When Times Change

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Chapter Two: Unexpected Changes


Green eyes flashed open as the owner of said eyes regained conscience. Blinking a few times, Sakura's vision adjusted to the blinding sun that stood above the white fluffy clouds in the sky. She reached for the side of her head, feeling a tender ache, healing it with her chakra. Around her, she could only make out trees. A forest. How had she ended there? The last thing she remembered was that she had managed to retreat the sacred scroll from the temple and then she met up with…

Cold sweat ran down her back. Uchiha Itachi. She had used the scroll to avoid a fight with him. Did the scroll work? Had it killed the missing nin? Sakura was celebrating inwardly until she was interrupted by a very, very irritated voice.

"Kunoichi," oh that cold voice that belonged to none other than the Akatsuki member Uchiha Itachi, "are you satisfied at what you have done." It wasn't a question, just a simple statement.

Sakura jerked her head in a swift move, almost snapping her neck. Emerald orbs widened to the size of plates, in disbelief at what they saw. There he was, Uchiha Itachi in all his mighty being, though the only difference was that…he looked younger…way younger than what he had to.

The kunoichi held back her laughter, placing both hands over her mouth. Itachi Uchiha looked just like a twelve-year old, his clothes were loose around his smaller but still built form. His face was slightly rounder, but not enough for him to seem like a child. Oh no. He actually looked more matured than he had to. When a laugh was about to escape Sakura, Itachi made sure to shut her, sending her the deadliest glare she had ever seen. She froze in place, placing both hands to her sides once again. Don't ever underestimate Uchiha Itachi, not even if he looks like a mere teenager. "Wha- What happened to you?" She couldn't help but ask. How the hell did he end up as a child?

The man's eyes narrowed into ominous, thin slits. "Don't act foolish with me, kunoichi. You should look at yourself."

Sakura looked at him bewildered. What the hell did he meant with that? Obeying the man—er, teenager— she gazed down at her form. Immediately, she panicked. Her clothes where way larger than what she remembered. Her hands were soft and smaller, no scratches evident of her hard training throughout the years. She reached to touch her face. She stilled. It was round, like when she was a Genin. She did what she thought was best to do. She screamed.

Itachi looked at her with a questioning stare. Did the woman not know what the scroll's power held? It seemed not. Standing from his crouched position, he walked over to a clear lake that stood no longer than mere six meters away. His dark eyes looked over at his reflection.

He deduced from his form that he was around the age of twelve, perhaps thirteen. Looking down at his hands he saw the hands of those of a still innocent being, not a killer. Ignoring his wandering thoughts, he proceeded to gaze back at the foolish kunoichi. Both her hands were fisted on her hair, sill without understanding the situation at hand.

Walking over to her, he sat before her leaving enough space for the pinkette to feel comfortable with. "Kunoichi, did you not know what type of power the scroll had?" That didn't even sound like a question, but never the less, Sakura managed to calmed down to look at Itachi, her eyes answering his question. Itachi took her silence as her answer, as well as how her eyes looked so bemused at what he talked about. Actually sighing, something he hadn't done in a long time, the raven-haired man advanced on his explanation. "When we were in the temple, you opened the sacred scroll trying to escape me. Well, it so happens that that scroll sent us both back in time. It was a time traveling scroll." There, simple and an explainable explanation. Sakura kept staring at him with wide eyes. Already having explained, Itachi stood up and jumped over a tree trying to pinpoint their place of location.

Sakura stared at the empty space the Uchiha had been no less than a minute ago. Taking notice of the nearby lake, she dragged—forced—herself to crawl over to said mentioned place. Finally reaching it, she looked down at her reflection. Oh, Kami. She looked almost exactly like in her Genin days; short hair, wider forehead, round face, and her body didn't have the womanly curves she had developed over the years. Kami have mercy on her.


Itachi stood at the top of a tree, the sole of his feet concentrating the right amount of chakra for him to stay put at the small, thin end of the tree. Onyx eyes concentrated on the view before them. Konoha. The Hokage sculpted faces on the Hokage Monument, the laughing and cheery voices of those the villagers and shinobi, the Hokage Tower; indeed, it was Konoha, his homeland.

