🌻 "I'm sorry, but we will be taking the bridge builder." Said the tall man holding the gigantic sword.

As we were no longer panicking like before, I got to observe him better. His most noticeable trait is the appearance of a shark and his blue skin. As for his sword, it was wrapped with bandages, but the tip reveals midnight blue scales which I thought was odd. I have never seen or heard of a sword like this.

"We?" Sakura questioned suspiciously.

"Ne, Itachi, your Hyuga heiress wants to see you." The blue man answered, emphasising 'Hyuga' in a mocking tone.

"ITACHI?!" Sasuke and Sakura gasped and their eyes widened. However, Sakura's eyes were furious and deep in hatred.

Sakura's hands balled into tight fists, I was worried she might dig her fingernails too deep into her palms. Her chest rose and fall heavily as her small frame shook in both fear and anticipation to pounce on him, chopping his head off or torture him to death; probably the latter.

🌸 I-Itachi?! What is he doing here?! I gritted my teeth. Good. I've been given a chance to kill you.

I unconsciously growled as I glared at Itachi.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO MY CLAN, ITACHI!" I started to run towards him with my hand on my pouch, ready to strike. No, ready to kill him.

"CONTROL YOURSELF, SAKURA!" Kakashi warned, but being in the state I was in, my head was too heavy in hatred that I have become unconscious to the surrounding except my sworn enemy.

Suddenly, a strong and firm hand yanked my arm back. I snapped my head back so harshly, a crack was heard.

Kakashi-sensei.

"What-" I growled menacingly, but was cut off.

"Are you sure what I did was to your clan?" Itachi asked with a bored gaze, but I small smirk played on his teasing lips.

"What do you mean?" I hissed.

"Are you sure you are even a Hyuga?"

I could hear Hinata gasp at that question which made me raise my suspicion. My muscles were trembling, my small body being unable to contain so much anger and hate—it felt suffocating.

Does she know something?

My eyes moved to the side to catch a glimpse of Hinata, but my head stayed still.

"Have you noticed how odd you are compared to the rest of the Hyuga clan?"

My breath hitched and my breathing became more frantic. My own heartbeat managed to send vibrations to my eardrums which made me hear my own heartbeat. A lump formed in my throat, causing an inability to speak. I was brought into despair, reminiscing all that has happened on that fateful night.

"Did you even notice that the real Hyuga is-" As Itachi continued, Kakashi immediately interrupted.

"That is enough, Itachi. What is your purpose here?"

"Didn't I just say that? We are here for the bridge builder!" Kisame groaned, probably annoyed by the fact that no one paid a mind to him.

"Why do you want a bridge builder? Why would the Akatsuki hunt for someone without a bounty on his head?" Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the both of them.

I have long escaped from reality and tortured myself with hundreds of questions in my mind. Switching back and forth with the images I have long kept hidden in the back of my mind.

Am I really not a Hyuga?

"You. YOU! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be treated this way! YOU'RE NOT MY DAUGHTER!"

So all these years.. I've been living in a lie?

"I feel ashamed as the head of Hyuga's main house."

The real Hyuga.. Is..?

"She's the heiress? Look at her pink hair and green eyes!"

"Shh!! She'll hear you!"

Is who..?

"The head probably had an affair with a villager."

Hinata..?

"S-Saku-Sakur..ra..."

So my best friend.. All these time. The real person of my fake identity has been by my side all these while..?

"Take Hanabi and run.. Run..!"

I looked at Hinata and caught her gaze.

Her eyes were filled with sympathy and apologies.

So Hinata.. She knows..?

So if Kakashi interrupted Itachi from speaking and further..

Does it mean he knows too?

Anger built up inside of me. The hatred I have towards Itachi and the Uchiha clan has now burned furiously towards everyone who held this a secret.

All my life I had lived as a Hyuga.

All the pain I had to bear.

All for the sake of nothing.

Because I am not a Hyuga..

To confirm my theory, I dared myself to look at Itachi in the eye.

"The real Hyuga you spoke of is a heiress, right?"

He nodded.

"Sakura, we are on a mission." Kakashi started.

"And she has been by my side all these while?" I continued.

"Sakura..." Hinata whispered.

I continued,"And she is.."

"Sakura!" Kakashi shouted and spun me around.

"HINATA?" Tears flowed down my cheeks as I completed the sentence which sent knives stabbing my heart.

"That is correct." As the raven haired man spoke this, he was calm and maybe enjoying this dramatic scene.

The entire area grew silent under the heavy tension. Even Naruto did not speak a word; he kept his gaze on Hinata, as if unbelieving the fact that the girl he has always admired is a Hyuga, the heiress of one of Konoha's strongest clan. Hinata kept her eyes on mine, but I looked to the ground, unable to speak, unable to move, unable to think. But I know her, she must be crying. Kakashi glared at Itachi and kept his strong grasp on my arms. Sasuke walked over to me, letting his outstretched arm loom over my shoulders; he was hesitant because he has no knowledge on how to comfort a person. He must also be thinking how it felt to live with the name of a clan I never belonged.

"Kakashi-sensei." I finally spoke.

"Yes, Sakura?"

"I'm sure you know about this."

"I-" He looked at me with sympathy.

"For what purpose was this done?"

Kakashi remained silent and strengthened his grip on my arms. It almost hurt, but I did not mind; the pain engraved on my heart is far greater.

"May we finish the mission first? I'm sure the Hokage.. He will answer all of your questions." He finally answered.

I nodded my head after awhile. He has a point after all. When all of us turned to look at the two Akatsuki members, they were gone.

~|In The Woods|~

"I can't believe you tricked me into this! So we weren't after the bridge builder after all?!"

"Hn."

==

Dedicated to PandaLover06252002 for your votes on this story!

Published: April 2015
Edited: 18 April 2017