CHAPTER 33- An End's Beginning
Sasuke's eyes snapped from his plate to his mother, his chopsticks hovering above his food as his eyes narrowed.
His mothers expression was unusually serious, the way her lips were pursed into a thin line telling him that what he had just heard was not a fragment of his imagination and indeed, very much real.
Sasuke lowered his chopsticks back onto the table, all appetite having disappeared into thin air and the heavy weight that suddenly settled itself in his stomach making him feel the faintest bits of sick.
"When?"
His mother heaved a soft sigh, dark eyes so similar to his own flickering with the faintest shimmer of concern for her child.
"This morning." She informed him, her soft voice betraying her hard expression. "Shisui and your father are preparing for the meeting with the Godaime, the Council and the Clan elders."
Sasuke offered his mother a small nod, dark orbs briefly flickering to the clock that hung on the wall next to the window.
It was time.
Sasuke had known that his brother's departure would be soon, but he hadn't expected things to progress this fast. He assumed that the incident with both Shisui and Sakura most likely played a rather big part in his decision to push their plan fast forward, and Sasuke couldn't say that he blamed his brother for doing so either.
His thoughts drifted to his pink-haired teammate who was supposed to get discharged this morning, the corner of his lips twisting downwards when he thought of how she would react to the news.
"I'll be leaving."
Mikoto watched her youngest son rise from his seat, his blank expression masking his troubled thoughts, but one look into his eyes told her more than words could ever.
Itachi's departure was a necessary step. Orochimaru needed to get eliminated, and the only one who would be able to take out the snake sanin was the Uchiha heir.
His temporary absence from the village was something that unfortunately couldn't be prevented and as the Hokage, it was his job to see that the village and its villagers were protected, even if he'd have to protect it from within the shadows.
Mikoto had full faith in her son and knew that Itachi would do anything in his power to protect the village and in order to do that he would return have to return alive, for once Orochimaru would be taken care of, the village would face its greatest hardship ever since the day the Kyuubi had attacked them.
Looking at her youngest face, Mikoto knew that Itachi's departure has set something into motion, and she trusted Sasuke and his teammates to ensure that the village would be prepared.
As she watched Sasuke leave, the matriarch's expression softened, dark eyes shining with pride. The faith of the village laid in her sons hand and with the support of Sasuke and his teammates, the hope for a better future seemed to be well within reach.
Her son's vision of a village rid of its poisonous past was gradually turning into reality, and Mikoto just hoped that the sacrifices he would have to make in order to fulfill it would not be too high.
X
"Haruno-senpai!"
Sakura's head snapped up from where she was filling out a form at the reception, emerald eyes instantly finding the nurse that had called for her standing by the door that led to the emergency ward. Her wide eyes told her all she needed to know and Sakura swiftly handed the clipboard to the receptionist before she hurried after the nurse.
"Status?"
"Fractured skull, orbitofrontal cortex seems to be damaged." The blonde nurse swiftly returned, turning a corner and narrowly avoiding to bump into a fellow nurse with practiced ease. "Shizune-senpai managed to slow the bleeding and reduce the damage, but it seems like his liver is ruptured as well."
Sakura nodded, her mind already reeling and when the nurse opened the door for her, the pinkette didn't waste any time and instantly went over to stand next to Shizune by the examination table.
The older brunette threw Sakura a mildly surprised look, clearly not having expected to see the pinkette. She was about to open her mouth and ask what she was doing at the hospital already, knowing that she had only officially been discharged this morning but after a moment of consideration decided against it.
With Sakura present, their patient's chances at surviving have considerably increased, and even though Shizune didn't say anything when Sakura's hands glowed a familiar green hue and the pinkette went to work, she made sure to ask her about it later.
Sakura inwardly thanked Shizune for not making any comment and allowed herself to indulge at the task at hand, what turned out to be quite more tricky than she had originally believed.
What was supposed to be a one hour surgery turned into over three, and only when their patient was finally stable and the beeping of the monitor gradually became steady, the tension that had filled the room considerably lessened.
Sakura heaved a sigh of relief, the corner of her lips turning upwards as she heard Shizune's pleased hum.
"Well done everyone." The brunette praised, her glowing hands still hovering above the injured shinobi's head. Her dark eyes then fell on the pinkette that was still standing next to her, lips curling upwards into a warm smile. "And nice job with the liver."
Sakura merely returned the praise with a smile, her hands warm from the chakra that filled them before her eyes flickered back to the exposed torso beneath her hands.
The surgery room fell into a comfortable silence as the nurses and medics gradually left, their tasks done and leaving only Sakura and Shizune behind to heal the remaining flesh wounds.
The silence lasted for a few minutes, longer than Sakura had thought it would, before Shizune finally spoke up.
"You're not supposed to return for another two days." The older woman noted, though her voice was not unkind. "Even though I expected you to drop by earlier, I didn't think you'd be that eager to return to work."
Sakura exhaled softly through her nose, emerald eyes fixed on the healing flesh even when her lips quirked up into a dry smirk.
"Why, do you plan on telling shishou?"
Shizune let out a small chuckle, the sound a welcome change from the mechanical beeping from the monitors that surrounded them. "No, though I have to admit that she already warned me about you dropping by today."
At this Sakura's eyes flickered to the brunette, green eyes shining in mild surprise and before Sakura could help it, her smirk dropped into a small smile.
Her shishou really knew her too well.
Pictures of the previous night filled her mind and Sakura felt a sharp jab in her chest, her eyes falling back onto her glowing hands as her eyes grew distant.
After what happened last night, the pinkette hadn't returned to the hospital and instead, went straight back to her empty apartment, drenched by the rain and body numb, his taste on her lips the only remainder of their encounter.
The pinkette instantly went to take another shower, the hot water able to warm her skin, but doing little to ease the suffocating pressure in her chest.
She didn't dare glimpse into the mirror, too afraid of the woman that would stare back at her and and went straight for her bed, the sheets feeling cold and uninviting against her flushed skin.
