Chapter nine – Kidnapped.
'You think you could keep down the racket, Inner?'
"I'm busy! Can't you see that I'm organizing my dolls?!"
'You've been at it for an hour! Give me a break!'
"It's not my problem that there are a lot of cuties around us!"
Sakura sweat dropped as she looked at Inner organizing dolls on shelves in her head. 'I should really burn them.'
"You wouldn't dare!" Said Inner, while hugging her Neji doll, appalled at what her Outer self was saying.
'Yes I would! Now keep it down! I think we are being followed.'
Sakura was vaguely aware of somebody watching her; she didn't know what to do. Neji didn't go to the Academy that day, so she had to walk alone to and from the Academy. Now she was on her way to visit Neji, who Hinata had told her that was fine, but the Hyuuga elders refused to listen to Neji who said as much.
Now she didn't want to make a scene and then look like an idiot, but she knew that whoever was following her was somebody dangerous. At first she thought it was her bullies from before, since Neji wasn't there for the first time in two years, maybe they thought that they could get away with bullying her. If that was the case then they would be in for a big surprise. She was eight now, and a lot stronger that when they first assaulted her.
But that wasn't the case. No. Whoever was following her had big chakra reserves. Her father taught her how to sense these stuff. But what could she do now? It was almost 3 in the afternoon and she was on a road to the Hyuuga compound that is only taken by Hyuuga. It was rare to see somebody that wasn't a Hyuuga -or wasn't Sakura- anywhere near the Hyuuga compound.
Before she could think of a way to call for help in the middle of nowhere, she felt a hand cover her mouth. She felt panic run through her as she smelt the weird smell, and knew she was being drugged, before she fell unconscious and the man behind her caught her with a sinister smile.
...
Neji shot up from his bed. He felt something. Panic. In his slightly sick state he shakily stood up, but before he could do anything, the feeling was gone, another feeling replacing it. Dread.
He had to do something. He had to find her. He was sure it was Sakura and their connection through the necklace that alerted him. She must be in danger and somebody knocked her out for the feeling of panic to disappear like that.
But there was one problem with that. His clan. They will never let him leave when he was 'sick'. Neji scoffed. Honestly, a mere cold doesn't count as sick. But that's not what the Elders thought.
Neji had to find a way to get away from all these Byakugan eyes.
He smirked.
'This is going to be interesting.'
...
Itachi knelt in front of the Hokage. He hated his self right now, but it was no use. What he had done was right.
The Hokage looked at the young ANBU captain in front of him and frowned. That was a big mess he is going to have to clean.
"Itachi-kun, you are dismissed."
Itachi rose from the ground, bowed to his Hokage and then turned to leave. But before he could reach the door, Hiruzen called out to him, "Itachi."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Thank you. I know what you did was very hard on you, but rest assured that I will solve this problem."
Itachi nodded and left the office.
...
Night rolled by, and Itachi stared at the document in his hand.
He took a deep breath. He should've known that the Hokage wouldn't be able to find a solution that would be perfect.
He agreed to do this, but he couldn't kill Sasuke. Anybody, but Sasuke. He promised his mother, when Sasuke was born, that he would protect his little brother with everything he had.
But something was bothering him about this mission. Why hadn't the Hokage called him into his office and gave him the mission like every other mission? Hiruzen wasn't a coward, so why didn't Itachi get called to his office? Unless...
He was cut off by somebody calling his code name.
"Raven-san! Raven-san!"
'Neji? What would he want? And what is he doing out at this time of the night? Last I heard he was sick.'
Itachi stopped at the roof he was on so the boy could catch up to him. When he did, Itachi noticed something weird, the boy was panicked. His Byakugan was on and his eyes were wild looking everywhere at the same time and it was obvious that he had adrenalin running through him.
"Itachi-san! You have to help me!"
Itachi recovered from the surprise of Neji knowing his true identity, by remembering that the kid has his Byakugan n and was familiar with Itachi's chakra network from the training sessions Kizashi organized for them, and waited for the boy to elaborate, which he did.
"It's Sakura."
At this, Itachi tensed.
"Explain." Demanded Itachi in a cold voice befitting of his status as ANBU captain.
"I felt her panic this afternoon, so I snuck out of the Hyuuga compound to find her, but even before I got out, the connection between us died. It's like she passed out. I couldn't find her all day! But now she's awake. And she is sending me these signals. I ... I can't go alone. I don't know how, but I just know that whoever has her is too strong for me to handle on my own."
Itachi frowned. "But you said you couldn't find her."
"I can teleport to her now that she is awake and in danger. Will you come with me?" Asked Neji with terror itched into his features.
"I think we should tell the Hokage and wait for reinforcements, Neji-san."
"NO!"
Itachi stared at the heaving kid with shock. He had never heard him get out of line, just like any Hyuuga or any Uchiha never did.
