WHEREVER YOU ARE
Haruno Sakura, daughter to one of Konoha's heroes. Uchiha Sasuke, Chuunin, who might just be more of a disgrace to his Clan than his brother. Sakura knew going on this mission with him would be a mistake. That she would fall in love with him all over again, and the worst part was - she was right.
Road to Ninja Universe. SasuSaku.
Chapter 18 – A Little Pain
"Open your eyes,
I'm here waiting for you.
Even if the future is different from now,
I'm here waiting for you."
"I should have killed you the night you left the village," Fugaku spat, wiping at the cut on his face. "You don't deserve the name Uchiha."
Itachi dodged the kunai Fugaku threw at him and released shuriken from his sleeves. "I discarded that name a long time ago, father."
"A coward like you is no son of mine!" Fugaku yelled, holding out his sword, he rushed at Itachi. Hidan's three bladed scythe came down between them and Fugaku jumped back. "Three against one, old man." Hidan said, grinning. "Odds aren't looking good for you."
"Who said that I was alone?" Fugaku smirked.
"Did I say I was going to assist you?" Kisame asked from where he was seated on the broken bed. Hidan shot him a glare.
Explosions sounded outside the love hotel and Itachi scowled. There were no windows and no easy way for him to back Sasuke up if he needed it.
"I brought a small army with me."
"For me?" Itachi's Mangekyou awakened, shifting his sharingan. "I'm flattered, father."
Fugaku growled, rushing towards Itachi again, their blades clashed – sparks flying around the room. "You are a disgrace to the clan. And to me."
Itachi overpowered Fugaku's block, shoving his blade away and slashing down. Fugaku dodged a fatal hit, bit the cut slashed deeply across his collarbone and chest. "The only disgrace is this dishonorable name Uchiha and you."
"I would never betray my family." Fugaku threw back, breathing unsteadily.
"You did by allowing her to do whatever the hell she wanted."
Fugaku hesitated and Hidan took the opportunity, bringing his weapon down again, but Fugaku spun on him, Mangekyou easily stilling Hidan's movements as he became trapped in a genjutsu. Fugaku kicked out, sending Hidan flying across the room. Hidan hit the wall, still unresponsive and Fugaku leapt towards him but Itachi intercepted him, bringing his blade down again and again mercilessly. Fugaku met him blow for blow, except for the last one – he dodged at the last second, kicking out and hitting Itachi in the side. Itachi stumbled away, his shoulder hitting the wall awkwardly. He spun around too late though, Fugaku's katana was already imbedded into Hidan's chest. Fugaku looked over his shoulder at Itachi, a smirk on his lips. "One down,"
Hidan spat blood at Fugaku. "Who's down?"
Fugaku's head whipped to Hidan, who reached up, swiping blood from the older Uchiha's cheek. "I suppose I should than-"
Fugaku ripped his blade out and slammed it through Hidan's neck, embedding it into the wall behind. Hidan became very still for a moment, and then his head rolled. The room was very quiet and then the eyes on Hidan's severed head opened. "What in Jashin-sama's name do you think you're doing? This is not a sexy look for me!"
Fugaku looked disgusted. "No matter what kind of monster you are, you can't fight now." He turned back to Itachi. "That just leaves…"
From his position on the bed, Kisame sighed. "I suppose I'll join too." His weapon seemed to quiver in excitement. "Let's finish this quickly, Itachi."
Itachi's fingers dug into the bark of a tree. The sun was going down and he knew he needed to find Sasuke but all her could see behind his eyelids was the look on his father's face when he killed him. All he felt over and over again was the sensation of twisting the blade. Itachi titled his head up to the darkening sky, letting out a heavy breath. The sound of fluttering papers behind him had Itachi stilling, wiping the emotion from his face.
"They headed towards an inn, two towns over. I believe they're waiting for the sun to go down before heading towards Konoha." Konan said and Itachi nodded.
"We've taken out most of Uchiha Fugaku's soldiers but some remain. Watch your back, Itachi."
