For anyone still out there, who has been waiting for me to update: Thank you so much for waiting and being patient with me. I moved and started a new job, rewrote this chapter endlessly, and have been dealing with depression (which makes motivation hard). Also, I'm so sorry to have made you wait this long! I promise to try and do better!
I will also be fixing a few grammar errors I noticed in earlier chapters so yeah.
Please read and Review because I do read them and I love it when you guys say nice things as well as help me learn more about the writing process (I swear I use way to many commas).
I don't own Naruto.
BAR SCENE
Eyes closed, Sakura listened to the music as she bent and twisted in a dance. She didn't care if anyone was staring at her for a couple of reasons. First, she was here to relax and dancing helped her relax. Second, she wasn't alone, Ino was dancing with her. And third (probably the most important one) no one was going to be watching her with Ino dancing next to her. Ino had definitely matured well; she was tall with all the right curves in all the right places. Blonde and blue-eyed with a body to die for, no one could really compete with Ino. It wasn't that Sakura thought of herself as ugly, she was actually quite happy with how she had grown too. No, it was just that next to Ino…if you looked around the room for someone beautiful your eyes were always drawn to Ino. If you wanted a more exotic kind of beauty Sakura got your eye.
Sakura twisted her hips one last time and dipped down as the song ended. As she straightened up she opened her eyes to look at Ino who was right behind her. "I'm so thirsty! If I don't go get a drink I will pass out," she laughed. Ino frowned a little, they had been dancing for at least forty-five minutes, "forehead, did you forget that we didn't bring any money? We agreed that we were not going to drink tonight and left all of our money at your place." Sakura grinned as she looked at her tall friend, "So we did. I wasn't planning on getting a drink, but then we started dancing and now I need a drink. Besides, it doesn't count against us if we don't pay for it."
Then before Ino could open her mouth to demand how they were going to get a drink without having to pay for it and get away without countless men bothering them (the real reason why they had decided not to drink), Sakura grabbed her hand and led her through the crowd toward the back booth.
Ino skidded to a stop beside her and stared at the jounin that occupied the table, wondering who Sakura thought would take pity on them. She looked at Sakura, only to see her friend's eyes focused on one jounin in particular. Ino sighed, 'looks like I'm not going to get that drink' she thought.
Sakura smiled brightly at the table in general, "Hey Kakashi Sensei! What are you doing here?" Her surprise was fake and way over the top, the other jounins at the table started to grin, wondering what Sakura was up to. Kakashi was not impressed, two hands still held the drink he was nursing as he looked up at Sakura. "I'm having a drink Sakura. I didn't realize you had eye problems…better get that looked at. I could recommend a good medic if you need one." His eye creased, letting everyone know he smiled too. His worry over Sakura's eye sight as fake as Sakura's surprise to see him.
Asuma smiled through the smoke surrounding his face, "What are you ladies doing here," he prodded in an attempt to end Kakashi and Sakura's showdown.
Sakura leaned her hip on the table and pouted a little, "We were dancing, but we had to stop because we are soooo thirsty. We want to get a drink but forgot our money." As she turned back to Kakashi, her pout morphed into an expression of hope. Later on, Kurenai would swear that there were actual tears of adoration in her eyes. "Sensei, would you mind treating us to a drink?"
The small smiles around the table became smirks, everyone knowing what Kakashi's answer would be but not knowing what excuse he would make. Kakashi looked at Sakura and grinned a bit, "I'm sorry Sakura but I," Kakashi began only to be interrupted by Sakura.
"Oh I know you wouldn't leave me high and dry Sensei. Not like when you left me for…a year was it? Yeah, a year. An entire YEAR without a teacher." By the time she stopped speaking Sakura's voice was dripping with so much sarcasm that everyone at the table winced. Kakashi seemed to deflate a little, then to everyone's surprise he looked up and smiled. "Of course I'll treat you. Anything for my favorite student and her best friend." He slipped out of the booth and proceeded to the bar while everyone looked on in disbelief. Sakura watched him leave, then turned back to her booth audience and winked. She turned and skipped to a table for her and Ino. As Ino turned to follow her she swore she heard Gai say, "I've never even seen Kakashi's wallet." While Asuma, whose cigarette had fallen out of his mouth muttered, "remind me not to bet against that one." Kurenai and Genma just laughed at the sight Kakashi made while he ordered and pointed out Sakura to the bartender.
Ino and Sakura watched as Kakashi slunk back to his seat from their table. Ino laughed at the sight and then rounded on Sakura. "I am awed and slightly frightened by your guilt-tripping skills. I mean," she looked over her shoulder at Kakashi again, "He didn't even argue!" She laughed again, just as the pitcher and two glasses arrived. Sakura smirked as she grabbed the pitcher and started pouring the drinks for her and Ino. "The trick is to look innocent and hopeful." She downed half her drink in one go, "that and not to do it too often. That would just make him mad."
