A.N.
Bless all of those who have reviewed, faved, and followed my story. I really, truly appreciate it!
If you have not kept up with the manga from here on out there may be spoilers.
Disclaimer: Naruto does NOT belong to me.
Sayuri and any characters that have not and will not appear in the manga and/or anime are completely original.
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"All right then. I guess we're going to war."
In a blink of an eye he was behind her, ready to strike with his Kusanagi. Sayuri ducked just in time and kicked the sword out of his hand. Biting her thumb she ran it across one of her seals summoning senbon in her hand. She threw them at him; all met the ground as he back flipped away from them.
Quickly he formed a series of hand signs. "Fire style: Fire Ball Jutsu!" She rolled out of the way and grabbed his Kusanagi in the process. Rushing at him she swiped at his form only to have it disappear before her eyes.
Suddenly she felt as her arm was twisted back and she was roughly shoved to the ground. His knee went to her back, as he continued to twist hand. Sayuri cried out in pain and dropped the sword hearing as it clattered on the ground. A series of kunai made him leap away from the girl as he stood back and stared at his old sensei.
"Are you ok, Sayuri?" Kakashi leapt towards the girl as she rubbed her injured arm. She gave him a nod and the silver haired Jonin turned to Sasuke.
"You've fallen too low, Sasuke."
The Uchiha glared at his former teacher before his gaze shifted to Sayuri as she stood. His breath cached as she looked up at him. Her gaze was pleading him to stop, but it was too late. He would do this with or without her. He'd do it for the both of them.
Team 7
Kakashi looked over his two former students. One stood before him, looking worn with blood over his face, while the other stood to his side watching her teammate carefully as he shifted his weight to the other foot.
"Where's Sakura?" He asked looking at the young brunette. He watched her glance off to the other side of the bridge. He spotted the pink haired girl watching from behind the pillar. His attention went back to Sayuri who by now had stopped rubbing her arm. "I'm sorry."
Sayuri turned to her sensei in confusion. What could he be sorry for?
"I've been a terrible teacher." The man said loud enough for Sakura to hear as he turned to Sasuke. "I shouldn't have said to you what I did back then, Sakura." From behind the pillar the pink haired girl looked down at the ground. "I should have paid more attention to you, Sayuri, instead of letting Moriyo take over." At that the brunette looked up in surprise.
"It's…" she stopped. What could she say? That it was ok? That she hadn't been bothered when she found that she was no longer part of team seven? That she had been perfectly fine without him? That it hadn't stung when she stopped seeing her sensei every day? No, she couldn't say that. Because she had been hurt, she felt miserable, she missed her old sensei. She felt like she had been cast off as a spare without a second thought.
"Sasuke, I hate repeating myself." Sayuri turned to the Uchiha then. "But I'll say this one last time. Stop your obsession with revenge!"
Suddenly Uchiha burst into laughter causing the three Konoha ninja to jump slightly at the sound until he abruptly stopped. "Bring back Itachi…" Sayuri brought a hand to her heart. "And my mother and father…And my clan! Bring them all back! Then I'll stop!"
Black eyes turned to the brunette next to the jounin. Kakashi stiffened and took out a kunai not sure what Sasuke would do.
"You know what it feels like!" He shouted. "Yet you're there standing next to them fighting for them. Tell me, Sayuri, what have they ever done for you!"
"Sasuke, stop…" she pleaded.
"Not until they're all dead!"
Kakashi narrowed his eye. "I don't want to have to kill you."
Sasuke turned to Kakashi in arrogance. "Oh, you think you can take me out whenever you feel like it?" He scoffed. "Don't act like you're still my teacher. That time has long passed! I want to kill you so badly I can taste it, Kakashi."
The jounin stiffened for a second before he moved to shift his headband up revealing his Sharingan eye. "No matter how far he fell, the third always looked at Orochimaru with affection. I think I understand now what he went through all those years." He took off his cape and cast it aside.
"Well then, you and the third have plenty to talk about when you join him!" Said the Uchiha as he cracked his knuckles.
Kakashi glanced at Sayuri who slowly got into a defensive position. "Are you sure you can do this?" he asked his student.
He didn't miss the saddened look she'd cast at the Uchiha as she bit her thumb and slid it across a seal in her arm, summoning her father's katana in the process. "Yes."
XXX
Karin stared up at the clear blue sky. In the distance she could hear the clanging or metal against metal. A roar of outrage from Sasuke and the splashing of water as someone was thrown over the bridge. She heard the pink haired medic cry beside her as she held her knees to her chest. In no way did she want to hear or see the rosette so vulnerable. She didn't want to feel her pain, but she couldn't help but let a tear roll down her cheek as she lay on the cold ground.
