(A\N: Ugh. Sorry about the lateness of the chapter. I've had writers block. Every time I did the battle scene I erased it because I didn't like it. I've gone through about five different scenarios! OK, anyway…here's the scene I liked the best. Enjoy!)
Chapter 22
I Hate the Rain
Sakura let out a gasp as water filled the room. She heard multiple shouts and exclamations but she didn't have time to register just what they were. Her first thought was, Oh shit. The second one was I'm going to drown.
Sakura saw the water surging towards her and she could hear the roar of the waves as they consumed the room. Suddenly something grabbed her and shot upward. She didn't know what was happening as she saw the water completely cover the spot she'd just been standing in as the entire building collapsed in on itself.
The crash was tremendous and it made Sakura's ears ring as she and her rescuer landed on the water outside of the area. For some odd reason the water didn't seem to disappear, but merely covered the large expanse of area that had once been a castle as well as the surrounding clearing. She blinked as she noticed her friends all standing on the water as well, a few of them dripping wet.
Kisame looked like he'd just been chewed up and spit out by something.
Sai seemed to have been able to grab Yamato out of harms way and the older man was coming to.
She clutched onto her rescuer with her waning strength. All of her injuries and blood loss were making her woozy and tired. She just...she just wanted to fall asleep and never wake up. She knew, sadly, that such an end was very probable, given her state.
And now...now I've seen them all. I just wish...I just wish that I could say goodbye.
She blinked, as she suddenly noticed that something was terribly wrong.
She was staring into the eyes of all of her friends. She could even see the glint of Itachi's crimson Sharingan as he took a step forward. Sakura stiffened as she began shaking and she tried to push away from the man holding her.
Not a man. A monster.
"Now, now...calm down little blossom." Tomokazu purred into her ear as he held her close. "You're going to strain yourself. You're weak enough as it is."
"Let her go you bastard!" Naruto yelled out, making to lunge forward. He would have too, if Temari hadn't grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"You're outnumbered, yeah. Let Sakura go and we'll let you live." Deidara answered back coldly, his blue eyes hard. It was a lie, but if it got Sakura away from Tomokazu sooner then he didn't care.
Tomokazu snorted. "I think I'll keep her over here with me." He buried his face in her neck as he looked up at them smugly from beneath his bangs. "She's much more amusing then you."
Sakura struggled in his grip but she was weak, especially after using her chakra with the strain her body was in.
Tomokazu watched in grim satisfaction as all of the shinobi narrowed their eyes and clenched their fists. My, my, it seems I've riled them all. How touching, everyone coming to save their dear cherry blossom.
But she is mine.
Sakura gritted her teeth as she turned her face away from him, trying to think as she watched Temari and Choji hold Naruto back as he yelled profanities at Tomokazu. None of them moved to attack however. She supposed it was because they were afraid she would get hurt.
Dammit Sakura! What the hell is wrong with you? Fight BACK!
Itachi said you were strong, Sakura.
Prove it.
Sakura's eyes narrowed as she felt Tomokazu's grip on her tighten, and she flinched as his fingers dug into the wounds on her arms. She wondered if her friends saw the cringe, or the way her eyes flashed in pain, or the way she looked as if she were about to faint.
No, she wouldn't let them.
She had to be strong.
"You're a dead man Tomokazu! I'm going to rip you apart with my bare hands!!!!!" Naruto growled, as orange and red chakra glittered around him. His eyes had taken on a primal glow, burning crimson.
Three crimson eyed shinobi were glaring at Tomokazu with so much hate Sakura could feel it emanating around the entire clearing. She was surprised the water wasn't steaming.
"Let her go." Sasuke ordered coldly. I'll kill you. He hadn't thought he hated anyone more than his brother, but Tomokazu was running a very close second at the moment. After what he'd done to Sakura…
"Come and get her, if you want her." Tomokazu teased, playing with her hair. A mad glint entered his eyes as he grinned.
"Or perhaps you want to hear her scream first."
Sakura froze at that but was too late to move as pain erupted through her body.
Hinata paled the same time she saw Sakura's face drain of its last bit of color at those words. Hinata was already petrified of the silver eyed man who emanated a blood lust and killer intent that was almost tangible. But when she had seen that fright, that pure terror in Sakura's eyes, she felt herself lose all of her confidence.
It took a lot to frighten the Sakura Haruno she had grown to know.
But at the same time as her fright, Hinata was silently happy for a grim moment. Happy in the fact that even as she saw the pain flash across Sakura's face and the way her jaw tightened and a small stream of blood trickled down the left corner of her mouth, Sakura did not scream.
Hinata supposed she would die before she would scream.
She's so strong. Hinata thought in awe. She could only imagine the pain Sakura was in. Her byakugan could see the horrors that had been done to the inside of her body. She didn't know how it was possible that Sakura was even breathing. She could also see the small, faint lines of chakra that ran through Sakura's body. They were almost undetectable to her eyes. That was a bad sign.
