Mail.
Flipping the envelope around, she glances over the handwriting.
Shizune.
She opens the envelope quickly, snatching the letter out.
Dear Sakura,
If you check the library, you'll find I've reserved a book for you. It's short medical report written by me about common sicknesses and how to counter them. Tsunade-sama told me to write a report that was useful, but simple enough for a genin to understand. Thus, it's a test for me, and a learning experience for you. Try it.
By the way, about your question...I suppose I can understand the reason as to why you would want to know. But please, don't hate me for what I'm about to say, and please don't hate Mikoto.
Mikoto...she was a good mother to Itachi and Sasuke. Considering the circumstances, she did one hell of a good job. If you've ever seen the Uchiha clan at its worst to outsiders, you'll know that she was having a tough time. Every single one of her letters always included something about how she was a bad mother, how she couldn't protect her children from the pressures of being part of the Uchiha clan, how Itachi was so distant from her. I remember thinking, "If her letters are this bad, her real life must be hell."
But then, I got a letter that was different. I don't remember it all too well, but it was something like this: "Shizune, I don't know why, but I feel like I'm twenty-two again." She started to tell me of a girl she met in the park, a girl she protected from bullies. A crying little girl that she was able to comfort.
(Sakura remembers that time. Ami and her friends had never bothered her after that, not wanting to meet the scary but beautiful woman again.)
And then letter after letter came where, for once, she would not talk of her home life and of the Uchiha clan, but instead of the cute little orphan girl who she liked to visit in the park. I could practically feel her joy in each word she spoke. So then, I remember putting down once jokingly, "You should just leave the Uchiha clan and adopt that girl."
I don't know if it was what I said, or if she had been thinking about it for a while, but the next time I've heard from her, she had told me she had done it. She had left behind her two children and her husband for a child she barely knew.
I know that sounds really selfish of her, but...I think she did the right thing. She was unhappy with her life. Her husband was blinded by his clan, Itachi for some reason hated her, and by the time Sasuke was born, she was too tired to even try to raise him differently. The only reason she stayed for so long was because she believed that she had no other use, that she could at least do something by being there for Itachi and Sasuke.
Try to understand; you were her way of being selfish for once. You were her chance at happiness, and you should be proud that you gave it to her, no matter what she may have done in the past.
Tonton sends his love.
Shizune
Somehow, while reading this, Sakura had maneuvered herself onto her bed.
And now, she feels like a balloon. Deflated.
But her mind still buzzes.
"Sandaime?"
Team 8 stares at their former Hokage, the man smiling as if it was a year ago.
"Ah yes, Itachi isn't feeling well, so I'm filling in his spot." And like that, he brushes the matter off. He takes out a manila folder and gives it to Kurenai. "Here's your newest mission..."
As he talks on, Sakura tunes him out.
Itachi's not feeling well. Her mother's first son is not feeling well. Her mother didn't think she was a good mother. Sakura was her mother's daughter. Itachi was her mother's daughter. No, son. Siblings? Did he read the diary? Would Sasuke still wish he would burn in hell? Did Sasuke ever meet Shizune? ...
Somehow, this all made sense in her mind, yet she couldn't find a common theme. Huh, sounded like life.
"Sakura—" She jolts out of her thoughts. "—would you stay behind for a moment?"
Her teammates bow and excuse themselves, leaving Sakura alone with the former Hokage.
Sakura watches him. He looks back, face propped upon his chin.
Dead air. It reminds her of a summer breeze.
"...Sandaime-sama?"
The man blinks a few times, his mouth open in question. And he comes back.
"Oh forgive me, I zoned out for a moment." He reaches into a drawer and pulls out a familiar black notebook. He holds it up, indicating that she take it. "Itachi told me to give it back to you."
She moves to take it, but stops.
"Did he read it?"
He puts the diary down with a sigh.
"Who knows. All I know is that Itachi stayed up all night doing something, and caught a fever." In an undertone he adds, "Careless boy."
