Chapter Thirty-Three
The fall after the high

The morning was quiet, but not still. Outside, rush hour traffic rolled by while businessmen and women hurried to work as they always did, coffee cups and briefcases in hand. It was like every morning before. And every morning that would forever come.

Nothing had changed.

And honestly, Sakura hadn't expected it to. Hashirama had been one of a million. And no one would notice his absence. The world would continue to turn.

Sakura stayed in bed most of the morning. She listened to the traffic roll by outside and watched as the shadows cast by the sun grew longer and then shorter. She kept reminding herself her job was done. She had completed her task. The question was, what did she do now?

There were still some loose ends, of course. The shirt she had stolen from Madara's cleaners, the one she had worn while taking Hashirama still needed to be planted. As did the gun Tenten had provided her. The exact replica of Madara's. But those would be taken care of today.

Laying on her back, Sakura stared at the ceiling. She ran her plan over and over in her head, but as much as she attempted to distract herself, her thoughts kept returning to Tsunade.

Sakura hadn't heard from her in over a year. Or was it two now? She had tried time and time again to call her adopted mother, but there was no answer. There never was an answer. Still, Sakura's fingers itched for the phone.

Her resistance lasted all of two minutes before she picked her cell off the nightstand. Rolling onto her back, Sakura punched in those familiar digits before she pressed her phone to her ear. It rang. And rang and rang until it went to voicemail.

Irritation flared in her chest. Sakura tossed her phone onto the other side of the mattress before she turned her back on it.

A few seconds later, her ringtone went off.

Jerking, Sakura scrambled for the device. She hated herself for that hope that bloomed in her chest for it was sharply squashed down when she saw it was only Ino. Deep, simmering anger filled space between Sakura's ribcage. But it wasn't at her blonde friend. It was at herself. At Tsunade.

Sakura took a deep breath before answering. "Yeah?"

"I know you're probably busy, but I wanted to give you an update," Ino said.

Sakura looked around her still, still condo and resisted the sudden urge to smile ironically. If only Ino knew how not busy she was this morning.

"Yeah, what do you have for me?"

"First thing, I don't know what you said to Killer Bee, but it worked. His shipments to Akatsuki have stopped," Ino told her. "He's gone into hiding."

Surprised, Sakura gave pause before a pleased smile crossed her face. Perhaps this morning was better than she had first thought. "Good. How is Akatsuki handling it?"

"They're scrambling. Their men are working overtime to dig into the Underground and see what they can conjure up."

"And you have eyes on them?"

"Of course," Ino said, as if she was doing anything but.

Sakura was quiet for a long moment as a new plan began to form in her mind. She had planned on attacking Akatsuki head on, but it was quickly becoming more and more apparent that she didn't have the time or the resources to do so, even with their weakened defenses. Perhaps she needed to do what she did best. Corner and kill her prey. One at a time.

"I'm changing our game plan," Sakura said slowly, talking as each part of the plan fell into place in her mind. "I want you to keep your sights on all the major members. Deidara, Hidan, Kakuzu, all of them. Work with Tenten if you have to. I want them all under twenty-four-hour surveillance."

"What are you looking for?" Ino asked.

"The perfect opportunity."

On the other end of the line, Ino gave a small pause. Then she said in a hushed tone, "You're going to take them out."

"It has to be done in sync. Otherwise, the other members will be on alert."

A brief pause followed. Only the faint sound of clanking in the background, perhaps Shikamaru making breakfast, told Sakura that they hadn't been disconnected. When Ino spoke again, her voice was still soft but firm and full of strength.

"I'll keep you updated on their locations."

Sakura knew Ino wouldn't fail her.

"Good," Sakura said. "Meet with Tenten this morning. There's something else I need you to do for me tonight. I'll come over later this afternoon."

And before Ino could reply, a loud knock sounded against the front door of Sakura's condo. It was more of a banging. Like someone was trying to knock the door down rather than alert her to their presence.

Sakura bolted upright and sprung out of bed just as Tobirama threw the door open. He looked like devil himself with wild hair and even wilder eyes. His expression was one of pure murderous rage. But it wasn't directed at her.

Without a doubt, Sakura knew that he knew Hashirama was dead.

"I'll call you back," Sakura told Ino. Without waiting for a reply, she hung up and tossed her phone onto the bed before she gave Tobirama her full attention. "What happened?"