Hinata wondered if the others saw what she saw. If they could see the pain and suffering Hinata was witnessing right now.
"I was never very strong, Hinata. But I tried. And I swore to myself I would train and train until I could prove to myself that I had at least grown in strength….that I had become a little bit stronger. That's all I wanted."
Hinata bit her lip as she remembered Sakura's words to her after Naruto had left to find Sasuke. You are strong Sakura. I wish I had your courage.
Sakura breathed in quickly, making the air whistle between her clenched teeth, like a hiss. That wasn't far from the truth, as she tried to ignore the sharp pains that racked her body. She locked her jaw, swearing she wouldn't scream. She was strong. Itachi had said she was strong. She was going to prove it. That one thought was the only thing that filled her mind: Itachi said I was strong. Itachi said I was strong. Itachi said I was strong
Just…have to…stay…conscious.
That was easier said then done. As she peered at the others, their outlines began wavering. It was as if she were looking through murky water. Her vision flickered from blurred images to sharp clear ones to complete blackness in an unpredictable cycle. She wondered if this was how it felt to die. So far away from everything and so completely…detached
She felt Tomokazu's grip on her arms, but her skin was numb so it wasn't altogether unpleasant. Just an immense presser that was lessening every second. She could barely hear Naruto and Kisame's threats either. Those bakas. They're all bark and no bite .She thought almost giddily.
I suppose dying isn't so bad. Even the pain is going away.
Sakura blinked, trying to focus her vision. She saw a hazy red that burrowed into her own jade orbs and she was suddenly ashamed of her earlier thoughts. I can't die yet. I have to prove to them all, prove to him that I am strong.
Not yet.
And so she merely gave a small smirk—one that she felt was worthy of the arrogant Uchiha brothers themselves—as she slammed her elbow backwards into Tomokazu's stomach.
She heard him gasp as the air was knocked out of him—which gave her a grim satisfaction—but then she didn't hear much at all as she went flying through the air. She slammed into the water and only just managed to focus the remaining vestiges of her chakra into her palms, keeping her upper half above the water. She slowly lifted herself out, landing on her knees. She barely heard the worried exclamations that came from her friends.
She watched as the water dripped from her pants as her knees sunk a few centimeters underneath the surface. She was virtually on empty. She was surprised she even had the strength to focus her chakra.
If only I'd been able to use some of my chakra. Perhaps I could have killed the bastard.
I guess he didn't believe I could still fight.
Che. I'll die fighting.
"That was very stupid of you blossom." Tomokazu ground out coldly as he began walking across the water towards her. Her level of sight was fixed upon his feet, watching him as he came closer. But he never reached her. Instead, a mangekou-wielding Uchiha stood in his path.
Itachi…always coming to my rescue, eh?
Like a knight in shining armor.
Only you aren't wearing a white breastplate or brandishing a shining sword. No…just an Akatsuki cloak and a kunai.
…I kind of prefer you this way.
I'd feel a bit afraid if you changed now. I'd definitely know I was dying then, if I was hallucinating that badly.
"We never finished our earlier battle, Tomokazu." Itachi spoke, his emotionless tone completely recovered.
Sakura felt a presence beside her and looked up to see Naruto. His blue eyes were worried as he gently touched her arm. "You ok Sakura-chan?" He sounded as if he were speaking through water.
Do I really look that bad? Sakura mused silently as she turned to him with a tired smile. "Hey Naruto."
Suddenly she was wrapped in one of Naruto's famous bear hugs as he breathed in raggedly. "I thought…I thought we'd lost you for a second."
Sakura gave a small chuckle as she turned her head so her face wouldn't be buried in his chest. She had a hard enough time breathing as it was. She didn't need to try while having her nose stuck in his collarbone. "Nah. I'm not that easy to get rid of, I guess."
Sakura wasn't really paying attention to Naruto, which she felt a bit ashamed about. But her whole attention was fixed on Itachi and Tomokazu as they slowly circled one another on the water's trembling surface.
There were several presences beside her and she knew her friends had come over to where she and Naruto were. Once again, Sakura's eyes never left Itachi's Akatsuki cloak.
"You're getting annoying, Itachi." Tomokazu smirked. "I'm tired of your interferences."
"Hn." Itachi's fingers tapped against the kunai he held as his eyes narrowed. He tried to find Tomokazu's weak spots. But for some reason, Itachi's Sharingan could not predict Tomokazu's movements. It was like trying to see through a fog.
Of course, this was only a minor setback. It merely meant that for once in his life, Itachi would have to fight without the trump card of his Sharingan.
He was still more than enough of a match for Tomokazu.
His eyes flashed as Tomokazu appeared in front of him and Itachi twisted slightly to the side, the kunai whistling past his cheek. Itachi grabbed Tomokazu's wrist, wrenching him forward so that the two were stuck in place, eye to eye.
No one can escape my Mangekou, Tomokazu. No one.
