Story Title: Sasuke and Itachi, Mukashi to Mirai
YC: Hellooooooooo Happy Peoples! (If you're from AMS and you know a girl who says "Hello Happy Peoples" or "You Moron" or "What-the-fu!" a lot, then that's me!) I'm soooo emotional right now! Wanna know why? Look at my profile and look at: Things That Make Me Happy, but make Me Freak Out at the Same Time
Pure Randomness: Move your nose around more often. (Trust me, you'll thank me for this later.)
Disclaimer: If you think I own Naruto, I don't know what rock you came from or how long you've been under it, but you certainly are clueless... And a bit of an ignoramus at that...
Note: I do not know what the Akatsuki leader's face looks like. However, I will just make an assumption, so don't say I didn't warn you!
Chapter Three: Fuse Gaara, Sasuke, Naruto, and What do You Get?
Synopsis:
"You may go to Konoha Sakura-san. But, seeing as I'm not the type of person to just let things go, I'll..."
"I'll accompany you."
"What!"
She shot up like a bullet and faced me.
"You... you... you can't... just can't do that..."
"And... Why not?"
"Well... First of all, people will know who you are! You're constantly wearing that robe... and your face... You're a wanted criminal Itachi-san. An S-ranked criminal. Anyone who has a brain will know you." She waved her hands in the air in a very frustrated manner.
"I can always use a Genjutsu if you're so worried." I looked at my nails and pretended that it wasn't a big deal. Though in truth, I wasn't very sure myself.
"I know, but... If you're gonna use Genjutsu, you'll have to keep it up for the entire stay there. I know you're strong, but jutsu takes chakra. And little by little, it'll drain faster than it can regenerate so it really wouldn't work for more than a day or two... Or maybe a three considering it's you..."
"..."
"I was a medic-nin trained by Tsunade. The Godaime Hokage, I know these things."
"Is that all you're worried about?" I stood up and dusted myself off.
"Well, no..."
"Then, what else?"
"I'm... I'm also a bit concerned about what Tsunade-hime will do if she finds out that I've been associating with you. Kakashi will probably interrogate me if he finds out. Blank notebook and pen at the ready, but... What really worries me... Is what Sasuke would do if he finds out it were you. According to news from the few rogue ninja I've encountered before, it seems that Sasuke came back and was given a second chance. I believe that they must have put Sasuke through a hard time once he came back from Orochimaru's, but no matter what, I don't ever think his hatred for you will ever vanish nor even diminish in the slightest... I think he'd notice if the person he's wanted to kill for most of his lifetime was to come you know! And not only that, but I've also been told the Akatsuki is after Naruto's Kyuubi. And I don't want you to cause any trouble... Forgive me if I don't trust you."
"You think very little of me Ms. Haruno."
"You murdered your entire family and left Sasuke to suffer because of it. You're surprised I think the way I do?"
"You're one to talk Ms. Haruno." I stared out the window. She had a point, but she was just as guilty as I am. What I saw with my Sharingan earlier... It was not a pretty sight.
"What... Do you mean?"
"You have as much blood on your hands as I do Ms. Haruno. Don't deny it, my Sharingan sees everything. I've seen the things you did over the past years. You were so power hungry that you used people as targets to test your aim, and often killed them on your first shot. You've also massacred fellow ninja when you first masqueraded as a samurai... And I'm quite surprised too Ms. Haruno. You've even killed helpless women and children. I never thought you were the sort to do that kind of thing... And the root of it all was because of your need to prove yourself."
She was silent for a minute. I had struck a nerve.
"I had reasons for doing what I did Itachi-san."
"As do I Sakura-san. I kill when necessary, and no, I neither like it, or dislike it, it's just something that needs to be done sometimes."
"At least I never murdered my entire family."
"I wouldn't know about that. According to what I saw, you seem to really hate your family. At first, I thought you were just jealous of your older sister and hurt that your parents never recognize your talents, or even care about you for that matter. But what I saw in your mind proved me wrong. Your hatred is deep Sakura-san. And I suppose that you come close to having the same reason why I killed my family. But, I digress. I'm wasting time... Hurry and pick up your things, I'll be moving you to a new room."
She hesitated for a moment, but did as I told anyway. At first glance, this girl seems far from anything violent, but I guess everyone has his or her dark side. And while she busied herself with the cleaning of the broken glass on the floor, I started to think of how I was going to pull the whole thing off. Genjutsu won't last for very long, and I doubt I could fool them by wearing a mask, so I guess the only option was to drastically change the way I looked. I needed to do something that I normally wouldn't do... Dye my hair, pierce my nose and ears, wear sunglasses, and if necessary, smile—and or—laugh... My last resort would be to wear a dress and masquerade as a girl, but if Kisame or any of the others saw me, they might take it the wrong way, and never let me live it down...
"Almost done?"
"M-hm." She briefly dusted herself off and tried to fix her long, disheveled hair. She then placed the broken glass pieces on a nearby bin.
"Here." I reached out my hand and expected her to take it, but instead, she looked at it as some sort of foreign device.
"It's a hand. I expect you to take it because I can't trust you to just follow me obediently."
