Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 8
The Thief, The Betrayer, The Impressed
"Can you do it?"
Sakura drummed her fingers on the tight. Temari shot her a worried look and Tsunade seized her up. She bit the inside of her cheek. Temari seemed enthusiastic at the prospect of outdoing any other hacker on the market, but also apprehensive regarding what might happen. She was no cowardice, but out of the trio, she was the least one inclined to act recklessly.
"Do you realise what you're asking?"
Sakura frowned and pursed her lips together. She had a dose of craziness, but she was not out of her mind.
"I do."
"Sakura, you want me to find the house of one of the most wanted criminals in France. Several agencies attempted to do it and failed. Miserably, if I may add."
"But they didn't have you." Sakura's confident tone made Temari grin. To have her skill acknowledged was one thing; this brought it to a new level. "You were out of the country, weren't you? I know Shikamaru tried to contact you, but you refused to get involved."
A short pause took over the room.
"I know who we are talking about, Temari. And I also know that if this task weren't one akin to an impossible mission Madara Uchiha would have had his throat sliced."
While Temari and Sakura spoke, Tsunade eyed the pinkette carefully. Though her mind was often dizzy with alcohol, it was those moments that made her see the reality, see through people and ridiculous lies. Something was off, and it ticked her. Sakura was an odd person as a general rule; since her accident, she acted stranger than her younger self, as if she had forgotten how to be alive – as she sought a reason to have her heart pumping. Tsunade could understand her up to a certain point, and, not wishing to see her numb and empty, she even encouraged her escapades. But this… it was too much. She was falling into a dangerous web of lies and criminals, of betrayers and soulless bitches.
The blonde's fist tightened. The situation was getting out of hand. Going against Sakura would only make her act recklessly on her own, but supporting her meant pushing her in the devil's hideout. She was a tough one, still…
She was hiding something. Temari laughed, and Tsunade crooked her head. Why was suddenly Sakura so interested in that man? She had told them about her encounter with him at the exposition, and she had also admitted, more or less willingly, that he irked her interest. To be the subject of Sakura's curiosity was a risky position. She was inclined to developing obsession in what intrigued her, and she never let go of the matter until she knew everything. Whether it was about persons, situations, objects; she wanted to know what buttons to switch, how to potent the power in her advantage and how to destroy it, should it prove harmful for her.
Tsunade supposed she resembled her mother in that aspect, who had been a brilliant inventor. Passion ran in her genes.
"What's going on, Sakura?" Her voice resounded in the room, silencing the girls.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed, and she clicked her tongue. Sakura was concealing her emotions; she was one hell of an agent. The older woman was not to be fooled, though. She mentally cursed the day she got Sakura into this world. At that time, she had thought it was for the best. What was she supposed to do? Having Sakura kidnapped once had been enough to terrify her poor heart. And to think it had been for the lamest reason! Envy was a potent poison.
"Sakura," she barked the name.
Said girl sighed in defeat. She furtively eyed Temari who was watching her curiously.
I guess it can't be helped. Damn! I didn't want to speak with them about it just now. The less the know, the safer they are. Her fist clenched as Madara's image popped into her mind. He was smirking mockingly at her. The fan he had sent her appeared as well, and she internally growled. That son of a…
"I may be or may not be in some sort of silent war with Uchiha Madara."
Temari gasped, and Sakura closed her eyes. The news fell like a bomb in the small room.
"What the fuck?! How does it come? 'May or may not'? You either are or not. There's no in-between when it comes to fighting a criminal!"
Sakura cringed and exhaled nosily. Tension was building in her chest. She knew that what she would say next would make Tsunade want to snap her neck. She wasn't supposed to act as she had done; going out in the world and provoking men such as Madara was ridiculous, especially since she no longer had the protection of the agency. Not that she ever bothered to hide behind its walls.
"If you ask me, we are at war. I want to see that motherfucker behind bars. And I will see him there. It will be me who will put him there."
