Chapter 4
(Several months later - age 13 - ANBU)
The dark-haired figure loomed over him, katana blade drawn and glinting in the harsh sun.
Sprawled on the powdery, sun dried dirt, his uniform a scarred mess, Kakashi withheld the snarl that threatened to burst from his throat. It would only insult himself. He breathed out slowly, forcing himself to think, cursing himself and his inability to focus.
"Again," said Itachi-taichou from above, forever calm.
With a swallow and nod, Kakashi stood, retrieving his scattered kunai with the help of his ninken.
Thankfully he'd fallen on his back pocket—padded courtesy Jiraiya-sensei's latest epic—but his pride smarted.
When he and Itachi faced each other once more, he could have sworn he caught a glimmer of amusement in his ken-jutsu sensei's dark, fathomless eyes.
"Ignore distractions," advised Itachi, his solemn tone tinted.
As if Kakashi had asked Sakura to practice her water-jutsu half-naked on the Naka river, across the training ground.
He raised his tanto, relaxed his shoulders, expanded his senses to take in the winds around them, the earth at their feet, the water rushing past, coursing down the river. His spinning eye twitched to the left, towards the water again, when Sakura executed a particularly impressive—
—he careened backwards, bounced, and choked on dirt for the fourth time that afternoon.
Itachi-taichou sighed.
He raised a hand as he coincidentally meandered in Sakura's direction at the market.
"Yo."
"Kakashi!" Her eyes lit up like emeralds, her smile widening. "What are you doing shopping on a Friday night? You should be out with your friends."
He shrugged. "A man's gotta eat."
She shook her head. "And yet your hands are empty."
Damn.
"I just got here."
She tilted her head to the side. "Are you hungry? I'm making up my meals for the week tonight; we can double the ingredients and you can take half home. That way it saves you cooking time this coming week. You would only need to heat them up."
"You aren't going out?"
"Hm?" She looked up at him from the vegetable grocer's wagon. "No, not tonight," she said, her eyes dimming a bit before brightening again. "I'd rather have company in."
Sold.
"What can I help you find?" His fingers formed a small seal and suddenly they were surrounded. His ninken, who'd been hiding in various stalls around them, sallied closer and sat dutifully at Kakashi's feet. He passed a bit of money into each pup's collar-pouch, and sent each one off to a different vendor as Sakura rattled off her list, still looking at her vegetables.
Her eyes took on a faraway look as she straightened from paying the vegetable vendor. "—and… maybe some dango… but I can get that tomorrow."
"Sure? Because I have some." Kakashi held up his prize.
Sakura's eyes widened as she took in the ninken, each one with a grocery bag in its mouth. All their tails wagged.
She blinked. "You are resourceful."
Kakashi nodded. "Hn."
She quirked her head to the side before grinning, and blushing. "You've been spending time with Itachi-taichou."
He shrugged. "Supper?"
With a laugh she gestured for him to follow her. "No judging me on my housekeeping. I've been helping Shishou at the Tower this week, on top of my hospital rounds."
He was going to see inside her apartment. Score.
Things between himself and his younger brother were tense, making Itachi mourn the loss of the connection he and Sasuke had shared as young nin. Sasuke turned away from him and stalked back to the family home. Itachi watched him go. As Itachi exited the Clan meeting, however, he told himself that it would all be for the best, in the end.
Many wheels were in motion now, and while he hoped Sasuke would get on board with them soon he was willing to wait his brother out. Few could be as stubborn as his brother.
Well, perhaps Sakura, mused Itachi with a fond smile. It was all for her that he had done what he did. Then, and now.
The Elders' words circled in his mind, and he let out a small breath as he made his way to Sakura's apartment. He had cancelled their earlier plans when the Clan summoned him for the impromptu meeting. On his way to join her, later than expected, he gathered a few groceries to make supper for the two of them along with some flowers, and paused on her balcony when he felt the additional chakra signature inside.
And the happiness bubbling between them.
A child. He's a mere child, he reminded himself calmly when fire simmered inside him.
He doesn't look at her with the eyes of a child, another part of himself recognized with savage accuracy.
Itachi's heart was soothed as he remembered that nothing could come of the bond between the two.
And, after all, the Elders had made it clear what was expected of him sooner rather than later; Sakura knew it, too.
AN: I'm so sorry, April got away from me! If you're on tumblr, you can find me (I have an adult-themed tumblr) by the username 'beyondthemoor' where I post stories several times weekly ('Fluff Friday' and 'Smut Monday'). Come say hi!
AN: As always, many thanks to sleetfallrain and AijoInu for their help with this story! (All mistakes remain my own.)
Reader Review Replies!
(FYI: I apologize if I missed you in an earlier chapter!)
Regin: Updated! Sorry for the delay, and thank you for reviewing!
Guest: Itachi is one of my absolute favourite characters from "Naruto". He deserves so much love (I repeat that this IS a KakaSaku fic, though!). Thank you so much for your kind comments, I'm so flattered!
Ida Kanami: Thank you (on both counts)! My birthday is tomorrow and I'm looking forward to a fun dinner out with my kids, hahaha!
Guest: Sakura is overprotective out of love, imho. She knows they are capable but it is hard for her to let them knowingly walk into bad situations. We'll find out through the story why she turned away from Itachi, rest assured. There's backstory there. *winkwink, nudgenudge* You're very welcome for the update, and thank you for your comments!
AliceCambio: Thank you!
Mameha: Kouhaiiii! I finally updated again. I'm so sorry for the delay. April knocked me out flat like a Mac truck, holy moly! As for my writing, you flatter me. (I'm blushing!) My birthday is tomorrow, the 30th. I'm looking forward to getting my car detailed this coming week so it feels nice and clean (without me having to spend hours doing it, hahahaha)! My gift to myself. XD Thank you for such lovely comments and I bet you bake wonderful cakes!
I'm in here: You're one hundred percent right, yes, it was a seduction mission. And Sakura was absolutely distraught about it (we'll find out why as the story progresses). She has the best of intentions for Kakashi, though. Yes, Itachi feels very much for Sakura; Sakura's feelings towards Itachi are mixed… and I think we all know Kakashi is very much against anyone trying to get too friendly to his Sakura-sensei. Thank you for your comments!
Guest: I'm glad you enjoyed!
Guest: Excellent!
Zombie Reine: Kakashi's a BAMF, he's got this.
Skysprite: Yes, Itachi and Sakura are together... in a way. Their feelings aren't perfectly matched, however.
Animelover5107: Sakura will argue and protect Kakashi to her dying day, I think. She cares very much for him because she feels responsible for him. (And yes, so intense!) I nearly gave him the mission but decided to add drama somewhere else instead, hahaha. (You'll see.)
