Hello my awesome readers! I'm back from vacation and it was amazing. Went to six flags and had an absolute blast :) I honestly didn't want to come home but oi vey…can't be on vacation all the time…sigh…Anyways ok this is another filler but I promise you only have one more chapter's worth of filler then….the rescue! So bear with me the plot thickens here and it really thickens next week then the rescue where we get to see everybody kicking some serious ass! Anyways enjoy :)
Sasuke had been restless for the last few days. The absence of missions was taking a huge toll on his ability to relieve excess energy. And when he wasn't training he was helping his brother along with other Uchiha's to try and crack the code to the jump seals. Two tracker teams had sent in one seal each yesterday night and so today everyone was going to be meeting to try and put everything together. But it was two in the morning and he had woken up again for the fifth straight night in a row. He had maybe four hours until he had to get up. All members of the seal team were meeting at 0600 in their usual conference room in the Intelligence Building. This game of cat and mouse though…there really was no other word to call this…was starting to wear on his nerves. He never thought he'd have to be pushed so far emotionally again. The last time he had to suppress his raging emotions was when he defected from Konoha.
Leaving Sakura there crying on a bench…defeating Naruto at the Final Valley…turning his back on his home, his family, his team…it had cut him to the very core. If only his father would not have neglected him, if only his brother hadn't been so damn good at everything. If only…
He sighed internally as he swung his legs to the side of his futon and stretched. Those reasons now seemed so petty…he was so naïve when he left. Looking back on everything he was just as annoying as he always claimed Sakura was. True he didn't always appreciate her…fangirl-ness…but out of everyone who did worship him, he tolerated hers the best. It was because out of everyone he knew she actually meant every word she said. He could see and hear the sincerity in her young high pitched voice. She cared and he had thrown it away. Thin lips turned upward in a small smirk as recalled his homecoming when he was sixteen. He had been spotted by patrolling ANBU and when he got to the gates his team, the Hokage, and a contingent of ANBU were there to greet him. He didn't really know what to expect but he figured that since he returned without causing direct harm to Konoha and he had killed Orochimaru and Kabuto that things would be alright. He expected Naruto to shout at him being his usual happy but always idiotic self. And he expected Sakura to run at him with her arms wide open hoping for a hug which he would grudgingly give.
But what he expected to happen and what actually happened couldn't have been more different. Turns out, as he was told after his interrogation with Ibiki and Inoichi, Sakura and Naruto made a bet on his clothing of all things. Naruto bet that he would return dressed in a blue high collared shirt similar to the one that he left Konoha in with his sword strapped to his back. Sakura had bet that he would arrive dressed in the same garb they had seen him in when they destroyed one of Orochimaru's bases. Needless to say Sakura won, and her prize was that she would get to greet Sasuke first…and her greeting left him with a broken jaw, a sprained ankle, and a sore back. To say he was surprised would be an understatement…he had no idea that a petite girl like her could pack such a ridiculously strong punch. He was lucky though that Naruto raced out to help him back into the village thereby enabling him to rest his sprain. For a while he had wished Naruto would've won the bet but then he realized that Sakura's punch still would've happened so in reality is was a small blessing that Naruto was second that way he didn't have to drag his aching carcass back the mile he had just traversed seconds ago.
When he was home and resettled into the village again he was happy that Sakura had ceased her ridiculous attentions to him. While he enjoyed the praise he didn't think he'd be able to handle a real relationship anyway. So when Team Seven had their first reunion lunch together he had point blank asked her about her lingering feelings and she had promptly told him she finally got over him the last time he tried to kill them, and that she was so busy with her apprenticeship anyways that she now didn't have the extra time to dote on him. Needless to say their truce turned into a great friendship. He was amazed when he would observe her performing surgeries flawlessly and shattered mountains with nothing but her gloved fists. Her mind had developed more as well and he admitted to himself that she was a very challenging shogi partner. It was always something he admired about her even though he would never say it to her face, she had a brilliant mind for a girl her age. While other teenagers and kunoichi's would be absorbed in gossip and reading romance novels, Sakura always had a medical book or journal in her hands whenever she actually had free time. It boosted his confidence in her as a member of their team that finally…there were no weak links.
And now she was going to be his sister. He didn't even know that Sakura and Itachi were interested in one another until his brother asked her out on a date a few months ago. But that night before his mission when Itachi came to him to ask him to protect her, his older brother confided in him that he had set his sights on his pink haired teammate ever since his return from Orochimaru. Two years…Sasuke was baffled by the declaration and he couldn't say a word, but Itachi didn't care. He just kept talking not even bothering to let Sasuke's mind wrap around the fact that his brother, the most anti-social being in the village and possibly the planet, could be attracted to someone as outspoken and volatile as Sakura.
Speaking of Itachi…
Sasuke rose from his bed and peered out his window. His eyes were instantly drawn to the right where Itachi's light was on and his brother sitting just outside his room, staring up into the sky. He watched for a good two minutes, nothing changed about his brother's visage; not a twitch or a blink. His eyes just stayed trained onto the dark expanse above, blank…hiding his true emotions even from himself. With a heavy sigh Sasuke donned a loose white shirt and walked steadily over to his brother's room. His footsteps were silent on the wooden floor and he stopped just behind his brother's shoulder.
"I was wondering if you were just going to stare or actually join me," Itachi intoned not bothering to turn and look.