Jumping off the tree with expert moves, he landed gracefully, taking notice of the rosette over by the lake. Walking over her, he notice the alarm of her jade eyes. "I will not kill you," he assured her, though Sakura still kept her guard up, "We need to return to our time. I need you alive to reverse the spell. If you wish not to aid me with this then I shall have to kill you." He stated with his monotone voice.

Sakura furrowed her eyebrows, concentrating at what was at stake. She could let him kill her and he would never return to their time, but she will risk her life. If she did help him, then after they returned he would most likely kill her and go after Naruto. Not a choice. "Even if you're dead, I could still manage to find a different forbidden scroll that would return me to our time. There is still things beyond our comprehension that we still do not know of, but I assure you that I will find a way to go back with or without your help. Your choice." Damn, did this man know how to read minds or what?

Huffing, Sakura stood up. "Fine, I will help you, if you promise not to kill me." Sakura stretched out her hand. Itachi merely looked at her not wanting to accept the agreement. "Only if you listen to what I say and do as I say." Sakura pursed her lips firmly into a thin line. After contemplating the idea, she sighed and agreed. "Deal." Itachi raised his hand and shook hands with her. "Hn."

This would be the best of choice. A temporary alliance, just to find a way home.

"Where are we?" The pinkette asked while secretly cleaning her hand with her skirt.

Itachi noticed this and held the smirk that was threatening to appear. Like if she were even cleaner than him. Hn. "It seems that we were lucky enough to end up in Konoha. Though, I'm not sure what time period it is, due to the fact that we look around the same age." Sakura nodded in understanding. "We will have to verify the time period and check on our families." "How can he say it like he never massacred his clan?" Sakura thought. "We wouldn't want for them to see a double of us, it would provoke a distortion in the flow of space and time. We already have enough with us being here."

"Hai, but how will we enter the village? Remember they have surveillance ninja around the whole place. Not to mention the surrounding barrier that alerts any object that intrudes the village." The kunoichi inquired.

The dark-eyed nin started to head to the village, expecting for her to follow, "That may be so, but we do still have our Konoha hitai-ate."

"But your's is scratched across the leaf symbol, indicating you as a missing nin."

"Aa, however, if I show those who are in charge at the entrance my Sharingan they will know that I, indeed, am from the village."

Sakura nodded incomprehension, catching up to him, walking alongside with him. She didn't even hesitated. There was nothing to fear, he had assured it to her. "Your ways of thinking are amazing. Did you think about all this before hand, Itachi?"

He curtly nodded. "Way before you even gained conscience, and don't call me Itachi. It's Uchiha-sama for you, woman."

Sakura glared up at him. "Don't call me that! Did your brain not registered that I look like a frickin' twelve-year old?"

"I was aware that you were of the female class." He deadpanned.

She snorted. "I am, but you know what I mean by that."

"Hn." He let the subject drop.

As both neared the gates, Sakura noticed who was in charge of guarding the entrance. "Wow are those Kotetsu-san and Izumo-san?" She mused with surprised wide eyes and mouth wide agape. Indeed, they were said shinobi, though they looked younger, around the age of nineteen-years old. "Kami, they look…good? Wha! What am I thinking? These are the perverts I know back home! Though probably not… I doubt their hormones haven't- "

Her meditating was interrupted by none other than the almighty Uchiha. "Woman, follow my lead if anything is asked." Confirming her answer with a nod, they approached the gates as if they had the right to do so.

"Uchiha-san! I didn't see you come out. How have you been?" It had been Kotetsu who had spoken up to the Uchiha, inclining on the small stand that was located near the entrance for ninja to sign in or out when a mission would be present. "It's been a while since we last spoken."

Itachi eyed Sakura, a non-verbal sign to follow his lead. "I've been fine, just showing this new Genin around." Sakura's eye twitched. "Genin? I'm an ANBU for Kami's sake! ANBU!" A vein popped in her head.

Izumo whistled low. "She sure is something else. She looks pretty cute with her pink hair and green eyes." "Wow, now I'm being checked out by a nineteen-year old."

