**Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the quote below. I just own Sintary ^^ Also I do not own the other OC Kokuro. He's my friend's.
Sorry guys, this took way too long to write. I had a serious writer's block on this. I knew that I wanted to happen... I just didn't have a way to make it happen at first. Not much happens here. Danzo being Danzo is about it... but this chapter and the next one (maybe two) are going to be pretty... meh.. it terms of events happening. I am fast forwarding through the pregnancy and through the next part of the story in a... rapid-ish fashion. But it is all for the greater good because Itachi will be returning shortly!
"I found a place so safe, not a single tear
The first time in my life and now it's so clear
Feel calm, I belong, I'm so happy here
It's so strong and now I let myself be sincere
I wouldn't change a thing about it
This is the best feeling
This innocence is brilliant
I hope that it will stay
This moment is perfect
Please don't go away
I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by"
-Avril Lavigne, Innocence
Sintary looked wistfully out the window as she scrubbed her dirty dishes. She was all alone in her house. Her mind wondered a bit. She wondered when he'd be home. He had gone on a simple mission. She sighed and leaned back, stretching her aching back, placing a hand on her swollen belly. She was moving along quickly with their first child. She couldn't wait to see the joy on his face.
The young woman sighed quietly as she finished her chores before heading for a nice bath. After that, she got into the bed to read. She'd wait up for him for a couple hours before calling it a night. She became so wrapped up in her book, she jumped hearing a tap on her window.
Sintary got up and went over to the window. She glanced out and smiled happily seeing her fiancé.
"Oh, Itachi! You're home." She said gleaming. "Just a minute, let me open the window.
Sintary took her eyes off him for a minute to unlatch her window. She went to open it, but found it stuck. She frowned and repeated the process.
There was another tap at her window.
Sintary looked up to see her window was cracked. She glanced past the crack to see a wrapped finger pressed against the glass. Her eyes followed the covered arm… and at first she saw nothing. She squinted a bit and just barely made out the mummified body out there. It was just floating in midair. The creature opened its mouth revealing a bluish-white light.
The young mother took a step back from the glass as it sudden shattered towards her. She put her arms around her face and hands to protect herself.
When she put her arms down and slowly opened her eyes, she was face to face with the white mask of the Shinigami.
Sintary gasped, shooting up in bed. She held her swollen abdomen as she felt the familiar swirl. She maneuvered out of her bed and headed to the bathroom. Her kneeled by the toilet as she emptied her stomach.
Four months.
She had been having these nightmares for four months already. She could hardly find sleep… and when she did she was faced with that demonic white mask. It was everywhere she looked. Before she used to see Itachi everywhere; however, his familiar face was replaced by the glowing warning of the Shinigami. There were mornings when she'd wake to fine her room torn apart like a battle had been there, but she had no recollection of ever fighting.
Sintary slowly pulled herself up to her sink. She could hardly stand to look at herself anymore. Her skin was a pasty white that reminded her of that snake Sannin. Her hair lacked its usual luster from her running her hands constantly through it in an anxiety frenzy. She often had it pulled back to avoid more damage. Her cheeks were slightly hollow as if she hadn't eaten in a few days; but Sintary ate her meals religious. With these nightmares she could hardly keep anything down and that's what was giving the starved appearance.
Her eyes scared her the most.
Dark purple bags hung under her sullen eyes. Her eyes no longer held their brightness. Instead they held a sad, dull, tired looking appearance.
Sintary didn't recognize the woman in front of her.
It was as if someone had soaked her in gasoline and set her on fire… and this was what remained.
Sintary closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she opened her drawer. They were trying to break her like that were trying to break Kokuro, but she'd stand tall. So long as she resisted, Kokuro would see hope, and stay somewhat in control of himself.
The young woman pulled out her makeup set. Normally, it was only used for missions; however, she was no longer on any missions. They had all but forced her to retire – saying they wanted to keep her and the Uchiha child safe from any harm. They hadn't wanted her at the hospital working either. So she played hard ball and was getting a biweekly check that covered their expenses. So, instead of letting the old thing collect dust, she had resorted to using it to cover up what they were doing to her. She knew how to make it look natural, and she had a body moisturizer that was her normal skin tone to help with the rest of her body.
