13
They pushed their way through the now familiar giant tree of the sinister forest. Their steps were heavier than before because of the last rain that had damped the soil. It must be morning now, though there was no way to tell since this place was plunged into constant darkness.
Yet, as they stumbled further into the abyss, a light caught Sakura's attention. It was a fire lamp lying upside down, like someone had abandoned it in haste. She saw the rest of the team standing still and felt a sense of dread through her. There wasn't a sound, just an oppressive silence. As she forced her way through them, she suddenly felt like she was suffocating.
The people they had been searching for, Tamaki's friends, were all dead, splayed out on the ground in the most repulsive way. Their limbs were missing from their bodies. There wasn't a part that hadn't been severed, like were going to be fed to pigs. Their hands, arms, and legs were soaked in blood, forming a crimson carpet on the ground. She looked at Kanao, whose face had gone pale. Her body stood completely frozen at the sight of this grisly scene.
"This is a warning," Sasuke said.
"They're going to pay for this!" Naruto promised.
Captain Hyuuga cleared her throat, "As repulsive as it is, this is not what we're here for."
Everyone was well aware that if this place hadn't been in their way, they wouldn't have stopped. Still, Hyuuga's lack of tact irritated Sakura. Without thinking, she crouched down and started gathering the limbs, like they were pieces of a puzzle to complete.
"Sakura, you don't have to…"
"Someone must do it!" she hushed him up. She caught the look of disgust of Hizuki. She didn't care whether it was caused by her actions or the sight of the severed limbs. Though she could admit caring for the dead was not for the faint-hearted.
"I'll share everything I know with Konoha," she heard Tamaki blurt out. "Everything about them, and everything about the clients you protected weeks ago. But only if you save her."
"Her?" Hyuuga repeated, confused.
"Jina, one of my kin and… dear friend," she revealed, "she…she's not among…" her voice cracked a bit, "I don't see her body. The shinobi of the Ashes…I believe they took her."
The Captain nodded, "Your offer could indeed benefit Konoha. If saving your friend doesn't jeopardize our mission, consider we have an agreement."
"We should go, Captain," Inuzuka suggested, "Now."
"Agreed."
"Wait—what of the bodies?" Inose inquired.
"Uchiha!" she barked. "Go help Haruno. We shall meet at the Gokusen's cave."
When Sakura looked up, they were all gone already, even Tamaki who had every reason to stay. But there was no time to mourn when one more could be saved. She glanced at her taciturn teammate, who was staring at the grim scene. He might look like he wasn't affected by it, but she knew the truth. He had done lots of questionable deeds, especially during his training under the snake of the Sound country and….the war.
Their gaze met, "Are you starting to regret being here yet?"
"It's not… that different from what we used to see and… what we used to do."
"Answer me."
"I don't know Sasuke," she hissed, her eyes narrowing, "What do you want me to say?"
He breathed out from his nose, "Move away."
"I'm not done!" she protested.
"You're not responsible for their death, Sakura."
"I know… but maybe we could have prevented this."
"No. They knew what they were going into, who they were treading with. It's not any of our business."
"Yet, wherever we go, things just keep getting worse," she made one of the victim's eyelids fall back into place with her hand in a delicate motion, "How—how did it go with Kyuubi? Tell me, please."
"It worked."
She got back on her feet, "Obviously, Sasuke-kun."
"Step back," he ordered.
She complied and watched how his hands moved swiftly to create a katon jutsu, a famous fireball technique from the Uchiha Clan. Despite the dampness in the air, the powerful fire caught easily and started to burn the dismembered bodies.
"I didn't do anything illegal, if that's what you're asking."
"Kami-sama. If this figures into the report," she started whispering," They could very well just blame you for the fact you were inside Naruto's seal. Even if it wasn't your fault."
"Why are you whispering?"
She hesitated a moment before saying, "I don't want him to hear us… I— I don't trust him!"
"Who?"
"Your brother," she whispered. "You may not see him, nor feel him. But he's nearby. I just know he is."
"You think my own brother would betray me?"
She nodded with vehemence, "Exactly, Sasuke-kun, I think he's not the kind to protect his own. I think he—!"
The wolf had left his lair, he was standing right next to them, something she found odd. Even if she refused to look at him, she couldn't help but notice the mask on his face. Why was he wearing it? There was no threat. Unless… Her blood ran cold when she turned around and saw it, a familiar green glow belonging to the deadly smog. Akunoyare. It was coming right in their direction.
