Shadows from the Past - Chapter 2

Beta: MitsukiShiroi, you know I love you XD

Recap: Sakura's eyes narrowed her head snapped up and look towards the dark forest. She made her way towards the trees, her eyes widening slightly by what she saw. The shadow smirked.

"So this is where you have been hiding…Sakura," the deep, reprimanding voice made Sakura flinch.

She shifted uncomfortably on her feet, jade eyes trying to see the person she had not thought about.

"What are you doing here…Sasuke?" she asked with a firm voice. Sasuke revealed himself, smirking, to Sakura's eyes.

Sasuke's eyes closed; his smirk still in place.

"I'm here because I want to help you." he answered opening his dark eyes and stared blatantly at her round stomach. He slowly walked towards her, his left hip jutting out slightly.

"Someone told me to search for you; an old friend," he went on slowly. Sakura took a step back as she narrowed her eyes, giving Sasuke a scrutinizing stare.

"I don't care. I've started a new life, why would you want to help me when I have betrayed you?" she inquired curiously.

Sasuke tore his eyes away from her, before his black eyes roamed over the small house she lived in. His eyes shot up to see the milky, full moon hovering just above the small cottage, and he couldn't help but compliment her inwardly on finding such a beautiful and enchanting place to live.

"Shall I explain when you invite me into your cosy home?" Sasuke replied softly. He had been searching her for over a month, living on water and very little food only, and to be quite honest; he would kill for some warmth and a cup of tea.

Sakura bit her lip; she couldn't trust him - she knew that - but just seeing Sasuke made her think of the good times she had with the gang. Nodding her head hesitantly, she leaded the way towards her home.

Sasuke looked like he could do with some home cooked food anyway.

Crimson eyes leisurely travelled over the contents of the large expanse of the room, the furniture was covered over by black sheets, and the place definitely needed a good clean from the dust everywhere.

A blonde woman walked in with a smile.

"We can have this place up and running in no time; a good clean and some new stock is all the place needs!" she said brightly. The man nodded mutely, sauntering through the seating area and dance floor towards the office; he paused, looking back towards the front exit where his companions were walking through.

His black silk shirt and black leather trousers seemed to look right at home with the black walls and carpet, shiny black shoes glinting with his movement.

"Ino, call in Haku and Zetsu to clean this place up; I'm going to get in touch with some old acquaintances of ours" he murmured silkily as he walked into his office.

Ino smiled indulgently, Haku was just too cute; she glanced at Naruto. "You heard Itachi, call Haku, quickly!" she barked her order watching Naruto go over to the phone and dial Haku's number.

Her hand settled on her hip which was slightly sticking out, "I can't wait until this place is up and running again!" she squealed. Neji smirked at her childish ways before he frowned.

"But first, we have to get rid of some minor problems. Namely, Orochimaru and his lackeys," he muttered smoothly; a few heads nodding in agreement.

Hinata twiddled her thumbs together. "I wonder when Itachi is going to visit Sakura again," she nervously asked. A few glares were shot at her as she shuffled towards Naruto, hiding behind his broad back as he glared back heatedly.

"Don't worry about that, Itachi has already sent someone around to the kunoichi to keep her in place. Itachi wont be going to her anytime soon, though; he has better things to do then to run after a traitor," a malicious voice came from the shadows; two impassive jade eyes staring at the onlookers.

"Besides,-" Gaara drawled; "we have a war to win" his green eyes glinted with a thirst to see blood spilled, before he vanished, sand encasing his form.

The other Akatsuki members just stared as the sand slowly slithered away before vanishing completely.

"Now that was just plain creepy," Naruto's comment broke the eerie silence.

Sakura stared at Sasuke's tired form, placing a bowl of her food in front of him. He gave her a nod of gratitude, tucking into his food. Sitting in the chair across from Sasuke with a bit of difficulty, Sakura tucked a stray pink lock behind her ear.

"So, who sent you?" she questioned; having just a small fragment of an idea.

Sasuke swallowed hard before looking at her. "There's going to be a war Sakura, the Cobras against us. Orochimaru has been taking liberties, killing some of our business partners; Itachi has found him to be quite irritating his exact words were, 'Orochimaru is an annoying cockroach that is in dire need of being squashed.'"

Sakura had to give a snort of laughter from that, leaning back in her chair and ignored the small squeaks of protest.

Sasuke went on, his expression changing slightly. While he first had a good-hearted smile, it changed completely into a serious expression that didn't bode very well.

"I do not know what Itachi will do to you, and I don't know when he will come to you. But, he is going to come to you. I was the one who found him when he escaped that prison; I had never seen him like that before. He looked like he was furious beyond words," Sasuke uttered mutely, eating more of his food.

Sakura looked at the table, tracing the indented lines in the wood with her eyes. "I see," she finally said, looking up at Sasuke. She mulled over his words as he finished his food.

"Well, I can't exactly make you leave can I? You can stay here" Sakura mumbled; taking his plate to the sink as she opened the faucet, allowing the hot water to spill over her hands as she started to wash the dishes.

"I'll get out the spare futon" she added quietly, now focused completely on her task.

Sasuke closed his dark-blue eyes, he would have to go back to Itachi in a couple of days, find out what their plans were and report about Sakura.

Why did he always get stuck with looking after the woman job, anyway?

Itachi threw the black sheet off of his furniture, sitting down in his desk chair as his eyes scanned over the old, piled paper work. He picked up his phone book and flickered through it, coming across Orochimaru's name and number.

Getting out his mobile, Itachi dialled the number; it rang two times before Orochimaru answered.

"Hello?" Orochimaru sinisterly answered. Itachi leaned back in his chair, "Orochimaru, why have you been killing off my business partners?" distaste was evident in his voice as he cut to the chase.

