Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters!
The fire cackled ominously, Sakura tantalized by the way it danced. She was trying hard not to think of what was to come. Sure, Yuri had assured her that everything would be fine... and surely, her mother wouldn't lie to her, but...
Sakura wasn't stupid. She wasn't naive, and she had learned long ago to not live off of someone's every word, and not to believe everything they said. (Everyone besides Naruto off course, because he had yet to fail her). Sakura knew they themselves didn't have enough chakra. Not enough without having most of them die, if not all of them, anyway. So how could this possibly work? Her mother saying "everything will work out fine" didn't actually mean "you and someone else will be the only survivors, but that's okay."
So how?
"Sakura, it's time for you to get ready."
Sakura was abruptly snapped out of her thoughts, looking up to see Marika staring at her. "Right... I'll be there in a sec" Still in her henge, Sakura walked tensely inside the Haruno Compound, where she promptly bathed, and was groomed to perfection by both Marika and Himawari, emerging from the estate now fully an adult, her henge long dropped.
Everyone was sitting around the fire, but everyone stood up once Sakura entered. The munchkins had their mouth agape, in awe.
No longer did a measly child stand before them. It was a leader... their true leader. Even Sayuri showed recognition to their leader, despite the fact that she had been nothing but rude to her ever since she had heard Sakura's name.
Her hair was silky smooth and ran down her back like waterfalls, slowly gliding past her shoulders. She was taller now, and had grown out of the childish body she had remained sealed in.
Yes, Sakura definitely took after Kikyou in not only heart, but looks too.
'Practically the spitting image of Kikyou-sama'
The shadowed figure eyed her from top to bottom. Yes, this had to be their heir -there was no mistaking it now. Her aura practically screamed that she was the all-mighty powerful heir that had been prophesied. But how? She was to be a mere child right now -she had seen the heir herself before the massacre had occurred, made herself memorize any and every aspect of her being. How could she possibly...? Her eyes darkened ever so slowly. There was only one explanation for this.
'Matsuro-sama... you have returned to us'
"Shall we begin?" Hiroto was the first one to break the awkward silence, Sakura saying nothing since she had appeared, who had been staring intently at something past his shoulder, somewhere within the bushes.
"Not yet... It seems we have a visitor among us." Sakura glared daggers at the random location past his shoulder. Hiroto spun around, as tense as could be. A visitor? But how... he couldn't sense anyone...
'This chakra signature isn't familiar to me...' Sakura tensed just the slightest bit, hiding the worried frown by biting the inside of her lip slightly. She couldn't sense anyone else around them, but... one could never be so sure anymore.
Itachi stared in awe, but moreover, shock.
So this was what she had been hiding...
No longer did he see a twelve year old girl. In her place stood a proud adult, eighteen if he had to put a number on it. His eyes darkened ever so slightly. He felt betrayed to an extent, for some reason. How was this even possible? He couldn't believe it; he hadn't heard about anything like this -didn't know something like this could even exist! But this was completely irrelevant. He had to focus. This was a mission, emotions must not get in the way, he kept reminding himself over and over, a mantra in his head by now. He had to discover what Sakura was hiding in order to discover what exactly she knew about him as well. If it came down to it...
'She'll have to be eliminated' he thought promptly, though the pain he felt in his heart was imminent.
"It seems we have a visitor among us." Itachi froze.
No, there was no way she had sensed him. His chakra was hidden to perfection, so there was no way she could sense him, especially since she was distracted with the ritual. The best time to remain hidden is when they aren't expecting somebody, after all.
He visibly relaxed the slightest bit once he saw a figure enter the clearing, one which he did not recognize. No matter. Itachi had too much on his mind to even register how she could possibly be important, anyway. Seeing Sakura's body tense though, he could identify that she had not been invited, and may perhaps be someone who can prove to be a threat, by the way Sakura had hunched over, muscles tense, in a predatory manner.
So, as she did, his muscles stiffened, back arched. If Sakura may be in trouble, he should be on alert. No, not because he should protect her, but because if there was an enemy nearby, they would also be targeting him, he knew.
At least, that was what he told himself, and wanted to believe.