We must run.
They found refuge within a narrow passage at the bottom of the small mountain that overlooked the village and forest. The passage was also known as the Gokusen Path, because of its numerous caves. The sickness had somehow stopped its trajectory right at the path's entrance, as if an invisible wall had been there. There were no doubts about the unnatural origin of the sickness. Someone was controlling it to redirect them in another direction. Several traces on the ground made clear that they were exactly where they were supposed to be.
They walked for a while, sometimes climbing stairs or darting through the flat dusty ground, with the certainty that they were gaining altitude. When the path momentarily led them back outside, the bright light of the sun behind the gray sky blinded them. The shape of the forest below then slowly appeared, giving them the confirmation that they were indeed going up.
Sasuke, who had been leading their small company, stopped when a clone of his teammate walked to him with a grin and disappeared after muttering a vulgar insult.
"Well, at least we know we're on the right path," Haruno murmured to herself while joining his spooked friend.
Itachi caught his little brother's eyes, who seemed on edge for unknown reasons. That was when he decided to speak, "Did you really let her fend off for herself?"
"Sasuke!" the kunoichi protested.
He rose his arm, making clear that he would not let his go. Haruno averted her eyes and started pacing like she wanted to disappear. He knew his little brother and the pink-haired kunoichi were close. There was no debate regarding that. Yet, learning she had revealed to his brother some details about her little adventure at the Oirase's black market, made Itachi wonder what else she was ready to share with him.
"Your teammate was in no danger, Otouto," he spoke softly. "For the man threatening her proved to be all but a worthy opponent. Do you doubt your teammate's abilities?"
"See, I told you!" his brother shouted to the woman, who had just walked away from them, like she could not handle it anymore. It was a known pattern with her. Every time she faced difficulties, she seemed to opt for escape. Always on the flight like a coward, and unable to face her responsibilities or simply reality. She had kept her word since their last talk and had been trying her best not to acknowledge him. Even her intelligent eyes refused to meet his, out of both fear and anger. She was acting like he had done the unfathomable. Blaming him once again for trivialities. Yet, even though he could not understand it, understand her, something had changed. Again. Something that should not matter to him.
He saw his brother step forward as if he was trying to shield him, "Who's there?"
"Mah…Did I just win the lottery!?" a voice exclaimed behind them, "Both Uchiha heirs lost in the middle of a damned mountain in the Rain country! Can't say I've ever been this lucky… Do I have any reason to worry?"
The grayish tone of their skin betrayed their origins. They looked like shinobis of the Water country, also called Land of the Mist, a nation made of numerous islands and whose hidden village was named Kiri. Being part of the Five Great Nations, their shinobis shouldn't be underestimated.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "State your purpose."
"Isn't it obvious, Uchiha?" he said, "Why is it that you folks, from the Fire country, always think you get to eat all the tasty pieces? You think we're not hungry too?"
"Hm… the pink-haired medic. Should we expect to see the Jinchuriki soon?"
"Don't call him that," she warned him.
"Who's in charge here anyway?"
"I am."
Itachi watched Captain Hyuuga and the rest of her team come down a narrow slope. They must have been closer to them than expected.
"Mah, there are quite of few of you, "the Mist shinobi said with false wonder, "Come on now, I'm sure we can remain civilized. Aren't we allies nowadays?"
"Our countries trade with each other. Nothing more."
"Shall we trade intel, then?" he suggested with a smile, "In proof of our good faith, I'll even extend my hand first."
"You have ten seconds."
"Hm," he crossed his arms, "Well, you're not alone in your quest, Captain! Astonishing, right? We crossed paths with two other groups. The first one came from Kumo, and the other one looked like unaffiliated shinobis—they could be deserters for all I know. Thanks to our slyness, we managed to convince them to go south! That's less competition for us and you, isn't it perfect?"
"I failed to see how this is of any help to us. We're not fools, we were expecting company. So, I'll only tell you this once. Leave this mountain, shinobis of the Mist!"
"Uh-uh," he moved his index back and forth from left to right, "not until we speak with this woman."
"Not happening," she said firmly, "She's under our protection."
