Dark Truths Undiscovered

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters. Nor do I own the songs used within.

A/N:
Wow! I even got hate mail for the last chapter! Look guys here’s the deal. Sakura was not easily intrigued by the request, she was a little shocked by it, but think about everything else that she and Naruto have gone through because of Sasuke… I don’t think that the reasoning is really all that weak. Look at this way… your very best friend can’t have kids, ever. You wouldn’t try to help in some way?

All I am saying is that if you want your happy ending, I will give you that, but there are some key pieces in there that will draw this story to closure. Thanks for the reviews, all of them, I mean it! J

~

He sat staring at her, her emotions rioting through her. Nearly tangible to him. He waited to see what this thing was she would ask him. Her face was pale, her hands trembled as she reached out to adjust the blanket around Sasuke’s shoulders. “What do you think of Itachi?” she finally blurted out.

Naruto’s blonde brow arched, “Think of him? I try not to” he said honestly. She turned those wide eyes to him and he sighed. “I don’t know what to think” he admitted running thick fingers through his hair, “All my life there was has always been the known truth about him.. And now that isn’t so. So I don’t know Sakura. I really don’t.”

She nodded, it was a fair answer. Naruto watched object of his heart carefully, reading the words unspoken between the lines. “What do you think of him Sakura-chan?” he asked, “I think that it the question .”

She shrugged, “He grows on you. Most of them do.”


“Mold grows on you.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Not really, no. But I would like to.”

She nodded, caught her lower lip between her teeth. “He is a lot like you” she whispered, “Everyone believes what they want to, so he put on a mask each day. Inside, he is a caring person, guarded but he has the capacity to feel. I… I don’t want to take him back to Konoha.”

He blinked, “That is my job, our job Sakura. He is an S-class criminal until we can get that changed. If he’s innocent he should want that more than anyone.”

A logical argument, but she shook her head, “No. He wouldn’t. Because it would rock the foundations of the Anbu and their ability to operate. An entire family was killed in cold blood. As much as I would like to see it happen, I don’t think that pushing that into the light will make any positive difference. Besides look at yourself.”

He folded his arms over his chest, “Go on.”

She smiled up at him, a sad smile. “You are the hero of Konoha, the golden savior. The one who saved the village. But they didn’t see you that way did they? Even when you made it clear that you would rather die than harm any of them, they didn’t want to see it. They only wanted to see Kyuubi, a killing demon. Nothing more. God Naruto! You are going to be Hokage and either they love you or fear you.”

He frowned, not liking the fact that Sakura had just made a very good point. She kept on speaking, “He doesn’t have long. Maybe a few years Naruto. I don’t want that spent in our council’s court systems. I want him to have his freedom, for the small comfort that it is. Deidara too. I mean it.”

He sighed, “You care about them”.

She nodded without hesitation, “Because of them we have him back, we can burn Sound to the ground forever and we can all go home. And as much as I would like to believe that everything will be all right.. I know… I know it won’t.

He isn’t our Sasuke anymore, he’s someone else. Someone dark and colder, and we might not be able to bring him back from that place. He’s going to be alone if he doesn’t have us.” She cried openly now, crystalline tears clinging to dark lashes.

Nartuo stepped closer, wrapping himself around her, holding her close. His large hand stroked her hair lightly, “Shhh Sakura” he soothed, “You worry too much. Before you know it things will be back to normal. He’ll be the teme he always was and I’ll punch him when he calls me dobe. He’ll tell you your annoying and you can kick his ass. It will be great. Pretty soon, you and I will visiting the Uchiha estate to see little teme brats all over the place.”

At this she wailed softly against his chest.

He pulled back slightly, “It was suppose to make you laugh” he told her dryly.

She shook her head, clinging to him. “No” she whispered in a broken voice, “No he won’t. Not ever.”

Naruto chuckled and rolled his eyes, “Trust me, I’m a guy I know.”

She fisted her hands in his shirt and shook her head again, “He won’t” she pressed on, “Because he can’t. The seal… It made it that way. When Itachi dies, Sasuke will be the last true wielder of the Sharingan. So you see, he’ll be alone.”

