Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ These Eyes Betray ❯ Chapter Two: Itachi - A Deal With the Devil ( Chapter 3 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: dark_liandrin 
Chapter two
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 08.07.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 219 | Status: Completed
Chapter two
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 08.07.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 219 | Status: Completed
A/N: Err . . . yeah. I've noticed a trend. I always seem to write my chapters at four in the morning . . . I apologize. I should be sleeping, but oh well. I have a haiku because I couldn't be bothered with a longer poem. I am lazy.
This chapter came out pretty fast. You will never believe how many times I wrote, rewrote, edited, and re-edited this . . . this THING! I just couldn't seem to write it in a way that I liked it! Geez!
The next chapter won't be coming out nearly so fast. School starts for me on August 10th, so I will be kind of busy. PLus there's the fact that I haven't even done my summer homework yet . . . Err, I've been busy, that's why. Yes. Busy. With very Important things . . . . IMPORTANT I SAY!
What else? Oh yes, I just finished the line art for my personal fanart piece for this fic. I'll post the link on my profile. I don't know when I'll finish coloring it . . . but oh well. I'll try.
Chapter Two: Itachi - A Deal With The Devil
Ruby Mangekyou
Death waits with a bloody sky
spiraling crimson
_______________________________________________________________ ________________
Kisame cursed loudly beside Itachi as he regarded the pink-haired kunoichi with cool eyes.
He knew her from somewhere . . .
Ah.
"You're my brother’s teammate." Itachi mused aloud.
The loud pink-haired one. How could he forget?
She might be more useful alive than dead. If he hurt her, his brother might gain the hate needed to make him stronger.
"Don't bother." She managed to hiss through her tears. She made a pitiful sight there, spilled on the ground, crying streaks down her face and utterly helpless. Her pastel hair clung to her wet cheeks as she hissed wordlessly at him.
A disgrace for a ninja.
He waited for her to elaborate.
"Sa . . suke, he left me behind. He went to Orochimaru for power. Power to kill you." She sobbed a bit harder, but seemed to be trying to stop her tears, ashamed. "He doesn't give a damn about me, dead or alive. No one does. Who gives a damn about a worthless kunoichi?"
Itachi masked his disappointment well, the slight marks between his brows creasing a bit more. He went to the snake? He is still too weak . . .
Orochimaru had been the weakest of the Akatsuki when he was in their organization. Sasuke would find nothing but disappointment and betrayal in that snake's clutches.
The kunoichi continued, oblivious to his silent musings, her voice breaking repeatedly. "The Hokage would never let Naruto come after me if you kidnapped me; he's too much of an asset to lose on a stupid rescue mission. Any plans you could have regarding me are useless. You might as well kill me."
He'd heard that tone before.
She sounded as if she sought death.
Sakura managed to wipe the tears from her eyes and glanced up for the first time. She knew she should never look into the Uchiha's eyes, but death was imminent and she was feeling reckless. She needed to see the eyes of the man who had single-handedly ruined everything.
Jade met crimson, and she tried to stifle her gasp.
She'd never seen his face before.
Sakura was shocked at how much (and how little) he looked like his younger brother. Like Sasuke, his raven bangs framed the pale skin of his face perfectly. Unlike Sasuke, his hair was long in the back and tied loosely. She couldn't tell how long it was, as most of him was covered in his black Akatsuki cloak, but she was surprised nonetheless. He was tall, and she suddenly knew that Sasuke had a lot more growing to do.
He had lines under his eyes, a mark of the hard life he had lead. She couldn't help but think they made him look that much more handsome, added a slightly haunting flair to his already perfect physique. He had long eyelashes, the kind she'd always wished for . . . and his eyes . . .
She'd always thought that Sasuke's sharingan were beautiful.
His were so much more.
They burned bright as blood as he gazed at her, the three commas like fierce splashes of darkness in the vivid red. She could not read any emotions in his eyes, no sign that he had just helped to end the lives of three men effortlessly.
Nothing.
An empty void, something she'd always wished to attain for herself, but had miserably failed.
And as she stared at the perfect man in front of her, she felt the weight of the years and her losses and her pain crush down on her. She was nothing compared to him.
Itachi watched impassively as the kunoichi seemed to cave into herself after meeting his eyes, her shoulders slumping in defeat and her head bowing under some invisible weight. Her face was obscured by her pastel pink hair, but he could almost taste the salt on the air.
