11
It turned out that the old woman hadn't lied about the nearby village, which, as they expected, lay in the northeast part of the wicked forest. Like Konoha, a huge cliff stood behind it, paving the way to the Earth country, if one was brave enough to climb the stiff slopes of the mountainous area above it. This village might even have been the former-hidden village of the Rain country, though its proximity with the Land of Earth could arise doubts.
Getting inside the walls proved to be easier than expected, seeing as they were no guards watching the gates, which, even for a non-military village, seemed unreasonable, especially at nightfall. They had no masks on their faces, preferring not to attract any attention, and so they walked like a group of travelers under the slightly rainy weather, their hooded coats sheltering them from the rain.
The open sky looked almost alien after having traveled so long under the thick forest and its lack of light, but the most contrasting thing was simply finding civilization this far. Oirase didn't look any different than other villages from the Land of Rain, built with high metallic buildings, though they didn't reach the same heights as Ame's. They quickly found refuge at heights, at the top of some edifice where they could get a better panorama of the village.
"Ah…this place's bigger than expected," the Captain commented, "We'll need to split up to cover more ground. Three groups. We'll meet here in six hours. Even if you spot the targets, don't engage the enemy unless you're forced to. They're weakened, likely staying put somewhere inside this village, all you have to do is find out where."
The recruits naturally join the people they had the most affinity with, seeing as the Captain didn't seem inclined to add more specifications.
"Tozen, how do you feel?"
"No, Captain. I'm one hundred percent operational."
"Good, you and Zamaru will join me then."
Sakura had been trying to catch the captain's gaze for a short time now, wondering what she was supposed to do while proper anbus were doing their investigation. Getting impatient, she kept observing the white eye's woman until she finally acknowledged her, "Stay put here, Haruno."
"Um…Captain-"
"What is it?"
"Six hours is a long time. Maybe…maybe I could try to get hold of more masks, we don't know when this storm will be back."
"Haruno's got a point, we're missing three masks," Inuzuka said.
She looked at her, "Haruno, you better be careful then. No extravagance, no rash decisions, you must remain as discreet as possible, do you understand me?"
"Hai, Captain," she said before everyone went on their way.
Unlike Konoha's, Oirase's market was in line with the grayish colors of the buildings, contributing to the general morose atmosphere of the Rain country. Most aisles and shops were already closed, and thus there weren't many people outside anymore. The heavy smell of the air made her believe it would be raining soon, which might have been the true reason why the locals were already confined in their homes, or maybe they were just feeling introverted today.
Despite the hostile environment, being by herself felt refreshing, almost comforting. She had her own quest to pursue without being observed and judged, so long as she completed her task. It seemed easy enough, but as she walked deeper into the empty market, she was starting to have doubts. There were plenty of aisles still selling victuals, mostly chicken meat and vegetables, certainly not coming from the barren soil outside the gates. She felt a cramp inside her guts and had to fight not stop in front of the inviting roasted chicken skewers from a small dining shop, similar to Ichiraku Ramen. There were more urgent matters than gluttony. Yet six hours was a long time, spending a few minutes tasting local wonders surely wouldn't harm the mission.
She paid for the mouth-watering skewer, meeting the shifty eyes of the seller, whose posture seemed tense as if he expected something would soon come to get him.
"Are you here to collect your due?" he whispered, as he leaned against the counter.
She stopped chewing, fearing the man had guessed her origins.
"You're one of them, aren't you?", he stepped back, reaching for something behind the counter. "Tell your boss the cargo is in the police's hands—nothing could be done to stop them."
Relief swept Sakura, and she resumed eating, taking another bite of meat nonchalantly, "You're mistaking me for someone else, Sir."
He froze, "But—what's with the funny look then?!"
"Mmh…'was merely debating whether I should stop by your shop or not. Was it a mistake?"
"No. I just have the feeling that you're more than you pretend to be."
"Ah…it might be because you can tell I'm not from here," she smiled. "I'm actually visiting a relative."
"Then why aren't you revisiting old memories with them, right now?"
"I'm trying to figure out a way to leave the town safely with my dear…cousin."
"There are caravans going south, leaving every three days."
"We're going north," she corrected.
"Then you must know, Akunoyare won't allow you."
"With the right equipment—"
"You won't find any. Not anymore," he said, cutting her short. "Everything's in the hand of the Police, the wealthiest members of our village, and criminals. There used to be options in the past, but nowadays, the only way to survive Akunoyare would be to avoid crossing its path. Which means going south. "
"What was the other option?"
"The black market," he revealed. "Though I wouldn't bet on it."
