~~~Sorry for the long hiatus everyone. I got promoted at work (good), so I've had to work ridiculous hours for this new role (not so good). But, things have finally evened out again, so I'm back! Hope you still like it. Please review! Love to hear from you! Let me know what you think of where it's going.

P.S. A new chapter for the The Truth in Dreams (my more saucy and really long story) should be up soon. Ask where to find it ^_^

Chapter 4: Clutch

When Sakura thought about how desperately she needed a change in her life barely two nights ago—which now seemed like eons ago—this wasn't exactly what she had in mind.

Not that seeing a plethora of very hot guys—albeit intimidating—with in some instances even hotter rides was a bad thing, but she just felt all out of sorts with all the new information her mind had been flooded with in the past 48 hours: the real existence of the Akatsuki, what might have gone down years ago between Uchiha Industries and Naruto's father, Sasuke's role in all of this, least of all the piercing blue eyes of one bothersomely sexy and smirking Toyota Supra driver.

Deidara was probably the only example of the night in which the guy was actually as hot if not hotter than his ride, although the Kisame dude was a close second, but really more in an adorably scary kind of way. Sakura did have to admit the enormous bias that she no doubt had in the hotness category. She imagined each of the guys could be the 'hottest' guy in the minds of others. She tried to give each of them a fair consideration-like a pre-pubescent girl seeing a boy-band in the flesh for the first time. Except these guys weren't exactly wholesome—or boys—and she wasn't exactly an airheaded little teeny-bopper anymore. Right.

Pein was clearly taken, not to mention red-heads (even orangey-red heads like Pein) were never her thing—hence her not bending to Gaara's awkward advances over the years of working together. Plus Pein had enough piercings to build an entirely new chassis for his Lotus if he so desired.

Itachi was not exactly sore on the eyes either, but Sakura just refused to acknowledge how attractive any relative of Uchiha Sasuke was. So, he was damned by association. Despite her best efforts, however, she couldn't yet bring herself to hate him—yet anyway.

Hidan, although handsome and bearing purple eyes that had to be the effect of contacts, seemed like the loose cannon out of the group.

Sakura shook her head violently to break her mind from its scrutiny of the guys while they were right in front of her.

More importantly, she tried to remember what Gaara had said to her about the fact that she had just happened to cross paths with two of these guys when she was also working on a security project for Uchiha Industries. She couldn't let herself get too distracted.

Plus the text she received warning her to "watch her back"—from the number she had only managed to thus far confirm was a mobile number—could have been referring to the group that was now in front of her.

She hadn't had a chance to share any of Gaara's theories with Ino or Naruto yet, but she had no doubt that they would tell her to be just as careful as Gaara had. Her renewed focus was turned on its head when her personal favorite spoke again.

"So how 'bout it?! Who's going first, HMM?" Deidara eyed Sakura and her friends expectantly. Sakura couldn't help the urge to squeal that surged inside her head. Stay calm. Maintain cool outer attitude. She noticed Kisame looking behind the group to the mountain of Chinese still piled on the picnic table. His eyes widened like he had seen a fuzzy puppy. Yup, Sakura was back in full fan-girl mode now. Focus on more dangerous and pressing issues like someone trying to kidnap or harm her be damned.

"I'm out for the first round if you guys would be willing to share some fried rice with me? I promise for how big I am that I won't scarf all your food." Kisame looked from face to face among her friends. Sakura eyed Ino who shrugged her shoulders to indicate that she didn't mind.

"Please. . .Kisame. . .help yourself." Sakura smiled softly at him and gestured to the food.

"Thanks, babe, I am STARVING." Sakura blushed and twitched at his reference and raised her eyebrows at Ino. Ino winked and waggled her eyebrows.

Naruto's eyes widened like he had finally understood the exchange between his friends and the large bluish man.

"Hey! Sakura-chan is hot and all, but I don't think she appreciates being objectified!"

Naruto must have finally remembered after all those times that she literally beat it into his skull that calling her pet names was not something she enjoyed. Not to mention, he actually used a word she so often used on him. Sakura glowed with pride for Naruto's blossoming intelligence. Eyeroll.

