DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. MASASHI KISHIMOTO DOES.
Itachi face palmed while Hiruzen's eyebrow twitched, "Take this time to ponder about your actions. And Sasuke...?"
Said Uchiha looked nonchalantly to the grey-haired man behind the desk, "Make sure Sakura will be alright."
Sasuke nodded firmly, looking determined, "I will."
"You two can go. I would like to speak to your guardians for now." Hiruzen ordered as he looked at Sasori and Sasuke who nodded their heads and bowed to Hiruzen before going out.
Once the door closed behind Sasori. Hiruzen looked beyond serious and worried as he looked at Mikoto, Itachi and Kisame.
"So, tell me. What happened?"
"You're Mine, Only Mine"
Chapter 19: "The Truth"
"I'm sorry."
Sasuke looked to the source of the voice on his right, Sasori.
They've been sitting side by side quietly by the campus gates for 10 minutes now. Waiting for their 'guardians' to finally bring them home as they spend a week or two outside the campus now that they were suspended due to the 'little incident' that they did.
When Sasuke didn't say a thing not even a confusing grunt of some sort. The red-hair faced him, "I'm sorry."
Sasuke simply rolled his eyes and turned back to him, "I heard you. I just don't know why are you saying that."
"I blame myself Uchiha. Maybe, I shouldn't have asked her for some snack." Sasori guiltily confessed his thoughts in which Sasuke scoffed at. "Yeah. It's pretty stupid."
The red-haired furrowed his eyebrow at him, clearly taking it as an insult, "Hey Uchi—" and was taken aback when he saw that the young Uchiha is smirking at him.
"It wasn't your fault," Sasuke started, taking a pause to think before continuing again "Or maybe it is. But it isn't just your fault. It's my fault, her parents, that Gato, and maybe even Sakura's fault."
Sasori, even more confused, shook his head. He didn't get what Sasuke's pointing out. Why would it have been Sakura's fault if she's been kidnapped and god knows what had or was happening to her as they speak. Uchihas are weird.
Seeing Sasori's gaze, Sasuke sighed, not liking the fact that he had to explain himself, maybe it's much better if he had stayed quiet," "My point is. It doesn't matter who's to blame for. The only thing that matters now is finding Sakura, rescuing her, and make sure it doesn't happen again."
Sasori's eyes widened for a fraction in the wise words if the Uchiha, maybe Uchihas aren't ice cold as they say. But despite Sasuke's words he can t help but to blame himself for it, Deidara did cut them off but it is his fault for upsetting Sakura in the first place, maybe if he hadn't said anything she would stay with them and accept the offer of driving her back to her house. But that didn't happen, because of his stupidity if telling her what had occurred. Now, all that he can think of is that Sakura was abducted, confused and torn apart. He can't blame Sasuke dor that, if anything, he should thank him for allowing his girlfriend to talk to him in a cafe in which it can be misinterpreted as a date. Sasori sighed as he further regrets all of his actions. Regrets were made, they say, and he had definitely created a mistake that to be regretted.
"Sasuke."
Said Uchiha turned to him, and curious that Sasori had called him by his first name and with a serious, non-threatening tone of voice.
"Tell Itachi to meet me at the Akatsuki's, make sure you'll come as well," Sasori said as he straightened himself up, walking towards the gates.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow for the red hair's mysterious request, "Why don't you tell that yourself?"
The red-hair stopped his tracks as he looked partly to Sasuke through his shoulder, "I need to think about stuff." And with that. Sasori walks off.
Weird. Was the first thing that came to Sasuke's mind. Nervous. Was the second one, but he doesn't know why. He just felt that Sasori will reveal something that will fuel the fire that has already started.
"Everything's being taken care of as of now, Tsunade's taking care of Mebuki and our relatives are looking after her, making sure that Gato or sny of his men will hurt her... Again." Mikoto sais to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen nodded before asking again, "What about the police? The lead?"
Itachi takes this as his cue to speak, "Uncle Obito found a lead on the hideout of Gato in the Konoha. We're just waiting for the plan of action" Mikoto and Kisame nodded, it seems like the big guy has been briefed about it too. It wasn't a big deal if he knew, after all, he is Itachi's closest friend.