The three tomo began swirling rapidly, as reality seemed to shatter in front of them both, descending them into a world of crimson and black.
Itachi and Tomokazu stood in the middle of the complete black void, their shadows white upon the black of the illusion world the Mangekou had created. The sky was a hazy red fog, with a bright white and crimson moon.
"Even you are subject to illusion here, Tomokazu." Itachi began, smirking to himself.
Tomokazu stared down at the vines that were slowly circling around his feet, anchoring him to the ground. He tested his ability to move, and realized that he was stuck in place.
"If it isn't the Tuskuyomi…" Tomokazu chuckled to himself as Itachi walked up to him, a blade in hand.
The crimson light reflected off the blade, as Itachi lifted it and placed the tip at Tomokazu's neck, the cold metal making contact as Itachi forced Tomokazu's chin up.
"It would be much simpler if you would bear your neck and let me kill you now." Itachi commented coolly.
Tomokazu's eyes narrowed dangerously and he frowned, but there was no fear or panic on his face. His eyes never left Itachi's, not even to look at the blade that was threatening to cut the life out of him.
"However…" Itachi continued, moving the blade so that the point dug into the cloth of Tomokazu's shoulder. "Such a quick death would be pointless."
Tomokazu's eyes flickered as the katana was shoved into him. Blood dripped down the blade, soaking his cloak.
"You will relive this pain for three days." Itachi began, taking out the blade as he lifted it to stab him once again, almost excited about the grim satisfaction he was going to get out of it.
But Tomokazu merely sneered as he gave a dark laugh.
"And so will you Itachi." And his hand snapped out of the vine's grasp and latched onto Itachi's arm.
They were merely standing there, arms locked so that their faces were mere inches apart.
Sakura had felt a small moment of panic as Tomokazu's fingers curled around Itachi's wrist, but Itachi showed no signs of discomfort or pain. Maybe…maybe Tomokazu hadn't activated his jutsu.
"They've been staring at each other for more than three seconds." Kisame grunted. "That's the usual length of Itachi's Tsukuyomi."
"Hai." Sasori nodded. "Perhaps another genjutsu was used as well."
And suddenly both of the men shot backwards, leaping away from each other as quickly as possible. They landed gracefully on opposite sides of the water.
Itachi's eyes were narrowed, and Sasuke saw the slight hitch in his breath. Had something really taken that much exertion from his older brother?
Tomokazu was smirking, but his eyes were duller then before. The silver no longer glinted quite as brightly.
There was a long moment of silence as the others waited expectantly for something to happen.
Finally, Itachi spoke. "I did not believe your kekkei genkai had a genjutsu along with it." He rapidly did hand signs, "Interesting." Then flames shot from his lips, consuming the area Tomokazu had been standing on.
"Genjutsu, yeah?" Deidara asked in confusion as steam filled the area, blocking their view of the battle once more.
Sakura nodded. "It's a lot like the mangekou, in a sense. He used it on me." Sakura blinked once more, trying to ignore the shadows that crept in the back of her mind, trying to consume her in darkness.
"He used it on you, yeah?" Deidara's voice was cold and furious. How dare someone hurt Sakura!
Sakura nodded, eyes narrowed as she peered into the steam in an attempt to see. "Once."
There was a large gust of wind that cleared away the steam, and they all blinked as water rained down on them. Itachi had apparently used a water-styled jutsu against Tomokazu, who had blocked it with one of his own.
Kisame was reminded slightly of the battle between Itachi and Hatake Kakashi. A spectacular test of who had the best ninjutsu.
The sound of their footsteps as they ran across the water was the only way Tenten could tell where the two shinobi were, they were moving so fast. She supposed that most of the other Konoha shinobi were having the same problem as she was. She only knew that they were actually fighting by the random splashes on the water's surface, or when their figures would appear sporadically before disappearing again.
Sasuke saw it all, of course. He watched as his brother and Tomokazu landed hit after hit upon one another, yet neither of them seemed to be bothered by it. They kept fighting as if they hadn't been hurt at all.
Itachi hated to admit it, but Tomokazu was proving to be a more difficult opponent to defeat than he had originally thought. He didn't let his mind dwell on the sickening genjutsu that Tomokazu had created. It had been the only time in his life that he'd actually been caught in another person's genjutsu.
Itachi was almost surprised that either of them could stand. Three days for both of them in their own hell…
And yet here they both stood. Itachi had been hoping that Tomokazu would suffer a mental breakdown and fall, but he was apparently too strong for that. That irked Itachi slightly.
Itachi lifted his kunai, parrying the five shuriken that Tomokazu shot at him, immediately blocking Tomokazu's oncoming kick with his arm. He didn't notice Tomokazu's right hand snake beneath his crossed arms until it was too late. The kunai cut into his ribs, and Tomokazu ripped it upwards, grinning mercilessly.
