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Disclaimer: Me no own Naruto. Kishimoto-sensei does! The plot of Gentle Lie belongs to me! The song Gentle Lie belongs to the GazettE and the lyrics at the bottom do too!

Chapter 7 - Gentle Lie

Kiba suddenly stopped; both his and Akamaru's nose were quickly sniffing out the air. He darted forward and then to the right and stopped.

"I can't sense his chakra or scent anymore." Kiba said. "Neither can Akamaru. It just suddenly disappeared!"

"Are you sure, Kiba? Maybe you and Akamaru are too tired." Kakashi reasoned.

"What the hell, Kakashi-sensei. We just had a break not too long ago. Akamaru and I don't get tired that easily." argued Kiba.

"Neji, Hinata." Shikamaru said.

"W-We're on it. There's no trace of Uchiha Itachi's chakra anywhere. T-there's nothing around here." Hinata stuttered.

"She's right. All traces of his chakra have disappeared." Neji supported.

"Damn it!" Naruto swore.

"Calm down, Naruto. If I'm not mistaken, there should be a small town close to here. Let's check it out and see where we can go from there." Kakashi calmly said.

"Kakashi's right, Naruto. We need to find a place to take cover since Itachi suddenly disappeared. We need a new plan." Neji piped in.

"Plan plan plan. What more preparations do we need? All we need to do is sniff out his scent and not his chakra and start from there!" Naruto yelled.

"Naruto-kun. That's irrational thinking." Lee said. "Ploughing headlong into a battle without planning is a terrible way as a shinobi."

Naruto went silent. He knew that his teammates had a point, but he honestly wanted to go get Sasuke back. With Sasuke…comes Sakura. A quiet sadness crept into Naruto's eyes as he thought about how close his companions were. 'So close yet so far…' Naruto thought.

"I'm sorry, everyone. We'll stop at the village ahead of here, just like Kakashi-sensei said." There was an awkward stillness as Naruto said that, until Kakashi broke it.

"Sounds good!" Kakashi cheerfully said. "Let's get moving. The longer we stall, the more distance we will have to cover to catch up to them."

"Hai!" they all shouted. As they all started running again after their momentous break, Pak-kun appeared.

"Kakashi! We need all of you back at Konoha immediately! Small countries around Konoha are under attack by the Akatsuki!" Pak-kun shouted.

Kakashi looked alarmed, as did the others. Naruto gritted his teeth, as he listened to the condition that Konoha was in. "A few members of Akatsuki seem to have infiltrated the small towns and cities successfully. They all seem to have special abilities that are unknown to a great many other. Tsunade-sama is putting on an evacuation order right now." Pak-kun rushed. "There's no time to rest, we have to get back now!"

Kakashi was deep in thought for a few seconds before he decided. "How is Konoha like right now, Pak-kun?" he asked.

"When Tsunade-sama ordered me to come get you guys, it seems like half the ninja force was already actively making preparations."

"Let's go, Pak-kun. There's no time to stall, Konoha needs us right now." Naruto said with a determined look. "There will be…other chances of being able to catch up to Sasuke. We only have one home; we have to protect it with all we've got."

"Naruto's right. We only have one home, one family, and when that's gone, we have nothing!" Kiba shouted.

"How about we cut the chatter and get back? I'm pretty sure that within these few minutes of idle chat, Konoha is in a more devastated state than it already is." Shino spoke up.

"Okay, let's waste no more time. We're heading back now." Kakashi finalized. Then they took off, the opposite way away from Sakura and Team Hebi.

'Sakura-chan…I'm so sorry. If only…I had more time…'

~-.-~

Sasuke took flight in Level 2 form as the ground beneath him crumbled away. Karin, Sakura, Juugo and Suigetsu were falling; the crater that spontaneously formed did not allow any of them to reach out for support. Karin was frantically trying to grab a hold of the closest thing to her: Sakura. Suigetsu and Juugo were trying to hold onto the rocks that were falling with them. Having difficulty manoeuvring her limbs due to Karin's weight, Sakura had to quickly bite her movable hand until it bled and slammed it on a nearby falling rock.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" Sakura screamed.

