Chapter 40: Package Delivery


It was almost day break when the white van accompanied by a black car arrived at a particular clearing where another helicopter was waiting. Sasuke and Naruto got out of the first car while Kiba and Shikamaru got out of the second. They were met by men clad in black suits and one of them approached Sasuke as he also walked forward with his team who were trailing only a few steps behind. When he was standing face to face with the man, no greetings or introductions took place. Instead, a series of demands ensued.

"We weren't informed of the aerial explosion. It killed one of our men." The leader said.

"Ah, well. It had to be done. Nobody wants to get caught, right? And besides, in our line of job, one must be prepared to die. Anyone could be the sacrifice." Sasuke replied with a smug look on his face.

The man was clearly pissed because of the sudden turn of events. The chopper's explosion wasn't really part of the original plan they presented to the syndicate whom they were working with, but just like what the Uchiha said, it had to be done. Blowing the chopper up was one of his team's contingencies during unforeseen circumstances. And it just so happened that the opposing team even had aerial guards on standby.

'Tobirama Senju was indeed a formidable opponent.' Sasuke thought as he smirked deviously at the man in front of him.

When it looked like the team leader wasn't going to pry about the change of plans any further, he soon went straight to business and asked for the package.

"Do you have the girl?" He asked. Sasuke nodded once and cocked his head towards the car.

"She's in the car."

"Good bring her to us and we'll transport her immediately. Your business with Orochimaru-sama is done."

"But we can't do that. That's against our principles." Sasuke reasoned out, holding his ground against the man while looking at him intently. If their leader thought that they intimidated him with all their hidden weapons under their vests, they were mistaken.

"The boss' orders are absolute…" The man started once more but Sasuke interrupted his 'loyalty speech.'

"I told them that my team executes and delivers, and I plan to deliver the package until the very end."

"We already have the money at our disposal." The man stressed.

"As I've said. That's against our terms and conditions. We deliver the package to the boss, and we personally receive the money from him. You're not the boss."

Seemingly offended by what Sasuke said, the man raised a gun and pointed it directly at Sasuke's forehead.

Sasuke's own team moved to draw out their guns but he stopped them by raising a hand in the air. Naruto, Kiba, and Shikamaru relaxed.

"You should be careful where you point that gun at. After all, we don't want to have a lot of casualties." Sasuke warned in a snide.

"Well, that's too bad—because the only casualties in here would be you."

The man unclipped his gun's safety and pulled the trigger, aiming it point blank at Sasuke. However, the two seconds it took him to do all those, four unmarked bullets pierced through the air killing all his comrades which pierced each of their necks.

Sasuke and his team didn't even blink.

The man heard the simultaneous thud of his comrades' bodies behind him, and in his periphery, he saw how they fell one by one. The second he took his eyes off of Sasuke, the latter grabbed on to his arm, disarmed him by breaking his wrist, and shot him with his own gun without even batting an eyelash.

The man's body fell on Sasuke feet, staining his leather shoes with the blood dripping out of his mouth. Sasuke simply nudged the body's head to the side while also dropping the gun to the grass. He heard Naruto sigh.

"Well, you did warn him." He said as he stepped back and walked towards their van while Shikamaru and Kiba went to the chopper to prime the engine.

Sasuke's earpiece crackled to life.

[Well? Aren't you thankful that we're here? Your skull was almost blown to smithereens.] Neji lightly mocked but was followed by Gaara's voice neutral voice.

[Sasuke, we'll be taking over from here.]

"Thank you, Neji…Gaara." He calmly said as he stared off into space but was actually pinpointing where his snipers where located.

Yes, he asked them to be a part of his team for this mission, hiding safely behind thick tree branches a few miles to the east because working for outside syndicates like the Basilisk often times ended in betrayals and double crossing that he had actually foreseen this coming.

[How about the hostage?] Neji asked.

"We'll take care of it." Sasuke answered as he surveilled the bodies one more time until he heard the ringing of a cellphone which was coming from the breast pocket of the man he just killed.

He ended the call with Neji as he crouched over the body and searched for the phone. When he found it, he looked at the caller ID before answering the device.

