C h a i n e d

t o

Y o u

{ 1 }

The flames of their campfire burned brightly. A stark contrast against the inky night, warming the two konoha nin huddled around it.

The male was humming softly to himself, his fingers counting his kunai while sharpening it, a senbon needle hanging loosely from his lips.

The female on the other hand wasn't so relaxed. Tension was clear in her shoulders as well as her eyes, half lidded but sharp, fully aware of her surroundings, ready to attack in a moment's notice. Her hands gripped her knees, knuckles turning white and the occasional dejected sigh left her lips.

Genma saw this before rubbing the back of his head, worried for the young woman sitting across from him. It was clear that she had a lot on her mind yet was not keen on sharing her thoughts. Not without a little persuasion at least. Which, he thought, was something he was quite adept at. True he wasn't the type to normally ask for information or push others to open up to him. But this was a special case. One, she was his friend. Two, they were on an S-ranked mission. He knew it wasn't wise for any shinobi, no matter how skilled, to be carrying heavy feelings into a mission. Especially one like theirs, filled with risk and absolutely no room for mistakes.

With a cough that had nothing to do with the cold, Genma gave her a meaningful look.

"Alright. Spill it."

Sakura's eyes widened in surprise at his blunt opening. But soon the walls were back up in place.

"About what Genma?"

"Don't play dumb Sakura-chan. It doesn't suit you and it's an insult to my intelligence."

A small smirk played on her lips.

"What intelligence?"

He rolled his eyes at her pathetic attempt to distract him.

"Nice try but I'm serious. Something is bothering you."

"We all have problems."

"That's a given. But you've been exceptionally gloomy since we left."

Her shoulders slumped suddenly.

"Is it Ino?" He ventured.

"Partly." She began, slowly turning her body towards him. "Of course I'm worried about her but I know that with you, me and Kakashi on this rescue mission, we'll manage and find her."

Genma gestured for her to go on.

"So what's the issue here?"

"I-i…"

The words were stuck in her throat. Sakura couldn't help but think back, five days ago when she was summoned with Kakashi-senei and Genma by the Hokage herself, a scroll in her hand and a grim expression on her face.

- Flashback -

Tsunade-sensei had a parchment rolled in one hand while the other was gripping a sake bottle so hard, Sakura wondered how it didn't simply shatter.

She was standing between two men. Her sensei and his close friend, Genma. Altough she barely saw him outside of work, she appreciated his easy going nature and relaxed smile.

Kakashi on the other hand was unreadable. Aloof even. She wondered how he'd been, away from the village almost all the time. This was the first time she'd seen him in a while. The familiar sight of unruly silver hair and black mask calmed her nerves yet his silence was unnerving.

Finally the silence was broken by the authoritative voice of the Hokage, her hazel eyes scanning the trio before her critically.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why I've summoned you. Well besides the fact I need a drink, fast, we simply have no time for delay." She took a deep breath before dropping the bomb on them.

"I have received a report from an ally of mine. He's a wandering shinobi I met throughout my travels before returning to Konoha. His jobs take him across the globe from the village of sand to snow country. During his recent trip to wave country, right at the border, he found a town. He stayed a few nights and noticed that something was off about that place." She paused, seeming to choose her next words carefully.

"One night he felt chakra signatures. Volatile and unstable. He followed it to an underground tunnel which led him to a small city. The town was merely a front. And apparently, the popular commodity in this area are...slaves."

Dread filled her stomach at the last word.

"Whoever is in charge hosts an auction every week where anyone can bring in more men and women then put them up for sale. After being bought, the males are forced into the slave rings to battle where their masters place bets while the females...well I think we all know what they have planned for them."

Tsunade shook her head in disgust and Sakura couldn't help but agree, a frown on her lips.

"The report lacks some information. Unfortunately he was chased out by the patrol guards. Luckily he snuck in during the guard switch but it's clear they don't let just anybody in. Especially when they come in empty handed. But just before he managed to escape, He spotted a particular slave entering one of the houses."

The Hokage's eyes immediately darkened and latched onto Sakura's.

"One with blonde hair and blue eyes."

The dread doubled in size.

"Ino." Sakura breathed.

It's been several weeks since they've heard news concerning the blonde. A part of her wondered what was taking her best friend so long coming back home from a simple escort mission. Most assumed the worst but she knew better. The pig was too stubborn to die, especially before getting married or dragging her off to another night destined for drunken stupor and gossiping.

