Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Re-learning ❯ chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: halfdemonfan81 
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.21.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 182 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.21.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 182 | Status: Completed
Naruto stared at his best friend that sat across from him. When Sasuke had stopped his assualt instead wanting to talk, Naruto had been a little surprised. He knew that meeting up with his brother would put him off center but he had no idea it would do this much. Sasuke had sat down and quietly asked Naruto to explain all he knew. So Naruto did. He began with telling Sasuke all about his meeting with Itachi then with Madara. Sasuke was quiet during the stories but had a frown on his face. Naruto knew that one thing alone showed that he was having a hard time dealing with this. Sasuke was his best friend and he could read him well despite the fact he never allowed his emotions to show through even more so now than when they were younger. Naruto felt he needed to hear more. So he told him of how he fought Pain and how the village was nearly destroyed. He spoke of his meeting with his father and his mother. How Madara was the one responsible for their deaths. One lone tear made it's way down Naruto's whisker marked cheeks as he spoke of his parent's sacrifice. Sasuke looked at Naruto though he tried not to show it he was happy for his former friend. He knew Naruto had never even known who his parents were and to be able to meet and speak with them must have been the best moment of his life. Madara. Sasuke's teeth clenched as he though of that man. He had a lot to answer to. Though through everything Naruto had said he wasn't yet guilty of making a pawn of him, something didn't not feel right.
"Wait....you said your father died right after he sealed the kuuybi with in you." Sasuke said
"yeah."
"But the fourth..."
"That's right. My father was Namakazi Minato. The fourth hokage." Naruto said with a hugh smile on his face.
Sasuke was momentarily stunned. "I remember my....mother used to speak of him and his wife. It seems they were good friends. His death was mourned by my whole clan."
"Yeah. Mom told me she was good friends with Uchiha Mikoto. I wish I could have met them both." he said with a sad smile.
Sasuke was silent at this. His parents had been friends with Naruto's parents. They had respected his father. If that was true why would they plan an attack on Konoha?
"Something has not seemed right to me since I heard all of this. I feel like the answer is right there but I cant get it. I was planning on telling everything to Shikamaru when I got back home. If anyone could help me figure it out it's him." they were silent for awhile. "What will you do now Sasuke?" he asked his friend.
Sasuke didn't answer because he didn't know himself. Had he been to hasty in his plans? No. He knew from his fight with Danzo that Itachi had been ordered to kill the clan. The elders deserved death. But so many questions remained. He needed more information. As much as he hated to admit it he would need to back to Konoha. He needed that scroll Itachi had spoken of. Before he could say anything to Naruto Jugo came running out of the forest.
"Sasuke! Naruto!" he exclaimed.
"Huh? How do you know me?" Naruto asked.
"Hn. He's on my team dobe." the old name slipped out and Sasuke found himself just as surprised as Naruto. Naruto was able to recover quicker and with a small smile and a glint to his eye he turned to the large orange haired man in front of them.
"What is it you want...."
"Jugo. And I'm here at Sakura-san's behalf."
"What? What's going on with Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked as he jumped to his feet.
Sasuke was just as eager to hear the answer. Why would his team mate even know Sakura and why would he help her with anything?
"She is a couple of miles away in the forest with a small team. They were ambushed by Kabuto."
"Kabuto?" Sasuke asked. "Why would he be here?"
"He seems to have grown much in power Sasuke. His chakra was different, more powerful."
"I'm sure it is. The last time I saw him he had absorbed the rest of Orochimaru and was merging his body with his. Hate to say it Sasuke but that was a mistake leaving him alive." Naruto informed him.
"He absorbed the rest of Orochimaru? Hn. Fool. Kabuto never had that much power to begin with. Orochimaru has probably taken him over."
"That's even worse teme!"
"How so? I killed Orochimaru once I can easily do it again." Sasuke said crossing his arms over his chest.
"That's not all Saskue. When I arrived at the clearing I was behind Sakura-san and I saw one of her team mates fighting Sasori." Jugo said.
"Not possible. Sasori is dead. Sakura-chan killed him."
Sasuke was shocked yet again. Since when did Sakura actually get enough power to not only fight but kill an Akatsuki member? There had to be some mistake. She was too weak do that.