"Orochimaru."

[Ah, is this Uchiha Sasuke? What a surprise for you to be answering the phone.] Said the eerie, throaty voice over the phone.

Personally hearing his voice had already unnerved him the first time, but his employer's voice over the phone gave him more unpleasant feelings that he couldn't even imagine the reason behind why he sounded that way.

It was like Orochimaru had actually been buried alive, and his voice was the result of having taken in soil and dirt while he clawed his way to freedom.

But Sasuke refused to sound threatened as he spoke coldly over the phone.

"Your men would've probably answered this call if you haven't misunderstood our contract."

[Misunderstood? No. No. This is…actually a test, you see? And in tests…there are those who pass and those who fail. We can't be easily trusting towards people—like how I found out that my best team was no match against yours.] Orochimaru explained but Sasuke could definitely hear the sneer in his voice.

That's why he couldn't be blamed if he scoffed because of Orochimaru's last statement…

If his employer thought that the team he sent to double cross them was the best, then he should probably start re-evaluating his life choices as well as his definition of 'the best.'

Sasuke cleared his throat.

"If that's the case then I hope our contract is clear. We deliver the package to you and you uphold your end of the bargain." He reminded him—immediately ending the call after, without even saying any final words and simply throwing the device on the ground as he walked towards the chopper upon seeing the main rotor blade come to life.

Naruto was already seated inside with an unconscious Sakura beside him while his pilots Shikamaru and Kiba prepared for take-off.

Naruto seemed distressed as he guarded Sakura's frame. Sasuke knew this because he was feeling the same way at the moment. They'll be letting go of her soon without even knowing the reason why they had to do this in the first place.

Sasuke sighed as the first rays of sunshine came to light. The scenery spelled of hope—unfortunately for them, hope didn't belong in any of their choices.


The designated venue was a new building owned by a nouveau businessman who was in fact a puppet of Orochimaru's syndicate. It was located in another region, much, much similar to Konoha with its bustling cities and high skyscrapers.

The moment the chopper landed on the high rise's rooftop, more uniformed men like the ones Sasuke's team initially encountered received them and immediately took Sakura away upon seeing her in the arms of Naruto.

Naruto automatically protested, refusing to give up on her just yet when Sasuke waved his hand, silently signaling Naruto to allow them to take Sakura away. However, Naruto held on to the unconscious body of Sakura tighter.

This was what he was afraid of.

"Sasuke, you know what they're going to do to her once we give her away." Naruto beckoned. Eyes communicating to him to reconsider because he was probably aware that no matter how many uniformed men were there, the four of them could always take them all down. It was only a matter of choice—but Sasuke chose to honor his contract with Orochimaru—and so, he stood his ground.

"And we've always prepared ourselves for times like these, Naruto."

"But this is Sakura we're talking about! She has always been with us! Guys, c'mon!" Naruto looked at Kiba and Shikamaru for rescue but the two of them remained silent beside Sasuke who showed nothing but indifference on their faces.

"We don't even know why they want her." Naruto reasoned out, but the crack in his voice gave away the defeat he must be feeling.

"Naruto, it was never in our best interest to ask such questions. We have always operated that way. Delivering the package and receiving the payment. We should just stick to what we do best." Shikamaru calmly stated.

"But Sakura isn't a commodity! She isn't a package! She's our friend! Our family!"

"Just let it go, Naruto." Kiba scoffed.

He wasn't sure if it was due to irritation or a wish to just end things as fast as possible, but it came out as offensive, which eventually shut Naruto up.

"We've done worse things before. Why change now?" Kiba added while refusing to look at his friend's face.

"Because we could never go back." Naruto whispered, but he let go of Sakura just the same, allowing one of the uniformed men to carry her while two other guards followed until all four disappeared behind the elevator panels on the rooftop.

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One of the uniformed men approached Sasuke and spoke.

"The package has been confirmed. Your presence is expected two floors below."

With that, all the uniformed men formed a pathway directing Sasuke's team to take the same elevator where they took Sakura.

