Hey hey :)
So, I got reviews, and that made me so smiley XD (This isn't the story, so incorrect grammar and non - words are allowed, right?) So, a massive ARIGATO to those who reviewed, and those who have it on their favourites and alerts, and basically to anyone who's just reading along :) I can't actually say how happy it makes me to see that you guys actually like what I write! So, now that I've said that, here's Chapter 4, extra early just for you guys because you made me so happy :) ONWARD!
Sakura grimaced in pain, refusing to make a sound. They had her tied with snakes to a chair.
"What is Konoha's weakest link?" Orochimaru asked her again. Sakura just shook her head, refusing to say. More pain rippled up her body, like electricity, but far worse. Sakura gasped.
"What is Tsunade's weakness?" Orochimaru tried a different question. Sakura shook her head again.
"Tell me!" He ordered, but Sakura refused. More pain ripped through her body, but unlike the other times, it didn't go away.
"Tell me and I'll stop!" The pain got worse the longer it lasted. Sakura could feel her nose start to bleed. Her lungs felt like they were going to burst. If she opened her mouth now, she would scream until her vocal chords snapped. It felt like thousands of blades were stabbing her, everywhere, all at once. The pain was almost unbearable. It felt like the blades were infused with electricity, and it was burning her, inside out. It felt like molten lead was being poured into the fresh cuts that were being made by the nonexistent swords. At least, it didn't exist physically. But in her mind it was a maelstrom of agony. There was no escape. There was nothing but the pain. Pain was her one link to reality, to sanity. Pain was what was driving her to the doorstep of madness.
Suddenly, it stopped, and Sakura hunched forward, panting for breath, forcing her lungs to breathe.
"Tell me, Sakura, and I can make all of the pain go away." Orochimaru whispered into her ear, tantalisingly.
Sakura gritted her teeth. "I'd rather die." She rasped, and spat at him, bloody saliva sticking to his cheek.
"Have it your way." Orochimaru hissed. "Sasuke, take her to the prison cell."
"You do it." Sasuke argued.
Orochimaru shot him a glare. Sasuke sighed and walked over to Sakura. The snake bindings retreating as he walked nearer. Sakura slumped to the ground.
"Get up." He said. Sakura groaned and refused to move.
"Get. Up." Sasuke repeated, to which he got the same response.
"Hn." He roughly picked her up and flung her over his back. Sakura just flopped there like a rag doll. She refused to show the pain that she was in. Instead she opted to close her eyes. Her imagination seemed to take pity on her, and took her to a place and time full of innocence and carefree laughter.
An eight year old Sakura lay under the old oak tree, watching the stars. There were no clouds that night, and the moon was full, basking the earth in an ethereal glow. Sakura started to try and count the stars.
"Sakura?" Her mother called from the house.
"Shh, mama. You'll disturb the stars." Sakura murmured to her mother.
"What are you doing, Sakura Chan?" Her mother knelt beside her.
"I'm counting the stars." Sakura whispered.
Her mother nodded and lay down beside her.
"There are so many stars, mama." Sakura said. "Where do they all come from?"
Haruno Chie smiled at her daughter. "There are many different beliefs. There is the scientific one, which many choose to believe. I don't. Stars are far too mysterious and precious."
"What do you believe, mama?" Sakura breathed.
Chie took her time answering. "I believe that stars are the souls of our loved ones watching over us. They are pure and bright, unmoving, just like the love that they have for us. And just because you can't see them, doesn't mean they aren't there." Chie said.
Sakura nodded, smiling. "Is that where papa is?" The girl asked.
"Hai. Papa is that big star right there. Because his love for you and I is the strongest."
"You mean papa is the moon?" Sakura asked.
"No." Chie seemed almost offended, and Sakura turned confused eyes towards her. Chie sighed and explained.
"Papa's love is not like the moon. The moon, although being the brightest light in the sky, always changes. Sometimes it is not even there. That is not what papa's love is. Like the stars, his light, his love, is constant. Just like mine is for you. Our love for you will never stop shining. You are a star in my heart, and there is no force out there that can move you" Chie wrapped Sakura up in her arms. "And papa shines the brightest because his love for you is strongest. Never forget that, Sakura. And never doubt it. It will always stand true and firm, no matter what life may throw your way."
Sakura was harshly pulled back to reality when she was dumped on cold stone floor.
"Stay here until someone comes to get you." Sasuke said, before exiting the room, locking the door behind him.
Sakura shuffled into the farthest corner from the door, huddling into a ball. She quickly assessed her situation. She was trapped in Oto, probably about to die. All of her chakra had been sealed. Nobody in Konoha knew where she was.
Her only comfort was that they obviously hadn't gotten their hands on Ino.
Hours, maybe days had passed, since she had been locked in that damn cell. She was absolutely starving! Then, an idea popped into her head, one that she couldn't believe she hadn't thought of already.
