Hello readers! Sorry for the long wait. There will be some spelling and grammatical errors present.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but I do own this fanfic.

Chapter 6: Elimination

Sasuke held the device in his hands, forgetting his need for vengeance at that moment. There was a hidden cellphone in the closet of his bedroom back in headquarters that would be easy to locate. After the phone number was entered, he hesitated on executing the call.

All he wanted was to hear her voice, but he didn't know if that was a possibility. Was she even present to find the cellphone? Would she be alone? Would she even answer not knowing who was calling? He didn't want the phone confiscated before she got the chance to answer. Deciding against the call, he shut the phone and tossed it into his duffle bag along with all his other belongings.

He gathered the rest of his belongings and packed them all away. Standing up, he grabbed the weapon strap and fastened it on his body. He grabbed the various firearms laid out and began strapping the proper weapons in its place. When his usual arsenal was loaded, he grabbed two automatic shotguns that held several rounds each and slid them onto his back. Taking several of the many nine-millimeter magazines he had collected, he strapped whatever he could onto the reloading slide on his back. He needed to be efficient and wasn't going to waste his time loading his handgun manually. He got two extendable metal rods and slid them into the holster on either side of his thighs. Ensuring he had gotten everything, Sasuke threw his jacket on and grabbed his duffle bag full of various arms. It was time to leave the hospitality his old acquaintance had kindly provided him.

—xXx—

He hid his bike further away than he would have liked for security, but it meant tossing his main escape option aside. He would have to improvise when the time came. He stood a distance away from the high priced facility he was targeting, surveying the surroundings. Though outside of the heart of the city, the currently closed nightclub was headquarters to the man he had been after the past few days. The cover of a nightclub was used to recruit more young members into the organization and for money. With different drugs being dealt around, the amount of revenue going into their hands supplied so much.

Tonight's attack wouldn't be simple compared to all the other nights, especially with the facility being their main base. After his spree for information, he knew the enemy was anticipating his arrival. There would certainly be more aggressive hostiles waiting for him the moment he entered their territory. He was completely confident in his abilities that going in solo was not a problem, but deep down there were always the thoughts of what if. It was difficult enough for him to leave his wife when she needed him most, but to leave her for eternity was something he couldn't bear to do to her. She was the one thing that kept him going despite all the danger and doubts.

Sasuke reached into his back pouch and pulled out the flip phone once more. He needed to take precautions and knew only one person that would help him without hesitation.

Hot air from the blow dryer blew through her shortened locks as she ran a brush to untangle any knots. She was thankful for her mother-in-law agreeing to help her or the haircut would have turned out completely different if she had done it on her own. Her once waist long bubble gum pink hair was shortened and layered two inches above her shoulder to give her a fresh look. After hearing what her father was willing to tell her, she needed a fresh start to accept the ugly world she was surrounded by. The world wasn't perfect no matter how much she wanted it to be. Faith gave her the life she lived and it was impossible to turn time around to reset things. The past had to be put behind her, but the happiness and sadness would be carried on with her.

She had called Naruto earlier, asking if he would like to stay over so that they could talk. He had immediately said yes before she got a chance to finish her question. All she could do was smile at his eagerness and friendliness.

When her hair was dried, she exited the large bathroom with a towel wrapped around her figure. Her sadden eyes looked at the bedroom door knowing that her wish of his return would go unanswered. Before heading to the walk-in closet to dress, she glanced around the organized bedroom, happy to know she made feel more like home. After putting on a set of undergarments, she grabbed one of Sasuke's old long sleeve t-shirts and wore it over her petite frame. Sakura hugged herself as she took in the warmth the overly large clothing provided. She hoped her husband was safe and would be returning soon.

