Chapter Ten- Levatio
When Hinata awoke to a piece of bark jutting into her back, she knew it wasn't going to be a good day. She could smell burnt wood, ash…and meat? Chouji was the master chef when it came to anything barbeque, but as she opened her eyes, she saw Naruto cooking a fish over an open fire. It crackled and glowed. Sparks flew out from various directions, and Hinata stared at it, entranced for a few moments.
Naruto caught her eye and grinned sheepishly. "I hope you like salmon. This took me forever to catch; you'd think mastering the power of the Kyuubi would give me amazing reflexes. I mean it did. But apparently not enough to grab a fish in less than ten minutes."
He turned over the stick the salmon had been unceremoniously shoved into; it would be pitiful if Hinata weren't so hungry. The dead fish gazed back at her with tortured eyes. She took in a breath and flinched at the sudden onslaught of pain within her ribs. She tenderly touched the area and nearly yelled out. Her thoughts went back to the memory of yesterday—the battle with Nagato and Deidara had turned sour quickly.
"Are Sakura and Itachi alright?" Hinata asked. She didn't know yet whether to add a san to Itachi's name. On one hand, his power commanded respect, as well as his sacrifice for Konoha. On the other hand, it was difficult to simply erase an image of a psychopath she thought he was. Kurenai told their team of the battle with Itachi, he managed to school her own sensei in Genjutsu—which was no easy feat. Not to mention his heinous goal to capture and kill Naruto. Since then, Hinata only associated Itachi's name with fear and misery. She was thankful they hadn't been able to track him down during their mission capture him and lure Sasuke back to Konoha. The notion of Itachi's innocence would take some getting used to.
Naruto affirmed with a nod of his head. "Itachi had been badly hurt from overuse of his Susanoo. It drains the life force of the person who uses it, I saw Sasuke do it once during our last battle with him. Itachi nearly died, but Sakura saved him at the last minute. She's an amazing medic. I don't know where we'd be if it weren't for…ah! Damn!" The salmon had been cooking peacefully until it caught on fire. The flames engulfed the tail as Naruto panicked and shook the stick, extinguishing the fire.
"Well…I hope you like the taste of burnt fish," Naruto sighed as he handed the fish over to Hinata.
She tried not to wrinkle her nose at the stench of scorched salmon, and smiled politely. Naruto was many things, but a stellar cook was not one of them. Hinata had no idea how to eat it on a stick, so she merely nibbled on it. She looked across the field and saw Itachi, who lay asleep (or unconscious) a few feet away. Sakura leaned over him, gliding her hand down his chest.
Hinata slowly stood up and hobbled over to the other kunoichi. Sakura turned to her and said with a look of surprise, "I didn't expect you to be walking. Sit next to me, I'm just checking on Itachi again and I'll take a look at you. How are your ribs? I'm not sure if you remember, but Nagato broke them."
Hinata swallowed a bit of the salmon. She could hear Naruto's faint curses as he attempted to cook another fish. "I don't think I could ever forget," she said with a bitter laugh. "But they're feeling better. We're probably going to need a few more days to recuperate. You did a good job taking care of everyone, but have you slept at all?"
Sakura's hands emitted an emerald green glow as she healed Itachi. Up close, he looked exhausted, and dried blood was still caked down his chin and eyes. Hinata felt thankful her bloodline wasn't cursed with such a dangerous power. "Around four hours. Itachi is still in near critical condition. He had a lot of internal damage, heart and lung problems and all that fun stuff," Sakura said with a heavy sigh.
Hinata frowned and placed the half-eaten fish down. She knew she should be regaining her energy, but she hadn't had much of an appetite since her capture. Food tasted bland and only reminded her of that terrible, starved time in the Akatsuki lair. "How do you know he can be trusted, Sakura?"
The medic froze, as though the thought had occurred to her several times already. She spoke slowly, choosing each word carefully. "I don't think there's any way to truly know. We have Sasuke's word, as well as Tobi's. Itachi himself confirmed the Uchiha plotted to overthrow Konoha. But more than that, I don't get a malicious vibe from him. He saved my life, when he could have kept his survival a secret."
Hinata watched as Sakura continued to gloss over Itachi's chest, particularly the area his heart was located at. "Maybe he wanted to be found. A part of him could have felt guilty over the way his brother turned out," she said. "He did help defeat Nagato. It's just weird, how the tables have turned with Sasuke. Now he's the bad guy, and Itachi was always good."
