Disclaimer:
Copyright belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
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"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Biju speaking"
"Jutsu"
["Talking" Mindscape]
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Petals of Hope
Chapter 24
By: Zelga Lim Li
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"Itachi, no!" Sasuke shouted.
Tobi laughs maniacally. "Who could have taught you would evolve into something like this, my dear Itachi…" Gripping his bloodied arm to cause more pain, the masked Akatsuki threw the Uchiha against the far side of the wall, where Itachi slammed hard against the concrete. Pain exploded through his body.
While occupied, Sasuke used that opportunity to attack Tobi with his Chidori enhanced Kusanagi. Blocking it with one arm, Tobi repelled the raven's attack. Sasuke's received the full impact of his own technique.
Kirara rushed to Itachi's side and started to heal his wounds. "Get up Itachi. This is not the time to be careless."
Itachi coughed blood. The fox's eyes widen in worry.
"You are right. We don't have much time left. I had to finish this once and for all…" Itachi straightened himself up and stalked towards Tobi. "Once I have him under my gaze, take Sasuke and leave."
"No… I won't let you…" The fox protested, clutching his arm. Guessing from the look of his eyes that Itachi is finally decided.
Itachi's gaze softened. "Kirara, please try to understand. I am the only one who could stop him."
"But what about Sakura-chan?" The fox pleaded, her tail swishing anxiously. "If you used that technique, you would never see her again."
"It is a price I am willing to pay." Itachi said. His firm resolved, he patted Kirara's head. "To atone for my sins… To save the people I cared about… The village I loved…" The Uchiha smiled solemnly. "Besides, I already have enough of all your faces etched inside my mind for a lifetime." Chuckling lightly as he prepared the necessary hand seals to activate his technique. Turning one more time to face his friend, Itachi saw the tears the fox is trying to hide.
Kirara glared murderously at him.
"Don't feel too bad, Kira-chan…"
"But…"
Itachi poked her in the forehead, just like he always did with Sasuke. "You are the sister I never had. I couldn't have ask for anyone better…" Turning his back to end this battle. Itachi waved his hand in goodbye. "Take care of Sasuke for me, will you…"
Running at full speed, Itachi attacked Tobi once more.
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Sasuke shook his head in confusion. "Damn it."
"I should have gouge your eyes when I had the chance…" Tobi muttered.
"As if I would let you…" Itachi said, as he appeared in between threwing a couple of shurikens.
Using Susanoo, Itachi covered Sasuke as he engaged Tobi in a ferocious taijutsu match. Judging from Tobi's sloppy moves, the masked Akatsuki is losing focus and is wasting so much chakra. Seems like Lady Kagura did enough damage for him to finish this sentient old soul once and for all.
"If you don't accept the error of your ways, I have no other choice but to destroy you…"
"Don't make me laugh, Itachi…" Tobi growled menacingly. "After all this time, you still want to save this pathetic worthless body…"
"Of course I would." The Uchiha said in a jovial tone. "He is part of our family after all…"
Snarling, Tobi punched Itachi right in the face.
Itachi sidestepped and dodged quickly. To counter his attack, he kicked the mask on Tobi's face, crushing it.
"Damn you…" Tobi shouted.
With both of his eyes expose, Itachi knew it was time…
"I was damned long before, Tobi… You should know that by now…"
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Tobi curses as he saw Itachi shielding his stupid little brother.
"I'll kill them…" He repeated like a mantra. "I'll kill them all…"
["Kill them? Can you?"
"Shut up!" Tobi snapped. Facing Kagura inside his mindscape, he snarled maddeningly at the woman who in turn gave him a smirk. The rosette was in chains. Chains that connected their souls in an intangible manner.
The child of the Rain sighed as she looks pitifully at him. Her grandfather's very first creation.
The Guardian of the nine spirits.
"You were supposed to protect my grandfather's legacy…" Kagura said in a whisper. "Yet, you are the one who is trying to destroy everything…"
"Why would I guard something that I'm not meant to protect…" His eyes flashing, Tobi glared at the woman. "Your mother started all of this…" He spoke firmly. Ignoring Kagura's look.
"…And I'm going to finish this, once and for all…"]
Coming back from his mental argument with the daughter of the woman he loathed so much, Tobi's eyes turned dark fiery red. Much brighter than the reddish color of a regular Sharingan. The three-tomoe seal is also different with its elongated tails and pointed head.
Itachi hesitated for a moment. There he saw an anguished soul.
