It was an odd day for Konoha. No one could comprehend what happened that day. The beautiful kunoichi, Sakura, was on a mission with team Kakashi,minus Sasuke who'd left for the sound nin. They had to save Gaara, the Kazekage. He was the one-tailed jinchuuriki. This, the Akatsuki were interested in. Deidara, bringing the unconscious sand ninja to the Akatsuki leader, caused the three day extraction of the one-tailed demon. Involving every Akatsuki member, Itachi, the former ANBU member, was also involved, but for a different purpose. Team Kakashi, though they met up with team Guy, was sadly too late for the Kazekage. Realizing Naruto may be next. and that Gaara wasn't coming back, Sakura and Lady Chiyo, Sasori's grandmother, were left to fight the evil puppet master, with Naruto and Kakashi distracted by the bad mouthed Deidara. Sakura broke Sasori's puppet shell with the advice of Lady Chiyo, ignoring Kakashi sensei's orders not to do anything drastic. Itachi was watching, however, no one knew. He recognized her strength was possibly even greater than Hokage Tsunade herself. Interesting he thought to himself. It gave him flashbacks of the horrible crime he commited almost a decade killed his family,friends, and even his lover. He joined the Akatsuki, not for evil, but for his own odd love for Konoha and his brother. He'd never be accepted in that village again. Never he thought. The Akatsuki let him get away with his so called betrayal, but not his love for the leaf village.
After defeating Sasori, Sakura wandered just a bit from the team to get a drink from the nearest water, in front of the Akatsuki hideout, clueless that she wasn't alone and from then on, never would be alone. From behind a tree near the broken sealed barrier, Itachi decided he had to make his move for love, lust, and power, then, or never in this lifetime. He snatched her, covering her mouth, and brought her to his private lair that even the Akatsuki had no access to. He tied her up, knowing she hadn't heard the truth of the Uchiha massacre, and would try to fight with tremendous power for a kunoichi her age. He could overpower her, but she wouldn't listen if she wasn't restrained. She was gagged for the safety of any surrounding nin that Itachi didn't know about , and so she couldn't interrupt his speech of his deep feelings, the truth.
"You bastard!",she screamed in a muffle."Let me..."she stopped, looking into his flaming Sharingan eyes."You're him...you killed them!You can't have Sasuke, I won't let you!" she attempted to yell. She was getting too deep into his past, too quick.
He swiftly, but without full force backhanded her cheek and bluntly said to her, "Shut up! You know nothing of the truth. Sasuke doesn't even know. I don't want to kill him,he's the one member of my family that could make me proud. You say you love him,you have no idea what love is."
Confused, Sakura stared at him, trying to process the words he just spoke to her. "You killed them!",she repeated.
"It wasn't my idea. The elders...had my family still existed you wouldn't be here! You are the only one who has heard the truth and you back up my reason as to why I shouldn't tell anyone."He grabbed her delicate, pink hair and stared her in the eyes."Because you just don't get it!Why don't you just go to sleep,because I'm not letting you go."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I was ordered to kill them, by village elders. They were going to start another Shinobi War. You've never experienced anything like a war. You wouldn't know. Sasuke can't know. His reaction, wouldn't be peaceful."
In shock, Sakura obeyed and slept. She didn't know what else to do. The next morning,Itachi untied her and fed her breakfast. She didn't run or fight, partially because of curiosity as to what he was talking about, and partially because she was too weak to fight him. Even if she did escape, she didn't know where to go or where the nearest civilization was. She ate slowly and had flashbacks to what he told her. He said nothing that morning as if to wait for her to react to his words spoken yesterday. He left for a meeting with the Akatsuki, sealing her barrier out of his hideout with two seals on the outside. For some reason even he fully didn't understand, he was afraid of losing her.
Before leaving, he lyed her out a futon and showed her where he keeps his food. The whole time she was in deep thought, thinking that maybe, if his motive was peace,he really isn't evil, just scared of being caught in his messed up views on peace, love, and helping Sasuke by Konoha, and not wanting to be mistook for betrayal. But it wasn't so easy to forgive him. There's no reason for him to lie... he has one chance. She thought.
"So that's what he meant," she muttered to herself. "Can I help him?" Just understanding,she turned to the ripping of the paper seals and the open door. Itachi was back.
"I'm sorry it took so long..." he said, as if waiting for a respectful greeting.
"It's okay."she softly replied."I think..."she paused in quick thought.
He stared at her intently waiting for an answer.
"I think I... understand now. Itachi?"
"Yes, he replied gently and thoughtfully.
"Is it love that you want?" she asked to reassure herself of her thoughts and feelings.
"... " he was shocked.
"Didn't your girlfriend love you?" Sakura asked."And so did your family."