For hours she had simply lain there, staring blankly at her bedroom wall, drowning in the thoughts of all that had happened and was yet to come.
Before she knew it the sun had already cast its bright rays over the waking village, and Sakura decided that the best thing she could do to escape her poisonous thoughts and aching heart would be to dive headfirst into work.
And so far, it worked.
Or so she thought, for when Shizune noticed her sudden silence, her expression crunched up into a concerned frown.
The brunette had suspected that there was something going on, especially after Tsunade had told her that she'd take the day off to take care of some village matters and that if Sakura were to drop by, she should just let it slide.
She was obviously troubled by something, and knowing better than to push her, Shizune decided against asking too many questions and instead, set on offering her friend some company.
"How about we grab some lunch once we're done?" Shizune suggested, her smile warm and eyes shining with a twinkle that eased some of the tension that filled Sakura's body. "There's a few things you've missed during the time you were gone."
Sakura's lips curled upwards into a small smile, knowing that Shizune was attempting to cheer her up and hoped that her smile was able to convey the appreciation she felt.
"Tempura sounds quite good right now."
X
They have been running for the past hours and only stopped once their chakra levels have dropped low. Taking shelter in the small village off the map that Kisame had told him would be safe weeks ago, Itachi and his team used the opportunity to take some rest so that they could continue once the sun was about to set.
Fourteen hours of running had pushed even him to his limits, and yet when his back hit the worn mattress of the room that would be his for the next hours, sleep was unwilling to claim him.
The Uchiha heir had discarded the jutsu that concealed his looks, a necessity to protect their identities and prevent Orochimaru's men from catching sight of them, and was left in only his dark, loose pants and black, navy-colored top.
He lifted his arm to cover his eyes, the ever so present dull ache seeming more intense than usual and Itachi found himself thinking back to the day when he had been laying on her lap, the feeling of her chakra soothing the pain in his eyes and the troubles in his mind.
His chest tightened with guilt when her tear-stricken face from hours ago filled his dark vision, fist clenching as he felt the ghost of her touch whisper over his skin.
He was asking so much of her and yet, could provide her with so little in return. She deserved better, he knew, and Itachi would make sure that once all of this was over, he would offer her nothing less than all he had and all he was.
You're being too hard on yourself. Her voice echoed in his mind, the sweet sound soothing his soul and silencing his troubled mind. You're doing more than enough.
Itachi exhaled through his nose, his nails digging into his palm. He could imagine the warm smile that would brighten her face as the reassurance passed her lips, eyes shining as they held his.
Once he returned, he would make up for the being unable to provide her with the attention and time she deserved. He would see to this being the first and final time that he would have to ask her to wait for him, to leave her behind in the village he had sworn to protect as she awaited his return, afraid that he'd be unable to keep his promise to her.
We'll be fine. She whispered to him, the warmth in her voice easing the tension in his body and allowing his mind to finally give into the darkness that lulled him in.
She was right. They would be fine, and Itachi would make sure that it would stay that way.
X
The pinkette slumped into the seat with a heavy sigh, emerald eyes flickering to the window to see that the last rays that the sun cast over the village were slowly fading, leaving behind only an orange glow.
She was exhausted.
After her rather pleasant lunch-break with Shizune, who had updated her on the latest hospital gossip, she had spent the following hours rushing from one emergency to another to the point that Shizune had to force her to take a break before she would pass out from chakra drainage.
Even though Sakura had protested at first, she had swiftly shut her mouth when Shizune threatened to inform a certain blonde about Sakura's rather busy day and grudgingly trotted towards her office.
Now that Sakura's body was actually able to rest she could easily feel the soreness of her muscles and ache in her feet from standing for too long. An aching back and sore body was something she was more than used to as a kunoichi and a medic, and as for the moment she couldn't say that she minded.
The pain was a welcome distraction and when the pinkette thought about the cold, empty apartment that would expect her, she felt her chest tighten in apprehension.
A heavy sigh passed her lips as she leaned forwards and allowed her forehead to hit the surface of her desk, throat tightening as crimson eyes flashed in her vision.
She wondered how he was doing. He should have long crossed the borders by now, and Sakura suddenly realized that she didn't even know where he was headed to. Her stomach twisted painfully and even though the pinkette had faith in him, she couldn't help but worry.
Orochimaru was not to be underestimated, being one of the legendary sanin, and if Konoha thought that their best chances at defeating him would be by sending the Hokage himself, he was a force to be reckoned with.
The sound of a soft knock on her door ripped her out of her musings and when Sakura lifted her head to see who was brave enough to interrupt her little moment of weakness, she was surprised to see that it was not one of the nurses that had sought her out.
"Sasuke?"
Her dark-haired teammate was sideways leaning in the doorway, arms crossed above his chest and dark eyes fixed on her.
"Aa." He returned, his voice the smallest hint softer than usual. "Get your things, I'm walking you home."
Sakura pinched her brows together in mild confusion, surprised that Sasuke would come all the way to the hospital just to walk her home. He had his sweet moments, sure, but Sakura knew Sasuke well enough that he didn't just randomly decide to pay her a visit.
She held his gaze for a moment longer, his familiar dark eyes lacking their usual blankness and instead, displaying a faint warmth that she was familiar with, but only rarely got to see.
It was then that she finally realized what his sudden visit was about, and the moment it hit her Sakura's expression softened in understanding.
He knew.
She didn't know why she hadn't thought about it before. Having been so busy at the hospital and drowning herself in work made her forget that Sasuke most likely knew about his brother's departure from the village.
Her heart warmed at the realization that he had visited her to ensure that she was alright given the circumstances, and once again Sakura found herself touched beyond words by her teammate's thoughtfulness.
So without commenting on it the pinkette moved out of her seat, shrugged off her white coat and put on the beige coat that would shield her from the late autumn cold.
She pulled her hair free from the messy ponytail and run a hand through her long, pink locks to ease the pressure on her scalp before she offered Sasuke a small smile.
"Let's go then."