This piece of evidence that Ino was somewhere out there, alive, made hope flutter frantically in Sakura's chest.

"Although my ally hasn't met Yamanaka in person, he described her perfectly. Also this is the first lead we have on her since her disappearance for the past two months. It's too big an opportunity to pass up."

All three nin before her nodded, understanding and resolve evident on each of their faces.

"I picked you three because of all of your specialties. I need Kakashi to act as the leader and tracker of the operation. Sakura will be the medic on board and Genma will provide the surveillance as well as be the back-up in case things were to go wrong. Hopefully that won't be the case." She leaned forward, her eyes intense as she looked at the nin before her.

"Also, this will be a highly covert undercover mission. Obviously not just anyone can go in or out. But it's clear what or rather, who can enter without raising suspicion…" She trailed off, an unreadable expression pasted on her face.

"Genma!" She barked.

"Yes Hokage-sama!"

"You will act as a slavedriver."

The senbon between his lips slipped for a split second before Genma recovered, nodding his reply.

"And Sakura?"

"Yes Shishou?"

Please please please let Kakashi be the-

"You will be the slave."

Oh hell.

"Kakashi?"

"Yes?"

"You will be her master."

Dear God in Heaven above. She wished the floor would just eat her whole now.

This was her first mission that had anything related to sex. And no, giving full physical examinations to the shinobi did not count. Granted, it wasn't a seduction mission where she had to distract the target using her body, thank god. But still, this was on a whole different level. Sakura bit her lip, sealing in all her complaints and doubts to herself.

She glanced at Kakashi from the corner of her eye, curious at his reaction to have to play this kind of role with his much younger student. But if he was bothered in any way, he didn't show it. Even his relaxed stance, one hand shoved in his pocket while the other rested on his hip, he seemed unperturbed.

"To avoid anyone drawing any kind of connection between you three, Kakashi will leave tomorrow morning, arrive in the city alone and do some recon. Gather intel on the area and people. Sufficed to say this mission is extremely dangerous. We aren't just dealing with some armed men, they've got shinobi according to the report. We've got to be careful. No ties or anything that can involve konoha in some way."

Hazel eyes regarded Sakura.

"Genma will bring you in, sell you off to the big shots, leave the city itself but remain in the town outside. Kakashi will meet you at the auction and buy you there."

Clearly this plan was already thought out, double-checked and was the epitome of practical and logical. But she couldn't help but swallow nervously, still processing the fact she had to play such a risque role.

She could feel her palms start to get sweaty.

"The two of you stay inside until we either rescue Ino or find proof that it isn't her. Genma will stay in the town outside in case you need back-up. Any questions?"

"Nope." The brunette muttered.

"Actually Shisho-" Sakura was immediately interrupted by the silver haired man at her side.

"May I speak to you alone Hokage-sama?"

A tense silence passed between them until her mentor replied, facing Kakashi yet also addressing Sakura.

"Very well. I'm assuming you accept this mission Sakura-chan?"

Three pairs of eyes zeroed in on her.

"O-of course Shishou."

"Good. You and Genma may leave and make the necessary preparations. Expect to leave in five days. Dismissed."

The both of them nodded, turned and left. But not before Sakura glanced back at Kakashi, wondering what he needed to talk to her shishou about.

Just when the door shut behind her, she realized she left her scrolls, really important ones she needed to study later tonight for a surgery at four in the morning.

Cursing herself, she was about to enter and apologize profusely for the untimely interruption when she heard him.

"Hokage-sama. I apologize for the disrespect but wouldn't a much more experienced kunoichi be a better choice for this task?"

That statement. So simple and asked in such an even voice, was a bucket of ice cold water on Sakura's body.

"Perhaps Hyuuga Hinata?"

"Pregnant."

"Kurenai?"

"Has a baby."

"Tenten?"

"Broken arm."

Kakashi set his jaw.

"I've gone through the roster already, Kakashi. Sakura is the perfect-no-the only choice for this task."

Wonderful. This just proved how hopelessly single she really was. And how her previous sensei didn't think she could pull off this job.

It felt like lead was suddenly dropped into the pit of her stomach.

It was a familiar feeling.

Hurt. Embarrassment. Anger.

Still he didn't reply.

"You question my judgement?"

