Chapter 12 – Teammates
Author’s Notes
This chapter was a battle of mind games with Itachi. He would rather have people squirming before he lifted the first finger. But there will be a reckoning before the story’s over. Sakura’s tough, but still young and susceptible to her feelings. She and Katsuro are both learning to trust themselves and changing each other.
Chapter Notes
• He was hoping that if she divulged what she knew, then Itachi would turn her back over to him. If Konoha didn’t want her, and he could convince Itachi that she was a worthwhile ally, an excellent addition to their group, then the older nin could have no objections. — Katsuro is operating under a misunderstanding, really believing that Konoha is a terrible place. That they would do that to her. Sakura doesn’t want to believe it, but has some doubt. They are able to carve their friendship out of this middle ground, but lies and misunderstandings will shape their future. Only when they can find that middle ground and trust each other fully does their relationship grow.
• “Don’t look at his hands, either,” Katsuro whispered hastily. — A small reference to Naruto’s dealings with Itachi in the manga. It is also referencing Itachi’s characterization of using his hands to determine if someone can be easily manipulated.
• “Konoha has fed you many lies, I see,” he continued…. “I wonder if you are as weak as your teammate, my younger brother, always stumbling, always failing. A disgrace to the Uchiha clan,” he bit out…. “Sasuke’s life in return for his betrayal of the clan, I think that was the arrangement he had with Konoha.” — Itachi is the one who is lying here. He is, above all things, a manipulator. In the manga, it was revealed after his death that he was on the good side, but that’s cold comfort. His actions were still mean, cold and heartless. So I’m writing him as this chameleon character. He will say anything to get what he wants. Sakura is naturally suspicious, Katsuro not-so-much. But he will come to see through the lies.
• “Really? Still a genin?” Katsuro said. — They are older genin, perhaps held back at that level another year because they couldn’t work together. Sakura’s outfit is Part 2, Shippuden. Katsuro of course doesn’t have a rank, but he knows about them because of Itachi’s training and by the need to identify other nins when on illicit missions.
• Katsuro’s last comment made the difference. Teammates were for protecting. Now she knew what Kakashi meant. (Sakura’s thoughts) / “Let’s just hope you set your traps a little more wisely than this pathetic display,” said Itachi (to Katsuro) — Both are coming to see their sense/master in a different light. Sakura grasps what Kakashi means, and the antagonistic relationship Katsuro has with Itachi is beginning to show. Itachi is by no means a sensei to Katsuro.
Spoiler Notes:
• Katsuro was robbed of a response. He had been where she was right now. Lived in it for years and years. — small reference to his years growing up in an orphanage, not knowing what his fate would be.
• That way, at least, she could hide her miserable tears. She was sick of crying, but she couldn’t hold it back. — Sakura will leave this part of a life a lot stronger, harder, wiser, and will vow never to cry again.
• He stood swiftly, leaving the tendrils of hair swinging around her neck, and turned to go. — Background wind element reference. It’s flaring up here because he’s feeling protective of her.
• Katsuro knew he was special, and hopefully that could hold sway here. — reference to the inner workings of his relationship with Itachi. Katsuro knows he’s special, and he’s testing out how far this preferential treatment can go. But there’s always a price. More to come in the next few chapters.
• Her smile brought a light to her eyes…. The color was maybe not just that of a single leaf but the whole canopy of a tree, only brought to life by the sunlight behind it. — Sun, sunlight, a metaphor for love, for a precious person. He recognizes her in the picture with the sunlit faces of children. He steals the sunlight from the picture when he closes the shutters. And he defines the color of her eyes only by sunlight moving through the leaves. (It’s not just a flat color, there has to be some purpose behind it, some intent that brings it to life.) Anyway, this will continue to surface in many, many ways, and from Sakura as well, until Jiraiya brings it full circle for him.
