Sakura was in security. « Guarding » Tazuna, a few feet away from the rest, it was almost impossible for her to end injured. Sasuke was battling the other boy, Haku, while Zabuza impeded her sensei from interfering. A bubble of security was wrapped around her created by her Sensei and her heartbeat was calm.
Sasuke had chosen his adversary without a second thought for her. Not that she cared for the boy, unlike Sasuke she didn't gave a damn that he wronged them. Kubikiribocho growled and her own eyes darkened. The missing-nin was talking to her sensei but his attention was on her. Green met brown. He seemed amused by her animosity but even she could feel the slight surprise.
It was strange how last time she would have died for this , to have her sensei stand protectively between her and the enemy. This, she thought bitterly, had been what she had wanted last time. 'So what aren't you happy now?'. The question was reproachful. And Sakura didn't have an answer, so she stayed silent.
Unlike last time she had a choice. And it terrified her.
Xx
His anger was misplaced, he knew it. The boy in front of him hadn't be the one to beat up his teammate, but he would do for what he had in mind. As he saw the look of surprise and slight worry that Zabuza send his protégé Sasuke smirked.
" Seems like my speed is better " he taunted.
Dark joy ignited in his heart and he relaxed a minute to appreciate it. He had waited a long time for this confrontation, to finally find peace. He had been the one near Sakura when she had been attacked. One moment she was at arm length of him and the next colliding with a tree. He had stared powerless as she had run back, pure rage burning in her eyes. And he had stayed motionless as Zabuza's foot collided again and again with her fallen body. Sasuke had surrendered to fear, the memory of his own body in the missing nin's grasp still fresh on his mind. He spared a glance behind him. Here she was staring blankly at him, the admiration that he despised no longer in her green orbs. Why wasn't it here anymore ? Was it because he had been unable to save her ? Because when she had braved the danger to help him, he had stayed mute at her silent plead ? He would have never thought that he would fight to gain this blind admiration back.
But it had hurt to see it slowly disappear. Before Kakashi woke up, Sasuke had been lost. There was a new anger in him and unlike the old one the catalyst had been dead. No one to vent it on. When their sensei told them about his suspicion, the Uchiha had been darkly happy. From there on he had trained every day to be ready for this encounter. Maybe he hadn't taken care of her wounds, or been at her side when she woke up. But he will be the one to take revenge. He was an avenger after all. And for his teammates he was ready to kill.
Haku got up again.
Xx
Her chakra tickled her, willing the girl to move. The kunai fell at her feet but Sakura refused to take it. Red droplets trickled into the ground. It was strange how easy it was to stay in the side line. How disconnected from the fight you could feel. From here there was no fear for her own life, only anxiety for a teammate. A battle of will for their life became a show where her only role was to comment. A work Inner did more than willingly. 'Sasuke-kun' she cried uselessly but she did not seem more eager than her to join. Hypocrisy. 'We wouldn't be of any help' was her lie.
Sakura knew the truth. They were just scared. Not of getting injured or dying, it was a fear that disappeared the moment she held Kubikiribocho. No, what scared her was what she would do. The role wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't be defense anymore, she would become an attacker. As a ninja she knew that it was normal but her civilian upbringing blocked her. 'W-What will mother say ?' . If she entered this fight she would never be the same Sakura. Even she knew it. The pathetic little girl would only become a memory, a fragment of her imagination and it was hard to accept. 'We could just send him his kunai and go back. ' Suggested Inner but Sakura rejected it. Haku was fast, he would catch it.
Before she could come to a choice, a cloud of smoke surfaced. With Naruto coming to Sasuke's help Inner's voice lulled her to inaction.
Xx
Sasuke didn't fight for revenge anymore. Fear and adrenaline flowed through him at the rhythm of a way too fast heartbeat. Every morsel of his skin burned. Every movement caused him pain and deepened the thousand needles in him. No, he didn't fight for vengeance but to save their life.
