Shades of Grey

Chapter 71

"I see." Tsunade nodded as Team 7 finished giving their report. It was already late in the evening and she needed a shot of sake more now than she did when they first came in. "So, she doesn't want to return."

"It seems that way." Kakashi sighed with a defeated look on his face.

"Then there is nothing that we can do." The Hokage sadly shook her head. "As long as she is with that new makeshift team of hers, we can only hope they keep her safe."

"I don't think that you have to worry about that too much." Shikamaru spoke up deciding to enlighten her to a few of the details that Sakura's team had conveniently left out. "She seems to have mastered the use of the nine tails calling on it when she needs to with little to no harm to herself."

"Impressive." Tsunade smirked.

"Not to mention I believe that she is in a romantic relationship with Itachi Uchiha." The Nara added.

"Explain." Tsunade quirked a brow. She should have figured when Sakura wrote her that letter explaining the Uchiha's tragic past that her apprentice would fall for him. After all she was a medic, she liked to heal things.

"He gave her a necklace." Naruto shrugged. "But so, did I. They didn't act all lovey dovey or anything."

"It is more than that." Sasuke spoke for the first time since entering the office. "Did you not see the Uchiha crest on her katana? Itachi gave her a weapon and jewelry; to a Uchiha that is as good as marriage."

"Well at least now I know why she won't come back." Tsunade gave a small smile. "Given this piece of information I am sure that he will watch over her."

"You are as delusional as Naruto." Sasuke locked cold eyes with the Hokage's. "He will keep her as long as he wants. Itachi craves power and Sakura's is sure to be alluring to him, but once he does not need her anymore, he will leave her. That is if he does not kill her. You need to order us to bring her in."

"How dare you talk to me like that you damn Uchiha brat?" Tsunade used great restraint to keep herself from knocking him through the damn wall. "You want some orders? How about this, you leave Sakura the hell alone. You want to talk about people who hurt her, look in the damn mirror. The first one to hurt her was you, and let me tell you, you did a hell of a number. I do not like this anymore than the rest of you, but I am the damn Hokage. I must think about what is best for the village. Like it or not your brother and his team are our best shot at eliminating the threat of Akatsuki. You are to stand down. I will not accept you interfering in her life any longer. I will have enough evidence to have Danzo in custody soon. When that is done, and we get word that Akatsuki is destroyed I will allow Team 7 one more chance to offer Sakura and her team sanctuary."

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Sasuke did not say a word deciding instead to storm out of the room. So, what if Itachi had been acting on orders? Could they not all see that made him no less of a monster? Now he was supposed to just let him have Sakura. Ordered to invite him to live his happily ever after in Konoha. This was not over, not by a long shot. Sasuke was going to have his vengeance and then he was going to bring Sakura home. Eventually she would forgive him for what he had to do. He was certain that once he was out of Itachi's evil influence she would return to her old self once more.