The young Uchiha moved out of the way and made his way out of the office, slowing down so that Sakura could catch up with him. The pinkette easily fell in step beside him, his tall frame next to her giving her a sense of familiar security she had always appreciated and found comfort in as they walked through the corridors of the hospital.
A comfortable silence fell over them and when they finally exited the busy hospital and the cool night air hit their skin, Sakura allowed a small sigh to pass her lips.
"You knew."
Her voice held no accusation, her words a statement rather than a question, but Sasuke answered nonetheless.
"Aa."
Sakura had already expected as much and yet, found herself wondering who would have told her if she hadn't found out herself. She was tempted to ask who else knew about his departure but in the end, knew that it didn't matter who knew. Itachi most likely had something in mind when leaving the village to seek out Orochimaru, and if Sasuke knew, it was likely that Naruto had also been in the know.
The realization that Sasuke and Naruto knew about his plan to leave before she did only confirmed that he hadn't left without a plan, and Sakura knew that he had his reasons for leaving her in the dark.
She trusted him and knew that whatever he had tasked her two teammates with, he had his reasons for keeping her out of it.
Though that didn't mean that she wasn't annoyed by it.
The two spent the remainder of their walk to her apartment in silence, Sakura merely enjoying his presence. It was when they were just about to reach it that Sasuke suddenly stopped, making Sakura halt and throw him a mildly confused look.
Sasuke was standing in the middle of the empty road with his hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at her as if in thought.
The pinkette tilted her head lightly aside as she wondered what the hell was going on in his mind, but just when she was about to open her mouth and ask what he was doing, he beat her to it.
"He is counting on you, you know."
Sakura's body stilled upon hearing his words, eyes flashing with mild surprise as she caught her teammate's gaze with her own.
"Counting on me?"
Sasuke tipped his head aside, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read her and after some moments of silence had passed, he finally spoke.
"Itachi didn't tell you anything because there was nothing he needed to." Sasuke told her as he looked down at her, dark eyes regarding her with an intensity that rivaled his brothers. "He knew that you would be fine without any additional orders and trusted you as well as your skills enough to leave without having to tell you what to do in his absence."
Sakura felt a heavy weight settle itself in her stomach, her chest suddenly feeling heavy as she looked at Sasuke in mild surprise.
Out of everything she had expected, having Sasuke tell her this was the last. She didn't dwell on the fact that Sasuke and Naruto had seemingly been assigned with something she didn't know of, but she to hear that he hadn't left her with anything to do not because he didn't want to get her involved, but because he had faith in her abilities made her heart swell.
The pinkette slightly lowered her head as her eyed shone with understanding, the sudden urge to see him again, to thank him for his trust and faith in her hitting her with full force.
As she was standing there in the middle of the street with Sasuke, hearing about how Itachi trusted her to be able to get through his absence she suddenly felt exhausted.
He had so much faith in her and yet here she was, drowning in the pain of his absence only a day after he had left her. She wanted to be strong, she knew that she had no other choice than to be and yet, she found herself wondering how he could have more faith in her than she had in herself.
She suddenly felt a soft weight on the back of her head and her eyes snapped up to see that Sasuke was now standing right in front of her, his hand resting on the back of her head as he looked down at her with dark, knowing eyes.
"He wouldn't have left if he believed even for a second that you wouldn't be able to take care of things here on your own." He reminded her, his voice having dropped a few octaves as he caught her bright eyes with his. "Just as you trust him to come back, he expects you to take care of things in his absence."
Sakura felt her chest tighten painfully as her eyes softened, knowing that Sasuke was right. Itachi was trusting her to take care of everything in his absence, and even though she knew that she wouldn't be able to stop worrying for him, she would need to pull herself together until he would return.
She wouldn't disappoint him.
"You're right." Sakura sighed, the weight in her chest slowly easing. "He's counting on me, and I shouldn't disappoint him."
She saw Sasuke's dark eyes flash with satisfaction and just when he was about to remove his hand from her head, Sakura took a step forwards and wrapped her arms around his middle, her chin resting on his shoulder and lips curling upwards into a small smile.
"Thank you." She whispered, her hold on him tightening when she felt him hesitantly wrap his arms around her.
Knowing that Sasuke wasn't one for physical contact made his attempt to comfort her all the more special and as Sakura held onto her teammate, she found herself once more filled with determination.
Sasuke was right.
Itachi was counting on her, and she wouldn't disappoint him.
X
Taking cover in the darkness untouched by the moon's celestial rays, he moved as swiftly as the wind, no sound disrupting the sleeping village.
The heavens cried as the shadow moved, the soft chime of a life lost breaking through the silence. Crimson coated the sharp blade as it glistened in the light of the twinkling stars before he moved onward, leaving nothing but dead bodies in his wake.
The only warning they had were the cries of their comrades, but before as much as another breath escaped them, death had already reached them.
The walls of the cavern echoed the arrival of their doom, their screams of anguish accompanying him as he moved to the heart of the lair.
As death found them by his hands, he felt nothing, his cold eyes reflecting their wide, pleading and panic-filled orbs as he dug his sword into them unflinchingly.
Behind him he could hear the sound of battles slowly commence, and when his gaze flickered to the sealed door at the end of the small passage, his face remained indifferent.
Flicking his wrist to rid his sword of some of the liquid crimson, he slowly walked forwards, the floor beneath his feet splashing as the pools of blood soaked his boots.
His hands formed the familiar seals, the ones that had haunted him in his memories for the past fifteen years with abhorrent ease before the walls beneath him parted with a deafening groan.
He moved into the darkness that laid in front of him resolutely, willing to bring death to the one who had tasted life for longer than he was meant to, and when the walls behind him closed with a pained screech he halted.
"I didn't expect you this early."
He didn't move as the darkness surrounding him spoke, his dark eyes empty as they fixed themselves on the void in front of him.
"You, Orochimaru, have brought hurt and death to the innocent for the last time." His deep timbre echoed through the empty hall, his words ever so softly spoken yet holding an overwhelming power that made the tension in the air suffocating. "Your life will find its end today."
