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Rainflakes

''Because sometimes, life can change in ways you least expect...''

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The icy stare on Orochimaru's face sent another frigid chill down Sakura's spine. She couldn't describe what she was feeling – what she was thinking. Thousands of questions ran through her fuddled mind; where was Itachi? What did Orochimaru want? Did she want to avenge her parents? Should she run or engage in battle? Surely Hidan or Itachi would have sensed her bracelet shatter? What will Orochimaru do to her? Her dry mouth fell open into a unspoken trance and Orochimaru's sly smile spread out in front of her. He said nothing and stood still, as though waiting. Waiting for what? Did he want her to make the first move? She raised her hands to her head slowly, her face contorting into an expression of sheer panic and her breathing becoming more and more hitched. The unheard agonising screams of her parents echoed through her mind along with memories best forgotten. It was hard to tell the difference between reality and the thoughts in front of her eyelids. Slowly, her vision began to fade; both her memories and the hard, stony floor that she was staring down upon. Her knees hit the floor first, but the pain didn't reach her - she was already unconscious. With one final frightened groan, she collapsed onto the chilly path, the sneering laugh of Orochimaru ringing through her ears.

~*~

The familiar grey mop of Hidan caught Itachi's eye and he slowly wandered over to the meeting place, noticing with a frown that Sakura had not yet arrived. Seeing the displeased expression on Hidan's face, he knew that it was obviously noted by him too.

"Where is that blasted girl?" Hidan muttered under his breath as Itachi drew close. Observing the blue chakra bracelet, Itachi saw that the blue had not even faded to the slightest lilac. She must be nearby. Hidan tapped his foot impatiently, growling under his breath.

"Might I suggest we search for her?" Itachi said, watching the impatient Akatsuki member grow evermore frustrated. The grey-haired man shook his head.

"She'll just turn the corner the moment we go looking. That's how much of a pain in th-" Hidan's eyes flickered to Itachi's bracelet for no more then a second – it could have been a passing glance. But the moment he did, Itachi felt it quiver and tremble. Surely Sakura had not travelled too far for the jutsu to activate? Examining it closely, he realised that the colour was in fact still the same petrifying blue that it had always been. His eyes widened in shock and he moved his arm away the moment the bracelet dissipated. Into nothing.

"What the fuck is going on?" Hidan cursed under his breath. Itachi hadn't acknowledged his comment. Sakura's chakra was fading into the distance and he came to the most horrible conclusion. The bracelet could only be broken if one of the captives were to die. He shook the thought away and ran toward the chakra signature. He noticed that Hidan seemed to be following behind him.

"It's Sakura, isn't it? What did she do?" Itachi halted his running as a young boy ran in front of his path.

"HELP ME, SISTER IS HURT. SHE WAS ATTACKED BY GHOSTS AND SHE NEEDS A 'GREY-HAIR' MAN." Hidan halted in his footsteps, staring at the young boy in speculation. Itachi lunged for the boy, turning him around by the shoulders and staring deep into his petrified eyes.

"Tell me, what colour hair does your sister have?" Itachi hissed at the boy. For a moment, the boy could only stare and Itachi noticed him quickly observe the clothes Itachi was wearing. The infants eyes widened.

"YOU. She needs you. Please help my sister." The boy clasped Itachi's hand and dragged him along. Itachi obliged, ignoring any amusement that seemed to be coming from Hidan at the thought that such a strong ninja like himself was being tugged along by a boy.

"She healed me and then we were going to go the market but then she saw a white road and she started getting hurt. I didn't know what to do." The boy wiped away some tears that escaped from his eyes furiously with the back of his hand, setting his forehead into a determined frown. Itachi noticed that they were slowly being dragged toward Sakura's plummeting chakra and he was having difficulty pinpointing the direct location.

"I'm going to contact Headquarters and ask them what's going on." Hidan stopped walking and headed down an alleyway, tapping the ring on his index finger. Itachi had no time to be amused at the obvious trust Hidan had in him not to run away and continued to be dragged by the child.

"Here! She was right here!" The boy turned around the corner and immediately his face dropped. There was no pink-haired ninja and no limp body to be found. Yet the chakra residue in the air indicated that a genjutsu had only recently been triggered. Itachi had activated his Sharingan long before they had turned the corner and he could see the speckles floating around. The small, delicate blood drops on the ground were definitely Sakura's.

An unmistakable feeling of dread filled every bone in his body. She had been taken by someone – someone who could hide their chakra as well as their presence. How was that possible? Itachi released the boys hand, ignoring the incoherent whimpers that the boy was now exerting and then he headed over to examine the alleyway. Anything - anything that could give him the slightest clue as to where Sakura had been taken would be enough for him to even drop as low as to kill Hidan if he tried to get in the way of his pursuit.

