145In order to get an update out, I decided to split the orginal chapter and post what I have. Turns out I like how this chapter ends. Sorry it's so short. Enjoy the update and thanks for those who have kept up with this story. One thing i'm thinking of doing is making a forum just for this set of stories. I'm open to suggestions if you believe this is a good idea. Either way, on with the show. . .
Threats Of Fate
Under Pressure
Sakura never had a chance to get any rest before she left with Tsunade's escort detail. The sannin apprentice managed to slip into the Hokage's office and lay down on a couch, but she couldn't get any sleep. Every time her eyes shut images of her closest friend in danger played through her mind. If she wasn't waking up from thoughts of Naruto in danger, then it was a replay of her confrontation with Sasuke.
So when it came time for her to mobilize with the of Tsunade's detail, she was still frazzled and tried. Still, Sakura was a ninja and she knew her duty. In the caravan, she took her mentor's left side opposite Shizune, just as it had been any other time they left the village as Tsunade's guard.
Still, nothing seemed to be right with her. Out the outside, she tried to pay as much attention to her surroundings as possible. It did little to keep her thoughts from wandering back to her former teammates from Team Seven. Naruto, please be alright. She pleaded in her innermost thoughts. You have to be alive when I find you. . .
She tuned her face as she wiped away a small tear forming in the corner of her eye. The young apprentice silently cursed herself; now was not the time for emotional breakdowns. The convoy had crossed over Wind Country's boarder about an hour ago and they still had at least two hours before they reached Sunagakure. Kiba, who had been assigned to the detail as scout and tracker, had found a fresh battle site near the boarder with samples of blood around it. He and Akamaru confirmed that the blood belonged to members of Neji's squad. That bit of news had put everyone on edge. The only thing that seemed to ease the group's tensions is that Kiba's canine companion found the scent of what Kiba believed to be Suna ninja. When asked how he knew, Kiba simply grinned before answering.
"All of them have a distinct sent. Even those three siblings from there have it. Akamaru and I will never forget a smell."
The convoy followed the Inuzuka while he trailed the sent of their friends across the boarder. Sakura was even more nervous now as they crossed the windy dunes of the dessert country. Try as she might, the pink-haired girl couldn't hide the frown from her face.
"Hey, he's going to be alright." Sakura turned her head to the person who woke her from her haze. Ino smiled at her fellow kunoichi and winked. "Naruto is fine. You'll see."
"You seem so sure and yet you barely know him."
"Oh I know him well enough," the azure-eyed girl told her friend. "I've done my share of missions with him and we have even hung out a few times here and there." Sakura quirked a brow at her friend's statement. Ino and Naruto hanging out?
"When did this happen?"
"Oh just a few times after missions or when we've run into each other." Ino explained. "I think he was just being nice mostly. He speaks of you and Hinata often." Sakura managed a small smile.
"So why do think he's alright?"
"I don't think Naruto knows how to die."
"Eh?"
"Every time I've talked to Naruto, he's always going on and on about how he needs to get stronger. I've never met someone so determined and driven. Even Lee's passion for training seems to pale in comparison to Naruto's determination to be Hokage. When we were kids in the academy, I thought he was a silly little boy when he would shout about how he would be the best Hokage in history. Now that I've seen him in action, I don't think it's impossible." Ino placed a finger to her lip as if she were lost in thought. "It's somewhat charming. . . I wish a certain shinobi had such ambition," Her eyes cut to the front of the group and locked onto the back of Shikamaru. Sakura giggled at the implication of her friend's glance. The two kunoichi had spoken at great length about Ino's infatuation with the lazy genus. Ino rolled her eye's before turning her attention back to her friend. "But then, I'm telling you nothing you don't already know, ne?."
"Yeah, Naruto doesn't seem to know the meaning of the word quit."
