Chapter 38: Intuition

A/N: I just want to say that I'm so glad that people are reacting positively to the way I've written Sai. This makes me so happy!

Additionally, I've seen a few comments and private messages here and there about how the feelings I've written about make it seem to readers as though I have been through all of these emotions myself. I have not experienced infidelity nor am I a mother. I've just always been incredibly interested in the feelings of people, and I've been pretty good at "reading" people in my life. I would also probably attribute some of that to the amount of literature I've read. But regardless, I recognize this as a huge compliment. It makes me feel like the realism I'm trying to achieve is working. Thanks all~

Sakura stood in front of the entrance to Studio 24 clutching tightly onto the canvas that Sai had prepared for today's class. In addition to the general discomfort of the classroom environment, Sakura was about to expose her feelings in ways she had never done before.

He was right about it. She did feel a little vulnerable—maybe more than just a little, and last night's realizations were contributing greatly.

In fact, Sakura had opted to wear Kakashi's long sleeve shirt and created a fort of pillows around her body. She'd used his specific pillow to hug, wiping her eyes with his sleeve. She had cried for some time in the night and then had laid motionlessly onto the bed as she stared absently at the ceiling. Pakkun had coming whimpering for a moment, jumping on the bed to nudge his head against her arm as a gesture of comfort.

Sakura welcomed him instantly; he was Kakashi's companion and a reminder of his care for her. Surrounded by as many things that reminded her of Kakashi, things of his that lent her comfort, Sakura and Pakkun remained stationary until they'd fallen asleep together. She'd awoken that morning through Pakkun's nudging, and his characteristic mumbling about being let go.

It had make her giggle in the morning, but the evidence of a night's worth of crying had been on her face. Before leaving, she had healed the puffiness away, but the remnant gloominess within her remained.

Thinking about the morning, Sakura wondered if Imada-sensei would look at her with pity. The moment she passed the canvas off to sensei, there would be no guessing as to who the subject is or what she, as the subject, felt. And of course, presenting it to her would also mean presenting it to Yuuko and Itsuki.

"Are you going to block the door all day?" said a voice from behind her, interrupting her from her thoughts.

Sakura swiveled on her foot, clutching onto the canvas as she turned to see Yuuto behind her with a straight face, rubbing his hands together to warm himself from the winter cold.

"Oh, sorry…" she muttered, stepping to the side to get out of his way.

Yuuto walked forward as he eyed her. He seemed curious and reached for the handle to slide the door open. He paused.

"Well?" he said expectantly, shifting his eye between her and the door to urge her into it. She just stared.

"Oh, oh right, of course!" Sakura hurried into the doorway, instantly hit by the warm air of the heater, eyes darting straight toward Sayuri's empty chair. Yuuto followed close behind her. She heard the heavy thump of his boots cease for a moment before he stepped away and headed towards his work station.

Sakura followed Yuuto's lead and dropped her bag and canvas onto her workstation beside his, noticing that Itsuki hadn't arrived yet.

When Sakura turned her body and sat on her stool, she peered up in search of Imada-sensei only to see her standing nervously beside an unexpected guest.

Masuyo Hisashi.

Sakura's heart seemed to stop beating and she felt as though her eyes would pop out of her head. Masuyo leaned against sensei's desk with his arms crossed and his foot against the wood. His broad shoulders were draped in informal black winter robes with green embroidery, establishing that threatening regal feel that she'd encountered before. Sakura's eyes traveled up his long arms, past his bared neck, and over the rise of his chin to see the piercing black eye peeking through a shock of forest green bangs; it was the same cold eye that had reminded her so much of Sasuke when she'd seen him first. Masuyo's chin was tilted downward, he wore a light smirk on his lips, and his intense gaze landed directly on her.

"Good morning Akiyama-san," he greeted coolly.

"Good morning," Sakura forced out, noticing Imada-sensei shifting beside him, repeatedly switching her gaze from her to the door. It was likely that she was anticipating Itsuki's impending turbulent arrival.

