[Sakura]
My heart was racing so fast that I could barely breathe as I ran past the Akatsuki members who were passed out on the sofa. I daren't look behind myself in case someone was hot on my trail.
"Shiiiiit..." I sung quietly to myself as I tried to navigate my way through the hideout. However, no matter what hallway I walked down, I never seemed to reach the front door.
"Sakura." A deep male voice hummed from behind me. I slowed my pace down to briefly glance behind myself. Sasuke was effortlessly catching up to me.
'Why didn't I take Lee up on his offer for speed enhancement training?!' I thought to myself as I quickly spun on the spot while rearing my fist back.
Sasuke was only a few steps away from me. I hurried to force my fist into the wall to my right but before I could make contact with the wall, Sasuke tackled me harshly to the ground. I involuntarily coughed as my back squarely hit the ground beneath me. Although, it only took me a few seconds to regain my composure. I moved my left fist to punch Sasuke but he merely pinned my arms down with his knees. I felt quite awkward as I looked up at his face.
"W-What do you want Sasuke..?" I questioned before he could speak.
"Why are you with the Akatsuki?" He responded, looking down at me with a mockingly cold stare. I can't believe Itachi made Sasuke this way.
"I don't know." I lied. What use is it telling Sasuke about the herb...He'll use me the same way Itachi did...
"Don't lie to me." Sasuke growled as he hovered his head towards my face. I nervously gulp while trying to think of a way out of my current position.
Before I could make up another excuse, an explosive tag attached to a kunai flew past Sasuke's head. I noticed that the tag was painted blue rather than red. That's a strong explosive. I struggled against Sasuke's hold but he swiftly stood up and threw me in the same direction as the explosive kunai landed.
"Urgh!" I grunted in panic as I frantically looked around for an item to substitute...but there was nothing.
'I'm seriously going to die here...' I thought as the explosive tag was seconds away from exploding. I braced myself by closing my eyes as I neared the wall.
The explosion triggered with an enormous bang and the ground below shook and rumbled beneath me. I didn't feel any pain...not even the heat of a fire. I cautiously opened my eyes to see that Itachi had shielded me from the explosion...However his face and arms were completely deformed and burnt.
"Ew..." I cried slightly as I took in the view.
"Why in the hell would you sacrifice your life for this girl?!" Sasuke hysterically laughed. I paid no attention to him as I looked at Itachi in awe. The burns on his skin were rapidly healing...The herbs I have really do hold the key to immortality. I definitely would have died if that explosion so much as touched me.
"Why?" Itachi chuckled while standing up. "Don't misunderstand. I care not for her life." Itachi answered. I tried to stand up too but Itachi had forced one hand on my head. "I'm immortal now. Sasuke. You'll never get your revenge now that Sakura helped me gain an infinite life."
My eyes widened.
'Sasuke is going to despise me! I don't want that!' my eyes met with Sasuke's own...And his expression was like none I had ever seen before. I really think that he hates me right now.
"What's all the fuss about?" Sasuke's comrade had entered the scene.
"We need to regroup and reform." Sasuke muttered darkly, venom dripping from his tone.
Within seconds Sasuke disappeared, along with his comrade.
"He...Sasuke." I muttered weakly. "Sasuke hates me and it's all your fault!" I lashed out at Itachi while trying to stand up. However, his hand kept me in place.
"You made Sasuke hate you the moment you got yourself caught." Itachi retorted before removing his hand from my head. "I don't like going back on my word...However, I don't want to disappoint Pein. So I'm only going to say this once." Itachi continued as he walked past me. "Left, left, right, forward left, through the door. Bird, Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare. You have half an hour before the organisation find you and torture you to release the barrier you have on your pouch. The next time we met, you'll be dead and we will all be immortal...Good luck." Itachi finished while continuing to walk ahead. I stood up and spun around on the spot before darting to the left. It took a short while before I had to take another left. I headed right, forwards and left like Itachi had instructed before I went through the metal doors.
I was actually outside! I could see the great Naruto bridge. I could feel that there were multiple barriers surrounding the complex, so I rushed to perform the handsigns that Itachi told me to.
"bird, rat, ox, tiger, hare..." I quietly muttered habitually. I braced myself for a bit of pain as I passed the barrier. The pain never came.
I was filled with a feeling of joy as I sped towards the bridge that connected the land of waves to the land of fire.
"I better disguise myself...but as who..?" I muttered as a selection of Shinobi raced through my head. "I'll disguise myself as him...That way, I'll gain the leaf villages attention as quickly as possible, even if I'm a few miles out." I performed the disguising jutsu and swiftly transformed into Sasori's real body.
Half an hour later, I was halfway from the fire border to the village. There should be some ANBU Shinobi on patrol near the areas I pass. Although, I didn't seem to bump into anyone.
"Hey!" I shouted loud in panic, trying to grab someone's attention. I was scared for my life while heading closer towards the village.
I'm only fifteen minutes away...I need to make it back to the village.
