Here comes Team 7! Hope you enjoy the first part of the first quest!

Chapter LXXI

Four warriors, chosen by the Fates,
To venture deep into tunnels unknown,
Not knowing what therein awaits,
What horrors over time have grown,
Three seek to mend old bonds, broken,
Three weeks to undo the damage done,
Upon closed ears are their words spoken,
Until truth is found and lies are shunned.

"The binding contract for Uchiha Sasuke," Homura announced, "is as follows."

Sasuke stood before a sturdy oak table in the Contract-sealing room, the walls of which were flanked with lines of shelves holding countless types of rolled, binding scrolls. Suigetsu shifted impatiently on his feet beside him. Their chakra-negating restraints were still active, and Sasuke's wrists burned from the need to be rid of them, to have full control of his body and abilities once again.

All four of the High Councillors were stationed around the table, upon which was laid out a piece of parchment. The ANBU guards had remained outside in the courtroom. Sasuke's hawk-like eyes carefully scanned each line of the contract he was about to sign in blood, to ensure that there were no hidden, unpleasant surprises contained within the clauses.

"I, Sasuke of the Clan Uchiha, King and Lord of the Underworld and the Dead, do give my solemn vow to abide by blood and honour the terms of this contract as follows," Homura formally recited from the scroll. "One: That I pledge an oath, in blood, to journey hitherto for the duration of one and twenty surface days, in the company of Hatake Kakashi, Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura, for the purpose of retrieving the sacred relics scattered by Namikaze Minato across the globe, and vow to offer my assistance, through use of my abilities in any way as is deemed necessary and required, for the successful undertaking and completion of this mission."

"What a fucking mouthful," Suigetsu muttered to himself. "You guys don't mince your words, do you?" At Chiyo's censuring look, he rolled his eyes and fell quiet once more.

"Two," Homura continued, ignoring the ocean deity's sarcastic jibe. "That I pledge an oath, in blood, to keep sentry over, ensure the physical welfare and the safe return of Haruno Sakura, and to lend my assistance, to the best of my abilities and in any way that is deemed necessary, to act as her ward and protect her from harm for the full duration of this quest."

Suigetsu smirked at Sasuke in amusement. Sasuke ignored him.

"Three: That I pledge an oath, by blood, to remain in the company of Team Seven for the full duration of one and twenty days. At no point am I permitted to abandon them, without honouring the completion of the quest to assist them in obtaining all four sacred relics.

Fourth: That I pledge, by oath of blood, to do no harm to the relics, to make no attempt to destroy them, and to offer all assistance within my power as required for their retrieval; to ensure that they are deposited into safe hands as to allow the unsealing of the surface gods' abilities."

One corner of Sasuke's lips curled up to form a faint, derisive sneer. A pity such a clause had been included, but it was to be expected. To ensure he could, at no point, rebel against his punishment.

"Fifth: That I pledge, by oath of blood, to make no attempt to terminate the lives of my team-mates at any point on the quest."

Sasuke almost snorted at that. They were clearly afraid of him, and did not trust him. They had every reason to be afraid.

"Sixth: That I pledge, by oath of blood, to offer no further assistance to Uchiha Madara and any of his allies, and to have no further involvement in his plans to partake in bringing harm upon the surface, humanity and the surface gods."

Suigetsu sniggered slyly. "They've sure got your ass on a tight leash, huh?" he communicated under his breath.

Sasuke ignored him once again, as Homura finished, "And Seventh: That I pledge an oath of blood, that upon the completion of this quest, I will return to these premises when summoned on the twenty-third surface day hence, following a day of reprieve in which I am to return to the Underworld to oversee the affairs of my Kingdom, in order to serve out the end of my sentence: five surface days in solitary, restrained confinement, during which period I agree to relinquish all use of my powers, all my assets and adornments, as imposed by the High Court of the Gods. These oaths I pledge to honour in blood, and upon the completion of these terms, my crimes will be formally pardoned by the High Court."

"Consider yourself fortunate, Uchiha, to be offered a chance of pardon at all," Danzo remarked, open disapproval weighing heavily in his words.

Sasuke stared coldly at him, unflinching, as the heavily-bandaged High Councillor moved to prick his thumb. His eyes lowered curiously onto the bandages of Danzo's right arm. Without his Sharingan, he was unable to discern anything amiss. The small puncture needle to his skin was driven in deeper than necessary, causing blood to well up fast enough to overflow and drip down his thumb. He glared at Danzo for his carelessness as the elder god stepped nonchalantly back. Then his eyes lowered to rest upon the seal that awaited his signature in blood.

This was it, he knew. The point at which there could be no turning back. He had resigned himself to the sentence, knowing that he had no choice in the matter. Wanting only to get it all over with as quickly as possible - so that he could make a point of reminding them all that they had meddled with the wrong deity.

Lifting his onyx gaze back to the High Councillors, he blinked, inwardly fuming over having to assist his enemies, even as his face remained chillingly blank, and then pressed his thumb down against it, feeling an immediate, searing heat travel along his arm as the binding contract was activated.

The scroll was removed from the table, rolled up and secured by Koharu. Homura unrolled another, and as Suigetsu's contract was read out aloud next, Sasuke's eyes slipped discreetly to Chiyo, simmering with silent fury and accusation; the indignation of one who felt he had been grossly wronged.

'You,' he telepathically communicated to her hatefully, uncertain whether she could hear him or not due to the chakra barriers erected within the building, but hoping, somehow, that she would anyway. 'You are no different to any of them.'

Her dark eyes held his levelly. Just when he began to think that she had not heard him after all, her response echoed in his mind.

'You are mistaken, young Sasuke. I handed the nymph the poison, not with the intention to betray or hurt you - but because it was as it has been foreseen to be. Everything is unfolding precisely as intended. I gave you no poison I could not reverse - only one that lasted long enough for Sakura to know of Suigetsu's true intentions. She was never going to escape your Kingdom with him. Do you truly believe I would have allowed her to be taken to the seas…? The child would have surely perished, and he has not the means to save her as you do. I am on your side, as your brother Itachi entreated me to be. Though I know - you will not yet accept this.'

Rage flared within him, roaring like a furnace, as Sasuke angrily severed the contact, not wishing to hear another word from her.

After the binding contracts had been completed, the defendants departed the High Council building - Suigetsu, accompanied by ANBU guards, to return Samehada and spend a day in B's company from immediate effect, and Sasuke, to prepare for the start of his travels the next day. Danzo returned to his private study and settled into the plush chair beside the fireplace, considering his meeting with the youngest Uchiha.

There was no telling what abilities the Underworld ruler's Sharingan possessed, but he guessed that Sasuke had to possess the Mangekyo in its most advanced, stable state, at the very least. He propped his right arm upon the arm-rest, and ran the fingers of his left hand over the tightly secured bandages as he stared into the flickering flames.

Sasuke had been just as proud, insolent and arrogant as expected of an Uchiha. More brooding and impatient in temper than his calm-natured older brother and cousin had been, certainly. He radiated a dark aura of danger and malicious, killing intent that had been apparent even with restricting binds placed upon him. An aura not so much unlike Madara's own. He was clearly a menace to their safety, a threat that could not be trusted and needed to be neutralised at the earliest possibility.

He would need his ocular assets to assist the surface gods in the unsealing of their powers. But following that…

A respectful knock on the door reached his ears.

"Enter," Danzo instructed gruffly.

The door was pushed open and he heard quiet footsteps approach him as they fell upon the rich, burgundy-hued carpet.

"Sir," An ANBU soldier greeted, coming to a stop behind his chair.

Danzo blinked. His ANBU were stealthy. They could remain unseen, if desired. He had afforded them the power to do so - and so he knew they were capable of carrying out his bidding completely undetected.

He lifted an expectant hand. "Have you what I asked for…?"

The masked ANBU unrolled the tightly wound parchment in his hand, and handed it to his superior.

Danzo's lips curved into a slight, satisfied smile, when his eye came to rest upon the splash of blood that had been successfully transferred above the seal on the binding contract before him.

"I don't need fucking human chaperones," Suigetsu glowered at the troupe of ANBU who had been sent to escort him to Olympus's base. "You can tell your creepy-ass leader we've arrived. Now get lost."

