…even though I have been MIA for a few days…I still do not own Naruto…

Chapter 8

Naruto and the rest of team seven stopped instantly as they stepped from the cool cover of the forest canopy and into the open area of a clearing. Each shinobi could clearly sense they were not the only ones in the vicinity. After a moment, two figures could be seen approaching from the opposite end of the field.

As Kakashi uncovered his sharingan, Naruto realized just who was walking toward them.

"Akatsuki?" Yamato glanced over at the silver-haired jonin. "Think we walked into some kind of trap?"

Kakashi shook his head. "I don't think so, but something's definitely up. They aren't even trying to mask their chakras."

"We can't waste time with them," Naruto said quietly. "Sai, do you think you can draw up a diversion?"

"I can keep them busy for a few moments." The former ROOT member took out a parchment. "But it won't gain us much against shinobi of their level."

"Wait." Kakashi held out a hand to stop Sai. "They've stopped."

The Akatsuki stopped just far enough away that their features were not easily distinguishable. However, eerily blue skin and red eyes were more than enough to tell team seven just who they were.

"Hatake Kakashi," Kisame hollered out to them. "So nice of you to join us in Sound today!"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow but remain silent.

"And Uzumaki Naruto. We haven't seen you in a while." The blue face smiled to reveal rows of sharp, serrated teeth. "What brings the Konoha war band out this way?"

"Sai, get ready with that scroll. We need to distract them before we get trapped in a genjutsu," Yamato whispered to the group. "We're not here for them right now. Finding Sakura is our main goal, remember that."

As Sai went to unravel his jutsu, Itachi's voice sounded out through the clearing. "Perhaps you are searching for one Haruno Sakura."

The declaration stopped Sai's movement, and made the breath catch in Naruto's throat. Could it be? Does Akatsuki have Sakura now? Or…are they here for a reason similar to ours?

The shocked looks told Itachi that that was exactly what they were doing. The sharingan user smiled. So Tsunade didn't tell them about her little deal? This would be enough to nullify any agreement she and the leader had. We specifically said no interference. He smiled slightly. Whether under orders or of their own accord, the Konoha shinobi in front of him had unwittingly placed Sakura in more harm than she had been in before. Now, if they refused to go along with Itachi's plan, he wouldn't hesitate to use their actions as the reason for a break of contract.

Not that the leader intended to spare Sasuke or Sakura anyway.

"What do you know about Sakura-chan!?!" Naruto's eyes narrowed, his body tensed for battle. "Tell us where she is!"

Kisame chuckled. "Of course, little man. We'd be happy to show you. But we have a favor to ask first."

"It's unwise to trust them," Sai mumbled. "Even if they do know her whereabouts, there is no reason why we cannot locate it on our own."

Their blonde companion shook his head. "We might not get there in time. I know it's risky, but if they know anything that can help us, it might be worth it to hear them out."

Everyone looked over to Kakashi. The former ANBU member frowned slightly but nodded. "Naruto has a point. I don't like it either, but let's at least listen to what they have to say."

"I'm glad you see things my way," Itachi said, he and his partner suddenly close enough to reach out and touch. "We have a mutual interest at the moment—the death of Orochimaru."

"Why are Akatsuki after the snake sannin?" Naruto asked.

"He has something we need back. Something he took with him when he left our organization."

Kakashi crossed his arms over his chest. "And that has what to do with Sakura?"

"Seems ol'Orochimaru wants her for his next body instead of Sasuke." Kisame smiled at them. "Something about her is more appealing."

"Of course," Kakashi whispered. "He can learn jutsus with the sharingan, but without chakra control of Tsunade's or Sakura's caliber, he can't perform every jutsu. But that would men he would still need the sharingan to…"

Itachi nodded. "Yes. He still intends to utilize Sasuke's talents. Just in a different way now."

"What? What do you mean?"

Yamato placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "He means that Orochimaru will use Sakura's medical abilities to transplant Sasuke's eyes into her body. Just as Kakashi can use his transplanted sharingan, so too could Orochimaru."

"What! That's just twisted!" The kyuubi youth looked disgusted. "That sick bastard won't get away with that! I won't let him take either of my friends away from me!"

