Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters are created by Masashi Kishimoto, but the new plots are mine. This fanfiction had been written for entertainment purposes only and without intention of infringing upon any copyright.
A/N: Hello, everyone! Welcome back to the Return of the Heir. Yep, I'm starting to update this again, now that I've finished the sort-of prequel to this story (The Lost One). So, without further ado, here's chapter 7. Enjoy!
The Return of the Heir by elle6778 – Chapter 7
"So, you and Sakura were lovers, huh?"
The Hokage's question was unexpected and it made Itachi tense inwardly at the potential invasion of his privacy. Outwardly, he remained calm, although he did not respond to the Shichidaime's question.
Instead, he asked his own, keeping his tone mild. "How is this relevant to our discussion?"
Kakashi smirked, leaning back against his chair in a relaxed pose. The anticipatory gleam in his eyes, however, betrayed the depth of his interest in this particular topic. "A Hokage has the right to be concerned about the welfare of his shinobi, don't you agree?"
"This topic is personal, surely," Itachi returned smoothly.
"Aa. But Uchiha, you know as well as I do that shinobi rarely divides personal and work. Our profession defines us."
Itachi simply inclined his head, deliberately keeping his response vague. He did not know if it was wise to confirm the Hokage's assumption, seeing that Kakashi had once been Sakura's team leader. From what he knew of them, Team Kakashi was a very close-knit team, and the Copy Nin was well known for his protective tendencies towards his teammates. Admitting to the Hokage's face that he and Sakura had an intimate relationship could cause unnecessary problems.
Opposite him, the Hokage continued to regard him silently as he began to drum his fingers against the surface of the wooden table, his single-eyed gaze penetrating in its intensity. This was more than casual curiosity, Itachi realized. So what was he looking to find?
Finally, the increasingly irritating drumming ceased, and the silver-haired man spoke. "Assuming that you and Sakura had been lovers…"
Itachi waited for him to continue.
"I have no objections if you wish to resume the interaction, as long as it does not affect your mission," he said casually.
Itachi kept his expression impassive, hiding his surprise. If it had been unclear before, it was clear now that Kakashi knew exactly why he had agreed to return to Konoha. And by his earlier words, the Copy Nin had essentially sanctioned his pursuit of Sakura. This was most unexpected.
Then, in an abrupt shift, Kakashi's single visible eye hardened, putting Itachi on edge immediately in response. The Shichidaime's words were uncompromising when he added, "But I'd advice against hurting her, emotionally, that is. Physically, she can handle herself, so I'm not so worried about that."
Itachi felt a surge of irritation at the Hokage's presumption, but his tone gave nothing away. "I have no intention of hurting her, Hokage-sama."
Kakashi nodded thoughtfully, but he did not seem surprised by those words. In fact, it was almost as if the Copy-Nin had expected it, which annoyed Itachi further. He truly did not wish to have someone, even if it was the Hokage, looking over his shoulder as he attempted to win Sakura back. And it would be just like Kakashi to do exactly that.
"Is that all, Hokage-sama?" he asked mildly.
"No. There's something else you should know."
Itachi quirked a brow in question.
"I've received a message. One of the ANBU teams is a little delayed."
"Which one?" he asked.
"Sai's team."
Sakura, Itachi immediately thought, wondering what could have delayed them. "Why are they delayed?"
"The message said that they are stopping in Suna for a day or two," the Hokage told him, with an odd glint in his visible eyes. "I'm not too bothered by it, but I thought you should know, considering the… circumstances."
Itachi fought not to react outwardly, even though inwardly, the mention of Suna was enough to make his jaws tighten. Sakura in Suna could only mean that the kunoichi was meeting Ryo. The Hokage's expression only confirmed that he knew exactly what was going on.
"Is there a problem, Uchiha?" Kakashi asked mildly, raising a brow.
"They were due to arrive in Konoha today, in time for the session tomorrow. The absence of that team will delay the next phase of the elimination," Itachi told him calmly.
"Aa, I see," the Hokage drawled, sounding amused. "That could be a problem. Something needs to be done about this issue, then."
"Perhaps it is best that you make it clear that unplanned detours should be avoided, at least until the assassin is found," Itachi suggested casually.
Kakashi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'm afraid it would be hard to monitor everyone on an individual basis."
"Perhaps you should delegate," he suggested.
"Perhaps I should." Kakashi nodded, his smirk faintly visible through his mask. "Now, how about this? If any of them wishes to do anything like that in the duration of your assignment, I'll send them to you. You can choose whether to approve it or not."
As taken aback as he was at the Hokage's proposal, Itachi only inclined his head in response. He had not expected Kakashi to give him such authority. The move could only mean that the Copy Nin was allowing him an increased level of trust. It was not something that Itachi was consciously seeking for, but it was gratifying, all the same.
"I trust you'll use the authority responsibly, Uchiha. Don't make me regret this," he warned.
"I will not abuse it, Hokage-sama," he assured.