He was in a foul mood. To go through all that he had, only to be compelled to return his most prized possession, Samehada, to the Eight-tailed beast host at the end of it all? There was no justice in the world, Suigetsu sulked to himself.

Still, of the two of them, he knew that Sasuke had it so much worse. He was having to assist the very people he hated the most with unlocking their abilities. Suigetsu felt a little bit better, envisaging Sasuke's absolute misery on the quest. Twenty-one days of pure suffering, with loud-mouthed Naruto for company. Asshole, Suigetsu thought resentfully to himself, hating that the cunning death deity had managed to secure his services and dupe him out of the very same sword he had offered to him - whether intentionally or not. At least, once he handed over the sword and served his day, Suigetsu could put the whole unpleasant ordeal quickly behind him.

That was, until he had to lend Team Seven his precious sea horses. His expression soured even further.

The ANBU came to a stop as Suigetsu approached the base of the mountain. Sure enough, Killer B was waiting for him, seated upon the remains of fallen pillars. He gestured animatedly at the sight of the ocean's king.

"Yo! Look! It's totally cool! You brought back one of the idiot fools!" he crowed.

"Shut up," Suigetsu threw a cutting glance at him. "If you're gonna spend the whole day spitting out those shitty excuses of bars, I'll just hack my own ears off right now." He seemed to reconsider, before adding snarkily, "Or maybe I'll just cut out your fucking tongue. The binding contract didn't say anything about not doing that…"

"Fool!" B pointed. "Don't talk to things you can't afford! Hurry up and hand over my sword! Oh yeaaah!"

Suigetsu glared at him. Of all the absolute idiots he had to be shackled with-! His ears were going to bleed by the time the day was done.

"Hey, moron! Hold my cup!" He lifted the water container he had brought with him. "How about you shut the fuck up?!" He rudely mocked the Jinchūriki's pathetic attempts to rap.

"Wooohaaaa!" B jumped to his feet, and pointed at Suigetsu appreciatively, delighted at his sarcastic rhyme. "That's how it goes! You're gonna keep me on my toes!"

Suigetsu internally groaned. The ANBU, he realised in irritation, were going to remain in place to ensure his sentence was carried out fully and without rebellion. He rolled his eyes and reached behind his back, hoisting the mighty blade out of the straps that had secured it in place. Holding it out in front of him, he took a moment to mourn its loss. He had gotten used to wielding Samehada, had come to relish the way it felt to use it in battle, and the wealth of impressive abilities it afforded.

"Well," he murmured to the sword, running his hand affectionately up the side of the bandaged blade. He felt it hum in response to his familiar touch and chakra, as alive as always. "It's been real, Samehada. Too bad I have to give you back to this rapping loser. You really belong with the ocean-gods, you know that?"

Looking away, with great difficulty he reluctantly brought himself to hold out the hilt, disgruntled and unhappy as B gripped it and took hold of his sword once more.

"Ohhh yeah! Look at that! My precious sword Samehada's back!" He exclaimed happily.

A pouting Suigetsu moved to take a seat on one of the rocks nearby. Sitting grumpily upon it, he rested a hand upon his cheek sullenly, and began the long day's task of guarding Olympus in B's tiresome company.

Sasuke walked quietly through the Asphodel Meadows, ensuring none of the spirits that dwelled there were disturbed by his presence. He was lost in the whirlpool of his own thoughts, bitter, angry, frustrated and discontent following the outcome of the trial and the binding contract ceremony. The High Council had permitted him to return to his Kingdom in order to make final preparations ahead of his three-week long departure. The next day, he would be forced to go to the surface, and his twenty-one day sentence would begin.

He had borne the trial with as much pride as he had been able to muster. But the entire experience had been utterly humiliating. He was fuming. At the surface gods. At Sakura for trying to omit details of his crimes. At her pitying him, as her mother had stated. At the High Council. At Suigetsu, for opening his mouth about what he had seen take place in the Underworld. At Chiyo. At everyone.

He was alone. He had been alone since the day his clan had perished. He had no brother, no mother, no sister, no cousin, no father, no friend. He had only subjects who respected and feared him. There was nobody he could turn to, to vent his internal frustrations. Even Chiyo, the one person who had acted almost as his mentor over the countless centuries, had kept things hidden from him. There was nobody he could trust, that had not already stabbed him in the back. And so, he kept everything bottled inside, where feelings ate away at him, gnawing and chewing and festering into deeply rooted bitterness, anger and hate. Hate toward those who had done him wrong. And hatred towards himself, for his glaring mistakes which had led to his present circumstances, for his own foolish weaknesses. Hatred for feeling anything at all, where he had vowed, upon ascending his damned throne, that he would never feel anything again.

A frown marred his handsome features. Three weeks in the presence of Kakashi and the absolute, unbearable idiot that was Naruto. Three weeks protecting the very same girl who had conspired with another deity, in secret, to betray him. She had been in contact with Suigetsu all along, for almost the full duration of her stay in his Kingdom. It was Suigetsu who had encouraged her to bridge the gap between them, for the sole purpose of stealing Kusanagi away. She had perhaps not followed his precise directions - but she had gone about the plan in her own way, playing it smarter. And Sasuke had failed to see it. His defences had lowered. He had allowed himself to be drawn in.

There were the results of his own actions, he knew. Sakura perhaps never would have gone through with the plan, had he not betrayed her trust with the seeds, first. Her words were correct: her actions had been justified in that regard. He had long since accepted that. But to think that she had faked an interest in his world… that it had all been a charade of sorts, despite what she had tried to argue. He could not deny that it stung. And he despised that it still did.

He would not allow himself to be drawn in this time, he told himself firmly. The Curse seal upon him made the need to keep distance even more imperative. Orochimaru could track him at any point along the way. He would have minimal contact with Sakura - only what was absolutely required to ensure her safety.

At length, his walking carried him to Lethe's riverbank. Would that he could forget, he internally rued, as he gazed upon its glistening surface. He wished that he could drink from it, as mortals did, and wash away all the memories he did not want. The thought gave him pause. Made him recall Ino's words to him. There was already clearly so much he could not remember of his past. Of Kore. But why? Who had ensured he would forget? Why seek to do so? And where did his brother and Shisui tie into it all?

He had no answers, of course. His hand slipped into the supplies pouch at his waist, retrieving the glossy black feather Chiyo had given to him. He stared at it, the corners of his lips tilting downwards, as if willing it to answer him. As if he could, somehow, by looking hard enough, will his brother back into existence, to answer every question, every uncertainty that was ripping him to shreds inside.

"Why…?" he whispered to the silky feather. "Why did you…?" He broke off, sucking in a sharp breath, as he suddenly detected the faintest remnants of his brother's chakra within it - the first time in over two thousand years. It was fleeting - but unmistakeable, and sent a zig-zag of pain bolting straight through Sasuke's heart. His eyes stung, and outrage exploded within him once more, horrified that he had to blink the tears back, that he even had any left to spend on his deceased brother's memory. It seemed he was just as much a naive fool as he had been the night Itachi had betrayed him. Still clinging onto the slightest hope of discovering the truth. As if there was more truth to be found. As if there was more to Itachi's actions than the treachery his own eyes had shown him.

"Sasuke," Chiyo's voice spoke gently behind him, almost causing Sasuke's fingers to close over and crush the feather reflexively. He stopped himself at the final moment, tore the anguish off his features, before he slipped the feather back into the pouch, and turned rigidly around to face the goddess. His eyes were colder than winter. He had nothing to say to her.

She regarded him steadily. "You are most displeased with me, I can see it," she sighed wearily. "Even though I have made it clear, my actions were in no way designed to cause you hurt. I promised Itachi I would protect you."

"Stop." The words escaped his lips in an angry tumble, before he could keep them in check. "Stop saying his name."

Chiyo leaned against her staff and peered up at him. "You feel alone, I think, and that there is nobody to whom you can turn."

Sasuke was somewhat silently unnerved. She could not read his thoughts - and yet had seemed to do precisely that. His face remained a blank slate, as she continued, "Perhaps, however, you are not so alone as you believe. It has become apparent that there are many things you do not remember. This quest and time with Naruto and Kakashi, may afford you an opportunity to shed truths on that - to fill in any gaps you do not recall."

