Back to the Kazekage Rescue Arc!
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They ran, Kakashi leading the way. The terrible weight in Kokoa's gut grew heavier with each step. Back in the trees, she had sensed Zetsu, though she was unaware; however, after one step, two steps, three, a familiar feeling overwhelmed her. Her heart skipped a beat. A scorching heat swallowed her. And she could not move. She could not breathe.
"Everyone, stop!" Kakashi shouted, throwing out his arms. Naruto, Sakura, and Chiyo obeyed, coming to a halt beside the jonin. They eyed the figure before them, a fellow of average height cloaked in black and crimson clouds. Dark bangs tickled his face, and dangerous eyes gazed back at them. Kokoa stood frozen behind the others, voice caught in her throat.
"Who…" Sakura asked, swallowing hard, "who is that?"
"Already, huh?" Kakashi said, still staring ahead.
'Those eyes...' Chiyo tilted her head. Naruto stepped forward with a tight jaw and even tighter fists.
"You," he said. "Uchiha Itachi."
'Th - this man is -' Sakura stiffened. 'This man is Uchiha Itachi!' She spun around, meeting Kokoa with a nasty face. Chiyo casually glanced back at the Kuroki. Naruto and Kakashi couldn't help but do the same, all waiting for what she'd do next, but Kokoa still couldn't move. She stood almost frightened, with an uncomfortable expression and a hand twisting the fabric at her heart. She set out on this mission knowing running into Itachi was possible, but for it to truly happen, to stand there, to see the man she still loved dearly after all those years…
"Itachi, eh?" Chiyo said, turning back to him. "So this is him? The kid who singlehandedly wiped out his entire clan?" She stole another glance at Kokoa. "I wonder…"
'The same sharingan as Sasuke-kun's.' Sakura gritted her teeth. 'This is the man who made Naruto and Sasuke-kun suffer all this time! The man Kokoa still loves! The one she abandoned Sasuke-kun for!'
"You bastard!" Naruto stepped forward with a nasty face. "Not just me, but Gaara too!" Kokoa finally caught her breath, but had yet to set eyes on Itachi. She felt him, but the taller Kakashi had been blocking her view. Naruto aimed a finger. "I'm going to kick all your asses!"
"It's been some time, Kakashi-san, Naruto-kun." The Uchiha finally spoke with that same cool, controlled tone of his. And that did it, was enough to snap Kokoa out of her little episode. His voice. She straightened up, and Sakura noticed.
"What are you thinking? If you try anything…" She pulled out a kunai. "If you try something, I'll -"
"You'll what?" Kokoa said, as cold as ever. Her determination returned. Her courage, her confidence, and the desire to hear Itachi's truth. She moved, stepping past Sakura without batting an eye, and walked up beside Kakashi.
"Kokoa," he said with a warning. She held up a hand, silencing him, pushing him back, and stood, staring into strained sharingan that stared back. For a moment, no one else existed, only Uchiha and Kuroki; two gentle souls torn and destroyed by the wickedness of the world. And each took the other in without hesitation, without shame, desperately hanging on to every detail, burning them into their memory for those cold, lonely nights; Itachi's larger figure, his matured face so similar to his father's, his framing bangs and how they danced in the wind; Kokoa's long, sleek hair, the fire in her electric blue eyes, the way her uniform dipped and rounded at each curve, each perfect curve of that body he yearned to feel.
Itachi, however, never broke composure. Kokoa, on the other hand, struggled for a moment against her tears, and she feared her voice would crack should she try to speak. But she never backed down. Never turned away.
"What is she doing, Kakashi-san?" Sakura said, nudging her sensei. He shrugged, just as anxious as the others. Kokoa bit at her lip, debating her next move. It seemed Sakura and Chiyo would not drop their suspicion. And though they were friends, Kakashi and Naruto couldn't stand there and let Itachi do as he pleased. She had to act. And quick.
Without warning, Kokoa dashed straight towards Itachi, surprising even him.
"Kokoa-chan!" Naruto started, but Kakashi held him back. "She needs help!"
"I'm not sure what she needs, Naruto. Don't be hasty."
"We need a plan and quick. If she sides with him, things could get ugly," Sakura said.
"Side with him? She wouldn't...would she?" Naruto watched Kokoa attack. She threw a punch, but Itachi dodged. She crouched low to kick his feet out from under him, but he jumped. She threw another punch, but he caught her fist and stepped close, so close, eyes never leaving hers.
"Is this how you greet someone?" he said, almost whispered. She couldn't hold back the soft gasp that slipped her lips. "I told you last time I'd kill you if you got in my way again."
