Chapter 12 is up and running and i am a writing machine! The poll is still active please let me know which way you want me to take the story!
1) Sakura becomes a jinchurikki
2) Sakura narrowly escapes the sealing ritual
Vote! Vote! Vote! either in a review or a PM. But just so you're aware i won't be revealing the results of the poll, you will have to read to find out! Mwa ha ha haaaaaaaaaaa ok onto the chapter, enjoy!
Naruto was pacing in front of Tsunade's desk in a rage. They knew this would happen…well not this specifically but he knew something like this was going to happen. They were warned, albeit subtly, but they were sufficiently warned.
"Naruto…" Tsunade called wearily from behind the desk, "Stop pacing it won't help the situation."
"How can I not pace baa-chan! This is serious!" he told her blue eyes blazing with rage and guilt, "Kokuo…" he whispered finally settling on the couch.
Tsunade sighed feeling his pain, "We have ANBU out searching and Kumo has sent some more out too. We will find the bijuu."
"Him…it's a him," he correctly her weakly a single tear escaping from his now sad eyes.
Tsunade stood from her desk and went to comfort her favorite blonde. She knew he would take this more personally than anyone else because to others they were just bijuu; tailed beasts that have always remained impersonal to the majority of the shinobi core. But with Naruto, from the little he relayed of his experience, he learned their names, fought for them against Madara's impersonator, and became the true and trusted ally.
"Naruto…it might not be the same man…" Tsunade started but even her own words were bitter in her mouth.
Naruto just huffed, "You don't believe that any more than I do. 'I have a few shipments to finish then I will see you again'. Shipments…what a dick."
It was Tsunade's turn to chuckle, "Yes but don't give up hope yet. We do have two prisoners."
"And we're about as close to finding things out about Tetsu than when we started. The kunoichi knows nothing because she's been undercover so long. And the guy," he spat, "We can't get anything crucial out of him."
"Well maybe we could if Sakura would agree to help."
"No!" the golden blonde blurted as he jumped off the couch, "Hell no, I'm not allowing him to torture her any more than he's already done. Not uh, not happening."
Tsunade rolled her eyes, "Naruto it's been a week and the situation has now changed. We have a bijuu missing! If Tetsu is responsible then we need to find him now before he seals it into a human."
He stopped mid-step grabbing his unruly hair tightly. He couldn't do this to Sakura-chan…after everything…no, it wasn't happening. But Kokuo…
So you'll just abandon my brethren because you're worried about someone's feelings…I thought you'd grown.
He growled, Kurama…you know the situation as much as I do.
I do. And prior to the war I wouldn't have cared but now, after the bond, after everything we know about the Sage of the Sixth Paths and what it means. We are one now Naruto. All of us.
I know…ok I'll talk to Sakura-chan. Thank you Kurama…
Tsk…stop thanking me I still don't like it, the Kyuubi growled from within.
"Hey baa-chan I'm going to talk to Sakura-chan about assisting in the interrogation," Naruto looked at her with a resolute but sad expression.
She nodded silently and watched as her strode out the door of her office…soon to be his.
Sakura was buried in paperwork. There was nothing she could do about it either, the mission had set her back a week and even with the help her medic team could give her, it still put her back. Not that she minded all that much honestly since Itachi was gone on a mission. After their training session he received the call from Tsunade in the form of a hawk. He left immediately and Sakura was grateful because he was thoroughly kicking her ass. The last time she had felt that exhausted, over worked, and mentally stressed was her training with Tsunade-shishou. But she had asked for it and was not sorry. She pushed herself long and hard, testing, stretching, using every ounce of chakra and wit against an unbeatable opponent. In the end she figured it was worth the exhaustion and she left the deformed training field with a large smile on her face. He had stopped by again that night saying he had a mission and was leaving first thing in the morning. She fretted over him like a mother telling him stupid things like be careful, stay safe, don't be a damn hero, and for the love of all that is holy…don't get poisoned.
"Sakura-shishou?" TingTing's voice asked quietly while shaking her master's shoulder.
Sakura jerked awake shoving a pile of papers off the desk. TingTing shrieked while lunging to grab most of the fallen papers before they scattered into a giant mess.
"Kami," Sakura rubbed the sleep from her eyes, "TingTing…I'm so sorry."
"It's ok shishou, I just wanted to ask you if you needed us to do anything else tonight," the brunette smiled placing the saved papers back in their spot.
"Oh, no you guys head on home. I don't need you picking up my bad work habits," Sakura smiled at her team.
"You should head home to shishou," Moegi chided lightly, "You were just asleep at your desk."
Sakura chuckled guiltily but shook her head, "Can't ladies. This is the price I pay for being Director of the hospital, Headmaster of the Medical Academy, and Chief Medical Officer in Konoha. Word of advice, never take on all three positions if offered."
They all laughed together before Reiko stepped forward with a shy smile, "No worries shishou but…we know why you're really here late."
Sakura quirked a brow, "Oh really and what is it pray tell?"
"Oh…" Moegi flipped her hair, "We think it's the absence of a certain Uchiha…"
"Even we've noticed how gloomy and sad you've been since he left," TingTing gripped her hands behind her back and rocked back and forth on her heels.
"We know you're just trying to distract yourself from missing him too much while he's gone," Reiko backed up by her two temporary teammates.
Sakura shot them a mild glare, "You know I remember telling each of you to go home," she emphasized.
The three girls laughed conspiratorially.
"Actually shishou before we go can I ask you a question?" TingTing raised her delicate hand.
"Raising your hand…seriously TingTing?" Sakura rolled her eyes but smiled slightly.
TingTing just blushed quickly lowering her hand, "Do you love Itachi-san is that why you miss him so much?"
Sakura jerked upright in her chair with wide eyes, her lips fumbled and stuttered trying to answer. Why the hell couldn't she put a coherent answer together? But more importantly, why in the hell was TingTing asking her that any way?
"Judging by her reaction I'd take that as a yes," Reiko winked at her small teammate.
TingTing squealed and began jumping up and down causing both Reiko and Moegi to started laughing out right.
"Alright," Sakura yelled with brightly flushed cheeks, "Enough teasing at my expense now I'm not going to repeat myself when I say GO HOME!"
