Forsaken {Book 1}

XXIX: Puppets and Strings

Sakura went left. She didn't feel like dealing with any mind tricks so she just took it head on and went left whether it was a trap or not. She found out it was a trap very quickly. After walking far enough to where the only light source was coming from torches, Sakura put her hand to her kunai pouch.  Sakura jumped, narrowly avoiding some kunai that came from an opening in the    high ceiling. 

'That wasn't there before.' Eyeing the area in front of her, Sakura sent a kunai forward and waited.  Nothing happened.  She continued to walk forward cautiously.  Then, a puppet fell right in front of her.  Jumping back, Sakura kept an eye on the puppet and readied her weapon.  Hearing a rattling noise behind her, Sakura looked over to find another puppet.  Cursing, she moved so she could see both puppets.  The puppet on the right moved forward.  When it got close enough, Sakura launched a kunai at the puppet on the left and jumped in the air, positioning herself so she could land on top of the right one.  Just before she could land, the puppet moved forward causing Sakura so hit the ground, and she quickly rolled over to avoid the puppets sword. 

Now, not being in the middle of the puppets, Sakura didn't mind taking the offensive. Both puppet's mouths opened and needles flew out from them, which Sakura dodged or deflected with her kunai. Attaching a paper bomb to her kunai knife, she threw it at the puppets, and it exploded. Not waiting to see the results, Sakura turned and sprinted away.

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-Days ago-

Sasori observed the letter in his hand carefully.

'Her name is Sakura Haruno. She comes from a civilian family, and she lives in Konoha. She seeks your guidance and wants to learn from you. As of right now she's a genin level, her teammates are Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze. Her sensei is Kakashi Hatake........'

Sasori put the letter down, and picked up the one Tsunade had just recently sent him.

'Sakura is coming your way, and should be there soon. And Sasori, don't go too hard on her. Giver her some slack. -Tsunade'

Sasori smirked.

'She better be as good as you say Tsunade.'

-Present-

Sasori watched as Sakura ran from the puppets. The smoke from the bomb clouded the area around the puppets so he couldn't get a clear view of them but he knew that the puppets weren't done yet. Using his chakra strings he brought the puppets out of the smoke and sent them after Sakura. When his puppet caught up to Sakura he saw that she was almost back to the entrance of the hall. Staying hidden in the shadows, Sasori made his puppets noticed. Sakura looked back at the puppets noticing that the paper bomb barely did anything to the puppets, the only purpose it served was causing a distraction. Making that mental note in her head. Just as the puppet swung his sword at her Sakura jumped and backflipped subtly getting closer to the entrance.  Sasori smirked when he caught on to what she was doing.

'She needs more fighting space.  If she can get out into the open, she'll have it.' Sasori sent his puppets after her quickly, having one puppet swing his sword at her.  Sakura blocked his sword with a kunai, but the puppets mouth opened and launched needles  at Sakura.  The senbon needles pierced Sakura's skin and stuck out of her body.  Sasori watched with an impatient, yet expectant, stare.  Finally Sakura's body exploded into a flutter of cherry blossoms.  Sasori smirked.  The needles clattered as they hit the ground. 

From behind, Sakura jumped and hit one of the puppets with a small chakra infused punch.  It wasn't a lot, but it was enough for the puppet fall apart.

'That's going to need more practice.' Sasori noted when Sakura held her fist with her other hand.  Keeping an eye on the other puppet, Sakura crouched down and picked up one of the left over senbon needles that was inside of the fallen puppet's mouth.  Being careful to avoid the liquid poison that was on the tip, Sakura held the needle between two of her fingers.  Jumping up, Sakura jumped towards the second puppet and the puppet swung out his sword.  Rotating herself, Sakura landed on the puppets sword, and jumped over the puppet just before any senbon, that launched from its mouth, could hit her. 

Landing on her feet, she quickly turned around and threw the senbon needle at the puppet.  The needle landed in an open spot between its neck and upper back.  Sakura stood up panting, hoping that the needle did what she wanted it to.  The puppet tried to move its head up, but couldn't.  Sakura smirked, the needle locked up its neck just as she wanted it to.  Taking another kunai, Sakura attached a paper bomb on it and tossed it over.  Just as she wanted, smoke filled the area, and Sakura stepped in the smoke. 

When the smoke finally dispersed Sasori saw Sakura standing and his puppet a few feet on the ground beside her.  Sasori smirked and moved his fingers.  The puppet's arm moved and poison covered needles launched themselves towards Sakura.  The girl cursed and moved to dodge them.  A single needle grazed her arm and Sakura looked at it, a string of curses falling from her mouth.  Putting her hand over the area that the needle grazed, Sakura set up chakra blocks, blocking the poison from entering her system.  When the puppets arm moved again, Sakura braced herself, getting ready to dodge.  There was a continuous clicking noise until finally she heard a sigh.  Sasori walked out of the shadows and looked at Sakura with a smirk.  The girl observed him for any sign that he would attack.

"Well, the puppet is out of needles.  You've survived this long, so I guess you pass."

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Next chapter is the last chapter of the story.  T^T. Not sure when I'll get that chapter done but hopefully soon.  Don't expect it to be super long, I might just make it short.