"Then do it," she said, unwavering. Itachi glanced away with a tch. "I'm not here to fight you, Itachi-san. I only want to talk – "
"Talk? Again? I don't have time for your games."
"I told you I wouldn't give up, not until I heard it all from your own mouth."
"You think I'm going to stand here and chat while your friends try to take me down?"
"I'm on your side," she said. "I've always been."
"You wouldn't risk blowing your cover," he said, eyeing her Suna hiti-ate. "Rumor has it you transferred to Sunagakure for a fresh start. How's that going for you?" He let go only to grab her by the collar. "Myself and Akatsuki have more things to worry about than silly little girls, Kokoa. There's no time for games – "
"I'm not playing." She attacked again, proving she wouldn't give up. Hesitant, Itachi moved more seriously, dodging one last attack before knocking her back with a hard kick to the stomach. Kokoa dropped to her knees, gasping.
"Kokoa!" Naruto faced Itachi. "I'll kill you!"
"Hn." This time, Itachi acted, formed a seal and held it, watching the team's every move.
"Everyone! Don't look directly into his eyes or you're finished!" Kakashi yelled. "Itachi's genjutsu are eye techniques. In other words, they take effect through your vision. You're fine as long as your eyes don't meet."
"So then how are we supposed to fight him?" Sakura asked.
"Focus on his feet and body, and attack on how he moves," he said. "It's tough, but pay attention. Kokoa's mastered it, and I've gotten used to it."
Kokoa picked herself up and dusted the dirt from her shoulders. She noticed the others discussing ways to take him down. Itachi noticed Kokoa back on her feet, though he refrained from attacking with any form of jutsu. She wouldn't charge right away, and if she did, he knew she meant no harm. And perhaps that's what bothered Itachi most in that moment, that Kokoa truly was still on his side. She only attacked to get his attention, to ward off suspicion from the others.
Seeing her again after his last visit, the night in her bedroom when he shed tears over her while she slept, what he thought was their final farewell...he didn't think they'd meet again, certainly not like this. And though back then he would have given anything to break open to her, to confess, to fall apart in her arms, he had changed, hardened, believed in his heart and mind that they would never get their happy ending. They would never watch the sun set. And even if any feelings managed to surface, he would play it off as lust and nothing more.
"It's not so simple," Kakashi said about Chiyo's plan to distract Itachi and hit him from behind. "He uses the Mangekyo sharingan, an eye technique far more powerful than a normal sharingan. You suffer the full effect of his genjutsu the second you're caught. While it feels like a second to everyone else, it can feel like hours or days for the one that's trapped in his illusion. I was lost in his phantom world for three days and ended up unconscious for a week."
"Impressive as always, Kakashi-san," Itachi said. "You learned that much from just one encounter of my Tsukuyomi."
"I'm not done yet," the Copy Ninja said. "After using that technique, you were tired and retreated. Aside from using chakra, the technique poses a huge risk to your eyes, right, Itachi?"
Kokoa listened, knowing all too well the effects and risks of the sharingan. Had they started? Was Itachi no longer at 100%?
"An impressive analysis for having only seen it once," the Uchiha said.
"Tell me, Itachi," Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, "how bad has your eyesight gotten?"
"Tch." Itachi flinched the slightest bit, startled by how much Kakashi knew. He had only ever told Kokoa in secret, and even then, didn't go into too much detail about the dōjutsu. He shut his eyes. "Kakashi-san, you couldn't have…" Itachi slowly lifted his head.
"I may have let my guard down last time, but I'm no slouch, you know," Kakashi said.
"The same goes for me too. You're making a big mistake if you think I'm the same as last time!" Naruto pointed to himself with a grin. "And Kokoa-chan has changed too! Things are different now." Once again, all eyes drifted to the girl. She met Kakashi with her own warning this time. He knew better than to cause any damage. If he hurt a hair on Itachi's head…
"Kakashi-san," she said, struggling to find the right words.
"This time, Naruto, I'm going to need you to back me up," Kakashi said, flashing Kokoa an apologetic look.
"Ah." The blond nodded. They positioned themselves and waited. Itachi realized battle was inevitable. He was sent there after all to fight off the enemy. He glanced at Kokoa, the unmoving girl racked with conflict. Perhaps avoiding battle would be best for her. If she didn't fight she wouldn't have to betray either side. He could do at least that much for her.
"Are we going to start things?" he said dully.
"You ready, Sensei?" Naruto said. Kakashi nodded.
