Disclaimer: Again, I do not own naruto.
NOTE: Thank you reviewers for your astounding support and personal interest in this story!
Also on another note, today's chapters will focus on a little chat between...well I can't give that up now can I? But as I read what I wrote and forced my friend to read it as well, we came up that it was perfectly confusing enough to barely reveal some secrets!
Sakura groaned as searing pain from her shoulder enveloped her senses. The feeling of being stabbed by a thousand wasps slowly opened her eyes to the real world and for a moment, white colored walls and the murmur of machines confused the young kuniochi until recent events started to sluggishly piece together in her mind.
But where am I? She examined her room and visibly relaxed as realization dawned on her, But how?
"Ah, Sakura I see you're awake!" Shizune walked in with a small smile and clipboard by her side, "now I need to ask you a few questions, do you remember what happened between you and the eldest Uchiha member?"
"Of course I can" Sakura sharply noticed the change in Shizune's demeanor from happy to puzzlement in a second, "why is that so bad?"
"Bad?" Shizune choked, "it's not bad at all, just surprising that a person who went through so much pain did not put themselves in a self-induced amnesia of sorts."
Still unbelieving of her words, Sakura waved her hand dismissively, "well that obviously didn't happen, so when am I to leave?"
Smiling in relief, Shizune handed Sakura a clipboard, "once you sign at the designated areas."
It was raining again. The light tapping of rain drops echoed the virtually uninhabited apartment and the gentle shove of the wind made the trees sway rhythmically to mother nature's music. Lighting occasionally light up the sky; claiming its heavenly domain for its own as thunder would interject with a great roar.
Inside with a nice mug of hot cocoa and a warm blanket wrapped around her, Haruno Sakura pensively watched as puddles formed on the empty streets. Her hair was limply hanging from a shower she previously took but she didn't make a move to dry it as little drops would pool onto the window bench she was occupying. Sakura's emerald gaze looked beyond what was outside as her thoughts mimicked the storm outside.
Why did he not take me? Was he warning me or did someone stop him from taking me captive, and if so, then who?
Absentmindedly she took a sip from the mug, one thing is definite, he surely doesn't wish to spill my blood in the name of death…at least not yet anyways…and why did he act as though he knew me?
A cold breeze knocked Sakura from her pensive state of mind. Goosebumps covered her flesh and she gradually stood on her feet perplexed as to how a window became open. Quickly she did a chakra scan for any abnormalities and was at ease once her results were negative. She at once, closed and locked the kitchen window, grabbing a towel to wipe of the scant droplets that were able to come in and as she finished a frown marred her peaceful complextion.
In the set amount of time that the window was open, there couldn't have been the accumulated amount she dried which means, something was in her house. Forcing herself to stay calm she set the towel over a steak knife and quickly slipped it under the sleeve of her sweatshirt.
Whoever it was, she concluded, both had great control over their chakra or her imagination was getting the best of her and she would like to assume that her imagination wouldn't be the likely answer. Languidly she began her short trek to her previous sitting area while keeping her senses on high alert feeling for the intruder.
A noise. A breath perhaps? Whatever the noise was, it came from her right, but as Kakashi taught her repeatedly to overcome her anxiousness, it's to be patient. She didn't want to give off any indication to the possible intruder that she was all the wiser and therefore, sat on the window seat settling her gaze on the window pane.
The rain seemed to fall in desperation now and the lightning seemed to make its flashy appearance more often than before. A brief silhouette was reflected by the pane and just as quickly, disappeared with another flash of lightning.
Someone was definitely in her house and she immediately knew it was no one she would call a friend. Still keeping up her façade, she sighed lowering her face minutely, allowing her bangs to shroud her ever watchful gaze. Her shoulders sagged, as if peaceful when she was, in reality, on pins and needles.
A small creek in her floorboard was her trigger, and rapidly she flung the knife to the location and smirked in satisfaction as she heard the sound of metal meeting flesh. What she wasn't prepared for was the blazing red eyes that lit up the room in animalistic hatred and Sakura felt like the prey stuck in a corner with no way out and began to panic.