A sudden muffled ringing immediately caught her attention. Thinking someone had entered the room, she looked out and saw nobody. She closed her eyes to focus on the sound and deduced it was coming from somewhere within the confines of the closet. Wasting no time, she quickly searched for the device and ended up finding it in a hidden compartment within the closest. Once she retired the phone, she stared at the screen, unsure whether to answer it or not. She barely understood the world of the organization and assumed answering the call could have consequences. Taking a deep breath, she slid her finger across the screen to answer.

What if the caller was looking for Sasuke specifically? What if the person on the other side of the line knew of her husband's whereabouts? Was it even safe for her to answer and ask? Would it be better to tell someone about the device she discovered? So many questions ran through her head as she brought the phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

Not a word was spoken in response to her greeting. She expected the line to drop the moment the caller heard that it wasn't who they were expecting. It was odd for the call to continue when it seemed there wasn't anyone on the line. Whoever called had a reason for doing so, especially if it was directed to the hidden phone. Sakura knew it couldn't be someone within the agency calling because everyone was aware of Sasuke's missing presence. Seconds went by and not a word was echoed back. She was about to end the call until the voice she longed to hear spoke.

"Sakura."

Fifteen more minutes before the clock struck eleven and he would initialize an attack. He took a deep breath and exhaled, seeing this breath take form when it met the chilly weather. He had pulled up the nylon cloth to cover his face from the nose down to for some needed warmth. His coat kept him and weapons hidden, but he needed to move to get his body to warm up.

He continued to observe from a distance, watching the guards that stood outside pacing back and forth along their post. Each one would have to be eliminated quickly for him to be able to enter the premises. He figured a swift kill would be the most effective and wouldn't draw too much attention, but the snow would hinder him. When the clock struck five till Sasuke slid his red and white hawk mask on and went to the side of the building to make his descent down.

—xXx—

He paced back and forth along his assigned station, wondering why they needed guards outside a closed nightclub. In one hand was a small flashlight and in the other a nightstick. When he heard his colleague grunt at the corner follow by something falling into the snow, he decided to check on him.

"You alright -"

A hand shot out of the darkness covering his nose and mouth. The sudden attack surprised him that he ended up dropping the flashlight and nightstick. The assailant pushed him against the wall before he felt an excruciating pain across his neck. Once the victim's last breath felt its body, the predator released the lifeless body. It fell into the soft snow, dying it dark red. The entire exterior perimeter had been dealt with and now his focus was on the enemies inside.

Sasuke was well aware of the fact that entering through the front directly would be complete suicide, but his inner demon wanted blood. Grabbing one of the cleaner kills, he dragged the body by the jacket collar to the front entrance. After pounding on the door a few times, he hoisted up the body in front of him as a shield and drew his sword. The moment the door opened, Sasuke pushed the lifeless physique into the man before him. The assassin drew his sword back and forced it through the lifeless body before it stabbed the intended victim. He pushed forward into the facility and withdrew his blade, letting the bodies fall onto the floor. Pulling out his handgun, he fired two shots, killing two behind him.

The sound of storming footsteps flooded his ears and he stood still with his weapons drawn. He shifted his eyes to spot for any possible firearms but found none. However, the enemies in front of him all had their metal rods out and several had the taser stick. They didn't want to stir up a commotion with gunfire everywhere, especially in the middle of the night, nor bring down their morale with miss fires. They were playing it safe until things got out of their control and turned in his favor. He was well aware he was surrounded by pawns to test his abilities for the knights lurked in the shadows waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike him.

Tucking his gun away, Sasuke welcomed the chance for close combat and pulled out three kunai blades. He knew with more opponents surrounding him he would leave injured one way or another. Without someone to watch his back, he couldn't be reckless with his actions or allow the smallest opportunity for his opponents to turn the tables on him. He had gotten himself this far and there was no turning back now.

In a blink of an eye, the assassin tossed the kunai blade at the set of targets in front of him and charged forward. The weapons struck their target square in the chest with ease as the masked figure appeared before the next set of kills. The sound of the wind followed the swing of the blade as he cut down one body after another. Blood splattered everywhere, staining anything in crimson it came in contact with.

