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 21 – Malevolence

"I've heard it all,

I know I cared too much.

But it's cruel to let you die,

I'll take the fall.

I'll be the heartless one,

My veins are made of ice."

Sasuke grunted, pushing himself up against the wall to his feet unsteadily as he tried to gain his bearings. He was in one of the smaller buildings next to the Hokage Tower. He seemed to be alone in the room.Suddenly, he tensed up, going rigid as the realization hit him. She wasn't here. Sasuke looked around, desperate to find Sakura. He couldn't sense her anywhere close by. Sasuke knew that Menma's attack, whatever it was, had blown them apart.

Sakura screamed. The sound echoed around him, panic filling his veins, rushing through his heart. Sasuke's feet began to move – but the path was blocked. The figure looked exactly like those white things outside, but it was black. And it spoke.
"Sasuke. I'm glad we have this moment alone."
Sasuke's eyes looked all around for some kind of exit. He needed to get to Sakura somehow. "What the hell are you?"
"Me? I'm Black Zetsu." He took another step into the building and Sasuke's hand automatically went to the hilt of the katana that Itachi had gifted him before the battle. He'd never used to but Sasuke was sure he could at least take out this guy while using it.

"This is the Sword of Kusanagi, Sasuke. I've kept it for you for a long time. Since I left the village."
"You kept it for me?"
Itachi nodded once. "Because I always knew you'd make the right choice."

Black Zetsu's eyes went to the hilt Sasuke was holding.
"So I take it those things out there are White Zetsu?"
Black Zetsu nodded.
"Very original."
"I'm not exactly suited for combat, and I promised Mikoto that I wouldn't kill you. Luckily, I've come prepared. A loophole, as it were." Black Zetsu did a few hand seals -
Sasuke let his shuriken fly, "Like I'd let you!"
The ground beneath them shook as a container lifted from the floor, blocking Black Zetsu from view. It looked like a coffin. Sasuke's shuriken slammed into the heavy wood.
"You are a hindrance. Once you are out of the way there will be nothing stopping her."
The lid of the coffin dropped open. What he saw made Sasuke feel ice cold all over.

Tsunade stepped out.

x-x-x-x

A strange sound came from Menma and Sakura's head whipped back to him. She panicked. Sakura put her hand out, it was wet with blood. "Menma! No!"

He released the ball of chakra.

Mikoto's Susanoo leapt into the air, out of the way of Menma's attack and now it was headed straight for Sakura.

And she froze.

The ball of chakra headed straight for her and Sakura screamed, bracing for an impact. That never came. Strong arms circled her, sweeping her out of the way at the last possible second. She was faintly aware of the sensation of being carried but she'd forgotten how to breathe. "Sakura," a familiar voice said, "Open your eyes."
She did.
Kiba looked straight ahead as he ran, holding her to his chest, one arm securely under her knees and the other around her shoulders.
"Kiba…"
"I saw you get blown away." He squeezed his eyes shut. "I thought…I thought I wouldn't make it."
Sakura had to look away. She owed Kiba for more than just saving her. But it wasn't fair to him to say anything. She'd chosen Sasuke over Kiba and although she'd never regretted her decision, that didn't mean that she'd wanted to hurt Kiba or that she didn't want him to be happy. Saying anything would do him a disservice.
"You don't have to say anything. I know."
Sakura looked up at him.
"I know what happened between you and Sasuke. It's written all over your faces." Kiba said, glancing away. "And I fucking hate him for it." Kiba swallowed. "I hate you a little too." He said, voice soft. Kiba stopped, setting her down into a sitting positon on a bench gently. "But I don't want you to die. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Thank you." Sakura whispered.
Kiba looked away as if she hadn't spoken. "Heal yourself, I'll guard you."
Wordlessly Sakura lifted a hand to her arm and began healing it. Three white figures emerged from the trees and Akamaru barked, leaping out from behind them and knocking down one. Small black bugs covered the other as Kiba attacked the last one. Sakura expected Hinata to jump out at any second. She didn't. It was a cold reminder that Hinata was gone. The image of Hinata in Shizune's arms flashed behind Sakura's closed lids and she gritted her teeth, green chakra flaring from her hand as Kiba, Akamaru and Shino fought off the white things that kept on coming. Where the hell was Kakashi-sensei? Or Minato-san? She needed to heal faster. She needed to find them to stop Menma. Whatever it took. Because the sixth tail could not appear.

And also.