Sintary brushed her teeth, and then redid her hair. Looking at herself now… she could remember the woman she used to be; the woman she was still trying to be for Sasuke. She tried a few smiles before memorizing the one that faked the joy the best.
Just as she was starting to feel better about herself, a ghostly face appeared in the mirror besides her. Fangs, horns, and all; the figure that haunted her dreams haunted her during the day as well.
"No, no, no." Sintary said shaking her head. "Not today. You're not ruining this day for Sasuke and I." Sintary told the imaginary demon in the reflection.
It said nothing, but its mere presence was taunting enough.
A swell of anger bubbled up in the young mother. There was the sound of shattering glass, and Sintary blinked a couple times panting. She felt something ooze down her arm which startled her. She glanced at her right appendage and saw blood running down it. Sintary quickly pulled her arm back and stepped back.
She slowly looked at the mirror.
It was broken into a million pieces in the spot that would have been right next to her own reflection. That area was also marked with blood too.
Sintary felt her chest heave as her fist pulsed. She slowly looked down at her hand and saw it was covered in hand. She sighed heavily and shook her head.
After she bandaged up her hand, she dressed in a simply maternity dress and headed into the kitchen. It was five in the morning; she knew Sasuke was out there training with Kokuro. Since Sintary's second month, Kokuro has taken over training Sasuke. Neither had truly minded. Sintary couldn't keep doing all that exercise anyway; it took her breath away. Besides, she always thought, Kokuro was more of a fighter than she was. Sasuke would advance promisingly under him.
Sintary smiled softly watching them from her window. Sasuke would be assigned his team today – having graduated yesterday. They had chosen to celebrate tonight rather than yesterday to avoid most of the people. Still… yesterday had been a good day for them all.
"Can you drop the douche bag act for one day? Please, Kokuro," Sintary pleaded with her friend as she finished styling her hair in an elegant bun.
"I am not a douche bag." Kokuro glared
"Never said you were," Sintary retorted drily. "Just implied you act like one. It's always: 'Lord Danzo this, and Danzo-sama that, yuck." She said shaking her head.
"You just don't understand." He argued. How could she? He couldn't tell her what happened during his "training."
"I understand he's brainwashed you." Sintary turned around facing him. "And I'm taking my best friend back today. Come on! You're not my guard today. You're not on some secret mission for your master. You are going to the Academy to listen to Sasuke's graduation speech and congratulate him on joining us."
Kokuro rolled his eyes, but deep in his heart… he realized she was right. His old self squeezed through the cracks of the shinobi Danzo had made.
"Fine, fine." Kokuro said. "Let's go or we'll be late."
Sintary smiled triumphantly and headed out with him.
With her protruding belly, Sintary still got whispers all around. She kept her head high as she sat in the front where she could see Sasuke much better. She couldn't help but to giggle at the younger Uchiha's clean disdain for the public event.
"He's so different," Sintary told Kokuro quietly.
"That he is," the male replied not paying much attention.
Sintary's eyes narrowed as she turned to scold her teammate, but quickly followed his gaze. Sitting in the back row of the group. A devilishly handsome boy with red markings in a grey jacket with black fur around the hood and wrists.
The young woman smirked and nudged her comrade.
"Never thought you'd go for an Inuzuka." She teased.
Kokuro's head swung around and looked at her. "What? Go for?" He laughed nervously. "You're seeing things, Sin."
Sintary smirked seeing her best friend finally. "Yes. I see how you looked at him. He is pretty cute."
"Hey, hey! You already had—have a man!" Kokuro exclaimed quietly.
She only smirked more and leaned back in her chair. "Do you know his name?"
Kokuro looked back at the young boy and shook his head. "No."
"We'll just have to ask Sasuke then." Sintary told him.
"What? No! You will do no such thing!" He told her.
"Watch me," she whispered as the ceremony started.
Sasuke thankfully kept his speech short and sweet – just like he was Sintary thought. She stretched her neck, hearing it popped and looked over her shoulder. She saw another boy sitting on the swing by his lonesome. Her heart reached out to him; that could have been her if it hadn't been for Itachi. She sighed quietly and turned forward again.
After the ceremony ended, parents eagerly went up to congratulate their children. Sintary and Kokuro merely moved to the back where they were out of people's way while Sasuke came to meet them.
