Chapter Twenty-Four: Fears
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
Sakura groaned as she rolled over on her injured abdomen. She opened her eyes and recognized instantly the damp cell that Kabuto was so fond of. But she wasn't resting on the cold concrete...she had been sleeping on someone's shirt. Looking up, she realized that far from being alone, there were several individuals watching over her. Each held either the Sharigan or the Byakugan.
"Ar...are you alright?" One of them asked as he looked down at her through crimson eyes.
"Yeah." She replied, sitting up against the wall.
"My name is Kagemaru." The Sharigan holder said, cautiously holding his hand out in a greeting.
Smiling, Sakura shook it. The other's were quick to fall in behind him: There were three men, and one woman: Kagemaru, Ryuumaru, Gin, and Sango--she being the Byakugan holder.
"We're heard about our brothers and sisters--the ones you fought..." Ryuumaru began...
"We were left here to rot because we didn't want to fight you." Sango added.
"I don't blame any of you." Sakura replied with a smile. "When we get out of here, you can come to Konoha."
"The Leaf Village..." Sango's eyes grew wide.
"We've heard its an evil place..." Kagemaru said, "But I don't believe a word Kabuto says."
"Good." Sakura replied seriously.
"You were bleeding..." Gin began delicately, "I know how to share chakra..."
"I'm fine. Save your chakra." Sakura said, knowing they would need it to break out.
Skimming over the wound just enough to prevent a hemorrhage, Sakura focused on trying to find a weak point in the cell's design.
"Are any of the bars rusty?" She asked, testing the strength of the hinges.
"No...we've tried." Yuki sighed.
"Let me try." Sakura said as she angled her body away from the grating. Taking in a quick breath, she launched her chakra-powered fist at the bars. But far from crumpling, they reverberated her attack right back at her. Biting her lip to prevent crying out, she realized just how devastating her blows could be. She was starting to feel sorry for Naruto and Sai when Kabuto walked in.
"I see you're awake." He purred.
"Fuck you." Sakura replied evenly.
"Such language..." The nin'i tsked.
"I've been through this song and dance before, jackass. Get to the point." She snapped.
"You already know the point..."
"So, you're here to torment me."
"Exactly. And this time, I won't underestimate you."
"Go to hell."
"I'll meet you there very shortly." He smirked.
"Just fucking try to pull it." Sakura said, angling her body defensively.
"You'll cave soon enough, Haruno." He sighed off-handedly as he crept into the hall, humming a disturbing tune.
Sighing in relief, Sakura relaxed her tensed muscles and sat back against a molding wall.
"You're bleeding again." Sango said worriedly.
Sakura's chakra-haloed hand past quickly over the wound, sealing it again. "I probably shouldn't have challenged him. He might take it out on you guys..."
"Oh, no...he won't hurt us. He put too much time and energy into us." Yuki replied with a half-hearted smirk.
Sakura chuckled, stopping when the jarring movement threatened to tear open her stomach.
"Alright, then...back to this damn thing..." She said as she began testing the bars.
It was obvious they were made of a material similar to that which comprised Kisame's blade...but these had a much higher reverberation rate. They were designed to reflect any attack she or any of her new friends could muster...
"Hmmm..." She trailed off in thought, wondering exactly how she was going to get all of them out of this one.
TBC