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Reminder: Sakura's clothes; a red, hooded short-sleeve top, black fingerless gloves, low-heeled, knee-high black boots , and black shorts. To complete the outfit, she wrapped a red shawl around her hips.

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Sakura awoke abruptly, panting heavily, and looked around wildly at her surroundings.

'Where am I?' She thought, 'What happened to me? Am I dead? Did Itachi kill me?'

She looked up but she saw neither ceiling nor a blue sky, but a red moon in a red sky.

"What is this place?" she said aloud and got up from the dark ground, looking around a bit more sedately. Off in the distance, she saw a small village. The black ground petered off into green hills just in front of it and the sky above melded from red to blue in roughly the same area as the grass. With no other ideas, she headed toward it…and gasped in surprise as memories started flooding back to her.

~Flashback~

"Even if for a second, I believe that it's true, that it's all true…then…" Sakura said, "Here I thought you were this monster who killed his own clan, his own parents….This strong Uchiha who was capable of such thing. This Uchiha whom I hate so much, that is the cause of the person I love's suffering."

"What am I now?" Itachi asked curiously.

"Now…..I don't know," Sakura whispered, "You loved your brother so much. You did this for Sasuke's survival….but how come you didn't love him enough to tell him the truth? It almost seems like you ran away…..like a coward."

Sakura looked at the ground, clenching her fists in anger, and continued without letting Itachi answer her.

"You even pushed him to join Orochimaru."

"I wanted to be punished for my actions and I choose Sasuke to be the one to administer that punishment. I never wanted him to join Orochimaru….to choose the dark path." Itachi replied.

"When you met Sasuke, you taunted his weakness and encouraged him to get strong enough to kill you!" She looked up at Itachi, "What did you expect would happen?!"

Itachi stayed quiet and Sakura became suspicious.

"Why were you really there? I know you came for Naruto, but now after this….the whole truth….now I'm not sure…"

"I pretended to pursue Naruto in order to covertly let the Leaf know what Akatsuki's goals were. I also came, in the wake of Lord Sarutobi's death, I needed to remind Danzo and the rest of the Leaf Council that I was still out here and that they shouldn't harm Sasuke."

"Meeting Sasuke was never your plan?"

"No….."

"Then why push him further? Why taunt his weakness? Just when he was thinking about letting go of his vengeance, you just had to push him further to make him think that the Leaf, his teammates, were making him weak and that leaving them to join Orochimaru would give him what he needed."

Once again, Itachi stayed quiet. His silence gave Sakura the answer she needed.

"You didn't know, did you? He told me himself, when he was on his way out of the village…when I begged him to stay. He is driven to gain power because he lost his family, yet sacrifices the family he still had, us, Team 7 in order to gain that power. He could have taken the right path to have vengeance, but you just had to push him….." Sakura's voice echoed in stillness of the room,

"And after he kills you? What then? You'll have your punishment and he'll have his revenge, but what do you want to happen afterwards?"

"Sasuke will be hailed as a hero and never learn the truth about the Uchiha's massacre," he answered.

"Continue to live a lie….continue to think the brother he had hated him, but actually loved him very much, and return to live in a village that was responsible for destroying his family, that wanted him dead…. A village that was never his home."

Something about this didn't feel right. Why was he telling her all this if he didn't want Sasuke to know the truth? But she continued asking questions;

"What if he happens to find out the truth?"

"If he does, then I hope the memory of a hateful older brother will cause him not believe it. If he does believe, I implanted a bird with a special Sharingan into Naruto's body as a countermeasure against Sasuke. If he attempts to destroy the Leaf, Kotoamatsukami will activate. This is a powerful technique that enters the mind of anyone and manipulates them by giving them false experiences, making it seem as if they were doing things of their own free will."

"More lies…." Sakura whispered, "Do you hear yourself? Continuing to lie, continuing to run away; that's not love."

"It's almost time…" Itachi stood up. Sakura's breath left her body when Itachi dashed towards her and grabbed her throat. He lifted her off the ground as she struggled in his grasp.

"Y-you can s-still tell h-him the truth," she gasped out as she clawed at his hand.

"Too late for that." Itachi replied.

"You s-should be h-hon-nest with him and t-trust his own s-strength. S-stop man-nipulating h-him and l-let him cho-oose h-his own p-ath."

Itachi activated his Sharingan and looked into her eyes, trapping her in Tsukuyomi.

"Take care of my little brother," he whispered.

"D-don't run a-away." She whispered back as her vision faded to black. Itachi let go of her, but before her body could touch the ground, he caught her and carried her over to the corner. He placed her on the cold floor and walked back to throne to sit down.