A deep chuckle echoed through the darkness, a cold gust of air caressing his skin as the darkness in front of him shifted, pools of molten gold piercing through the black.
"As proud as ever." Orochimaru sneered, his fangs glistening as his tongue wet his lips. "But pride has often come to be one's downfall, and you, Hokage-sama, shall be the proof for that."
Itachi's lip curled upwards at the sanins words, and when his eyes bled crimson, his voice held nothing but mirth.
"Foolish snake." He mumbled, his eyes flashing deadly as he tightened his hold on his sword. "My eyes see what yours fail to discern, and it is not my downfall that they predict."
And with that, he moved.
X
Tsunade gazed out of the broad windows of the Hokage's office, her hands that were folded behind her back white as honey orbs shone with grief for her only remaining teammate.
Today she would lose another part of herself, one that she despised yet needed just as much. She had been prepared, and knew that death was something he should have tasted a decade ago already, and yet she couldn't help but feel a hollowness in her chest.
He had been part of her heart as Jiraya had been, and nothing would ever be able to change that. She despised him for the pain and hurt he had put her through, for the innocent lives that had been lost at his hands, the life of their teammate who had been the only remaining spark of light in her dark life. She hated him for having turned into a monster, for having fallen into the tempting darkness but most of all, she hated herself.
He should have died by her hands.
She should have been the one to stop his heart, and kill the part of herself that would come to eat her up alive. As much as he deserved death, he deserved to die by the hands of someone who had actually cared for him, one of the few ones remaining with memories of the time before he had turned into the monster he was.
Her lips curled upwards into a bitter smile.
She had failed them both. She had allowed one to turn into a monster, and had left the other to die by his hands.
And as she watched the first drops of rain descend onto the village below, Tsunade prayed that both of them would forgive them for having been unable to save them.
X
"What?"
Sakura was staring at her teammate as if he had grown a second head.
"My mother wants you to come over for dinner." Sasuke repeated from where he was sideways leaning in her doorway, arms crossed above his chest and dark eyes calmly holding her surprised ones. "The Clan wants to thank you for your effort on the rescue mission."
Sakura arched a brow from where she was standing at the stove, obviously not quite believing that the Clan would go as far as to invite her dinner just to thank her and knowing that they most likely had their own reasons for inviting her.
It was her duty, and under normal circumstances she wouldn't even have expected a thank you since she had only done her job, so to hear that they would expect her at dinner made her feel quite suspicious.
The fact that she was the only one who had been invited and Kakashi and Yamato weren't going to join her only fueled her suspicions.
Sakura sighed. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
Sasuke thinned his lips. "My parents, Shisui and I will all be there, so you shouldn't be too worried."
Sakura rolled her eyes as she returned her attention to the food she was preparing, a huff passing her lips as she curled a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
"You know that has never stopped your Clan from saying something before."
Sasuke's silence was answer enough.
A comfortable silence fell over the two as Sakura prepared lunch, Sasuke watching her as she moved through the kitchen.
Naruto and Kakashi would both drop by in half an hour to eat with them, Sasuke having arrived earlier to bring her the news and, unknown to her, to check on her.
It's been four days since the night Itachi had left, and even though the first two days have been hard on her, the dark circles under his teammate's eyes were slowly beginning to fade.
He liked to think that their talk on their way back home from the hospital had helped her regain the strength she needed, and even though he knew that she most likely still had troubles sleeping at night, the other members of their team as well as Ino and Shisui were all trying their best to keep her mind off of him and to make her enjoy her free time as best as they could.
As the Hokage's apprentice Sakura still had to drop by the office every once in a while to talk to Tsunade about some village-related things she would have to take care of in his place, and so far no one with the exception of Konoha's Clan elders, the council as well as certain high ranked individuals knew about the Hokage's absence, and even fewer about what his mission contained.
He knew just as well as Sakura that the Clan's invitation to dinner wasn't just to thank her, but to test her as well. Her relationship with his brother was no longer much of a secret, and since his parents have already approved of it the Clan would want to see for themselves if she would suit the heir of their Clan.
Sakura had already gained quite a few favors from many people in his Clanclan due to her position at the hospital and now the mission, but there were still those, especially the elders, who weren't too fond of the idea of having someone as the Clan's matriarch who wasn't a full-blooded Uchiha.
Sasuke had to commend his mother for using this opportunity to introduce her to the Clan, however. Now that Itachi was out of the village, Mikoto wanted to use this opportunity to show the Clan that they had made the right decision before Itachi would formally introduce her to them after his return.
If things would go well tonight, chances were high that by the next time Sakura and the Clan elders would meet, there would only be little to no opposition.
And he was certain that his pink-haired teammate would handle herself just fine.
Naruto and Kakashi dropped by not too much later and after the team spent a rather pleasant afternoon together, Sakura found herself standing in front of the body-length mirror in her room.
A sigh passed her lips as she stared at her reflection, slender hands smoothing down the fabric of her long-sleeved light-purple chiffon dress that Ino had gifted her a few birthdays ago.
Her hair was falling over her shoulders in soft curls that reached her lower back, the circles under her eyes hidden by a thin layer of concealer and even though she looked presentable, she didn't feel as pretty as she looked.
Heaving a soft sigh, Sakura took one last glance at herself before she grabbed her beige coat and made her way out of the room. When she reached the living-room she found Sasuke already waiting for her and upon noticing her arrival his dark eyes quickly gave her a once-over before he nodded, seemingly pleased by her choice of dress.
"Let's go."
The way to the manor seemed longer than Sakura remembered it to be, and even though it was a pleasant walk, filled with light chatter and dry responses from Sasuke that got a grin out of her every once in a while, Sakura found herself being more nervous than she expected herself to be.
She was close with Sasuke's family and knew that they approved of her from what Itachi had told her, but for some reason she didn't feel too good about having dinner with the elders in a familiar way without the Uchiha heir being present.
