Hey guys! I'm back for one last chapter of this story! Ready for the finale?
Chapter 10
The Aftermath
Itachi finally finishes the destruction of their village, pushing down the memories that threaten to resurface from the depths of his mind he had pushed them down into. With a tired sigh, he looks towards the sky. The bomb should've gone off by now. Why hasn't it exploded-
A large boom sounds from his left, shaking his standing, and with wide eyes, the man watches as trees catch fire instantly, smoke rising into the blue sky. He removes his clock, the need for it long gone, and with a shocked expression, stares openly at the destruction. Something in his heart twists. Something about his brother.
"Where are you?" he whispers to himself quietly, just about to take off in the direction of the explosion when a pair of equally bewildered shinobi stutter out of the forest. Itachi pauses, gulping audibly at his audience. Naruto and Kakashi lean on each other for support to escape the flaming nature behind them. Without his clock to conceal him, Itachi stood wide open, and millions of different scenarios went through his head to escape from this predicament. Just as he picked one and was about to act upon it, Naruto raises his head from where it was rested on Kakashi's shoulder.
"...Itachi?" he asks, surprised laced into his voice. The ex-Konoha ninja blinks and purses his lips. The white haired ninja glances up wildly, and narrows his one good eye. "What are you doing here, Itachi?"
Kakashi's expert eye swirls downwards and takes in the discarded cloak, and Itachi knows then that staying around is not the best choice. He instead reaches behind him and procures a smoke bomb.
"What the-" Naruto starts before clouds of purple smoke reduce his vision. With a leap, the Uchiha jumps over the two blinded ninja, into the forest behind them, and disappears from sight win a mere second. The man knew that the two meant trouble, and would do nothing but hinder him. He takes a deep breath, calming his beating heart, and ignores the fire that reaches out to caresses his body as he flies from tree to tree, deeper into the heat, knowing that somewhere there lied Sasuke. Maybe even Sakura.
Call it brother's intuition.
...
Itachi finally makes it to a small, untouched clearing within the flames, which surprised him. How was this small area able to escape the destructive flames around it? Speaking of which, the hungry fire was starting to eat the edges of the haven, slowly making it smaller and smaller. What lay within the healthy grass, however, was what made the Uchiha double take.
It was Sasuke and Saukra.
The two lay side by side, unconscious, burn marks all over their bodies, both losing dark blood. Itachi rushes over to the two of them, checking them over. What in the hell happened? The both of them looked completely and utterly exhausted, but yet a small, ever so noticeable smile resided in their features. Shaking his head, and sweating due to the closeness of the heat, he hauls the two of them on his shoulders. The man adjusts the two, hoping that the journey back wouldn't be as bad.
But carrying two people through miles of fire can't possibly be pleasant.
He activates his red Susanoo, hoping for at least a little closure, hoping it doesn't run out before he makes it back to the village. Maybe a hospital could take care of the two of them. He would be fine without treatment, but these two...would they even accept them, being the ninja they are?
But they all were, without a doubt to from the village, regardless of the things they had done. But, they just might think otherwise...
Itachi goes on the move, using his already worn legs to dash through the heat, preserving his energy as much as he can, and the trees fly by. He wants to make it there, he knows he will, the hospital is his goal. He sure as hell would make it.
Ten minutes in and the man is already tired. He's barely able to take another step towards his goal, towards the hospital, but he knows there's only a handful of miles left before the village would come into sight. Sasuke. That thought alone got him to move again. And the light that came into his eyes when he looked at the pink haired girl. How he longed to see it again. So he pushes on.
Within another six minutes, he's back, finally, and the Susanoo around him disappears with a poof. Itachi breathes harshly, his heart overloaded, his muscles screaming for mercy, but the hospital is so close. With measured steps, he jogs out of the Uchiha compound, pushing himself past the limit, towards the hospital. Out of his old home, down the street, turning this way and that, avoiding buildings.
He finally makes it to the hospital, and finally his journey is almost over, and he's so glad he was able to help someone for a change in his life. With a worn smile, he walks into the building slowly. When he opens the front door, the nurses stare, horrified at his dirtied, tired, and unusual situation. Itachi flashes them a grin before collapsing heavily onto the ground.
...
Tsunade woke up with her head being split in two. That damned man...who was he? For him know to have the Sharingan, who knew? It could be that mysterious man in the Akatsuki, it could've even been Sasuke. Hell, maybe even Itachi, of all people. Or, maybe someone she didn't know?
But her head screamed at her to stop overthinking, because everything hurt. With a grunt and a deep, rattling cough, she makes her way to her feet, though slightly unsettled. With a snap of her fingers, she summons ANBU to her side.
"Your wishes, my lady?" one of them asks, bowed. There are three in all, and they all are donned in black gear before the blonde woman.
