Happy New Year, everyone!
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With the echoes of chaos from the Samurai Bridge still fresh in her mind, Sakura breathed deeply, steadied herself, and began to step forward into the clearing.
"Now, you guys mentioned something about Tobi telling you the truth about Itachi..." she began, her voice unwavering despite the tumultuous sea of feelings crashing within her. "Is it true? And why?"
"What do you mean?!" he replied, struggling to his feet, eyes wide with concern."We don't have time for this, Sasuke—"
"Answer me!" she interjected forcefully, cutting through the moment like a blade.
"This goes both ways, Sakura," Kakashi interjected, his tone serious but tempered with underlying concern. Even though she was his former student, right now, at this moment, she was his enemy. "I mean, that's the least you could do for this moment, if you know what I mean."
"Heh, I knew you would catch on," Sakura smirked. "I mean, it was never my intention to fool you, but I do want some answers. Fine by me; we'll do this both ways."
"Kakashi-sensei, what are you talking about?" Naruto asked, confused, looking back and forth between Kakashi and Sakura.
"Sorry, Naruto. Sasuke is long gone by now," Kakashi said with a heavy heart as he rested one of his hands on Naruto's shoulder.
"W-what? N-no!" Naruto's brows furrowed with anger. "Why are you doing this, Sakura?! Don't you see what Sasuke is doing is wrong?!"
"Well, Kakashi? We have a deal?" Sakura asked, ignoring Naruto's outburst, to which Kakashi nodded in agreement.
"Naruto, for now, don't interfere." Kakashi commanded as he removed his hand from Naruto's shoulders.
Naruto's frustration simmered beneath the surface, unable to comprehend why his friends, especially Sakura, were so willing to let Sasuke walk deeper into darkness. "You can't be serious!"
"Yes, Tobi visited us and told us the truth about Itachi, but I don't know what his true goal was in telling us the truth, or if it's true..." Kakashi answered."Why did you guys attack the Kage Summit?"
"You guys really joined the Akatsuki... you even went after a jinchuriki..." Naruto mumbled in disbelief.
"Alright! First of all, we are not working for that bastard! While I was away doing something, that masked bastard set Sasuke up! The Eight-Tails was the one who attacked Sasuke first."
The clearing fell silent as the weight of Sakura's words hung in the air like a thick fog. It was a dangerous game they were playing, controlling the narrative amidst chaos and bloodshed, especially when emotions ran high.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed slightly, processing the information with the calm detachment of a seasoned warrior. "So, you're saying Sasuke was acting in self-defense? Are you certain that Sasuke isn't lying?"
"Because I was there. That Tobi guy is trying to manipulate Sasuke to join him, and Sasuke rejected him, but he won't leave us alone," Sakura explained, her voice trembling but resolute.
Naruto looked at Sakura, searching her eyes for any hint of uncertainty. But all he found was a fierce commitment that reminded him of all the times they'd trained together, fought together, stood together against impossible odds.
"Anyway! Back to your question, Kakashi; it's true. I don't know exactly what kind of perspective Tobi told you, but I can see that we are somewhat on the same page," Sakura answered dryly, as if it didn't bother her what kind of consequence this was leading to. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts even as she felt the weight of Naruto and Kakashi's expectant gazes on her. "It's true we attacked the Kage Summit, and to be fair, it was my idea—"
"What?!"Naruto exclaimed, disbelief flooding his features." Sakura, why would you even think that would be a good idea?!"
"Let me finish!" Sakura pressed her palms against her temples, trying to cool the tempest of frustration. "Our plan was to eliminate Danzo before the meeting happened, but we were too late. We decided to go with plan B to attack Danzo after the meeting, but for some reason, that Tobi guy ratted us out, and that's how everything went sideways."
"Why, Sakura?" was all Naruto could muster, his voice hoarse with a mixture of anger and sorrow. Even Kakashi was saddened to see his students on such a wrongful path.
"And here I thought that you knew the truth about Itachi. "Sakura's jaw tightened."Danzo was the one who ordered Itachi to do it."
"W-what..." Naruto and Kakashi exchanged a stunned glance, the weight of Sakura's words crashing over them like a wave, leaving them momentarily breathless. The air was thick with a tension that thrummed like the strings of a taut bow, and yet the truth hung in the air, beckoning them to confront it.
"Fine, you say that you guys have a reason for going after Danzo, but there is something I don't understand," Naruto exclaimed, anguish coiling in his chest. "I thought Sasuke did all this for revenge or something. I understood that, but now?! How?! Why is Ita—"
"Don't say his name!" Sakura shouted, her voice laced with raw emotion. "You don't know what you're talking about! Don't ruin all of our effort!"
