Chapter Twenty-Five
Kill me like you mean it

"Police made a brutal discovery today after workers down at the pier on 11th street returned to work earlier this morning, nearly two weeks of striking. A body, likely there for anywhere between three days and a week, had been found. Shot and killed. As of right now, the police are calling this a homicide and are looking for leads. Anyone who is able to lend assistance is being asked to call the police hotline–"

Ino muted the television then, her gaze falling to Sakura. Sakura didn't return her stare, just continued to watch the screen as they showed aerial footage of the crime scene below. From their distance, they could only make out the white tent that had been staged over the body and the flashing police lights.

Only once the newscaster moved onto the next story did Sakura turn to Shikamaru. He was leaning against the wall behind the couch, his mouth set in a grim line.

"Have the police found anything yet?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No. They still need to do an autopsy and get the blood tests back but the crates him and his guys were moving when you found him were filled with heroine. A shit ton of it too. The police will likely think it was a drug deal gone bad."

"Even with two high-powered rounds through him?" Ino asked, her voice full of doubt and disapproval. The second was definitely directed at Sakura.

"Kabuto was a small dealer by our terms, but big enough to piss off some people with more power. An assassination wouldn't be out of the question if the police dug enough," Shikamaru told her begrudgingly.

Ino frowned at him but said nothing.

Sakura cocked a brow at her. "What? Do you think I shouldn't have killed him?"

"No," she replied immediately. "He was an asshole and his murder attempt on you was unthinkable. But I think you could have done away with him a little quieter."

"Well then my message wouldn't have gotten across to the rest of the Underground, would it?"

Sakura tried to keep the bite out of her tone. After all, Ino didn't know the full extent of what had happened that night. Sakura hadn't found it within herself to tell her. Or anyone, except for Kakashi. Though, she suspected Itachi was smart enough to have put the pieces together; he had seen the marks and bruises on the inside of her thighs.

Ino inhaled through her nose slowly at Sakura's words, but didn't argue further as a knock sounded at the door.

Both she and Shikamaru turned to Sakura curiously but she didn't answer their unspoken question. She didn't know who is was. She wasn't expecting any more company tonight.

Pushing herself to her feet, Sakura grabbed her gun from the table and double checked that it was loaded and functioning properly. Which was unnecessary because a moment later she heard through the door: "Open up, Sakura. It's me."

She slid the deadbolt out of place the instant she heard Kakashi's voice. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a dark green jacket, his hands tucked deep into the pockets. He didn't wait for her to invite him in. He simply slipped past her.

Eyeing him, Sakura closed and latched the door before she followed after him. Kakashi nodded a silent greeting at Ino and Shikamaru but didn't make any small talk. He obviously wanted something.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked, setting her gun back down.

He got straight to the point: "Naruto is dead."

Sakura stared while Ino pushed herself to her knees to peer over the back of the couch. "What?" the blonde asked.

Kakashi glanced in her direction briefly before turning back to Sakura. "I found his body near the port. It was definitely Akatsuki. I don't know how he got caught but he was obviously interrogated before they cut his throat."

"God damnit," Sakura cursed.

"Our only hope is that he didn't tell them we know about Madara's connection."

"He didn't know," she told him, raking a hand through her hair. "The only ones that are aware are in this room."

"And your CIA buddy."

Ino's brows furrowed. "The CIA? What does the CIA have to do with this?"

Sakura leveled a glare in Kakashi's direction, which he returned with a sheepish look, before she turned to Ino. "I'm trading information on Madara with a CIA agent. He can help me take him down."

"You're kidding, right?"

Sakura simply met her gaze while Shikamaru frowned thoughtfully. "Is this the same agent from a few months ago?"

This time, it was him Ino fixed with a pointed stare. "You know about this?"

"I knew she had been approached. I didn't know they were still in contact."

Oh, they were in contact alright, Sakura thought to herself. Full body contact. On his couch. And in his bed.

"This isn't important," Sakura interrupted, ignoring Ino's look that clearly stated it in fact was. "What's important is Naruto is dead and I need someone to take over his work. Ino, you've shadowed him enough to do it. You're the only one right now that can. I don't want to pressure you..." she said slowly, her gaze briefly drifting to Shikamaru.

Behind Ino's back, he shot Sakura a frown, but she turned away as the blonde nodded. "I can do it."

"Good. I'll text you what I need. I don't want you going near the port though. Madara knows your face."

Shikamaru's eyes flickered between the two women. "What do you mean he knows her face?"

"I had her pull his phone off him a couple of weeks ago."