"Can't sleep…you?" Sasuke asked not moving.
"You can sit."
Taking his brother's advice he walked to the small ledge that led to the courtyard. Their shoulders were only inches apart as they sat in companionable silence both onyx eyes trained to the sky.
Should he say something? He knew condolences were just empty words and trying to rid his brother of his dark cloud just wasn't possible. There was only one person now who could bring Itachi back from the depression he was currently in. And that person was Kami knows where. Still though, he would feel like a failure of a brother if he didn't try something. But the words…they just wouldn't come. He was never the kind of person to lend a shoulder to cry on or to just sit and listen to someone vent their feelings. But recently he'd been noticing a change. It started with Sakura's words back in Akane about him finding love and more importantly finding his own peace. Since then he had tried to…reconcile himself with his past feelings. And he was doing well if he had to admit, he was more tolerant of Naruto's ridiculous behavior, he could withstand Sai's social immaturity longer, and he even paid for his apprentice to take a girl on a date. He truly realized his change because just weeks prior, none of those things would have happened…ever. And now there was a girl…a broken, beaten, yet still thriving woman and the last time he saw her he was confused by his own yearning to comfort her. These feelings were so alien and made him feel so…vulnerable. It was shocking and frightening to think that he was quickly losing his control over his own inner feelings. Feelings that he had kept disciplined for years.
"Did you have something that you wished to say?" Itachi asked still staring at the sky.
Sasuke sighed clasping his hands and leaned forward on his knees, "I just figured you would want some company." It was the only thing he could think to say…after all he was still getting used to expressing his own new feelings.
"It is welcomed."
They sat in silence again but Sasuke's restlessness was making it hard to be comfortable.
"I want to know how you're doing?" he finally asked looking up at his brother's face.
Itachi's eyes closed and Sasuke could see the barely perceptible crinkle around his closed lids. Then his mouth hardened and Sasuke could only match one feeling to those features…pain.
"I'm doing as well as can be expected," Itachi replied in a slightly tense voice. He then heaved a large sigh trying to settle the storm raging in his mind.
Sasuke nodded as he turned to stare at the ground again, "Anything you want to talk about?"
"…Nothing that I want to bother anyone with."
Sasuke sighed silently…his brother was truly closed off again. Being with Sakura had opened Itachi's natural vulnerability and personality and now it was shut off. Maybe he could try coaxing him out of it. Besides Sasuke was working on being more emotional himself then the least he could do was not let his brother waste away in his own prideful way and give Sakura less to work with when she got back.
"Tell me…about you and Sakura," he said quietly, "You told me before that you had liked her for two years before you asked her on a date. I didn't even know that you guys knew each other. Tell me about those two years."
Itachi's eyes opened and he turned to look at his brother's face only to find him staring at the dirt. He observed that his brother obviously had an ulterior motive for asking him these questions but what that motive was…he guessed he would have to answer in order to find out.
"It started when you returned," he began to explain looking back up at the sky, "I remember watching you approach the village head held high and hand on your katana. And I remember your stunned face when Sakura ran towards you fist cocked and she knocked you a mile out. I knew she had been training with the Hokage but I wasn't expecting that. I remember meeting her when Sakura and Naruto were first assigned to be on your team, she was always a small person and seeing that kind of power from her seemingly delicate body intrigued me. So for the next few months I watched her, occasionally I would follow her around the village when I didn't have any pressing matters to attend to. I easily learned her schedule and routine, I watched her interact with all of her friends…but I never approached her."
"So you're admitting to be a stalker," Sasuke smirked slightly at his brother.
Itachi huffed in amusement closing his eyes, "I guess you could call it that. She fascinated me, never taking a break, always accomplishing her goals. On her off days she would train with you and Naruto or she would be bundled up on her window couch reading a medical journal. I found it odd that out of all her comrades she's the most dedicated to her studies."
"She always has been."
Itachi nodded opening his eyes, "She had you and Naruto to keep up with, her drive impressed me. She wasn't willing to fall behind and her dedication to her lifestyle hit a certain…chord inside of me. Then I started to think…what if I were to make myself known to her? How would my life change if she were suddenly more a part of it? So a month before Pein's attack, on one of her off days, we met in the library where she was studying on a type of medical procedure. She easily invited me to sit and we talked…for hours. When we both realized it was nightfall she was obviously very flustered, but I asked if we could talk again and she agreed. During that conversation I was able to pick her mind and was again impressed by the sheer knowledge she was able to recall. Her expertise in all things medical and shinobi related always left me wanting for more…more of the conversation, more of the theories, and more of her. Things were progressing nicely, steadily as we grew more comfortable around each other. Occasionally we would meet for tea and if I was lucky I would treat her to lunch."
Sasuke growled under his breath, "I still can't believe I didn't notice…"
"We were discrete, it was completely intentional on our part," he explained turning to look at his younger brother, "We wanted to avoid any scenes that you or Naruto or her friends might cause. One of us, usually me, would cast a strong genjutsu to shroud my appearance. She was nervous about us, which as she told me was because of her history with men," he gave Sasuke a pointed look, "So I appeased her figuring once I was persistent enough to get past her walls I wouldn't have to hide anymore. I was just getting ready to make my move when Pein attacked. After everything that had happened I didn't see her again for a whole week. It left a…strange feeling inside of me. I knew she was alive because I would hear her name being shouted, or I'd hear her voice issuing orders to other medics and nurses…but I never got to see her."
