Author: M00nlight Shadow
Characters/Pairing: Itachi x Sakura
Genre: Romance/Angst
Rating: M
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto
Beta: Skye-sama

Summary: Sakura thought she was going home… but she wasn't going to anytime soon. With many lies and changes up ahead she was beginning to understand there wasn't going to be a happy ending. But Uchiha Itachi… knew it all along.


Pieces of a broken mirror

Chapter 2 – Sadness


It was like her eyes were on fire when she slowly opened them. The first thing she heard was the sound of singing birds. Then she noticed the tiny screeching sounds the crickets made. Sakura always hated the sounds that the tiny bugs made. It was annoying and was mostly driving her nuts. But this time it wasn't so bad, probably because there weren't many of them. She also heard the relaxing sound of the water current. If her head didn't hurt so much she could have thought that she was on vacation. But that instantly changed when she detected the smell of wet mud, the damp rocks and the after smell of a dead fire.

Her sight was still vague but was slowly recovering. Dark brown rocks were before her and the fire was indeed out. The black ash spot on the ground could be clearly seen. She spotted pebbles of different sizes, which were scattered on the muddy ground and the empty bottle next to her. But there was something missing…

He is not here.

Sakura's head slowly turned to her right -hissing through her teeth when she felt a painful sting inside her head- noticing that the rock that once covered the entrance had been slightly moved. It was daytime. A warm beam of light sneaked inside touching Sakura's lower arm. The delicious heat of the bright beam slowly spread through her body. The young woman closed her eyes and sighed softly, clearly enjoying the feeling.

It was then that the pink haired Kunoichi realized that she actually was still alive. She made it through the freezing and painful night. Somehow it didn't surprise her that she wasn't dead yet. Even in her dreams she refused to die- still-hunted by the loud and cheerful blond who would kick her ass if she would even consider giving up and die alone. Not that it would matter anymore… But she wouldn't be here if Itachi hadn't aided her. It still sounded strange to her ears that Uchiha Itachi helped her survive.

Came back for her.

Saved her from the Mist nin.

Carried her to this shelter.

Bandaged her with care and gave her water.

Didn't even hit her once or treated her roughly like an enemy actually suppose to do… like she actually expected.

The young woman still had a minor fever. She was already relieved that it didn't burn as much as the night before. A small hand went automatically to her head while giving a throaty moan. Sakura blinked once when her hand didn't touch her skin, but another kind of soft material. It took a few seconds before she realized what it was.

Bandage.

Sakura totally had forgotten the wound that Mist nin had inflicted on her head last night. But her brain was clear enough to remember that the Uchiha hadn't bandaged her head. So did he do it,…

while I was asleep?

It was certainly the only way she could think of. The thought of the rather attractive man gently touching her skin while he aided her was making her stomach flip, and surprisingly enough not in a bad way. A low groan left her lips. She shouldn't be thinking about that. She should be paying attention towards her wounds. She removed her small hand off her forehead to place it carefully on her wounded arm. It didn't hurt that much anymore. The word numb was actually the best description for it. The Kunoichi uncrooked her slim legs one after the other. To her surprise she also noticed that there wasn't any dry blood on her arm. A frown appeared on her pale face.

Did he clean that too? She almost couldn't believe that she didn't wake up during his ministrations.

One knee protested with a soft crack when she tried to stretch her sore legs. The muscles in her legs felt heavy like they were massive stone bricks. But it wasn't so bad. At least there was feeling in them.

But the feeling of her dry throat was getting annoying. She needed water. Sakura gazed at the now empty bottle next to her. There wasn't even a drop left.

A rumble echoed through the small cave. Sakura flushed a little when she heard her belly screaming for some nourishment. This time she dropped her hand from her upper arm to place it on her complaining stomach. Now that Sakura thought about it, she hasn't gotten a proper meal in quite some time. Thinking about the good things she would like to eat was almost making her drool and maybe she would have if she didn't hear footsteps coming her way.