"Hey you! Sasori of the red sand!" I turned my head to the noise and saw Jiraiya fast approaching me with a fierce rasengan spinning rapidly in his hand.
"Wait...Jiraiya!" I said while trying to deactivate the jutsu, but I couldn't move a muscle for some reason.
"You're not going anywhere!" Shikamaru stated. His shadow possession held me firmly in place.
"No...Wait! You're really gonna kill me if that hits!" My voice whimpered weakly as I tried my hardest to overcome Shikamaru's shadow possession.
Neither of the two men were listening to me.
"Rasengan!" Jiraiya shouted as he hit me with the jutsu. I shut my eyes as an excruciating pain entered my stomach, causing my jutsu to release itself, I started to collapse on the ground as Shikamaru released his jutsu.
"Sakura?!" Jiraiya looked mortified as he picked up my limp body. "Why...Why disguise..?" He stuttered as I shook my head.
"Just...Quick." I started before my whole body tensed at the prickling pain. "Hurry. Village. Now." I ordered bluntly. Jiraiya wasted no time as he darted towards the village. Shikamaru raced to Jiraiya's side and looked down at me.
"What in the world possessed you to disguise yourself as a member of the Akatsuki?" Shikamaru questioned. I tried to answer him but I was overcome by a coughing fit. I could taste blood and I could feel something thick dropping down from my nose and mouth. "Actually, don't talk..." Shikamaru stated.
I went to look down at my stomach and I could practically see a whole going through my body...I will definitely bleed out before I ever reached the village...I really don't want to become immortal. But I want to stay alive for longer.
"Ugh..." I panicked. "Boiled water?" I questioned while looking at Shikamaru. He looked down at me with confused eyes. "Please...Stop running. Find a safe place." I continued to say as I felt dizzy momentarily.
"Jiraiya, we'll head back to the cabin Yamato and Naruto are in. It's a few metres from here. Hurry." Shikamaru understood what I was trying to say...Or I hope he does.
"She needs a hospital."
"No...Naruto." I muttered. Jiraiya looked at me briefly before handing me to Shikamaru.
"I'm going ahead to report to Tsunade." Jiraiya said before speeding off. It took Shikamaru mere seconds to reach Yamato's cabin. I had to fight extremely hard for my consciousness as my pain turned into a welcoming numbing sensation.
"Boiled water, now!" Shikamaru spoke for me as I heard a few shuffles.
"S-Sakura?! What happened?" I heard Naruto's voice shout. Shikamaru swiftly, but delicately laid me down on the wooden floor.
"I'll tell you in a moment." Shikamaru answered.
"But Sakura-!" Naruto cried.
"What's next?" Shikamaru's stern face focused on my lips. He's so smart. To think he's assuming I'm not strong enough to produce a sound as I speak...
"My pouch. The herbs." I slowly spoke. Shikamaru removed my pouch tried to open it, however I heard a soft sizzling sound as the barrier gave him a small burn. I tried to raise my hand but I grunted as pain shot through my body.
"Naruto. Chakra. My hand..." I tried to speak further but my voice was fading.
"Lead her hand onto the pouch and lend her some of your chakra." Shikamaru spoke out for me. Naruto wasted no time to comply as I felt a jolt of energy hit my body.
"The water is boiled." Yamato stated. I didn't even notice him boil the water, I tried to focus on Yamato but my vision was slowly fading out.
"Sakura. The barrier." Shikamaru snapped my attention back onto him. I exerted a small amount of Chakra into the pouch and it opened automatically. Shikamaru rummaged around the pouch before lifting up a vial of herbs.
"This one?" He questioned. I weakly nodded before I painfully turned my head to Yamato.
"Herb...Water." My voice barely whispered. Shikamaru took the water from Yamato and I assume he put the herbs in as he lifted my body up with one of his arms and used his other hand to help me drink the medicine.
Within seconds I was greedily drinking the rest of the water without Shikamaru's help. Suddenly, a huge amount of energy hit my body. I was overwhelmed with feelings of pleasure as my vision returned to normal...in fact, it was like my vision had been enhanced.
"Whoa..." I stated shakily as all my senses unexpectedly felt enhanced. "How many leafs did you put in there, Shikamaru?" I questioned. Shikamaru's face slowly un-tensed as he looked from me to the vial. I looked down and noticed that it was empty.
"Oh no..." I stated as I looked down at my hands. My skin looked super smooth and it seemed to really glow. "That was 9 portions in there..."
"Sakura! Your stomach!" Naruto exclaimed as he intensely stared at my stomach. I looked down too and I saw that it was rapidly starting to heal.
"So it's true, the herbs you found really does hold the key to immortality." Yamato said. Silence invaded the cabin, surrounding the place with an eerie sensation.
I nodded before a sudden realisation hit me.
"Sai!" I said aloud as I stood steadily on my feet. "We...We need to get to him right now!" I darted out of the cabin. I felt no kind of effort as I raced through the forest. I can't believe I forgot about the pound of detonating clay inside him.
A/N: I haven't double checked this chapter but I don't want to delay the update any longer :3 hope you enjoy!