Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Blindfolded ❯ A Helping Hand ( Chapter 2 )

Blindfolded

Chapter information:

Genre: adventure/general

Lore: I read how mountain climbers try to avoid mountain sickness: in the daytime they climb higher, then they descend to sleep lower. In this way they get accustomed to the difference in pressure and in oxygen-density.

Author's Note. There is a pun in this chapter, which is really hard to translate, so I'm sorry if it's lame:') If you can come up with a better one, please let me know.

 

Chapter 2

A Helping Hand

In her dream world she remembered her childhood; the time, when she wronged her mother. The poor woman would just look at her with sad, disappointed eyes, then turned away and withdrew to solitude. In her dream Sakura remembered that and whimpered. Turning to her side, she hugged her knees with one hand, and reached up with the other to smear away the tears; but as she tried to touch her eyelids she found them blindfolded. She gripped the bandage to tear it away but a hand grabbed her wrist.

“Don't. Unless you want to loose your sight, don't remove it.” She heard the deep voice of a man beside her. Her instincts told her to run, to protect herself and she tried to jump up, but could only moan; her body was not willing to follow her. The feeling of helplessness roused a roar from her, but her throat was burning as if she had drunk acid. Suddenly tears burnt her eyes, and she wondered what she had done to receive such a punishment.

A laugh bubbled from her mouth upon her misfortune, just laughing not caring if the stranger thought she was mad. Who cares?! What are her chances of survival, after all? Her laughter chocked into a cry—she really pitied herself. She itched to get up and dart, to do anything other than lying helplessly—when the warm hand touched her again and weighted on her calmingly.

“Don't panic.” the man said again. Then, according to the noises he stood up to search for something in his bag. Sakura nodded agreeably not knowing whether the other had seen her gesture. It frustrated her, that she couldn't see her savior's face and had to trust him so blindly.

“Who is talking?” she asked then. The man froze for a moment.

“Kisame.” he answered with an emotionless tone, just slightly wavering at the end of the word. Then he stepped toward the woman to bandage her hand. Sakura hitched a breath, she felt as if all the blood in her body drew to her head: she heard that name before and it belonged to an S-class ninja! Suddenly grabbing the man's hand she started to finger it, but felt relieve wash over her when she found nothing. Thank God no gills… okay no need to panic…that Kisame is a shark-man, and this is a human hand. Such an unlucky name to have.

“I'm sorry.” She stuttered in a small whisper as she let go of the other's hand. “My name is Sakura.”

Without an answer the man went back to his work. While adeptly winding the bandage around her he took a look at her visible wounds.

“I found you a few hours ago as I was traveling towards the pass. You were unconscious with hands that were close to freezing.” He raised her hand with palm upwards, as if inspecting it. “Burn marks can be seen on them, and at places your skin grazed off from your fingertips. Your eyes couldn't be helped anymore.”

His deep voice was quiet yet firm, as if he was giving a report to himself; gathering and analyzing information, ready to be accounted—was probably an old habit that he followed unconsciously even now after so many years. His hand held hers for a few more moments, then released it and let it fall.

“Your ankle is swollen. If the swelling doesn't go down by tomorrow morning, you won't be able to keep up with me. But if you are able to stand, I'll help you cross the pass. I suggest you sleep.”

The kunoichi nodded but could only pray that her body would regenerate to some extent; because every conscious moment was already an inescapable torment to her, something she couldn't bare or even hope to understand at the moment.

When Sakura drifted to sleep the man who called himself Kisame stood up and stepped closer to the sleeping woman. As his eyes took in her sleeping form a half smile appeared on his face. This crossing promised to be interesting until he met Kisame on the other side of the pass.

Dark eyes watched the kunoichi as she was lying on her side, her hair disheveled, being swept back by the dark blue cloth he used as a blindfold. Although Sakura's face was not unfamiliar to him, it was painfully obvious where she came from. He grimaced at the thought and shook his head. Only a Konoha ninja would be sentimental enough to keep her headband in her pocket while spying. His eyes fell to her lips as they parted in her restless dream. This won't do good, he thought, if she breathes through her mouth in this cold, her throat will be inflamed when she's already in a critical stage. He whirled back toward his bag and after a few moments of rummaging he pulled out a tiny jar. Opening, he put a little from a tiger-lily balsam under the woman's nose. Soon an odd odor mixed with menthol spread in the air, taking the place of the heavy, metallic smell of blood that had previously stung the already pungent air of the small house.