His movements were cut short when a jolt of electricity spurted throughout his body from behind. The temporary paralysis forced him down on one knee as his muscles tried to recover. The shock wasn't strong, but enough to make his muscles to tense up. Even though he was trained to endure the most common voltage shocks, it still took his body a few seconds to recover. Those few seconds would be a window of opportunity for his enemies to attack. Seeing his vulnerability immediately, the enemy ventured to use the opportunity to their advantage. Sasuke gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and sliced open the lower limbs of the approaching victims. They feel to the ground screaming as blood gushed out from the freshly made wound.

Gritting his teeth, Sasuke forced himself to turn around and swung his sword upward. The blade made a clean cut between the man's arm and torso, severing the limb holding the weapon. Feeling his muscles beginning to relax a bit, Sasuke grabbed the taser from the dead appendage and shoved it directly at the chest of the owner. Without wasting time, the masked assassin stood from his position and continued on his solo assault on the mob that surrounded him.

The body count rose as blood stained the surroundings. As their numbers dwindled even lower, crimson orbs caught sight of the knights beginning to step in to accomplish the job that a large number of pawns were unable to do. The only thing that bothered him wasn't the number of them that appeared, but the sheer size of their built. He was six feet tall with a lean muscular built, average for an active man in his profession and age range, but these monsters were on a whole other level.

Her light blue eyes peered into the microscope to witness how normal cells would react to the substance the lab had collected from the deceased's laboratory. She watched as the healthy cells mutated and multiplied, spreading faster than anything she had ever seen. Without looking away, her right hand jotted down her findings as she continued to watch. After spending more than a week on researching and testing, she still couldn't comprehend everything that she was seeing.

"Have you found anything?"

Konan turned around to face the director. "Unfortunately no," she replied. "If all the results from the research and test are true, we're dealing with one sick-minded freak. It's like a science fiction story coming to life."

"Have you broken down the compound?"

She shook her head. "We're still not sure what it is yet or where to start isolating," she replied. "But what we know from the documents collected is that the substance is injected into the subject and acts as a steroid to enhance the physical body."

"From what I've been informed, speed and strength are two of the increased attributes." Konan nodded in agreement. "Is it permanent?"

"At this moment with the sample we've collected, it isn't." She grabbed the folder behind her and handed it to Minato. "It's not yet stable that the subject will have to continue injection to keep the effects. Sasori has gone through the autopsy reports and found that depending on the dosage and treatment, the compound can take minimum to full effect or kill. Unfortunately, the data isn't dated and we have to assume there is a complete stable solution."

Minato flipped through papers in the file. "Are there other batches of the compound?"

"Highly possible," she answered. "I've contacted the other branches to see if they've documented anything similar."

The director nodded in approval at the action the agent had taken. "It's late now Konan," Minato said. "Get some rest and continue this tomorrow."

The stench of blood filled the facility, making the reek of death unavoidable. He turned his head slowly to analyze the human giants that surrounded him. All six looked like professional bodybuilders with their muscles stiff and the veins in parts of their bodies sticking out, but the air encircling them hungered for blood. He had seen the look in their eyes many times before. They were the eyes of a killer eager for excitement. He assumed the largest of the six, who was also dressed differently, was the leader of the pack and figured taking out the superior first would be the best action.

Blood dripped off the tip of his blade as the seconds passed. He was ready to charge, but he knew nothing about the enemies before him, and initializing the first attack could lead to his demise. He thought back to his studies on the human body. Thicker muscles meant an increase in mass and possibly stiffer movement. Their range in flexibility should be limited and likely wouldn't match up to his speed.

He adjusted his stance and drew his sword back, preparing for an attack. After inhaling a breath, he vanished from his position. When he was near, Sasuke swung his blade, but before he could make contact with flesh, he was stopped. The intended target had grabbed the weapon with his bare hands with unimaginable speed for a person built his size. Sasuke attempted to twist the weapon, but even with all his strength, it wouldn't budge. Blood ran down the metal, but the giant didn't feel an ounce of pain. A large fist came flying toward the assassin's body and connected with his ribs, sending him flying across the room.

