Sorry for the delay!
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"Go away..." Sakura mumbled, her head buried in the soft, warm pillows of her bed. The world outside her window was bright, and everyone was up; everyone except Sakura, who had stayed up all night long.
However, the persistent knocking came again, this time a little louder, with a melodic cadence that seemed to dance through the silence of her room. Curiosity piqued, she reluctantly tossed aside the covers. Maybe it was just a figment of her sleepy imagination.
"Who is it?" she called out, her voice muffled and still thick with dreams.
"It's me, Suigetsu!" came the cheerful voice, laced with a hint of desperation from the other side of the door.
"Suigetsu, I'm not in the mood and way too tired for anything," she complained.
"Sakura, please?" he pleaded.
Sakura blinked hard, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and discern whether it was really her friend at this hour. She had made it clear she didn't want to be disturbed. With a reluctant groan, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. The coolness of the wooden floor sent a shiver up her spine. Wiping her eyes, she slowly began her way to the door, her mind flooded with a mix of worry and intrigue.
What could have possibly motivated Suigetsu to come and disregard her warning?
She opened the door a crack, just enough to peer out at a disheveled Suigetsu, his usually carefree grin now replaced by a panicked expression. His hair looked as if he'd just emerged from a wind tunnel, and his clothes were rumpled as though he had wrestled with a bear.
"What do you want?"she whispered, glancing both ways down the empty hallway.
"Sakura... I... I can't find my sword!" Suigetsu exclaimed, breathless, his eyes wide with urgency.
"Your sword? Is that why you're banging on my door and disturbing my sleep?!" Her voice raced, and she rubbed her temples as she stormed back to her bed.
"But you don't understand!" Suigetsu rushed in, practically tripping over his own feet. "It's not just any sword! It's—"
"Suigetsu!" Sakura yelled as she sat up straight."I'm too tired! I stayed up all night taking care of those two idiots who practically forced me to perform a disgusting medical procedure!"
"I can't believe they asked you to do something like that..." Suigetsu chuckled nervously. "I still can't believe you did that..."
"And leave Sasuke blind? We both know I wouldn't say 'no'." Sakura took a deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment as she struggled to shake off the fatigue weighing her down. "Look, Suigetsu. I'm really not in the mood. Can't you just find your sword later?"
But her words fell flat against the urgency radiating from Suigetsu, who was pacing the small space of her room, scratching the back of his head. "Sakura..." he began, "you know I can't do that!"
Sakura sighed loudly but couldn't hide the gleam in her eyes. "You're the one who usually gets sick of things, but you're really fixated on those swords..."
"This is one thing I have to make the effort for... Bringing back the Seven Ninja of Swordsmen and becoming their leader has been my dream..." he confessed, his voice turning earnest, his eyes sparkling with that familiar flame of ambition.
Sakura softened a bit, fully sitting up now and leaning against the wall. "Bringing them back?"
"Yeah...right now the only one we have was that kid called Chojuro. The swords have all been passed down from generation to generation, but aside from Hiramekarei, they've all disappeared." Suigetsu took a deep breath, his expression shifting from anxious to reflective as he continued, "Kisame's got Samehada, but he's a missing-nin...and I finally got my hands on the executioner's blade, but now it's gone too."
"The team's pretty much non-existent now..." Sakura mumbled, her exhaustion ebbing away as curiosity grabbed her.
"There are a bunch of other swords too. There were other legendary swordmen besides Kisame, Zabuza and Chojuro. First, there's the sharpest blade, clad in lightning; Ameyuri Ringoof the lightning sword 'Kiba'!" Suigetsu continued,
"Then there's the sword that can break through anyone's guard! Jinin Akebino, master of the bluntsword 'Kabutowari'! Then there's the sword that pierces everything and sews it all together; Kushimaru Kuriarare, master of the longsword 'Nuibari'!"
Sakura couldn't help but lean forward, her initial annoyance morphing into fascinated intrigue. Somehow, the act of listening to Suigetsu's passionate monologue had begun to spark her own curiosity.