She was crying again.
Something about her stirred the beginnings of curiosity in him, which he hadn't felt in a long time. She reminded him of someone from a long time ago . . .
His eyes fell to her arms, taking in the wrappings from her wrists to her elbows. She could have easily been just another vain kunoichi who thought the bandages made her look cool.
Something told him otherwise.
Kisame made a strangled noise of surprise and his eyes bulged when his partner kneeled down in front of the annoying little kunoichi. "What the hell are you doing? Kill her so we can leave." He rasped. Damned bitch had crushed his jaw, and it hurt.
He tensed at the sideways look of dismissal that Itachi gave him. It may have seemed like another bored expression, but there was a hidden threat in the ruby depths. Kisame silenced his growls and sighed audibly. Itachi could be so damned weird.
Sakura couldn't help the slight gasp she let out when she realized he was right there, in front of her.
What the . . .?
She had been waiting for the death blow, and instead she flinched when she felt his light touch on her arm. Despite everything, his skin was warm on hers. She stared dazedly as his fingers made quick work of the bandage, baring her scars to the world. In the light of day the white tracery stood out so much more on her skin, there was hardly a part of her arm untouched.
Sakura cringed.
Why?
This continued proof of her weakness did not help her current mental state, and vaguely, she cursed the world for hating her so much that she didn't even deserve a quick end. Having two missing nins bear witness to her destructive pastimes was not what she had in mind when she'd faced them.
She gathered the courage to look up at him through the pink veil of her hair, anticipating the look of disgust that she knew would be there.
She was transfixed. His expression was a blank slate, empty and impossible to read.
She wondered when he had perfected that look, and if he'd ever had to shoulder the burden of emotions in the first place.
She thought not.
Relief flitted quietly through her heart, then was gone.
Her breath hitched when his eyes slid up to meet hers, and she was caught in a world of crimson, like a fly in the spider’s web.
He seemed to be studying her silently, and she stared back, utterly confused and afraid and weary but finding herself unable to look away.
She waited for the transformation to his Mangekyou, a swirl of red and black, any sign from the puzzling deity before her that the end was near.
Instead, he held her gaze and spoke, and his voice matched the rest of him perfectly, deep and rich and utterly male. "The only future for the weak is death."
Thank you, Captain Obvious, Inner Sakura murmured heatedly. It was amazing she still had some spark in her.
He ignored the slight crease of her brows in frustration (She was getting angry at an Akatsuki? She must have gone insane, and suicidal tendencies had become her new hobby) and continued, eyes still focused intently on hers. She began to feel more uncomfortable than she already was, if that were even possible. Sakura wondered why he hadn't released his firm and slightly painful grip on her wrist yet.
"Yet for you, there is an alternative."
Yes, yes, stop talking and kill her for Christ sake, this drawing it out was too much and she thought she was going insane -
Wait. What?
She made an incoherent sound. Her sobbing had taken its toll on her throat, and it pained her to swallow, let alone speak, but she managed to croak her meaning.
"A-An alternative?"
"You wish to grow stronger, to shatter the pathetic image you have worn since your birth. To defy your fate."
She didn't have to nod. He could see right through her. She wondered if he could read her mind. It really wouldn't surprise her if he could . . .
"You could make me stronger?" Dammit, she sounded almost hopeful, when it was probably just a cruel trick. She could feel a tiny shaft of light shine down on the dark recesses of her heart, as if someone had slightly opened the blinds.
"You would have to be willing to leave everything behind, and go through hell and back again. To break all bonds in your heart and numb yourself, for emotions are worth nothing to a shinobi."
It sounded horrible, impossible. She would probably die.
And yet, she had already lost everything, and her heart was shredded and lay steeped in a pool of its own blood in her chest. It ached every day. She was the lowest of the low, practically suicidal.
She wanted to die, and no one had ever given her a reason to live before. Odd that he should be the first . . .
But if this man could make her stronger, it would be worth going on. And if she died, too weak to take it . . .
Well. It was a win-win situation, she figured.
But . . . he hurt Sasuke . . . The small portion of her heart that still loved him, and would probably always love him, said no.
But the newer her, the part of her that had shouldered everything these past few years, the jaded portion of her soul, merely laughed, a bitter sound.
