Chapter 15

Breaking point

Sakura skirted to a halt as sasori whipped around, his chakra strings gathered as the body of ino stood behind her. They boxed her in.

"My dear petal, how exquisite you look. A shame that it had to come to this. But worry not, for I will make you mine once again." He grinned at her, his yellow irises blazing with determination.

She hid her eyes as a smile crossed her face.

"You won't be calling me Petal for much longer, Sasori." she gritted out. "I'm here to put an end to your sadistic games."

Sasori laughed, bringing the puppet closer to her back. "What do you mean, love? You and I, were the same. Our power is barely recognised. You are used as a tool, where I can show you true freedom from the control of others!" He bellowed out, pulling the strings to place inos arm around sakura lovingly. Sakura blanched as she looked into inos dull face, white and bloodless. No emotion. Sakuras hand came up to place a finger on her cheek, cold. She backed away tears in her eyes.

"You twisted monster... using Ino's body…" she shrieked.

Then with a snap of his finger the poison dart flew out of her abdomen. It hit a log as sakura popped in a rustle of leaves and smoke.

"Oh petal, your so dull!" He laughed aloud, then the ground exploded. He dodged back, but she didn't come for him. She charged at the puppet, striking it with all her might. Each punch accompanied by a sob.

"Really?! Is that how you treat my presents?!" He seethed. "I brought her back for you!"

She summoned a chakra punch crushing Inos abdomen again. "This," she said, "is not Ino! You killed her, remember?" Her voice was low and threatening as she dodged a blow from the puppet.

"No, petal." he said, his sadistic smile wide and gleaming. "You killed her." He made a fist with his hand.

She screamed and Her punches grew stronger, fueled by her rage, sadness, and hatred. The puppet started to crumble under her relentless onslaught.

Sasori's grin widened, his eyes glimmering with a perverted sense of adoration. "My sweet love, don't you see? This is the ultimate testament of our connection. Together, we shall create a child who will bring chaos and destruction upon this pathetic village."

"No! I won't let you use me or Ino for your sick desires. Ino... I'm sorry, this is all my fault!" she cried out.

She twisted out of the way as inos puppet shot more poisoned senbons and twisted into a taijutsu stance. She charged tears falling down her cheek and barraged the puppet moving fast and landing more hits until the final blow hit the puppet, it shattered it into a thousand pieces. She stood there, panting and covered in sweat, her tears blending with the remnants of her pain. Blood dripped off her fists.

As Sakura gazed at the broken puppet, her resolve strengthened. She turned to face Sasori, her voice filled with resolution. "I won't let you manipulate me any longer. I'll destroy every last one of your puppets if that's what it takes. Then, I'll come for you!"

His hands came up, pulling the strings off his destroyed puppet and into a net. Trapping sakura. She struggled for a moment before breaking free, twisting into a pirouette Barely touching down before she whisked herself back up, going through the signs. Three of her clones popped into existence, each choosing a different path.

"You're still playing the same games, love." He swerved back, deflecting a kunai.

He whipped his hands forward again, chakra strings cutting through both clones on his flanks, then he grabbed the one behind him and smashed her into the ground. It popped out in a cloud of smoke. He froze.

Her kunai against his throat.

"Oh petal," he whispered, twisting his head back and rubbing his face against hers. "I missed that strawberry scent of yours."

"You're done, Sasori," she breathed out. Her green palm pressed against his upper back. "One move, and I'll fucking obliterate you." Her kunai cutting into his airway.

He said softly, "So sweet, the things you say to me." He placed a hand on hers as she held the kunai. "I love the way you move." His gaze traveled over her form. She felt the warmth of his chakra pulsing through her own.

He grinned, nothing was happening.

She tried to whip her hand back, but he gripped it with a steel-like force.

"Let me go, you fucking psychopath!" She tried to push off with her foot. But found she was glued to the ground. She couldn't move her hands either. "Chakra strings! Fuck!"

"Oh sweet little petal. When will you learn to think things through?" He tightened the strings, pulling her hand away from his throat. "You played right into my trap."