It took Tobirama a long time to find his words. He raked his hands through his hair, hate and fury rolling off him in waves so thick it was nearly suffocating. "The bastard fucking did it!"

"What're you talking about?" she asked.

"Hashirama. Hashirama is dead, Sakura. Murdered! By fucking Madara," he spat out.

Sakura blinked in true, honest confusion. Why did he think that? She hadn't even fully put her plan into motion yet. "How do you know?"

"I was supposed to meet with Hashirama last night, but my men were ambushed by Izuna," he told her. "I never made our meeting."

Well that was a lucky coincidence. And all circumstantial, but Sakura didn't utter a word. If it helped convince Tobirama that Izuna and Madara were responsible, then she would let him believe that.

"I'll fucking kill the bastards," Tobirama continued, his voice tight with fury. "I'll rip them limb by limb."

He spun on his heels, intending to make for the door, but Sakura quickly stopped him with a firm grasp on his jacket, pulling him back. "Tobirama, wait. Madara and Izuna planned this. They'll expect you to come for revenge. We have to do this carefully."

"I want them dead now!" he snapped, turning his deadly gaze on her.

Sakura held his gaze unflinchingly. "I know. And I promise you we will make them pay. But if you go running in there right now, you'll only meet the same fate as Hashirama."

Tobirama held her gaze as he ground his teeth together, the need for revenge burning bright in his normally impassive eyes and hardened his face until he looked like he was made of stone. Then it softened, that hate fading until only grief and anguish remained. It seemed to consume him until that was all Sakura could see.

"I should have been there."

Sakura shook her head. "Then Madara would have killed you too."

A muscle in Tobirama's jaw ticked. As if he was using all of his self-control to keep his more vulnerable emotions in check. She had never seen him so broken before. It nearly made her regret what she had done.

"My brother is dead," Tobirama whispered.

She gave him a sympathetic look, her voice gentle. "Yeah, he is."

He was quiet for a long moment before he ran an agitated hand through his hair. "What do I do now?"

"You finish what Hashirama started," Sakura told him, carefully planting the seeds of her plan. "You take out Akatsuki and then make Madara pay."

Tobirama didn't speak, but there was no denying the killing intent that still rolled off him. She didn't wait for an answer. She simply smoothed her hands down the front of his jacket until she felt his phone.

"There's someone I want you to meet," Sakura said as she pulled the device from his pocket and pinned a location on his maps. "Go to this address. Wait for her to come to you."

Tobirama left after that.

Sakura leaned against the doorway and watched him head down the hall, his footsteps soft and uneven as if he was wandering through a thick fog. She knew he was hurting beyond hurt right now. That his grief would follow him like a dark shadow in the months and possibly even years to come, but it paled in comparison to what he would feel if he knew the truth about Hashirama. That the brother Tobirama had loved so much was simply using him. Like everyone else in his life use him. Like she was using him.

Sakura watched Tobirama until he was out of sight before she made her way back inside. She sent a text off to Tenten, telling her that once she was done with Ino that she would meet Tobirama, the brother of the bastard that had been a pain in her ass for the last several years. They were to work together. Sakura didn't care if they didn't like each other, but they would need to cooperate, something Sakura didn't think would be an actual problem. For Tobirama was a little rough around the edges, but he was nothing like his brother.

Sakura knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't help the satisfaction that pooled in her stomach. For she was watching all the pieces of her master plan slowly fit into place right before her eyes. And tonight, she would be taking a large step towards completing the picture.

xx

It was a beautiful night in New York City. There wasn't a cloud in sight allowing for the stars to dance in awe without hindrance. Sakura sat beside the window in a top-floor bar, admiring the view and all it had to offer. Below her, the water off the river sparkled from the city lights. A stunning sight, even to the well-traveled.

She continued to sit even after the moon had risen over the horizon, it's brilliant light chasing the nearby stars away. The waiter came up to her three times and each time she waved him away, until at last her unexpected, expected guest finally arrived.

"It always amazes me how quiet this city can be," Sakura murmured.

Across from her, Madara lowered himself into the vacant chair. He too seemed to study the breathtaking view out the window before he finally agreed, "The calm before the storm."

"And a storm it will be," she promised.

Madara held her gaze, even as the waiter came by and introduced himself. He collected their drink orders quickly before he made himself scarce once more. Throughout the short conversation, Madara watched her. There was a smile on his face, just a faint little tilt of his lips that seemed more dangerous than pleasant.

