Thanks for all your reviews once again! I'm aiming for 100 reviews before chapter 12 so please do your best and review :), be it constructive criticism or general comments or opinions or even things you would like to see in the upcoming chapters! i do welcome ideas and views !

And gomen! This update took longer than usual, but updates will be coming in faster than this one!

10: The eye of the enemy

"I want the Uchiha scum dead," Danzou declared in the glimmer of a bashful candlelight.

"You're in no position to be giving me orders," the figure in the darkness answered with an arrogant tone.

There was a pause. The two had chosen to meet here, in Danzou's office. It was a small and simple room, with a feeble light to guide a person's sight and it certainly wasn't comfortable. But Danzou had lived without the pleasures of comfort for over 17 years now. He had always wanted the oppurtunity to be hokage and wipe out the scum of Uchiha but one never happened and the other had only been partially fulfilled.

He was disappointed to say the least.

"Just find him and kill him," Danzou said finally. "That's all I want."

"Ah, so you wouldn't be wanting that other thing?"

Danzou froze as a single bead of sweat fell down his forehead.

"Hm, I thought as much." And the figure disappeared.

So, he had been found out. Now it was a matter of who was to get there first. "You may enter again."

Sasuyama Tabiki stepped through the door, a smirk plastered to his ageing features. Crossing his arms, he took a seat in front of Danzo, taking the liberty of resting his feet on his desk in a smug manner.

Danzou, without hesitation, pushed the man's feet off the desk. "Tabiki, enough of your little display. It's time you and your squad set off in search for that Uchiha scum."

Tabiki raised his eyes to the old man before him. "And what would you have me do once I get there? Cut off a few fingers?" Another smirk. "Rip the sharingan from his skull?"

"Just get there before Akatsuki. And retrieve the boy while you're at it," Danzou told him firmly, his natural intimidating voice drinking up all the confidence in Tabiki.

"Hai...so you really are after it. Alright, I'll see what I can do." Tabiki stood.

"You're sure he is alive?" Danzou said after a several seconds of silence.

"Hai. That bastard got away with it in the trial, but if if I ever see his face alive again, I won't be needing a damn judge to tell me what to do." And he left the room.

Sakura gazed at him, lips slightly parted. She was shocked by his words...was he really going to give up Ichiro to her? Even though she barely knew the baby boy. Sasuke should be looking after this child, not her.

Sasuke was looking back, his dark eyes sincere in what he was saying. There was a small glint in the darkness of his pupils. He was studying her reactions-she could tell. There was a small smirk, or smile, Sakura couldn't tell. All she knew was that he never looked more honest, or attractive at that moment. Her cheeks flaming, Sakura could only say one thing.

"Okay."

Sasuke widened his eyes slightly. He was not expecting her to say yes right away like that. Why had she accepted? Sure enough he was grateful but he knew what she was like. She would question everything before agreeing. "I need you to take him...but don't tell anyone who he really is."

"And what are you doing?" Sakura asked him.

And here come the questions. Sasuke guessed as much, but she had the right to know. "There are enough people after me as it is. I'm going to go...far away somewhere. Keep out of everyone's way, especially Ichiro's. He cannot know about me or his heritage...Sakura, you must take full responsibility for him."

Sakura widened her eyes. 'You...mean like his mother?' She shuddered at the thought. She was nowhere near ready for something like that. "Sasuke, I said I'd take the baby but I can't be responsible for his life! He needs you!"

Sasuke sighed heavily. "I can't afford to keep putting him in danger. Take him, change his name, do anything you can. Just keep him away from Akatsuki."

Sakura bit her lip. She had already agreed to taking Ichiro, she couldn't take it back now. But, she didn't want to ruin the child's identity and raise him with all the lies. "I will protect him, but...what about you?"

Sasuke stood. "You can never see me again."

