This is actually one of my older fanfictions, that I had written and posted up here on my other account, but I didn't like the way I had arranged the chapters, so I scrapped most of it, and this is the result of my fresh start. If you read this and recognize it, that's most likely why. Some of the chapters are the exact same, I just thought I'd arrange it differently. Pairings: Sakura/ Itachi Sakura/Sasuke, though it is slight
Disclaimer
All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on. -Henry Ellis
Chapter 1- Prologue
Sakura watched from the sideline, her bottom on the slightly damp grass, her knees drawn to her chest and her arms wrapped around them, she rested her chin on the top of her kneecap. She gave a slight sigh as she gazed at her team members who were sparing out in the field just in front of her.
Together Sasuke and Naruto always sparred like this, leaving her to watch, lonely and dejected. She never felt close to them. On any level. Sure, they were friends, but what else? She knew deep down that she was no where near their level. That's why she was where she was: Sitting on the sideline, watching them train with skill and precision, stopping only to argue for the slightest of moments. That's what she was; the weakest link.
She stood and waved her hand in the air, yelling at Kakashi, who was perched in a tree just above the boys, reading his usual choice material. "Sensei, I think I'm gonna go home now," She told him and he nodded, his visible eye upturning in what she had learned to accept as a smile, in place of his hidden lips. He then returned to his book without looking back up.
She frowned and turn away, sighing and heading towards the village. Was she really that disposable?
Red eyes held pale skin that was stark against the dark of the night. A small frame, but relatively tale, with a pulsating aura was walking slowly through the night. Her energy was tangible; It was green and warm.
He had been watching her for weeks now, day and night, watching her closely and carefully, as his mission required and he's discovered that she is weak in many ways, but it's leveled out by her incredible strong points. Her genjutsu is strong, and her chakra control is absolutely flawless, but otherwise, she was fairly nonexistent. The Hokage had only recently taken her as an apprentice, something he wasn't all that surprised about. Her skills were best suited as a medic nin, however, the girl did have one hell of a punch.
Thus far, he was sure that she was the one. She would be his medic, with a little training she would be unstoppable. He stood up from his place on a branch just beside her house, watching her quietly as she entered her apartment, sighing as she did.
Using his sharingan he could her easily through her open window. She stumbled in, shutting the door and leaning against it, cupping her hands over her face and hunching over. This was somewhat of a habit of hers. She did this more often than naught. She would come in, sulk a bit, and then practice her healing for almost exactly two hours, before going to bed.
He was not sure why this was her routine, but he wasn't going to interrupt it tonight. He would talk to her soon, and he was certain of one thing, she would meet him. She would join him, because this would be in her best interest as well as his.
Sakura left the hospital the next night with tense shoulders, and both arms full of paperwork, stacked up to her nose. Luckily for her, she only lived a few minutes away, and was already at her door before she dropped anything, a goal she wasn't sure she'd be able to make.
Barely able to make it through the door, she shut it with her hip, turning around and exhaling a breath she'd been holding. Cutting the light on was a different story, she'd have to put the papers down first.
"Hhm," She hummed, squinting over the papers. "How do I..." She began to speak, but her words were halted as she felt something, something that was surprisingly familiar, and also, unwanted. Another chakra in her house. Someone was in her house.
She crouched, papers still in hand, and back to the door, gazing into her dark room. It was a small apartment, so it wasn't very far to look back, but she still didn't see anything. "Who are you?" She asked, annoyed that she voice was shaking.
In slow motion the room went into tension as her papers flew into the air, her hands went straight to her pouch, throwing a kunai without another word. It was deflected with ease by a black mass that appeared in front of her. A tall black cloak, and-she froze, literally stopped in her tracks- And red eyes. The sharingan?
"You aren't Sasuke." She breathed. "I know you aren't."
Whoever they were, they made no sound, nor move. "Who are you?" She asked, her hands shaking with trepidation.
A hand, white against the shadows of the room, drew out of the cloak and made way slowly towards the hood, pulling it down slowly. She gasped as the face revealed could belong to only one person. "Itachi..."
A nod. She literally felt sick. This man was a monster. "What are you doing here?" She was clearly out of her league here. Attacking him was suicidal.
His lips were in a straight and steady line as they spoke, his voice low and controlled. "I'm here for you." His words wrapped around her, smothering her breath, making her hot. Perspiration formed on her forehead. "You…You're going to kill me?" She asked, slight confusion lacing her voice. Why her of all people?
"If I wanted to kill you, you would already be dead." She took in his words carefully as he spoke again. "Join the Akatsuki." His voice was deep, even and surprisingly not cold so much as simply bland.
Her jaw went slack. "You want me to join you?"
He nodded. "That's exactly what I want. I want a Medic, and you crave attention. Your dream is to be wanted." His voice was blank, and his face betrayed no emotion.
"This can't be real," She said out loud, mostly voicing her own thoughts more than trying to disagree with him.
"It's real kunoichi, and you will join." His voice sounded certain. "Meet me, one week from now, just outside your village. I need a medic, and I want that to be you." He informed her, turning and without another word, and fleeing out her open window.
She exhaled before sliding down the door, and cradling her face in her hands. What the hell is going on here?