"And if we were to ask him?" Temari wondered aloud as she opened her laptop. Sakura took it as a good sign.
"I'm entertainment."
"Entertainment? To choose you, of all people, to amuse him… That man is indeed as mad as it's said." The hacker mused.
Tsunade tried to put the pieces together. Her perfect nails scratched the leather sofa. She drank the Sake in one gulp and let out a satisfied sound. She knew that if she wanted to solve this situation, she'd need more alcohol.
Still, something didn't fit the puzzle.
"So that your plan? Busting in his house and what? Arrest him? You're not a cop. And agencies work silently and behind the curtains. Kill him? It might be a good idea; but there, you're on his territory. It would be hard as fuck. What options do you still have…"
"I'll do none of the above."
"No?" Temari stopped typing.
"No. You think I'm crazy for wanting to go after him, but I'm not. I know he's smart and strong. He has to be. After all, he escaped from all those attempts made to catch him. I will come up with a plan, and for that, I have to study him for a while, you know… get to know his habits," Tsunade groaned and slapped herself, "and only after that I'll attack him," Sakura continued undisturbed.
"Then you just one to know where he stays for the record?"
"Oh, no!" The pinkette offered a sly smirk. "That's because I want to return a favour."
"I don't like where this is going."
"Me neither," Tsunade mumbled. "But you won't give up, will you?"
"No." She sounded determined.
"Okay. Then it's either we're with you, or against you."
"I was hoping for the first," the pinkette laughed, anxious. When Tsunade was sober, things tended to be thrown into chaos.
"You're going to be the death of me."
Temari let out a squeal of excitement. She wanted to be part of the team that would bring down Madara. She wanted to outdo everyone that was there on the market. She wanted to see Shikamaru's face when he found out that she managed what no one else did. That man was a genius to the point that it was infuriating. He'd once told her that the Uchihas were untouchable; she'd have a lot of fun proving him wrong.
"You're right, Sakura. They didn't have me," Temari replied, grinning wickedly.
Clapping, she stood close to her blonde friend. She was lucky to have such persons around her. Individuals who genuinely cared for her wellbeing. She'd give her life for them, and she knew they would do the same.
"So you can do this?"
"Gimme some time. But sure. I'm Temari, aren't I?"
A knock at the door interrupted their discussion. All of them tensed and their hands flew to where they hid their weapons. No one should reach them in Tsunade's casino, but since they were complotting against Madara, they had to be ready at any time for a surprise attack.
They needn't have worried. The one who entered was an agitated Shizune. She said that there was a man who demanded to speak to her and that he wouldn't stop making advances to the female croupiers. The guards had tried to make him go away, but, although he wasn't violent, he took them down effortlessly and continued his attempts at touching the employees.
Tsunade stormed out of the room, telling the other two women to wait for her return.
"Tch, I guess it must be hard running this establishment."
"I know, right? That's why I wouldn't get myself in these businesses."
"Madame Tsunade likes the fuss, it seems."
"Nope, I don't think so. She just… needs something to keep her alive."
Sakura understood Tsunade better than anyone. The woman had lost her lover and her brother. She didn't want to return to her family, as they had a different view on life. She was alone, save for Sakura and Temari – and the casino. The pinkette loved her former mentor, but she also envied her a little bit. For the past year, she struggled to find something to wake her up from the numbness, but she found nothing. Except for the moments when danger knocked at her door, she was lifeless. Those moments made her feel normal again. If she were honest, she should have been grateful for Madara's challenge. It was a nice distraction from life and the harsh reality. It almost made her heart pound with excitement.
Temari cleared her throat. Sakura's green eyes were dull. The blonde tried to think about something else to discuss. Fortunately, the pinkette changed the subject.
"So… how are you going to find him?" She was a craver for knowledge.
"Well, it's not very difficult…"
"But?"
"It takes a lot of time. I snatched his photo from Konoha's files, and I put it through a facial recognition programme. Now, I'm trying to break the police security system. Then, I'll use the programme at the same time with the surveillance cameras. If he showed his face for as much as a second, we've got him. From there… well, I just hope we can follow the route of the cameras."
