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Scattered Clouds, Disappearing Mist
Out of Time
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Otogakure no Sakura sighed as she locked eyes with stunning emerald glare for glare. Her hands gripped the edge of the broken sink bowel as she leaned in closer, the green pools before her following her every move, unafraid and blank. She stopped when her nose was centimeters from the mirror, and she could trace every detail of her black flecked irises, glowing tauntingly in the candlelight of her bathroom. Small droplets of scarlet fell down her still damp bangs, landing with faint thumps on the bowel rim before sliding easily down, down… down…
Kami, I need to get out of here.
Sakura raised a hand to her temple and healed the small gash splitting across her skin there, a result from a carefully aimed shuriken hidden in a seemingly innocent raven.
Geez sensei… you weren't going to ease up at all were you?
She smirked then turned away from the mirror, giving herself one last look over before heading out the door. She entered her one room bunker, devoid of furnishing except a small cot hanging off one of the walls and a simple stand for Kusanagi. A trunk rested at the foot of her bed, and a small tray of specially prepared food was balancing on the rounded top.
Eyeing the meal, Sakura picked up the tray and went over to the window, where a few rays of the early evening sun managed to peek over the high base walls. Plopping down on the sill, she examined the rice balls and dry rolls, sniffing the food cautiously. Smelling only the burnt staleness of the food, she grabbed a rice ball and crushed it in her palm, kneading the rice bits carefully with her fingers.
There.
A small red and white capsule pushed against her calloused skin, and she inspected it thoroughly, bringing it up so the meager light supply could penetrate the plastic walls of the pill.
Red, smells like iron… blood powder? What do they think I am… a vampire?
Slightly amused at the thought, she forced herself off the sill and back towards the bathroom – the only room in her bunker that lacked a camera… just a recorder.
Any appetite she could've had disappearing, Sakura easily crushed the remainder of her food supply then flushed the crumbs down the toilet, slightly amazed it wasn't plugging the tiny contraption. The pill followed soon after, its capsule breaking in the rushing water, leaving a stain of crimson in the spinning current.
Her eyes caught emerald in the mirror once more, a tired grin on the darkened face.
Hebi-sama's getting desperate… blood powder is good for internal organs. The body transfer must be soon…
Returning to her room, she kneeled down before the trunk and opened it. Reaching down into the darkness, her fingers caressed an unseen fabric, and she pulled it halfway out, holding it to her chest as she rubbed the soft linen.
Sensei was right… I'm almost out of time…
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Suigetsu Hozuki was bored.
No, scratch that. He was bored to freaking death.
Why wasn't she there already?
He twisted his non-existent body in the container held away from the black stoned wall, a simple ball of water stuck in a larger collection of water, stuck in an even larger body of…
Gah! I'm losing my mind!
Suigetsu's non-eyes gazed at the door to the lab.
"Sakura-hime," (1) he whined to the darkness, his unused voice croaking out, "why can't you just get here already?"
Silence was his only answer.
Disappointment sent small bubbles echoing throughout his imprisonment.
"Fine… I didn't want to see you anyways!"
Yeah, right…
"Geez, you're no better than Naruto-baka, Suigetsu-kun."
And then she was there, forming from the shadows as though she had been there the whole time, a pleasant smile on her face.
His non-eyes rolled.
"About time hime. I swear, any longer and I would've evaporated."
She chuckled at his teasing tone, making him smirk mentally.
"I guess since I'm such a slow disappointment to you," Sakura taunted back readily, pulling an item out and then tossing it up and down with one hand, "this bottle of new spring water just won't be good enough –"
A gasp slid across his container front, a single mass of silver bubbles and pulsing chakra.
"Sakura-hime…"
Laughing, she slid his container top slightly open, and poured the clean water onto him, watching in amusement as his special blob of liquid reached out to absorb the fresh water, the ends of the spinning globe shimmering with light blue chakra.
In no time, the bottle returned to her belt pack empty. Sakura slid Suigetsu's container back closed, smiling as he murmured incoherently in his delight.
"Wow, Sui-kun… is it just me or are you getting more pathetic every time I come in here?"
"Play nice hime."
She tapped the glass holding her companion in, efficiently silencing his happy hums.
"Who said I was nice?"
She could feel his non-eyes on her, amused.
"Everyone but you I think."
She shook her head then straightened, glancing at the door for a moment before turning back to the now glowing mass of chakra water.
