160 The Flight - 6

Haku put his senbon away, judging that it was about time to return home for rest as Gaara and Naruto had done a bit earlier. They had trained well into the night, improving their techniques in the darkness in the hope it would help sharpen their senses.

Naruto and Gaara had also been putting into action a few battle strategies Haku had come up with. They were surprised to find just how extensively Haku could wield their abilities. Though his teammates seemed content with his plans, Haku was still less confident in his skills than his friends were.

Perhaps that was what was holding him back, he wondered.

'When I second guess myself I waste time; time that we most often don't have on missions…' Haku thought to himself, plucking the last few of his throwing needles from his target, 'I must work harder. I can't afford to hesitate anymore!'

"This must be him, the pretty water-boy Orochimaru-sama spoke of," Kidomaru spoke from behind Haku, setting him on edge, "What's his name? Haku?"

Haku turned about to face the three strange ninja who arrived. He remained quiet while he observed them, trying to gather as much information as he could. Their forehead protectors betrayed their village of origin and immediately he chose not to trust them.

After leaving Sasuke with a word that they were certain would bait the young Uchiha, the Sound ninja had moved on to find Orochimaru's second point of interest. It would be a different matter taking in Haku, though. They had been told that words were far more effective on Haku than force, but it would all be guesswork.

'Orochimaru-sama wants to add another unique Kekkei-Genkai to his collection for studies and experimentation since a power like this is so incredibly rare, however…' Sakon frowned inwardly, 'We hardly know anything about this boy: what he wants…what he aspires to…it will be difficult to feed him sweet words when we don't know what strikes his fancy. Indeed, this task he has appointed us with will be more difficult than dealing with Sasuke.'

"Sound ninja should know better than to set foot in this village at a time like this," Haku warned, narrowing his eyes threateningly, "I advise you leave before I make you do so."

"Hear us out then, before we go," Kidomaru suggested smoothly, "We've only come here to talk, Haku."

"Orochimaru sent you?" The dark haired boy confirmed, "I have no business with him. Don't waste your time on me."

"But you stand to gain so much by joining Orochimaru-sama," Sakon offered, smirking at Haku, "Sasuke-kun realized that after we spoke to him and he had no objections." Haku's eyes widened, "What do you think?"

"I think Sasuke has made some bad decisions before, this being just one more of them," The water nin replied, "I don't know what you told him but I'm sure it was far from the truth."

"We are messengers of the truth, you stupid shit! Only an ignorant fool would choose to ignore us!" Tayuya was fed up with Haku's reluctance, "We were told you're a hindrance to your team you're so weak! A waste of time like you should seize an opportunity like this to gain power!"

Sakon feared that Tayuya's angered outburst may have killed their chances of baiting Haku.

"I was once told there's no shortcut to power worth taking," Haku's resolve was firm, "I don't want anything to do with Orochimaru. I'll train with my team to get stronger, I prefer it that way." He glared at the Oto nin ahead of him, "Now if you're through, I suggest you leave immediately."

After a short silence, Kidomaru grinned, "There was…one last order given to us before we set out, if I recall…"

Haku felt something in his gut advising him to flee, but he refused to make himself look like a coward in front of enemy shinobi, 'I'm through with running!'

"Orochimaru-sama warned us that you may make a fuss after hearing our offer," Sakon explained smugly, "So in that event…we were ordered to use force if you're unwilling to cooperate."

Haku reached for his senbon but was knocked backwards. Tayuya attacked suddenly with a note on her flute that made him completely disoriented. Hastily he made an ice mirror and positioned it in front of him to shield from their sound attacks.

Sakon smirked at the move, 'Pretty clever! But this won't take long. Orochimaru-sama said he's no stronger than Sasuke-kun!' He countered Haku's senbon with his own, distracting the dark haired boy from the spider webs raining down over him.

Kidomaru laughed from his place in a nearby tree as Haku began to struggle in the webbing, finding it impossible to cut. Tayuya and Sakon attacked together, landing two brutal kicks to the back of the trapped nin's head and gut.

Haku toppled over helplessly and Kidomaru reeled him in like a trapped fish with his netting, "So what do you propose we do about this one? Since he isn't coming willingly he'll be a burden. It'll make it more difficult to get him to Sound."

