Sakura stared at the hospital door that separated herself from her team on the other side, talking to each other as Naruto was yet to be released from the hospital. His wounds severe but were quickly healing. He should be out of the hospital in another day to attend the thirds funeral in time. The village was still mourning a great man's sacrifice for his home.
'Could I ever make that big of a sacrifice for my home?'
Sakura lifted her hand to knock on the door but paused. She felt guilty that she wasn't able to visit her team in the hospital since waking up and being released. She just been so busy training with Layla and avoiding her clan at the same time to spend time with them and to check up on them also, but now she had time since Layla got called out to a mission and won't be back for a few days. Hence, she had some time to kill. She knocked twice on the door before entering and closing it behind her. "Sakura-chan!" she smiled as she locked eyes with naruto seeing him grinning at her. "You finally came!" she could tell how happy he was at seeing her since she was pinned to a tree being crushed by sand the last time he did.
"Sorry it took me so long to get here." She looked at him, overseeing that his head was wrapped in bandages the same as his ankle. He had some bruises, but they were fading fast. Overall, he looked almost fully healed already. Her eyes travel over to the other two in the room, noting that Kakashi was leaning against the window sill in a slouch as he had his book open, his eyes staring at the page. In contrast, Sasuke had his hands in his pockets; head bowed as he quietly stared at the ground. "How are you feeling?" she asked as she walked towards his bed, stopping at the end of it. "I'm doing good, Sakura-chan!" Naruto smiled at her carefree "I can't wait to get out of this place, pervy-sage said the day after tomorrow, we will be leaving to get someone named Tsunade cause she'll be the new Hokage!" Naruto started to go on with everything that's happened in the last couple of days that she hasn't been aware of
Kakashi watched her from the corner of his eye. He could see how she was tense still even though she was smiling and laughing with Naruto it didn't reach her eyes as it did naruto he could see bags under her eyes from lack of sleep and stress lines forming 'What's going on with her?' Kakashi wondered as he kept eyeing Sakura, seeing how her eyes became a dull emerald now and no longer shining with life or energy like they once did. While training her for the finals, he noticed that the light in her eyes was diminishing slowly, and now it was gone completely. He looked over at his other two students and saw that they both didn't know the change in their teammates, making him sigh at their obliviousness.
"The funeral is tomorrow," Naruto stated. His eyes became sad at the mention of it. "I'll be released by tomorrow, so I'll be able to make it so I can say goodbye to him." Naruto got a faraway look in his eyes as he talked about the third Hokage. "I'll miss him. He was the only one who showed kindness and love to me." Naruto clenched the bedsheets in his hands. "When no one else did." He choked out as he willed himself not to cry
A comforting hand was placed on his shoulder.
"You will get through this."
Naruto looked up at the person who said that a smile greeted his eyes, making him see the turmoil in it.; a
"What?"
"You are strong, Naruto Uzumaki."
"S-sakura-chan."
Sakura squeezed his shoulder comfortingly as she pulled her hand back. "Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke, and I will be here for you." she watched as naruto's eyes filled with so many emotions. "Sakura's right Naruto we are." he looked over to Kakashi, seeing that he was looking at him with a smile.
Sakura looked over at Sasuke, seeing that he was glaring at the ground his fist tightly clenched anger in his eyes, making her wonder what has gotten to him that badly but before she can ask, she felt two chakra signatures coming towards the room they were hidden but not quite enough that she was able to detect them.
'We need to get out of here now.'
'I know; they just won't give up.'
Kakashi watched as Sakura straightened her posture as she looked towards the door, then at the window. "I have to go. I'll see you guys tomorrow at the funeral." Sakura quickly went to the window opening it and jumping out of it just as the door was slid open two ninjas entering the room, making the three look at them in question
"Damn, she's gone again."
"Daisuke-sama is not going to like this."
"I know."
Kakashi eyed the two noticing how they both had a Konoha hitate on their forehead, both having red spikey hair. They looked identical; just one had blue eyes while the other had green eyes; both were wearing the Haruno crest on their clothes, showing the clan they come from
'Why is she avoiding her clan?'
"We need to find her fast."
"And what exactly? She's been training with Layla! Our clan's prodigy!"
"Layla ain't here right now! That's why Daisuke-sama has us going after her."