The challenge hung heavy in the air.

"There must be another-"

"No. Besides, she's a grown woman now. All kunoichi go through this, even some men if I recall. Why should my apprentice get any special treatment?"

"But-"

"My decision is final. Sakura has all the skills necessary to accomplish this task. And the two of you come from the same team. I expect nothing but seamless teamwork on this mission."

Sakura stepped backwards, scrolls suddenly the last thing on her mind, she swallowed her hurt pride at the way her sensei reacted to their roles. Really? He thought blushing, timid Hinata was a better choice?

Her mood considerably darker than it was just ten minutes ago, Sakura left the Hokage tower, her mouth set in a firm line with hurt clear in her green eyes.

- End of flashback -

After what felt like an eternity, she replied.

"It's Kakashi-sensei."

Recognition flared in Genma's dark eyes.

"Ahhh…"

"He doesn't think I can do this." Anger seeped into her tone the longer she spoke.

"The way he spoke back at the tower, it's like he sees me as the same genin Sakura, following after her teammates, not as strong or-"

"Hold up right there Sakura-chan."

The brunette held both his hands up in an attempt to stop her tirade.

"I get where you're coming from, finally. I really do. But try not to jump to conclusions here."

A pink brow arched at him.

"Okay fine, he wasn't the most supportive back there. But maybe it's just his protective side coming out ya know?"

Green eyes rolled at this.

"I mean, if my student had to pretend to be a slave and degrade herself in such a way-scratch that, if I had to degrade her and treat her like some piece of property, I'd be against that too."

A few moments of silence passed until-

"Oh."

"Yeah. So don't let it get you down. I know Kakashi. Sure he can be...well not great at relationships or be all fuzzy and warm, but he's a great man about ninety nine percent of the time."

"What about the one percent?"

"Oh. That's the never being on time part."

His matter of fact response made her chuckle lightly. Yet even his sense of humor couldn't keep all her worries at bay.

"It's also the whole slave thing."

A silence, heavy with the unspoken things Ino might have had to suffer in that place, settled between them. It was only broken by Genma, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

"Yeahp. I agree. Just listening to the briefing made my insides squirm."

Suddenly, the fear and anxiety of not reaching her sensei's standards faded. Instead a slow but steady anger started within her, fueled by the mental images of what her best friend might have gone through, of what all those men and women, innocent and helpless, had to go through for someone else's entertainment and pleasure.

"Whoever started this business are pigs, scum-complete and utter assholes!" Sakura glared at the fire, deadly intent and hunger coming off her in waves.

"We're going to rescue Ino and save her from that hellhole. No matter what."

Genma saw the firm resolve shining in those green depths and smirked.

"Now you're talking."

They arrived at a small town. All the buildings were old and rickety, the ground practically barren and the people seemed lifeless. Their expressions were all vacant, especially the women.

As they walked through the area, Sakura felt like they were passing through a ghost town.

No laughter, no children, no life.

Even the local pub was empty.

"It feels so…" She began.

"Dead." He supplied, clearly as uncomfortable as she was.

"Yeah. But it's the only town for miles so this must be the entrance to the city."

"Mm."

The pair didn't waste any time, combing through the tiny village in search for the hidden tunnel. The scroll had a hastily drawn map. A while later, they were able to locate the hatch hidden underneath a seemingly empty house.

They glanced at each other before entering.

It couldn't be this easy.

But before either of them made another step, a gruff voice called out.

"Stop!"

They froze.

"What do you think you're doing here?"

A middle aged man stepped out of the shadows, suspicion clear on his weathered face while his arms crossed his chest. She felt for his chakra signature and immediately relaxed. He was a low level shinobi at best.

Genma didn't miss a beat, a relaxed expression on his face.

"I'm here to sell."

"Sell what?"

Sakura felt his hand wrap around her arm, pulling her forward harshly.

"This."

The urge to slap him was overwhelming but she settled for glaring at Genma instead.

"Well well."

The leer she got for the guard made her grit her teeth in frustration.

"Come right in then." He looked at her up and down, his eyes roving her form making Sakura shiver internally and her insides roll in disgust.

The guard unlocked then unchained the hatch before gesturing for them to enter.

Sakura went in first with Genma following closely behind. As soon as they were inside, the latch snapped shut, trapping them underground.

Small florescent light bulbs lined the tunnel, leading them deeper and deeper into the ground.

