A big thank you to my beta Lady Kyoshoku!
I actually had the chapter finished a few days ago, but Fanfiction wouldn't let me sign in until now. Did anyone else have that problem?
My story is drawing to an end. Are you all sad? Or anxious?
Recommended Song: Linkin' Park – Shadow Of The Day
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any of its characters. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
-What She Needed To Do-
-25-
The students gathered in the gym huddled in their usual crowds, questioning the strange men and the school's intentions. When Tsunade threw open the doors with several staff members following closely, they immediately shut up and looked to their blonde leader.
"I want you to remain calm. We are dealing with the situation outside." She instructed in a loud booming voice.
As she spoke, she distracted the students from the select few teachers that weaved in and out of the groups, looking for those involved and those of use. Kakashi directed students out of the gym, followed by Kurenai and those who she had found. Tsunade eyed them and looked through the crowds, who begun talking once more when she finished. As she looked, she tapped several on the shoulder and whispered discreetly, sending them off to help.
Once she skimmed the room, finding no more students involved, she left quickly and stalked the corridors towards the hall. Once she arrived, she looked to each student, though some remained oblivious to the situation.
"Shikamaru: take look out and form a plan of battle, should the situation arise." Tsunade demanded looking to the next student.
"Sai: take the post on the roof. Take this," she handed over a small phone. "My number is the only one stored. Tell me if they move and their position."
He nodded and walked off, as though nothing affected him. Naruto and Gaara were beside one another, looking out the window in aggression. Their friends were gathered closely, nervous about the men outside and asking one another different questions.
"Kankuro, Temari, Tenten… prepare your weapons, if you haven't already." The three nodded and took off out the door to the near-desolate school. Kankuro and Temari were grinning maliciously, wanting a piece of the action.
"Neji, Hinata… keep an eye on the action."
The two bowed their head and small lines stretched along the skin of their eyes. "Be prepared for the worst." She ordered finally, joining Shikamaru by the window, where Osamu still shouted and yelled through the speaker, laughing amongst his friends. They were having their fun, but it wouldn't last long and their impatience would most likely signal an attack.
oOo
Sakura ran through the corridor, clutching a small, neatly folded piece of paper. Her feet carried her on past the many doors and windows of the school.
She had scrawled it quickly, but with care. Those who read it may hate her for underestimating them and leaving them out of the game, but she didn't want her most precious people to get hurt. Anything but that.
Her feet skidded to a stop when she heard footsteps and laughter. Her hands gripped the wall to stop herself and she peered past the corner where Kankuro and Temari ran with grins. In Temari's hands was a giant fan with metal edges. The sight of the feminine fan made Sakura shiver. Surely she hadn't used those sharp edges in combat before… right?
Kankuro had a strange package strapped to his back, wrapped in what appeared to be bandages. It confused Sakura, but they were out of sight before she could inspect it further. When they left, her run picked up and she turned the final corner to the head office. She paused by the door, listening for voices.
Silence. She thanked whichever god was watching over her and opened the door carefully. Tsunade must have called a meeting elsewhere, knowing that was what she would do.
Inside however, Sakura gasped and looked to the man sitting on the plush, leather sofa. He turned to greet her with a wrinkled smile and Sakura nodded to the man, attempting a smile of her own. It failed and he seemed to notice.
"What's wrong, Sakura?" He asked with concern.
She looked at the caretaker taking refuge in the office and sighed, "Nothing; just nervous."
"Oh, are those men worrying you?" He asked, as his eyes seemed to grow with worry for Sakura. He didn't know anything about the men. "Don't worry; worst case scenario is they'll take whatever they came for and leave us alone."
Her heart sped up and she found herself nodding and shrugging at the same time. She felt so confused and scared. But there was no running from this anymore.
"Yeah; it's alright. I'm fine." She nodded sadly.
"What brings you here? Did Tsunade send you too?" He asked curiously, looking down to the letter in my hand.
"No, I'm on my way to meet her now." She lied with a convincing smile. Something she was good at. "I have a letter to leave her; promise not to look at it?" She teased trying to hide the fear behind her words.
He chuckled a response and held his hand out. "I promise not to look; I'll hand it to her for you."
