Vespertine
Chapter Ten: The Cataclysm
Defense is paper thin
Just one touch, and I'd be in
Too deep to ever swim against the current
So let me slip away
Itachi sat at the table, absently chewing on the last stick of staling dango as he gazed out the window into an opaque gray sky. Water dripped from the eave above where the icicles were melting away. Occasionally one would break off and fall to the ground, landing in the mushy snow with a soft swish.
Winter was just now coming to southern lands like his native Fire, but here it was already ending. Unlike other northern lands, the Lightning country was too wet and misty for the season to last long. Soon the snows would turn to rain, which would continueuntil spring. He'd been to this part of the world often enough in his travels as a missing-nin to remember.
Nearly three weeks had passed, and Sakura still hadn't returned.
It shouldhave taken her only a few days to reach Konoha traveling at shinobi speed, and she had been in a hurry. It should take only a few days to return as well. Two weeks were unaccounted for, and her continued absence troubled him more with every passing day.
Had Konoha changed its mind? Had Sakura been ordered not to return? Something could have happened regarding Sasuke, for better or worse, and his help was no longer needed, making the deal with Konoha void. Someone could have learned that he was alive, and it wasn't safe for Sakura to return lest she be followed. Something could have happened to her on her way back, perhaps connected to that very thing.
Itachi sighed and drank his rapidly cooling tea. There was no use in exacerbating his growing anxiety with speculation. He would wait another week before deciding what to do. Something would have to be done by then anyway; the cabin's food supply was running low. He had no money and no weapons to hunt with, and hunting with jutsu was largely unsuccessful. Soon he would be forced to leave one way or another.
The isolation had been peaceful, but often frustrating. Itachi had always liked spending time alone, though now he was beginning to believe that was partly because it had always been preferable to his available options for company. His partner in Akatsuki had been a tolerable companion; despite his brutish appearance, Kisame was intelligent and unusually perceptive. Those traits were double-edged, however, for his assumed commentary about Itachi's thoughts and motives had grown a little tiresome, and sometimes, alarming. More than once he'd thought the shark might be onto him and would have to be killed. Indeed, Kisame might have known about him all along; it turned out his former partner had his own secrets regarding Uchiha Madara.
His mind was definitely wandering too much if he was thinking about such things. Itachi was bored. He'd already read all the books Sakura brought back with her, some of them twice—and he'd come to the conclusion that her brain-eating zombie stories were rather perversely entertaining. He'd even played shougi against himself—no easy feat. He trained every day for hours, sometimes until he could barely walk from exhaustion, though he was pleased to no longer be unbearably weak and unfit. There was only so much he could do in this place to keep himself from obsessively thinking about things that were better left unexamined.
Sakura's company, her presence, was missed. He liked talking to her, or simply listening to her talk. He had come to enjoy their routine. But he also missed her for other reasons that were slightly unsettling. He had never craved affection, nor desired to give it to another, and yet he found himself wanting to feel her touch, to breathe the soft floral fragrance of her hair as he ran his fingers through it, to hear that little sound of pleasure she made when he kissed her. He wanted to feel her soft warmth curled against him as they slept.
He had let his guard down around her—repeatedly, and with increasingly less concern—something he hadn't done since he was very young, before he learned the hard way not to trust, to keep his thoughts and feelings locked away. It was relaxing and…liberating, to be able to let go in that way, to be himself: a person he still barely recognized.
Had this second chance at life, this fragile hope for redemption, really sparked such change in him? Or were these things always a part of who he was, buried beneath all of his carefully constructed layers of deception and apathy. It had to be the latter. Sakura was a remarkable and beautiful young woman, to be sure, but she was no sorceress, no irresistible seductress. She hadn't bewitched him, hadn't brought out anything in him that wasn't already there, waiting, only needing a chance and a reason to come alive. He wanted these things for himself.
The time spent here in this remote cabin with Sakura, he realized, had been the closest he had ever come to happiness in his entire life. He felt truly alive for the first time in years. He still had a duty to fulfill, but it was by his own choosing. When that duty was finished, he would be free to live his life the way he wanted.
Or perhaps not. That tenuous hope that he had finally allowed himself to believe in might not be possible after all, if Sakura's absence was an indication of Konoha's change of plans.
Finding his thoughts back where they started, Itachi frowned and sighed again. It aggravated him to not know anything, to have no way of even contacting anyone for answers. Frustrated, annoyed, and tired of thinking about it, he got up and went outside to train.
#
He was reading by the fire later that night when he felt the presence of chakra. It had been so long since he'd sensed anything but the natural forest life around the cabin that at first he was alarmed and his Sharingan activated from years of honed reflexes. A few moments later he recognized it—that signature which had become as familiar to him as his own.
Sakura.
He stood and waited, expecting her to rush in and breathlessly tell him what had delayed her return. Instead, it was a good two minutes before he heard her footsteps crunching lightly through the melting snow. She was walking. He frowned slightly. Her steps sounded on the wooden planks of the porch, and a moment later the door opened.
With one glance, he knew she was not okay. Physically she was unhurt, but her face gave it away: she was exhausted, mentally and emotionally worn down, her normally bright eyes shadowed and haunted.
Sakura stopped, slowly dropped her pack from her shoulder, and locked eyes with him. Her expression was unreadable, which was rare for her. Then she rushed forward and threw her arms around him. A few moments later she burst into tears, sobbing silently against his chest. It was the kind of crying people do against their will; when the strain becomes too much, they can't take it anymore and it just breaks out of them. Itachi had experienced it only once in his life, in the aftermath of that night.
Something terrible had happened to her.
Itachi wasn't expecting the strong wave of relief that hit him then, forcing him to acknowledge how truly worried about her he'd been. He held her and slowly stroked her hair, an action, he realized, that comforted them both. His mind ran wild trying to guess what could possibly have happened. She clung to him, sniffling softly until she eventually calmed herself.
Her eyes were red and puffy when she looked up at him, tear tracks shining on her face.
"Konoha was attacked by Akatsuki."
It was rare for something to shock him enough to visibly react, but this did. His surprise showed clearly on his face. He'd known nothing of such a plan, and he never would have thought they would engage in a direct assault with only a few of them left. Then he recalled that Akatsuki had recently gained four new members.
