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Chapter 8

She began to open the door to her apartment, drained; the never ending barrage of questions from her team about the other 'Sakura' let her know that they suspected something they just didn't know what. She paused, sensing wrongness from the inside of her apartment. The usual resistance her lock usually put up when she injected her chakra was t there, and it wasn't until she observed closely that someone was in her house, she couldn't determine who due to the chakra wards she put up to obscure her clones chakra to make it seem as if it were her.

Quietly she dropped the pack, and took out a kunai ready to spring if the person inside went hostile. But if it was one thing she did know, was that she was screwed. She let the door open by itself, the smell of fresh tea wafting in the air and she wondered…Would someone who broke into others houses really do that? She had to wonder at her intruder's sanity… Then again she had done crazier things as ANBU operative Watanuki the April fool, so in a way this wouldn't be too crazy… at least that's what she thought, "Welcome home, kunoichi." An unmistakable voice said through the door. Sakura sighed to herself hitting the back of her head against the metal framing once; the jig was up. Sheathing her kunai she walked in noting the cleanliness of the floor and lack of blood that should have had the intruder long dead by now.

It was then that she saw flash of red in his eyes before turning black and looking down at the book in his hand. Damn Uchiha's and they're freaky red sharingan, she was sure that, that particular feature was the only reason why he wasn't made into ribbons across her floor. How else would it explain his relaxed and smug manner across one of her cozy chairs while reading a book? One of her favorite books no doubt. "I wasn't aware that breaking and entering was a form of nin affection Weasel dear." He took a sip of tea then put the book down in his lap snuggling deeper into her favorite cozy chair, if you could describe any of his actions snuggly.

"Welcome home Ma-Cherie." He said, she noted that he deliberately avoided her question, so that meant that it was his form of affection, what a problematic person she got herself involved with. "How was your mission?" Sakura froze his words catching up to her; did he just call her 'my sweetheart' in French? She could feel her jaw want to drop. She narrowed her eyes, he was adapting, "Wonderful, Weasel-dear what's for dinner?" she asked playing along, she watched satisfied as an eye slightly twitch at the new pet name. She flashed a glance at her wall, the kimono was a cm away from where it used to be and the tatami mat was slightly crooked, he knew. Wonderful, one problem after another, but at least he knew and that would make him a possible ally, something she could use right about now.

She took a breath in and smiled at him, in court when faced with a problem she smiled, it was the most diplomatically correct way to divert a situation, although there was no one to see it. Smiling was the best way, and smile she did. "I was hoping we could go out to eat, Ma-Cherie or did you have something… important to talk about?" He gave her a twinkling smile in return the very picture of politeness-a great substitution for innocence, a role she was sure he could never play- she knew behind that smile lived a monster ready to eat her alive. At times like this obliviousness was bliss, but Sakura knew it was always better to know the cold reality.

"There's always something important to talk about, my dear Weasel boy." She approached him cautiously before taking the book off his lap, and replacing its place. She shifted to make herself comfortable, on his rock hard muscles "It's just a matter of whether you have the right answers or not."

~(Itachi)~
He couldn't agree more as he moved to place his arms around her slender waist. They were both placing each other's lives in the others hands. He held her waist and she was within close proximity to his neck, and he her torso. She had medical jutsu he knew she could use, and he had cold efficiency they were at a cross road of sorts, and it was enough to make the heart pound.

"Shall we get down to business then Ma-Cherie?" he taunted, crossing his legs to position her a little higher, he knew it would give her a little advantage, but the only way he was going to get her to talk was if she felt like she had some sort of handicap. Not only that, he was sure she wouldn't kill him, those eyes of her said much differently. No her eyes held almost a silent question maybe even a plead. "Of course, one of equal exchange, and more…my secrets, for important information pertaining the safety of your village." Itachi felt his attention sharpen as he looked into those normally soft green eyes; turn to the equivalence of veteran ANBU captain, the quickness of the transformation amazed him all the more.