Naruto was still as a stone, his blue eyes falling to the Uchiha and his heart clenched.

“You are certain?” he asked.

She nodded, “I… wanted to check him when we reach the northern port just in case. But there have never been any children from those with the seal.”

Naruto rubbed his whiskered cheek on her head and released her, stepping closer to the bed, “And when the seal is removed?” he asked, “That’s what we are going to do isn’t it?”

She shook her head, “It’s too late, the seal does terrible damage to the body of the host. I can’t fix him, I told you this.”

He shook his head, “No. There has to be a way, it’s Teme for crying out loud!” his voice rose and then fall again. “Check him at the port.”

She nodded, “There is something else Naruto” she said, her voice devoid of emotion. Deadpan and that worried him.

He found himself tensing, “Sakura what is it?”

She looked at the floor as though the weathered boards were very interesting. “Itachi has brought up another possibility.”

His blue eyes were expectant on her and she took a deep breath. How to say this?

“About healing teme?” he asked.

She shook her head slowly, “Restoring the Uchiha clan. Giving the sharingan an heir.”

Naruto blinked, “How’s that?”

She blushed, “A child of course.” He could be so dense.

Naruto grunted, “Well that is the usual way, he have someone in mind?”

She nodded, the red in her cheeks increasing and Naruto’s eyes snapped wide. “What? You?” he demanded.

She nodded, “He asked, yes.”

The blonde shinobi turned red, trying to will his anger away, “The hell!”

Sakura glanced back at Sasuke to see if the shout at woken him, but it hadn’t. “Naruto please!” she whispered, “Keep your voice down.”

He shook his head, “No. I won’t. That goddamn pervert pulling a dirty trick like that because he wants to get laid. The nerve! I’m kicking his ass Sakura.” He spun on his heel with every intention to do just that, “I can’t believe you would think of that!”

She caught his arm, jerking him around to face her, her eyes snapping with anger and she pointed stiffly to the bed.

“Do it then!” she bit out, “Wake him up and tell him that he is the only one and he can’t do a damn thing about it. You deal that blow to him Naruto, because I don’t think I can!”

He clenched his jaw, hands fisted at his sides. “How can you expect me to be calm about this?” he demanded, “That Itachi steals you away and now he wants to fuck you. Plain and simple Sakura. There is no way of knowing if you do it once that there will even be a child! You could do it for nothing, nothing more than his sick twisted pleasure.”

She slapped him hard across his tanned cheek, her chest heaving with her anger and hurt. Naruto looked back at her, stunned. The woman he loved was on the verge of more tears, her body tensed…as she defended another man.

“He isn’t like that. I told you.” she said.

Naruto growled, “Why even tell me Sakura?” he demanded.

Her eyes shut for a moment and then opened again, “Because I love you” she told him softly, sadly, “I love you and I would never hide such a thing from you. Ever. He asked me to think about it, I am asking you to do the same. Are you really prepared to lose the only future that Sasuke has left? If you say no, then we’ll do it together, but this is something we both need to decide on. Because it will effect us forever.”

Naruto grunted, “Forever huh?”. His tone was brusque almost callous and she winced, meeting his eyes fully.

“That is what I want to have with you” she admitted.

Naruto lifted his fingertips to her cheek, but dropped them without touching, turning to leave her alone with Sasuke once more.

She sank to the chair, feeling numb and lost and utterly alone.

~

Shino stood on the deck, feeling the bite of the wind rush over him. He was not surprised when Naruto appeared and demanded to spar. The blonde had never cared for the close quarters of sea-faring vessels. He much preferred open spaces to run and play. Like the fox that lived within him.

Something other than cabin fever was bothering his friend today, however. The blonde was furious, his moves clean and smooth, anger pouring off him like sweat in the chilled air. He didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to think. He just wanted to feel.

Feel the power of punches and kicks and well times chakra. He wanted to work himself to exhaustion until he was numb enough to sort things out like he didn’t give a damn. That was all he wanted, and he wasn’t getting it. No matter how hard they fought against each other, his mind kept returning to the cabin below.

