Hola readers! Here is your next chapter i know i left you hanging and you will get answers in this chapter and the next ;) so for you enjoyment chapter 5!
The streets were crowded with people. Today was the Farmer's Market and Konoha's streets were filled with vendors, buyers, and screaming children. The shinobi were stationed along the roof and were only there to break up any fights and catch potential thieves or pit-pockets. Needless to say they were ready for the real missions to arrive; most Chunin and Jounins could only take so much D and C ranked missions before they drove themselves crazy.
Kya perused the stalls and listened to all the vendors advertise their goods to the wandering customers. There was a variety of fruits and vegetables to pick from but other artisans used this time to showcase their goods. She loved visiting the jewelry stalls and usually treated herself to a new necklace or a pair of earrings if she could haggle the vendor down to a decent price. She missed the days when her husband, Lu Ten, would take her arm and walk up to the nearest stall and buy her the most expensive thing the vendor had. She supposed that's why she always came to the jewelry stands in remembrance of her kind husband. She sighed as she eyed a particularly beautiful chocker; the leather band would fit perfect around her neck on top of it was a thin piece of blue silk sewn against the leather with silver stitching. But the part that really caught her eye was the pendant attached. I was a large dark blue sapphire that accented perfectly with four one carat diamonds on the four cardinal directions of the stone.
"See something you fancy Miss?" the old jeweler asked her.
"I do but I'm afraid it's a little out of my budget," Kya smiled sweetly at the man.
"Which piece caught your eye?"
She pointed to the chocker inside a display case.
"Ahhh, that's my pride and joy that one. Took me nigh ten years to find those diamonds and another ten to get them set just right inside my sapphire. It took delicate precision with my tools and hours of concentration in order to get it just perfect," he took it out of the case so she could admire the craftsmanship up close.
"It's breathtaking," she held it up and watched as the light reflected off the shiny surface, "How much?"
He sighed before answering her, "$10,000."
She chuckled and handed back the chocker, "If only I were a millionaire. Thank you for letting me admire your work, it is truly a beautiful piece."
"My pleasure Miss."
She turned and began heading to the next stall when a group of kids ran into her.
"Sorry!" one little boy bowed before chasing after his friends.
She laughed to herself when something or more specifically someone caught her eye. A man was standing next to a fruit stall eyeing her. She froze instantly when she took in his features; tall, sandy blonde hair, large shinobi build, scruff around his face, a sharp nose, and liquid silver eyes that made her heart stop. He was the spitting image of her late husband…and she knew why he was here.
Tetsu…no… She screamed in her mind. Sakura!
She abruptly turned away and headed to her home. Kya knew what was coming and she had to warn her daughter.
Sakura sighed as she wiped her forehead to clear it from sweat.
"Thank you for volunteering you may go," she repeated for the twentieth time. One thing she would admit though she never had as many volunteers for something like this before. The ninjas must really be bored to willingly volunteer to be poisoned.
"Another dud," she walked up to Shizune, "It's just not activating or responding like it did that first time."
Shizune sighed, "I think you're right…it has to be a jutsu."
"And if we don't have the correct hand signs…" Sakura started.
"Then the jutsu won't work," Shizune finished, "Would you like to report it to Tsunade-sama or shall I?"
"Would you mind? I have a meeting with Prof. Hahn regarding changes to the Med. Academy curriculum. It seems as though some of the civilians want to learn medicine," she smiled as she packed up her equipment.
"Well we could use more doctors and nurses," Shizune commented, "It'll help keep our med-nins out in the field with their teams instead of being at the hospital. It will also increase the likely hood of success."
"Agreed. We will just have to modify the current curriculum to suit those who aren't able to use chakra. Conventional surgery won't have to be done by us anymore and I'm kinda looking forward to that."
Shizune laughed, "Yes you would actually have more time, what a concept."
Sakura chuckled with her as they both exited the testing area.
"So…you and Itachi?"
Sakura glanced out of the corner of her eye, "What about us?"
"You guys are the new hot gossip around Konoha, anything you want to talk about?" Shizune followed Sakura into her office.
"Define talk about," she answered with a hard voice.
Shizune sighed, "I heard about the incident with the elders. They must have just come from their 'meeting' with you when they stormed Tsunade's office."
Sakura snorted before falling into her chair and propping her feet up on her desk, "If you could call that a meeting. They walked in and interrupted my work day all so they can belittle me and try to criticize my teaching methods. I don't care about social standing if someone wants to walk in and try to knock me down I'm going to give it right back to them."
Shizune watched her fellow apprentice with pride but also slightly fearful, her eyes had gradually turned from her brilliant green to gray with hints of silver. Then without warning Sakura sat straight up and slammed her feet into the ground causing the entire hospital to shake.
"I'm sorry," Shizune apologize quickly, "I didn't mean to bring up a sore spot."
Sakura waved her hand, "It's alright…I didn't realize it still was."
Shizune nodded, "So how's the balance?"
"Stressful, I keep getting angrier over small things like this," Sakura breathed in deeply going through some calming mental exercises her mother taught her.
"Tsuande-sama has ordered your team to train with you regularly to help you."
Sakura nodded, "If I have time."
Shizune eyed her, "You don't get a choice anymore. Every day they are to train with you and they are going to make sure you wear yourself out. Tsuande-sama needs you in top form and you know you're not."
Sakura felt peeved by this interference but she relaxed knowing that her master meant it in the best possible way. She was stressed and overworked and her temper…well she didn't even want to go there. Apparently her control was gradually slipping exactly as it did before the war. She sighed and nodded when one loud and annoying blonde entered the room.