As amusing as that was though, her words were more important, "Tell me all you know," he asked with a tone to accent the seriousness of the situation "Only if you promise to listen to me until the end." She told him gravely. It drew his attention, the tone she used. He nodded, unable to do anything else, "I am Lady Haruno, agent of the Fire Lord on his executive council." She told him slowly, as if she didn't know where to start. He nodded urging her on. "At the same time I am the ANBU masks you see on the wall. I was sent here by the Fire Lord to check out the loyalty of Konoha, as well as check out the status of the famed 'Danzo' that has been the epicenter of my ANBU operatives research, on the origins of the nin conflict.

"I was asked to research him and if I found any threatening proof I would immediately eliminate him, which is why you found me as Enmu in the ROOT archives. So far my research on Konoha has been solid so far, but not completely thorough, you understand I trust?" He nodded, sensing a question that was coming up, "I… would like your help something else has come up. It pertains partially to the Akatsuki and the standing of your village and I would like your cooperation this is one thing I'm not sure I can take it on alone." The question was clear, but Itachi never went into anything that he wasn't aware of, but even so he felt that he would get pulled in regardless.

She sighed, her breath brushing his face like silky fingers, "The Fire Lord's life is in danger." He felt the gravity of the situation in her words, "He's no nin, Itachi he cannot protect himself, and his enemies are beginning to move due to my prolonged absence. I was informed that the first concubine Lady Sururi has died, and Lady Kumu has taken her place. She is backed by the Bakufu and the Shinsengumi who do not approve of a hidden village in the Fire Lands. They in turn have turned to the Akatsuki, and I the Fire Lords, head advisor find myself in a compromising position, I know by now the court will mostly be against me, and I am informed that I will need to locate a husband.

"I can't be tied down just yet. The Fire Lord… no the country would benefit better if I were free from the cage any of those nobles would put me in…" Her green met his black in total contact her eyes hiding a hidden plea, she had pride and she didn't lower it for anyone, but here she was lowering it for his help. He knew she was confident in her abilities, and knew how to gauge them. And she knew her limits. It was a hard decision but no matter how he twisted it, it was inevitable.

It was for the good of Konoha, but most of all, she was asking for him to know her better, and most of all despite being a nin, she was asking for his help, and in return she trusted to him. That in itself was a prize. A prize he couldn't give up. She was a puzzle and her constant movements exhilarated him, he took a strand of hair between his fingers, and kissed it. "Don't worry Ma-Cherie, you'll have my backing all the way." In his arms he felt her relax and she dropped her hand from playing with his hair while he remained with his arms around her torso, the seriousness turned to relief, a twinkle in her eye indicated that she was back to normal.

"Well, then Weasel-dear, shall we go get some dinner?" Itachi, liked the liveliness that went in her eyes, and it was that that he knew he was seeing one of the few moments where she was just being her.

~(Sakura)~

She didn't know exactly was racing through her mind when she had asked Uchiha Itachi for help, whether the stress had gotten to her of the pumping adrenaline from being each others' arms was the cause, all that she knew was that she was glad that she did. Pure and simple, there was no dispute. What a great ally she had won to her side, a power she knew would be the turning point of this whole cracked up mess fate had so carelessly thrown in her lap.

Even now, she knew he was formulating ideas, tomorrow she would give him her reports in full detail and they would launch their path of strategy from there. Of course they would bring the Hokage into this, it was after all her village, but she had someone to validate her point, and help her keep a secret, something she wanted to keep until the very last moment. The unveiling of her true self in court was inevitable that much she knew but she didn't intend to hurry that particular course of action. Without that veil to hide her she knew that she would never be able to walk across the street without someone recognizing her. The notion saddened her.

Sacrifice one for the many right? Noblesse Oblige, it was her duty to help others, that particular saying had never left her in her many years of wandering without her parents, there were times where she had ignored it, times that she conveniently forgot it, but now it was there to stay. She was a noble, and that would never change, raised to help her people. Although she had been commissioned to kill many she had researched their cause and effect on the peoples and whether their actions deserved death and it was that saying in which Sawako the ANBU mednin specialist was borne. All for the purpose of helping those in need, she gave out a laugh, maybe it was to atone for all the lives she did take, all of those families she had devastated in her wake, in her early and late teens the burning hatred she had for people.