"He means no harm, Naruto. He is just a big, cuddly oaf." Konan, the only female in their group spoke up on Kisame's behalf. That seemed to soothe Naruto.

As Sakura's wariness continued to dissolve, she caught Deidara staring at her out the corner of her eye. As her eyes met his, Kisame brushed past them, breaking the contact, to snatch up an unused pair of chopsticks.

As Kisame made to dig into the fried rice and walked back to where he had been standing not seconds before, he instead proceeded to sit crossed-legged on the asphalt, like a toddler, where they were all still standing and talking. Sakura now had Deidara to her front on one side and Kisame sitting on the other, with Ino and Naruto directly beside her. Gaara was behind them, sitting on the picnic table with his arms crossed, observing.

Even when he was sitting, Kisame's height put his face at just nearly chest level for Sakura. He stole a glance at her chest.

"I second lover-boy-blondie. I like the shirt." He smiled that toothy somewhat predatory grin at her again. Her Hellsing t-shirt was apparently a favorite tonight.

Sakura had a feeling she should be uncomfortable with him obviously having a clear view to her chest and she probably would be with any other strange guy behaving like this—especially because of his size—but it didn't bother her in the least—oddly enough.

"Thanks." Sakura smirked back at him and they shared a glance that almost said 'I know you were looking at my boobs, and I'll let it slide this time.' Some distant part of her mind wondered why she instantly felt comfortable with these guys when they were effectively criminals and bawdy ones at that.

Kisame laughed at her and resumed eating. Sakura felt Ino nudge her from behind and whisper much too loudly in her ear:

"O MY GAAWWD! SAKURA!"

Naruto eyed his two friends. If they were OK with this guy's behavior, so was he—and given how perceptive Naruto was to his two beloved friends' real feelings, he knew they were just fine and not uncomfortable in the least.

Coming back from his withdrawn position behind them, Gaara, however, stepped forward and cocked his head at Kisame and Sakura could hear Ino cackling beside her. She knew that cackle—it meant Ino was formulating a plot—not good. How was she supposed to pass Gaara off on Ino if Gaara wouldn't give up the territorial act with her?

"You're welcome to join me, ladies." Kisame patted the asphalt next to him as he looked from Sakura to Ino. "It's nice and warm for ya." He resumed eating.

Not to be outdone, Gaara took Kisame's offer and plopped himself on the ground next to him in the spot he patted not a second before. Kisame paused in his eating and eyed Gaara, shrugged his shoulders and resumed eating like nothing had happened. Gaara seemed to realize how close he was to the large shark-esque man and moved away a bit. The rest of the group merely watched the exchange in curious silence.

"I don't bite. . . usually." Kisame looked back at Sakura and Ino as he waggled his brows at them. Ino cackled again and Sakura tried to stifle a giggle—until she saw Deidara's face twitch in irritation on her other side.

"Tch. ENOUGH with the flirting, HM."

"Hey, I can't help it if the pretty ladies here made me feel welcome."

Deidara looked like he had a counter ready as he opened his mouth, but he was cut off by Hidan.

"Look, I'm tired of the damn TALK-ING. I don't want any fucking food and I don't give a shit who races me, it just better not be some chicken-shit pussy girl."

Deidara's frustrated look at Kisame turned a shade down from enraged as he looked at Hidan over his shoulder where the man stood next to Pein and Konan.

"Can you stand to have the spotlight off of you for two seconds? If anyone is the primadonna pussy-girl here, it's you shit-for-brains, YEAH!"

Naruto's eyes widened at Deidara's response. A vein in Hidan's head throbbed like he was packing napalm.

Naruto whispered in Sakura's ear: "He's definitely not like Teme, Sasuke, Sakura. I think I like him." Sakura turned to whisper back.

"Hmm. Glad you think so! But, that Hidan guy. . ."