"If you don't mind me asking, Mikoto, what happened?" Hiruzen blatantly asks he wanted to know how things came to be this way; messy and serious. Sakura is one of the top students in the school after all ad it's highly unlikely that she got into a mess that jeopardizes herself. He did sneak a glance at Kisame, silently asking the Uchiha matriarch if it was fine discussing this on front of Kisame, this can be a piece of vital or private information and he wouldn't want to reveal it in a way to harm.
Mikoto saw the small glance that Hiruzen threw at Kisame, it was as if she was asking her if the information can be safe with Kisame as well. Looking to his son and Kisame. It doesn't bother her that Kisame was here to hear the whole story as he and Itachi were close like brothers and has been helping them looking for Sakura in case they just overlooked the situation. And so she continued and take a deep breath before retelling what had happened that day.
"While they were in Suna. Mebuki and Kizashi kept a young man named Idate. They saw him in the streets and took care of him, he wouldn't say anything but the scratches and wounds are enough for the couple to know what's going on. They encouraged him to sing to the police but the boy didn't want to. He simply kept quiet, he eventually worked and tried to repay what Mebuki and Kizashi had done through doing chores and gifts. Then one day, Idate left." Mikoto said, explaining what Mebuki had told her the day that they met in Suna, "And then... That's when everything started."
[FLASHBACK]
There was a loud banging from the door. It wasn't a close to a knock, it was more like someone's knocking the door off. Mebuki was terrified at it and moved away from it as Kizashi cautiously moved forward to open the door. Both of them didn't know what was going to happen. They were clueless of who's behind the door or if they were armed. With Idate leaving their current residence, they were scared and anxious about having problems with him and it seems like their biggest fears are coming to life
Kizashi glanced to his wife from his shoulder before opening the door slightly. Only to be pushed by the force that the man outside had exerted to the door, leaving it flying open as other uniformed men entered their house.
Coming back to his senses, Kizashi moved quickly to Mebuki, holding her close, scared for both of their lives.
After the parade of almost 10 men inside their house, three of them now searching inside. Another man, who's much smaller and not muscular like of his men had entered the scene. He had his back crouched a little bit, he has round tinted glasses as if the sun is high and staff to support him walking. And even if his apparent lack of the big and scary face, his aura and atmosphere are enough to know that this man is the same man that Idate was scared of. And now, that same person is before them."Where's Idate?" The man spoke quite calmly. But Kizashi and Mebuki simply stared at him in shock and fear. When the man saw that the shock stricken faces, he straightened himself up and tried again, "I SAID WHERE IS MY SON?!"Kizashi was the first one to recover and cleared his throat before answering, "I-Idate? H-he... He left... Last last night. H-he left and never said a word!"Despite the truth, the man's face contorted with displeasing, "Don't you know who I am?! DON'T YOU KNOW?!"N-no! P-please sir... We don't want... A-any problem." Mebuki spoke this time, eyes already tearing up. The man opens his mouth to speak but the three men that were searching the house moved behind him, "Sir. Negative. Idate isn't here. Although, we find some of the things that seem to belong to him."
After hearing the words, the man — their boss advanced to the couple, but before reaching them, he pointed his staff towards Kizashi, signalling his men to hold him off, "W-what are you doing! G-get your hands off of me! Hey! D-Don't you dare touch my wife!" Kizashi continues squirming against their holds as he saw the man advancing towards his wife.
Mebuki, on the other hand, backed up to the wall, cowering on the man before her, that despite his height was powerful to kill them right at that moment.
"Listen here, you bitch." The man spits to her as he prodded her with his staff, "I'm Gato. And I run the places that you don't want to be placed onto. So you better give my son back or I'll make sure to chop your head off!"
Mebuki went down to her knees, "P-please sir. I-idate... He r-really left! He... He didn't say a-a thing! T-those stuff... He o-only left them! I-i swear!" Gato scoffs at Mebuki and hit her on the head again and again.