Then he spotted it. On a wall next to an old man who was staring at him in awe, was a code. And it was written in Sakura's blood.

~*~

"She's dead. I can't believe she's fucking dead." Itachi lifted his head up to stare at Hidan, terrified at what he was saying. Hidan noticed his torn expression and quickly changed his words.

"Kiko. Kiko is dead. I guess when the bracelets are forcefully broken, it absorbs all of her chakra. Every ounce of energy in her body - gone." Hidan leant against the wall and ran a hand through his hair. "Fuck."

Itachi turned back to the code he had been examining and tried his hardest to ignore the fact it was written in blood. It was a well-known shinobi tactic – to write a code in blood – and she had done it no doubt without hesitation. He was still unclear what the code meant though. A squiggly line and an 'O' underneath it. What could that mean?

"What? What the fuck is that?" Hidan leant forwards over Itachi's shoulder and Itachi moved his head to the side slightly so he could see him.

"It was Sakura. She left a message." He turned back to the code and ran his fingers around it, being careful not to smudge the blood. He was tearing apart inside and he had no idea why. Sure, every leader is hurt when he/she loses a member of their team while in battle. But Sakura – his brothers best friend and dare he say, maybe even his own friend – being taken from right under his nose and nothing but a simple doodle to go on. It was worse than her death; at least then he knew that she would be safe. There was no telling what lengths shinobi would go to in order to weasel out information from other ninja.

"Th-That's her blood." Hidan stated, his eyes widening slightly. "Who knew she would think of something like that? I should've given her more credit."

Itachi ignored him and continued to stare at the message. He had seen it once before, a long time ago, but being in ANBU meant that multiple codes needed to be cracked and his head was filled with them. So where had he seen it? He dived into the depths of his mind, searching for long forgotten memories. Seven years ago he had seen it. Seven years... What had been the focus of that particular year? The wiggly line... a snake. The letter 'O'...

He straightened up, terror rushing everywhere causing his hands to tremble with both anger and fear. Hidan seemed to notice the expression on Itachi's usually-passive face and he let out a humourless laugh.

"You've figured it out and it ain't fucking good."

"Of all the people. Of all the people for her to bump into, it had to be him," Itachi resting his hands against the wall, as though pushing it and his eyes seemed to turn dark.

"Who took her?" Hidan asked, bending his head around so he could glance at the side of Itachi's chiselled face. Itachi moved his staring eyes from the floor and tilted his head to gaze into Hidan's lilac orbs.

"Orochimaru." Hidan's eyes widened a fraction.

"The loony with the dead arms? What does he want with her? Is he trying to get into the Akatsuki? Wait, he's already been into the Akatsuki. Why would he want to get into it?" Hidan's constant ramblings meant nothing to Itachi. It seemed only yesterday that Sakura had clutched to him, crying because the snake had killed her parents and she blamed herself for it. Now she was in his hands and he knew there was only one reason why Orochimaru would target her; she was the Hokage's apprentice and her healing knowledge was almost as vastly-known as Lady Tsunade herself. There was no other eligible reason why he would go to such lengths to capture the kunoichi.

"He wants her to heal his immobile arms, no doubt," Itachi moved from the wall and leant his aching back against it, staring up at the dull sky with a frown twitching around his brow. "And she is too stubborn to do it. The amount of pain that she will have to go through..."

He moved away from the wall, masking his emotions instantly and returning his voice back to its usual cool tone. Hidan watched the Uchiha in amazement as he covered his angry emotions with the click of a finger.

"We will find this Akatsuki researcher and then get any information he has on Orochimaru. After we have killed him, we will head back to HQ and I will tell Pain what has happened. There will be no way to keep me held down, but I will give myself to the Akatsuki in order to bring Sakura back. Whether or not any of the members decide to help and bring down an old enemy of theirs is no concern to me, I will simply be asking for a short period of freedom in order to save her." Itachi ordered his plan to Hidan, loud and clear. Hidan found himself nodding in agreement, unable to speak at the sudden turnaround that Itachi had taken. Unknown to them both, they had switched roles. Itachi was now the leader and Hidan was the follower. Not only was it because Hidan trusted Itachi, but he also knew that if he were to attempt to engage in combat and ignore the Uchiha, he will be obliterated to Hell and back. There was no chakra bracelet to restrain the chakra that had built over time and now it was almost illuminating angrily out of Itachi's body. It was enough to make anyone bend to his will and have nightmares about the bloodlust that was hidden throughout the tiny cells of Itachi's chakra. The bloodlust didn't faze Hidan; it just sent an unusual wave of sympathy through him. He strolled up beside Itachi, slapping his shoulder with his hand and looking at the Uchiha's composed face.

"Just tell me what to do."