"The exploding sword,Jinpachi Munashi, master of the Blastsword 'Shibuki'! And there's the swordman who wielded Hoshigaki Kisame's 'Samehada' before him,Fuguki Suikazan!" As Suigetsu rattled off the names, each sounding more legendary than the last,
"And finally, there's the one who mastered all seven swords...the second coming of the demon; my brother; Mangetsu Hōzuki!"
"Your brother?" Sakura's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You've never mentioned him before."
"Yes," Suigetsu interrupted, a blend of pride and sorrow creeping into his voice. "He was one of the Seven Ninja Swordmen. The real deal. But... he caught a fatal disease... and I couldn't help but at that time I became a bit demotivated from our dreams."
Sakura felt a pang of empathy wash over her. She could see how deeply this ambition for swords and community ran in Suigetsu, and how his brother's legacy burdened him."I had no idea losing him affected you like this."
"Hey, because of you and Sasuke, I was able to retrieve one sword! I can honor his memory by gathering the swords!" Suigetsu exclaimed, his eyes now gleaming with determination; all traces of previous panic seemed to vanish.
"Wait... your sword was broken, wasn't it?" Sakura asked, the realization dawning on her like the sun breaking through the clouds.
"That sword has a special power. The executioner's blade can't be chipped... or rather it might be more accurate to say it repairs itself," he answered, "as it absorbs the blood of those it kills. It repairs itself using the iron in blood."
Sakura leaned back, her brow furrowing as she absorbed the weight of Suigetsu's words. A blade that could repair itself? The implications were staggering. A shiver ran down her spine—not from fear, but from the rational understanding of what such a weapon could mean in the wrong hands.
"Now that I think about it, the Kiba sword or the Nuibari sword would suit you," Suigetsu interjected.
Sakura chuckled, the weariness fading like mist in sunlight. "Let's see if we can find them first. But I get it, Suigetsu. You want to restore honor to your brother's legacy and bring the Seven Ninja Swordsmen back together. That's a noble pursuit."
"You are finally smiling," he accidentally blurted out, his face lighting up as if he had discovered hidden treasure.
Sakura rolled her eyes but felt the warmth of a smile creep across her face. "What are you talking about?"
"Ever since we got back to our city, you looked a little depressed. You watched those two brothers bicker with each other about the eye implant, and I noticed it bothered you that they even asked for your opinion."
"T-that's not true! Why would they need my opinion?" Sakura quickly deflected, although the color in her cheeks hinted otherwise.
"Come on, Sakura. I know you were not comfortable doing something like this. When Sasuke for some reason finally agreed on it, they both just assumed you would do it," Suigetsu said, his tone gentle but firm.
"Okay, okay, maybe I wasn't thrilled about it," Sakura huffed, crossing her arms defensively. "But they are my friends, and sometimes you have to do things for people you care about, even if it makes you uncomfortable."
"I still can't believe that something like that is part of their clan's legacy," Suigetsu felt goosebumps rise on his arms at the thought of the young Uchiha's legacy. "But seriously, what are you hiding, Sakura?"
"W-what do you mean?" Sakura's eyes darted around the room, avoiding Suigetsu's piercing gaze. She had thought she had successfully hidden her true feelings, but it seemed Suigetsu had seen right through her. The words caught in her throat as she struggled to come up with a convincing explanation.
"I... I'm just tired, that's all," she said finally, trying to brush it off. But Suigetsu's knowing look told her he wasn't buying it.
"Sakura, come on," Suigetsu coaxed, his voice softening. "You can trust me. I've known you for a long time, and I can tell when something's bothering you. Is it really just about Sasuke and his brother, or is there something more?"
"N-no... there's really nothing—"
"You are afraid of Sasuke's answer, aren't you?" he interrupted. Sakura quickly jumped out of her bed and made her way to exit her room.
"Do you ever listen?" she snapped, her voice shaky but loud enough to echo in the empty hallway. "This isn't about me!"
As Sakura stepped into the hallway, her heart pounded uncontrollably in her chest, a mix of embarrassment and simmering frustration surging within her. Even though Suigetsu disturbed her sleep, she somewhat didn't mind it. Otherwise, she would have probably slept in and missed her appointed meeting time.