"Sakura-chan! What are you thinking trying to take out the hospital like that?" Naruto walked up to her desk and sat on it. Kakashi, Sai, and Sasuke followed him in.
"Accident."
"Get up Sakura, time to train," Sasuke ordered crossing his arms.
"I can't train right now I have a meeting to go to," she replied folding her own arms.
"No you don't we took care of it already!" Naruto announced.
"What the hell does that mean?" Sakura asked looking to Kakashi knowing she'd get the best explanation out of him.
Shizune cleared her throat, "It was rescheduled for tomorrow."
"When and why wasn't I notified?"
"We just did it," Kakashi answered with a smile, "This is your notification that for the next three hours you are training with your favorite team."
She groaned running her hands through her hair. She took out the pencil that was holding up a bun and ran her hands through to get rid of the tangles.
"Fine."
"Ya-tah! Let's go!" Naruto jumped off her desk then grabbed her hand dragging her out of the office.
Her team followed as she turned and yelled at Shizune, "You're reporting to Tsunade-shishou?"
Shizune nodded with a wave.
"And make sure Prof. Hahn knows about the change!"
Sasuke grabbed her head and turned it around, "We told you that we took care of everything."
"I'm just…"
"Not trusting in your team," Sai offered.
She growled, "It's not that it's my job and I have a right to know what's going on."
"You do, you're training with your team," Kakashi replied.
"Just relax Sakura-chan we got ya taken care of," Naruto replied with a bright smile and a wink.
She still scowled but inside she smiled…she did love her team or as she recently called them, her boys.
"Are you guys trying to make me irritated?" Sakura asked trying to keep up her annoyed façade.
"Is it working?" Naruto winked at her.
"Yes," she growled.
She heard Sasuke huff in amusement and a small chuckle come from Kakashi and she turned to see Sai giving her his traditional fake smile. She growled again…stupid boys…
As they exited the hospital they were met a crowd of people walking to and from the Farmer's Market.
"Out of the way! New Sannin coming through!" Naruto yelled making people part for them to walk.
Sakura grew a tick mark on the top of her head as she watched many of the civilians approach them with praise, "Naruuuutooooo!"
"Dobe! You were supposed to wait until we got to the training ground…not make her go crazy in the village," Sasuke cursed him as he yanked his arm away from a random girl vying for his attention.
Sakura turned her glare on Sasuke and his eyes narrowed, "Don't look at me like that."
"Don't call me crazy," she growled at him.
"Well technically you could be classified as a schizophrenic…or was it bipolar," Sai commented as he pulled out a small notebook, "Ahh yes bipolar."
"SAI!" she yelled then drew her hand back to punch him.
Sai dodged easily but was wise enough not to allow her hand to connect with the ground instead he redirected it and allowed Kakashi grab it and tuck her arm behind her back.
"Not in the village Sakura, we have to wait until we reach the training ground then you can cut lose," Kakashi advised.
"Then we better get there fast before I blow a gasket," she ground out then took off towards their training grounds with her team hot on her heels.
The sun had set and the stars were just beginning to twinkle but she knew that this was her last night on earth. This would be her last wish on a clear, beautiful night here in Konoha, to pass on not as an old maid but protecting her only daughter. Everything was ready; she was prepared for what was coming. It was inevitable, she often talked about this situation with Lu Ten and he had made sure that she memorized everything that she needed to do.
Kya took a deep breath to steady her nerves. In her hand she held an envelope and inside was a letter to Sakura. She spent most of the afternoon and evening preparing for this moment. It'd been a day since she'd seen her little flower and the last memory she had was her daughter hunched over and stressed beyond belief over this poison. A poison she now knew the origins of.
A creak echoed through the house and Kya immediately stuffed the letter into an inner pocket of her blouse. She stood up rather shakily and turned to face the kitchen entrance where she heard the slow procession of footsteps. She knew he was doing this on purpose, this man was a shinobi. If he wanted to sneak in and not be seen or heard he could. But he was after intimidation and she knew it. Apparently he hadn't changed in the 15 some odd years since she had last seen him.
He stepped into the light of the kitchen his silver eyes alight with anticipation.
"My, my Kya you sure look as lovely as ever," the man swept his gaze over her body.
"Speak for yourself, I've seen better," she replied in a monotone voice.
He tsked, "Is that anyway to treat family?"
"I never considered you family Tetsu, not after what you did to my husband and what you are planning to do with my daughter," she was backed up against the nearby wall when he flashed suddenly in front of her.
"My brother was a fool for not seeing what I was trying to accomplish," Tetsu whispered fiercely into her ear. His hand close around her neck causing her to gasp and her hands flew to grip his wrist and still his motion.
"You will not win Tetsu, my daughter," she gasped, "Will stop you."
He chuckled dangerously, "No actually, she won't."
Tetsu brought his other hand up and placed it on her arm. While his right hand constricted tightly around her neck cutting off her scream. A jolt of pain lanced up her arm before she blacked out due to oxygen deprivation.
Sakura, Sai, and Naruto sat back to back breathing deeply after their intense training session. The stars were high in the sky on a cool clear night and the crickets were singing near the newly refurbished waterfall Sakura had destroyed with Reiko.
"Where did Sasuke go again?" Sakura asked.
"Some clan meeting," Kakashi answered. Sakura glanced to see him propped against a tree just as tired as the rest of them.
"What's it about?"
Nobody answered right away since they knew the reason.
"He didn't say," Sai answered knowing that any longer Sakura would figure out something was wrong.