Itachi merely disappeared in a puff of smoke, and Tomokazu's grin became an annoyed frown. "Stop running, Itachi Uchiha…it's very unbecoming of you. I expected you to fight me, not run and hide." He wondered if his taunts were having any effect.
He grabbed the kunai mere centimeters in front of his face. He ignored the sharp pain in his hand as the edges of the kunai dug into his skin. Tomokazu smirked as he watched Itachi's angered crimson eyes flash in annoyance at the fact that Tomokazu had actually stopped his attack.
Tomokazu leaned in, his teeth flashing in a feral grin. "How did it feel, Itachi? To lose all of that power you've gained over the years. To be helpless to stop it all…?"
Sakura blinked in surprise, as she heard those words. She knew Tomokazu's jutsu. Like the mangekou, it caused the mind's greatest fears to be awakened…
To stop what, Itachi? What was Itachi so afraid of? What could frighten Uchiha Itachi?
Itachi's eyes narrowed dangerously as he pushed down harder on the kunai, liking the fact that Tomokazu grimaced as the blood began to drip quicker down his fingers. But then he was parrying Tomokazu's other hand, which skimmed his shoulder as Itachi jumped backwards. He felt the small jolt of pain that the small bit of contact made, and he was a bit shocked by it.
So that was Tomokazu's jutsu.
He wondered how Sakura could have possibly survived weeks of torture with that jutsu. She was strong, in her own right, but…
…what if she hadn't been tortured the entire time?
And suddenly he remembered Tomokazu's genjutsu, and he began to doubt.
Itachi blinked in the darkness, ignoring the throbbing pain in his upper body from his ealier encounter with Tomokazu.
As he peered into the shadows, two figures slowly began to come into view.
"NO! Stay away!" The woman screamed as she was slammed into the wall, her bright green eyes widening in pain as she coughed up a bit of blood. "Stay-cough-away…"
She was crying now, trying to squirm out of the man's grasp. But the man's silver eyes merely narrowed in amusement as his mouth crashed down upon her own.
I told you to stay away from her, Tomokazu…Itachi growled to himself, as he made to step forward. But he couldn't…He looked down at his arms and legs. Nothing was stopping them from moving…nothing…
And yet, his body felt frozen. He searched through his body and his eyes widened slightly.
No chakra.
"Itachi! Help me!!!!" Sakura screamed hysterically, tears falling down her cheeks in torrents as she squirmed free of Tomokazu's hungry lips, trying to get herself off of the wall.
Itachi urged himself forward, but he couldn't. Dammit Itachi, get control of yourself. This is merely a genjutsu. Nothing more, nothing less. Release it.
But how could he release it without chakra? And it struck him then, he was completely, utterly hopeless.
And that was what frightened Itachi the most.
"ITACHI!!!!!"
Tomokazu ripped open her shirt, slipping off her pants. Itachi's eyes flashed as he realized what was happening. Sakura was crying and struggling, begging him to let go of her as his lips and hands trailed across her body.
Just as Itachi had done.
Itachi opened his mouth to say something, anything, but no sound came out. Nothing seemed to be working. His mouth, his muscles, his mind
The only thing that worked was his Sharingan, which he viewed as a curse as he took in every single one of Sakura's tears. He could see the red marks Tomokazu's teeth left upon her pale flesh.
"S-Stop!" She was whimpering now, as he shoved into her.
Itachi flinched as she cried out in pain and fright. Move, he urged himself. Nothing.
She continued crying, whimpering against his mouth as he took her harder.
All Itachi could do was stand there and watch as another man possessed his Sakura.
And suddenly Sakura's cry turned into a small moan. Her head arched back as Tomokazu ravished her neck. She let out another whimper, yet this one wasn't a whimper of pain.
She was enjoying it?
It was one of those rare times in his life where he felt like slamming his hands over his ears and scrunching his eyes shut, like he had done when he was a little child. He wanted to scream, "Make it stop!" but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Even if he'd had a voice, Itachi Uchiha had too much pride to do such a thing.
But Itachi could not cover his ears, and he could not shut his eyes. He merely had to watch the scene in front of him, as Sakura began groaning and writhing beneath Tomokazu.
Tomokazu turned to look at Itachi as he gave a triumphant smirk. And then he changed, his silver eyes becoming scarlet.
His younger brother stood in front of him, his eyes hard as he raised his sword. Sakura merely leaned against the wall, watching, breathing deeply.
"You aren't the strongest Uchiha any longer, Itachi. I've come to take my revenge…and I've come to take Sakura back with me." Sasuke smiled cruelly. "You are weak. You couldn't save Sakura…let alone yourself."
Itachi's eyes narrowed as he let out a small growl.
Sasuke merely chuckled. "How pathetic." He placed his blade at Itachi's neck, pressing down until a few drops of blood welled on the tip.
Itachi found his voice for but a moment, a soft whisper.
"…Sakura…"
His eyes met bright jade, and for a moment something seemed to soften in her gaze. But then her eyes hardened, as she gave a small, evil smirk.