"Look, how about a temporary partnership?" he suggested. "I can't say this narrow path right next to a cliff is the best place to fight, and why would allies fight against each other in the first place, hm?"
"Would you welcome a bijuu into your house?"
"We do not seek the same thing, Captain Hyuuga. Whatever's haunting this land holds no interest to us. You can keep it! We don't want it! In truth…we're only after the men of the Ash country. I'm sure you've had the pleasure of meeting them already."
"You better not be lying to me," she warned, "Time is running out. If you want to catch whoever you're after, we must leave right now! Before they reach the temple. Afterward…" she paused, hesitating, "I may let you speak with the woman."
"See, it wasn't that difficult."
The sky had darkened, menacing to release yet another calamity, except this time, they could face a greater danger. Itachi had learned this at his expense. Mountainous environments proved to be especially lethal with their unpredictable weather. But at least, for now, the ground remained dry, letting them slide through the rocky trail. There were no trees, or any substantial vegetation anymore, only rubble, large boulders, and remnants of debris flow.
They passed through another man-made tunnel until they were greeted by the sight of an outstanding red gate made of two vertical pillars, and two horizontal bars. Such a structure meant they were entering a sacred place, and indeed, further ahead lay the mysterious shrine or rather its ruin. Itachi remembered hearing about this place during his years within the Akatsuki. The shrine happened to be isolated enough to be a potential candidate for a secret outpost. But there was a reason the site had been abandoned by its inhabitants, and now he could see in person why the Akatsuki discarded this place. Judging by the large portions of missing walls, nature had not shown much mercy for this shrine.
Large walls surrounded the whole structure, revealing an inner courtyard and several tower-like buildings inside. Stairs made of stone seemed to lead to a large platform, the highest point of this fortress, from which light shone. A blue fire. They ran up the stairs after Hyuuga silently nodded and reached the top of the large structure. The shinobis of the Ashes were there—four of them— gathered near a statue of Inazami, which was itself surrounded by blue bonfires. They must have sensed their presence, yet they ignored them, focused on the strange shape of a bald old man standing still before the statue. His eyes were closed like he was sleeping.
"Jina!" Tamaki screamed as soon as she noticed her friend. Like she had claimed the missing woman was still alive.
"Kanao!" Her friend tried to free herself from her captors, in vain, "Please help me! They…they killed…"
Zamaru swiftly prevented her from running to them. Her friend was not as reckless, being completely paralyzed as one of her captors threatened her with a knife under her throat.
"How could you do this to us!" Tamaki yelled. "You monsters!"
"You should have remained where you belong instead of trying to fool us, Tamaki of the Tenma Clan," the hooded woman spoke. She was wearing a gas-filtering mask, hiding her face. Still, one could easily see the exotic reddish skin and her orange eyes, some features that were said to be typical of the faraway lands in the West.
"Why? Why now, if you knew who we were since the beginning?"
"You've been useful," her voice had a strange accent, "but not anymore."
"No…please! No! Don't!"
In a swift motion, they slit her friend's throat and pushed her to her ground. Uzumaki and Inuzuka fulfilled Konoha's promise, by retrieving her at once. They reappeared right in front of Haruno, who jumped to the challenging task of saving a life. Itachi watched how she made swift signs with her hands, while Inuzuka was trying her best to prevent the blood from flooding by applying pressure on the woman's throat. And then, green chakra escaped from Haruno's fingers and flew to the opened mound like they were attacked by a magnet.
Tamaki stood frozen over the dire scene. Not everyone reacted the same way when facing death, but all her reactions made him believe her Clan was not used to war. Even that time, when her people had tried attacking them to retrieve the infant, they were uncoordinated and most choose to flee in the end rather than to fight.
Against all odds, the blood stopped rushing out of the now-unconscious woman. When Inuzuka removed her hands, all that remained was a long-opened wound, that would without a doubt become infected without the proper treatment. Haruno's brows frowned in concentration. She always looked different when she was working like this. Like someone who could be trusted.
The shinobis of the Ashes took some steps back when the blue fire started suddenly flickering. It was odd how they seemed not to be willing to acknowledge them. But when the old man in the middle started speaking, he became a threat to everybody standing on this platform, "So, you've arrived at last."
