AN: The rating has been changed to R. Because I read that notice posted on ff.net that said something about the ratings being wrong and they'll do something… ok that and, It was rated pg-13 for language, but as I re-read a lot of the scenes particularly with Neji and Sasuke beating on people… it's pretty violent. The sexual relations between Sasuke and Sakura are more graphic now I guess…

Honestly, I'm not a big lemon person. I mean I've read plenty of them, and I was going to write one for this fic, however, it just felt a little awkward. I guess, for those who are disappointed by the scene, I'll make up for it in this chapter. It'll strictly be lime. Ok! I admit! I wanted Ino to be a pervert! Just kidding… I needed her to pry… for certain reasons.

You all must be annoyed with the "…" I keep doing between sentences, especially in this fic. It honestly can't be helped. When I freeze up on a sentence or want to add dramatic pause without over using a comma, I place that in. You'll just have to roam over it I guess, but whatever… if it doesn't bother you, just ignore this. It's also a habit.

Yes, this is posted on blissful ignorance, with a few things, or fewer things in it. I took the chance to edit the fic when I posted it there, but I like things here better. I was glad BI finally had a Naruto forum though; I read gundam wing fics there all the time.

::sigh:: The last chapter ruined the adrenaline that ran throughout the fic, for that I apologize. I write this fic when I'm mad… and when you're mad you just want to scream and rush through everything… well, I kind of sit there and curse… so why not write what I feel on paper, and well, you got the adrenaline and my anger all in one, and then I'm satisfied. Things will pick up again… watch.

Thoughts are 'Italicized' with a single quote, while italicized words in conversation means emphasis. Inner Sakura will be put into brackets like so: [].

Chapter 9: Rapid Moderation

Naruto smacked his forehead. 'Shit.' Hinata fell back onto the bed with her eyes closed. He waited patiently a few moments and drummed his fingers onto the bed, then glanced around the room. He began to hum a tune. He glanced at his nonexistent watch. Naruto let out a low growl. "You can stop pretending now." He poked her on the cheek.

Hinata still did not stir. The blonde scratched the back of his head. 'The one time I need to be really annoying, I can't!' He placed a hand under his chin and narrowed his eyes. He turned and found that the knife was still embedded inside her. He cautiously bent over, grasped the handle and pulled it out, sighing in relief when he found no blood. "Well, this is no fun." He twitched. A smile spread across his features.

An idea popped into his head. 'Missy, if you're not going to wake up I'll-…' He got up until his face was pressed almost directly over hers and made sure his nose and mouth were a mere millimeter away and then… he waited and waited. Unconsciously, his eye twitched. He poked her again and almost burst out laughing when she squirmed. It was kind of cute; he shrugged and was about to poke her again-.

Her pearl eyes snapped open. She gaped at the blonde vampire in front of her, or erm… rather, on top of her. She sprung up and collided with Naruto's head, almost pressing her own lips against his; she turned her face so that they wouldn't. She gasped and whacked the blonde over the head. "You pervert!" She yelled, breathing heavily.

"I didn't do anything!" Naruto retorted.

"You were certainly doing something, why were you over me?" her glare intensified.

"What? How else would I be extremely irritating? It works on Sakura-chan all the time when she doesn't want to wake up." He gave her his signature fox grin. "Well, Sasuke does it, maybe not the poking, but it did make her squirm a lot. Honestly, I don't know what he did, but I saw it, and it was-…"

"Oh, you be quiet!" She hit him again. Hinata was confused because she had no idea who he was talking about and because she didn't know why she was still alive. 'Didn't it work?' "Give me that!" She was referring to the silver knife he pulled out of her.

"Ah, heck no!" He stepped back. "Look missy, I don't know how or why you began to get so suicidal, but look, being a vampire isn't all that bad. You live a long time-…"

"Would you really want to live if you had to do things you absolutely dreaded, or became something you hate?! Would you want to live if you found out your entire life was a lie?!" She questioned angrily. He stared at her. "You couldn't possibly understand. You don't have a heart… You're dead."

At first, Naruto felt offended, but now, "Well you're dead too." He replied dryly. "And you're going to be dead for a long time." He waved the knife in front of her face. "Death doesn't kill death. And you know… silver doesn't kill vampires. It's no use." She glared at him. "Would you quit that? I know you're angry, but sooner or later you're going to have to accept it." He threw the knife down onto the mattress. She began to reach for it. "It's not going to work!" He snapped.

