DISCLAIMER: This story is solely written for fanservicing. All known characters and plot lines belong to Masashi Kishimoto and the publishers of the Naruto series. I am merely a fan who wishes to write her alternate story to the Naruto manga. The title "In The Name of Life" is taken from Joe Hisaishi's soundtrack of the film 'Spirited Away', by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. This fanfic is not intended for lucrative purposes.
In The Name of Life
Chapter XI
Once there was a way
To get back home.
Sleep, pretty darling,
Dot not cry
And I will sing a lullaby.
~The Beatles
Naruto turned around to ensure that Hinata was still keeping up with him. After getting a much needed rest, the two shinobi were able to replenish their energy supplies and now he felt that the Sage Mode was not tiring him as much. Hinata's chakra was also more visible; she had also needed to rest. There had just trespassed the Land of Sound through the northern border, travelling near the coastline. The geography was still similar to the Land of Hot Water's northern side, with the exception that the soil was getting rockier and rockier by every step they took.
They had decided in travelling by land, concluding that the tree branches were too weak to support their hopping. Nonetheless, their pace hadn't slowed down; they still traveled at inhuman speed. Naruto observed how Hinata never changed her expression. She still showed her determination in continuing with their unofficial mission, regardless of the consequences. Her eyes locked with his as they sprinted, but Naruto wasn't able to tell what she was about to say when—
BAM!
—his right side collided with a tree trunk. And a rather thick tree trunk that was.
"Naruto-kun, are you alright?"
Naruto fell on the ground due to the strong impact. He had to rub the side of his face, feeling a little dizzy. The tree trunk had also suffered from his head; now it had a dent that was the size of Naruto's skull. Perhaps his friends were right when they called him a knucklehead, he thought. He had to take a few moments before standing up lightheaded. Once Hinata caught up to him with worry washed over her features, she offered to examine the bruise.
"You're bleeding in there," she told him, and then started searching for something in her pockets, "let me get my —oh, here it is."
She took out a small container for the chest pocket of her flak jacket. Naruto recognized it from years ago; it was Hinata's signature ointment, the one she had given him during the chūnin exams. She opened the lid and extended her index finger to take some of the ointment. Naruto hadn't realized that his Sage Mode had been deactivated, and he was about to go back on it when Hinata insisted on healing his bruise. With a tender care, she carefully applied the paste on his right temple. Suddenly, Naruto felt that his cheeks were turning red as he felt that the bruise was closing.
"I administered some of my ointment to Sakura-chan when we went on a mission together. She really liked it and asked me to make more. I figured that it could be useful for the war, so I filled containers for Neji-niisan, Kiba-kun, and Shino-kun," she explain, putting the lid over her medicine and placing it back in her pocket, "It's-it's a good thing that it helped you."
Naruto watched how her cheeks were now blushing, and wondered what on earth made him act so clumsily around her. He had the Sage Mode on, in the name of life! He should have felt the tree in front of him, but he had taken notice of Hinata's determined demeanour and it had distracted him. He questioned if his feelings were affecting his shinobi abilities. It would be ridiculous; he never acted so distractedly around Sakura-chan before. How was it possible that Hinata could make a whirlwind with his emotions?
He reactivated his Sage Mode, knowing that he should start paying more attention to his trail than to his companion, and gestured Hinata that they should continue travelling. She did not question his intentions, and silently found her usual place behind his steps.
Kid, you are just like your mother.
"What are you talking about?" he questioned the Bijū.
"Did you say something, Naruto-kun?"
Damn, he had asked that out loud!
He made a gesture saying that it was nothing to worry about, and came up with a plan that would let him talk to the Kyūbi without interruption.
"Hey, Hinata, I have an idea! My Shadow Clones will survey our surroundings," Naruto made the right hand signs, and twenty clones appeared in puffs. They all had his orange eyes, therefore expanding his radar. "Make sure you protect Hinata, guys!"
The real Naruto took off in an inhuman speed, knowing that Hinata would not be able to catch up with him. He wanted to have a quick word with the Kyūbi, who was clearly stalling their journey. After finding a secluded spot from Hinata's chakra, Naruto entered his subconscious. He found the tailed beast behind bars, giving the boy a deadly glare while showing its fangs. The new seal Naruto had place when he was in training with Killer Bee was still intact. He wondered if he was ever going to break it.