He did not wish to hear her counsel. He knew she would not answer any of his questions. He saw no point in conversing with her about anything.

"Watch my Kingdom," he uttered icily, as Alastor, whom he had left behind in the fields, trotted up to them at his silent, telepathic command. Sasuke mounted his stallion in one fluid movement, gripping the reins tightly in his hands.

"Rest assured, your Kingdom will be safe in my custody," Chiyo nodded. "Take care while on your quest, Sasuke. You will need to trust those in your company - your team. For the road ahead is no easy one. It is perilous indeed."

Sasuke angled a stoic look down at her. Trust in the useless excuse of a team he was forced, by blood, to accompany, to complete a task he would have sooner traded his own arm for, than allowing himself to ever assist in? A contemptuous sneer tugged at one corner of his lips.

"I will serve the sentence. Nothing more," he responded, his tone brittle. "They are not my 'team'."

Chiyo released a quiet sigh. "Be that as it may - before you depart, the girl will need the sword she left behind. The metal of your realm is stronger than that forged on the surface. The blade she wields will need to hold."

"..." Sasuke's eyes narrowed at that. Then he wordlessly tugged on Alastor's reins and rode away.

Sakura checked her supplies one final time. She had collected everything she believed was necessary for the trip - spare changes of clothing, a towel, a sleeping bag, a medical kit, water bottles and snacks, a toothbrush, toothpaste and other basic toiletries to keep herself clean, a flashlight, spare batteries, a sewing-kit, nail-clipper, some money to shop for additional supplies and to wash clothes along the way, and chakra orbs. Had she forgotten anything else essential? She hoped not. Zipping up the backpack, she lifted it, wincing. It was heavier than she would have liked, but that couldn't be helped. She supposed she was about to get even fitter and more toned, lugging such a bag around for three weeks.

"Don't forget your hairbrush," Ino, beside her, passed her a compact brush. Her best friend was staying the night, and Sakura was glad for it. "Just because you're going on a dangerous quest, doesn't mean you can't look super hot while kicking ass."

Sakura grinned, packing it away into one of the side pockets. She set her chakra orb arm-bracers on top of it, and rubbed her eyes. The last items would be her cell-phone, watch and charger. She wondered if there'd be any opportunities to power up her phone along the way at all. Surely they would make stops in populated towns along the way? She'd pored over the quest map with Naruto and Kakashi earlier and recalled seeing the villages holding the relics. But she didn't know how modernised some of the more remote locations on the map were.

"Well," she sighed. "I guess that's it…"

Ino rose from the rug they'd been seated on, and plopped onto Sakura's bed. "Come sit," she patted the space beside her.

Sakura joined her.

"I need to tell you something," Ino began abruptly, prompting her best friend to tilt her head curiously. "When I woke up in the Underworld, Sasuke was there with Chiyo."

Sakura felt her stomach twist, uncertain as to where Ino was heading with the conversation. Ino laced her fingers together. "It's like you said. He doesn't… remember, Sakura. I mean, the past. Something's… happened to make him forget. I don't know what," she said truthfully. "And I don't know exactly what his involvement was in terms of your poisoning and original kidnapping. What I said... it was an assumption. He couldn't even defend himself when I..." she broke off, looked up at the ceiling, and bit her lower lip for a moment, before continuing hesitantly, "I'm telling you this because… I know my powers are no longer active. But that doesn't mean I don't still know a thing or two about matters of the heart. I know when a spark is there. And when there isn't. And it makes no sense... and your mother won't like it... but I think Sasuke... does care. About keeping you safe, at least. And I think... though it's stupid and foolish of you, given everything that's happened... that maybe you care about him, too."

Sakura was stunned. Ino hated Sasuke. Where was this admission coming from?

Ino's slender right hand reached out to take Sakura's left one gently. Her voice dropped low. "Sakura. I don't know everything that went on in the Underworld between you and him. I wish you'd been more open with me about it from the start. I know you were afraid, though. Because of what he is, because of what he's done. But I saw the way you looked at him when those ANBU soldiers began handling him roughly."

Sakura remembered leaping to her feet. The alarm she'd felt seeing Sasuke being dragged by chakra strings. Her body had moved unthinkingly.

"Maybe you haven't come to terms yet with what you're feeling exactly, but like I said, I recognise connections," Ino went on. "And with you two... it isn't just because you're tied to his world. And here's the thing. Just because you are, that doesn't mean you have to accept him. Your heart is free to give to whoever you want." She met her best friend's green eyes. "I want you to understand that. He doesn't have a right to it just because of some past you had together. Or because of some seeds you ate. Okay? Your heart is yours to give to the person you want to have it. And sometimes… we can't help who we have feelings for, even despite our better sense of judgement. Even if everyone warns us otherwise."

Sakura swallowed. The point Ino was making to her was as clear as day.

"I want you to decide who you give your heart to, and I want whoever it is to be worthy of you. Don't let anyone ever make that decision for you. Not me, not your mother… you do what you feel is right. All I know is, Hades hurt you in the past by leaving you behind. You didn't know why he did it. And until you both remember exactly what happened between you and to you, who are we to fill in the gaps for you guys?" She shook her head. "I used to think love was a game. Maybe that's why it's been so hard for me to find the real deal. I used to challenge myself to make the craziest matches. It was something I could control, so I manipulated it. I gave Sasuke a piece of my mind, but I'm part of the reason this all happened to you, too. I first pointed Hades out to you at that festival. But you... you fell in love all on your own.

I've been thinking about it a lot, lately. How he's stepped in to save you so many times. He didn't do it for us. He hates us. He did it for you. Even after you hurt him. Sakura… I don't know him all that well. None of us do… other than Naruto. And there has to be a reason he holds onto Sasuke so tightly, and still defends him, right?"

"Ino, you…" Sakura breathed, astonished at the emotional maturity her best friend was displaying. Her best friend, who, by her own admission, had often thought of love as little more than a game.

"I'm not defending Sasuke's actions. He's a total jerk. I hate what he's done to you, now and in the past, and he has a lot of making up to do for me to even think of him as decent or worthy of you on any level. But you're about to travel with him for three whole weeks. Maybe… maybe you can find a way to get him on our side. He's clearly not working with Cronus, right? Then we need all the help we can get - and if, through you, we can somehow get him to cooperate… then all the better chances we stand of wiping Cronus out for good. Cronus won't stop until he destroys us all. He made that so clear. The hatred in his eyes, Sakura..." Ino shuddered. "He has to be stopped. And if we could get Sasuke to work with us…"

"Get him to cooperate?" Sakura shook her head dubiously. "He blames the surface gods for his family's deaths, too. He thinks I'm a liar, Ino. He thinks I lied about wanting to know more about the Underworld and about him during my time there. He thinks I faked everything. I started… to see different sides to him." She admitted. "But that was before I poisoned him. Now I feel like… he'd never believe me no matter what I say to him. Even though he doesn't have the right to be mad at me. I wouldn't have had to do any of what I did, if he'd just have let me go, and told me the truth about the seeds."

"Forehead," Ino gave her a measuring look. "Do you want him to be on our side?"

Sakura did. More than anything else, she just wished everyone could get along. Cronus, after all, was the true, real threat and enemy to them all.

"Yes," she answered quietly, honestly. "I do."

"Then make it happen."

"You make it sound so easy," Sakura said incredulously. "I hurt him, Ino."

"And he still cares, despite that. It is easy. I'm sure you can find some way to get through to him, to make him listen." She shrugged. "We could use him on our side. Because if he were to stand against us, Cronus becomes even more dangerous."

Sakura sighed. She knew Ino was right - and her own worries about Sasuke's Curse seal were still swimming around in her mind. Working with Cronus, Sasuke would be a lethal adversary. They couldn't let that happen. "I'll try," she offered, though she didn't hold out much hope of being able to make any kinds of amends in her relationship with Sasuke. They were too damaged, already. Their foundation, the way in which they had gotten to know each other, had all been so wrong. So unnatural. There were so many issues to address, so many wounds that needed healing. Where could she start?