"I am not your whore, Itachi."
And then the blade sliced across his neck.
The others saw Itachi physically flinch, before he began rapid hand signs once again. His crimson eyes were glowing with an almost demonic aura as he watched Tomokazu.
Tomokazu merely smiled, even as the twin water dragons twisted towards him. He dodged the first, before beginning his own hand signs, which created a water dragon that crashed into Itachi's remaining one.
"You seem a bit angry, Itachi," Tomokazu chuckled. "Was it something I said?" His smile on grew wider as he noticed Itachi's murderous gaze. Tomokazu's eyes flickered towards Sakura.
"Or was it something someone else said?"
It was in that moment that Itachi knew Tomokazu had seen Itachi's hell. Had seen what Itachi feared the most.
And that angered him more than anything.
Tomokazu merely rolled up one sleeve, revealing a large twisting design that curled up his arm. "I haven't shown anyone this before, Itachi. You should feel honored." Tomokazu continued to roll his sleeve up to his elbow slowly, then stopped.
"This is the ultimate technique of my clan, the highest level of my kekkei genkai." Tomokazu smiled, and it was a sickening sweet smile, as he began pumping chakra into his arm.
He pressed his fingers into the wound upon his shoulder, sliding the sticky red liquid down the design on his arm.
Itachi took one step backwards, as Tomokazu slammed his hand down onto the water's surface.
There was a loud, horrifying sound, like children screaming as white vapors began lifting from the water, which bubbled and steamed.
"Meet my ancestors, Itachi." Tomokazu laughed as the white vapors began to take shape above the water's surface with glowing amber eyes.
"What the…?" Choji's brows furrowed in confusion, his question echoing the unspoken question that all of them were asking.
"Are those…ghosts?" Kisame ground out. If Sakura didn't know him better, she would have believed his tone was slightly awed.
"I think they are, yeah." Deidara answered softly.
"How do you kill a ghost?" Tenten asked no one in particular.
No one had an answer.
Itachi shot backwards, flipping in the air to avoid the grasp of one of the spirits. Its claws grazed the air around him, sucking the warmth from it. The entire area seemed cold and dead now.
He blew fire at one of them, hearing it shriek in pain as it evaporated. He blinked as the ghost merely formed once again as the fire ceased.
That, however, was the least of his problems, as one of the ghost came up behind him, reaching through his body.
Itachi couldn't help but give a small grunt as pain consumed him, burning like fire through his body. He jumped into the air, landing a few feet away to catch his breath. He didn't let this show, as he watched Tomokazu warily, his eyes on all of the ghosts as well.
Tomokazu laughed loudly. "How do you like them, Itachi? Every time one of them touches you, you will feel the effects of my regular jutsu. Only…you cannot dodge this pain. And it is impossible to counter."
"Does he mean…does he mean that those ghosts can perform his kekkei genkai?" Ino asked softly.
"That's what it looks like." Shikamaru answered.
"It is indeed impossible to counter them. Once they fade through his body it would be impossible to dodge them, since they would merely pass through the rest of his body when he moved." Sasori commented. "Ingenuous."
Sakura watched in horror, feeling panic fill her. One user of the kekkei genkai was bad enough. But twelve?
"Itachi…" She whispered, her voice clogged with emotion.
"…oh god, be careful…"
Itachi dodged a spirit once more, trying desperately to get to Tomokazu. But every time he neared Tomokazu, a spirit would appear in front of him, and two more would come from the sides.
He ignored the searing pain in his body from the places they had shot through him, tearing into his body every time they did so.
He was Itachi Uchiha.
He would not be beaten.
He let out a small gasp as one of the spirits shot out of the water beneath him, flying upwards through his body. His eyes saw red—more than usual—and his mind began to fog with the pain.
He stumbled slightly, the movement almost imperceptible to the human eye.
He knew Tomokazu had seen it, because he spotted the ever-widening smile on Tomokazu's face as Itachi jumped to the side to dodge another spirit.
"Give it up, Itachi." Tomokazu spoke casually. "There is no use in suffering. Let me kill you now and you won't have to endure anymore of those spirits."
Itachi merely lunged forward once more.
Unfortunately, he was met by three spirits.
Sakura's eyes widened as she saw the milky forms shoot towards Itachi as he stumbled, trying to hide it with a lunge. Three appeared in front of him, as two more came up behind him.
"Itachi! Look out!" She screamed, but it was too late.
She watched as the ghosts shot through his body, the others clustering around as they consumed him, making him almost invisible to their eyes. He was a shadow among them, hidden beneath their bodies.
"ITACHI!"
How could he describe it? The pain was like nothing he had ever experienced before. And it didn't stop. It was not the clean, sharp pain of a physical wound. This was no cut or stab or burn.
All of them were grabbing onto him at once, making it impossible to escape as his body froze at the pain. He felt his muscles tighten as the pain shot up his legs and arms, reaching into his chest and head.
