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 24 – Vacant
"You've been running from yourself for a while.

Waiting for the whole thing to catch fire.

You think that if you burn down you'll be fine,

And maybe I'd forget all the times you lied."

Menma passed out a little while after Sakura had begun really healing him. The damage the Kyuubi had done was slow to heal and she was grateful that he healed so fast from within. His skin was a dark red now but at least it was skin and despite transforming all the way to six tails, there seemed to be no lasting damage from what Sakura could see. To be honest, a part of her mind wasn't fully here – it was with Sasuke. She was worried. And despite everything that happened, Sakura still didn't want that burden on him – the burden of killing his family. Was it terrible that she thought more of carrying that burden for him than for Konoha? Maybe. As the Hokage, the shinobi and citizens of Konoha…they were all her responsibility. But for this, in stopping Mikoto, Sakura wanted to carry that burden for him. Because she loved him. And she didn't want him to carry it with him for the rest of his life. Even if things changed between them, she could do this for him.
"Sakura?"
Shizune was there and Sakura was slow to remove her hands from Menma's chest. A hand fell on Sakura's shoulder and Minato and Kushina came closer now. Tears ran down Kushina's pale cheeks as she hesitantly touched her son. Minato had a protective arm around her, whispering quietly.
"I'll take care of this." Shizune said lowly. Sakura nodded but she didn't get up. After a moment, Shizune helped her to her feet and pulled Sakura aside. "Look at me," Shizune whispered and it took Sakura a moment to drag her eyes up from the ground.
"I know you're feeling…overwhelmed."
That was one way to put it.
"And tired." Shizune's eyes was full of strength. A strength Sakura wished she could absorb into herself. "I understand." Shizune's voice broke slightly. "Tsunade…" she broke off, taking a shaky breath. "I'm here for you. As I was there for her. Whatever you need."
Sakura's chin quivered, even as she tried to control her emotions. Shizune pulled her into a quick, tight hug. "You've always been like a little sister to me." She whispered. "You can do this. I believe in you. Tsunade believed in you."
Sakura nodded and pulled away, feeling a little stronger now. "I….thank you."
Shizune gave a wobbly smile and released Sakura, who turned away immediately. Kakashi fell into step with her easily.
Sakura cleared her throat, "How is the sealing jutsu coming?"
"Kurenai has a team on it, they are preparing as we speak."
Sakura nodded, rounding the corner – and then the gate was in sight. Shinobi were gathered around, she couldn't see Sasuke but Itachi stood in the middle, facing Mikoto. "Can you see anything?" Sakura asked.
Kakashi cleared his throat. "She seems to have exposed herself."
Sakura glanced at him. "In what way?"
A faint blush appeared on Kakashi's cheeks when he noticed Sakura's narrowed eyes. "Her…breasts are exposed."
"What the fuck?" Sakura sped up. Something weird was going on. Kakashi grabbed her arm suddenly, pulling her back a little.
"What is it, Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi was still looking over to where Mikoto stood but he was scowling now. "She's covered in Sharingan."
Sakura's head whipped back but it was still too far for her to see. "What do you mean?"
"It looks like she's implanted Sharingan into her skin."
An icy feeling swept down her spine and Sakura's muscles seemed to tense all over. Sharingan implanted meant….Mikoto had been experimenting on her own family? Killing them for their eyes? It had been worse than Tsunade thought.
"We can't approach carelessly." Kakashi pulled Sakura into the trees surrounding the street and she let him. Sakura leaned back against a tree but there was no time to think or catch her breath. Ebisu was suddenly there. He took one look at her and hesitated, eyes going to Kakashi. "What happened?"
Kakashi glanced at Sakura and when she said nothing he quickly explained to Ebisu what the current situation was.
"The situation hasn't changed." Sakura interrupted. "The mission remains the same. We need to seal Mikoto away to stop her." She pinned Ebisu with a look. "You came here to report something?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama! The barrier team and the sealing team are ready and standing by."
"We'll need a diversion. We only have one shot at this." Kakashi said, shifting from one foot to the other restlessly.
Sakura nodded. "We do." She pushed off of the tree and faced them both. "I'm it."

