ItaSaku - Protect - Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

Two days later Itachi found himself with Sasuke at the gates of Konoha. He and Sakura were hugging for the last time before he and Sasuke set out to find Orochimaru. To bad Itachi had to try and lose him so he could go and talk to the Akatsuki. But talk to them he must because Sakura had insisted that he tell them of their decision. Even if they weren’t totally happy about it.

“And you’re leaving the day I start my second trimester.” Sakura teased.

Itachi smiled and dropped a kiss on her nose. “Well I’ll be back before you enter the last trimester. I’m promise.” He hugged her one more time, before turning to face Sasuke, who was joking with Naruto by pretending to sick by sticking a finger in his mouth while pretending to gag. He was rewarded by Itachi and Kakashi hitting over the head at the same time, Naruto was hit as well but by Sakura. Both he and Sasuke sat on the ground rubbing their heads. Though Sasuke’s head hurt more Sakura had one hell of punch.

“Remember Sasuke. Be nice.” Kakashi emphasized to both Sasuke and Itachi.

Sasuke mumbled something under his breath that added to another hit on the head by Sakura, almost knocking him out.

“Owww! SAKURA!”

“Don’t you shout at me Sasuke!”

Itachi smirked. Then picking Sasuke up by the collar, Itachi set him on his feet giving him a slight push towards the way they were headed. He kissed Sakura on the forehead then headed after Sasuke himself. Pausing to quickly ask a question to Naruto. Sasuke in frustration sat back down on the ground pouting.

“What is it Itachi?”

“Naruto, what did you say to Sakura that day in Orochimaru’s lair?” Itachi asked him.

“It doesn’t matter. It won’t work anymore.” Naruto answered with a frown.

“Why not?”

“Because you have to speak to her inner self and then have to talk about her hearts deepest desire at that moment in time.”

“What did you say to her?” Itachi asked again. He needed to know.

“Back then, her hearts deepest desire was to save Sasuke. So they could finally start a life together. Sorry.” Naruto said as he saw Itachi quickly glance at Sakura who was now trying to get Sasuke to stop acting like a baby. “All I said was that if she just gave into the pain, that life could never happen. Ironic, huh? That life never will happen anyway.” Naruto regretted making that joke because Itachi looked kinda sick.

“She really wanted a life with him?”

“She did then. She has a life with you now. That was her deepest desire a few days ago. Now, I think it’s to keep you and the baby safe.” Naruto touched Itachi’s shoulder so Itachi would look at him in the eyes. “Remember, if anything like what happened then happens again, you have to speak to her inner self. Sakura’s outer self will be in to much pain to hear. Her inner will take over to help. It doesn’t feel the pain like the outer does.”

“Thanks Naruto.” Itachi said walking over to Sasuke now picking him up and throwing him over his shoulder. Walking down the path, Sasuke protesting by thrashing about trying to escape Itachi’s grasp, leaving Sakura, Kakashi, and Naruto in laughing fits.

As Sakura watched her husband walk away she wondered if they had made the right decision about the Akatsuki’s offer. She hoped beyond hope they had. She quickly forgot about her doubt when Naruto said that he was buying them a bowl of ramen.

We can only live like this for so long

And now we sleep to bring a new day forward

And end up at the destination where we belong

The four of us will travel that path

Yes, we will inner

Itachi, the baby, and us

Nothing will stop us. We can't regret our decisions

“Sakura-chan? Are you alright?”

“Yes Naruto, I’m fine. So you’re buying right?”

~

Itachi finally set Sasuke back on his feet.

“What did you do that for?” Sasuke asked indignantly.

“Did what?”

“Humiliate me like that?”

“You were humiliating yourself by acting like a cry baby.”

“I was not.”

“You were.”

“Not!”

“Were!”

“Not!”

“You know I can’t remember a time when we fought like this.”

“We never fought like this. Remember you killed our clan.”

“I also seem like the one who’s rebuilding it.” Itachi said. Sasuke feel silent. Itachi naturally won the argument.

“So where are we going?” Sasuke said trying to break the awkward silence.

“Back to where I met the Akatsuki.”

“Why are we going there?”

“You know you sure ask a lot of questions for one of the most perceptive ninja in Konoha.”

“Sakura’s the best at that.”

“I know.”

“So why are we going there?”

“Because before I met them I thought I saw something of interest.” Itachi lied.

“What?”

“Well if I knew we wouldn’t be going back now would we?” Once again Itachi won the argument. “Come on.” Racing off, Sasuke had to quickly race after his brother so he wouldn’t be left behind.