Naruto stared at Sasuke shocked and horror as the raven tightened his grip on him. Tan hands gripped Sasuke's wrist tightly, as his thoughts rambled on inside Sasuke's head. "S-Sas-Sasuke," He gasped out, trying to tear the other's hand away. He groaned and squirmed but no matter how hard he had tried he couldn't get out of the demon's strong grip on his neck.
Naruto's eyes wandered to Sasuke's freehand. He watched as electricity sparked from it. Frantic, he tried again. "Sasuke, you don't want to hurt me do you? You don't want to betray me right?" I can feel his emotions pouring into me.
Tears swelled as Naruto felt heat against his neck. "Sasuke, h-help me..." He croaked out, finally getting Sasuke to let go of his neck. Breathing heavily Sasuke, grabbed Naruto's wrist and pulled him into a hug. Naruto felt heat creep upon his cheeks as Sasuke's arms tightened around him. Having tactile empathy, Naruto could feel Sasuke's heavy emotions. There was a warmth to him. Even though the demon acted like an asshole and was as straight faced as a board, Naruto could still see that he had other sides to him. Those specific emotions were only shown to him. "Are you alright?" Naruto asked. "You seemed like you were controlled by that... Whatever it was."
"I'm fine, thanks." Sasuke replied, feeling weak. It felt like he had drained his energy. "Did I hurt you?" Naruto's hand immediately went to his neck, the boy smiled lightly. It was a forgiving smile that he knew Sasuke needed.
"I'm okay, thank you, Sasuke." Naruto replied, as the demon's feelings of regret and sympathy washed away into happiness even though he didn't show it. Naruto wanted him to show him. He wanted to see that smile again. "Smile for me," He whispered. Sasuke looked at him, caught off guard. The feeling of -what humans called deja vu came upon him very much ever since Naruko's death. He chuckled smirking.
"You had said the same thing before you died." Sasuke mumbled. Naruto blinked, a little confused before he smiled again, his eyes softening.
"Well, I don't plan on repeating history too much." He grinned. Sasuke scoffed, running his pale hand through his dark silky hair. Naruto just continued to grin and feel happy. Then he heard footsteps and was suddenly behind Sasuke in a blink of an eye. Naruto smiled in relief when he saw that it was Ino and the others who came in the room to check on them.
"Are you two alright?" Hinata asked, worriedly. She analyzed the two prudently. "Naruto, what happened to you?" Naruto blinked before realizing that she was looking at his neck.
"O-Oh! Um, this is nothing I'm perfectly fine, Hina-"
"That's a burn wound." Ino pointed out with a serious look in her eyes. "Don't lie to us, Naruto, I may be a healer but I can tell that you're lying." She looked at him scoldingly. "And you!" Ino growled pointing to Sasuke who tensed up slightly. "What was that surge of power? And why is Naruto's neck burned? Why are you hurt too? Didn't I just heal your wounds?" Sasuke groaned, scratching his head. He snorted acting indifferent.
"You ask too many questions."
"At least I'm worried about you!" Ino retorted. "Now, answer me. What the hell was that just before?"
"Orochimaru. Who else?" Sasuke growled. Ino's eyes widened.
"Oro-Orochimaru?" Ino gasped. She shook her head. "That-That can't be true! Sakura would never heal Orochimaru!"
"She must've. That power was strong but not like Orochimaru's full power. It was only half that." Sasuke explained. "If Sakura is truly healing Orochimaru and restoring his full strength we are in huge trouble."
"But how could Sakura be to blame?" Naruto asked. "What if Sakura wasn't willing to do what your saying should be possibly doing?"
"Naruto's right," Hinata agreed. "Maybe Sakura isn't to blame. Maybe Someone else is." Naruto smiled thankfully at Hinata who smiled back. Abruptly a voice laughing came out of nowhere before the person who owned it appeared. Sasuke growled.
"Karin."
"Well hello, Sasuke!" Karin replied cheerfully. She gushed at the sight of the handsome demon. "Oooooh, you look so handsome!"
"Lady Karin, remember our orders." Tayuya said, giving Karin a side glance. Karin crossed her arms.
"You're no fun."
"We're not here for fun, Karin," She stated bluntly. Karin pouted for a moment, annoyed with Tayuya's reminder of Kabuto's orders. "Anyway, why don't you follow the plan like we're supposed to?" Karin snorted before smirking at Naruto.
"Got it." Karin smirked, snapping her fingers and causing everyone to scream in pain except for those whom have the mental shield. Naruto fell to the ground doubled over, a sharp pain shooting through him. "I got some payback I need to fulfill, anyway!" Her illusion had begun getting stronger. It felt as if Naruto's bones were broken in a million little pieces.
