A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate it! I didn't think anyone was still interested in the story, but I guess I was wrong! Thanks again! It'll be hard to get things in due to school, and the fact that I have another story I have to update too. But again, thanks!

Warnings: Uh.. viewer discretion is advised?jp.

Disclaimer: Would I be writing a fanfiction if I owned the Naruto series?...most likely not…so there it is.

Those Sharingan Eyes

Chapter 10: Confrontation

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"Why are you doing this?!" Sakura commanded, trying to keep her voice calm. She tried to move under the ropes that binded her to a tree, but her movements were very limited. It was string made out of chakra, there was no way she would be able to break it.

"Sasuke has become restless over the past few days. He thinks to fight me. I am simply giving him that wish. I am here to make him realize the mistakes of his thinking." Itachi answered honestly. Yet Sakura could hardly tell with his cold, monotone voice. But she had a feeling he wasn't lying. "You, Sakura-san, are part of the problem."

Sakura was confused, yet at the same time she felt this weird feeling seep into her.

"W-Why?"

"He will turn out just like me if you keep hanging over him. Soon he will feel as if he has to please you against his own will. Do things that you and people around him want him to do, things he does not want to. And one day..he will get tired of it..fufilling other's dreams instead of his own. He will lash out, seeking to break any and all connection with you and the people around him, if he hasn't already. He will kill on a great scale, Sakura-san, and it will be because of you."

His words rang over and over again in her head. They were horrible…yet..they sounded so true. Soo like Sasuke. But no..he was not a killer. Sasuke was not a killer. He was not like Itachi. Was he? He wasn't on the path of self destruction that would lead him right into the footsteps of his brother was he? He wasn't slowly losing himself, losing the control he had worked so hard for, was he? That couldn't happen right? It wouldn't happen..right?

"You seem to be oblivious to a lot of things Sakura-san," Itachi started. The way he phrased that made it seem as if he could read her mind. It was unsettling. He seemed to be answering all her questions with the answers she didn't want. "When Sasuke sees me, he will break. He will not be able to handle our confrontation. He is naïve, weak. Seeing you held captive by his most hated other will definitely double the likelihood of this, if not triple it."

For some odd reason Sakura found herself wanting to laugh humorlessly, dryly. "Sasuke could care less if something were to happen to me. That's where this little plan of yours has gone wrong… He's not as stupid and weak as you believe him to be…he won't come for me." Although the words were spoken calmly and sternly, Sakura found herself hiding a little twinge of pain.

"You really believe so, Sakura-san? We shall wait and see." Itachi's words were emotionless, yet she could detect the slight trace of humor and confidence lacing his words. This was a game to him. A sick, twisted game. She knew she should be confident, strong, defiant, but it seemed to be getting harder and harder with each word that stemmed from Itachi's mouth.

She didn't want Sasuke to come.

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Sasuke was sprinting down the path as fast as he could, alternating from jumping through the trees, so going out on an all sprint run. He wasn't tired. His body wasn't aching. Those unimportant sensations were pushed to the back of his head. He felt weird. He had never felt this way before. He was feeling all these different emotions at once. Dread, Fear, Worry, Anger. A fire was raging inside of him. Yet his cold demeanor showed none of this.

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Naruto was sprinting down the path as fast as he could. He did not alternate to jumping in the trees. From the moment he set of he stayed sprinting down the path he had taken. He was angry, scared, worried. Sasuke knew something that he did not. Sasuke knew whatever had taken Sakura, knew the extent to which the person as able to do so. He himself knew nothing. So if he found her, he knew not of what he would be up against. He didn't know if Sakura was ok, if he could save her. Naruto's eyes burned even further as he had realized his train of thought. He would save her.

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If Sasuke and Naruto would have been able to see through the thick foliage of forest between the two different paths they had taken, they would have been able to see each other. They were running right beside the other, at the same paste, with the same exact running strides.

Whoever had taken the right path would get there at the same time the other would have. But as the rule of chance goes, one of them had taken the right path, the other the wrong path. One of them would not find her first. And both the shinobis wished with every part of them that they weren't that person.