Naruto blinked back tears, frustration and confusion battling within him. "So, what? You want to protect him? After everything he's done?!"
"Protect? No!" Sakura shook her head vehemently. "But now that we are talking about this, there is something I don't get. You guys still came here even after knowing the truth? Why?!"
"To stop Sasuke! This isn't the way, Sakura, and you know it!" Naruto shouted as his anger swelled, the intensity of his emotions spilling over in the face of Sakura's revelations. "Just come back! We'll figure something out!"
"Back to the village?" Sakura repeated incredulously, her voice rising in pitch. "Back to a place that allowed all of this to happen? The third Hokage, the elders—Danzo! They all had a hand in the tragedy that befell the Uchiha! Can you blame him for wanting vengeance?!"
Naruto's face fell, his expression morphing from anger to profound sadness as he realized the depth of Sakura's pain. "I get it, Sakura. I do!"
"Do you really, Naruto? Because somehow you really have the nerve to still think that Sasuke should go back to THAT village?!" Sakura shot back, her eyes blazing. "And don't even for a second think that I'm 'letting' this happen! I fought back! I stopped Sasuke from wanting to destroy the Village!"
"W-what?" Naruto stammered, his eyes wide with a swirling mix of disbelief and frustration.
"Sasuke wants to destroy the Leaf?" Kakashi interjected, tilting his head slightly, his brow furrowing in concern. The gravity of the situation pressed heavily upon him, much like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury.
"Yes!" Sakura said, her voice trembling with the weight of her conviction. "He was blinded by revenge. I had to step in — I reasoned with him before he crossed a line that would consume him!"
"You know what?! Since everything is out in the open, let's just get everything out then! I actually convinced him not to do it. He was actually almost ready to let everything go. We talked about just forgetting the Leaf Village and never returning," she exclaimed, her voice rising fiercely. "But noooo! Danzo happened! Out of everyone, he just had to become Hokage?! And even put a hit on Sasuke! Because who in their right mind would let someone live who might know his darkest secret, right?!"
"But Sakura—"
"No! I'm talking, Kakashi!" Sakura spoke fiercely, her heart racing as anger and frustration collided within her. The truth felt liberating yet burdensome, and she needed to share the full weight off of her. "And you know what?! I'm glad Danzo is dead! That guy was all about Uchiha this, Uchiha that, but he had his right arm implanted with multiple Sharingans, including his right eye! What a hypocrite! He just wanted that power for himself! It wouldn't even surprise me if he secretly wanted to control the Nine-Tails inside of you, Naruto!"
"You know about me, Sakura?" Naruto responded, surprise etched across his features. For a moment, the tumult of emotions swirled between them, creating an atmosphere heavy with unresolved tension and shared histories.
"Oh please! I was with that snake bastard for three years! Did you really think I would snoop around and see what kind of information he had?" Sakura replied, her voice steady yet charged. "Oh boy, the kind of information I learned! I thought maybe they were all rubbish! Danzo was secretly working with Orochimaru! And also, who your father is, Naruto..."
"You know?" Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief, his world shifting precariously beneath his feet.
Kakashi's gaze held a grave solemnity. "Sakura..."
"Seems like you already know... Anyway, let's not change the subject," Sakura shook her head, frustration creeping back into her voice. "We will never go back to the village. I'm even ashamed to say it was my home! You need to wake up, Naruto!"
The heaviness of the revelation lay thick in the air, each word carving the tension deeper as Sakura, her heart racing, glared at both Naruto and Kakashi with fervor. Each word she declared felt like a gauntlet thrown at their feet—a challenge mixed with desperation.
Naruto, panting slightly, struggled to process everything while Kakashi's brow furrowed in thought. The truth about the villagers, the betrayal, and now the implications behind Danzo's death collided into a massive whirlwind that felt almost overwhelming.
"And what exactly do you want us to do about it?" Naruto finally spoke, his voice low and trembling with the weight of a thousand unanswered questions. The sunny optimism that usually danced in his eyes dimmed, replaced by shadows of doubt and fear. "You're saying we should just give up? Just give in to this—whatever darkness you all are heading towards?"
Sakura wrapped her arms around herself. "You really don't get it, do you? Since you know about him, how will you explain that? What about him? Is he allowed to come back? Even though these rumors had followed him for years! If not, then what?! Will you tell the truth?! Do you think those elders will allow that?!"