Sakura found herself once again wishing to have him with her, the comfort of his calm aura like a soothing balm to her nerves. It wasn't like she was concerned about the elders themselves, she could deal with them perfectly well, but she didn't want to make things harder for Itachi if they were to provoke her.
The moment the doors flew open and revealed a widely smiling Mikoto however, Sakura instantly found some of her nerves cooling down.
"Sakura-chan!" Mikoto greeted her, eyes sparkling in delight before she pulled the smaller girl into a bone-crushing hug. "I'm so happy to see you."
Sakura found herself mirroring Mikoto's smile as she pulled back, the elder woman's warmth instantly making her feel more at ease. "It's also good to see you again, Mikoto-san."
Mikoto offered Sakura another pleased smile before she ushered her son and his teammate inside, Sasuke taking her coat while Mikoto led her towards the back of the mansion where Sakura remembered the dining room to be located at.
"You look beautiful dear." Mikoto gushed as they walked through the hallway of the mansion, and the deeper they went the louder the voices became. "I appreciate that you freed your time to join us, especially now when I'm sure you're not in the highest spirits."
Sakura 's lips curled upwards into a small smile as she looked at Mikoto, expression sheepish. "Is it that obvious?"
Mikoto's answer came in the form of a sympathetic look and just before they were about to reach the doors that would lead into the room, the Uchiha matriarch came to a halt.
Turning around to look at Sakura, the dark-haired woman gently rested her palm on the pinkette's upper arm, her dark eyes shining knowingly.
"Don't worry too much about him, he'll be fine." Mikoto told her, lips tilted upwards into a small smile as she gave Sakura's arm a comforting squeeze. "So why don't we make things a bit easier for him when he returns?"
Sakura instantly caught the underlying message her words held and couldn't help but smile at Mikoto's wit. She appreciated that the elder woman didn't attempt to hide her objectives and knew that she was not only doing it for Itachi, but to get Sakura more used to the idea of entering the Clan as well.
Without Itachi present, Sakura would be allowed to get the chance of interacting with the elders and getting a first taste of what the Clan was like without his protection, and whereas Shisui and Sasuke would be present, they wouldn't hold back as much as they would if Itachi would be there with them.
"Thank you, Mikoto-san." Sakura mumbled, her smile small yet genuine. "For everything."
Mikoto merely offered her a smile and one last reassuring squeeze before she led the pink-haired kunoichi inside.
When the two women entered, the first thing the pinkette noticed was that there were less people present than she expected to be.
There were a little over a dozen people present but as her eyes roamed the table she found herself recognizing most of them, much to her inward relief.
Seated at the head of the table was Fugaku, his familiar frame oozing authority and demanding instant attention. The empty cushion to his right Sakura figured would be Mikoto's place while a rather bored looking Sasuke was seated to his left, eyes fixed on his table as Shisui next to him was telling him something.
Occupying the remaining seats were some of the elders she had seen once or twice before when working with Tsunade while others she had personally treated at the hospital before.
She didn't know them too well but remembered them to be fairly nice to her at the hospital, though that had been before news of her and Itachi had spread.
She genuinely hoped that it didn't change much because she did not feel like fighting Uchiha elders tonight.
Fugaku was the first one to notice her and when their eyes met, Sakura found herself surprised to see the corner of his lips twitch upwards for the lightest of bits before he offered her a small nod in greeting that she returned with a small, yet genuine smile of her own.
Shisui was the next to notice her and the second he did, Sakura wished the floor would swallow her whole.
"Sakura-chan!" He called in glee, his lips curled upwards into a grin and eyes flashing with mirth as he saw the way her smile froze on her lips. "You came."
Instantly, a dozen pairs of eyes were fixed on her and Sakura had to fight the urge to grab Shisui by the neck and wring it until he would turn blue.
Instead, Sakura was forced to keep the polite smile on her lips and offered the table a small nod in greeting that most easily returned, though their expressions remained as hard to read as always.
"Have a seat, Sakura." Mikoto told her, gently urging her towards Shisui with a kind smile. "Shisui-kun was as kind as to save you one next to him."
Sakura inwardly thanked Shisui for being thoughtful for once before she offered Mikoto a small smile and made her way towards the empty seat between Shisui and Sasuke.
The instant she sat down the sound of conversations once more rose, though slightly softer than before, and Sakura found herself glad to have lost some of the attention Shisui had oh so kindly directed to her.
"You look as beautiful as always, Sakura-chan." Shisui complimented her from where he was seated to her left, lips curled upwards into a cheeky smile as he gave her a once over. "I'm sure Itachi would approve."
Sakura hoped that her smile didn't look as strained as it felt when she caught Shisui's eyes with her own.
"Thank you." She sweetly returned, her hands that were resting on her lap twitching with the urge to smack that stupid grin off of his face. "Don't think that being sweet will save you, though."
"Wouldn't dream of it." He returned with a wink, and Sakura couldn't help but feel her body relax almost instantly.
Not too much later the maids began to serve the food and as the evening progressed, Sakura found herself getting surprisingly more comfortable.
The food was delicious, Shisui and Mikoto kept her involved in a pleasant chatter that Fugaku, Sasuke and occasionally even one of the elders present joined and by the time the tea arrived, Sakura found herself wondering if it was only the calm before the storm.
As much as she enjoyed the dinner so far, she wasn't foolish enough to believe that it would stay that way for the remainder of the evening.
Throughout the dinner, Sakura had noticed that one of the males she believed to be Itachi's uncle liked to glance her way every once in a while and if the way his lips curled downwards ever so slightly, she assumed that he was not too happy with her presence.
She ignored it as best as she could, knowing that there was no point in provoking him but when Fugaku had asked Sakura about Kabuto and Shisui was telling them about how he had believed her to be an angel that came to lead him to the afterlife, much to Sakura's exasperation and the other's amusement, he decided to speak up.
"A daring move to stay behind without any back-up."
Sakura's eyes slid to the male who had spoken and wasn't surprised to see that it was the very same one who had been unable to keep his eyes off of her during dinner. The others have fallen silent as well and all of a sudden, the air in the dining-room became heavier.