"Orochimaru-sama is aware of that," Sakon replied dryly, "That's why he's sending us assistance once we are outside the boundaries of this village. The faster we move the sooner we can deliver this brat."

Tayuya smirked sinisterly, "Another little science experiment for Orochimaru-sama! This little bitch will go nicely in that tank next to Suigetsu. Now we'll have a complete aquarium!"

Kidomaru found it amusing how she referred to all ninja with water Kekkei Genkai as fish. He handed the webbing off to her, "Since you're so enthusiastic then you won't mind carrying him first then, eh?"

Tayuya punched him full in the face before pulling Haku's cocoon over her shoulder.

*

Sasuke stalked past the ninja Academy soundlessly in the cool night air. It hadn't taken him very long to make his decision.

After returning home he had packed what few possessions he deemed necessary and turned over the photograph of his team, unable to look at their careless, cheerful faces.

There was no point in wasting time. He left without a second thought, pulling his bag over his shoulder and not sparing a backwards glance at his home. His village. His friends. Everything he had ever known he was casting away.

And when Sakura came around the corner wearing a suspicious expression he noted that he may not have cast aside everything just yet.

She paused, observing him for a long moment, "You said that maybe you'd see me later, though, by later I didn't think it meant this late."

"It was the maybe part you should have been listening to." He continued walking, trying to be nonchalant.

Sakura noted the backpack he had with him and added it to his curious decision to be on his own late at night. It made her feel nervous. It reminded her of earlier when she had been speculating if he may believe the answers he was seeking resided in Sound. Kiba had convinced her otherwise, but now she felt doubtful.

"Someone who's leaving the village has to take this road first." The pink haired girl mentioned quietly.

Sasuke walked past her and she felt tears stinging at her eyes. She understood now that her instincts had been right and that maybe she could've done more to prevent what was happening.

"Why does it have to be this way? Why are you doing this?" Sakura turned around to face him, crying openly, "I thought we were dependent on each other…and yet you're still doing this!"

"The only way I can get stronger is if I move past this place. It's holding me back." Sasuke answered, his hands hidden in his pockets, "I walk a different path now, one that few others follow."

"You're hurting yourself this way! Choosing to be alone again; I won't accept that!" She shook her head as tears slipped down her cheeks, "I promised you that I'd never let anything bad happen to you! How can I if you leave?"

"We were children, then." His chest felt heavy, much to his astonishment. The memory hurt because it held so much meaning and it was a memory that wasn't about to vanish. Sakura would be the hardest thing to let go of.

"But promises never age and I…" Sakura felt her voice catch in her throat and the words she wanted to say died on her tongue, "Please! Just stay. Or if that's not possible, then…then take me with you! I'll help you in any way I can! I won't break my promise!"

Sasuke remained silent.

Her frustrated cries continued, "Please! I need to know that you won't become Orochimaru's pawn. I'll help you with your revenge…so just…"

The silence of the place frightened Sakura. The moon dipped in and out of passing clouds, blinking light down on them. The tears were slowing but she knew there was nothing else she had to give by way of words. If there was anything more she had to offer she'd soon be defeated.

"My goals in this life are to kill Itachi for what he's done and to restore my clan. Neither is easy to do…" Finally he turned back to look at her, "Should I succeed in destroying Itachi…I want you to marry me and help me rebuild my clan, Sakura."

The pink haired girl was stunned by what he had said. She figured that his request was also an invitation for her to come along but she wasn't certain. Suddenly her mind was thrown back into very simple methods of communication. No intelligent phrases came to her lips, so she waited until something coherent surfaced.

"Do you accept?"

The offer had much pending, she knew, but by passing it up Sakura knew that would be a betrayal of his trust. There was no other girl in his life, she realized. He was still dependent on her even if he wouldn't admit it. There was a word on her mouth so she decided to use it.

"Yes."

It was quiet again. Sasuke stood there waiting; his face calm, but she could see the faintest of traces of relief in his eyes. Sakura hoped that would be enough to hold them together. She knew what was happening was wrong but fighting against it was futile.

Her feet started moving and she came to stand beside him, wordless and overwhelmed. So this was the toll she had to pay. If she was going to stop him from making catastrophic choices she would have to trade him her future. Sakura had not truly been ready to do it.

Once Sasuke started walking again she made sure to follow. She had no idea where they were going or how they would survive.