Author's notes: A lot of good feeback on the last chapter. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Please, enjoy this one as well ! Lots more chapters to come !!
Chapter 13
The Bearer Of Bad News
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The news of his unborn childs death was unbearable. Itachi sat in his cell and refused to eat. A few weeks had passed and Sakura still hadn't woken up. Itachi sat against the wall he was chained to. He spent most of his days like that. Just sitting there doing nothing but thinking. Thinking abuot her, about his life, about what Sasuke had done. He would make Sasuke pay for what he did, he would kill Sasuke.
He gripped the chairs tighter as he thought about this. However, his strength wasn't like it had been once before. Not only was he not eating, but he had a barrier around him that maintained his chakra at a low level. Itachi hated all this, but he knew what he was getting himself into by turning around and going to Konoha with Sakura. But he needed to, if he hadn't she might've died. He did this for her, he endured all this pain and torture so that she would survive, even if it meant he had to die for it to be possible .
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Pain, she could feel pain in her stomache. But she also feld and emptieness like something was missing, something that had been there before but was now gone, but she didn't know what. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Why did it take so much effort to open her eyes. It was like someone had glued them shut. Her jade eyes stared up at a white cieling. Judging by the smell, she knew where she was. The Konoha hospital. She slowly lifted her head and looked around. To her left she saw a heartbreaking image. It was Naruto. He was laying there hooked up to several different machines. She knew what each of the machines were and what someone would need them for. Naruto was barely alive and just hanging on. "He might not make it." she heard a voice say. She turned her head and saw an exhausted blonde looking at her. "But I didn't need to tell you that, did I ?" she said leaning against the wall crossing her arms. "How is he still alive?" Sakura asked looking back over at him. Tsunade shrugged. "the Kyuubi won't let him die and he's repairing his wounds. However, I beleve that it's because of his strong wil to live that he's still alive." Tsunade explained. Sakura nodded, she understood what she was talking about.
Tsunade sighed as she looked at Sakura. "Sakura, I have to tell you some rather heartbreaking news," Tsunade said now sitting ont he edge of the bed beside Sakura. Sakura looked at her sensai, she could tell that she was serious. "Sakura, you were pregnant." Tsunade said with a sigh. Sakura's eyes shot open. Were? What did she mean.. were? "Sakura, you lost your baby when Sasuke stabbed you. I'm sorry." Tsunade said as she held Sakura's hand. Sakura didn't know how to react. She didn't know she was pregnant. It all made sense now, the weight she had gained, throwing up all the time, feeling weak, and that was why Hinata stopped attacking her. Tears began pouring out from Sakura's eyes uncontrollably. She leaned forward and grabbed onto Tsunade crying into her chest. Tsunade wrapped her arms around Sakura holding her close. "MY BABY!" Sakura shouted. "My baby.." she now said quieter. "my baby..." she continued to repeat. Shizune stood at the doorway and watched sadly.
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A month had passed. Itachi still sat in his lonely cell thinking about her. He heard a door open and footsteps approach his cell. He knew that it wasn't food, it wasn't the right time of day. His cell door opened and someone walked in. He recognized the chakr, Tsunade. "You're execution is shedualed for tomorrow at high noon." Tsunade said bluntly. He slowly lifted his head. "What will become of Sakura?" he asked almost regretufully. Tsunade didn't answer at first. "She too, is shedualed to be executed tomorrow at high noon.." Tsunade said.