Him again. I'm a fool. I need someone who is not afraid to push me, who doesn't care if I break, who will be brutal and cruel and ruthless. Konoha is too nice and soft, and everyone cares too much to ever hurt me. I need someone who is powerful and doesn't give a damn. Love has gotten me nowhere. Maybe his way is better . . . .
Naruto trained with Jiraiya, and Sasuke beat Naruto. Then Sasuke went to seek help from Orochimaru, to seek power to kill Itachi.
Which would mean Itachi is the strongest of them all. I'm not Sasuke, and Itachi is offering me power. Why bother beating around the bush if I can go straight to the source?
After all, Sasuke, if you've tried to teach me anything over and over again, it's that power is the key . . . to everything.
Sakura's abused heart cried for her, for the pain she had endured because of the ones she loved, and for the pain she was no doubt about to incur. But her mind was numbed in realization, and she came to a horrible decision.
She nodded slowly, staring.
Kisame made another strangled noise. He didn't know what was happening, but his partner was behaving oddly. He'd always been quirky, but come on . . .
Itachi studied her (Did he ever blink?) "You will most likely die."
They both knew she didn't care.
Kisame interrupted. "ANBU are closing in. They'll be here in about ten minutes."
Itachi merely nodded. "Your conviction must be strong. You will sacrifice something to me, physically, something that means the most to you. Something that represents your weakness as a whole. This is your first lesson. Think quickly."
If she had been younger her thoughts would have turned dirty at his choice of phrase. But she had matured, and she knew that Itachi would never touch her. Her virginity meant next to nothing now, anyway.
Sakura's heartbeat sped up. She knew that whatever she chose would be major, and knew that this would be the beginning of everything. Her stomach churned at the idea of loss, but she'd felt it so much lately that she welcomed its companionship.
What meant the most to her? What represented all of her pain, was tied to all the lost love and useless emotions that she'd wasted? What would she never had wanted to lose?
What did she think she couldn't live without?
A thought came to mind, and she immediately turned it away, astounded at herself.
But wasn't it true? She'd put so much stock into appearance and looks all her life. She had always been a vain little kunoichi. She'd fallen in love with Sasuke at first because he was hot. She had always prided herself on being able to read a persons emotions by their facial expressions. Her eyes always betrayed her and strayed to the pictures at her bedside, revisiting old wounds over and over again.
Itachi unfolded himself and stood up gracefully as he watched her emotions chase themselves across her face, idly wondering what she would choose. Probably something predictable, like a hand or two.
Her face became determined, but her tears increased, making for an odd mix on her countenance. She looked up at him, and he immediately knew that she was going to be anything but predictable.
"These eyes." It was a half-sob, half-laugh. The situation was finally getting to her.
Itachi showed his slight surprise by blinking at her, before relaxing back into his unreadable mask. What an odd choice. Without her sight there was hardly any chance that she would be able to make it as a shinobi, but it wasn't his place to ensure her survival. This was her test, and she had chosen to make it harder on herself. He wouldn't have had it any other way.
Her beautiful jade eyes watched him as he drew his katana, the blade chiming as it was freed. Soon their haunting emerald depths would be gone. "Your test? To survive." He planned to put her through hell.
And, before the act, she stopped him with a quivering question, " . . . Why?" Why didn't he just kill her, like all the others? She knew he had seen her silent wish for the end, she was deep in the abyss of despair and there was no getting out.
He shrugged, a movement she could faintly see in the shadows of the forest, and his blade gleamed eagerly in the half-light. "It was . . . a whim."
A whim.
- I spared your life on a whim, and I will take it on a whim. -
They were more alike than they would ever know. Her tears would not stop.
A flash of red, and there was a split second of horror, then resignation as she was caught in the spiraling black and crimson of his Tsukiyomi, how ironic that his swirling mangekyou would be the last thing she would see as she faded, slowly slipping into a world of red -
- but not fast enough.
- A wave of agony as the cool blade cut her skin, in one clean slice claiming its prize, hot blood and thicker things ran down her face like forbidden tears, she was screaming, she'd never felt so much pain in her life -
- then faintly, a numbing sensation as the katana sheathed itself in her chest next to her heart, her blood pounding in her ears, her shock like ice in her veins and the blade sliding through flesh with a slick noise -
- and Sakura fell into a world of pain and heartache, where a full moon hung high and the sky was made of blood, and the worst moments of her life danced through her mind's eye again and again and again, where he lurked in the shadows of her heart, the instigator of it all, the manipulator, her demon, her savior -
Kisame watched as the kunoichi's body slumped forward when Itachi slipped his blade from her chest with a wet sound. Kisame's eyes were slightly wider than usual when Itachi calmly swung his blade to the side, flinging off the blood, then returned it with a small sound to its sheath. "We are done here."
