Anime/Manga: Naruto

Pairing: Uchiha Itachi X Haruno Sakura

Language: English

Chapter 1 - Prologue

Words: 5 692

Status: On-going

Prologue ~ Obliviousness

Tsukinohebigure. 137th day of Year 5 of the Sanyo's era. 12pm

The dry crackled ground was soaked with blood. The night was pitch black, if it weren't for the two golden colored eyes that shone in the darkness. Glinting sadistically, the snake-like eyes narrowed in pleasure watching the bodies squirm under the attacks. The smell of blood, fear and pain made him shiver. Blood smelt so … wonderful. It smelt like copper. It always made him want to lick it. Lick it and drown in it, scraping, hurting, ripping away the skin. Delectation was what Orochimaru felt as he watched the village of Tsuki no Hebi burn. Yes, those mere mortals would all die for they had refused to follow him. He, the greatest God-to-be. He, one of the three Sannins. He, one of the greatest -and craziest- ninja of all times. The piercing screams were sweet lullabies to his ears. He smirked and indulged himself in watching his creation, his masterpiece… That night the moon was tainted with blood and cried crimson tears.

One of the ninjas had slaughtered Miho whose lifeless and blood-covered body hit the ground with a muffled "thump". Junishi stared at the once beautiful face of his wife and quickly altered his stance, shifting away from his opponent, ready to kill, activating his bloodline limit. A humorless laughter, devilish and insane chilled him.

-You idiot…Orochimaru-sama chose us especially because of our lack of bloodline limit. You can't do anything at all ! You, scum !

The last thing Junishi heard was the high-pitched laughter of his murderer. And the last thing he saw was the face of his daughter whom he had hid under the bed.

-D..Don't…come out… , he rasped in a low whisper before his head was cut off.

The little girl looked at her parents, wanting to touch them but they had ordered her to stay hidden and make no noise. She was no fool. She knew they were not fine. Because there was some sticky, red substance all over them that reeked of copper. And she did not like this smell. But she never disobeyed her parents. She stayed hidden, trying to be invisible and silently wishing for her parents to be happy forever. If she knew they were dead, she didn't know why those guys clad in dark outfits were grinning, laughing and why they were attacking her village. She just hoped that it would end soon. She still smelt the awfully strong scent of copper but she did not move. She wanted to put her hand over her nose, she wanted those guys to stop hurting -cutting- her family, her friends, her neighbors, she wanted … she wanted… she just wanted the beautiful moon to stop bleeding all over her village. She did not know how many hours -or was it days?- she spent there, hiding under the bed, fearful, refraining herself from crawling out of under the bed to go next to her parents' bodies. Just to see. To touch. To make sure they had existed at all. To make sure…she was here. To make sure it wasn't a nightmare. A long, endless nightmare. She wanted so badly to reach out for the slaughtered bodies. She needed to know it wasn't just her imagination. But she couldn't. Father told her not to come out. And she had been taught to be a good girl. Thus she was digging her nails in her own palms till she was bleeding because those hands of her could not reach out for the corpses. Those hands were not allowed to touch reality. She quietly sobbed, muffling her sobs with her own dress that was tainted with blood and hiding her pallid face in her trembling hands. The veiled shocked eyes of her father stared at her as though trying to comfort her. But no one reached out for her hand. No one comforted her. Soothed her.

Amid all the screams and cries of the villagers and the loud laughter of their murderers, no one heard the muffled sobs of a 4 years old little girl.

Konohagure. Year 11 of the Sandaime's era. 04pm

The sky was clear blue and it annoyed the little pink-haired girl. Because there wasn't any cloud to stare at. She couldn't either stare at the ground. Stare at mere grass was nothing marvelous. How come even the nature was against her? She sniffed, and ran her small hands over her eyes, trying to hid her tears. However she could not suppress her sobs and eventually stayed like that, sitting on the ground, dirtying her cute white dress while sobbing quietly. She didn't even acknowledge the presence of the blonde girl who was now standing in front of her.

-Hey, why are you crying?

-L-leave me a-alo-one…

Sakura sniffed one more time and tried to stop crying, hoping it would make the other girl go away. Much to her dismay, she felt the girl touch her hair in an attempt to make her raise her head. She silently kept her head bent, not wanting to show her tears to anyone.