The room was enveloped in silence. No more voices echoed through the huge empty hideout.

Itachi patiently waited for Sasuke to arrive, but everything Sakura had said, every single word repeating in his head. Was she right? Should he have been honest with his little brother? Before Itachi was able to carefully think about what she said, Sasuke entered the hideout. There was no more time to think.

xEnd Flashbackx

Sakura continued walking towards the village, but somehow ended up in some woods. Sakura looked around, bewildered as to how she had gone from green rolling hills to a forest full of huge oak trees.

"Big brother, you're so good!" yelled a child, voice full of excitement, "You even nailed the mark in a blind spot right in the middle."

Sakura followed the voice and saw a young Sasuke with Itachi.

"Sasuke, let's head back." said Itachi.

"You told me you'd teach me some new shuriken moves." Sasuke complained with a pouting face.

"I have a crucial mission tomorrow and I have to prepare for it." Itachi explained.

"Big brother, you liar," Sasuke mumbled, "Hrmph."

Itachi poked his little brother's forehead, promising to train him in the ninja art another time. Still not pleased with this, Sasuke tried to imitate Itachi's shuriken technique, but failed miserably and ended up on the ground, clasping one of his ankles while Itachi knelt beside him to examine the injury.

Sakura couldn't help but laugh at Sasuke's clumsiness. She blinked and she was in a different place. It looked like she was inside a village now and realized with mild surprise that it was the Leaf village.

She saw Itachi carrying Sasuke on his back, walking through the village toward her. They stopped in front of a building christened with a four point star with the crest of the Uchiha embedded into the center.

She had never that symbol when she used to live there. They must have removed it after the Uchiha downfall. Perhaps that's why she didn't remember that symbol, she was really young when it happened. She walked a bit closer to listen to Itachi and Sasuke's conversation.

"Our clan protected the order of this village since long ago. Our emblem is also a mark of our honorable clan," Itachi explained, "Only ones who can enforce the law on shinobi's crimes are superior shinobis."

"Are you gonna join here too?" Sasuke asked, leaning down to look his brother in the eye.

"hmm….maybe," Itachi answered.

"You should!" Sasuke said proudly, "When I grow up, I'll join the police force too!"

'So…that was his first dream,' Sakura thought. She followed them back to their home where their father led them into a room, alone.

"For tomorrow's special mission, I've decided to come along," their father spoke just as Sakura entered the room, "If this mission is successful, you're enlistment into the Anbu will be official."

"Don't worry about it too much," Itachi replied, "However.."

He looked at Sasuke, nodding to give him permission to speak.

"Erm…Father…" started Sasuke, "for tomorrow's…"

"Our mission tomorrow will become a very important event for our clan," his father interrupted, ignoring his youngest son. Sasuke looked down at the ground, disappointed and saddened at how his father had dismissed him so quickly. Itachi noticed and looked at Sasuke with equal disheartenment.

In the end, Itachi bailed on his mission to watch his little brother enter the Academy, along with their father who had no choice since Itachi choose Sasuke over his mission.

xXx

The scene changed again.

Sakura saw visions of how Sasuke adored his older brother, never passing up an opportunity to spend time with him, but Itachi, would often poke his brother's forehead and promise to do something with him some other time.

She also saw visions of how Sasuke craved attention from his father. He strived to be the best in his class, consistently getting top grades. However, he could never meet the same milestones Itachi had set, so their father payed Sasuke little mind.

Aware of this neglect, Itachi, despite becoming more and more busy, tried to stand in for their father by giving Sasuke the attention he desired and deserved.

'How ironic, that I wanted recognition from Sasuke, while he wanted recognition from his father,' thought Sakura. She smiled as she watched the bond between Sasuke and Itachi continue to grow.

xXx

The next time she warped to a different location, the smile slipped off her face. It was the middle of the night and she was on top of a cliff overlooking a river. There were two others with her, facing each other.

'Is that Itachi?' Sakura thought, quickening her pace to reach the pair. He was dressed in Anbu Black Ops gear. As she neared, she could see his companion bleeding from his right eye.

"It no longer looks like the Uchiha coup d'etat can be prevented," said Itachi's companion, the one with the bleeding eye, "When I tried to stop the coup d'etat with the Kotoamatsukami, Danzo stole my right eye."

'Kotoamatsukami? That's the technique Itachi wanted to use on Sasuke,' thought Sakura, 'Why would Danzo do that? This could have prevented the Uchiha massacre.'

"He doesn't trust me," continued the stranger, "He intends to protect the village his way. I suspect he'll come after my left eye as well. So I want to give it to you before he has a chance."

His hand moved to his left eye and Sakura looked away in horror.

