Chapter 17

The smile I had at the thought of seeing him fades. Itachi can't see the horror on my face and I'm thankful for that. There is a blindfold with a seal set over his eyes to prevent him from using his doujutsu, but they didn't stop there. They put him in a straightjacket, too. The more I think about it, though, the sillier it seems. Nothing would stop Itachi if he wanted to leave.

"How are you feeling?" he asks.

I step forward and sit next to him on the bed. "Better," I say. "They… they haven't tortured you, have they?" I see no traces of a brutal interrogation, but knowing Ibiki Morino, I feel the need to ask.

"Why would they? I gave them everything they wanted to know."

"Tsunade-shishou wants me to write a report. I want to tell her everything, too."

Itachi says nothing, but gives a small nod after a few moments. We spend a short while in silence, until I decide to put my small chakra reserves to good use and ask him to turn around. It's as good a time as any for a healing session, be it even a short one.

"Who's Danzo?" I ask.

He has been expecting that question, I bet it on my forehead protector. He doesn't answer immediately. I've learned to be patient when it comes to conversations such as this. I suspect what the answer is, but I want it to come from him. And it does, eventually.

"The man who gave the order."

"So he ran because he knew the truth about that night would come out?"

"Probably."

I want to ask about the ANBU, but decide against it. It would feel like intruding too much right now, when he's more vulnerable than I've ever seen him. It wouldn't feel right.

As the last of my healing chakra ebbs away, I'm pleasantly surprised by the fact that his disease has progressed much slower than it used to. With regular healing, it might take less time than I initially thought for him to be permanently rid of this encumbrance.

"You're doing a lot better than I expected," I tell him. A little light in this darkness is better than none. "I'll put my time to good use and see what more can be done about it."

"Time's almost up!"

The guards voice from beyond the door makes me start. No one bothered to tell me my visit would be time-limited, but I suppose I should have expected it. I stand up. I don't want to leave Itachi here. My heart is breaking at the thought of him spending so much time in this horrible place. However, I'll be of more use to him on the outside.

"I'll get you out of here," I say. "One way or another."

A smile plays on his lips for a moment and it fills my heart with warmth.

"I'll try to visit you again soon."

"Sakura."

I stop as I'm about to knock on the door for the guard to let me out.

"Be careful out there," Itachi says. There is something hanging heavily in his voice, something that sends a chill down my spine. I want to ask, but before I manage to gather my thoughts, the guard opens the door and I walk out.

There's nothing more definite at this point than the sound of that door shutting behind me. The echo of Itachi's words haunt me as I make my way to the surface, to sunlight, to freedom. The more I think about it, the more deeply ingrained is the feeling that they were a warning.

I thought I would be safe once I returned to Konoha. I thought bringing Itachi back would be enough, that we would somehow find some time of peace. That he would be free of his pain after all this time.

Have I made it worse for him?

For myself?

Yellowing leaves swirl around me as I walk down the path from the prison. The sun is still warm, but its power is ebbing away. I don't know where I'm going. Itachi's last words have thrown me completely off track.

I stop. What am I doing, losing myself already when there's so much that I have to do? It doesn't matter what I've gotten myself into. I'll focus on what's important.

First, I'll write that report for Tsunade-shishou. Second, I'll storm through the library in search of anything useful on Itachi's condition. Third, I have my studies at the hospital to continue. I've already missed enough classes - it's time for me to get right back on track. Fourth, I could do with more physical training.

I turn around and start walking home. I need to gather my thoughts. Tonight I'll write everything down, even if it takes me until dawn. From the moment I walked out the village gates to the point where I passed out on our way back, Tsunade-shishou will know everything.

I met Itachi Uchiha by chance. I stayed with him by choice.

This is not the end.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who read this story, to everyone who posted reviews and added it to their favorites or followed it! I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. The first chapter of the sequel, titled "A Will of Fire", will be posted shortly.