He turned without further comment.
And as they left through the treetops, Kisame allowed himself a slight chuckle.
"Damn, you're a cruel bastard."
Life with Itachi was never dull, at least.
________________________________________________________________
Naruto skidded to a stop when he realized that Jiraiya was no longer following him.
Turning, he looked back to where his sensei had paused. "What's your problem?"
He looked preoccupied, but at the sound of Naruto's voice he was jerked back into reality. Jiraiya focused on his pupil with a stern look. "Use your senses boy, and you tell me."
Naruto cocked his head in slight confusion, but focused his hearing and drew in a deep breath all the same. At first, he heard nothing, but then that was just it, the forest was eerily silent. Like the overused cliche, too quiet.
And there. He sniffed again just to be sure, confident that he probably resembled a dog to the oblivious onlooker, but his nose was nowhere near as good as Kiba's and Akamaru's, and he was focused now.
He had caught the scent of blood.
They were close to Konoha, blood was synonamous with trouble.
Oh, Damn.
Without a word, Naruto took off in a mad dash through the treetops, leaving his sensei to curse at the boy's recklessness and follow after.
Naruto couldn't help it. There had been something in the air all day, something like an ill omen, something bad was happening -
The forest was growing lighter as the sun slowly made it's way into the sky, bathing everything in a soft light, but in the trees it still seemed as dark as night, like the shadows of the place were reluctant to leave.
And there, in the clearing, he came upon the first body, and his fears were realized.
A Konoha jounin, one he'd seen many times during training. He lay in two pieces, a look of fear and surprise on his features. His entrails and insides clung wetly to the grass in the morning dew, the blood was so bright it seemed unreal.
Naruto managed to drag his gaze away from the grisly sight, his stomach was feeling queasy, this was so not good, there must be others -
- And there were.
Naruto heard the soft sound of footsteps behind him, and a quiet curse, and he knew that his sensei had just arrived.
"Who did this?" Naruto asked the empty morning air, his voice was strained.
Jiraiya was silent, but Naruto didn't notice, because he had just seen something that would haunt his nightmares for years -
A flash of pink so out of place in the greenery, and so much bright, vivid crimson -
"SAKURA!"
The trees had hidden her, she lay twisted among the roots like a limp rag doll.
This wasn't right, not right at all. She was supposed to be safe inside Konoha with the others, she would meet him at the gates with a smile or a fist, depending on her mood. he would see that she was happy and healthy and all his fears had been unfounded, Team Seven would go on, their newfound friendship would continue, she would be okay, god dammit!
He felt tears sting his eyes as he landed beside her, there was no way she was alive, there was so much blood, and he couldn't see her face for the crimson, her pink hair seemed forever stained -
- The cold fingers of dread latched themselves around his heart and squeezed.
His worst nightmare had come true. His dreams seemed to shatter before his ubseeing eyes, there was only blood and blossoms and so much pain -
"Naruto! NARUTO!"
Someone had him by the shoulders and was shaking him like a rag doll, and he realized he had been trembling, and he knew without a doubt that his eyes were kyuubi red. He felt the chakra swirling potently in his veins, burning for violence, revenge, anything -
But that would not help Sakura. She was dead.
Jiraiya's face swam into view, concerned and grim and slightly desperate. Behind him were others, ANBU had arrived -
"Naruto, she's still alive, we have to get her to Konoha!"
What?
Naruto didn't believe it, no one had that much blood in their bodies, and he loosened his death grip on her still form and lowered his ear to her lips, his own heartbeat loud in his ears as he waited for the impossible -
A slight tingling feeling as a weak tendril of air brushed his skin.
"Sakura," He sobbed weakly. She was still alive, but only barely.
Naruto felt his muscles go slack with relief.
She wasn't dead.
He hadn't fulfilled his promise to her yet.
And in the crimson forest, in the halflight of morning, he made another silent promise to his best friend, his teammate, and his first love.