"I am no one…" Tobi muttered, "…As I forever will be…"
Itachi's gaze softened. However, it was already too late. Tobi's fate is already decided.
"Izanami!"
With those words, Itachi fell on his knees panting for breath. His sight dimming. The aftereffects of the said jutsu was instantaneous.
Noticing his brother's fall, Sasuke was about to run towards Itachi when he felt the fox girl grabs his body in a tight hold, stopping him.
"Let me go!" Turning to glare at the demon, the Raven stilled when he saw her face.
"I'm sorry," Kirara said in a whisper, her face streaked with tears making her blood red eyes stand out. The girl let her tail wrap around the Uchiha. "We have to go, as in right now…"
"NOOOO! You can't make me leave…" Sasuke screamed. "I won't leave my brother behind!"
With one last look, Kirara gritted her teeth as she saw Itachi's fallen form. The cavern's wall is starting to crumble. "Goodbye Itachi-kun…" The two disappears in swirls of fire and petals.
'Till we meet again…'
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Konoha…
Sakura's heart stopped. Like something dreadful happened. She did not notice Hinata who looks worriedly at her as the Hyuuga notice her unmoving gaze. Around them, the villages' wounded were being treated. Be they ordinary civilians, shinobis of the Leaf or members of the Root.
Naruto and the others are still looking for survivors. The village crumbled like a sandcastle but that didn't stop them from fulfilling their duties to one another.
.
.
.
.
.
(Author's impromptu note REPLAY: From here on, the succeeding scenes are what have supposed to happen in this specific chapter. I know I am being lazy, but the block I am having for Petal of Hope's last remaining chapters is kind of disturbing, to say the least. I promise that I will fix this in PoH's makeover in the coming months… Rest assured that the new Petals would be more organized than this one. Again, my sincerest apologies if this chapter is kinda rushed…)
DANZO ESCAPED MUCH TO TSUNADE'S FRUSTRATION AND ORDERED HER ANBUS TO HAUNT HIM DOWN. WITH THE HELP OF KAGURA'S SEAL, THEY RELEASED DANZO'S CONTROL OVER HIS MEN. THE SEED KAGURA GAVE HER FORMED A NEW TREE THAT REBUILT KONOHA.
ITACHI WAS BROUGHT A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WITH KISAME'S HELP MUCH TO SAKURA'S RELIEF. THOUGH SEVERELY INJURED, ITACHI WAS ALIVE. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS HEALING THE UCHIHA, SAKURA RETURNED BACK TO AMEGAKURE TO BURY HER BROTHER. DESPITE HER SISTER'S DISSAPPEARANCE, SAKURA IS HOPEFUL THAT SHE WILL RETURN SOMEDAY. WITH AKATSUKI'S HELP, SHE AND KONAN TRIED TO FIX THE DAMAGE TOBI BROUGHT TO THEIR VILLAGE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF KONOHA.
SASUKE IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN. SAKURA HAD AN IDEA THAT KIRARA MUST HAVE TAKEN THE RAVEN SOMEWHERE.
AS AMEGAKURE'S LIAISON, SIMILAR TO TEMARI'S JOB, SAKURA HANDLES THE AFFAIRS BETWEEN HER VILLAGE AND KONOHA ESTABLISHING A STRONGER BOND. TSUNADE-SAMA RETIRED AND APPOINTED NARUTO AS HER SUCCESSOR MUCH TO THE INNER COUNCIL'S OBJECTIONS. THEY LOST MUCH OF THEIR POWER BECAUSE OF DANZO'S BETRAYAL. SHE COMES IN EVERY NOW AND THEN TO ASSIST THE BLONDE.
AFTER NAGATO'S ONE YEAR DEATH ANNIVERSARY, SAKURA AND ITACHI FINALLY TIED THE KNOT. IT WAS ATTENDED BY SO MANY FRIENDS, ALLIES AND EVERYONE IN THE WHOLE VILLAGE OF KONOHAGAKURE AND AMEGAKURE. SASUKE DID NOT TAKE PART IN THE OCCASION BUT ITACHI WASN'T SURPRISED AT ALL.
AND ALL LIVE A HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
AND THEN, ALL IS WELL.
WHICH IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL…
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Author's note:
Reviews would be nice. Yeah, indeed it is nice for readers to leave a review. That means I'm doing a good job. I know I am super late in updating these last remaining chapters. Maybe because I don't know how to write them properly *ugh*. Anyways, I thank everyone for sticking up to me till now. And I do apologize for the delay. Peace out everyone:)
Ja ne!