Kind Soul Frees Chapter 6: Betrayal begins with trust, a naruto fanfic

Kind Soul Frees

By: Unknownred

Summary: Sakura Haruno goes on a class trip to Yokohama, Japan and gets abducted randomly by a terrorist. She soon learns that over half of Japan has been taken over and without knowing she had just crossed into the territory of the overruled country. Devastated, Sakura tries to escapes and in return, only gets tortured more. What will happen to Sakura? Will she escape again or die trying? Read and find out!

Rated: M

Pairings: SakuXSasu

Genres: Suspense/Romance

Chapter Six – Betrayal begins with trust

May, second week. Itachi

"Did you have enough?" He growled, gripping the hose shut. He observed her tied loosely to her chair, a big bucket filled with water and the small hose that lets out one drop of water a second onto the girl's head.

She rolled her head to the side, dizzy from having her temple knocked upon each second of her torture. She opened her mouth but no words could be form. He narrowed his eyes and kicked the wooden chair she was sitting in, making her head snap up, her eyes open and dazed. Although her skin was porcelain looking, her face was turning pale and sickly.

That didn't matter; she didn't bother him much anymore. He enjoyed making her suffer, seeing her cry out loud but what irked him was that she didn't ask him to stop, begged to like he threatened her she could. No, she stayed in silence protesting. Locking his jaw, he let go of the hose letting water drip on her head again. Narrowing his eyes, he walked around her chair post and started tying each of her hands to the handles. Then he pulled the hose off from the entrance of the bucket hole and watched huge amounts of water pour out onto the girl's pink head. She coughed, her head being pushed down as the force of water washed over her.

Once all the water was wasted and the girl fell limp against her chair, Itachi went around and knelt down to her height, "Girl, what are your intentions?"

The girl didn't answer, probably too weak to say a thing. Itachi continued on with his questionings but still the girl did not answer. Feeling annoyed at the silence he was receiving, he decided to leave her alone like this, drenched, senseless and hopeless. Standing, he walked out her room, the basement she has lived in for a month and a half.

Walking down the corridor, Itachi made it to the steps and climbed to the main floor when he heard arguing between a female's voice, Karin and two males, Tobi whinnying about who knows what and Deidara, clearly sounding vexed between the two.

Sighing, he walked slowly to the staircase that lead to the second floor and started pondering on the thought of Karin's case. Did she really do something to that girl? Did she really have an accomplice? If so, who? Why couldn't he let this matter go?

To make it simple, the girl must have her suspicions about him already— if she doesn't know who raped her and thinks he did it; now that's another sentence on his head, again. Shaking the thought away, he wondered what would have happened if the girl got away and reported them to the authorities. Is the girl smart now even after he made her suffer through all the torture techniques he made her go through? That spy has to have some weak point— but what is it?

"Tobi is a made up friend?" Tobi's voice shrilled through the corridor, their voices coming from the living room. "Tobi don't like ghosts!"

"Don't be such a baby," Karin scoffed, "It's just a movie— you know, Toby from paranormal activity?"

Deidara laughed haughtily, "He is a baby, you shouldn't assume."

"HEY!" Tobi pouted, and hit Deidara on the arm playfully, "Tobi's not scared of a movie!"

Karin smiled at the scene before her until her eyes flashed and caught black orbs staring back at them. Her smile faltered as Itachi looked from each of them, his mind wondering how in the world he got a team like this. Its not like he didn't tolerate them much, but sometimes they can be a little too ridiculous.

"Tobe," Deidara exaggerates Tobi's name, "You cry when you don't get your way; a baby suits you."

Tobi glares at Deidara. Karin laughed and grins at Deidara, "Wow, I don't know what makes you so stupid, but it really works!"

"What's that supposed to mean, scary eyes?" Deidara countered back, giving him a snicker.

Karin narrowed her eyes and growled, "Scary eyes?"

Itachi raised a brow at their bickering, his hand on the rail looking from Tobi to between the two adults. Deidara rolled his eyes and leaned in, his whispers loud enough to be heard, "Yeah, you have eyes of a vulture."

Tobi announced he didn't like birds that eat among the dead which lead to scary movies. Clearly the two ignored Tobi and it was just them in each other's sight. Karin pressed her lips in a thin line as she crossed her arms over her chest, "What was that?"

"Then again, I don't consider you a vulture." Deidara eyes flashed with amusement, "I consider you something a vulture would eat."

Karin snorted, "Keep talking juvie, someday you'll say something intelligent."