"Stop!" Sasuke cried, his emotions revealing themselves through the indifferent mask. "What the hell is your goal here?"
"Our goal?" Karin asked. "Why to revive Lord Orochimaru." She answered, twirling her hair. "And it's true that we came here for a reason, but I prefer not to tell you."
"Karin, grab the boy and let's go." Tayuya said. Karin sighed, disappointed with the shortness of the visit. She teleported close to Naruto, their faces a close proximity. It was then Naruto felt something hit his neck, knocking him out. Sasuke growled trying to get up, trying to fight the pain illusion but it was strong - very strong.
"We've got what we came for?" Karin asked. Tayuya nodded. Karin huffed. "Then, let's go!" She said before teleporting away along with Tayuya and Naruto. Sasuke slammed his fist on the floor, the pain from the illusion still resonating but fading away.
"Damn it!" Sasuke cursed, blaming himself. He wasn't strong enough to protect Naruto. He wasn't as powerful as Itachi to protect Naruto. He gasped, feeling a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to meet Hinata's forgiving eyes.
"Sasuke, don't beat yourself up okay?" She asked. "We'll get him back."
"I don't even know where to start." Sasuke sighed. He ran a hand through his hair. "I couldn't even fight against that pain illusion power Karin has. I couldn't protect Naruto from her."
"You were in pain!" Ino pointed out. "Don't be a depressed idiot beating yourself up for absolutely no reason at all."
"Ino's correct Sasuke," Tsunade's voice said, as she walked into the room. "I had want to check on your wounds but it seems you've healed quite nicely." She smiled. "Now as for Naruto's rescue mission. We need a cleverly created plan. We need people here and there. I can't take care of all the injured by myself."
"But lady Tsunade! I must be there because what if they hurt Naruto?" Ino questioned frantic. "What if they repeat the same injuries they did Naruko?" Ino frowned, tears streaming down her face.
"Now, now Ino, I'm not going to make you stay here. Shikamaru and Chouji are going with you, Hinata, Neji, Gaara, Kankuro, Sai, and Sasuke." Tsunade explained.
"Where exactly am I going?" Gaara asked as he walked into the room with Kankuro. He blinked noticing that Naruto was missing. He arched an eyebrow. "Where is Naruto?" Gaara inquired. Sasuke frowned averting his gaze the other way, avoiding Gaara's eyes. Ino rubbed her forearm while everyone else just stayed silent. "Lady Tsunade, you said something about a rescue mission. Who's rescue mission exactly because I remember correctly that it was Sakura Haruno that we were supposed to be rescuing."
"We suspect that Sakura has betrayed us considering that Orochimaru is almost healed. We also suspect that she's under some kind of mind control." Gaara nodded slowly. He wasn't convinced that Sakura unwillingly decided to heal Orochimaru. Something must've motivated her. But what happened to Naruto.
"You didn't answer my question." Gaara was beginning to get angry. "What. Happened. To. Naruto."

"Damn it! Haven't you figured it out?" Sasuke lashed out. "He was captured be Orochimaru's henchmen! Karin attacked us and then took Naruto away." Sasuke was breathing heavily now, angry with himself. Angry with Gaara for asking stupid questions, and angry with Karin for blinding them with pain. Gaara clenched his fists before letting out an angry growl, using his sand power on Sasuke pinning him to the wall.
"You let them take Naruto away!" Gaara cried. Kankuro and Hinata tried stopping the red head.
"G-Gaara! P-Please stop this. It wasn't Sasuke's fault!" She cried, wrapping her arms around Gaara's waist.
"Yeah, Gaara, don't jump to crazy conclusions like that!" Kankuro said, putting a hand on Gaara's shoulder.
"Naruto... Naruto is okay." Hinata said, breathing heavily, using her foresight to see into the future. "He's not injured but he is unconscious." Gaara relaxed, his sand retracting back into the large container he wears on his back.
"Your lucky this time, Uchiha, but next time you won't be so lucky." Gaara growled, staring into the demon's eyes with so much wrath.
"Gaara..." Hinata frowned, before fainting and falling into Neji's arms.
"What happened to Hinata?"
"She forced her self to see into the future." Neji explained. "She knew better than to do such a thing like that but she is correct in the fact that Naruto is unconscious and he has not been hurt." The brunette crossed his arms. "Although, since she forced herself, it may or may not be accurate." A groan was released from Hinata.
"B-Big brother..."
"Are you alright Hinata?" Ino asked. "You shouldn't for yourself for Gaara's uncontrollable anger." Ino sighed. "That was really stupid of you." Kiba sent Ino a glare.
