Here you go, finally an update! Hopefully I'll get back on top of things and update more quickly in the future. Enjoy, we're still moving slow.

Chapter Seven

Training Partner

Hinata dragged her feet, kicking up dust as she made her way down an empty side street in Konoha's fading twilight. There were many things to ponder now that the Uchiha had returned to the village, but most of her worries lie with what connection they had to Naruto. She was struggling to understand the friendship between him and Sasuke, but without his help, it seemed an insurmountable task. How could she comprehend something she had never witnessed? Being on separate genin teams was making things even tougher. Although she was now chunin, she still kept her closest associations amongst her old teammates.

With a soft sigh, she tried to dismiss the thoughts and focus how wonderful their day together had been. It wasn't a date, but it was close enough for her. Hinata smiled in remembrance. Trying to push aside its ending, she moved just a little faster, her feet making quiet tapping sounds on the ground. With her concentration set on preserving her high, she arrived in front of the looming Hyuuga house faster than she appreciated. Although tempted to turn away and take an unnecessary stroll, she stepped in the front gate quietly.

The front door swung open and Sasuke stalked in. Aster and Itachi turned, watching him. Still guilty over there last meeting, Itachi let his eyes fall to the floor as Aster called warm, witty greetings from the living room. A few steps in, Sasuke stumbled, his ankle still sore. Aster was up in an instant.

"You were training," She accused, glaring at him. Even though Itachi was trying not to get involved, the idea that his brother may have injured himself during a guarded training session caught his attention.

Sasuke shook his head. "So what?" He took another step, almost fully disguising his limp. Only someone looking for it would have noticed. And Aster did, immediately.

She grit her teeth, trying to control her temper. Yelling at him would only make it worse. "'So what?' Weren't you told to rest?" Aster approached him slowly, treating him like a frightened creature of the wild, as she sensed his agitation. "Sasuke… Answer me…" In an after thought she added, "Please."

"I'm fine." He made to dodge her.

Aster caught him by the elbow. "Oh no you don't," She muttered, slipping a little. "I want to look at it."

Tugging his arm away from her in vain, he met her eyes sternly. "Sakura looked at it already. I'm fine."

Catching the flicker in his gaze, she took a firmer hold on him, guiding him towards the couch. "Fine is a loose term. I'd like to check it myself."

"It's going to be alri-" He started, trying to shake her off gently.

"Sasuke, sit down." Itachi was still sitting on the ground, but he spoke with authority. He didn't need to be loud to make Sasuke realize it was order and not a request.

Giving his older brother a sullen look, he hoped to convey a reminder of their argument in this setting only days prior. Itachi pulled his stare away before Sasuke could get the satisfaction of making him more uncomfortable and guilt-ridden. As Aster crammed him into a corner against an armrest, she appeared ignorant to the importance of the exchange.

Flopping down opposite Sasuke, she crossed her legs. "Give that leg to me." He obeyed slowly, scowling at her as his thoughts focused on Itachi. "Don't make that face at me." She scolded him briskly.

Realizing he'd aimed his glare at the wrong person, he flushed and became more cooperative. "It's my ankle…"

She smiled. "Now we're getting somewhere…" Aster pushed back the wrappings, tsking the quality of the redo. "So, training accident?"

"Harsh landing."

Itachi curled his fingers, anxious as he listened to the conversation, and disappointed at his own trepid choice to reframe from it. "You should always have someone with you when you train…" Sasuke looked at him, making his vehemence clearer. "It's safer…" Itachi met and held Sasuke's unkind gaze with seriousness. "You need a partner to watch out for you. You never what will happen."

Swallowing hard, Sakura paused at the end of the path to the front door. Uchiha… Uchiha Sasuke… She bit her lip again. The door was only a few yards away, and she was having trouble gathering the courage to take the precious couple of steps towards it. The brown door stared down her green gaze in an unnerving manner, much reminiscent of the house's occupants.

Easily distracted by her hesitance to admit her fears, Sakura noted the was house brown all over, most likely inside and out. It was rather newly built and unlived in until now. There was no paint on the outside, so she doubted there was any inside. She pursed her lips, deciding it was a bland place to live. I had no idea there were so many shades of brown… Sakura thought disdainfully. No wonder Sasuke is… Her mind became traitorous once again. Sasuke… She clenched her fists, trying to gather her resolve.

Swallowing hard and forcing her decision, Sakura made her way to the door, stopping in front of it. With one last bit of will power, she knocked. She winced, seeing the wood reverberate and realizing she'd knocked much harder than she'd meant to. Then there was silence. Seconds ticked by, and she was about ready to turn away when the door opened. Aster gave her a shrewd once-over.

"Do you need something?" She blushed, hearing how harsh she sounded. In an effort to make up for it she stepped aside. "You look like you have something important to say. Would you like to come in and sit down?"

Now it was Sakura who appeared embarrassed. She'd been expecting Sasuke somewhere in the back of her mind, and currently, she was face to face with his soon to be sister-in-law. "Um," Afraid of causing tension, she accepted the offer. "Thank you…" She mumbled, stepping inside and following Aster's lead.