Sakura widened her eyes. "No!" She protested, clenching the bed sheets with her fingers. "You can't just say that!" Sakura especially didn't want Sasuke to disappear forever. If he wanted to hide temporarily, Sakura could understand that; but leaving forever?

"You need to leave as soon as-"

Run...get going now...they're coming... Sasuke grunted as images of swords flickered in his mind. Holding his head once again, he tried to focus. Get him safe...

"Shit!"

Sakura snapped her head so that her eyes locked with his. "What is it?" She asked, startled.

"You need to go...now!" Sasuke went to the window beside the bed and gazed up at the iced glaciers. The smoke...like a phantom in the fog, it had gone. "Sakura, you need to get out as fast as you can."

"What about the people of this village?" Sakura demanded.

"Those men don't care about the people. All they want is Ichiro. There's no time..." Sasuke went to Ichiro and gazed at his sleeping form for a moment.

"And what about you?" Sakura asked him finally.

"I'll hold them off as long as I can..." Sasuke told her honestly. "They're coming. You need to go now."

Sakura hesitated. It was happening so soon. "But...I want to see you again."

Sasuke picked up Ichiro and placed him in Sakura's arms. "I can't promise anything..." He gave her a bottle. "He's a heavy sleeper, he won't be a bother on the travel..."

"Sasuke..."

"Just feed him when he wakes up..."

"Sasuke..."

"And change him when you get to Konoha-"

"Sasuke!" Sakura shouted finally. "I-I can't...It's too soon..."

Sasuke grabbed her by the shoulders, not roughly but she could feel his desperation in his touch. "You're the only person I can trust. You need to look out for him...something I can't do..."

Sakura knew he was right. She had to be strong for Sasuke and Ichiro. "I know, I know..." She followed Sasuke out of the bedroom and through the lounge to the door. He swung it open and gazed out at the snow, falling heavily. He watched as Sakura wrapped a cloack around her and then held Ichiro securely.

"Hold him tightly..." Sasuke told her quietly.

Sakura looked up at him. With her free hand, she grazed his cheek with her fingetips. Sasuke closed his eyes for a moment at her touch. He didn't know what he was longing for, but it certainly wasn't to be alone like this. Stepping towards him, she pressed her lips against his ear.

"Nothing will change...I promise..." She whispered. Sakura knew Sasuke would understand what she meant by those words. "I'm yours too..."

Sasuke's eyes said enough. The glimmer beneath the darkness was the warmth from her and she could see it. "I've got you covered...run..."

Sakura nodded before dashing out of the cabin and speeding down the slope. Sasuke, watching her back, felt something pull at his once cold heart.

'If there's something I can do...'

Then, drawing his katana, he faced the black sea of strangers now approaching...

Sakura kept running. Ichiro was now awake in her arms. He was restless, as expected. The constant leaping and hopping was enough to cause him to wimper slightly. She tried to hush him soothingly, whispering with the wind. It was not working. Ichiro could almost sense something wrong. Sakura understood there was a connection between him and his uncle. Some form of bond where they could sense each other's emotions.

Her surroundings were pure white, save for the grey skinless trees surrounding her. It kept her on edge...there was a presence deep within the ice. Something she felt greatly unsettled about. Sasuke was handling those after her...so what of this feeling?

Sakura yelped as she felt the ground give way beneath her. Flipping backwards, she landed on a tree branch with perfect accuracy. "Who's there?"

So, the enemy had already approached. Whoever this person was, she was surprised to say in the least. Not 10 minutes at the most from Sasuke's home and yet this enemy had somehow missed the animal senses of the sharingan. This person...was good.

Sakura kept looking around her. Did the ground merely crack because of the ice? Whatever the case, she couldn't afford to hang around. About to set off once again, she suddenly felt a presence behind her.

"Well, well, well..."

Sakura paused. Where had she heard that voice before? It sounded dauntingly familiar...and yet, too impossible to be true. Just what...was this person doing here?

