Someone Screaming
Ayane Selznick
"Found them." A voice from the transmitter said.
The head of the team activated his advanced bloodline technique as he travel short distances to search for his teammate.
"Coordinates?" It sounded more like a command but the member who saw what he just saw gave him the coordinates.
From the other line was the third member of the search party. It seemed funny to think that during their journey he had been so silent to the point that they all thought he wasn't the person they knew. Of course, who wouldn't be goddamn serious about the situation where their Konoha Nin friend stumbled with someone ranked as S-class Missing Nin? Even if the Missing Nin was their friend before, he was sure that the person had changed greatly… unfortunately, the worst side.
Other than the said detail was a bad omen.
He just felt that his other half died.
He ignored the other member's call to him for he sped up the moment he felt something strange within him. Neji had called him once and like what he did from the other teammate, he simply ignored.
Every second that he spent throughout running was a sudden unexplainable rage and loss would intensify.
Quickly he swerved to one corner and found the third member of their party…
…watching a man's back slouched over the corpses…
His eyes widened from the quick recognition.
"Sasuke."
From the outskirts of Hidden Stone, the three subordinates of Hyuuga Neji were done with their task. The one with dog masked took of his mask, revealing two red inverted triangle shape on both of his cheeks. He petted his white dog, Akamaru, while he contacted the captain's transmitter.
"Neji."
"What?" The captain's voice was stern and they could easily hear the continuous rain from the other line.
"We've just finished the investigation. We even had the Tsuchikage's words."
"Very well." Then the captain commanded something to the third member in his party. "Kiba, tell Hinata and Rishimaro to hurry back here. I need Medic."
Kiba's eyes widened for a moment which were noticed by Hinata and Rishimaro.
"What has happened, Kiba-kun?" The dark haired Medic nin asked, her voice full of anxieties.
Kiba just shook his head and asked the captain, "Captain, what happened?"
"I'll explain later—" Kiba heard a loud exploding sound from the other line which panicked him further. "Damn it! Naruto come back here!"
"Neji-nii-san! What's going on?" Hinata interjected the transmitter while Kiba was still on.
"That idiot. Shit… Get the team here! We must restrain Uchiha Sasuke!"
"Hai!" Both Kiba and Hinata answered as they disappeared from their location.
Minutes before Kiba's call…
Upon Naruto's recognition at Sasuke's back, he just couldn't believe his ears as to what he was listening to.
Sasuke's cry.
He was crying.
He found the third member standing not so near from Uchiha Sasuke, observing what has happened. But then again, how will they found out what happened if they didn't inquire the avenger? Naruto slowly walked towards them, his ears never stopped listening to the traitor's weep and the words…
"Don't leave…"
Curiosity got out of him when he noticed a long pink damped hair. Later, he noticed the long slender legs of the body which was being cradled by Sasuke himself. Naruto's inside tremble and he didn't want to believe the things he just saw.
In a matter of seconds, he shouted at Sasuke.
"Sasuke!"
Said person jerked slightly but never torn his attention to the body he's crying on to. His back continued to shake up and down, Naruto didn't know if it was from the coldness of the rain or from his cry. He walked further and closed the proximity as he was standing behind the renowned survivor of the Uchiha clan.
"Sasuke…" Naruto called out but his voice showed nothing yet for he has yet to know what has happened. "Where is Sakura?"
To his astonishment, Sasuke didn't answer neither look towards him to glare or somewhat. The lone Uchiha was kneeling in front of the body, sheltering it from the rain and Naruto was still preoccupied by not believing what he was seeing.
From his transmitter, he heard the voice of the third member, "Captain, there's a corpse near Uchiha Sasuke."
While Neji took his time to investigate, he saw a familiar cloak dangling from thin branch. Torn and ragged, the captain resorted to one obvious conclusion.
Uchiha Itachi.
"Confirm everybody's condition. I will send the Medic team."
"Hai."
Naruto was stubborn. Everything was there and it's only for him to put everything in one piece.
Itachi's dead corpse…
Sasuke's torn shirt…
Blood…
Shurikens… kunais…
Destroyed parts of most trees…
Another corpse within Sasuke's protection…
With trembling hands, he balled it into a fist.
"Sasuke! Where is Sakura!" He shouted this time but the Uchiha prodigy didn't spare any time to look back to him to mock. Instead, he sheltered the body even more and the repetition of "Don't leave" acted like a mantra from his mouth.
