Chappie 7 is up! Enjoy!

CHAPTER 7-Bonds

The next day, Sakura was all ready. She put on a normal outfit; a cream colored long sleeved shirt over a black tank top with tight dark blue jeans and black boots. She pulled her hair in a spiky ponytail and grabbed her bag.

She drove her silver Porsche to her first destination; the old cosmetic factory in the land of tea. She assumed Orochimaru had taken the materials required to make the lipstick for Ino. Sakura put on her shades and turned on the radio. The song 'Chelsea Smile' by Bring Me the Horizon started to burst through the speakers.

Sakura sighed. Rock music always helped her think or calm down. She focused on the road as she drove. Finally she arrived in the land of tea.

It was small but peaceful. The people in the streets were smiling and having fun. Sakura watched as a woman lifted a little girl into her arms and kissed her cheek. Sakura felt a pang of jealousy in her heart. Thinking about her mother made her want to cry. But she remembered Madara's words when he was training her: 'Shedding tears? It's useless! If you must shed something, then let it be sweat. Let your weakness be oozed out of your body.'

Sakura shook her head and headed for the old cosmetic factory.

It was located a bit far from the main town. It was an old yellow building that stood on a small hill. The paint was peeling off and the signboard, which read 'Teatime Cosmetics,' was now old and faded. Sakura got out of her car and stared at the building in front of her.

She gave a low whistle, "Seems like the place where that snake would do his dirty work." The main entrance was locked so Sakura went around the building and found a backdoor. It was unlocked so Sakura knocked it down with a kick.

Sakura looked around. There wasn't much information; a couple of old cosmetic ingredients and old boxed cosmetics that had expired.

Sakura was about to leave when she heard someone's footsteps. Sakura hid behind a stack of boxed moisturizers. The footsteps were getting closer. Sakura took a deep breath and tackled the person to the ground.

She landed on top of the person. She swiftly pulled out her knife from her boots and held it at the person's throat. Her eyes widened when she saw who the person was.

Sakura's surprised looked changed into an annoyed one.

"Sasuke," Sakura said as she got up off him. "What are you doing here?"

"None of your business." Sasuke said as he brushed the dirt off of his clothes.

Sakura glared at him, 'Did you follow me?"

Sasuke smirked at her, "Maybe."

Sakura glared harder. Sasuke sighed, "I was here earlier than you so you can't say I followed you."

"Where's your car?" Sakura asked.

"I parked it near the woods," said Sasuke. "I walked here."

"Why?"

"Like I said, none of your business."

Sakura rolled her eyes, "Well, go home. You're interfering in my business."

Sasuke raised his eyebrow, "Which is?"

"Borrowing your words," said Sakura. "It's none of your business."

Sakura started to walk away. Sasuke spoke, "I know you're here for Orochimaru."

Sakura stopped in her tracks, "Who told you?"

Sasuke shrugged, "I have my ways."

Sakura looked at him, "I'll say it again; go home. It's dangerous out here."

"I'm not a baby," said Sasuke. "I can take care of myself."

Sakura was about to say something but Sasuke cut her off, "I found something you might be interested in."

Sakura scoffed, "Like what?"

"Like," Sasuke pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. "What the snake man has been doing here in this factory."

This caught Sakura's attention, "Give me that paper."

Sakura chased Sasuke around the cosmetics factory but Sasuke was faster. He climbed on one of the stacked boxes and smirked down at Sakura.

"I'll say it again," said Sakura. "Give. Me. That. Paper."

Sasuke put it behind his back, "Only on one condition."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, "Which is?"

"Answer my questions," said Sasuke. "And these papers are yours."

Sakura was about to give her answer but a pipe in the wall exploded and a fire started. It was burning down the cosmetic factory.

"We have to escape," said Sakura. "Now!"

They rushed to the door but it was locked shut. Someone had locked them in.

"Damn it!" cursed Sakura.

"The windows." said Sasuke. They rushed to the other side of the factory. A piece of wood fell of Sakura. She yelled in pain. Sasuke quickly helped her get up and carried her to the window.

The windows were too rusted to be opened. Sakura coughed, "I have an Idea. Let me go, Sasuke." Sasuke set her on her feet. Sakura limped to the corner and opened the nearest box of Moisturizers. She started to throw them at the windows and soon the glass shattered.

Sasuke lifted Sakura to reach the windows. Once she was out, she pulled Sasuke up. The fire trucks were nearing the factory. Sasuke and Sakura quickly drove away in Sakura's car before the fire fighters arrived and questioned them.

It was now getting dark and the two decided to stop at a hotel.

"Sorry," said the woman at the counter. "There's only one room available."

Sasuke sighed and rubbed his temples. Sakura cleared her throat and spoke, "That'll be fine." The woman gave them the key to their room.

After reaching their room, Sakura went to take a shower. Sasuke called Itachi and informed him of what had happened.

After showering, Sakura sat on the couch in her tank top. Sasuke sat next to her.

"That door," Sakura started to say. "It was locked from the outside."

"Which means," said Sasuke. "Someone had meant to set the factory on fire with us inside."

Sakura nodded grimly. Sasuke saw that Sakura was looking uncomfortable. Then he remembered her wounds. He went to the bathroom and took out the first aid supplies from the cabinet.

"Take off your top." Sasuke said flatly, trying to hide the blush that was daring to creep up on his cheeks. He felt so perverted!

"I'm fine." Sakura muttered.

Sasuke touched her waist and she hissed in pain. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "Fine huh?"

Sakura sighed and took off her tank top. She was wearing bindings around her breasts. Sasuke started to clean her wounds.

