ZOMG! OVER 200 REVEIWS?! O.O THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Wow… seriously, I've never gotten this many reviews before! Arigato, arigato, arigato!
To further show my appreciation, I've added a short one-shot to the end of the chappie.
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Oh, and this chappie may seem a bit out of the blue because I was going to wait on putting this one up, but I needed a good filler and it will work very nicely here. Besides, a little twist to this story might do us all some good lol.
Hopefully, this chappie will answer a few questions that have been springing up. Read it carefully. I hope it makes your mouths drop open! Enjoy!
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Scattered Clouds, Disappearing Mist
Promise of the Past
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Three Months Later
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Akatsuki no Sakura stared down at the young man through the circle of her fingers, her emerald irises flaring with fire as they met with defiant blue ones.
This plan of yours, sensei, had better work… she couldn't help but think darkly as she squared her stance before the exhausted young ninja.
"Magen!" (1)
Chakra slammed into the genin's form, and with a look of terror exploding across his face, he fell to his knees, frozen as his gaze remained fixated onto her. She smirked as she felt his own chakra trying to force her out, and willed her powers over the barriers guarding his mind, her genjutsu taking full affect, turning his thought-process to mere mindless much in a matter of seconds.
"I'm in sensei."
Sakura could feel the Uchiha at her back but maintained her staring contest with the young man before her, not even twitching as Itachi gently touched the back of her head with his warm fingers. His Sharingan blazed into her skull and she willed her eyes shut, her mind connecting to her target and her sensei at the same moment.
A nauseous feeling made her stomach flip and she swallowed hard, fighting against the sudden feeling of being suspended in mid air at the center of nothing. Itachi remained motionless until she felt like her feet had hit solid ground, then his hands slowly moved to her temples, pressing down on the points.
His chakra pulsed and the world dissolved.
Wind whirled madly and the genin was falling into nothingness, heading nowhere. Sakura winced at the jump of fear in the young ninja but forced more power into the spell, allowing the visions Itachi was spilling into her mind as a reference point.
A hungry fire roared to life underneath her victim, black and scarlet flames licking up to taste his feet. His senses came alive as his shoes were literally burned clean off, taking skin and muscle as they were devoured by the inferno.
The genin screamed as his bones reduced to ash.
Itachi released his hold on her skin and stepped away.
Sakura opened her eyes and stared down at the frozen open mouth of the youth. His gaze was glazed in horror and agony; his body writhing as though the ground he was being forced to kneel upon was burning him alive.
He's not gonna last much longer at this rate…
The last of Itachi's thoughts floated freely in her mind and she snatched them, forming a last hand sign before sealing them into the boy's mind. Her hands closed into fists and the genjutsu abruptly cut off, freeing her mind in a jolt of chakra. Sakura blinked as the haze over her sight slowly dispersed and stepped back as the genin crumpled to an unconscious heap at her feet, the terrified expression on his face making her flinch.
She tried not to notice the leaf insignia of her former home on his forehead protector laying discarded in the grass by his motionless form just before she turned away, slight guilt making her chest heavy.
"Sakura-san."
The pinkette looked up at the Uchiha at her name, her eyes fearlessly looking into blood red ones.
"Yes, Itachi-sensei?"
Scarlet bled back to calm onyx as he regarded her silently, his guileless stare deciphering her miserable expression.
"His team will come eventually. Don't worry about him."
She looked back over her shoulder at the heap of genin on the ground, frowning.
"I know sensei… but-"
"It was necessary," he reminded her tightly, turning away and walking back into the forest, not bothering to see if she was following.
"Will it work though?" Sakura asked as she fell into step beside him, used to his quick escape habits. "I mean, I understand how it's probable through the genjutsu, but wont the spell break by the time his team wakes him up?"
The Uchiha shook his head once.
"You're very skilled in genjutsu. Only Tsunade-sama herself will break it."
"You mean…"
"He'll remain unconscious until she sees him. The information we planted will be preserved in his subconscious until she breaks your genjutsu, and everything we wanted her to know will be exposed to her through his mind."