She had three weeks. Three weeks out in the open with him, where they weren't on his terrain. Where she could be more free, and herself, in Naruto and Kakashi's reassuring company.

Maybe things would be different. Maybe, she could try to help Naruto get through to Sasuke.

"When I was on Olympus," Ino confided softly, "I thought I was going to die. I couldn't see myself surviving Cronus. And you know what all I could think about was, Sakura?" Her blue eyes welled with tears. "All I could think about was the things I wouldn't be able to do. Like protect you. Like find real love for myself, instead of making matches for others. I just had so many regrets and…" she took a deep breath, gripping her best friend's hand more tightly. "I don't want you to have any. This is your final life. You deserve to find happiness. Whatever that looks like for you. Whoever it is. That's what I want for you. It's all I ever wanted. For you to be happy - and free."

"My mother thinks he's like Cronus," Sakura whispered, her eyes lowering sadly. "But Ino, he's done some terrible things because of me, but he's not a monster. He lost everything in the war. I just can't believe that he'd ever side with our enemies, or let them control him."

"You have three weeks with him," Ino said simply.

Sakura met her gaze, and understood.

[Next Surface Day]

Naruto stared anxiously out the window. It was five thirty in the late afternoon, and he'd spent the last few hours on edge, constantly peeping through the glass in anticipation. He was dressed and ready to go in a burnt-orange puffer jacket, a dark grey, long sleeved turtle-neck top and black, knee-length combat shorts with twin orange stripes that ran down the sides of the material. His lower legs were concealed by dark grey leggings worn beneath the shorts. On his feet were black and orange sneakers, and fingerless, dark-grey biker gloves protected his hands. Strapped to his back were twin katana swords he had selected as his choice of weapons, and at his waist was an essential supplies pouch. His blond hair, which he'd started growing out more over the last few months, sat in a spiky, unruly mess above his tanned head.

Where was Sasuke, he wondered? The day was almost up, and the death deity had yet to join them.

Behind him, Sakura was seated on the sofa in her mother's living room, waiting patiently with her backpack by her feet. Ino had helped her pick out appropriate clothes for her trip, insisting that Sakura needed to "look hot" while she "kicked ass."

Sakura was dressed in faux-leather, black biker leggings with zips that ran across the thighs. The flattering material showed off her slender, toned legs and the soft curves of her hips and rear. She wore comfortable, black, ankle-length biker boots, a white, v-neck top that clung snugly to her upper torso, and a black, cropped leather jacket bearing zip details down the arms. Black, fingerless biker gloves shielded her knuckles, and she also carried a black supplies pouch attached to the leather belt of her leggings. The sleeves of the jacket were capable of being opened apart by drawing back the zips, which would allow her to easily slot and remove chakra crystals in the arm braces she wore underneath.

At her neck was her mother's crystal necklace and a thicker silver chain Ino had given to her. Silver hooped earrings adorned her ears, and she'd let Ino paint her nails black to channel what she'd called her "inner rock-chick" the night before. She'd also allowed her best friend to talk her into putting on mascara that made her green eyes pop and a light-sheen of lip-gloss for their trip to the nightclub - but had drawn the line at any other unnecessary makeup. The front of her hair was styled into a French-braid that Ino had tied prettily for her, to keep her hair from falling intrusively into her face. The back was worn loose, tumbling over her shoulders in blossom-hued, silky locks.

They would be travelling by motorbikes, she had discovered, to best preserve their chakra and because some the roads they would pass through were too narrow to allow a car entry.

Kakashi had secured three motorcycles. For her safety, Sakura would share one with Naruto. She was relieved that it didn't have to be Sasuke. She was in no way ready to be so close in proximity to him again.

She watched Naruto pace back and forth, and felt just as nervous as her blond friend. None of them had any idea of what lay in store for them all, what they would discover along the way. Minato would have ensured the locations were heavily guarded. Who knew what terrors were lurking in each of the relic sites?

The first location on the map was an approximate twenty-seven minute drive from Tsunade's house. Kakashi, Tsunade, Shikamaru and Jiraiya had spent the morning carefully inspecting the map left behind by Minato, aligning it to the present day layout visible on satellite navigators. The maps on their cell-phones had indicated that the location of the first relic was, surprisingly, situated near a club called Illusion, in the more urban, condensed districts of Konoha.

"Are you going to watch that window all day?" Ino remarked dryly from her seat beside Sakura. "Staring outside isn't going to just make him magically appear, you kn-"

"He's here!" Naruto exclaimed suddenly, with the excitement of a child who had been waiting for a relative all day. "Sakura-chan, he's here!"

Sakura's heart leapt into her throat. She immediately got up and walked to Naruto's side. Sure enough, Chiyo had arrived, and beside her was a very brooding Sasuke. She was caught by how out of place he appeared in daylight once again, how the waning light of the soon-to-be setting sun made him all the more vivid and striking to look at.

Kakashi and Jiraiya were greeting them. Sasuke pointedly avoided eye-contact, staring dismissively at some unspecified point away from them.

"What are they saying?" Naruto wondered. "Maybe I should go outside and-"

"Naruto!" Sakura whispered harshly. "Give them a minute! Sasuke probably needs to be briefed about where we're going and everything."

"Right," Naruto answered, but she could see he was restless on his feet. "Right, Sakura-chan. I just can't believe we get three whole weeks with him!"

They watched, as Kakashi addressed Sasuke, who finally turned his reluctant gaze up to the masked deity. Kakashi then led him to one of the motor-bikes stationed outside the house, as Chiyo looked on. Sakura observed, intrigued, as her teacher started one up, and appeared to instruct Sasuke on how to operate it. The death deity stared aloofly down at the vehicle with refined, abject distaste.

She didn't realise she was smiling faintly in amusement at his characteristic scowling, until Ino trilled from right beside her, "Something funny, Forehead?"

Sakura blinked. "He gets around on horseback in the Underworld," she explained. "I think that's the first time he's interacting with a bike."

"Hah," Ino eyed him up through the glass. "Figures. Underworld is an archaic place."

"That's so old-fashioned, dattebayo," Naruto waved. "Wait until he rides it! He'll wanna take one back with him!"

"I doubt that," Shikamaru remarked from behind them.

Sakura saw her mother step outside. She watched as Jiraiya stepped in close to her, and spoke something into her ear. Her mother tensed. Then she gave a stiff nod.

Sasuke, who had moved away from the bike, was given a pile of… clothes? Sakura squinted, struggling to make out exactly what was happening. Shizune had moved to block her view, and she could no longer see him.

Jiraiya glanced back toward the window, as if he knew that Naruto was watching. He beckoned to them.

"Alright, Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah," Sakura nodded, feeling her stomach flutter. With anticipation. With nerves. And with excitement, too. She was going on a quest. It was the kind of scenario from fantasy novels that she had spent her whole life dreaming would happen to her - and here she was, living her very own adventure.

Sakura slipped her mobile phone into her jacket pocket and hoisted her backpack onto her back. Naruto did the same, and they turned to the friends who were gathered in the room with them.

"Be careful, okay?" Ino said, as she placed Sakura's charger into her backpack. Hugging her best friend tightly, she added, "Go out there and kick ass." Drawing back, she met Sakura's eyes, and added, "Text me. And remember what I said."

Sakura searched her eyes a moment, and then nodded.

"Please… be careful… Naruto-kun…" Hinata entreated quietly, her lovely face wrought with concern.

He reached out for her hand. Gripping it firmly, he replied, "I'll be back, Hinata. You stay here, okay? If anything happens…"

"We'll be fine," Shikamaru cut him off. "You just worry about yourself and getting our seals removed."

"We will watch things here," Sai agreed.

"Never doubt the power of youth!" Lee pumped a fist into the air. "We will prevail, and keep everyone safe!"

"Right," Naruto nodded, as Sakura moved to embrace Hinata in turn.

Iruka gripped Naruto's shoulder. "Make your father proud," he smiled.

Naruto gulped at the weight of the words, and nodded.

Five minutes later, after saying the rest of their goodbyes to the older deities who joined them in the room, they exited and began to make their way outside.

