Sakura

"And you've never given a chance to any other place. How would you know Konaha is better?" As much as Sakura hated to admit it, Kabuto had a point. She had never lived anywhere else except for Konoha. Still, that didn't mean that where they were was any better. Hmph...Listening to him and being nice is extremely difficult sometimes when he's so irritating... the young woman thought with a scowl, trying her best to mask it behind her currently very cheery expression. "We'll see.." "It's not like you can get it back if I don't tell you where it is, now can you?" she teased, paying him back at least a little for causing her so much irritation and inner turmoil. She could tell that he was enjoying messing with her mind and Sakura hated that. That was her job to mess with him, not the other way around. This was getting more and more difficult by the minute.

The kunoichi did her best to make her face stay the way it was, but oh Kami her eye started twitching again from his 'polite' tone of voice that masked the intent that was so very clear to them both. "I'll bring you your food anyways. If you wait to eat it, it will be cold. You wont get any more food until you finish the first dish" I. Am. Losing. It. she inwardly fumed, simply smiling on the outside and tilting her head slightly to the side. Her pink locks fell at her shoulders as she did so, framing her face and showing off her emerald eyes more clearly. Her orbs gave a different message than her face, but it didn't matter at the moment. As long as she ultimately came out on top, this would all be worth it. Just grin and bear it, Sakura.. she told herself, doing the best she could to ignore the plastered smirk on Kabuto's face as he turned to face her before walking out. Damn those glasses...I can't see his eyes when the light catches the lens..Not that I'd want to right now, but later..yes..later..When I get the chance to get under his skin again....

Somehow, the young woman knew the weirdness wasn't going to end anytime soon. True, what the male had said and the way he had said it was meant to piss her off, which it succeeded in doing so. However, she could practically hear his thoughts as he left the room and put the seal back on, closing the door behind him. Why do I keep getting myself into these situations...? "Is your resolve so low that you'd go back on your plan so quickly?! What was all that about beating him, having him in check?" Inner Sakura was right. So she had to put up with an insane and sadistic, yet strangely polite medic telling her what to do for awhile. All of it will be worth it in the end, right? I'll win and this will all be over..Still, what was going through his mind when he left..? I obviously can't read minds, but I know it can't be good for me.. "Hmph...I'll be a 'good girl' alright." she mumbled to herself, taking the book and placing it back in its original hiding place. "I'll do whatever you ask of me...and then, when you finally think you can trust me, I'll prove that you're the pawn in this game, not me..." Talking and grumbling to herself, the kunoichi sat back satisfied for now with her plan, but her right eye still twitched every time she thought of what had just been said.

"Stop thinking about it!" Inner Sakura demanded, snapping her out of her daze. She nodded to the air and closed her emerald hues, just for a moment or two, waiting patiently for her opponent to return. Your move.. she thought with a small, heaved sigh.

Sasuke

[ I heard voices as I passed by the room that Sakura was being held up in. The conversation between her and Kabuto did not interest me in the slightest, but then again, I hadn't come to listen to their conversation. Stealthily hiding my chakra, I ducked behind a rock and waited until four eyes emerged and walked off. When I was sure he was gone, that was when I decided to make my first move. ].

"Sakura, are you in there..?" The young woman sat up quickly as she heard the familiar voice of the Uchiha male outside her door, however, for obvious reasons, her reply was shaky. "H-Hai.." Perfect.. he thought, a smirk adorning his features as he leaned against the sealed door. "Sakura, I need to talk to you..I know you can't come out of that room right now, but it's important.." Sasuke masked his voice so that he sounded almost exactly like the child she'd known in Konoha that long while ago. As if to further confuse and screw with her mind, he almost sounded upset. "You don't have to believe me. Honestly, I wouldn't blame you if you don't care for me anymore, but Sakura..I really didn't want to hurt you..I was hoping you'd just go back inside so I could avoid it, but you left me no choice..Maybe if you'd just be a little less defiant and a little smarter, this would go over better for you..I'll find some time to speak with you later. Right now, I'm training, but wanted to make sure you'd managed to heal your arm before I left.." Sakura listened to Sasuke's words. He was toying with her mind. She knew it, and still, she didn't care. "Arigato, Sasuke kun.." she said sweetly and then there was silence again.

"Hmph. You still haven't changed, have you, Sakura chan? he questioned, waiting to hear her small gasp before he again retreated into the darkness. It's her own fault. If she'd make her 'love' for me less obvious, I'd not know how to get to her, but since Kabuto had to go and make this a challenge, it can't be helped. Tch. I'll think about this more later. For now, I'm late for my training...

Sakura

The young woman's face fell as she heard a shuffling of footsteps and Sasuke's cool and velvety voice disappear back into the darkness where he chose to reside. "He's toying with me.." she said to herself as if to make her see that she shouldn't trust him. "If he thinks that I'm going to fall for it, he's dead wrong...but two can play that game..and if he wants to join in where I hold the cards, he can go right ahead..." The kunoichi mumbled to herself, half in anger, half in desperation to force herself into the realization of what Sasuke was doing. The sad thing was that she knew what he was doing, and yet she didn't want to believe it, so she kept repeating it aloud just to convince herself further. So, Sasuke kun wishes to play? Fine. I can play the obedient damsel and the lovesick kunoichi...I am 'such' a good girl.. she thought to herself, rolling her eyes a little at her own plan. It was honestly asinine, but it was all she could do. Fight fire with fire. Two people were involved. One was determined to break her and the other, she'd not figured out yet. All she knew was that they'd be regretful of their actions when she was through with them.

Naruto

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?! What do you mean you let Sakura chan go on her own to the Sound?! What were you thinking, Grandma Tsunade?!" Naruto's furious state had the Hokage sighing and Kakashi and Yamato had to restrain him. "Calm down, Naruto. Sakura is an excellent ninja and very well suited for the mission she was given. Until you promise not to go after her, I'll have to keep you in the custody of these two.." She rubbed her temples in frustration, even though she too was worried about the pink haired kunoichi that she was beginning to realize may have been captured. "You are an asset to the Hidden Leaf, and not only that, but if you go running off after Sakura, there's a high chance that you would be caught as well..I know I shouldn't have sent her. I regret doing so, but I can't change what's already been done. Kakashi. Yamato.".

"Ma'am!" they said in unison, grabbing the struggling blond boy and Yamato placed him in a wooded cage made from his ninjutsu. "Let me out of here!" the jinchuriki commanded, only to get a sigh from both of his captors. "We'll take care of this, Lady Tsunade.." Kakashi said with a smile, rubbing the back of his neck as he and the other jonin took Naruto away. No, I have to go. I have to get Sakura chan back..You can't keep me here long, Dattebayo! I'm coming, Sakura chan!..

Kabuto

He was used to playing devious mind games with people. Never once did it leave him so exhausted.

And never once did it excite him so much.

He wasn't sure why she interested him so much, but he could speculate. She was one of the few people who played back with him. He didn't dare play games openly with Orochimaru. And until now..he usually ignored Sasuke. Any of the captives are usually too weak and scared, so they just beg for the pain to stop. But she, Sakura Haruno, was different. He was enjoying this.

And that was bad.

Once she was dead, he would be a little disappointed..until he found someone new to play with. But whether or not he could find someone as refreshing as her, he didn't know. Perhaps Orochimaru will never want her dead. he thought, however doubted that was true. He really didn't care, aside from the fact that his game would be ruined.

He walked slowly towards the makeshift kitchen, in no rush to feed his prisoner. Besides, she had said she wasn't hungry. Although, he soon realized that he was. So when he arrived, he immediately looked around to figure out what to make. He wasn't exactly.. adept at cooking. But he was craving dumplings, so he figured he'd go ahead and try to make them. He had watched someone from his past assemble and fry them..so how hard could it be?

An hour later, with just about every pot and pan dirty and laying around, he had finally made a batch of dumplings. They were half burnt..half undercooked..and far too spicy..but they survived. I don't even want to begin to explain how the other batches went.

He bit into one.

Okay, so they were crap. But he was done trying to cook. He took the dumplings with him as he returned to Sakura's room. He didn't bother to knock, as usual, and walked in unannounced with his dish of dumplings. Without saying a word, he sat down on her bed and placed the food in between them. He glanced away, staring at the wall nearest him. If she complained, which he was sure she would, he would probably lose it right now and shove an unevenly cooked spicy dumpling down her throat.

You know what..on second thought, I wont care at all if she dies. At least I wont have to try cooking ever again.

Akatsuki

Scattered across the shinobi world, each and every Akatsuki member performed the duties that leader found necessary. Their goal? Control of all tailed beasts. Their reasons?

Power.

Destruction.

Rebirth.

And most importantly, world domination.

They were paired in teams of two, and were expected to complete their missions.

Deidara and Sasori had already successfully captured the one tails, Shukaku. Kakazu and Hidan had been sent to claim the two tails, Matatabi. Whether they succeeded or not was unknown, and a meeting had been set up to discuss matters. Of course, they were not all physically together. It was a mere illusion, a way to communicate.

"Kakazu" Leader began. "Hidan".

"Jashins got another sacrifice, and we've got the tailed beast!" Hidan announced. Kakazu simply muttered under his breath to shut up.

"Good work. Now, as you all know, Sasori has been defeated. As such, Deidara had been momentarily partnerless. Sasori was hard to replace, however I've found a suitable match. Deidara, your new partner is tobi."

"Hiya senpai!" an orange masked man shouted to the blond male.

Deidara groaned, shaking his head. How was he going to show off his art with a guy like him around?

"You two are going to capture the three tails. Itachi, Kisame, you are to find the nine tails jinjuriki. I'm sure you know where to find him."

"Yes."

"Alright! This oughta be fun! Samehada's been itching for a fight!"

The others discussed matters further, however Itachi paid little attention. He considered how quickly things were moving, and how much time he had. Soon, little brother. Soon, you will be strong enough, and you will have your vengeance.