Chapter 9: Human Behavior

-X-

A thoroughly stumped and dumbfounded Haruno Sakura spent the rest of the week trying to figure out what had possessed the Uchiha Heir to kiss her senseless like he did.

Especially, when he had left in such a – dare she say – hurried and determined manner?

When Naruto appeared that very night with ramen takeout she didn't protest when her blond and obnoxious brother tried to cheer her by telling her how he had pounded Sasuke into oblivion for making a nasty comment about her sanction. Sakura only sighed and shook her head, chastising the foxy ninja half-heartedly.

"Oi, Sakura-chan," Naruto locked her eyes with those bright blue orbs of his in a piercing gave. "Are you okay? You seem kinda...off."

"...Yeah, I'm fine, Naruto," she lied hastily, plastering a fake smile on her face. "I'm just bored to be locked up here."

"But... but we can take care of that, Sakura-chan!" the young man bounced enthusiastically in his seat. "Let's go for a spar tomorrow, just you and me! No Sasuke-teme and no Kakashi-sensei, and I'll even let you break my bones!"

Sakura let out a giggle that escalated into a full-blown laughter, recalling the last time she had punished Naruto by punching him and sending him straight to a massive wall.

Of course, she had healed him afterwards, but the blond had been so sweet for letting her vent by using him as a punching bag that she felt she owed him a ramen treat, at least.

Agreeing to his invitation she strode the streets swiftly, intent on meeting with her brother in order to let out some steam. While it was true that she could train on her own, Sakura didn't know how far the Uchiha grapevine reached. As such, she preferred to perform her katas and meditation in the privacy of her backyard before someone scolded or punished her for training even though she was suspended.

Especially because Sakura wanted to avoid any and all men who answered to the Uchiha surname.

Shisui had slipped a note under her door, saying that while she probably didn't want to see anyone from his family – and how right he was! – he just wanted to let her know that he was checking up on her and offering to help her with anything she needed.

It was very sweet and thoughtful of him, and it reminded Sakura how different Shisui was from the rest of his family. It specifically reminded her of how different he was from the one who was supposed to be her teammate and friend.

Sasuke hadn't dropped by, nor had he asked about her since Naruto told him about her sanction.

Shaking her head, she made her way to the woods well beyond the KIA Monument to the gigantic waterfall that Naruto said the ANBU Yamato had made, knowing that Naruto was probably already there. Sakura decided to surprise him and jumped into the trees, bouncing from branch to branch with her chakra masked towards the rendezvous point.

She arrived at the specified location, only to find two cloaked people cornering a rather anxious and angry Naruto.

Pressing her lips together to swallow her gasp, she surrounded the clearing, trying to get a full view of the unknown and most likely opponents. Covered with black cloaks with red clouds, she realized that these two weren't the average opponents.

Akatsuki.

"So, are you going to come with us or I start destroying your village, hmm?" asked one of them, a blond man with his long hair gathered on a topknot.

"Let the boy make up his mind, Deidara," a raspy voice filtered from the other nin. Narrowing her eyes, she only could make out a rather peculiar figure, short stature with a wide body. Knowing that it was just a disguise, especially with that weird tail that showed from beneath the cloak, she saw the short one advance towards Naruto. "But I don't like to wait for too long. What is it going to be, jinchuuriki?"

To Sakura's surprise, Naruto closed his eyes.

"I'll go. Just... don't harm the village."

"Like hell I'm going to let you go like that!" Sakura flipped, landing behind the two Akatsuki. "What the fuck do you think you're doing, Naruto?!"

"Go away!" he yelled, his blue eyes wide with fear. "These two aren't playing, Sakura-chan! They can destroy the village just like they did to the Ojiji's Palace!"

"Then why the hell aren't you fighting to protect it?!" she yelled back, pulling her gloves on hastily. "Are you going to give up without a fight, baka?!"

Naruto perked up like he had been struck, narrowing his eyes at Deidara.

"I think she's right, yeah," the Iwa nukenin drawled, amused. "But it would be better for us if you're out cold. I could give you a ride inside the beak of my bird, yeah."

Naruto growled, but a sudden explosion beneath him made him activate the springs in his feet. Sakura had stomped the ground, and he knew she was looking for revenge after the episode at the Daimyo's Palace. "Why don't you go to hell, bastard?"

