(A/N) That was a quick update. Strange for someone like me. But overall, the updates will become quicker. Hope you enjoy this! R&R
Disclaimer: I…do…not…own…Naruto. Comprende?
All I Needed was Rain
Suspicion
"Akihiko!"
He heard my shout and turned to me, his onyx eyes blank. Blood was splattered on his vest and face but none of it was his own. Ignoring Gaara, I ran over to him, stepping over bodies.
"Akihiko, what happened?" I asked, trying my best not to look at the bodies.
"Akatsuki," was all he had to say.
Gaara walked toward one of the bodies of an ANBU. He looked the bodies over and then looked up at Akihiko, his eyes narrowing.
"What is it, Gaara?" I asked.
"It's nothing…" Gaara answered. "We should leave. It's not safe here."
"Yeah, I've noticed," I murmured.
"Hey, what's going on?" Naruto asked groggily, walking out of his tent.
He looked at the ground and gasped, now fully awake. Sasuke came out after him, inspecting the gore.
"Let's pack up," Akihiko said.
He and the others walked back to our camp. I stood there frozen, my mind telling me to move but my body not responding.
"Shouldn't we tell Tsunade-shishou?" I asked.
"I'll get a messenger hawk," Akihiko called.
I glanced at the horror that will probably haunt my dreams. They were all cut through, their eyes wide with shock. I knew Kisame hadn't done this, it wasn't his style. If Fishface had done this, they would have been torn to ribbons. But they were slashed straight through.
"C'mon, Sakura!" Naruto called.
I walked back to our camp, leaving the mess behind. Packing up all of my stuff, I looked at Akihiko. His hair was disheveled but his eyes were focused and alert. Gaara was looking at him too, his face unreadable.
It seemed as if this mission was going to fall apart. Our ANBU unit was murdered and now we have no back-up. Only the five of us are left to fight the Akatsuki. Fate appeared to be against us.
After we finished packing, we headed back into the trees, doing our best to navigate through the dark. Sasuke had his sharingan activated, moving steadily through the branches. Gaara was next to Akihiko and I listened in on their conversation.
"When did you find them?" Gaara asked.
He was speaking of the ANBU.
"Only minutes before you came," Akihiko replied.
Gaara seemed to think about this.
"Why do you have blood all over?" Gaara asked.
"I needed to inspect the bodies," Akihiko said. "I hoped some of them were alive."
Gaara thought about it again. I stopped listening, wondering why Gaara was asking those questions. He sounded… suspicious.
Why would he be suspicious of Akihiko? It seemed rather foolish. I dropped the subject and continued to run on the water covered branches, focusing on our destination.
-0-
We traveled through the next day, and by night, we were all weary. We made a lot of distance from the past camp. I felt ashamed. We should have at least buried the bodies. But we didn't have any time.
Our next camp was closer to the river. I sat on a rock that was glossy and wet that sat near the water, skimming rocks. I thought all of the things over, wondering if we had made the right decision.
"Is something on your mind?" Gaara asked, coming to sit beside me.
He looked more apathetic than usual.
"Of course," I said dully. "Our entire ANBU unit was murdered by Akatsuki."
Gaara's face seemed to darken at this topic.
"Don't you find it strange?" he asked.
"What, that all of those ANBU were slaughtered by the Akatsuki?" I said. "Not one bit."
"No, I meant the fact that the Akatsuki didn't capture us," Gaara said. "They had three jinchuuriki in their sights, and yet they kill the ANBU unit."
"Maybe they did it so they can capture us when we get to their base," I suggest.
But Gaara still looked doubtful.
"Listen, I don't know what the Akatsuki are going to do," I said. "All I'm concerned with is defeating them."
"You have a one-track mind," Gaara stated.
I stuck out my tongue, but his doubts spread to me. It was strange that the Akatsuki didn't capture us. I didn't want to have anymore doubts, though, so I quieted my fears.
We sat there for a while, looking at the clear, blue water of the river. Once in a while a fish would jump out making a 'plop' noise. The current was soft as it rushed over stones.
"It's beautiful," I said.
Gaara nodded in agreement.
This was another moment with Gaara that I wish I could frame.
-0-
The four day trek continued. It rained the entire time, leaving us sticky and wet. It wasn't the best journey I had. And Naruto's constant complaints weren't helping, either. At one point, Sasuke tied Naruto's headband around his mouth.
The light became brighter, as our fatigued legs carried us on. Soon enough, we found ourselves out in an open area. It was brighter than the forest, but not very bright overall. The clouds overhead blotted out the sun. Straight ahead there was another river.
Looking across the river, I saw it.
Amegakure.
(A/N) This chapter was shorter than the others, but the next one will be long. So, I hope you enjoyed. Give me some feedback, and I'll give you any candy you wish!