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Chapter 14 - Shake Hands with the Devil

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Gentle: the first word that comes to mind when her eyes land on Sasuke. Not genius, not handsome, not moody; Gentle. They've been sitting next to each other for a while now, thirty minutes, maybe an hour. Their knees are brushing now and then, but he didn't move away from the touch even once.

There are many things Sakura cannot forget. The pain, for one, lingers even though Mole has done a very great job of nursing her wounds. And sometimes, when she closes her eyes, the unwanted touch of Zaku's hands against her bare stomach resurfaces, like she's still trapped under his weight. Every time Sakura's mind wanders to those events, a shiver runs down her spine; the warm feeling of his breath against the skin of her neck feels so real that the beating of her heart increases as her lungs constrict. But when it happens, Sasuke calms her down by intertwining their fingers or squeezing her knee. And then, the memory of his fingers running down her short pink locks is soothing her worries away.

They've been quiet for a while now, relinquishing in the comfortable silence. Sasuke's gaze stays glued to the fire, and he seems to munch over something. He hasn't asked a lot of questions concerning Hana, but that doesn't surprise her. He is sorting it all out in his head at the very moment; she knows it. And anyway, Sakura still has a hard time believing he cares.

At that thought, she runs fingers through her short locks, and her heart melts. So gentle.

The length of her hair should bother her, but it doesn't - just like the increasing amount of scars that are altering the smoothness of her skin. But she doesn't love Sasuke because of his good looks. It never was about that, so if he's going to love her one day, she wants it to be because of her, as a whole.

"Sasuke-kun?" The boy lifts his gaze to meet her shifting eyes. "About what you said earlier... Thank you. I don't know if it's true, though. By the state Zaku left me in, I have a hard time believing in my strength. But to know that you believe in me makes it easier. So thank you." Sasuke nods and turns his gaze back to the fire. But Sakura hasn't finished, and after biting her lip and staring at his profile for some time, she braces herself for the embarrassment and dives in. "You know, coming from you, it means a lot. You're the best genin, after all! Hell, you're the best at everything, really. And sometimes, I wish I was more like you. I'm not talking about wanting your name or wishing I was from some prestigious clan. I'm fine with being a civilian. What I envy is your drive. You're such a hard worker, Sasuke-kun, and you put so much energy, so much passion into everything you do. That's why you're the best genin of our year, and that's why I admire you so much." A rosy tint colours his cheeks, and she can see he is about to interject, so she outstretches a hand in front of her. "Please, let me finish." She waits until he gives her his approbation, then takes a big inhale. "I know you're acting tough around people, but that you, too, are hiding something. I always found this so endearing about you, how mysterious you were. It just made me want to help you even more. Now, I think I know why. I like this about you because I'm the same. It has nothing to do with pride; it's the constant need to prove yourself, not for others, but for you, and you only. So I just wanted you to know I'm here if you ever need to talk or something."

Sasuke holds her stare with calculating eyes. "Why are you telling me all this?"

"I regret the way I was acting at the Academy. It gave you the wrong impression, I suppose. I was young; I didn't know better. It's that stupid rivalry with Ino." She adverts her eyes. "Don't get me wrong, I think you're handsome. But I don't care about that. And I know my past actions are making it hard to believe, but it's true."

He shifts and their knees brush, but Sakura refuses to meet his eyes. The embarrassment is too hard to conceal, so she prefers to hide her blushing cheeks behind a curtain of pink hair.

"You're still young," he says after consideration, and she's grateful he decided to just dismiss the part about his good looks.

At his statement, she opens her palm and brushes the crescent-moon scars in the middle of it. "Well, it doesn't feel like it," she whispers at last.

He hums in understanding, and the comfortable silence returns.

Sakura knows he feels the same, and she can guess it has a lot to do with the fact he lost his parents at a very young age. But the disappearance of the Uchiha clan has always been a mystery to Konoha's citizens. A well-guarded secret that is eating away at her teammate. And as much as she wishes he would confide in her, she also understands it isn't her place to ask about it. Instead, she settles on a less private question. "How's your neck?"

At first, he didn't acknowledge her, and if it weren't for the hand that shot to his new seal, she would have believed he didn't hear her. With growing impatience, she awaits his answer, her eyes scanning his features. She can see there's a war going on in his mind by the way he's frowning, his lips in a thin line. You rarely see so many emotions marring the Uchiha's face, and it is startling the pinkette.

"It doesn't hurt. But it feels weird."

She shifts closer, and when she pulls on his wrist, he lets her uncover the mark. "Weird how?"

He shrugs. "Like I'm not the only one in control of my movements, my thoughts anymore." She nods, her fingers brushing the three dots. "But you've already guessed that much, right?"

