The Lotus and The Deer (Shikamaru x OC)

Chapter 33 - Unraveling Events

Hasu POV

Heading back to the Inn, we're stopped by one of Sai's clones. Naru-chan, and I question his sudden appearance. "I'm here to relay to you the truth that Sakura wanted to say but wasn't able to tell you."

We ask him to continue, "Sakura didn't come here to confess her love; she came here to tell you what she and the other leaf ninja have decided. They'll dispose of Sasuke themselves; your comrades are all committed and are ready to move."

Hearing his words make Naru-chan and I freeze; while I want to toss everyone over a volcano, I understand why they would do such a thing; it's hard not to, but still. Naru-chan speaks up, "Even Sakura too?! Tell me, did she actually agree to something like that!"

He shakes Sai frantically, "Sakura is completely in love with Sasuke! There's no way she couldn't have."

Sai continues, "After the Akastuki's assault on our village, shinobi of the leaf can't support Sasuke, not when he's a member too. Sakura is not a child, nor is she a fool who doesn't understand the circumstances and the situation. That's why she came all the way here to try to tell you that in person."

Naru-chan grips his chest tightly, he's in pain. A feeling in my gut tells me she has more planned because, in reality, she does love Sasuke, and she would do anything for him. Deep down, everyone knows, she knows that. Seeing her selfish actions must have dawned on her, but something isn't right; a piece is missing from all of this.

I've barked at her before due to her ignorance, especially around Naru-chan's life without his parents, or even the fact that she's the only one with a picture-perfect family. I've seen the pain in her eyes when Sasuke is near, or if his name is even hinted. Something is missing; I know it.

Blocking out the other's words, I snap back into reality, hearing Sai's continue, "And declaring that she loves you now, free's you from the burden of your promise. After hearing Hasu's words, I think she realized that she should have just been honest from the start. She also realized a bit that the promise would never go away, but your bond with Sasuke was deeper than it."

That's when it hits me; I look up at Sai, answering Yamato's and Kakashi's confusion on her plan. "She's planning on killing Sasuke herself."

Sai nods, "It's likely. She said she'd work together with us, but I can tell it's a false lie."

Naru-chan looks down, stunned, "It's because she loves him that she wants to stop him. It's because she loves him; she wants to end his road down the path of darkness. Even if that means killing him with her own hands, that's how committed she is with her love of Sasuke. Also, by choosing this, she is prepared for you to hate her. I think that this is her way of atoning for the life-long burden she's forced upon you."

Naru-chan questions why he's telling us this; he briefly explains how he pushed Sakura to do this, claiming that he is also a member of team 7. Thinking for a moment, he places his hand on his head. Feeling familiar chakra's, we turn to see Gaara and his siblings. His sister speaks up, "We have very important news, and everyone needs to listen carefully. We're going to tell you what happened at the 5 Kage Summit."

Giving us every detail, with a gloomy look on Naru-chan's face, Gaara gives his own declaration. Promising to not only protect him but show Sasuke no mercy as he stands with the Akatsuki. That the only thing Sasuke sees is darkness; walking over to him, he places his hand on his shoulder.

"If you're truly resolved in becoming a Kage, then you need to do what needs to be done as Sasuke's friend."

Pushing his arm away lightly, his eyes seem hallow as he remains still, the sand siblings leave. Before heading out, Gaara stops, speaking up one last time. "I consider you a friend; in the past, 'friend' was just a word to me, nothing more, nothing less. But after meeting you, I realized something; what's important is the meaning of that word. What does it mean to you? You must decide what that means for Sasuke; think hard on that."