Standard Disclamer Applied.


Chapter two: Selling a Soul
It was early morning when the pink haired kunoichi walked out the gates of Konoha.

The sky was serene.Konoha was different in the morning. It made it even harder for Sakura to leave.

'No wonder Sasuke-kun left at night. It's so beautiful this time of day.' Inner Sakura said.

"Sakura-chan, wait!!" Naruto called from behind her. 'Doesn't this feel familiar?' Inner Sakura gathered.

"Sakura… chan… Are you… sure… you want… to leave?" Naruto said in between taking large breaths of air.

"Naruto, please don't go after me. If I don't come back in a year… assume I'm dead." Sakura said staring at the path before her.

Naruto was still catching his breath when Sakura decided to start walking ahead. "Oh, and Naruto?" She turned her head towards him.

He stopped to look at her. "Thank you." 'Ugh. Not those two words again!!' Inner Sakura said anxiously.

"Thank you for always being there when I needed you. You're a true friend." Sakura added.

'I don't wanna leave him confused. Like SOMEONE else did. This scene is ALL TOO familiar for my liking.' Inner Sakura concluded.

She continued to walk towards the forest, while Naruto stood there watching her leave.


A couple of months had passed and Sakura had been willingly training on her own.

Sweat beaded down her forehead. A forehead that seemed to have grown accustomed to her body. I mean, it was slightly larger than a regular forehead.

"This is harder than I thought" she said to no one in particular. Little did she know that someone WAS listening.

Sakura decided to take a break. She walked towards a river. She knew her way around, after all she had been on several different missions involving her to cross this path.

She took a seat by the edge of the gleaming water. She started to stare at the sky, but she felt unsteady.

She kept looking back expecting to see someone, but she saw no one. "She keeps looking at us. Do you think she knows we're here?" One figure said to another.

"I don't think so. Our chakra is well concealed… but to notice a hint of our presence… I think Miss Haruno will be very useful to us." The other figure responded.

As Sakura turned her head to look back at the sky, she definitely felt something coming towards her.

She stood up cautiously and picked up a kunai.


Sakura hesitantly turned around. "Not quick enough my little cherry blossom" said a mysterious voice from behind her. She stood there seemingly frozen.

She gripped the kunai in her hand, bracing herself for an attack. Nothing happened. She turned around to strike, when she saw that the figure had disappeared.

'Damn he's fast'

"What's the matter Sakura? Having trouble keeping up? Is my little cherry blossom too weak?" The voice seemed to be coming from the other side of the river.

Sakura strained her eyes to see two tall silhouettes beneath the trees. "Who the hell are you?" Sakura yelled out trying to sound intimidating.

The two shadows proceeded to walk towards her.

Sakura's eyes widened. The red clouds and black cloaks were unmistakable. They were part of Akatsuki.

Sakura tensed, not knowing what to do.


Sakura's mind went blank.

"Such big words from such a small girl" a blue man said while half grinning. He was very strange looking. Almost like a shark.

Sakura snapped back into reality. "You didn't answer my question." Sakura said trying to stay calm.

"I suppose we didn't. My name is Kisame." The blue man said, surprised that Sakura was still holding her composure. Sakura then moved her vision toward the other mysterious man.

He simply removed his hat as his scarlet eyes pierced through Sakura.

'Sharingan… Wait! That means he's… Itachi!' Inner Sakura thought, still shocked. No words left Sakura's mouth.

"I'm assuming that you already gathered who I am." Itachi said as he calmly walked over the water. Sakura made no movement.

Itachi was closing in on the space between them. He was now standing right in front of her.

Her gaze remained in the same position, which was awkward because he was a great deal taller than her. Itachi slowly reached for Sakura's chin.

He gently lifted her head so that he could see her face clearly. "What do you want?" Sakura said shakily.

She had tears forming beneath her emerald eyes. Each drop trickling down her cheek as she avoided his gaze.


Itachi forced her to look at him. "I want you." He spoke with a harsh tone. Sakura felt even weaker.

She didn't even know how to respond. He continued "I've been examining your training. I can make you stronger."

Sakura wasn't sure if she was paranoid that he was watching her or if she was relieved to get some help in her training.

"How?" she asked curiously.

"Come with me. I will train with you." He said, still looking into her eyes.

"I don't know. Why should I trust someone like you?" she said while finally looking at him. 'Wow. He's pretty hot.' Inner Sakura said spontaneously.

"You will. I'll come back for your answer tomorrow morning." He said, and then he suddenly vanished.

Sakura fell to her knees. "What do I do?" she whispered into the wind. "I can only get to Sasuke-kun by getting stronger… I'll see you tomorrow Itachi."


Sakura waited beside a tree near the river.

The sun was beginning to rise. The sent of morning mixed with uncertainty.

"I've decided." Sakura spoke to Itachi as she looked on at the morning sky. "Good. Let's go." He said while he carefully knocked her out.

Sakura awoke in Itachi's arms. Struggling to open her eyes, she asked, "How did you know that I was going to go with you?" Itachi looked down at her in his arms.

"It was the way you looked at me" he said while speeding from tree to tree. A slight blush formed on Sakura's face.

She slowly faded back into sleep.