Disclaimer: Who owns Naruto? Oh…well…not me.
Chapter One: Targeting Sakura
Kabuto slipped through the dark streets of Konoha, undetected by the night shinobi. In reality, it was easy enough to sneak into the powerful village. A hood, a mask, a strategically placed straw hat; any disguise would have seen him safely through. This night, he chose the cloak and mask of an ANBU. The outfit had granted him passage before, and he was partial to the feeling of power he gained from the costume.
Once in the shadows of the ramen stand, he waited patiently until he heard the words he knew would come.
"Alright! I'll see you guys tomorrow." Sakura waved goodbye to Sai and Naruto. "If you see Kakashi, tell him he owes me for that food." It was just like her former sensei to vanish before the bill was settled.
The other members of team seven answered her farewell in kind, unworried about her as she walked home. It was still only late afternoon, even though it was dark. The early sunset and cooler temperatures signaled the upcoming change of seasons.
Sakura had walked home alone a thousand times before.
She sensed the presence behind her as the figure stepped forth from the shadows. His ANBU garb put her at ease, even though he tailed her through the streets toward her home. As they rounded a corner into a secluded area, Sakura's defenses went up.
She stopped as the steps behind her quickened. "What do you want?" she asked. "Why are you following me?"
"Haruno-san," the quiet voice whispered. "It is of the utmost importance that you come with me. I have direct orders from the Hokage."
"Tsunade-sama sent you? I just left the palace an hour ago."
"Something urgent has come up. She sent me to find you."
Sakura stared at the masked shinobi. His request seemed simple enough. But there was something that made her uneasy. She had spoken with Tsunade-sama before leaving the Hokage's office. Nothing about the sannin's manner had indicated she had any other plans for her apprentice. It was possible that something major had happened, but why would Tsunade only send for Sakura and not for her entire team?
However, despite all this, something about the ANBU seemed familiar…something about his voice. She was certain she had met him before. "Alright," she said. "Let's go. The sooner we get there, the sooner I can get home."
Behind the mask, Kabuto smiled. He followed the pink-haired medic through the streets long enough to put her at ease. They were almost at the palace before he wrapped an arm around her and tapped a pressure point on the side of her neck. Instantly, she crumpled to the ground. He gathered her up in his arms, and carefully snuck back into the dark recesses of the village alleys. He would not leave via rooftop. There was too much of a chance he would be seen.
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Sasuke froze as he saw Orochimaru step out from one of Kabuto's experimenting rooms. The sannin closed the door behind him and locked it securely. IT was something Sasuke had never seen him do before.
Aware that he was being watched, Orochimaru bowed to the Uchiha. "Forgive me, Sasuke. I did not know you were there." An eerie smile touched his lips. "You are up early this morning."
"Hn. Sleeping isn't training."
"Indeed, it is not. But you need your rest. It wouldn't do to have you wear yourself out."
Sasuke frowned and stared at his mentor. He hated Orochimaru, but he hated him more when he made reference to any kind of concern for his well-being. He inclined his head to the door. "Another experiment?"
"Ah, yes." Orochimaru smiled. "This one Kabuto wants to keep well guarded. This particular one he wants to keep from prying eyes"
The hidden meaning was not lost on the Uchiha. So they didn't want him seeing what was in the room. He couldn't have cared less. He had never asked to see any of Kabuto's sick projects. The very fact that Orochimaru mentioned it was secret meant that it was Sasuke, specifically, they wanted to keep out of the room.
It angered him immensely.
"I can't be bothered with things like that. You can keep you twisted experiments for all I care."
Orochimaru simply bowed and let Sasuke stomp past him. The less interested the Uchiha was in the locked room the better. It would be very difficult to explain the pink haired young woman's presence. Difficult…but not impossible. It was simply easier to avoid that conversation.
A ways down the hall, Sasuke clenched his jaw. Whatever was in that room most likely had to do with the impending body transfer he and Orochimaru had looming over their heads. There was no need to be so secretive about it. He would have preferred knowing what was going to happen as opposed to going in blind.
