Chapter Seventeen
The heavy metal door was dented and dull but it was easy to see that it was still well kept. Not a speck of rust marred the smooth, handless surface. Natsui stopped short several paces and turned back to face the group with an apologetic grin.
"Sorry you guys but this is as far as I can take you. I've been away from my post to long as it is."
"Don't worry Natsui," Sasuke said. "You've done enough."
"Well I guess I'd better get you set up so I can go." Natsui said before he glanced between them. "So which one of you wants to be the key?"
"Key?" Naruto said. "What does that mean?"
"Right, you wouldn't know huh? Well then I'll just choose." Natsui set his finger against his chin in thought before he pointed to Shikamaru. "You're a Nara am I right? If worse comes to worse then I'm counting on you to hold him back. Naruto-san is a bit to impulsive; he'd jump in headlong and forget to let you guys out. I guess that just leaves Sasuke and Sakura-san."
"Teme can do it," Naruto said. "Sakura-chan isn't going inside."
"What!" Sakura's face was livid. "Don't just decide things on your own like that! I didn't come all the way here just to sit out on the sidelines."
"I only let you come because of your medical skills." Sasuke said, cutting in. "Otherwise I would have chosen the Aburame or that Hyuuga girl."
"It's troublesome but it's better if you stay here." Shikamaru said. "Ino would never shut up if you got hurt."
Knowing she was outnumbered Sakura huffed in annoyance and stomped over to lean against the walk-way's railing. Natsui stifled a laugh as he turned back to the boys and motioned for Sasuke to follow him.
"There is a panel just like this one on the other side," Natsui said showing his cousin a white section just to the right of the door. "It reacts with chakra so once I've recorded your chakra signature you can go in and out as you please. Just be careful that you don't let him out. We've taken a great deal of precaution to make sure but since a guard won't be in with you just make sure that you don't take any chances. He's in a high security cell for a reason."
"They'll be alright alone right?" Sakura said. "I mean, it's okay that you're leaving isn't it?"
"Like I said, we've taken heavy precautions so it's unlikely anything will happen, there is always a chance but…" Natsui smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. As long as they're careful they'll be just fine. Besides, they're each rather skilled for their ages."
Sakura nodded slowly. "Well…that's true…"
"Don't worry so much Sakura-chan!" Naruto said with a grin. "I'll totally be in there to save the teme's butt, and Shikamaru can freeze the guy in place right? We'll be fine 100 percent! So just wait here for us. We'll be back soon."
A bright smile spread across Sakura's lips and she nodded firmly. "Yes! Do your best Naruto, Sasuke-kun, Shikamaru-san!"
Shikamaru raised his hand and smiled slightly in acknowledgment but Sasuke just grunted as he set his hand against the panel. It flashed red for only a second before he pulled back and looked up at Natsui.
"Is that it?"
"Yeah," the older Uchiha said. "Next time you touch it the door will open. It will close automatically after fifteen seconds so make sure you all get inside quickly. When you leave it's done the same way."
Sasuke nodded. "Right."
"Good luck," Natsui said. "Give him hell for me."
"Trust me," Sasuke said, pressing his palm to the panel once again. "I plan to."
Once the boys were inside, the door slid shut tightly behind them. Makoto was chained to the back wall of the cell, his wrists held above his head and more then a foot apart making handseals impossible even if he could use his chakra.
Naruto couldn't help but crack his knuckles menacingly as he took a step closer to his cousin's long time tormentor. He had always wanted to pay the older ninja back for Hikari's sake. As if sensing Naruto's thoughts, Shikamaru reached out and rested his hand on the blonde's shoulder, holding him back.
"Tact Naruto." Shikamaru said. "We want answers but beating them out of him won't work."
"Well there goes my day."
"Now what have we here?" Makoto said, his voice condescending. "Selling ration bars for your first kunai set? Now I'd love to buy some but I'm a bit short on cash."
"Sorry to burst your bubble, Yamataro," Naruto said. "But our fund-raising days have been over for years."
"Now isn't that cute? The demon brat is playing ninja. Now where's your cousin boy? It's been a while since I've seen my ghost girl."
Naruto's aura flared and Shikamaru had to tighten his grasp on Naruto's shoulder to prevent him from leaping forward.