"Well, you did it, Sasuke," Sintary said happily. "You're a shinobi now."
Sasuke looked at the woman he viewed as an older sister. "Don't cry, please." He said watching her.
Sintary sniffled blinking back her tears. "Ugh, it's the hormones, I swear. I don't cry like this. Tell him Ko," she said.
"She's a total sap, Sasuke. She just likes blaming it on the hormones." Kokuro said as he tried to see where the Inuzuka boy was at.
Sasuke blinked watching him now. "Who are you looking for?"
"No—"
"The Inuzuka boy," Sintary butted in. "What's his name, Sasuke?" She asked.
Sasuke was taken aback. "You mean, Kiba?"
"Kiba… where have I heard his name before…" Sintary muttered thinking. "Oh! He's Hana's brother." She then grinned evilly at her best friend. "You're going to have your hands full with that. Good luck!" She said shoving his forward and leaving with an evil laugh.
Sasuke blinked looking between the two. "I don't get it." He said as he fell in step with Sintary, leaving Kokuro alone.
"It's a Ko thing Sasuke. He'll tell you when he's ready," Sintary told him.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, but he settled. He didn't like being out of the loop.
Sintary sighed. She had seen a glimpse of her old friend that day… but between the time she left him and when he came to her place that night… she had lost him again. She shook her head. Maybe Kiba could be the key to all this… to bringing Kokuro back to his senses again. All she needed to do was make sure that met.
Sintary sat down in her chair and wrote a bit about today's outlooks.
Around six forty-five, Sintary started making breakfast for the boys knowing they'd be in shortly. Exactly at seven, the two came inside sweating like pigs.
Sintary wrinkled her nose. "Shower. Now. Both of you," she said waving the air away from her nose.
"We really smell?" Sasuke asked looking at her.
"Yep. I've already emptied my stomach once today. I don't plan on doing it again; off you two go. One in mine the other in Sasuke's. Go!" She ordered.
The two boys took off in their own directions and showered quickly. They came out and breakfast was served.
"Be nice to your new teammates, okay Sasuke?" Sintary told him as he tied on his headband.
"Hn." He replied to her distastefully. He didn't do nice.
Sintary rolled her eyes and looked at him. "Fine. Be humane. Can you do that? Can you act like a human being?"
"I think I can try," he replied and headed out the door.
"Was he just… playful?" Kokuro asked still stuffing his face.
Sintary slowly nodded. "He was."
"We're all going to hell." He replied and swallowed his mouthful. "Well, I should get going. I have training of my own today."
"Aw, really? I'm going to be all alone?" Sintary asked frowning.
"Yeah… but savor it. You won't have alone time after that baby is born." Kokuro said pointing to it.
Sintary rubbed her stomach absently. "Okay… well… don't let them beat you up too much. We have plans later." She reminded him.
Kokuro nodded. "I know. Be home by five, mother." He said rolling his eyes and headed out the door as well.
Sintary sighed seeing him go out. She finished cleaning and headed to her room. Sitting cross-legged on her bed, Sintary made another seal on her wrist. She began to mediate and store chakra into that seal. She had at least one more for what she was planning.
At five, Sintary headed over to the Academy to meet Sasuke. They should be done by now she would have hoped. Kokuro hadn't shown which made Sintary worry for him, but she knew deep down… there was not much she could do to help him out.
Sintary blinked seeing Sasuke on the training field by himself.
"Why hello there loner," she said strolling up.
"Hn." He replied and angrily threw a barrage of kunai at the target tree.
"Yikes; who touched your hair?" She asked referring to an old story: Sasuke hated his hair being touched. Absolutely loathed it.
"No one." He practically spat as he went to kick her.
Sintary grabbed hold of his leg and tossed him across the yard. "I'm pregnant; not blind." She retorted frowning. "What's going on?"
Sasuke got to his feet and dusted himself off. "I got paired with the world's worst partners."
"I'm listening," she encouraged as they started walking.
"Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno. Naruto didn't even graduate yesterday; yet, there he was with a ninja headband on. He's such a loser." Sasuke vented rolling his eyes.
"And Sakura? Is she a loser too?" Sintary inquired.
