"How... how did it happen? I mean, he had Black Ops guarding him, he was tied down and his eyes were covered. How did this still happen?!" Iruka still hadn't moved from his spot on the floor, still holding the no longer crying Uchiha in his arms.
Tsunade sighed for what seemed like the thousandth time that day. "I don't know, no one does. I left after talking to him and when I went back about two hours later he was gone. All the guards were dead but nothing was damaged. It was like Itachi had just walked out and killed the guards when he got out of the cell." Tsunade stood up from her desk and looked Kakashi in the eye this time.
"I am forced to believe there's a traitor in the village."
Everyone went deathly still at this announcement, not wanting to believe it.
"Do you have any suspects? Anyone who may have visited the Uchiha or anyone who seemed particularly interested in him?" Kakashi's voice didn't sound like his own, more like a cold blooded killer whose home had just been destroyed.
"We're working on that now but I was hoping you or Sasuke would know, seeing as you both spent the most time with him."
"No I don~" Kakashi's response was cut short by the sound of the Uchiha's voice.
"Danzo."
Tsunade's eyes widened at the accusation, never expecting this. "What do you mean Danzo? He wouldn't dare. He's been trying to get position of Hokage for years so he wouldn't try something like that. Get evidence before you make accusations like that Uchiha!"
"I can't prove it now that Itachi is gone, but I can tell you my brother told me. We were sitting down to dinner the day before he went crazy and he told me a man named Danzo wouldn't leave him alone. Said he kept following him around asking questions and all that, said he wanted to help Itachi. Itachi told me that he said he didn't need help and then he teleported home. I'm guessing that's not what really happened."
"Dammit! Someone go get Danzo and bring him back here. And find out how the patrol and search is doing; I don't want that bastard getting away or bringing hell down onto this village!!" With the Hokage's orders, three puffs of smoke appeared and with it, three ANBU were gone from the room.
"I'm going to look for Itachi. I can't just sit here waiting for someone else to find, or not find him." Sasuke turned away from in front of the Hokage's desk and left the room, surprisingly uninterrupted. Feeling a hand grab his arm, Sasuke turned to attack the person trying to stop him but gasped when the person grabbed the fist coming towards him and pulled the Uchiha into his arms.
"You're not going alone idiot. We operate in three or four man cells here, not one. Tsunade-sama thinks you should be out looking for your brother, not here. So we're going with you and that's final."
Sasuke looked up at Neji, trying to ignore the strands of hair falling from Neji's head onto Sasuke's face. Looking past Neji, Sasuke could see Hinata standing there, looking away and looking very awkward. The Uchiha nodded and released himself from the strong Hyuga's grip.
"Let's go then."
Nothing more was said as the three took off towards the gates, full intentions of setting out with the very little gear they had. Standing in front of the gate for a moment, the three were about to start racing down the path, knowing the Hokage had sent everyone through the trees but no one down this way. But they couldn't leave just yet because standing in front of them was Iruka and Kakashi.
"Here." Between the two teacher's they held out three back packs filled with everything they would need, including two medical packs, two pairs of sandals and enough food to last a few days.
The three genin smiled gratefully, glad to have all the spare equipment. "Thanks sensei. Are you going to look for Itachi too?"
Kakashi shook his head slowly. "No. We're going to question Danzo and when we're finished we have to look for Kabuto."
Sasuke nodded slowly, thinking in his head about everything that happened. Turning slowly, he decided against voicing his worries. "We have enough supplies to last a few days so I won't be back before then."
Without saying another word, Sasuke started off down the path, both Hyuga's on either side of him. It was going to be a long search and keeping a wide chakra search and a Byakugan in use at all times was a great help.
Dammit Itachi! Where are you?
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"He's on his way now. We're following him with the remnants of the chakra tracker inside of his system."
"Very well. Make sure when we meet he will accept what you say and come with us. A body and talent like that cannot be wasted."
"I know. And he's the best chance we have of finally getting rid of Akatsuki."
"Yes. But most importantly, I want the power I know lies in the boy that he'll never get if he stays where he is. We need him so you better not fail!"
Kabuto bowed before disappearing in a puff of smoke, leaving a pair of yellow eyes glowing in the darkness of the hidden room, a snake like tongue sticking out and sliding across the snake master's lips.