-Kakashi's table-
Asuma grinned at Kakashi, "You didn't even fight back! Are you feeling okay?"
"He's feeling fine, it's just old age." Genma said, not missing the opportunity to tease Kakashi.
Kakashi looked up from his drink to look at his so called friends. "I'm feeling fine, thank you." His eye creased to show that he too was smiling, "I just figured if I give Sakura what she wants now she'll hesitate to use that against me next week when I don't show up for my physical." Suddenly there was only one person smiling at the table instead of five. "The trick is to let her think she's in control. That way she doesn't get mad and we both get what we want." He stood from the table and announced, "Well, I'm turning in for the night." He waved and then disappeared.
When he got home he laughed a little, thinking of the blank looks he had received from his comrades. He had no doubt they were thinking about the yearly physicals. All of them trying to come up with their own excuses not to go. To bad Sakura was in charge of overseeing them. She only gave you two choices, you could go quietly, or be difficult. Kakashi shuddered thinking about it, sometimes it seemed to him that Sakura preferred the difficult way. He really pitied her future husband.
Back at the bar-
Ino was pouring a second round of drinks for them when they heard an exclamation coming from the back booth. Turing to look, she just barely saw Gai grab Kakashi's cup turning it upside down and looking at the others at the table. They all shook their heads and shrugged. Ino laughed as she turned back to Sakura, "looks like your sensei did it again. No one actually saw him drink anything but the cup is mysteriously empty."
"I just bet he did. Kakashi never changes."
"If Kakashi never changes how come he didn't turn you down and paid for our drinks?" At this Sakura smiled, "he probably thinks I'll go easy on him about his physical." Her smile turned vicious, "but I already have a plan in place and boy will it be...fun." Ino opened her mouth to say something about Sakura being one of the scariest people she knew but something else caught her eye, "Dangerous and hot on your 9 Sakura."
Sakura who turned her head to the left to see who Ino had meant and saw Uchiha Itachi sitting two tables away tucked back into a corner before she looked away. He wasn't alone; his cousin Shisui at across from him. She didn't look away because she was embarrassed, or scared. Maybe a little ashamed, but she wasn't scared of him. She was ashamed because she never apologized for her behavior at the hospital. Never explained why she sent him away, even though he came to see her. Part of that was her fault but to be fair…a lot had happened.
Sakura looked down at her drink, her eyes solemn as her brain replayed the memories for her. It happened on the day right after she had been released from the hospital. Itachi had, according to all witnesses, gone crazy. He had attacked Shisui and almost killed him, saying he needed to test his power. He had done this in the middle of the Uchiha Compound. Many of his kin rushed to stop him, he took them all out, no one died but even that was his choice. It was rumored that he had said they weren't worth killing, they were all so weak and pathetic. He had left the village, becoming a missing-nin.
Tsunade-sama had immediately sent out Anbu, ordering Itachi be brought back alive. The Anbu returned with grave injuries and even glimmer news, Itachi had defeated them without trying and he had joined a group called Akatsuki. Itachi was soon declared a missing-nin and was to be killed on sight. Sakura had grieved when she heard the news. No, Itachi had never really been friendly, but he was always respectful and…nice in a solemn sort of way. Even though Sakura went out of her way to annoy him, he always helped her when she really needed it. She liked Itachi as a person. To make the situation worse, Sasuke was Itachi's brother. All of the sudden people looked at Sasuke with a funny look in their eyes, as if they were wondering when he too would snap like his brother. It didn't take long.
Convinced something terrible had happened to his brother Sasuke ran away. Sakura had tried to stop him and the prick had left her passed out on a bench. Team 7 was sent out to retrieve Sasuke before he too would be considered a missing-nin. It was at this time that Sai, a boy Sakura had never seen before, had stood in for Sasuke. And while Sai called Sasuke traitor, everyone who knew the Uchiha brothers realized that Sasuke's plan was to rescue his brother and not because he hated Kanoha. Shortly after Team 7 began their mission they found evidence that Sasuke had taken up with the traitor Orochimaru.
"…ra. Hey Sakrua!" Ino said loudly in Sakura's ear. Sakura jerked away from Ino holding her ear, "Ow! That hurt Ino pig! What?" Ino snorted, "Well sorry. You've been staring into your cup for the last five minutes. You know I hate drinking alone." Sakura shrugged, "Sorry pig, it's just been a long day."
