Author's note: Here's my actual fanfiction for this site. I finally have an idea on what it's about. Hope you review and enjoy!

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Eighteen years-old Sakura and her team of ANBU were traveling through a forest. Their mission? Is to fend off the appoaching Akatsuki members. The council fears that they will try to kidnap the sixth Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki.

They feared that their Hokage will have the same fate as the Fifth Kazekage. Though, the Kazekage is alive today but that's besides the point. Anyway, the team of ANBU came to a stop as they sensed the two Akatsuki members' chakra signatures.

They nodded to each other and each of them pulled out their katanas. They stood and waited for the Akatsuki members to appear. Why did the Hokage send out five ANBU to fight off two Akatsuki members? I know they're tough but...

Sakura shook her head. She decided just to follow the instructions of which the Hokage gave her. After all, Naruto's the hokage. Not her. Sakura waited. Her nervousness was building up as she waited for the Akatsuki to appear.

Where the heck are they? Are they setting a trap?

Suddenly, six kunais flew towards them. They immediately dodged. After they skidded to a stop, the ANBU team looked to see tow figures appoach from the darkness of the tress.

Sakura recognized that they were the Akatsuki members from the rumors of the sightings. Sakura recognized the shortest member of the two. Itachi? Sasuke's brother.

The ANBU stood in their battle stances, katanas had hand. The tallest Akatsuki member, Kisame, took a step forward. His hand touching the handle of Samahada. "Looking for a battle, eh? 'Cause we're just here for one reason and one reason only." He said.

"We know that. And we're not going to let you get your hands on our Hokage." The ANBU in the front said. Kisame chuckled. "You're saying it as if the Jinchuuriki is some valuable item."

"He's valuable to our village." The lead ANBU took a step towards the Akatsuki. He glared at both members from under his mask. Itachi coughed. "You know? Violence isn't the answer to everything. There's other ways you know." Itachi explained.

But explaining wasn't enough for a ANBU wearing a mask of a mountain goat. He lunged at Itachi with his katana in hand. The others gaped from under the masks. The mountain goat ANBU swung his sword, trying to decapitate the Uchiha.

But the blade stopped in mid air, a few inches from slicing through Itachi's neck. The mountain goat ANBU just stood there for a second, staring at Itachi before dropping his katana and falling forward. Itachi had to step back so the man weren't fall on him.

Kisame, who stood behind the ANBU, pulled his sword back. "Hey. He started it. It was either you or him." He said. Sakura gasped. H-he killed him.

The rest of the ANBU, except for Sakura, lunged at the Akatsuki members. They began to battle. Sakura shook her head and decided to fight along side of the rest of her team. I should worry about his death later.

Pulling out her katana from it's sheathe, Sakura lunged at Kisame. Kisame kicked the ANBU whose fighting him. He spun around to see Sakura approach him. He chuckled. Sakura tried to slash him but her sword collided with his.

"How pathetic. Why did you even bother? It's useless." Kisame said. Sakura growled but stopped when she saw spikes pertrude from the gauze of Samahada. The spikes pertrude towards her. Sakura jumped back.

Sakura panted, then got back into her battle stance. Just before Sakura could do her next attack, the ANBU that Kisame kicked earlier appeared behind Kisame. The ANBU tried to punch Kisame but when Kisame spun around, Samahada collided with the side of his head.

And yes, the spikes were pertruding through the gauze when the sword collided with the man's head. Poor him. The ANBU's eyes rolled up into his head and he fell onto the ground. Kisame didn't meant to take him out that way but atleast one of his problems had been dealt with.

Kisame spun around to deal with Sakura but she was gone. And where did that other ANBU go?

He looked up to see Itachi take out the last ANBU. Four corpses lied on the ground. Kisame had walked up to Itachi when he turned around. "Where's that fifth ANBU?" Kisame asked Itachi. Itachi narrowed his eyes at Kisame. "And how should I know?"

Kisame just shrugged. Itachi stepped over the corpse under him. "Whatever. Let's go find 'em. Because they might go recruit more ANBU." Itachi began to walk away. Kisame sighed, but followed Itachi anyway.

--

Sakura ran through the forest. She would zig-zagged every few steps. Sakura didn't realize it but she was actually getting further and further away from Konoha. After a few minutes of running, Sakura decided to stop to catch her breath.

She had her back to a tree as she panted. Sakura stopped when she heard some nearby bushes rustled. She peered around the tree. The bushes stopped as the breeze died down. She let out a whoosh of air, then pulled her head back.

Suddenly, something landed on her shoulder. Sakura nearly cried out but when she saw what it was, she stopped. A crow had landed on her shoulder. It looked at her. "Okay, you can go now little birdy. Shh. But leave quietly. Please do not make any loud noises." Sakura whispered to it.

The crow tilted it's head as it continued to stare at her. Sakura put her finger to lowest part of her mask and whispered, "Shh." The crow just studied her. Suddenly, it began to sqwak very loudly.

Sakura's eyes widened. She pulled out an kunai. She had to shut it up. It could give away her hiding spot. Sakura began to slash at the crow. But the crow dodged her attacks. It continued to sqwak loudly.

Knowing that she's threatening it, the crow began to peak her mask. The crow thought the mask was her face. Sakura tried to swat it away. The crow peaked the mask (above her seeing holes) so hard, that it created a hole in her mask.

Plus, it peaked deep enough to puncture her skin. Sakura's forehead began to bled. Sakura finally got the crow, stabbing it's side. The crow fell onto the ground with the kunai still in it's side. First, it stopped sqwaking, then it stopped moving forever.