The elevator ride was a silent hell for them. No one dared to speak a word even for Naruto who wanted to demand for a lot of answers. No one also dared to think of what was to happen next. Where would they go? How would they meet with the friends they betrayed? Will they even be recognized as friends? As persons?

All they were doing now was going through the motions one step at a time…like how they were used to...like always…

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The elevator doors opened and two more uniformed men were already waiting for them to alight. The two guards ushered them towards what looked like an office made of glass but was filmed so that nothing would be visible from the outside.

The guards opened the door allowing the four men to enter the office. And in the middle of such expensive, stylish, and bright interior, the man seated on the grand swivel chair seemed so out of place because of his dark hair and eerie yellow eyes.

"Welcome, gentlemen." Orochimaru greeted but Sasuke cut to the chase.

"We've come here to collect the payment."

"Ah yes. The payment."

Orochimaru pressed what seemed to be a buzzer and in came two beautiful women who looked so identical they were probably twins. Both of them were holding two brief cases in each of their hands which they simultaneously rested on top of the glass coffee table at the center of the room.

Orochimaru motioned for the women to open the cases and as stipulated in their contract, each brief case contained $30 million. A total of $120 million equally divided among the four of them. However, it seemed like Orochimaru wasn't ready to part ways with his money yet because the look he gave the four of them hinted that there was something more on the job given to them other than to collect and deliver the package. But Sasuke wanted none of that.

"The contract ends here. It was nice working with you." Sasuke said but as his team made a motion to collect their payment, the whole office dimmed as blinds began to fall, covering the expanse of the glass windows overlooking the city while few of the uniformed guards entered the room to guard the door.

Orochimaru shifted in his sitting position, making him look like he was sitting at the edge of his chair. He spoke.

"I believe it's time to review the nature of this relationship."

Sasuke raised his eyebrow at him but he answered nevertheless. Plain and simple.

"You pay us; we do the job. End of transaction."

"Yes…hmm…no…It's more like I own you."

"Ah, but you don't."

The moment he said those words, the two identical women closed the lids of the brief cases. He heard Shikamaru sigh.

This was nothing new. They were used to these kind of set up that it no longer intimidated him. If their employer refused to pay them the easy way, then…they always had the option to collect it the hard way.

"If that's how you feel about all these, then I believe we're done here."

Unfortunately, even before Sasuke could turn his back on Orochimaru, the latter already had him by the collar of his coat and delivered a powerful punch to his gut that even his team was too startled to make a reaction.

'H-how did he…so fast…'

Sasuke was able to block Orochimaru's fist but the latter made a follow up kick to his chin and an elbow to his back which had him kneeling on the ground and spitting blood.

He tried to recover his strength from that painful blow—but he also used that chance to topple Orochimaru over…unfortunately, he failed.

The moment he applied the pressure, Orochimaru easily pulled his collar from the back, punched him at the side of his face before he threw him across the room.

His team used that opportunity to simultaneously attack Orochimaru but—through gritted teeth and throbbing eyes—Sasuke saw how their opponent swatted them like they were flies as he sent the remaining three down to the ground.

"It was about time you boys get in line." Orochimaru hissed as he walked back to his chair, kicking Naruto one more time in the gut and stepping over Kiba's hand on his way there. The two grunted in pain.

"T-then what do you want us to do?" Sasuke dreadfully asked as he watched how one of the ladies offered Orochimaru a handkerchief which he used to wipe the blood of his comrades clean from his fist.

"Work for me. Work for me and consider all your insolence forgiven once this is done—because after getting all that is necessary from the package, that $120M will simply look like pocket change compared to the influx of money that will come after…" Orochimaru vaguely explained.

"And what work are you referring to? Why us?"

"You've taken out some of my best men, correct? Then consider yourselves as replacements. In a few days' time, news would've reached some important peoples' ears about the package, so…they might come barging in any moment." He sneered.

"Quit referring to Sakura as the package!" Naruto finally snapped as he got himself together and faced Orochimaru.

"Oh, but she is. She is worth $500 million after all…and that price, as of the moment, is still increasing." Orochimaru smirked.

"Why? Why does Sakura have a price over her head?" Shikamaru finally asked.