"Sakura's smart – I'll give her that much," Sasuke said though it was clear he didn't even what to say that, "but she's so annoying."
"Fangirl?"
"The worst." Sasuke replied sounding disgusted as they came up to a restaurant of his choosing. "Her attention is always on me. She'll never get any better. Neither of them will! It's hopeless."
Sintary listened calmly and regarded him levelly. "You may have the worst team, but they have the best leader." She told him softly. "You say Sakura can never take her eyes off you? Use that to your advantage. Teach her something with it. Naruto can't be that bad if he managed to graduate right? He had to pass the exam with the cloning jutsu. I wasn't able to do that at first. Hell, I didn't want to learn how to do it. You need to build them up so you all can advance. My team did it before we were put on a squad. You have to do it while you're on the squad. I'm sure your sensei will be able to train them. Who is your sensei by the way?"
"Kakashi Hatake." Sasuke merely responded.
Sintary rose an eyebrow. "Have fun with that." She mumbled into her menu.
"What makes you say that?" Sasuke asked.
Sintary looked at him over her menu. "I know your sensei fairly well. Hey—don't give me that look! It's not like that." Sintary scolded glaring. "We've been on missions with him. He was a Black Op."
"He was? He doesn't seem capable." Sasuke said incredulously. "He's so… aloof to it all."
"Very capable. Very deadly." Sintary explained vaguely.
"Aren't you going to tell me more about him?" Sasuke asked a tad curious.
"Nope." Sintary replied looking over her menu.
"And why not?"
"Because I'm not taking away his best aspect." She replied.
"Which is….?"
"His mysteriousness."
Sasuke huffed at that, rolling his eyes. "Whatever. I'll get Kokuro to tell me about him."
"Uh-huh. Go running to daddy," Sintary replied drily.
Sasuke scowled even more at that as their waiter came over.
As they waited for their orders, they were joined by two unexpected guests.
"Oi! Sasuke!" They heard a boisterous voice exclaim.
Immediately, Sasuke hunkered down in hopes they'd miss him. Sintary snickered at his misfortune as his teammates came over to their booth. The blond one Sintary had noticed yesterday sat in next to her while the pinkette happily sat next to Sasuke.
"Oh, nice to meet you. I'm Sakura Haruno by the way," the young kunoichi addressed Sintary.
"Oh yeah! I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" The blond said proudly grinning.
Sintary nodded with a small smile. "Sintary Sacuna." She said short and sweet.
"So, um, how do you know Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked nervously glancing between her and Sasuke.
"Oh, well, I was a teammate of one of his relatives – two actually." Sintary explained without must detail.
Sakura seemed to relax a bit at that, but Naruto picked up the conversation.
"Wow! So you must be super strong if you ran with two Uchiha. I mean, I know they're a powerful clan and all, but they're not kind to outsiders I understand." He said addressing the last part to Sasuke.
"Well, they weren't exactly two Uchiha. It was more like one Uchiha and a distant relative—Kokuro Otsutski. You might have heard of him." Sintary said drawing the attention back to her for once.
Sakura slowly nodded piecing her knowledge together. "So than that means –" Her green eyes got wide upon her realization.
"Yes." Sintary said cutting her off. "We are the team everyone is talking about. I am the traitor-woman-whore everyone gossips about. Oh look there's our food."
Three waiters set the huge amounts of food on their table. Sintary had wanted to… sample… a bit of everything.
"Boy! It looks like you were expecting us!" Naruto exclaimed going to dig in.
Sintary swat his hands with her chopsticks. "Hey! This is my food! Get your own." She growled.
"I'd advise you to do as she says," Sasuke pipes up eating from his single plate.
Sakura and Naruto place their own orders and sat while the other two ate their meals. Naruto eagerly chatted with Sintary about shinobi life from training techniques to her "amazing" missions.
"Oooh! Is that a battle scar?" Naruto asked noticing her bandaged arm.
"Um, no. That's like the one place I don't have a scar." Sintary said eating.
"Why do you have it wrapped then?" Sakura inquired interested now.
"It's my ANBU tattoo. I'm no longer a member, so I'm required to keep it concealed from the public." Sintary explained.
"Are you going to be a shinobi again after you're have the baby?" Sakura questioned.