He would not let her die, not her, nor Sasuke, he would protect them to the utmost of his ability, and one day, these people, the first family he'd ever had. . .
One day . . .
Team Seven would be whole - and happy - again.
________________________________________________________________ ___
A/N: Poor Naruto. Am I evil, or what? Read and review!
This chapter came out pretty fast. You will never believe how many times I wrote, rewrote, edited, and re-edited this . . . this THING! I just couldn't seem to write it in a way that I liked it! Geez!
The next chapter won't be coming out nearly so fast. School starts for me on August 10th, so I will be kind of busy. PLus there's the fact that I haven't even done my summer homework yet . . . Err, I've been busy, that's why. Yes. Busy. With very Important things . . . . IMPORTANT I SAY!
What else? Oh yes, I just finished the line art for my personal fanart piece for this fic. I'll post the link on my profile. I don't know when I'll finish coloring it . . . but oh well. I'll try.
Chapter Two: Itachi - A Deal With The Devil
Ruby Mangekyou
Death waits with a bloody sky
spiraling crimson
_______________________________________________________________ ________________
Kisame cursed loudly beside Itachi as he regarded the pink-haired kunoichi with cool eyes.
He knew her from somewhere . . .
Ah.
"You're my brother’s teammate." Itachi mused aloud.
The loud pink-haired one. How could he forget?
She might be more useful alive than dead. If he hurt her, his brother might gain the hate needed to make him stronger.
"Don't bother." She managed to hiss through her tears. She made a pitiful sight there, spilled on the ground, crying streaks down her face and utterly helpless. Her pastel hair clung to her wet cheeks as she hissed wordlessly at him.
A disgrace for a ninja.
He waited for her to elaborate.
"Sa . . suke, he left me behind. He went to Orochimaru for power. Power to kill you." She sobbed a bit harder, but seemed to be trying to stop her tears, ashamed. "He doesn't give a damn about me, dead or alive. No one does. Who gives a damn about a worthless kunoichi?"
Itachi masked his disappointment well, the slight marks between his brows creasing a bit more. He went to the snake? He is still too weak . . .
Orochimaru had been the weakest of the Akatsuki when he was in their organization. Sasuke would find nothing but disappointment and betrayal in that snake's clutches.
The kunoichi continued, oblivious to his silent musings, her voice breaking repeatedly. "The Hokage would never let Naruto come after me if you kidnapped me; he's too much of an asset to lose on a stupid rescue mission. Any plans you could have regarding me are useless. You might as well kill me."
He'd heard that tone before.
She sounded as if she sought death.
Sakura managed to wipe the tears from her eyes and glanced up for the first time. She knew she should never look into the Uchiha's eyes, but death was imminent and she was feeling reckless. She needed to see the eyes of the man who had single-handedly ruined everything.
Jade met crimson, and she tried to stifle her gasp.
She'd never seen his face before.
Sakura was shocked at how much (and how little) he looked like his younger brother. Like Sasuke, his raven bangs framed the pale skin of his face perfectly. Unlike Sasuke, his hair was long in the back and tied loosely. She couldn't tell how long it was, as most of him was covered in his black Akatsuki cloak, but she was surprised nonetheless. He was tall, and she suddenly knew that Sasuke had a lot more growing to do.
He had lines under his eyes, a mark of the hard life he had lead. She couldn't help but think they made him look that much more handsome, added a slightly haunting flair to his already perfect physique. He had long eyelashes, the kind she'd always wished for . . . and his eyes . . .
She'd always thought that Sasuke's sharingan were beautiful.
His were so much more.
They burned bright as blood as he gazed at her, the three commas like fierce splashes of darkness in the vivid red. She could not read any emotions in his eyes, no sign that he had just helped to end the lives of three men effortlessly.
Nothing.
An empty void, something she'd always wished to attain for herself, but had miserably failed.
And as she stared at the perfect man in front of her, she felt the weight of the years and her losses and her pain crush down on her. She was nothing compared to him.
Itachi watched impassively as the kunoichi seemed to cave into herself after meeting his eyes, her shoulders slumping in defeat and her head bowing under some invisible weight. Her face was obscured by her pastel pink hair, but he could almost taste the salt on the air.
She was crying again.
Something about her stirred the beginnings of curiosity in him, which he hadn't felt in a long time. She reminded him of someone from a long time ago . . .
