Author's notes…
Alrighty then! You know the fine line between constructive criticism and straight out bashing? I erased it. :] Say what ever you want about this story. It was my very first on FanFiction; ever. That's right. I wrote this a very long time ago and deleted it out of frustration. But I found it again and decided to put it up. I'm not expecting the word spectacular, or anything of the sort. Itachi is thirteen and Sakura is ten… I think. :] Same as Sasuke in this chapter, then the rest get older till we reach when Sakura is fifteen and Itachi is eighteen. I am the author, I can change what ever the hell I want, and it's coming from my mind, HA. :] The idea of a "White bear" is from the book EAST. Just in completely different text and circumstances. I wrote this when I was thirteen to fourteen after inspiration from reading many books so it probably isn't all that great.
Itachi: "Katt1995 Does not own Naruto, it is the copyrighted property of Masashi Kishimoto. Is she did, there would probably be no plot at all, it would be really lame, the fight scenes would be weak and of the few, Ino would be bashed every sentence, there would be lemon mania, couples will be everywhere, mass baby production, and Sakura would be ultimately bad ass."
Katt1995: "Err… thanks, I think?"
….
Itachi POV
It was the beginnings of springtime. Cherry blossoms were in the middle of their blossoming, Mother was cleaning like a mad woman, Kimonos were everywhere, every color, the cold air now warming, yes all of it repeated every year. And then there was the spring banquet and right after that there was the festival. Itachi's lips pulled down at the thought. He rather disliked major associating. He just wasn't a social person. When you are an Uchiha heir you're not supposed to be. He stared out the window from his bedroom. Tonight was the night. The Uchiha's, Haruno's and Huuga's all got together on this day, the day when the Konoha Cherry Blossom festival was in session. He didn't really understand why they kept a friendly façade when he knew they were just being competitive. Their children's abilities, about how prosperous they were, everything was a competition with a smile slapped on it.
Well, except the Haruno's that is. He knew that they had a formidable kekkai genkai, the ability to read minds. But for some reason with Itachi it was different. For some strange happening there hadn't been a Haruno to date that could read his, which he was truthfully rather thankful for. That would get annoying quickly. Was it a genetic quirk, maybe? He didn't care, as long as his mind was kept to himself. No one had figured it out, though. It had actually made some of the Haruno's become drawn to his presence. They told him it was nice just to hear their own thoughts for once. His Father had looked completely pleased with it as well. He said it gave him a greater advantage if he were to fight one of them, he said he was like a blindfold to them, that they used the ability sort of like how we used out eyes to see where we were going.
Their laid back attitudes had made them the peacemakers and glue that bound the prestigious families to actually annually attend any sort of holiday get to gather. The Hokage had been pleased too. And while Huuga's and Uchiha hold an almost pleasant hostileness, which could be quite comical, The Haruno's got along with almost everyone. Smiled genuinely, spoke politely, and knew what subjects to not cross. Itachi suspected because they could hear what one thought; that they knew how to charm anyone they talked to. But something had his parents amiss. He may have been only thirteen but technically he was on an Anbu jounin level. He was as observant as a hawk, and knew abnormal behavior the moment he saw it. His mother was giggling and looking away from his gaze too much. He father cared too much about how presentable Sasuke and Itachi looked. His father never cared; only what their fighting abilities were. That was it. Something was going too happen. But as to what, Itachi didn't really know. It irritated him to be ignorant.
"Itachi? Sasuke, dear?" His mother's falsetto high voice rang
"What?" Sasuke groggily yelled back from his room.
"We're leaving, come on you two!" His father spoke gruffly to his brother.
Itachi stood from his bad and arranged his kimono. Its black and red had made his skin lighter than usual. He walked out of his room as Sasuke was leaving his own. It's blue and gray made his younger brother look more mature. Sasuke rubbed sleep from his eyes. His onyx hair was fumbled every which way in a bed head heap of a mess.
"Onii-san," Sasuke greeted with a cheerful and tired smile.
"Otouto," Itachi greeted in return. "You're ten now. It's your first banquet and festival. Don't act up too much."
"Like I would!" Sasuke's face flushed red in anger and embarrassment.