-What's your name? I'm Yamanaka. Yamanaka Ino.

Sakura raised her head, her big clear green eyes staring at the cute blonde girl. The tears were now nowhere to be seen and the sight of Sakura's innocent surprise made Ino beam. The little pink-haired girl was cute.

-Saku..ra. Haruno Sakura.

-Why are you crying?

-…They mocked me becau…because I have a bi…big fore…head !

Sakura felt the tears roll down her cheeks again and bent her head, ashamed of her own weakness. Ino didn't speak for a moment, then told her that she would be her friend, implying that she would defend her against those "idiots".

Sakura raised abruptly her head, her eyes still red and her tears still gliding down her cheeks. Her big emerald eyes showed a wavering hope that made Ino smile. Sakura opened her mouth but no sound would come out of it. She blushed, embarrassed and ready to hear any mockery coming from the blonde. She was sure the other girl found her pitiful and silly with her mouth wide-opened like that. Much to her surprise, Ino did not mock her, nor did she abuse her. Sakura forced back her tears and took a deep breath. When she finally heard her own voice she was surprised at how decided she sounded. She had expected a wavering, pitiful voice instead she found the words running smoothly on her tongue as if she had prepared a speech beforehand. She did not recall sounding ever so much…confident.

-Really? You swear you'll be my friend?

-Yes ! And I will protect you from the meanies ! Forever, I promise !

Sakura smiled. She was glad. She had made her first friend.

This night, once at home, she was too excited to fall asleep. Her parents had been overjoyed to learn she had made a friend and had told her to bring her new friend to lunch sometimes. She had brightly nodded, sure they would like Ino once she would invite her. After all, Ino was pretty and she was her very first friend.

-My first friend, she whispered in the darkness of her room.

The smile adorning her face made her even cuter. She smiled as if it was the last day she would be able to smile. She smiled to no one but herself, proud and happy. She blushed a little, knowing how much she must look silly smiling to herself like that in the darkness. But she frowned a little, her excitation disappearing even so slightly. She didn't remember much from … before. She wondered briefly if Ino was really her first, ever first friend. She furrowed her brows, trying to make something, someone come out of her mind. She suddenly felt a little tinge of pain in her head and decided to go to sleep.

-It's silly. Of course Ino is my first friend…she whispered before falling fast asleep.

From the window she could have seen the pale light of the moon that gave her room a silvery sheen. The eerily silver light of the almost complete moon grazed the bare forehead of the little girl, revealing two small kanjis encased in black circles drawn just on her right temples. Just like seals. Once the light of the moon shifted away from the little girl, the kanjis were nowhere to be seen.

Konohagure. Year 12 of the Sandaime's era. 10am

Sakura watched wide-eyed the transformation Iruka made. Where the teacher previously stood was now an exact replica of the Hokage. In awe she forgot to stare at her crush, Uchiha Sasuke. Said Uchiha was actually bored to the point he was staring at the window, watching the mothers waiting outside for their children to return home. He slightly turned his head to glance at Haruno Sakura. He didn't let any emotion show through his face though his eyes lingered sadly on the pink-haired kunoichi. He softly sighed and watched with amusement how her emerald eyes grew wide as she watched Iruka perform his jutsu. So much naivety…He bent his head and rested his chin on his right hand, turning away from Sakura. He did not like fan girls but if there was one girl he avoided most, it was definitely her. He did not want to be around her too much. It made him nervous and weak. As the bell ringed, he quickly went out, not wanting to meet any fan girls and went straight home to practice. He did not see Sakura gazing sadly at his back.

-Sakura-chan! Hey hey!

-shut up, Naruto !

The blonde boy known as Uzumaki Naruto only grinned at her, which made her even more furious. How could he always be so…silly? She yelled on at him, telling him she did not want to eat lunch with him and that she definitely did not like him. He then made his best big puppy eyes to soften her and she turned her head, not wanting to look at him. Eventually she reluctantly let out a soft "I'll go with you" while pouting. Naruto grinned and took her hand, making her run until they arrived at Ichiraku's.

-What? Ichiraku? Naruto, eating ramen everyday isn't healthy !

-Hey! Two pork ramen, dattebayo !

-Naruto! Listen when I talk to you !

