Itachi Uchiha didn't believe in girlfriends. The word girlfriend was simply an idiotic title given to one who wished to feel important to somebody they cared about. This so called 'girlfriend' was to be lathered and showered in love, gifts, money, numerous material things that supposedly made people happy. It was all complete nonsense.

Or, more simply put, Itachi Uchiha never HAD a girlfriend. It wasn't that he was rude enough, or ugly enough to be whispered about behind his back by numerous females, it was that he never wanted one. Quiet, handsome, mysterious, powerful – all the qualities he had caused women to stare and/or drool every time he passed. They followed him constantly, each attempting to catch his attention, striking poses that they hoped would post them in the best light, flinging knowing glances in his direction. Naturally, he ignored them, walking by as if they were nonexistent, invisible to him, leaving their tearstained faces and broken hearts behind him. Did he care? No.

Itachi Uchiha never had, or ever wanted, a girlfriend.

Itachi Uchiha twirled the kunai on one of his fingers, focusing hard on a target one hundred yards away. For any normal ninja, hitting the target would be a long shot, but this was Itachi Uchiha – and he was no normal ninja. Focusing on a certain point, he raised the kunai and brought his arm back, ready to throw….his eyes did not move, every sense in his body was focusing on that one red ring on the target….not a muscle in his body twitched…he didn't dare breathe….any disturbance now would make him miss the target, causing him to start all over again. He brought his arm back even further, and began to whip his arm forward, releasing the kunai when –

"Um…hi?" said a small voice from behind him, and Itachi's focus was broken. His arm turned in the wrong direction and the kunai wobbled, hitting a nearby tree. Expecting this newcomer to be his little brother, Sasuke, he whirled around with a look of pure rage on his face. When he saw that this was indeed not Sasuke, Itachi's face went blank.

"Hi…" The girl repeated. She was about Itachi's height, but just a little shorter. She had shoulder length glossy brown hair, and bright blue inquisitive eyes. Any male would have agreed that she was exceptionally beautiful…but Itachi Uchiha didn't believe in girlfriends.

"Um…" said the girl, she sounded extremely nervous. "Hokage-sama wishes to see the two of us in his office."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. His father warned him always to be on his guard, and he highly doubted that this was some kind of trap, and even if it was, Itachi would be ready for it.. He gave a quick nod, and began to walk, the girl beside him.

"Who are you?" demanded Itachi, not exactly attempting to sound polite.

"I'm Meri Umeko." replied the girl.

Itachi stopped for a moment and stared at her.

"Meri Umeko?" asked Itachi. "As in – as in the daughter of the famous Konoha feudal lord, Kasumaru Umeko?"

Meri gave a bright smile.

"That's me!"

Itachi nodded curtly, thinking of the powerful and extremely wealthy figure that was Meri's father. Kasumaru Umeko – apart from being exceedingly rich – was also one of the cruelest, and most strict feudal lords that had ever ruled.

"What does the Hokage want us for?" asked Itachi as the two of them continued to walk down the busy streets of Konoha. Meri shrugged in response, yet Itachi had a general idea. A famous man with money and power no doubt wanted something to do with Itachi Uchiha. What it was, Itachi had no idea, and he wasn't exactly sure wether he wished to know or not. He glanced over at Meri. She was staring ahead as the two of them walked side by side down the busy noontime streets of Konoha, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly, giving the illusion that she was smirking. He looked away.

The two of them soon approached a large building in the middle of Konoha, Itachi stepping forward in front of Meri and reaching out, grabbing the cold metal handle of a tall wooden door that had been painted a forest green, pulling it open and stepping away, gesturing Meri inside without so much as an "after you," giving her a cold glance that she appeared not to have noticed. He followed after her, letting the door slam shut behind them and enclosing the pair in a dimly lit hallway. Meri strode happily along while Itachi followed behind her, wondering – disgusted at Meri - how on God's green earth, somebody could be this cheerful. Finally they stood in front of two doors not unlike the ones outside. Meri took a deep breath, and knocked three times. There was a slight pause, in which neither Meri nor Itachi moved. Finally, the voice of an old man called from inside the room,

"Come in."