Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto!
THE TRUTH UNRAVELS
Three Years ago
They were staring at the same sky. She was sure of it.
Right now, in this moment as she laid on the field of training ground 3, Naruto and Sasuke -where ever they were, were also laying down staring at the same sky as her. She was positive.
If she squeezed her eyes hard enough she could hear them, feel them sitting next to her and she allowed a smile to form on her lips.
She refused to get sad thinking about Team Seven, they were all on different paths of getting stronger. And she wouldn't be mad that they couldn't find that path here in Konoha.
It didn't matter where they would go, because one day the three of them would all be right here. Talking about their travels and… and living.
They'd come back alive and she'd make sure of it.
Naruto and Sasuke wouldn't- no couldn't fight to death. There would be no hospital roof repeat. They were brothers. And brothers didn't kill each other.
Space and time. Though the two weren't always the answer, it would be this time.
She'd get stronger- no she was stronger and she'd keep getting stronger for them. She'd be their equals and they'd all walk side by side.
"And here I thought I was too old to keep up."
She groaned as she recalled the reason why she was on the ground in the first place.
She had been doing the workout Lee assigned her, when Kakashi and his pack of mutts- She really loved his dogs but they were brutal-had attacked her.
It also didn't help that she was trying to improve her other senses by cutting off her hearing. She didn't notice them at all until he was right in front of her sending a kick her way.
They had been at it for a while before she caved and turned her hearing back on. Another hour before she found herself in this spot.
She pushed herself off the ground, stretching as she went.
"I have dog bites all over my body." She shot him an heatless glare before offering to heal him and his pack.
After he waved her off Pakku and the pack had all come and plopped down beside her, taking her up on the offer she healed them and offered belly rubs as she went. She lazily stroked the dogs as she stole looks from Kakashi.
A week ago Tsunade had suspended her. Rightfully so, she still avoided Kakashi like the plague. What was she going to say to him? Hey Kaka-Sensei, I stole important documents stating how the village fucked over our teammates and left to beg Itachi to live… yeah that somehow didn't sound right to a Jounin who loved and would die for his village. So she hid from him, but you couldn't hide from the legendary Copycat Ninja.
"Are you going to make me ask?" she groaned and laid back down. A part of her was mad at everybody, Kakashi included. But she knew that was illogical, she watched him grow from waiting to die to finding a reason to live. She couldn't blame him for this- it wasn't up to her to blame him, but she could try to understand why he did what he did.
"You let Naruto be raised in the mud knowing he was your sensei's child, why?" She said softly, no accusations in place, just curiosity. Kakashi's visible eye widened before he looked away.
"Who told you?"
"It was in the file I stole."
"I- I was a child… I couldn't raise a child- not while being in ANBU, and I couldn't leave ANBU…"
"I understand that and I think the fourth could too. No one was asking you to raise Naruto, but you were supposed to be his brother, why weren't you his brother?" She picked Pakkun up and placed him on the ground before joining Kakashi near the tree. He looked at her, guilt deeply engraved in his face.
"I couldn't look at him without seeing Minato-sensei, without knowing I failed sensei. I couldn't…"
"You can't blame yourself for him dying." she softly stated.
"Are you going to tell him?" she grinned at him while nodding her head.
"Yup, Tsunade said I could send him a letter now or wait for my suspension to end in six months to tell him face-face." She pursed her lips, "It's not wrong if I wait right?"
"Maa, he's waited 15 years whats another six months!" Sakura smiled at him,
"Any other questions?"
"You're disqualified from taking the Jounin exams-
"I know sensei, I'll take it next time-
"Sakura. You're disqualified until further notice. Danzo and Tsunade-sama discuss your terms, all your privileges are being taken away and for the next 6 months you're suspended from the hospital, missions, and the hokages tower. After that you'll be taken on at an introductory level- meaning when you go on missions it'll be D ranks. When you report to the hospital it'll be grunt work. You'll still be Tsunade-samas apprentice but you'll have a tight lease on. Whatever you thought you would accomplish by taking those files, just set you back. And not only from your jobs but from telling your teammates the truth. You're benched."
