Hi everyone and welcome to the thirty-fifth chapter of 'The Reason for Existing'. I hope you all like it and will review!
Sai and Hinata rushed Sakura up the passage. Although the pinkette seemed happy to be back with them she still seemed slightly discontent. There was melancholy in her eyes as she fled the passage.
"Sakura-San, are y-you sure you're quite a-all right? Katsuyu-San is here, we c-can get you healed if n-need be" said Hinata holding up the small slug.
Sakura smiled and shook her head, "Arigatou Hinata-Chan, but I'm fine really, we need to get out of here first, before Akane informs the other members of Ita…Uchiha Itachi's betrayal" said Sakura as Sai noted the causal use of the elder Uchiha's name.
"If y-you say s-so" said Hinata as they reached the end of the passage.
"Wait here, I'll create something for us to ride on" said Sai as he created a large bird and hopped on.
"You take Sakura-San and leave Sai-kun, I'm going to help Neji nii-san and the others" said Hinata determinedly.
"Hinata-Sama, that's Akatsuki we're dealing with, besides they've used the Reinforcement Scroll so they must be doing fine with whatever reinforcement Hokage-Sama has sent" said Sai.
"I know, anyways we have to inform them that we've got Sakura so we can all escape without suffering any more casualties, I'll do it so please take Sakura-San to safety" said Hinata as Sai saw her point and pulled Sakura onto the bird.
"Even though she claims she's fine she's still devoid of almost every bit of her chakra. I doubt she'll be able to maintain consciousness for very long" thought Sai as Sakura leaned on him as the bird took of into the sky.
"Tsunade-Sama's orders were not to risk the long journey to Konoha immediately but to go to Sunagakure first, recuperate there and then return to Konoha, be sure to inform that to everybody Hinata-San" said Sai as the bird flew of towards the Village Hidden in Sand.
Hinata watched them fly off before turning back to the desert battlefield where it seems a powerful chakra had arrived. Running through the dust she collided heavily with something and fell back.
"Gomen" she said getting as she saw Gamakichi staring at her.
"You're one of Naruto-kun's summons. Is he here? Is he the reinforcement Tsunade-Sama sent?" asked Hinata feeling panic and joy at the same time.
"Nope, and you'd better get to the safety hold missy, that's where all the casualties are being treated by Shizune" said Gamakichi.
"But…but t-then who s-summoned you?" asked Hinata in surprise.
"Jiraiya. Toad Sage Jiraiya. Ever heard of him?" asked Gamakichi sounding bored as Gamabunta suddenly appeared in the dust and sliced one of Kakuzu's hearts into pieces.
"Jiraiya-Sama? I see s-so that's t-the backup T-tsunade Sama was talking a-about" said Hinata when suddenly an injured Kiba was thrown past her shoulders and hit the ground hard.
"Kiba-kun!" cried Hinata as she ran to his side.
"H-Hinata? You're here? Does that mean Sakura's safe?" asked Kiba through heavy pant and smiled when Hinata nodded.
"The pink haired girly is safe? Well you should have told me that you dumb girl. I'll have to tell Otou-San to stop fighting" cried Gamakichi rushing into the dust.
"Come on, we have to get to the place where Shizune-San and Katsuyu-San are healing Shikamaru and Lee, those two were toughed up the most. Kakashi-sensei had to use Kamui twice more to escape the bombs of that blonde guy who looks like Ino. Come to think of it, Ino's not been doing any fighting. What has she been doing?" babbled Kiba as he and Hinata ran towards a small dune.
"Ino-San is doing surveillance, she's our contact to Sunagakure and Konoha, she was specifically told not to enter the battle too much. Kiba-Kun, how many of you are fighting out there?" asked Hinata looking very worried.
"Me, Neji, Shino, Tenten and Jiraiya-Sama are the ones fighting. Chouji was nearly killed by the guy who killed Asuma-Sensei. Jiraiya-Sama trussed up that guy pretty well. He's knocked out. The woman and the red haired puppeteer guy I was fighting are the main problems, they simply don't go down. That puppet guy could be up to a Kage-Level Shinobi" said Kiba wincing as he rubbed his dislocated shoulder.
They reached an area where Shizune, Katsuyu and Ino were busy healing Kakashi, Shikamaru and Lee. Akamaru guarded the entrance and barked when Kiba came up.