White Fang appeared and immediately caught Sakura and Karin on his back. Looking around from White Fang's back, Sakura ordered him to quickly pick up Suigetsu and Juugo as well. After the four were safely suspended on White Fang's back, they gave a sigh of relief. The ground they ran on earlier was now a crater the size of a coliseum.

"What the fuck man. The ground just totally broke beneath us. It's not possible for something like that to just happen right when we were right there." Suigetsu whined.

"Uh, yeah, Suigetsu. There's something called a trap, ever heard of it?" breathed Karin.

"Yeah. Hear my sarcasm?"

"Actually, no." Sakura answered.

"Is everyone all right? Where's Sasuke-sama?" Juugo worriedly asked.

"Here." Sasuke answered.

"Nice of you to you know…drop by after everyone almost died, Sasuke." Sakura shot at him.

"Hn." Sasuke blankly responded. He knew they would've made it.

"And if we didn't?" Sakura challenged.

"Then you wouldn't be here." was his simple reply.

Sakura opened her mouth to counter his point except Juugo interrupted her before she could say anything.

"Sasuke-sama. I spot a village from here. Perhaps we should go see if we can find information of any sort relating to Itachi-sama?" Juugo pointed out.

"Hn."

Transforming back to his human state, Sasuke landed on White Fang and stood atop him for the rest of the journey to the village.

Sakura's legs felt wobbly as she slid down White Fang's back. The gate in front of the village was a gigantic metal gate that was around three stories high. The only flaw with the gate was that it was just a wrought iron bar gate that allowed any intruders to see what was exactly going on in the town. She didn't like what she was seeing at all. Provocatively dressed women and drunk-looking men were lining the streets. Oh, she didn't just not like what she was seeing; she hated what she was seeing with a passion, even though her boyfriend was into all this.

"Woo-hoo! Does this mean we get some women time, Sasuke?" Suigetsu wolf-whistled.

"We're not here for any of this, Suigetsu." Sasuke uninterestedly said.

"Aw, that's no fun."

"It'd be fun if we stuffed your head down the toilet." Karin growled.

"Maybe it'll be more fun if we stuff your head down first." retaliated Suigetsu.

"Guys, we don't have time to stand around arguing. Let's just get in and get some info and get out." Sakura exasperatedly sighed.

"How do you think we can get any information, Sakura?" Sasuke said.

"Gee Sasuke, I never thought you would've forgotten about the transformation jutsu we learned at the Academy."

"Have you been on any seduction missions?"

"A few. So I think I know what I need to do." Sakura thoughtfully said. "Just give me a few minutes and I'll be ready to head into the uh…sluttiest and biggest club or bar around."

"Whatever."

"Hey! Why can't I do it?" Karin whined.

"'Cause Karin, you'll scare the customers away." snickered Suigetsu. This earned a pout from the redhead.

"We don't have time to decide who's going in, just go, Sakura." Sasuke emotionlessly said. "I'll go in with you as backup."

"I can take good care of myself, thank you very much." Sakura haughtily said.

"Hn."

Ten minutes later, Sakura was dressed in a black mini-skirt and a luscious red spaghetti-strap tank top that stopped just above her belly button. Her legs were accentuated with three-inch heels: the high heels made her look taller and her legs much longer, making them look irresistible. She had let her hair down, since it was damp when she pulled it up, it is now slightly wavy after it's dried. She had transformed all her ninja gear into two bracelets; one on her left and right hand. If she needed any help, all she had to do was spike some chakra into the bracelets and her weapons would appear back into their normal state. Not that she needed any, what with her inhumane power and all.

"I found the bar with the most people coming in and out of there." Suigetsu said.

"No one saw you, correct?" Sasuke asked.

"Puddles of water don't get noticed, Sasuke."

"Hn. Go lead the way for Sakura, Suigetsu."

Suigetsu whistled. "Now I'd like to tap that."

"Shut up. Keep your comments to yourself." Sakura growled.

"Whoa, feisty. Just like how I like them."

Sakura threw her fist his way but he suddenly melted into a puddle of water.

"I like my abilities, it's so handy sometimes."

"You're stalling. Go." Sasuke ordered.