"Well, ya seemed to be occupied so we will leave ya alone. Hope to see ya soon!" Kotetsu yelled at the retreating forms of both Itachi and Sakura.

"Wait! I didn't get her name!" Izumo complained while being head-locked by his partner. "Don't be a pedo, Izumo. Besides, I bet the Uchiha-heir already has his claimed on her."

Good thing neither Itachi nor Sakura heard them. If they had, both young men would be suffering from the everlasting pain of Tsukuyomi and a bone crashing enhance punch.


"We will be meeting here after we seek information around the village and our whereabouts during this time. Make sure no one sees you who doesn't have to." Those were the words he had told her before each going their own way.

Now as she stood in front of her room's balcony window, her green eyes gazed inside looking at how different her room from back then looked. Stuffed animals were everywhere as well as flower decorations and other things she still had in her room during her actual time. The white and red outfit still stood there proudly, She had taken care of that piece of item since her younger years. Her eyes flashed to the nightstand next to her bed. No picture of Team 7 was visible. So she must be younger than twelve-years, she deduced.

Slightly opening the glass door, she entered her room, already knowing that she would leave it unlocked only during the day time. Concealing her chakra, she walked deeper inside the house, observing for any sign of life in it. Noticing no one on the second floor, she decides to approach the stairs, when suddenly she hears footsteps that were almost clumsy, surely not of a ninja. Placing the right amount of chakra in her feet, the kunoichi jumped to the ceiling, staying put in place.

Her eyes widened as she saw just who it was. It was her, her smaller self. From her looks, it seemed the girl was around the age of seven, still attending ninja academy. She cursed at herself inwardly at how blunt she was back then, the girl didn't even noticed her form attached to the ceiling. Had she really been so fragile back then? Well, se couldn't blame herself. She was seven years old, but Itachi had already graduated from the academy long since. Bah. Damn Uchiha prodigy.

Listening as the girl left to the restroom, she decided that it was the best time to leave and meet up with Itachi. She wondered what news he had for her.


"You're late," the Uchiha stated as he sat straight and proud on the roof top of a house, "What is your situation, woman?"

Sakura frowned at him. "I'm a seven-year old child during this time. I still attend the academy. You?"

Itachi contemplated what the kunoichi had told him for a while. When Sakura thought that he wasn't going to respond he spoke, "There is no other me." He simply stated. Sakura's eyes widened. "Did you already ma-"

Itachi's glare shut her up. "Don't speak of what you shouldn't, kunoichi," he stood up, showing Sakura how much taller he was though they were near the same age, "No such thing has occurred as of yet. I proclaimed that since you used the scroll on me, the time period got fixed to fit only me and not you, since you accidentally got sucked into it."

Sakura was fast to catch up. "I see, so you could go ordinarily doing whatever you wish to do but I have to stay in the hiding! That just sucks…" She crossed her arms over her chest. "What do we do now?"

"Head home."

Sakura pouted. "Did you not hear me that there is already a Sakura in my place?" She raised her eyebrow.

"I never said for you to specifically head to your house. We will be living in mine"

Sakura at the moment mimicked the expression of a fish out in land. "What? But you're Uchiha Itachi! And-"

"I don't see what is wrong with being me," he intervened.

"You can you not! You-"

He threw her a small bag of coins, which thanks to her ninja reflexes, she caught it immediately. "Go buy yourself some clothing and food. I'll seek for you later." Just like that he disappeared in a swirl of black feathers.

Sakura growled. Damn that Uchiha!


Update. Yey! Hope it was a good one! C:

Random Question of the Day: What do you think of the upcoming Naruto movie Road to Ninja?

I'm actually excited to watch it! I can't wait! Though Sasuke has the hots for Sakura. :/ Oh well, Itachi at least will be in it! Itachi is awesome! I almost cried when I saw the trailer. How Naruto hugs his mother! Q_Q Dear lord! So sad! Naruto makes me a cry baby, I swear… T_T.

Thanks for all the support everyone!

Oh and to the person who is Indonesian, thanks for reading this! And don't worry I understood everything you mentioned! Thanks again!

Don't own Naruto. TT_TT