Two hours later, deep in the earth, Genma's eyes scanned the dark stretch before them warily then finally addressed Sakura.

"We're close."

Genma's voice wasn't as light or carefree. Instead it was deeper, gruffer even. Which was much more suited to their mission if he was going to pose as a slavedriver properly.

They had perfected their appearances earlier before leaving camp and erasing any traces of their stop there.

Only a hundred meters or more, and they'll be at the entrance of the city, Sakura glanced to her left, noting Genma's change in features and memorizing it.

The changes were subtle but enough that no one would stop to think he was in any way connected to konoha.

His skin was considerably darker just like his hair while his eyes were now a shade of blue thanks to a pair of contacts he had brought with them. No green flak vest, bandana or senbon needle, much to her surprise. Instead he wore a light grey shirt, its sleeves hugging his muscled arms and on his legs, black cargo pants with a pair of sturdy looking shoes. His get up seemed like something a civilian would wear. That is, until he layered a brightly colored haori over his clothes, its sleeves lined in a gaudy shade of gold.

"You look-"

"Hot. I know."

"I was going to say shiny but…" She snickered.

"Tch please. I'm playing the role of some rich bastard who makes a living selling slaves. Gotta look the part, am I right?"

"Hm. Well, you got the bastard part down so…"

"Very funny." He rolled his eyes. But suddenly the smirk was gone and he scanned the area quickly before handing Sakura a-

"Collar?"

The metal gleamed under the faint light of the electric bulbs hanging above them. It looked just like a dog collar but wasn't as thick or had spikes. It reminded her of a choker, thin enough that it wouldn't be heavy but thick enough to show the world her status.

"Yeah. Hokage-sama's orders."

She nodded grimly.

Of course.

She was property now.

A thing to be owned, dragged around, toyed with.

The chain that went with the collar peeked from Genma's pocket.

The mere sight of it made anger bubble deep in her chest, threatening to spill over.

This was only a ruse. But even then Sakura hated every second of it. It was humiliating, having to be pulled like a pet or a puppet on a string. But she wondered then how the other people felt. If she felt this terrible wearing this for show, what more for those who wore these chains and collars for real?

Ignoring the simmering anger, Sakura lifted her now waist length hair (which remained pink much to her surprise. But Shishou was sure no one would recognize them so far into wave country. The only thing she changed was the length. Made possible by using her chakra to stimulate the growth in her hair follicles) so that Genma could easily slip the metal around her neck, clasping it in place. Her fingers touched the collar, tracing the smooth surface and was instantly surprised. The clasp was gone.

Even worse, she couldn't feel her chakra.

"What the hell Genma? Chakra inhibitors?!" The snarl that left her lips was almost feral.

"Sorry but it's the Hokage's orders. If someone does recognize you, they'll know a strap of metal won't keep you down. This has to be believable." He assured her, a warm hand on her shoulder in a placating gesture.

Well. It made sense. She breathed deeply, calming herself. It's not like she would be completely defenseless anyways. With or without chakra, she was still a kunoichi.

"Fine."

"Don't worry. The tech team back home made this. It responds to Kakashi's chakra. As soon as he puts a little in his hand, touches the collar then ta-da! It comes off. But be careful, I doubt slaves can walk around without them so it's only for emergencies or when we find Ino."

"Got it."

"Okay. You're all set. Ready?"

Green eyes latched onto grey.

"Let's do this."

With that, Sakura swallowed her pride and fear, stepping forward. She only made three steps when she felt a hand on her head, putting just enough pressure so that she no longer looked ahead but at the ground.

"Head down. Remember, you're a slave. No name, nothing, alright?"

She swallowed a growl and nodded in reply.

"I apologize in advance for-"

This time Sakura cut him off in the barest of whispers.

"Don't say sorry. This is just a job. It's okay."

Genma breathed a sigh of relief at her response.

"Good. Now hurry up. We better get in before sundown. Kakashi looks pretty much the same. Just no mask and different eyes. No scar."

Sakura gaped openly before remembering her role.

"No way, he'll be maskless?!"

"Woah. Calm down."

A sheepish chuckle left her lips at his shocked stare.

"Sorry. We haven't seen him without that damned mask of his."

Genma wanted to ruffle her hair but was unable to do so because of the rapidly approaching chakra signatures.

One, two...no, at least four men.