At the other side of the clearing, Sakura confronted her opponent.

"So you are the one that injured Kisame," the short, weird man said emotionlessly. "The Hokage's apprentice."

"In the flesh," she sneered, avoiding a few senbon whipped at her by the strange tail. "Why don't you introduce yourself? I fail to recognize people when they have a mask on."

"Akasuna no Sasori," the nukenin said with a husky murmur. "You have a lot of guts to injure one of the Seven Swordsmen of Mist, kunoichi. You were lucky that someone saved your little life before he maimed you."

"I assure you, I was rather disgruntled for the interruption," she hissed before back-flipping to avoid yet another ruthless attack from her enemy. Rebounding, she launched two tagged kunai. The ensuing explosion was dimmed by another one, that coming from the airborne blond nukenin fighting her fox brother.

"Pay attention, kunoichi, otherwise you'll be dead before you get to see my real face," Sasori said raspily, attacking her with a barrage of weapons. Jumping and deflecting as much as she could, she heard him laughing softly again. "Nice evasive moves, girl. But you are dead already."

"What the fuck do you mean?" she demanded, landing heavily on her feet. The man let out another cold snicker.

"Your face, pretty kunoichi. One of my poisoned weapons grazed you."

"Tch, poison," she spat angrily, wiping the thin drop of blood on her cheek. "Like something like that would stop me!"

Stomping the ground again, Sakura leapt off the rumbling earth as a huge hole broke below her opponent, swallowing him whole. She swiveled her head to check up on Naruto, who was sporting a rather reddish look on his eyes. She gasped, knowing what that meant.

"NARUTO!" she yelled frantically. "Don't lose it! Focus!!"

But as another explosion filled the air, the ground under her gave way as well and a bunch of puppets sprang out from below, attacking her mercilessly. A few gashes later, she landed near a large tree, panting heavily. Something was off with her body; she could feel it. The poison was acting fast enough that her normally sharp reflexes felt dulled, slowed down somewhat.

"Che, and here I thought I could get back at you for what you did to me, little bitch," another raspy and familiar voice entered her head, forcing her to look up at the tree. A large, blue-skinned man was leaning on the trunk, wearing a disappointed frown. "I don't think Sasori would mind if I kill you before he makes a cute puppet out of your corpse."

"Go fuck yourself, sushi-pack," she panted, focusing on the scorpion-like form that was barely hid by the dark Akatsuki cloak thanks to her. "I'm a little busy now."

"See, if you keep saying things like that and you'll be killed in the blink of an eye," the shark-nin reprimanded, shrugging. "If you allowed him to poison you, you are most surely done for. That's a shame."

"What side are you on?" she heard Sasori asking him in a different but still cold voice. Green eyes widened when she took in the form that was slowly unfolding itself from the scorpion puppet. A man with red hair and cold grey eyes was standing up from the puppet's back, as if this was the most normal thing to do in the world.

"Your side, Sasori-san, of course," Kisame snickered sarcastically, jumping down the tree and placing himself behind the pink-haired medic. "But as you can understand, I owe this little spitfire for what she did to me. I had to go all the way to Nami to find a medic willing to treat me."

"That does not concern me, Kisame-san," Sasori retorted tersely. "I won't allow you to interfere with our battle."

"Then it's a good thing that there are more opponents to choose from," another deep and detached voice sounded behind Kisame, startling him. Sakura had to admit that the sight of three Uchiha clansmen standing in full gear was most welcome, given the current situation that was almost drowning her in stress and worry.

Kisame snickered loudly, grabbing his sword and jumping straight towards Uchiha Itachi, who merely leapt back in order to have enough room for the impending battle between them. Sasuke looked at her, flicking his gaze towards the blonds' battle as well.

"Go, Sasuke," she said with determination. "He needs you now."

He nodded firmly after a bit of hesitation, understanding what she was saying. 'Don't you dare help. This is my battle.'

As Shisui shifted his weight from one leg to the other, she clenched her fists.

"Go help Naruto, Shisui-san," she motioned, pinning her opponent with a hard glare as she adjusted her gloves and slipped into a battle stance. "I'll call if I need any help."

"Of course, Sakura-san," he said airily, regarding her with his Sharingan activated. "Make sure you don't take too long."

"I'll try my best," she responded as she lifted her foot once more and slammed it onto the ground at the very same time that Shisui leapt towards Deidara, but suddenly another masked, cloaked nin interfered, ensuing another harsh fight.

