Fatal Addiction (Itachi Uchiha)

23 - One Final Goodbye

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:
One Final Goodbye
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*FLASHBACK*

"Look, I know you two don't want to hurt me, but you'll never be able to grow as shinobi if you don't learn how to suppress your emotions and fight me when I say to." Kana explains as she throws her arms around to emphasise her point.

"We know, but you're family to us, Kana. We don't want to hurt you." Sakura says with a quick shake of her head, causing her pink hair to bounce around.

"Hurt me? I'm an ex anbu black op, a jonin and little sister to the fastest shinobi on earth. Hurt me if you think you can." Kana extends her arms out to her sides to fully expose herself to the teenage Naruto and Sakura.

"You're asking for it, Kana." Naruto smirks at the thought of getting to spar with one of the most amazing ninja around.

"Cmon Naru, don't disappoint me now." she winks.

Not a second later, Naruto is sprinting as fast as he can at his aunty.

The two trade punches and kicks but no fatal hits were received on either end. After Naruto falls tired he swaps with Sakura who attempts to knock Kana off her feet with a chakra punch to the ground.

-

"I'm pooped." Naruto collapses to the ground beside Sakura and the two stare up at the dark night sky.

Kana lets out a sigh and sits down beside them. "How beautiful is the sky tonight, though?"

"Really beautiful." Naruto sighs.

That night, the three stayed up until the sun rose. They talked about each other's lives, shared secrets, revealed emotions and everything in between. Kana, Naruto and Sakura formed an unbreakable bond and created a memory that could never be forgotten.

*FLASHBACK OVER*

"I have to go back." Kana whispers to herself as she sits up straight in her bed. "I have to go talk to him."

She stands up and grabs a hold of her Akatsuki cloak. She wraps the warm material around her body as she lets out a shaky sigh. There's no way she's actually going through with something as crazy as this.

Kana silently walks to the main area of the base and finds herself standing in front of the huge waterfall. She raises her hands up and parts the water using a mix of her chakra and a water release technique. The water parts for her and she walks through the empty space and out of the base.

She allows the water to return back to normal to get rid of any trace she left in the first place.

Kana closes her eyes and concentrates on flashing to Konoha.

She arrives, landing swiftly on her feet.

The blonde girl stands over Naruto's sleeping body. He's wrapped in a large blanket and a small puddle of drool is under his open mouth. Snores continually erupt from the sleeping boy. His chest slowly rises and falls and he looks so... peaceful.

"Naruto." Kana softly speaks.

Naruto's eyes slowly open and he blinks a few times before scrambling out of bed. He jumps backwards and stares at her intently. He's ready to fight.

"Calm down. Listen to-"

"What the hell do you think you're doing here!?" he growls and clenches his fist tightly.

There's no way to show him she means no harm.

Kana raises her hands up and shows her empty palms to prove her innocence.

"I'm not here to fight you, Naru. I came to talk to you. To apologise."

"Keep your hands there." he demands. Kana nods her head in agreement.

"Hear me out, okay?"

"Why should I? You betrayed the village. You beat Sakura senseless and you fought Kakashi sensei and I. After all you said about not caring... why should I ever trust you again, let alone listen to a traitor. You have some nerve-"

"Because we're family. Because you need to trust that no matter what I say in front of the Akatsuki... I love you. All of you and this is my home. You need to trust that I am doing this for a reason. Trust that I know exactly what I'm doing and that I will be fine. Conjure up whatever little belief you have left in me and hold onto it for dear life. I'm still Kana Namikaze. I'm still your family and I'm still the same girl I was months ago before I left." she pauses. Naruto's mouth is slightly parted as he listens to her words and feels the truth behind it. "You need to promise that you won't try and find me, and that you won't ever try to fight the Akatsuki so that I come home. Promise."

Naruto shakes his head defiantly and is about to protest when Kana interrupts him.

"PROMISE." she raises her voice. Just like Kushina would in this very moment.

"I-I promise." he finally says clearly.

"This is bigger than just you and me, okay? We won't see each other for a while after this, but remember that you mean the world to me, Naru, and I will always be here for you even if you can't see me."

Naruto's face is covered in shock. He has no idea how to respond, how to even feel towards her. The one and only feeling he could never erase is love, he will always love his aunty and now he is choosing to believe her words.

"Kana, if the Akatsuki are holding you against your will... I will kill them. All of them." Naruto says in a low voice as if he were a wolf ready to attack prey.

"They aren't. And you won't. You promised." Kana reminds him sternly. Naruto pauses hesitantly before giving one swift nod in agreement.

Kana walks towards Naruto who seems unsure about what to do. She stands directly in front of him only a few centimetres away. She wraps her arms around his body and pulls him close.

He grew in the past few months... he's taller than her now.

"I love you." she whispers as a tear rolls down her face. His arms wrap tight around her.

That was the final goodbye she needed.