A/N: you guys make me feel so much better with your reviews. Cookies to all of you, and if you don't like cookies then doughnuts. If you don't like doughnuts, then what the hell is wrong with you?
Disclaimer: I would think people get tried of these things. Me no own Naruto.
Running through the woods to get to the base was like a warm up to Tsunade and Jiraiya. Now in the just rising sun light they realized that they didn't know how to get to the base. They were in Yasuki, having already checked the only other neighboring village.
The prostitutes had told Jiraiya that they saw a blonde in orange a few hours ago, and that he was headed to the center of town. Once the Sanins got to the center of town they had to find Sakura's hotel, mainly because Tsunade drank too much to remember the name of it.
After finding that they had to guess where the team went. That guess lead them to Yasuki. And finding anything in a dead place like this was hopeless and disappointing. At least for Jiraiya.
"AWWW, there's no pretty girls around here," Jiraiya complained for the millionth time. There was a twitch in Tsunade's eyebrow.
"That's because it's five in the morning and the only things awake at this hour are you and me," Tsunade explained. At least she gave him an explanation, she was content with hitting him every time he said something perverted.
"I know but I would at least expect something," Jiraiya crossed his arms over his chest and pouted a little. Tsunade just sighed and walked down the street. Damn, I wish Kakashi was available to track these kids.
Then a sudden movement was seen out of her line of vision. Jiraiya followed the movement into the ally instantly, Tsunade took off after him. A girl about fifteen with purple hair was obviously taking a short cut home after doing something exhausting.
Jiraiya crep up behind her and took her shoulders. He didn't spin her around because he'd would have rather not have been seen.
"I have a question," he stated to the tense and scared girl. Tsunade came up and thought Jiraiya was taking too long.
"Do you know or have you heard of a base that Orochimaru uses around here?" she demanded. This mission was getting out of hand and Jiraiya and her would have an easier time had the damn team followed her instructions and stayed in a damn village.
"Please don't hurt me, I'll tell you," the girl said weakly. "H-He has a base on the outskirts of town by the only waterfall in a f-five mile radius."
"And a team of four with a loud blonde, guy with a bowl cut, and the like? Have you seen them?" Tsunade asked urgently.
The girl said nothing. She was afraid of the younger Uchiha's wrath. And he told her not to say anything about him. But the Sanin were getting tried of her silence.
"If you don't say anything, girl, I'll be forced to take some inappropriate measures," Jiraiya said darkly moving his hands a little down on the girl. If possible she stiffened more than what she already was.
"I can't," she whispered.
"Well, looks like I get have fun today," Jiraiya said closing in on her. She panicked.
"P-Please d-don't! My lord came to me and asked about Orochimaru; he was with a blonde blue eyed guy and a guy with fuzzy eyebrows and serious bowl cut. But my Lord said to not tell anyone. Please you didn't hear this from me," she begged. God, the girl was almost to tears.
"Who's your 'lord'?" Tsunade asked coming to stand by Jiraiya.
"Lord Uchiha," she reluctantly whispered. Jiraiya turned to Tsunade, whose face was shocked, and she nodded. That was all they were going to get out her. They disappeared, leaving a very shocked girl on her knees in relief.
On the roof, the Sanin were in discussion. "Sasuke Uchiha is with them?!" Tsunade all but shouted it to the world. "He's supposed to be killed on sight."
"Well, I guess. But it doesn't make sense. Why would the Uchiha go with people he betrayed to save someone he also betrayed? I don't get it," Jiraiya mulled it over. Tsunade turned to fully face her companion.
"Sakura's last mission was a few days ago. When she came back Naruto slipped up and told me that he thinks Sakura was with the Uchiha before she was found unconscious under the trees out of the rain," Tsunade reveled to him. Jiraiya just shook his head.
"That's still no reason to after her, if he even did go after her. I think he went to kill Orochimaru," Jiraiya stated his idea.
"Well, we'll know when we get there. Orochimaru will die today. I don't care if it's by our hands or his, but he will die. And when we get there we'll have to ask Sakura why she didn't kill him like she was ordered," Tsunade said then turned to jump with Jiraiya following. They were off to the waterfall.
Damn, this place was like a fucking maze. Twenty minutes of walking and Sakura found herself right back were she started. Now in the same hallway, she decided to go left instead of right at the turn. She walked slowly and quietly, fighting any ninja was the last thing she wanted to do.
All at once she felt nauseous and hunched over on the floor. Above her was a torch and she grabbed it to stay standing. Pink hair fell in her face as she held her stomach. Even with grabbing the torch, the nausea was so strong she fell to her knees. The torch fell to the ground beside her.
Five minutes later she was able to stand again, and she limped down the left passage. Her head was still throbbing, but now the nausea refused to leave this time. She sucked it up and kept going. She didn't make it all this way to lay on the floor and drown in her pain. She did that too much when she was a little girl.
