Someone Screaming

Ayane Selznick

"Sa-Sasuke-kun…" Sakura stammered while looking up at the tattooed face, which she didn't like to see again but she knew that from that power, they would be able to surpass and hopefully defeat the frightening strength of the Uchiha murderer.

As she watched him glared dangerously towards their opponent she felt nothing but fear. She was already terrified from the person they unexpectedly met and now she's beginning to fear the person who was cradling her in his arms.

She wondered why she was afraid after all she knew that Sasuke was still conscious. However, the thing that scared her most was the power he might execute during this fight. She knew for a certain that the power he would release will heavily injure his brother but it will look like a suicide for he would be receiving such damage as well.

Sakura set aside her thoughts.

When she closed her eyes, she lowered her head as she thought of something that will boost up herself. I believe in him… I believe in Uchiha Sasuke…

Sasuke's command immediately jerked her awake, "Sakura."

She looked up to him with a new change in her spirit.

If she only knew what he wanted her to do… what would be her decision?

"Get out of here…now."

The kunoichi just stared in awe as he was continuing his glaring daggers to their opponent. She couldn't believe what she just heard. He was deliberately pushing her away? Why?

Why would he ask me to withdraw even if he knew at first hand that I wouldn't do that!

Then something struck her… Was he literally telling me to escape because I can't do anything?

There it was again, the feeling of being left behind. Left behind because of such weakness. And she thought he had gotten over with it for she demonstrated the moves and techniques she was able to do. So why the sudden command?

That… she didn't know.

"What did you just say?" She asked with visible irritation coming out of her tone.

With that, Sasuke slowly dropped her and looked at her directly to her eyes.

"Escape. Go back to Konoha if you want to." He repeated as he returned to glare his brother for being such a bastard in attempt to hurt the only he would run on to.

"Sasuke, you're telling me to leave you here? For you to fight alone with—" She wasn't able to finish when Sasuke shot her his deadly, angry glare.

"Are you deaf or what? Just get out of here and escape! GO!" He yelled at her, almost pushing her away from him.

Maybe she was blind for she wasn't able to see how worried he was when he told her to leave. That's because she knew that he wasn't that type of person. He would never ask her to leave just for her safety, she thought that it's because he wanted to have a solo battle with the very person he intended to kill from the very beginning.

However, if she were still as stubborn as before, he would be really mad at her. But of course, her stubbornness was for him because she had vowed to love him and will not leave by his side. Without thinking, she finally made up a decision.

"I'm not leaving without you." She sternly said while staring seriously to him.

Sasuke swiftly turned to her with the same anger he burst out earlier.

"What the fuck are you saying? Just leave, Sakura! Go back to Konoha!" He yelled once more, earning a wince from Sakura herself. Sasuke pointed the way out of the forest with his entire wrath.

But Sakura fought the fear and tears, which have been forming in her eyes when she said, "Why would you ask me to leave you? I'm not the same weakling you once met before! I can fight alongside with you!" She yelled while she shook her head.

"Shut up and listen to me!" He hissed as he grabbed her shoulders almost pinning her to the nearest wide trunk.

Her eyes grew wide when Sasuke initiated such forceful contact but as soon as she gasped he loosened his grip, almost forgetting that he's under the influence of the Cursed Seal. He watched her eyes shooting him pleading requests. He lowered his head to avoid watching her eyes though noticing, too, that he's closing their gap.

Before he say the words he forced himself to calm down knowing that his fragile woman would be in pain once he yelled at her again so he sighed deeply and touched her forehead with his.

"Sakura… please…" Then he heard her sniffing as well as feeling that she's trembling. "I know that you can fight together with me but I don't want him to hurt you… I can't defend both of us from him and to think that my techniques are more of one on one battle… it may endanger you."

He cupped her left cheek with his right hand to look at him in the eye but once he looked at her he couldn't help but feel sadness through her tear-stricken eyes. Out of concern and noticed the time he pushed everything aside and brought out his courage to say the words to convince her to leave.

"Please… I want you to escape… go back to Konoha and report this incident if you must. Just get away from us to avoid being injured and such…" Then he lowered as if touching his nose with hers, "I don't want to lose you now, Sakura… not anymore…" His voice full of concern and such soft tone he used just to convince her.