For a moment, Masuyo turned to look at Yuuto with a click of his tongue, offering the same greeting and a nod before looking back at Sakura. Then he used the heel of his foot to push himself off of the desk, dropped his arms, and strode confidently over to Sakura's workstation.

Sakura could feel something brewing in her chest as he approached. She couldn't quite pinpoint it, but mixed with the general heaviness of Sayuri's absence and Itsuki's arrival, she also felt a blend of nervousness and anger. Above all was the desire to grab him by the neck and squeeze an answer out of him, but she had to repress it and show an amicable demeanor.

As he turned the corner of her desk, he pleasantly inquired, "What do we have here?" His fingers reached for the edge of her canvas; she could feel all of the eyes in the room following Masuyo's the movement of his hands. Sakura's fist balled on her lap, holding her breath as she waited for his response to the painting. Looking up, she saw his smirk grow into a sideways grin and his eyes moving across the canvas. "Sayuri was right about you," he mused quietly.

The comment surprised her, but before she had a chance to question him, the door slid open and remained so. This time, all eyes had turned to see Itsuki frozen in place under the door frame, hands glued to the handle as his expression morphed from shock to rage.

It seemed like hardly a second; Itsuki's ashen face had suddenly turned a hue matching the color of his shaggy red hair. He tossed his pack towards Imada-sensei's desk and stomped furiously over to Masuyo as if he were spreading fire, getting right into his face.

"Where is she?!" Itsuki snarled with bared teeth, clutching onto the collar of Masuyo's robe and pulling him close.

The sight was heartbreaking. Sakura could feel every bit of emotion coming from Itsuki's feeble body. His grip was strong for one of his stature, yet all he could manage to do was pull Masuyo down to his he had the weak body of a boy who had never engaged in a physical fight, his heart was giving him the strength of a man in love.

But Masuyo's slick grin only widened upon Itsuki's threat. His eyelids narrowed into a squint and his chin was raised in a threatening display.

"She's out of your reach, kid."

"Itsuki-kun, please!" Imada-sensei called from behind, though as always, her efforts to pacify him were in vain.

"Just tell me where she is!" Itsuki roared, ignoring sensei entirely, shaking his arms in an attempt to rattle Masuyo's firm shoulders. "What the hell did you do to h—"

Suddenly there was a loud smack and Itsuki's body went tumbling towards the floor.

Masuyo had whacked Itsuki's hands away from him, and his small body went flying back towards the floor.

Sakura's chair jerked beneath her, her body instinctively reacting to her duty to protect civilians, but she was quick to restrain herself. Instead, all she could do was hold her breath as her face tightened into a scowl and anger blossomed in her chest.

"Akiyama-san," Masuyo said calmly. Itsuki took this moment to get back onto his feet and charge at Masuyo with all of his strength, yet Masuyo easily pushed back, slamming him onto the wall with very little effort.

At his call, Sakura felt that her anger might burst through her at any moment. Her fist was itching to make contact with something, but she knew that it was not the time to act. Sakura, however, had never been one to hide the emotions on her face, and so she worried that her expression would give away everything she was trying to contain within her fists.

Masuyo tried finishing his thought again as he propped his arm against Itsuki's sternum, holding him in place against the wall.

"Akiyama-san," he called out with impatience, not once looking away from the growling Itsuki. "Come see me in my office, would you?" And then with another sly grin, an intentional taunt directed at Itsuki, he added, "It's about Sayuri. She's requesting your assistance."

Itsuki's body stilled under Masuyo's arm, seemingly calmed or thrown into confusion by Masuyo's words. Masuyo, however, had taken the opportunity to let him go and back away. He straightened his robe, not once looking away from the boy, and then said, "If you'll excuse me," before departing.

The class sat in utter silence. Each person was staring at Itsuki whose face was morphing once again in a matter of seconds: confusion, sadness, anger, determination.

