I used to think that love and hate were two polar opposites, that surely one cannot exist where the other one already has its roots, but I was wrong. I stared across the battlefield at the boy that I loved more than anything in the world and could not help but hate the ground he walked on. In a sense I suppose the Sasuke I loved died when he left the village. The thing that stood across from me was simply a shell, a shell that killed indiscriminately simply to gain power. The mere thought of what he had done was enough to make me sick. Itachi's voice echoed annoyingly in the back of my head.
Are you sure you even knew him?
As much as I hated hearing that question asked I often found myself pondering the answer. Was everything an act this whole time? Was he simply using Naruto and Kakashi-sensei to get stronger? It was possible I suppose, but Sasuke had risked his life countless times to save Naruto and myself, surely that had to mean something. I had to believe that I knew him, I had to believe that there was still something inside the Uchiha that wanted to be saved. If I didn't then it would destroy me.
Naruto and I could not give up on him, he was there somewhere perhaps beneath all the hatred was the man I loved. I had loved him for so long maybe I just did not know how to stop. The words he spoke grated against my ears, they were harsh and rough laced with poison, it was painfully obvious that he was merely being used as a pawn. I made a conscious attempt to stop my hands from shaking, I could feel the early signs of shock working its way through my nervous system. I had come so close to death...he had wanted to kill me. The bloodlust that filled his eyes was enough to send my heart racing. He did not even hesitate, like killing me was nothing, like it meant nothing. Sure I had come here with the intention to kill him, but we both knew that in the end I would be unable to do it. Perhaps I was naive enough to believe he would feel the same with me. It was a mistake I could not afford to make again.
Naruto was panting next to me after his fight with Sasuke, if it was not for him I would've been dead. A part of me wished I could love Naruto the way I did Sasuke, but I could find it in myself to care for him the way he deserved. I tried not to show how much Sasuke's betrayal hurt me, yet I was powerless to stop the cheeks that fell down my face. Madara stood next to Sasuke, peering at him through his mask, like a proud puppeteer, the sight made my blood boil. Itachi warned me that this masked Uchiha would try to drag Sasuke down with him, but I did not believe him till now.
I half thought that Sasuke was too smart to fall for such an obvious trick, I had greatly underestimated Sasuke's lust for power. Naruto stood beside me as always begging for Sasuke to come home to us, maybe neither of us had faced the reality of our new teammate's loyalty. Yet to completely give up on Sasuke was not an option for us either. As always he shunned our attempts for a reconciliation and with a parting threat left Naruto, Kakashi-sensei, and myself as frustrated as usual. I watched as he vanished in a mass of time and space. As I watched him disappear I could not help but want a different Uchiha to suddenly appear in front of me. I shook the thought from my head, I had to focus on the present.
"Sakura," I raised my eyes to stare at my blonde haired teammate, I did not have any idea how long I was staring out into nothingness.
"Thank you for saving my life Naruto," I tried to give a comforting smile, but I knew that it fell a bit short. He pressed a hand against my shoulder.
"I will bring him back I promise," I met his eyes and I knew that he still really thought that he could. I did not have the heart to tell him that I was starting to lose hope. I simply nodded.
"We need to go back and report to the elders and tell them about Danzo's death," Kakashi's voice cut through the fog in my mind, snapping me out of whatever fog I had gotten lost in.
"You and Naruto go ahead of me, I will catch up. I just need a bit to rest," Naruto opened his mouth to no doubt object, but Kakashi grabbed the stubborn ninja by the collar and led him back into the woods. Danzo, or what was left of him, was splayed out along the pavement. I waited a few moments to make sure they were not hanging around before I approached Danzo's right arm. Two untouched eyes were hidden beneath the sleeve of his robe. Perhaps, just maybe, I would be able to transfer them to Itachi. Without hesitation I began the extraction process...it was going to be a long night.
"You are smarter than I give you credit for," Itachi's distinctive drawl made me nearly lose focus of what I was doing. His compliment made my cheeks redden just slightly.
"It would be a waste to leave these here without at least trying. Besides if we are going to help Sasuke you will have to have your sharingan," as I hovered over Danzo careful to keep the tendons in tact I silently wondered if he had been here the whole time.
"I wouldn't of let him kill you," if I did not know better than I would swear he could read my mind. I carefully placed the eyes in a container and placed them gently back in my side pouch. When I turned around to face Itachi I was not expecting to find him standing so close to me. I did not move as he brought a hand to my face and carefully tucked a stray piece of hand behind my ear.
"Thank you Itachi," in what I assumed was an affectionate gesture he placed his middle and pointer finger on my forehead.
"It is a shame my brother does not realize how special you are," I found myself at a loss for words as Itachi took off back into the direction of our cabin. Surely he was just praising my medical jutsu, right?