"Thank you." She handed over the letter and smiled. "I'm off, then."
"Okay Sakura. I'll see you some other time."
She gulped and nodded as her hand closed the door behind her. A small lump formed in her throat but she walked off and progressed to a run, fully intending to leave through the front door.
Her feet stopped and she pressed herself to the wall once more, only falling further back into a door she had never seen. The sun must have been with her, as the shadows hid her by the frame, and the group she noticed passed to stand by the front door as they planned.
She was rapidly running out of time to save them. Naruto passed alongside Gaara, whose fists were tense and his eyes focused solely on the front doors which looked out to the cars which arrived to collect Sakura.
They didn't notice her and she quickly doubled back, passing similar, shaded doors. When Tsunade's loud order broke through the footsteps, and bare silence, Sakura froze.
"Neji, search for Sakura. I want her where I can see her."
She panicked and tucked herself in the shadows of the corridor once more. Seconds flew by and an aggravated sigh left the Hyuuga's throat. "I can't see her anywhere. She's either hiding or-,"
"They don't have her!" Gaara snapped loudly, making Sakura blush and bite her lip. He was still defending her.
"Search again. No! Wait, what is he saying?" She changed her mind and Sakura took her chance to run once more. She arrived at the stairs and climbed them with heavy pants. Her body felt exhausted.
oOo
Gaara ground his teeth together as he watched the Hyuuga who couldn't see Sakura. What was wrong with him. It was obvious hey didn't have her and she must be in the school, unless she ran. He prayed for the last option, knowing she wouldn't be in harm's way when things started, but knew her better than that. She would want to be a part of her own problem.
"I can't see her anywhere. She's either hiding or—"
Gaara cut him off with a hiss in his voice, "They don't have her!"
"Search again. No! Wait, what is he saying?" Tsunade questioned, watching through the glass window by the entrance, where Osamu stood tauntingly.
Neji turned his attention back to the man and read his lips, "We'll give you five minutes. You don't want us to attack your precious school, right?"
The words sounded wrong, to Gaara, out of the Hyuuga's mouth. The men beside Osamu flexed their arms and drew different weapons, flicking them around beside them or inspecting them. They seemed intimidating to the likes of the quivering Hinata, who stood beside Naruto holding onto his arm, or Tenten who cringed at the sight of them when she recognised the different names and editions.
"Oi, Gaara," Naruto called in a low voice between the two. "How about we gamble for the bastard?"
Gaara growled out his response, "Not a chance. He's mine. Don't get in the way."
Naruto pouted, only it seemed more frightening with his tense mood. "Found her!" Neji yelled, watching now with wide eyes.
Gaara snapped his head around to look at the Hyuuga and grit his teeth. "Where is she?"
"She… jumped."
"What?!" Gaara boomed after Neji, who ran forwards and pulled back the front doors. The cold wind hit the group who gathered, but they were close behind the two as they stopped to see Sakura running from a newly formed, small crater in the ground. The men seemed oblivious to this as she approached and Gaara's growl made those around him jump.
"Stop him!"
He stepped forward, losing the fierce jade tint in his eyes to the golden hue of his demon. Naruto recognised the change and grabbed a hand around his neck, forcing him down to the grass. Neji took an arm as Kankuro grabbed the other. Tsunade walked in front of the boys and watched Sakura being dragged into the car. The many surrounding it cleared a path, or took off in front of the centre car, which Sakura sat in beside Osamu, who stared at her in distaste.
Gaara growled again as the cars left and Naruto let go of him as Tsunade struck him across the head, rendering him unconscious.
Naruto glared up at Tsunade, who looked back with a blanked out concern. "There better be a reason I held him back," he snarled.
"Think, Naruto. Gaara wouldn't have made it in time, unless he used his sand. I don't think he would have stopped to consider possibilities in that state, and he could have injured one of you, instead. Hyuuga, watch them. Tell us where they stop. Naruto, help Gaara into my office."
Tsunade bit her lip, looking off into the distance where the cars left. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she turned to look at Neji who opened his eyes in surprise and then glared angrily at a spot on the floor.
"I lost them. They're out of range, yet due south. They were heading through the residential district before they went out of sight."
