Unanticipated Reunions and Alliances

Kakashi arrived at Sakura’s apartment as twilight fell. “May I come in?”

“Ah, sure, Kakashi-sensei.”

Once the door was shut, “Sakura, I need your trust.”

“What is it?”

“I need you to gather everything you’d need to perform an eye replacement surgery, enough for two people.”

“Eye repla—is this about Akane?”

“Yes.”

“Whose eyes? Not yours.”

“No, not mine. I need your trust. Please gather everything you need and come with me.”

“I need some additional ingredients for the paralytic.”

“What are they? I’ll get them for you and meet you at my house.”

“I'll write you out a list.”

“You must not mention this to anyone.”

“I won’t.”

-----

Kakashi arrived before her. She knocked and Kakashi ushered her in hurriedly. “Please remain calm, Sakura.” He led her further into his home to where Sasuke sat with his brother, his teammates gathered on the other side of the room. Her eyes only saw Sasuke.

“Sasuke-kun!”

Karin did not like how this girl reacted to Sasuke.

“Sakura, thank you for coming. We need your help.” He looked at his brother, inviting her to share his view. She paled at the sight of Itachi.

“Itachi.”

“We made amends, Sakura. He’s blind and my sight will start failing soon. There is one way we might be able regain his sight and I keep mine: you must exchange our eyes. I’m trusting you with my eyes and my brother’s life. I want to make it clear to all you,” Sakura only now became aware of the others in the room, “no one has the right to kill Itachi but me and I have no intention of doing so.”

The three strangers nodded. Sakura followed suit.

“Can you do it, Sakura?”

“Yes.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes.”

“We’ve prepared a spare bedroom. Make your preparations, then we’ll begin. Karin, assist Sakura, but I want you to routinely check the area. With two of us blind and inebriated, we cannot take chances. Juugo, Suigetsu, Kakashi, you’ll have to guard us. How many days will we be unable to see?”

“At least a week. You need to allow all the connections, the muscles, nerves, veins, chakra connections, to heal before I allow you go about without a blindfold. You’ll be sensitive to light for a day, then you can probably use your doujutsu after that.”

“Didn’t you say you could use your eye within an hour of the transplant?” Itachi asked Kakashi.

“We were in a desperate situation and it was just one eye. The two of you need to be far more careful.”

“Seven to ten days then,” Sasuke said.

“That would be prudent,” Kakashi said. Sakura nodded her agreement.

It wasn’t just Sakura’s self control and the presence of three strangers—and Itachi—that stopped her from running up to Sasuke and hugging him, it was his steely expression and the fact he didn’t seem to regard her as anything more than doctor he felt he could trust. But he did trust her; she could be satisfied with that. For the moment.

“Kakashi, can you help me with the ingredients?”

He nodded and followed her into the kitchen to crush and mix and ingredients.

“Itachi is Akane?”

“Sorry about the deception.”

“What’s going on?”

“The short version: Itachi didn’t slaughter the Uchiha out of malice. He went blind before he expected and came to me for help. We—we were very close before. Sasuke discovered the truth about Itachi and has made peace with him.”

“What about Akatsuki?”

“He’s been hindering them. He’s on our side Sakura. If this works and they’re both able to see, we’ll have two very powerful Uchiha to fight Akatsuki. And maybe, when this is all over, they can both come home. Please trust us and Itachi.”

“For Sasuke’s sake, I will. Naruto doesn’t know about any of this, does he?”

“Not a thing. And please don’t tell him.”

“I’ll do whatever you and Sasuke ask.”

“Thank you, Sakura.”

-----

They began an hour later. Doing it with all due care, it took over an hour to swap the brother’s eyes. Sakura covered their new eyes with poultices and bandages. Sakura had only given them painkillers and a paralytic; they were numb and immobile, but they were awake and could hear.

