Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Talking: “…”

Thinking: “…”

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Chapter 16: Bitter Sweet

‘What’s that sound? Where am I?’ Sakura asked herself after she was taken to a dark place. It was so dark that she couldn’t see her own hands anymore.

BANG!

‘There’s that sound again!’ Sakura thought as she looked towards the direction where the sound came from. ‘Is someone trying to get in here? Who could it be? Why can’t I see anything?!’ This was frustrating Sakura so much that tears started to well up in her eyes.

“Calm down, Sakura.” She now loudly said to herself, trying to find her courage back. She noticed she couldn’t stand up. She couldn’t move much either. She used the little strength that was back in her arms to sit up. It took her some time, but she managed to do so. She couldn’t move her legs though.

“Kabuto brought me here. Right, that’s right.” She tried to remember what happened. “He... drugged me. Again.” She closed her eyes, or at least, she felt she did, and tried to remember what happened after that.

“Sasuke...” She whispered. That’s right; she and Kabuto met up with Sasuke.

BANG!

Her head shot up. “Who’s there?!” She yelled. But the only thing she heard was her voice that echoed through the room.

“Kabuto! Sasuke! Who’s there?!” Suddenly, there was another loud ‘bang’, even harder then the ones before, She heard something break, like a wall. He looked towards the direction to where the noise came from, and saw light.

‘Light?’ Sakura thought, as she saw that the wall was broken open. There was some dust, but she could clearly see a figure standing at the opening.

“I knew it!” The figure explained, and Sakura recognised the voice immediately.

Sakura’s eyes went wide, and once again, tears started to well up. “Naruto...” She saw the figure taking steps into the room.

“Sakura-chan?!” Naruto said, and began to walk faster towards her.

‘He shouldn’t be here, it’s too dangerous, there are traps! He can’t come...’ But how much Sakura thought that, Naruto came closer and closer to her.

“Naruto, don’t come here!” She yelled at him, but it seemed like he didn’t hear her. He continued to walk towards her, faster and faster. He was almost running.

She was so happy to see him, she really was. But she knew that Orochimaru, Kabuto and Sasuke were lurking somewhere, knowing where the weak spot is.

“Sakura-chan, Sakura-chan!“ He kept repeating. There was a big smile on his face, so big, that it even made Sakura smile, even though she knew in what kind of situation they were.

“Naruto...” Sakura said, with a gentle smile on her face. She couldn’t help it, she was so happy to see him. But was it really him?

Naruto suddenly bent down and hugged Sakura tightly. “Sakura-chan, Sakura-chan!” He held her close to him. “Sakura-chan, I finally found you! I found you!”

Sakura finally gave in; it felt so good to be in his arms again. She wanted to be in his arms, forever.

“Naruto... you came for me...” She whispered, as she also hugged him and laid her head on his shoulder, tears falling down. This was real; this wasn’t a illusion or a dream.

“Sakura-chan... Of course. I’ll come for you even if you were at the other side of the world.” He also whispered.

“Naruto... is it really you?” Sakura asked. After she asked that, he gently pushed her off him. She looked in his blue eyes which looked gently into hers. He pushed some bangs away from her face and softly caressed her cheek.

“Sakura-chan, I won’t let a fake touch you, not now, not ever.” He brought his face closer to hers, as he saw that she was closing her eyes slowly.

He longed for this moment for so long. His lips were almost touching hers-

“Naruto, look out!” A voice yelled from behind them.

Naruto quickly reacted as he grabbed Sakura and jumped backwards. When he landed, he saw a long sword on the place where he and Sakura just were.

“W-what the-?” Naruto said as he followed the long sword, which was pulling itself back.

The sword went back inside the owners mouth, and his neck also went back to it’s normal length. Naruto followed it all, and knew who it was.

“Orochimaru...” He growled.

Naruto saw Orohcimaru’s evil grin, while he moved his tongue in a gross way; like a snake.

“Too bad about that attack, Orochimaru-sama.” Kabuto said, as he stood next to Orochimaru, pushing his glasses up.

“Yes,” Orochimaru said, while retrieving his tongue. “If it hadn’t been for Tsunade-hime’s call, we would have had two dead Shinobi.”

“Like we would let that happen, Orochimaru!” Tsunade said as she and Jiraiya stood besides them.

“Thanks, Tsunade-obaasan.” Naruto said, but Tsunade only gave him a angry glare.

“Don’t ever, ever run away on your own like that, understand?!” She angrily said back.

Normally, Naruto would defend himself, saying something back, but now, he only had a gentle smile on his face.

“Yeah...” He only said, and turned his attention on Sakura, who he still held in bridal style. “Sakura-chan, can you stand?” He softly whispered to her.

Sakura shook her head ‘no’, and only held him tighter. “They drugged me, Naruto. I don’t have any strength in my legs.”

“Don’t worry Sakura.” Tsunade said. “I have some medicine with me to cure it.”