"That doesn't sound like him," she narrowed her eyes as her breathing settled down to a more normal pace.
Naruto shrugged, "You know how he gets sometimes. We can beat it out of him later."
Sakura giggled and lightly smacked Naruto on his arm wiping the peeved expression off his face.
"Heeeey, that hurt," he teased.
"Whatever."
"So Sakura," Kakashi asked, "How are tests subject fairing?"
She sighed before plopping face first into the ground, "Nothing…not one took."
"Shouldn't that be a good thing?" Naruto asked stretching flat out on his back.
"With any other poison yes but with this…I'm trying to find how it works but everything I've done has been a failure," she beat her hand against the ground weakly in frustration.
"I'm sorry Sakura-chan."
"But you said it might be a jutsu?" Sai questioned.
"Hai."
"If you could figure out the hands signs then that could activate the jutsu."
"That's true in theory but," she sighed, "Shizune and I tried lots of different combinations on twenty subjects but nothing."
Kakashi stood up then and walked over to crouch next to his only female student, "Care to show us what you've tried."
She nodded before sitting up and pulling out a scroll with her notes on it. Sai and Naruto joined as they collaborated on different ideas for seal designs. As typical for Sakura she was very thorough and her research on the different seal designs that coordinated with different types of poison jutsus were all on her list.
"What if it's not a jutsu?" Naruto asked after an hour of brainstorming.
"It has to be every other testing has been ruled out as a negative," Sakura insisted.
"No I mean what if it doesn't require hand signs."
"Like a Kekkei Genkai," Sai agreed.
"It's entirely possible. There is not really a limit to bloodlines," Kakashi scratched his head.
"If it's a Kekkei Genkai then we're screwed," Sakura concluded, "I can't replicate it and I can't treat it without extraction. Even then it depends on the toxicity level and where the poison is located. Not enough high level medics can perform an extraction in the field."
"Sounds like you have a new curriculum," Kakashi smiled as he stood and stretched.
"Ha. Ha. It's not as easy as you think."
"You can make anything easy Sakura-chan," Naruto smiled at her, "Anyone up for some ramen?"
"It's an hour after sunset eating this late isn't good for your health," Sakura teased.
Naruto laughed, "Don't worry about me Sakura-chan, Hinata-chan makes sure that I eat my vegetables."
"Among other things," Sai commented making Naruto gasp.
"Sai!"
"Oooo, sounds like Sai has the new scoop," Sakura weaved her arm through his, "Care to fill me in."
"Scoop?"
"He doesn't know a damn thing!" Naruto insisted.
"Naruto have you bought any protection?" Kakashi asked earning glare from his blonde student, "Only asking because even though Sakura's prevention shot is very effective accidents do happen."
He growled and cursed the sky, "What is it with people and them wanting to stick their noses into my private life."
"It's all out of love Naruto," Sakura reassured patting him lightly on his shoulder.
"Right…because people who love each other keep secrets," he mumbled to himself.
"What do you mean by secrets?" Sakura asked hearing his not quiet mumble.
"He doesn't mean anything," Kakashi answered.
She eyed her sensei and both of her teammates, "Are you guys keeping secrets from me?"
"Nope," Sai answered with his fake smile. Sakura instantly took that as the opposite answer, yes.
"What don't I know?" she demanded pushing Sai away from her, "What the hell?"
"You know everything we know," Kakashi answered pulling out his book to drop the conversation.
Naruto growled.
"Enough Naruto," Kakashi commanded.
Sakura stopped mid-stride in the direction of her sensei, her eyes narrowing, "Tell me what's going on?"
"We don't know what you mean?" Sai played along since he was still under orders.
"Itachi's keeping secrets from you!" Naruto blurted, not caring anymore.
Kakashi turned a sharp eye to him.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sakura twirled around her glare fixed on him.
"Naruto don't answer that question," Kakashi commanded.
"She deserves to know! And you know that this whole secrecy thing is just stupid!"
"It's done for a reason just like your bijuu secret was kept from you," Kakashi argued.
"This is different and you know it!" Naruto argued back.
Sakura listened to them trying to piece together just what in the hell they were talking about.
"You just disobeyed a direct order from the Hokage by saying this to her," Kakashi was beginning to reason with Naruto but as always it was an exasperating experience.
"I don't care! I was against this when she told me and I'm against it now! All this bullshit going down with these damn Uchiha's, it's frustrating and completely ridiculous and both of you know it," Naruto argued back.
"It still doesn't give you permission to disobey a direct order Naruto," Sai interjected.
"This is why Sasuke's gone isn't it?" Sakura asked breaking up the argument, "The clan meeting…it's about me."
"Not just about you," Sai answered.
Her eyes narrowed waiting for him to continue. He glanced at Kakashi and Naruto and saw they were both unwilling to answer any further, they were leaving it up to him.
"It's about your mother too. They plan on trying to deport her on grounds of incorrect residency paperwork," Sai finished his explanation knowing that it was now foolish to try and play it off.
Sakura's entire body stilled after their explanation. They could come after her, they could try to bury her and beat her half to death until she no longer had the will to fight, but as soon as threats were directed towards her mother she became a different person. She had taken the role of protector since her father died and she wasn't about to let some stupid high rolling clan get their way with this without her doing everything in her power to stop it.
No one touches my mother, her inner growled in anger.
She put her hands together and formed three quick seals, "Yin Seal Release."
"Sakura no!" Kakashi called reaching for her. The only thing he saw before he took off after her was a glimpse of silver.