And in a moment, he pushed himself off of the wall, angrily yelling, "Fuck this school!" and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

The contact of wood against metal seemed to ring in everyone's ear, and her intuition told her to follow Itsuki, just in case. She instinctively felt that Itsuki was going to get himself into trouble and would stop at nothing to find more information about Sayuri.

The moment the sliding door rattled shut, Sakura's head turned to look at Yuuto to gauge his reaction. What she saw surprised her; for the first time ever, Yuuto's eyebrow seemed to be raised in slight concern, but she knew it wasn't for Itsuki. He seemed to know that Sakura was going to meddle in places he felt she shouldn't be in, and so, with his raised brows, he shook his head from side-to-side, silently telling her not to get involved this time.

Lay low, Haruna, he seemed to be reminding her.

But, even if Yuuto didn't know it, Sakura was a kunoichi. This was her mission and she had no choice but to walk into danger.

She felt her features soften into an apologetic look as she rose from her seat. She smiled lightly, silently offering her thanks for his concern, but her movements were enough to indicate that she was going to reject his silent plea.

Sakura left her things behind her. She would come for them later, but for now, Itsuki was her new target. She broke contact from Yuuto and walked towards the door.

The ambient silence was deafening and amplified the sound of her departure. Sakura knew that both sets of eyes were on her, both of them understanding just what she was going to do. But the moment Sakura's hands landed on the handle of the door, she heard sensei's whisper float through the stillness.

"Haruna…"

Sakura slowly turned her head to see sensei's approaching her with pained eyes, filled to the brim with tears. Unlike sensei's general response to Itsuki's anger, Sakura felt that this would be a different request, a personal one.

"Please," she pleaded softly. She looked afraid, as if in any moment she'd be caught for what she was about to say. "I don't know who you are or where you came from but…" Sensei reached for Sakura's black sleeve, tugging it for a moment before her fingers walked themselves into Sakura's palm. "…if there is any power in you to do something about this… please."

Suddenly, she felt the distinct feeling of crumpled paper in her hand. Sensei released her, waiting for her to open it. Sakura eyebrows tightened in concern, both for sensei's emotions and in the knowledge that after all this time, Sakura had not fooled her. Sensei knew she was not an artist, just like Yuuto had suggested so many weeks ago.

Real artists just knew. Sakura wasn't among them.

And so, Sakura lifted her hand and unfolded the note just below her chin to read sensei's scribbled handwriting: "He takes them. I think he kills them. I've heard there's a compound on the Northwest side of the border. I don't know if you can save Sayuri but please save Itsuki. He'll run straight in."

Sakura should have felt more panic over her carelessness, over her failed attempted undercover identity, but instead, all she felt was great sorrow for the loss of these people. She should have been trying to assure sensei that she didn't understand what she was implying, that she was simply a commoner who wanted to learn the craft. She should have felt guilty that she was going to let her mission partners down, but she was impatient. She was angry. She wanted to avenge Sayuri just as much as Itsuki did; she wanted prevent any future losses in this village.

If Masuyo was killing them, she'd have to stop him. That was what she did as a shinobi.

Feeling no danger in her admission, Sakura raised her head and turned to sensei with a regretful expression, tilting her head to the side as she took sensei's hands in hers.

She squeezed sensei's hands tightly, attempting to promise without words that she had heard her plea.

"So he's alive," Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely. His long, thin mouth slithered into a grin as he held a picture in his hand.

Sasuke had come with a file buried in the recesses of the Hokage's secret records. When Pakkun had discovered that he'd been afflicted by a sound genjutsu, Kakashi immediately sent a report back to Naruto and Shikamaru to sift for information on Orochimaru's sound villages.

From that file, Kakashi had been able to comb through an assortment of photographs—a collection showing a series of orphaned children that Orochimaru had previously taken under his wing as experiments.

Orochimaru was currently looking at the child named Shi—as in experiment number four—and smirking as if it were a fond memory.