He pasted a blank expression on his tanned face, ready to play his part in their façade.

"Greetings."

They were all dressed the same. Blood red yukatas and fitting black pants with matching black boots.

"State your name and business." The tallest of them growled.

"Such a cold welcome. And here I thought I already passed the screening."

"Tch. I'll be the judge of that."

"I go by Takeshi."

"No last name?"

"I prefer just Takeshi. I was disowned by my family many years ago. Clan politics and all. Anyways, one thing led to another and I became a bounty hunter. Lucrative business I say. Especially when I come by such a pretty prize."

Sakura grunted in surprise when Genma yanked the chain in his hand sharply, pulling her with it. She landed on her hands and knees, her eyes still glued to the floor, trying her best to remain as docile and weak looking.

This burned her pride but to hell with it.

Anything to get her family back.

"Well damn. Pink hair."

She wanted to roll her eyes.

Wow. Never heard of that one before.

Swallowing the snarky remark, she dug her nails into the ground to keep from punching the man before her. She settled for glaring at his scuffed up shoes instead.

"Wonder if it's real." An almost nasally voice questioned aloud.

"Hehe, I'd like to find out if she's pink all over." Another slimy voice snickered.

"The boss is gonna wanna see her." Another voice stated.

"Hang on, lemme see her face. She could be fucking ugly-"

A kunai tipped her chin upwards, its metal lightly scraping her flesh.

Green eyes glared defiantly at the guards.

A low whistle left the leader's lips.

"Well Takeshi." Although the man was speaking to Genma, his eyes never left Sakura's face. "It seems like it's your lucky day."

He licked his lips appreciatively before finally stepping backwards and gesturing for his fellow men to do the same.

"Maybe I'll stop by the auction tonight." He chuckled to his friends, glancing back at the pinkette and winking, effectively making Sakura gag.

A lighter tug on the chain indicated that they were on the move again.

It was annoying, having to look at nothing but the ground but she couldn't jeopardize this mission. Not when Ino's life was on the line.

They finally reached the end. Or at least, Sakura assumed it was the end because they stopped walking.

The leader spoke again, his voice oily and loud.

"Welcome to Tsumi-shi."

He made a sweeping gesture with his arm then pushed the metal door open. Sakura noted there was some sort of seal on it that responded to his hand. The chains immediately unlinked themselves, landing on the ground as the entrance opened up, revealing a city alive with lights and lanterns, color and people, the complete opposite of the town just above them.

The whole area was huge. She wondered just how far beneath the ground they were for a place like this to exist. Large temple-like buildings littered the area, all tall, towering over them with tiled roofs, red pillars keeping them upright and elevated from the ground with numerous steps. Some houses were much more modest yet still had an air of elegance to them with their painted sliding doors and bubbling fountains. Orange, pink and yellow lanterns hung from lamp post to lamp post, their light giving a warm glow to the cold dark. The streets were smooth despite the lack of concrete or roads and she noticed they even had shrubbery and plants situated around the vicinity. It looked like a beautiful place. Normal even.

That is, until Sakura noticed the people in it.

The distinction between master and slave was made abundantly clear with the different colored and styled collars.

Those who wore such things around their necks looked at nothing but their feet, carrying bags, food trays or just slumping submissively.

The masters on the other hand walked with their heads held high, eyes always looking up or ahead. The only time they seemed to look down was when addressing their slave.

Bile lurched from her stomach at the sight of such cruelty.

"Come on pinky!" The leader of the four called out, earning several jeers from his friends in the process.

Sakura's eyes darted at him for a split second before glaring stubbornly at the ground again. She dug her nails into her hands from punching that lecherous grin off his bearded face.

The pair followed the men into the city, passing by several shops that sold every kind of alcohol imaginable, weapons, sex toys (she blushed at that one) and god knows what else.

This place reeked of alcohol, sex and blood.

They stopped in front a building devoid of any windows, its walls a startling shade of crimson with nothing but a black door. Two men were on either side of the door, arms crossed, each wearing a mask that hid their faces from the nose down.

"Well hello there."

A woman, probably around her early thirties if Sakura had to guess, came forward, a fake smile on her painted red lips. She was gorgeous, with her slanted brown eyes, cropped black hair and caramel colored skin. The kimono she was wearing was a beautiful shade of aquamarine, shimmering as she moved under the lights overhead. Her hips swayed as she walked and even her voice was light and sweet. But despite the airy demeanor and soft face, Sakura had a bad feeling about her.

