A/N: Before I start with this chapter, I just wanted to tell you real quick that I just published the first chapter of my new story called Call of Light! I would be happy if you'd check it out:)
See you at the bottom, enjoy!
CHAPTER 30- Surrender
The tension that filled the office was suffocating.
Sakura was seated on the Hokage's chair, her fists resting on her lap as her fingers dug into the soft material of her Kimono. She was feeling unusually cold, the thin material of Itachi's jacket that the Uchiha heir had wrapped around her the moment he noticed her shaking doing little to warm her.
Mere minutes ago she felt on top of the world, invincible and happier than ever but all that came crashing down the second the two Anbu officers sought them out.
Her stomach flipped painfully as their words echoed in her ears, the familiar grin that flashed in her mind causing her heart to clench in her chest. She knew that sending Shisui and his team to the borders was risky, but she had faith in him and his skills and believed that he would be able to uncover the mystery regarding the disappearances.
And now he was one of them.
"Uchiha Shisui and his team were reportedly last seen at the borders of Sound at dusk. When they didn't report an hour later the others decided to seek them out but like with the cases before, there was no trace left of them." The bear-masked Anbu informed them and Sakura bit down onto her lower lip when Itachi behind her remained silent.
He was looking out of the window with his hands folded behind his back and even though he seemed calm, Sakura felt the tension rolling off of him in waves. She knew as well as he did that they had to act fast if they wanted to find their men alive. One wrong move could result with their deaths, and even though Sakura knew that Shisui as well as the others were highly skilled, she was also well aware of the fact that Orochimaru would not let that stop him from finding ways to break them.
"I want the exact locations of where the disappearance have occurred." Itachi ordered, his curt voice cutting through the silence like a knife.
It reminded Sakura of when she had first met Itachi, his detached and cold attitude making him nearly unapproachable and his chilling stare enough to freeze one to the core. She knew that he had once more pulled the walls up and hid his personal feelings behind the familiar blank mask and Sakura couldn't help but pity him. Right now he wasn't Itachi Uchiha, Shisui's cousin and friend but Itachi Uchiha, the Rokudaime Hokage of the village who had to think of a way to rescue his men.
"Of course, Hokage-sama." The bear-masked male bowed. "I will make sure to get them."
Itachi said nothing when the masked duo left his office, the soft click of the door falling shut the only sound to break the silence that engulfed them.
Sakura was torn. The advisor in her was already racking her brain with all kind of plans and possible idea's as to how to proceed, but the other part of her that reminded her that not only was she his advisor, but also the only person that could console him not as the Hokage, but as Itachi, was trying to push through.
"Sakura."
She almost jumped in place when his voice tore her out of her mind, her head snapping up to look at the Uchiha heir over her shoulder. He didn't move, and if it wasn't for the way his shoulder slightly stiffened she could have sworn that she had just imagined him calling her name.
"Yes?" The pinkette asked, her voice barely above a whisper as it carried through the eerily silent room.
She had turned the chair so that she was facing his back, her emerald eyes fixed on the back of his head as she tightened her hold on her Kimono. For another long moment there was only silence but Sakura knew better than to push him, fearing that he may reconsider whatever he was about to say, and patiently remained silent.
It seemed to work, for a few long beats later his voice once more reached her ears.
"What would be the most logical way to proceed?"
So it was the advisor he needed first, it seemed. Sakura thinned her lips, the concern that sparked in her emerald eyes unseen by the Uchiha heir as she straightened.
"Whereas sending another team to scout the area would be highly risky, we are left with little other choice." Sakura told him, her voice soft despite of the firmness of her words. "We need to find them within the next forty-eight hours if we want to retrieve them alive. Any later than that and they'll most likely be beyond our help."
A moment of silence followed her words and Sakura knew that he carefully considered them before he spoke. "We could send Anbu to scout the Area and clear it first."
A light frown pulled at Sakura's features at the suggestion. "It would be a waste of time. Until they reached the borders and give us the go the rescue party would have less than a day to find them and considering that the only lead regarding its location we have is from Danzo it's too dangerous."
"We would only risk loosing more of our men." Itachi concluded, and even though he couldn't see it Sakura nodded.
"Exactly." She agreed. "It would be smarter if the rescue party takes Danzo's lead while another group stays at the border to observe it as back-up. If the lead turns out to be right they will be close enough to help and if they don't report back, we know where to find them."
It was the only option they had. Danzo's lead could either be a trap or lead them straight towards their men and even if it was the former, Sakura was confident that not another team would fall prey to Orochimaru's experiments because she would ensure that the group taking Danzo's lead would be carefully picked.
"Who do you suggest we should send?"
She had expected his question and when she answered, there was no trace of hesitation in her voice.
"Me."
The temperature in the office instantly dropped, the tension increasing tenfold. She instantly picked up the way his shoulders straightened but she kept her chin high, determination brightening up her emerald orbs.
"No."
She had expected his answer and even though she didn't want to argue with him, she had little choice. He was allowing his personal feelings to get in the way of making decisions and even though she was not innocent in that field either, this time was different and they both knew it.
"I am familiar with Orochimaru and his men's attacks as well as one of the only one's in the known about what is going on." She calmly returned, her voice firm and mind made up. "Sending others there with only a curt briefing would be like sending them to their deaths and besides you, I am the only one familiar with the structures of the hide-out."
"I won't allow you to walk straight into Orochimaru's hands." Itachi curtly returned, his voice leaving no room for protests. "He will use you as a leverage."
"Not if I don't get caught." Sakura firmly returned. "Our mission will be to rescue Shisui and the others, not to bring down Orochimaru."
This time Itachi turned around to look at her, his expression hard and eyes narrowed. "Orochimaru will expect me to send someone. There is no guarantee that this mission will be a success and you'll be able to get out of there."
"I am one of the best you have and whether you like it or not also the best suited for this mission." Sakura snapped, her patience running thin as she narrowed her eyes. "If we send just anyone there they'll end up the same way and Shisui and the others will be beyond our help."
Itachi's eyes flashed crimson and Sakura could feel an icy shiver crawl over her skin. "I won't allow you to walk straight into his hands without me being there."
