Chapter 3
Back to Square One
Itachi stared at the woman sitting on the bed in front of him. She was mostly unclothed, wearing only a thin sleeping robe. It seemed as if she had just begun changing into it, because it wasn't tied yet, and the front was peeking open slightly, and it threatened to hang off of one shoulder.
"Sakura." He nodded back at her, pretending indifference.
"What are you doing?" He could see the tears still glistening in her eyes.
There are two kinds of women: the kind who look good when they cry, the other kind that don't. The ones that don't, well they have red splotches on their face, their eyes puff up, and their noses become stuffy or run.
Yet some women look breathtaking when they cry. Their tears glisten in the light, their faces take on such a sad expression it's almost physically painful, and their beauty seems to be magnified.
Sakura was one of the latter.
Something in the pit of his stomach stirred at the sight. It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to be in this close of a vicinity with a woman.
Especially a half clad woman.
In fact, the only woman he had been close to lately was Sakura herself.
Itachi confidently walked over to where she sat. He sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for her to collect herself. Why he did this he didn't know. He noticed the scroll hanging open on the edge of the bed.
I suppose it is a bit more interesting than she let on.
She took a small tissue from the table, wiping her eyes with it. She tried to forget who was sitting next to her.
"What are you doing?" That seemed to be the only thing she could say.
"Why are you crying?" There's no point to it.
Sakura stared at him incredulously. "Why?" She whispered hoarsely. Why? Because everything I know is gone now, Itachi! Sakura screamed silently.
Because everything I have ever wanted is gone now. I can never get it back. I'm here with you and I don't know why! I don't know why I chose to stay with you, I don't even know why I— Sakura stopped herself. Why I what?
"What are you doing here?" It was the first thing that came to her mind. He had better answer this time.
Itachi watched her out of the corner of his eye. She pulled her robe tighter around her body, blocking it from his gaze.
"Well?"
"What is that?" Itachi's eyes narrowed as he saw the little puppy baring his teeth in a silent snarl, crouched down to attack him.
"Answer my question first." Sakura snapped.
"You cannot give me orders, Sakura."
Sakura bit her lip in frustration. Of course I can't, you're Uchiha Itachi. Sorry I forgot. She thought sarcastically, feeling more desperate tears fill her eyes.
"It's a puppy."
"I knew that."
"Then why did you ask?" Sakura bit out. She didn't even try to soften her tone. Why did she always seem to get angry when she talked with Itachi?
"Have you decided?"
Sakura blinked. Why does he keep asking me questions? He should be answering MINE! Naruto continued to growl silently at Itachi, his tail tucked between his legs as he did so.
"Decided what?"
Itachi very narrowly avoided the urge to sigh in annoyance. She was avoiding his questions as much as he was avoiding hers. This conversation won't last long.
"Are you joining the Akatsuki?"
Sakura didn't look at him as she fiddled with the collar of her robe. Her eyes were hidden beneath her bangs as she looked at the ground. She began to memorize the swirling patterns the wooden floor made as she tried to think of an answer.
Can I?
I don't know.
Should I?
That's a good question.
Will I?
…?
"Does it matter?" Sakura whispered. "Does it really matter so much to you if I join the Akatsuki or not? I won't be paired with you, so you won't have to worry about seeing me except for when I heal your eyes."
Itachi's eyes narrowed as he watched her. She still wouldn't look up at him. He didn't want to admit it, but it did matter. And just for that reason.
If she was in a different team than himself…on Deidara's team… His eyes narrowed even more. I think not.
"Hn."
Sakura gave a small sigh. "Is that the only reason you came in here? To ask me if I am joining the Akatsuki?" Please let there be another reason…please…
"I want to see the scroll."
Sakura's stomach plummeted. Dear god! He wants the scroll, what do I tell him?! She began fumbling with an excuse to tell him, when he reached across her line of sight to grab the scroll from the table.
Her breath froze in her chest.
Before Itachi's hand reached the scroll however, he jerked backwards slightly. Sakura blinked, turning to look to see what had happened.
Naruto was latched onto Itachi's arm, his little teeth digging into the raw, new skin that Sakura had just healed. Sakura inwardly winced. That must have hurt.
Itachi's eyes narrowed, a small frown curling on his lips as he shook the puppy off of him. It flew across the room, smashing into the wall opposite the bed.
"Naruto!" Sakura gasped out as she rushed forward.
Naruto? Itachi thought.
The dust settled and Sakura let out a small cry. The little clay puppy lay shattered on the ground, clay dust pouring across the floor. Her hands shook as she picked up the only still intact piece of him, a small paw.
She bit her lip to keep from crying.
Naruto…She sniffled, her tears hitting the dry clay dust and wetting it. I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have done that. That was foolish. You should have just run away instead of trying to protect me.
You're just like the real Naruto, trying to help people even if you get hurt in the process.
"How could you do that, Itachi?" Sakura bit out, glaring at him. "What gave you the right to do that?"
Itachi stood. "Let me see the scroll." It was just a clay dog.