Kakashi was leaning against the wall of the laboratory wall. He didn't feel welcome enough to walk around and explore; instead, he was observing his surroundings, thinking about all of the reports that Tenzou had once sent to him as the Rokudaime, committing images to his memory of those distant reports.

Sasuke, however, seemed to be comfortable. He walked through the dimly lit snaking hallways with ease and seemed to know exactly which laboratory he'd find Orochimaru in. When they walked in, Orochimaru had turned around without panic and simply called out "Sasuke-kun."

They had been in the hideout for about an hour. Orochimaru had led them into an old, unused laboratory room with empty tubes that had once been used for sound jutsu research. To Kakashi, the room smelled like stagnant water and bleach, but the other men didn't seem to be bothered by it. In this room, Kakashi had informed Orochimaru about Masuyo's activities in Takumi and his suspicions about the jutsu.

Orochimaru seemed pleasantly surprised to hear that his old experiment was alive and well, but he had yet to say anything about the experiments results themselves.

"What can you tell us about this man?" Sasuke asked impatiently. His arms were crossed beneath his cape and his eyes were closed as he waited for a response.

Orochimaru flipped through each of the pictures with the same smirk on his face. Each child had been named as a number: Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Nana, Hachi...

"Shi was an interesting boy," Orochimaru hummed while rubbing his chin. "He was part of the first experimental group of sound shinobi—he came from the same batch of kids that I sent to the chuunin exams that Sasuke-kun participated in. They went with aliases, of course."

Kakashi cocked his head to the side. He was intrigued by this information and also regretful that these children had been named, or labeled rather, as numbers.

"At the time, I was trying to craft a debilitating sound ninjutsu and genjutsu—one that would transcend the levels of supersonic sound, beyond what you witnessed against Shikamaru in the chuunin exams. I didn't send Shi. I couldn't. The boy was intent on pleasing me, but he failed all preliminary tests. He couldn't control his jutsu without affecting everyone around him."

Orochimaru chuckled once, and then put the photos back into the file before handing it back to Sasuke. Sasuke's arm reached out of his cape to retrieve the file.

"He was going to be killed, but when Konoha confiscated all of my Sound Villages, the inhabitants and experimental subjects were dispersed among allied villages for social rehabilitation. As you can see in this file, Shi was sent to Sunagakure."

This piece of information left Kakashi unsettled. His cover story in Takumi involved Sunagakure, and he wondered how familiar Shi had actually been with politics and famous shinobi. If he had been, then it was absolutely possible that he had already recognized Sakura and Kakashi while in Takumi.

… but if that was the case, then why hadn't he made any moves? Why did he allow them to continue their business in Takumi? And if Masuyo was planning an attack, what could he expect?

Kakashi needed to know more.

"The file," Kakashi added, inserting himself into the conversation that Sasuke seemed to be leading. "We have no more information about his whereabouts after his transfer to Suna. What do you know about his activities afterwards, and what can you tell us about his jutsu potential?"

"As far as I'm aware, I had been told that he attempted to be a shinobi, but because he could not control his jutsu without incapacitating everyone in range, including his comrades, he was useless. They were only able to use him in an isolated room, and if the target was in an isolated room, it was likely that they didn't need him anyway."

Kakashi exhaled as he listened. Orochimaru had explained why Shi was rejected, but not what his jutsu could do. "What was his jutsu exactly?" he asked in an exasperated tone, raising a hand to rest his fingers on his temple.

"Shi's experimental specialty was a sound genjutsu. He could manipulate targets by whistling. The goal was to hypnotize specific targets and control them, but Shi was never able to master it."

Pakkun said he heard whistling… Kakashi thought. His hand rose to rub his chin over his mask, thinking about the possibility that Masuyo had mastered it on his own after all this time.

"Do you know what happened to him in Sunagakure?" asked Sasuke.

For a moment, as he waited for Orochimaru's response, Kakashi concluded that Sai was right about needing two people asking questions. Sasuke didn't ask more about the jutsu; perhaps it was because it didn't affect him.