Turning in her arms, he positioned himself in her embrace, using the strings to have her hold him. He placed his left hand on her face, His other hand reached up and fisted in her hair pulling it where he wanted her.

She spat on him. His grip on her wrist loosening enough to give her leway. She grasped the kunai and whipped it through his hand in her hair, cutting off the long locks. Then, moving her head back, she headbutted him as hard as she could. Blood poured down her face; she saw stars. 'It was like I was hitting…' her eyes flashed up, meeting bright yellow orbs.

He laughed loudly and menacingly. Dropping the long locks in his hands to the ground and grasping her wrist again in her daze.

"Like this? Love, This isn't my body." He grinned, "Too quick to think I would come in person to retrieve you. My sweet petal, look at the mess you've made of your hair." he tsked.

"What the fuck?!" She pulled back again, trying to free her wrists. "How the hell!?"

"Many things I can do for you, beautiful petal. My, my," he ran a finger down her face, pushing the terribly tangled and slashed hair behind her ear. "I just wish you hadn't done that."

"What the fuck are you?" she screamed at him.

"This is just a puppet. A puppet with a piece of me in it's core, so I can control it from long distances." he nuzzled her cheek, "I can teach you if only you'd listen to me and see this for what it is." he laughed statistically.

With a loud thud, a body dropped to the ground just feet away from them. Sakura peeked over to see it. Bloodied and broken. A man lay there, clutching his chest. Blond hair was visible on the side of his head. Clay figures and broken hands.

"Sa…sasori. He…he got me…yeah." Deidara coughed, blood pouring from his lips.

"Didn't last long, did he?" Sasori's voice was low and sweet as he whispered into her ear. "Looks like I should have come myself."

"I would drop the strings before I cut them," Itachi's voice was low and clear. He dropped to the forest floor.

"Ah, it looks like our dance ends here. Well, petal. I will see you soon." Sasori smiled, as he broke his chakra strings. Sakura ripped back, sending out a roundhouse as she did. He caught it, grinning, as she twisted mid-air and pirouetted, using the force of his hand to flip and toss two senbon. Snaking her hands along the ground and building chakra into a point on her fist, she pushed off when her back foot hit the floor and swung. The fist blasted through his chest. Sasori's face was bright with what could only be described as maddening pride as it pierced him through. "Soon," he said, as the wood dropped with a thunk.

"Sa..sasori…" Deidaraa head plopped to the ground. Unmoving.

"Damn it!!!" She screamed, jumping on the wooden object. Hitting it over and over. It splintered and cracked, pieces smashing and breaking. Over and over, her hands swelled and bled splattering the ground around herself as she demolished it.

"Fuck!" she bellowed out.

"Sakura." Itachis hand grabbed hers. She turned her face to meet his unmasked one, eyes bright red, tomoes spirialing. She fell into his outstretched arms. His third level knocking her unconscious. "Sleep now." Was all he said as he collected her and replaced his mask.

Two masked anbu dropping into the open floor.

"Instruction?" The one with the red arrow on his bird mask asked.

"Take this one to ibiki. I'll handle her. You there," he motioned to the one with the pinstriped dog mask. "Seal this and take it to the hokage. Well, what's left of it." He nodded to the destroyed puppet.

With that he took to the trees, trying not to jostle the pinkette and his arms.

The room was dimly lit, casting eerie shadows against the walls. Sakura slowly twitched, regaining consciousness, her head pounding. She blinked, attempting to adjust her eyes to the darkness, the sound of muffled voices outside the room caught her attention, causing her heart to race. She peered to the right to see a window closed tightly, rain pelting it, to her left was a door, light glinting through the bottom and sides.

Sakura jolted out of bed, her hands bandaged tight with damped herbs. It all started to flood back to her, her battle against Sasori's puppet form. Inos's body stolen and turned into one of his weapons she stood shaking as the meonrys compounded her headache. Thoughts of her failure to capture him barraged her mind, fueling her to get back out there after him.