She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on the chakras below. One had a distinct electric feeling to it as it shifted around the area in an attempt to avoid being hit. The other, Sasuke's, was dark and ominous and she felt how he attacked the other mercilessly. Then there was the third one. It was curious, she concentrated harder, that one shifted from one state to the other. I'd be sharp and erratic like lightning, calm and flowing like water the next, it abruptly shift back and forth from slow and firm like the earth to whirling and shifting like air.
Then there was something that caught her attention, the way that underneath it all was a shifty fiery flow to her chakra that the girl was suppressing. Karin had never seen anything like it. She had never seen someone with the chakra the girl had, much less seen anyone try to forcefully suppress a natural part of it.
While she concentrated on the girl's chakra as it shifted from one area to another, she almost failed to notice how her chakra and Sasuke's reacted when they were in contact with one another. Even now…She thought sadly as she opened her eyes and turned to the still sobbing rosette. Even as the two fought below he still loved her.
XXX
Sayuri gritted her teeth as Susanoo blocked her katana with an arm. Sasuke stared back at her impassively as she added pressure but to no avail.
"It's useless." He said to her. "This is an ultimate defense, you can't get through." Sayuri was shoved back with a force that had her skidding to a halt.
"Sasuke, your clan and your hatred can't be the only things that are left in your heart. Look deep inside yourself one last time." Kakashi tried one more.
The Uchiha scoffed. "Still reciting the same old pleas…"
"You know what's really in there."
He recalled his Genin class. "They're all laughing…They're all laughing it up at the cost of Itachi's life. They have no idea the price he paid!" His Susanoo changed forms, turning darker still. "All I hear in your laughter now is scorn and ridicule! But I'll change it. I'll turn your laughter into screams of anguish!"
"SASUKE DON'T!" Sayuri tried once more. "ITACHI DIDN'T WANT THIS!"
Coal black eyes shifted to Sayuri just then. His last person, his sanctuary, the only one who knew what he felt, Sasuke clenched his fists, Konoha had corrupted her.
"This is bad…" Kakashi stiffened as Sasuke's Susanoo grew in size, beside him Sayuri stared at the Uchiha horrified.
Suddenly the Susanoo began receding, turning into a skeleton. Sasuke clapped his hands over his eyes in pain as his defense vanished. Slowly removing his hands from his eyes he looked towards Kakashi and Sayuri as they were nothing but fuzzy outlines now.
My vision! He thought as he gritted his teeth and began to wipe the blood from them.
Sayuri looked on in worry until something caught her eye as she gasped lightly. Kakashi took notice as well, becoming alarmed. Both standing very still prying to some god for Sasuke not notice Sakura at his back. The pink haired Chunin stopped short from stabbing the Sharingan wielder in the back with a kunai. Sasuke turned just then gripping the girl by the neck.
"Sakura!" Both Kakashi and Sayuri called out as she was pinned to the wall. The two rushed towards her, behind her Kakashi fell to the ground, Sayuri on the other hand kept going watching as the Uchiha took the kunai from his teammate and swung it at her.
"No!"
"Don't do it, Sasuke!"
The two cried out just as the metal was about to meet the rosettes body. Suddenly Sakura was no longer pinned by the Uchiha. Instead she was in the arms of their blonde friend. Blue met black as Naruto turned to watch his friend. Taking the opening Sayuri rushed at Sasuke, sliding down just as he turned and sending a kick up to his chest, sending the Uchiha upwards. He used the bridge as leverage to jump back down unto the water, standing opposite of his three former teammates.
"Was that proof enough?" Kakashi asked as he neared them. "Sasuke's not the same anymore, Naruto."
"Sasuke…" Naruto called as he stepped between Sayuri and Kakashi. "Tobi told us the truth about Itachi. I don't know whether to believe him or not…but either way everything you've done…I understand why you did it." They turned to Naruto in shock.
"I told you once before. You never had parents or siblings…you never had anyone. So shut up outsider!"
Both Sakura and Sayuri tensed in anger at the Uchiha's words. "Naruto's had faith in you, Sasuke! No matter how many people gave up on you, he still considered you a friend!" She glanced at the blonde for a second. "He still does."
"A few moments ago I got revenge for Itachi on one of the leaf's elite…Danzo…It was a high unlike anything I've ever felt, like I was finally cleansing the Uchiha name. Like I was freeing the Uchiha name from being associated with this corrupt shinobi world. In a sense it's what the leaf has always wanted. After rejecting my clan for generations, I'm finally going to wipe it from your memories."
He looked at the four Konoha ninja as he extended his arms, a deranged smile on his face. "By killing every last one of you until the leaf is crushed! Any link to the Uchiha will be severed and our name will be purified! That is how I'll revive my clan."
"You've lost it Uchiha." Sasuke turned his gaze to the brunette. "Itachi wanted you to come back; he wanted you to be happy. He never wanted this…" she gestured at him. "Itachi never wanted revenge...Sasuke please…" she stepped forward. One last time, she'll try one last time. "Please come home."