Dammit…I can't even…think…
"ITACHI!"
He heard her voice, and he wondered, was it because she was worried? Or was she merely putting on a show to convince him that she cared? She had always been such a good actress…
"I am not your whore, Itachi." He remembered the venom that had laced those words. The hate.
"ITACHI!!!" Sakura screamed as loud as she could, as she watched the pain flash across his crimson-filled eyes. She couldn't stand it. She couldn't…she had to get to him somehow. She had to save him!
She reached out a hand as the tears streamed down her face, but she couldn't move.
"ITACHI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"You are weak, Itachi.. Useless…a pathetic excuse for an Uchiha." Tomokazu taunted. "It's hard to be on the receiving end of those words, isn't it? You can't do anything to stop me. When I finish with you, when I kill you…I'll kill the rest of them as well."
Itachi gritted his teeth.
"And then I'll take Sakura with me. I'll claim my blossom. I hope she cries when I take her. In fact, I'll make sure she does." Tomokazu laughed.
Rape…yes, that was what it would be. Sakura would never consent to Tomokazu. Ever…for some odd reason, that gave Itachi a bit of strength, as he lifted his shaking hands to begin hand signs.
"You cannot kill something that is already dead, Itachi." Tomokazu began as he saw Itachi's hand signs. "Nothing mortal could possible kill them."
Itachi finished his hand signs. "I am merely sending your spirits back to hell, Tomokazu…where they belong."
Itachi gave a small smirk.
"Amaterasu."
They all shielded their eyes with their hands as bright, burning flames filled the area. Even from behind their arms, the imprint of the hell-like black flames was burned into the back of their eyelids.
Sakura heard some of her friends scream and yell as the waves of unbearable heat hit them. All she could think of was Itachi. Had he made it out? What had he done?
The flames finally cleared, and Sakura's eyes widened in shock.
"…Itachi…"
Itachi stood in front of Tomokazu, his crimson eyes boring into Tomokazu's wide, silver ones. It was the first time Itachi had ever seen surprise and fear on Tomokazu's face. But that wasn't what pleased him. No, it was the pain that glinted in the depths of his eyes as the blood dripped into the water.
Small patches of black fire floated across the surface of the water, the spirits completely obliterated.
"I don't want your spirits to be lonely, Tomokazu." Itachi whispered in Tomokazu's ear as he gave a dark chuckle of his own. "So I shall send you to hell with them." And then he wrenched the kunai out of Tomokazu's heart.
Tomokazu gave a small, pained gasp. He fell to his knees, still on the surface of the water. He looked lost and strange for a moment, like a frightened young child who didn't know what was happening to him.
He placed his hand to his chest, looking down at the blood. His eyes filled with tears as memories flooded his mind. He remembered his own hell, the one Itachi's Mangekou had created.
"T…omokazu…chan…" The girl gasped out, holding her bloodied side. "W-why?" The tears in her bright green eyes shined even in the darkness.
Except now it was Tomokazu who knelt on the ground, the blood pooling around him.
"How…how can you be so…cruel?" She gasped out, coughing up blood. "You killed all of them…why? To be the strongest? You were always the strongest."
Tomokazu scoffed, "Stop being stupid, Masako-chan. You were merely a hindrance. Always a hindrance."
The girl's eyes slowly began closing, as she slumped forward.
"I…I always…"
He began walking away, listening to her last dying breaths.
"…loved you…tomo…kazu…chan…"
Tomokazu felt his own eyes close, as he gave a small smile.
"I always loved you too…Masako…chan…"
He was met with darkness.
Sakura watched him fall, his body slump down and sink into the water. The water that had become crimson with blood. She merely stared down at the surface, watching his shadow disappear.
She almost felt sorry for him, as she saw the sorrow and pain fill his eyes, along with tears. She wondered if maybe, just maybe, he was going to meet his Masako-chan.
She stopped as two sandals appeared in her line of sight. She looked up slowly, ignoring the last few tears that rolled down her cheeks. Jade met crimson once more, and Sakura wondered how many more times she'd get that same jolt when she gazed into that red mangekou.
She merely gave a small smile, one that held some strange emotion that she couldn't quite express with words but that she knew he saw. His Sharingan saw everything…
And then her eyes closed as she slumped forward.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto saw her fall and caught her before she landed in the water. Panic surged through him as he turned her to face him and the others crowded around. He completely ignored Itachi, who stood in front of him, staring down at the young woman in Naruto's arms. Perhaps he should have paid more attention, for he would have seen the look that flashed in Itachi's eyes as Sakura fell. Or the way Itachi's hands twitched as if he had wanted to grab her himself.
Neji saw. But he was panicking too much to give it any weight.
"Ino!" Neji shouted as he looked down at Sakura's barely rising chest. "Heal her!"
Ino shoved the others out of the way as she crouched down beside Naruto. "Forehead? S-Sakura, hey Sakura, wake up."
