Author's Note:
Almost at a hundred comments! Yay, thank you! The story is about to move faster now that we got through Sasuke's Capture Arch. Now's the interesting part. There will be tons of Sasuke and Sakura time now but believe me it's not going to be an easy ride. Itachi is still going to be coming up and then people are going to die--you'll never guess, believe me. So technically the crazy adventure starts now. --I think I've said that a few times already.... OH wELL!Chapter 23--You found me
So, here we are. That's pretty far When you think of where we've been. No going back
--
Neji lifted his eyes just once when Lee rose from his restless slumber. "It's morning. Do you want something to eat?" Neji only dropped his eyes indicating a negative response. The male sighed before hauling himself up and going out the tent.
Morning already. Early morning, around six, just before the sun was rising. He had waited in the same position for the last forty-eight hours only getting up when necessary but never gone for more than a minute. Sleep had come sparsely but it had come with unfathomably dreams. Watching Sasuke's sword pierce her again and again had been a torture he had not yet experienced. He hoped now he was immune. He hoped if it ever happened again in the future he would simple turn his head and not care. Yet he somehow didn't believe that.
Neji's attention snapped to her quickly. There had been movement. She groaned a barely audible sound. He activated his Blood Limit noticing now how bright her chakra signature was. She would be waking instantly. Neji watched her features. Fear was present on her brow and she struggled desperately to open them. His brows knit. She should know that he would be here. She should know there was no place else for him.
Disappointment was strong and reluctantly he reached out and quickly touched her shoulder. Her struggles faltered and her thoughts quieted it seemed. From her chakra she had calmed considerably and now concentrated on opening her eyes.
With much force she pried her lids apart, finding Neji's see through gaze staring down at her. Her brows knit realizing her location inside the tent, safe and wrapped in warm blankets. "What's," She swallowed harshly, her throat so terrible dry, "What's going on? What's happened?"
"What do you remember?"
TenTen sighed, relaxing enough to bring memories to the front of her black mind. "I was taken." Her breath quickened as the nightmare began to unfold. Her hand flew to her stomach, searching for blood, a hole or reminiscent of a stab wound. But all she find was a slight slit above her belly button. "I was stabbed." She whispered, looking to him to see if she remembered right. He just looked at her. And then her eyes widened with brutal realization. She flattened her hand against her stomach, looking down upon it as if to see proof to her theory. She turned her head to him in her panic. His purplish white orbs reflected nothing but it was his silence that told her what her eyes asked. Her lips parted, "It's gone isn't it." TenTen turned her gaze away not waiting for him to nod. She didn't need an answer.
TenTen sat up, holding her other hand to her head, the dizziness almost too much to bare. His voice sounded, "You lost too much blood. You shouldn't move."
Screw that, she whispered to herself, throwing off the covers, caring not for her nakedness as she grabbed new clothes from her pack and hastily put them on, while ignoring his voice for her to lay down. "Don't." She whispered when he tried to reach for her. She leaned against the tent, breathing out heavily as the world spun. She slipped her shirt over her, and grabbed her large scroll and again he tried to reach for her, "Don't touch me." She bit harshly, slipping on her sandals and dashing out of the tent. Neji followed her out only to watch her jump up into the trees and vanish.
Lee dropped his food and was about to jump up after her, "Stay." Neji ordered.
"She'll get hurt."
"She'll fight."
"Why is she running? Everything's fine, right?"
"It's fine." Neji reassured turning his back on Lee so the man wouldn't notice a lie.
--
Sakura panted heavily, jumping from tree to tree, her hands touched the snowy ground and she ran with blinding speed. The chilliness of winter's morning air was clogging her chest making it harder to breath but that wouldn't stop her. Every limp was aching, crying, and in agony, but that wouldn't stop her. Her chakra was draining faster with each passing second and she momentarily regretted not waiting for her strength to be one hundred percent, but that wouldn't stop her. Fear of hurting her friends, family, and co-workers was clouding her resolve but even that wouldn't stop her.
She has officially left her team, her village, her life.
Sakura felt a smile creep on her face. She was going to be with Sasuke. Finally.
Morning was rising. The forest was unusually quiet but then again, birds had migrated to warmer climate. Snow was a blanket of silence in the woods.
She kept running, despite being two hours away from her unbeknownst teammates. She couldn't sense anyone following her nor did she think anyone would yet, but she couldn't risk it. Neji knew, she couldn't tell if he would exploit her secret or not though she doubted it. He had enough worries.
Tears scratched at her eyes. They were drying in the cold wind quicker then normal. That was her mental excuse however. Her mind was telling her she shouldn't had left till TenTen or Ino had woken. But she had waited an entire day, allowing her chakra to rebuild in the process. Waiting any longer, her chance might have been lost.
