"run, run, cling to your life…run…run…run…"
-
Sakura didn't know how she had managed to escape, neither had she imagined herself in this position. Her hand was raised and the kunai was ready to trust into his throat.
Uchiha Itachi was her reason; it was what drove her.
His haunting red eyes and his unnatural face that held the lines of a female, but on him it was something that could be described as beautiful and masculine. He was just like Sasuke and yet so far away from him. Sakura needed to kill this man. He was the reason everything went wrong in everyone's lives.
Itachi was going to regret making Haruno Sakura miserable.
His face didn't move at all as she began to shake from fear. Right now she knew she wasn't a threat, she was just another stupid crazy woman who just happened to attack in the middle of the forest. Another kunai ready to take away his life.
She narrowed her eyes as the tears slowly came. "…You…"
"…" He didn't answer.
"You are evil!"
Itachi didn't care, she could tell. To her it was unbelievable. He was supposed to care. He was supposed to be terrified her. Because she was Haruno Sakura.
"You are weak…"
She flinched at the cold tone of his voice and clenched the kunai closer. "No! I am not!"
He stared at her. "Plain…nothing out of the ordinary, just like everyone else…"
She began to get angry, but her hand just wouldn't move, she was transfixed with his eyes.
"Afraid…plain…just a mere shell that happens to cross my path"
Without knowing what happened Sakura felt the air in her throat caught and the world around her started to twirl.
"You blame me as a reason for your own pain…"
Sakura couldn't help but gasp for her breath, her eyes unable to focus on anything besides his pretty face.
"You are weak…I will not benefit from you…a weak person like you should die…"
She whispered softly.
"I don't want to die…"
Her voice shook and she closed her eyes hard as the tears streamed down her face.
"I would kill you…slowly…painfully…just to make you realise how weak you are…"
She opened one eye.
"You are not worthy among the living…"
Sakura wondered how his face became brighter as the darkness around her increased. She hated him…hated him with all her heart. Despite that she knew, he was right…so she leaned back, hoping he would snap her neck and let her go.
"But it seems that Akatsuki might have some need for you after a little mistake one of the members did…"
Sakura's eyes snapped open.
-
"Haruno Sakura…!"
She looked up to see the stern face of the ninja, his eyes glaring daggers at her.
Sakura didn't answer and just looked sadly into her lap.
"Haruno Sakura! Did you heal the Tuschikage?"
"…"
"Haruno Sakura?"
"Yes…" she whispered, not wanting to make her situation worse than it already was.
"For what reason?"
"…"
"Har…"
Shizune slammed her hand into the table, causing the ninja to turn around curiously. He met the furry of Shizune. "I command you to stop! It is unnecessary to treat her like an animal! I will personally advice you to keep your tone down, especially in front of the Hokage!"
The ninja stared at her for a while before turning to the Hokage, bowing in apology. Naruto said nothing and just observed.
"Why did you heal the Tsuchikage Haruno Sakura?"
Her green eyes watched as the wrinkles on the ninja's face showed the slight expression of anger, before she sighing spoke, "I do not desire telling you my reasons…"
The crowd began to mumble and the ninja in front of her glared. "Excuse me?"
"I do not desire to tell you my reasons…"
"For what reason?"
She fell silent.
"Haruno Sakura…!"
Shizune stood up and opened her mouth but Sakura interrupted.
"I will ask you a question…"
The ninja stared at her surprised.
"Imagine your goal…your only reason for existing disappear in front of your eyes…imagine the face of your dream lose the colour and disappear…"
The room went silent…
"Imagine that you killed that person you had for five years tried to make sure survived…how would you feel…"
He crossed his arms and watched her amused. "I would most likely not be here…"
Sakura snickered. "Now…If you still was here…?"
"I would redeem myself of course…!"
Sakura smiled and looked that other way. "That is my reason…"
Naruto clenched his fist; closing his eyes he knew what she meant.
-
"Naruto…it is going to be alright…" Tsunade said comfortingly and placed her hand on his shoulder, embracing the sobbing youth from behind, as he cried out his sorrow.
-
Sakura had walked away a long time ago and now stood sobbing behind a tree in the rain. Her clothes drenched as she touched the spot above her heart. She bit down her lip and whispered. "I didn't want to…I didn't want to kill you…"
-
Naruto looked up and saw the tombstone stand and it seemed to glare at him. The Uchiha symbol was engraved in the soft stone. He tensed and closed his eyes, but a smile went to his lips.