"Hidan. There is no need to make a gender specific reference. There are three more than apt and capable female drivers here at the moment. One of which is a team member of yours." Pein's voice washed over them like a mist of rain. He at least managed to command Hidan's attention away from what might have been a potential brawl with Deidara. No one seemed to mind that Naruto and Sakura had a whispered conversation not seconds before, however.

The fact that Pein was taking on more of a leadership role in the present company was not lost on Sakura—despite her momentary lapse into drooling fan-girl mode over the troupe of Akatsuki. Interesting. Maybe Itachi doesn't want anyone outside of the group to know he calls the shots and as a result he's left to sort of share the role with Pein? She'd have to wait to voice her theory with her friends later.

But, despite Pein's attempts, Hidan was still fuming and shifted his eyes from face to face angrily.

Deidara merely nodded his head in agreement with Pein and made a barely audible "Hmm."

"Thank you, Pein." Konan squeezed Pein's arm and nodded to Ino and Sakura and then leaned in to kiss Pein's cheek. The serenely stoic mask on Pein's face resolvd into a burst of feeling as her lips made contact. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared once the little display of affection ended.

"I can personally vouch for Sakura being more than capable." Deidara turned that sexy smirk of his back on her. The arrogance of it made her want to run for the hills—instead she just about melted into a pool of goo. Her focus was once again shot to hell.

"O, I remember, blondie. You've been talking about her non-stop since—"

"SHUT IT Supermarket-SUSHI. HM." Deidara kicked Kisame repeatedly on the shin from his standing position and turned three shades of red.

"KUSO!" A mouthful of rice tumbled out of Kisame's mouth as he shifted from the kicks. "Don't make me lose this delicious food." Kisame said as he struggled to pull the rice pieces off of his shirt and back into his mouth.

"SCREW that! It's not like you need more to eat. HMM." Deidara got one more good shin-kick in before he let up and stood fuming, red in the face, and avoiding eye contact. Kisame—largely unaffected by the shin assault—looked all over his body for any more precious fallen rice he might have missed.

From the silent left side of Konan, the group heard Itachi chuckle.

Ino was back at Sakura's ear again—whispering too loudly: "Is Deidara blushing?! Girrrrrrrl." Konan smiled a half smile at them.

What was she supposed to be careful about again? Gaara coughed like he had swallowed a bug and eyed Deidara pointedly.

Maybe bringing Gaara along wasn't such a good idea. Sakura thought to herself.

"If you're so anxious to get out there, Hidan. I have an idea." Naruto thankfully turned the conversation away from the bickering Kisame and Deidara as he all but bellowed his voice in Hidan's face.

Itachi was still watching the exchange and his face took on a subtly amused glow as he eyed Naruto's posture.

"Be careful what you wish for, Hidan." Itachi turned to join Kisame on the ground where he sat and continued to observe. The three seated men looked absurd. As Itachi sat on Kisame's other side, Kisame smirked at him and offered to feed him a bite of fried rice with his chopsticks like a baby. Itachi smirked back and shook his head. Kisame chuckled. So, unlike his brother, Itachi at least seemed to have a healthier sense of humor.

"See if you can beat the top three uphill times for the mountain pass behind us." Naruto smirked his fox grin at Hidan. The rest of the group turned to wait for Hidan's response.

"Why the fuck would I want to try to beat the top three times? Why wouldn't I just kick the shit out of the number one time from the start?"

"Because, I really wonder if you are good enough to even come close to any of the top three times."

Kisame choked a bit on his food and Deidara had to stifle a giggle at Naruto's challenge. Hidan seemed so angry and insulted that he was unable to form words. So, amidst his blubbering and boiling rage, Naruto continued. Sakura rolled her eyes. O, Naruto. No one challenged him so rudely or insulted his friends without learning to regret it.

"My pops always used to say. Whoever launches insults before the racing has even started probably has the worst technique. Clearly you've got something to prove. So prove it." Naruto was bristling and Sakura could tell that Hidan was livid and truly about to erupt.

Itachi seemed to sense the fight that was coming next and with the speed of lightning, was up on his feet in front of Hidan, blocking his line of sight. There's the leader.

