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 3 – Nightmare
It didn't stop raining. And it didn't look like it wouldn't stop anytime soon. The raven haired man was as close at being soaked. Still, he gazed before him. Some lights already have turned off making the mist swallow the city almost immediately. The sun slowly disappeared below the horizon. It didn't take long before the last glow of red disappeared together with the sun, leaving him and the city in darkness. Next thing he heard was thunder, first almost unnoticeable then louder and louder. But the youngest Uchiha didn't move, didn't even move one millimeter. That changed when he heard someone call his name.
"Sasuke."
His half lidded eyes lifted up a bit, head turned a little and looked down. Dark onyx eyes saw the man, who told him all about the shocking truth, standing beneath him. This man told him a story that changed his life. And he knew that he told the truth. He knew. From the beginning, until the end. This whole thing started with the Third Shinobi War. It was already at that time that the suffering of Uchiha Itachi began, seeing all the horrors with his young eyes. Then a fight between two powerful clans: the Senju- and the Uchiha clan occurred. Next the alliance between the two clans took place and the village named Konohagakure was born. Not long after that the fight between the two leader for the Hokage seat. The betrayal of the leader of the Uchiha. Kyuubi's attack. The suspicion of the Uchiha clan. And after that the secret spying mission of Itachi began. And Uchiha Itachi discovered that the Uchiha clan, his familie, his own flesh and blood were planning a coup d'etat... In his own beloved village.
After that...
The massacre... took place. Everything made perfectly sense. But to think that his brother suffered so long, under his very own nose... It sickening him.
Yet there was another 'thing' Madara told him not long ago.
His mind though back at the moment when Uchiha Madara told him something entirely different beside Itachi's past.
--Earlier--
The dim lights gave the room a creepy touch. It almost was like you slept in a dungeon. You could hear the rain outside. It was the only thing the young man heard while sitting against the wall. He woke up here after he fainted from blood lost after his fierce battle with his brother. After that he heard the truth about his brother and his clan. Madara left him then, giving him time to think.
After an hour or so, he heard footsteps that were slowly making its way towards his room. It stopped when the visitor was at the door. He heard two knocks, yet Sasuke said nothing, knowing that the person would come in anyway.
The door cracked open, and like he expected, Uchiha Madara revealed himself in his usual dark cloak which was soaked wet. He entered the room and closed the door behind him after that he spoke, "Itachi's dead." Madara said with no hesitation in a calm yet cold voice. "I am sorry."
Sasuke, who was busy with aiding his wounds, completely stilled. His eyes, which were looking at his hand, widened. Even his breath stopped for a moment. This was not to be expected.
It was quiet for a while before the older Uchiha continued. "He was killed by Mist nin while he was recovering from his injuries in one of our hideouts. He had no chance." Another silence. "Kisame, could escape just in time."
Sasuke slowly raised his head, eyes narrowed dangerously and blood red. "Why would I give a fuck about that Kiri bastard." He hissed.
Madara ignored him. "And there is another thing." He plainly said. "Another who seemed to accompany him has also found dead."
Sasuke furrowed his forehead, already thinking of a person who it might be. His eyes slowly looked up, seeing the old man standing two feet away from him. He was holding something. It looked like a piece of cloth, red cloth.
"I have been told that Kisame brought another 'leaf' too the hideout. He also informed me that she was a medic and a very well-known one..."
The man eyed Itachi's younger brother for a moment. Their eyes met. Then Madara threw him the object he was holding. Sasuke raised one hand and catches it. He slowly turns his hand around to see what it was. The warm light that came from the torches reflected on the metal plate, which had a leaf symbol on it, red cloth and the leaf symbol.
It was clearly obvious now. There was only one leaf shinobi who had a red cloth with the leaf symbol. This headband belonged from Sakura.
"Think about my offer Sasuke." The man suddenly said.
The younger Uchiha was silent. His eyes still fixed on the headband that lay loosely in his hand.
Still no answer. Madara once told him so much in such little time and now again he received some information that didn't fall well for him. He almost pitied him. Almost. Losing again so much in such little time...
