Chapter Thirty-Seven: My Choice!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Sakura had long departed from Shizune's side as she again took up her position defending Konoha's rear flank...but this time she was alone. Most of her fellow shinobi and kunoichi had died beside her or were carried away by medics. Thankfully, assaults had been small and infrequent on her position.
But visibilitywas poor--a low fog hiding everything until it was right on top of her--and she was guarding a canyon that provided Konoha with some defense...
Seeing a flicker in the mist, she called out, demanding that the figure announce their NRN, name, age and rank.
There was no reply.
A second later a shuriken tore through the fog. Acting quickly, Sakura side stepped it, catching it and flinging it right back.
"You always were a pest, Haruno." Kabuto smirked as he stepped from the blurry shadows, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
She stiffened, seeing another figure looming behind him.
Sasuke...
Distracted, she didn't see Kabuto lunged at her...She froze--and then instinct kicked in: She ducked underneath his arm, simultaneously sweeping her leg around at his ankles. But the limber nin'i flipped away, regrouping and charging her again.
And then he smirked...
Sakura turned, seeing an injured kunoichi stumbling towards her--Ino!
Her head snapped back as Kabuto tossed a needle dripping in paralytic.
"No!" Sakura cried, lunging in front of Ino and taking the needle to her leg. Groaning, she ripped the offending object from her thigh...her leg gave out and she fell to her knees as the clone of Ino exploded into a cloud of smoke.
"You bastard..." She trailed off...
"I just thought that I would throw a curve ball. And here's another..." Kabuto stepped aside, letting Sasuke take his place.
The Uchiha unsheathed his blade--
His calm facade remained even as he stepped forward, but his thoughts were tormented: Which was worse? For her to die at Kabuto's hands...or his own?
Sakura, on her knees, drew herself up as fully as she could and spread her arms, giving him a clear shot at her chest. Her eyes grazed him, unblinking emerald orbs.
Sasuke raised the blade...and thrust...
The sickening sound of steel meeting bone filled the air as blood spattered the surrounding area. Her emerald eyes grew wide as the crimson liquid spattered her beautiful face.
A moment later the dead weight fell to the ground...a still warm corpse.
Sasuke wrenched his blade out of Kabuto's chest and proceeded to cut Sakura's bonds.
"Can you ever forgive me?" He asked.
Sakura back-handed him and then took his bruised face in her hand and pressed her lips to his.
"I love you, Sasuke."
Tsunade gave a victorious cry as the last Sound Nin was driven from her village. Beneath her post atop the Hokage's Tower, her ranks were cheering in ecstasy. There would be time for mourning later...
Suddenly through the dust came two bloody, broken figures.
Vaulting herself forward, she landed in a crouch and sprinted towards her apprentice. Without warning, she had gathered her blood-stained daughter into her arms and was holding her.
"Uchiha!" A council member hissed as Anko helped him hobble forward, "As punishment for your crimes you will face exe...
"Stand down. I sent Uchiha on a mission to infiltrate Sound." Tsunade snapped.
"Then why did you send an assassination team?!" The old man demanded.
"Sound was watching--it would look suspicious if we didn't." Tsunade replied off-handedly.
The dejected council man ordered Anko to help him back to safety.
Sakura smiled, tears running down her face as she met her shishou's warm honey eyes.
"Konoha! Go get some rest!" The Godaime ordered happily.
As Sasuke walked past her, she whispered, "Uchiha, the next time you pull a stunt like that, don't expect me to cover your ass."
TBC
So Sasuke made his choice! Only one more chapter to go! Can anyone say "Epilogue"?