"Sasuke…" he murmured, a hard knot forming in his gut.
Sakura was confused at first, but then realized what he was thinking and shook her head. "No. It was Pein."
Itachi was glad his brother had nothing to do with it, but he was alarmed for Konoha's sake. Pein. All the members of Akatsuki combined couldn't inflict the kind of damage that their leader and his Rinnegan could. Pein was a force unto himself.
He was even more relieved for her safety than before. Reaching out, he guided her to sit down in front of the fire. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
"The village was almost completely destroyed," she continued tremulously. She took a shaky breath and closed her eyes, on the verge of tears again. "It all happened so fast…"
Sakura ran as fast as she could in the direction of the chaos. So many people were running the opposite way trying to escape the danger that she had to weave around them, which slowed her down. Shikamaru was a little ahead of her, and further down the street in the distance she saw his father Shikaku and another jounin emerge into the intersection from a side street. They caught sight of the two of them and paused, intending to group up.
Suddenly there was a flash of light and the building on her left exploded into the street. Sakura was knocked backward by the shockwave. People all around were screaming and fleeing for their lives. Uninjured but a little stunned from the force of the blast, she shakily pushed herself to her feet and looked around. The street was now blocked by the debris of what had once been her favorite ice cream shop. Sakura leapt up onto the rooftop of the next building over—now missing a wall—and spotted Shikamaru on the other side of the mountain of rubble. He had turned back to check on her, and looked relieved when he caught sight of her. She waved briefly that she was alright. He nodded once, and took off to join his dad.
Another loud rumble came from a few blocks over, and again the ground quaked. Sakura turned toward the sound and her eyes went wide. A gigantic centipede had burst from the ground and rose into the sky, dwarfing the buildings around it. It was the biggest creature she'd ever seen. She shot off in that direction just as it dove and careened down the avenue, its hulking body smashing everything it encountered.
A little girl had fallen in the street, carelessly knocked down by the panicking crowd. An old woman ran toward her, screaming something that was drowned out by other screams and the flailing insect, which was careening straight toward them.
There was no time to think. Putting everything she had into her speed, Sakura leapt into the street and headed off the monster, flooded chakra through her arm and smashed her fist into the underbelly of the enormous segmented body. The shock of her blow reverberated through the insect, cracking the stone-like carapace wide open. The creature went flying back down the street, crashing end over end until it collided with another building and lay dead among the dust and rubble.
Grimly pleased, she turned to the petrified woman and child. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah," the little girl whimpered, hugging her leg to her chest.
"Thank you!" the old woman gasped, holding the shaking child's shoulders.
Sakura knelt and examined the girl's knee. It was badly skinned and bleeding, but easily mended with a little chakra. The girl wiped the tears from her dirty face and thanked her. Sakura smiled.
Someone shouted her name from across the street. She turned and saw her old academy teacher running toward her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, breathing hard from exertion. He looked down the street and saw the dead monster, then looked back to her and his eyes widened in realization.
"Iruka-sensei…what the hell is going on?"
"It's Akatsuki! They're attacking the village to try and find Naruto!"
Shock flooded through her. "Akatsuki!" Sakura recalled what Itachi had told her of Akatsuki's plans and movements. "I never thought they would attack us directly…"
The ground shook again and the sky lit up with another explosion a few blocks away. A group of chuunin who'd been examining the dead centipede waved urgently to Iruka. He turned to go to them, but then looked back over his shoulder at her. "You should get to the hospital and tend to the wounded. The place is already filling up."
Sakura didn't want to go to the hospital. She was furious and she wanted to fight, wanted to smash up the invading Akatsuki like she'd smashed their summoned monster. But she knew Iruka was right. She could fight…but so could everyone else. She was one of the few who could save the injured and dying.
"Right," she said firmly. Iruka left with the other shinobi, and Sakura waited until the old woman and girl had safely escaped down the street before turning and running the opposite way.
The hospital was in a state of panic. On-duty medics and nurses ran everywhere as the casualties flooded in, trying to make room for them all, setting up makeshift beds on the floor, on desktops, counters, anywhere they could. Off-duty staff was rushing in, some carrying more wounded, some injured themselves on their way through the village-turned-warzone. Sakura ran up the steps and grabbed a man about to collapse, hauled him inside. He had massive trauma to the torso and she set to work on him right there in the lobby, which had already been turned into an emergency triage.
Occasionally the ground and walls shook from nearby explosions, rattling the windows, but the medics and hospital staff barely noticed. Whether minutes or hours crawled past, Sakura couldn't tell.
It was every healer's nightmare. All around her, villagers were suffering, civilian and shinobi alike. Moans of the dying echoed in her ears. Cries from those in excruciating pain, sobs of those afraid to die. And they did die. For every one saved, another didn't make it. There was only so much the nurses and surgeons could do. There weren't enough medics, and those present didn't have enough chakra to heal everyone.
To Sakura's dismay, Shizune was missing and everyone was looking to her for directions. Even the new class of trainees had been put to work, but they were so inexperienced and scared most of them could barely keep it together. They might slip up and possibly kill their patient, or themselves, so she redirected them to assist the nurses; administering morphine, affixing tourniquets, applying bandages.
Being the most skilled, Sakura treated the worst of the injuries and stabilized the patients, then let the other medics and surgeons take over while she moved on to the next. It was overwhelming and maddening and terrifying, and if she stopped for one second to take it all in she knew she would have a breakdown. So she focused with a fierce intensity. One wound at a time. One patient at a time. Keep your head clear. Don't think about it. Just do it. Blood stained her hands, her knees, her clothes. Sweat dripped from her brow and her energy was draining, but she fought on.
Suddenly the streets outside fell eerily silent. An ominous stillness hung in the air for several heartbeats…and then a deafening sound unlike anything she'd ever heard before filled her ears. The ground shook hard enough to knock people off their feet. The windows shattered. Something large and heavy fell on Sakura from behind, pinning her to the floor. Then everything went black.
The world came back slowly, beginning with a pounding in her head and a ringing in her ears. A cloud of thick dust obscured her surroundings and invaded her lungs, and she immediately began to cough. That heavy weight still bore down upon her, and as she pushed her body upward, she discovered the mass was soft and warm against her back. The mass moved when she stirred, and she sat up and looked over her shoulder at the corpulent, blue and white striped creature hovering over her. "Katsuyu…."