Sakura looked at him with a mixture of frustration and incredulity. She knew that he was worried and understood his concern but they had no other option. Every moment they spent arguing was a moment that their men were kept somewhere, treated as labor rats and waiting for them to finally find them.
"He expects you, Itachi." Sakura reminded him, her voice calmer yet not less firm. "You are needed here to keep things under control in case the mission goes wrong and to keep both your Clan and the rest of the village from causing an uproar."
Itachi's frown deepened as his crimson eyes remained fixed on hers and when he remained silent, she knew that she had him. He was obviously angry and though Sakura knew that it was directed at Orochimaru and the circumstances he caused rather than her, she couldn't help but feel bad for snapping at him.
Sakura let out a soft sigh before she lifted herself off the seat, his jacket still wrapped around her shoulders as she moved to stand in front of him.
"I know that you're worried, but you can't always protect me from everything." She softly reminded him before she reached out to gently caress his jaw. Her lips turned upwards into a tender smile when she felt him calm under her touch despite of the hardness that still filled his eyes. "Allow me to be the one protecting you this time."
Itachi looked down at the pinkette in front of him with a displeased frown. He knew that she was right, but that didn't mean that he liked sending her right into the hands of Orochimaru.
He didn't want to let her go without him backing her up. Orochimaru was his to take care of and he didn't want her to get involved and endangered because of that.
As the Hokage, however, he knew that it would be the right thing to do.
He was unable to send either Naruto or Sasuke what only left her and Kakashi who were in the known about what was going on and that Orochimaru was indeed alive. Whereas he could send Kakashi with a team they would still be in need of a medic and Sakura was the best they had who, unfortunately, was also aware of all that was going on and would be of great help to the copy-nin.
Itachi felt frustration flare to life in him. It were moments like these that he almost dared regret being the Hokage. Whereas he could leave Konoha to Tsunade for the time being, he knew that he couldn't leave the village now that his Clan had lost another of its members. He was needed here to keep the situation under wraps and if there was one thing Itachi hated, it was his hands being tied.
Itachi clenched his jaw but when his eyes once more focused on the pinkette in front of him he knew that he had no other choice but to let her have her will this time.
"Two days." He told her, his voice low and crimson eyes flashing dangerously. "If I don't hear from you in two days I will get you."
Despite of his warning Sakura allowed her smile to soften. The pinkette lifted her other hand to gently rest it against the other side of his face, her eyes shining with gratitude as she allowed her thumb to gently brush over his cheek.
"Thank you." She told him, her smile not once faltering as she looked into his crimson eyes. "I'll bring him back, I promise."
Itachi caught the familiar flash in her emerald eyes and knew that she would keep her promise. He looked at her for a moment longer before he allowed his Sharingan to fade out of existence and the moment it did, Sakura noticed the exhaustion that filled his dark eyes.
"I will send Kakashi and Yamato with you." He spoke, his low voice firm as he held her gaze. "Nara and three others will be moved to the borders in case you need any back-up. I'll send my guards to inform them so that you can leave right away."
Sakura gave him a curt nod, agreeing that they would be the one's most suited for the mission. Kakashi knew of what was going on and would be a great help with his Sharingan and Yamato was one of the best they had, the former Anbu member's reputation well known to the higher ranked shinobi.
"I'll go home and get ready." She told him, but before she was able to do as much as remove her eyes from him he had already pulled her flush against him and captured her rosy lips with his.
Sakura sighed against his lips, the soft caress conveying everything he didn't say and Sakura found herself melting in his arms.
She held him close and savored the feeling of having him this close to her, knowing very well that there was always a chance of this being the last time that she would see him. Right now however she didn't allow such thoughts to ruin the beautiful moment and instead, returned the kiss just as firmly, set on enjoying it for as long as she could.
When he finally pulled away he lifted a hand to gently caress her cheek, his thumb that brushed over her chin gently urging it up so that she would look him straight in the eye.
"Be careful." Itachi mumbled as he brushed his thumb over her swollen bottom lip, the touch causing her to shiver then slid his hand into her rosy locks and gently pulled her towards him, her head resting on her shoulder as she buried her face into the side of his neck.
Sakura deeply inhaled his scent, the familiar smell soothing her nerves and instantly making her feel at ease. The next days would undoubtedly be hard on her and one last time the pinkette wanted to have one selfish moment to herself to gather the strength she would need to fulfill her promise.
After a few more moments and with a heavy heart the pinkette eventually pulled away, instantly feeling cold without his touch as she looked up at him for one last time.
The small frown on his face told her that he was still anything but pleased but the pinkette merely offered him a reassuring smile before she leaned up to press her lips against his in one last, chaste kiss.
"I'll be fine." She assured him and Itachi reluctantly inclined his head.
He knew that she was a skilled kunoichi, one of the best the village had, and he didn't doubt her abilities. It would take some time for him to warm up on the idea of sending her out on dangerous missions on her own, but in the end he knew that this was nothing other than that.
A mission.
She was a high ranked and skilled kunoichi and regardless of what would happen or who the one by her side would be, no one could take that away from her.
"I'll see you off at the gates."
Sakura shot him a dazzling smile before she nodded and stepped away, shrugging his jacket off her shoulders before placing it back over his own. Her small hands gently smothered the wrinkles out of the material, her hands tenderly brushing over his chest before she tilted her chin upwards to shoot him a satisfied look.
"I better hurry then." She gently patted his cheek and when the look in his eyes intensified, she knew that it was time to go. With a heavy heart, the pinkette averted her eyes from him and moved to the door, the fabric of her kimono teasing the floor as she made her way to the door.
Once her fingers brushed against the door knob however she stilled, her heavy heart weighting her down and causing her to halt. She could feel his unyielding gaze on her, the feeling of his eyes boring through the back of her head causing her heart to clench painfully in her chest and she allowed a soft, almost inaudible sigh to pass her lips.
It was the right thing to do, so why did leaving him behind feel so wrong?
The pinkette straightened, forcing all depressing thoughts out of her head as she tightly gripped the doorknob and pulled the door open. She had a job to do, and she couldn't allow herself to get distracted.