"You can't feel it. I can feel what she's feeling and she is terrified, Itachi-san. I will not wait till she's dead, or till she faints again. We have to go NOW."
Itachi could feel the graveness of the situation in the boy's voice. Heck, he could see it on his usually composed face. Itachi acted quickly. He got out a scroll and wrote down the information quickly and summoned a raven to get it to the Hokage.
His mission could wait, but Sakura's live can't. The raven would have to bring the reinforcement squad to their location. He wasn't worries since his ravens are connected to him and could reach him wherever he was.
"Now, how about you teleport us to your girlfriend."
"And your little sister." Neji all but growled at him. Before Itachi could get in a word to continue their banter, Neji made a few hand signs and teleported them the second Itachi touched his arm.
What they saw when they arrived, was a sight they never thought they would see, nor did they care to see again.
Sakura was on the ground. Her body beat and battered and she had blood seeping out of a lot of cuts on her body. She had a lot of bruises.
Neji ran to her while shouting her name. "Sakura!"
Turning her around, and seeing her half open eyes, still breathing chest and checking her pulse, he sighed a sigh of relief.
"Neji-kun?"
"I'm here Hime." Said Neji as he held the hand that she raised.
At hearing his voice she smiled.
Meanwhile, Itachi faced their assailant. He was mildly surprised to see Danzo.
"So, Itachi. Fulfilled your mission yet?"
Itachi didn't answer, instead he asked, "What were you doing to Sakura?"
"Oh? You know her?"
"Yes. But you already knew that didn't you?" As Itachi spoke, everything began to click in his mind. Why the Hokage hadn't called him to his office. Why he was given the mission scroll by Danzo. Why Danzo chose to kidnap Sakura this night, instead of every other night.
"I did, did I?
"Yes. That's why you wanted me to kill my clan tonight. So everybody would be too busy by the massacre to look for a little girl. That's why you gave me the scroll, not Hokage-sama. This mission," Said Itachi as he took out the scroll, "Was from you, not the Hokage. Right, Danzo-sama?" Said Itachi with scorn coloring his words.
"Well, well, well. It turns out you truly are a prodigy." Said Danzo, mocking Itachi. "Let's see what you will do now."
Before Itachi could even blink Danzo was gone from in front of him and heading towards Sakura and Neji.
"Look out!" Called Itachi as he tried to catch up to him, but he knew he wouldn't be there in time and Neji wouldn't be able to move himself and Sakura in his weakened state.
Before he could formulate a plan, and faster than either Neji or Sakura could blink, several puffs of smoke filled the air.
Hyuuga Hiashi, Uchiha Fugaku, Hatake Kakashi, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Inazuka Tsume and Haruno Kizashi. They all popped into existence. Literally.
"Neji, Itachi, take Sakura to the hospital." Said Hiruzen.
"But I can help!" Said Itachi.
"Listen to your Hokage, Itachi!" Yelled Fugaku.
Danzo started laughing. "Oh this is rich coming from you, Fugaku! The person, who is planning a coup to overthrow the Hokage, wants his son to obey said Hokage's orders?"
"You know nothing!" Screamed Fugaku.
"Itachi! She's losing a lot of blood!" Yelled Neji.
"Go Itachi! We'll take care of him!" Said Kizashi.
At Itachi's hesitant expression, Tsume said, "Go, you mutt! Or do you want her to die?!"
At this Itachi approached the pinkette and her future husband and teleported them away. He could hear the telltale of the battle beginning but he had to get Sakura to Tsunade-sama.
He teleported to the front of the hospital and didn't wait to see if Neji was following him. He carried an unconscious Sakura into the hospital and narrowed down onto the Sannen's chakra.
He could feel that Jiraya was there with her, but Sakura's life was much more important than their interactions, especially since they keep denying them.
Itachi barreled into Tsunade's office with Neji at his heels. They were greeted by the couple trying to untangle their limbs from each other. Tsunade's mouth was open and ready to yell at the intruders for not knocking, but her voice caught in her throat at seeing her daughter figure in such a state.
"What the hell happened!?" Yelled Tsunade.
"There isn't any time! I'll explain later! Heal her!" Said Itachi.
When the girl was securely in her mentors arms, and the woman was heading down the lobby yelling at the nurses with Neji trailing behind her, Itachi turned to Jiraya, "Come on, I'll explain on the way!"
...
Itachi and Jiraya arrived at the scene to see Danzo on the ground, with all the other surrounding his fallen figure.
"You are a weak and pathetic excuse for a Hokage. I have no idea what Tobirama saw in you to appoint you as his successor." Spat Danzo.
"Maybe he saw the Will of Fire that you never possessed." Retorted Tsume, who was loyal to a fault to her Hokage.
"Will of Fire?! Ha! What mockery! You will all die! This village will be in ruins! Mark my words, Sarutobi!" Yelled Danzo.
