Chapter 22: It's Not My Time

I don't own Naruto

Sakura's pulse pounded in her ears as she stopped briefly to gain her bearings. The Akatsuki compound was littered with twists and turns, and she had only a disoriented sense of direction to lead her forward. The medic had no doubt she'd doubled back on herself a few times already. Hand on the smooth stone wall, she relished the moment of quiet freedom. Even when she realized Sasuke had caught up with her, she was strangely calm.

The raven-haired young man appeared in front of her, leaning against the same wall her hand lingered on. She studied his face for traces of anger, but found none. However, the very fact that he had come after her was disconcerting.

"We had a deal, Sasuke," she said softly. "Just let me go."

He shifted position slightly. "I know."

"Why did you follow me then? Why not just let me leave?"

He shook his head. "I can't let you leave."

"You can't stop me."

"We both know I have the advantage now, Sakura."

The medic wanted to be angry. She wanted to want to fight him; scream at him; throw insult after insult at him. But her inner fire had burned out with the brute force of its earlier fury. She didn't want to fight with the Uchiha, physically or mentally. At that moment, more than anything, she just wanted to go home.

Her eyes searched his, a contact she had been avoiding. "We had a deal."

"Sakura," Sasuke held his sword out, his gaze traveling down the length of the blade. "Do you trust me?"

"No."

At her quick response he glanced up at her, nodding. "That's good. That will make it easier for me to trust you." He sheathed the weapon. "You're not going anywhere. We both know that. Don't make me carry you back."

Sakura tensed.

Sasuke motioned for her to follow him. "I'm not asking for your trust yet. I'm just asking you to not be foolish."

She shook her head slowly. "I've had enough, Sasuke. I've. Had. Enough." Her eyes flashed angrily. "I'm going back to Konoha, and I don't care anymore that I'm going back without you. You accomplished one thing—I just don't care anymore."

The Uchiha's usually stoic face shifted from indifferent confidence to surprise-softened anger. He clenched his fists until they turned white. Had she really just said that? Did Haruno Sakura really tell him that she didn't care anymore? Before, he'd heard her say she hated 'd dismissed that statement because hate had to stem from initial feeling. That was the nature of the emotion. It was when hate disappeared and indifference set in that it was time to worry. Sakura had reached her limit. What was worse—nothing about her indicated she was being untruthful.

She stared at him, meeting his gaze, her own eyes filled with exhaustion and determination. For once, Sasuke was lost for words. He'd always taken Sakura's devotion for granted. In his mind, her loyalty had been a force unto itself. But what had he expected? He'd abandoned her, kidnapped her, stood by while her friends died and her village burned, imprisoned her, and allowed her to be abused. Even so, Sakura's admission came as a shock. Sasuke felt as if he'd just witnessed the death of something he thought immortal.

Now he wasn't sure if telling her the truth would make a difference. Perhaps he'd misjudged the situation, and now he was past the point of redemption—no matter what his true intentions were.

Maybe it was time he told her the truth of things.

"If we remain here, other Akatuski members will eventually find us. That would go badly for you."

Sakura swallowed. "If I have to fight your leader himself, I will get back to Konoha."

"You're not helping them any by escaping." He watched her eye him warily. "You don't know the truth of the situation anyway."

Sasuke watched her hand slide down the stone wall as she straightened. The kunoichi sighed audibly, shaking her head. Doubt was written on every line of her face. That indecision was like a life-line for the Uchiha.

"Sakura, it won't be long before the other Akatsuki attempt to seal the buiju my team captured." At her outraged look, he held up his hand. "And then they will know what they have is not truly the 8-tails—only a decoy. When that happens, things around here will get much more complicated."

"A decoy?" she whispered. Then Sasuke intentionally did not capture the 8-tails?

Sasuke nodded, answering her unasked question. "Without the 8-tails, they can't seal the demon fox. It all has to be done in order." He motioned for her again. "If you don't follow me now, I will carry you back. If I have to do that, I'll be less inclined to tell you anything else."

"I still don't trust you."

"Hn. You shouldn't trust me. Just follow me."

For a moment, Sasuke thought Sakura would bolt in the other direction. Her stance told him she was on edge; ready for anything he might attempt. He could have forced her compliance easily, but a part of him was repulsed by that thought and the fresh memory of how he'd sought to discipline her earlier. He still couldn't put a name to the feeling in his chest, but he could recognize his own anger at himself for ever attempting to harm the pink-haired healer.

