Retribution

Chapter 13

She was left lying on the ground, weak and barely conscious for hours and she couldn't recall anyone coming in there but she couldn't be sure she would have even noticed them. The water dripping was her only way of noticing the passage of time though she wouldn't have been able to even count the number of drips if she wanted too. Then suddenly there were sandaled feet in front of her and the ball was removed from her sights. The slight hope that was building up in her was squashed when she caught sight of Kabuto and the look of victory in his eyes as she was dragged away.

It must have been nearing midnight when Itachi was handed a few soldier pills and he noticed the group of ninja that Tsunade insisted go with him. She wanted to help him as much as possible in his quest to retrieve the woman he loves. He recognized all of them; after all it was team 7 that she felt would be best for this. Another poof and Kakashi showed up, he could see the surprise in his one onyx eye when he noticed him.

Tsunade walked around her desk and addressed the newcomers, "Listen up! Sai, Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi, you will be joining Itachi, Sasuke, and Shikamaru to retrieve the priestess Kagome from Kabuto. Naruto, you are able to sense chakra at a much greater distance when you are in Nine-Tails mode, I am hoping you prepared once you were given my orders?"

"Yes granny," simultaneously he was punched right in the face by Tsunade and in the stomach by Sakura. "Oww you guys! Did you have to punch me so hard?" He whined as the two women just glared.

Addressing them once more, "It would be in everyone's best interest to have Kabuto terminated. They can inform you on all of the details on your way to the first possible location, you have your orders now go!" They all 'poof' out of her office and she sighed, sitting back at her desk. She hoped that everything would be taken care of in one single mission; it was hard to think on what Kabuto might do to her.

Tree after tree, the sound of them traveling through the branches was all that greeted them. Itachi was at the head of the group with Sasuke right behind him since they knew where they battled Kabuto last. Shikamaru had been the one to fill them in on everything even though he found it bothersome. It was better than seeing if Itachi would lose his patience, he could tell the shinobi didn't want to wait for a team to assemble in the first place. It was understandable; Kabuto's threat and lack of time frame would have anyone feeling the pressure.

Far off in the cave Kagome woke to being strapped down to a table. She barely recalled the events that took place prior to her passing out. She blearily tried to see her surroundings and with much trepidation look at what state her body might be in. It was clear to her that Kabuto had prepared ahead of time for what all he wanted to test and do with her. Barely able to lift her neck she could only see that her veins were bulging out and that her heart was beating faster than normal for just coming out of her unconscious state.

Remembering her struggle as they dragged her into the lab and were hauling her onto the metal table she cringed. Her thrashing around did nothing and her movements were sluggish compared to the shinobi that were strapping her down. She could see Kabuto mixing different liquids and filling up a long needle with a clear orange liquid before holding it up and tapping the side to get rid of any air bubbles.

Her struggles had increased but it was fruitless as she felt the bindings tightened until her movement was severely restricted. Kabuto's face came directly into her view as he stood at the table and looked down at her, the lights reflected on his glasses and the needle squirting just a little bit before he shoved it straight down into her lower abdomen, the initial sting and burn were nothing compared to the fire that raced through her veins. All she could do was scream.