Let It Burn: Life [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 7

It wasn't hard for the spy to follow Team 7 as the lingering chakra of the Nine-Tails hung in the area. Examining the destroyed section of forest, the ninja behind the mask looked towards the barely standing bridge. Obviously, something had not gone according to plan. They only hoped that no one had been captured or horribly injured.

Their feet lightly touched the planks the bridge that remained, which groaned in protest. It managed to stay intact as the individual dashed across into the trees unseen. An explosion up ahead caused them to catch themselves on a tree branch to wait out the aftershock. Birds took flight from the loud noise that caused the earth to rumble rather violently. There was no time to waste.

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In the desolation of Orochimaru's base stood Sai, who struggled for a moment to get back to his feet. While he had managed to regain Team 7's trust by turning on Kabuto, when Orochimaru's assistant stepped into the fold, his true mission came to light. Having eluded their detection upon coming face-to-face with Orochimaru within the hideout, Yamato discovered a black book among his possessions. A list of targets was crossed off already. Yet the next target was alarming. Sai wasn't here to act as a go-between for Danzo and Orochimaru. He was here to take out Sasuke Uchiha. Permanently.

Upon Sai's discovery of the target, resting deep inside the base, the Root Ninja thought he had the advantage. However, the Uchiha was onto him from the start. While exterminating Sasuke had been his mission from Danzo, Sai had changed his mind. He wished to bring him back to Konoha. After what Naruto and Sakura said about their former teammate, how after everything that happened, Naruto considered Sasuke to be like a brother to him, it hit a chord in Sai. That bond. Sai wanted to held mend it by any means.

Unfortunately, Sasuke didn't share the same sentiment and blew up half the base. Now Sai stood alone facing the criminal, now perched on the edge of the wide crater.

"You live up to your reputation," Sai noted. "I mean, to be able to overpower my jutsu is quite something."

Suddenly, a hand roughly gripped at his collar and drew his attention away. Sakura wore a rather furious expression on her features from his antics.

"What is your problem?" she shouted. "How many people do you plan on–?"

"Ah, it's Sakura."

Pausing, her body instantly tensed before slowly turning up. No matter what was said, no matter the fact she knew they could come face-to-face with their former partner; she was still stunned and couldn't breathe properly.

"Sasuke..." Sakura choked.

Naruto's skidded to a halt beside the pink-haired shinobi and glared at the Uchiha with a clenched jaw.

"And Naruto, you came too," he commented.

Kakashi and Yamato were at their side in an instant, wary of the teen who no longer wore the traditional Uchiha uniform. Instead, it resembled Orochmaru's a bit from the purple rope wrap at the waist, loose white top, and dark blue pants covered by a blue cloth. It clearly symbolized who he worked for now. Clearly, he had changed and not for the better. The cold look in his eyes was enough to show just how dangerous and detached the teen had become from Team 7.

"We are taking you back to Konoha," Yamato stated.

"Team Kakashi, huh? Have you been replaced, Kakashi? Or is the Hokage thinking you need a babysitter now?"

The said Jounin narrowed his eye as Sasuke's head then nodded towards the Root Ninja.

"He's my replacement then, is he? He was spouting some kind of nonsense about 'bonds' between Naruto and me. One more pansy for the group, quite the fit, I'm sure."