Sakura trembled greatly for she was pressured in a situation she hasn't imagined for a long time. Surely, it was the worst-case scenario in her head and now that she wasn't able to hang on it, she feared this moment.

Her path… and his path… were trusted in her decision.

She looked up on him to meet his gaze, but a very visible tear dropped to her cheek. "I don't want to lose you, too, Sasuke-kun…"

Sasuke just gave her a soft smile and slowly pulled her away from the trunk, preparing for the next move.

"I'll be fine Sakura… I know you trust me in this matter… and I need that trust now." He looked back to his brother who was just standing few meters away from them, watching everything with his cold and bloody Sharingan eyes.

"When I lunge to him, escape as soon as possible."

When he didn't hear an answer from her, he looked to the side to look at her.

…Only to see her smiling back at him.

"I love you Sasuke-kun, I really do."

Sasuke closed his eyes and lowered his head. Soon after he looked towards his brother again and prepared a stance for the opponent to know that he's going to have another round of fighting. He gave a nod to her and watched his brother intently… shortly his eyes turned bloody red, swirling dangerously.

His decision for letting her go may have reduced manpower against the Uchiha prodigy. Not just power itself but also the defense that he may use because of her. Disregarding advantages, he could only think of the disadvantages in his side as long as she's around. His brother will surely use her as bait or shield or anything that will surely make him regret in the end.

Have her escape and I'll be relief…

With a light tap of his foot, he lunged forward with crossed fingers to execute a certain Ninjutsu. While doing so, Sakura instantaneously spun towards the exit of the battlefield.

However, the very unfortunate fact was…

Itachi had read both of their movements.

And so with a slight flicker of his body, he was able to evade Sasuke's attempt to punch him directly to the chest and summoned a Shadow Clone at once so to divert Itachi's attention.

"What is she to you, little brother?" One of the clones or maybe the real Itachi asked as he fought with Sasuke's strength.

"You don't need to know." Sasuke growled as another clone rose up from the lower bushes and attacked the Itachi clone that has just asked the question.

Poof!

Glancing to his side just to know if she was safe to escape, he couldn't believe that there were two Itachi clones which were just summoned the moment he focused himself to deliver a punch to the gut to Itachi's clone.

Shit!

The real Sasuke and other two clones immediately dashed towards the two Itachis who were both following the kunoichi's trail. He didn't intend to call back for her because her speed will surely reduce if she turned back. To end the chaste, the Shadow Clone summoned a Ninjutsu to intercept one of the Itachi clones. It called upon a 20-ft long snake, which curled up to Itachi's torso. Now that one has been stopped, the real Sasuke took out the semi-invisible string from his right pouch and flung it around the other's torso. When it coiled around the waist, he forcibly pulled him back which soon being greeted by his fist with thousand birds singing everywhere.

Poof! Poof!

Sasuke found out that they were just clones to divert him but it's the reason that worried him greatly. Itachi didn't do things without thinking. But from Sasuke's own theory, Itachi summoned them not just to divert him but also to prove how much he valued the woman.

Itachi aside, he watched Sakura's back faded from the darkness of the Earth Country's forest as she exited the battle field that Sasuke dreamed for so long. Sasuke softened his eyes as he thought about Sakura and her last words.

"I love you, Sasuke-kun. I really do."

There was a small smile coming out of his expression as he slowly turned around to meet the coming attack of his opponent.

Thank you for everything, Sakura… I couldn't ask for more…

Again, the black markings on his flesh began to heat up as he powered up for the next level of his Cursed Seal.

ZOOM!

With soft thuds yet fast movements, the pink haired kunoichi hastily dashed out of the rain. Enduring all the coldness she felt everywhere, she focused on boosting up her speed to escape from the battlefield that her beloved one asked her to do.

Another thud was the only thing she heard other than the continuous shower of the rain.

Seconds only passed when she went out of the range, but the thought of leaving him alone with his psychopath brother made her think twice even if she was already doing what Sasuke told her to do.

I do trust him with all my heart… but… leaving him with that murderer isn't just a thing to be left behind!