"NO! NO! PLEASE DON'T! DON'T HIT MY WIFE! WE'LL FIND HIM! WE'LL FIND IDATE! JUST PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T HURT HER!" Kizashi screamed and beg as he trashed against Gato's men, he couldn't bear to witness how Gato hurt his wife.
Gato turned to him and moved rapidly to him until he's on Kizashi's face, "Find him alright. I'll give you... TWO WEEKS!" Gato moved closer to him until his mouth reaches his ears. "But if you can't find him... Your daughter will pay for the price. Gato loudly said, despite the closeness of his mouth to Kizashi's ear.
Kizashi's eyes widened as Mebuki turned her head towards them, "NO! NOT SAKURA! NOT OUR DAUGHTER!" Mebuki charged towards Gato only to be hit by one of Gato's men, leaving her to fall to the ground with a bruising cheek.
"Please! PLEASE! Don't hurt our daughter! We'll do everything! Everything! Just please!" Kizashi pleaded as tears fall from his eyes.
Gato proceeded at the door, "TWO WEEKS."
Soon enough, when Gato has fled the scene, his henchmen followed him, throwing Kizashi on the floor by his wife.
Soon enough, when Gato has fled the scene, his henchmen followed him, throwing Kizashi on the floor by his wife.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
"After her story. I encouraged her to go to the police with me, that I'll be there with her. I knew someone from Suna that could help her. But she did the want to do it, that she's being watched all the time." Mikoto recalled her moments with Mebuki, "She just begged me to protect Sakura at all cost."
Mikoto sighed remembering that painful conversation only stressed her out, they were too late, Gato already had Sakura and god knows what did he do to her, she only hopes that this time they'll be on time to save from his hands.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and saw that her eldest smiled at her, her worry instantly disappear as resolved replaced her fears, "After that. I haven't heard anything from her. Fugaku and I personally went to the station to report it. But it's as if someone's working inside and Gato found out about it. It wasn't two weeks yet but chaos arose... They had captured Kizashi and Mebuki."
She sighed remembering how tables had turned, at that moment, she felt as if it was her fault since she eagerly pushes to report it t the police. " The police told us that Gato was actually involved in the underground business and that 'Idate' wasn't his son but one of his trusted henchman who managed to escape him. They told us that Idate turned to them but didn't tell the Harunos. Gato found out that Idate got involved with the harunos, he was scared that Idate will turn against him so he threatened them but eventually gaining knowledge about Idate going to the police, he set revenge to Kizashi and Mebuki, and he had sources that told him that they have a daughter and so this happened... He's getting revenge through Sakura. The Suna Police Force eventually had a lead, and we went to Ame, they set up a raid, that's where things got out of control..."
This was the hardest part yet, the first time that she had to tell this to Itachi and Sasuke, almost break her heart, she couldn't bear telling it to Sakura if it comes down to it. She couldn't imagine how would it affect her. Little did she know that Sakura already had that information.
"Kizashi... Was shot to the chest. The doctors there couldn't do anything to save him... Mebuki, she was shot as well, multiple times but it luckily avoided her vital points, although what affected her the most is the fall that she had during the raid. That is why we had to fly back in Konoha, Tsunade is a known trauma expert and a great doctor. The doctors back at Ame also recommended that it's better to transfer Mebuki, we had to wait for her to stabilize first but we got here as fast as we can but..." Mikoto choked on her words, "Sakura..."
Hiruzen sighed in understanding, this was grave news and a huge hit to the Haruno and Uchiha family. He can now understand that however harsh and violent Sasuke had been, it's only because the young man only loved Sakura that much. That is causing him to act before thinking straught.
Kisame moved to sit beside Mikoto well, filling up Sasuke's seat beside her and gently placing a hand on her shoulder and Itachi patting her back gently as she shed some tears quietly.
"I just wish we weren't too late to save her as well."-
Mikoto, Itachi and Kisame with Shizune and Hiruzen in tow went walked towards the gate, Sasuke sighing as they at last finished the conversation that their principal asked them for. They stopped for a while as Mikoto, Hiruzen and Shizune is caught up in a conversation.