Naruto laid next to him on the ground. His body welcoming as much if not more needles than him. The blond had taken them for him, sacrificing himself so Sasuke could save them. And like last time he was unable to find a solution. He was worn out; his chakra was running so low and his head was fried. Every little second he gained on Haku's speed was lost the moment after. Frustration fed anger and desperation. Images of a fallen Sakura resurfaced in his mind and took over Naruto's feature. Why was he never able to help ? He had tried this time ! Taking revenge had been useless. Worse, it had put them in this situation. But what else could he have done ?
His mind was as exhausted as his body. Every breath he took burned his lungs. He was so tired. Naruto's body seemed to print into his mind. Every needle piercing his body tattooed a map that Sasuke seemed to know by heart. Chakra was flowing through his veins. Haku's movement seemed slower but the Uchiha had lost the will to fight. His blood ( or the little he had left of it in his body) screamed to take revenge at him, other reddened eyes appeared in front of him but all anger had fled his body. Hatred seemed trivial to his exhausted mind (he was so tired). He could clearly see Haku, weapon in hand, in front of him, the boy seemed so slow to the Uchiha. But even with that, Sasuke's body didn't move, his mind didn't have the will to.
Slowly he watched as the older boy changed target. His eyes finding the exact second Haku's brown orbs shifted from him to Naruto. His heart froze. In his mind came Sakura's image as she run to him, sword in his hand. He hadn't understood why she had run to save him. Fear had exhaled from her body and her grip was shaking, the weapon obviously too heavy. But she had been there as air slowly left his body. This fight should have been his thanks. But nothing ever turned out as planned, he mused. He had been too cocky.
This time his body moved catching his mind unaware. Chakra increased speed made him feel like flying. The feeling was comforting in a way, his body weightless. He almost didn't feel the new needles enter his body. Blood left his mouth. Haku was unconscious and Sasuke knew he wouldn't be awake much longer too (the question would be if he would ever be again). He cracked a little smile. His body was shaking.
" You're really such a burden… " he said to himself.
But the usual spite wasn't there. He had done it, this time he had acted. They were in security now. His eyelids were heavy and he was so tired, maybe he could close them just one moment. His vision was blurry and his body would not stop shaking. Just a second, close one eye, you will feel better.
"Y-You did it ! Sasuke, you did it ! " Naruto's voice was still a little shaky but as energetic as ever.
Relied flooded through his body. He had really done it. Faces surged in front of him, there was his mother's , his father's, his cousin's, Sakura's, …
«S-Sasuke ? "
The loud voice seemed so far away.
" Why ? You protected me… "
Why did the dobe want to know ? Why couldn't he just accept it as it was ? Sasuke just wanted to rest.
" Who knows ?" Was it his voice ? It didn't seem like it. " I hated you … "
He really did. The Uzumaki had been what he hated to most, happy of his own weakness and idiocy. Then he had spent time with the blond, learned to know him. Sasuke met a team- a friend, someone who trained along with him, always destroying his own limits. Pushing him beyond what he knew.
" Why ? Why ? I didn't ask for you to ! " Naruto yelled.
Sasuke understood the anger, he had been always be so full of it. Now his heart seemed so light.
" Idiot. " Blood in his mouth impeded from talking clearly but Sasuke ignored it. " Because I could. "
His head was so heavy. Pain was everywhere. There was needle through his heart. Oh Kami ! There was needle through his heart ! There wa- Restrained tears finally fell along his cheeks. Oh Kami ! Kami ! H-He didn't want to die ! There was so much left to do !
His feature contorted in despair but he restrained himself. His fear was only for him to deal with.
" Sasuke ! Sasuke ! "
Naruto ? Why was his face in front of him ? He couldn't see anything past his tears. Did he fall ? Who cared there was needles through his heart !
"The man I wanted to kill … it was my brother. " He needed to tell someone before dying. Was he gonna die ? He didn't want to ! Please ! "I wanted to do it before dying. "Vengeance seemed so far away now. He just wanted to … hope. See another day. " Just … don't die. "
You're the only one I could save. That was what he would have liked his to say but even fear wasn't able to loosen his tongue. He was a ninja from Konoha, and for his friends, he was ready to d-
Xx
This wasn't supposed to happen.