Just as she was about to bolt out of the room, the door opened and Itachi entered followed closely by Shisui. Sakura froze, her eyes widening in surprise and relief. The light from the other room painfully binding her.

"Sakura, you should be resting."itachi said in a hushed voice, trying not to upset the jumpy pinkette.

Sakura's voice trembled as she spoke. "Itachi... Where am I?" sakura looked around nervously.

"You're in a safe house within the Uchiha compound. Don't worry, you're safe here." he stated.

Sakura took a step back, her hands shaking uncontrollably. "My head…my head hurts." she put a hand up to her temples, rubbing a bit.

"I'm sorry Sakura," itachi motioned with both hands to keep her from running, "I had to put you to sleep. You were a bit crazed."

"Damn uchihas.." she said pain behind her eyes pounded. "This is torture," she grunted clenching her teeth.

"It's not so bad if I don't have to use so much force. Rest, sakura. It will help."

"I…I can't," she whispered. Shaking uncontrollably.

"Do you want me to put you under again? Less force means no headache." he comforted.

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with fear. "I keep having these nightmares... Can you..." she dropped her gaze and whispered to the ground. "Can you make them stop?"

Itachi's expression softened, and he nodded gently. "Yes, Sakura. I can help with that." he activated his Mangekyou Sharingan, the red and black pattern swirling in his eyes. He glanced into her eyes, seeking confirmation. "Are you ready, Sakura?" itachi said.

Sakura took a deep breath, her trust in Itachi evident.

"Yes, Itachi…Please help me." she said low toned looking into his red sharingan eyes.

Itachi gently placed his hand on Sakura's forehead, and with the whirl of his tomoe, Sakura's body went limp. He caught her effortlessly and cradled her to his chest.

Shisui watched this exchange unfold, concern etched on his face. Itachi turned to face Shisui, whose eyes were probing, a question in the air.

"Itachi... Are you falling in love with Sakura?" shisui spoke suspiciously, Voicing concern.

Itachi hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering with conflicting emotions. He settled Sakura on his lap looking down at her face. Serene.

"I care for her deeply, Shisui. She has become important to me, but love... It's complicated." itachi spoke.

Shisui smirked, knowing his cousin too well. Coming up to the door frame he leaned against it. "Itachi, don't deny what's in your heart. Your actions speak louder than words. Embrace it, my friend, your falling, hard." shisui said compassionately.

Itachi's eyes softened as he looked down at Sakura, sleeping peacefully in his lap. He gently lifted her into his arms, cradling her like a fragile flower.

"Perhaps... Perhaps you're right, Shisui. Love has a way of sneaking up on us." itachi said in a low voice. Walking her to the bed.

Itachi placed tender a kiss on Sakura's forehead, tucking her back into bed, ensuring her body was covered with the sheet.

"If You would report to the homage id be greatful, I'll stay and make sure she's safe." with that itachi dismissed his cousin and took a seat by sakura bedside. Waiting for the girl to sleep off the effects.

Tsunade sat behind her desk, her expression a mixture of anger and concern. Sakura stood before her, head bowed in shame.

"Sakura, I explicitly ordered you not to engage with Sasori!" she shook her head in her hands. "He nearly killed you once!"Can you explain yourself?" she laced her fingers together, glaring at her pink haired apprentice.

Sakura's body quivered as she tried to find the right words.

"Gomen, Tsunade-sama. I know I shouldn't have gone after him, but..." She looked at her hands which were tangled in front of her stomach. "I couldn't bear to let him escape. He hurt me... I couldn't just let him get away with it."

Tsunade slammed her hands on the desk, making Sakura jump in surprise.

"Do you think I don't understand your pain? That I don't comprehend what it's like to be hurt by someone?" she seethed "But you are a shinobi, Sakura! You must obey orders! Your recklessness endangered not only yourself but this entire village!"

Sakura bowed her head lower, tears falling from her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Tsunade-sama. I know I messed up. I just wanted to avenge myself and prove that I'm not weak..." she whispered.