"You make it sound simple."
Temari chuckled and typed fast. It wasn't only that she was a real hacker; she was intelligent and had a tactic before starting a task. That's why she was brilliant.
Time passed, and they spent it in silence until the blonde broke the silence.
"So, why did he do to awake your fury?" Sakura didn't say anything. "Oh, come one. It's been a while since I last saw you this determined to take someone down. Anything he did piss you off good."
She fidgeted the hem of her shirt. She was quite ashamed to admit aloud that Madara found her house and dared leave her a message which implied they would meet again.
"He found out where I stay and sent me a stolen object."
"What?!" Tsunade roared. She had just entered the room.
Sakura cursed her luck. "Indeed. And now I want to find out where he stays so I can return it."
All of them knew that the message under his actions was "Be aware! I know your every move."
"That bastard! And you, are you out of your mind? When did this happen?"
"Few days ago."
"And you waited this much to let us know?" She punched Sakura in the jaw and sent her on the sofa. "Never hide this shit from us again, Sakura. We're family. We walk through this crap together."
The pinkette was torn between punching her back and crying at the emotional speech. It was unusual for Tsunade to be so open about her feelings.
"Well, there may be good in this."
"Huh?"
"He sent you something through a courier, right? Perhaps he was careless and met him personally. Then, if we follow the courier, we-"
"-can find him," Sakura completed, being suddenly serious.
"Let's for this. 'Cause a safe source just told me that Madara started to look into your past. He's fucking interested in you, and he made it known throughout his family. And he wants to go against the Senjus, and then come after you."
Tsunade winced at the mention of her family. They didn't have a close relationship, but it didn't mean she wished their death. And that Madara bothered investigating Sakura disturbed her. There had to be a motive, but she couldn't find it.
"Just let him try. I'm going to break every bone in his body."
"Try?" Tsunade huffed. "Imma shred him to pieces before he can lay a finger on you." She wasn't going to risk. Not this time, not when the price was Sakura's life.
"Gotcha," Temari shouted enthusiastically.
And just like that, the three of them began to concentrate their force on demolishing the Uchiha Empire with Madara Uchiha at its top, each of them having their own reason which kept them determined.
He knew he shouldn't be here. Sakura would kill him. But Naruto was a prankster – it was in his veins. He just couldn't help himself pulling a trick on his childhood friend. Setting a few traps in her room was perfect. He smiled.
She shouldn't have left him alone if she didn't want to risk. Sakura would forgive him, he knew. That was the type of person she was. Of course, he would have to make sure to stay out of her reach. She cared about her friend and didn't want to hurt them; however, she would not hesitate to punch the life out of him.
As he opened the door of her wardrobe, he adjusted the small catapult in his hands. What a surprise she'd have when a splash of paint will target her face. Naruto laughed alone at the thought. While setting the catapult, his hands came across a file. He took it so as to better position the object. At first, he had no intention to read it. Tricking Sakura was one thing, but invading her privacy… She would throw him on the window without regrets. However, he was curious as to what the file contained, as it looked quite familiar. When she was still in the agency, she would usually use this type of map for the information.
He had thought she burned all her previous equipment.
"Just a quick peek. After all, what if the file fell and opened?" He let it slip through his fingers.
His heart stopped when he saw the content of the file.
"What the…?"
Sakura's breath was controlled and calm. Maybe there should have been some doubt in her mind, but there was none. She crooked her head, analysing the mansion in front of her. It did not appear well-guarded, but she knew appearances were misleading.
She was not anxious in the least. Though, to her dismay, she didn't feel ecstatic either. She sighed. It seemed that her heart would never beat as it had done in the past. It was time she accepted the reality: a part of her died, and it was not coming back…
One might say that she was crazy, attempting to enter Madara's home, invading his personal space. Her actions promised a painful death. But she was confident in her skills. Sakura Haruno could pull this off. Since Tsunade and Temari stood by her, there was no question about it.
