The Calling

By ShinobiSpirit

--------------------------

Author's Ranting #7: Here's some words to clear things up:

1.) Not all of the events pertaining to the Chuunin Exam and beyond are applied to this story. One example being Lee's fight with Gaara. Sorry, I just found that whole situation soap opera material.

2.) Hate to break it to you, but Naruto's not really that involved in this part of the plot. I have bigger plans for him later on.

3.) … Is there a three?

--------------------------

The steady rhythm of Naruto's heart beat reminded him that he was still alive through the vast, empty void of blackness he found himself swallowed in. Here, he could smell the faint aurora of.. flesh, and something else he couldn't quite decipher. The air was musky and had a metallic taste to it; like blood, when you accidentally bite down on your tongue.

Disregarding the need to be cautious, Naruto brought a hand up to his throbbing head and let out a muffled groan. "Damn.." He muttered coarsely as he regained his bearings. 'They must have gotten me from behind..' His eyes shifting around the pitch black room, he searched for a sign of anyone else in his presence.

Though he was alert, he still felt a twinge of shame for his willingness to accept Kabuto as a friend in such dire circumstances. If they hadn't been careful, Kabuto could have taken advantage of all three of them during the Chuunin Exams. His anger boiled at this realization, and he clenched his jaw in an effort to sustain the rage calling in the back of his mind.

'Sakura-chan's in trouble.. that jerk Sasuke is probably long gone by now.' Naruto thought bitterly as he rose to his feet, his hands falling to his sides as a determined grin slipped across his lips. 'Alright! That means it's up to me to save us!'

-----------------------------------

"Our souls?" Sakura questioned skeptically, obviously finding the whole thing absurd. "What do you mean?"

"Just that." Kabuto responded vaguely as he approached her from across the room. "Naruto-kun and you are very valuable, just as Sasuke-kun is. However, yours has yet to be put to use." He paused and brought a hand up to roughly tug at the chains connected to the wall, testing them for their strength. "I think that'll do it."

Sakura blinked, her attention centered on the chains which held her bound to the stone wall. She didn't understand for the life of her why it was necessary to keep her so tightly bound and constrained, and she was certain she didn't want to find out. "You're going to torture me, aren't you?" She inquired, lowering her gaze to the shackles restraining her ankles.

"Torture?" Kabuto repeated, as if questioning her definition of the word. "I'm not sure that's the word for it, but I imagine it will be quite painful." He answered calmly in a soft tone, like it meant nothing at all that she was about to be put through an enormous amount of agony.

"W.." She began, but quickly stopped herself in mid-question. Why was she even about to ask such a silly thing? Especially when she already knew the answer, since she associated with two boys who wanted nothing more than to be the strongest in the world. Was that really so rewarding? "Tell me.. what you're going to do."

Kabuto cocked his head to the side at her silent plea. "I don't think that'll make you feel comforted." He said apathetically. "Besides, where's the fun in giving it away?"

"There is none." A voice called from the shadows, followed by the emerging of several men clad in black robes and holding worn, medium-sized multicolored scrolls. And Sakura gasped when she saw the fierce, narrowed eyes of none other than Orochimaru, staring straight at her with a boyish-like grin charming his structured face. "Ah.. Haruno Sakura." His smooth, silky voice caused a shiver to run down Sakura's spine. "It's about time you learned the truth about the power your clan, as well as Konoha Village, so selfishly locked away."

Her eyes widened in both shock and fear. "W-what?"

"You want to be strong, don't you, Sakura?" He gracefully took a step toward her, giving her a look of both admiration and hidden desire. "To protect your friends.. I understand this need, and I can help you attain that strength." Taking another step, slowly, purposely edging her on, he continued. "All you have to do is listen to what I say, and I can give you all that you desire." The distance now closed between the two of them, he brought a hand up to caress the side of her face. "Anything you want can be yours.."

Closing her eyes, Sakura inhaled shakily as Orochimaru's cold, calloused fingers outlined the contours of her jawbone, and the curve of her delicate chin. His touch was intoxicating to her senses, and an image of Sasuke came to her mind as his thumb brushed against the softness of her lips. He was doing something to her. She knew it, yet she had already fallen into his trap the moment she locked eyes with him.

And suddenly.. she was consumed by darkness.

---------------------------------

"How much further, Lee?" TenTen called a few yards behind the high-spirited boy, whom hadn't slowed his pace since they set out on their rescue mission hours ago, it seemed. "We've been going North for nearly two hours, we should be coming up on the port already!"

Lee was also aware of this, but he was baffled as to why they hadn't reached the ports by now. Could they be lost? "Don't worry! Just a little longer, I'm sure!" He hated lying to his teammates, but he didn't want to further Sasuke's frustration. The poor guy had already gone through so much disappointment already. 'I hope Sakura-chan and Naruto are okay..'

Sasuke remained silent and indifferent. He had nothing to say, nor any help to offer in aid to finding the desired ports so that they could reach the Gatsua Islands. For the moment, he considered himself dead weight as he contemplated the overall plan once they actually arrived at their destination.

There were a few things he had to work out before he could face his enemy in a full force battle.

----------------------------

.. Yeah.

SS