"Just take it and go!" Sakura yelled out, picking up the fragments of Naruto in her hands, feeling the dry clay crumble and sift through her fingers. "Just go!"
Itachi snorted as he grabbed the scroll, though he merely stayed where he was. He watched her shoulders shake as she mourned over the little clay puppy.
A stupid gift from Deidara. Itachi's eyes narrowed. How pitiful.
This just shows how weak you are, Sakura.
No Akatsuki member would cry over something like that.
Then Itachi opened the door and walked out, leaving Sakura alone, just like before.
Sakura swept up Naruto's broken pieces, placing them in a small bowl she found inside of her desk. The only piece she kept out was his little paw. She held it in her palm, rubbing it with her thumb as her tears dotted the floor.
Alone again.
Just like before. Am I always going to be alone?
Sakura's eyes narrowed as she gritted her teeth.
Jealous bastard. She cursed Itachi. You just couldn't let me be happy, could you? Of course not, because it was Deidara who made me happy, not you. Is that it?
You never cared before, why now?
Sakura's fingers shook as she placed the bowl in her chest with her other things, carefully wrapping a piece of cloth over it to keep it from spilling. I won't forget you, Naruto. You made me happy, even if it was for only a few days.
Thank you.
She took out a leather string from her pack, tying one end around the little clay paw to hold it in place as she tied it around her neck like an amulet. She touched it with a small, sad smile.
I won't forget you.
She walked over to her little writing desk, unrolling an empty scroll and dipping her brush in ink. She didn't know why, but she began writing, just to get it all out.
Dear Naruto,
How is everyone in Konoha? I suppose nothing has really changed since I left, but I thought I should ask.
Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes.
I guess I'm just writing to say hello. Weird, I know. I guess it seems strange to be getting a letter from me. It feels strange writing it. I miss all of you.
I wanted to tell you about a special little friend I met. He was a little puppy that was given to me as a gift. I named him Naruto, because you two looked so much alike. Sorry about that Naruto, I couldn't resist. He reminded me of you and everyone else in Konoha. Friendly and welcoming. I loved him, he was so adorable!
Sakura saw her tears dot the scroll.
But good things don't last forever. Little Naruto isn't here any longer. I miss him, and it makes me miss you even more.
I feel as if maybe, just maybe, I could go back to Konoha and then everything would be like it used to be. We'd all be friends again.
Maybe I could become a Jônin sensei someday, like Kakashi-sensei. Wouldn't that be interesting?
But it will never be like that again.
Sakura closed her eyes, letting the small wave of despair wash over her.
I can't change what happened, or the decisions I made. I don't think I would change them, even if I could. I made them for a reason, even if I don't know what that reason is.
I can't go back and pretend everything is fine. I want you to know, however, that I will never forget you or the others.
I can't forget the things I love.
Sakura blinked as she stared down at the paper. She didn't even know why she had written it. She hastily rolled the scroll up, shoving it into one of the drawers. She felt strangely relieved.
Maybe writing that was all she had needed.
I never want to forget. Forgetting is for the weak. Itachi was wrong. He says I'm weak…but it takes a strong person to remember and accept everything, good and bad.
Sakura gave a small smile, a weak smile, as she stood.
I am strong, Itachi.
Itachi was the only person who knew why Sakura was so quiet and subdued when she walked into the kitchen in the morning. Deidara looked at her worriedly, and his eyes looked down at her feet, expecting to see little Naruto running between them, almost tripping her like he always did.
But there was no little Naruto.
Sakura slowly sat down between Kisame and Deidara, giving everyone in the room—minus Itachi, Kakuzu, and Hidan—a welcoming, small smile.
"Good morning."
"Hey kitten." Kisame grinned at her. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"I'm sure she's feeling better than you look, yeah." Deidara joked, commenting on the small icepack on Kisame's forehead. The hangover wasn't gone yet.
Sakura gave a small sigh as she shook her head, taking the icepack off of Kisame and placing her fingers on his temples. "If you didn't drink so much, neither of us would have to go through this every morning, Kisame." She began soothing the pain as she frowned at him.
"Awe, you know you like it kitten." Kisame smirked. "What other time do you get to feel me up?"
Sakura rolled her eyes as Hidan and Kakuzu snorted, while Deidara stuttered something out that sounded like disapproval. Sasori gave a small sigh.
Itachi merely took a sip of his tea.
"Well then, kunoichi, have you made your decision?" Hidan asked irritably.
Someone isn't a morning person. Sakura thought wryly. And is it back to kunoichi? I got tired enough of that name when Kisame called me that. I'm almost tempted to ask them to call me kitten.
"She doesn't have to answer yet, yeah." Deidara put in.
Sakura smiled to herself. There you go again Deidara, protecting me. I may not be Akatsuki level, but I am still strong. As much as I appreciate it, I can do this on my own. I have to do this one my own.
"It's alright, Deidara. I've thought it over and I've made my decision." Sakura whispered with a smile.
Deidara swallowed. What did she choose?