"At least he is with his own mom and dad now…with his family…"
Tsunade looked at him…
"ev…even though he never revenged anything…he must be happy…to have a family…"
A smile escaped the stern face of Tsunade…"you sure are a good kid Naruto…"
He turned his head to see the tears trailing down her cheeks, her eyes closed. "You are strong…"
Before he could say anything she released her hold on him and placed her hand on the top of his head. "Promise me Naruto…don't let Sasuke take away your dream…fulfil yours for him…don't choose a way of revenge…"
He looked at her face before his face cracked into a grin, and gave her the good-guy pose, speaking loudly.
"A man doesn't go back on his words!"
The 1st Hokage necklace shone brightly in the light of the red moon.
-
Sakura looked up from the tree, her eyes narrow. Her fist hit the tree and it cracked loudly and hit the ground.
She was panting hard and the tears were gone, but the red marks under her eyes proved otherwise. Her eyes watched the red moon, before she silently spoke. "Uchiha Itachi…"
She cracked her knuckles.
"I will kill you!"
-
"So you saved the Tsuchikage for simple things like that…?"
She didn't say anything.
The ninja smirked. "We would forgive things like that, and punish you mildly…but something has interfered with things…a tiny secret…"
Jirayia stood up and slammed his fist down on the table. "Stop! I command you to stop!"
The jury and Naruto stared at him with surprised.
Ignoring the protest of the sannin he crossed his arms. "Haruno Sakura…you have been reportedly working with the group Akatsuki, which not only has been after the Kazekage…but our Hokage as well…"
Sakura's eyes widened.
So did Naruto's and he stared at her in disbelief, but all he saw was her terrified face. He narrowed his eyes and noticed her shoulder was shaking lightly.
"So…are you even a leaf ninja anymore?"
Naruto clenched his fist and looked the other way.
-
"I will become the greatest Hokage! And I will die as Hokage!" he grinned big.
Sakura and Tsunade looked at him dumbly before sighing, assuming that it was just Naruto babbling.
"I swear! By the fourth that I will be the greatest…"
Tsunade smiled and pointed her finger at him, a smirk on her face. "Don't go back on your word…"
"Never! Hokage is my dream!"
-
"Tell us about the Akatsuki Haruno Sakura…for what purpose did you contact them…?"
She clenched her fist and rubbed them together, as if trying to find the right words. Jirayia watched her.
"I did not contact them…"
The room roared in protest, and she hid her face behind her bangs. Naruto felt himself become angry.
"Haruno Sakura, please speak of what you know…"
"Sorry, I am not allowed too…"
The ninja narrowed his eyes. "Why is that Haruno Sakura?"
She glared at him. "I have my orders to not tell that either…"
The ninja snapped. "Well then! Bring me Hanara Tohru!"
-
"You know…crying isn't going to bring Sasuke-kun back…" her voice was shaky.
"…" Naruto didn't say anything.
"I am here too…we will get stronger together…!" the tears trailing down her cheeks.
-
The small girl took hasty steps towards the small chair in front of the crowd, and sat down with a smile. The ninja stood before her. "Tohru-san…what do you know about Akatsuki…?"
She looked at him puzzled. "Who?"
He narrowed his eyes again. "The group that captured Haruno Sakura and made you her apprentice…"
"Oh…you mean Diedara-san and Itachi-san?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
"They travel all the time! I never get to see them at all, and Sakura-san says that we should stay as far away from them as possible."
Naruto stared at Sakura who had turned completely white. His hands tightened harder, closing his eyes he remembered all the time she had done something like this to him.
-
Chunnin exam, she said it was a new haircut.
-
At the battle with Orochimaru and Naruto, she said it was Orochimaru who hurt her, when it was Naruto.
-
"So, it is true that you are a part of the Akatsuki Haruno Sakura?..."
"No…"
Then a chair was pushed back and a hand rose into the air lazily.
Nara Shikamaru stood with a bored expression on his face, yawning slightly.
"Yes, Nara Shikamaru?"
He cracked his neck. "I really don't see the problem here…"
"…?"
He cracked his knuckles. "Sure, maybe she did a mistake or two, but most importantly I have witnessed worse crimes and you are going to execute her…?"
Hinata stared at him.
"Aaah…you could almost say that…"
He smirked. "It is either a set up or you just really want to get rid of the Hokage…"
-
"Itachi-san I have never really understood yours and Sakura-san's relationship…" Deidara said half amusingly. Itachi watched him behind his cape, not desiring to answer.
