Akatsuki no Sakura
Rating: R for violence, sexual implications and strong language in later chapters
Category: Romace/Angst/Action
Pairings: SasuSaku, ItaSaku, a little NaruHina
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto…. shaddup and leave me be...
Oh yeah, Kisame isn't dead. Sorry to all you Kisame-haters out there.
Chapter Five: Realization Part I
: Sakura's POV:
I slowly open my eyes to see Naruto standing over me. I think I had passed out.
I don't understand. Why is he so familiar to me? His cerulean eyes, his blonde hair, his soft features… all seem strange, yet I know them and they are comforting to look at. His voice, which was loud before, was gentle and reassuring when he talked to me last. Why can't I understand what he's saying now though? I know that he's talking, his lips are moving… but no sound is coming out. Then I notice that the birds, the animals, the trees and the earth are silent as well. Oh no, I realize, it's me. It's not the forest that is silent, it is me that can't hear. I sit up quickly. Naruto steps back a bit and cautiously watches me as I put my hand to my ear. As I remove my hand, I already know what is covering my palm, so I don't gasp or anything like that. I just stare at the blood that covers my hands, and wipe away the blood that gushes from my ears.
Naruto bends down and takes my bloodied hand. Suddenly, I notice that there is a soft reddish-orange light coming from his hand. So, Naruto's chakra was orange. At first, there is nothing. Then a blinding pain shoots through my head and I cry aloud. As fast as it came, it disappears, and I feel a little revived. My hearing has been restored, for I can hear the birds in the forest.
As I try to stand, Naruto releases my hand to see if I can walk on my own. As soon as I am sure that I can, I walk in the opposite direction towards Itachi-sensei. I need him now, and I was too weak to accomplish the mission he gave me. Naruto stays to tend to his three companions' wounds.
As I stagger into the clearing, I notice that Sasuke is indeed lying on the ground, unconscious at least, but Itachi-sensei doesn't look good at all. I half run, half stumble over to him and crouch next to him. He is clutching his chest and his breathing is labored. His blood, and the blood of his brother, is everywhere. I try to gently move his hand so I can see the wound, but he sharply grabs my wrist with his other hand. His gaze remains low, but I can feel him tense up.
"No, Sakura," he commands. His voice is hoarse and his grip is weaker than usual. His body lurches and he vomits blood, but he keeps his hold on my wrist. "My brother was much stronger than I thought. Kisame was knocked out from one blow of Sasuke's sword, and that was expected. But I didn't think he would be this strong…" His voice trails off, and he releases my wrist. His now-free hand moves back to the ground to support himself, but I already have that covered. I crawl in front of him and pull him onto my lap, with surprisingly little resistance.
"Itachi-sensei…" I whisper, stroking his hair with one hand and holding him to me with the other. I suddenly realize that his hair is loose and his headband is missing. I look around to see where it is, and I notice a gleam a ways away. I looked closer. Yes, that's it! Itachi-sensei's hitai-ate is near Sasuke, smudged with blood and grime. I lay Itachi-sensei on the ground and crawl to it. As I grasp it, I can't help but look up at his younger brother. He is about my age, around 18, and I can definitely see their relation. Sasuke is quite handsome… oh no, what am I thinking! I love Itachi-sen… NANI!
I mentally kick myself as I feel the heat rising in my cheeks. Stupid, stupid, stupid! He's your sensei! I think, as I crawl back to Itachi-sensei with his hitai-ate. He is already unconscious. I pull him back onto my lap, and I lift his head up and tie his headband into place. As I tie the knot, I try to think of what to do about his wounds. I only have a little chakra left, so I can't do much- not without passing out anyway. But for Itachi-sensei's sake, I have to try. At least I might prove that I can heal, if nothing else. I grit my teeth and place my hands over his chest, my pastel-green chakra focused on healing him and stopping the blood.
"SAKURA-CHAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" My head snaps up to see Naruto running towards me at top speed. I glare.
