Hello all! Here's chapter 3!

Before I start the standard disclaimer I wanted to address a few things. I received a review from someone who called themselves Anonymous. While I didn't take their review as an offense, I merely felt the need to defend my ideas and point out where I'm coming from in case anyone else felt this way. By no means am I trying to be rude to the reviewer because they took their time to review my story and give me criticism which I greatly appreciate, so I hope I am not offending them.

The first issue to address: Sakura's intelligence and speech patterns. The reviewer had stated that Sakura had to be ridiculously prodigal to be able to form thoughts like this and talk the way she does. While she is prodigal in a sense, she doesn't have to be ridiculously prodigal like Itachi is. My mother told me I was able to speak in full sentences and articulate my thoughts by the time I was one, and I was able to read on the level of an eighth grader in second grade. I'm not trying to brag haha, I'm just saying I'm probably one of the farthest things from a prodigy and I was still able to do that stuff at a young age. I had already mentioned that Sakura is very intelligent despite her age and showed you through Itachi that he thought watching Sakura was like watching a grown woman trapped in a child's body. It shows she is very mature for her age. Also, I feel that her ideas about the rain are actually very close to being something a child would relate to. I mentioned Sakura feels that the rain is like magic, most children her age tend to relate things they don't understand to magic. While I didn't specifically say if Sakura knew where rain comes from, I still felt that her relating the idea of rain being a magical blessing was something only children can see because of their innocence and general lack of knowledge. Because lets face it, as we grow older when we see rain, the first thing that will come to our mind is "oh great my hair is screwed" or "great I have to drive in this?" We usually don't think of playing in it or seeing it as a blessing, unless we're thinking "yay the grass will grow." These are the ideas that Itachi has because he is in fact ridiculously prodigal and thus the reason Sakura tells him about magic rain.

Second point: If any of you have read my other stories, you will know that Haruno Saya tends to pop up from time to time. Saya is my OC and I have often portrayed her as being a slightly crazy person who has their morals twisted just a bit. She also gets excited at the littlest things for comedic relief. So for her to momentarily forget about her child (who she hinted likes to disappear and cause mayhem because of her curiosity) and then come up with a ridiculous teasing insult for her such as 'crazy little demon', or 'devil's child' is completely normal for her. I tried to make sure that she didn't seem too out-there to readers who are encountering her for the first time by adding the comment that Sakura seems to enjoy picking up dangerous spiders and giving Saya lots of sheepish smiles and laughs. However, if I didn't make it clear enough then that is my fault entirely and I will go back and clean up the dialogue if that is what you all wish. If you think about it, her personality is quite similar to Naruto's which is what I based her personality off to begin with.

Okay that's all my points! I am sosososo sorry if this offended anyone and Anonymous I really hope I didn't offend you. I'm sorry I picked on you but you helped me realize my points may not have been as clear as I thought so thank you for the time you took to review! I know you're all thinking "yeah yeah we get it Kyuu-chan! Now shut up and just get on with the story!" So I'll do that. Thank you to those who read my author notes and put up with the rambling I do! Without further delay, ONTO THE STORY!

Disclaimer: I actually love Itachi, Neji, Minato, Jiraya, aka all the good characters who are DEAD! So how in the hell could I possibly own Naruto?


After their little adventure in the rain, Itachi and Sakura had gotten a horrible cold and had been confined to their beds for a little over a week. Now, in the early days of January, they were released from the confinements of their rooms and were free to do as they pleased.

Well within reason of course.

It was because of this that Sakura had felt the impulsive need to go visit her new friend. The three-year old walked down the block to the Uchiha manor with confident steps, admiring her surroundings and thinking of her upcoming birthday. She had left without her mother's knowledge or permission but knew she would be able to talk her way out of any situation her fiery tempered mother may create. Besides, they lived relatively close to the Uchihas and the town of Konoha was rather small so Sakura felt completley safe as she walked on. The wind blew softly and created a chill but thankfully she wasn't cold as her long-sleeved, lime green shirt fell a bit past her knees and covered up the holes in her jeans while her waist length hair kept her neck warm. Sakura giggled a bit as she thought of using her hair as a scarf.

She tightened her ponytail, a nervous habit, as she approached the gates to the manor. Sakura hoped that despite her sudden appearance, Itachi would have some free time. It wasn't often she had copious amounts of free time and now that she had a friend, Sakura wanted to play.

