Author's Note: Ok, ok, ok! You all can't come after me at once! Please??? I'm so sorry it took me so long to update, I was so busy and I've finally have had some time to post you guys an awesome chapter! I hope you all can forgive me!!! :( please?? :)
Dedicated to: skyblueocean, White Sakura of Hope, TheVampyricAssassin, just-let-me-go, WithTheseBloodshotEyes, midnightblue123, WithTheseBloodshotEyes, just-let-me-go, TheVampyricAssassin, White Sakura of Hope, and skyblueocean
The Uchiha castle was as hectic as ever. Mikoto was running around her mansion sized room, trying to find the best looking dress for the evenings festivities, Fugaku was busy making escape plans with Kakashi, Itachi and Sasuke, while Sakura and Anko were organizing the kitchen for the big night.
"Hurry up with those spices Maggots!" Anko yelled at the top of her lungs, watching the little girls stumble over towards her with the desired spices.
Sakura, very swiftly, spread out a dozen tin pans and filled the crystal pitchers with wine and other liquors that would be used throughout the dinner.
She looked around the room while placing the pitchers in the center of certain trays. 'This is it Sakura.' She told herself. 'It's time to finally catch Leonard in the act.'
When Sakura was done with the trays, she clapped her hands together, and watched the little girls assemble into a straight line right in front of her. With a small smile Sakura knelt down to their level and cleared her throat.
"Now girls." Sakura began to say, causing Anko to quietly clean her station. 'What does Pinky have to say?' Anko thought as she watched the pep talk from the corner of her eye.
"I want you all to do your best." Sakura told them with an encouraging smile. "Just remember everything Queen Mikoto has taught you and you will do fine."
Sakura watched as the little girls looked at each other and smiled happily. 'I remember when I had to do my final dinner…I was nervous beyond belief…' Sakura stood up straight and shot Anko a smile. '…that is until that one over there told me "Don't sweat over this shit kid".' Sakura never understood how she became friends with the crazy cook, but she was glad there was someone in the castle that helped her.
The sound of clanging knives being thrown down on the table was a signal for everyone to stop horsing around and get back to work. Anko shot Sakura a look while the girls went to the trays and began to decorate it with food.
"Sakura." Anko said as she stepped back from the counter and examined her roasted duck and chopped up chicken.
"Hm?" Sakura said as she grabbed Anko's masterpiece and handed it over to the girls, who waited patiently, to beautify the plates.
"Who's greeting the guests?" Anko asked with an all knowing smirk plastered on her smug face.
Sakura's eyes opened wide and her mouth dropped to the floor. "SHIT!" She screamed, forgetting, to watch her mouth around the girls.
Anko's smirk grew wider and she couldn't help but laugh, on the inside, at Sakura's reaction. 'She's so predictable.'
"I've got to get down there!" Sakura yelled in a hurry as she twirled around violently and sprinted out of the kitchen as fast as lightning.
Anko snorted at Sakura's actions but stopped when she heard the girls' converse with each other.
"I can't wait till we get out of here." One of them said as she separated the chicken pieces on different trays.
Anko didn't move a muscle and continue to listen to the soon to be snobby princesses.
The blonde girl looked up at her companion and tilted her head. "Why Sarah? Everyone is nice here."
Sarah snorted. "Are you kidding me Gemma?" Her eyes raced to the door Sakura just stormed out of. "They have no manners at all."
Gemma shot her head to the ground. "But I thought that Miss. Sakura was nice…"
The brown haired girl on the other side of Sarah shook her head. "Oh get real. She's only nice because Queen Uchiha told her to be."
Before the conversation got out of hand Anko stood behind the three girls and cleared her throat. She watched, with amusement, as they all jumped up, out of fright and scrambled to the other side of the table. "What did you say Maggots?" Anko growled out.
"We were talking about where to put the chicken legs." Sarah lied through her teeth as she flashed Anko a fake smile to ensure her lie.
Anko glared at the girl and shook her head. "I better not hear a word out of your mouth for the rest of the night."
The girls nodded their head timidly and continued on with their jobs, but this time, they did not say a word. Anko walked over to the table in the middle of the room and sat on it. 'Ah…peace and quiet…just the way I like it.'