Orochimaru gave a deep, amused chuckled; "you know how it is, Itachi. You're getting too popular; I'm getting less and less business partners." He smoothly replied. Itachi made a small tutting sound at the back of his throat, "Orochimaru…I thought you had more sense than that." He gave a dry sigh "I suppose I will have to waste time on this asinine war" with that, he stopped the call.

He gradually made his way out of his office, gazing at the place he had come to like before glancing at the ones who were closer to him then anyone else.

Shikamaru got up from his seat, staring at his boss. "So Itachi? What's happening?" he asked with a bored expression. Itachi glanced at him, noticing the gun that was in Shikamaru's back pocket.

Casually, he got his long leather coat on; he gave a small, mysterious smile. "War is what is happening, Shikamaru," he answered simply; watching their faces carefully.

"Haku and Zetsu are on their way!" Naruto said enthusiastically; a bright smile on his lips. Itachi gave a curt nod before turning around slightly.

"Well then, I suppose we better get ready for this. Orochimaru might be a bit hasty, but he is no fool. He knows we are powerful, he must have some kind of secret weapon to suddenly want war with us and think he could win," Itachi stated, everyone murmuring their agreement.

"Ino and Tenten, you stay here and wait for Haku and Zetsu; Neji will buy new items for the club with Naruto; the rest of you are coming with me. We have to find a few old enemies to get out of the way." Itachi graciously walked towards the exit.

Neji and Naruto bowed and then disappeared, Ino and Tenten staying behind while the rest walked after Itachi, excitedly murmuring amongst them. They hadn't had a good fight for a long time.

The man choked, his glasses falling to the floor, the lenses shattered from the sheer power of the punch from Itachi, he fell on his sofa; nose broke and a small groan of pain falling from his lips.

Itachi leaned toward him, cold hand wrapping around a sweaty neck. "I wonder what your master would think of you now, Kabuto" Itachi whispered viciously against Kabuto's ear.

Kabuto gave a choked laugh, getting cut off as Itachi squeezed. Hard.

"We should start with killing you, and then Orochimaru won't be able to heal his men so well without his special medic-nin." Itachi said quietly, his voice and face stayed void of emotions.

"I've heard some rumours that you're in love with your master, Kabuto. I hear he fucks you whenever he wants just to get frustration out," Itachi gave a dry laugh.

Kabuto only smirked a bit lopsidedly. "Orochimaru-sama will crush you," he whispered before Itachi's Sharingan blazed. He was sucked into an illusion before he even realized it. Kabuto didn't move an inch as he sat down lifelessly, his eyes completely blank.

"Shikamaru," Itachi softly called out, holding his hand out as Shikamaru stepped towards him. Shikamaru immediately understood what Itachi wanted as he pulled his gun out of his pocket before handing it over to Itachi.

Itachi accepted it without saying anything. Crouching down in front of Kabuto, he stared at his enemy for the longest time, before putting the gun to his head.

"I will crush you before that happens," he whispered softly as he pulled the trigger. A hard shot was heard and Kabuto fell to the floor, his blood splattered all over the sofa behind him. Itachi stared at the specks of blood on his hand distastefully, before reaching for the silk handkerchief in his pocket.

Wiping away the blood that stained his hands, he stared at the now lifeless form of the medic-nin.

"We shall see" he murmured mellifluously, swiftly walking out the door with Gaara and Shikamaru in tow. "The next one is your kill; I can't be bothered with these insects. Besides, they're ruining my expensive clothes with their dirty blood," Itachi added a bit peeved.

Gaara closed his eyes, "Aa…" was his simple reply as they vanished into the dark shadows.

Sasuke watched Sakura with little interest. "Sakura…is the baby a boy or a girl?" He asked slowly; stirring the ice in his drink with his index finger. Sakura looked at him, surprise flickering into her eyes.

"…A boy," she answered softly, getting back to putting her washing up outside, it was quite late out now but she had to get this done.

Sasuke gave a small noise of acknowledgment. "Thought of a name yet?" he mumbled; feeling her green eyes settle on his face again, questioning. "I thought I might call him after his father, but I think I like the name Kioshi," she answered plainly as she tried to steer the conversation away from that particular topic.

Sasuke nodded his head, getting up from his perch on the rock and walking towards the cottage.

"I'm going to go to sleep," Sakura heard him say. A vein popped out on her forehead as she grit her teeth. "Really, some people need to learn manners!" she huffed angrily.

Naruto and Neji where in a shop Neji liked; Naruto was pouting a little, he wanted to buy colourful stuff god damnit! "Neji, can't we get something colorful," he emphasized with his hand moving towards his bright orange clothing.

Neji scowled, "Naruto, there isn't any bright things in that club; use your damn sense, baka," he muttered mutely, walking towards some red furniture. Naruto pouted more but said nothing.

"I'm looking for Mrs. Bubble gum"

"Naruto…WHAT THE FUCK?"

"I'm Mr. chick-o-stick"

"…"

"I wanna (dun dun dun) (oh)"

"Cause you so thick, Girls call me Jolly Rancher, 'Cause I stay so hard"

"Shut up."

"You can suck me for a long time (oh my god!)"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

Naruto stared at Neji who was now staring at him with bulging white eyes and little bit's of his hair sticking up here and there. Naruto stared at him with a little surprise.

"Damn Neji, you need to unwind a little!" he grinned happily while Neji just groaned.

"Why me, Itachi?" before he walked out of the shop quickly.

Authors note: Finally a new chapter! The thing about Naruto singing, I got that from the story 'you have to feel sorry for her' well, I didn't nick it; I just got the idea from it XD