It was then Neji arrived at the location with grim face. Even if he spared one glance from Sasuke's back, he knew already what had happened even without Sasuke's explanation.
He just hoped… he just hoped…
Then the Byakugan widened when Naruto grabbed Sasuke's shoulder to force the man to look back to him. And for a moment, both Sasuke and Naruto shared the same thing…
They were both crying.
"Where is Sakura!" The blonde Jounin shouted again but the Uchiha remained blank even if his tears would continue to flow and his mouth never ceased to shut up from uttering "Don't leave".
This time, Naruto was pretty sure that Sasuke had locked himself to something they all called as darkness. Within it, Sasuke will not hear anyone. He will not talk to anyone. He didn't see anyone. What he only sees was… Sakura…
When the blonde landed his eyes on the body that Sasuke had been sheltering all the while, he instinctively dropped Sasuke. The young Uchiha's eyes were blank but his tears, it continuously fall from his eyes and his small mouth… uttering unending mantra.
At the same time, Naruto's eyes widened.
He just couldn't believe what he just saw.
Almost beside the body was another body to which he confirmed was Itachi's.
But the body that was beside Itachi was none other than the body of his close friend. The bubbly teammate. The intelligent student. His number one crush. The one he loved from the beginning. The one who had been a sister to him.
Team 7's only female member.
Haruno Sakura.
He felt his heart stop and thought he would die right there but his knees wobbled for a moment to which he easily surrendered from the gravity and knelt beside the silent woman. Naruto thought he couldn't breathe and he even thought that this was just a nightmare.
A nightmare that killed him… his other part…
Gently, he touched her bloodied cheek. Her eyes were closed and she was smiling back at him. He didn't understand why she smiled during this… this silent slumber. But what's important is…
Get her back to Konoha as soon as possible.
For he hoped there's still a time.
Gathering up all his courage without wiping his tears, he clasped his hands together and shouted.
Summoning Technique!
Naruto heard the captain shouted at him, same as the third member.
"Naruto! What the hell are you doing?" The member asked, terrified.
"Naruto!" Neji shouted during his conversation with his teammates.
Stubborn at his decision, Naruto gently took the unconscious body into his arms yet his head loomed over her silent sleep. His tears never stop falling.
Before Naruto knew it, his arm was grabbed by another pale yet strong arm. Looking at the source of force, he glared him dangerously. His eyes, rather both their eyes, were red and fierce.
"She's staying."
Naruto roared, "Are stupid! I can't let her die with you! I'm going back to Konoha! Let her be treated by Tsunade!"
Sasuke's grip tightened as he insisted, "She's staying with me."
"NO she is not!" Naruto pulled himself from the grip and jumped towards the head of Gama Bunta.
Later they all heard the blonde commanded the large toad to go back quickly and still Sasuke retaliated. He was about to attack Naruto's retreating summon but the other member held him back.
That's when Neji cut off the call and immediately ran towards Sasuke's side.
To shut his Chakra channels.
Three days later…
Neji's team arrived at Konoha, dragging an unconscious Uchiha Sasuke as they entered the walls of their village. The Captain himself didn't want to cause any ruckus while the captive is awake so he let the Uchiha collapse without draining entirely the energy in his body.
The Hyuuga Medic-Nin dashed herself to the Konoha Hospital to check up Haruno Sakura's condition. She didn't believe Neji's and the other teammate's report about it, but she was hopeful for the woman to be saved. She recalled Naruto's cheerful moments with the last of the Team 7, the legendary team, as per say. Then after Sakura's departure and the report about her missing in action, she saw Naruto's behavior cracked open as emotions ran wildly from his heart. He was always mad and he only talked to her.
Then… she didn't know how he coped with what he saw when he saw Sakura and Sasuke together… with Sakura's condition like that…
When she arrived and found him, her heart broke.
Naruto was simply roaring at the hallway, calling out Sakura's name and the words "Save her!"
A crystal tear dropped down her cheek.
The Godaime Hokage requested Neji's team to report at her desk the moment they arrived at Konoha. She didn't expect to see Uchiha Sasuke being dragged back, unconscious and a mess. She requested the Hyuuga to revive the captain and he would be taken to the Konoha Hospital for medication.