"Hidan. We are guests here. You have already shamed me and your team by insulting the son of one the greatest racers who ever lived. If you have any pride as part of my group, you will do exactly as Naruto says."

"WHAT. This fucking BRAT is Namikaze's son?! He's the son of the yellow flash?!"

"The one and only." Sakura squeezed Naruto's bicep protectively. He eyed her and immediately understood. She had something to tell him privately.

From the expressions of everyone else in the group, Hidan seemed to be the only one not in on that little detail about Naruto's identity. Interesting. Maybe they do want something from us concerning Uchiha Industries. Are they just trying to use me to get closer to Naruto? I really should be more careful. Sakura's head was spinning again. It could be innocent. Maybe they just want to reveal what really happened with Naruto's father?

"TCH. Whatever." Hidan stormed off toward his car.

"I also find your challenge more than acceptable, Naruto. I have great respect for your father and will join Hidan in trying to beat the top three times for the uphill track." Pein bowed respectfully to Naruto, kissed Konan on the cheek and headed off toward his own car.

"Thank you, Pein." Itachi called after him. Pein half turned and nodded in response.

Itachi went back to his spot on the ground next to Kisame.

"I don't understand why don't just let the powder-keg blow off some steam on his own." Deidara spoke out of the side of his mouth. The Exige's and S2000's engines started up and they rumbled off to the track.

"You know he needs a tangible form of competition to calm down." Konan walked over to stand closer to the group.

"Hn. And Pein has always been the best at calming him." Itachi remarked.

"Tch. Well they did come from the same racing gang." Kisame cleaned off his chopsticks. "I still can't believe that you hung around with those pigs, Konan."

"They weren't so bad. As long as Pein was around." She blushed. They could hear the distant purr of the two engines as they began their first lap.

"Yea, and we all know you stick to him like glue." He winked at her and she smiled.

"Wait. Were you guys in another group before Akatsuki?" Ino asked.

"Those three were: Pein, Konan, and Hidan." Kisame looked at Ino over his shoulder and handed the container of fried rice back to her. "Thanks by the way. You saved my poor stomach."

"No problem." Ino replaced the container on the picnic table.

"What other group were they a part of?" Gaara asked pointedly.

Kisame exchanged a subtle look with Itachi before he spoke.

"The Rocketeers."

"THOSE toolboxes!? HAH!"

"NARUTO!" Sakura punched him on the arm and he flinched.

"It's alright Sakura." Konan said with a good faith smile. "They were toolboxes. Pein and I never felt that we belonged in the group, but Hidan was his childhood friend—one of his only friends, so—"

"Pein is loyal and doesn't abandon his friends." Itachi interrupted. Konan nodded.

"Wait, wait. The Rocketeers are the ones who used to do burnouts on the busy streets downtown to scare pedestrians, right?" Ino asked with a smirk.

"Yes, the very same. Pein and I never participated—"

"But Mr. Easy-Bake attitude did. Tch. I guess the phrase opposites attract applies to friendships too, hmm." Deidara plopped himself on the ground on the other side of Gaara who grimaced at him.

"What? My legs are tired, hm." Deidara rested his elbow on one bent knee and his chin in the palm of the same arm.

Sakura took the opportunity to sit next to him. He turned to look at her and smirked at her. She was momentarily transfixed by the crashing aquamarine of his eyes.

"I bet you will give me a run for my money on the downhill track." His eyes bored into hers and Sakura could feel more than one other set of eyes on them.

"Is that a challenge Mr. Big Shot?" She place a slow lilting emphasis on the last two words with her tongue—so it half sounded like a taunt to his pride a much more sexual reference at the same time.

"Hm. Might be. But can you deliver?" Sakura could swear that she felt him move a hair closer to her. This guy is unbelievable. No way I can give him the satisfaction . . .