Sakura walked through the gates and into the streets of what people called Broken Dreams. Suigetsu had transformed into a shady man dressed in a large overcoat. His face was hidden underneath a dappled looking brown hat. Then again, everyone else looked shady in this town. Sakura donned a trench coat that went down to her knees, covering her skimpy outfit. 'Ugh. If only Kakashi saw me now, he'd rip me away from this mission and put Ino-pig in here or something. She'd love to be here in my stead, drooling over her Sasuke-kun with Karin.' Sakura wondered and shuddered at the thought.

"We're here." Suigetsu lowly said.

"Thanks for leading me here." Sakura answered.

"Wish I could see you in action. Who wouldn't want to see someone like you seducing a man?" Suigetsu lightly laughed.

"I'm glad you won't see me in action. I might be making a fool of myself."

"Doubt it and good luck."

"Thanks."

Sakura entered the bar that had big bright pink neon letters flashing "Routine". She bit her lip to prevent herself from smiling at the ironic colour of the lights. 'This is no joke. I might get seriously raped here!' Sakura scolded herself. Darkness enveloped and blinded her from seeing objects in front of her. Loud music pounded in her ears, rendering her hearing chiefly useless to anything. She heard scuttling from behind her and quickly turned around, squinting in the dark to see who was sneaking behind her. Something grazed the back part of her heels and she immediately knew it was a mouse. 'Oh my gosh, are you kidding me?'

Scurrying forward to the dim light ahead of her, Sakura nearly ran headlong into someone.

"Oh, sorry." Sakura apologized.

"Get going." The husky voice responded.

"Oh. Right. Nice of you to drop by and worry about my well-being." Sakura sarcastically responded.

She left her trench coat with Sasuke and continued to make her way through the dark corridor to the lobby, where every one was. When she got there, she saw strippers on the stage, dancing sensually to their audience: the aroused men. As a medic, Sakura looked around and saw that almost all men were…well, roused. The only ones that didn't were the barkeeps who were handing out drinks to everyone and that they were used to the stimulating actions the strippers usually do. Sitting herself on a bar stool, Sakura ordered sake. Thank goodness being with Tsunade helped raise her tolerance to alcohol.

"So, I haven't seen you here before." Smiled the barkeep.

"Yeah, I'm not a regular here. I work at a club a street down from here." Sakura huskily said.

"Ah…that explains a little." The barkeep kept his head slightly tilted, as he busied himself with getting her sake. But she knew that he was checking her out.

"Like what you're seeing?" she purred. "You're being stealthy, but…I'm even stealthier."

He smiled at her, unabashed that she caught his actions. "Excuse me for saying this, but what kind of man would I be if I don't check out a pretty lady?"

"Why, thank you."

"Here's your sake." He winked at her.

"Oh, I have a teensy question for you. I was wondering if you could answer it."

"Sure thing."

"Well…since we haven't been getting many…new customers down at the club, I was wondering if you saw any newcomers lately." Sakura said to him; her face looked slightly crestfallen at the mention of fewer customers.

Perfect act indeed.

"Hmm…that's some pretty confidential information you're asking there, pretty lady." He responded.

"Well, women like me have to keep the private information of our clients to ourselves. If you don't want to tell me, I won't force you." Sakura got up from her stool, her mini-skirt hitching up a little to expose more skin than she already was. Walking away slowly while swinging her hips seductively from side to side, she waited for the barkeep to tell her to wait up.

"Hey, don't go." He called after her.

'Gotcha.' She smirked inwardly while putting on an innocent façade.

"I'm free for the rest of the night, so I guess I'll tell you…"

"Amori. The name's Amori."

"Alright, then. Amori it is." he wrapped one of his arms around her waist, touching the smooth bare skin of her midriff. Sakura wanted to flinch, but then it would defeat the sole purpose of her mission.

"It's only fair since you know my name, I should know yours." She purred.

"It's Kazaha."

"Ah, Kazaha-kun. Would you mind telling me of what you know now, please?" she begged. Gross.

"Only if you know what to do." He smirked and led her to the stairs that went to the second storey of the bar.

