Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 11

Contradictions

Madara stretched his legs and tapped lightly on the desk. A small piece of paper was neatly folded on it; near to it was a small teabag. The brunet was looking in space as if it had all the answers. He didn't know what to make of the situation, and man, rare were the occasions on which Madara was confused.

It was two days since Sakura had warned him about the supposed poison. The results for the powder he'd stolen had arrived this morning. It was not supposed poison, apparently; it was poison for sure. A potent one if he were to take his man's words to heart. The specialist analysed it and assured him there was no mistake or doubt. He, however, said he'd never seen such an unnerving mix – while some of the components were meant to enchant one's senses and transform him into a superhuman, the quantity in the teabag was lethal. Madara picked it up and pursed his lips together. The specialist had suggested that he didn't take the least amount of the powder.

Madara wouldn't risk.

What fazed him was not that the Senjus were able to create such a thing; oh, no! He knew the likes of them. They were acting sweet and innocent towards the exterior but were just as tainted as him. Unlike him, though, they were a bunch of hypocrites and cowards. He wasn't afraid to walk with his sins on his sleeve.

What disturbed Madara's usual calm was the fact that Sakura had not lied. It was… odd. What were her motives? There had to be some. He wouldn't believe that she had warned him out of conscience. Or out of a stupid sense of fairness.

She was a former secret agent, for fuck's sake! She couldn't be that stupid, could she?

He closed his eyes and envisioned her smug smile, her vixen-like stare. She had proved him plenty of times that she knew what she was doing. Indeed, she could be an idiot at times, too – that he had to save her counted as well – but most of the time she was a down-to-earth person.

Besides, as they were enemies, there was no place for fairness between them. This was only a war both wanted to win. To think that she wanted them to be on the same foot would be foolish; it would mean she held any loyalty towards him.

Or not really, for the world around. But for him, it was a different story.

The brunet was neither used to his adversaries playing nice nor with the others protecting him unless ordered to.

"She is something else, isn't she?"

Madara gulped. His heart skipped a beat. He fisted the shirt where his heart was. Why did he feel so strange? Something inside of him was twisting, and it hurt but felt right at the same time He raised his eyes and fixed it on the only sculpture in the room – Intimacy by Kramer. Looking at that specific piece of art, his mind went spinning. He grunted and cupped his head.

Why? Why do I fucking feel this way?! I want it to stop.

It reminded him of when they had been together, so ever close to each other only a few days ago. He'd been restless since then, but could not say way. It was as if a demon possessed him. Perhaps she was a succubus.

Yes, he mused. That would explain her invading my thoughts at night.

Oh, who was he trying to fool? She was but a mere human; a witchy one sometimes.

He had asked himself many times these days if it had been better if he hadn't returned for her. Would she have burnt to death? He adored fire, but the idea of her hurt by it gave him goose bumps. It prickled his flesh. Would she have got away with only being severe injured? It wasn't a pleasant thought but was better than dying. Or perhaps that dog of hers – what was his name again? – would have saved her. Madara imagined his hands on her and snarled involuntarily.

As soon as he realised his doing, he stiffened. Sakura was not his. He had no saying over her life. He retained a growl in the back of his throat as he meditated on it. That fucking old bastard didn't own her. They were in the same both.

Only that they've been lovers, a wicked voice spoke in his head.

That's what he got for digging in every aspect of her life.

Just think about the things she'd done with that dirty mouth of hers, he shivered. Think about how she moaned his name while he pumped desperately into her, think about him touching her tender flesh, and just imagine the look on her face when she fell into oblivion…

Madara's teeth were gritted. Had his heart just stopped working? It couldn't be. He felt his heart exploding from the anger.

"That fucking bitch!"

He hated her for making him experience these range of feelings. It was hard to keep his cool when it came to her. What did make Sakura so special? He didn't know how to cope with this shit.

And why was a vein popping at his neck when he thought about that grey-haired bastard? It wasn't his business who Sakura fucked with. Or who she had fucked before meeting him.

It wasn't. Nothing stopped him from wanting to slit their throats open and put a hole in their chest after he had cut off their hands and tongues and dicks, and whatever the fuck they could have touched her with, though.

It took him only a few seconds to act. His body had been in motion before his mind caught up with what was going on. The brunet shot straight and reached for his gun. It was fired and prepared to blow someone's brains.

"Yes, that would do," he said, thinking about how he could make this feeling of anxiety and torment cease. It was only unfortunate for Kakashi that his death meant the criminal's way of blowing off steam.

When a young man entered the office without knocking and acknowledge Madara's demeanour, he instantly kneeled down and apologised. It must be said that the leader's eyes gave away his need for blood. He was beyond scary and frightening. He took dread to the next level.

"Sit up," demanded he.