Ino walked ahead of Sakura toward the front door. "Oh," she said suddenly, turning back to her best friend. "And don't worry about university. I'm going to cover you with a sick note from the hospital. I'll make sure it gets delivered to your lecturers, so you don't have to…" her voice trailed off, as her gaze was then snagged by something over Sakura's left shoulder. Baby-blue eyes widened. Sakura blinked in confusion - and glanced back behind her - only for her heart to leap into her throat.

Sasuke had just exited the bathroom beneath the stairs. Her eyes widened at the almost unrecognisable sight of him. Gone was the formal cloak and attire she was accustomed to seeing him wear in the Underworld. In its place was modern clothing; a black-leather biker jacket with an upturned collar and buckled strap-details at the arms and shoulders, a black, fitted top underneath, and black jeans tucked into black, laced, ankle-length combat boots. He wore a belt, attached to which were clipped silver chains and a black supplies pouch. His hands were clad with fingerless black biker-gloves and he'd strapped Kusanagi onto his back.

With his unruly strands of midnight hair and the glinting, dark sapphire droplet earring that swung in time to his movements, he looked positively devious, like a rebellious, untameable, utterly dangerous bad-boy, with the sort of reputation that made fathers want to lock up their daughters. He looked so different - so outrageously sexy in human clothing - that Sakura felt her mouth drop open.

He passed her, heavy-lashed eyes lowered, without so much as a glance, but she felt him press something wordlessly into her hands as he did so. Startled, she looked down - to find the sword he had given to her in the Underworld in its jewel-encrusted scabbard.

She gaped after him as he exited the house.

Ino's eyes followed him. Then she turned back to Sakura, looking down at the sword in bewilderment, before meeting her friend's stunned expression.

She lifted an index finger in warning. "Sakura… don't you stare at him like that! Let him stare at you!"

Sakura sputtered, flustered. "You looked at him too," she hissed back, conscious of anyone else overhearing them. "I just- didn't expect him to wear that!"

"That's not the point. I can do it, because he's not into me. Remember what I said to you last night! Put him to work!" She censured, before nodding at the scabbard Sakura gripped in her hands "Why'd he give you that? What are you going to do with it? You already have a sword."

Sakura shook her head, at a loss. Why had Sasuke brought this one with him?

"Take the sword Sasuke gave you, Sakura," Jiraiya's voice drew her attention to the front doorway. She looked up to find him and Chiyo looking in at her. She was mortified. Had they seen the exchange?

"Swords forged in the Underworld are more resilient than surface ones, Little Flower," Chiyo explained, an impish smile dancing upon her thin lips.

Sakura looked down at the sword. Then, wordlessly, she swapped it with the one attached to her belt.

Naruto blinked in surprise as Sasuke stepped out of the house. He'd exchanged his kingly garb for fashionable, modern leather - and looked annoyingly good in it. The blond let out an amused chuckle, delighted at the prospect of spending the next three weeks with his estranged best friend.

"Hey, Sasuke!" he called enthusiastically in greeting. The death deity's dark eyes flicked briefly onto him, his face remaining perfectly impassive. "Where'd you get that gear?"

Sasuke pointedly ignored him - and everyone else - as he headed toward his bike.

"I got hold of some clothes I thought were his size," Kakashi answered. "We can't go around towns with him sticking out like a sore thumb..."

Tsunade grudgingly noted that the Underworld's King stuck out like a sore thumb, even in mortal clothing. She had reluctantly allowed him into her house to change, and watched as Sasuke took his seat on the black motorcycle he'd been assigned. Dressed as he was, he could almost be mistaken for any handsome young man going about his daily business, not the lethal deity he truly was. Now that his powers were unrestricted once more, she could feel the frightening aura that radiated from him; a dark, turbulent, ice-cold chakra signature, charging the air around them with static, as if he were surrounded by rolling, ominous thunderclouds.

Kakashi approached him and secured a supplies bag to the back of Sasuke's bike, containing spare changes of clothing and other essential items. Pointing out a few more things on the vehicle's dashboard, he then stepped away and headed toward his own bike, slotting the rolled up quest map under his belt.

Sasuke switched on the ignition and gripped the handlebars. Staring ahead at the road, he waited.

Tsunade turned to face Sakura, as her daughter stepped out of the house. Drawing her into a tight hug, she murmured, "Stay safe. Call me when you can, and keep me updated."

"I will," Sakura nodded, holding onto her tightly.

"And don't lose sight of Naruto and Kakashi," Tsunade added in a low voice. "Don't go rushing into battle. Remember your training."

"Right," Sakura agreed, as her mother released her. Hugging Shizune next, then Kurenai, Sakura finally drew to an awkward stop before Chiyo, who smiled at her.

"Quite the adventure you are going on indeed, Sakura," the ancient goddess stated. "Take heed. Trust your instincts ahead. And stay close to your guard..."

Tsunade shot her a disapproving look, but said nothing.

Sakura noted the advice, before politely bidding her goodbye. She then made her way to Naruto's motorbike. Securing her backpack in place, she then slipped onto the passenger seat behind him, gripping firmly onto his sides as he revved up the engine.

"Don't we need any helmets?" she asked him.

"Nah," Naruto dismissed. "If anything happens, I'll protect you, Sakura-chan."

"..." Sasuke, who heard this, flicked a surreptitious glance Naruto's way, but remained silent.

"Well, everyone," Kakashi sighed. "We'll be back in three weeks. Wish me luck."

"Eh? Don't you mean, wish us luck?" Naruto cast him a confused look.

"No," Kakashi looked up to the skies, as he switched on the ignition. "I mean me..."

"Keep us posted, Kakashi," Jiraiya nodded at him.

"Be careful out there," Asuma added.

"If you need backup between routes at any time, send word," Kurenai said.

"You'd better come back in one piece, Kakashi!" Guy exclaimed. His eternal rival lifted a hand in resigned parting, before pulling out the driveway and onto the road.

"Go kick-ass, Sakura!" Ino cheered, as she and Naruto waved goodbye and followed after Kakashi.

Sasuke gripped the steering bars testingly, and prepared to set off - when Tsunade suddenly called out to him, her voice fierce with warning.

"Uchiha!" she growled. "If so much as a single hair on my daughter's head is harmed during the course of this mission, I'll crack every damned bone in your body upon your return!"

The death deity blinked at that. He then angled his head slightly to the right, and his eyes flicked first onto Chiyo briefly - before settling onto Tsunade.

One corner of his lips curled into a faint, condescending smirk - as if he found her words amusing, rather than threatening - and he revved the engine loudly in response, before speeding off fast, leaving Tsunade glaring irately after him.

Sakura held firmly onto Naruto's jacket as he smoothly steered the bike along the open stretch of high road. Kakashi was leading them along the fastest route, she realised, avoiding heavy-traffic they might otherwise have encountered on the inner-city roads. She chanced a glance back over her left shoulder, to find Sasuke in lane behind them. The wind was whipping his hair across his face, and his gaze was fixed intently ahead. He'd gotten the hang of steering quickly, but she imagined how strange it had to be for him, to be operating a foreign vehicle, to have to follow rules on the road, coming across signs he wasn't even versed in reading.

That was a first, she thought to herself; for Sasuke not to know something.

At length, Kakashi began guiding them into inner, urban streets. People walked along the pavements, and the night lights were bright, the roads bustling with life.

"Sasuke!" Naruto called back to him. "We're coming across some traffic lights. Red means stop!"

"Naruto!" Sakura leaned forward to censure him. "I'm sure he can figure that out on his own!"

"How would he know?" Naruto shouted back to her, over the loud hum of the engine. "Bastard doesn't have any of this stuff back in his place, dattebayo!"

They drew to a stop before the traffic lights, waiting as pedestrians crossed. Sakura peeked back at Sasuke again. He was watching the people walk with his usual air of detachment, before his eyes turned to regard the noisy buildings around them.

"Green means go!" Naruto said, as the lights changed, and they set off once again.