Each of the girls shrieked seeing the serious but embarrassed look on their master's face that looked eerily similar to their current Hokage's no-nonsense face. She was serious and was about to use force if they didn't make themselves scarce.
"Just because you are tired and irritable doesn't mean you have to take it out on your subordinates," a soothing, yet familiar masculine voice entered the room.
Sakura's angry, tired eyes suddenly turned relieved, "You're home!" she breathed running around her desk and straight into his arms hooking her legs around his body making him stumble a few steps before regaining his balance. "Are you ok? Injured? Chakra exhaustion? Any strains or bruises? You weren't poisoned were you?"
Itachi silenced her fussing by bringing her head down into a kiss. Sakura's mind immediately went blank; she missed his kisses, his touch, him in general. The kiss ended too soon, but off when a chorus of giggles echoed in the hospital hallway…wait when did she get…into…the hallway.
Sakura's face turned beet red as the night nurses and doctors all chuckled at the scene. There was their director straddling the Uchiha heir while giving him a huge welcome home kiss. Needless to say it was quite a shock to see her pounce on a typically untouchable man, and from the look on her face, it was obviously unintentional. Quickly sliding off her current position she buried her face into his ANBU covered chest to avoid more embarrassment.
"Let me walk you home," he whispered near her ear, "You're exhausted."
She nodded not caring or wanting to stay at the hospital any longer. Her students had hit the nail right on the head earlier, she was drowning herself in work to forget her feelings of missing Itachi.
"Let me get some stuff," she told him before turning and reentering her office.
"Goodnight shishou," her three medics all sang together while walking in a single file line out of her office.
Sakura just rolled her eyes waving them off eliciting another chorus of giggles. Itachi watched as each of her medics winked at him before strolling down the white hallway and out of sight. His quizzical brow turned to Sakura as she closed her office door and locked it before turning around.
"Have you eaten dinner?" she asked taking his offered hand.
He shook his head no.
"I guessed I should have figured since you walked in here dressed in your uniform, you must have just gotten back."
He nodded opening the hospital door for her to walk through first.
"Were any of your teammates hurt?"
"No it was mostly reconnaissance we met no resistance."
"Was it concerning Tetsu?" she asked cautiously.
He nodded again, "We took a few leads concerning the shipments from your report. We checked docking areas in Wave and Moss as well as various large trading cities in Fire."
"Anything?"
He looked her in the eye and shook his head, "Whatever he meant my hunch is telling me it wasn't going to come through the large ports."
She sighed then straightened as they approached her home. Naruto was leaning against her door, arms folded, looking like he needed to have a serious talk. Sakura squeezed Itachi's hand signaling for him to stay with her as they both approached.
"Naruto, you ok?" Sakura asked placing a comforting hand on his arm.
"Sakura…you have a moment to talk?" Naruto looked up at her with heavy pained eyes.
"For you always, you know that," Sakura replied unlocking her front door and inviting both men in.
Itachi and Naruto sat at the dining table while Sakura put a pot of hot water on the stove for tea and heated up left over stir fry for her and Itachi and a cup of instant ramen for Naruto. Once it was all on the table Sakura poured the tea in each of their cups then got settled in for what seemed to be a long conversation.
"So…it's almost 10pm what do you need to talk about?" Sakura asked watching Naruto slowly slurp his ramen, "It's obviously bothering you a great deal since you're not calling me Sakura-chan and you're lust for ramen is at an all-time low."
Naruto cracked a small grin before looking up at his other best friend, "You're not going to like it but trust me when I say I don't think we have another choice."
Sakura nodded seeing something in his eyes begging her to understand.
"We need your help with the captive."
"No," she answered automatically, "No, no, no. I swear Naruto if you put me in the same room as that…I'm going to kill him."
Big blue eyes dropped to the table, "I knew you would say that. It's why nobody has asked…until now. But Sakura-chan please," he begged looking back up, "We need you."
"Why?" she asked back with a hard voice, "So he can just ridicule me and tell me what a horrible traitorous bitch I am? No thanks I've heard enough of that to last me the rest of my life." Sakura sat back in her seat suddenly very determined to eat her dinner.
Watching the proceedings with a keen eye Itachi spoke up before Naruto lost too much heart and gave up, "Naruto-san why are you asking this of her?"
Naruto sighed running a hand through his hair, "We got word earlier today that a bijuu is missing, the Gobi to be exact."
Sakura's eyes widened as she set her chopsticks down swallowing her bite, "The Gobi…you don't think…?"
He shrugged, "We don't know for sure. I sent a correspondence to Bee as soon as I found out. Baa-chan sent out two ANBU teams to search last known location and to find the trail from there. Hopefully Kumo will send two of their own to assist."
"I…see…" Sakura whispered, "But I still don't see why you need me in the interrogation."
Naruto sat up then downed the ramen broth before speaking, "Inoichi can't get any access because he keeps getting thrown out. Even with sedation…I'm sure you can understand why, since he shares blood and all."
The pink haired woman heaved a heavy sigh placing both hands on her forehead.
"Will there be others in the room?" Itachi asked Naruto.
He nodded, "Inoichi is going to act as a go between and be in the subject's consciousness with her. But alone he can't get past the Inner and we don't think this will work with anyone else because…"
"Because they can't separate their chakra like I can," Sakura finished for him.
Naruto nodded, "It's obviously untested because we've never encountered this before but…no time like the present right?" he asked trying to lighten the mood.
Sakura just stared at him before smiling slightly. Leaning back in her chair she deliberated.
You know we have to. Naruto, the upcoming Rokudaime, is asking us to help.
I know…I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to see him again.
But this is about more than him. This is about finding Tetsu which is definitely on our "to do" list.
You're right…
"I'll do it," she answered softly looking at her favorite teammate, "When and where?"
Naruto smiled sadly, "Tomorrow at the Intelligence Building. He's being kept in the maximum security cell. Ibiki and Inoichi will be in the room with you while Tsunade and I watch from above."
"I'll be there too Sakura," Itachi said reaching for a hand, "You are not alone in this."
Sakura smiled at her Uchiha giving his steady hand a light squeeze.
Naruto smiled at the exchange, "Noon tomorrow ok with you two?"
Sakura nodded as did Itachi, they didn't break eye contact with each other.
Naruto smiled again then stood, "I'll take that as my cue to leave. See you tomorrow."
