Fallen Cherry Blossoms
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 8: I'll be there for You
I see now…he protected me…The kunoichi had her hands around Itachi's head as she absorbed the darkness clouding his vision. She knew that it would be difficult to heal his eyes, although she had the book now. This sacred book would allow her to save the ones she loved. She always thought she would save Sasuke from the darkness… although now, she wasn't so sure. Sakura knew that no one would be able to see beyond Itachi's horrible murders…only her.
"It's horrible in there…" she breathed slowly to herself.
She looked into the mind of the Uchiha and though his memories. She saw their first meeting… Orochimaru and Sasuke had attacked them… and Sakura had won against him. Although, she saw through his eyes for the first time. Orochimaru had tried to kill Sakura, although Itachi put his life in the way and protected her from the snake…
Why did he keep something away from me like that? It isn't…Sakura stopped her words and knew that what she said within her own mind had hurt her deeply. Although she smiled at the Uchiha and brushed his hair aside seeing a handsome face beneath it. The girl knew that he had protected her. He didn't want her to feel as if she was a burden.
The night longed, and the moon never seemed to fade away. The pink haired kunoichi had never stopped reading the dark book and the secrets that had lay in the pages. She had never stopped reading across the pages, even as the darkness had reached its own limit. The girl had looked through his mind, and all the pain within the young Sharingan master.
"Itachi…how much can your mind allow?"
The girl never once stopped her medical ninjutsu, for this technique required patience and skill. Sakura can carefully read through it, and knew that it was possible to heal his eyes permanently… But still, the Uchiha needed much help. He was drowning within his own pain and misery that his heart and mind carried with him all this time.
---
Where am I?
The young Sharingan master rubbed his eyes and felt the red liquid fall onto his hands. He was still in pain and horrible darkness. He opened his eyes and saw before him. Only darkness. Itachi saw everything before him, and everything was horribly shaded in dark red blotches. Was there any way that he could possibly see past it?
"Itachi, you must let me into your memories. I need to cleanse you of your darkness to heal your eyes…" the girl said softly.
"No, you can't," Itachi said firmly.
"Why not? Do you know how painful it will be without your eyes? How painful it will be for me?" Sakura asked.
"There are true horrors in my past no one is meant to see," Itachi said as he covered his eyes.
The girl put her gentle hand on his rough shoulder and smiled gratefully at him. Although Itachi saw her through dark shades of red, he could see the green eyes looking at him with kindness and determination. He knew that he would have to help her through. Soon enough, she held his hand as the two walked through the dark gates with the accursed Sharingan sign on it…
I'll be there for you…
---
Sakura realized that her eyes had closed, and suddenly opened them. She shook her head violently, promising she would not sleep until Itachi was healed. Although finally, she looked across the hills and over the lakes. The sun was beginning to rise and the rays were hitting her with the warmth that she had not felt since she had been with Itachi.
Finally, with the rest of the chakra she carried within her body, she channeled into the Sharingan master in the last attempt to heal him. The green flame that encircled her hands faded into nothing, and the exhausted kunoichi finally fell asleep. She had been fatigued and the final rest she had came to her with a powerful wave of emotion. She rested her head on top of Itachi's body and closed her eyes slowly. Suddenly, she fell asleep into a deep dreamland.
Somehow, she was holding his hand tightly at that moment… Suddenly, the Uchiha's finger twitched slightly…
---
The Uchiha woke up… and did not dare open his eyes. He felt another person on his body, and felt their hand over his. He smiled gently and raised the hand over to his lips. He kissed it beautifully and laid it back down to rest. Although now…his doubts had vanished. The pain that had clouded his dark mind had been lifted and…he wanted to see her face.
"Sa-Sakura?" he asked hoarsely.
He heard no reply, although he was sure that she was before him. He looked within his memory and tried to remember her face. Her beautiful smile, her beautiful jade green eyes, her gentle hands, her stunning pink strands of hair flowing in the wind, and of course, her cherry lips that brought the life of the world to its knees. With courage and strength, he dared to open his eyes. He dared to see her through his dark shrouded eyes.
"I'll be there for you…" he breathed softly.
He relaxed his muscles within his eyes and then slowly opened them. The Uchiha felt the sun rays hit him on his face, and felt the morning breeze fall over him as well. He slowly looked around, thinking he would be looking through dark red bloody eyes. Although there was none. There was only the beautiful colors of the world swirling around him. He looked around that the sakura tree they had once sat under with her…
"Sakura?" he asked again.
The Uchiha sat up and the girl slid off of his masculine body and onto the lush grass. The girl was exhausted and still could barely get up. Her eyes twitched, although she was still sleeping peacefully. Itachi laughed silently towards himself and carried her over to the spot where they had said many meaningful words to each other. Underneath the Sakura tree. She was close to his body and still breathing onto him.
