Nothing But the Truth

Chapter 9: With Longing

AN: This chapter actually took me more sessions to write than most before. I guess I'm just not sure I like the low. Let me know what you think, okay? I feel it's a bit too choppy for my liking. Anyway, thank you for reading! Please review!

Nothing but the Truth

Chapter 9: With Longing

"The sea always filled her with longing, though for what she was never sure."

― Cornelia Funke, Inkheart

As the sun was now beginning to peak itself beyond the trees, the small clearing near the stream was silent with the exception being the birds that were wildly indicating that a new day had begun. Sakura Haruno stared with strong, defiant jade eyes at the Uchiha in front of her, who was regarding her with a stoic face, not making a sound. Her entire body was the epitome of tense – shoulders scrunched, back braced, eyebrows furrowed, and hands clenched in white-knuckled fists on her knees that were crossed in front of here, mere inches away from the Uchiha's.

Uchiha Itachi was silent for a moment as his analytical mind ran through every possibility of what the kunoichi could possibly mean. How could she possibly blame him for her own capture by the snake sannin? This was surely a stretch. There were countless other events that he could be blamed for by her, but his supposedly genius mind was having a difficult time fathoming how he could have possibly caused this incident in the girl's life.

Inclining his head by a fraction of an inch, he says evenly, "Do tell."

Sakura's eyes widen for a moment, but they quickly return to their previous state of slight anxiety mixed with passive-aggression. However, she does not speak to him as the memories are rolling over in her head tumultuously. Emotions betraying her, a silent tear makes its way to the corner of her eye, but it does not fall. It will not fall – she won't let it.

"It's no longer important," she replied darkly.

"I disagree," was his adamant response. "If you are holding me accountable for something I don't understand my role in, I deserve to at least know the circumstances."

Sakura released a long breath and closed her eyes, trying to compose herself. Knowing that bridging this subject to the Uchiha was a mistake and was leaving her vulnerable did not sit well with the girl in the least. Finally, after regaining some semblance of mind, trying to keep a flat and even tone, she said, "I should not have brought the subject up. I do not wish to speak of it."

When she braced her arms on the ground to pull herself up, Itachi's hands were quick to grab her wrists, urging her down. "Tell me," he commanded.

Sakura scrunched her brow at him fully, angry emerald eyes trying to pierce into his now onyx orbs. "No."

"Then I hope you like it here, Sakura, because we aren't leaving until you clarify your earlier...accusation," he explained evenly, not allowing his grip on the kunoichi to weaken in any way.

"I wasn't accusing you of anything!" she huffed heatedly.

"Once again we are at a disagreement," he whispered dangerously. "Now talk."

"Fine," she hissed. Her eyes changed from a furious scowl to that of an expression Itachi could only imagine on a kicked puppy as the memories seemed to churn within her right before his eyes. "Only three people in the entire world can fabricate body tissues using medical chakra."

"Yourself, the Godaime Hokage, and her other apprentice," Itachi noted; Sakura nodded in return.

"However, five years ago when Orochimaru first approached Tsunade-shishou about healing his arms, she refused, albeit tentatively," Sakura continued. Her jade eyes were fixed to Itachi's and something sparked within the onyx depths of his mind as the true understanding of her words came to him.