The young female's head instantly turned towards the entrance. At the beginning she only saw his silhouette, slowly stepping inside holding his bag, while his cloak floated behind him. When he was inside he turned around to make a familiar seal, and a second later the large rock was closing their entrance again, though she still saw some light coming from the edges from the entrance since they still had to breathe. But it was still dark if you compared it from the outside.

Sakura tried to adjust her fragile eyes to the darkness. A cold shiver ran down her body. The warm beams were certainly nice but that didn't mean it was warm outside. In fact it was cold. Close to freezing. Small hands almost desperately rubbing her arms to gain some heat.

Itachi already had taken his place before her against the wall, sitting in a relax posture. One knee crooked and one arm leaning lazily on it. Eyes closed.

Sakura notice that he still had his cloak on and also had the same unclean bandage around him. It somehow bothered her that he still hadn't replaced them. Sakura couldn't even imagine how much pain the Uchiha was in now. Still he made no sound of discomfort. Sakura stared at him for a while, trying to find any form of movement besides his slow breathing. When she did not find any, she decided to talk.

"Neh…Itachi…-san?" She asked, voice still husky from her sleep.

Silence.

Sakura didn't like it. She was about to speak again when Itachi abruptly opened his eyes, revealing dark orbs.

"What is it Kunoichi?"

For a moment she almost forgot what she was about to say. Hearing his rich voice like she didn't expected to always dazed her a little.

"Uh, a-"

"Do you need food?" Itachi asked suddenly.

Sakura waved her hands and shook her head. "N-no. T…that was not I was trying to say. I-"

A familiar rumble echoed through the damp cave. And there was the silence again. Sakura cursed inwardly with a slight flush on her face.

Always a great timing…

The young male before her had a glint of amusement in his deep eyes.

Knowing that her stomach actually answered already, she nodded slowly in answer at his question, trying not to look at him. The pink-haired female only looked up when she heard a rustle. Itachi was looking through his dark bag and finally found what he was looking for. It had an oval form and was drabbed with a thin sort of cloth. He carefully rolled it until the cloth was gone revealing a whole bread.

A crack was heard when he broke a piece of the bread. He threw the piece with a swift movement to Sakura.

She caught it with both hands looking at it for a second before she turned her attention towards the young man again. He was already chewing on his piece with closed eyes. Probably thinking what kind of shitty situation they were in now.

Suddenly Sakura remembered her thirst and her very dry throat. She probably could not even swallow the bread because of it. Nervously she bit on her under lip, afraid to ask him for water. Afraid she would be seen as an annoying companion or… prisoner. Afraid he would get mad. Though she has never seen him angry and she certainly didn't want to experience that.

While Sakura was struggling with her inner mind Itachi reopened his eyes again, only to see the leaf Kunoichi's fingers playing with the bread like she was hesitating to eat it. Her eyes that first were locked at her fingers suddenly looked up and their eyes met. Her lips slightly parted and quickly closed again. Then she repeated the action and Itachi raised an eyebrow, barely to be seen. It was obvious that she was trying to say something. The dark haired male waited patiently while taking another bite of his bread.

"Ano… Can I have some water,"

Sakura swallowed when onyx eyes instantly watched her intentionally. "…Please?" She added in a whisper.

Itachi watched her for a moment, and then nodded once already reaching for his bag. He heard her sigh and noticed she stopped with the freckling fingers. The young man honestly didn't know why she was having trouble with asking something like that- putting aside the fact that he was technically still her enemy. Or still was. He quickly found a bottle inside his bag and also threw it towards her, which she caught it.

The liquid felt good against her inner throat walls and dry tongue, and to her delight it was actually nice and cold. Just the way she liked it. She drank quickly, almost too quickly.

Itachi's lips formed into a thin line and wanted to say something about it but stopped when he saw her frown. Her lips were slowly removed from the bottle, her eyes looking at him.

"This water tastes… different."

Itachi nodded once before he answered. "It should be. It's from the river. It is clean enough to be used."

"Oh." So he was gathering water?

Sakura drank a little slower when the bottle was almost empty. She swallowed a few times testing if her dry throat was still sore, and then she quickly turned her attention to her bread piece.

