…I have asked around, and everyone else agrees that I do not own Naruto…

Chapter 10: Reasons

After so long within the confines of Orochimaru's lair, Sakura had become accustomed to the pattern of activity the servants and Kabuto preformed. Today, for instance, the male medic would spend two or three hours away from his rooms assisting Orochimaru. And since the Otokage's rooms were on the opposite end of the compound, Sakura was fairly certain that she would be able to move about undetected.

More than likely she would encounter some Sound shinobi, but they were not aware of whom she was and, if she played her cards right, she would probably be able to blend right in. Despite all this, she also took the extra precaution of covering her hair and half her face with a cloth she'd torn from one of Kabuto's blankets.

Another advantage she possessed was the knowledge of the route she needed to take to reach Sasuke's quarters. All those weeks ago, when they had taken her from the Uchiha's rooms, they failed to blind fold her on the way out the door. Her shinobi training kicked in, and she had easily remembered every twist and turn they had taken.

Her journey was quick and unhindered. As she stood in front of Sasuke's door, she paused for a moment, hoping to hear a sound from within. It was early enough that she hoped to catch the Uchiha before he left for his own daily training.

If there was one thing she remembered about Sasuke, it was that he liked to sleep in.

Tentatively, she reached out and lightly tapped on the door.

No response.

She tried again, with similar results.

Well I can't just stand out here like a fool. I'll just have to wait for Sasuke-kun to return. She pressed the door latch, relived that it was unlocked. The room was dark—too dark for her to make anything out.

Using her hand to feel along the wall, she stepped inside and closed the door.

Not more than a moment after the darkness surrounded her; she felt a hand grip the fabric near her throat, pressing her against the wall. The silver blade of a sword was suddenly illuminated as blue chidori flooded the length of the metal.

"Sasuke-kun!" She sought his face in the pale light. "Sasuke-kun, it's me! It's Sakura."

The Uchiha held her where she was for a moment. If he hadn't recognized her piercing green eyes, he would have killed her.

After that moment of recognition, the chidori blinked out and the regular room light turned on.

He could tell by her hastily made disguise that it was not Kabuto who had let her out. He sheathed his sword and waited for her to say something.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun," she said, removing the cloth around her face. "I thought you were gone. I was just going to wait for you here."

"I expected an assassin." The Uchiha looked at her coolly. "I didn't think it'd be you."

Stunned, Sakura forgot everything she had come to say. Instead, her hurt melted in anger and she whispered, "Is that really what you think? You really think that after all I've been through that I would do something like that?"

"It had crossed my mind."

"You honestly think I could ever hurt you?"

Sasuke, aware that he'd crossed a line, frowned slightly. "You'd have the most reason to kill me, I think."

At that moment, Sakura realized the major difference that separated Sasuke from her and Naruto. It was a simple interpretation. As far as Sasuke was concerned, all the hurt he caused Sakura gave her clear justification to hate him. It had never entered his mind that she didn't hold feelings of anger or resentment toward him. His entire life was based around hatred, and he assumed that the lives of others were as well.

She knew, now, that was the true reason he left Konoha. He left before Naruto could prove that a life lived liked Sasuke's was less powerful than a life lived for others. Little by little, Naruto had shown the Uchiha that true strength came from love, and that concept had softened Sasuke's hatred.

Without his hatred, his brother would remain unpunished.

It was also at that moment that Sakura completely gave up on her quest to bring Sasuke back.

She swallowed. "Alright, Sasuke-kun. You win. Go on thinking that everyone hates you, if it makes things easier. But I'll tell you now, that I could never hate you. Naruto could never hate you. No matter how you've hurt us, or what you've said. You're the only one here who's filled with hate."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I?" She shook her head sadly. "I came here to ask you to leave with me. Even if you didn't return to Konoha, there's nothing here for you now. There was never anything here for you. Surely you know that."

"You're the only reason the plans changed," he said, intending to be cruel. "My revenge has been pushed further away because of you."

She ignored the hurtful statement. "I'm only going to ask once. Will you leave with me?"

She offered him her hand.

"Go, Sakura. Leave while you can. They're probably looking for you as we speak. The time is close enough now that if you go, Orochimaru will have no choice but to use me…"

She let her hand drop. "Even now, after all these years, I'm still not enough to make you want something better for yourself." She grabbed the door handle, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I will make you a promise, though, Sasuke. Because we both know that Orochimaru will never honor the deal to go after Itachi, if it comes to that point—I will see to your revenge. On that, you have my word."

Part of Sasuke screamed at his body to stop her from leaving. If she walked away now, the chances of him ever seeing her again were slim to none. And if she ever went after Itachi…

…he would never see her alive again.

The other part of him wanted to push her away. If she left, she would be safe. She would forget about him, maybe finally return the feelings Naruto felt toward her. She would be so much happier. And the only way he knew how to get her to leave was to push her away.

"You're wrong, Sakura. Orochimaru wants Itachi dead as much as I do."

She almost laughed. She had seen Kabuto working on the Akatsuki body doubles. She knew the true purpose of them. And she knew Sasuke had seen them as well.

"Sasuke…"

He noticed she left the –kun off his name again.

"…the Akatsuki clones…do you know what they're for? Why do you think there is a double of Itachi hanging around? How convenient it would be to placate you by killing a clone while the real Itachi is miles away. Maybe you should think about Orochimaru's motives."

It was a powerful revelation for the Uchiha. However, he kept his expression blank as he said, "I would know those motives better than you, Sakura."