It was quiet for a few seconds before he shook his head. "You have no idea, what my brother wanted. He protected you, he cared about you…and you don't want to help avenge him or your clan…" he smiled. "But I'll do it for you…You'll thank me at the end of it all."
Behind the brunette Naruto had conjured up three shadow clones ready to fight until the silver haired jounin raised his arm. "This is my job. Naruto, get Sakura and Sayuri out of here."
"But Kakashi sensei—"
"I don't want you three to have to see this. Get out of here now!" Kakashi turned to the rosette. "The kind of poison kunai you have learned to make won't kill Sasuke. Orochimaru would've made sure he'd be immune to it…besides you've seen that you can't handle this."
Sayuri clenched her fists. "I'm an ANBU, as of today Sasuke has been made into an international criminal. I am to stop him at all cost! You can't order me to leave Kakashi!"
Her teacher turned to girl and shook his head. "I used to be a former ANBU, I outranked you a long time ago and I outrank you now. Leave, Sayuri, that's an order!"
"I said no!" Sayuri stepped forward, katana in hand.
Suddenly the two jounin were held back by the clones as Naruto rushed at Sasuke, the Uzumaki with his Rasengan and the Uchiha with the Chidori. As the two jutsu met a blinding light caused the others to flinch and cover their eyes as the water from the river splashed high into the air showering them all as it came back down, throwing the two ninja in opposite directions.
Seeing this Kakashi rushed after Naruto catching him before he collided with the bridge and Sasuke was soon caught by the White Zetsu. Naruto looked up, eyes narrowed at Sasuke. "Now I'm certain."
Kakashi turned to him. "Certain? Of what?"
"What the heck are you talking about, Naruto?" Sayuri asked.
"I thought I told you to come back and rest." They all turned to the masked man that stood beside Sasuke. Taking notice of their company Madara turned to them. "Nine tails…When we do fight them, it'll be in a more suitable place. For now we retreat."
Naruto stepped forward ignoring Kakashi's call. Sasuke stopped Madara as he tried to help him up, wanting to hear what the blonde had to say.
"Sasuke do you remember what you told me back in the Valley of the End? About top-class ninja?" Sasuke didn't answer but Naruto felt that he knew what he was talking about. "One direct clash later, I understand a lot more. We've become top class ninja…So tell me did you see what's in my heart? What I really feel?" Sakura looked on at Naruto in worry. "Did you see what'll happen if we fight again?" Both Kakashi and Sayuri stared at the two with unease. "We're both going to die. Our fight will be inevitable if you attack the leaf. So keep your hatred, let it fest and hit me with it full force. I'm the only one who can bear the full brunt of your hate! It's my job no one else's! I'll bear the burden of your hatred and we'll die together!"
Sasuke gritted his teeth before lashing out. "What?! What the hell is wrong with you?! Why do you care about me so much?!"
"Because I'm your friend." Sasuke stared at Naruto in slight shock. "I'm not giving up on you…I'm done ranting. Hell, I can barely string a sentence together…I shouldn't be lecturing anyone!" Naruto laughed. "if we really take this all the way to the end and die, we won't be Uchiha, and Jinchuuriki, or anything.
"I won't change, and I'm not going to die…you will."
"That's enough, leave Sasuke to me. Naruto, you still want to become Hokage." Kakashi said as he stepped forward.
"How can I call myself Hokage, if I can't save one friend?"
Sayuri looked over at the Uchiha. Here was Naruto, telling him that he hadn't given up when she already had. She looked down at her katana. Now she understood what Itachi had meant by 'anchor.' He wanted her to convince his little brother to return to Konoha, to keep him sane, to help him. Her grip on the katana tightened. Itachi had been wrong in choosing her. He should've chosen Naruto. She wasn't cut out for this, she wasn't someone's stability, heck she could barely keep her own life in check.
Sayuri allowed the kunai to disappear into thin air with an audible poof. She earned the attention of her teammates as she stepped back. "Ok…" she turned to Naruto. "The only person Sasuke will fight is you."
Madara placed a hand on the younger Uchiha's back. "Let's go, Sasuke."
They watched at their opponents disappeared before their eyes. As soon as they were gone the clones disappeared as Naruto fell back, foam in his mouth.
"Naruto!" Sayuri exclaimed as she caught the blonde noticing the cut on his cheek. "Sakura, the antidote!" she ordered. The rosette panicked until she realized that her friend had been cut by her poisoned kunai. "What are you waiting for?!"
The rosette snapped into action. "R-right!"
XXX
Moriyo frowned as she re-read the scroll in her hands. At her feet Pakkun scratched his ears waiting for the jounin to say something. The woman sighed as she rolled the piece of paper back up and glanced at the tent where a busty blonde was barking out orders.