Hinata flinched. "What do you mean? I thought-…"

"Silver doesn't kill us, it was a lie. It was a simple lie made by us to lead you 'humans' the wrong direction. An actual wooden stake could kill us, but not this." She gazed at him curiously. "Oh and you can't forget the sun… that kills too." Her face brightened. "Don't get any ideas." She scowled. "Oh just give it a try, I promise blood doesn't taste that bad. So make yourself at home, stay out of the sun, and maybe later you can meet the others around this joint, just not Neji… yet." He smiled at her. Awkwardly, it made her feel warm inside.

Hinata admired his kindness and sincerity, but she still hated what he made her. Despite her best efforts, she gave a small nod in understanding. Perhaps sticking around wouldn't be too bad… Naruto grinned and poked her again. She glared at him. 'You can never be serious for more than two seconds with this guy around...'

"Sasuke-kun…" She muttered dreamily as she lay next to him. Their bodies were entangled with one another and both were still trying to cope with the sudden rush of events. She brushed his bangs out of his face. He blinked a couple of times but kept his eyes on her. "This is awkward." He gave her a look as if saying, 'what's the problem now?' "Can we really do this? I-I won't get pregnant or anything right?" He groaned.

"I have no idea." He really didn't care either. She had a slightly hurt look on her face. He thought quickly. "You're dead, can a dead corpse get pregnant?" She shook her head. "Well then…" 'I suddenly feel like a necrophilia…' She shrugged and sighed. [Inner Sakura: ::sigh::] A saddened look crossed her features, but it disappeared right after.

"Sasuk-…" He stopped her from whatever she was saying by kissing her. 'If I don't shut her up now, she'll never drop the subject…' He changed their position and placed himself on top of her, never breaking the kiss. She looked at him dazedly when he broke away. He was looking at the door again. "Something wrong?" He shook his head. 'Damn it, Ino…pervert.' [Inner Sakura: No! Do it again!(waving two fans)] Sakura's face contorted. 'What was that just now?' She shrugged.

Sakura cupped his face in her hands and pressed her lips urgently against his. [Inner Sakura: That's the way…] She shrugged that off too.

Ino was instantly forgotten as Sasuke returned the kiss with equal fury. He ran a hand through her silky pink strands, while the other began to pull the bed sheet away from her bare corpse. His tongue traced her lips and he moved away down toward her jaw line, nipping and sucking lightly. She let out a whimper. 'This is all too familiar...' He moved to her neck, kissing the spot where he'd bit her. She could feel his fangs grazing upon her skin as he continued his actions. He pulled away again, and the sheet along with him, revealing her pale form completely. Sasuke's eyes scanned her from top to bottom. He could feel the lust in him begin to boil.

Sakura looked up at him, all in his naked form kneeling in front of her, gazing at her with hungry eyes. He licked his lips, revealing one of his fangs slightly. She didn't know whether to gulp or gape, but didn't have time to do either. Sasuke crushed his lips against hers again in a bruising manner. Taken by surprise, Sakura's lips were slightly parted. He took the opportunity to slide his tongue in with hers, while his hands explored and caressed her very familiar body. She ran both her hands through his hair, grasping tightly.

She let out a small moan as his hands roamed over her sensitive areas. He broke the kiss and moved down to her neck, repeating the same actions as before. She could barely breathe. He was driving her mad, he wouldn't move lower, but continued to touch her. "Sasuke-kun…" She half growled, and half moaned. He had to smirk and succumed to her will, sort of. He grasped her bare breast in his hand, while his mouth settled on the other one. She let out a gasp as he continued what he was doing. [Inner Sakura: (fanning herself) Woo, it's getting hot]

Sakura blinked. 'Now I'm sure I heard something…' Sasuke moved lower. [Inner Sakura: Hell YEAH!] "Ahh!" Sakura screeched and clutched her head tightly. Sasuke looked up at her with surprise. His instantly gaze turned to worry. "Wh-what is that?" she asked mostly to herself. He raised an eyebrow. 'She interrupted me for this?' He punched the mattress.

"What is it?" He leaned in close to her. Her eyes were closed. "Sakura?" He grasped one of her hands.

"I keep hearing things!" Sakura gazed up at him with fearful eyes. 'Maybe she has the same thing I do…' Sasuke thought. 'Damn it… why did this have to come up now?!' He wanted to push this little problem away and get back to what they were doing before.

"Did you develop better hearing?" He asked. She gave him a blank stare. "I mean, can you hear the two people outside of our door making all that racket?"

"What two people?! Was that what you kept looking at?" She massaged her temples. He shrugged. "Never mind… no, it's probably something else." [Inner Sakura: Get back to it! It was just getting good.] Sakura glanced around the room. "There it was again."

