Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Blindfolded ❯ The Storm ( Chapter 3 )

Blindfolded

Chapter info:

Genre: adventure

Inspired me: Apocalyptica - Hall of the Mountain King

Author's Note: there will be a brief mention of Ino&Chouji pairing. Actually, I'm a devoted Ino&Chouji fan, so this ship will appear a few more times in the future along with others, which will be.. a surprise:)

LORE:

fumoffu - I drew the idea from Full Metal Panic, which has so-called fumoffu episodes. These are separated, humorous episodes, often parodies that don't connect closely to the main storyline. I wrote fumoffu for the following chapters: 3, 4, 5, 6

kitsune - a magical fox according to the Japanese mythology; apart from this fact, every other information about kitsune in this chapter is fictional.

I've received a review about why had Sakura gone (almost) blind. It's because the snow reflects back the light of the sun so efficiently, that if you don't wear protection in the mountain, you can go blind. Actually one of the reasons why ice age hold out for so long is the same, since snow reflected back the light it couldn't get warm thus couldn't melt away.

 

Chapter 3

The Storm

The flickering light softly illuminated the man's face, his rugged, cold features, his crimson eyes as they stared at the sleeping woman but only saw memories…long buried, once happy memories. Itachi looked up at the stalactite covered roof of the cave and slowly closed his eyes, thinking about Sasuke. When had their fate been decided, he wondered. Or were they predestined to be doomed from the beginning?

Had their path been set when the first Sharingan user came into the world centuries ago?

Or was the one who decided their fate the man who shared the prophecy with his clan?

Probably. That cursed book had changed everything. Decided everything.

Had it not been for the book, he wouldn't have been condemned.

Wouldn't have been feared.

Wouldn't have been spied on.

In the end, nobody would have had to die.

Itachi relaxed his jaw that he had tensed unconsciously. It's useless to think about what would have happened had I not been born to be a tool. A tool in the hand of fate.

What is your fate, Sakura?

Were you born to be a tool as well?

A tool to help me?

Or to stop me?

.oOo.

Sakura woke up with eyes throbbing from pain and aching ankles—yet happily. She felt light somehow, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her heart. She couldn't recall when or where she fell asleep, but now she was lying on the ground, on a sleeping-bag she presumed. She fumbled around but there was nothing, just wet soil. Scrambling onward in hope of find something she crawled towards the cold, where the exit must have been and soon she found the embers of the campfire.

It must be daytime already, she thought. As her fingers groped further, they bumped into some kind of material. A blush bloomed on her cheeks when she realized she'd found her traveling companion. Kisame was probably sitting with his back planted against the wall of the cave, most likely still sleeping since he didn't move, not even when she accidentally touched his arm.

Suddenly Sakura grew excited. Although she didn't mention it, it really annoyed her that she couldn't see the man. What did she know about him apart from his name and approximate age? That he was a mailman? But please, she said to herself, I didn't see many mailman, but every—I mean every—one of them looked like some kind of clone made from the same mould. Skinny body combined with thick lips, as if they were descended from the duck-billed platypus in some kind of bizarre way or something. On top of that, they had such an annoying high voice, like they were robots.

But Kisame's voice is velvet deep, she reminded herself. Probably his look departs from the norm as well. What a loss it would be, to travel all along with a first-prize man and you don't even know about it... Pervert. I really need to get fix that, she thought grinning.

Sakura couldn't resist the temptation after all and slowly reached out toward where she suspected the shinobi's face was. She became so nervous her hands started to shake—as if she was doing something forbidden—and as her fingertips touched the other's naked skin her heart jumped to her throat. Realizing, that she had touched the other's neck, slowly and carefully she let her fingers slide upwards. It surprised her how soft his skin was under her touch, and as if she was bound by a spell, she ran her hand over his jaw line gently. Curiously she leant closer to be able to touch more.

Itachi's eyes shot open as someone's proximity alerted him, and his pupils dilated when he saw Sakura kneeling in front of him. Only the roar of the blizzard could be heard from outside along with Sakura's hurried inspiration as her fingers slid over his eyebrow, then following the line of his cheekbone slowly, almost distressingly slowly she touched his lips. Itachi suddenly grabbed her wrist and watched as the woman's mouth opened to form a surprised O, when she realized where her hand accidentally went. For a moment none of them spoke, and then Sakura timidly smiled.

“Good morning.”

Itachi lost hold of her wrist. “I'll be back.” he said hoarsely, then stood up and stepped out of the cave.