"Y-yes, sir," the boy blabbered. "I wanted to announce you that Sensei is here. W-would you like me to reschedule today's training?"

Madara looked at the gun, then at the boy, and eventually at the door. After what seemed like an eternity of terror for the boy – not that their leader had punished anyone without them deserving it – the man spoke:

"No. Tell him I'll be down in a few moments."

Caressing the weapon, Madara passed his lips over it. Its coldness relaxed him. The arrival of the Sensei was just on time.

"Not now, but soon," he murmured and closed his eyes. The image of Sakura and Kakashi together flashed in his mind, and it was mentioned that Madara's imagination knew no boundaries He was very creative.

His grip on the gun tightened.

God protect the poor Sensei that would face Madara's rage. He felt like an animal in a cage, and he was about to break free and let loose.

It never ended well.

Sakura groaned and flinched when steady hands examined her body. She was lying in bed, one hand over her eyes. The light was unbearable. Tsunade pinched her leg, and she bit the inside of her cheek, pushing her head deep in the mattress.

"How painful?"

"3."

"Sakura," the blonde warned. She knew that the young woman tended to belittle her injuries. She was such an idiot.

"Okay. Maybe a 5 or 6."

Of course, on a scale from 1 to 10, she was really at 8,5, and she would soon need painkillers.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she breathed the answer, struggling to ignore Tsunade's palms on her. She loved the blonde, who was a damn good doctor as well, despite owning a casino. However, Sakura didn't want anything else besides a hot bath, a long sleep, some painkillers and maybe some shopping later in the day. The latter didn't help her, but she would not stay home and feel powerless. She'd rather cut the fucking leg and jump on one foot.

"What the hell, Sakura?!" she scolded her after twisting her leg a little longer. "What was in your head?" She didn't let her defend herself. "You could've died in there. Are you insane?!" Sakura refrained from telling her exactly how close to getting asphyxiated she had been. "Are you back to your death-wish? Because I can recommend you some amazing pills, you know?"

Sakura covered her face with both her hands. She didn't want to remind of that period of her life. She had learnt to… exist since then.

"I don't need any."

The other woman shook her head. She put some distance between them. Frustration was written all over her face. "I don't get you then."

"I wanted to help."

"There was a team on the way as far as I've learnt."

"They would've gotten there too late. I had to do something."

"No, you didn't! You're no longer an agent, Sakura. Stop acting like one!"

Sakura felt as if she'd been slapped.

She could put up with a lot of shit, but this, this, she wouldn't put up with it.

"It was only that fool's fault. Why didn't Jiraiya announce me sooner?"

Her murmur got past the pinkette. "What did you just say?" Tsunade ignored her. Sakura sat up on the bed, despite the pain. "What the fuck did you just say, Ma'am?!" Tsunade was caught off-guard. Sakura's cheeks were rosy with anger, and her eyes sent daggers. "I don't need an agency to do what I know to do! No longer an agent, you say? I've saved people's life back there, Tsunade!"

"You're not apt to be an agent anymore, Sakura."

Her eyes brimmed with tears. "I will do it until I give my last breath." She looked elsewhere, not noticing the blonde's growl and knitted brows.

"Why are you so selfish?"

"I am selfish?!"

"You're thinking only about yourself. Of course, you are."

I need to punch something, someone… anything. I just one to throw a punch so badly.

"How does helping the others make me selfish, you… you…"

Sakura clenched her fists. Her leg was throbbing, but she couldn't care less about this right now. She'd had fights with Tsunade in the past, and they were all aflame; however, this, that she could no longer do what an agent could, was new in some ways. Sakura had never known that was what her mentor thought.

"Have you ever thought about how I would feel if I were to lose you? Have you?!" Sakura's eyes widened. "You're family, idiot. You. Are. Family." Tears fell on her cheeks. "I couldn't bear losing you, too." She gasped for air and turned her head. "So don't you dare to put yourself in a similar situation ever again or I'm going to kill you myself."

Sakura's features softened, yet she was offended. Tsunade was sensible. She put up a tough act, but she had a fragile heart. This wasn't an excuse to throw the "you're not an agent anymore" in her face. Protecting her physically was not an excuse for shattering her heart.

Besides, Sakura would rather have her heart than anything else. Though, it was already a lost dream, as her heart had been destroyed a long time ago.

"I will not allow this to happen again. I'm going to keep my eyes on you."

"Tsunade."

"And no more playing around. You have to find a healthier hobby than chasing bad guys."

It's not a hobby.

"Tsunade."

"Maybe you should try pursuing your dream as a medic. It's not too later. Or you could-"

"Tsunade!"

"What is it?"

Sakura inhaled deeply. She needed space, solitude. She needed to put order in her thought. She needed to punch something.

Her leg throbbed.

And damn it! She needed painkillers.

"… Get out."