<< Return to Chapter 12 • Go to Chapter 13 >>
24 Jun 2010 No Comments
Chapter 12 Notes
Chapter 12 – Teammates
Author’s Notes
This chapter was a battle of mind games with Itachi. He would rather have people squirming before he lifted the first finger. But there will be a reckoning before the story’s over. Sakura’s tough, but still young and susceptible to her feelings. She and Katsuro are both learning to trust themselves and changing each other.
Chapter Notes
• He was hoping that if she divulged what she knew, then Itachi would turn her back over to him. If Konoha didn’t want her, and he could convince Itachi that she was a worthwhile ally, an excellent addition to their group, then the older nin could have no objections. — Katsuro is operating under a misunderstanding, really believing that Konoha is a terrible place. That they would do that to her. Sakura doesn’t want to believe it, but has some doubt. They are able to carve their friendship out of this middle ground, but lies and misunderstandings will shape their future. Only when they can find that middle ground and trust each other fully does their relationship grow.
• “Don’t look at his hands, either,” Katsuro whispered hastily. — A small reference to Naruto’s dealings with Itachi in the manga. It is also referencing Itachi’s characterization of using his hands to determine if someone can be easily manipulated.
• “Konoha has fed you many lies, I see,” he continued…. “I wonder if you are as weak as your teammate, my younger brother, always stumbling, always failing. A disgrace to the Uchiha clan,” he bit out…. “Sasuke’s life in return for his betrayal of the clan, I think that was the arrangement he had with Konoha.” — Itachi is the one who is lying here. He is, above all things, a manipulator. In the manga, it was revealed after his death that he was on the good side, but that’s cold comfort. His actions were still mean, cold and heartless. So I’m writing him as this chameleon character. He will say anything to get what he wants. Sakura is naturally suspicious, Katsuro not-so-much. But he will come to see through the lies.
• “Really? Still a genin?” Katsuro said. — They are older genin, perhaps held back at that level another year because they couldn’t work together. Sakura’s outfit is Part 2, Shippuden. Katsuro of course doesn’t have a rank, but he knows about them because of Itachi’s training and by the need to identify other nins when on illicit missions.
• Katsuro’s last comment made the difference. Teammates were for protecting. Now she knew what Kakashi meant. (Sakura’s thoughts) / “Let’s just hope you set your traps a little more wisely than this pathetic display,” said Itachi (to Katsuro) — Both are coming to see their sense/master in a different light. Sakura grasps what Kakashi means, and the antagonistic relationship Katsuro has with Itachi is beginning to show. Itachi is by no means a sensei to Katsuro.
Spoiler Notes:
• Katsuro was robbed of a response. He had been where she was right now. Lived in it for years and years. — small reference to his years growing up in an orphanage, not knowing what his fate would be.
• That way, at least, she could hide her miserable tears. She was sick of crying, but she couldn’t hold it back. — Sakura will leave this part of a life a lot stronger, harder, wiser, and will vow never to cry again.
• He stood swiftly, leaving the tendrils of hair swinging around her neck, and turned to go. — Background wind element reference. It’s flaring up here because he’s feeling protective of her.
• Katsuro knew he was special, and hopefully that could hold sway here. — reference to the inner workings of his relationship with Itachi. Katsuro knows he’s special, and he’s testing out how far this preferential treatment can go. But there’s always a price. More to come in the next few chapters.
• Her smile brought a light to her eyes…. The color was maybe not just that of a single leaf but the whole canopy of a tree, only brought to life by the sunlight behind it. — Sun, sunlight, a metaphor for love, for a precious person. He recognizes her in the picture with the sunlit faces of children. He steals the sunlight from the picture when he closes the shutters. And he defines the color of her eyes only by sunlight moving through the leaves. (It’s not just a flat color, there has to be some purpose behind it, some intent that brings it to life.) Anyway, this will continue to surface in many, many ways, and from Sakura as well, until Jiraiya brings it full circle for him.
<< Return to Chapter 12 • Go to Chapter 13 >>
by tricksie in Chapter Notes