She followed the team and sealed Sasuke's room so that he won't be able to use any jutsu nor be able to escape during his stay. Because once he wakes up, he would be interrogated.
A day had passed by and the ANBU guards had alert the Godaime for Uchiha Sasuke's revival. She hastily dumped her desk and went to check up on him with ANBU Interrogation Unit in tow. When they entered his room, they couldn't believe what they've seen.
Uchiha Sasuke was crying… and uttering Sakura's name over and over again.
Due to his condition, the Interrogation Unit decided to delay the schedule but before they left, the ANBU guard from the outside held out a scroll.
"The imprint of hands and blood belonged to Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura." The one who held out said and gave it to the Godaime.
The blonde woman accepted it and ordered the unit to stay until Sasuke was stable.
When she returned to her desk, she closed the door of her room and hastily grabbed her chair to read the scroll. Noticing the writing style, she was sure that it was written by her pupil, Haruno Sakura. Her eyes suddenly flashed agonizing pain while she slowly unwrap the rope that binds the scroll.
Reading the first part… she widened her eyes.
Sakura's whole report.
She went on as the report says:
Godaime-sama,
Our last mission was a success. We saved the family from a group of S-class assassin group. They are not under the command of any S-class Nin groups from our list. We've dispatched them as well. But before we could make it back, two of the Akatsuki members faced us. The captain of my team was stubborn. He commanded the troops to fight back. We failed, they died, and I survived.
As a shinobi, I went to a nearest village to heal myself. I was within the range of Hidden Earth Village when another ambush came to me. Still I survived. The Medical Team of the said village saved me from death. I also explained myself in front of the Tsuchikage to get rid of any speculations. They let me stay but one night I encountered another chaos at the south section of the village. There I saw Uchiha Sasuke battling with some unknown A-class criminals. He said that they were after the Sharingan. I fought side by side with him.
After the battle, I woke up from a bed with him. He took me and gave shelter after I fainted. I tried to interrogate him about his disappearance in Hidden Sound as well as the Cursed Seal. He never answered. He forced me to move out.
When I was on my way back, I encountered Akatsuki again. They were the ones who attacked my team. In the middle of our battle, Uchiha Sasuke appeared. Maybe he heard the rumors from the village and seized them in attempt to inquire about his brother, Uchiha Itachi. During the battle however I saw him fully activated the power of the Cursed Seal. It is still there. Fully activated and grew powerful.
I took him back and helped him heal his wounds. He was softer than our first reunion. After a night, he decided to get me back to Konoha and meet his punishment. I urged him to come.
I know that it's not completely right to believe in premonitions but I have a feeling that after I wrote this report, we will be facing another bloody fight. And I know that… maybe at this hour or later… Uchiha Sasuke would be facing his brother… Uchiha Itachi.
Godaime-sama, I know it's not right to write down what I feel about what's happening. If I didn't make it back alive do not punish Uchiha Sasuke. He was eager to save me and I saw it in his eyes that he truly meant what he said. If I didn't make it please tell Uzumaki Naruto, Yamanaka Ino, Hatake Kakashi and the rest of the Medical Team as well as my friends that it has been an honor for me to serve them and protect Konohagakure. They should not worry about me for they have to continue their assistance for the village.
And to Uchiha Sasuke, please tell him that I truly love him. Let him live and become an aspiring shinobi of Konoha like what he had always been. I took him out of his shell so please continue what I've left. Let him live a life with full of good memories.
And to you, Godaime-sama, I am truly honored for all the lessons you taught to me and letting me serve Konoha with all my strength.
I do not regret what will happen next but for me and for Sasuke's future, I want you to save him.
Head of Medical Team,
Haruno Sakura
Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, after reading the entire report, simply cried. She cried for the loss of one great Kunoichi, her greatest student.
Days later, Uchiha Sasuke was permitted to leave the hospital yet he hadn't said a word to any interrogations of ANBU unit. He was still at a daydream state where he would always ask for Sakura and his brother.
Hearing this, Godaime summoned him in her office.
When he came in front of her, she couldn't believe that the unemotional kid before would look like this. He was simply tired, helpless and in dire need to see Sakura. How did she know?
It was the first thing that came out of his mouth.
"Where's Sakura?" His words almost uttered like a whisper.
Tsunade looked at him wretchedly. Before emotions awake in her, she tried hard to recompose herself and inquire him. She started softly…
"I will tell you where Sakura is but you have to answer my questions. Is that okay, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke wasn't looking at her, he kept his head low but he nodded slowly.