"Don't you ever talk about Hikari! She's not yours! I'll kill you if you say that again!"
"Enough," Sasuke said. "Calm down, Dobe. This won't help anyone." As Naruto tried to reign in his temper Sasuke took a step closer to Makoto, his eyes frigid pools of black ice. "Yamataro Makoto. I want answers. And I want them now."
"Now that's all well and good, but you haven't asked any questions, have you?"
Suddenly Sasuke was less then a foot away from the older man, his hand fisted tightly into the loose hair at the base of Makoto's neck, forcing them eye to eye.
"Haruno Hikari was attacked and left for dead. Who did it?"
"It could have been anyone Uchiha," Makoto said. "My little ghost girl was never well liked."
"What about your family? Any old grudges? Owed favors to my clan?"
"Only Shishini-kun knew my ghost girl. And he's dead. As for your clan, do you really think my family would stoop so low as to consort with your low-level trash? Not a tear would be shed for the death of your brother, boy. Not from my clan."
"His death…What about his imprisonment? Would you want that?"
Makoto's eyes took on an interesting glint. "Now there's an interesting thought. The famed Uchiha Itachi trapped in Hell. Forever living but never alive."
"You know something—." Before Sasuke could continue, a scream pierced through the heavy door, dull and distant, but still familiar.
"Sakura!" Naruto said, tearing away from Shikamaru's iron grip. He rounded on the door and cursed when he realized he couldn't open it. Sasuke jerked his attention from Naruto to focus one more glare on Makoto.
"This isn't over," Sasuke said, shoving Makoto hard against the wall as he raced across the cell to slap his hand over the controls.
"On the contrary," Makoto said as the door slid shut, leaving him alone once more. "Everything has already ended."
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Even Shikamaru felt the frantic need to locate the young Haruno girl, though not nearly as deeply as her teammates. Naruto in particular had taken on an almost animalistic appearance while Sasuke's deep black eyes took in every corner the group passed as they ran. At long-last it was the Nara boy that spotted her first, a splash of pink against the dull gray floor.
"There!" Shikamaru said, pointing her out, and both Naruto and Sasuke picked up their pace. Sasuke's heart nearly stopped when he realized where Sakura was and his feet slowed in disbelief as Naruto shot passed him to cradle his cousin gently in his arms. Sasuke knew instantly what had happened when he recognized the familiar pale complexion and deep pitiless blue eyes peering through the shadows at the unconscious girl.
Okuni Moritatsu had gotten a hold on Sakura.
Though the Okuni clan was most well known for their genjutsu, what many didn't know was that they also had the ability to drain a person's life-force down to its dregs. That was potentially fatal for anyone because, while a person could survive without chakra, it can't live without a spirit.
"Sasuke!" Naruto called, the use of his name triggering panic in the former Uchiha. "She's not breathing!"
Shoving aside his sudden need to rip Okuni into a million pieces, Sasuke hurried towards the fallen girl motioning for Naruto to lay her on the ground.
"Naruto, you and Shikamaru have to find a guard and get out of here. One of you needs to go to the hospital and get someone here. Fast. The other to and tell Yotaro what happened. Try and keep it under-wraps for as long as possible." While he spoke Sasuke had been hastily working on Sakura's clothing, pulling down the zipper of her red dress before he reached behind her back to unfasten her bra beneath her tank top.
"Teme!" Naruto roared, grabbing Sasuke's wrist. "What the hell are you doing! You sick pervert! She's dying!"
"Shut up Naruto!" Sasuke said jerking his arm away. "I'm going to give her CPR. Now move it!"
Without wasting anymore time Sasuke unfastened Sakura's bra, cut the two arm straps with a kunai, and pulled it out of her shirt before he set his hands against her chest and began to push. Fourteen compressions in time with his own heart.
"Come on Naruto." Shikamaru grabbed Naruto's arm and jerked him to his feet. The last thing Naruto saw as Shikamaru dragged him around the corner was Sasuke leaning in to give Sakura the kiss of life.
End Chapter Seventeen
Kaliea: Yes, yes. I know it's short but I'm trying to get ready for finals. I really wanted to finish this though because it's been half done for almost three weeks now. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it. Don't forget to review!