"But not everyone's here. Well," he coughed, "Time isn't a luxury anymore for…me, I'm afraid. We shall then begin! Moduku! I call you forth! Come to your master–"
What the locals called Akunoyare, slowly emerged from below, and spread its green and thick mass of gas in the air, moving in a manner that was nothing but natural. They all switched their masks and the sight of the toxic cloud. But soon, it merged together to form a shape akin to one of a beast, one that looked like a bijuu.
"I present you, Modoku. My creation! Isn't he grandiose?" the man exclaimed. "Alas, alas, my days are numbered…and soon I'll not be able to care for him anymore. At first, I thought I could let him roam free in these mountains. There's nobody around here. But…but he got lonely and started rampaging the lands and forest below. He's not vicious, but he doesn't understand right and wrong. Someone…someone must take care of him when I'm gone. Which is exactly why I've sent words for the five Nations."
As expected, Akunoyare wasn't the product of a vengeful god, but simply the creation of one foolish man.
"Obviously not all of them answered my call," he continued, "Some of you even look foreign to me, but I'll all give you a chance. And before you start anything, killing me will free Modoku, but he'll never obey you if that's the path you chose. So, if you truly want to own him, you must convince me."
"You, red skin people, what do you have to say?" he inquired.
"We're warriors of the Land of Ashes and we, before anyone else, solved your enigma. We're the first ones that found you! Therefore, we believe we deserve Modoku." He nodded, "A fair point."
"No! They don't deserve anything," Tamaki protested, coming forward, "They're evil!"
"And who might you be?"
"Tamaki Kanao, from the Tenma Clan. I come from a small land in the West, one that we share with another clan – our enemy. These mercenaries here from the Land of Ashes, who serve our enemy, they've been terrorizing my people for months! And unlike their wealthy employer, we don't have any means to pay anyone for protection. This is why I believe your creation could help us! We need it more than anyone else here! Please!"
Her discourse made some of her actions look less reprehensible than initially, but it still called for an interrogatory, where more truths shall be revealed. Still, if this group coming from the Land of Ashes were just mercenaries, why would the shinobis of Kiri track them so far away from their home?
"Your pledge is more than receivable. What about you, shinobis of Konoha?"
Itachi watched the Captain whisper words to Uzumaki – a clever and strategic choice he could only approve of. The blond then moved forward, "I'm Uzumaki Naruto."
"I didn't expect to meet a hero today," he murmured. "I'm honored, Uzumaki-san."
"You know who I am, what I am, Sir. I know better than anyone else what responsibilities come with such great power. Your Modoku, the inhabitant below, they call it Akunoyare, and they fear it. It has destroyed all their farming lands, killed the forest, and isolated them. How long until Modoku decides to go through the village's gates?"
"Modoku's not a god, he can be controlled," the old man assured.
"If he falls into the wrong hands, your creation will be responsible for much more death. Handle it to me, and I'll make sure it never happens."
The old man took a long breath, "You spoke honorable words, Uzumaki-san. But one last contender shall speak now. What do you have to say, shinobis of the Mist?"
"You all disgust me, whoring yourself in front of this madman," their leader spat out. "This thing, this abomination, and insult to the gods! It should be destroyed! And you, old man, if you weren't dying already, you should be prosecuted for your crime."
"I'm so disappointed by you, all of you, even if I shouldn't have expected anything less from shinobis of the five Nations! You see, I'm not a native of this land. I actually come from the Water country."
"Traitor!" his compatriots shouted.
He coughed, ignoring the accusation, "Throughout my life, however, I've traveled through many lands, but I found my way back home to one isolated island where Modoku became the magnificent being he is! He wasn't supposed to be dangerous. I refused to accept this… even if he might be the cause of my illness," he looked at the angry shinobi of the Water, "You! You've spent the last decades in civil wars, killing your own brothers and sisters, assassinating Kage after Kage. Stuck in an endless circle of hatred. Who are you to claim my Modoku is a threat, when you cannot even make the difference between kindred and foes?"
As if the beast could sense Its master's emotions, it started to tremble, like its physical shape was going to shatter under pressure. The old man turned to Tamaki, "Woman, I sensed your fear. Alas, you seek more than protection, and my Modoku will not become a tool of revenge."
"You're making a grave mistake," Tamaki said.
"Uzumaki Naruto, I trust your honesty, but how can one trust your people when they put a whole country on their knees, and destroy the life of innocents, all for the sake of a so-called peace?"