His expression turned incredulous. "And you thought that was a good idea?"

Sakura met his steely gaze evenly, but it was Ino that interjected. "He doesn't know that I'm connected to her."

"I don't care," Shikamaru countered. "Akatsuki has already taken out your parents. There is a chance they know about you too. Getting that close to Madara was a dangerous risk."

"But a necessary one," Sakura murmured quietly.

The look he shot her was borderline murderous.

As if sensing the argument that was about to break out, Kakashi stepped in. "What do you want to do?"

"Nothing," Sakura said after a moment. "I still don't know what that port is for. If it is to take out Hashirama, Madara is taking his sweet time doing it. And I still haven't been able to dig up any other locations Madara is working, which means it could be his headquarters. Once I know more, I'll let you guys know my plan."

Ino returned her attention back around to the television after that. Shikamaru eyed Sakura a moment longer before he joined the blonde on the couch.

Sakura simply watched them before she eventually turned back to Kakashi. He was already frowning.

"With Naruto dead, there's a high chance Madara knows you're aware of the port."

"I'm sure he does," Sakura agreed. Naruto had after all been with her when she dragged one of Madara's tails in and broke his knee. "Our only relief is that Madara doesn't know that I know he's working for Akatsuki."

"Let's hope you can keep up that pretense," Kakashi murmured.

Sakura hummed her agreement, somewhat lost in thought. After a moment of quiet, she looked up at him again. "What did you do with Naruto's body?" she asked quietly.

"I hid it in the river."

She said nothing to that. Simply nodded minutely as a little twinge of something akin to sadness passed through her. Naruto had been a pain in the ass most of the time, but he had always finished his jobs and did whatever she asked of him. At least after she had gotten into her scuffle with him. Without him, her job just became a little more difficult.

Sometime after dark, Ino and Shikamaru left. Kakashi had departed not long after dropping by, leaving Sakura alone in her empty apartment. She laid on her back in bed, staring up at the ceiling and making shapes out of the shadows that spread across it.

For some reason she felt restless. Tired but unable to sleep. She laid there for nearly two hours before she finally pushed herself up. Sakura didn't really know where she was going when she slipped behind the wheel of her car. Not at first. But then she found herself driving down a familiar road. Towards a penthouse suite that had the best view of the city skyline.

Tobirama opened the door less than a minute after she knocked. Dressed in a white wifebeater and a pair of sweats, he looked like he hadn't been expecting company. And judging by the glower settling over his features, he wasn't too keen on having it. At least with her.

Sakura let out an audible sigh when he didn't make any move to invite her in. "Are you really going to make me stand out here?"

He didn't immediately reply, as if actually considering the option. Then, with an openly annoyed expression, he pushed off from the door frame and headed inside, leaving the door open for her.

Sakura slipped in, closing the door behind her before she followed him down the hall and into the large, open living room. On the island counter, there was a single, crystal glass and a bottle of whiskey. Tobirama poured himself two fingers and tossed the amber liquor back. He didn't offer her a drink. Not that she minded. She wasn't really sure she wanted one anyway.

Sakura studied his profile as he refilled his cup. There were some bruises along his jaw, as if he had been in a fight recently. Some scabs on his knuckles like he had fought back. It was the first time in months that she had really looked at him. She didn't quite like the way her stomach twisted at seeing the stress lines around his mouth and eyes.

"What do you want?" Tobirama finally asked, raising his drink to his lips. "You going to bitch at me again?"

Sakura refused to feel or look guilty. "Don't be like that," she said quietly. "If there's one thing you and I have in common, Tobirama, it's knowing how to be an asshole. Can we just move on?"

It wasn't exactly an apology. Because if there was one thing Sakura was terrible at, it was apologizing. She and Tobirama were simply products of their upbringings. They were both street rats and they both fought like street rats. And though perhaps she hadn't started their feud, she was tired of being mad at him, tired of fighting with him. She was simply looking for a sort of truce – a middle ground they could meet on.

As if Tobirama sensed this, the tension in his shoulders slowly relaxed. The annoyance etched into the corners of his expression fading. "Fine," he said.

Sakura couldn't find it within herself to smile but something within her settled. Releasing all that pent-up stress and restless energy until that uncomfortable pressure in her chest was gone. It had been there for so long, weighed down on her for so many months that she had simply grown accustomed to it. Without all that anger to hold onto, she felt lighter. Emptier.

Shedding her coat, Sakura set it on the edge of the counter. "How are things going?"