.oOo.

When he came back he found Sakura in the same place on the ground. He bent down to help her up, and led her back to the sleeping-bag.

“Sit down,” he told her, “and take off your coat. I want to check your wound.”

Although the kunoichi couldn't see the man, she had the feeling that he wouldn't accept no as an answer. When she finally peeled the coat from herself, she winced as the cold air hit her skin, making goose bumps ripple across the exposed flesh. She felt as the man kneeled in front of her and turned her shoulder to the left in order to get a better look at the wound. But she already knew there was no change compared to yesterday; she simply didn't have enough chakra left to heal that wound, insignificant compared to her other injuries.

“No change. At least it's too cold to suppurate.” Itachi said, but hadn't stood up yet. “I'll bandage it.” he added.

For a moment they were just kneeling in front of each other, when she came back to her senses and started to take off her clothes until nothing covered her shoulder anymore. How fortunate, she thought, that she always wore a sleeveless top underneath, just in case. The man remained silent while taking out something to dust it onto the wound. According to the smell, Sakura thought, it must have been vulnerary powder with crushed edelweiss. Having done, he began to bandage the wound and leaned closer in order to reach across her shoulder.

Itachi gently raised her left arm to wrap the bandage over her chest, then pulled her closer to continue the same movement over her back. Sakura unthinkingly supported herself by holding onto his shoulder, and then suddenly she felt a faint smell that gave her heart a leap.

She'd heard it from Ino many times, but frankly speaking she never believed that such a smell exist which in itself could turn on a woman. Sakura, as every other female in Konoha, was outnumbered in the man-dominated ninja society, thus had her share plentifully from the “manly smell”, that she succinctly expressed just as: sweat-stench. Although Ino insisted that there was another, a sublime smell, which is really manly and not unpleasant at all, moreover—it drives the woman crazy. But Sakura had never smelled that legendary smell on anyone before, and really didn't trust Ino in this regard anyway. Namely, Ino swore, that Chouji had such a godly smell—but Sakura suspected that Chouji had just been in a good place at a good time when he had asked Ino for a date—she must have been really hungry, then.

What she felt now, however surpassed everything.

As she inhaled the warm, manly smell of her guide, she was shocked at the yearning desire that pulled her into its power. She felt her chest raising and lowering, as she took deeper breaths. The magic seemed to be broken when the ninja let her go and stood up, but her nose got on the scent and didn't forget the man's smell. She gave a long, deep sigh and hoped that he didn't notice her reaction. Actually, she was wrong.

Itachi was still watching her.

The cave was not big, but at least they could spend the night in a relatively warm place. From outside, the noises of the raging blizzard was still echoing inside of the small space. Close to the cave mouth Itachi made a small campfire from the wood that travelers, who often had to climb the pass, left there. Till dawn however even the embers burnt down and it became truly cold. Itachi kept clearing the snow from the entrance, but there was nothing else to do.

“We have to wait.” he said, and Sakura nodded resignedly. She knew exactly what the man was thinking; in such a blizzard she wouldn't survive the journey. However, she thought in fear, if they waited too long they could possibly be buried alive under the snow. Or maybe it was too late already?

The merry crackling of the new-born fire struck her as a comforting melody; Kisame took compassion on me, she thought gratefully and pulled her numb limbs closer to the fire. Soon a little warmth and a delicate fragrance filled the cave, and Sakura nosed around wonderingly.

“Tea?” Even the idea of a tea cheered her up as she sniffed around.

“I had some.” came the answer and she eagerly waited until the hot drink was ready.

First Itachi gently took hold of the kunoichi's hand, and then when she was expecting it, he gave her the mug. Sakura slowly sipped the tea, enjoying as the warmth spread through her.

“You really think about everything, Kisame. I guess it's understandable, since you travel so much. Have you been to many countries?” she asked and sat down on the balls of her feet, her knees resting against the dirt floor of the cave to get more comfortable for the conversation. Itachi rested against the wall of the cave, as he had done the night before.

“More, than I wished to.” he said briefly, but Sakura didn't let herself to be brushed off that easily.

“I don't dare to ask which was the oddest, but .. was there any, which was particularly engaging?” she asked with eager curiosity in her voice.

“Engaging? I wasn't traveling as a tourist, Sakura. For a mailman, this is a serious job.” Itachi answered while strongly concentrating to keep his voice neutral. Then he gave in.