"Why did you help me?" Itachi asked slowly.
He breathed silently a breath of relief and looked at his surroundings. Never in his life had he appreciate the natural way things had grown and the colors that they had been born with. His eyes were precious to him, Sakura had taught him that. He put his arm around her and her head lay under his. Itachi felt the girl's hair tickle him slightly, and it was just one feeling.
Being happy to be alive with those he…loved.
"I love you…" breathed Sakura softly.
---
"Shizune are you all right?" asked the high ranked Hokage.
"Hai, Tsunade-sama…" she said breathing heavily.
Tsunade had her medical hand reach Shizune and her ribs were soon repaired. The attendant wiper the blood falling down her lip and looked in the reflection of it. She saw her face, although she knew that Sakura had become more powerful than her now. It was… mortifying. Tsunade helped her up and in a hospital bed nearby to her desk.
"What did Sakura take?" asked the blonde Hokage.
"A book on healing the doujutstus from Sharingan to Byakugan," Shizune said heavily.
"But, we couldn't even open that book…" Tsunade said slowly.
"She…wanted to heal Itachi's eyes," Shizune said.
"And you tried to stop her?" asked Tsunade.
Shizune nodded and fell silently back into her hospital bed. Sakura's blows had been improving, even if Tsunade had to admit. She looked at the wall that Shizune had landed against. It had almost been destroyed from the impact that Sakura had used on her attendant. Although, Shizune should have known to not mess with Sakura in such important things to her. It was important to save the ones she had loved. It was important to Tsuande as well.
"Tch, Shizune, you should have known there is nothing stopping Sakura when her mind is set," Tsunade scolded to her attendant.
"Sumimasen…" Shizune said sadly. My apologies.
"There is something going to happen soon. I know that my services will be needed soon enough," the Hokage said finally. "Just get better. And there is something you will have to face… Sakura could have found the one she truly loves."
The Hokage looked back out at the horizon of light and power. Orochimaru was now dead… and Itachi was with Sakura. In a way, she couldn't have been happier that her apprentice had found someone to protect her and help her through the coming years. The sun shone up and Konoha had evaded destruction once again. It was because of two people. Uchiha Itachi and Haruno Sakura.
---
"Yo, I think there is something happening with Itachi," Deidara said slowly.
The other Akatsuki members nodded their heads in agreement within the dark chambers. Sasori, Kisame, Hidan, Kakuzu, and the leader had been there. Also another character within the dark that never said anything just stood there. The leader looked murderously at the members before him and Itachi…his most promising student.
"I trained Itachi to relieve him of his emotions. It is forbidden to love in the Akatsuki, although we cannot prove anything until… the child is born…" the leader said firmly.
"Then what? Itachi is the most powerful of us," said the other members.
"Don't rush things. Remember the prophecy?" asked the leader softly.
The other members nodded in agreement and even looked at the stone tablet in the back of the chamber for assurance. The carved stone could never be altered and with this ultimate weapon, they will be able to gain a new source of power even greater than the Bijuu.
"Until then, we wait… in shadows," the Akatsuki leader said softly.
The others nodded and soon enough, the room was filled with darkness and the eyes could no longer be seen. Itachi was unaware of the prophecy for it was written about him and a certain other. The eyes closed... and soon reappeared. The leader went to the stone and placed his hand on the tablet.
"Itachi…you're fate is drawing near…"
---
The pink haired kunoichi's jade eyes opened slowly. She could feel her body aching and her strength gone. Although still, she found it within herself to forcefully bring out any strength and look into the man holding her.
"Itachi?" she asked. "Did it work?"
"Yeah…"
She looked around her, and saw his strong hands over her shoulder and she diligently tried to sit up against his body. The sun was on the horizon and the night was beginning to dawn. Itachi and Sakura had been there for so long, and time had almost stayed still for them. Itachi enjoyed being with this strange kunoichi, for she had the power to change people.
Some thought it was only Naruto. Although Sakura was powerful as well. She had the power to change everyone. Not with her medical ninjutsu, or Tsunade strength, but the power of her own pure heart. Itachi could see the love in her eyes, although he could not see it within his.
"I'm glad…" she said tiredly.
"Arigatou…" said Itachi. "Without your help, I would have died years ago."
"I see…" Sakura said slowly.
The girl was still reminiscing and thinking about Tsunade and Shizune being able to be medical ninjas without running away. Sakura wanted that life, although she also wanted Itachi. She knew that she couldn't have everything. Although, this was the first time, a real dream had surfaced to her.
"You have your dream now?" Itachi asked softly.
"How did you-" started the kunoichi.
"I can tell…just by looking at your face. You want to be a medical specialist, don't you?"