Sasuke. Please be ok.

x-x-x-x

Black Zetsu had disappeared the moment Tsunade leapt from the coffin at him. There was something wrong with her eyes and skin. The whites of her eyes were darkened and her skin seemed to have a papery texture. She'd attacked him and Sasuke had been dodging for the most part, staying on the defensive. One finger was all she needed to take him out. He was very aware of that fact. He'd watched her train with Sakura more than once.
"You're going to have to be faster than that, boy!" she brought a heel down over him, that attack coming hard and fast and Sasuke rolled away just in time, jumping to his feet.
"This is Edo-Tensei. A forbidden jutsu developed by the Second Hokage." Tsunade swung a fist at him and Sasuke dodged, his Sharingan spinning, thankfully keeping up with her. "If I'm here…that must mean..." Tsunade flinched, as if she was remembering her death. "Where are we?" she kicked out and Sasuke leapt out of the way, letting a few shuriken loose. Tsunade dodged easily, going after him. "Konoha." Sasuke grunted, dodging her punches left and right. Tsunade paused, looking around. "This is Konoha? What happened?" dread filled her voice as she ran at him again and Sasuke drew his sword, going on the offensive and Tsunade jumped back, eyes narrowed. "If I'm fighting you…that must mean you oppose your family?"
Sasuke nodded, swinging at her again. "After my father…killed you…"
"No," Tsunade shook her head, bringing an arm up to block his attack. His sword bit into her skin but there was no blood. "It was Uchiha Mikoto, she led the entire coup against me."
Sasuke faltered and Tsunade attacked, shoving his sword away and striking out. Sasuke dodged at the last second, but it wasn't fast enough, the end of Tsunade's attack hit him and he flew back, hitting the wall hard.
Sasuke got back up to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. Tsunade's hands began to glow, "Don't let me touch you." She warned, her lips tight. "This technique will confuse your nervous system."
Sasuke groaned. "It never ends."
Tsunade ran towards him and Sasuke steeled himself. "I take it this was part of whatever Mikoto was planning?"
Sasuke leapt away, continuing to dodge Tsunade's fast hands. "I don't know what the fuck she's planning. But we plan to stop her."
"She plans to destroy Konoha and take control of the fire country by force." Tsunade swung her attack and Sasuke flipped back, narrowly escaping a hit to his leg.
"Considering that she's dressed as the daimyo, I'd say she say succeeded."
"Then…has she used the cells?" Tsunade demanded. "Has she used my grandfather's cells?"
Sasuke grimaced, blocking her attack with his sword and swinging out again, slicing an arm right off. Tsunade stilled as the arm began regenerating. "I don't know anything about that." Sasuke admitted and Tsunade shook her head. "That night….what really happened…Your father waited outside. Mikoto came in alone. Or so I thought. The one that summoned me-"
"Black Zetsu?"
"Yes," Tsunade nodded, her arm almost fully functional again, "He was there too." She shook her head quickly and then rushed at him again. "That's not important! You need to stop her from activating the Rinnegan at all costs."
Sasuke's back hit the wall and he ducked as Tsunade's punch flew at him. The wall crumbled down.
Sasuke attacked, swinging his sword but this time she dodged, flipping back.
"I knew the coup was coming. I'd known for a while. Kakashi heard rumors of Mikoto's experimentation. I'd just never imagined this." Tsunade stilled and then punched another wall. "I should have been more prepared as the Hokage…I've failed you all."
"None of us believe that." Sasuke said. "I don't and neither does Sakura."
Tsunade's head snapped to Sasuke. "Does that mean…" Tsunade swallowed. "Is Sakura….is she alright?"
Sasuke took the opportunity to kick Tsunade in the stomach and she fell back several feet. "I…I don't know." Sasuke admitted. "We got separated. I heard her scream."
Tsunade pushed herself up. "How? What happened?"
"Menma…went berserk."
"The Kyuubi?" the chakra around her hands came to life once again.
Sasuke nodded.
"The jutsu caster wants me to kill you." Tsunade said. "How strong is your genjutsu?"
Sasuke dodged her attack and leapt up, sending a fireball at her. Tsunade didn't even bother dodging. As soon as the flames disappeared, her body was already starting to repair itself, but at the very least he'd stopped her movements.
"Is your genjutsu strong enough to overwrite the Edo Tensei?"
Sasuke shook his head.
"Then put me under a genjutsu now. It should at the very least buy you time to escape." Tsunade clenched and unclenched her fist as her body slowly returned to normal. "Find Sakura. You need to stop Menma. If Kakashi fails…only you two might be able to get through to him." Tsunade paused. "But first, get me Ino-Shika-Cho. They are Konoha's most proficient barrier team. Have them seal me in. And then bring me the surviving jounin that can be spared from the battle. As long as this Black Zetsu doesn't undo the jutsu…I can still do some good."
Sasuke nodded, sending chakra to his eyes and for the first time it hurt for some reason. He flinched against the pain as he stared straight at Tsunade and cast the genjutsu, she stilled – her body going limp as she stared straight ahead. Sasuke lifted his hand to wipe away at the wetness on his cheek and…his fingers came away red.

x-x-x-x

Thank you for the lovely reviews!

Here is a teaser for the next chapter 22 - Daylight.
Sakura nearly fell to her knees. This couldn't be real and it couldn't be fair. But it was really happening. She took an unsteady step forward, and then another and then she was running, closing the distance between them, her cheeks wet with tears.

Thanks for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed!

New chapter for I Wait coming tomorrow (probably~).

- Zana-Lee