Months had passed since Sasuke's arrest. The image of Sasuke being beaten and dragged out of the room by those guards was constantly playing in Sakura's mind. She tried to distract herself with work. Her life was reduced to working and sleeping. Her only distraction was eating ramen with Naruto from time to time. He would not dare mention Sasuke. But every time they looked into each other's eyes, she could see his sorrow. If for any reason anyone were to talk about it, Naruto would simply change topics.
Nobody knew anything about Sasuke or his whereabouts. Truth be told, Sakura did not even know if it was legal to ask about him at this point. When he first got arrested, she tried to get information about what was happening, yet she found nothing. At some point, she just gave up and decided to wait with everyone else.
Other than Sasuke's situation, she had been really busy opening a mental health clinic for children with Ino. She put all her energies into this project and tried to avoid Sasuke's subject as much as possible. The children were thriving and her relationship with Ino had improved in the past few months.
Her routine was pretty consistent. Wake up, go to work, come home, and go to sleep.
It was early in the morning, and she was walking to the clinic went she noticed a man was following her. She changed streets several times and confirmed he was following her.
"I am trained to kill you if I have to" Sakura stopped abruptly and warned the man.
"That won't be necessary" the man said putting both hands up indicating his lack of weapons "I need your help" he finished.
"What do you want?" she said.
"I am with Ambu and we need a medical specialist for a special mission" he informed her.
"I don't see a uniform" she said.
"You see ma'am, my work is clandestine, and disclosing that with the public could be dangerous" he added "I work for Torture and Interrogation Force under the intelligence division, you'd understand I expect your utmost discretion."
"Absolutely" she whispered.
"Our medical examiner has been incapacitated by one of the prisoners and we are under immediate medical supervision. We would appreciate the help of an expert" he said.
"And you need me to make sure you do not kill this prisoner" she concluded.
"That is indeed correct" he confirmed.
"I am sorry, but I am afraid you are going to find someone else" she finished and continued walking.
"This man raped and killed over 20 children. Some of them still live but we need him to disclose their location" the man said stopping her.
"What do I have to do?" Sakura finished.
Sakura left everything ready with Ino and told her she would take a few mental health days. She made her way to the department where they were already waiting for her.
"Your responsibility is to ensure that the necessary measures that will be taken with the prisoner do not result in his demise. Do you understand this" a woman in a white robe said.
"yes" Sakura responded.
"You will be asked to observe from the window outside the cell. You will be able to see the prisoner, but he will not see you. If it becomes necessary for you to enter the room, do not approach the prisoner within less than 6 feet. Do not make comments or talk to the prisoner under no circumstances unless instructed. Understand that this is a very dangerous man, and he may pose a threat to your safety in the given proximity. Is this understood?"
"Yes ma'am" she responded as she was rushed into a room with a large window.
She could see a man who was kept in a metal casket with only his face visible. She observed as the man was pulled down and strapped down to a chair. The interrogation began and soon did the torture.
"Do you recognize any of these children?" the interrogator said while showing the prisoner some pictures.
"I do" the man said.
"Are you responsible for their disappearance?" the interrogator said.
"You already know that" the prisoner said with a grin on his face.
"Where are they?" asked the interrogator.
"I have a really bad memory" the prisoner said.
"Perhaps this will remind you" responded the interrogator while reaching for a hammer.
He soon began to crush each one of his fingers while telling the prisoner that it all could be over if he revealed the location. The interrogator was only met with screaming.
"Does it hurt?" the interrogator mocked him "it will stop hurting soon" he finished while getting a set of loppers. Sakura gasped at the sign of the interrogator cutting the first finger and then the second. She was asked several times if she believed the prisoner's life was in danger and if so, to pull a lever that would inform the interrogator. That was followed by the pulling of his right eye. The prisoner would still be silent and even laugh cynically in the midst of screaming and torture. Once they began slowly burning his hands and feet, he spoke and gave the location of the children. The interrogator left the room and approached Sakura.
"Are you the medic?" he asked as she nodded.
"You may go in there if you want to, a medical team will soon help him" he said "you have a mental health clinic for children, right? You will soon be flooded with patients" he added before he left the room.
The specialized medical team soon came and removed the man from the room leaving Sakura completely alone. As she was alone, she had time to reflect. She certainly was in shock by what she saw. Not only that, her mind could not help but worry about what could be happening to Sasuke. She pictured Sasuke being the one tortured over and over again.
She was about to start crying when a woman abruptly opened the door.
"Are you the medic?" the woman asked her.
"I guess so" Sakura responded.
"I have been waiting for you for over 30 minutes to do a feeding. I need you in the second hall" the woman said while dragging her to a different room.
She was confused but assumed a feeding would not be too hard, especially after what she saw earlier.
"Alright, so this should be an easy feeding. These are usually for people refusing to eat. We should be fine as this prisoner is usually compliant. He is already prepped; I just require a witness to make sure I don't perforate anything." The woman said.
Sakura simply nodded and they both entered the room.
The world went upside down for a second and she could hear a noise playing in her head.
There he was, strapped to a chair, in a straitjacket, and with his eyes covered. His cheeks were sunken and his skin pale. His messy hair was sticking to his forehead with sweat.
"Sasuke" she gasped.
Was this a sign of peace?