The interrogation started…
It was true.
The genocide in Hidden Sound was conducted by Orochimaru's prized possession— Uchiha Sasuke. When he found out that he was truly a container for Orochimaru's evil plots and the snake-bastard was afraid of his brother, he waited for the Cursed Seal to take its full effect. Calculating its extremity, he trained himself hard and waited for the right time to abolish every single being that lives in the said village.
It was also true that the Cursed Seal was still in him, but his brother removed its full power. Jiraiya, a close friend of Tsunade and a teammate from their Genin days, researched how to fully deactivate its power. He went back to the ruined place of Hidden Sound and helped the handicapped Ninja to recover after all the tragedies he faced.
Afterwards, Orochimaru's hardships as well as Uchiha Sasuke's benefit from its power was simply removed from him.
From that day, he wasn't a traitor of Konoha… he was reborn.
He had undergone repeated interrogations and observations where in the end he was simply taken back by his home.
Indeed, Uchiha Sasuke had returned back to Konoha.
It's not because of pity or because he doesn't have a place to go to but it was because of forgiveness, freedom from darkness and…
Haruno Sakura's last request…
The cheerful forever-spring of Konoha died by the hands of Uchiha Itachi, older brother of Uchiha Sasuke and was the person behind the entire massacre of their clan.
He could remember it fully, the way she smiled at him, the way she caressed his face, the way she lovingly stare at him.
Everything… everything was blown by the wind.
It took his happiness away.
But she was smiling at him before she left, right?
Go back to Konoha, she said, and live a happy life.
He pondered carefully at those words. How will his life be happy now that the only person who truly makes him happy had passed away?
He didn't believe the news when the Hokage held him a scroll that Sakura gave him. It was just her premonition, but still… how come it all came true? Then there was another paper telling him that she died of blood loss as well as inflicting major damage from her internal organs. Her Chakra channels were shut off.
In short, she dedicated her entire body to save him.
…For him to make a turn from his path…
Even at that moment… she still cared for him. She still loved him like she always did…
He looked above; the sky was shining down at him. It was offering him light… a life…
With open arms he tilted his head to face the sky and accepted it. He didn't know where or who to cling on to, but he knew… that even out of reach… someone was there loving and protecting him at the same time.
Sighing, he opened his eyes and dropped his arms beside him. He looked at the entirety of Konohagakure and sworn to himself to serve the village just like how she served it from her days. He will continue what she had left, except of course, being a Medical Ninja. It wasn't his field after all.
He will work hard and… try to have a happy life just like she requested him.
Slowly, he turned around and acknowledged the man who appeared in front of him.
His teammate... and best friend…
"Naruto."
As always, Naruto beamed him a matured smile and tapped his shoulder. "We have another mission."
"Aa."
Naruto proceeded, "It would be a suicide mission though, but Neji and the rest joined in."
The last of the Uchihas raised a brow at his friend, clueless about the mission and its danger.
"Elimination of Akatsuki." Naruto ended and showed a determined look in his eyes. "Its possible that some of us might die here, still coming?"
He looked again to the sky and watched the clouds slowly pass by. What will be his decision? Will he accept the mission?
Softly and warmly, a gentle press from behind jerked him. Looking down at his waist, he saw bright arms encircling him. Soon he felt a warm and gentle breath close to his ear.
"Sasuke-kun…" It whispered and kissed his cheek lovingly.
He closed his eyes and breathe in her loving scent…
Whatever my decisions are, I know that you'll always be there… right, Sakura?
He imagined her standing before him, smiling proudly at him.
The End
Author's Note: Yes an ending! Finally! And I do hope that you beloved readers of Someone Screaming wouldn't be that disappointed as you all were from the previous chapter. I hope it satisfied you for a tragedy category that is.
I do believe that anything happened in this chapter was purely depressing. But heck, that's why it's tragic. Do you want them to reunite? Maybe you'll think that Uchiha Sasuke will gladly accept the mission of eliminating all the Akatsuki members knowing that it means "suicide mission." Akatsuki, by now, well at least in my story, has been weakened because of the absences of Uchiha Itachi, Deidara and Sasori. Yes, they are all gone.