"Well, it was about time." Sakura distinctively heard a female voice, her eyes glued to a spot somewhere in between the trees and some bushes. Marika and Hiroto were shocked, having not been able to sense her at all until she spoke.
Sakura tensed ever so slightly, her hand inching towards the weapons pouch on her thigh which she found was simply no longer there. 'Curse this ritual' she frowned in distaste, realizing she was in a traditional kimono (the top white, and the bottom red), no longer having any weapons on her being. There was usually never a time where Sakura didn't have some form of kunai or weapon. Nevertheless, she had her fists in case she needed them, and those had never let her down before.
The figure approached slowly, first relaxed and seemingly uncaring but still very poised, though she later began walking slower, shoulders slouched ever so slightly, her arms careless. Sakura understood what this meant immediately. She didn't carry herself as if she were ready to walk in a fight -to kill. Her muscles were loose and relaxed, meaning she wouldn't make any sudden movements soon, which made Sakura believe she wasn't of any real threat...
-as of now, anyway.
Slowly, the more she walked, the more of her was seen. Slender, strong calves and thighs, indicating she was a kunoichi, one who took her training very seriously, Sakura could identify, by the way her muscles showed on her arms with just the slightest of movements.
-And then her face.
Wait... 'No...' Sakura's eyes widened in pure shock.
"Sakura... Could she be..." Hiroto gasped, being the first one to register what they all saw.
"Yes, I am." The rest of her face appeared, bright blue hair and piercing ice blue eyes.
"A Haruno." Marika gasped, voicing out the question that hung in the air.
But that wasn't what had Sakura tied to that spot, frozen in shock and in fear. She wasn't just any Haruno... Sakura recognized her from her past (or her future, which ever you prefer, really).
Sakura didn't know what to think of this. 'But how?' Sakura stared at the figure. How could it be? Hadn't she...
"What's your name?" Sakura began slowly.
The figure acknowledged her with a steady gaze. "My real name is Kaede, but what I go by,"
-Sakura held her breath.
"-is Konan."
Yes, there was no mistaking it now. This was Konan... Akatsuki Konan... The Konan in an organization after her best friend's head...
Frankly, Sakura didn't know whether she should inquire how she came to be in Akatsuki, or just kill her now. "You survived." Marika spoke in Sakura's place, and Sakura mentally thanked her, still too shocked to speak. "But how?" she questioned.
Sakura stared at Konan, noticing she wore no Konohagakure headband. "She wasn't from this village." Sakura spoke quietly, but firmly. The fact that no headband bore any part of her body meant that she was not born in Konoha, which cleared up things just the slightest bit.
"Correct, Sakura-sama." Konan quirked a small smile of sorts. Well, this girl was smarter than she looked.
"What? But how?" Hiroto questioned.
"My guess is, that she was conceived during the Second Shinobi World War in Amegakure by an Amegakure kunoichi." Sakura only had to guess. There was no way an impregnated Haruno kunoichi would be all the way at Amegakure. "So how accurate am I, Konan?" she had to refrain from showing malice while she spoke her name. She couldn't help it... anything that had to do with Naruto always sent her over the edge; made her want to punch something until it was an unrecognizable object on the floor.
"Correct again." Konan smirked, impressed thus far. "As my mother had told me before she passed away," Konan began, entering the clearing more and nearing herself to the fire. "She and my father had fallen in love, but the war had made it impossible for them to be together. Outo-san tried to smuggle Okaa-san out, telling her Konohagakure would accept her no matter what, but Ame-nin caught them trying to sneak out, and captured them. Of course, my father, being from Konoha, was slaughtered on sight. Mother was charged with treason and had been punished, but nothing that would have killed her. Soon enough, she discovered she had become pregnant, and lived out her pregnancy, but a few short years later, she passed away due to the war-torn country and the bad state in which it was in."
Sakura nodded, understanding. And this had been where she had met Yahiko and Pein, which shortly led to her meeting with the Sannin, she presumed. "Your loyalty lies with Amegakure, what are you doing here?" Sakura questioned quietly, although she relaxed slightly, no longer as tense or alert as before.
