The Curse
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Discord
Sasuke scowled as his red and black irises flickered and he had to stop walking in order to squeeze his eyes shut, feeling his chakra stutter weirdly throughout his body before slowly fading into nonexistence, consequently causing his Sharingan to recede until only obsidian irises remained. His fingers curled, tightening into a fist as he tried to call up his reserves, but his frown deepened when nothing was gained.
A heavy hand fell on the Uchiha's shoulder and he blinked up at the owner, staring into grim royal blue eyes, though his brows were furrowed with characteristic determination. A few yards ahead of them, Raiden and Isamu were inspecting a dense, wooden door – which was irritatingly shut tight and locked. Behind him, Shin, Daisuke, and Akio were setting up a perimeter and creating a strategy for when the Corpses finally arrived to overrun the fourth floor of the palace.
"They can't come down the west hall since it has been blocked off," Shin informed Dai and Akio, "However, it does not mean that other creatures will not slip through hidden cracks of the debris."
"I'll set some trip-wire then," Daisuke responded, "A web. If something gets through, I'll know."
"We'll find her, Sasuke," Dark eyes slid back to Naruto who was staring at him in all seriousness, nodding his head twice for extra emphasis, "We'll find her."
It was difficult to be optimistic given the circumstances. Sasuke slid his gaze to Raiden and Isamu, both men pulling on the metal handles of the doors and exerting all their physical muscle strength, but it was presenting little results.
"She doesn't have chakra, Naruto," Sasuke couldn't help but point out lowly, "She's in the company of an injured comrade."
The blonde shinobi stared at Sasuke searchingly before removing his hand from his shoulder and offering a shrug, "Did Sakura-chan ever tell you about the mission that got her nominated for ANBU?"
Sasuke's brows furrowed with confusion and he watched Naruto shove his hands in his pockets before staring intently at the floor with memory.
"It was a little after the war ended," Naruto began, taking Sasuke's silence in stride, "I think you had been serving your time in Lightning Country; but Sakura-chan had been sent out to Rain Country to help train their medical units and to help heal their wounded. She was teamed with Genma and Hinata-chan," Naruto frowned before letting out a sigh, "A faction of ninja, who had been following Obito, managed to slip into the borders and attacked the village Sakura-chan had been staying in. A lot of people died," He had been frowning but a soft smile slowly twitched Naruto's lips upwards, "And you know, Sakura-chan. In all the chaos she came up with a strategy, rallied a group of Rain ninja, and just took charge – she stayed level-headed. She was able to analyze weak spots, enemy assets, and utilized her and her teammates' strengths to their advantage," His smile grew wider, "She saved lives," He laughed, "And of course, Sakura-chan got in trouble for it because 'things could have gone wrong' or she 'should have called for reinforcements' but in reality – she showed strength in leadership, she stayed smart and logical given the situation. If she had left and called for help then the village would have been destroyed before help could have arrived. If she hadn't shown her bravery things could have gone worse," Again, Naruto shrugged, "Sure, Sakura-chan has her reckless moments – heck, I have my reckless moments – but she's tough," Naruto steadily met Sasuke's gaze and smirked, "She's a kunoichi."
Sasuke sighed, "I know that."
"I know you do," Naruto agreed seriously, "And I know you're concerned. We both are. But we can't underestimate Sakura-chan either – or the lengths she'll go to, especially with Akemi-chan with her."
"It's those lengths that I'm worried about," Sasuke muttered, "This is the girl that took a blade to the back for me – a traitor – during the war."
"She took the blade for a friend," Naruto corrected earnestly; he shrugged once more, "Besides,I don't think there's anything Sakura-chan will do to risk herself," His amendment was accompanied by a growing grin, "I mean, she's got me to come back to. I'm her best friend!" Sasuke scowled and Naruto waved a hand dismissively, "Yeah, yeah, and you too, bastard – I suppose."
"Idiot," The Uchiha grunted as he finally moved forward, walking past the blonde to join Raiden and Isamu.
Isamu was running an aggravated hand through his shoulder-length dirty-blonde locks and Raiden was staring intently at the door, dark eyes narrowed in deep contemplation.
"…In the words of Souta…" Isamu sighed, "This sucks."
"Something is reinforcing this door," Raiden observed, rubbing a hand over his chin, "And it seems a lot heavier than the other staircase-doors I've opened."
"The ofudas?" Naruto inquired as he raised a hand and pressed it against the wood, closing his eyes and trying to call up chakra – but failing.
BOOM! BOOM! CRASH!
A collection of groans echoed and filled the empty hallways, resonating from the western corridor, muffled by the caved-in debris that blocked the path towards the southern wing.
"Time's running out," Daisuke warned, "Let's get that door open!"
Sasuke moved forward, stare roving across the hinges of the entry before sliding to the metal-rings that pulled it open. They were rusted but still sturdy.