The house was poorly furnished and wide open. Wooden walls, wooden floors, wooden ceilings, and wooden doors, their home looked to have grown straight out of the ground. Sakura turned to see the living room with Sasuke on one end of the couch and Itachi on the other. The younger's gaze went from a glare to a blank stare as he spotted her, while the other seemed unphased. Sakura met Sasuke's eyes, unable to explain her fear of his attention. Ignoring it, she plastered a weak smile on her face. It faded though as she realized no one else bothered with the courtesy of the act. Aster took hold of her shoulder, guiding her to the couch as Itachi stood, leaving an extra space for her. Sakura slid down, less than a full three feet away from Sasuke. As soon as she started to move, he made to stand.

"No way," Aster was in front of him in an instant. "Not on that ankle - you sit there." She guided him back down as he protested with his eyes, still silent. "You already looked at it?" Aster pointed to Sasuke's ankle and gave Sakura a questioning look.

She answered quickly, still on edge. "Yes. I was passing by when he hurt it." Sakura was ready to continue in an effort quell her nerves, but Itachi's quizzical stare silenced her. The way he watched the room made him appear as though he knew something they didn't. It unsettled her and she again wondered at how Sasuke survived under these living conditions.

"You're a medic, correct?" Aster's tone commanded Sakura's attention and she felt herself shrink under her stone gaze. She nodded, trying to feign confidence as it evaporated from her. "Why weren't you more careful with the wrappings? If the bracing isn't right he could end up hurting himself even more."

Sakura's eyes widened. She knows quite a bit about salutary techniques… How odd. She opened her mouth to answer when she realized she was without a decent reason. In truth, she'd been intimidated by the fact that it was Sasuke she was working on. Somehow it didn't seem like the best reply to give. After sputtering uncomfortably she finished feebly, "I'm sorry."

Her answer irritated Aster. "Don't do it again," she shot back sharply. "A medical ninja holds lives in their hands. Even it was only a sprained ankle, you should exercise the same care you would on the battle field in every situation." Sakura shrank under the stern reprimanding, becoming more curious as to the redhead's knowledge. Aster looked ready to go on, but Sasuke intervened.

"Everyone makes mistakes…" He said quietly in her defense. Sasuke made sure to stay firm in his expression as Aster's mouth fell open. To his surprise, he saw Itachi suppress a smirk.

After a moment, Aster regained herself, giving Sakura one last suspicious look. "Don't do it again." She was met with a solid nod before leaving the room. Sasuke caught Itachi looking them both over once again before he made to follow her.

A few awkward seconds ticked by and Sakura stood up to leave. "Where are you going?" Sasuke asked, his face somehow commanding. Sakura sat down again.

"I… I just thought I should leave." He stared at her, waiting for more explanation. Lowering her voice in confidence, she added, "I don't think Aster appreciates having me here." As if one cue, the angry clink of dishes could be heard in the kitchen.

Sasuke shrugged. "That's just how she is."

She blinked, wondering if he'd meant to comfort her. Instead, she wanted more to leave, and felt more trapped by his steadfast stare. "Oh." They sat in silence for a few minutes. Taking a deep breath, she addressed Sasuke quietly. "I'm sorry I wasn't more careful with your ankle."

That appeared to annoy him. "Aster just likes to nit-pick." He replied sullenly. Sakura looked surprised as remembered what he'd said to her in the forest. As if being reminded of his own words, he continued, "She's just a little bit paranoid at times." Sasuke shrugged, showing that he had nothing against her tendencies. Questions bubbled up in Sakura once more, but she repressed them. Out of the blue, he inquired pointedly, "Why are you here?"

She gasped. "Oh- I have news!" Glancing back towards the kitchen she decided it might be all right to tell Sasuke separately from Aster and Itachi. "The rest of the team has been chosen…" Both immediately knew what was being talked about and it became abruptly tense. "Along with the three of you… I will be going… Kakashi will be going…" She paused, measuring his reactions. So far Sasuke appeared at ease. "And Naruto." He went rigid.

Itachi ducked his head into the kitchen, spotting Aster with her back to him. There were less than a handful of plates in the sink, but she'd turned the water on and was abusing them with a sponge. Once finished with that task, she moved on and threw a pot of water onto the stove rather vehemently. Only after raising a ruckus did she turn around and notice him.

"If you're going to be in here, make yourself useful." She snapped.

Itachi smirked. "You seem upset."

"Get out." She didn't even look at him.

His grin widened. "I haven't done anything… I'm not Sakura." He watched her twitch. "Does it really unsettle you that much?"

Now red-faced, she flipped on him, giving Itachi a thoroughly evil look. "And what is that supposed to mean?" She retorted, failing miserably at self-control. "It would be nice if would say all of what you're thinking." Aster added, still trying to soothe herself.

Moving to repose on the counter next to her, Itachi sighed. "He's sixteen and he likes girls," He stated plainly, shrugging as he finished. Aster gave him a look of pure horror. Hesitantly he tacked on, "I'd be more worried if he didn't…"

Her demeanor changed abruptly. "It's not that…" He watched her shoulders sink. There was a long pause between them. "It's her."

