…If I owned Naruto…that would mean I could draw…which I cannot…
Chapter 8: Akatsuki vs. Team 7
The rain slowed early in the morning on the third day.
Naruto scanned the sky as the droplets began to cease, glad that they would have a break from the cold, wet weather.
Where the hell are they? He squinted, his gaze back on the landscape before him. Their waiting limit was almost up.
Team 7 had no camp to speak of in the small grove of trees and brush where they set up surveillance. No fire was allowed; no dry cabin summoned by Yamato. They were all wet, they were all cold, and they were all on edge.
What I wouldn't give for a steaming bowl of ramen right now…
The blond looked through the trees to his left, eyes searching for the watching form of Sai. But it was no use. His conversationally-challenged teammate was invisible amidst the leaves and scratchy underbrush.
Naruto sighed. Absent mindedly, his fingers brushed the cold metal of Asuma's blades. What I wouldn't give to see that bastard today…
"Naruto,"
He turned to see Sasuke standing behind him.
"Go get some sleep, your watch is up."
"Oh hey, Sasuke." Naruto gave him a half-smile. "I hope your watch goes quicker than mine did. Geez, I thought the sun would never come up."
Naruto stood and stretched his arms up, leaning backwards. He caught a glimpse of Kakashi striding off to relieve Sai.
"It's all yours, Sasuke." He clapped the Uchiha on the back.
Despite the annoyed look on his friend's face, Naruto thought he saw the corner of Sasuke's lip curl up in what could only be called a smile.
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It's so easy for Naruto. Sasuke sat quietly. To accept me so quickly—that strange ability he has…He forgives old friends as quickly as he makes new ones.
Once again Sasuke found himself caught up in past memories. As much as he and Naruto had hated each other in the beginning, he had never had a better friend. There were no other people aside from the kyuubi boy and the pink-haired girl who would have fought to the death for him.
He spared a brief glance at the sleeping form of Sakura. He was putting her in danger—a danger she wasn't even aware of.
He could have given the ring to Tsunade…but that would be risking the elders getting a hold of it. And from what he knew of Sai, there was at least one elder who was not on the side of the Hokage. It was too risky. If that ring found its way back into the hands of Akatsuki then their circle would be complete and the statue could be awakened…
Besides, there was no one more incapable of evil than Sakura and for that reason there was no where safer for the small piece of metal.
He turned his impassive face back towards the hidden entrance. He had lived there, once. Though he harbored no longing to return, he could still see every turn, every tunnel, and every room. He could even remember some of the experiments.
Sasuke pushed the images away. He knew there was no way to ever make right some of the things Orochimaru had done to those…people. He knew he was as much to blame as the former sannin.
A cool breeze had picked up where the rain let off.
There was still no sign of Akatsuki.
Further down the brush lot, Kakashi too, sat in deep thought. He had noticed how Naruto had completely absolved Sasuke of his wrongs. And he appeared at complete ease around the Uchiha…even though Sasuke had once tried to kill him.
That Naruto…
He's really something else…
Kakashi was grateful that there was no hostility between the two. He was glad for Naruto that he now had his best friend back. It was something Kakashi himself would have given anything for.
But what disturbed him was the slight change in attitude towards Sakura.
Kakashi was, in a way, relieved that Sasuke wasn't as cruel towards her as he had been years ago. After the sacrifices she made for him…
It was only right that he cut her some slack.
However… Sakura now seemed to be the one Sasuke was most comfortable around. And that worried Kakashi—for Naruto's sake.
Sakura and Naruto were close. And he could never see Sasuke caring for Sakura as much as the aspiring-hokage did.
He sighed. Good old Team 7.
A movement caught his eye.
There! Something moving among the rocks!
Sasuke had seen it too. The Uchiha stood swiftly and headed over to wake up the rest of the team.
The six-man cell gathered along the edge of the bracken.
"Alright, remember—two man teams…no one gets separated." Kakashi kept his eyes trained on the rocks where the shadow had disappeared. "Sasuke and I go first, Yamato and Sakura bring up the rear."
The copy nin lifted the cloth from over his sharingan eye. "No one attacks until I give the word."
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They waited just long enough to provide a cushion of space between them and their adversary. Then, with silent stealth, they entered the abandoned lair.
A steady drip-drip-drip of water could be heard somewhere in the tunnels ahead, but for the most part the rock was smooth and dry.
Yamato nudged Sakura.
He inclined his head towards the candles on the walls. Someone had already lit them.
"Wait!" Sai pulled out a parchment from his pack. "Let me send some search rats ahead of us. I'll be able to keep track of them so we'll know which way the Akatsuki are going. We'll be able to avoid checking every room that way."
He lay the drawing on the cold floor, flooding it with his chakra, bringing the drawings to life.
The rodents scurried away from them.
After a few minutes, Sai nodded. "Second turn on our left."
"I had forgotten how powerful your jutsu was…" Sasuke did not look back at Sai as he spoke. "I believe that's how you first tracked me…wasn't it?"
"That's how I track down all my… targets," Sai did not look at Sasuke either. But he had avoided using the word traitor.
