Shades of Grey

Chapter 33

"Slow down kid." Kisame tried to calm the girl who was fleeing the cottage in tears.

It was useless, there was no calming her down now, and he knew exactly why. He supposed that when having such a heated argument it was easy to forget that the walls were thin. He was thankful in a way. He had been wondering for a long time what made his partner tick, now he knew.

He supposed that he could be mad that Itachi was spying on Akatsuki, but he was not. He and the kid had watched each other's back for a long time now. He owed Itachi more loyalty than he ever had anyone. Akatsuki be damned.

"She's gone." He told the Uchiha who had quickly made his way downstairs.

"Where did she go?" Itachi questioned his sharingan flaring to life in his upset.

"Don't know." The large man shrugged. "But she grabbed her pack on the way out. I cannot say I blame her for not wanting to stick around to see your bloody end. I am halfway tempted to go with her."

"So, you heard?" The Uchiha's hand twitched towards his kunai pouch. The move did not go unnoticed by the other man.

"We are way beyond that.' Kisame assured him. "But I would like to point out how unfair you are being. You let her in, and she knows that she is the only one you ever have. I know that you think that she is all hung up on your brother, but you are damned blind; hell, both of you are. Neither of you can see what is just beneath the surface. The kid cares for you more than you know, to tell her that she must watch you die is cruel. Nothing you have done in the past makes you a monster, but this comes pretty damn close."

Sakura raced through the trees with her chakra well concealed. Even if either of the Akatsuki partners tried to follow her she was confident that she would not be found. She had promised Itachi that she would heal his eyes, and herself that she would mend his heart. What was the point? Why would she waste chakra and risk her own heart? Her work would all be for nothing; this life was not fair.

Suddenly she found her direction and changed her course. Itachi had told her not to touch Danzo, but frankly she did not give a shit what he said. Itachi Uchiha was a fool, and right now she needed to vent. She could think of few things that would be more satisfying than reliving Danzo of his balls and promptly shoving them down his throat.

"Calm yourself little one." Kurama spoke up.

"No." The kunoichi snapped. "I don't want to."

"You are acting like a spoiled pup." The fox chuckled,

"That is easy for you to say." Sakura retorted. "How am I supposed to accept the fact that he is going to let himself be killed?"

"I didn't say that." He assured her in a soothing tone. "You must understand that you are dealing with a man who resigned himself to his fate a long time ago. What you must do is show him a reason to live."

"A reason to live." Sakura mused as she finally slowed her pace. "How do you suppose that I do that?"

"Just as you and Naruto showed Sasuke that there is more than just revenge, you must show Itachi that there are more reasons to live than to punish himself for his crimes." Kurama explained.

"Oh of course." The kunoichi rolled her eyes. "We did so great at changing Sasuke's mind; in case you didn't notice he is still pretty hell bent on killing his brother."

"Yet he is finally content to remain in the Leaf until fate brings him to the end of his quest." The fox countered. "Listen little one, you are one of the most vibrant humans that I have ever met. A large part of Itachi died along with his clan, what you must do is teach him to live."

"I guess you are right." Sakura sighed. "But rest assured when I am able to return to Konoha I am going to make Danzo pay."

"I have no qualms with that, but if you leave Itachi now all will be lost." He reasoned.