Chapter 3: Animal I Have Become

This encounter was nothing like the way Naruto pictured his reunion with his best friend would be. She was supposed to come home on her own, the way Sasuke did, and she was supposed to be glad to see him. He would hug her, and run his fingers through her beautiful hair while he told her how much he missed her and how glad he was that she was home.

But she couldn't give him the reunion he wanted. Not while she was in this state. She has committed several crimes, including betraying her village and becoming a member of the Akatsuki. According to his knowledge, she had not been a member for very long – just long enough to acquire a teammate and become acquainted, which was too long in his book. Where had she been for so long if she only recently joined Akatsuki?

These questions would all have to be answered later, for she was obviously not in the mood to reminisce.

"Sakura-chan, what's wrong with you?" he asked.

"Why don't you ask yourself that question before interrogating me, hmm?" she spat. That stung, but he knew she didn't mean it. It was all a show. He looked over to Sasuke, who was stoic, but he could tell he was just as dumbfounded. Since when does Sakura talk like this?

"Sakura-chan.."

"Don't call me that. I'm not your little Sakura-chan anymore, or anyone's for that matter."

"Hn. Dramatic much?" Sasuke mused. Her head snapped to look at him. Her eyes bored into his, flaming with unmatchable anger and disgust. The hairs on the back of his neck pricked up, and chills ran down his spine. He could feel the raw energy assimilating around her.

"No, Sasu-cakes. If I wanted to be dramatic, I would have made a grand entrance and expected everyone in my hospital room, welcoming me home." She was seething. "How dare you-" she was cut off by her own scream as she writhed in pain.

Naruto and Sasuke stepped back in another shock. Purple tinted, almost electric looking streaks surrounded her whole body as she cringed up. Her screams echoed through the circular room. The source of her agony could be traced to her abdomen, where a device attached itself with wires that dug into her skin. It was a chakra limiter, the spike in her chakra caused it to activate. They had seen a similar device in the Land of Snow.

When the episode was over, she slumped back down, her head almost hitting the floor. If it weren't for the chains yanking her arms back to the wall, she would have hit the ground. She breathed heavily for a moment, and then began to giggle.

What the hell is her problem? Why is she laughing? Sasuke thought. Naruto merely stood with his hands fisted in his hair, still not believing his eyes.

"How ironic is it to be tortured with your own torture device?" she laughed.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked.

"Before I left, I reinvented the device used on you on our mission in the Land of Snow. It seemed like it would be useful to us." She licked the blood from the corners of her mouth and spat on the ground. "Now the people I made it for are using it against me. It's genius!"

"Sakura I didn't know you could make stuff like this, why didn't you tell me?" he was confused.

"I didn't want you to know why I was making it. You never would have let me continue."

"Nani? What was it for?"

"I've already said too much, but I was going to take it with me when I left, to use it on my enemies."

"So you knew..even then, that you were going to betray all of us?" Naruto became angry.

"I wouldn't call it betrayal. It's not like I ever tried to attack the village." She pointedly looked at Sasuke, who looked away.

"Sakura, why did you leave? You didn't even warn me!"

"If I warned you, would you have let me go?" this was the first time she had softened her expression. He closed his eyes, and stared at the floor with clenched fists. He knew she was right.

"That still doesn't explain why you left." Sasuke finally said.

"That is still none of your damn business." She stated simply. Who is this, and where is Sakura?

"Hn."

"You're the same as ever. Won't you ever grow up, Uchiha?" she laughed again.

He was about to speak, when he was interrupted by a guard. "Excuse me, you two, it is time for the prisoner to be interrogated." The large man said, brandishing his whip laden with shuriken.

"You aren't seriously going to use that on her are you?" Naruto was fuming.

"Not if she cooperates."

"Don't you dare touch her." Sasuke was in the guards face now, and Naruto had to pull him back.

"Remember you're still on thin ice Teme." He whispered.

"Sorry boys, orders from the High Chief of Justice. You don't have a choice in the matter." The guard smirked. Their faces twitched with anger.

"You boys act like I'm afraid of a whipping. Just go away. You have your own petty lives to worry about." Sakura said with her head once again to the floor.

"I WILL talk to the Hokage about this." Naruto stated in the face of the guard.

"You do that." He said, shutting the door on Naruto and Sasuke. They waited for a few seconds, neither of them wanting to move from the entrance to the chamber. As they turned to leave, a crack of the whip could be heard, and a short, gasping shout. They shuddered, and Sasuke turned to the door once more.

"How are you letting him get away with this?" he yelled at Naruto.

"I can't do anything about it, Sasuke, but I'm going to get Tsunade to fix it." He was broken. Sasuke's whole image of Naruto was shattered. What happened while he was gone? Where were the teammates he left behind? He was allowed to change, not them.

They both turned back to the stairs and began the quick ascent to the surface. Her screams echoed up the spiral staircase, and only when they were outside and sprinting to the Hokage tower were they drowned out by the sound of their own heartbeats and racing thoughts.

Sorry, I know I promised a longer chapter, but I'm working on it. Thanks for reading!

R&R! :)