Chapter 4

The black-haired lady named Mikoto was nice. She didn't fear Sakura and treated her with equal care, as if Sakura were another human being. It felt nice. She hadn't left the premises of the house and compound, there were plenty of trees for her to rest in and best part of it was that no one came to her, no one was there to stop and stare at her like many often did in her cell. Here she was completely alone, and it felt nice, she didn't mind the nice lady, she had taught her how to do many things, things Sakura was glad to learn.

She had been there for five days, all of them without incident. It seemed that they had been prepared for her; they gave her a scroll and a pen which she could write with instead of tracing things on a person's hand. They gave her new clothes that consisted of white dresses, with little flowers sewn at the bottom, nothing that resembled the pains of war. Where Kabuto would have merely shoved food at her Mikoto let her in the kitchen to watch her cook, a soft and quiet reassurance that she was not being fed poison. Where she would've been beaten for breaking something, Mikoto asked if she was ok.

While she had been given nothing to keep herself warm at night while she slept in the dark, Mikoto had given her a room with futons and blankets, along with a sliding door that led to the outside. Sakura ran her fingers through her recently cut hair and washed hair. When people had called her a freak for her looks Mikoto had called her pretty. Sakura looked down at the pool in the garden her world slowly taking on small tints of colors that even now fascinated her. She fingered her hair and pulled it, amazed at its softness, and texture, the shortness that brushed slightly over her shoulders. She couldn't remember the last time she had ever been this clean. It was pink from what she could tell, she was beginning to see colors again, granted that they were still dark and sort of grey but at this point she couldn't complain.

"Sakura." the woman called from the porch causing Sakura to look over to her. She was waving, Sakura waved back before getting up and trotting over to see what she wanted, feeling the nice sensations of the grass underfoot. Mikoto stepped aside to show a man, a man she didn't recognize bringing Sakura to a screeching halt. Mikoto smiled at her as if nothing was wrong and stated, "This is my husband." She was at a loss to do, she had never met this man before, and it scared her. She tried to reassure herself that he was ok because he was Itachi's father but sadly that didn't help, she knew a mean person when she saw one, and he was one of them.

She stepped back her hands behind her back looking down at the floor hoping that he wouldn't look at her anymore, afraid he would shout at her. "So this is her? The 'Bloodhound?'" She flinched at the name, hardening, ready for a fight if it came down to it, she had finally gotten freedom and she wasn't going to give that up. She heard a sound smack, and looked up to see what had happened. She was surprised to find the mean man rubbing the back of his head while Mikoto had an upraised hand a look of disapproval on her face.

"Can't you clearly see that she's scared?! I introduced you because you asked but if you continue to be rude to our guest you'll find yourself out of a house to sleep in!" He began to form a comeback, but it was too late Mikoto turned to her and began to talk, "Don't worry dear, my husband may be mean at times but he's not all that bad… Or at least that's what I keep telling myself." The older woman whispered the last part under her breath.

"Mikoto she'll bring down the prestige of the family!"Mikoto straightened her shoulders in a challenge, "I don't want to hear that from a prejudice fool. Imagine how people would think of us with people like you ignorant and stupid leading our clan?" Sakura watched the display of violence toward the woman, as her husband went to slap her for what Sakura knew as 'speaking out, and disobedience, it was almost too much for her to handle. It had been words like that that made them put the collar on her, it was that disobedience that had cut off all possibilities of escape, and create more ways to be bound.

Not only that but from young she had been trained that any type of violence not dealt out by her handlers were to be eliminated. She dropped the scroll holding her head keeping herself from looking at Mikoto getting attacked, "It seems you forget who really owns this house Fugaku. Who gave you this power, and who you should really watch out for." Sakura heard the woman whisper in her husband's ear, as she dislocated his elbow.

Sakura shook, trying to block out the sounds, resisting the training that had been so ingrained into her mind to attack at any sign of aggression, or order. It was hard not to. It had been hard when that ANBU pinned her against the wall, but she could hold herself back because of the pain he issued and the memories that kept her distracted until she could think clearly. She felt the rustle of cloth wrap around her, petting her hair reassuringly. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to show you that." Mikoto ran her long fingers through her hair, and slowly Sakura stopped shaking, the need to kill was disappearing. "I'm sorry my husband is very biased against…those who are not in the clan, but he is not a bad person."

Sakura wasn't sure about that fact but she quietly stopped shaking, she began to systematically relax her muscles, as the woman continued to pet her head never faltering or quivering because Sakura had been about to attack. The woman must have known what Sakura was capable of. And it made Sakura grateful to no end that she was willing to take care of her. Sakura was beginning to overlap the older woman from the remnants in which she remembered her own mother, that kind smile, and those warm hands that always said that it was alright. When she calmed down Mikoto pulled her up smiling, "Don't worry, I'll take care of him." Mikoto then slowly withdrew a reassurance that she wasn't afraid of her, which made Sakura grateful three times over. She turned at the sound of rustling cloth.