They sat there both in total silence, except the annoying crickets wouldn't shut up. It was not like someone would start a friendly conversation and pretend they were best friends. It was making the Kunoichi nervous. And it was still unknown what the Uchiha had planned for her.

Chewing slowly on the bread, Sakura noticed that it hasn't got any taste on it. But at least it filled her stomach. Her eyes looked up again, seeing that Itachi had closed his eyes again. The pink haired woman's forehead furrowed when she saw the male breathing hoarsely and difficult.

Sakura began to struggle in her head again. Should she help him or not? Should she leave now or not? Could she escape at all? Analyzing his body's situation, she probably had a chance to escape. But that all changed when she looked at the giant rock that was blocking the entrance. Sakura could easily crush the damn thing if of course she had some strength left in her arms. Which was not the case…

But still… somewhere in her head a little voice screamed at her to stay, warning her that it also was not safe outside their little hideout since they were located on enemy grounds, that she would be safer here than anywhere else for the moment. And her hands also weren't helping her that much. They automatically began to itch while looking at the wounds from the male before her. Like they were telling her to heal him.

She sat there for a while looking at the Uchiha with a blank face while it was chaos inside her head.

No. Yes. No. Maybe…Hell no! No…no.

Seconds became minutes. Her bare foot began to tap unconsciously. It went almost silently because of the flat foot but that still didn't mean someone did not hear it.

Slightly annoyed by the repeating sound, Itachi opened his eyes, and it was like he had pushed on the stop button because the tapping immediately stopped. He saw the woman furrowed her brows while he looked at him. After a moment he noticed that she hasn't blinked once. Even when she was looking straight at him Itachi knew now that her eyes weren't really focusing on him. She was thinking. Well more like struggling with herself since her brows furrowed deep.

It was then that she blinked, a sign that she was into reality again but that did not make her frown disappear. She stared at him like she was trying to read him… Somehow it irked him. The Uchiha didn't like it when people stare at him. Staring the way that young female did was very impolite but it almost seemed that she did it on purpose. Like she was testing him.

She didn't stop.

The Sharigan wielder narrowed his eyes at her and to his surprise she did the same.

So there they were. Glaring at each other like it was a contest. Both had their own reason but they didn't know each other's. Somehow it didn't make sense.

Sakura showed no sign of fear, even when his glaring eyes were much more imitating than her own. Itachi on the other hand showed no sign of stopping. It was almost being childish. It became more like; you started it so I'm finishing it.

One second was almost like one hour. Then Sakura gave up with a loud and shaky sigh. Seconds later she fisted her small hands. "Ugh! Fine, I will!"

If Itachi was surprise by her sudden outburst he didn't show it on his face. But what he did was raise an eyebrow in question.

"You will what?" He asked in a bored tone.

"…Uh?" Sakura looked up meeting his eyes. Cheeks turned red. "Oh… well I mean," She let her head hung. She was so into the conversation that played in her head that she didn't even notice that she spoke out loud. How embarrassing. "Never mind…"

Itachi shrugged uncaring, closing his eyes. The clear air outside did him well but not enough to get rid of his headache. Before he walked to the peaceful current, he concentrated on his surroundings. It took him more time than it normal would. It bothered him feeling this weak. The medication also didn't his work like it used to do. The effect lessened time after time. His body was getting immune of the drug. It would not take long before his body will reject the medication. And then he will really have a problem.

"Let me heal you."

Eyes slowly opened again, his full attention on the woman before him who had a determined expression on her face.

Sakura didn't even wait for an answer. She slowly pushed herself up and almost threatens to fall again, but she quickly leaned her shoulders on the hard rock behind her. Inwardly she cursed when her butt felt like freezing cold like the ground. Knees buckled and hands were shaking lightly.

The Uchiha really doubted that she could even walk.

"Sit down."

"No."

"You will fall."

Sakura huffed. "I will not."

Itachi ignored her answer. "…Do not except me to aid you again if that happens."

It became quiet then. Sakura tried to ignore the male's intense stare and his arrogance and tried to concentrate on moving her toes first, next one leg. A small smile tugged her shaking lips when she could feel her blood floated towards her toes giving them more warmth. But not only that, she felt much better when she felt her chakra slowly coming back. Look what a piece of bread and some water already did to her body.