"Well?" Kakuzu snapped.
"I've never had a problem with healing any of you." Sakura motioned to Sasori, Deidara, Itachi, and Kisame. "And I know I wouldn't mind doing so in the future. If your Leader ever needed me to heal one of the Akatsuki, I suppose I would feel obligated to do so. And I wouldn't mind helping you to gather information, or in simple missions."
But? Deidara asked frantically. What did you choose, Sakura?
"But so long as the Akatsuki are still hunting the Jinchuuriki like the Kyuubi in Naruto Uzumaki, then I cannot join you." Sakura finished softly.
Deidara stared at her, strangely relieved. Way to go, kitten.
Itachi took another sip of his tea. I knew it.
Sasori raised one eyebrow. I suppose I should have seen this coming.
Kakuzu and Hidan's eyes narrowed. She just made a big mistake.
Kisame blinked, staring at her stupidly. WHAT!?
"Are you sure?" Sasori asked.
Sakura nodded. "I'm sorry. I just can't…I can't…" I can't go back on my shinobi way, to protect the people closest to me. That also means Naruto.
"I can't kill innocents."
Thank god, yeah. Deidara smiled. "That's alright, Sakura-chan."
Hidan cut in. "Then you are of no use to us."
"That's not true."
Everyone turned to Itachi, surprised at his intervention.
"She can heal."
Kisame nodded, rubbing his head in confusion. "Hai. Kitten already said she'd still do that." He gave a lopsided grin. "I guess she's technically almost a member of the Akatsuki."
Hidan grunted as he and Kakuzu nodded slowly.
"Although I do not agree with your decision, Haruno-san, I suppose I can understand it." Sasori nodded. Although I have no idea how I am going to explain this to Leader.
"Thank you, Sasori-san." Sakura nodded. "I'm sorry if I disappointed you."
Quite the opposite, Sakura-chan. Deidara couldn't help but grin stupidly as he slung and arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry about it, kitten."
"Kitten?" Kisame's eyes narrowed. "That's my name for her, Deidara."
Deidara frowned slightly, "It's not my fault it fits her so well. You can share, yeah."
"I'm selfish. I hate sharing." Kisame argued.
And just like that, it was over.
Sakura blinked, not really believing it. She had just denied a position in the leading shinobi organization of the world…and it was ok. No one was angry with her. Sakura gave a small smile.
Just like family…they forgave her. Even if she disappointed them, they didn't seem to mind.
This really is where I belong, isn't it?
For once, the thought wasn't a bad one. There was no depressing or dismal afterthought, just a laugh as Deidara and Kisame continued fighting, each grabbing one of her arms in an attempt to prove their point.
"Since I thought of it, only I can call her kitten."
"That isn't right, yeah!"
"Don't make me fight you over this, Deidara."
"Don't make me kick your ass over this, Kisame, yeah."
Sakura let out another laugh, "I have an idea, why don't you both call me Sakura, that is my name after all."
"But that's no fun!" Both Kisame and Deidara exclaimed at the same time.
Itachi stood, leaving the room silently. Sakura watched him out of the corner of her eye. I thought he would be happy that I decided to not become Akatsuki. Why can't he at least show me that I made the right decision? Anything…
She gave a sigh, before plastering another smile on her face, like the geisha puppet Sasori had made her, ever smiling.
She wasn't going to show Itachi how much he was affecting her.
Sasuke Uchiha moved like a man possessed. His stride was daunting, his gaze cold and cruel. His bangs covered his eyes, but small flickers of the crimson Sharingan could be seen as the wind blew his hair across his face.
…just like him, Sakura, you're just like him…
…I am an avenger. How could you make me choose?
If you loved me, you would have come with me.
You wouldn't have betrayed me.
He wore the Uchiha sign proudly upon his back. Perhaps it was to convince himself that there was still a hope of reviving his clan.
After I kill both of you…then I can rebuild my clan.
I will finally be free.
I am an avenger.
When I kill those that have betrayed me, my mission will be over.
Sasuke literally hummed with fury as he whipped through the trees, his feet barely touching the branches. He didn't know where he was going, not really. But he felt as if his hatred would guide him to where he needed to go.
He would find them if he had to search the whole world.
He still couldn't understand how or why Sakura could betray him like she did. But what was done was done. She was a betrayer, as bad as his brother in his eyes. The young girl he had once known was gone.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura was out of breath as she walked up to him, a small bundle in her arms.
Sasuke turned with a small sigh. What does she want now? He watched her walk up to him, her hair trimmed neatly, like it had been ever since the Chûnin exams. She had never decided to grow it back.
"Hn."
Sakura smiled at him. "Where are you going?"
"Training." Sasuke began walking in the other direction.
"Oh." Sakura nodded as she walked with him. She didn't seem to let his negative mood offend or deter her. "Can I come?"
"No."
Sakura sighed. "Sasuke-kun, what's wrong?" He could hear the pained tone in her voice.
"Hn."
She spoke again. "Why won't you tell me anything?"
