Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ AB Type ❯ Sinking in ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own NARUTO series or any of its characters. They are property of Masashi Kishimoto
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Dark...Rough...

Uncomfortable...

Where was she?

Cold...

Was this real? The pain on her muscles was telling her it was. But she was totally disoriented. It was like floating in a void, with nothing to recognize around her. She couldn't tell if she was thinking or talking. Nothing to see...everything was so dark...she closed her eyes, at least that's what she thought because she didn't know if she had them already opened...Her limbs were separating from her body...she couldn't feel them, no arms, no legs...no nothing...

Suddenly, a sound that seemed like an explosion filled the space, followed by a blinding light. She was so scared that she didn't notice the way all the corners of her room started to show or that the 'blinding light' was a dim candlelight. Then she saw, very disappointedly, that her special and odd dimension was nothing but a room...

No, wait...a cave?

A cave with no ventilation.

Soon the screech of a heavy iron door opening was heard. There, in the threshold, stood a figure, outlined by the exterior light.

Bit by bit, it was becoming clearer that it hadn't been the best option to let herself be carried unconscious to the Akatsuki quarters.

'Crap'

Uchiha Itachi was looking down at her, with his ruby eyes shining, like an unholy fire, in the dim candlelight. His very being radiated intimidation, making her feel as tiny and defenseless as a bug.

For a moment, her senses were filled with a fear that was emanating from every pore of her body. Being lost in her fear of the dark Uchiha, Sakura was not aware to her own trembling, or the sweat that formed on her forehead.

Or the little noises she made when breathing.

Or the pleading look of her eyes.

But her fear was short lived. And like a blanket being removed, her fear was lifted off the young woman leaving instead a determined, confident and fearless kunoichi.

This girl was definitely weird.

"I'm going to ask you some questions. Please cooperate." Itachi's smooth voice traveled to her ears in a soft rhythm.

"I'm Uchicha Itachi...Your name?" he continued.

"Gennosuke Mia" She said as naturally as if it were truly her born name. With time Sakura had grown accustomed to that question.

"Right, Mia-san.” Itachi said her name as if testing it. “You're a missing nin." He asked, but it was more like a statement.

"Yes, from Konoha", she replied. She started to worry a little when the frown on his forehead increased, and a sudden coldness filled his eyes.

"What do you know about Orochimaru?"

"That he's dead. Many of his techniques and that he was once part of this organization." This was it. This was probably the most dangerous part of her mission. Her options were limited here on out. She would either be killed or incorporated into the Akatsuki, but one thing was certain; they would never let her go alive.

"What do you want with Akatsuki?"

"To join you." The words came out slower than she had preferred. He just stared at her, like digesting her words and carefully thinking of his next question.

"There is a series of requirements for anyone who wants to enter. Do you think you can meet them?"

"I'm strong enough to kill one of the legendary Sannin and I still want to become stronger. I'm a missing nin and I have this..." She showed her secret weapon.

A ring.

Not any ring, but a special one.

This one ring had belonged to Orochimaru when he was Akatsuki. Sakura knew she would be searched when she came upon the Akatsuki so she had carefully stored it under her clothes.

His eyes narrowed at the sight of the ring. It was a symbol of Orochimaru’s membership into the Akatsuki. It had been sought after when Orochimaru had left but none wanted to kill the snake traitor until the Jinchuuriki missions were completed. Sakura knew that having the ring allowed her a chance to go before the Leader to ask for a position into Akatsuki.

"So it's true...you are the one that is known as The Snake"

"I am. I killed him, then I searched for the information he might possess. I found out about you all and the importance of this ring, aside from all the techniques I memorized." The truth was that Orochimaru had been dying when she found him, which made possible his death.

'Orochimaru...'

'I remember you sweetie. Tell me, why have you come this far?'

'To kill you.'

He laughed.

‘I'm already dead, dear. Your precious Sasuke-kun made sure of that.'

He was the only one who recognized her. She couldn't understand why.

"Follow me please." Itachi stood up and opened the door. He waited until she was standing behind him before he started to walk. They moved through a long "corridor" that was nothing more than a pile of rocks with a long divot carved in the middle where candles illuminated their way.

Her stomach tightened. She didn't know what was going to happen next. She was anxious and even a little scared. Adrenaline started to pump through all of her body as they walked. Sakura knew that she was treading in dangerous waters now. Anything could happen; she had to think carefully through everything, to what she says next, to her breathing and even down to her steps. There was no room for mistakes now. She had to be perfect. She couldn't let Itachi, nor the rest to see through her act.