"Sui-kun," Sakura stared with intent at the container, suddenly business-like and serious, "do you remember our plan?"
"Of course I do Sakura-hime," he sputtered indignantly, but with seriousness sewn into his words.
She nodded once, her eyes flickering back towards the lab door.
"Are you already running out of time hime?"
"I think so."
Emerald locked with clear blue nothing.
"He's upping the dosage. I'd say be prepared tonight."
"That soon?"
"Yeah… Hebi-sama has been sick and weak for some time now, ever since I was reunited with my old teammates. Seems his current body is beginning to fail him."
The glowing globe moved slightly, as though nodding.
"Do you know how you're going to defeat him hime?"
Sakura stared at Suigetsu then down at her hand, her fingers remembering the feel of the gash healing on her temple.
"Yes, but knowing and doing are the same thing. Sensei came to the Northwest base the night before my fight with my old team destroyed it. He taught me how to withstand Orochimaru's genjutsu, and I've practiced with him a few times since getting here a few days ago."
Voices sounded just outside the door, and footsteps were heard coming down the dark hallway.
"You'd better go hime."
"Yeah. I'll be back for you tonight or tomorrow night for sure."
"Hmph. Be careful Sakura-hime."
"Don't worry about me. Besides," she smirked, her body dissolving into the shadows once more, just as the handle on the door began to turn, "I won't be doing this alone…"
- - -
Itachi Uchiha balanced himself easily on the branch, his eyes flaring blood red into the night. The setting sun cast crimson rays out across the flat tops of the hidden base, making shadows dance and sputter with every movement around the torches aligning the walls.
His skilled gaze sifted over the shadowy forms sauntering about the base, landing on one then leaping to another every split second, a faint outline of a face shimmering in his eyesight with every flicker of his eyes.
A movement out of the shadows near the outside of the lab caught his attention, and, his eyes finally finding their desired target, locked onto the form, Sharingan blazing as it followed every step…
:: Tonight. ::
As soon as the thought left him, Itachi felt another familiar presence enter his mind and connect to him, like a chakra string to a wooden puppet.
:: As you wish. ::
The voice didn't seem disturbed in the least, and rang with confidence.
:: You have only one chance. Don't mess it up. ::
He could feel a slight quiver through their connection: a mock scoff of irritation, so like himself.
:: And if I fail? ::
His eyes closed as his back leaned fully against the tree trunk.
:: I'll depose of you personally. ::
Another quiver; one he couldn't decipher clearly.
:: And Kabuto? ::
:: He'll help if he values his life, which he does. ::
The connection rattled slightly: laughter?
Itachi shook his head.
:: I won't let you down… sensei. ::
Serious now; an easy change.
The faintest of smiles ghosted across his mouth.
:: I know. ::
Then the connection cut abruptly, blood red fading back to onyx black. They fixated themselves on the form until it disappeared into the base, but his gaze never faltered from the doorway.
Good luck… Sakura-san…
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(1) hime = princess
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(A/N: Woot. Another one done! I'm so sorry for the delay on this one. And it was short too! DX :: shot :: School plus homework equals little to no time at all to write D: I'm falling behind though… so keep an eye out for an update hopefully later this week sometime. Well, until next time! R&R plz!)
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Now to answer some questions. X3
Last chapter: Why did I make Sai go to assassinate Sakura? Simple. In the Shippuden, Sai secret mission was to kill Sasuke, but after being around Naruto and Sakura he decided he would capture Sasuke instead so he could help Naruto. And you all will notice that in the last chappie, he didn't just immediately go to kill her, but instead tried to immobilize her. And he said that it was time for her to go back to her friends.
XB Got it now?
Oh, and yes Sakura does know Sai. They have met before. That will be explained in the next chappie or two (I hope) so just be patient mkay? :B
Is Sakura evil? Maybe. Just keep reading. X3
Where are the Akatsuki? Are they in this? Um, I hope this chappie pretty much answered those two. But if it is still unclear, yes they are in this. I just have to get past Orochimaru, because Sasuke in Shippuden even had to get past Hebi-sama first before he created Team Hebi, then Team Hawk, and then finally joining Akatsuki.
Yes, I put Suigetsu in this. Why? Because I love him! Another member of Team Hebi will be in this as well, but that will have to wait until next chapter!
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Thanks so much for all the support! I'm so glad you all like this! It makes writing this so much easier!
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