Making her way to the meeting room, Sakura took a deep breath to steady herself, desperately trying to shake off the conversation she just had with Suigetsu. She mentally chided herself for allowing him to pry into her thoughts so easily.
She stepped inside the meeting room, noticing Sasuke and Itachi had already taken their seats with bandages wrapped around their eyes. Jugo was standing in front of the window, gazing out into the distance, lost in thought. Karin looked somewhat annoyed about something, as usual.
"How are you both feeling?" Sakura asked as she carefully made her presence known in front of Sasuke to check up on him.
Sasuke's expression remained stoic, but Sakura could sense a hint of unease beneath his calm demeanor."I'm fine,"he replied curtly, his voice low and even.
Itachi, on the other hand, seemed more relaxed, his eyes still closed as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm feeling quite well, Sakura," he said, his voice soothing and melodious. "The eyes seem to be healing well."
Jugo, still lost in thought, didn't respond, his gaze fixed on some distant point outside the window. Karin, who had been quietly observing the group, spoke up finally. "I'm annoyed with Sasuke for being so quiet," she said, her voice laced with a hint of annoyance. "I'm supposed to help Sasuke, but he doesn't want me to touch him. He is just ignoring me."
Sakura's eyes widened slightly at Karin's comment, and she shot Sasuke a concerned glance. "Sasuke, are you okay?" she asked, her voice softening.
But Sasuke just shook his head, his eyes still fixed on some point in front of him. "I'm fine, Sakura," he repeated, his voice firm but unconvincing.
"You should continue your rest. Any time soon you will be able to see again," Sakura assured him ."Let Karin look after you—"
"No." Sasuke interjected firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument."I don't need anyone to look after me,"he added, his voice dripping with a mix of frustration and stubbornness.
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise at Sasuke's outburst, and she exchanged a worried glance with Suigetsu, who entered the room just in time. Jugo, still lost in thought, didn't seem to notice the tension in the room. Karin, however, looked at Sasuke with a hint of hurt and disappointment.
"I thought you trusted me," Karin said, her voice softening. "I want to help you."
Sasuke's expression remained stoic, but Sakura could sense the conflict brewing beneath the surface. The room fell silent, with only the sound of Itachi's gentle breathing breaking the stillness. Sakura could sense the unspoken understanding between the group members, each knowing that Sasuke was struggling to come to terms with his new eyes. As the tension in the room began to dissipate, Sakura decided to change the subject.
"Let's focus on something else," she said. "What do you want to do, Sasuke?"
Sakura looked nervously at Sasuke. She couldn't help but feel slightly grateful that his eyes were still wrapped up with bandages. This way, he couldn't see her worried expression written all over her face.
The moment they had arrived back at their city, everything was a mess. Sasuke and Itachi kept bickering with each other about why Sasuke should take his older brother's eyes; how this wasn't going to erase everything Itachi had done. Itachi tried to explain himself—that it wasn't his intention to erase his past, but it was a start and how his little brother still deserved to see the world and make his own choices and lead his own path.
However, Sakura noticed something shift the moment she had decided to tell everyone what she had learned from Kakashi during her conversation with him and Naruto: Tobi is planning for a fourth great ninja war. He will do nothing to get his hands on the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails.
Sasuke suddenly agreed with the implantation of Itachi's eyes into his, and he'll answer them on what they would do afterwards: ignore the war? join the Leaf village? Or join Tobi?
The meeting room fell silent as the group weighed Sasuke's words, the only sound being Itachi's gentle breathing. Sakura's eyes darted back and forth between the two Uchiha brothers, her mind racing with the implications of their conversation.
"So, what do you want to do, Sasuke?" she repeated, trying to keep the conversation light.
"I don't care. I want nothing to do with this war..." Sasuke stated flatly, but Sakura could see the tension in his shoulders.
"Sasuke, you can't just ignore the fact that war is coming. We need to be prepared," Itachi interjected gently, his voice like a balm to the mounting tension. "You may not want to fight, but sooner or later, it'll come to you. You can't just—"
"Will you for once stop choosing the Leaf over me?!" Sasuke snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut through the air. Itachi flinched ever so slightly, and the tension in the room grew heavier, threatening to suffocate them all. Sakura's heart raced as she felt the swirling emotions between the brothers. "If you leave right now, it means you are choosing the Leaf over me!"