"You're new." She noted, arching a black brow in curiosity at Genma who gave a roguish smile in reply.

"I couldn't resist visiting the forbidden city. All the bandits and bounty hunters talk about this place. Not to mention the kind of money I can earn if I bring a particular type of merchandise."

"I suppose our reputation precedes us."

"Are you in charge here?"

"Ha! I wish." She rolled her brown eyes at the question. "I merely handle the products. Dress them all nice and pretty to entice the buyers to spend even more money. Speaking of products...what have you brought today?"

Again her chain was pulled brutally but not by the person Sakura expected. Instead of Genma, she was now close to the woman, mere inches away from her perfectly made up face. A pink tongue darted out to lick her lips as she surveyed the pinkette, a gesture that reminded Sakura of a snake.

"Not bad. She'll get a decent price I'm sure. Even better when I'm through with her." The woman stepped back and reached into the folds of her sleeves, her hand coming out with a large wad of cash, more than enough to cover her rent for at least five years.

"Will this suffice?"

"Mm. Maybe a bit more. After all, this one's a fighter. It took a lot to chain her up."

As if she expected such a response, the woman gave a knowing smirk and brought out three more wads of cash with the same amount.

Genma pursed his lips for a moment then grabbed the money, stashing it in his rucksack.

"She's all yours."

Sakura wished he could have at least said goodbye. Or given her some kind of message or sign to ease her worries. Instead, Genma simply turned and left, not once looking back.

But of course she knew that clinging to her captor wouldn't make sense at all so she decided to remain passive, eyes once again trained on the ground while she steeled herself for what was yet to come.

Hang on Ino. I'm coming for you.

Sakura was then blindfolded, gagged and pulled by her chain into the building. She walked down three flights of stairs before the woman shoved her down onto a stool, removing her blindfold after.

The men, thank goodness, were gone.

But now she knew why.

They were in, what looked to be, a dressing room.

The wall on one side were lined with mirrors, bright light bulbs framing the reflective surfaces and small wooden tables in front of each one, all littered with make-up, clothes and brushes. The room was empty much to her surprise. But maybe the other girls were already upstairs at the auction. Or hidden somewhere while waiting.

The gag soon came off and Sakura resisted the urge to punch the woman, who later introduced herself as Yumi.

"Okay. I'm gonna give you some advice hun." Yumi muttered as she began wiping Sakura's face with a damp washcloth.

"Stop with the glaring. You're already here so deal with it. Best chance you've got at a decent life is play nice, get on your master's good side and maybe, just maybe, you'll survive. Got it?"

While she spoke, her hands were everywhere, scrubbing Sakura clean until her skin was flushed and pink.

The pinkette wasn't sure why Yumi was talking to her all of a sudden but it wouldn't hurt to respond right? Maybe she pegged her too quickly and she wasn't so awful. So she gave a small nod, earning a quick smile from the woman.

Soon Yumi had a makeup pallette in her hand with a brush in the other, concentration evident in her slanted eyes. Powder, eye liner, all of the things women usually put on their face to enhance their features, all the things Sakura barely wore due to her occupation and lack of social life, were suddenly put on her face with expert, nimble fingers.

"There. Now your clothes. Strip."

Breathing deeply through her nose, Sakura obeyed, wondering what was wrong with her yukata and skirt.

"Here. Try this on."

Sakura looked at the scraps of cloth and heaps of lace and garter in her hands.

Oh God.

Kakashi was going to see her in lingerie.

"Hurry up! We don't have all night here. The auction already started five minutes ago. Unless you wanna wait in the slave stalls for another week, you better hurry your ass up."

Swallowing whatever dignity she had left, Sakura nodded and put on the most racy piece of clothing she had ever seen in her life.

After several embarrassing minutes of mistakenly putting her arms and legs through the wrong hole, Sakura finished, her body feeling very exposed in the well lit room.

Right beside her was a mirror and despite Sakura's better judgement, she took a peek then proceeded to blush, staring unbelievingly at the change she saw.

Her body, encased in black lace, curves more pronounced and breasts much perkier thanks to the little padding in the bra, was reflected back to her in the mirror. Black lined her eyes, making them seem larger and brighter than they usually were. Her lips were painted a rosy pink that matched her hair and cheeks. The waterfall of pink behind her remained untouched, flowing down her back until it reached her waist. She was hit with the sudden urge to touch her cheek, curious how Yumi had managed to transform her ragged features into that of a pretty woman.

