Hey there :)

Well, I am currently in a massive procrastinate mood (I don't want to do a powerpoint! Technology = scary) So I though, 'hey I'll put up the next chapter!' So here it is.

Oh, and I got a review! Squee! First ever review... Ever! So thankyou very much to that person, it made me smile :) Virtual cookies and icecream for you :)

I kinda maybe forgot to put a disclaimer at the start of the last chapter, so Me No Own Naruto. (If I did, I would de - virginise many of the male characters XD) shh...

Chapter 2

Sasuke was pretty pissed. Orochimaru had ordered everyone to move to a new hideout at the last minute, and Sasuke hadn't had any time to himself since. They were now back at Oto. The place had been fixed up and a new entrance had been installed.

'Incase anyone is keeping a surveillance on the original entrance' Orochimaru had said when Sasuke asked him why. It made sense, but their new entry was just ridiculous.

It was at the bottom of a river bed. Of course.

So to get into the hideout, Sasuke had to extend a massive amount of chakra to move and hold the water, then fit through this tiny trap door, walk to a heavy waterproof door and go through it, all the while keeping the river water at bay. He wasn't allowed to let that water drop until the waterproof door was sealed shut properly. Ugh. So annoying.

But Sasuke did have to admit that it was an effective method of keeping out unwanted visitors.

This resolve didn't lessen his pissy mood. He'd had hardly any sleep in the last four days. He had told Orochimaru that he was going out for a few days. He just needed that time to himself. Needed to relax. And maybe break a few things along the way. Just vent.

He was pulled up short when he heard a high pitched scream of pain, about five hundred metres to his right.

He thought about it for a moment. Should he go and check it out? Nah. That was definitely been a female scream, and if he got someone fawning over him he might well put a Chidori through her. Better to leave it. He kept going until he heard the scream again, fainter this time.

"NO! Don't touch me, you bastard! Don't you fucking touch me! NO…"

Sasuke almost missed the next branch. He knew that voice. And he also knew that she may fawn over him if he saved her, but he knew that she was a renowned medic nin, and that she could give valuable information on Konohagakura and give Kabuto a few pointers. Sasuke winced when he thought back to the last time he had gone to Kabuto for a check up. Yeah, Kabuto could definitely use a few pointers.

Sighing, and hoping he wasn't about to regret this, Sasuke flew towards the source of the voice, masking his chakra as he went.

Sasuke reached the clearing just as a man finished removing Sakura's shirt. He heard Sakura plead with the man, "d… don't do this. Please, just leave me alone." He heard her voice break and wondered why she wasn't struggling. No matter. The man who had cut her shirt away answered her, "I don't think so." Sasuke focused on his chakra and made six Chidori Senbon needles, which he threw into the temples of the six men sitting around the campfire. Their bodies all convulsed and slumped forward, without one of them making so much as a peep. Sasuke was glad.

He looked at the remaining man and realised that he had cut away Sakura's pants as well, leaving her in her bra and underwear. Sasuke waited in the trees, deciding what to do next. Which way best to kill him? Killing the other men had felt good, but it didn't compare too killing a man up close. Watching the life fade from their eyes and knowing that you are the reason that the life has fled is a feeling beyond words. It was one of the few times Sasuke felt completely empowered and vulnerable at the exact same time. He loved it.

The man spoke again. "Are you a virgin? You'd better hope not, because not me, or any of my men are going to treat you nicely if you are. Personally, I hope you are. I always like to hear them scream." The man suddenly perked up and raised his voice, addressing his dead team. "We like the screamers, don't we boys?" Sasuke could feel the man's anger and confusion when his words were met with silence. He started to turn around and say "when I talk to you, you answer me, dammit!"