Itachi stood in the center of a large room with a large table spread around him like a half moon. In front of him seated at the point in the arch was his father. To his immediate left and right were the elders of the clan Rook and Akemi who he knew both didn't approve of his relationship with Sakura. Next to the each of the elders and filling in the rest of the table were other members of the council appointed by the clan. He did notice that many of the chairs were now filled with younger faces; the sons of the men that once occupied those seats but whose death was claimed by the most recent war. Behind him was anyone who wished to be present for his "hearing." The hall these situations were typically held in was large enough to hold many of the clansmen who either wanted or needed to be present, but for this meeting is was now standing room only in a hall that could fit close to 200 people. Everyone in the clan showed up for this meeting and Itachi knew it was because the Elders wanted to pressure him with duty as much as possible by making this open to any who wished to attend from the clan. A gross exaggeration of peer pressure.
"Uchiha Itachi I trust you know why you're here?" Rook asked leaning forward in his chair, hands clasped in front of him.
"I would like some clarification," he replied in a monotone, stoic voice.
"You are here because you have violated one of the duties and responsibilities given to you as the heir," Akemi explained.
"And what would this violation be?" Itachi asked again, if they wanted to be vague in their accusations then he was going to be vague in his responses.
"Your relationship with one Haruno Sakura is in direct violation to the law written and afforded to you by the clan," Rook answered in a hard voice.
"I was not aware that casual dating was against clan policies."
"As you stated in her office four days ago you confessed that you were currently seeing each other," Rook announced.
Itachi gave no reply waiting for the elder to make his point.
"If you were merely casually dating as you put it then you would not currently be in this situation," Akemi clarified, "The fact that you are here should tell you that this situation is more serious than a reprimand for casual dating outside the clan."
Itachi remain silent.
"Have you not a word to say in your defense?" Akemi asked.
"Anything I would say would only anger you further and I have no wish to do so," he replied maintaining the same stoic posture.
"Then you will not object to ending your bout of casual dating as you've put it?" Rook asked.
"Or else you will force the councils hand farther than it's already had to reach," Akemi added.
Itachi's eyes narrowed knowing full well what they were implying. He'd kept this from Sakura knowing full well that if she were to find out he'd lose her and that was the last thing that he wanted to happen. After they stormed out of the office they immediately went to the Hokage and demanded action because of Sakura's blatant lack of respect. Naturally Tsuande wasn't going to take any action until she knew the entire story in order to make a justified decision. Itachi was summoned the next afternoon to explain why the cranky elders had such a bone to pick with her apprentice. Being the obedient soldier he gave her a full report of everything he knew including his intentions. Tsunade was outraged at first when he claimed so casually that he wanted to take Sakura as his bride but after another explanation she was somewhat appeased that he had the best of intentions and was not just using her for some petty purpose. Tsuande then revealed to him that the elders claimed they weren't going to stop until they put an end to this relationship. The very next morning after her impromptu meeting, she was presented with the Haruno's residency papers and the elders were quick to point out the unconventional method of their citizenship. Tsunade wanted to deny their irrational claims but as she looked over the paperwork she couldn't help but sigh, the Sandaime did cut corners. Now the only thing left to investigate was why, which led to her meeting with Kya.
Kya explained that they had just arrived after the Kyuubi attacked and the village was in slight disarray. Kya was eight months pregnant and in a desperate situation so their investigation was not as extensive as was typical for immigrants seeking refuge in a Hidden Village. Kya gave birth a week later to her pre-mature baby girl; the stress of her travel induced her early.
Itachi's eyes narrowed dangerously as their subtle threat, "You will not lay a hand against Sakura or her mother."
"End your relationship and we won't have to," Rook demanded.
"You realize what will happen if you take political action against her?"
"Nothing will happen to us. Only she and her mother will be sent back to their home country since they never should have been allowed to be here in the first place," Akemi answered.
"Such action is premature and uncalled for," Itachi reasoned trying to maintain a hold over his rapidly growing anger. He drew on all of his training during his childhood and ANBU years to keep the same stoic look on his face.
"But it would solve the problem," Fugaku interjected silencing the impending argument.
Behind Itachi's now rigid form sat his mother and brother. Sasuke was fuming and it was taking every ounce of self-restraint to keep him from lashing out in defense of his brother and teammate. His mother added her soft support by gently rubbing him arm to try and keep him calm. He couldn't remember being so mad at any one person before in his life and right now his anger was directed at his father. Apparently their small family meeting over the subject did nothing to change his completely biased opinion. They spent the time talking and explaining how she would be a great addition to the clan but now…it had all fallen on deaf ears. But what happened next surprised him more than he thought it would.
Itachi fixed his father with an unrelenting gaze and declared, "If this is what is going to happen if I pursue Sakura then consider this my defection from the Uchiha clan and I am now an independent party."
The entire building erupted in protests and what shocked the elders and the older members of the council was the protests were against them. A chorus of voices was asking and some pleading with Itachi to reconsider, not his claim on Sakura, but on defecting from the clan. Gradually the building quieted down as a wave of suffocating killer intent permeated the building.
Sasuke stood up immediately and strode toward the middle of the room, "Clear the area!"
The clansmen that were occupying the general radius gave him a wide berth when they notice he not only activated his sharingan but also his Magenkyo. He looked up one second before a section of the roof exploded and in popped one pissed off woman. Her landing caused a large tremor to shake the meeting house as her pink hair settled around her, obscuring her face from immediate view.
"Sakura," Sasuke called to her cautiously when he realized that the killer intent was radiating off of her.
She stood up slowly then raised her head to look him straight in the eye. "Out of my way…Sasuke," she growled at him.