Sakura giggled in response, playing her part as the seductress successfully. "Anything for you, sweetie." 'Sweetie? What the hell am I saying? Maybe Karin should've been the one to do this… Oh what am I saying? I'm in here already. I'm so not doing this again.'

Kazaha and she reached his room. Grabbing a key from one of his pants pocket, he inserted it in and twisted it. The door swung open and the two entered; Kazaha kicked the door closed as he entered his room. He took off his black vest, shirt and tie and threw them in the corner. Sakura was surprised that he wasn't incredibly buff like how she thought barkeeps usually were; he was lean, though.

"So, what do you want to know, sweetie?" he asked.

"Well, have you seen any new men coming into this bar lately?"

"There were a few…one of them stood out the most though." He pushed Sakura down onto the bed, almost straddling her.

"What did he look like?" Sakura persisted. Kazaha's hands were uncomfortably but warmly slinking up and down smooth thighs.

"Hmm." He made a motion to kiss her, but Sakura quickly reversed their positions. Soon, she was the one that was straddling him. His wrists were caught in her hands, and her knees pinned his pants down, rendering both his arms and legs useless.

"Ah-ah-ah. Not so quick. I'm not done with my questions yet." She seductively smiled. "You'll get your just rewards in a few moments."

"Hmm…so I have an aggressive lioness on my hands, don't I?"

"Oh, if you only knew." Sakura smiled to herself as she remembered what Kakashi had told her. He had called her a fiend after their first night together. Of course, that had earned him a smack from her, but it was a loving one. Kakashi was only knocked out for half an hour after that, which allowed her to get dressed and showered before he awoke. "Who was the one that stood out the most?"

"He was wearing a black cloak with red clouds on it. His eyes were very unforgettable, they were red with…three black dots in the midst of it surrounding the pupil."

"Did he say where he was going to go after he came to this bar?"

"He did say that he was waiting for someone. As for where…I don't really remember. I think he said he was going to wait at the plateaus. Yeah, he said something about the plateaus. Do I get my just rewards yet?" He started to sound a little displeased.

Sakura could feel the heat and the bulge in his pants. It made her realize that she had to ask her questions fast, or the tables could be turned, even with her inhumane powers.

"Soon, soon. One last question." She teased. "When did he come in?"

"He was here a night ago. He had some martinis and left a huge tip as well."

'So that means he's still close to this town…' "Thanks sweetie, I think you just helped me earn some more money for the nights to come."

"Someone with a great body and looks like you, you'll be able to snag any man you want."

"Thank you." Sakura smiled sweetly down at him and released one of his hands; his legs were still bound to the bed by her knees. Quickly, Sakura raised a hand to his forehead and put him under a sleeping jutsu.

Sliding off his bed, Sakura made sure that Kazaha was asleep. Freeing her accessories and clothes from the bracelets on her hands, Sakura started to get dressed behind a screen in his room. The door swung open with a bang and Sakura almost died from shock.

Sasuke entered the room and only saw Kazaha on the bed. He heard a rustling from behind the screen and walked towards it. A voice made him stop.

"What the hell are you doing? Get out of here. I got everything under control. I'm trying to get dressed, damn you!" Sakura cussed softly.

"Hn. I thought you were actually giving him what he wanted."

"Yeah, that's why you see me whoring around with Suigetsu and Juugo every night, Sasuke." Sakura mockingly replied.

"Give him a memory that he'll be satisfied with."

"How do you suggest I do that? Memories aren't that easy to make, Sasuke."

"You're a medic. You know how the human mind works. Just create a memory and don't make it too choppy. Make his body react physically if you have to. We're leaving immediately." Sasuke left the room and closed the door behind him.

"Couldn't hurt him to say gratitude of thanks or anything. Seduction missions are the riskiest out of all of them. Even if kunoichi are supposed to be prepared to lose their virginity or dignity on seduction missions, we try to avoid it as best we can." Sakura mumbled.

Coming out from behind the screen, Sakura looked at Kazaha on the bed and sighed. Kneeling beside his bed, Sakura put her fingers on his forehead. She stopped as she remembered something. 'He can't have his cum all over his pants when he wakes up, it doesn't make sense with his dream.' Sakura unzipped his pants and pulled them off, leaving him only in his boxers. The hard-on was clearly visible to her, since it seemed to be straining against the thin fabric of his boxers. Holding her breath, she pulled down his boxers as well, letting his erection go free.