~*~

Itachi... Her mind called out to him, but she knew there would be no reply. She could feel her unrestricted chakra flowing wildly around her body, yet it still seemed to be locked away. It was as though her chakra had been split into two and the energy her body was flowing with at that moment was willed to do nothing but heal. She could pick apart the cells and analyse that the chakra floating around was meant to heal and do nothing else. It was then she was aware that she was being carried in strange and unfamiliar arms. The sharp wind pelting her unconscious face indicated they were jumping through the trees and yet she couldn't open her eyes to observe her surroundings. She was being kidnapped by Orochimaru, but the arms she rested in were warm and even strangely welcoming. Her foggy mind was filled with slight amusement – she was commenting on the softness of her kidnappers arms? She failed to see the irony of her situation; she had been kidnapped from her kidnappers.

As her energy began to drain away, she couldn't help but think how things had gone from bad to worse to full out chaotic.

~*~

"Where is he?" Itachi muttered to Kin – the Akatsuki pursuer. After hurriedly leaving the village at an immense speed, they had caught up with the man in next to no time. Within moments Kin had been in Itachi's grasp, pounded almost nearly to death in order to weedle out the information needed. Kin spat his own blood out onto the floor, then smiled slyly at Itachi, showing his blood-stained yellow teeth.

"Orochimaru was an ex-member of the Akatsuki, thrown out due to his attitude and inconsiderate feelings towards good will. Good will, my ass. They're still murdering innocent people, I mean, look at me for instance-" A smack echoed around the dark wood they were currently undertaking the interrogation in. Itachi placed his raised fist back down to his side, bringing the man closer to his face by the scruff of his neck.

"Continue." He said, passively. Kin Kioshi's face had switched to a tormented frown and he let out a hoarse laugh, spitting more blood from his upper lip to the floor. He was a fat, grotesque man and had obviously had more than his fair share of luxuries over the past 10 years or so.

"He likes it underground, that snake. He's been all over so why would such a lowly man such as myself know his location?" Kin spoke in a patronizing voice that was heard all-too clearly by Itachi. Itachi closed his eyes for a moment and then reopened them, the crimson circles glaring almost hypnotically at the researcher in front of him.

"You will tell me," Itachi ordered. Kin shook his head, a grim smile spreading across his fat, chubby face.

"I don't grass on friends." Itachi brought the man closer to his face, tightening his hold on Kin's shirt. It was then he realised that Kin had not blinked and the smile stayed frozen on his face. He had killed himself using God knows what method.

Cursing mentally, Itachi threw the frozen man to the floor, stepping back out onto the road. Hidan waited for him patiently against a rough tree, muttering under his breath. He looked up as Itachi approached him.

"Any luck?" He asked, pushing himself off and toward Itachi. The Uchiha shook his head and continued to walk down the dusty road. Hidan had told him earlier that they were on the right course for the HQ and that once they were finished, it would only take a short amount of time to go and check in. So they were headed towards the Akatsuki Headquarters where Itachi was going to ask Pain politely if he would allow him to go and rescue Sakura. Itachi disliked killing the innocent and he would avoid resorting to painful methods whenever he could. Although when it came to Sakura – the one person who he had mentally promised to protect throughout the whole mess – he had no mercy. He wanted anyone who stood in his way killed.

"He has a base underground and if I had analysed the soil correctly in that particular area we found Kin in, I would say that route is used regularly by only one person who of which I assume is Kin himself. After 10 metres, the tracks fade off into nothing." Itachi announced his discovery as they ran through the trees, Hidan ahead of him. Hidan turned his head toward Itachi.

"Fucking impressive. I guess we're still just going in circles though. Why couldn't we go and search for his base then?" Hidan asked. Itachi looked ahead, his arms flying behind him as they ran along the pathway.

"Don't underestimate your opponent. I'm not quite sure a two-man team will be enough to take down Orochimaru and there is no point in rushing in just yet," Itachi bit his tongue before he could continue. He wanted to rush in and save Sakura – every minute they wasted meant one extra minute Sakura was in danger. He clenched his shaking fists tighter, yet kept his face schooled over in its usual expression.

"To think the Headquarters was so close to that snakes own base – it's frustrating." Hidan gritted his teeth and sped up his rushing footsteps. Itachi willingly followed, although quite unsure of the whereabouts of the final destination of their journey. They were in the Village Hidden in the Rain – that much he was sure of. Slowly, a looming, tall waterfall began to approach overhead and he knew almost instantly that that was their location. The water that had coursed down in front of the window in the room he and Sakura once occupied had already told him that much, but he was just unsure WHAT waterfall it happened to be. As they swiftly ran toward it, he began to contemplate the plan he had set up.