So Madara decided it was enough for now and turned around to leave him alone to think. It was then that Sasuke spoke.
"Fine."
The older man turned around, seeing him tightly clutching his hand around the headband. The eye behind the mask narrowed slightly.
"Good."
With that last word he left the room and closed the door behind him.
Sasuke instantly activated his Sharigan by thinking of the words Madara just spoke. His body was burning of anger. His knuckled turned white, eyes narrowed.
Lies.
It were all lies.
His unoccupied hand smashed on the ground, hearing the ground crack. His skin opened and blood dripped on the floor, but he didn't even notice. Uchiha Madara lied about his brother and lied about Sakura. He refused to believe it. He and his brother had always lived in a lie. The Uchiha was having problems with trusting anyone right now, especially that man. If it wasn't for him he never had known the truth. But still this person was the man who forced his brother to be at his side, making him do his dirty work. It disgusts him so bad…
Besides he saw it with his own eyes. Sakura was healing him back then. He didn't know the reason but that didn't matter anymore. He was furious at first but now he was... grateful. Grateful to Sakura.
Sakura.
He closed his eyes. There didn't pass a day by without thinking about team seven. The dobe of a Naruto, always annoyingly cheerful and yet so determined as he was a friend. The one who almost beaten his ass back to Konoha. He snorted at the thought. The one he looked as a rival. And he would never say it aloud but he was certainly a worthy opponent.
And Sakura... The girl who confessedes her love to him so many years ago, but still not forgotten. Sakura, the girl who was at the beginning so annoying and so judging, turned out at the last moment to be a person who really understood him from the inside and was afraid he would turn into a broken and hateful person if he would leave them to go towards Orochimaru. She was afraid to break her heart, to lose her friend, teammate and family. She was scared that her beloved team would fall apart. The place that gave her the feeling of home, like he also thought of it. Like Naruto would also have thought.
Yet he had no regret leaving them. He had become strong indeed that he most likely wouldn't if he stayed in Kohona. And now... He actually wished, only when it was a little bit, that he didn't leave. But his hate was strong at that time, hate only directed at his brother and his weakness. Back then, since he left Sakura on the cold bench, his hate had grew enormous and Sakura was that night in the way when he was about the past the village's gates. But he just couldn't hurt her physical even when he had so much hate in him at that time.
And now… If it wasn't for her, Itachi would be dead like Uchiha Madara said.
It was such a coincidence. Madara knew everything about Itachi. He knew his past, his goal, his weaknesses. All of it. Knowing that he loved his village and would never work together with him for his goal to destroy Kohona.
And today, all of a sudden, he came to him and told him Itachi was dead in a rather careless voice, like he was one of his tools anyway, ready to be replaced. But Sasuke didn't buy it. He would never trust that man.
He knew they were alive. They 'are' alive. And he will find them. He will.
---
Uchiha Madara still wore his usual orange one-eyed mask. The hood from his cloak preventing his head or rather the mask to get wet. The shadow from the dark hood covered the eye opening. To Sasuke it almost looked like he was staring at a soulless person. The older man crossed his arms and waited a few seconds. When he waited long enough, not actually caring if the young man above would answer, he decided to speak again.
"It is time Sasuke."
The younger Uchiha stared blankly at him.
"It is time to capture the eight tails."
He was running. Running like he had never had run. Running in great speed. But it was not because he was scared, not because he had a place somewhere to go. He was running because his legs moved on his own. He didn't know why, he didn't know how, and he didn't know how it all started. All he knew was that someone was following him, haunting him. He could hear him. Or more like hear it. Hear it right behind him. Almost like it was breathing in his ear.
The sound of the passing leafs made all other sounds of the forest vague.
He was panting lightly, but wasn't actually feeling tired. He felt more like he was completely alone, alone in this dark and unknown forest. He tried to look what was ahead but his sight was vague, the sky was red and the ground was black. The path in which he runs was narrow, and he quickly discovered that there were no side paths or any other roads at all. One road one way.