Ignoring his erection and moving back up to his head, Sakura placed her fingers on his forehead and started to form a memory of her riding him to bliss. The memory itself was giving Sakura the creeps, but she tried to give him the most realistic memory she could muster. As she neared the finish of the memory, Kazaha reached his orgasm within his fantasies and spurted his seeds everywhere. Sakura dodged a few drops as she almost got hit by his fluids. Finishing with her successful creation, she went into his bathroom and washed her hands, wanting to be clean of the dirty touch.

She walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. Sasuke had left her trench coat on the screen, so she sported that as she walked out of the bar. No one noticed her entrance and exit. She hid in the shadows as she ran towards the gate, knowing that was where Sasuke and the rest were waiting. Reaching the gate, she saw that only Juugo was waiting for her. She had thought of the possibility that they might have left without her.

"I'm assuming Sasuke heard everything?" Sakura sighed.

"Yes, Sakura-san. He told me to wait for you so we can catch up to him." Juugo politely said.

"'Kay, let's go then."

Juugo and Sakura took off into the dusk, and hurried on after Karin, Suigetsu and Sasuke.

~-.-~

'Sasuke was there that night when I felt that Kakashi was there?' Sakura wondered.

Sakura was getting confused with all the things going on all at once. Everything seemed so fast pace. Sasuke visits her. Leaves Konoha. Runs through Amegakure. Spend a night beside a cliff and feel someone warm close to you. Oh yeah, that someone warm seemed pretty comforting and so much like your boyfriend too. Then get injured and it seems like Sasuke took care of her? Itachi's chakra seems to appear. Seduction mission immediately after that. Where was the time to have a small breather? Nowhere.

"Juugo…I'm sorry to ask when we're on such a tight schedule, but Karin once mentioned that Sasuke went out to look for me during the first few days when I was with you guys?" Sakura questioned.

"Ah, yes. Sasuke-sama seemed to be worried or something of the sort and went after you when you did not come back following several hours. He didn't return till morning of course, before you by around an hour. I would assume that Sasuke was with you the whole night, not doing anything of course." Juugo answered.

"Oh…I see…" Sakura trailed off.

"Is something bothering you, Sakura-san?"

"Oh, it's nothing." Sakura quickly said. "It's just been on my mind is all. Nothing to worry about."

The two of them continued to jump quickly from tree to tree, closing up on the distance between Sasuke and her. Sakura looked forward and saw tiny specks of white, red and black. Pumping chakra into her feet, Sakura propelled herself faster and more swiftly through the trees and caught up to Sasuke with Juugo closely behind.

"How'd it go?" Suigetsu lazily drawled.

"Thanks. Well I guess. It couldn't get any worse or better. What do you expect me to say? It's better than the other seduction missions I've been on." Sakura concluded.

"Hmm…do you think that guy was worth your time?" Suigetsu continued.

"Excuse me?"

"Was he hot enough for your taste?"

"…What kind of question is that? I'm taken. I don't randomly whore around." Sakura said through gritted teeth.

"Whoa, keep your panties on. I was just joking."

"If you have time to joke around, how about you just shut up and think of what to do when we get there, Suigetsu?" Karin butted in.

"Aw, that's no fun. The leader should do that. Right, Sasuke?" Suigetsu said uncaringly.

A bolt of blue-white lightning shot out towards the four of them. They all scattered, as they tried to avoid Sasuke's electrifying anger. His aura was truly frightening, dark and malicious with a killing intent. Sakura worried about what would be the result of all this hate.

~-.-~

Sasuke was not a happy camper. He was in the corridor outside that man's room when Sakura was getting the information. The voice that Sakura had, that…sultry tone, it made his breath hitch a little when he heard it. Not that he breathed very loudly or anything, but it just disrupted his usual calm demeanour. He wasn't bugged; an Uchiha can never be bugged. He was just uncomfortable with the situation. Yeah, that's right. He just wasn't used to those sorts of missions. But, currently...Uchiha Sasuke does not have a girlfriend, not that he minded.