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"Sasuke stop! I can't take it anymore. I'm tired and so is Hinata. We've been searching for hours on end. The sun has already gone down so let's set up camp for the night."
Sasuke was forced to stop running when he realised the two Hyuga's had stopped. Sighing in defeat he nodded and walked back towards the pair, following them until a suitable place to sleep was found. Not saying a word they set up the two tents that were in the backpacks.
"We sleep for now but we leave when the sun comes up. I don't want to waste time that could be spent looking for Itachi. We will also spread out more to cover a greater distance. I don't want to miss Itachi because we ran right past him because we were too close."
"We leave only if you're rested. There's no point in heading out and having to stop half way through the day because you either collapsed or because you're just too tired." Hinata looked at the Uchiha and Sasuke smirked at the fact that was exactly what Iruka would have said.
"Fine. Now let's eat before I do pass out. And both of you must be starving too."
Neji smiled as he watched Sasuke walk about. He sat down in front of the fire they had made and Hinata sat beside him, letting Sasuke do the cooking, not wanting to interrupt the Uchiha.
"What will we do Neji? We can't just keep going like this for days on end and Itachi's already gotten a head start. If we don't find him, what will we do?" Hinata looked into her cousin's eyes, her voice loud enough that Neji could hear, but quiet enough that Sasuke couldn't.
"I really don't know. We'll decide that when the time comes I suppose."
Hinata nodded and shifted away slightly, leaving just enough space between them for Sasuke to sit down. No one said another word, each in their own thoughts and listening to the sounds of the night and Sasuke moving about.
"Here. Eat up." Sasuke handed the food to the two Hyuga's in front of him before sitting down himself and eating.
When the trio had finished eating, they sat up talking lightly and avoided the topic of Itachi and the events that had taken place recently. When Sasuke stood up and walked off, the Hyugas said nothing but simply activated their Byakugan, watching him.
Sasuke walked through the forest and when he could just about see the flicker of the fire, he jumped into the trees and found one with a large branch for him to sit on and he could see the dark outline of the camp. Slumping against the tree with a sigh, he slid his hand into his pocket and gripped hard to the cool metal resting there. Shutting his eyes, he pulled the thing out of his pocket and stared at it as if it would talk to him; tell him where Itachi had gone.
You left your headband in the cell before you left, is that a sign to me or just a symbol of the traitor you are? Sudden anger built up inside of the raven and with cold, hurt eyes he dropped his head in defeat.
Pulling out a kunai with a shaky breath, he stuck it into the metal plate and slowly dragged it across the leaf symbol, his strength and anger breaking down with each jagged motion. When there was a line going right through the leaf symbol he dropped the kunai, letting it fall to the ground. With shaky hands, he clenched the Hitai-ate, a tear rolling down his cheek.
"Why do you keep doing this?" Sasuke spoke to the open air, pausing as if waiting for an answer. When he got none, he stood to his feet, grunting when his knee buckled and he almost fell off the branch. When he regained his balance, he stood on his feet and waited until he was sure he wouldn't fall again. Crouching slightly, he lifted one leg of his shorts revealing his thigh and looked at the Hitai-ate in his other hand. With what sounded like a strangled sob, he tied the material around his thigh, ensuring it wouldn't be seen through the shorts and it wouldn't fall off. Satisfied, he pulled the short leg back down and jumped from the tree, slowly making his way back to the camp with his hands thrust in his pockets.
When he saw the barely smouldering fire, he guessed the two Hyuga's decided to go to bed some time ago. Following suit, Sasuke went into the empty tent, suddenly wishing the Hyuga's had slept separately so he had someone to hold him in his sleep. Then a thought struck Sasuke; when had he become so clingy and needy?
"It's about time you got back."
Sasuke raised his head to look at Neji who had entered the tent and was now lying down beside the Uchiha.
"What are you doing in here? I thought you were staying with Hinata."
"No. I told her I'd stay with her until she fell asleep but I was still coming back into you when you returned. She's a girl, she needs her privacy."
Sasuke smiled softly and shifted his body closer to the Hyuga's, closing his eyes softly when he felt arms wrap around him and an almost growl in his ear.