"You're the only person I can count on, my best friend," she heard him continued. She didn't dare to look back yet,

"Please protect this village…and the honor of the Uchiha name." There was a pause, "Farewell my friend. I'm afraid I must prevent my body from ever being found."

Sakura's head whipped around to see if he was really talking about what she thought he was.

"Shisui, wait!" Itachi yelled and took a step toward his friend.

"No!" Sakura screamed as she saw him jumping off the cliff. Itachi reached out his hand, trying to grab his best friend, but it was too late. Shisui fell into the water, killing himself and erased his existence.

xXx

She was in another room now. It looked like one of the Hokages meeting room. Her guess was proven correct when she turned around and saw four Elder people sitting at a table. A few feet away from the table, Itachi kneeled down on the ground.

They were discussing the prevention of the war. Sakura had arrived just in time to catch them saying they had no choice but to brand the Uchiha officially as the traitors. The Third Hokage was the only one at the table who was still against such as drastic act and pleaded with the rest of his companions to not make such a rash decision, while Danzo was offering launch a surprise attack from behind.

"I want to settle this with words first before we resort to force," emphasized the Third Hokage, "I will come up with a strategy. Itachi, buy me some time, however little it may be."

'I'm glad, Third Hokage didn't give up,' thought Sakura, 'but it was still too late, huh. Even innocent children were slaughtered'

Itachi nodded and the group exited the room. Sakura followed Itachi and saw him secretly meeting up with Danzo. She stepped up to them to hear their whispered conversation.

"In which case even Hiruzen, as Hokage, will have no choice but to take decisive measures," began Danzo, "Whether it result in war or not, the moment the coup d'etat happens, the Uchiha will lock themselves into a fate of annihilation. Including your innocent little brother."

He paused to watch Itachi's face.

"Are you threatening me?" asked Itachi.

"No, I just want you to make a choice. Either align with the Uchiha, launch the coup d'etat and die along with your clan….or side with the Leaf, save your little brother before the coup d'etat and then help us eliminate all other Uchiha."

Itachi remained silent and walked away.

xXx

She was warped to a different area again, but this was one scene she knew she didn't want to see. Sasuke's parents were sitting in a room, Itachi stood behind them.

'No…' thought Sakura. Her hands flew to her mouth and tears pricked her eyes. She knew where this was heading.

"I see…." Sasuke's father said, "So you've aligned with the other side?"

"Mother, Father," Itachi tried to speak, but his voice was choked with emotion, "I…"

"I know, Itachi," his mother interrupted.

"Itachi, just promise me this," his father began, "Take care of Sasuke."

"I will." Tears dripped down his cheeks when he replied. His hands were shaking as he gripped his sword. The tears in Sakura's eyes began to fall as she watched.

"Do not fear. This is the path you have chosen," his father tried to reassure him, "Compared to you, our pain will be over in an instant. Even if our philosophies differ, I am proud of you. You are truly a kind child."

Itachi's hands shook harder and tears increased when he heard the final words of his father, but he still swung his sword and killed them both. They fell to the ground, blood spreading around them.

Sakura covered her eyes and mouth with her hands in a futile attempt to lessen the tears and sobs. She fell to her knees and hugged herself with anguish as she looked at Itachi crying over the dead bodies of his parents.

Despite his betrayal, they held no animosity for their son. Instead, they had told him they were proud of him and asked him to take care of Sasuke.

She couldn't help but cry her eyes out. Now that she could see exactly how hard it had been for him, she wished she had never said those things to Itachi. Yes, she might have some disagreement with his actions, but he was no coward. She had only thought of Sasuke and not how Itachi might have felt…

"I'm sorry, Itachi…." whispered Sakura.

Sakura jumped and froze when she heard the door behind her open.

"Father, mother…" someone called out behind her.

'Oh, no. Sasuke.' she thought as she turned around. His expression caused fresh tears to fall down her cheeks. To see his parents lying dead on the ground, in pools of their own blood and his brother whom he looked up to, standing over their bodies would have caused the most obscene look of horror and disbelief to cross the face of any child and Sasuke was no exception.

Immediately, Itachi sprang into action.

She watched him torment Sasuke with the Tsukuyomi, showing him fake visions of his parents' death. The young boy screamed and screamed, covering his eyes to try to wish away the terrible sight.

Sakura couldn't stand his torture anymore. She covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut, but it didn't work. She could still hear his screams, still saw his anguish.

When the screaming finally stopped, she opened her eyes and saw Sasuke fleeting, fearing his own death while Itachi chased him down.

xXx

Once again she was warped into a different area. She quickly looked around her to see where she was. She was now on a street. All the lights were out, but she could still see the outlines of dozens of bodies scattered everywhere.