"Yeah, I will."
"I will join the rest and meet you in Konohagakure." Konan didn't wait for an answer, her body scattered into papers that folded themselves into butterflies and flew off.
Itachi let out an unsteady breath and headed to where Sasuke would be.
x-x-x-x
Menma fell to his knees next to her, pulling Hinata into his lap. "Hina? Hinata? Answer me, please."
Hinata's lids fluttered and was if they were heavy, she lifted them halfway. "Men…ma," there was a gurgling sound in her throat.
"Is it raining?" she asked in a broken voice.
Menma squeezed his eyes shut, his tears mixed with the blood on her face. "Yeah," he whispered.
Hinata took a breath that rattled out of her chest. "Don't…." Whatever she attempted to say was lost.
"Fuck," Menma hissed through clenched teeth. "Hina, look at me. Open your eyes."
Again, he could see her trying. Her eyes never opened.
Menma's back bowed over her and Hinata let out a cough that rattled through her entire body, blood running from the corner of her mouth.
"I love you, Hina. Do you hear me? Please stay with me."
Hinata didn't answer.
"Hina…ta?" Menma reached for her, "Hinata?" Menma blinked, tears running freely down his cheeks as he sat frozen, staring down at her.
And then Ino was there, dropping to her knees, hands on Hinata's abdomen. She was yelling at Kiba to find someone. Menma couldn't hear who over the rushing in his ears.
Behind him someone screamed, he knew that voice, and while things crashed and exploded behind him, Menma still couldn't move. Still couldn't take is eyes off of Hinata's pale white face.
x-x-x-x
The sky had completely darkened when Sasuke and Sakura gathered their things. Sakura picked her shirt up off the floor and held it to her chest, green eyes flicking up to Sasuke who stretched out his arm, sensing her eyes on him – he looked down at her.
Sasuke held out his hand to her and pulled her to her feet. Wordlessly, they dressed and put their cloaks on, mentally steeling themselves for what laid ahead for them. Sakura had always been a guarded person, someone who didn't easily let people in. She struggled to show vulnerability, but right now, with Sasuke, in the calm before the storm, it could be ok if she showed him a little more of her heart. Sasuke's hand curled around the doorknob but Sakura reached out, grabbing his arm.
"Sakura?"
Sakura stared at where she held on to his arm. "I don't know what exactly is waiting for us back home," she swallowed but it did nothing to stop the tears that flooded her eyes. Sasuke turned and erased the small space between them. With his fingers on her chin, Sasuke tipped her head up to look at him. "I just….please don't die, Sasuke. I don't want to…"
Sakura had never cried in front of him like this, and before she could regret it, Sasuke's arms folded around her, pulling her tightly against his chest. "I'm not going anywhere, Sakura."
Sakura gave him a watery smile and pulled herself together before going up on her toes and pressing a soft kiss to the tip of his nose. When she pulled back, Sasuke looked surprised and she grinned up at him. When she went to open the door, Sasuke grabbed her, spinning her to face him again as his arm slipped around her waist and he pulled her body against his. Sasuke stared down at her, his dark eyes filled with emotion. And then he bent down and pressed his lips against hers. So much like the kiss he'd given her after she left Konoha without him. And then he kissed the corner of her mouth before leaning in close, forehead to forehead. Sasuke looked into her eyes. "You're stuck with me now, Sakura."
Sakura's smiled up at him again, pressing her palms flat against his chest, not pushing him away but just wanting to feel him.
"That sounds troublesome."
Sasuke smirked, kissing her one more time, his lips pressing down a bit longer now. A bit more intensely.
"You say that, but I know better." Sasuke pulled back.
"You should."
They stared at each other for one more long moment and then Sasuke opened the door – only to find Itachi leaning against the wall outside.
"Nii-san?!" Sasuke's surprise faded quickly, "Is he…."
"Let's go." Itachi said, and pushed off of the wall.