"Are you willing to pay attention to me now?" Sasori deadpanned gravelly, sending another barrage of puppets towards her. No matter how many she deflected and avoided, there was always another one behind them to attempt to hurt her.

Damn, she thought frustratedly. If I don't do something soon, I'll...

She didn't finish her own thought. She was really worried about Naruto, but the battle against the Puppet Master was one that demanded her full attention. The poison was working rapidly inside her system, but she didn't have any antidote she could activate with her dwindling chakra to delay its effect until she went to her mentor.

She figured that Tsunade and Shizune could counteract the poison, but she needed to break out and send her opponent to his merry way first... just like--

A memory flashed through her mind, and Sakura remembered a shotgun mission she did with her team. Sasuke and Naruto were in the middle of the fray, rescuing the daughter of one of the minor Fire Daimyo, when she got cornered by approximately a dozen of enemy nin. Thinking fast and showing them why she was a Jounin, she summoned Kakashi's pack of dogs, unleashing them on her enemies and working with them as they chewed, one by one, their opponents down.

Grabbing her little scroll from her pouch and thanking her foresight to put it in when she was preparing for her sparring session with Naruto, she used a gash on the back of her hand to perform the Kuchiyose no Jutsu.

Pakkun appeared accompanied by the rest of the pack, understanding the situation in the blink of an eye. Spreading swiftly like the ninja familiars they were, the powerful canines started to chomp down on Sasori's puppets, while she dealt with others with the sheer strength of her fists as the petite pug disappeared to get back-up.

Sasori didn't seem to acknowledge the dogs; he was so focused on keeping the pink-haired kunoichi in sight as he continued sending puppet after puppet at her. The only thing that could be heard was the clash of metal, great explosions and the dull noises that the empty dolls made when she flung them to the uneven ground.

However, Sakura's strength was waning at an alarming rate. The poison was too ingrained in her system now, and she feared a collapse when she sent yet another wooden doll to the ground. But suddenly Pakkun came back with Kakashi, Yamato and Tsunade herself in tow, along with a large group of shinobi that didn't think twice about jumping ahead and cornering the Akatsuki members.

"Thank Kami," she breathed in relief when Yamato leapt to continue her battle with his early opponent while Kakashi went to assist Shisui with his.

Knowing themselves outnumbered, the four Akatsuki nukenin gathered in front of the Konoha ninjas, one of them speaking on their behalf.

"You did well today in protecting your weapon," a smooth, deep masculine voice filtered through an orange, swirled mask. "Let's see if you can keep a close eye on him in the future. Good day, Tsunade-san."

"What the fuck!" Sakura heard the blonde Hokage shout as the four enemies clasped their hands simultaneously, teleporting away. But the pink-haired woman's senses were dulling more and more as she started to collapse, someone broke her fall gently, cushioning her battered body as they lowered her onto the broken dirt.

"Sakura!" a faint feminine voice demanded, but she was much too dizzy to identify it now.

"Poison..." she whispered, finally falling into oblivion.

-X-

Sakura awoke thanks to the golden light filtering through the curtains. Letting out a groan, she tried to sit up when a deep, familiar voice stopped her from doing so.

"Please don't move, Sakura-san," Shisui said from the threshold of the door. Looking around, she noticed with relief that she was still in her own room. She furrowed her brow in confusion when she looked at the man entering her room with a light bow.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a husky murmur, prompting the man to walk quickly to her and offer a glass of fresh water. She drank slowly, grateful for his help. "I thought you would be in the hospital."

"We were released two days ago," the elder Uchiha said as he crouched next to her bed. "You were still under observation, but Tsunade-sama said it would be best if you were treated in your own home. Shizune-san left a little while ago, after she checked up on you."

Sakura made a noise to let him know she knew what he was referring to. In her soothing and sedate manner, Shizune said it was a nasty poison. Thankfully she had all the herbs to make the antidote. Funny enough, one of them was one Sakura had in her garden. She smiled faintly, recalling what the dark-haired poison expert said when she came for the ingredient she grew at her own home. "So nothing was found on the battleground?"

"Not yet. We've been combing the area, but it's just a matter of time until those bastards show up again," Shisui said with a light shrug and a frown. "Tsunade-sama is so relieved that you and Naruto-kun were okay that I think she forgot about reproving you for your actions."