Itachi glanced at the sleeping woman one more time, then stepped out of the house and left for only he knew where, under the gentle light of the stars.

.oOo.

Sakura felt strong hands grab her shoulders to lift her and steady herself so that she could stand. A distressed moan left her lips when she became dizzy from the sudden movement. Futilely, she tried to cling onto the supporting arm, but her hands, as if made from lead, were hanging pathetically beside her. Panic rose inside her again, and that rush of adrenaline was enough to get on her feet somehow. She was unable to think straight, pain befogged her mind. Her body felt like a burning, throbbing, painful mass. It didn't obey her will, that tiny voice that said it's time to leave otherwise she would die.

“Mother,” Sakura moaned and felt that her knees couldn't hold anymore, she lost her balance and hit into something solid, that suddenly touched her forehead.

“You have fever.” stated the deep voice, then got her find her feet again. “We have to leave now.” he urged.

Sakura tried to raise her head, but darkness surrounded her wherever she turned. It was impossible to think, she felt as if the flames of insanity were eating up her body. She tried to ignore the pulling and with teeth clenched together she took a step forward while chanting: must go, must go, must go.

Itachi stepped out from the small wooden house and looked over the land before them, which was covered by a diamond-like, sparkling snow mantle in the beautiful sunshine. At least the weather favored them this day, he thought as he looked back at Sakura, who was slowly reeling after him on the border of fainting, while muttering something to herself. Curiously Itachi leaned closer while carefully looking at her lips to catch the meaning of her words.

“Get yourself together, Sakura.” he said to the woman finally, who, as if half asleep still, let herself be led.

.oOo.

They advanced slowly, or rather didn't accomplish anything, Itachi thought as he glanced up to the calm mountainsides, wondering how high they could reach before they had to turn back. He then halted and pulled the kunoichi to him, to check her fever. Something infinitely cold touched her burning forehead and she gave a soft sigh. She reached up and pressed the hand against her face with trembling fingers. She had to keep it there, she thought she'd die if it left. With an unfathomable expression Itachi merely watched as Sakura buried her face in his palms, and he sternly pressed his lips together. Although the cold air was good for her fever, apparently she was still not herself. The only question left was how much strain she could endure before her body broke. He freed his hands gently, put the gloves back on, and started up towards the mountain again.

Sakura didn't remember much from the journey, everything was foggy and arduous from delirium. Sometimes dread and despair filled her, when she suddenly lost her footing, when she couldn't endure the fire that burnt her out from inside and she collapsed into the snow. Sometimes only a hand prevented her fall when she got giddy; a hand that gave her hope to fight for the last minutes of her consciousness. When she and her companion stopped, her lungs stung so much she felt she would faint. Every time she breathed daggers of pain filled her lungs, stabbing into her like icy needles.

“I can't hold out any longer.” she breathed and sank to the ground as the hand released his hold on her wrist.

She didn't know how long passed, if she fell asleep or fainted, when strong arms pulled her up.

“Good, we've reached so far, but it's too high to spend the night here. We have to descend back to the house. Are you listening?” he asked with a soft, deep murmur next to hear ear, a voice so beautiful that Sakura would have done anything not to loose it.

“Yes,” she answered, her own voice hoarse and anything but beautiful and melodic as she clung onto the man's coat. Her fingers felt stiff from the cold, but she still managed to grab a hold of him somehow.

“You have to stay awake, Sakura. I'll carry you, but you have to keep talking so that you don't loose consciousness. Understood?” Itachi watched as the woman nodded and opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

“What do you want me to talk about?” she asked after a few moments, as she felt they were moving again.

“Whatever you wish to. Just don't stop speaking.” Itachi answered while striding with steady steps towards the hut, where they had come from.