Sasuke sighed as he remembered what Sasori had relay on him, he turned to his brother, Itachi, not bothering Kisame's presence, "Akaningyo said we should go to the Akatsuki later."
When Sasuke nonchalantly relayed the information, Itachi and Kisame heard something interesting, "We?".
"Hn." The younger Uchiha replied to his brother, "He wanted to say something."
Itachi thought about the cryptic meaning behind the words that Sasori told to Sasuke and then it dawned him. He sighs and gulps, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose, "Annoying."
"You knew about this?" Sasuke eyed his brother suspiciously. Before turning his suspicious eye to Kisame who only shook the head, saying that he didn't know what it was about or he had any idea
Itachi sighed as he shook his head, "We'll talk about it when we get there."
Mikoto finally bid her farewell as she walks to the boys. "Itachi, can you drop me off at the hospital? I wanna know how Mebuki is." Mikoto kindly asks her eldest son.
Sasuke grimaced at his mother's tone, "Of course not, kaa-san."
When Sasuke heard that his brother, Itachi is a part of Akatsuki, he thought it was trouble. Like it was some sort of fraternity that was created by some mob boss called Yahiko. He never believed that it was a non-government organization and a charity that make deals with companies for donations or conducts fundraiser for the unfortunate especially when they call it as a fraternity or a brotherhood.
But seeing the huge 'headquarters' that looks more likely as a company for itself with its 10 floors and a contemporary look. So, when Itachi said he had some business to attend to, he is serious about it, "This is Akatsuki?"
Kisame looked at Sasuke indifferently, knowing what he thought about their fraternity, "You really thought that we're a gang connected with the underground business, kid?"
Itachi sighed beside Sasuke knowing exactly why Kisame knew Sasuke's train of thoughts, Kisame was with him Afterall, when Naruto and Sasuke tried to follow and snoop about the Akatsuki. Itachi doesn't have any idea why don't Naruto simply ask his Uncle Nagato about them, he is, after all, the co-founders of Akatsuki.
Sasuke shrugged, "You never know."
"Come on. Let's get this over with." Itachi said as he walked in the building with Kisame and Sasuke behind him.
Soon, they were greeted by an orange-haired man together with a blue-haired woman both looks older than Itachi. "Hey! How's everything?" The man greeted as soon as he saw them.
Itachi nodded in greeting and stopped in front of them, "Yahiko. Konan. Is Sasori here?"
"Uh.. yeah. I think I saw him. He looks bad. Pretty bad" Yahiko grimaced remembering the bruises and bandaids all over Sasori's face, "Did he get into a fight in his school? He's still in his uniform."
Itachi sighed for the umpteenth time today as Kisame snickered beside him, instead of answering, Itachi stepped aside and looked to Sasuke who's currently gritting his teeth behind him.
Yahiko and Konan took his appearance and while Yahiko is having a hard time putting two and two together, Konan immediately caught up, "This is your brother, isn't it?" Her question is directed to Itachi but her eyes didn't leave Sasuke which as she observed, received less damage when he saw Itachi nodded silently she continued her thoughts, "And... They fought?"
"THEY DID?!" Yahiko exclaimed as the realization dawned upon him — well not really since Konan had said it blatantly.
"I wouldn't say it's just a fight. I swear they're ready to kill each other! You saw Sasori's face!" Kisame cut in, "Uchihas are scary."
Which earned two pairs of scorching glares and two simultaneous and deeply harmonized, "Shut up."
Konan only sighed at Sasuke, "Girl problem?" Which shocked Sasuke, his eyes widening in a fraction before returning to its original size.
This didn't go unnoticed to Konan as she giggled in Sasuke's reaction, "Must be a lucky girl." She didn't wait for Sasuke's or anyone e else's reaction as she drags Yahiko with him to the door, "Sasori's on the lounge. We'll head out."
'Lucky girl all right.' Kisame sighed at Konan's musing about Sakura, he just wished it's as simple as that.
Sasori sat on the single couch in the lounging area, the electric fireplace already open and warming up the room. It wasn't a cold day and it definitely isn't raining or snowing outside, he just can't help fidgetting around, trying to get his mind off of the topic.