The slug's eyestalks swiveled in her direction. "I reached you just in time," she said in her soft, wispy voice. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah…somehow," she murmured thickly, still a little dazed. Looking down at herself, she saw that a fine coating of the slug's viscous, chakra-infused mucus covered her arms and legs, acting as a salve to heal the cuts and scrapes she'd just received. "What happened?"
The Hokage's summon remained silent, looking as somber and aggrieved as an expressionless mollusk could. Katsuyu wasn't the only thing alarmingly quiet. That deathly stillness hung in the air once more.
Crawling forward on her hands and knees, Sakura was suddenly aware of aches and pains that hadn't been there a few minutes ago and wondered how she'd been injured. The floor had been reduced to jagged chunks of concrete and linoleum, and she deduced that it breaking beneath her was what inflicted the cuts and bruises.
When the the dust cloud finally dispersed, the shock of what she saw took her breath away and turned her stomach to lead. Her eyes burned, her whole body trembled.
The hospital was gone, demolished to rubble all around her. The buildings around it were leveled as well, leaving a clear panoramic view of her surroundings.
A vast crater spanned where the heart of the village had once been.
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. There were no words for this. The shock was all-consuming, rendering her completely numb. A long minute passed, and then her mind began to race with unanswerable thoughts and questions. What had been done to her beloved home? Why was this happening?
There were stirrings of movement around her, and Sakura suddenly remembered. "The patients…!" She scrambled to get up, to find them amid the rubble and dig them out if she had to, but Katsuyu touched her shoulder.
"I am already attending to them," she stated softly. Sakura now noticed several more of the slug's bodies in the surrounding area, lifting debris and administering her healing fluids to everyone she encountered. "Your chakra levels are low. Please don't overstrain yourself. They will be alright."
Someone stumbled into her line of sight, and she looked over to see a jounin sag to his knees a few feet away. The swollen veins around his eyes identified him as a Hyuuga. His head was bleeding and he looked like he may have sustained a concussion. Katsuyu slid over to inspect him.
Something in the distance caught Sakura's attention: a large cloud of smoke had formed at the center of the massive crater. "What is that?" she wondered aloud.
The jounin heard her and followed her gaze, assessing the disturbance with his bloodline limit. "It's Naruto!" he exclaimed.
Sakura squinted, focusing intently on the figures taking shape within the cloud. Naruto! She didn't know what her teammate could do in this situation, but just the fact that he was here was a huge relief. Naruto always did something, no matter how bad things were.
"He's facing off against the shinobi who attacked us...all six of him."
Her relief quickly evaporated, replaced by fear. Naruto was in a confrontation with Pein? That was exactly what the Akatsuki leader had come for—to capture the jinchuuriki. She started to move, but was hindered by her injuries and realized that in her current state she would only get herself killed by going down there. Naruto would be distressed and distracted by her presence as well, would put her safety before his own and be more vulnerable than if he were alone. She couldn't help him, but worried suddenly about her other teammates. Where were Kakashi and Sai and Yamato…?
"Sakura. You must go to Tsunade-sama immediately. She needs you." The slug sounded distressed.
Reluctant to lose sight of Naruto but anxious to find her mentor, she nodded. "Where is she?"
Katsuyu was silent a moment, searching for her master through the link that bound them together. The membranous tips of her eyestalks bulged. "Oh!"
"What?"
The slug's rounded head turned toward the crater. "She's down there."
Sakura peered as hard as she could, but all she could make out were a few dark specks within the swirling cloud of dust.
"She intends to fight Pein," Katsuyu continued worriedly, "but she doesn't have the strength. She released her Souzou Saisei technique when she sent me to heal the villagers."
If Tsunade had used her restoration jutsu on the entire village, her chakra would be draining rapidly. It would only be a matter of minutes before…. "What's going on? I can't see anything from here," Sakura asked the Hyuuga, a hint of panic creeping into her voice.
The man didn't answer for a moment, and then, "…Naruto protected the Hokage from an attack! Amazing…he took out one of Pein's bodies with a single blow!"
A few moments later one of the figures below began moving their way, eventually revealing itself as one of Naruto's toad summons. It landed a few feet behind them, carrying Tsunade, who was nearly unconscious.
"Shishou!"
Sakura rushed to the Hokage's side and took her shaking hands, now thin and aged. She was severely weakened, and the youth illusion she wore at all times had vanished, revealing the true form of her fifty-five years.
"It's all right now," Tsunade panted. "Naruto is back." Supported by Sakura, she sank to her knees and rested her head on her apprentice's shoulder. Sakura held her master in her arms, nothing she could do but to let her rest. Within a few minutes she was asleep, and Sakura carefully laid her down. Two ANBU stood nearby, guarding her.
Everyone's attention returned to the battle. Sakura still couldn't see a thing with the fight stirring up more dust than ever, but the Hyuuga man provided astonishing commentary on what he saw. Battling summons, strange jutsu…and then he exclaimed that Naruto was down, pinned to the ground by long spikes driven through his limbs. Sakura was sick with worry for him, going crazy from not being able to see for herself.
Then the Hyuuga nearly had a fit. "Hinata-sama!"
Sakura's head whipped around in surprise. "What!"
"Hinata-sama jumped in front of Naruto…she tried to save him! Pein knocked her back…she's…she's not moving…"
Sakura gaped at him, but before she could even try to process that information, a wave of intense pressure washed over them and stole her breath; she had felt that same angry, burning sensation once before. It was the Kyuubi's chakra. A terrifying roar reached their ears and left no doubt; Naruto had lost control.
Sakura turned frantically to the Hyuuga. "What's happening!"
He stammered, stunned nearly speechless by what he was seeing. "I...I don't know what to say…. I can see…six tails! At this rate he might fully transform!"
"Six…!" Two more than when it happened last time, and back then they'd nearly lost him to the demon. He had nearly killed them all as well. Though her legs still trembled, Sakura forced herself to stand. "Katsuyu," she called to the slug hovering over her master, "tell everyone to get out of here and take shelter."
Suddenly there was a massive blast of pure energy at the center of the crater, which Sakura recognized as one of the Kyuubi's attacks. A minute later the cloud of dust and smoke began moving across the empty expanse. "What's going on?"
