Yes, I know I didn't update in such a long time but family matters and private stuff like that really got to me. I can't right if I'm emotionally unstable and all. It just throws off the whole story! So anyway here is the continuation of the three chapter reunion! There's a little battle in here just for the fun of it!
Key:
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto!
Plz R&R!!!
Sakura felt the weight of her hitae-ate being removed. Approaching footsteps were heard and stopped before her.
"Open your eyes"
Sakura bit the inside of her cheek. This wasn't good, they drained her chakra and she's still weary from the battle that had just taken place. Then again, as she felt the presence of people she learned to trust over the years she felt the need to obey the voice and look at them once more.
Her eyelashes fluttered as her eyelids revealed familiar emerald eyes. Her jutsu already canceled out. Before she was able to take in her surroundings darkness befell her from seeing the light again.
"Hinata!!!"
The Hyuuga girl had wide empty eyes and a kunai to her neck. The others could only watch as Itachi held them off. Suddenly the Akatsuki member stilled and disappeared completely. Hinata dropped the kunai and fell to the ground unconscious. Neji and Shikamaru ran after Itachi while Ino and Ten-Ten stayed behind to look after the fallen Hyuuga.
Ten-Ten propped Hinata on her lap while Ino used basic medic skills to find out her status. Ino shook her head.
"She's in a coma" Ino announced quietly
"We'll have to stay behind in case Itachi comes back to finish the job" Ten-Ten nodded
Ten-Ten looked to the direction Itachi was and narrowed her eyes.
"Why did he leave? Wasn't he supposed to hold us off? Why would he leave in the middle of the battle while he had the advantage?" Ten-Ten pondered
She learned about battle tactics such as these from Neji. It was time to put them to good use.
"What do you mean Ten-Ten?" asked Ino as she focused on dressing Hinata's wounds
"In this case there are three possibilities" Ten-Ten replied "One, he might be making a tactical retreat on orders of his leader. Two, he dangerously exhausted his chakra. Or Three, he is retreating in order to aid a fallen comrade."
"Sakura" Ino muttered looking at Ten-Ten and pausing her work
Just as Ino was about to run off Ten-Ten grabbed her wrist to stop her.
"No, the guys will handle it. Right now we have to take Hinata to Konoha."
"Itachi!" Sasuke growled
Naruto was knocked to the ground and on his back. One eye clenched in pain and both were narrowed in slits. He wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his hand after spitting out some of the metallic liquid.
Sasuke stood behind him in fighting stance. His breathing pace wasn't normal but quickened from his body feeling weary. Even if his body wanted rest, but pure will urged him forward.
Sakura stood 10 yards away from them both and next to her Itachi. Just as she was about to open her eyes his hand shielded her sight and he had given her the hitae-ate. She had already tied it over her eyes without daring to open them.
'Itachi… I would have gone back with them if he hadn't come.' Sakura thought, unsure of how she felt but quickly tossed her feelings aside as she put up her stoic façade.
"Your chakra?" asked Itachi
Sakura flexed her hand and then shook her head.
"They depleted it. It won't return for a while."
"Hn"
Naruto shakily stood up. He was beyond exhausted, but knew he couldn't just give up. Sasuke stepped beside Naruto.
"Can you fight?" Itachi asked stepping forward offensively
"In the background maybe. I can't go head to head with them though." She replied
"Good enough"
Itachi and Sasuke clashed kunai. Sasuke knew this was a lost battle. Itachi looked barely scathed which means he'd been using genjutsu on the rest of squadron 7. While he himself hardly had enough strength to keep himself from collapsing and allowing an easy death.
"Otoutou. You haven't changed have you? You're still weak. You can't even save one of the few people precious to you." The way Itachi said those words seemed as if there was a hidden meaning behind them
Itachi caught Sasuke's attempted punch. The hand wielding the kunai dropped the weapon and swiftly grabbed Sasuke's wrist. The older Uchiha brother crossed his younger brother's arms painfully, making the younger hiss in pain. The Akatsuki overpowered the ANBU and forced him on his knees.
Naruto made a move to help Sasuke but collapsed on one knee, holding an injury to his stomach and his left eye remained clenched closed as some blood seeped through the closed eyelids. The blonde ANBU looked at Sakura who continued to watch Itachi passively.
'Doesn't she care…? We're dieing on our knees and she could save us but she just…' his thoughts trailed as he looked into her cold eyes. 'stands by and watches…'
Itachi lowered his mouth so it was close to Sasuke's ear.
"How can you ever hope to save her, otoutou?" Itachi said lowly for only Sasuke's ears to hear. "Akatsuki isn't for her. Pein… he somehow changed her. She's like my imoutou and I care for her so next time… get stronger. Not for avenging the clan but for her."