"What are you talking about, geezer? Sakura-chan is out there, possibly being tortured by Madara, and you are slowing us down with your comments!"
"I only made one comment," growled the beast, settling its head over its paws, "and don't call me geezer, you stupid boy."
Naruto walked through the pond of water until he reached the bars that separated him from the Kyūbi. He neared his head to the beast's eyes, acting defiantly, "Well, then don't waste my time," he retorted, after he realized that a part of him wanted to speak with the Kyūbi because his comment mentioned Kushina, "I am my mom's son, of course I'm gonna act like her."
"Annoying and love sick," the Kyūbi added, "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. Oh, I remember the days when your mother was infatuated with Minato. It was a pain trying to fight with her overwhelmed feelings. And now I have to deal with yours! When I was created, this was not part of the deal."
The boy couldn't hide his astonishment at hearing that the Kyūbi could feel his emotions. It had felt Kushina's when she had fallen in love with Minato, and now it was sensing Naruto's feelings for Hinata. Whatever feelings he had for Hinata, anyway. He still needed to figure them out himself before asking the Kyūbi for advice.
"All of you Uzumaki clan members are attracted to powerful people: the first Hokage's wife, then your mother, and now you. The Hyūga girl comes from a strong clan, but she is now leading you to your –and my—death. You still don't think before you act."
Naruto adopted a serious attitude. He wasn't going to let the beast dictate his actions; he was going to do what felt that was right, "I'm doing this to save Sakura-chan. She's my friend, and I don't wanna lose her."
"Then you also know that your 'two friends' are in the same place, right?" The Kyūbi showed his canines, threatening Naruto, "If you bring me near an Uchiha, I will make sure to tear you..."
"What did I tell you last time we spoke? I said that I wanted to get rid of all the hatred within you, Kyūbi. My promise is still intact," retorted the boy, not feeling intimidated by the beast's menacing persona.
He wanted to stop the hatred that all the Bijū felt; it was part of his task of bringing peace to the world. The Great Toad Sage had been right; Naruto had encountered Killer Bee and was meant to fight a boy with strong eyes, referring to Sasuke. Those predictions were part of his prophecy, and he wanted to ensure that the Kyūbi did not fill in its next vessel's emotions with hatred for humans.
The Kyūbi straightened out its front to legs, looking imposing in front of Naruto's small scale frame. The beast was still showing its fangs, not feeling satisfied with Naruto's words, "Naruto, you will only die if you go to Madara's headquarters. And you will bring me down with you."
"Then you won't have to bother with humans hating you," the boy argued, "If I fall in battle, then at least you and me will not have to deal with the prejudices of this world!"
Naruto exited his subconscious, and found that Hinata was sprinting towards him with the company of two of his clones. The conversation with the Kyūbi still lingered in his mind, and his two clones had noticed his uneasiness as well. After they disappeared with two poofs, Hinata made her way to him alone.
"We found a trail! We're getting near the Mountain's Graveyard," she announced. After a few silent moments, Hinata realized that there was something happening with Naruto. He hadn't reacted immediately to her words, and her features adopted a worried stance, "N-Naruto-kun, what's wrong?"
The alluded looked at her eyes. She was so pretty, Naruto thought, so pretty, pure, and precious. He didn't want her to experience the torments of his friendship with Sasuke and Sakura. His only wish was for Hinata to have a normal relationship with him; to not get caught up in the middle of his struggles. Knowing that they could never work out as a couple, having her as a close friend was the right solution. He would never be able to truly show her how much he cared for her, but he would keep her safe under his guard.
"Hinata, I thank you for all your efforts. If it wasn't because you took the initiative, I would be here all by myself, not really knowing what direction to take. I..."
Naruto hesitated with his next words, not really knowing how to express them. He wanted Hinata to be safe, to go back to the Alliance's territory where she could fight with her friends. Taking a hold of her two arms, Naruto brought her closer to him. It was the first time he had ever embraced Hinata, and she was tense under him. She didn't know what to do either. It was alright, he thought, neither of them had enough experience with affection.
"I want you to return to the Alliance. You shouldn't risk your life when there is so much more for you to see," he finally whispered in her ear.
