Chapter nine:

Naruto and his team headed back to Konoha with an unconscious Sasuke as their extra baggage. After a deadly fight between the five ninjas, Neji had finally gotten a chance to put Sasuke out by hitting one of his pressure points. They were on their way back to Tsunade to hear what to do next. She was, after all, the Hokage and the one who laid the mission-rules.

"We'll stop once we get to the Rain border, spend the night there and then continue back home first thing in the morning," Neji informed from his position at the front.

"Hai!" The other team-members agreed and continued to jump from tree to tree.

Shikamaru, the shadow user, muttered a silent "This is so troublesome," where he carried Sasuke on his back.

Naruto turned to face him, "Want me to take Sasuke-bastard for a while?"

Shikamaru shook his head no and sprinted past the blond teenager. "I can handle it,"

The pink-haired kunoichi sighed deeply where she was walking through the nearly pitch black hallway in the Akatsuki hideout. She hadn't seen anyone since Itachi left her alone in the kitchen and it was getting on her nerves.

'How can they just disappear like that?' She asked herself and pushed open an already half-open door to her right. She stepped into the room and nearly jumped out of her skin when she spotted the half naked blonde, also known as Deidara, on the only bed in the room.

"I-I'm sorry," She stuttered and turned to leave the room when the medic in her suddenly kicked in. He was hurt and it was after all, her job to heal people. Glancing shyly at him, she slowly made her way over the stone-floor.

Deidara stared at her quizzically as she got closer to him. Was she still pissed off because he tried to steal a glance at her womanly forms and had decided to hurt him again? He didn't know, and he didn't want to find out either.

Sliding closer to the wall; he looked accusingly at the pink haired kunoichi before him.

"Why are you here, yeah?" He asked quietly before winching heavily as pain shot through his jaw.

"Let me take a look," She stated more than asked and reached her hand towards his flawless face. "I won't hurt you," She added quietly with a concerned look in her eyes.

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Feather light fingers traced the blonde's jaw line. Cool chakra escaped the fingertips, gently soothing the soreness and pain.

"This might hurt," Sakura spoke softly and took a firm grip around Deidara's chin. One blue eye stared frightened at her green ones before a loud snap was heard – followed by a loud scream.

She placed her fingers just below his ears and massaged his jaw gently. "Better?"

A tear-filled eye stared back at her before a weak "Yeah," was spoken. The medic-nin withdrew her hands and gave a soft smile before saying; "Sorry about that,"

"No worries, yeah," The blond replied and opened and closed his mouth like a fish. "Thanks,"

A content smile appeared on the kunoichi's lips as she looked at the man before her. "How's your back?" She asked and watched him turn to his left, then right.

"Ok," A small smile played on his lips. "I'm sorry about this morning, yeah"

A blush crept over the pink haired girls cheeks. "I'm sorry."

"No, I shouldn't have tried to… to…" He glanced down at his hands.

"It's ok." She spoke after a while.

Sakura's emerald eyes studied the half naked body in front of her curiously. A hairless chest, lightly tanned and muscular rose and fell as the male breathed. Resisting the urge to touch, she let her eyes wander upwards instead – resting on the slightly feminine features of the blond Akatsuki member's face. One blue eye sparkled with amusement as the kunoichi sighed softly. Blushing at the sudden twitch on the male's lips, she quickly looked away.

"I see you're getting friendly," Kisame's dark voice cooed from the doorway. Sakura quickly turned around; not missing the amused twinkle in the shark man's eyes.

"I was just,"

"She just healed me, yeah," Deidara cut in. Sakura gave him a thankful smile which he returned with a smile of his own.

"Uh-huh," The blue man winked before turning serious again. "We're off to see Leader. I believe Itachi spoke to Sasori about some rules regarding the kunoichi," He added, ignoring the annoyed look Sakura shot him at the 'kunoichi' comment. She had a name and it wasn't kunoichi. "She's to stay in his room for the night. We'll be back tomorrow."

Deidara nodded slightly and watched as the large man made his way towards the girl.

"Be a good hostage now, or I might have to punish you when I get back," Kisame whispered seductively in her ear and received a slap in the back of his head from her.

"Pervert," She growled and rolled her eyes.

"You know you like it, love," He winked before leaving the room.

Sakura sighed and gave the blonde a helpless look with an added pout on her lips. Deidara only laughed softly before getting off the bed and leading her out of the room. "Don't pull me into whatever you have going on with him, yeah," He teased and laughed as another growl escaped the medic's lips.


Two onyx eyes fluttered open and was met with leaves and branches along with a bun of dark hair. Sasuke inwardly growled as he realized they'd won the fight with him earlier on and was now taking him to a place he didn't want to see just yet.

Hatred flashed through his dark eyes as they quickly switched to red. Strong hands gripped the throat attached to the messy bun and a strangled gasp was heard from the person as they both fell to the ground.

Sasuke quickly got up on his feet once he'd made contact with the grassy surface and sprinted hurriedly the opposite direction away from the ninjas he had once befriended. They were annoying and were currently ruining his mission.

Taking one quick glance at the lifeless body he'd left behind, he welcomed the darkness that embraced his empty heart. His mission was clear now. The girl meant nothing. All he wanted was his revenge and with the sudden power he felt rising up within him he knew he wouldn't fail. Not this time.


A/N: Sorry it's so short. I'm kinda experiencing a writers block right now. I have a few scenes I'm gonna use in the end of the story, but the process of getting there is - well, the problem.

Anyways. I wanna say thanks again to everyone who have reviewed this story so far. And I will try to make the next chapter longer.

Thanks for reading :)

//Challa