THE TRUTH UNRAVELS
Something had triggered her flight or fight response. And while she was used to fighting, she wanted to fight, she fled.
She didn't know what to do in that situation.
Itachi had told her about Shisui and she was a fool to think she knew the man based on Itachi.
Shisui Uchiha was alive, and more than that he had a family. The Uchiha clan was already rebuilt. And she could completely understand why he never stepped foot back in Konoha.
Danzo had basically killed him. Forcing him to make an adult decision and putting the clan's fate in Itachi's hand.
She couldn't fathom what Shisui was going through. But he left his past behind and then to not only be reminded of Konoha by her but to know she was carrying his best friend's child.
It was like staring your demons straight in the face. Your trauma, guilt, your past.
She cast her head to the ceiling. She couldn't leave, not now. Shisui needed to know that Itachi loved him, and that he never blamed him for the role he played.
She brushed her hair out of her face while walking down the stairs. It had been three days of her hiding from Mai and Shisui.
She didn't have a lot of time to talk to Itachi before she had to go back to Konoha. She could always leave here and go to him but tell him what? "Hey, your best friend is alive and kicking. Still blind tho might wanna give him his eye back…" The point of the matter was Shisui knew what happened but made no effort to reach out to Itachi.
Was he mad at Itachi? The question was spinning in her mind 24/7, and she couldn't get it out. But Itachi hadn't told Sasuke, and he wasn't mad at him. Itachi didn't want to live, and seeing as how Shisui has a whole family, let her know that was out of the question.
So why keep his being a secret?
Danzo. Danzo was a big reason, but Shisui had to have known Itachi would always have his back. And maybe that was the problem. Maybe Shisui was able to move on while Itachi wasn't.
Itachi deserved it. To be able to find a new home where his past no longer defined him. But he was loyal to Konoha. And so was Shisui. Hell, Rajun had even said Shisui didn't commit to the Land Of Mountains. Sure he helped them grow, but that's all his loyalties allowed him to do.
And then there was the way that Shisui could have seriously damaged her in that push yet he hadn't. The way Shisui had named two of his children after Itachi and Sasuke, even though they didn't know of the Uchiha clan. Or the way he's teaching Shunsuke genjutsu when kenjutsu is preferred.
She couldn't go to Itachi. Not yet. Not when his family was right here and suffering. Shisui might not be ready to face Itachi but she was the closest thing to him. And she knew without a second doubt that Itachi wouldn't want her to leave his best friend to struggle alone. Not when she had the powers to end it.
It was time for Shisui Uchiha to come home.
"Shisui." She said, rounding the corner to the empty bar, where Shisui stood drying glasses.
She glanced at the knife lying on the counter next to him.
"Relax, you wouldn't be here if I wanted you dead."
She scoffed while rolling her eyes. "As if I'd ever let a steak knife take me out." She cautiously made her way to the bar before sitting in the seat opposite him. "Shisui-
"I'm more inclined to talk to people that I know." He tilted his head up.
"Sakura, Haruno Sakura. So-
"You're still in a henge." She glared at him.
"What difference does my henge make if you can't see me?" She was answered with a laugh, and she slowly let her henge fall.
"The Hokages apprentice hn, you're also on Sasuke's team." He picked up another glass after storing the other.
"You know a lot for someone who's supposed to be dead." He causally hummed as he went back to drying the glasses.
There was a lot she wanted to know from Shisui, but she didn't know him. And it wasn't her place to ask him of his past. To ask him why he abandoned Itachi.
"He loved you, you know. Even now he talks so highly about you. How you were the only one who could challenge him in a spar- before me, of course. He grieved you and you were here the entire time."
"How did you meet him?" She paused as she regarded him. He hadn't stopped cleaning in her little speech.
"I thought he was trying to kill my team." She said, while letting out a laugh. "I was a genin and in over my head."
His humming rang out through the room.
"You never questioned my relationship with him." Shisui laughed as he turned to face her.
"The genjutsu you're using, I invented it." She smiled after and recalled the time Itachi taught it to her.
"Ohh so you must be the "Greatest Ninja of his time" Itachi always rambles about."
Shisui's face hardened as he sighed, "You don't owe me anything, but could you not tell him."
"Shisui, he deserves to know. I can't keep something like this from him."
