The Flight - 8

"You're going to have to wait here for me," Sasuke's voice was low as he gave instructions to Sakura in the treetop they had settled in, "There are only three of them, but it'll take some convincing to get them to allow you along."

"Sasuke-kun, are you…sure about this?" Her eyes were wide with fear. Sakura was quickly beginning to realize how her presence was complicating the situation. Even so, the Uchiha was adamant in keeping her, even at the risk of angering the Oto ninja who had invited him to Sound.

He brushed his lips against her ear, murmuring, "Just keep quiet and stay here. They aren't far off, so I won't be long."

The touch made her shudder, "Alright."

Sasuke moved ahead without her and Sakura remained where she was, staring off into the thick of the echoing forest.

After finally coming upon the waiting Sound shinobi on the forest floor, some quarter mile North of where he had left Sakura, he discovered something rather disconcerting, "What is this?"

Sakon smirked at the slumped-over form of Haku who was being re-bound in webbing by Kidomaru, "Hm? Ah, Orochimaru-sama has also been keeping track of this boy as well, but he chose to be difficult!"

"He shouldn't be here!" Sasuke growled warningly, not pleased they had taken Haku by force. Haku had never been particularly close to him, but Sasuke had never held a quarrel with the boy. His nature was far too docile even for a ninja.

Something made him want to demand they return Haku to Konoha immediately. Not because he wanted to deprive Orochimaru of a secondary prize, but because the absence of Haku in the Leaf village meant his number-one confidants would be hot on his trail, 'If Naruto and Gaara come looking for him it'll lead them straight to me!'

After a moment's silence Sasuke decided to throw caution to the wind and let things resume. It may be good to have one of Sakura's good friends along for the journey even if it was against his will. Haku may be able to keep her company in the event he could not.

"This should do for now." Kidomaru dropped Haku's limp form carelessly back down to the ground, "Little runt! I could've sworn he tried to kick me on the way here, bastard…"

"A fish out of water will always try to flap around." Tayuya commented blandly, "A stupid shit like you should be more cautious."

They turned their attention to Sasuke after dealing with Haku and Sakon spoke again, "We're sorry for our rudeness during out first meeting, Sasuke-sama! As of now we've decided that you will be our leader."

Although Sasuke didn't quite care what they thought of him this news was actually welcome. With them viewing him as a superior, it would give him the proper footing to order that Sakura accompany them, but he stayed silent when Sakon had more to say.

"Also, there is an important message from Orochimaru." Sakon added, restraining a chuckle,

I've been asked to tell you…that you must die once."

"Die once?" Sasuke found the message absurd.

"Enhancement pills: you will need to take these." Sakon held a small bottle up to him containing many small dark pills.

"What do they do, exactly?"

"Your curse seal is at level one," Tayuya informed him from her place to his left, "The pill will forcibly increase your seal to level two."

Sasuke looked back to Sakon, his eyes distrustful as the Oto nin continued, "But at level two the speed at which the seal invades your body will rapidly increase. In that case you would die immediately."

The wind moaned through the trees looming overhead.

"In order to control stage two your body must get accustomed to it over a period of time. If you do that you will be…" Sakon paused for a second, "You will probably be able to gain the same level of power as us. But after the change it will only be a short time until you die..."

"What is the point of this if it kills me?" Sasuke appeared outwardly calm, but his insides were twisting angrily at the thought of meeting his end before he could kill Itachi.

"There is no need to worry, that is why we are here," Sakon assured him, walking up to him, "With our shield techniques we will block the side effects. Instead of dying you will receive the power and be placed in a temporary coma."

"Can I trust your so-called 'shield techniques'?"

"Yes, Sasuke-sama," Kidomaru spoke up, "We are Orochimaru-sama's elite guard! Shields, defense ninjutsu and seal ninjutsu are our forte."

Still, he wasn't about to take their word for it, 'No matter what happens I can't die yet!'

Sakon tilted his head, smirking, "If you're nervous how about we try it out on Haku first?"

Sasuke looked over to Tayuya as she dragged the unconscious boy over to Sakon. Sasuke wondered why they were so rough with Haku while they treated him like a glass-ornament. Sakon force-fed a pill to the dark haired boy and stood back, handing the bottle off to Sasuke, "You next, Sasuke-sama."

The Uchiha watched as Haku struggled for a few moments, his body rejecting the pill's harmful effects. He went limp a minute later and Sasuke looked down at the pill he held in his hand, thinking it over, 'If I'm in a coma then there's no way I can protect Sakura from these three if they choose to give her a hard time…' He had considered mentioning her before taking the pill, but decided against it, 'She'll have to stay behind. I won't risk her getting hurt. I shouldn't have gotten her involved.'

Sasuke also swallowed a pill and at first felt nothing. After a minute he began to succumb to an excruciating sensation that stung every nerve ending he had. He began thrashing; his body was unresponsive. Kidomaru waited patiently for the Uchiha to pass out and caught him before he hit the ground, "How about now, Sakon?"

Sakon had already summoned a large barrel from a scroll in which Tayuya had placed Haku. There was room enough for the both of them and Kidomaru placed Sasuke's unconscious form in as well and then stepped back to help with the sealing.

Though there were only three of them remaining they were still able to effectively seal the barrel, though it cost a great amount of chakra to do it without Jirobo, "Shikokumujin!"

Sakon quickly wrote seals out on several tags before tossing them at the barrel, "Fuukoku Houin!"

After the hurried sealing was completed the three Oto ninja sighed in relief. Now the difficult task of guarding the two Leaf nin was their primary concern. Sakon also suspected that Haku may cause a problem when he awoke with his new level two seal, so it was imperative to keep strict tabs on the boy, while Sasuke was less of a problem since he had come willingly.

Kidomaru hauled the barrel onto his back and followed silently after Sakon and Tayuya.