"Maybe I will someday, but currently more important matters stand unresolved," Itachi answered.

Sakura was kind of confused, but hoped that this would lead to the satisfactory answers of some of her questions. She was far too curious for her own well being, especially considering the person she was dealing with.

Itachi said, "I'm sure that you are wondering why I had your sketchpad in the first place. Your answer—it was a mistake made by my partner on our mission."

"What exactly was your mission if it led your partner to accidentally snatching my sketchpad?" Sakura asked in a lethal voice, internally seething. She was mad because if they took her sketchbook, that meant that they were attempting to steal something else from her, and taking the sketchpad was nothing more than a mere mix-up with whatever possession of hers they really wanted.

Itachi smirked a bit before responding, "Don't worry, I was getting there… What we actually wanted was your medical-"

"My medical notebook. That's it, isn't it? That's what you were after," Sakura finished for him.

Her immediate reaction was to reach to her waist, checking the security of her medical pack. She let out a cry of despair when she felt that it was freely open, instead of tightly closed as she normally carried it.

He reached inside of his traditional Akatsuki cloak and pulled out a book that looked quite similar to her sketchpad, in fact they were almost identical. The only thing that convinced her otherwise was that she knew she was holding that in her hand, while he was holding her precious medical notebook in his. The more she realized that they looked alike, the more she understood how easy it would be for less-than-intelligent Kisame to mix them up.

"Now that I have incredible leverage, I would like to propose a deal," Itachi said smugly.

Not wasting a moment, Sakura took her speed to the greatest intensity she possibly could, and poised herself behind him while aiming two kunai to his temples, ready to take his life, if necessary. She knew how many secrets that notebook held. After all, those notes came from books in the library where no one was allowed; and nobody was allowed in there for a reason.

She hated the idea of killing, which is why she had avoided it with all of her might up until that point. Then again, she had to consider just exactly whom she was dealing with. After all, this was Itachi Uchiha, not some low-class flunky who couldn't even make it through the academy to save his life. Still, regardless of the threat this man posed, she still hated the idea of having someone's blood permanently stained on her hands.

Sakura demonically whispered in his ear, "I wonder, who do you think has the leverage now?" To emphasis her point, she barely pierced the skin with her kunai, just enough to draw a droplet of blood.

To her surprise, the only reply she received was his low chuckling. He found his current predicament funny?

"Well Sakura, I'm not so sure that you understand me as much as you say you do, if you think that this would actually scare me. I almost believed that one solitary person on this polluted, infested earth actually understood me. Yet now, here we are, and you think that the idea of death scares me… That must be a joke. This is what I pray for every night," Itachi stated harshly.

Sakura realized that she had quickly forgotten the person she was dealing with. This person was not average, at all. He feared nothing, and that included the mystery of death, and the agony of pain. She had forgotten that she was dealing with a person like herself, not your typical human that uselessly cowers at sheer the idea of death and pain.

"Ah, please do forgive me, I had so easily forgotten that I was working with a person akin to myself," Sakura amended, withdrawing her kunai, then continuing, "Anyways, I'll listen to your proposition, but if I don't like it, and we can't work it out, I won't hesitate to take my darling notebook by force."

Itachi turned around to face her and then said, "Good. Now then, here is my proposition—if I return this to you, you must work with Akatsuki on our mission. After that, you are free to leave, with your medical notebook, and to never be bothered by us again." At this, Sakura burst out into a fit of laughter, not even bothering to hold back or attempt to cover it up. When he just shot her an irritated look, she realized that he wasn't joking at all.

"And here I was, thinking that the Akatsuki were a group of powerful, brilliant ninja, not just a crowd of power-junkies with no credible intelligence whatsoever. You must lack a developed brain to believe that I would accept an offer as ridiculous as that.

For starters, the only thing I would get from you is my medical notebook back, which you stole from me. Honestly though, why bother helping criminals for I notebook that I could at least battle for? Plus, the fact that you need a highly-skilled medic means that you are most likely on the verge of launching a full-out attack, an attack where even your fearless leader is worried about the results.

No, no. If you need me that badly, you'll have to give me something far better than that. Something more like agreeing to never bother, attempt to harm, kill, or remove the demon from Naruto's body ever again. That and give me Sasuke's location, since I'm sure that his loving older brother has been keeping tabs on him.

It is also important to me that this battle will hurt Konoha in no way, shape, or form. Since if it does, I'll be sure to person torture your worshipped leader to the death, where he will be forced to endure only more pain for the heinous crimes he has committed by the judgment of whatever higher power exists. After I've sent him to the reaper, the rest of that sick, twisted organization will be next.

So, combine all my terms with your previous bargain, and you have a deal," Sakura finally finished. She knew that her lecture was quite menacing, and that was as she had intended. Sakura purposely used her status as a femme fatale to her advantage.

She knew that if he hadn't threatened death if she didn't agree, that meant they needed her help, and they needed it bad. The only thing she was nervous about was whom they would be attacking if they needed her assistance this terribly.

Sakura stuck her hand out, so he could shake it if he accepted.

Itachi reached out his hand, but before he actually shook her he warned, "When you agree, the terms may alter, but that would only be due to whatever you desire or how long you plan to carry this out. If you forfeit at any point, our part of the agreement will also be withdrawn."

After this, they looked each other intently in the eye and roughly shook hands.

Hi! A huge thank you to all the wonderful reviewers! An important note: I am moving so it is hard to update, and I might actually have no access to the computer for a few days, so please be patient with me. Besides that, please dont be mad at me for making for of Kisame a bit this chapter. I love him, and I show my ultra-luffiness through heartfelt insults : P

Anyways, I hope that you enjoyed the chapter and continue reading!

-Selah