"I'm asking you as a courtesy." He replied evenly, "I have the means to make this go away. Seeing as how you're Itachi's, I'm offering you a way out." With or without the sharingan Shisui would always be above his time. And while Sakura wanted to snap at him, how she isn't an object, she knew he meant it in his own positive way.
"Shisui, I want to help you. Konoha failed the Uchiha clan, and I'm working with Tsunade-shishou to fix it."
"It's been 10 years. There's no Uchiha in the village. It's over Sakura."
"There will be one in 9 months. And I'm hoping before that the rest will come home. You and yours included. Once Itachi testifies Danzo will be held accountable for his crimes. Danzo and the elders are going down, Shisui. Konoha is moving into a new era."
"I stopped caring about Danzo the moment he took my eye. I'm staying away from Konoha, Sasuke and Itachi for the sole purpose that I don't want to see them."
"He's your cousin-
"He's my brother. And for the longest I convinced myself he wouldn't want to see me. But now I know if I find Itachi my family will be at risk. You coming here put my family at risk. And I'm not risking another family on the pretense that everyone involved gets peace. I will always be here for Itachi but I failed him. And it's easier living with that than knowing I could have had another 10 years with him."
"He'll understand. He kept the truth from Sasuke, I'm telling you he won't blame you."
"I don't want to see him. I imagined his life as a rogue- I did that. And now I know he has an intelligent and strong woman and a child on the way. That's better than I could ever imagine. I want him to keep it. Somehow Itachi found a way to be happy. I want him to keep his life, and I'll keep mine. Separately." His voice was low, almost pleading as his grip around the cup tightened.
"Itachi loves you." She said softly, "He loves you so fucking much. It was hard for him to repent his past but the one thing he could never get past was allowing you to die. For not being strong enough to help you. Shisui please."
"I take it you have all the information you need. Your missions complete Sakura, go home."
"Do you really want your kids serving a village that isn't Konoha? Are you content to die in this village so far from home?"
"It isn't about me. They're happy, that's all I want."
"I understand that. After everything that happened, you finally have a family and you have to protect them. So, I'm not going to ask you to risk that, I'm asking you to come to Konoha after Danzo and the elders are locked up. I'm asking you to give Itachi another chance."
"Itachi's happy, he's better off-
"No offense Shisui, but you no longer have the right to say what Itachi is or isn't." Shisui smirked as he poured a drink before passing it to her.
"You really think you can lock Danzo up?"
Before she could say anything else, her henge fell in place the moment the door opened.
"Obaa-chan!" Squealed Shun as him and Itama entered the room.
"I'm hurt, pancake." Shisui faked being hurt as Shun ran around the bar and jumped into his awaiting arms. "How was school?"
"Darui-sensei says Ototo-chan gets to have the day off tomorrow."
"Oh? I take it there's a story behind that." Shisui said while setting Shun on the bar table and set to work about getting snacks and drinks out.
Itama slid into the seat next to her while nodding her head.
"Ototo-chan made the teacher think no one was in class while they pranked him."
Shisui gasped as he quickly turned to Shun, "You used camouflage jutsu, what did you do for sound?"
"Sats why I go in wrouble, whey kept laughing, ou-chan!" Sakura smiled at his blurred speech, while Shisui nodded his head seriously.
"Using genjutsu to cancel out sound is harder but not impossible, we'll play with that next."
"YAY!" Shun squealed while grabbing the snacks and hopping of the counter.
"So, Shun-chan and Itama-chan, have you heard of a place called Konoha?" Shisui stiffened while the two nodded their heads.
"It's one of the five great nations." Itama said while peeling the orange Shunsuke placed in front of her, and passed it back to him.
"So cool!" Shunsuke said while losing interest and focusing on the other orange Itama peeled as he stuffed the first one in his mouth.
"Yes it is. It hosts the fifth hokage, Tsunade Senju-
"You know I heard the hospital was understaffed. I wonder if Kaa-chan needs help?"
"I help!" Shunsuke squealed as he quickly grabbed Itama and all but ran out the door.
"That was a pretty trick. You think Itama noticed it?" Shisui quickly spun in her direction.
"You know I think I like you. But if you pull that shit-
"Could you please stop threatening to kill me. It's annoying and your brother does it enough." Shisui chuckled.