Silent, she nodded and opened the door. Before he knew it, she was gone.

The heartfelt farewell he expected never happened.

She was really gone.

Sasuke sat down on the edge of his bed. He had finally pushed away the one person who he knew he could have always relied on. He'd managed to seriously hurt the one person who would never think ill of him. It made him feel as if he were worse than his own brother.

He stared at the open door, and pulled Sakura's piece of clothing from beneath his mattress. He held it for a moment, the bloodstains fueling his memories.

Maybe there was still time to catch up with her.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"There," Kisame pointed to a cluster of forest mounds. "Orochimaru's Sound lair. The entrance is through the stream bed."

Naruto followed the line of the pointing blue finger. Around the border of the hill flowed a shallow stream. He could see no indication of an entrance.

"You have to swim," Kisame chuckled. "Well, those of you who can't teleport like us."

Naruto was not amused. "How long do we have?"

"Orochimaru can initiate the body takeover at any point now," Itachi said quietly. "We will have to enter the compound and remain undetected until the time approaches."

"How do you know it hasn't already been done?"

The Uchiha shrugged. "I don't. We are simply going by what our sources have told us."

"It's a gamble," Kakashi agreed. "But we don't have many options at this point in time. It won't be easy with such a large group to be discrete. The closer we arrive to the time of the jutsu, the better."

Naruto grudgingly nodded. "Fine. Let's get going then."

"Hey, Naruto." The Copy nin looked at him knowingly. "Try to control yourself down there. It wouldn't take much to bring the entire place down around us."

Before the kyuubi youth had a chance to reply, Itachi said, "Do not worry, Kakashi. The demon fox won't be making an appearance."

So all the Uchiha must be able to suppress the fox's chakra. The silver-haired shinobi didn't voice a response. He remembered Naruto mentioning that Sasuke had been able to banish the kyuubi. It should not have surprised him that Itachi could do the same. So that's why they were not worried about capturing Naruto. With the demon fox out of the way, all it would take would be a powerful genjutsu. He frowned. So there was really no reason for them to have wanted Naruto's compliance when it came to leaving with them after the mission. But what's the connection? What's the link between the Uchiha and the Kyuubi?

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Ah, Sasuke-kun." Orochimaru stepped out from the shadows further up the hallway. "I was looking for you."

"Hn."

"It seems Sakura-chan has managed to flee the building." The snake sannin coughed. "It is a shame, but the time of the transfer has arrived. We will simply have to go through it without her."

So you made it out, Sakura? Part of Sasuke was relived. Part of him was devastated.

"When?" he asked.

"Immediately. Kabuto is already preparing for us in the medical ward. Finish whatever you were doing and then meet us there."

Sasuke nodded. "I will just follow you now." Now that Sakura has already left, I might as well go through with what I came here to do.

The medical room Kabuto had prepared was poorly lit. It was this way because of how sensitive the host body became after the jutsu. Any bright light could damage the shocked body's visual abilities. And since this was the main thing Orochimaru was after, that was not a risk anyone was willing to take. Besides, no instruments were required for the transfer. Kabuto was only there to provide pain relief afterward.

Three chairs were placed, facing each other, in the center of the room. As Sasuke and Orochimaru entered, they each sat down. When the Uchiha was seated, Kabuto went over and began to strap him to the chair.

"Relax, Sasuke-kun," he whispered. "It is only to prevent your body from thrashing during the jutsu. Your bonds will be released as soon as it is over with."

The heavy straps unnerved Sasuke. He did not like being unable to move. His sharingan was not enough to protect him if something were to go wrong. He would need to be able to have a free range of motion.

What unnerved him more was Orochimaru's eerie smile as the sannin stared at the remaining empty chair.

Sasuke assumed it was where Kabuto would sit. However, as the medic left and returned with a limp body, he realized that was not the case at all.

Placing Sakura's unconscious form in the third chair, Kabuto also strapped her in.

"Sakura?" Sasuke whispered.

Orochimaru's tongue flicked out over his lips. "Yes well, she made it rather far, but she was unable to break through the final barrier to the outside. I would have been disappointed. She'll make an admirable new vessel. And I'll be so dangerously beautiful with your eyes and her face. I just couldn't stand to let her go."

"You bastard!" Sasuke pulled at his bonds. "Leave her! I'll take her place!"

"Sasuke-kun." Kabuto placed a hand on his shoulder. "Perhaps you should just relax."

It was hard for the Uchiha to tell if there was a hidden undertone to the medic's words. Was Kabuto still planning on stopping the jutsu?

He was going to have to place his faith in that small hope.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"It will be best if we split up." Itachi motioned to the two passages that led away from the watery entrance. "Konoha, take your pick. Kisame and I will go the other way."

As much as Kakashi didn't want the Akatsuki out of sight, he was more comfortable without them around. They might even manage to leave the pair behind and get Sakura out of there on their own.

"We'll take the right tunnel," Kakashi said.

Itachi nodded. "Very well."

He and Kisame walked off into the flickering light of the left tunnel.

As he watched them go, Naruto couldn't help but feel as if whatever tunnel they had chosen, Akatsuki would have been happy either way.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Coming soon: Chapter 11: All Roads Lead To Rome

Author's note: Sorry guys, this would have been up yesterday, but Fanfiction was MIA on my computer for some reason. That and we've been bombarded with oodles of snow and I've had to chop wood and shovel and …build a snow fort. ( yes, even at my age, you can still build snow forts) I just claim they're for my dogs.

Next chapter is going to be awesome. I've got some really fun plans. Enjoy!