Sasuke felt the urge to take her temperature. "I didn't hear anything."

"But it was loud." Her brows crinkled in frustration.

"Sakura, I can hear a pin drop from a mile away. Whatever you're hearing, I can't… that's rather impossible isn't it? Unless…" He stopped himself. She panicked. "I don't know. You probably developed something a little weirder than all of us. Naruto can read minds, why not ask him what it is?" She was still searching for the cause of that noise. "Sakura, really, not now." He groaned and leaned into her neck. She shivered.

"Sasuke, something's wrong." He kissed her. She looked at him with wide eyes. "It's creepy." He kissed her again. "S-stop. I think-…" He growled. Sakura felt her forehead. "Something's talking."

"No one is talking. You're hallucinating." He was getting impatient. He licked the side of his lips hungrily. She felt her forehead. "Stop it." He pulled her hand away and kissed it. "Sakura, you're being foolish." [Inner Sakura: What?!]

"Tell me you heard that!" He groaned. 'Does she know what she's depriving me of?'

"Sakura, I didn't hear anything." He said dully. [Inner Sakura: This is stupid]

She closed her eyes. "I'm going crazy." Sasuke nodded, agreeing with her. She gaped. "Hey! That's-…" [Inner Sakura: (flames blazing in her eyes)]

He sighed and placed his head on the crook of her neck. "Sakura…" 'No choice.' He looked her straight in the eyes. She gave him a weird glance and suddenly began to feel herself burn up. Her breathing became shallow. She gasped as Sasuke ran his hands through her hair and kissed her temple. 'I need this…now.' "You'll stop this." He placed his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him. He laid her back down onto the bed in her slightly dazed state, between her legs.

"You-…" she whispered, but he silenced her by forcing his mouth onto hers.

"I seduced you…" Sasuke smirked, but continued what he was doing. Sakura's thoughts halted abruptly. She moaned and gave into what Sasuke was doing to her. [Inner Sakura: Phew, finally. (sigh)]

"Orochimaru." Itachi growled as he approached the king, who was sitting daintily on his 'throne.'

"What the hell do you want?" He snarled. Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Ohh… was the very talented Uchiha Itachi unable to find their location?" Orochimaru asked slyly. "Whatever it is, make it quick." He waved his hand. The other vampire's jaw tightened, but not much else.

"Orochimaru, I don't have to do this, might I remind you-."

"I am well aware." Orochimaru swallowed. "What?" He demanded.

"I need Kakashi to reveal the location of his mansion." Itachi stated simply.

"What makes you think he'll do that? Kakashi would die before he endangered the life of those little bastards…" Orochimaru's fist clenched. Itachi smirked. "Besides, you still haven't delivered the other-."

"I know that, but in order to deliver the 'other ones' I need to know where to start now don't I?" He asked dully.

"Still-…" Orochimaru began, but Itachi cut him off.

"Kakashi won't reveal that information."

"So we're stuck-…" Itachi cut him off again.

"We have one connection. Yamanaka Ino."

"So? She's still no reason… I won't hand over Kakashi until you find a solid-…"

"She has a connection with Nara Shikamaru…" Itachi inquired. Orochimaru growled.

"Itachi if you cut me off one more time-…" he warned.

"You have nothing decent to say, and whatever it is I already know-…" he said dryly.

"Damn you to hell."

"I've been there for a long time." Itachi spat.

"So what about Shikamaru?" Orochimaru questioned.

"Did you forget Shikamaru could control minds?"

"No, but even he is loyal to Kakashi." Orochimaru pointed out.

"But he has a soft spot for Ino, doesn't he?" Itachi rolled his eyes. The king's gaze remained on him, expectantly. "So, send some henchmen, call Ino back, get Shikamaru, hand over Kakashi to me…it's all down hill from there. Then we both get the first piece of what we need, now don't we?"

"You make everything sound like it's so simp-…" Orochimaru glared at Itachi.

"That's because everything is simple, you just have to make it complicated. I hate people like you… So, will that work for you sire?" Itachi asked. Orochimaru scowled and nodded. With that, Itachi spun his heel and left satisfied.

Orochimaru could feel a burn in himself that hadn't been awoken for a long time. His anger was flaring; he let himself go. 'After this is all done… Uchiha Itachi, you will die!' A loud frustrated scream pierced the air, unheard by Itachi, who was walking outside of the king's lair with a smirk on his face. Unknowingly, he was thinking the same thing.