"I'm assuming Sasuke." Sakura grinned while nodding her head.
"How is he?"
"He's getting ready to battle Itachi." She spoke softly, "But Itachi is also getting ready to tell him the truth, and I know Sasuke will listen."
"He was going to let Sasuke kill him." His voice was barely above a whisper, and she didn't know what to say. Shsiui leaned against the counter, taking in the comfort of the silence.
THE TRUTH UNRAVELS
He wiped the sweat off his forehead as he focused back on the targets in front of him. The practice of Samurai was nice, but nothing was more relaxing than feeling your chakra course through your body as you performed jutsu after jutsu.
But no matter how fast he pushed himself he would always be 10 steps behind. His heart was wildly beating in his chest. It had been long since he last pushed himself past his limits. The feel of wind howling in his face, this was his environment.
Where he could control the outcome of his actions without worrying about the repercussion. He laughed as he collided into the tree for the third time that day.
He got past Danzo, he no longer had any hold of him. But Sakura brought everything back. It took him years to fully be free of Danzo's grip and just like that he was reminded of how horrible of a brother he had been.
His laughter grew more desperate. Who allows a 13 year old child to be in a position where he has to pick between family or village? Itachi was a child but he was Shisui's only hope. Itachi hadn't been a god- damn close, but that title was for Kami and Kami alone.
The worst thing about the entire situation was that Shisui knew how much pressure Itachi was in and still dumped the entire burden of the Uchiha onto his shoulders. He left him knowing Danzo would use and manipulate him.
He couldn't look Itachi in the face while knowing that he was no different than the clan elders and Hokage. All of them were to blame, giving the responsibilities of peace to a 13 year old child.
He couldn't image- and would be damned, if Itama grew up like either him or Itachi. Itama had been his saving grace.
When Mai had told him she was pregnant with Itama, he had been scared shitless and he honest to Kami asked Mai to get an abortion. He hadn't been happy with it until Itama was in his arms. He regretted how he acted when Mai was pregnant the first time. He hadn't been on board and requested her to get an abortion multiple times throughout her pregnancy. He couldn't blame the fact that he was young. He didn't want an offspring. Not when Sasuke was in Konoha grieving by himself, or Itachi was Kami nowhere, blaming himself for the death of the Uchiha clan. And he knew Itachi, he knew when Itachi was grieving he stopped eating and sleeping. Itachi and hell Sasuke too had horrible coping mechanisms, and Shisui did nothing to help them.
He could have helped Sasuke, could have gone home and been the older brother Sasuke desperately needed. Could have found Itachi and beat the self loathing and guilt out of him. How could he live and have children when both his brothers wanted to die.
So he told Mai he'd kill her, and he tried. And while Mai was one hell of a kunoichi, in the end he hadn't been able to go through with it. It was by far his lowest moment. And he insanely regretted being absent throughout Mai's pregnancy.
But it hadn't been his darkest moment. He meant it when he said Itama was his saving grace but it took awhile for him to be able to say it. Shisui hadn't been perfect, far from it. He couldn't be around Itama when she was first born, she reminded him too much of baby Sasuke. Of innocent Sasuke and how he took that from him.
He'd seen so much red at the time. He blacked out and came to Itama crying while Mai screamed and cursed him out. He hadn't known what happened at the time and it was weeks later when he finally found them did he find out he almost killed Itama. It had been his darkest moment. And he couldn't blame it on the fact that he blacked out. There had been multiple times when Shisui caught himself thinking how easier life would be if he wasn't reminded of the guilt every time he sensed Itama. He had been drowning throughout her pregnancy and up-to Itama turning 1. It had been a hell of a transformation. And even though he was grateful that Mai allowed him back into her life, he hadn't trusted himself to be alone with Itama until after Shunsuke was born.
And he wouldn't trade them for a thing, and he'd be damned if he lost them. And he knew it was fucked up, putting his happiness above his brothers but it took him years to finally be content. He was able to ignore his past, it was easy when no one knew him.
He chuckled thinking of how it had been 10 years since he last been in the village and someone was able to recognize his name. Granted that person had been close to Itachi.
He shifted to the left as he threw a kunai with a precise flick of the wrist and smirked when he didn't hear it hit the tree.
"I almost didn't catch it." He could hear her shit eating grin as Itama threw the kunai back at him with double the force.