Tamaki turned to Captain Hyuuga, "You must stop him!"
"I've made my choice!" he proclaimed. He turned to his creation, "My dear Modoku! I release you—!"
He didn't get to finish his speech, as one of the Mist shinobis took him down with his sword in one swift strike. Itachi chose this moment to vanish and retreat to one of the tower-like shrines, giving him enough vantage to observe the incoming chaos. The beast lost its physical shape when his now-deceased master fell on the ground. Like an explosion would, a dense green gas suddenly covered the whole platform, trapping any living beings inside. But the toxic prison only lasted a mere instant, as Modoku released its victim and flew away through the air, preparing another attack.
The short respite let Itachi see the state of Captain Hyuuga's Team. Tozen was down, circled by Inuzuka and Zamaru, who were ready to extract him. He saw his brother, Uzumaki and Inose ran after the warrior of the Ashes. Hyuuga was shouting words to the Mist shinobis, no doubt questioning their judgment.
Just as Modoku crashed into the platform like a falling star, Itachi caught a glimpse of a pink-haired head running down the stairs. She entered one of the buildings before the whole place got plunged into a mix of dust and poison. The inner courtyard had been replaced by a cemetery of boulders and rocks. Only one portion of the stairs remained, and some debris were now hugging the buildings' walls. He saw a shadow going inside the same shrine as Haruno, likely pursuing the women from the Tenma Clan.
Itachi observed carefully the building until Modoku came back and crashed into it. The tower-like shrine proved to be sturdier than expected, resisting the impact. But the beast was bent on destroying and kept hitting the structure until its roof started to fall. A few minutes passed before he distinguished a figure, getting out of one window, and jumping onto the ground. Haruno. She was carrying the wounded woman on her back. The upper part of the shrine started to fall apart, distracting him for a second. When he looked back at Haruno, she was by herself and heading straight back into the crumbling shrine about to collapse. Modoku chose this moment to lose his physical shape again and to swarm the air like a sandstorm.
When he reached their position, Haruno had taken off her mask and was on the ground, coughing violently as she tried to breathe.
"Tai—Taichou, we must head back inside," she pointed in a direction with her finger, "We got…attacked by the genjutsu user. The woman. And Tama…Tamaki, she—she is still inside the shrine, we must return—"
"Then she's dead already," Captain Hyuuga said sternly, "Listen to me, Haruno, Tozen required immediate medical assistance. You must go to him. Now!"
"Her kin… I hid her somewhere inside and—" she coughed, "she cannot be dead already. It won't take long, Captain, I'll just go find her, just let me do it. P—Please!"
"No, if you don't follow me, I swear you'll be charged with treason," Hyuuga threatened, "They're not our people. They're nothing to us. Our priority now is to retreat before this abomination makes more casualties. Get up!"
Someone suddenly appeared behind them, "Captain Hyuuga! I was afraid you were still inside," the water shinobi said, "Your people and mine have found a refuge! I suggest you follow me before the beast notices our absence. However powerful it is, can't claim this beast was blessed with intelligence!"
"Haruno, don't do it," Hyuuga said one last time, before following the shinobi. Haruno was back on her feet again, but instead of fleeing, she was staring helplessly at the shrine, considering her options despite Hyuuga's warnings. The shrine would soon disappear under the relentless assault of the beast, giving less and less chance of survival for anyone that was still behind these walls.
Itachi was standing next to her, like a ghost that she refused to acknowledge. It somehow bothered him, so much that he spoke without thinking, "Where did you leave her?"
Her troubled eyes shifted to him in one instant, as if they could finally see his material body. He was no more a ghost, for her eyes were filled with awe and hope, as if they were looking at a god. He knew these eyes and never expected to see them again. And for this alone, one lapse of judgment became worth it.
The mission had failed. The old man or rather the deserter of the mist had died with his secrets. As for his creation, Modoku, the beast's essence had been covering the mountain for more than an hour now, trapping them inside, either for the purpose of revenge or on its new master's orders.
Being trapped for the third time today didn't faze Sakura. Not anymore. Although, fatigue was mostly the cause of her apathy. Tozen was unconscious again, having breathed more foul air than he could handle. Inuzuka and her pet had been touched too, but not as much as their teammate. While Yuri was deeply asleep, her master, Yura, remained awake, but she was somewhat dazed and weakened from the poison. Despite all of this, the whole team was safe, and nobody was in such a dire situation as Tamaki's friend.