Konan gave the smallest of smiles. "My loyalty lies with my clan, Sakura-sama. It lies with you." Suddenly, she was on her knees, bowing to Sakura. "I sensed your presence, and felt the day of the ritual approaching. I found that now was the best time to reveal myself." she spoke.
"Well if you knew of me, then you also know that I am not from here." she narrowed her eyes.
"Certainly." Konan nodded, now standing on her feet. "The heir is nothing but a child, about the age of this one right here. She should be in the academy right about now." she pointed to Himawari, nodding in confirmation.
"Then you must also know that I know what you become in the future." Sakura spoke slowly. Konan nodded once more, her gaze unwavering.
Sakura looked at her with a strong gaze. Konan seemed to have no regrets about this, and Sakura was sure that around this time, Yahiko would soon be murdered. Would her resolve change, at all? "You were a part of our clan." Sakura spoke. "The day our clan was annihilated, you were here, weren't you? I remember the Hokage had never found the body of a sixteen year old ANBU -that must have been you... It was you, wasn't it? How'd you manage to escape?" Sakura questioned.
"Nothing gets by you, does it?" she smiled a pleased smile. Oh, their heir was a clever one, alright. "Once Konoha had found me in Amegakure and discovered I was a Haruno, they had demanded I come back. Obviously wanting to find out what my family was like, I returned." Konan began. "But this hadn't been home... It hadn't been the home that I was used to..." Konan trailed off.
"It hadn't been Yahiko and Pein." Sakura concluded.
Konan was only slightly shocked that Sakura knew of them. "Umm... yeah..." Konan sighed slightly. "So, I spent some time here, learning all I could about the Haruno Clan. Very prominent, very peaceful -nothing like what I had seen during and after the war in Ame. It's of no surprise than hardly any Harunos' took part in the war. It was nice here. I wished I could bring Yahiko and Pein here, to a world we had always wanted. I had told them about it -told them Konoha wasn't all that bad in reality. I constantly wrote letters to them, you see. Unfortunately, they wanted the same for all of Amegakure -they couldn't fathom just leaving their people behind." Konan explained. "I began doing missions, quickly rising in ranks to ANBU, no thanks to the training that I had received from Jiraiya-sama, our teacher during the time. Whenever I had spare time, I'd visit Yahiko and Pein, always asking how they were doing, bringing them food and gifts. I promised I would return to them, stronger than ever. And so when it was time, I ran away. It was merely a coincidence that it had been on that very same day that Mist attacked." Konan finished off.
Sakura nodded slowly, registering. Could she trust Konan? Something told her she could. She would be useful -she'd come in handy. She was powerful, she had ties to Akatsuki. But, when it came down to it, where did her loyalty really stand? This worried Sakura. Sure, as of now, her intentions were pure -no thoughts of Akatsuki or the tailed beasts-... but, if Yahiko died? What would become of her then?
Sakura parted her lips.
"Yahiko and Pein, or us." Sakura suddenly narrowed her eyes.
It took time for Konan to register what Sakura was saying. "What...?" Konan seemed shocked, for a second believing that Sakura was playing a joke on her, or something along those lines.
"Pick one." Sakura merely said, her eyes revealing nothing.
"Why?" Konan questioned.
"It's important you know who you will turn to when all goes to hell. When it's me or Yahiko... Who will you choose?" Sakura questioned, her steady gaze lingering on Konan.
"I can't choose both?" Konan seemed outraged and exasperated almost, seeing Sakura's serious demeanor and noting that there was no backing down from this question.
"They're Ame, we're Konoha. It's not possible." Sakura merely shook her head.
"But they're my friends! My family." Konan stressed. Sakura's gaze did not waver. "You can't possibly make me choose between you two."
Sakura didn't speak, expecting an answer. Konan was quiet, her fists clenched, head down. "Well, I refuse to choose between you two. Both are my friends and family. I will protect everyone I hold dear to me, I don't care what village they're from." Konan fiercely looked up to meet Sakura's gaze.
-And Sakura was perfectly fine with this answer, and it was the answer she had been hoping for. Hell, it was the answer she needed. "Well then, we welcome you." Sakura gave a small smile after a very long time.
