leaned in close to Suigetsu. "Please Suigetsu, tell us. For your sake."
"I'm sorry, Sakura. I can't." He was still under the influence of the serum, Sakura noticed. His eyes were dilated. He just wasn't answering.
"Sakura, I'm sorry-" Tsunade started.
"No!" Sakura said. She began crying. "Suigetsu please! Don't do this!" Suigetsu only hung his head. Kakashi wrapped his arms around Sakura and picked her up. "We can't do this to him!" She insisted as Ibiki and Anko move closer to him.
"Kakashi, get her out of here. She's done all she can," Tsunade told him. Kakashi nodded and began dragging a persistent Sakura out of the room.
Once outside the room, Kakashi set Sakura down and looked her in the eyes. "Sakura, I know this is hard, but you did all you could. He wasn't going to tell you what you wanted to know. Sasuke is a threat to Konoha and we need to get this information."
Sakura nodded and the tears rolled down her face. "I know, I just wish there was another way." Kakashi patted her on the back before going back into the room. Sakura sat outside the room for a few minutes before she heard a loud scream she knew came from Suigetsu. She couldn't hold back any longer. She started sobbing and hung her head between her knees where she eventually fell asleep.
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Sakura jolted awake as someone shook her slightly. Tsunade was standing in front of her. She looked worn out and sullen. She sat down next to Sakura.
"You should have gone home," She told her.
"I couldn't leave him," She replied. She didn't know why, but she felt the need to protect Suigetsu more than ever. He had such a playful air about him. Made her want to keep him safe.
"You can't attach yourself to the enemy like this, Sakura," Tsunade said. "It'll just get harder on you."
"I can handle it."
"No, Sakura, you can't. You are a strong and cunning shinobi but your one weakness is that you care too much for these people. Sakura, you have got to let go of some emotions sometimes, otherwise, this job will completely destroy your heart," Tsunade said.
Sakura sighed and looked over at her. "I know. I try, but I just can't. I just keep imagining these people's lives."
Tsunade took a deep breath. "Sakura, I want you to take some downtime for the next week. After that, things are going to get more serious for you. I've been holding back on some of the more morally grey missions for you, but it's about time you get into that sort of thing."
Sakura nodded. "You're right, Tsunade. If I ever want to become better, I need to not let my feelings get the best of me." Tsunade stood up and ruffled Sakura's hair.
"You'll be ok, kid. Why don't you go in and see how Suigetsu is doing? He's unconscious, but I'm sure he'll be happy to know you were there." Tsunade left after saying this. Sakura thought about it for a moment and decided Tsunade was right. He needed a friend right now.
She got up and opened the door to his room. Shizune and Kakashi were sitting in two chairs. They were the ones on guard duty tonight. They both got up and left at the sight of Sakura to give her a moment alone. Sakura walked up to the side of Suigetsu's bed and looked down at him. He had a scratch on his face and looked exhausted. Tsunade must've healed his wounds after the interrogation. Sakura sat down in a chair next to him.
"I'm sorry, Suigetsu. I tried to keep my promise, but in the end…. I couldn't." She started to cry softly. She didn't know why this boy affected her so much, but something about her reminded her of someone. Naruto. He was so laid back and fun like Naruto, but mature at the same time. No wonder she was constantly worrying about him.
"Pretty ladies shouldn't cry. Ruins their make-up," She heard him say. His voice was soft and kind of raspy. Sakura looked up at him. He was just waking up, it seemed. She got up and began to check his vitals. "I'm fine. Just a flesh wound," He told her.
"It's just routine," She replied. Everything looked fine. His heartbeat was normal, always a good sign. She sat back down and smiled at him. "How do you feel?" She asked him.
"Like someone just stabbed me with several kunai," He laughed at this. Sakura could only stare at him with her mouth wide open. "Oh come on! I sound insane if you don't laugh with me." Sakura smiled.
"Maybe you are insane. Not many people laugh after an interrogation," She said.
"Not many people wake up after an interrogation to the enemy crying by his bedside," He responded.
"Touché," She said and laughed.
"That's much better than crying, you know."
She stopped and smiled. "I seem to be doing that a lot these days."
"These aren't very happy days."
"Not at all," She said. Her smile seemed to fade as she began to think about everything that had been happening.
"You love him, don't you?" Suigetsu said suddenly, referring to Sasuke.
"I do. Did. I don't know. I just want to get past all that," She said.
"Will this help?" Suddenly his lips were against hers. Her eyes widened with shock and she didn't know what to do, so she gave in. They sat there for a few seconds before he pulled away.
Thoughts began to flood her mind. She thought of Sasuke, how she had lost him, pined for him over the years, dedicated her life to him- and she thought of now. She didn't know what to do.
"I'm sorry, I need to go." She got up and left the room. She walked past Kakashi and Shizune and then out the hospital doors. Once outside she sat down on the nearest bench and began to cry again.
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Author's Notes:
I assume Kabuto is still with Sasuke. Not sure. Just an assumption.
So yeah. I love this chapter. Sort of. I love the end. :D The questions were hard to come up with, so I cut them off. I'm such a loser. But I some comments asking about possible Suigetsu x Sakura. At first I was like, nah ain't gonna happen, but as I wrote this it just kind of came out and I had to do it. :D Hope you all enjoy! And check out Why Can't I? GaaHina story.
Sky
