Chapter 11: Caught and busted

Riku was making his way back to his own country alone this time. No ninjas to look after him or escort him back.
“Stupid…Konoha ninjas” he muttered and recited. “Think they know everything”

Itachi heard the reciting of a federal lord that he knew was part of his little brother’s mission. Jumping down from the branched he eyed Riku, his crimson red eyes, seem to want blood.
“Who are you?!” Riku asked, anxiously, his knees shaking in fear. “Are you that Uchiha? Sasuke?” Itachi came closer to the client, almost infront of him, and spoke in a harsh toned voice.
“You’re close”
“He’s the brat’s brother” Kisame interrupted, he had his sword on his shoulder, grinning evilly at the client.
“We heard that you were with my brother for some time of the journey” Itachi spoke up. “Where is he?” Riku was too afraid to answer back; he knew who they were, just by looking at their cloaks.
“T-Th-That’s true” he answered.
“Now tell me where is he?”
“H-H-He went after Sa-Sa-“
“Who?” Itachi spoke again. Listening to the federal lord stuttered was interesting and humorous.
“Sakura….Haruno Sakura”  
“Where did they go?” Kisame disrupted both men again.
“O-Orochimaru’s lair…….Orochimaru took her……..” Riku answered again. Itachi had a smirk playing on the corner of his lips.
“Seems like Sasuke went after that kunochi” Itachi stated clearly again. “Orochimaru must be trying to lure him in” Itachi turned away from the client and started to walk off when he was stopped by the voice of his partner.
“What do we do with this guy?” Kisame asked, placing his sword infront Riku’s face.
“Just leave him he’s useless” Itachi stated blankly before disappearing back into the woods. Kisame gave a slight chuckle before disappearing himself.  

A few minutes had passed, Itachi and Kisame was already heading for the snake’s lair. “So the plan is to catch Haruno Sakura?” Itachi spoke up.
“Seems like she’s the bait” Kisame added. “Itachi you must really like torturing your brother”
“My business……is none of yours…..your here to help not ask me questions….got it?”
“Do you even know where Orochimaru’s lair is?” Kisame asked, even though he knew that but ‘not ask me questions’ meant not to ask Itachi about his brother, family life, etc….
“Yes…of course I do….he use to be with us Akatsuki members…of course I knew where he would run away too…….Sasori told me”
“That’s right Sasori used to work along with that snake” Itachi was now on the verge of ignoring the shark completely. Re-opening and re-closing his eyes again.

Sasuke’s anger rose by an inched every minute, he would stop occasionally and stare at the necklace that Sakura had dropped on that night, the pink hearted cherry reminded him of the memories that of Sakura being with him every step of the way, till the day that he had left her on that cold bench as he left for Orochimaru. He could see now on his palm, the Uchiha crest and the pink hearted cherry staring back at him, telling him something that he couldn’t pick up.