Reaching under Sasuke's* shirt, she pulled a paper clip and a safety clip out from her bra. Konoha always made sure its ninja's were equipped, even with the most nondescript things, like safety clips and paper clips; sure fire lock picks when chakra wasn't an option. Pulling herself up, she went to the door. She straightened out the paper clip and inserted it into the top of the lock, while using the smaller end of the safety clip to work on the bottom. After fiddling around for a few minutes, she heard a faint click. She put her mouth up to the small opening and called out "hey, is anyone there?"
No answer; meaning the coast was clear.
Slowly opening the door, she peered around. Empty. She closed the door, and skirted off in the same direction that Sasuke had brought her to the cell.
Think, Sakura. Think. Which way?
Which way?
Right.
She turned right and lightly ran down the hall, keeping her ears pealed for any sound that was out of place.
Another fork.
Think, Sakura. Think. Which way?
Which way?
Left.
She took the next left and started counting the doors.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
At the sixth door, she stopped. She was about to turn the handle when it started turning by itself.
Sakura flung herself into the room next to it just as that door opened and some random Sound nin walked past.
"So anyway, what do you think Orochimaru is going to do about all the new recruits? Half of them have no talent at all…"
"Yeah, Shinji, I don't know why he let them come in, unless it was to do those test experiments…"
"I heard that's what they were planning on doing with that Aya girl. Have you seen her? She's fucking hot. Maybe I'll ask Orochimaru for a special arrangement?"
"Yeah, Shinji, you go for it…"
The male voices slowly faded, but Sakura was too focused on the room to care.
There were scrolls in here. Thousands of them.
And where there were scrolls, there was information.
Sakura walked between the shelves, scanning them. After a few minutes, she came across a shelf that was label "Bases."
Interested, Sakura chose a scroll at random. She could hardly believe what she read.
Information Regarding Bases: Draft for Possible Hideout Destinations. To be Finalized.
December 20th – April 5th: Otogakure base, Situated Land of Sound. New entryway under Sho* Lake.
April 5th – April 9th: Stay at Safe house in Ishigakure, Situated Land of Stone.
April 9th – July 14th: Wataridori Base, Under Wataridori Lake. Situated: Land of Birds.
July 14th – September 4th: Shio Base, Shio Island. Nineteen miles South South West of Crescent Moon Island, Situated Land of Moons.
September 4th – September 9th: Stay at Joumae Safe house, Situated Land of Keys.
September 9th – January 11th: Fang Base Between two Fang Mountains Situated Land of Fangs.
All Dates and Locations* to be Finalized.
Sakura stood there in shock for a moment, trying to process exactly what she was holding. In her hands, she held the locations of two of Orochimaru's Safe houses and four of his Bases! This information would be invaluable to Konoha! Quickly stuffing the scroll through her bra, she tiptoed her way back to the door. Just before she got there, though, someone walked in.
Sakura quickly hid herself behind one of the shelves as someone entered the room. She hardly dared breathe.
She heard their footsteps reverberate around the room, until they came to a halt. She dared glance around the corner, to see if she should try and make for the doorway.
She came face to face with Sasuke.
Sakura sucked in a startled breath and started to walk backwards.
"What are you doing here, Sakura?" Sasuke ordered. He seemed pissed that she had escaped.
Sakura pulled herself up defiantly. "Let me go, Sasuke. I am no use here."
If looks could kill… said inner Sakura.
"You know our current location, and judging by the scroll you just took, you know multiple. You are staying." He said as if that was the end of the conversation.
"Konoha will come after me. I am a valued nin. I will get away from here." It took all of Sakura's will to not crumble to the ground.
"Hn." In a flash, Sasuke was behind her, and Sakura felt her world go black as he knocked her out.
Arsehole…
When Sakura woke up, she was lying on cold stone floor. Se blinked herself into awareness and slowly sat up. She felt for the scroll, but it was gone.
Orochimaru stepped in front of her and she looked up at him with difficulty.
"Such a shame. You could have just done as you were told, but no. And now you leave me no choice." He said, almost regretfully. Almost. Sakura could barely hear the glimmer of glee behind his sad façade.
"What are you planning, snake?" She spat, unable to control the absolute hatred that she felt for him.
Orochimaru grinned wickedly. "Death…" His whisper turned to a hiss.
Sakura didn't even flinch. As a shinobi, this was all just part of the job. "Make it quick." She turned her head aside and closed her eyes. She would die happy knowing that she hadn't betrayed Konohagakure.
There were quick footfalls, then "Orochimaru." Sasuke's voice sounded in the room. "I have a proposition."
Sakura sensed Orochimaru's hesitation, and looked up. Sasuke was beside him, muttering rapidly. She squinted at them both, annoyed that she couldn't hear what they were saying.
After a moment, Orochimaru's grin dropped a bit, but was soon back in place. "Hai, Sasuke. You may have your wish." He looked at Sakura. "You may follow Sasuke."
"Huh?" Asked Sakura stupidly. "Weren't you going to kill me?"
"Maybe next time, dearest…" Orochimaru sighed.
"Come." Sasuke's voice pierced the air, and he grabbed beneath Sakura's arms, hauling her to her feet. "Follow me."