People were waiting for them, and she would be damned if she would return empty-handed.
So without looking back, Sakura left the office.
The journey to her apartment passed by in a blur. The second she threw the familiar doors open she headed straight for her bedroom, removing the clip in her hair in the process and tossing it onto her bed before she loosened her obi and slipped out of the soft Kimono.
As it slid down her body and pooled at her ankles the pinkette hopped over to her wardrobe and changed into her mission gear, the familiar fabric brushing her skin as she put it on sobering her almost instantly. Even though it all seemed like a very bad dream before, so far from the lightness she had experienced only moments ago, the second she stepped into her mission gear the kunoichi in her took over.
This was serious and very much real. She had been on countless of dangerous missions before, and even though endangering herself came with the job-description, this time was different.
This time, not only her or one other individual's life that she had to escort or guard was at stake.
This time, it was much more than that and when she strapped her weapon holster on her thigh and pulled on the familiar green vest, she was growing painfully aware of that.
Her eyes narrowed as she swiftly run her hands through her long tresses before she pulled them up and tied them into a high ponytail. Grabbing her small pack from the depths of her wardrobe that she always kept prepared for cases like this, the pinkette slung it over her shoulder before she moved out of the door.
When she was about to exit her bedroom she stopped, glancing one last time over her shoulder to take in the familiar sight before she continued on, her steps swift and confident as she exited her home and made her way towards a familiar building.
Knowing that Kakashi and Yamato would only be summoned by now, Sakura knew that she still had a few minutes until she would be expected by the gates and thus, she decided to take care of something else beforehand.
She wouldn't go there unprepared and to ensure that this mission would not fail, she had one last stop to make.
X
Itachi was standing at the gates with a solemn expression, numb to the cold night air that bit at his skin. Sakura had yet to arrive and Yamato as well as his father were already present, both wearing expression similar to his own. Itachi had sent Anbu to inform the Uchiha patriarch of what had happened shortly after Sakura left.
Even though he was not only the Hokage but also heir to the Clan and thus technically not obliged to tell his father before he got a proper grip on what was going on, he knew that it would be best if his father was also in the known to help him keep the other members, especially elders, in check once they found out.
It was a handful of moments later that he finally caught sight of the familiar pink hair in the distance and a moment later, Sakura soundlessly landed in front of them, cheeks flushed and slightly out of breath.
He noted that she must have been running but before he was able to ask her about it she turned to look at his father and Yamato.
"Yamato-san, Fugaku-san." She greeted, her voice as firm as the nod she offered them. Gone was the soft smile and tender gaze she had shown him in his office and if Itachi hadn't witnessed them minutes ago, he wouldn't have believed these two to be the same.
"Sakura." Fugaku greeted, his gruff voice not betraying his grave expression. He had his arms crossed above his chest and even though he always looked quite intimidating to her, the aura he gave off was able to chill her to the very core.
"Sakura-chan." Yamato offered her a warm smile despite the circumstances upon seeing the familiar pinkette that she returned with a small one of her own. "I told you to just call me Yamato."
The pinkette responded with a curt nod. She was familiar with Yamato, the elder shinobi having spent some time with her team and assisting Kakashi in training them every once in a while. He was a highly skilled member of Anbu and since both Sakura and Kakashi were familiar with both him and his fighting, he would be the perfect addition to their rescue party.
"I take that Kakashi-sensei is running late again?"
"I am actually right here, thank you." Came Kakashi's voice from behind her and Sakura turned around to shoot him a mildly surprised look. He was already dressed in his usual mission gear, hands shoved into his pockets as he shot her his usual eye-crinkle.
"Senpai." Yamato affably greeted, Kakashi responding with a small wave of his hand before he dug it back into his pocket and turned to look at Fugaku. The duo shared a silent nod before Itachi stepped forwards, Sakura's heart involuntarily skipping a beat upon seeing him.
He had changed into a pair of black pants and a plan black sweater that she knew had the Uchiha fan imprinted on its back, the material hugging his lean frame. His expression was grave as he looked at them, shoulders stiff and onyx eyes shrouded by the shadows of the night.
He looked every part the Hokage he was.
"It shouldn't take you longer than two days to find the hide out." Itachi's low voice carried through the darkness, causing Sakura's chest to tighten as she was once more reminded of the graveness of the situation. "Once you've found it, you are to send a message to the borders where a team lead by my father as well as Shikamaru Nara will be on stand-by in case you need back-up. Should they not receive word of you after forty-eight hours after the first message they will head out to back you up."
The three silently nodded and Itachi regarded them for a long moment before he once more spoke, his next words catching Sakura off guard.
"Sakura will be this mission's leader." Itachi announced and the pinkette looked at him with mild surprise. She clearly hadn't expected to be named the mission's leader and thought that the one in charge would be Kakashi since Itachi was reluctant to let her leave in the first place, but if Itachi noticed her surprise he didn't show. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on Yamato and Kakashi, expression hard as he continued. "She is the one most familiar with the enemy and the hide outs. She will brief you on their fighting style and what will expect you on your way there so that you will be prepared once you find it."
Kakashi and Yamato once more nodded and Itachi inclined his head in return before his eyes finally fell on her. His dark orbs held her hard one's unyielding, as if waiting to see a flicker of hesitation in her emerald eyes but when they didn't betray her stern expression, he finally spoke.
"Don't disappoint me."
Sakura nodded. He didn't need to tell her, for she was already set on returning with their lost men regardless of what it would take. Even if Shisui wasn't part of his Clan or Itachi's cousin, Sakura would do anything to return him for to her, he was more than all that.
He was her friend, first and foremost, and she would be damned if she'd not save him.
"Be careful." Itachi said, the firmness in his voice not betraying the hardness in his eyes. "I expect you to return in one piece."
"Of course, Hokage-sama." Sakura returned, the familiar title easily rolling off her tongue. She knew her place, and even their relationship would not make her forget that he was still her Hokage and she a kunoichi.
The pinkette then turned her head to look at her mission's teammates and when they caught her eyes with their equally firm ones, she curtly inclined her head.
It was time to go.