His eyes narrowed taking in, not just gray, but liquid silver eyes. Her inner was in full control and her power was amplified due to the blue spirals covering her body indicating the activation of her Yin Seal, "I will not Sakura. You need to get your mind right."
"I don't give a damn about what you think, get out of my way!" she demanded.
Before she got two steps Sakura found her body restricted by three other persons. Sai had drawn two snakes that wound their way around her legs halting her immediate movement; he also drew his tanto and had it pointed just below her rib cage as he knelt beside her waiting to strike. Kakashi was positioned behind her, his hand holding her neck on the pressure points threateningly. Naruto appeared in her direct line of sight holding one of her arms behind her back and blocking her forward movement with his body.
"Sakura-chan," Naruto whispered since he was so close to her ear, "Let's go."
She growled, "Back off Naruto. You all have kept this from me long enough."
"We can't do that Sakura. If you want to get pissed off and vent your anger you will do so with your team," Kakashi's voice was hard leaving no room for argument.
"Bite me Kakashi," she tried to wiggle free only to feel Sai's tanto break skin, Kakashi's grip hardened hitting the pressure points in her neck, and Naruto constricted around her.
"Don't make me break your grip guys," she warned drawing on more of her power to her center.
Sasuke drew his blade and placed it right next to her throat. He could see the influx of chakra growing into the center of her body due to his activated sharingan. "Don't do that," he warned.
She smiled wickedly at him, "What are you going to do about it Sasuke-kun? I dare you." She pressed her throat tighter against his blade forcing him to break skin. A small bead of blood fell onto the blade before finding its way over the edge and falling on Naruto's constricting arm. She started chuckling to herself and pressed even harder on the blade. Sasuke narrowed his eyes as Naruto shoved her back with Kakashi's help to keep her from impaling herself.
"Enough Sakura-chan, we're leaving," Naruto ordered her.
"I have unfinished business with these Uchiha's. You will let me speak," she turned her head to glare at her longtime teammate and best friend.
"What is it that you wish to say Sakura?"
She turned her head away from Naruto to stare at the man she thought she could trust. Her gaze hardened as she saw his concern radiating in his eyes but his general demeanor remained impassive.
"You!" she yelled at Itachi, "How could you, you lying bastard! How dare you keep something like this from me! It was not your decision and it's not your fucking right!"
"Haruno, you have interrupted a clan meeting and you have no say in these matters," Fugaku stood from his chair to address the group in the middle of the room, "I am asking you and your team to leave before you dig yourself a deeper hole than you are already in."
"I WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL I'VE SAID ALL I'VE COME HERE TO SAY!"
In an instant Sai, Kakashi, and Naruto were all blown away from her body. The chakra flare she ejected from her body caused a ripple effect, the white flare spread out like a ring, spreading around the room. Once the white ring hit the windows, glass shattered causing those standing by them to shield themselves from the glittering onslaught. She had shocked the room silent but had also caused those who were able to activate their sharingans and take up defensive stances.
Sakura took a deep breath before continuing, "Hear me and hear me well Elders. None of you and I repeat NONE of you will EVER lay a single finger against my mother either politically, physically, emotionally, or mentally. If I even sense that something is bothering her and I trace that insecurity back to you; you will personally feel my wrath and Elders…you will be eternally sorry."
Her body started to shake…she was overdoing it and she needed to end this tirade soon. But she couldn't, not yet. She needed this power for intimidation and her Inner was the perfect personality for the job. If they didn't believe she could back up her threat then they wouldn't take her seriously.
"Haruno Sakura," Fugaku stood to address her once more, his face remaining impassive, "You have no right to storm into our compound and threaten our people. I strongly recommend that you leave before you have a challenge on your hands."
Sakura could feel the intense stare of red eyes all around the room. Many of the activators were tense and ready purely for self-defense.
Sakura chuckled wickedly causing some younger people in the room to stiffen. Itachi's eyes narrowed in confusion as he studied her, This is not Sakura…this is…I need to find out what her team knows.
"Sakura enough!" Kakashi yelled stalking towards her carefully.
"Leave now Sakura," Rook narrowed his eyes at her, "You are not strong enough to take on the entirety of the Uchiha clan."
"Be silent! Your words are not helping!" Sasuke turned around ordering the old man and his father. He turned back to see Sakura frozen in rage, her trembling had increased tenfold.
"Weak," she hissed with a look of pure unadulterated hatred directed towards the elders, "You want to see weak I'll show you fucking WEAK!"
Sasuke went into action redirecting Sakura's anger from his clansmen to himself. She took a long cut across her abdomen because of her oversight, but Sasuke accomplished his goal.
"Back off Sasuke!" she raged throwing another punch in his direction which he redirected before it hit the ground causing more chaos than was already necessary. Her green chakra was visible to the naked eye indicating that even if she got close to hitting him her chakra would cut or burn anything within range. Dodging was the best way to escape injury when her hands lit up but too much dodging would make Sakura switch to midrange attacks and that usually meant the reformation of the earth. So in order to protect the people in the meeting house and the foundation of the building they would have to make her stay with short range taijutsu attacks. Kakashi and Sai joined the fray keeping Sakura's fists from hitting the ground at all costs.
"Anytime Naruto!" he screamed a second before throwing her away from him.