But her outfit! God, it was so scandalous and tight she knew that this was the sort of clothes the stars of icha-icha novels wore when they had to seduce their enemy.

If only there was more coverage! But clearly the intent was to show off skin, not hide it.

Sakura fidgeted in discomfort, wondering how the hell such small black ribbons could keep the panties and bra in place. There was even a larger ribbon that tied around her waist that connected to garters strapped along her thighs which held up black stockings trimmed in even more lace. She curled her toes in the heels Yumi had forced her into, demanding that she better not fall or damage the shoes.

Seconds later, Yumi walked around her in a slow circle, hands on her chin, inspecting Sakura much like a critic would for a painting.

"Mm-hm. Gorgeous. Let's go."

With an affirmative nod, Yumi blindfolded Sakura, pulled her chain forward and left the room, dragging the pinkette with her up the flights of stairs and through several doors.

Sounds of clapping, jeers and yells caught Sakura's attention instantly. Mostly men were calling out, their rowdy voices clear in the air.

"Five hundred thousand ryo!"

"Yes sir! Do I hear six hundred thousand? Anyone?"

When no one countered the bid, the announcer pounded the gavvil.

"And SOLD! To the gentlemen in blue at the back!"

Finally they stopped walking and Sakura felt butterflies, giant mutant butterflies erupt in her stomach.

"Wait here. Someone will bring you to the middle then they'll start bidding. Remember what I said. Stay put and mouth shut." Yumi whispered into the shell of Sakura's ear before disappearing altogether.

She waited, nervousness eating her up from the inside out.

The only consolation, the only source of strength she had right now was the hope her friend was in the area, alive and waiting to be saved.

Too soon, the pinkette felt her chain being pulled hard, bringing her forward. Whoever dragged her out removed her blindfold as well. Her eyes squinted at the sudden brightness, noticing that she was enveloped in a single spotlight, leaving the rest of the room almost completely dark. Her feet, clad in small kitten heels were standing atop a stage, surrounded by hundreds of men, eyes all hungry and looking right at her as if she were a piece of meat and they've been starved for several days.

Kakashi, please be here...

Although her role demanded she be the epitome of submissive, she couldn't help glaring hatefully at all the men waving their cash in the air, desperate and crazed.

If it was noisy before, it was absolutely crazy now.

"We have a treat for you tonight! Here she is, a beautiful flower, pink and fresh just like spring! Who'd like to taste if she's as sweet as she looks?! Let's start the bid at ten thousand ryo!"

The announcer hadn't even finished speaking when several men clamored, standing up with money in their hands, eyes on her barely clothed body.

Oh God. What if someone else bought her instead?

The prices were getting higher and higher.

How the hell was Kakashi going to outbid them?

"Seven hundred thousand here!"

"I hear a-"

"Seven hundred fifty thousand!"

"Alright sir! Any-"

"Eight hundred thousand!"

"Any other bids-"

A voice, his voice, cut through the chaos, both eyes, trained on her.

"Nine hundred thousand."

Sakura practically sagged in relief at the familiar head of silver hair.

"You got it! Anyone else?"

Grumbles and sighs were heard all around the room.

"Alright. Going once to the man with the grey hair…"

The pinkette began to relax at the sight of her sensei.

"Going twice…"

She noted how different, how young he looked without his mask. Almost attractive. Why would he cover his face? No wart. No buck teeth. He was...handsome. But before she could delve into her thoughts further, another voice sliced through the air, halting the announcer's words.

"One million ryo."

Green eyes snapped to Kakashi who looked just as shocked.

It can't be.

But it was.

Sakura followed the voice and felt her body go completely numb at the sight before her.

Dark hair, dark eyes and pale skin.

The last person she expected to see was standing in the middle of the crowd. He stood tall among the sea of strangers, his piercing gaze was so intense she could feel her heart start to race in her chest.

It was Sasuke.

His dark eyes bore into her as he spoke again.

"One million ryo for Sakura Haruno."

Well shit.

Just a little plot bunny I had in my head. Not sure if I should continue. But hope you enjoyed reading and leave me a review and tell me whatchu guys think!- MKSS