Ripples

Chapter 9

                       Cooperation

They reached a small, rocky island, and for a moment Sakura was certain the base must have been disguised with some sort genjutsu.

Then she noticed the opening in the rock, and the staircase that wound down into darkness.

"Great, more underground fortresses," she grumbled.

"Don't worry, Princess – you can hold my hand if you get scared," Suigetsu grinned.

Sakura made a rude gesture in his direction, but he just laughed. He seemed to laugh at everything she did, as though she had been brought along specifically for the purpose of entertaining him.

Sasuke made a noise that sounded like a snort and strode down the stairs, Suigetsu following.

Sakura blinked for a moment, dumbfounded and more than a little hopeful at the idea that they'd completely overlooked her (and if there was a bit of hurt that she was so easily forgettable to Sasuke, she ignored it). The medic glanced around, then turned and strode towards the water, intending to make a break for it.

But then Sasuke was in front of her, having moved too fast for her eyes to follow.

"Quit doing that!" Sakura shrieked.

Sasuke simply took her by the arm and pulled her back towards the opening and down the stairs.

"Okay, okay, I get it – no escaping! You can let go of me now."

"Apparently not, since I cannot trust you to follow me on your own," Sasuke said tightly, as though the words pained him somehow.

"What's your problem?" Sakura spat, frustration rumbling through her gut like thunder. "No, don't answer that, I don't care – just let me go!"

"You've got your hands full with her," Suigetsu snickered as the Uchiha dragged the woman past him, with her protesting all the way.

There were cells in this base – long ones that lined the corridor, reinforced with thick steel bars – and Sakura went still in Sasuke's grip, forgetting to fight the hold on her arm as she stared at the people contained within.

"Are they okay?" she exclaimed, twisting against Sasuke's fingers so she could keep the people in sight as long as possible. She could hear them talking to each other, saying that the rumours must be true – Sasuke had defeated Orochimaru, and was here to free them!

Sakura was about to demand that they help those people when Sasuke came to a halt, releasing her.

There was a woman standing in front of them, about their age, with bright red hair and glasses.

"Sasuke..." she said, her eyes scanning them. It might have been Sakura's imagination, but she thought she detected a flicker of resentment in the woman's eyes when they rested on her. "Well, if you're here alone, the rumours must be true."

"That's cold," Suigetsu huffed. "What about me and Princess here – what are we, chopped liver?"

"What are you doing here?" the redhead asked, as though he hadn't spoken.

But Suigetsu wasn't deterred. "Sasuke wants to talk to you. But hey, instead of standing around, can you take us to a room or something? It's been a while since I've stretched my legs and I'm beat."