'Why did she get irritated when I entered? It wasn't like I was going to rape her or anything…' Sasuke's thoughts trailed on.

The outfit she wore was very revealing. Need he say more? Any man would turn his head to look at a sexy woman. If he didn't, he was either blind or was just getting pounded into the ground by his girlfriend. The latter option seemed less plausible.

His heart clenched when he just imagined or thought of Sakura being with anyone else but him. No one can give her the security that he alone can give her. Not even Kakashi. No one. Only him. The thoughts of Sakura that he had looked at gave him a feeling of how Sakura felt towards Kakashi. It was so innocent and pure, so…un-animalistic. Her heart was shattered when Sasuke had left her. Naruto tried to help her, but it was useless. She would put on a fake façade everyday, just for him and the rest of the village. When she was alone, she would train herself to become stronger, to be able to be his equal. She would blame herself for her weakness and how incompatible in battle she was with him. Until he decided to butt in. No one could see through Sakura's façade, aside from Kakashi.

He went over to her house one night and let himself in, with take-out from Ichiraku. He found her collapsed on her sofa with a cushion to her chest. Her lips were moving silently, but Kakashi caught onto all the words she said, what with his Sharingan and all.

"Sasuke… where are…you…now?" Sakura mumbled.

Kakashi sadly looked at his pupil and joy. She still didn't know the feelings he harboured for her were not only feelings of sensei and student; it was much more. He understood how important Sasuke is to her, it just bothered him. Sasuke's been gone from the village for five years now, and she still pined for him. Kakashi now hated the saying how "things never changed". He wanted to rub that saying in the face of the person who made it and grind it into his face.

"So many things…unheard…not said…" Sakura continued in her sleep.

Not wanting to seem like a stalker or a creeper, Kakashi grabbed the take-out and went out the main entrance. Standing outside after the door's been closed, he did things the old fashion way and rang the doorbell to her house. The sound of someone falling heavily onto the floor could be heard quite clearly, along with the profanities that went along with it as well. As the door opened, Kakashi falsely crinkly-smiled at Sakura's appearance. Her hair was dishevelled and she was still clutching the cushion to her chest. She didn't seem to notice the plasticity of his smile, but it was most likely due to the mask he always wore.

"Oh hey, Kakashi-sensei. What brought you here this late at night?" Sakura tiredly said.

He held up Ichiraku's ramen as an answer. "Food's on me tonight. Haven't been seeing you for the past while."

"Oh…sorry, I need to go grocery shopping. Haven't had time lately, what with hospital duties and training."

"That's what I thought, so I brought some food over, knowing you would be awfully tired."

"Hey wait a second. I just saw you at the training grounds today!" Sakura protested.

"Really? I've only seen a cover up of Sakura lately." He sighed at this point.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sakura's eyes looked to the left as she said so. (A/N: When you ask someone something and they look towards the left, it's usually a sign that he/she is making up something untrue to tell you!)

"Let's continue this after we eat, alright? The ramen's getting soggy. Naruto will throw a fit if he sees how we are 'mistreating' his beloved food." Kakashi said.

Sakura laughed at this. "Yeah, I bet he would."

Fifteen minutes later, after the ramen had been devoured, the two just sat in the hard-backed wooden chairs of the dining room with cups of tea in front of them. The hanging lamp from the ceiling casted a warm yellow light over the two figures. It distinctly showed how tired Sakura was, tired lines at the corners of her eyes and her mouth. She looked absolutely distraught.

"Sakura…" Kakashi began.

"You don't need to say anything, Kakashi-sensei. I know what you're going to say." Sakura said softly.

He waited for her to continue.

"No one can see me like this, Naruto can't see through my façade. He can't lie to save himself even, so I will know if he knows of my…situation, which he doesn't. Ino-pig can't see through me either, so…I'd like it if you kept this a secret, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura crestfallenly said.

"Sakura, you don't need to say anything, I know what you're going to say." Kakashi inwardly smiled as he repeated the words of his diligent ex-pupil.

'Before you desire the most loved, I want you to let go of this hand'

Thanks for reading! Review please!

- Kanryu out