Chapter 13

The entire day goes by without Kisame leaving our side. I'm getting tired of keeping a straight face, but I have to pull through. Itachi is risking a lot by placing this responsibility on my shoulders. I can't, I won't fail him. At nightfall, when I finally lie down in my sleeping bag, I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders and throw myself into the arms of sleep. I don't think I've ever fallen asleep so fast before.

But it feels like only a moment has passed since closing my eyes when someone shakes me awake. I open my eyes to find Itachi next to me. I sit up and look around, but there's no sign of Kisame. It's almost dawn.

"He's gone scouting," Itachi tells me.

"Naruto," I say quickly. "Are you really going to take him?"

Itachi shakes his head.

"But if you don't, Kisame might start suspecting something."

"Naruto won't be alone."

I know that. Tsunade-shishou would never allow Naruto to leave Konoha by himself. Kakashi-sensei will most certainly be with him, as well as some of the Konoha 11. Even Itachi and Kisame wouldn't be able to hold their ground for long against all their strength combined. I give a sigh of relief.

"Sakura."

I look up. I don't like what I'm seeing. There's something in Itachi's eyes that makes me think I know what he's going to say next. And I do.

"I want you to go with Naruto."

"No." It's out of my mouth faster than I thought. "I'm not leaving you behind."

"I'm not giving you a choice." His voice is hard and commanding, so different from the tone he has taken to using with me. What once would have made me back down this time fails to intimidate me. Admittedly, convincing an Uchiha of anything is definitely at the bottom of the list when it comes to things I'm good at, but to hell with that.

"Please, listen to me," I say. "I know the Hokage. Tsunade-shishou will listen to your side of the story. If you were only following someone's orders that night, they can't hold it against you!"

"Following orders?" he echoes. I realize I've never actually spoken to him about my deductions. Baka Sakura! I open my mouth to speak and stop, noticing the thoughtful expression on his face. There is a shadow in his eyes, a tenseness in his jaw. Could it be that I was right?

I place a hand on his shoulder. "Itachi… you've sacrificed enough already. Please, come home with me."

Itachi's gaze hardens and he stands up abruptly. "Out of the question," he says.

I am on my feet in an instant, clenching my fists. "Why?" I ask, raising my voice. "What are you so afraid of?" What started as an outraged demand ended on a high, rather tearful note. I really am bad at convincing Uchiha when it comes to staying or going, shannarou…

When Itachi looks at me, I look away. It's a pathetic attempt to hide my tears, I know. Still, it's the best I can do. I know they won't convince him, just like they didn't convince Sasuke when he left Konoha. I just can't hold them back at times like this.

"Someone gave the order," Itachi says, his voice oddly flat, despite the fire burning in his eyes. "But not without a reason."

I would admit I haven't thought about it so far, but my words get stuck in my throat.

"To return to Konoha and be allowed to live would mean revealing what really happened," he continues. "It would mean dragging my family name through the mud. I don't want that for Sasuke."

"Whatever your clan did, Itachi, you and Sasuke can redeem the family name. If you would just tell him the truth-"

"It's too late for any of that," he says, brushing me off. I open my mouth to argue, but he takes a finger to his lips, telling me to be quiet. A moment later, I feel Kisame's chakra approaching. I clench my teeth, unable to let the frustration within show. I have run out of time and I have failed to convince Itachi.

If I go with Naruto, like Itachi wants me to, I will be leaving him behind.

If I refuse to go, like my heart tells me to, I will blow Itachi's cover.

I'm at an impasse.

As Kisame enters the clearing, I will my facial muscles to relax back into yesterday's blank mask. Heaven only knows the storm raging within me. I fear it might start blowing through the cracks. Thankfully, the Kiri-nin pays no attention to me. He walks up to Itachi without casting a single look in my direction.

"They're near. I say let's pack up and greet them, nee, Itachi-san?"

I see Itachi nod. He and Kisame pack up our meager belongings and we're ready to go within minutes. The thought of seeing Naruto again fills me with both joy and dread. There are so many things that could go wrong, I don't even want to think about it. I'm sure Itachi has at least a dozen plans in mind in case that happens – he just hasn't told me about them.

We're moving fast now, unlike yesterday's leisurely pace. I feel my muscles burn as we keep at it, my lungs barely keeping up. Light flickers in and out of sight through the canopy.

When Kisame stops, I feel my heart skip a beat. Itachi halts beside him and I land right behind them, panting. My legs are trembling, but I force myself to stand. Itachi knew I would never have agreed to his plan, so he left me no choice. He knows exactly how I feel about him and he used this to bind me to his will. I'm trapped. I hate feeling so powerless.

"… have her scent, dattebayo!"

Naruto's voice rings in the silence like a beacon in the dark. I hear dogs barking next and I know Kakashi is with him. I think I can tell Pakkun's voice apart from the others. My body is taut as a bowstring, watching, listening, waiting. I hate the waiting part the most.

I feel someone grab my wrist. One moment we're in the trees and the next thing I know, we're standing in the middle of the road, face to face with a Konoha searching team. I see Naruto, Kakashi-sensei and his Ninken, Neji and Shikamaru. Keep still, Sakura, I tell myself over and over again. Play along.

"OI!" Naruto jumps forward, pointing at me. I stare at him blankly. "Let Sakura-chan go, dattebayo!"

"Sure thing," Kisame says, his lips parting into a grin. "You come here, and we'll let your friend go."

"Naruto, get behind," I hear Kakashi-sensei tell him and he pulls down his mask to reveal his Sharingan.

Itachi chuckles beside me. "That won't be of much use, Kakashi-san," he says.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto calls me, and I barely manage to stop myself from looking up. "Sakura-chan! You bastards, what have you done to Sakura-chan?"

"She's in a genjutsu. She can't hear you, Naruto," Kakashi says. If he can't tell it's an act, I don't see how Kisame ever could. "Let her go, Itachi. She's of no use to you."

"I beg to differ," Itachi replies.

"All this chatter is giving me a headache," Kisame says, shifting into a fighting stance. That monstrous sword of his – I can almost feel it pulsing with anticipation. It makes me sick. "Come here, Uzumaki brat!"

"Let Sakura-chan go!"

"You don't get to make requests, jinchuuriki."

I don't realize what's happening until my feet leave the ground. Kisame's huge hand is wrapped around my throat, his skin cold and clammy. The weight of my body is pulling me down and his grip on my throat is tightening, tightening… My eyes widen. I kick and struggle, but it's no use. He's holding me up at arm's length and my airways are slowly closing under the pressure.

"Sakura-chan!"

I snap my eyes shut, gasping for air. My nails scratch at Kisame's hand, but he won't even flinch. My air reserves are depleted. I'm beginning to see stars swirling in the darkness behind my eyelids. The truth sears like white-hot iron. Tears form at the corners of my eyes and my lungs are burning. The pain is all-consumming.

I am disposable, dispensable.

Kakashi would never hand Naruto over for me.