Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters in it.
X.
Jakushi spent a lot of long minutes in dark thoughts before deciding to finally fall asleep but to make a decision of something and to actually do it were two different things. Her body refused to relax into a state of sleep. Instead, she was restless and active, her mind very much awake. There was to way she would succeed in taking a rest, despite her determination. She glanced across the room to Sanaya who was already sleeping, judging from her rhythmical breathing.
Jakushi shifted her gaze on the books next to her, straightening up to a sitting position in order to stretch and take the one closest to her. But with the risk of others falling, she forced herself to stand up and take it carefully. Once she pulled it the one at the end of the row, another caught her eye. Another, cleverly hidden behind. A colorless, grey-ish cover. Jakushi left quietly the other one on the bed and pulled the gray one.
She opened it impatiently and stumbled across ingredients for cures. It was a book for cures that she hadn't seen before, for all her years of learning. It was a reading matter that was expected to appear in such a place, far from medicines and other people who could help medically, as it was usually in the villages.
Jakushi leafed through the pages and just when she was about to close it, her fingers stopped on a single page. More specifically, on the last one. Her irises widened. A hand-written text, that was a technique she had not seen before.
It was probably feasible for her, being partly in the Ninjutsu sphere. But it needed a lot more than she had - a simultaneous pressure, connection, and force that needed to be exercised mentally. All in all that was a bit more than she could manage on her own. What did such a technique do with a lone girl like the one sleeping next to her?
Jakushi lost her hope that they've come across an ordinary individual. But keeping the thought for herself was the best she could do now.
After she made sure everything is remembered properly, Jakushi returned the books, put on her overcoat and blew out the flickering candle on the bedside cabinet. Groping, she left the room as quietly as she could. She felt the nipping cold on her skin as she slowly passed through the corridor and successfully remembered the way to the guestroom.
But a movement on her right, in the kitchen, caught her eye and she froze, pasting to the wall with an abated breath. She peeked as carefully as she could and firstly saw a burning candle on the table. Then recognized Itachi's silhouette.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she entered, happy to have a door she could close. Itachi looked at her with surprise as she closed it with comical mindfulness as if performing a ritual. When her back rested on the frame, she finally met Itachi's static pair of eyes and for a second a shiver ran through her.
One of the worst nightmares a shinobi could possibly have, having the scarlet glow of a functioning Sharingan fixed on you during a pitch black night.
He held no ill will, though. There was only question in his eyes and it reminded her why she left her room in the first place.
"I know how to restore your chakra." She said bluntly, without any kind of a proper start of a conversation.
He didn't move for one long second and she walked to him, sitting on the chair next to his.
"My chakra? How?"
"Sanaya has a book with recipes and ingredients and all kinds of weird stuff in her room. It was hidden. The technique is something I've never seen before but I think I'll manage to do it."
"Jakushi, are you alright?" His lips curved in a bare smile.
"What does that mean?" Jakushi narrowed eyes.
"Why are you so-"
"Because of the top model you all adore. Don't tell me indirectly to calm down because I won't."
He looked highly amused by her angry response and the smile on his face widened.
"Listen to me carefully. I can restore your chakra."
"I don't think it's a right move to share this information while we're here. There is a reason she had hidden these things. We'll have to wait until we get back to Konoha. And you'll have to receive permission from the Hokage to perform the technique. It's about my chakra, you understand that, don't you?"
Jakushi leaned back in her chair, even more concerned. Who knows how many problems was she going to add up to the already existing when Takumi hears about that? And Tsunade? She would be absolutely fascinated.
She heaved a heavy sigh.
"Don't be hasty with that technique. It might be a bad idea." Itachi reached out for her hand but quickly changed his mind with Jakushi, noticing it.
"You're shaking again."
"Yes..." Itachi uttered slowly. "I did something that I shouldn't have done."
Jakushi was astounded. Didn't his life sum up with that sentence, really?
"What have you done? For goodness sake, your chakra's gone." She took his hand and started the transference of chakra again. "You are going to die if you use techniques in that condition, I thought you knew that."
A brief pause cut their conversation off while their eyes were distracted by the soft blue light around their hands, both cold to the touch.