Sakura frowned at that thought but she continued racing down the rain in fear that Itachi might be around the area and was, maybe, following her all the time.

But Sasuke was right… I should escape before something might have come up with Itachi. Sasuke can defend himself but he still lacks something that I have… But I know he's not that stupid to get his ass kicked by his older brother now that he has the fully powered Cursed Seal.

Remembering how his fight went through with the two Akatsukis, Sakura never find any sleep even if she wasn't thinking about it.

Sasuke went rampage when he saw those two members. Of course by their cloaks and gears his rage would easily be summoned especially those things were the only essential proofs that they were part of the organization that his brother was into.

She wouldn't forget the terrifying power as he inhumanely disposed every single being in his sight. Perhaps if she was in the way, there's a possible chance that she might get killed as well.

Sakura trusted him so much that she was willing to do whatever he asked her to do. But at this crucial moment, the time, which he had been waiting for, she didn't know if he really needed her. He had the strength already as well as the brain to think of better ideas to deceive the opponent. Nonetheless, there's a big chance that the opponent would win against him, not that she didn't trust Sasuke, it's because she didn't trust the Cursed Seal at all.

The kunoichi paused for a while to catch her breath after the long period of escaping.

While panting, he looked at the sky that has been mourning down on them.

Even if you hate me Sasuke… I cannot risk seeing you die by the hands of your brother…

Slightly trembling, she looked behind her trail and felt another energy coming out from the deeper part of the woods.

I'm not leaving without you…

Turning slowly, she was now facing the route she trailed a while ago. Her eyes only showed how much determined she was when she really wanted to help or keep her only love safe in her arms.

"I'm not leaving with you… Sasuke." She spoke as she dashed her way back to the battlefield with evident stubbornness to make sure that Sasuke would be winning the battle.

BOOM!

The large explosion was heard again when Sasuke made contact with another Exploding Shadow Clones of his brother. The explosion gave him enough damage to fall back on his knees and watch his brother looking at him in uninterested manner. It looked like that Itachi was scrutinizing him again, from head to foot. Perhaps, deep inside the elder Uchiha's head was the fact that he didn't want to hear nor face.

In spite of everything he sacrificed, he's still weaker than his brother.

Sasuke angrily looked back to his brother's cold gazing. There was really a time that he couldn't think of how he would defeat his older brother, but as long as he's under the influence of the Cursed Seal, no matter how many times he was attacked, Sasuke still recovers.

Itachi merely distaste the outcome of this battle for he was sure that no matter how many times Sasuke stood up from his fall, he would be meeting his death sooner. Other than that, he disliked the transformations that his little brother undergone a while ago. He didn't like it one bit.

As he watched his brother's level 3 Sharingan looking back at him, he looked back as if he was taunting him. To add the insult, he tilted his head to the side and stared coldly at his little brother.

"Tired already? What do you want to prove right now?" He asked after so minutes of exchanging punches and strategies.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed further showing how offended he was when Itachi blurted out such question.

Indeed, what does he want to prove?

Why was he fighting Itachi?

When Sasuke didn't answer and was just glaring back at him, he continued taunting him.

"I see. So you have nothing to prove right now. You just wanted to show me the real power of Orochimaru's Cursed Seal. I've seen a lot of that power, Otouto. It doesn't scare me."

That's the final straw.

"SHUT UP!" Sasuke stood up and pointed accusingly to his brother again. "You're bluffing! Why? That's all you can do? To scare the shit out of me and fear you? Well sorry I'm not that type of person. I'm not scared, not even from you." Sasuke mocked to his brother while he shifted in his stance.

"So answer the question, Sasuke. What're you trying to prove?"

"I'm going to prove that you're a bastard and stupid for eliminating each and everyone from the clan."

Sasuke's anger fueled once again when Itachi responded with taunting chuckle.

"I see." He continued to chuckle while looking at Sasuke. "It looks like I'm facing the 12-year-old Uchiha Sasuke in a battle. Are you really matured enough to face me? Or has your brain had been cracked the moment I hit you?"

"Bullshit! You're the one to talk!" Sasuke yelled once again at the same time the markings flared in his skin. "You're not even matured enough when you killed everyone! And then you're telling me to comprehend you? You're such an insane person Itachi!" He spat his brother's name as if it was just a piece of trash.