"She spent a lot of that time with the Hokage while she was in a coma," Sasuke told him, "Naruto, Shizune, and Ino were the only ones that saw her on a regular basis."
Itachi just nodded accepting his answer, he didn't really mind or care but it was nice all the same, "I sought her out later and that's when she informed me that she couldn't pursue our relationship to the next level. She said she valued me as a friend and comrade but to take it any further during this time of crisis she couldn't handle. I didn't blame her. I'd realized that Sakura would never be able to compartmentalize her feelings like I had learned to do. Everything to her was connected, everything was precious. Her admission though gave me hope, she wasn't completely dismissing me but she was asking me to wait. She may not have meant it like that at the time but that's how I read it. So we remained professional friends and went our separate ways for the time being. Kaa-san knew everything by this time and she told me to wait until the war was ended and everything would go back to normal. She said that by that time Sakura's heart would be more open to love."
"Kaa-san said that to you?" Sasuke asked a little bewildered.
Itachi nodded, "I didn't realize it until she pointed it out to me. And even then she supported me and encouraged me to hold out for her."
"So in reality this is all Kaa-san's fault," he jested.
Itachi just smirked, "In a way."
They didn't say anything for a while, just listened to the sounds of the night; crickets chirping, wind blowing lightly, the manor would occasionally creak. It got to be too much for Sasuke and he wanted to know more.
"Well don't stop there aniki…I want to know more," he said.
"What else do you want to know?" Itachi asked meeting his eyes.
"When did you start again and why didn't you tell me that you were interested in the first place?"
Itachi sighed and adjusted his position so he could lean his back against the nearby pillar for support, "As you know after the war ended and peace was declared there were rumors of uprisings."
Sasuke nodded, he heard about them and wished they would have sent more than just ANBU to investigate.
"I was busy researching and away on missions that I didn't get a chance to approach her again until six months after the end of the war. Tsunade had promoted me to Chief ANBU Captain over the entire core since my predecessor Mitaski Haru was killed in the war. Along with Morino Ibiki, I was tasked with the development of the new ANBU for the Hidden Leaf. New recruits were brought in and I headed up the training. I never had the time to go see her. When I was just a regular Captain things were easier. I wasn't expected to be around the Intelligence Building everyday like I am now. The first real interaction I had with her was when her Medic team was deployed to rendezvous with us after our ambush in Grass. After that Tsunade gave my team a week off and I used that opportunity to once again pursue Sakura. I told Kaa-san of my intention and she accepted it stating she still wished for her to become a member of the family. I was hoping to give us time before any of the clan got involved especially since the politics were-"
"Yeah…I know…"
"But you had already informed her about our predicament," Itachi turned towards him again, "I had to pry through her walls again and she put up a decent fight for a bit. It's why once again we wanted to keep things a secret; she was privy to the opinion of our Elders thanks to you and didn't want to damage mine or hers reputation over something as trivial as courtship. Then the incident with Reiko happened and I knew I had to intervene before they pushed her farther away from me. I wasn't letting her go a second time after I had just gotten her again."
"So why didn't you just tell me, I would have kept my mouth shut?"
Itachi eyed him poignantly, "I doubt you would have."
Sasuke scoffed, "How do you know?"
"I seem to remember you acting rather vehemently after realizing I asked your teammate out on a date. You four are very protective of her, you may not notice it right off away but it's obvious to others. Why do you think she has never had another suitor or romantic interest?"
"Because the dobe, the fool, and I chase them off. None of them are good enough for her," Sasuke answered as if his brother asked a stupid question.
Itachi nodded with a small smirk, "My point exactly. I didn't want to create any dissention between us. At least not until I knew where I stood with Sakura. Turned out though she still harbored feelings for me even though she denied them at first, it was…nice…allowing us to be together without the threat of war over our heads."
"So what did you do for that secretive time?" Sasuke asked.
"Mostly ate lunch together and a couple of dinners at places far away from the Compound. Rumors can be easily squashed if one doesn't believe them in the first place. Therefore if we saw each other away from Uchiha eyes then if a small whisper reached the ears of the elders they wouldn't believe it."
"Hn…smart move."
Itachi nodded in agreement.
"So everything kinda went to hell in a hand basket once Reiko showed up beaten to a bloody pulp."
"Hai, and I knew the only way to truly protect her was to claim her. With my attachment to the woman they wouldn't try anything directly. The Elders would be more discrete seeking to ruin her by indirect means, that way they could place the blame on someone else rather than have it lead back to them. That's how the who issue with her parent's residency paperwork came into light."
"Tch…that was annoying…"
"Indeed," he agreed easily, "After everything was out there was obviously no reason to hide anything anymore. We saw each other more frequently and spent more social time together."
"Social time," Sasuke snorted turning an amused eye on his brother, "You?"
Itachi shared in his brother's amusement, "Hai…I did it for her. I wanted to explore what it would be like to be more…free. To be equally proficient in matters of the heart as I was in shinobi matters. We had always been taught that combining both is impossible. But I see Sakura, Naruto, and you…your team has that perfect balance. Even the former Root member Sai has progressed a long way under your influences. So with her, in order to achieve that goal, I resolved myself to be more…vulnerable with her. I wanted her to see that there was more to me that she might think. I wanted her to see more than the shinobi, the prodigy, the clan heir. And in order for her to see that…I had to open myself up. She's the only person I really trust with my entire being…"
They went silent again pondering the last statement. Trust…it was a hard thing to come by in this world. A shinobi who trusted the wrong person ended up dead. The same was also true in love, if you're betrayed by the one you love and trust with your being…well there is a reason why the symptom is called heart break.
