Disclaimer: I have a Neji plushie, that's all...

Author's Note: Yeah, I update slow. Expect it to get slower, I'm a college student now. Sorry guys!

Chapter 8: Jaded

Shizune had taken her straight to where Tsunade was already attempting to question the man. Sakura entered from behind the man and caught the annoyed look her teacher sent her-- it meant he was not talking. Sakura walked around him to stand with Tsunade, and she gasped slightly when she saw him.

"What is it?" Tsunade wanted to know.

"That's Takashi-san…" Sakura said with wide eyes.

"Do I know you?" Takashi looked up at the pink-haired girl with wide eyes.

"You assigned my partner and I a mission in your country," Sakura was puzzled by his clueless expression. "You really don't remember?"

"I can honestly say I would easily remember your pink hair from anywhere…" he stared at her, making a shiver run down her spine. "I've never seen you before."

Tsunade and Shizune exchanged suspicious glances when Sakura turned to look at them. She glanced back at Takashi and narrowed her eyes at him, knowing this wasn't the man she and Sunny had met when they received their mission.

-x-X-x-

"What do you mean they didn't kidnap the medic?" the man disguised as Takashi growled from the Waterfall throne.

"I mean… Our resources say Uchiha had plenty of chances… But she got back to Konoha untouched," Tobi answered slowly, his partner Deidara biting his tongue to allow the newbie a fair chance to prove his worth.

The fake Takashi rose from the throne and walked down to where Tobi stood, the two before him stood rooted to the spot as he moved. Tobi slowly started shaking as the Akatsuki leader advanced on him, stopping only inches from his face.

"Well then, Tobi," he purred icily, "I suggest you and your 'resources' get Itachi and bring him to be as soon as possible."

-x-X-x-

Sakura and Shizune waited in the Hokage's office while Tsunade locked up Takashi, just in case he was lying about the whole thing.

"How did all of this happen?" Sakura wondered aloud.

"It's war, it always happens," Shizune smiled at Sakura, "but sometimes, it's the best chance to prove what you're worth. This is why people like us exist."

"To kill the bad guys?"

"No, to heal and bring peace."

Sakura fell silent, wondering if that was really possible or if some wounds were too deep to heal.

Just then, the door slammed open and the two looked up. A very worn out Shikamaru shoved in, dropping an ANBU mask as Ino, Asuma, Kakashi and Naruto followed him inside.

"Kodoku-chan, we have problems…" he muttered before collapsing.

-x-X-x-

Kisame and Itachi had made a brief stop to refresh before carrying out more Akatsuki business. Itachi had prepared a small fire and waited for Kisame to return with fish caught from the river they had stopped by. He knew better than to wonder why his partner returned completely soaked with arms full of fish. Kisame was the only person he knew to be able to catch fish by swimming with them.

"Where did you learn that?" Itachi wanted to know. Kisame looked surprised by the question as he dropped the fish, keeping only two to cook over the flames.

"Since when have you been the chatty type?" Kisame countered, only to be answered by silence. He grunted and sat down on the other side of the fire. "My parents taught me."

Itachi let the silence following Kisame's answer sink in. They had that much in common, both were orphaned--by their own doing. The difference with Kisame was that in his clan it was expected that you killed your parents. Kill or be killed, the way of the sharks.

"While we're having a heart to heart," Kisame cut in softly, "what makes you obsess over pinky?"

Itachi was silent for so long that Kisame was sure he would not reply. The fish had been cooked completely, and Kisame had halfway finished eating his first before Itachi's silent answer was heard over the roaring fire.

"She's just like my mother."

-x-X-x-

"Can't it wait just one day?" Mikoto begged her husband, thinking it was worth a try even though the man would never budge.

"You know how these things are, I must go," he answered, never even looking at her.

"It's Sasuke's birthday. He's your son, it's the least you can do to spend this day with him," she countered. It seemed like they argued more and more lately, Itachi pretended not to notice even though his bedroom was next door and the walls were thin.

"I can make it up to him."

"Like you did for Itachi's last birthday?" Mikoto's words burned even her eldest son in the next room. "This will hurt him, just like it did Itachi. Sasuke's just a boy."

"I can't disobey orders," he replied, more softly now.

"You've already lost Itachi, do you want to lose Sasuke too?" Mikoto pleaded.

Itachi put a pillow around his head and rolled over, knowing better than to hope his father cared equally for both of his sons.

-x-X-x-

Sakura had gone to inform Tsunade of Shikamaru's return while Shizune had escorted him to the hospital for a check-up. She knocked and peeked into his room, seeing Asuma sitting next to the open window and flicking the ashes from his cigarette on the edge. Chouji and Ino were sitting in the chairs next to Shikamaru's bed, Ino leaning over the sheets and stroking her teammate's loose hair.

The medic felt a slight pang in her chest as she watched her best friend and Shikamaru interact. While she did know the worry that came with an injured teammate, this was more. It was deeper. Ino's eyes had never before seemed so clear, pure, and open. Shikamaru was recovering from chakra deficiency, but even through his hooded eyes Sakura could see him meeting Ino's gaze.

Many years ago, Sakura had excitedly told Ino about a time when Sasuke had agreed to meet her to show her new shuriken techniques. The blonde had arrived a good half hour before Sakura, just to show her up and sneak in a bit of training. By the time Sakura had arrived, Sasuke was holding Ino from behind as he guided her through a drill.

Ino's eyes had been filled with joy, and a touch of lust while Sakura's burned green with envy.

It was different now. Ino didn't care who saw it, and the feelings in her eyes held more honesty. Sakura wasn't envious, she only hurt for what she couldn't have.

-x-X-x-

"Hokage-sama," Takashi said as Tsunade was about to leave. She paused and glanced over her shoulder at him, waiting for him to go on. "I'm… I'm sorry this has happened. We shouldn't have let this happen, and I hate to say I don't know how it did."

"Thank you , but I don't think any of us really know what's happening," she commented and left without another word.

-x-X-x-

She walked into Shikamaru's room silently, hoping not to disturb him or his teammates as she checked the monitors.

"Low chakra, right?" she turned to see Shikamaru watching her.

"Yeah, but you're doing much better," Sakura held up the print out. "It's nearly doubled since you came in."

"Thank God," Ino smiled and squeezed Shikamaru's hand. Sakura couldn't help but smile back at her friend.

"So the mission… I'm guessing there's more to it than initially spelled out?" Shikamaru wanted to know.

"Yes… There's… A lot going on," Sakura answered and excused herself.

"Sakura," Shikamaru stopped her and she paused by the door. "He'll come back, you know that right?"

"I do…" she murmured and left, wondering how Shikamaru was able to read people so easily.

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A/N: I'm running incredibly low on ideas, so by all means HELP please!!!