"No Naruto. It is not a mistake. Sasori is there. Sakura-san indicated he was not the only one brought back either. It seems Kabuto has learned Edo Tensei and has used it to bring back some of the fallen Akatsuki members. The team is in trouble. I told her I would come find you and lead you to them."
"Hell yes you will lead me to them! I'm not letting my friends get hurt by that snake loving bastard!" Naruto made a move to run to Sakura but he stopped. "Wait. Hold on for just a moment Jugo." Naruto assumed a meditative pose and began drawing his sage chakra. If there were revived Akatsuki members there he would need all the power he had.
"Sasuke. It would probably be for the best if you did not go." Sasuke mearly raised his eyebrows at this. "Sakura-san told me something else. She said you were in danger. Kabuto wants you for some reason."
While Sasuke has no intentions of helping the Konoha-nin he also had no reason to run from Kabuto. If he wanted him for some reason he would find out what that was.
"Jugo."
"Yes Sasuke?"
"Go get Suigetsu and bring him to us. If the Konoha shinobi he was fighting is still alive you may tell him of what is going on." Sasuke said as he rose.
"Will you not need me to lead you to them?" Jugo asked.
"That won't be necessary Jugo." Naruto said from his position on the ground. "I can already feel Sakura-chan. We can get there just fine. Please bring Yamato-taicho to us though. You ready Sasuke?"
"Aa."
"Good." Naruto took off knowing Sasuke would be right behind him. He ran towards the large pulses of chakra he could feel. Please be okay Sakura-chan.
Jugo watched them go, feeling very confused by this turn of events. Sasuke did not seem worried or anxious for the Konoha team but he went to their location anyway. He did not understand what that meant but he would do as Sasuke asked. He took off for the direction Suigetsu had last been in.
Sakura found herself in an endless empty world. No matter where she looked there was nothing. Tsukuyomi. She knew now where Itachi had brought her. She tried gathering her chakra to get herself out but it was no use. She was now trapped within his genjutsu. From what she had learned from Kakashi-sensei tsukuyomi was used by Itachi to torture his victims. She knew she would either be killed or rendered helpless if he let her out of this.
"You have nothing to fear Haruno-san. I only brought you here to talk." Itachi's form materlized in front of her. Not so close to make her overly nervous though.
"What could we possibly have to talk about?" she said. Maybe I shouldn't sound so bitchy just in case.
"A lot. Do you know of this jutsu Kabuto has used?" she nodded. "Good. Then you realize my body is completely under his control. There is nothing I can do to stop that fact; but my mind remains my own. This is why I brought you here. I can speak to you without following anyone's orders."
Sakura thought Itachi sounded sincere. I'll give him one chance. "Okay then Itachi. What would you like to talk about?"
"It seems it has been a little while since I died. Kabuto brought us before Madara to show he wanted to join him but he wanted something in return. Sasuke. Am I correct in that Sasuke has joined with Madara?"
"Yes. Sasuke joined Akatsuki and says he plans to destroy Konoha."
"It seems the jutsu I left didn't work then. I hope Naruto is successful." he muttered to himself though Sakura heard. She was about to ask what he meant when he spoke again. "What do you know of the night I killed my clansmen?"
She was taken aback at this. When he said he wanted to talk never would she have though he wanted to speak of his clans murder. "Naruto said Madara told him it was actually a mission given to you by the elders. That your clan was planning to attack Konoha and you carried out the mission to protect everyone."
"That is correct." he said without inflection.
She couldn't believe it. Ever since she had heard this she had kept a peice of her mind from believing it because if it were true it would be too horrible. "Why?" she whispered. "Why would the elders order such a thing. That is too horrible to be true. Murder a whole clan?" she was near screaming at this point.
"There are things every shinobi must do to protect his village. Even if they are unpleasant. You know this Haruno-san. I did what I did for the safety of everyone in the village. I had seen to much bloodshed in my lifetime. My hands were already stained with it. I was a Konoha shinobi and I would do whatever it took to keep my village safe. Even from my own family."