Breaking them out of their flirtatious reverie like any good surrogate big brother should, Naruto announced: "I forgot to mention that one of the top 3 times on the uphill belongs to Sakura. But you should know Mr. Big Shot that the #1 downhill time, in fact, all 3 of the best times for the downhill all belong to Sakura. So unless you're quicker on the curve than minute rice without being pre-mature, I don't think you stand a chance—"

Before Sakura could stand up and smack Naruto upside his stupid head, Kisame busted out laughing, Itachi smirking next to him.

"O man. We need this kid in our group on the regular like yesterday." Naruto blanched at that.

Naruto thoroughly silenced for the moment at least, Sakura shifted her gaze back at Deidara to assess the damage. Instead of frustration, anger or embarrassment—like Naruto tended to incite in all other potential guys she was interested in, which he termed his way of weeding out the unworthy ones—she found him smiling like he was holding in a laugh. And by the way she was in no way, shape or form interested in or falling for Deidara, thank you. It was during her self-proclaimed decision to her inner that Deidara half-turned to eye Naruto.

"First of all, I've seen how she moves, I don't doubt that she owns the curves, hm. Second of all, I'm going to take my time with her. It doesn't matter to me how many times she schools me. Unlike Demolition Man in the S2000, I have no problem letting a woman run me down as many times as she likes for as long as she likes. Should I ever have a chance to dominate her. . .if she permits"—he actually paused to turn back and wink at her—"on the road, I wouldn't think to execute it without respect and care. A dance with a woman is only fun when she's having the most beautifully artful pleasure she can, yeah. Otherwise, it's me and my hand on the wheel and there's nothing artistic about dancing alone, hm." He looked up at the stars as he finished. Shit. I am hopeless to his powers!

A moment of silence followed. Sakura just stared at something particularly interesting on the ground to avoid continuing to stare at Deidara like a lovesick puppy. Get a hold of yourself, Sakura! We just met this guy!

"I think that's most poetic thing anyone has ever said about racing." Ino muttered. Thanks, Ino! Not helping right now. This guy obviously is insane, arrogant and grr, fighting a losing battle here.

Naruto harrumphed his agreement and sat down on the curb behind the rest of them, Ino sliding down too. Sighing, Sakura figured Deidara had somehow passed whatever test Naruto had put him through with flying colors. Sakura wasn't sure how she felt about that. As the only one left standing, Konan smiled at the picture before her.

"Our little blondie is a closet poet, he always makes us so proud." Kisame said with a smirk, but nonetheless misty eyes and a blaze of pride. Sakura felt Deidara twitch next to her.

"If I wasn't sitting on this side, I would smack that look off your face, old man." He stuck his tongue out at him.

"Come on baby boy, you can dance with me any day."

"PUKE." Everyone chuckled at that—except Gaara, who seemed particularly angry.

"Excuse me, but are you really talking about cars?" Poor Gaara. No one decided it was worth explaining the nuances and thrilling allusions that had just been made between racing and other activities—everyone just started laughing harder.

"You, my friend, are not a driver." Kisame placatingly patted Gaara on the shoulder.

"I don't hear the guys' engines anymore." Konan commented. Realizing that she must have been keeping an ear out for them throughout the entire conversation—and that her continued standing now made sense, Sakura smiled at Konan's dedication to her teammates to make sure things settled between them.

"I'm gonna go check on them. I'll bring them back." Konan announced as she made her way back to her Celica.

Itachi nodded at her as everyone's laughter started to die down. Gaara didn't look any less confused or ruffled.

Konan rumbled by in her Celica as she made her way up the pass. Silence fell for a second.

"Hey hot stuff," Kisame snapped his head and neck back so he was looking into Ino's eyes upside down.

"M-me?" Ino had never been shy around anyone. Maybe Sakura was wrong about what she thought Ino's type was. Even after all these years, Ino hadn't ever had a really serious boyfriend, just flings here and there. She waggled her eyebrows back at Ino who blushed at her gesture and went back to maintaining eye contact with an upside down Kisame.

"I don't see any other blonde goddesses around here." Ino blushed. O no. Sakura realized trying to set her up with Gaara had been way off base. And, from the looks of things, Sakura didn't have to do much to get the ball rolling between these two.