He didn't expect her shoulders to become rigid, and for her to gently push herself out of his embrace. They locked eyes; Hinata seemed to disapprove of his words as her brow frowned. Naruto wanted everything to go fine by sending her back to the Land of Lighting with one –or maybe ten—of his clones to be sure that she arrived safe. Much to his surprise, Hinata disentangled from his hold and parted from him. She started sprinting at a faster speed than before, and Naruto took a few seconds before he realized that she had escaped from him.
He instantly followed her steps, and caught up to her in no time. After all, he was still the fastest one. With his Sage Mode on, he could sense that they were nearing the Mountain's Graveyard, but Sakura's chakra wasn't anywhere near his radar. Perhaps he needed to get closer to their destination, but right now, Naruto was worried about Hinata's spontaneous behaviour.
"Wait, Hinata-chan!" she brusquely halted and Naruto did the same a few steps behind her. Hinata hadn't turned around, but judging by the tremble of her shoulders, Naruto knew that she was struggling with her emotions.
"I-I only w-wanted to help y-you..." Naruto heard her smother a cry, and took a few cautious steps until he was close enough to embrace her once again.
"I wouldn't forgive myself if something were to happen when we get there," he murmured in her ear.
He had never been this affectionate with another person; everything seemed alien to him, but Hinata made it right, "I am willing to come," she argued, holding her words.
She turned around to face Naruto once again. He could recognize the trails of tears running down her cheeks. Hinata was sad. She was sad because he didn't want her there.
"Please—"
"Naruto-kun, when I came up with this plan, I knew the consequences. If something happens, it is my responsibility only. As a soldier of the Shinobi Alliance, my duty is still to protect you and that is exactly what I'm going to do."
Your smile saved me.
Naruto could finally understand why Hinata had almost sacrificed herself for him during Pain's attack. The warm feeling that flooded his chest was probably similar to what she'd been feeling since they were children. Hinata was one of the first people to see his true personality; she was willing to walk beside him to the enemy's trap without looking back. She was choosing him over her clan, over her own life. Selflessness was one of her greatest traits, but now, she was being selfish, just like she'd been when Pain attacked.
This feeling...
Your mother felt like this too, boy.
"Hinata..."
"I see that you have entered my territory," a third person interrupted.
Naruto knew that voice all too well.
'Sasuke.'
Sasuke saw his face again. It was bloodstained, and approaching him. His own back was against a wall; there was no escape. His older brother's two twingers were nearing his eyes, threatening to take the most precious organ of their clan. They were coming. Slowly, slowly...The end was coming. After gaining all this power, leaving friends behind, consuming hatred for the person he loved the most, his abilities still did not match with Itachi's. A wave of fear swept over Sasuke's senses as his agonizing brother was about to touch his eyeball.
'Forgive me, Sasuke...'
Instead, Itachi's fingers connected with Sasuke's forehead. A sad smile appeared on the older brother's features as he took his last breath.
'...It ends with this.'
And he collapsed beside Sasuke. His face hit the wall and dragged down, until it reached the grown and Itachi's body lay still, unmoving, inert. He was dead. He was finally dead, and Sasuke felt a hollow sense in his chest. His goal was finished. But Sasuke was not overjoyed by his brother's dead. It meant that he was the last living member of their clan. It meant that he was finally alone.
Grief.
He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was standing in front of Danzo, back in Konoha. This vision confused Sasuke, as he had never talked to the Root leader until his death, and was shocked at the sound of his voice.
It wasn't his. Itachi's voice was coming out of Sasuke's mouth.
'Do not lay a finger on Sasuke. If you do, all of your organization's secrets will go public,' Itachi said, 'Touch Sasuke, and it is the end of you.'
The Uchiha boy was perplexed by the series of images that played in front of him. It was as if he was reliving memories through Itachi's eyes rather than his own. They ranged from Itachi's early life until their last encounters. Sasuke saw himself fighting back Itachi after he'd killed their clan. There were tears swimming in his eyes, and Sasuke could even feel Itachi's emotions.
It was awful; it was as if he wanted to grab a kunai and slice it across his throat to end the pain. He recalled his first reunion with Itachi, and how his brother's hands strangled his neck. For the first time, Sasuke saw his own reaction to when he was called weak through Itachi's eyes.