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Sakura was trying to concentrate on the sound of the continuous pounding rain, anything, trying to block out the sound of Itachi's voice. He wouldn't stop talking to her, filling her mind with lies. Lies. That's what they were. He was lying. He was in her head. He wasn't speaking out loud, the words were playing in her head. Over and over again. He was making her relive all the moments she had been annoying to Sasuke. Each time it had pushed him closer and closer to the edge. Each time she had talked to him. Each time she had looked at him. Touched him.

"Sasuke-kun! Wanna go out on a date?"

"Sasuke-kun! Can you walk me home?"

"Sasuke-kun! Save me!"

"Sasuke-kun! Do you hate me?"

"Sasuke-kun! Do you like me?"

Was it true? Had she really been destroying him? Making him worse, when she had only sought to make him better? Was she really being that selfish?

"No."

"Go away."

"…"

"Yes."

"You're annoying."

"Sakura! This is none of your business!"

And times he had been forced to save her? Were those part of it to? Protecting her, did she make him feel that he had to?

"Sakura! Watch out!"

"Sakura !Get Out of here!"

"You're in the way!"

"Stay back, Sakura!"

Each time he or Naruto had been forced to take action, protect her because she wasn't strong enough to protect herself. They would always get into bad confrontations or situations because of her.

"Do you hate me?"

"..yes."

She understood why now. She had no reason to be upset with Sasuke for hating her. She had well deserved it. More words and situations kept replaying themselves in her mind. She hated it. She wanted it to stop. She wanted everything to stop.

"Stop It!!" As soon as the words escaped her mouth, a kunai came out of nowhere with excellent speed. Yet Itachi, lazily raising his hand, caught it a mere inch away from his skin.

Sakura's eyes widened.

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Sasuke had slowed down to a halt. His chest was heaving up and down from the constant running. But something else was ailing him.

"Chikuso!!" Sasuke slammed his fist into a nearby tree, splintering it upon contact. He was furious. He didn't wait another second as he quickly turned on his heels and sprinted back the way he came, seemingly at and even faster pace than before.

Sasuke had reached the end of the trail, and all that greeted him was a view of Konoha village. There was nothing, no other path he could take but the one he came on.

He had to take the path Naruto had taken. He just hoped Naruto would be able to last till he got there.

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Naruto had slowed down to a halt, his chest steadily rising up and down as he tried to catch his breath. His burning cerulean eyes were trained on Itachi, not flinching or widening as his foe caught the kunai he had thrown so easily.

She knew it. Sasuke would not come for her. He didn't. It was Naruto, it was always Naruto. He was the only one that cared. She felt guilty as she looked at him though. He was tired, he had ran nonstop here, because of her. He was going to fight Itachi, because of her. He was going to get hurt. He had the high chance of dying. Whatever happened would be her fault.

She watched as Itachi looked from the corner of his eyes at Naruto. He didn't seem surprised at all, but she knew he had expected Sasuke. She watched as Naruto's eyes to look at her. His deep cerulean eyes showed his anger and worry. That rose as he seemed to be assessing her injuries.

Naruto looked at how beat up Sakura was. The rain had washed away most of the running blood, but her clothes were stained nonetheless. The continuous rain kept washing away the fresh blood that would try and seep out of her open wounds. She was bound to a tree so tightly her movements were limited if that. A new fury rose inside of him as he observed this. His eyes snapped to Itachi.

His cerulean eyes were filled with such a fire, it was actually scary. Yet as Itachi met gazes with the furious shinobi, he seemed unfazed whatsoever. His usual cold demeanor was in place, as it had always been.

Naruto took out a kunai and charged.

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It was a bit late for him to outside. And rain was pouring down on him. But for some reason he didn't care. The silver haired jounin let the water pour all over his body as he walked the empty streets of Konoha. The late birds who usually stayed up till about now were running inside, seeking shelter from the merciless rain.

Lights were being shut off, and door closed as he walked from street to street. It wasn't a wonder when he noticed a lone door hung wide open, swaying as the hard rain pounded on it. The lights were on, which was very strange that whoever was inside would not notice. Curious took over the sensei as he neared the door.