Thinking about it, it wasn't too much of a big deal if he was honest but to think that Sakura has been kidnapped with those thoughts in her head. Sasori was scared that when she gets back, she may remember that and hate him, Itachi and Sasuke for it. Sasuke didn't deserve it no matter what.
It is quite funny to think about this petty stuff when the centre of that deal is currently missing and kami knows what is happening to her right now.
When the doorknob twisted, Sasori turned his head to stare at the doorway, anticipating the arrival of the Uchiha brothers.
As expected, Itachi walked inside with Sasuke in tow, Kisame, however, is out of sight. Kisame out of sight. He may have sensed that this is a personal and highly confidential topic and so he left on his own accord, probably went to the game room where Hidan and Deidara currently is.
Itachi sat on the couch opposite to the single one that Sasori is currently sitting on while the Sasuke sat beside his brother, looking around the room with a critical eye, 'That's right Sasuke hasn't been here before. I wonder if he'll take interest in joining Akatsuki as his brother' Sasori mused.
"Sasori.", Itachi started, "You..." Only to keep his mouth shut, he didn't know how to begin to talk about the topic. It wasn't even in the plan to reveal it to Sakura nor Sasuke.
Sasori sensed Itachi's feeling towards the topic, "I may have made a mistake." Sasori stated which only earned a curious look from Sasuke, "What the hell are you two talking about?"
Itachi took this as a sign, he has to be the one to tell Sasuke this rather foolish plan, it was his idea after all. Now he knows where did Sasuke get his foolishness, he may be the source and the one to blame for it, "Sasori and I made a deal."
"And how am I involved with this?" Sasuke asked his brother, his gut feeling isn't good.
"After his transfer at Konoha High, I asked him to do something." Itachi paused thinking how to say it, only to realize that it's better to just plainly say it out loud, he didn't want to accidentally make it worse, "I asked him to make you jealous."
Sasuke was taken aback from the scope of their deal, immediately catching up what's more to it, 'If they wanted me to get jealous then that means...'
His head turned to the red-head, "You're toying around Sakura?" Sasuke gritted his teeth, oh how he wanted to punch the life out of him.
"No! I wouldn't do that to her!" Sasori said defensively.
Sasuke scoffed at this, "Tsch. So you want me to believe that you like her but accepted the deal that'll lead me to her? You think I'm that dumb, Akaningyo?"
The redhead glared at the young Uchiha, "I didn't like her the way you do at first, or maybe I do but just didn't feel it until I accepted the deal and get close to her. I don't know Uchiha! But what I do know is that my feelings for her are real."
"And then what? You told her days after we were official?" Sasuke asked rather sarcastically, only to be met by silence, "YOU TOLD HER?!"
Sasori winced at Sasuke's outburst, his face isn't in a good condition if they break into a fight again, "I did."
Sasuke looked at him in disbelief, "Are you that stupid, Akaningyo? Sakura will only get confused. Damn, she might even think that none of this is real. That neither your or my feelings for her are real!" His head whipped beside him, glaring at his brother, "If you wanted to help me you could've just said so, Itachi! I would've listened and pondered about it. Not this!"
Sasuke panted, trying to control himself. He lowered his face and let his bangs coverer his eyes, gritting his teeth, "I know that I had a hard time figuring things out. But she didn't deserve this! None of this! And now that she knows of that. Who knows what's running through her mind. If... When she comes back, do you realize what can happen?! Do you realize that?!"
"I DO SASUKE!" Sasori burst out, standing up in the process, "I know how fucked up this whole thing is! But you sounded as if I knew that this is going to happen to her! If I only knew I wouldn't say a damn thing! But I did it alright! You don't have to be a jerk about it! Don't act as if you're the only one who's been hurting in this whole deal!"
Sasuke chuckled darkly, "And what do you take me for? This can ruin us Sasori but more than that this can ruin her! Do you actually think she can even trust you? Me? You know that she won't. It won't ever be the same!"