He lifted his hand and poked Sasuke's forehead. His younger brother scowled and rubbed his now slightly red skin. They walked out to the front door where their parents were waiting and put their sandals on. His mother began furiously maneuvering with Sasuke's hair much to his complaint. His father's eyes were on Itachi. Waiting for him to turn to his dad.
"Yes father?" Itachi asked formally.
"Try and keep your brother out of to trouble. You two are meeting…someone today. Someone important."
"Important?" Itachi hadn't missed his father's hesitation.
"Yes."
"Understood."
"Good." His father said uncomfortably. He knew Itachi saw his mistakes.
Itachi's eyes narrowed. Ahh, so there was something going on. His mother finally fixed Sasuke's hair.
"Alright! Now we can go. Let's be on our way shall we? I can't wait to see Hana, I wonder how long it's been?" she said in all her excitement.
…...
When Itachi and his family arrived his dark eyes rested on Youku the clan leader of the Haruno's. His clan resided beside him as he talked politely to Hiashi the clan leader of the Huuga's. Youku's dark brown hair was wispy and his emerald eyes were light. Itachi's eyes saw his wife Hana smiling. Her baby blue eyes danced with amusement at the secret conversation Itachi was sure she was having with Youku in their minds. The wind rustled her shoulder length pink hair. Next was their oldest son, Kaisuke. His broad shoulders and shorter brown hair made him have the appearance of being dangerous to any civilian that laid eyes on him. But they had only to look into his big blue eyes to realize Kaisuke was generally a caring person, a big sweetheart. Only lethal when being given orders to be.
Something caught Itachi's attention. There was something pink holding on to Youku's kimono sleeve. Realization hit Itachi. It was their youngest daughter. What was her name? He recognized her because of how much Kaisuke would talk so affectionately of her.
Seven years ago…
Itachi was on resting in his mother lap. She hugged her son close smiling and hummed lightly. Hana, matriarch of the Haruno clan, crossed over to the two and began to speak to them in a wistful melodically voice.
"Oh Mikoto, I think we should have Sasuke, Itachi, and Sakura, our new baby girl, be introduced to one another. She is the most darling thing ever. She has to explore everything; no rock left unturned let me tell you! And she already can read minds! Instead of talking she just tells us what she wants through her thoughts. And the dreams she has! All colorful and lots of butterflies, she dreams about our faces too! She likes me the most, of course. Kaisuke and her father are tied. But she makes me run around like crazy trying to keep up with her. She just turned three a few days ago. And she has this thing, with bears, always thinks about bears, she told me… well thought to me that she wanted to ride a bear. It was so cute! She runs off though, she could pull of being a professional explorer, she has put more miles on her sandals than I think Youku, Kaisuke, and me have in all our life times! She runs outside into the woods thinking she will find a bear, I think she should have some play mates to wear her down. And as cute as it is to see her think about riding a big bear, I think she needs some friends. " Hana rambled happily.
"Oh my, she does sound like a darling, Itachi, would you and Sasuke like to play with Kaisuke and Sakura?" His mother asked him sweetly.
Itachi shook his head yes politely.
"Oh how wonderful!" The pinkette delighted. "But I'm afraid it might be awhile before they meet. Sakura still wont talk, only thinks to communicate. Tsunade-hime told us she would learn if we refused to give her things unless she spoke verbally, it is the down side to her early kekkai genkai. She doesn't understand not everyone can hear her." Hana said with a frown.
"Oh my, that would pose a problem." Mikoto said thoughtfully. "That is alright though, they will meet someday." She smiled.
After all she was born the same year as Sasuke, it would be the first time they met. Once ten years of age children were allowed to attend the banquet. He remembered that similar to him, she had unlocked her kekkai genkai yearly. Whether this was a blessing or a curse among young prodigies was quite questionable though. But what struck Itachi was how she looked. Her Father's bright emerald eyes were electric because of her long dark eyelashes. Her creamy white skin glistened and looked like the finest silk against her light blue kimono. Long pink hair swung in the wind and it's ends rested on her hips. She was breath taking.
Sakura POV
She had been standing with her family while her father and Hiashi-Sama discussed how things were with their clans. She held on to him and looked up at the tall man in front of her. He had no pupils. She shivered and looked down.
'Daddy he is scary.' She whimpered in thought.
'Now, now, my darling, he is a good leader. Please be respectful.' He father replied warmly.