“Have you heard of the Kozenji temple?” he asked even though he knew she couldn't have heard of it…he didn't believe that there was anybody in Konoha who knew about that place.

“Kozenji?” Sakura mused. “Ko-zen-ji, as the Old Temple of Meditation? No… I don't think I've ever heard of it.”

Itachi smiled.

“It's not written by the kanji of 'old'.” he answered. Sakura curiously tilted her head.

“No?” she asked back. Itachi leaned forward.

“I'll show you.” he said and took Sakura's hand, with palm upwards. Sakura blushed…did he want to test her? But she didn't have time to chew upon it, because she felt the man drawing a long, bit curving, vertical line on the left side of her palm; his touch was warm on her frozen skin, gentle and soothing. After that the man slowly raised his finger and went back to the upper left corner of Sakura's palm, where he crossed the previous line not far from its upper end; this time his touch was playful, daring and Sakura's heart fluttered with excitement. Now the ninja draw a line of half size under the previous, parallel with it; his touch was challenging, passionate and set her skin on fire. As the man draw line after line she became drunk with the feeling, urgent with the need to be touched again; but every touch just increased her unsatisfied desire to feel more, to—

Sakura was suddenly aware of the waiting silence that surrounded them. The man didn't draw on her palm anymore, and she panicked suddenly; now he surely wanted her to identify the kanji, but for some time past she completely forgot about it. Desperately she tried to search in her memory for anything, that could give her a handhold; she still remembered that the left side of the kanji corresponded to the kanji of cat, but that couldn't be the solution since the reading was different. What if I asked him to draw it again? I have no idea what was on the right side, she thought, but I don't want to admit, that I don't know! Finally she said the first kanji that crossed her mind and met the conditions.

“Fox” she heard herself saying, and wanted to bang her head into the wall. The Temple of the Meditating Fox, huh? Congratulation Sakura, you've made a complete idiot from yourself, she thought.

“Correct.” Itachi stated and leaned against the wall again.

“Strange name.” Sakura wondered. “Was there a reason why it was named to that?”

“It was said to be built by kitsunes.”

Stroking her chin, Sakura was contemplating on his words.

“You mean the legend that kitsunes are odd creatures who don't belong to neither this nor any other world, instead they come and go as they please?”

“Indeed.”

“But why would they build a temple? To have a senior home to retire to?” she asked jokingly.

“Almost.” came the light answer. “The temple was built to guard their records and scrolls. The prophecies.”

“I didn't know they wrote prophecies.” she said wonderingly, then added. “All I knew is that according to the mythology the kitsunes prefer to talk in riddles, thus they always cause misunderstandings and complications…so after a time they weren't welcome and vanished from this world.” she explained, taking pleasure in their conversation. It was nice to forget this blizzard-forged cold world for a little while.

“And how was the temple?”

“I didn't see much.” Itachi said evasively “Most of it was forbidden even for mailman.”

Sakura chuckled. “Then why did you find this place the most interesting?”

“Because it was my first job.” Itachi answered and looked out. The blizzard wasn't raging as strongly as before, but they still had to wait some hours before they could leave.

Sakura questioned him about a few more places, whether it's true, that they grow three hundred kinds of tea in the Land of Tea, or whether red rice truly exist in the Land of Rice.. Itachi had an unexpectedly pleasant surprise by some in-depth questions; he didn't imagine her to be that knowledgeable in geography and history, the two most hated subjects among ninjas. Itachi was different of course, he was an exception in this regard, as well as in many others—he wasn't called genius for nothing.

Later on Sakura took a nap, and then they had lunch before Itachi decided to leave. It wasn't snowing anymore, and he knew they had to leave as long as the weather didn't change for the worst.

They slowly forced their way through the thick, fresh snow. Sakura felt ill and weak, but she tried to be cheerful; their talk put new life into her, and she would have readily inquired the man more. She wished to know more about him…what did he think about before falling asleep, did he like when it rained.. was somebody waiting for him at home? But she didn't dare to voice them. Thus, when Itachi asked his own question she gladly answered.

“In my genin years we went to the Land of Mist, I guess that was my most remarkable experience- maybe because the team was still together at that time.” she answered, then saddened a little.

“After Sasuke had left us I didn't leave Konoha much. Well, apart from the times we tried to get him back.” her voice died. Then she composed herself and continued.