She glanced to the corner of her eye socket, a momentarily lapse of judgment and she snapped her eyes forward again, knitting her brows in determination. No backward glances, no second thoughts. This was it. This was her choice.
She hoped Naruto would understand.
---
Rising from unconsciousness has not been a fun thing to do for Ino. But when Shikamaru's and Choji's voices guided her from the blackness of her mind, it was surprisingly the best wake up call. But of course, it had to end. With Temari's voice greeting her, oh so pleasantly.
With what chakra she had left she had made the terrible ache in her throat fade, though her voice still wasn't up to par. After eating just enough to make her teammates go away, she feigned sleep to wallow in her own self pity.
She laid with her back to the entrance, staring at the tarp of the tent, listening to the voices outside and waiting only for Shikamaru's voice.
Ino knew her feelings. She had known she liked Shikamaru for a long time but she had never fully grasped the reason for it. He was lazy, careless, and sarcastic. Everything that she absolutely hated about him. And he wasn't even that cute! For kami's sake.
But when he actually cares, when he's honest and looking at her as he had done while she was dying, all she had wanted was to tell him that she loved him. She wanted him to know it if she were to die. She needed that resolve in her life.
Now she was tempted. She wanted to tell him now and throw away any reason not to.
Yet fear was a terrible burdened.
Being denied was not something she could handle well again. It had killed her years earlier and it would no doubt kill her again. But that was not her only fear this time. Temari was cause for concern. Ino had no desire to hurt the woman physically or emotionally. And she knew how deep Temari was. She saw the emotion in her blue eyes. Temari loved Shikamaru and stealing him would break the woman's heart. That's if she could actually steal Shikamaru.
He thought of her as nothing more than a teammate. A teammate. When did that word become so freaking depressing?
Her mind fought her. If Shikamaru hadn't felt anything for her would he had said those plenty of words to her as the blood seeped from her neck? Would he had held her so tight that the pain was momentarily distracted to his hands?
She rolled over, her eyes going to the closed entrance. Should she tell him? Would it ruin their friendship?
Ino sighed, a hand rising to her neck, a finger running across the disturbing puffed skin of her scarred neck.
What right did she have to come between Temari and Shikamaru? They were both happy. Feeling sorry for herself wasn't a good reason. Jealousy, wasn't a good reason either. Could she actually admit that she loved Shikamaru? Sure, she was convinced when she was dying that she did but did she really? Does she love him enough to ruin everything?
"Ino." His voice annoyed her and she sighed to prove it. Ino sat up as he stepped inside the tent, a smirk was on his lips as he spotted her. "You should come out and hang with us."
She rolled her eyes and yet was surprised by the gesture. The fact that he even remembered she was here with Temari around was amazing in and of itself. Ino mentally scoffed. There she goes again, feeling sorry for herself. "I'm fine." her voice was a bit harsh and his smile slowly faded in response.
"You haven't come out since you woke up. You won't let anyone see you. I know what this is about." Her heart raced in her chest and she stared at him wide when he knelled down in front of her. She could swear it was written all of her face and he had finally read the markings. "This is about your neck." His finger ran across the line. Ino brutally pulled back stiffly and promptly zipped up her tank top, so very self conscious at the moment. "No one will care, Ino."
She scoffed, standing and walking the two feet away before coming to the tent wall. "This isn't about that." She gripped her thigh length hair over her shoulder to give her betraying hands something to play with.
"What then?" He sighed shoving his hands in his pockets as he stood too.
"It's nothing, I'm fine. Why don't you go back out there. I'm sure Temari is waiting for you." The bitterness sounded all too sharp and she silently berated herself for allowing such feelings to reveal itself.
"Ahh." He chuckled lightly, "You jealous finally?"
"Iie!" She quickly screamed, facing him with narrowed eyes. "Jealous of what! Her? As if! 'Finally,' like you knew I would be jealous--Which I'm NOT!"
Shikamaru tried to hide his smile but he was unsuccessful. Knowing her as well as he did he figured it was only a matter of time before she got upset about not being the only girl in his life. She wasn't jealous because she had feelings for him, she definitely didn't have feelings for him, but she liked being his 'one and only'. Shikamaru stepped forward, and Ino stiffened looking up at him, hating the height advantage he had over her. "I'll tell you something, but you can't tell her, or she'll probably break up with me." Ino silently scoffed, (how tragic that would be.) "After you were taken, Choji and I had already decided to come after you. I told her, and she told me to choose. Between you and her." Ino narrowed her eyes wondering where he was going with this. When she didn't figure it out, Shikamaru rolled his eyes whispering 'Mendokuse' under his breath. "I came didn't I?" He forced out in annoyance.
Ino eyes dilated and widened when the realization of it all hit her. He had chosen her. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, excitement filled each breath and a smile soon found its way on her lips. But it was only short lived as the words 'probably break up with me' echoed in her ear, knocking down all her happiness with the confusion that took over it. "But you guys are still together?"