His entire body ached more than any impact he had ever endured. He looked up at the targets as part of his white mask cracked and fell from his face. He watched as his sword was tossed aside like a toy, far from his reach. As he struggled to get up, they mocked him for his weakness. Sasuke stood up and held his ground despite the pain he felt. Each breath he inhaled hurt, but he wouldn't let his pain show.

One of the giants charged forward, ready to tackle him down. Reaching behind him, Sasuke pulled out his silver handguns and began to upload the bullets into his victim. He aimed for the chest where all the vital organs were located, but the bullets didn't seem to do any harm. The blood dripping from the wounds was proof the target had been hit. Any man shot with the number of lead projectiles the assassin had unloaded should be dead on the ground. Once the magazines were empty, he released them and loaded another in without wasting any time. He began unloading his weapon again, firing as fast as his fingers could pull the trigger. The giant finally fell when he was within reaching distance of the assassin and the magazines were empty.

His crimson orbs narrowed at the remaining giants. He knew he wasn't dealing with ordinary people. It took four clips of nine-millimeter rounds to take down one despite aiming directly at the chest. The first one he had attempted to attack was capable of catching his blade mid-swing and didn't lose any appendages. Sasuke inserted in another set of rounds into his guns, preparing for the next one to come. He was aware he was fighting a losing battle unless he changed his strategy. The only problem was the lack of information. Recalling his knowledge of human physiology, the eyes were the most vulnerable organ to attack. Sight was everything when it came to physical attacks. Weapons that struck through the eye in a specific angle could hit part of the brain or cervical vertebrae and lead to instant death. The only problem was he didn't know how close he could get to initiate an assault without being attacked himself.

He caught sight of a taser behind the brutes and figured out a possible plan to kill at least one. Aiming, Sasuke fired several bullets into the thighs of his targets hoping the injury would slow their movements as he initialized his attack. He rushed forward, putting one gun away and loading the other. His free hand then reach into his back pouch and took out several marbles sized balls. When he was within striking distance, he tossed the small spheres into the eyes of his targets. When the objects made contact, they shattered and powdered glass spread onto their globular organs. Blinded by the fine particles, the assassin quickly slipped passed them and grabbed the taser. Sasuke flipped the switch of the nonlethal weapon to the highest voltage then drove it into the eyes of his closest victim. Aiming his handgun, he pulled the trigger point-blank, letting the projectile lodge through the eye and into the cranium. Shifting his objective shot to the throat, he pulled the trigger again.

Sensing an attack, he quickly jumped back to avoid a potential legal hit. After pulling the small-caliber weapon away, he reached back and withdrew one of his shotguns. He fired a shot, letting the slug directly hit the collarbone of the target. Any normal human would have felt immense pain, but the monster before him didn't seem bothered. He pumped the rifle ready and aimed it at the head. Without any further hesitation, he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit its mark, but did little damage; only the left side of the enemy's cheek was blown off, revealing the hidden skeleton. He was beginning to get sloppy and needed to end things quickly before the tables turned against him. Flipping the switch on the rifle from single to full auto, he unleashed a string of ammo into the skull. When he released the trigger, there was barely a recognizable head left on the body. Without wasting a second, Sasuke immediately reloaded his firearm. Aiming at the three remaining foes, he began unloading the ammunition. The closest one of the three, having taken most of the shots, fell as the last bullet felt the barrel.

Once he ran out, Sasuke was prepared to pull out his other rifle, but the enemy was a step ahead. The smaller build one appeared before him. Before his mind could comprehend the appearance of the large man before him, a fist connected to the side of his face. The impact of the blow sent him a distance away from where he was standing. The mask on his face fell into pieces, revealing most of his face if it wasn't for the second mask. His sense of balance was off from the ringing in his ears. He knew his body wouldn't be able to stand against another blow like that without ending up with broken bones and possibly a punctured organ. He watched the giant pick up his empty rifle and snap it in half like a twig. With strength like that, Sasuke wasn't surprised if they were capable of ripping off limbs from a torso.