A snort was his response.
"Yeah, let's go after our clan heiress. Our clan head! Let me remind you that she was able to beat Daisuke-sama in genjutsu! She's been lashing out at everyone in the clan now!"
A glare was aimed at him.
"That's why Daisuke-sama has us both going after her, Karu! No way can she beat us both."
Karu stared at his twin in disbelief.
"Kato, you must be forgetting who is training her."
"What do you plan on doing with my student?"
The twins looked over at Kakashi and froze in place when they saw the glare he was giving them his book long gone as he crossed his arms posture straight as he eyes the two with narrowed eyes, his hand itching to lift his hitate to use his Sharingan against the two but refrained from doing so since they were Konoha shinobi and a part of Sakura's clan.
If looks could kill, they would be 6 feet under right now.
"Kato….we forgot who her sensei was."
"No shit Sherlock."
Kakashi glared at them harder.
"I repeat myself." Kakashi took a threatening step forward, causing the twins to tense "what the hell do you plan on doing with my student?" He demanded as his arms drop to his side, fist clenched
Kato and Karu look at each other, a silent message being said between the two as the copycat ninja eyed them, knowing that they won't tell the truth to him "Our clan head has been trying to reach out to our heiress, but she hasn't been around the compound to talk to her." Kato explained, not exactly lying to him, just telling half the truth
"Is that so?"
The twins nod vigorously.
"Yeah, we just want to talk to her!"
Kakashi looked between the two, not believing them in the slightest "Well, she's not here, so leave now." He snarled at them as the twins paled more at the deadly look he was giving them
The twins nod and turn to leave, wanting to get away from him "oh, and one more thing before you two go." They look back at him and see that he was smiling at them, now doing a complete 180 on them "if you hurt my student in any way," he chuckled for a second, "it'll be the last thing you'll ever do. Now goodbye." He waved to them as the twins left the room fast to get away from the copycat ninja
{+}
Sakura walked through the crowded streets of Konoha no real destination in her mind as she thought of all the problems she's been having the last couple of months with her clan she knows Daisuke has been the one sending out people to come to find her and bring her back to the compound so they can discuss her actions and behavior and she had no intention of going back to the compound anytime soon all she had to do was avoid her clan until Layla got back from her mission "Sakura!" Blue eyes and blond hair invaded her vision as ino appeared in front of her hands on her hips and stern look in her eyes as she looked at Sakura "I've been looking for you everywhere! Where the hell have you been!? I've asked your clan, and they didn't even know! Even though all they did was glare at me and give me one-worded responses." Ino huffed as she crossed her arms against her chest as she waited for Sakura to talk. "You shouldn't have gone to my clan Ino," Sakura told her as she walked around her
"I didn't know who else to ask Sakura." Ino said softly as she walked next to her, "I couldn't find your sensei, and since I know where your clan's compound is, I just thought I'd go there and see if you were there, which you weren't." Ino looked down at the ground as they continued to walk
Sakura sighed as she looked over at Ino. "I've been training with Layla." She told her as she thought about her training with Layla and how brutal it's been on her body, but the results are worth it, "I haven't had time to go to the compound, and to be honest, I'm staying away from them all." Sakura's anger at her clan increased as she thought about what her family is planning to do
Ino frowned at her as she noticed the anger Sakura felt as she talked about her clan. It worried her how much Sakura showed her hate for her family when they were little. She showed love towards it. What changed to make her hate them so much? She took a glance at the Dango stand and remembered Sakura loves dango. It was her favorite sweet when they were kids. "Let's go get dango! My treat forehead!" Ino grabbed hold of Sakura's hand and dragged her to the dango stand, ignoring her protest
"W-wait, Ino!"
"What do you want, forehead?"
"Pig, I don't need anything."
"Yes, you do. I will not take no as an answer. So what do you want?"
Sakura sighed as she gave in to Ino
"Two sticks of Mitarashi dango and green tea with it, please."
"And I'll have the same, please."
Ino smiled as she handed over the necessary money for the food and handed Sakura the dango as she carried the tea to a table next to the stand, placing them down as she sat down. "It's been a long time since we just hung out and relaxed..." Ino stated softly as she looked over at Sakura, seeing that she was already munching on the dango. "And you were trying to decline the dango." Ino teased as Sakura finished one of her dango sticks, enjoying the taste of it as she put the stick down on the plate
"Thank you, pig."