"Don't scream Ino-pig." Sakura murmured softly, her eyes still closed. "My head hurts."
Ino bit her lip as she placed her hands over Sakura's body, urging her healing chakra into her best friend.
"Of course, my head is the least of my problems." Sakura continued.
"Sakura, can you tell me what's wrong?" Ino asked. She didn't have Sakura's degree of medical training. All she could see was a large mess, something that she didn't think she could fix. How could she fix something that she didn't even recognize? It was as if all of Sakura's organs had been put through a meat grinder, distorting them beyond recognition.
"Where is the most damage?" Ino began to panic at Sakura's lack of response.
"Wait, you can't tell?" Kiba exclaimed. "I thought you were a medic-nin Ino!"
"I'm not Sakura dammit!" Ino shrieked as she filled Sakura with her chakra.
"My liver's failing…the internal bleeding is too much for you to handle on your own Ino." Sakura whispered, stopping their fight. Her voice was so soft, yet all of them stopped to listen the moment she spoke.
"Th-then what can I do?"
Sakura's mouth tipped slightly in what could have been a smile. "Ino. I'm dying."
Ino blinked, feeling tears well up in her eyes. "Stop the bullshit Sakura! Tell me what to do! There has to be something!" Tomokazu is dead. There's nothing left to hurt you. You can't die now!
"I'm a medical shinobi, Ino. I know the severity of my own wounds. Even if you had all your chakra you couldn't do the procedure needed to save me. It's too complicated for just one person."
"Then use your genesis of rebirth jutsu!" Neji suggested frantically. He could see the inner workings of Sakura's body. He saw the way she was fading from them all. He could see her body shut itself down. It scared him. No, it terrified him.
"Not enough chakra…" Sakura whispered. "Or strength…"
"Th-then what can we d-do…?" Hinata stuttered as she sniffled. She reached for Naruto's hand unconsciously, feeling him grip it tightly in comfort.
"Nothing."
"So we're just supposed to sit here and watch you die, yeah?" Deidara groaned out. "Is that it?" He tried to keep the emotion from his voice but he couldn't. All he could see was Sakura and the fact that she was going somewhere that he couldn't follow. She was disappearing from his life after he'd just found her.
It didn't matter if he was strong. It didn't matter if he was a member of the Akatsuki. He couldn't save her. He'd always boasted about his strength, but where had it gotten him? Where?
"At least…at least you guys are here." Sakura let out a small laugh which ended in a cringe. "Just think how awful it would have been to die in Tomokazu's dungeon? I'm…I'm glad I got to see you all again." And with that her eyes flickered open.
Distant…that was the only way Naruto could describe her gaze as he looked down at her. Sakura…his Sakura-chan…Naruto blinked as well, trying to keep the tears at bay. They slid down his face, scalding his cheeks.
It was as if Sakura was looking through them all at something.
Her eyes seemed to focus on Naruto as he let out a small sob. There it was, that old Sakura smile. He hadn't though he'd ever see it again.
"Naruto-kun…don't cry you baka. The future Hokage shouldn't cry. You look like a wimp."
It was a horrible try at a joke. Naruto couldn't even muster up one of his goofy old smiles.
"I'm glad…I'm glad you got Sasuke-kun back, Naruto. Keep him out of trouble when you all get back to Konoha, ok?"
Sasuke opened his mouth to say he could handle himself but Naruto beat him to it and he merely watched Sakura silently.
"
Hai." Naruto nodded stiffly. "I'll do that Sakura-chan."
The tears fell onto Ino's glowing hands as she seemed to work furiously, shoving chakra into Sakura with all her might. As if she could somehow fill her with enough chakra that it would heal her that way. Or perhaps she could somehow use her life energy like Sakura had done for Temari and herself.
"Hey Ino?"
"Yeah f-forehead?" Ino choked.
"In Sound…did you see a little boy?"
Ino blinked. "Atsuko?"
Sakura smiled. "That's him. How is he?"
"He's in Konoha, at the flower shop with my mom. He'll be so happy to see you again." Ino stopped herself as she tried to concentrate on her chakra once again.
"I didn't think…I didn't think I meant so much to you all." Sakura whispered. "You all worked together to come and save the weakest kunoichi in Konoha…"
They all merely watched her, the silence painful.
"I'm proud of you."
That got a few weak smiles. Sakura's eyes drifted across the faces of all her friends, memorizing them. Was it grief that had aged them so much, or had they all merely matured in those months she'd been gone?
She searched through the small crowd of distant and sad faces for the one she needed to see the most. The one person she was afraid she wouldn't see.
"…Itachi…?"
What could he do? What was there to do except answer her?
"Hn?"
Her eyes seemed to bore into him, searching his soul. He didn't like the feeling. He felt…exposed.
"…just…please…don't, ok?" Her eyes flickered towards the blonde holding her, back to him.
Itachi knew what she was asking. Don't capture the Kyuubi. Leave him to go back to Konoha where Itachi could never touch him. Where he would be protected forever. Where Itachi would never be able to persuade him to come out.