"I don't think it's that simple, Hinata." Sakura finally leaned back and stretched her arms. Her petal pink hair cascaded down her shoulders; since the war began, no one had much time for a trim.
The Hyuuga smirked lightly. "It never is," she said, thinking of Neji in his darker days.
"Hey!" Naruto said as he walked over, carrying another fish. "Sakura-chan, you must be hungry, have this." He handed her over the food, which didn't look at badly burnt as Hinata's.
"Erm…I'm okay," Sakura said, eying the fish. She smiled politely and stood up. "I'm going to the nearest town to pick up some medical supplies. I'll get food along the way. A good chunk of this forest is gone from the battle, so there's not much opportunity to hunt. It scared all the game away."
Hinata couldn't help but to agree. At least a mile in every direction, trees had been uprooted and soil destroyed. The air still smelled of ash, and it had been silent, still. Even the river nearby appeared empty and shallow. She thought of all the animal's nests and homes that had been suddenly demolished in the span of a few seconds. For their chunnin exams, they had to venture out in the dreaded Forest of Death. But maybe its humans,and their obsession with power thatshe had to fear the most.
Naruto shrugged and bit into the fish. "Oh, you don't want a taste of some of my mouth-watering breakfast? Your loss," he said with a wink. "Will Itachi be okay here?"
At that very moment, Itachi had grunted in pain and raised himself up. He lay propped on his elbows as he stared around in a daze. Hinata tensed and pressed her thin lips together. A flash of surprise past over Sakura's features—she hadn't expected him to be up—she knelt down beside him and murmured a few things to him. Itachi kept his face impassive as he listened, but somehow, Hinata could tell he wasn't pleased with whatever news the kunoichi had for him. He reminded her of her own father, Hiashi, who always made sure to keep his emotions hidden, even from his own family.
Sakura shut her eyes and rested a hand on his shoulder as she spoke. After a moment, she rose and began walking to the east side of the clearing. "I'll be back in a couple of hours with supplies. If there's any news regarding…well anything at this point, then let me know," she said with a wave and went on her way.
Hinata looked after her and back to Itachi, who kept his focus on where Sakura had been just moments ago. There was something odd about their relationship. She couldn't put her finger on it, but it seemed Sakura wasn't letting on more than she knew about the Uchiha brothers. Hinata vowed to find out more when Naruto spoke up. "From what my clones have gathered, it looks like a lot of the Edo-Tensei have disappeared. Nagato was our biggest problem."
Hinata frowned. "But how can they be gone? Have they been sealed by some other means?" From Itachi's furrowed eyebrows, she knew he was wondering the same thing.
"If the revived person can come to terms with their past and current situation, they leave this world on their own terms," Naruto explained. "It's confusing, I'm don't really understanding it myself. But it makes our job a lot easier, right? And I'll have to shut down my clones soon though, or I'll run out of chakra."
Itachi rested an arm upon his knee. "Then that just leaves Sasuke," his said. He sounded so weakened and worn Hinata wasn't sure if he would be able to defeat his brother if it came down to a fight. She had heard Sakura's fierce words about Itachi being blind, but could this be true? Now that Hinata thought about it, there were times when she saw Itachi squinting or holding his head to the side, as if trying to use his auditory senses instead. His hearing was remarkable, as well as his chakra sensing skills if he could detect Nagato before anyone else.
"And Tobi," Naruto growled. Hinata bit the side of her lip and tried not to think about it.
A deer dashed at the end of the clearing, leaving a trail of dust and leaves behind. A blue jay flew by and landed on the ground, pecking for food. Soon enough, new life would grow here again. No matter how devastating the damage, there was always hope for change and renewal.
Hinata turned and spoke to Itachi, "Thank you for everything you've done so far." She wanted to say more about how the Hyuuga had begrudgingly respected the Uchiha as the stronger clan, but she had no idea how Itachi would even react. Was he proud of his family? Ashamed? Although her father wasn't perfect, he would never plan to betray Konoha.
Itachi nodded stiffly. It was clear he didn't trust her as much as Naruto or Sakura, which hurt a little, despite logic behind it. Hinata glanced over her shoulder, Naruto had trudged away to capture another fish for himself. She could hear the sounds of splashing as he summoned clones to help him out. She turned back around and tried not to look nervous. But she couldn't help it, Itachi made her jittery. Hinata could only think of Kurenai and how shaky she was days after her encounter with Itachi and Kisame. Did he know she was Kurenai's student?
