Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot and original characters!
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Chapter 13
Naruto's P.O.V
"Dammit, everyone's so worried about what could be happening to Michiko-chan right now!! Why can't baa-chan just let me and Sasuke-teme handle that damned Akatsuki on our own and get the job done??" I thought as me and the others waited for baa-chan to tell us who the hell took Michiko-chan.
- - - - -
I heard Sasuke-teme sigh in annoyance- his patience was running thin. He couldn't complain about it, he felt the same thing, "Tsunade-baa-chan just tell us who took Michiko-chan and let us save her ourselves!" I yelled, not taking any more of the silence.
Sighs escaped from the mouths of baa-chan, Sakura and Michiko-chan's sensei- Kasumi-sensei I think was her name. Then I heard an incoherent mutter from Michiko-chan's teammate, Sumiteru- he suddenly reminds me a lot of Sasuke-teme- and an annoyed sigh from Sasuke. I didn't hear any reaction from Hinata-chan though- she just remained quiet, as usual.
- - - - -
"It can't be helped," Tsunade-baa-chan said, finally breaking the silence. All of the attention- even mine- went back to her, "You all have the right to know, and you're all just going to figure it out anyway- sooner or later."
"We choose now!" I yelled, still feeling impatient. I even earned another bonk in the head from Sakura-chan. I just ignored her and kept my composure as best as I could as I slammed my hands down on baa-chan's table. Baa-chan and I had a slight glaring contest- much like the ones I had with Sasuke-teme- before I spoke up again, my voice still loud and demanding.
"Are you going to tell us or not?" I managed to say. Tsunade-baa-chan's frown just got deeper as she irritably flicked my nose with her fingers, "Ow!!" I staggered back, then somehow managing to fall on my back.
I heard a sudden shuffle and light footsteps coming towards me, "Naruto-kun!" I heard Hinata's worried voice, "She's always worrying about me- even if I didn't notice it sooner..." I thought as she helped me up. "Arigato, Hinata-chan," I whispered to her as we both got up. I swore I could've seen a new shade of red appear on her face- it was so cute.
- - - - -
Normal P.O.V
All the time Hinata and Naruto had their moment, the others just watched silently, "Dobe," Sasuke muttered, a small smirk on his face as he shook his head slightly. The pink haired girl whispered a, "Lucky!" as she smiled fondly at the two nins. Kiba rolled his eyes, as did Sumiteru. Kasumi also smiled at the two ninjas, "How cute," she muttered quietly. Even Tsunade was eased of some grief from the scene before her, "I hope those two would just get together soon," she thought.
The relief from the tension only lasted for a few minutes until everything got straightened up again. Everyone then went from relaxed to edgy in a matter of seconds as they still waited for the big announcement of the culprit of the blood drops from Michiko's hospital room.
A deep sigh was released from the fifth Hokage, she looked weighed down by the stress of the information on her, and she knew the consequences of this given information if she were to speak of it to this group of trusted ninjas.
- - - - -
She eyed Sasuke first, giving him a silent warning- beforehand. The youngest Uchiha nodded silently as well, he mentally prepared himself- the others didn't notice the slight exchange from the two, or so he thought.
She then eyed Naruto- silently telling him to watch his future actions- he seemed to have noticed the exchange of glances from Tsunade and Sasuke- the blonde haired nin nodded silently as he could.
- - - - -
There was still a moment of silence, "Tsunade-shishou?" Sakura prompted.
"Onegai, Hokage-sama," Kasumi practically begged as she placed one hand flat on the Hokage's desk and one fist placed on her chest, where the heart lies, her eyes filled with concern for her student.
Stalling for three more minutes, she finally caved in, "It's Uchiha Itachi."
- - - - -
With the Rescue Team
"So it's settled then?" Ryosei asked, looking away from the team and over to the Akatsuki base- the others only nodded. He narrowed his eyes when he sensed something off, "They're moving her," he said. The others cursed, "Some of them are also coming our way," he warned.
The two girls whimpered, "Not again- we need more time to get ready!" Ino exclaimed in a worried tone, no one looked at the blonde girl- they all knew what they were getting themselves into. They all had serious faces on, "Well, let's stop standing here like idiots and get a move on!" Lee shouted, running off- doing his part for the plan and the mission.
- - - - -
"Hang in there, Michiko-chan," Tenten muttered as she followed behind Neji, following Lee's lead. All of them entered the unknown territory before them- then splitting up into three groups.
Neji lead the first group- his group consisting of Lee, Tenten and himself, forming their original team. Second team was Shikamaru's and Ino's and lastly there was Ryosei's and Sai's team. They all headed to different paths in the structure, each of them checking each room for any signs of their comrade, Michiko.
- - - - -
"Damn it!" the lazy genius suddenly says when he and Ino stumbled upon where Michiko's previous room was. He contacted the other teams, using the headsets they had in use. Ino was looking through the room, looking for anything that Michiko left behind- or any of the Akatsuki- to help her find her current location, "Not even a note or anything- it's spotless; someone cleaned up," she thought frustrated, "Yeah, this is Shikamaru- we found her previous room," he said, looking over to Ino who shook her head, "No signs or clue to where she could be now, though," he reported, "It's been cleaned," Ino added.
A crackle came from the other lines, "Okay, keep searching," Neji ordered, "I can sense her presence- not too far from where Sai and I are," Ryosei suddenly said, "Get over here, now!" Sai exclaimed as sounds of fighting was heard. The other two teams headed out- stopping whatever they were previously doing and sprinted over to where Ryosei and Sai were.