She could feel Sasuke next to her stiffen and Sakura instantly realized that apparently, he was one of the relatives her teammate was not too fond of.
Despite the palpable change in the atmosphere, Sakura remained calm and firmly held his dark eyes, her smile having faded into a polite upwards tilt of her lips.
"A daring one indeed, but it has been just as necessary." Sakura returned, visibly unfazed.
The dark-haired male pinched his brows together as he looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze, not bothering to hide his obvious disapproval of her.
"You seem to be confident in your skills." He observed, his gruff voice making her clench her fist beneath the table. "You are aware that if you would have fallen victim to their hands as well, not only Shisui's life but also yours would have been lost, what would have lured the Hokage right into their hands."
"But I didn't." She swiftly returned, her emerald eyes firm as the last traces of a smile faded from her face. Her expression was hard and yet not unkind, her tone sharp and yet polite and when she saw his eyes flash, her own sparkled in satisfaction. "My teammates and I have put much thought into how to get your nephew out of there, and as much faith as both my teammate's as well as the Hokage had in my skills, I trusted them to carry out the mission as planned."
Had Sakura looked to her right, she would have seen the pleased upwards tilt of Fugaku's lips that he hid beneath his cup of tea as he watched the scene unfold. Instead, she firmly held the elders' gaze with her own, willing to show him that she would not be intimidated by status alone.
The elder male's lips curled downwards in obvious displeasure upon hearing her reply, the confidence that the pinkette oozed off clearly something he had not reckoned with.
Before he could speak up once again however, someone else beat him to it.
"Tell me, Haruno-san, what do you think of the Hokage's latest mission?"
Sakura's eyes fell onto the elderley woman that was seated to Mikoto's right, her dark eyes looking at her curiously, but not unkindly. Her dark hair was twisted upwards into an elegant bun and even though the lines on her face told her that she had most likely attended many more of these dinners, the light in her eyes told Sakura that she was not to be underestimated.
Sakura felt her heart in her chest clench ever so slightly at the mentioning of Itachi's mission for the third time today but managed to keep her expression impassive, her eyes determined as she held the elderly woman's ones.
"As his advisor, rather than questioning the Hokage's decisions, I am aiming to aid him in placing them." Sakura calmly returned, and judging by the way Sasuke next to her relaxed ever so slightly, she had chosen the right approach. "And I believe him to have chosen the right one."
Himoza arched a brow at her answer, obviously not having expected her answer but Sakura didn't miss the flash of approval in her dark eyes that managed to ease some of the tension in her body.
"So you believe that leaving the village in these troubling times had been the right thing to do?"
Sakura instantly realized the potential danger of her question but after years with Tsunade, knew better than to fall for the trap and didn't hesitate to respond.
"Yes, I do." She returned without missing a beat, her words holding nothing but the truth. "As the Hokage, he had always done his best to protect the village from all dangers, be it from the inside or outside, and this time it's no different."
Murmurs of agreement followed her words while Himoza merely continued to watch her with curious eyes but before she was able to continue, another one spoke.
"You hold great faith in him." A male from the far end of the table commented, a brow raised in curiosity. "How are you so sure that he will succeed?"
This time Sakura tensed, though her expression gave nothing away when hard eyes caught dark-gray ones.
"What would the village be if its villagers held no faith in its leader?" Sakura challenged, the weight her words carried heavily descending over the occupants of the room. "I know that he will succeed, for as I am sure you are all aware, our Hokage is not one to charge head-straight into a losing battle."
Shisui smiled from where he was seated next to her while Mikoto regarded the young woman in front of her with a proud smile, the confidence she held as well as her unwavering faith in her son more than visible.
She always knew that Sakura would have little problems with dealing with the elders, but to see her carry herself so well made Mikoto wonder just how fast time had flown by. She was no longer the small, shy girl that her youngest son had brought over to dinner together with their blonde teammate.
No. Sitting in front of her was a young, confident woman who knew her place and didn't tolerate any disrespect to either herself or the people she cared about.
Mikoto could easily tell that with every moment that passed, the pinkette managed to convince them more of herself. She didn't try to gain their favors with mindless compliments and feigned modesty so that she could secure her position but remained perfectly herself instead, and in the end it was her authenticity and honesty that managed to gain their approval.
A huff suddenly sounded through the room and Sakura's eyes once again found Itachi's uncle who had his arms crossed above his chest as he looked at her, lips curled into a sneer.
"That is saying that he's going to return." He drily reminded them, and Sakura could feel her body stiffen. "I wouldn't get my hopes too high, considering whom he had gone after."
Sakura's eyes narrowed at his words, brow creasing as her lips thinned in obvious displeasure. She hadn't been too fond of his uncle before already, but now she had reached a point where she had a hard time keeping herself from snapping.
"He will come back." Sakura announced, the confidence her voice held causing the elder male to snort in return.
"He may be the Hokage, but even then he barely is a match for a sanin." He harshly returned. "By going himself he risked the Clan losing its heir as well as the village losing its Hokage, a foolish step indeed."
"Uncle." Shisui warned, his voice low and cutting through the air like a knife while Sasuke's knuckles turned white from the pressure he used to hold onto his cup.
Fugaku narrowed his eyes but remained silent, knowing that he could not interfere without seeming biased just yet. Sakura couldn't blame him, considering that he was the head of the Clan, but that didn't mean that the pinkette would hold back.
"He should have let Anbu taken care of him." He went on, clearly unbothered by Shisui's warning. "If he were to lose his life, not only would the Clan be greatly weakened but the village as well. He should have taken more things into consideration than just his pride."
That was all it took for Sakura to snap.
"You seem to forget that your nephew has become the Hokage for a reason." Sakura sharply returned, brows pinched together and eyes glowing with cold anger that she didn't bother to hide anymore. "He is considered the strongest of the village, and if he won't be able to take care of a sanin, how pray tell would Anbu be able to eliminate him?"
He obviously didn't appreciate Sakura's tone, his frown deepening before he spoke.