There was no way out. But he was running so long. So long. It seemed like the dark path was eternal. But he would not stop. He wouldn't give up.
But it took so long...
All of a sudden his legs were slowing down. His heartbeat began to increase loudly, getting louder and louder. His persuader began to growl low. But he didn't stop. He held it for so long. If he stopped now, it would be all for nothing. All his running would have been for nothing.
He closed his eyes, hoping it would disappear.
Next, and totally unexpected, he heard a screeching that almost wanted to cover his ears. Almost. That thing was so close, so close. He felt that a dark hand was reaching for his shoulder. He didn't see it, but somehow he just knew it was a hand. And slowly, very slowly it came closer and closer. His lips tasted blood. He smelt blood...
His sight became clearer and saw bodies in the distance. Bodies lying forgotten besides the road…
He saw dead bodies as a normal thing but this… this was different. This was wrong. This wasn't right. All those bodies. There was so many, so many killed. It looked like a massacre…No… it looked liked a war took place here.
He hated war…
The smell of blood and rotten flesh was getting too much. Then suddenly his Sharigan was activated. He didn't know how but his eyes slightly turned to the bodies lying beside the road, like his eyes wanted to see this.
His Sharigan was letting him see it all very, very clearly. Slowly… his eyes widened. He recognizeds all of them. Al those bodies. Those were the people he had killed...murdered. The ones he had to kill on his missions, he had killed when he was still a member of the Akatsuki and… his clan…
Itachi watch in horror when he noticed that all of their eyes where open, mouths open like they wanted to scream. They were lying on their stomach, faces turned to his direction. All those eyes were watching him, cursing him silently. Judging him for what he is, a murderer,
…a monster.
Then the thing behind him began to screech again in a terrified and painful way. Very...
very loud.
His eyes instantly opened, gasping for air, his breathing was irregular. His head was pouncing like hell and he was sweating. A droplet felt from his jaw line. He raised a hand and placed it on his forehead, eyes closing again. It took him a while before his heart was beating normal. Most of the time he only had nightmares since the Uchiha massacre, but unlike the others he founded this one bothersome... it didn't suit him. Never before he had to run away from someone or something that... He even couldn't find the word for it.
After a minute or two, Itachi lowered his hand and slowly looked around, his sight as vague as in his dream or rather... nightmare. There was a small fire that no doubt the Kunoichi had made. It was weak and it barely lightens up their surroundings. The Uchiha also became aware that it had turned dark while he was asleep. He turned his head to his right, and to his surprise he found the pink haired Kunoichi not sitting far next to him, her eyes open, looking at him.
They kept staring at each other.
Itachi guessed he had fallening into sleep while she tried to heal his most critical wound. He didn't have to look at his chest to see her aiding had helped. He already felt it, but for a bitter price. The medic herself didn't look any better than she did before. Blue circles were to be seen beneath her tired eyes, darker than before. Hasn't she got any sleep at all? The young man also observed that she looked even paler. The light of the weak flames was making her look like a lifeless doll. Small hands clutched at the collar of her cloak, trying to keep herself warm.
He really didn't like the image. It irked him that she still looked at him with those eyes. She was a foolish woman. She really was.
"Are you... okay?" Her voice was almost as a whisper. It was like she had almost no strength in saying those few words.
The young woman closed her eyes when she suddenly felt cold air slipping through the small openings of their entrance, and shuttered lightly. The little flames threaten to disappear.
Itachi nodded weakly. The evidence in his voice was clear that he just woke up. "Better." He said briefly in a low husky voice.
She gave him a short nod in return. "Good."
Silence.
"Did you have a bad dream?"
He didn't answer.
"You were groaning most of the time."
Still no answer, but his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Are you in pain?"
"Kunoichi."
"What?" She said soft.
"Didn't I tell you to rest?" He sort of growled out that part.
Sakura furrowed her brows and glared at the man, but Itachi didn't even look at the woman. She guessed that he was someone who woke up with a bad temper. She sighed in defeat and shuttered again. She was not in for a fierce conversation with him. Besides... she was still exhausted. Her head still hurts and her limps were sore and the cold was making it worse. Still, she was already glad that her healing chakra had helped.