"..." Konan was confused, her lips parted as she tried to make use of her vocal cords.
"Family or not, you don't know us." Sakura simply said. "Yahiko and Pein... they're true friends. They're looking out for your best interest... they'd die for you." Sakura explained. "If you were willing to throw that special bond away just to be with us..." Sakura paused slightly. "You wouldn't be worth having in our Clan, frankly. After all, those who abandon their comrades... they're worse than trash." Sakura smiled, being reminded of Kakashi.
Konan smiled slowly. 'This heir... she is definitely something, alright...'
"Gods up above, hear my plea."
Itachi felt just the slightest tingles run down his spine as Sakura began the ritual. He felt light, weightless almost. He couldn't really identify what Sakura was doing, but the only thing he knew was that all their chakra was quickly draining, at a pace too fast, almost. What exactly was taking their chakra? Where was it going? Sakura was now on her knees, all the other Haruno Clan members around her. His Sharingan on, he could see all their chakra reserves quickly dwindling, slowly at first, but its pace increasing as time went on.
He knew something was up... Sooner or later, their chakra would run out. And what would happen when their chakra ran out?
They'd die
Sakura had informed him of this... but he still thought it too shocking to even fathom. What exactly was their life source? And it lived on through their chakra? And why only theirs? What connection did they have that others didn't? So many questions ran through his head. So many questions he did not have any answers to, and it made him want to uncharacteristically bash his head against a wall over and over again.
Why had it been her that changed everything he once believed in? Why was it her that he could not figure out, and why was it her that he hated so much, and why was it her that brought so much emotion into him, and why was it her that could be the one to die right now, and he could only sit there and watch, feeling absolutely helpless? And with all these questions running through his head, all this pain and anguish he felt on the inside, he just sat there and stared, and watched their chakra reserves slowly decrease and decrease feeling useless and pathetic.
But then, suddenly he felt something, and he almost had to widen his eyes in acknowledgement.
Chakra
All around them, in fact. It almost felt as if the Haruno Compound itself was alive, filled with chakra, at first just a little heartbeat, but it soon became a big thump he could almost feel inside himself. Yes, this chakra was alive, softly beating, vibrating... He stared back at Sakura, surely, she could sense it too, right?
Sakura didn't just sense it. She saw it, and she felt it, slowly pulsing softly, but then stronger and stronger until it was a firm thud that nearly pulsed to the rhythm of her very own heart.
What exactly was it?
The chakra seemed to erupt from the very same earth she stood, sprouting like flowers in all sorts of colors. Pinks, green, yellows, oranges, violets, blues... it was almost like a spectrum of chakra suddenly emerging.
But that was what shocked her least. The chakra soon began to form things... faces... bodies.. all of which complete with eyes and hair, and some of which, she just knew she recognized from somewhere.
"Haruno Clan members." Konan suddenly muttered, she being able to recognize more of them.
Of course, there was nothing else they could possibly be.
'Their life's essence had remained here the whole time.' Sakura was shocked. Yes, one by one, she could recognize some of them. The lady at the corner of the street, always sweeping, so young and beautiful -she had been expecting before the massacre, Sakura believed. And then the lazy jounin, almost like Shikamaru, always lounging around on some random tree. And then, Sakura had to hold back a gasp -her own parents, standing proudly alongside each other, their arms wrapped around each other.
Her mother hadn't lied. They had been with her this entire time... inside the compound itself! She understood now what they were meant to do. The remaining Harunos' all gasped, seeing faces they thought they would never see again. Sayuri especially cried out, seeing her mother and father once again -no longer would her last memory of her parents be of them mangled on the floor beyond recognition.
They all eyed each other, fascinated by what was occurring right in front of their very eyes. Slowly, the figures of the deceased Haruno Clan members began to blur once more, evaporating and reverting back into their chakra state, seemingly as fast as they had come. They seemed to float around Sakura for several moments, and then Sakura herself absorbed the chakra.
Sakura could faintly feel what they felt -remember what they remembered. It sent a couple of tears rolling down her cheeks at such intense emotions hitting her all at once, but she did the best she could to hide it.