"When you saw Sasuke, did he use the same jutsu as I did yesterday?" Itachi asked suddenly. He kept his eyes on her, as though looking for any signs of lying.
Hinata answered back immediately, "He did. It ended up clashing with Kabuto's own powers. I think that's what ended up taking down the whole building, actually." She couldn't bring herself to look back at Itachi, but she knew he hadn't broken eye contact. Even if his vision no longer worked, Hinata couldn't help but to feel he could see right through her.
"He mastered Susanoo then," Itachi said quietly to himself. "Sasuke will go down the same path as me."
Hinata didn't know what to say. "Perhaps Sakura could try to heal you…?"
Itachi cut her off, "No. It wouldn't work."
Beyond the clearing, a rabbit jumped by, holding a piece of flower in its mouth. Naruto could be heard arguing with one of the clones, who apparently caught a poisonous fish that made his skin swell. His loud voice carried across the area.
"You should trust her," Hinata said. "Sakura is quite talented. We're pretty good proof of that, right?" She gestured to her ribs, which did feel a lot better as the morning went on.
Itachi brushed a dark strand behind his ear at the force of a sudden gust of wind. "She is indeed. I don't doubt her skills. In fact, if it were possible for a healer to repair my eyes, she would be the first person I would go to, after Tsunade-san."
Hinata was struck by the respect he had for both women. It painted such a contrasting picture of what Kurenai and Asuma had described. She knew Itachi had been merely playing his part, but he was a good actor. Almost too good.
"If Sasuke-kun ends up with her, then he'll in good hands then," Hinata said. She figured it would be the perfect thing to say—it showed she had hope for Sasuke and respect for Sakura.
Yet Itachi's tone seemed forlorn as he replied, "Yes, I suppose my brother will be very lucky. Let's hope he doesn't throw that chance away again. It's important to appreciate the good, hardworking people in your life who would do anything to see you happy, and Sakura is certainly that."
Hinata raised her eyebrows. Itachi sounded almost bitter about the prospect of Sakura ending up with Sasuke. He had sacrificed more than anyone should for his brother, so it only made sense for him to feel resentment at the fulfilling life Sasuke threw away, but something still seemed…strange.
"My cousin Neji used to only think of revenge and blamed me for the death of his father," Hinata said. She ran her tongue along her teeth, thinking back to those days. "He even tried to kill me at the Chuunin Exams. Not that my father would have been sad to see me go, as long as he had my sister to train." She closed her mouth abruptly. She hadn't meant to reveal that much information.
Itachi seemed to understand as he nodded and said, "The shinobi lifestyle is hard, no matter what clan you're born into. You lose sight of everything that's important to you. Friends, family, mentors. Their relevance to you disappears and it becomes about power and dominating others."
Although Hinata thought his words rang true, it was funny hearing it from someone who usually overpowered ninja in battle. But maybe that's why he could talk about it so easily, as if it were his own life. Had her father suffered the same fate? He would never admit it, but if only her mother was alive to talk to…
"Okay guys, let's hope Sakura brings a lot of food back. Because I'm done for the day." Naruto said. He trudged back from the river, soaking wet. One of his clones shivered so much he poofed out of existence. Naruto rolled his eyes and wrung out his jumpsuit.
Hinata couldn't hold back her giggle; he looked like a wet, golden puppy. "I'm guessing you didn't have much luck?"
The look Naruto returned explained it all, and Hinata laughed even more. Itachi just shook his head, but the smallest smile played on his lips.
Sakura glided through the crowded market place, a mission set in mind. She had successfully resisted the temptation to indulge in one of the ice cream bars, which served her favorite flavor, strawberry-banana. A pastel-tainted stall sold shimmering hair bands on display; one apple-green barrette would have gone perfectly with her eyes. She wished Ino was with her—they would have a blast shopping for accessories to wear on their day off. The smell of grilled chicken and barbeque wafted through the air, and Sakura's stomach growled. She had bought bags of fruit and vegetables with the little savings she had left. They could hunt for meat as they traveled.
As Sakura made her way through the many booths, she thought to her conversation with Itachi this morning. She had told him that if he used Susanoo again, he would most certainly die. She could detect traces of medicine in his system, but only a blood test could confirm it. It had been a taxing effort on her own body to bring Itachi back from death's door, so she could only hope he would listen to her advice. He didn't look thrilled at the thought of losing his most powerful weapon, but what else could she do?
