Temptation of the Heart
Chapter Seven: A Meeting with Old Friends
"I've not been to this part of the world since Itachi captured me," noted Sakura while as the three of them entered the Fire Country.
"Yes. I know," said Sasori. "We intentionally kept you away for good reason. We didn't want you thinking you could go home."
"Why are you taking me here now? Aren't you still worried I might try to escape?"
"You're one of us now," answered Deidara. "We don't have to worry about you any more. Or… do we?"
Sakura laughed -- a deep throaty laugh. Her voice now that of a mature woman rather than the girl she was when abducted over 2 years ago. "No. That should be the least of your concerns. Why are we here?"
Sasori answered, "That fool Itachi and his useless partner Kisame haven't been able to capture the final "demon person." We're here to find him and take him back with us."
"Naruto?"
"Of course. You have a problem with that?"
"No. I'm just surprised he's the last one. That's all. Are we headed to Kohona Village then?"
"Yes." And with that conversation, the three S-Ranked ninja criminals entered into the Fire Country intent on finding and kidnapping the last "demon person."
As they came within a few miles of Kohona Village, Sakura devised a strategy for the three of them: "Naruto will probably not be alone. However, he'll be very surprised and pleased to see me after such a long time. I'm sure he had a crush on me back then.
I don't expect him to anticipate I'll be his enemy. Let me take care of capturing Naruto. Once I have him, I'll immediately take off for the Akatsuki headquarters. You follow me when you can. Keep anyone from pursuing me.
Do you like my plan?"
"As always, Sakura," said Sasori, "You've devised a solid plan." In a very low whisper such that Sakura couldn't hear him, Sasori spoke to Deidara, "You were right about this one. She's turned out to be quite a powerful and useful ally. I commend you, Deidara, on your foresight."
"Thank you," whispered Deidara.
Just outside of Kohona's outer walls, Sakura asked, "How do we find Naruto? Someone is sure to recognize me if I go inside the village."
"I'll go and scout for him," stated Deidara. "I'm certain no one here will know who I am."
"Very well then," said Sasori. We'll wait for you here."
A few hours later, Deidara crept out of Kohona and met with her two co-conspirators. "I created some clay creatures and used them to overhear the Hokage's conversations with her jounins. Naruto and someone named Kakashi should be returning from a mission in a day or two. All we have to do is wait for them along this main road.
We'll go out from the village a ways to reduce the chances of our encounter with them being interrupted by others."
Sakura and Sasori nodded in agreement with Deidara's plan and followed her to a hiding spot near the main road to Kohona.
They didn't have to wait long. The three had set spy traps along the road, specifically designed to indicate if a "demon person" was nearby. After about a day and a half, one of the traps went off.
In a flash, the three S-Ranked Akatsuki members rushed off to meet their unsuspecting prey.
(to be continued in Chapter Eight: Fight and Flight)