Itachi didn't show that he was affected, in all truth he wasn't really affected. However if Sasuke kept on saying such things and wouldn't let himself accept Itachi's requirements, who would comprehend him and know the reasons as to why he end the Uchiha clan.

There were only the ones left in the clan.

A traitor…

An avenger…

Itachi must find a way to correlate him to Sasuke in order to clear everything that happened in the past. He had a feeling that this battle will soon be over because one of them will surely die in the process. But before everything has been concluded, Itachi must reveal his one last secret.

Replacing his once taunting demeanor, he stared back to Sasuke again with the same bloody eyes.

This would be the final conversation, he thought.

With a sigh, Itachi begun to speak, "Why didn't you follow half of the requirements, Sasuke? Don't you want to have the same eyes like mine?"

Sasuke almost shocked on how his brother strike up a topic and was talking as if it was just an ordinary day.

"What the hell are you talking about?" The younger Uchiha almost choked his question upon recovering from the shock of how his brother talked to him.

"Mangekyou Sharingan, from the Uchiha clan's history, is the final evolution of Sharingan." He started as he continued to fill in Sasuke's empty shell. "It wasn't only used for high level Genjutsu, but upon learning, one can completely manipulate fire throughout the entire body."

Sasuke doesn't have any slightest idea why his brother became preachy at this moment.

"Uchihas are known as geniuses in Konohagakure. But what they didn't know was… Uchihas aren't genius at all. They are the epitome of stupidity."

The younger Uchiha couldn't believe what he had heard from the mouth of his older brother. How Itachi insulted the clan, even if they're already dead, was a big shock to Sasuke.

"Because of Sharingan, Uchihas didn't have to learn every techniques or try hard to learn it. They just easily copy it from a person and for the next second he will use it against the original user." He smirked more to himself. "They easily know the techniques just by copying it. They didn't have to learn from scratch. And so, Uchihas shouldn't be known as geniuses… because they are cheating."

"Why the fuck are you telling this to me? Aren't you the one who should be called as stupid? You learned Sharingan at early age, used it in your missions and finally able to manipulate everything because of the Mangekyou Sharingan. You're driving me nuts."

Itachi then looked to his brother's eyes only with plain, black eyes.

"Having Sharingan is like having a curse."

The other's eyes widened as the elder one revealed to him the information he had been keeping for so long.

"It's either you'll be killed by an Uchiha or you'll kill an Uchiha."

Sasuke couldn't believe his ears as he stammered at deep shock, "W-what… w-what the hell…"

Itachi waited Sasuke to continue what he has to say. And after Sasuke recovered from the shock he finally made up what has been intriguing him from the beginning.

"Then why did you kill everyone?"

Itachi slowly lowered his head and soon when he looked back again, his eyes turned red and dangerous.

"I killed them to stop the insanity of the clan… not because to stop spreading the curse but also to prevent them to take over Konohagakure."

That earned another shock from Sasuke.

"Since that time, there had been secret meetings inside the temple where I directed you to go. They've been plotting how to take over Konoha and assassinate all members who are in high positions. Father, being the highly respected person in Military Police, brought the idea from the past generations. Uchihas had been pursuing to get at least one regime in the history of Konoha. Because war is essential during their time, Uchihas thought that Konoha need their strength, not just as a support but the main power to wipe off the rivalry with the strong countries."

Itachi continued, "Do you know how long they've been plotting to get themselves for the position?" Sasuke shook his head, not knowing what to answer, "It's been 25 years, Sasuke. Uchihas was eager to get every single one of the clan in position."

"You're telling me that the clan was betraying Konoha all those years? That's insane."

"The Third Hokage as well as the elders had been observing the clan, but they haven't had the slightest idea about the secret meetings that held under the temple. Uchiha traits are quite on the negative side because they pursue things that they shouldn't pursue. They're not contended in what they have and are eager to get things with their own hands."

Then after a moment of silence Itachi begun to speak again.

"Father wanted me to be in front line, the one who would assassinate the Hokage."

Sasuke gasped shock as his eyes widened in great shock.