BOOM! BOOM! CRASH!
The sound was closer now. And the following moans and hisses caused Naruto to surge forward and grab one of the metal-rings, grunting with effort as he pulled with all the strength he had.
"They're coming from the northeast stairs," Akio notified urgently before igniting a fierce fire jutsu.
"Cut the wood from the axels," Sasuke stated as he met his dark eyes with Raiden's and Isamu's, "Naruto and I will pull but we need to detach the metal from the wood so we can splinter it."
Raiden nodded, unsheathing a broadsword, while Isamu removed a tantō from his belt, "Alright."
Sasuke met Naruto's blue gaze and the Leaf shinobi shared a readying nod, before taking a metal-ring into each of their hands, and pulled. Naruto grunted and Sasuke held his breath, arms straining from the pressure as the sounds of Isamu and Raiden hacking against the wood echoed beside them.
"Fuuton: Kaze no Suraisu!"
"Katon: Endan!"
"Katon: Hirappa!"
BOOM! BOOM! BANG!
Raiden, Isamu, Naruto, and Sasuke all paused in their efforts, exchanging short, confused glances.
"Did that…" Isamu started hesitantly, "Did that sound just come from this door?" He immediately put his ear to the door, brows furrowing as he tried to listen through the wood and above the groaning and moaning approaching from behind them.
"Do you think it might be Corpses?" Naruto questioned.
"It's a possibility," Raiden frowned, dark eyes darting between the door and the encroaching enemy Shin and Akio were desperately trying to hold back.
"I hear…noises," Isamu started, trying to press closer to the door to hear better, "I hear…voices? Screaming?"
"Screaming?" Naruto repeated, concerned.
BANG! BANG!
Their earpieces suddenly filled with static, "–west stairwell, top floor! We're here!–"
Raiden blinked, "Akemi?"
"Please!" The sound had been more distant, subdued, but the fear and desperation in that one word caused everyone's eyes to widen with realization.
Isamu instantly shouted through the door, "Hey!"
Silence greeted them and Sasuke waited impatiently for a response.
Isamu opened his mouth to try again, "Akemi-chan – is that you?"
Another moment of silence before the muffled response was given, and Raiden and Isamu were immediately returning their efforts in splintering the wood of the doors from the hinges.
"Isamu-san!"
Naruto moved closer to the doorway, yelling above the noise behind him in urgency, "Is Sakura-chan with you?"
"She is! But sh-she's fighting! Hurry, please! There are Corpses and the Shadow! And we have no chakra!"
Naruto and Sasuke shared another meaningful look before their hands curled around the metal-rings, pulling on it with renewed vigor as they listened intently for anything through the wooden barricade that signaled Akemi's and Sakura's condition.
"Okay, we'll get you out! We're working as fast as we can!" Naruto assured strongly, pulling and hearing the wood crack and creak under his and Sasuke's holds.
"Hurry up!" Akio shouted with tension, "We've got Corpses on this side too – and they're adapting to our fire!"
"Akemi, stand back!" The sound of Sakura's voice – although muffled – caused Naruto and Sasuke to pull even harder, grunting with effort as their arms throbbed with the continued pressure.
Raiden's and Isamu's movements were becoming more harried as they stabbed their respective blades into the thick wood, uplifted as the more they cut through, the louder the cracks and splintering of timber became.
"HURRY!" Akemi's voice was hysterical with panic and fear.
"Almost!" Raiden growled as he cut his sword with frantic energy.
CRACK!
"ALMOST!" Raiden repeated loudly.
CRACK!
They were so close and Naruto and Sasuke pulled with everything they had, knuckles white and arms shaking.
"SAKURA-SAN!"
Sasuke and Naruto stiffened as they heard the terror-filled scream – and, although muted, it echoed loudly in their ears. As anxiety and adrenaline shot through their veins, Sasuke growled savagely as he felt his palms burn and Naruto shouted ferociously as his biceps ached.
"Come on!" Isamu shouted with determination.
CRACK! CRRACK! CRRRAAAACKKK!
The timber, attached to the metal-rings Naruto and Sasuke held, fractured, and both men took a step back with the loss of resistance. However, their bodies crouched, without any pause, the two Leaf ninja pitched forward, ducking under the still-raining debris of wood and metal, running without reservations into the darkness of the stairwell.
Akemi fell backwards – having been pressed tightly against the door – and into the protective hold of Naruto, who curled his arms around her body – royal blue irises still trained ahead and widening with fear as he watched the Shadow speed towards Sakura, arms outstretched with petrifying darkness and – Kami, why wasn't she moving?
"SAKURA-CHAN!"
Sasuke ran forward, unsheathing his Kusanagi, cursing the fact that he had no access to chakra to allow him the use of his fire jutsu. He watched with a stutter of his heart as the Shadow collided into Sakura and her fighting stance – enveloping her into a sphere of complete darkness.