He only guffawed and handed her a bowl of ramen which she took not so unwillingly. She was starving since this morning for she had woken up a bit too late and had not taken any breakfast.

-It's gooood !

-Stop making those "slurps" sounds ! It's disgusting !

-Mphfff but…Shakura it'ch cho good I haff to take mfy time eatin' it, dattebayo !

Sakura sighed but inwardly she could only laugh at her blonde friend's antics. She quickly ate her ramen and waited for Naruto to finish his 3rd bowl before she bowed, thanking the owner of the shop and forced her friend to leave. Naruto was babbling about how Sasuke-teme was annoying, bringing in his tracks his whole fan club when Sakura checked the hour and gasped. Naruto immediately turned his head toward "his beautiful Sakura-chan", wondering what the matter could be.

-Sorry, Naruto I've got something to do !

-EHHHH? But I wanted to walk with you, dattebayo !

Naruto made his killer puppy eyes and Sakura tried to resist but she knew that look was her weak point. She had never been able to resist those puppy eyes. She sighed and told him he could go with her to the hospital where she had been ordered to go at 01.00 pm. Naruto grinned and Sakura swore she could see him wag his tail like a dog that would have been offered a sweet, delicious bone.

-Hey, Sakura-chan, why do you have to go to the hospital? Naruto asked, tilting his head in confusion.

-I myself don't know…but the Hokage said I couldn't skip even one session. I have to go there twice a month. The nurses make some weird signs and they touch my head. It's not painful but I don't know what they exactly do, answered thoughtfully the soon-to-be kunoichi.

-Why don't you ask them, dattebayo?

-I did, but they told me I didn't need to know…

Naruto pouted, clearly annoyed by the answer but did not reply, and started to whine again about how much Sasuke-teme pissed him off. Sakura heatedly replied that Sasuke-kun was awesome: clever, gorgeous and mysterious. By the time Naruto tried to explain to Sakura that Sasuke-teme was no good for her, they had arrived to the hospital. The nurses restrained Naruto who wouldn't understand that he simply couldn't assist to Sakura's session. Eventually the girl told him to quiet down: it was a hospital and Naruto's whining and loud yelling was clearly disturbing the staff as well as the patients. Naruto pouted but obeyed nonetheless. Whatever Sakura said was gospel's truth.

Standing on a tree, far away from hidden village of the Leaf, a young boy stood. Smiling, he turned back and disappeared in the darkness of the forest, only leaving a whisper behind him:

-Sakura…continue to bloom beautifully…

Konohagure, 183th day of Year 7 of the Godaime's era. 08am

A little knock on the door woke up the blonde woman who had been sleeping in her office after drinking sake. She yawned and tried to hide proofs of what she had been doing. After a loud "come in", she straightened her back, dignifying her posture.

The sight of a pink-haired kunoichi coming in her office made her smile softly. Sakura was now her apprentice. The little kunoichi had asked her to make her her apprentice not long after Uchiha Sasuke left the village, and Tsunade had had no choice but to agree. She respected the strong will of her apprentice as well as her well-known intelligence and chakra control. Sakura was a fast learner but the circumstances made her work twice as more as before. The Hokage knew how Sakura felt about Sasuke and she didn't even once try to stop her from improving her skills only for Sasuke's sake. On the other hand, she also knew that Sakura's feelings were not real. But Sakura did not know that. And she didn't need to. She was fine the way she was. She had already suffered too much.

-Tsunade-shishou…you were sleeping, weren't you? Asked disapprovingly Sakura.

-Ah … haha ! What did you want to see me for, Sakura? Tsunade replied, brushing her apprentice's question off.

-Well you had asked me to come and see you today at 8…so here I am.

-Ah yes!

She rummaged through loads of paper before extracting triumphantly a sheet of paper. Sakura shot a curious glance at the paper, waiting for Tsunade to explain what it was about. Tsunade grinned.

-This, Sakura, is the Jounin Appliance. And you have to fill and sign it.

-Uh? Was all Sakura could think of.

-Come on Sakura, you cannot possibly think of staying a Chuunin till your death? You've got to become a Jounin so that I can send you on A-ranked missions and even better, S-ranked missions, said the blonde woman.