"Boy did he save himself from trouble this time." She smiled as Shizune ran out of the tent in search for more food.
"Are you going to tell him or should I?" Pakkun asked as he looked up at Moriyo.
Moriyo smiled. "I'll do it. In the mean time I'll give this to Lady Tsunade." She held up the scroll and the dog nodded.
"Let him down easy, I'm sure it'll hurt him to hear he won't become Hokage." Pakkun said sarcastically causing the woman to laugh.
"Gotcha!" She saluted as the dog barked before disappearing.
XXX
There was loud bang as Tenten hit the lumber in anger. They had returned to Konoha, Kakashi going off to meet with the elders while Naruto, Sakura, and Sayuri met up with the others to explain the recent turn of events.
"You're going to fight Sasuke alone? And you think all of us are just going to stand here and let you?" the bun haired teen exclaimed.
"Tenten's right, Naruto. We can't let you have your way with this one. It's a problem for the whole village." Shikamaru spoke up not liking what Naruto had in mind one bit.
"This is what you meant by you'd 'explain when we got back?' We're all prepared to kill Sasuke!" Kiba exclaimed from his spot on top of the lumber.
"Naruto…" Shikamaru stepped forward. "You're not trying to convince us to let you handle this so you can turn around and protect him, are you?"
"No, trust me, I won't defend him."
Neji narrowed his eyes at the blonde. "If Sasuke was so weakened from the summit and fighting Danzo, why didn't you finish him right there?"
"It's not so simple." Sakura defended. "Madara was with him."
Kiba growled at the rosette. "He couldn't have just slipped away." The dog owner turned to the blonde, eyes narrowed. "Naruto, you're as strong as they come. You defeated pain! Sasuke wouldn't have stood—"
"You're wrong. I can't defeat Sasuke at his current level. I just knew…" Naruto looked down at the ground before straightening with determination. "I'm the only one who can fight him."
"What in the world happened? Tell us!" Neji demanded as he uncrossed his arms and stepped forward.
"Just let Naruto do what he thinks is best." Sayuri smiled at the blonde receiving a stern gaze from the Hyuga standing beside her.
"Alright!" He exclaimed. "I'm hungry; I'll be at Ichiraku's." With that the blonde turned and walked away.
Sayuri watched as the blonde disappeared before she stood straight. "I'm leaving too. I've got something important do." She turned but stopped short as she felt a strong grip on her hand.
She turned and met Neji's narrowed eyes. "I'll go with you." Eyeing him carefully she consented as he released her hand, both walking side by side back into the village ignoring the curious stares from their friends.
Brown eyes shifted to her right as if admiring the workers handy work while the two walked in complete silence. It wasn't until they walked into a deserted part of the village that she felt Neji stop her. He held her had firmly in his and began to lead her away towards one of the few training grounds that had been spared from Pain's attack.
"Ne—" he raised a finger cutting her off.
His white eyes narrowed down at her. "What the hell were you thinking?!" he demanded. Sayuri blinked up at him. "Why did you go after Uchiha? You were completely unarmed! Something could have happened to you!"
Sayuri glared up at him irritated. She was not in the mood to be scolded when she already knew she would never hear the end of it from Kenji. "Ok, first of all, I was not completely unarmed! I had seals on me. Second, I'm a jounin in the ANBU I can take care of myself!"
Gritting his teeth Neji pushed her back into a tree. "You were hurt from Pain's attack, your leg was broken. Did you think I didn't notice that you're chakra has been suspiciously high? What did you take?" He narrowed his eyes. "Soldier pills?"
"What are you? My father?" she pushed him back. "I'm a big girl, Neji."
"You could have died!" Sayuri stood in silent shock as she looked at the furious Hyuga. "He could have killed you! Don't you care?!" he stepped forward as she reflexively took a step back.
She had never seen him angry at her like this before. She gulped and bit her lip trying not to back down but he was making it difficult. He took hold of her shoulders as he leaned down and placed his head at the crook of her neck.
"I can't lose you." He murmured and pulled her to him. "Understand?" Carefully she reached for his head with one hand while her other went to his back as she pulled him close.
"I'm sorry, Neji." She stroked his brown locks as he held her as long he pleased.
Brown eyes focused on the clear blue sky. I'm sorry Itachi…
She had let him down, she couldn't convince Sasuke to return and now they were going to war. What could she do? She didn't have anything to offer him. Sasuke wanted revenge, while she wanted peace. She felt Neji slide his hands to her back, clutching her black shirt and suddenly she felt guilty. Here was a man that cared for her that wanted the best for her and all she could do was think about the man that had let her down in every way. Sayuri closed her eyes confused, irritated, and saddened. What was she supposed to do?
A.N.
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Oh, I've posted a pic of Sayuri in her kimono in Deviant Art if anyone is interested.