"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled in panic and the Uchiha cursed, knowing he couldn't blindly stab into the sphere or else he'd risk attacking his teammate. Naruto growled, "What are you waiting for?"
"I can't risk hurting her!" Sasuke countered angrily before throwing a flurry of kunai towards a group of approaching Corpses.
SHRING!
Onyx irises narrowed as he tried to see beyond the swirling mass of shadows, frowning when he could barely make out movements, heart pounding in his chest as he heard the Shadow's triumphant hisses and Sakura's struggling grunts. He pinpointed the odd sound as metal quickly sliding against metal but couldn't discern where it was coming from and how.
SHRING! SHRING! SHRING…Sizzle.
A sudden red glow broke through the darkness of the sphere and Sasuke was able to glimpse Sakura within, holding a burning kunai in her left hand. She raised it with a scowl, striking it straight through the Shadow's left breast, and watching it light up both their expressions. The Creature grinned maniacally and Sakura sneered.
Sakura had physically lit an exploding-tagged kunai by the spark of quick friction of metal against the blade of her tantō.
The red-glow of the tag's fire burned brighter and Sasuke counted three-seconds until a contained explosion within the shadow-sphere shook the area. The Shadow flew backwards with a raging scream, disappearing into the darkness of the stairwell, Corpses blown back from the blast with her. Sakura shot out of the billowing smoke in the opposite direction – and into Sasuke's strong and protective embrace.
"Sakura!"
Sasuke quickly shifted her in his hold, hooking his right arm under her knees and propping her lower back with his left. He looked down at her, searching, raking his stare across her body, grip tightening as he noticed the blood drenching her front, the burn marks marring her skin, and a bite mark on her neck that shifted gruesomely every time she breathed.
'She's mine now…'
The Uchiha looked up, his dark eyes filled with murderous intent as they stared into the smug expression of the Shadow as she crawled forward on the top steps of the stairwell. Her grin made him wary as her gaze flickered to the woman in his arms, and he wanted nothing more to take the Kusanagi still gripped in his right hand and run it through her skin.
"S-Sasuke-kun…" Sakura whispered with weakened effort.
"Sasuke-san!" Isamu shouted behind him, "We need to go!"
Grunting, and with another fierce glare thrown towards the Shadow, Sasuke turned on his heel and ran out of the stairwell, following the lantern-light Isamu carried, watching Daisuke, Shin, Akio, and Raiden perform a combined attack that slightly cleared the corridor, and trailed behind Naruto – who guided a shivering Akemi further down the hall and through the threshold of their base of operations. Souta was halfway stepped out as he wheeled his arm in a hurrying gesture.
"…S-Sasuke-kun…" Sakura tried again, her shuddering breath spraying wetly across his neck, "N-Naruto…"
"I-Is she okay?" Akemi called out worriedly, tears streaming down her face as she was led by Naruto to a side of the room where she could sit down – though her olive irises never strayed from the woman in Sasuke's arms, "S-Sakura-san?"
SLAM!
The door closed loudly, signaling everyone's safety within the room, and Daisuke was quick to execute a series of hand signs, activating the ofuda-barriers with extra reinforcement.
"We need medics!" Isamu called and Kasumi was immediately by Akemi's side, unwrapping the bindings and splint from Akemi's leg, brows furrowing as she poured healing chakra into the badly-bruised and still-bleeding wound.
"Hey, how is she?" Naruto asked as he hurried over to Sasuke, royal blue irises skittering over Sakura's body and frowning deeply at what he saw, "Sakura-chan?"
Her emerald eyes were half-lidded and cloudy; she blinked sluggishly in the direction of Naruto's voice before a flinch wracked her body and she moaned in obvious pain. Naruto quickly pulled on Sasuke's shoulder, leading the Uchiha to another of the attached rooms and pointing to a corner where his jacket was laid out.
"Put her down here," The blonde looked over his shoulder, "Shin!" He looked back to Sakura and touched her right cheek gently; blood smearing onto his fingertips as she hazily looked at him, "Stay with us, Sakura-chan, alright?" His blue eyes were collecting moisture but he was trying his best to hold the tears back.
Sasuke laid out Sakura on Naruto's jacket as gently as he could, wincing himself when her breathing hitched from her shifting injuries, "Sakura," His voice was soft and he watched as her green eyes slowly slide back towards him, "…You can't–" He exhaled sharp and heavy, bowing his head and shaking it, "You just…can't."
"You're hopeless, bastard," Naruto muttered through a watery grin.
Sasuke didn't have the strength to glare. Instead, he kept his eyes trained on Sakura's, watching the brightened green begin to dim with unawareness. A sudden movement across from him signaled Shin's arrival and he was efficient in checking Sakura's body – gray eyes immediately drawn to the bite wound at her neck.