"Well, she kind of took back her statement. She understands that teammates come first. She's just a bit jealous of you." (Teammates), Ino sighed and her gaze fell to the floor. But his voice filled her again as his footsteps went toward the exit, "Now you got something you can hold above her head. Only in your mind of course." He was gone when she looked up to him.
No matter that those two were still together, her heart pounded hard in her chest with exhilaration. He was telling her something that she should have known already. She would always be first. She would always come before Temari just on the basis that she was his teammate, and maybe even because she had been his first girlfriend.
Ino smiled wide. For right now, maybe being 'just a teammate' wasn't so bad. She could definitely make Temari's life a bit tougher. And possibly, chase her away without ever having to tell Shikamaru her feelings.
Ino exited the tent.
--
Kiba held tight to the letter in his grasp. Akamaru whined as he sniffed it, knowing who it belonged to. He stuffed it in his pocket when he heard Naruto and Hinata talking while they walked up from the river.
The whereabouts of Sakura had everyone concerned and with a quick sweep they only realized that she was no where near.
Upon searching he saw the letter that was addressed to Naruto but did not read it. He already knew what it had said. She had left. For an hour he stayed in his tent and noticed a different letter to the side. A letter meant for him. It explained things that didn't need to be said and things that she wanted him to know and understand. He couldn't blame her and he didn't. He was sort of proud of her, that she was able to go after what she wanted despite consequences. He knew he would never be able to do that. He also envied her in a way. She was freer then most of them. Maybe that's why she had become his best friend over the years. Her strength was a beautiful thing, and every morning he woke with her it made him feel a bit better about himself. It was truly confusing why he didn't love her.
He caught Hinata's gaze and he felt a smile grace his lips. She barely responded with a little raise of her own lips but her gaze then quickly dropped, shunning him it felt like.
Kiba took in a deep breath. Telling Naruto was going to be hard and he wondered just how well Naruto would handle it.
Naruto's bright smile faltered coming to an abrupt halt at the edge of the camp. The tension was undeniable. The pity was unmistakable. Something had happened that would shake his soul. He almost didn't want to hear it. Spending this morning with Hinata had been rejunivating to say the least. Her weirdness and shyness had slowly melted. Making her laugh had been an adventure he hadn't had the privilege of traveling till now. It was an adventure that always ended happily.
Naruto's gaze landed on Kiba when the man took a step forward. "Sakura's missing." His eyes dilated. "No one's seen her since last night."
Everything faded. The words were silenced and no one and nothing moved. Breath didn't come, and his heart didn't beat.
He ran, at a speed no one could see, only to find him at the door of her tent. His shaking hand lifted but upon finding it empty, he was incapable of moving. A letter was pinned to the back of the tent, her headband right beside it.
He closed his eyes. His hand fisted at his side. Not missing…
Left.
Two of his closest, and dearest friends, had left him.
Several of the ninjas present turned their gaze away. Their thoughts were selfish they knew but they were all grateful they hadn't yet experience the pain Naruto had now twice experienced. It was guilt they felt, and that made them unable to watch.
Hinata brought her fingers to her lips, gazing at his back that was so still and so rigid, a simple touch might shatter him. Her eyes knit in sympathy. She could feel the tears piling. How could Sakura do this to him? When she had been there to witness the damage it had done to him when Sasuke left? Hinata wanted to reach out to him, say something to him but she knew not the special words. Sakura was always the one before to make him see. Now he had no one.
Naruto stepped inside, the flap closing behind him, blocking out the world. He stared at the letter and stared at her headband that was pinned next to it. He had a smile on his lips but it was not out of happiness or anything related to it. It was out of irony. He hadn't thought Sakura would do this. Just as he had thought Sasuke wouldn't have. Amazing what people can get away with when you trust them.
He delicately took down the letter, his legs giving out beneath him and he rested back on his heals. Usually he would have gone out after her in a hurry. But this, this wasn't like Sasuke. She was clear headed, not out to get power, not out to hurt anyone. She was doing this, to make herself happy. How could he say no to that?
He unfolded the letter, closing his eyes upon her handwriting. He took a deep breath before he read.
Naruto,
You are my best friend. I hope you know that. And I hope this doesn't cause you pain. That's not what I want. But I can't let him go, Naruto. I want to help him in any way that I can and if that means leaving you all, then I must do it. Nothing you would have said would have kept me here. And this is not your fault. None of it is, and it never was. I'll look after him for you. They need you now, please take care of them. Remember that you are not alone even though we are not there with you. Please understand.
He folded it up and let it fall from his hands. "Sakura-chan." He whispered. "Sasuke."