They rounded the turn.
"What is it you think they're after in here, anyway?" Yamato asked. "Seems kind of pointless now that the old snake-summoner is dead."
Kakashi glanced sideways at Sasuke. "Maybe there are documents—knowledge they might want. Could even be the chance of money." There's more to it than that though. Kakashi was sure of it.
But Sasuke remained silent.
"Two of them…" Sai reported, his eyes closed. "In the large chamber up a head…"
"Damnit! Get down!"
At Kakashi's yell they scattered, leaping out of the way of the blast that rocked the tunnel.
Sakura looked up, assessing each person. No one seemed to be injured.
"A warning blast," Naruto brushed his clothes off. "that was one of those clay creatures! That girly-looking Akatsuki must be here!"
"Deidara," Kakashi nodded, remembering their last run-in with the exploding clay user. But he was somewhat pleased. In the confines of the underground rooms, the Akatsuki was at a disadvantage. It would take some tricky work to surprise Team 7 at this close of range.
"Oh," came the disappointed voice from the chamber before them. "It's you again, Doujutsu user. And I see you've brought….mmm…this is unexpected."
The blond Akatsuki eyed Sasuke suspiciously. "I didn't know it was possible for the host to survive after a body take over."
The rest of Team 7 spread out into the room.
"And you!" Deidara pointed an accusing finger at Sakura. "You and that old woman killed Sasori!"
Sakura glared at him, her hands balled into fists. Where's the other one?
Naruto stepped protectively in front of Sakura. "That's right you asshole! And there's six of us and only one of you!"
"An inconvience…yeah," the Akatsuki looked back to Sasuke. "But maybe we can make a deal and no one here will have to die today."
"No deals," Kakashi said calmly. "We're here for one purpose."
Deidara looked surprised. "You're not after…anything…mmm?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"What are talking about?" Naruto stepped forward. "We're here to kick your ass!"
"Mmmm…maybe you should ask Sasuke-sama why I'm here."
Kakashi looked over at the Uchiha. His expression said plainly 'if you know something, you'd better tell me now'.
"There's nothing of value hidden in this place." The raven-haired young man was stone-faced. "You're wasting your time."
"We'll see about that…" Deidara's hands shot out, the mouths on his palms open. Clay began pouring out of them, snaking its way towards the Leaf ninjas.
Instantly, Naruto was in the air, his hands signing as quickly as possible. "Shadow clone replication!"
Three other Naruto's appeared.
Kakashi cursed silently to himself. Naruto…always rushing in! He couldn't use his special sharingan with the boy so close to Deidara. It would have been a quick way to end the battle.
Instead, he was forced to jump out of the way of the bursting clay, rolling along the edge of the wall, further away from the team.
He looked up to see a masked figure appear behind Yamato, Sakura, and Sai just as the three of them hurtled away from their own mounds of dangerous dirt.
Where was Sasuke?
"Well, well." The new arrival leaned against the entrance way. "Did you forget about me?" He struck with lightening speed and clubbed Yamato with his right hand while viciously kicking at Sai with his left leg.
"And you…"Sasuke emerged from the wall, "…must have forgotten about me!" Out of his hand appeared a multitude of snakes, the creatures swiftly wrapping themselves around the struggling form of Tobi.
Sasuke's eyes glowed red with anger.
"Uchiha Sasuke!" The strangled voice of Tobi said in disbelief. "I never thought I'd see those eyes on any one other than…"
"Don't say his name…" Sasuke growled menacingly. "He is no family of mine."
"Sasuke!" Suddenly he was tackled from behind.
Sai rolled aside as the flying bird exploded inches from where the Uchiha had been standing.
They stared at each other for a moment, neither one speaking. Sai held Sasuke's look dispite the sharingan. "Naruto and Sakura taught me the importance of teammates."
Sasuke wasn't sure how to respond.
"Shit, Sakura…"
Yamato groggily got to his feet, the blow to his neck and shoulders sending a searing pain up behind his eyes. Damn it, he was supposed to protect the girl.
But the pink haired medic had adopted much from her mentor, Tsunade. The three of them saw her swinging with deadly force at the dodging form of Tobi.
The walls—the floor—the ceiling—all crumbled in as Sakura tried to land a punch on the moving Akatsuki.
Damn he's fast! Her eyes narrowed. But I can be faster!
"Sakura!" She heard Naruto call from somewhere across the immense room.
He and Kakashi had cornered Deidara, the clay-master breathing heavily, blood and sweat dripping down his face. And Naruto reluctantly turned his attention away from Sakura's battle and back to the matter at hand.
"You can't win!" Deidara smiled wickedly. "Akatsuki…we have a plan…a grand plan! And in the end, no matter how many of us you kill… we'll still win!"
"I don't think so," Naruto's blue eyes looked solemnly at his enemy. "This is the end, and you lose!"
The final attack was landed by Yamato.
The ANBU member shrugged at a bewildered Naruto, the boy's hand still in the air—ready to strike.
"Yamato-oo" He frowned. "That was supposed to be my punch!"