He should head back to the village – tell them about what had happened and what was currently wrong. But he couldn't bring himself to travel back to Konoha alone, only to tell them that he had allowed Sakura to be taken and he didn't want to rescue her without help. No; he would deal with the situation alone and clear up his own mistakes. He was certain that the ninja sent from the Leaf Village would only hold him back, whereas the Akatsuki seemed to be a lot more effective in situations such as these.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Itachi looked up, snapping out of his thinking trance, and looked up at Hidan who was staring at him curiously.

"You have the opportunity to run and head back to your village and you know full well I will make no move to stop you. Why aren't you?" Hidan elaborated, slowing down his pace as they approached the refreshing waterfall. Itachi watched as he placed a single hand to what seemed to be a random place. The water parted like a set of curtains and engulfed Hidan's hand, slowly draining away after a few minutes. Itachi wondered how he had not heard the water when he had previously left, but then he thought back to Hidan's question when an eyebrow was raised questioningly at him.

"The Leaf village is too far away – I will not be able to get there and back in time. Sakura needs to be rescued as quick as possible – I don't know how much clearer I can make that."

Hidan raised his hands up, showing his palms as though protesting his innocence. "Woah, cool it Uchiha. I was only asking."

The small square in the wall had moved away, revealing a familiar hallway that obviously led into the Akatsuki headquarters. Itachi watched it solemnly, although inside he was filled with awe and curiosity. Years he had been in ANBU and he had wondered where the Village Hidden in the Rain had been situated. Not only was he standing in it, but he was also being openly welcomed into the Headquarters of an infamous criminal group.

He took one step forward, into the surprising familiar warmth of the hallway and the smallest humourless smile twitched around his lips, yet it was contrasting with the feeling of dread pouring through every bone in his body.

After such a short time, he had returned to the place where he had been held as a captive for the past week. It had caused him a lot more hassle then he had wished for and it was his kidnappers fault that Sakura was now facing the problems she had. So why was it - after everything he and Sakura had been through - that he felt like he had returned home?

To Be Continued...

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. I know you all want something put up and it might be a while before I upload again. I dunno. And anyway, I thought this was a good place to end the chapter. And about the whole 'Village Hidden in the Rain' thing. I googled it and I really don't have such a bright idea about it. All I know is that it's a pretty mysterious village and isn't well-known. So, in this case, it's a little bit like a backroom to a nightclub where people play cards and bet. That's what it's like.

I need to make just a few things clear. I'm grateful for all of the points people pointed out and everything - I even saved your review so I would remember to include stuff I'd forgotten! Obviously some things are unclear at the moment. That was fully intentional and will be explained later.

I've answered some of your questions, Diamonarie;

'Sakura's eyes are jade green'
Well, I'm a big enough Naruto fan to know that her eyes are just green. I guess I'm not too attuned to my colours. xD

'Hidan curses way more than you have him to.'
I know he curses WAY more. Someone else commented on this too. I don't feel comfortable with him swearing in every other sentence as it doesn't really fit my writing style, but I am slowly increasing his use of bad language. :)

'I don't think Orochimaru uses genjutsu.'
Well, things have obviously become a little clearer in this chapter. And I think every ninja can do at least a basic genjutsu.

'Itachi never ever shows emotions/expressions unless u count when he died...'
Itachi is quite emotional in this chapter and appears to be in recent ones too. You have to remember that his entire clan has NOT been killed so therefore, he's going to be a little softer then usual. A bit like how he was with Sasuke in those adorable brotherly flashbacks. :3

'I absolutely love Deidara'
Ahaha. I have to admit, I like the way he turned out too! I don't remember him all that much from the manga and I guess I sort of gave him a personality similar to what I remembered

The answer to your question, ':3' :

'Couldnt itachi just use his sharingan to see through the blind fold?'
Well, I wasn't aware that the Sharingan could see through material. If this is the case, then again, this is just another loophole that is found within this story and I'm afraid there really isn't a way around it. I'm pretty sure that the Sharingan is only to follow handsigns and interperet other ninja's movements though. :P

Hope that answered a few things! Thanks for mentioning this, really. I love it when my mistakes are pointed out, that means I can correct them! :D

Thanks to rebellious-and-ditzy-bookworm whose wicked reviews have been not only boosting my confidence, but giving me the critisicm I need to improve my fanfiction. Seeing as though this is my first naruto fanfiction that isn't a oneshot, I need all I can get and honestly, I would be happy if only she continued to flame. Thank you so much!

I know it's a little rushed. I won't be afraid to admit - I struggle to make each chapter over 5,000 words. I was running out of things to do on their missions and the sole purpose of this fanfiction is actually where the story is headed at the moment. I just wasn't going to tell anyone. ;3 I got the whole story planned out, it just needs to be written down on word and then put up on here. That's harder than you think. D:

Thank you again to everyone that is reviewing - honestly, it means so much to me. I love hearing what you have to say.