"No problem, forehead!"
Sakura took a sip of her tea as she looked at Ino and saw that she was eating her dango as well. She looked over at the buildings that were being rebuilt now since the invasion and clutched the cup tighter, her knuckles turning bone-white in her anger at remembering how weak she is since she couldn't have been more of a help in the invasion. Why couldn't she have been stronger? Faster even! How could she have let herself be taken hostage so quickly! She was the heiress of her clan, for crying out loud! She has a title to live up to!
"-ura!Earth to Sakura!" Ino waved a hand in front of her face drawing her attention back to the Yamanaka heiress. "You with me?" Ino questioned as she eyes sakura and looked at her hands that still held the cup, noticing her knuckles were bone white from how she was clutching the cup, but she soon relaxed her hands and set the cup down. "Yeah, sorry, I just got lost in thought." Sakura chuckled as she looked back at Ino, a smile on her face that didn't reach her eyes
'Sakura….what happened to you?' Ino thought as she continued to look at her that was a question Ino always thought as she watched Sakura change in front of her
{+}
Layla squatted down on the tree branch that she was on her chakra hidden as she activated her kekkei Genkai scanning the area she was in since she was in enemy territory the rain border she took her anbu mask of that was a wolf mask and placed it in her bag that she carries on her missions.
'All I need to do is a little recon, and then I can hurry back to Konoha to check on Sakura to make sure Danzo hasn't tried anything while I'm away.' Layla thought as she landed on the forest ground and walked towards the nearest village by her location 'all I need to do is investigate the Akatsuki organization.' Layla pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, protecting her hair from the rain as she neared the village, her features slowly changing as she cast a transformation jutsu on herself, replacing her silver hair with brown hair and her eyes matching her brown hair, now a black mole below her bottom lip making her unrecognizable to people that know of her
Layla entered the village that was closest to the rain village. She was keeping her head bowed as she passed civilians. Her main objective is to get to the bar in the town, but she paused as she heard whispers from two females that were off to the side gossiping.
"Did you see the two Akatsuki-sama?"
"How could I not? One of them was attractive as hell! Unlike the other one, he was so terrifying!"
Layla silently continued to listen to the females gossiping, not expecting this to be this easy, but then again, females do like to talk.
"They protect us even though they are intimidating."
"I know, but I wished Itachi-sama would look my way!"
Brown eyes widen at the name as her heart sped up, beating in her chest painfully as memories filled her head that she wanted to forget and never be reminded of her breathing getting heavier as she quickly made her way through the crowd trying to get to an alley so she can have space to get her bearings again.
'This can't be! I can't see him again!' Layla walked into the alley and leaned against the concrete wall, the coldness feeling good against her as her mind ran with all the memories. 'Why now? After all these years of never crossing paths, why did it have to be on this mission?' she pulled her hood down and ran a hand through her hair as she looked at the ground, the rain wetting her hair.
"I need a drink."
Layla walked the rest of the way to the bar that she was initially heading to before she stopped to listen to the two women she had a mission to finish she couldn't afford her emotions getting in the way, not now with everything on the line, she entered the bar and made her way to the bartender sitting down on a barstool looking at him a small smile seeing that he was cleaning a mug waiting for her order "Saki please." she ordered as she watched him nod to her and started to prepare her drink "Hahaha!" Layla took a glance to where the laughter was coming from and saw a tall male with blue skin gills on his neck, a black cloak on with red clouds adorning it, a hidden mist hitate on his forehead with a scratch through it declaring him rogue ninja, a sword on his back that was wrapped in bandages
'Kisame hoshigaki, ..' Layla thought as she recognized the famed s-class missing ninja; he was sitting at a both drinking with another person beside him.
"Here's ya drink, lady."
She nodded to him in thanks and picked up her glass as she looked at the other one. Still, she froze as her body tensed as she recognized who it was instantly her mouth going dry as she took in his appearance, noting that he still held his hair in a low ponytail, his black hair resting on his back, his skin pale as ever and his eyes no longer the onyx she use to look in to and trust but were a deep crimson color with three tomos in each eye.