…
"Sasuke." She stopped in front of him, her gaze serious. "Why won't you tell me? If you can't tell me what's wrong, who can you tell?"
"No one." Sasuke answered back acerbically. "I don't need to explain myself to anyone."
"Very well." Sakura whispered, holding out the package in her arms.
"What's this?" Sasuke snapped.
Sakura put it into his arms, before beginning to walk away. "Happy birthday, Sasuke-kun." Then she disappeared around the bend, her eyes hidden behind her bangs, though he saw tears dot the ground in front of her.
Sasuke stared at the package. I didn't think anyone remembered.
He opened the package, eyes narrowing before they widened in surprise.
It was a new kunai pouch, filled with sharpened kunai and shuriken, as well as a ninjutsu scroll he had never seen before. On the pouch was a hand-stitched picture of the Uchiha symbol.
Thank you. He said silently, staring at the pack, his hand trailing over the Uchiha symbol.
Sasuke's hand tightened as he instinctively reached down to take a kunai out of his pouch, holding it tightly between his fingers. As he did so, his hand grazed the monogrammed Uchiha symbol that had been lovingly placed there.
Deidara hummed a small tune as he walked down the hall. He was wearing his full Akatsuki attire, minus the hat. He stopped in front of an all too familiar doorway with a bright smile as he knocked.
"Are you ready yet, kitten? Kisame is waiting outside, yeah." Deidara waited for a reply.
"You can come in!" Sakura's voice came through the walls. She seemed a bit aggravated, by her tone, which confused him even more. He slid the door open with his usual smile, however.
"What's taking you so long, yeah?" He grinned at her as he watched her run across the room, grabbing something from her desk. She was wearing the sky blue kimono he had gotten her, with white and pink cranes etched upon it.
She looked up at him with a smile. "I'm ready!" She had just finished tucking something into the hem of her kimono, and she was carrying a little purse with her. On it was a frog key chain.
"From my friend Naruto." She commented with a smile, noticing where his gaze went. "I thought I could treat you and Kisame to some food. This is a festival after all."
"That sounds nice, yeah." Deidara nodded as he and Sakura headed out of her room. He suddenly frowned as he looked around.
"Where's the puppy, yeah?"
Sakura's smile dimmed as she bit her lip, before grabbing Deidara's arm and steering him out of the temple. "He's sleeping."
Deidara was satisfied with that answer as he and Sakura walked a bit down the path until they met Kisame, who had become impatient and begun walking without them. He frowned when he saw them.
"It took you long enough. All of the food is going to be gone by the time we get there."
"Don't be so pessimistic." Sakura laughed. "All the good stuff happens when the sun goes down."
"You'd know, wouldn't you kitten?" Kisame winked. Sakura rolled her eyes.
"What's that supposed to mean, eh Kisame?" Deidara frowned.
"Nothing." Kisame answered, looking as innocent as he possibly could. That, of course, wasn't very innocent.
"Besides, I doubt you're going to be paying any attention to food, Kisame. You do know that they don't sell alcohol here until after dark, right?" Sakura asked.
Kisame smirked. "You seem to have forgotten who I am, kitten."
"Oh?"
Kisame snorted. "I'm Akatsuki. They'll open any bar I damn well tell them to."
Sakura sighed. I'd almost forgotten that these are Akatsuki I'm dealing with. Manners aren't a requirement for a great shinobi.
"Just try not to upset them, will you?" Sakura's sandal caught on a rock and she lost her balance. She clutched Deidara's arm to steady herself. She let out a small laugh as she fell against his chest. "Sorry."
"It's fine, yeah." Deidara answered back truthfully. He was enjoying Sakura's new cheerfulness immensely.
"Don't grope him, kitten. He'll get a nose bleed." Kisame grinned ruefully.
Deidara frowned as Sakura let out a peal of laughter. It was going to be a long walk down to the village, but Sakura supposed it wouldn't be a bad trip after all.
She wondered why Itachi and Sasori had decided not to come. Hidan and Kakuzu had left an hour or so before Sakura and the others had gotten the notion to head down to the village for their small festival.
Sakura didn't believe she'd ever had so much fun.
She took in the sights of the small little shops, still holding onto Deidara's arm. The people of the village apparently didn't know what the red clouds on Deidara and Kisame's robes signified, which cheered Sakura considerably.
Here, they were just normal people. Well, as normal as they could be.
After all, she had pink hair, Deidara looked like a girl, and Kisame was practically a two-legged man-shark.
Sakura hugged the small teddy bear that Deidara had won for her. She supposed it wasn't really fair, since a shinobi could win any of those games hands down. But she didn't mind. She was merely reveling in this dream-like moment.
There were only two things that would have made it better: Naruto…and Itachi.
But she didn't have either of those things and she was having plenty of fun without them. She breathed in the smell of the nearby restaurant. "Oh that smells so good!"
Deidara steered her towards the booth, smiling at the shopkeeper. "Two of the fried squid, please."
"Hai!" The man smiled at them.
Deidara took some money out of his pocket but the man shook him off.