"Naruto and Pein are getting further and further from the village," the Hyuuga explained excitedly. "It looks like Pein is fleeing from the Kyuubi's power!"
The toad who brought Tsunade began to laugh heartily. "Hah! Take that, ya bastard!"
Sakura whirled on him. "This is nothing to laugh about!" she said severely. "Now is our chance to get Hinata. And we have to do something about Naruto…he's dangerous when he's like this; he can't recognize friend from foe!"
The toad sobered contritely and Sakura climbed onto his back, holding onto his collar as he bounced away, Katsuyu and the Hyuuga man following at a distance. Up ahead, another group was speeding toward the center of the destruction, and as she got closer she recognized Team Gai. They reached the tiny figure on the ground first, and she joined them a minute later.
Sakura immediately went to Hinata and began healing. Tenten knelt beside them silently, her face lined with worry. The Hyuuga heiress had been stabbed through the stomach with a metal rod, but thankfully her vitals were missed. She would be okay. The others talked excitedly around her, filling each other in on what they knew and what they'd seen. Sakura listened absently, focusing on Hinata, fighting against her own exhausted body to help her friend.
Then Neji said something to the other Hyuuga that caught her attention. "But why did she do it?" He was concerned about his cousin, but obviously baffled as to why she would put herself in such a situation.
Because she's in love with Naruto, Sakura wanted to say, but kept silent. She didn't want to cause trouble for her friend. And Naruto…what about his insane reaction? Of course he would be upset and angry over anyone getting hurt because of him, but to immediately and completely lose control and sprout six tails…? Was there something going on she didn't know about?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Katsuyu. "Naruto suppressed the demon himself. He's now facing off with Pein one last time."
Sakura started in surprise. Suppressed it himself? How was that possible?
Gai and Lee wanted to go offer backup, but Katsuyu advised them against it, telling them Naruto didn't need it. "Part of me is with Naruto now," she explained. "He has a plan. Let's have faith in him."
The Hyuugas looked skeptical, but everyone else reluctantly agreed. They would have to believe in Naruto. If he had the strength to suppress the demon fox from within…he could do anything.
Hinata stirred and moaned softly. The wound was closed, but Sakura couldn't waste precious chakra removing the raw soreness. Her opaque eyes opened, and with some effort she was able to sit up and look around. "Naruto…"
"He's alright," Tenten said. "He's still fighting Pein."
Hinata smiled wanly, clearly still worried. "Thank you, Sakura," she said quietly.
"I'm just glad you're okay. That was crazy, Hinata..."
"I know," she admitted. "But I had to."
Sakura understood. She wanted to help Naruto too, though for different reasons. Love gave people a unique form of courage.
A few minutes later, Katsuyu reported again. "Naruto defeated the sixth Pein." Murmurs of surprise and encouragement went round.
"How is he? Is he injured?" Sakura asked worriedly.
"He's exhausted, but he's fine."
Hinata sagged with relief, putting her face in her hands. Katsuyu went on to tell them that Naruto was heading for the location of the "real Pein," whatever that meant. Team Gai wanted to go after him again, but the slug reiterated that he didn't want any help and refused to give his location, leaving them frustrated and stuck.
"You would do more good by helping the villagers," she chastised, as sternly as her gentle voice would allow. "There are people trapped beneath the rubble, and a Byakugan would be of great use."
"Katsuyu is right," Sakura agreed, "everyone who can move should be helping those who can't." With nods and murmurs of agreement, everyone headed off to help where they could.
"I'm going too," Hinata said, standing shakily.
"I didn't mean you. You need to rest."
"But I can walk, can't I?" she argued. "And there's nothing wrong with my eyes. I want to help."
Sakura shook her head in fond exasperation. It was impossible to keep the girl down, literally and figuratively. It reminded her of someone else she knew. "Alright," she assented. "Ten, will you make sure she doesn't overdo it?"
"Of course" Tenten answered, supporting Hinata around the shoulders. The two of them began to carefully pick their way through the rubble.
Sakura sighed and ran her filthy hands through her filthy tangled hair. She didn't even want to imagine what she looked like right now. Returning to Tsunade, she grew worried upon finding her master not asleep, but unconscious. Katsuyu assured her that her vitals were fine and she was stable, and then split off a miniature version of herself to accompany Sakura around the village.
Like everyone else, she wandered in search of people who needed help. It was difficult to find her way with landmarks destroyed and streets covered by debris, and movement through the destruction was precarious and slow. She went to the ruins of the academy first, in case there were any children trapped or needing help. When she was only about a block away, something bright caught her attention. Looking more closely, dread seized her as she registered what she was seeing; a shock of white hair, attached to a pair of green-vested shoulders, slumped lifelessly.
"Kakashi!" she cried, her feet already carrying her across the distance. She frantically pulled away the rubble pinning him. He had several minor injuries and looked like he'd been in a hell of a fight, but nothing serious enough to be life threatening. At first she thought he was just unconscious, but as she held him close to lift him from the debris she realized she couldn't feel his chakra. At all. Eyes widening in panic, she quickly laid him out and pressed two fingers to his throat. His pulse was so faint and weak she couldn't feel it until she probed with chakra. His heart sputtered weakly, barely beating.
His hitai-ate was pushed up, revealing his scarred eye, and she knew then that he'd used his transplanted Sharingan past its limits. He was dying from chakra depletion.
"Shit! Kakashi, no!" She removed the little slug from her shoulder and placed her on Kakashi's chest. "Katsuyu, please help me!"
"He's…" the slug began.
"He's still alive!" She glared at her unconscious team leader. "Do you hear me, Kaka-sensei! You better not die!"
"Sakura, your chakra…"
"That's why I need your help, damn it!" she shouted angrily. The slug didn't argue further, and began to thrum softly as she too poured energy into the dying man. Several seconds passed, and Sakura nearly sobbed with relief when his heart rate picked up, intermittently at first, and then with increasing regularity. He was breathing.
"I'm sorry, that's all I have," Katsuyu declared after a few minutes, as her body began to disintegrate. This particular embodiment of the summon was small and didn't have much chakra; when it was gone, she went with it.
