AN: I don't own Naruto.
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Chapter 12 –Welcome to the Akatsuki...
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Sakura stared at the knight in front of her. How did he find her? She thought.
"Sakura, you rest and when I'm done with him, we'll look for Hinata together." Kakashi said, unsheathing his sword.
"So White Fang, you came here to finish the job?" Itachi asked, his face as stonic as ever.
"What?" Kakashi asked, his eyes narrowing. Itachi merely glanced at Sakura behind him. Kakashi looked behind him only to see Sakura's uncertain face. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play me for a fool White Fang. I'm sure you would have guessed that she was that little girl you failed to kill all those years ago. The young girl who was the first of the Harunos to be born with pink and not red hair. Haruno Sakura." Itachi said.
Kakashi's eyes wide, before they narrowed at the Uchiha. "How did you-"
"You probably didn't have a chance to finish the job once you realized it was her. Since she was always around too many witnesses. That's probably why you agreed to live with them, am I correct?" Itachi said with a smirk.
"Silence before I cut your throat out." Kakashi threatened as he lifted off the cloth the covered his left eye, to reveal the sharingan.
"Is that before or after Sakura?" Itachi said before having Kakashi charge straight at him.
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"We're making great time!" Sai said as their group bounded through the forest's vegetation.
"We should get there tomorrow if we keep up this pace." Naruto said excitedly. "Once I get their, I'm going to slay every Akatsuki guy I see and save Hinata-chan and Sakura-chan!"
"Don't get so cocky dobe, you're forgetting they're strong opponents." Sasuke said earning a glare from the blond knight.
"We'll get them back." Neji said in a determined voice. "I assure it."
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"You've grown old and slow over the years White Fang." Itachi said parrying another attack from Kakashi's dagger, with Kakashi's sword. "This was crafted from my clan's elite blacksmiths. How did you come to wield this sword?" Itachi examined the unique blade that he managed to take from Kakashi. He looked toward the end of the swords hilt to find the initials, U.O.
"Give that sword back now." Kakashi said in a voice that promised pain.
"Who was the original owner of this sword?" Itachi asked, not taking Kakashi's demand seriously.
"He just dueled against me, and he's still winning against Kakashi? How is he so powerful?" Sakura thought, but on a second thought, she was surprised to see that Itachi was speaking the truth since Kakashi didn't even deny the fact that he did kill her mother and tried to kill her. That meant all the other things he told her were probably true as well. Her heart sank.
"You probably didn't have a chance to finish the job once you realized it was her. Since she was always around too many witnesses. That's probably why you agreed to live with them, am I correct?"
Sakura remembered Itachi saying before the fight began. "So he was still trying to kill me, that's why he went after me and Sai when he could have attacked Neji and the others instead. It all made sense now. Why he was so willing to come and gain our trust... Was when he saved me from Kabuto an act as well?" She thought in fear, then she remembered.
"Die!" Kabuto said as he stabbed through Sakura.
"Sakura-chan!" Sai yelled. In that same instant, Sakura's body puffed with smoke and turned into a log.
"Replacement jutsu!" Kabuto said in surprise.
"Chidori!" Kakashi yelled out as he shot his hand through Kabuto's chest.
"He could have killed me then, and even now, but he didn't. He's protecting me. He may have killed my guild, my family, but it seems as though as soon as he realized who I was, it's almost like he's repaying a dept, a priceless dept...Kakashi...Are you really my enemy?" Sakura thought, her emotions conflicting with her common sense.
"That sword belonged to someone important to me. Someone that I'm sure you killed." Kakashi said his sharingan glaring at Itachi.
"I've taken the lives of many." Itachi said in a casual tone.
"But I'm sure you took his life, because he also gave me this eye before he died. He was an Uchiha, Uchiha Obito." Kakashi said before forming his chidori. Wild sparks of electricity build with his chakra illuminated the darkening skies.
"Ah, Obito-san. The one who fought me single-handedly after the massacre. He is a worthy opponent, though he does have that foolish belief of friendships and bonds. Just like Sakura over there." Itachi said offhandedly, looking at Sakura. Kakashi couldn't hold back any longer as he went charging at the Uchiha.
Itachi then started to do similar hand seals. He put the sword next to his mouth as he blew fire onto it. The sword was engulfed in flames, and both Sakura and Kakashi looked at the sword in shock when the sword contained the flames within the blade. Kakshi didn't slow his pace though as he thrust his chidori forward making contact with his own sword. Sakura watched in amazement as she saw two visible colors of chakra clashing against one another.
"As an Uchiha sword, fire can be used to amplify its attack strength, by having the fire surround it like a barrier." Itachi said, answering Kakashi's confused look. "I can't imagine how you could not know this, and neglect using this sword's true power." Kakashi merely pushed more chakra into his jutsu as he pushed Itachi a step back. "That is the difference between you and I White Fang. If I find something of any value, I use it to its utmost potential."