"You're supposed to be with Kaa-chan." He said while beginning a game of dodge ball with kunai and shuriken. Itama was skilled beyond her age, and while she knew all the genjutsu Shunsuke knew, Itama preferred kenjutsu. It wasn't often that Itama would use kunai or shuriken. It was one of her wasted talents, the girl excelled in shurikenjutsu, she was exceptional and it always left Shisui in awe of her skills. She decided to humor him today as she played the game he set.
Shisui couldn't help but chuckle as he let his genjutsu slide in place, allowing him to see Itama switch her kunai from her right to left hand at an ease that he hadn't possessed at her age. Being ambidextrous only added to her skill set. It was a skill he helped Itachi master when he was around her age. He couldn't help but think of all the things he taught Itama that he taught Itachi, way back when. And he hadn't only taught Itachi, there were times when the boy would show him new tricks he could use too. All things he made sure Itama knew.
He didn't train Shunsuke in the same way he would train Itama. With Shunsuke it was all catered to games, puzzles, hide-and-go-seek, games that mainly tested his genjutsu and chakra control, while training with Itama was also based on games, it was on games like this one where he could test more of her physical skills.
Shunsuke wasn't interested in learning kenjutsu and stuck to taijutsu and genjutsu. So Shisui made sure he was well prepared for anything genjutsu related while Itama taught him taijutsu. He was grateful that Itama's and Shunsuke relationship had similar qualities to his and Itachi's.
The game went on for a while as Itamas scowl grew until she stopped moving. She scoffed as Shisui dropped his genjutsu and cocked his head to the side.
"What's wrong, love?" He knew the answer before she said it.
"You're distracted, tou-chan." He said nothing as Itama made her way to him and pulled out her first-aid kit and began bandaging him up.
"Am I distracted or just blind?" He stuck his tongue out at her, and dodged the hand that tried to grab it. Itama sighed as she began picking up the weapons scattered on the field. "I let down a friend, a long time ago." He finally said, as he sat against the tree. Itama joined him a second later and leaned against him.
"Did you say sorry?"
"It's not that easy love."
Itama hummed thoughtfully before gaining his undivided attention. "Remember when I stole Ototo-chan's crow, and I felt sad because I took it and you told me I should give it back and apologize? Ototo-chan just laughed and asked me if I wanted to play with him after."
"Thank you love, but it's not the same. I hurt him more deeply than stealing a toy. It's unforgivable."
"I didn't think Ototo-chan would forgive me and he proved me wrong. Ototo-chan surprised me. In the end he didn't even want an apology, he just wanted me to play with him." Shisui pouted while staring in Itamas direction, taking in her calm chakra.
"Are you going to ask about Sakyai?"
She gently shook her head, "You'll tell us when you're ready. I'm going to head home, Kaa-chan doesn't like when I stay out past dark."
"Itama" he called her after she began to leave. She stopped walking and Shisui took that as his cue.
"Could you forgive Pancake if he abandoned you?".
"There's nothing Shunsuke can do that will ever make me hate him." Her chakra lingered for a while before she walked off.
Shisui sighed as he sat on the ground thinking over what she had said. She was right. Itachi would forgive him, but Shisui would never forgive himself.
THE TRUTH UNRAVELS
Mai frowned as she stepped into her room, Shisui sat at the edge of the bed awaiting her.
It had been three days since she found him hurdled in a ball in the kitchen. And while she tried to reach him, he ran before she got the chance. Three days of her waking up and going to sleep alone. It was irritating, but she knew Shisui was hurting.
The day after she had tried to find Sakyia but the girl along with her husband was hiding from her. And she didn't understand why they were avoiding her. Dinner had gone wrong, obviously. She had hoped that leaving the two of them alone would somehow get Shisui's past to resurface, and while she was right, the outcome hadn't been pretty. Shisui broke down, in front of her and like before he refused to let her help him.
Shisui tended to work things out by himself, and come to her when he was no longer depressed. It was one of the many flaws she disliked about him. There were a lot of things she didn't know about Shisui, there were also things she knew that she wished she didn't.
She hated seeing Shisui go dark. She hated the monster he became when he did, but she also knew he had to overcome his darkness. So she pushed now while there was someone from his past who could help. A medic no less, who could heal him if he turned harmful to himself.