"The happy couple should eat for free."
Sakura and Deidara both blushed, as they took their food. Sakura looked up at Deidara and smiled. "Itadakimasu!"
"Itadakimasu kitten, yeah." Deidara answered back.
"No food for me?" Kisame whined. "Awe come on, Deidara. You don't have to be so cheap."
Sakura stuck her tongue out at him. "Calm down, Kisame. It's not like you wanted any anyway. This is like your cousin, after all." She motioned to the squid.
Kisame frowned. "I know when I'm being dismissed." He waved them off with a pout. "I'll just go where I'm wanted."
Sakura closed her mouth, thinking she might regret the retort she was about to say. She merely smiled at him. "Have fun Kisame!"
She saw him head towards a bar and she sighed deeply. She would really have to stop his drinking problem. She gave another small sigh as she smiled up at Deidara. Now is as good a time as any.
"Deidara, I want to talk with you…privately." Sakura whispered as she led him down another street, one a little less crowded with people.
Deidara frowned in confusion but complied willingly. "Alright, yeah. What's on your mind?"
"I wanted to tell you…what really happened to the puppy you made me, little Naruto." She whispered.
"What do you mean?"
Sakura bit her lip. "He's dead."
"Nani?"
"Well, I guess he can't really be dead, can he? But he's as close as he possibly could be." She whispered, reaching for something around her neck. She pulled out a small amulet. There was no precious stone hanging from it, but a little clay paw.
"What happened, yeah?"
"Well…" Sakura sniffled slightly. "You see…he bit Itachi."
That was all she had to say.
Two thoughts came to Deidara's mind. 1.What the hell was Itachi doing in Sakura's room? 2. He did it because he knew I had given it to her.
"That bastard, yeah." Deidara cursed, "How could he have done something like that?"
Sakura shrugged. "I don't know…" She whispered. "But I just wanted you to know…that he meant a lot to me. Thank you."
"I can make you another one, yeah—" Deidara began, but stopped as Sakura shook her head.
"I don't think I want another one." She answered back truthfully. "That would take away the significance of little Naruto. He was special to me, and I don't want you to make me something just to replace him with."
"Someone should go talk to Itachi about this, yeah. He had no right to do that!" Or to be in your room, yeah!
"Deidara…" Sakura began, but he was already gone. She could feel his chakra signature heading away from her, towards the Cloud temple. Deidara! Don't be stupid! My goodness this isn't what I wanted to happen!
She frantically looked down the street, before rushing back up the busier one. "Kisame?" She called out, trying to locate the small bar she had seen him walk into. Maybe you can go and stop him before he does something he'll regret.
She finally spotted it, hurrying inside, "Kisame?"
Why do I have to be his babysitter?
Naoyo gave a small smile as she saw the blonde-haired Akatsuki member walk off with the pink-haired girl from Konoha. The large Akatsuki member, Kisame Hoshigake, walked into a bar.
I suppose he'll have to be the one. She thought with a frown. What a pity, the blonde would have been more fun. And he's so handsome! But this idiot will be easier to seduce. She walked into the bar, letting her kimono slide slightly off of her shoulders. She felt small legs tickle the inside of her sleeve.
Not yet. She warned the small spider silently as she surveyed the room. She saw him immediately down a large cup of sake. He's an alcoholic. This will be easier than I had thought.
She ignored the admiring stares from the male population in the bar, as well as the jealous ones from all of the whores. She merely sneered at the glaring little girls, seeing them gasp in indignation.
She chuckled to herself as she slid into the seat beside Kisame Hoshigake.
"Hello there." She murmured as she ordered a drink. "Who're you?"
He raised one eyebrow. "Why do you care?"
He needs a few more drinks. She mused silently, putting a small pout on her face. "I'm sorry. I didn't meant to disturb you…" She trailed off, leaning more fully on the counter, letting the kimono slip even more off of one shoulder.
She saw his eyes rivet to her cleavage line. This will be easier than I thought. She grabbed a hold of her drink, taking a small sip of it, licking the last few drops from her ruby red lips slowly.
Kisame blinked, looking at her through narrowed eyes. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
Naoyo leaned closer, smiling coyly at him. "I disarray you're someone I could become very close to tonight, if that's what you mean."
Kisame blinked once more. Was she serious? He downed his sake, asking the bartender for another drink. He gave a small smile. I might as well enjoy this.
"That works for me." Kisame grinned. "And what's your name?"
"Naoyo." She scooted closer to him on the bench, so that she was practically sitting in his lap. She looked down at Samehada leaning against the bar. "You have a very large sword… mister…?"
"Kisame." Kisame smirked, tipping her face up so she could look him in the eye. "And that's not the only big sword I have, if you catch my meaning."
Naoyo smiled at him. He's as pompous and conceited as a rooster! This will be so much fun. She trailed a hand over his chest, her fingers running along his collarbone.
"Kisame…" She purred, licking her lips as she bent close to his face, their noses almost touching.
Kisame's heart began beating faster. Damn. She's hot.