"Come on," he gave Naruto his best demonic look. "One down, One to go."
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"Stupid girl!" Tobi skipped away as Sakura's punch landed with crushing power into the wall. "Where in the world did you get such strength?"
They moved with dizzying speed around the room, both unaware of the other happenings around them.
As Sakura leaned in for another strike, two swirling puffs of smoke surrounded her.
What the hell? She coughed, finally looking around to see where the rest of the team was.
They were in mid-stride, speedily crossing the small distance that separated them.
Something reached out of the smoke and grabbed Sakura's belt.
"Haruno Sakura, isn't it?" The voice chilled her to the core.
Instinctively, she transferred more chakra into her hands, her fingers signing even as she whispered "mystical palm technique."
She struck out at whatever held her, her hands cutting like scalpels.
A shriek...and then.. time seemed to stop.
Suddenly, there was a massive discharge of energy. It sent Sakura flying across the room along with the rest of her team.
Whatever had held her had grabbed a hold of her pouch as she was thrown back—and kunais lay strewn across the floor in her wake.
Sakura looked up, her face bruised. A small trail of blood trickled down from her nose. She looked around at her other team mates.
They're trapped in some kind of genjutsu!
Three cloaked figured slowly made their way toward her. But as she watched them, something glimmered at the corner of her vision. For reasons unknown to her, she reached out for it, hiding the motion by acting like she was getting up.
"I don't think so," Someone kicked her hard in the chest, knocking her back onto the floor.
She glanced up, her breath catching in her throat.
"That's right." He said calmly. "You know who I am."
She avoided his eyes. Remember, Sakura! Look only at his feet!
She clutched the cool metal object tightly in her hand. She didn't think they had noticed her pick it up.
"Listen closely to me," he knelt down to her, his face inches from her ear. "I'll let you live, just this once. Don't make the mistake of coming after us again. Deidara was the weakest among us. Remember that."
Uchiha Itachi stood.
Sakura watched their feet as they walked away, A gruff voice said, "Good thing we got here in time to save your hide, Tobi. You got Deidara's ring?"
"Yeah," the masked Akatsuki replied.
The three of them vanished as quickly as they had appeared.
Climbing over to her twitching companions one by one, Sakura released them from the genjutsu.
She relayed what had happened, avoiding eye contact with Sasuke. She was still clutching the ring tightly.
How had it gotten into her kunai pouch? She had a good idea. She also had a good idea as to it was. She had seen a similar one on Itachi's hand as he had leaned near her.
Kakashi let out a deep breath, his hand on Sakura's shoulder, his eye looking at the body of Deidara. "Well, it wasn't a complete success, but I'd say it could have been worse."
Yamato nodded, rubbing his sore neck. "Good work everyone." He meant it. He had seen Sasuke fight for them. It was a good step towards trust.
"Alright, let's head out. This time, we'll let Yamato make us a decent place to sleep."
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It was late.
So late that Sasuke almost went immediately back to sleep.
He looked over to where Sakura hade been lying. She was not there.
Sitting up abruptly, he looked around the modest cabin Yamato had summoned. Against the incoming light of the moon, Sasuke saw Sakura's outline at the window.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" He stood and walked over, staring out the window as well.
She didn't reply.
Sasuke noticed her hand was clenched into a fist, her arm shaking with how tightly she had it closed.
Her eyes were angry.
"Go back to bed." Sasuke turned to go back to his own mat.
She continued to ignore him, her fist clenching tighter. For a moment, Sasuke thought she might try to hit him.
He stepped back to the window.
"Sakura…"
She grabbed his hand, forcing his fingers to open. In his palm she dropped something small and cold.
Sasuke stared at the ring in his hand.
He had looked for it before they left, realizing that Sakura's pouch had been emptied during the fight. He had thought his worst fears realized when he couldn't find it—especially after he had heard that his brother had appeared.
And now, here it was, back in his hand where it had started in the first place.
"Do you want to explain that to me," she asked, her whisper dangerously low.
He closed his hand around the piece of jewelry and didn't answer.
"You know, Sasuke-kun," she looked away from him, but her eyes remained dry. "If you had asked me…I would have taken it for you."
She was being truthful. Of that, Sasuke had no doubt. A familiar stabbing went through his chest but on the outside he remained impassive.
She turned away from the window, taking the first step towards her mat.
Almost as a pure reaction, Sasuke grabbed her upper arm. He was aware his grip was probably hurting her.
"Sakura…" He needed her to look at him.
She wouldn't.
With the same gesture he had used so many moths ago in an attempt to kill Naruto, he pulled Sakura into a loose hug.
It was awkward for Sasuke—having never been all that familiar with the concept of comfort—but it was more awkward because she did not return the embrace.
She did, however, bury her head in his shoulder, her arms straight at her side.
Neither one said a word.
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Kakashi lay on his side, his back to what had happened at the window. But his eyes were open and a frown was on his face.
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Alrighty…coming SOON…Chapter 9: (no title…you'll just have to tune in)
I may take an extra day, I've got quite a bit going on this week, but I promise I'll update as soon as super-humanly possible.