“Actually this was the first quest outside of the country for a long while, and I got it only because I volunteered…otherwise they try to keep me on short leash, literary. Isn't it odd?” she asked sardonically.

“Did you regret becoming a ninja?” the man asked suddenly, and Sakura pondered before answering.

“I guess no. It feels good to be strong, to be powerful. The problem is, that it doesn't matter how strong you are, you can never be sure you'll survive the next fight. This insecurity slowly eats you up and before you realize it…it has already distorted you.”

They couldn't continue their conversation for long, because the wind got stronger again and stifled their voices. The storm struck them without any warning, and they had to halt to wait till the anger of the wind diminished. Itachi watched with squinted eyes as the north wind painted the heavy, milky-white clouds into black on the sky above them. Soon nothing could be seen anymore. Even the sharp cliffs were hidden by the whirling grayness.

The storm wrathfully clattered through the snowy hillsides. In its wake the freezing wind was roaring crazily, snatching up the snow and dashing it against the nearby cliffs with a loud bang, blowing them off to sparkling-white fireworks. The blizzard didn't spare the travelers either, and Itachi had to snatch his hand before his eyes when the roaring snifter struck the freezing snow into his face.

Sakura fell backwards from the blow and chokingly she tried to sweep away the wet hair from her face, but the wind—as if following the steps of an insane dance—didn't release her. It was so cold, she felt the snow froze onto her skin when it touched her. She tried to get herself together but she could barely feel her legs.

“Kisame!” she yelled desperately, but her voice was swallowed by another screaming blow. Itachi jerked up his head.

“Where?” he asked surprised.

“What where?” Sakura chattered, but relief washed over her; she didn't know the man was standing next to her. She felt herself being helped up and pulled closer.

“Listen Sakura, we have to move. Gather as much chakra as you can to your feet to prevent them to freeze and to fall.”

The kunoichi nodded uncertainly, but inside she was poisoned by doubts; the man had no idea how exhausted she was already.

“Do we have to go far?” she asked, quavering. Itachi grabbed her hand and started to pull her after him.

“The slower we proceed the longer it will take.”

He didn't know how far they were from the place which was relatively fenced from the wind, but the storm kept raging more intensely every minute, it'd have been suicidal to wait. Itachi clenched his teeth and took another step forward. Here, being defenseless against the cruel autocracy of nature, nothing could have protected them; the key of survival was to use as little chakra as possible; they still had a long way before them.

As they climbed the mountain and the wind was getting stronger Sakura felt as though a thousand razor sharp blades wanted to peel the skin from her face. The freezing breath of the winter pierced into her bones and her teeth were chattering like mad. With her raw-red fingers she gently touched her cheekbones, which hurt like hell. Nothing could have prepared her for that excruciating pain that started to take over her. She didn't look out where she stepped anymore, she had only one aim now: to take another step. Just one more…

Probably an hour had passed like that, when the headaches came. Her head wanted to explode, she tried to take deep breaths but the air was becoming thinner. Her heart was beating rapidly, and every little movement seemed harder than the last one. Not being able to keep up her head any longer, it dropped, her shoulders stooped, and soon she was just sliding forward because it was just too fatiguing to raise her legs anymore. Her self-control was lowering with every breath she took, and soon she felt herself oddly floating on the border of the world of conscious and subconscious.

Itachi didn't realize that he was dragging rather than leading the woman until he saw the angular cliff bending forward drunkenly in the grey fog. Looking back at Sakura, something flashed in his eyes and he grabbed her to lead her with steady steps to the shadow side of the rocky wall. Opening his bag with hasty movements, he was ransacking until he found the small package of medicine he was looking for. In order to unwrap the package easier, he took his glove between his teeth and tore it off. Then he turned to Sakura and gripped her shoulders.

“Take these and chew them well.” he ordered and the kunoichi slowly stirred, moaning. With a hesitating move she reached out to where she heard the voice from, but Itachi pushed her hand away and gave her the leaves himself.

“What's this?” Sakura asked with a voice like a corncrake while trying to make her jaw work.

“Coca leaves. They'll help preventing altitude sickness.” Itachi explained. Although his voice came out as calmly as usual, he was agitated and tired.

“If you want to drug me so much, then eat a bit, too. I don't want to have a party alone.” Sakura said with a weak, yet playful voice, which made Itachi smile briefly.

“You should be worried about yourself now, not me. Such ascent will not affect my health.” When he was sure Sakura chewed the leaves properly he stood up to build a shelter for them.