Sure what she did was probably wrong, but it was a ninja world they lived in, despite being in a samurai village.
"I'm sorry Mai."
"I don't want you to be sorry love, but I need you to talk to me." She walked over to him before taking his hands in her own. "I love you and I want you to be happy. When you're ready, I'm here." He sighed before gently pulling her into him.
"I love you." He mumbled into her neck as he softly kissed her throat. He wrapped his arms around her back and slowly pulled her against the bed.
"There's something I have to tell you." He gently grabbed her head and firmly pressed it against his own, "And it's entirely up to you on how this goes."
….
The two of them sat in the booth with Sakyai- no, Sakura seated opposite them. She hadn't known what she expected, but it wasn't this. Some actions added up. Shisui was against having kids, yet he was by definition, a family man. She glanced back at Sakura, hazel met emerald, before she looked at her husband.
Shisui Uchiha. There had been plenty of clues. 5 years ago an article went out about a boy who left Konoha- the last Uchiha and Shisui didn't talk for an entire week. And when another Uchiha was put in the BINGO book, classification Akatsuki, Shsiui stopped eating and got the biggest stomach ache. Clues she refused to pay attention to because they made a pact. While she knew it wasn't her fault she realized she enabled him to live a lie.
And now he was asking her if they were to stay in Kagerō or go to Konoha. And what could she possibly say to that? Kagerō wasn't Shisui's home. He loved the place but it wasn't home, she loved it too but she was a mom. And her being a mom wasn't tied to a village. She knew the day would come, pushed for it to come. How could she tell the love of her life they couldn't return to his homeland?
"And you're sure this Danzo-jerkass isn't a problem?"
"Him along with the elders are the biggest problems Konoha is facing." Sakura smiled at them. "They won't be forever. Itachi will testify, and the next time you see me, I'll be escorting you home." Mai smiled as she looked Sakura in the eyes. She was so young, her eyes so bright yet she could read the determination shining in them. Could see the raw truth of what she was saying.
Sakura wasn't asking them to fight for Konoha, only to return when it was safe for them to do so. Yet she knew her husband. She knew given the chance he'd fight for it all again. He was a loyal dog bound by chains.
"Konoha sounds beautiful." She wasn't a ninja anymore. Wouldn't serve Konoha as one either but her husband would. And from the look on his face let her know he was waiting on those words.
"I'll escort you back to Konoha." She wasn't surprised.
Sakura's eyes widened as she looked to Shisui. "That's unnecessary. If Danzo found out before we got Itachi to testify, yours would be in danger."
"I'll testify." Shisui's hand gripped her thigh and she knew he was hopeful. And she prayed this would workout for him. Her own hand found his and she squeezed back.
"You're sure?" With a sharp nod of the head from Shisui, Sakura smiled as she clasped her hands. "Ok since that's settled, can I meet my niece and nephew as aunty Sakura?"
….
Shunsuke and Itama took nice to Sakura. Shunsuke in particular was jumping up and down trying to get Sakura to teach him the genjutsu she had been previously using. While Itama asked question after question about her uncle Itachi Uchiha.
"Is it wise for you to go with her?" She cast a glance at her husband who leaned against the doorway.
"She's pregnant Mai, I can't let her travel by herself." Shisui sighed as he grabbed her hand. "This is my fault. All of it. I have to make it right for him."
"Itachi isn't a child anymore, Shisui. He can make his own decisions." He knew it was true, but Itachi would always be his lifeline.
"I know."
"You don't know! None of you, you keep saying you're to blame when the only people who are to blame are living the life in Konoha. You were a child as much as Itachi and Sasuke were."
"And that makes it better?" His voice was low and matched her own. "I'm older than both of them, so the responsibility lies with me. I let them down Mai. Please let me make this right." She sighed as she slowly nodded her head.
"You don't have to go alone."
"I won't. My sister-in-law will be by my side." She softly laughed with him as she looked back to Sakura.
She was young and skilled. And maybe she would change the world. She had the help of the famous Uchiha's on her side.
Mai would put her hope in Sakura as well. Shisui had. Her children had. And besides, this was showing to be a walk in the park.
THE TRUTH UNRAVELS
Konoha was a day's run and two day walk. He hoped to be there in l7 hours by the latest but Sakura walked lazily next to him, every few minutes adjusting her chakra and looking back at him. He huffed in amusement and returned her nod.