'Itachi.' She thought as she took a sip of her Saki, her eyes never looking away from Itachi as she eyed him, noticing that he still looked the same as ever in her eyes, but that's when crimson eyes clash with brown taking her breath away as they held gazes. She knew then and there her cover was blown the Sharingan can see through transformations 'what are you gonna do now Itachi with knowing it's me?' Layla thought as she finished her glass, placing it on the table as she kept her eye contact with her used be anbu captain turned S-class criminal
Itachi stood up, breaking eye contact with her, and quickly walked to the exit ignoring Kisame's question of where he was going, but Layla knew what he was doing. She placed the money on the table and promptly walked off after him disregarding the mission as the more decisive part of her that still wondered what happened to him taking control as she chased after him following. Behind him, she turned into an alleyway; she picked up her speed as she turned into the same alleyway but stopped as she saw it was empty. Still, she felt someone behind her, and quickly body flickered a safe distance away, facing the person.
Red eyes clashed with blue as she let her disguise disappear.
"Itachi."
"Layla."
Layla swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat as she forced herself to stay calm as she finally came face to face with him after so long she thought she was ready to see him after so long. However, the hurt was still there. 'Get ahold of yourself, Layla!' she thought as she got ready for a fight; as her resolve hardened, he was no longer her anbu captain, her friend; he was just an enemy ninja now.
Blue eyes bled pink, four petals spinning.
Itachi just stared at her, having no intention to fight her as he watched her prepare to fight if he wanted to fight, he would have already put her through a genjutsu. "I don't want to fight." he watched as she froze at his words, shock and disbelief in them.
"Why!?"
"Go back to Konoha."
"No."
Itachi sighed. He forgot how stubborn she was and how she rarely listened to others, but he couldn't expect her to listen to him after all; he was just a criminal that murdered his whole clan. "You're too weak. I don't want to waste my time with you, of all people." His words were harsh as they came out of his mouth, with no hesitation in saying them as he saw her flinch back at them "leave before I decide to do something." he threatened as he continued to watch her reaction. Layla stared at him; the shock is written all over her face; he thought her weak? She was not weak! She was an anbu captain now! People feared her once they realized who she was behind the mask.
"I will show you how strong I've become."
"In this village? Where can civilians get hurt in the crossfire? I thought you were better than that, Layla."
"Don't you lecture me, Uchiha! You, of all people, have no care about others' safety! Look at what you did to Sasuke!" Layla stated to him, not caring, "Look at where Shisui is." she whispered enough to where Itachi heard her, and that caused a reaction from him as he tensed and anger shown in his eyes now
"I warned you, Layla." just as Itachi was about to attack they both sensed another chakra coming their way and that was Layla's time to leave as she felt it was Kisame she may be able to hold off Itachi, but both of them are losing battle; she needed to retreat and report back to Konoha now.
"This isn't over, Itachi."
She vanished, leaving rose petals behind just as Kisame appeared.
"Itachi leader-sama has a mission for us: we are to go to Konoha to get the nine tails."
"Hn."
"...protect Layla-chan for me….watch over her for me and make sure no harm comes to her… I wished I had the guts to tell her the truth of my feelings for her."
{+}
'How dare they come here?' Sakura thought as she glanced at her uncle and aunt, dressed all in black for the thirds funeral 'They have no right being here!' Sakura looked at the thirds casket with sad eyes as she watched people put flowers on it, mourning for him
'They must be happy he's gone one more obstacle out of their way.' Inner sneered as she referred to her family
"Onee-Chan?" Sakura looked down next to her to see Ruka there tugging on her sleeve, tears in her eyes "Why did he do it onee-Chan?" Ruka questioned, sniffling as she rubbed at her eyes, waiting for her cousins' answer
"When you love someone or something so much, you will do anything to protect them even if it means your own life." Sakura smiled sadly as she recalled all the times Ino and her would give the third flowers when they were young "the third loved the village and its people more than anything he was willing to put his life on the line for it every day, and that's what he did at the chunin exams." Sakura glanced at her aunt and uncle, seeing that they were both listening to her "He sacrificed himself for us so we all can live so that the will of fire won't be put out that it will grow stronger in all of us and for that we all thank him even if we feel sad at his sacrifice." Ruka sobbed softly as she listened intently to her cousin's words "He won't be forgotten for his sacrifice." Sakura stated as her eyes landed on Naruto, seeing that he was comforting Konohamaru at the loss of his grandfather
"Y-you won't leave me like that right onee-chan?" Ruka asked as she looked up at her with blurry green eyes
'I can't promise that.'