With this, she knew, they would survive the ritual, with much more chakra than they actually needed.
With this, finally, her mind could rest at ease.
This would not be the end of the Haruno line.
Sakura collapsed almost immediately after the ritual had finished. So much chakra had been sent through her: she had practically been a gateway to Matsuro, and having your body used, especially by so many, took its toll on Sakura.
Sakura slowly fell backwards, her eyes closing before she could even register what was occurring. The only thing she felt was her body tingle all over, and she could tell that her body was returning to that of a twelve year old's, what with Matsuro finally having her powers back.
'Thank you, my child.' she heard a soft whisper before she blacked out, Hiroto being quick to catch her before she hit the floor.
Itachi's gaze on Sakura hardened, his wild Sharingan eyes spinning. What was she? Was she twelve? Was she eighteen? He could no longer tell. Had it been a henge, he would have noticed something. No, this wasn't just some transformation coated by a jutsu. Her entire body had changed; completely altered, as if she had been sucked from a different dimension. She was definitely twelve right now, there was no doubt about it, but she had definitely been eighteen just minutes prior. It was no trick, no illusion -his Sharingan would have seen through it if it were.
He just didn't know what to think anymore...
But moreover, a thought struck him.
Sakura was alive.
And at that very moment he felt a whole lot of tension that he didn't even knew was there vanish all of a sudden. She had survived... perhaps to die another day soon, but survive, nonetheless.
He didn't like the fact that he felt so relieved about it. He just knew he felt the urge to hug her -to embrace her. He hadn't felt such strong emotions since...
Since he first understood that Sakura was a beauty to not be taken lightly...
Nevertheless, today had been a long day. He should return before they noticed he was there, and ponder all about today's events.
"She'll be out like a light until tomorrow, I can assure you all that much." Konan quietly tucked Sakura under the thick blankets, her gaze lingering on her petite form. "Why exactly does she turn to a twelve year old?" Konan questioned, puzzled.
Marika merely shrugged. "It was part of her contract... with Matsuro-sama, that is."
"Ahh..." It made sense. Whatever Sakura was sent into the past for, it required her to be a twelve year old girl -now as to what that was though, Konan had no idea. Usually, with being a child, came being watched over with much care (especially seeing as she was a Haruno, and all). Then again, it probably had its advantages too: for one, nobody expected a threat from a little twelve year old with pink hair, innocent emerald eyes, and a flimsy body to top it all off.
"Are you leaving now?" Hiroto broke Konan out of her thoughts.
Konan nodded. "I should really be getting back to Amegakure. Yahiko and Pein are expecting me."
"Don't you at least want to wait until Sakura awakens?" Marika furrowed her eyesbrows. "Plus, it's late. You shouldn't travel all alone at such a dangerous time."
Konan chuckled. "I can take care of myself. Anyway, Sakura won't be up for a while," Konan stressed. "I can't wait that long." she simply added up.
Marika was about to complain some more, but let it drop once Hiroto gave her a look. Family or not, Konan was her own person, with her own, different village. As Sakura had said before, she may have ties with them, but absolutely none with Konoha. They couldn't hold her up just because she was family. She had things to do, people to see, and places to be. They were no one to judge her for that.
And so, with a few goodbyes and promises to meet again in the future, Konan vanished, almost as quickly as she had come. Marika had walked her out of the compound, and Konan was left to idly roam the streets, walking towards a forest where she could quickly sneak out of the village undetected. Rounding a corner, she bumped into someone.
"Tch" she hummed in annoyance. "Sorry kid, I wasn't watching where I was going." Konan shrugged, and was on her merry way once more without giving any thought to who exactly she had bumped into, thoughts of home, Pein, and Yahiko filling her mind.
Said 'kid' merely nodded, and kept walking forward.
Now at least Itachi knew what she looked like -for future refrences, of course.
Sakura felt warm -cozy. She hadn't had such good sleep in ages. Her mind no longer felt empty to nearly a mind-numbing level -it was filled for once... whole. (When had having Inner Sakura and Matsuro inside her head become a necessity?)