Sintary shook her head. "I'm all for feminist and for all those who want to be kunoichi after being a mother, but to be honest, that isn't the life for me." Sintary told the young girl. "I want to be home with my child; to be able to raise him or her every day. I don't want to go on a mission and end up never coming home to my baby… I just… I can't do it."
"So… you're giving up everything you've worked for?" Sakura asked the older kunoichi.
"I'm trading it for a new experience." Sintary said with a shrug. "Maybe one day I'll pull on my uniform again when my own child is a shinobi, but for now… I'm happy being home."
Sakura nodded looking down at the spot in front of her, taking it all in.
They all sat in silence for a while. Naruto and Sakura's meals came shortly after. Naruto soon drove up conversation again—mostly about the food this time.
"So nice of you to drop by," Sintary interjected the spool of words suddenly.
All three Gennin turned towards the older shinobi only to look up at their sensei on the balcony.
"Well, you know, I was—" he started.
"Can it. I don't want to hear more of your soaps. Do you have it?" Sintary said abruptly looking up at the gray-haired man.
"Ever to the point, aren't we Sintary?" He said casually.
"Yep. Getting to the point gets people places faster." She replied. "Do you have it?"
"I do, in fact." Kakashi said pulling a book out of his jacket and handing it to her.
Sintary's eyebrow twitched. "Not the lastest Ichi-Ichi Paradise, you idiot!" She scowled slamming the book into his chest.
"Oops. My bad," he replied sheepishly. "Wrong side."
He reached to the other side of his vest and pulled out another book.
Sintary looked it over and nodded with approval. "Thanks for getting this for me." She said placing it in her lap.
"Is this something you really plan on doing, Sintary?" The older shinobi asked her.
She nodded curtly. "It is the best option."
He sighed. "Ever so dramatic. Well then, I'll be on my way. See you three tomorrow morning bright and early." And he disappears.
"What business did you have with Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked nosily.
Sintary took a deep breath trying to calm herself. She could see why Sasuke was so agitated when he got home most days. This kid never stopped.
"It's personal." She replied. She pulled some money out of her wallet and handed it over to Sasuke. "That should be enough to cover the bill – including their meals and the tip."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly at her, taking the money. "You're leaving?" me there with them.
"Yes. I'm exhausted, and you need to bond with your team." Sintary said firmly.
Sasuke sighed as his glare intensified at the leaving kunoichi. He'd get her back for this – he'd make sure of it. Kokuro would certainly help him.
The rest of the meal was quiet mostly because Sakura and Naruto could just feel the animosity radiating off of Sasuke. Once they finished, he paid and quickly got up to leave them.
"Hey," Sakura called. "You know what'd be fun? We could all get together at someone's house and just place some games."
"Yeah! That'd be fun!" Naruto agreed enthusiastically.
"Hn. I'd rather not." Sasuke disagreed heading in direction of Sintary's place.
"Are – are you sure, Sasuke?" Sakura asked sounding discouraged.
"Bright and early tomorrow," the dark haired nin replied shoving his hands in his pockets.
Thankfully, the other two had the brains not to follow him home. He walked up the stairs to her apartment, but paused. He could sense something was wrong. Sintary's chakra felt off. Kokuro was there, but… so where three other people. What on earth was going on in there?
Sasuke opened up the front door and walked in nonchalantly. What he found, wasn't what he expected at all.
Sintary was strapped to her chair, unable to move very much. Her head hung limply as if she had been drugged. Near her was a medic nin. Over to his left was Kokuro with an older, bandaged man… who he believed was named Danzo. On each side of that man where two ANBU.
"Sasuke…" Sintary managed to say with her hoarse voice.
"What the heck is going on here?" Sasuke demanded looking at Kokuro.
"Sasuke Uchiha, so glad we finally can meet. Danzo Shimaru." The bandaged man said.
"What," he repeated, "is going on here?"
"Simple paternity test." Danzo replied casually. "See, I just don't believe a beloved kunoichi would have such an evil man's child."
"Don't you talk shit about him, you filthy rat!" Sintary hissed trying to lunge, but was stopped by the bindings.
"Uh-uh-uh," Danzo warned. "Don't want to harm the precious child."
Sintary growled and pulled again at the restraints. "Fuck off, Danzo. You are not having a nurse stick a needle inside of me!"