"C-could you give us a minute?" she interjected, cutting through the silence. The rich, vibrant atmosphere of the room shifted, as if the very walls were holding their breath. Sakura's heart hammered in her chest, uncertain but resolute in her desire to de-escalate the tension between the two brothers.
"Just a minute," Sakura pressed, her voice soft yet insistent. Itachi, sensing the weight of the moment, nodded, and with Jugo's help, quietly rose from his chair, stepping outside the room. Karin and Suigetsu followed, throwing Sakura an encouraging wink just before exiting, leaving the two alone in the sanctuary of the meeting chamber.
The silence that filled the air was almost deafening. She could feel the storm brewing inside Sasuke, swirling like dark clouds ready to unleash a torrent of rain. Taking a cautious step forward, she chose her words carefully.
"Sasuke, please. I know you're frustrated about everything happening right now. But we... you can't put such a heavy choice on Itachi."
"Are you serious right now?! Leaf! Leaf! Leaf! Everything is about the Leaf!" His voice echoed in the meeting room, raw and strained, and Sakura could feel the heat radiating from him like a bonfire on a cold winter night. "Why are you so adamant on stopping me from having revenge?"
"Are you serious right now?! We are back on that subject?!" Sakura took a deep breath, her eyes locked intensely on Sasuke's unwavering figure."What revenge?! You already did that! You almost had your revenge on Itachi! After knowing the truth, you had your revenge on Danzo!"
She walked closer to Sasuke, her footsteps quiet on the floor, her hands clasped together in a gentle gesture."Or do you mean revenge on the Leaf? What revenge?! The Leaf didn't do anything! The elders did! I already told you, if you do this, then that makes you no better than the elders! Hell! It makes you no better than Danzo!"
"Let's be honest right now, we both know why I am so against you taking revenge right now!" Sakura continued. "You almost killed me!"
Sakura's heart raced as the weight of her words hung in the air. The silence that followed was thick, almost suffocating. Sasuke stood rigid, his expression devoid of emotion, like a stone statue chiseled from the hard granite of his tumultuous past. Yet, beneath that cold exterior, she could sense the tempest of conflicting emotions swirling within him—guilt, anger, and a profound loss.
"Don't even try to pretend that you don't know what I'm talking about. You know damn well that Danzo holding me hostage was a useless act," she said, her voice trembling but resilient. "But you weren't even thinking about that."
"You think I don't know that?" he finally said, his voice low, each word a blade cutting at the tension."You think I wanted to hurt you? I was lost, Sakura. The anger... it consumed me."
"You can't keep using your anger as an excuse for everything," Sakura pressed on, not letting the moment slip by. She couldn't see what Sasuke's gaze was. Was it vulnerability? Regret? No remorse?
She reached out a hand, hesitated for a moment, and then gently brushed a strand of hair from his face. The touch sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt a pang of guilt for having kept her true feelings hidden from him.
"Sasuke, I want to help you," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.
Underneath the bandages, Sasuke's eyes flashed with a fleeting glimmer of pain, but it was quickly extinguished, replaced by a stoic expression. "I don't want your help," he said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Sakura's heart sank, but she didn't give up. She knew that Sasuke was hurting, and she was determined to help him heal. Maybe not right now, but hopefully soon he would finally let her in.
"I understand if you don't want my help, Sasuke. Sorry..." she said softly and left the room, closing the door behind her with a gentle click, a fleeting sadness lingering in her heart.
In the corridor, the sunlight poured through the windows, casting golden rays that felt both warm and harsh against her skin. She took a moment to breathe, letting the silence settle around her and gathering her thoughts. The conversation with Sasuke had been heavy, but both the knowledge she held and the lingering doubt hinted at something deeper—something that could shatter them both.
"Were you two able to clear the air?" Suigetsu asked as he emerged from the nearby hallway, his brows raised in genuine concern.
"The air is a little... thicker now, to be honest," Sakura admitted, her voice steady but tinged with exhaustion. "Where is Itachi?"