Tsunade winked. Sakura knew that S-ranked missions meant : Sasuke. Sakura gaped at her teacher, clearly moved by this proof of love and trust. She nodded vigorously and took the paper with trembling hands. Tsunade smirked. Sakura was really a soft person although someone could mistake her harsh and violent reactions as a proof of a violent personality. Her apprentice was gentle and could soothe easily a friend's anger or sorrow. Tsunade had been more than pleased to teach her medical skills, she felt how much Sakura loved helping people. She knew Sakura wanted to show that she was there, that she was strong. And Tsunade believed Sakura had reached her goal. At 15 Sakura was a well-respected medic-nin as well as a capable Chuunin and strong kunoichi who had inherited from the Hokage her inhumane force.

-I'm counting on you, Sakura, added in a motherly-like voice the Hokage.

-Yes, Tsunade-shishou !

Sakura smiled a bright, wide smile that made the blonde woman chuckle with pride, like a mother whose baby would have said "Mama" for the first time. The young kunoichi then bowed and walked out of the room, Tsunade still staring at the back of her favorite protégée.

-Shizune !

-Yes, Tsunade-sama?

-Bring me another bottle of Sake ! the Hokage ordered cheerfully grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Shizune gave her some Sake and sighed though she was smiling at the Hokage's motherly nature.

-She grew well, didn't she? Tsunade asked

-Yes, she did.

-Aaaah ! I'm so proud of my little Sakura ! Tsunade exclaimed, opening her bottle of Sake.

Shizune chuckled and went out, leaving the Hokage at her favorite activity, drinking Sake. Once the dark-haired girl was out, Tsunade sighed heavily and put her cup of Sake down on the table. She was proud of Sakura but at the same time she couldn't help but worry about the young girl. Being the Hokage she knew some things that others did not know about and those "things" were definitely not something she would gloat about. She loved Sakura as if the girl was her own daughter and she did not like the idea of Sakura being threatened. But she knew that the day she dreaded so much was near.

She sighed again and looked with a pained expression the small scroll lying in the left corner of her table before putting it in a drawer and sealing the drawer as if she wished it never existed.

Tsukinohebigure. 137th day of Year 5 of the Sanyo's era. 12.00 am

-Lunch's ready !

-Yay !

Miho smiled softly as she saw her one and only little girl run to her. She ruffled the mid-length hair of her beloved daughter and waited for her husband to come and eat with them. Not long after his daughter, Junishi came in the kitchen, his eyes shining brightly as he took in the cute sight his wife and daughter offered. He chuckled and patted the bright hair of his daughter too before they all sat down and started eating.

-What did you do today, Sakura?

-I … have learnt…t-to con-control my chakra ! the little girl answered proudly. She was only 4 and thus had still some difficulties with her speech, stumbling on her words here and there, stuttering sometimes but she was able to make phrases. Full phrases. With a subject, a verb and a complement.

Her parents both smiled and beamed at her.

-Really? You ought to show us ! they exclaimed

-Yes !

Sakura nodded vigorously before digging in her plate once more, savoring the flavor of the oh so delicious takoyaki her mother knew exactly how to make. She munched happily letting sometimes a "yumm!" escape her mouth. His father looked at her proudly as though she was a gem or his most treasured possession. And she was. If he had to choose between his life and his wife's life or his daughter's life then he would gladly die. If there was something he was proud of it was his family. He had a wonderful wife, joyful, strong and graceful. Haruno Miho was a delicate and quiet woman whom all her friends loved truly. She had rosy long hair that reached her waist, tied in a low ponytail with a black velvet ribbon, a pale round face that showed clear grey eyes. The contrast was strikingly beautiful. People who met her for the first time always remembered her rosy hair and grey eyes. Her eyes were not dull, nor mournful. They were grey, but it was a bright grey the kind of grey you can see when the sun shines after a storm. It was a grey that showed light and warmth.

Sakura had inherited her beautiful hair though not the eyes. The little girl had big green eyes that were a bit slanted nonetheless captivating. That was a green you could not see in the nature, neither the color of the pale green leaves, nor the color of the most coveted emeralds. Junishi knew his daughter would become a real beauty even though she did not seem like one for the moment being. She was a cute little girl but there were some girls who were far more beautiful than Sakura was. She had not yet bloomed. She had some issues with her forehead that some girls mocked and her face was a bit too round for her frame. But he knew for sure that her rosy hair and green eyes were something even the most beautiful girls of the village would never have. Because it showed she was a Haruno. A special Haruno. A Healer…

-Ah, Mommy!