Before they could move however, a familiar voice rung through the darkness and when Sakura's head snapped into the direction, her eyes momentarily widened.
"Ino?" She asked, surprised to see her blonde friend but before she could ask what she was doing here she found herself pulled into a bone-crushing hug. Her hands instantly shot out to steady the blonde and herself so that they wouldn't fall over but before any words could pass her lips she caught sight of Shikamaru standing a couple of feet away.
Her stomach dropped as she realized that she must have been with Shikamaru when he got summoned and instantly, the pinkette understood.
Ino was tightly holding on to her, her body slightly shaking against hers even when Sakura returned the hug but it wasn't until Ino finally pulled back that her heart fully broke.
The blonde's red-rimmed eyes were glistening with tears, telling her that she must have been crying for the past minutes as she looked at Sakura with the most broken expression she had ever witnessed on one's face.
"Bring him back." The blonde pleaded, her broken whisper holding all the pain her eyes displayed. She obviously didn't care that there were others present, her mind solely focused on the missing male she had lost her heart to as she moved her hands to grab Sakura's shoulders. "Please, forehead, bring him back alive."
Sakura's eyes softened as she rested her hand over Ino's that were gripping her shoulders, gently squeezing them when she felt them shake. Never had she seen her this devastated before, and Sakura didn't even want to imagine what the blonde must feel like, knowing that the man she cared for was in danger but unable to go on her own and find him.
"I will." Sakura firmly returned, eyes hardening with resolve as she looked Ino straight in the eye. "I promise."
The medic then slowly lowered their joined hands and gave hers one last squeeze before Shikamaru came up from behind them and rested a gentle hand on the blonde's shoulder.
Sakura looked up to meet the Nara's eyes as Ino allowed him to pull her away from the pinkette, a silent message passing between them before he inclined his head. Sakura turned back to look at Ino who was now sideways leaning against Shikamaru, her head buried into his shoulder and his arm firmly wrapped around his teammate's waist to lend her the support she needed.
Sakura felt a wave of anger flare up in her at the sight of her usually strong and bubbly best friend being a wreck because of the likes of them and clenched her fists. She forced her eyes away from the sight, the hot tug at her chest too harsh before emerald clashed with onyx.
He calmly held her gaze, the fire that brightened her bright eyes vowing to get revenge from the one's responsible for every tear her loved ones shed and Itachi offered her a final nod, wordlessly assuring her that he would ensure their safety for as long as they were gone.
Sakura then broke their gaze and without looking back, turned around to walk past her teammate's and out of the gates, the two males following her with equally solemn faces.
Itachi watched her back as she passed the gates, her ponytail swinging from side to side with every confident stride she took out of the village and towards the one's responsible for her loved one's pain.
And just like that the trio disappeared into the shadows of the night, leaving them behind to pray for their safe return.
X
"We should take a rest here."
Kakashi gave her a small salute before he dropped down into the clearing, Sakura and Yamato following suit. They were a few minutes away from the Valley of the end that marked the border to Sound and it was always a better idea to take a break and recharge on familiar grounds rather than enemy territory.
The sky above them was slowly lightening into a paler shade of blue that would mark the beginning of the next day and Sakura allowed herself to rest under a tree at the edge of the clearing while Yamato checked their surroundings and Kakashi plopped down next to her and stretched his most likely equally aching limbs.
They have run without taking a break for the past hours and even though saving the others was urgent, they needed to be well charged for the fight that would most likely ensue when trying to break the others out of there.
Out of the corner of her eye Sakura caught sight of Kakashi pulling out a familiar orange book and the medic couldn't refrain from flashing him a mildly exasperated look.
"You'll never stop reading that filthy book, will you?"
Kakashi didn't even bother to look at her as he turned the page with a bored expression. "Not my fault that you can't appreciate the beauty of Jiraya-sama's work."
Sakura snorted as she lifted her arms and stretched them above her to rid her body of its stiffness, a satisfied sigh passing her lips when she heard a soft pop.
"Whereas I hold great respect for Jiraya-sama, I will never understand how you can call something this scandalous a beautiful piece of art."
"You'll get it once you get older, Sakura-chan." Kakashi assured her, his voice holding a tone that once would use to talk to their children and the pinkette couldn't help but roll her eyes.
She pulled her pack onto her lap and rummaged through its contents, her fingers brushing the water bottle that she had taken with her from hope before pulling it out to soothe her dry throat.
The liquid was still cool thanks to the crisp winter air and once she was done, she wordlessly passed it to Kakashi who easily caught it on one hand, eyes never leaving the holy pages of Icha Icha Paradise.
When she glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes in hope of catching a glimpse of his bare face, an act that has become more of a habit rather than an attempt out of curiosity, her lips moved into a pout when he gave her a flat look.
Ah well, some things would never change.
A few moments later Yamato dropped out from one of the tree's, the Anbu member offering them a smile as he moved to sit down on the cool grass in front of them.
"All clear." He told them, eyes moving from Kakashi who was still immersed by his little book to Sakura. "So, you have an idea of what will expect us."
It was voiced like a statement rather than a question and Sakura nodded. "I have been to one of their hide outs a few weeks ago and even though I couldn't get a good look at any laboratories, I did managed to stumble across some files and medical reports that led me to believe that the one's abducted are getting used as labor rats."
Yamato frowned upon hearing her words, his expression mirroring her own as Kakashi merely hummed, Icha Icha slipping back into the inner pocket of his vest.
"So they run experiments on them and test their new weapons and improved versions of the chakra scalpels." The silver-haired nin summed up, earning a nod from his former student who crossed her arms above her chest to shield herself from the cold morning air. "And you trust Danzo to not lead us right into a trap?"
A small sigh passed Sakura's lips as she thought back to the former council member that was currently rotting away in one of Konoha's prison cells. She wasn't as stupid as to think that Danzo would willingly help them out by telling them were they would find their men, but his words did match with the places of the former teams disappearances.
"He thinks going right to Orochimaru's hide out would mark our death." The pinkette said, her hand rubbing her pink nose to warm the skin. "Rather than helping us out, I think that he considers what we're doing a suicide mission that will help him get us out of the way. Besides, Orochimaru thinks that he is dead anyways so no one will try to get him for leaking its location to us."