"Is it hard…being that open with someone?" Sasuke asked keeping his eyes trained to the ground.
Itachi cocked his head to the side studying the slightly tensed features on his brother's face, "You ask that of me? You have been more open with your teammates than I have ever been, even with Kaa-san."
"True…but…it's different," he reasoned.
Itachi nodded, "Agreed, I have told things to Sakura that I would never tell another person."
"Like what?"
"Things that I would never tell another person," Itachi repeated cocking an eyebrow.
Sasuke huffed in frustration and turned his dark onyx eyes on his brother's amused gaze, "Don't look at me like that."
Itachi just shrugged then looked up again this time staring at the crescent moon, "She used to take me places around the village. After our first date we made it a point to pick up where we left off before Pein's attack. We would disappear for few hours and just talk," onyx eyes closed in remembrance, "She took me once to her favorite spot. It remained unharmed from Pein's attack because it's located just outside the village walls. It is the small forest of sakura trees. She told me her parents would take her there every day on her birthday. They weren't in full bloom as they usually are in spring but still underneath the dim glow of the soft pink petals…she had never looked more beautiful. Even in the midst of all the stress the poison was giving her she looked truly peaceful under her namesake."
With his eyes closed Itachi could picture the day perfectly. The afternoon sun was shining brightly and Sakura was dressed in her medic uniform since she was on her lunch break. There was a light breeze and it would gently blow the light pink sakura petals off their branches only to dance around her body. It had seemed that the trees loved her as their branches swayed with the wind to bend down and tickle her face with the lightest of touches. She would hold out her hand and catch a blossom that was blowing in the breeze only to caress it lightly before releasing it into the air once again. He remembered walking steadily up to her, taking her face in his hands and kissing her just as lightly as the breeze kissed their cheeks. Sakura would then grip his collar holding him close to her while breathing softly against his lips. Her emerald eyes were alight with fire and affection. He could feel their bodies swaying with the breeze before she whispered to him,
"Do you know how to dance?"
He shook his head.
"Then I'll teach you."
She took his left hand and directed his right to hold her firmly by the waist and they started to dance. They flowed easily together, moving perfectly in sync with one another.
"This dance is called the waltz."
Being from a very traditional family Itachi was well versed in traditional dance. This modern style, while not very difficult, was vastly different. For one it allowed for more contact between dance partners, something which he greatly approved of. And two there was something uniquely…romantic about that style of dance; as if it should only be performed between those who loved one another. And right then, under those trees, dancing to the tune of the autumn breeze, and holding that woman…it was bliss. He could only take so much of the light feeling before he halted their mini lesson and he drew her lips to his once more in a more demanding kiss; pouring all of his affection into that one moment, so that she would never forget and would never doubt his feelings toward her. And to add to his own happiness, Sakura returned the kiss with just as much fervor.
Sasuke watched the lightness return to his brother's face as he lost himself in the memory. This was his real brother, the one that emerged with Sakura's influence. And if Sakura wasn't returned to them…this man, his real brother, would never be found again.
"She's so full of life, so full of love," Itachi mused ignoring his brother's stare, "It seems too cruel for her to go through what she's experiencing. Someone like her should be guarded and treated with the upmost care. But then again…" he smirked and met his brother's eyes, "Sakura is the last person to want to be protected."
Sasuke joined in his brother's amusement, "True…was that the first kiss?"
Itachi's brows narrowed in question.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Under the sakura trees…" he asked leadingly.
"No, our first kiss was a few nights prior. I had picked her up from the hospital and walked her home. Under the sakura trees was a more…intimate experience."
Sasuke grunted, "Stop right there I don't need to know more."
Itachi just shrugged hiding a small smirk at his brother's misinterpretation, "You asked."
"I just asked if you kissed her not what you actually did."
Itachi chuckled lightly, "It's not what you think. We have only been that physically intimate for about a week."
Sasuke's eyes widened, "So she's not a…"
Sasuke's words froze as Itachi's face hardened, "Do you really think so little of me?"
"No, just your wording made it sounds like you and her…"
"I have not touched in that way," Itachi replied his tone matching his hard eyes, "She is clean and she always will be with me. No matter what happens, she will always be pure in my eyes."
Sasuke nodded feeling a bit of…pride at his brother's statement. He knew Itachi hadn't been lying to the Elders when he declared Sakura's purity in front of the clan but having it also personally confirmed made him relax inside. No doubt Sakura would come out of this whole situation a very changed person. But hopefully…just maybe…Itachi's presence and his faith in her would help mend the scars and not allow her to change too much. That strong type presence probably applied to him as well, and Naruto, Ino, Sai…everyone. If they all treated Sakura different she would no doubt act and be different. But if they treated the same like they always have…then she would come out of this just fine.