Tightening her ponytail one last time, Sakura reached up and rang the doorbell. She waited for a moment before the impressive door swung open and Uchiha Mikoto stuck her head out. Looking down, she smiled widely as she saw Sakura.

"Hello Sakura-chan! What brings you here today?" Sakura bowed low before answering.

"Good afternoon Uchiha-san. Might I be able to visit Itachi-kun?" She questioned. Mikoto beamed at the girl, pleased that her son had finally made a real friend. (His cousin did not count. They were family, Shisui had to put up with Itachi regardless of the fact he liked him.)

"Of course dear, he should be in his room. Let me know if you need anything, and please call me Mikoto!" Thanking the Uchiha matriarch, Sakura made her way up the stairs to her friend's room. She knocked once before entering.

"Hiya Itachi-kun!" She greeted cheerfully. Itachi looked up from what he had been writing before nodding at her.

"Afternoon Sakura-chan." Was his unenthusiastic greeting. Sakura wrinkled her nose in a rather adorable fashion and tsked.

"Itachi-kun, please show more excitement when you greet someone. You're six years old, not a grown up." Itachi tilted his head to the side in a confused manner.

"How?" Sakura grinned at him.

"Just sound happy and smile! It's not like you have to shake their hand!" Itachi nodded at this and turned back to his work.

"What are you doing?" Sakura questioned.

"Schoolwork." To anyone else, the one worded comment would have been enough to send the room into an awkward silence. However Sakura just made herself comfterable on Itachi's bed and colored on a blank piece of paper she found.

"Do you want to play when your done?" She questioned. Itachi nodded eagerly.

"That would be fun." Sakura beamed at his choice of words and waited patiently for him to finish. Of course being only a toddler, her patience wore thin after twenty minutes.

"Itachi-kun, are you done yet?" She whined.

"Almost Sakura-chan." He replied. The pink haired girl huffed and tried to be patient. Thankfully for her, he was done after another five minutes.

"What do you want to play Sakura-chan?" Itachi questioned. She thought about it for a minute.

"Let's go to the park!" She cheered. Itachi nodded and they exited his room.

After telling his mother their destination, Itachi and Sakura exited the Uchiha manor and made their way to the park. It was on the other side of the small town but that was all right with Itachi. Sakura held onto his hand and chattered happily about trival things. The conversation had no point to it but Itachi enjoyed that. He didn't have to wrack his mind for sophisticated answers, or adjust a tie so it looked presentable, or listen to his father go on and on about his accomplishments to complete strangers who pretended to know him. It was nice to talk about what he wanted to talk about.

"Itachi-kun, what's your favorite food?" His answer was instantaneous.

"Dango." She giggled in obvious amusement and Itachi turned to look at her in question.

"I think others would see you as the type to eat boring food but I could see dango being your favorite food." Itachi chuckled a bit and the two continued on their way.


Sakura was an interesting girl, there was no doubt about it. However, in the few weeks of knowing her, Itachi often wondered how the girls personality came to be. He wouldn't go as far as to wonder if she was schizophrenic with another personality lurking somewhere in the back of her mind; but her almost constant switch from formal and distant with adults and strangers, to bubbly and informal when with him, well it made one scratch their heads a bit. Do not mistake him, because Itachi enjoyed the girl's happy persona and it was refreshing to see he wasn't the only child who had to grow up and speak like a scholar, he just had to wonder. Surely it wasn't her father who pressured her into acting like that, he seemed to much of a family man to want that. He didn't even have to wonder about her mother, she was a bit too, eccentric was the polite word.

While they strolled through the town, hands linked and each enjoying the company of their first real friend, Itachi found the answer to his thoughts and unasked questions.

It just wasn't the answer he had expected or wanted.


Sakura had been enjoying her afternoon. However, when she saw a familiar head of oddly colored brown hair, she stiffened minutely. Itachi being Itachi noticed immediately but before he could ask anything, the brown mop of hair was upon them. Ami Wanatabe sneered at Sakura.

"It's ugly forehead girl! Why are you here you freak?" Sakura gripped Itachi's hand a bit tighter before her eyes took on that cool and detached glaze Itachi had become familiar with.

"Wanatabe-san, I am merely enjoying a walk with my friend. It is a pleasant day is it not?" The five-year old's face scrunched up, obviously not understanding the vocabulary of the younger girl.

"Shut up freak! No one likes you!" She turned her attention to Itachi and blushed.

