It's early. The air is crisp enough that Sakura feels chilly. Both omega are asleep.

Shisui stands a little to the side. In the time she's known him, she's never seen him smoke a single cigarette until today.

Izumi comes out, too, taking the half cigarette from his fingers to inhale a long drag. If it bothers Shisui, he doesn't show it. "The rain's coming in quick."

"Does it smell," Izumi flicks the cigarette. The wind carries the ashes away from them. "Off, somehow?"

"You noticed it, too?" He says. She hands him his cigarette back and he finishes it off, putting it out on the concrete platform in front of one of the many entrances. "It's familiar but I can't quite place it."

"Must be the bear," Says Izumi.

"Must be."

"This place is so fucking boring," Says the brunette. "I'm about ready to start some shit with Rai just to stay sane."

Shisui laughs. "You could always start shit with me, Pear."

"No," She says. "Because then you'll go crying to Fugaku-sama and get my ass beat."

"Like you don't do the same thing," He says.

"I didn't say I didn't." She says. There's a long pause as the Uchiha watch the circling birds. "I guess I'm going to make sure everything is secure," She says as she wanders off into the heavily wooded area.

"Send the bear my regards," He calls after her.

The birds cry out to each other, creating a raucous noise as if they've found something to eat.

"Do you think Orochimaru will come back?" Asks Sakura.

"He'd be dumb as hell to show his face out here," Says Shisui. "Or mighty fucking brave because he should expect that I'm here."

"The almighty Shisui, huh?" She says.

Playfully, he says, "Bitch, yes."

"You don't think he's going to come after the other half of the Clan, do you?"

"There's nobody worth snatching over there," Says Shisui. "Unless you count Sasuke, but I think even Kumo would pay us to take him back -- Which we would refuse of course. Finder's keeper's."

"He's not that bad, Shisui."

"You don't live in his vicinity."

Sakura rolls her eyes.

Izumi comes back. "Everything's still good. I refilled the generator just in case."

"Good good," Says Shisui. The three of them go back inside right as it begins to rain and Sakura realizes she was freezing.

The Uchiha seem unfazed. Izumi is in shorts and a tank top. Shisui's dressed a little more appropriately, a beanie and hoodie combo that Sakura plans to steal from him at the first chance.

Rain, however, seems to make every single Uchiha in the hideout restless like a disturbed ant nest. She tries to stay out of the way.

Sakura's got a routine down with Deidara that mostly involves keeping him handcuffed when he's roaming the stronghold and crated when she can't be constantly watching him. Itachi's heat passes over them like the slowly rolling clouds.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

She doles out food as she listens to the Uchiha pace up and down the hallway.

"What's with them, un?" Asks the blonde.

"The rain," Says Sakura. "It fucks up their hair and that means they have to be within twenty feet of each other so there's no frizz."

"I hate that I can't disagree with that statement," Says Shisui.

The lights shut off. There's an eerie red glow before the generator kicks on.

The lights come back on to full brightness before completely going dark.

"Well, shit," Says Shisui. "Didn't Pear say she put more petrol in that damn thing?"

"I thought so," Says Sakura.

"Pear?" Says Itachi.

"Izumi." Says Shisui. "She's pear-shaped. Big ass, no titties."

"You are so gross," Sakura says.

The door swings open, Fugaku stands behind it with a lantern. "Sui, can you go and try to get the generator to kick back on? I'm going to make sure everyone is okay."

He waits till Fugaku has moved down the hall before kissing Itachi and Sakura, patting Deidara's head as he pulls on his jacket. "I'll be back."

"Damn, really?" Asks Sakura. "I had plans to replace you."

His eyes roll. "Luckily for me, I'm one of a kind."

"Uchiha all look the same," She calls after him, snickering at his single middle finger.

"Alright," Says Sakura. "I can't see for shit."

Itachi blinks, sharingan making an appearance. "I've got it."

As if in response, the red glowing lights kick on but flash intermittently.

"Well, that's sort of better," She says.

Deidara exhales hard, eyes locked on the doorway.

"What is it?" Sakura looks up and there's an alpha there. His eyes are a haunting golden colour.

He smells like the omega from before. Sakura stands, creating a barrier between her omega and him. "You're pretty fucking brave to be here."

The alpha smiles. It's supernatural in a way that makes Sakura's blood curdle. She can hear one of the omega hyperventilating behind her as she squares off. She doesn't think she's going to win, but she's going to die trying.

A ceiling panel clatters to the floor as Izumi lands in front of Sakura. "The fuck you think you're doing here?"

Orochimaru's head tilts. "What a stupid little girl."

"Come on!" Screams Izumi as the lightning crashes outside their window.

Sakura turns to her omega with the realization that the female Uchiha is buying her time. Both omega are frozen.

She runs to the window and pulls it open. Orochimaru moves to stop her but Izumi jumps in front again, blocking him from them.

"My business isn't with you," Says the Sannin. "Get out of the way."

"It is now," She says as she comes in close, swiping at Orochimaru with her katana.

Sakura hefts both trembling omega, dumping them outside the window, climbing out, and shutting it as blood spatters against the pane.

"Izumi!" Cries Itachi.

She knows she only has seconds. Grabbing them, Sakura makes a mad dash towards one of the entrances to the left.

She's just barely got them tucked around the corner when the window smashes open. "I can smell you, you know?"

"Itachi," Whispers Sakura as she pries open the heavy doors. They groan as they move. It's sure to get his attention so her time is cut down. "I need you to take Deidara and hide, okay?"

He shakes his head frantically. "I can't leave you."

"It's okay. I'm the Godaime's Apprentice. I'll be fine. But I need you out of the way."

"Sakura," He says. "Please, I-"

"Go," She says.

Itachi takes a breath, grabbing Deidara by the arm to help him stand and they disappear down the hallway as Sakura cracks her knuckles.

The Sannin's head snaps around the corner, eyes wild and fangs out but she's ready.

Her fist catches the snake-like alpha square in the face. It's the one hit she'll probably land so she's sure to make it count.

It flings the Sannin, head and body, into the forest. He knocks down a tree that starts a ripple effect and she hopes it gets the attention of the Uchiha in the stronghold.

Orochimaru chuckles as he reappears at the treeline. But Sakura is already pulling the heavy doors shut, putting something between them for the next strike. Her foot knocks against something pliant and turns to find the bodies of half the people sent by the Uchiha littering the floor. The wind is knocked from Sakura's lungs. Terror that Shisui might be in the death count makes it hard to think before she hears the Sannin's giggle. She realizes her time is slim as she activates her Byakugou.

Picking up several kunai and shuriken, Sakura asks, "What's the point in all this? What do you want?"

There's movement all around her and she waits.

"Haven't you ever wondered what it would be like to be immortal?" Asks the Sannin.

"I wouldn't want it like this."

She catches his gaze in the vent above her and throws her gathered weapons at him as his tongue wraps around her neck. He blocks the weapons with a single kunai and starts to lift her off the ground, laughing maniacally as she struggles. She makes one good desperate, chakra enforced yank as she's on her tip-toes. To her surprise, he's dragged down to her.

Right into her fist.

He flies back for a second time and she's thrown when he releases her, colliding with cement. It knocks the wall down and her vision starts to tunnel and fade as Orochimaru's feet step into her view. "I'm going to kill you, now, Sakura-chan~"