Sakura fought on alone. She had almost nothing left; it was all she could do to stay conscious. When she was certain his heart would continue to beat steadily, that he could breathe on his own, she stopped. She was so tired. So, so tired. Her eyes wouldn't stay open, and when she tried to focus she became dizzy. All she wanted was to lie down and rest, and so she did, falling there beside Kakashi, one hand still on his chest as if to make sure she could still feel the rise and fall of his breathing. She let out a slow, exhausted sigh, and then darkness overtook her.
When she woke again Kakashi was sitting beside her, slouched over tiredly with his elbows on his knees. He looked like hell. She probably looked just as bad, and certainly felt like it. "I'm glad you're okay," she murmured, smiling at him weakly.
He smiled back. "Me too. What a strange trip that was…" His tone was light, but his eyes were troubled. "Sakura…"
"If you even try to tell me I shouldn't have done everything in my power to save you, I'll knock you unconscious again," she grunted, lethargically sitting up. Her vision was no longer spinning; that was a good sign, at least.
Kakashi chuckled feebly, but quickly sobered. "Thank you," he said quietly.
"Anytime."
"Why are you here?" he wondered. "Did something happen with Itachi?"
"I came to warn Tsunade-sama because I overheard some locals talking about suspicious activity and I had a bad feeling." She looked around despondently. "I guess I was right."
"A few minutes ago Katsuyu told everyone that Naruto defeated Pein," he informed, sounding a little amazed by that fact. "I was about to go find him, but I waited for you to wake up so you'd know I was okay."
"I'm so glad it's over," she sighed. Her eyes scanned their surroundings, fully absorbing the extent of destruction. She looked to Kakashi again. "Where are Sai and Yamato?"
"They were on a mission to find Kabuto, but Yamato was undoubtedly alerted when Naruto broke his seal, so I'm sure they're rushing back now."
She nodded, glad to know they were okay. "What about Tsunade-sama?"
"They're putting up tents as temporary shelters on the outskirts of the village. She's been moved there. You shouldn't have any trouble finding her."
"You're going to find Naruto?" she asked, watching him stand— very slowly. He nodded and offered her a hand. She shot him a stern look as she rose. "Don't push it, Kaka-sensei. You nearly died." Impulsively she moved forward and wrapped her arms around his middle. "You scared me half to death," she murmured into his torn and dirty flak vest.
"I know," he said solemnly, patting her shoulders, then ruffling her hair. "I promise to take it easy."
"You'd better," she reinforced, but smiled after him as he left.
The Hokage's tent was as easy to find as Kakashi said, with the ANBU detail standing guard around it. They parted the entrance flaps and let her through. She was surprised to find Ino kneeling at the Hokage's side.
Ino turned her head at the intrusion of light and gasped. "Sakura! I didn't even know you were here!"
Sakura knelt beside her. "How is she?"
They gazed at their Hokage and mutual teacher, nearly unrecognizable, lying tiny and frail and aged on a white bedroll. "She's in a coma," Ino replied, tucking her sweaty bangs behind her ear. "There's nothing we can do for her; she has to recover on her own…"
"She will," Sakura said with quiet firmness, holding her mentor's wrinkled hand between hers. Ino appeared to be on the verge of tears. Her friend cared for and respected the Hokage, but they weren't that close. Something else was wrong. "Ino…what is it?"
The blonde sniffled a few times, and then began crying in earnest. "Ch…Chouji's dad was killed," she whimpered. "Chouji witnessed it…he's really…"
Sakura's heart wrenched. The three teammates' families were all extremely close, and Chouza was—had been—like an uncle to Ino and Shikamaru. "Oh, Ino I'm sorry…."
Ino brushed the back of her hand across her eyes, mainly succeeding in smearing more dirt across her face. "I—I really want to be with him right now, but I didn't know you were here and there was no one else to watch over Tsunade-sama."
"What do you mean," she asked uneasily. A dread intuition came over her. "Where's Shizune?"
Ino just stared at her with an expression of morose surprise. Then Sakura realized that her fellow apprentice had been absent from every place she would have expected to find her during the turmoil. Not at Tsunade's side. Not at the hospital.
"No…."
Ino's agonized expression left no doubt. "She was trying to reach my dad's investigation team to tell them about Pein's secret…but then one of Pein's bodies found us and…."
"Y-you were there?" Sakura choked, the first tears falling from her eyes. Shizune had been like a big sister ever since Sakura had become the Hokage's apprentice. And Tsunade would be devastated; she loved Shizune like a daughter.
Ino nodded miserably. "I'm so sorry, Sakura. It happened so fast…we couldn't even fight him…"
She met Ino in a hug and they cried together, sharing their grief. When they were too exhausted to cry anymore they sat in silence together by the Hokage's bedside.
Sometime later, a call went around the hastily built tent city: Naruto had returned. Sakura wiped the tear tracks and dirt from her face with the inside hem of her shirt, and then wiped Ino's as well, quietly teasing her about the impractical size of her clothing. They shared a much-needed if very small laugh and went outside to join the welcome party.
The entire village had gathered to greet the returning hero, even the injured who had to be supported by their comrades. Naruto was as dirty, bloodstained and ragged as everyone else, and looked completely bewildered by the cheering crowd as he stood with Kakashi.
Sakura nudged her way through the throng of people and marched straight for her teammate. Fear, concern, anger, love, relief, admiration, gratitude…they all rushed around inside of her like a tornado as she neared him. His eyes widened considerably when he saw her; like everyone else, he hadn't known she was in the village.
"Sakura—" he began.
And was promptly cut short by her left hook.
"Reckless idiot!" she scolded, shocking the people around her who probably thought she had some nerve, assaulting their savior. Naruto doubled over, too exhausted to withstand her blow as he normally would. She caught him by the shirtfront and stood him up, then pulled him into a tight embrace. "I was so worried," she whispered against his shoulder. "Thank you."
She pulled away and they grinned at each other, then she stood back as Naruto was hoisted into the air by the cheering crowd. Finally, this was his moment: the recognition and admiration he'd always dreamed of, that she knew he would achieve someday.
Sakura just wished it didn't have to be the result of something so tragic and devastating.
#
Over the next several days the village bustled with activity as every available person helped to rebuild their homes and restore Konoha. Yamato and Sai had returned, and now Yamato was something of a hero around town as well—thanks to his wood-element jutsu, Konoha would be rebuilt in no time.