Then, he saw several episodes of Akatsuki. Of partnering up with Kisame, and then travelling around the Five Great Countries capturing the jinchūriki. Sasuke saw how Itachi spoke to Naruto before their battle. He felt Itachi's hope in the Uzumaki boy, and how the latter received power from the former.
However, the scenery changed back to Sasuke's most traumatizing experience. This time, he not only saw his family getting killed by Itachi. He also saw his old team, lying lifeless, with Itachi slicing them to pieces with his katana. Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi over a pool of blood. Sasuke could finally sense his own feelings, and screamed him to stop. He yelled until his throat was dry, begging Itachi to stop because Team 7 was innocent. He wanted to sprint towards his older brother, but felt that his body had returned to being seven years old and wasn't as fast.
Instead, Itachi started approaching him, much like he had when they last fought. His features were threatening, and the sad smile was nowhere in sight. Sasuke's insides were burning while he was frozen in fear. Itachi's face was once again drawing close to his, with the Sharingan spinning. Sasuke's eyes were blurring with pain. Every part of his body felt like it was burning, and he could not take it anymore.
'Did you speak with your family before you slaughtered them?'
Itachi's features suddenly changed. His hair was no longer black; it had shortened and turned into a light pink. His Sharingan had been replaced with a pair of frightened green eyes. His whole face was different. It wasn't Itachi the one who was approaching him anymore. It was Sakura. She was scared of what she was facing, but tried hiding her fears with a fierce commentary. Sasuke wanted to feel confused, but his sense of emotion was no longer there.
'We will speak next time,' Itachi's voice was once again coming from Sasuke's mouth.
And then his vision fogged up.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Sasuke woke up with a loud cry, his brow sweating and his breath panting. The bandages were still covering his eyes, so when he opened them, he still saw darkness. Sitting up from his bed, he quickly removed the bandages from his head to ensure that his sight was still working. Fortunately, once he was uncovered, he could see the dim light coming from the candle on his night table. There was an apple beside it, his meal. The candle was about to die, but Sasuke did not worry in trying to lighten up another candle.
He quickly walked over to the door and exited his chambers. There were too many questions clustering his pain; he could not think properly. Sasuke had to stop a few times and hold on to the rock wall of Madara's hideout due to his confusion. Nonetheless, he already knew where his legs were taking him. There was someone he needed to talk to —someone who greatly feared him. But who was necessary for Sasuke's mind to stop boggling him.
And so, Sasuke made his way to the cell chambers of Mountain's Graveyard. Zetsu's clones were nowhere in sight as he rushed through the passageways, following Sakura's weak chakra trail until he found the cell where she was being kept. The door was worn out and had no windows. He noticed the layer of chakra that was on it, and remembered how Madara had told him that only three people were allowed to open it. Sasuke's chakra would not match with the one covering the door, but he did not hesitate in activating his Sharingan in order to find a way of fooling Akatsuki's jutsu.
His kekkei genkai was wheeling, trying to find a weak spot in the chakra. Sasuke focused on the top right hand corner, the farthest side from the door handle, and quickly put his hand on it. His chakra left his fingers and submerged with the one in the door, hence giving him access to open it. Once the process was completed, Sasuke held on to the corroded handle and opened it. He met Sakura's weak chakra, noticing that she was left alone. The cell was pitch black inside, but he could make out the frail figure of a person sitting in the farthest corner from the door. Her arms wrapped around her bended knees while she was shivering.
"Sakura."
Her breath stopped. Sasuke could feel the wave of fear that overpowered Sakura's senses. She was truly scared of him.
There was no sign of the optimistic twelve year old he once called friend. She was a completely different person; one who'd witnessed and experienced horrors. She had finally learned what a real shinobi went through. Her arms tightened around her knees, as if she was trying to protect herself from Sasuke's presence. A part of him was satisfied with her fear; that was exactly the state he wanted Konoha to be in when he destroyed it. Nonetheless, the questions swarming in his head told him to keep his head on level in order to find answers.
"Wh-what do you want?" her voice carried on the panic that took over her senses, but much like in Itachi's memory, Sakura was trying to sound brave.