She didn't really care to know. All she knew was that she was alive, and it had never felt so good in her life before!
She suddenly remembered what had happened the previous night, and most importantly, about Konan. She got up quickly, perhaps too quickly than she should have, and ran to Hiroto's room, ignoring the fact that she was still in her pajamas, and it was late afternoon by now.
"Hiroto, quick, where's Konan?" she barged right in.
'Maybe if I can warn her about Hanzo...' Sakura thought. Perhaps everything could be avoided, and perhaps-
"She's gone already, Sakura..." Hiroto was only slightly surprised to see Sakura up already -she hadn't failed to surprise him so many times already.
"What? No! Why didn't anyone stop her?" Sakura was a bit out-raged.
"She said she... had to go... People were waiting on her..." Hiroto slowly said, a bit curious as to why Sakura was at her wit's end about this. "We tried to make her stay, but she just wouldn't budge..." he added as means to say that they did indeed try.
Sakura's hands balled into fists. "How long ago did she leave? Maybe I can-"
Hiroto cut her off. "She left immediately after we tucked you in bed, which was well over twelve hours ago. She's long gone now. What's this about, Sakura?" he questioned. What was so important about talking with Konan that would make Sakura respond this way? So... rashly?
"It's nothing..." Sakura merely shook her head, looking down in what could almost be regret. Hiroto quickly interpreted it into "It's nothing that I can tell you." But he was perfectly fine with that -Sakura was the heir, and he had to respect her wish, even if he wished to know what was going on in her head at all times. She had her right to secrecy, especially because there were things she just could not share with them, being from the future and all.
He could only presume that there had been some dire information Sakura had to share with Konan, for the sake of whoever. And because she did not get to do so, something may occur that Sakura had wished she could prevent. But all that aside, there was no avoiding it now. Konan was gone, her chance missed, and Hiroto doubted Sakura could just leave abruptly just to look for her, especially since none of them knew where exactly she was located at, except for the obvious location of Amegakure, not that it was safe for any Haruno to go far away from home all by themselves...
"Hiroto! Mikoto says it's time for dinner!" The silence was broken as Marika came through the doors. "Oh, Sakura! You're up." she smiled brightly.
Hiroto quickly noted how all of Sakura's troubles were neatly tucked away and she showed her a bright smile. "Nothing is bound to keep me out for too long." she chuckled lightly.
Same old Sakura... She didn't like others worrying about something that just couldn't be helped...
Sakura couldn't help but feel slightly dazed as she sat at the dinner table, hardly paying her food any attention.
'Konan... what should I do about her?' Sakura was deeply troubled. She knew she could count on Konan -she was loyal, she was kind, she was caring. But Yahiko's death... it must have impacted her a lot... To Sakura, it would be like losing Naruto, and that, she knew, would be the end of her if it ever occurred.
Losing someone so important to you tended to change people... Alter them until you are no longer the same person... She had seen as much with people such as Sasuke, Sayuri, and even herself, when she was younger. Fortunately, Ino had been able to help her out, but she was getting off topic now.
Yahiko would unmistakably die. Konan would unmistakably be heartbroken, and Akatsuki would unmistakably be founded and grow in deadliness as the years passed by. But the question arose: when Sakura commanded that Naruto not be captured, would Konan listen? Or would she insist that only by uniting the tailed beasts (and thus killing Gaara, Naruto, and all the other Jinchuuriki in the process) would come that peace that she so desperately desired?
She supposed only time would tell...
And onto other more pressing matters, she had to get back in focus to her original goal, the original point in traveling to the Uchiha Compound:
The Uchiha Massacre
Time was dwindling, and she had yet to discover the true motives behind everything: who was pulling the strings -who was the real person/people at fault? Who did she have to have the pleasure of killing some time from now, above all else?
So many questions, so little time...
That night, she lay on the tiled roof of the Uchiha Compound. She had missed the company within her head, and was much enjoying being able to argue with herself.
'Top priority is finding out where the orders come from.' Inner got straight to bussiness.
'It's already known that it stems from the elders. They are the ones who had ordered the Massacre.'