Shisui found himself picking up qualities similar between her and Itachi. She was curious and that was a danger within itself. Just like Itachi, Sakura had no qualms about testing him.
"So," Sakura hummed, "If I didn't know any better I'd say you weren't blind. But you're literally missing two eyes. So, how are you doing that?" Shisui laughed and he would bet she had her eyebrow cocked.
"I guess you also have 10 years of experience, but it doesn't make sense how you're so attentive with others unless you were basing their reactions off their chakra."
"Bingo."
"And what about now? Obviously you've been in these woods before but when you go to a new territory?"
"A base genjutsu. It allows me to see the layout of everything around me."
"You made a genjutsu where you could see? Are you able to see people and objects? Does it work in the trees? How were you able to make it?"
"Damn ok, yes I can see people- no it's not in color. It works when I'm on solid ground, I count on my memory for the rest. Blind ninja are capable but I've always relied on my eyes, so I used my other senses to recreate them."
"How long did it take to master it?"
"The first year I had to have a basic understanding of the layout. Six years later here we are." While making a new jutsu was hard, he was nothing but excited. It flopped a lot but it just went to show him what he was doing wrong, and how he could fix it.
Sakura hummed thoughtfully as she crossed her arms behind her back. "I never created a jutsu. Mastered a shit ton, and combined even more, but never had that creative side to make one."
"Really because Rajiu couldn't stop talking about how you made a blade out of pure chakra."
"Oh god no." Her laugh filled the air as she repeatedly shook her head. "It's not a jutsu, just a benefit to having excellent chakra control."
"I can see why Itachi picked you."
"Ohh? And why's that?"
"Now you're fishing for a compliment." Sakura laughed before shoving his arm.
"You're an ass. And I can see where Itachi gets that from." He feigned hurt as he glanced away from her.
"Me and ass? I can see Itachi being an ass but me?!"
"He learned from the best right?" He soon joined in on her laughter before they entered a comfortable silence.
He was grateful to know Itachi had found a reason to live. He told his kids all about the green eyed monster, and he wouldn't lie and say he wasn't a tad bit jealous. He wanted Itachi to live, he always thought he would be that reason. It's irrational especially knowing Shisui never planned on showing his face to Itachi.
He turned his back on him, along with Sasuke. And he knew they would forgive him. Just as how Sasuke would forgive Itachi, but he wanted their anger. He wanted to justify his action by saying he knew they would be mad, but they wouldn't. And that's why he kept away.
They were Uchiha, and counter to popular belief, Uchiha loved hard. Always and forever would always mean that. The Uzumaki's were the only other clan whose loyalty ran that deep, the Inuzuka's were in the top three.
He always hated the saying "The curse of hatred." If Konoha hadn't been the way it was, it would have been called something else. How can something be called the curse of hatred when it's only activated by love? When you love someone so hard and you watch them go, you lose sense of self. And if you don't know how to control your emotions, or get the proper help it can manifest hate. It takes your emotions and times it by 10.
Ask any Uchiha- the three that have awakened it, if they would do it all over again just to have the sharingan, and the answer would be no in a heartbeat. When you're young you don't care about "how" you got it. It looks cool and makes you stronger so you want it. But when the time comes and you're staring at your dead parents, comrades or friends, and you remember once upon a time you wished to have the sharingan, you'll look at their deceased bodies and then you'll know the cost of power.
The consequences of the sharingan hadn't been talked about when he was younger. And even if it had, it would have been too late for him anyways.
He remembers all the young Uchiha's who wished they had the sharingan and how fast that went away once they gained it.
The sharingan wasn't a horrible thing. And he knew in another world it wouldn't have been portrayed as this. In another world awakening the sharingan wouldn't be as fucked up as it was in this one. You could gain it by love, and not the kind of love that made you wish you were dead.
Maybe this would be a new Konoha, maybe his children wouldn't suffer as him. Hoping wasn't good nor was it bad. So maybe he could hope the Uchiha would be welcomed in Konoha without repercussions.
Sakura seemed competent, she had the title to back it up. She wasn't offering something that couldn't be done. As the hokages apprentice she had first hand Intel on the inner workings of the village. She had the hokages ear, and not only did she have the hokage in her corner, she had Itachi Uchiha.
