𝑰𝑵𝑶𝑪𝑯𝑰 𝑵𝑶𝑯𝑨𝑹𝑨 :: Dauntless

21. MISTAKE

(The previous night)

Inochi and her squad entered the fire nation and stopped for refreshments. Gaara, who was now surrounded by four shinobi who just had a bloodbath didn't mind the awkward silence and gobbled up on the snacks that Inochi brought with her.

-"Aren't you going to tell him anything?" Sajin scooted close to Inochi and whispered in her ear.

Inochi looked at Gaara. She could still feel her chakra inside his head which was what stopping him from regaining his memories. In some sense, he was partially under her genjutsu.

-"He is partially under my genjutsu. This is a technique I learned from the Yamanaka clan's leader when I was younger. Its the same tech-" Inochi stopped before giving away information about her own past.

- "its the same technique....?" Sajin asked further but Inochi just avoided her. She looked around to see if Kakashi had heard her but thankfully both him and Shisui were lost in their own thoughts.

- "Anyways, I don't think that taking him out of the genjutsu is correct at this point. Not only are we drained of chakra, but we are also injured"

-"Just use a healing seal then? I am sure you have brought loads of them"

-"I don't have any more of those. Three of us have used two healing seals while Shisui san and oniisan have used one each"

Sajin ignored Inochi's words and went on to dig through the items in her bags. While Sajin was busy searching for the seals, Gaara went over to Inochi.

-"Umi neechan... Is it not your real name? Are you really not Nagisa Kumimono?" Gaara asked in the most earnest tone. Hearing this every one in the tent went silent. Inochi's face however, softened with the question.

-"I am not Nagisa Kumimono, Gaara sama. My real name is Inochi Nohara. And I am a shinobi from the village hidden in the leaf, Konoha" Everyone's breath hitched as they heard Inochi's honest answer. Kakashi and Shisui braced for some kind of sudden outburst while Sajin had an alarmed expression all over her face.

Inochi however, pulled Gaara over her lap and hugged him tightly.

- "Gaara sama, I am right now unable to completely tell you what's going on. But I promise you I will resolve all your questions once we finally reach konoha and settle down. By tomorrow night, we would reach Konoha so I hope you could keep your faith in me till then"

Gaara didn't say anything for a few seconds after which he cuddled back into Inochi's embrace. For months Inochi was his safe place and he couldn't just suddenly took off his faith from her. As the fire went off, the three shinobi went to sleep while Inochi whispered a lullaby to Gaara. Gaara clutched his scarf as he drifted off to sleep but only after muttering a faint " I love you" to the only person he he loved with his whole heart.

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(The night of the massacre)

That night there was an eerie silence enveloping the whole village of Konoha. The tension could be sensed as the hostility of the Uchiha towards the leaf grew more with every passing day. Even the villagers who had no clue about the the coup or the growing hatred of the Uchiha felt the need to keep their distance from the officials.

As all the lights went off the two ninjas swiftly entered the Uchiha compound, to the designated rendezvous spot. They had the foolproof plan ready and were just waiting for the right time.

Itachi was already braced up for attack and avoided any kind of small talk with the masked man. Even the smallest of things could lead him astray from the decisions he had taken. He absolutely had no faith in the masked man but he also knew that any kind of mistake could cost him his life. The man who Itachi mistook to be Madara Uchiha, one of the greatest Shinobi in the history, was not someone he would like to go against at that point.