"Your actions helped save your nakama," another voice sounded behind Shisui. Sakura's eyes widened when she took in the sight of Uchiha Itachi leaning on the doorjamb. "It was a good thing you managed to delay one of them long enough for others to realize you were missing."

"But I wasn't missing, I was going to spar with Naruto--" she protested weakly.

"He was called for a mission with us; that is why we had to track you down," Shisui piped in lightly, looking a little bit wary of the sudden narrowing of Itachi's eyes when his cousin locked eyes with Sakura.

"Is either of you injured?" she asked softly, avoiding the younger Uchiha's stare. "You should be resting, those fights surely were harsh."

"Ever the thoughtful medic, Sakura-san!" Shisui said with one of his perplexing smiles. "Do not worry on our account though, Itachi and I are sound. Only you were the one that took the most injuries of our party, since your opponent was the most vicious one."

"Shisui, don't you have to visit someone?" Itachi asked suddenly, startling him. "I heard that Inuzuka-san returned from her mission last night."

Sakura smiled when said Uchiha frowned and colored slightly. "How do you know Hana is back?"

"I have my sources," his cousin shot back with a faint curve of his lips. "You might want to go visit or Tsume-san would consider not giving any more credibility to your courting."

"...Fuck you, Itachi," Shisui growled in annoyance, rising from his place next to Sakura's bed. "I have to go, Sakura-san, I'll come back later if you'll allow me."

"Thank you for your concern, Shisui-san," she intoned in a fond murmur. "Say hello to Hana-chan for me, please."

The raven-haired man startled at her words, frowning, almost pouting comically to the prostrate medic. "I think you should consider applying for ANBU, you seem to pick up on nasty mind manipulations quite swiftly. Ibiki-san would be really happy to have you in his department."

Sakura merely laughed silently, grimacing in pain when the muscles on her stomach protested for the sudden movement. Itachi noticed, but waited for his cousin to depart.

A sudden silence fell on the room after they heard the main door closing behind Shisui, leaving them alone.

"How is Naruto?" she asked.

"He's at home," the Uchiha responded easily, arms crossed over his chest. Still, he made no move to enter her room. "It's been two and a half weeks since the Akatsuki infiltrated the village."

"...Bloody hell."

The man nodded curtly. Sakura sighed, swallowing a groan.

It was silent until she tisked and lifted a green glowing hand, placing it over her own stomach. She noticed that Itachi was still there, watching her carefully examine herself with her chakra and soothing the soreness from her stomach.

"I will be okay now," she said after enduring his heavy gaze for a while longer. "You should be on your way as well. You wouldn't want to be caught in my company."

"And why would I care if someone sees us, Sakura?" he asked smoothly. Her eyes flickered to him briefly before lowering. She felt no desire to spill the full story and relate the horrible moment in which his father insulted her.

"...I really think you should go," she pressed firmly, though her blazing cheeks told another story. Itachi had already noticed her sudden withdrawal. He was almost expecting her to yell at him for being in her house, but this reaction firmly supported a theory that was building inside his brilliant head.

"Alright," he relented after a long moment of observation without her raising her eyes to meet his. "I will leave you to your own devices. However, you are not to leave your bed until Shizune-san or the Hokage says so. Those were her personal orders."

"And since when ANBU Captains are personal nurses to mere Jounin?" she snapped, already annoyed by the heat stubbornly plastered into her face.

Itachi smirked faintly.

"Since I came here to talk to you."

Sakura gaped at him.

At the same time, something burst inside her, the anger and the confusion she was feeling since he'd left her that night after that slow kiss, so full of fire and desire.

"Just who the hell do you think you are?" she demanded, sitting up on her bed without even realizing that her clothes had been changed into a large dark t-shirt she stole from Kakashi. The collar was loose enough that her shoulder was bare due to the fabric slipping down. "First you kiss me and then you leave like I was some sort of--just--what the hell are you doing with me? Don't you have a Clan to lead, a fanclub to attend to?"

"I would not know about the fanclub, and I do not lead the Uchiha Clan. At least, not at the moment," he rebuked her words easily and calmly. All the same, Sakura wasn't too keen on having him loitering about in her home any longer. "I want to know what they said while we weren't there."

"Wha--Why?" she asked, watching him warily as Itachi strolled casually to her window.