Itachi gripped the chains as he heard this. "Can't you stop it?" he asked facing her. "Unfortunatly not. She left the vilage and joined the Akatsuki, then escaped once again after being captured and attacked several Konoha shinobi. I'm afraid there is ntohign I can do." She explained. "Nothing you can do, or nothing you wish to do." Itachi responded. Tsunadegrew defensive. "How dare you say that. Sakura is like a daughter to me. You think I haven't tried everything?!" "Tell me, what is the point of a leader if they can't even ake their own decsions." Itachi said. "It's not that easy.I have to protect the village. " she said heading towards the cell door. "What good is a Hokage who can't even protect one of their people from themselves." Itachi said hearing her walk away. Tsunade paused at the cell door for a moment and stood in silence before she finally opened the door and exited, her footsteps growing faint. Itachi heard the slamming of a door confirming her absence. Itachi sat back against the wall in deep thought. Not only himself, but Sakura was going to be killed tomorrow. How did it come down to this. Didn't he come back to save her. Eveything was wrong. He expected a punishment such as this for himself, however, he never imagined that she too, would be executed. Itachi didn't save her, he brought her back to die.
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Sakura sat int he hospital bed and stared out the window. She placed her hand on her stomache and looked down at it where he baby once was. She looked back at the window as she watched the leaved on the tree's blow around wildly just waiting to detatch from the branch and finally be set free. Able to travel the world without anything holding it back. She could relate.
She let out a sigh and rested her head against the back of the bed. She heard someone coming. She looked over tot he door as three people entered the room. Ino, Sai and Tenten. "Ohiyo Sakura." Tenten said as they approached her bed. Sakura smiled. "How are you feeling?" Ino asked. Sakura looked down at her stomache. Ino and Tenten stepped forward and hugged her as tears fell from Sakura's eyes. Ino and Tenten cried with her, comforting her.
Sai stood there watching them. He didn't quite understand why Ino and Tenten were crying. It wasn't their baby that they lost. He didn't bother asking, he didn't understand this whole feeling and emotional thing that well yet. He leaned against the wall and watched them cry.
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The silver haired jonin stood atop the Hokage's tower along with Gai and Kurenai. The two sanin's appeared. Kakashi glanced up at them from his book as they approached them. Jiraiya sighed as he looked at them. "We know you're all anxiously awaiting the final judgement of Itachi and Sakura." Jiraiya said. Tsunade looked distressed standind behind Jiraiya. Kakashi put his book away and gave them his full undivided attention. "You all know that Itachi and Sakura will have to face punishment for their crimes that they have comitted." He paused. "It has been ordered that at high noon tomorrow, both Itachi and Sakura will be.. executed."
Hearing the word made Tsunade cringe. Kakashi and the others stood shocked. Kakashi clutched his hand into a fist and jumped off the buling dissapearing into the darkness. Tsunade and Jiraiya stood there silent. Kurenai and Gai looked at each other. They knew why Kakashi had left so quickly and where he was going. They're expressions saddened as they all exited the top of the building going different ways.
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He sat in his chair in the middle of the room where a lone light hovered above him. He tapped the armrest as he sat thinking. "He's not dead." he head a voice say whisper. "They're lieing." Another said. "They've betrayed you." Yet another voice spoke. Pein sighed. "I know." he said leaning his head against the back of the chair. " You should kill them." He heard one of them say closer to his ear. "Kill them all." another said, murderous intent evident in his voice. Pein sat there listening, thinking. "What about Tobi?" he asked looking like he was talking to himself. "We can take care of him." One responded. Pein shook his head. "No, not him. He's too strong. He's the leader afterall." Pein explained. "No, you're the leader. He's a coward hiding from leadership and acting like a fool." one of the voices said trying to convince him. Pein sat silently thinking. "How would we do it?" Pein asked himself. "While they're sleeping. Get them when they're most vaulnerable." a voice responded. "Alright. Chose who you want, but leave Konan to me." He said with an evil smirk.
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He sat on the window cil watching her sleep. He sighed and then reached into his bag pulling out his sketchbook and pastels. He looked outside and began sketching the nighttime scene. He stopped when he heard the door open. He looked over and saw Kakashi standing in the doorway. He knew something was wrong but didn't ask. Kakashi closed the door and walked in. Sakura was asleep. Naruto, still unconcious.