"Yes?" She squeaked.

"Old faithful, civic there is yours I'm assuming?"

"Yes . . .?"

"Wanna take a cruise on the track and show me all the skills I know you must have to hold your own with a car that old and in need of a mod or a tune?" Ino's face turned beet red. Kisame had hit the nail on the head. In terms of sheer power under the hood, her little civic SI was the weakest. Not to say it was weak in comparison to your average street car, but present company considered and even compared to Sakura and especially to Naruto's rides, Ino hadn't been able to avoid much work on what was quickly becoming an old beater for years. She was the most strapped for cash out of all of their friends—but she never let it stop her. She just had to be that much better to keep up with everyone.

So to see her matched with someone who literally had a giant blue monster of a car—was something of an awesome and ironic potential match.

"Sure."

Kisame smiled the biggest grin Sakura had seen on his face since meeting him—albeit upside down.

"Heh! So, let's drive separately a few laps—then I'd love to sit with you if you don't mind. Then if you're still cool with me and don't want to castrate me—maybe you can ride with me?" He explained as he stood and Ino stood, following.

It was even more bizarre to see them standing. Ino was in no way short, but she looked downright pocket-sized standing next to Kisame. Remembering his reckless driving style that Sakura got to sample on the way here, and how controlled and finicky Ino was with her style—she thought they might really be able to learn some good stuff from one another even if it never went any further. That is, if they didn't murder each other first.

Naruto seemed to realize something similar as he gave the thumbs up sign to Sakura.

"Ok. Sounds good!" Ino seemed to be coming out of her shy routine a bit, though she was still blushing.

Kisame scratched the back of his head as Ino made her way to her car. He darted in front of her once she unlocked her car to open her car door for her. It was bizarrely awkward but also somehow cute as she blushed, climbed in and he carefully shut the car door. He then strutted overto his own car to get in and pull out behind her as they both rumbled up to the track and disappeared around the curve.

"If he had been wearing a top hat, I think he would have tipped it to us." Naruto said out of the side of his mouth.

"Pffft. Hah!" Deidara chuckled.

"Kisame is an old-fashioned sort of guy in many ways." Itachi had mirth in his eyes.

"What Itachi means is that the big dork was born sometime in the late 18th century, yeah." Naruto chuckled at Deidara's comment this time.

"I think it was sweet." Sakura defended.

"Most women do." Itachi supplied.

Over the din of Ino and Kisame as the second racing pair on the nearby uphill track, they heard the sound of a new engine coming in off the highway toward the mountain passes. As the headlights rounded the corner, Sakura recognized the car.

"She's here, Naruto!"

As Hyuuga Neji's stock Mitusubishi Lancer Ralli-Art rolled into the lot, Sakura could make out Hinata in the passenger's seat.

"Friends of yours?" Deidara asked.

"Yea, we went to school with both of them. Although, we are definitely much, much closer with the girl—Hinata. Her cousin, Neji, is quiet but harmless." Deidara nodded as everyone stood up to greet the newcomers.

Hinata practically burst out of the car once it came to a full stop as Naruto jogged over to meet her halfway between the car and where Sakura, Deidara and Itachi still stood waiting. Sakura thought she could see tension in Itachi's face when Neji got out of the car. But it passed quickly enough that her eyes might have been playing tricks on her.

Besides, her eyes were trained on the blushing and awkward pair that was Naruto and Hinata. They couldn't make out what was being said between them in whispered tones, but out of nowhere Hinata smiled a huge smile—stopped avoiding Naruto's eye contact as she always did, and instead leapt into his open arms as Naruto lifted her off her feet. Their lips met in a startlingly intimate full-mouthed kiss.

"Well. That was unexpected." Naruto would have some explaining to do later, but it was definitely a good development for her best friend. Now she had more than a couple of things she needed to talk to Naruto and Ino about in private.