Deidara opened his mouth to retort, his fists clenching in time at her comeback. Itachi shook his head at their childishness. Why was his team like this? He'll never understand why his headmaster of the organization he was in allowed them to group with him. Before Deidara could say anymore, Itachi interrupted by clearing his throat.

The trio turned around, the two adult's eyes narrowed out as Tobi's eyes widen. "Tobi says hi, Itachi!"

Itachi nodded and lifted his foot on the first step of the staircase, "If you two have nothing to do but bicker like an old couple, I suggest you get back to work."

"Bicker?" Karin let out dully as Deidara coughed out, "Old couple!?"

"Ooo, are we playing house? Tobi will play the baby!" Tobi popped a thumb into his mouth.

Ignoring Tobi as usual, Itachi continued with his monotonous tone, "This is not a daycare, you are paid to work."

"Work, you mean kill?" Karin gave Itachi a weird look before eyeing Tobi in her peripheral vision.

Itachi takes a moment to think before nodding. Deidara turns away from Itachi, "Starting with that girl, I suppose."

Itachi locked his jaw as he eyes flew to Deidara's profile. Karin looked over too, curious. "That's none of your concern."

Deidara scoffed and rolled his eyes, "Seriously, we were assigned to dominate that town, blow up buildings and kill the list of people we've been given to kill and shoot anyone suspicious that's after us. Why is she different?"

"She's a spy, that's why."

"What's better than to kill her now?"

"How long have you been working in the Akatsuki?" Itachi leaned against the stair rails, his arm propped on top.

Deidara clicked his tongue, "Twelve, thirteen years?"

"Then you should know why we can't kill her now." Itachi spoke before taking another step upstairs.

May, 8pm. Sakura.

Sakura rested most of the evening since Itachi left her drenched to the bone, her wrists still bound to the handles of the chair. Not having anyway for escape or stretching her limbs except her legs, Sakura rolled her head around, her eyes merely getting used to the dark she was living in.

This must be hell, she thinks. She never experienced torture before until now and Itachi had proved his threats. Sakura locked her jaw, thinking upon the time she got pants in grade school by one of the school's bullies. She remembered how embarrassed she felt when most of the boys started teasing her and some of the girls who have been teasing her because of her hair, high-fived the bully. That's when she met Ino, the first girl to stand up for her the next time Sakura's bully came to prank her.

Thinking of Ino made her want to cry— how was Ino dealing with her disappearance? Was she crying because her best friend wasn't with her? Did Ino think she died? She stared ahead at what she thought was the wall. She could see colorful spots filling her vision. She closed her eyes and imagined her first night light that her parents gave her when she moved from their bed into her own bed, into her own room— an independent life of a kindergartener.

Just the thought of how scared she was then when her night light died out because of a storm, she screamed for her parents and once she was in their embrace, they taught her a lullaby to keep herself accompanied.

"Dear kitty, sweet kitty," She started singing, thinking that's how its starts, her voice rising in pitch, "little ball of fur."

She hums the next line, not remembering the words until the end, "Purr, purr, purr."

It's been awhile since she last sung the song— although she couldn't remember all the words, she would always sing it throughout grade school and stopped at the end of middle school. It was such a baby song, she didn't think grown ups would sing it still… now that she thought about it— who cares? Not everyone knows the song or how it goes but at least she kept herself occupied when doing chores or doing homework. With Ino around and her self confidence pumped up, she made more friends and hung around less bullies.

The door opens with an eerie shriek, making Sakura jump in anticipation. The first thought that came to her mind alerted her, he's back! A dim light streamed in as Sakura looked up, catching a gleam of pale yellow before it disappeared when the door closed.

Feeling her chest lift in anxiety, confusion clouding her mind as the figure stepped closer. Sakura quieted her breaths as the person comes closer. Who was this stranger? Another person assigned to torture her?

THUNK! Sakura flinched at the loud sound that fell from in front of her. What was that?

She swallowed and widened her eyes as she realized the outlines of the silhouette came closer, he/ she's breath now breathing on her face.

She gasped when she felt the touch of skin stroke her cheek, slowly covering her mouth. Her eyes widened an inch more as her mind scatters to an image of someone trying to suffocate her. Was this fate? Was she going to finally die in the hands of some stranger that isn't Itachi? Did she really want to die now? No, not yet. She pulled her head back, gasping aloud as the hand smacked over her face, her nose tingling with pain.

The hand must belong to a man— a man! Rough and calloused, as it traveled over her lips again. His other hand fumbling away from her but she could hear how he struggled with whatever he was handling with one hand. Not a very good job, she reasoned. She opened her mouth and bit down on his finger.

A loud yelp slipped through his lips, yanking his hand away from Sakura's grip. He cursed at her, letting her hear his tenor voice. "Feline wrench!"

"I've been called worst by better." She croaked for the first time that day, not surprised that she sounded exhausted, like a frog, rusted and rasped. Taking another breath, she leaned back, "Who are you?"

She doesn't think she can scream if his type of torture was worst than the water methods Itachi had used on her. "What do you want?"

He chuckled, his next words sounding annoyed, "I ask the questions. What's your name pinky?"

Feeling her upper cheekbone twitch in annoyance, she narrowed her eyes at him even though she couldn't really see him but she knew he was close. Why should she tell him her name? Why should she give him the benefit? "What's your name?"

SWACK!

Sakura felt the quick sting of her cheek as she stared into the darkness of her cell. Did he just slap her? What did she do wrong? Oh, oh yeah. She answered with a question.

"I asked you a question, pinky." He growled, taking a huge breath and exhaling it. He fumbled, her ears picking up a small container with a swooshing sound as the man before her took a swig of it, gulping it down loudly.

He's drunk! She thinks and turns back to face him. She has never been drunk before and she's not going to be one in the future unless someone secretly spikes her drink— she wouldn't know until after the effect. He blew into her face again, the stench of beer made her want to puke. She wrinkled her nose, turning her face to the side as a new thought sparked herself, could she make a deal with this stranger? "An eye for an eye, right?"

He didn't say anything at this— either ignoring her or trying to form a retort back if he wasn't already high from whatever he had taken earlier. Sakura sighs and shakes her head. This is the first time she has talked to or come face to face with another member of Itachi's organization. Which got her thinking, why didn't Itachi introduce her to his other teammates? Weren't they the ones in on her random kidnapping?

"It's a random shooting!" Shikamaru yelled, running towards them.

Now that she recalled that time… piecing two and two together, she gasped aloud. Why was Itachi there at the time of the shooting? She did recall hearing two voices yelling at each other when she was reaching for that shiny object, but other than that she couldn't remember what happened afterwards. With her eyes widen, she came to a conclusion her mind has thought up on, a word that describes who they are and what their organization is called. "You're a terrorist?!"

All this time, why did she not realize this before? This matter went way over her head; no wonder she wasn't good with listening to lectures— man, she's been hanging too much with Ino. It was silent in the room except the noise of the man rummaging and hiccupping. Sakura exhaled slowly and calmly, hoping the man wouldn't do anything drastic to her. She was a witness of the shooting, she had proof— the shell! She remembered how the glint caught her attention, how much it could have saved many lives; oh the irony.

Her fingers twitched against her thigh. What ever happened to the bullet anyway? Her mind wanders back to that day before she fell from the window. She remembered jumping and actually feeling the roundness of the bullet dug in the palm of her hand. Little flashes of memories start to unfold and fade before she could think straight. Did it roll out of her hand? Did she live her fall; falling onto Itachi instead?

May, second week. 5PM, Sasuke.

"You are Uchiha Sasuke," He spoke, his eyes observing the raven hair, stoic looking agent. Sasuke didn't say anything to confirm his identity; how was it this man knew who he is when they have never encountered each other before? Or was it because he looked like Itachi and this man assumed as such? "Two Uchihas joining my realm? Interesting."

Could Itachi be here, working in this organization? Sasuke moved his eyes around the meeting place they were at. An alleyway, just a little ways away from the public's eyes; less suspicious and yet, very chary— it was nearing dark, the moon was already showing in the pink sky. "I go by Rave." Sasuke spoke suddenly in a monotone voice.

The man standing across from him laughed, not looking surprised at Sasuke's attitude. He smirked, crossing his arms and staring into Sasuke's onyx eyes. "You look alike and sound alike too— could you possibly be following in your brother's footsteps?"

Sasuke felt his eye brow twitch but furrowed them instead. No, he wasn't going to follow in his brother's footsteps. He recalled his father telling him not to do so either and to follow his own dream which was now to stop his brother, dead or alive. "I'm not him."

The man inhaled deeply before reaching up and tapping his temple, "Oh but what if you could be him?"

This time, Sasuke did raise a brow, confused to what the man was trying to say. The man cracked a grin, and continued his proposal, "I don't know why or what your purpose is since I did not send for you." He chuckled, "You're a good liar, that's good."

Sasuke pursed his lips, slightly astonished that this man is a clever man. "But… can I trust you?"

The man narrowed his eyes, eyeing what Sasuke will do next. Sasuke moved, making the man step back. He leaned back onto the wall narrowing the alleyway; the man quirked a brow as Sasuke shrugged, "Trust—"

A loud burst boomed further from them but it was loud enough to cover up what Sasuke was going to say. The man cursed, looking at his wristwatch before snapping his attention to Sasuke but seeing no one in front of him or behind him. Growling lowly before he broke into a smirk, the man turned to walk towards the public before he was blocked with a gun to his head.