Sakura stuck her landing flawlessly shoving her hands through the floorboards and cracking the concrete foundation beneath. Once she was settled she turned her rage again on the elders who were threatening the only family she had left in this world. She charged head on and didn't slow down even though Itachi jumped in the way to intercept her. Before her fist could make contact and flash of orange filled her vision and she was immediately restrained. Her eyes hardened as she tried to yank her fists out of his iron grip but she realized it was going to be useless when she noticed Naruto's yellow sage eyes glaring back at her. She could feel Naruto's grip hardening around her fists even though it was hurting him he knew the Kyuubi would heal it faster than Sakura could tear them apart.
"I said enough Sakura-chan," he growled at her, "It's time to leave."
"Nobody gets away with threatening my mother!" she growled back at him, "The last man that did that I beat him into a coma!"
"They won't be touching your mother Sakura-chan, I won't allow it," Naruto vowed slowly moving her back away from the main table.
"She is my responsibility! I don't need you butting into my affairs Naruto!" Sakura began her struggle again against him but even her super strength was no match against nature energy.
Naruto forced her back easily until she was directly under the hole she created from her entrance earlier.
"Sai, Kakashi, Sasuke head West!" Naruto yelled at his team. They all nodded and bolted from the room.
Sakura finally broke away from his grip knowing what was coming for her. Naruto blocked her chakra punch and dealt a strong upper cut to her chin launching her body into the night sky. He followed her up before punching her twice again in the face then kicking her on the cut Sasuke inflicted earlier on her stomach. The kick launched her in a westward direction and he watched with pained eyes as his best friend and teammate went spiraling into the moonlight.
Sakura crashed through three trees before landing roughly on the ground in a broken heap. Luckily she had landed face down into the grass so when she coughed up blood she wouldn't choke on it due to her inability to move.
Everywhere ached. She took an inventory of her body so she could assess the worst of the injuries that she was going to need to heal first before they killed her or left lasting damage. Broken leg could wait for a little bit, those three ribs Naruto broke with his last kick needed to be healed before they punctured her lungs, the numerous cuts and bruises were going to have to wait especially since she just found some internal bleeding that was going to have to be the first thing healed. She closed her now jade eyes and focused her chakra in her body to the area between her stomach and intestines.
A slight rustle in the bushes was all the warning she got before her team walked up to her.
"Sakura," Sasuke breathed and he knelt next to her, "You ok?"
"Do I look as bad as I feel?" she ground out in an exhausted voice, spitting blood in the process.
"You look like shit if that helps," Sai stood next to her head looking down at her with a blank expression.
"Go to hell Sai…" she sighed, Trust Sai to always give me an honest answer even though the question was rhetorical.
"Do we need to take you to the hospital?" Kakashi asked gently picking her up and leaning her against the closest tree. She winced as the change of position aggravated her cracked ribs. Those had to be healed when she finished with the internal bleeding.
She shook her head to Kakashi's question when Naruto ran through the brush.
"Kami Sakura-chan I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to kick you through three trees," he knelt in front of her with big sad eyes.
"Don't worry about it Naruto, that kick took everything in me to change back and you got rid of my seal release so thank you," she smiled weakly at him.
"Have you set your leg yet?" Kakashi asked with a slight nod of his head towards her left leg.
"No…I'm almost finished with my internal bleeding then I need to do my ribs then my leg."
"Let us at least set it so it'll be easier to heal later," Sasuke gently picked up her leg earning a yelp from her.
"I need to concentrate Sasuke just wait," she pleaded with tears beginning to leak out of her closed eyes.
Sasuke nodded in compliance and set her broken leg back down. Sakura concentrated on breathing evenly and keeping a steady chakra flow; which was slightly difficult due to her massive amounts of chakra loss from the evening, first from poison treatment, then training, and finally from her incident at the Uchiha compound.
Her gasp was the only indication her teammates got that she had finished with her internal injuries. Internal bleeding was stabilized and her ribs were connected and stable for further healing when she had more chakra to spend on herself.
"Alright set my leg."
Sasuke lifted it gently as Kakashi held her against the tree to keep her from jerking involuntarily.
"3…2…1," Sasuke counted before twisting her leg snapping it back into place.
Oh Kami that hurt! Her inner yelped.
Well hello did you have a nice fucking rampage? She asked herself.
I refuse to answer that patronizing question.
Fine but we will discuss this later.
Fine.
"It's set," Sasuke told her as he slowly lowered her leg back to the ground.
Sakura breathed heavily through her nose until the initial pain gave way to numbness. With another deep breath she slowly brought her hands up to her left hip and lit them up with healing chakra. Her team sat with her in silence not knowing how to address the situation and anything they might say could just make matters worse before they had a chance to get better.
Naruto and Sai took up a defensive position when a chakra flare and the rustle of bushes signaled the arrival of another person.
"Stand down," Sasuke ordered recognizing the chakra signature, "It's just Itachi."
The two men stood tall but relaxed as the watched the tall Uchiha enter their small clearing. He stopped as soon as he cleared the brush and observed the scene. At first when he flared his chakra he expected the entire team to jump to the offensive and was surprised that Naruto and Sai were the only ones to respond. But then again he saw Kakashi slip the three shruiken back into his weapons pouch and settle back into a lazy crouch as he watched his female student heal herself.
When his eyes finally rested on her they narrowed in observation. Sasuke had informed him prior to the meeting that his team has taken Sakura to train. He concluded that she must not have healed herself prior to invading the compound; then she had her fight with her team and he watched as Naruto neutralized her…what would he even call that? Whatever had happened back there it was not Sakura's typical behavior.
"Finished with your leg?" Kakashi asked.
"Yeah…" she breathed utterly exhausted.
"Want us to take you home Sakura-chan?" Naruto knelt in front of her the guilt radiating off him in waves.