He sends her a look through his ebony hair, and she has to refrain from running her fingers in it. "When the black marks appeared, your eyes, they didn't look the same. It was like you didn't recognize me. And then, what you did to Zaku... You would have never done something like that."

"How can you be so sure? He deserved it after what he did to you. I know I'm not regretting it." Sakura's arms wrap around her torso without her consent, and at the sudden absence of her soothing fingers, Sasuke jerks his head around. "I'm sorry." His hands close around her shoulders, and she welcomes the warm touch with a small smile.

"For what? You did nothing wrong."

"Yeah, but..." He's retreating, his hands leaving their spot on her shoulders. At that realization, Sakura grabs his biceps to halt his movement. His eyes widen as a blush creeps over her face.

"Could we... stay like this for a bit longer?" She bites her lower lip and drops her eyes to the small space between their knees. She hears him sigh and prepares for the rejection.

"Sure." She shoots him a surprised glance. "But it would have been less awkward if you had just accepted my shirt." A playful smirk dances on his lips, and she chuckles with a shake of her head.

"What an odd team we're making," she says, still laughing. Sasuke sends her a puzzled look, and she feels obligated to elaborate. "We're all sharing our lives with someone - or something - else. Naruto with the Kyuubi, me with Hana, and now you with those stupid black marks."

He chuckles. "Stupid black marks."

"What?"

"You're funny when you're angry over something." She blushes under the teasing. "What about Kakashi, though? He doesn't fit in this so-called odd team you're talking about."

She regains her composure and sends Sasuke a sad look. "Oh, sure he does. He's sharing his life with a lot of ghosts. I can see it."

Sasuke opens his mouth, a frown appearing on his features, but before he gets to question Sakura's last statement, an unfamiliar voice echoes through the darkness of the cave."So, the blond boy is the Jinchuuriki." Both teenagers jump and glance behind. The sight of a stranger emerging from the deepest part of the cave startles Sakura. Sasuke hurries to his feet, kunai in hand, and when she copies his movements, he doesn't waste a second before shielding her from view. "Make sense," the silver-haired man continues, unbothered by their reaction. "I was wondering why Hiruzen would put a worthless civilian with the famous Uchiha heir, but now I get it. The prince has been given a shield and a beast to tame. How predictable."

The flames reflecting in the man's glasses hide his eyes, and goosebumps rise on Sakura's skin at the eery sight.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Kabuto," the stranger answers Sasuke's question with annoyance. He is about to add something, but Sakura's gasp cuts him short.

"You're that guy!"

A smile stretches on his lips. "I'm glad you remember me, Sakura-chan. I haven't forgotten you either."

"You're the creepy guy," Sasuke says. "You were attending the Chuunin exams in Konoha. What are you doing here?"

"Don't be jealous, Sasuke-kun. It doesn't suit you." Kabuto takes a few steps forward, and they can finally get a glimpse of his eyes: two cold, calculating orbs. "To answer your question, I was attending the exams to monitor you, the only survivor of the Uchiha clan. Imagine my surprise when I heard not only that you were not participating, but that your lazy sensei had found a mission exactly where Master wanted you to be."

"You're working for Orochimaru then."

At Sakura's observation, Kabuto chuckles and sends her an appreciative glance. "Such a smart shield."

"Don't call her that."

"Why not? Ah, I see. The truth hurts sometimes. Am I not right, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke's hands close into two tight fists, and Sakura realizes she's missing a piece of the puzzle because she doesn't understand Kabuto's teasing. Her fingers wrap gently around the boy's wrist, and she leans forward to whisper in his ear.

"He's playing with you. Whatever truth he's talking about, don't let him distract you, Sasuke-kun."

"I wonder what your father would have thought of this relationship, Sasuke-kun. His youngest, smitten with a worthless civilian, his two sons, traitors to the greatest clan of all."

"Shut up," Sasuke spats, pulling away from Sakura's touch. "Don't talk about him."

"About who? Your deceased father, or I-Ta-Chi?"

"SHUT UP!" The black-haired boy takes a threatening step forward, and panic engulfs Sakura at the sight of black marks crawling out of the seal on his neck.

"Sasuke-kun!" She grabs him by the shirt, but a second later, she's slammed against a wall. Her eyes widen when they land on Sasuke's empty stare. He's so close that their noses are brushing, but the proximity doesn't make her blush. There's nothing romantic about it, she thinks as tears roll down her cheeks, nothing at all. His hands have found back their spot on her shoulders, but this time, the grip is too firm, and she knows it will leave new bruises to go with the ones given by Zaku.

"Stay out of this," she nods at Sasuke's order, her gaze following the black marks as they crawl up his handsome features.