'Now all we need to know is why.' Matsuro had a point. It had previously been believed that the only possibly explanation was that the elders had merely faked the whole "coup d'etat", merely because they were afraid of all the power the Uchihas' had over Konoha. But, Sakura had been in the past for quite a few months now. She had gotten to understand a little about the politics in Konoha, which the Konoha of her time was unaware of at this given moment in time. Uchihas', all though mighty and powerful in their own respect, did not have all the glory they probably deserved, probably due to the elder's arrogance and stubbornness to admit that, yes, they probably were very successful because Uchihas' were just so damn great at doing their job, A.K.A killing by the hundreds.
She knew Fugaku. Obviously, he'd be angered -no, he'd be enraged. If the Uchihas' deserved all this glory, by his name, they damn well better receive the glory. There was bitter tension between the clans. No clan wanted to admit that any clan was any better/greater than any other -they'd like to think that their skills all vary from clan to clan, with different specialties of the sort, and all were as equally useful as the other. Of course, most of the tension was directed to the Uchiha Clan, all of which were too high and mighty to associate with any of the other lesser clans. They obviously thought themselves better, and they didn't hesitate to show it, too. And so, clans became bitter, tensions rose, and all the bottled anger and unhappiness was just waiting to implode.
So, theoretically speaking, yes, Sakura could see how the supposed coup d'etat could have actually not been a fake. Fugaku, among all others, could be bitter about the Uchihas' unjust name. They deserved better -more. Why not get more? It was quite easily accessible to them, after all. They had enough power, and a high-and-mighty Uchiha heir to boot, full with ANBU status and all, with a mere age of thirteen. It was enough to intimidate most into not standing in their way.
Sakura noticed, with much distaste, that this had all come to be because of the Haruno Massacre. It had inevitably led to the high tensions between all the clans, which, she knew, had led to the Uchiha Massacre, although she was not yet able to pinpoint if it was Fugaku's doing, or the elders.
Yes, Kakashi, of all people, had let her in on the little political game on one of their missions, although he merely hinted with amusement laced in his tone, and quickly dismissed the topic as merely a joke or game as Sakura began to understand what he meant. Sure, Uchihas' were mighty, powerful, and cocky not to mention... but then, opposing them was the Haruno Clan, equally as strong and skilled as their own members (This at least, Fugaku could not deny); equally as cunning, as witty, as powerful, and as beautiful. The only difference was that they did not care for status or wealth or glory, or any other silly little title like that. They cared for Konoha and it's people above all else, and wished for peace, a thought that always enraged Fugaku. After all, blood and war made a shinobi's life, which, mind you, was the whole reason for their existence.
If they had an unbelievably great Kekkei Genkai, they damn well better use it!
So... yes. The Harunos' had kept everything in balance: as long as they stood tall and proud, the Uchihas' dare not make a stand. Obviously, they would never be able to get the completely-devoted-to-Konoha Harunos' to join their side. In fact, they would fight them, she knew. And despite the fact that all other clans were bitter about the more powerful clans (A.K.A. Harunos' and Uchihas'), the Haruno Clan never insinuated that they were greater than any other, and in fact insisted that they all stemmed from a common sister Kekkei Genkai. This made everyone happy: at least someone they knew was greater considered them all equal. It helped to ease tensions.
Frankly, Sakura found this all, so, incredibly confusing, but at the same time astonishing. Who would've known that so many key factors played important roles that inevitably lead to the Uchiha Massacre? It wasn't just as simple as "One day, a boy named Itachi Uchiha felt like testing his capabilities, and so he did, annihilating his entire clan, save his brother". It involved all of Konoha's prominent clans, including her own, deceased one, as well as family problems (Itachi's void detachment from his own).
Frankly, it was overwhelming, and too much for Sakura to analyze it all in a mere ten minutes. Luckily, Hiroto made his entrance on the roof shortly afterwards, giving Sakura a much needed distraction.
"Hiroto" She greeted him with a nod.
He gave her a weak smile, and she motioned for him to sit next to her. He did as she told him to, and merely sat there, knees propped up in a similar fashion as her. He propped his arms on his knees, his fingers slowly fiddling with each other.