Sakura raced down the hallways, her wooden sandals pounded against the stone floors, causing anyone to hear her coming. As her legs carried her to the big oak door in the front of the castle, Sakura focused on the windows that seemed to follow her through the castle. The sun was almost covered by the hills; it wouldn't be long until guests would arrive. 'Hurry up Sakura!' She screamed at herself as she ran faster.
Skidding to a halt, she stopped mere inches away from the main door. Realizing that she had to look presentable, Sakura took several steps back, and tidied herself up. She took several deep breaths before she was able to catch her breath. She stood up tall and then an echoing bang came from the other side of the door.
Taking the elegant door handle in her grasp, Sakura pulled the large door open, to reveal Tsunade and Jiraiya standing there in their dressy attire. Sakura smiled brightly at them and stepped out of their way to let them in.
Tsunade wear a simple red dress. It was a sleeveless tunic with a small black wool shawl that hung on her shoulders. A leather belt was fastened around her waist and leather shoes wrapped around her ankles. Sakura felt her mouth drop a little. 'Damn…Tsunade should dress up more often.'
She turned towards Jiraiya to see him dressed in simple black breeches, with leather shoes, and a white under shirt with a slim fitting black coat. 'Even Jiraiya cleans up nicely.'
"Welcome to the Uchiha Castle." Sakura said as she bowed and then closed the door.
Tsunade smiled at Sakura and Jiraiya nodded his head. "Where are the King and Queen?" Asked Tsunade.
Sakura turned away from the door and pointed towards the split staircase that was in the center of the room, covered in red carpet. "King Uchiha is up the stairs and to the left. He is conversing with the Lord and the Princes." Her hand moved towards the other side of the staircase. "Queen Uchiha is up the stairs and to the right. She is still getting ready." Sakura said.
"Right." Tsunade said as she flashed Sakura a hidden smile, Jiraiya winked at her, and the two went their separate ways. Tsunade went up towards Mikoto's room while Jiraiya went towards Fugaku's room.
Tsunade walked towards the end of the hallway until she saw a room with the door cracked open. She knocked on the door and waited for Mikoto's servants to let her in. When Mikoto saw Tsunade, she got up from the backless red chair, and gave Tsunade a bone crushing hug.
"I'm so glad you could make it." Mikoto said as she took a step back from the stunned blonde and allowed her servants to finish dressing her.
Tsunade smiled at Mikoto and nodded her head. "Do you think I'd leave you alone with all the men?" Tsunade said with a smirk. "Besides I don't trust that Leonard bastard being this close to you or Fugaku."
Mikoto nodded her head in understanding. "Yeah you're right." She said. "I am more afraid for the girls and my servants."
Tsunade rose a blonde eye brow at this. "What do you mean?"
"Well, this is the dinner where my girls serve the food…" she stopped in mid-sentence when she saw Tsunade's eyes narrow. "There is nothing I can do about it!" She said as she rose her hands up in defense. "It would look suspicious if I changed the date of the final dinner."
Tsunade softened her glare and nodded her head slowly. "I guess you're right Mikoto."
"My Queen…" Interrupted a servant. "You're all ready for your dinner." She said in a quiet tone as her eyes remained glued to the floor.
Mikoto twirled around in place and watched the fabric dance around her. "What do you think Tsunade?"
Tsunade examined the queen. She wore a dark blue form fitting dress. The dress was fastened in front by a row of black buttons; the sleeves were tight and long with small slits at the wrists closed by an Uchiha fan button. Her robe cascaded down to her feet and the Uchiha fan, as always, was right in the center of her back. "You look beautiful." Tsunade said with a reassuring smile.
"Shall we take our leave?" Mikoto asked with a giggle as the two of them exited the room.
Meanwhile, down on the other side of the Castle, the men were talking about plans and actions for the evening. "I don't think Leonard will come here alone." Jiraiya said with a straight face.
Fugaku glared at Jiraiya but knew the spy was correct. 'It would be suicidal for him to come here alone. We could kill him in a flash, no witnesses.'
"We can not give up any indication that we know what Leonard is up too." Kakashi said as his grey eyes scanned everyone's face. "This could be our chance to figure out his plan entirely."
"What ever happened to the apprentice finding out information?" Itachi asked in a bored tone. He had not heard much about the offending spy and it worried him. 'With the knowledge he possesses, we do not want him out of our sights.'