Itachi observed her closely. Finding it strange to see her smiling when she actually looked like a mess. He noticed that she found it sort of fascinating seeing her legs move slowly or more like she was really proud of herself for accomplishing that. Then her hands curled into a small fists, she uncurled them and then repeated the action all over again.

When the pink haired medic was ready with her actions she pushed herself from the wall and walked to the other side.

"You still haven't recovered by one bit since last night. You are going to die if you won't get your wounds checked."

Itachi closed his eyes. "It does not matter if I die."

Sakura abruptly stopped her track, looking stunned and confused. Never would she expect him to say that. The pink haired woman studied him, trying to find out if he wasn't fooling her, but his face remained blank like always and his eyes closed- not even bothering to explain himself.

It really sounded so sad, even when his voice was plain when he spoke those words. The medic guessed this man really thought that Shinobis were only tools to be used. And when they weren't useful anymore... well most Shinobis actually thought like this. But Sakura... never thought like that. It disgusted her by the thought that she would see Naruto only as a tool as all of her loved ones. She wouldn't, and will never do that.

Sakura looked at him and was still loss for words. "That's… uh,"

It took a moment before she found her tongue.

"…well do not expect that I will fight alone against all those hunter nin out there." She tsk softly. "Oh no this is all your fault in the first place! You got me into this mess and you're getting me out of it!" It popped out just like that. The frustration of her current situation was making her straight forward and totally forgot who sat actually before her.

"W-well… what I actually mean is," She said with an uncertain voice.

Itachi looked up with a deep frown on his face, eyeing her suspiciously. "Are you trying to find an excuse to get me healed?"

Sakura just gaped at him, then she closed her mouth. She thought for a second.

"…No." Sakura said softly, not looking at him. Her legs were moving again. She slowly kneeled before him trying to find a comfortable sitting position. Then she turned her attention to his chest, hands slowly rising. Her hands already felt his heat but stopped before she cold touch him because of a voice.

"Kohona will acknowledge this as treachery."

She stilled.

Itachi gave her a moment to think before he continued. "Are you sure you still want to heal me?"

There was a minute of silence. "…Kohona will just have to accept the fact that this was the only way to also save my own life."

"By saving me?"

She nodded, still looking at his bloody chest.

"I'm flattered."

This time she instantly looked up at him, face slightly flushed from anger. "T-that's not what I mean! Y-you know… with all those hunter nins outside, and the village probably want you alive and all…"

"Ah, naturally." He said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Oh, shut up." She muttered through her teeth.

A pause. Sakura was even starting to regret her decision. Who would have helped this asshole anyway?

"It is still a poor excuse." Itachi said with a hint of amusement in his rich yet hoarse voice.

Eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to get killed?" The young female asked sarcastically but still serious. She was really losing her patience around this guy. "Because I could help you with that!"

His lips tugged into a small smirk "Hn. Tempting."

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him. She hated it when she was made fun off. "Ugh! You! You,"

He was teasing her! Teasing for god sakes! Who could have thought that Uchiha Itachi teased?

Itachi ignored her outburst. "I'm officially at a loss here. First you want to heal me then you threaten to kill me."

The Kunoichi growled at him. But then again Itachi paid no attention to that. If Sakura had more strength left in her hands she would have sworn she would strangle the male before her. How dare he!? That arrogant bastard! Treating her like an unknowing child. She should just-

Itachi began to cough horribly.

He immediately turned away from her, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. To Sakura's ears it sounded like someone was about to cough his lungs out. Her hands reached out to him only to be slapped away with Itachi's free hand.

"Let me help." Sakura said sternly.

It took a while before the coughing stopped. Perspiration was clearly to be seen on his face. His breathing increased yet his face was becoming paler by the minute. Eyelids threatened to fall and his hair bangs clung to his face. Exhausted by his heavy cough moment, he sighed, relieved it was over.

His head turned towards her. "No."