"W-Will she be okay?" Naruto asked fearfully, reaching out and taking her left hand in his, rubbing a thumb across her clammy palm.
"She's suffered a lot of blood loss," Shin informed as he hovered a green-glowing hand across Sakura's collarbone, "Naruto-san, I'll need some soldier pills. Kasumi's pack, please."
"Sure thing," He replied readily, hastily getting to his feet and running off to retrieve the items.
"…Fascinating," Shin whispered.
"What is it?" Sasuke questioned.
"Sakura-san's reserves have only just returned to her body when she left the stairwell," The older male explained, "Yet she's already trying to heal herself. It seems to be an unconscious mechanism but, it just goes to show, that she is a true expert of her field."
Sasuke looked down at the kunoichi who continued to blink sleepily at the ceiling – though the fact remained that she was still trying to fight unconsciousness.
"Here! I got them!"
Naruto knelt down beside Shin, his right hand extended and revealing a small, glass bottle filled with tiny, black pills that Sasuke recognized as soldier pills – which helped replenish chakra reserves; taking it would help with her body's natural healing, especially since she was without chakra for an extended amount of time.
Sasuke gingerly helped Sakura sit up, who whimpered and allowed Shin enough clue that her left leg was also bitten, which he quickly began to heal. Naruto rummaged through his pack and produced a water bottle, removed a black pill from the glass vial, and brought the small ball to her bloody-chapped lips.
"Come on, Sakura-chan," Naruto urged softly, pushing the object through her lips before following with the water bottle.
Again, Sakura moaned but swallowed the pill with Naruto's patient coaxing, Sasuke's hand unconsciously sweeping along her back in silent support. She flinched again as her body was slowly set back into a lying position, prompting Naruto to lift her shirt and reveal another bite mark on her left waist.
"What happened down there?" Naruto whispered as he stared at the bleeding indentations marked gruesomely into her pale skin.
"Whatever did happen, it really spooked Akemi-nee-chan," Souta stopped beside Sasuke's sitting form, a bundle of jackets held in his arms; he extended it in offering, "For a pillow. It's not much but…" He sighed, smiling weakly, "…It's the least I can do for saving Akemi-nee-chan."
Naruto grinned and leaned over, gratefully taking the bundle of clothes and gently propping it behind Sakura's head, "Thanks, Souta."
Souta nodded once, satisfied, and turned on his heel to rejoin the others, heading straight for Akemi, who was hunched against the wall, arms curled around her body and Akio's jackets slung over her shoulder. Akio sat close, at her direct right, and Raiden sat at her left, facing her and speaking in low tones that were responded in nods or jerks of her head.
"I've finished with the open wounds," Shin informed as he slowly stood up, "All she'll need now is some rest." When both Naruto and Sasuke nodded with accepted understanding, Shin walked away, leaving the members of Team Kakashi to themselves.
Naruto shifted so that he was sitting where Shin had occupied, gazing down at the blearily blinking woman with a mixture of worry and relief. He leaned over to better catch her attention and looked into her cloudy eyes.
"Hey, Sakura-chan," He whispered, running a hand through her hair, streaking the red blood through her pink tresses, "You're safe now. Sasuke-teme and I will protect you. So rest now."
Her body seemed to lose some of its tension, relaxing under his tender ministrations, blinking once before sliding her gaze towards Sasuke. Her right hand slowly reached out, crawling to the side before tugging weakly on the fabric of his pants. Sasuke instantly grasped her hand within his own, enveloping her cold palm into the warmth of his hold.
"You're safe, Sakura," Sasuke repeated softly in assurance, never breaking her cloudy eye-contact.
"Close your eyes, Sakura-chan," Naruto advised gently, smiling, "We'll be waiting right here, when you wake up. Promise."
With a final shuddering breath, Sakura nodded her head ever so slightly before closing her eyes, ceasing her struggles and letting unconsciousness finally take her. Her hand went lax in Sasuke's hold and the Uchiha had to actively remind himself that she was only sleeping.
"…Kami, Sakura-chan's tough," Naruto complimented proudly as a grin broke across his features, "She survived the underground levels of hell. That's our girl."
"Hn," Sasuke grunted, keeping one hand around Sakura's while the other took the discarded water bottle and removed a wash cloth from another bag; and then, with a gentleness not many knew Uchiha Sasuke possessed, he began to clean off the blood that decorated her soft skin.
"But I'm really glad she's safe," Naruto admitted seriously, helpfully brushing back her hair when Sasuke took the cloth to her face, "It's not Team Kakashi without her, you know?"
"…Aa," Sasuke agreed softly, pushing up her shirt just a fraction so he could clean the crimson that was also painted there.
"And we're invincible," Naruto continued with a more brightened grin, "When the three of us are together, we are," He shrugged good-naturedly as his grin remained, "Kaka-sensei, Sai, and Yamato-taicho too…And two of them will be here soon enough."
