After the group left the island of Besaid, they were now heading for Kilika. That meant that whenever they would go to the temple in the island, that meant that Sakura would not only pray there but she would also acquire aeons along the way. Sasuke then decided to walk to where Shikamaru and Temari were standing. But first, he decided to talk to Temari. "I don't know who you are, or where you came from. Listen kid, if you ever interfere with Sakura's pilgrimage, we won't take it lightly." said Temari. "Sasuke, don't pay any attention to her." said Shikamaru to Sasuke referring to Temari. "I'm sorry, what was that!" cried Temari with anime bulging eyes. "Uh, n-never mind. Forget what I said." said Shikamaru, nervously. "Anyway, now that I think about it, I haven't told you where we're going yet. First to Kilika Island, then we switch boats and head for Luca. But before that, Sakura has to pray at the temple. I'll be guarding her along the way. So we'll also be celebrating for the Aurochs' victory too, so don't forget that you can come Sasuke, alright?" asked Shikamaru as Sasuke silently nodded his head, "yes". He then went up to see Sakura only to find a crowd gathered around her. "Word is that summoner's got noble blood!" cried the sailor in blue. "I also hear that she's Lord Jiraiya's daughter!" cried the bare-chested sailor. "Hmph, you don't say?" asked the sailor in blue. "Lord Jiraiya's... daughter?" asked a confused Sasuke. "Hrrumph." said the bare-chested sailor as he looked at Sasuke and then looked back at Sakura. Sasuke then decided to get some more information about Sakura as he walked back to where Shikamaru and Temari were still standing. "So wait, Shikamaru, is Sakura's father famous or something?" asked Sasuke. "Yes, why she's the daughter of High Summoner Jiraiya! You saw his statue back at the temple. Lord Jiraiya defeated Sin 10 years ago. You might be surprised when I say this Sasuke, but Sakura is also the heir to a great legacy!" cried Shikamaru. "Wow. So she must be popular or something." said Sasuke. "She sure is, Sasuke. She sure is." said Shikamaru. "It's tough when a family member of yours is famous." said Sasuke while thinking about Itachi. "Huh?" asked Shikamaru. "I think Shikamaru's... a bit lacking in the imagination department." said Temari, giggling and smiling. "What? Hey!" cried Shikamaru as he got mad at Temari. "Thanks, Temari. I'll keep that in mind." said Sasuke. "Hey, I think you should go talk to Sakura. She had some questions for you, Sasuke. So be sure to answer them!" cried Shikamaru. "Alright!" cried Sasuke as he walked over to where Sakura was standing. "Hello Sakura." said Sasuke. "Oh... Sasuke... it's you." said Sakura as she was startled by Sasuke to which he stretched his arms out as he began stretching. "The wind... it's nice." said Sakura. "Hmph." said Sasuke. Then out of the blue and for no apparent reason, Sasuke and Sakura started laughing. "You're a competitor, aren't you? From Zanarkand, right?" asked Sakura after she broke their awkward silence together. "Uh... you hear that from Shikamaru?" asked Sasuke. "Yes." said Sakura. "Ah... Shikamaru. He doesn't believe me at all." said Sasuke. "Yeah... but I believe you, Sasuke." said Sakura. "Huh?" asked Sasuke. "I've heard in Zanarkand... there is a great stadium, all lit up even at night! The Zanarkand Exam Prelimanary Matches are held there, and the stands are always full!" said Sakura as Sasuke got a litlle bit closer to her and asked, "Wait a minute... Sakura... how do you know that?" to which she replied, "A man named Itachi told me. He was my father's guardian." said Sakura. Sasuke then remembered Itachi. "I... Itachi." mumbled Sasuke as he thought about Itachi and turned away from Sakura. "My older brother... his name is Itachi." said Sasuke. "Amazing!" said Sakura as she did a Yevon bow as she walked over to Sasuke and said, "You know Sasuke, our meeting like this... it must be a blessing of Yevon!" as she smiled at him. "It sounds like him, but it can't be him." said Sasuke. "Why do you say that, Sasuke?" asked Sakura. "Itachi... he died. 10 years ago off the coast of Zanarkand. But before he did, however, he killed the entire Uchiha Clan but me instead." said Sasuke. "Oh... I'm sorry. Did you understand why he did it?" asked Sakura. "Well... it's because he was ordered by Zanarkand's elders to destroy them." said Sasuke. "Who told you that?" asked Sakura. "Itachi did... on the night that he killed The Uchiha Clan. He then left the village one day.. and never came back. But... he did have a girlfriend. She looked a lot like you, Sakura." said Sasuke. "What was her name?" asked Sakura. "Ami. She was also our cousin. In The Uchiha Clan, cousins were allowed to