Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 4

Phone call

When Itachi entered his brother's room a few hours after they'd returned from the attack, Sasuke's face was contorted in a painful expression. He seemed tormented by something, and it made the older Uchiha feel uneasy. He loved his brother dearly and felt pain whenever Sasuke did.

Itachi's heart clenched, although his face was still rigid. The years spent around Madara made him understand the importance of a calm façade. In truth, Itachi didn't want to appear cold to his closest sibling, but Sasuke had to learn to cope with life by himself. None of them knew when their life would end.

Passing a hand through his black bangs, Itachi pulled the hair in a low ponytail. Opposed to the Uchiha leader who kept his hair long as a sign of vanity, he couldn't care less about his appearance. Looks were overrated.

Sasuke sighed and caught his head between palms. His body was shaking. Itachi stood by the door, not saying a thing. Sasuke was a still a boy at heart, despite him being thirty years old. He hadn't grown up in a genuine sense of the word - not enough, at least. Itachi knew that Sasuke had fought his own battles.

"What do you… want?" His voice was strangled. Itachi would have simply left the room, had he not seen the nervous twitch of Sasuke's fingers. Every time he did that thing, he was about to do something reckless, or stupid, or both.

"Dinner is ready." The pause that followed weighted heavy on their shoulders. "What are you thinking?"

This was Itachi - always blunt. Life was too short to bit around the bush.

"Nothing." Sasuke knew his brother could see tight through his lies but was too enwrapped in his thoughts.

"You were never a good liar, mon petit frère."

"Leave me alone," was what Sasuke wanted to say, but instead other words slipped through his lips. "It's not the moment."

"You know you can tell me anything." It went without a saying in most cases, but Sasuke seemed to need a reminder.

Their relationship had become colder over the years, but they were flesh and blood, Itachi would always be there for Sasuke.

"There's nothing to talk about." When he lifted his eyes, they were steel-cold. Not even a glimpse of the happy boy he had once been could be seen. He shifted uncomfortably on the red couch as if hiding something.

Itachi got closer with slow steps, analysing the room with an exercised eye. Nothing could get away from his observation sense. At first glance, everything was alright, only that the phone was not on the small coffee table as it used to be. Itachi's heart sunk a little. It could mean one thing.

He sat in front of his brother expectedly. Sasuke bit the inside of his cheek and averted his red eyes. He didn't want to have his brother realise that he'd been crying, although it might have been too late for it already.

"You cannot be that foolish." Itachi wished his words were true. When his brother hesitated, he continued. "Don't get involved, Sasuke. You do not want Madara's rage upon you."

Sasuke growled. "I've got to do something. She's in danger and she-"

"She isn't your duty. As per the situation and the past, you should acknowledge her capacity of taking care of herself."

"You don't get it, do you?! She…" Sasuke remembered his friend's recklessness. She'd always been too stubborn to back down, even when it was the wisest decision. He hadn't seen Sakura in a long time, but he doubted she could've changed that much. Besides, she had helped him so much. He had to repay his debt to her. "I owe him this one."

"What, your life? Madara treats betrayers as enemies, Sasuke. You should not take that path for it will lead to your misery." Said man clenched his fists. Itachi sighed and mentally rolled his eyes. "I know that what happened to Tayuya marked you, but-"

"That's not fucking it." The words were barely above a whisper, but the threatening in them was loud and clear. Tayuya was a taboo subject; she had been Sasuke's partner in his youth. As they grew older, they developed feelings for each other. In their world, it was risky.

Red hair invaded his memory, and he squeezed his eyes shut. Of course, it wasn't of any help since his visual memory was brilliant. He had her image impregnated on the retina.

"Forget it, Sasuke. It hadn't been your fault. Now, regarding this miss..."

"I have to interfere."

"No, you shall not do it." When his brother just ignored him Itachi sighed. Being the big brother was exhausting at times. It made him wonder if it had been better for him to day in the fire that claimed his beloved mother's life. "Fine. Supposing that you should interfere, what is your plan?"

"I'll let her know what's going on. Maybe I can't protect Sakura personally, but she's a big girl, and I'm sure that having this ace up her sleeve could save her ass if needed. And if she's not clever enough to make it alive, then maybe she doesn't deserve to live at all." He shrugged. "It's not my problem anymore after I open her eyes."

