Sakura looked up from her sweeping as Naruto and Shikamaru entered the bakery "Morning Sakura!!" Naruto called happily. "Good morning Naruto" Sakura answered. "Are we gonna go pick the herbs today?" Naruto asked. Sakura glanced outside at the marshy fields "If we go now we'll be able to get before it rains again." She said biting the corner of her lip. "What do you think Shikamaru?" Shikamaru put his hands behind his head and groaned. "What am I, The weather man? That's too much of a drag" Sakura looked thoughtful for a moment. "Let's go. We missed yesterday and the village healer needs those herbs" she said. Naruto grinned and ran out the door, followed by Sakura and Shikamaru.
**********
Naruto pulled another weed out of the ground and handed it to Sakura. "Here Sakura, is this good?" Sakura snatched the plant out of his hand and threw it at him, hitting him on the forehead and leaving a brown smear. "Naruto!" she cried in exasperation "This. Is. A. weed! It's poisonous! You. Could. Die!!" Naruto peeked out from behind Shikamaru and blinked twice. "Man Sakura" he said "y-you're scary" Sakura glared at him "Excuse me?" she said through clenched teeth. "Nothing!" Naruto squeaked from behind Shikamaru. "Come on guys!" Shikamaru groaned "Can't you two calm down? Seriously" Sakura sat back down on her rock and sighed "okay Shikamaru-"she began. Shikamaru cut her off with one hand and sat completely still. "W-what is it Shikamaru?" she asked. "Shhh- listen" He hissed. Sakura and Naruto listened intently for several seconds before they heard the noise, the steady pulse of hoof beats. "Hey guys, maybe we should hide" Naruto whispered. "Why Naruto?" Sakura asked "Who would we possibly have to hide from?" Naruto shrugged and crept quietly over to a large boulder where Shikamaru was already crouched behind.
All three of them sat in total silence as the hoof beats drew nearer, and nearer until the rider appeared at the edge of the wide dirt path astride a beautiful, glossy black stallion. Naruto stared not daring to believe. Suddenly, the rider spurred his horse on and it sprang into a run. Sakura, Shikamaru and Naruto watched in profound awe as the horse and his rider moved in unison as if they were one being. They drew closer and closer until, the horse and rider was right in front of them. Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru all gasped as the horse leaped and soared over a fallen tree as if it was flying. The figure's cloak was billowing out behind him in a black cloud and his full sleeves danced about his wrists like white silk flames. Then, as if time had suddenly started again the horse landed and was gone from view.
"Wow" Naruto breathed. "T-that was …" Sakura began "Amazing" Shikamaru ended. They sat frozen with awe for five long minutes until a clap of thunder brought them out of their trance. Sakura gasped "l-look! Storm clouds!" she exclaimed pointing at the sky; Shikamaru glanced up "And moving fast!" He exclaimed. "Quick! We need to get back to the village before it starts to rain." Just then it began to pour. "Well, it was inevitable that we would get wet" he sighed. "Naruto! Get the basket. We need to get home before it starts to rain harder" Sakura called. Naruto nodded, snatched the basket and began to run down the dirt path towards the village.
Sasuke looked up as the first clap of thunder echoed across the sky. Without any hesitation he swung up onto his horse and spurred it into a gallop. As they broke out of the clearing the heavens opened and it began to rain heavily. Sasuke murmured something into his horse's ear and the horse began to move faster, now running full-tilt down the now-muddy path. Sasuke drew his cloak around him to block some of the cold rain and leaned down behind his horse's neck. They were only a quarter of a mile from the manor when Sasuke saw three figures running several yards in front of him. Instinctively, his horse began to slow down but Sasuke spurred it into a gallop. There was only one way to get back to the manor quickly and he had to get back as soon as possible.
Naruto shot a glance over his shoulder and nearly tripped over a jutting tree root. "Sakura!" he yelled. "I-it's the rider!" he yelled. Sakura and Shikamaru both glanced back and gasped. The rider was five yards behind them and closing fast. "Move! Move!" Shikamaru yelled. Naruto jumped off of the path and Shikamaru dove into the ferns barely landing before he heard a scream. Naruto and Shikamaru whirled around and saw Sakura lying in the middle of the road. "Sakura!" Naruto exclaimed starting after her "No Naruto!" Shikamaru yelled grabbing Naruto "There's nothing you can do."
Sasuke, seeing the girl fall, pulled the reins back to try to stop his horse before they crushed her. The ground, muddy from the rain only gave way under the hoofs of the horse and they began to slide. Seeing there was no way to stop, Sasuke snapped the reins and dug his heels into his horses flank, causing it to buckle forward and run. Only two yards of running space remained and Sasuke knew that if he didn't time it right the girl would be killed. The two yards quickly turned into two feet. Sasuke leaned forward and, whispering something into his horse's ear, braced himself.
Naruto watched in a mix of horror and amazement as they both struggled with his horse. Each second drug on and Naruto knew that Sakura would surely die. Then, when Naruto was ready to go save Sakura the boy spoke to his horse once again and they jumped over Sakura. Again, time seemed to slow as the figure and his horses sailed over the fallen girl and suddenly start again as the horse landed and began to slide. Naruto gasped as he watched the boy struggle to maintain control and then grinned as the horse managed to struggle back onto its feet and disappeared down the path.
**********
Sasuke stumbled into his room and collapsed onto his bed. Shivering and coughing. He was drenched and chilled form his frantic ride back to the mansion.
Orochimaru, feeling that something was wrong stood up and without a word to Kabuto strode out of the room. As he walked down the hall he began to move faster and faster until he was running. Quickly, he turned and ran up the stairs two at a time until he had reached the fourth floor.
Sasuke coughed once more and then slowly turned over onto his back. At that moment, Orochimaru burst in and in two strides had reached the bed. "Sasuke," he said gently "I know you are tired but you need to get into dry clothes. You are drenched and if you don't hurry you'll catch a worse fever." Sasuke nodded in response and struggled to his feet. Orochimaru quickly put his arm around Sasuke to steady him and led him to the dressing room. Once they reached it, Orochimaru handed Sasuke a set of clean, dry clothes and shut the door.
Several minutes later, the door opened and Sasuke stepped out, leaning heavily on the frame. Again, Orochimaru slipped his arm around Sasuke's shoulders and helped him over to his bed. Once Sasuke was situated, Orochimaru drew the curtains closed and blew out the lamps that were set on the walls. As he opened the door to leave, he turned to look at the sleeping figure on the bed. "Time is short…Isn't it?" he asked. Then, he smiled and shut the door quietly behind him.