She was stupid. Thinking that words could move him, hn. She should know better. The times that she'd tried to convince him with words have always ended up with her in a dangerous situation. Regardless of how much training Sakura gained under Tsunade, Sasuke knew that her abilities would never match his. She was no threat.
Now, she was a tool to Kabuto. She was a disposable prisoner who would get killed after her abilities were no longer needed. Notwithstanding, she was the one who raised all the questions in Sasuke's head.
Sasuke decided to close the cell's door and remain standing near it. That way, he would keep a distance from the girl, who would surely enter a panic attack if he were to get near her. Although Sasuke carried no weapons, he could still take her down in less than a second. There was no risk of fighting her, anyway. She was useless.
"You spoke to Itachi," he stated. "He's dead."
Sakura let out a sarcastic chuckle. He raised an eyebrow, trying to remember when Sakura had started acting with sarcasm. She had always kept her frail and feminine attitude, the one that sickened him.
"Kabuto is using him for the Edo Tensei. You should have known about this information, seeing that you are all in the same side," Sakura responded. She wasn't looking at him in the eyes nor trying to get his attention.
Sasuke's senses froze. It was the truth. His dead brother had been resurrected by Kabuto; they were both in Madara's hideout. He could finally speak to him. He could demand Itachi an answer to all the mysteries of his life. He decided to stay silent for a moment, waiting to see if Sakura was going to start blabbering like she used to when she was twelve. He then remembered her determination back in the Land of Iron.
And how she was unable to stab him in the back.
"What I do here is none of your concern—"
"Then why did you come here?" she interrupted.
The alluded wondered if Sakura's question referred to his visit to her or his recent allegiance with Uchiha Madara. Sasuke decided to remain quiet for another moment; talking to Sakura had never been one of his favourite pastimes. She was always praising his ninja abilities, as if she had none. Always annoying.
"I had a nightmare where you spoke with Itachi," crossing his arms, Sasuke ensured that he was not going to lose his cool.
"And what if I did? You wouldn't even be allowed to get near your brother. Kabuto's lab is under heavy guard. I'd doubt he would even let you get near his 'precious experiment.'"
That was true, Sasuke had to admit. Despite the emotional turmoil that Itachi brought in him, Sasuke knew that he would not be allowed to see his revived brother regardless of how many times he tried killing Kabuto. Knowing the nature of the Edo Tensei, he knew that Kabuto could turn Itachi against him –in other words, Sasuke would never live to demand the truth of his brother's life. He had to think this whole thing thoroughly. Perhaps if he waited until Kabuto released the resurrected bodies, he would still have a chance. Nonetheless, the risk of erasing Itachi's emotions was still present.
According to Madara, Itachi loved Sasuke more than his own life. He loved the younger Uchiha so much that he defied Konoha's orders and let him live. It infuriated Sasuke knowing that the damned village could live peacefully at the cost of his own happiness. He wished he could take it all on Sakura in that moment, but he had to think before he acted. That was one of the qualities the idiot of Naruto never possessed –he always acted in impulse rather than devise a plan for his attacks. Hence, he would gather all of his anger and hatred on Naruto, and once he was done with the drop-out he would go on killing every Konoha member.
The thought of killing Sakura swam through his mind once again, but he needed her before her heart stopped beating. And strangely, he couldn't find the impulse of stopping her heart beat.
"What did Itachi tell you?" he asked.
"What I speak with Itachi is none of your concern," Sakura responded spitefully.
Sasuke's blood was boiling at hearing his brother's name coming out of Sakura's lips. He remembered Zetsu's warning, saying how she tended to be 'feisty.' She was not being feisty, she was being a stupid, annoying, pathetic excuse of a kunoichi. He had to clench his fists in order to calm down his nerves. Sasuke needed information; he was not going to get it if he tried to attack an already vulnerable Sakura.
"Do not say his name in my presence," he threatened Sakura, while his feet unconsciously started walking towards her.
The girl looked like she was shrinking. Physically, he was still towering over her, and it was intimidating. The closer he got to Sakura, the more he noticed of her malnourishment and filthiness. Her skin was paper-like white, and carried many bruises. Her hair was a filthy, light pink mess. Although Sakura was not looking at him, he could make out the dark circles under her eyes, and the visible signs of worn out facial features that came with living a life of terror.