"Bye Naruto," Sakura called back glancing up from entrancing onyx eyes to say bye to her friend.
The front door closed but neither party said a word to break the silence. As if on cue they both turned back to their lukewarm meals and finished.
"Thank you Itachi, for coming tomorrow," Sakura whispered while washing dishes.
Itachi stood nearby with a towel to dry, "Of course."
"It's getting late and we're both going to need some good sleep," she said not looking up.
"That's true," he responded.
Silence reigned for another few minutes as they finished the dishes and put them in their proper place. Standing around with nothing else to do Sakura leaned against the counter and ran her hands through her hair.
"Would you like me to leave?" Itachi asked standing a respectful distance away.
"Oh…no…it's just…" she sighed leaning back on the kitchen table, "I'm just thinking about tomorrow…I don't want to do it but I will."
Itachi just stood stoically waiting for her to continue. Sakura always just needed a moment to collect her thoughts before she would continue.
"I never wanted to see him again," she continued like he knew she would, "That day and a half were hell. Constant killer intent targeted at me and not being able to do anything about it. Listening to his sexist comments without being able to reciprocate. Now I have to see him again…"
"We can request for sedation so you won't have to deal with it," Itachi offered.
She just shook her head, "Doesn't matter once I'm inside all is fair and I'm going to have to be the one to distract him for Inoichi to get whatever information he can."
Itachi stepped forward slowly and cupped her face, "I'm sorry you have to go through this. You know that if there was any other way they wouldn't have even asked you."
"Yeah I know…Naruto looked pretty beaten up over it. If Tetsu stole a bijuu then this has just become personal for him."
He nodded in understanding, while he didn't know the particulars about the whys, he did know that after the war Naruto fought viciously for personal control over the bijuu. He wouldn't settle for anything less, but the Alliance saw fit to only allow him and Bee to choose jinchurikkis. The political reasoning was to avoid favoritism; if Konoha got control of the bijuu then they were at liberty to say who got which tailed beast. So the Daimyo's, in the interest of fairness, decided against that ruling. Now hearing that one of them had been stolen, Itachi could only imagine the self-guilt Naruto was going through.
"I don't want you in the room tomorrow," Sakura said her face inches from his, "If something happens…well we still need him alive." She chuckled before kissing his lips lightly.
Itachi just smirked before kissing her nose, "If that is what you wish, I'll be close. And if something goes wrong, I'm going to stop it."
"Good, I don't think anyone would care if you…you know," she met his eyes shyly biting her lip.
"You know what?" he asked his smirk growing.
Sakura inched her way closer holding him firmly around the waist, "Well…I'm sure Tsunade, Naruto, Ibiki, and Inoichi would turn a blind eye if you, I dunno, used your sharingan on him and such."
"And what would you say if I were to 'use my sharingan' on him," his hands moved up from her face and massaged her head lightly.
Sakura hummed in contentment closing her eyes, "You know I definitely wouldn't mind."
Itachi's nose traced lightly the contours of her face breathing her in. How he missed her when he was away. Every waking moment not spent focusing on the mission was spent deep in thought and focused on her. He missed her smooth skin under his fingers, her rosy lips pressed against his, he missed feeling her body heat up under his touch. It surprised him in the beginning that he could miss her as much as he did, the feeling was so new and he knew that it was mostly attributed to the intimacy line that they crossed. As friends and comrades there was never an ache like there was now that he was more at liberty to physically express his feelings towards her. And since then, almost instantly the moment he was apart from her, his chest would ache as if his body was telling him that he needed her to survive. She was his water, his sustenance, his air, she had become his everything.
"Would…would you like…to stay?" Sakura's light voice asked.
Itachi opened his eyes asking silently if he heard her right.
"You don't have to," she replied to his silent question, "I know the Compound isn't far away and it's probably really scandalous to stay here, unmarried, and still unapproved by your respective elders."
"I would love to stay," he answered her with a small smile.
Emerald eyes lit up in excitement, "I missed you…more than I ever thought I would."
Holding her tightly against his body Itachi buried his face into her silky pink hair, "I have missed you as well."
"Here," Sakura raised her hands and started to take off his ANBU armor. Itachi stood still as she unhooked the clasps on his chest plate then his arm bracers. Reaching over to his side she untied the ANBU Crow mask setting the porcelain lightly on the countertop next to his previous discarded sword. She then knelt down and untied the knot holding greaves to his legs and loosened the crisscrossed laces. Itachi stepped out when she told him to, then set the matching pair next to his other armor. Sakura's eyes ogled approvingly seeing her boyfriend standing in her kitchen in typical shinobi pants and a tight sleeveless ANBU shirt. Stepping forward her light hands traces the contours of his finely sculpted chest before lining his arms and grabbing his hands.
"Come on," she pulled him towards the stairs, "Smells like you could use a shower."
Itachi fought an eye roll and settled for giving her his typical smirk as he let her lead him upstairs and into the master bathroom.
"Mama always kept some of my dad's clothes," Sakura indicated to the closet, "Mostly just to sleep in but they are in there. I haven't touched anything yet…still to fresh."
He just nodded as he turned on the shower waiting for the water to heat.
"You can sleep in here or ummm," she bit her lip not really wanting to say out loud what she really wanted.
"I'll come find you after," he told her softly.
Sakura just nodded and left him to his shower. Ten minutes later Itachi entered her room with damp hair and smelling like vanilla.
Sakura smiled a little sheepishly, "Oops…I guess you kinda had to use my mom's shampoo huh."
"Hn," was his replied making Sakura roll her eyes.
"Oh please don't. I get that all the time from your brother I can't handle it from you too."
He decided to not reply and settle on the bed while she finished her nightly ritual at her vanity. He noticed that she had replaced both the mirror and the lamp that she broke the last time he was over. She stood then and walked over to her closet taking her zipper shirt off in the process and throwing it in her laundry basket. His cool black eyes followed her as she yanked an overly large t-shirt over her head then slid on a pair of boxer shorts. He tried not to think about her hands going back up under said shirt especially since she removed her bra and let it drop onto the floor. It was a good thing, he decided then, a very good thing that she was wearing a very large shirt, especially since he had no intention of sleeping alone tonight. And judging from the fact that she had offered in the first place she didn't want to either. He could reasonably assume that the news Naruto gave her had her feeling very uncomfortable and on edge which was why she asked him to stay. Or the reason could be as simple as she just wanted him to stay. If it was the latter then he could also reasonably assume that tonight would be the first of many nights he would be able to spend with her. And that thought made him secretly glad.