Then she wasn't so kind, then she didn't give that much thought to whom she killed it was then that she created Kage, one who killed without discrimination, the one who brought upon massacres. At that time she had been angry at the world for throwing her there in that hell; angry at the people who were happy while she had to suffer the consequences of those who sought to take down her house. It was even in that time she had brought down her parents betrayers killing off the families in the worst way possible. One would have thought she was a monster in that ANBU suit, but when she woke from that dream, when her reason came back and she had looked at what she had done and the hundreds she had killed in her revenge she had cracked.

Thus giving birth to Watanuki, then she had been desperate to die, so she created a person who did too many unnecessary movements that begged for them to kill her, and even then she didn't die. She didn't remember the exact order in which these parts of her were borne, at the time it had been to hectic to count, but she did know the reasons, each of them made to protect her mental state in one way shape or form. Now that she thought about it, they had all been stages of her life, and now that she reflected, she found they each occupied a section in her heart. All of them made up her. At the same time they weren't. Funny she had never really taken the time to digest this all and think about it, it seemed that Itachi got more gears turning in her head she had thought possible.

Which made her love him all the more; it seemed she had liked him all along, even when she had considered him a threat. She hugged a pillow in the dark pressing it to her face feeling red embarrassment make their way to her cheeks. Oh god, it seemed she was getting to be no better than those twittery little girls in the palace who only though of love. Then again, what they desired was the man's assets not the actual man himself. Even Lady Sururi as much as she loved the Fire Lord couldn't also help but think about the country she would own and the people who would bow down to her.

But unlike the other ladies Sururi actually had a brain in which to rule. The Fire Lords loved Sururi and she had enough status to marry him, too bad she died, they would have made a perfect match and then Sakura wouldn't have to worry as much and work on her ANBU headquarters. She thought of Itachi and his puzzle like mind, that alone would have drawn her to him, but he was also head of an ANBU cooperation and noble in himself. She sighed, she didn't like that she was obsessing over him. Even so she felt she couldn't help it. Frustrated she rolled out of bed, maybe reading reports would let her mind cool down. Take her off subject, she didn't know he would occupy her mind so thoroughly, then again hadn't Sururi said something to this effect?

Something about the person she would fall in love with would be so complicated even Sakura would have to stop and look? Sakura pulled out a scroll, Sururi didn't know how right she was, because, even now, the subject of Uchiha, Itachi frazzled her mind.

~(Itachi)~

He had brought her to the Hokage, tower, where they could further explain, their situation; he knew that they needed co conspirators to keep the competing Bakufu and Shinsengumi in check if they wanted to continue to have a Konohagakure. Itachi was also sure that he would have no problems convincing his clan to help in the movement, and after that it would all fall into place like dominoes. This was after all for the good of Konoha, and it would be unfair to leave them out of it, what really needed planning was the safety and protection of the villagers.

Itachi was sure that the Akatsuki was a force that they couldn't handle on their own, he was sure that even the current Hokage could only handle one, just as he and Sakura could, counting Jiraiya and two Jounin with ANBU back up it wasn't much insurance. Itachi would have to work with Sakura to think up an elaborate trap, to keep them at bay, they could only take one at a time after all. Even so Itachi was sure that they would be in the Fire Lord's palace trying to get rid of the center of the dispute. Itachi felt his lips twitch in anticipation he had always loved a challenge and it seems that his little kunoichi came with quite a few surprises.

He watched her now as she presented herself to Hokage and went into further detail to what she had told him last night. He pink hair moving to every little twitch and human-like gesture she showed, even so it was the picture of grace, right now she was in her court lady mask. The way she held herself upright and regal, her eyes cool and collected, the way she moved to emphasize her point. It was another side he was seeing to her. To him she was like water, always shifting and changing to the situation but when it came down to it she was merely water.