The blonde closes her eyes, and focuses on taking deep breaths. "Find the perpetrators, now! Bring them to me immediately! They have throughly destroyed the village before any ninja could get their hands on even one. This is ridiculous! Ludicrous!"
"Yes," one responds, before all three leave in a quick substitution jutsu.
Tsunade tsks before biting on the nail of her thumb, a stupid habit she had somehow picked up when she was nervous, or worried over something. That man...
"Tsunade-sama," a voice behind her says clearly, and the woman doesn't turn to face the man. His chakra, or rather, their chakra, is all too clear, and the voice, the same.
"Kakashi," she says, "have you come to me to report something important, or will you simply waste my time?"
Slightly taken aback at the words, the man coughs before responding. "It's important."
"Spit it out."
"Naruto and I saw Sakura in the forest just south of the Uchiha District, and later, saw Itachi there," the silver haired stated distinctly.
"But the dumb guy got the jump on us! Stupid smoke bomb," another voice, obviously Naruto, complains. "Sakura, though, she had some weird thing in her hand. But she got the jump on us, too, with that clone. The information makes the Hokage frown, deep in thought.
More chakras make their way over to her, and the blonde turns to see Hinata and Kiba, along with his dog, walking towards them, also. "We encountered Sasuke," Kiba announces, the girl by his side bobbing her head up and down in agreement.
"He had on a dark cloak, and was destroying the village," Hinata follows up quietly.
Everyone takes a moment to let the details sink in.
Tsunade furrows her brows. "Alright. So there are three identified so far- Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. Correct? Are there any others?"
"I don't think so, ma'am," Kakashi says. The blonde gives him a small nod. "Then, how did such a team come together?"
Heads shake and shoulders shrug all around. No one knew a thing.
The Hokage grits her teeth. "So we're back to square one, with no information."
The ninjas look disheartened, and the blonde sighs softly. She's been too worked up, too hard on them. She opens her mouth, about to cheer them up a bit when a low squeal sounds through the air. "A messenger bird?" the woman asks with furrowed brows. The bird lands on her outstretched arm, and the shinobi around her watch with wide eyes as she reaches out for the message attached to its foot.
"'The hospital needs your help desperately, Tsunade-sama. There are two critically injured patients, and their identities will shock you. It is best you come in person to look at this'," Tsunade reads.
She quickly wraps up the paper and takes off at a sprint for the hospital. "You all, douse the flames! Try to find other critically injured people, if any! After, come to the hospital!"
The group exchanged a quick round of nods before scattering.
...
Tsunade rushes into the hospital and donned herself in the gear befitting to a nurse, an amazing one at that, and quickly goes to the front desk. "What did you need me for?"
"Tsunade-sama, that was quick!" the girl squeaks from behind the counter, and the blonde's lips thin into a line. "What. Am. I. Here. For?" she grits again, and the nurse shut up and gets it.
She retrieves a clipboard of the patient's status from beneath her desk and hands it to Tsunade. "3rd Floor, 2nd, 6th, and 3rd rooms."
"Thank you." A brisk nod later, and Tsunade departs.
She enters the stairway, because it's much faster than the slow elevator, and runs up as fast as her legs could take her, and it doesn't take long at all. Less than half a minute later she's there, in the patient's room, looking down on a very familiar teenager.
"Sakura Haruno," she breathes, widening her eyes. The girl was alone, her burns and bruises having already being treated, and and sleeps deeply. The sound of the rushed movement from the blonde, however, rips her out of her dreams and throws her back into reality. "Tsu...nade-sama," she pants, obviously still out of it.
"You've returned," is all the Hoksge manages, and the pink haired nods dumbly. The sight of her pupil, all damaged, is too much, and the woman excuses herself from the room.
Moving on to the next patient, she entered the 3rd room on the floor, to see none other than the infamous Uchiha Sasuke on the cot, in a state no better than Sakura's. Except, he is awake, and staring at...
Itachi Uchiha.
Tsunade pauses, eyes wide, almost choking on air at the two dangerous ninja. At her presence, Itachi's eyes open, and look at Sauske briefly before turning to meet Tsunade's. His eyes remain dark, a sign he does not want to fight.
"Lady Tsunade," he begins in a low voice, "how surprised you must be."
The woman gathers her wits, coughing into her hands before frowning. "Understatement of the year," she responds, sitting prim and proper in the doctor's chair, a healthy ways away from the Uchihas. "What brings you here, the both of you? And Sakura, how did she end up with you two? How and why are you hurt, and why have you destroyed Konoha?"
Sasuke raises his eyebrows at the barrage of questions, still fighting the drugs that pull him to sleep, but Itachi simply smirks. "It's a story too winding and too long."