"Fine." Sakura kept her distance. "You're right. I'm more valuable to Konoha here. But don't mistake this, Uchiha Sasuke. You and I are enemies now."

Though not exactly the declaration Sasuke wanted to hear, he didn't argue with her, but turned and lead her silently back through the corridors. They wove their way into a dark, dirty area of the compound, unfrequented by any of the inhabitants.

As he entered a dark room, Sakura paused just outside the doorway.

Sasuke stepped back out, looking at her in irritation. "Is there a problem?"

"That seems too close quarters for me."

"Large rooms echo too much."

She frowned slightly, but Sasuke didn't give her time to respond. He grabbed her upper arm, pulling her in the room after him. Closing the door behind them, he slid the lock into place.

Sakura coughed as the dust they'd kicked up infiltrated her lungs. The area Sasuke'd pulled her into was pitch-black, and she could feel three out of four walls within arm's reach of her. Sasuke was so close she could feel the heat radiating off his body.

"You couldn't find somewhere bigger than a closet?" she whispered harshly, extending her arm. Her hand made contact with his chest, and she jabbed him with her finger. "If you so much as blink your eye, I'll know it."

She flattened her palm on his chest. As a trained medic, she could sense the finite movements of muscles in his body just by touching him. If he tried to attack her, she'd know it a split second before it happened and have time to react appropriately.

"That's not necessary." Sasuke's voice belayed his annoyance. "I told you I wasn't going to harm you."

"Humph." Sakura didn't break the contact. "I'll tell myself that when I recall your attempt at torture not all that long ago."

The hurt in her voice was well concealed, and the Uchiha almost missed it. He felt a pang of guilt shoot through him at her words.

"You pushed me to it, Sakura. You wanted that to happen."

He felt her fingers twitch slightly, and she ignored his comment. "You had something to tell me?"

Sasuke was quiet for a moment as he took in a deep breath, thinking of what words he should chose. If he wasn't careful, he'd risk everything he had accomplished so far.

"Sakura, why do you think I left all those years ago?"

"For power. Revenge."

The certainty with which she answered increased his irritation."Power—when I had numerous teachers at my disposal. When I hadn't even learned everything from Kakashi. Revenge—when Konoha would have eventually needed to confront Itachi anyway." He listened in the dark for an indication of her thoughts, but she was painfully quiet. He couldn't even hear her breathing. So he continued. "Revenge—when I had a team that would have readily helped me achieve that."

"You were frustrated," she whispered. "Jealous. Naruto was unwittingly learning faster than you. You couldn't stand to be second."

"Hn." He snorted at her remark. "I wasn't second to Naruto."

She didn't reply.

"Why do you think I tried so hard to break my ties with Konoha? With my team?"

Sakura swallowed nervously, unsure just where Sasuke was going with his speech. "You said we made you weak."

He nodded. "Weak. Weak because I'd already lost those close to me once. If I pushed you two away, made you hate me, it would be easier than putting you in harm's way for my revenge."

Sakura forgot to react when Sasuke moved, she was caught so off guard by his confession. He suddenly stepped forward, pushing her roughly, causing her to stumble back against the wall. Instantly, she went on her guard, but he didn't advance any closer.

"I pushed you two away, and yet you still came." Sasuke's voice was dangerously angry, and Sakura could feel the air in the tiny enclosure grow heavy with his rage. "You two idiots couldn't stay away! I almost had to kill you to get my point across." His tone lowered. "And here you are, still plaguing me."

The malice-laden air choked Sakura, and she cautiously straightened her back against the wall.

Sasuke could sense her fear. He ground his teeth, cursing silently as he tried to temper his anger. "Do you think I'm stupid, Sakura?"

He waited for her answer, thinking she was choosing her words as carefully as he was choosing his. When she didn't respond, he stepped closer to her. He wouldn't put it past her to attack him. He had to know where she was positioned, a major factor in his choice of rooms.

While still containing an edge of anger, Sasuke's voice regained most of its normal monotone. "Do you really think I'd kill my own brother, and then let the other murderer of my clan live?"

"Other murderer?"

"Uchiha Madara."

