A/N: I'm sorry for the long wait. Please bear with the grammatical errors. After I've finished the whole story, I'm going to polish it.

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Chapter 14

"How far are we from Konoha?"

The boat bobbed up and down, swerved side to side as the waves played with it like a toy in the hands of a child. From a far, a mountain of dark, heavy clouds were fast approaching.

"If the winds are in our favor, it would take us a day," answered Chojuro. Despite his injuries, Chojuro had proven to be an able navigator.

"A day," muttered Sasuke impatiently. "Too long."

He turned to Sakura, who was seated in a corner. "Are you okay?"

Sakura nodded. Unlike Sasuke and Chojuro, she chose to remain seated in the corner of the cabin as the boat tends to titter dangerously to the side every time a strong wind whipped against it. She doesn't want to slip or fall especially now they're in the middle of the sea.

"Can you send a message to Konoha?" Sasuke asked. "Tell them to meet us at sea by the east."

He turned to Chojuro with an impassive face. "You will take us to the east dock."

"Okay." She bit her thumb, made some hand signs and pressed her palm to the floor. A small puff of white cloud burst and when it cleared, a small slug greeted them.

"You could summon a snail!" Chojuro could not help but exclaim his surprise that the pink-haired pregnant woman can summon an animal.

Sakura shot him an angry look and corrected him. "A slug not a snail. And stick your eyes to the sea."

The slug told Sakura that Tsunade had sent two separate teams for them: one to the Hidden Village of Mist to treat with the Mizukage headed by Hyuga Neji with two chuunins while the second team would be for their retrieval headed by Uzumaki Naruto himself with Yamanaka Ino.

Sakura can't help but smile. She could not wait to see Naruto again. "Tell Tsunade that we're on our way back. We have a hostage named Chojuro. We plan to land by the east dock."

The slug assented and vanished. As much as she wanted the slug to go straight to Naruto she knew that Tsunade has the right to know first. The Hokage would be the one to disseminate the information.

She peered through the round window and saw the outlines of a large mountain of dark clouds. A thin streak of lightning flashed across the sky and after a few seconds, a thunder rolled.

"Chojuro," she called his attention after the thunder. "Can we survive a storm?"

"Maybe," answered Chojuro. "Maybe not.

CHOJURO

What is it now?

Gritting his teeth, he dragged his injured ankle towards the rain-splattered window. The arrogant Uchiha kept shouting orders on him as if he can do everything to his bidding. Can't he see that he was injured? That his injuries were all thanks to him?

Just then, Uchiha Sasuke burst through the door.

"Go at full speed," he said without any explanation.

Sasuke did not wait for him and jerked the steering board hard. Next, pressed the pedal at full speed.

"Whoa!" Chojuro exclaimed at the boat's sharp curve. Are they running away from something? "What's wrong?"

"What's happening?!" The woman asked.

The Uchiha glared at him as if everything was his fault. "Ao followed us."

The raven-haired Uchiha watched and waited for his reaction which in his case, he did not know. Should he go back to Ao's side now? Uchiha Sasuke would probably kill him first before that happens. Besides, Ao would have thought of him as a traitor already. Well, he was forced but he highly doubted his explanation would do him any good. Hell, Ao might even despise him even more for surrendering.

Now that leaves him with no allies. Both sides despise him. Where that does leaves him?

The cabin door suddenly exploded with such force that he was thrown against the wall, causing his vision to blur temporarily. Shouts and curses rang around. When he opened his eyes again, Sasuke was fighting a shabby-dressed man whose smell reeked and filled the room. It's as if the shabby man has not bathed for years. Yet, the man fought with the Uchiha well enough to show that he was not of an ordinary shinobi level.

In fact, there was something familiar with him.

"Behind you!" The pink-haired woman screamed shrilly.

Just in time before his neck got sliced off, Uchiha Sasuke ducked and kicked the shins of his attacker. Then, he rapidly executed a series of hand seals and a long column of fire spewed from his mouth. Because of the limited space inside the cabin, the rogue-nin was not able to dodge away fully from the fire. It consumed his hood and cloak which he removed immediately and broke through the wall.

