An: Ok, this was another reason I didn't want to go on with the other fic; I had this idea and I wanted this to be part of the story. BTW, huge spoiler if you have not read the manga.
Chapter 9: The mission.
About two months before Naruto was supposed to come home, Sakura was on a solo C mission to take someone to their home and protect them from bandits. She was done early, but not enough to just go strait home. And so, she decided to stay at an Inn. She was a little upset though. She was thinking about how Sasuke was all day...it was his birthday.
After getting a room, she went in to eat dinner. It was packed. She wondered if she was ever going to get a seat. Then she saw a table in the far corner. There was one person sitting there. As she got closer, she realized that his face almost looked like Sasuke, however, he had lines on each side of his nose as if he was very serious or tired.
Sakura got closer, and he suddenly looked up at her with angry eyes. This man definitely wasn't Sasuke... but then she remembered when she looked at the picture of that very man in the bingo book. It wasn't Sasuke... it was his brother! She had to go. She had to get home before he killed her... She turned to leave, when he spoke...
"Hey..."
Sakura couldn't move. His voice was almost just like Sasuke's.
"Who are you?" he asked her. "You look familiar... are you from Konoha?"
"Y...yes... b...but I better get going home..."
"Its raining, and almost midnight. I doubt your going home now." he said as an observation.
"Well... I like getting wet... besides... I'm a single mother and I doubt my mom would want to take care of my daughter too long if she doesn't have to..." she said. It was true, but she knew her mother wouldn't mind. She needed to get away from him.
Itachi sighed. "I'm not going to hurt you. I can see you know who I am."
"How can I trust you?" she asked him.
Itachi smirked and took a swig of his sake. "I doubt you'd want to, but its not like I'm ordered to kill anyone. I don't enjoy it either. I've only killed my family and that was the last time I have or will ever kill anyone unless I'm ordered too..." he suddenly stopped as if he was saying too much. He took another swig and was quiet.
"Where's your partner?" she asked. Why was she so curious about him? He was dangerous! He could kill her daughter and she and she would never see it coming.
"He's miles away. I'm off for a few months. It was a birthday present."
"When was your birthday?"
"June 9th." he said. "Obviously I turned 21." he said smirking and lifting up his Sake.
"Oh..."
"You know its OK to sit here. The room is full. I doubt you'd get a seat. Everyone wants to get out of the cold." he said moving over to make room for her. "Don't worry, believe it or not my bark is worse than my bite."
"...Ok..." she said cautiously sitting down. The waiter came over, and Sakura ordered food while Itachi ordered more Sake. Obviously he wanted to get drunk for some reason.
There was silence, for a little, until the drinks came.
"That feels better... good and numb now..." she heard him mumble.
"Why... why are you drinking like this?"
"Its my little brother's birthday..." he said about to say something else, but instead took a swig.
Sakura looked at him... "Why are you drinking because of his birthday?"
"Why do you think!" he said looking at her a little annoyed. "I'm the reason he's with Orocimaru right now..." he took another swig. "I should have killed him when I had the chance."
"W...
what! You wanted to kill Sasuke..."
"No not Sasuke...
Orocimaru." he said looking down and drinking another sip.
"I thought you hated your Sas..."
"I never hated him. I can't. He's my little brother." He said with a smile, as if reminiscing.
"Then why did you kill your family..."
"That's none of your business!" he said immediately. "You have no idea what I went through..." he said annoyed.
Sakura was silent. What was he hiding? He seemed extremely upset. As if he never intended to do it... she didn't know why, but she really wanted to know what was going on. If he was somehow innocent, she wanted him to know that he was an uncle...
"So... how do you know my little brother?"
"How did you know I..."
"You said his name as if you knew him." he said staring at the Sake bottle. "Not many people would probably make the connection between him and I."
"Oh... he was in my squad." she said looking down.
Itachi smirked. "How close were you?"
"I... I don't exactly know..." she would have mentioned about Kisa, but she held her tongue.
"I get it..." he said taking another gulp. "you won't answer me because I never answered you."
"I guess."
"Alright then... that's fair." he said. There was silence again.
"You know... if you promise not to tell a soul I can tell you why I really killed my clan." Itachi said with a very serious voice an never looking at her. Sakura realized his voice also was beginning to slur.
Sakura was silent. What should she do? Should she listen? Should she believe him? She was so curious she didn't care anymore.