"That's where I'm heading then," she stood up, feeling impatient, "Where can I find it?"
"Keep walking through the street, you'll fall upon a building that looks like a warehouse. There's usually plenty of people going in at this time."
"Doesn't sound like such a bad place."
"Yet appearance can be deceiving," he answered. "Are you a shinobi?"
"I wish," she smiled, "It would be easier to just snoop into some noble's house and take what I need, right?"
It was strange how the roles had shifted through the conversation. Sakura knew she had to be wary of the locals, even a seemingly harmless man.
"Goodnight, sir."
As she left the small shop, someone bumped into her. A man. While muttering a spontaneous apology, she met her brown eyes for a second, which made her feel an odd sense of deja-vu. She didn't dwell much on it tough, keeping her focus on her purpose and went on her way. In the end, she had won both a tasty meal and precious information. Even though there was a tiny chance it might backfire on her, she doubted the shady shopkeeper would raise an army against a lone foreigner.
Finding the warehouse turned out not to be as straightforward as she had thought it would be. All the buildings looked the same to her, but then at some point, she started noticing people going inside a narrow street, one that looked like a dead end. It occurred to her that black markets weren't supposed to be easily found. Then again, there wasn't a place that didn't look shady in this country, especially in such a secluded village. She took her chance, discovering with delight that she had been right to trust her guts. The pathway led to a large courtyard with a large door guarded by two men. She suspected that there were other entrances somewhere because this one didn't look like the one that the stranger had described to her earlier.
A new world opened behind these doors, one filled with people of all ages and social standing, eager to spend an entertaining evening. There were many booths selling all sorts of goods, ranging from food to jewelry, while dancers and singers were showing their skills on a small tribune, contributing to the warm atmosphere of the place. Geishas, dressed in colorful attire, were innocently strolling inside the large hall as if they were lost. It made sense why nobody was outside when such a place existed. Despite this, Sakura wasn't fooled by appearances. She didn't miss the men standing still and watching every move of the innocent geishas, nor the discreet transactions that didn't involve any physical goods, and as she fell upon a large stair going down, she wondered what other entertainment could be found down there.
"Hey, you!" A raspy voice asked her. "I've seen you looking around for a while now, is there any way I can help you, lady?"
She observed the man's yukata, its gold color, and the luxurious shine of the satin fabric, she then stared at his fresh-shaved face, the wrinkles around his gray eyes. It seemed this man wasn't an underling.
"Unless you can magically make appear a mask sturdy enough to filter the foul poison of the forest, then I'm afraid you won't be able to help me."
He grinned, "That's bold of you."
"Just me being eager to return to my cousin. As soon as possible."
"Hm," he took his chin between his fingers, "you don't believe this place has something for you?"
She remained silent.
"Everyone can fit in Kabuchijo!" he continued, opening his arms. "All the things you crave or dream about can become reality, and I'm not just talking about the very specific and illegal item you seek – one that I, in fact, may have in my possession."
"How much?"
He nodded in improvement, "Twenty."
"Hundreds?"
"Thousands," he said firmly.
Her eyes widened, "Just for a mask?"
"Do you know what the Police would do if they saw any citizen in possession of such a mask? It is not just any mask, darling."
"I'm not a citizen."
"Precisely. You are a foreigner. This is the best deal you'll get, so do we have an agreement or not?"
It wasn't like she had any other option.
"How long will it take for you to get it?"
"One hour or two."
"No, I can't waste that much time."
"Look around here, darling!" he made a grandiloquent gesture with his hand. "There are plenty of ways to beat time, as I said, anyone can realize their wildest dreams here… unless you're scared already. Do you really need this mask?"
She ground her teeth together, and handed him the money, "Fine."
"Excellent choice! I bet you wonder what's down these stairs, don't you?" he said, grinning oddly, "I suggest you not to go."
She gave a glance at the intriguing stairs.
"My men will find you when your order's ready. In the meantime, I wish you the best night, and be sure to enjoy yourself like it's your last night!"
She found her last comment odd, but brushed it off, her curiosity already tempting her to see what kind of illicit business was going on downstairs. Something the peculiar man obviously really wanted her to do. Seeing as there were many people taking following this path, she didn't believe that it could lead her to trouble. It was then decided.
As she descended the glossy wooden stairs, the smell of perfume, sweat, and sake grew stronger with every step. There were lights flickering from carpeted walls, making the path less sinister than expected inside tight stairways. Once she arrived at the first floor, a long corridor opened both to her right and left side, there were geishas dressed in colorful attires, some by themselves and others accompanied, but what caught Sakura's attention were the occasional moans she could hear, letting room for no mystery as to what was happening behind those brown doors.