Sasuke cleared his throat to try and diffuse the awkward tension. Neither spoke to one another just sitting in silence as their conversation dwindled. Itachi was lucky, Sasuke decided. He won his battle against the clan elders and is getting to keep Sakura. But what did that leave for him? Was he going to be forced into Itachi's arranged marriage, or would he luck out as his aniki did? While his father, Fugaku, now acknowledged Sasuke in many aspects that he hadn't in the past, it still seemed that what Itachi wanted he got…and Sasuke was then left with whatever was left. So instead of being forced to marry in order to replace his brother in case Itachi decided to defect, he was going to be forced to marry in order to take on the responsibility of preserving the line. Kami…he hated life…
"What suddenly put you in a foul mood?" Itachi asked sensing his brother's disrupted chakra flaring in his body.
"…Nothing…" he replied stonily.
"Hn…suit yourself," Itachi's gaze went back up to the sky knowing that if he gave his brother another few seconds to stir in his emotions…and just like Sakura and Naruto he would then voice issues.
"Do you think…" Sasuke sighed gripping the back of his hair, "Do you think they will still force me into an arranged marriage?"
Itachi was mildly surprised at this train of thought; he knew the old elders were pushing for both of them to marry in the clan but ever since their dismissal…
"I don't think you will have to worry about that," he replied smoothly.
"Why?"
"Because the newly replaced members aren't as rooted in tradition as Akemi and Rook," Itachi explained, "Hoshi and Tenga will be fair with you." Itachi continued to study his younger brother's countenance. There seemed to be something underneath his protestations…something that maybe even Sasuke didn't know what it was yet. He figured it was probably wise just to leave the subject be until the younger Uchiha knew what exactly he was trying to sort out in his head but then again…maybe Sasuke was learning to become more open just as he had done. Maybe talking it out was the best way.
"Why are you so worried about this?" he asked picking up where they left off in order to ease his brother into the train of thought.
"I don't know…it just seems…stupid I guess that while you got to pick your wife I wouldn't get to pick mine."
"Kaa-san and Tou-san had an arranged marriage, did you know that?"
"No," Sasuke looked up a little shocked.
Itachi nodded, "Tou-san informed me the other day to the fact. He meant well by it explaining that he hoped I would have been happy with the woman they picked for me as he is now with Kaa-san."
"Hn…strange…"
"Indeed."
So was that the real reason behind this infernal rule? Sasuke thought to himself, That Uchiha's would be too damn stubborn to find someone compatible that everyone had to be arranged. Or was that ridiculous honor only for the Head Family?
"Who's the girl?"
Sasuke flinched slightly at the question, "Girl?"
Itachi smirked, "I'm assuming you wouldn't even be asking these questions unless there was someone on your mind. Someone not a member of our clan," he continued leadingly, "Someone that you may even have problems with convincing the new elders…"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sasuke cut him off. He could see where his brother was leading him and he didn't want to go there…mostly because he didn't really know where "there" was. Why was this bothering him? Why was he having these stupid thoughts in the first place? Why did he even care?!
"I would rather," Sasuke explained carefully, "Have a choice, the same as you, than be stuck with someone who couldn't really…"
"Love you," Itachi finished for him.
Sasuke just shrugged, "I guess you could call it that."
Itachi continued to smirk, his brother might be playing it off as nothing but there was something. He would find out whom or what it is that was driving his brother to have these thoughts. He was banking on it being more of a whom than a what. Only someone absolutely mesmerizing would be able to get under his brother's skin as she obviously had…now Itachi was determined to find out who the girl was.
"When you find out her name let me know," Itachi commented nonchalantly.
Sasuke turned angry eyes at him, "There is no girl! It's just…Kami I don't even know! I just don't want to be stuck with something that you didn't have to go through. If you get to be with Sakura, someone who you got to choose to be with, then why can't I pick my own!"
"So this is nothing more than you trying to make things fair?"
"Hai," Sasuke stared into similar onyx eyes.
Itachi stared right back. He could see that what his brother said had great meaning to him. Sasuke didn't want to have someone or something given to him that he didn't want. He had never been a very sociable person just like him, he tended to stay far away from the opposite sex, especially when they were vying for his attention. Itachi mused that he enjoyed his more…standoffish countenance, it kept many unwanted admirers away from him in his youth. It also helped that he was in ANBU at thirteen therefore taking him out of the general social circle of shinobi his age. Sasuke on the other hand was always surrounded by girls. He knew Sakura used to be a part of his fan club, if not the leader at some point, but his younger brother never paid them any attention. He always kept himself out of their immediate reach, making himself seem out of their league. Itachi could admit that yes, his brother was out of the league of many of the girls he inadvertently attracted and so it only reinforced his initial assumption. Sasuke had met, seen, or spoken to someone that had swept the rug out from underneath his feet…only he didn't know it yet. Now amidst the chaos of Sakura's abduction, Itachi had a small pillar of light, something akin to hope. Hope for his brother. He was interested, in a roundabout way, in a woman and Itachi knew it was only a matter of time before said woman showed herself, and then he could see his younger brother become just as happy as he would be with Sakura.
