Disclaimer; I do not own Naruto!

This chapter was seriously rushed... But I made my deadline! Hope it isn't too terrible...

Chapter 14; Emerge

Shaking her head ever so slightly, Sakura lowered her gaze and stared hollowly at the ground. After a quick medical examination to make sure she wasn't still wounded, the Sound ninjas had left her locked in her room. Now Sakura was completely alone with her thoughts, which in this case wasn't a good thing.

Every time the young kunoichi closed her eyes, she could see Naruto's cerulean gaze fading as he fell into unconsciousness. She shuddered and tucked her knees up even closer to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them. Staring hollowly off into space, Sakura sighed.

I'm… I'm a rogue now. Konoha has rejected me. I didn't even get the chance to explain! Her fists clenched defiantly. Even worse, I'm a rogue under Orochimaru of all people. I have to get out of here…

But where to go? A hollow whisper in the back of her mind said. You can't really expect to escape here alone…

She frowned at herself and shifted her weight ever so slightly. It's true… I can't do this alone. She leaned her head back against the cold stone wall when it came to her. Wait! I won't do it alone… I can persuade someone to come with me! But who…?

By a twinge in her gut, Sakura knew who. She knew who was the only one she had even a slight chance of persuading. But she hated him so much… No. I—I can't bring myself to beg to him. I need someone else. I refuse to go with Sasuke Uchiha.

Yet she knew that he was the only option. He was the only one who might listen. Sakura sighed in defeat and silently acknowledged, It has to be Sasuke. That's the only option.

A young kunoichi submerged herself back into the darkness of the small cave. She tucked a strand of her long bluish black hair behind her ear as she knelt down and placed a damp cloth over her companion's brow. After a slight hesitation, she ran a finger gently on his cheek.

Her companion had his eyes shut tightly and trembled slightly with fever. The kunoichi sighed with worry at him. He was gravely wounded and had lost lots of blood. It was a miracle that he hadn't developed infection in his wounds. But fever had set in and he was struggling to hang onto his life. It was all she could do to keep him alive.

Standing, she stood up and moved over to the small fire. She tossed a few pieces of wood into it to keep it going before moving back to her companion. She carefully unwrapped the bandage across his chest and cringed at the sight of the jagged gash. It was oozing with pus, the edges of it a sickly pale color. Biting her lip, the kunoichi wrapped a fresh bandage around his muscular chest for it was all she could do with her limited supplies. He groaned in pain as she moved him, but there was nothing she could do.

He isn't getting better… She thought bitterly. He needs a real medic. I can't do anything to help him… Her gaze shifted to the entrance of the cave, worry gleaming in her white eyes. Outside, a steady stream of rain fell. Lowering her gaze, she rubbed her arm softly. This weather won't let me get away to explore the forest. I have no idea where I am…

Shifting her gaze over to her ailing companion, the kunoichi silently wondered, What happened to the rest of our squad? Did they figure out what happened and make it out ok? But there was nothing she could do to tell.

Kneeling next to him once again, the kunoichi switched the rags on his steaming forehead. Oh, please get better…

Sapphire blue eyes opened to slits and blinked painfully up at the kunoichi. "Hinata…" he whispered hollowly.

"Oh, Naruto! You need to rest. Don't strain yourself…" she whispered to him. His eyes fluttered painfully closed.

Oh, Naruto… You have to get better!

The ruffle of papers echoed in the large room. A gasp rose followed by a soft growl of frustration and anger, punctuated by shock.

"Lord Kazekage, sir!" a shinobi lifted his head from his bowed position.

Blue-green eyes flickered up from the scroll. "I… I can't believe it…" the Kazekage stammered as he set the papers down.

"What, Lord Gaara?" a kunoichi standing behind him glanced over his shoulder at the paper with dark blue eyes. Her spiky hair hung down over her eyes.

Turning his head, the 17-year old Kazekage told his older sister, "It's… It's from the Hidden Leaf Village."

"Well what is it?" she demanded, staring at him sharply.

His shaggy auburn hair shifted as he turned his head back towards the wooden desk that he sat at. "It… It says that Naruto Uzumaki is… Is dead."

"Dead?!" she jerked back in surprised alarm. "But… But that's impossible!"

"That isn't what this says, Temari." Gaara sighed. "It says that he was killed by… By Sakura Haruno."

"That can't be true!" Temari exclaimed. "Sakura Haruno is his teammate and friend! She wouldn't do it!"