"Hmm, I'm not quite sure. But it seems that she's keeping an extremely valuable item that only she knows of its whereabouts. And apparently, a lot of very important people are willing to pay the price for this item."

"You don't even have any connection to all these! You're a foreign player!" Kiba said to which Orochimaru only chuckled.

"Ah, but when it comes to money, all people are connected! Especially when we're talking about huge sums of money. And besides, it seems like my daughter has her interests over the girl. And all these crap—it just came secondary to that."

The blinds were once again opened, allowing the abundance of light to seep through. As the room was once again fully illuminated, Orochimaru stood up and walked towards the door—his men opened the glass doors for him while the two women remained inside.

"Since you lot will be staying here; rooms and a change of clothes have been prepared for all of you. The ladies right here will be accompanying you to your rooms, two floors below."

The four of them watched Orochimaru exit the office, but even before the glass doors shut, Orochimaru spoke, directing his words towards Sasuke.

"Oh, and next time? You don't get to end the call without my permission."

The four of them looked at one another with Kiba looking the most dumbfounded. Suddenly, Shikamaru laughed, followed by Sasuke, then Naruto, and finally, Kiba.

"All these because you didn't wait for him to say goodbye first?! What a drag. Ugh."


There was a ringing in Sakura's ear that forced her to wake up…

She struggled to open her eyes despite the blinding headache she was sure to have once she opened them, but the voice at the back of her mind kept on nagging at her that she needed to move. She needed to wake up.

Instinctively, Sakura stretched her hands as a precursor to waking up, but when she heard the clang of metal to metal and that her hands refused to part, that's when her eyes flew open and saw that her wrists were handcuffed to the metal headboard of the bed she was in.

"What the…" She frowned as she raked her brain hard, trying to come up with an explanation of why she was handcuffed in a bed inside an unknown room which looked like an abandoned laboratory without any other furniture except for the bed she was in.

There weren't even any windows or wall clocks hinting her about the time of the day. It was only her, the heavy metal door, the bed, the lumpy foam, and the cold hand cuffs that prevented her from going anywhere despite being unbound on the feet.

"What happened?!" She hissed as she tried to recall previous memories. But the only images that formed in her mind was her time when she arrived at the gallery and nothing more.

"Oh God, the gallery! Kakashi!" She gasped.

'What the hell happened? Was he able to arrive at the gallery? Do they know that I'm missing? Is he looking for me?' Her mind screamed. Unfortunately, that was all there is to it because her mind refused to give her answers.

Her lack of explanation on things drove her to the edge of panic but she willed herself to remain calm and study the situation.

First, she had to have a grasp of the time.

Basing her calculations on how dry her throat was, she'd guess that it was still in the middle of the morning, probably between 8 to 10. She hoped.

The next thing she wanted to know was what happened to her body? How did she end up like this?

Swallowing once, and then twice, Sakura tasted something bitter at the back of her throat. And recalling the symptoms she had when she woke up, she'd guess that she was drugged…probably in a wine or in something she ate last night. However, when she craned her neck to try to sit up, she felt a stinging at the side which she was positive wasn't from a stiff neck.

Sakura squeezed her eyes shut, forcing her brain to recall that missing part her mind refused to show. There was only one answer why she was drugged, cuffed, and imprisoned inside such barren room. She was kidnapped.

The next question was—why?

Her thoughts raced to give her an answer but when she thought that a memory would pop out, she heard distant sounds echoing from the outside. That's when she knew she needed to devise a plan to escape.

Sakura looked around, hoping to find a thin metal wire or a nail so she could free herself from the cuffs. She may not look like it but she spent her childhood picking locks of drawers for cookies and candies as well as chewable medicines from the medicine cabinet which her parents used to lock.

When she wasn't able to find one, that's when she searched her body and noticed the brooch she was wearing. She immediately angled her body towards her hands so she could unclasp it.

'Ugh, this will have to do.' She thought as she struggled to pick the lock with the brooch's pointy end while the footsteps and what sounded like a hospital food cart being strolled along the hallway kept coming nearer.