"Exactly. I believe if Naruto died, he would challenge whatever god that rules the afterlife just so he could come back to the land of the living. I also think he would be willing to face anything if it meant your happiness," Sakura couldn't keep her cheeks from getting a rosy tint that matched her hair. "I have to say, Sakura, I'm a bit jealous of you for that. I can't say I've ever had someone so devoted to me. I'm also dissapointed in you because of it."
"What are you taking about?"
"I'm taking about you not seeing what's in front of you," Ino emphasized her statement by poking Sakura in the forehead. "You should give him a chance."
"Ino, we've had that discussion before. . ." Sakura lowered her voice to a harsh whisper.
"I know, I know, you still have feelings for someone else," Ino wisely didn't bother to give names. She knew how touchy her friend could be. "But you can't deny something that's there. But then again, I suppose you might not have to worry about it much longer."
"Ok, Ino, I'm starting to get tired of the cryptic statements." The platinum blonde shrugged.
"All I'm saying is you aren't the only one who's paid more than a passing glance at the boy." Sakura narrowed her eyes and shifted them around a bit. "And while I know your heart is devoted elsewhere, you might be missing out on something great that's here for you now. Don't wait too long for something that might not come back. You may lose out to someone else in the long run."
"Who are you talking about?" The sannin apprentice's eyes' flashed as she spoke.
"Now what fun would it be if I told you about your competition?" Sakura grumbled as she turned away from a very smug-looking Ino.
Sasuke was sure he heard a crunching noise as his body slammed into the concrete wall.
The young ex-Konoha nin hacked up a mouthful of blood and spit it out on the floor. He tried to stand up but was knocked back down by a swift kick on the ground before he could even get to his knees. The impact of the kick sent more blood flying from his bruised mouth.
"Oh you have no idea how happy this makes me," Kabuto gloated. The unrestrained glee from Orochimaru's right hand man only angered Sasuke more. If I get out of this, I swear I will kill him with my bare hands. He thought as he looked up at the Sound ninja. "Oh if only you could see yourself right now; Uchiha Sasuke being dragged in chains through the Hidden Village of Sound. It was so much fun watching you struggle as you tried to resist," The Oto ninja leaned closer and pulled Sasuke eye level with him by his hair. "You don't know the pleasure it brought me to be the one who dragged you over that gravel road as the rest of Hidden Sound looked on. I will treasure this moment for the rest of my life."
"Fuck you, you slimy toad of a lackey." Sasuke croaked at Kabuto with as much venom as he could muster.
"Such language. I'm sure you're mother would not have approved." Sasuke, tired of listening to Orochimaru's lackey, simply responded by spitting in Kabuto's face. He smiled triumphantly as he watched his blood-infused spit dribbled down the Sound Ninja's face and glasses. The enraged Kabuto repaid Sasuke with a swift gut punch. Sasuke smiled despite the pain he got from the blow: it was all worth it to see the enraged lackey's face turn red.
"You know, Sasuke," Kabuto began. "We should have been friends. We have a lot in common. We are both orphans. We were both called by Orochimaru because he saw something great in us. We both betrayed Konoha . . ."
"I did what I had to do."
"You spit in the face of everything Hidden Leaf stood for!" Kabuto shouted his accusation so loudly it echoed off the walls of the dingy dungeon he called his lab. "You turned your back on everything and everyone who cared about your for the chance to kill your brother. You made a deal with the devil and now it's time to pay up." The Sound shinobi turned and walked over to one of the tables filled with equipment and picked up a syringe. He had no fear of turning his back on the boy because he had chained the crystal seal to the boy to keep him in his weakened state. To Kabuto, Sasuke was no longer a threat to him. . . or anyone else for that matter.
"Orochimaru would be very upset with me if I damaged his prized body," he said as he drew an unknown substance into the syringe. "But I'm sure as long as nothing is permanently damaged he won't mind if I have a little fun with you. Orochimaru-sama has been gone for a few days now and he won't be back for some time. I figure we can get to know each other really well until then."
"I will not become the vessel for that madman." Sasuke gurgled as blood filled his mouth.