Eventually they drew to a stop, leaving their bikes at a parking bay. Picking up their backpacks and locking their vehicles in place, they followed after Kakashi, who was using his cell phone to guide them. Their team leader was dressed in a dark grey turtle-neck sweater, dark grey jeans, resilient black ankle-length army-boots and a black, hooded gilet jacket. He wore protective biker gloves on his hands and his sword was clipped onto the leather belt at his waist. The lower half of his face, as usual, was concealed by a dark grey mask, as well as the eyepatch that kept his Sharingan hidden from view.

A short four minute walk later, they came to a stop outside a nightclub with purple and red neon signs that read Illusion. Loud music was blaring out the open double doors. Three, burly bouncers were stationed outside, checking the IDs of a long line of young people who were queued at the side of the building.

Sakura glanced down at her watch. It was only 07:10PM, and the night had just begun for the revellers inside, she knew.

"Well," Kakashi remarked. "This is the spot, according to the map. The entrance to the relic site must be somewhere below this building."

"Looks like this place is popular, huh?" Naruto deduced.

"Do we need to actually go inside?" Sakura asked uncertainly. "Isn't there a way to sneak to the lower floors from a side entrance?"

"No can do," Kakashi sighed. "This is the only entrance into the building. There might be emergency exits - but they'd lead out, not further down."

"Uh… we have no ID on us," Naruto gestured. "How're we gonna get through?"

"I have mine," Sakura fished for her phone, containing her debit card and driver's license.

"Yeah but… that doesn't get the rest of us in, dattebayo," Naruto scratched his blond head. "I don't even think Sasuke has any ID," he added in a whisper to the others.

Sasuke, who heard the statement, coolly watched them debating in silence. They hadn't even figured out how to get inside the building? Then they had clearly come to this location thoroughly unprepared. As expected of such incompetent gods. He felt a twinge of irritation. They were barely even a half hour into their quest, and he could already see that he was going to have to take matters into his own hands often.

"Let's just go up to the bouncers, and say we're security," Naruto suggested.

"Naruto," Sakura hissed back, frowning at him, "they are security!"

"They're outside security!" He pointed out.

"I'm sure they have security inside, too-" Sakura began to argue.

Sasuke rolled his eyes skyward, losing patience with their idiocy. Without a word, he stepped around them all, and prowled right up to the bouncers.

"Get in line, kid." One of the tall, brawny men in black uniform addressed him dismissively, as his colleagues checked the bags of waiting guests. He didn't so much as spare Sasuke a glance.

"Let us in," Sasuke ordered simply, his tone expectant.

Naruto, Kakashi and Sakura watched him, baffled by the directness of his approach.

"Are you deaf, kid?" The man, irked, now did turn his attention to Sasuke, and blinked, immediately on edge. "Hey. What's with your gear, punk? No weapons or sharp objects allowed inside the club!" He lifted the communication device to his mouth, as if ready to call the police. "Hey," he hit the radio button. "I've got a kid with a-"

Sasuke's eyes bled to crimson. He caught the man's suspicious gaze, ensnaring him instantly with his Sharingan. The rest of the security guard's words dissolved on his tongue.

"Let us in," he repeated bluntly.

The bouncer blinked, his expression growing confused.

"What's going on, Ro?" His colleague glanced over. "You okay? Hey, kid! You need to queue-" He abruptly broke off too, catching Sasuke's red and black, hypnotic kaleidoscope gaze. Falling silent, he then turned back to checking bags in a daze.

The first bouncer, Ro, stepped aside. "Yeah. Sure. You go right in," he said, his voice distant, eyes glazed.

Sasuke cast a pointed look back at the rest of Team Seven, who were all staring at him in surprise.

"Are we going in or not?" he demanded, his tone short, clipped.

"Pfft," Naruto glowered back. "Show-off..."

Kakashi approached him. "Thank you, Sasuke," he murmured. The death deity ignored him, waited for them all to enter, before heading up the back, disregarding the protests of the other waiting clubbers who were questioning why the four had been allowed to skip the long queue.

They walked through the narrow entrance, coming to a set of neon purple stairs that led deeper down into the building. Artificial mist drifted up toward them, and the air temperature grew significantly warmer.

"Whoa…" Naruto exhaled, as they finally reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped out into the spacious nightclub.

The brick walls were illuminated with purple lights. Deafening music filled the air, causing it to vibrate with sound energy. The room was heaving with ravers, many half-naked, packed in every corner of the space. Sakura looked around, wide-eyed, blinded by the neon purple, blue and red lights that were rotating around them. Her jaw dropped as she caught sight of sensual, skimpily clad pole-dancers stationed around the club floor, writhing on circular tables, around which people were seated, throwing notes, smoking joints and drinking alcohol. They were laughing too hard, talking too loud, clearly inebriated and at leave of their full senses.

Intoxicated revellers were dancing everywhere, arms raised to the ceiling, lost to the alluring notes and lyrics of the song that was blasting out of the speakers hooked up around the club. There were bars littered across the room serving food and drink, and various seating areas, with lots of people chatting, smoking and making out. Sakura's mouth grew dry as she spied one woman on her knees before a man with his trousers unbuckled, her head bobbing up and down rhythmically. She wrenched her eyes away, mortified, cheeks burning, only for her gaze to come across another couple who were openly having sex against a wall, without a care for public decency. The more she looked around, the more she glimpsed men and women engaged in indecent public behaviours.

It was like they had walked into Sin City itself, a depraved, alcohol-fuelled, lecherous underground scene where nothing was off-limits.

Behind her, Sasuke was regarding the scene around them with a refined air of disgust. It was the first time he had ever set foot in such a garish, loud and lewd mortal place - and he could see the corruption in the souls all around him. Adulterers, his judgemental eyes instantly recognised. Liars. Cheaters. Humans damaging the sanctity of their own bodies with dangerous substances. There were some in attendance who had arrived with good intentions, just wanting to have a fun time, to take their minds off their worries. And there were many there who had arrived for bad ones.

He felt a hand run along his left arm brazenly. Turned his head to find a brown-haired young woman, smiling flirtatiously up at him.

"Hey, handsome," she mouthed, lifting a can of beer at him.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at her, flashing with silent warning. She blinked in confusion and stumbled backward, watching as he drew out of her reach.

The air was stifling, oppressive, even despite the air conditioning that was blowing out the fans in the ceiling. The smell of smoke, alcohol, cheap perfume, sweat, food and other questionable substances hung heavily in the atmosphere. Sakura began to feel nauseous as they pushed through the crowds. Bodies bumped into them left and right, the deeper they waded onto the dance floor. There was barely any room to manoeuvre, and Sakura suddenly felt terribly claustrophobic.

"M-my dad couldn't have picked a better spot?!" Naruto yelped up ahead, deeply flustered by the environment he found himself in.

"Your father was good at planning ahead," Kakashi called back to him. "But not enough to predict what this place would become!"

In front of her, Sakura could see girls clamouring at Naruto and Kakashi, trying to pull them into a dance. Kakashi had just pried off a drunk girl who had physically thrown herself at him.

"N-no thanks!" Naruto batted their seeking hands away awkwardly, trying to be as gentle as possible. "Hey! Stop that, dattebayo! Don't touch me! Hey!"

Sakura glanced desperately behind her, to see that girls were flocking around Sasuke in droves, too. Of course they were, she thought, feeling heat bloom unexpectedly in her chest at the sight. The death deity was ignoring his unwanted admirers, and had raised his arms to push them firmly aside as they tugged at him pleadingly. Sakura swallowed, and dragged her eyes away.

"Hey, gorgeous!" A male voice called to her right. She felt a hand reach for her waist, and slapped it off.

"Sexy legs! Damn! Come over here!" Another snatch for her wrist. She evaded that, too.

"Damn! C'mere baby girl! Lemmie get a closer look at that pink hair!"

She elbowed another drunk pass at her, shoving the youth aside with gritted teeth. Her skin crawled as her darting eyes caught sight of people being sick and exchanging dangerous substances. She felt tainted and filthy from the hands that were trying to pull her into a crowd she wasn't sure she would make it out of, if they succeeded in dragging her under.

Without warning, she felt a hand grab her forcefully by her left shoulder, and before she could react this time, was roughly hauled away from the line of her team and around to come face to face with a brown haired youth with lots of piercings on his face. He leered down at her, clearly drunk.

