Chapter Four


DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN NARUTO.


Itachi peered into the darkness at the outline of the shifting feminine form of the injured kunoichi as she had tried to sleep, her fractured arm had hit the stone slab countless times, she was crying out in pain. Itachi flickered beside the kunoichi and lifted her body upright resting her against the stone wall of the cave, he bundled up his cloak and placed it under her injured arm, cushioning it from further damage, he watched as exhaustion taken over the strong willed kunoichi who was now snoring softly, he smirked.

"Sleeps as an angel snores as a troll."

Itachi stood up and walked across the cave and found a wall of his own to lean against, arms crossed and staring ahead he slowly allowed himself a couple minutes rest, waking up at the every snap of twig he heard, he hardly slept well these days, he didn't want to dream because dreams are a reflection of a past he had burned bridges with long ago. Itachi instead opted to stare up at the small crack in the cave alcove, the sky was turning a light blue and the moon had slowly began to disappear, dawn is soon approaching, he will have to wake up the kunoichi soon.

Sakura gasped as icy cold water hit her entire body in a drenching waterfall that seemed to come out of nowhere, as the first initial shock settled in a pissed off, half asleep Sakura proceeded to look for the victim that was stupid enough to throw water over her waking her from her slumber.


"Are you awake now?" Said a smooth deep voice standing above her, Sakura looked up and saw the dark eyed Itachi staring down at her, his face calm and patient, he held an empty bucket. Sakura glared at him as veins began pooping out of her forehead, She grabbed and thrown down his Akatsuki robe, and stood up, facing him.

"Why did you have to wake me up like that you jerk?!" Sakura jumped up shoving her fist in his face, he didn't flinch or showed any kind of indication of any emotion, props to his poker face, Sakura did however see something dangerous in those midnight blue eyes, for this time she decided to back down. Itachi is significantly stronger than her.

"You wouldn't wake up...I'm surprised your own snoring didn't wake you." Itachi said calmly to an irritated kunoichi.

"I do not snore! Were you watching me sleep all night you creep!" Sakura huffed and turned away from the criminal shinobi she proceeded to adjust her sling, angrily murmuring to herself. Itachi flickered behind her, he leaned over her right shoulder , Sakura started as she felt his hot breath tickle her ear.

"How could I sleep if you wouldn't stop whimpering like a beaten down dog?" He whispered as he slipped his robe over her shoulders. Sakura eased her good arm through the sleeve of the robe, still feeling angry but she remembered faintly awakening to someone moving her, was it an act of kindness or one that only benefited him?

Of course he did it for himself he's a psychopathic S-Rank criminal that murdered his entire clan! Also is the reason Sasuke was in so much turmoil! Inner Sakura screamed.


The sky was a light blue casting dark shadows on the trees, already the tweeting of small birds can be heard, the cool early morning breeze chilled Sakura to the marrow, she was still soaked from Itachi's dowsing. The pair took to the trees darting branch to branch, still unaware of what the mission is she followed behind Itachi, hoping to be told what their task is at some point, she couldn't wait any longer, racing up to Itachi until they were leaping in rhythm, he casted her a sideways glance.

"What's our mission?" She asked Itachi, who remained silent as if choosing his words carefully.

"Sometimes remaining in the dark about certain matters is the best course of action." A deadly tone crept it's way into his normally nonchalant voice, indicating to Sakura that he was clearly done discussing it, but she wasn't.

"Tell me what our mission is I want to know now why are you hiding it from me." Itachi said nothing just looked ahead, the pink haired shinobi fell silent as well.

This guy is like an impenetrable fortress nothing can through to him and nothing can get out...

Itachi stopped suddenly on a tree branch, looking down, Sakura stepped down on the same large branch, staring at Itachi.

Why did he stop?...

Sakura followed Itachi's gaze and her sea green eyes opened in shock.

"You have your answer now..." Itachi said over the horizon laid the scorched remains of what appeared to be a village. Itachi dropped down from the trees and proceeded to walk towards the charcoal colored bamboo structures that still remained, Sakura followed suit. As the pair walked through the smokey desolation, she couldn't help but be overcome with sadness.

"What happened here?" Sakura said to herself, peering into a blackened window of a lopsided building leaning on its foundation.

"War." Itachi said coldly as he trampled over skeletal remains Sakura glared at him, she hated his lack of empathy, lack of respect.

"Could you feel at least something for these people?!" Itachi stopped and turned to her, his face calm and calculating.

"This was a village built on the backs of enslavement, corruption, and murder, the end that they succumbed was an end worthy of their sins." Itachi stared back sea green eyes of a hurt Sakura.

"The children were innocent they had no part in this how can you say that they all deserved this?!" Sakura argued, in a way she hoped to see an ounce of humanity in Itachi, he just remained silent.

"You are right, it's the innocent that pay the ultimate price, their lives." Itachi turned and walk straight ahead, the kunoichi just stared at his back, she couldn't understand how somebody can be so cold hearted.

Sakura caught up to the silent shinobi as he ransacked a small hut clearly looking for something important he reached down and grabbed a golden scroll, he turned it over inspecting it.

"What is that? " Sakura eyed the beautiful golden scroll it brightly lit up in the rays of sunlight that crept in through in holes from the ceiling.

"The villages bingo book of the numerous wealthy merchants that frequently comes in and out, mostly underground black market syndicates. Our mission, kunoichi is to find this man here." Itachi pulled down on the scroll until it shown a picture of a man with a large round face, hanging jowls and no hair, he had numerous scars over his face.

"Find him and then what? " Sakura asked, Itachi placed his index finger to her lips, shushing her, she blushed with surprise.

"You will know when we find him." Itachi leaned in close enough she felt his breath on her lips as he spoke. Maybe because he looks like Sasuke Maybe she was craving warmth or comfort but she did something quite unexpected, she leaned in closer and taken Itachi' s smooth lips into her own.

Sakura found her hand beginning to wander...