Caretaker Of Jinchuriki's [Naruto]

{53} Sasuke's Hatred, This Isn't Over

Oh, Sasuke. Look how fall you have fallen. So swallowed up by revenge and darkness that you cannot think of anything else. Nothing more than a shadow to all that you have come across. 

"Let me ask you something, Sasuke. What will you do now that your old teammates have arrived? What do you plan to do with Karin now that you took your anger out of her because I killed Danzo?" 

"HAHAHAHAHA!!! What kind of question is that!? The answer is obvious! I'm going to destroy the leaf village!" He laughs with a wicked smile. 

"Because of what you found out, yes? The person you should be mad at is Danzo since this was all his doing. I admit, the leaf has kept many secrets from a lot of people, but it can change. If you attack the leaf, you will be nothing more than a traitor, an enemy, and a criminal for the rest of your life." 

"I don't care! Nothing matters to me anymore!" Sasuke shouts. 

"Not even your brother?" I question. "He is standing right here. Tell him what you have to say. You felt guilty after killing him, so as a gift, I brought him back. Now is your time to say what you want to say to him. It is now or never, Sasuke." 

"Tch." He tries to mouth something, but I cannot read his lips. Being driven too far into darkness does not allow him to speak his mind. As I excepted. . . Looks like it can't be helped anymore. 

"Kakashi. Do what you must. Itachi, move to a location where you are safe." 

"Right." Both men nod their heads and get a move on. Kakashi starts fighting Sasuke while Sakura heals Karin. 

I watch the fight while Sakura heals Karin, but as soon as she is done, she stands up and holds a kunai in her hand. "Do not try, Sakura." I call her out without looking at her. "Your feelings will get in the way. You cannot kill Sasuke on your own. He will kill you before you even get the chance." 

"But, Akari, I can do it!" 

"No, you cannot. Stay put for the sake of your life and others. Kakashi will handle this." But being ignorant and stubborn Sakura is, she runs pass me to get to Sasuke. "Sakura!" I chase after her. 

"Sakura! Don't do it" Kakashi warns her as she is right behind Sasuke. The moment she strikes, she hesitates and cries. Sasuke grabs her by the throat and attempts to slash her with the kunai. 

But before he does, Naruto saves Sakura while I push Sasuke away from them. Naruto nor Sakura are hurt, but I do get cut on the cheek. "Akari! Are you alright!?" Kakashi asks. 

"I am fine." I nod my head and look at Naruto. 

"Sasuke. . ." Naruto glares at Sasuke. "I know everything now. . . . Some guy name Tobi told me everything about Itachi, but I wasn't sure if he was lying to me or not. But everything you're going through, I understand it all!" 

"What could you possibly understand? You have no parents or siblings. How could you understand anything about me!" 

"You're wrong. I have Akari. She was my parent and she still is, and I know she was like a mother to you, too. But you driven her away. But that doesn't mean she stopped caring about you. She still worries for you, Sasuke." 

"And when everyone is after you, Naruto was the only one who wants to save you, up until now!" Sakura pitches in. 

"The person you seek is dead. There is no reason for you to continue this madness that runs inside you. That runs through your veins. All this talk about reviving your clan, it can happen one way or another. But that choice is up to you." I speak up. 

"I will revive my clan, right after I destroy the leaf village! They are responsible for everything! Don't you get it!? You will never understand, Akari!" Sasuke shouts, then smiles wickedly. 

Because none of our words were getting through to Sasuke, Naruto and I look at each other and nod our heads. Both of us had the same plan in mind. "Sorry about this, Kakashi." 

"Hmm?" Kakashi looks at me and I hold him back as Naruto creates the Rasengan with his clones and runs toward Sasuke. "Naruto! Don't!" 

The two rivals run at each other, the same as back then before Sasuke went to Orochimaru. . . What if. . . their roles reversed? Naruto being the one who had to witness his parent's death, and Sasuke being the one being completely alone. . .

"Chidori!" 

"Rasengan!" I can hear their words within the blast, as if they escaped to another reality. A moment that they are sharing, and probably the last. "Sasuke. . . Earlier I was hated by everyone in the village and I had hatred towards them. But all of that changed when Akari came into my life. And I know she was there for you, too when you were in need of help."  

"Are you alright? My name is Akari." The memory repeats. "You and Naruto are not that different from each other. You're rivals, yet you have each other's back through thick and thin. It's almost as if you two are siblings. But believe me when I say this. You matter to me." 

"I'm really glad that I met you, Sasuke! All I really wanted was to be cool just like you." Naruto smiles.

"No matter what you say, I won't change." Sasuke says back. "I'm going to kill you and everyone else in the village! You have two choices. You can be a hero who killed me or be a loser like you always were." 

"I'm not going to be a loser, and I'm not going to be a hero who kills you. Because I will bring you home!" 

After the blast, I release Kakashi and grab Naruto before he could hit the bridge behind us. Tobi appears and looks directly at me. Through his mask, I can see the Sharingan. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Akari?" He speaks to me. 

"Not long enough, Tobi. . . Or should I say, Madara?" Even though his true identity is hidden. I am fully aware of who he is, but I do not think that Kakashi knows yet. "Naruto?" I watch him walk pass me. 

"It's okay, Akari." He walks a few feet away from Sasuke. "Sasuke, when we shared blows, you know what your heart is telling you, right? The next time we fight, we both die. So if you attack the leaf village, I will be forced to fight you! The one who can handle all that hatred is me! Then, I will carry the burden of all your hatred, and die with you."

"Why are you so obsessed with me!?" Sasuke yells. 

"Because I'm your friend." Naruto smiles once more. "If I due, you'll die with me, Sasuke." 

"Fine. Then, I'll kill you first!" Sasuke smirks. And with that said, Sasuke is gone and out of sight. 

"Good grief. So much has happened today and Sasuke has fallen deeper into darkness and hatred. . .Naruto, you really are a persistent young boy." I sigh, saying this out loud.

"Yeah, sorry." He rubs the back of his neck with an embarrassed smile. 

"Not to worry. Because when the time comes when you and Sasuke will have to fight again, I will be right there with you, whether you want me to or not. I made a vow that I will protect you no matter what I am sticking to it." I give him a light smile. 

"Yeah. Thank you, Akari." 

"Now then, what to do with her?" I look at Karin. She is not have the hook just yet. 

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