"That is why I offer you a deal, Uzumaki Naruto." Itachi calmly studied him. "We need to wait until the moment when Orochimaru is about to perform the transfer jutsu. At that time, he will be too weak to fight us. We'll kill him and take what we are after, and you can gather up Sakura and my brother. Your help would be most useful when it comes to infiltrating the lair."

Naruto couldn't help but shudder at Itachi's use of the word 'brother'. It reminded the young man too much of just what he was getting himself into.

"And that's it?" Kakashi was skeptical. "That's all you want—our help getting in?"

"Of course not. I think showing you the lair itself is worth far more than just your help. It is safe to say you would never be able to locate it without our help. And even if you managed, it would take you far too much time. No, your help is not the only thing we want."

Silence settled between them. What Akatsuki were really after didn't need to be voiced.

Naruto straightened his back and took a deep breath. "When all this is over, you want me to go with you."

The two Akatsuki looked at one another.

"Fine." Naruto ignored the gasps and outraged cries from his team members. "When this is all over, I'll go with you willingly."

"Naruto!" Kakashi grabbed his arm. "Do you have any idea what you're saying? What a foolish thing you're agreeing to? You can't honestly think we'll let you just walk off with them!"

"It's my decision." The blonde's expression was resolute. "We'll deal with it when the times comes."

"He's right, Kakashi. In the end, it is his decision." Itachi bowed. "So do we have a deal?"

Naruto nodded.

Itachi's small smiled was missed by everyone except the infamous copy-nin.

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Sasuke pushed open the door to Kabuto's chamber. It was unlocked, and the medical shinobi was no where to be seen. However, the one person he was looking for was inside, her back to him, sitting on a thin mat behind a row of bars.

"Sakura," Sasuke said softly. He waited for her to respond. Instead of jumping up at the sound of his voice, she only shifted slightly as she leaned against the wall.

"What do you want now?" Her tone was cool. "I assure you, I'm well enough. Thanks for checking."

For a moment, Sasuke wasn't sure what to say. He deserved her sarcasm, even though it hardly bothered him. Even if she was trying, Sakura could never accomplish cruelty. But still, her words conveyed her own pain.

"Sakura, do you want to go back to Konoha?"

She offered him the same silence she offered Kabuto.

"Well? Is that what you want?"

"That's not much of a question. Of course I want to go home. Why even bother asking me that?"

"I had to make sure." The Uchiha touched the cold bars that separated them. "If you didn't want to leave, I wouldn't attempt freeing you."

She turned around to look at him. In the dim light, he could still clearly see the brilliance of her green eyes. "You'd let me go?"

He nodded. "If that's what you want."

"What would possess me to stay here? I've endured enough to last a lifetime."

Sasuke shifted uncomfortably. How could he put into words that he hoped she would want to stay because of him? He couldn't even admit those feelings to himself yet.

"It won't be easy. I'll have to plan for a few days." He studied her face. "But I'll figure out how to get you away before Orochimaru and I go through with our deal."

"Wait." Her eyes narrowed. "You don't mean that you're going to stay here? Why wouldn't you come with me?"

Instantly, his expression hardened. "I still have a job to do, Sakura. It is my purpose, and I will see it through till the end."

She confused him by turning away again.

"I see," she said. "I thought you needed my medical abilities for the jutsu?"

"I'm willing to risk it. I'm not sure what will happen to you after…if you were to stay."

Sakura took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Then maybe we should just find out."

"What?"

"I said, maybe we should just find out what will happen."

"Sakura, you said you wanted to go home." Sasuke was slightly irritated. She was so close to safety. Why was she about to throw it all away?

"Sasuke, no matter what you might think of me, it doesn't change the fact that I consider you one of my closest friends. And if staying here is the only way I can help you, then that's what I'll do."

"Hn. That's a foolish reason."

She nodded. "I thought you might say that."

The sharingan user stepped back toward the doorway. She might think this was for the best, but Sasuke wasn't about to let her go through with it. With or without her consent, he was going to get Sakura out of Orochimaru's lair.

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Coming soon: Chapter 9: One month later

Author's note: thanks for being patient everyone. This has been a busy week for me, and I have to go away this weekend. I didn't want you to think I forgot about you, though. So, even though it is short, here is chapter 8 to tide you over. Chapter 9 will really get into the thick of the story, so it will be longer and worth the wait. Thanks again!