“Do you know what the name of the lucky ninja is?” the kunoichi asked with a dazed voice. Itachi raised one of his eyebrow. Lucky ninja don't exist, Sakura.

“I have no idea.” he answered finally while scanning the land before them. Sakura pursed her lips.

“No problem, Kisame-san. I didn't have a clue either. Until Naruto told me.”

“Naruto?” Itachi looked down with new-found curiosity.

“No, of course not! Lucki-Lee.”

Surprised, Itachi's eyes softened. Had he looked down, he would have seen a faint smile on Sakura's lips as well.

“Naruto was the dry humor master…persistently.” she said weakly. “He could be so annoying!”

Her face suddenly twisted from pain, and then a bit later she continued.

“There was a time, when during a mission we were stuck in the stern of a ship. He wouldn't shut up.. kept telling idiot jokes until the end. I wanted to kill him. After that... I didn't talk to him for weeks.” her voice faltered.

Itachi felt her shaking hands clutching his cloak tighter, but didn't say anything, instead he just gazed around. During the daytime they didn't proceed as much as they could have—and descending was something to be even more cautious about, especially now when he was carrying a heavy weight in his arms. Gladly the sun was shining beautifully; no snowfall had covered their foot-prints so he could follow them back to the house. But pleasant weather lulls one into a false sense of security when the journey should not be taken lightly; there were just too many dangers here in the mountain to let his guard down. Finally his attention went back to the woman and he realized she hadn't uttered a single word for awhile now.

“Tell me more.” he said, and tightened his hold on her encouragingly. The woman winced, as if woken up from her dream, and her chin trembled a bit.

“It's cold.” she whispered. Itachi raised an eyebrow. Has her fever reduced that fast? Impossible, he thought, but just to make sure he pulled the woman closer and lowered his head to touch her cheek with his. The sudden movement surprised her with a start. The contact made her jump a bit in his arms. No doubt she still had fever although how high he couldn't tell. Itachi looked down at the woman's face and wasn't sure whether she was still conscious or not.

“Sakura” he called her again as he resumed his way in the snow. The sun painted the sky and the top of the mountains into a fierce pink, and the way he saw it, they had couple of hours left to arrive back to the house before the sunset. That was, if his calculations were correct. And since it was Itachi they most likely were. The kunoichi shivered.

“Cold.” she moaned painfully. “I remember this cold... like when the traitor left us.”

A sudden cough cut her words, but then she carried on with a rusty voice, scratchy from the cold and her coughing.

“When he left us…that was the day when I died for the first time. It was dark like now…and cold…and lonely. When I died for the second time…when I broke Naruto's heart. I felt so horrible…when I saw the loneliness in his eyes, and the pain and I still turned him down.”

Surprised, Itachi looked at Sakura whose face was twisted by pain for a second, before catching her breath.

“I died for the third time when I killed and felt nothing. I died for the fourth time when I saw the disappointed look…on shishÅ's face…when I told her I'd leave, because I'm fed up with death and cold and loneliness!”

Sakura's arms were hanging limply by her sides and no more words left her mouth. Only the sullen crackling of the snow was heard under Itachi's steady steps. He finally saw the silhouette of the house in the distance.

“Then I decided to stay. There is still hope after all…I still have three lives left.” Sakura whispered. Itachi's lips turned for a soft smile and looked down wonderingly at the woman in his arms. Before long they reached the hut again and the day finally ended for them.

.oOo.

Sakura felt as the energy particles ran through the nervous paths again and again, searching for injuries. Her knees flinched involuntarily as they tested their own reflexivity. Her brain racked feverishly to take in and process all the information as it appeared in her mind's eye while her chakra wavered through her body.

The energy advanced on her grey matter without hindrance, through every capillary that netted her brain. It moved on, and then suddenly disappeared. Her eyeballs were like black holes, they sucked away the energy as an invisible vortex; so it's true, the damage was serious, she thought and kept examining herself.

