Day Four

Sakura woke up to find herself in a pitch black cave. She pulled herself together to a sitting position and rubbed her head. She took a look of her surroundings and found all the Akatsuki members staring down at her. Hm, never was in this kind of situation before.

"I see you woke up, Haruno-san." A weird red-haired guy was standing in front of her, his face had piercings all over.

Sakura stood up, "I know you are," She said. "You're a freakin' stalker!" All the other Akatsuki members sweat dropped while the leader had a vein pop on his head.

"Anyway, let's begin. He jumped into the air and landed on a stone finger. When Sakura turned around she found herself in the middle of two hands. (Think of when Gaara was captured and got taken to that creepy statue.)

"What are you doing," She asked, slowly getting up to a fighting stance. "And why would you kidnap me?"

"Now, now, we need your cooperation, Haruno-san." The leader said, trying to smile even though he was twitching from the anger of being called a stalker. To show her anger she…slapped Pein. The leader of the Akatsuki. Pein seemed stunned for a moment but then grinned.

"You're very feisty. Unlike any other prisoner who ever came here. They all became quiet from fear, yet you defy me. When I'm the person who decides whether you live or die." Pein leapt back on to his spot on a finger.

"Everyone focus your chakra into the stone so that the demons' power goes into the girl." He commanded.

Sakura's eyes widened. Demons. Demons were going to be a part of here. They were only using her as a toy, and a powerful toy.

Sakura was about to perform a jutsu to get herself out of this mess, when she felt something evil, flowing through her. She fell down, screaming in agony.

---***--- Hokage Tower

"You know you should be grateful that I'm allowing you on this mission," Naruto began. "I consider anybody who abandons their comrades scum."

Sasuke remained silent, staring down at the cold, hard floor. His shame clouding his face.

"And I thought that even you would obey that one ninja rule. I guess I was wrong." Naruto said, sighing.

"Shut up. I regret what I did. But those Akatsuki didn't want to kill us because they were in their way. No. They came at us for a reason. If the two of got caught, we would most likely be hostages right now." Sasuke explained, his black eyes showing sorrow.

"You can get a chance to redeem yourself during this rescue mission. Bring Ino for medical assistance, Neji because of his Byakugan, Kiba to find Sakura-chan, and Lee for…..motivational support, and TenTen for her weapons." Naruto said, struggling to find a reason that Lee needed to be on the team. "Bring them here so they know what their part is in the mission."

---***---During The Mission…..

Everyone was silently following Kiba and Akamaru through the forest, to search for the now missing Sakura. Everyone was silent of course because of their missing friend that might possibly, be dead.

The silence continued, no one daring to talk. For once, Sasuke hated the silence, especially when there was Ino on the mission. She would usually start talking right away, nonstop about something random.

Four hours pass, still the same silence hung in the air. Finally, Neji bravely said something. "There's strong people with huge amounts of chakra up ahead." It wasn't much, but at least he made an effort. Everyone stopped.

"So what's the plan to save the beloved Sakura!" Lee asked, trying to raise everyone's glum spirits' up.

---***---

"Itachi, erase her memories now." Pein commanded Itachi.

Itachi stood still, not moving, but he was straining his Mangekyou Sharingan. After a few awkward moments, he closed his eyes, and muttered, "Finished."

"Love your new power, Haruno-san?"

---***---

"We're here." Neji said, disrupting everyone's thoughts about their lost friend. Everyone stopped in front of a dark cave, filled with nothing but darkness. Then, footsteps echoed toward the ninjas. Everyone got into their fighting stance, ready for action.

Then, someone stepped out. (I'm so dramatic. ^.^) Sasuke's head felt dizzy. What happened to you, Sakura?

"Die, Uchiha."

---***---

DRAMATIC MUSIC. IT'S A CLIFFHANGER!

Review PLEASE.