Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters except for Mai and Masako.
Chapter Two: How It All Started
Itachi was on a mission to steal a forbidden scroll that their leader wanted. He traveled through the tea country to the border of the sound country. In addition, along the way, he fought off a couple of rouge ninja's. They were all weak and were easily defeated but days without rest, food, and continuous attacks by rouge ninja's took a toll on the Akatsuki member, especially for using his Mangekyou Sharingan a couple of times on the battles with the rouge ninjas.
While walking along a dead prairie he was ambushed by eight ANBU's from Konoha. Itachi's eyes harden even more at the sight of the symbol of the leaf that was proudly embedded on each ninja's uniform.
"Uchiha Itachi, we were ordered by the 5th Hokage to capture you. You are too much of a threat now to ignore." A female ANBU with a kitsune mask stated while drawing out her sword and charged at Itachi.
"Mai-san! Be careful he became a squad leader at the age of 13. He is deadlier than before. You know his past. Don't act too rash." An ANBU with a bear mask warned and seemingly the squad leader.
"I have nothing dear to hold on in this life anymore. My last wish is to die with honor protecting my village." with that said, She wrapped her chakra around her sword and swung it at Itachi who dodged it with a bit of difficulty.
Due to lack of rest and nutrition, Itachi does not have enough chakra to even activate his Sharingan. Therefore, he is left with his ninjutsu.
As the ANBU swung her sword one more time, she manages to create a large gash on Itachi's abdomen. She smirked with triumph on what she did before swearing under her breath.
"Make sure that Uchiha Itachi is in a well condition. This is an S-class mission. I want him alive and well. Unconscious but not severely injured." Tsunade said with superiority clinging on her every word.
"Yes Hokage-sama" was their reply before disappearing in smoke to go forth on their mission.
"Mai! Have you forgotten the Hokage's orders as to not injure him severely!" exclaimed the same ANBU member that warned her earlier.
"Shit! I forgot but we got Masako-san with us. She's an excelling medic-nin," Said Mai with a bit of hesitation.
"Yes, there is no need to worry and if you are worrying about blood loss I could easily give him blood. Now we only have five more minutes before he looses a pint of blood. We need to--" An ANBU with a rabbit's mask was cut off by Itachi's clone stabbing her with a kunai on the back.
"Sh-shit!" She cursed looking back to find a teammate eliminate the clone. She stood and reached back to pull the kunai back and heal herself.
"Masako! Are you alright?" Mai asked with concern to the other ANBU.
"Yes I am. Let us now carry on our mission." Masako said with determination to finish the mission as soon as possible.
Itachi was paling even more because of blood loss and had fainted after throwing his last kunai, which was avoided with ease by Mai.
Itachi dropped to the ground and all of the squad members surrounded him.
"Masako-san!" the squad leader called for her aid in healing the Akatsuki member.
"Yes." was her relply while she cut her forearm for blood to give to Itachi. After the blood transfusion she closed the wound with her chakra, severely draining her of energy causing her to faint due to fatigue.
A Week After
Inside Konoha Hospital an injured ANBU lay. She looked up and saw only white. White walls, white bed, white curtains and not to mention the nauseating smell of ammonia used to keep the hospital as sterile as possible. Masako sighed. She had her black hair down, with her eyes downcast. A deadly mission gone wrong because one of her teammates let her emotions get the best of her. She gave out another sigh as she thought back at what happened on that day.
'It was all due to an emotional leakage.'
"We are all to blame." She said to no one in particular.
She faced the door "Is there a reason that you are not entering?" she inquired suspiciously.
"Well you must be the medic-nin in the mission to retrieve Itachi" Sakura stated looking at Masako in the eye.
"Yes I am and what do you want?" Masako said with calmness but irritation in her voice.
Sakura bowed deep. " I am Haruno Sakura. I am in charge of observing Itachi as his girlfriend. I just want to thank you for healing him." Sakura said with gratitude.
Masako looked at Sakura with a hint of pity. "Sakura-san, Uchiha Itachi someday would get his rightful memories back. Just be sure to not be attached to him." She said trying to give the girl something to think about.
"Thank you for your advise…" She said in an inquiring way.
"Hirogata Masako" Masako said
"Masako-san" She said smiled gratefully
"You are welcome" She smiled back.
"I gotta go now, I have to meet up with Tsunade to give her some diagnosis.
"It was nice meeting you Sakura-san and good luck on your mission. " Masako said bidding fairwell the to retreating Kunoichi.
"The pleasure was all mine, goodbye" was what Sakura said reaching for the door.
"Our mission was a success but it nearly turned into a disaster because one of our squad member's emotions got the best of her. Her hatred to the Uchiha clan. And nearly made us fail our mission. Don't let your emotions get on your way on a mission. It would only burden you as a shinobi." was her last advice before Sakura left without any words of reply.