Sakura pushed the memory from her mind and stopped to purchase a plate of rice and chicken, admiring the bustling scene around her. It reminded her of Konoha and the festivals they held every few months. Sakura shut her eyes and let the warm sunlight bask over her; for a few seconds, she was back at home enjoying the day with her friends and family.
"And all two-hundred prisoners went missing two nights ago! It happened near the Fire Country to be precise. It's the strangest thing," a low-pitched woman who stood in front of her in line said.
Her friend replied with a note of fear, "So they escaped?"
Sakura opened her eyes and turned her head to slightest. She hadn't been out in the public since her stay at the hotel, so this would be news to her. She fiddled with her bag strap and listened in, hoping their conversation would reveal more information.
"That's what one would think, naturally. But it's not so clear-cut anymore. There are stories based on evidence and even some eye-witnesses that they were forcibly removed from their cells. The guards were all killed, or so delusional they could hardly speak," the woman continued. She pushed her wavy black hair back over her shoulder.
Her friend, a blonde teenager wearing a baby-blue dress, gasped. "Kidnapped? What would someone want to do with a bunch of prisoners?"
The wavy-haired woman looked at her companion as though the answer was obvious. Sakura couldn't see her face, but apparently the girl still didn't understand after a few seconds. She leaned in closer, trying not to look like an eavesdropper. They moved up a few paces as the line continued, it would be their turn to order soon.
"That ninja. The legendary one who has been causing so much trouble for the shinobi nations. Orochimaru," the woman whispered his name as though it was cursed.
The blonde girl choked on the smoothie she had been drinking. "Orochimaru? I heard he had died months ago."
The other woman shushed her. "Don't say his name so loudly, child. You don't want to be associated with such rumors and risk making enemies of his caliber. Leave that to the ninja who can actually fight him. But one thing is for certain—whoever did it was no weakling."
The stopped talking as their turn to order came up. Sakura rubbed the back of her neck, trying to absorb the information she had just heard. They were mere civilians, what could they possibly know about the Sannin? Itachi had guaranteed he died, and after seeing what his Sunsanoo could do, she didn't question it. Kabuto would be her next guess, but according to Naruto and Hinata, Sasuke had killed him. Sakura thought back to Tobi—it would make sense for it to be him. He had lost Kabuto as an ally, and the alliance knew that. The Zetsu clones were numerous, yet still weak. He no longer had any control of the Edo-Tensei ninja and they were disappearing anyway. The only reason she could think to kidnap prisoners would be to experiment on them or gain them as followers.
"Ma'am? What will you be having today?" the shop owner asked. His fingers tapped the counter impatiently. Behind him, cooks prepared sizzling chicken and fried noodles.
Sakura pursed her lips and stepped back. She didn't have time to eat; the others needed to be warned about this. The kunoichi turned and without another word, started back to the forest.
An hour later, when Sakura finally finished relaying the conversation she heard, she was surprised to see that no one looked too concerned. Naruto bit into an apple, and leaned back as he said, "I don't think there's too much to worry about. Honestly, after hearing about Kabuto's death, ending this war within the next few days seems like a real possibility at this point. I doubt some missing prisoners have anything to do with Tobi. Why would he want them?"
Itachi looked on, nodding in silent agreement. Hinata pressed her fingers together and offered, "I know it sounds scary, Sakura. But it could just be a coincidence. They might have all planned the whole thing out and escaped."
"Yeah, you said the guards were all killed, right?" Naruto asked.
Sakura paced around; she knew there was a chance the whole thing could be a random occurrence, but her gut feeling told her otherwise. She tilted her head up at a cloud that strangely resembled Rock Lee's bowl haircut. "I don't think so. What if Tobi is planning something? We shouldn't dismiss this so easily," she said, crossing her arms.
"Even if he was, what can we do? And these were civilian criminals that disappeared. They're no match for even a competent genin," Itachi said. "They're next to useless against the alliance, as far as I'm concerned."
That comment made Sakura think, her eyes lit up with an idea. "What if he plans on using them for Edo-Tensei?"
Hinata played with the zipper on her vest. "Could he be capable of such a jutsu?" She looked as though the thought alone frightened her, it scared Sakura more than she'd like to admit as well.
Naruto finished the last of his apple. "I don't think it's that easy," he said between bites, "otherwise anyone could do it. Only someone who trained under Orochimaru and knew his power could pull it off. And what's the point of raising the same people back from the dead? He'd get a pretty similar result as Kabuto, and we all know how that went."