Kakashi lifted a leg so that he could rest an arm on his knee and flashed her with a mildly thoughtful expression. "Sounds like him."
"If he thinks that it's a suicide mission it will be rather hard to get them out of there." Yamato pointed out, lips thinned as he looked at Sakura once more. "Do you remember the hide-out's structure?"
Sakura thought back to when they discovered the cave hidden beneath the genjutsu.
"It was hidden beneath a genjutsu, so it would be best if you could scan the area once we arrive at the location." She said, glancing at Kakashi before she continued. "I think that the hide-outs structure should be the same. Creating different ones would only confuse their men and themselves and since they have to be able to switch them once discovered, it would make it easier for the others to adapt."
"Makes sense." Kakashi mused, his visible eye narrowing lightly as he looked at her. "Do you know where the prisons were located at?"
Sakura thinned her lips before she lightly shook her head. "I don't know for sure, but if the structure really is the same they should be on the floor beneath the laboratories."
"And you know where they are?"
This time, she nodded. "They are located in the eastern part. It would be best if we were to stay together once inside so that we can narrow down the chances of getting caught or loosing someone."
She wouldn't want a repetition from last time, less to find one of them stuck with a scalpel in their body that she would be unable to heal because it contained her DNA.
Once they figured out that Sakura was the only medic with them they would undoubtedly use the scalpels that contained her cells, making it unable for her to save them and if they had to leave to treat their injuries even without scalpels stuck in their bodies, they would lose the chance to save the others because their covers would be blown.
They needed to carefully think this through to ensure that both them and the ones held captive would be able to escape unharmed but luckily, Sakura already had an idea.
"I have a plan."
X
They arrived at the location by dusk.
The trio found themselves facing the wide ocean, crystal clear water glimmering unearthly in the bright sun rays that illuminated the cloudless sky.
"This guy really likes to hide under water." Sakura muttered under her breath as Kakashi's fingers brushed against his forehead protector and pulled it up to reveal his lone, crimson eye.
A tense moment of silence followed as Yamato and Sakura both attentively watched Kakashi and once he let out a light hum, the pinkette knew that they were at the right place.
"It's a small island hidden in a rock." He announced, earning a small frown from Sakura as she looked at the place Kakashi's eyes were fixed on. "Not too impressive. My take is that the entrance is up here and the rest is beneath the surface."
Sakura nodded, noting that so far it seemed similar to the other one. "Think you can break the genjutsu just long enough for us to slip inside?"
Kakashi released his forehead protector and looked at his student in mock offense. "There you go, underestimating your poor old sensei once more."
"Me?" Sakura asked, feigning shock as she rested a hand over chest and looked at him with innocent eyes that betrayed the devilish smirk that tugged at her lips. "I would never."
Kakashi let out a grueling sigh. "And to think that I considered you my favorite student."
Sakura huffed in amusement and pulled at her finger less gloves while Yamato smiled, both straightening and preparing themselves. Kakashi rolled his shoulders before he looked from Sakura to Yamato, his Sharingan spinning steadily in his eye and a smirk hidden beneath the fabric of his mask.
"Ready?"
Yamato gave him a thumbs up and Sakura nodded, lips tilted upwards into a dangerous smile as emerald eyes moved back to the oceans.
"Let's go."
The moment the order passed her lips they took off, their figures a mere blur as they soundlessly glided over the water at a speed that made them invisible to the naked eye.
Sakura kept her eyes fixed on the point Kakashi had looked at before, adrenaline rushing through her veins as the sound of her heartbeat echoed in her ears.
They would have only one chance, and they would have to use it so that the guards would not be alerted of their presence. Kakashi would break the genjutsu only for the split of a second for them to pass the barrier and enter so that nobody would be aware of the shift and from then on, the rescue mission would officially begin.
They had already sent word to Konoha once they reached the location, what left them with twenty four hours to get them out of there before Itachi would send others after them and even though back-up wasn't necessarily a bad thing, this time it would only risk further endangering others.
If things would go according to their plan, however, the mission would be over by tonight and Sakura strongly hoped that this would be the case for the sake of everyone involved.
Sakura felt a small tingle in the back of her head the second the giant rock Kakashi had mentioned blocked her vision and the moment it did, Sakura jumped.
The second her feet landed silently on the stone ground of the island she felt the barrier flicker back to life behind her and when she looked up, her eyes caught sight of Kakashi and Yamato standing a few meters away from her.
Sakura offered them a curt nod before she allowed her eyes to roam the small island she found herself on.
It was a giant rock, as Kakashi had said.
On the right top was what seemed to be a watch-tower, a bridge connecting it to the other part of the rock where a small hut seemed to be caved into. With the help of genjutsu they successfully managed to hide themselves from their eyes and not alert anyone of their presence so that they now found themselves right under the bridge.
They would have to climb up the rock's side to get to the entrance that was most likely guarded and with one pointed look at the two males at her side, Sakura silently jumped towards the edge and channeled chakra into her feet to climb it up.
Yamato and Kakashi followed suit, one on each side to flank her and once they pulled themselves over the ledge and onto the top, Kakashi's hands formed into a series of seals. His movements were too fast for her eyes to follow but when the two guards placed in front of it stiffened, their eyes open wide and feet still firmly planted onto the ground, Sakura knew that whatever he had done worked.
The genjutsu he had cast on them seemed to have put them in a trance-like state so that they wouldn't move from their posts and Sakura had to admit that it was a good idea on his part. It would be too obvious if they were to disappear, chances being high that someone of the watch towers or some of Orochimaru's men returning from missions would notice their absence and alert the others.
Sakura inhaled a deep breath and mentally braced herself before she soundlessly slipped past the guards and led the other two inside. The silence that filled her ears chilled her skin and as her eyes caught sight of the familiar torches stuck to the narrow hallways that led further downstairs she felt her stomach drop.
So far, everything seemed to be the same as with the other hide out and when they reached deep enough and the way parted in two, the moment she had parted from Itachi in the other hide out flashed in front of her vision.