She nipped his ear lobe, whispering, "Would you like to show me this big sword of yours? I'm not a swordsman but I think I know how to wield it."
And feisty!
Kisame grinned. "Well, I'd be happy to give you lessons."
She smiled at him, "I have a room in the back. You can show me in there, ne?"
"Sounds good to me." Kisame winked as Naoyo slid off of him. He grabbed Samehada, taking it with him as the two made their way down a corridor Kisame hadn't noticed before. He couldn't help but give a small, pompous swagger as all the men in the room glared at him.
Jealous bastards. I am so getting laid.
Take that, Deidara. At least I'll be getting something tonight.
Naoyo didn't even bother to knock as she pushed open a door on their right. As soon as Kisame sauntered in she quickly shut the door behind her.
Seductively, she motioned to the bed in the corner. "You can get comfortable, Kisame."
Kisame smirked as he leaned back on the bed. She drifted gracefully over to the bed, the kimono slowly coming undone as she did so. It just barely covered all the necessary places as she languidly sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning in close to Kisame.
She trailed her hand down his mesh-covered chest, playing with the corner of his shirt. "You really don't need this, do you?"
Kisame grinned. "Do with me what you will."
Oh I intend to. Naoyo laughed to herself as she slowly rolled up his shirt, caressing his skin as she went. She finally began pulling it over his head. As soon as his vision was obscured, she allowed the small spider on her arm to crawl onto Kisame. If Kisame recognized the difference between Naoyo's searching fingers and the spider, he made no effort to stop either.
Naoyo smiled as the shirt came off, just as the spider sank its fangs into his skin.
Kisame gave a small grunt. "You're a wild one, aren't you?" This really is my lucky day.
Naoyo smiled seductively at him as she leaned in closer, her bare skin touching his. The poison will shut off his respiratory system, before it begins to paralyze the nerve endings and make him completely immobile.
Her hand trailed down to his waistline, where she teased the hem of his pants. "Shall we?"
"Kisame! I thought I'd never find you and yet, here you are in so much—oh my god!"
Naoyo stiffened, eyes narrowing as she turned around. The pink-haired Konoha shinobi, the one Tomokazu had said was named Sakura Haruno, was standing in front of them, eyes wide in horror, with what looked like mild nausea.
"Kisame, you have got to be kidding me." Sakura gasped out, resisting the urge to shield her eyes. "Did you kidnap this poor woman?"
Kisame grunted, "What do you want, kitten? Can't you see I'm busy? And no, I didn't kidnap her, alright? She just enjoys my company. Jealous? I'm sure if you ask nicely a threesome wouldn't be too much of a problem—"
Sakura once again had to stop the gag reflex.
She resisted the urge to ask the woman if she had been drugged, but the woman had slipped off of the bed. She was making her way to the door. Sakura merely crossed her arms over her chest. "We're needed back at home." Sakura said seriously. "Something is happening. And for god's sake, put a shirt on!"
Kisame's eyes narrowed before he nodded. "Alright, alright." I have more sake at home. At least I can still get drunk. He made to get up but stopped as he clutched his head. "Damn."
"What's wrong Kisame?" Sakura sighed in agitation. "You're probably just drunk. Come on, let's go."
Sakura touched his hand and stopped. His chest rose with small, shallow breaths. She frowned, immediately knowing that something was wrong. She bent down to check his pulse—it was almost too faint to feel! His skin was flushed and hot, as if he had a fever.
"Why do you feel so warm Kisame?"
"Well, you see kitten, when a man loves a woman…"
She was in no mood to deal with his sexual innuendos.
"Kisame, are you alright?" But his eyes slowly drifted shut and he didn't hear her.
She sent her healing chakra into him, seeing strange venom traveling through his bloodstream, attacking his vital organs. He was bitten by something! She immediately began attacking the venom with her own chakra, destroying it. It was a hard task to get all of them, as she tried not to hurt anything else in his body in the process.
She decided that she couldn't do much more at the moment, until she regained some more chakra. She had stabilized him enough so that he was in no more danger at the present time.
That was when a small pinprick of pain hit her. She gave a small gasp and instinctively put a hand to her arm, smashing whatever it was that had bit her.
She then looked at her hand.
A small spider lay crushed there. She wiped the bug on the bed sheet with a grimace. So, that's probably what bit Kisame. I need to get the poison out of me fast.
But she had no time.
She felt a nagging presence behind her and she patted her obi, where a kunai was hidden. There was something wrong with that whore who had been with Kisame.
Well, there were actually a lot of things wrong with it.
For one, no woman in her right mind, not even a well-paid whore, would flirt or sleep with Kisame Hoshigake. Sakura wasn't trying to be rude, she was merely stating facts. Besides, there was something strange in the woman's eyes.
Hatred and a…lust for blood.
Just like Tomokazu's.
This is a wonderful time to go a-wall, Deidara!
She turned to find the woman standing casually in front of her, her kimono still hanging almost completely off of her body.