"Hey, baby," he slurred, and Sakura almost retched from the strong smell of alcohol that rolled out his mouth. "Wanna dance?"

Sakura drew her fist back, ready to connect it straight into the disgusting youth's face - when a hand suddenly shot out in front of her face and clamped down around the young man's wrist, wrenching it violently away from her shoulder.

"Ow! Shit! What the fuck, man?!" The punk yelped, taking his twisted wrist back. He had the sense to shake his head in defeat as he drew away, nursing his wounds and pride.

Sakura's wide eyes lifted to find that Sasuke was now standing by her side. His heavy-lashed charcoal irises narrowed at her, as he instructed curtly, "Keep moving."

She turned away, heart pounding, trying not to lose sight of Naruto and Kakashi ahead of her. Sasuke had now moved much closer to her, and she was overtly-conscious of his presence as he watched her back. They continued to push their way through, until they finally drew to a stop at the outer-most fringes of the dance-floor, where the crowds thankfully dispersed.

"Th-this place is really something," Naruto gulped, as he glanced over at the closest pole dancer to them. "Perverted Old Hermit would love it."

"Stop looking!" Sakura grabbed his ear, and forced his face back around to them.

"Ouch! Sakura-chan! Okay, okay, I'm sorry!"

"Focus," Kakashi addressed them. "There are a number of doors here. We need to find one that leads further down." He glanced across at the bar area near to them thoughtfully, then instructed them to wait for him as he moved toward it.

"So…" Naruto began slowly, glancing at Sasuke, who was watching Kakashi's exchange at the counter. The bar-maid there was smiling at the masked deity, and shyly pushed a lock of rainbow-dyed hair behind her ear. "First time in a nightclub, hey, Sasuke? What do you think?"

Sakura watched, inwardly cringing for her friend, as Sasuke completely ignored him.

Naruto tried again. "Too loud for you, right? You never did like parties!"

Once more, Sasuke gave no indication of paying him any attention.

Sakura felt terrible, as her eyes flicked nervously between the two. She recalled Ino's words, but it suddenly dawned on her, how difficult a task it was going to be, to make Sasuke listen to any of them at all. He was with them because he had been forced to accompany them, not out of choice. Of course he didn't want to speak with Naruto. He probably intended to interact with all of them - her included - as little as possible, and only when absolutely necessary. He was already making that obvious enough, with his closed-off body language and intimidating silences.

"Maybe, when we get this first mission over," Naruto was going on, still trying to break the ice, "we could have a few drinks. You've only ever had ambrosia before, and surface drinks are-"

"Shut up," Sasuke's voice, when he finally spoke, cleaved through the air like a sharp, slicing blade. His eyes were still on the bar, not acknowledging either of them. Sakura internally flinched.

Naruto gawked at him, stunned. "Hey," he countered, anger quickly morphing onto his features. "You don't need to be such a dick. We're travelling for three weeks together, and I think it'd be better if we at least-"

"I don't care," Sasuke threw back frostily, "what you think."

"Sasuke," Sakura felt compelled to defend her friend, appalled that the death deity was being so rude - even if she had expected it. "Naruto is just trying to be friendly-"

One corner of Sasuke's lips twitched into a faint, derisive sneer, as he answered coldly, still making a point of not looking their way, "We aren't friends."

Naruto's mouth clamped shut at that. Sakura saw his hands close into tight fists, and his azure eyes darkened. She swallowed in dismay, and was relieved when Kakashi rejoined them a moment later.

"That door there leads down to the power room," he gestured to the third door away from where they stood. "There's a security guard there. Sasuke," he glanced at the stoic death god. "Lend us your Sharingan again. Let's go."

They made their way over to the door that Kakashi had indicated. Sasuke used his ocular abilities to get them easy access into the room, and also took the keycard from the guard. The steel door shut behind them, and they found themselves in a dimly-lit room with a metal walkway that led down some stairs. They walked along, with Kakashi leading the way, Naruto behind him, then Sakura and finally Sasuke at the back. The silence that fell over them was smothering, Sakura thought, and she could clearly see the tension lining Naruto's shoulders after his unpleasant exchange with Sasuke.

She knew that the death deity behind her didn't care for the sadness and pain he inflicted on her dear friend. Anger burned in her throat. She wasn't sure she could stand back and watch without saying or doing anything, if the rest of their exchanges were going to be similar.

"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto broke the silence. "How do we know where to look? The relic could be anywhere under this building."

"We'll know when we get close," Kakashi replied. "I suspect we'll be running into some monsters. We can only keep heading down. This nightclub was built over thousands of years worth of construction on the earth, after all."

They reached the bottom of the stairs, and Kakashi used the keycard to open the door that led them into the power-supply room. Wires and cables were hooked up everywhere. A generator was humming loudly. Kakashi shone a flashlight around the dim room, as they roamed about, searching for another exit point.

"Hey," Sakura called to them after a few minutes, when she found a latch in the ground in one of the corners of the room. "Maybe this opens?"

Naruto joined her. "Nice one, Sakura-chan!" he complimented. "Kakashi-sensei, look here!"

Kakashi approached them, and inspected the latch. He crouched down, and began to pull at it. "Naruto," he nodded for the blond to assist him. After a few more tries, they were able to wedge the metal up enough to lift it.

Sakura grabbed her flashlight from the side of her backpack, and shone her torch down, finding a ladder that led deeper underground.

"Let's see where this goes," Kakashi mused, and began to climb down. They followed. The ladder was long, and seemed to stretch down into darkness endlessly. When they finally reached the bottom, they found themselves in a wide tunnel, reminiscent of underground sewers. There was a narrow walkway, with stale water running to their right.

"Sewers?" Naruto moved his torch around, as they followed the pathway until it reached a junction that split off into three separate directions.

"Which way?" Sakura questioned.

"Hm. We'll cover ground faster if we split up," Kakashi suggested. "Naruto. Take the left path. Sakura, Sasuke. Take the central one. I'll go right. If we find anything, we'll regroup."

Sakura's heart leapt. Walking with Sasuke? Just the two of them? She hadn't mentally prepared herself to be in his company alone so soon! She gave Kakashi a silently pleading, protesting look, but to her horror, her teacher was already turning toward the right opening.

Oh no, her inner self fretted. Okay. Just calm down. It's fine. You'll be fine. He's been assigned to protect you. You can talk to him. Right?

Her stomach was knotting with nerves regardless.

"You better not be a jerk to Sakura-chan," Naruto tossed Sasuke a disgruntled look, before giving Sakura a reassuring nod. They then split ways.

Sakura shone her light ahead, trying not to focus on Sasuke's footsteps that were falling just behind her. Her heart raced. She hadn't been alone with him since the day they had parted, on such bitter terms. They walked on in silence, neither saying a word. A few minutes crawled by, and Sakura's discomfort grew with every passing second. She couldn't stand it, she told herself. There was so much to say to him, so much she had spent months wanting to say, and yet here he was, right beside her, and neither of them were speaking a word. Surely he had things he wanted to tell her too? Even if he wished to be angry? A quick glance at him, however, revealed that he wasn't even looking her way, was instead inspecting their surroundings with his usual air of clinical detachment.

Sakura bit her lower lip. Finally, unable to keep quiet anymore, she began, awkwardly and frustrated, "Sasuke. I didn't lie about wanting to know about you and your Kingdom."

He remained silent behind her.

She tried again. not daring to look back at him. "I know you think that I just faked it all, but that's not true. I already told you that Suigetsu-"

"Sakura," he interrupted her tersely. She felt her entire body tense at the seductive drawl of her name falling from his lips, and was overwhelmed, for a second, by the nostalgia of hearing it again after so long. Then he added, "Don't talk."

His tone was brusque. Rude. She felt her cheeks flush with anger, and bit her tongue, stung by the harshness of his snub. Before she could compose herself to say anything else, Kakashi's voice reached them telepathically.

'Dead end here. Naruto?'

'Nothing here except more water, dattebayo!'

'Sasuke? Sakura?'

'Walking,' Sasuke communicated shortly.