As the energy tested her limbs she realized how she had run chill in the cold. Her metabolism had slowed down, her body was dehydrated and weak—she hadn't eat properly for days. With clenched teeth she tried to focus on her remaining energy and for the first time in her life she wished there would be more of a fat storage on her body. As the energy circulated faster she started to feel better; but when her attention was drawn to the ankles, she turned grave. Compared to the left, her right ankle felt like a sponge; ligaments had either expanded or broke and it was swollen badly.

Sakura gave a loud sigh and slowly leaned on her elbow; no matter how much she wished to heal her eyes, that was impossible right now. For the sake of a most primal motive: survival, she had to steadily circulate her chakra to her ankle just to be able to stand. Her remaining chakra had to be utilized to avoid frostbite or hypothermia by warming herself.

Taking a deep breath, she sat up and hissed when she had to raise her right foot. Panic gripped her heart at the thought that maybe she had overestimated herself and couldn't follow her savior after all. Memories started to dawn on her about the last couple of days, about the fever and the ground that always wanted to slip from under her feet, a hand that led her and kept her hopes up—

“Your healing ability is remarkable. In a couple of hours your fever lapsed.” a voice said out of nowhere and Sakura startled. She raised her head and tried to grope the dusty bed, the timbers—

“We're still in the hut? But I thought…or was it just a dream?” she murmured wonderingly.

“We came back at night after we reached the cave we'll occupy tomorrow.” the calm voice said. Sakura was waiting for more explanation, but seemingly the answer satisfied him. According to the noises he was poking the fire in the fireplace, which was popping happily, filling the house with a little warmth in this behind the beyond mountain. Suddenly she felt so vulnerable and weak. For a very long time she hadn't felt ashamed that she was incapable to save her life and had to lean on others. But at least at those times she was helped by her friends and not a stranger. Surely she was pitiful. She could just imagine how she looked, wounded and afraid and disheveled... The flames of fear painted her cheeks red, and as the whirling feelings changed over into anger, she snapped.

“Why did we have to suffer all day just to come back to where we started?” she asked with an edge in her voice. Even if the other had noticed it, his voice came with the same calmness as before.

“The next camp was too high. We could have stopped for the night, but the difference in pressure and oxygen density would have been too much burden in your state. The weather favored us too—so I decided to turn back.”

As Sakura digested the information, conscience and gratitude filled her heart and she shivered from the thought what would have happened if the stranger had not helped her... and she did not even have a chance to thank him.

“I'm really grateful for your help, Kisame-san. Without you, I'd be dead already.” she said at last and hugged herself. The cold started to pierce into her bones. A voice of iron clicking was heard not far from her and Sakura suspected the man had just put the poker back to its place.

“Just call me Kisame. There is only a little difference of age between us.” said the young man and Sakura blushed, not knowing why. She rather felt than heard as the man stepped towards her.

“You must be thirsty.”

The kunoichi swallowed unconsciously.

“Yes, very.” she said hastily, and reached out awkwardly with her hand towards where she calculated the man standing. First he took hold of her hand and adjusted her fingers to be able to hold; then slowly he gave her the water flask. As Sakura's finger closed over the cold iron neck of the flask she eagerly raised it to her lips, but the movement was too abrupt and the water spilled on her coat. She blushed again but didn't apologize, just tried to sip it slowly this time. By every drop of water her body rejuvenated as if it was slowly filled with life.

Sakura thanked him after finishing, and the man took the flask from her. She slowly bent down, placing her bodyweight to her hands as she stood up. For a moment her body felt like tumbling; in the complete darkness her sense of orientation was lost—but after a little while she was able to stand on her feet again. In an attempt to test her ankles on how well they endured her weight she tried to stand, but every time she did so she had to clench her teeth not to give a pained groan.

Itachi observed the woman as she tested her injured ankle and stretched her limbs, then reached up to compose her disheveled hair.

“You might want to visit the bathroom first.” he added, and Sakura nodded thankfully.

“Can you show me where it is?” As soon as the words left her lips a hand touched her own. She let herself to be led while tried not to kick anything—too hard. Fortunately the toilet was only a few steps away, and a grateful sigh left her lips when she could finally grab the handle.