Silence ensued, not that either Hiroto or Sakura minded all too much anyway.
"...Sakura..." Hiroto broke the silence after a long time.
"I know." she smiled endearingly at the sky, letting herself lay down against the tiled roof. "It's time you all leave, isn't it?" her smile turned into one of slight disappointment.
Hiroto merely nodded, looking down at Sakura, and gently squeezing her hand. "It wouldn't be wise to attract too much attention to us... Plus... the main reason for having come here was for the ritual... Now that that's accomplished... there really isn't much of a reason to stick around... We can't keep the kids safe out here in the open." he explained.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Sakura sighed. "They don't know yet, do they?" she questioned. Hiroto merely shook his head. Sakura stayed quiet for several moments. "When do you plan to leave?"
"Perhaps in two days... Recover from the ritual, pack supplies, say our goodbyes..." he squeezed her hand gently with his own, and Sakura smiled at him in response.
"You do what you have to do Hiroto." she simply stated. "I've got my own fair share of things to sort out here." she sighed almost bitterly.
"I'll bet." he gave a small chuckle.
Another silence ensued.
"You know..." she drawled on, once more bring her knees up and she sat up. "I'll miss this." she leaned her head on Hiroto's shoulder, and he rested his own on top of hers.
"It's been too long since I could have a quiet, relaxing conversation with someone." Hiroto added on with a smile. Don't get him wrong, he loved Marika and Himawari and the little munchkins, but they were still children, young and in need of the loud, obnoxious happiness that would smother the void they now felt, ever since the massacre. He was more mature -more serious and thoughtful about things. He had to be; they relied on him as their leader for the time being. He didn't have too much time to idly laugh and play like the others, though he did indulge himself in the act every now and them, when it was no longer his turn to train the children.
Sakura merely chuckled in response. "Get to bed, kiddo. It's late. We have a long days ahead of us."
"Every day is long." he silently muttered to himself. Around Sakura, he didn't feel like the adult. He could be the child he should be, young and ignorant of all his troubles. He missed this, and he was glad that Sakura understood that he needed it, and had no trouble giving it to him.
"I know it is..." she almost whispered back silently, for the slightest of moments feeling misery bottling up inside of her, not only for herself, but for Hiroto as well. She didn't know when it had occurred, but Hiroto was laying down, head resting on her lap, as she brushed his messy black locks. He was quietly, silently crying small tears, and Sakura merely smiled a motherly smile, still embracing him.
She knew he bottled up so, so much. It wasn't healthy for so much pressure to be put on someone still so young. He was still a child; he needed to be treated as such.
"They said they love you so much..." Sakura quietly spoke. "That there was never a day they didn't look at you with such pride and adoration -and that they still do, from wherever up in the heavens they are..." Hiroto knew that Sakura was talking about his parents. "You and Himawari both," she continued. "They told me as much last night... Said you're doing a fine job."
Sakura knew he would be glad to hear those words. She could feel his muscles relax more, his tears flow more freely.
Yes, when one's parents die, one has the right to cry.
A right Hiroto never got the chance to have, because he had to put up the strong front for his peers: for his little sister, and for his little cousins, all of which now turned to him for guidance.
It was nice to let go for a bit.
End of Chapter
So, that concludes the ritual, and all that good stuff ! Tell me what you guys thought about it? :D Next few chapters will be centered around Sakura discovering the truth, as well as Itachi respectively!
Again, I will remind you all that there is a poll which decides whether or not Sakura stays in the past or returns to the future. As of now, staying in the past is much more popular, but as a side note, I already have an entire idea for her returning to the present, and it would be much easier for me to write that version, for I already have a good idea as to how to write it :). Keeping Sakura in the past is a bit difficult to write, mainly because, no matter how much Sakura loves Sasuke and her Haruno Clan members, she still does not fit in with that timeline, and she seems to alter so many things the longer she stays there =o. Just throwing that out there !
Onto other matters, I'm going to start rewriting the chapters once more, so bare with me.
The next stories I'll be aiming for is New Sakura and Sakura's Heavenly Mistake
Anyway, any and all reviews are much appreciated !
-Marzyy-chan~~! :))