He realized it was one of his own students' house. It was Sasuke. Which was even more peculiar as to why the door was left open.

Kakashi's head peeked in the house curiously, looking all around, left, right, down, up, all around. When he saw nothing the sensei entered, leaving the door wide open as it had been.

"Sasuke?" He waited a few seconds after the call, trying again as he received no answer. He looked throughout the whole hose, peeking his head into rooms. It was a small place, so it was a wonder how Sasuke would not have been able to hear him.

But Kakashi wasn't stupid.

Sasuke was not there. And Sasuke would never leave his front door wide open to the village. Something was wrong.

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Naruto was thrown to the ground yet again by Itachi. As he jumped up, charging for another strike, Itachi simply punched him in the gut, kicking him to the ground another time. Naruto's body was still reacting from the punch to the gut so he was momentarily frozen to the ground, holding his stomach.

"Naruto!" Sakura screamed in warning as Itachi aimed another attack for the fallen shinobi. At the call, Naruto's head lifted up to see Itachi's arm swinging down upon him. With great speed, Naruto rolled to the side, springing backwards into a standing position.

Naruto charged Itachi yet again, but this time was different. With amazing speed, the blonde-haired shinobi delivered a punch, landing a successful hit on Itachi. This started a combo of attacks which Itachi was forced to block and evade. However, Itachi was easily able to overpower Naruto, bringing his leg up to knee Naruto in the chin. This sent Naruto flying into the air. Itachi was already ahead of him. With his Sharingan glaring, he simply backhanded Naruto, starting his descent towards the ground.

Naruto's body dug into the earth as he made contact. He had no time to move, Itachi was already there. One foot was on Naruto's back, while his hand reached for Naruto's arm. And that's how it was. Itachi had Naruto in some type of a hold that was slowly killing him. Every once in a while Itachi would push harder into Naruto's back with his foot, while holding one of his arms, threatening to break it if it was pulled back any further.

Sakura's screams could be heard in the background.

All at once Itachi's entire body attitude changed. Where he was once lazy and uncaring of the situation, his entire countenance changed even more cold. His face was strewn so straight it seemed like he was frowning. He slowly let go of Naruto, and let his Sharingan eyes travel to something a few feet behind him.

Sakura was shocked.

It wasn't Itachi that held the attention of her eyes. It was another. Her heart was pounding hardly and loudly in her chest. It couldn't be. It was impossible.

Sasuke was standing very still. His entire countenance seemed detached, and at the same time, scary. He was just standing there. He didn't do anything, say anything. His eyes had first caught sight of Sakura. He slowly examined her body, then slowly let his eyes travel around to look at Naruto, who was on the ground looking up at him. Last was Itachi.

It was completely silent. No one moved, spoke, anything. Were they unconsciously waiting for a reaction from Sasuke? To see what he would do?

No…

Sakura felt dread at the sight of Sasuke. He came. He was here. That wasn't good. And she had thought that things couldn't have gotten worse. But there he was. Sasuke. The last person she wanted to see in this situation. The last person she wanted to confront Itachi. This was not good at all. This was horrible. This terrible feeling seemed to grow even worse by the second as she watched no reaction come from Sasuke.

He just stood there. She wished she knew what was going through his mind. Or could it have been completely blank? Could the only thing to come next be a blind fury? Would he fight him?

"Foolish brother." A popular phrase between the two brothers, from Itachi directed to Sasuke. Although he was turned at and angle to Sasuke, his Sharingan eyes were able to see him out of the corner of his eyes.

Sakura watched Sasuke closely for a reaction. His eyes were obscured from his hair and by the slight downward tilt of his head. She saw his fists clench very tightly. Sasuke's head raised very slowly, revealing his glaring Sharingan eyes.

"Itachi.." The single word was spoken dangerously low, with menace.

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Gracias para Leyendo!!

Thankyou for Reading!!

Hope you enjoyed it!Aaaaand i hope that wasn't to short of a chapter! But yea please tell me what ya think, and please continue to give me ideas! It'll definately help me get the chapters out much faster.

Hasta Luego!!