Itachi watched as the kunoichi slowly closed the door behind herself. She was strange, that woman. At first sight she might look like a young traveler who was just on her way home, crossing the pass. Of course Sakura wasn't an innocent traveler, Itachi knew that too well. She was young, tall, fragile-looking…but still, the aura that surrounded her didn't let his self-protecting instincts relax.

But was she dangerous enough to manage a mission alone? Of course, he reminded himself, missions were not a matter of ambition; but then—was she dangerous enough to be sent alone on a mission? Itachi shook his head; the very idea seemed too unreal; the formation among the Akatsuki members was not pairing for nothing—alone would have been simply too dangerous. Of course—a sarcastic half-smile appeared on his face—there was another reason behind the pairing: to control each other. But that was irrelevant in Sakura's case. Itachi stretched himself out at full length on his bed with his hands folded above his head and kept thinking.

There were other enigmas, unfitting details that raised his curiosity. Like her appearance. Judging from her injuries she did not have a peaceful journey till now, and as he observed her in those boring hours he had been guarding her she looked like she had been dragged out of her bed. Her coat was strikingly not hers, which arose further questions. She didn't bring any food for herself, there were no gloves on her hands—which was unbelievable at this height in the mountain. In brief, she looked like she didn't have a choice; die then and there or die up here. What survival instincts are capable of, Itachi thought.

Sakura ferreted around for the tooth-cleaning instrument and other creams designed especially for missions, a supply that she always brought with herself in her little pouch—which was fortunate, as hastily as she had to leave the village. She stripped off her clothes with some difficulty, then properly oiled herself with the special cream ninja use when there is no chance for washing. She even had a little brush; but she didn't dare to take off the blindfold, rather just arranged locks that stuck out awkwardly. With everything ready, she searched for the handle and opened the door.

Compared to the bathroom, the only room of the hut was cozily warm, which elevated her spirits a little; she didn't even mind the smell of dust anymore. The man didn't help her this time, thus she had to fumble along the wall with one hand leaning on it. When she finally reached the bed, the awaiting journey was on her mind. Would she survive?

“We have to go.” the man broke the silence and stood up. As he slowly led her out of the house, they stopped just outside to get a whiff of the fresh, freezing morning air. When he started to pull her wrist again her breath hitched in her throat, and pain stung into her shoulder. The man looked back, and as if he could read her mind he remarked.

“The wound on your shoulder needs medical attention. The kunai must have lodged fairly deep.”

Sakura swallowed; she knew the man wanted an explanation which was understandable, but she couldn't reveal her identity to a mere stranger. However, before she could utter a word the young man continued.

“I cleaned the wound to the best of my ability with the lint I keep with myself for such unanticipated occurrences.”

“Do you travel a lot?” Sakura asked shyly. Inside she was dying of curiosity to learn more about her mysterious savior.

“I'm a ninja as well.” the man said simply, and Sakura stiffed and halted for a moment, but the man kept pulling her. “A messenger. Courier. Mailman. Or call me whatever you want.”

Sakura followed the man incredulously…is that possible?

“Your name?” she asked sharply. Although she couldn't see, a smile appeared on Itachi's lips.

“511268” he gave a rapid answer and looked back to see the kunoichi's reaction. She gave a flustered grimace for a moment, and then her face became expressionless. That impressed Itachi; the woman had to know she didn't have any other choice but to trust him; he could have already killed her, had he wanted to, after all.

“On the other hand, I've never seen Konoha ninja, who would travel alone had she had a choice in the matter.”

Hearing that, Sakura unconsciously snapped for her pocket to grab the konoha headband. She felt as her body readily started to pump the blood to her muscles, her nerves stretching to their breaking point at the prospect of a fight. She cursed herself again for being so careless, to let her identity be revealed so easily. She wondered how much she had been raked over and searched? ..Did he find the papers that she had hidden with so much care?! She shivered from the thought.

“I had to remove your coat to examine your injuries. No further investigation was necessary.” the man explained, as if reading her mind. Then he added. “If only it was your coat.”

His sentence startled her, like she was confronted with what she had done.

“Not like I had a choice. Me or them.” she muttered, but as soon the words left her lips she wanted to plaster her mouth with her hands.

