The blossom of Konoha lay within the Akatsuki compound feeling less then excited over the predicament. She knew that she probably could've fought harder to remain conscious after Sasori had let go of the stings, but she couldn't make herself. This was exactly the reason that she wanted to become stronger. She no longer wanted to be hidden the shadows behind her teammates ever again. She didn't want to be in the background. She wanted to be on the front lines with them, and they should know well enough by now that she was capable of such since she has become unhitable, even Sasuke couldn't touch her, and he was considered the fastest person alive.
But, look at her now. She was trapped within the Akatsuki's secret base, and no one would probably be able to find her. After all she had left on a whim, and she didn't tell anyone when she left the village. She had also used very random path to get to river country. Even with that though, she knew that Naruto would scour the entire globe in search for her, just like they had done for Sasuke all those years ago.
Her eyes snapped open at the mere thought of the raven haired man. Sasuke... He was gone. Forever this time, and there was no helping that. Her face scrunched up in sadness, and she had to force herself to not burst out in tears. She would not show the Akatsuki weakness, and vulnerability. Not ever. They would only think of her as weak and ultimately useless, and rid of her without a second thought. However, there was the possibility that they needed her. After all, Pein, Deidara, and Sasori had escorted her somewhere in the compound, and wanted to speak with her.
Deciding that thinking about Sasuke was just going to worsen her state she forced her thoughts to move to a question that was going to drive her insane. Two questions actually. One, how the hell are the Akatsuki back? Just that thought alone made her blood run cold. Two, why do they need her? Sure she was one of the best ninja in konoha, and a good medical ninja, but they didn't need medical treatment. As far as she knew, the Akatsuki themselves are completely hidden from the world. No one know's their back. Well, except for her, sadly. Just why do they need her, and kept her alive? She didn't understand.
She then looked to her battered arms, and tried to find enough chalkra to summon into her hands. Her brows kitted together when she tried, but to no avail, nothing was forming. Not only that, but chalkra depletion was a pain-fest when you try using chalkra, resulting in her nearly screaming from pain. She panted for breath, she was obviously not going to be able to walk for a few hours at best.
When turning on her side to see the room better, she moaned quietly from the pain. From what she could tell she was not in a prison cell, but an actual room. It was ordinary, and not to mention boring. White walls scoured the four walls, with wooden flooring. There was a small table beside her that had a simple glass of water, with a small chair in front of her bed. There was also a rather large wooden desk on the wall that was in front of her, near the door. Then there was her bed that was in the corner, opposite from the door. The only light in the room now was the candle that was on the desk, dancing randomly from it's position.
She wondered how long she was going to be here, probably locked inside, and in an eerily quiet room, until someone would arrive here. She was ready for anyone, but she hoped that someone wouldn't arrive any time soon. She was just mere moments from falling back into a deep slumber. With that, her eyes closed, and sleep claimed her faster then she had anticipated.
Naruto was going to go crazy. He was not only worried, scared, and distracted, but he was demoralized, and depressed. Sakura is gone, and no one knows where. Sasuke is gone. Forever this time, and there was no one that could bring him back. The funeral would be in two weeks, and he could barely even believe that his best friend was gone. His two best friends are gone. One killed, the other, unknown. He looked at his picture of team seven when they were genin. His normal happy eyes lay sadly on the past picture from years before. A lone tear fell onto the frame, and his face scrunched up in overwhelming emotion.
Konoha was following his emotions today it seemed. For it hasn't stopped pouring since yesterday morning. There wasn't thunder or lightning though. Sasuke would've probably smirked at the sight of it though. His main element of usage, striking down to the ground. Leaving a chard piece of land in it's wake. Just like Sasuke would after a battle. It was practically his trademark.
Sakura would've probably been in her room admiring the raindrops from her window. Thinking over past missions, and upcoming events. Complete peacefulness is what she had said a few years ago.
He, on the other hand would've looked at it with kitted brows, wishing that it would be over in a mere moment instead of it dragging on with the misery it held. Rainy days were the sad days for him.