Itachi, as always, was fast and precise. With experienced eyes he found the place where the snow was of ideal substance; then he cut equal blocks, which he brought to the windless side of the cliff. Not even an hour had passed when the hemisphere form of the bunker could be already seen. Till he finished cutting the narrow openings and building the corridor he realized, in amazement, that Sakura was pretty much covered by the snow.

Stepping to her hastily he raised her hand to examine her fingers closely. Fortunately they weren't frozen yet, although most likely she couldn't flex them anymore. When they reached the center of the shelter, protected from snow and wind, Itachi pulled off the woman's boots to check her feet as well. It seemed Sakura could keep them warm, although when Itachi saw her swollen, blue ankle he was surprised that she had been able to stand at all.

“Sakura,” he called her name; she hadn't moved for some time now. But it was no use, she reacted only when Itachi tapped her face. The kunoichi moaned as she came back to the reality; she wished she could have stayed where she had been. It was so beautiful and merry, with Lee cooking a chocolate cake, while Naruto was making whipped cream; then something brought her back into the claws of the cold reality.

“How do you feel?” he man asked her, and Sakura wanted to laugh. It hurts! She wanted to say. It hurts everywhere! But the words stuck in her throat, she wasn't sure she had voice at all. Itachi was just gazing at the woman laying motionless in front of him, and he lost his patience.

“Report, kunoichi.” his voice thundered, that made it's effect.

“I have pulmonary edema,” whispered Sakura slowly. “If I don't heal it I'll die. To heal it I'll need all my chakra, in that case I'll freeze.”

Itachi considered her words; it surprised him that she was a medic-nin. Moreover he didn't know her condition was that critical, she had successfully hidden it till now. He didn't hesitate much, just rolled out another sleeping bag next to hers. Then he kneeled down and took off her cloak along with his own, to use them as blankets; then he laid down next to Sakura. Even if she had been aware that somebody pulled her closer, she didn't protest. Itachi leaned closer to her ear.

“Listen me Sakura. Heal your lung with all your power.” she hesitatingly nodded. Itachi called forth his chakra and wrapped it around them to warm themselves. After a while their clothes dried, while the kunoichi was fighting for survival in the deep trance of meditation.

Itachi didn't know when he fell asleep, nor how long they had been sleeping joined together under their coats. The air was damp and cold, but inside it warmed up comfortably. Itachi looked down at the woman's face and ran his hand along her back. He must have touched a sensitive spot, because Sakura giggled suddenly. Itachi's eyebrow rose questioningly.

”How long have you been awake?”

She smiled. “For awhile. It's just so wonderful here that I didn't want to move. It was so long ago I felt such a nice warmth that I almost forgot how good it feels.” she answered, then yawned and stretched her body like a cat, and Itachi had to hold his breath when he felt Sakura's body sliding against his own. He looked down and couldn't decide whether he wished Sakura would be innocent enough not to know what she was doing, or whether he wished she would know exactly.

Itachi decided to let Sakura sleep some more. They couldn't set off as long as she didn't regenerate anyway. He leaned on his elbow and watched the sleeping woman, her parted lips, her long, naked neck and he thought he shouldn't do it. And this prohibition just flared his desire.

“Madness.” he whispered.

 

Sims 2 Seasons fumoffu:

Probably you, too are curious what Itachi was doing when he stepped out of the cave on that particular morning. Fortunately I got hold of a copy of the record, that was taken by the secret camera borrowed from the Big Brother (sponsored by Sasuke & Inuyasha co.).

Itachi stepped out of the cave, with traces of his inner struggle on his face. He took some steps forward until he reached the untrodden snow. Using his fingers he slowly unfastened his black cloak and whipped it off next to him; it'd be just a hindrance to what he was about to do. He took a deep, heavy breath as the north wind tore into his black shirt, as if it wanted to strip him. He urgently slid his hands into his pocket, but changed his mind. But then again… if he didn't do it now, who knew when he would get another chance, and the desire almost overflowed him already. He looked down, then nodded finally and freed his hands. When another gust of wind came he didn't fight against it, just let himself fall forward into the cold, crystalline snow. He felt his body cool off and his circulation slowed lessening his torment. He couldn't take it anymore, now or never, and started flinging his arms and legs restlessly in the snow, then when he calmed down a little and after carefully standing up, he examined his work. His first snow angel. He was really proud of it. Still, he bent down to draw a line above her head with his finger. Because it's just not right without the glory.