"This need not end in violence," Madara said once they were alone again.

Sakura cocked a brow "No?"

"We are both aware of the events of last night," he told her, adjusting the cuffs of his suit with an air of grace. "Let us not pretend that we do not know of Hashirama's untimely death."

She didn't share his smile. "You mean murder."

"Yes," Madara nodded, his tone factual rather than regretful as he returned his gaze to hers. "But I believe that we both know who is responsible for that."

She didn't know if he was suspicious of her, but she made no attempt to clarify. She simply held his stare. "According to Tobirama, you are."

"Tobirama has always allowed his emotions to cloud his judgement."

"And why shouldn't he? All evidence points to you."

Her tone of utmost certainty caused Madara to frown. "And what evidence might that be?" he asked, his tone deceptively indifferent.

Sakura sipped her water slowly, making a point of dragging the tension out before she finally said. "The evidence that shows you had Izuna intercept Tobirama last night so you could meet with Hashirama alone. To shoot and kill him."

Madara sat quietly for a moment before another smile spread across his mouth. "I see what you are trying to do, but there is no such evidence."

"Are you so certain?" she asked quietly. She swept her hair over her shoulder before she leaned back in her chair, feeling somewhat like a queen upon her throne. "Between the two of us, only one is a poker player and it isn't me. Call my bluff."

The waiter chose that moment to return with their drinks. He set them down on the table before he gave them a few more minutes to glance over the menu. Madara held her gaze until the young server was gone once more.

Then he rolled his shoulders in a small, graceful shrug before he reached for his aged whiskey. "Even if that were true, that is all circumstantial."

"Perhaps," Sakura agreed airily. She sipped her lemon drop and licked the sugar from her bottom lip as she peered at her glass, as if deciding where to drink from next. "But the police will be looking into the anonymous report they received very early this morning of a man with blood stains on his shirt in the Anderson's building in Lower Manhattan on the fourth floor."

Madara's exact apartment building. The one Sakura had been in with Itachi only a few short weeks ago.

Sakura raised her gaze when Madara remained silent. She knew he was finally starting to realize how serious she was when his fingers tightened around his glass until his knuckles were almost white. She was a little surprised the glass didn't crack under his tight grip. She bit back her smile.

"Unless, of course, you have an alibi…" Sakura offered.

Even as she said the words, she knew he didn't. Because Madara had been deep in the Underground, buying loyalties and delivering illegal arms. If he gave the police any solid information, he would just be trading murder charges for acts of terrorism.

"That evidence is not enough to get a conviction," Madara finally said, his words tight.

"No, but it is to make an arrest. And really that's all the CIA needs," she said unable to hide her smile. Then her expression turned thoughtful. "Although, when the police really begin to dig, I'm sure they'll find more. Like the money you stole out of Hashirama's accounts."

"That money was paid to me. To watch you," he told her, as if he was dropping some previously unknown information on her.

Sakura feigned a look of confusion, her voice pitching a little higher. A little more girly. "That's strange. According to my super smart computer friend, the transfer was done over like a really secure network, that all stems back to your IP address." Then she pouted. "Or something. All that technical speak just goes right over my head."

Madara didn't blink at her innocent routine. "That is not possible."

Was it true? No. But was it possible to make it appear that way? According to Shikamaru and his computer genius, yes.

At that exact moment, Sakura's phone pinged. Even without looking, she knew it was a text from Ino informing her that she had completed her job. The gun Sakura had used and the shirt she had stolen and worn at the crime scene had been planted in the trunk of Madara's car. Under the carpet where the spare tire was. A place Madara wouldn't think to look. A place for the police to find.

Sakura held Madara's stare with a dark smile. "If I were you, I would get out while I still could. I'm sure there's a judge somewhere right now signing a search warrant with your name."

Had they been alone, Sakura was sure Madara would have tied her up and taken his time torturing her before killing her. But they weren't. They were in an upscale restaurant with nearly every table full and a wait at the door.

So instead, he stood, only to pause beside her to lean down and whisper in her ear. "This will not be the last time we meet," he warned.

His voice was full of animosity and a promise of dark things to come, but Sakura only turned her head, their mouths close enough she could feel his breath on her lips. Her eyes turned hooded, as if she were sharing some secret with her lover, before she murmured, "Do your worst. I have certainly done mine."

Madara lingered a moment longer, his eyes narrowing into slits that would instill cold fear into a lesser man before he straightened and made his exit. Undoubtedly trying to flee the country before the police caught up with him.