Kakashi studied him intently before speaking. "I know. You're not the type."
Itachi stared at the silver-haired man opposite him, wondering whether he should say anything. His words might backfire on him because one could never tell with Kakashi. The Copy-Nin tended to have layered meanings to his words. In the end, he only made a non-committal sound.
Head tilted a little to the side, Kakashi remarked, "They had considered you as Hokage material, you know."
Itachi grimaced, knowing just who Kakashi had meant with 'they'. The Uchiha clan had made no secret of it at that time. The moment he had shown some potential, they had pounced on it like hungry wolves. That was why they had pushed him so hard, pressing him to climb the shinobi career ladder at a breakneck speed. They wanted to install him in that position of power. They wished to control Konoha, using him to do so.
It disgusted him.
"Their judgment is flawed," he murmured impassively.
"Aa," Kakashi returned. "It's truly a shame."
"It is not a position that I seek," Itachi told him firmly. He doubted that Kakashi thought he desired the position, but he felt the need to clarify it. "I hold no interest in such things."
"I noticed."
Impatience sparked within Itachi, loosening the hold he had on his tongue. "Then why bring up the subject?"
The Shichidaime's single visible eye creased as he smiled widely. "To see your reaction, of course."
Itachi had to tamp down his urge to tell the Hokage off. He had pledged loyalty to the silver-haired man, after all. It would be best for him to simply leave this room. So, in a bland tone, he asked, "If that's all, Hokage-sama?"
"You may leave."
With a curt bow, Itachi left the room.
It was only when he had exited the building that he allowed a hiss of annoyance to escape his lips. The topic of his clan never failed to infuriate him, and he did not wish to speak of it to anyone, even the Hokage. Their ambition had cost them the ultimate price, and Itachi sometimes resent the role he had played in it. Especially when he thought of how it had eventually affected his relationship with a certain pink-haired kunoichi.
He did not like to speculate, but more than once, he had found himself wondering just what things could be like if the massacre had not occurred. Would he have noticed Sakura? Would he have pursued her? Perhaps she would be more amenable to him in that alternate universe. Could they be living together, married and with children by now?
Reality was very different indeed. Not only were they not together, at the present, she was still bent on pushing him away.
Still, it did not matter. Time was something he had now, and he would utilize it to win her back. By any means necessary. At the moment, however, he had to think of how he should handle her unacceptably frequent visits to Suna.
000
000
The threads of wakefulness weaved their way through her consciousness, calling her from the depth of sleep. She was reluctant to awaken, but she knew that she had to. The moment she decided that she had to, feelings began to trickle slowly back into her body. Unfortunately, the first things she noticed was that her head throbbed and her body felt terribly weakened.
"You're awake."
Sakura muffled a groan as she forced her eyes open, searching for the source of the voice. The one who had just spoken stood across the room, leaning against the door to her private hospital room with his arms crossed over his chest. Disoriented and surprised by his presence, she could only stare in bewilderment.
How had she ended up here? The last thing she recalled…
Her eyes widened when the details of the battle flooded back. The fact that she was now in Suna could only mean that Sai had decided to come here instead of going straight back to Konoha, suggesting to her that her condition must have been quite bad. Oh, hell.
She tried to smile, but even the muscles in her face felt stiff. "G-Gaara," she finally croaked in greeting.
"You used them," he accused, straightening from the door to walk towards her.
She flinched inwardly at the rebuke, knowing exactly what he was referring to. "Yeah," she mumbled.
"You were foolish," he declared stonily, stopping by the side of her bed to pin a stern look on her.
She hated being told off like this. "It couldn't be helped. We were ambushed by rogue nins and they were giving us a lot of problems. How long was I out for?" she asked, in the attempt to change the topic.
Another voice answered her from the doorway. "You were unconscious for two days. The medics were really worried, because your system functions dropped to the bare minimum in that time."
A resigned groan left Sakura's lips as Temari came closer to join Gaara at the other side of her bed. She was truly in for a lecture now. The blonde was scowling darkly at her, and she knew that she had not heard the end of the chastisement. Sometimes, they were worse than her friends back in Konoha.
"What were you thinking, Sakura? You knew what would happen if you use the Shinjutama like that," Temari growled at her.
"I didn't have a choice. My chakra was too low, and I didn't have enough to execute the sand technique," she admitted.
"The one you modified from Desert Coffin," Gaara supplied flatly.
"Yeah, that one," she muttered, a little sheepishly.
"If you're incapable of generating sufficient chakra on your own, you should not be using the technique," the Kazekage pointed out stonily. "Despite your affinity for it."
She almost rolled her eyes. Gaara obviously was still sore that she had won that bet so many years ago, leading to him having to teach her his precious technique. She did not want to point out that if he hadn't, she would probably be dead by now, as well as the other three ANBU operatives.
"Ryokumori would be beside himself if anything were to happen to you," Temari pointed out. "Didn't you consider that at all?"