-What is it sweetie?

-T-today I-I also met a boy wi-with make-up !

Miho and her husband shared surprised looks. It was unusual for other children to go near to their little girl for she was loathed for her forehead and feared for she was a Haruno. Surely this boy was either nice or had ulterior motives. Only once had Sakura been approached boldly by another child, though a little older than her. Miho had discovered that the boy wanted nothing but please his parents whose goal was to befriend Sakura then kill her, the sole heir of the powerful, fearful Haruno Clan.

-Haaa…and was he nice, sweetie? Miho asked gently.

-Yes ! He was rea-really nice ! But he s-said he couldn't stay here bec-because he has to go back in his c-country !

-Ara? He's not from here? Perhaps you should write him then ! Did you ask for his name and address?

-He said h-his name is Gaara an-and that I j-just need to send it i-in the Sand V-village a-and he will receive my letter ! Sakura replied grinning.

Miho chuckled and shot a bright smile to her daughter. But inwardly she was worried. Wasn't Gaara the name of the Kazekage? Wasn't he a jinchuriki? She looked worriedly at her husband who shrugged and smiled softly, chuckling at his daughter's happy face. Miho relaxed and beamed at her daughter.

-You have to write him, then ! If he's so nice it would be bad not to write him a letter, ne Sakura?

-Yup !

Miho and Junishi both laughed as Sakura grinned on, obviously proud of herself for making a new friend.
After lunch they all went to the training fields of the Haruno Clan and while Junishi and Miho sat down, Sakura began preparing her kunais. She sharpened them a bit and put them aside, on a rock. She closed her eyes and forced her chakra down to her feet. Not too much though… She loved the feeling of sensing chakra in your body. Many ninjas did not pay much attention to it because it was something that happened every day. But Sakura always paid attention to her chakra even though she knew it was a part of her. She liked to cherish it as though it was a gift, something that did not really belong to her, something that she had to take care of. The feeling the chakra gave off while circulating in her body was a pleasant feeling. It always made her tingle with excitement and joy. She loved her chakra. It was her life. She cherished it as much as she cherished her parents.

She opened her eyes and took a deep breath before running towards the biggest, highest tree of the field. An oak. A 9 centuries-old oak. She climbed up to the upper branch. Never releasing her chakra off of her feet. Maintaining contact with the large trunk. Never letting her mind wander to something else. Always aiming for the upper branch. Always. It was a rule Sakura had thought of: Never ever lose your goal out of your sight. Always look up to your best performances. Always do your best even if you must die from exhaustion.

Once on the upper branch, she climbed down the trunk, and then ran to her kunais before throwing them towards the 5 different targets. In fact, 5 stones that were hidden behind oaks. She frowned. Concentration. Target. Concentration. Aim for the best.

She had released some of her chakra around each of her kunais, wrapping them in her warm chakra. She closed her eyes and felt the connections, the strands with her chakra materialize in her mind. She pulled at them, strengthening them, giving them a little more speed. She maintained her control till the kunais all went through the oaks before burying themselves in the stones. The oaks were all adorned with a nice, neat big hole.

Sakura beamed at the sight of her doing and turned to face her grinning parents. Junishi applauded, soon followed by his wife. Miho got up and ran to hug tightly her daughter.

-I'm sooo proud of you my little sweetheart !

Sakura hugged back her mother, inhaling the sweet, comforting scent of the beautiful woman. Like….roses. Yes, it was like the sweet, sugar-like scent of red roses blooming.

-Sakura, it seems you've got an affinity with wind, Junishi spoke up.

-R-really?

-Yeah, normally you shouldn't be able to blow a hole in those oaks but if you've got an affinity with wind, it explains that you are able to. And it can't be an affinity with fire or water or else the rim of the hold would be slightly burnt or wet. However it could be an affinity with earth too…. Anyway I'm still very proud of you !

Sakura beamed at her father's words and looked up to watch her mother's radiant face. Miho was literally glowing, her eyes shining brightly with love and pride as she looked at her one and only child. Life couldn't be better.

