Fade to Black (Naruto fanfiction) - DISCONTINUED

A Confused Night

Flashback: After Kirigakure

Ibiki reported to the Hokage everything he heard and his opinion on Sakura's abilities so far.

"Her abilities are beyond our imagination." He knew Sakura had tremendous skills but in addition to that, she's also a Fuuma.

Every shinobi village knew of the Fuumas and their reputation was terrifying. Even though they were not as strong as the Hyuugas or Uchihas, they get the job done without being noticed and they would mercilessly kill if the job involves eliminating their target. Having a Fuuma in the village could be another one of their asset but the Hokage didn't want Sakura to become like that.

Leaving her with Itachi's family was the right choice. Was it?

~

Sakura's pov

Our happiness didn't last long. I knew something was going on within the Uchiha compound since Fugaku-san, Mikoto-san and Itachi's behavior gradually changed. Sasuke was the same as always but I couldn't tell him or anybody about what I noticed. It was not my place to say anything since I was an outsider. Itachi's behavior changed drastically compared to the other clan members but one thing never changed. His eyes were warmer than anyone else's when he watched over us.

~

The moon shone above as Sasuke and Sakura raced home after training with each other after classes. They entered the compound and their pace slowed down to a walking pace when they were halfway home. Something felt strange. No one was out. Even though it was around dinner time there would still be some people outside. But there was no one. Silence and an eerie feeling filled the air and a cold chill ran down their spine. It felt like someone was watching them. They looked up, but no one was there. They looked around and realized not one house had lights on. Realization hit them. Something didn't feel right. They broke out in cold sweat and gulped. They quickly ran and turned a corner and stood still from a momentary shock. Blood stains were splashed across the walls, kunais and shurikens were pierced into the walls, and sings, doors, everything was damaged.

They turned the corner towards their house.

"What's going on?!" Sasuke yelled. Corpses of the Uchiha members laid on the ground.

Sakura wasn't shaken even though it was her first time seeing an actual corpse with blood flowing out of the wound.

"Kaa-san, tou-san."

"Mikoto-san. Fugaku-san."

They both thought with worry.

They quickly ran home and and when they arrived, they slammed the door open to every room. No one was home. They finally stood in front of the last room and paused for a moment as their body trembled in fear. Sasuke slowly reached the door handle, his hands shaking uncontrollably, as Sakura stood there, fearing the worse. Sasuke paused for a moment with his eyes closed as he clenched his teeth.

Just as Sasuke almost grabbed the handle a figure appeared in front of the door wearing the ANBU outfit. Itachi made it just in time. Even he doesn't know what lies beyond the door. But one things for sure: he couldn't sense his parents.

"Nii-san! W-where are kaa-san and tou-san?! Everyone is dead!"

Itachi looked at Sasuke with emotionless eyes. "NII-SAN!" Sasuke pleaded.

Sakura had a bad feeling about this. "Itachi-nii. What's behind the door?" Itachi stayed silent.

"ITACHI-NII!"

"You guys don't need to know." Sakura clenched her teeth and charged at Itachi. Sakura threw a punch at Itachi but Itachi blocked it with his arm. "LET US THROUGH ITACHI-NII!"

Itachi gave her the same look he gave Sasuke; the same emotionless eyes. They gazed into each other's eye for a few seconds. The longer Sakura looked at Itachi, the more she could tell something was wrong. She felt a hint of anguish through his eyes. The eyes don't lie no matter how much someone puts up a front.

"Sasuke, your kaa-san and tou-san are in that room."

"Is that true, nii-san?" Sasuke grabbed Itachi by his vest.

Itachi kept his composure.

"Nii-san!!" he shook Itachi back and forth. Still no response from Itachi.

"Sasuke. Get stronger."

Sasuke was puzzled by Itachi's sudden remark. He didn't quite understand what Itachi meant by that. Was he the one who massacred the clan or not? And there was no doubt that Sasuke was going to get stronger.

"Sasuke. Sakura. Remember this. Hatred brings nothing but darkness and misery." He continued. "And Sakura, you can drop the act."

Itachi's remark towards Sakura caught Sasuke's attention as well. What did he mean?

Itachi looked at Sasuke, then Sakura. Itachi and Sakura's eyes met. She made an apologetic smile. Itachi-nii...sorry.

Sakura ran down the corridors that led to the garden just around the room.

"SAKURA!" Itachi took a step attempting to pursue her but Sasuke held a firm grip on his vest.

"NII-SAN!" Sasuke glared at Itachi with tears streaming down his face. He wanted answers.

Away from Itachi's sight, she performed hand signs and shouted, "Katon: Fireball jutsu!" The jutsu broke down the wall that led to the room. Itachi and Sasuke heard a massive explosion.

Itachi punched Sasuke in the stomach, hard enough to make him fall to the ground but faint him and ran towards direction of the explosion.

The dust from the explosion began to clear up. There was a faint presence left in the room and Sakura knew she felt it before.

Itachi stood a few feet behind Sakura.

Sakura stood frozen at the scene.

Sasuke mustered up his strength and walked to where Itachi and Sakura were. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Itachi. His expression had changed. His eyes were filled with remorse and grievance as tears streamed down his cheeks. Sasuke found his answer. He ran towards them and turned around to face the room. The dust and debris cleared up.

"Sasuke! Stop-" It was too late. Itachi was deep in his own thoughts about who murdered his parents brutally he forgot Sasuke had already made his way to the garden.

What Sasuke and Sakura saw was worse than they had imagined. Their eyes widened in disbelief and terror and Sasuke fell to the ground on all fours, trembling. They threw up their saliva as they squinted at the scene in front of them.

Blood stains were splattered throughout the room in addition to the ceiling. Two bodies were on the floor with its limbs separated as blood spilled from the flesh and formed a pool of blood. The trapped smell of blood and corpse escaped from the room and a shadow hanging from the ceiling swung back and forth slightly from the explosion. They squinted their eyes for a closer look. Indescribable horror ran throughout their bodies and Sasuke let out a horrific scream as tears escaped his eyes. It was hell. Even the Fuumas aren't as ruthless.

Sasuke clenched his teeth and balled his fists as tears poured down his face. Crows within a mile of Konoha scattered about as the cry echoed from the Uchiha compound.

Sakura suddenly felt a presence behind her. She knew who it was. How could she forget? She quickly turned around but before she could see the mysterious figure's face, she was knocked out Sakura, next was Sasuke.

~

Location: Unknown location

Torches lit throughout the hallways of an underground hideout.

"Nanashi-sama. Don't you think that was a bit cruel?" A man with ash-grey hair asked as he pushed his glasses up.

"Kabuto, in order to catch your prey you need to reel it in with a bait; a catalyst." The mysterious figure let out a demonic smile.

~

Hatred brings nothing but darkness and misery.

Those were Itachi's last words to them. Sasuke kept that in his heart and followed his brother's words. Sakura on the other hand, was a different story.