"Thanks," said Sakura. "Thanks for saving me."

"Hn." Sasuke said as he wrapped her waits with bandages.

He then treated the scratches on her leg and went to the bathroom to take a shower. After he was done, he went back to their room to find Sakura sitting on the edge of the bed. Then Sasuke realized the problem; there was only one bed.

"I'll sleep on the couch." Sasuke muttered.

"No," said Sakura. "You take the bed and I'll sleep on the couch."

"No, I'll sleep on the couch. You're wounds remember?"

"No, I'll be fine. You can take the bed."

Sasuke sighed, "Fine. We'll both sleep on the bed."

Sasuke climbed in from one side and Sakura from the other. Sakura moved to the far edge of the bed, trying to use as little space as possible.

Sasuke reached out and pulled her towards him, "You'll fall off if you go any further."

Sakura turned towards him, "You're enjoying this aren't you?"

Sasuke chuckled and soon Sakura joined him. Sasuke then sat up and grabbed a paper from the bedside table. Sakura sat up too.

He handed Sakura the paper, "You wanted it."

Sakura stared at the paper. It was the paper with the information of what Orochimaru was doing in the cosmetics factory.

Sakura looked at Sasuke, "I haven't agreed to your condition."

Sasuke shrugged.

Sakura stared at the paper, "Thank you Sasuke."

"Hn." Sasuke replied.

After a silence, Sakura spoke.

"You know," she started to say. "I'm kinda bored. You can ask me those questions if you want."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her, "You sure you wanna answer my questions?"

Sakura shrugged, "There's nothing else to do."

"Alright," said Sasuke. "Two questions."

"Deal." replied Sakura.

"Why is it that you're after Orochimaru so badly?" asked Sasuke. "Don't say it's to protect the five great companies. I know that's a part of why you're after him but you're after him for your own reasons too, aren't you?"

Sakura sighed and smirked, "You're very observant, I'll remember that. You're right; I do want to find Orochimaru for my own reasons as well. The reason is . . . well, my mother was murdered and I just know that he had a part in her murder. I'm assuming he's the real killer or knows who the real killer is. I want to, have to avenge my mother."

Sasuke stared at Sakura who had her eyes closed. Finally, she opened them and looked at Sasuke, "What's question two?"

"What is your relation with Matsumoto Yuki?" asked Sasuke.

Sakura stiffened for a moment and then she relaxed. She sighed, "You know the answer already, Sasuke."

"No I don't," said Sasuke. "I thought I did but . . . now I'm just confused."

Sakura looked at him in the eye, "Like I said, you're very observant; even if you don't want to be. I didn't tell you because you knew the answer already. Think about it; Kabuto said my mom died a tragic death. Matsumoto Yuki died a tragic death too. Do you get it?"

It finally hit Sasuke like a slap on his face. His eyes widened, "Matsumoto Yuki is . . . your mother."

Sakura nodded, "That's right. My mother married a man from the Haruno clan, who died before I was born. My mom was pregnant with me when he died. After I was born, she looked after me in secret. She made me use my father's surname to protect me from her enemies. After she was murdered, Madara and the presidents found out my secret. It actually slipped out of my mouth that day. Only two people apart from Madara and the presidents, Itachi-san and a friend of mine, know my secret; until now."

"But you said you were after Orochimaru because you think he is your mom's killer," said Sasuke. "Didn't she die in a gang attack?"

Sakura clenched her fist, "I don't believe that load of crap. My mother was strong and there's no way a gang could have killed her."

"How do you know?" asked Sasuke.

Sakura took a deep breath, "I only told this story to Madara-san. After I was found, I was taken to ANBU headquarters. They had taken my mother's body for investigation. Not to brag, but I was pretty smart for a four year old and I snuck into the lab.

I examined my mother's body and saw a puncture mark on the back of her neck. Madara-san found me in the lab but instead of punishing me for sneaking into the lab, he told me that he too believed my mother wasn't attacked by a gang. He told me that if I wanted to find my mother's killer, I had to become strong. I joined the ANBU at the age of four and started my training."

Sakura gave a light laugh, "This is a dark secret that I feel scared to tell anyone about but weirdly, it's easy to talk to you."

Sasuke looked at Sakura. She had gone through so much; the pain of losing her mother, rough ANBU training at the age of four, confusion and frustration of being unable to find the killer of her mother.

"I know you think I'm crazy," said Sakura. "But whatever you say, I'm still continuing my mission. Just don't tell anyone about this."

"Only on one condition." Sasuke said with a smirk.

Sakura sighed, "And what is that?"

"Let me help you," said Sasuke. Sakura looked at him, puzzled. "I want to help you find your mother's killer."

"It's risky and dangerous," said Sakura. "Why do you want to risk your life to help me?"

"Honestly, I don't know," said Sasuke. "I just . . . feel that I'm supposed to help you with your mission."

Sakura stared at him. Finally, she gave a small smirk, "It's a deal Sasuke."

"Partners?" said Sasuke, as he held out his hand.

"Partners." Sakura said as they shook hands.

Sakura yawned. Sasuke chuckled, "Looks like someone's tired."

Sakura rolled her eyes, "Obviously."

Sakura laid her head on the pillow and smiled, not smirked, smiled at Sasuke, "Goodnight . . . partner."

Sasuke gave a small smile before laying his head on the pillow and falling asleep.

Me: Well, Sui-chan and Ita-kun are in the hospital so . . . Hinata please do the honors.

Hinata: Thank you Psy-chan. Please review and stay tuned for the next chapter.