"You and I…."Sakura bent down and ruffled her hair. "We're unique cousins, and for that, I will always be there for you." Sakura looked up, her green eyes connecting with Daisuke's own green eyes "Even if it's you who wants to surpass me." Sakura flicked Ruka in the forehead and stood up just as they started to lower the casket in the ground, "Even if it's because you hate me." She watched as Ruka eyes widen, and she shook her head
"I can never onee-Chan."
"Sakura." Daisuke warned as he stared at her, seeing that she was ready to leave "We have things to discuss, and you are not getting away this time." He stated to her as he tried to intimidate her, but all she did was scoff at him
"I understand, uncle."
'Just remember outer keep a calm and steady mind, don't lose yourself to your anger.'
Sakura walked behind her uncle as they leave the thirds funeral to discuss matters of the clan; she never noticed someone watching her with interest.
{+}
Sakura entered her uncle's study behind him as she got ready for an argument. Since they both haven't been civil since she was told about the coup there ideas utterly different from each other "What is it, uncle?" She crossed her arms as she watched him turn around to face her, matching her stare
"Your actions lately have been causing a disturbance in the clan Sakura." He told her as he crossed his arms also "You will stop avoiding this clan and its people." He ordered as he watched her eyes narrow at him "You will attend the clan meetings again and be on your best behavior. I have overlooked all your childish actions, but no more will I." Daisuke stated to her
Sakura bit her tongue from lashing out at him as she knew she had to keep her composure as Layla told her to "I understand, uncle." She clenched her fist in anger as her emerald eyes glared into his own "but let me say this to you, uncle. I remember a time when you used to be kind and caring, like yeah you were strict but never like this you showed love towards your wife and Ruka hell Ruka was your world at one point." She shook her head as she remembered happier times in the clan. "I don't recognize the uncle I grew up with anymore the way you treat Ruka, and I know it is wrong. She's still a child, and what you have her do is beyond her capabilities, but it's obvious you do not care." Sakura was shocked Daisuke hadn't interrupted her yet, not liking her words, "I'm warning you now though, uncle, don't underestimate me or make quick judgments of myself that will be your downfall." She turned, ready to walk away from him
"Is that a threat Sakura?"
She stopped as she glanced back at him over her shoulder "No, it's not." She took a step towards the door but stopped again "It's just advice on what not to do." Her face was devoid of all emotion as she walked to the door but was intercepted by the clan elders as they stood in front of the door, now both having a cold look on their faces as they look at her
"You finally show yourself to us."
Sakuras eyes narrowed at them as she looked back at her uncle's uncontrolled anger evident in her eyes "Did you plan this? Was this an ambush from the beginning?" She snarled as she looked back at the elders seeing their cold gaze still on her
"Stop acting like a child Sakura; you are not one." One of the elders ordered, "You have to explain why you have been avoiding us and your duties as the heiress of this clan."
'How dare they!'
'Outer don't!'
"Y-"
"I've already talked to her, and she explained herself to me." Daisuke told them as he walked up next to her, arms crossed against his chest as he looked at them with a stern look, "I told her that she needs to take responsibility for her duties and to come to the clan meetings." His eyes held no emotion in them as he continued to look at them "She explained to me that she had been training to get stronger and has been helping rebuild the village, so she didn't have time to interact with her clan." Daisuke said to them, making Sakura's eyes widen since she said no such thing, "Now that you know, I think you should leave." Daisuke told them
'Is he protecting me?'
"You have no reason to talk to us that way, Daisuke! You forget your place in this clan!" One of them screeched at him, causing him to narrow his eyes at them. "She will address us on her reasons for her behavior, not you." the other sneered at him as eyes went back to Sakura's, seeing that she was standing there silently watching the interaction between them unfold
"I am the clan head." Daisuke took a step forward with anger evident in his eyes. "I have more authority over my clan people than you do." he snarled at them, wanting them to leave the room and his home.