"As long as you didn't just come from the bathroom." She murmured.
She took my hand and we departed from the broken, and dusty room. We were moving considerably quick, but she wasn't wearing an Akatsuki cloak and I really wouldn't want to bump into the leader. The hallways were empty, but I didn't want to take risks.
After a couple more minutes of running, we arrived at the more significant area of the Akatsuki hideout. It was here where Akatsuki members who were assigned to their own Biju boarded. And since there was an empty room next to mine, I suppose it was okay for her to stay. At least for a while. Only thing was, we had to share the same bathroom.
"Here we are." I opened the door and she set her things down. She examined her new quarters. It was quite spacious for something that was supposed to only hold one. It had no windows. Which was perfect considering that she might try and escape. It was a simple room really, but it would be considered luxurious to the other lesser Akatsuki who had to share rooms with two or more people. There was also a desk with a thick notebook, stationery, and pens sitting on top of it waiting to be used. Our rooms were connected through the bathroom.
"I almost forgot." I opened a closet door and brought out a dusty, mahogany chest. Sakura eyed it curiously while I unlocked the gold clasp and brought out an old robe.
"What's that?" she felt the material and sneezed because of the dust.
"It's an Akatsuki robe for women. We never actually thought the Akatsuki would ever have female members so we made very few. They're all kept in this chest."
The robe was quite different in contrast to the ones the male members wore. It almost looked like something a girl would sleep in. It looked like a yukata, only it reached the knees and it came with a long obi the color of dawn.
"This is what you'll be wearing while you're here." I patted the chest.
She reached for the robe, but I held it out of reach.
"Not yet... You only wear this until you pass the examination."
"Examination?... Don't tell me I have to become a real Akatsuki now!" A look of anger crossed her face. "I don't want to associate with any of you any further than I already am!... If I do... And if I get found out... I'll probably be in worse trouble than Sasuke was..."
"It's nothing big really." I set down the robe on the bed. "We just test your reflexes, your mind, and your strength. And if you're good enough, we let you join. If you're better than average, we give you a ring and assign you a Bijū. "
"But—"
"No buts. You're only staying here for a week anyway. Until then, I prefer that you be alive... Or half-alive at the very least. The lesser Akatsuki here like to pick fights with nearly anybody that they happen by. You do still want to go back to Hi no Kuni do you not? The Akatsuki leader knows nearly everything that goes on in this hideout. I wouldn't be surprised if he already knows you're here."
She sat down on the bed and looked at the robe. She ruffled her hair for a moment before sighing in defeat.
"All right... But, when does this thing happen anyway?" She picked up the robe and looked at it.
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow! But I'm still—"
"Oh, I seem to have forgotten..." I slowly walked towards her and reached out two fingers. I concentrated for a while until I could feel my chakra coursing through my hands. That's when I released and allowed my chakra to flow towards her... Hnn... I just noticed... She has a peculiarly wide forehead... But I didn't realize that after a while, I forgot my hand was on her head... I was too distracted thinking about wide it was...
"Umm... You can let go now..." She pointed at my fingers and I snapped out of my daze.
"You have a big forehead..." I muttered under my breath.
"What. Was. That!" I saw a large vain pop on her forehead... Why do I keep heading back to this?
"I heard what you said..." Her voice was filled with venom, and every vowel and consonant was exaggerated.
"I said nothing... Now I better be 'heading' back."
I exaggerated the "head" part and left as quickly as I could. I knew she was mad. But at least I got amusement out of it... I never actually thought I was capable of jokes...
Later on in the evening, I went to the small village nearby. I sought out their bar... Kisame was probably in there. Like he always is...
I entered quietly as the smell of beer and other things greeted my nose. And there, I saw Kisame chugging down a glass of beer and eating something.
"Kisame." I sat down next to the sharkman and he acknowledged my presence with a "Hrrmm?"
"Sho... Hic! What can I do ya for? Ya don't usually come 'ere n'lessh you wanna tell me shumthin 'portant or whatnot... Hic!"
I sighed deeply. He was drunk.
"That girl... Sakura... She might be... Possibly... Be one of us in the near future..."
"...An' thish::Hic: concernsh me how?..." He took another swig of whatever he was drinking. After a long period of silence, he turned to look at me and probably noticed I was staring at him with mild bewilderment. "What? Washn't::Hic: the reaction you wash expectin'?..."
I raised a brow. "I'm not really that surprised. Just... amused... You're drunk... that should usually mean you're less agreeable about everything... But instead, you act mature..."
"Wut? Are you tryin' to::Hic: tell me I'm immature? Why::Hic: I oughtta..."
But before he could finish his sentence, he plunked down his glass of what I suspected was fire whiskey and dropped his head on the counter.
"Why was I partnered up with you?" I paid the barkeep and carried the sharkman back to the base. He is a fish, but practically swimming in beer is not a substitute for water...
Itachi had left earlier, and hasn't returned since. And while I was waiting—I didn't actually know what I was waiting for, but I had to do something to kill some time.
I looked at the chest of robes and thought about what Itachi said earlier... Wait... He said they made the things... So that means...
