Chapter-42

Finally, the day has come. Sakura didn't sleep at all. She got ready and sat on the dining table with her parents. She acted all cheery around them. Breakfast being done, now she had to go… and probably not return. She took heavy steps towards the door and stared at it and then at her parents with a pained look. She shook herself and opened the door

"Bye Mom! By Dad! I love you!"

And she ran out. She wanted to cry but this was not the time to be wasting time by crying. I have a mission and I will succeed. She thought determinedly. She ran from roof to roof until she found Sasuke walking casually. I should go near the gate. I'll convince him to take me along. And with that thought, she went to the bench near the gate. He left me here… and I'll leave him too. She thought grimly.

Suddenly, she sensed Sasuke's chakra coming towards her. She stood up and waited. He finally came into view.

"Sakura? why are you here?"

"I was training. Where are you off to?"

"I heard from Jonins that Itachi was in a nearby town. He has gone there to capture Naruto. Im going to kill him today. At all costs."

Sakura looked at him sadly.

"Sasuke, you know right that revenge is not a good thing to wish for."

"I don't care about philosophies. I want him dead. And by my hands."

"Idiot. Fine. Since you wont listen, I'll come with you."

"What? No you can't! he'll kill you!" he said in a frenzy

"Don't worry. I will run if it comes to that but I'm coming with you. That's final. Now shall we go or waste more time here arguing?"

"Tch. Fine." And then they both ran off and out of the village. Sakura took a glance backwards and gave a bittersweet smile. Bye Konoha.

Meanwhile Naruto had mastered the balloons filled with water. Now Jiraiya had given him next exercise. He had to contain his spiraling chakra within an empty balloon. Naruto was trying hard but it wasn't working. He was sitting in the room Jiraiya had booked and left to get Tsunade's where abouts.

Itachi walked calmly towards the town with Kisame. Itachi was anticipating what would happen but he concealed it very well. They reached the town and started looking for Naruto. To lure Jiraiya away, Kisame transformed into a beautiful woman and started looking for Jiraiya. Itachi went ahead and looked for the inn Naruto was in. He reached there in no time. He sensed his chakra and moved towards it. He stood at the door, released a sigh and knocked on the door.

Naruto heard a knock on the door and went to open in. when he did, he saw a pair of sharingan staring at him darkly.

"Sasuke?"

"I am Uchiha Itachi. I am here with the order to capture you."

Naruto's eyes went wide.

Sasuke and Sakura had also reached the town and split up to ask about Naruto. After a while, Sakura sensed Naruto's chakra and signaled Sasuke. They ran in together and they found Itachi talking to Naruto.

"You guys? Why are you here?" and suddenly he went limp and fell on the floor

"Naruto! You okay?" asked Sakura. He put him under a genjutsu

"ITACHI! I've longed for this day. Today you will die by my hands. I've become stronger." Sasuke said with his sharingan activated and formed a chidori in his hand. He yelled out and went towards Itachi. Itachi moved away to the side and grasped his hand and twisted it. He screamed in agony.

"Sasuke!" she tried to run forward but Sasuke held his hand out. He didn't want her to get in between.

"I do not have time to deal with you weaklings."

"Who are you calling a weakling, you bastard?" said Sasuke

"You of course, foolish little brother."

"I am not weak." He screamed as he went to punch Itachi but Itachi dodged and gave Sasuke a swift kick in the stomach which made Sasuke fly back and rammed against a wall.

"Sasuke! Are you okay?" asked Sakura worriedly

Suddenly, Itachi appeared in front of Sasuke and picked him up with his collar.

"Do you want to witness that night again, Sasuke?"

Sasuke's eyes went wide when he heard that and screamed no. He struggled to get away but it was futile.

"STOP! Don't hurt him anymore!" said Sakura

"Sakura, run!"

"Now now little brother, you seem quite fond of her. Asking her to run for her life? Isn't that adorable?"

"Shut up, Itachi. Don't even dare to touch her." Sasuke growled

"Well that makes things better. You, girl. What kind of ninja are you?" asked Itachi

"I'm a medic ninja." She replied with a determined look.

"Well that's just perfect. We could use a medic ninja."

"NO! Itachi, don't do anything to her." Screamed Sasuke

Itachi smirked. He must really like her. Sorry brother.

"You girl. Sakura was it? What will you choose? Sasuke's life or yours?"

She gulped and said, "Sasuke's."

"No Sakura. I told you to run. He is playing games with you. Don't trust him!"

"Am I playing a game? that's foolish." Said Itachi as he tightened his grip on Sasuke's neck.

"Well Sakura, will you come with us?" asked Itachi

"No Sakura, run. He'll kill you! Please just go." Pleaded Sasuke.

Sakura looked down as she began shaking and said

"Sorry Sasuke. I treasure you more than my life."

She said as she rose her head and smiled at him.

Sasuke felt grief fill him. No no no not her! I cant lose her too! I have to do something! But I cant even move.

Sasuke looked at Sakura who was crying while watching him and then turned her head towards Naruto and smiled at him. Sasuke felt something break inside him when she went limp and fell on the ground. Sasuke turned his head and saw that he had casted a genjutsu on Sakura.

"Damn you, Itachi. Stop it. She's not a part of this. Let her go. Please." Cried Sasuke

"Sorry brother but I don't care for tears."

"Sakura! Sakura! wake up! Please wake up. Please…" he pleaded while crying but she didn't even move.

"Don't take her Itachi please!" Sasuke begged Itachi

"Looks like you need to refreshen your memory about who I am." Itachi casted Tsukuyomi on Sasuke and let him slump against the wall. Sorry Sasuke. It's necessary.

'Inside the Tsukuyomi, Sasuke saw his clan being slashed by Itachi. Then he stood in a room where her parents were calmly waiting. Then Itachi came before him with his Sharingan shining in the dark and he slashed them. Sasuke screamed but then he saw another person next to his parents. When the light fell upon that person, Sasuke's stomach dropped.

"No. no . please" he begged but nobody listened to his cries. Sakura slowly rose her head and gave him a beautiful smile that made his heart twist in pain and then Itachi came behind her and slashed her. She fell on the floor and never woke up. Sasuke screamed.'

Just then Kisame came running. "We have to go. Jiraiya is coming."

Itachi nodded and picked up Sakura.

"Who is she?"

"I'll tell you later. Let's go." And then they disappeared.

Naruto slowly woke up and saw Jiraiya towering over him. He jumped up when he recalled what happened. He looked around and saw slumped against a wall.

"Sasuke! Hey, Sasuke! Wake up! Wake up, damn it!" yelled Naruto

"He won't wake up. He's under Tsukuyomi. Only a healer like Tsunade can treat him. I already told the village about the situation. They'll come to take him back to the village."

Naruto looked sadly at Sasuke but just then remembered.

"Where's Sakura-chan?"

Jiraiya gave a grave expression and said, "They took her."

Naruto's eyes went wide. What? Did he just say that Sakura-chan was taken by those bastards?

"I have to go look for her! Let me go!" screamed Naruto

"You can't fight with them yet, Naruto. You don't have much experience and knowledge. Beside waking up you teammate is more important."

Naruto stopped struggling and punched the wall. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

Naruto was sitting in the room with Jiraiya. They had laid sasuke down in a futon. He didn't even budge. Naruto was angry and frustrated. Itachi took Sakura and put Sasuke in vegetative state. I'll kill him for hurting Sasuke and Sakura-chan. Finally the medical team arrived and took Sasuke away.