"Look, Naruto-dobe," I say coldly. "Itachi-sensei is hurt! I have to help him, or he might die!" He looks at me in disbelief.
"Sakura-chan, just take him to our hospital," he said. I snort derisively.
"Why? So we can be arrested as soon as he recovers?" He gives me an exasperated sigh, then closes his eyes and puts two fingers to his forehead.
"I won't let them arrest you. Or Itachi, for that matter. As the Hokage, I can command them to release you if they try anything. The ANBU won't be happy, but I think I can work something out for you three to have enough time to recuperate and leave. You have to trust me, though." He opens his eyes and looks at me. I stay silent for a while. I look at him and sigh.
"Alright, but Itachi-sensei won't be happy… I'll help with your friends though, if they are who you say they are… my teammates and former friends, but I still don't buy it. We'll get Itachi-sensei and Kisame-sensei last, I don't want to leave them alone with ANBU, even if they have your orders not to arrest him." I lift Itachi-sensei's body and lay him on the ground, then follow Naruto to the others.
I stare in disbelief that I had caused so much blood to spill. The battlefield is dyed red with blood; it is all over the ground, the rocks and the trees. Naruto goes to Hinata, but I run after him.
"Naruto, with all due respect, I would like to take Hinata," I say, looking up at him. I feel much kinder now that the bloodlust has left me, and I will even help my enemies if it will help me to find out who I was before I met the two Akatsuki that had rescued me three years ago. Naruto gives me a strange look, then backs away from Hinata's still form and turns to help Tsunade and Jiraiya.
I crouch next to the dead girl. Her still form seems so peaceful… I realize that she must have been the type of girl that everyone could like. Then I notice something poking out of her gray vest. I reach into the inner pocket of the vest and grasp something tiny and a little sharp, attached to a string of sorts. As I pull it out, I examine it closer, scrutinizing the miniscule figure hanging in front of my face. It is a tiny sakura blossom, pink crystal I think, with a scarlet red ribbon strung through the top petal. I place it in my palm and turn it over so the flat underside of blossom faces upward. As I look closer, I notice that there is a tiny inscription, barely readable, carved into the crystal. What does this mean? 'To H. H., my new friend, from H.S.'? What the hell? Hmmm…. Hinata's eyes were white when we battled, I remember. White eyes… what did Itachi-sensei say about that? Byakko…. White….. Byakko-gan…? Byakugan! That was it! Byakugan belonged to… um… the Hyuuga clan of Konoha! So, 'To Hyuuga Hinata, my new friend, from H.S?' Okay, so who was H.S?
"Naruto, come here. What is this?" I call over to him, keeping my eyes on the tiny pendant. "Eh?" He comes over and looks into my hand. "Who is H.S.?" I ask him, lifting my head to look at his face. His expression suddenly turns to shock. "That's you, Sakura-chan! Don't tell me you've forgotten your name too?" I look at his wide-eyed. Open-mouthed expression. "My name? I'm Sakura, that's all I need to know." He raises his eyes to my face. "Sakura-chan.. your family name is Haruno, don't you remember?" I screw my face up in concentration. Yes, the name does ring a bell… Haruno…
A sudden flash of white light came to my eyes. I gasp at the brightness of it, and then a horrible pain goes through my head, making it throb intensely. "AAAAGGHH!" I grasp my head in desperation, trying to make the pain go away. I can hear Naruto, faintly, calling my name….
"My… my head… it's... it's splitting….!" My head hurts like never before, and I feel as if my head is going to burst. Suddenly the world freezes and my head stops hurting. A picture starts forming in my mind's eye…. A girl….
Sekhimet: -wakes up- Yay! Cliffie! Aren't they evil! Muahahahaha. Just take a wild guess what the next chapter is going to be. Hn, I wonder. Yes, and when that half of the chapter is done, there will be some slight NARUSAKU! WHOOO! Until then, sayonara!