'But-' she whimpered again.
'Listen to your father, darling.' Her mother's honey sweet voice told her.
'You're so cute, Saki!' her brother was restraining the urge to pick her up and give her a giant hug.
"She resembles you most Hana-san, doesn't she?" Hiashi commented.
"Ah yes, such a beautiful girl isn't she?" he father smiled at her.
"Yes. What is your name young one?" Hiashi asked.
She could feel it; he was trying not to think about anything. He didn't like having his thoughts read.
"It is Sakura, Hiashi-sama." She spoke politely and respectfully. She bowed to him. She knew what he wanted to hear and how he wanted to hear it.
'She seems intelligent and confident, that is good. Perhaps she can be an influence to Hinata .If I remember she was only six months old when she unlocked her kekkai genkai. She would be a suitable wife for Neji when they both grow up.' His voice rang in her head.
"The name suits you well, Sakura-san. It matches you beautiful hair."
"Thank you very much, Hiashi-sama." She smiled to him. Her stomach knotted.
'Wife? There's no way! I'm only ten!' She hissed in her head.
'Darling, He is talking future tense, No one will make you get married, and he was merely thinking of the possibility and the blood heritage that would come from it.' Her father reasoned.
'I am going to kill Neji if he lays a finger on her.' Kaisuke thought protectively.
'No you wouldn't, you would feel to bad if you did!' His mother was smiling.
'You never know…' He mumbled in his head defensively.
'Youku-san, I need to speak with you about our children's… future…'
It was an unfamiliar voice in her head, it hadn't been directed at her but her father. Her father turned and smiled to a tall man with brown hair. His face was in an almost permanent scowl. The cold man's eyes caught hers. He was standing with a pretty woman who had long black hair and black eyes. Sakura looked down to the two children beside her. One was about her age. His hair was spiky in the back with long bangs in his face. He had a pale complexion that was milky and soft looking. The other son was strikingly handsome. His black hair was long and tied up in the back. He probably was two or three years older than her. His skin held the sunlight with a sparkle and his face had two marks coming from his eyes. His eyes were almost penetrating her. And they were like pools of ink. The eyes were so familiar. A flash of the beautiful white bear replayed in her head. He couldn't be…. after all he was human. She shivered and looked back to the young one. He was busy with his thoughts. Most were random little things. Meaningless. Just of the moment thoughts. While there mother was thinking about Sakura's mother.
'Hana! Oh dear, I have much to speak with you about!' the woman's voice was quite high.
She watched as her mother animatedly sprinted to her side, and began a busy conversation. What was interesting to Sakura was that the handsome boy that had stared at her so had yet to think anything. Most people thought about at least something. Sakura had meet many people, never was anyone's mind completely silent. But his mind was just that, silence. Nothingness. Sakura's brow furrowed and she started pushing her mind to his trying to provoke reaction. Usually when you push a person can feel it. Like pressure in an intimate place. It doesn't hurt, but it can be alarming. Nothing; only a bored face. She pushed harder trying to cause at least discomfort. But again, nothing happened. She had been so busy with his mind she had blocked all others out. So when her mother called her name and she heard a voice talk about her she was a little surprised. She looked out from her father's kimono sleeve.
'I guess it is time they finally meet? Sasuke, Itachi, and Sakura?' The woman thought.
'Come here, darling. Kaisuke come as well, dear.' Hana's voice followed a beat later.
Her mother's warmness coaxed Sakura to her side.
She looked up at Kaisuke. He took her hand and turned back to her father and Hiashi-sama.
"Our Mother is calling for us, please do excuse us." They bowed and headed for their mother.
'Awe, looky hear, if it isn't Itachi! Wow, Sasuke has grown up.' Her brother mused.
'The oldest boy is odd. I can't hear him.' She found herself pouting. Full childish lips set out.
' Who Itachi? None of us can. His mind is blocked from ours for some reason.' Kaisuke explained.
'Itachi…' She thought the name in her head. It was a nice name. It suited him.
'Yeah and the one beside him, that's Sasuke, he is your age. You should be meeting him at the academy in awhile; the sheet said you guys were in the same class two years from now.' Kaisuke told her.