His eyes fell to her arms, taking in the wrappings from her wrists to her elbows. She could have easily been just another vain kunoichi who thought the bandages made her look cool.
Something told him otherwise.
Kisame made a strangled noise of surprise and his eyes bulged when his partner kneeled down in front of the annoying little kunoichi. "What the hell are you doing? Kill her so we can leave." He rasped. Damned bitch had crushed his jaw, and it hurt.
He tensed at the sideways look of dismissal that Itachi gave him. It may have seemed like another bored expression, but there was a hidden threat in the ruby depths. Kisame silenced his growls and sighed audibly. Itachi could be so damned weird.
Sakura couldn't help the slight gasp she let out when she realized he was right there, in front of her.
What the . . .?
She had been waiting for the death blow, and instead she flinched when she felt his light touch on her arm. Despite everything, his skin was warm on hers. She stared dazedly as his fingers made quick work of the bandage, baring her scars to the world. In the light of day the white tracery stood out so much more on her skin, there was hardly a part of her arm untouched.
Sakura cringed.
Why?
This continued proof of her weakness did not help her current mental state, and vaguely, she cursed the world for hating her so much that she didn't even deserve a quick end. Having two missing nins bear witness to her destructive pastimes was not what she had in mind when she'd faced them.
She gathered the courage to look up at him through the pink veil of her hair, anticipating the look of disgust that she knew would be there.
She was transfixed. His expression was a blank slate, empty and impossible to read.
She wondered when he had perfected that look, and if he'd ever had to shoulder the burden of emotions in the first place.
She thought not.
Relief flitted quietly through her heart, then was gone.
Her breath hitched when his eyes slid up to meet hers, and she was caught in a world of crimson, like a fly in the spider’s web.
He seemed to be studying her silently, and she stared back, utterly confused and afraid and weary but finding herself unable to look away.
She waited for the transformation to his Mangekyou, a swirl of red and black, any sign from the puzzling deity before her that the end was near.
Instead, he held her gaze and spoke, and his voice matched the rest of him perfectly, deep and rich and utterly male. "The only future for the weak is death."
Thank you, Captain Obvious, Inner Sakura murmured heatedly. It was amazing she still had some spark in her.
He ignored the slight crease of her brows in frustration (She was getting angry at an Akatsuki? She must have gone insane, and suicidal tendencies had become her new hobby) and continued, eyes still focused intently on hers. She began to feel more uncomfortable than she already was, if that were even possible. Sakura wondered why he hadn't released his firm and slightly painful grip on her wrist yet.
"Yet for you, there is an alternative."
Yes, yes, stop talking and kill her for Christ sake, this drawing it out was too much and she thought she was going insane -
Wait. What?
She made an incoherent sound. Her sobbing had taken its toll on her throat, and it pained her to swallow, let alone speak, but she managed to croak her meaning.
"A-An alternative?"
"You wish to grow stronger, to shatter the pathetic image you have worn since your birth. To defy your fate."
She didn't have to nod. He could see right through her. She wondered if he could read her mind. It really wouldn't surprise her if he could . . .
"You could make me stronger?" Dammit, she sounded almost hopeful, when it was probably just a cruel trick. She could feel a tiny shaft of light shine down on the dark recesses of her heart, as if someone had slightly opened the blinds.
"You would have to be willing to leave everything behind, and go through hell and back again. To break all bonds in your heart and numb yourself, for emotions are worth nothing to a shinobi."
It sounded horrible, impossible. She would probably die.
And yet, she had already lost everything, and her heart was shredded and lay steeped in a pool of its own blood in her chest. It ached every day. She was the lowest of the low, practically suicidal.
She wanted to die, and no one had ever given her a reason to live before. Odd that he should be the first . . .
But if this man could make her stronger, it would be worth going on. And if she died, too weak to take it . . .
Well. It was a win-win situation, she figured.
But . . . he hurt Sasuke . . . The small portion of her heart that still loved him, and would probably always love him, said no.
But the newer her, the part of her that had shouldered everything these past few years, the jaded portion of her soul, merely laughed, a bitter sound.
Him again. I'm a fool. I need someone who is not afraid to push me, who doesn't care if I break, who will be brutal and cruel and ruthless. Konoha is too nice and soft, and everyone cares too much to ever hurt me. I need someone who is powerful and doesn't give a damn. Love has gotten me nowhere. Maybe his way is better . . . .