Sakura, lacking a reply, gives an awkward smile and takes the diary.
"Sakura, do visit him, will you? You're his family, you know."
As she looks into his eyes, she finds herself unable to say no. She gives a soundless nod, and bows to leave when she pauses. Ah. She remembers something.
"Sandaime-sama, do you know why Itachi hated his mother?"
Blink.
Deep breath.
Long sigh.
Sad smile. Looks away.
"Maybe you should ask him that."
...That again. She really would have to visit him, wouldn't she?
"Thank you."
She bows and leaves.
She stands in front of the door.
Uchiha Itachi.
Immediately her mind conjures an image of the Hokage Monument. Blank. Cold. Big. Statue.
Oddly enough, it doesn't help.
Summoning her courage, she knocks. Without a pause, it slides open. She can't help but shiver in fright at the sudden smooth movement.
He knew she was there the whole time, and was waiting for her to knock. He's exactly as she pictured. Blank. Cold. Big.
"...It's you."
No, really?
"State your business with me."
She takes a deep breath and looks into his red eyes, preparing to...red eyes?
For a beat, she's thrown off.
"S-sandaime-sama told me of your sickness so I came to visit you and," she takes a quick breath. "I brought some soup (Just don't look into his eyes)...Okaa-san would make this whenever I was sick and so I thought that if—UWAHH!"
Cla-cuck.
The container she's holding drops from her surprised hands.
Warmth.
Weight. Too much weight.
A familiar scent. Like Sasuke's.
It takes her a few seconds for her to realize that she's holding a man in her arms.
Another few seconds tell her that it's a fainted Itachi.
It's when she's changing his ice pack that he wakes up. Barely.
"Ah...Imouto-chan is taking care of me..."
For a moment, Sakura feels her mouth drop open. Like lightning, her head snaps around—
His eyes are glassy and narrowed, heat coloring his cheeks like fire.
—He's only delirious.
The thought strikes her so oddly, that she can't help but let out a choked up snort.
Uchiha Itachi, big imtidating Hokage, is delirious. How often does one see that?
Remembering the report she read by Shizune, she smiles (awkwardly) and smoothes (with a shaking hand) his hair.
"Hai, Imouto-chan is taking care of you, so be good, okay?"
He nods, a child-like grin on his face. Sakura gives another stiff smile and runs out of the room.
After calming down her beating heart, she comes back with a bowl of soup.
"Hokage-sa—"
"I'm your older brother. Treat me with proper respect."
She pauses.
"...Aniki, I brought some soup. You should eat it now while it's hot."
He nods and sits up obediently, taking the bowl from Sakura. When she sees that he's going to be alright she stands up and starts to leave.
"Pink hair."
The two words drive a knife through her heart.
"...Say that again?" Her voice comes out like rain, unsteady but constant.
She doesn't look back.
"Pink hair...it's the only thing that shows you're not her daughter."
It's only a small glance back, her head not even fully turned.
For a moment, she sees Sasuke staring at her with his odd little smile.
She flees.
"Welcome back, Hokage-sama. Are you feeling better?" Kurenai greets when she sees the stoic man at the table.
"Yes, thank you," he replies politely, inclining his head. He takes out a folder and hands it to her. "I've decided to give your team a harder mission..."
As she listens, a voice distantly echoes in her head.
...Imouto-chan...
It somehow touched her the way he called her 'little sister'.
"Sakura, will you stay behind for a moment?"
Sakura nods as her teammates leave them alone.
"I'd like to thank you for taking care of me yesterday. I'm very much grateful."
She bows.
"It was nothing, Hokage-sama."
And slowly, she takes another baby step.
AN: I planned to develop Itachi much more and maybe add some ItaSaku, but found that it just wouldn't fit into the storyline. So there, all you get is a little glimpse. One more chapter to go!
Cha, I still wish I could think of a better summary.