'Don't be foolish...he's...' Sakura spun round to finally face the enemy. And in his eyes she saw pure kindness and a hollow soul...'Dead?'

Sasuke activated his sharingan. The star-like pattern forming in his eyes, (referring to Sasuke's new sharingan here) and glaring at his opponents. At least a 100 to be exact. Sasuke was aware that Akatsuki did not want to use up too much of their chakra and fight themselves.

Especially when they were preparing for a thing such as this. Of course, the Uchiha was not one to kill men without a pure reason. He was not heartless...and many times he had not killed men back in Sound, despite Orochimaru telling him to. Sasuke was not a willing killer. It was only if necessary.

'Then again...these guys are threatening my nephew...' And that was reason enough. Not only that but Sasuke wasn't even sure if they were human. They could be solid clones, which disappear with a fatal blow. Either way, blood would surely be spilled. Deciding to save up his chakra, he chose to use tai-jutsu and katana skills. These men were easy enough.

The men's eyes were the only visible part on their black bodies. They looked careless and hard. A typical trait of a ninja with a haunted past. Sasuke could have been one of them. He smirked. Charging at the men, he swiped the katana like a spider's web catching the sunlight and slashed it across the first three shinobi. Blood danced in the air, producing from their necks. Landing in the centre of the enemie's swarm, he could see men charging at him from every angle. Flipping upwards, he looked down at the men, then, swinging his body round, he charged electric currents through his body and into the katana. He landed, and electric bolts were shot from his body and into several men. But only more charged at him. So he continued to battle them, slicing and cutting, blind from the blood and black.

These surely weren't real men? Had Akatsuki seriously been gathering followers? Nevertheless, he couldn't take back what he had done. It was his life or theirs after all.

Sasuke ducked a kunai, before thrusting his katana from the same attacker and flinging his body into another. He kicked a few others from behind and used their falling corpses as support to push forward against a herd of charging ninja.

"It's not possible..." Sakura mouthed, gazing into the eyes of the man before her. Gritting her teeth, she jumped from the tree and kept running. It must have been an illusion...to confuse her. That was the only possible reason, explanation...

"Where are you running kiddo?"

Sakura kept going, shielding Ichiro from the spray of snow. "Hold on Ichiro, we're almost-GAH!" She collided into the man's body. Somehow he had got there before she had. Since when was he so fast?

"It's not you!" Sakura shouted at the man. "He's dead!" She punched the man as hard as she could with her free hand, before speeding off. Much to her frustration, she felt a tug at her hood and was forced backwards. She landed on the snow, hitting her head against a rock. Her flesh split and blood cried down the side of her head. "Now I'm pissed!" She flipped up and was about to punch him again when he blocked her attack.

"Give me the child and I won't kill you..."

Sakura widened her eyes. "Why are you doing this? No...it's not you, who are you really?"

"Don't I look like Jaraiya to you? Sure enough we didn't know each other all that well but I remember you!"

Sakura glared at the white haired man. "Jaraiya...is dead...he doesn't talk the way you do..." She kicked the man in the gut before running off again. She had to get away! Whoever it was, even if it was...somehow...Jaraiya, it didn't matter. It was Ichiro's safety that counted, and right now, he was crying. "Shhh...it's ok...we're getting there..."

Sakura suddenly felt danger. "Ugh! Doesn't this guy ever quit?" She spun around and ducked just in time. "Stop with the disguise! Who are you?"

"Isn't it strange how no one ever found Jaraiya's body? Suppose I was working for Akatsuki all along?" Jaraiya smirked.

'That's a lie! The Jaraiya I knew made Naruto get stronger in order to defend himself against Akatsuki!' "That's a load of bullshit!"

Jaraiya grabbed her by the throat faster than the speed of light. "This could all end very ugly..."

Sakura struggled against him. 'How is he...this strong?'

