Captured

Naruto awoke as the rays of sunlight fell over the mountain tops and into the valley where the village once sat. He rubbed his eyes and got to his feet. He brushed the dust off himself and looked around. The one still standing figure was the makeshift hospital Yamato-sensei had constructed last night. Naruto walked over to it and once inside saw the various medical Ninja hard at work treating the injured.

"Sakura!" Naruto called as he saw the pink-haired Kunoichi rushing along. "can I talk with you?"

"Busy right now, Naruto!" Sakura called back.

"Sakura, how long till we can move these people?" Naruto asked.

"No time soon." Sakura said. "Many of them are still in very bad condition. Why? Where do you think you are moving them to?"

"We can't stay here. We need to get these people some real medicine and treatment. I think the best choice would be to try to get them to Suna. Get them into a real hospital." Naruto said.

"Yeah, if you could get them there. It's a three day trip at the speed shinobi travel, and these people are in no condition to go that far." Sakura responded

"And if we don't move them they may die. We have to do something." Naruto reasoned.

"You think I don't know that? I'm the best medic in this village with Tsunade-sama gone, and I know better than anyone in this village the possibility of them dying. I just don't know what can be done." Sakura's voice noticeably cracked, just a little barely enough for Naruto to hear. Probably for good reason, both of Sakura's sensei had just been killed in the space of a day by the same Akatsuki.

Naruto could relate, one of those teachers was his teacher as well. And he remembered how it felt when he was told of Jiraiya's passing. The coupled deaths of Tsunade and Kakashi must be a lot measuring on Sakura's mind, plus the responsibility of caring for all the people injured during Pains attack.

"Why not take a different approach," Yamato-sensei said as he stepped into the makeshift hospital. "Instead of bringing the patients to Suna, why not bring equipment and medical personal from Suna to the patients? That way there is no danger to the patients themselves and they can be given access to medical care that could possibly save their lives."

"Actually, that is a better idea. Why didn't I think of it?" Naruto exclaimed.

"Because, you're an idiot." Sakura dryly commented. "So do we have a plan?"

"I think it's safe to say we do. We need help from Suna, and once we get these people back on their feet, we can move them there for better safety." Yamato said.

"I should be one of those to go to Suna." Sakura said. "I can tell them what we need in detail and make sure we get it."

"What about the people here, with you gone who can take care of them?" Yamato asked.

"Ino is a pretty good medic. Not as good as me, but pretty good." Sakura said with a hint of sadistic intent. "She should be able to keep everyone from dying for about a week."

"HEY!" Ino shouted from a distance in the hospital shack.

"There's still another problem." Naruto spoke up. "Madara Uchiha II escaped during the attack and we don't know where she went. She still presents a threat."

"True." Yamato said. "But with Orochimaru dead, Madara II doesn't have a master to follow or a mission to kill you anymore."

"She could still have connections to or be a source of information regarding Akatsuki. If she worked for Orochimaru over 16 years ago, that was the same time Orochimaru was in Akatsuki. It might be a good idea to look for her." Naruto suggested.

"That's not the real reason you want to find her, is it?" Yamato said. "You think she withheld information about your family and your past. What if she did? Will you hunt for her yourself and beat the information out of her yourself? The last time you almost got killed."

"I don't care. I need to find her. And if I have to I'll beat the information out of her." Naruto slammed his fists together.

"That'll have to wait for later." Yamato said.

"I know. Right now, we need to concentrate on helping these people. Sakura, do you think you can make it to Suna and back in time to get medical supplies?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah, if I move right now. I'll have to get some provisions for the trip, but I'll be on my way as soon as I can." Sakura replied.

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Suki pulled the sleeves of the robes over her arms and shoulders. This cloak felt smothering and confining. She moved her arms and legs around to get a feel for it before shrugging it off. "Do I have to wear this?" She asked.

"Yes, you do. At the moment we have run short of members. I need all the manpower I can get right now." A voice answered back. Standing in the doorway, Madara the First leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. He still wore the spiral face mask even though all surviving members already knew who he was. "You are to Akatsuki and you will wear that cloak."

"But it's so cumbersome. It restricts my movements and hinders my abilities in battle. Maybe that's why so many members have died." Plus it looks entirely ridiculous. Seriously, for a secret organization wouldn't wearing the exact same uniforms kind of give them away? This thought she kept to herself. No sense angering the invincible original Uchiha. "And maybe if you hadn't decided to have Pain killed off, you wouldn't be so sort on manpower. He could've still been useful."

"And dangerous. He was getting too ambitious. Too sure of himself and his powers. The Rinnin'gan is not something I would've wanted to contend against. In my weakened state even I wouldn't have been able to defeat that without assistance. Besides, with your power I don't need Pain. Now put the cloak back on." Madara the First commanded.

"Fine." Suki tied the sleeves around her waist and let the rest fall behind her. "There, its on."

"I guess that works." Madara pushed away from the wall and stepped away. "I have a new assignment for you and your new partner."