In the back of her mind, Sakura knew she had just cheated Itachi out of the very goal he had been striving to achieve for years, but she didn't allow herself to feel guilty about it just yet. Madara was a man with a lot of power and a lot of money. He would surface again.

For now though, Sakura had just made it easier to take down Akatsuki. And Izuna. The last of which wanted her dead more than Madara. Even given the conversation she'd just had with the latter.

Even upon finding herself suddenly alone, Sakura ordered herself dinner. She ate slowly, savoring the well-seasoned flavors. She paid for her meal and Madara's unfinished drink before she drove home, double checking and then checking again that she wasn't followed. She wouldn't put it past Madara to have put a kill-on-sight order out on her.

Her apartment was quiet as she sat behind her laptop, counting the numbers and going over her stores. Even given everything that had happened within the last twenty-four hours, she felt light. Perhaps even a little high on adrenaline.

She thought of Itachi as she slowly spun her phone over in her hands. She missed him. Both his presence and the way he made her feel. She wanted to feel his hands in her hair, his mouth on hers, his body against her own. Hear her name tumble from his lips.

Unlocking her phone, Sakura punched in the first three numbers of his cell when a knock sounded on her door. She stilled, wondering what the chances were that Itachi was here right when she was wanting him to be.

As it turned out, it was incredibly low when she found not Itachi on the other side of the door, but Kakashi. He didn't wait for her to let him in. He simply pushed past her.

Sakura didn't have to ask to sense his agitation. She closed and locked the door behind him before she followed him to the living room where he was pacing. He stopped when she came into the room.

"What did you do?" Kakashi demanded.

Sakura shook her head faintly, not understanding. "What are you talking about?"

"Hashirama is dead."

Word was bound to spread. She was just a little surprised it was happening this quickly.

"I heard," she acknowledged, letting the slightest bit of sadness creep into her voice. "Tobirama's pretty upset, but at least it makes it easier to move against Akatsuki without Hashirama breathing down my neck."

To her surprise, Kakashi continued to stare her down. "Where were you last night?"

Understanding dawned on her then and she shot him a look of mild confusion. "You think I killed him?" When Kakashi remained silent, Sakura let out a slight scoff. "That's ridiculous. I didn't do it-."

"Don't you fucking lie to me, Sakura," Kakashi snapped so sharply, it struck her to her core.

She had never once seen Kakashi look at her the way he was looking at her now. He was furious, spitting mad, in a way she hadn't seen before. Smartly, she chose to keep her mouth shut.

"I was watching Hashirama last night and you sent me to Newark," Kakashi continued. "Then you conveniently forgot your phone at home. I'm not an idiot, Sakura. I know it was you."

Unable to take the intensity of his stare, she looked away. It was all the admission he needed.

"Why did you do it?"

Sakura didn't immediately answer. It was something she had been wanting to tell Kakashi for a while, but she just couldn't find it in her. Still, he was a smart man. Far smarter than she was.

"I think you know why," she finally murmured.

Kakashi's temper seemed to cool to a simmer at that. The dots connecting behind his eyes. "Tsunade. She ordered you to." Even given his statement, his eyes narrowed, his anger warming again. "You didn't have to kill him. You had other options."

His frustration stirred her own. Defensive, Sakura bit out a laugh. "A little hypocritical, don't you think? You were a Marine sniper, trained for the sole purpose of killing the people your government ordered you to. How was what I did any different than you?"

"Because I was serving my country!"

"And I was serving my family."

Kakashi shook his head, the next words out of his mouth as cold as the Russian winters Sakura remembered as a child, "That woman may have taken you in from the orphanage, but she is not your family."

That topic had always been a sore spot, even more so given the lack of contact from Tsunade in recent years. Automatically, Sakura bristled. "What was I supposed to do?"

"You should have called me! You should have let me have your back like I always do!"

His words left her at a bit of a loss, but he didn't give her time to find her voice. He simply swept past her, only the front door slamming closed behind him to fill the sudden quiet. She could still feel the sharp burn of his fierce outrage and disappointment even after he was gone. It lingered in the air like the bite of a stubbed-out cigarette, burning her nose and her eyes. Tears threatened to clog her throat, but she swallowed those back too as she wiped the sudden wetness off her face.

She had completed her mission. And yet she felt as though she had failed the person most important to her.

to be continued…

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