"I needed to protect the village, but then, they wouldn't accept me for my deeds. The villagers didn't know my clan was planning a coup d'etat. I was young when I was with my girlfriend. Not even I fully understood love at that point. It wouldn't have worked. And if you speak a word of this, it will be the end for you, but what I wanted more than love was Sasuke's safety. You are my jinchuriki bait."
"I thought Naruto wasn't your motive!"
"You're a smart girl."
She thought about it for a little bit. She was just a diversion so the Akatsuki would think Itachi was really after Naruto and they wouldn't come on to him. "I see..." Sakura replied in a shaky voice.
"You can come in my room if you want. It's late. Decide quickly where you want to sleep."
"Is your room warm? I was so cold last night." she informed him.
He replied," Yes, it's warm." and said nothing more other than ,"Goodnight."
Sakura followed Itachi to his room, hoping it was more comfortable than the old,thin futon in the kitchen where she had been staying. She layed down beside him, only a thin space between them.
"Goodnight."she whispered to her captor.
The next morning, Sakura woke before Itachi.
He's so cute when he sleeps, she thought. I know I shouldn't feel this way,
but I can't control it. And society doesn't know the truth, I do. It's not so bad.
HE... isn't so bad. She got up and made breakfast for the both of them. He soon
awoke and they ate silently together.
"I'm still tired," he broke the silence."I'll be in my room Sakura."
"Okay." she replied gently. She went in after finishing breakfast to see what he was doing. She saw him awake on his futon and decided to lye beside him. He had tears running down his cheek and wouldn't look at her. It wasn't like him to cry, and she probably wasn't welcome, but curiosity got the best of her. She was starting to pity him. He really hasn't had a life to live for himself, and maybe he does have feelings.
Staring at the ceiling he said "I've never faced my true feelings before, never expressed them. But you listened, and you might understand. And yet, you haven't ran from me. Thank you. I don't plan on allowing you to go back, so I trust you'll keep your mouth shut."
"Why are you crying?"
"I'm not going to live much longer, I can't afford any emotional attachments. You're my jinchuriki bait. I thought you should know the truth in case something should happen to you during my use of you're friend. I forgot to tell you, I had a Shadow clone transformed into you. No one knew you were missing until after Gaara was brought back and your comrades returned."
She was shocked, and he stopped crying, but looked at her.
She replied,"Now that I know this, I don't believe your jinchuriki story. You've put on a cover of hatred for so long, you're just afraid you'll get feelings for me aren't you? You've been hinting Konoha on the Akatsuki by coming there and pretending to fail getting Naruto, and you wanted a Konoha ninja to know. Probably me because of Sasori and you think I can protect myself. Am I right?"she snapped.
"..."
The silence killed her inside. She was trying to understand him, that he wasn't really so hateful, but so loving, he was afraid it would mess up his goal in life to save Sasuke.
She got closer to him as he put his arm around her as if by reaction and they fell asleep together. When Itachi and Sakura woke up and hour or so later, they naturally felt the urge to kiss after such intense feelings. Slowly, Itachi climbed on her, so she wouldn't refuse or think twice about what he wanted to do. He slipped her dress off as she reached to lift his shirt and he undid his pants. He slowly entered her. She moaned with pleasure and true love, though that love was forbidden throughout Konoha. Recalling his past, and feeling scared that Sakura would gain the reputation he has,he slowly and silently slipped a kunai from under the mattress. He was confused. He lost track of how many years had passed before he loved someone like this. Her personality and strength, and mostly her skills of understanding and intelligence attracted him. But why add another to the list of those he makes suffer?
"I love you, I'm sorry. This is so you don't suffer through my pain and my faults."
He quickly, but without much pressure sliced her neck.
She attempted to plead,"I don't want to die, help me, please."
Blood was dripping from her neck and mouth.
"It's for your own good, forgive me."
He kissed her, not bothered by the blood running into his mouth. She coughed violently,gained control of her chakra, and healed the wound.
"I want to be with you, despite your reputation! You're...nicer than Sasuke!I know you don't want to kill me, don't do this!" Astonished by her will to live,and of all people, with him, he silently lay on top of her. Petting her neck gently,he scooped her up and took her to the bathroom to clean up.
"If you want to live with me, you'll have to assist me on any mission I wish."
he said seriously, secretly testing her.
"If that's what it means to stay with you, then fine."She was stubborn, he was sure of that, but admired her passion and determination.
"Why are you attracted to me?"
"...Because you're... like Sasuke... but you're more... I don't know! It's just Sasuke never showed any signs of affection! You do, it's just not in a way that I ever would've thought. I think you can change, and have a good life, but you want to give it up for Sasuke. Why are you attracted to me?"
He was shocked by the question. "You're an intelligent kunoichi, and very strong. You are the only one who... ever heard the truth. I didn't want to say it, but I haven't said it to anyone. I thought maybe it would help Konoha against Madara. He was the one who assisted me in the massacre, and he would use Sasuke to for power. Because I told you, and because you eventually seemed to understand... We're going to Konoha tomorrow. I have buisiness with the jinchuriki." He quickly changed the subject. It wasn't like him to talk about this.