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

Sakura moved from tree to tree with Sai, Naruto, and Yamato-sensei accompanying her. Returning with her from the Suna were several other medics and a supply carrier. This was the fifth day since leaving Konoha. The village was within sight. "We're almost there!" she shouted.

"Alright!" Yamato-sensei replied. As they continued to move forward, Yamato's head shot up, something changed just then. "Sakura! Look out!"

A paper bomb went off in front of them, knocking Sakura out of the air and causing the tree it was on to come crashing to the ground. Naruto held his arms over his eyes, blocking the smoke. "What was that?"

"Paper bomb! Someone has been expecting us!" Yamato exclaimed. A sound similar to a book blown in the wind came up around them and suddenly Yamato was encased in hundreds of sheets of paper. Holding his arms down tight against his body. "Paper!?"

"I remember from Pain's attack there was a Kunoichi who used paper to fight." Sai suggested. Sheets of paper began to encompass him as well. Quickly he pulled out his calligraphy brush and drew the image of a dog on one of the pieces of paper. Quickly he made the hand-signs before his hands were too encompassed. "Beast drawing mimicry Jutsu!" The dog slid off the page and moved swiftly, tracking the scent of the attacker. "Follow as best as possible!"

Naruto moved fast, slipping past the paper sheets that advanced for him. He followed the dog drawing and soon a female Akatsuki with a paper flower in her blue hair appeared before him. "I found her!" Suddenly, a sharp kick from the side knocked him to the ground. As well, he heard the dog drawing cry out in pain before being silenced.

"Hello, again. Kyuubi boy." The voice was familiar. Too familiar. The voice filled him with boiling rage which he felt could melt lead. Naruto stood up and glared at the voice's owner. Madara Uchiha II.

Madara II smiled down at Naruto, her sword braced over her shoulder and her new Akatsuki cloak tied around her waist flowing in the wind. "I see you've got a new long coat as well. Very reminiscent of Minato." She stated, noticing Naruto's red coat with black flame trim. "Oh, I'm sure he would be proud of you. A little clone."

"Don't disgrace his name with your tongue!" Naruto hissed.

"Can't I talk about my former team mate without your permission? How rude. Such a mean little brat you've become." Madara II snidely commented. "As you can see, I've grown board of status quo so I decided to join Akatsuki. They were even kind enough to team me up with the only other current women on the team. However, these cloaks are quite annoying."

"So now your back to finish the job and bring me to you boss again? don't you know the Akatsuki leader is dead?" Naruto shouted.

"You thought Pain was the Leader? Strong? Yes. Leadership skills? Yes. Akatsuki leader? No. He was a fall guy, a decoy. The real leader is far more powerful. And to answer your first question, no. We're not after you right now." Madara II jumped down from the tree and landed next to Sakura, who was just starting to get up. Madara grabbed Sakura by the collar and lifted her into the air. "This is today's target."

"Sakura?" Naruto asked in shock.

"Let go of me, you bitch!" Sakura pulled her hand back and concentrated her chakra to her fist.

"Can't have that." Madara jabbed her index and middle fingers sharply into Sakura's shoulder. Then with three more jabs hit Sakura's other shoulder and both sides of her hips. Sakura cried out in pain. "Painful, isn't it? Do you find it hard to manipulate Chakra now? Kind of tough with your chakra points blocked."

"What? You hit the chakra points? I thought only the Hyuuga clan could do that." Sakura cried out.

"And the Uchiha are descended from the Hyuuga, remember?" Madara replied. "And you're right, the Sharingan cannot see the chakra network, and I don't know Gentle Fist style. That doesn't stop a person from memorizing the locations of the chakra points." Even of the only ones I have memorized are the ones at the shoulders and hips. Sheets of paper collected around Sakura and began to wrap her up. She struggled in vain.

Naruto charged towards Madara, concentrating his chakra into a rotating ball in his hand. He added his wind element chakra and a shuriken shape surrounded the chakra ball. The Rasen-Shuriken. He threw the Rasen-Shuriken (yes, he can do that now. It's in the manga) with all his might. Madara cast Sakura to the ground and leapt into the air, dodging the attack. She came back down and slammed her high heels into Naruto's face. He smashed back into the ground.

"You advanced the Rasengan even greater than Minato did. Congratulations. However, it probably would've been more effective if you had used it in conjuncture with the Flying Thunder God. Next time, try not to over react." Madara condoned.

"What…what do you want with Sakura?" Naruto asked, pushing himself off the ground.

"She's important to you, that's always a start. Besides, she is an excellent medic who knows every working of the human body and can create poisons and antidotes better that Sasori ever could. That combined with her precise Chakra control and ungodly strength makes her a prime target. My Master will be much pleased."

"And who would that be?" Naruto asked.

"Who else? Madara Uchiha the first." Madara II replied.

Sakura, now totally bundled up in paper, was lifted up trough the air towards Konan and Madara. "We'll be taking our leave now. The paper will stay until we're far out of reach. If you try to follow, Naruto, your friends will be crushed to death." With that, Madara and Konan left, taking Sakura with them.