The stairs continued downward, and she kept walking, already hearing faint sounds of laughter and yells coming from below. As she emerged from the cramped stairway, she found herself in a dimly lit large corridor with walls covered by traditional symbols of Ame. She noticed a portrait representing the unmistakable former leader of the country. Pain. Sakura blocked the thought of the desolation that he had caused before it could torment her mind again.
She kept going forward, following other customers, and finally, she emerged into a larger room where a crowd of drunks had gathered around some sort of makeshift ring. The air was thick with a stench of blood, sweat, and sake. From where she stood, she couldn't see well, there seemed to be two people locked inside the ring, their bare fists pounding into each other's flesh like their life depended on it. She scanned the room, spotting the taverner behind the counter, the numerous people gathered around tables, and the second floor enveloping the corner of the room, full of people cheering with a cruel grin on their faces, leaning on the balustrade, which gave them a better view of the spectacle in the middle. She took notice of three other door frames, whether they lead to other rooms where shady deals were being made or to the surface, she didn't know, but one must always be prepared to escape in case things went awry.
All the while keeping her hood on her head, she sat at the counter of the bar, observing what kind of beverage was available.
"And who might you be, stranger?" the innkeeper said, "I've never seen your face before."
"I don't think anyone wise would answer you," she said, cautious.
He gave her a puzzled glare before asking, "What would you have, ma'am?"
She decided to go for something light, not wanting to lose control of herself in such a place. Although she didn't feel unsafe, she couldn't say she was totally comfortable here. After paying the man, she took her order with her and went upstairs where she could enjoy the festivities with the bloodthirsty crowd.
The fighters were relentless, using no weapons, but their firsts. As for their chakra, if they had the ability to use it, there was no point in trying to use any jutsu, the chakra-proof squared cage being repellent enough. There was a man monitoring the device, one that must know how illegal they were. In most countries, the mere mention of this device, capable of negating one's essence, inspired revolt. It was purely an aberration, the most demeaning fate for a shinobi. And that was why they were only tolerated inside prisons, where nobody wanted to let criminals wreak more havoc.
Sakura didn't feel any particular aversion at the sight of this cage, she understood how it was a way to put everyone on equal footing, though she had no doubts any trained shinobi would still do better than a civilian. As for chakra-wielder or ninjas fighting themselves, she guessed that they wanted to prove how good they were in terms of raw force. Lee would certainly be a king in this shady place.
She sipped her drink, the sounds of the spectators' cheers were coming from all directions, so much that she could barely hear the blows and growls from the two men fighting. She couldn't say that she was enjoying the spectacle, finding the zeal of the crowd sickening, for all they wished to see was blood. The bitter liquid burning her throat was enough of a distraction, she led the glass to her mouth again, when she saw the unexpected, right next to her.
Itachi Uchiha.
She froze, the grip on her glass tightening, the mere sight of him feeling like an affront. She immediately wanted to yell at him, to ask why he had been following her, but he wasn't looking at her, the uneventful fight being his only focus, like she was nothing to him, like they were just strangers. Yet he was the most familiar thing here, one that she had failed to notice. Her cheeks started to burn from embarrassment and shame, making her want to escape. But to which haven? There was none in this village, and right now, he was the closest thing to comfort, despite being her enemy.
Damn him.
She looked away, leading the glass to her lips, hating how this man always seemed to find her in the worst places. Luck, as always, wasn't on her side, all she drank was thin air. Now that she had a warden again, there was no way she could just go back to the innkeeper to get more beverages. Not without being judged.
Utterly defeated, she resumed watching the fight, until she saw something shift in the corner of her eyes. Looking down, she found a picture of a young woman, maybe a teenager.
"My daughter. She was fourteen when she got murdered," an unknown man's voice said.
"I… I'm sorry," she muttered, averting her eyes both from the man and the picture, feeling suddenly really uncomfortable. Why was talking to her?
"It's war, they say," he continued, breathing harder and getting closer to her, to make sure his voice could be heard. "Ha! I say bullshit, ma'am. All lies. Do you know what really happened to her?"
She tried to put some distance between them, her body getting closer to her warden, "I don't think you should — "
"I found her by chance, right by the river along the south frontier, almost unconscious and heavily wounded. I didn't know what to know, what's a father supposed to do when his child's bleeding to death in front of his eyes? I… I froze up, didn't care anymore about the chaos surrounding us, and then, out of nowhere, I saw them! A bunch of them. Konoha's dogs. But amongst them, I recognized the white cloak of their iryō-nins. My peeps have pride, but it was my daughter lying in her blood, and so I went after my enemy. And when I finally crossed their path, I screamed with all my lungs my honest intention. Again, and again. Yet, they didn't care. A black-haired guy just pushed me away from his path and…the medic, a woman, barely looked at me when I mentioned my daughter's condition."
