I looked down in slight confusion - an odd emotion for me - at the people below. I had not heard them, even though they were stomping and bellowing with laughter. I narrowed my eyes dangerously. I was comfortably meditating when these annoying people arrived. What was stopping me from killing them? i rose slowly with the thought of their deaths before sitting down with a sigh. It was not my place to kill them. Besides, if I did kill them, I would have to deal with the stench of their dead bodies, which would eventually force me to leave. In effect, I would get no sleep.

So, I closed my eyes and waited for them to pass by when a terrified, muffled yell reached my ears. I looked down quickly, trying to figure out where it was coming from. That's when i saw a small, feminine figure thrown over the shoulder of a large, burly man. He was bulkier than the rest, though they were all very large. He had less chakra than the others, but it was still more than the weakened girl. Her head was covered with a sack, hiding her identity from me.

My curiousity piqued, I followed. It wasn't everyday that something like this happened, so I couldn't help but follow. They took her farther away from Konoha - my old home - and farther into the woods. Just as I was becoming bored and about to turn around, they stopped. Good timing. I edged closer to them on my sturdy branch as the girl was dropped from the mans shoulder, cutting herself on a potruding root.

I felt anger well up inside me. What did this little girl do to be cut like that? They were no better than common criminals. I lowered my eyes sadly for a moment. They were no better than me. I stayed with my head lowered for a few moments longer, ready to turn around and leave, when the sound of flesh meeting flesh in a harsh greeting had my head snapping up.

I immeadietly froze. The girl, she was so...what was the word...innocent. Yes, innocent. Her pink hair, though matted with dirt, fell down to her waist, even though she was sitting on the ground. Her bright, innocent, emerald eyes were shining with unshed tears as she stared up at the grinning man in front of her. And the pale skin of her cheek was rapidly darkening into purple.

I couldn't move, even as they began hitting her. They ganged up on her, kicking, punching, pulling her hair, ripping her clothes and cutting her flesh with kunai. I couldn't move. My gaze was still locked onto her eyes, though they were now closed. Why did whe suddenly catch my attention? 'Damn it, leave Itachi! She's nothing. It's better if she dies now and never knows the pain of having to live. Hopefully, she'll die with thoughts of happy friends and family.'

But I couldn't force myself to leave as they continued attacking her. She was about the same age of my brother, my dear little brother. How could I leave her to die like this? Could I do this to my brother? Would I be able to leave my brother? But she wasn't my brother. She was just an innocent little girl who held no importance to me. I finally forced myself to stand up and turn away, breaking my gaze from the girls hurt and bruised face.

'She's nothing, she's nothing, she's nothing...' I continuosly chanted to myself. Ignoring the girls sobs and the sound of her obvious torture. It was not my place to save her. She would go to a better place, where no one would hurt her.

Her sobs were almost gone when her scream pierced through the still night air around me. I couldn't stop myself as I turned and sped torwards where she was. The anger that was previously in me came back full force as I saw one of the men hovering over her, his pants around his ankles. My body acted of its own accord as I shot down and punched him. He fell to the ground in a daze. I paid him no attention as I turned to one of the confused lackeys and gripped his throat tightly. With my other hand, I pushed his body back, effectively ripping his neck and head from his body. The blood fell in a gruesome arc to the ground and on the girl. My hand, covered in blood, reached for the second lackey. I squezzed his neck, watching in disgusting delight as he slowly choked to death. I dropped his dead body to the ground and turned to the last man, the one that was about to rape this little girl.

He turned and ran, holding his pants up. I prepared to leap after him when the whimper of the girl stopped me. I foze and slowly tuned to her. Her bruises stood out from her pale skin, as if asking me why I didn't save her before. I couldn't tell if the blood covering he was hers or the man I killed. Her naked, undeveloped body trembled in fear as I gazed at her. Her eyes, which I finally looked into, were staring at me in fear. I was becoming overwhlmed with guilt - why, I'm not sure. But I nearly fell to my knees when she spoke in a soft, innocent, and terrified voice.

"Are you going to hurt me too, mister?" I shook my head slowly, not able to do much else. I didn't know what to do anymore. I had killed the men, though I didn't do it completely conciously. I had thought that would be enough. But I couldn't just leave her out here, hurt, naked, and defenseless. I slowly slid my Akatsuki cloak off, which made her freeze and whimper in fear. I sighed, softly, before leaning closer to her and wrapping the thick cloth around her.

She looked confused, yet grateful, as she snuggled deeper into the cloak. We stayed silent, her sitting and I standing, until the hoot of an owl drew us from our thoughts. I looked in the direction of the sound before turning back to the girl. It had gotten later than I thought, Deidara was already calling for me. I kneeled in front of the little girl, who shrunk slightly in surprise.

"What is your name, little girl?" She looked indignant, her fear placed on hold, as she answered.

"HEY! I am not little! Mommy said I was a big girl, I'm already seven and a half, thank you very much. And mommy said daddy is very strong, I bet he could kick your butt, mister!" She pouted, crossed her arms, and turned away from me. I smiled in my mind, so cute. But I wanted her name, I couldn't become distratced. I was ready to revioce my question when she turned back to me and answered. "My name is Sakura. Who are you?" She leaned forward, as if that may reveal my name. I leaned back, not wanting her to become tainted by my presence.

"Do you know your way home?" She tilted her head and looked up, thinking. Finally, after only a moment of thought, she answered.

"I think so. Hey, you never...hey, mister? Where are you?" She began calling for me again, searching around her desperately for a glimpse of me. I had teleported to the tree as soon as I knew she could get home. I waited for her to get up before leaping away from her to find Deidara, she would be able to get home. There was no need for me to stay here.

-(^.^)-

A/N: Ok, so I lied. I'm actually going to work on three stories instead of just the two. I'm slightly obsessed with ItaSaku and I haven't been able to get this story out of my head. So, here you have it. I hope everyone enjoyed!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS.