Chapter Four: The Orange of the Sunset

Hand over Naruto, to the Akatsuki? It was way too crazy. She had never bargained for this, she only wanted Sasuke back! Back in her arms. Sakura turned the deal over and over in her head. And she tried desperately to change it or to erase what Itachi had said. Evidently, it didn't work.

Sakura tried her best not to look at Itachi as they walked. He continued to sneak small glances at her and he noticed her discouraged face.

"Are you alright?" The Uchiha asked after a while. Sakura was startled at the sound of a voice at first. She quickly calmed down and gave the red-eyed man a weak smile. "I-I'm fine," Sakura replied, looking away.

The Uchiha simply nodded and Sakura was left to curse and scold herself. She couldn't converse with him! That was just strengthen their relationship. She did not want that to happen. But he did look unbelievably like Sasuke, and Sasuke was still very cute.

Sakura cursed herself once more and shook her head as if to shake off the thought. Suddenly, she felt herself dropping downward a bit. Opening her emerald eyes, Sakura noticed she and Itachi were at a river. "We're taking a break," the male told her setting her down gently.

The pink-haired girl's eyes lowered as she watched Itachi walk off. He was probably looking for some herbs or something. At that moment, the ideal idea hit Sakura in the head like a sack of bricks. Why didn't she high-tail her ass out of there when she wasn't under Itachi's watchful eyes?

Sakura jumped to her feet (albeit a little wobbly) and ignoring the yelps of pain she was getting from her poor legs, she began limping out of there as fast as she could. In just a mere amount of unsteady steps, Sakura was panting and had to stop. However, when she did, she pitched forward. Unable to hide the scream that was dying to escape, Sakura brought both arms in front of her to cushion her fall.

She met the ground at an uncomfortable speed causing several bloody scratches to appear on her arms, legs, and face. Immediately, she felt eyes on her. Her face flushed; she felt like such an idiot, and all plans of escape where useless now.

Itachi walked over to her side and helped her up. "What were you trying to do?" Itachi asked, however, he already knew the answer. It was a nugatory question really.

Sakura bit her lip but didn't answer. Her inner self cussed and spat out words that obviously didn't make Sakura's outer self feel any better. The words, 'bitch' and 'idiot' were among them.

Itachi helped Sakura hobble over to a rock so she could sit. There, he changed the bandages and washed her fresh and new wounds. Finally, Sakura just had to speak. "U-Uchiha-san?"

Itachi looked up a bit bemused. "Hn?"

"Even if you are an ally of Konoha... why are you doing all of this for me?" There was a long and very painful silence as Sakura stared at the ground wishing she had never asked the stupid question.

Itachi opened his mouth but said nothing. "What do you mean?" The scarlet-eyed man asked finally. "You barely even know me. And..." Her voice trailed off, and she left the sentence in the air. Blush overtook her face as she turned away from his steely gaze.

"N-never mind... I-Itachi-san." Sakura noticed the sun was setting already. It seemed as if it had been noon only a while ago, but she didn't care. Itachi picked her back up and they continued their walk off to the Akatsuki base.

"I-Itachi-san?" Sakura looked down at the ground. "Who are the other members of the Akatsuki?" Itachi stared at the rose-haired girl for a second. He was a bit hesitate giving out this information, but on the other hand, he was an ally of Konoha not the Akatsuki. Well, he did have to act like he was.

"Well, there's Kakuzu, Konan, Hidan, Kisame, Deidara, Pein, Zetsu, Sasori, and..." Sakura stared at Itachi waiting for him to continue. She could tell the sentence wasn't finished. "And...?" She urged.

"Uchiha... Madara."