"We'll talk in the café over there," Sasuke ordered, his head nodding off to the restaurant across from them. The man chuckled, finding Sasuke's mysterious disappearance and reappearance very intriguing.

"Alright."

"This is Robyn Tsunagazarhi, reporting live at the bombing at Sangsong (N. Korea) that happened three weeks ago. It seems the trademark of the unknown terrorists have overcome many countries, starting from Russia, the east outskirts of China, North Korea and we assume they are aiming down to South Korea and Japan. In fact, another bomb has occurred last month in Yokohama, Japan and since it made such a big impact, there undergoes a story of a trip of high school students witnessing the shootings."

Some of the people inside the café, mostly the elderly were keeping tabs onto the news on TV. Sasuke sat in the booth adjacent to the window, looking less suspicious unlike the man he had met earlier. What was this man's relationship with his brother? Who was he really; how much does he know about him or Itachi? But didn't he say that Itachi joined his realm; could that mean this man was the leader?

"Hello gentlemen," A waitress came by, carrying two menus and a pen and notepad. "My name is Melissa; I'll be serving you tonight. Can I get you both anything to drink?"

Sasuke sat back, tapping his index finger on the table, his eyes roaming around the dim lighted room they were in. "Water is fine."

"Green tea." The man replied, giving Melissa an incoherent smile. She smiled back, nodding as she wrote down their orders before heading back to the drink stand. The man cleared his voice before clasping his hands together and focuses his attention to Sasuke once more.

"Good evening Robyn," Another reporter by the name of Jae Shin greeted, as he stood at the remains of a crumbled building the terrorists destroyed from before. "Since our last discussion, we had the opportunity to travel around each of the bombings destinations and question why and what the terrorists are aiming for. We don't know the reason yet, but my crew and I are at the remains in Yokohama, Japan."

Sasuke's eyes flew to the television as the reporters showed pictures of what each bombing did, also showing the rates of people dying or injured.

"It really is a pity," The man spoke as Melissa came back with both drinks.

"Here you go sir," Melissa smiled and placed each drink in front of the men. She grabbed her notepad and pen and turned to Sasuke, "Have you decided on what you wanted to eat?"

Sasuke didn't bother touching the menu that he was given earlier and shook his head, "This is fine."

Melissa nodded turning her head to the man whom held up a hand in dismissal. Melissa nodded understandingly before leaving, "Alright, well if there's anything you need or want, just ring for me using this small bell which will signal me in the back."

The man slowly brought the tea cup to his lips and took a sip, his eyes inching to capture Sasuke's, "What is it that you want?"

Sasuke slid his finger against the table top until he flicked his finger to his cup of water. If he could get closer to his brother in any way possible, he'd feel more motivated to complete his mission. But right now, this man who was beating around the bush was urging him to reveal his real reason. "Our trust can not be reasoned in a dead spot, but with people around as witnesses."

The man sighs, nodding in agreement, feeling the texture of his cup. Sasuke leaned forward, clasping his hands and placing his chin on top before eyeing the middle aged man in front of him. His face was somewhat beige porcelain, a few invisible stress lines marking his forehead; he had long hair tied back and hung over his shoulder just like his brother did when he was younger. The man almost resembled his father but a little less serious with a more humorous side to him that Sasuke couldn't put his finger on. What is it that this man made Sasuke feel strangely intimidating and amusing?

"First, what is your name?" Sasuke spoke, his tone hard as he eyed the man sitting across from him.

"Obito," The man whispered unhesitant, picking up his cup of tea again and taking another sip.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Obito; there was something wrong though— was it how this man whispered his name like it was some criminal status or how fast he said his name without hesitating. "For me to gain trust, what will it take?"

Obito chuckles, shaking his head; he leaned forward, his voice tinged with mock, "Do you have what it takes?"

Sasuke didn't like being mocked or feeling little. He growled, glaring at Obito, "I do."

"Betrayal," Obito started, explaining how the interior truth of betraying someone important or valued is the start of evolving your feelings to a minimum limit of emotion. But that wasn't something Sasuke didn't already know— after Itachi left betraying everyone he knew, he loved and trust; Sasuke did the same to the ones he worked with, the one he called family, Naruto.

"Done," Sasuke said, lowering his eyes at the memory of leaving Naruto unconscious back at the base and crushing his comm-radio in order to lose his trail when he left.