Putting on her gloves, she straightened her back. In truth, she had been a bit rushed; acting today, when she had only found out where he lived, was too soon. However, it was her chance. Fate granted her this opportunity. As Temari discovered, Madara, along with other Uchihas, was not home. Where were they, she didn't bother finding out. It wasn't her top priority at the moment.
Go in, leave the object, get out, Tsunade's words resounded in her ears.
Her eyes hardened and sparkled with tension. Sakura wouldn't admit it aloud, but there were few similarities between her and Madara. Both of them loved a good challenge. Unfortunately for him, she was no loser. She might not be an agent still, but she was not going to quit being a winner. Especially not when it came to an arrogant bastard with mesmerising eyes.
She took a deep breath and shifted to 515 mode. Her low-heeled boots didn't make a sound on the solid ground. Calculating the turning frequency of the surveillance cameras and their angles, she chose a spot that was blind for about twenty-five seconds. Bracing herself for the inevitable pain, she ran towards that part of the fence and jumped, her hands landing on it. Making a leap, she came back on her feet. She felt discomfort but pushed herself forward so as to escape the range of the surveillance camera on her right.
I'm in.
Well, sort of.
She moved quickly, eyes scanning the area. She heard voices and instantly hid behind a bush. No one came. She tried to find the source of the noise. One second. Two, three. There it was: an open window.
"Fuck," she cursed under her breath.
She hoped the people would be outside so she could have evaded him and enter the safety of the house. Moving carefully, she crawled to the nearest corner, where the shadows covered her body. For a criminal, Madara was pretty confident that no one would dare attack him in his home; the location had many weak spots.
Looking up, she counted the windows. Temari couldn't find out what his room was, but she said he could often be found in one in particular. The third starting from the right. She threw her lasso towards the roof. She prayed it didn't hit something on the way. With a soft click it was set. Pulling it softly, she tried its resistance. She walked the wall with knowing movements. She hit a sharp portion, and it struck her side, despite the thick boots.
Using a think knife, she opened the window. She lifted the lower side of the lasso. Hopefully, no one would see it.
When she set foot in the room, her heart skipped a beat. It was definitely Madara's place. Sakura's breath stopped in her throat. The room was elegant and dark. There were paintings on the wall and a few sculptures which should have stayed in a museum. The room had a masculine and dangerous air that fitted its owner so well. And the smell – oh! It sent her head spinning. Expensive champagne, and cinnamon, and cigarettes. Her eyes fluttered close involuntarily, and she could almost feel his calloused fingers touching her skin. She shivered uncontrollably. Sakura gulped. Hard.
Her eyes somehow found the bed, and she blinked a few times, in shock. On the wall behind the bed was an enormous tableau. On a black background were painted with white the silhouettes of a pair of lovers having…
Is he taking her from behind?
She found herself enchanted by the smutty picture. Although the faces of the person were inexistent, the way her legs were raised and the manner in which his arms caged her were arousing. She searched the picture for the painter's name. Steven K, Melting. She hadn't heard of the guy before. Was he a contemporary?
"Shit," she grumbled, averting her eyes. "Head in the game, 515."
Get in, leave the object, get out, she recited Tsunade's words, hoping it would get her out of the trance. It did the trick.
She looked beside and immediately found his desk. It was a monster of ebony. This guy didn't mind spending money on art and qualitative works, it seemed. Humming, she took the fan from where she kept it and arranged it on the desk. She hoped the beautiful view would mock him.
Pursing her lips, she tried to spot the darkest corner of the room. As soon as she found it, she proceeded with her plan. Before leaving, Temari provided her with a minuscule microphone. Tsunade didn't know about it yet, but she would soon found out. Sakura set it up. She was about to leave but…
How about I leave a note for him, too?