Sakura couldn't deny the truth behind his words, yet she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. The timing fit in too perfectly. But they brought up valid points, what could she possibly do about it anyway? She sighed and said, "I think I need to be alone to think more on it." Truthfully, there was a small part of her that wondered if Naruto just brushed off her fears because of all her emotional blunders she'd made in the past. A couple of years ago, he would have agreed with her. What was the point of being book-smart if no one took her seriously?
Sakura walked from the clearing and made her way through the trees that had been spared Nagato's wrath. It was so quiet she could only hear the solid beat of her heart. After a few minutes, she came across a steaming hot spring. Sakura thought back to Itachi's mention of her visit to one, and her eyes filled with tears at the embarrassing memory. Of course he wouldn't care to listen to her opinion either, she tried to drug him in some foolish attempt to get information. Sakura exhaled and removed her shoes to put her feet in the water. It glittered under the sun, and her tense muscles relaxed as the water lapped at her legs. She peered around; the spring was surrounded by boulders and trees that shielded her view and gave her privacy. Sakura considered bathing here; her skin felt grimy, but she was too tired to even budge. She lay down and rested her head on a pile of leaves. Four hours of sleep was not enough to make up for the exhausting days she had. Sakura closed her eyes. Only a short nap, she told herself.
"Sakura?"
When she opened her eyes, it came as a complete surprise to see the sky a darker shade of blue, and Itachi standing near her. He had his head tilted to the side, and held a bag of the strawberries she'd bought earlier. "If had been a few hours, we were just worried. I brought you some food," he said.
Sakura nodded, and realized how hungry she was as she took the strawberries. Her legs were still in the spring. She pulled them out, thinking it was a good idea not to have bathed in here after all. She didn't want to even think about how awkward Itachi catching herwould be.
Sakura cleared her throat and popped a strawberry in her mouth. Itachi stood there uncertainly, as if wondering what to do. "Do you still need to be alone…?"
"No, no," she motioned for him to sit. "I just needed rest. I've been asleep for hours, haven't I?"
Itachi took a seat next to her. The color had returned to his cheeks, and he smelled fresh, like he had taken a bath in a hot spring himself. His hair was slightly damp and pulled in his usual neat pony-tail. "Yes, you have. But we figured you needed to regain your strength. Are you ready to leave tomorrow morning?"
Sakura swallowed nervously. "For Sasuke? How are you feeling?"
Itachi nodded. "I've been a lot better. You did excellent work, healing me. I never got to thank you properly for it. Susanoo takes a huge toll on the user, but I've seen you already figured that out."
Up ahead, stars were clearly visible and numerous. It was easy to forget how many there were in populated cities like Konoha. The trees were dark silhouettes against the night sky. Sakura leaned back and watched as she said, "it does. I worked hard to save you because you saved me against Nagato's summon. That was the only reason you had to keep Susanoo up as long as you did. The guilt would have eaten me alive if you died. Not to mention I would have been mauled to death if you hadn't intervened at the last second. So…thank you." She smiled and looked away.
Itachi rested a hand on one knee, which Sakura was beginning to find was his favorite pose. "It was a group effort," he said, shrugging.
Sakura grinned. "See? Teamwork isn't so bad."
Itachi scoffed. "Don't forget, I was ANBU captain. I know a thing or two about working together."
Sakura had forgotten he was part of ANBU. "I wonder if the massacre hadn't happened, would you have been our sensei? I'm sure Sasuke would have loved that." She chewed on another strawberry. They were in season, so they tasted sweeter than usual.
"I'm not too certain Sasuke would be a fan of that. He was sometimes envious of me. Our father showered me with attention, a little too much at times, and this led to tension between my brother and I. I'd doubt I'd make a good sensei to him anyway," he said thoughtfully. "I'd always be worried about his well-being on missions. It wouldn't be good for either of us."
Sakura smiled, thinking of how true that was. Sasuke even harbored jealously of Naruto before he left Konoha. "I suppose it's not a good idea to talk about what-ifs. It's not like we can go back and time to find out, right?" she said. Though it saddened her more than she wanted to admit, the thought of so many lives ruined over mere grudges and miscommunications.
"Right," Itachi said softly, as though thinking the same thing. "I would have liked to see your progress had I stayed." He studied her, as though finally seeing her for the first time. His charcoal eyes locked with hers a little longer than necessary.