Movement was behind but he did not acknowledge. He knew who it was by the small, unsure footsteps. "Naruto-kun." Her voice whispered all too gently, worry etched in her tone.
Naruto stood, reaching up to take down her headband. He held it tight in his grasp, and from within the confines of his orange coat he pulled out the familiar headband that he had scratched in effort to prove to Sasuke that they were equal. Again, his ironic smile was on his lips.
He held them both tight together in one hand as he turned and walked out. Hinata nervously and hastily backing out of his way and holding the flap open for him. Naruto caught sight of them all, some of their gazes refusing to meet while others waited patiently for orders. "Let's pack up and return to Konoha." He managed out, taking a few steps toward his own tent.
Ino's voice however stalled him, "We have to go after her. Naruto, we can't just let her go."
He stared at the ground, gripping the two metal insignias. "She has made her choice." He replied just above a whisper.
"Well it was the wrong choice. She's going to become a missing-nin if we don't get her back. You can't be serious. Act like a leader and tell us to go after her."
He did not move from his position, "Hurry and pack."
Shikamaru put a hand on her shoulder when she went to protest. She watched the blond man enter his tent before turning her raging eyes to her teammate. He held up his hand in defense, "It's his teammate, Ino. Let him be. When we get back to Konoha we will speak with Tsuande about a rescue mission." She was annoyed but it pacified her for the moment. Ino lowered her gaze, shaking her head, disappointed.
--
Sakura sucked in as much breath as she could, leaning over, resting her hands on her knees. Her chest hurt from the pounding of her heart and the expanding of her lungs.
Sakura straightened, a smile was on her lips. This was it. This was where he was.
She took a step forward. "Why are you here?" Sasuke's voice sounded from behind and she swung around, catching his form. Her eyes widened. The sun bled through the trees, shining down upon his figure laid out upon the branch, warming in the morning's chilly air. His head was rested back against the trunk, his gaze not even upon her but shut and relaxed.
She smiled, humoring the idea that he had been waiting for her, even though she knew better then that.
Sakura took a step forward but gasped with a quick stall. His body reappeared right before, the wind of his speed brushing through her hair. His sharingan eyes caught hers but she was unafraid staring back.
She took this time to realize that he was just slightly taller then Naruto. It was odd to finally notice after all of their close encounters.
Her lips widened in a bright smile. "I--"
But he had already been prepared for her response, "Go back. Sakura." He stepped around her, his footsteps shuffled against the snow.
She was unsurprised by that response. But this time, it wasn't going to deflate her will. She swung around, anger passing over her voice, along with a hint of desperation, "You walked out of my life before, I won't let you do it again."
He stalled in his step and slowly turned to face her. Sasuke analyzed her for a moment, her stance strong and unyielding. A much different stance from the night he had left three years ago. "You are of no use to me."
"You know I am." She took a step forward, "Let me stay with you."
"Iie." He turned once again toward the entrance of the cave.
"Sasuke!" Her voice sounded hoarse and she knew tears threatened her eyes but she swallowed them. "I left everyone. I don't want to go back. I want to stay with you. I can help you. Please, let me help you."
Sasuke shut his eyes, his sharingan fading. He didn't understand what he needed to do to get her away. He had stabbed TenTen, killing an unborn child in the process, to get her to hate him. Yet here she stood, un-wavered.
It had been his fault. He had gone back. He should have never gone back.
He quickly came to realize that the more he tries to destroy her feelings, the more of a monster he was becoming. It was another reason he didn't want her here. Despite what she believes, it does him no good to have her around.
"Return to Naruto." He stated once again taking a step forward but she had run so suddenly in front of him, his eyes snapped open. His gaze did not reveal any of his thoughts.
Her foot stomped the ground, causing tiny tremors beneath the earth. Snow fell from tree limps several feet from them. It was that action that made him think about how much she really held back during their mind battle. "I'm staying with you. Now we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. I'm afraid the hard way will alert them where I am. So unless you don't want all of them coming here, I suggest you make it the easy way."
"Hn."
A battle was not something he could afford at the moment. Not only would it attract Naruto and his followers but his chakra was still damaged from his weeks in prison. Not even his sharingan was up to par yet.
If he could just, slice her neck, right here and now he would. It would be all too easy.
He turned his gaze away in agitation. She may have her way for the moment, but ditching her wouldn't take too long.
Sasuke walked around her.
Sakura was wide eyed for a moment, a hand tightening on her kunai preparing for him to attack. But his footsteps kept walking. Her mouth dropped open, still and motionless, her heart thumping wildly until it clicked. He was going to let her stay.
A smile broke out on her lips and she spun around, running after him.
So who called it? Did you know Sakura was going to follow him? I'm glad I'm here and yet scared. I don't know what I"m going to do next lol. Reassuring huh? Don't worry, classes are getting more boring then usual, a perfect time to be creative :)