Fugaku and Kakashi stared at Jiraiya expectantly. "Well Jiraiya?" Fugaku asked impatiently.
Jiraiya felt his throat close up. What was he suppose to say? "Well you see…" He started off with a chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head. "…we've hit a wall." He lied to them. In all reality Sakura has been too busy to be sent on a mission and none of their other spies are skilled enough to track down Leonard's loose ends.
Fugaku growled. "Great. But we can't dwell on it now." He said as he pushed the chair out from under him and stood up, causing everyone to do the same. "We must get to the door."
As they walked out Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at the exciting event. "This is going to be an exciting dinner huh Itachi?"
Itachi side glanced at his little brother. "Hn." He said as they walked out of the office and met up with Mikoto and Tsunade.
"Let's take the back way Fugaku." Mikoto said in a soft tone as she took her husband's arm and pulled him towards the back staircase on the other side.
While they took their sweet time getting to the front door, Sakura stood there as still as a leaf, waiting, expecting Leonard to knock on that door any minute. 'I should have guessed.' She thought with a grunt. 'A bastard… and late. What a perfect combination.'
Right when Sakura was about to switch standing positions a knock was heard on the other side of the door. 'Speaking of the devil.' She told herself as she opened the door and stepped aside.
"Welcome to the Uchiha Castle my Lord." Sakura said, with a bow, as Leonard and another person stepped inside the castle.
Leonard turned around and stared at Sakura. "Where is the King?"
Before Sakura could answer Leonard's question his partner took a step forward and shook his head. "Leonard, there is no need to be so rude to the kind servant." He said as he pushed his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose.
Sakura watched the new guest with wary eyes. 'Who is this guy…?' Her eyes scanned him for any weapons or clues as to who he was. He wore the typical Lord outfit with the off-white breeches, purple coat with a white undershirt, and black shoes, but there was something off about him. 'Great another nut job, he might be one of Leonard's accomplices.'
"Please excuse Leonard Miss." He said as he approached Sakura. "He's a little cranky." He said with a smile.
While Sakura was trying to figure out who this white haired man was, Mikoto, Fugaku, Sasuke, Itachi, Kakashi, Tsunade, and Jiraiya came down the stairs just as the mysterious man started to approach Sakura.
"Who is this guy?" Tsunade asked as her mother instincts came to life.
"I don't know." Kakashi said he was becoming a little tense.
"Well let's find out!" Jiraiya said as he pushed everyone in front of him out from behind the wall.
Sakura saw the group of people pop out from behind the wall from the corner of her eye. Placing a fake smile on her face, Sakura took a step back and bowed deeply towards the Lords. "The King and Queen are here." She said as she moved out of the way for the King and Queen to come through.
Fugaku and Mikoto stood in front of Leonard and his guest and nodded their head in a synchronized manner. "Glad you could make it Leonard." Mikoto said with a small smile.
Leonard bowed down towards Mikoto and shook Fugaku's hand. "I would never miss an invitation sent by the Uchiha family.
'Yeah, we all know you wouldn't.' Sakura snorted inside her head as she exchanged secret signals to Tsunade asking who the hell this guy was.
"Who is your friend Leonard?" Fugaku asked in the typical cold Uchiha tone.
Leonard turned towards the man on his side. "King and Queen Uchiha I would like you to meet Kabuto."
Kabuto walked up to them and bowed respectfully. "Lord Leonard informed me about your dinner and I took this opportunity to offer you a proposal." He said in a silkily polite tone.
Fugaku eyed Kabuto with a watchful glaze but slowly nodded his head. "Let's not start it here." He said as he motioned for everyone to follow him. "Dinner is ready."
Leonard, Kabuto, Fugaku, and Mikoto were up in the front leading the way, while everyone else followed behind them.
"I don't like this guy." Sakura said in a whisper to no one in particular.
Sasuke side glanced at Sakura with a disgusted look. "Who cares what you think." He said causing Sakura to glare at him. "You're just a servant." He coldly stated as he walked up to the front to join the King and Queen.
Before anyone could comment on Sasuke's remark, they reached the double mahogany wooden doors, and proceeded to sit themselves down in their respected seats.
