Promise me?
Sakura and Ino sat on the porch of Sakura's cottage waiting for the infamous Uchiha brothers to come for the evening dinner that all of rookie nine was attending.
"Do you think Sasuke will ever notice me? I've had a crush on him since the ninja academy and he still hasn't seemed to notice if I'm in the same room." Ino sighed looking up at the sky.
"Ino, there are many things Sasuke doesn't notice. However, he notices you. Hell on our last mission he was the one who ran back to the village carrying you to the hospital just to save your life and stayed by your side until you woke up." Sakura replied to her sister figure.
"It was Sasuke who brought me back? I always thought it was you or Shikamaru." Ino was shocked. The boy who failed to notice her existence has saved her life and stayed by her side.
"Has Itachi notices you like him and have since you nearly died on that mission with Naruto and Sasuke? It was lucky that Lady Tsunade sent him and Kakashi after you once the information of the people you were going to assassinate. It was odd to see him so enraged at the council for letting a team of chunin's after S ranked criminals." Ino asked the pinkette to her left.
"No, if he has he's never let on. They're going to be here soon, we better get our coats and purses.". Sakura sighed.
As they stood to walk inside Ino asked, "How do you always know when they are going to arrive?"
"They always arrive five minutes early, just take it from the time they should be here and that's when they get here." Sakura laughed.
Looking in the hallway mirror while Ino was changing her purse Sakura wasn't sure she liked what was looking back at her. Her long pink hair was lightly curled, her green eyes stood out against her pale skin and her jaw was dainty. She knew that in a way she was pretty but she also knew that Itachi would never be interested in a girl like her. Depressed by her current train of thought she grabbed her coat and purse and walked outside to greet the incoming brothers.
"Hey Sakura, is Ino ready?" Asked Sasuke after not spotting the blonde girl.
"She's inside; you can go in and see her Sasuke. We have to leave in ten minutes the latest." Sakura smiled.
"Sakura-chan, you look very beautiful tonight. However, you appear to be sad. What is wrong Blossom?" Itachi asked in his soft, deep voice.
"Thank you Itachi-kun. I'm just thinking about things." Sakura smiled up at Itachi.
Sakura was surprised at the compliment given by the impassive Uchiha and that the notice her mood. Her strapless sweetheart cut dress was curve fitting and came to about mid-thigh and was deep red and her black pumps matched her finger nails and jewellery.
"Sasuke should just court Ino-san, it look him an hour and a half in the bathroom to make sure his appearance was impeccable." Itachi chuckled.
"Ino took about two hours to decide on her dress, shoes and jewellery and another two in the bathroom to look good for him. However, she knows who brought her to the hospital that day. She almost had a heart attack." Sakura smiled.
Ino and Sasuke emerged from the door and locked the door. Once they were together they headed out to the restaurant. Itachi and Sakura smiled and Ino and Sasuke linked arms ahead of them and were whispering to each other, lost in their own little world. Sakura couldn't help but feel a prang of jealousy wishing that her and Itachi could do something so small but so romantic. The walk was quick as the Haruno compound was close to the restaurant.
"You guys made it!" Naruto said in a voice that was way too loud for the high classed restaurant and got glares from other diners.
"Naruto, we're inside, don't talk so loud." Sakura reprimanded her team mate.
"Is everyone else here?" Ino asked.
"Nope, you lot were the last to come. Neji and Ten-Ten were first to arrive, Lee and Yuki came after that, Choji and Shikamaru followed them, Shino, Kiba and Akamaru came and almost got us kicked out because the owner didn't know that Akamaru was a nin dog and not a pet, Hinata came with me and now you guys are here." Naruto smiled.
"Naruto let them in the door and seated." Kiba called from the table.
Sasuke pulled out the chair for Ino once they were at the table. Sakura reached to pull out her chair only to have Itachi lightly grab her hand and pulled out her chair.
"Beautiful ladies don't pull out their own chairs Sakura." Itachi whispered.
"How is everyone?" Hinata's soft voice jerked everyone out of the strange event that had just happened between the Uchiha brothers, Ino and Sakura.
"Oh you know, missions, training and trips to the hospital." Kiba smiled.
"How do you get so injured during training but rarely get injured when you are on a mission Kiba?" Sakura asked, since she treated him most of the time. No other nurse would willingly treat rookie nine if Sakura was on call. She had memorised their files and are friends with all of them.
"He does something ridiculous, like trying a jutsu that seems to destroy everything, including him." Shino deadpanned at his best friend's bad luck.
"So Hinata, how has Hizashi gone with Naruto courting you?" Ten-Ten asked the blue haired girl.
"He's fine with it since Naruto-kun has started his training to become the next hokage." Hinata smiled and Naruto intertwined his hand with hers.
"Sasuke, how long have you and Ino been dating?" Kiba asked.
"About an hour, I asked her when she found out about that mission." Sasuke smirked.
"Took her long enough, I am not fast enough to have brought her to her to the hospital in time." Shikamaru sighed.
"Temari and you still going strong?" Choji asked the resident cloud watching genius.
"I'm still dating that troublesome woman. Sakura you're cousins are coming to Kohona next month. Temari wanted me to tell you." Shikamaru informed the pinkette.
"Thanks, Shikamaru, I'll clear up the guest the rooms for them."
"You and the Sand siblings are cousins?" Shino enquired.
"We are, our mothers were sisters. That's why Gaara's hair is so red. The Uzumaki blood line is strong." Sakura smiled.
After another few minutes of talking the orders were placed.
"Sakura-chan, are you okay?" Itachi asked the girl next to him.
"I'm fine Itachi-san. I'm just surprised that everyone has found love, whether it's another shinobi or a civilian." Sakura smiled.
"Hmm." Itachi was always one for words.
Sakura sent him a smile and watched as the food was brought out.
The rest of the dinner was engrossed in small talked and reminiscing of days passed.
"See you guys around, or at the hospital." Sakura smiled at the group as she, Itachi, Ino and Sasuke left.
Ino and Sasuke were going to stay the night at Sakura's so they were whispering about if it would be incorrect if they shared the bed for a night.
"Itachi-kun, would like to spend the night?" Sakura smiled, even though she came up to his collarbone she could look in the eye without straining her neck.
"Sakura-chan, I would like too. You'd go nuts if those two started to be cute and left you as the third wheel." Itachi responded.
"You two can't get in, I have the key." Sakura laughed as the couple ahead neared the door.
Tonight will be one to remember.