Redemption In Your Eyes

Embrace

Aster ate her udon sullenly as Sakura sat across from her, notating everything that her charge consumed. The food was gone quickly, and Aster crossed her arms, irritated. Listening to the scritch of the younger girl's pen, she put her dish in the sink.

"Is this really necessary?" Aster asked.

Sakura looked up. "Yes. You're down a total of 12 pounds. Anymore weight loss is dangerous. You have to eat enough."

Sighing loudly, "It's not what I eat. I eat just fine."

"Maybe you don't realize you're not eating enough," Sakura replied, looking back down and exhausted with the conversation. "It doesn't matter. It's in both our interests for you to listen to what I say. I'm your doctor." Suddenly, she lifted her head.

The door swung open, and Aster jumped, still not used to her inability to sense others. Itachi entered the room, with Hikaru close behind, his face hidden behind his bangs and expression unreadable. Sakura smiled, expecting Sasuke close behind. Aster ran up and wrapped Itachi in her arms.

"You're back!" the redhead exclaimed.

Itachi pushed her away. Sakura sat at the table, waiting patiently for the younger Uchiha to appear. Hikaru looked sorrowfully over the group.

"I..." Itachi choked on his words, not sure how to begin. "Orochimaru... He took Sasuke." His voice broke on the last words.

Standing abruptly, Sakura almost flipped the table. "What?!" Anger rose in the young girl. "You came back to Konoha without Sasuke?"

"Rations were low, we had so little time to search, and we need reinforcements," Itachi sputtered, surprised by her ferocity.

The Uchiha's gaze fell to his pregnant wife. A look of horror covered her. "He didn't... Sasuke didn't go willing, did he?"

"No!" Itachi cried. "Of course not! We need to find him..."

"I can't believe you left your own brother in the field to fend for himself!" Sakura yelled and raised a hand to slap him.

Itachi caught it and glared at her. "This isn't a competition about who's more worried about Sasuke. I have already given a report to Tsunade-sama and will be leaving with a search team in a few hours."

Defeated, Sakura took a step back. "I can't believe this has happened."

"The location we scouted, the whole objective of the mission," Hikaru murmured, "It was all a trap. Orochimaru wants his vessel."

-One Week Earlier-

As they landed in the stone room, Sasuke managed to elbow Orochimaru and roll away. Skidding to a halt on his heels, Sasuke stood. Scowling, he took in his foe's appearance. Orochimaru had reverted to a fully human body and was standing before him with a wide, toothy smile.

"Sasuke," he hissed. "I've grown tired of waiting..."

The Uchiha's blade glinted in the moonlight as he drew it from the scabbard on his back. "So have I."

With that, he charged, moving side to side and slashing in a short, intricate pattern. The snake sannin moved gracefully, avoiding the strikes that were close enough to cut the ends of his hair. Suddenly, Sasuke drove his sword into the ground. Using the weapon like a post, he hoisted himself up on one hand and threw a powerful kick. Orochimaru saw it coming, but was unable to dodge. He went flying backwards and landed on his feet.

Taking a deep breath, Sasuke called out, "Katon: ryuuen houka no jutsu!" A barrage of dragon shaped fireballs came from his mouth as he exhaled with force.