Sasuke didn't say anything, silently running a hand down an indentation of bite marks on her side, a frown tugging his lips.
"Sakura-chan's amazing," Naruto whispered softly, prompting Sasuke to glance up at his blonde best friend, only to find his royal blue eyes gazing affectionately at the resting woman, "I'm really lucky to have her as one of my best friends…"
Sasuke shifted uncomfortably as he studied the glint in Naruto's eyes; in fact, the way Naruto had behaved once Sakura had returned to them – the care and gentleness and love – was something he couldn't help but notice. His mouth opened in slight hesitation, "…You've always loved her."
Naruto blinked and looked back at Sasuke with curiosity, "Yeah; always have and always will."
"Then why didn't you two…" The Uchiha trailed off and his gaze wandered to Sakura's limp hand, wondering why having it in his hold made him anxious when Naruto had done it so many times before without trouble.
Naruto smirked, "Yeah, I was in love with Sakura-chan, I won't deny that. But Sakura-chan didn't see me the way I saw her and I accepted that. So I opened myself up to other options and it led me to love Hinata-chan," Naruto shrugged, "There'll always be a special place just for her but I've moved on too and I'm happy about it – because I found someone who can love me just as equally as I love her: something that Sakura-chan couldn't give me. I won't stop loving her because she didn't love me, but I'll let her go so we can both find the people who deserve our respective feelings."
Naruto shifted so that he could lean against the adjacent wall and Sasuke was suddenly reminded of the surrounding moans and groans from the blood-thirsty Corpses just outside of their ward-protected rooms. Disturbing shadows elongated across the shojis that led to the veranda, and their comrades stood several yards away, quietly discussing their next plan of action.
"…You're a lucky guy, Sasuke-teme. Don't take advantage of it," Naruto studied Sakura, his soft voice interrupting the Uchiha's thoughts, "Don't take advantage of her," He directed his stare back to Sasuke and gave him a challenging look, "Or I'll beat you into the ground, bastard."
Sasuke reflexively scoffed before looking back at Sakura, "…Idiot."
"Oh, you know you love me," Naruto chuckled teasingly but silence followed and the men of Team Kakashi reveled in the fact that they were all still alive and within close distance of both their teammates.
Sasuke set aside the damp towel he had been using to cleanse Sakura of her blood-stains and retook her right hand in both of his. Her skin was cold and he tightened his grasp to help warm her. He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, and blocked out the images of the Shadow embracing her in darkness. However, he couldn't help but let her hissing words echo in his mind.
'She's mine now…'
"No," Sasuke muttered lowly as he stared at Sakura with intense dark eyes – effectively catching Naruto's curious attentions – the Uchiha hesitantly raised his left hand and caressed it over the marks left on Sakura's collarbone, up her neck, and through her pink hair, "They won't have you. I won't let them…"
Sakura shifted, moving her head closer, into Sasuke's touch, and Naruto turned away from the scene, and let the smile on his face grow.
Akemi blinked down at her shredded leggings, the skin beneath a little bruised but unmarred by the stark-white of bone and the deep-red of blood. Experimentally, she lifted and stretched the limb, feeling no repercussions from the movements and even allowing a little chakra to flow steadily throughout her system to confirm that it had returned to her body. Without pain of injuries or the helplessness of lacking chakra, Akemi couldn't help but feel like the past few hours in the underground levels were but a dream – no…a nightmare.
But it was like she had woken up – yet the frown remained on her lips, deepening as she ran an index finger lightly across the once-broken skin.
She couldn't – wouldn't – forget what had happened, especially with what Sakura had to do in order to keep her safe. She licked her dry lips as she traced her fingers along a group of indentations on her right arm before opening up her right palm for her viewing, remembering the warmth and security that Sakura's hold provided. A tear slid down her cheek – without Haruno Sakura, she would undoubtedly be dead.
"Hey," A gloved hand reached out and took the hand she had held up for examination; her olive eyes blinking before panning upward to connect with Akio's, "If you need to talk about anything, Akemi, I'm here."
"…I know," She finally answered in a soft whisper.
"What happened down there?" Akio asked, hesitant but curious.
Olive eyes flickered across the room to see Team Kakashi sitting in silence, Sasuke watching diligently over Sakura's supine form, and Naruto only feet away in protective vigil, "…It's kind of a blur, Akio."
"Don't talk about it if you don't want to, Akemi," Raiden amended softly at her right as he watched her eyes glaze over with memory.
Akio instantly nodded his agreement, "Yeah, I'll understand. I don't want to push you."
Akemi blinked and shook her head, "…It's just – I wouldn't know where to start. It was dark and we were attacked and there was blood and we ran. It was one thing after another. There was a girl who wouldn't stop crying and a mob of corpse children and the screams were just…" She trailed off with another shake of her head.