She briefly considered that Orochimaru could have purposely switched the corridors in case he suspected that they would seek him out and take this route. Fortunately for them though, Kakashi had always told her to look underneath the underneath and since Orochimaru was expecting someone to come find them sooner or later anyways, Sakura knew that he wouldn't even bother trying to confuse them because if he wanted to find them, he would either way.
So without hesitation Sakura walked into the right corridor, her senses on high alert as she kept her eyes fixed in front of her. The corridor continued to stretch out in front of them and Sakura inwardly noted that so far, they have encountered none of Orochimaru's men.
After a few more moments of silence passed, the muffled sound of a pair of voices behind them sounded and within the blink of an eye the trio jumped up, hanging from the ceiling and hiding in the shadows that the light the torches emitted didn't touch.
She held her breath as she watched two men walk through the corridor into the same direction they were headed to and with one glance at Yamato and Kakashi she once more dropped onto the ground and soundlessly followed the oblivious duo.
It didn't take them long to reach what seemed like a dead end and when they formed a series of seals that she was certain Kakashi copied and safely imprinted into his mind, the wall split open with a groan and revealed two staircases. Whereas one lead upstairs, another led downstairs and even though the duo made their way up, Sakura took the one that lead them further into the basement without hesitation.
Kisame and her have taken the one that led upstairs when looking for Itachi and found themselves faced with all kind of different laboratories, what left only one place for the prison cells to be located at.
She turned out to be right for the moment her feet left the last step she found herself standing in a broad corridor, iron bars aligned on both sides of the wall. Two guards were placed on each side but before they could notice their presence Kakashi had already done his magic and immobilized them with the help of his Sharingan.
They hit the ground with a dull thud not even a second later.
Since they wouldn't have to worry about anyone finding them unconscious while they were downstairs with them it didn't matter whether they would be knocked out or standing on their feet as Kakashi had done with the one's outside. They just had to make sure that they would hurry and get them out before anyone else entered the prison and caught wind of what was going on.
Sakura took a tentative step forwards, the torches on the walls next to the entrance only mildly illuminating the dark prison but even with the lack of light Sakura's eyes were perfectly able to make out what, or rather who, was being locked away behind the iron bars and the sight that greeted her made her feel sick.
Huddled on the ground behind the two long cells were a dozen people, one looking sicker then the other. Their frail bodies were leaning against the walls for support and if Sakura didn't feel the weak chakra signature that they emitted she would have believed them dead.
When she stepped towards the bars and allowed her feet to softly brush against the ground their heads snapped up, some eyes filled with fear and others narrowed in alert but upon catching sight of her instead of the familiar guards they were used to, their eyes widened in recognition.
"Sakura-sama!" One in the far back exclaimed in shock, brown eyes wide and filled with disbelief as others visibly perked up at the familiar name.
"Impossible." Another breathed, stunned by the sight of the infamous kunoichi before a relieved smile broke out on their face that Sakura returned with a soft one of her own.
"Are you alright?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper as her eyes scanned the cell for any lifeless bodies but when she found none, she felt her chest lighten in relief.
It seemed like they had made it in time and for that, Sakura thanked the gods.
"We're alive." The first responded with a wry smile from where he was leaning with his back against the wall, one arm cradled in his lap in a way that Sakura knew wasn't natural.
She heard Kakashi come up from behind her and at the sight of the copy-nin a series of gasps filled the prison cell. The silver-haired male's expression was grave as he turned to look at her, and Sakura felt her stomach drop at the sight.
"Shisui and his team are not in the other cell." Kakashi told her, his voice low. "It holds a dozen of shinobi from the other countries."
Sakura's lips thinned in dismay as she offered him a curt nod but before she was able to say anything, a gruff voice from behind her spoke up.
"Shisui of the Body Flicker?"
Sakura's head snapped to the blonde male was was slowly moving onto his feet, his hand holding his ribs as his dull forest-green eyes caught Sakura's narrowed ones.
Even though he looked rather pale she could see glimmers of his previous sun-kissed skin beneath the rags he was dressed in, a feat that the one's paroling the borders were blessed with and Ino envied.
"Do you know where he is being held?" Her soft voice echoed through the prison walls and when he gave her a curt nod, Sakura felt her chest lighten with relief.
So he was still alive.
"His team was moved to the cell next to the laboratories where all the newcomer's are placed into." He told them, his brows furrowed in thought as a thoughtful expression crossed his face. "They shouldn't be done until this afternoon. Everyone has to go through an examination before they get moved down here."
"Considering that he has the Sharingan, it could take slightly longer." A female from the far left commented and Sakura tensed, eyes snapping to Yamato who had now joined them and was standing to her left.
His expression was grim, the concern in his orbs mirroring her own as Kakashi openly frowned. They would have to hurry and get them out of here before finding Shisui but in order to do that they would have to split up, what they all knew was not one of the best idea's considering that they were in enemy territory.
Sakura bit the inside of her cheek and forced herself to stay composed. The smallest mistake could result in all of them ending up behind these cells or even worse, dead, and that was not something she planned on doing.
She would have to get them out first.
Turning around to look at the wide cell that held the Konoha shinobi, she focused on the task at hand lifted her hand so that it aligned with the bars in front of her.
She could feel the chakra that surrounded them like an invisible wall and glanced at Kakashi who already had his eyes fixed on the iron bars. There was no sign of a lock and judging by the low chakra signatures from the others it seemed like they have been given something to suppress their chakra so that they couldn't escape.
"Can you unlock it?"
Kakashi regarded the bars for a few moments before he nodded.
"I can, but not without alerting others."
Sakura, having already suspected something like that turned to look at the prisoners, expression serious. They didn't have much time if they wanted to get them out of there and had to carefully think this through. Once the others would notice that something was wrong they would most likely head down to find out what was going on and they would have to use that moment to catch them off guard and fight their way through.
"Will you be able to walk on your own and defend yourselves if needed?" She asked, her voice hard as she watched them exchange glances to check the others conditions before they eventually nodding.