"But I refuse the position and was called as traitor of the clan. Who would want to be in that kind of position when I was part of the ANBU where only the Hokage is directly in command of the elites? If you remember the time I did not participate in the meeting… that was the time they were going to carry out the clan's ultimate mission. I did not show up thus canceling the mission, through all those days, they've been observing me." Then he looked bitterly to his side as say, "Didn't you notice how our father always pick on me? How he yelled at me as if I'm just a piece of trash?"

Then he shrugged, "Of course you didn't care, because you were busy training yourself just so you can be as strong as I am."

Sasuke's head continue to swirl as he took in Itachi's details. As he sees to it, Itachi wasn't the person he just called as psychopath. He has the reason why he went rampage and killed the clan, but the extinction of the clan wasn't really the kind of thing that should happen…

That's why father told me not to be like you… you disobeyed him because you know it's the right thing to do. Wait a second… why did he have to kill Shisui… and then everyone…

The younger Uchiha seemed like he hesitated to ask, but upon noticing Itachi's silence, he urged himself to question him further.

"So why did you have to kill Shisui and then the rest of the clan?"

Itachi glanced at him for a moment then looked above. Soon he returned his eyes to him.

"What was the requirement to gain Mangekyou Sharingan?" He responded a question.

As he recalled his own brother's requirements, he instinctively answered, "You must kill your closest friend…"

"Acquiring Mangekyou Sharingan needs a sacrifice. So if most of the Uchihas wanted to gain Mangekyou, they have to kill. Imagine the situation if their closest friends are outside the clan…"

Sasuke didn't have to imagine things for he was one of them who had tried to kill his best friend, outside the clan, just so he could follow his brother's requirements. Thinking about it, he may have been so powerful obtaining not just Orochimaru's Cursed Seal but as well as Uchiha's Mangekyou Sharingan.

He could have been that powerful.

Nevertheless, if he was able to kill Uzumaki Naruto in the process, Konohagakure might have been on a hunt for him, killing him as well. It's better to injure him than kill him.

And if that happened, he may not be able to see Sakura again… as well as experienced the night with her.

As he shook his head, he slowly looked towards his brother who was turning his back on him.

Itachi spoke again, "I don't regret the actions I made from the past. I removed everything that needs to be removed."

At that moment, a new anger rose inside Sasuke's heart although the original ambition to kill him for murdering everyone hasn't died down a bit.

"Preventing them from doing such act is already a mission for me, for the Hokage. After having the Mangekyou though I've been having a psychological warfare. According to my researches, anyone who had acquired Mangekyou will experience major side effects in the brain also with the eyes."

Slowly the elder Uchiha gazed back at his younger brother with deactivated Mangekyou Sharingan.

"Since my eyes has been trained to always activate the Mangekyou, it totally damaged my eyesight. The more you use it, the more it will ruin your vision. Now that my eyes are back to normal, I only see blur images."

Sasuke was still in awe as to why his brother was telling him such information. If his brother does want him to get the Mangekyou why would he want to tell the disadvantages of it all? Itachi was getting weirder and weirder by the second.

"You still want the Mangekyou Sharingan, Sasuke?"

Now that his brother was fully turned his back to him, Sasuke could only feel and think of possible things as to what his brother will do next. However, the more he thought about what Itachi said the more his mind went unclear.

To be continued…

Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait everyone! Like I mentioned from my last chapter, I went for a vacation. It was unexpected that I experienced a sudden writer's block on the way home even though I jotted down the summary for this chapter. But I still hope you like the continuation of this chapter. I was planning to upload this before my birthday.. but I didn't have all the time to do that... My birthday was May 22 and a debutant.. wow... I'm old! Nyahahaha:P (But I can marry Itachi now hehehehe).

As for this chapter, albeit it's short.. yeah it's short! I told you I went to a very very very scary disease called "writer's block". Jokes aside, maybe you're wondering that there's a lot of talking here… well I just want to point out what is needed to be pointed out. Let's analyze something before we act.

For the next installment... It would be the final battle scenario. Imagine the things you wish to think but the scenarios will not be changed. Thanks for all the encouraging comments you leave every time you read. Those are the best things you'll ever give to me n-n because you make my day so wonderful! (and it will boost my morale to keep going!)

