Chapter-48

Sakura and Sai were running in the woods. They were heading to hidden Mist village, where Itachi said is going to be the next attack. Sakura had healed a lot of Itachi's damaged lungs. Now he needed to rest for a week. They arrived at the village in 4 hours. Sakura remembered her mission when she came here to fight Guren. They arrived at the lake. Looks like she isn't here. They went and hid in some bushes to wait for Akatsuki to show up.

After a while, a person in Akatsuki clothes came by and stood in front of the river. He then spoke,

"You can come out. I know you're behind the bushes."

Sighing she nodded at Sai and they both walked out. Turns out, it was Kisame.

"You're the girl Itachi-san took while fighting with his brother 3 years ago! Aren't you?"

"Yes, I am." said Sakura firmly.

"Why are you here?" asked Sai with a blank face.

"I'm here to capture the Sanbi. And I assume you are here to stop me?"

"You're quite sharp." Said Sakura with a smirk and she threw her fist at him. He barely dodged,

"Looks like I'll have to fight seriously." He said as he took out his blade that he Samehada.

"If he touches you, he will suck your chakra. Now come on."

Sakura gritted her teeth, if he soaks up chakra, how will I fight?! Sai also felt it pointless to attack because his creations would be soaked up.

Kisame swung Samehada at them. They jumped back but Kisame continued to do the same move. We can't hide anywhere either. Think Sakura. THINK! And suddenly she turned to Sai and said in a low tone,"I need you to make beast big enough for Kisame look up then I'll kick him by coming from behind the beast. Then you run and and take away his Samehada from him. Then we can fight easily. Good?"

Sai nodded and sat to draw a beast. The beast came out. It was as huge as a building. Sakura quickly rushed through and landed a kick in Kisame's side. He grunted and was about to swing Samehada at her when Sai came and punched his stomach. He gasped and panted. Sakura had locked his hand holding Samehada in a tight grip. Sai had binded him with some strings. Now he was captured.

"Now tell me, where is your hideout?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because if you don't I'm gonna torture you until you die." She said with a stoic face.

Suddenly, in an instant, Itachi dropped beside them.

"hello Itachi-san. Why don't you teach these kids a lesson? They're interfering with my mission."

Itachi looked at him coldly, "They are attacking you because I told them to kill you."

"What? You mean… you 3 people are responsible for killing all the Akatsuki members?! How did you even win? I can imagine Itachi winning but you girl, how did you win?"

"I don't need to explain that to you."

"Fiesty huh? Well since it's you Itachi-san I choose to die. You must have had a strong purpose to make this decision."

"Yes it was. I hope you understand its nothing personal."

"of course not. Good bye, Itachi-san."

"Goodbye, Kisame." And then he jammed in a medium sized sword in Kisame's heart. He died a few moments later.

"Itachi-san, why are you here? I told you to rest for a week, didn't i?"

"I knew Kisame would be hard to handle so I came here hoping to avoid any injuries. As you can see, I'm fine. Now come on. Let's go." They left in such a hurry that they didn't even notice Zetsu watching the whole scene in shock. So that's how they killed the members. Itachi, you traitor. I have to tell Pain about it. And then he disappeared.

The three of them started walking towards Suna. While walking, Sai was at the back and Sakura and Itachi were walking in the front. He stared at Sakura's back.

She is a really talented kunoichi. But what amazed Sai even more was her understanding of others emotions. She smiled at me genuinely when she met me. Like I was a friend. She said she trusted me even though I work for Danzo. I felt like I existed. It made me feel something but I don't know what this feeling is. I'll ask her.

They reached the house in two days. They freshened up and were eating dinner.

"You are a good cook, Sakura." complimented Itachi

"Yes, I agree as well." Said Sai.

She gleamed and grinned at them. Itachi smiled softly at her while Sai tried to understand that feeling he had been thinking about.

"Sakura, may I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"What are emotions?"

Sakura stopped eating and relaxed in the chair. I knew this question would come up.

