Chapter Twenty Four – Unvarnished Truth

Saya was shocked at what Kakashi told her. 'You're turning into a Sasuke, Saya.' His words echoed in her mind, and her mind almost shattered. Was it true? Her stomach flipped as she thought about it. She wanted revenge? When she closed her eyes to think, she couldn't think of another reason. No, she was doing this to save her friends and family. To save the village, her mind argued. No, you're going to kill the man who murdered your mother, her heart fought back. She cringed when reality struck her, and realized Kakashi was right. She was hell bent to kill one man, just like Sasuke. But this man she wanted to kill was really evil, unlike Itachi. 'But Sasuke doesn't know what you do', her conscious snapped back. She was another Sasuke, no doubt.

"I should get going. I can't obviously stay here for long. So shouldn't you, Jellal." Kakashi said, snapping her out of her thoughts. Saya's expression made Kakashi understand what effect his words had on her. He hoped she would realize she was different from Sasuke in one way. Purpose.

"Alright sensei, but please, I'm begging you. Don't tell anyone you saw me. Don't confront Daichi, don't do-""I understand Saya…Its okay, you can trust me." Kakashi assured her. Saya smiled warmly at the man, and nodded curtly. "Saya?" She heard Kakashi say, she looked at his eye, the one which wasn't covered. "…yes sensei?"

"Are you really going through with your plan?"

She gulped. He was asking her if she was going to kill the man who ruined her life. He was asking her whether she was going to kill the man to protect the village from destruction. He was asking her whether she was going to kill the man who killed her mother. He was asking her if she was going to kill the man who betrayed her father. He was asking her whether she was going to kill the man who made her who she is now. An avenger. Her heart fought back with her 'false' allegations, as she understood that he was actually asking her if she was really going to become a murderer.

"…I haven't another choice sensei." Was all she could say. Kakashi sighed deeply. He couldn't convince her now. Her mind was made up. Did she realize she was as stubborn as Naruto at times? If she went along with this plan, she would change, forever. Was she ready to face all that? How will she look at her brother with the eyes of a murderer? How will she be able to live with it? But Kakashi knew he wasn't the one to talk, for he too knew what taking a life meant. After all, they were ninja. And as long as there were winners, the concept of a loser shall never be eradicated.

Kakashi only wished that something could save her now from the monster she was going to become.

Saya couldn't stop thinking of what Kakashi said. Of all the times she thought about it, she never once compared herself to Sasuke. Even when they were little, she was more of a 'Itachi' type. It was after he murdered the clan she took the thoughts of Itachi out of her mind, but before that, he was a good elder brother figure to her. He would often visit with Shisui, to train with Kai, and she sometimes made small talk with him, while Seth asked him about Sasuke. It was after she met Itachi that she remembered meeting Sasuke.

They were three years old, the twins. It was the earliest memory Saya ever had. Her first meeting with the Uchiha brothers. Her sister Kai was around eight, and her mother was taking them to meet her friend. Seth was running, she was chasing him. It was as if the two children knew their way around the Uchiha compound even if it was the first time they set foot there. It was then when Seth bumped into someone, and fell down, quickly to be caught by a boy around their sister's age. The boy looked tired, but he smiled at Seth, and turned to look at Saya. He smiled at her too. He saw Kai, the smile faded a little. 'He must not like her.' Saya thought. He saw their mother, and his smile returned.

"Oh I see you've met my youngest children Itachi." Trisha said, ruffling the boy's hair. Itachi let go of Seth and said, "You must be Seth-"he looked at Saya and, "-you are Saya." With Seth it was a question. With her it was a statement. 'You are Saya.' He confirmed it without her acknowledging. She nodded. At that moment, Saya didn't know what else to do.

"My mom told me you have a bwothev." Seth asked him. Itachi giggled, or that was what Saya thought he did.

"Yes, I do. He's as old as you are." This boy was kind; Saya couldn't help but wonder how his younger brother would be like. She didn't know who he was, but she already liked him. They were soon led inside by a black haired woman, who Saya assumed to be Itachi's mother. She then saw another boy, fairer in skin tone than Itachi, and much smaller and a very awkward hair style. "I'm Sasuke." The boy said. "I'm Seth, this is my sistev Saya." Saya understood her brother couldn't say 'rr' when he was three. Saya smiled at the new Uchiha. Sasuke. He smiled back. And Sasuke ruffled his brother's hair, and smiled at the twins. 'They love each other.' Saya thought about the Uchiha brothers. They were ideal. Saya never once thought that in a few years the younger one would want the elder one dead.

Before Kakashi left, he turned to see Saya lost in thought.

He sighed.

He decided to tell her.

"Saya."

She turned to see him.

"Sensei?"

"After all this, return to the village. Alive. Or I won't ever forgive myself." Kakashi said, his voice stern.

Saya didn't understand why he cared so much. Even if she was a fellow ninja, she wasn't related to him, neither was she in his three man squad.

And he answered her question.

It was as if he read her mind.

"I made a promise to your uncle. I wouldn't let anyone close to me ever die." Saya was baffled. It might seem rude, but since when was she close to Kakashi?

Again, he read her mind.

"Your mother looked after me after my father died. It was after Obito's death that I promised him that. I broke my promise once, and I am not breaking it again. Remember the first time we met? I asked about your mother? I told you she was a woman I looked up to. I wasn't lying. I knew you ever since you were a baby, and I vowed to myself, and your late uncle that I won't let anything happen to the three of you, and there was something else. But Kai…" Kakashi's gaze turned toward Jellal. And as if on cue, he answered Kakashi's unasked question. "She died on natural causes." Kakashi looked down. "I don't want you to die, understand?" Kakashi said. No, he ordered.

"What was the something else?" Saya asked.

Jellal grunted. "He was made Seth's and your godfather."

Saya felt her heart break. She walked up to the man, and hugged him. She couldn't cry, not now. She nodded and said, "Look after Seth for me, please?" Kakashi patted her head and said, "With my life."

Saya made a mental note to herself.

'Even if I can't come back for Seth, I must come back for him.' She thought, as she saw Kakashi leave with Jellal.