Hey guys! Next chapter...I know you guys all don't like how I put so much SasuSaku in the last one, but n'warries, mite! (no worries, mate)
I'm not gonna bore you all with stories about how busy I've been, but just know that I'm sorry for updating this so late!
Enjoy!
Naruto stood at the gates of Konoha, gazing out into the setting sun. Sasuke and Sakura were supposed to be back now, darn it! He clenched his fists, eyebrows knitted angrily together. He shuddered to think of Sasuke and Sakura acting like a married couple, kissing, holding hands, everything that he should be doing with her.
His heart stopped as two figures came over the ridge. His heart constricted even more tightly as he saw the couple taking their time, laughing and holding hands.
The world stopped as the two figures leaned in closer and their lips touched.
"No...," Naruto whispered, turning and running away as fast as he could, not taking the time to notice that Sasuke was with a brunette, not a rosette.
--
Sakura cursed as she stumbled again, carrying the flowers and instant ramen to their "special place."
"Thank goodness Sasuke went back with Kamari to give the Gondaime our report...who would've guessed that he was capable of loving anyone? Kuso, Naruto better be grateful for this!" Stumbling into the meadow, she dropped everything in her arms on her foot when she saw Naruto hunched over, sobbing his heart out.
"Naruto! What's wrong?" she ran over to him and put an arm around him, but he shrugged it off. Stung, Sakura drew back.
"Naruto?" She asked in a soft, tentative voice. "What's wrong?"
He shuddered as he drew in another breath, facing away from her. "I know that you and Sasuke...,"
"Yeah, isn't it great? He can love again!" Sakura said, misinterpreting his meaning. Naruto drew in another sharp breath. Had she really come back just to tell him that Sasuke had won again? Beaten him, even though he tried his hardest with a smile still on his face?
He began to walk away.
"N-naruto! Matte! What's wrong?" Sakura ran up to him and made him face her. His expression made her step back quickly as she stared into his cerulean eyes.
Utter desolation was the only way to describe it. He looked up at her, a face full of betrayal, unrequited love, and hurt.
"Naruto...what did I say that hurt you?" This angered Naruto beyond belief. She had the nerve to cheat on him with Sasuke of all people, and expected him to be happy about it? This was past even what Naruto could endure.
"I LOVED YOU! AND YOU SAID YOU LOVED ME AND I BELIEVED YOU! I ASKED YOU TO MARRY ME AND YOU AGREED! AFTER A SIMPLE ONE WEEK MISSION, YOU GO BACK TO YOUR PRECIOUS SASUKE-KUN AGAIN AND LEFT ME BEHIND, AND HE LOVES YOU AND YOU LOVE HIM AND YOU EXPECT ME TO GO AROUND WITH A HAPPY SMILE ON MY FACE AGAIN? SAKURA, THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH!"
Sakura's heart stopped. What? No Sakura-chan? This whole misunderstanding...he thought she loved Sasuke? The absurdity. Naruto formed hand signals, and by the time Sakura reached for him it was too late.
Poof.
Sakura's heart broke again.
She didn't have any energy left.
Collasping, tears ran down her face.
--
Marashi smirked from the tree tops.
"Excellent, its not as hard to capture the girl as I thought. Tobi!" Tobi hopped through the trees to his master.
"Yes, o powerful one?"
"Go capture Sakura down there. And hurry! I can feel chakra signatures approaching."
"Yes master!" Tobi cackled as he skipped down to Sakura, snatching her up as he rejoined his master. In his haste, being Tobi, the necklace Naruto gave Sakura, which she had never taken off, broke and slid down into the grass. Marashi gave an exasperated grunt.
"Tobi, let's go! I think it's the copy ninja headed this way, and we're too weak to face him...right now."
Cackling evilly, the villains left, toting their bounty with them.
--
"Pakkun? What did you find?" Kakashi's visible eye became serious as he looked down at Sakura's necklace.
"We need to report this to the Hokage! Come on!"
They vanished.
--
"WHAT?!" Kakashi flinched as the Tsunade's temper broke over him. She pounded the table that, miraculously, still held together.
"ORGANIZE A SEARCH PARTY IMMDIATELY WITH YAMANAKA, NARA, UCHIHA, HYUUGA, AND UZUMAKI ON THE DOUBLE!"
"Hai!" Kakashi poofed away to gather the respective ninja.
--
Naruto stood trembling in the Hokage's office as he found out about Sakura's kidnapping and his awful mistake when he saw Kamari and Sasuke.
"This is all my fault...," he muttered to himself. With Kyuubi eyes, he glared around him and ran off to pack as the others sped off too.
--
"Sasuke-kun...come back safe to me! Please!" Sasuke looked down at Kamari with eyes soft and tender.
"Don't worry...I'll never leave you," he promised, leaning down and softly brushing his lips over hers.
"I promise, aishteru."
"Aishteru! Come back safe!" she called as he left to save his teammate. He glanced back once, with eyes full of love and longing, before speeding off towards the gate.
--
Sakura woke up with a pounding headache and blinded by bright lights.
"Where am I?" she croaked, closing her eyes almost immediately. Marashi came over her and smirked.
"My dear Sakura, I believe you are in what most people would call...the old Akatsuki hideout."
"Akatsuki? I thought you were all dead?" Marashi's eyes narrowed, and he shook with anger.
"You were wrong. I am now called Marashi, but you may remember me as...Itachi."
"ITACHI?! But...that's impossible! Sasuke killed you!" Marashi chuckled.
"Ahh, foolish little brother. Who would've known that Tobi, out of all people, had learned a jutsu to bring people back from the dead? Unfortunately, it can only be used once, but still." Tobi nodded enthusiastically from the doorway.
"No...you can't be back! Not now, after all we've done and how much he's changed! How dare you!" She flung herself at him, teeth bared, only to be pulled back by chakra ropes.
"Pathetic, yet a useful bargaining chip. Tell me, my dear cherry blossom, what do they see in you?"
He chuckled again and swept from the room, Tobi close behind him.
Sakura struggled helplessly against her bonds.
"Pathetic," she repeated quietly, as tears fell, drop by drop, down her face.
--
Naruto stopped on a branch to wait for the rest of the rescue team, again.
"Hurry up, Sakura's in danger!" He called back to the rest of the panting group. Even Neji and Sasuke looked tired and worn out.
"Naruto, we have to rest!" Ino panted, coming to a stop and bending over, Shikamaru close behind and holding her.
"She's right," Shikamaru reprimanded Naruto, eyes filled with worry. "We know you're worried for Sakura, but it won't do us any good if we're worn out when we have to fight her capturers."
Naruto growled, but leaped down from the tree branches and started setting up camp.
"Fine, but we'll only stop for the night. When we get up, full speed ahead! After, the old Akatsuki hideout is close to here...,"
mwahahah
So, is Sakura gonna make it out OK?
Or will something happen?
Will Naruto be there in time?
Not much romance here, but there will be fluffy chaps coming up!
Please Read and Review!