The Kunoichi looked at the pathetic fire she made. The little pile of wood that Itachi placed on the rough ground was getting smaller. The fire was eating the little sticks in such short time. She wished they had thicker ones. But they were to damp to be used.
While Itachi was sleeping, the sun slowly had disappeared and the sky turned dark. Not long after it started to rain again. The sound of rain only saddened her for some reason. She wasn't used of this kind of weather. Always cold and most of the time rain.
And just like that their little fire was blown out.
Sakura instantly noticed that darkness crept inside the cave. The young woman quickly diminished her head down, covering herself for the freezing wind. She slowly looked up like she was afraid another blow would come. Sakura's eyes widened slightly while her eyes were trying to find the spot where the fire once was. She cursed inwardly.
She bowed forwards and began to crawl towards the spot she last seen the last remaining wooden sticks. There was no use in getting up because she knew that they lay close and it only cost her more energy if she stood up.
She couldn't see a thing! If she wasn't this tired she would have swear out loud.
Her hand reached into the darkness. Every time her hand touched the ground it seemed to burn. She wanted to growl in frustration when her hand still hadn't found something. But instead of her hand, another hand found what it was looking for.
Sakura gasped when she felt a large hand grab her small wrist, and yelped when it pulled her back.
She panicked. "H-hey! Wha-"
"It's meaningless to create a fire now." He said while pulling her towards him.
Sakura struggled weakly but that didn't help. Occurring to her the Uchiha was in a worse state then herself, and still he had more strength in his arm then her. It defiantly was not fair. The young woman didn't like it when she was surrounded by darkness and the thought of a man, who was known as a mass murderer, who pulled her to god knows were. This did not suit her well.
When she felt heat closing her in she started to suspect his intentions. His body heat.
With one last tuck, she yelped again and felled against him with a soft thud. She immediately and completely stilled against him. He also made no movement. Her eyes wide. One small hand on his shoulder, while the other one, which the man was still holding, placed on his chest. Lucky for him it was placed under the wound.
They sat there for a while. Sakura then decided to talk. "Let go." The Kunoichi said serious while she tried to free her wrist, unfortunately without success. But the medic didn't stop trying. She wouldn't give up that fast. That arrogant bastard!
"No."
Sakura flinched. She was too busy getting her wrist lose that she almost forgot that he was so close. To close for her taste! She used the hand on his shoulder to lever herself away from him, even if it wasn't much she had to breath normally. But his other hand automatically caught her other wrist and pulled her back.
The young woman gritted her teeth in anger. "I said-"
"You will freeze to death."
Once again she flinched at his closeness. She could feel his warm breath on her neck. His heat surrounded her again and she suddenly felt drowsy. She wouldn't lie that his warmth wasn't unwelcome. Believe her she would jump into everyone, even Lee, to gain some heat, everyone but not Itachi Uchiha. Not the man who destroyed Sasuke's life!
Yet saved her life... for some reason.
She used her last strength in her arms to pull herself away from the man. But Itachi's grip tighteneds, not letting go and tugged her back. Sakura panted from the sudden strain she asked from her already weaken arms. Her sight began to get used to the darkness. She was beginning to see the shape of his face more clearly now.
She looked at the spot where his eyes should be. "I'll rather freeze to death then-" But Sakura didn't finished her sentence
His face suddenly came a bit closer. It wasn't much since they already were close but that did not meant Sakura didn't feel comfortable with it. Here she sat on her knees, between the legs of a mass murderer who she had spat on, yelled to and just wouldn't let her loose and she had no strength to fight or escape. Only him and herself. In total darkness. Hell, she didn't feel comfortable at all!
"So you prefer death?" His voice was low and soft.
It still surprised Sakura why he always could be so calm, even when she yelled at him. It seemed it never mattered to him. Always calm and collected. The leaf medic knew she was being stubborn and that she most likely would freeze to death. Not that she was sure about it, but the risk was big. This was like a one big annoying test. Sakura also knew that there was a chance that she would never see her team or Kohona again. The chance only lessened when she would share body heat. Well rather Itachi's body heat, since his temperature was higher than hers at the moment.