"Close one, boy." He grinned at Uchiha Sasuke showing a row of yellow-stained, pointed teeth.

Then, it struck him as he recognized the man.

He is one of Kirigakure's convicted S-class criminals: Hiroki.

He could not believe it but he could not be mistaken. It took years for their government to track the man and finally imprison him. Hiroki had been infamous during the regime of the Third Mizukage when he killed hundreds of shinobis and destroyed a building on their village. He had just been born when the man was still at large and it was just five years ago when Hiroki was caught by a special team of Mist-nins.

From the periphery of his vision, he saw the pregnant kunoichi bit her thumb and pressed her palm to the floor. A small slug appeared like the one she summoned a few hours ago. No one was paying any attention to what was she doing. It appeared to him that she was giving another message. Then, after a few seconds the slug disappeared.

"I knew it, Chojuro." Ao stepped into the boat. He had bandages around the chest and torso, some cuts and bruises but overall he looked fit enough to fight again. "You're not just a wimp but you're also a traitor as well."

He wanted to disagree and explain that he was forced to come with the Uchiha but weirdly, he can't make the right words to redeem his self.

"What? Lost your tongue along with your balls?" Ao taunted him.

Maybe Ao was right after all. He's not just a wimp but he was a traitor as well. How could he betray his own countryman? He should have let himself be killed by the Leaf kunoichi.

A large splash caught their attention. Uchiha Sasuke and Hiroki were fighting above the water. Ao had joined the fight pressing the Uchiha with consecutive attacks. Sasuke removed the bandage over his eye to activate his Sharingan. Ao eyed the activated Sharingan with envy and disgust.

"You thought I was dead so you switched sides. It must be a big surprise, ne?" Ao sneered at him.

"I-It was not like that! I was forced by the kunoichi!" Finally, he was able to say it.

"Then, you're even weaker than I thought. How could you surrender to a woman?"

He looked away in shame and focused his attention to Hiroki. The man fought savagely like he wanted nothing more but to chopped the Uchiha into pieces.

"You freed him?"

"Yes," Ao answered smugly. "Nothing's sweeter to an imprisoned man but freedom."

"What you did was treason!"

"What WE did, boy." Ao raised an eyebrow at him. "Don't forget that you're part of all of this too."

"But I would give you the chance to redeem yourself once again." He detached himself from the fight and looked at him with those mismatched-colored eyes. Ao's eyes flicked from him to the kunoichi.

"Kill her," he said quietly.

Sasuke's eyes widened at this statement. He changed course but Hiroki blocked him and pressed him with consecutive brutal attacks.

He did not know what on earth made him do it. His feet moved on its won accord towards the kunoichi.

Sakura tensed and eyed him suspiciously, immediately assuming a defensive stance.

Bruised with an injured ankle and not to mention the internal injuries, he must look pitiful or laughable. He can't even defend himself properly. How much more can he protect and defend another person?

Ao looked at him for a long time. "I see you have finally chosen."

Uchiha Sasuke and Hiroki had stopped fighting momentarily at Ao's declaration. Sasuke looked at Chojuro with surprise and finally gave him a nod. And now it would be three against two: Uchiha Sasuke, Sakura and Chojuro against Ao and Hiroki.

The real battle has just begun.

SAKURA

In a matter of an hour, their boat had been completely destroyed while Ao's galley had a large gaping hole on the hull courtesy of her chakra-enhanced fist. Hiroki, Sakura had learned from Chojuro turned out to be a complete savage. The man's attacks were swift and brutal and she would have died a thousand deaths if not for Chojuro and Sasuke, who was now concentrated on Ao.

"You still okay?" She called out to Chojuro. The young man was sprawled over a floating plank of wood.

He gave her a weak thumbs-up sign. How long are they going to last fighting Hiroki? Chojuro's decision to finally go over their side made a big difference between life and death. Had Chojuro chosen to go back to Ao's side, it would be three against two. Not to add that she was vulnerable in her pregnant state and Sasuke's Sharingan eye had just been transplanted back.