With that Itachi pulled away and shook his head.
"But it's too late for that now" He said as he raised the kunai to Sasuke's throat.
Clang.
Itachi looked to the tree imbedded with a kunai and then to his fallen kunai on the ground. Someone had deflected his kunai.
"Itachi"
The older Uchiha turned around to face Kakashi opposite of Sakura. Itachi dropped Sasuke's wrists, causing him to collapse to the ground barely conscious. Itachi and Kakashi too slow steps to each other before it was a full on rush.
Fists collided,
The sounds of pounding from impact of fist against fist were heard as both Shinobi blocked and attacked their opponent.
Kakashi blocked Itachi's punch with a back fist block. With his forearm he blocked Itachi's kick meant for the side of his face. Itachi jumped back several paces and formed handseals.
"Katon: Gokakyuu no Jutsu!!!"
Flames erupted from his mouth and engulfed the entire perimeter of where Kakashi had been. Once the flames cleared Kakashi wasn't seen anywhere.
Itachi's mangenkyou eyes scanned the area suddenly he jumped up into the air as the earth beneath his cracked and burst upwards with a fist penetrating the rocky surface. Kakashi jumped up from underneath the ground and chased after Itachi.
CLASSH
Fuuma and Katana connected.
Itachi was jumping backwards into the air and wield his katana, locking Kakashi's Fuuma. Kakashi thrust back his free left hand and electricity collected in his palm.
"RAIKIRI!"
Kakashi charged at Itachi with his lightning blade as they both landed on the ground. The earth jutted upwards from the power of the chakra molded in Kakashi's hand. Itachi watched as the copy nin charged at him. Just when Kakashi stood mere feet before him Itachi's mangenkyou eyes glinted.
"Amtearasu"
Black flames engulfed their target in seconds, Itachi jumped away before the flames caught himself as well. The attack was to quick and lose for Kakashi to dodge. The sound of birds chirping ceased. Naruto and Sasuke watched in horror at the black flames whipping. It covered at least a 60 meter perimeter.
"Kaka-sensei!!!"
"Kakashi!!!"
Sakura could only stare with an unreadable expression.
Itachi shook his head in disappointment. The battle did not satisfy him, it was too short.
"Itachi!" Sakura yelled
The older Uchiha whipped around to face a lake, an enormous water dragon emerged from it and stared the Uchiha down before letting out an animalistic roar. Kakashi stood on the lake and right in front of the dragon. Water dripped from his drenched form and his clothes were scorched harshly.
"Suiton! Suriyudon no Jutsu!"
With a fierce roar the dragon charged at Itachi mercilessly just as Kakashi jumped on top of its head.
"RAIKIRI!!!"
Kakashi plunged his lightning blade into the head of the dragon. It's eyes flashed from an empty blue to sparks of white. The electricity charged through the dragon, water mixed with lightning. It let out an electric roar as it headed towards Itachi.
Itachi's mangenkyou eyes widened.
CRACK.
Kakashi's eyes widened. Naruto and Saske could only stare weakly with a look of betrayal.
Sakura stood before Itachi with her fist still implanted into the ground. The earth had jutted upward and formed an earth barrier against the dragon. The dragon had smashed into the rock barrier and erupted into a rain of water. Kakashi could only stare at his ex student from behind the large mound of earth.
She had saved Itachi twice.
Something in Sasuke snapped in anger and hurt. Naruto growled and could only watch angrily.
"My chakra is back" Sakura stated bluntly "The walls that blocked my chakra stream were destroyed when I managed to reverse the flow of my chakra. When I disrupted the cycle the walls collapsed and allowed me to use my chakra again"
Itachi nodded in understanding. Naruto widened his eyes.
'She figured out how the stimulant worked already? That was fast.' Naruto thought inwardly
He knew she'd eventually break from it, but he didn't expect her to this fast. At least not for another 6 hours.
"Sakura" Kakashi muttered
"Surprised Kakashi?" she inquired
Sasuke struggled to his feet and hoisted Naruto up. Naruto put an arm weakly around Sasuke's neck for support and they both limped to where she stood.
"Why would you save him, Sakura?" asked Sasuke
Sakura shook her head.
"He's my teammate." She said looking Sasuke in the eye "You would know we should always fight o protect our teammates, wouldn't you Uchiha? After all you've all done that so many times in the past."
Sasuke shook his head in disapproval of her answer.
"It's not the same, Sakura! He's not your teammate! He's the enemy. We protected you because you were - are one of our precious people!"
Sakura and Itachi took a step back.