Sakura's face was against her cell's rock wall; as if she was trying to keep it away from Sasuke's nearing body. It reminded him of when Itachi corralled him against a wall during their last fight. It was a mechanism of escape that never worked. Sakura was already cornered by his threatening presence. Her cell was very small, so Sasuke was already standing in front of the girl in less than five steps.
"You're going to tell me what Itachi said," he demanded.
Sasuke took a hold of Sakura's chin, forcing her to look right into his Sharingan. Her eyes were closed. Much like when he watched Madara torture Sakura with his illusion, he shook her head and forced her to open her eyes. Sasuke was able to stare straight into her green eyes. He entered her memories, and watched the same scene that played out in his nightmare. Sakura had been caught in Itachi's illusion, as he told her about the story behind the Uchiha clan Massacre. His brother was standing behind Sakura as the girl was frozen in her place.
A part of him was astonished at seeing Itachi. He looked dead, with grey and cracked skin, but he was speaking. His Sharingan was active, like Sasuke's. It was a twisted scene, seeing his beloved brother talking to his former teammate. He felt a pang of jealousy at the realization that Sakura got to speak with Itachi, whereas Sasuke consumed hatred and darkness, thinking that he would never get such opportunity.
"Niisan..." Sasuke murmured, ending his jutsu. He was still perplexed of seeing Itachi alive again. A feeling of longing to see his brother overpowered him.
Sakura's eyes were wide open. She was a tool. Just a simple excuse of a kunoichi who only had words to defend herself. Words were not enough in the shinobi world, though. Sakura, who was so smart during her Academy years, should know that. But of course, being a shinobi meant winning or dying. No in-betweens for people like her.
Nonetheless, he could not avoid looking at her differently. The evidence of constant fear in her features told him that she had lived through several horrors ever since she was kidnapped. He wondered how far Kabuto had gone in forcing her and the other Kumo nin in preparing the resurrected bodies. Playing with death was a dangerous business; being forced to play with it was another whole level. He almost –almost— gave her some credit for bearing through the horrors.
Perhaps she could finally understand his pain. Impossible, his mind retorted, she'd been taken away from what she loved rather than losing everything. Sasuke could not let her weakened state affect his intentions.
She pushed his hand away from her face, "Don't ever touch me again," she grunted. Sakura's expression suddenly changed. She was enraged by his intrusion. The girl he once knew was gone. She'd been replaced by someone who was filled with pain and fear. This Sakura was not the one he remembered. She was not the one who cried while her team protected her.
But her words carried an empty meaning.
Sasuke remembered another part of his nightmare. He remembered the part where Itachi killed Team 7; where Sakura's lifeless body lay on the ground, covered in blood, along with Naruto and Kakashi. He wondered what the meaning of that was, if Itachi had—
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Three of Zetsu's clones walked in the tiny cell. All of them carried the same sinister smile, and one held a pair of leather straps. Sasuke heard Sakura stifle a breath at the sight of the Akatsuki member's clones. He was aware of Zetsu's usual involvement in keeping guard of the prisoners, and Sakura's mortified persona confirmed that he was the source of many of her horrors.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, not entirely understanding the relationship between his former teammate and the Akatsuki member. He deemed it as unimportant, something he should not concern about.
"Ah, Sasuke," one of the clones said, "We expected that you'd find a way of entering our guests' cell. Quite smart, you are."
The other two clones chuckled sardonically while the first continued speaking, "We are here on Madara's request. The little kunoichi has misbehaved, and she will be punished so."
Sasuke remembered his ancestor's announcement of yesterday. He'd said that the idiot of Naruto and the Hyūga girl had come close to the Mountain's Graveyard. Sasuke felt irritated at the thought that –once again—he was close to reaching one of his ambitions but was unable to. First, it was Itachi whom he could not see, and now it was Naruto, whom he could have almost killed if he had entered Madara's hideout. Sasuke damned his fortune.
He redirected his eyes to Sakura, who was now covering her head with her two hands. The girl was trying to protect herself in vain. What a pity. He drew away from Sakura while Zetsu's clones came near her. Sakura's shivering body was forced to stand up by one of the clones, while the other two tried to keep her arms away from her head. Nonetheless, Sakura was channeling her last bit of chakra to her arms, increasing the strength of her muscles. The two clones struggled for a while, until third one decided to hit her stomach. Shock took over her limbs, and the Zetsus were able to pin her arms down.