"Ouch, that's a low blow, Temari," Sakura said with a wince. But the woman had a point, she supposed. She had no intention of dying, but to her defense, she had only executed that jutsu because she ran out of ideas. "Where's Ryo, anyway?"
"Out on an escort mission."
Sakura sighed, recalling Ryo's excitement as he told her of his missions the last time she had seen him. At least he was doing something he liked. She missed him, and the fact that she was in Suna and he was not there made it even worse. Really, she should start thinking about their future soon. This arrangement that had lasted the past two years really could not continue. But she did not look forward to the conversation she had to have with Gaara when it came down to it.
"I guess he won't be back before I leave?" she asked.
Gaara shook his head. "His team is travelling to Tea and back."
A frown of concern furrowed her brows. "Why send him so far?"
Gaara's jade eyes immediately narrowed. "Questioning my authority, Haruno?" he asked silkily.
Temari let out an exasperated sound. "Don't start. The two of you are like little squabbling kids sometimes."
Sakura threw a baleful look at the blonde. "We missed out on all that bickering when we were younger."
Gaara gave her a scowl of disapproval.
Unperturbed by the exchange, Temari continued, "I'll let your teammates know you're awake."
With that declaration, the blonde headed for the door and swept out of the room. Sakura eyed the Kazekage a little apprehensively, knowing that he had not left because he had something to say to her.
But he said nothing, simply remained standing at the side of the bed with his arms crossed over his chest, a forbidding look on his face. Since he always looked like that, she was not too bothered by it. Living in his guest quarters for years and sharing dinner with him and his siblings every evening sort of lessened his intimidation factor.
"Have they told you about the rogue nins?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.
Gaara nodded. "We're not familiar with their description."
"You think they could be a new organization?" she asked, voicing her concern. It could be another power-hungry bunch of nins like the Akatsuki.
"Perhaps." Gaara fell silent for a while, thinking over something. And then he murmured, "Your teammates mentioned that their attacks were completely ineffective. And only yours inflicted any damage on them. Why?"
"Why? I really don't know." She frowned when she saw the contemplative look he wore while he was looking at her. "What are you thinking?"
Gaara shook his head once. And then, in a rather abrupt turn of subjects, he instructed, "Tell your Hokage that I will send him a secure message soon."
"Oh." It must be serious if Gaara thought to do that. "You're not telling me what this is all about?"
"You will know in time."
Why was he being so mysterious suddenly? Was it some sort of confidential issue? "I guess I can't pull that 'personal relations' string with you, huh?" she muttered grumpily.
Unaffected, he informed her, "Bonds can only go so far, Sakura."
She snorted, plucking at the white hospital sheets. "So, when can I leave?"
"According to the medics, although your condition was severe, you were only experiencing chakra exhaustion and the side effects from the Shinjutama. Therefore you may discharge yourself if you wish."
Exhaling loudly, she nodded. "Good."
She wanted to get back so that she could report to Kakashi and see what he thought of this new enemy. Although they were attacked far from Konoha, the fact that those rogue nins had not sustained any injuries from the rest of her ANBU squad worried her greatly. How did one battle the enemies if one could not injure them?
She watched as Gaara turned to leave, and then recalled what he had said earlier about Ryo. "Gaara?" she called out.
"Yes?"
"When you see Ryo, can you tell him I love him?"
Gaara inclined his head once, and then strode out of the room, leaving Sakura to sink back into bed.
Her troubled thoughts plagued her, making her feel edgy. The attack had been too sudden and too focused, which told her that it was not some random act. She knew that the shinobi nations were not exactly at peace at the moment, and she could not help but wonder if some power-hungry idiot was taking this as an opportunity to weaken the shinobi villages further. It would be the logical explanation.
She sighed out loud, raising a hand to rub the bridge of her nose. They really needed to find out who these people were, before they created more trouble. The question was, how?
000
000
It was already late into the night when Itachi found himself acting on a message he had received from the gates, informing him that a particular ANBU team had returned.
Throwing on a dark cloak over his normal clothing, he walked out of his home, heading towards a certain kunoichi's apartment. His sandals padded soundlessly on the ground as he travelled down the street. Without the sun overhead to provide some heat, the night air was frigid. Seeking warmth, he pulled his cloak closer around him, fully covering his black pants and dark-blue short-sleeved shirt as he took to the rooftops and sped up. It was faster that way, the route relatively free of obstruction.
He felt oddly wound up inside, a feeling aggravated by her absence. At the same time, he also felt a heady anticipation at the thought of seeing her soon. He was already displeased when the Hokage had informed him that Sai and his team would be delayed by a couple of days. And as of today, they were four days behind, irking him further. Still, Itachi had to admit to himself that his reaction had more to do with the fact that Sakura had been in Suna, more than the actual delay itself. Although, the delay did put a hold on the ANBU assessment regime.
