Sasuke winced when Sakura was punched halfway across the field. She landed harshly on her side, rolled for a bit before going limp in the dirt. Izumi was upon her in an instant, sword at Sakura's throat.
Naruto bristled and tried to rush forward, but Sasuke was not going near Izumi. He valued is life somewhat, so he yanked Naruto back by their bound together hands. Sakura whimpered, baring her neck, and Sasuke winced.
Surrendering would only piss Izumi off.
Izumi smacked Sakura's head and stood up, yanking her back up by her arm. "I refuse to let you be the weakest link in this group. You're a team, you're supposed to support each other. You don't get so easily kidnapped and bound, and if you get bound, you work on a way to get free. You don't put all the pressure on your team to rescue you unless there is no other choice."
Sakura winced. "I want to get stronger-"
"Then train. Kami, do I need to spell it out for you? Don't wait for us to come to you and tell you to train. You should be running at us, begging for new techniques, plotting ways to get stronger." Izumi's face darkened. "Otherwise someone stronger than you one day is going to come and take away your team. And what will you be able to do? Oh yeah, get knocked out."
Sasuke winced. Naruto threw him a concerned look, inching closer, but Sasuke pulled away, dragging Naruto over to Izumi. Sasuke reached out with his free hand and touched the Uchiha symbol upon her back.
Izumi had told him about her night during the massacre. How Itachi had cut down her mum and knocked Izumi out. How she came to in hospital, stained by her mum's blood. Izumi had clutched him tight the moment she said that and cried.
Sasuke had cried right along with her.
That had been the first anniversary of the Uchiha Massacre, were neither of them had any idea what to do with the other, or anyone else outside of the clan for that matter. Were a creak on the floor would make one of them yell and attack or flee, or the wind blowing against the windows or rain tapping the glass would make them jump. Were they had to leave the lights in the house on in fear Itachi was standing in the dark, dripping with blood. Sasuke had spent many nights that first year in Izumi's nest, or her in his bed, guarded by an ANBU called Hound who would sit outside their house until morning came for almost a year.
Sasuke and Izumi had improved during the years, but it was still difficult most days.
They still needed the lights on in the house after dark.
Izumi eyed him then turned to face him and ruffle his hair. That damned forced smile on her face. That was the thing that pissed Sasuke off the most about her. She was angry, but she didn't want to go after Itachi. Her hatred wasn't strong enough-
Sasuke closed his eyes and inhaled sharply.
No. That's what Itachi wanted. He wanted anger and hatred. He wanted to ruin Sasuke's and Izumi's lives by making them live the way he had.
But he hated Itachi. He wanted to kill him-
That could be on his own terms though. Izumi said he didn't need to be full of hatred to kill Itachi, and that he wasn't alone. Izumi didn't want to kill him though, and if she did, it would drive her crazy. Like it or not, Itachi is her mate.
It was Sasuke's responsibility. He had to do it.
"You're deep in thought, Sasuke," Naruto interrupted him.
Sasuke startled. He must have been lost for quite a bit, because Izumi was tying Sakura up, leaving her dangling from a tree.
"Now, get out of that in five seconds," Izumi ordered.
YOU ARE READING
Gravity
FanficKakashi's life was complicated enough. He was an Omega who lost his mate when Kakashi had only been a child. He was training three little terrors, one of whom was a mini clone of his Sensei, and now he had bonded to a man with a swirly orange mask a...
