J A D E

Chapter Twenty

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto runs to me, embracing me into tight hug. I wince from pain, but return the hug to him. I smile at the goofball in front of me, remembering once again that no matter what, he will always be by my side and never leave me alone.

"Naruto-kun." I smile at him as I gently shove him away. I look at others, but before I am able to say anything, another blonde traps me into death hug. Ino is crying, telling me how reckless and stupid I am while sniffing in my shoulder. "I am okay, Ino-Pig." I mumble and giggle. "Don't worry about me." I state simply with a huge grin on my face.

"Troublesome." Shikamaru shakes his head and sighs. "Though, it's good if you are okay." He shrugs his shoulders with small smile.

"Don't do it again, Sakura-chan." Choji smiles kindly at me, offering me his chips. "You should eat, Sakura-chan!" He insists when I shake my head. Despite Kiba's and Naruto's blabbering, Ino-Pig's and Hinata's talking and Shikamaru's and Choji's low whispering, my eyes only focus on him. When I am with them, I feel safe. Home. The only missing people are Team Gai.

My eyes are trained on him, his obsidian orbs, dark bluish hair and constant smirk plastered on his face. He does not talk. He does not even look at Naruto. He is holding his father's hand, standing in the middle of him and Itachi.

Itachi's eyes are warm, worried. Shisui is standing besides him, yet he is not even looking at me. I sigh, I can understand his anger. Ibiki-sensei is standing behind. He does not say anything. But his eyes speak to me instead.

"Anko-san." Third Hokage gets inside the ward, surprising not only me, but everyone present. Ino, Shika, Choji, Naruto, Kiba, Hinata and Shino stop talking, while Sasuke's gaze shifts to the old man in confusion and surprise. Anko winces angrily and looks at the leader. "Could you take children back to their homes?" Despite it coming out like a question, we all knew it was a order.

"Hai, Hokage-sama." Anko-san nods and looks at children. "Come on, brats!" She calls out and goes out of the ward, with called goodbyes they all leave. Even Sasuke is pushed outside by this brother. As soon as they leave the ward, Inoichi-san steps inside, his eyes trained solemnly on me.

"What were you thinking, brat?!" Ibiki-sensei demands in strong, angry, yet worried tone. I look down ashamed. I don't say anything. I don't even know what to tell him. I know that I created some problems, but I avoided something terrible. I saved Uchihas. I saved Sasuke from loneliness. Ibiki rubs his face and looks at me tiredly. Only now, I notice how worn out he looks. Dark circles under his eyes, paler skin. He takes a step forward towards me, but I don't move. Instead, I look down at my hands once again. With a deep sigh, he hugs me. Tightly. Hesitantly, I put my hands around him as well, letting tears free. I sob into his chest, as Ibiki-sensei pats my back. And I let myself go. I let my fear roam free, to get out of my system. I let my worries and nervousness come out with each tear spilled. I sob, loudly, shamelessly. For the first time, I am here, I cry with my whole heart, without feeling ashamed of myself. Without hating myself. I managed to prevent it. Well, I hope I managed to stop it from happening. But if Shisui is alive, Itachi will not kill them. Sasuke will be saved.

"Sakura." I look at him, my eyes already misty from unshed tears. "Thank you." He whispers, before shunshining away.

More tears spill at his memory. At him. Because of him.

***

I am still hugging Ibiki-sensei, as if scared to let him go. But now I am calmed, and I am waiting for someone to speak. Because I don't have anything to say. Do I regret whatever I did? I don't. Would I kill them if I had more chakra and capability? I would. For the first time, I wish I could have my full powers back, even though it would break my body.