Now comes the closing of the Itachi and Sakura trilogy. Previous were "Divine Intervention" as well as "Almonds and Cherry Blossoms". For those who hadn't read those two before this one, I HIGHLY recommend it to avoid confusion. This two-shot picks up where "Almonds and Cherry Blossoms" left off, after Godaime Hokage Itachi himself has a sexy massage from Sakura, his little lover. ;) But now with Sasuke returning, things are going to come to a dramatic conclusion.

Disclaimer: obvious who this anime/manga and its characters belong to, but I am NOT the one.

Chapter One

Justified Means

"Orochimaru is dead. It seems Sasuke killed him." His grip tightened around the paper, lips thinning.

Sasuke killed the snake. She didn't know whether to be happy or dismayed, but one thing was sure: he'd grown powerful if he'd been able to take down one of the legendary Sannin. "Where is he now?"

Itachi sighed, closing his eyes. A few seconds later, he opened them again. "He is gathering a team now and is apparently on his way here."

Sakura Haruno bit her bottom lip. Three years, and now they learn Sasuke had survived, defeated the snake...but he was also on his way here to the Leaf Village. He was coming back home. A tiny amount of hope rose in her as to what could happen. She could imagine how Naruto would take this when he learned this - then she stopped her thinking when she looked up at her handsome lover and older brother of the traitor. "But when he does come here, what do you wish, Lord Hokage?" Their great rare moment was ruined by the news, but she summoned her chakra to calm down the obvious arousal below her stomach. The heat cooled in seconds.

Itachi shook his head, reaching up to rub his left temple with his thumb and forefinger. "I'm sorry, but you must leave now, Sakura. I'll summon you and your teammates back at the office."

Thank you, crow and Sasuke, for interrupting us.

She just nodded and stood up to put on her jacket and vest to leave without a word.

As soon as she was in the hallway, she made way for the office and waited out there. Because she was ahead of time, she felt a little impatient to wait for Naruto, the loveable idiot he was. Or would Kakashi retrieve him for her?

Some time passed before Itachi showed up, still in his kimono but with the Hokage's cloak draped over. He nodded to the two ANBU outside the door and passed through. "Follow me, Sakura," he said simply. "Your friends haven't arrived, I see." She shook her head. "Not surprising."

What felt like forever, her boys all showed up. "Sakura!" Naruto said. "What's up? And Itachi, is this about Sasuke?"

She gritted her teeth at his lack of decency towards the Hokage himself. "Yes, Naruto," he deadpanned. "In fact, I can tell you he is on his way here, but not for reasons you may think, Naruto. The rest of you - give me the hunch." He meant it more for Kakashi since he was known for said hunches, and always on a high note. Her old sensei closed his single eye, sighing sharply.

"What does he hope to accomplish now that he comes back?"

"He is considered a traitor as far as anyone is concerned. He hasn't killed anyone on Orochimaru's order, but now that the Snake Sannin is dead, there is no telling what is next on his list. I received notice tonight -" When we were interrupted. "- that he has gathered a team of three and will likely reach us in a few days. Therefore, I charge all of Team Kakashi to deal with him."

Naruto's gaze sharpened knowingly. "...you want us to kill him this time," he stated, baring his teeth. "This is your brother. Why do you now want your own brother dead?"

The Uchiha narrowed his eyes, now bleeding with his Sharingan. "He is my brother...but he is also a disgrace to the Uchiha name as well as to this village," Itachi said coldly. "It pains me to do this, but if it's necessary, then you have no choice. Otherwise, he will be brought back for trial and either execution or a given service. Did you forget that he tried to kill you last time?"

"That was only a whim, and now I am going to kill Naruto on a whim..."

Those cold, heartless words she would never forget, nor would she forget the pain in Kakashi's eye when he had to fight his own student. He wouldn't let her and Naruto know, but she knew he changed his mind altogether: his own student had abandoned them all.

"And one more thing, Naruto," Itachi said, "who in their mind would try and kill one they thought a friend multiple times?"

"Well, if he's got his wish to be strong, that snake bastard is dead," Naruto growled, "then maybe I can break every bone in his body myself unlike last time." Sakura held her breath and looked right at her lover as a means to try and not pummel the blond - although while she was happy he wanted to beat Sasuke to a pulp like he promised, she wanted to do something of her own to show that bastard she could get him this time.

Even if it meant killing him like she wanted to before. She couldn't get him last time - but she developed a special new poison to coat any of her weapons when she sprung on him.

Itachi seemed to read what she was thinking but chose to say nothing. "Leave first thing in the morning," he said finally, standing up from behind his desk. "The ANBU will be on guard in case he tries to overpower again." Then he stopped when he was just walking past them, his back facing them. "However..."

~o~

He was going after them to deal with Sasuke.