Sakura remained still, not understanding why this man she had never seen before was telling her such a personal and tragic story, "I'm sorry—"
"She died shortly after because Konoha's rats have neither honor, nor shame or mercy."
The air felt suddenly heavier than it already was, the distraught man stared at her with bloodshot eyes, the muscles in his jaw spasming slightly like he was fighting not to lose control.
"In wartimes, everyone…everyone has to make difficult choices, even some that they'd never consider in normal circumstances."
"Medic swore an oath," he almost shouted, still staring at her with his eyes wide open. "My daughter was one too, you know. It's what got her killed, she just wanted to save as many people as she could. But did that iryō-nin care? Nay. I threw my pride again, begged them again and again, all in vain, for my daughter didn't survive in the end."
"I'm sorry for your loss," she whispered, not feeling at ease with the obvious suffering this man had endured, too reminiscent of her own.
"You killed her."
"What?" she retorted, a feeling of dread going through her at the accusation.
"You killed her, Haruno Sakura."
She froze, a cold shill slithering down her spine. The man, he knew her identity, and yet, she had absolutely no idea of who he was.
"I don't know what you're talking about, sir," she quickly said, dismissive, barely looking at him. She turned to the Uchiha by her side, but he was gone, as if he had never been here to begin with.
Without wasting any more seconds, she walked away, fleeing what could only lead to her downfall.
"She killed my daughter!" the man shouted across the room.
"The woman in the white cloak! Don't let her leave!" he pointed his finger at her. "This fucking Konoha's whore murdered my sweet daughter!"
He kept shouting the same words like a madman until everyone went quiet upon hearing the name of her village. Even the men inside the cage had stopped fighting and were now staring at her.
"This man's drunk! Can't you see it!" Sakura tried.
They were all looking at her with despise and fear, seeing in her the responsible for their loved one's death, for all the suffering their people had been through ever since their dear leader died. Some rough-looking men came to her and tore away her cloak and bag. Sakura was in such a state of stupor that she just watched them with horror, as they found her headband and rose it through the air for everyone to see.
"He didn't lie, she's one of them!"
"Inside, put her inside!"
Everything went fast then, they manhandled her and forced her to go inside the cage, while everyone was shouting slurs at her.
"I'll fight her!" the madman yelled, "I'll avenge my daughter tonight!"
There was no debate, no money exchanged, they just let him in too conveniently, almost like it was all planned. He entered the cage with empty eyes, only fueled by revenge, his face distorted by rage, a mad smile thinning his lips. The cacophony of the crow, hungry for blood and retribution, made her ears buzz.
"I refuse to fight you."
Their eyes locked.
He started circling her, "Doesn't matter to me.
True to her word, she didn't hit back when he lunged at her like a mad animal. Sakura sidestepped his first move easily, her defensive motions driven by experience and instinct.
Though he was a shinobi, he was more out of shape than she was, and thus she managed to avoid his hits until she got too comfortable. He managed to trick her by changing his strategy. The blow hit her ribs all at once, the vengeful man then grabbed and twisted her arm, forcing her to hit the ground. The pain flared through her body, she could still feel her chakra at work somehow, trying to heal her cell, but the process felt constrained by the evil cage.
"I will not fight you," she said again between her teeth, as he grabbed her by the back of her head with one hand, pulling her bun in the process, and freeing her hair. He forced her on the ground and started smashing her face multiple times against the wood, making his intention crystal clear. This wasn't a show of force, it was an execution that everyone inside this underground was cheering for.
"Ah, you don't look so superior, now, do you? With your head to the ground like a beggar!"
She moaned from the pain and tried to roll over on her back, but the man kicked her on her side, leaving her breathless. She then felt his weight on her, immobilizing her body, and strong hands circling her neck, squeezing the life out of her. Her vision started to blur and despite her refusal to defend herself, her legs trashed instinctively in the air, trying to push him away from her.
"Fucking murderer!"
"Finish her!"
"Kill the whore!"
Sensing her impending doom, her wide-opened eyes shifted in all directions, looking for an escape. A shadowy figure stood up on the balcony, whose face was unmistakable. She felt fury at the sight of his impassive face, at his lack of empathy. She felt like she was nothing at all, a vermin that he was crushing under his gaze just to see how quickly she would break. It felt yet like another betrayal.