Just in time when the hand cuffs made a click, the footsteps stopped right outside her door which forced her to immediately resume her original position. She hid the brooch in the palm of her hands, took a deep breath and pretended to be asleep.

'Calm down. Calm down. They'll know something's up if you don't control your breathing.' She told herself as she willed her breathing to calm down.

Sakura heard the door open as well as the trolley cart being wheeled in. She heard a person speak. It was an unfamiliar voice of a man.

"Hmm. Looks like the drug hit her hard, huh? She's still knocked out."

'Ha! You wish!' Sakura thought as she pictured a snicker on the man's lips just by hearing his words. But due to how he phrased his sentence, Sakura could only assume that he was talking to somebody.

'Dammit! There's two of them!'

"Well I guess it's time to wake her up now. Answer or no answer, either way she'll get disposed of."

'What? Disposed of? Me?' Sakura struggled not to squirm because of what she heard until the sound of the door closing calmed her nerves—unfortunately, the footsteps kept coming closer.

She was positive that there was still another person. The question now was, did that other person leave? Or was he also in the room?

If she took a peek now, would she get caught? Well, she had to risk it or else she wouldn't know what to do. She just hoped to god that whoever came in wasn't solely focused on her so she could sneak a peek.

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While she contemplated on when to best open her eyes, she heard the rattle of objects on the metal plate that was probably on the trolley cart. That meant that the man was focused elsewhere, giving her confidence to open her eyes.

Taking the chance of opening one of her eyes which was relatively obscured by the strands of her hair, Sakura verified three things: One, she was alone with a lanky looking man in a lab coat; two, she was right about the cart, and three, she saw the man testing a syringe—and whatever was in that syringe would probably put her in greater danger.

So, she needed to escape now.

'Ugh. This is bad. I'm getting nervous.' She thought to herself as she closed her eyes once more just in time when the man faced her form and walked towards her.

"Tsk. Tsk. It would be a shame to not utilize such beautiful body." She heard him say.

'Oh god. Oh god. Now I'm stuck with a pervert.' Sakura internally cried as she felt rough, warm hands glide over her calf up to her thighs.

The thought of being violated had turned her stomach upside down, but she bit the inside of her cheek and forced herself to endure while she thought of a plan to escape. She had successfully freed her hands of the cuffs, she just had to put things into action. She nervously gulped.

'If he's holding the syringe then I'm doomed.' Sakura thought—but when she felt his hand slip under her skirt and grabbing her behind—Sakura's eyes flew open as she yanked herself free from being handcuffed and slapped the man in the face.

Whether it was purely reflex, instincts or self-defense, the additional weight of the handcuff added to the strength of her slap. It knocked the man sideways, allowing her to slip out of bed and dash towards the door.

She heard the man groan in pain but she didn't stop.

'No. Wait! What if his companion was waiting outside!' Her thoughts immediately warned her.

Hence, instead of going straight to the door, Sakura dashed for the trolley cart and searched for a weapon. However, all that there was were assorted vials of clear liquid, blue colored ones, and multiple syringes.

"Then the fucking tray it is." Sakura resolved. But even before she could swing the tray, the man was already behind her, grabbing a fistful of her hair.

Sakura screamed in pain but she was able to stomp on the man's foot accompanied by a powerful hammering of the tray overhead. And since the man was taller than her, the blows effectively landed on his head, causing both of them to tumble back onto the floor—with her, pinning him on the ground.

Despite that, Sakura struggled to break free for she perfectly knew the disadvantage on being in such position. One wrong move and the man could freely strangle her. And so, summoning all the strength that was left in her, Sakura pulled her arm back and elbowed the man's groin with all her might, causing the man to howl in pain until he released her hair and crumpled to the floor in foetal position.

Sakura wasted no time in scrambling to her feet which ultimately reversed the position she and the man initially had. And using both her knowledge in medical school and basic self-defense, she used the chains of the hand cuffs to choke the man, making sure to apply just enough pressure in order for him to lose his consciousness instead of killing him.