And I'm so sorry people… This one was rather rushed. Ideas came crashing down on me and I was just typing everything. It was less detailed…see? But still I know that you all feel how it ended. Sasuke has his freedom, will serve the village and will forever love Sakura even if she's just a soul lingering around him always. xp aww bad me, I'm lightening you up so cheer up people!
Author's Response:
SoraKoi The Water Goddess – Yes there's an alternate. I loved drama/tragedy so much that I implied those categories in here. Poor Sasuke-kun…no?
hopeless-girl/Mrs. Shiranui – Yeah… and it was confirmed in this chapter, no? So much sacrifice for Sakura.
E-chan Hidaka - AH! Ahahaha gomen gomen n-n she has to… die… yeah, for Sasuke to realize the true meaning of life. Not the life he condemned himself, rather his brother condemned him to live.
Yuugi-chan – WAHAHAHA SONIC! NYAHAHAHA! Ahem sorry about that. W-why were you like that? Was it something I wrote? Ne? Ne? Ne?
TheSunshineGirls – Oh you're back! I understand that kind of thought… the summary may have confused many, no? I've been in deep thinking before I made this chapter. (pats Adan) don't cry… (but I'm already crying, too)
Raina – Yeah, I kind of remember a reviewer who flamed me because of the outcome of this battle. She did HATE it, well she said so. I agree that there aren't many people who have happy endings in their life. And if we happen to picture Sasuke and Sakura's relationship, I don't think it would be a happy ending as well. Sometimes I think Sasuke would be killed or Sakura would be killed (where in the end Naruto would be very sad… tsk tsk tsk)
Hmmm, really I said that? Hmmm… And no, I haven't watched that movie... yet.
Actually, this fic was inspired by Rurouni Kenshin OVA Tsuiokuhen. As for the canon, I am hopeful, too for Sasuke's life to change. Kishi-san will just add twist events… we don't really know what's going to happen next, right? And we're still clueless as to who were the third Mangekyou user and the entire truth of Itachi's genocide. Really, though, thanks for the time in reviewing and reading. I do appreciate it.
angel-puppeteer – AHAHAHAHA! ADEK SA GB! Actually matagal na kong nagbabalik, bilis nga update ko dito eh. Ikaw kelan ka babalik? Namimiss na kita no!
evil-mittens – Well I got this idea from another story, too. Her other persona isn't that powerful as well but still I used her to shield Sakura's conscious from Itachi's Mangekyou. Thanks for the support!
cocoa-latte – WOW… you don't hate Itachi right? I love that guy so much… (sniffsniff) And thanks for the continuous support! I like your story, too n-n
Crystalgail – Well I can't end a story without knowing what has happened to Sasuke and his life after the tragedy. Hope you liked this ending n-n and watch out for the next chapter! (not the continuation but the alternate) thanks for everything! (this might serve as a birthday gift for you, too! n-n)
nixxie1430 – Thank you for the review n-n
Akira-kun – Yeah I know… sniffsniff. Thanks for the continuous support! And good luck with everything! (when are you going to update your fanfic? I'm not over with the cliffhanger you left…) Hope to see you reviewing here and for the future chapters of the alternate story!
shinn – hey that's out of the story! Thanks for leaving a comment.
aPpLecHeRrY – Yeah, very emotional. Hay why do I feel like it's not yet accomplished. In any case, thanks for all the reviews for this story and yes, the alternate story will come out shortly!
Tenshi no Hana-chan – Fluttered naman ako sa sinabi mo n-n Sana satisfied ka naman sa ending nito, pero as promised naman may alternate story naman ako. Doon walang mamamatay (nga ba…mwahahaha). Anyway, good luck with your studies! Kaya mo yan.
k A z A – Q – You're not mad at me are you? (nervous) If you look closely, the genre says its tragedy, so someone has to die and that's Sakura. Redemption is what Sasuke needs to live but it's a little bit angst-y to decide at the very end that he will die together with the clan for the sake of seeing Sakura in the other world. "Love is death" (quoted from Between the Shadows and the Soul by Visions.)
Shy-Lil-Dreamer – Hope you read this chapter n-n and satisfy a tragic ending. Thank you for reviewing and hopefully I would see your name for the alternate story.
Again, thank you everyone who supported, criticized, read and reviewed this story. I hope to see you guys in the alternate ending which would be posted under the same title. I will fix the genre as well as the summary. Thank you very much!