Bent but not Broken

Okay I'm seriously lacking reviews here. I'd really like to get more than one review a chapter. I know there is more than one of you reading. I don't mean so sound annoying but really, at least give me two or three then I'll shut up, I promise =^-^=


Chapter 3 “Selfish”


“…………” — Talking
‘.……...’ — Thinking
‘…………’ — Inners
~*~*~*~*~ — Flashback/Dream Sequence


Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did Sasuke would get the kunai out of his ass and get on with his life. Seriously, is there anyone in Naruto that hasn't lost someone or had a bad childhood o.0

Sasuke groaned. He woke up with to the bright sunlight shining through the curtains of the hospital room window. He looked down at the sleeping girl he held in his arms as he remembered the previous night. She had cried herself to sleep. Was she really pregnant? Did he really say that? This wasn’t some type of weird dream? Maybe if he closed his eyes and tried hard enough, this would all go away. Nope. It was real. Sakura really was pregnant and it really was his child. His brother really did… he really had… Without realizing it, he made to clench his fist. It was then that he noticed where his hand was. Flushing a bit, he quickly jerked his hand away. The movement didn’t go unnoticed by Sakura. She tilted her head a bit in order to look at him

“...Gomen,” he said

She didn’t say anything. They sat there for a minute not doing anything. After a while Sakura made to get up. Sasuke tried to help her but she quickly jerked away from him. Before he could stop her she threw open the door and ran down the hall, knocking over Shizune in the process. No, she wouldn’t let him do this. She didn’t want his pity. She would not be a burden, not again.

Sasuke stood there in shock. Had she just run away again? Why the hell did she keep running away from him? Was she afraid, afraid that he would leave her again? He had just reassured her that he would stay with her. That he wouldn’t leave her alone like he had so many times before. He would stay here and protect them, both of them. But why did he care so much about what happened to her? Was it grief, guilt, remorse, or some feeling of responsibility? He didn’t know. All that he knew was that he wasn’t going to let her run out that door like that.

Naruto sat on a bench at the park. He just sat there. He couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened. By the time he had returned to Konoha, Sakura was reported missing and anbu had been sent out to look for her. They found her alright. How could that happen to Sakura, his Sakura? His friend, his team-mate, his family. How could something like that happen to someone so strong? He suddenly found himself remembering his gennin days. When he was madly in love with her, yet she only had eyes for Sasuke, and frankly, he was terrified of her. Every time he managed to work up the courage to ask her on a date, not only would she reject him, she would flat out insult him and then hit him so hard he would go flying for what seemed like miles. She really did have Tsunade’s inhuman strength.

Suddenly his head shot up. He thought he had just seen a pink blur run by. But he hadn’t sensed any chakra presence. He sighed to himself. All of this drama was going straight to his head. He must be going crazy. A few minutes later he spotted Lee. The unrelenting boy walked over and took a seat on the bench beside him.

“Naruto,” the ever hopeful boy asked “yesterday, what happened to Sakura-san?” Naruto didn’t answer. “Please tell me. I beg of you!”

He sighed. He knew fuzzybrows wasn’t going to like his answer. God only knows how he had reacted when he found out that his “precious flower,” which he had vowed to protect with his life I might add, had been raped.

“She fainted, Lee,” the blond answered hopping that would be enough.

“I know that much already. I’m asking… why?” without knowing why, he said the last part slightly hesitantly. Did he really want to know? What was this feeling?

“I know this won’t make a whole lot of sense Lee,” he sighed. “I still don’t really understand it myself, but if what Kakashi-sempai says is true, well then…”

“What is it!?” Lee yelled in anticipation.

“… Sakura is, Sakura-chan is…”

“Please… tell me,” the boy begged.

“She’s pregnant,” he said solemnly as his hair shadowed his eyes.

Lee’s jaw dropped. He sat there with a look of horror and shock evident on his face. Finally after a few minutes he managed to stutter, “…but they said Itachi hadn’t…”

“It isn’t Itachi’s,” he replied

“…who… Who’s is it then?” he said, not really sure he wanted to know.

“Sasu…” Naruto never got a chance to finish the name. Before he did, something ran past them at a speed that could almost match Lee’s. It was Sasuke. He turned around. Naruto wasn’t sure if he had overheard their conversation. After all, this might have been something better for Sasuke to have explained himself. Not that his explanation would have made any more sense. Apparently he hadn’t because he merely turned to ask them,

“Have either of you two dobe’s seen Sakura?”

“I thought she was supposed to be with you!?” Naruto shouted.

“She was, until she ran off again,” the boy replied stoic as ever.

“How could you let that happen?” the blonde haired boy yelled infuriated.

It was at that moment Konoha’s master taijutsu user came out of shock. “Ahh…” he said acknowledging the blond ninjas words. Naruto hadn’t finished the name, but he hadn’t needed to. Even with just the first two syllables, after all this would make sense. Everyone had always known that Itachi had been looking for away to enrage his younger brother in order to fuel his anger enough so he would finally kill the man. Still, he sounded slightly hurt.

“If you excuse me, I’ll just be going now,” the boy said politely. And just like that he was off like the wind. Leaving the two just standing there.