"Though I can't have someone who knows all my secrets help you." And before they could act, Itachi had two fingers casually pointed at Kokoa, though no one but the Kuroki and Uchiha knew he had cast a genjutsu, one that paralyzed her, kept her out of the way and out of trouble. "It's time for you to come with me, Naruto-kun." This time Itachi pointed a single finger at Naruto, though again, no one knew what he had cast. Naruto was stuck in the genjutsu, tormented by his past, his guilt, by Itachi. What felt like hours for Naruto, was only a second in real time.
Kokoa tried to move but couldn't. Opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Her heart raced, and sweat inched down her face, but she could not break the invisible shackles holding her down. Sakura freed Naruto from the illusion, and he was soon back on his feet and ready.
"Follow my lead!" Kakashi charged. Itachi acted quick, forming the seals for,
"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu."
"He dodged!" Sakura said, looking up to see Kakashi had jumped out of the way.
"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu." Itachi sent the ball of fire spiraling towards the group. He stole another glance at Kokoa. The genjutsu kept her in place, but everything she saw was real, including a safe Kakashi emerging from the smoke with a Chidori crackling in his hand. But as he charged, and as Itachi easily dodged, Kokoa noticed Naruto with a Rasengan high up in the air.
"Itachi-san! Above you!" she shouted. "Above you! Look!" But no one paid any attention. No one heard her, silenced by the genjutsu. "Naruto, stop! Please!" It went on like that for a few minutes, Naruto and Kakashi launching attack after attack, Kokoa calling out to Itachi to no avail. It wasn't until Kakashi charged with another attack and she noticed Naruto waiting for his cue, that Kokoa broke. She shut her eyes, focused, and with everything in her, emitted a large flow of chakra, more than she thought she was capable of, enough to dispel the genjutsu.
Just as Itachi dodged Kakashi and Naruto neared with another Rasengan and was sure to land a hit, Kokoa shifted on her feet and hared over, throwing herself before the Uchiha. Naruto cursed in midair and maneuvered to miss her just in time. He fell, hard.
"What the hell, Kokoa!" He started towards her, but Kakashi grabbed him, dragging him back a few feet. Sakura and Chiyo jogged over to the boys. Kokoa stood in front of her beloved, arms outstretched, eyes cold, so cold.
"Kokoa, what are you doing?" Kakashi asked. Itachi only watched. "Kokoa, don't do anything rash."
"Can't you tell, Sensei?" Sakura said.
"I admit, I'm a little surprised," Chiyo added. "I didn't think you'd be so open with your betrayal."
"Kokoa-chan, what's happening? Is this a genjutsu? It has to be!"
"It's not, Naruto," Kokoa said finally. "Not this time." She took a more combative stance, her favorite for taijutsu.
"Kokoa, whose side are you on?" Kakashi took one step.
"Not Akatsuki's, if that's what you're all thinking!" She raised her arms a bit. "I want to save Gaara just as badly as Naruto."
"Your actions tell us otherwise," Chiyo said.
"Kokoa, you don't have to do this."
"Yes I do, Kakashi! There's no other way. I need this. You know that. You told me you understood. Don't turn on me, not after all this time."
"I'm not turning on you. But you can't do this. Not now. Gaara is our goal. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Of course not!"
"Itachi is keeping us from getting to him. Right now, regardless of your own goals, he's the enemy. Kokoa, don't…please." Kakashi held up his hands, pleading with the girl, afraid she'd ruin things, afraid she'd get herself killed. He knew she needed to speak with Itachi, but if they didn't finish things quick, the situation could worsen, and he had a team to protect. "Kokoa –"
"I won't let you touch him," she said in a hiss. "You won't have control over my life. Not anymore. I'm done with Konoha! Itachi-san is my business, not yours! I decide!" She clenched her jaw in an attempt to calm herself. Kokoa noticed from the very start, when he blocked her punch and grabbed her, that it was not the real Itachi, at least not his body. But this was her only chance to speak to him. She knew he was watching, listening somehow, and she'd do anything to keep her hopes of hearing his truth in that moment alive.
"It is our business! He's after Naruto! He hurt Sasuke-kun! You're throwing everything away for a monster like him!" Sakura yelled, pointing at kunai at them. "He's a wanted criminal."
"Throwing everything away? I don't have anything anymore. I told you, I lost it all a long time ago."
"You're sick! I told you I'd put an end to this, for Sasuke-kun's sake! If I can't kill him," she stepped towards them, glaring at Itachi before shifting her gaze back to Kokoa. "I'll kill you!" And Sakura dashed towards them with that look in her eyes, the look Kokoa could not bear, the look that made her want to crawl inside herself and hide from the world; hatred and blame.
"Sakura, stop!"
"Sakura-chan!"