He needed to attack smarter and avoid being caught in their grasp. They knew his frontal attack sequence and it was useless now. Attacking from behind was the best strategy and the spine would be the most vulnerable spot to target. As long as he didn't leave any opening for the enemy, he still had the advantage in speed. Seeing his abandoned sword only a foot away from him, he stood up quickly and rushed forward. He grabbed the sword and drew it ready, paying close attention to possible attacks.

When the assassin was within frontal attack range, he vanished and reappeared behind the target. He immediately stabbed his sword between the sixth and seventh thoracic vertebrae. Reacting to the assault, the man turned to seize his prey, but all he was able to grab was air. The demon continued his rapid assault, slicing skin open and punching the tip of his sword between the vertebrae. When his opponent was completely down on his knees and paralyzed, the masked man appeared before him with his handgun drawn. After pulling the trigger and planting a bullet in the brain, he vanished once again.

"He told us about you boy," the large man spoke.

Sasuke didn't care for talk and approached for an attack from behind. Just one more to finish off and he would be a step closer to killing the man that started this all. He was ready to strike when suddenly a hand appeared before him and grabbed his throat. Immediately his left hand reached up in attempts to tug the grip lose to escape the grasp. He was lifted up, his feet dangling a foot and a half off the ground. The assassin drew his sword to slice the limb, but it was pulled out of his hands before he got close enough.

"He wants you captured alive," the man said. "But not sure why that is?" The giant began to squeeze his grip. "He wouldn't mind if you were a little damage."

The assassin felt his windpipe slowly beginning crushed. He was so close and yet there was a wall standing in front of him. His lungs were fighting to get air into his system as he thrashed his legs against the stiff body. Thinking quickly, he reached into his pouch and pulled out a small grenade the size of a golf ball. Pulling out the pin, he shoved it into the mouth of his assaulter. Drawing all the strength he had, he drew his leg up and kicked the chin of his prey, forcing the explosive to log in deeper. As he began counting down in his head, he grabbed two kunai blades out and stabbed them into the forearm of the limb holding him up. Sasuke fell to the ground trying to draw in the much-needed air his body craved as he scrambled to get up and find cover. He peered back to see the giant attempting to vomit as he rushed to a pile of bodies by a flipped table and pillar. When he took cover, the tiny bomb went off, splattering body parts all over the large room.

Once it was clear, Sasuke stood up slowly, looking at the damage the tiny grenade did. He would have to give his approval to the techs that designed the bomb. His breath was ragged, exhaustion evident, but he wasn't done yet. Crossing the room from where he stood was the hallway that would lead him to the man he was going to kill. He walked toward his destination, picking up the abandoned kunai blades and his sword. He pulled out the remaining shotgun strapped on his back and held it in a ready position. He walked down the hallway, knocking down the doors in the process to check for any other hidden enemies. When he reached the last door at the end, he kicked down the entry only to find the chair behind the desk turned around.

"I've been expecting you Sasuke-kun," a voice said.

He pulled down his mask. "Show yourself Kabuto."

Kabuto chuckled. "I've been watching you very closely," he said. "Why don't you give up and come work for me. You and your wife would make a great addition to our group."

Sasuke drew his sword and swung it across the chair, cutting the top and causing the chair to swing around. He had his finger ready on the trigger to unleash the lead projectile out the barrel, but what he found on the chair was not what he was expecting. His eyes widened as he watched the timer beginning its countdown.

"I figured you would decline my offer," Kabuto said through the speaker. "I've given you one minute to escape safely Sasuke-kun." The assassin immediately turned around to run. "And if you don't make it out, I will make sure to take good care of Sakura-chan."