"Even if what you're saying is the truth, the Leaf Village will raise again from the dust, because that's just who we are." Said a calm Kakashi.
It looked like Danzo was about to say something but he couldn't. He had just breathed his last breath.
"Awww man! I wished that I had the opportunity to kick his ass!" Said Jiraya.
"Well, if you and Tsunade-chan came to the meeting like I requested, then you would've been there when Itachi's messenger came in. But I guess you were too busy, eh, Jiraya?" Said Hiruzen with a smirk.
At Jiraya's blush some of them began to laugh and mock him. He could never figure his sensei out. Most of the time he was kind and gentle. But he was a Hokage which spoke of his power. And other times he was like a teenager. Like now.
Childishly turning his head away, Jiraya grumbled, "Yeah, yeah. Now you mock me, but I would like to see any of you say something like that to Tsunade and still live to tell the tale."
At that everybody quickly shut up.
"Now then, we have matters to discuss and problems to solve. Don't we Fugaku-kun?" Asked Hiruzen, unknowingly proving Jiraya's point.
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Said Fugaku in a humble voice with a slight bow, opposite of his usually scorning self, which served to make Itachi relax.
Yes. Everything was going to be okay.
Itachi smiled.
...
Sakura felt tired. Very tired. She has been awake for a while now but she couldn't bring herself to open her eyes. She could hear the heart monitor in the room, so she guessed she was hospitalized after trying, and failing, to defend herself from Danzo. The last thing she remembers was Neji's face and voice. She could hear a couple of whispers and a few soft breathings around the room. But what had her attention was the warm presence on her right. The breathing was soft, and the warmth was extended to encircle her waist.
"Oh, stop it Kizashi! They are just children!"
"Yes, Kizashi-san. They are also very cute."
Sakura could hear voices now. She vaguely registered that the first voice was her mothers and the second one was Itachi's and Sasuke's mother.
She scrunched her brow trying to think about what had her father in such a bad mood that two women had to try to calm him down.
"But she is my little baby! Look at how he is all curled up next to her!"
"Neji has a cold, Kizashi. He was merely holding her hand, but fell asleep and apparently he crawled next to the closest source of warmth." Explained an exasperated Hiashi.
Oh. Oooh! The warmth on her right was Neji's body. The warmth around her waist was Neji's arm. The air on her neck was Neji's breath. Neji was snuggled next to her and had his head buried into her neck.
After processing that information, Sakura's face lit up to be as red as a tomato, and then she pulled a Hinata and fainted. But nobody could tell because she never opened her eyes in the first place.
...
The next time Sakura came to, she felt someone holding her hand, and the room was much livelier than the first time.
She cracked her eyes open to see Neji holding her hand, but he wasn't concentrated on her. No. His head was turned to the side, and he was looking in astonishment at something.
Looking at the direction he was looking at, she found Naruto and Choji, sitting down in front of a table full of food, and they were eating at a very fast pace. A lot of the kids from their class were there too. Ino, Shikamaru, Kiba, Hinata, Shino and Sasuke. Itachi, Tsunade, Jiraya and her classmates' parents were there too.
She looked back at Naruto when Akamichi Choza spoke to him, "Well, Naruto. You surely put a lot of Akamichi men to shame. That stomach of yours is an endless pit!"
Sakura giggled at the embarrassed look on Naruto's face, which made everyone turn to look at her.
"Sakura-chan!"
And thus, began the annoying, but heart whelming of everybody asking about how she felt (The clan heads), if she wanted anything (Her mother), Why did she have to give their old hears a heart attack (Her father), if she wanted ramen (Naruto), 'No, dobe. She wants tomatoes' (Sasuke), if she wanted to go shopping (Ino), if she likes puppies (Kiba), hope you feel better (Shino and Hinata), not to ever drop dead in the hospital like that! (Tsunade), if she likes books (Jiraya, who got slapped upside the head), an eye crinkle from a masked man she remembered seeing with the rescue team.
She answered each and every one of them as patiently as she could, all the while feeling Neji's tight grip on her hand, and smiling softly to herself.
At the first chance he got, Neji kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, "Don't scare me like that again, Hime. I don't want to lose you."
Sakura blushed prettily at that, but nobody noticed since Sasuke and Naruto were fighting again, and they found their banter to be quite interesting.
"TEME! Speed is the best thing in the world! That's how the fourth Hokage, my idol, was a great man!"
"Hmph, dobe. No matter how much speed you have you can't fight against the sharingan. And the fourth Hokage would be ashamed if he knew you idolize him. I'm sure he is rolling in his grave right about now."
"TEME!"
"Out of my hospital! Both of you!"
Yup, a very interesting banter indead.
...
A/N: Now that was neck breaking. And back breaking. And ... well you know what I mean. :P
Anyways, tell me what you think!
Ja ne!
Zee