These four days had given him sufficient time to think over his situation with Sakura, and for him to arrive at the conclusion that perhaps it was time to be more forceful with his intentions. He had been attempting to wear down her resistance gradually, but that clearly did not work in his favor. The kunoichi had simply ignored him.
He was growing rather impatient.
This recent occurrence had acted as a form of catalyst. He now felt that the longer he held back, the further this abhorrent relationship of Sakura's with the Sand shinobi would progress, and that was the last thing he wished for. That relationship had to end, and soon.
When he reached a certain apartment block, Itachi stopped and let himself into the building through the roof access hatch. As he dropped to his feet, pulling the hatch shut above him, he thought over just how he should approach this. Being more forceful meant that he would be risking the unexpected, as Sakura could be unpredictable when cornered, as he had recently learnt. Unlike her younger, naïve self, she was now more hardened and less likely to take things lying low.
It did not take him long to reach the level which housed Sakura's unit. Once there, he made a beeline for her apartment. Recalling her annoyance the last time he had waited for her inside, he smirked slightly as he knocked on the door. Even if he could not pinpoint specific chakra signatures anymore, he could still tell that someone was inside. And unless Sakura had gained a new roommate, the presence he currently detected should be her.
The cold, uninviting expression on her face when the door swung open told him that she had known that it was him. It was a far cry from how she had always greeted him in the past when he visited her in Yugakure. He missed the way her eyes would light up as she smiled widely at him, tugging him into the warmth of her house before greeting him properly with a thorough kiss.
Things had been so simple then.
Now, she was standing in the doorway, one hand resting on the door while the other was propped on her hip, subtly telling him that he was unwelcomed. His eyes travelled from her damp, freshly-washed pink hair to her impatient expression before he scanned her attire. She was wearing loose long pants with a long-sleeve loose top in maroon. The style was distinctly from Wind Country, he noted with distaste.
"Taichou?" she said evenly. "Is there something you need?"
He raised a brow, glancing pointedly beyond her into the living room. "I'm not in the habit of discussing shinobi business in public corridors."
He could tell from the flash of defiance in her eyes that she was considering refusing him entry. But something clearly changed her mind, for she released a loud, impatient huff before stepping aside, pushing the door wider for him.
"Come in, then."
Wordlessly, he entered, and waited close by as she shut the door behind them. As per his usual habit when entering any space, he scanned his surrounding thoroughly, taking in the sight of her mission pack left unopened by the wall next to the coffee table in the living room. She must have gone straight to the bathroom when she had returned, he surmised. The rest of what he could see of the living room and the adjoining kitchen diner did not appear to have been touched.
She gestured at one of the two red couches not far from them. "Have a seat."
She waited for him to take a seat on the soft couch before doing the same herself, in the further possible spot she could pick. Itachi did not know whether he should be amused by her stubbornness or hurt by her obvious aversion to him. Until now, he still did not understand her overly antagonistic attitude towards him. They had not parted on hostile terms, after all.
And that was the first thing he had to resolve. For them to move forward, he had to find out what it was that was holding her back. Aside from her new relationship, of course. That was another issue he needed information on, in order to strategize effectively.
"So, what is it?" she asked.
Deciding to begin on a professional front, he pointed out, "You were delayed."
"Yes," she answered curtly.
He knew from her tone that this conversation would be a rather frustrating one. She would not be forthcoming with information. "Why?" he asked mildly.
"We already submitted our report to the Hokage. The details are in the report for you to read if you want to."
He almost smirked at her blatant attempt to get rid of him. "I'm asking you. Why were you in Suna?"
This time, her eyes narrowed, "Why can't you just read the mission report?"
Her attitude grated on him, but he kept his expression mild. "I believe Suna did not form a part of your mission brief."
Her eyes flashed briefly, before she banked down her emotions. "Why are you asking if you already know we were in Suna? Surely you have nothing against us stopping in Suna for a couple of days?"
Yes, he had. The reason rang clear in his head, but he would not voice it. It would only make him appear foolish, and jealous. As true as it was, he had no intention of so openly displaying this weakness to Sakura. At least not for the moment. The trust between them was still fragile; their faith in each other had been broken. Besides, he did not feel like being the first one to take a leap of faith that she would not trample upon his emotions.
"If you wish to deviate from the mission brief or leave Konoha for any reason in the future, you will seek permission from me," Itachi told her.
Emerald orbs widened incredulously. "And who gave you the authority to do this?" she asked in a barely controlled voice.
"The Hokage."
Sakura's jaw clenched shut, as a flash of disbelief appeared in her eyes. "I see," she bit out flatly.
He did not bother to convince her, although her obvious distrust of his words rankled. Once she attempted to leave Konoha, she would know that he was not lying. At the moment, he wished to focus on the topic of Suna. So he asked again, "Why did you stop in Suna?"
She took a deep breath, as if to calm herself. "I was injured."
Concern shot through him. She was injured? His ran his eyes over her, but he detected no outward injury, much to his relief. So she had recuperated in Suna? Needing more information, he asked, "When?"