x-x-x-x-

Sasuke wasn't sure he knew how to breathe anymore. The more his…mother spoke, the less he wanted to hear. It was difficult, having that illusion shatter. Mikoto had by no stretch of the imagination ever been a loving mother, but she'd cared. Hadn't she? Was all of it a lie? Had it all been fake? Had the smiles and laughs been a lie? Did you hate me all this time? He wondered, meeting her gaze and as if she heard him, Mikoto nodded.
"I hated you both. All along."
Itachi shifted closer to Sasuke, taking a slight step back and away from their mother.
"For years," she continued, covering herself again, "I bided my time, knowing that eventually this moment would come and I would finally be able to right my biggest failures."
Itachi reached Sasuke then, coming to stand next to his brother, his stance wide and protective.
"Each moment since I married that man led to now. Things will be different and the world will be perfect, for everyone."
"I don't know who's been whispering in your ear, mother." Itachi spoke up, he shook his head. "But you chose wrong."
Mikoto's head tilted to the side, "Do you think you can stop me, Itachi?"
"I'll do what I must."
"No," another voice said. A voice Sasuke knew all too well. His entire body seemed to lock up and his heart lurched painfully in his chest. "As the Hokage, I will."
The shinobi parted and Sakura leapt into the space on the other side of Mikoto. She didn't look at Sasuke, but he knew she couldn't. He knew that if she did, her resolve would falter. I can't let you do this. Not for me.
Mikoto lifted a brow and turned halfway, so she could keep an eye on them and Sakura. "Hokage? You?" she gave a cold laugh. "You are a child."
"And yet," Sakura said, mimicking her tone, "I am the Hokage and you? You're nothing."
Mikoto's reaction was immediate. A Susanoo arm sprang from her, forming in a millisecond. Sakura had no time to react. The arm grabbed hold of her and squeezed.
"Sakura!" Sasuke called for her before he could stop himself. Mikoto spared him a glance, her lips curving into a slow smile and then Sasuke realized his mistake. "You care for this girl, Sasuke?"
Sasuke stilled, "Don't," he mouthed.
But she did. Mikoto squeezed harder and Sakura screamed, trying to free herself.
"Hokage-sama!" someone called, Sasuke wasn't sure who but it only served to anger Mikoto.
Kakashi was suddenly at Sasuke's side. "Don't interfere, Sasuke."
Sakura cried out again and something surged inside of Sasuke. His eyes bled and a purple chakra seemed to explode from him, taking shape and becoming larger and larger. Mikoto seemed to still her attack on Sakura, watching instead with wide eyes at what was unfolding in front of her. Through the rapid beating of his heart, Sasuke realized what this was. A Susanoo. His Susanoo. Without a moment of hesitation, Sasuke drew his large chakra sword and brought it down on the arm that was holding Sakura. Mikoto cried out, leaping back. Her chakra falling away, seemingly dissolving. And then Itachi was there with him – his own Susanoo taking shape. Sakura was on her knees, breathing heavily. Kakashi was at her side and she was whispering to him insistently.
We can't seal her if she calls forth her Susanoo, Sasuke read her lips. Kakashi nodded. You need to strike now.
Sakura pushed herself to her feet and Sasuke held his breath as she shot forward – towards Mikoto. The Susanoo arm shot out of her again but Sakura was ready this time, she feigned to the left and Mikoto followed but Sakura jumped to the right at the last possible moment, flying past the arm and heading straight for Mikoto. Her eyes grew wide and she stumbled back, but Itachi was suddenly there, his Susanoo blocking the only escape. Sakura drew her fist back and Sasuke could see the power swirling in her arm.

She struck.

The blow hit Mikoto dead on and she flew back on the road leading out of Konoha, hitting the ground once, twice and then rolling on leaving a cloud of dust in her wake. Sakura didn't wait – she pursued. Mikoto spat blood onto ground, shakily coming to her feet.
"It's over," Sakura was saying. "The coup? Your plans? It was all for nothing. You're done."
"The coup?" Mikoto threw her head back and laughed. "That was all his idea. Simpleminded fool, if you ask me," Mikoto turned her gaze back to Sakura who went very still. The Mangekyou! Sasuke began to move, the large purple legs closing the distance between them. "He never did think big. His ideals of the Uchiha were…frankly, pathetic." Mikoto unsheathed her sword and her bare feet moved over the dirt, towards Sakura. Sasuke stopped breathing. Make it in time! He launched himself from the purple chakra, flying forward – through the air as Mikoto reached Sakura.
No!
"And so are you," Mikoto said, "My plans are far from over. And the only person who is done, is you."
Sakura's body jolted as the tip of Mikoto's sword pierced her chest, it pulled her from the genjutsu, but it was already too late.

And then it wasn't.

Mikoto went very still, her eyes going wide. Sakura stared at her, unable to move. Mikoto coughed – her blood splattering all over Sakura's face and then her body went limp.

And she dropped.

x-x-x-x

Thanks for reading and for the reviews!

Here's a teaser for chapter 26 – Breathe:
Sakura still couldn't move, she could feel blood trickling down her abdomen and her vision became blurry with unshed tears.
"What have you done?" she whispered, her voice broken.

- Zana-Lee