Whatever. He didn't really care one way or another. In three months, he would be strong enough to face his destiny.
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Cold…so cold…
Sakura opened her eyes, confused by the grey-cast walls that greeted her sleepy gaze. She sat up, then fell back down as a thunderous headache ripped through her head.
The pain will go away eventually.
Her eyes went wide as she saw Kabuto across the room.
He set down the instrument he had been cleaning and smiled at her. "Don't worry, Sakura-san. You're unharmed. That is, in thanks, mostly due to the fact that you fell for my little farce."
The discarded ANBU mask and robe made her eyes narrow in anger. "I never thought you were that foolish. But as Orochimaru's lackey, I should have guessed! All of Konoha will be looking for me."
He nodded. "That may be. But it doesn't matter, does it? No one, not even you, knows where we are. They could look for you for years and never find you." He smiled. "Just as you looked for Sasuke and never found him."
"Sasuke? Where is he!?! What have you done to him!?!"
"Relax, Sakura-san. You and Sasuke will be together soon." He chuckled at his own joke. "In more ways than you realize."
She fell silent as Kabuto continued. "Of course, we still have about three months before that happens. In the mean time," he held up a curved tool, "you and I are going to learn a lot about one another."
Sakura's emerald eyes went wide. "If you come near me, I'll kill you. I won't let you touch me."
He pushed his glasses up on his nose. "Oh, I don't think so. You may have posed a threat at one point in time. But now that I've disabled your chakra flow, you're no more dangerous than that spider over in the corner."
My chakra? Sakura could still feel its presence in her body. She attempted to flood its power into her hands. When nothing happened, she stared at her fingers in shock.
"Didn't believe me, eh?" He stepped closer to her. "I expected that. To be fair, I'll explain what we're going to do. Orochimaru wants to make sure that your super strength is not a physical trait. If it is something we can replicate, then you're time with us will be much shorter. However, if it is something that can not be duplicated, as I expect it is, than your fate will be sealed." Holding up the blade he let the light reflect off it. "But we do have to be sure."
Sakura forced herself to stand, backing into a corner. "I may not have my strength, but I'm not going to lie down and let you experiment on me."
"You know, I was hoping that during your stay with me, you would be able to remain unshackled. But I see now that won't be the case." He sighed. "I don't suppose if I promise it won't hurt that you'll back down?"
Her defiant gaze told him her answer.
"Very well. I didn't want to have to do this the hard way." Blue chakra appeared in his hands. "Try not to scream too loud."
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Sasuke lay on his thin mattress, staring up at the ceiling.
He never expected honesty out of Orochimaru or Kabuto, but something was going on. During his training session, the medic had entered the chamber out of breath and disheveled. Fresh blood was on his clothing. When he had spoken to Orochimaru, the snake sannin shook his head, clearly displeased.
And now, as the Uchiha lay in his own room, he could hear the distinct sounds of screaming through the walls.
The room he thought was empty definitely was not. So who was inside? And why didn't anyone want him to find out who it was?
It was a female voice. He could hear no crying, no whimpering. But every so often, he would hear a crash or the clang of metal followed by a piercing scream.
He couldn't sleep.
And that made him even angrier.
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Sakura pulled against the bonds that held her against the wall. It was no use. With no chakra, she was unable to free herself. She was also unable to heal herself.
Kabuto was aware of this, so any injury he inflicted on her, he healed afterward. He did not do it to be kind—he did it to keep her conscious.
"So it's jutsu based then?" Orochimaru studied the Konoha girl. "You're sure?"
Kabuto nodded. "Yes. Her physical makeup is unremarkable."
"Good. Try not to damage her too much." His leering gaze made Sakura want to vomit. "We must think to her future health."
"Do not worry, Orochimaru-sama. I'll be sure nothing I do is permanent."
As they left her alone in the room, Sakura slumped against her bonds and cried silently to herself.
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Coming soon: Chapter Two : Curiosity Killed the Cat