Sakura turned down the covers on her queen bed and jumped into her regular position before patting the open spot to her right. Itachi smiled then crawled over her body to take his spot near the wall. Sakura's large eyes followed him with a shy smile as he loomed over her momentarily before settling down and pulling the covers over them both. The light from the single lamp cast a small luminous glow around the room. She had turned out the overhead lights before going to bed and he admired the dim glow of the lamp against her fair skin. She had her hands curled up under her pillow and was turned on her side watching him watch her. His fingers lightly traced her soft cheek, nose, then up to her wide forehead, back down again and over her lips. Holding perfectly still so as not to break the moment, Sakura watched as Itachi brought his face and body closer to hers then kissed her with all the tenderness in the world. He lingered close to her letting the breaths mingle with one another before settling back down on his side of the bed.
Sakura took the opportunity to cuddle up against him before she slowly drifted into sleep.
Noon.
She'd been dreading that time all day. After waking up that morning she immersed herself in paperwork trying to clear her mind of what she was about to do. She didn't even speak to Itachi when he met her outside the hospital at 11:40 to walk with her towards the Intelligence Building. She was happy for his strength and even grateful that he didn't need to show his support with words. His natural silence was truly a gift at this point in time.
Walking through the basement levels of the Intelligence Building definitely didn't help her nerves either. The hallways were wide enough for four people to walk side by side but what really had her on the edge was the echo of her shoes walking at a steady pace through the corridor. Never in her life had she ever hated the sound of her feet touching a hard surface than she did right now. Even the dark colored halls felt like they were closing in on her, as if she were being escorted to her own interrogation rather than being the one doing the interrogating. Kami if she was this freaked out now there was no way in hell she would survive this encounter.
Turning down the final hallway Sakura and Itachi spotted the four individuals waiting for them. They continued their approach at the steady pace they had set since leaving the hospital, not rushed but not dawdling.
"Prisoner is ready for us when you are," Ibiki informed them as the couple stopped near the group.
Sakura just nodded and Itachi paced a steady hand on her shoulder. With a parting squeeze Sakura followed Ibiki through asset of double doors guarded by two ANBU with Inoichi following her. At the center of what seemed to be a too large circular room was the man. He was bound with his hands behind the back of a chair and his feet secured together. A deep sounding boom was the only indication that the doors to the room had closed leaving her trapped temporarily with this demon until she got the answers that her Hokage needed. Taking another deep breath she walked slowly and purposefully not trying to hide the soft tap of her slightly heeled feet. She wanted him to know she was coming, wanted him to feel her imposing presence that she was trying to instill, and she would wait for him to look up at her before anything would begin. Using her peripherals she spotted Ibiki and Inoichi taking up positions on the other side of the wall, waiting to be needed. She stopped not a foot away from his bowed head.
Sakura just continued to stare at him unable to do or say anything to this man. He had obviously been put through the worst that Ibiki had to offer. Granted she didn't know the extent of what that involved and she would always be eternally grateful she was never the medic on duty for prisoners. Still, he hardly looked intimidating sitting here strapped like a dog waiting for his next beating. He wasn't even going to make eye contact with her…had he already given up? She really didn't want to have to initiate conversation but if this silence dragged on another minute she would have to.
Slowly the prisoner moved. She assumed he was staring at her shoes from the angle of his head. Next was her white medic apron that reached down to her calves, then to her shorts with a kunai holster strapped to her right leg, he carefully took in her folded arms then finally ended at her stoic face. Cold hazel eyes stared back at her as another damn smirk, that never looked as sexy or as enticing as Itachi's, slowly spread across his bruised and chapped lips.
"Well, well," he whispered a little hoarse, "Sakura…this is a pleasant surprise. I thought you had forgotten about me."
"Don't flatter yourself," she replied with a bored tone.
He just laughed, "Fine then what do you want?"
"Information."
"Doesn't surprise me, I won't open my mouth for you…well that is unless you spread those legs for me."
Sakura's hand moved so fast even she wasn't conscious of hitting his face until the chair he was strapped to groaned with the impact.
"You will give me the answers that I seek," she commanded in a hard tone, "Other ridiculous comments will warrant a broken jaw and more invasive measures."
He just laughed, "You still hit like the weak girl you are."
"We will start with something easy, name," she continued unfazed.
"Sakura."
"Your name."
"Kakashi."
Her eyes narrowed with fists clenched to her sides.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Sai, Ino, Tsunade, Shizune, Hinata, Tenten, Moegi, Reiko, TingTing, and most of all Itachi. Little Sakura…we know all about you. He made sure we knew everything about the one lost traitor to the clan. He's expecting great things out of you."
"If you hurt anyone else…"
"Don't worry, he's only interested in you. Damn possessive he is and wants you all to himself. Probably to make his brother pay for what he's done to the clan. Vindictive bastard…" he mused with a sick smile, "You've never known pain until that man has laid his hands on you."
Sakura's eyes narrowed, "You mean Tetsu."
"Who else would I be talking about? You have no idea what kind of man he is, do you? Your bastard of a father didn't tell you a thing I bet, he thought running away from his duty would protect his only child and that whore you called mother."
Another hit sent him twisting the other direction.
"Enough sexist comments. Keep talking."
"Sexist? I'm only telling the truth as I see it," he looked up meeting her eyes as silver began to meld with hazel, "Did you not know that your parents had a secret affair? That you were conceived out of wedlock leading to your father's desertion? He didn't even officially marry her, must have been ashamed beyond belief. Then he hid you away from us so that our Master Tetsu wouldn't be able to find you and take you for his own to raise you. He has plans for you bitch. Count the days…because he will be seeing you soon."
"What do you know about the missing bijuu?" she cut him off not wanting to hear the rest of his monologue lest she hit him again.
"Give me a blow job and I'll tell you all about it," he retorted without missing a beat.
Sakura lifted him from the chair and threw him against the wall.
"You know it would be easier if you actually left me in the chair," he grumbled keeping up the uncaring façade.
Sakura stormed up to him, "The bijuu? Where is it?"
He chuckled darkly, "Come on virgin; let me take at least one thing away from you before I die. I've been looking forward to it for weeks."