“Done. No problems. The paralytic should start to wear off in an hour or so, the numbness a little sooner. You’ll regain complete control by morning. We’ll set you up to sleep here.” They could make no answer, but they were breathing. “Karin or I will stay with you.”

It wasn’t late, but Sakura was dozing when Sasuke was finally able to raise his hand. He hated not being able to defend himself and could not relax. His brother decided to sleep to avoid the uncomfortableness of being paralyzed. Itachi and Sakura woke when there was a knock on the front door. Sasuke was able to move his head, but Sakura immediately moved it back and told him not to move.

Kakashi answered the door once everyone was out of view of the door. It was Guy.

“Guy, what brings you here?”

“You haven’t gotten out in days, Kakashi. Surely Akane can spare you for an evening.”

Kakashi sighed. He didn’t want to arouse suspicion. “Alright. Give me a minute.” He shut the door and went into the spare bedroom. “It’s Guy. I think he wants me to join him for a drink. Either that or challenge me to some stupid contest. I’ll go to keep him from becoming suspicious; I don’t want him to hang around if I say no. I’ll come home as soon as possible.” He crouched down and kissed Itachi’s forehead briefly. “I’ll be back soon.”

Sasuke didn’t feel right about this, but he could say nothing.

-----

Guy led Kakashi through the streets of Konoha, seemingly aimlessly. He kept talking, not asking for comment. Kakashi’s mind was back with the refugees in his house.

“So, how is Akane adapting to life in Konoha?”

It took Kakashi a moment to realize Guy had finally brought him into the ‘conversation.’

“She’s doing well. She doesn’t like to be around a lot of people since she can’t see them or keep track of them, but she’s more willing to go outside.”

Kakashi now wondered what lay in store for he and Itachi if he did get his sight back. Would they still pretend he was blind? Or if Akatsuki was destroyed, with Sasuke’s backing, could Itachi be brought back to Konoha? He really was, in a sense, on a long term infiltration mission for Konoha. Itachi was a hero who had been made into a pariah. If Sasuke could understand and forgive him, couldn’t the village?

“She looks so much like an Uchiha.”

“She does have some Uchiha blood.”

“But I mean, she really looks like an Uchiha. Kind of like Sasuke or Itachi.”

Kakashi’s spine stiffened, but he kept walking. “I don’t see that.”

“Several of us think she looks a little too much like the brothers.”

“If you think she’s their sister, you’re insane.”

“That’s not what we think.”

“Who’s ‘we?’ And what are you getting at?”

“Many of your friends are concerned about you. We fear you might be under a genjutsu.”

“It would take someone as powerful as Itachi to pull that off.”

“Is it Itachi?”

Kakashi stopped. “Guy, what are you planning?”

“Hyuuga Katsuya swears that’s Itachi. He’s gone to find out.”

Guy didn’t expect the attack which left him unconscious on the ground with three quick blows. Just as quickly, Kakashi was on his way back to his home.

-----

Sasuke was finally able to sit up. Sakura tried to lay him back down. He resisted. His voice came out as an incomprehensible mumble at first. He stopped, concentrated and forced out as clearly as possible, “Something’s wrong. We have to get out of here.”

Karin had been periodically shutting her eyes and concentrating on the chakra around them. She did so again. There was something new.

“Eight shinobi appear to be waiting nearby. Their chakra is tense.”

“We’re leaving,” Sasuke stated as he tried to stand.

Juugo caught him and lay him back down. “Rest. We’ll handle this.”

They packed their things and some provisions from Kakashi’s larder while Sakura stayed with the brothers. Karin sensed Kakashi’s approach and singled.

Kakashi burst through the door. “One of the Hyuuga recognized Itachi’s chakra. They’re coming for him.”

Sasuke staggered from the spare room. “We know. Karin sensed them. We’re all leaving.” Juugu grabbed Sasuke to prevent him falling again. “I assume you’re coming with us. Get ready quickly.”

As Kakashi rushed to gather a few things, he heard Sasuke giving orders. “Suigetsu, tie my wrists together.”

