Dark Truths Undiscovered

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


The figure stood alone on the knoll overlooking the fields where a woman played with her child. The dark haired boy laughing gaily as the pink haired woman chased after him.

Such delightful sounds, innocent squeals.

From the porch, the tall, powerful form of the Hokage stiffened, “Sakura” he called.

The woman ceased her play to smile at her husband, he didn’t return the gesture. Sakura blinked but just followed his gaze to the tall man in the long black cloak. The red clouds just noticeable in the distance.

Slowly the man removed his hat and his golden hair fluttered in the wind.

Naruto knew this day would come, he called to his son, “Itachi, come on! Lets get some ramen!”

The black haired boy laughed and ran to his father, throwing himself into the arms of the only father he had ever known.

Sakura waited until they were out of sight and ran up the short distance to where Deidara stood.

“Its good you named him…for him” he said in lieu of greeting.

Sakura blinked hard looking up into a face she hadn’t seen in nearly five years. The brilliant teal eye stared back her with barely hidden sadness. She looked off into the treeline, hoping perhaps for a glimpse of a one time lover long gone.

Deidara sucked in a slow shuddering breath, reaching his hand towards her. “These are for you yeah” he said softly.

Sakura opened her palm, feeling his callused hand slide gently over hers, skin warmed metal pressing into her hand. The slide of worn material.

She watched Deidara glance away and turned her verdant gaze to her upturned palm. And gasped painfully.

There, nestled against the soft white flesh of her hand lay two items.

One was a silver ring, emblazoned with Itachi’s Akatsuki symbol. Something he never parted with.

She lifted her eyes to Deidara feeling the hot sting of tears at her lash line. Her hand began to shake and breath wouldn’t come correctly.

Her mouth opened, trying to form words that wouldn’t come out.

“N…nn..”

She squeezed her eyes shut, clenched her teeth against the sudden wave of pain that rolled over her, through her. Battering her like a blade studded tsunami.

Deidara swallowed around the odd lump in his throat, slowly gathering the shaking woman into his arms. He felt her face press into the crook of his neck, the scalding rush of her tears on his skin.

He held her for a very long time, rubbing her back in small soothing circles, saying nothing.

There was nothing he could say. Nothing would ever be the same again. Not now.

Itachi was dead. Sasuke’s vengeance finally complete.

She clutched Deidara, her sobs wracking her body and the nin felt useless, helpless in the face of her grief.

“He…he can’t be gone” she finally managed to whisper.

Deidara’s jaw clenched and he blinked back the wetness that threatened his vision. “Over Sakura” he whispered , “real over yeah.”

She sank to her knees, taking the tall man with her. Her eyes trying in vain to focus on the item in her hands. A scarred headband, a simple ring. She clutched them tightly, shaking her head.

It wasn’t fair. It just wasn’t. Itachi had been a good man, a loyal man. A gentle man. Things few knew about him. Even now five years after Naruto had become Hokage they were working to unseal that bitter past and let Itachi be know for what he was… a hero.

“S…sasuke?” she asked in a trembling voice.

Deidara nodded against her cheek, “Yeah. But…. I think”

He paused and she stared up at him, her lovely face red and her eyes puffy, “You think?”

“I think he got it. At the end, I think he finally got it yeah.”

“He killed him!” she breathed harshly.

Deidara pressed his brow to hers, “He wanted it that way Sakura. Rather than die some pitiful blind man yeah?” his voice was a rough whisper, “He was ...my friend and he had only one regret.”

She sniffled and stared at him, her hands cradling his handsome face, “One?” she asked. Her heart fracturing a little more with every breath.

He pushed her hair behind her ear, “Yeah one.”

She held her breath.

He smiled gently, “That…He didn’t… steal you sooner.”

She gasped as a small bubble of laughter broke free, followed by a keening sound in the back of her throat.

Deidara reached between them to untangle the headband in her palm, a small shuriken fell out. She blinked down at it.

“He made that for you yeah. Said it was probably the only heart he had to give.”

She traced the intricate carvings on the metal with a shaking fingertip, the small heart that graced the center of it. Itachi was a liar, he had a heart.

“Work of art” she whispered brokenly.

She looked up at Deidara, “Do you want..” she asked, gesturing towards the house.

He shook his head, “Better not. We haven’t been pardoned. I have to go.”

She nodded, bit her lip, slowly getting to her feet.

“Be safe” she whispered, leaning up to press her lips to his.

Deidara tasted her sweet lips, the salten tears. He cupped her cheek, “See you around...maybe…hmm”

She nodded, swaying slightly.

Deidara steadied her and then gave a wan smile.

Sakura watched him turn and go, her heart breaking for him.