"…Well, shit," Akio breathed, leaning back against the wooden ramparts, "That sounds like…" He shook his head much like his sister and sighed, "Just…Shit."
"I apologize, Akemi," Raiden whispered, "It was my fault."
Akemi's brows furrowed, "You didn't know, Raiden. It's not your fault."
"But I should have known better," Raiden countered self-destructively.
"Please," Akemi whispered as she shut her eyes, "Please just stop. It's over now. Let's just move past it, okay?"
Raiden sighed, albeit reluctantly and guiltily, but nodded his head nonetheless, "Alright."
And Akemi curled her hand tighter around her brother's, using the hold as an anchor to reality and an assurance that she was back in the presence of multiple comrades – protected by ofudas and surrounded by the people she cared for and was cared by.
"…I'm afraid of the dark…" Akemi admitted and both Raiden and Akio looked at her with respective curiosity and surprise; she squeezed Akio's hand tighter and blindly reached for Raiden's with the other; briefly, her eyes, flicked off to the side where Souta was sitting – and listening intently – and she met her olive irises with puzzled chocolate, "I'm afraid of the dark. So…don't let the darkness take me and, damn it, don't let it take you all too."
After several moments, Raiden's and Akio's hands squeezed hers in reply, and Souta allowed a shaky smile to lift a corner of his lips, "It's a deal, Akemi-nee-chan."
Isamu leaned against the wall, beside the door that led to the north wing hallway. His arms were crossed over his chest and his grey-blue eyes were trained on the floor, brows furrowed with thought as he half-listened to the moaning and groaning, and the occasional bumping and stumbling, sounding from the other side of the wall he was propped up against. His gaze flickered upward to the shoji doors directly across from him, the light of the lantern allowing the shadow of the Creature to loom eerily across the paper-thin barricade.
"This is stupid," Takeru muttered, leaning against the wall to the right of Isamu and glaring at the floor, "We're in the fucking heart of all this mess and we're holed up in here – doing jack-shit."
"By all means," Daisuke murmured grumpily – clearly not in the mood as he waved a hand at the door Isamu stood beside, "Go out there and explore away, Takeru. Let's see how long you last."
"Daisuke," Shin reprimanded sternly, even when his tone had been quiet – the dark-haired male was sitting nearer to the center of the room, an empty scroll laid out before him as he began to draw a decent map of the castle's interior design.
"We shouldn't split up when we have all just regrouped," Kasumi pointed out from her position across from Shin, her light blue eyes following his progress of the map, "There isn't much more we can do. And Sakura-san's safety and health is a priority."
Isamu's gaze reflexively flickered to the left – towards the next room over – and glimpsed the Konoha ninja gathered closely together. Naruto was leaned back, eyes closed, but chakra sill roiling with consciousness. Sasuke's head was bowed, his back towards the Rain shinobi, but undoubtedly keeping close watch on Sakura, who was still lost to the world in blissful unawareness. From the snatches of conversation he had heard from Akemi – and the various injuries the Suzuki twin and Leaf kunoichi had emerged from the underground levels with – he had no doubt that what they had faced was far from pleasant.
'Quite brave…' The dirty-blonde male couldn't help but think.
"This has all gone to shit," Takeru grumbled characteristically, "We've entered this hellhole for nothing except for useless information that we didn't have to risk our lives for. All I know is that we have a fucking traitor in our midst," He threw a glare across the room, "Wouldn't be surprised if it's that damned Uchiha–"
"You know what, Takeru, shut the hell up," Daisuke growled, navy irises piercing straight through coal, "How about I point all my fingers towards you? You haven't been the most ideal comrade lately. You could be just as much a traitor as anyone else!"
"Daisuke," Shin warned once more – this time raising his eyes to fix Dai and Takeru a hard glare, "Takeru. Both of you – stop."
"I'm just saying," Takeru grouched, crossing his arms over his chest, "We're wasting our fucking time just sitting here and doing nothing."
"Then what do you propose we do?" Surprisingly, it was Isamu who spoke, his tone filled with genuine curiosity for the older male's response.
Takeru directed a mean glare at the Rain ninja but Isamu remained unaffected, blinking with innocent inquisitiveness as he unflinchingly met his gaze. Takeru then turned away with an unintelligible mumble, but Isamu could have sworn he heard 'I wasn't talking to you, damn it'. The Rain Jounin, however, let the statement slide off him with a careless shrug.
Dai suddenly ran an irritated hand through his brown hair, "Damn it, I hate to agree but maybe Takeru is right. We should be doing something! We're here, now, so we should be taking advantage of it!"
"Exploration under these conditions is dangerous, Dai," Raiden replied from the other end of the room. A sweeping glance towards him and he found Akemi leaning her head against his shoulder, having succumbed to sleep, though her left hand remained tight around her brother's, who was speaking softly with Souta.
"There must be something," Dai pointed out desperately, "Tests? Observation? Something!"