Naruto trained with Jiraiya, and Sasuke beat Naruto. Then Sasuke went to seek help from Orochimaru, to seek power to kill Itachi.
Which would mean Itachi is the strongest of them all. I'm not Sasuke, and Itachi is offering me power. Why bother beating around the bush if I can go straight to the source?
After all, Sasuke, if you've tried to teach me anything over and over again, it's that power is the key . . . to everything.
Sakura's abused heart cried for her, for the pain she had endured because of the ones she loved, and for the pain she was no doubt about to incur. But her mind was numbed in realization, and she came to a horrible decision.
She nodded slowly, staring.
Kisame made another strangled noise. He didn't know what was happening, but his partner was behaving oddly. He'd always been quirky, but come on . . .
Itachi studied her (Did he ever blink?) "You will most likely die."
They both knew she didn't care.
Kisame interrupted. "ANBU are closing in. They'll be here in about ten minutes."
Itachi merely nodded. "Your conviction must be strong. You will sacrifice something to me, physically, something that means the most to you. Something that represents your weakness as a whole. This is your first lesson. Think quickly."
If she had been younger her thoughts would have turned dirty at his choice of phrase. But she had matured, and she knew that Itachi would never touch her. Her virginity meant next to nothing now, anyway.
Sakura's heartbeat sped up. She knew that whatever she chose would be major, and knew that this would be the beginning of everything. Her stomach churned at the idea of loss, but she'd felt it so much lately that she welcomed its companionship.
What meant the most to her? What represented all of her pain, was tied to all the lost love and useless emotions that she'd wasted? What would she never had wanted to lose?
What did she think she couldn't live without?
A thought came to mind, and she immediately turned it away, astounded at herself.
But wasn't it true? She'd put so much stock into appearance and looks all her life. She had always been a vain little kunoichi. She'd fallen in love with Sasuke at first because he was hot. She had always prided herself on being able to read a persons emotions by their facial expressions. Her eyes always betrayed her and strayed to the pictures at her bedside, revisiting old wounds over and over again.
Itachi unfolded himself and stood up gracefully as he watched her emotions chase themselves across her face, idly wondering what she would choose. Probably something predictable, like a hand or two.
Her face became determined, but her tears increased, making for an odd mix on her countenance. She looked up at him, and he immediately knew that she was going to be anything but predictable.
"These eyes." It was a half-sob, half-laugh. The situation was finally getting to her.
Itachi showed his slight surprise by blinking at her, before relaxing back into his unreadable mask. What an odd choice. Without her sight there was hardly any chance that she would be able to make it as a shinobi, but it wasn't his place to ensure her survival. This was her test, and she had chosen to make it harder on herself. He wouldn't have had it any other way.
Her beautiful jade eyes watched him as he drew his katana, the blade chiming as it was freed. Soon their haunting emerald depths would be gone. "Your test? To survive." He planned to put her through hell.
And, before the act, she stopped him with a quivering question, " . . . Why?" Why didn't he just kill her, like all the others? She knew he had seen her silent wish for the end, she was deep in the abyss of despair and there was no getting out.
He shrugged, a movement she could faintly see in the shadows of the forest, and his blade gleamed eagerly in the half-light. "It was . . . a whim."
A whim.
- I spared your life on a whim, and I will take it on a whim. -
They were more alike than they would ever know. Her tears would not stop.
A flash of red, and there was a split second of horror, then resignation as she was caught in the spiraling black and crimson of his Tsukiyomi, how ironic that his swirling mangekyou would be the last thing she would see as she faded, slowly slipping into a world of red -
- but not fast enough.
- A wave of agony as the cool blade cut her skin, in one clean slice claiming its prize, hot blood and thicker things ran down her face like forbidden tears, she was screaming, she'd never felt so much pain in her life -
- then faintly, a numbing sensation as the katana sheathed itself in her chest next to her heart, her blood pounding in her ears, her shock like ice in her veins and the blade sliding through flesh with a slick noise -
- and Sakura fell into a world of pain and heartache, where a full moon hung high and the sky was made of blood, and the worst moments of her life danced through her mind's eye again and again and again, where he lurked in the shadows of her heart, the instigator of it all, the manipulator, her demon, her savior -
Kisame watched as the kunoichi's body slumped forward when Itachi slipped his blade from her chest with a wet sound. Kisame's eyes were slightly wider than usual when Itachi calmly swung his blade to the side, flinging off the blood, then returned it with a small sound to its sheath. "We are done here."