Suddenly, Hiroki sprung from beneath the water and grabbed Chojuro. She formed a quick series of hand seals and sent a jet of water against Hiroki. Her attack separated Hiroki from Chojuro for a few seconds. Thanks to the food supplement pills she had given him, Chojuro was able to replenish his energy but not his injuries.

"To your left!" She sent a swirl of water to block Hiroki providing Chojuro a split second chance to escape. She could only fight the enemy through long-range attacks.

Chojuro unleashed his sword and rushed to attack Hiroki. Sakura sagged on her knees, breathing heavily. Her chakra level was close to low dangerous levels and she knew that with every ninjutsu technique she makes her chakra levels further decreases. Yet, this is the only way she can think of or else she would die.

Then, she saw the Mist-nin's long, yellow nails plunged into Chojuro's abdomen.

"NO!"

Blood dribbled from Chojuro's mouth as Hiroki pushed his hands further trying to get his hands on Chojuro's insides.

"Got ya," Chojuro smirked. He grabbed Hiroki's hands and did something immobilizing the Mist-nin. Chojuro gave Sakura a meaningful look. "Now!"

"Fuck! What have you done to me?!" Hiroki cried in outrage. "I can't move my body!"

Rising quickly to her feet, Sakura knew she must not waste time. This is their opportunity to kill the enemy. Chojuro had sacrificed his self as bait to immobilize the enemy and give her the chance to give the final blow. It was too late for the Kirigakure-nin to realize this because Sakura had already stabbed him through the heart with a chakra blade.

In that same instant, Chojuro lost consciousness and fell to the floor of the galley. Blood started to pool from the gaping wound on his abdomen. She was about to proceed to Chojuro when to her horror, Hiroki slowly turned around and grabbed her throat.

Blood spewed all over her face and body from the carotid arteries and veins she had severed on Hiroki's heart. How can he still be alive?

"All of us," Hiroki rasped to her face.

Sakura wanted to scream for help but no words would come out because of the tight grip on her throat. Up close, she saw Hiroki's pupils dilate. The Mist-nin died and fell to the water taking her down with him.

The man was heavy and they were sinking further. Sakura severed one hand then the other, finally freeing her from the dead shinobi. She tried to hold her breath as she tries to swim. She must be at least thirty feet from the surface when the stimulus for breathing finally overcame. Bubbles came out from her out and nose. Water started to pour in to her mouth then to her lungs. It was painful.

No. She repeated mentally but her body won't cooperate. She was starting to get dizzy and weak from the lack of oxygen. Darkness consumed her and her thoughts drifted to the Konoha and the persons she cherished: her parents, Naruto, Sasuke and the unborn child who would die with her.

An image of a young dark-haired boy running across a garden flashed on her mind before consciousness left her.

Pain coursed through every nerve of his eyes as Sasuke struggled to maintain his focus on Ao. Black flames followed Ao and licked every part of his body the flames could reach. Ao was trying to escape the Amaterasu but he would not let it. This time Sasuke would make sure to kill him. He had seen Sakura stabbed the Mist-nin through the heart a while ago. He's dead for sure. He had to focus first on killing Ao and then, they could finally go home.

A ring of black fire encircled Ao permitting him no room to escape. His right side of the body was burning and he was trying to remove his clothes seeing that he can't put out the fire with any technique. The black fires of Amaterasu consume everything in its path including fire itself. However, one major drawback of the technique is it burns slowly giving the enemy an opportunity to remove his clothes. On the wielder, the Amaterasu eats up a large portion of chakra and puts a great deal of strain on the Sharingan eyes.

The circle of black fire enclosed further.

You're trapped now.

Tongues of black fire licked Ao's body. With no way to go, Ao cursed and called him every foul name available. A few seconds later, his curses and name-calling were replaced with agonized cries of pain.

It's over.

Sasuke closed his eyes putting a stop to the Amaterasu leaving a steaming circle on its wake. Ao's burned body fell to the water with a splash. It was a sickening sight to see. Yet, he felt vindicated.