"On the way back."
She was being uncooperative. Refraining from any outward display of impatience, he asked evenly, "How?"
"We were attacked by rogue nins." She raked a hand through her damp hair, looking a little frustrated. "Look, can this wait until tomorrow? Or if you really want all the details, you can go get the report from the Hokage."
"I don't see the point in seeking information from the Hokage when you're here."
"I'm tired, and I want to rest." Her voice was terse as she continued, "Besides, I'm officially off-duty now. So technically, I don't have to answer any questions."
That was a stretch and she knew it, Itachi thought, raising a challenging brow at her. "Do you truly believe that we are ever off-duty? That this profession of ours is the type you could clock in and out?" he asked casually. "That anything actually runs on some set schedule?"
She returned his stare unrepentantly, but he could tell that she was discomfited by his words. Deciding to press harder, he continued, "Are you saying that once a mission is officially over, you could simply forget all the bodies you have harmed and all the lives you have taken?"
Her eyes narrowed. "That's not what I mean, and you know it!" she snapped, finally losing hold of her temper.
"Tell me, then, what did you mean," he pushed, eager to see the real Sakura. She had been hiding behind a mask for far too long. This honest flash of emotion from her was a welcomed one.
She glared at him heatedly. "Look, you know exactly why I said what I had said. And if you don't, then I'm going to tell you now." Taking a deep breath, she continued, "I don't want to tell you because I simply do not feel like talking to you right now. I just want to sleep, undisturbed. In fact, I'd appreciate it if you could stop turning up at my apartment to check up on me like this. I like my privacy, and I would like to keep my home private."
He had to concede that she had a point. He would not like it if he was subjected to the same thing as well. But it had to be done. Thus far, his plan to penetrate her defenses seemed to be working. Her professional façade was slipping and she was focusing on the personal side now.
Just like he wanted her to.
All he needed now was for her to allude to their past. He could lead her slowly, but he was growing increasingly impatient with the lack of progress. This matter had to be approached directly, head on.
"Perhaps I will refrain from… visiting you, once you clarify a few matters," he told her, not intending for a second to leave her to her own devices.
Her eyes flashed. "What do you want to know?" she all but growled.
A moment of silence befell them as he regarded her, noting how appealing she looked with her cheeks flushed pink and her body clenched taut with suppressed anger. Even when the anger was directed at him.
"Tell me why you are so angry with me," he demanded quietly.
She reared back abruptly, as if someone had slapped her. Clearly, she had not expected such directness.
Keeping his tone even, he continued, "As far as I can recall, we had not parted on such a hostile note that it should result in you treating me in this manner." He studied her, noting the flicker of something indefinable in her eyes before he queried, "So why don't you explain."
She remained silent, her eyes now averted from his as she studied the threads of her loose pants. Her expression betrayed the troubled thoughts running through her mind, and the fact that she was taking so long to think about it worried him slightly. He wondered if she would ever speak.
"Sakura," he prompted firmly after a while.
She exhaled loudly, and then raised a pair of troubled eyes. "I don't see why it matters now," she responded edgily.
"I merely wish to know."
An odd mix of expressions flashed across her features then, striking him deep within his chest. He did not like that look on her face. There was disappointment and hurt in there, but what was worse was that flicker of fear that broke through her shield. Why fear? He had not given her any reason to fear him, did he?
Her defenses kicked in a second later, replacing that fear with anger. "Why are you doing this?" she all but hissed, her fingers now digging into her thighs, crumpling the fabric as she did so. "Why are you back here, stalking me like this?"
It pained him that she thought that he was there to upset her. He wanted to reach out for her, to hold her as he assured her that all he wanted was for her to be by his side. But it was too soon for that. At a moment, she reminded him of a wild animal which wanted nothing more than to flee its hunter.
Finally, he responded in a soft voice, "Isn't it obvious, Sakura?"
Her lips parted, and then closed again, as if she could not decide what to say. Finally, she blurted out harshly, "You did not stop me when we separated six years ago, so why are you pushing this now?"
"Would you have stayed if I asked?"
She stared at him mutely, her eyes flickering with her obviously conflicting thoughts. Then, she replied stiffly, "No. I wouldn't have."
"Then it was just as well that I did not ask."
Taking her eyes off him, she ran a hand through her hair in a gesture which betrayed her agitation. When her gaze landed on him once more, it was clearly troubled. "Look, it has been six years. Things changed. I've moved on."
"I noticed."
"If you've noticed, then why are you doing this?"
He stared at her silently, not quite comprehending how she could not arrive at the answer to the question on her own. Had he not been obvious enough? Had he not shown her that he wished to have things back as it was?
A heavy sigh left her. "We discussed this, and I thought we agreed to keep things professional."
"I decided I'm not willing to do so."
She let out a short, frustrated shriek. "Then what exactly do you want from me?"
"You." At the sight of her wide, troubled eyes, he murmured, "I only want you, Sakura, and no one else."