"Don't be so stubborn Uchiha. If it wasn't for me you already had choked to death." Her head turned downwards. Itachi followed her and saw that she had placed her small hands unnoticeably on his chest. The green glow from her healing chakra turned him into silence. Confused that he hadn't even noticed the woman placing her hands on his chest nor did he felt them. She was a sneaky one all right.

The glow was small but it was warm and quite pleasing. This time Itachi made no movement to reject her help. But he couldn't help thinking that she was actually the stubborn one.

"Medic, you are much too weak to heal. This will have consequences on your own body"

"How nice of you to be worried about me," she said without looking away from the wound.

Itachi frowned.

"And I'm not weak." She grunted, knowing it almost sounded childish but she was tired of hearing people saying that to her. Only Naruto could call her weak and that was because he never meant it anyway. Then Sakura would give him a nice hard punch and then she would feel better. She inwardly snickered. Oh yeah those moments were really precious and not to mention hilarious.

The raven-haired said nothing in return. Instead he eyed the female kneeling before him still concentrating on her work. Uchiha Itachi was known by killing his own clan, his family.

Traitor to Kohona.

Torturing his little brother.

Being an emotionless bloodthirsty murderer and yet there she sat.

His little brother's teammate and friend was aiding him like he was just a normal patient. He even wondered why she had survived this long and he did not understand her high reputation as the slug tamer's apprentice. Itachi never fought against her but she was known for a brutal strength. She had such fearful power yet she was so gently and caring. The combination just didn't fit.

He mentally snorted. She was just so naïve.

With one quick movement Itachi hand pulled something out of his bag, and before Sakura could know what it was or even react at all, he already held it against her pale throat.

It was a sharp object. A Kunai.

Itachi lowered his head, close enough for her to feel his warm breath against her ear. "Foolish Kunoichi. Aiding an enemy who is a traitor from your village is not one of the smartest things to do. I already could have killed you." He whispered.

Sakura stopped with the healing and breathing. The warm glow disappeared and her head turned up to look at him, with eyes slightly narrowed.

"But you didn't." She said in a low shaky voice.

"I still could."

"But you won't."

"Is that a challenge girl?" His voice threatening.

Sakura backed away and swallowed when hearing his voice rise like that. She guessed Uchiha Itachi didn't like to be fooled with. "You already could have killed me back then. So why now? You need me for something."

"Don't think so highly of yourself." He mocked.

"I won't be you." She spat.

Dark eyes burned with the result that the kunai pressed harder against her skin, leaving a small cut but that didn't meant that it did not stung. The young woman flinched.

"Watch your tongue medic. Do not forget who I am." Voice as serious like a warning.

Sakura took a deep breath and tried to swallow. She was sort of shocked that this man, who once aided her gently, could suddenly change into this heartless bastard. It somewhat hurt her in which she didn't know the reason. Maybe she hoped that there was more about him than his way to power. But it was to be expected after hearing all what the bastard had done.

"I won't," She weakly whispered back.

It almost surprised Itachi that she saw her eyes soften, like there was sadness in them instead of fear. Her hands came up and placed them gently on his chest again.

"Now let me do my work." She added softly lowering her head again covering her eyes with her hair. She gently forced chakra into him. It was a weak glow but it would do for now.

Itachi narrowed his eyes. She was indeed weak to his eyes. Still caring, still foolish. If he were a Mist ninja he would already cut her smooth throat. It somehow irked him that she still hadn't learned of his warning. She should be healing herself and retreat to her home. She should not care about him, no one should. He didn't deserve it.

He watched as the Kunoichi continued her work with half lidded eyes, voice soft. "Foolish girl."

The response came seconds later. "…I know." She whispered.


"You bastard! This is all your fault Sai!" The young blond male snapped, fists clutching tightly at the collar from his teammate. His blue eyes threaten to turn into blood red ones.

"Naruto, calm yourself. This isn't going to help Sakura." His gray haired Sensei said sternly. He was also in shock when he heard of the disappearance of his beloved student. It was not expected. A sigh left his lips, head turned towards the Hokage behind the desk, who watched with concerned eyes to the pile of paper before her, hand place on her forehead so she could lean her head. Tsunade and Shizune had just heard the news and then it became suddenly quiet. Then of course Naruto busted out and attacked Sai, and that is where they were now. Sai was the last person who had seen Sakura taken away by the Kiri Nukenin called Kisame. He also saw Sasuke and Kisame's partner, Uchiha Itachi.