She bit on her under lip. "...No." She said in a soft voice.
"Then bear with it."
She wanted to decline again, but her mouth didn't open to protest when she slowly felt her hands and legs warm up. He was so warm but so close. It felt so good. Sakura was fighting with herself again. She studied him. His hair, nose and eyes were clearer now. His face was blank but his eyes looked in question at her, waiting for an answer. Uchiha Itachi, known as a dangerous enemy of her village and an enemy of her, was actually waiting patiently for an answer. She really couldn't understand this man. He could be so cold, gentle and yet so mysterious. Her eyes slowly went from his face to her hand that still lay on Itachi's firm shoulder, his hand still around her wrist. She concluded that he wasn't letting her go.
Itachi saw her eyes moving to his shoulder, hands slowly loosen his grip but didn't fully retreat his hands. Making sure she was not about to get away.
And it somewhat astonished him that she didn't struggled or tried to crawl away, as such.
"Fine." She said weakly. "Now please, let me go."
As told, in a rather very polite way in a matter a fact, he lets go. The cold immediately burned on her sensitive skin of her wrist. If she didn't know any better she would guess the temperature dropped again. She lowered her hand from his shoulder, already missing the warmth. Next she took her other hand from his chest.
Sakura lets out a shaky breath before she was about to get up, or more like tried to get up. But again he grabbed one of her wrist by her sudden movement.
"What are you doing?" He questioned while he raised a thin eyebrow.
Sakura looked bewildered. She also raised an eyebrow, which they couldn't clearly see of each other since it was still too dark for it. "Going to sit... next to you?" After Sakura said that, she pressed her lips into a line, finding it sort of weird that she actually said that. She was going to sit next to an enemy like it was a daily habit. She never has been in this kind of situation, making it weirder than it already was.
"No."
This time she groaned in frustration. "What now!?" She hissed through her teeth. She really was getting tired of his 'No's'.
"Turn around." He bluntly said all of sudden.
Sakura blinked and was speechless for a moment. "...Uh? What?"
Itachi frowned in slight irritation. He didn't like to repeat himself. Painful eyes wanted to rest again as his whole body. As a result of that nightmare he had gain a light headache, making it harder to keep his eyes open and to concentrate. He took a deep breath and was about to speak when he heard the young woman who still sat a few inches apart, beat him.
"You want me, to lie against you?" She asked in disbelief.
If Itachi was a normal man, he would have sighed loudly or groan in irritation, which he did not. The man remained calm as ever as he spoke soft but clear.
"My body temperature is higher than yours is, surely you have noticed that."
Sakura bit in her inner cheek, actually didn't wanted to admit it. "So?"
"Sit next to me and only a small part of you will warm up, which will probably be insufficient. Lie against me and your body temperature will eventually return to its ordinary level."
Sakura eyed him suspiciously, even when she still couldn't completely see him. Knowing that he already made his decision, but still had the decency to hear her opinion. Itachi waited patiently while his hand was still around her wrist.
"Why?"
Itachi frowned again.
The young female quickly continued before he would say something, "Why would you care in the first place," She stopped for a second, hesitating to go any further. "if I die or not?"
This time the silence took longer. The rain started to get louder and the cold was getting painful as the silence was... She really hoped that the river wouldn't flood. She wasn't in for a cold swim.
Minutes went by and Itachi still hadn't answered. Sakura started to feel awkward and regretted her words. Why would he care anyway? She mentally shook her head. Foolish, foolish me. Her main goal was now to get through this damn night. With or without bothersome hindrances.
The young man was actually about to speak, but instantly closed his mouth when he felt her move. And before he knew it, she had turned around in a quick swirl, causing Itachi to let go of her wrist before he would drag with her. It didn't take long before she sat before him. He blinked once when he felt her back against his chest. Leaning more to the right prevent unnecessary pressure on the wound. Sakura tried to find the right sitting position by crooking her legs, putting them close to each other providing more warmth. After that she weakly cradled around finding the right way to lean her shoulder against him without hurting him.
