…I do not own Naruto…

Author's note: For those of you who didn't get the memo: I have been very, very, very sick the last few days. I have not even been able to sit up, let alone write. Thank you for your patience. Enjoy the update.

Chapter 6: In Order to Gain Something, You must be Willing to Give Something Up

Sasuke stepped back into the shadows of the hallway. A mixture of luck and timing brought him to Kabuto's chambers just as the medic stepped out. The grey-haired man pushed his glasses further up his nose and turned to lock the door behind him. Whistling, he strode off in the opposite direction from where the Uchiha stood.

He wasn't sure why they bothered with locks within the lair. The metal mechanisms were easy enough for almost any shinobi to break through. The only people they would keep out would be the servants.

But then again, maybe it wasn't that he wanted to keep anyone out. Maybe Kabuto wanted to keep someone in.

The room was darker than when he had been in it earlier. However, the small amount of light that was present was more than enough for Sasuke to see around the room. His eyes instantly went to the prone body strapped to a table in the center of the room.

Hmmm. No movement. Maybe it was a clone after all.

But he had to be sure.

Tentatively, he stepped up to the still form.

She looked just as he remembered her from that day not so long ago. He had seen her there, standing with his replacement, and he couldn't help but say her name. Afterward, he wasn't sure just why he had done it.

He reached out and placed his fingertips against her throat. A steady heartbeat answered his question.

"S-Sasuke-kun?"

He looked down to see glazed emerald eyes squinting up at him. A body double might have enough knowledge to call me Sasuke-kun. That was no indication of the truth.

Silent, he stared down at her.

Unsure of what was going on, Sakura pulled against the straps that held her down. It was no use—Kabuto had drained a large amount of her chakra after securing her to the metal table. He barely left her enough to keep her conscious.

Overwhelmingly tired, Sakura closed her eyes. "Please, Sasuke-kun. Please. We have to get out of here. Please, help me before he comes back."

It sounded like Sakura. It looked like Sakura. But Sasuke was unable to tell if it was Sakura. There was such a low amount of chakra within her; it could have been the amount any one of ten clones would have. There had to be a way to be sure.

"Sakura, I want you to tell me something." His tone was cool, appraising. "Tell me who it was that…" He paused as the memory suddenly fogged over. After a moment, he recovered it. "Tell me who it was that saved you from Gaara."

Because she had been unconscious at the end of the fight, Sakura had assumed it was Sasuke who had saved her. Later, back in Konoha, he told her it had been Naruto. Only the real Sakura would know that.

"You did…"

He felt anger flare up in him. So this wasn't Sakura after all.

"…you did…tell me that Naruto… he saved me."

Instantly, the sharingan faded away. My God. Sakura, what are you doing here?

Face impassive, he unbuckled her bonds and lifted her from the cold table. Without a word, he carried her from the room. By the time he reached his own chambers, his sharingan was back. He was angry, but what was worse, he wasn't completely sure why.

Placing a sleeping Sakura on the bed, he sat down on the floor. What are you doing, Sasuke? What do you think Kabuto is going to do? Just let you walk in like that and take her from him? There will be serious repercussions for this. Maybe you should just put her back.

But as he listened to the deep, even breathing of his former teammate, he knew that wasn't an option. For whatever reason, a part of him still wanted to protect Sakura. Even though he thought he had rid himself of all those emotional burdens brought on by friendship. Even though he had fought to sever her feelings for him. In that fact, he wasn't sure if he succeeded or not. Surely attacking her and almost killing team seven must have crushed any feelings she may have had toward him. That had been his intention, anyway.

Annoyed, Sasuke glanced up at Sakura. He tugged the blanket up over her as she shivered slightly.

He turned his attention away, closing his eyes. He would have to mentally prepare for when the telltale knock sounded at his door.

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Kabuto knew instantly, before he even reached his door, that something was wrong. And when he saw the shattered lock, he knew that the area inside would be empty. He also knew, however, by the fact that the lock was broken on the outside, that someone had let Sakura out.

This was bad. Very bad. The medic had a good idea of who had entered into his room. Sakura was far too weak to leave on her own, he had seen to that. So someone had entered, removed her bonds, and carried her away. All this without anyone raising an alarm.

Sasuke-kun, you should have known better. Kabuto smiled. Orochimaru was not going to be happy.

At least he was fairly certain of where dear Sakura-chan was.

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The simple joy of a warm blanket was so foreign to Sakura that her eyes snapped open. She clutched the brown cloth to her, irrationally afraid that at any moment it might be snatched from her. She attempted to push herself up onto her elbows, but her body rebelled against her. The best she could manage was to roll over onto her side.

"You are too weak for that," Sasuke commented from his spot on the floor.

"Sasuke-kun?"

"Hn. Yes, Sakura."

"What's going on?"

"Maybe that's something you should tell me," his voice held a harsh edge. "I thought I made it clear that I wanted nothing to do with you or Konoha."