Sakura groaned as her head became less and less cloudy. Her muddled thoughts gave way to vague images to her eyes as the darkness gave way to a dim light. She felt heavy, like she was drowning or as if she was being sucked down somewhere. She tried wiggling her fingers only to have them twitch lightly in response. Her toes yielded similar results and her legs and arms would not obey any command. Deciding to try and figure out where her groggy body woke up she slowly turned her head to the right. She could see Tetsu sitting near her a light blue glow lighting up his pensive face his hand held up in a sign her foggy mind couldn't decipher. He seemed intent on something like he was concentrating on performing a jutsu. She then turned to her left and Shinta was there eyes closed in concentration with his hands up in a similar seal that Tetsu had. Further intense concentration on clearing her thoughts told her that her hands were still bound along with her feet. Maybe that was what made her feel heavy, like she was a weight sinking deeper and deeper into the depths of the ocean. Then she detected something odd…a foreign chakra was invading her system and she could only guess that this chakra was the reason she felt so heavy and tired instead of the bindings. The thrumming of the chakra made her eyes grow heavy and she soon fell again into unconsciousness.
Her eyes opened slowly and the pink haired kunoichi recognized the very bland prison that had been her home for the past couple weeks. Kaminari visited her yesterday so she figured Tsunade had the new video and some information that she instructed the kunoichi to deliver. She sighed letting her body sink into the soft surface caressing her back. It had been forever since she had felt this comfortable, luckily she spent more of her time now-a-days in a dreamlike state. Her chakra levels were bordering on severe exhaustion and she knew that sleep was best way for her to regain any meager levels in order to survive. It took every ounce of chakra in her body just stay conscious in her dream-like awareness and right now in her situation that wasn't good enough. Her body had been taxed and tortured until she was literally living on a minimum, barely having enough to survive.
Moving slightly to adjust her position she reveled in the smoothness against her damaged skin but the happiness was short lived when her mind suddenly registered something…she was lying down, and the smooth feeling on her back could only mean she was now on a bed. And if she was on a bed that meant she was now going to have to endure the second stage of conditioning. Her insides clenched, she can't let this happen. She promised Itachi her untouched body. She promised him that he could have her first. He had always been so sweet and so gentle waiting for her to be comfortable with his touches. It was only after she initiated more contact that he would handle her with such possessiveness that brought within her an intense desire for him. She loved the way he made her feel, like she was his one and only love. His touch so full of love, his kisses filled with passion, she could drown in his scent…in the essence that was Itachi. Kami how she missed him, now more than ever.
She probably had another week to endure before Konoha would come. No doubt her shishou would send out trackers but she wasn't sure how effective they would be. Hunting Tetsu without any tangible leads would be close to hunting a ghost. Hopefully they had found more seals and hopefully those seals would lead to their location. Ok so maybe two weeks if she really thought about it. Now she just needed to get Tetsu to talk during her sessions. She would have to work it carefully, probably get him to vent out his biased feelings on her or the surroundings. Maybe he would let something slip in his anger. Oh she could only hope that would happen. But if he did and he realized it…he most likely will be taking his anger out on her. And by all that is holy in the heavens above she was going to fight back during this next stage…he might think she's whipped now but in her own mind she is far from it.
Ugh…
Double ugh…
How's it going in there?
Slow…your body is low in general it's hard to gather extra chakra although that sealing ceremony definitely helped.
The what?
Remember when Kaminari said he was going to be expanding your chakra pathways…well ta-da he did.
No wonder I feel so…off…it seems my body isn't my own anymore, it's been messed with too much.
Don't be so pessimistic we still own this body we just have to get used to the big changes that are obviously occurring.
…I want to go home… she whined.
I know…me too…just a little bit longer. I'll keep storing, try to remain asleep or at least fake it. Chakra storage will be easier that way.
Hai, how much are you usually getting?
Her inner sighed, About as much as we would produce if we were in a coma…
Sakura winced, That bad huh?
Yeah…our body has lost so much blood so it first has to heal before the chakra can be replenished properly.
I understand…Kaminari said something about Tetsu healing me.
Yeah I remember that too, he will probably do it now that he's worked that jutsu on you.
Probably.
Echoes of footsteps drew her attention to the slightly opened door. Sakura immediately closed her eyes and concentrated on deep, even breathing that would hopefully tell the person checking up on her that she was asleep. The footsteps grew louder and louder until Sakura was able to determine that there were two sets, and one of them was Tetsu. No doubt for the rest of her life she would be able to recognize the loud thumping of that bastard's boots where ever she was. The kuinoichi listened and waited and let her body drift into a relaxed state until a creak broke through the stuffing silence indicating that her door opening wider. Her body immediately tensed and Sakura could only hope the newcomers didn't notice. She could feel one of the intruders walk closer to her and she fought the urge to jerk when warm breath ghosted over her ear.
"Wake up little blossom," Tetsu's voice whispered, "The second stage is about to commence."
She didn't move, eyes still sealed shut, and thankfully her breathing was deep and even.
"She might not wake up yet. She was practically unconscious after the procedure." She recognized the other voice as Shinta, why didn't she know he was in the room? She focused slightly on the general direction of his voice but still…she couldn't sense him. Which didn't makes sense because according to Kaminari, Shinta has abnormally large chakra reserves? Was he good suppressing it? Or maybe was it sealed…
"Doesn't matter…if we wait any longer she will recover too much strength," Tetsu replied his voice now some distance away.
Shinta grunted, "Do what you want, but it's no fun when they're not responsive."
"Hmmmm, true…it's only been a day maybe one more won't hurt. Besides I do want her to experience it fully, every touch, every ache, every thrust," muffled footsteps shuffled closer to her. She could feel his face leaning closer to her ear again, "One more day little blossom…then you're all mine, and mine alone." He kissed her temple then strode out of her room.