Sakura shot him a suspicious glance, one eyebrow raised mischievously.
"…something tells me you've done this before."
He smirked faintly as they ducked under a low hanging branch and maneuvered effortlessly between two thick shrubs, both relaxing as they stepped out of the shadows into their camp.
"I have, but only a few times. Usually I leak information by the use of my ravens and crows. Genjutsu is more effective, but the source of the leak is more untraceable when I use my birds."
His eyes scanned the perimeter as he spoke, searching for unwanted visitors. Finding none, he headed for the still smoldering fireplace, sitting with a sigh on an overturned stump at the foot of the glowing embers. Sakura wordlessly sat next to him on her own stump, prodding the dying fire with the long stick lying between them.
She shuffled the coals, allowing oxygen to breathe through the faint red glow. Itachi snapped his fingers and sparks leapt off his skin from the friction, the chakra-induced heat igniting flames. Sakura threw dead pine needles onto the hissing sparks, grinning in triumph as they caught fire and jumped up, growing to new life as she slowly fed it bricks of wood until it growled strongly, and the burnt stick returned to the ground at their feet.
"So… how do you think Tsunade-sama will react to your message?"
Itachi shrugged, the movement so small Sakura almost didn't catch it.
"Help is help, no matter the form."
"…if you say so, sensei."
"Hn."
She chuckled and rubbed her palms together; the chilly afternoon breeze sending unwanted chills down her spine. Her eyes floated down to the fire, and she leaned forward until she could feel the welcome heat on her face.
"Hey… Itachi-sensei…?"
"What is it, Sakura-san?"
"Um… I was wondering…"
Sakura looked up at him, her eyes dark with seriousness.
"Why did you choose me?"
One of his fine eyebrows rose as he frowned at her, wordlessly telling her to elaborate.
"I mean, why did you agree to let me train under you to become Akatsuki?" She looked back down at the fire, a slight grimace on her face. "You could've just killed me on the spot, but you agreed to help me join this organization by taking out Orochimaru…"
He didn't answer for a few moments and merely stared at her, unmoving. She was beginning to think he would never reply when he slowly let out a deep sigh, his onyx eyes roaming the ground.
"It was probably because something told me you wouldn't go back to Konoha after you killed him," Itachi admitted, somewhat frustrated as he met her gaze, his expression unchanging. "Our goals may not be entirely the same Sakura-san, but they will yield the same result. Konoha will be safe, Akatsuki will be defeated, and Sasuke will find his vengeance."
Sakura shook her head.
"I know that one. I mean why me? You could've taken anyone-"
"No Sakura-san… it had to be you."
She stared at him in shock, and the Uchiha met her eyes, an empty, phantom of a smile flickering across his lips briefly before he gazed down onto the redlined embers burning steadily under the onslaught of flames above.
"I have a promise to keep…"
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(A/N: Are the wheels in your head turning yet? Good. =3)
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Itachi Uchiha stared down at the small bundle in his arms, his grip tightening in gentle increments as it wormed and giggled in his lap, smiling lightly as a small hand reached up for him to pet the side of his nose and cheek.
"'Tachi! 'Tachi!"
Another silly laugh to his right brought his gaze across the living room tea table; to wear his almost-one year old brother was peering over the rose stained wood at him with his huge onyx eyes. Sasuke's thin little arms waved towards him, his giggling getting louder as Itachi smiled, and wiggled against Mikoto Uchiha's firm hold. Their mother shook her head at her youngest son as he almost succeeded in maneuvering out of her lap to get to his brother, and took the time to raise him high above her head in a quick sweep.
A scream of delight issued from Sasuke's lips and he kicked out with his small legs in excitement, forgetting all about what had gotten him so interested just moments before.
"'Tachi!"
The elder Uchiha stared back down at the small tug on his raven bangs, and raised his eyebrow as a small hand skimmed his chin and lips in glee, the baby girl on his lap squealing in enchantment when their eyes met.
"She seems to like you Ita-san."