This would work, he was sure of it.
"We'll stop here for the night, and pick up at dawn."
"There's a cave not far from here. I'll take the first watch."
….
"Once we'd get to the village I'd like to explain the situation to Tsunade-shishou, but knowing her, she'll have you explain it all under a minute. Don't be alarmed by her, she's already been made aware of the Itachi situation. Granted I haven't told her about this, but Danzo has a nasty habit of sinking his claws in shit that's not his." They made their way out the cave, headed once again in Konoha's direction.
Sakura was nothing what he expected, and yet everything he hoped Itachi would have in a woman. She reminds him a lot of Mikoto and Izumi. Though she had a temper neither of the two had, her qualities were right on. Her chakra was warm, and she was very self-assured. He would have thought she'd always been like that if he hadn't heard the stories from her past.
She wasn't a genius or prodigy, but a ninja who refused to give in. He hadn't officially met Naruto, but from what he heard of him, and what Sakura had told him, he knew Sakura got a lot of her motivation from the blond Uzumaki.
"Are you fine with not going to Itachi first?"
"It'll raise more questions than anything. Someone could recognize me or worse Danzo could find out. It's best to go directly to Tsunade."
"That doesn't answer my question Uchiha."
"I need more time." He sighed while glancing back at her, "It's best to have this finalized before we drag Itachi into it." He nodded to himself. He wasn't ready to face Itachi, yet every bone in his body screamed with excitement. It had been too long since he'd seen his brother. He was ready, even if he thought he wasn't.
While he shouldn't be happy to go back to Konoha after all that's happened, he couldn't help it. This would be the first time in 10 years since he stepped foot into Konoha, and he was excited. His blood was pumping, and he knew he fucked up the moment he started thinking of all the missions he was going to take. To work as ANBU again, and served under the Hokage- a rightful Hokage. To not have to question his loyalty to his village but simply serve for the greater good.
It's all he ever wanted. To work in Konoha as a proud Uchiha. He'd fight tooth and nail to make sure what happened before never repeated itself, and he was glad to know he wouldn't be the only one. It was the benefit of having a team you could trust.
"You've been super quiet the closer we get."
"You know what they say about coming home."
"The closer you get to home the quieter you become?"
"Smartass." Shisui scoffed as he focused on the decrease of noise around them.
"Don't breathe in!" Too late, Shisui thought while holding his breath. And then everything went silent as the ground under him gave out. Well damn.
He adjusted his body to the left as he was blasted into a tree, he gripped his left arm just as another explosion went off. It was hard to find a grip when everywhere he touched exploded. His ears were ringing and he was down two senses. He body flicked to the other side of the forest just for the same outcome to occur. The entire place was ridged.
His genjutsu wasn't effective in midair and while he knew the layout it would take a few more explosions before his memory would no longer serve him.
These weren't paper bombs, he would have sensed them so landmines. He smirked, whoever planned this wanted one of them dead. The poison was heavy in the air mixed with smoke and destruction.
He stuck his hand out as wire quickly wrapped itself around his palm. He adjusted it, so it wasn't slicing through his hand as he was yanked sideways. He let go of the wire just as Sakura yanked him out of the air. Her hands were on his back the moment he stepped foot on the branch. He ignored the blood dripping down his arms as he focused on the pattern she was tapping on him.
Danzo, ROOT.
He ignored his feelings as she focused her chakra towards his lungs, urging him to do the same. His chakra quickly replaced hers as she pulled away.
There were six chakra signatures coming from each side of them, leaving their only opening at north. It was a trap at best, and Shisui had never been one to turn away from a fight. The air was less thick towards the north, and while it wasn't a best case scenario, he liked his odds.
Before he could engage in a sneak attack, Sakura took off towards the north and he quickly followed.
….
Danzo had balls to plan an attack against her. This had been the reason Tsunade asked her to take her team with her. But she refused to drag anyone else into this shit until she had a grip of the situation. While she was grateful Shisui was here to back her up, she couldn't help thinking that a number of things could go wrong and Shisui could end up hurt.
Danzo didn't know what they were planning, but he suspected something the moment she stole those files. Danzo continued to try to sideline her for the past four years, so it took her for shock when he recommended her for Jounin. Tsunade had been against it, Danzo giving her a written recommendation for Jounin meant he had a plan. And they knew all how Danzo's plans usually went.