The only even remotely good thing would be that the colors fitted Hinata's natural traits perfectly. The grey for her platinum eyes, and the blue for her long midnight blue hair. He could imagine her twirling slightly, her hair flailing from side to side as she did so. His girlfriend was at home in the Hyuga compound at the moment. He needed her right now though, badly.
When he looked out to the window he could see the rain, the sound like falling sand onto a hard surface. He set the picture down as he did so. A smile was the last thing on his face today, a true rarity.
Suddenly the door slammed open, and he turned his head slightly. Tsunade was in foul mood it seemed, but that was to be expected from Sakura's disappearance. The flower of Konoha was her student after all, and practically a daughter too.
"Naruto!" She bellowed, walking briskly up to him, and taking a fist full of his cloak, lifting him up to his toes.
He looked away, but Tsunade wasn't one he could possibly ignore.
"What?" he mumbled slightly.
She growled, "Your telling me. Right now. Where is Sakura Haruno!"
"I-I have no idea."
She growled again slapping his face hard before dropping him to the ground with a thump. He rubbed his cheek, looking up at the former Hokage.
"Don't give me that crap Naruto!" She snapped.
When he didn't reply she continued with her rant. "You are a Hokage, now act like one Naruto! Just what would your father think of his son doing almost nothing for his best friend?"
At the mention of his father his eyes widened, before he looked at her. She was right by all accounts, he had to do something, but he had sent out every ANBU guard that he knew was good enough, and came out with absolutely nothing. He couldn't very well go himself either, could he?
He then jumped up with an abrupt movement. He looked at Tsunade in the eye, and spoke with a new resolve. "I'm bringing all of Konoha 11 for this one. I would like you to resume my work while I am away."
Tsunade snorted with approval. "Just what makes you think that you'll get that opportunity to get it back?"
"Because, I did it the first time didn't I?" He said with a smile that he hasn't had in days.
With that he left the Hokage Tower for his duty as a friend. He may not have Sasuke anymore, but he still has Sakura. That was not going to change.
The a few hours had passed since Sasori had left the other Akatsuki members in the living room. As of now, he stalked to the Flower's room with an angered silence. The aurora seemed to follow him as he walked.
When he opened the door he found a soundly sleeping girl. His eyes narrowed at the form. She should not have let her guard down, but he knew that she would probably awake with a mere clank of the floorboards. He figured that him opening the door would wake her immediately, but apparently not.
Not being one to wait he slammed the door with his chalkra strings. He smirked darkly at the sound.
Sakura's eyes snapped open, and she jumped slightly out of the bed. She yelped as he body flew slightly in the air from her reaction. She groaned, and looked at the man before her with half of her face crammed in a pillow. She was vulnerable now. If Sasori was going to kill her, now would be the perfect time. Her brows knitted together slightly, as to question in exasperation why he had arrived.
"Now that your awake," The red head started formally, "I have a few things to discuss."
"Like how you practically let me drop to the floor after you left go of your chalkra strings?" Sakura mumbled.
He frowned, and his face grew dark with anger, and impatience. "Your not in a position to make unneeded statements."
"And yet, here I am, alive and well." She mumbled in return.
He scowled, his patience growing thin. He knew though that he would have to speak with less hostility then usual to get his point across to this girl, despite his overwhelming desire to kill her right then and there. "You know why we are called the Akatsuki right?"
"No. I actually don't, I was never given the information." Sakura stated disdainfully.
Walking over to the chair that sat beside Sakura's bed, he sat looking at her expressionlessly. "The reason is for new beginnings, as we, or more they like to say."
Sakura had no idea why they were speaking so freely with one another like this. It was almost like the death matches had never occurred. Sure the red head may have the same impatience as before, but it was as if something was different. It has already become far too obvious that their intent was not to kill her. Just what was going to happen to her?
Sakura then turned serious, "Why are you telling me this?"
Sasori narrowed his eyes at her, "I don't like to repeat my past words, but in this case it's needed, It's just as I said a few days prior, welcome to the Akatsuki. You are already part of the association, well, partially."