Sakura knew then. Itachi killed Fugaku. Wordlessly, she slipped her hand into Sasuke's and squeezed. Despite everything, Fugaku was his father. Sasuke squeezed her hand back, and then they followed Itachi.
To Konoha.
x-x-x-x
Menma's hands trembled as he lifted them to brush her hair back. Hinata didn't stir. She'd had her head in his lap like this many times. Staring up at him, that cheeky smile on her lips, making some inappropriate comment or joke. He loved that she did that. Menma's fingertips traced her face, brushing his tears away that continued to fall on her.
"Please," He begged softly. "Open your eyes for me,"
"Menma? I didn't expect to see you here."
Menma turned and was surprised to find Hinata. She was dressed in her usual shorts, ice cream in hand. It was late, probably after ten. The moon lit up the training grounds and made her eyes seem even paler to him.
"What? At the training grounds?" he threw back and Hinata smirked, shaking her head. "No. I thought you'd be at Sasuke's birthday party."
Menma scoffed. "Oh that." He turned his head away. "No, thanks."
Sasuke had left Team 7. So why should Menma bother attending his stupid party?
Menma looked back to her. "I'm surprised you're not there."
"Me? Why?"
"Because every girl in Konoha goes crazy for Sasuke." Menma rolled his eyes.
Hinata tilted her head to the side. "You're really asking me that? You can be so dense, Menma."
"Dense? I'm not-"
Hinata was in front of him suddenly, she grabbed his shirt in both hands and pulled him towards her. And then she kissed him.
Her lips were cold from the ice cream and tasted like bubblegum flavor.
"Mmph!" Menma broke free, face shocked and cheeks red. "W-what the hell are you doing?!"
The prettiest smile formed on her lips. Not snarky or cheeky. Sincere and so pretty. "I don't like Sasuke, Menma." She glanced away and if he didn't know her any better, he would've said she was shy. "I've always liked you."
Menma blinked, his mind struggling to make sense of the words. "Me?"
Hinata gave a soft laugh, "Would another kiss make it clearer for you?"
"Maybe," he said, unsure. "I mean, yes."
Hinata did kiss him then and Menma swore he would never forget the taste of that bubblegum ice cream.
"Hina?" he tried again. Faintly he heard Ino sobbing, her green chakra flaring in his vision. Menma folded his arms over her, bringing them closer together and whispering those three words over and over again as if that would make her wake up. As if that would make her eyes open again.
"Ino," a familiar voice said. "That's enough."
Akamaru gave a low whine and then threw his head back, letting loose a howl that tore Menma's heart in two. This isn't real. This isn't happening.
Ino's chakra began to fade and Menma sat up in a rush.
"Don't stop."
Shizune knelt down, "Menma, she's already-"
Menma glared at Ino. "Don't fucking stop healing her. I will never forgive you."
Ino's face crumbled, a sob wracking her body. Kiba knelt behind her, his own face stained with tears as he pulled her away.
Shizune put a hand on his shoulder but Menma shook her off. "Heal her."
"Menma-"
"Heal her!" He screamed.
"Look at her, Menma." Shizune's voice broke. "She's gone."
Menma's eyes widened at he looked down and really saw Hinata in his lap. Her hair fanned over his legs. Her skin pale. Too pale. Eyes shut. Blood on her mouth and chin. And she was still. Her chest no longer lifted. Her skin too…slack.
Menma lost himself. A red-hot chakra rushed through his veins, almost replacing every fiber of his being. He was on fire. And then he too was gone, with only two thoughts left in his mind. Hina was gone, and he wanted to kill.
x-x-x-x
Thanks for reviewing!
Here's a teaser for the next chapter: No Light, No Light –
"Oh, it's rare for you to come here," the sinister voice said. "What a delightful surprise, boy."
Menma's feet waded through the shallow water, stopping only when he reached the gate. His fingers curled around the bar and lifeless eyes peered into the cage.
Thank you for reading!
- Zana-Lee