"They aren't a couple yet I take it, yea?" Deidara folded his arms across his chest as he stood next to her. Naruto and Hinata continued to make out like they had forgotten where they were. A very stoic and tall Neji starring at them jarred Naruto abashedly out of it as he carefully deposited Hinata back on the ground—who seemed to take a bit longer to stop focusing on Naruto and focus instead on her quietly fuming cousin. Once deposited on the ground, Hinata turned fifty shades of red.

"He does not look happy." Gaara supplied, indicating Neji.

"Yea, and he seems a little controlling to just be her cousin." Deidara mumbled out of one side of his mouth.

Gaara hmped in agreement. Sakura kept silent. Itachi didn't move a muscle.

"Neji-nii-san! Apologies!"

"Hey, Neji. Heh. Heh." Naruto looked like he wanted to bolt. But one thing he was not was a coward.

"Naruto." He eyed him once and turned back toward his cousin.

"We'll talk later Hinata." The trio made their way back to the rest of the group.

Naruto began introductions between Hinata and everyone else. She beamed at everyone and hugged Sakura—as she was the only one Hinata recognized.

Neji however was a different story. If Hinata was all kindness, warmness, and graciousness when it came to her interactions with others, Neji was a cold block of ice.

He embraced Sakura first more out of custom than any real desire to do so—it seemed—because his hug felt like a stiff brick wall against Sakura and she got the tacky pat on her back from his left hand.

Next was Gaara, who Neji seemed to know already as they shook hands and almost smiled at one another.

He merely nodded at Deidara. But when it came time to greet Itachi, he practically scowled at him.

"Neji, this is Itachi." Naruto gestured.

"I'm familiar with him." Neji curtly supplied. Itachi's complete and utter lack of a reaction was a giveaway that he wasn't fond of Neji either. Watching them interact with each other made Sakura feel like someone was running a razor blade over her skin. She knew that there was something much more than bad blood between the two of them. But, she had to leave it alone for now.

She only hoped that whatever it was wouldn't somehow taint Naruto and Hinata's growing relationship; she downright refused to believe that Hinata had an ulterior motives; but she wondered if she might somehow be used as an unwitting pawn. No. Not Neji. Aside from his really stand-offish behavior tonight, he had never acted anything but a more distant friend in all their years of interactions as a group. She'd let it go for now. Afterall, she might just be over-thinking things. Still, she never remembered Neji being this clingy and over-protective of Hinata either.

Gaara, rather than keying up on the weirdness like she seemed to be, instead initiated conversation with Neji like they were more than just old acquaintances, but actually old pals. Yup, she had to be overreacting.

"It's been a while since Ponder's class. How'd you end up making out with those guys on that development project?" Gaara asked, which seemed to pull Neji out of his scowl and into a better mood.

"I was wondering if you forgot who I was! It's good to see you again, Gaara. And, the project didn't turn out so bad." Now fully engulfed in their own private conversation about what seemed like college comp-sci classes they had together off to the side, Neji and Gaara were far more oblivious to Naruto and Hinata who resumed snuggling with one another.

Always the hostess, Sakura wanted to make sure Itachi and Deidara didn't feel to out of place, so she attempted to bring the conversation back to them by asking about their 3 wayward teammates.

"Haven't Pein and Hidan been gone a while? Should we go help Konan bring them back?"

"I don't hear any of their engines anymore, hm. But, as long as Pein's with them, I'm sure they're fine."

"Sakura." Itachi turned slightly toward her.

"Yup?"

"I know we've only just met again after so many years—as I don't think running into you on the exit ramp qualifies as a meeting." He smiled a small political smile at her. So he is more observant than I give him credit for. I guess I wasn't the only one doing the scoping out that night.

May I ask a favor of you?" The formal request was a little strange. She eyed Deidara who offered her no help or explanation as he merely observed Neji chatting with Gaara—with eyes that also seemed to indicate he had a past with him too.

"Sure? I guess?"

"Would you mind escorting Deidara and I up the mountain pass to the highest overlook where I believe Pein, Hidan and Konan are now waiting?" She knew the rest stop. It was really poorly lit and had a very small and intimate lot that was largely hidden from view. It was where people went when they wanted to be alone.