“Were you alone?” Itachi inquired. Sakura lowered her head—she knew she had reached a crossroad; it was not necessary to believe what the man said and answering him was not obligatory either; if he had saved her and helped her till now he wouldn't abandon her now.

On the other hand, there was the sweet temptation to answer, to talk to someone—not in order to gain information or use him, but just.. just because. Thoughts whirled in her mind, arguments battled with each other and she didn't know what to do. As a ninja one becomes distrustful and suspicious, and this constant vigilance condemns one to loneliness...And it was so long ago when she had left Konoha.

“I've been alone for a long while.” she murmured, but as soon as she said it she wished she wouldn't have. The man surely thought she wanted to get herself pitied. Or even worst, that she was a missing-nin...

“It was that type of mission. Going alone. Happens sometimes. ” she hastily added, but didn't become happier.

“I understand.” the man answered after a while. “My task is a lonely one as well. That is the fate of ninjas, to be alone even when surrounded by others.”

Sakura wanted to disagree; she wanted to prove that it was a lie, that there is a bond that indeed exists, a bond that is stronger than friendship, binds firmer than blood. But then a picture flashed into her mind, the last that burnt deeply inside her before the traitor knocked her down and left her by the road. Then Naruto came to her mind, good old Naruto.

“There is nothing but commitment.” she said finally. Itachi looked at her with musing eyes before answering.

“True.”

Neither of them spoke for awhile, instead they concentrated on the journey ahead. As they slowly proceeded further into the deserted, high mountains they seemed like two tiny dots in the gigantic whiteness. Afar off the cliffs jutted out sharply on the ground, some vanished into the grey fog that charitably covered the endless land from their view. The weather was still friendly in this bleak, inhuman place, but the sun couldn't be seen anymore. Itachi had to look back sometimes, when he felt the kunoichi stumbling. Sakura nearly panted, and every step seemed like the last one she could make. Sometimes they had to stop she was so out of breath.

“You never trained with blindfolded eyes?” he inquired once, when she tripped over a stone and had he not hold her wrist strongly, she would have fallen with faced down into the snow. For a moment Sakura blushed as the anger rushed the blood to her cheeks, but tried to reply calmly.

“I did, really. The theory is simple: just extend your chakra, like how bats use ultrasonic. But I don't have enough power left for that. I have to focus on walking and warming myself now.”

Itachi raised an eyebrow. The technique she was talking about was very complex thus needed a high level of focus and precise chakra usage. The idea that Sakura was capable of upholding it prolonged time sounded very interesting.

“That was not in my mind, but the one taught in school.”

Hearing that answer, Sakura snarled, and not from the cold.

“Then illuminate me please!” her temper flared, and a half-smile appeared on Itachi's lips when he looked back at her.

“When you loose your eyesight the redundant chakra will be transferred to where it's needed more. Even injured, you probably sensed that your hearing skill sharpened.”

Sakura tilted her head, and then hesitatingly nodded.

“I guess. But it's not such a great asset, unfortunately the rocks cannot scream before I kick them.” she retorted tartly.

“Indeed.” the man answered with a light voice, as if he were smiling. “But you can hear the noises of my steps. Try to draw more chakra to your ears, so you can judge the distances easier. Step to where I step and you'll stumble less.”

“Have you been in such situation?” Sakura asked curiously.

“No. But I prefer to prepare for the worst, I train with blindfolded eyes sometimes.”

Sakura nodded approvingly, although she knew the man couldn't see her gesture. Actually she was wrong. Itachi turned back more often during their talk.

They didn't walk much before they took a lunch break. Sakura still had some dry biscuit, part of the survival kit that every ninja carried even if they just visited their neighbor to borrow coffee. Itachi had many different kinds of food in his bag, and the kunoichi couldn't be more grateful to him for sharing. But the water was so cold that it almost stung, and they had to drink slowly and carefully. After a while both of them were refreshed and ready to set off. Itachi looked thoughtfully towards the summits of the far-away mountains where the clouds were getting thicker and darker.