"I can discern different types of chakra. One of the abilities the Sharingan offers to the user." Itachi explained calmly. "This girl is extraordinary."
"Is that so?" Jakushi raised her head, a tired expression on her face.
"I saw her chakra. It's double." Itachi met her eyes, noticing the sudden fright that changed them.
"Double, you mean... like the one Naruto has?" Jakushi exhaled sharply. "Jinchūriki?"
"It's not necessarily to have a tailed beast under your control. The double chakra has many variations. And we don't know much about any of them. She could have anything."
"And what, we're just gonna leave her here and hit the road as if nothing happened?" Jakushi asked in a loud whisper, ceasing her transfer technique.
"I don't know. " Itachi shook his head. "If she has a tailed beast on her side, you and your team... I don't think you can hurt her in any way. The power of a jinchūriki is not to be taken lightly. And I can't fight."
"And if you could we'd have a chance, right?" Jakushi made sure the sarcasm was clear enough.
"I am telling you the truth." Itachi kept on with his usual calmness. "We don't know how powerful the beast is if it is a beast she has. Imagine it is for a moment. Every nine existing are linked with Naruto. He would've told us if there was something going on with any of them."
"What do you imply, that it may be more powerful than the Nine-Tails?
Itachi remained silent and Jakushi caressed her forehead thoughtfully.
"Then we must go." She folded hands. "I can't believe we're about to do this. Doesn't sound like the best idea to me. At all."
"We have to."
"When I asked her why they live here with her brother, she sad they've been banished."
"From Konoha? What have they done to deserve it?" Itachi furrowed.
"Banishment is a pretty serious thing, as far as I know. I wonder..."
"What?"
"If anything of that is true. I'm almost sure she has no brother. I think she lied to us for most of the things, if not for everything. And Team 5? I bet she's seen them."
"I have to be honest, I don't trust her either." Itachi sighed. "I'm cannot possibly sleep peacefully in this place."
He turned to her when the silence spread after his last words and she raised her eyes to meet his. The candle cast soft light on their faces, warming up the otherwise reserved air around them, in a calming way.
"Does it scare you?" He asked, suddenly, his tone even more of a caress than it usually is.
"What?"
"The Sharingan."
Jakushi was taken aback with the question, firstly believing that he referred to the unknown evil, sleeping two rooms next to them.
"Not at all." She replied quickly.
He kept looking at her insistently until she gave up.
"Alright. Yes, it does."
He averted his eyes as if to save her the issue of having to look into them while speaking. The heavy silence took over again, while Jakushi took the time to wonder at the question, so out-of-subject.
It was not like he had any other choice, though. Why did he look as if he was about to apologize for the only way his eyes could function normally? Sure, like someone of such soft nature as he was proving himself to be, having that hostile appearance dramatically turned the impression the other way around. She imagined it wasn't easy.
"Nightmares?" Jakushi asked, finally addressing the real reason for them to sit ridiculously in the middle of the kitchen, in the midnight coldness. Restlessness was the first-class excuse.
Itachi glanced at her.
"Yes. Do you heal them too?"
"Who knows." She shrugged. "I might, someday. Blood, death... fire?"
He was sincerely surprised now.
"You're not the only one. Stop thinking you're the only one."
Jakushi started feeling like her body was numbing with the coldness and it incited her to think of a way to escape it as soon as she could. The sensation was far too unpleasant. She sighed, standing up. Itachi paid her no mind, his eyes on the candle flame.
She headed to the door.
"Well, if we're going to play dumb with Sanaya, I better get some sleep. You should too. We'll be walking after the big ball of nerves Takumi again tomorrow."
"You know he likes you, right?" Itachi still kept his eyes on the flame.
"I know."
"Aren't you going to end his agony?" He smiled faintly.
"He's like a brother to me. I don't love him that way."
Itachi faced her with deep surprise once again, as if her answer was the last thing he expected, but said nothing. Jakushi folded her hands in order to keep them warm in her cloth. It was freezing.
"Are you sure you know the witch?" It was Jakushi's turn to ask, with a perfectly even tone which somehow succeeded in wresting a hollow laugh from Itachi.