She could do nothing but stare at Itachi now. It was just to much to process. He had saved the village. He had murdered his own flesh and blood but had done so at the orders of his superiors.
She had to ask the question that was rolling around in her mind. "Why keep Sasuke alive?"
His eyes lowered to the floor. "I could kill my own parents but I could not kill him. I loved him to much." He looked up at Sakura and she knew he spoke the truth. "I wanted him to take my life. It would be justice for him and I hoped it would make his life easier to live. I never expected him to leave the village and turn to that bastard Orochimaru."
"What did you think he'd do!" she screamed at him. "You are so powerful Itachi! The gap between you and him was to large. He never felt he'd be able to cross it."
"He was just a child then. He had time to grow and learn."
"It would have taken too long for him. He wanted power as soon as he could get it. He wanted to kill you as soon as he could. Because of that he turned his back on us all. He let his hate fester inside of him until it damn near bacame a living being itself. He became a missing-nin and a criminal! Now he is no longer happy at your death I'm sure he is disgusted with himself for killing you. Now he wants to destroy my home!" Sakura now had tears rolling down her face. She couldn't believe this. The path Sasuke's life had to take and the path Itachi's had taken. Itachi suffered so much in life because of an order he was given. But that is the life of a shinobi. She got orders she didn't like either but she carried them out because that was her job; but could she do it? Could she have taken her family's life to ensure Konoha's safety. She couldn't answer that question.
"I know he does and that is why I need your help Haruno-san."
"My help? What am I supposed to do?" she asked.
"Let me ask. Has Naruto changed at all?"
She was shocked at the change of topic but she answered anyway. "No. He's the same as he has always been and I think he will stay that way forever. No matter what he is faced with."
Itachi allowed a little smile. "That's good to hear. Then I know Naruto will continue to try and help Sasuke. You however seemed to grasp the reality of the situtation. I take it you no longer want Sasuke to return to Konoha?"
" He is no longer the man I once knew. If Sasuke were to come back now it would only be to attack us. He has tried to kill Naruto multiple times and he has tried to kill me as well. I watched him run his chidori through his own team mate to kill Danzo. How is it possible to bring him back from that?"
"True it will be difficult but not impossible. I hope to be able to give him a push in the right direction but I will need you and Naruto to drag him the rest of the way. I already told you Haruno-san..."
"Call me Sakura."
"Sakura" he smiled again. "I told you I love my brother. My ways of showing it are not usual but I do love him and I do not wish his life to be the same as mine was."
Sakura did not know what to say to this. Itachi's request to an outsider was not that much however to one who has spent the past few years searching for a man who did not wish to be found and wanted nothing to do with them it was asking a lot. How could she help Sasuke when she didn't even want to see his face anymore? Itachi deserved it though. He may have murdered his family but he spent his life living with that shame. He had become a criminal with no home to return to at the orders of his own village. How could she deny him that?
"I don't know how much I can do but I will help him. But please understand me Itachi....I am so close to hating Sasuke that that may blind me. He has so much to answer for but he doesn't care and that's what makes it worse."
Itachi stared at her for awhile. "You were in love with my brother weren't you?"
She averted her eyes but could not stop the very small tinge of pink that came to her cheeks. "That was a long time ago and he was a different man."
This seemed to please Itachi even more. While she wasn't looking he gave a real smile but quickly wiped it away before she turned to face him once again. "He is the same man Sakura but he has been led astray. He has listened too much to Madara. That man spins the truth to suit his needs. He is a very patient man and will wait as long as he needs to allow his traps to succeed. You must be wary of him. I need you to look for something."
"What?"
"It is in the Uchiha manor, in my old room. It's a scroll."
Sai was having a hard time. Sasori was a difficult opponet. His body was almost completely a puppet. So no matter what injuries he was able to inflict on him he did not weaken. Sai, on the other hand, tired and bled. He had a long cut on his abdomen from Sasori's sword and many puncture wounds from the endless supply of needles he shot at him. His chakra was running low. He saw Sasori coming at him, he quickly drew a group of snakes to try and capture him. Sasori dispatched most of the snakes before they could reach him. The few that did make it through he crushed as they tried to cling to him. Sasori threw more needles at Sai which he avoided but came to close to him. Sasori grabbed Sai's throat and threw him in to a tree. The sickening snap and sharp pain told Sai his leg was indeed broken. He could not move now. He looked up as Sasori approached.