Sakura was amazed at her acting; he hadn't suspected a thing and left but this time pulling her door completely closed. She heard the lock slide into place and only after counting to sixty did she open her eyes again. So it had been three days since Kaminari visited her and she'd been lying in this bed for two. Her eyes glanced up seeing her hands shackled to the headboard then glanced down. Her feet, instead of being bound together, were shackled separately to two wooden poles creating the footboard. She huffed in frustration as she tested the durability of the wood while on the inside she felt herself descend into a deep depression.
Tomorrow…
We can make it. We're strong.
No it's not that…
What is it then?
Our physical in Konoha is due soon.
So?
Can't you think of it?
Both personalities remained silent as their memories of physicals in the past raced through their synapses. All shinobi had a thorough body scan checking for any abnormalities or muscle tension, blood was drawn to check for any diseases, immunizations were administered, stress tests were done to counteract any high blood pressure or pre-hypertension, and for all kunoichi…
Oh…shit…
Yup.
"Any luck?" The chocolate haired woman asked her sister.
Ryuu snorted, "Luck…you know how lucky I was when I questioned them?"
Mizuko's eyes soften as she placed a gentle steady hand on Ryuu's shoulder, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Ryuu sighed playing with her bright orange hair. They were sitting in the common room of the hideout in their usual corner, "This pathetic existence will be over soon right?"
Mizuko just nodded, she was as ready to be done with everything as Ryuu was. And her pregnancy only put her more on edge; she was ready to leave, especially after she miscarried her first two. Conditions here were not conducive to raising a healthy child. And the politics...
"So none of the men have ever thought about it?" Mizuko asked trying to distract herself.
"Maybe, some have talked about taking over or just leaving and making their own way but…even they are blindly obedient to Haruno-sama just like we are."
"Maybe we should try to be more direct."
"No," Ryuu glared at her oldest sister, "If we do that then Haruno-sama will know we're planning something! If we get caught all hell will break loose. Kaminari was punished for being late, she's lucky she could blame it on her injuries. I don't even want to know what he'd do to her or to us if he really found out."
Mizuko sighed and rubbed her belly, "I know…I fear for her…for all of us."
"I know," Ryuu pulled her sister against her shoulder cradling her head, "We'll get through this. Konoha will help."
A small gust of wind was all the warning they received until Kaze appeared in front of them.
"Anything new?" Ryuu asked still holding Mizuko against her.
Kaze nodded her head making both women sit up straight.
"You found it?" Mizuko asked.
Kaze nodded again but surprised them by holding up two fingers.
"Two?" Ryuu asked before her eyes widened, "Haruno-sama has two bijuu?!"
Kaze blank stare confirmed it as she held up two fingers again then five.
"What does that mean?" Mizuko asked.
Kaze rolled her eyes then with her left hand held up the number two.
"Two bijuu we got that," Ryuu nodded.
Then with her right hand Kaze switched between two fingers then five, three times.
"Wait…you mean tails don't you?" Mizuko asked getting a confirmation nod from Kaze, "This is bad…Konoha only thinks he has one."
"It changes things too," Ryuu folded her arms thinking, "Konoha will need to know this information. Kaminari said that last time they knew of the Gobi going missing but not the Nibi. Kaze are you sure it's just two?"
Kaze nodded sitting cross legged on the ground.
"I take it he's keeping them in the same room then…that's how you know."
The white haired girl nodded again staring intently at her two sisters, waiting for her new orders now that this task was complete.
"We need to get Kaminari and have her tell Konoha," Ryuu muttered a little nervously.
"No we can't, if she leaves before her scheduled date it will be suspicious," Mizuko argued, "Kaminari belongs to Shinta and he's with her almost every day. Kaze," she turned to look at the small girl, "Can you go and deliver the information?"
Violet eyes turned downcast as she looked away and shook her head.
"You won't have to speak a lot Kaze," Ryuu growled at her.
Kaze shook her head again the tapped her lower abdomen twice. Both women looked and could see the outline of a seal beneath her clothing.
"Oh…you have an appointment today don't you?" Mizuko asked sadly.
Kaze nodded looking back up as a single tear left her eye.
"It's ok Kaze," Mizuko extended her hand and the younger girl gripped it, "This is all going to be over very soon."
Kaze could only nod as she stood up and disappeared so that she would have time to control her emotions before heading to her appointment.
Tsunade stared at the board in front of her. The Uchiha seal team and the Intelligence team were presenting their findings and theories on the jump seals in the Hokage's office. Naruto stood just to her right listening as intently as the current Hokage was.
"To make that whole lengthy explanation short," Shikamaru intoned dryly, "With the seals that we have received it is logical to assume that the rest will reside in or around this area," he drew a large circle encompassing each of the five countries. "With the current profile and the seals that we already have found this would support our theory that Tetsu can travel almost instantaneously around our world which is why the Inuzuka's and the Aburame's can't pick up a good enough trail."
"But that doesn't explain Konoha's dead seal," Naruto interjected arms folded tightly against his chest.
"The only explanation is that Konoha's seal was an outlier," Shisui stood up joining Shikamaru by the board.
"How so?" Tsunade asked.