Sasuke knelt to the ground, breathing heavily. 100 corpses surrounded him. Standing up and brushing himself off, he gazed all around him. He was about to wipe the blood off the katana when the blood suddenly chipped and disappeared like dust. He raised a brow in confusion. 'What...is this?' He looked at his surroundings and widened his eyes. All the bodies had disappeared. 'Gen-jutsu...I see you're still powerful...Madara...' He gritted his teeth before replacing his katana back in its sheath.

He turned to face his home and lowered his head. 'Why do I still feel like...' "Shit!" He ran as fast as he could down the snowy slope in desperation. 'Those men were just a distraction so I would be away from the real attacker! Akatsuki knew it all along!' He had underestimated them...especially Pein. He kept going, as the wind pushed back against him. There was a familiar presence...

"Get off of me!" Sakura screamed finally, kicking the man several times in the ribs before he finally let go. She held the bruise on her throat and coughed. 'Ichiro isn't safe here...I can't stay and fight...' She tried to run again but he grabbed her by the ankle and swung her into a tree. The tree smashed, bark exploding into wooden shards, like a firework. "You're really trying my patience!"

Producing green chakra from her fist, she plunged it into the ground, sending a wall of snow soaring into the air and towards Jaraiya, or what appeared to be him. Jaraiya shielded the snow with a hand.

Sakura breathed heavily with anger, the cold air running into her lungs. Standing up straight, she held Ichiro even tighter. "Phew..."

"Is that all this cherry blossom has got?" Jaraiya appeared like a ghost after the snow had settled once again.

"Stop pretending already!" Sakura ran at him again until she felt a firm hand against her chest, stopping her going forward. Sakura looked up and saw the back of Sasuke. His katana was drawn.

"Sasuke Uchiha...you've taken your time..."

Sasuke glared at the enemy before him. "Take off that ridiculous guise...Pein..."

"God has many guises he uses...let's just say this is a new one I want to play with..."

Sakura did not quite understand how Sasuke knew so much about the Akatsuki's techniques...and what Sakura could figure from Pein, was that he used dead bodies to his will. It was sickening.

"This person is the leader of Akatsuki..." Sasuke announced to Sakura.

She widened her eyes and gazed at Jaraiya in surprise. 'Did he just refer himself to a God?'

"You have something I want," Jaraiya sneered. "Are you really going to fight me?"

Sasuke frowned. It was clear in his mind and he had to face the truth. "I'm no match for you...but I know someone who is..." He was nervous, to say the least...but it was the only way. This technique would only last a few minutes...but it was the only way he could save Ichiro. It seems he wasn't going to leave Sakura and his nephew just yet.

"Sakura...I cannot let you see this technique..." Sasuke told her. "Run..." He looked at her. "I'll meet you..."

Sakura froze. What was he going to do? 'If he says he'll meet me...I'll believe him...this guy must be really dangerous if Sasuke is deciding to come with me...' But she felt relief and trust in Sasuke's serenity. So...she ran off.

"You know I'll only follow her..." Jaraiya/Pein said with a grin.

"You're not using your full power. Your body is too far away...so I think he can take you on..." Sasuke smirked as he closed his eyes. "Irege sharingan." This was certianly going to take a toll on Sasuke body. But he had no choice. If Pein truly did intent to follow Sakura then every precaution was needed.

Jaraiya/Pein watched with interest. He had heard of this technique...but had never witnessed it. "Ah...I take it you taught him that technique eh Itachi? It's good too see your traiterous face once again."

"Pein..." The eyes of the elder brother opened. "Stay away from my son."

What do you think?? Quite action filled, and I hope it wasn't too confusing! Basically, Pein has added Jaraiya to the six people he uses in battle and was using him to disguise his identity! Good thing he couldn't fool Sakura!

And this Irege sharingan...well you'll find out more in the next chapter! Please review! Oh and do you remember Tabiki from the first story? Yep, he's back and wants revenge! CHAPTER 11 WILL BE CALLED: New canvas, painted lies