"On the balcony getting some fresh air," Suigetsu answered, glancing back toward the room.
Sakura felt a pang of sympathy for Sasuke, knowing that the burdens he carried were not just about the past but also the complex web of emotions tied to trust and pain."Do you think he'll ever be okay?" she whispered, half to herself.
Suigetsu hesitated, scratching his head as if trying to comprehend the enormity of Sasuke's struggles. "I don't know. Maybe he just needs time… but if anyone can reach him, it's you," he said, sincerity shining through his playful demeanor.
"I hope so," she replied, pulling her thoughts back together. "But right now, it feels like I'm talking to a brick wall."
"Brick walls can be broken down with some hammering," Suigetsu offered, his usual cocky grin easing the heaviness. "Besides, you've already brought back some light into this dreary situation. You've helped both Sasuke and Itachi. You just need to keep at it."
Sakura's lips curled into a soft smile. "Thanks, Suigetsu. I'll try."
With this, Sakura walked to the balcony where Itachi leaned against the railing, a serene figure framed against the backdrop of a crimson sunset.
"Hey, Itachi," Sakura called gently as they approached. Itachi turned to them, his expression unchanged from the calm demeanor he usually wore.
"It's a beautiful evening," he replied, pushing off the railing and straightening himself. "A good time for reflection… and perhaps for choices."
"Is it really okay to take off your bandages?" Sakura asked with a hint of concern, the sun's golden light reflecting on her worried expression.
"Don't worry. It's fine. Shisui's eyes are working perfectly fine. I won't acquire the eternal mangekyou sharingan, but at least I can see," Itachi replied with a serene calmness that seemed to soothe the atmosphere around them.
"Still can't believe you implanted one of Shisui's eyes inside a crow and made me remove it as well," Sakura's voice trembled as she recalled the gruesome memory.
"Sorry about that. I was actually planning to give it to Naruto, but our conversation when I had kidnapped you made me change my mind." Itachi chuckled. "However..."
"You are going to join the war, aren't you..." Sakura's voice trailed off, barely a whisper as she processed Itachi's words. The gravity of the situation settled upon her like a heavy fog, clouding her thoughts with uncertainty.
Itachi nodded slowly, the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips as he watched the sun dip lower in the sky. "I can't turn my back on the Leaf."
"But Itachi, Sasuke..." Sakura began, her concern bubbling to the surface.
"It is Sasuke who must decide his own path," Itachi interjected, his voice steady and reassuring. "I trust that your presence will help him find his way. You are his anchor."
"You know Sasuke's pride can be his downfall. He doesn't want to rely on anyone, least of all his brother." Sakura replied, shaking her head with a small smile, despite the tensions still looming large.
"I've learned that trust is a fragile thing," Itachi mused, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the sun kissed the earth goodnight. "But it can also be a powerful weapon in the right hands." There was a calm confidence in his voice that ignited a spark of determination within Sakura.
"Then why do you need to join? You could help him just by... being here!" she pressed, desperately trying to find an alternative that would keep Itachi safe while also allowing Sasuke the comfort he needed.
"It's not quite that simple, Sakura," Itachi replied, his tone firm but patient.
"I know..."she finally admitted.
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Back where Sasuke was left behind, the silence was somewhat comforting him at the moment. There was too much going on in his mind—the weight of expectations, the remnants of anger, and a hollow sense of purpose that felt distant even now. He traced the outlines of the bandages covering his eyes, a reminder of the path he had chosen, and the burdens he still carried from his past.
Amongst the lingering echoes of his brother's presence and the conversations that had just passed, one question surfaced repeatedly in his mind: Could he truly step away from the darkness that had consumed him for so long?
His thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of footsteps. He didn't need to turn around to know who had returned. There was a familiarity in the way Sakura moved, a warmth that filled the space with a hint of hope.
"Hey," she said softly, breaking the silence that wrapped around them like a tightly wound shroud.
"He left, didn't he..." Sasuke murmured, not bothering to disguise the disappointment in his voice. "He chose the Leaf..."
~To Be Continued~
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Next chapter: February 6, 2025.