"Isn't it something with she killed your brother?"
"…"
"Hey! Be a bit conversative here will you?"
-
"Sakura-chan!"
Without her realising it she hit the ground and surprisingly she wasn't harmed. Naruto held the sword in his hands, blood dripping like water works to the ground.
Sakura was scared.
-
"Run…run…cling to life…"
-
"I am going to kill you!"
-
The Tsuchikage sighed. He could feel the frustration in his body as he turned a page more and once again found nothing on it. To be honest, it felt like something had been erased on purpose.
There was knock on the door.
"Yes?"
A smiling secretary walked in and placed a stack of paper on his desk. "Here you go Tsuchikage-sama… here are the records from the people entering the village from six years ago…"
He didn't smile back and took the files, turning the pages as he looked for a familiar name, something that might solve the big puzzle the past Tuschikage had left him.
-
"Nara Shikamaru! Just what are you insinuating!"
He sighed and opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Ino pushing her chair back. Her face was stern and clearly showed her inner furry, with a 'humph' she crossed her arms.
"I think he wants to say…"
Shikamaru looked at her.
"…That we won't let you execute Sakura just like that…"
The council member frowned. "You and who miss?" she skimmed the crowd, who shifted slightly under her intense gaze.
"No one I see…"
"I…I don't want to either…" said a rather embarrassed Hinata who also pushed her chair back. She poked her fingers together as she got rather nervous under the gaze from the others.
Neiji stared at her. "Hinata-sama…"
"…." She looked the other way, her face red as a tomato.
He smirked and stood up too beside her. "I agree…"
Then Shino, Kiba followed and Chouji threw his potato chips on the ground in protest, causing most of the crowd to gasp. Lee and Gai jumped punched the air and screamed that 'the spring of the youth' was in Naruto.
Kakashi stood, his book resting in his hand.
Rin stood too, followed by Shizune, and before anyone realized, the whole crowd was standing, causing the council member to mumble something in surprise.
Naruto stared into his jacket and the ninja turned to him. "Hokage-sama…what is your decision?"
-
"Shizune! What is wrong with Tsunade! Wh…why is she lying there!" Naruto screamed as he stared at the weak Hokage.
Shizune held him back and prevented him from touching her. "d…don't Naruto! She is sick…!"
"No-I…"
"don't worry Shizune…" the weak voice spoke, her eyes closed as she breath quickened due to the pain increasing.
Naruto paled. "Tsunade-no-baa-chan…"
She smirked at him and motioned him to come closer. He obeyed.
Naruto never liked seeing sick people, especially them close to him. She took his hand, clutching it harder than she intended to…but the painkillers had stopped working.
"Naruto…"
"…"
She smirked, and closed her eyes as she hissed, bending herself upwards as if controlling the throbbing.
"You have become a fine man…"
"Don't talk like that!" he yelled, his eyes watering quickly; Tsunade watched him amused and smiled, releasing his hand and touched the whiskers on his face.
"I am so sad that Sakura isn't here…"
He didn't say anything and Shizune watched from the doorway, her head to the ground.
"Naruto…"
"…"
"I…am going to see Dan and Nawaki soon…so..." she turned her eyes to Shizune who dried her tears away.
"Shizune…write this down to the council…"
She sniffed, but nodded, taking a notepad and a pen.
"I, Tsunade, the Godaime, hereby announce the future Rokudaime, as the heir of the Hokage position…to be…"
She clenched her hands and both Naruto and Shizune flinched, but she waved them off.
"To be…Uzumaki Naruto…"
Everything suddenly was all too much for Naruto and he broke down sobbing, clutching her hand hard as he struggled to keep a calm face.
She smiled. "Fulfil your dream Naruto…" she touched a tear on his cheek.
"Make me proud…"
-
"Itachi! What are we doing in Konoha?" Kisame complained, obviously annoyed with the fact that they weren't going where they were supposed to.
"Causing a distraction…"
Kisame raised an eyebrow and glared. "What kind?"…
He pointed at a large building a bit far off and narrowed his eyes. "Explode…"
The shark man smirked. "Oh…you could have told me from the start…!"
With a single jump he was at the building and traced the rough surface with his hand. Satisfied with what he saw he pulled out his sword and smashed it into the wall, making it crack, and finally disperse into a thousand pieces.
"Weak…" he muttered.
Itachi just stood there.