"What the hell is that?" Neji's eyebrows were raised and Sasuke looked up at him, feeling Neji poke his knee at the Hitai-ate wrapped around Sasuke's thigh.
"It's uhm... nothing."
"Sasuke if you won't tell me I'll check. You're not injured are you?"
"No it's not like that." Sasuke sighed softly and reached down, pulling off the headband. Bringing it up, he looked down at it making sure Neji could see it too.
"Sasuke..." Neji reached down, rubbing his fingers along the traitor's mark. "So this is what you were doing in that tree..." Neji's voice came out softly and caring, and Sasuke couldn't help but pull them closer together.
"You were spying on me?"
"I was keeping an eye on you. Besides you weren't concentrating on your surroundings, you could have easily been attacked and I couldn't let that happen."
"Thanks Neji..." Sasuke brought his lips to the older's, showing his appreciation. "You know Neji, you've changed a lot lately." Sasuke smiled at the older, showing he didn't mean it in a bad way.
"You've changed quite a bit yourself. Now out of curiosity, how have I changed?"
Sasuke brought his hands to Neji's face, tucking the strands of hair which had fallen from the hair tie to behind the Hyuga's ear. "Well... when you first decided you wanted to go out with me, you wanted to for the physical reasons. I mean come on Neji, you made out with me against my door, in the middle of the night and against my own free will. Now, here we are lying in each other's arms and nothing else matters. You've changed, and you've changed me."
Neji smiled down at the younger, knowing he was right; they had both lost the cold bluntness everyone associated them with, especially around each other. Their lips met once again, each letting their now experienced emotions flow through with each quickening breath and every movement of touching flesh and muscle.
Neji held Sasuke tightly against himself, not wanting to lose any of that precious heat growing between them. He ran his tongue slowly along the Uchiha's lip, telling him what he wanted. Sasuke gladly parted his lips, moaning quietly when Neji's tongue rubbed against his own. He moved so he was now lying over Neji, his hands on both sides of the Hyuga's head, his mouth never leaving Neji's as he explored the moist cavern knowingly.
When he returned that blissful pressure against Neji's tongue as they fought for dominance, the Hyuga arched his back into the Uchiha, bringing them closer again.
A loud gasp coming from neither males had them parted, still and silent for a few moments before realising it was Hinata. Sasuke made the first move seeing as he was on top of the Hyuga and jumped up, running the short gap towards Hinata's tent closely followed by Neji.
"Dammit. I thought Sasuke was in here not you. If you want to live, you bett~"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Before anything more could be said or done, Neji threw himself at the intruder, both falling to the floor and narrowly missing Hinata. While the two bodies on the floor scrambled about in what could only be describes as a mangle of limbs, Sasuke grabbed Hinata's hand and pulled her out before grabbing a hold on Neji and doing the same.
"Ah Sasuke there you are."
"Kabuto? What're you doing here?!"
"What do you think? To talk to you of course. I never got a chance last time because of you throwing a fit over your shoulder. How is that by the way?" The growl Sasuke gave in response to the medic ninja's dark smirk brought a smile to his face.
"Still sour about that I see. Well it's not my fault. You see I had to put a certain type of jutsu-infused chakra into your system so we could track you and for it to be set I needed to put it right into you. I know I'm not supposed to put chakra from a non-pure blood family into a pure blood's system, but it needed to be done. As for the pain in your shoulder, that was because I wanted to hear you scream."
Sasuke grit his teeth, glaring coldly at the man in front of him and standing protectively in front of Hinata. "What did you want to talk about? I was kind of busy before you interrupted."
"I think you were getting busy, not busy Sasuke. There's a big difference and you'll learn that soon enough."
"Are you done talking or do I have to wait before I kill you?" Sasuke was beginning to get impatient and he just wanted to get his anger out one way or another.
"You can't kill me Sasuke. If anything, you'll want to come with me by the time I'm finished talking with you."
"I don't want to go anywhere near you! I just want you dead!"
"Oh? But what if I could help you?"
"You can't help me."
"No...I can't. But Orochimaru-sama can. Train under him and you will become stronger than you could ever imagine, stronger than your brother. We're keeping tabs on the Akatsuki so it shouldn't be too much trouble to find Itachi."