"You forget Daisuke that you married into the main house, so therefore you do not have the main house blood flowing through your veins! Saki does, and she knows better than to argue with us. So know your place." Silence filled the room at the elders' words, the tension building up between the four almost feeling suffocating to them as they all eyed each other warily "Now we ask again to explain yourself." The pressure was thick in the air as they all watched each other, all of them wanting to overpower the other in dominance
"It's as uncle said, elder-sama," Sakura spoke evenly as she pushed her anger down and kept a poker face as she addressed them. "I've been busy rebuilding Konoha and training in my spare time to get stronger." Sakura faked a smile at them as she put her hand on her hip and tilted her head to the side "Don't you want me to get stronger?" She questioned, "How do you expect me to get stronger if I'm distracted?" She knew she had them now as she can see them growing angry
"Y-you s-"
"You're right." the one on the left replied, cutting off the other, "But the question is. Sakura, why are you helping rebuild Konoha when they have done nothing to deserve our help, so much the heiress of our clan?"
"It's simple elder-sama." Sakura walked up to them "Helping Konoha is exactly what they expect of me. If I never helped them rebuild, won't that be suspicious?" She asked as her anger was growing at their disregard of Konoha
"Of course." The elder on the left replied, "Keep doing what you're doing, Sakura, just make sure you come to the clan meetings." The two turned around, ready to leave. "And don't forget Sakura, you only answer to us and not Daisuke." They walked out of the room, leaving the two alone now
Sakura took a glance at Daisuke to see his reaction to their words, "How dare they?!" He snarled as he glared at the door they left through his anger reaching new heights that he didn't even know it can reach
"Why?" Daisuke looked over at Sakura, remembering she was in the room. "Why did you lie for me, uncle?" She asked as she turned fully to face him, noting the anger leaving his body as his attention focused on her now
"Because..." he paused as he thought about why he protected her from the elders. "You're the only one who can save us." He stated as his eyes lowered to the ground, fist clenched at his side
{+}
Layla walked out of the Hokage building, finally done reporting back from her mission it took her a little over a week to return she sadly missed the thirds funeral, but she'll visit his grave soon to pay her respects. Still, she needs to see Sakura make sure nothing happened in her absence; she should be in the training grounds training right now; she quickly body flickered to the training grounds and paused at sight in front of her.
Sakura ducked, avoiding her clones fist, and retaliated with an uppercut, her fist connecting with her clones chin; she then spun her leg extended delivering a roundhouse kick to her clones side, smirking as it connected, sending her clone flying she didn't let her get her bearings as she performed hand signs electricity running through her hand sparking to life as she ran at her clone striking at it with incredible force making the clone disperse Chidori flickering out just as she heard clapping making her look in the direction it came from
"Layla!"
"You've improved immensely, Sakura."
Sakura beamed with pride as she flashed a smile "it's all thanks to your training!" Layla shook her head as a faint smile came to her face as she walked up to Sakura, ruffled her hair, causing Sakura to stumble back from her trying to fix her hair a scowl on her face now as she glared at her "Watch my hair, Layla!" Sakura pouted, causing Layla to chuckle at her
"How's training been?"
"My medical ninjutsu has gotten better. I mastered the mystic palm, and I can now perform chakra scalpels too! My ninjutsu has gotten better, but it's still not that great; but I can perform the jutsus you left for me to learn, and of course, my taijutsu has gotten way better now. I even have been infusing chakra Into my attacks more often." Sakura grinned as she told her how her training has been going. "My stamina has gotten better too since I've been doing more push-ups, sit-ups, and running, and of course, I've been working on my dodging too." Sakura finished explaining as she waited for Layla's reply
"Have you been practicing your kekkei Genkai like I've instructed you to?"
Sakura froze at that question and lowered her head in shame as she looked at the ground. "I've tried Layla. I really did, but it's hard." Sakura prepared herself to see the disappointment in Layla's eyes as she looked up at her but didn't see any only understanding
"I know it's hard, Sakura believe it or not, but I had trouble myself when I first activated my own eyes. It just takes practice, and I didn't have anyone to help me understand it, but this time you do." Layla smiled softly at her. "Now, let's get to work on controlling your eyes." Layla declared as her own eyes bled pink, causing Sakura's too