Tsunade's anger subsided a little at her apprentice, replaced by a mixture of concern and disappointment.

Tsunade sighed. "Sakura, I can't continue to put you in harm's way if you can't control your emotions. I'm temporarily pulling you from shinobi duty until Sasori is eliminated. If you can't keep yourself in check until then, I'll have no choice but to lock you up for your own safety."

Sakura's eyes widened in shock, she was finally realizing the gravity of the situation. Itachi, who had been silently observing from the closed office door pushed off the wall.

"Tsunade-sama, I might have a solution. My Mangekyou Sharingan has the ability to help Sakura confront Sasori. It will allow her to relive them in a way, those painful memories and better prepare herself to face him."

Tsunade looked at Itachi, skepticism evident in her gaze.

"How much do you know." she eyed him warily.

"Everything," he stated. "She told me what needed to be said."

"And you think she can handle it?" Tsunade scoffed. "This isn't something to take lightly, Itachi."

Sakura looked up and met tsunades eyes.

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes, Tsunade-sama. If reliving those memories can help me face Sasori head-on, then I'll do it." she clenched her fists at her sides. No more twiddling thumbs.

Tsunade gazed at Sakura for a moment, assessing her resolve. Finally, she nodded.

"Very well. But I want Itachi to guide you through this process, to ensure your safety and stability. I won't risk losing you, Sakura." she said low, reaching into her desk to remove a bottle of sake and a cup.

Sakura paused, after a moment of contemplation, she also nodded. "What will you need to do itachi kun?"

"I'll need to be inside your head." was all he said staring at her.

"Inside my head?" she repeated, "like in the memory?"

"Yes. We will go through the memory together. I will address them with you, and help you see the weaknesses." he activated the sharing an and tapped his temple. "Remember, Sakura, this is just an exercise. We're going to revisit your memories and use them to empower you."

"Alright, I understand." she said softly, starting out the window. "If it means proving myself and protecting my future, I'll do it."

Tsunade watched Sakura with a mix of concern and hope, "you know sakura, this may indeed be your last chance to conquer your demons. I can't let you fly off the handle anymore. Your too precious to me."

"Hai Tsunade sama. I can do this."

Both sakura and itachi stood facing each other in the uchiha compound, a training ground off the side of the safe house. Sakura was in the center of the room, her face stoic even though she was filled with anxiety. Itachi in front of her, his Sharingan activated.

"Ready princess?" he said looking into her green orbs.

"I… I think so." she murmered.

"Remember, Sakura, this is just a routine. We're going to go through it, Together, any time you need me to stop. Just say so." he placed a hand on her shoulder.

Sakura took a deep breath, her hands clenched into fists. She nodded, trying to mask her own feelings, rolling her shoulders she met his eyes again. "I trust you, Itachi. Let's do this."

Itachi gently places his hand on Sakura's, focusing his chakra. The room began to warp, and suddenly, they were transported into Sakura's memories.

Sakura and Itachi stood amidst a dense forest. The sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves fill the air. Sakura's heart pounded in her chest as she looked on ino using her mind swap jutsu sasori in her control.

"Use it now! Sakura!" he said under inos control.

"Remember, Sakura, observe everything carefully. Analyze your emotions; don't let them consume you." itachi whispered in her ear.

Sakura nodded visibly shaking as her eyes filled with tears and vulnerability.

She looked over the two. Seeing the differences in a new light. Her eyes widened.

Itachi placed his hand over hers covering it as she raised it and clenched her fist, crushing both of them.

"Hand of god…" she cried out and dropped to her knees.

"Oh my god itachi! It wasn't him! He was a puppet the whole time!" she wailed. "I killed her! It was me I killed her!" tears flowed down her cheeks unchecked.

"No, princess, look closely." the memory backed up, and she looked closely at Ino, realizing for the first time how hollow her eyes looked.

"Wha…" she sobbed. "what… what happened?"

"She was dead long before you crushed them."