Separate Ways
When it comes to travel, single shinobi are essentially required to do so with just the clothes on their backs and anything they can fit in their pockets. Sakura was no stranger to this.
She and her teammates took turns on the lookout during the night. This would be her opportunity. Sakura waited until she knew for certain that everybody was asleep before she made a move. Even then, she couldn’t help but worry.
“Naruto?” She called gently. Testing him. She waited but received no reply. “Naruto,” she repeated. This time a bit more sternly. Urging him this time.
Naruto said nothing.
Sakura let out a breath before finally getting up from where she sat. If she was lucky, she’d be able to make it some distance before Kakashi inevitably noticed she was gone.
The air was stale. Sakura could tell they were some distance from the Hidden Leaf. The question now was where she would go next. It wouldn’t make sense to go back, but she wasn’t the one with the map. Sakura’s only option was to make her way ahead of her team in the same direction. Once she reached the Sand Village, she’d be able to map out her surroundings more easily.
With her goal in mind, Sakura started on her way as swiftly and quietly as possible. At least as much as she could in the dead of night. Luckily for her, the moon was bright. It offered at least enough light that she could see a few feet ahead. It wasn’t much, frustratingly so, but Sakura could work with what she had.
For a time, Sakura moved ahead in complete silence, save for the wind rushing past her. Ahead was a clearing surrounding a particularly tall tree. Sakura let out a breath as she slowed in her approach.
Sakura leapt from branch to branch, scaling the largest tree until she reached the canopy. Moonlight filtered down onto her face from the gaps between tufts of leaves. She paused and held her breath as she looked behind her.
There was no sign of Kakashi or Naruto. Sakura’s defensive stance dropped after a moment of waiting for nobody. She couldn’t help but stare. Sakura shook her head clear before continuing on her way. If she stopped now, she wouldn’t make it to the desert before sunrise.
She couldn’t help but shiver as she approached the desert border. A creeping sense of dread washed over her like a low tide. Sakura stopped immediately under the little cover of green that still existed.
“What’s the matter?” A taunting voice called. “You look lost, yeah?”
Sakura looked up in front of her, following the source of the voice. A strange person in a black and red oak riding a large white bird. Each beat of its massive wings was ominously silent.
“It isn’t like a ninja of the Leaf to abandon their post,” the stranger said. Their tone was snide. “Are you feeling lucky?”
“You’re one of the Akatsuki,” Sakura observed. “What are you doing here?”
The stranger tutted. “Now now, I asked you first, yeah?”
Sakura scoffed before the stranger repeated their question.
“What are you doing out here all alone? You abandoned your team, yeah?”
Sakura’s mouth was dry as she stared up at the cloaked figure. Under the darkness of night all she could make from their silhouette were shimmering wisps of blond hair.
“You’d better answer fast before I get bored, yeah,” the stranger threatened. Despite the edge to their voice, they still wore an audible smile.
Sakura nodded. She kept her eyes fixed on who she was certain was her opponent.
“So, you’re alone then, yeah?”
Sakura nodded again. She kept herself tensed and ready to move at a moment’s notice.
“Oh, good. You’re willing to be honest with me, too. That’ll make this a lot easier so let cut to the chase, yeah? You’re the girl who runs around with that Naruto brat. The jinchuriki.”
Sakura wasn’t in a position to lie. At least, she couldn’t see a positive outcome in doing so.
“Yes.” She nodded again. An unmistakable venom in her tone.
“No need to be so hard on me, yeah?” The blond sneered. “There are two ways we could go about this. Either the two of us could fight it out, you with no backup to speak of, and you lose. Or you give up without a fight and I let you live. But regardless of what you choose, you’re coming with me.”
Sakura clenched her fist. She could feel her pulse pounding. She looked around, taking a passing glance back in the direction she’d come from. Up above them, the sky was brightening.
“Tick-tock, girl.” The stranger outstretched their hand, offering to hoist her up onto the back of their white bird. The mouth on their palm grinned.
Sakura winced at the sight. She huffed before leaping onto the back of the animal herself. She didn’t make eye contact with the stranger as the two of them wordlessly lifted off.