The Missing

By: KillerBeanieBaby

Chapter Two – Hokage

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

"Wh-What!" Sasuke's jaw dropped, unable to stay shut at the suddenness of the news he had just received. "Y-You're the Hokage! Since… Since when!" He promised me power… And yet here Sakura is… HOKAGE! This is… This is bullshit. She's just a wannabe; Sakura would never be able to amount to Hokage. She's got even less of a chance than Naruto.

Sakura placed her hands on her hips, and just stared at her former comrade for a log time, as though she was angry with Sasuke for requesting her to recall such trifling details. "Since about a year ago." She murmured, in that same fed-up tone. "Tsunade was killed in battle, and she left the position for either of us to claim. Naruto-kun refused the position, so it fell upon me. Anyways… What do you want, Sasuke?"

For a moment, Sasuke was silent, bathing in the sheer... Wow of it all. It seemed that everybody had gone and changed behind his back. Once again, Sasuke was faced with the question of just what the hell he'd been doing in the past few years. But he had been training furiously, far from the clutches of the humble little village he'd once called home. Sakura had been training in this peaceful cesspool. He could kick her ass any day. …Right? Sasuke shook his head, clearing it of the thoughts. "Where's Naruto?" He demanded, stepping forwards and clenching his fists. "Nobody seems to want to tell me what's going on! I went to his house and…" For a second, Sasuke choked on his words. "His bedroom is covered in blood. You also said it's my fault that he's gone."

For a heart-stopping second, midnight met emerald and the two ceased to breath.

"Sakura… What happened to Naruto?"

The girl sighed, backing up to let Sasuke into her office. Once they were both seated – Sasuke in a chair and Sakura at her desk in a very Tsunade-like fashion – the woman swallowed and started her story.

"Exactly one week ago today, Akatsuki attacked the village and kidnapped Naruto-kun." Her story was short and to the point, polite and clipped. "Naruto-kun is in their hands now, here's nothing you or any of us can do about it. That is all, you are dismissed." The conversation was over; Sasuke would have to find a new source.

Only slightly disgruntled, Sasuke rose from his seat and gave a short bow before exiting the office and descending the stairs into the streets below.

So, Sakura wasn't going to provide him with an answer, then? That was fine… He had other sources.

Didn't he?

-x-x-x-

The afternoon was sweltering, but the girl didn't seem to mind. She ran a hand back though her hair, staring up at the sky as her wandering fingers went back to playing with the hem of her jacket. She had taken it off under the wrath of the hot sun, wondering why the temperature had risen so suddenly. She could hear Kiba nearby, grumbling about the weather to Akamaru. A small smile forced it's way onto the girl's lips, and she giggled, ushering up a quick counter from Kiba.

Across from her, Neji and Lee sat conversing. Hinata furrowed her brow as she watched them. They were plotting Naruto's rescue, everybody was. Especially the original group of rookies that had taken the Chuunin exam years ago. They were all very close now, and that simple fact made the girl beam with happiness. She was so much more confident; she had so many more friends.

Naruto-kun… You must return soon. We're all very worried about you. Especially Sakura-sama. I've also heard that Sasuke-san has returned to the village. You wanted to see him, didn't you?

As if sensing her thoughts, Kiba stood up and plopped down beside the Hyuuga, placing a hopeful reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Hinata, we're going to get Naruto back if it's the last thing we do. Unlike that bastard Sasuke, he didn't abandon his village. We're going to get him back, you just wait…" He smiled, squeezing Hinata's shoulder lightly before releasing it.

"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" The voice was suave, neutral. The occupants of the clearing turned to face Sasuke in all of his 'Glory.'

Raised brows and surprised grunts were had all around, though no one reaction deviated from the rest. It seemed that Sasuke was as unwelcome here as he had been in the rest of the village. Though it wasn't like he had expected a parade welcome, Sasuke had certainly thought that he'd be welcome with at least one crowd. Pushing it aside, he took a deep breath before daring to ask:

"Lee…? May I speak with you?"

The now-Jounin in question raise one trademarked brow and nodded, walking towards Sasuke. "Hai, Sasuke-kun."