His eyes were hard, his breaths fast, coming in angry grunts as he swung at Shino again. The insect user deftly dodging, putting all his effort into this. Knowing if he didn’t, he might very well end up hurt. Seconds passed into minutes which passed into hours. Seemingly an eternity to the two men but neither stopped.

Naruto’s stamina was legendary, and while Shino was no weakling by far, he did feel the wear of the activity on his body. He pressed his hands together in a final attempt and sent a bolt of chakra spiraling towards his friend. Naruto was caught full in the chest and flung backwards.

He caught himself sliding back on the deck and was about to lunge again when he saw Shino, panting on his knees.

Naruto snapped back to himself, “That’s enough I think” he said jovially, “Thank you Shino. I needed that.”

The dark haired man nodded, pushing his glasses up on his nose, “Whatever it is Naruto, you need to think it through calmly. I haven’t seen you so angry in years.”

The blonde nodded, “Thanks.” He waited until Shino had vanished below deck and leaned against the railing, his own fatigue suddenly noticeable. “I don’t know what to do Kyuubi.” he admitted.

The world grew dim around him and he knew that the fox was calling him.

He stood in the darkest corners of himself, staring at the large metal gate, the aging seal there. Long since broken. They had a peace between them, and Naruto had come to rely on the wisdom of the demon. Crimson eyes blinked down at him, as Kyuubi nosed his way forward.

The gate swung open and the nine-tail towered over his container.

“Kit” he said softly, knowing the man hurt, “This is difficult for you.”

Naruto nodded, “All these years Kyuubi, all these years I have waited for Sakura to notice me. And just when I have her, the Uchiha’s return.”

Kyuubi laid down beside the man, cocking his large red head, “What is it that you truly fear I wonder.” he mused, “Certainly not that she will leave. Sakura is ours, she understands that. She loves you, accepts me. Surely you don’t doubt her?”

Naruto shook his head.

Kyuubi huffed softly, “Perhaps you fear to share her with the Uchiha? What is the Uchiha to her? You’ve seen them together, there is softness in her eyes. The same softness that is present when she looks at you, when she looks at Sasuke.”

Naruto looked the other way, but the fox was merciless. “Perhaps it’s because you know in the depths of your heart that there is some feeling between them. You are jealous because it was always the three of you, and then there were two.”

The blonde flushed but the fox went on, “And now there will be three again. You and Sakura will go on, your future is before you. But the Uchiha boy…. Well he has nothing really does he? No true home, just an empty estate filled with dark memories and loss. A brother who is dying that he will never embrace and now…. No hope of kits to fill his years with joy.

She was correct. You, they two of you are all that he has. Konoha gave up on him years ago. Only you two held onto hope. He will need that if he is ever to be whole again. So what is it Naruto, that you truly fear? Is it that you won’t help the Uchiha clan, or that you will? Which one scares you most?”

Naruto was very quiet, “She loves him” he blurted out, “If only just a little. I don’t know if I can handle the thought of a dark haired babe at her breast knowing that there was some form of love between them. It would be a constant reminder that I had been replaced in her heart. Even if it is temporary.”

Kyuubi sighed, “Humans are odd creatures” he said at last, making Naruto stare up at him. He brought his face closer to the man’s. “You have a great capacity to love, and to hate. The question is not about your pride kit, it’s about the survival of someone you love. Sasuke needs that child. Even if he doesn’t know it yet.”

Naruto had considered that. He was willing to die for Sasuke to bring him back. So why couldn’t he share Sakura.. Just once?

“What if it takes more than once?” he asked, “What if the Uchiha is lying. What if it was all just a lie?”

Kyuubi’s tails swished softly, “It’s not. I can smell it on him you know. The lingering, creeping scent of death. Besides those with the mangekyou can control potency. Madara was also able to do this. A trade off I suppose for the lives they lose.

What then kit will you do?”

Naruto cradled his head in his hands, sliding down to sit beside Kyuubi. “I don’t know” he whispered, “I just don’t.”