Little did they know that that day would be their last.

That night the moon was red.

Konohagure, 238th day of Year 7 of the Godaime's era. 10 am

A loud knock forced Sakura to wake up and make her way to the door. She stifled a yawn and opened the door. A grinning face glanced at her. She inwardly sighed. What was Naruto doing in her doorway? He did know today was her day off didn't he? She wanted to sleep longer. Moreover it wouldn't be good if she collapsed during the Jounin exams due to sleep-deprivation. She had to sleep to fully replenish her chakra. And the Jounin exams were taking place only in three days. Eyelids half-closed, she waited for Naruto to explain the reason for him waking her up. Before she could register what was going on, he had stepped in her house, closed the door and thrown her some clothes. And there she was, in her room with some clothes in her hands. She stared at them until she heard Naruto rummaging through her kitchen. She threw open the door of her room and glared at Naruto. Her friend slowly turned his head, laughing softly in a vain attempt to soften her anger. She narrowed her eyes as she stared at the different bottles and all kind of food that laid on the flood and she slammed the door. Naruto vaguely heard her curse, sighed and scratched his head, wondering how he would replace all the things he had thrown on the floor… Minutes later, he heard his friend curse again and he sighed. Sakura slowly opened the door and stared at him yet not angrily.

-What's with that…thing? She asked

-You mean your kimono? Well that's eheh…errr I hope you like it.

He shot her a worried glance then dropped his head as though he had been guilty of some important crime.

-Well…Ino dragged me with her yesterday and she bought this kimono for you…You know we nearly spent our whole afternoon to choose this one.

Sakura glanced back and forth at the kimono and her friend, then eyeing the dejected little fox that was bending his head before her she sighed loudly and stepped out of the room.

-Fine! I'll go out with this…thing. But it's the first and last time I'm wearing something like that.

Naruto nodded vigorously and stared at his friend. She was stunning for sure….The kimono Ino had chosen was… somewhat tight and it gave a perfect idea of what her body was like, revealing and filling her curves at the right places. He blushed and understood why Sakura was reluctant to wear that kind of clothes. She was never one to act as a femme fatale…it was most likely to be Ino. Even though she had grown into such a beautiful and desired kunoichi -woman- Sakura never took the time to look around her and take interest in someone. She was restlessly training from 6 am to 10 pm, never letting anyone around her, never letting anyone close to her very heart. It pained Naruto to see the girl he considered as his sister so cold, so…sad. He knew why she never looked at anyone, why she never let anyone hurt her. It was because of Sasuke. Always, always Sasuke. Uchiha Sasuke. A name that people despised, loathed…hated with a passion. It was a name that people refrained to mention aloud. It was a name that was feared. It was a name that made Team 7 brood over happy, ancient times. Uchiha Sasuke had become taboo amongst people of Konoha.

Sakura patted the right side of the kimono with swift, neat almost nervous movements. Non-existent dust fell from the cloth and a small smile graced the kunoichi's features.

-Shall we go, then?

-Yeah, dattebayo !

She chuckled and pushed him gently outside of her house before closing the door. As they wandered through the streets, Sakura immediately noticed that people -men- were looking at her more than usual. In fact they were staring at her with a more lustful gaze. She tried to ignore the stares that made her feel ashamed though she had done nothing wrong. She wanted either to run and hide into her bedroom either to hit all those men who were staring at her and making her uncomfortable. She would rather choose the latter though… Naruto must have sensed her discomfort for he took her hand and glared around as if to tell 'Don't you ever think of taking her away'. She inwardly giggled but let her hand in Naruto's enjoying the contact with another human being. It had been long since she had had such an intimate contact with someone else. Since Sasuke had left she had done nothing but training and she never let anyone close to her, even Naruto, even Ino…She woke up early, she went to bed late and therefore encountered only occasionally other ninjas. Safe for the days where she would go and eat some ramen with Kakashi and Naruto she never was in contact with anyone. Even for the missions she always asked for solo missions. She was always alone. And she liked it. It made her stronger. That's what she wanted. Even so…even so, being by Naruto's side made her realize how much she had missed the warmth that emanated from someone else's body. How much she had missed what made her human: Contact. Emotions. Friends. The world. She smiled slightly as she looked around her as if seeing her surroundings for the first time. It was as though the colors were neater and brighter, the people happier and she…more aware of the world and her own existence than she had ever been.
If Naruto noticed her change of mood he did not comment it but she saw him smile too. He knew. He knew that she had missed him. Them.

