Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Lie Until You Die
The morning sunlight filtered through the rain-streaked windows of the Hatake compound, casting a pale glow over the small dining table. Sakura sat hunched over her breakfast, her hands gripping a steaming cup of tea as she avoided the stares of the two men seated across from her.
“I sometimes get night terrors,” she said, her voice deliberately casual. “Especially when someone dies during my hospital shifts. It gets worse after that. But it usually never happens, I swear.”
The words left her mouth smoothly, the lie practiced and polished. She’d been trained to deceive—to manipulate words and actions as easily as breathing. Yet as she glanced up at the skeptical faces of Sakumo and Kakashi Hatake, doubt clawed at her. Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable, but the faint narrowing of his eye spoke volumes. Sakumo, on the other hand, leaned forward, his weathered face showing equal parts concern and disbelief.
Sakura felt her pulse quicken. Come on, Sakura, you’ve been a secret ANBU-level ROOT agent. Is this really the best excuse you can come up with? How pathetic!
She raised her arms defensively, forcing a nervous laugh. “I swear! It’s nothing serious!”
Neither of them looked convinced.
Kakashi’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, his single visible eye piercing through her like a blade. “Night terrors, huh?” he said finally, his tone light but edged with suspicion. “You screamed bloody murder so loud last night, I thought the house might collapse. Heck, I believed you were being attacked damn it!” Sakura's stomach dropped, he was worried about her. Her? The Monster?!?!
Sakumo chuckled softly at his son’s exaggeration, but his attention remained on Sakura. “It’s not just the screaming,” he said gently. “The chakra surge you released—Sakura, that wasn’t normal. You nearly knocked me over.”
Sakura’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced her expression to remain neutral. She almost hurt Sakumo. Damn it she should have never asked for extra training she should have gone home like Naruto and Sasuke damn it. Her hands clasped the utensils tightly. She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I guess I got scared in my sleep. It’s not like I’m great at controlling my chakra when I’m unconscious.”
“Scared´?,” Kakashi repeated, his tone skeptical. His singular eye looked at her bemused lie.
“Yes, scared,” she snapped, a little too sharply. She immediately winced and softened her voice. “I mean… I don’t know. Maybe I was reliving something stressful.” The adults shared a stare-bullshit!
Sakumo sighed, his hands clasped together on the table. “Sakura, you’re a good kid. But something’s bothering you, and I don’t think you’re being honest with us. I know Medical ninjas see some brutal stuff in the hospital but that reaction last night was far worse for someone like you. What's wrong kid you can trust us!”
Panic flared in her chest. She couldn’t tell them the truth. You’re a chimera made primarily of 70% Hatake, 10% Senju, and 20% Uchiha DNA. The thought of revealing her Sharingan, let alone her suppressed Hatake chakra, made her stomach churn. She was a monster, a secret she had will take to the grave. She has done much evil in the name of Danzo and his organization ROOT. She unlike the other kids inflicted pain and death against fellow victims. She had to atone. In secret. The graves she robbed, the children she had tortured to awaken the Sharingan or to evolve to something powerful, while she was a child herself. She couldn't live with herself. All she wants sis for everybody around her to think she is an innocent civilian girl with zero troubled past.
Because the truth was crueler and she rather hide in lies.
Her grip on her cup tightened. “There’s nothing to tell,” she said firmly, a small, forced smile tugging at her lips. “Really. I just get night terrors sometimes. It’s no big deal.”
Kakashi leaned back in his chair, his book appearing in his hands as if summoned by magic. He flipped it open but didn’t look at it. “You’re a terrible liar,” he said matter-of-factly, his tone almost bored.
Sakura stiffened.
Sakumo sighed again, though his voice remained kind. “We’re not trying to pressure you, Sakura. But if there’s something wrong, you can tell us. We won’t judge you.”
The sincerity in his words made her throat tighten.
She forced herself to smile again, her expression almost convincing this time. “Thanks, Sakumo-san, but I’m fine. Really.” She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor downing her breakfast in quick motion. “I should get going. Early shift at the hospital before today’s mission, remember?”
Kakashi watched her silently as she hurriedly cleared her plate and cup, her movements quick and deliberate. Sakumo’s concerned gaze followed her as she made her way to the door.
“Take care of yourself, Sakura,” Sakumo called after her, his tone soft.
“I will,” she replied without looking back. Her hand on the door as she quietly admitted:" Breakfast...was delicious. It reminded me of my parents." Then she was off.
As the door closed behind her, Sakura let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling slightly. She clenched them into fists, steeling herself.
Lie until you die, she reminded herself. It was the only way to survive
Inside the Hatake house, Kakashi rubbed his head:" I swear we are moving her in!"
" Kakashi!", Sakumo chided.
" Come on Dad, she looked like she was seeing hellI can´t just...", abandoned her like I did with Rin or Obito I have to save her like she saved me!
he finished the thought. As if he could read his mind. Sakumo sighed nodding reaching for a book that had the title " How to Adopt an Ophaned..."
It is hard to get Sakura to trust us, she is hiding something more than night terrors, he thought as Kakashi sat down to eat his breakfast.