"We also have some insights from a group of high schoolers evolving around a girl by the name of Haruno Sakura," Jae announced, the screen showing a latest picture of a girl with bright emerald eyes and long pink tresses, her porcelain skin glowing in the light as she smiles at the camera.

Sasuke snapped his attention to the screen, his eyes taking in the view of the girl's features before tuning into what the reporter was talking about.

Jae explained the girl's story, "—who has gone missing when her class went on a field trip to Yokohama, Japan. They were at the Yokohama Festival when the shootings began; we had the opportunity to talk to Sakura's friends that were with her at the time. Here's a side video of it."

A girl with long blond hair tied back, her sea blue eyes shining with tears as she cried in front of the camera; another girl, her friend with four blond pigtails sticking out on each side of her head rubbing her shoulders as she initiated the conversation, "We were in an alleyway, hiding when we heard the shooting. Sakura was behind us at the time— we didn't know where she went after we ducked from a shooting that was aimed at us."

Jae interrupted, jumping in, "Did you see anything out of the ordinary?"

The crying blonde looked up, "I-it was dark though, so we didn't know if she ran around the building or… w-what if she got shot or something!"

"No Ino," The blond chick soothing her friend said, "The investigators or the police didn't find any dead body, nonetheless, Sakura's, remember?"

The crying chick whose name is Ino nodded, teary eyed.

"What a pity," Obito began, his voice cutting sharp into Sasuke's thoughts, his attention reared as his curiosity caught the better of him. "An exotic-looking chick catches world-wide attention, pushing terrorism aside… makes sense since it gives them the opportunity to move on."

Sasuke clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth as he ignores what the man said and tunes into another witness at the scene.

A boy around the same age as him, with brown hair tied up, sticking roughly like his, glares unnerving into the camera, "Sakura…? I believe she's still alive… they found her shoe and some evidence inside after the explosion. Where else—"

"I'm sorry," Jae interrupting, "Did you say evidence? Of what; your friend or the shooting?"

"Right, both. In her shoe was a pendant with an engraved snake wrapped around a pole and they found her fingerprints on it. So that means… she must have been near the building or above us at the time I came to rescue Ino and Temari. Where else would she have been if not anywhere else?"

"What are you saying, Shikamaru?" Ino hiccupped, the camera transitioning to the two girls. "She could have tripped and her shoe fell off or something."

Shikamaru nodded, "She may have but think about it, Sakura… she's smart, once she sets her mind on something, she needs complete silence and concentration."

Temari bit her lip, "Say, if that was true… like you said, if she was above us the whole time— clearly we were looking everywhere else but up."

Ino growled, "But if she was above us on the ladder, we would've have noticed her neon hair!"

"Ladder?" Temari and Shikamaru asked, surprised at what Ino told them. "What ladder?"

"Obviously, every alleyway has a ladder that leads to each apartment's window, in case of emergency." Ino rolled her eyes, glaring at the reporter and the camera, "The police believe she's dead—"

"Ino…" Temari began but Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, "Do you believe she's dead? What evidence can you prove?"

Ino shook her head, "I don't know… what if she is? Or-r…" She gasps. "Reporter Jae, we witnessed two people coming towards us before we escaped the shootings. I think they were heading towards the alleyway we were hiding at. And the alley leads back to the port."

"Yeah," Temari drawled out, agreeing to what Ino had said, "And they didn't have guns with them either! Which is weird… aren't terrorists supposed to have some kind of weapon on them at all times? They can't just run out and leave it for evidence."

"Unless it was destroyed by the explosive afterwards." Shikamaru defended, tapping his chin.

"That young man is clever as well." Obito snickered, shaking his head at the news.

Sasuke turns to Obito, his mind whirling around the case of the lost girl to whom he felt like he's seen her before… or once knew her. Furrowing his brows together, Sasuke pressed his lips in a thin line as Obito began to talk again. "I have thought of letting you inside our organization but you'll have to prove yourself first."

Sasuke picks up his glass of water for the first time and takes a sip of it, feeling the cold sliver of water run down his throat. "I already betrayed those I call family."

Obito nodded, a dark smirk appearing on his face, "Really… Well then, I will set you on a trial."

Sasuke breathed in slowly, setting down his cup before motioning to Obito to continue. Obito leans back into his chair and eyes the Uchiha. "Beginning of June until the end of October, I'll place you in a small group that will enhance this agreement, but remember you'll be watched."

Sasuke nodded carefully, his ears perked as the remaining video on the television with reporter Jae declaring they got new information about the terrorism in Yokohama, an organization being called 'Akatsuki' and their new lead was the pendant Haruno Sakura had found. "Do we have a deal?"