At least they found Ino who wore a kimono too. She had chosen one that was light blue with lemon yellow and lime-green leaves. For it was not a traditional kimono she wore no obi and her kimono too was…tight. She grinned at them and waved them closer. She took in Sakura's appearance and seemed to be satisfied. For her friend Ino had chosen a pure white kimono with seemingly endless silver-colored arabesques that danced through the whole cloth and captured here and there ice-blue and emerald butterflies. The embroidery was neat and the arabesques seemed to dance along with the butterflies whenever Sakura moved as though the designs had been embroidered in her very skin. To match her hair along with the kimono Ino had given her a light red-colored hairpin adorned with a big metallic butterfly covered with small emerald and rose glass beads. Ino stared inquisitively at Sakura before she grinned and gave her friend a thumbs-up.

-Nice, you actually managed to make yourself decent, forehead-girl!

-Ha! You just wanted to make me look ridicule, didn't you Ino-pig? What's with you today anyway? Because you know….I wanted to sleep this morning, Sakura said in a low almost threatening voice.

-Hmph! And I made the mistake to think that you had a brain… Stupid forehead girl did you forget that today's your birthday ?

Sakura opened her mouth and … gaped. She had utterly forgotten her own birthday. She could see the look of utter amusement on her female friend's face and blushed. She was so stupid. How could she have forgotten her own birthday… Ah, right…She had trained till late yesterday. And she had been trying to create a new jutsu lately. And she had had many work at the hospital. To make this long story short she just hadn't had enough time to think about her birthday.

-Well, now that you've realized that it's your birthday we'll get going!

-Heh? W…wait, Ino! Ino! … WHERE ARE WE GOING ?

A crow stared intently at the frail kunoichi whom her blonde friend was dragging through the streets of Konoha. Its eyes became pools of crimson red. Three little tears of black swirled and a man stood instead of the crow. Low ponytail, emotionless eyes, hardened features yet slight smile. Uchiha Itachi sighed and turned away from Konoha towards the Akatsuki's headquarters.

-Haruno Sakura….

The whisper was lost in the wind yet he knew that one day his voice would reach the little kunoichi. He would make sure of it.

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PLEASE READ WHAT FOLLOWS. IT'S A LITTLE RECAP OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON SO FAR ^o^. MOREOVER IF PEOPLE HAVE A SONG THEY LOVE AND WANT TO SUBMIT PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING LINES:

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N/A : For I kinda guess it's already confusing with all shift I made between Tsukinohebigure and Konohagure not to mention the shifts past/present I wanted to make a little recap :

Tsukinohebigure

* Year 5 of the Sanyo's era

-137th day : 12am Sakura trains. Her parents watch her.

-137th day: 12 pm Slaughter. Sakura is 4 year old.

Konohagure

* Year 11 of the Sandaime's era

-18th day : Itachi slaughters his family. He's 13.

- 214th day : Ino becomes friends with Sakura. Sakura and Ino are 8 year old.

* Year 12 of the Sandaime's era

Naruto learns about Sakura's monthly visit to the hospital. Itachi watches from afar.

Sakura and Naruto are 9 year old. Itachi is 15.

* Year 7 of the Godaime's era

-183th day : Tsunade gives the Jounin appliance to Sakura.

-238th day : Sakura's 16th anniversary. (Itachi is 22)

- 241th day : Jounin competition.

I hope it helped you. I myself had to write this down for I had some trouble remembering which day I had set which event… This chapter 1 was the prologue. From chapter 2 there will be a new something… I intend to use songs for each chapter, that is I intend to build each chapter around a particular event, or a particular feeling that I'll try to match with a song that describes it well. As for Itachi's feelings I already have plenty songs. But as I don't really like using a song sung by a man for a woman's POV I have some trouble finding some songs for Sakura. If some people have a song they really love (sung by a woman but eventually I do not mind either) feel free to share it with others and give me the title with the name of the group/singer then I'll see if it can fit with my chapters.