"I see. So it has absolutely nothing to do with Itachi-san and Shisui-san looking hotter than hell and being two of the most dangerous ninjas in the entire village that short-circuited your brain." Sakura rolled her eyes, "First off Shisui has a girlfriend, so good luck trying to make googoo eyes at him while Hana attempts to cut your eyes from your head. Secondly, what is it with you and bad boys?" She took a drink and waited for Ino to answer. Ino choked on her drink, "Are you kidding me?! Bad boys are the best! Who wants someone who is timid and won't make the first move. Plus, as bad boys they really know how to please women." It was now Sakura's turn to choke on her drink, "That is a generalization, not a fact. Not all bad boys know how to please a woman." Ino nodded, "true. However, Uchiha Itachi DOES know how to please." Sakura's mouth fell open, "Ino, you…with Itachi…?" Ino smirked, "of course not, he prefers older women. But I do know a couple of his…conquests and from what they told me…" she winked, "it's good to be bad." Sakura was appalled, didn't he have a right to his own privacy?
It was bad enough that everyone already talked about the Uchiha brothers. Both had eventually come back to the village with shocking news...Itachi leaving after attacking his kin, Sasuke following him, all of it had been fake. Both Uchiha brothers were going on infiltration missions, but as Uchiha were high profile and those two even more well known they needed a really good cover story. So Itachi had gone power crazy and had easily joined one of the most nefarious rogue nin groups. Sasuke had originally seemed to go after his brother, but met up with Orochimaru and convinced him that his plan was to get stronger so he could take out his brother and restore honor to his family name. Both brothers had been very convincing, fighting any nin they encountered from Konoha and generally being asses. It was almost too convincing, they had both returned from their missions three years later after crippling both organizations and their covers had been blown. The Shinobi in the village welcomed them back with welcome arms mostly (there were some Uchiha who were still not convinced that it had all been a clever ploy), the civilians were also not convinced and were very VERY polite to the brothers while keeping an eye on them when they were seen in the village.
Now, Ino was telling her that there was a whole section of Itachi gossip related to his love life. Sakura shook her head, "I don't want to hear it, that is sooo none of my business." Ino looked at her with a slight smirk on her face, "what if it was your business? what if Itachi wanted you for his bedmate for a while?"
"Ino!"
"I'm just saying...I would be ALL over that." Sakura was sure that her face was as red as a cooked lobster. Shaking her head she tried to think of something that was juicy enough that Ino would get off this topic. "Speak of the devil," Ino breathed still looking at Itachi and Shisui. "Ino!" Sakura kicked Ino under the table, "stop staring at them. It's rude!"
"Sakura, you have to look at this hussy! She just draped herself over him!" Ino sounded thrilled.
Sakura, trying to be discreet glanced over her shoulder. A blonde was behind Itachi, her arms draped over his shoulders while she whispered in his ear. Itachi had his head turned and was looking up at the woman with appreciation in his eyes. Sakura turned back to Ino, "stop staring. What he does is none of your business."
Ino turned, "Are you really telling you don't care?"
"I'm saying he should be allowed to get with whoever he wants and so should she."
"I'm not saying they can't get together," Sakura cut Ino off before she could finish, "you are judging that woman by calling her a hussy. They are both adults and can do what they want."
"You're right, I shouldn't do that. But still, it's a shame." Sakura rolled her eyes, " what's a shame?"
"That woman is clearly a civilian. Which means she probably just wants to be able to say she has slept with The Itachi Uchiha. He's dangerous, future head of his clan, and has a reputation as a lover. She doesn't care about him as a person, just another notch in her bedpost to brag about."
Sakura shrugged, " if that's what he wants its fine." And it apparently it was fine because not even ten minutes later Itachi left the bar with the blonde. Shisui left a few minutes later with Hana. Sakura sat nursing her drink, the pitcher was done so this was it.
As if he knew that they were done, Shikamaru appeared to make sure Ino got home. After making sure Sakura didn't need help getting home he help Ino leave. Ino tripped on the way out and Sakura heard Shikamaru mutter, "troublesome."
Sakura leaned back and finished her drink, deciding it was time to go home. She made it out the door and turned toward her apartment. She was looking down at her feet, thinking about some cases she had to work on so it took her a moment to realize someone was walking toward her. She looked up and smiled at Sasuke when he stepped in front of her.
"What are you doing out this late? Did you come to walk me home?"
Sasuke smirked a little, "Actually I'm looking for my brother. Have you seen him?"
Now it was Sakura's turn to smirk, "Yeah, he was at the bar with Shisui-san. I also saw him leave with a blonde who looked like she had devious plans. Didn't your mother warn you guys about women like her?"
Sasuke's smirk turned into a scowl so fast that Sakura vaguely wondered if lips could get whiplash, "He and I have a mission tomorrow. He told me to relax and sleep tonight so I'd be well rested."
"Well I'm sure after he and the blonde finish the marathon they looked like they had planned he will relax too" she laughed. Suddenly the image of the stoic, dignified Uchiha heir telling his little brother to 'chill' came to her mind and She laughed so hard she was crying.