"You don't have much of a choice. Face it; your gamble didn't pay off. You should have stayed in Konoha. At least there they would have given you everything you wanted."
Sasuke didn't want to think about Konoha. As the man stepped closer, it truly dawned on him the situation he was in. I'm out of options. He thought as he watched Kabuto. I didn't win and my eyes didn't guarantee anything. All I did, all my training and planning was for nothing. The Uchiha teen hung his head in defeat and closed his eyes. I just hope the dobe gets his shot at killing Orochimaru and this bastard here. I would love to see Naruto put a Rasengan through his chest. He would never see his friend again, nor would he see Sakura. . . Sakura, I'm sorry. I wasn't what you thought I was and I'm sorry I couldn't be the man you wanted me to be.
Sasuke knew whatever twisted fate Kabuto has created for him would push him to the limits of sanity. While he did not want to give the man the satisfaction of breaking, he knew Kabuto's reputation for playing the subjects for his experiments. He steeled himself and awaited the torture to come. Yet instead of the impending prick of the needle, he got an explosion. His eyes shot open only to see the room he was in being destroyed by a fireball. Kabuto, however, had no time to react as he was engulfed by the flame. Sasuke, despite being weak due to his tormentor, took great pleasure in hearing the Oto-nin screaming as the flames melted and fried his skin. He could see the panicked expression on his face as he howled and ran around with his arms flailing around.
As quickly as the fireball appeared, it vanished. There were charred reminds of equipment and furniture scattered around the room, some of it still enflamed. Kabuto was still ablaze, but seemed to realize he needed to drop to the ground and start rolling around. Sasuke knew where the fireball came from, but he couldn't believe it. His mind refused to believe the truth.
A cloaked figure walked into the room charred room towards the Uchiha teen. By now, the twisted body of Kabuto stood up. He had managed to put out the flames that had engulfed him and amazingly, he was up on his feet. Sasuke noted the Oto-ninja no longer had a look a smug satisfaction on his face. In fact, there wasn't much left of his face at all. Kabuto's skin was now a bloodied collection of burns and open wounds. Bits of flesh hung off his face, exposing muscle and bone. Most of his hair had been burned off, leaving only random patches across his scalp. Much of his clothing has infused with his skin, creating a second skin to what was left of his twisted form. To Sasuke, he looked like one of Orochimaru's reanimated corpses before he tired it to a soul. The only thing that looked alive were Karuto's eyes. They glared hatred at the cloaked figure who as his made his way to where Sasuke was laying on the ground.
"You're supposed to be dead." Kabuto pointed a bloody finger at the interloper.
"As you can see for yourself, I'm still among the living." The dark figure reached down and began to undo the chains that imprisoned Sasuke. However, the young Uchiha didn't show is rescuer any gratitude.
"Why in hell are you here?" he questioned as the felt his bonds bring released.
"I thought you still had a vendetta with me, little brother," His cloak fell back from his head revealed the battered face of Uchiha Itachi. "In order for you to settle things, you need to be alive."
"I'd rather die than accept help from you."
"I truly don't care about your foolish little pride. No matter what you think, you are also my mission."
"You're mission?" This confused Sasuke even more.
"My organization is in direct competition with Orochimaru," he explained. "If I were to let him have you, then it would make things harder for us than it already is. Besides, I would rather kill you myself than allow that chameleon to have our family's eyes."
A kunai flying at his head cut Itachi's explanation short. The missing ninja quickly moved out of the way of the oncoming projectile with his brother in tow. As he landed, he laid his brother's beaten form on the ground next to him. He finally stood up to face the burnt Oto-nin.
"I should cut out your tongue for your disrespect, Itachi," Kabuto said. Itachi was mildly surprised the shinobi was able to move, much less throw a kunai.