Itachi looked up at the woman entering the room, and shrugged slightly at her bright smile. He was still trying to figure out why he was here. This was one of his mother's tea times with her old friends, civilian friends; they came to gawk at little Sasuke and they could bring their own babies for some sort of show and tell.
All he knew was that if his father figured out, he'd be dead meat.
He was supposed to be kunai training right now.
The read head sat beside his mother, earning a squeal from her daughter who had a tight grip on Itachi's shirt, and the toddler grinned hugely at her, making Sasuke giggle and point against his mother's warm embrace.
"How old are you now Ita-san?" the woman asked kindly, her hands folding under her chin.
"I'm six," he stated politely, gently prying the little girl's hands off his collar, a tiny smirk forming when she gripped his fingers instead, cooing up at him with an adorable grin.
"Wow, you've grown so big."
"Oh I know," Mikoto sighed in mock despair before he could respond, bouncing Sasuke up and down on her knee. "I feel so old!"
"Kaa-san, you're not old," Itachi said for the thousandth time, adjusting his hold on the squirming bundle in his arms. "And thank you," he added to their guest, making her smile.
"You're so much like your father… unlike little Sasu-chan here" – Sasuke made a happy chirping noise at the sound of his name – "which is probably why you're so mature for your age, Ita-san."
Itachi nodded his head once to be polite.
This wasn't news to him. He heard it everyday of his life.
"So," she continued, resting her elbows on the table with an almost adolescent grin on her face, "Since you seem to be advanced in your years, Ita-san, have you thought of getting married when you're older?"
…where'd that come from?
"Um… married?"
Though Itachi prided himself on his mind's capacity, he hadn't really learned all about that aspect of life yet.
"Yes."
He blinked a few times and stared back down at the small girl in his arms, frowning in thought as she pet his chin.
"…well, what would I have to… do?"
Mikoto smiled at her son's sudden loss of comfort, and reached over the table to take one of his hands.
"You'd have to spend the rest of your life with a special someone, Itachi-chan. You'd have to take care of her, love her, and, most importantly, protect her."
He stared over at his mother as she squeezed his hand, and took in her tender smile almost hidden by her long black bangs.
The girl giggled in his arms and he looked down.
"Doesn't sound too hard I guess…"
The red head chuckled, gaining his attention.
"You could just think of it as… an extremely important mission. One of those missions that only the greatest, strongest shinobi dare to take on."
A mission?
I guess I could deal with that…
"… if I decided I wanted to get married… would it make all those annoying girls at school go away and leave me alone?"
The women laughed, the velvet tones making Sasuke and the small girl chirp in unison.
"Of course, Ita-san. When you're married, you give your life to only one, and one only."
Something clicked in his brain, and he gazed back down at the toddler he was holding.
"This one?"
The two women shared stunned gazes before their smiles slowly returned. Mikoto measured up her son's serious look.
"Well, that depends if you want to marry her or not. The choice is yours to make Itachi-chan."
My choice…
Itachi stared down into the infant's big eyes, taking note of how she stared fearlessly back. He felt open to this child, and sensed something special about her; something special that needed his protection. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad if-
Sasuke squealed as he freed himself from his mother's lap, and crawled quickly towards his brother before Mikoto could grab him. The girl clapped her hands together at his accomplishment, breaking off her gaze with the elder Uchiha and making the escaping tot grin a broad smile, looking extremely proud of himself as he sat next to his brother, gazing at the two now laughing adults with innocent eyes.
Itachi kept his own eyes on the girl, who stared back up at him, a cute grin brightening up her face like the sun itself.
"I'll marry her."
The two women's laughter cut short, their expressions surprised.
"Are you sure Ita-san?"
He nodded once.
"Yes, I'll marry your daughter…"
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Sasuke Uchiha slowly rolled his shoulders as he walked up the porch, pausing just before the door to sigh deeply and stretch.
A whole day without the dobe trailing after him had been peaceful to say the least.
If only everyday could be like this…
With gentle raps he tapped on the familiar door and waited quietly, his eyes catching the rim of the sunset just lowering itself beyond the Konoha's outer walls. A masterpiece of reds and purples stretched over the darkening sky, the thick blanket slowly rolling back to uncover the sleeping stars underneath.