Closing her eyes, she inhaled shakily. "I… I can't."
"Why?"
"Things are not the same anymore."
"How so?"
A shuttered look slammed down over her features, much to his exasperation. For a moment, he had thought that he was finally getting through to her. This lack of progress was frustrating, and he found himself growing less patient as time passed. It was clear that she was withholding information from him in the attempt to keep a distant between them.
However, there was something else he could attempt.
Standing up from the couch abruptly, he walked across to her, bypassing the coffee table. Her entire body tensed at his approach, but she remained seated. Then he was right in front of her, with their knees almost touching. The fact that she had tensed upon contact told him that he still was able to affect her physically.
"What are you doing?" she asked in a harsh whisper, staring up at him with wide, luminous eyes.
He searched her features, noting the tightened pinch at the corner of her lips and the throbbing vein in her forehead, both betraying her agitation. Deliberately, he leaned forward to prop himself against the back of the couch, forcing her back until he had trapped her between his two outstretched arms. They were so close that he could feel the air move when she sucked in a sharp breath.
All the while, he had maintained eye contact.
His proximity was affecting her, he knew, and he had no qualms about using this to his advantage. Her eyes were growing darker by the moment as she stared at him with a mix of horror and anticipation. She was holding herself so still, like a trapped wild animal, coiled with tension, understanding that there was nowhere to run. He did not know how to feel about that. In the past, she would have stared at him with desire, and not this way.
"What do you want now, Sakura?" he asked quietly.
It was as if his voice had shocked her out of her frozen state. He had asked her a similar question before, and she had responded in the negative. He wondered how she would react this time. Would she give in to her obvious desire? Anticipation flared within him at the very thought of touching her intimately again. Of experiencing her with all his senses.
In the next moment, Sakura's eyes hardened with resolve.
"S-Stop it," she hissed harshly.
The sensation of her palms pressed against his chest was a strangely welcomed one. She had voluntarily touched him. He glanced down, studying how her slender digits were touching him, before raising his eyes to hers. Eyes wide, she returned his stare, her lips parted temptingly, drawing him in.
And then he gave in.
His chest constricted at the first touch of his lips against hers. They were as soft as he recalled, so familiar and yet so foreign. He wanted more. Her breath hitched when he moved against her, shifting one hand to her neck to hold her in place as he attempted to deepen the kiss.
She resisted.
He could feel it in the way she strained away from him, from the way her hands pushed against his chest. The cords of muscles in her neck were taut as she sought to distance their faces. Their lips lost contact, but the brief kiss was enough to make his heart race and for her cheeks to be flushed pink. And they were still close enough for him to fell her warm, uneven breaths on his damp lips.
She resisted, but not wholeheartedly.
Because if Sakura truly wished to be free of him, she would have employed her chakra to overcome his strength. She could easily do so, and yet, she had not done so. And he knew that it had nothing to do with the fact that he was her ANBU captain. Sakura would not think twice to physically remove him if she found his closeness objectionable.
It was a theory which could easily be tested.
With another jerk of his hand, their lips met again.
000
000
The buzz of passion coursed through her entire body as she responded to Itachi's kisses. His touches were so familiar, and it felt to her like a refreshing drench of water to a thirsty woman. She craved it and she missed it so much. And right now, she could not find the will to resist.
Itachi's muted groans and her soft, breathy moans filled the air. She could feel his fingers sliding through the hair at the nape of her neck, and the tugging motions and scrapes sent shivers of pleasure through her as he continued to dominate her lips. He was a little rougher than she remembered, his motions a little hungrier and harder. Yet, she found herself responding just as enthusiastically. His male scent which had haunted her for all these years, spoiling her for other men, invaded her nostrils, adding to the heady feeling she was already experiencing.
She cursed the moment her hands moved of their own volition from his chest to slide to his back. He felt leaner, harder than before. At the back of her mind, she deduced that it must be because he had left the relatively sedentary civilian lifestyle behind. The life of a missing nin would explain the well-defined muscles under her searching fingers.
An involuntary whimper of protest slipped from her lips when he broke their kiss, only to be replaced by a sharp indrawn breath when his mouth dragged down the side of her neck. Tremors of pleasure skipped over her as he began to nibble. Clutching him tightly now, her mind clouded over further as her body demanded physical satisfaction.
She wanted more.
Her gasps filled the air as his hands slid to her waist, and then up under her top to caress her bare skin. He knew just how to touch her, to drive her to such mindless passion that she could think of nothing but him.
She wanted it so much.
But she could not. A brief flash of sobriety was enough to tell her that this was a very bad idea. There was too much at stake now. Too much uncertainty. She should have expected this. Ever since he had returned to Konoha, this encounter of theirs was a disaster waiting to happen. The attraction between them was still strong, too strong for her to resist.