"You don't have to play with her, she's weird." At this Sakura lowered her head but her grip on Itachi's hand became unconsciously tighter. Itachi stared at Ami.

"Sakura-chan is my friend and I will interact with her as long as she wants." Sakura's face brightened a bit after hearing Itachi's words and she glanced at Ami.

"It seems we must be on our way Wanatabe-san. Please enjoy the rest of your day." Without another word, Sakura happily pulled Itachi away and left an angry Ami. Itachi turned to Sakura when they were a good distance away.

"Sakura-chan, why was that girl mean to you?" He honestly couldn't fathom why anybody would want to be mean to his friend. Though she was a bit eccentric, she was kind and smart. She gave him a sad grin.

"I don't know Itachi-kun. Sometimes that's just the way people are."


It continued on like this all the way to the park. They would pass other children who would seem to know Sakura, and every time they would hurl insults at the pink haired girl. Yet every time Sakura would counter their insults with polite words and a detached expression.

"Freak!"

"Ah, good day Kimiko-san."

"Your hair is strange!"

"Karin-san, I heard your mother caught a cold. I hope she has recovered."

"Your forehead is so huge!"

"Yamanaka-san, is your family business flourishing?"

There had been a point when they encountered Sakura's younger sister with a friend and said friend's mother.

"Hana-chan, isn't that your big sister?"

"Yep."

"Her hair's a bit strange." Hana blushed in embarrassment.

"Onee-san is weird."

"It's a good thing Hana-chan isn't like that!" Sakura smiled sadly.

"Hana-chan, please inform Haha-ue that I will be at the park." Hana nodded. When they moved away again Hana's friend whispered in her ear.

"Your onee-san talks weird." Hana nodded in agreement.

It was after these encounters that Itachi understood why Sakura would act so formal and distant. It was her precious mask to hide behind. She was bullied by others because of her exotically colored hair and largely proportioned forehead. Instead of becoming shy or angry, she simply learned to act distant and uncaring. With her above average intellect, it was easy to learn a more formal vocabulary that made her seem unapproachable.

It seemed to be this way with her family to. While Itachi could easily tell Haruno Saya loved her daughter very much, he could also see that the woman was unsure of how to interact with her obviously intelligent daughter. Coupled with her slightly crazy personality and you had a rocky relationship on your hands. It was the same with her sister, the girl just imitated her mother.


Completely lost in his thoughts, Itachi hadn't even noticed that they had arrived at the park. Nor did he notice when Sakura sat down at the base of a tree. However he did notice when he heard quiet sniffles and sobs. Itachi crouched down next to his friend.

"Sakura-chan?" He questioned unsurely. He received a hiccup in response. Itachi sat there, completely lost on what to do as his friend continued to cry. A few minutes later he tried a different tactic.

"Sakura-chan please don't cry!" He very nearly begged. "It's unbecoming." He added. At this remark, Itachi heard a weary giggle followed by the ever-familiar phrase.

"You're doing it wrong." Itachi gaped at his friend.

"What?" Sakura looked up from where her head had been buried between her knees, her red rimmed eyes looked at him in slight amusement.

"You're comforting me wrong. In fact you're awful at it." Itachi pouted ever so slightly.

"Well, I didn't know what to do! You just wouldn't stop crying!" Sakura actually giggled at him and Itachi felt his ears burn.

"You're supposed to say things that would make me feel better." Itachi thought on this for a moment before looking at his friend.

"Well, I thought those people were wrong." The pink haired girl across from him stared at him with interest.

"I think you have really pretty hair and even though your forehead is a bit big, it just means you're really smart and that you'll grow into it one day." He stated firmly with all the Uchiha confidence in the world. Sakura looked at him hopefully.

"Really?" Itachi nodded again. Sakura grinned happily and launched herself at her friend. She tackled him to the ground and hugged him tightly. Itachi spluttered a bit.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Hugging you! Friends do this all the time! Haven't you seen our mothers hug before?"

"Oh." After seeing no harm in the action, Itachi returned her hug. Of course he made sure not to try and squeeze her intestines out, much like she was doing with him.

"Thank you Itachi-kun." She mumbled.

"You're welcome Sakura-chan."


Yay! Chapter three is done! Hehe, Itachi is becoming more open with Sakura now. Yay our cute little hero is discovering emotions! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I'll update when I get and idea for the next one. :)

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for a chapter, leave 'em in a review or PM me!

That's all for now!

ReViEw PlEaSe! :)