Drop kicking his already broken body back to the center of the room Sakura was trying with all her might not to just snap this arrogant man's neck.
"Don't make me come in there!" she threatened bending over his broken body and gripping his neck.
"Please do, even if it's not a real lay it'd be better than nothing," he smiled a bloody smile.
That's it! Sakura yelled in her head. Reaching into her medic apron Sakura pulled out a handful of senbon and slammed them into his body.
"The bijuu are obviously at some type of hideout," she said in a fierce voice, "Where are they?"
"Is this your masochistic way of showing your incompetence? You're stabbing me with senbon trying to substitute for your lack of performance in the bedroom. You feel weak and insignificant and can never provide a good time."
"This isn't about me!" she told him shoving another senbon into each of his shoulders.
"Let's make it about you Sakura, because it's always been about you ever since the end of that damned war. Tetsu can't get you out of his head. He's a bitter man wanting to take out all of his pent up frustration on you because of what your father did. He's coming for you little Sakura-chan," he lifted his head up and whispered in her ear, "Are you ready?"
"Inoichi-san," Sakura called the man over, "Let's do this."
Placing two fingers on the back of his head Sakura knocked him out with a small burst of chakra.
"Hopefully that will allow only his Inner to cause us some trouble. Let me distract him first, then do what you do best," Sakura informed.
"Understood, Ino prepped me on this before we first started this," Inoichi commented closing his eyes in concentration.
Sakura smiled slightly for the first time that day, She could write a book about me.
Almost immediately after that thought Sakura felt herself getting pulling out of her body and thrown into a dark expanse. Standing up slowly from her crouched position the black expanse began to take shape. She waited knowing her presence was causing this stir inside of his mind. She was slightly surprised to see she was standing in a large hall surrounded by and endless expanse of doorways.
"Huh how unoriginal." Sakura turned her head and was a little shocked to see a silver corporeal form of herself.
"What are you doing here?" Physical Sakura asked.
Inner shrugged, "I was pulled in here same as you."
"But then shouldn't you be," Sakura indicated to her body, "You know."
"Look Inoichi was the one who did the pulling. Ask him," Inner indicated to the man walking up towards them.
"Inoichi-san, how did you do this?" Sakura asked.
Inoichi looked a little confused before crossing his arms, "I said I consulted Ino on this particular situation and she said that when I reach into your mind I will feel a split in your chakra and that when I pull you in I need to pull from both chakra divisions."
Both Sakura's nodded in understanding. "Did I do something wrong?" he asked.
"No," Inner Sakura answered, "You did perfectly now I don't get to miss out on any fun."
"But if he pulled half and half then that means we're both at half strength," Physical Sakura eyed her Inner.
"We're gonna have to merge depending on his strength," Inner sighed, "Whatever at least I'm here."
Physical Sakura just smiled, "I'm glad you're here."
"Save it Sakura…we have work to do now," Inner chided before yelling into the abyss, "And if you keep me waiting here any longer you son of a bitch I'm going to open up every fucking door to find you!"
Inoichi chuckled, "Ino told me about you, feisty I think was the word."
Inner smirked with her hands on her hips, "Glad I didn't disappoint."
"Get out of my head!" a deep and furious voice echoed through the hallways.
"Ha! Here he comes," Inner cracked her knuckles, "Playtime."
"Wait," Sakura held her hand out, "Talk first, we have to make him focus on us so Inoichi can get the information."
"He wants to get into our pants Sakura," Inner turned on her, "It's not going to be hard to get him to focus on us."
"We are NOT doing that," Sakura glared at her Inner.
"I'm not saying THAT. Just saying it won't be hard," Inner retorted.
"I said leave!" Emerald, teal, and obsidian eyes looked up to see a large ethereal black and silver form floating above them. "I'm not going to say it again."
"Oh come on tough guy, you wanted me here so here I am. You gonna keep a girl waiting?" Inner asked, "Why don't you come down here so we can talk, face to face."
Inoichi stayed out of the direct conversation and just watched. This was certainly an interesting and odd experience at the same time. Whatever it was about Sakura's presence Inoichi was glad he wasn't completely ejected from the prisoner's mind. Maybe it was because the prisoners was mostly focused on Sakura to begin with, but he also knew he was able to stay in longer when the prisoner was sedated, that had to be something to do with it as well. Either way, once attention was completely focused on the pink haired medic he would slip past them and complete the investigation.
Just then a flash of light forced him to cover his eyes and when he reopened them a similar corporeal form of the prisoner standing in front of the trio.
"Much better now let's talk like civilized people," Inner folded her arms, "Go ahead talk."
"I have nothing to say to you, not now and not ever, you bitch," the silver man bit back.
"Tsk, tsk, is that the only insult you can really come up with…it's starting to get old. I mean seriously how often are you gonna call a girl a bitch before she just stops believing it? Not to mention that's not proper etiquette when talking to a lady. How do you except to win anyone over?" Inner chided.
"Shut up, you have ten seconds to leave before I make you!"
"What happened to you?" Sakura asked in a small voice drawing his attention away from her obviously feisty Inner.
"What? This is who I am," he replied with a hard voice.
"No…not like this. Nobody is born like this," Sakura continued taking a step forward, "This is conditioned. He did something to you, didn't he?"
"Shut up about things you don't understand."
Sakura noticed his voice had lost some of its previous venom sounding almost…sad.
"Then help me to understand," Sakura reached out tentatively.
"You will find out soon enough about what I mean!" he shouted and sprinted towards her.
Sakura and her Inner sprang into action switching between defense and offense. They worked in completely harmony knowing exactly what one was going to do so the other could counter. While her Inner was keeping him occupied Sakura glanced around to see that Inoichi had disappeared using their distraction to slip away. Perfect now they could concentrate completely on the prisoner.
"Hey Inner," Sakura called out to her silver form, "Let's show this rat bastard the meaning of the phrase, 'the wrath of a woman scorned'."
Her Inner landed right next to her, "Agreed Sakura, let's."
They both gripped each other's arms and the silver aura melted into the physical form.
"Get ready for a world of hurt you son of a bitch!" Sakura yelled body slamming his corporeal form into the nearby wall.
Ibiki looked up at the windows above the interrogation room and jerked his head to the three people standing above. They disappeared and entered the room walking up to the trio.