"A sanin can only run from our men for so long. If the Hokage had acquired assistance from our allies he wouldn't have been able to hide."
"What would our allies think of us then?" Sakura challenged, her voice cool and brow arched. "They would consider us an easy target if we cannot even do a simple task as eliminating one of the sanin and even if we had him killed with the help of our allies, what do you think would happen after that? They would consider the Hokage incompetent to deal with his own village's business. After all, hasn't Orochimaru been part of our village?"
"Had he made no mistake fifteen years ago, we wouldn't even be in this situation in the first place." He snapped in return, and the moment these words passed his lips Sakura saw red.
"He was a child." Sakura snapped, far beyond the point of caring whether she was being polite or not. Elder or not she would not just sit back and watch some stuffed up Clan member talk as disrespectful as that about Itachi. "And even then he already managed to greatly harm Orochimaru. All these years he had done nothing but risk his life for the Clan and the village so the least you can do is to pay him the respect he deserves."
By now he seemed ready to jump over the table, his jaw clenched and eyes burning with anger as he held her hard eyes with his own but just as he was about to open his mouth to retort, Himoza spoke up.
"The child is right." She announced, her gaze sharp as she leveled him with a warning glare. "Don't make yourself an even bigger fool by attempting to deny the truth her words hold."
The elder merely gritted his teeth and shot her one last look before he fixed his eyes on the wall in front of him, knowing that there was no use in going against an elder like Himoza.
And just like that, the discussion was dismissed.
The rest of dinner went by rather uneventful but Sakura found herself unable to partake in any more conversations, only answering when directly addressed with a strained smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Whereas she wasn't surprised by what had happened, having already expected something along the lines, it still made her beyond angry.
How could people be so ignorant and disrespectful?
Her heart clenched in her chest as she thought of Itachi, remembering the days when he would return from Clan meetings and looking beyond exhausted. She didn't even dare imagine how much pressure he must have been under for the past years, nor the mental torment he must have suffered by the hands of his Clan.
Of course not everyone was like his uncle and Sakura found that after their little argument some of the others have been more welcoming of her, but she was no fool to believe that the rest of the Clan would all have Itachi's back.
After one more hour the elders beganbegun to leave one by one, Sakura wordlessly staying behind to help Mikoto with cleaning the table while Fugaku took the boys to the living-room.
Every elder, with the exception of Itachi's uncle, offered her a parting nod and some even a small smile that caught Sakura by small surprise. What caught her off guard, however, were Himoza's parting words.
"I think that I can speak for most of us when I say that we hope to see you again soon, child."
Her eyes flashed with open surprise as she looked at the elder who in return shot her a knowing smile before she took her leave.
Sakura could only watch her leave in stunned silence, her mind trying to process the weight of her words. If she had understood Himoza's words right, it seemed like she had just gained approval by some of the most important members of the Uchiha Clan besides Fugaku and Mikoto.
Now that was something she certainly hadn't expected, especially after the little scene with Itachi's uncle.
Mikoto offered her a wide smile from where she was gathering the cups from the table, eyes sparkling with joy. "You seem surprised, dear."
Sakura shook her head as she moved to help Mikoto with gathering the tableware, slender fingers pulling the strands of her hair behind her ear before she leaned over to get the first empty cups, a thoughtful frown on her face.
"I am." Sakura admitted, the soft clinking of cups following her words. "This day certainly didn't go as I expected it to."
Mikoto in return chuckled as she placed the cups onto the tray before she lifted it, her joy brightening up her face. "The Clan needs someone who isn't afraid to stand their ground, dear. You already have a remarkable reputation and don't try to climb your way up the ranks by being with Itachi, and that is something that I believe the elders have also understood today after you defended him."
Sakura picked up the remaining tableware and followed Mikoto into the kitchen with a confused frown. "Of course I would defend him. Elder or not, his uncle had no right to talk like that about him after all that he had done for his Clan and the village."
Mikoto placed the tray onto the kitchen counter and shook her head as she placed the dirty cups into the sink, the maid having already been dismissed for the night.
"Those who are after the title wouldn't have dared to risk their chances by challenging his uncle like that." Mikoto reminded her. "Tonight you have shown them that not only do you value the Clan's members by saving them and your bonds to my sons, but also by standing up for them regardless of the consequences."
Sakura remained silent as she went over Mikoto's words, knowing that she was right. Anyone else would have been too afraid to blow their chances with the Clan, and even though she had spoken up against one of the members, she had done so uncaring of how it would change their opinion of her.
She wasn't after the status she would gain when entering the Clan. She had fought her way to the top without stemming from a famous Clan and by sheer will and hard work only, and that was something that was worth more than some title she would receive if she were to enter the Clan one day.
What mattered to her were the people she cared about, and if someone disrespected them and their achievements like that, he could be a Kage for all she cared about and she would still defend them and their honor.
After she had helped Mikoto in the kitchen, Shisui had offered to walk her home and even though she had declined his offer at first, having wanted some time on her own to think, he had insisted.
Sakura eventually relented and after bidding her teammate and his parents a good night, allowed Shisui to escort her home. The walk back was filled with light chatter and jokes that ShisuiSHisui cracked in hopes of lifting her spirits and even though his intentions were more than obvious, Sakura found herself laughing most of the walk back nonetheless.
With a promise to pick her up from the hospital for lunch the next day when they reached her apartment, Shisui ruffled her hair as a parting gesture before leaving the pinkette alone.
The second Sakura entered her apartment she changed into more comfortable attire that consisted of black leggins and an oversized shirt that belonged to her brooding teammate before crashing onto her bed, the day'sdays events leaving her beyond exhausted.
As she was laying on her back, staring unblinking at the ceiling illuminated by the light of the crescent moon that was hanging in the dark night sky, Sakura found herself unable to sleep despite her exhaustion.
Her mind was going over what happened the past evening and even though she knew that she was supposed to be happy with the outcome of the dinner at the Uchiha manor, she couldn't help but feel bittersweet about it.