"I made a mistake, and I'm prepared to face all the consequences."
"As a ninja you don't have time for mistakes. I couldn't read the files and now they're destroyed, what I am telling you is that part of being a ninja is being able to find out the truth and not letting anyone know you found it out. Danzo's pushing for the death sentence, it's only because of Tsunade-sama your punishment isn't severe." She fucked up- she knew it and what was worse than that, was now Itachi and Sasuke could end up paying for her mistakes.
Tsunade was pissed at her and didn't want to hear anything she had to say- rightfully so. She went about it the wrong way- she turned Tsuande out and now whatever deal she could have made to get Itachi reinstated into the village was gone. She hadn't thought about the consequences at all and purely acted.
She was the rational one, and yet she failed. She bowed.
"Hai sensei."
"For the next six months you'll train with me and my old ANBU team. If you plan on learning village secrets, you need to be strong enough to back it up." she latched at the hand ruffling her hair.
"Wha- wait you want to train me?" he grinned at her
"Don't look so excited, you won't have any breaks." He said in his ever so cheerful voice. "Friends don't let friends drown."
THE TRUTH UNRAVELS
It had taken Team Seven weeks to return back to Konoha and it was a sight to behold as the nine ninjas - classes varied- walked through the gates of Konoha. Heads turned as they saw ninjas of all ranks walking the streets of Konoha with only one of them cuffed.
ANBU swarmed them in the dark, refusing to be seen but letting their chakra leak to show the nine shinobi and kunoichi if they so much as breathed wrong, all hell would break loose. In the civilian district no less.
Despite that, the nine ninja kept calm and walked.
Civilians and ninja alike glared at the cuffed man. Them instantly recognized the vast majority of the 9 as members of Team Seven- the team that once consisted of Sakura Haruno. And for this man to be cuffed and for Konoha's number one hyperactive knucklehead to be deadly silent, let them know that this man was responsible for their favorite medic dying.
Everyone could see how intense this situation was. And the fact that they decided to walk the village streets instead of taking to the roof said something unimaginable. Sakura's death caused one Itachi Uchiha to be captured. This monster would finally face the consequences of killing his clan. And not only that but it also brought Sasuke Uchiha home… now if that was a good or bad thing, the villagers would never know.
The group made their way to the hokages tower without stopping and speaking to the people who approached them. The tension admitting form the nine of them was thick.
Ninjas hid in the shadows as they watched the scene unfold.
Others gasped as they saw a familiar face.
All things for certain, the truth was going to come out. Be it now or after the man's death.
Something was wrong. Kakashi knew it and Tenzo too, something was deadly wrong. Kakashi had watched the fight, which wasn't much of a fight- and whether the kids were too angry to see that Itachi hadn't fought back, he didn't know. He dodged every hit, never landing one, and while Tenzos wood style was amazing it had been too slow, yet Itachi had still got captured.
Unless this was a trap. What reason would Itachi need to come into the village? And better yet why would he need to get captured to come back, nothing stopped him last time. Yet here they were, standing before the Hokage. It had taken them over a day to reach Konoha and Itachi had yet to say one word.
And while he didn't know Itachi- only one man knew Itachi, and that man was dead- he could tell something about him was off. And he hated to say it happened when Itachi found out Sakura was dead. Found out, yes, because Itachi Uchiha did not murder her.
"Itachi Uchiha, Sakura told me a lot about you." Itachi said nothing as team's sevens eyes widened in harmony.
"You knew Hag?!"
"Watch your mouth brat!" she said evenly as she relaxed her hand. "I did not know they were romantically involved." Everyone looked towards Itachi for an answer and when they found none, Tenzo intervened.
"My Lady, if I can." bowing perfectly in place, "He never admitted to killing Haruno." He could understand why he couldn't bring himself to say her name. He could also understand why he gave Itachi the benefit of the doubt. While no one could (after her suspension and before this came out) question her loyalty (only a few could and they were Team Ro and Team Seven.) Sakura had made it known to the people she trusted that Konoha was full of shit. And they wholeheartedly agreed with her, they just couldn't go around telling a Chunin turned Jounin the dark truths of ROOT. Besides, she learned that out with Sai.
