Sakura Shippuden (#2 Sakura Trilogy)

Sakura Shippuden: [Chapter 17]

Sakura decided that she didn't like Shikkotsu Forest. As soon as Team Kakashi popped back into existence, they were surrounded by trees towering over them, so tall and with so much foliage there was barely any light that shone through. That wasn't an issue to Sakura. It was the noise. The buzzing cicadas and rustling leaves kept her on edge. Shikkotsu Forest, meaning 'dry bone forest,' was not very dry at all. In fact, it was a jungle.

All three shinobi turned as Katsuyu appeared on Sakura's shoulder. "Here, it's always dark because of the trees, so it'll be hard to navigate without me. If you keep to the west, we'll find our way."

And so, they trudged onward, the dark soil void of all vegetation other than the hardiest of specimen. Even the plants towered over them, the size of normal trees. Sakura took off her cloak, carefully keeping Kutsuyu from falling, and watched the others do the same. It was hot and muggy in the rainforest, after all. Her hair stuck to the back of her neck uncomfortably.

A type of monkey scampered in the trees above them, and the cicadas still droned on mercilessly. Sakura smacked her arm for the third time already, not willing to become a snack for the mosquitoes. "Those would have eventually grown to full-sized mosquitoes the size of a small boat," Katsuyu commented from her shoulder. "You'll find that's common for most creatures living here, Sakura-san."

Sakura smacked her thigh this time, right before walking into a cloud of gnats. Gnats the size of her eyes. No, she did not like Shikkotsu Forest.

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Team Kakashi soon reached their destination, a tree-cleared area in which an empty cave was, its mossy exterior acting as camouflage. It wouldn't have been odd if the opening wasn't the size of a small mountain.

Sakura scrutinised the cave, the draft blowing in Team Kakashi's faces. Behind them, a spider the size of an apartment complex peered with all eight eyes before clambering off, its many legs managing to shake the ground. She watched it before shifting back to the cave. "Sakura-san," Katsuyu called out softly, "We are about to enter the most sacred grounds located in Shikkotsu Forest. In there are some of the most respected entities both known and unknown. You and Team Kakashi must be polite and do nothing to offend them in any way. Do you understand?"

Sakura nodded, and assumed the others had too, because Katsuyu then said, "Enter the cave and continue walking without looking back. If you do, you will be trapped in between this world and where I dwell, forever." The slug squirmed on her shoulder. "There is more, Sakura-san. I cannot travel with you through the cave, but I'll meet you on the other side. Good luck. Tsunade-sama is counting on you." With a poof, Katsuyu disappeared, leaving the three to themselves.

Yamato spoke up. "Now, Sakura, Sai...we must be wary from this point on. You are not to turn around in the cave, and you mustn't aggravate anything on the other side. Understood? Because if you do," he made a scary face, wriggling his fingers at them, "there will be hell to pay."

Sakura and Sai stared at him blankly before pushing past him and entering the cave. Yamato wilted and followed after them, his eyes narrowed and alert.

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Sai's silence was not very comfortable. They had left behind the buzzing cicadas and were now left with their echoing footsteps on the stone ground, the scraping noises seeming louder by the second.

Sakura trailed her gloved fingertips on the cave wall in order to make sure she didn't do anything embarrassing like trip. She suspected Sai would think even less of her if she did. She squinted, trying to make out any sort of light or hint they were going the right way, but it was all pure darkness. The pink-haired girl didn't know how far or close Sai was walking next to her because the echoing in the cave obscured any accurate readings. Suddenly her companioning footsteps stopped, and it took everything in Sakura to not turn and search for him. She stopped, a cool draft tousling her hair that did wonders for her previously sweaty self.

Suddenly, Sakura was grabbed from behind, headlocking her into place. From instinct alone, she could tell there was some sort of weapon pointed at her neck. Her and her attacker stood quietly for some time, both tense and waiting for the other to make a move. Finally, her captor spoke. "Danzō-sama is not pleased with you."

Sakura stayed silent, attempting to figure out why. "Is it blackmail? Perhaps he threatened to kill your family. Or is there a possibility that you are one of the hand-picked operatives of Danzō's elite squad, Sai?" She moved quickly, grabbing his wrist holding the tantō and intending to snap it, mindful that she couldn't turn around and fight. At the same time, Sakura began to aim a simple stomp to his feet.

However, Sai was not an amateur, and had most likely read the analyses on her, from fighting style to personal life. He shook her off and leapt back, eyeing the space in front of him warily. What advantages he'd had were now levelled. Sakura and him were both unable to see or turn around. Soon, he heard urgent footsteps behind him. "Sakura? Sai?" Ah, Yamato.

"Here," Sakura called beside him, only a hair's length away from him. She got closer, backing up, then whispered, "I can sense your chakra, Tactless. Do not underestimate your opponents, ne?" Sai was alarmed that he hadn't noticed the shift in the air current of the draft that would have easily given him Sakura's location.

"Ah! I caught up to you in time." Yamato paused beside them. "Have you found the exit yet?"

Sai opened his mouth to speak, but was beaten to the punch. "We have not secured how long it will take," said the figure beside him. "It would be in our best interests to continue."

The jōnin nodded in the dark. "I agree, Sakura. Let's go, team!" All three snapped back into running towards the exit of the cave, one troubled mind in particular mulling over what had just happened as they at last spotted a light in the far distance.

[A/N]: Danzō and Sai are somehow connected to Sakura? Also, Sai attacked her?