"You seem to be more trouble than your worth. No wonder Orochimaru keeps you around. A roach is the only creature more resilient than a snake." Kabuto responded to Itachi with a rain of shuriken in his direction. Itachi was already moving before the flying blades reached him. The two ninja circled around the room, throwing various projectiles at each other. Neither was able to get a clean shot at each other.
Sasuke knew his brother was toying with Kabuto. He knew Itachi was injured and tired, but even in his weakened state he would still be more than a match for the Oto-nin. There was a perverse pride in watching his sibling work the sound ninja over, but he still hated the fact that it was his brother who came to his rescue. If things had turned out differently in the forest, Sasuke would be more upset than he already was. . . .
Sasuke stood in the clearing, blade in hand with blood dripping from the tip. Kneeling a few yards away was a battered and injured Itachi. Sasuke tilted his head to the side as he watched his brother gasp for breath, something he had never seen as a child. It was such a strange sight view. . . one that surprisingly unsettled the younger Uchiha brother.
It had only taken one strike to take his brother down. One strike and Sasuke drew blood from the abdomen of one of the most famous missing ninja in the history of Konoha. All his planning and training had led to this moment.
Yet, as he stood over his brother, he felt nothing.
No happiness, no joy, no triumph in his deed. As he met the stare of his brother's Sharingan-infused eyes , Sasuke realized without a doubt he could kill him. The great Uchiha Itachi was at his mercy; very much a reversal from so many years ago when he stood before his brother and saw the devil in his eyes.
"This isn't right," he muttered as he rushed his brother and decked him. The elder brother flew backward into a nearby boulder. "Why? Why isn't it right!" Sasuke was upon his brother before he settled on the ground, franticly assaulting him with his fists. "Why is it I can beat you so easily?" He stopped after a watching Itachi's face reshape itself from the beating. Younger brother held the elder by his collar while the oldest began to laugh.
"So you finally got what you wanted, eh?" Itachi's laugher seemed to echo within Sasuke's mind. "You have me where you want and you can't even understand it. And here I never thought you would were reach your true potential. Don't you realize it yet? No matter how much train, how easily you kill me, it won't change anything! They are DEAD! I KILLED THEM AND YOU CAN'T BRING THEM BACK!"
"No, this isn't how it's supposed to be," Sasuke's voice seemed to fail him as he spoke. "You aren't at full strength. I can tell." He tossed his brother to the ground with a disgusted look on his face. "I can't kill you like this."
Itachi looked up from the ground, face twisted in anger.
"You weak little coward!" the elder Uchiha snarled. "I thought you had finally had become what you needed, but you here you have your revenge in the palm of your hand and you are too afraid to take it! You're pathetic! I should have bled you and skinned your carcass just like I did mother and father."
Sasuke drove two kunai into his brother's shoulders with such a vicious thrust that Itachi never saw it coming. He began to spit up blood all over his cape.
"Now you listen here, you sick bastard." Sasuke's words dripped with hatred as he spoke. "It's YOUR turn to be afraid. You HATE me. You FEAR me. You come look for ME when YOU think you can kill me. And rest assured when that day comes, we will settle this once and for all." Sasuke took one last look at his brother before leaving him in the small clearing of the forest.
Sasuke heard the scream of Kabuto and watched as the man fell to the ground. He was now missing his right leg and left hand. He lay on his back like some misshapen turtle desperately trying to turn over on his stomach. Itachi gracefully landed next to his brother and reached down to help him off the ground.
"You Uchiha will pay!" Kabuto screeched as he continued to upright himself. "Neither of you will escape the wrath of Lord Orochimaru. He'll make both of you beg for the sweet release of death!"
"You always were a big mouth." Sasuke said as he limped toward the door with his brother's aid.
"Prey that I never see you again, Sasuke."
"I will be preying to all gods in existence that I will never see you again."
If anyone from Konoha as seen them, they would have thought it was a sign of world's impending doom: The Uchiha brothers, the last of the famed clan and bitter enemies, walking side by side holding each other up as they began their escape from Orochimaru's nightmarish village.