Further down the street, she saw Itachi and Sasuke. Itachi was telling his little brother the lies he knew would be believed; why he killed his clan and how he had never really loved Sasuke. He encouraged Sasuke to become strong enough to kill him and take revenge, then started to take off. Sasuke stopped him, though, pursuing him with a newly-awakened Sharingan.

Itachi left, but was surprised to find Sasuke already pursuing him with a newly-awakened Sharingan.

'I thought he awakened it during the battle between him and Haku.' thought Sakura.

Sasuke attempted to get his vengeance right then and there. He darted after his brother and threw a kunai. Caught by surprise, Itachi wasn't able to dodge it. The kunai only hit his headband and bounced off with a sharp clang. Exhausted by his grief and overwhelmed with shock, Sasuke fainted, staying awake just long enough to see tears fall from Itachi's eyes.

Sakura watched Itachi, who was crying liberally now, turn away from Sasuke.

As soon as Itachi was gone, Sakura carefully walked to Sasuke's side, keeling down next to him. Even if this wasn't real, even if he wasn't real, she still wanted to give him some form of comfort. She stroked his hair and kissed his head, tears dripping down her face and into his hair.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that….I wish I could take your pain away…" she whispered. She looked in the direction Itachi had gone, "I'm sorry you both had to go through that. I'm sorry the Leaf Village had put you both through this."

She thought back to the Leaf village she had grown up in. After learning the truth, it didn't feel like she really knew the Village anymore. Everything was different now. The peaceful village she thought she knew, had such a dark secret. Who knows what kind of other secrets they have besides this?

Two people wanted something different, but weren't willing to shed blood over it…until one person came between them and started all of this. His ideal was far worse than putting the Uchiha into a Genjutsu to stop them for waging a war. He wanted every Uchiha slaughtered. But why the elders and the innocent children? Why did they have to die?

He wanted peace and true, peace remained but at what cost? The slaughter of innocent people, a heavy burden on the elder brother who only wanted to protect a little brother, but instead having to force him to witness the horror of losing his entire family.

"I wish I could take your pain." Sakura whispered as she hugged the young Sasuke.

Suddenly everything went dark. Even young Sasuke disappeared beneath her hands. Sakura tried to look around, but all she could see was darkness. Was this also part of Itachi's Tsukuyomi? She wiped her tears away, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

There was a gust of wind blowing past her ruffling her hair a bit. When she opened her eyes, she saw a bright light emanating from behind her. She turned around and blinked a few times until her vision adjusted.

A fair-skinned woman with long, straight black hair was standing in front of her. Her bangs hung freely on either side of her face and her eyes were matched her hair. She wore a simple dark-purple blouse with a red-plum skirt and a light-yellow apron over it all.

Sakura gasped. "You're Sasuke and Itachi's mother," she whispered.

The lady nodded with a smile. Sakura blinked a few more times to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. Was this real? Was their mother's spirit actually here now or was it just another illusion?

"My name is Mikoto…" the lady introduced herself. Sakura breaths came in loud gasps now as she started to wonder if she had died during her time in Tsukuyomi. Before she do anything, Mikoto continued to speak,

"Please take care of my sons," she said.

All of her questions evaporated, the moment Sakura heard the request.

"I will." she answered with a reassuring smile.

Mikoto stepped up to Sakura and wrapped Sakura in a hug. It took Sakura a few seconds to get over her surprise and returned the hug. As soon as she did, the tears returned again and she cried into Mikoto's shoulder and squeezed tighter.

The Tsukuyomi dissipated around her.

xXx

Sakura sat up abruptly, gasping for air. She quickly looked at her surroundings and saw the damage Sasuke and Itachi had caused hideout. She stood up and started to search for any sign of Sasuke or Itachi, desperately hoping she hadn't woken up too late.

When she caught sight of them, she saw them glaring at each other, both panting hard and covered in blood. Dark bruises covered what skin could be seen through the tears in their clothing.

Sakura started toward them, but Sasuke beat her to it. He dashed toward Itachi with a Chidori in his hand, eager to finish the job.

"Stop!" she screamed but neither of them heard her. She didn't think. Her body moved on its own and, before she knew it, she was standing between them receiving the full impact of the Chidori correctly on her back.

Her entire body exploded with pain and she coughed up a mouthful of blood. Her brain began to shut down the nonessential functions to divert energy to vital organs. She managed to stay conscious just long enough to look a horrified Itachi in the eyes and whisper painfully,

"Don't run away…"

"Sakura!" Sasuke screamed.

~To Be Continued~

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