"Oh, but dearest, I am. See, you're strapped down and can't do anything about it. The minute junior here gets his wits together to attack us, my men will take him down. There's really no one here to stop me." He replied.
Sasuke glared and went to move.
"No!" Sintary exclaimed. "Don't fall into his trap. If you fight, they subdue you, and then I really don't stand a chance. I need you conscious and alert. Okay Sasuke?" she said breathing heavily.
The young nin slowly nodded and cautiously walked towards Sintary. He held her had as the nurse lifted up the shirt Sintary had changed into and swabbed the area.
"Don't do this," Sasuke pleaded with the nurse.
"I can't disobey someone like, Danzo-sama," she mumbled quietly. "This is going to hurt quite a bit." She warned Sintary.
Sasuke looked back at someone he viewed as his older brother for help, but that person couldn't be found. The man in his place had his ANBU mask on and watched them intently behind it.
Sintary gasped and gripped Sasuke's hand as the needle went in.
"Oh, what do we have here?" Danzo suddenly said looking at the book on the counter. "A diary?" he scoffed.
"That's my journal, you fucking asshole!" Sintary yelled in pain. "Put it down!"
Sasuke went to move to grab the journal, but the man posing as Kokuro had him on the ground in an instant. Sintary tossed her head back into the chair as the nurse removed some fluid.
"Dear Itachi," Danzo started sneering at the withering girl.
"You fucking bastard – PUT IT DOWN!" Sintary screamed trying not to move.
Danzo smirked at her and continued: "Sasuke graduated from the academy today. I'm soo proud of him. I wish you could see how much he's grown in the past couple of months - literally. He's up to my chin now! But he's gotten much stronger and has become really focused. " Danzo read. "How sweet she's soo proud of you, Sasuke," he said in a mocking voice. "'Anyway, I've made a decision on the future of our child. I'm -"
He went to flip the page only for a clone of Sintary to appear, snatched the book, and smacked him upside his head and storm back to her maker.
"You fucking bastard." Sintary snapped at him.
Herr clone placed her book next her creator in the recliner and poofed away. Sintary had clearly strained in making that clone as she panted, sweat dripping from her forehead. The nurse slowly withdrew the needle.
"Let's pray you don't go into labor early. Though since you're carrying the devil's spawn he'll want to unleash that murderer's child into this world early to create even more destruction." Danzo ranted hatefully.
In a flash Sintary had the ropes cut and grabbed him by the collar easily. The two other ANBU who went to get her suddenly collapsed in pain, holding their heads and kneeling on the ground.
"Don't you ever speak of him or my baby like that again you fucking bastard. If I had somewhere to go I would kill you were you stand for what you've done! Don't forget I know the truth, and if it weren't for this god damn seal everyone would know of your-" that part was the unspoken word but her seal kicked in and she immediately shut up glaring at him. "Leave my house and take your disgraceful ANBU with you." Sintary said dropping Danzo and helping Sasuke up from Kokuro. "Take your fucking puppet too." She spat and moved away from Kokuro.
"Fine then." Danzo said sticking his nose up in the air. "I have everything I need anyway. Come along now men." He said leaving with the nurse and the ANBU.
Sintary sighed deeply once they were out of her house. "Are you okay?" She asked Sasuke.
He nodded and looked her over. "Are you?" He asked.
Sintary nodded softly. "I'll be fine. I always am."
But the kunoichi was beginning to wonder how true those words are. She had put up a good front all this time, but what would be the straw that broke her back?
Thank you to KnightsRoses, Sweet Petit, arigarciar, Ijustdon'tcare132, KyuubiNoPuma, pika-78, Rose 23527, ILurveManyAnimeBoys, xxRyuu-himexx, nathy13, HonestxxEyes, NinjaChipmunk, PityThoseWhoLiveWithoutLove-95, animefangirl0219, creven16, randomindividual467, darkxion, OrangeBeanGamer, terriblecupcakes732, Integral16, MickyLove, Elizabethcica, KHB123, FailingErin, MaidMaliya, Johana-98, ElephantLover220, Bananarock509, nacheell, LadyLunaTwilight, slowbro0609, and CommanderCats for following/favorite-ing the story!
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