Author's Response:

nixxie1430 - Thank you!

HiEi JaGaNsHis FlAmE - I'm so glad you're back! I've been looking for you! Hmm about your opinion/analysis for Itachi's reasons why he murdered everyone except Sasuke... You may have a point there but... well something at the back of my mind tells me that there's more hidden agenda why Itachi killed everyone. It would be possible if he wasn't able to kill Sasuke because he already used Mangekyou/Tsukiyomi thus his Chakra already depleted. Hmm... For the part where Gaara and Sasuke fight in the forest... I think it was just Sasuke's thought, not entirely Itachi's idea. Well, I hope if I ever had another idea here... nobody's going to bash me of some sort.

SoraKoi The Water Goddess - Did..d-did you just say.. "Ate Ayane-chan?" Are you a filipina? As usual... I really wanted to thank you for supporting me and having a LOOOOOOOOOOOOT of patience due to the time of updating chapters n-n

aPpLecHeRrY - Hehehe... di ko rin alam kung bakit laging sobrang kahahaba ng mga chapter ko.. pinagkakasya ko kasi sa isang chapter ang isang scene. Kung ikocompare mo sa manga.. maybe 2-4 chapters ng manga equivalent sa isang chapter ko.. wow dame! Yep tragic nga my dear. Sana lang suportahan mo pa rin ako even though sobrang tragic ang labas nito T-T

Akira-kun - AKIRA! I'm gonna strangle you for being so lazy! No... I won't do that! I love my fellow writers and reviewers you know! I hope to see you updating yours! Thanks for coming back and reviewin'! And I hope you like this chapter.

Crystalgail - Eh? Because of me? I want to know the reasons why you liked Itachi because of me. Hmm... Thanks darling!

E-chan Hidaka - Thanks for the wonderful review sweety! I'm really happy because of your comments... my day was oh Can't really explain fully! Hehehe. I do hope I did a great job here even though I had a slight writer's block. The next chapter is clear as glass... the epilogue of the battle... OMG!

evil-mittens - Eheheh! Thanks for that! Well I did have a nice vacation..but that was so tiring.. And hopefully you liked this chapter, too! (smiles)

chelle - Yep! Wag ka na disappointed ang chaket damdamin eh... may isa pa kong magiging ending! At yon ay maiiba talaga ng landas! Maganda yon! Naiisip ko lang kinikilig na ko! Haay! Yung isang someone screaming book 2 popost ko yon pagkatapos nitong book 1. Don't worry popost ko yon! Thank you talaga sa suporta!

Icygal237 - Thank you so much!

Yuugi-chan - Belated Happy Birthday! (well I had a glimpse of your journal in my messages..hehehe) Thank you so much!

izumi-17 - Onga bagal.. syempre every week lang naman eh! Kaya nga weekly jump heheheh. Sana mahaba na rin to para sayo. Nagka-writer's block pa ko nung bumalik ng pinas!

Bardock's Princess - Sorry for the late update though...vacation and writer's block... heheh thank you!

Sasuke's Cherry BLossom Angel - WOW! Thank you so so so so much! MWAH! Sa comic alley, tingin ka don, meron don! Sana naman meron pa nga.. hehehe. Hmm... pinanood ko lang yung mga SasuSaku moments nung earlier season ng Naruto. Sa manga naman nabasa ko lang yung mission na nina Shikamaru para ibalik si Sasuke. Sorry kung hindi kita matulungan. Yun! Download Accelerator.. kelangan ko rin yan! Kaso nabwiset na ko sa episodes.. hindi ko talaga madl eh.

Thank you talaga sobra! Teka sandali... sino nagbabash! Maybe because Itachi ruined Sasuke's life... kasi mga Sasuke lovers sila.. HAY EWAN! Napakababaw naman!

Stbaindd - YAY! Ang tagal mong nawala! Kahit sa text hindi na kita natetext! Awww! Thank you so much dearie!

hopeless-girl - ehehe just sit back and wait for the next installment dear. n-n Thanks for reviewing!

I'm even surprised to myself that I was able to do this chapter in one sitting.