Sasuke watched as his eyes fell on the scene before him. His face was almost comical with shock and Sasuke had to repress a snort of laughter. "What the fuck happened here?" The man said, and Sasuke took this as his queue to reveal himself. He slowly sauntered towards the man, a light smile on his lips. Bloodlust was roaring in his ears. "Who the fuck are you?" The man ordered him, and Sasuke smirked at the growing panic evident in the man's voice. He started stepping backwards, matching Sasuke's advancing steps. "I told you to tell me who the hell you are!" He screamed just before he tripped over Sakura's body. He once again had to repress a snort at the man's expression, but he was quickly growing bored of the game. The man attempted another futile attempt to get Sasuke to speak. "What the fuck do you want? Who the fuck are you?" The man was afraid. Sasuke knew that the man was already sure of his fate. "Answer me, dammit!" Sasuke smiled completely this time, deciding to give the man some form of answer before his end.

"Whether I tell you my name or not makes no difference to your situation. You'll be dead long before you can imprint it in your memory," he drawled. He was bored now, and his bloodlust had to be sated. He raised Kusanagi high above his head before bringing it down in a massive arch, making the blade bite into the man's skull. A small light died in the man's eyes as his life force left him.

He left Kusanagi there for a moment, before yanking it out.

"A… arigato, sir." He heard a small voice squeak. He risked a glance at Sakura, and turned away to wipe Kusanagi clean of the blood.

"Hn." He said, surprised she hadn't flung herself on him yet. Not that he was complaining.

When he looked at her again, he saw that she had passed out. A long cut trailed down her forearm, pumping blood all over her arm. Sasuke sighed and pulled a bandage out of his satchel. He quickly tied it around her cut tightly and secured it. A large blood stain quickly spread along the bandage. Next, Sasuke removed his shirt and put it over her. He noticed a bruise like welt encircling both of her upper thighs and upper arms. He wondered what had happened, but dismissed it as the bruises from whatever they may have used to bind her. Lastly, he picked her up and brought her over to the fire, so that she could keep warm and he could sit down while waiting for her to wake up.

When Sakura's eyes slowly flicked open, she saw Sasuke sitting on a log, staring at the fire.

"Sasuke?" She croaked, barely able to make any noise. He looked at her and her heart faltered. Day – um. Her inner self whistled.

"Hn."

"Wh… what are you doing here?" I am not stuttering because he is looking at me, and because he is… *drool*… shirtless…

Sasuke shrugged.

Sakura huffed, then winced when the motion hurt her chest. "Could you help me sit up, please?" Butterflies went through her stomach at the thought of his hands on her shoulders… Or anywhere else…

"Hn." When Sasuke didn't move, she took this as a no. Damn.

"Please, Sasuke. I can't move."

"Why?"

Sakura scowled. "Because that arsehole severed all of the nerves going to my legs and arms, along with some of my muscles. Now help me sit," she ordered him. Taking her eyes off him, it was easier to concentrate on how much of a jerk he was.

"Aa." She took this as a yes when he leant over and pulled her upright, none too gently.

"Arigato." Her head was spinning again, but this time for a completely different reason.

They sat there in silence for a while. Sakura wondered how she was going to get home and wondered if Sasuke would drop her off outside the Konoha gates. Probably not, but it was worth a try.

"Um, Sasuke, I was wondering if you could take me back home?"

More silence. "Hn."

Sakura was starting to understand Sasuke Language and realised that this meant 'No.'

"Why not?" She questioned, still not looking at him. That way she could keep her brain concentrating on the matter at hand and not at his perfect body… And face… And rock hard abs… And…

"Too dangerous." He grunted back.

Sakura was perplexed by this answer. "How so?"

"I could get caught. Also, you could be useful. You're coming with me." He stated matter of factly.

"What? No!" Sakura almost screamed. "You will take me back to Konoha!" She glared at him.

He glared right back. "No, I won't." He said evenly.

"Yes, you will!" She argued.

"No I won't, and that's final. You are in no condition to argue. I'm taking you back with me, whether you like it or not. I don't like it either, but you could be very useful. And besides, you've seen me. You know how to find me. With some skilled trackers from Konoha you could track me down back to the hideout. No. You're coming with me." He said heatedly.

Sakura was pissed… And a little excited. Her inner self was practically dancing a jig, screaming 'Sasuke kun is taking me back with him… Sasuke kun will have to carry me… Oh my gosh! He's going to carry me! *Swoon*' 'Shut up!' Sakura argued with herself. 'This isn't good! How will I get home?' 'Who cares?' 'I do!' 'I don't' 'I'm being realistic and rational here!' 'Girl, you've got no sex drive.' 'What?' 'You heard me.' 'Why I aughtta…'

"Come on, then." Sasuke sighed, easily lifting her into his arms, bridal style.