"Sasu-chan?"
The door opened with a small creak and he turned to face the voice. Warm arms enveloped him into a tight hug and he relaxed into the embrace, the familiar fragrance tickling his nose.
"Okaa-san."
When Saki Haruno pulled away, he bent his knees, and she planted the habitual kiss on his forehead, her mouth playing with a smile. He frowned slightly at the dark circles under her eyes but remained silent as she took his arm and led him into the house, closing the door behind him as he removed his shoes.
"When did you get in?" she asked him as she pushed by to get the kitchen, hurrying towards the now shrieking tea kettle.
"An hour ago," he said nonchalantly, shoving his shoes under the coat rack, out of the way. He joined her in the kitchen and grabbed two glasses out of the cupboard. "The mission was just escort duty with Kakashi… simple and easy."
"No Naru-chan?"
Sasuke smirked as he set the cups down on the counter, holding them steady as she poured the tea into them, one by one.
"That's why it was easy."
Laughing, Saki took her tea and headed for the living room, the Uchiha a step behind. She gestured for him to take a seat on the couch and he complied, his eyebrows disappearing under his bangs as he watched her move photo albums and documents off the recliner so she herself would have enough room to sit.
"May I ask…?" He swept his hand in the direction of the messy piles of paper on the tea table and other end of the couch currently sporting him.
Saki leaned back, sipping her tea in weak intervals.
"House cleaning… I'd forgotten there was this many."
Sasuke found himself frowning again.
"What brought on the urge to suddenly unearth all this?"
She looked over at his disbelieving stare and sighed in defeat.
"There's no fooling you is there Sasu-chan?"
"Hn."
Gulping down the rest of her tea and setting it aside, she turned her attention back onto the pile, searching for a particular document. He copied her movements with his tea cup and moved forward to help, firmly taking a pile of papers from her so she could look at the ones underneath and placed it at his feet.
"In truth, I'd forgotten about something… something I never should've. But I did, and it finally occurred to me a few months ago when Sakura came back."
Sasuke stared at her as he took more papers from her, setting them down beside him without looking away from his foster mother.
"When she'd talked about Itachi, I remembered this one document… something I had never even shown Sakura…"
She nodded in triumph as she pulled out a black leather casing, and she leaned towards Sasuke, so he could see it clearly.
"Do you know what this is Sasu-chan?"
He gave it a long level look before shaking his head slowly.
A sad smile teased Saki's lips as she ran a gentle hand down the length of the paper case.
"I didn't think so… after all, the last time you saw this you were only eleven months old."
Sasuke stared at her in shock, a pit of apprehension beginning to boil in his stomach.
"Okaa-san… what are you…?"
"This," Saki explained, slowly unraveling the crimson cord keeping the leather bond, "is a marriage contract. More specifically, Sasu-chan…"
She pulled the string loose and opened the case, allowing Sasuke a glimpse of neat black calligraphy and a blotch of indistinct red markings at the bottom.
"…this is Itachi and Sakura's marriage contract."
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Your mouth just dropped open didn't it? XD
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(1) Magen = Demonic Illusion
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(A/N: Wow. This one is officially done, and it is definitely a new favorite of mine! I hope you all loved it! Now, the one-shot – which does NOT go with Unsan Musho at all - is following this. Read it if you want to, and please comment if you do! If you don't want to then thanks for reading the chappie! I hope it wasn't disappointing and that it explained a few things. Until next time! R&R plz!)
Told You So
A SasuSaku / NaruHina one-shot of epic proportions! XD
(In other words, it has no point, no real plot, and mindless fluff.)
Dedicated to Kotaro-chan, who claimed the 200th review! Woot!
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"This is stupid."
"As you've said… thirteen times already."
"Hn. It's just as true now as it was thirteen times ago."
"And yet you're going to do this anyway."
"…why…?"
"Because of two reasons, darling. One: Do you see this ring on my finger? It means you are the husband and I am the wife, and so I am always right."