Sasuke swallows, reaching across the table and shaking Obito's hands, "Deal."

May, second week, 8:30PM. Itachi.

Running through the streets, Itachi made his way past the shop of bootleggers and went inside an alleyway leading to a shortcut back to their hideout. Reaching his destination, he curved around a corner and took a big jump across a trench that separated the outer skirts of Saga's urban subway and the rural exit to the countryside.

Rounding a big building, he stopped to breathe a couple breaths before hearing a faint shriek. Was it a cat, he didn't know but once he reports his mission, he'll get to interrogate the agent locked up in the basement.

Entering the household, he made his way upstairs to his room. Everything was quiet except the small ticking sounds of the clock in the corridor, and the snores protruding from within Hidan's room. Across from him, Itachi notices Karin's door slightly ajar. Stepping quickly, he places a hand on her door, pushing it a little before seeing a slight cloud of smoke. Furrowing a brow, he pushes the door all the way open and the first thing he notices is a body collapsed on the floor, with blankets strewn across her body as if she fell off her bed.

Quickly, Itachi swallows and uses his sleeve to cover his nose. He steps in and looks around her room before retreating to Karin's side. He kneels down and places a hand at the base of her collar bone and throat, and feels a pulse. Confused to what was going on, Itachi picks Karin up and places her on her bed in which she mumbles incoherent in her sleep.

"Hey," A male voice speaks behind him, startling him. Itachi looks behind his shoulder and sees Hidan in a dark outfit, possibly his pajamas, standing in the doorway of his bedroom. "So you and Karin, huh?"

"No." Itachi replied, "Something has happened."

Hidan raises a brow before leaning on his doorframe, "What could be the problem? You and Karin definitely have chemistry—"

Itachi narrows his eyes at Hidan, "I just came back from my mission. I have nothing to do with Karin."

"Then why are you in her room?" Hidan straightened up and walked to the doorway of Karin's room. "Unless—"

There it was again, a cat mewling somewhere close to him. They both quieted down, wondering what or where that sound came from. "That wasn't Karin, I presume."

Hidan muttered, eyeing the sleeping girl in her bed.

"No," Itachi began, his eyes flickering, "Did Tobi bring back a cat or something?"

Hidan pressed his lips in a thin line before replying with an exhaled following heed, "Tobi was called on an executive mission after you left, but he comes back two days from now with Sasori."

So if it's not a cat or Karin, what was that sound? Itachi thought further and turned to see Karin's bathroom slightly opened. Itachi started walking towards it when Hidan exclaimed that Karin wouldn't like someone entering her bathroom without permission. "She keeps it closed for a reason, she said to me once. Dang, did I learn it the hard way…"

Itachi ignored him and went inside the bathroom. Turning on the light, he noticed all the feminine products thrashed about on her floor and the bottles of shampoo and perfume scatter and piled on her sink counter. It wasn't this messy before, he thought as he reaches the sink cabinet and opens it. Before he had removed the bottle of paralysis fluid bottle from Karin's possession and made sure she was suspended from using any medical products unless she had to go on a mission. Since then, she hasn't touched or gone near any but looking at the bottle now was clear that maybe he was wrong this entire time. He had accused the wrong person!

Worming his way back to the exit of Karin's room, Itachi's mind blared with alarm; the girl! "Hidan, follow me."

"What?"

Was it too late? Will he capture the girl's rapist? He walks briskly through the empty corridor with Hidan's footsteps following from behind and only stops when they hear another mewling coming inside the basement cell. Knowing precautions, Hidan goes on the other side of the door and peeks through the small slit of where the door closes.

Itachi nears the door, placing an ear to it and listening in to what sounded like shuffles and a small whimpering voice coming from the girl.

"You're not really an agent, are you?"

That voice! It sounded so familiar, so much like… "Deidara is the girl's rapist?" Hidan exclaimed in a whisper. Itachi narrowed his eyes, he had been wrong; he had accused Karin of raping the girl or having an accomplice but it seemed like the tables have turned. Hidan, being the most careful out of the whole group besides Itachi, gently opened the door and stepped inside the premises of the girl's cell with Itachi following heed.

Inside it was dark except the mellow dim light of a flashlight illuminating the pinkette, her face planting the ground, half of her body consumed by the darkness. She moaned, grunting and crying at the same time.

"Does that feel good?" Deidara's voice drawled out but still not Hidan nor Itachi could see him. "Better than Itachi's tortures?"

"Ah!" The girl's voice chimed, echoing off the walls.