A swift motion caught her attention to her side, reaching the wooden floor of the cage. The shiny silver made her instantly try to reach for the unknown object, but the heavy man crushing her noticed her move, and caught the weapon before she could do anything. The pressure disappeared around her throat, a shortsighted relief, for the distraught man plunged the shiny weapon inside her shoulder in one swift move, making her gasp from the pain.
"My daughter's finally getting justice!" he shouted. "And if you think I'll stop with you, you're very wrong, I'll find your friends too!"
He pulled the kunai out of her chest, and it felt like she could suddenly breathe again, all conflicting thoughts swirling in her mind at once. She saw herself train with Lee, recalled her frustration and anger while being forced to confront her fears, she remembered her promise after the war, to never ever use her skills to kill, then she saw a shadow taunting her, threatening her, daring her to break her oath. It looked like the god of death himself, a shinigami, one that would welcome her friends too.
The man, no matter who he was, and what he had been through, had dared threaten her friends. Her family.
I won't allow it. Not again.
She rolled to her side when he aimed for her chest again, making him plunge the silver kunai into the wood. Taken aback, the man let go of his grip and jumped on her neck again, but instead of fighting him off, she grabbed the kunai's hilt with a flash of purpose, and stabbed him in the back. A guttural sound escaped his lips as agony consumed him. She kept stabbing him in a frenzy like she was now the one seeking revenge, the kunai driving deeper and deeper into his body. The crowd had grown silent, the unexpected turn of events announcing a darker fate for their compatriot.
Blood started to gush out of his mouth, flowing on her face, and tainting her hair, and as the man crumpled on her, she pushed him off, her body trembling with exhaustion. Yet, she managed to get on her feet with a newfound confidence and serenity, until she looked down at the lifeless body.
What have I done?
The cage's door opened, giving her no time to ponder on her actions, all she saw was freedom, and so she ran.
Murder wasn't unheard of amongst these walls, full of violence and chaos, there wasn't much that could outrage these people. But when a shinobi from the Land of Fire was involved, it was another matter entirely. Even though the land of Rain's inhabitants had every reason to hate them, Itachi had rarely seen a crown this energized, this hungry for retribution. It was akin to a miracle that the target of their wrath had managed to disappear and sneak past them.
Finding her turned out to be less complicated than expected, thanks to the few droplets of blood that she had left on her passage. Amateurs wouldn't have spotted them this easily, the corridors amongst these walls being poorly lit. However, it was an easy task for keen eyes. The police, which would sooner or later show up, certainly wouldn't have any issue tracking her.
She was slouched over a sink inside a bathroom located on the stair of debauchery, a clever place to hide, seeing as no woman in her right mind would have come here alone. There was a small pool of blood by her feet, laying on a rather unexpectedly clean and white floor. For someone wanted, she was recklessly ignoring her surroundings, seeming concentrated on tending to her wounds and therefore missing the fact she wasn't alone anymore.
"Are you here to finish the job?" she asked, disproving his initial theory. "I bet you must be so disappointed right now."
"You know why I'm here."
"Go away."
"Tell me of your alliance with the Sōmas, Haruno-san."
Despite her state, she moved swiftly to him in a blink of an eye, squeezing his coat in her right fist, from which green chakra was emanating, "Kami-sama! You're not going to let it go, are you?! Can't you get a clue? Does it look like the right time for this?"
He was pleased to see her being so reactive, her shaky eyes highlighting how troubled she was, which was the perfect condition to get answers out of her.
"There's never a bad time to confess your crime."
"I can't. I can't deal with…this. With…you right now. I just can't," she breathed out. "You know what? You've won. I'll… I'll tell you what you want when we…when we're back in Konoha. Everything you want. So please, now, leave me be."
She released him then, and walked in resignation to one of the stalls, closing the door behind herself. The gap between the stall and floor let him see her form sitting on the ground. Having no reason to remain here anymore, he headed for the door, stopping for a second when he heard sobs, hesitating without understanding why.
He did one step out of the restroom and started hearing illegible sounds coming from both sides of the corridor. A group of men, accompanied by some angry vigilantes, was searching every room and corner from this stair. As expected, the people in charge here were reacting to what they believed to be a political attack. Even if they were part of the underworld, he could picture them collaborating with the police against a common enemy. It went without saying that they were going to reach and search the restroom as well in a matter of minutes and get a hold of Sakura Haruno, which would definitely bring more unnecessary trouble.