“We have to hurry to reach the cave as soon as possible.” he said finally and took hold of Sakura's hand, that were just hovering about aimlessly next to him.

“Thank you for everything you've done for me, Kisame. I hope helping me won't be an inconvenience for you.” she finally said it, the thought that had been bothering her since she had learned that Kisame was a mailman.

“Inconvenience?” the man answered with a surprised voice.

“Because of the delay, I mean. Without me you'd reach the recipient faster.” Sakura explained. She didn't meet a mailman often, but every time she saw one they were in so much of a hurry. Of course here in the mountains haste could cost your life, but still…being burdened by her, she was sure Kisame would reach the recipient days later than originally planned.

The man didn't answer, and Sakura felt the silence was consuming her as the minutes went by. Was it a mistake to mention the delay to him? Kisame was surely mad at her now, hadn't even thought about it perhaps, about the consequences of saving her. He might regret later that he had brought her along. He might never talk to her again! Sakura couldn't bear these thoughts and found herself talking with a shaking voice.

“Did I offend you?”

Only silence was his reply.

“Are you angry at me?” Her voice was imbued with nervousness, but she didn't care. Finally the man sighed.

“I'm not angry, Sakura. Even so, what do you wish me to say?” he asked without any resentment. Sakura felt ashamed, but didn't answer the rhetorical question, just followed the man with tightened lips. After all what did she expect him to say? To reassure her that everything was all right, but if not then he'd bravely face the consequences? To say that it doesn't matter what happens he'd never abandon her here in the middle of nowhere? Lee would say such promises, while playing the romantic hero, Sakura realized. She was not a spoiled girl anymore, yet she behaved like one! But she wanted to break this awkward silence, so she tried to make a friendly conversation.

“Have you ever had a recipient who was…odder than the average?”

“I've seen some queer fish.” Itachi answered, and could have sworn he heard Kisame's guffaw from somewhere.

“Who was the oddest?”

Itachi considered whether he should reveal that piece of information, but why not? A sadistic smile appeared on his face at the thought how Sakura would react to his words.

“Hn. Imagine a tall, impossibly white-skinned man, whose tongue is two meters long, and he reels it back to his mouth as others do a garden hose.” A shocked silence followed his description, and Itachi waited curiously how long it took the kunoichi to realize whom he was talking about. He didn't have to wait long.

“And he has yellow, repulsingly cold eyes? Hisses every minute? With a choppy voice, and gross, annoying laugh?” Sakura jabbered, and Itachi was sure her eyes would have pop out had they not been blindfolded.

“I see you've heard of him. Or met him, too? Then let me express my deepest regret.”

Sakura made a choking noise, she could barely keep up with her companion.

“And have you seen a young man around my age?” she asked anxiously. Itachi's face darkened.

“Tell me more about him.”

Sakura didn't realize how reserved his voice became, she was engaged by her own thoughts and growing anger.

“Piercing eyes, constantly grimacing lips, arrogant gait.”

“There are many of that kind there.” came Itachi's evasive answer. Sakura lowered her head resignedly, and followed the man in silence. Itachi watched as her shoulders slackened, and decided to reveal more.

“But I've heard of someone who deserted from Konoha.” he said briefly. Sakura was sucking her lips, while thinking of Sasuke. Sometimes she tripped, her mind was so occupied.

“Were you friends?” Itachi asked finally. The conversation unsettled him, but his voice showed no sign of it. Sakura on the other hand started to laugh bitterly for the first time since they met.

“Oh yes, till he betrayed us all!” her voice came out more shrill, than she had wanted. Mentioning Sasuke's name still angered her even after six years—and she honestly didn't believe there'd be a time when it wouldn't. Itachi didn't reply for a while, then remarked in a quiet voice.

“Sometimes it's not easy to follow our fate, Sakura. Sometimes...our fate is to cause pain. Sometimes there is no other way.”

Sakura snorted.

“Fate! You could be best buddies with Neji! Saying it's always the same, whatever happens. Don't you think it's unfair? An easy way to justify what you do?” she inquired honestly, and with just a bit of sarcasm. Itachi was enthralled. Every drop of emotion that Sakura emitted was refreshingly human compared to Kisame.