She found a pen and some paper in the blinking of the eyes. She jotted down some "sweet" words and put it next to his present. But just as best things work in life, she was the one to find a small package with white powder when she put the pen back. It was hidden behind pencils and pens, and her movements must have brought to light. She grinned.
Drugs? She wondered.
Oh, fate was on her side. Having an ace up her sleeve was exactly what she needed. A laugh bubbled in her chest; she refrained from letting it out. Who would have thought that she'd become a thief?
Naruto bounced on Sakura's coach. He was anxious and couldn't way to clarify this situation with his friend. It made him sick to the stomach. Even the ramen seemed tasteless, and it meant something.
He was not the one to have his mind busy, but now it was filled up with a million thoughts. He tried to find a rational explanation – ha! He being rational – but couldn't come up with anything.
"That file… What would she…"
He was speechless.
Tic-toc. Tic-toc.
His fingers itched to call her. It was late in the night, and she hadn't returned yet. He cast a glance at the clock. It was three in the morning. He called her friend, Temari, but the blonde said Sakura was busy at the moment. When he demanded to speak to her or to know when she'd returned, he had received a vague response and an ended conversation. Something was going on, and it was giving him a headache that he couldn't put his finger on it. He was not the most intelligent person and figuring out what Sakura was planning fried his brains. She was brilliant when it came to projects. Naruto would probably need Shikamaru's help to discover what was going on; but the brunet would avoid getting involved since Temari was in, too, apparently. It meant the old hag Tsunade was in as well.
Those three were far worse than the criminals they were trying to catch.
The door opened, and he jumped on his feet. Sakura greeted him with tired eyes.
"Why are you still up?"
"I wanted to make sure you came back safe."
"I don't need a babysitter, Naruto."
Though it seems I'm stuck with one, she mentally groaned. There was nothing more she hated than being controlled. Taking her independence away made Sakura want to bury her teeth in anyone around and take a piece of them. She could be ferocious.
"I know, I know," he laughed nervously and scratched the nape of his neck.
Her eyes narrowed. It meant he was hiding something. She knew him too well for his good. "What's up?"
"I… y'know, I want to talk to you about something."
"Go on," she retorted when he didn't say a word. She was tired and desperately wanted to take a shower and to sleep.
"O-okay. So, don't punch me or anything, but I was in your room and while I was setting up a prank," she hissed, and he lifted his arms in a defensive position "Sorry, sorry. I opened your wardrobe and-"
Sakura's eyes widen.
Did he find Madara's file? Fuck! What am I going to tell him?!
"I found you have a file on Sasuke's name."
She breathed relieved. She could handle this conversation. The pinkette bit the inside of her cheek. Naruto was such a baby when it came to friends and bonds. It was hard to break it down to him that the agency he was now in charge of had kept this information from them. She didn't want to be the big bad wolf. She picked her words with attention.
"Naruto, you know that I wanted to find Sasuke as much as you did. That file, that information, I got it from-"
I can admit in front of him. He would never throw me into a cell, no matter the reason, lest this one
"I know. But Sakura, invading someone's life like this… Sasuke would be pissed," he interrupted her, and her pink brows knitted together in frustration. "We both know it. And the bastard would be heartbroken, too. He can shit how much he wants about not caring; it's bullshit."
"I guess so. But listen to me-"
"After he called me to look after you. It would fucking hurt him to find out."
She gasped. Her fist clenched and unclenched several times. Naruto didn't seem to notice her change of demeanour.
"He called you?" Her voice was fragile. "When?"
"I mean he is a-"
"When?" She growled, grabbing his collar.
His eyes widened. "A few days ago."
"You talked to him."
It wasn't a question.
She gritted her teeth and her vision blurred. Sasuke had no right to interfere with her life; she was no longer the girl who needed protection. Had he wanted to alarm her of something, it was her he should have talked to.
"You didn't tell me." Silence. Naruto watched her warily. He whispered her name. "When were you going to tell me, Naruto?" She tightened her grip on his T-shirt.
"Sakura…"
This is also a response.