'Murder ! Murderer ! '
Sakura stood frozen, blood on her face. The sword was impeded diagonally in the corpse's neck, almost cutting its head off. This wasn't supposed to happen. 'Blood ! Oh Kami, there is so much blood !' Kubikiribocho growled, angered to have been robed its original prey, yet it ate happily the blood offered. Stop ! Stop ! Let it be ! But the sword continued its feast. Her mind was frozen. How did this happen ? Tears leaked along her cheeks, mixing with the blood. Her eyes were wide and afraid staring at the lifeless brown orbs. 'What did you do ! You monster !' She hadn't wanted to ! It should have been Zabuza ! How could she have known ! But Inner was free of her cell , yelling in outrage 'Look what you made us do ! Look what we became !'. Kubikiribocho ! The sword obeyed happily and Sakura let herself fall in calmness. She had made a choice.
Xx
She had come from nowhere. Running past him, he had stopped afraid to hurt his Rin. It didn't matter, Rin died again today but, this time, not by his hand.
The scene was a nightmare. Kakashi had been ready to enforce death again, ready for the smell of burning flesh and the illusion of soft brown eyes. He was fast but still recovering, with chakra the girl had passed him almost easily. Panic made him stop and electricity left his hand. He went to yell her name but a flash, like light reflecting again metal, made him blink. He heard the dull sound of flesh being ripped apart. The metallic smell of blood plagued the bridge. When he opened his eye a familiar yet new scene greeted him.
There was Rin, her lifeless brown eyes as soft as always and this smile that he hated on her face. And at the same time she was Haku, his body protecting the missing nin. This time he wasn't his hand running through the body, but his young student's sword. So deep was the blade that the body stayed upright even when the kid was obviously dead. The girl's face was as white as snow, stained by bright red tears. It was terrifying how they almost seemed to be wars paint, how right they fitted with the pinks lock and green orbs. Those eyes were widened in shock. For a brief moment pain was plain in her features. Then she schooled them and a sinister calm covered her.
His Rin killed Rin. Only years of experience permitted to not break down, but even that could not stop the shake of his hand and the turmoil of emotion.
Hey ! How are you ? What are you thoughts ? What do you think of Sasuke ? Do you like how it's going so far ? I was so happy to see that this story have 100 followers ! Thank you so much ! So I published this chapter way earlier than I intended so it's a little short and more a warm up than the real confrontation but I hope you will like it ! And again thank you for those who leave a review ( my answer is at the end of the chapter), they always make me want to write and cheer me on ! But also thanks for all the readers for simply appreciating my work ! See you next chapter ! Don't hesitate to leave a review !
The Plague Doctor ( Welcome to this story ! I'm really happy that you like it so far !), StrangersAreBad ( Thank you for reviewing ! There will be more of Zabuza next chapter, where the "real" action will be !), Ashes ( I'm so happy that you like it ! Writing how their interact with one another is my favorite part so I'm really happy that you appreciate it! And for Naruto's interest it's a field I will really like to deepen. ), Suzululu4moe ( I love to write those little light heated moments ! And Naruto's crush on Sakura is just so cute ! And as for Sasuke, Sakura care a lot for ! It's just that she is changing and their dynamics are still blurred. She doesn't know how to express her feelings and Sasuke had never been a talker. But they still care for each other.), Withoutausername ( First … I love your name ! And second, thank you a lot for you review , I hope that you will continue to like the story !), LostPrincessHolly ( Thank you so much ! Team Seven's new dynamics is what I'm working the most on ! Next chapter will be the real confrontation between Sakura and Zabuza !), tiffanycr ( I totally understand what you're seeing ! Zabuza and Haku are like one of my favorite duo but I just couldn't let them live. Zabuza will never let a genin steal his sword no matter how grateful he could be. And as for Sakura, even if she can clearly see in this chapter that she isn't prepared to murder … she just couldn't let Zabuza alive, her mental health is too fragile to live in the fear of Sakura's return. And finally, Kubikiribocho would have made her kill Zabuza. ), Sakuralover4ever ( There is it ! I hope you will like it ! I'm really happy that you like Sakura's inner dialogue because there will be a lot more of it.)