“Come again?”

“Tie my hands. I can loop my arms around Juugo’s neck. Itachi and I cannot run; we’ll have to be carried. Tie Itachi’s wrists as well.” Suigetsu did as ordered; Itachi lay there prone, apparently content to let his brother take over. Sasuke was obviously a natural leader. Either that or he was merely arrogant and bossy by nature. Either way, he had taken over control, as blind and helpless as he was.

Kakashi put on his vest and filled it with as many scrolls as possible, filled his weapon’s pouches, and stuffed what wouldn’t fit into these into a pack. And he took what was most precious to him (besides Itachi); he knew there was a very good chance he would never be coming back to Konoha ever again. Luckily, or sadly, he had few things that were precious. At least it all fit.

Suigetsu had looped Sasuke’s arms around Juugi’s neck and followed the rest of Sasuke’s instructions, tying a loop around each of Sasuke’s thighs and then tying the slack to his wrist to keep him securely on Juugo’s back and giving him the freedom to use his hands if needs be. Kakashi put his backpack over his chest and allowed Suigetsu to do the same with Itachi on his back.

“Sakura,” Kakashi said, seeing her standing near Karin, though she didn’t seem to be irresolute. “Get out of here. If they realize you were with us, tell them either we threatened you or used genjutsu.”

“I’m going with you.”

“No. I’ve already thrown my lot in with them gladly; if you come with us, you may not be able to come back. Ever.”

“You need my help. I will not abandon Sasuke. If I need to leave later, I can always say I was a hostage, but I’m coming with you.”

“We don’t have time to argue,” Karin exclaimed. She would normally tell the light pink haired girl to go fling herself off the Hokage monument, but there really was no time.

So the seven of them, all of them carrying burdens of some sort, left the house and traveled over the rooftops to the village wall and into the forest.

“Eight shinobi,” Karin said.

“Where can we go?” Sakura asked.

“Karin,” Sasuke said. “Orochimaru had a hideout to the west of Konoha. Do you know where it is?”

“It’s a few hours away.”

“We’re seven burdened shinobi, they’re eight determined shinobi,” Kakashi pointed out. “We can’t outrun them forever.”

“One of us will have to remain behind and at least delay them,” Sakura said.

“I’ll do it,” Kakashi volunteered quickly. “They’ll hesitate to attack Sakura or me, but I can stop them with my Sharingan.”

Itachi’s arms tightened slightly around Kakashi’s neck, but he and everyone else knew he was right. Suigetsu or Juugo could take the shinobi out, but they knew it would be bad to kill any Konoha shinobi if they intended to be allies of some sort in the future.

Sasuke broke the silence as they continued to run. “Suigetsu, put your sword on my back and take Itachi. We’ll head in a straight line until you catch up, Kakashi.”

“Oh, hell no!”

Before Sasuke could snap back, Itachi said, “I know where three of the other swords you’re looking for are.”

“Shit.”

They stopped and did as Sasuke commanded. Itachi looked back at where he felt Kakashi’s chakra, but he said nothing. They left Kakashi on a tree branch. He turned to face the approaching shinobi.

Kakashi created three clones and they all lifted the headband covering his Sharingan eye. The shinobi were not far behind. As he thought, they all stopped when they saw Kakashi. Any that might have doubted he was willingly with the fugitive Uchiha tensed when they saw his Sharingan. But they all fell prey the moment they looked into that eye. He and the clones dove after the failing shinobi, caught them, balanced one on a branch, then caught the other. He and his clones then took them down to the forest floor and lay them out. He knew six of them. They were alive and knew they would feel betrayed. He felt a little betrayed. If he had to abandon Konoha forever now, he suddenly felt like he would never look back.

He followed after the others.