"You think this will work?" Ibiki asked the Hokage.
"Yes," Naruto and Tsunade answered at the same time while Itachi just nodded his head.
The lead interrogator snorted, "What makes you so sure?"
"Sakura can be very determined when she wants to be," Naruto answered watching he friend begin to twitch, "That there, she's attacking him right now. Get him Sakura-chan." He smiled.
"This will probably be very liberating for her," Itachi smirked looking at Naruto.
"Hell yes, believe it!"
"Sakura's situation makes her the perfect candidate for this because of who she is," Tsunade explained.
Ibiki just nodded, "Why hasn't this been brought to light before? It could have saved us a lot of unnecessary trouble."
"Sakura wouldn't have been able to be in the same room as him until now. She would have killed him on the spot," Tsunade answered. She was taken back a week ago. Team Kakashi had walked in and immediately she could see Sakura about to burst. She hid it well but Tsunade knew her apprentice…after the report she told Sakura that the mining crew were having some trouble with boulders on the northern side of the village. They needed to be removed in order to get to the ore trapped in the mountain. Needless to say Sakura happily obliged.
Ibiki just nodded, "Understood, it does go without saying that this is a special case."
"Yes but there were no problems from the kunoichi?" Tsunade looked up at him.
"Only weak resistance but nothing Inoichi couldn't handle," Ibiki replied.
"Your report was very…disturbing…" Naruto commented glancing up at the scarred man before turning back to his teammate.
Ibiki just smirked at his uneasy expression, "When did you start letting him read those Hokage-sama?"
"Boy has to learn sometime might as well start now," the Hokage shrugged, "If our psychological evaluation was indeed correct and putting that together with Inoichi's observations…well let's just say I hope not everyone in her clan is as sadistic as their leader."
The prisoner began to groan in pain as small amounts of blood started trickling out of the senbon stuck into his body. Then Sakura started to chuckle as the prisoner began to groan again as his breathing became irregular.
"We have to stop her soon," Tsunade commented not really moving to stop her.
"Just a little longer, she deserves this after everything she's been through," Naruto knelt down in front of her.
"Not too much though," the medic sighed, "We will need him alive in case we need him for information later."
"He's getting a bloody nose," Itachi pointed out.
"Time to stop her, he's obviously going to need some healing with whatever she did to him in there," Tsunade smiled placing a hand on Inoichi, "Time's up we still need him alive."
A couple seconds later both shinobi opened their eyes. Inoichi dropped his hands from the two foreheads and stood to give his report.
"Jumping seals," he stated, "It's the main form of transportation. Their main base is somewhere underground. They have a jump site set up that lands them about one hundred miles away from their base. It's in some small type of clearing, the main jump area is in the middle and it's surrounded by other jump site seals. It's virtually untraceable unless we can find the jump spots and even then without the right seals it wouldn't be activated. Even then we'd need a seal master to interpret where the seal was designed to go. Seems like they have to be in a specific city to get back to the main hub of the seals. And he didn't know the seal design to activate them."
"That means there is one consistent person traveling with all the groups," Tsunade surmised.
Inoichi nodded, "Yes…and it's Tetsu."
Tsunade growled and began pacing, "That means he goes everywhere."
Inoichi nodded, "Tetsu doesn't like to leave anything to his lackey's, he's a control freak. He's always there to make sure everything goes according to plan. And to keep the…kunoichi's in line…"
Tsunade whirled around eyes narrowing, "In line?"
"Hai," he replied with a bitter taste in his mouth, "I think the appropriate term for a man like him is sadist."
Tsunade just nodded while Naruto growled, "Sick bastard…"
"Hai, Hokage-sama he never stays in one place for long. But he always returns to the main base. If we can find that or at least the main hub of jump seals then…" the blonde interrogator left the sentence open ended knowing they would all draw the same conclusion.
"I understand, we're done for today," Tsunade turned and stared at her apprentice, "Sakura…"
The woman in question just remained still. After being pulled away from her brawl she didn't want to move. Just sitting…thinking…reliving memories that weren't her own. Their fight had been brutal, had they been in the real world both parties would be panting and bloodied. It was probably the dirtiest fight Sakura had ever been in. Every dirty trick, low blow, and deception they could think of was used. After joining together Sakura dominated the fight going immediately on the offensive. But after crashing into one of the many doors lining their fighting arena they inadvertently woke up the physical personality and he joined the fight. But since his inner personality had already taken the brunt of her attacks, his combined strength wasn't as strong but it didn't make him any less ruthless.
But aside from the brawl, what really struck a nerve with Sakura were the memories that leaked out when their bloodied bodies would crash into various rooms. They had shown parts of this prisoner's life mostly his younger years. She learned many things about him and they answered all of her questions about his personality.
First off his name, Haruno Tsubaki, born twenty years ago to one of kunoichi's of the clan. His father unknown but that didn't really surprise the medic. Like all children he was happy and full of life, he made friends easily within the clan and began typical ninja training as soon as he could hold a kunai. But his happiness was short lived since Tetsu couldn't and wouldn't allow anyone in the clan to think they were stronger, to think that they could beat him, or to even think at all.
Beaten into submission by the age of eight he had already been separated from his mother when he first began training, Tetsu started the second round of psychological training. He twisted general morals in order to fit his ideals for the clan. He sabotaged their innocence having them belittle, beat, and torment their kunoichi clansmen including sisters, cousins, and mothers. He taught the males that kunoichi were the weaker species and they would never amount to anything. So in the end Sakura concluded that it didn't and wouldn't matter if he ever met a kunoichi stronger than him, his conditioning would never let him admit it.
Pity…her anger was now replaced with pity. What a sad and depressing way to grow up.
Hai…but to him…does he even acknowledge the wrongness of it.
Sakura shrugged internally, Dunno...if he does he will probably deny it the rest of his life.
Hearing her name from her mentor's lips drew her out of her reverie but still didn't convince her to move.
"Thank you for doing this Sakura…take the rest of the day off," Tsunade extended her hand towards the girl but Sakura didn't take it, she only stared fixated at the ground.
Tsunade sighed, "Itachi take her home and make sure she stays there."
The Uchiha nodded then lifted her gently onto her feet. The change of position caused the medic's eyes to blink and take in her surroundings.
