Nothing But the Truth

Chapter 18: Bent and Broken

AN: Some of you may have noticed I've changed quite a bit about this story. I've been working hard on edits, and I'm happy to say I only have three more chapters to revise, 2, 3, and 4. I'm planning on redoing certain scenes – like the discovering the Sharingan and Orochimaru extraction – all scenes I've had trouble writing in the past. I'll let you know when I do that. I've posted the quotes that I've wanted to at the beginning of each chapter, and I've also renamed the chapters based off of these quotes like I've wanted to. Thank you to those who have read this story from the beginning and haven't given up on it after reading that horrid first chapter. The new first chapter is a little more detailed, and has been edited. I'm hoping to get the second chapter edited and posted by tomorrow. Really guys, thank you so much for sticking with me. I know it's been a bit of a roller coaster through this story.

Please review and I hope you like this chapter!

Nothing but the Truth

Chapter 18: Bent and Broken

"Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape."

― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Her leg jittered nervously, impatiently, as she observed the scene before her. It was a bad, annoying habit she had picked up from Shizune while working with her in the hospital. The habit drove people around her completely insane. At least, it drove Sasuke insane. He was the only one who was almost constantly around her recently anyway – like a guard dog set to attack. If it wasn't so damn annoying, it would be endearing. Memories of her youth filled her impatient brain while she waited for Gaara to finish his task.

Now that she reflected on Sasuke's overprotective attitude, she remembered a time when she would have swooned at the Uchiha's care for her person. That was when she was week though. Now she was perfectly capable of taking care of her damn self. But Sasuke had a personal mission he now had to complete. Honor and protect that which his dear aniki finds precious – first and foremost on the list, her. So the Uchiha had been a bit of a constant presence in her life since the day that Sasuke had learned the truth about the death of his clan. While he still could not find it within himself to completely forgive his brother, and Sakura knew it would be a long time before he could, Sasuke did his best to honor his brother's sacrifices since most of the losses were for him.

Her foot went to hit the ground once again when a small swirl of sand clamped her defenseless foot down to the ground forcefully. Eyelids narrowing at the challenge, she sent a withering stare in the direction of the Kazekage who didn't even bother to turn to look at her. She was sure he could feel her burning countenance towards him at the moment anyway. Humph. It wasn't her fault it was taking him so long to finish up. For such an impatient man, he sure did take his time with things. Shaking her head, she shoved out such traitorous thoughts. Gaara was working very hard on an incredibly important task.

Perhaps it was because she was so close. Everything she had been working on the past six months was coming to fruition. Soon, everything would fall into place. At least, theoretically it would. However, her treacherous mind was once again forming thoughts of a different nature. When had anything really gone her way? A firm, unyielding part of her stated that she would have to work much harder to get peace and balance restored to her life. Nothing went easy for her, and it was a fool's hope to think that everything would be peachy the second her fist connected with the behemoth of a statue in front of her.

The large statue that stood in front of them, several meters tall, was smothering and intimidating. She had heard stories of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the statue used to seal the bijuu, but she had never seen it up close. The large brown, decaying statue was bound in the feet, holding the humanoid form as it had once held the ten tails. When Sakura had first caught a glimpse of the monstrous statue, she had lost all ability to breathe. Even Gaara glared at it with contempt. Of course, he had seen the statue once before – the day that he died.