Limping still, Sakura noticed a door to the left. She crossed the hall and put and ear to it. She heard buzzing, like a computer or something. She had to admit, even though she had some serious problems at the moment, she was curious.
Curiosity killed the cat.
Yeah, I get it. I'm leaving, okay. Get off my back.
Just thank me and move your ass.
God, she wasn't in the mood to deal with herself. But when she heard footsteps coming down the hall slowly, she guessed she didn't have a choice.
Change of plans, get the hell in there.
Sakura didn't need to be told twice. She turned the knob, and thanked God that it wasn't locked, and slipped through the door as the footstep got nearer. Sakura tried to be as quiet as possible when she closed the door, but it still clicked. It sounded so loud in the silence.
She knew she was caught. If the person who was walking saw her in here, she would be done for. Sakura held her breath, sweat rolled down her. The footsteps sounded louder and they were faster than before. Oh God, she was going to die.
The footsteps were right outside the door now. They stopped. Shit, they were going to open the door, which she was leaning on to stand. Nausea got her again, she tried to fight back. The footsteps began again and passed the door. Sakura went on her knees again and threw up stomach acid, because everything that she had eaten was already thrown up.
It burned her throat and mouth. The smell didn't get to her as she was used to disgusting smells. She sat back and put her hands on the grungy, but cool, stone behind her. Sakura looked over and saw a line of computers. All were glowing, so all were on.
There was a bed with straps on it and three chairs, then the line of computers. Those were the only furnishings in the room. The only light came from the glow of the computers. She tugged on the chakra restraint choker she still had on, hoping for it to loosen because it was irritating her skin. Just like it did every time she hurled.
She carefully stood, held onto the door and stayed there for ten seconds. Once she had gotten her balance she slowly made her way to the computers. One the first one she noticed it was a medical condition of a patient. At the top she read the name: Sakura Haruno. She felt her stomach flip and she wanted to hurl again. She fight the urge.
Looking at the rest of the document, Sakura realized why she was as sick as she was. The acid in her stomach was to strong, a virus was making her temperature spike, and something was eating away at her muscle cells. She guessed it was the choker on her neck.
What she didn't know was how she got this way. Sure this place was dirty and God only knew what the hell kind of germs were around this place, but then everyone would be sick. Not just her. Orochimaru would be sick, Kabuto would be sick, and so would the other ninja who reside here.
Does sick in the head count?
No, Orochimaru was born that way. Must have had a bad childhood.
Maybe Tsunade hit in the head one too many times, that could cause brain damage.
Sakura looked at two other computers. They had experiment notes typed on there. One said subject killed itself. Another said that experiment cross mutation was failure and subject died.
This guy was sick before Tsunade even met him.
The fourth and last were camera settings. One said training room, another said Sakura's cell, the list went on and on. One caught her eye, though. It said: Dome obstacle course, survival training. Who the hell trains in a dome? Sakura took the mouse and clicked twice. Instantly it came on screen. But it looked like a damn blood bath. There was blood on the camera making it hard for her to see.
But she saw dead ninja, sound ninja. There were three people fighting sound ninja, one was fighting Kabuto, and another was fight Orochimaru. She couldn't tell who they were but didn't care. Sakura tore her eyes away from the blood and clicked the Esc button. She was then in the place she started. Sakura looked at the top and clicked on the Map icon.
Instantly a whole map of the base came into view. Sakura guessed that the red meant that that was were she was. Sakura looked for the dome like room. She found it in the middle. Go figure.
She traced her finger from were she was to the fastest way to there. Once done with that she hit the Esc button again and went to run out of the room. But her head throbbed again and she fell to the floor. Ignoring the pain she got up and went to the door, listened and then went out to find the dome room.
Naruto kicked Kabuto but his leg was grabbed and a kunai was plunged in his chest. That Naruto disappeared and another appeared behind Kabuto and hit him with a kunai to the back. Kabuto back flipped away from Naruto, avoiding dead shin obi laying on the floor. He laughed at Naruto as he healed himself.
"What the hell is so funny?!" Naruto yelled coming at him again. The punch was dodged and Kabuto's kick to Naruto's side hit right on target.
"Just that you're fighting a losing battle," Kabuto answered pleasantly. Naruto got back up and went for him again.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was having a serious problem. There was deep wound on his right side that went from his shoulder to his hip, courtesy of his ex-sensei. Though Sasuke was sure that his ex-sensei was having problems too. Orochimaru was sporting several deep wounds, though not as long as Sasuke's, he had a good five on him.
"Come now, Sasuke you should join us again. I can teach you wonders," Orochimaru said, his tongue sliding in and out of his mouth like a snake's. (if that's not the most pedophilic sentence I ever wrote.)
