…If you think that I own Naruto, you are sadly mistaken….

Chapter 2: Finding Sasuke

Kakashi's lazy expression did not change as he watched Naruto race through the trees before them.

He knew the young man was lost in his own world of thought. He knew he was blaming himself for Sakura's disappearance.

The copy-nin wished he could say he had been surprised when Tsunade had told him the news. But for years he had, himself, planned out the many options Akatsuki had at getting the Kyuubi. And once Naruto had completed the ransengan jutsu, Kakashi had known that their options would be severely limited.

He just never thought they would attack her in her own home. It had just been assumed that if they came, the rest of the team would have been with her. And for that, Kakashi blamed himself. Perhaps he should have alerted Sakura to the serious danger she was unwittingly in.

He wondered if Naruto had realized it.

But the normally happy and lively young man had been silent since delivering the change in assignment to his teammates.

Yamato sidled up to the silver-haired jonin. "Kakashi, we need to stop for a while—figure out a plan. I've seen the new Sasuke. And I know what he can do. This isn't something we can just rush into. As it is, it won't take us more than a few hours to reach the border of Sound."

Kakashi nodded and increased his speed to bring him even with Naruto.

The other shinobi did not acknowledge him.

"Naruto, let's stop for a moment. You need to clue the rest of the team into your plan."

"There is no plan." The youth didn't slow down. "When I see Sasuke, I'll know what to do."

"Okay, but how to you plan on finding him?"

That caused Naruto to stop. Soon, a grateful Yamato and Sai joined them on the tree branch.

The Kyuubi teen grinned sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I didn't really think about that."

Sai watched Naruto's expression carefully. From what he'd learned about emotions, he could tell that his comrade was severely concerned about Sakura. Despite the goofy grin, Naruto's eyes held no trace of the humor he was playing off.

The former ROOT member had often wondered about the relationship between his two teammates. While Naruto held obvious feelings toward the pink-haired healer, she was harder to read when it came to them. Judging from her reaction on their first mission together, he figured her feelings for Sasuke were still intact. Why else would she have sent him flying backwards with a smile-hidden punch?

However, just because she was his friend, was enough reason for Sai to want to save her. He couldn't imagine how he would have felt if his connection was a deep as Naruto's. He figured it would have been akin to his feelings of loss when his brother died.

"Alright," Kakashi looked at them. "We're going to encounter nothing but enemies in Sound. I don't think it's wise to even consider sneaking through there, hoping to pass by unnoticed."

"Hmmm," Yamato nodded thoughtfully. "Are you suggesting we let ourselves be captured?"

"Huh?" Naruto looked at him. "How did you come up with that from what Kakashi-sensei just said?"

"Common sense," Sai raised an eyebrow at him. "If we make ourselves interesting enough, more than likely we'll be taken to Orochimaru. Just as an invader into Fire Country would be taken to the Hokage."

"Ah," Naruto nodded. "I get it."

Kakashi looked at the blond. "There's something else, Naruto. You're going to have to keep your emotions in check when you see Sasuke. We already know he can suppress the demon fox, so it won't do you any good. But it won't help any if he thinks you're here as a threat to him."

"Do you think he's still Sasuke?" Sai asked the question they had all been thinking. "It's nearing the three-year mark."

"It doesn't matter!" Naruto replied. "I'll appeal to whatever is left of Sasuke! Even if Orochimaru is in his body! I won't let that stand in my way!"

Kakashi watched him with interest. Naruto really was something else. His own determination had set the pace for theirs as well.

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It had taken a few hours, but Sakura had managed to heal most of the broken bones in her injured body. While they were still friable, they were at least whole, and able to finish healing on their own. Her bruises were healing faster due to her use of chakra, but were now turning a gruesome shade of brown and yellow.

She would let those heal the rest of the way on their own. No reason to make herself appear too healthy as of yet.

Her vision clear, Sakura studied the room she was in. The first thing she took note of was her bonds. Made of metal, they cut into her wrists as she tried to move them. The chains attached to the shackles appeared to be of the same substance.

Her eyes followed the links to where they met the wall.

There has to be some connection that I can break.

She looked closely. The chains were connected to a metal plate and the metal plate was set on a metal bar that ran the length of the stone wall. This metal bar was connected to the metal bars of her cell.

Damn.

She frowned slightly. There had to be another way.

Her attention was drawn to the sound of footsteps approaching the front of the cell. She immediately looked away as the oldest Uchiha stepped into view.

"Sakura-san." His normally quiet voice held a hard edge to it. "Are you hungry?"

She ignored him, rubbing her aching wrists. Just let the bastard get closer to me…We'll see who wins this time. In reality, she knew that she could probably hurt Itachi in a one-on-one since he didn't have the physical strength to out do her like Kisame. But she had to grudgingly admit that she was in no position to do any attacking. Any blow she might land would only serve to deteriorate her current situation.

Itachi's voice broke her line of thought. "Is that a no? Because I can assure you that if you're not hungry, I can see to it that you are no longer offered food—at all."

Her green eyes snapped up, amusing Itachi as she winced when they made eye contact.

"Do you think I'll use my sharingan on you?"

She shifted uncomfortably, still refusing to answer him.

He walked into the cell, holding out the bowl he had been carrying. He stopped just short of her reach. Kneeling down, Itachi held the steaming bowl up to his face, inhaling deeply. He could see the hunger in Sakura's eyes as she followed his movement.

His red eyes looked at her bruised face. He knew she had enough chakra now to heal herself. It amused him that she left the marks on her face. She was more cunning that he had thought.