Sakura's lips thinned as she tried to pick out the one's whose chakra signature were the steadiest. Her eyes slid to the brunette with the limp arm, noticing that he along with the woman that had previously spoken up were the ones with the highest amount of Chakra despite of the suppressants.
"I need you two to flank the group." Sakura announced, her eyes moving from the brunette male to the ginger haired female in the corner. "Once you're out, you will be escorted to the borders where you'll get your injuries treated."
"What about Shisui and his team?" A new voice spoke up and Sakura's eyes fell on a young male that was leaning against the wall with a frown. She could instantly tell that he belonged to the Uchiha Clan, his raven hair and dark eyes giving his identity away and she realized that he must have been on the team that disappeared before Shisui's did.
"I will get him and his team out while you escape." She assured him, firmly holding his narrowed gaze with her own before he eventually broke it and nodded. The pinkette then turned to look at Kakashi to find him already looking at her, his familiar crimson eye lightly drooped. "I will break the seal exactly one minute after I left you guys so that they can meet up with you."
Kakashi nodded before he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder to the cell that held the other nins that didn't belong to Konoha.
"What should we do with them?"
Sakura frowned in thought as she looked over at the cell that held the eerily silent group of shinobi. They looked even worse off than their own and Sakura assumed that it must have been because they have been locked away for slightly longer.
Whereas they were not their responsibility, Sakura felt bad for leaving them behind. Freeing them would not be too much of a problem but judging by the way they barely even registered what was going on, she doubted that they would be able to make it to the entrance without collapsing on the way.
They would need medical attention before they could even think of walking on their own and if they were to help them get out, it would only slow their own group down and further endanger them.
With a heavy heart, Sakura averted her eyes from the other cell and returned her eyes to Kakashi.
"Not yet."
Kakashi understood, as she knew that he would, and turned to look back at the cell as Sakura glanced at Yamato who watched them in silence, the concern in his eyes visible.
She offered him what she hoped to be a reassuring smile before her eyes fell back to her former teacher.
"One minute,"
Kakashi regarded her for a moment before he inclined his hand and Sakura mirrored the action before she flashed the group behind the cell a small, reassuring smile that they returned with concerned looks upon realizing what she was planning on doing.
Sakura ignored the way her stomach flipped and flashed Kakashi one last look before she turned around and made her way up the stairs, not once glancing back.
She knew that they would be fine without her help.
Sakura's feet barely touched the stairs as she flew them up, her heartbeat gradually increasing as she found herself on her own. It fortunately didn't take her long to reach the upper floor where the laboratories were located at and when her feet left the last step her eyes instantly scanned the floor.
The hallway was longer than the one that held the prison cells, a handful of doors lining up on the walls and when Sakura ensured that there were no guards, she moved to find the cell the blonde had mentioned.
21.
It didn't take her long to find the cell that seemed identical to the one downstairs and was located in the far back. The steel bars were oozing with chakra and when Sakura stepped towards the metal, she heard a soft gasp from behind it.
"Haruno-san?"
Sakura's eyes snapped to the wide-eyed red-head that was seated on the ground with his hands tied together, moving into a crouch to be on eye-level with him.
"Are you alright?" Sakura asked in a hushed whisper, senses on high alert in case any guards would enter the hallway. She doubted that anyone would, considering that the laboratories didn't fall under their supervision but she knew better than to risk it.
"We're fine, they didn't examine us yet." He told her, his voice equally as hushed as hers and when Sakura's eyes scanned the cell she caught sight of a dirty blonde male and a black haired female that were both looking at her in stunned silence. They obviously hadn't expected Konoha to send someone for them this fast, less to find them a day after they've been captured and Sakura couldn't blame them as she searched the cell for the fourth member of the squad.
Her heart sank as she didn't find the face she had hoped to catch.
"Where's Shisui?"
37.
"He was the first one to get taken away." The red-head told her with a grimace that caused her to tense. "He's been in room three for around thirty minutes now."
Sakura inwardly cursed and hoped that she would reach him in time to prevent him from suffering too much before her narrowed eyes once more found lilac ones.
"We managed to break the others free from the prison cell downstairs." Sakura told them, emerald eyes filled with gravity that caused the trio to straighten. "Once I break the seal you have to get downstairs where the others will meet you and help you get out."
49.
"What about Shisui?" The black-haired male asked, his low voice carrying through the cell causing Sakura's eyes to harden as she met his concerned gaze with her own firm one.
"I'll take care of him." She promised before she took a step back from the cell and placed her fingers into the first seal, emerald eyes flashing determinately in the darkness. "Get ready."
A long moment passed where Sakura simply waited and when it was finally time, she swiftly formed the seals that she had previously seen the duo use, her fingers going through the motions at a speed that left her hands blurred.
As her hands slipped into the last motion she felt the air around them sharply shift, her skin tingling at the familiar sensation and when the bars gradually faded out of existence, Sakura moved.
Whereas the trio sprung up and darted into the direction of the stairs Sakura headed the opposite way, eyes swiftly scanning the room numbers that were printed on the white doors and when she finally found the one she had been looking for, she didn't hesitate.
Her feet harshly collided against the door, the wood bending under the force and flying open to reveal a bright white light that momentarily blinded her.
As soon as her eyes adjusted to it her gaze fell on the silver-haired male that was bend over the examination table, a chakra scalpel in his hand as he looked over his shoulder with a surprised frown. He was angled so that he shielded most part of the examination table but when Sakura caught sight of familiar black locks, she felt the adrenaline rush through her veins at full speed.
That bastard.
Within the blink of an eye she charged, her chakra loaded fist missing him by an inch and forcing him a few steps away from the examination table that Shisui was laying on. Black eyes narrowed beneath his round, black-rimmed glasses before he hurled the scalpel in his hand at her but Sakura swiftly dodged it and lunged.
This time, her punch didn't miss. He had tried to dodge it but she managed to hit him in the left shoulder, the crack that sounded barely audible to her through the sound of her heart beat as she watched him hit the wall with a pained grunt.
Sakura instantly turned around to check on Shisui but once her eyes fell on his still form, her heart froze.