She shook her head slightly, "No…mama will fuss over me like a chicken with her head cut off if she were to see me looking like this."
Sai scrunched his brows not getting the analogy.
Sakura glanced up at him and smiled lightly, "She'd go bat-shit crazy Sai."
"Ah," he smiled in thanks.
"Sakura," Itachi walked up before standing before her, "May I have a word with you?"
"No, in all honesty I don't even want to look at you right now," she replied with as much anger as she could muster.
"Just leave her be Itachi," Sasuke hissed at his older brother.
"I won't take up much of your time Sakura," Itachi ignored his younger brother and continued to stare at her.
"No he's right Itachi," she finally opened her eyes to glare at her supposed boyfriend, "How the hell did you think that keeping something like this was the right thing to do? How could you? She's my mother and my responsibility."
"I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily," he answered her.
"Worry?" she asked her anger flaring again but too exhausted to do anything but yell, "Didn't want me to worry! This is exactly why I didn't even want to start this. I didn't want to go through any of this over something so stupid as just being with someone! Kami…I'm such an idiot." Her hands gripped her bangs, "Why do I keep doing this to myself? I knew this was a bad idea but I let you talk me into it like some stupid love sick girl who only falls for superficial things. So much for fucking changing myself…" She slammed her fist against the trunk of the tree unable to create even a small tremor. She growled to herself and she continued to slam her fist into the tree trying to get the appropriate response from her action.
"I'm out of chakra," she seethed, "This is all your fault you stupid…!"
"Sakura-chan please stop," Naruto caught her fist from slamming back down and creating more injuries to herself. A choked gasp had him jerking his head up to see a small stream of tears leaking from her eyes. "Oh Sakura-chan…"
"It's all my fault…" she said in a small voice.
"It's not your fault Sakura," Kakashi placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Yes it is…" she continued.
"We weren't allowed to tell you, so…" Sasuke continued.
"Shut up and listen to me," she ordered silencing their consoling words, "It is my fault. Everything that is happening is my fault from breaking my father's oath to accepting Itachi's offer. My father when I first entered the academy he made me promise that if anything were to ever happen to him that I would use everything in my power to protect my mother. I promised him I would study hard and become the best I could be so that when I got older we could protect mother together. I failed…after he died a part of me died. I lost sight of my reason for entering the academy and I left my mother vulnerable. And now this…I knew exactly what was going to happen and I still accepted. This political bullshit is more exhausting than even the strictest of training. And the worst part is…you want to know…their damn claims are actually true. My mother has a copy of our citizenship paperwork and even I could tell the Sandaime cut corners. They really could have us evicted and revoke our citizenship despite the fact that I was born here."
"I won't let it happen," Itachi told her in a firm voice.
"Don't make promises you can't keep," she looked at him with sad eyes, "It's my responsibility to protect my mother. Even if you could fight the fact that I was born here and that naturally grants me citizenship it doesn't protect her. Where she goes I go and nobody, no matter how important they are to me will keep me from changing that decision." She stared at every man congregated around her making sure they knew that this statement applied to them as well.
"That's not going to happen Sakura-chan," Naruto fixed her with a determined look, "And you know Tsunade baa-chan won't allow it either."
"You're a member of Team Seven Sakura and not an easily replaceable member at that," Sasuke offered her a small smile.
"Even the Uchiha know it is unwise to let one of the best medics in the world leave this village to become a potential enemy," Sai reasoned.
"It's not like you to give up Sakura…why is that?" Kakashi asked sensing something underneath her concern for all of the political bullshit.
She looked at her sensei but didn't answer and instead closed her eyes sucking in a deep breath.
"It's late, you guys should head home," she said dismissively.
"We're not leaving you our here by yourself," Kakashi stood and stretched, "Naruto, Sasuke pick her up."
"Leave me be…I don't want to go home yet."
"You might be in a Konoha forest but that doesn't mean you are exactly safe," Sai told her.
"I'll stay with her," Itachi shifted from his previously crouched position and sat cross-legged in front of her.
"Itachi just leave her alone," Sasuke turned to scowl at his older brother.
"I will not so if you would all excuse us I have some important matters to discuss with her," he turned his own annoyed glare on his brother.
"I want all of you to leave. That means you too Itachi," she growled at him.
"Not until we've spoken," he replied turning his gaze back to her, "We have much to discuss."
"Let's go then, Sasuke, Naruto, Sai, we will see Sakura tomorrow," Kakashi said as he began exiting the clearing.
Sasuke hissed but turned around and abruptly stormed off. Sai followed obediently casting one more glance over at Sakura who only nodded for him to continue; she admired his more protective side that had begun to surface after the war, he rarely showed it to anyone other than his teammates. Naruto stared at Itachi wondering what game he was trying to play; what was his angle? After not being able to come up with a solution on the spot he walked backwards and out of the clearing leaving the two alone.
"Tell me the real reason why you didn't tell me?" Sakura asked abruptly not looking at him.
"I didn't want to worry you."
"Bullshit, do us both a favor and just be honest," she opened her eyes to glare at him.
He sighed and placed a hand on her knee causing her to flinch. He replaced his hand into his own lap feeling a small pang in his chest, "I wanted to protect you just like I promised when we first started dating."
"I don't need protection."
"Yes you do."
"I'm not weak," she spat at him, "I don't need to be coddled or babied."
"I didn't mean to imply that you were weak only that I didn't want to add more stress to your person especially since I could handle this situation myself."
She snorted and crossed her arms in front of her. Handle the situation…
He is the heir so between the two of you he'd get his way before you ever got yours.