-----

Once Kakashi caught up, they bee-lined for the hideout. Suigetsu kept Itachi a little longer, hoping to curry favor with him for the swords, but he finally had to stop and give him back to Kakashi. Itachi felt like a puppy being passed around, but he tried to hide his smirk.

They had slowed down for Kakashi to catch up and it took another six hours to get to the hideout. Karin opened it.

“Untie me,” Sasuke said. Karin did so. Sasuke could stand, but being blind and weak, he kept an arm over Juugo’s shoulders. “Juugo and I will be in the lead. Karin, right behind us to guide us, Suigetsu as well to defend us if need be. Kakashi and Itachi behind them and Sakura in the rear.”

No one argued, but fell into their assigned positions as they entered the hideout. Karin lit a torch.

“I sense five people in here,” Karin said.

“Probable the only ones left after they heard Orochimaru died.”

“Would they be loyal to his memory?” Kakashi asked.

“I think they all fled or were killed,” Sasuke replied. “These probably had nowhere else to go.”

“Most of them revere you, Sasuke,” Suigetsu said.

“I hope so.”

Karin put a hand on Sasuke’s shoulder as they approached the first person.

Sasuke had spent little time in this hideout, being too close to Konoha for he or Orochimaru to spend much time there.

“Sasuke-sama?” a trembling voice questioned.

Sasuke cursed the blindfold, but he recognized the voice, but never knew the man’s name.

“Is that you?”

“Ah.”

“This place was abandoned some time ago. There are few us here now that Orochimaru is gone.”

“How many are left?”

“Four others. We had no where else to go.”

“Who are they?”

“We were all captives. We heard you killed Orochimaru, set free the prisoners at other hideouts. They came and freed us. We hoped you’d come to free us too, though we were free already. Have you finally come for us?”

“I trusted the others to free the rest. I had other foes to fight. But I’ve come to use this place as my base. Can the other four be trusted to help us?”

“We would all die for you.”

“I don’t ask that, at least not now. Have all the traps been disarmed?”

“I don’t think all of them. Three others have died.”

“Karin, you probably know more about the traps, keep your eyes open. Your name, sirra?”

“Shin, Sasuke-sama.”

“Gather your fellows and sound them out, if they, and you, will stay and serve me.”

“I will. I’ll ask them, but I believe they will.” Shin ran off.

“Well?” Sasuke asked.

Sakura and Juugo were confused, but Karin answered, “There is no deception or malice. He will be loyal.”

“I agree,” Kakashi offered.

“Ah,” Itachi added.

“Without my eyes, I can’t trust myself as much. Lead us to my old room. I kept it free of Orchimaru and Kabuto’s influence. I can instruct you on disarming the traps.”

Karin walked unerringly to Sasuke’s room. Before she opened the door he started instructing her. They might have considered Sasuke paranoid but they remembered who he was dealing with. They all stayed out while Karin moved about the room as Sasuke instructed her from the doorway.

The room was cleared and Juugo deposited Sasuke on the bed. They were fortunate that this hideout was better furnished than most. Sakura and Karin both sat on the sofa.

“We should stay together. We can’t know what traps are left. How many bedrolls do we have?”

“Four,” Suigetsu said as he untied Itachi from around Kakashi’s body. Itachi was stiff and in considerable pain, as was Sasuke from the ropes digging into their skin. The paralysis had worn off, as had most of the numbness, but Itachi could barely stand he was so stiff.

“Neither of you are sleeping on the floor,” Sakura commanded.

Sasuke smirked. “Itachi,” Sasuke held out a hand. Kakashi lead Itachi’s hand to his brother’s. Sasuke pulled him to sit on the bed with him. “With the sofa, there are enough places to sleep. Tomorrow we’ll explore the surrounding rooms and at least Karin and Sakura can have a room to themselves.”

The five derelicts came to the open door.

“Sasuke-sama?” Shin said.

“Come in, Shin. Do the others agree to stay and serve me?”

“What’s with your eyes?” one of them asked.