She had gained their approval, yes, and it was also true that she had just taken a huge burden from Itachi's shoulder, but his uncle's words have hit her nonetheless.
She wasn't lying when she said that she was confident in his victory and return, but that didn't mean that she wouldn't worry nonetheless. Orochimaru was a very strong opponent indeed, and chances were high that he would come out of the battle injured at the very least.
She assumed that his team had at least one medic, and even though the antidote had been prepared there could always be complications depending on how severe the wounds accompanying the chakra scalpel were.
Sakura turned to her side and hugged her pillow close, the faint scent of the Uchiha heir lingering and when she closed her eyes and allowed it to cloud her senses, she felt her heart clench in her chest.
She missed him.
It was as easy as that and yet, just as hard. Not knowing where he was, whether he was alright or not and when he would return was driving her crazy and even though she was used to worrying about Sasuke, Naruto and sometimes even Kakashi whenever they went on solo-missions she knew were high ranked, nothing could have prepared for the emptiness she felt without Itachi.
A bitter smile found its way onto her lips at that. Who would have thought that she would end up like laying in bed like this, worrying for the big brother of her teammate?
Fate really was funny sometimes.
She could remember the time when she wanted to do nothing more than to punch that stupid smirk off his face, and even though she still wanted to do that most of the time, the only difference now was that she wouldn't mind doing that for the rest of her days.
Ah yes, that damn Uchiha really managed to get her good.
Sakura remained laying in bed for the next hour, her mind haunting her with thoughts and concerns that left her unable to surrender into a sweet slumber. Eventually, the pinkette gave up all hopes of sleep and decided to get some fresh air as an attempt to clear her mind.
Throwing only her coat over her attire to shield her from the crisp night-air, the pinkette slipped into her sandals before she exited her apartment and entered the sleeping streets of the village.
Sakura inhaled a deep breath of the cool, late autumn air that instantly cleared her mind, her feets carrying her through the streets without any destination in mind.
She loved taking walks at night, the peaceful silence of the sleeping village soothing her troubled mind and heart almost instantly. It was an escape from the daily hassles that many times even followed her into her sleep, giving her no means to rest her mind and Sakura found herself loving the peace the night provided, the dark night-sky her shield and the moon her ever-listening companion.
Sakura spent the following hour strolling through the empty streets of the village and before she knew it she found herself at the cemetery, the graves that were lined up in front of her carrying names of both strangers and people she had once cared about.
The pinkette tightened her hold on the front of her coat as she walked through the cemetery, eyes sad as they went over the names carved into stone. She liked to visit it every once in a while to pay her respect to the ones buried there, the sight of the graves sobering up her mind and reminding her how short one's life could be.
Her heart rested heavily in her chest but just when she was about to avert her eyes from the stones, her eyes caught sight of a rather familiar name that made her halt in place.
Emerald orbs went over the name that was carved into the stone with a heavy heart and when she realized whose grave she was standing in front of, her eyes softened.
A heavy sigh passed her lips as she looked down at the grave, her eyes catching sight of the fresh flowers that rested on it. She could already guess who had placed them there, and when she crouched down to gently brush her hand over the stone to clear it from the dust that covered it, her touch was gentle.
"It must have been hard for you." Sakura mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper as she allowed her hand to rest on the cool surface. "Seeing them both struggle with your death like that."
The silence was the only answer and Sakura exhaled a soft breath as she retracted her hand. "You must have been a great person." She whispered, her voice carrying in the soft breeze that swept over the cemetery. "I would have loved to meet you."
"She was a lot like you."
Sakura froze as the voice sounded behind her.
Her heart skipped a beat and for a moment, she believed her mind to have deceived her but when she felt a faint yet familiar signature brush against her own, she knew that it wasn't.
The pinkette kept her eyes fixed on the stone in front of her, lips pursed into a thin line and even though her body was still tense, she felt no fear.
"She must feel very troubled then." Sakura spoke before she closed her eyes, her heart going out for the girl she had never gotten to meet. "Seeing how much her death affected you."
The sound of soft footsteps brushing against the pavement broke through the silence, stopping only a few meters behind her. "Her death will not have been in vain."
Sakura exhaled softly before she moved back to her feet, her eyes opening to stare into the ocean of graves in front of her.
"There are other ways to avenge her death." She softly reminded him, the small flicker of hope burning in her chest refusing to lose its light. "She wouldn't want so many people to suffer for her sake."
The temperature gradually dropped and when Sakura felt his presence only a few inches away from her back, she tightened her hold on the front of her coat, the chakra in her veins slowly flowing into her hands to prepare herself for the inevitable.
"Rin's death will mark the beginning of the world's change." Came his low voice, and within the blink of an eye he was suddenly in front of her, his head tilted down to catch her glowing emerald eyes with his mismatched ones. Then, his tone softened, though it didn't lose its determination. "For her, I will change the world into a better place."
Sakura's heart fastened its pace though her eyes remained fixed on him, the meaning of his words causing her body to freeze and the blood to burn at the same time.
The day had come, and there would be no going back.
"If that is your choice, then you leave me no option than to fight you." Sakura announced, and even though her voice was set her heart swelled with pity for the broken man in front of her. "Though I would have wished for both your and your teammate's sakes that you would have chosen a different path."
Obito eyes her for a long moment, the silence around them heavy and when he spoke, he sounded nothing like the man of her nightmares and instead, the teammate her former teacher had told her about.
"At times, I wished that I had too."
And with that, the battle began.
_X_
A/N: I'm back! I apologize for the long wait. My uni exams gave me a hard time but I finally managed to find some free time to finish this chapter.
I hope that you liked it despite there not having been too many Itasaku moments. Next chapter will contain the great battle, some very emotional moments and a lot of drama/action!
As always, thanks for your support! Your reviews/favorites/follows and kind messages keep me motivated during these hard times.
What do you think happened to Itachi/Orochimaru and what is your opinion of our lost boy Obito? I would love to hear your thoughts about all of that.
As always, take care and stay healthy!
See you soon.
Yours,
Sara.