Sakura's time was divided between the medical tent and the Hokage's bedside. After checking on her one afternoon, she went out for a walk to take in the state of things around the village and just get a break from her exhausting routine for a while.
With her shishou's condition unchanged, the senior council would be meeting today to decide how to proceed. Sakura was extremely anxious about it, knowing the deviousness of Danzou and the other elders. It occurred to her that she really had no idea who was in charge at the moment. The village had just sort of banded together in the wake of tragedy and everything was running smoothly on its own. The Hokage would be proud of her people.
Without any real destination plan, she eventually wandered toward the village gates. To her surprise, Naruto was there, sitting at the base of a large lumber pile, apparently taking a break as well. They hadn't seen much of each other over the past few days, save for when he came to see the Hokage. The rest of the time he was utilizing his bunshins as a one-man construction crew. He smiled when he saw her.
"How's Tsunade-baa?"
"The same," she answered, sitting next to him.
The lack of news disheartened him. "There's so much I want to tell her," he sighed.
"I'm sure she'll wake up soon," she tried to reassure, but hardly sounded convincing when she was worried and upset about it herself. She studied him carefully as he stared at the ground between his boots.
Naruto was changed. For the first time in all the years she'd known him, there was uncertainty in his demeanor. He'd become quieter, more pensive. She could tell something had happened in his final confrontation with Pein that had shaken his brash confidence, but she chose not to ask him about it. If he wanted to talk about it, he would.
"Have you seen Hinata?" she asked tentatively.
"No. I heard her clan has her under constant escort, after…" A cautious little smile played on his lips. "I really do need to talk to her though. Eventually."
"What will you say?"
Again, he didn't answer immediately. "I…I don't know. I mean, I think I do, but…." He sighed and bent forward, rubbing his hands over his face. "There's so much in my head right now, Sakura. I can't deal with it all the way I should."
Sakura gave a small, understanding smile and put her hand on his arm. "I know. It'll all work out, I promise."
Before he could reply they heard their names called from the direction of the gates, and were both highly surprised to see two nostalgic faces. Tazuna and Inari, the old bridge builder and his grandson from their very first genin mission in the Wave country were walking toward them. They rose to meet them, exchanged greetings and learned they were there as carpenters to help in the rebuilding. Kakashi came upon them a few minutes later and they made small talk for a while.
Then the old man asked about Sasuke and the cheerful mood instantly dropped. Naruto displayed a surprising turn of character by making up some nonchalant excuse for the absence of their former teammate, and they awkwardly laughed it off. The Wave citizens had no reason not to buy their explanation, and soon went on their way to meet with the construction foreman. The three teammates were left somber and moody.
"I understand now…how Sasuke felt," Naruto stated quietly, staring after the carpenters. "I know what revenge is now. I thought I understood him back then…but I really didn't." He gave a short, humorless laugh. "No wonder nothing I ever said got through."
"Naruto, you can't blame yourself for that."
"Sasuke would have chosen the same path regardless of whether you understood or not," Kakashi added.
"I know that," he said. "But if I can't understand his pain...no wonder he wouldn't even fight with me! This time, one way or another…we will come to an understanding. Basically I'm gonna kick the crap out of him," he laughed.
Sakura didn't always understand his way of thinking, and now was definitely one of those times, but he suddenly looked and sounded so much like his old 'I can do anything!' self that she couldn't help but smile. He always had the power to make her believe that everything would be okay.
Thinking of Sasuke made her think of Itachi, and it suddenly occurred to her how long she'd been gone. In the wake of everything, she hadn't had time to think about anything but the day ahead of her and the immediate tasks at hand. She hadn't even had a chance to salvage what belongings she could from the rubble of her demolished house. She missed Itachi, and wished he was there because there were moments when she really just wanted someone to hold her. Was he wondering why she hadn't returned? Was he okay?
"Hey, you guys had lunch yet?" Naruto said, interrupting her thoughts. "Old man Teuchi's set up a temporary ramen stand and he's letting people eat for free. Let's go!"
They started down the road, but hadn't gone far when the sound of something swiftly coming up behind them made them turn.
Kiba was riding up to them on Akamaru. "There you guys are!" They skidded to a halt, master and pet both a little winded. "Listen to this! Tsunade's been dismissed as Hokage!"
"What!" Naruto blurted.
"Yeah! The new Hokage is some guy named Danzou. I don't know much about him, but apparently he's pretty shady."
Sakura's mouth fell open. "Danzou!"
"Shit," Kakashi muttered, "I have a bad feeling about this…."
"That's not the only thing," Kiba went on. "This new Hokage's given the order to hunt down and kill Sasuke."
"What the hell do you mean!" Naruto shouted in outrage.
"I don't know all the details. It's just what I heard."
"It's not that surprising that they weren't willing to wait for Tsunade to recover," Kakashi explained rationally, though his dark eye was troubled and angry. "And honestly it's not surprising that Danzou managed to get himself named Hokage. It's what he's wanted for years, so of course he seized the opportunity. As far as Sasuke is concerned, well…he is a missing-nin. The punishment for that is usually death. It's only because Tsunade is so lenient that he hasn't been killed yet."
Naruto glared at him, but said nothing. Even he couldn't argue with the cold, hard truth of the matter.
Sakura brimmed with shock and anger. She had dreaded something like this happening, but how had the old bastard pulled it off? Why would the council elect a new leader so quickly, and why would they choose Danzou of all people when she knew they'd talked before about electing Kakashi? Kiba had no idea how right he was when he said Danzou was shady. Some scheme was definitely at work here.
"I'm going to go see Danzou right now," she growled.
Kakashi put a hand on her shoulder. "Wait, Sakura. Storming in there and yelling at him won't solve anything." He moved closer and gave her a pointed look, lowering his voice for her alone. "Besides, you need to stay clear of his notice right now."
"But Tsunade-sama hasn't even woken up! This isn't right! And then there's Sasuke…I can't stand by and let this happen. Not when we're so close—" She cut herself off, realizing she was about to say something about her classified mission.
Naruto was too agitated to notice their interchange. "I'm going too."
"Both of you calm down," Kakashi ordered, his voice hardening. "You have to stay cool-headed or it will only make things worse."
