Siblings

"Karin…" Suigetsu mumbled. Suddenly he woke up. He felt something… Or rather, someone, above him. He looked down and Karin was sleeping, resting her head on his belly, their bodies forming an angle of 90º.

"Wha-…" He looked around. Sasuke and Juugo were sleeping on the floor. The cool night breeze entered the room through the window. They must have had fallen asleep while waiting for Sasuke. But that didn't explain why Karin was sleeping next to him.

He tried not to move much, trying not to wake her, but it was too late. Opening a lazy eye, Karin looked at him. "What are you doing Suigetsu? It's the middle of the night."

Suigetsu swallowed and continued staring at her.

"Is something wrong?" She opened her other eye and turned to him, her head still resting on him.

"Nothing… Just… How did you end up here? You never even slept next to me. Like ever"

Karin blushed slightly and looked away. "If that's the problem, I'll just go sleep to the floor!"

She started to shift away but Suigetsu grabbed her wrist. "It's fine. It just surprised me. Get back to sleep." He dragged her back, this time next to him. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

Karin continued looking at him. But soon her eyes started to close. She got closer to the boy next to her and grabbed his arm, thinking he was asleep already.

Suigetsu smiled.

"Good morning" Itachi woke up Sakura with a kiss.

"Ahhh nooo…. I want to sleep more!" Sakura covered her face with the blanket, causing Itachi to smirk and open the windows. Sakura gave in and pushed the blanket down. Only when she looked around the room she noticed all the flowers and the breakfast on the table next to her. She looked at Itachi, who was leaning against the wall expecting her reaction, with his arms crossed.

"You did this?" he nodded. She looked around again "Why…?"

"I just felt like making you a surprise"

Sakura stared at him. "For real?"

Itachi approached her and sat on the bed. He leaned towards her and touched her nose with his. "Off course"

"You're so sweet"

Itachi frowned and kissed her nose. "Now eat, I'll be going. Ino left a message saying she would come to pick you up. She's got plans for you today"

"Really? Hum! this thing is good"

Itachi smiled and picked up his Konoha vest. "Yes, she said she wanted to help you shop for the baby"

"Hu-um… In' always' wan' to sho't" Sakura said, eating at the same time.

Itachi laughed and kissed her forehead. "Love you"

"m' too. Carefull!"

"Always"

Itachi left his house. He walked the deserted street of the Uchiha compound. Soon this sad place would be filled with children laughter. He craved for that day. The memory of the massacre darkened his mind.

"Heeey! Itachi!" Naruto waved, running to him. "I was just looking for ya, believe it"

"Hum? What was it then?"

"Well it's actually Granny Tsunade that wants to speak with you"

"Sure, all right"

"So you're not accompanying Sakura to the shop today?"

"Ino has plans for her"

"Hum…"

They soon reached the Hokage tower. Itachi knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

"Tsunade-sama, you wanted to see me?"

Naruto passed by Itachi with his hands on his head. "Ehhh Granny Tsunade, you have a mission for me other than deliver messages around the village?"

"Shut up Naruto. Itachi, it's about Sasuke"

"WHAT? WHAT IS IT GRANNY?"

Tsunade ignored the wild Naruto and continued. "We've finally found him. It is true. He is heading to Konoha"

Itachi nodded. "I understand" Itachi turned to leave.

"Do you now, Itachi?"

"What do you mean?" the Uchiha looked back.

"I mean, if you understand that this is a Konoha business. And every Konoha Shinobi are in this together. If you think you'll take care of it yourself, you're very much wrong. Besides, our primary objective is to capture Uchiha Sasuke. And for the best, capture him before he gets here. I don't want to threaten the lives of the citizens."

"I understand Hokage-sama"

"Good."

"No, Granny Tsunade" Naruto looked up at her "I'm the only one who can bring Sasuke back"

"Don't talk nonsense Naruto! I'm not going to let you go alone. Seriously what the hell is wrong with you two?"

"Wha-What do you mean?"

"Itachi plans to go get Sasuke alone, you can see it in his eyes, for much good a poker face he has, and you're here talking about the same!"

"Well then why don't they go together?" The voice came from behind Tsunade's chair. Jiraya appeared on the window.

"Are you insane too?"

"Tsunade, it's quite clear here that those two have unfinished business with Sasuke. Naruto keeps telling me he's gonna bring Sasuke back, and I'm sure Itachi won't be reckless to the point of getting killed by him. He's gonna have a child after all. Besides, Naruto has been working on a special training"

"A special training?" Tsunade looked up at Naruto, who nodded and made a big smile.

"He has mastered the Sennin mode" Gasps where heard coming from the two women, Tsunade and Shizune.

"For real?"

Jiraya nodded. "Yes, even better than I have"

Tsunade looked again at Naruto with her mouth opened with surprise.

"See granny Tsunade? You don't have to worry about us!"

"No! We will arrange 3 teams to go capture Sasuke within 4 days. You will be on those teams. But at least you're not alone."

"Well who are our teams then?"

"Well since team Kakashi is practically disbanded since there's only you and Kakashi left, I've decided to add 2 more elements. You'll meet them tomorrow. Next there will be Kiba, Shino, Hinata and Itachi. And the others will be Team Guy. And Shikamaru will be tagging along too."

"Why Shikamaru?"

"Because he's the best strategist we have. Sasuke isn't alone, and we have Intel that the Akatsuki are backing him up and…"

They continued discussing the matters of Sasuke's retrieval for the rest of the day.

"So, Sasuke, you really want to kill Itachi?" White Zetsu asked.

"Shut up, it's none of your business" Black Zetsu reprehended him.

Sasuke continued walking. Images of Sakura came to his mind. That ignorant, little girl, why was she with him? Why did she have to ruin everything, every time?

Ever since he heard that cursed rumor he couldn't stop thinking about the two of them together. It was just something he couldn't understand.

The last time he saw Sakura, she was a grown women no doubt, but even though she became a strong, skilled Kunoichi, he could perfectly see that she was still in love with him. But what made it change? Why him? Maybe it was because he his brother. And when she figured out that she couldn't have Sasuke, she decided to stay with Itachi. He was sure of it. She couldn't possibly be in love with him. No way. Right?

The vortex of thoughts on Sasuke's mind was interrupted again.

"Say Sasuke, What are we supposed to do when you get there, eh? I mean… If you want to kill Itachi, we're just there to back you up?"

"Itachi won't be alone. I need you to take care of the others and leave him to me."

"Humph… Trouble…"

For the first time, Karin didn't argue with Suigetsu, which even Sasuke found odd, but didn't pay much attention.

Soon… Soon he would see with his own eyes the truth. And he would complete his revenge.

"Itachi…" His thoughts scattered through the wind as they continued their way to Konoha.