When I want you opinion will ask for it.
Fine I'll but out!
About time!
She was not in the mood to deal with her Inner right now but even she knew her other half was right in this situation. She hated her Inner self sometimes, and especially when she pissed at her original self. Sighing in exhaustion she dropped her hands to her lap playing with the hem of her shorts, "Well none of that matters now…I've ruined things for us anyway."
"I do not see it that way," he replaced his hand to rest lightly on her knee; this time she didn't flinch.
She laughed to herself, "How can you say that after everything you just saw me do?"
He quirked a brow; this was definitely something he wanted to talk about, "What happened back there?"
She shook her head, "I don't want to talk about it right now."
"You weren't yourself and your eyes were a bright silver," he continued not wanting to drop the subject just yet.
"Itachi not right now, you're just going to have to wait…" she closed her eyes again and rubbed her hands over her face, "We can't be together anymore ok."
"I've defected from my clan so that I can become an independent party," he told her in a voice that might as well have said 'it's supposed to rain tomorrow'.
Sakura's eyes shot open and her mouth went slack, "What did you say?"
He gave her a soft smile, "Sakura, I want to be with you and no amount of politics and duty is going to keep me from you."
The shocked look remained on her face, "Sasuke…he doesn't want this Itachi, how could you do this to him?"
"Sakura are you listening to me?"
"Yes I'm listening you said you just defected from your clan."
"And what else?" he reached out and took on of her hands in his.
"You said…you said you wanted to be with me," she whispered before shaking her head out of a stupor, "Itachi you can't do this! I can't do this! I won't let you just abandon your clan just to spend your life with me. No!"
"It's not your choice…" he started.
"Yes it is and I'm not going to let you do this!"
"It's my choice Sakura," he stated firmly stilling her arguments with a firm grip on her leg and hand, "I would rather spend a lifetime with you than to adhere to the petty politics of my clan."
Sakura gasped to cover up the sob that threatened to expel itself from her lips. Why was he doing this to her? Didn't he know that saying these things was just going to make it harder for her to let him go? She was falling for him and hard…and to have him confessing this to her was only going to break her heart one more time and she just couldn't bear to feel that pain again. This man had begun to fill in a gap that had remained open and aching since her heart first got ripped open. Now he was giving up everything, all because he wanted to be with her.
"I'm not worth it Itachi…just let me go before this gets any harder…" she begged, frustrated at herself for showing such weakness in front of him.
"No Sakura, you've captured my heart and I couldn't let you go even if I tried."
Hearing her choked sob and seeing the influx of tears he moved in closer and drew her battered and tired form into his chest. Her arms instantly wound around his waist and held him tightly afraid that he would disappear if she let go. Itachi could feel his shirt slowly get soaked with her tears and he rocked her back and forth to comfort her. When her tears didn't slow he brought his lips down and placed tender lingering kisses on her forehead before resting his cheek on the top of her head.
"Why?" she whispered against his chest, "What is it about me? I'm nobody special; I'm not even very pretty."
"On the contrary Sakura, you are very beautiful," he gently placed his fingers under her chin and tilted her face up so he could gaze into her emerald eyes, "Your ingenuity outwits even the smartest of men. Your strength doesn't originate from your chakra but from your heart. You stand tall when faced with the storms of adversity instead of running from it. Your compassion isn't only reserved for you patients but also for those you hold close to your heart. People admire you where ever you walk and not because of your feats but because you refuse to conform. You are your own person and you won't let anyone take that away from you. Your hair shines brightly and it is as soft as silk. Your eyes radiate your inner beauty and I couldn't help but become captivated by them. Sakura…you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
Sakura's reaction was instantaneous as she sat up and pressed her lips to his. Itachi accepted them easily and kissed her back with as much ferocity and neediness that she was giving. Sakura shifted to her knees ignoring the slight pain in her previously injured leg and her hands gripped his neck as she deepened the kiss. Itachi was surprised when she forced her tongue into his mouth but accepted it with ease and he held her around her hips pressing her body firmly against his. Their tongues swirled around each other molding and adapting as they tasted one another. Sakura sighed in contentment as Itachi's hands slowly began massaging their way up her back then back down to her hips. Her hands decided to mimic the movement and slid down from his neck to his chest. Her tongue retracted and she ended the kiss slowly with sweet and innocent pecks before sighing and pressing her forehead to his.
"You're not making this easy," she whispered before opening her eyes to gaze into his onyx depths.
"I'm not losing you Sakura," his hands massaged in small circles on her lower back, "My jewel."
She bowed her head slightly bashful as his tenderness, "You would really leave you clan for me?"
"In a heartbeat," he responded without hesitation.
"Sasuke would hate you forever if you did."
"He would get over it."
"I don't want you to have to make that sacrifice."
"Then stay with me. We can get through this together."
Her head fell onto his shoulder, "Please don't keep secrets from me then. I know I owe you some answers for my behavior and I'll explain it later when I'm rested but please Itachi…" she gripped his tear stained shirt for emphasis.
"My foolishness caused you pain. I will not make the same mistake again."
Sakura smiled against his shoulder knowing that his promise was as good as he could give but it also came directly from his heart. She loosened her grip then wound her arms around his neck.
"Shall I escort you home?" he asked.
"No, just hold me a while longer please."
He nodded then shifted her body so that she was sitting in his lap and cradled against his chest.
Mmmmmmm hmmmmmm love me some Itachi :) Don't forget to review it makes me update faster! ;) Oh and i almost finished chapter 6 and i love it...like love it ;)