"Hmm," Orochimaru hummed, rubbing his chin as he recalled what he knew. "I lost most of my contacts when I was in hiding. I couldn't easily reveal myself once Sasuke-kun tried to kill me." Orochimaru's grin returned and he flashed a glance at Sasuke before continuing, though Sasuke's face remained as stoic as ever.

"But from what I've gathered, when the Fourth Shinobi War began, all Suna shinobi were drafted, including Genin. I later saw his name on the roster of missing shinobi. He was assumed dead."

"Maa," Kakashi cut in. "Well it looks like he isn't dead after all, and it looks like he's somehow figured out a way to master that experimental jutsu of yours."

Orochimaru tilted a head in Kakashi's direction. Sasuke's gaze followed his.

"He was able to put my animal summons under genjutsu. Pakkun reported that he heard whistling and that he lost consciousness of his physical body until he was forcibly removed from the area. Sakura and I aren't positive, but we think that's he's been successful in developing a way to target an intended victim and control their speech and actions."

"This is an interesting development," Orochimaru chuckled with excitement. "My little Shi, the same Shi who was so intent on pleasing his master came through after all."

"That's not all," Kakashi continued, closing his eyes and lowering his head as he spoke. "He's figured out a way to trigger the jutsu so that whatever hypnotic instruction he gives them continues without his presence. Sakura and I have encountered civilians and Takumi shinobi whose hypnotic responses are triggered by specific conversation topics—such as Masuyo Institute itself."

At this, Orochimaru burst into throaty laughter. Kakashi and Sasuke remained silent in watching him.

"I hope you don't plan on killing him," Orochimaru said with a sly grin.

"If Konohagakure orders it, then that's what I'll do," Kakashi replied, opening his unscarred eye out of old habit. He watched Orochimaru's pleased demeanor.

"Then you tell your Hokage that Shi is valuable not only for my research but for Konoha's arsenal of genjutsu. The Intelligence Division could use a genjutsu like this. It would be a waste to let it disappear after such trials."

Sasuke scoffed in response. Kakashi remained silent, watching the fluid interaction between the two while he rolled a pebble beneath his sandal.

"Bring him to me, Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru requested confidently.

"Why don't you appeal to the usuratonkachi yourself?" Sasuke asked with the slightest of smirks. To Kakashi, they seemed like old familiar comrades which surprised him given the amount of times Orochimaru attempted against Sasuke's life. But as Kakashi watched the interaction between the two of them, he felt as though perhaps Orochimaru was his true sensei. All Kakashi ever really gave Sasuke was his chidori, but Sasuke had become a fighter here… inherited much more from Orochimaru than just one ninjutsu; he'd even inherited his legendary contract with Aoda.

"I might've been willing to help if not for the Konoha spy following my every move outside," Orochimaru replied simply to Sasuke, his grin spreading against his grey skin. This, of course, caused Kakashi's inner-Hokage concern. Of course he would be aware of Tenzou's presence, and truthfully there would be little Tenzou could do if Orochimaru truly decided to return to his nefarious ways.

"Hn," Sasuke sneered in response, crossing his arms as he turned to walk towards the exit. "You could escape if you really wanted to."

Orochimaru's side-grin turned into a genuinely wide smile as he watched his old apprentice's back.

"Perhaps I don't really feel the need to."

The moment Sakura left the classroom behind, she crumpled Imada-sensei's note and stuffed it into her pocket. She decided to furtively chase after Itsuki and watch his movements; she had the distinct sense that Itsuki would be going after Masuyo, and so Sakura summoned Katsuyu—just in case—then took to the trees to tail them in the shadows.

Sakura hadn't needed to trail them too far before finding them on a public trail forking towards the administrative building and the main square.

Upon the discovery of their location, she witnessed a short yet alarming conversation.

"If you'd stop acting like a child, perhaps I'd be so inclined to bring you to see her," said Masuyo, his voice slithering through a smirk.