You couldn't catch her in your hands until she solidify herself and give you her true form unless certain circumstances were met, he wanted to be the one who knew how. Only she was free to give it to him. And that excited him all the more; she was the only thing that could fight against the boredom inside his mind. "I would like to bring Itachi with me to alleviate the situation pertaining to a possible suitor as well as serve as my body guard." Itachi pulled himself to the reality present at the mention of his name, as he looked on to the Hokage who contemplated, the details to a mission he knew she would accept.

He knew that it was simple enough for even her to understand, it would be more beneficial if she sent a person to the root of the situation. "Very well, but I require that you bring a team of your own to the castle, from the sounds of it you'll need back up to keep you safe." Itachi along with Sakura nodded in acceptance. "We'll leave in a few days, it seems that getting rid of the Danzo problem is now second priority." Itachi watched the interaction between what seemed to be two equally powerful women, but Itachi knew that Sakura was only lowering herself to that level in respect.

She was the stand post that kept any of the opposing forces from expelling Konoha, and she was the only one close enough to the Fire Lord to ensure their safety. "Not only that, but the old bastard might prove useful, information wise, I'll have my double agent Sai contact you at the right moment." The Hokage nodded at her words, the furrowed brow in her blonde brow reflecting the processing she was doing to get the information down. Itachi had to admire the girl's restraint, she fed enough information to work out the Hokage's brain without overloading it, and he had noticed the quiet pauses she made in order for the Hokage to organize herself before continuing.

"Do you have a particular team in mind?" asked the Hokage, finally catching up. Sakura nodded, "I would like to bring team seven as my back up, I am the most familiar with them, and while they may not be subtle, their distractions will allow us to work as quietly as possible. I will of course introduce them as my close friends and acquaintances. Not only that, but I heard that the Akatsuki are paying particular attention to the Kyuubi inside of him, and that Sasuke has been a hot commodity of the former Sannin Orochimaru," He felt the urge to flinch wondering where she had gotten that information, but then realized that due to her connections she was bound to have a double agent somewhere.

He had a feeling that it was a certain blonde girl she was 'well' acquainted with. "I trust that this isn't the first time they've been undercover." A short shake of the head as dismissal of the words ended that section of the conversation. "Very well, I will contact you with my ANBU forces carrying my emblem, and in this joint operation I will be sure to secure your place in the Fire Lords nation and try to cover any losses you might sustain during the duration of this mission." Itachi watched as the woman he was quickly starting to love, held out an arm in camaraderie, he watched in approval as their Hokage accepted.

He watched her change forms once again, from her courtly self into the Sakura Haruno she had showed to everyone else. "Well, then Tsunade-sama. I appreciate your help!" Itachi saw the slight narrowing of the Hokage then a smirk in approval. "Take care of our nin, Sakura."

They walked out of the Hokages office and he stopped just behind her as she paused to look at the sunlight, "you failed to mention the fact that your' nine of the ANBU in the BINGO books." He pointed out. She turned to him and gave him one of her more mysterious smiles, as an answer, she took his hand in hers probably to prepare for the trip while Tsunade informed his brother and his team. He smiled at the back of her head. He had to admire her boldness, and the confidence she had in herself to pull off a mission. And then Itachi found himself thinking, that this wasn't the first time she had done something unexpected, and he knew wouldn't be the last.

Awww, how cute, love is in the air… I think I made Itachi a bit of a playboy, but hey that was just in the flow of the story and no matter how many times I've reread it, it fits… Plus I think I can use that for later ^.^ Sorry for the semi-late update, homework crap to bog me down and I have to regulate my fanfic writing to make sure I get good grades so my parents have nothing to complain about! XD

Thanks for reading and review!

To my anonymous reviewers….


To Megami_Tsunami:
I'm glad you like it! I love this story too! And I hope I haven't made a predictable plot!


To angel897:
Will keep it up or probably die trying!


To Yuemin:
lol yeah you'lll have to thank one of my fans for inspiring that idea… XD