"Come, I'm taking you home now," Itachi put his arm around her shoulder and began a slow walk out of the interrogation room.
"I'll get you later bitch," the prisoner, Tsubaki, spat weakly at her.
Sakura paused then turned her head slightly but didn't make eye contact, "Even after everything…you won't change your mind about kunoichis?"
"Never."
Sakura nodded once then followed her companion's lead out of the Intelligence Building.
"Can we get something sweet before we go home?" Sakura asked eyes trained to the ground. She suddenly felt the bright sunny day in Konoha should have darken with storm clouds, but then again it was Konoha...it takes a lot to dampen the spirit of the village. The sunshine can stay after all.
"What would you like?" Itachi asked holding her close.
"Some dango would be nice."
He led her through the busy streets and walked up to a dango stand ordering a few sticks to go. The vendor packed up their order, accepted the money, and the couple went their way. Entering into her house Sakura walked over to couch falling onto the soft cushions. Itachi sat next to her and opened their box pulling out a stick for each of them. Sakura accepted her stick and pulled one of the syrup covered balls into her mouth.
"Mmmm, nothing like a good dango," she murmured licking her lips.
"Indeed," he answered quietly eating his own.
They finished the first and pulled out their second sticks eating in silence. Sakura shifted halfway through her stick, sitting up and leaning against his shoulder.
"Thanks for indulging me," Sakura said eating another delectable ball.
"My pleasure," he replied setting his finished stick down inside the now empty carton, "Is there a reason why you're acting like this?"
"Can't a girl get her boyfriend to spoil her every once in a while?"
"Indeed but this feels different."
"What makes you say that?"
"The situation," he grabbed her finished stick and placed it in the carton closing it, "You almost seem…resigned. It's very unnerving."
She smirked up at him, "Unnerving huh?"
"A little…I feel like you're slipping away from me," he turned facing her and she shifted doing the same thing, "Where are you going?"
"I'm not going anywhere Itachi. I'm here, here with you," she reached out cupping his face.
He watched her, staring into those emerald eyes he loved so much, searching for an answer or something. Why was she so ok after what happened. It was like she just stopped caring about what happened, as if she knew that what was going to happen couldn't be changed no matter how much she wanted it. It went completely against her character to just…give up?
"Itachi…if you knew something was happening and that there was nothing you could do to stop it, what would you do?" Sakura asked letting her hand drop back to her lap.
His eyes narrowed slightly, "What are you alluding to?" Had he made the correct assumption about her?
"Despite everything I just feel like…something will happen and there is nothing I can do."
"You mean something with Tetsu? He's not going to touch you Sakura, I won't let him."
"You don't know that…"
"I do," he pulled her closer, "Even if I have to be your shadow for the next few weeks."
She smirked at him, "A body guard huh? What would the Uchiha Elders think about that?"
"Stop downplaying the situation."
"I'm not," she replied losing the smirk, "I guess you could say…I'm preparing."
"For what you believe to be the inevitable," he finished looking away from her. He was slowly losing her…he could feel it. She had officially stopped fighting and it went against everything about who she was.
She just nodded, "I saw some memories while I was in there. I've seen what he does to people in his clan. I guess I just…I just want to indulge a bit, for however long."
"Hearing you speaking like this…it's the reason I'm feeling so on edge."
Itachi stood and walked away from her. Why did she accept this? Why was she not fighting it and trying to change the situation? Nothing is for certain, everything can change in the blink of an eye in the shinobi world. When did she decide to give up?
Sakura sat there on the couch a small depression. Itachi had walked away from her, he was…mad at her. Did he really think she'd given up? That she was just going to throw her life away because she didn't see another path…that wasn't why. She had to fix this, she couldn't let him be mad over a misunderstanding.
"Itachi," she whispered getting up off the couch and followed his direction into the kitchen. She found him just outside the back door and rigidly staring up at the sky as if it had offended him in some way.
Walking slowly so as not to alarm him or make him walk away from her she stood next to his side.
"It's not what you're thinking," she whispered softly but she knew he heard her.
"Do enlighten me then," he retorted in a stoic voice.
Sakura frowned…she hated that voice. She was always secretly happy that Itachi never used his shinobi voice around her. He was always very sweet, gentle, even teasing at times. She knew it was a side he didn't show to anyone but her, not even Sasuke. It made her feel special knowing that he trusted her and cared about her enough that he didn't feel the need to hide his true emotions from her by disguising his voice as he was known to do around the majority of his acquaintances.
With a sigh she continued, "I'm not giving up. I'm not waiting for the inevitable. I'm just…I guess you can call it preparing mentally for something that has high possibility of happening. And it's not that I want it to but please understand…I will do anything to protect my loved ones. If that means I have to give my life for it, then so be it. I'm a shinobi and if there was one important lesson I learned from my sensei, it's to protect my friends, my comrades, my family no matter the cost to myself."
Itachi remained silent and closed his eyes. It made sense in a…round about kind of way. If she learned this from her sensei then she was obviously alluding to Kakashi's father's death. Everyone knew about that suicide and the hows and whys about it. He also knew that led Kakashi to become a stickler for the rules until Uchiha Obito gave his life to save Kakashi's. Then the silver haired prodigy formed a new creed of not abandoning his friends. Something that he knew the sensei instilled into his Genin team. It's what made them strong and undefeatable. It's what kept them going even if they wanted to give up. It's what helped them through their most trying times together as a team, especially when Sasuke deserted. They wouldn't give up even though his clan had all but abandoned him to Orochimaru. It didn't matter what would happen, what they would do or say to each other because they were a team, the best of friends, and they always would be. And then there was the Will of Fire that Sakura held close to her heart. She made sure that Reiko knew what it was and what it really meant…protecting those precious to you. He reasoned that in the end…it would make sense that she would be prepared for anything, even giving her life to protect an ideal instilled in her since she was young.
He reopened his eyes and looked down. Sakura was looking down obviously unsettled by the long silence that ensued. Feeling a little defeated she turned to walk back into the house.
"Wait," he whispered causing her to stop. So she waited her back turned to him.
Still nothing…not a twitch, a flinch, or any type of gesture. "It's hot I'm going back inside," she whispered and entered the house again.