"What is she talking about, Naruto?" Kakashi asked confusedly, still reeling from the shocking revelations that had been thrown into the fray.
"I... I..."Naruto stammered, not knowing how to answer her question. She was right. How would he explain Itachi's actions without revealing the truth about the Uchiha massacre?
"Face it, Naruto. We are never coming back." Sakura looked into Naruto's eyes, searching for the familiar spark of determination that had always resided there. Yet today, it felt dimmed by uncertainty. Was she finally getting him to understand that he should stop going after her and Sasuke?
"Is there anything else, Kakashi?" Sakura asked, looking toward her former sensei.
"Are you certain that Sasuke won't go after the Village?" Kakashi sighed deeply, the weight of the situation pressing heavily upon him.
"I'm certain," Sakura answered with no hesitation, her voice steady and unwavering.
"Then be careful, Sakura," Kakashi warned gently. "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."
"Fourth Great Ninja War?! Wait... Eight-Tails? I thought Tobi got it because Sasuke had defeated him?" Sakura asked, her eyes widening in shock.
"The rumors said that he did, but Tobi informed us that Sasuke had failed or something," Naruto mumbled, still feeling defeated about their previous conversation.
Sakura clenched her fists, feeling the onslaught of emotion, anger, and fear flood her mind. "To be honest, I'm not sure Sasuke will participate in this war. And no way in hell will he protect the village."
"Are you serious?! You're not gonna help us?!" Naruto exclaimed, his frustration bubbling to the surface again.
"It's up to Sasuke," Sakura said, her voice firm yet softening at the edges. "Let's just say for now that I've already favored you and the village for this village."
"Favor?" Kakashi interjected, his brow furrowed as he tried to understand her reasoning. "What do you mean?"
"After I heard the news about how Pain from the Akatsuki had attacked the Village, I snuck inside and somewhat healed Tsunade," Sakura answered. "As a gratitude for taking me under her wing before I left the village. She should be able to wake up anytime soon now..."
"W-wait? For real?! Thank you, Sakura!" Naruto exclaimed, amazement replacing the tension that had filled the air moments ago.
"Whatever..." Sakura mumbled and looked over her shoulder where Sasuke and others had left. "I think I've bought enough time. It's time for me to go."
"N-no... wait... Sakura... wait! Please don't go!" Naruto tried to reach out, desperation lacing his tone.
"Sorry... Naruto... Kakashi... I hope we won't meet again," Sakura's voice softened, and right after, she released her clone Jutsu, disappearing into the thick mist created by the smoke bombs.
"Why... Why did it come to this?" Naruto muttered, his shoulders slumping as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. Kakashi stood beside him, his eyes scanning the spot where Sakura stood, grappling with the reality that their team was truly lost forever.
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Somewhere inside a forest, where Sasuke and the others had taken to go back to their abandoned city, Sakura was on Itachi's shoulder with her eyes closed. Too busy concentrating on the conversation her clone had with Naruto and Kakashi.
"Welcome back," Itachi chuckled as he heard a sigh coming from Sakura's lips, hinting at both exhaustion and something deeper, perhaps a hint of frustration. Opening her eyes, she took in the sight of the seemingly dense forest surrounding them.
"Itachi..." Sakura began, unsure of how to voice her thoughts after the whirlwind of emotions that had transpired on Samurai Bridge. "What now?"
Itachi's expression remained calm, the usual serenity he carried exuding from him as they slowed their pace."Truthfully? I have no idea. Sorry I wasn't able to stop Naruto from confronting Sasuke. I had stayed hidden the moment I saw Tobi there."
"It's okay... I kind of asked for a ridiculous favor." Sakura clenched her fists. "Tobi..."
"I don't know what I should do about the village. About Sasuke... Back then, I felt like... he wanted to kill me..." Sakura confessed as she leaned her head on Itachi's shoulder, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Itachi, do you think I made the right choice?" she continued, her words heavy with uncertainty. "I stood by him, tried to pull him back from that edge, but I feel like I've just set him free down a darker path, one I can't follow. Maybe I was wrong."
Itachi paused, taking a moment before responding. "You did what you believed was right, Sakura. Sometimes, a person must walk their own path, even if it leads to darkness. As long as there's a spark of light left in them, there's hope for redemption. You gave Sasuke that choice. Now, it's his turn to embrace—or reject—it."
"What if he's too far gone?"