"As long as you promise you aren't all going to murder me." Although she was joking, it wasn't fair off the sense of suspicion that had been bubbling in her gut about this whole thing. Attractive guys and awesome cars, with a somewhat noble cause aside, the coincidences that had been lining up lately were just too weird.

"You don't have anything to fear from us." Itachi reassured her with a genuine smile.

"Besides, do you know how hard it is to find a good female driver these days, hm."

"Careful, it's starting to sound like you are recruiting me." Sakura giggled.

"Well, we sort of are, yea." Sakura's eyes popped out of her skull.

"What?" As Itachi opened his mouth to respond, Neji spoke over everyone.

"Hinata, Gaara and I are going to go take off and grab some beers. I haven't seen this guy in years." Hinata looked just as confused as everyone else. A few minutes ago, Neji looked like he wanted to supervise Naruto and Hinata until they were 70 years old and in wheelchairs with how over-protective he was being; not to mention, he was practically seething at Itachi. Now, he suddenly wanted to be chummy with Gaara? The night was getting weirder by the minute.

"O, ok Neji-nii-san. Goodnight!"

"Naruto, I trust you will be careful with my cousin and have her home before 2am?"

"Sure thing, Neji." Naruto's smile was enormous. And, despite the fact that everyone present was well into their 20s, Hinata's family still treated her like she was 18.

"Bye guys." Sakura waved. Gaara spun around like her forgot himself and stopped to give Sakura a quick hug that caught her off guard.

"Thanks for bringing me Sakura. I'll see you at work on Monday."

With that they took off in Neji's Ralli Art.

"Your cousin is a weirdo, Hinata." Naruto grumbled. "So did I just hear right that you are trying to recruit my best friend?" Naruto turned to size-up Itachi. God, Sakura loved how Naruto had eyes and ears in the back of his head when it came to the people he loved.

"Yes. You did." Well, Sakura didn't expect Itachi to be well, so blunty honest.

"O. Well. Shit." Naruto didn't either.

"Don't worry, Naruto. We want to recruit you too, hmm." Now it was Naruto's turn to have his eyes get all googly. Hinata interrupted Naruto's need to pursue Itachi's and Deidara's assertions.

"Naruto-kun? Sorry to interrupt," Hinata eyed everyone apologetically, "but, Is Itachi-sama Sasuke-sama's brother?"

"Yes, he is, Hinata. He's Sasuke's older brother." Sakura could almost see the barely perceptible shiver of pain that rippled through Itachi at the mention of his brother's name.

"O. Well. Erm. It's nice to meet you, Itachi-san." Hinata bowed ever so slightly. "I know it's none of my business, but I'm worried about Sasuke—sama."

"What, why? What do you mean Hinata." Naruto studied her with a gentleness that Sakura had never seen Naruto use with another person in the world.

"You're in contact with Sasuke, hm?" Deidara asked.

"Er. Not exactly. I just think I heard something I wasn't supposed to hear at a large gathering of my clan a week or so ago." The Hyuuga and Uchiha clans were distant relatives. Each side argued that the other was the original parent family and that the other family had been the one to break off. The dispute was so old, that no one really knew the truth of which family was 'first.'

"What did you hear?" Itachi asked with a calm mask.

"Well, it was just a rumor, but several of my distant relatives were discussing it in a hushed meeting. There is a hit out on Sasuke's life."

Itachi paled.

Deidara turned to his leader and touched his arm.

"That isn't that strange, hm, Itachi." Was he trying to calm him? Sakura and Naruto shared pointed eye contact at the exchange.

"There are attempts on the heir to the Uchiha fortune's life all the time." Sakura supplied.

"Well. The rumor I heard was that the threat was coming from a very specific place." Hinata looked very uncomfortable with what she was about to say. Naruto squeezed her arm encouragingly.

"Erm. They said the attack is supposed to come from the Akatsuki."