Please be kind and rewind as I do not own the masterpiece called Naruto, just this thing I am calling a plot line.

This is a non-massacre, Itachi and Sakura pairing, if you don't like it please hit the back button as you are in the wrong section of fan fiction. Thank you. I am going to put this under M just to be safe.

Hey, sorry for taking so long, but i got a Beta now, so hopefully those little bugs will be going for the most part.

hope you enjoy!

'Inner Sakura'

'Thoughts'

Other separate comments that you will understand hopefully in the feature. Please just be tolerant. They are going somewhere I promise.

Regular

Last chapter

"Am I interrupting something?" One of the Hokage runners asked with his eyebrows raised.

"NO!"

"Hn"

"Right, well, the Hokage wants you two in her offices. As soon as possible, so you two finish up with whatever you're doing."

Chapter Four

...Plea..se... co...m...e b...a..c...k...

Tsunade was sitting behind her old wooden desk and, for once, she didn't have a bottle of sake in her hand. Instead she was clutching two pieces of paper. One was a winning lotto ticket, and the other paper had blood smear on it. She hated getting this kind of news, especially when it was about one of her own people.

Hearing a knock on the door, Tsunade put the papers down and gave the new ANBU a hard look before she gave the team she had summoned permission to enter. The three ANBU, fully geared, and her apprentice stepped into her paper stuffed office.

Picking up the mission scroll, she threw it at the leader.

"Ten months ago, two of our elites left on a mission to Amegakure to gather information. We had some intelligence that the organization called Akatsuki had some sort of connection to this village. Well… at least more than any other. This just came from one of their animal summons."

Picking up the bloody page, Tsunade read aloud. "Found what could not be found, hidden where it's safe, praised by all but shunned all the same. So close we came just to fail. Our happiest gift we leave to you."

"Your mission is to retrieve them, if they are still alive, and bring back any information they were able to get. I want you to get in and out, no evidence. Burn anything that might be traced back to us. Find this 'gift'. I want this done as fast as possible, you leave in the morning. All other information is in the scroll. Use anything you need to get this job done. Dismissed!"

As the team turned to exit, their Hokage asked Sakura to stay.

When the door closed Tsunade began, "Sakura, I know that you're not ANBU status, but I believe that your skills are the best chance for this mission to be a success. This is your ANBU uniform and your blank mask. Give it whatever animal you would like before you leave."

"Yes." Seeing as her mother-like figure had said what she needed, Sakura turned to leave. It wasn't until she had started to open the door that she heard Tsunade speak again.

"You better come back Sakura. If I have to go there and drag your ass back myself, I will."

"Of course."

"I mean it. I'll put you on night shifts for a year and make you do all my paper work if you don't!"

Sakura turned, giving her master a wide grin before leaving the office with her new uniform. Not surprisingly, Itachi was waiting for her outside of the building.

"We are meeting at the gate at four AM."

Sakura walked home afterwards to pack all she needed. This was going to be a long mission; she could just feel it in her bones.

'Lucky for us that Hana and Shisui are coming too.'

'But I want alone sexy time with Itachi!'

'What the hell! No no no no nooooooo! That would be terrible! He's already a stalker and a pervert! Do not, I repeat, DO NOT engage any type of interaction with him! It will only encourage him and his creeper ways. '

'But just think of those hard muscles and that amazing six pack! You know he has a marvelous body; it's just right, not too skinny but not overly muscular at the same time! Remember how well-toned his back muscles were when we were treating him? It makes me hot just thinking about it!'

'You are IMPOSSIBLE!'

Reaching her home, Sakura pulled out her keys and unlocked the door. Sakura loved her apartment, this was the place where she always felt at home. It was just enough space for her. There was a little hallway between the front door and the rest of the residence. There she kept a shoe mat and a small table which held a vase filled with flowers and a bowl for her keys. The living room and kitchen were connected with a hallway at the back which had the linen room and bathroom on opposite sides. Her bedroom was at the end. In the living room was a red couch with two matching chairs surrounding the coffee table. On the wall between the couch and chairs, she had a book shelf, filled with medical scrolls. In the middle of her kitchen sat her table, her cupboards in an 'L' shape along the wall. They were a soft yellow colour, complementing the white walls all around the apartment.

First thing she did after she took off her shoes was move all her plants and put them by the bathroom door. She would have to put them in the tub with some water after her shower in the morning. Second, she went to her linen closet to take out the large white drapes that she kept the back. Bringing them to her living room, she threw a few of them over her couch, chairs and table. Moving to her bedroom, she pulled a large, flat sealed box out from under her bed. She opened it, pulling out a much larger drape and dragging it to the kitchen. After clearing the table she put the drape over it and its four chairs.

"Meow!"

"I'm sorry Storm; you need some supper don't you?"