"It's not about what he wants; it's about reminding him of who he once was," Itachi replied, his voice steady like a guiding light in murky waters. "You are connected to him more than anyone else, especially more than me. You have seen the pain and the darkness, but you've also seen the light within him. If anyone can save him, it's you."
As they moved through the forest, pieces of the conversation with Naruto and Kakashi echoed in her mind like an unwanted mantra. 'We are never coming back...'The weight of her own words settled heavily on her shoulders. Yet amidst the turmoil, a flicker of resolve ignited within her.
"Guys, let's stop here for now!" Sakura called out, her words firm and unwavering. She turned to Jugo, Karin, and Suigetsu, who were walking a few paces behind, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Jugo and Suigetsu nodded solemnly and did what she asked. They carefully placed Sasuke on the ground and let him lean against a tree while Itachi let Sakura slide off his shoulder gently.
Sakura walked over to Sasuke, who was quietly leaning against the tree, shadows playing across his features. "Hey," she said softly, kneeling down beside him. "How are you feeling?"
Sasuke looked up at her, exhaustion etched across his face. "Fine," he replied, though it was clear that the fatigue was weighing him down.
Seeing he wasn't going to say anything else, Sakura took this time to start healing his wounds. As Sakura concentrated her chakra, her hands began to glow softly, illuminating the dim surroundings with a gentle light. She could feel Sasuke's breath steady under her palms, even as the tension radiated from him.
Slowly healing the wounds on his body, she made her way toward his eyes and continued with her healing.
"How are your eyes?" she asked as soon as she finished with her healing.
Sasuke winced slightly but quickly regained his composure. "I can see," he muttered, his voice low and gruff, yet there was a hint of something softer within. "But it's all... blurry."
"Damn it..." Sakura mumbled as she pulled her hands back, concern flooding through her. She glanced over her shoulder and shook her head toward Itachi, who observed quietly from a distance. "We need to get you to a safe place. We need to go back to our base. Jugo and Suigetsu, can you carry him?"
Jugo stepped forward, determination solidifying his features. "Leave it to us, Sakura," he said as he and Suigetsu moved to lift Sasuke carefully. Sasuke winced again but remained silent. Even though Sakura healed his injuries, his exhaustion was taking over.
As they made their way through the dense forest, the branches rustled gently above them, and a tranquil breeze brushed against their skin—a stark contrast to the chaos that had just enveloped them. The silence stretched between them, filled only with the soft crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant calls of wildlife.
Sakura walked beside Itachi, her heart heavy with unasked questions and unexpressed feelings. "What will happen to Sasuke now? Will he get his eyesight back?"
"The Mangekyou Sharingan gives us, the user, unique powers, but it also consumes a lot of chakra and causes eye strain. Over time, the user begins to lose their sight and eventually becomes blind," Itachi replied, his tone steady but laced with a hint of sorrow. "Sasuke can still regain some of that vision if he manages to awaken the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, but that requires both intense emotional resolve and... another Sharingan."
Sakura frowned, recalling the implications of what Itachi just said. "You mean to say he must take another person's eyes? How can you suggest that? It's barbaric!"
"It is," Itachi admitted, his eyes heavy with understanding. "But it's also a part of our clan's legacy."
"Even if Sasuke agreed to do something like that, how would that even happen? There is no one from the Uchiha except you, Itachi, and that Tobi guy." Sakura replied. "Danzo used some jutsu; Sasuke called it Izanagi. I don't think the eyes he had implanted in his arm would be useful. Sasuke mentioned something about that jutsu would completely blind the person's eyes."
"Sakura—"
"Oh wait!" Sakura unintentionally cut Itachi off and reached inside her bag, searching for a small object she had completely forgotten.
"I have Shisui's Sharingan!" Sakura exclaimed, pulling the container with his eye out of her bag. "I was able to get it back from Danzo. It's only one, but can we use this one?"
Itachi blinked, surprise flickering in his gaze as he studied the container in her hands, the weight of her words sinking in.
"I didn't know you had that," Itachi said, a hint of amazement threading through his tone.
"Yeah... Danzo did indeed keep Shisui's eye for himself and implanted it into his own eye socket," she explained, gripping the container tightly.
"I'm sorry, Sakura, but that won't work," Itachi said, shaking his head.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan can only be gained by obtaining the eyes of a relative who has awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan as well," Itachi explained.
Sakura blinked in disbelief. "Wait... don't tell me..."
"You are a medical ninja, Sakura. I believe you will be able to do it. Will you implant my Sharingan into Sasuke?"
~To Be Continued~
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Next chapter: January 22, 2025.