Sakura wanted to shy away from his stare, but she held her ground, wanting desperately to reach out and take the bowl of food.

He moved as if to hand it to her—

--and then dumped its contents on the cold stone floor.

"If you continue to learn your lessons the hard way," he walked out of the cell, "this will be a very long stay for you."

Sakura ground her teeth in anger as she stared at the quickly cooling pile of noodles. It was just out of her reach.

She waited patiently until she knew she was alone before she struggled to retrieve some of it.

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The country of Sound was very similar to that of Fire. There was no major difference in vegetation and it was hard to know when you had actually crossed the boundary between the two. But every member of team seven had been in this land before. They were ready for whatever surprises lay in store.

Naruto slowed his pace. They would have to be more cautious here, even though they wanted to be found. Being captured was one thing, being killed was quite another.

Kakashi nodded as Naruto glanced back at him.

They knew it wouldn't take long before they were being followed. Orochimaru was fanatical about the border of his country. Not even an ant crossed the line that he didn't know about.

A strange bird-like cry echoed through the air and the team came to a stop on the ground.

Kakashi nonchalantly uncovered his eye.

For the first time in a while, Naruto grinned in sincerity as Sai caught his eye. They circled in together, back to back, and waited.

The bird call sounded again.

And suddenly the air around them erupted into a swirling storm of feathers and talons. Birds swooped in from every tree, massing around the huddled group of shinobi. And as they began to disperse, three figures could be seen diving in through the confusion.

Naruto grimaced as someone landed a solid kick to his abdomen. He heard mutual noises from his companions and knew some of them had been hit as well.

And then the birds were gone and no sign of their attackers remained.

"Ready yourselves!" Kakashi's stance went from defensive to offensive. And another shrill cry pierced the air.

This time, from out of the brush came the snarling forms of wild dogs. This was something Kakashi could handle.

He bit his thumb, completing the seals as his own pack of ninja hounds appeared. They knew what to do and instantly went into motion. Kakashi took the moment of freedom to search for their hidden opponents.

His sharingan searched the trees.

"There! Naruto!" He pointed. "Up in the branches."

"Right!" The Kyuubi youth pressed his hands together. A small clumping of clones appeared and raced into the trees.

"Hey! Hey Sound shinobi!" Naruto's clones taunted them. "Come on down to the ground. Let's see what you're made of!"

Kakashi watched as the clones slowly lured the three shinobi out of hiding, using taijutsu to bring them closer to the small group. For the moment, Kakashi and Naruto were the only ones who had demonstrated their abilities—and that was the way they wanted to keep it.

Soon, the three Sound ninja grew more assured, easily defeating the clones Naruto had made. They came closer to the group, still cautious, but not viewing the Leaf shinobi as a threat.

"Oi," A dark-haired, badly scarred shinobi approached them. "What's your business in Sound?"

Kakashi bowed slightly, his eye covered again. "We wish to meet with Orochimaru."

The three Sound members chuckled, glancing at one another. The dark-haired man continued to speak. "Orochimaru-sama, eh? What makes you think you're worthy to stand in his presence?"

Kakashi pointed to Naruto. "This young man here holds the nine-tailed fox. He wishes to offer his services to the legendary sannin."

The ninjas looked at one another. They had heard of Naruto before and didn't doubt that the blond, blue-eyed man before them was none other than who he said he was. This was an interesting development indeed.

"My name is Ishimaru." The Sound leader motioned to his two cohorts. "And these are my teammates. If you wish to meet Orochimaru-sama, then you will follow us. But do not try anything. There is no reason we should not kill you."

Sai walked next to Naruto as they followed the group, studying the ugly man who had been addressing them. He was tall, almost a full head taller than most men. His black hair hung in heavy braids and within those braids were entwined various feathers and tufts of fur. His face was taunt and darkly tanned, with eyes the color of slate. While one side of his face remained smooth, the opposite side appeared to have been horribly burned.

Sai also noted the hint of a seal located on his left shoulder.

The only other thing of interest, was the intricate animal call that rested at Ishimaru's side. So that's his power of sound. Sai made a mental note. It was probable that he was capable to mimicking various animal noises, either to summon animals to him or to create illusions of them. He could not tell by what they had witnessed if it was both.

They walked for a long while, heading steadily uphill. When at last they stopped, they found themselves standing before a large cavernous opening.

Naruto stared into the blackness. He had been inside of one of Orochimaru's lairs before. This time, it was going to end differently.

"Come," Ishimaru motioned to them.

As they wound through the various tunnels, it was all Naruto could do to ignore the strange noises echoing off the walls. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought most of them were human sounds. His memory flashed back to what he knew of the sannin and his partner, Kabuto. Both of them had a strange affinity for the obscene. And Kabuto was a medical ninja.

It sickened Naruto to think of what was going on behind the doors they passed.

But eventually, they arrived in a large, open chamber.

The surprise on Sasuke's face was apparent. Orochimaru, on the other hand, simply smiled as they entered.

The Sound shinobi knelt quickly. But before they could say anything, Sasuke pointed at the group.

His tone was dangerous. "You. I warned you. I am done with Konoha and with you. The only thing you accomplished by coming here is dieing!"

Everyone tensed.

And then Naruto chuckled. Afterward, Sai would consider it a dark kind of chuckle, almost as if it were an acceptance of the inevitable.

"Sasuke…" The blond glared at him. "The reason we're here isn't you!"

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Coming soon: Chapter 3: The Decision