Gaara lowered his head and murmured, "No. The Hokage said here that Haruno went rogue and ended up killing Naruto." His eyes outlined by black rings narrowed.

Temari turned her head away and grumbled something under her breath. Turning back to her younger brother, she noticed the look of grief in his eyes. With a pang, she remembered the close bond that the Kazekage had with Naruto. They were both Jinchuuriki, people who had one of the powerful tailed beasts stored inside them. Both had received the same rejection and fear from their villages and were incredible alike. When the Village Hidden in the Sand had tried attacking the Hidden Leaf with the assistance of the Hidden Sound, Naruto had ended up battling Gaara. He had won and saved his village from the attack of the Sand. This encounter had changed Gaara for the better. The two of them still had a strong bond. Hearing what had happened to Naruto must be terrible for the Kazekage.

But soon the sorrow in his eyes faded and the Kazekage turned his gaze firmly back to the shinobi in front of him. "Thank you. You are dismissed." With a nod, the ninja turned and exited the room, leaving the Kazekage alone with his sister.

She put a hand on her brother's shoulder. "You ok, Gaara?" she asked.

Clenching his teeth, he growled, "I'll be fine." He set the scroll aside and told his sister, "Don't you have a mission to go do?"

With a worried glance, Temari shrugged and said, "Alright... I better go." She turned and started to leave the room. Pausing at the doorway, she glanced one more time at the Kazekage before disappearing.

Gaara lowered his head, his auburn hair hanging down in his eyes. His hair shifted to reveal the kanji of love carved on his forehead. He pressed a hand up against his forehead and sighed hollowly. Naruto… I refuse to believe that you've died. What the heck has happened to you?

Sasuke padded down one of the many halls. He had just come from a training session with Orochimaru and was ready to take a nice long nap. Silently he moved down the shadowy tunnel, cast in an eerie light by the torches.

In a matter of days, he would be leaving with Orochimaru for a different base. For the time being, Sasuke was just going to sleep in this secluded area of the lair. A small part of him longed to find out what happened to Sakura, but Sasuke kept that in a tight hold. He wouldn't let his emotions emerge.

Rounding one of the final corners, Sasuke almost plowed into Moekasu. She was leaning up against the wall, her brown bangs hiding her eyes and her green cat-eyes gleaming.

His onyx eyes narrowed hostilely at the sight of the younger girl. She smirked slightly at his reaction. "Sasuke. I've been looking for you."

"Why?" he bluntly stated. Uchiha wasn't one for small talk.

Standing up, the kunoichi crossed her arms and blocked the path. If the raven wanted to, he could easily brush past her and continue. But a small part of him wondered what was going on…

"I've heard rumors about what's been going on…" Moekasu purred vaguely.

"Hn."

She snorted. "Rumors involving you and Sakura."

His eyes hardened. "What sort of rumors?"

Meeting his gaze coolly, she purred, "That you were standing up to Orochimaru after your mission with her… That you were angry that he had forced her to do something so personal…"

"Where did you hear that?" The outlaw growled stiffly.

She cringed slightly. "Ok, fine. They weren't rumors. I heard those things in person."

"Eavesdropping again?" he demanded.

"Maybe…"

Anger flashed through Sasuke. It was no surprise that Moekasu had been listening in; it was one of her bad habits. But the fact that she was eavesdropping in on him… That was what ticked him off. His eyes flashed red with the sharigan.

At the sight of those crimson eyes, Moekasu took a slight step back, a wary look flashing across her face. "Calm down. I didn't mean to. And you're the only one I've told about this."

Despite the rage he still felt, Uchiha relaxed his tensed muscles and glared at her hostilely. "I have a feeling that that wasn't your point."

"Then you're right." She met his gaze firmly, either out of bravery or foolishness. "Sasuke… You have feelings for her, don't you?"

He narrowed his eyes to the thinnest slits. Moekasu knew him pretty well. She was right. But there was no way he would ever acknowledge it. So all he gave was his typical "hn."

"Come on, Sasuke. I know it's true…" A playful glint colored her bright green eyes. "You like her."

Aloofly, he pushed past her. The smaller ninja growled in frustration and glowered at his disappearing back, then sighed. "Don't lie to yourself," she called before heading back down the hall.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and stopped his kekkei genkai. There was no point in wasting his time with her right now. So Uchiha just found his way into a dark room and lay smoothly down on the bed, more than pleased to finally go to sleep.