"So the prince is turning into a beast himself," Kabuto laughs. "It will please master to know his plan is working. Keep on tapping into that power source, Sasuke-kun, and soon, you'll defeat your brother."

A growl bubbles in Sasuke's chest, and Sakura winces when his grip tightens. At that sound, a flicker of light passes through the boy's dark eyes, and while he holds her stare, his hands slide down her arms. The marks have ended their course but still linger on his pale skin.

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura brushes tentative fingers on his cheek, then trails them back to the seal on his neck. The skin feels so warm under her touch, like the boy is burning from the inside. "Sasuke-kun, are you there?"

At last, the marks recede, and the pinkette lets out a loud exhale. The boy leans forward, his eyes closed, and applies both hands to the wall, caging her between them as he does. She watches him struggling on his unsteady feet for a while, her eyes often drifting to the quiet man waiting behind. After what feels like hours, Sasuke snaps his eyes open and bores them into hers. She instantly recognizes her teammate's gaze, and her shoulders relax.

"Shit, Sakura," he says with widened eyes. "I've hurt you."

"It's fine, Sasuke-kun. I'm fine." He sends her an unconvinced look. "Really. You're back, and that's what matters."

"Ugh," Sasuke spins around upon remembering Kabuto's presence. Sakura catches him when he stumbles forward and wraps an arm around his waist. "That won't please Master, Sakura-chan." She doesn't know why, but a knot forms in her stomach at the man's words. "Now, if you would just follow me. Let's get this over with. You're in no condition to fight, anyway, so save yourselves the humiliation."

A hand suddenly emerges from the ground and wraps around the man's shin. Then, with one swift pull, it drags Kabuto underground, leaving the two teenagers staring in awe at the bundle of dirt left behind.

"Come on, kiddies, we need to leave, now!"

Mole's unexpected appearance startles her. With her heart crashing against her ribcage, Sakura drags her teammate towards the exit, where the young Anbu is waiting. They have almost reached him when a familiar, icy touch against her ankle makes her stop and glance at her feet.

A long snake is wrapping around her legs, constricting her movements, and by the sudden curse leaving Sasuke's mouth, Sakura guesses the same is happening to the black-haired boy.

"They're just kids," Mole says, his eyes staring at a spot above her right shoulder. "Let them go. We, the adults, should settle this."

A snort resounds close to her ear, then a hand wraps around her shoulders. "We both know we're not exactly adults ourselves, midget."

"What did you call me?"

"Oh, yes. Inuzuka - or, should I say, Wolf - told me everything about her so-called 'team.' Sadly for you, it means I have an advantage over you - besides being stronger, of course." Fingers grab her chin and turn her head to the side, where her eyes land on a playful smirk. "Now, be a good girl, Sakura-chan. Stand back and make sure Sasuke-kun does nothing stupid."

"Don't talk to her like she's your pet," Sasuke says through gritted teeth.

"Come on, Sasuke-kun. Let her speak for herself. She's not a damsel in distress." Then, as an afterthought, he adds with a smirk: "We both know it's the other way around, anyway."

Kabuto suddenly releases her, and Sakura doesn't wait for a second more before hurrying to Sasuke's side. When she's within reach, the boy grabs her arm and yanks her forward against his chest. He doesn't let go.

"What should we do?" She glances at his calculating eyes with a lump forming in her throat. She can see they're thinking the same thing.

"We stand back," he finally answers with reluctance. "Or we'll only be in the way."

Sakura nods and leans against her teammate's chest. No matter how hard her heart is beating, she still feels light-headed, like there isn't enough blood in her body for her to function. Plus, one of her legs is still injured, and by supporting some of Sasuke's weight during the seal incident, she thinks she aggravated the wound. Thankfully, now, the boy looks fine, so he can carry some of her weight. She feels his fingers dig inside the flesh on her right side, and if there was enough blood in her system, she would blush under the intimacy of the touch.

Before the exhausted teenagers, the two men are eyeing each other. They both look around the same height, the same weight, even the same age. Although Kabuto is wearing round glasses and long gray hair, his face still bears something juvenile; a slight curve of the cheek, a smooth skin, a bit of colour brightening his pale complexion. And although they cannot scrutinize Mole's appearance in the same way, his high-pitched voice and innocent laugh suggest an equivalent observation: he cannot be over eighteen.

Sakura's eyes have been flowing from one man to the other for a minute of intense waiting when she notices a blue hue emanating from Kabuto's fingers. It stretches and refines until it reaches the length and the size of scalpels. Then, the silver-haired man lunges forward, and if it weren't for Mole's impressive speed, the chakra scalpels would have found their way through the Anbu's jugular. Mole doesn't wait to retaliate, and after waving his hands, projectiles that look a lot like stalagmites are thrown towards Oto's shinobi. However, Kabuto's speed is as impressive as the Anbu's, and he avoids being stabbed by one of the long rocks with a roll to the side.