Without hurting him. The leaf medic mentally snored. She was going nuts that's for sure...
"Comfortable?" The Uchiha said with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Sakura didn't answer immediately. Not even noticing the amusement in his voice. But she actually sat kind of, comfortably. The heat instantly surrounded the petite form and she sighed in delight. She really did not want to admit it, but this was nice. Very nice. The Kunoichi already felt so much better because she was actually, after Itachi passed out, afraid to sleep herself, afraid that she wouldn't wake up. But now, even when she sat between the legs of a killer and a warm body behind her to heat her up, she felt more at ease to sleep peacefully now, also knowing that Itachi wouldn't kill her, since he even offered his body heat.
"Hm." She approved in on a soft mumble. Her arms brushed against Itachi's when she raised them to place them on her lap. She felt him tense just a little.
"Your body temperature is considerably low." He breathed in her ear.
A shiver run down her spine creating goose bumps on her arms, she instantly backed away by feeling his warm breath on her ear.
"Ha... Sort of." She said with some uncertainty in her voice.
His dark eyes fixed on her hands that where rubbing each other to provide some warmth in them. Her warm and short breath slowly evaporates into the cold air like his own. She sniffed a few times before she lets out a shaky breath again. His own body felt hers shiver. He could feel her temperature rise by a little but it obvious was not enough.
Sakura was taken of guard and gasped when the man behind her abruptly began to move.
"H-hey...?" She stuttered. "W-what are you-"
The man ignored her protests and grabbed, on both sides, his cloak and raised it with a small tuck. The young woman before him had backed away slightly and turned her head halfway, looking confused as uncertain by his action.
"Calm down."
"But wha-"
"This will help." He said briefly.
Then with a swift but elegant movement he covered them both. Besides Itachi's feet, from her feet, till the chest. His cloak was large enough to cover them both. Sakura blinked a few times, staring at the now covered part of her legs and waist.
"Oh." She manages to get out, still looking at the same spot.
Itachi made his next movement. His arm slowly grabbed her around her waist, earning another gasp from her. She tensed when he slowly pulled her back until she was lying against him again.
Again the cave was filled with silence until the young woman decided to speak.
"Y-you know... I also c-could have done that myself..." She said nervously.
Her discomfort didn't go unnoticed to him. And to be perfectly honest, he also wasn't quite comfortable. Never before he had to use his body to warm someone up. Not it was a big deal. After all it was the biggest chance to survive this dreadful night. But this girl...His brother's teammate and the one who saved or more like ruined his death.
And he already knew the reason why. Why she aided him.
The woman covered her mouth when she yawned.
When he was lying against that old tree, about to be sucked into eternal darkness he heard a voice, a feminine voice. He heard her call someone's name. And it was not his. Not his name. It was Sasuke's. She called for Sasuke. And she had been mistaken. She had mistaken him for Sasuke. He was alive purely because it was an accident. Nothing more and nothing less. Purely because this female, that was lying against him had mistaken him for his little brother. It was all a bad misunderstanding. In reality he knew that no one would even bother to save him, help him knowing his status. It was the hard truth.
Ironically she said not long ago that it was his fault they were in this situation, and if Itachi would act childish, he would have said that she was actually the to blame. She shouldn't had aid him in from first start. It was her fault that he couldn't rest. The eternal rest he oh so wanted. He was so tired of it. All the dirty action he had to inflict in the name of Akatsuki. He was so tired of his life. Tired of all the killing. Tired of his nightmares. Tired to life in one big lie.
Still...
Itachi looked at the back of the young woman's head. He smelled her hair, which surprisingly smelled sort of nice. Her petite body didn't shake anymore. It looks like her body finally found the warmth it needed. Observing by her breathing she has fallen fast asleep. Not that the Uchiha could blame her since he guessed she hasn't slept awhile. He could hear her soft breathing. He found the sound relaxing and silently listened to it. Then her head slowly turned backwards and landed soft on his shoulder. Itachi eyed her with genuine interest. Her head slowly turned to its right and to its left, automatically finding a nice position to sleep.