Unluckily, just when Sakura felt that the man was losing his strength, a familiar hand with a handkerchief which smelled of isoflurane came from behind. The last thoughts she had was about that hand that covered her face. She knew that hand. She'd know it wherever she was, wherever she'd go.

It was Sasuke's.


Sakura was forced to wake up upon having smelled the strong odor of ammonia. The smell definitely bombarded her senses but the moment she opened her eyes, she found out that she could no longer speak nor move any part of her body.

Compared to her previous state which was handcuffed to the bed, she was now placed in a strait jacket with a tape over her mouth which completely restricted her movement as she came to her senses.

But that wasn't the worst part of it all. Because when she raised her eyes to assess her surroundings, the image in front of her shook her to the core. It rendered her ultimately terrified that there was nothing she could do but to sob in devastation.

In front of her stood four of her best friends. And based on their lack of action and stone cold faces, it simply meant that they had no intentions of setting her free.

Not Sasuke, not Kiba, not Shikamaru, not even Naruto. That's when Sakura realized the truth of it all. She didn't need memories from the gallery to explain her situation. The image in front of her was enough to allow her to grasp her reality.

It was her friends who did this to her.

They abducted her. They kidnapped her. They had allowed these things to be done to her. But for what reason?

[Ah. What a wonderful time to be awake.] A voice, which came over the black speakers located at the top corners of her 'new room' spoke.

Sakura perked up upon hearing the familiar voice. She knew she had heard it before but she just couldn't remember where—but her suspicions were soon put aside when the door to the room opened and the owner of the voice entered.

And she was right. She knew the voice's owner. How could she forget? It was Anko Mitarashi's.

Sakura struggled to move but her movements only looked like she was writhing in pain while she made an effort to scream behind the tape on her lips.

'That stupid bitch!' Her mind screamed as Anko approached, looking all evil and dangerous in her black outfit and red-painted lips. Sasuke and Shikamaru parted in order for her to pass through.

"Have you finally realized what all these mean?" She started as the sole of her heels clicked on the tiled floor.

"It's painful isn't it? To think that your most trusted friends brought you here…only to be put under my mercy." She taunted.

Sakura continued to struggle as she glared at Anko who was cackling with evil joy.

Despite the feeling of betrayal, she had no idea why Sasuke and the others would do this to her. Add it to the fact that her friends seemed to be injured because of the bruises on their faces—but she had something in mind on why Anko wanted her.

She watched as Anko stepped right in front of her. She would've given her a head-butt if not for the rope keeping her in place aside from the strait jacket. So, she gave her most fearsome glare and hoped that by doing so, a vein inside Anko's head would pop and kill her.

Unfortunately, it only pissed the woman off because she made a grab for her face only to strip the tape covering her mouth…or so she thought. Because when Sakura's lips were freed and she gasped for air, Anko menacingly slapped the tape back on her mouth, forcing Sakura to belt out a muffled scream because of the pain of being slapped on the face while the back of her head bumped onto the concrete because of the impact.

"Oh, how fun!" Anko chuckled as she took two steps away from her when her phone started ringing.

Sakura continued to glare at them as she blinked back the tears. It wasn't the pain of being slapped or her head getting bumped on a wall that brought her distress, it was her friends apathetic stand on what the hag was doing to her that brought her anguish.

'Why? Why won't they help me?!'

They simply stood there, motionless and staring off into space. It was as though they weren't seeing anything.

Sakura internally screamed as she continued to desperately struggle for freedom even when she was perfectly aware that her efforts were futile. She continued to grunt and glare at them, sending them imaginary daggers and curse words through her eyes—when Anko spoke.

"Boys, you're needed upstairs. Oh, and before you go up. There's a doctor waiting at the corner? Kindly tell him to get in here. We wouldn't wanna waste our time playing with this little kitty we have here, don't you agree?" She ordered in a mocking voice.

Like robots and in a single file, Sasuke and the others went out of the room one by one until all that's left was Anko and her. When the door was shut behind them, the devil of a woman faced her, arms crossed over her chest while she walked to and fro in front of her.

"Do you honestly think that by looking like a dead beat puppy, your friends will come running to save you?" She sardonically asked.