Sakura trailed after Sasuke, closing the door softly behind her.
A week later and Sakura was still missing. Naruto's usually intoxicating grin had yet to make an appearance.
Kouta and Minori had gone back to Konoha three days ago to report that her trail had gone stone cold. There was no trace of her. Naruto refused to give up.
He had stopped in the small town of Koishi, which was on the edge of the Fire country and the Waterfall country, to ask if anyone had seen Sakura.
He was just leaving the village when he passed a sad looking girl with brown hair. A young girl of no older than eight, who had lilac hair was standing beside her, holding her hand.
"Hey." Said Naruto. "Could you do me a favour?" He asked the girl. She looked at him with big blue forget-me-nots.
"Hai. What do you want, sir?" She asked.
"A close friend of mine… Sakura… She went missing a week ago. She had… Has big green eyes and pink hair. She's a really good friend of mine, and if you knew anything, it'd be really appreciated." Naruto explained without much hope in his voice. "I'm Naruto, by the way."
"Cho." The girl said. "This is my cousin, Aika." She waved at the girl, and Naruto smiled at her. Cho didn't look at Naruto. She was scared and upset. Daiko still hadn't returned.
"Cho, do you know anything about Sakura's whereabouts?" He gauged her reaction this time, and saw that her back stiffened slightly whenever he said Sakura's name.
Cho shook her head.
Naruto studied her. She looked very sad over something and he was determined to find out what.
"Cho, what do you know about Sakura?" He said forcefully, but not unkindly.
Cho shook her head again. "Nothing, Sir. Gomen, but nothing."
Naruto walked around so that he was facing her and saw that she was crying. "Cho, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
She shook her head again and put her hand over her mouth. "Why are you talking to me, Naruto? Why don't you hate me? Everyone else does." Her tears fell faster now, and Naruto went over to her and tried to comfort her. She clutched onto his shirt, burying her face in his chest. Aika ran soothing circles on her back.
"Shh, Cho Chan. Don't cry. It'll be okay." Aika tried to comfort her cousin, but to no avail.
"Cho, why would I hate you?" Naruto asked her, perplexed.
"Because… Because of my brother. He is evil. Naruto, I am so sorry about Sakura… I do know… Sort of… Please, just don't hate me. She was so nice to me, and I begged him not to go after her, but he didn't listen to me and…" Cho sobbed, her tears making rivers down her cheeks.
"Cho, sit down and tell me the whole story."
She nodded and started.
"When I was five, our village was attacked by bandits. They killed everyone, except my brother, Daiko, little Aika, and I. He promised he'd take care of us after that, but he wasn't nice. He'd always stir up trouble. He tried to be a ninja at one stage, but was kicked out of the academy because he was so nasty. As we got older, he started liking girls. He made me make fans, and he'd put some chakra threads into them, so that when a pretty girl would buy one, he could track her. He'd chase after her with his gang and they'd do… terrible things to her. It was so horrible. I tried to get away, but he said that he'd kill me and hurt Aika if I did. I couldn't leave Aika with him. Not that. He would kill her.
"Eventually, a village would start to suspect us, and we'd have to move. We only just moved from Mura, and now I have to leave again. Last week, your Sakura stopped by, and she bought a fan. She was so nice, I asked Daiko to leave her alone, but he wouldn't. He went after her. I haven't seen either of them since." Cho looked up at him. "Naruto, I know that what my brother has done is wrong, but he is still my big brother. He and Aika are the only family I have left." Cho started crying again.
Naruto put his hand on her shoulder. "Cho, do you know where your brother takes these girls?"
"He goes to a clearing in the forest. He always changes it, but there is always one or another clearing in that forest."
Naruto nodded. "Arigato, Cho Chan. If I find your brother, I'll bring him back to you. It'll be alright. Believe it!"
Cho smiled meekly. "Arigato, Naruto. I'm glad I could help. I wish you luck in finding your Sakura." She waved as he started towards the trees, then smiled the first true smile she had in months. "Arigato, Naruto. And Good luck."
So, there you have it. You like? (Please say yes...)
*Remember how Sasuke gave her his shirt back in Chapter two? Yeah... A friend of mine read this and got confused, so I thought I'd put this here so that you guys would know that it isn't a typo :)
*Just wanted to say that none of the locations (Apart from Otogakure), are actual base locations or Safe houses (That I know of). I did so much research to find places that would be suitable and eventually came to this list. There is also no such thing as Sho Lake (That I'm aware of), and I just made it up for the sake of the story.
Alright, I have something to say. Soon, this story is going to get very M. There'll be spoilers as well. Maybe not in the next chapter or two, but definately sooner rather than later. So I can't really tell you what will happen (I don't really want to give anything away), but know that it will be heavily mature, and I don't really want people hating on me if I put some things in here that will be a very touchy subject for a lot of people. (Did that make sense? Probably not...). So I thought I should just warn you all of that now :)
Anyways, review, my pretties! They make me happy and motivate me to update faster XD
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