"This reason is this symbol here," Shisui picked up a large board with the seal they found at Sakura's abduction sight on it. He pointed to a highlighted portion on the top right corner, "This symbol means cease or stop. It took us a few weeks but we were able to decipher that the previous symbol that took its spot was here, a new seal that our tracker teams had found. The city in south-western Fire Country, Fuzen which is known for tourism since it's right near the coast. At first we thought it might have been impossible for us to decipher but Uchiha Ishi hypothesized that the city might be the same height and length as the written kanji for cease. After a few days a research and confirmation of from our tracker teams it supports the now theory that these seals are part of a pattern. So Tetsu after jumping from Konoha entered whatever cycle or pattern these seals are in. The tracker team under Inuzuka-taichou confirmed a lingering scent. Tetsu must have stopped there after Haruno-san's abduction for some reason."
Tsunade just nodded. The seal team had definitely come through these past few weeks.
"Do we still not know where the main hub of seals is?" Naruto asked.
"Correct," Shikamaru answered, "As of now we still have not been able to locate the main set."
"Have any of the known seals been labeled differently so we could speculate where the main hub is?" Tsunade asked.
Shisui shook his head, "No so far all seals we have found seem to be a part of this type of cycle. But some of us think that maybe the main hub won't be in this general circular path. The main hub might be an outlier just like the Konoha seal."
"Huh…would make sense, easier to guard…the only thing we do know about it is that the main base is only one hundred miles away from it right?" Naruto asked.
"Correct," Shikamaru answered, "We're hoping to draw up new plans for the tracker teams once all the seals in the circle are located and analyzed. We're hoping one of them points to the main hub. If not…it's going to be more troublesome speculation."
Tsunade nodded, "Assuming your current speculations are correct I want preliminary plans drawn up and on my desk by tomorrow. If we stay one step ahead of Tetsu maybe we will get lucky and catch a break."
"Hai Hokage-sama," the Intelligence team replied and began packing up.
Naruto was still leaning against the wall when the hairs on the back of his neck began to stand on end. He ran a hand through his blonde locks but to no avail…they wouldn't go down. That was when he heard the slow low humming coming from…the room?
"Everyone stop," he commanded looking at around the room, "Who else hears that?"
The room stilled at his words and slowly other people started indicating that they could hear the hum.
"Is that…electricity?" One Uchiha asked rubbing the hairs on the back of her head.
The hum started increasing in volume and within a second the lights inside the Hokage's office burst showering the shinobi in glass from the broken light bulbs. Small electrical bursts flitted from their original source of light and congregated in front of the Hokage's desk. Everyone but Naruto and Shikamaru drew their weapons standing at attention waiting for…something to happen with the ball of electricity.
The ball steadily grew brighter blinding everyone for a second before a person appeared. Her appearance was lighter than normal, as if she was being lit from the inside. And even though the woman who had appeared had small electrical surges erupting from her body at odd intervals there was no mistaking the wavy maroon hair and silver eyes.
"Kaminari!" Naruto shouted with a smile, "What are you doing here?"
The kunoichi looked around the room quickly before answering his question, "I apologize for intruding like this Hokage-sama but the news could not wait. May I speak freely?"
Tsunade stared at the girl leaning forward her hands crossed under her chin, "You may, what happened?"
"The bijuu, Kaze found them."
"Gobi!" Naruto eyes widened, "You have the Gobi?"
"Not just the Gobi," Kaminari explained as electricity continued to flicker in and out of her body, "Nibi too. Kaze found two sealed jars labeled Gobi and Nibi. We weren't sure if you knew about the second one missing, which is why we had to tell you. I can't stay long I might get found out and our plan could be ruined. I apologize for breaking your lights, it was the only way for me to transport myself without a thunderstorm. My storm makes it obvious that I'm going somewhere."
Tsunade waved dismissively, "What's done is done thank you for the information. We will see you at your appointed time correct?"
"Hai, hopefully I won't be delayed this time," Kaminari bowed slightly.
"Hopefully, you may go."
With another small bow Kaminari disappeared in a bright flash of light leaving the room dim without the overhead lights.
Naruto stood frozen behind his predecessor. Matatabi and Kokuo…both captured… He couldn't stand for this; it was becoming way too personal for him now. The Alliance obviously wasn't doing a great job protecting the bijuu.
"Naruto!" Tsunade yelled directly into his face.
"Eeeeeehhh!" Naruto fell back against the wall.
"Did you know about the Nibi?" the Hokage demanded.
He shook his head, "Nei…I haven't heard anything. I need to talk to Bee and I'm going to recall the Sanbi and Yonbi. One missing could be a fluke but two…I'm claiming those bijuu!"
Tsunade watched Naruto's eyes harden in anger and determination as he briskly out of the Hokage's office not looking at any one else in the room. These bijuu were his friends and they had already been through enough pain from Madara. And now to be used again…he just couldn't allow it. He wouldn't allow it! He didn't care anymore what the Alliance said; he was going to play his Hero of the Fourth War card and take his bijuu and protect them here in Konoha!
Shikamaru was the one to break the extended silence, "This just got more troublesome."
"Ha," Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, "For once I agree with you. Get those damn plans written up before Naruto decides to go crazy on the Alliance. I already have my hands full of politics as it is."
"Hai Hokage-sama," Shikamaru bowed as the presenters exited the Hokage's office leaving her in a strained sense of peace.
So what do you think? Questions, comment, complaints, clarifications? I'm here for you readers!