Sasuke's eyebrows drew closer together, "how drunk are you?"
"Just a little tipsy. And don't give me that look, go home and get some rest." As Sasuke started to shake his head Sakura was able to get herself under control and continued, "I'm serious Sasuke. I'll be fine. If I had to guess, I'd say this mission is high level. Your brother doesn't just go on any mission, and the fact that they wanted both of you…"
She suddenly flung her arms around his neck and whispered, "please be careful. I know are the great Uchiha brothers and all that, but...be careful and make sure you both come back alive."
She released him and slid to the ground, looking up at him with her big jade eyes and her arms still around him. He in turn tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. His eyes were gentle, "we'll be okay Sakura. Let's be honest, my brother is the best in this damn village and I'm not far behind him." She released her arms and stepped back.
Eyebrow raising at his arrogance she scoffed, "I'm sure Naruto would have a thing or two to say about that. Not to mention Kakashi-sensei and Shisui-san."
Snort. "They wish."
"Go home Sasuke, I'll be fine by myself and your brother will too." Sasuke scoffed, "Fine. Pay attention to your surroundings Sakura. We may be in the village, but that doesn't mean you can walk around with your head in the clouds." He poked her forehead hard, then turned and walked off.
She watched him walk away with a worried smile. It wasn't that she didn't think he couldn't handle himself, it was just...she knew Itachi was Anbu, everyone did. Usually, only teammates knew who else was Anbu. Even on hospital records there were safeguards to identities and only the very top knew who exactly was Anbu and who wasn't. But Itachi wasn't just anyone, he was the heir and therefore had to set an example for others in his clan while also showing up the other clans. His anonymity didn't even last a week when he joined. His whole clan knew and they made sure that everyone (particularly the Hyuga clan) heard as well. Tsunade once told her that out of all the clans, the Uchiha and the Hyuga were bred for war. That meant that everyone had to know that their members were the best and they had the guts (arrogance) to let the others know things they shouldn't. They couldn't be seen to be weak. The whole village knew when Neji made Anbu as well. The women in those clans usually weren't pushed into joining Anbu because they had other responsibilities. Namely, they were supposed to retire and become good Uchiha/Hyuga housewives with little arrogant spawn running around behind them.
Again, Sakura was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't realize someone was walking toward her. It wasn't until she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye that she realized that Itachi Uchiha was only a few feet in front of her. They stopped walking at the same time, both sizing the other one up. "Haruno-san."
"Uchiha-san."
It had been a few years since they had spoken, and both had changed so much that their speak took on a more formal tone.
"I just saw your brother and told him you would be home after you finished repopulating your clan, because you have so few members left." Okay, so Itachi was formal.
Itachi for his part raised his eyebrow, "repopulate? No, I was simply performing a service to the village."
Sakura laughed, "I'm so glad we have you here to save all the women in town. What would they do without the Uchiha clan heir to help make sure they made it to their own beds. And then double checked that their mattresses were in good working order."
Itachi shook his head, "They come to me, and I'm not cruel enough to turn them away. Why the sharp tongue Haruno-san? Jealous?"
Sakura quit smiling at this, "Uchiha-san I wouldn't be caught dead asking you to test my mattress. I don't feel the need to ask someone to my bed just so I can tell others about the new notch in my bedpost."
Itachi shrugged, "Nor I, but I don't really mind." Of course he wouldn't, everyone who slept with him thought he was a God in bed and told everyone else about it. It made Sakura angry, because those women were using him and he didn't care. "You should get home, I heard you and Sasuke are going on a mission tomorrow."
His eyes narrowed, "Oh? And who pray tell was leaking mission information to you." He sighed as he finished saying that, "Forget I asked. My foolish little brother is your teammate."
"He's not foolish! And he was concerned for you! Maybe you should show some of the caring that he did and go home."
He snorted, "Goodnight Haruno-san." He walked past her, heading for the clan holdings. Sakura turned, "Watch out for him." He stopped and turned back to her, meeting her eyes. "I will."
He turned away again and had made it five feet before she spoke, "And take care of yourself." Again he turned to look at her but didn't say anything this time. Only stared at her. She felt herself flush but continued, "You're not invincible. You're only human, so...be careful." She was so sincere it was almost to much. "Goodnight Uchiha-san," she spit out hurriedly. She turned and all but ran away. Leaving behind Itachi who watched her go. Suddenly Shisui stood next to him, "well, well Sakura-chan has certainly grown up." Both cousins watched the young medic's retreating back. "It's been awhile since someone other than me and your mother asked you to be careful." Itachi face stayed blank and he didn't acknowledge his cousin's playful tone. He turned and headed home, but to himself he could admit it was nice to know that someone outside of his family thought of him as a person with flaws. That someone other than his kin cared.
Please read and review. Thanks peoples!