He could only see Mia.

He had to believe she was Mia.

But even as Mia, Sakura could not help but show up. Mia had no ties to Itachi while Sakura did through his brother. So any dislike for Itachi could not be from Mia but from Sakura with her issue with Sasuke that was still like a fresh wound.

Itachi’s thoughts drifted to his foolish brother as they walked. This girl reminded him of Sasuke. He didn't know why, but he didn't like it. He didn't like her.

Sasuke was giving them little pieces of information. It had been like that since his capture.

He was such a whimsical brat.

Perhaps he should let him go, give him another chance. He wasn't interested in him anyways, not now at least. Itachi had been so disappointed when he realized how weak his brother was. He was hoping for a challenge, and only found a weak and overconfident brat.

Well, that was something he would decide later.

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Tears...sobs...tears...

'Sakura-chan.'

'Where are you? '

Hidden from the world, sat Naruto in the save haven of his darken room. He sat on the edge of his bed, with his back facing the window.

One year and a half...And no Sakura.

During the first months he kept repeating himself that she was going to arrive soon.

She didn't.

His heart bounced painfully. He had felt the same with Sasuke.

During the day, he trained, laughed, talked and made for a normal life. It was during the nights that the memories of a pink -now black- haired princess flooded his mind. He silently whished for her return with every tear that fell from his eyes.

He was sick with love.

Love for a girl that was now a ghost of a memory. One that visited him every night, every second.

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'It doesn't look so bad.' Sakura was admiring the ring on her little finger. It had the kanji for 'sky', 'sora', engraved in it. She hated the way a simple ring could bring her back such unpleasant memories. It reminded her of Orochimaru; he in turn, reminded her of Sasuke.

Sasuke...

She hadn't thought about him lately, a big relief for her heart which hurted so much for him. When she accepted this mission, she did it while thinking only of him. It would be a great opportunity to search for him. One she could not pass up. She always had the hope of finding him; at an inn, on a restaurant, on a shop, behind a tree...

She played with thousands of scenarios in which she could find him. She fed on many possibilities day after day. She hungered for the day she would find him and still, she hadn't.

Sakura at least had accomplished the first half of her mission. She had hoped that that accomplishment would give her some hint as to where Sasuke was. It had not.

'Forget that already.' Her throat was starting to tighten. Her gaze lowered to the ring again.

It served as a reminding of what she was now.

Akatsuki.

Yeah, she had made it, although it had been as difficult as hell. She waited three long months before the leader would accept her. She was lucky that the only position free was the one that Orochimaru had left. And that was all because of this ring.

"Mia! hurry up!" Deidara's voice called. She looked up and soon followed him.

Today was a special day for the Akatsuki.

Many of them had died and the vacancy those deaths left have been filled. With her joining them, they where finally complete again. And as such they gathered on the center of the compound, awaiting Leader. Some faces were absolutely unknown to her. Some others weren't.

"As you can notice, we are complete. That means we have to reorganize the teams." The leader talked with a strong voice.

"Judging by your abilities, specialties and level, the two-man team will continue. Here is the list." He opened a scroll and started reading names.

"Kisame and Deidara, Itachi and Mia, Hidan..." What?! She had been teamed up with Itachi?!

...Oh...this would start to get ugly...

After the names have been called, the meeting ended and everyone reunited with their new partners. Leader assigned each team a mission, save for Itachi and Mia. Because the two of them were from Konoha, they had to continue Itachi's searching of the Kyuubi.

'Naruto'...She could finally know why they wanted him.

Sakura missed him so much. Many times she had regretted her behavior the last days they were together. She had come to the conclusion that she loved him -and could freely accept it now- and that she wanted to be by his side. But how could she, if she was losing herself into this play?

She was afraid of getting more involved than she already was. Afraid of becoming more like Mia and less like Sakura.

'He's waiting for me...I can't forget him.' Yes...he said it, didn't he? That he would be thinking about her everyday, so she could feel his company.

A smile formed on her features, but she quickly came back to being Mia.

"Mia-san, I'd like to see your abilities." Itachi interrupted her thoughts. She shot him a death glare.

'Damn, why wasn't I teamed up with Deidara?'

"Sure...shall we spar?" She said, faking a smile as she went.

"Hn." He acquired a fighting stance and looked at her with his cold Uchiha eyes.

An odd feeling created inside of her at the sight of those eyes...they were so familiar...

'Sasuke...'

She tried to supress the knot forming on her throat again.

It didn't work.