"Now that I will have you out of the way I can go after that woman. She was vastly more entertainng than you were." Sasori raised his sword above his head. Sai didn't close his eyes or look away. He looked Sasori in the eye and awaited his fate.
"Rasengan."
He heard the shout and watched with amusement as Sasori's body flew to the side. Naruto now stood in front of him with worried eyes. "Sai are you okay? Where is everyone?" Sai looked up at his team mate. Naruto was covered with various wounds but none were life threatening or even enough to slow the hyper-active ninja down. Behind Naruto stook.....Sasuke? What would he be doing here? And why did it feel like he came with Naruto? Next to them was Yamato-taicho and a pale man with white hair and purple eyes carrying a large sword.
"I do not know where Sakura and Kakashi are but they are fighting Akatsuki members."
"Yeah we know Jugo filled us in on it but...."
"Aaaa." Jugo's scream filled the air. Everyone turned to him and noticed he had several long needles sticking out of his chest.
"You have on Akatsuki cloaks. Why are you with this trash? Why do you interfere with my battle?" Sasori asked as he came back towards them. He now had a large hole in his side from Naruto's attack.
"Hey why don't you ask questions before you attack you asshole!" Suigetsu said as he rushed Sasori.
Sasori saw these men were not his allies and he was too wounded to continue an attack. He needed to get away. As the white haired man ran to him Sasori took a deep breath and blew his poison cloud over the man. While the chance was present he escaped.
Everyone looked at the purple could that had enveloped Suigetsu. Sasuke went to go for him when Yamato stopped him. Sasuke turned his sharingan gaze on the man.
"It's poison." He said simply. He made a few hand signs and his arm became a long block of wood that stretched towards Suigetsu. He successfully pulled the man out of the cloud. Suigetsu was gasping for breath. His face was already contorting in pain.
"Can you help him?" Sasuke asked Jugo.
"No. This is beyond what I can do."
"The only way he has a chance is if we get Sakura-chan. We have to go." Naruto said.
"Go. I will stay and watch over them. I have almost finished healing myself anyway." Jugo said.
Yamato was skeptical to say the least. "You will watch over both your companion and ours?"
"Yes. I have no desire to harm your friend."
"It is okay. Go to the others and help them" Sai said.
Naruto looked worried for a moment but he let it pass. "Jugo. Please, I'm counting on you."
He had never heard someone speak to him as such. It almost sounded like a friendly request. That was something he definetly was not used to. "You have my word I will look after them." Jugo said to Naruto.
"Okay let's go find the others." With that the group took off.
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"Wait....you said your father died right after he sealed the kuuybi with in you." Sasuke said
"yeah."
"But the fourth..."
"That's right. My father was Namakazi Minato. The fourth hokage." Naruto said with a hugh smile on his face.
Sasuke was momentarily stunned. "I remember my....mother used to speak of him and his wife. It seems they were good friends. His death was mourned by my whole clan."
"Yeah. Mom told me she was good friends with Uchiha Mikoto. I wish I could have met them both." he said with a sad smile.
Sasuke was silent at this. His parents had been friends with Naruto's parents. They had respected his father. If that was true why would they plan an attack on Konoha?
"Something has not seemed right to me since I heard all of this. I feel like the answer is right there but I cant get it. I was planning on telling everything to Shikamaru when I got back home. If anyone could help me figure it out it's him." they were silent for awhile. "What will you do now Sasuke?" he asked his friend.
Sasuke didn't answer because he didn't know himself. Had he been to hasty in his plans? No. He knew from his fight with Danzo that Itachi had been ordered to kill the clan. The elders deserved death. But so many questions remained. He needed more information. As much as he hated to admit it he would need to back to Konoha. He needed that scroll Itachi had spoken of. Before he could say anything to Naruto Jugo came running out of the forest.
"Sasuke! Naruto!" he exclaimed.
"Huh? How do you know me?" Naruto asked.