For the past six years, she had pushed him to the back of her mind, refusing to think of how much she missed him. It had not been easy, staying put in Suna, staying in hiding for four years until Danzou was defeated. She had been marked as the prime target for Danzou's hunters despite the trade Gaara had made, which was not surprising considering the critical role she had played in the rebellion. Without her work in bringing Tsunade back, Danzou would have continued to rule without opposition.
Once Danzou was no longer in control and she was free to return to Konoha, she had been tempted to seek Itachi out. At first, the only thing that had held her back was his status as a missing nin, but she still felt that she owed him at least one meeting. She felt that she owed him the truth, even though it was unlikely that they would ever be together in that way again.
Until she had found out about Sasuke.
All notions of searching for him flew out of the window then. The conclusion she had arrived at disappointed and frightened her. There was no way she could have voluntarily sought him out.
Every normal person was wary of the unknown and unfamiliar. Six years ago, she had thought that she knew Itachi, but she really did not know him at all. Even after the revelation of his true identity and his part in Sasuke's death, she still did not know him. Now, with him back in Konoha, she felt even more uncertain of where everything stood.
Her eyes stung suddenly, forcing her to blink rapidly to prevent the tears from escaping.
Itachi stilled abruptly.
For a while, neither of them moved. His face was still buried against her neck, his warm breath stroking her skin while his hands pressed against the sides of her breasts. She did not recall pulling up his top, or how her own fingers came to be digging into his bare back. Taking in a deep breath, she concentrated on remaining calm. As calm as one could be faced with a situation such as this.
Slowly, Itachi pulled away from her, his hand sliding over her heated skin once more before he straightened to his feet. Only then did his hands drop to his sides. Still seated, she allowed her own arms to fall to her lap where they immediately clenched into tight fists to hide the trembling. After everything she had said, in the end, she was too weak to resist him. How could she look him in the eye now?
"Are you alright?"
"D-Don't do that again," she managed to choke out.
"Why?"
She bit her lips, staring down at her hands. How could she answer him? How could she tell him that she found it difficult to hold on to her anger, her caution, and everything else that protected her and her loved ones from getting hurt when he touched her like that? How could she tell him that she had to hold on to those emotions so that she did not slip again? How could she tell him that she really did not know who he was, and therefore, she did not dare to trust him? He had treated her so well, and yet, when it came to others, he was like a monster. Which one was the real Itachi?
A firm but gentle finger under her chin tilted her face up, forcing her to meet his gaze. He was kneeling in front of her now, keeping them at eye level. The glow of restrained passion in his dark orbs was mesmerizing, but she knew that she could not allow herself to drown in it. She wanted to, but she had learnt that when she gave in to what she wanted without considering the possible consequences, things could go very wrong.
And this time, she could not afford to allow things to go wrong.
"The attraction between us clearly exists, so why are you denying it?" he asked in his usual smooth tones. "Why make it difficult when it doesn't need to be?"
"I'm not trying to make things difficult," she shot back edgily.
"Yes. You merely wish to brush aside our past. Why?"
She ran a hand through her hair in frustration, hating the direction of this conversation. He wanted to know why she was angry. He wanted to know why she wanted nothing to do with him. But could he not understand? No, clearly not, because he had obviously ignored her parting words all those years ago. So what was the whole point of this? What would be the point of rehashing all the painful events of the past?
"I need to know, Sakura."
She exhaled loudly at his soft, coaxing words. Perhaps this was the time to speak about it. Perhaps she should just tell him, confront him with her thoughts and accusations and all the confused questions that had run though her head so many times over the years.
No, not everything. She was not ready to divulge everything yet.
But she could start with how he had ignored her pleading. Perhaps later, one day when she felt a little braver and a little more certain of where things stood, she would tell him the rest.
Watching him carefully, she murmured, "It's Sasuke."
Her heart clenched when his expression become shuttered instantly. She continued to watch as he walked towards the window. Stopping there, he stared out, his impassive mask fully intact. This was what she feared most. There was something about Itachi when it came to those who shared his blood, like Sasuke. He had killed all of them, directly or indirectly, and she did not understand why. Was he trying to eradicate the Uchiha blood completely?
Despite her attempts to stop thinking about him over the past six years, she could not help but replay the time they had spent together. That year they had spent together was where she had left a huge chunk of her heart after all. She could not understand how the person she had fallen for could act so convincingly that she was fooled into thinking that he was a kind, loving person. Surely no one could act that well. She had felt it. She had felt how he had touched her, the care and emotions that went into it. Or perhaps she only wished to see that it was real.
And there was this small matter that he had been accepted back in Konoha. Kakashi was not a fool, so the fact that he had asked Itachi to come back means that he trusted the ex-Akatsuki to some level. But what did that mean, exactly? That Kakashi trusted him to run and restructure ANBU? But what about other things?
"What about Sasuke?" Itachi finally asked from his position at the window, his eyes fully fixed on the street outside.
His voice was void of emotion, making her feel even worse. She was beginning to reconsider her decision to tell him anything. But she knew that he would not allow her to back away now.