"You should rest," Zamaru's nasal voice said. He was sitting behind the fire, by his unconscious friend's side. "Thanks for saving him… again."
"Let's hope he won't insult me this time when he wakes up," she gave him a weak smile.
Inuzuka giggled faintly, "Tozen's always too pride, even when he should not. He…he's not so bad when you know him."
Inuzuka was tucked into a thick blanket made of the traditional patchwork of her clan. Sealing objects wasn't cheap and called for meticulous choices, the content of a seal being limited to its size. Most shinobis bought them from enclosing-technique masters to store weapons, water, and spare clothes. Sakura was mainly using them for medical supplies. She found it amusing that Inuzuka would choose to bring such a blanket.
She glanced at the shadow of her Captain, who was waiting near the cave's entrance. Sasuke, Naruto and Inose were missing. They were no doubt waiting somewhere safe for the smog to disappear, just like they were. She was too exhausted to think of other grim possibilities. As for Kanao Tamaki, she was more likely dead than alive. But if she was safe too—which Sakura sincerely hoped for—she certainly would come to them. Abandoning her kin after all of this would not make any sense.
Her eyes shifted to another shadow nearby. As if he had eyes behind his back, his head shifted, but she moved her eyes away before she could meet his. She didn't understand why he had chosen to do it, why he went back to the shrine to retrieve the unconscious woman. Sakura wanted to be grateful for this. However, now that her mind was clear, she feared that there would be a price to pay.
"I wish to apologize about what…what I said the other night, Haruno-san," Zamaru said sternly. "I… I mean the words I spoke that night I didn't mean any of it, I'm not interested in you. I mean, you…you…there's nothing wrong with you. But you're not…not the kind of woman I would—"
"Thank you, for letting me know, Zamaru."
"I mean, you…you…there's nothing wrong with you. But you're not…not the kind of woman I would—"
"Stop speaking, Zamaru," Inuzuka implored while hiding her head with her hands.
Sakura heard chuckles coming from inside the cave. She had almost forgotten about the shinobis of the Water. In contrast with their rough appearance, they were rather calm and discrete.
"To think they could have died if it wasn't for you," Inuzuka said while stroking the fur of her loyal companion, "Even my Yuri… One second, we think we have everything under control, we feel invincible, and the next…it becomes chaos."
Sakura knew this feeling too well. But unlike Inuzuka, she wasn't surprised anymore by the way things always seemed to take an unexpected turn, like they were meant to be. Resting her head against the cold wall of the cave, she felt suddenly tired, and let herself daze off.
"The hell with it," a rough voice rumbled, disturbing the silence.
Her body jerked forward, and her eyes fell on the threatening shape moving toward the fire. Captain Hyuuga must have switched places during Sakura's short respite, for she was now towering over the fire like she was looking for answers inside its flames.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Tch! We've been waiting here for more than three hours now. Can't handle not doing shit! Why is this smog not going away!"
"Perhaps not killing the only man capable of controlling it would have prevented this."
"From where I'm from, kunoichi, what we want, we take. I wanted the traitor dead, I killed him. That's easy enough."
"What does it have to do with—"
"I'm bored, and there are other ways to kill time."
She pushed the Mist shinobi away, utterly disgusted by his words, "This is not our way."
"Ah-ah will you look at that," he clapped his hands, "So typical of you to believe you're better than us, hun? Let me enlighten you: your ways are just sick and unnatural! To think you force your own blood to marry strangers they've never met!"
"Mah, mah, Enough Samuro," his leader warned, "You don't want to upset her more than she already is."
The man came back to his place with reluctance, "Heard they can even get betrothed before they're born, sicko's."
"Not everything's all black and white as you think," Zamaru pointed out. "Your kind—"
"Stop speaking, Zamaru," Hyuuga ordered, "This conversion's over."
"Damn killjoy," the Mist shinobi muttered.
Sakura helped Inuzuka sit back, remarking that her dizzy eyes were stuck on the very forward man. Perhaps the commotion didn't come out of nowhere after all. She set herself in the back near Tamaki's friend, checking her condition again. Her breath was uneven. But there was nothing she could do, except praying that she would make it till they reached Konoha.