-
Tohru who stood among the others in crowd ran towards Sakura as soon as the explosion was heard. Sakura willingly took her into her arms, cradling her as a protective mother. Naruto was by her side in a second, showing her out of the way.
Sakura unconsciously grabbed his arm and pulled him with her, causing both of them to land hard on the ground.
"What did you do that for!" she screamed. Naruto pointed at the sword in the wall. Sakura's eyes widened and whispered.
"Kisame…"
Naruto nodded and helped her stand up, but she showed Tohru into his hands.
"Tohru-san! Run out into the forest and meet me at the waterfall! I'll be back, wait for me!" those were her last words before she jumped out of the chaos, leaving a puzzled Naruto behind.
Tohru took his hand and motioned him to follow her rather roughly. "Come on! Hurry up!"
Naruto followed her.
-
"Hmm…Jiraiya…is that you…?"
He leaned against the wall and watched her weak body. She smirked. "Don't look like you have just seen a ghost…"
He closed his eyes and looked at other way. "It is sad isn't it…?"
She looked puzzled.
"You…a sannin…powerless against something like this…"
"Oh…shut up Jiraiya…all you care about is to see if I will strip for you…"
He glared at her.
She laughed brokenly. "Ah…sorry, sorry…I know…I know…"
Before she knew of it his hands was placed on top of hers, holding them tightly.
"Tsunade…"
She blinked.
"Peeping is a lifestyle…and so is gambling…" his hands tightened their hold. "I promise I will defeat Orochimaru…"
She sighed and closed her eyes.
"Thank you…it makes me glad…"
-
Naruto pulled Tohru back with a force unknown to her and pushed her to the ground as another building collapsed. "Tohru-san! Stay here…I need to take care of these!"
She looked at him scared. "Naruto-san! Is Akatsuki bad…"
He stared at her before he finally sighed. "Yes…that is why I have to stop them…"
She grabbed his jacket. "Don't be mad at Sakura-san! She is a good woman! Believe me!"
He smiled sadly and placed a hand on top of her head. "Sure she is…I am going to bring her back too…"
"Sakura-san says that she didn't want to do what she did Naruto-san! Don't kill her…please don't kill her…"
He stood up fully. "Even though I should…"
Tohru stood up too.
"As the Hokage I am willing to risk my life for everyone in this village…!"
-
Shikamaru glared at the falling pieces of stone as he softly spoke to Chouji. "I have this feeling that everything was a set up…that they used an opportunity like this to throw him off the position…"
Chouji looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"
"I have searched through some of the files in the Konoha library and there is no one who has been sentenced to death for what Sakura did. Don't you think it is odd that they are talking to her the way they did? It is almost like they have to find a reason to throw Naruto out of Konoha…"
Chouji watched him with interest. "But they won't be able to do that…!"
Shikamaru smirked. "Yes…. that is right…because he is the greatest Hokage that has ever lived…"
-
"…Weak…"
"Sasuke-kun…"
"Sasuke! Apologize to Sakura-chan right now!"
"Not interested…"
-
A/N: this turned out really weird. Why? Because I had too much explaining to do, and I just couldn't find the right atmosphere…I'll go to bed and sleep on it and see if I wake up depressed due to my failure as everything. (note: which means my life sucks right now)
1: What is the purpose of Akatsuki? Is that the reason why Sakura was in the rock?
No, and that is all I can say. Akatsuki is going to be used for other purposes. (I have this feeling that I am making a twisted plot line…again!)
2: you jump from scene, to scene to scene all the time!
I know, that is the technique. It is used to make the reader frustrated and start to imagine what is going on. I cut in the middle of the tense situation and goes on to something new…really…it is hard to explain, but I won't start a new technique in the middle of a story.
3: your grammar sucks!
Be grateful that I have gotten a beta-reader.
4: what is the mystery with Hinata and Naruto?
Since we won't see her in a LOOONG time, I guess I should explain.
Hinata is from the Hyuuga, a strict family with rules. Just look at Neiji and the branch family, and since Hinata is from the main branch the rules must be even worse there. Despite the fact that Naruto is the Hokage, Hiashi knows he has the Kyuubi inside him, and would most likely not allow Hinata to see him.
Naruto is the Hokage, and since he is Hokage he has lots of responsibilities and work, which means hardly any attention to either friends or other things. If you feel that this is sappy, don't sue me…I had the same problem with my x-boyfriend.
All rights to Kishimoto!
Thank you for my beloved beta reader, causeIambetta.