Picking up the fluffy black cat, Sakura went over to her cupboard and pulled out a can of cat food.

"Where is that stupid can opener?" Putting the cat down on the floor she started going through all of her drawers. After searching for five minutes, with a slightly annoyed cat meowing repeatedly, Sakura finally gave up and grabbed a kunai from her weapons pouch.

"MEOW!"

"Shut it Storm, you'll get it in a minute!"

"MeoW!"

Opening up the offending can and grabbing a spoon from one of the drawers, Sakura picked up the cat dish and a box of dry cat food. After mixing the food together, she placed it on the ground, much to the cat's happiness. Laughing, Sakura went to the fridge and opened the door, looking to see if it was empty.

"Okay, well nothing will go bad in here while I'm gone."

Only freezer burnt fish and other unidentifiable items were in the freezer. Growling, Sakura forcefully walked over to the cupboards again, only to find bits and pieces along with the meals on the go that she prepared for missions.

"Well I can't eat these. Guess I'm eating out tonight."

Picking up the prepared meals, she went to her room to pack for the mission. It was still pretty early, only mid-afternoon might as well get this over with. Pulling out her pack and placing it on her bed, Sakura put all the clothes she would need into it. This was followed with the meals and a case of soldier pills. Going back to her closet, Sakura pulled out the toiletries she took on missions. They were all unscented and consisted of shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and soap. She went back to where her pack was sitting on the bed and placed them inside.

Next she went to the smaller of the dressers and opened up the top drawer. Inside it was filled with every type of metal tool she could possible need. Each tool was perfectly sharpened and wrapped in plastic by Sakura herself. She preferred to use her charka; she found that it made them extremely clean with no damage done to the blade. It also was efficient as it only took a little charka and could be sharpened easily mid-surgery. Picking up all the tools she would need for any emergency, she put them on the bed by her pack. Moving back to the dresser, she closed the top drawer and opened the second one. Inside were different types of bandages. Picking out several different types and sizes, she placed them with her tools on the bed. Going to the third and final drawer, Sakura opened it very carefully, for inside were many different types of herbs and antidotes to all of the poisons she knew of. Selecting a pre-made sample of all of the antidotes, she put them onto the bed and closed the final drawer.

Going back into the closet, Sakura pulled out one of the white cases she used to hold her medical supplies. Carefully she packed all of her equipment into the box and put it in her pack with the rest of her supplies.

"Meow?"

"Hey Stormy, are you all done your dinner?"

"MEow!"

Picking the cat up, Sakura snuggled him into her neck. "Mommy has to go on a mission, so you're going to stay at Ino's for a bit."

"MEEEOOWWW"

Putting the cat down, Sakura went to her closet and took out a small backpack. She then went around picking up different cat tops, cat nip and cat food along with the cat's dishes. After putting all of the cat stuff in the bag, Sakura placed it by the door. Going over to Storm, she picked him up, grabbed her wallet, and lifted the bag. Going out her front door, she locked it behind her and headed to the market to pick up some food before going to Ino's house.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Hey, what do you want forehead?"

Sakura moved the cat so Ino could see him. "Can you please watch Storm for me? I have a mission in the morning and I don't know when I will be back."

"It's going to cost you."

"I have supper."

"Okay, I guess if have too."

After supper and many goodbyes, mostly to Storm, Sakura finally made it home about an hour after dusk. Locking the door behind her, Sakura threw her keys onto the table and went to get ready for bed.

'Stupid alarm clock going to wake me up at three A-Fucking-M.'

'But this is an AMBU mission! Even the boys haven't got one of these yet. Well…

Not officially.'

'Yeah, I guess, but it's with that stupid UCHIHA!'

'I know! I can't wait!'

"I'm embarrassed for you and no one's even here!"

'Yeah, well, I'm not the one talking to myself out loud!'

'SHUT UP! We have a big day tomorrow, so go away!'

It seemed that the alarm went off way too soon the next morning for Sakura. She also would not notice the one red rose in her bouquet of assorted flowers by the door until after the mission.

It had been several hours since they left the village and were now almost in Border town. Sakura had never traveled so fast in her life; she had to keep pumping charka into her legs just to keep up with Itachi's team.

'Captain hard-ass is freaking unreal! How can his breathing be so calm when we are all winded?'

'How's your 'sexy alone time' plan with the Uchiha coming? Hahahaha.'

'Yeah? Well you're the one starting to sweat, so bite me!'

'Want some cheese with that?'

"We are going to sneak in to Rain as a traveling merchant family. Shisui and Hana, you are going to be married couple in your early-late fifties."

"WHAT!" "NO WAY!" screeched Hana and Shisui at the same time.

"Like I would ever marry that perverted loser! And what about my boys?"

