❁𝐈𝐙𝐔𝐌𝐈'𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘- 𝘈 𝘕𝘌𝘞 𝘉𝘓𝘖𝘚𝘚𝘖𝘔 𝘖𝘍 𝘏𝘖𝘗𝘌 ✔︎

Chapter 5

They looked at each other with contempt. Neither of them took their eyes off the other.

Itachi had the power to perform a genjutsu, but was Kuro strong enough to break free?

He took one step forward, and Kuro slowly sliced Izumi's neck to demonstrate his legitimacy. Izumi began to cry from the pain she was experiencing.

Itachi came to a halt and stared at Kuro with murderous intent.

"She is a beautiful one! Perhaps Lady Ayame will let her become one of the sacrifices!" Kuro exclaimed as he stepped backwards alongside Izumi.

Izumi gulped. They were both trapped with a new enemy, and she had no idea how to break free from his tight grip.

Sweat ran down her face as she tried to remain still. With one move, the kunai would slice her.

"Who are you?" Itachi demanded, remaining in his position.

Kuro chuckled at him. "Knowing who I am should not be your primary concern, but rather the Uchiha girl who is held captive by me."

Itachi's eyes narrowed at his response. He was displeased with the ninja's response. It drove him insane to see Izumi in this state-wounded and imprisoned before him.

"I will take her to the cellars, where all of the other sacrifices are also stored. Once you have what I want, which will be that power genjutsu of yours, you may have her back...." Kuro spoke as he and Izumi took a step back.

He never removed the blade from her throat. It stayed there, letting him know what was at stake.

Itachi could not speak. Nothing came out of his mouth except heavy breaths. He felt like he could not breathe; his surroundings were suffocating.

A portal appeared behind Kuro. Itachi's eyes widened, and he was able to breathe once more.

As soon as Kuro entered the portal with Izumi, it began to close.

Itachi began to run towards it, hoping to reach it in time to save Izumi.

"I will be waiting, Itachi Uchiha," Kuro said coldly as he knocked Izumi to the ground on the opposite side of the portal.

She appeared helpless, weak, and pathetic. Izumi felt humiliated because she was unable to defend herself against the opponent once he spotted her. She blamed herself for getting Itachi into this situation and possibly causing him to lose an eye. And for what reason? All to save her.

When the portal closed, Itachi fell to the floor as his hand passed through it.

When his palms met the dusty ground in front of him, he gripped everything he could with the dirt left over from previous battles in the rooms.

He cried. He failed to protect Izumi. His duty to protect made him feel as if he had failed once more.

Itachi slammed the ground and remaining walls, leaving only a scattered site.

Everything was disorganized, and the entire area appeared to be in ruins.

He cried, raged, and screamed. Itachi has never been more frustrated about losing her. Losing someone who is very important to him, just as Sasuke was to him.

-

Itachi eventually fell to the ground again. His earlier outbreak left him defeated and exhausted.

Everything around him felt as if the biggest battle had taken place. He felt like a madman and not a ninja. All because he could not get Izumi out of Kuro.

"Wow, what just happened here?" A low voice came from beyond.

Itachi's eyes widened at the voice. Turning to his left, he watched Naruto and Sakura approach the location.

When their gazes met, both appeared surprised and speechless to see each other at this time. Sakura dashed towards him, concerned for his safety and well-being.

"Itachi! What happened here, and where is Izumi!?" She asked as she quickly got to work on healing him.

Itachi fell against a rock, allowing Sakura to tend to his injuries. He only looked to the floor, feeling guilty and ashamed of what he was about to tell them.

"The enemy has captured her. All because I was too weak and slow to protect her," Itachi said, closing his eyes.

Sakura's medical ninjutsu began to gradually relieve the pain that had previously engulfed his body.

When the pain subsided, he collapsed against the wall, feeling helpless. "I am sorry; if I had stayed with her and retreated, none of this would have happened-"

Naruto interrupted Itachi with a cough. Sakura and Itachi stared at him, perplexed.

"You are not weak; you are strong. Just because you failed to save one person does not mean you are forever a failure. Itachi, I know she is still alive somewhere in the castle. Never call yourself weak; no one will ever forgive you! Not even Sasuke would... " Naruto stated with a plea.

Itachi's eyes widened when he heard Sasuke's name.

What hurt Itachi the most was that Sasuke did not forgive him. It happened once, and he had to carry that heavy burden with him. It really hurt for him. He does not want to go through it again, especially given where society is now.

"Not even Izumi would," Naruto added, whispering.

Itachi looked down at the ground, ashamed.

Naruto was correct, and he knew it. But he could not bring himself to admit it-not now. Not until he had successfully rescued Izumi, which was his only priority.

Naruto extended his hand to Itachi, and he looked at it with guilt. "Take my hand, and we will go save Izumi. Take my hand, and Izumi will be saved. Not just by us, but primarily with you..." Naruto spoke.

Itachi looked up to him, exhausted. But now he understood what he needed to do.

Save his one and only love.