"What she means to say is... It wasn't," Kiba sighed. "Please don't do that again." Hinata chuckled.
"Thank you, Kiba." She looked at Neji who gave her a scolding look. "I'm sorry, brother." She whispered.
"You're lucky nothing became a reality. You know that with our powers it's incredibly dangerous to force a vision." Neji said. Hinata frowned.
"I know, Neji, I'm truly sorry I really am." Hinata replied softly. "I just I want to help save Naruto too. I want to be useful in this rescue mission to save both of them." Neji sighed. She means Sakura too... He thought. How do we know if she's too far gone? If the theory of mind control was true then they are in huge trouble. Unless someone equally powerful could stop the mind control thus saving the person from suffering terribly even though there is someone who could save Sakura but it would mean only one thing.
"Are you nuts?" Ino shrieked. "There has to be another way!" Tsunade shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Ino, there is no other way to save Sakura. Naruto's a different case. He would be used for something different." Ino wiped away the tears that streamed down her face.
"What the hell would that be?" She asked hysterically crying into Sai's shoulder.
"Ino," Sai whispered. "Please try to be cautious with what you say to Lady Tsunade." Ino glared at Sai with red eyes.
"I'm serious what could have possibly happened to Sakura that she couldn't be saved?" Ino asked, sniffling.
"Mind control." A voice joined in. Tsunade looked at Kakashi who merely had his hands stuffed into his pockets.
"Kakashi. Why are you up? I though you were injured. And don't give me your stupid half-assed excuses because they will not work." Tsunade demanded. Kakashi smiled through his mask.
"Don't worry Tsunade, I'm fully healed." Kakashi brushed off her demanding words. "I was injured but not enough to have me bed ridden." Sasuke snorted and crossed his arms. He'd rather move on with the plan to save Naruto than to go on watching this unneeded, petty argument.
"I think you two should save the arguments because when it comes to Orochimaru we need all the help we can get." Gaara growled before Sasuke could say anything. He nodded along with everyone else in agreement that they needed to stop and think about the task at hand and save Naruto and possible Sakura.
If Sakura has a chance of survival. Sasuke sighed. Sakura had feelings for him he knew enough of that but he thought of them as feelings like a brother and sister should have. That's what Sakura was to him a sister. Just a sister. Sasuke lifted his head when Tsunade began explaining the plans for the rescue of Naruto and Sakura.
"Sasuke, take Shikamaru, Gaara, and Kankuro to where Orochimaru is located. Have Kankuro use his puppets to form a diversion and then you Shikamaru and Gaara go find Naruto and Sakura if Sakura is still with us." Tsunade said, arms crossed.

Sasuke nodded slowly, he pondered about the plan. "How are we going to get there?" Tsunade smiled.
"That's very simple. Sai uses his life-life paintings and takes you there. They stay on the sidelines while you go into the castle." She answered, turning to Sai. "Sai, I have a different plan for you. I want you Hinata, Neji, and Ino to go with them. The enemy may come to fight and that's where you come in. Ino will be the medic as usual. Ino, you needn't worry because Shizune will come with you."
"Lady Shizune?" Ino asked.
"Yes, she's resting as of right now. I have yet to explain things to her. She knows of Sakura's capture but not Naruto's and she hasn't met him yet either. I want you and her to heal anyone that's injured."
"Right." Ino replied. I can finally be of help! She thought, happily. Tsunade continued to explain things. Everyone had a specific plan and were divided into specific groups.
"If the plan changes so be it. I don't need any casualties so please come back with those two in one piece." Tsunade said. "If you do die though..."
Kiba raised an eyebrow, annoyed with the woman. "What is it?" He asked. Tsunade simply smiled.
"I'll just have a bottle of whine and move on."
"Tsunade!" Everyone cried in unison. Tsunade laughed. Now that everyone knew the plan it was time to prepare. She immediately dismissed them and moved on. Everyone left except for Itachi.
"What are we going to do about Sakura Haruno?" Itachi asked. Tsunade sighed. She shook her head.

"Sakura was a fine student and a fine slayer. She needs more of a break. That girl may truly be under someone's control. We can't just assume things, Itachi." Tsunade replied.
"I know that but what are we going to do when she decides for herself and not just under the control of someone else?" Itachi asked. "I don't see the point of keeping her with the way she is now. I think I should erase her-"
"Itachi, that is enough!" Tsunade commanded, slamming her hand on her desk. Her face was twisted in anger and distress. "I will make a decision and when I decide I will give you the order to do so. Right now, I don't have the right time for it yet. We mustn't jump to that outcome just yet." Tsunade sighed heavily. "Go prepare for battle. It'll be long and harsh definitely." Itachi nodded his head.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
To Be Continued...