Sakura skillfully disappeared into the kitchen where she got the girls ready for the first course. "Now remember girls." Sakura said. "Balance the tray and then lift up the pitcher."
Everyone on the other side of the kitchen door was sitting in silence. Tsunade's amber eyes examined Kabuto as he smiled innocently at everyone. 'Something is wrong here. Why is this Kabuto here? Who does he represent?'
Kakashi never felt so anxious in his life. He had to keep his hands from flying down to the sword, at his hip, and slicing Kabuto's throat right then and now. His senses were on high alert and his muscles clenched in anticipation waiting for Kabuto to attack.
The kitchen door swayed open and eight little girls heads popped out carrying trays on top of their hands and went from person to person, filling their cups with the pitcher full of wine.
"Are these the lucky girls that are taught by the wonderful Queen?" Kabuto asked as he smiled sweetly at the little girl that poured him wine.
Mikoto slowly nodded her head. "Yes." Was all she allowed herself to say.
Kabuto nodded his head. "They are trained well." He commented as they disappeared behind the door. "Normally the girls make the mistake of tipping the jar far enough for other to see the top of the liquor…but they poured it perfectly."
Fugaku nodded his head. "The princesses that come out of our castle are the most skilled in the land."
"Oh that I do not doubt King Uchiha." Kabuto said as he brought his glass to his lips and took a sip of the sweet tasting wine.
"The offer you spoke of a few moments ago…" Kakashi changed the subject. Tsunade and Jiraiya showed no signs of knowing who this guy was, and it scared him. 'If they haven't heard of this guy before that means we are in for a rude awakening.'
Leonard watched the scene and couldn't help but smirk to himself. 'They have no idea what is going on. Looks like Fugaku is as clueless as a drunken man. Perfect.' He thought evilly as he inwardly smirked. 'Kabuto should be able to do his part of the bargain.' He thought to himself as he sat back and watched the night unfold.
"Oh yes my proposal…" Kabuto said with a smile. "I think it would be better for me to announce my proposition when food comes." He said with a grin. "Not a good idea to do business on an empty stomach."
Sakura stood at the kitchen door, straining, to hear what was going on in the room. 'This does me no good to be behind the scenes.' Sakura looked around at the next rations that needed to be brought out and smirked. When the girls got back into their line Sakura stood in front of them before they exited the kitchen. "Before you go girls." She said with a smile.
"Pinky move!" Anko shouted as she pushed Sakura out of the way. "If we don't stick to the schedule our heads will be served on a platter!"
Sakura stumbled out of the way but turned around immediately to watch what was going on in the other room. Her emerald eyes followed every hand gustier and lip movement that was made by everyone. 'Kabuto keeps commenting about the Castle and how lovely it looks. Mikoto looks like she's about to kill him. Kakashi keeps insisting he explain himself about some proposal, the princes, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and even Leonard are very quiet…'
Sakura pulled her head back behind the door when the girls came back to the kitchen carrying their empty tins. Anko grabbed the empty tins and shoved them to the counter, she turned abruptly on her heel, and shot Sakura a defiant stare. The girls watched the older women with scared, yet curious, eyes.
"What the hell was that?!" Anko yelled.
Sakura smiled sheepishly towards Anko and rubbed the back of her neck. "He, he. What do you mean Anko?"
Anko's face began to turn bright red and her brown eyes were about to pop out of her head. "You almost made the girls late Sakura!" Her hands balled into a fist as they began to swing around. "All because you wanted to talk?!"
Sakura's brain worked a mile a minute, trying to think of a damn good excuse that would calm down her crazy friend and prevent her from making a bigger scene. "Anko!" Sakura rose her voice, making Anko's fists stop in mid-air. "Do you remember when what happened during my dinner?" Sakura asked as she walked over to the table and took the two heaviest plates full of food. "The Queen had disturbances everywhere!" She continued on while balancing the trays on both hands. "And I wanted to make sure these girls got the full experience since Queen Uchiha isn't here." Sakura said with a straight face.
Anko's anger slowly fell from her face. "Oh." She said, as she remembered Mikoto's distractions. "Well you should have told me ahead of time." Anko finished as she shook her head and held the door open.
Without having time to smile at her victory against Anko, Sakura was thrown out of the kitchen and into the dinner room. Her steps showed much skill as Sakura walked between each and every guests and placed a portion of food on their plates.