"Well, sorry to break your bubble, hun, but there are far more important things in those boys' lives that you aren't even worthy of their attention anymore." She spat while Sakura continued to make incoherent noises behind the tape in her mouth.

She needed it to be removed. She need to find out why this was happening to her. And if it meant irritating the soulless bitch in order for the tape to be removed—then she'd gladly do so.

"What? You saying something?" Anko asked mockingly as she ripped the tape off her mouth one more time.

'Success!'

There was a stinging in Sakura's eyes because of the feeling that the skin on her face had just gotten ripped off, but she refused to cry more in front of the witch. So, she demanded for answers.

"Why are you doing this?!" She asked.

Stopping right in front of her, Anko spoke.

"Have you ever heard of that saying: forgive and forget? That doesn't apply to me because I never forgive and I never forget."

Sakura couldn't help but frown because of her answer as her memories brought her back to Kakashi's apartment and her first encounter with the hag.

"What?! All these just because of that one time?!" Sakura screamed. "You are sick. I can't even begin to imagine how sick you are in the mind! It's probably the reason why you have this strait jacket! This is definitely for you!"

Anko made a grab for Sakura's jaw, squeezing her cheeks together with her long sharp nails which grazed her raw skin.

Sakura saw that the woman was seething.

"You humiliated me in front of the man I love, you bitch."

"Humiliated?! You humiliated yourself! I just stated the facts, bitch."

Anko slapped her hard across the cheek but Sakura retaliated by spitting at Anko's face which earned her a resounding backhand. This time, it was far more painful than the last because the ring Anko was wearing scraped her skin.

"Let's see you talk your way out after we do whatever we want with you." She said as she walked back towards the door.

"I was only planning to scare you, but it turns out that you're a very important 'commodity' in the underworld."

'Commodity? Underworld? What?! Don't tell me it's because of…'

Sakura watched as Anko opened the door for a man who was wearing a white coat and a pair of rubber gloves.

'This was probably the 'doctor' she was referring to.' She thought as she watched the man push in a trolley cart highly similar to the first one she had an encounter with.

Looking at the man behind those circular spectacles, he seemed like he was far more capable than the first one. Anko continued speaking.

"You're lucky that we were the ones who got you." She said, her voice full of dry contempt. "Because if not, you'd be dead by now. At least to me, you'd get to live…probably for three days…depending on how strong you can withstand the pain."

With that, Anko stepped aside as she allowed the 'doctor' to place his equipment near her.

"W-what are you going to do to me? What's that?" Sakura asked as she watched the man fill a syringe with a dark blue liquid from a small vial. The man spoke.

"This…this is an impressive new drug that isn't even out on the market yet."

"What's it called?" Sakura asked, not because she was interested…but she was hoping of developing a counter measure just in case it was a poison, another anesthetic or a hallucinogenic drug—if only she could get a hint of its components based on the name—but the man only chuckled.

"As I've told you. It's a new drug. It doesn't even have a name yet."

"Then! Then…what does it do?" She gulped.

"Do you know of the 'Gate-Control Theory?'" The man asked but Sakura remained passive. But that didn't mean that she wasn't aware of that theory. In fact, she was perfectly aware of it. She had seen it multiple times in her mother's table during one of her mother's early research experiments.

The theory meant that non-painful input closes the nerve "gates" to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the central nervous system. Simply put, it was like not being able to feel the pain because the mind was too preoccupied of other activities. Say for example, suffering an injury in the middle of a basketball game. The player can still somehow continue to play despite his injury because scoring points was way more important at the moment. The medical attention can wait. She recalled.

"What does it have to do with that drug?" Sakura tried one more time. That's when the man stepped in front of her, giving her his widest grin as he tested the syringe in front of her.

"You're a med student, correct? Do you know of neural blocks? This drug will prevent those neural blocks from happening! So that when this drug is administered in your system…you will feel nothing but pain with even the slightest stimuli present, because all of your body's pain receptors will be open."

With that, the man expertly jammed the needle on Sakura's neck giving her no time to process the situation. But one thing was for sure…she was doomed.


TBC