Naruto screamed loudly, clutching his hair in both hands and then picked Gaara up, over his shoulder, tugging him inside as if he were nothing.
oOo
Sai looked down on the group of men by their cars, his face perfectly blank and calculating. The doors in the centre of the roof opened with a loud clatter and he turned to see Sakura, running to the railing, panting heavily.
His eyebrows furrowed and he called out to her in confusion, "Sakura? Why are you here?"
"Oh!" She turned, startled to see Sai by the far corner of the roof, staring at her… blankly, again. "No reason, Sai. You know I never did see you at the party."
Sai nodded, calculating her every movement suspiciously. She changed the topic quickly to prevent this, yet his mind worked faster than she thought, and he had already formed possibilities.
He answered, nevertheless, "Naruto challenged me. It was…enjoyable."
Sakura frowned at his bleak words and then laughed him off, "Yeah, well, I hope to hear about it sometime."
She allowed herself to pause for the briefest of moments, shakily turning back and forth between the railing and Sai. "You," She paused only for a moment, "Tell them not to worry."
Her hands gripped the railing and she threw her legs over the top, sending her weight to the ground below. From the shock of the sudden action, Sai threw his arms out and clutched the railings as he watched her fall. He bent following her movements when she landed and immediately sprinted towards the waiting men.
She was either surrendering, or attacking.
oOo
Precious seconds ticked by in silence. A silence which was unbearable to all those waiting in the bleak office, filled with dread and concern. And guilt.
Yet his own guilt outweighed the rest. He hadn't used his mind; if he had fazed, he could have swooped her up in time to stop her. He could have taken that bastard by surprise and a few of his sick followers. There was plenty he could have done.
Neji sat by his side, cracking knuckles anxiously as he hunched over his knees. His eye trait had yet to relax for one moment, as he restlessly scoured the city for her. But the city was large, and the residential district was one big part of it.
If only Neji had spotted Sakura's location before she jumped. If he hadn't frozen when she jumped, if he had reacted as soon as he located her, she'd be with them.
"Come on, guys; you're acting as if she's gone forever." Naruto spoke breaking the intolerable silence; he tried a chuckle but it sounded dead to their ears. "She can't be that far away and she has a plan. We'll find her in no time and beat that guy 'til he can't see straight."
"I wasn't planning on letting him live long enough to see anything," Gaara spoke levelly. They turned to him with surprise, but the atmosphere took hold once more and everyone dimmed in thought and depression.
"Can't you tell me anything?" The elder man asked who sat nearest to Tsunade's desk. The caretaker, Gaara realised. He sat fumbling with some piece of folded paper, looking anxiously to each of the gathered people. The whole gang, minus Sai who Tsunade had went to fetch, hoping he had some details.
Everyone remained silent and the man sighed restlessly with a small moan on his troubled lips. The door handle was pulled down suddenly and the jolt tore at the silence, tensing the room up.
Tsunade entered seeming haggard, with Sai in tow. Sai looked almost as guilty as Gaara and Neji. The emotion he expressed stunned few.
As she stopped in the centre of the room, the caretaker stood on shaky legs, giving them a quick rub to encourage the circulation, and handed out the piece of paper to her. Her face turned puzzled as she took the folded sheet and she looked up to the man questionably.
"Sakura told me to give you this when she was on her way to meet you." He explained.
Tsunade's eyes grew at the lie but before she could tear at the paper and read its secrets, Gaara had snatched it from her hands and walked towards the corner with it. He turned his back to have a moment, hearing complaints and orders from behind him.
He ignored then and skimmed the curvy handwriting, unable to ignore the dried up circular stains. Her tears.
'Hey guys, I guess you're pretty mad huh? I'm sorry but I dragged you into all of this, the school was locked down, and I saw how scared the students were. I don't want anyone to die or be hurt because of me.
I never told you before, since I assumed you read my memories and found out for yourself. I never did have the courage to ask what you saw, Tsunade. I felt kinda bare.
If you never found out, I'll explain: A league is to be created; full of young girls. My age, no doubt. It was why I was adopted, as I found out a few month ago. I've been really selfish, but I won't be anymore. I'm not the only member of this team. There are girls who still need to be rescued, and I don't think they have as many to count on as I do.