Again, Isamu's grey-blue eyes slid towards Team Kakashi. Sakura remained motionless and Sasuke and Naruto were speaking in low voices. Apparently, they hadn't been oblivious to Takeru's ranting as Naruto glared royal-blue irises in the older Bird shinobi's direction.
"…The Throne Room."
All eyes shifted towards Shin, who was staring down at his map, tapping the wooden tip of his paintbrush against the unknown territory of the ground floor.
"Were you able to find out what was inside?" Shin continued as he looked over his shoulder towards Raiden.
The Bird Jounin shook his head in response, "No. Sakura-san examined it and said there was something blocking the entryway from opening."
"It's a rather large space," Kasumi observed as she glanced down at the map, "Perhaps something of importance could be housed inside?"
"Then maybe we should find a way to get in there," Daisuke suggested, sitting up straighter.
"It's still too dangerous," Raiden pointed out as he shook his head.
"We can send Takeru," Akio spoke up, a smirk twitching his lips as he bravely met Takeru's glower, "He seems eager to get shit done. Aren't you?"
"Shut up, brat."
"All bark and no bite," Souta muttered softly.
"We should wait until morning to explore it," Shin stated as he looked over his shoulder towards the ominous shadow of the Creature. It had shifted, standing closer to Team Kakashi, positioned so that it looked like it was staring right at Sakura's sleeping figure. Naruto was scowling, verbally debating with Sasuke about 'doing something about it'.
"Everything happens at night," Daisuke argued firmly, "This is the time to do what we need to."
"What's your plan then, Daisuke?" Shin challenged, "What is it, do you think we can do, given the situation?"
Dai shook his head, running another irritated hand through his hair, "I don't know. What about the chakra armor? Let's use it to our advantage."
"We have never used those wards in the presence of the enemy," Kasumi pointed out, "It was given to us as a last resort protection; not to use to actively go into danger."
"I understand Sakura-san's reasoning," Dai explained patiently, "But if we have the tools, we should use them."
"And who's going to be willing to wield those tools?" Raiden questioned; when Akio and Souta hesitantly raised their hands Raiden fixed them with hard glares, "You two aren't able to maintain the chakra armor, put your hands down," Both boys scowled but did as told; Raiden returned his attention to Dai, "Team Kakashi isn't in their right mind to go out there – Sakura-san is injured and Naruto-san and Sasuke-san will not leave her side; my chakra is too depleted to maintain the wards, and Kasumi and Shin used their reserves to help heal Sakura-san and Akemi. Akemi is completely out of the question."
"Of course I would go," Daisuke reasoned, "It's not like I haven't been out there before."
"Not with untested use of the chakra armor," Shin indicated seriously, "And not alone."
"…I'll go with him."
All eyes snapped towards Isamu. The Rain ninja's eyes were trained on Shin's map, lips twisted with thought. Slowly, he raised his gaze to connect it with everyone else's in the room.
"You have never practiced using the chakra armor, Isamu-san," Kasumi stated.
Isamu shrugged, "It can't be that hard," He scratched the back of his neck, "I mean, give me an hour to practice a bit," He looked around, "We're not going anywhere, anyway, right? And we have all night…?" He trailed off, waiting for any kind of debate.
"Sounds like a plan," Daisuke stated after a few beats of silence, grinning.
"…I'll go too."
All eyes snapped towards Takeru with obvious surprise.
"…What?" He growled, turning away to avoid their blatant staring, "I fucking brought it up anyway. So I'll go."
"…Whoa, did I just…die or something? I've got to be dreaming…" Souta murmured as he pinched his arm and flinched, "Kami…I'm awake."
"Shut your trap!" Takeru scowled.
"Alright," Dai spoke after getting over his own shock, "Both of you follow me. Let's get a little practice in to use the wards."
Isamu nodded and Takeru grunted, both pushing off their respective walls and following Dai into another room, past Team Kakashi, and settling themselves in a place to obtain the best concentration they could manage. The Rain ninja side-glanced Takeru warily as the older male's harsh features briefly met his grey-blue gaze in an expression of impatient expectance. Isamu quickly looked away and did his best to hold in an amused chuckle.
Working alongside a willing Kurosawa Takeru – he didn't think it was possible. Yet in the probable words of the gruff-and-tough Bird shinobi – whatever it takes to get shit done.
Forgive him, but Takeshi Isamu couldn't help but allow a soft, incredulous snort to escape him.
Naruto curiously watched the three shinobi sitting quietly together the next room over. He and Sasuke hadn't been oblivious to the conversation that had transpired between their other comrades. It was no surprise that Dai – and Takeru – were eager to continue their mission of exploration and discovery. Isamu was a strange guy to willingly volunteer but Naruto probably would have done the same thing if it meant getting answers. However, just as Raiden stated, he wasn't about to leave Sakura's side – especially when he promised her that he would be there when she finally woke up.