“Who is Neji?”

“HyÅ«ga Neji, you've probably heard of his clan.”

“I see you don't like the word fate, Sakura.” Itachi breathed to the late evening. According to his calculations they would reach the cave soon. Behind him Sakura huffed.

“Of course not! It's nonsense to name something that doesn't exist.” she answered stubbornly. Itachi smiled.

“That was believed about gravitation, too, for a while.” he replied calmly. Sakura shook her head uncomprehendingly.

“What does gravitation have to do with fate?”

“Fate is a power, just as gravitation; an invisible force, that pulls you back and binds you.”

Sakura clenched her teeth; the temperature had markedly dropped, she thought. Then she pondered about the man's words for awhile.

“But still…gravitation would exist even when humans weren't, but fate wouldn't.”

Itachi nodded. “Correct. Fate and humans cannot exist without each other, since fate represents the force that humans exert on each other and on themselves.”

Itachi let his words sink in, and rather wondered whether the good weather would hold out until they reached the cave. Here up in the mountains the weather could change at the drop of a hat and he already felt the wind rising. Apparently the kunoichi didn't feel the signs yet, or she didn't show it. Probably she was too absorbed to pay attention.

“I won't deny that people can force each other, still it's always possible to choose; after all your free will cannot be taken from you.” she said finally, although not as vehemently as before.

“Right. Free will.” the man spat the words bitterly. I wonder why, Sakura thought.

“Trust me, you're not as free as you think you are. You are certain you could live your life differently if you wanted. You could quit if you wanted, you could leave Konoha and start a new life wherever you wanted. In reality you would never be able to do it.”

Sakura's heart sank. It would've been so painful to admit Kisame was right. Why couldn't she choose a better life? Why couldn't Sasuke choose a better life?

“Why?” she echoed her thoughts, but as soon as she said it aloud they had to halt because the sudden blow threatened to snap them up. She tried to draw more chakra to her feet to be able to stand, the weather urged them to go more every minute. When they could resume climbing again, the man turned his head, so she could hear him.

“Because free will is just an illusion, Sakura. You are told that you can lead your fate, thus you could lead it differently if you wanted to. In reality there is no alternative, no other choice. Things would have never happened differently and never will, since you would never choose differently, than how you have already chosen. This is how your own nature binds you to your fate.”

The words fell so naturally from Itachi's lips, as if they were something that he had been chanting to himself for years—probably at nights, when he was alone, when his blood-drenched coat was weighing unbearably heavy on his shoulders.

Till Itachi finished the sentence, the sky darkened and started to snow. The two travelers could hardly proceed as the howling wind strewed the snow at them. Sakura desperately yelled to the man.

“Sasuke wouldn't have betrayed us had his brother not wiped out his clan!”

No answer came for awhile, and Sakura assumed he hadn't heard what she'd said. But suddenly they stopped and the man grabbed her arms, to help her entering the cave—while answering.

“That Sasuke would've been a different person. This Sasuke however, would've never chosen to stay in Konoha. From the moment his clan was annihilated his fate was to become stronger, to go after his brother—and it was in his nature to choose Orochimaru over his friends on the way. ”

Sakura's knees gave away, but before she could hit the floor, warm hands caught her in a protecting embrace. Kisame must think I tripped again, she thought as the feeling of exhaustion overwhelmed her, and as if something had broken inside her, such a deep pain came to the surface, that she could barely restrain herself. Noiseless sobbing shook her body, her nails tore into her palm to compose herself, but she couldn't find strength inside, just pain.

“I wanted to save him so much.” she whispered with a broken voice. The man still held her.

“There is nothing you could have done for him, Sakura.”

His words overthrew her last walls, and the memory of the long nights rushed to her, as she was gazing at their pictures with glassy eyes, as she blamed herself for not being more, for not being better…and she condemned herself eternal damnation, because Sasuke's soul was lost, she failed the most important mission of her life.

…and now, she gained absolution somehow, and the pain, oh how much pain, found it's way out, how much buried tears and sigh.

..and the man still held her.