Accidentally

Chapter 3: Angst

-Konoha-

The village was in turmoil.

Well, its shinobi, more like...

Sure it's only been a day or two, but still. Konohagakure just didn't function correctly without her. The Rookie 9 were devistated, and the Hokage was drinking way more than her pink haired apprentice would allow without proper scolding.

The hospital was behind.

The Jounin were confused.

The Anbu were clueless.

The Chuunin-Naruto's year-had it worse.

Naruto was constantly screaming at Baa-chan to hurry the hell up and bring his precious Sakura-chan home. Lee wasn't training. Ino was frantic. Akamaru wouldn't stop whimpering.

Shikamaru was guilty. But that wasn't something that could bring him down, no. That's not nearly enough. Although, when you add that guilt to the pain, angst, and depression...It gets a little tough.

Chouji couldn't even bring him out of his current state.

Yes, it was that bad.

She was certainly something else. All too easy to get along with. They saw most things in the same way. She was different than other girls; the ones who often stood around and criticized the perspective of men(Ever notice how Shika has always been a bit sexist? XD). She didn't do that. She would take what was thrown at her and make do with what she had been given.

She was at peace with nature; in whatever way you could interpret that.

Ever since he, Kiba, Neji, Choji, and Naruto left on their journey all those five years ago to bring Sasuke back to the village...To see her sobbing, crying, straight in front of him because of that treaturous bastard, was too much. Before that scene, however, he had confronted her and told her- PROMISED her that he would make Naruto give that jackass an extra hit for her.

And damn did he ever.

He'd said he never liked Sasuke much, but, truth be told...He hated him. Hated him for holding such an unspeakable burden over Sakura.

He knew what he was doing to her, every second of every day that they worked together as Genin, and this made him cocky.

Sakura had told Shikamaru personally that she didn't want to save Sasuke just for the sole purpose of bringing him home and getting rid of another rogue shinobi. Oh, no. She wanted to get even. She was going to show him the exact pain he had laid upon her when he'd left the village.

Only he would feel it a bit more...physically.

Oh, yes.

Sakura was going to skin his ass.

And Shikamaru was going to watch with utter delight.

'Sakura, good luck. Be safe.'

OoOoOo

"But Baa-chan! You have to do something!"

"Naruto, I told you, we have absolutely NO leads from Anbu. That leaves me in the dark as well."

Tsunade was arguing valiantly against Naruto, trying very hard herself not to break down. She was, of course, drinking.

Sakura was like Tsunade's designated driver. Although, there was a weekly exception. Friday night.

Sakura was like a daughter to her, Naruto her son. Son that she just wants to slam through the wall every now and then.

'Sakura...I hope you're okay.'

OoOoOo

Ino was currently pacing the floors of the Hyuuga estate, hastily listing and resiting everything she knew about Sakura.

For what reason, Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi did not understand.

Wether it was to come up with a lead, or simply to comfort herself...on second thought, she could just be losing her mind. Yup, let's go with that.

'Billboard Brow, Billboard Brow, Billboard Brow...'

OoOoOo

"Uh...Lee? You...you okay? Aren't you gonna...oh, Lee, please stand up..." TenTen didn't know if she should try to comfort him, or leave him to his own youthful, emo, musings.

"My cherry blossom of youth and sunshine...is...is gone..." Anime tears and dignity spilling, Lee failed, yet again, to stand up.

They'd been on the training grounds for about three and a half hours now. The whole time TenTen just watched Lee swing at air and, at one point when they had visitors, almost kick Akamaru.

And got his ass chewed out-almost literally-by Kiba.

'Oh sweet Sakura-san...please, do be(Doobie! HAHA!) youthful and unharmed...'

OoOoOo

-Sound-

"Mmm, Sasuke? I've just recieved a report from one of my spies in the Leaf Village. It seems that a tragedy has taken place. They've lost another shinobi."

Sasuke didn't even bother to turn to Orochimaru to state his reply. It would have been a bad idea anyway; you should always be paying full attention while polishing a seven-foot long sword, if you wish to keep all of your appendages in tact.

"So what? That's how things are in this world. People come, people go."

"No no, you misunderstand me, boy. They've lost a shinobi, as in, missing. Possibly rogue." He wanted to keep this conversation going.

Namely because Orochimaru remembered this one's face and name all too well, and his antisocial apprentice would sure get a kick out of it.

On the inside, anyway.

Sasuke sighed. That damn sharingan. Not wanting to annoy his teacher so he could get another hour of training in, he played along.

"Oh, really? Who is it then?"

Orochimaru grinned in his creepy, sadistic, pedophile-ish way.

"Oh, I'm not sure. Rumors say it's one of your year's Chunin. One, Haruno Sakura? Do you know of her, Sasuke?"

Sasuke paused for a moment before standing.

"I'm going to bed. No disturbances." And so Sasuke head down the long corridors.

He scoffed half-heartedly, and his eyes narrowed.

'Sakura...'

OoOoOo

YAY! Done! Finito!

I. Am. SO. Sorry, you guys. My computer got this nasty virus a little over a month ago, and it was BAD. So we swiped it. Not before putting all my documents on a flash drive, of course. So I was back in action and going full speed for about a week.

Until I got the SAME. DAMN. VIRUS. AGAIN.

So I had it back again, all safety-fied and clean.

But then report cards came out.

I lost it for about another two weeks for my F in Science, and D's in Social Studies and Language Arts.

But at least I have an A in Math! :D

Shikamaru: You're ranting again, Rae-chan.

Damn. I know.

SO.

This is just a short-ish update on how it's going for...everyone but Sakura and the Akatsuki.

I know that the timing is off for Sasuke-teme to still be up and training with Orochimaru. But I don't care. Let's just say that Oro needed a new vessel sometime while Sasuke was away on some long assasination mission. =D

If you want me to give an update on how someone else is making it through the whole 'Sakura Disappearing Act', I'll be happy to do it for almost anyone. Just PM me! ^_^

(Exceptions: Kabuto, Sasuke-teme, & Orochimaru)

I mainly just did the majors in this one.

OH! AND-

Hidan: Wrap it the fuck up all ready!

Shut it, Hida-chan!

So! TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR AN IMPORTANT BIRTHDAY UPDATE!

WILL BE UP BY 4:00 PM EST.

SEE YA!

Shikamaru & Hidan: Finally...

Grr...

~Raven100