When I noticed they came to claim me, it was like I suddenly felt the weight of everything. I was stupid to think I'd be rid of this curse.
I'm going along with their plans; I'm not the only one in danger, and it's not fair to exclude them.
So don't worry about me! I'll be fine and I'll kick his ass and save the rest in my predicament… So, maybe I'll see you again in the future? I know you guys will have read this each… and I doubt Tsunade was the first to read the letter. I don't know who would have stolen it first though.
Naruto, maybe? Sorry Naruto, I promise you some ramen if I meet you again!
Tenten? Sorry girl! I wish I was as good as you with a weapon… I really suck!
Temari? I'm sorry! Ah, you're probably spazzing out huh?
Maybe Hinata got there first?
If Ino-pig got there first, she better not have ripped this letter! I put my heart into this!
Lee? Again, I'm so sorry…
Ah, I could list people all day…
Ah, I don't like goodbyes; they suck. So I won't treat this as a goodbye guys. Perhaps… a 'see you later'? Because I'll find you. When this is all over, I swear I'll find you.
Sorry for the trouble Tsunade… mom. It feels good to write that down! Just saying it in my head makes me grin! Even if it wasn't for long… even if I didn't get to stay with
you yet… it was great being your daughter.
You guys really got me through things. You don't know how much you mean to me.
Sakura
P.S .Gaara, I'm sorry if I made you mad. I don't know if this means anything to you, and I wish I could have said it directly to you, but then you would have suspected something and stopped me… and where part of me wants you to rush out and save me again, a greater part wishes you will stay inside the building. And stay safe.
You have grown closest to my heart…
His gut wrenched and burned as he highlighted the tear stains hovering over the pages. It was unfair of her to leave him like this, to leave him with a message like that. To find out he had someone who cared so much about him and that they left in the blink of an eye.
His fingers gripped the letter and he ripped it in two parts. The smaller part he shoved in his pocket; her note. The note, he felt, was only for him.
As he turned, shoved the note out for the next person to grab, not caring who it was. When it left his hand, a new kind of emotion took hold. He was desperate to get her back. To prove to her he could and not to underestimate them. He was desperate to come to her aid, to prove their worth.
Did she doubt their strength? Of all the people to doubt; she'd chosen the wrong ones.
"What did you rip off?" Naruto questioned tensely, shoving the note on to Tsunade, who snatched it with a glare.
"Something personal." Gaara answered shortly.
Naruto summed up what he meant with a slow nod and accepted his word. "Now what?"
No one answered and as time passed and each person read the note, the caretaker coughed throatily. "Could you please leave us for a moment?" Tsunade asked him carefully, "Are you okay?"
He nodded and thudded his chest with a fist. "I'm fine. I'll leave you now."
He headed out of the room, closing the door with a gentle clink. Tsunade sighed as Tenten snatched the note and Hinata leaned over to read it with her, being the last two to read her letter.
"The league? She never mentioned anything. We didn't see anything mentioning a league in her memories," Tsunade spoke aloud drawing a hand to her troubled chin. Her gaze turned on Gaara and the note his hand absently touched in his pocket. "What did the last piece say?"
"It's personal," he repeated for the room to hear.
"It may reveal something," she pressed.
"It doesn't; I assure you."
"Just read it, Gaara!" Temari snapped, before her hand was by her lips shaking. Her looked ready to break, and the concern wrinkled her forehead.
Gaara retrieved the note with agonising slowness, and handed it to Tsunade who took it and skimmed over the note. Her face relaxed slightly and she handed it back to Gaara who snatched it and pocketed the treasure. Tsunade coughed into her hand, having read the note. Gaara avoided her lingering eyes and waited.
"Now what?" Naruto piped up.
"I'm not sure," It was odd for the room to hear those words from Tsunade. She was always so sure of her decisions. "Sai caught a few registration numbers before they left. I called in a favour to the chief of police; an old friend. He's searching for the plates as we speak."
A quiet knock sounded on the door and Tsunade bellowed in frustration. "Come in!"
Tentatively, a head of dark hair popped through and green eyes looked towards Tsunade apologetically. "I'm sorry for disturbing you," she spoke quietly looking around the room and judging the atmosphere.
