At the medical ward…
Itachi awoke to find himself in the medical ward, surrounded by frantic healing nin and nurses.
He wheezed and breathed as they examined him. Why… why was he in so much pain and why did it feel like there were rocks in his lungs? Everything hurt completely while he tried to remember what had happened to him…
Interesting.
It seems Itachi's bride has slain his snake and his brother also shows power.
Both are so tempting to take. He would obtain power and take what he loved from the one who injured him so, technically twice. He would enjoy this.
He witnessed the power of the nine tails and knew it was impossible for him to control. With the right finesse, it weakened the brat.
The eyes…
Once he has those… he can come back for the fox.
He waited for the perfect time and Sasuke was his, leaving the Curse Mark on the back of his neck. The snake then slithered away…
Inside the Forest…
Itachi accompanied Anko to find the snake.
"You should have killed him when you had the chance, Itachi." Anko sneered.
"I showed mercy as a sign of respect for who he was. I won't make the same mistake again. COUGH!" Itachi coughed as his chest rattled a bit.
"Are you sure you're up for taking him down? You don't look too good." Anko wondered.
"I am alright, it is just a cold. It will pass." He assured her but didn't convince himself.
It didn't take long before Orochimaru ambushed them both. As he was close to killing his former student, Anko, Itachi had him on the ropes.
"You don't look please to see me." He pointed out.
"I told you the next time I see you, I would kill you." He reminded.
"Yes, you are truly a deadly fighter. Too dangerous for me to take, but your brother… he can be quite useful."
"What did you do?" He snarled at him coldly.
"You already know."
Itachi slashed his cheek, aiming for the neck as the snake nearly evaded his attack.
"If I kill you now, then my family is safe-. COUGH! COUGH! HACK! HACK!"
Itachi was having a coughing fit as blood dripped from his lips. When he spotted it, he realized it was something bad.
"It seems you are not as strong as you used to be. I wonder… will you be around long enough to see your precious village destroyed and your brother mine?"
Before Itachi could catch him, he disappeared.
"This… this is not good." Itachi stuttered as began coughing more.
"Itachi, we need to get you to a hospital," Anki warned as she helped him out.
"My brother, Naru-."
"You can't help them like this, come on."
The two soon left as Itachi had a feeling whatever was happening to him, could end him.
What on earth caused this pain for him?
"Lord Uchiha, there is something you must know." The medical nurse informed the man in a saddened tone.
In the forest of Death…
Sakura watched over her two teammates after they were attacked by the snake man, both were suffering while she could do nothing.
She hated feeling so weak, so pathetic…
If not things would go worse… she soon found herself surrounded by enemy nin, and they wanted to waste them.
Lee would arrive, in a gallant manner.
"Fear not, fairest Sakura and beloved Naru, for I am here to rescue you!" Lee declared he refused to allow them to be harmed.
"Ooh, a little extra. Why not see how many we can kill before it's over." The enemy sneered with weapons in his hands.
But Rock Lee was not one to back down.
The ninja clashed while Sakura was forced to watch, fist to fist, leg to leg! But soon Lee loses consciousness at the hands of his enemy and Sakura would meet her death.
"Once we're done with pinky, will butcher up the blond… is that a chick?" The female enemy ninja questioned as they noticed something extra found in her chest.
But Sakura refused to allow her crush and friend to be harmed and sacrificed her vanity to be free. She refused to be a victim anymore.
"You are not going to lay a hand on them!" Sakura snarled with a blade in her hand, "You want them, you have to get through me!"
"Sounds like fun…"
"No, it won't."
Everyone turned around to see Team Ten.