Itachi couldn't believe what he was hearing as Hidan took a step forward. Itachi stopped him with his hand, narrowing his eyes as the girl's face turned and they could see blood mixed with saliva trickling out from her mouth.

"Rewards come with prices," Deidara grunted, making the girl move underneath him. She continued to whimper, clenching her eyes shut as he thrust in and out of her. "Itachi has failed to see this; he's a fool!"

"Nn!" The girl cried out, blood splattering down her chin. This time though, Itachi and Hidan could now see Deidara's hand making its way down her front and gripping her breasts as he continued to force his member into her. "Y-you won't g-get away— ah!"

"That's where you're wrong." Deidara laughed lowly, grunting even, "You won't get away but I will."

"N-no." The girl cringed, her eyes snapping open in fright as she started breathing faster and hitching unevenly. "P-please, hah, no!"

This was enough; Itachi wasn't going to watch Deidara rape the young agent any longer. Taking a step forward, Itachi signaled Hidan to kick the door open, alarming the two. Deidara who slid out from the impact of the noise, turned his attention to Itachi, "I-Ita—"

"So you think you can get away with it, huh?" Itachi announced, walking forward and ignoring the bruised, beat up girl next to Deidara.

"When did— how long were you standing there?" Deidara exclaimed, narrowing his eyes and pulling up his pants. "I thought you were out?"

"He was." Hidan's voice jumped in from the doorway, the light now shining through from outside the cell. "Until I found him in Karin's room."

Deidara pursed his lips before breaking into a chuckle, "So you found out, huh? Well it took you long enough."

Itachi stopped in front of Deidara, lashing out with his fist against his face. Deidara laughed, falling over the girl. The girl flinched, her breaths heavy. Deidara smiled, scooting forward and taking the advantage of pulling her between him and Itachi while sliding both his hands under her shirt, and massaging the girl's mounds. Itachi's eyes widen in disbelief; was he going to rape her again in front of him?

The girl moaned as Deidara tweaked her nipple, twisting and squeezing it, most likely giving both Itachi and Hidan a show. Growling, Itachi couldn't do much except watch and glare dangerously at Deidara. Deidara let go of one mound and kissed the girl's neck, grabbing a hold of her hair with his fist and yanking her head back, her eyes half lidded with exhaustion. "See this Itachi?" He spoke, rather giddily as nipped at the girl's ear and making her cry out, "This is how you should treat your dog, with care and pleasure! Train her to obey and she will—"

CRACK!

Deidara fell backwards, his grip loosening from the girl's. Itachi growled once more, bending down and yanking him up by the back of his collar and then throwing him further behind him. Deidara grunted as he fell to the ground and started to laugh aloud.

He sat up, raking a hand through his blond locks, "So sensitive, like the wrench!" Standing once again, he threw a smirk at Itachi who wasn't in the mood for playing games.

"Shut up." Itachi growled, striding forward and throwing a punch at Deidara whom dodged and rammed a fist into Itachi's stomach. Itachi grunted, stepping back. "You bastard."

Hidan jumped forward, kicking Deidara who was walking towards the girl again, "Enough of this, Dei! We don't rape victims! We kill!"

Deidara stumbled, daring to straighten up again, "Yes, I was killing her from within. Breaking down her emotions; her body, making her sensitive so she'll tell us answers we really need."

"We need her alive," Itachi spoke, clenching his hands into fists again. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of sex in the room. "She's my victim, not yours."

"I was doing you a favor," Deidara growled standing and taking a step towards the girl again but was blocked by Hidan.

"Favor, mm?" Itachi mused, lowering his eyes to the girl's ashen face, a blush sifting on her cheeks. "Well then I'll return the favor by punishing you."

With a stance of defense, Itachi's eyes narrowed, onyx filled to kill as he stepped sideways and kicked up, smacking into Deidara's head and sending him flying backwards, unconscious.

May seventh, morning. Karin.

"I just got word back from Tobi that he's coming back early today— he was sent immediately to help Sasori but then leader Obito called him to go back. Instead of returning Thursday night, Sasori has it under control." Karin stepped into the kitchen, her hand rubbing the back of her neck as she quickly dismissed a yawn.

Itachi sat in his chair reading some reports, saying nothing as Karin prepared herself a bowl of cereal before walking to the round table and sitting across from him, "I understand that it's the morning, but at least say something once in awhile."

Itachi didn't take his eyes off the files as he sifts through each of them, ignoring Karin's babble so early in the morning. Karin stared at Itachi before huffing and picking up and dipping her spoon into her bowl. She scooped up some cereal into her mouth and chewed quietly. "I apologize."

Karin choked, coughing from her meal. Her eyes widen a bit in surprised, "What?"