Sakura sighed of relief. Whew! What a close call! I thought for a second there I was caught by-

But Sakura's thoughts were cut off when Kisame appeared on the right side of the tree. Itachi appeared infront of her. "Damn it." Sakura said. Kisame glared at her. "There you are. You know, we could of just headed to your village to kidnap your Hokage but some person said if we let you escape, then we'll have to deal with even more ANBU and some Jounins."

Kisame glared at Itachi. Sakura looked around for a escape route. Maybe she could escape to the left. But they're fast. They could easily recorner her if she's not quick enough. Kisame took out Samahada. "Don't worry. I'll make sure your death is quick." Kisame said, looking at Sakura again.

"Or do you perfer a slow, painful death?"

Sakura reached for her kunai pouch. It'll be too risky for her to go for her katana. Kisame took a step closer, wielding Samahada. Sakura took out a kunai and held it infront of her. "Back up, shark guy. Don't make me use this." Sakura threaten, her voice shaky.

Kisame chuckled. "And you think I'm threatened by that pathetic kunai of yours?" He nodded his head towards Samahada. Kisame began to make his way towards her. Sakura got into her battle stance.

Itachi blocked Kisame with his arm to go any farther. "I'll handle her." he said. Kisame pulled his sword back. "And what are you going to do? Mangekyou her to death?" He laughed hard at his own dumb joke. Itachi lowered his arm and turned to glare at Kisame.

Kisame stopped laughing and wiped a tear from his eye as Itachi headed towards Sakura. Sakura glared at Itachi as he approached. "You two, Mister sag face." She threatened. Itachi moved with sudden quickness and appeared right infront of her. He glared down at her.

"Well, it's kinda true. You are sagging underneath the eyes." Kisame said. Itachi glared at him again, then look back Sakura. Sakura stood up straight. The kunai began to shake in her hand. She looked away from Itachi's stare, trying to avoid his stare.

As Sakura turned away, the strings of her mask brushed against the bark of the tree. The strings untied, then Sakura's mask fell. It landed on the grass below her. Damn.

Sakura looked back at Itachi. She realized that he had a kunai to her neck. She also noticed his facial expression had changed. First, he was angry, glaring at her. Then his eyes widened. Her face... She has a beautiful face.

Sakura stared at him, confused. Is he going to kill me or what?

Kisame also wondered why his partner just had his kunai at her neck but didn't kill her. "Itachi, what's taking you so long? If you didn't stop me she would been dead already."

Itachi's eyes gazed around her face. He noticed the wound on her forehead. Lowering the kunai, he touched the drying blood with his other hand. Sakura decided to do something. She wanted to know what he's doing.

Sakura grabbed his hand and took it off her forehead. "What the hell are you doing?" She asked, letting go of his hand. Itachi just stared silently.

She has such beautiful eyes. Reminds me of emeralds or jades. And her wound? She must of gotten it from the crow that I sent out to find her.

Sakura glared at him. "Hey, dumba. Can you hear me?" Sakura asked, breaking into Itachi's thoughts. He glared at her, tightened his grip on his kunai. "I asked 'what the hell is going on?' Aren't you suppose to kill me?" Sakura demanded.

Itachi just sighed. Meanwhile, Kisame just sung to himself, leaning on his sword. Itachi placed a hand on her shoulder. "I was. But I decided it's not a good idea. I'll just attract more attention. Besides..." He shook his head. He didn't want to say it. He turned away.

"I'll just let you live." Sakura gaped at him. Kisame also gaped his mouth. "W-what? Why? I mean you're the Infamous Uchiha, Itachi. Uh, wouldn't I just tell the Hokage and he'll just send more experience ANBU after you and kill you? Huh? Wouldn't I get in your way?"

Sakura was only apart of the ANBU for only a year. Itachi closed his eyes, his back still to her. "Such a beautiful young woman who had risked her life to fight me. Heh, and if that mask never came off, I would of killed her without ever seeing her face." Itachi muttered to himself.

Question marks appeared over her head. Itachi began to walk away, his eyes opened. Sakura, being confused and wanting answers, followed. "What do you mean by 'beautiful young woman'? What are you talking about?" Sakura demanded.

Kisame looked up to see Itachi stand over him, Sakura behind, asking questions after questions. "The hell? Why didn't you kill her?" He asked. "I'll explain later. Let's just go." Itachi motioned with his hand for Kisame to stand. Kisame did, resheathing his sword.

They turned to leave. "But what about the answers to my questions?! You better tell me them now! Y-you.. TEME!" Sakura demanded, angrily. They stopped, only a few steps away from her.

Itachi looked back at her. "I'll tell you when the day comes." Sakura glared at him. "What day? The hell are you talking about?"

Itachi sighed, then walked up to her. He placed his hand on her shoulder again. "The day we meet again. I believe that our paths will cross again and when it does, I'll answer your questions." Itachi promised. He turned away.

"Huh? That adds more questions but no answers!!" Sakura yelled. Itachi let out a fustrated groan, then pulled her closer to him. For a second, he just stared at her face, then he reached behind her and knocked her out.

Sakura's unconscious body fell onto the ground. Itachi looked down at her for a moment. We'll meet again. And when we do, I'll answer your questions. Right now, I'm not so sure if I actually have a crush on you or I've just seen too many ugly woman lately so I'm surprise to see a decent one? I really don't know.

Itachi walked away, catching up with Kisame. They then began to make their way towards Konoha. A light breeze blew, making the grass blades sway...