She didn't try to talk to him again, simmering inside, her pride wounded. They walked on and on in stifling silence, and eventually drew to a stop by what appeared to be a dead-end. There was a large opening, sealed by metal bars that prevented any further access. Sakura directed her flashlight into it, trying to peer through the darkness. It seemed to be a continuation of the tunnel, but had been blocked off for what she assumed were safety reasons.

Sasuke stepped closer toward it, Sharingan activated. Then he telepathically informed the others, 'Here.'

'We'll be right there,' Kakashi responded.

Sakura shifted on her feet, set her backpack down, and rested back against the wall next to the caged opening. Sasuke folded his arms, averting his gaze to anywhere that wasn't her. Another heavy silence hung between them, as they waited for the others to rejoin them.

Don't look at him, Sakura told herself. He's a jerk. How could you forget what an absolute jerk he is? How arrogant, haughty, and utterly impossible-

"I didn't fake it," she repeated indignantly, the words flying from her tongue before she could stop them. Horrified, she clamped her mouth shut, and turned her face to the left.

She felt her skin then prickle. He was looking her way, she realised, heart lodging itself into her throat, oddly certain of it, but stubbornly refused to turn her head to meet his gaze, remembering Ino's words to her.

Let him stare at you.

Well, she'd certainly gotten his attention, now. She shifted her body slightly, signalling that she had no intention of trying to talk to him any further at that moment, after his thoroughly impolite brush-off.

Sasuke found his attention drawn to her despite himself as they waited. Her hair was attractively arranged, and her clothes clung to her figure snugly. Her leggings were more flattering than the flowing dresses she had worn in his realm. His gaze roamed idly over her legs, before brushing over the soft curves of her hips. He then abruptly caught himself, realising that his eyes were lingering for far longer than was necessary, and turned his attention away to the ground in irritation. He did not answer her words. Hadn't he already told her not to speak?

It wasn't long before Kakashi and Naruto rejoined them, and Sakura had never felt so relieved for their company.

"This may lead deeper into the sewers," Kakashi noted. "Alright. Stand back. Let's get these bars off."

Lightning-chakra energy flared into his palm, and he directed a stream of chidori against the metal, cleaving straight through the rods. They fell to the stone ground with a resounding, echoing clatter.

Kakashi hoisted himself up into the opening, and Naruto hopped up after him, reaching down to help Sakura climb up. Once they were all inside, they continued to walk along, crouching low to avoid their heads hitting the low, arching ceiling. Finally they stepped out into a space identical to the one they had just left behind, which brought them to even more passageways. The tunnels went on and on, straight ahead. There seemed to be nothing remarkable about them.

"Man," Naruto complained. "We're not getting anywhere." He lifted his hands, and activated Sage Mode. "Even if I use Sage Mode, there's nothing here. Are you sure this was the correct spot on the map, Kakashi-sensei?"

They continued deeper, taking several turns, until they finally arrived at what appeared to be a true dead-end, stepping out into a spacious circular area enclosed by bricks on all sides. Dried up old leaves covered the ground. Sakura tilted her head in confusion. Where had the leaves come from? She looked up, to find another caged opening in the walls high above them. Could they have blown in from there?

"We cross-referenced the location three times, to be sure," Kakashi looked around them, bemused. "This is definitely where the map indicated it is."

Naruto gestured, as they drew to a stop. "These are just abandoned old tunnels. There's nothing here!"

Sakura walked further forward, boots crunching over the shrivelled leaves. She reached the middle of the area - when suddenly, the ground beneath her feet suddenly quivered. Startled, she looked down.

"Hey," she began. "Did the floor here just-?"

A moment later, the ground she was standing on completely crumbled beneath her. She cried out in surprise, prompting Sasuke's head to immediately whip around, sharp-eyes locking onto her just in time to see her plunging through the floor.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto ran unthinkingly forward, but his additional weight caused the rest of the floor to cave in entirely, and suddenly they were all tumbling through a dark abyss at unstoppable speed. Sakura's scream caught in her throat, finding nothing but air to hold onto, the weight of her backpack and supplies dragging her down faster.

Freezing purple chakra energy enveloped itself around her body, as Sasuke channelled Susano'o, catching her in a giant, skeletal, protective fist. They continued to plummet further and further, until they finally touched down onto earthy soil, Susano'o fully absorbing the jarring shock of impact. She glanced across at Sasuke, who straightened up, dissipating the glowing shield immediately, as Naruto and Kakashi landed seconds after them. Naruto had used a smaller Toad summon to cushion their fall, and the creature instantly vanished in a plume of smoke.

"Whoa," Naruto rubbed at his neck, and looked up toward the pitch-black chasm they'd fallen through. "That was close."

"You'd think they'd leave a warning sign about unstable ground somewhere," Sakura frowned, trying to calm her thundering heart from the unexpected shock. What was it with floors giving way under her?

"I don't think anyone has been down in those sewers for a long time," Kakashi commented.

They walked cautiously ahead, until the path abruptly came to an end.

"What the hell…?" Naruto exclaimed, his voice echoing loudly, as their eyes came to rest on the sight before them.

It was a solid brick wall that seemed to climb up and span on endlessly, disappearing into shadows.

"Naruto," Kakashi glanced at the sun deity. "Can you sense anything, now?"

Naruto closed his eyes and focused. His eyes then shot open. "Yeah! There's definitely something beyond this wall, dattebayo!"

"How are we going to get through it?" Sakura questioned, shining her flashlight at the immovable barrier. They hadn't exactly packed any dynamite, and there was no telling how thick the wall was. Using chakra-natured attacks would be a waste of time if the wall was too thick to blow apart. And how were they going to make it back up?

She turned her face skyward. Just how far had they fallen? It seemed a worryingly long way. The smell of earth surrounded them.

"We could try elemental attacks," Kakashi suggested. "Earth-style could help us try to shift this."

"Don't bother," Sasuke cut in dismissively. Sharingan activated, he stepped forward, and reached out, pressing his left palm against the wall. They watched, in amazement, as black tendrils coiled around his arm, and the mighty barrier dissipated into shadows at his touch, melting away to reveal a spacious, circular area. The ground became dirt-strewn stone once more. Something was shining in the distance up ahead.

Naruto's jaw dropped. "How'd you do that, Sasuke?!"

"A shadow-based illusion." Understanding dawned on Kakashi. "Of course. To keep this place hidden from anyone who may have tried to come down here before."

Sakura's eyes widened in amazement as they continued onward. It seemed Minato's prophecy was true to its word, after all. When they drew closer to the mysterious light, they found a pulsing golden barrier glowed ahead, illuminating the darkness around them. It barred entry into an arched stone doorway, and above the glowing door, was a sun crest.

"This is it…" Kakashi murmured. "There's no mistaking this chakra-aura. It's Minato's work."

They had barely managed to process everything that had just happened, when the ground beneath them suddenly rumbled. They looked down, to see ancient runes glowing under their feet. With a great gust of wind, a golden force-field shot up, encircling them, trapping them within the space. Deafening screeches pierced the air.

Sakura's heart leapt to her throat, as one by one, glowing golden eyes winked open in the darkness around them.

"What is that?!" She whispered anxiously, subconsciously inching closer to Sasuke, who raised his left hand, gripping Kusanagi's hilt at his back, immediately ready for battle.

"The first of likely many traps intended to kill any trespassers," Kakashi supplied. He added, with irony, after a moment, "Just in case the fall didn't."

Sakura almost had the urge to laugh at the absurdity of the statement, and would have - were she not so on edge about the clear danger that was looming ahead of them.

Sasuke stared intently into the darkness, as Kakashi shone his flashlight around, trying to make out what, exactly, was forming around them, summoned to life by their feet treading on runes cleverly hidden on the ground.

Sakura gasped when Sasuke abruptly grabbed her left arm and hauled her out the way - just as a blazing ball of molten fire was directed right at them.

Flame torches anchored to the rocky walls suddenly blazed to life, revealing their enemy in its enormous entirety. They scattered, as the monsters prowled forward, fierce, terrifying and deadly; mythical, majestic animals of Olympus that shrieked at them in fury.

Three winged Griffins stepped out of the shadows, awakened from their long-enforced slumber and thirsty for blood.

Author's Note

Next chapter will be a continuation of this quest with fight sequences. Hope to have it done soon. Thanks for reading!