Confused to why he apologized to her, Karin sat there eyeing Itachi as he wrote down notes in his report. Did he really just apologize to her? What for though? "Um, I don't know why—"

"It was Deidara." Itachi closed the file and opened another folder and taking a sheet out and sliding it across the table towards Karin.

Swallowing, Karin turned the paper around and glanced at the writing of Hidan's witnessing last night events. As she read, her breaths were caught in her throat. Could this be? She was guilty free? Deidara is the rapist? That prick; framing her all this time! Karin feels her chest lift from disbelief and stress, her nose tingles as her waterworks start erupting. Looking up, she catches Itachi's cold gaze on hers. "T-thank you."

Itachi locks his jaw and nods, "I'm leaving you full privilege to do whatever means necessary to severe his punishment."

Karin's eyes flickered. She reaches up to wipe her tears away and nods understandingly, "Where is he being kept?"

The corner of Itachi's mouth curves into a smirk, "In Tobi's room for the time being. We'll be sending him to the head quarters' isolation island in an hour."

Pursing her lips, Karin licks them before clarifying that maybe they shouldn't have placed Deidara in Tobi's room but it seemed Itachi has already taken care of it. "We gave him a shot of paralysis fluid."

"And the girl?"

Itachi clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth, thinking. He wrinkled his nose, Karin blinked. Did he really just wrinkle his nose in front of her? Was that a sign that something stunk, possibly her? She hadn't washed since last night, before… well she couldn't really remember. "By the time Tobi arrives, we'll leave him to watch over the girl."

Karin nods while taking another bite of her cereal. Now that she thinks about it, this was the longest conversation she had gotten out of Itachi at breakfast. Taking the bowl in her hands, she placed it to her lips and started drinking the leftover milk. "Let's just hope he's not claustrophobic."

That was the last thing she needed, a teammate that has phobias and can't complete a simple mission like babysitting the girl.

May seventh, noon; Sakura.

She laid against the cold, smooth bench, staring at the ceiling in the darkness. She was thinking of her future, will she ever get married in the future? Who would be willing to marry a rape victim like herself? Since her rape the night before, is there a baby forming in her belly already. He did mention that it wasn't the first time since she's been touched, or fondled like he did to her a month ago.

She couldn't cry now, there was no more tears to cry about; she felt wasted, felt useless for not being able to stop him. She couldn't remember her rapist's name either, what kind of victim is she? Frowning, she remembered how easy it was for him to slide through inside her and how painful it was thrusting her. She swallowed, her hand trailing down her stomach to her crotch, flinching at how sensitive she has become.

If she ever does escape again, how could she trust anyone who won't take advantage of her? What about her parents that will make such a big deal out of this; she'll probably have to live with being a rape victim unless she doesn't tell them or anyone else— it'll be a secret in this room and nowhere else.

A rumble was heard from her stomach, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. She hasn't eaten since the day before. As much as she hated the main dish Itachi has been serving her, she is now sort of missing eating fried eel and snake meat. She licked her lips and winced, feeling the rough sore when she was punched.

As if on cue, her cell door opened, sending in a full beam of light and to her disappointment, it was not her captor who was standing in the doorway with a tray of food; it was another terrorist with a goofy smile on his face. What the—

"My name is Tobi!" He announced, walking in freely while carrying a small tool box.

Sakura widens her eyes, scared to what was inside the box— maybe more torture devices. What sort of terrorist is this one?

"Let's be friends, Sakura chan!"

Pre-recap:

Surprised at her broken voice, Sasuke stands there wondering who this girl might be and why was she not attacking him. Then it clicks in his mind, duh, obviously she must be a prisoner not an attacker. He swallowed, his eyes softening as he stepped forward. "What's your name?"

The girl gasps, her breaths uneven as she shuffles backwards. He could hear the rustles of the rope being strung back, like a snake in the meadows. She must be shock due to his question— he wonders if she knew anything, if she remembered her name. "M-my name?"

A/N: Okay I know I said Sasuke will be meeting Sakura in this chapter but due to some circumstances involving the meeting of how Sasuke gets to meet Sakura, this was the best plot regarding the suspension of Deidara's cooperation. I won't make promises I can't keep. I could've have done a time skip but I wanted all of you to have a feel of what's really going on. So please be patient and keep reading to find out!

Strawberrys000: I told you last chapter that Sasuke and Sakura will meet in this chapter and I apologize. These episodes don't go as planned, so when I thought of pushing past a time skip, I thought this story would sound or feel like its rushed— which it's not. I hope you understand that it wasn't on purpose and the twist will really brighten your mood.