"I don't think you'll be taking him anywhere, little girl." The woman laughed. "I'm here for him, not for you."
I knew she was trouble. Sakura's eyes narrowed as her hand slowly slipped under her obi for the kunai.
"And why is that?" Sakura's eyes narrowed. "And who on earth are you?"
"None of your business." The woman's eyes narrowed in return. "Just give me Kisame Hoshigake."
"You know who he is?" Sakura asked.
"I wouldn't have said his name if I didn't know who he was." The woman answered back sarcastically.
Well, at least I know she can't be reasoned with. There's no point in reasoning with fools.
Sakura twirled her kunai. "I'll ask you again, what is your name? If you know who Kisame is, then you probably know who I am. It's only polite if we exchange formalities."
The woman smirked. "You're such a cute little thing, aren't you? Very well, my name is Naoyo. And you're right, I do know who you are, Sakura Haruno."
Sakura watched Naoyo carefully, though she had to blink. The poison's initial effects were starting. It was getting a little bit harder to breath. So, it attacks the respiratory system first.
"Just give him to me and I'll spare your little life. Tomokazu is angry with you but I'm sure I could get him to cut you a break."
Sakura froze in place. "Tomokazu…?" She whispered in dread. Him? She works for him? My god, that means he knows where the Akatsuki are! Why is he here—the scroll. Sakura paled.
"That's right." Naoyo laughed. "He didn't like the little joke you played on him. You should have given him the scroll."
Sakura's hand tightened around the kunai.
Naoyo loosened her obi some more, letting the kimono fall off of her even more.
"I'm not that kind of girl, Naoyo." Sakura commented lightly, looking around for anything she could use to escape. She was in no condition to fight.
Naoyo laughed. "It's not for your benefit that I'm doing this, little girl. I want to give my little darling some legroom. Quite literally."
Sakura let out a small gasp as she saw the tip of a hairy leg appear over Naoyo's shoulder, followed by two more legs. A large spider, almost identical to the one that Sakura had killed, crawled off of Naoyo and onto the ground.
Her tattoo. I saw it before but I didn't pay any attention to it. Did it really just come to life? Her training led her to believe that it wasn't a genjutsu. Which meant that the spider had to be real.
Sakura now had two opponents to deal with, the spider and Naoyo. And she was beginning to feel her reaction time slow. She threw her kunai, but Naoyo grabbed it in the air, sending it back at her.
Sakura dodged it, jumping backwards and stumbling as she landed. She blinked again, forcing her eyes to remain open. Damn this poison. I don't have the time or the chakra left to destroy it, or even slow the blood flow. If it reaches my heart I'm dead.
She was nearly up against the wall. I can't fight in this tight of a space.
Sakura took another few steps backward as the world began spinning. She just managed to gain back her balance as a large, blurry black figure lunged at her. She dodged it, sending her knee up into its abdomen as it went past. It let out a small shriek and Sakura felt her stomach begin to churn as the spider's stomach exploded. Sakura decided then and there that she would never use her special strength against a spider again.
It had popped like a rotten watermelon.
Sakura shot backwards, waiting for an attack from Naoyo. There was none. The woman merely watched Sakura in annoyance.
Then Sakura turned to the spider and saw it begin to twitch. Its insides shuddered and shifted as a transformation began—into five smaller spiders. She felt sick again, but she held it all in as she tried to remain focused.
The spiders began rapidly growing to the height of their parents, all turning on their hairy legs to form a line in front of Sakura.
"The spiders are connected with my chakra, in fact, that's all they are. No matter how many times you kill them, they will come back, and they will multiply. I'll just sit here and wait for the poison to take effect."
Sakura's eyes narrowed. "This room is definitely not big enough for all of us." She focused some of her chakra into her hand, slamming her fist into the wall. It shot off of the building, splintering into small pieces of wood. Sakura hurriedly jumped outside, feeling the cool night air on her flushed skin.
So, it's made of chakra, eh? Naoyo probably doesn't attack people on her own, instead she uses her poisons and spiders to kill other people. That means that if I get rid of the spiders, she's defenseless.
It's only a theory of course.
Naoyo calmly walked out of the large gaping hole in the room, her spiders under foot, crawling across the shadowed ground.
Sakura wavered, but managed to hold her ground.
She racked her brain for ideas, a small one came to her, though she didn't know if it would end in victory or disaster. What she needed to do was get back over to Kisame.
Sakura used a substitution jutsu, flipping through the air and rushing into the hotel room, stumbling. There was a shriek as one of the spiders grabbed a hold of Substitution Sakura, which had an exploding tag on it. Sakura heard the loud splatter as the spider exploded, before the sickening sound of it regrouping could be heard as it changed into even more little monsters.
I hope this works.
Three of the spiders rushed into the opening of the room, hissing at her. She could see the venom dripping from their fangs, but she tried to ignore it. After all, she was dying from their poison anyway. Getting bit again wasn't going to matter if she couldn't get the first bite of poison out.
The spider lunged at her once more, but it wasn't in time to stop the large Samehada that connected with it, searing through its body and draining all of its chakra as it went.