It all depends on how this meeting would go. He hoped Sakura wasn't dumb enough to sleep with a criminal without getting information in exchange. And that seemed to be true considering Tsunade-sama herself just mentioned knowing that the two were collaborating with each other.
Sakura had initially made a mistake before but this meant she learned from the last time to refrain from keeping things from her hokage. Kakashi was proud.
Whatever information she found, she knew she could only take it to one person, and she chose the right person.
"I don't believe he did, Yamato." Kakashi smiled on reflex, it never got old hearing them call Tenzo, Yamato. But the fact that two of the people he deeply trusted all thought the same as him, let him know his world was probably about to come crashing down. "Uchiha, let me help you." he noticed Sasuke tense as he looked at the back of his brother's head. "Did you murder Haruno Sakura?" Itachi regarded her evenly, Tsunade would try again. "Help us find the bastard that took her from us."
"Haruno Sakura was a means to an end." Naruto growled and it took Sai and Tenzo to withhold him.
"Enough Naruto!" Tsunade snapped. It was her turn to watch Itachi. Nothing about his appearance changed. She hadn't known him, didn't know how to read him, but she would. All she had to do was watch.
Shizune stood by Tsunade's desk watching the scene intensely, she had to refrain herself from squeezing the living daylights out of TonTon.
"She spoke nothing but respect for you, hell she didn't even let me get away with bad mouthing you." It somehow didn't seem fair that Tsunade would be telling them this and not her.
"What the hell is she talking about?" Sasuke quickly threw in, the question was regarded for Itachi but he didn't answer.
"Little Uchiha hush!" Tsunade commanded back. Sasuke shut his mouth instantly and opted to glare at the back of Itachi's head. "We went over the reports. She told me what she knew- what you had told her." He didn't flinch. "Itachi, Sakura talked to you about getting reinstated as a Konoha ninja, all you have to do is testify. Tell me what happened that night."
"What the hell is she talking about!?" Sasuke shouted, grabbing Itachi's arm, he stayed silent.
"Your clan was planning a coup because of the treatment the Uchiha clan were receiving. Yet the village was only making it worse, to the point where Danzo killed your best friend and made the clan blame you. Tell me how the Third Hokage and Danzo ordered you to kill your family."
Many things- yet nothing happened at once. The back of Kakashi's head felt like it collided against the wall. Naruto began screaming accusations at Tsunade. Tenzo felt like his word fell from under him and again it was all because of one man. Sasuke was screaming at Itachi for the truth while his grip on Itachi tightened to the point where Itachi's blood now splattered on the ground. And through all of this Tsunade watched him. And he gave away nothing. Not a twitch as he spilled blood. Not a blink when she called him out, he didn't even swallow when she mentioned the Third ordering his family dead. His eyes did though. Something flashed through his eyes too quickly for her to tell what it was.
But it was something, and it had told her where to look.
His glaze locked with hers and she hated that she had to fight not to take her glaze away from him. It was unnerving. Itachi Uchiha was unnerving but she'd find the truth out. They all would.
"Itachi I- you- you didn't want to- the village made you?" Sasuke brokenly asked as he stepped in his brother's view. "What- Itachi please, what happened?" He now stood face to face with his brother, desperately searching his face for answers. "TELL ME!" He demanded and a second later he carelessly reached out, clutching at Itachi's shirt like he's done a thousand times as a child. "You- you loved her right? Me?" Itachi's glaze locked with him and that was the only answer Sasuke needed. Sasuke reached out, locking his arms around his frame in a frantic manner.
"Please," Sasuke mumbled desperately in his shoulder, "Tell me you love me. I need you, please." His sobs were muffled in Itachi's shoulder, and out of the thousand excess Itachi had there was only one he wanted to say, I wanted to protect you. But what good are excuses when you no longer wish to live. He slowly brought his hand up to gently rub soothing circles along Sasuke's back. The last time they did this- hugged, was the day before the massacre. He wondered if Sasuke remembered that day.