Sai reported to his team leader Kakashi that the older Uchiha was badly wounded and also had been taken away. But the younger Uchiha... He was furious. Hate and frustration was the only thing he could read from his face. After the departure from Sakura, Sasuke turned to Sai, only to send him a deadly glare, and disappeared out of sight.

Kakashi felt nothing but guilt now. First he failed to protect Sasuke and now Sakura. But it was nothing compared what Naruto felt. His best friend left him for power and revenge and now Sakura was gone. It was extremely difficult to drag Naruto back since he immediately or more like desperately wanted to find her, save her.

In the end Kakashi had to use the Sharigan on him. When the blond woke up he even almost attack him, for leaving Sakura like that, if Sai hadn't stop him. Kakashi tried to explain to Naruto that it was no use 'cause they had no idea where the Akatsuki would take her or where they were at all.

Kakashi used his Nin dogs but explained that the rain washed all kinds of tracks away. After seeing Sasuke disappear, Sai wasted no time to find the rest of the team. It started to rain and the worst thing is that it took awhile until his radio finally picked up a signal. When he found Kakashi it only began to pour harder. His Nin dogs tried hard but the trail got lost somewhere in a forest,

They all knew she was alive. She must be. But they still feared for her life because the Akatsuki wasn't one friendly organization. For the first time, Sai felt guilty, and couldn't agree better on Naruto's next words.

"You left Sakura-chan in the first place! What kind of a teammate are you!?"

"..."

Naruto growled angrily. "Say something you Bastard or I-"

With one quick swift Tsunade shoved all the papers from her desk, stood up and slammed her palms on her desk making the room shake. "That's enough!" The woman yelled. "Shut up!!" Brown eyes filled with different kinds of emotions. The boy was getting on her nerves.

Naruto refused. "But ba-chan he-"

"Naruto I said shut up! Or else I let the Anbu drag you out!"

That made him shut up. Shizune gathered the scattered papers one by one with a concerned face herself. She hadn't spoken since she heard the news. This was hitting her also deep.

The blond Hokage slowly let herself slide into her chair again. "How can this happen?" She said to herself, hand clutching her hair. "We were not informed here that Akatsuki was around that area. What the hell would they do there!?"

"Yeah! That is what I like to know!" Naruto shouted, earning a glare from Kakashi, telling him to shut up before the woman lost her temper again. But Tsunade continued like Naruto's outburst didn't happen.

"Why did they take Sakura? Weren't they after Naruto? What the hell was Sakura doing there anyway? She's smart enough to understand that she was not to come close to an Akatsuki member without reporting it first... Or at least get back up."

It was quiet for a moment, leaving everyone in their own thought. The tension became almost unbearable for Naruto. He didn't like standing here doing nothing. For god sake he already could have saved Sakura if Kakashi didn't use his darn Sharigan on him! He glanced at Sai, eyes full of anger. And you just let that bastard take her!

"Sai, are you sure about seeing Sakura kneeling before that man."

The black haired man nodded. "Yes Hokage-sama."

She bit on the nail of her thumb. "And are you one hundred percent sure that you saw her healing him?"

It abruptly became quiet in the room.

Naruto 's eyes were full of disbelieve. "What!? No one had informed me about that!" He looked quickly at Kakashi who purposely didn't return his gaze. "You knew!?" He roared. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Naruto..." Kakashi started with a sigh. He already knew that Naruto would overreact if he knew that piece of information. So he left that out, hoping that Tsunade-sama would not mention it. Guess he had bad luck.

Naruto pointed an accusing finger at him. "You did! And you didn't even tell me." His head turned to Sai and to Kakashi again. "First Sai and now you! What kind of a leader are you?!"

"Naruto." Tsunade warned. "Later. Sai continue."