"Hm. They are a special type of sense. Whenever something happens to your skin, you feel it. Just like that, when heart and brain feel something, they react accordingly and the end result is feeling of an emotion." Sakura finished

Itachi was impressed by her explaination. Sai on the other hand was thinking hard and then asked

"So when somebody treats others kindly what emotion do they feel?"

"That emotion is called happiness. When you feel like being alone start crying, you are in pain or you are just sad. Anger is a really strong emotion which is the reaction of something happening that you don't like. There are many emotions happy, sad, anger, jealousy, love and many more."

When Sakura said love, she immediately thought of Sasuke. She lowered her head. Itachi looked at her with soft eyes as he knew what she was thinking. To avoid talking further about it, Itachi told everybody to sleep. They agreed and went to bed.

Meanwhile Zetsu had relayed the recent events to Pain and Obito and Konan.

"I see. So Itachi has been working as a spy." Said Pain

"I want to take some action against him. Zetsu, was he alone or someone was there with him?" asked Obito.

"I saw a girl with pink hair. I don't think anyone else was there."

"okay. Let's capture the pink haired girl and make Itachi come out of the shadows. He will come to save her and then we shall kill them. We can always find new members. Just the plan will be delayed a little but that's fine."

"Understood." Said Pain

Sakura had just got home after her work at the book store. She noticed, Sai was in the back porch, drawing something. She went over and looked at it. He had drawn his brother Shin who he killed to become an ANBU. She didn't say anything and just sat with him. After a while, Sai spoke

"Sakura, how does love feel like? I feel this strong need to be near this person I just drew. I want to be with him forever. I want to protect him from everything that is bad for him and take care of him. Is.. is this emotion called Love?" asked Sai in a whisper

Sakura smiled sadly at him

"Yes. It is called love."

"Okay" and he went back to drawing.

"Sakura?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you"

She giggled a little and told him its not a big deal.

"Have you ever been in love?"

At that question, she froze. But she replied while keeping her head down

"Yes. And I still am in love with him."

"Who is he?"

"Not telling you." She said with mirth and stuck out her tongue at him and went inside.

Sai had a small smile on his face.

Sakura was cleaning the dishes when she sensed a dangerous chakra heading towards her. She crouched and took out a kunai. Her door opened and her jaw dropped when she saw Obito.

"Hello, Sakura. I am Obito. I'm here to capture you." He said in a happy voice

"Who told you I would go willingly?" she spat back

"Because I will kill your friend over there who is drawing oblivious of the situation" he said while shrugging

"Don't you dare touch him. I'll kill you." She said as she glared at him.

"Fine but don't tell me I didn't warn you." He disappeared and appeared in front of Sai and was about to stab him when Sakura screamed

"NO. Stop it, don't hurt him. I'll go." She said with a grim expression.

Obito turned to Sai and said, "Tell Itachi to meet us at Akatsuki's hideout if he wants Sakura alive."

Sai was shocked at what was happening but then the orange mask guy came in front of Sakura and sucked themselves inside a void. Sai was in shock when Sakura disappeared. NO… he took her…shit!

Just then Itachi entered the house. He was out training. He saw some clean dishes and some dirty. Sakura wasn't there. That's weird. She always comes home before this time. Sai came running to him in panic

"Itachi-san-pant-Sakura-pant-gone." He panted heavily.

"Calm down Sai. Tell me what happened."

"A guy with an orange mask came and took Sakura. he said to tell you that he wants to meet Akatsuki at their main location."

"What? They took her?!"

This is not good. They will torture her… I think they found out that I'm a spy. That's why they are using Sakura as bait. I can't fight Obito, Pain and Konan alone. Zetsu also needs to be finished otherwise he will create another group like the Akatsuki. This leaves only one option

He turned to Sai and said, "I will go but I can't fight the three of them alone. We need reinforcements. I want you to go back to Konoha and report to Kakashi what has happened. He will figure out somehow to bring his team with him. They both are very strong. Their help is necessary. Make sure to tell Kakashi that he doesn't mention that I will already be there to his team. Just tell them that Sakura was captured. The main hideout is in the Grass village. Okay?"

Sai stood grimly but then he nodded and went off towards Konoha. Sai made a bird and flew in speed towards Konoha. Please stay alive, Sakura.