Sasuke stayed silent, thinking over what he'd just been told in shock. When he felt a hand poke at his back, he turned his head to see Hinata shaking her head and Neji simply looking at him.
"I... I can't... I can't betray the village."
"The village can't make you as strong as you can be Sasuke."
"The three strongest shinobi in the world came from the Leaf village!"
"And the strongest shinobi in the world is offering to take you in and train you properly."
Sasuke looked at Kabuto, then back at the Hyuga's. "How do you know where Itachi is?"
"Orochimaru was in the Akatsuki once so it wasn't too hard to find and follow them. Since Itachi is in the Akatsuki, he'll be found soon."
Sasuke let this information process in his brain, wondering what to think. "Just bring me to Itachi. I won't ask anything more of you; I'm able to defeat him without that creeps help." Sasuke ignored the glare Kabuto gave him.
"That's not how it works. You have to train under Orochimaru to find Itachi; we need to know we can trust you to some extent."
"If I train with Orochimaru, when would we meet to train? I'd need to do it when anyone other than Neji and Hinata wouldn't notice I was gone."
Kabuto's laugh sent shivers down Sasuke's spine. "You won't need to sneak out of the village Uchiha; you'll be staying with us."
Sasuke paused again, considering this. "If I did go with you... how would I know it wasn't just a trap? How do I know I won't be killed as soon as I'm out of sight?"
"You don't. You have to believe me and even if you don't come with me now, you'll eventually come seeking the power Lord Orochimaru offers. So what'll it be?"
"I... I..."
"He's not going with you. Sasuke isn't like Orochimaru or Itachi. Sasuke won't betray the village!" Neji took a step forward and took his stance, ready to fight the medic ninja even if Sasuke wasn't.
"I didn't ask you Neji so stay out of it!" Kabuto made the first move since Neji had brought him to the floor, running with chakra infused fists towards him. Instead of it hitting the Hyuga and knocking him back a few feet, Kabuto saw a flash of black and suddenly a hand was on his wrist.
"You will not harm him. Or Hinata. You either leave now or you~" Kabuto snatched his wrists free and lashed out at the Uchiha, aiming to knock out the raven. After a few minutes of this combat, Sasuke made a mistake and Kabuto took this opportunity to hit him and succeeded in knocking him out.
Before the Uchiha had a chance to hit the ground, Neji was by his side and had caught him, now holding the limp body with one arm, the other ready to block any incoming attacks.
"Hinata, can you take him?"
The girl took her fighting stance, her own unique stance. "Hai!"
Kabuto sighed audibly and pushed his glasses up his nose in annoyance. "You three are very annoying and as much as I regret to say so, Sasuke will never come with you two around." Without another word, Kabuto vanished.
"Neji, is Sasuke okay?" Hinata stood where she was for a few moments, knowing Kabuto might have only teleported a few feet away to make it look like he left completly.
Neji looked at the Uchiha he was holding and failed to see the boy moving. Furrowing his eyebrows in frustration, he lowered them to the ground and checked the raven.
"shit!"
"What's wrong Neji?!"
He's cold and it's his pulse... It's weak and just barley there. Neither of us have the right medical training to heal him."
"Then let's go back to the village, it's only a few hours away!"
"Hinata... I'm not sure if he can go anywhere like that. Too much quick movement could give him a heart attack and kill him. On the other hand, I'm not sure if he'd make it if we waited for help."
Hinata stared at her cousin, searching for any indication he wasn't serious. "What will we do?"
"I want you to go back to the village and get help. You need to run as fast as you can, channel chakra into your feet so you can go faster and don't stop for anything. I don't care if you're hungry or if you're tired, don't stop! If anyone tries to attack you, dodge and run. It doesn't matter if they follow you because of the patrol around the village."
"Hai! I'll be back!"
"No. Hinata you'll be too tired when you get there, stay at home and rest."
Hinata stared at Neji for a few moments before deciding not to argue. "Okay!"
"Don't do anything reckless!" Neji stood up, Sasuke in his arms. "I'm going back to where we set up camp. Go now."
Hinata nodded and took off, smiling when she heard Neji's voice calling to her from the newly grown distance.
"Be careful Hinata, don't get yourself killed.
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And that's it ^-^ Hope you all like this (very late) chapter of FF
TBC.