"Hn. He's on my team dobe." the old name slipped out and Sasuke found himself just as surprised as Naruto. Naruto was able to recover quicker and with a small smile and a glint to his eye he turned to the large orange haired man in front of them.
"What is it you want...."
"Jugo. And I'm here at Sakura-san's behalf."
"What? What's going on with Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked as he jumped to his feet.
Sasuke was just as eager to hear the answer. Why would his team mate even know Sakura and why would he help her with anything?
"She is a couple of miles away in the forest with a small team. They were ambushed by Kabuto."
"Kabuto?" Sasuke asked. "Why would he be here?"
"He seems to have grown much in power Sasuke. His chakra was different, more powerful."
"I'm sure it is. The last time I saw him he had absorbed the rest of Orochimaru and was merging his body with his. Hate to say it Sasuke but that was a mistake leaving him alive." Naruto informed him.
"He absorbed the rest of Orochimaru? Hn. Fool. Kabuto never had that much power to begin with. Orochimaru has probably taken him over."
"That's even worse teme!"
"How so? I killed Orochimaru once I can easily do it again." Sasuke said crossing his arms over his chest.
"That's not all Saskue. When I arrived at the clearing I was behind Sakura-san and I saw one of her team mates fighting Sasori." Jugo said.
"Not possible. Sasori is dead. Sakura-chan killed him."
Sasuke was shocked yet again. Since when did Sakura actually get enough power to not only fight but kill an Akatsuki member? There had to be some mistake. She was too weak do that.
"No Naruto. It is not a mistake. Sasori is there. Sakura-san indicated he was not the only one brought back either. It seems Kabuto has learned Edo Tensei and has used it to bring back some of the fallen Akatsuki members. The team is in trouble. I told her I would come find you and lead you to them."
"Hell yes you will lead me to them! I'm not letting my friends get hurt by that snake loving bastard!" Naruto made a move to run to Sakura but he stopped. "Wait. Hold on for just a moment Jugo." Naruto assumed a meditative pose and began drawing his sage chakra. If there were revived Akatsuki members there he would need all the power he had.
"Sasuke. It would probably be for the best if you did not go." Sasuke mearly raised his eyebrows at this. "Sakura-san told me something else. She said you were in danger. Kabuto wants you for some reason."
While Sasuke has no intentions of helping the Konoha-nin he also had no reason to run from Kabuto. If he wanted him for some reason he would find out what that was.
"Jugo."
"Yes Sasuke?"
"Go get Suigetsu and bring him to us. If the Konoha shinobi he was fighting is still alive you may tell him of what is going on." Sasuke said as he rose.
"Will you not need me to lead you to them?" Jugo asked.
"That won't be necessary Jugo." Naruto said from his position on the ground. "I can already feel Sakura-chan. We can get there just fine. Please bring Yamato-taicho to us though. You ready Sasuke?"
"Aa."
"Good." Naruto took off knowing Sasuke would be right behind him. He ran towards the large pulses of chakra he could feel. Please be okay Sakura-chan.
Jugo watched them go, feeling very confused by this turn of events. Sasuke did not seem worried or anxious for the Konoha team but he went to their location anyway. He did not understand what that meant but he would do as Sasuke asked. He took off for the direction Suigetsu had last been in.
Sakura found herself in an endless empty world. No matter where she looked there was nothing. Tsukuyomi. She knew now where Itachi had brought her. She tried gathering her chakra to get herself out but it was no use. She was now trapped within his genjutsu. From what she had learned from Kakashi-sensei tsukuyomi was used by Itachi to torture his victims. She knew she would either be killed or rendered helpless if he let her out of this.
"You have nothing to fear Haruno-san. I only brought you here to talk." Itachi's form materlized in front of her. Not so close to make her overly nervous though.
"What could we possibly have to talk about?" she said. Maybe I shouldn't sound so bitchy just in case.
"A lot. Do you know of this jutsu Kabuto has used?" she nodded. "Good. Then you realize my body is completely under his control. There is nothing I can do to stop that fact; but my mind remains my own. This is why I brought you here. I can speak to you without following anyone's orders."
Sakura thought Itachi sounded sincere. I'll give him one chance. "Okay then Itachi. What would you like to talk about?"