His chest was covered in small cuts and bruises, his skin sickly pale and forehead covered with cold sweat. The blue of his veins was visible through his blanch skin, the dark shadows under his closed eyes causing her heart to clench painfully in her chest as she moved to place her fingers against his neck. She held her breath and waited for the familiar thud of his pulse to brush against her finger and after a painfully long moment of nothing happening passed, she let out a sharp breath of relief when she finally felt it.
He was alive. Barely, but alive nonetheless and if Sakura wanted to keep it that way she needed to get him out of there.
The medic glanced over her shoulder to see the silver-haired male slowly getting back to his feet but before he was able to react, her hands swiftly formed a series of familiar seals. An instant later a dozen of her shadow clones blocked them from his sight and Sakura used this moment to grab Shisui's limp arm and sling it around her shoulders before she pulled him into a sitting position.
She wrapped her other arm around his waist to support his body and carefully moved him off the examination table just in time to miss the Kunai that came for her head.
Sakura gritted her teeth as she jumped out of the room and back into the corridor. She hoped that her shadow clones would last long enough to keep him occupied until they would at least reach the hallway that would lead outside and when she glanced at the unconscious male in her arms, she tightened her hold on him.
She would have to hurry.
Sakura rushed through the corridor as fast as she could but with Shisui's additional weight she was slightly handicapped. She rounded a corner and caught sight of a staircase that led downstairs just as she felt the chakra that she had put into her clones return to her one by one and when she tried to fasten her pace, she heard the sounds of people rushing up the stairs she had just begun to descend.
Sakura's heart slammed painfully against her ribs as she tightly held onto Shisui. She channeled her chakra into her limbs and prepared herself for the inevitable fight and when the first masked male came into sight, she didn't waste a second and kicked him square in the chest.
He collided against two others that have followed behind, forcing them a few steps back and she used that moment to punch another in the face, this time successfully knocking the trio fully down the stairs and out of her way.
Sakura reached the last step a moment later but just when she was about to enter what seemed to be a hall she felt a hand roughly grab her ankle. She almost lost her footing but years of training had served her well and she instantly rammed her heel into their face, a painful howl following as she felt the grip on her slacken.
Sakura jumped to enter the hall and tightened her hold on Shisui's waist to keep him upright until her knuckles turned white but when emerald eyes caught sight of the countless of people that were now looking at her in surprise, she froze.
The moment they realized what was going on they instantly sprang to their feet and Sakura swiftly lifted her heel to ram it into the ground below, the force causing the ground beneath her to groan loudly as it parted and swallowed the first six that were heading towards them.
She darted aside to dodge another three that attempted to tackle her and gritted her teeth when she felt one of their Kunai grace her temple when she landed a few feet away from them.
Her eyes hastily scanned the hall and the pinkette let out a string of curses upon seeing that there was still at least a dozen of others left.
Sakura dodged a handful of scalpels that were hurled at her and just as she once more landed with her feet on the ground she felt herself getting harshly kicked in the back. Shisui's weight dragged her onto the ground and the pinkette hit the floor with a sharp hiss, Shisui collapsing a few meters away from her.
The medic instantly pulled herself back onto her knees, her lips stinging as she grimly noticed that they were surrounded. She could take out at least five on her own but even if they would somehow be able to make it past them and into the hallway, she was certain that more would follow.
Her eyes then moved to Shisui's pale form and her heart sunk when she realized that she wouldn't be able to get them out of there without risking his life.
If she were on her own she could have easily taken them out but with him, chances were high that he would get injured if she did as much as dodge too slow or move too late. He was already in a bad condition and attempting to get out of there when they were clearly outnumbered would only endanger him further.
"It's useless."
Sakura's head snapped up to the voice that echoed loudly through the hall, her eyes narrowing as she carefully moved back onto her feet to shield Shisui's body with her own from his chilling gaze.
The silver-haired male stepped into the hall with a confident smirk that Sakura returned with a cold glare, eyes following his very move until he stopped a couple of feet in front of her, the men behind him on guard.
"You are outnumbered."
The pinkette remained perfectly still, her blank expression betraying her furiously beating heart that hammered against her chest.
"I've had worse." The pinkette dryly returned but the silver haired man's smirk merely widened into a sharp smile that did nothing to ease the stiffness in her body.
"I doubt that he did, though." He commented, eyes straying to Shisui's unconscious body and Sakura froze. "He won't make it out of here alive."
Sakura clenched her fists as she tried to come up with a way to safely get them out of there but when she saw more guards enter the hall, she knew that it would be of no use.
Her chest burned when she once more met his smug gaze and even though she wanted nothing more than to punch that stupid smirk out of his face, she needed to think of Shisui.
She had to get him safely back to Konoha and if she had to spend some time locked away in order to return him well and alive, she would gladly spend some hours rotting away in a cell.
So, with a bitter taste in her mouth, the pinkette surrendered for the sake of her friends life.
X
A/N: Merry Christmas y'all!
I love how y'all thought that I'd kill Shisui off but ta-da, he's alive! (For now;) )
So, Team Sakura found the others and even though Shisui and her stayed behind, I can assure you that it's not because Sakura didn't plan this through. Next chapter will explain more and I hope that you're looking forward to it as much as I am because it's gonna have some bonding moments, badass moments and a cameo from a face that I am sure some of you have missed;)
Now, a quick note regarding some other, but no less important things.
As we all know Immersion is slowly coming to an end, and I have just published the first chapter of my new story called Call of Light. It's a Shisui/Sakura story and I would be beyond happy if you'd give it a chance, check it out and tell me how you liked it by reviewing it. I have invested a lot of thought and time into it and would be happy if you'd accompany me on this new journey just as you did with Immersion.
Of course, I also have a brand new ItaSaku story in the works already which I will share with you guys once I am done with Immersion so stay tuned for that one!
Until then, I hope that you'll keep on supporting both Immersion and Call of Light. You guys are truly the best and I can't stress enough how much I appreciate every single one of you who takes their time to support this story be it by reading only, following, favoriting or reviewing.
Last but not least, please tell me your thoughts of this chapter and guesses for the next by leaving a review! They always motivate me to update faster;)
Much love and stay safe,
Sara