Chapter Twenty-Five: Camaraderie Among the Condemned
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
Sakura woke early the next morning to find her cell mates clustered around her. Sighing sadly, she realized none of them could be much older than she was--and they had lived even less that she had...a few months and already sixteen years of their biological life had been taken by Kabuto.
"Sakura..."
She looked over at Sango, who was only just beginning to wake up.
"Yes?"
"Are you alright? You look sad..."
"I'm not sad...I'm angry that someone would do this to you." She replied, stroking the young woman's hair.
"But...we have you. And you promised we'd get to Konoha."
"A promise I will keep." Sakura replied.
"See? So, we just have to look forward to that...even if today isn't so great."
"You're very wise, Sango...but you can't comprehend what Kabuto is capable of. And I want to protect all of you from that."
"We've survived this long...even if we haven't really lived. Can you tell me about Konoha?"
"When we get out of here, I'm taking you shopping. And then we can all get some ramen. After that, I'll find all of you sensei--if you want to be shinobi. If not, I'll help you find what you do want to do. And you'll find where you want to live and you'll meet all sorts of wonderful people--both Leaf, Suna, and Mist...all kinds of people." Sakura smiled, closing her eyes and tasting the memories she had.
"I can't wait to see it." The girl replied.
Secretly, Gin, Ryuumaru and Yuki had been listening and at last they couldn't contain themselves and jumped up, asking dozens of questions and cheering excitedly at her answers.
And then the cell door slid open and Kabuto stepped in.
TBC