"Now Kabuto…" Fugaku said as he sipped his wine and took the cooked goose in one hand. "…what is this proposal of which you speak?"
"Right." Kabuto said while pushing up his glasses. "My King has ordered me to seek out a partnership with you, King Uchiha."
Fugaku eyed the young man before him with calculating eyes. 'There is something off about this lad.' "And who is your King." Fugaku demanded.
Kabuto flashed him a reassuring smile. "King Uchiha, my King runs the kingdom located on the east end of the country." Kabuto informed them.
"What is the Kingdom's name of which you live in?" Mikoto asked softly.
Kabuto smiled politely at Mikoto. "It has no acquired a name yet." He said while rubbing the back of his head out of shame.
"You said your town is on the east side correct?" Tsunade spoke out for the first time that night.
Leonard felt his insides curl hearing Tsunade speak. The entire land knew of Tsunade's special skill and it would do him no good if she figured out his plan. 'Let's see Kabuto get out of this one.' He thought with a hidden smirk.
Kabuto stared at the intimidating blonde and nodded his head. "Yes that is correct…Miss?"
"Tsunade." Tsunade stated impatiently. "I have heard of your small town." She said while placing her elbows on the table and folding her hands under her chin, causing her amber eyes to focus solemnly on Kabuto. "It is said that you possess major ores and massive amounts of clothing materials..."
Kabuto nodded his head. "Your statement is correct." He said, causing Fugaku to straighten up in his chair.
"Your King wishes to possess a partnership with me?" He cut in as his brain began to work on how much supplies he could receive out this new naive kingdom.
"Yes he does…" Kabuto looked around the room and stared at the door. "But…before I get any further into our discussion…may I please use your facilities?" He asked with a shy smile.
Mikoto perked right up as her charcoal eyes landed right on Sakura. "Of course Lord Kabuto." She said with a smile. "Sakura.." She called out.
'Ok I should leave now. There is no other information that I can gather that Tsunade or Jiraiya won't already know. ' Sakura thought to herself as she made sure that she placed out every part of the main course to the guests.
Right when Sakura was about to go through the kitchen door Mikoto called her. "Sakura can you please escort Lord Kabuto to our restrooms."
Sakura spun around, quickly, on her heels and was at Lord Kabuto's side in a flash. "But of course my Lady." She said as she bowed deeply towards Mikoto and Kabuto. "This way my Lord." 'Now I can get some insight into this Kabuto character.' Sakura thought as they left the dinner hall.
While Kabuto and Sakura walked out, Itachi narrowed his eyes at the white haired man. 'That man…something is familiar about him but what?' As his cold black eyes moved towards Sakura he felt his gut make subtle twitches of warning. He didn't trust the white haired man around his new subject of interest. 'He maybe polite to our faces, but, he could show his true colors when he exits this room.' Then his eyes narrowed into slits. 'With no one to see what happens…' His thoughts ended when the door was shut with a soft thud.
Sakura walked beside the quiet Lord with a watchful eye. 'He seems too quiet for someone that was just pleasing the King and Queen a moment ago.'
They walked along the deserted hallway under complete silence until they reached the master bathhouse. Sakura turned towards the quiet Kabuto only to see him looking around the castle. When he finally realized she stopped walking he smiled shyly at her. "We are here Lord Kabuto." She told him.
Kabuto smirked at her and nodded his head. "You are dismissed." He simply said with a wave of his hand.
Sakura said nothing and left him to do his duties. Or so he thought. 'Does he think I would leave him alone in the Castle unattended? Not a chance.'
When Sakura was sure she was out of his eye sight, she jumped up onto the stone ceiling, slipping her hands into the groves of the stone, making her able to travel across the ceiling towards Kabuto. 'Let's see who you really are Kabuto…' Sakura said with a smirk as she reached for her long knife from underneath her dress. 'And if you're troublemaking is worth the killing...'
Sakura stopped right above Kabuto and made sure that her whole entire being was covered by the night. Her emerald eyes watched as Kabuto tapped his foot four times against the wooden floor. 'What is he transmitting?' Sakura wondered as her eyes narrowed at his seemingly casual tapping foot.