"Sakura-chan, are you sure it's alright if I stay over?"

Upon hearing the question, she moved from the middle of the king-sized bed to the edge and looked down at the man that occupied the floor in a sleeping bag. He had done most of the talking that evening, telling Sakura his life story about being involved and his friendship with Sasuke. When their eyes became drowsy, Sakura called it a night. She had offered him half the bed, but he completely declined the offer stating the floor was much more comfortable knowing it was a lie.

"Yes Naruto," she answered.

"You sure teme is not going to kill me?" he asked. "Because the last time I tried to stepped foot in here, he had his gun pointed at me."

Sakura smiled as she imagined what could have gone on between the blond and her husband for him to end up pointing a weapon at the goofball. She had learned from Naruto that he and Sasuke were at each other's throats when they were young. They only started to slowly get along after her father had taken them in as students. The two of them had a strange brotherly friendship that always consisted of outdoing one another and she never understood it. The sudden vibration from the agent's phone caught their attention. Naruto grabbed the device above his head and quickly operated it. His eyes widened when he saw the notification the sent out. Wasting no time, he jumped out of his sleeping bag and stumbled in the dark to the bathroom to change.

"What's going on Naruto?" she asked as she sat up and turned on the bedside lamp.

"We got a signal from teme," he replied exiting out of the bathroom, completely changed out of his sleeping attire. "We're going to go retrieve him."

"Let me come with you," Sakura said. She got out of bed and went into the closet to change.

"No way," he replied. "Teme would kill us if you came out on the field with us."

"Please Naruto," she pleaded from the closet. "I'm a medic. If Sasuke-kun is wounded, I can at least start treatment." She came out fully dressed in warm clothing with a backpack over her shoulder and a duffle bag in her hand. "If he's hurt badly, I can at least stabilize him until we get back. I have all sorts of medical supplies already packed here."

Naruto thought about what she said and couldn't find anything to argue against her. He didn't want to get in trouble for allowing her out of headquarters. Hell, he was more terrorized by what Sasuke would to him if something happened to the pink-haired woman.

"I know Sasuke-kun well enough that he won't leave with you easily," she stated as a matter of fact. "I can convince him to come home."

"What if we end up getting attacked?" he said, finally figuring something to counter her point. "If something happened to you, teme would murder us all in cold blood." He pointed to himself. "Especially me!"

"Please Naruto," she begged. "Let me help."

Naruto sighed in defeat. Her desire to bring Sasuke back was fueling her determination.

"Fine," he said. "I'm gonna let Itachi know."

Naruto headed out the room to see if the said man had also gotten the alert. He knew Sasuke was going to eat him alive for letting Sakura out of headquarters. Once the blond was out of sight, Sakura hurried over to the desk and pulled out the small drawer in the center. She grabbed the cell phone and a set of keys and pocketed them away in her coat. When she exited the room, she saw Itachi waiting by the door with a duffle bag in hand.

"He called you," he stated bluntly.

She froze. There was no way her brother-in-law could have overheard her conversation with Sasuke. When she answered the call she was alone in the walk-in closet. The short discussion she had with her husband was extremely private and there was no way Itachi could have entered the room when the door was locked.

"He'll explain everything to you," Itachi answered.

He turned to leave and she followed suit, not even attempting the question Itachi. There were many questions she wanted to ask, but the man before her had stated her husband would explain everything. She followed closely behind the agent, unsure whether Itachi was helping her or waiting for the chance to capture his brother. She noticed he was armed lightly, with his gun strapped to his side and three loaded magazines on the other. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cell phone, similar to the one she currently had pocketed away.

"This is yours," he said, handing her the device. "All our numbers are programmed in." She hesitantly took the electronic, unsure of the reason she was given the cell. "It won't give away your location unless you unlock the built-in signal jammer."

Sakura examined the smartphone and saw the tiny switch that was located on the left side. It was small like the ones that would be found on memory cards and blended well with the rest of the device. When they reached the garage, agents were loading into various vehicles. They were all armed despite the task they were assigned was to retrieve Sasuke back.