"How is he?" Kakashi asked. Sai shrugged. "Hasn't changed since yesterday" "Hn" Kakashi said moving from Naruto's bed to Sakura's. He stood at the end and looked at her. There were a few moments of silence. Kakshi finally decided to speak. "They're going to kill her tomorrow. " he said. Sai's head shot up and he looked at Kakashi. Considering the circumstances, it was a reasonable punishment. Sai looked over at Sakura's sleeping body. "We're just going to let it happen?" Sai stated rather then asked. Kakashi just stood there. He took out his book and began reading it. "Sai, pass me something to write with." Kakashi said extending his hand as Sai looked at him for aminute before handing him a black pastel. Kakashi raised his book higher and began writing something down. He sighed and anded Sai teh pastel back. "I need to remember this date or I'll miss the next issue. " He said looking down at the paper and back up at Sai. "Well, I better go now. There's not telling when Tsunade will summon us for a meeting again." Kakashi closed his book as the small piece of paper fell onto the floor. He then waved and dissapeared into a puff od smoke.
Sai looked at the piece of paper on the ground as he scoffed at Kakashi's cumsyness. He jumped off of the window and picked it up and opened it reading the date that Kakashi had written. He sighed putting it into his pocket and dissapearing out the window on his way to return the slip of paper to Kakashi.
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Sakura lay awake staring up at the ceiling. She didn't sleep much lately, one maybe two hours a night if she was lucky. Her hands were rested upon her stomache. She didn't have anymore wounds, yet they kept her in the hospital under strict order of Tsunade. She didn't know why, but she didn't question it. It was nice laying in bed all day, however, she did want to get out. But she didn't want to leave Naruto's side.
She turned her head and looked out the window. It was dark, she guessed that it was somewhere around 4 maybe 5 in the morning. She heard a slight creaking of a door as she looked over to the door and watched as someone walked in. It was Shizune.
Shizune slowly made her way over to Sakura. Shizune noticed that Sakura was awake. "Good.. you're awake." she said quietly. She now stood beside Sakura's bed and looked down at her. Sakura sat up leaning against the backboard as she looked over at Shizune. "Shizune, what is it ? What's wrong?" she asked. She could tell something was wrong. Not only was it 5 in the morning, but there was a look in her eyes and Sakura knew.
Shizune didn't talk. She looked up at Sakura as tears began forming around the rims of her eyes. She sat on the edge of the bed. Sakura, confused as ever looked at the woman. "Shizune.." she said. "Sakura.." Shizune started but continued crying. Sakura just sat therem unaware at what Shizune was crying about. "Sakura.. I'm so sorry but.." "What, what is it? " Sakura said wiping away some of her tears. Shizune stopped herself from crying for a few moments as she looked into Sakura's eyes. " They're going to kill you. Tomorrow at noon, they're going to kill you and Itachi." she said as teh tears rolled down Shizune's eyes.
Sakura stared at her in shock. They were going to .. what ? Kill her.. Sakura never thought it would come down to that. Then again, regarding what she had done, it only made sense. But she never heard of Konoha ever killing one of their own shinobi even if it was a traitor. She looked at Shizune who was obviously heartbroken. She wondered why Tsunade hadn't delivered the message, but then she knew. This kind of news was heartbreaking, and for Tsunade to tell Sakura herself, she couldn't handle it. And Sakura couldn't blame her. Sakura wouldn't want to tell someone that they were going to die and that she couldn't help them.
Shizune leaned forward crying into her hands as Sakura outstretched her arms and held Shizune. She could hear Shizune's quiet sobs. Sakura looked at the woman. She felt bad for her, talk about being the bearer of bad news.
Sakura leaned her head on Shizune's back as she held her. She closed her eyes astears began rolling down her cheek. However, it wasn't on her own behalf, but it was for Itachi. He was going to die to. And it was because of her. Because he brought her back.
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Author's notes: WOOHOO another chapter done ! UUGHHH. Exams next week! Sorry if I don't update soon enough. I'll try ! Hope you enjoyed the chapter everyone ! Sorry that it wasn't THAT LONG it was more of a filler than anything ! REEVIEEWW !!