Her throat was dry. She couldn't believe Naruto was doing this to her. This was not happening. This couldn't be happening. She was left behind. She was left behind again. By the ones she cared about.
Life was a bitch.
"He made me promise, Sakura. You know I keep my promi-"
"Get out," she spat. She didn't scream, yet, her tone was cold and deadly; the one she used on her missions.
"Sak-"
"Get out, you… you… betrayer," she hissed.
He took a few steps back as if she had punched him in the gut. She looked hurt, but she kept her chin up.
I wouldn't have kept something like this away from him. Never. Never. Never.
He took his bag and went towards the door. Talking to her now seemed pointless. She wouldn't listen. As he went, she didn't turn to him, still ignoring him.
"We'll talk about this later," he mumbled.
She heard him. "Commander," Sakura addressed him officially, and he froze in place. "I am no longer Agent 515, and you have no rights to interfere with my life." Her heart twisted in her chest. She was confident she might regret her next words, but she let them out anyway. She didn't need traitors in her life. "If you ever dare mess with my life, I will snap your neck, Commander. I don't want to see you again, now, get out!"
He blinked. His poor heart sunk. He was about to say something, but she literally kicked him out, slamming the door shut behind him.
The blond was left on the cold ground in front of her door, looking dumbfounded. He cursed Sasuke's name and punched the ground. He hadn't seen Sakura this serious and hurt since her accident.
A tear crossed his cheek, and a hurt shrill went past his lips.
He might have just lost his friend. He had betrayed her trust.
She thought he was a traitor.
She probably thought he was no better than Sasuke.
Her words resounded in his head.
You… you… betrayer.
Madara stood in the door frame, casting a glance over the area. His fingers tightened on the door frame. Smelling the air, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Someone had been there. He could tell it. It was a feeling.
He trusted his instincts. They kept him alive these years when there was nothing else.
Plum. He decided. Inside the room was a subtle fragrance of plums and flowers and something sweet he couldn't identify. It was intoxication. He licked his lips.
Madara knew this smell. He had craved it these nights when he was lonely wanted nothing more than to have wild, free, untamed sex. Though, it was only a certain pink-haired agent he fantasised about. He groaned and felt himself getting hard.
"This is her smell," he murmured.
A sly smile curled his lips up. She was something else, wasn't she? To think she not only found his house but dared to enter his room. It aroused him. It excited him. If he closed his eyes, he could see her there, on his bed, with her legs spread, prepared to take all of his length in her warm crevice. Or he could imagine her bent over his desk, crying in ecstasy as he took her from behind, begging him for more.
Oh, he could do so many things with her in that single room. Though, he doubted he'd be satisfied with just it. Her body was a muse for his dirty mind. One or two rounds would not suffice to expulse her out of his mind. Not when her wide, green eyes were so clear in his mind.
He let out a wicked chuckle and closed the door behind him. The beautiful fan on his desk answered his unspoken question. He passed a hand through his unruly mane.
"She's playing hard to get, huh?"
Oh, how he loved a challenge. She just tempted the beast inside of him.
He drummed his fingers on the desk. He liked her spirit. He wondered in how many ways he could break her; he wondered how much it would take to strip her out of inhibitions and discipline, how much it would take to make her lose her control.
How much fun it would be to have her at his disposal, willing to satisfy his every whim with that sinful mouth of hers!
"Still, her smart-ass attitude fits her, and it's attractive, too. Perhaps I won't break her completely," he pondered.
He read her note again. She had a beautiful writing.
I appreciated it until you linked it to your persona. Now, it lost its value. When and if we meet, it's up to me.
Advice: Don't play with fire. It will make your life a living hell.
S.H.
He laughed. "Oh, darling, but I adore playing with fire." Madara grinned. "Glad to know I found a playmate."
She was sassy and a smartass and challenged him so openly that it sent tingles through his body. Who would have thought that out of all people, it would be Sakura Haruno to threaten him?
He was impressed.