"Ok. I promise. I'll keep your secret no matter what."
Itachi started at his Sake for a little bit, and then ordered another bottle. The waiter brought the food and the next bottle. Itachi finally looked at her.
"Ok. First of all, the reason why I could never kill my brother is because I love him. That is why I saved him." he said. Sakura was shocked, because she saw a sudden tear stream down his cheek. Then he continued. "Now on to the real story. It all began when I graduated from the academy at age 7. My father insisted on pushing me to do great. I never knew why until I joined the police force. As it turned out, my father and the rest of my clan were planning to try and take over Konoha. That's also why he insisted I join ANBU. When I got in, they used me as a spy for the government. However they knew my father was up to something. So I told them what they wanted me to do, and I was to be used as a spy for them as well.
"Around that time, I started to get sick. My girlfriend insisted I went to the doctor after I started to cough up blood. When I was checked out, I found out I had an illness that would ultimately kill me. Obviously I couldn't tell my father or the Third. I couldn't abandon them now that I was trying to help keep the peace. What I wanted to do was find a way to have my father make peace with the government and vice versa. I saw what happened to the people when war is engulfing our village. All it is, is death and suffering. I never wanted Sasuke to live in that kind of Konoha." he said taking a break and drinking again.
Then he continued as Sakura was silent hanging onto his every word. "Anyway, then came the day that I thought would never come. The third and his counselors had a top secret mission for me. We were alone in the room, while he gave me it. I almost lost all of my composure that I have learned to keep strait when I was in their presence... I never wanted to do the kind of horrible mission that I was given."
"And... what was that mission?" Sakura asked unsure.
Itachi stared at his Sake. "They forced me to destroy my clan. I never did so on a grudge." he said drinking the one bottle whole.
Sakura was surprised. Why would the government do this to him! That wasn't fair. Sasuke could have stayed home. He never had to be tortured like that. He never had to leave her and their daughter.
"Your quiet now... what are you thinking?" Itachi asked. Obviously he was finished his story.
Sakura didn't really know what to say. So she decided to tell him he was an uncle. He deserved to know after everything he's been through.
"Your an uncle." she said looking at her food and picking at it.
Itachi looked up at her. "what?"
"We have a daughter... me and Sasuke. Her name is Kisa."
"I thought you said you didn't know exactly how close you were to him."
"I don't. He was cold to me most of the time, but the day before you came to Konoha, he... he kind of used me for his sexual pleasure... while he was out I found out I was pregnant. I told him, and it seemed like he actually cared and wanted to be a father... but then he just left and it was like he didn't care about the baby."
Itachi looked down. "It was my fault... I'm sorry."
"No its not. Its the counselors fault. They were the ones who forced you to do all that."
"I don't blame them." Itachi said now raising his voice. "They were doing what they thought was right. They thought that was the only way to keep peace. They knew that if my father tried to take over that there would be a civil war, which would turn into a world war. I didn't want Sasuke..." then he had a sudden coughing fit. Sakura immediately put her bare hand to his chest and healed it for immediate relief.
"Thank you." he said calming down. "Sasuke should have stayed. He's lucky to have you." he smiled.
Sakura blushed. "Thank you."
"Listen, please promise me you will NEVER tell anyone especially my brother. No matter what you do."
"But... it would bring him back..."
"I know... but he can't know. I've already been decided. I'm going to die at Sasuke's feet." he said drinking the rest of the Sake. Sakura was finished her food as well. Sakura yawned.
"I guess you better get to bed." he said grinning.
"Yea, I guess so..." she said starting to go up.
"Listen, Danzo is one person you do have to worry about. After I'm dead I wouldn't put it past him to try and kill my niece. Also, there is a man in an orange mask in Akatsuki. His name is Madara Uchiha. Never allow him to influence her, and if he takes Sasuke after I'm gone, know that he told him the truth. If you can, please try and get him away from him. He needs to be in Konoha with you and my niece. It was nice to meet you, and I think you would be the only person who should be my sister-in-law." he said. He got up with Sakura and walked her to her room. He smiled and kissed her on her forehead. "Next time we meet you have to act as if you are scared of me."
"I know that." Sakura said sadly. "good night Itachi... I never said my name. I'm Sakura."
"It was a pleasure meeting you Sakura." he said with a great smile. She liked his smile. It was better than Sasuke's smirk any day.
