Chapter 6 – Introducing Couples

"Finally we checked the vicinity for any feint chakras or trails, we came up with nothing," Futan; Ten Ten's partner, finished.

"Thank you Futan, now that we are finished I think it's time to call it a night," Sakura said looking at Itachi for his agreement; she got a nod in return, "Well, Miki and I will share a tent, and Kaori and Misaki will share another. This will settle the identity issue; I'm not sure about your team though."

This was how they usually partnered up on occasions where they just didn't sleep around the campfire, so she knew Ten Ten and Hinata didn't mind that she spoke for them. They bid the other team good night and headed for their tents, which they set soundproof barriers on earlier so they could speak freely. "So, you and Sakana," Sakura trailed off, clearly implying something.

"No way Forehead, I've got Sasuke," Ino defended, "which reminds me, would you like to come with us to the Konoha Day festival?"

"Ha! No, I feel like a third wheel every time. Oh wait that's because I am," Sakura joked half seriously.

"Well, I'm sorry your love life is non – existent. I mean I've got Sasuke, Hinata's got Naruto and Ten Ten has Neji."

"Not my fault, I have overprotective team mates," Sakura exclaimed, "They're like protective brothers times 100. I mean I didn't go scaring every girl they dated."

"You didn't chase the girls they dated because he chose your one and only. Plus you can't complain, Shikamaru, Chouji and Neji were protective too, and I'm pretty sure Neji tried to kill Naruto when he heard about him and Hinata."

"Yes but I have Naruto the Kyuubi and Sasuke Uchiha, they are way harder to beat than Shikamaru and Chouji, hands down."

"I would punch you for implying my team is weaker than yours, but I'm tired, so good – night," Ino lazily replied as she snuggled into her sleeping bag.

"We'll pair up in our usual sleeping arrangements," Itachi ordered.

He waited for Saru and Sakana to head to their tents before him and Shisui left. "Well, how was working with Kana?" Shisui whispered, "she seems like the business first type, kind of reminds me of someone."

"Hn, they put a barrier around their tents," Itachi stated, changing the subject.

"What type?"

"Sound proof."

"They're a secretive bunch, the whole duration of the mission my partner had her chakra signature concealed." Shisui explained, "How about you?"

"Same, it doesn't matter they haven't gone against Konoha yet."

"Anyways g'night, Itachi."

"Hn."

Since an ANBU's identity is supposed to be known only by the Hokage, breakfast was just a quick protein bar inside their tents. When they finally met up at the ash remains of their campfire, it was finalized that they will be in the same groups, but will rotate towns.

Itachi and Sakura were heading to Port City, a town near the Fire Country's eastern coast. Port City was a shinobi and civilian city, so ANBU was normal and disguises were unnecessary. Yesterday night, Hinata and her partner; Saru, reported thoroughly interrogating majority of the population and coming up with no valuable information, however they had to leave before checking the perimeter for any evidence of the Akatsuki. That left Itachi and herself spending their day searching Port City; every nook and cranny. They agreed to stay unseen and communicate via earpieces; firstly they would scan the border then search homes and businesses.

"You will take the east and north section of the border and I will take the south and west, we will meet at the gates when we have finished. There is no time limit but keep in mind we have til afternoon to check the whole city, understood Kana?" Itachi ordered, "Dispatch."

She disappeared and sprinted throughout the border, expanding her senses to search any for chakra that are suspiciously placed since they technically didn't have any leads. Her surrounding turned into a green and grey blur as she leapt around the wall. Suddenly she stopped and headed 100 metres east, she felt a very faint chakra that way. "Kurasu, chakra signature 100 metres east from me I'm going to check it out. I'll tell you if back – up is necessary," she murmured, and released the speak button.

"Copy that," he confirmed.

She made sure her chakra was still concealed and headed towards the signature; the forest became thicker as she strayed from Port City. Finally reaching her destination she hid in the bushes, and was greeted by Otogakure ninjas concealing their chakras as they converse. "Kurasu, 3 enemy ninjas 100m east from east south east wing of the border," she warned, "Initiate contact?"

"No wait for me to arrive, if they leave you may stop them," Itachi ordered.

"Affirmative."

After the background static stopped, she tuned into the Otogakure ninja's conversation. "Was packed and shipped this morning, hopefully no one will see it until it actually arrives," a male with white shoulder length hair.

"What was packed this morning? I should've listened earlier, damn," Sakura thought.

"If it does get found it'll just blow up, only his chakra can deactivate the seals," informed another bulky male.

"How long do we have left? I'm tired of waiting," whined a red headed girl with glasses.

"He'll be here soon, we did leave quite a mess at the warehouse and he's just finalising information, remember, an attack takes 1 day to plan, a wars takes months," chided the white haired male.

"Well, it doesn't matter, I can sense him coming," the red head noted, suddenly her eyes widened and she whispered something to the white haired male that Sakura couldn't hear.

She didn't need to know what the red head said, by the look on the white haired male's expression she figured it out. Suddenly, a kunai was headed towards her and she effortlessly dodged it. "We know you're there," shouted the white haired man, "why don't you do us a favour and come out."

She didn't want them to escape so soon, so she did the only thing that could delay them. Genjutsu. "Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death," she murmured.