Ch.17: The Moving Shadows

(Sasuke's POV)

I stayed with her until she fell asleep.

I laid her down carefully, then activated my Sharingan I could see it.

There was a second chakra inside of her, I could tell it was strong, I could also tell that hers was weakening.

*Is this a good thing?* I wondered.

I sighed as I decided to take a stroll to sort through my thoughts.

the air was cold here even in the dead of summer.

"A child..." I said still in disbelief.

The thought of me and Sakura being a family... made me happy.

I thought back to when we visited the Hidden Sand, the children that were at her clinic all seemed to cherish her.

I wondered if she was around my child, would she smile as she did then?

Then I thought about our situation.

This wasn't an ideal time for Sakura to be in this kinda condition.

We were pursuing a large group of dangerous crime bosses, and one of them had already made a move before.

If they found out she was with child, not just that with an Uchiha offspring. They would probably be beside themselves wanting to acquire both of them.

I plunged my sword into the ground.

"Like hell, I will let that happen." I said as I glared at the moon.

"I will need to keep a closer eye out now, not to mention we will have to adjust the way we travel, or else it could be dangerous for Sakura's health." I sighed.

*Things just keep getting complicated on this journey.* I thought as I made my way back to Sakura.

* The more I thought about it the more frustrated I got. How am I going to outsmart them?* I thought when I remembered something.

When I was trying to rescue Sakura before those two said they were tracking down the Syndicate, they may have information we don't have yet.

As I made my way back I saw something dash off into the distance. I followed it.

I threw a kunai in the direction it went only to have cat come out.

"I'm too on edge..." I said as retrieved my Kunai.

(General POV)

"That was a little too close for comfort. That Uchiha is as good as they say. Better report back to the boss." The figure said as he retreated.

He headed a few hours out of the town. and entered a secret underground passage.

He walked down a dark corridor until he reached his destination.

"Boss. I have returned." He said as he kneeled before his leader.

"Good, good. How is our precious pink beauty?" The boss asked.

"She seems healthy, as does the precious cargo she carries. Mistfue had a run-in with her as well.

He made sure not to injury her of course, but she is more skilled than we originally thought.

She is quite strong even without Sasuke Uchiha around her to protect her." He replied.

"I think it would be best to hold off on acquiring her for the time being." He continued.

"I see, you may be right. But the time for us to strike is fast approaching. Sasuke is so desperate to catch us that with each passing day he grows more and more impatient to find us. If we keep pushing we should have him in the palm of our hands. Hmm, yes that should work quite well." The boss said as he smirked

"Boss?" The man questioned.

"We will leave him a trail of bread crumbs, sending him on a nice goose chase.

And once she is close to time to give birth she will be weakened extremely by this. He won't take her with him at that time if he thinks he is close to finding us, when that happens...

That is when we will strike. It wouldn't hurt to kill him in the process, making his offspring the true last of the Uchiha making it that much more valuable.

Even better we could keep the brat and let it mature and use it as a means to make many Uchiha.

Who wouldn't pay to have an Uchiha heir to strengthen their clan?" The boss said satisfied with his plan.

"Sir why not keep Sasuke as well?" The underling asked.

"That is obvious, he is too powerful for something like that. He is like a rare animal and a wild one at that. Your best chance is to capture it's offspring and raise it to never turn against you.

Using it's own mother as a means of control would do nicely. Then I could keep her very close to me.

But I will make sure to keep him alive long enough to see me mentally destroy her and make her my precious doll. And I will let him truly understand the fate of his so-called family before killing him.

That will be the ultimate pleasure, don't you agree?" The boss said as he glared at his underling.

"Yes sir." He replied.

"Now for now let's keep surveillance on them, I want to know their moves at all times. And no more run in's with my sweet doll. Wouldn't want to put too much stress on her... yet the time will come for that." He said as the figure bowed and left.

The boss left the room and walked through the facility.

"Hello, my dolls, did you miss me?" He asked as he looked at all of the different caged people.

"Soon you will be getting a new playmate, isn't that exciting?" He said as he grinned evilly.

"Sir! Over here." A guard said as he showed the boss to a specific cage.

"What is it?" The boss asked.

Inside there was what seemed like a lifeless corpse lying in a pool of blood.

"Sir it seems she ended herself last night with this." The guard said as he handed him a sharp object.

"Damn. I hate when my precious dolls break themselves like that. Well, no matter I will have a replacement soon enough." He said as he walked away.

"Things just keep getting more and more exciting." The boss said as he disappeared into the shadows.

"Bring me Kikio." He demanded the guard.

"Yes sir." The guard said as he ran off to fetch her.

A girl sat chained to a wall. She looked on the verge of death. The door to her cell opened.

"Boss is ready for you." The guard said as he unchained her.

She walked the now familiar path to the now-familiar room she was always in.

Once they arrived the guard instructed her to strip, she did so calmly.

She then laid down onto the cold metal table with the guard binding her hands and feet to it.

She stared up at the sole fluorescent light hanging from the ceiling.

She wondered how many times she had been in this room. How much time had passed since she was captured? It all seemed to blur together.

(Kikio's POV)

I could hear the faint footsteps growing closer as they made their way down the hall.

Next the rusted door opened. The smell of alcohol and cigars filled the air.

Making my stomach turn.

I just kept staring at the light.

The footsteps made their way over to the table I was on.

I felt a hand caress my side.

"Hello Kikio dear, have you been well?" He asked as his hand roamed over my body.

I stayed silent.

"Not in the mood to chat today?" He asked.

"Well that's too bad because I had a proposition for you." He said as he gripped my chin forcing me to look at him.

"How would you like to be set free from this place?" He asked me.

My eyes grew wide with shock.

*What is he planning?* I wondered.

"All you have to do is a tiny favor for me after it's done I would be happy to let you go free once again." He said.

"What kind of favor?" I asked him.

"I need you to bring someone to me, once you have brought them here you are free to go. It's as simple as that." He said as he grinned.

*So I trade someones else's life for my own? Fine to hell with them. If there is a chance I can escape this hell I will take it.* I thought as I nodded.

"Oh good, I knew you would want to help me, dear Kokio." He said as he kissed my forehead.

"Well, you will bring Sakura Haruno to me in 8 months' time, not a moment sooner. until then you will travel with her and her companion Sasuke Uchiha." He said.

"Sasuke Uchiha? Now I see why you are asking for my help." I said as I sighed.

I had only heard rumors about him. But what I did hear, wasn't good.

I had a high chance of dying if the person I am to capture is a companion of his.

"Don't worry you will get him to trust you. You are going to find them on their travels and beg for help to save you from me... with that information, he is sure to follow you into the depths of hell. You will then lead him on a pointless detour all in the name of tracking me down.

And once the time has come, you and another one of my subordinates will separate the two and you will bring her to me here and once that is finished you will be free to go." He said as he released my restraints.

I got up slowly.

"This is your target." he said as he handed me a picture.

I looked at it and gripped in my hand.

*Sorry but I will be free.* I said as I resolved myself to my mission.