"I would never marry such a crazy women!"

"WHAT! YOU ARE THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM! ME! NO, ITS YOU!" They both yelled at each other.

It wasn't long until a fist flew. Unfortunately for Shisui, it was four against one. It was a good thing that his speed was superior to Hana's and her dogs.

"What about you and me captain?"

"I am going to be their son and you are my pregnant wife." Itachi replied in his monotone voice, a hint of amusement in his dark eyes.

"WHAT!" Any higher and Sakura's scream would have shattered any nearby glass. It also saved Shisui from Hana and her dogs.

"Well Shisui and I are cousins so it would be best for the henges as we look similar. Also, the two ANBU we are looking for were romantically involved with each other. With you being 'pregnant', all of our bases are covered."

"Why can't Hana be your pregnant wife?"

"Shisui and Hana already act like an old married couple. It only makes since to go with it."

'The Gods have finally granted our wish!'

'Please kill me now!'

The team was in Border town, in a small tea house in the middle of the town. Sakura was sitting across from Itachi with Hana on her right. Shisui was across from Hana. The three grey dogs were sitting outside because the owner of the tea house wouldn't allow them in. To make up for it, his wife had put out a big bowl of water and some bones for the dogs to chew, and they were happily lazing outside, waiting for their mistress to return.

Sakura thought that it was a quaint little place with its rose coloured walls and old, polished, wooden floor. The cushions they sat on were a little faded from age and use, but conformable enough. The table even had beautiful carvings on it. They were symbols for peace, love, long life and protection along with birds, fish, other animals and plant life.

The tea and dango were fabulous!

Draining the rest of his tea, Itachi began to tell his team his plan. "The best way to sneak into Rain will most likely be through Grass, Bird or Earth country. If we go through Fire or Wind, they may catch on where we are from faster."

"What about River?" Shisui inquired.

"River is between Wind and Fire, and we could be tracked through there. If we are chased we will have to eventually get to a safe haven. I would prefer to lead any followers in the opposite direction of home. The best way in would be Earth."

"Earth isn't the most stable or friendly country to be traveling through." Hana put her two cents in. "Last time I was there, I nearly got my ass blown to hell and back. Not to mention we have to go through Grass as well."

"Yes, but because Earth is so unstable, refugees have been traveling away from there more then any other country." Itachi countered.

"You would flee too if some crazy person was blowing the shit out of anything for the sake of some 'art'."

Taking a bite of her dango, Sakura chewed thoughtfully and swallowed before she started. "So we're going to be refuges, but what's our story? What are we going to pretend to do when we get there?" Everyone seemed to miss how Itachi's eyes followed Sakura's throat as she swallowed.

"We're going to be merchants."

"And what will we sell?"

"Household items, necklaces, bracelets, and food items. You may wish to be a civilian doctor or a low class medic Sakura. That way you will not have to see a medic for your pregnancy."

"You, Captain, can suck it."

Itachi had to pound Shisui in his back to keep him from choking on his tea while Hana fell on the floor because she was laughing so hard.

After tea, everyone went their separate ways to pick up supplies for their cover. Sakura had already packed any medical supplies she might need and was now picking out the dreaded maternity clothes.

'We should only get a couple of outfits. We can get more in Grass and Earth. We would fit in better that way.' 'True and senses we are suppose to be merchants, it we would have to have different styles of clothing.' 'It can't be too nice, we are refugees after all.'

"Sakura! What you doing?"

"I'm picking out maternity clothes Hana." 'Remain calm; she's probably here to tease you.'

"Do you need any help? My shopping is done."

"Umm, sure. I still need to buy hair dye, pink is far too noticeable."

"What colour?"

Sakura looked into one of the many mirrors in the store, trying to judge what colour would be best. "I don't know, what do you think?"

"I think brown would be best, Sakura" rang a clearly masculine voice.

"I WASN'T ASKING YOU UCHIHA!" Sakura growled out.

"My dear wife, you hurt me dearly! Why do you still resist me?"

"Go to hell!"

"Ahh young love. Right, well, I'm off, so you two can finish your little spat."

"Ditcher!"

It had been several days now but they were finally in Earth country. They had no problem getting into grass and getting more supplies from different towns and villages along the way. It helped greatly that Itachi had brought along several sealing scrolls with him. Earth was also pretty easy to get into. They were currently running along a mountain pass that lead to a town that was close to the broader between Earth and Rain.

"I'm still not sure about this plan of yours baby cousin. We haven't seen many travelers lately."

"Then perhaps we should be traveling merchants and just forget about the refugee cover" Hana piped in.

"I suppose we could claim it's getting to hard to travel because of the baby."

"I hate you all."

Do…..n..o..t …..Lea…..v…e…. Me …Ple…..ase…