She stopped for a moment. Wait, Samehada was letting her hold it? No one but Kisame could wield Samehada; it would attack anyone else who tried. Yet it remained still in her hand, as if it understood the emergency.
But, as she realized, when she had used Samehada to drain the chakra from the chakra bond on the hotel door a few weeks back…it had not fought her then either.
"NO!" Naoyo hissed. "How could you wield Samehada? HOW?"
I honestly don't know. But Sakura didn't try and ponder it as she swung Samehada once more, connecting with the second and third spiders. One of the spiders grabbed onto her arm, sinking its fangs inside of her. Sakura let out a small cry as she slammed it into the wall to get it off. As it fell to the ground she stabbed it with Samehada, before she stumbled again, feeling her strength leave her. I still have two from the first spider, and five from the other one I killed. Don't give up now, Sakura.
She did a simple wind jutsu that Temari had taught her, which swirled the earth around in the air, making it hard to see. She heard Naoyo curse, but she paid it little attention as she slashed through three more of the spiders as they walked blindly through the dust storm.
"How can you wield Samehada! Who taught you to wield it!?"
Sakura ignored Naoyo's furious shrieks as she sped through the wind and dust, cutting three more of the spiders down with the large, heavy sword. It was beginning to weigh down on her, and her breathing was labored.
There was only one more left.
Samehada clunked as it landed on the ground, Sakura heaving as she tried to lift it. She pulled in vain as the spider began walking towards her. She looked up at Naoyo, spitting out blood from her mouth. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
As soon as the spider was in range, Sakura pulled up the sword, stabbing it straight through the last spider's body. The spider gave a loud shriek as it convulsed beneath the blade, before falling still.
Sakura saw Naoyo take a step backward, but she was already on her guard, her hand filled with chakra. She breathed in deeply as she summoned the last vestiges of her strength into the blow. If she didn't kill Naoyo here and now, then she was as good as dead.
As soon as Sakura's hand came in contact with Naoyo's stomach, she paled, trying to jerk her hand back. Her hand tingled as a strange sensation shot through her fingers. It was the downside of being a medical shinobi, the ability to sense life, even at its most miniscule. But it was too late; the damage had already been done. The woman screamed as she fell to the ground, a gaping hole where her stomach had once been. She slumped to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Oh my god…
Sakura fell to her knees, partly because of the poison.
No…I didn't just…I couldn't have just…it's not possible…
She looked down at her hands through her blurring, dimming eyesight. They were covered in Naoyo's blood. She heard Kisame shift behind her, beginning to wake up.
I'm going to die…and I deserve this…
Sakura's entire body shook as she began losing consciousness. She'd always said she'd never kill an innocent. She's always said that she would never stoop to that level.
It was one of the reasons she had never wanted to become an Akatsuki.
But now, she merely felt like a hypocrite after telling the others that she wouldn't kill an innocent person.
She just had.
She was a murderer.
Sakura felt her world go black, but she didn't really care. She had murdered a small child. She had ended a newborn's life before it had officially begun.
Naoyo had been pregnant.
(A/N: Alright! Well, I know you were all worrying about who it was we lost in this chapter. Everyone was so worried it was Deidara, but I would never be able to kill him off. He's too cute, yeah:) And it's not Sakura, or else the story would kind of suck afterwards.
It was poor lil' Naruto…sigh…I will miss him. He was so cute! Ok, so he was only in two chapters but he holds a place in all our hearts! There was actually a point to this, and I can tell you that it really is very significant.
Poor Sakura, she'll never forgive herself. Way to go Deidara, leaving Sakura to go get Kisame…geeze…I really don't want to see the confrontation between Deidara and Itachi.
I'm sure you'll all love the next chapter. I can assure you, I certainly will. It'll get kind of steamy… It might also be a tearjerker. Lots of emotions.
(And Naoyo's dead, but she wasn't the person any of us really cared about either. She was just kind of there. Poor girl. Of course Tomokazu probably won't be too happy about this.)
Sigh, this chapter actually began and ended a bit differently with the whole fight scene between Sakura and Naoyo. But, you see, my sister (and editor) didn't really like the layout for the battle between Sakura and Naoyo (it was in the forest) and she was like, 'we should have it in the hotel room! That'll give us more action!'
I bet she just wanted to see Kisame have sex. Hehehe…just kidding. I love my sister. It actually did make the chapter a bit more interesting. So I suppose a thanks is in order for the setting of the fight scene.
The chapter was called Back to Square One because our loveable idiot Itachi ruined any little romantic moment he had with Sakura. …Sigh…
Until next time!
Lady HanakaQuote: Carpe diem – Seize the day. Carp in denim – There's a fish in my pants!
(A true Kisame quote!)
P.S. I just wanted to tell you all that I've decided to dedicate this little chapter to my dog, who is the model for Akamaru as well as little Naruto. Everything they've done so far (within the boundaries of reality) is something my little doggy has done.
So um…ok. I guess that's all. Love all of you!)