Her mind began screaming for her to perform a jutsu or anything, but her body was frozen not only in fear, but by the Sharnigan's piercing gaze seducingly evil in its entire splendor.
"It seems as though the blossom comes with thorns" the voice hissed as each word was punctuated with every step he took towards her. "But" he stopped merely inches from her face, her emerald eyes meeting his ruby orbs, "can the blossom save herself from being plucked by the one from which she stuck?"
Snapping out of her trance, she narrowed her eyes in a daring manner and moved closer to where her lips were scantily touching his, "if said person, who was foolish enough not to notice the thorns, wishes to pluck the cherry blossom from the tree; then said person should know that the blossom has many more defenses than thorns beneath its petals."
Itachi pulled away with a ruthless smirk, "are you curious as to why I let you go little Haruno?"
Cautiously Sakura assessed the elder Uchiha and noted his calm demeanor, "why ask a question you already have the answer to Uchiha?"
"You need to see Konoha through an uncontrolled perspective, one that's untainted."
A snort came from her mouth, "like yours I suppose?"
"Human kind refuses to listen to outside forces when they're so set in their pathetic ways, so unwilling to compromise anything assuming they're right. I would be wasting my breath on you Haruno Sakura if that were the case."
"Then what the hell are you getting at? It's impossible to see things untainted!"
"Exactly, but there are levels from which tainted can accrue into."
Frustrated Sakura jumped up, "why am I even having a somewhat civil discussion with an S class criminal?!"
Completely ignoring her outburst he continued, "the only point of view that gives you a perspective is your own, therefore; you will be the one to view Konoha in all its erroneous glory."
"Konoha is the highest respected village in all of fire nation…in all of the nations! A village founded for the betterment of the protected from the protectors; of honor for self and community; of justice for the unjustified!"
Itachi's stoic face remained unmoved, watching the kuniochi fruitlessly defend her village and could recall a time when he was that way. "A good and chivalrous intention indeed dear cherry blossom, but at what cost to maintain that image? Lives? Shinobi since training school acknowledge that and I am not speaking of that either, but of a more profound deception, of illusions and misleadings. You know what I'm talking about, yet are enable to recall for a hindrance has been made not only upon yourself but many others.
"Your trusted ones are liars, deceiving you in phantasmal bliss. And those accused and convicted are your true allies in a war for the real truth. Seeing beneath the beneath as Hatake Kakashi would say."
"What the hell are you talking about you bastard? You speak in fucking riddles assuming I know the answers!
"Your 'truthfulness' is hurting others and taking what you desire with no remorse or honor, you disgrace the title of shinobi pitifully and now you plan on dragging me down with you thinking for a moment that I would believe in your web of lies? I will not become a hated enemy of Konoha, and I will not betray a village that stands for justice and trade that in for the exact opposite concept!"
Itachi passively nodded his head and walked past her, stopping once he reached the window seat, "in time Sakura-chan will you soon find yourself believing in our concepts. I will come again tomorrow."
"No you wont, I will tell Tsunade-sensei and-"
"You will not Sakura, you are curious by nature and in order to feed your curiosity you would keep your mouth shut in order to satiate that insatiable hunger."
Before she could retort back, black smoke engulfed her living room signaling Itachi's departure.
"I will not become like you Uchiha Itachi, this I swear on the honor of Konoha." She whispered with deadly conviction while listening to the dull thrum of rain.
Pit pat, pit pat, pit pat.
So what do you think? I don't plan on updating until around thanksgiving I think, though I'm not completely sure, but Novemember and the rest of October shall be souly based on academics I have decided.
So did I confuse you or do you have anymore ideas as to what is happening? In time Itachi's past will be revealed and slowly the "great deception," as many readers have called it, will be revealed as well.
Until then my awesome readers...and even fantabulous reviewers,
Have some cake!!!