It didn't take long for a servant to come out of the shadows next to Kabuto. Sakura stared at the servant and the color left her face. 'Nick is the double agent?!' She bit the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from jumping down and beating the man on the spot.
"You called Lord Kabuto?" Nick said as he bowed towards Kabuto.
Kabuto pushed his glasses to sit on the bridge of his nose. "The plan is in place. I am setting up the Uchiha to invite us into the ball which he will be hosting. Now hold you're end of the bargain."
Nick's blonde hair whipped him in the face as he nodded affirmatively at Kabuto's order. "Do not worry my Lord. I will have the servants eating out of my hands."
"Good." Kabuto said with a smirk as he waved his hand. "Now go before the pink haired servant comes and finds us together…"
Sakura moved as fast as lightning from her position to the other side of the hallway. 'Don't think I'd let you go that easily.' She said as she jumped down from the ceiling, hid her knife back into her dress, and proceeded to walk down the hallway towards Kabuto.
Kabuto growled out when he saw Sakura walking their way. "Never mind." He snarled out. "Just make an excuse as to why you are here."
"Lord Kabuto I see you are done…" Sakura said while she bowed towards him. Her eyes then caught the sight of Nick. "What are you doing here Nick?" Sakura asked as she played the part of an innocent servant.
"I was walking down the hallway when I saw the Lord standing here…I thought he was lost and was about to escort him back when I saw you walking down the hall." He said in the most convincing voice, with a small smile added to his act.
'Oh bull shit.' Sakura thought to herself as she nodded her head and went along with his act. "Well since you are here, do you mind helping me retrieve the royal dessert plate?" Sakura asked with a cute little grin plastered on her face. "I'm too short to reach it." She added with a little giggle at the end.
Nick nodded his head. "Sure Sakura." He said. "I'll meet you at the closet." He said with a straight face while he waved off and made his way down the hall to the closet.
"Are you ready to go back Lord Kabuto?" Sakura asked, switching into servant mode.
Kabuto nodded his head and began to follow Sakura back to the dinner room. 'Orochimaru made a good pick with that lad. This servant, Sakura, trusts him very much…good.' He finished his thought as Sakura opened the mahogany doors. 'Very good indeed.' He added as he inwardly smirked.
"Kabuto come sit down." Fugaku said with a straight face. "You're dismissed." He stated coldly to Sakura.
Sakura didn't care about Fugaku's attitude at the moment, she was more worried about the spy that lurked around the corner. 'Now it's just you and me.' Sakura thought as she sprinted towards the closet to see Nick standing there with the plate in his hand.
"Oh good you got it!" Sakura strained her voice to sound excited and grateful.
Nick dully nodded his head and placed the elegant tray in her hands. "Yeah, here." He said as he started to walk off.
Sakura glared at his back and placed the tray down on a side table. "Care to explain your relationship with the bastard with the white hair?" Sakura growled out.
She watched as his steps stiffened and how his muscles tensed up. "What do you mean Sakura?" He said as he forced his feet to pivot around so he was facing her.
Sakura glared even harder at him and stepped closer to him. "You know exactly what I mean." She said in a menacing tone as she lifted up her dress.
Nick watched as her dress lifted up. "No I don't." He said harshly as his eyes shifted back to her face. "But if you wanted to get frisky with me, at least wait till our guests leave." He finished with a wide smirk.
Sakura felt the need to slap her head against the wall. 'Men and their dirty thoughts.' She shook her head and pulled out her long knife. Nick's grey eyes went wide as he took a step back. "Can't you take a joke Sakura?!" He said with an awkward chuckle in the back of his throat.
Sakura's emerald eyes went a shade darker. "Oh I can take a joke." She began as she backed him up against a wall. "But you know what I can't take?" Sakura whispered in his ear. She waited a minute before continuing. "Is double agents that think they will never get caught." Sakura finished off with a smirk.
She felt his body stiffen at her words. "H-How did y-you…?"
Sakura didn't give him the chance to let him explain himself, for, she took her knife and pressed it, with all her might, against his throat.
Her iron blade pierced through his esophagus with one accurate slice. Sakura watched as the cold knife glided from one side of his throat to the other. Every layer of skin and tissue cut loose from the base of his neck. His head slowly came free and disconnected with a sickening pop sound. Blood splurged everywhere and flew across the wall, the floor, and all over Sakura. His body limply fell with a soft thud, and joined the rolling head, on the floor.