Itachi's sword was then engulfed by flames once more, no longer showing its metal blade as the flames itself took its shape and form. Another second later Itachi cut through Kakashi's weakening chidori and slashed him across the chest. The wound bled heavily as Kakashi landed several feet away from Sakura.
Itachi walked over to Kakashi His sword emitting a small stream of smoke as Kakashi's blood was burned dry at the sword's intense heat. Sakura could only watch in horror as Itachi came dangerously close to Kakashi. He body moved on its own as she stood in front of Kakashi with her arms spread out.
"Don't you dare think about killing him!" Sakura said, as both Kakashi and Itachi fixed their gaze on her.
"Sakura, stand back." Kakashi said as he tried to sit up.
"Kakashi, don't move or will only worsen the wound." Sakura warned without looking at him. She was low on chakra at the moment, and couldn't decide whether she should use it now, or to fight off Itachi. Either, she knew she was going to lose, but that didn't stop her from trying.
"Move." Was all Itachi said as he raised his flaming sword. The light danced around the sword as darkness began to surround the three.
"If you want to kill him, you will have to cut through me as well." Sakura said with determination. Itachi looked at her, with a questioned look. He could tell she was serious, but he couldn't understand why.
"Sakura." Kakashi muttered before standing up and leaning on a tree for support. "Run. I'll hold him off, it's the least I can do for my sins." Sakura spun around to face him, her eyes shining from tears.
"So it's true...You did kill my mother?" Sakura said her arms returning to her sides. Kakashi didn't say anything as he looked to the grass, unable to look her in the eye. "But why then, didn't you kill me? Then, before, and now? Why?!" Sakura demanded.
"Back then, I was different. It was before the time I met Obito." Kakashi began.
"You mean to tell me you changed from the feared mercenary White Fang, to what she believes as Kakashi in only three months?" Itachi asked, lowering his sword.
"There was a three month gap between the Haruno and Uchiha massacre?" Sakura thought as she looked at Kakashi to continue.
"When my team was to attack your guild, me and Yamato disagreed on one thing." Sakura waited as Kakashi finally built up the courage to look at her sad eyes. "To kill children."
"Yamato, why kill the children, they don't even know how to fight?" A younger Kakashi in his teens asked as his partner Yamato walked with him side by side toward the sleeping guild's camp.
"Our orders were to kill every man, woman, and child. No exceptions." Yamato said without looking at him.
"Orders? You sound like one of those damn knights now. Since we were children we took orders from no one but ourselves, cared for no one but ourselves. You've changed." Kakashi said as he and the rest of their group stopped in the bushes near by the camp gates.
"You're asking not to kill children and saying that I've changed?" Yamato asked barely above a whisper.
"What about Sai? Is he not a child? You killing them is like killing him."
"I would kill the runt as well if I had to. He's not even worth making an apprentice. Not being able to wield a sword by his age, what a waste he turned out to become!" Kakashi couldn't believe his long time friend.
"We've turned out this way, we live this way because of people like us. We were lucky to have survived this far. Why not give the same chance to them, after this, they'll be just like us."
"Stop making excuses because you're afraid to kill the young."
"Stop sounding as though you are any different from them! We are not but seventeen! Surely you have remembered. We have hearts that still beat in our chests, don't we?" Kakashi said as Yamato gave him a blank stare.
"Let's move!" Yamato ordered as their team set out into the slumbering camp. Kakashi glared at Yamato. "What about this Kakashi, if you don't kill them, I will...Along with you." Kakashi's eyes widen in shock. "I don't need someone this weak for a partner, and if you even think about escaping from this, don't think you can ever come back, cause the next time I see you, I'll kill you, along with that little brat Sai." With that Yamato leaped off into the now burning camp.
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"Damn those Uzumakis. Getting into our way. They would probably collect all the reward from the king for slaying the last of the Harunos." Yamato said as he pulled an arrow out of his shoulder.
"We have to retreat." Kakashi warned as he slit the throat of a Konoha knight.
"Hmph, too late. We're the last ones left." Yamato said, anger lacing with every word as the two looked around. Members of the Uzumaki and the Knights of Konoha were all in heated battles for survival.
"Okaa-san! Outo-san!" Both Kakashi and Yamato heard from a distance. They both looked to see a small crying girl calling out to her parents. From the flames of the burning huts, her hair appeared to be a dark shade of red.
"Hmph, I suppose we do get to kill the last of them, eh?" Yamato said grabbing his sword off the ground. Kakashi was about to protest, but then he remembered what Yamato said earlier. Yamato charged at the young girl, her eyes filled with fear.