The Uchiha didn't mind for some reason, besides he could see more of her face now. Eyes peacefully closed, her mouth slightly parted. A few hair locks covered parts from her cheek and eyes. Somehow he found them quite bothersome, and before he thought about it he already had raised his hand and gently brushed them away, without waking the Kunoichi.
The only reaction he gained was a soft sigh.
His mind thought back at the moment when this woman called his brother's name. It didn't take long to understand that she and Sasuke had some sort of bond, since he noticed she was so very fond of him. And her teammates would most likely think the same way about this caring female, even Sasuke.
During their battle, Sasuke was calm and collected like he was. He defiantly definitely had grown in that part. But Itachi knew him better thaen he thought. Inside he was still the same sympathetic Sasuke, who cared about his friends but just didn't want to show it because it's 'suppose' to be a sign of weakness. Itachi was actually kind of jealous of his little brother. He had friends who cared for him, even loved him. Who were probably even willing to swim too the deepest part of the ocean to get him back.
Itachi… did never have a friend. The only person who he 'considered' as his best friend… betrayed him. It left a deep scar in him…
Truly Sasuke didn't have a clue how lucky he was. Lucky he is. But thinking how much hate he possessed after the massacre, Itachi couldn't blame him. Sasuke was blinded by hate.
The young man knew that Sasuke always wanted to be acknowledged by him. Wanting Itachi to know he was strong too, and wanting him to be proud of him. Proud that he was his little brother. But who would just wanted to be acknowledged from a person who was about to kill his parents? Their clan? But of course Itachi could never tell him that.
Itachi already had taken so much from his little brother and now looking at her...
She softly groaned in her sleep and it was silent again.
He never indented intended to kill her in the first place. He also was not planning that…
Itachi closed his eyes.
...because he knew that Sasuke cared for this girl even when he didn't want to admit it. Itachi already mentally swore he will never take something he loved from him again. He would never destroy it again.
His eyes opened, fixed on her peaceful face.
He really doubted that he could hurt her at all. Let aside to kill her. She was so caring and true-hearted, even towards him. The second time the medic healed him she knew she faced Uchiha Itachi, not Uchiha Sasuke. And yet she aided him, knowing that the whole Mist-hunters-story was just a pitiful excuse to get him aided by her. The man still didn't know the reason why she did it, but it was the first time someone healed him knowing his background. Knowing he was actually her enemy.
Such an emotional creature. Such a dangerous thing if you are a shinobi.
The rain was getting worse. His head turned a little to the entrance, staring at their blocked entrance. After a moment the Uchiha prodigy was beginning to feel dizzy. He decided to stop all this thinking, his head needed the rest. The man knew that he was clueless know, not knowing what to do. But he- or rather they should see tomorrow.
His eyes threatened to close. His head closed to fall forward, but he quickly raised it and then unconsciously repeated the action. Before he could not hold it anymore.
He just wanted to rest.
Just by the thought of it his eyes closed once again and it didn't take long before he was swiped away from his exhaustion. Not knowing that his head slowly falls forwards, touched the shoulder of the Kunoichi. Arm still attached loosely around her waist.
The young dark-haired man walked silently through his village in small slow steps, since there was no haste. It was dark and not to mention freezing, but that didn't concern the leaf shinobi. His mind was too occupied to be worrying about the cold. His eyes were focused on the ground while he walked, not noticing or even greeting other villagers who passed by. Not that he actually ever did since he knew only a few people.
It took him about ten minutes to reach his destination. His steps were getting smaller a slower until he finally stood still, looking up with puzzled eyes. The young man gazed for a second at the front door, thinking about knocking, but who would knock at two AM in the morning? So he decided this once that he would go through the window.
He landed on the roof before the window in less a second. The shinobi remembered once he had read in a book that civilized people would knock first so he would knock first.
But that wasn't needed anymore.