He turned without further comment.
And as they left through the treetops, Kisame allowed himself a slight chuckle.
"Damn, you're a cruel bastard."
Life with Itachi was never dull, at least.
________________________________________________________________
Naruto skidded to a stop when he realized that Jiraiya was no longer following him.
Turning, he looked back to where his sensei had paused. "What's your problem?"
He looked preoccupied, but at the sound of Naruto's voice he was jerked back into reality. Jiraiya focused on his pupil with a stern look. "Use your senses boy, and you tell me."
Naruto cocked his head in slight confusion, but focused his hearing and drew in a deep breath all the same. At first, he heard nothing, but then that was just it, the forest was eerily silent. Like the overused cliche, too quiet.
And there. He sniffed again just to be sure, confident that he probably resembled a dog to the oblivious onlooker, but his nose was nowhere near as good as Kiba's and Akamaru's, and he was focused now.
He had caught the scent of blood.
They were close to Konoha, blood was synonamous with trouble.
Oh, Damn.
Without a word, Naruto took off in a mad dash through the treetops, leaving his sensei to curse at the boy's recklessness and follow after.
Naruto couldn't help it. There had been something in the air all day, something like an ill omen, something bad was happening -
The forest was growing lighter as the sun slowly made it's way into the sky, bathing everything in a soft light, but in the trees it still seemed as dark as night, like the shadows of the place were reluctant to leave.
And there, in the clearing, he came upon the first body, and his fears were realized.
A Konoha jounin, one he'd seen many times during training. He lay in two pieces, a look of fear and surprise on his features. His entrails and insides clung wetly to the grass in the morning dew, the blood was so bright it seemed unreal.
Naruto managed to drag his gaze away from the grisly sight, his stomach was feeling queasy, this was so not good, there must be others -
- And there were.
Naruto heard the soft sound of footsteps behind him, and a quiet curse, and he knew that his sensei had just arrived.
"Who did this?" Naruto asked the empty morning air, his voice was strained.
Jiraiya was silent, but Naruto didn't notice, because he had just seen something that would haunt his nightmares for years -
A flash of pink so out of place in the greenery, and so much bright, vivid crimson -
"SAKURA!"
The trees had hidden her, she lay twisted among the roots like a limp rag doll.
This wasn't right, not right at all. She was supposed to be safe inside Konoha with the others, she would meet him at the gates with a smile or a fist, depending on her mood. he would see that she was happy and healthy and all his fears had been unfounded, Team Seven would go on, their newfound friendship would continue, she would be okay, god dammit!
He felt tears sting his eyes as he landed beside her, there was no way she was alive, there was so much blood, and he couldn't see her face for the crimson, her pink hair seemed forever stained -
- The cold fingers of dread latched themselves around his heart and squeezed.
His worst nightmare had come true. His dreams seemed to shatter before his ubseeing eyes, there was only blood and blossoms and so much pain -
"Naruto! NARUTO!"
Someone had him by the shoulders and was shaking him like a rag doll, and he realized he had been trembling, and he knew without a doubt that his eyes were kyuubi red. He felt the chakra swirling potently in his veins, burning for violence, revenge, anything -
But that would not help Sakura. She was dead.
Jiraiya's face swam into view, concerned and grim and slightly desperate. Behind him were others, ANBU had arrived -
"Naruto, she's still alive, we have to get her to Konoha!"
What?
Naruto didn't believe it, no one had that much blood in their bodies, and he loosened his death grip on her still form and lowered his ear to her lips, his own heartbeat loud in his ears as he waited for the impossible -
A slight tingling feeling as a weak tendril of air brushed his skin.
"Sakura," He sobbed weakly. She was still alive, but only barely.
Naruto felt his muscles go slack with relief.
She wasn't dead.
He hadn't fulfilled his promise to her yet.
And in the crimson forest, in the halflight of morning, he made another silent promise to his best friend, his teammate, and his first love.
He would not let her die, not her, nor Sasuke, he would protect them to the utmost of his ability, and one day, these people, the first family he'd ever had. . .
One day . . .
Team Seven would be whole - and happy - again.
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A/N: Poor Naruto. Am I evil, or what? Read and review!