"How can I stay calm?" he shouted. "I'm not going to let this happen!"
He turned to go, but Kakashi quickly grabbed hold of him. "I said wait!" His voice was low and harsh. "Danzou knows you'd react like this. What will you do if you see him?"
"I won't do anything," he assured. "I'm just going to talk to him."
Kakashi sighed, exasperated. "You should already know he has his own agenda and nothing you say will matter. I understand that when it comes to Sasuke you can't just let it go, but you need to think. The jounin haven't yet voted to make it official, but for now Danzou is acting Hokage. One wrong move and you'll end up in jail."
"I don't care! I'm going!"
"You're a jinchuuriki, Naruto. He wants you under control and out of the way. If you play into his hands and become a nuisance, he will put you under lockdown. If that happens you won't be able to leave the village…" He gave him a measured look.
Naruto stared at him for a long moment, then he caught on to what their team leader was implying and his tense posture relaxed. Kakashi released his arm. "I'll go find out what I can and see where the other jounin stand about this. For now, keep your head down." He looked at Sakura. "Both of you."
A minute after Kakashi left, Kiba left as well to spread the news further, leaving Sakura and Naruto alone. "Let's go eat," she said to him, putting on a smile she didn't really feel.
They headed across town to Ichiraku, which was now just a small tent where the owner and his daughter cooked up ramen all day and handed it out in paper bowls for everyone working hard to rebuild the village. Naruto and Sakura received their meals and located a clear spot on the riverbank to sit down and eat. The ramen was almost as good as usual and the sun was out, and so they tried to be cheerful. Sakura recalled wanting to share a bowl of ramen with her best friend and catch up. That was only a few days ago. So much had happened, it felt like years since then.
Sai found them after a little while and took a seat on Sakura's other side. She noticed that he seemed unusually troubled.
"Hey – you used to work under Danzou in Root," Naruto realized.
"…Yes," He looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Tell us what you know about him."
Sai just stared at them for a long moment, but finally said, "I can't."
"Why not?"
"I literally can't talk about it." Sai stuck out his tongue, revealing a strange tattoo-like mark.
"What the hell is that?"
"Is that a seal?" Sakura ventured.
Sai nodded. "All Root members have it. If I try to talk about him I'll have a seizure and be unable to move or speak."
"…Wow. He must be really shady if he goes to that kind of effort to keep his secrets," Naruto muttered.
"Root is a classified sector of ANBU," Sai explained. "We've done a lot of dirty deeds to protect Konoha, so Danzou made sure none of it can get out, even if we're tortured."
Sakura was appalled. "I don't get how he can do something like that to his own men…"
"That's how he protects Konoha. You may not agree with his methods, but he does care about the village."
They both glared at him. "How can you defend him?" Sakura demanded fiercely. "He's usurped the Hokage through some kind of underhanded manipulation!"
"And he's put a death warrant on Sasuke!" Naruto added.
Sai was taken aback. "I haven't heard anything about that…."
Sakura regarded him intently. "Sai…you were part of Root, but now you're a member of our team. You're our friend, and I believe your motives when you first joined us are different than how you feel now. We need to know where you stand."
Sai looked back and forth between them. "I—"
He stopped suddenly as they all realized they were no longer alone. It was only Kakashi, however.
"Yo."
"What did you find out?" Naruto asked him, diverting from the previous conversation.
"It turns out someone told the Daimyo of our situation and gave him the impression his assistance was necessary. He was at the council meeting."
"Danzou…" Sakura muttered darkly. "That scheming bastard."
"That's my guess as well," Kakashi said. "Apparently he stood up at the meeting and criticized Tsunade's methods, and all but imposed himself as her replacement. In the absence of official leadership, the Daimyo retains the right to make executive decisions for Konoha. He was persuaded to name Danzou interim Hokage."
"So what do we do?" Naruto wanted to know.
"For now, nothing. As I said before, Danzou will look for any excuse to lock you up. You're the biggest threat to his plans right now."
"Kakashi is right," said Sai. The seal prevented him from saying more, but he had managed to reveal a lot with only three words. One, that Danzou did want Naruto out of the picture. Two, that Sai was still in contact with him if he knew such a thing. And three, the fact that he'd told them proved he was indeed on their side.
Kakashi cast Sai a long, discerning look. "On a different matter," he said finally, "Naruto. Yamato wanted to try and do something about your seal. You should go see him." Naruto nodded, then slurped the last of the broth from his bowl as he got up. Kakashi looked at Sai again. "You should go with him. Make sure he doesn't get sidetracked or do anything rash."
Naruto shot him an indignant look, but Sai was more perceptive and knew what his team leader was doing. "Okay."
They left, and Kakashi sat beside Sakura where Sai had just been. She was aware that he'd shooed the other two away, and waited for him to speak.
"Sakura, you need to go back," he said quietly.
"What?"
"I said you need to return to your mission."
"I heard you," she said shortly. "But I can't leave right now. Tsunade-sama's still in a coma, there are still patients in the medical tents, and now with this political crisis…."
"That's precisely why you have to go back," he countered pointedly. "Danzou being made Hokage, and this new situation with Sasuke…your mission is more critical than ever. And you have to leave now, before things get more organized and he learns you've been mysteriously gone all this time on a mission that doesn't exist. I know you know this."
Sakura sighed heavily. "I do. It's just…."
"It's hard to leave with things the way they are. I understand. But if Tsunade were awake, what do you think she would tell you?"
"…To get Itachi ready as soon as possible and find Sasuke before Root does." She rested her chin on her knees and sighed. Though she knew what she needed to do, it was hard to make the decision. "I want to at least stay for the funeral services," she finally said, staring at some soft clouds on the horizon and thinking about the people who had been lost.
Kakashi just nodded in understanding, and they sat quietly by the river for a while.
"Two days later the memorial was held…and afterward I left. The five Kages are holding a summit at the Raikage's behest and Naruto took off with Kakashi and Sai to try and meet with him beforehand, to talk him out of demanding Sasuke's death…but I honestly don't think he'll get anywhere. Nobody but us cares about Sasuke's extenuating circumstances, and the Raikage is mourning the loss of his brother. Meanwhile, Danzou has Root agents everywhere, gathering information for him. I had to sneak out of Konoha in the middle of the night like a fugitive. I rushed to get here; I've barely slept. I was afraid I'd be followed," Sakura concluded wearily.