Itachi sized him up. Sasuke had never been a good liar. His face was emotionless indeed, but the tension in his back wouldn't pass unnoticed. The long-haired man tried to recall a memory of this Sakura, but pink hair aside he couldn't say too much about her. If he remembered correctly, Sasuke had been rather willing to keep her at a distance from their family. It spoke volumes about her important for him. Itachi thought it was a wise decision. Uchiha had to marry in the clan without exception. Their relations outside it should only be business ones, so friendships were out of the question, too. No doubt it wrecked Sasuke's brains. It was surpassing that he hadn't yet been brainwashed by the clan's rules, but it was partly thanks to his brother, who looked after him like an eagle. Or a crow, since he was staying in the shadows.

Clearing hi throat, Itachi decided it was better to be harsh this time. For Sasuke's sake. "Tell me, please, that you did not think about calling her to have this conversation, did you?"

"I... and what's so wrong about it?!" He was already fed up with this discussion. Sasuke wanted his brother to get out and let him be. As he knew Sakura, it would be hard enough to convince her to step out of the scene for a while. She had never appreciated being bossed around. He highly doubted that after they hadn't spoken for so long, she'd be grateful for his dominant intervention.

"Foolish little brother, the phones might be listened to. What help would it be for her if via her mobile phone her location would be found? Madara could be at her door before she even managed to take her suitcase from the shelf. Not to mention that if Madara kills you, you wouldn't be able to help her further." Itachi did not fool himself into thinking Madara would excuse such behaviour. He was ruthless even with family when it was the case. Except for Izuna, who had a preferential treatment, the other were mere people with whom he shared blood ties and ideas.

Sasuke's body jerked up. He hadn't thought of it. Honestly, he hadn't thought at all. He let the instincts take over. Now that he considered it, perhaps it wasn't the best solution. Itachi was right, just as always.

A faint smile touched upon Itachi's lips when he saw Sasuke's eyes widen in realisation. He nodded slightly and thanked God that he managed to stop his brother in time. Who knew what would have happened if he hadn't made it in time?

"Thanks."

"Anytime, Sasuke."

What Itachi didn't know was that as soon as he stepped out of the room and closed the door, Sasuke reached for the phone hid behind him, dialling a number he hadn't used in a while.

Sakura drummed her fingers on the shiny surface of the bar. For anyone who wasn't from around, a pink-haired woman would have appeared like a mirage. People would rub their eyes and then watch her again. It wasn't that pink hair was unthinkable in the twenty-first century, but that she looked naturally gifted with the anomaly. For those who were frequent costumers of the bar and the casino, though, she was only Sakura, the exotic beauty who spent her weekend among rich and selfish people, but without blending her personality with theirs.

Few men approached her now and then, but she seemed disinterested in their advances.

She pursued her lips in a pout and lifted a finger to catch the bartender's attention. She felt oddly alive. Blood was rushing through her veins at such a pace that it made her hot. It shouldn't have surprised her; it had been a long time since she'd had such fun. Her encounter with Madara, then the way she tricked Kakashi, her conversation with the blonde and now her usual visit to Tsunade's casino - they reminded her how freedom taste. Oh, the forbidden and poisonous fruit which she hadn't eaten in what seemed like ages.

"You still know how to do it, baby girl," she murmured for her ears only.

She crossed her legs, white flesh revealed at the waist by the green top which lifted a little. If she hadn't been Sakura Haruno and hadn't practically grown up in such establishment, maybe she would have been impressed by the hungry eyes devouring her. But the men here knew better than to push their luck with her. She might have once or twice gone home with somebody, but when she said she wasn't interested, no meant no.

"Another Cosmo, Sakura?"

"You got that right, Kiba."

Cosmopolitan was her favourite cocktail, and no one prepared it like Kiba. She'd known him for three years now. She liked him from the first meeting. The animalistic behaviour seemed in contradiction with the Casino's policy and fanciness, but men like Kiba were needed to keep thing under control. And in truth, his ferociousness was quite attractive. Sakura had seen many girls hitting on on the brown-haired man. She was not one of them, but the show was entertaining nevertheless.

"How's work going?" He asked while pouring whisky for a man in a black suit.

She idly lifted her shoulders. "Good, I guess. I'm having a hard time with the research, but things don't stay still." Now, 515's job was another thing, but Kiba didn't know about that side of her, and she wasn't willing to tell him this.