"Why are you telling me this, Sasuke?" The healer stepped away from the wall, unnerved that she didn't know exactly where he was at. When she felt his presence in front of her again, she stopped. "After everything you've put me through, you tell me this?"

"No one else knows."

"And now that I know? Now what? I never get to leave this room?"

"Hn. That's your decision. If you won't help me, Sakura, I'll have to take appropriate…actions."

"Help you? Help you what? Burn the other half of Konoha for revenge?" She almost laughed at his ridiculous threat.

"It's not Konoha who's the enemy. It's a select group of elders. You were right when you told me that. Madara knows this, and he plans on reinstating the Uchiha clan as the leaders of the village once those that betrayed Uchiha are dead. Once he's taken care of his lose ends, then I'll kill him."

"More killing. More revenge." Sakura sighed. "I want no part of this."

Sasuke stepped closer to her, so close they were toe-to-toe. "I need your unique ability, Sakura. Another reason you shouldn't have shown it to me."

"And if I say no a second time?"

"You'll remain my prisoner, but be bound and gagged for the duration of your stay."

"And if I agree to help you?"

"I promise not to gag you or restrain you, and you'll promise not to attack anyone. If you start any trouble, I'll have Karin fashion you a new set of chakra bonds."

The Konoha kunoichi closed her eyes against the darkness around her. She bit her lip in frustration at her former teammate's offer. At least if she were unbound she might have an opportunity to escape.

"Alright, Sasuke. You have my word as a shinobi."

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"Naruto," Kakashi's hand went up, signaling the team to stop. "Stay behind Yamato."

"What is it, Kakashi-sensei?"

The copy-nin frowned slightly behind his mask. Keeping his gaze trained on the forest ahead, he replied, "Two shinobi on the approach, directly ahead."

Naruto's blue eyes narrowed. "Akatsuki?"

He nodded. "Most likely. There's no point in running. We'll have to face them eventually. Everyone spread out."

The rogue Konoha team tensed as their enemies entered the area. Akatsuki cloaks unmistakable, it was the unexpected Rinnegan eyes that surprised the group.

"You're the bastards that destroyed my village!" Naruto's outraged snarl rang out through the woods. He pointed at them accusingly. "You're the ones that killed all those innocent people!"

The two forms of Pein watched him, their expressions blank. One turned to Kakashi. "Hatake Kakashi. I have heard much about you. Finally, someone worth fighting."

The copy-nin lifted his forehead protector, revealing his sharingan. "Naruto, remember, stay behind Yamato."

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Pinned beneath toppled trees, unable to move, Kakashi wearily watched Pein standing a few yards away from him. The unscathed Akatsuki reached into his pocket. Pulling out a long iron nail, he rolled between his fingers. "You have many jutsus, Hatake. I must kill you now. Leaving someone like you alive could prove to be a problem for me in the future."

I can't dodge from this distance. Kakashi swallowed the lump in his throat. His eyes strayed to the still forms lying around him. No one in the Konoha team was left standing. Even Naruto lay nearby, unmoving. I'm sorry, Naruto. I failed you. Kakashi blinked as a thin stream of blood from the top of his head momentarily invaded his vision. Now, all the world will suffer under Akatsuki's rule. We've failed.

A movement from the Rinnegan user snapped Kakashi's attention back up just in time for him to see the nail in its deadly flight.

In that split second, right before the metal imbedded itself in his head, Kakashi sent a silent apology out to a certain pink-haired medic.

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Karin watched Sakura with suspicion as the Konoha kunoichi suddenly staggered.

"Walk much?" Orochimaru's former subordinate sneered.

Sakura ignored her, too sick to her stomach with the unexpected feeling that something was terribly wrong with her friends

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"Shit! Get over here and help get him up! We have to get him to the hospital this instant!"

Tsunade knelt over Kakashi as she waited for help. Placing a healing hand over where the nail protruded, she slowly extracted the offending object. Though she showed no outward emotion, she was deeply concerned.

Hatake Kakashi was alive. By all means, he should have been dead.

But as she looked at the vicious wound on his face, one thing was certain—

--the copy-nin's left eye was no more. Kakashi had lost his sharingan.

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Author's note: This story will be reaching its conclusion shortly. Probably, oh, 4 more chapters?

Coming soon: Chapter 23: A fox in the Hand is worth Two in the Field