“It’s temporary. Trust me, if my brother and I were helpless, these five would not follow us.”

They all smiled inwardly knowing Sasuke and his brother were helpless in their current state while still inebriated by drugs. Sasuke’s bluff amused them. Itachi was still a little uncomfortable, but they all knew, even Itachi, that Sasuke trusted them. That trust bought their loyalty without any other consideration. Their love or admiration only intensified their loyalty to him. Itachi felt he was only tolerated because of Sasuke’s sufferance.

“Two Uchiha?” another said. There was fear clear on all their faces.

“For destroying Orochimaru, we owe you our lives,” yet another said. “I will serve you, Sasuke-sama.”

They all voiced their allegiance.

“Very well. Karin, Suigetsu, go with them and make sure we will not be found. There are protections in place to hide our chakra, make sure they are active. Juugo, Kakashi, Itachi, and I will rest. Sakura, I want you to stay with us as well.”

“I don’t need rest,” Juugo said. “I will help them.”

“Very well, but Juugo, be careful. You five, have a care to be most civil with Juugo. Suigetsu, Karin, no arguing, on your lives.”

They understood; Sasuke doubted his power to keep Juugo under control in his state. They left.

Sasuke sighed and let his shoulders fall. He looked far wearier than any of them expected. Now he almost looked like he was home. He fell back on the wide bed. Itachi sat further back on the bed than Sasuke had. Sasuke reached to put a comforting hand on his older brother’s back.

“How are your limbs, Itachi?”

“Painful. It will take a week to recover from such a journey.”

“Ah. My shoulders are the worse off. I hope I never have to travel like that again.”

Sakura came up to crawl onto the bed behind Sasuke, making as much noise as possible so as not to startled him, gently pushed him up, and began massaging his shoulders. Kakashi came over, made Itachi turn, and did the same. Sakura added some chakra to ease the muscles and healed small tears. The pain finally subdued, but she didn’t stop, nor did he tell her to; it felt too good. The only other person to do this for him since he was a child was Kabuto, and that wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience.

Kakashi’s method was much simpler, without medical ninjutsu, but Itachi’s muscles untied and he turned to putty in his hands. He leaned back and Kakashi pulled him even closer and just let him rest against him. Sakura looked over at them and she finally understood. They were very close. Kakashi was now stroking Itachi’s hair. She felt a little uncomfortable, not so much at the idea of these two men being in love, but that they were showing their affection in front of her.

Sakura’s attention fell back to Sasuke. She saw how tired Sasuke was and stopped, got up in order to move for the brothers to lie down and sleep. Sasuke didn’t complain neither did the lovers.

Kakashi wanted to help Itachi take off his cloak, but Itachi slapped his hand away gently. “I’m not completely helpless.” He unfastened the cloak and his sandals. Sasuke shepherded him to lie against the wall, wanting to be between his brother and any threat.

Sasuke had all his equipment under the blue wrap and hanging on his rope belt. He stripped it off with Sakura’s help, leaving him in his dark grey shirt and tight grey pants. He lay beside his brother and they both made to turn on their sides.

“You will sleep on your backs,” Sakura commanded. They both rolled onto their backs with a slight smirk that was eerily similar to the other. “I’ll change the bandages in morning.”

“Will we be able to see then?” Itachi asked.

“No. We’ll keep the light as dim as possible so it will be to dark and your vision with be blurry. You’ll still have five to six days of wearing the bandages. But you should find out in the morning if the two of you will be able to see at all.”

Sasuke’s hand found Itachi and he squeezed it reassuringly.

“I’ll take the first watch, at least until the others return,” Kakashi said.

“Do we really need to keep watch down here?” Sakura asked.

“At least until we’re certain of the security measures,” Sasuke said. “Tomorrow morning we should send a message to the Hokage. But in the morning.”

Sasuke was asleep and Itachi was a second after him.

“Get some sleep, Sakura. I’ll make sure they don’t disobey orders.”