A Step to the Right

"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world."

-]|[-

"Please, stay with me! If you can't, then… maybe I can go with you?"

In another life, Sasuke would knock out his teammate, leaving her to be found by others and relay that he'd defected. Ironically, even though that'd seriously complicate his defection, it would also guarantee his life by having his most adamant pursuer also be insistent on making sure he comes back alive. In this life, Sasuke gave a different answer to Sakura, "Don't slow us down."

Minutes later, they met the Sound Four. The one with a second head sticking out of the back of his neck, Sakon, greeted them, "Sasuke sir. We've been waiting for you. Who is this?"

"Your attitude sure changed," Sasuke noted. "This is my teammate. She's defecting as well."

Sakon shrugged, "You were our boss from the moment you agreed. That was always the plan. And if she wants to tag along, fine. But she'll have to keep up."

-]|[-

"You're certain this suspended animation will work?" Sakura couldn't help but ask as Sasuke was sealed into a barrel.

The only other woman of the group snapped at her questioning, "Give it a fucking rest, princess. We've all gone through it. Maybe one day, you will too." The other woman was slightly shorter than Sakura, with darker hair kept under a black cap, though she otherwise dressed the same as her companions.

"That sort of language isn't very ladylike, Tayuya," An obese orange haired boy that Sakura could've mistaken for an Akimichi scolded.

"Fuck off, fatso! No one gives a shit!"

-]|[-

Without Sakura raising the alarm, Konoha was left unaware of hers and Sasuke's defection until Shizune's team returned from their mission well into the afternoon. The conflict was brief, though it required the Sound Four using the second level of their Curse Seals. The exertion of doing so might have led to them getting caught anyway if not for Sakura.

As the others sat down to rest, Sakura wrestled with herself. It had been a heat of the moment decision, choosing to commit treason alongside Sasuke, and she hadn't participated in the fight against those Konoha ninja. She could still turn back if she chose. She didn't even have to do anything dangerous, or anything at all, for that matter. Just keep her mouth shut. And yet, if she did, she felt Sasuke would hate her. Instead, she opened her supply pouch and pulled out a small cylindrical container containing half a dozen pills. "I have soldier pills. That should let you make it the rest of the way, right?"

Kidōmaru looked up from where he laid on the ground, "Why didn't you say so earlier? Toss 'em here!"

Sakura did as she was bidden. Each of the other ninjas took one and felt their energy reserves refill. Jirōbō grimaced, "Ugh. The cheap ones. I hate the cheap ones."

Tayuya nodded, "Gonna crash and feel like shit after tomorrow."

"I'm sorry. I'm still a genin and the high quality ones are reserved for higher ranks."

As he dismantled the web trip lines he'd set up, Kidōmaru shrugged indifferently. "So long as it lets us complete the mission."

-]|[-

Once the six reached Hidden Sound's main base, they were greeted by Kabuto. "Ah, Sasuke and Sakura," He greeted them with barely a pause at noticing the tagalong, "Welcome to Hidden Sound. Sasuke, Lord Orochimaru wanted to speak with you the moment you arrived. If you'll follow me. And Tayuya, if you'd get Sakura squared away? I'm sure our newest member would rather enjoy a shower."

Kabuto quickly led Sasuke away, causing three of the remaining five to wander off to their bunks, eager to get some sleep after a day and night of nonstop travel. Tayuya merely glanced at her new hanger-on and grunted, "This way, princess." Under her breath, she grumbled, "Fucking cocksucker. Only doing it because I need a shower too, not because you fucking ordered it."

Sakura followed quickly, not wanting to get lost in the underground lair. And it was a lair. Dark tunnels, torches in sconces, general creepy air? Definitely a lair. On the way, she couldn't help but ask, "Tayuya, what's going to happen with me now?"

The other pinkette tossed a sneer over her shoulder. "Probably should've thought of that before turning traitor." Turning back to look where she was going, she offered in a rather uncaring tone, "Lord Orochimaru or Kabuto will find something for you to do. Either you'll make something of yourself or someone else will."

Any further conversation was cut off by their arrival at what was clearly a communal changing room, thankfully lit by electric overhead lights rather than torches. Without looking at her, Tayuya started stripping out of her clothes, causing Sakura to follow her lead. Sakura could admit to herself it was an odd thought, but she found herself envying the older girl. She was so much stronger and tougher than herself, not to mention completely unafraid to speak her mind. And because one bizarre and out of place thought begets another, Sakura couldn't help but think that she hoped Tayuya wasn't interested in Sasuke. She held so many advantages that Sakura was just glad she was as much of an ironing board as- "What the hell are those?!" The genin shouted in shock, pointing at the subject of her thoughts.

From where she was putting her clothes away in an available locker, Tayuya looked at her confused, a towel over one shoulder and doing nothing to hide her body. It took her a moment to realize the younger girl was staring at her now far more prominent chest. "These, my massive fucking tits? I know you don't have any of your own but I thought you'd recognize a pair of stuffed up milkers."

"Where the hell were you hiding them?!" She couldn't believe the other girl was somehow shorter than her yet was as top heavy as that proctor from the second exam.

"Under a tunic, a tight shirt, and bandages. The fuck is it to you?"

-]|[-

Blame on a random conversation that sprung up after I found out Tayuya is only 148cm (or 4'10") and someone joking that it was a shame she didn't have the bust to be a shortstack. To which I thought "Well, we know she wears at least the two tops and one is loose as hell. So why not?" As for Sasuke, didn't detail it because it's not supposed to be a serious omake, but he totally got his body stolen by Orochimaru. Dude's still kinda limited because his arms' souls are still in the Shinigami's stomach (and ain't that a fucking sentence?) but he got the Sharingan and an Uchiha body so he's now got all the plot armor he'll ever need.