Sasuke stood there and contemplated the scene. He did not really know what to do. Sakura was one of the people he intended on killing, so why help her now? Nonetheless, half of his mind told him that she would be able to gather more information about Itachi. If he played his cards right, Sakura could act as a tool for him too.
The girl's eyes didn't avert from his face. As Zetsu's clones tied the chakra binding leather straps around her wrists, Sakura's expression was kept on Sasuke. It seemed that her anger was overshadowing her fear, as she forcibly struggled to keep her wrists away from the clones. Nonetheless, they succeeded in sealing away her chakra within the leather straps. Sakura's breaths were staggered, as if she'd just lost half of her life. Once the clones were done binding her, they pushed her down to her usual corner and exited the cell, wearing a sadistic smirk.
"The other one is coming in soon. This place is too small for more than two people," one of the clones told him before they merged in with the cave's rock wall.
Once again, Sasuke was alone with Sakura. She lay still, powerless. There was no way for her to defend herself now, and he could easily take out his katana and end her misery. Although the option sounded appealing, Sasuke reminded himself of the pros of keeping Sakura alive. She could get information about Itachi. She could act as his messenger; as a tool.
Not to mention that he also needed to find a meaning behind her appearance in his dream.
Which was why, when Sakura closed her eyes and fell asleep, he exited her cell in order to find water and something edible. With the use of his blinding speed, Sasuke sprinted to his own bedroom, picked up the apple that was on his night table, and brought it back to Sakura's cell. The girl still lay unconscious, and so he placed the fruit beside her.
Step by step, he was going to gain her trust again, and when he did, he'd be able to enter her mind and explore every conversation she'd held with Itachi.
Well that was a long chapter! I tried to explain a lot of things in here, such as Sasuke's take on Zetsu and what Kurama was thinking.
Liked it? Hated it? Do you find any connections with the quote or is it just that I love the Beatles like I love bread? Hey, at least Sasuke is FINALLY seeing some sort of importance in Sakura! And what's the meaning behind Itachi killing off Team 7!? Ahem, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, WOOHOO! And who the hell interrupted Naruto and Hinata!? Cockblocker!
Leave your comments in a review! I will gladly answer them :)
I just want to clarify two things brought up in the reviews
1) Why aren't Sakura and C in separate cells? Like I explained to Loteva, it never occurred in my mind to put them separately. The best answer I can give you is that Zetsu's clones are like the security cameras of the cave; they cam pretty much merge in with the rock walls and watch every breath Sakura and C take. The idea of putting them in two different cells would be more psychologically traumatising, but having Zetsu's clones over you 24/7 is also quite freaky. I mean, the thing that tortures them also watches them sleep! Furthermore, I have read extensively about war prisoners who have bonded in their imprisonment, and the type of bond they have will play an important role in Sakura's development. But do not think this will be a love triangle CxSakuraxSasuke. If it was like that, I would have introduced it at the beginning of the fic. All answers will come in time. Give me ten more chapters to clear it all up, mkay?
2) Is Itachi a zombie? what is going on with the Edo Tensei? No, Itachi is not a zombie or anything like that. It reminds me too much of the Walking Dead xD The explanation as to why he could communicate with Sakura will come in the next chapter or so. Remember the words he said in the manga? Every jutsu as a weakness. Just keep that in mind, I will not develop it any further in this answer because it will be written in the story :)
Thank you so, so much for your reviews and support! I cannot stress it enough. You are really an amazing group of readers; I love answering your reviews and the questions you have about my story. If there are any other important questions like the ones mentioned above send them right away and I will gladly give you an answer!
This was quite a long update. One of the longest chapters published. They will get longer, though. I'm sorry (not really). I may no update until September because I need to catch up on the story, and I'm going on vacation to NYC and Philly. Heck yeah!
Anyway, do you have any good quotes out there that have a special meaning to you? Currently, my favourite quote is "Fall down seven times, stand up eight," but I just finished reading "A Woman in Berlin" and found a lot more that I like.
Take care!
MSM