She stepped away from the blood bath and knelt down on the ground. His unblinking grey eyes lifelessly stared back at her as she glared at him. "You should be more careful with your identity Nick." Sakura said angrily, while she stood up, and placed the knife back under her dress. 'Now I have to put on another acting face.' She thought with a grunt as she smeared the blood across her face. 'Gotta make it look like I was a victim if I want to do this right.'
When Sakura was in front of the mahogany doors she made her breathing turn into heavy pants. 'Show time.' Sakura told herself as she worked up her tears and busted into the dinner.
As the giant doors came flying open, everyone looked at the bloody Sakura. Mikoto stood up from her chair as a gasp left her mouth, Fugaku glared, Itachi's brow rose slightly, Jiraiya and Tsunade stared at each other and then at Sakura, Sasuke brightened up assuming something interesting has happened, Kakashi felt his fatherly instincts kick in, Kabuto and Leonard exchanged glances at each other and stared silently at the panting servant.
"Sakura!" Mikoto gasped out as she rushed over to Sakura, but made sure to keep a good few feet away from her. "What happened?!"
Sakura made her eyes looked back and forth between everyone. "I-I don't know!" Sakura panted out as she began to let tears roll down her cheeks. "N-Nick and I w-were getting t-the dessert p-plate, u-until…" Sakura made herself hiccup in the middle of her sentence.
"Until what Sakura?!" Mikoto yelled, obviously scared for Sakura's safety.
Sakura added a few panting breaths until she allowed herself to continue on with her acting. "H-His dead!" Sakura shouted as she made herself cry even harder.
Fugaku jumped up from his chair and glared at Sakura. "How exactly did he die?"
Sakura was about to answer but Itachi cut in. "Father, we should investigate first." Itachi told his father.
Fugaku revealed nothing, but, nodded his head. Itachi turned to Sakura. "Lead us to the body." He ordered coldly.
Sakura shot a frightening look to Mikoto, who in return, could only nod sympathetically. "Y-Yes Prince U-Uchiha." Sakura made herself sound more frightened as she walked shakily back to Nick's decapitated body.
'Is a death what makes this girl crack?' Itachi thought as he followed her towards the dead body. 'She doesn't seem like the type to cave so easily…unless…she's putting on an act…but why?'
When Sakura came about one hundred feet away from the body, she no longer needed to lead everyone to the scene. Fugaku was the first to sprint towards the red painted walls, followed by Itachi, Sasuke, Kakashi, Kabuto, and Leonard. Jiraiya and Tsunade walked behind them at a leisurely pace, while Mikoto slowly walked towards the sight behind everyone else.
Fugaku, Kakashi, Kabuto, Leonard, Itachi and Sasuke stared at the separated body unable to speak. Jiraiya and Tsunade surveyed the gash and proceeded to look everywhere for where the attack could have came from. 'Although, I have a good idea who is was…' Tsunade thought with a frown. 'She better have a good explanation for this.'
Mikoto walked over to the men and covered her mouth, trying to contain her gasp of fear and shock. "Dear heavens…" She said out loud. "What could have done this?"
"You mean who Mother." Itachi said as his eyes narrowed at the decapitated body before him. 'Where did this attack come from? Was it Kabuto?' He asked himself as he took a quick glance at the quiet man standing near his father. Itachi started to pull all types of theories out of his head, trying to place all the pieces together.
Kabuto scanned the body with emotionless eyes. 'How peculiar…' He thought to himself as he pushed his round shaped glasses up against his nose. 'I didn't see any hidden assassins in the Castle…' His eyes shot to the blood covered Sakura. 'Unless she killed him…' He felt himself chuckle at his outrageous thought. 'Impossible. Women do not possess the capability to see the sight of blood, let alone, kill a man.' He looked around again. 'Then who killed him? Orochimaru will not be happy about this…'
Leonard just shook his head from side to side. 'Now how are we going to get the servants to sneak in Orochimaru?' He watched the unmoving Kabuto from the corner of his eyes. 'Oh well. He'll receive the wrath of Orochimaru…not me.'