Alone in his private rooms once more, Itachi found himself unable to sleep that night. He lay on his back, staring first at the ceiling and then turning to look out the window at the blanket of stars coming out from the wisps of gray clouds. The turmoil was because of none other than his brother. Sasuke was lost and wouldn't listen to reason, but if he had to, it meant to deal with him justly.

He used to love Sasuke unconditionally, but his otouto let his emotions cloud his judgment when their father didn't recognize him, and Naruto continued to grow in his abilities, therefore slighting Sasuke. You always feared acknowledging him, believing it would diminish yourself. I thought you would seek a path for yourself that did not include selling your soul. Nothing in life was ever easily handed to you. He wanted to teach Sasuke that, but the little fool never learned.

He even lost his opportunity with a certain beautiful, pure-hearted rosette who was now Jounin and a skilled medical ninja, taught by none other than the Slug Princess herself. Just wait until he saw her improve. Itachi looked forward to seeing that smirk off Sasuke's face.

He was also more than prepared to face his brother himself when the chance came.

Distraction. Turning on his side, he reached for the bedside table and opened the top drawer to pull out the small, blushing box topped with a dimensional rose blossom. Holding it in the same hand, he flipped back the lid to reveal what he wanted to ask Sakura for a while now. She wouldn't have to give her career up; she might say yes in a heartbeat.

He wanted to win her heart with the perfect ring, but white diamonds were too expected, just like the first one that caught his attention. The large pure stone measured around the width of the finger it would, and surrounded with almost sixty smaller stones for extra fire. It was blinding, sure to attract attention, but it was a fortune's worth. He could afford it if he wanted to, but the fact he'd seen this kind of jewel many times, it was out of the question.

The next option was something a goddess would wear. Diamond-cut emerald set on a thin golden band. The verdant color would reflect her eyes...but at the same time, he doubted that it would last, either. She didn't deserve something too flashy or too plain.

Perhaps a duality of expected and unexpected, was his decision when his gaze fell on stunning rose-gold which would crawl around her finger like a gilded vine, set with three exquisite black diamonds highlighted with shimmering bright white. It was a tale of a true love story with darkness and innocence coming together. It was all too familiar and relatable that it called to him...

Itachi closed the box and put it back into the drawer, settling on his side and letting the faint light wash over him and pull him into the dreamland. Sakura's earlier "spa treatment" helped him enter a peaceful stupor.

~o~

"Oh, Sakura, what a surprise," Mikoto told her when she arrived in the Uchiha compound, beside Itachi - and the sight of the two holding hands was hardly a surprise, but it also made her utter a cry of joy. "Itachi, are you and Sakura -?"

"We are, Mother," he answered with a nod, and in a flash, she wrapped her arms around him, almost breaking his back. But then the moment was over when she released him and looked back and forth between them, concerned.

"I'm happy, but are you two...serious? And how long has this gone on before today?"

Sakura chose to speak. "Since last week, Mikoto-san. I really care about your son, and I wanted to tell you today." She paused, worried about the one whose other opinion was also important, although he might make or break. "Is your husband here?"

"Oh, no, he won't be back until the end of the day. I'm glad that you are here. It's been very difficult since..." Her voice trailed off, onyx eyes glazing over. The pinkette knew who she was thinking about, but couldn't bring herself to say the name that made her crack in pain. Sakura walked over and hugged the woman who began to cry into her shoulder.

Itachi stood by, watching with a faraway eye. When the clan first learned about its youngest's own betrayal of them all, the majority sparked an uproar and demanded that he, their heir and Hokage, deal with Sasuke justly and expel him from their walls. This was going to be the hardest thing he ever had to do since he spent all their lives protecting Sasuke in the only way he knew how. She'd hated him for pushing Sasuke away, but he didn't want his younger brother to be burdened with following someone else's shadow - mainly Itachi's.

Fugaku had been the chief to state what a disgrace his youngest son was, and the rest followed suit. Itachi, as village leader and maybe future clan head, had no choice but to consider. He couldn't let his personal feelings take over.

But that didn't stop him from pursuing Sakura Haruno, who never saw she'd chased after the wrong man - wrong Uchiha - and gave her what they both deserved. And it was all because of one...

"I wish Sasuke wouldn't be thrown out if he is brought back," Mikoto wept, holding onto her tightly, "but I'm only one overruled." And she wasn't the only one.

And so was Itachi.

~o~

"You are leaving, Itachi."

He looked up and frowned at the arrival of the two counselors in the doorway. His secretary had tried to stop them and failed. "Of course I am. Because I intend to protect my village rather than sitting behind the desk. What good is the Hokage just standing back and letting those beneath me do all the work?" he said coolly, smoothing out his cloak which was now placed on the back of the chair. He was left in none other than his Jounin flak jacket and vest.