"Now, it's just you and your arrogant ass again, huh? Afraid that she won't trust you? Dare I tell you, Sasuke, if it wasn't for me, for this whole fucking deal, you won't even realize your feelings, damn! You won't even be with her if I didn't make you jealous! I love her Sasuke! I just don't understand why would she waste her time with someone who can't even begin to admit his feelings to her without someone provoking him to do so! YOU'RE NOT RIGHT FOR HER!"
Sasori's words made Sasuke stood up and grabbed his collar, "YOU DON'T HAVE A SAY TO THAT AKANINGYO, MIND I REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A PLAYBOY. Do you think Sakura is better with you? Think again!"
Sasori grabbed Sasuke's collar as well, "You know nothing about me Uchiha! Watch your mouth, you wouldn't want me to lose patience and beat you now, would you?"
Sasuke only tightened his grip on Sasori's collar, "You're the one to talk with that beat-up face."
Sasori saw this as a challenge and tighten his grip as well, "You don't deserve her, Sasuke."
"Maybe Sakura's better with me."
That statement alone made the two teens looked at Itachi furiously, "What did you say?" Sasuke growling like a beast at his brother.
Itachi sighed, again, before getting up from his seat. He has been very quiet with the whole ordeal, observing the two teenagers before him, they even forgot that he was there and he noticed that they didn't even blame him for it.
Itachi walked to the two, ignoring their glares at him as he proceeded to loosen their grip towards each other, "If I knew that the two of you would be this... Foolish. I may have just taken Sakura. At this point, neither one of you deserves her "
When Sasuke and Sasori let go of each other and turned their anger towards Itachi, he nonchalantly ignores it and sat again on his spot, eyeing the two, that is openly glaring at him.
"This is my fault. You can stop blaming each other now" Itachi stated, visibly surprising the two.
Sasori sighed falling to his seat and looking down, probably thinking of his actions as Sasuke went back to his as well.
"Sasuke, I only wanted you to realize those feelings I never intend to hurt anyone, I never intended to hurt you too as well Sasori, I know that this has been hard for you." Looking respectively at the two, "This has been one of my poor judgement. And it is I, who's to blame for. This had hurt the two of you and what more to Sakura. Don't fret about this, I'll be the one to talk to her when she gets back."
"But for now. I only ask of the two of you, to lower your pride and settle the things between you. We need to focus on the problem at hand and both of you isn't helping the current situation. If you continue this, I meant it, none of you deserves to be with her."
Sasuke and Sasori rolled their eyes before speaking simultaneously, "And you do?"
Itachi's eyebrow twitched at their response, still focused on what he had said. Although, seeing their reaction made him an idea, smirking inside, he looked at them smugly, "Yes."
"Try and continue that and I might take the offer."
Of course, Itachi knew that the two will eventually work it out. If it wasn't for the sake of each other, it would be for the sake of Sakura.
He hasn't been telling a lie when he told them that he is the one to blame, hearing their words a while ago really made him realize that he messed things up, he only wanted his brother, Sasuke to realize his feelings and work upon it, in the process, he never would've thought that Sasori will harbour real feelings towards Sakura.
Itachi didn't know that this will come to a whole lot of mess but he wouldn't back out from the responsibility that he had taken upon himself either. He'll make sure that Sasuke and Sakura realized their part as he'll make sure to fix things up with Sakura when everything's fine and she is saved.
If all else failed and things don't settle between the three teens. He might really take the 'I deserve her' statement. Who knows if Sakura and he will make a great couple, maybe in the parallel universe, they will be.
Itachi observed the two, Sasori is staring at the electric fireplace, and Sasuke looking down on his lap. This will take some work and time but Itachi's sure that they'll eventually loosen up.
A/N: Here it goes! If you didn't read the author's note, I reuploaded chapter 18, exchanged Tsunade to Hiruzen. Anyways, it's fun putting some foreshadowing in the fanfic. ItaSaku is my shipwrecker. Lol.
I am actually planning to make some story that isn't SasuSaku. Sooo what do you think? Who's your shipwrecker? Itachi? Gaara? Sasori? Kakashi?
Just review below and I'll try to think for a story concept!
R R!
~ Yatsu Narurasuke