"Go to hell," Sasuke countered, blood was dripping from his wound and his vision was starting to blur. Sasuke needed to finish this now. He made hand signs, ending with the sign of the tiger.
Fire Style! Fire ball Jutsu! Sasuke blew a great big ball of fire aimed for Orochimaru.
He did what Sasuke expected him to do. Water Style! Water Whirlpool! Orochimaru sent a big whirlpool of water at the fire ball. On impact, it turned to steam, steam with hidden weapons. Sasuke smirked.
"You're over confident," a slithery voice said from behind. Then Sasuke felt a sharp pain in his back, dangerously close to his heart. No, he went behind me. Because he knew there were hidden weapons, DAMN IT! Sasuke felt his heart stop for one beat, then speed up. He had to calm down or he'd bleed to death. Orochimaru then appeared in front of him, ten feet away. This isn't working.
"Sasuke, how the hell are we supposed to find Sakura like this?!" Naruto shouted from acrossed the room. Sasuke could no longer sense Kabuto's chakra. Good riddance. But Sasuke didn't have an answer for Naruto who was now fighting five sound ninja, as were Lee, Shikamaru, and Neji. It was too much. It was a miracle they lasted this long. (somebody give them a raise!)
BAM!!
Everyone stopped fighting to see Tsunade punch through a wall with Jiraiya in tow. Tsunade looked pissed and Jiraiya had sound ninja by the throat looking at the destruction inside the dome. The sound ninja looked dead.
"You little punks disobey my orders and bring the Uchiha with you!?" Tsunade yelled. Damn, we're going get it when we get back, Shikamaru thought. He used his shadow strangulation jutsu to kill an on coming ninja. If we get back, what a drag.
"Granny, yell later, kill now," Naruto shouted back cutting some ninja's jugular. A sound ninja just went flying into the wall, leaving a dent, courtesy of Lee. Jiraiya appeared in front of Sasuke. He looked at the Sanin like he lost his mind.
"Sasuke, take Naruto and go find Sakura," Jiraiya said not taking his eyes off Orochimaru. Finally, someone got the fact that Sasuke didn't want to waste his time fighting this pedophile. Only a little part him was annoyed that he was interrupted.
Sasuke poofed over to Naruto and grabbed his shirt collar. "Dobe, let's get Sakura." Naruto didn't need to be told twice, he started for the nearest exit with Sasuke following. Farther down the passage with torch light there was a way straight and a way right. Sasuke looked at Naruto.
"Go straight, I'll go right," Sasuke said turning to his path. "And be careful."
"Aww, teme, I knew you cared," Naruto teased turning to his path. Sasuke gave him a glare.
"I only said that so you scare Sakura with how you look," Sasuke said walking to the right down his path. Naruto steamed for a second then shouted down the passage.
"Right back at you, teme!" he shouted, then Sasuke assumed he went his separate way. This hallway to was lit by torches. Hadn't Orochimaru ever heard of electricity? The only thing the torches did was make walking alone creepy.
This was starting to get boring, Sasuke had walked the same path for what seemed like thrity minutes, though it was probably like five. Sasuke then came to a fork in the road. His gut told him to go left. He went left.
Ten steps on that path and the floor opened up. Sasuke fell but grabbed on to the opening. He looked down. Pointed pikes. Classic. Sasuke pushed his feet on the wall and flipped back to ground level. He walked back the way he had come, turned around and ran to the floor opening. He sailed over it easy and cleared to the other side.
Sasuke then decided to walk on one side of hall. He choose the left and continued to walk. Sasuke hoped Naruto was having more luck then him. He hadn't found a trace of her, not even her chakra signature.
He then saw a shadow up ahead. Sasuke immediately stopped. It looked like it was clinging to the wall for support. The shadow didn't stop so it didn't see him. Sasuke hoped it wasn't Sakura and just some wounded ninja he could kill. Not like he had hardly any chakra to spare, anyway.
But the shadow didn't stop and Sasuke saw a flash of pink. He knew it was Sakura. Sasuke walked forward to see her clinging to the wall. She looked up, in shock. She was dirty and looked like death warned over. He went to her.
"Sasuke, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked. She assessed him fully, her eyes going to the cut on his right side.
"I'm here to get you. What happened to you?" Sasuke asked as he took her waist and brought her against his left side. She tried to smile, it didn't work.
"I think this base is one of the weirdest that snake has," Sakura said bitterly. She accepted his help. He didn't know if he should lead her back to the dome or have her lay down somewhere. God, she looked terrible.
"This base will suck the life essence of any shinobi that doesn't have a curse mark from Orochimaru," Sasuke explained to her. Sakura turned to look at him.
"That jutsu's forbidden," Sakura said, eyes wide. Sasuke raised a brow at her.
"Since when has the word 'forbidden' ever mattered to that snake?" Sasuke asked sarcastically.