"Actually, no. I know I've heard her voice somewhere. But I swear I've never seen her in Konoha. Trust me, I'd remember."
"Boys." Jakushi snapped. "You three relish on her nicely because we're leaving tomorrow."
She opened the door and left, without turning back.
The chilly morning was not different from the previous. Kioshi took off his technique from Sanaya and after a long exchange of gratitude and a second invitation from Sanaya's side, they parted.
With the exception that she took Itachi's hand again, as they said goodbye, she didn't do anything suspicious or different. Jakushi was impatient to leave the house as soon as possible. The sight of Sanaya repelled her even more than yesterday.
What kind of a monster did she hide behind these captivating eyes? Only, if she planned to strike on Konoha, what was her course of action? Why hide in the woods, live in the woods for years? And did she really have to rest her eyes on Itachi that long? Or touch him in that intrusive way?
Not that again, Jakushi sighed in exasperation. Her mind was a chaos lately and random annoying questions kept popping up and distracting her.
Anyway, Itachi did share with Kioshi and Takumi about his observation from the last night and the main conversation was circling around the subject the whole day. Jakushi saved them that she knew how to regain Itachi's chakra. She decided to remit the matter directly to Tsunade.
"What do you think we should do? She seems incredibly kindhearted and we have no proof for anything." Takumi noticed.
"Yes, we can arrest her and interrogate her. If she opposes, we'll need the Trinity to help." Kioshi replied to him, using the word he and his brother invented for Team 7 long time ago. "We'll need a lot of people."
"We better get informed about the Tailed Beasts first." Itachi reminded and the brothers remained silent, apparently too prideful to agree verbally.
Jakushi was silent most of the time, repeating the chakra technique in her mind so that she wouldn't forget it. So did the forenoon pass, until they reached the main road and surprisingly, met Kakashi an hour later. He hastened to tell them he had been looking for them for quite a while. Takumi explained to him what happened to them and Kakashi decided it's best for him to continue with the search of the lost team alone because it's too dangerous for them, especially in a group of four.
Takumi explained to him what happened to them and Kakashi decided it's best for him to continue with the search of the lost team alone because it's too dangerous for them, especially in a group of four.
"Kakashi-sensei, we can help. Isn't it more dangerous for you to do all alone?" Jakushi furrowed, opposing to his suggestion,
"Go back to Konoha. You should find out what we're dealing with. I can move unnoticeably, don't worry about me." Kakashi calmed her and they obeyed with no further questions.
The way to Konoha wasn't that long and they arrived in the late afternoon, reporting directly to Tsunade. Although exhausted, they repeated every single detail.
"You did well to return and tell me all this." Tsunade was standing in front of the window, watching through it thoughtfully as they spoke but now she faced them, her eyes on Itachi. "Too bad you don't have more information about her intentions. Kakashi was right, we better learn more before attacking."
"I don't think we'll find her in the same place if we go and look for her again. Not and if she has plans for something. Or is eager to exercise her powers over Konoha." Jakushi intervened and made Tsunade sign.
"The important thing is that you've found out something at least. You're free now, go."
Takumi, Kioshi, and Itachi nodded and left but Jakushi didn't move from her spot.
"What is it?" Tsunade asked after the door was shut.
"Permission to restore the chakra of Itachi Uchiha? I found a way."
Tsunade steadied her gaze on her, then shifted it to the window again.
"Too dangerous. Dangerous for you to try unknown methods, dangerous for the people to have Itachi Uchiha walking around free and with all his chakra."
"I know what I'm doing. You've trained me well enough, sensei."
"I can't allow it."
"He had sacrificed everything for Konoha, he would do it again. Which makes him no threat to the citizens."
"We can't be sure of that. Sorry." Tsunade kept on the same tone.
"Don't you want another strong shinobi on your side?" Jakushi didn't give up.
"Perhaps I do. But you have no way of proving me that this Itachi thinks like the one Sarutobi knew."
"His strength may be of use to Konoha. With all my respect, something's coming and we may not be able to stop it only with the forces we have at our disposal at the moment, Godaime."