As she tried to rest—once again—she felt annoyed by that now familiar feeling of suffocation that seemed to persist when a certain Uchiha was nearby. If she were to open her eyes, she knew exactly what would welcome her. She suspected with a certain satisfaction that the prodigy didn't like being ignored. Yet, despite her anger, she still felt compelled to look. She forced her eyes close, trying to chase all thoughts from her mind. To forget everything.
She managed to sleep half an hour or more and woke up to a concerning sight. Inuzuka, who was supposed to be right next to her, was gone. Sakura jumped on her feet and looked automatically in the shinobis of the mist's direction. The youngest one was gone. Her eyes searched for Captain Hyuuga, but she was nowhere in sight too. They couldn't have possibly left the cave, which left only one possibly. She glanced at the sleeping Zamaru, then at Tamaki's friend. There was nobody to watch them, and she sure didn't trust the shadow by the cave's entrance. She looked at the leader of the mist shinobis, who had been watching her ever since she woke up.
"I prefer them alive," he commented in a mocking voice. "Besides…I don't think my wife would approve."
She rolled her eyes, and strolled past him, heading into the depth of the cave. After exploring it earlier, the Mist shinobis had said, that there was no way out. And so, Sakura walked in the darkness, until some strange noises reached her ears. It sounded like someone was breathing heavily. But before she could progress further in, someone grabbed her arms abruptly.
"I'm starting to believe this is pathological with you. What are you doing here?"
Sakura heard her words, yet she tried to move forward, her head moving in all directions, focused on finding the source of the strange noises. When she started hearing moans, she just became even more determined. Even if she could only see indistinct shapes, she just had to see.
"Haruno!" Hyuuga whispered, her white eyes glowing like moons.
The sight of her dangerous eyes made her return to reality. She stopped resisting and said with urgency, "Inuzuka isn't safe."
"And why do you think I'm here exactly, hm?" she retorted. "Make yourself useful and return to our camp."
"Why…why do you hate me so much?"
"Oh, Kami-sama," she groaned. "You're making me nauseous. Don't do this ever again. Don't ask silly questions."
"I just wish to—"
"I don't care," she hissed. "If you're going to stay here, just keep quiet."
Sakura decided to let it go—for now—her exhaustion getting the better of her. The noises had stopped, replaced by sounds of footsteps approaching. She discerned the shape of a man passing by them.
Stepping forward in the hope to find Inuzuka, she was stopped once again, "No, leave her be."
"What if she needs help?"
She sighed, "She's at her most vulnerable right now. Do you believe she wishes for us to see her in such a state?"
"I guess…not."
"Right, so walk!"
For someone as cold and judgmental as Chiho Hyuuga, she was being oddly considerate. The fact that she had been guarding Inuzuka was even more astonishing. But then, it occurred to Sakura that, back at the shrine, Hyuuga had saved her by pulling her out of the toxic air.
They walked for a little while, before Sakura blurted out, "Thank you for… saving me earlier."
"Tch. You would not thank me if Captain Uchiha didn't have the benevolence to retrieve the woman's corpse."
"Not a corpse," she corrected. "She's alive."
"Yes, but for how long?"
"She will live," Sakura insisted.
As they arrived at their camp, Sakura noticed that the shinobis of the mist were gone. She then recognized the voices of her teammates and quickened her pace to meet them.
"The beast has left the area," Naruto announced to their Captain. He then handed a scroll to her, "We caught one of the guys, and that's the only thing valuable we found on him."
"Good job, Uzumaki. Did you interrogate him?"
"He killed himself before we could," Inose said. "What of the monster, Taichou? Shall we go after it?"
"No, not without sturdier equipment and more preparation," she said.
"We cannot let this thing roam free," Naruto insisted.
"I share your opinion, Uzumaki. But as far as I've seen, the beast is now controlled by the warrior of the Ashes. What they intend to do with it remains unknown. Luckily, this Modoku doesn't pass unnoticed. If it's used for evil purposes within the five Nations, we'll know, and we'll most certainly take action."
Sakura saw in her friend's twitching eyes that he wasn't satisfied by her answer. But that was how things worked. If there was no more mysterious power to acquire, or no major threat to destroy, they were no reasons for Konoha to operate outside their borders— unless they were paid for it, or a treaty forced them to.
"The mission's over, we're going back to Konoha."