"It seems it has been a little while since I died. Kabuto brought us before Madara to show he wanted to join him but he wanted something in return. Sasuke. Am I correct in that Sasuke has joined with Madara?"
"Yes. Sasuke joined Akatsuki and says he plans to destroy Konoha."
"It seems the jutsu I left didn't work then. I hope Naruto is successful." he muttered to himself though Sakura heard. She was about to ask what he meant when he spoke again. "What do you know of the night I killed my clansmen?"
She was taken aback at this. When he said he wanted to talk never would she have though he wanted to speak of his clans murder. "Naruto said Madara told him it was actually a mission given to you by the elders. That your clan was planning to attack Konoha and you carried out the mission to protect everyone."
"That is correct." he said without inflection.
She couldn't believe it. Ever since she had heard this she had kept a peice of her mind from believing it because if it were true it would be too horrible. "Why?" she whispered. "Why would the elders order such a thing. That is too horrible to be true. Murder a whole clan?" she was near screaming at this point.
"There are things every shinobi must do to protect his village. Even if they are unpleasant. You know this Haruno-san. I did what I did for the safety of everyone in the village. I had seen to much bloodshed in my lifetime. My hands were already stained with it. I was a Konoha shinobi and I would do whatever it took to keep my village safe. Even from my own family."
She could do nothing but stare at Itachi now. It was just to much to process. He had saved the village. He had murdered his own flesh and blood but had done so at the orders of his superiors.
She had to ask the question that was rolling around in her mind. "Why keep Sasuke alive?"
His eyes lowered to the floor. "I could kill my own parents but I could not kill him. I loved him to much." He looked up at Sakura and she knew he spoke the truth. "I wanted him to take my life. It would be justice for him and I hoped it would make his life easier to live. I never expected him to leave the village and turn to that bastard Orochimaru."
"What did you think he'd do!" she screamed at him. "You are so powerful Itachi! The gap between you and him was to large. He never felt he'd be able to cross it."
"He was just a child then. He had time to grow and learn."
"It would have taken too long for him. He wanted power as soon as he could get it. He wanted to kill you as soon as he could. Because of that he turned his back on us all. He let his hate fester inside of him until it damn near bacame a living being itself. He became a missing-nin and a criminal! Now he is no longer happy at your death I'm sure he is disgusted with himself for killing you. Now he wants to destroy my home!" Sakura now had tears rolling down her face. She couldn't believe this. The path Sasuke's life had to take and the path Itachi's had taken. Itachi suffered so much in life because of an order he was given. But that is the life of a shinobi. She got orders she didn't like either but she carried them out because that was her job; but could she do it? Could she have taken her family's life to ensure Konoha's safety. She couldn't answer that question.
"I know he does and that is why I need your help Haruno-san."
"My help? What am I supposed to do?" she asked.
"Let me ask. Has Naruto changed at all?"
She was shocked at the change of topic but she answered anyway. "No. He's the same as he has always been and I think he will stay that way forever. No matter what he is faced with."
Itachi allowed a little smile. "That's good to hear. Then I know Naruto will continue to try and help Sasuke. You however seemed to grasp the reality of the situtation. I take it you no longer want Sasuke to return to Konoha?"
" He is no longer the man I once knew. If Sasuke were to come back now it would only be to attack us. He has tried to kill Naruto multiple times and he has tried to kill me as well. I watched him run his chidori through his own team mate to kill Danzo. How is it possible to bring him back from that?"
"True it will be difficult but not impossible. I hope to be able to give him a push in the right direction but I will need you and Naruto to drag him the rest of the way. I already told you Haruno-san..."
"Call me Sakura."
"Sakura" he smiled again. "I told you I love my brother. My ways of showing it are not usual but I do love him and I do not wish his life to be the same as mine was."
Sakura did not know what to say to this. Itachi's request to an outsider was not that much however to one who has spent the past few years searching for a man who did not wish to be found and wanted nothing to do with them it was asking a lot. How could she help Sasuke when she didn't even want to see his face anymore? Itachi deserved it though. He may have murdered his family but he spent his life living with that shame. He had become a criminal with no home to return to at the orders of his own village. How could she deny him that?
