I am considering all pairings now, aaaand I have decided –what the heck, let's make this mysterious. I'm going to change the pairing to Sakura & Akatsuki and you guys can err… have a blast guessing who she'll end up with. :D
Summary so far: Sakura escapes from the Danzou and Root-infested Konoha. She becomes a missing nin and in turn, gets to work with two Akatsuki members, Deidara and Tobi. Her identity unknowingly revealed in an accident, she eventually ends in up Akatsuki's clutches and forced to work with them to find the Kyuubi. (Oh, the irony.)
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She was in a dark, large and humid cavern, her fingers trailing the rocky surface beside her as she walked purposefully. Water dripped from odd cracks and points from the ceiling to her hair and clothes, dampening her figure but she walked on, unperturbed. She was used to the place, having been introduced to it 2 years ago. The first time she had fallen asleep as a newly-sealed jinchuuriki, she had dreamed of this same cavern and a particular nine-tailed Kyuubi, and it had resulted in a full-blown discussion. She knew it wasn't really a dream; rather, it was a visit to a part of her mind that was intrinsically linked with the kitsune's for open communication.
Her eyes were wide open, scanning the darkness for an anomaly she would find soon. Then she found it: a small, bright orange light with an odd bubbling noise reverberating softly in the distance. Her fingers left the wall beside her and she launched into a casual jog, heading in its direction.
The orange light grew brighter until she saw a large gate in the distance, with steel bars lined along both sides as if to keep someone in. Behind the cage that seemed to stretch infinitely, there was a gigantic, orange, hulking figure pacing back and forth, its tails swishing erratically as it waited impatiently for her, evidently the source for the orange light. Its chakra bubbled violently and loudly, a sign of agitation.
She stopped walking and perched herself against a tall rock not far from the gate, her arms folded in front of her. "Kurama," she said evenly, calling the fox's attention.
The imposing figure stilled in its pacing and growled, turning in her direction as it peered through the bars. He spoke, a low rumbled growl that echoed sinisterly across the cavern. "Sakura."
He continued, peering unblinkingly at her form in his crouching form. "What are you thinking, joining Akatsuki?" A low guttural growl rumbled from the demon at the last word. He truly hated the name.
Sakura shifted uneasily, knowing he would be upset about it. She pinched the tip of her nose and closed her eyes, preparing herself to launch into a heated debate. "I was thinking, Kurama."
The fox waited for her to continue, so she pried herself off the rock and walked closer to the gate. "If I were to reject him, you know what the consequences are. It will be increasingly dire and you will definitely be revealed because I cannot hold my own against them. How many of them did you sense?"
The fox growled, and Sakura suspected he was thinking of the Akatsuki he had sensed. "I sensed six… and because you agreed to join, you will be the seventh."
Sakura's eyes closed at the unpleasant reminder that she was now a member. She sighed wearily, running a hair through her pink locks.
The fox spoke again. "What are you planning to do, girl? My brethren have all been caught in that bijuu-encasing chamber, I can sense them. If you are not careful, they will find me and kill you. And our demon powers will be in the wrong hands," the demon's eyes were narrowed, waiting for a reply. He looked rather crossed with her. "Do not put Naruto's efforts to waste, Sakura."
Sakura's form stilled for a moment at the former jinchuuriki's name. There was a long period of silence. When she spoke, it sounded void and empty of feeling.
"I understand your concern, Kurama… but considering the situation, I find it advantageous to be on their side, knowing what's happening. I have been aiming to contact Gaara with my new jutsu, as you know I've been practicing just in case I need it. And now I have a reason to… to play my part as an informant," Sakura explained, walking closer to the bars as she spotted the familiar piece of paper plastered hastily on one of them.
She stared wistfully at the seal, her mind travelling momentarily to an old friend. Kurama was known to harbour a soft spot for the late Naruto. When Naruto had been in serious trouble fighting Itachi a few years ago, they made a pact to remove the seal so that the demon fox could take over his body completely when the time called for it. However, removing the seal meant that Naruto could disappear if Kurama took over his body completely for a prolonged period of time, and refused to retract himself back. It took much more than a modicum of trust for Naruto to do it. It meant that somehow… both Naruto and Kurama had become allies and friends, if possible.
Sakura would have been surprised, if not for the fact that the demon was also –in his unique way- concerned for her. It was because of Naruto that Kurama gave his word to protect, advise and cooperate with Sakura when the time called for it. The fox demon had stuck to it firmly over the past two years, giving her advice when she most needed it.
It was still the same now.
"That is true," Kurama mused. "It is a great advantage to have, knowing Pein's plans. It is only dire if he knows you being a double agent. Be careful of him, girl. No matter what, he will still be suspicious of you as you were Naruto's comrade. You also entered because you had no other option. That said, I know I am in safe hands with you. You have never leaked my chakra, which brings me to my next question. Who did?"
Sakura started at the question, knowing he was probably referring to the statement Pein had made about the kyuubi being alive. She bit her lip. "I didn't leak it? Pein said he sensed something," she asked inquisitively, gazing at the demon's large eyes.
His red eyes bored into hers as he gave a firm nod. "You have not," he intoned levelly.
Sakura heaved a sigh of relief, holding a hand against the bars for support. She hadn't slipped. Pein must have made a mistake in sensing.
As if reading the kunoichi's mind, the fox spoke. "Pein does not make mistakes. He has the Rinnegan."
Sakura pondered upon his statement, frowning as her mind worked into overdrive. That meant that there really was someone with kyuubi chakra running around. However, since it was established that the other eight demon carriers had to have passed on from the fatal extraction jutsus –with the exception of Gaara- it meant that Pein must have sensed his residual chakra. However, the fox spoke again, watching her reaction.
"It is not Gaara. If it was him, Pein would not have bothered about it, since he has already attained Shukaku. He was talking about someone else."
"Who is it then?" Sakura, for the life of her, couldn't figure out what the kyuubi was talking about. She was getting increasingly irritated.
The kyuubi looked intently at Sakura, his face carefully blank. "What I am trying to say is, Sakura... That the only chakra he would be bothered about is the one harbouring mine."
Sakura's eyes widened in realization, finally understanding what he was saying. Her hands clenched into fists, willing herself not to tremble as she whispered the words that might change her life.
"Naruto… He's alive."
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DUN DUN DUUUUUNNN! Something has finally been revealed! How will Sakura take it?
Perhaps I should elaborate more on the part about residual chakra. Gaara who had Shukaku extracted still possessed parts of Shukaku's powers. Therefore Naruto should also have Kurama's and Pein sensed it. Hence Kurama deduced that Naruto had to be alive to be using his chakra.
Oh yes, I apologise for it being short. I intended it to be a cliffy… Hope it wasn't lame or anything. Plus, I need to run some errands and it's really late now. And I'm going SHOPPING TMR! WOOHOO!
Out of curiosity, I decided to make a poll. Hit the review button if you feel like answering.
Question: Out of these Akatsuki members, who is your favourite and why?
a)Pein
b)Tobi
c)Itachi
d)Kisame
e)Deidara
f)Sasori
g)Konan
h)Hidan
i)Kakuzu
j)Orochimaru
I'll tell you who my favourite is in the next chappie and the final results (if anyone does answer)! Regardless, thank you for reading you awesome reader! Yes, you. XD