"…uh huh…"
"And two: Me and my mother have gotten a hold of your baby pictures since I found them in the attic the other day, and you will be going to our tea date and you will sit there like a good little boy and let us embarrass the hell out of you."
"…"
…damn. That's why.
Sakura's hold was tight on his wrist as she quickly pulled him down the street, and Sasuke scowled at his pinkette, trying not to notice the triumphant skip to her step as she dragged him along towards the ramen shop. When the quaint little building came into view she tugged him over to the street corner, out of sight of the restaurant.
"Ok, let's run the plan again. What you're going to do?"
Sasuke sighed and leaned against the cool concrete of the wall, arms crossed.
"We're gonna get the dobe out of the shop and tell him you and Hinata need help moving her things to her new room."
"And then…?"
Sigh. "We'll go into the market place where Hinata is eating lunch and you go tell her that the two of you need to go shopping for the spring festival."
"And then…?"
Kami this is ridiculous.
"And then we'll push them into each other" – Blackmail, blackmail! Remember the pictures! – "so they'll kiss, and then, I quote, 'will live happily ever after. The end.'"
Sakura looked like she'd just become head of the med-nin staff all over again.
"This is going to be great!"
He snorted.
"It's not going to work."
Her emerald eyes flashed as she glared up at him.
"What was that Uchiha?"
"It's. Not. Going. To. Work," he repeated slowly, completely unfazed.
"Oh really? Now, tell me Sasuke… wasn't it just a little push that got you and Naruto to lock lips?"
Her smirk widened as he suddenly stiffened.
"… that was an accident."
"But it worked didn't it?"
"…"
"Thought so."
Shaking his head he grabbed for her waist, pulling her close before she could react.
"He's twenty now hime. Don't you think the dobe can do this on his own?"
He earned a smile at the nickname but she poked his forehead teasingly, making him scowl.
"Don't forget this is Naruto we're talking about."
"I didn't. The dobe has sadly gotten more perceptive since he became the next in line for Hokage. Let's just let him do this his way."
She pretended to gag then dissolved into a fit of giggles as he raised an eyebrow.
"A man's way just won't cut it. This situation calls for a women's touch."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Funny, my ways seemed to work just fine on you."
"…"
"…"
"It's not the same. We were both aware of our feelings. Naruto is still completely clueless."
"He knows she likes him because she confessed during the fight with Pein. Isn't that enough?"
"Would you just stop whining so we can get over there?"
"…"
Sakura began to round the corner, Sasuke casually following in his wife's shadow, each step getting them closer to the shop…
"Wow Hinata-chan! This is the best birthday present ever!"
The Uchihas stopped mid-step, and with a squeak, Sakura pulled Sasuke behind a store just outside the ramen stand, an incredulous look on her face as she peered around the corner of the shop into the restaurant, Sasuke following her lead. They watched as the shy Hyuuga ordered a huge bowl of ramen to be placed between her and Naruto, who was already unwrapping his chopsticks as he licked his lips.
"Y-you're welcome N-Naruto-kun…"
He pushed the bowl towards her, indicating she could share before he dug in, slurping up noodles at inhuman speeds. Hinata joined in a short time later, eating at a much calmer pace.
It wasn't long, however, when a rather long noodle connected the two of them, unbeknownst to the dark haired girl. Naruto eyed the strand thoughtfully and allowed the length to slowly shorten, his eyes closed before their lips met. Hinata's face turned a brilliant shade of red when they finally pulled away, unable to speak. The lovable blonde merely laughed and kissed her again, stealing any words left on her lips, the ramen forgotten.
"What… but… how?"
Sasuke tried to hide his smirk as Sakura sputtered below him, rubbing the silver band on his finger as she slowly turned to face him, and he pulled her close, unable to fight back the smile that split his face.
"I guess men's ways really do work… To-"
"Don't even say it."
He chuckled and captured her lips with his own, taking her breath away by lifting her off her feet. When he pulled back, Sasuke looked up at her and caressed her chin with a gentle thumb, smiling at the dazed look in her eyes.
"Told you so."
He laughed as she playfully slugged his arm then lowered her down for another kiss.
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