"You're not supposed to be here Sakura," a female voice said from behind them.

The said woman turned around and found her friend walking toward them with a motorcycle helmet in hand. Instead of her trademark twin buns on either side of her head, the brunet had her hair down and tied back. It was evident everyone had been called out of bed and was most likely pissed about it.

"I gave her permission to come," Itachi said. "Sasuke may need immediate medical attention when we find him."

Tente raised a brow. "Fine, but if anything happens," she said. "It's your ass on the line, not mine." She turned toward the pink-haired woman. "If something comes up, I will be there faster than Naruto inhaling a bowl of ramen."

—xXx—

"Sasuke-san is within a two-mile radius from where you're currently at," Hinata reported to the team.

"Copy that," Kakashi's voice replied. "Keep an eye out for Root members everyone. Sai said they're surveying for suspects after the explosion by the pier."

A series of answers were replied through the headset Naruto wore. The grumpy blond sat in the driver seat of the black sports SUV guarding the backseat passenger. The windows were all tinted black to prevent anyone from looking in and the doors were all locked. As much as the blond hated the idea, he was ordered to stay behind to protect the pink-haired woman. If the team encountered any sort of attack, he was to drive and head straight back to headquarters. He sighed heavily and hit his head against the steering wheel.

"Sorry Naruto," Sakura said. "I didn't mean for you to be left out."

The blond sat up and looked at the woman he saw as a little sister. "Aww don't worry about it Sakura-chan," he said. "Besides it warmer inside the car than it is outside."

The sound of a low humming engine caught the blonde's attention. He instinctively pulled out his gun and scanned every direction for any possible enemies that were approaching. No one had reported anything suspicious in the vicinity and they were parked far away from any law enforcement activity. If it was the police, he would have to knock them out and move to a different location. He needed to go out to survey the area to be sure they weren't in danger before driving to another spot.

"Stay here Sakura-chan," Naruto said. "Whatever happens, just stay inside."

Unlocking only the driver's side door, he stepped out cautiously and locked the entry. The only way for any hostiles to get Sakura was if they blew open the door. He trudged through the snow and followed the sound of the engine to a small alleyway. Pointing his gun out, he walked in slowly, keeping his guard up. His ears picked up the sound coming toward him before being shut off.

"Show yourself!"

Naruto stood his ground with his gun aimed and ready to fire. At times like these, he wished he could see what was hidden in the shadows. When recognizable crimson orbs came into view, he immediately knew who it was.

"Damn it teme," Naruto said, putting his gun down. "Do you know how much trouble you've caused us? We've been looking for you since you decided to go on a spree."

"I'm not going back just yet."

"No way teme," Naruto yelled, aiming his gun again. "You're going back to HQ whether you like it or not. We got —"

The blond agent felt a sudden sting on his neck. Before his world turned completely black, Naruto swore he saw a flash of pink pass by him.

—xXx—

Tenten roamed the streets on her bike, paying close attention to avoid unnecessary encounters. She wasn't against the idea of Sakura leaving headquarters but opposed the idea of allowing only the knucklehead to watch over her. Riding beside her was Neji, who was completely focused on the task at hand. The two immediately stopped their bikes when they heard a distress signal going off in the headset built into their helmets.

"The signal is coming from Naruto-kun!" Hinata reported.

Wasting no time, Tenten turned her bike around and headed in the opposite direction.

PLEASE REVIEW!

To all of those that have reviewed the last chapter, I thank you very much. It's good to hear what readers are looking forward to and what improvements can be implemented.

Sorry for the extremely long wait. This chapter took me a long time; especially Sasuke's fight scenes. Hope it was simple to follow and that nothing was confusing. I did my best to make everything realistic with the whole science fiction aspect involved. He is dealing with Kabuto so nothing is going to be in the sense normal or easy.