I tried to picture Kisame and Itachi with sewing needles while sitting in rocking chairs, but it was quite a disturbing thought...
Nonetheless, the robes were quite beautiful. Pretty damn good sewing and designing... For wanted, criminal men that is...
But just as I was about to try it on, I felt a chill up my spine—someone was behind me.
"Itachi, about time. I—"
Unfortunately for me, when I turned around, it was not Itachi, but someone else entirely.
"Hello Miss Haruno."
I squinted my eyes to make out a face, but only saw red eyes and a fuzzy outline of a shadow.
"No need to worry. I won't hurt you." He stepped out the shadows, slowly, but surely, he began to take form. What I saw shocked me... Yet, that didn't stop me from taking in all the details and admiring the creature before me.
He was fine... He was kinda like Gaara, Sasuke, and Naruto fused together. His hairstyle was like Gaara's, he had black hair like Sasuke, his eyes, well, his eyes were like Yuhi Kurenai's, and he wore a confident smirk like Naruto. Plus, he had arms crossed like Gaara always does and he had a sort of dark, brooding aura—like Sasuke, along with a slightly childish appearance—a reminiscent of Naruto.
"Wh-who are you?"
"Little cherry blossom, everyone knows me around here." And in a flash, he was standing one feet close to me and lifted my chin. "I'm the Akatsuki leader."
I turned my face and slowly backed away.
"Yes, I'm the leader. And I came here because I understand that you're going to be one our new members." He held up a ring with a bluish, greenish sheen. I looked at it, quite baffled at first, but he must have sensed my confusion because he elaborated further. "It is the ring of Seiryu—God of East and Spring. Deidara used to wear this, but he is now wearing the ring of Byakko seeing as he has been assigned to a new Biju... Hmm... God of East and Spring... I suits you... Hence your name, Spring Field of Cherry Blossoms."
With every backward step I took, he advanced a step further, bringing him closer and closer every passing second.
"B-but... Itachi told me... I'm not allowed to wear anything of yours until I pass some sort of test..."
"Oh, I have a feeling you'll do well. After all, I've been waiting for someone to wear those damn things." He pointed his chin to the mahogany chest. "Itachi and I were the ones who painstakingly made those after all—"
Upon hearing Itachi had been the one to make some of the robes, I lost balance and fell to the floor. The Akatsuki leader helped me to my feet, but only to push me up against the wall and block me with both his hands.
"Klutzy, but you still somehow manage to be a little poised..." He paused. I wondered what he was going to do next. And, almost instantly, I saw his face break into a mischievous smile. I didn't know if that was supposed to be a bad thing, or a good thing. "...Hn. You're not even a member yet, but I already like you Ms. Haruno." He leaned his face closer to my neck. I felt his warm breath on my skin... I did not like it... At the moment, I was helpless. If this were just some other guy, I would beat their sorry little ass into the next dimension. I knew I was strong, but I also knew that Itachi was stronger than I was, and if Itachi's stronger than I am, then this guy—which is the leader of the criminal organization that includes Itachi, then he must be freakishly strong. I knew it was best if I just stayed quiet.
"I look forward to seeing you tomorrow." He pulled away. Almost reluctantly in fact, and kissed my hand, and touched the black, leather wristwatch I wore... Darn... Now I had to disinfect my hand and throw away one of my favorite watches...
"You'll do well Ms. Haruno. I'm never wrong about these things." He gave a small smirk and closed the door, leaving me to wonder what just happened. It took a few minutes for everything to sink in, but when it did, I noticed that it was already eleven-thirty PM. I immediately rushed prepared for bed and buried myself under the soft, silk blankets of the comforter. Sleep came slowly. The day was tiresome and bizarre and I was glad that it was over. The only thing that was on my mind was the test Itachi told me about earlier. Would I fail? Would I succeed? Nut upon realizing that thirty minutes had already gone by and it was already twelve-ó-clock, I brushed all my thoughts aside and closed my eyes. Tomorrow would be one of the most important turning points in my life...
-TBC-
Yuca Collabell: Whew! What a month! I know you've all been waiting for a long time, but please forgive me! I had to deal with schoolwork, projects, essays, tests, finals, quizzes, and etc! The end of semester/quarter is always difficult for seventh and eighth graders! Sixth graders don't know how easy they have it... Oh, and Yes! I changed my pen name! I was getting tired of BlackRose-Artemis, so I just named myself after one of the best characters ever made in the anime and manga world... Thank you Kaori Ozaki! Anyways, please review! I hope you liked, and I would really appreciate it if you left comments! I really want to try and make this story better because I don't have a beta, and even if someone was willing to edit for me, I don't know how the hec I can give them the story without having to give them my email and password... (I'm sorry, but after a certain incident, I really just can't hand over my password and email so easily unless I know I can really trust you. There's actually only one person I can fully trust here in (because she seems so nice, and were writing a story with the same paring.) but she has a ItachixsSakuraxSasuke story of her own to take care of. (And finish I might add::Ahem: eafylay :Ahem: irlgay :Ahem.:)