"Tell me, Sakura."
She guessed it was now or never. Taking a deep breath, she admitted, "I'm angry because you ignored what I asked of you just before we parted."
He turned to her then, his eyes flickering in recollection. "You asked me not to harm Sasuke."
The memory still hurt after all this time. With a sigh, she muttered, "It was probably a stupid thing to ask. You don't owe me anything, after all."
"Sakura…"
She interjected firmly, "Stop. You want to know, so just let me say it."
Averting her eyes from him, she took in a deep breath. Speaking about Sasuke always made her feel terrible. Maybe it was because she felt guilty that she was not there. That she had been too busy with other things to even wonder that had happened to him. Perhaps he could have been saved if he had known that she was hiding in Suna. Perhaps she could have healed him and prevented him from his eventual demise. But common sense told her that such a thing would not be possible. It would have been difficult for Sasuke to breach Suna's security, especially the heightened security around her at that time.
Her voice was unsteady when she continued, "Do you know how he died?"
A moment passed before Itachi spoke in an oddly tight voice. "He was captured by Danzou and he was executed."
A bitter smile crossed her lips. "That's what his file says." Another deep breath went into her lungs. "He got captured because he was already injured when two of Danzou's squads came upon him in Fire Country. They brought him back for interrogation and ran tests on him. During the interrogation, Root was under the impression that Sasuke was lying, so they tortured him. He was violent, apparently. He even tried to escape, killing countess number of shinobi, Root and regular jounin guards who stood in his way. Danzou finally had him executed." She broke off then, feeling a flash of pain when she recalled what Naruto had told her shortly after Kakashi's inauguration ceremony. Inhaling deeply, she continued, "They kept his body. For some sick reason, they kept on with the experiments, even after he was dead. It's only when Kakashi took over that he was finally cremated."
"I know."
Her eyes snapped up to his then. "You know?" she parroted incredulously.
He nodded curtly. "The Hokage explained the circumstances of Sasuke's death before I was reinstated as a Leaf nin."
Shock froze her to the spot as his words played over and over in her mind. He had known all this time. So why bother asking her why she was angry? He was supposed to be a genius. Could he not figure out the reason behind her anger? Her voice was terse when she told him, "Then you must have realized that if he had not been injured from a fight with you, he would have managed to escape Root."
"Yes."
Fury overtook her shock. Not only had he dismissed her request, he did not even seem to care that it had resulted in Sasuke's death. The tiny hope that she might be wrong about him shattered. How could he be so calm, so unaffected by Sasuke horrifying end? How could he be so callous about another person's life, especially one who shared his blood? Was every hint of humanity she had ever seen in him a mere farce?
Struck by an uncontrollable flash of anger, she surged to her feet, striding towards him. However, before she could lash out at him, he gave her a look which stilled both her tongue and her feet. She halted a few steps away from the window where he was leaning against.
As much as she hated to admit it, right now, Itachi intimidated her. There was no gentleness in the way he regarded her. The expression on his face was hard and uncompromising. It reminded her that this man had been known as one of the most dangerous S-class missing nins in existence.
His voice was quiet, but firm when he spoke next. "Do not think that I wish for his death. I do not," he told her.
Her eyes widened at the brief flash of pain in his face, before he assumed his usual impassive mask. His slip of emotion confused her. If hurting Sasuke did not make him happy, then why had he kept at it? Why had he egged Sasuke on all those years? She did not know what was going through Itachi's mind, and his lack of external displays of emotions was not helping.
A little cautiously, she ventured, "Then why do you keep fighting him?"
"In Spring Country, he challenged me."
"For revenge," she supplied, unsure whether it was a question or not.
"No."
"NO?" She stared at him, thoroughly bewildered now. Sasuke had wanted revenge, had he not? He had vowed to kill Itachi for as long as she knew. "Why then?" she pressed. "Why fight if it's not for revenge?"
Itachi's jaw tightened momentarily as his eyes searched her face. She felt almost as if he was gauging her, judging to see if she was worthy of the information. Or perhaps wondering if she would believe him. Was it really that bad?
Apprehension coursed through her then, without any warning whatsoever. It was as if on a subconscious level, she knew that whatever that was coming was not something she wanted to hear. And perhaps Itachi knew it too. Perhaps that was why he was so reluctant to tell her.
"Sometimes, the truth can be unpleasant," he said mildly.
She knew that he was trying to tell her that she would not like what he had to say. But somehow, she knew that whatever he told her, it would be the truth. It was odd that despite him keeping secrets from her, she still trusted him not to lie to her. Perhaps she was just being a fool, and Itachi was silently laughing at her.
But was the truth actually so bad? Did she really want to know? Would it change anything? As much as she wanted the information, a part of her could not help but feel a little fearful of what it might be. Was she really ready for this?
Ready or not, she had to know.
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A/N: And that's it for now. See you next chapter. And in the meantime, please review if you could. Thanks!
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