Closing back the door gently, Itachi went back inside and let practicality lead his next actions. He took off his black coat, laid it right where the traces of crimson were, and invited himself into the very closed-off and lockless space that was occupied by the pink hair kunoichi. She didn't move or make any protests at all, being utterly motionless like a statue. She was hugging her knees against herself, while her arms were hiding her face. He dared not touch her at first, fearing she would not react well upon seeing him.
"Haruno."
"Why can't you leave me alone?" she whined under her arms.
This cramped place left little room for motion, so much so her body was stuck between the toilet seat and him. He attempted to force her to get up by pulling on her vest in one swift movement, only to see her lose her balance and stumbled on his legs. She was now holding onto his thigh like it was a mat, her face hiding against his black pants. He didn't know what to do with her. As always, dealing with her felt infinitely challenging, especially when she was behaving in such an unpredictable way.
"Chief!" called out a rough voice, coming from outside the restroom.
The sound of the commotion going on outside became clearer, and suddenly a man breached the door, "There's someone inside! Oh—"
"What is it, Shuma-san?" another voice asked.
"Someone's having a better night than us, I tell you! To the next door."
While their departure was most fortunate, indicating a level of incompetence absolutely unfit for any organization in charge of security, Itachi had been more bothered about the sobbing woman at his feet. The discrepancy between her pathetic state and the true force of disruption inhabiting her made him hesitate about his next move.
"Haruno."
"There's no… no coming back from this," she whimpered. "How… how could I possibly face them now? The silly woman… such a silly woman, who's been judging them for their choices now doing the very opposite of what she's been preaching. How… how ironic. The minute they started threatening my friends, my family, I— I just acted, I didn't even intend to…kill them. Or may—maybe I did. Please, tell me, was I right? Was I right to kill him?"
The door busted open once again, "Who's in there?" a woman asked, "I thought this idiot was fooling me when he told me of people getting frisky inside the restroom. Some of my girls may be cheap, but not that cheap as to serve clients here! Get out. Now!"
This wasn't good, there were too many nosy eyes coming here, then again, it was a restroom located in the worst place possible.
"Fine. If you think I'm going to let you use my girls without payin', you're very mistaken," she forced the stall, "What is— This is not one of my— she…she's the one they're looking for! The murderer!"
Itachi, still immobilized by the kunoichi at his feet, made eye contact with the matron, she then looked at Haruno, and ran away screaming, "The intruder! She's in here!"
Needless to say, a contingent of hostile men would soon arrive and complicate even more this situation, unless they stopped wasting more time here.
"We are leaving now," he announced, his voice not letting room for discussion, "Get a hold of yourself and get up."
He walked out of the stall, forcing her to release him, the abrupt motion made her almost fall again, but out of reflex, she caught herself with her hands, her palms now lying flat on the cold ground, her head looking down with her pink hair hiding her face.
Itachi shook his black coat while observing the unmoving woman.
"Haruno."
"I'm not going anywhere," she mumbled, still on the ground. But then, she finally started to rise, giving him a cold stare, which showed that she had at least regained her composure, "I can't leave empty-handed."
The crimson blood painting her pink hair's ends, her unblinking eyes, bruised skin, and her torn shirt made a gruesome sight, yet there was something fascinating about her, just like when he had watched her snap and kill the disturbed man in the most alluring brutality. In the face of death, even the most civilized stopped pretending they cared about morals and ethics.
If it wasn't for her stubbornness to get some sort of revenge on him, he could almost respect her chaotic nature.
Trapped inside, Itachi was barely paying attention to the newcomers. There were insignificant to him, no shinobi worth fighting would sell his skills to criminals, even the most desperate ones in such dire times in the Rain Country.
"Maa, maa, maa, what do we have here?"
"She's the one!" the matron yelled.
"Aye, that's her, I saw her stab the guy to death!"
"Then what are you waiting for, idiots? Taker her!" he shouted. "You're outnumbered, kunoichi! So, don't even think of resisting."
There was a small bunch of people gathered at the door who kept firing insults at Haruno, while some other men were trying to block their passage.
"What about this guy?"
"A lost client," the matron said, "I saw him having suspicious activities with her."
"Aye!" one of the underlings confirmed. "They were having a good time, I tell you!"
"What kind of person does this after murdering a soul with such savagery!" a bystander screamed.
"Konoha's dogs know no boundary to their evilness!" another one shouted.
"We must bring her to the police!"
"Guys, guys, I know you're all upset, but don't come in here, this is a dangerous criminal," the man ordered. "Keep outside while we're dealing with them."
"So what of him?" his man asked.
"Care to tell us who's your friend right here?" he asked her.
"He's not my friend."