Sakura blushed. She wasn't used to this much attention from another guy, unless it was Naruto, Rock Lee…or her dad. It didn't boost her ego to admit it, but her experience with males left a lot to be desired. She smoothed out her skirt compulsively. Itachi was just being nice and professional. Mentorish. "Y-yeah. Thanks. I would probably be a lot better at Genjutsu," Sakura said, trying not to let her nervousness to leak through her composure. Be smooth.
Itachi chuckled. "True. Although I blame Kakashi for not taking advantage of the potential you had. He's no amateur at Genjutsu, as I've learned from my fights with him."
Sakura stared at the hot spring, illuminated by moonlight. Nighttime had fallen, which only added to the awkwardness of this situation. What if Naruto walked over here? What did this look like? She wanted her inner-self to tell her to get it together, but even within in her own mind, she was nowhere to be found. "I enjoy being a medic. There's no better feeling in the world than mastering that art and using it to save lives. Training under Tsunade was such an honor, that I got over the whole situation with Kakashi-sensei. I understand where he's coming from because it's hard to see any potential in me when I'm competing with Sasuke and Naruto." She wanted to keep prattling on—silence made things too intimate. A firefly danced around her arm.
Itachi however, remained quiet and only gave a small "hm" in reply. Sakura couldn't help but to notice he was closer to her than usual; his body leaned in and his eyes ever wavered from her own. She thought of all the times he would gently touch her shoulder or the small of her back. They had seemed insignificant at the time, but now her heart lurched at the thought of each memory. Life could be cruel—she dreamed of a situation like this with Sasuke. How many times had she thought of the perfect script, every word romantic, filled with passion, and just right? It was what she still wanted, more than anything else.
She felt Itachi's hand glide along her cheek. Sakura' breath hitched as she looked at him. "Then Kakashi is a fool," Itachi said.
She was too afraid to even breathe; a part of her wanted to stop it, to end things while it was still somewhat friendly. Another part lured her in with curiosity she couldn't resist. Sakura placed her own hand upon his own. Itachi closed his eyes, and tilted his head to meet her lips. He kissed her with such gentleness that it felt as a light as feather. Before she could stop herself, Sakura leaned in and deepened the kiss. Seconds later they broke apart, breathing the cool air deeply. Itachi's hand ran through her hair and he lightly grazed the delicate skin of her neck. Sakura inched her head back, allowing him more room. She supported herself on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
"I've wondered if you smelled as sweet as the flower you're named after," Itachi murmured, trailing kisses along her neck. "I wasn't disappointed."
Sakura blushed at the compliment, feeling overwhelmed and unguarded. What he was doing felt so amazingly good; who knew her neck could be so sensitive? They broke away and looked at each other, each one trying to figure out what the other was thinking. Sakura didn't realize this could make her feel so out of breath, as her chest rose and fell rapidly. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. Itachi's hand lingered around her cheek; it felt cool against her flushed skin. This time, he didn't meet her eyes, as though scared of what he would find. Sakura had never seen Itachi look more vulnerable.
Her own lips trembled. "Itachi…when did you start to feel this way?" Although it seemed obvious, she wanted to hear him say it.
Itachi removed his hand from her hair; which Sakura almost missed. "Your dedication to my brother, Konoha, and your own skills as a kunoichi impressed me. You convinced me to gather the courage to face Sasuke, no matter what happens. And…" he paused, searching for the right words. "When that summon attacked you, I felt genuine fear for you. It's been a long time since I experienced that feeling for anyone besides Sasuke."
Sakura was at a loss for words. It was too touching. She bit her lip and tried to come up with something to say, but her mind felt like mush. Itachi licked his lips, and then asked, "But how do you feel, Sakura?" His smooth voice cut through the silence like a knife.
This was the question Sakura had been dreading. She took a deep breath, trying to sort through her thoughts. Would Sasuke ever tell her the things Itachi just said? She may never hear those kinds of words from the younger Uchiha. "I really don't know. You know how I feel about…him. This wouldn't be right. You're so kind, Itachi. But I can't betray Sasuke like this. Being with you would only make things more complicated. I would always wonder about what if would have been like with Sasuke. Everything I've done has been for him. I can't just give up on him like this. It kills me to say it, but I wish I had this moment with your brother instead." Even as the words left her mouth, Sakura hated herself for it. But she had to be honest; it would be an insult to Itachi to be anything less.