"Michiko-chan!" all of them thought, "We're coming!"
- - - - -
At Konoha's Hokage Tower- Sasuke's P.O.V
"What the hell?" I said aloud, voicing everyone's thoughts, "Why would he go after Michiko!?" I shouted angrily, hitting the wall near me, leaving a dent- the Hokage narrowed her eyes at me for my actions- but could she really blame me?
- - - - -
"What the hell does that man want from me?" I asked myself, "And more importantly, why is he after Michiko? Wasn't he just recently after that baka?" I grabbed my head, closing my eyes tightly- refraining myself from making anymore unnecessary actions in front of everyone, especially a certain pink haired girl
I mentally slapped my head, "Why am I thinking about her! She means nothing to me; I shouldn't be caring at all what she thinks!" I said to myself, regaining my composure, slowly.
- - - - -
"Are you done acting out?" I heard someone ask, it was from Sakura, "Hn," was my only response to that- I saw her glare at me, I ignored her though I felt something in me, couldn't tell what it was though, "But I'm sure that it doesn't matter," I told myself.
Looking around, everyone else was still silent, in shock with the news. The baka made the first comment with the news, "But...I thought they were after me?" he said unsurely, his brows furrowing, "Why are they after Michiko-chan now?" he continued, to ask- "Heh, more like demanding," I thought, mentally smirking at the blonde's actions.
"That's what we're trying to find out, Naruto," was all Tsunade said, I could tell that she was still stressed out with everything that's been happening so suddenly- just after I arrived and after the sudden appearance of my dear brother who was supposedly after my best friend and not someone going by the name of Yukiko Michiko.
- - - - -
My face suddenly showed the face of shock- everyone seemed to notice it and had their eyebrows risen at me. My eyes were still wide with the realization I just had. No way would he do that, no way- there's no other reason, though! He didn't just do this for fun...does things with a purpose- something that he would benefit from.
"That sick-" I didn't even get to finish my sentence when someone cut me off, that someone being the Hokage of the village, "What is it Uchiha?" she said, her voice demanding, but he could trace some hint of curiosity in her voice.
I looked at everyone in the room, all those worried faces about what he had to say, "Does it involve Michiko-chan?" Hinata spoke, her voice soft but still audible. I looked at her, "I might know the reason why he took her," announcing it to everyone.
- - - - -
With Michiko- her P.O.V
I was deep in thought when someone grabbed me from my room, it definitely wasn't Itachi. The guy, as I presume, that was carrying me, who didn't even bother explaining his sudden intrusion, had black hair and he was wearing a mask- it had some weird design. I could tell that he was taking me to someplace else, but why?
- - - - -
"Where are you taking me? Who are you anyway?" I asked, finally voicing out my thoughts- I was getting really uncomfortable- not just because he was carrying me on his back and that he was going faster than a usual ninja runs, but also because of the unbearable silence, I've had enough of it thank you very much.
I only heard him grunt, "Not a talker I see," I thought. We turned another corner and then a familiar technique was chanted out, "Kakuu Kagai no Jutsu (Aerial Assault Technique)!"
My captor had to turn around, in order for me to be shielded, I was baffled, "That was a nice thing to do," she thought, "That was because you have something these S-ranked Criminals want!" my Inner suddenly said, "It's his responsibility that you are under his protection and under that you won't escape!" she added. I twitched, "Some reasoning you have- I actually thought that he was one of the good guys; you just had to say about escaping," I told her, "Well of course! All of it is true anyway, no matter what happens!"
- - - - -
After a short debate with my inner, I focused my attention to my savior...or rather, saviors. My heart leapt for joy, "Ryosei-kun!!"
Though my jubilant emotion suddenly turned sour when another Akatsuki member came by, "I'll take care of them- go and take her to Pain or something," the person said. I looked at him more closely, "Kisame!" I growled. I saw him smirk at me, "Go on!" he ordered and started fighting off Ryosei and Sai.
"No!" I screamed as my captor started going off again, leaving my saviors behind with the fish man, "Ryosei-kun!" I shouted helplessly as they disappeared from my sight. A few tears managed to fall from my cheek, "Please be safe," I whispered.
- - - - -
With Sai and Ryosei
Ryosei managed to stop Michiko and her captor from going any further- her captor even turned around to face them, keeping Michiko hidden behind him. The two Konoha ninjas narrowed their eyes when they saw Kisame come and mutter something to Michiko's captor. Sai managed to land a hit on the blue skinned man when he saw him smirk at Michiko.
The two Konoha ninjas' earphones crackled, "Is that Michiko-chan?" both Tenten and Ino asked in unison from their lines, "Is she okay?" the followed up, "Stall them!" Neji ordered, "She's here; we think so; we're on it- get over here, now!" Sai replied back.
Ryosei was about to leave Sai to Kisame, "Damn!" the maroon haired boy snarled, but he saw Michiko's captor run away.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
A/N: Finally! An update! *grins* Sorry for taking forever...I'm having a small problem with Michiko-chan's relationship- who I should her up, that is. Should I go with the cannon pair- which is with Kiba-kun or should it be with Sumiteru-kun? Please tell me what you think or please visit my site and vote (I set up a poll)! I might be (I'm pretty sure) that I'll be able to update faster knowing the final pairings, it's very very important, ya know!
Anyway! Hope you liked the chapter! More to come soon! Review after ya Read okay? *grins*