"Then you won't mind if we bring him too to the big boss, aye."
About twenty men were surrounding them inside the smallest office he had ever seen. They had all unsheathed their katanas and tantos, ready to use them if the situation called for dear boss, a grandiloquent man whose fancy look inspired distrust, was sitting behind his desk, right in the middle of the room, while his underlings were trying to make the scariest grimaces. They looked anything but threatening to Itachi, who was actually more concerned with being asphyxiated if one more man entered the tiny room.
"I advise you not to try anything foolish, kunoichi," the gray-haired man started, gaze fixed on Haruno. "How disappointing! After everything I did for you, this how you express your gratitude? Causing trouble in my establishment? Bringing unwanted attention? The last thing I need!"
"You tricked me," her composed voice said.
He grinned, "No darling, just business. I made a desperate man happy by leading you where he wanted you to be and seeing as you went down there all by yourself, I don't see how I am to blame."
"We made a deal too," she reminded him, showing more restraint than expected, "I even paid you."
His eyes flickered, "I called it off as soon as I heard about a kunoichi of Konoha stabbing a man in cold blood. Do you think you can come here as you please and murder anyone you wish without consequences? Especially someone like you. A foreigner. An enemy."
"The man tried to kill me."
"Maybe, but I didn't make any deal involving murder, and," he grinned, "unfortunately for you, the man isn't here anymore to explain himself. Only you. So, what are we going to do with you now, hm?"
"I won't leave until you hand me the mask you promised me. And I want my things back. Your men took them away from me."
"Ah, will you look at that," he glanced at his men, "this foolish woman believes she can just ask for things like she's in any position to do so."
"I'll destroy your market if you don't."
They all started laughing, "Ha, ha… I should just deliver you to the police! You'll be made into an example, executed in a public place for everyone to see!"
"I could use someone like her," the matron interrupted him. "The woman stole one of my clients! She owes me!"
"Who's this man?"
"We found him with her."
"Search him."
"Don't," a voice said, "Give her what she asked, boss."
"Tenzo!"
Itachi looked at the newcomer, from his gray attire to his face. His very familiar face was wearing the remnant of a life altering-event that occurred a long time ago, back when Itachi used to be undercover within the Akatsuki, a terrorist organization seeking blood and destruction. One side of his face carried the mark of a severe burn caused by an inferno nobody should have been able to escape from. Yet, Tenzo had somehow managed to survive. Itachi was not the kind to miss his targets, even if only one lucky man out of hundreds was still breathing.
But it was a long time ago, and the faint note of hysteria he could see in Tenzo's eyes was telling him enough about how insignificant he had become.
"They must leave," he pleaded with urgency. "You don't want them here. You don't want them around anything alive. Let them go, boss. The police will deal with them."
"Are you out of your mind, Tenzo? Do you wish to get fired?"
"I'm saving you, boss," he said with more confidence, "I'm saving us all."
Fear was just like a poison spreading everywhere in the air, penetrating the mind of both the weakest and strongest, intoxicating them with visions of doom. As more angry eyes became filled with doubts and unease, irrational voices started to rise.
"Boss, I've never seen Tenzo-san like this. Maybe… we should listen to him—"
"Aye! The whore paid us already anyway, we can afford to give up one mask!"
"The police will soon be on our ass! They're going to think we're doing business with Konoha's shinobis, how are we going to justify ourselves if we keep them here?"
Tenzo rose his arm, "Easy, we didn't see anything, guys. There was no shinobi of the leaf. Just…just a mad woman. We'll deny everything. Where's the mask?"
Tenzo didn't care anymore about hierarchy, which coming from him, was rather unexpected. He remembered the man as being easily influenced, lacking character and intuition. But again, years had gone by since then.
"Here," one of the underlings came forward and pushed Haruno's white coat and bag into her arms, then another one gave her the precious mask.
The man in charge sighed in defeat, understanding he had lost against his own men, "You've just ruined my night, boys," he rose up from his chair, "Kunoichi, I wish you good luck. The police won't be as merciful as I am when they find you."
The weight of the last events, combined with the heavy rain falling on her as she climbed the metal stairs of one of the many buildings of Oirase, was starting to wear her down. She didn't know what luck made them escape the den of wolves this easily. Despite this, she was no fool, and understood that if she had demons, someone like Itachi Uchiha must have ten times as more. Whatever he had done to that man did not matter to her, and thus, Sakura followed the Uchiha heir blindly, content not to have to do any thinking for a while.