He turned around to look for Sakura. "Sakura?"

No answer. He can't sense her chakra anymore or the Kirigakure-nin. Only Chojuro's chakra signature remained and it was already feeble. He found Chojuro lying on a pool of blood with a gaping wound on the abdomen. He had seen the Mist-nin stabbed by Sakura. What could have happened?

"Chojuro," he called to the man. "Where is Sakura?"

Just then, something large and monstrous appeared from the water. Automatically, Sasuke braced himself for another attack.

"Uchiha Sasuke," the monstrous frog bellowed down at him.

"TEME!" Naruto's familiar loud and boisterous voice rang out. The blonde grinned at him like an idiot. He had never felt so relieved to see his friend again.

"Sakura's missing." Sasuke said immediately. It wiped off the grin on Naruto's face.

"What?" Naruto exclaimed in shock and alarm.

Sasuke turned to Chojuro and shook him on the shoulders, eliciting a moan of pain from the wounded man.

"Chojuro, answer me," Sasuke said. "Where's Sakura?"

His face wrinkled in pain, Chojuro answered in a weak voice. "In the...water."

Sasuke and Naruto looked into each other. Sakura is a shinobi. As shinobis, they were trained not only to swim but also how to hold one's breath longer than an average human. Yet, Sakura was nowhere to be seen. What happened to her?

Without second thoughts, Sasuke dove to the water.

"Take him," said Naruto to Gamabunta and followed suit.

Naruto dove and together, he and Sauke searched fervently around, communicating with one another through hand signals. Gamabunta followed after taking Chojuro inside his belly and dove deeper than them. The water became darker as they went deeper and it became harder for them to see.

Sakura, where are you?

Sasuke felt the need to resurface to get air when he felt Gamabunta shot forward as if he found something. He pointed something to him and Naruto. Following the direction he was pointing out, Sasuke dove forward and stilled on what he saw.

A mass of pink hair several feet below them.

Ignoring the painful ringing on his ears from the underwater pressure, Sasuke shot forward but to his shock Gamabunta's tongue shot forward and took Sakura in its mouth. Next, the monstrous frog took hold of him and Naruto and shot to the surface.

"Where's Sakura-chan?" Naruto immediately asked upon reaching the surface.

Gamabunta reached inside his mouth and rolled out an unconscious Sakura to his back.

Sasuke took hold of Sakura's cheeks. It was cold. "Sakura, wake up!"

"Sakura-chan, it's me Naruto-kun!"

No response.

Sasuke immediately went to check on her carotid pulse and tried to feel for signs of breathing.

None.

His insides froze at this realization. Placing his hands on her sternum, Sasuke gave fast compressions then a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He did it for two cycles then checked for her vitals again.

There was still none.

Shit.

Naruto took charge of the compressions while Sasuke gave her breaths. After a minute, Sasuke checked her vitals again.

There was still none.

What the fuck.

While continuing his cardiac compressions, Sasuke noticed that Naruto was holding Sakura's limp hand and something whitish-blue energy was passing from his arm to hers. "What are you doing?"

"Giving her chakra," answered Naruto.

Sasuke checked her vitals again and found none. Naruto re-checked and his blue eyes widened.

"No," Sasuke whispered in denialupon the look on Naruto's face. His blood went cold all over.

This can't be happening.

He refused to acknowledge what his brain was telling him. "Damn it, Sakura! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

Naruto began executing a series of hand seals. "Gamabunta, take us to Konoha now!"

"Whoa!" Gamabunta exclaimed in surprise. "That's pretty far but I think I can-

"NOW!" Naruto and Sasuke yelled in unison.

Sasuke had stopped believing on gods right after the Uchiha massacre. In fact, he despised those so-called gods he prayed to when he was young. What kind of gods would let his family be killed? Gods who in their twisted sense of goodness have subjected him to a long, cruel life?

But now, he would try to believe in them once again. At that moment, all he asked of them is one thing.

Please save her.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Happy New Year everyone!

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