Tobirama shrugged, his expression a little more open now. "Not terrible. Not great. Madara told us Akatsuki's moved underground, but they still have a few guys out and about causing us some trouble. I took a few men to investigate a warehouse just inside the New York border last week and ended up getting into a fight with a few stragglers still hanging around."

At the mention of Madara's name, Sakura frowned but she kept her mouth shut. She accepted Tobirama's glass when he offered it to her and took a small sip, grimacing minutely at the sharp burn of whiskey. "You think they're still active then?" she asked innocently.

He shot her a pointed look as he accepted his drink back. "You don't?"

Sakura shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

It didn't matter for he continued, "Madara has a lot of sources and normally they're right, but there are too many things not adding up." When she didn't reply, he focused on her. "Your sources aren't telling you the same?"

She pursed her lips. "My best source was murdered a few days ago."

"Akatsuki?"

Her answer was a short nod.

Tobirama frowned, but it wasn't with pity. It was more thoughtful. He drank a mouthful of whiskey again before looking at her. "Hashirama's upset with you."

"When is he not?"

He didn't even blink at her sarcasm. "He thinks he needs to go elsewhere to get what he needs."

That was news to Sakura but she merely shrugged again. "Then he's an idiot. There are very few places left in the States for him to get what he needs. Even less if Akatsuki isn't as deep underground as you suspect."

She could see Tobirama consider this as he sipped his drink slowly. She didn't bother filling in the silence as he thought, her own mind churning over. She wasn't entirely surprised to hear Hashirama was shopping around. Sakura hadn't exactly been available for him. And someone in his position always needed product at a moment's notice.

Still, she couldn't have him going elsewhere. She'd have to intervene. Which with Naruto dead only made her plate that much fuller.

Pulling herself out of her musings, Sakura glanced at Tobirama only to find he was already watching her over the rim of his crystal glass. He looked like he had something else to say, but the words never came. He simply stared at her, his presence so much calmer, smoother than when she had first arrived.

"What?" she asked.

"Why did you come here tonight?"

"Because we needed to talk."

He didn't look so convinced. "Did we?"

She wasn't quite sure she liked the way he was looking at her. Like he was seeing through her, and so she said nothing. Simply waited for him to make the next move. She didn't have to wait long.

Without a word, Tobirama set his drink aside before he closed the distance between them. Sakura knew what was about to happen long before Tobirama kissed her. His lips pausing an inch away from hers. Hesitating. Waiting to see if she would pull away or move closer. When she did neither, he leaned down and caught her mouth with his.

His lips moved hard against hers, demanding, controlling and tasting of his liquor bottle. He felt exactly the way she remembered and, in the moment, Sakura grasped his shirt and pulled him closer, letting his tongue slip between her lips. His hands slid under her shirt until his fingers splayed against the small of her back, pulling her body against his until there was not even air between them. A soft moan rumbled in her throat as the familiar stirrings of arousal began to pulse low in her stomach.

There was something so familiar about his touch. It was strangely comforting. And yet, it felt all wrong. It took her a moment to realize she felt guilty. Because she had slept with Itachi or because she had led Tobirama on already knowing full well she wouldn't share his bed with him tonight, she didn't know. But it killed the warm pleasure building within her.

In the next moment, Sakura pushed Tobirama away. Not hard but with enough force to give herself room to take a step back. He stared at her, his confusion openly visible on his face.

"I didn't come here for this," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Confusion passed over his face before his eyes narrowed. "Then what did you come for?" he asked again, his voice hard.

Sakura knew he wanted an answer, but she didn't know what to tell him. Even she wasn't entirely sure she knew why herself. She searched for words, only too aware of Tobirama's growing irritation.

"To warn you," she eventually said.

"About what?"

She shook her head slowly. She knew she couldn't tell him anything. She couldn't trust that it wouldn't get back to Hashirama or Madara. "Things are shifting in the Underground. People who have been allies for years are turning on each other."

"Is that why you stole Madara's phone?"

Sakura stilled. She studied Tobirama carefully but he simply watched her coolly. Waiting, reading her reaction.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said evenly.

He continued to study her like he saw through her lie for a moment longer before a soft sound of humorless amusement passed through his nose. "I keep thinking I know you. That I have you all figured out. But I don't. The only thing I'm sure of that we have in common is that we're both criminals."

There was no accusation in his tone. He was simply stating a fact. But she couldn't help but wonder if that tone of sadness was really there in his voice or if it was just her imagination. She wondered if he was looking for something more. If perhaps he had been hoping he could find it within her and she had only let him down. It wasn't her place to make him whole, but she still couldn't help the small sliver of guilt that wedged itself into her chest.