He even hadn't had been given the time to raise his hand. The temperature immediately dropped several degrees. His eyes widened slightly at the sight. The young blond man, who he was suppose to see, stood only a few centimeters behind the window before him, glaring deathly at him. Daring him to go any further. A part of the man's appearance was lighten by the moonlight while the other part was kept in the shadows, making the pale man feeling more uneasy then he already was. This was the first time the blond man looked at him with such furious eyes. He even could have sworn that he just saw a flicker of red in his eyes. Sure he and his teammate had fights all the time, but he never had looked at him with those hateful eyes that burned through your skin.
The young man before him narrowed his eyes slightly more at him, daring him to speak.
Mostly the dark-haired man would just speak freely at him even if he wasn't having one of his best days, but this time... he remained quiet, never had been in this kind of situation. It was obvious that he wanted him to retreat. But the dark haired man didn't and that did not suit the blond man by looking at his annoyed face.
They stood there for almost a minute. No sounds were to be heard.
The blond haired male then decided to talk. "Sai." He growled. "Leave now."
Even Sai could understand his anger. Besides this was his fault, his big mistake. He came here to apologize. He didn't get the change to give him that, because he also once read in a book that if you want to apologize, it would be better if you do it personal... but looking at the deadly eyes of his teammate before him he actually started to doubt the book.
"Naru-"
"Are you deaf!? I said leave!"
Sai flinched. Even when the window was still locked he could hear it well. But even after that outburst Sai didn't leave, didn't move. The young man was determined to talk with him. His dark eyes saw Naruto's hands curl up into a fist. Not a good sign...
"No." He said calm. "I want to talk."
Naruto growled at him.
"I know this is my entire fault Naruto. I shouldn't have left her like that. So I wanted to apologize to you on behalf-"
"Is that all?" The kyuubi host spat.
Sai frowned his eyebrows, and then blinked a few times in surprise. He even didn't let him finish...
"N-"
"Then leave. You are wasting my time."
Sai blinked again, eyes looked at him in question. Wasting his time?
The short haired then noticed he wore his jounin clothes. Why did he still wear his vest in the middle of the night?
"Naruto, are you going somewhere?" Sai asked suspiciously.
"..."
He saw Naruto's eyes rolled down, with a furrowed forehead. The blond man was thinking which answer he would give. Sai gave him a few seconds, but it was already obvious to him where he was heading. This was Naruto after all.
"You are going to look for Sakura, aren't you?"
Naruto instantly looked up to him with narrowed eyes. Before he could open his mouth, Sai already began to speak.
"Let me come with you. This is all my fault. I want to help."
Naruto crossed his arms and frowned. "...I think you already did enough Sai."
There was a pregnant pause before the blond continued. His head turned to another direction, looking at something else. "Besides... didn't you hear?"
"Uh? Hear what?"
Naruto began to ponder in whether he should tell his teammate or not.
"Naruto?"
The blond male sighed in irritation before he spoke, his eyes glowing with anger, "I'm expelled. I am not to leave the village... At any cost" He said it with so much venom that even Sai took a step back.
"Why?" Sai asked.
"Why?" Naruto repeated. "Why, you ask?" He pulled up his nose in disgust. "Because those two old goats said it! That Danzo bastard probably agreed one hundred percent with them. That's why!"
Sai wanted to say something but Naruto beat him. "And you know what? I don't care what they say! I'm going to look for Sakura and that's final!"
"Naruto you are going to be captured that way," Sai said calmly. He didn't want to anger him any more then he already was, also because the whole neighborhood will wake up. "and then you will be never to be able to find her. Think about it. This will have great consequences if you ignore the advisors."
Naruto opened his window. "So you expect me to stay here and do nothing!" Naruto hissed.
Sai lowered his head. " Of course not. That is why I will come with you."
The blond raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"This is my mistake and I want to set it right,"
Naruto still looked at him with questions eyes.
"So... I will take the blame."
"Blame for what?"
He looked up, their eyes met. "Our departure." He said with his infamous smile.
To be continued.
A/N
The end.
No, just kidding.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I had fun writing it at least.
Thank you for reading and please review!
~M00nlight