Itachi narrowed his eyes, puzzled by her implications. "Why do you say that?" Ignoring him, Aster turned back to the pot of now boiling water. Before he could forcibly capture her attention, the uncomfortable subjects their conversation entered the kitchen as well.

Both of them turned, Aster nearly spilling hot water. Scolding her sharply as he set the pot on the counter gingerly, he realized she wasn't paying attention to him again. Itachi followed her suspicious gaze to Sasuke. The younger Uchiha was back his dark, reclusive usual sulk, and now there was a careful distance between himself and Sakura, who appeared mortified and helpless in expression. They became still, all sizing up one another.

Gathering herself, Sakura looked to the two on the other side of the room, finding it was somehow easier to keep herself trained on Aster's suspicious face. Breathing deeply and taking from her nearly emptied reserve of foolhardy courage, she started on the reason she'd come in the first place. "… I suspect you already realize I came by with a purpose…" Itachi was placid as Aster relaxed the slightest. Clearing her throat, Sakura continued. "I was sent by Hokage-sama… The rest of the team has been chosen." Everyone in the small kitchen straightened with importance, save for Sasuke who knew what was coming and was successfully blending in with the furniture. "Hatake Kakashi will be in your company, as will I… And so will Uzumaki Naruto."

Aster had flinched at Kakashi's name, but Itachi picked up one the bigger problem. 'And so will Uzumaki Naruto.' He set his mouth in a grim line, more than understanding of what was going through his younger brother's mind, and what kind of negative repercussions it could have. Their mission was going to be a challenge in more ways than one.

Night was falling now and Itachi felt drained he stared out the window. Aster was fast asleep upstairs, and he knew Sasuke was still lying awake by the way his chakra seeped from the second floor. There was so much to consider with their new 'team' that he was somehow supposed to lead. Sure, he'd led small troops of Anbu back in the day, but there was a difference. Each one of them had masks, there was nothing more than business between; and even without the pressure of personal relationships, there was still the daunting task of organizing the group's abilities.

He sighed, shifting the papers under his arm. Idly, he wondered why paperwork was necessary for a marriage, especially the amount they'd been given. Aster's name stood out to him and he remembered how upset Sasuke had seemed at his late inclusion. It bothered him that his brother was equally restless as him. Vaguely he pondered the girl who'd been by and he felt himself smirk. Sasuke wouldn't be caught dead in a show of affection towards her, but he hid his thoughts badly- no matter how unclear they were.

But as everything did, his musings circled back to the unsettling picture of Aster's grim glare in the kitchen. Despite her overprotective nature, this didn't seem like the kind of thing she would interfere with. Itachi chewed his lip, troubled by her attitude towards Sakura. There was more to it, but he couldn't think what it could be. To further his growing dread, his mind's memory conjured a hint of fear in her gaze. There was certainly no reason for that. It didn't add up at all and left him at a loss.

Itachi nearly jumped when he picked up footsteps on the bottom of the stairs. As if sensing his thoughts, Aster stared back half awake, a smile barely curving her lips. She moved down the landing slowly, careful not to trip over her own feet. "You're still up…" Her voice was thick with sleep. He decided she must have woken up, immediately noticed his absence, and decided to seek him out. This wouldn't be a first. Her eyes settled on the papers. "That can wait until morning; I'll help you."

He shook his head. "I wasn't doing much with it…"

"Oh." Aster didn't press for answers as she draped herself over the back of his shoulders. "It's late."

"I know." Itachi leaned back, guiding her arms around him. He was abruptly aware of how thin her night clothing was. Sighing heavily, she gripped the front of his shirt, letting him run his hands down her forearms. He stopped at her wrists, wrapping them in a gentle grip; his fingers nearly closed around her. She was small, much smaller than him. Her yawn tore him from his observations. "Maybe we should get some sleep…"

Aster laughed quietly, still unmoving. "Maybe…" she consented with a drowsy edge.

They took the steps one at time, more cautiously than usual. Aster leaned most of her weight on him and he was nearly carrying her. After what felt like much too long, they stumbled into their shared bedroom. The sheets were already askew. The second he let her go, Aster sprawled across the mattress, dead asleep. Only pausing to consider changing, he dismissed the idea and collapsed next to her. Distantly, he felt her curl against him before drifting to complete unconsciousness.

Naruto stared at the ceiling, the homey bed sheets encasing him no longer comforting. Gloomy gray speckles stared back from the stucco in the darkness. He'd wanted so badly to hunt Akatsuki, now his determination was scattered. His resolve was being dissolved; first by Sasuke, and now Itachi's leadership of their crusade. Thoughts twisted in his stomach and he felt slightly sick. Why did Sasuke do that? Why did he have to join them? The question twisted like a knife, the Uchiha crest on its imaginary handle.

Hope it's alright. I've been busy and struggling with myself, or this would have been up a month sooner. PlEaSe ReVieW Frou Frou is inspirational, especially their song 'Let Go'.