"I have time," Tsunade counters.
"L- Let me join, too," a weak voice at the door says, and the Hokage turns to see Sakura leaning heavily against the door frame, shuddering under the strain of movement.
"Go back to bed," Tsnuade orders firmly, "you need rest."
Sakura ignored the woman before hobbling awkwardly across the floor, taking a seat next to Itachi. "I need to be in this discussion, too," the pink haired says with narrowed eyes at Taunade, as if daring her to say another word on her needing to rest.
The blonde eyes her for a bit before sighing. Sakura always was the rebellious type when it came to things such as this.
"So," Tsunade says, straightening her uniform. She looks at Itachi in the eye. "Start from the beginning."
...
"Everyone's done, correct?" the jounin asks the group, still panting from their hurried sprint. "No injuries? All flames, out?"
Naruto flashes his sensei a knowing smile, followed by a thumbs up. "Of course! You can always count on me, Kakashi-sensei."
"Ah, well," the man grunts, focusing on the state of the village rather than his attention-begging student. "It does seem as though most of flames are out. So, injuries?"
"None," Kiba says, and Kakashi nods curtly. "Good."
"S- Should we report to Tsunade-sama?" inquires Hinata, wringing her hands.
"Yeah, probably," goes Naruto, and little roses blossom on the girl's cheeks.
Kakashi gives a single nod, and the group runs towards the intended hospital, where their Hokage resided. They soon arrive, and walk towards the front desk. The kind lady, who understood the dire situation, quickly directs them to the floor in which the blonde woman resided, along with her patients. After a brisk walk up the steps and wonder-filled whispers, they come to the door. Before they open it, however, a familiar voice to all of them drifts from behind it.
"Beginning, huh?" the voice asks.
"Sasuke," Naruto grits with narrowed eyes, and he is a mere second from breaking down then door when a pale, soft hand finds his shoulder and holds him back. "Naruto-kun," she whispers.
He backs off.
"Please," the Hokage says firmly, and Sasuke sighs. Then, he begins the tale of Sakura's needing his help, their encounter with Tobi, Konoha ninja, and Itachi, the bomb, Sakura wanting to save everyone herself, and his saving her. He talks for hours on end, to the listening ears of Itachi, who pitches in here and there, Sakura, who simply nods to confirm some parts, and Naruto and his gang. Last, but not least, Tsunade, who closes her eyes, listening closely to the winding tale.
...
When Sasuke finally finishes, even he is worn out, and he leans on Itachi for support (oh, how the man was going to tease him later!). Tsunade sighs and rubs her temples.
"So, in the end, you were still looking to help Konoha, correct?" Tsunade asks, and the Uchihas are almost embarrassed at the blunt question. A quiet "yes" sounds from Sakura, however, who over the hours became well enough to still up and talk a little.
"You all may come in now," the blonde sighs, staring at the door, "your presences aren't exactly quiet."
The door opens and the whole crew stumbles in, questions blurting from their mouths. Though, one wouldn't have to look far if they wanted to guess who the loudest of the bunch was. "Sasuke!" screams the orange clad teen, "Did you really want to save the village by destroying it? It that really, really, really true?"
The teen turns and narrows his eyes at him, crossing his pale arms. "If I didn't, then why would I be here, dobe?"
"What did you just call me?" Naruto grunts. His hands already balled into angry fists.
"Enough," the Hokage says calmly, and the ninjas pause. "We'll let them stay in the village for the time being. The villagers are already repairing, and the ninjas are guiding them. All misunderstandings will also be cleared. So. Everything is coming to an end."
The crew around her quiets, and Tsunade smiles. "Hey. I'm thankful to you three."
Itachi grunts, Sakura manages a weak smile, and Sasuke just huffs.
"Oi, that's no way to treat the Hokage, Sasuke," Naruto sneers, his crystal eyes staring daggers into the teen's unruly locks.
"Get off my case, damn it!" yells Sasuke, who immediately recoils due to his injuries.
While the two get into yet another argument, the Hokage simply watches with an amused smile. Kakashi matches her expression. "Everything turned out alright, somewhat, in the end, huh?"
"Yeah," the woman resounds, and she is greeted by Itachi.
"I am honestly sorry door casting that genjutsu on you, ma'am," he apologizes, bowing slightly. Tsunade is astonished by his actions. So it was Itachi, huh?
"Don't worry about it, you had the village's safety at risk," she brushes off, "if I were you, I'd do the same thing."
"Yes," he says, taking a final bow before returning to his seat.
"Everything is fine," Tsunade says again, looking into the sky.
Really...Thank you.
How was the ending! A little iffy to me, since writer's block is threatening to take over everything XD I hope you enjoyed this story and thanks for sticking around until the end. Thank you!