love each other and to become lovers. But sadly, when they reunited after she went off to search for him, he activated a machine called Vegnagun. They then ended up dying together in the end. But... Ami also understood why I hated him so much. At first, she didn't understand why I hated him. But then when I told her, she finally understood what I meant in hating him and why I did. But... not only did Itachi kill our parents on the night that he killed The Uchiha Clan, but he also killed Ami's as well as mine. But... since he disappeared, no one has seen him or Ami ever since she went to go look for him. Kakashi told me what happened between the two of them. But also before Itachi died, however, he told Kakashi to take good care of me and Ami. I also think of Kakashi as a father even though my real father is now dead and gone along with my mother. But no one has seen them since then... until now." said Sasuke as Sakura turned away from him. "Uh... Sakura? What's wrong, did I say something funny?" asked Sasuke. She then turned around to face him and said, "Why that's the day that Itachi came to Spira." "What?" asked Sasuke. "It's true, Sasuke! I first met Itachi 10 years and 3 months ago! He told me all about you! I hoped that I would meet you someday. Now... I am truly glad that I had the chance to finally meet you afer 10 years of waiting to meet you, Sasuke." said Sakura. "Oh... did he tell you about The Uchiha Clan Massacre?" asked Sasuke. "Well... he didn't have time to tell me that story because he went on my father's pilgrimage with Sir Kakashi." said Sakura. "Yeah, but... how would Itachi get here if the Itachi I knew was dead for 10 years?" asked Sasuke. "You're here, Sasuke... are you not?" asked Sakura as she laughed while smiling at Sasuke as he smiled back to which she nodded her head, "yes" about Itachi. All of a sudden, there was a rumble. Sakura was then thrown onto the deck. Sakura grabbed Sasuke's hand but eventually let go as she held onto a harpoon to which Yamato caught her just in time. "Sakura!" cried Yamato as he ran to catch her. "Thanks Yamato." said Sakura. "Are you alright?" asked Yamato. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Yamato." said Sakura. "You're welcome, Sakura." said Yamato. "Sin!" cried the bare-chested sailor as he grabbed the harpoon and aimed at Sin. "What the heck do you think you're doing! Stick a harpoon in him and we'll all get dragged under!" cried Shikamaru. "Our families are in Kilika! Please forgive us, M'lady Sumoner Sakura!" cried the sailor in blue as she nodded her head, "yes". The sailor in blue and the bare-chested sailor aimed fire at Sin. After Sasuke and his friends defeated Finscales and Fin, Sasuke got thrown overboard.
After the battle...
After the battle, everyone of the guardians were on board the ship... everyone except for... Sasuke! "Is everyone feeling okay?" asked Shikamaru. "Yes... but... hey... where's Sasuke?" asked Sakura as Shikamaru looked frantically around for Sasuke. "Sasuke? Sasuke? Oh no... don't tell me he... I'm going to save him! Wait here and don't move! I'll be right back! Hold on, Sasuke! I'm coming!" cried Shikamaru as he jumepd out of the ship to look for Sasuke. "Shikamaru!" cried Sakura. "No Sakura. It's too dangerous. You're gonna get hurt." said Yamato. "I hope Sasuke's okay. I'm so worried about him." said Sakura. "Sasuke..." said Sakura to herself as she remembered her onyx-eyed friend.
Meanwhile...
While Sasuke and Shikamaru were fighting Sin and the scales, Kilika had been destroyed by Sin! Afterwards, Shikamaru took Sasuke safely back on the ship. "Sasuke!" cried Sakura as she ran to hug him. "Sakura." said Sasuke as he was blushing while hugging her. "Oh Sasuke, we thought you were dead! I even thought that we would never see you again!" cried Sakura as she began crying while thankful that Sasuke was saved by Shikamaru. "It's alright, Sakura. I'm here now... it's okay." said Sasuke as he hugged the sobbing Sakura.
"I remember that when Sin had attacked Zanarkand that day, Gaara and I woke up in Spira. That's when we met Ino and I got separated from both Ino and Gaara. I kept hoping that it would work in reverse, too." ~ Sasuke.
Sasuke was then laying down on Sakura's lap as a determined Sakura said, "I will defeat Sin! I must defeat Sin!"
"I was just a fool. But it was possible for me that on that day... on the sea, under the burning sun, I started to give up hope. Not only was Gaara in a foreign world, but... so was I as well. I then thought about Gaara. I hoped that he was alright and that Ino was taking care of him. I then realized that both Gaara and I weren't going to go home. This was our new reality. And now... we were stuck in it for good." ~ Sasuke.