"What do you think they'll find?" Naruto questioned lightly, observing as Takeru cursed as his control on the chakra armor sputtered out after two minutes, "In the Throne Room?"
Sasuke didn't know – so he didn't answer; which really didn't surprise Naruto.
"You know what?" Naruto continued as he delivered a short glare over his left shoulder to the Shadow standing just beyond the shoji, "I haven't heard a thing concerning the Little Girl. Where do you think she is?"
Again, Sasuke didn't know – so, once again, he didn't answer. Naruto shifted his gaze to stare at the silent Uchiha; expression softening as he watched his best friend whose dark eyes never wavered from Sakura's slackened features, right hand having yet to release hers.
"…You love her," Naruto whispered, echoing Sasuke's earlier observation. Obsidian irises flickered towards him briefly and his shoulders hunched forward, lips tugging downward with an expression Naruto recognized as discomfort.
Sasuke didn't know…but–
"…I…" His voice was soft and he paused, "…I…"
–at least he tried to answer.
Naruto smiled sympathetically, "…You know, it's okay to care about someone – it's okay to love someone."
Sasuke's frown deepened and his thumb brushed against Sakura's knuckles, "…People I care about, people I've loved, it's like a curse upon them. Bad things always seem to happen."
Naruto matched his frown – though he was grateful that the typically-silent Uchiha was opening up to him, "…Hey, I'm okay, aren't I? Team Kakashi is fine. And we've already acknowledged how tough Sakura-chan is. She can handle herself," He grinned, "Give her some credit; she can definitely handle you, bastard."
Sasuke shook his head, a slight upward pull tilting his lips, "…Idiot."
Naruto smirked, but his eyes held seriousness as he caught Sasuke's gaze, "But hey – we could die tomorrow if tonight hasn't already shown us the dangerous 'what-ifs' that we can face. So, like I said earlier, don't take advantage of it," He smiled encouragingly, "No regrets."
Naruto's final words caused Sasuke's hold on Sakura's hand to reflexively tighten. He looked down at her pale face and reached out his left hand to caress her soft cheek.
Haruno Sakura was the intelligent girl who used to follow him during their youth. She was the girl who cut her hair to protect her teammates. She was the girl who stood up to him when he was about to make the stupidest decision of his life by leaving the Hidden Leaf. She was the girl who trained diligently and trailed him with determination so she could bring him back home. Haruno Sakura was the woman who remained by his side during his darkest hours; she was the woman who took a blade for him to protect him; the woman who told him her views of his actions and opened his eyes. Sakura was the woman who fought for him during his trials against the Shinobi Countries; the woman who urged him back into Konoha's society; the woman who trained with him and healed him and kept him sane whenever Naruto was around. Haruno Sakura was the woman who forgave him of his transgressions, resolutely stood by his side, and defended him and his worth as a shinobi and as a person. Sakura – who allowed him to stay at her house after difficult missions; who cooked him dinner when he wasn't his healthiest; who healed his wounds without consideration to her own; who spoke to him with easiness and without fear or condescending; who walked beside him without regard to the whispers and rumors; and who stared at him with genuine kindness and care. Haruno Sakura was the woman who never stopped loving him.
She was far too good for him. Yet – no more regrets. He wanted to be selfish.
Decidedly, Sasuke nodded his head once, "Aa." Naruto watched the Uchiha's lips quirk upwards once more before running his left hand gently through her pink hair, "I love her."
Naruto grinned brightly, "Oh yeah, I definitely believe it."
A/N: YES, THIS IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I HAD INITIALLY WRITTEN, BUT I LIKE THIS VERSION BETTER, YO! I apologize for that whole Chapter Twenty-Nine fake-out. It was really an Author's Note that had informed my readers that I was rewriting the last few pages of the previous chapter and this new revision DEFINTELY lays out the groundwork for the future chapters better than the last one, which felt a lot more rushed.
I did want to add that last bit about Sakura's condition in this chapter but I think it would have dragged on a bit and would have ruined the moment of Sasuke's revelation. I'm being vague about it in this Author's Note in case there are new readers that didn't read the older version of Chapter Twenty-Eight. BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONFUSION AND AS APOLOGY I'm hoping to UPDATE THE NEXT CHAPTER within 3-4 days. I really am sorry for the misunderstanding guys, but I really hope you guys like this revised version better! In my Author's Note I mentioned that I don't do rewrites usually but I wrote Chapter Twenty-Eight at around 3AM and then posted it without too much thought – which is bad to the OCD side of me who HATED the chapter after I reread it in my more awake moments…
BUT ANYWAYS I hope you liked this chapter, I'll update again ASAP!
AND OMG 1000 REVIEWS! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! THANK YOU!
Next Update: 3-5 Days
Next Chapter: Chapter Thirty: Contact
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and Company – only the Original Characters and Plot.
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~Len