Kakashi seemed to be suffering from chakra loss and his sharingan eye was bleeding profusely. Shikamaru had been cut in many places and quite a lot of his vital points had been hit. Lee's arms and legs were severely burnt but his face still upheld the mask of carefreeness.
"What happened to Chouji? Is he all right?" asked Kiba as Ino rushed over to heal him.
"Chouji's still unconscious. At this point this is all we can do for him. We'll need to have Tsunade-Sama look over him. If Jiraiya-Sama hadn't arrived when he did that monster would have killed Chouji just like he killed Asuma-Sensei" said Ino whose eyes had sunken and she seemed haggard.
"Everyone please listen, Sakura has been rescued. She's with Sai-San now and they're headed towards Sunagakutre as we speak. That's why we should escape as fast as possible. I've sent a message to those who are still fighting." Said Hinata as Kakashi stood up ignoring Katsuyu's protests.
"Yosh, everyone, Jiraiya-Sama will back us, everybody evacuate at once" said Kakashi.
"Who's carrying Chouji?" asked Shikamaru smirking.
Everyone looked at each other as if waiting for someone to volunteer. Even Lee did not spawn his usual nonsense on youth.
"That should be you seeing that you're the one who's least harmed" said Ino as Shikamaru gave her an incredulous look.
"Says the one who didn't fight at all. Do you know where that five hearted bastard sliced me? He sliced me in parts I didn't even know I have. Thanks for the lesson by the way, Shizune-San" said Shikamaru.
"I'll carry him. Let's just leave as fast as we…"
Kakashi couldn't finish as Gamabunta landed before them with Jiraiya on it carrying the unconscious bodies of Tenten and Shino. Neji stood beside him looking very tired and Gamakichi landed beside him.
"Hurry everyone. We've caught the puppeteer and Konan in a genjutsu. The five hearted guy and the voodoo guy are unconscious if not dead. The fish guy and the bomber will be here any minute if we don't hurry." said Jiraiya as Gamabunta picked up Chouji and tossed him on his back.
"Well at least that problem's solved" muttered Shikamaru as they all raced through the sand towards Sunagakure.
"Unacceptable! Absolutely unacceptable! How dare all of you useless simpletons not be able to face up against such a petty threat? And Itachi, you and Takigawa-San were supposed to be guarding Haruno. What part of guarding do you fools not understand" cried Pain as Konan, Akane, Sasori, Deidara, Kisame, Itachi, Kakuzu and Hidan stood lined up in front of him. Tobi and Zetsu stood on the sidelines watching.
"I've had reports on who was fighting who! Konan, Kakuzu, Hidan and Sasori you four couldn't hold up against two chuunins? Sasori, I know one of yours was a jounin but still I expected much better from you. Konan, I'm disappointed. Kakuzu and Hidan I am appalled. Kisame and Deidara, granted your opponent was Hatake Kakashi but still there was one of him and two of you. Deidara, what's your excuse, Kisame can still be pardoned because it was a disadvantageous terrain but you…why this was the best probable place for you to fight, answer me all of you" cried Pain as his ringed eyes glared in rage at every one of them.
He then moved to Akane and Itachi, "And you two. Itachi, what's all this I hear from Takigawa-San about you attacking her? Did you let the girl go on purpose? Answer me Uchiha Itachi" growled Pain's Deva Path.
Itachi glanced calmly at the ringed eyes before answering, "My apologies Leader-Sama. I was confused." He said as Pain glared at him, took a side glance at a certain masked individual and turned away.
"There's no other way. The girl knows way too much about us for me to be at rest. There is no other option. Two days later the Akatsuki will invade Konoha. Sakura Haruno must be recaptured, dead or alive under any circumstances. We will use this opportunity to obtain the Kyuubi as well. Tobi, Zetsu, Hidan, Kakuzu. You four will not participate in this." Said Pain as the four bowed slightly and went out.
"Invade Konoha? Are you serious?" asked Akane as Pain felt her chakra levels rise up. He then remembered her reason for joining Akatsuki: so that she could see Konoha destroyed.
"I remember your reason for joining Akatsuki, Akane Takigawa: Vengeance. We will go to Konoha to assassinate or recapture Haruno Sakura and capture the Kyuubi Jinchuriki. You will not take any hasty actions which will endanger Akatsuki and…"
"Shut up! If we go to Konoha I won't leave till it's a pile of dust, that's all there is to it" cried Akane as she turned and went out slamming the door with such force that it broke into pieces.