Itachi was silent as he processed it all; there was no response appropriate for the gravity of the situation. He was stunned by everything she'd told him, and somewhere deep inside where he kept such things under tight control, an intense, burning anger threatened to break free. He wanted Madara's blood. He wanted Danzou's blood. He wanted to end Akatsuki once and for all with his own two hands.
After a considerable effort to calm his volatile thoughts, he finally, quietly spoke. "We should leave right away. I am ready."
Sakura shook her head. "No. Even if you are, we can't do anything until my teammates return to Konoha. Kakashi said he'd send Pakkun to me with news. Until then I guess we have to wait."
She was hoarse from talking so long, and she'd cried again at a few points. Now her head ached fiercely and all she wanted to do was fall onto the bed and let sleep take her. But she was too agitated to rest. She tugged her fingers through her hair and stood.
"I'm hungry," she stated flatly. "Are you hungry? I'll make something." Itachi just looked at her. She turned away and went to the kitchen, began hastily and carelessly searching through the cabinets. "Okay. I'll make tea then. Where the hell is the tea? Did you use it all—?"
Itachi was suddenly behind her, holding her shoulders. He was warm and strong against her back, his calm, powerful presence soothing her frayed nerves. But she didn't want to be soothed, and shifted under his touch. "I just need to do something," she said shakily. "I can't stop thinking about everything that happened, what's happening now, what's going to happen in the future…."
"Sakura," he murmured softly at her temple. He didn't need to say more; his tone was enough. She trembled with the effort of controlling her emotions, and with a slight pressure on her shoulders he attempted to turn her around. She offered no further resistance, and with a choked sob she whirled and practically threw herself against him.
He wasn't expecting her to kiss him. Not a regular kiss, either – a passionate, desperate kiss that bruised their lips, the vigor of her assault forcing him to readjust his balance. Itachi did reciprocate, but had a hard time keeping up with her and found her frantic behavior more disturbing than stimulating.
He finally managed to recover himself and held her by the arms. "Sakura—"
She pressed forward again, cutting him off with another kiss. He used his greater height to his advantage this time, drawing upward, forcing her back far enough to meet her gaze. Her eyes were bright with tears and clouded by grief. "Sakura, stop," he insisted gently.
She shook her head and linked her arms further around his neck. "No," she murmured, closing the space between them once more and pressing soft, amorous kisses to his neck and jaw line. "I don't want to stop…I just want to forget everything for a while."
Her actions were more purposeful and seductive than before. He could smell her skin and hair, feel her lithe curves under his hands and the softness of her breasts pressed against his chest—he was being affected despite himself. She rose on tiptoe and flicked her tongue into his ear, then pulled the lobe gently with her teeth, and for a brief moment his mind went completely blank.
"Itachi…make me forget."
Her meaning registered almost immediately, but by the time he recovered from his surprise enough to formulate a response she was already pushing him toward the bed, her hands moving under the hem of his shirt. His legs bumped the edge of the mattress, and he let her push him down. She crawled onto his lap and straddled him. He was torn between arousal at her bold seduction, and concern at the abruptness of her behavior.
"No, Sakura," he said, trying to hold her off without forcing her away. "You don't really want this."
"Yes I do." She drew back and held his gaze intently, searchingly. She pulled her lower lip between her teeth a moment, then murmured, "I want to be with you."
She couldn't possibly understand how devastatingly effective that look was. This girl possessed a form of persuasion that he wasn't trained or prepared to fight against. Her beauty, her charm, her guilelessness and complete, unfaltering trust in him…he didn't want to resist her.
But she wasn't herself right now, and he couldn't let her do something she would regret later. No matter how tempting, no matter how she pleaded or insisted, he would not take advantage of her vulnerability. Itachi shook his head and trailed the backs of his fingers along her moistened cheek, gently wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Not this way."
At first Sakura looked affronted, but then her lip trembled, she drew in a long, shaky breath, and fresh tears began to stream down her face. She leaned into him, buried her face between his neck and shoulder, and he brought his arms around her. She was completely silent and still; only the tension in her small frame betrayed her anguish. When she relaxed a while later and her tears finally stopped, he carefully shifted her onto the bed. She crawled forward and listlessly kicked her boots off, climbed beneath the blankets, then pulled gently but insistently on his arm for him to join her. He didn't resist, and she curled into him the moment he lay down beside her.
Itachi offered no words of comfort, no false promises that everything was going to be alright. The future was uncertain, and more tragedy could lie ahead, but she was strong enough to face it honestly. It was what he admired most about her.
Though looking at her now, part of him wished he could make those promises. Sakura was fiery and brave and incredibly powerful, and at the same time, she was sweet and compassionate and cared so deeply for the people close to her. She was a highly respected kunoichi. Someday she would be legendary. But tonight, she was just a weary and devastated young woman who needed someone to care about her.
And he did care for her, Itachi realized. If what he felt was purely hormonal, he wouldn't have stopped her desperate attempts to escape into passion. He hadn't thought he would ever be capable of caring for anyone in that way, but he had been learning many unexpected things about himself recently.
For more than a decade, he had hidden nearly everything about himself. He suppressed his grief over the loss of his family, the loss of his brother's love and respect, the loss of his home. He had spent most of his life pretending to be different things to different people. He pretended to be the son his father wanted. The heir his clan expected. The perfect shinobi his village needed. He played the villain for Sasuke and the disciple for Madara.
As Sakura had ironically told him, no one was a better liar, a better pretender than he was. His performances were flawless. No one ever knew what lay beneath, and he had intended to take his secrets to the grave. Now, to the rest of the world, he was a ghost. He had nothing left to lose, nothing to hide, no reason to pretend.
He didn't want to pretend with her.
Itachi shifted and brought her closer to him, closed his eyes and slowly pressed his lips to her brow; a simple gesture representing an enormous decision.
Sakura seemed to understand a little, and a tired, sweet smile curled her lips. A few moments later she was asleep.
Though Itachi wasn't tired, he stayed with her, until the night wore on and the rhythm of her breathing and the whispering fire lulled him to sleep as well.
Next Chapter: The Surrender