It was morning when they unlocked the door to Sakura's room. She hesitantly emerged after a while to find Kabuto waiting calmly. The silver-haired ninja smirked at the sight of the familiar pinkette.

"Lord Orochimaru is waiting…" he sneered. With a slight toss of his head to indicate that she should follow, the medical ninja turned and padded down the hall. Sakura sighed hollowly but followed.

It didn't take long for both ninjas to reach Orochimaru. He wasn't in his lab, nor was he in his large "throne room." Instead, they found him in one of the training halls with Sasuke.

Sakura found herself glaring over at Sasuke before she realized that doing so would only make it harder to convince him to join her in leaving this place. But luckily he showed no sign of noticing, let alone caring. Emerald eyes snuck over to meet Orochimaru's amber ones.

"Ah, Sakura… I hope that a day of rest served you well," Orochimaru hissed.

She nodded stiffly.

"Excellent…" A smirk crossed his face. "I presume that you're wondering what I could have possibly called you for…"

Blinking softly, Sakura shrugged. "I suppose," she murmured. Despite her claim, a huge part of her was absolutely dying to know.

He flicked his creepy tongue. "Because of you wonderful success at your last mission… I have decided to… To train you."

Tensing, Sakura stared at him in shock. "T-train me?" She stammered. "But… But why?"

Tilting his head to the side, Orochimaru hissed, "Sasuke has learned almost all of what he possibly could from me. I can still teach him a little but once that much dries out he'll probably want a new way to train. If I teach you, then you can eventually become his sparring partner."

Every part of Sakura cried out in disgust. A sparring partner for Sasuke? No! But slowly it settled in that this would be the perfect opportunity for her to try and persuade him to leave with her. If I'm going to be around him so much… Then I'll surely get the chance to speak with him alone.

When her logic finally won over her heart, Sakura nodded. "Alright," she murmured. "I'll do it."

Deep in a dark cave a long ways away, nine mysterious figures gathered. Each was clad in a long black cloak decorated with red clouds that gleamed in the faint light of the large room they gathered in.

Light purples eyes with a hypnotic pattern of lines in them met the gaze of all of the others. He stared at them firmly in turn, then softly announced, "It is time for us to start moving."

A man with cruel purple eyes snapped, "What made you suddenly decide this now, oh great leader?" Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

"Oh, shut the heck up, Hidan," another man scoffed, his strange eyes with red sclera and green irises. He turned back to the leader and added, "I'm sure that our leader would be more than willing to explain."

The tallest man with white eyes and grayish blue skin purred, "Yes, we'd like to know why you're making this decision now."

The leader responded calmly, "Because the Nine Tails Jinchuuriki was killed."

All of the members of this secretive council tensed. "Dead?" A man with only one slate-blue eye visible asked.

"Yes. He was killed by a rogue under Orochimaru."

Brown eyes flashed at the mention of that name, but the owner of those eyes said nothing.

Red sharigan very similar to those of Sasuke met the gaze of the leader. "What do you want us to do?" the man asked.

Meeting everyone's gaze once again, the leader announced, "I want you to go out and find your respective Jinchuuriki. Itachi, because yours is no longer available for now, just help Kisame get his. We must move quickly, for now might be the best time to go. We want to be fully prepared for when the Nine Tails appears again."

With silent nods and a little bit of grumbling from different people, the nine outlaws of tremendous power prepared to leave.

As the final words, the leader announced, "Let this meeting of the Akatsuki be over for now. You are dismissed. Now go and find the Jinchuuriki."

A/N: There we go! The next chapter! I just set this up for future events... Sorry if it seems like a filler and it isn't very good quality. But I made my goal and I'm happy! In two weeks I'll try to post again!

Got Questions?

If you're confused on anything at all in the story, feel free to ask! I don't want any confused people walking around. No matter how stupid you think the question is, ask away! After all, the only stupid question is a question not asked. (Don't forget that I have the right to not answer any questions… don't want to give away any surprises I have in the future!)

Review, if you please!

I'd really appreciate if you'd review. Tell me what you think I should change, any ideas you have, etc… I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hope you enjoyed!

Edit: I'm sorry but I won't be updating this story, at least for the time being. I just can't find any inspiration anymore. I hope to finish this story someday but it won't be today... Sorry.

-Cynder7777