"Who is the Hokage of Konohagakure, Jakushi?" Tsunade cut her off masterfully. "Who makes the decisions?"
Jakushi bent down her head.
"You, Tsunade-sensei."
"That's right. My decision has been made. The answer is no."
Jakushi nodded and left the office silently. But she was far from the resignation she demonstrated.
Her heart pumped vigorously because what she thought of doing wasn't a good idea. But she was somehow determined ever since she read it on the page... it gave her no peace and she knew it wouldn't until she does it; hoping that she will before the hesitation strikes her.
She went out in the street and looked around but she thought it'd be better if she just goes straight to the house or at least enters the district. Well, it wasn't a district anymore. Only the name remained. Uchiha were only a history now. Most of the houses burned down nearly a decade ago and the village renewed almost everything so now others lived there. Only one house still gave an unusual sense to the scenery of ordinary buildings.
Jakushi's fast pace led her straight to it. The old household of the late Uchiha's clan chief and his wife. Although behind fences the whole house gave the air of nobility and stood lonely like a symbol of past times among the modern architecture around it.
She didn't have to wait long until Itachi showed up, a bit taken aback with her sudden presence on the front door.
"Jakushi, is there something wrong?" He asked with concern but she just grabbed his hand and dragged him towards a direction in particular. A park, where usually children played. It was empty when she saw it on her way to the house, just like she wanted it to be. "Aren't you going home?"
"I'll tell you what's wrong. I'm violating an order given by the Hokage." Jakushi explained absently as they walked two alleys back. "I'm becoming a criminal like you."
"Wait..." He tried to stop her but they were in the park already and she let him go.
"Don't move, don't speak, let me do it correctly."
"I don't support your idea."
"Shut up, you didn't stop with the suicidal behavior, leave me to shine once too." She rolled up her sleeves and stepped to him.
"You are not me." Itachi shook his head with worry. "You shouldn't do this."
"Good. Are you done?" Jakushi raised his eyes to his. "I'm the one who violates an order, calm down. You have nothing in common. Almost."
Jakushi took his left hand and placed her other on his heart.
"I have to combine the Jutsu for the chakra with a technique I learned a long time ago with Sakura. I wasn't really good at it..." She closed her eyes. "It should resemble a physical hit but I'm supposed to feel it through my mind and then through my chakra."
She had to focus. But before that... stole a few second in silence. There was something she didn't share. That technique replicated her own chakra, it wasn't supposed to hurt but to perform it were needed two. A medical-nin and one whose chakra was to be used for the case. In the end of her calculations, it turned out the possibility of what she was doing to kill her was high. Very high.
But, if she should die, at least it was going to be a pleasant death. The even rhythm of Itachi's heart was in contrast with the fast beating of her own. Their breathing was of the same extreme difference. It was always like that, she was always in a storm. And near him was so calm, just like these quiet and sunny mornings during the spring when she woke up and the air smelled like cherry blossoms. And everything... was in its place. Everything was alright.
"Jakushi, are you alright?" Itachi whispered and his breath caressed her forehead.
"Yes, I'm starting." She startled, inhaling with difficulty.
Dammit, she had to focus anew.
She gathered her thoughts and canalized her chakra as it was described in the book.
The sensation was like a push of a strong water wave, she didn't feel any pain but fell unconscious for a split second, as if she fell asleep in a single moment. A few visions emerged in front of her but they changed so rapidly that she remembered only images.
Fire again, dark skies and... rooftops, someone was running. She felt as if she was dragging through the mud. The shrill sound of a crow pierced her and she tried to find it feverishly but couldn't. A roar followed, somewhere behind her. Fear clenched her and she didn't want to turn around. But her will wasn't her own and she did it nevertheless, with a pair of venomous green eyes looking at her.
A/N: Thanks a lot for reading! Love you!
Sorry for the delay, the university got me 8 to 8 busy the last 4 days and it's only the beginning of a hellish streak of exams in the next two months. I'd appreciate greatly your patience with me and my slow writing. This chapter is kinda weird and nothing really happens but there is something cute in the next one. ^^