"No. You protected me because I was your teammate. I was never of importance to you. Admit it Uchiha, you detested me, you loathed me, you hated me. I was just one of your annoying fangirls, always just an annoyance and a burden on the team. I was never one of your precious people, protecting me just comes with the burden of me on the team, you couldn't just let me die." Sakura replied as her expression darkened
"Sakura-chan! That's not – " Naruto shouted but was interrupted
"It wasn't? You two never knew me. I was just a random face until I was put on the team. I couldn't have been one of you precious people and since we knew so little of each other we couldn't have any importance towards each other." Sakura said
"That may be true but we got to know you. You became someone precious to us." Sasuke countered
"Sasuke" Sakura, for the first time since she left "I meant nothing to you. Even now."
Sasuke stared right into her eyes. Naruto collapsed unconscious and Itachi appeared behind Kakashi and knocked him out. Sasuke could only stared angrily at them both. His eyes flickered into betrayal and hurt.
Sakura disappeared and reappeared behind the youngest Uchiha. They were so close, only an inch away. Sasuke stood perfectly still and aware she's behind him. She leaned her lips to his ear and whispered words he'd never think of doing.
"Sasuke-kun… give up on me"
Thump.
Before he could retort she hit his pressure point and as he fell into unconsciousness he heard the one word he wished she'd never say.
"Sayonara"
Because when she said that he felt like he'd never see her again.
His world bled to darkness but he was conscious long enough to feel soft lips on his before.
"They stopped fighting" Shikamaru announced when he noticed the sounds of battle halted
"Itachi must have interrupted Uzamaki and Uchiha's battle with Sakura." Neji said "That must mean she needed help"
"Wait" Shikamaru said as they both halted on a branch "Use the Byakugan"
Neji nodded. "Byakugan!"
He scanned the area and his eyes widened then deactivated the Byakugan.
"Sasuke, Naruto, and… Kakashi" he replied
Shikamaru gave a confused gaze.
"Kakashi must have come. Ino and Ten-Ten could have went back to Konoha to treat Ten-Ten and on the way got Kakashi to help the two out" Shikamaru theoretically stated
"They are unconscious. Itachi and Sakura retreated." Neji said
"I see" Tsunadae nodded dejectedly
"We're sorry Godaime-sama. We couldn't bring her back" Neji announced
Neji and Shikamaru stood in Tsuanadae's office for a mission report. Tsunadae sat in her chair with her hands folded while Neji and Shikamaru stood before her in tattered ANBU uniform.
Tsunadae's brows furrowed when she reviewed the story they told her mentally.
"Why would they leave Naruto? Isn't he what they're after? Itachi especially since he's been trying to get Naruto for so long." Tsunadae asked
Neji and Shikamaru exchanged looks.
"Sakura" all three said
Tsunadae smiled.
"Sakura. There is still part of her that hadn't broken the bond with Konoha." She smiled relieved
Tsunadae stood.
"Hokage-sama, what is our next course of action?" Shikamaru asked
"We shall wait for signs of sighting of her. If we go out and search we'll be crawling in the dark." She said
Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi laid in the hospital bed. Naruto on his side with an arm acting as a pillow with his back to Kakashi and Sasuke. Naruto's eyes showed sadness in the usually cheery orbs.
Sasuke laid in something like Naruto's position and has his back facing them. He looked out the window and his eyes unreadable.
Kakashi stared up at the ceiling with his back flat against the bed.
The door creaked open.
"It looks like a funeral in here" A feminine voice teased
All three men shifted uneasily. Not knowing how the Godaime would take it if she found out they didn't bring Sakura back. Her voice sounded so cheery.
"We didn't bring her back" Sasuke said bluntly
Tsunadae frowned.
The three expected the door to close quietly and fading footsteps but they heard nothing. Both turned to look up at Tsunadae and she had a broad smile on her face.
"Why are you happy?" asked Naruto
"Because" she started and grinned "Sakura didn't forget us. She still cares for Konoha and her old team."
All eyes widened at least slightly.
"How do you know?" asked Kakashi
"Itachi had been searching for Naruto relentlessly. He wouldn't miss a chance to finally catch the Kyuubi." Tsunadae smiled softly
Naruto smiled. Sasuke slightly smirked and Kakashi gave a weak grin.
"Sakura"
"Exactly" Tsunadae said happily "There is still a chance to get her back. Will you let go of her?"
Sasuke thought of her words.
"Sasuke-kun… give up on me"
"Never"
Hm, you guys must be wondering why Sakura keeps saving Itachi, ne? Well you'll all find that out in the next chapter! This time I'll try to updat sooner alright you guys? Anyways hope you liked.
Plz review and keep your flaming to yourselves!