"I'm finishing this!" Haruno leapt and pulled back an arm. Kokoa widened her stance, ready to block the hit, but she had not seen Sakura in action before, especially after training under Tsunade. As she neared, it was then that Kokoa noticed the chakra concentrated in Sakura's fist, and her eyes widened in knowing there was no escaping it. She held up her arms, bracing herself for the powerful hit, but...it never came.
She peeled open her eyes only to see Itachi's fingers tight around Sakura's wrist, so tight the girl cried out in pain. He gave it another good twist before kicking her back. Naruto jumped forward to catch her.
"Sakura-chan? Hey, you're ok." He sat her up. Chiyo furrowed her brow at the scene. Turning to face Itachi, Kokoa still hadn't registered what happened. He stopped Sakura. But why?
"What is this?" Kakashi asked. "What's going on?"
"If anyone kills Kuroki Kokoa, it will be me," Itachi said. Kokoa blinked hard, but before she had a chance to process his words, she found herself in another dimension, another world, similar to where she met her father, only this world wasn't white. It was dull, a heavy charcoal. She walked a bit, footsteps echoing, and for a while was alone in the genjutsu, until she came to a stop and lowered her head with a soft,
"Please."
"I told you I didn't have time for this, Kokoa," Itachi said, fading in to stand before her. She looked up with wide eyes, silent for a moment.
"Why did you stop her?" she asked.
"You stopped Naruto."
"That's different. You say you don't have time for this, but you go and pull stunts like that."
"If anyone kills you, it'll be me, to make sure you can't interfere anymore."
"Genjutsu, huh?" She looked around.
"Don't act so surprised. This was your plan all along, Kokoa. You've been trying to get caught in my sharingan from the very start. Why?"
"To talk. All I want is to talk."
"We talked last time. Nothing's changed. I have nothing to do with Konohagakure. And I have nothing to do with you."
"If you would just listen –"
"Stop wasting my time."
"Give me a chance –"
"What do you hope to gain by all this, Kokoa?" Itachi said, voice sharp. "You think everything goes back to how it was? You think we'll fall in love and run off together? You think just because you can't let go of the past, that I'm the same?" Kokoa said nothing. "I wiped my hands clean of you and that village a long time ago. Why do you keep coming back?"
"You won't listen –"
"Are you delusional –"
"Itachi! Listen to me!" And he did, falling quiet, surprised by the lack of honorifics. Kokoa always, always addressed him with san or kun. Their absence, her anger, the change he saw in her…
"Itachi-san, please," she said, meeting his eyes. He swallowed hard, though, she didn't notice.
"How do you plan on getting out of this? Even if I don't kill you now, you have four shinobi out there who are convinced you've sided with me. What are you doing, Kokoa? I doubt this is all part of your fresh start."
"How did you know I moved to Sunagakure?"
"Word spreads fast. You're quite famous. If people don't know you because of what I did, they know you because of your father. You can't escape it, Kokoa. No matter where you go. They say I'm a monster, but it seems you're no different."
"Looking at you now that you're older, you look more like your father," she said with a sad smile. It hurt. Struck him in the chest, in his heart. "My father...you never told me how much you knew."
"I didn't know anything until I left," he said. "It's not like it mattered. I have no business with him. There's no point in telling you either."
"My father, Itachi-san, was murdered. His assassination carried out while he was on a mission. Literally stabbed in the back. And my mother was killed not long after to keep her quiet. All ordered, all of it taken away from me by…" She clenched her fists, a darkness in her eyes Itachi had never before seen. "Shimura Danzo." And that alone nearly knocked Itachi to his knees. Danzo had stripped the girl of her parents, of her family, of love, and she still had no clue what he had done to Itachi. He and Shisui were right then, all those years ago when they found Akihiko's document. He was killed out of fear, and Kokoa was monitored all her life because of how powerful and hated her father was. Itachi now clenched his own fists, jaw tight, seething.
"How do you know all this? Your parents died when you were an infant."
"I met my father, you see."
"Kokoa, you're out of your mind –"
"He came to me! In my head, It was a jutsu triggered when I was at the lowest point in my life. He gave me some chakra when I was a baby. That's how it happened. I'm not crazy! I wouldn't lie to you."
"And how low was this point in your life?" Itachi said with an uninterested sigh to keep up his act.
"Sasuke left…" She looked away. "I tracked down Orochimaru and offered to take Sasuke's place, but he wouldn't listen. They threw me in jail, and Sasuke left, and you were still gone…"
"You're not so naïve anymore, Kokoa. But you're still a fool. Why do you go out of your way? What are you doing?"
"You told me a long time ago, Itachi-san, that in time I would learn what happened to my parents. And I did. You kept your promise. That's why I'm here. Because I'm keeping mine."