Kakashi couldn't believe the sight before him. 'Whoever killed this servant showed no remorse or second thoughts about the murder.' He then peered closer at the body. 'They also have experience with a blade…but it is too close of a cut for a long ranged attack…which means…' His eyes became hard and looked at Sakura, who was looking anywhere but at the body. 'They got in-between Sakura and this servant. Which means the sharp object could be not be anything longer than a kitchen knife' He felt his fists clench by his sides. 'Even though she's a servant, I can't keep her safe! He thought in shame as he looked back at the corpse lying at his feet.
Fugaku shook his head from side to side. 'And I was close to making the deal with Kabuto too…' He thought angrily. "I think you should leave." He said emotionlessly to Leonard and Kabuto.
Leonard looked up from the graphic sight and bowed towards the King. "Yes Fugaku." He answered obediently.
Kabuto took Fugaku's hand and shook it firmly. "Maybe we can complete our affairs another time." He said with a tight squeeze.
"Hn." Fugaku answered as he walked Leonard and Kabuto to the door. Mikoto followed her husband, and behind her, everyone else followed suite.
Once Kabuto and Leonard left the premises, Fugaku turned towards Sakura, giving her a rigid stare. "What happened." He demanded an answer out of the "shaking" Sakura.
Sakura pretended to be shaking and took a big gulp to surpass her nerves. "He got t-the dinner p-plate for m-me and w-when we w-were walking b-back…" Sakura took another gulp and continued to force herself to stutter every now and then. "…someone i-in a b-black cloak w-was in f-front of me and b-before I k-knew it…" Sakura summoned her tears once again for dramatic affects. "H-he was d-dead."
After Sakura told him everything all the information he wanted to hear, he turned away from Sakura and stared at everyone else. "Everyone will come to the lecture hall now." He ordered as he turned around, causing his robe to spin around behind him, and stomped to the room.
Mikoto, being the level headed person in their relationship, flashed Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Tsunade an apologetic smile. "I think we all better head over there." She said as she took her two sons, by the arms, and followed behind Fugaku. Kakashi took one last look at Sakura before, he too, followed behind the King with Mikoto and the princes.
Sakura stared at Tsunade and Jiraiya and watched as their eyes stared down at her with anticipation. Sakura waited, until she couldn't hear Mikoto's footsteps any longer, to explain herself to her mentors.
"Mind explaining why you decided to kill a man?" Tsunade growled out. "You are making Jiraiya and I keep up after your mess."
Sakura, now out of her acting, glared at Tsunade. "Excuse me?!" She semi-shouted. "I just killed a double agent! I was doing my job!"
Tsunade waved her finger in front of Sakura's face. "No. You're job is to retrieve information not kill the information."
Sakura's mouth dropped to the floor. 'What the hell is wrong with her?!' "Tsunade I already got the information and by the time Kakashi and his men would figure it out, Nick would be gone!"
Tsunade's already planned retort was forgotten when she heard Sakura's statement. "What did you find out?"
Sakura smiled victoriously at Tsunade's change in tone. "Nick is a double agent working for both Fugaku and with Kabuto. They didn't say who their leader is, but I have a gut feeling that it isn't good. We already know that Kabuto has to be acquainted with Leonard, but I think they are working together because they have to. Whoever this boss is…he's good." Sakura concluded.
Tsunade nodded her head. "Ok Sakura you can go and…." Tsunade looked her up and down. "…get dressed into something not covered in blood." She finished, as she turned on the balls of her feet, and walked down the hall to the designated room.
Jiraiya looked at Sakura and flashed a smile in her direction. "I enjoyed your performance Sakura." He complemented her. "I had no idea you could act." Sakura watched as his smile slowly turned into a smirk as he examined her body. "I think you just gave me an idea for my new book."
Before Sakura could hit him in the head for being such an old pervert, Jiraiya scurried away from her, and sprinted off to join Tsunade. 'Yeah, you better run.' Sakura thought with a giggle as she walked down in the opposite direction. 'I can finally change out of this disgusting dress!' She thought with a happy smile, forgetting all about the rotting carcass on the other side of the room.
TO
BE
CONTINUED!
Author's Notes: Well everyone!!!! This is the longest chapter I have ever written and I hope you all enjoyed it!! It was action packed and I didn't end on a cliffhanger!!! :) I hope that makes you all forgive me for my extremely late update!!!
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!! :)