"Fine," Itsuki conceded as he dropped his arms to his side. "Look, I just want to know she's okay. I just need to see her. Sayuri just wouldn't disappear like that."

"She's fine," Masuyo assured him. "She's very busy setting up her new establishment, but I can make arrangements if you'll give it time."

Sakura couldn't help but feel as though there was something sinister behind that promise. From watching their exchange, she knew that she'd have to watch Itsuki carefully. Sensei was right: Itsuki was the new target, and his undying love for Sayuri made him an easy one.

Immediately after that meeting, she followed Itsuki home and summoned Katsuyu to keep watch. Sakura knew that she'd have to confront Itsuki rather than just watch this time—watching was what allowed the conditions for Sayuri's disappearance. Even if Kakashi or Sasuke may not have approved it, Sakura was set on taking initiative.

Perhaps an hour after his arrival to the bakery, Sakura jumped down from the tree and walked into the shop.

The doorbell jingled behind her; Itsuki tiredly looked up from the elbow that he was leaning on. His eyes lit up in surprise for a moment before switching away in disregard for Sakura's presence.

"What do you want, Haruna-san?" he grumbled, avoiding eye contact while maintaining his displeasure.

"Itsuki-san," she said in an attempt to appease him. "Sensei is worried about you… I'm worried about you too."

"You don't even know me," he snapped. His eyes instantly switched onto hers beneath creased brows.

"That may be so, but I've seen enough to be concerned." Sakura slowly approached the counter and stood directly in front of it. She couldn't help the look of worry that she knew was painted on her face.

Itsuki scoffed irritably. "What do you want?"

Sakura put her palm flat against the wooden countertop and leaned forward on her forearm. When Sakura moved here, she thought she would be prepared to say something, yet the knowledge that Itsuki could possibly reveal her identity became alarming. She couldn't be too careless; she'd already been careless as she whispered her admission to sensei, but Itsuki was more of a risk. She couldn't take it.

"I just," she stuttered, attempting to come up with something. "I'm just afraid that you're going to disappear like Sayuri did."

"Masuyo said he would take me to her," Itsuki said confidently. This time, he looked at her directly as though he were absolutely resolved with his decision to go after her.

"You must've heard the rumors about the people who disappear," Sakura suggested, her eyebrows furrowing in slight concern.

"Duh. And that's why I have to go. I have to find out for myself and I have to save her if I can."

"Itsuki-san," she started, doubt filling up her chest and spilling into her tone. She knew that if he made it out of Takumi, he'd die. If only she could make that clear to him.

"I know it's dangerous," he said almost heroically, his tone dropping softly which instantly reminded her of Naruto when he had set his mind on something. "But this is something I have to do. I can't just leave her out there."

She remembered then. The very first day she laid eyes on Itsuki, he was loud, happy, and boisterous, his arm pulling a surprised Sayuri in tow. It seemed to her that back then Itsuki was like the sunrise; he brightened each day with his gregarious energy and smile. Even on that day, she had thought that Itsuki bore a strong resemblance to her beloved Naruto in his demeanor.

And just like Naruto, Itsuki was absolutely certain and positive of his decision to run into danger for the sake of those he cared for.

And just like her interactions with Naruto, it seemed that Sakura was destined to watch, to assist, to care, to worry. Sure, she was a kunoichi, but her help could not be apparent. She'd do so from the sidelines—from the shadows.

"I get it," she murmured softly, smiling slightly as warmth mixed with her worried gaze. "But if I can ask you to do any one thing, if you go, if you make any moves or plans to leave Takumi with Masuyo, please come tell me."

Itsuki tilted his head in slight disbelief, as if he was attempting to discern Sakura's level of investment.

"Just don't leave without telling anyone where you are going or when so that if anything happens, someone can do something about it."

Itsuki waited in silence, his eyes still calculating, likely considering his options.

"Please," she requested and then she waited for what seemed like minutes. She slid her hand out of view and felt her companion slither out of her sleeve and onto the side of the counter.

"Fine."