For some reason, the sameness in Lee's answer seemed o soothe Sasuke a fraction. He nodded to his former acquaintances and began walking, waiting until he and Konoha's 'Sexy Green Beast' were out of earshot of the others before he spoke. "Lee… I was wondering if you could tell me about Naruto." He muttered, only slightly disgruntled about having to run all over the village just to get the answer to one simple question. "Sakura says Akatsuki has him, but… Is that the whole truth? And why is Sakura the Hokage?"

Lee sighed and ran a hand back through his black hair. "Well, technically yes. What Sakura-san has told you is what most of the village knows. However…" He crossed his arms over his chest. "There's more to the story. Now, I don't know all the details, but I do know the gist of it all."

Sasuke nodded, urging The Sexy Green Beast on.

"Well, after the failed attempt to bring you back, Naruto-kun and Sakura-san went on a few missions associated with your rescue. But after a while, they both cracked own on their training. Sakura-san trained under Tsunade-sama and became a medical Nin. But, because it was Tsunade-sama she trained under, Sakura-san is now a force to be reckoned with. Naruto-kun resumed his training under Jiraiya-sama, and became a very powerful Ninja. I remember that Tsunade-sama employed pretty much all of us… meaning everyone back in the clearing and Shikamaru-san. Anyways, it seemed that Jiraiya-sama nominated Naruto-kun to lead the mission. He had changed so much in those three years. Anyways, Naruto immediately began to laugh and flat-out refused the mission. He said that going after you was completely pointless." Lee paused, taking a deep breath. "But the weird thing was… Akatsuki made a failed attempt at capturing Naruto-kun just hours after he returned to Konoha… It was a shit job, too, Naruto managed to get away from them unaided. I could be grasping at a ghost, but…"

"You think that Akatsuki told him not to come after me?" Sasuke raised a brow.

Lee nodded and shrugged. "It could be a possibility. It's farfetched, but perhaps it's feasible. Your brother must have known that Orochimaru lured you into his clutches. He must have also known about your and Naruto-kun's bond. So, he might have told Naruto-kun not to go after you, for fear that Orochimaru would take him."

"There are two problems with that theory, though." Sasuke bit his lip. "One: Orochimaru has never had any interest in Naruto. And, Two: Naruto swore he'd bring me back to Konoha no matter what. He was always blabbing about how he never went back on his word… How would Akatsuki have convinced Naruto to stay put?"

"With all due respect to Naruto-kun, he was naïve. I don't believe that there was anybody who cared more passionately about your rescue. If there was anything he could do to hasten it… There was also the possibility that your life was jeopardized. In those days, when Sakura-san cared very much about you… It would have crushed her. Perhaps he was not only worried about you, but Sakura-san as well?"

"That sounds like Naruto." Sasuke snorted and stuck his hands back into his pockets, staring at the ground.

"But there is also something that continues to trouble us, a question that not even Shikamaru-san can answer." Lee's tone was grave.

"Oh…?" Sasuke raised a brow.

"Tsunade-sama was killed in battle last year when an army of Rock Ninjas invaded the village. It seemed that she left the position of Hokage to either Sakura-san or Naruto-kun. And… Naruto-kun refused the position."

-x-x-x-

Kabuto sighed, eyeing the tea he'd had made. His footsteps echoed in the half-light of the hallway, bouncing back and forth for what seemed like forever. Out of habit, the man pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, inhaling the sweet-scented steam rising from the drinks he had made. Sasuke's sudden departure troubled him, especially since Orochimaru hadn't thought to inform him about anything that was happening. The man had just said to let 'Little Sasuke-kun' go on his way undisturbed. What fantastic mission had the outlaw planned for his missing Nin? Surely, nothing that Kabuto could not manage?

These thought built up in the Song Ninja's head so much that he had to pause outside of Orochimaru's door to regain his composure before entering. This killed him, wondering what Sasuke was doing while he was stuck here, completing boring and menial tasks that never really served any great purpose anyways. Research here, a kill there… it was bullshit.

Finally, he felt that he was all right to advance into his master's chambers, and that he did, entering with a small bow. "Orochimaru-sama." He murmured, pushing his glasses up his nose again. "I've brought the tea you requested…"

"Kabuto…" Orochimaru cracked his pale lips into a smile and took the tea the other male offered, sipping it gingerly. "Arigato."