His blank eyes snapped open. 'Something's going on. What?' Tenten kept an eye on her silent companion. After he untied her, she was able to go about the mansion, but for some reason, liked the atmosphere of his room better. Perhaps it was because she was tied there half the time or... it was some other reason...

"Something bugging you?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. He shook his head and shrugged. She sighed. "You're so boring sometimes." He turned to look at her.

"Am I supposed to be amusing to you some how?" Neji questioned. She shook her head.

"You've been quiet the entire time, and you seem to keep everything in, why not let it out for a change? It'll help." His gaze remained on her. "If you need to talk, I'll listen." she said happily.

If Neji could be touched, he would've been by that statement, however, "I have nothing to say that you'd be interested in." He looked away.

"Oh yeah? Try me." She chirped and gave an encouraging smile.

"I said it was nothing. Why don't you go find something to do?" he offered, changing the subject.

"I've been around the mansion six times already, there's nothing interesting."

"And my room is?" He sighed.

'Not the room, the occupant. Idiot.' Tenten growled. During the short time she stayed at the mansion, she began to feel for the silent, cold vampire. Although she teased him, she found it amusing, and somewhat attracteve how he retaliated. He was attractive either way, but watching him squirm was too great to pass up. Everytime he neared her, she felt herself burn up and tremble. Why couldn't he see through her? She didn't want to open up to the guy, but knowing the Hyuuga ability, she figured he'd know everything.

Neji eyed her warily. Something was brewing, and he had a feeling it wasn't good. He knew what she was doing; he knew why she was so curious about him. He just didn't want to say it, but love between a vampire and a human wasn't possible. He wasn't capable of loving, just lusting, which is why he often surrendered to his 'feelings' whenever he was around her. That, and she was too easy to seduce and succum to his will. He liked that. His eyes scanned her. A sudden jolt flickered in his body. 'Love doesn't exist... only lust.' Neji kept convincing himself. He gulped, knowing exactly what was happening.

She was looking up at him with large brown eyes, studying him carefully. His eyes met hers and in an instant, 'I want her to be mine...'

"So you finally got away from the door?" Ino walked back into Shikamaru's room, slumping.

"I hate this. It's painful to watch!" She sighed dramatically and fell onto his bed.

"Your own fault." He pointed out with a sigh. Her fists clenched.

"I-I need some fresh air." She abruptly got off the bed, when she heard another interesting noise come from Sasuke's room. Shikamaru's eyes followed her.

"H-hey wait. I'll go with you. I'm pretty hungry anyway-…" She raised an eyebrow. In truth, he was just watching out for her, should she run into anything...

"You sure you don't have some other reason?" she winked.

Shikamaru gaped. "Like you care," he said lowly, avoiding eye contact. "Let's just go. If I hear one more scream come from that room I'll-…"

"Yeah, same here." She said quickly and pushed him out. They both left the mansion and walked toward some private gardens in the back silently. "It's peaceful tonight." She said breaking it. Shikamaru nodded. Ino smiled and latched onto his arm as they went. "This is nice… we should do it more often." He nodded. It was his turn to smile. "You know, you're one of my best friends?" The word stung, but he kept it to himself.

Ino felt Shikamaru stiffen next to her. 'Did I do something wrong?' She shook her head. 'It's probably nothing…' They kept walking. Shikamaru's smile was no longer apparent. 'Why do I care anyway?' he asked himself. 'Why should I care…?'

TBC…

AN: Alright, if you weren't satisfied with the Sasusaku groping I apologize. This is only my second fic… It's uncomfortable you know? I rushed through. So please be patient with me… As for now, I hope this did good enough, as you can see, the pace is starting to pick up again. Everything in this fic is supposed to have a purpose, and the purpose for that scene was to introduce Inner Sakura, and I really wanted to have Sasuke and Sakura together. There's a void in my brain and utter longing for those two to have physical relationship. (I wouldn't write a full fledged lemon, though I really am tempted to, I know there are a lot of people under fourteen that watch Naruto and take an interest in the series and also read fanfiction. It's inappropriate ::sigh:: that's that)

I feel bad for Shikamaru though. What to do? ::sigh:: You can probably guess what's going to happen to Tenten now, eh?

Feel free to correct me if you see anything wrong, I'm not sure if vampires can seduce other vampires, but Sakura is a sap for Sasuke, so she'd give in even if he didn't seduce her. Oh yeah, and if you catch the breathing thing, I don't think they have to breathe, but I can't exactly describe it either way. I guess she's just used to breathing... same with Hinata.

As for anything else, if you all have questions to ask, now would be a good time. I'll answer them in the next chapter.