Sakura looked away as Tobirama reached for his whiskey once more. It felt wrong to stay, but she couldn't find it within herself to just turn and leave either.

"Tobirama…" she murmured, her voice trailing off when he looked at her again. He looked just as lost as she felt. "Just…watch your back. Don't trust anyone. Not Madara, not Izuna. Not your brother."

"And what about you?" he asked, peering at her from over the rim of his glass.

She just smiled faintly, sadly. "You should already know by now not to trust me."

He smiled at that. His expression more woeful than amused.

Sakura took her leave after that, leaving Tobirama and his bottle of whiskey alone in that great, big suite. She took the elevator to the ground floor before she headed down the hall to the secondary lift that led to the parking garage.

It opened for her immediately and she slipped inside before pressing the button for the third-floor basement. She leaned her head back against the wall as the machine took her to her destination.

Even alone, she couldn't shake the weight in her chest. Disappointment, guilt, sorrow. They all bent and swirled together to make a hard knot just under her breastbone. Though, what they were doing or why they were there, she couldn't quite place.

Picking up her head again, Sakura slipped her phone out of her pocket to distract herself. Only to find she didn't have any new messages. Though, she couldn't entirely say she was expecting any. With Naruto dead and Ino under Shikamaru's watchful eye, Sakura was fairly certain that things would be quiet for a few days. The only new information to come would be of her own making.

Sighing, she pushed her phone back into her pocket just as the elevator reached her floor. The moment the doors slid open, she raised her gaze. Only to find herself face to face with Izuna.

Their eyes locked, a single moment of silence passing between them.

Then in one fluid motion, he stepped inside the lift, his broad shoulders blocking her in before he pulled the emergency switch. The doors slid closed behind him, the sound echoing loudly in her ears. The outside world suddenly felt miles away.

For nearly a full minute neither of them spoke. Sakura merely watched him, standing perfectly still even as her fingers itched to grab her gun.

"I haven't seen you in a while," Izuna finally said, his voice like spider web thread. Silky smooth and dangerously deceptive.

Sakura smiled, even as her instincts screamed at her to get out. "Did you miss me?"

His eyes narrowed dangerously. "You should count your lucky stars Hashirama still needs your services, otherwise I'd kill you right now."

"You're so hot when you talk dirty to me," she said, looking up at him through her lashes, the barest hint of a coy smile on her lips. Then she cocked her head thoughtfully before she raised her hand to brush the backs of her fingers along his cheekbone. "Though, I think you should be thanking me. You look much better after I broke your nose."

Izuna caught her hand, his fingers wrapping a little too tightly around her wrist as he wrenched her hand away. "I would tread more carefully if I were you. You might be fucking Tobirama, but that protection won't last forever. Hashirama will drop you. And I will be waiting for you the instant he does."

Sakura didn't bother correcting him. She simply smiled. "That's awfully chivalrous of you. Tell me, are you this sweet to all your girls or just me?"

His expression didn't change, but his fingers tightened around her wrist. It was only out of sheer will-power that she didn't flinch in pain. "One of these days, that pretty mouth of yours will get you in trouble."

"So you do think I'm pretty."

If possible, his expression darkened. Then suddenly he relaxed, his death grip on her softening until his thumb smoothed over the inside of her wrist like a lover's caress. But it brought her no comfort as something even more sinister and twisted began to curl in the corners of his mouth. A promise of cruel things to come.

"This won't be the last time we meet," he vowed.

Sakura's smile didn't waiver. "I look forward to it."

Then she reached around him with her other hand and flipped the emergency switch off. Izuna released her as the doors of his temporary cage opened, but he didn't move. Sakura slipped around him easily, moving like water around a rock.

She didn't look back as she walked away. Only once she heard the elevator close again did her smile fall into a more solemn expression. She didn't doubt Izuna had a bullet with her name on it. That he was waiting for the first opportunity to end the annoyance that she had been on his life. Sakura would just have to make sure that when the time came, she put one through him first.

to be continued...

Thank you everyone for the reviews - they were all wonderful! Hope you enjoy the coming chapters. As always, reviews are much appreciated and really help keep the motivation and muse flowing!

For those of you asking, my sailing adventure is going really well! We've had a couple of systems break, but the annoyance is well worth all the swimming and whale watching. We'll be heading back North into the Sea of Cortez in April. But for now, we're just hanging out, enjoying all the little harbors up and down the Pacific Coast. Thanks for your support and well wishes!