They sipped their tea in silence for a while. Orochimaru sitting on his lavished bed and Kabuto on a simple chair next to it. They both seemed to be trying to catch he other looking at them, though neither succeeded. Finally, Orochimaru broke the silence by clearing his throat. Respectfully, Kabuto set his tea in his lap and turned to face the man.

"As you know, Kabuto, I've sent Sasuke-kun off on a little mission to collect information from another hidden village. You must be jealous that I've sent him off, and yet kept you here and under my thumb." He smirked his little smirk, a glint in his unsettling eyes, dropping his voice to an eager whisper. "I've found something that might catch your interest as much as it has caught a hold of mine. You must wonder sometimes why I did not claim Sasuke-kun's body when I first had the chance three years ago. It is because I had begun hearing whispers of a very interesting person. Ever since then, I have been tirelessly investigating these whispers, and investing my own time rather than sending out one of my many loyal subordinates." He leaned forward, a childish grin spreading his mouth. It made Kabuto flinch slightly, that type of grin didn't suite Orochimaru in the slightest. "I've found another Uchiha. A powerful Uchiha, who also seeks power and vengeance. It is yet to be seen whether or not this Uchiha possess the Sharingan, but there is always Sasuke-kun if he does not." Orochimaru leaned back and giggled, sipping his tea.

"I see, Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto smirked, his glasses flashing in the light provided by the candles. "Rather than claim Sasuke-kun right away, you thought you would wait until more could he revealed about this other Uchiha? Because if you should happen to… meet this man… then you would have two Uchihas at your disposal?" On a sudden thought, Kabuto frowned. "But you've sent Sasuke-kun on a mission that take him directly passed the Hidden Leaf. That part I don't understand."

The glint returned to Orochimaru's eyes. "It seems that Akatsuki has taken Naruto-kun captive. They wish to take the Kyuubi fro him and use it to their own gain. Would it not be beneficial to us if Sasuke-kun learned this information, and was filled anew with the desire for revenge? As long as the demons in Sasuke-kun's heart remain there, and are constantly fueled, then he will stay loyal to me and will not seek escape. He will continue to grow stronger as my student, my Sasuke-kun. He will always seek me in the end, the darkness in his soul cannot resist my attraction." Orochimaru giggled here, taking another sip of his tea. "Do not be troubled, Kabuto, I've thought this out from beginning to end. If Sasuke-kun weren't such an ignorant little brat, then perhaps I would have been a bit more cautious. But because Sasuke-kun is Sasuke-kun, then I've nothing to fear."

"Very well." Kabuto smiled and set his tea back on the tray, collecting Orochimaru's empty mug as he left the room, making sure to bow as he exited.

Orochimaru-sama… You've thought this out carefully, and I am nobody to be questioning your decisions, but I can't help but wonder if your openly advertised faith in Sasuke-kun's ignorance is the foreshadowing to your defeat...

Reviewer Responses

First off, I'd like to extend a huge ARIGATO to everybody who reviewed my story.

And If I missed you… GOMEN-NASAI TIMES A MILLION!

Naruto Look Alike - Yes, I DO like drama! n.n I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter, I hope this one was as pleasing, if not more!

Red Asatari – Where is Naruto, you ask! Well, that remains to be seen n.n I'm just tickled pink that you liked my first chapter so much, Arigato times a million! n.n (P.S. I love your pen name!)

Pencil – No, I think it's good that you ask so many questions! How else are we to gain answers other than to seek them? Also, It's good to see that you wanted the Rookie Nine to appear… Because they did! I didn't want this story just to center on Team Seven, just because eI love the other rookie nine so much! n.n (Especially Lee-chan. -giggle-)

Love Squared – Yes! I didn't really realize it until I was editing chapter one, but I suppose he does! n.n Serves him right for Deserting Konoha, eh?

XxDyingCryxX – Hee hee. I loved the last line, as well. I wanted it to be short and sweet, but I still wanted it to get the point across. I guess I got the best of both worlds! -Grin-

Lai – I hope that chapter two clears things up for you, but I hate to say that I'm a lover of suspense! ;D So, you might be left in the dark some more if you keep reading. (Which I hope you do!)

Once again, thanks to everyone who reviewed! n.n –Hands out SasuNaru dolls-