Sakura looked at Tsunade and nodded. “Thank you, Tsunade-sama.”

“Are you people still here?” A cold voice said from behind Orochimaru and Kabuto.

They all knew who it was.

“So, the Uchiha-kid also decided to join the party?” Jiraiya said.

“I only want to fight Naruto. I don’t have any interest in either of you.” Sasuke said, as he took a few steps forward.

“Sasuke...” Naruto said, as he slowly put Sakura down. But it seemed like Sakura didn’t wanted to let him go.

“Sakura-chan?” Naruto said, as he looked down.

“Naruto... you can’t... I mean... they... It’s dangerous!” Sakura said. Somehow, she couldn’t get more out of it.

Naruto only smiled one of his gentle smiles at her. “Don’t worry, Sakura-chan! I’ll come back to you before you know it. I just have to beat-“

“...and able to kill Sasuke-kun.”

Naruto quickly shook his head. “I just have to beat Sasuke!”

He let go of Sakura and walked towards the middle of the room.

Sakura shook her head. She looked up, giving Tsunade one of her pleading faces. “Tsunade-sama, please! Naruto... Naruto is in danger! They want to get his-“

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Sakura...” A voice said behind her. Suddenly, she felt something cold and sharp held against her throat. She could see Tsunade and Jiraiya standing in their fighting position.

“Kabuto... let her go.” Tsunade said to Kabuto, who was still behind Sakura, with a kunai places on her throat.

“I’m sorry, Tsunade-sama, but I can’t do that. See, she is still our hostage.” Kabuto said.

“You should have thought of that before we arrived here.” Jiraiya said as he lunged his arm forward towards Kabuto’s head. He held a ball full of energy.

“Rasengan!” Jiraiya said as he almost connected to Kabuto’s head. Kabuto jumped away, without Sakura. Tsunade quickly grabbed Sakura and took her to the wall next to the hole made by Naruto.

“Thanks, Jiraiya.” Tsunade said as the ball of energy disappeared from his hand.

“No worries. No injuries on Sakura?” Jiraiya asked.

Tsunade shook her head as she examined Sakura closely. She suddenly reached in her pants and pulled a little bottle, with medicine in it, out.

“Here, Sakura. This should help getting the strength back in your body. It would take a while to take effect, though.”

Sakura nodded. “Alright, thank you, Tsunade-sama.” She grabbed the medicine from Tsunade and swallowed it.

“Sasuke... do you still wish to fight?” Naruto asked, as the two stood on the opposite of each other.

“Tsk...” Sasuke said, as he grabbed his long sword from his holder. “Of course I do. To defeat both you... and Itachi.”

‘That’s right...’ Naruto thought. ‘His older brother, Itachi Uchiha. The one who killed the whole Uchiha clan. That... is his main reason that he wants to become stronger... That he went to Orochimaru.’

“Then why don’t you come back to Konoha?! We can train strong together! We can-“

“Are you joking around?!” Sasuke yelled and started to charge at Naruto with full speed. He held his sword back as he approached Naruto.

Naruto reacted just in time and dodged Sasuke’s attack with his sword by jumping away. Naruto knew that if Sasuke’s sword would hit, he would be done for.

“Haha...” Naruto grinned when he landed a little bit farther away. “Are you really that strong? Looks like you need the help of a sword with this fight!” Naruto was testing him.

‘Be careful, Naruto. Don’t mock him too much...’ Jiraiya thought as he, Tsunade and Sakura were watching the fight closely. While on the other side of the room, Kabuto and Orochimaru were standing there, also looking at the fight.

“We also have to watch the actions of four-eyes and Orochimaru.” Tsunade whispered at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya nodded, “Yes, we have to keep tabs on them as well, before they do something as the four-eyes did just a moment ago.” He whispered back.

Tsunade looked behind her, seeing Sakura still sitting against the wall. She was also watching the fight closely. “Naruto... please... be careful.”

“You idiot.” Sasuke said. “I can easily defeat you without this sword.” As he said that, he held his sword up.

Naruto grinned even more. “Let’s show it then, Sasuke.”

Sasuke now also grinned, as he closed his eyes. “Heh...” He tossed his sword aside. The sword roughly hit the ground, giving a rasping sound that gives you chills.

“Orochimaru-sama...” Kabuto said, seeing what Sasuke did.

Orochimaru grinned. “Interesting, very interesting.”

“When will we...” Kabuto began, but was interrupted by Orochimaru.

“When Naruto-kun is tired... and maybe... we’ll need Sakura-kun to do the trick...” He looked towards Sakura, who was trying to move her legs.

“But what about Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama?” Kabuto asked.

“Don’t worry, Kabuto. When the time comes, just do what I say.”

Kabuto nodded. “Understood, Orochimaru-sama.”

“Let’s go, Naruto!” Sasuke said, as he began to charge towards Naruto.

“Sasuke!” Naruto yelled as he also began to charge towards Sasuke, knowing it wouldn’t be a easy battle.

To Be Continued