“I’m not sure, but I think I sensed Sakura-chan’s chakra heading towards her apartment,” Naruto finally said.

“I’m going after her,” with that, the onyx eyed man ran off into the distance.

Meanwhile, with Sakura, she had run all the way home as fast as her legs would carry her. Panting, she slammed the front door shut. Leaning against it she slid to the ground. She wouldn’t be rejected again.

‘But what if he was being serious?’ her inner said from somewhere back in the recesses of her mind.

‘Why would he!? This has nothing to do with him. Besides… he hates me now, I know it,’ she thought as she began to sob. She was scared. She didn’t know what to do. She just couldn’t do it alone. She couldn’t even protect herself. How was she supposed to take care of a child? Even if she could, she was dirty, unworthy to bear a child of the Uchiha clan. Unworthy of bearing his child.

She slowly stood up wiping her tears. She made her way to the kitchen to wash her face. That’s when she saw it, her kunai. The metal glistened in the rooms dim light, drawing her towards it. It was just begging to be picked up. Before she knew it the object was in her hand. Unconsciously she dragged the cool blade across her wrist. She watched as the warm red liquid slid down her arm and landed in droplets on the floor. Tears still streaming down her face she fell to the floor. She felt the sting of metal as she dragged the blade across her skin again and again.

She couldn’t take it. He hated her, and it was all because of his brother. She was broken. He had defiled her, tainted her, mad her impure. Sasuke could never love someone like her. Tears now pouring down her face as she continued her self torment. Why? Why had this happened to her? Was it because she was weak? It must have been. After all, Sasuke had said so himself all those years ago. She dug the kunai into her flesh again as hard as she could.

It was then Sasuke had opened the door. His eyes widened at the sight. ‘Shit!’ he thought. Within second he was by her side. He grabbed the kunai with one hand and her bloody wrist with the other. She struggled but he overpowered her. He threw the kunai across the room, not much caring where it landed. After she had settled down a bit he walked over to the medicine cabinet and grabbed a few bandages, glancing at her every so often to make sure she okay. She didn’t move. After he had returned he silently bandaged her wrist. For being a medical ninja she hadn’t cut herself deeply enough to be life threatening. After a while she finally said,

“Go on, say it! That I’m being an idiot!! That I’m a… a bad mother.” Sasuke said nothing. They sat there awkwardly in silence for another few minutes before Sakura broke down into tears once again. He merely sat there holding her as she was wept in his arms.

“Why didn’t he just kill me?” Sakura sobbed.

“Because Itachi doesn’t do things to make it easier for people,” he answered.

“What would you know!?” she snapped. “He could have killed me! He should have! After everything he did to me, only to be left alive…” she paused. His eyes had changed ever so briefly. It contained something familiar, something she hadn’t seen in a long time, annoyance. It was only for a second, but she saw it. That’s when she remembered.

“Oh gods, I’m being selfish,” she gasped. After that it was silent for a while.

“That’s how I know…” he started.

Itachi had slaughtered his entire family, leaving him alone alive. His only purpose left in life to avenge the deaths of his clan. He knew what it felt like to be left alive. To be left alive when it would have been so easy for them to have killed you right on the spot. All the pain, the suffering, all the self-loathing, all the guilt. He knew how it felt.

“… that you’re not being selfish.”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He wasn’t upset with her? He didn’t blame her? She had said terrible things. He had every right to be mad at her. But he wasn’t. He was being understanding. What had happened? This wasn’t the Sasuke she knew.

“I meant what I said back there. I’m not going away this time. You don’t have to do this alone,” he finished.

“Why?” she sniffed. “Why do you want to help me? I’m filthy, worthless, ruined! I’m nothing but a stupid whore!”

“Don’t you ever say anything like that again!” he shouted. “You’re not dirty, worthless or ruined, you one of the smartest people I know, and you sure as hell aren’t some goddamn whore Sakura!!” He pulled her into a tight hug.

“I swear I’ll never let him touch you like that, ever again.”

Sobbing, she threw her arms around his neck and buried her head in the crook of his neck. He was serious. He didn’t hate her. He wasn’t going to leave her. This had been what she had hoped for, ever since she was a little girl. Even after Sasuke had left and she knew he wasn’t coming back, she had always clung to the tiniest bit of hope. Hope that someday he would return to the village, even if he didn’t love her. But everything had been different back then. It had all changed on that day. She had stopped hoping, stopped dreaming. But he was here now, he was here and he wasn’t going anywhere.

Naruto had gone to check on Sasuke. He had to pass by Sakura’s on the way. He decided to take a peek inside to make sure she was okay. What he saw when he stared through the window, shocked him. Yet at the same time it warmed his heart. There was Sasuke comforting a crying Sakura. He seemed to be saying something to calm her down, but he couldn’t quite read his lips. It looked like his old friend had finally figured it out. That’s when he noticed. Sakura’s little tiny apartment was an awfully small place to raise a kid. Suddenly a huge grin spread across his face. He just had an idea!


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That's all for now. Seriously reveiw people or I'll get Naruto to go all rasengan on your asses.

~Narutards Anonymous