"That's good. Don't give up! I'm sure you'll manage to give your MBA in literature and eventually become a teacher."

"Professor," she said proudly, for the university had its ranks and professor imposed more respect.

He shook his head and repeated after her, offering a sheepish smile. The dimple in his left cheek made her smile. It was something about Kiba that made her feel at ease.

Some exclaimed cheerfully, catching the pinkette's attention. A man excited the Casino's doors jumping up and down like a little boy. Sakura rolled her eyes, and Kiba sighed. The man's reaction could only mean one thing.

"Wanna bet on what happened?"

"No, thank you very much. I'd rather buy another Cosmo." She gulped down the pink drink.

"Oh, come one. I heard you were luckier than her."

"I don't do bets, Kiba. I only put my mine on what I'm sure will get me a nice amount of money. Today's not my night, though."

A growl resounded in the building, and Sakura laughed. The people around looked for a place to hide. Tsunade's power when enraged was notorious.

"And prepare that Sake cocktail, too, will you?"

"One Ninja Bellini comes right now."

Sakura waved at Tsunade, inviting her to come and sit.

She never learns, does she? I swear I've never met someone with less luck than Tsunade. I can't even name bet she made and won. It's hard to believe that she runs a casino and a bar. Although in the rhythm she goes it might not resist for a long time.

"Sakura," the busty woman greeted, hugging the young lady to her chest. They ere always affectionate towards each other for their were family. Not blood-related indeed, but still family. They'd known each other since Sakura was a toddler. In fact, it was Tsunade who convinced Sakura of her value and praised her intelligence to the point where the teenager grew up to a confident woman. Despite her vices, Tsunade was a loyal and loving friend.

"Madame Tsunade. A bet went wrong?"

The blonde twirled one of her low ponytails around her fingers. She hummed to herself and accepted Kiba's drink without reserves. She tasted it and licked her lips.

"That bastard cheated. I'm sure of it."

Sakura laughed internally. It was always like this. Patting her hand, the pinkette gave a reassuring smile. If they weren't there for each other, who would have been?

"Now, now, let's forget about it for tonight. Did you lose much money?"

"No. Only a couple of thousand euros."

Kiba coughed violently, and Sakura threw him a scolding glance. She knew that Tsunade didn't value the money the way the ordinary people did. Although she wanted them and liked to bet, it was the thrill of the anticipative win that drove her, and not the actual pot. For her, the money, as well as the alcohol, was a means of living, of feeling alive, if only for a moment. Since she had lost her younger brother and her lover, she'd been a ruin.

Sakura looked in her brown eyes. They had the colour of dark earth, intense and vibrant. A little duller when clouded by worry and booze.

"I'm going to win them back, though. I will make another bet and..."

"How about I play cards for you tonight?"

Sakura didn't have much luck in her life, but it was had been there when it came to Twenty-One. Perhaps because involved her big brain.

"That 'ould be nice." A moment of silence passed between them. "So, what's with the happy face?"

"Ha-ha. I feel good, is that a crime?"

"Nope, girl. But every time you have that naughty light in your eyes hell's about to break loose."

Sakura rolled her eyes, prepared to retort.

"Don't get me 'rong. All I want is for you to tell me where to watch. I wouldn't want to lose the show."

"Hmm, let's just say we all fall back into bad habits."

"I see. Don't forget that I'm here for you if anything goes wrong. It's been a long time since I snapped someone's neck, but I'm not too old for it, and I definitely didn't forget how it's done," she whispered.

Indeed, at fifty years old, Tsunade looked more like a woman in her thirty's with her lean figure and smooth skin. No one knew what creams she used to keep her youthful appearance and curves. She didn't seem to age as if defying time itself. Sakura knew the secret - the strict regime of a former agent and a touch of natural solutions such as vegetable masks, coconut oil and milk baths.

Tsunade had been the one to sent Sakura to an elite high school and to change her life, to give it meaning. She couldn't have ever repaid her for this. Even tough, the older woman felt something akin to blame weighting on her shoulder since Sakura's accident.

"You said something about cards? Then come, I need to make that money back fast so I can make another bet."

Sakura was laughing while following the proprietary. This was going to be a long and amusing night. However, spending time with Tsunade was refreshing, and the young woman couldn't wait for a private talk.

Her phone buzzed, and she answered without watching the caller ID.

"Hello."

"Sakura, do you have a minute?"