'How nice.' She mumbled in thought. Her voice came out like a child's bubbly hum. She was still pleasing people subconsciously. His big hand tightened around hers and they took their place beside their mother. She half hid behind Kaisuke, and stared curiously.
"Oh my! Kaisuke how big you have gotten! Your almost as big as your father now. Are you fifteen I presume?"
Kaisuke grinned proudly.
"Yeah. And growing."
"Oh and you must be Sakura! My you are without doubt one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen. Oh can you come a little closer, dear? I want to see you more."
Sakura looked up at Kaisuke.
'Should I? She asked him.
'What are going to do, say no?' He thought sarcastically. Sakura thought about it. She weighed the options and sighed.
Slowly she reluctantly pulled her body away from Kaisuke and missed his big and warm protection immediately. She felt Itachi's eyes float all over her. He gazed at her face, her hair, everything. Sakura almost scurried back to her brother. She felt hot all over like not only her face but also her body was blushing.
"Oh my!" The woman gasped. Her hand was to her mouth and her eyes were wide. Sakura flushed redder than her mother's lipstick.
'Can I go back now?' She thought desperately.
'I guess so…' Her mother told her sympathetically.
She hated being told she was beautiful. She only liked attention from her family anyway. From other people she got embarrassed. She scrambled to Kaisuke's side and hid a little deeper her face pushed to the top of his thigh. He stroked her pink hair affectionately.
"Dear, I'm in shock. I have never seen such a beautiful girl! Hana, how could you hide her from me?" The mother asked teasingly appalled.
"So you didn't steal her from me." Hana said while laughing. The woman smiled at Sakura.
"Sakura-chan, dear, I am Mikoto, these are my children, Sasuke and Itachi." She looked at each when she said their name.
"Hello, Mikoto-sama, Sasuke-san… I-Itachi-san." She stumbled over his name. She buried herself deeper into Kaisuke.
"Hi, Sakura-chan!" Sasuke said happily.
"Hello, Sakura-san." Itachi said her name like a purr. She shivered. His eyes caught the movement, fascinated.
A bell rang and everyone turned his or her heads to the sound. It was Fugaku, Youku, and Hiashi, standing at the head of the table, which was wide enough for three full grown men to sit comfortably.
"It is Konoha's twenty-third Pre-festival banquet for the three family's present." Hiashi began.
"We three family's are the base of Konoha. We are the support to all commoners. The strongest of shinobi and kunoichi come from our clans, and fight for our country. We are the beams of support." Hiashi looked to Sakura's father.
"So it is in so that tonight, in celebration of our effort to make Konoha as powerful and wonderful as it can be, we celebrate the spring, the new beginning after the winter's hard times, we celebrate a victory, we celebrate Konoha!" Youku's deep voice declared in pride.
"And that tonight we may sit together as Konoha civilians, shinobi, mothers, brothers, doctors, all something bigger than we are. Tonight we truly are one. So let the banquet begin!" Fugaku's voice boomed.
Everyone scurried for the table, which was so large it could fir all three clans at one setting, comfortably. Needless to say, it was huge.
'How may trees did they chop down to make this?' Sakura thought in shock.
"Maybe a rainforest or two." Her brother joked out loud, unfazed.
Sakura shook her head amazed.
"Umm…Sakura-chan will you sit wit me?" Sasuke asked.
"Okay." She told him and smiled. His face became bright.
"Onii-san come on! Let's get a good seat." He grabbed both their hands and pulled them toward the front. She managed not to make eye contact with Itachi as much as possible.
They took a seat with Sakura in the middle of the two brothers, much to her displeasure. Itachi made her jumpy still.
His eyes shamelessly never left her face. She felt uncomfortable to even look his direction. She gazed at the wood table with her face as red as a tomato.
"You blush frequently." Itachi stated. Like he had memorized every blink she had made that night. Her face got redder.
"I-I do?" She asked knowing full well the answer.
"Aa."
'What kind of reply is that? Heck, what kind of statement is that?' She glanced at him.
"I don't mean to…"
Sakura was clueless as to what to say. She couldn't read his mind. This was quite hard when she had no idea as to what to he wanted from her about this subject. Itachi remained silent, much to her pleasure. Her eyes glided back to the dark wood table as food was being passed every which way.
"You are Sasuke's age." He said.
Dammit she thought he was done.