But it still broke her heart to see Itachi so hurt, despite his effort to conceal his feelings; he looked like he had been slapped. His frown deepened and he bowed his head. "Are you sure you're not in love with the idea of Sasuke?"
Sakura blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
With a sigh, Itachi said, "It sounds like you've painted a picture of what the ideal life with Sasuke would be like. But that image you've created is nothing more than a memory of the person he used to be. We see what we want to see, not the reality of it."
"And the potential of what he could be," Sakura said. "He can still change, you said it yourself. There's always hope."
Itachi's eyes narrowed, as if trying to understand her reasoning. "He tried to kill you, Sakura. Could you ever love someone who committed such an act? Do you really think that's the best you deserve?"
His questions hit her insecurities like a well-aimed kunai. Sakura crossed her arms and tried not to let her voice quiver as she explained, "I could try. Besides, there is power in forgiveness. Naruto wants him back as a friend, why should I be the only one getting grilled for my choices? That time at Kage Summit, Sasuke was deranged. Not himself. He'll be back to the old ways as soon as you talk to him and we'll all be able to move on with our lives, alright?" She tried not to sound defensive, but she knew people judged her for her lingering feelings for Sasuke. But as soon as he turned a new leaf, everyone would forget about it and he would love her for being so supportive. What was so difficult to understand about that? But three years ago, a seed of doubt was planted in her mind. It grew into a weed that strangled her feelings and whispered to her over and over again that loving Sasuke was a mistake—one that could cost her life.
Itachi didn't seem to share her views, but he didn't push the issue further. "Very well then. I can only hope Sasuke does listen to my advice and changes for the better. After that…I simply hope he cares for you like I would."
Sakura wanted to tell him to stop. Ever word out of Itachi's mouth made her rethink her decision. That kiss had been her first—and it felt so right, like how a kiss should feel. And when she talked to Itachi, she always felt that bit of excitement and curiosity, like their conversations could go on forever. He seemed so encouraging when she talked about learning Genjutsu, giving her confidence Sasuke never did… The warm feeling between them frosted over, suddenly she felt cold and sick. But what would people think of her? Itachi was still seen as a criminal and wanted to remain that way. The sad yet undeniable truth was that they had no future together.
Sakura stood up with shaky legs. A few hours ago, she saw Itachi as a brotherly figure. Yet now, she felt like so naïve for missing all the signs. She stared at the flickering stars for a moment. "Itachi, maybe I am a fool for still loving Sasuke even after everything he's done. And I'm not sure I could ever move on from him…it's not me who deserves someone better, but you," Sakura said. She wiped her eyes and stumbled back to the clearing. Dawn could not come soon enough.
"My, how far you've come since I trained you, Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru said. His inky-black hair cascaded down his cloak and he stared around his old laboratory, where he had kept his own prisoners captive. Groans of pain and misery echoed down the dark hallway. As they passed each cell, trembling hands and faces crowded against the bars, begging to be released.
Kidnapping the prisoners had been easy enough. The guards were so weak they would be lucky to pass the Chuunin exam. The people they guarded had put up an even more pathetic fight. With the combined efforts of Sasuke, Orochimaru, Suigetsu and Juugo, it had been effortless to break in and quickly take over the facility. They knocked out each inmate and sealed him, then transported them to Orochimaru's lab. The prisoners were bloody and coated in dirt, but the building itself was clean and sterile. The Sannin preferred a neat place to experiment, or as Suigetsu would mutter with a faraway look in his eyes, "torture like the crazed scientist he was."
Even now, Suigetsu was still staring at Orochimaru with a wary look, his hand never faraway from Samehada. Sasuke was hardly worried—he had made the older man swear his loyalty, in return he would have control over Konoha. "You've always wanted to be hokage, right? This is your chance," Sasuke said. Orochimaru only smirked and replied that such a dream had disappeared long ago. Yet he still accepted Sasuke's offer.
The Uchiha of course had no intention of keeping his promise. His clan would hold their rightful position to take over and rule Konoha. He had decided on kidnapping prisoners as his sacrifices for Edo-Tensei. He would not stoop so low as to take civilians, no matter how easy it would have been. Sasuke and Orochimaru ignored the cries for mercy—the prisoners were well aware of the certain death that faced them—and walked into a small room that held hundreds of jars containing hair samples. Sasuke resisted the urge to shiver at the frigid temperature and drew his cloak around him. A blinding florescent light shone above them.
"Most of the DNA from my clan was easy enough to obtain. Traveling and breaking into Konoha was the hardest part, their ANBU are nothing to sneeze at," Sasuke said. "Performing this jutsu will be even more difficult, I've only attempted it once, and that was on Itachi."
Suigetsu leaned against the cement wall. "Finding out your brother who you thought was an evil psycho was an actually good person is bad enough. Find out he's still alive using Edo-Tensei…now that's just awkward."
Sasuke's right eye twitched. "Not awkward. I think 'selfish' would be more fitting. But he'll regret what he's done. Itachi had no right to hide like that from me and if he truly loved his brother as much as Tobi said he did, he would have talked to me long ago." Sasuke took one of the jars, labeled with a specific number. "Luckily, I was able to find most of the hairs around the Uchiha compound. It was untouched after the massacre."
Suigetsu swallowed nervously. "Almost like it never happened." Orochimaru watched Sasuke as though he was an interesting experiment of his own gone haywire.
"Before I left Konoha, I would walk through there late at night, trying to tell myself my family was still there. It was all just one long, terrible nightmare and they were all asleep, waiting for me to come home late from practice. Now, I can make it a reality," Sasuke said softly. His hands balled into fists. "Give me the first prisoner. I want to test the jutsu now."
Suigetsu moved to obey, but Orochimaru stopped him with a single look and hissed, "I'll do the honors." Without another word, he swept out of the room. Seconds later, the silence was interrupted by a brutal scream. Suigetsu flinched and said, "Geez. Did he really have to make a show out of it?" The scream continued on for a full minute, until it died into a whimper. And then finally, silence.
A dead man was dropped onto the table. His brown, empty eyes reflected the fluorescent light. His mouth was still twisted in an agony. Blood poured out of a single stab wound, staining his white uniform. Not that it mattered. Suigetsu rolled his eyes and Orochimaru returned to his position, as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. It still disturbed Sasuke how easily he could kill others and made a mental note to keep a watchful eye on him. But the anticipation of what he was about to do pushed any thoughts of the dead prisoner out of his mind. His life was a worthy sacrifice to pay.
"Who are you going to resurrect?" Suigetsu asked.
Sasuke formed the seals of the jutsu rapidly. His eyes blazed a fiery red. "You'll see."
He placed his palm down. His stomach clenched as the smoke appeared and he stepped back. Sasuke hoped with every fiber of his being that the hair sample had belonged to the right person. He felt as anxious as his first attempt to raise Itachi from the dead. The smoke cleared and a figure stood in the middle of the lab, where the dead man had once been. Sasuke willed himself to remain calm, but as soon as he saw the person, he knew it would be useless.
"Father," Sasuke said.
Fugaku Uchiha looked upon his son in shock. "Itachi…? No, Sasuke, it's you. How you've grown. How many years has it been? What am I doing here…?" He cracked face examined his son with an alarmed expression.
Sasuke forgot about everyone else except the man he had sought to impress for the first eight years of his life. He stood a step forward, not believing this was true. He was afraid to blink, for fear his father would be torn away from him again. "I've brought you back to help you realize your dream. What happened to you was unjust and a disgrace," Sasuke took a ragged breath in, trying to keep his composure. "It's only fair that you deserve a second chance at life. And a second chance to complete your mission."
Realization dawned on Fugaku's face. "So you know about the coup. About my fate—and the rest of the clan's—at the hands of your brother. Itachi did what he felt was right Sasuke, I hope you both have cared for each other well and lived fulfilling lives. Perhaps that's too much to hope for Itachi, after what he was forced to do, but that's all your mother and I really wanted." He looked at his son, silently begging for him to understand. "I am sorry. I have failed you both as a father."
Sasuke shook his head. He could sense Suigetsu behind him, still as a statue. "No, you didn't. It's the village that's failed to treat their people equally and understand their rights. I know about the discrimination and the way the Uchiha were treated like trash. I don't agree with Itachi's decision and felt that you had every right to fight back. So that's what we'll do. We'll take back Konoha." Sasuke smirked, letting the promise of revenge and his family fuel him. "When those elders see our clan, they'll wish they had never crossed paths with the Uchiha."
End
Thank you for reading! This was a hard chapter for me to write, for several reasons. ;) I'll try to have the next one up as soon as possible. Finals are coming up, but after that I'm done for summer break. Whoo!