Pain sighed in frustration as Konan reassuringly pressed her hand on his shoulder.
"If I may Leader-Sama" said Sasori quietly as Pain nodded. Bowing to Pain, he left the room as well.
Sasori left and walked up to Akane's room. The door was still broken and he could hear crashes inside. Walking in he saw Akane ripping her pillow into pieces and then throwing it on the ground and jumping on top of it.
"Aren't you supposed to punch it a hundred times instead of performing wrestling moves on it?" asked Sasori.
"Go away" came the muffled cry.
Sasori walked up, grabbed Akane and pinned her to the wall.
"Now you know you don't mean that" he said as Akane blushed at her position.
"Let me go" she said quietly as Sasori shook his head. Akane began struggling and kicking.
"Let me go, I have to destroy things. I have to smash things. I have to watch as things break into pieces. Let me go, let me…mpphh" Akane's eyes widened in shock as Sasori's lips pressed themselves fiercely onto hers.
Dropping her hands in defeat she succumbed to his kiss and began fiercely kissing him back. Sasori poked his tongue out slightly signifying permission as Akane hesitantly opened her mouth.
The two kissed for some time before they separated to breathe.
"Have you calmed down now? You little spitfire?" asked Sasori as Akane nodded slightly. Seeing her sad eyes Sasori pulled her into a tight hug as Akane buried her face in his chest.
"I…I can still see their faces. Okaa-chan, Otou-Chan, Atsuko and Akio's. I have nightmares of them all hung up on trees with hundreds of knives piercing them and all of them begging for me to…help them and…" Akane burst into tears.
Sasori uncertainly patted her head, "Shh, don't cry. It's just a dream. I'm sure your parents wouldn't have wanted you to torture yourself like this"
"I can't help it. I still remember what those beasts did to my mother and sister. I can remember Otou-Chan's voice, telling us to remain in safety. I can hear Akio's screams. I don't know what to do! I want to destroy Konoha from its very roots but that means hurting a lot of innocent people. Then I'll be just as bad as they are won't I? No what am I saying? I'm Akatsuki. I'm ten times worse than…"
"Don't even think of finishing that sentence Akane" said Sasori sharply.
"I'm saying this only for you. I've been with you for almost a year now. I've seen that whatever you've done. Whomever you've killed, you've only done it as a loyal member of Akatsuki. Granted we're the largest criminals in the world but it shows your loyalty. You've never harmed the innocent. That shows you're just. Everyone you've tortured has been a great offender or has been a deceitful person. Even as a mercenary you told me you only hunted missing-ninja who betrayed their villages. You're no saint Akane, nobody is. But just because you're in Akatsuki doesn't mean you're as bad as people who rape and kill the defenseless" said Sasori stopping to breathe.
"Sasori-San" said Akane in astonishment as she found herself unable to say anything.
"Why don't we rest up? If we have to attack Konoha it'll take a lot of chakra" said Sasori.
"Please wait, there's something I must do first" said Akane biting her thumb and summoning a vicious looking eagle which had a red beak and keen eyes.
"What's this?" asked Sasori as the eagle gave him a glare.
'Don't talk as if I'm some sort of tribal decoration on your wall buddy. My beak is much redder than your hair" said the eagle in a clear voice as Akane smiled.
"This is Tori, my best summon and one of my closest friends, Tori, I need you to go to Ayako and Daisuke's place and fetch it for me, will you?" asked Akane.
"Why do you want it? I thought it was supposed to be used only in emergency situations." Said Tori.
"Do you think I've been sitting on my ass not doing any training this past year? I'm capable of much than I was last year, now quit arguing and fetch it. I need it within two days" said Akane.
"Very well, I'll fetch it, but use it well" said the eagle flying off through the window.
"What on earth was that about?" asked Sasori curiously.
"It's a secret. One which boys mustn't know of" replied Akane playfully.
"Oh really? Well I've got a question" said Sasori tackling Akane onto the bed, "Where did you learn to kiss like that?"
Akane blushed crimson.
"First tell me is it true that Deidara gave you a love letter and you two were a lovey-dovey couple before you died?" asked Akane slyly as Sasori glared.
"I hate untrue rumors you know that"
"I thought you hated waiting and…"
"Oh quit it. I'm sick of that line anyways now"
Well that's it. I'm off to the sea shore for the next two days so I won't be here to get your reviews but I hope you'll review anyway. Thanks for reading!