"Oh, yeah I guess so." She said timidly.
"You and your brother seem close." He tone was interested. Maybe he liked her after all.
Sakura smiled. "Yeah, I really love him."
"Hn." His tone became slightly dead.
Then again she'd been wrong before.
"You're bear necklace is…interesting."
"Thank you." Her eyes flickered to his face then back down. "You resemble your mother."
"That is good, Okaa-san is pretty."
"You are pretty." Sakura flushed at his complement.
"T-Thank you…" She stuttered.
"Your kimono…your mother made it?"
"Yeah, she is good at sewing. I thought she did a very good job." Sakura mumbled.
"It suits you very well."
"You're very kind…"
"Not really," He said blandly.
"I don't know, you have been showering me with praise since we sat down…"
"Aa, but that is different than being nice. I am being a gentleman."
"I see… I still think that qualifies as nice."
He just blinked with his head on his hand. Rested in an elegant almost princely fashion. The long dark lashes dusted his cheeks and his fingernails were in perfect condition.
"Your hair is so long, it is very pretty. So is your skin, its like cream."
Sakura went bright red as he touched the ends of it, which rested on her hips. His hand lingered and his eyes rested on the skin of her hands than his hand returned to his head and his eyes her face.
"T-Thank…you…" She was flushing redder than ever. She was never good at compliments. She swore half of them were over exaggerated to make her have false confidence.
She picked up her water and sipped to keep from sighing.
"And you dislike talking."
That one through her off, it hadn't been a question. It was an accusation. Like he said it was a fact. She inhaled the water. Itachi was patient for her response and she started coughing.
"I…It's…I do…but it is still nice sometimes..." she finally admitted after stuttering and a gagging fit. If she couldn't please his interest, she might as well be honest.
"Hmm..." He seemed to be thinking. Sakura felt awkward. As if an angle was watching over, her food was brought to her so she could stuff her mouth and keep his questions at bay.
She didn't like this at all. Sakura didn't like attention, but she was used to having to suck it up and deal with it. But his kind of attention made her feel odd. She felt nervous and jumpy, Her face seems to have a permanent blush, and she was starting to have butterflies. His well, they weren't questions mostly, more like statements that implied wanted answers, didn't help calm her, they made her worse. She ate deliberately slow, trying to buy time.
'Just make it through the banquet, than Kaisuke and you can go to the festival together…' she reminded her self repeatedly.
"I make you uncomfortable." Itachi said uninterestedly.
Her face snapped to his a look of horror. His lips twitched upwards.
"No! That's not it! I just…am not good with people…it's not you…" Sakura felt like a bad person now.
She didn't want to insult him…
He chuckled slightly.
'He is laughing at me? Why?' her brow furrowed and she turned to her plate. She wasn't hungry. Sakura was sensitive for being made fun of. She felt kind of sick now. Her self-confidence wasn't high anyway but when someone laughed at her it was like a slap to the face with a latex glove. Itachi seem to pick up on her sudden mood change. But said nothing. He just got sort of rigid. He finally spoke.
"I can tell I make you uncomfortable, no need to hide it."
"I told you it isn't you… I just am not used to being…well, social…" she said quietly. It was true. Because when she was open she got teased. So she shut her self up like a book. And she never got teased after that. You can't make fun of what you don't know. Or at least she told herself that. But Itachi made her open, for a reason unknown. He made her flush and he made her stutter. Suddenly she wasn't in control of every situation. It was difficult for her. She wasn't used to being read, it was always the other way around. But now the tables were turned. Her fingers played with her necklace and bit on bottom lip. She stared of into space and allowed everyone's thoughts to enter her head so she didn't have to deal with her own. Places were Itachi couldn't reach her.
'I tell you! That woman will be the death of me!'
' I can't believe she did that, what a whore!'
'I want some action, this place is so boring!'
'This food is delicious, wonderful…'
'Fugaku, you think you know everything! I am a leader of my own clan, you imbecile.'
'Great they're fighting again!'
'My how the children are growing up, Sasuke and Sakura have gotten so big! Itachi looks more manly everyday!'
'I'm so excited, the festival is in thirty minutes!'