But still Sakura refused to be sidelined, if Danzo wanted to start a battle then she'd make sure to win the war. So she took his letter, and the dozens of solo-ranked missions that came with it, and took pride in watching his face fall, every time she came back from the missions.
But it was going to end now. Naruto had been right, you can't get peace if all you want is revenge. The Uchiha's needed peace, and Sakura had no problem being a villain in someone else's story.
She wiped the blood from her forehead and settled her hand on the ROOT members chest before pulling her right hand out of his body. She dropped the body noiselessly on the ground.
"There catching up, are we retreating or fighting?" They had a good head start to make it back to Konoha, but there was no way Danzo was going to let her walk into the village now. He was there, somewhere in the crowd of ninja, Danzo was there waiting to finalize his plan.
"We're not doing anything." She sat next to him and beckoned for him to do the same. Shisui sighed as he cocked his head to the side.
"Why are you sitting?" When she refused to answer he joined her on the ground. "You know this isn't proactive." She gently laughed while setting her hand on his shoulder.
One way or another this was going to end. She just hoped she knew what the fuck she was doing. With a burst of chakra Shisui lay unconscious on the ground besides her.
….
"Love, make sure Pancake brushes his teeth." Mai went gracefully about picking up the dishes as she brought them to the sink.
Before their father left he told them stories about the great Uchiha's. And how they were already great. Mai had them promise not to go around telling everyone their surname. She hadn't expected Pancake to follow through but he kept his lips sealed.
It was hard since he left as they kept asking her questions about their heritage and she couldn't answer. She knew what their father had told them. So it wasn't much.
She understood where Shisui was coming from. Asides from her deceased brother her children knew nothing of her past. The only family they had known were their parents, and now they had uncles they never dreamed of.
And Konoha sounded beautiful. If it hadn't been a great nation she would have asked to go there years ago. She could imagine a life for her children there. Itama, Shunsuke, and the other pancake- and she'd have to come up with another nickname- could grow in Konoha and carry the Uchiha legacy as their father had.
She'd been so absorbed in the dishes she almost missed the faint trace of Shisui's chakra.
She dried her hand and turned in time to catch Shisui pass through the kitchen into the bar. She blinked as she quickly followed him.
"Shi...sui?" He slowly peeled his blood stained clothes off before throwing them into the empty pit. And when he was stark naked only in boxers did he set the clothes aflame.
She gently grabbed his arm and pulled him to face her.
Blood stained his face and hair.
"We're leaving." He brushed past her, a moment later the shower ran.
She threw the door open stepping into the bathroom before she pulled the curtain back.
"Shisui what the hell happened?" She watched the blood go down the drain before snapping her eyes back to him.
THE TRUTH UNRAVELS
A/N
Hello my Loves! It seems were getting closer to finding out the truth about Sakura's death, just wait for next chapter. Also next chapter we're jumping back on track to the present time. So it'll be a nice change of pace. I had so much fun writing these last two chapters, making up character's and Shisui's OCness was great. I went back and rewatched Shisui's and Itachi's backstory to try to get a gest of how to write him, and I'm like after 10 years there's no way he's the same guy after his entire clan died. And writing Itama and Shunsuke is so fun, like their personalities are such a blast.
In other news, the semester is almost over. I have 3-4 weeks left of junior year and I'll be out this bitch for summer, which means (hopefully) more updates- also depends because ya girl might fuck around and get an internship- not sure yet tho. Ya de dee ya da daaa, here it is for chapter 8- I was this close to deleting the last 4 pages and re writing it, but Imma just add what I wanted to add to a different chapter, and hopefully it makes sense- I don't know what part of this story makes sense anyways.
In other news, my first story I ever posted Bakemono (I deleted it after the first chapter because I didn't like how I started it.) Well I went back to it and restarted to write it and I think I have a new look on where I want it to go! So hopefully I can get Bakemono posted again before this month ends!
Thank you for the read Loves, I hope yall are enjoying the weather. And I want to hear yall ideas on what Sakura did next... My friend told me her ideas and I gotta say I'm loving it!
ALSO a big shout out to everyone leaving reviews, yall literally make my day, and I love yall so much!