"Point taken. Come on, we have to go to the dome thing were everyone else is. Who all is here?" Sakura started moving. Well, Sasuke guessed it would turn out horribly, horribly wrong, but this way Tsunade would see Sakura, then they could go find Naruto.
"Naruto, Lee, Shikamaru, Hyuuga, Tsunade, and Jiraiya," Sasuke gave her the liberty of answering her question. Sakura said nothing but continued to walk with Sasuke. Both were helping the other out, though Sasuke was helping Sakura more, with the stolen life essence deal and all.
They got back to the opening in the floor much faster than when Sasuke came the first time. Sakura looked at the pikes and then Sasuke's injury.
"You didn't fall, did you?" Sakura asked, concern laced through her voice. Sasuke felt his heart tighten at her tone and hoped it was her tone and not the injury to his back that caused the tightening of the heart.
"No, Orochimaru did that," Sasuke answered truthfully. What the hell was this girl doing to his heart? He could listen to her all day, as long as she was making sense, if not then her voice would be more annoying.
"Oh," Sakura made a mental note to heal Sasuke when this was over and kick Orochimaru in the balls. And chop off his girl hair. How did Sasuke find out about her being here? Hell, where was 'here'? Again, so many questions with Sasuke. He always kept her guessing.
Sakura was then surprised by two strong arms lifting her up and jumping over the floor of pikes. Sakura clung to Sasuke's neck, more than a little shocked. Again, Sasuke landed on the other side with no problem, except for the burning in his right side.
"Warn me, next time," Sakura mumbled a little short of breath.
"Hn," Sasuke replied. He didn't let her go, but continued to carry her bride style. She looked at him, puzzled. He looked back.
"Are you going to put me down?" Sakura asked. His arms tightened around her.
"It's faster this way," was his answer. In reality, he just didn't want to let her go. No part of him wanted to let her go. Not now, not ever.
Sasuke then realized that he had to turn left to go back to the dome area. He did so and walked the little way to the one of the many doorways that lead to the dome. Sakura gapped at what she saw.
Bodies were thrown with no regard, some with missing limbs or head, others were so broken they were like a rag doll, blood was bathing every body, living and dead. Sakura saw Neji first, one arm looked to be broken, and was trying to catch his breath but ninja after ninja went after him. He looked ready to collapse. Lee was next, no broken bones, but looked ready to collapse from exhaustion, with cuts all over his body.
Shikamaru was the cleanest, as he was a long range fighter. But he was kneeling, panting, and sporting a cut here and there. Naruto, who went the wrong way and ended up fighting in the dome again, was the bloodiest of them all.
He had three broken bones, two deep cuts that were dripping blood, several bruises, and what could be a concussion. Naruto was fighting enemy after enemy, looking dead on his feet.
The room grew dark. All the light and attention was on the three Sanin. Tsunade and Jiraiya had Orochimaru cornered. Jiraiya was behind him and Tsunade was in front of him. Jiraiya's hand was glowing red while Tsunade's was glowing lime green. Orochimaru was begging for his life.
"Come on, we were teammates. You don't want to do this," Orochimaru pleaded. Tsunade said nothing as did Jiraiya. They raised their hands together and ran to Orochimaru, who was broken and bloody.
Tsunade's hand went in Orochimaru's upper chest, while Jiraiya's went in the lower chest. The combined attacks brightened the room. It was so bright that everything turned a blinding white. Sakura and Sasuke closed their eyes against the light.
Good-bye, Orochimaru!
The force of the attack threw everyone back. Sakura landed on Sasuke while the other's landed on dead bodies. The room was silent, in the middle stood Jiraiya and Tsunade over ashes, that was what Orochimaru was reduced down to.
Then while everyone was getting up, a ticking sound was heard. Neji used his byakugan to look around, he saw nothing. Then he looked down to the floor.
"Take cover, the place is gonna blow!" he yelled. Two seconds later all that was heard was a big BOOM.
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Sakura smelled grass. She opened her eyes to see herself laying in it. She jerked up looking around. Behind her, she saw rubble. That must have been the base. She looked beside her. Nothing. On her other side, nothing. In front of her, nothing. Sakura stood shakily.
She looked from this vantage point. Up ahead she saw raven black hair. With her limp, she walked toward Sasuke. He was laying in a puddle that must have been created by rain, recently.
Sakura knelt down and felt for a pulse. It was faint, but there. Sakura looked around again. She saw no one. Sasuke had to get taken care of immediately. She took his left arm, hoisted him up and put that arm around her shoulders and carried him deeper into the forest.
A/N:hmmmm, I wonder what happened to the others. I'll write about it later. Remember the SasuSaku moments I promised? Well they're coming your way in the next chapter. Review, my pretties, or I'll have Orochimaru haunt up until you die. Now isn't that scary?