'What a babe, I wouldn't mind getting me some of that…'
'Sakura has gotten as beautiful as her mother! And the way Itachi stares at her. The way his eyes burn when he looks at her…I guarantee that when they are of age they will marry! Not a doubt, he looks like he is head over heels for her, and the way she flushes but cant stop looking or answering him! Oh it is young love! When he touched her hair and she blushed so, Oh dear I cant stop thinking about how cute they are.'
The last thought snapped Sakura into the present. What? She didn't know who thought it, but what?
She couldn't love Itachi! She just met him, beside, he was kind of weird and she was only ten years old! Far, far, too young to know what she was going to want in ten or fifteen years. She got rigid and suddenly pushed her back against the seat. Her face became smooth and impassive.
"What did you hear?" Itachi asked.
"Huh?"
"I watched you, you were listening to thoughts. Someone thought something that made you uncomfortable." He explained.
Sakura would rather push a stake through her own heart than tell him someone was sniffing out love conspiracies between him and her.
"Err…it is really embarrassing…I don't think you want to know…" But she also knew she couldn't lie. She shouldn't no matter how much she wanted too. She would feel bad. He had a right to the knowledge it did involve him…
"Why?"
"Umm…it is…" Sakura go really red. Oh why couldn't she be a good liar, she knew he would see through her if she did. There was no point in lying, even if he wouldn't she would come clean five minutes later in guilt.
"It is?"
"Err…Itachi-san, I am sure some loony old lady thought it…don't worry…" she tried. Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really? Now I a curious."
"Don't be, please." She grumbled.
"It can't be so bad."
"No but it is…embarrassing."
"How so?"
"It involves you…and me…"
"And?"
"And… stuff…"
"Stuff?"
"Yeah…stuff…"
"Sakura-san, I'm not an idiot."
"I never said you were…"
"Yes, and what ever this 'stuff' is it bothered you. What did they say?"
Sakura bristled.
"Stuff." She couldn't lie but she could beat around the bush till Kaisuke saved her.
"… Sakura-san, please?" His voice became sweet and her face snapped to his. His eyes were childishly wide, and his moth was set in a playful smile. She knew he was doing this to get her information and it worked, it all came out quickly.
"Sakura has gotten as beautiful as her mother. And the way Itachi stares at her. The way his eyes burn when he looks at her. I guarantee that when they are of age they will marry. Not a doubt, he looks like he is head over heels for her, and the way she flushes but cant stop looking or answering him. It is young love! When he touched her hair and she blushed so, Oh dear I cant stop thinking about how cute they are…"
Sakura paused realizing what she just said…
"Eikk!" her hand slapped across her face as she went every shade of red there ever was.
She moved her fingers enough to see his reaction. His mouth had popped open and his eyes were slightly wide.
"Mmm… say something!" She hissed uncomfortably.
"What am I supposed to say?" He asked his facial expression didn't change.
"Something topic changing… I don't know, tell me I am an idiot, that works too."
"Your not an idiot, curiosity killed the cat." He said in a sigh.
"No, I am a sucker for cute things…" she mumbled more to herself.
"You think I'm cute?" He asked.
"What? Wait huh? I was talking about the face you did! Oh wait, not that you're not good looking, though… Mmm…I don't like where this topic is going either…"
she wiggled in her chair.
Itachi leaned in close to her, she whimpered when his hot breath hit her ear.
"Well, I think you're really cute." He spoke in a whisper.
Sakura didn't go red. She went maroon.
Her lips popped open and air sucked in to make a gasp.
"Oh, Saki-chan! Time to go to the festival! Itachi you and Sasuke are coming with me and Saki-chan, Okay?" Kaisuke howled to Itachi.
"Come on, Saki-chan." He said her name like sugar.
She was slightly woozy when she took his hand and walk with him to her brother. Itachi never let go of Sakura's hand.
…
PREVEIW
"Hey, hey, Kaisuke, can we go do that, Itachi doesn't want to, and Sakura-chan hates those psychic booths."
"Because they don't work…" She mumbled.
"Yeah, yeah, Itachi watch out for Saki-chan, Okay?"
It suddenly dawned on Sakura that she was going to be alone with Itachi. Her heart suddenly accelerated. Her brother was gone before she could object. Itachi's tan hand found hers and gave a warm squeeze.
She was going to faint before tonight was over.
…..
:]]]