"It was so easy." Sasuke stiffened, and it took everything in Itachi to not break down, he had to stay in check. "Sakura Haruno had a big heart," he began all the while continuing to console him. I'm sorry. "It was considerably easier making her believe me when she was in love with me." While Itachi's grip was soft and gentle, it remained firm and Sasuke wasn't able to pull away. "I could tell you what Tsunade-sama speaks of is the truth and watch you forgive me. But I fear in time I'll come to resent you. I give you 10 years, I allowed you to have two teams, train with a sanin and you still haven't amounted to anything. Your teammate and your nephew are dead, and you still lack the hatred to make you stronger." He had to swallow the bile in his throat. His head was heavy, his heart ached, Sasuke did nothing to deserve this, but Itachi had failed. He failed his brother, lover and child.
Nothing could ever make it right.
It would take him less than a second to rid Naruto of his weapons and aim one at Tsunade-samas neck. It would take even less than that for her ANBU to cut his throat. Or he could aim it at Naruto and watch the same thing happen.
It would be so easy to die here and now.
But death was something he wanted- and he didn't deserve to have anything good, anything he wanted. Whoever made him think otherwise was dead.
"Please don't, Itachi I can't do this anymore, please." Sasuke clutched his shit, lifting his head off his shoulder- he was taller than Itachi now- "Please tell me you love me please Ita-
"You mean nothing to me." Sasuke's eyes widened as he ripped himself from Itachi's dark glaze. His back collided with the wall as he gripped his fist. He couldn't breathe. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Itachi's sharingan staring back at him. He saw his parents blood splattered across Itachi's face. He felt the bile in his throat as he quickly burst through the doors of the Hokage's office.
"You're a sick fuck." Naruto hissed out as he quickly went to find Sasuke- refusing to let him be alone in his pain.
"You three," Tsunade bit out after a moment of intense silence, as she pointed to the three unknown ninja in the room, "Who are you?"
"We're Sasuke's teammates ma'am, I am Juugo. This is Karin and Suiguesu." Juugo supplied.
"You always follow Sasuke into enemy territory?'
"Yes ma'am." Tsunade hummed approvingly,
"Go wait with your teammate, Sai go find your teammate and none of you are allowed to leave this building."
Once the children had left, Tsundae allowed herself to look at the three men in the room. Yamato had said it, but she knew Kakashi agreed with him- Itachi Uchiha did not kill Sakura.
And though Itachi was a cold hearted bastard- he never admitted to killing Sakura. "She was a means to an end." An end of what? He left too many holes out, and he never confirmed any leads. This would only work if he cooperated with them, and he knew this. That was the problem.
"Itachi do you have anything else to say?" when he said nothing Tsunade signaled to her men. Once the ANBU appeared they placed another seal on his wrist and turned to leave.
"Sakura fought for you. But I can only fight for you when you're ready to fight for yourself." Her eyes locked with his- it showed nothing. "Take him to T&I."
Itachi Uchiha was in Konoha. They were playing a thin game here, one he knew he was going to win. He had to play smart. Tsunade was dangerous and her connection with Haruno would drag everything he sought for down. He wasn't worried about the Uchiha. He was just a pawn on his chess board. Tsunade was the one in any real position.
He failed countless times over, trying to bend her to his will. She was determined and she got that from her no backbone of a sensei. But even he could bend the Third with the right words. And that was exactly what he was planning to do to the Fifth. The only person who had real leverage on him was the Fourth and seeing as how he's dead, let him know he was going to be victorious in this game they were playing.
"Danzo-sama, she's requesting you."
There was one minor set back in this plan. And that was time. He needed 7 months for his plan to come to life. Regardless if Itachi spent life in prison or got the death sentence, his blood would be the reason Konoha came undone. All he needed was time.
THE TRUTH UNRAVELS
Happy February everyone! I everyone's enjoying the year and staying safe!
Spring semester just started for me but I will try to post more frequently on this story. I hope I answered some questions in this chapter and if things are still unclear wait for the next chap! I'm very excited to see what yall think about this chapter as a whole!
Than you lovelies for sticking with me! Ja ne.