Sai thought back. "Yes. I could see her healing chakra glowing from her hands, which were placed on his chest. I only saw it a second though, but it was enough for me to know what she was doing."

"Bullshit! Sakura-chan would never heal that bastard! She'd rather die!"

"Naruto one word and you're out!!"

The Kyuubi host gritted his teeth.

Tsunade looked at Sai while she spoke. "Is there a possibility that Sakura was aiding him for we do not know the reason yet- is it possible that she was forced?"

This time Sai shook his head. "Most likely not. The Kiri Nin wasn't around by that time. I also could read from her face that she was as much surprised as I was by his sudden appearance. And Uchiha Itachi couldn't possibly force her since she had the upper hand."

"But that doesn't make any sense!" Naruto said, more calmly this time.

"It is what I saw." Sai said plainly against Naruto.

Eyes narrowed dangerously. "Then you are a liar!"

"I am not." Sai countered.

"Stop it! The both of you!" Tsunade growled. "Kakashi, escort Sai out of the room. Now."

Kakashi bowed once and Sai did the same. "Come on Sai." He placed a hand on his shoulder and eyed Naruto for a second before leaving the room. Naruto's eyes followed them. When he heard the door close with a click his head turned to the Hokage.

They eyed each other for a moment and then Tsunade spoke calm and slow. "Naruto,"

"We will get Sakura-chan back right?"

She nodded eyes glinted with determination. "Yes we will."

"Then send me out now! I can do it! Then I will-"

A small smile but that quickly changed to a sad one. "I know you would Naruto, but I cannot let you leave Kohona."

The young male's eyes widened. "What? You don't mean that right?"

She sighed. "It will not take long before the two elders hear from this Naruto. You were in close reach for the Akatsuki's. You could have been captured. And like I said before, we also weren't prepared that Akatsuki was around. If those two goats hear about how careless our actions were they probably would suspend you for quite some time."

"What!? But that wasn't my fault! And who's going to rescue Sakura-chan eh!? This is insane! I have to go!"

"I'm sorry Naruto. You can not." She said with sadness in her eyes. "I will immediately gather a search party to get her back in one piece. I promise you." It was strange that Naruto would have said those promising words and now Tsunade felt like she was ripping away his words. It sounded stupid because she had to stay here on her butt while Naruto wouldn't have doubt a second and search for Sakura. She placed her promise on others who would search for her instead of act on her own like Naruto would. Even titled as Hokage it made her felt powerless.

Sakura was a wonderful apprentice and a great Kunoichi. The proud flower of Kohona. It would be a great loss if that flower suddenly stopped blooming. Everyone in Kohona acknowledged her and her strength, but she couldn't see that. She always feared that she wouldn't catch up with Naruto and Sasuke.

Everyone had their own strengths and weaknesses. But many always noticed their weaknesses instead of their strengths. Like it or not she knew that Sakura always focused a bit more on her weaknessws, making her feel small and useless. She couldn't see how smart and strong she was. It bothered Tsunade so much turning training that she purposely was making it harder for her to make her see what she all could accomplish with her will of learning and gaining experience.

Naruto's hand curled into a tight fists, his nails cutting his skin in progress. Blood dripped from his hands. "Tsunade-sama..." He managed to say through his teeth.

The blond woman instantly widened her eyes by hearing his broken yet threatening voice. But what shocked her more is that this was the first time he called her by her name instead of 'ba-chan'.

His chin touched his chest, eyes not to be seen. "Then I'll promise you now, I will never forgive you or those two old bags if this go wrong." With that he turned and quickly left the room in a quick pace.

Shizune almost lets the papers fall she once gathered and gaped with disbelief. "N-Naruto!"

He ignored her and slammed the door open, bumping into someone's shoulder, but didn't even bother to look who it was. Running, he left the building.

Kakashi rubbed his shoulder while watching Naruto ran out. His eyes saddened at the sight. He stood there for a while, in front of the opening from the Hokage's office, before his gazed turned to Tsunade, who didn't return it. She gazed almost lifeless at her desk.

Kakashi made his move to enter the room again. "He does not mean that." He said softly.