"You...you mean Naruto?"
"If you understand the truth to my life, you won't worry."
She caught his point and went to bed. Naruto was safe, it was Itachi she should worry about.
The next morning, they arrived in Konoha. Reports were filling the Hokage's room of Akatsuki members. The situation could get severe, she sent Kakashi and Naruto in case they found Sakura, and the ANBU for the village protection.
Upon seeing the criminal and knowing his past, Naruto, Kakashi, and the ANBU unit stood to kill the Uchiha and get Sakura back.
"Uchiha Itachi...you are so sick! You won't get Sasuke or Sakura! You'll never be forgiven for this! I'll send you to Hell!"blurted the loud-mouthed Naruto. Itachi stood silently, watching the nine-tails show in Naruto's face. Naruto rushed in to attack,but Itachi caught the careless move and parried, kicking Naruto to the side like a rag doll.
"You have no idea, how lucky you are." Itachi snapped to Naruto. Sakura ran to fight ANBU members coming after her lover, but Naruto stopped her.
"Naruto, he's got a secret, he would never hurt any of us, and he's not to blame for Sasuke's pain like we've thought all of these years! Not even Sasuke himself knows! Just trust me. He knows you care about Sasuke, so does he!" As if Naruto hadn't been in enough shock, Sakura punched him in the stomach to prevent him from interfering with her love. He fell to the ground.
Sakura realized she needed to talk to the Hokage and take the focus off Itachi, who wasn't surprised she gave in to her home village.
I don't want a target on HIM she thought.
In the Hokage's office she explained,
"I was captured by the Akatsuki as bait for Naruto, but I'm fine."
"Those bastards!" yelled Tsunade.
"Shizune, take Sakura for medical attention immediately."
"Yes, m'am!"
The hospital had very little wounds to fix, Sakura had used the majority of her healing chakra to clean up the wound on her neck. She knew he didn't mean harm,he didn't want her to suffer. In a life with him, suffering is irresistable. For that reason, she let it go last night when it happened. Laying in the hospital, Sakura took many things into deep consideration. As a shinobi, this short life can get even shorter, make the right decisions. Sasuke, he doesn't know the truth. If he did know, wouldn't he react differently? I've known him for years, but something in my gut tells me, he would only hate more if he knew the truth. Itachi is so smart, I'm sure he has SOME reason to keep it a secret. He mentioned to me Sasuke's hatred. I remember him telling me about the Senju and Uchiha. If that bloodline is really Sasuke's, he'd probably destroy all of Konoha if he knew his brother was ordered by the elders. And Itachi is planning to give his life, he'd definitely react violently if he found out and Itachi dies. Even if he does make it, Sasuke would still do something, since when does Sasuke just sit back and take a step back from revenge? Never. That's what he lives for. Maybe I really don't love him like that... maybe I really shouldn't . And Itachi, he's so... loving would've known?It was just reaction to give my body like that, was that really a good idea to go that far? I can't believe I'm truly thinking this, but when I said I love him, I meant it. Despite my care for Sasuke. I can't give up on Sasuke though! Maybe, we should stay friends. In a relationship you need love, which Sasuke doesn't have. Maybe I did make the right choices. I guess... I'll have to find out. He said he loved me when he thought I'd die, he just wanted it all secret. I can't let either of them go completely, but my heart is confused. I guess I'll have to go with my brain on this one. It seems more sensible to go with...
"Sakura!" Naruto screamed. "Are you alright?"
"Sure I guess. I'm fine."
"I'll kill those damn Akatsuki members, and especially Itachi, believe it!"
"...I know..."
"What's up with you? What did they do to you?"
"I'm just tired, that's all. Just need my rest." She lay her head on the pillow and fell asleep. Naruto by her bedside, ranting to Kakashi about the horrible fate he'd put upon the Akatsuki.
It had been a while since Itachi and Sakura had seen each other. Still undecided about her decision on love, she wondered about what he was doing. He was capturing jinchuriki, no doubt about that, but has he had any other missions? Is he even okay?Today she had the opportunity to find out. The Akatsuki were of the most dangerous targets, those left. Hidan, Kakuzu,and Sasori were all dead. Time for another attempt to find Sasuke. Talking with Lady Tsunade, Sakura had the perfect excuse, and Kakashi sensei brought it up.
"Well, until we come across Itachi, I don't think we have any choice but to be patient and search." he suggested.
With that said, the mission was set. Hinata, Kiba, Shino, Naruto, Sakura,Sai, and the two sensei were to find Itachi Uchiha. However, the news Sakura heard during that mission was the hardest she'd hear in her life. Itachi Uchiha was dead. His corpse, gone. Or so she thought.