Nothing But the Truth

Chapter 8: Head-On Confrontation

AN: Alright, here's another chapter for ya'll that care. You find out who Sakura's former fiance is in this chapter, and there's a bit of a surprise at the end, too! The next thing I post will be a chapter for The Blue Jays since I've done two chapters for this since my last update for that story. So, in essense, it may be a few days until I get another one of these babies up. I hope you like it!

Slight revision on 6/29/13

Nothing but the Truth

Chapter 8: Head-On Confronation

"There can be no progress without head-on confrontation."

― Christopher Hitchens, Love, Poverty, and War: Journeys and Essays

Itachi Uchiha was never a 'direct confrontation' type of person, but the group of rogue ninja who had now surrounded him seemed to be the exact opposite. From what Itachi could tell, they were all at least A-class if not S-class level criminals, and featured large, dangerous looking weapons and evil grins on their faces. Grimacing to himself, he set Deidara down on the floor in order to better defend himself – if they blond got caught in the crossfire, than it was his own damn fault. From what he could surmise in looking at the group, there were twenty of them. As his eyes bled into a red state, he knew he was possibly biting off more than he could chew.

Then, however, one of them gasped, "Itachi Uchiha!" he cried. "No way in hell man. I'm going after the chick." With that, several of the men fled out the door – either in fear of him or in real duty to hunt down Sakura.

Sakura had just made it to the edge of the property when the alarm bells began to ring, and she felt a nervous twinge hit her when she realized Itachi had not yet emerged from the mansion. Should she go back? Was that her duty? Or should she allow the Akatsuki member who ruined everything to die? No, she was a medic, she was a life preserver, and she knew she would surely be killed once Itachi was no longer alive. He was the reason why she was even with the Akatsuki in the first place, and immediately after his death, she would be killed off, at least she thought.

'Sakura? What's going on?' Kisame hissed in her ears. He and Tobi were a solid mile away and it would take them a few minutes to arrive. Another pang of guilt hit her chest – she should go back for Itachi. Although he was an amazingly skilled shinobi, Sakura had counted at least a dozen rogue ninja in the party, and if they confronted Itachi, they may even be too much for him – especially since he was hauling an unconscious Deidara with him.

"Come now. We've been caught," Sakura whispered back. She ran to a tree at the edge of the property where she had kept a bag full of essentials. Quickly, she stripped herself of the kimono and quickly yanked on her black tunic, tight black shorts, and red skirt. Fastening her borrowed ninja belt around her waist and grabbing the second one Itachi left for himself, she hopped back towards the mansion, fear and anxiety pricking at her body.

To her chagrin, there was a group of about five rogue ninja now looking straight at her, blood lust leaking from their eyes. Blood boiling in anticipation, Sakura pulled chakra into her fist and slammed it onto the ground, creating a fissure straight towards the shinobi. Her thoughts, her body was numb; only the heat of battle could fully cause Sakura to go into a blind state of focus and deadly force. Concentrating only on getting to Itachi so they could get the hell out of there, she took the opportunity to jump past them and headed straight towards the doors as many of the surprised ninja fell into the ditch that was easily thirty feet deep – there was no way they would escape quickly anyway.

One of the shinobi, who had managed not to be trapped in the ditch, caught up with her, though, and was trying to incapacitate her by using a water jutsu. Sakura felt it coming and quickly dove out of the way; regaining her balance, she whipped around to see the man before her. Loading chakra into her fist, Sakura strikes out at the man's chest, but he dodges it easily. As she goes for a kunai, the man did the same and they met in the middle of a heated strike.