"What are you doing?" Sakura exclaimed in shock.

"It's either this or I sling you over my back."

'I bet that gives a great view of his arse…' 'SHUT UP!'

Sakura just nodded and Sasuke took off through the trees.

Back at Konoha, Ino rushed up to Tsunade's office. "Tsunade Sama! Tsunade Sama!" She kept screaming. She burst into the office. "Tsunade Sama!"

Tsunade looked at Ino, shocked. "What is it, Ino?"

"Tsunade Sama! It's Sakura! She… She's…" Ino stuttered.

"Ino… Where is Sakura?" Tsunade whispered menacingly.

Ino gulped. "She… She's… she's gone, Tsunade Sama. We were having a race back to Konoha and when it was sundown I turned around and she wasn't there and I tried to look for her and I went back and I couldn't find her and she was just gone and… and…" Ino broke down into tears. "I raced back as quickly as I could." She sobbed. "We have to find her… She could be seriously injured or in trouble or…" Ino couldn't finish the sentence. "Tsunade Sama, I am so sorry. I didn't hear anything from her or feel any strange chakra. I would have if she was right behind me, which she should have been."

Tsunade stood from her chair and walked around to stand infront of Ino. "Ino, look at me."

Ino continued to hide her head in her hands, so Tsunade repeated herself more forcefully. When Ino's tear stained face appeared above the mask of her hands, Tsunade continued. "We don't know the circumstances, Ino. As far as we know, Sakura wasn't behind you. Maybe she's already back in the village and has gone to bed. You're coming to conclusions that are only based on fears and worries, but not rationalised facts. If Sakura still hasn't returned by tomorrow afternoon, then we will send out a search team. Let's not get hysterical over this."

Ino nodded dumbly at the Hokage.

"I think you should go home and go to bed. You're absolutely exhausted. Go home, take a hot shower, have a good dinner and get a good sleep. You need it." Tsunade said impatiently. It was nearly midnight after all, and Ino had interrupted her before she'd finished her lotto scratchies*.

"Go home, Ino."

Ino stood up. "Yes, Tsunade Sama. I'm just tired. I'll see you tomorrow." She repressed a yawn and slipped from the office. "Goodnight, Tsunade Sama."

Tsunade just grunted her response and sat back down. She eyed her last scratchie ticket, grabbed a coin, and scratched away the thin layer of silver plastic. What she saw made her freeze and her blood run cold. She had just won.

"Shit. Just what I needed." She looked ahead, pondering whether to call Shizune or not. It might not have to do with Sakura. She's a big girl now. She can handle herself. She's one of the most powerful kunoichi. It'd take a lot to bring her down… She continued to reassure herself as she turned off the light and went home.

It was dark in Orochimaru's chamber. A glistening white snake slithered across the floor and up his arm, disappearing into his waiting mouth. Orochimaru sat there for a moment, as if thinking intently about something.

"Kabuto…" Orochimaru's voice hissed like a menacing breeze along the air currents. A human shaped shadow emerged from the surrounding darkness.

"Yes, my lord?" Kabuto answered, his voice dripping with worship.

"It appears that Sasuke has returned rather early. And he is not alone. Tsunade's apprentice accompany's him."

"The pink haired bitch?"

"Hai." Orochimaru paused. "Be sure to find a use for her, Kabuto." He eventually whispered.

"Hai…" Kabuto merged back with the encroaching darkness.

**I don't know what goes on with lotteries and stuff everywhere else, but for those who are confused, here in Down Under we have Scratchies, as we call them, and you scratch away some sliver plastic stuff, underneath will be some pictures or something. If you get a set, you win some money. Or underneath it might just have how much money you've won. Not quite sure. I'm not old enough to buy them legally! (emphasis on the legally...)

So yeah, next chapter up. Woo! So read, my pretties... and review if you want. They make me happy :)

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