Then, the two men engage in an impressive fight that looks almost like a dance. Unfortunately, Sakura quickly realizes Mole's too busy evading Kabuto's attack to be seen as an actual threat. Something more alarming even: it seems the silver-haired man wants to switch sides with Mole, like he has some trick up his sleeve, some trap waiting on the other side of the cave. Just as Sakura makes that observation, Mole avoids a kick to the knee by jumping forward and landing behind Kabuto, where he tries to take the other man by surprise, kunai in hand. However, his opponent blocks the blow with a smirk.

"Careful, Mole, I think you should come back to our side. He's-"

The rest of her warning gets stuck in her throat when one stalagmite, used by Mole at the beginning of the fight, pierces through the Anbu's back. Sakura's scream echos against the walls, and it seems like it's never going to stop.

"Orochimaru-sama asked me to show you our good intentions. So, I promise I will save his life if you follow me willingly. Otherwise..." Kabuto pauses and closes his eyes in concentration. Another rock flies through Mole's body, this time slightly above his heart.

"No!" Sakura runs to the man's side as he falls to his knees, a trail of blood flowing from his wide-open mouth. "Please, stop!" She hears Sasuke takes a few steps towards her, and she turns a face full of tears in his direction. "I'll go. But Sasuke-kun..."

"Oh, sweetie. Don't value yourself too much. What Orochimaru-sama wants more than anything is Sasuke-kun's body."

"Then I'll go."

Kabuto laughs. "When did I say I was going to heal him if only one of you followed, anyway? I don't think the little man over here will hold on much longer, so what do you decide? Are you both coming willingly or not?"

"Fine," she says without hesitation, then glances at her teammate. "Right, Sasuke-kun?" The black-haired boy stays silent, his eyes on her. There's a crease between his two eyebrows, and she can see him locking his jaw from her spot on the ground. "Sasuke-kun?" This time, her voice is less assertive, and she gulps when she sees the growing conflict in his eyes. She gets up, concerned, but that seems to snap him back to reality.

"Yes. We'll go."

Kabuto chuckles before kneeling in front of Mole's body, his hands already glowing. "Konoha's shinobis. All so damn predictable." Sakura ignores the man's words and watches in awe as the wounds gradually disappear from Mole's chest and stomach. However, instead of looking better, the Anbu's condition worsens; his breathing slows down, and her heart sinks when his mouth finally closes, followed by his heavy eyelids.

"What are you doing? Is he dying?"

She grabs Kabuto by the elbow, but he swats her hand away swiftly. "I'm slowing his heartbeat, stupid girl. I need him unconscious if we want to leave this place before tomorrow. We've already wasted too much time."

Sakura puts two fingers to Mole's neck, and when she notices how feeble his pulse feels under her touch, she draws her kunai to her throat.

"What are you doing?" Kabuto alters his ministration at Sakura's bold move. She applies pressure to her weapon until a single drop of blood follows the curve of her neck.

"I don't trust you. So, if you kill Mole, I'll kill myself. I don't think Orochimaru will be too thrilled about that."

Kabuto holds her stare for a minute, weighing his options, and a shiver runs down her spine when a smirk stretches on his lips. "I despise everything about you, and yet, you're growing on me, Sakura-chan. You're growing on me, really." He laughs and gets up. "If I were you, that would concern me."

He dismisses her with one shake of his head and proceeds towards the deepest part of the cave. She drops her arm and secures her weapon back into its holster, then meets Sasuke's stare.
"What the fuck?" His voice is stiff, his jaw clenched.

"I knew it would work, Sasuke-kun," she answers as she nears his tensed form.

"It's not like the situation has improved, Sakura. You made it worst."

"Well, at least, Mole is still alive, isn't he?" She frowns when he turns his back on her and proceeds towards Kabuto's receding figure. In two strides, she catches up with him and grabs his elbow to make him face her. "And we're together."

"Yeah, but for how long? Do you really trust him? Are you really that naïve?"

She gives him a reassuring squeeze. "Have faith Sasuke-kun. Don't forget Naruto and Kakashi-sensei are probably looking for us as we speak. They would never let us down."

Sasuke stares at her, his eyes roaming over her every feature. He lifts one hand and lets it hover between them. Sakura's heartbeat quickens in anticipation, but he disappoints her when he abruptly shakes his head and drops his hand.

"Are you coming, or what?"

At Kabuto's calling, Sakura releases Sasuke and takes a step forward, but the black-haired boy stops her by pulling on her wrist. "Stay close."

Despite the dreadful situation, butterflies flutter in her belly when he intertwines their fingers and leads her towards Kabuto's waiting form.