Sakura was packing, getting ready to leave their base. She was thrilled with the possibility of proving herself to her Otou-san as well as others (Itachi more than the rest).
She needed to pass that exam. It was a necessity. She checked her pack the last time for that day. It was only so much her little twelve year old self needed – food pills, clothes, necessary weapons, medical scrolls. Nothing more, nothing less.

Sakura was about to crawl into her bed and have some peaceful, well deserved rest, when tired knocks sounded at her door.

Ugh! Who the hell dared to disturb me?

Inner, calm down. Go answer the damn door and if it is something that isn't worthy of our time, I will allow you to take over and pummel whoever it is into oblivion. Deal?

Hmm… Yea, I'm cool with that.

Good.

She stood up and strode over to the door. Opening it with a sharp tug, she froze.

"Dei-kun? What happened?"

In front of her was Deidara, who was gripping his left arm and grimacing slightly, a small trickle of blood oozing from under his hand.

"Hi, Sakura-chan, yeah. I was sparring with Sasori-no-Danna and one of his demented puppets got past my clay and stabbed me. Stupid bastard poisoned it as well, un."

Inner Sakura swooned. Come right in, sexy-man!

Shush you.

Sakura giggled. "Come in, Dei-kun. Give me a moment; I think I might even have an antidote." She walked over to the built in bathroom, and began rummaging through her medic cupboard. Deidara nodded and lay down on her bed. He smirked when he heard a quiet 'Shit' through the bathroom door. The door opened and Sakura walked out scowling, her eyes screaming Bloody Murder at the person who pissed her off.

"Your fucking Danna," She said the name with such venom that he almost flinched "stole the antidote I had for your poison. Here, read this."

She thrust a crumpled piece of paper in his direction and he caught it. He almost ripped the note to shreds. He knew that whenever they (Sasori and himself) fought for whose art is better they were serious, but for him to resort to something like this…. This was just cruel.

The note read:

I hope that you're capable of extracting the poison without the antidote, because if not, then the brat dies. Unless, of course, he decides to come to me and agree that eternal beauty is much better than his petty excuse of art.

~Sasori

Deidara growled, and then looked at Sakura with pleading eyes. She sighed.

"Alright. I think I know a technique which could help you, but I'm still testing it; I don't want to hurt you, Dei-kun."

Deidara smiled slightly. "You won't. I know you won't." Sakura looked at him questioningly. "After all, I'm too adorable to die by the hands of Sasori, you know."

She rolled her eyes but then burst out laughing. "Ha ha ha, Dei-kun. But if you really do trust me this much, then I guess it wouldn't hurt to try…"

~::~

Sakura was panting slightly and Deidara groaned. It has been almost half an hour since she started the technique and she finally finished. Somehow, he ended up with his back flat on her bed, Sakura bent over him, her legs on either side of his waist.

"There. All done." She breathed out, wiping a small droplet of sweat from her brow.

Deidara couldn't help it; she was just too cute for her own good. With brains to match Itachi's and strength on par with Kisame, it seemed almost impossible for her to be only twelve years old.

"D-Dei-kun…?" She asked seeing the curious look in his eyes.

Deidara smiled at her, then lifted his head off the pillow and pecked her on the lips. She froze for a second but then relaxed. It was just his way of saying 'Thank You' nothing more. When he pulled away, Sakura lowered herself down onto his chest and wrapped her arms around him.

Sakura's P.O.V.

Fuck this. I know that if anyone was to just randomly walk past the room they would think we were lovers. But in truth, we're not. Quite the opposite, really. We're the best of friends. With plenty of similar characteristics that make us who we are; Deidara is erratic, and eccentric. He is nice and smart and he hates death and we have all of these things in common. But most of all, we share one thing that makes us inseparable. We both possess that unquenchable, desperate desire to be free: to escape anything and everything while turning the world on its head in the process.

Also, we are batshit crazy. He blows shit up; I toy with a group of dangerous S-Rank criminals on a daily basis. We have this insane and impulsive gene in us that makes us do things without thinking, whether it was me yelling obscenities at Tobi for pushing Kisame's head underwater, while screaming 'Swim Fishy, swim!' or him, justifying the action of punching the shit out of Hidan for getting shit-faced on my 10th birthday. This psychological defect that we had no problem expressing to each other is what brought us together into the best buddies that we are.

It's just… Natural.

"Hey, Saku-chan?" I look up at him,

"Hm?"

He smiled and ruffled my hair. "Just try to not get yourself killed."

~::~

"So, Bitch-chan, you're going to the Chuunin Exams, huh?"

"Yea, what 'bout it?" I asked. That is the thing with Hidan – he fails to understand the meaning of the word 'subtle'.

"Nothing. Just make sure to kick every-fucking-single pansy-ass that you come across."

I smirked, "No problem, Bastard-kun."

But my grin wavered when I saw the look on his face, like he was having some kind of Inner battle.

"And.. Uh.. Ah, FUCK THIS! Be careful, OK?"

I was startled. Hidan… Was… Worried?

"Aww! Is Hidan-teme worried?"

"Huh? AW, Hell NO!" He went red, "It's just that if you fucked up and died I wouldn't have anyone to piss the crap out of!"

…

"Oh." I couldn't keep the tiniest bit of disappointment out of my voice.

But hell, what was I expecting?

Criminals don't care for others. Nuh-uh.

~::~

"Hey, kid."

"Huh? Oh, Fishy-chan!"

"I heard you're taking the Chuunin Exams, ne?"

"Uhh, yea…?"

Kisame grinned. "Don't kill yourself, kid. Leader would skin us if something happened to you."

This is the hundredth time I'd heard this today, seriously!

I agree! Who do they think I am? Some weak, worthless cretin?"

It sure seems like it.

UGH!

~::~

Sakura was curled up on her bed, sobbing. With a jolt she realised that she has not shown any signs of physical weakness for over three years, and knowing that made everything so much worse.

There was a quiet knock on the door and she jumped.

"If you're here to tell me that I should be careful not to kill myself then you can royally piss off!" She screeched.

"Sakura-san… It's me, Itachi."

All the anger evaporated from her like from a pierced balloon. She sighed. "Come in, Itachi. The door is unlocked."

The door creaked and in walked Itachi. He looked calm on the outside, as always, but there was an unidentified emotion in his eyes. After a few seconds she realized what it was. Not sympathy. Not worry. Not pity.

It was anger.

He strolled over to her and sat down on the edge of her bed. Itachi gently stroke her hair while waiting for Sakura to calm down.

"They've done it again, haven't they?"

Sakura chocked out one last sob before nodding. "Everyone keeps telling me to be careful. It's like they still see me as the hopeless little 2 year old who can't take care of herself." She inhaled sharply. "I understand that they are worried, but seriously, I can take care of myself without their help! I don't need pity or sympathy!"

Itachi nodded, understanding her situation. "I know, Sakura, I know. But you have to face it – you're like a little sister to us, a little sister that we never had. It's natural for us to be worried." He paused for a moment, "Though personally, if I was worried I would train you to the point of exhaustion, just to make sure that you're ready for whatever comes your way, instead of showing pity."

Sakura groaned. How was it that Itachi could understand exactly what was troubling her without even having to think about it?

But then something hit her. Though personally, if I was worried…

"So you mean that you're not worried, huh?"

Itachi turned to face her. "Of course I'm worried. But I know that you can get through this."

Sakura frowned. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I believe in you."

~::~

OK! That's it! This is the second chapter of 'Danger Insight"!

Hope y'all liked it!

Reviews are very much appreciated!