Years ago, she would have burst into a fit of tears. Sasuke expected this—he was comfortable with that reaction. That was the Sakura he knew. He did not expect her to say, "You did make it clear." Her own voice was cold, forceful. "I don't think you could have made it any clearer. But I just don't care. And just so you know, I'm not here because I wanted to come here."

His stony gaze met her resolute green eyes. For a long moment, they stared at each other. Sasuke wasn't sure what to do. Had she changed so much? "Then why are you here?" he asked.

"I don't know. Kabuto took me from Konoha." Her voice grew softer. "He's been…studying me ever since. Orochimaru makes him heal me. He says he wants me 'healthy for the future'.

A red flag went up in Sasuke's mind. "What?" His eyes narrowed. "He said that?"

She nodded.

"He hasn't said anything else?"

"No. I rarely see him. I only see Kabuto."

Sasuke had to look away from her downcast expression. He knew what twisted things the Sound medic was capable of. They were things he wouldn't let himself think about. It was enough that he had given her a small amount of freedom. They would be there soon to take her back.

And he was fairly certain that he would give her over.

There was no reason why he shouldn't.

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura shifted on the bed again. "Are you going to help me get out of here?"

"Go to sleep, Sakura."

He heard her sigh. With a frown, he tried to figure out where all his indecision was coming from.

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The knock at the door was not a surprise to Sasuke.

The echoing sound made Sakura's eyes go wide. She tried to meet the Uchiha's gaze, but he would not look at her.

As if it were the most normal thing in the world, he stood and opened the door. The displeased faces of Orochimaru and Kabuto greeted him.

"Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru crooned. "Do you want to explain why you interrupted Kabuto's valuable research?"

Sasuke was not fooled. Behind his sensei's lilting words was a tightly restrained cord of fury. He had really pushed the limit this time.

"Perhaps you want to tell me what you were doing?" The Uchiha's eyes narrowed. "This is the real Sakura Haruno."

"The explanation is simple." Kabuto shook his head in irritation. "The time for your body transfer is almost at hand. With only my medical abilities, the jutsu will place your body in a weakened, pain-filled state. With the combined powers of two medics, especially one of Sakura-san's caliber, the transition will go much smoother."

"And how do you explain the experiments?"

The snake sannin shrugged. "She is here with us. We saw no reason to waste the opportunity to learn."

Shaking, Sakura propped herself up against the wall. Her heart pounded within her chest, and she felt her body break out in a cool sweat.

The three men within the chamber ignored her.

Sasuke was not convinced. He had uncovered too many lies of late. "I don't want you using her like that."

A look passed between Kabuto and Orochimaru. The sannin smiled. "Since when do you care about such things, Sasuke-kun?"

"Hn. You can take her back. I just wanted to talk with her."

"What!?!" was the shocked whisper that escaped the pink-haired medic's lips. "Sasuke-kun?"

"Sakura, if we need you here for the body transfer, then you will remain here." Again, the reaction he thought she would give him never appeared. Instead, the shock in her eyes vanished, replaced by what he could only consider to be anger.

She went silent and stared straight ahead. She was foolish to think the Uchiha would help her. He had never done anything to truly help her. Not long ago she realized that Sasuke's actions were for himself. Any time he had saved her was only to prove himself to himself or Kakashi. Whatever reason he had for saving her, it had been for his own devices.

As much as that realization had hurt her, she found strength in it. Now she was certain that the only person she could rely on was herself.

Kabuto walked over and hauled her up by her arm. She did not resist as he dragged her toward the door.

"Sakura, I'll check in on you," Sasuke said calmly.

"Don't bother, Sasuke-kun.­ You already know they'll keep me alive since they need me. Let me be tortured. Let me be weak. I don't want you to see me again after this. Give me that at least."

As the door shut behind them, Sasuke wasn't sure just what had happened. Hadn't he told Sakura he would check on her? So why was she so angry at him? Didn't she want to make sure he survived through Orochimaru's jutsu?

He couldn't get her shocked expression from his mind. He thought she would be happy that he needed her.

Need her? To help Orochimaru take over your body? What then? Will you kill her? Will you drag her into your fight with Itachi?

That was part of the reason he hadn't accepted her offer to leave with him those three years ago. He couldn't be bothered with worrying about her.

But he was worried about her.

Damn it. Sasuke picked up his brown blanket. What did I just do?

One of the sannin's phrases echoed within his mind. "Sometimes you have to give up something in order to gain something."

This time, Sasuke had a better grasp of the meaning.

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From their station outside the clearing, Itachi and Kisame had noticed no activity around the outside of Orochimaru's lair. No one had entered or exited for days.

"Hey, Itachi." Kisame walked over to the sharingan user. "We're going to have company in a few days."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Your kyuubi is on his way here as we speak. Has his normal group in tow as well."

A small smile touched Itachi's lips. "This might prove useful."

The blue man shook his head. "You aren't thinking what I think you're thinking, are you?"

"Hmm. It might be likely."

"Do you think the Konoha brats will go for it?"

Itachi shrugged. "You know what they say, Kisame. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

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Coming soon: Chapter 7: Alliances