The only bargaining chip Itachi had was dying in front of his eyes.
He met her eyes squarely, hoping she saw what he was trying to tell her. He was Uchiha Itachi. He heeded no one. He would let nothing distract him from his goals. In that he and his brother were the same.
That had always been his train of thought. Never let anything distract him. Never let anything make him regret a decision.
He wondered it perhaps he would regret his decision now.
He felt the curious gazes of the Konoha shinobi, and the knowing glances of his fellow Akatsuki. Waiting.
"…we shall see."
Sakura let out a small laugh as she nodded. She blinked as cold liquid hit her face. Just a few droplets. She knew it wasn't tears. Tears were scorching and salty. The cold liquid that hit her lips and skin was cold, frigid.
"It's raining." Sakura's voice filled with wonder. She wondered how she could take pleasure in such a small thing, but she did. It was merely a few droplets, as they hit the water around her, making a calming pitter-patter.
She wondered if any of her friends even noticed the rain.
She gave another smile, a last smile as she looked up at the sky, letting the rain wash over her face.
"I've always loved the rain."
Her jade eyes slowly closed.
There was a small moment of stunned silence as they stared at her, seeing the way her chest no longer rose. It was as if time had stopped. But the rain kept falling. It continued to splash upon her pale face, smudging the dirt and blood, washing it away.
"S…Sakura-chan?" Naruto ground out hoarsely, his nails biting into her arms. "Sakura-chan, wake up!"
"Dammit!" Ino shrieked as the chakra around her hands flickered from the extensive use, and she felt her strength beginning to fade. "I don't know what to do!"
"What can you do?" Sasori asked softly, his eyes trailing over Sakura's still form. His hand unconsciously went to the small puppet tucked inside of his cloak. He caressed the wood softly, liking the roughness. It brought him back to reality, to the harsh fact that Sakura Haruno was beyond help.
"I can delay the inevitable." Ino sniffed. "I c-can stop her from dying for a little while, like I'm d-doing right now." Her shoulders shook. "B-but unless we can get her to Tsunade soon it won't matter. She'll die."
Naruto and Ino felt themselves pried away from Sakura, but they struggled to keep a hold of her as crimson and black cloaks swirled around the pale form of their friend.
No, only one cloak. The others were merely holding Ino and Naruto back, keeping them away from the one who had knelt to pick up their fallen comrade.
He looked so strange to Naruto then, and Naruto was struck with the realization that this was the Itachi Uchiha that Sakura had spoken of in her letter. It all became clear to him as Itachi picked her up in his arms, his Akatsuki cloak covering her body completely.
In the way his eyes flickered softly with something Naruto couldn't decipher, even as his face remained emotionless.
"Create one of your birds, Deidara." Sasori spoke for Itachi, knowing the other man wasn't in the mood to talk. "We are heading to Konoha."
"But…you can't seriously want to go back there Itachi?" Kisame asked gruffly as Deidara began furiously molding clay in his palms.
"We can't all fit on your bird." Tenten pointed out.
"It's a big bird, yeah." Deidara answered. "And Itachi will be holding Sakura, which leaves room for two more people. One of them has to be me, of course."
"I have to go." Ino whispered. "To keep her alive."
There was a small shiver that ran through all of their spines. They knew that there was still a slim chance that she would survive. But for some reason, none of them seemed to mind. There was still that small chance that she could make it.
Naruto's eyes flickered from Itachi, Deidara, and Ino, who were climbing upon the bird, to the rest of the shinobi, who were all looking at Sakura's pale face.
Sakura-chan…
You were so kind and thoughtful to everyone, you didn't deserve this.
The rain is mocking us even now. You always loved the rain and it always made you smile…and now it's raining as you die. There will be no more smiles and no more laughter. No more Sakura-chan…
"I hate the rain." Naruto cursed.
The others turned to him, but no one said anything at all.
(A\N: Well? Did anybody cry? Sorry the chapter took so long.
Yes! Finally Tomokazu is dead. Yippee! I know, I know, you all hate me right now. But as long as you don't kill me before I finish the next chapter, I can assure you that you will all be happy with me. Ok, not everyone will be happy, but most of you will!
After all, we haven't had a lemon scene yet…
Well, I hope you all enjoyed the fight. I tried to make it angsty and dramatic without putting in TOO much detail that would make it boring.
By the way, this chapter is dedicated to my new little niece (another reason for the lateness of this chapter). I will definitely try and get the next chapter to you before TOO long. Of course, I am also suffering from some super bad allergies right now. As I sit here I'm coughing my lungs up, but that's ok! I got this chapter to you all and that's all the matters, ne:)
Sincerely, Lady Hanaka
P.S. Since it's like two in the morning I don't feel much like making a funny little statement, sorry. I'll try and get you guys two at the end of the next chapter to make up for it. Thanks for understanding.)