The flower then sat up straight in bed, causing extreme pain as she did so, making her nearly fall over again. Almost.
"I refuse! I told you this before!" Sakura yelled.
"You have no choice in the matter," Sasori sneered.
"Like hell I do!" Sakura retorted.
Sasori stood up abruptly, the chair falling over in the process, and he glared at the kunoichi in front of him. She glared right back at him. Flicking his fingers he forced Sakura against the wall, forcefully, but not enough to damage any recovered injuries. She struggled against the chalkra strings that bound her to the wall nearest her bed, and she growled in anger, glaring daggers at the puppet master.
His face was like a freezing winter day, he had no patience to argue with the girl. He however did need to talk to her without her trying to retort her feelings on the matter. He figured this be the only way that his point would come across.
Walking up to the girl in question he looked at her straight in the eye, "You cannot escape me, nor fight in your condition."
"It's your fault that I ran out of chalkra!" She argued.
"Your physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, It is almost entirely your fault."
Sakura's movements to fight back stopped the moment Sasori had said 'emotionally', and her brows knitted together, while tears started to cover the fire that usually encased her emerald green eyes. She knew that showing emotion would only worsen her state with Sasori, but she would never let the tears fall, not ever.
"You know why I left Konoha don't you?" Sakura asked sadly.
Sasori kept his face expressionless, but his eyelids dropped slightly, looking more lazy then annoyed. He knew more then what he should know, but with the Issue becoming faster, and his certain connection was starting to become stronger, almost godly fast. He knew that the connection was going to be stronger then he had hoped though, his emotions were starting to be more noticeable to others because of it. He hated his already written fate though, but he figured that it would be the opposite soon.
"More then I should," Sasori stated flatly.
Sakura looked down at that. She definitely did not want Sasori to know of her feelings for another member's brother. Itachi Uchiha's brother of all people. Swallowing up her sad emotions, she looked at Sasori with the most determination that she could muster in her saddened state.
"What do you know of it?"
He smirked slightly, but it was soon removed, replaced with his usual lazy eyes.
"It had to do something about a certain Uchiha. Itachi's brother, as far as I know, but that isn't a concern for me." He spoke, waving a hand dismissively.
When Sakura didn't respond Sasori changed the topic, to something that he needed acknowledged by her, "As I had said before, you are apart of the Akatsuki."
Sakura's face shot upward, facing Sasori with glaring emeralds. She seethed, and growled at him. She would never join this damn organization if it was her life on the line.
"I will never join you," She whispered in a deadly tone.
A tug on his lips appeared, and he put his hand on the wall, getting right into her face. "Your fate is sealed whether you like it or not, and either way there is something in it for you."
Sakura's brows furrowed. Just what was he getting at? "What are you talking about you bastard?"
"I'm talking about getting the one you love back." He stated with slight amusement, the smirk remaining in place.
The way he had said love, made it sound like he was mocking her. Like he would ever know what love is in the first place.
"You don't know what love is." She seethed with undoubtable hatred.
"Oh? You don't think so my dear? Well, then believe what you wish." He said with slight amusement.
She growled at him. "Just what the hell do you want with me anyway?"
His smirk faded, and he backed away from her, releasing the chalkra strings in the process. Maybe now the girl will finally be calm when speaking of certain matters that needed to be addressed. He then folded his arms while the pinkette settled back on the bed. It appears that she was at least momentarily ready to listen to what he had to say.
"Your here because you have a purpose in an issue." He decided to say.
Long awaited chapter perhaps? Yeah it's pretty boring, but I figure that you guys have waited long enough to at least get something. I have not only procrastinated, but I have been so flipping busy! Like crazy!
Well anyway, enjoy. Next chapter Sakura will get the information on her situation, as well as meetings with the rest of the members, and her discussion with Pein, Sasori, and Deidara that before she had fainted from chalkra depletion. 10,000 words now! With 5 chapters... I really need to lengthen them...
Please Review!
Ja-ne!
-Cassandra