They climbed in silence, higher and higher, and when they reached the top, she took notice of a contingent of police officers running down the street beneath them, heading straight to the black market, as if their life depended on it. Seeing as everyone here seemed to fear them, doing the necessary to avoid crossing their path seemed like the wisest choice.
Rain pounded heavily onto the top of the gray building, thunder noises were rumbling in the distance, making her feel like she was really in the Rain country after days of drought. The howling wind made the relentless onslaught even more chaotic, slowing down her already unsteady steps, as she tried to follow the dark shadow in front of her. Now that the adrenaline was gone, the flaring pain in her shoulder made her realize something was wrong. Although she could still move her right arm, every motion made her feel an agonizing pain. She bet on a fracture or a minor dislocation, seeing as the man didn't go easy on her arm after all
After jumping from yet another roof to another one, they ended up finding a narrowed spot, between large gas pipes, sheltered enough from the ongoing deluge. The Uchiha heir sat nonchalantly, he hadn't uttered a single word since their glorious exchange inside the underground bathroom, not that she was complaining. She imitated him, squeezing herself between metallic pipes. She got out of her cloak, and checked her belongings, including her new acquisition. A bitter success. Remembering that there were still two masks missing was even more depressing.
She unzipped her crimson blouse carefully, taking in the sight of her pale skin and the many bruises she expected to see. Fortunately, her chakra had made them disappear already. She felt her chest, imprisoned under tight white bandages, and ended up finding the right spot, just a bit below her shoulder, where she had been stabbed.
The skin's tender, but it's all healed up.
Sakura gave a glance over her quiet nemesis, thankful that he had the self-awareness not to look at her like he usually did, instead his attention was on the narrowed passage they had taken, and the threats that could come from it.
She then proceeded to examine her arm, applying pressure in search of any abnormality.
Not a fracture, then.
She let out a deep breath, knowing that she was going to need more hands. Not wasting time, she went on her feet, and sat right in front of her companion, offering him her half-naked back.
"Put your hands on my left shoulder and under my aisle."
There was no room for discussion in her voice. Yet, a few seconds passed before she felt his hands close tentatively on her bare skin.
"Hold tighter."
The increased pressure brought her momentary relief before she started manipulating her arm, putting it carefully in the right orientation for what was to come. The quicker it would go, the sooner it would be over, and thus, she put back her arm in place in one decisive and swift motion. The sharp pain took her breath away, just like when she had been stabbed. If it was not for the hands holding her still, she would have jerked forward.
She breathed deeply and closed her eyes, letting the pain in her body fade away slowly, not without remaining aware of the man supporting her.
"Killing him was the right call," she heard him whisper.
Eyes wide-opened, she turned her head to face him, feeling a spike of dopamine hit her brain, making her forget all about his wrongdoings. If this was how it felt to receive approval from the great Itachi Uchiha, then, it made complete sense why Sasuke cared so much about his brother's opinions.
"The man had been following you ever since we crossed his path inside a small inn on the outskirts of Ginza," he let go of her shoulder," He might have been waiting for you to come out of the village ever since then."
Even though she still could not remember meeting this man during the war, she could now perfectly recall one strange man staring her down that time, a few weeks ago, when she had been looking for water.
Solving this mystery, however, was the last thing on her mind right now.
She moved away from him at once, "You knew of this? You knew this guy was… stalking me, looking to harm me."
"You're correct."
"Yet, you…" she gulped, gathering her thoughts becoming challenging with all the conflicting emotions she had felt in the last hour, "Why…why didn't you say anything then? Why didn't you warn me?"
"I had no reason to partake in this conflict."
His words felt like receiving a punch in her guts.
He's doing it again.
"A conflict?" she repeated, remaining calm,"The guy wanted me dead, Uchiha-san. I…I didn't even know who he was. He even threatened to kill Sasuke. Your own brother."
"My brother's fights are not mine's. He can handle himself."
She went on her feet quietly, "I… I don't want to argue with you," and moved back to the spot where her belongings were, "I think we shouldn't speak to each other until we return to… to Konoha."
When she put her shirt back on, he did not avert his eyes this time. She had all his attention now. She hated this. How he treated her like she was the most insignificant thing, and yet, at the same time, the most dangerous threat worthy of his time, so much that he did not mind neglecting his own duty. As much as she wished to ignore the floating truth in the back of her mind, if she wanted to put an end to this, she knew that there would not be any other way than to acknowledge it. But it was neither the place nor the time for such a talk.
I'm so tired.
"You're upset."
"Please, don't. Just don't," she shook her head in exhaustion, "I'll keep my end of the bargain, but until then, just don't speak to me. I promise I'll tell you everything… and after that, we'll be done."