From beside her Sasuke appeared, they had come to a quiet understanding of friendship, he like his mother and brother did not find her threatening. Gently he tugged her arm in the direction of the forest. Sakura nodded not liking to be near all of the angry shouting the couple issued; worried that Mikoto might get hurt. 'Will she be alright?' she wrote on the scroll holding it out for him to see, he smirked, "Don't worry, kaa-san can handle anyone with no problems tou-san doesn't have a chance."

She nodded slowly comprehending. Mikoto was a strong woman after all. 'Where are we going?' she wrote down showing him the writing and waiting for the answer, "Training field to meet Naruto." She stopped, she didn't want to meet new people, after noticing that she wasn't following anymore he looked at her and sighed, "Don't worry, Naruto wont judge you, actually the dobe might just know what you're going through."

It didn't reassure her. She felt a knot in her stomach, and fear, if this 'Naruto' person was a normal person she would have been fine, but the fact that he was a nin made her afraid, what if he attacked her? What if he didn't like her? Would he try to hurt her if he did? So many questions ran through her head and yet she followed Sasuke without complaint, if worst came to worst she would have to fight with all she had, if not she would run away. 'What does he look like?' she wrote down as they walked side by side. "Blonde, blue eyed." Came his stout reply. So he had strange looks like her, it made her feel a bit better about meeting him.

She walked closer to the younger Uchiha as chakra began to glow in her senses, even if he reassured her that whoever she was meeting was nice, ultimately she wanted to be the judge. They went into a clearing; in the distance she saw a flash of white and a flash of yellow. When they paused for a moment to rest she saw them clearly. One was certainly blonde with bright and lively blue eyes, a smirk that seemed to permanently be set on his face was in place, he wore a black and orange jumpsuit, that made her wonder his efficiency as a nin who hid in the trees. Her eyes wandered to the other one, he had white hair, one eye was black the other one had a scratch over it with the sharingan implanted in it. She wondered how that was possible, running through the vague memories of her mother taking her on her lap and telling her about healing through a book.

They must have noticed their presence because a second later they turned in their direction, it made her take another precautionary step behind the Uchiha who walked confidently to them while she began to slow trying to maintain a significant amount of distance between them. Just ten or so feet away from them she stopped completely holding the scroll and pen tightly as if it were a life line ready to bolt at any sign of aggression. She had met many people and many had tried to attack her, none of them were nice, using those past experiences she could help but be wary, even though Sasuke had said it was ok.

She watched them and they began to do the same after greeting Sasuke cheerfully. For a moment it was silent until the one called 'Naruto' spoke, "Hey, teme who is the girl?" When Sasuke didn't answer the blonde continued, "Oh! I know she's your girlf-" She was very sure that he was going to say 'girlfriend' but Sasuke had punched him over the head. The mood seemed to lighten the moment the blonde began to protest adamantly. For some reason their interaction seemed a bit funny.

Although, she didn't understand why Sasuke had hit the blonde for merely saying the two words 'girl' and 'friend' together after all weren't they both descriptor words? "Is she who is staying at your house?" the white haired man asked, he seemed a bit tense but slightly relaxed, and she was confused to how she would read him. "So you've heard." Sasuke said taking a moment away from the ranting blonde. "Being a former ANBU captain has a couple of its perks." The white haired man said before looking her over in slight scrutiny. She flinched at his glance more or less she knew what they were talking about. She was expecting him to scorn her and to hate her, in response her mental defenses went up and she prepared for any type of attack.

To her surprise he merely pulled out a little orange book and began to read, his eyes darting over the words as proof. A twitch in her cheek signified her slight amusement. She opened the scroll, deciding that they weren't going to hurt her. 'Hello, my name is Sakura. Nice to meet you.' She wrote it quickly before holding it up for them to read. She wanted to smile but wasn't sure she could, it had been so long since she had that particular joy, that she had forgotten how.

They both looked at her questioningly, and she knew why. She put a hand to her throat, and traced the scars where the electrical device had stolen the use of her voice, then writing down that it couldn't work. They said nothing about it, "Nice to meet you! I'm Naruto!" the blonde said. His carefree, smile followed with him out to offer his hand, more to her amusement he tripped. Tragically so, that he face planted into the dirt. She didn't know what Sasuke meant that he might know her better but she was sort of doubting it, at very least she could exclude him as a potential enemy. To her it seemed that he was a run-of-the-mill idiot. Even so there must be a reason Sasuke stayed with him, it meant that he had something special.

It meant that he could fight, she was sure he would never attack her, but if it was under the influences then it might be different. Truth to say she was still afraid, but even so, she knew that she would have to move forward, and maybe this was her first step. She looked at the white haired man who never bothered to look up at her and introduce himself merely raising a hand and dulling stating, "Hai~, I'm Kakashi their squad captain, right now we are a two man cell, due to certain circumstances to our other teammate. Nice to meet you." He was strange but she had a feeling that he would be as sturdy as Naruto, and Sasuke at the moment she believed that more so because of the sharingan behind the band around his head.