"I don't know how much I can do but I will help him. But please understand me Itachi....I am so close to hating Sasuke that that may blind me. He has so much to answer for but he doesn't care and that's what makes it worse."
Itachi stared at her for awhile. "You were in love with my brother weren't you?"
She averted her eyes but could not stop the very small tinge of pink that came to her cheeks. "That was a long time ago and he was a different man."
This seemed to please Itachi even more. While she wasn't looking he gave a real smile but quickly wiped it away before she turned to face him once again. "He is the same man Sakura but he has been led astray. He has listened too much to Madara. That man spins the truth to suit his needs. He is a very patient man and will wait as long as he needs to allow his traps to succeed. You must be wary of him. I need you to look for something."
"What?"
"It is in the Uchiha manor, in my old room. It's a scroll."
Sai was having a hard time. Sasori was a difficult opponet. His body was almost completely a puppet. So no matter what injuries he was able to inflict on him he did not weaken. Sai, on the other hand, tired and bled. He had a long cut on his abdomen from Sasori's sword and many puncture wounds from the endless supply of needles he shot at him. His chakra was running low. He saw Sasori coming at him, he quickly drew a group of snakes to try and capture him. Sasori dispatched most of the snakes before they could reach him. The few that did make it through he crushed as they tried to cling to him. Sasori threw more needles at Sai which he avoided but came to close to him. Sasori grabbed Sai's throat and threw him in to a tree. The sickening snap and sharp pain told Sai his leg was indeed broken. He could not move now. He looked up as Sasori approached.
"Now that I will have you out of the way I can go after that woman. She was vastly more entertainng than you were." Sasori raised his sword above his head. Sai didn't close his eyes or look away. He looked Sasori in the eye and awaited his fate.
"Rasengan."
He heard the shout and watched with amusement as Sasori's body flew to the side. Naruto now stood in front of him with worried eyes. "Sai are you okay? Where is everyone?" Sai looked up at his team mate. Naruto was covered with various wounds but none were life threatening or even enough to slow the hyper-active ninja down. Behind Naruto stook.....Sasuke? What would he be doing here? And why did it feel like he came with Naruto? Next to them was Yamato-taicho and a pale man with white hair and purple eyes carrying a large sword.
"I do not know where Sakura and Kakashi are but they are fighting Akatsuki members."
"Yeah we know Jugo filled us in on it but...."
"Aaaa." Jugo's scream filled the air. Everyone turned to him and noticed he had several long needles sticking out of his chest.
"You have on Akatsuki cloaks. Why are you with this trash? Why do you interfere with my battle?" Sasori asked as he came back towards them. He now had a large hole in his side from Naruto's attack.
"Hey why don't you ask questions before you attack you asshole!" Suigetsu said as he rushed Sasori.
Sasori saw these men were not his allies and he was too wounded to continue an attack. He needed to get away. As the white haired man ran to him Sasori took a deep breath and blew his poison cloud over the man. While the chance was present he escaped.
Everyone looked at the purple could that had enveloped Suigetsu. Sasuke went to go for him when Yamato stopped him. Sasuke turned his sharingan gaze on the man.
"It's poison." He said simply. He made a few hand signs and his arm became a long block of wood that stretched towards Suigetsu. He successfully pulled the man out of the cloud. Suigetsu was gasping for breath. His face was already contorting in pain.
"Can you help him?" Sasuke asked Jugo.
"No. This is beyond what I can do."
"The only way he has a chance is if we get Sakura-chan. We have to go." Naruto said.
"Go. I will stay and watch over them. I have almost finished healing myself anyway." Jugo said.
Yamato was skeptical to say the least. "You will watch over both your companion and ours?"
"Yes. I have no desire to harm your friend."
"It is okay. Go to the others and help them" Sai said.
Naruto looked worried for a moment but he let it pass. "Jugo. Please, I'm counting on you."
He had never heard someone speak to him as such. It almost sounded like a friendly request. That was something he definetly was not used to. "You have my word I will look after them." Jugo said to Naruto.
"Okay let's go find the others." With that the group took off.
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