"Stop!" A man called out as he stood in front of the girl protectively. Yamato didn't slow down as he slashed his sword across the man's neck. Severing his head from his body. The girl stood there in absolute fear as a woman came and scooped her up and ran to the woods.
"Kakashi go after them!" Yamato ordered as some Uzumaki members came from behind. He chased them as far as the injured woman could take them, until she came to a stop, too tired to continue.
"Please don't kill her, she's only a child!" the woman begged, even after Kakashi stabbed her with his sword.
"Okaa-san!" The girl cried he pulled his sword out of her stomach. Blood oozed onto the floor as the girl's mother moved over to where the frightened girl stood frozen. She wrapped her arms around her in a tight embrace muttering 'it's going to be ok' over and over again in shallow breaths. Kakashi couldn't bear the sight, no matter how many times he did this.
"Mother!" Sakura cried as she hugged her.
"There can't be any survivors from this village." Kakashi said with an emotionless tone. "May you find peace in the afterlife."
"NOOOOO!!!" The mother screamed as she turned her back to him and covered the girl. The sword cut through her once more, but Kakashi then realized he missed the girl. The woman was still muttering things, as Kakashi pushed the body of the woman away from the now unconscious child. Kakashi was about to deliver the final blow, until he noticed the color of her hair.
"Pink?" Kakashi said. It was known far and wide that the Haruno trait was dark red hair. Kakashi lowered his bloodied sword as he looked at the girl more closely.
"What are you waiting for Kakashi, finish the girl and let's get out of here!" Yamato said appearing next to him.
"She's not even a Haruno! Look at her, let's just go!" Kakashi said.
"Enough excuses, I'll finish her myself!"
"Stop!" Kakashi said as he went to stop him from killing the girl. The two stuggled as Yamato punched him in the face. Yamato was about to slash Kakshi with his sword, until Kakshi made the move first.
"You bastard." Yamato said before falling to the ground. Kakashi stood there motionless as he still held his dagger in front of him, covered in Yamato's warm blood. Kakashi took several minutes to actually understand what he had done. Then out of the bushes a Konoha knight came charging at him. By instinct, Kakashi silenced him.
"I can't get out of here alive, that's for sure." He said as he looked around for any option of escaping this hell. He stared at the knight's attire, and decided to switch clothes with him. He looked at him carefully before casting a justu to look exactly like him. He then casted a genjutsu to make the knight look like a regular bandit. Just as soon as he was done dressing the knight in his clothing more of them appeared. Kakashi kept his back toward them.
"Commander! The Uzumaki's have retreated and the bandits all executed, what is our new objective!" The knight said on his knees. The other kneeled before him as well. "A commander, lucky." Kakashi thought as he looked to the sleeping girl.
"That girl, take her to the nurses, she isn't a Haruno, but a lost citizen of Konoha. Go at once!" Kakashi ordered. The knights looked skeptical, but training told them to listen to their commanding knight as one of them took the girl and headed toward Konoha.
"You two!" Kakashi said pointing at two of the remaining three knights, "Scout the area for any survivors." They nodded before heading off in different directions. Before Kakashi could give the last knight an order, he stood up and unsheathed his sword.
"Who's there? Show yourself or I will attack!" The knight called out. No sooner did a young raven-haired boy step out from behind the bush.
"Sai?!" Kakashi thought in shock.
"Don't kill me!" The boy said as he covered his hands over his head.
"Commander, orders?" The knight said still pointing his sword towards the boy.
"Take him to Konoha as well, to where the girl is being taken." Kakashi ordered.
"Uh...H-hai." The knight said sheathing his sword.
The boy looked at Kakashi with tear filled eyes. "Don't worry, we're here to help. We won't hurt you."
"But you killed Y-"
"How would you know these men? You're not a bandit." Kakashi said sternly, looking directly into Sai's eyes. "Are you?" Kakashi hoped to god that the kid would get the idea, and go along with what he was saying, or he would be forced to kill him. Sai merely nodded. Kakashi told the knight to take Sai, and that he would shortly.
"Commander, the King wishes for your presence immediately" a soldier said as Kakashi entered the castle. When Kakashi entered the great throne room, he saw one pissed off king.
"Do you know why you were summoned?" Hiashi asked, his voice echoing across the room.
"Um, the children?" Kakashi asked, hoping that they didn't know it was really him.
"Yes! What is the meaning of bringing them to my castle?" Hiashi said, his voice raising. Kakashi started to get pissed. He just asked for the kids to be treated after his doing!
"And what was the meaning of eliminating the Haruno guild, as well as attempting to rid us of the Uzumakis?" Kakashi countered, which left Hiashi speechless.
"On oath, you swore never to repeat what you have done tonight. Commander, do you want to lose your position?"