Introductions now over, they heard a monstrous growl that seemed to come from Naruto. She looked at him curious his face quickly turning red. She wrote on the scroll, and showed it to them, an almost half smile on her face, right now she was extremely amused. 'Shall we go out to eat?'

-

-

She had spent the day in relative peace Naruto made it feel as if she were part of the society and he didn't discriminate against her, it was refreshing to know that people could accept her. She didn't know about the 'Kakashi' person though, he seemed to be a bit distant but because Sasuke and Naruto hadn't said anything so she supposed that it was normal behavior. At the moment she was watching them train, it was interesting to see that, they could practice the art of killing with fun none of them having the intent to kill each other to her it was quite the phenomenon.

Sakura had never experienced that sort of sparring, maybe she would try it sometime, she never thought that the tool for destruction could be an enjoyable pass time. Like a game of cat and mouse. Only that there would not be any permanent, long term injuries passed onto the opponent, she looked out on the training field, marveling at the slow change the world was beginning to have. The colors unhindered by any hint of pain or sorrow, the free air to play with her short hair. It was all thanks to her savior, she had come to see that now, she missed him in those days he wasn't there, but she figured that it was for the best.

She was sure he didn't want someone to follow him around everywhere, from what she had seen from Sasuke and his grumbled stories at the dinner table it wasn't at all pleasant. One thing she did know was that the world she had now was all owned up to 'Itachi' although she knew that the range of emotions she felt now were only budding, she owed it all to him for getting her out of her situation, even if it had been an accident. It seemed that they had just been scouting the area, and had accidently stumbled onto her little scene.

She fingered her scarred neck, although the ghost pains of it hadn't gone away, she knew it wasn't there, she had nothing to fear from that treatment anymore, he had guaranteed it. Although she wasn't sure she would ever get used to people she knew she could try, she looked at her hands, as they lay opened in her lap, it seemed that her hands would be put to better use, what Sakura knew solidly at least, was that she wouldn't be out killing anytime soon. No, Itachi had freed her of that fate.

~(Itachi)~

He stepped in the house, covered in the blood of his enemies, he didn't want to go down to the bath house and cause a panic, so the next option had been to bathe at home. He reached out his chakra to check the premises for anyone, he counted his mother and father, in separate end of the house, it mean that there was a fight, either way he wouldn't get in it. He padded to the shower; it seemed that the 'Sakura' girl was slowly making progress though, from what he had heard from his clan members on the way up, she was beginning to show herself little by little when Mikoto made her rounds, around the compound. Granted that the girl stood far back, but he knew that it was progress.

He peeled out of his blood stained clothes and got into the shower the hot water relaxing his muscles one by one. His thoughts wandering back to the previous, mission; it seemed that Orochimaru was alive. Strange and Itachi had thought the old reptile had bitten the dust when he and the Hokage had stopped the Uchiha uprising. Although the elders had ordered him to wipe out his clan he knew that the Hokage had a different opinion on the matter. It wasn't that Itachi was opposed to killing off all those who had tormented him from when he was young and had shoveled responsibility on his shoulders.

There were however few that he could never consider killing. His mother for one, who controlled the clan behind the scenes, would play a big role in stopping the uprising. With her to help there would be no need for bloodshed, and Itachi wouldn't have had to take on the responsibilities of his clansmen's mistakes. Although he knew that it would bring him up in power, in the world Itachi knew that it was not the path to take. Although Itachi had never felt regret for anything, he knew that if he wiped out the very person who had loved and raised him despite all of it, and the beloved brother who looked up to him and defended him from any other words against him, although it wasn't necessary. Sasuke had, and in a way Itachi was sure that it had in a way saved him.

Maybe that was why he had saved the girl, when clearly it would have been easier to kill her, and permanently put her out of her misery. Something in her eyes had stopped her, those dead eyes that reflected his own when he had to kill Shisui in order to silence him of Itachi and the Third's counter attack. Those eyes that had seen war and fought through it all, while he had fought his clan, for his individuality, she had been fighting for her life, trying desperately not to lose herself in all of the gore just as he had when he had to kill many upon many at a young age.

He saw another self of himself in her fighting to find herself through all of those blocked out memories, he knew a strong fighter when he saw one. She was certainly one of them, and he knew that she was far from her true potential, he knew that someday she would grow to be someone on par with him, something he would look forward to. It was awfully boring at the top, and he knew that she could provide the entertainment that he needed along with the stability that sort of fighter could bring to the village. It was a benefit, not only to him, but in return she would also come to accept this society and work in it. She would be happy, and he would watch her do it. He wanted to see his other sort-of self find herself, the person who seemed to be the other side in the mirror. Then maybe he too could find his place in this world.

Done! Sorry it took so long! I've been deleting and rewriting and editing and etc… For a very long time, and now I've got a chapter that I'm satisfied with ^.^

Thanks for reading and review!

To my anonymous

---
To couples lover: Will do! Thanks for reading! ^.^