The blond woman closed her eyes, hiding the sadness in her eyes. "Hm. I know."


A few raindrops softly landed on his hair and seconds later it started to pour. His dark eyes watched into the distance, watched how mist appeared and how everything changed into a raw and sad view. The city before him glowed in many colors, but it still looked sad. No one walked down the small streets of the Rain country. His attention turned to a laughing child who was jumping on every pool she could find. It didn't take long before her mother grabbed her by her arm and dragged her inside, earning a high whine from her daughter.

He stood on the highest peak, from a never finished pipe line, of the city.

It has been a few days since he last saw his brother. It has been a few days since his life dramatically has changed, since he gained another vision of his former village Kohona. It has been a few days since he finally woke up in a dark place where this person called Madara took him. It was also a big surprise that the man was also an Uchiha.

But it was almost harder to believe what that man had told him.

His older brother massacred his own clan...

in order to protect Kohona.

He did it for Kohona. His village. Their village. Their birthplace. Their home.

But he failed at one thing, killing his own younger brother. Uchiha Sasuke. Because he loved his brother more than the village. Sasuke was young and one hundred percent innocent at that time. He didn't know anything of the terrible plans that the Uchiha clan had in mind. Back then he was the youngest of all the Uchiha's.

The other kids were strange enough all five years older, like his brother. He never thought of it but it was quite suspicious that they were all born in the same year like his Aniki.

Like they decided to impregnate all the woman in the clan. Somehow it turned his stomach thinking about it. Sickening was the word for it- women who bear children for only one purpose, breeding an army and training them too eliminate the people from Kohona or anybody who would stand in their way and start over, with them on the highest mountain.

Sasuke closed his eyes while raindrops slowly dripped from his jawline. Like it all went in slow motion.

Itachi always had been number one. Always better, smarter, faster and stronger in many ways. Making him Anbu captain. Something that the Senju clan never had allowed before. Nevertheless, it was something that was considered a great honor as it was a great burden. Uchiha Itachi actually never wanted that from the very beginning. It only meant more killing and torture, more suffering and more nightmares. But being part of the Uchiha clan, it was hard to decline such an offer because the Uchiha Prodigy didn't make the decisions. The elders from their clan did, including his father. His mother was always beside his father, agreeing in everything that he or the council decided, like she was a doll.

In other words just like Itachi, all the younglings who were born in the same year as his Aniki knew what the clan was planning, starting a war. They were born for that purpose. The reason of their existence. It was sad... So sad.

And Itachi was the only one who silently didn't agree. He hated war. Traumatized by watching the third ninja war with his four-year-old eyes. People suffered, tortured and died or were murdered before his eyes. Changing him into a not talkative child and grew up at a very young age, making him hate his own clan with their insane ideas towards power. Knowing that he never could persuade his clan in stopping this insanity. Knowing he was the only one who could see the madness in their plans. Knowing that his little brother was waiting the same fate. Knowing that he stood alone.

Completely utterly alone.

Sasuke actually didn't know anything of his Aniki. Always kept in the shadows. Not knowing what the Uchiha clan truly was and what they stood for. Just the way Itachi wanted.

But that was not going to happen.

Sasuke clutched his hand into fist. Eyes changed into red ones. Sharigan. Anger raised in him just by thinking of the persons who did this to his Aniki, who did this to him. Danzo...Those two elders and the Third Hokage. The third was already dead and that left those other three. He would find them... He would hunt them down, he would burn them, make them regret and make them suffer just the way he and his brother did, but... that would have to wait.

He took a deep breath. His Sharingan deactivated, eyes trailed down to the object that lay on his hand. The young Uchiha raised his hand, which contained the object and studied it closely. It was a piece of red cloth. He opened his hand more to reveal a metal plate,

with the symbol of Leaf imprinted in it.

It was Sakura's.

To be continued.


A/N

-Before you all ask questions: yes, it will all be explained how Sasuke has Sakura's headband and how he ended up in Rain (City) and more of his intentions.

-A little spoiler here: just so you know Sasuke isn't going to choose the path like in the manga.

Thank you for reading! Hope you liked it.

M00nlight