Itachi sighed internally, it was probably a good 80 degrees, autumn was just beginning making it not too hot but not too cold at the same time. She just wanted to get away from him, probably to wait to see what he would say to her. What could he say…how could he accurately express his desire to protect her? He wanted to keep her near, keep her safe. But he also had a duty to his village as an ANBU Captain. This situation was going to drive him into madness he was sure of it…unless he told her…
Those three words.
Reaching his hand into the pocket of his pants he pulled out a box. It was long but thin but the hard exterior was protecting the contents inside that were precious to him. Gripping the box in his right hand he re-entered the house to see Sakura sipping some tea at the table. He sat next to her hiding the box under the table.
"If I seemed to be…uncaring towards you then I apologize," he started, "What you told me about giving your life…you know I would do that same. As shinobi it is what's required of us, what's expected of us. But then again, if that's the only reason that you're giving your life then life never was worth living in the first place. That's one of the things I admired about your team. Anything you did, you didn't just complete the mission, you made sure that the people around you were better when you were done. Most shinobi wouldn't even care as long as the mission was accomplished and their duty to their village and the client was completed. Sakura for most of my life that's the kind of shinobi I was. And then you stomped all over my perception of myself and I had to reevaluate many aspects of who I was."
He paused for a moment looking up to see her staring at him.
"There was only one time in my life when my loyalty to my clan and my loyalty to my village were questioned and in the end I was able to protect both. But with this situation I feel like I'm going to lose something and that thought has made me terrified. Your smile, you loyalty, your high strung spirit, your ferocity, and most importantly your love saved me from becoming an emotionless drone. And if I lose you…"
He couldn't finish…he'd already said more than he even wanted to say. These thoughts, they shouldn't even be there right now, he didn't plan any of that. He was only going to tell her three words but once again, and this only happens around her, he ended giving her a monologue.
"I know I've said probably more than I should have and I didn't really have any of that planned. I only wanted to tell you one thing," he gripped the long box under the table like it was his life line.
"What was that?" she asked.
"That I love you," he replied simply with a small slightly hesitant smile.
Sakura's eyes immediately filled with tears but she kept them at bay as she set her tea cup down, "What did you say?"
He smiled again but the caution was still present, he didn't want to feel like he was over stepping his bounds, "I love you, Haruno Sakura."
She smiled and started to get up from her chair when he stopped her.
"Wait, I have something for you," he pulled the box out from under the table.
Sakura stared at it…she was slightly comforted that it was a long box instead of a smaller, more compact one.
"I bought this for you."
She watched as the hard wood box slid across her table and stopped in front of her. Slowly she held it and opened the top. Inside was beautiful necklace. On a twisted silver chain sat a ruby and diamonded version of the Uchiha fan. The light from the windows caught the jewels perfectly and they casted small rainbows on the box and table.
"It's beautiful Itachi," she whispered in awe, "Thank you."
His small smile grew as he stole the box back and took it out of the velvet lining. Sakura knew immediately what he was doing and jumped up to stand closer to him. Pulling her into his lap Sakura lifted her hair as he secured it around her neck.
"I know this can't replace the one from your father as your favorite but…"
"But this one will hold a very special place in my heart," she finished turning around to look at him.
He quickly wiped her tears, "This is my promise to you, to the woman I love. Nothing will keep me away from you. I will protect you until my dying breath whether you want me to or not. You are precious to me and I'd give anything to keep you by my side for all of eternity. I, Uchiha Itachi, give you my life and my vow, Haruno Sakura I will marry you one day and I will make you the happiest woman in the world."
Sakura didn't think, she acted by pressing her lips firmly against his. She just needed him, she needed to let him know how much this meant to her. She was on cloud nine just so filled with happiness it threatened to consume her entire being. She had never felt this happy since…since ever, she realized. Quickly straddling his lap Sakura commanded the kiss holding his face firmly between her hands. Quickly inserting her tongue into his mouth she tasted him before he could even have a chance to respond.
But the Uchiha prodigy was not to be outdone…in any aspect of his life. Jolted back to his senses by her tongue he immediately began to reciprocate her attentions with just as much fire. Holding her head firmly he gripped her pink silky locks making sure she wasn't coming up for air anytime soon. His other hand however already found the edge of her typical zipper shirt and immediately slipped under to caress her tender flesh.
Sakura began groaning against his mouth an abruptly pulled away using a bit of chakra to break his hold on her. Panting she let a large smile stretch revealing her pearly whites.
"I forgot to tell you something," she whispered sitting up to look him in the eye, "I love you too, Itachi."
Her heart melted as the most heartbreaking smile slowly spread across his thoroughly kissed lips. She had seen him smile before but they were more quirks of his lips with hints of amusement hidden in his eyes. These smiles were rare since they only happened when he was utterly happy or at peace. Right now, Sakura was going to guess that it was the former…he was just happy.
"Stop," she held him firmly against the back of his chair when he tried to sit forward to kiss her again, "Don't move…I want to watch you smile."
His happy smile turned into a lazy chuckle but the light in his eyes didn't change. She could still see his emotions swirling in those onyx depths that she had come to love so much. He loved her…he really loved her like a man loves a woman. Not a crush, not a fling, not even something that was doomed to fail, this was it…what she'd been looking for. He wasn't going to leave her and she didn't want him to disappear. This was love, where he was strong she was weak, what he lacked she more than made up for. They were the perfect compliments for each other and they were in love with each other.
"Come on," Sakura jumped off his lap yanking on his hand, "Tsunade-sama gave me the day off and I want to see more of that smile."
For once he let the eye roll surface and Sakura only laughed at him…How out of character, she mused but quickly tossed it aside. She didn't care; he bought her a beautiful necklace and promised her from the bottom of his heart that she would be his bride and she couldn't wait to tie the knot. But right now they were going to be silly teenagers and make as many happy memories in half a day as they could. Quickly grabbing her house keys near the door Sakura yanked her no longer stoic Uchiha out the door determined to keep his devastatingly handsome smile on that face for the rest of the day.
So i had a completely different ending in mind, a total cliffhanger but after reading through this chapter it was already 10k words and according to my plot i'm about write so much drama i figured i should end in a high note. Don't forget to review and keep reading because it's about to get intense :D Just so anyone who actually reads these is forewarned...there will be some hard chapters coming up but i'm a huge believer in happy endings! So never fear hard chapters, for me, make the rest of the happy stuff that much more meaningful :D