"I don't really give a crap, but I bet you will care when the entire kingdom knows what you did." Hiashi's frown grew deeper as he glared at Kakashi.
"You were one of my most loyal knights. Have you gone mad?"
"Here's my proposition."
"You are in no right to make a deal with me!"
"Actually I do. Because anyone who were friends with the Harunos, any kind of ally, I will turn against you. That includes the Uchihas." Kakashi bluffed, but the mention of the Uchihas were enough to make Hiashi stand up, looking at Kakashi with shock.
"Guards!..Guards?!"
"Already taken care of."
"What do you want? Money, power?" Hiashi demanded.
"I want you to take care of those two kids. The boy and the girl, as though they were your very own children."
"What?!"
"If not then I suppose-"
"Alright." Hiashi said, not wanting to hear the consequences, but was still confused about the deal.
"I will keep watch of them from time to time. So you better keep your word."
"You will pay for threatening me commander."
"Hmph, go ahead." Kakashi said before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
"Your highness!" A guard yelled as he ran into the throne room.
"So he was lying, he just put up a genjutsu to silence our conversation." Hiashi thought.
"The Uzumakis were able to escape elimination, and we also suffer from many casulaties...Including the commander himself." The guard said in a low tone. At that, Hiashi couldn't believe he made a fool out of himself. Kakashi who sat at the highest windowsill smiled to himself as he leaped out to the other side.
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Sakura stood there, unable to believe the absolute truth. It was Kakashi that both ruined and saved her life. As well as Sai's. Hiashi did kill her guild as well as everyone else's. He was definitely not the king she thought he was. "Wait till Sai, Hinata and Neji learns this!" She thought.
"Hn. Hiashi was more foolish than I thought." Itachi said as he added chakra to his sword.
"Stop! I won't let you harm him anymore!" Sakura said, holding Kakashi's dagger in front of herself protectively.
"Do you truly believe you can stop me in both your conditions?" Itachi said his sword only inches away from her face.
"Sakura stop-" Kakashi began, as he started coughing.
"Please don't." Sakura said, knowing that she stood no chance against him. "I'll join the Akatsuki without question, just stop, please." Sakura said, angry that she was too weak to fight, scared that Itachi would refuse and still kill Kakashi, and sad for giving herself up to him and betraying the others. Itachi's sword no longer burned with fire as he sheathed it in his old swords sheath. He then pulled out a blood red scroll. He slowly unraveled it to show that its inner contents was entirely black.
"Give me your hand." Itachi ordered as he took out a small dagger from his cloak.
"Sakura stop!" Kakashi said in panic. "You don't know what you're doing! Don't spend your life to save mine!"
"But you did that for, me. Why would it be different if I did it for you?" Sakura said as she gave Itachi her left hand.
"What about Neji, Hinata, Sai?" Kakashi said which made Sakura's hand flinch back. She look at Itachi's outstretched hand and then at Kakashi's pleading face. "What about Naruto?...What about Sasuke?"
Sakura's eyes brimmed with tears again as she closed her left hand.
"If Hinata can not use the weapon, then we will take Neji as well. Killing my brother would not problem me as well." Itachi said, making Sakura cringe with anger.
"Sakura, they can protect themselves, he can't kill them that easily." Kakshi argued, but they both knew the strength of the Akatsuki was not to be taken likely.
"They still have Hinata-chan. She's in danger, and Neji will be too if I don't do anything." Sakura said, looking at Itachi. "And they'll use that for a weapon they stole from the Hyuuga castle against everyone else. I have to protect her and everyone else too." Sakura said as she gave her hand to Itachi.
"Sakura!" Kakashi said as Itachi slashed her palm. Sakura bit the bottom of her lip from the pain as he gently placed her bleeding hand onto the scroll. The scroll seemed to come alive as it sucked in her blood. The black paper soon had inscriptions written with her very own blood. With a burst of light, the initiation was complete as the scroll disappeared. Kakashi cursed as he fell onto the ground, his back facing the sky. The blood loss finally caught up with him as he started to black out.
"Kakashi!" Sakura said as she fell to her knees. Sakura then felt a throbbing pain throughout her body. She fell back, straight into Itachi's arms as she cringed in pain.
"Your body will adjust to the chages by morning." Itachi said, but Sakura hardly heard what he said as she was mainly concentration on the unwanted pain throughout her body, and heart.
"Welcome to the Akatsuki." Itachi said as Sakura drifted into the darkness of her mind.
"What have I done?" Sakura thought, the last thing she saw were the blood red eyes of the devil.
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AN: AH! Done at last! XP Thank you for reading, I really appreciate that you even went this far into the story. I hope that you don't mind me writing a lot about their history in this chapter. Anyways, thanks again, ja ne!