"Come in, Nina; you were Sakura's friend too."
Nina nodded and stepped in. The moment she settled and closed the door, her shoulder's tensed and her hands gripped tightly to her middle. "I have something to tell you, but-," she cut herself off, holding a hand over her lips, thinking before she spoke. "I know the man who took Sakura; I've seen him a few times."
"You know Osamu?" Gaara asked making her tense.
She nodded. "Only by face. But I know why he wants her."
"The league, right?" Shikamaru asked, biting his nail and watching Nina in thought. His expression froze as he looked at her, and she squirmed under his gaze.
"The league; right. I try not to think about it," she trailed off looking to the floor and the whole room stood still taking in the girl that was Nina Orotoshi.
"No way," Tenten blurted, her eyes never leaving Nina.
"Nina, is this true?" Tsunade blurted, confirming what the girl never said. She nodded, her head of short hair bobbing along with her.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hinata asked with pain in her voice. Tears stained her soft cheeks beneath lavender eyes.
"It was my problem; I could never tell of it and I never once suspected Sakura to be a part of the League, although I should have known. Her personality threw me off; she was so cheerful."
"What do you mean, you should have known?" Kiba asked next. He was slumped on the floor in front of Tenten and Hinata, with a whining Akamaru beside him, who restlessly looked at Kiba, not understanding what was wrong.
"The League is made up of girls our age; I head there were younger girls too." Tsunade looked away and gulped, feeling her throat tense. "We were chosen through our looks, but it was more specific than that. They looked for the unordinary, the extravagant. Sakura certainly qualifies. Pink hair, green eyes. Her green eyes alone would have bought her acceptance."
Nina looked to the floor with an upset smile, as the group looked away from the green eyes. Not once had she cried. She remained strong and spoke levelly. It sickened Gaara to find how she had come to terms with her fate.
"How many of you are there?" Neji asked from his seat on the couch when no one else spoke.
Nina paused looking to each expression, unsure if she should tell them. "Eight."
"That many?" Tsunade collapsed to the couch in exhaustion and sat beside Neji, looking just as confused. "What is the purpose of this 'League'."
"The city's council is comprised of men; most money hungry men, in search of deals and easily persuaded by a pretty face. He has done so with many cities. Struck deals like such, only Konoha isn't an easy feat. We're a small part of giving those men what they want. An ice-breaker. Like serving tea on a visit."
Naruto's horror stricken face was how Gaara felt. He would sooner die than hand Sakura over to a fate like that. "When? Where?" Tsunade demanded, standing suddenly and heading towards her desk to tuck into her office chair.
"I don't know. Soon, their actions prove that much. But they wouldn't tell us locations, times or dates. All I can do is direct you, warn you. I wish you could track me, anything, but they'll search for those things. They already suspect you know about their plans, and I attend the same school."
"So then we follow you."
"I'll be sent suddenly. I won't know when, or have time to warn you. I have no methods of contact and I'll be stripped of anything unnecessary. Such as weapons to protect myself from what I know will come."
Hearing Nina speak aloud was a strange feeling. Her voice was calm, cool, reassuring. "I'll keep constant watch of you; contact everyone when you're moved."
"This isn't just about Sakura, Gaara," Tsunade spoke, hooking her fingers under her chin. "There are eight we need to help, as well as dealing justice to those who took them and the members of the city council who agree to such terms."
Gaara snapped his head to her before turning back to look at Nina. He knew that already.
"What to they hope to achieve? Do you know what they want in return?" Shikamaru asked. Nina shook her head solemnly, looking to each person as the questions were fired off one after the other.
"Will you help us? Will you help Sakura?"
"That's why I'm here. But I can only do so much." Nina agreed, nodding her head.
"Okay; I've a new assignment for you all…" Tsunade began, crossing her arms on the desk in front of her, and speaking in a level voice.
Gaara took a deep breath and the room zeroed in on Tsunade's words, carefully listening.
They would get her back, if it was the last thing they did.
To Be Continued...
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Next Chapter: How long had she been there? How long had they been separated? The plans they had waited for are beginning to unfold… fast.