A/N: A wonderful turnout so far! Thank you, reviewers! I love you all! *cookies for all*


The knock at the door that sent Sakura's and Itachi's lives spinning out of control all over again came at five-thirty in the morning. It was a normal knock, not loud and forceful, proclaiming the knocker's urgency, but it wasn't quiet and reluctant either.

Itachi was the one to answer the door, but Sakura and Sasuke were right behind, their curiosity getting the best of them. And there, on the doorstep of the Uchiha mansion, stood a Chuunin, holding a scroll in one hand.

"Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke and Haruno Sakura?" the Chuunin asked, giving a quick bow.

"Yes," Sasuke answered warily, pushing in front of his brother. This wasn't the first time they'd had somebody come by and voice their opinions on Itachi and Sakura's return. "Can I help you with something?

The Chuunin held out the scroll for the three to read. "Summons from Hokage Tower. Tsunade-sama wishes an audience with the three of you in regards to a very important mission."

Sasuke's eyes quickly skimmed over the contents of the scroll and then handed it over to Itachi who did the same. Apparently, Tsunade wanted the three of them to play a role in the fight against Akatsuki.

Itachi reluctantly handed the scroll over to Sakura and sighed, wondering what Tsunade was thinking. Sending Sakura out to fight? Wasn't she the one to tell them not to stress her out too much?

"Understood," Sakura said with a grim nod, but Itachi couldn't miss the excited gleam in her emerald eyes. "We'll go now." And, after the Chuunin gave a quick nod and disappeared in a cloud of smoke, she headed off toward Hokage Tower, the two Uchiha brothers following behind very reluctantly.


"I've already spread the word to every shinobi in the village," Tsunade stated once the three shinobi seated themselves before her, "Anybody who could possibly be a spy will surely tell the Akatsuki of our plans for war. I've also sent Genin to all of the hidden villages, asking for their assistance. Those who agree have been informed to spread the word to all of their shinobi, as well."

"Shouldn't we be a little more discreet about this?" Sasuke asked with no shortage of concern, "You know, keep everything quiet and then attack without warning?"

"Yes, we probably should," Tsunade answered with a nod of agreement, "And that's what the Akatsuki will think, also. They'll be expecting a secret attack out of the blue and, I don't know about you, but I'm not feeling particularly compelled to oblige them."

"Pein will be furious when he receives word of this," Itachi surmised, "Which I'm guessing is your goal?"

The blond nodded. "Exactly. He wants you and Sakura and this will show him that we will stop at nothing to keep the both of you here."

"What would you like us to do?" Sakura asked, wasting no time.

Tsunade sent her an impatient look, but moved on to the point of the meeting. She turned to Itachi and said, "Itachi, you will be the captain of the ANBU squads based at the home front. The Akatsuki will, of course, utilize their spies here, so we'll need shinobi here to take them out when and if they attack. Also, knowing the Akatsuki, I'd imagine that they will find some way around the shinobi on the battlefront, so you and your squads will be useful then.

"On top of that task, you will also be in charge of briefing all of the shinobi about the Akatsuki, any information you find pertinent."

"Right," Itachi replied grimly.

"Of course, time is of the essence, so we'll have to start immediately."

"Okay."

Then Tsunade turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, you and your squad will be one of the groups under Itachi's command. Your particular squad will be in charge of keeping the Akatsuki and any allies they may have from infiltrating our border."

"Right," Sasuke agreed with a nod.

Tsunade's professional expression turned grim as she turned to the last person in her presence. "Sakura—"

"Tsunade-sama," Itachi quickly cut in, ignoring the warning glare Sakura sent his way, "You may not care about what I think, but I would much prefer it if Sakura stayed out of this battle. Her state of mind is much too weak to withstand B-rank missions, you said, let alone war. I'm afraid that, if you were to send her out to fight, she might relapse into her amnesia."

"Well," Tsunade began as Sakura turned an even harsher glare Itachi's way, "You're right, I don't care what you think, but I had already thought this over. As the leader and caretaker of this village's people, I can't in my right mind send a shinobi out to battle when she is not psychologically fit to go. That would only forfeit her life and burden her comrades."

Sakura's jaw dropped. "But Shishou—"

Tsunade cut her off by saying, "So, she will act as one of our village's medic-nin, healing any of the wounded civillians inside the village."

"But I want to help fight the Akatsuki!"

"I understand you have a score to settle, Sakura, but you must remember the cost of seeking revenge. You almost lost everything last time, do you really want to take that risk again and die for your bruised ego?"

"But Itachi is—"

"Invaluable as a shinobi," the blond Hokage interrupted firmly, giving her student no room for any more arguments, "As you are as a medic."

Sakura stared at her shishou contemptuously for a few moments before she huffed, storming out of the room.

"I'll go after her," Sasuke said, following after her.

"Itachi," Tsunade said when the elder Uchiha tried to stand, also, "I'd like a word with you."

Itachi sat back down and waited.

"I agreed to trust Sakura and Sasuke and keep you alive. I even allowed you to assist in this war. However, I am keeping you on the home front only because I don't know if I can trust you enough to leave the surrounding area of our village. If you dare to betray us, I will ignore both Sasuke's and Sakura's feelings and I will kill you."

Itachi nodded grimly. "I understand."

She waved a dismissive hand and he stood to follow after Sakura. She was more likely than not angry at him for telling Tsunade not to let her fight. But what did she expect? She had asked him to stay with her and he intended to keep that promise. Of course he wouldn't want her to get hurt.

He sighed as he descended the stairs of Hokage Tower, rushing down them two at a time. If he knew the woman he loved as well as he was sure he did, this would not be an enjoyable argument.


A/N: And we all know Itachi loves enjoyable arguments. You know, the ones that end with some make-up nookie? Itachi looooooves that! XD