Sakura bit her lip and knew that he had figured out everything. Although they had both knew that it was an impossible dream. Itachi of the Akatsuki, and Sakura becoming a Missing Nin. All of this for love? Yes, it was worth it, wasn't it? Itachi still hadn't gathered all his feelings about the girl before him, although she had. She knew that she loved Itachi with all of her heart. She had went through great lengths to help him and heal him…
"Your dream…" Itachi started.
"I know…it's impossible. Forget it then," Sakura said a bit irritated.
"No, I have a way to make it work…" Itachi said slowly.
"How?" asked Sakura.
Itachi opened his mouth to say something, although a flash of his past visited his mind again. It was a flash of Orochimaru throwing a snake into him. The fangs digging deeper into his skin and the dark poison flowing into his body. The darkness clouding his vision was lifting and it was because of Sakura. Although, he saw her through this flash. Sakura…she had visited through his memories, and through this one.
"You looked through my memories of Orochimaru…" Itachi echoed softly. "Why?"
Sakura looked at the Uchiha before her, and he had a scornful gaze in his eyes. The kunoichi knew that there were horrible things in his mind that he needed to be cleansed of. Although, Sakura had looked farther…into his thoughts and feelings.
"I needed to. To heal your eyes," she said softly.
"Did you visit the memory of when I had battled Orochimaru and bitten by the snake?" asked Itachi.
"Yes…" she said uncertainly.
"Why did you do that?"
Itachi's body was disagreeing with him, although he strained against all of his muscles and broken bones, although he decided this. Sakura looked at him startled, as he raised his body and stood shakily in front of her. Her fear was aroused and she became…scared. Some horrible intent filled back into his head, and she was unclear on what had happened.
"Love cannot live where this is no trust."
Eros had said that to his beautiful Psyche in Green Mythology. Itachi echoed his words, for they were filled with wisdom and understanding. Itachi said these words to the beautiful girl before him... But only now, he wanted to prove himself, for he thought he wasn't worth her...
Sakura looked aghast at him, and backed off a bit. She had never seen the Sharingan master so angry before and now… The kunoichi was unsure about his condition, and maybe… No, she was beginning to understand him. She knew that Itachi was complex and… Her feelings had flowered out onto him and she had thought he really understood her…
"I tried as hard as I could, but maybe I'm not worth you…" Itachi said a bit sadly.
"What are you talking about?" asked Sakura.
"The next time you see me, I will be more powerful and up to your level of expectations. I never wanted you to think I was only a man who was a heartless murderer. I will grow stronger...just for you," Itachi said.
"Don't leave!" Sakura shouted.
The Sharingan master hit her on a pressure point on the back of her head. Sakura's eyes widened, then closed and she fell back onto the cool grass. Outcold. Itachi kissed her softly on her forehead and felt her cheek. It was soft and gentle as she was. Although, Itachi knew he must become stronger and make Sakura feel as if she were the luckiest girl in the world. Although, Itachi did not know that Sakura had already felt like the luckiest girl in the world. She had him... They had each other.
Itachi leaped away and Sakura couldn't move with all of her strength gone. She wasn't sure what had happened, although she knew that she hurt him by looking into that memory. She knew that she wanted that man, although…Itachi was just as good. She didn't mind…no, she wanted Itachi to be the one she shared her life with.
---
Sakura woke up again and looked around her. It was night and the stars had shone brightly. Tears glistened down her face and she knew that Itachi had left her. She had been like Psyche and been troublesome. Although, she knew that their journey had just begun. Itachi was her soul and she was willing to wait her entire life... The girl's tears fell upon a note and she read it aloud and treasured it to her heart.
Sakura, I have forgiven you for looking through my memories, although your spirit was aroused and I need to become stronger. It is all for you. I will make your dreams come true. I want to repay my debt to you. Will you wait for my return? For, "It is hard to keep love captive."
The kunoichi held the note close to her heart and she was determined that Itachi would keep his promise. She knew that he would not fail her. She, would wait for him. Forever if necessary...
The Uchiha genius went against his body's needs, although he wanted to be a better person for Sakura. He wanted to make sure…that they both belonged with each other. Itachi needed help, he needed someone to help him control his powers better.
Sakura waited in the light on the cliff alone, still waiting for his love. Days, weeks, and soon months had passed. She was beginning to have her child grow within her. Although she still waited. Itachi was becoming powerful. He sought power, he sought help. His journey took many months before he would be reunited with his one and only love. Haruno Sakura.
Author's Note: Itachi's really complex, you might say xD. Yes, but I needed for him to go away and become stronger and only for Sakura. He is dedicating himself towards her and her dreams. Thanks for the reviews! Please review now! (yes, Itachi might have acted a bit irrational, and should have talked about it more before leaving so abruptly…)
I thought it was cute to add the story of Eros and Psyche into this fic. Besides, Itachi and Sakura are hecka smart themselves!