Koharu huffed. "This village will be vulnerable when word gets that you have left its gates," she said.

"But my assistant can handle in my absence. It's not like I shall be gone on extended leave." And I had been hoping to get away from you both so we wouldn't have to HAVE this conversation.

"This is personal," Homura said bluntly, shaking his head. "I've known it all along. You are joining Kakashi Hatake's team from behind. I hope for all our sakes that you realize that the traitor is no longer your brother, but an enemy you must slay should he kill someone from his own village."

"Thus a rogue cannot go unpunished," Koharu stated.

Itachi's patience had been tested long enough. He was in front of them both with his Sharingan ablaze. The two elders stood frozen in shock. "Breathe one more word," he warned icily, sharp as his sword which was now strapped to his back. "Sasuke is my brother, but his turn is partly my fault. He is still but a child swayed by his emotions. I will never go back on my word when I say that I will protect him no matter what. That is what a big brother is for...yet I failed, and I intend to correct that mistake. Neither of you are in a position to tell me what is going to be the most painful for me. You are talking to someone you once used as a tool of the old days." He narrowed his eyes on them.

"And one more thing before I leave you both: Naruto and Sakura are the only ones to believe in him. They have what you both and Danzo lack - the power to believe. Now get out of my way before you face my wrath."

They said nothing to him, only stepped back out of fear of the Sharingan. To have this influence and his choice to have them not involved in political matters was enthralling to say the least. The two ANBU at the door followed him, but more would be stationed even without his order. His secretary wasn't an idiot. But as soon as he was halfway down the hallway to head downstairs, he stopped at the sight of the man he would gladly go the rest of his life without seeing.

"Danzo, out of my way. I am in a hurry."

"So I have gathered," the bandaged man replied, leaning on his cane. "I would sleep for the first time once I have gathered that your 'innocent' little brother's head has been brought back to be placed atop this mansion for the whole village to see - to serve as a reminder of traitors."

If they had been somewhere else, and had he not loathed killing, Itachi would have finished the job himself here and now. But the man was nearly as old as Sarutobi and the counselors, so a quick death by his sword would be all too easy and unsatisfying. "I fear you will be all but disappointed," Itachi replied before flicking his finger and reappearing on the other side of Danzo, and his own ANBU joined soon after. The old man refused to turn around, but he was amused at the show.

"Itachi Uchiha, you are one of the most powerful of Shinobi in our history - even greater than the First Hokage himself - but your heart is your greatest weakness. It comes in all forms, and I fear it will not end well very soon."

Itachi said nothing, but continued his journey to meet with Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura. But he was not going out without believing something would happen when he was not present.

I am the Hokage. Danzo and those two have no authority to seize the seat in my absence. I have made sure of it.

~o~

The three of them with the Hokage was nothing short of interesting - but also very difficult. Also, seeing him in Jounin garb without the Godaime cloak made her hold her breath. He was so handsome...but his face held so much trouble. She knew why, all too well.

His ANBU are hidden and waiting for us to go ahead.

"Orders, Lord Fifth?" Kakashi asked, to which the Uchiha nodded and proceeded ahead first. "Very well; lead the way, sir." He'd first been Itachi's captain in the Black Ops when the latter had arrived at age eleven, until her lover was promoted at age thirteen to captain. Then Kakashi left because of Sarutobi suddenly believing he was no longer suited for the darkness of ANBU - which was where she and her boys had come in...no, Sasuke isn't one of us any longer.

They were off from the gate in no time just as the sun rose to its full morning height.

Kakashi summoned Pakkun and the other hounds to proceed to sniff out where Sasuke and his gang was now. And Itachi sent his crows to scout overhead.

By the time night was falling, Naruto was complaining that they could keep going since they were indeed close, to which Itachi and Kakashi both overruled him and said by morning, they would have recovered their strength to meet with the one who betrayed them all. Sakura could use it definitely, and if anyone was wounded, then she would be there to heal them. Four of them against the other four - it was a piece of cake. Or was she jinxing that?

Itachi did the honors of making a small fire underneath a tree with a small fireball, after Naruto was in charge of gathering the wood, and that left Kakashi with bringing in a couple fish that were all split in half, bones torn out, and then grilled, all of which the group enjoyed in a hearty moment as if tomorrow wouldn't be something possibly tragic.

Sakura was beside Kakashi, Naruto and Itachi on the other side, to which the Hokage was telling Naruto that despite circumstances, he was happy that he still considered Sasuke to be a brother - more than he had ever been. This shocked Sakura, but she said nothing.

He looked across the fire from her, the flames flickering across his eyes. The burn matched Naruto's with the same thought: the goal to bring Sasuke back hopefully without killing him.

She looked at Kakashi only to see him forlorn. It made her look down at the earth between her feet and the small fire pit.

Next chapter: so it begins - and ends. :O Stay tuned!