"The Kiri nukenin said a few things regarding the Akatsuki organization that I need to arrange before drawing a definite conclusion," he explained, looking as relaxed as if he owned her own room. "Hoshigake Kisame taunted me with his Leader being really interested in my skills."

Sakura gaped again, this time more openly. Why he was telling her this?

Itachi glanced at her over his shoulder. She didn't seem aware that she'd voiced her internal question, making her sound concerned. Worried.

"I need you to tell me, Sakura," he pressed quietly, leaning on her window. "Something is brewing around Naruto-kun and I'm positive you can feel it. You are his best friend."

"You are wrong," she said in an angry whisper. "I am not Naruto's best friend. Your brother is. I am Naruto's sister. And I will do whatever it takes to protect him."

Uchiha Itachi's lips curved slowly in a little smile.

"I did not expect anything less from your bond, Sakura," he answered. "Now, tell me what Akasuna no Sasori told you."

Rolling her eyes openly, she informed him of all the taunts her wooden opponent had thrown her way in the heat of the battle, something about Akatsuki's goals and the absolute conquest of the Shinobi Countries.

A dark glint shone in Itachi's eyes, making her shiver slightly. Sakura sat up on her bed.

"They're after Naruto... because of the Kyuubi, aren't they?"

The Uchiha nodded curtly.

Sakura hid her face in her hands. "By the Gods..."

Everything made sense now, and painfully so. Naruto was the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. Therefore, it was just a matter of time until he was hunted down by the power-hungry nukenin. Her blood ran cold as she grasped the very magnitude of the situation.

Her brother was in unspeakable danger, even in his own village.

"We will do whatever it takes to protect our comrades," Itachi said from his perch on her window, his arms still crossed. "However, if the Elders' Council sees him as a liability to the village's security—"

"No!" she cut him off anxiously, her face flushing in frustration, rage and apprehension. "I would die defending Naruto from everyone, even the Council if I have to!"

Itachi nodded. "I realize that. And I'm sure most of your friends would do the same, as would I."

Sakura gasped, staring at the Uchiha Heir with wide eyes. "Why?" she asked. "He's not your friend..."

"He is still a valuable asset to Konoha, and our nakama. I will defend him just because of that."

The kunoichi sighed deeply, trying to control her uncontrolled urge to cry. Lowering her eyes, she realized that he was leaning somewhat awkwardly on the windowsill. His position indicated that he was injured.

"You were wounded," she murmured softly, leaping at the opportunity to change the subject. "Let me see."

"I have been healed by Shizune-san," he said calmly, but already making his way towards her. "It is of no importance."

Sakura was not to be dissuaded; her mind was already set on seeing to his injuries. As he pulled up his shirt, she placed her hands on his torso and gathered her chakra. The effort it took made her wince noticeably. He was well on his way to a complete recovery, but she could 'see' that some of the wounds were sore from his wandering around. Flooding her hands with medical energy, she soothed him smoothly with the passing of her delicate fingers.

"All set," she whispered, not daring to lift her gaze to meet his. "You should rest too; you aren't completely healed yet..."

Two extended fingers took her chin gently and lifted her face to his. Itachi's gaze was intent and somewhat dark with something she couldn't identify, but the intensity in his eyes made her blush.

"I want you to rest," he murmured softly. "We are going to need your skills soon."

"Wha--" she started to say, but the way he trailed his fingertips over her cheek before he stood up and made his way to the door rendered her speechless once again.

"Do not worry, Sakura. We will work everything out."

Suddenly, she felt the need to believe him.

-XxX-

AN: Seriously, I'm updating this because my beta cheered me enough to do it. I am not happy at all with this chapter. I just want to get to the main theme of the story, so I'll have to ask for your forgiveness on this half-assed attempt of a chapter. Instead of placing this story on hiatus, I'll try to pull those five chapters left the best way I can. After talking to my beta, I felt it was the best thing I could do; otherwise this would be my first abandoned project.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this and if you didn't, I apologize. Sadly, Itachi's outcome in the manga made me lose all inspiration for this fandom. I'm deeply thankful for the attention and the love all of you have given to this little story; I was certainly overwhelmed and I still am. Because of that, I can assure you this fanfiction will be completed. Hopefully, by the end of this year.

I'd like to give my love and many thanks to Rapturesrevenge, who was kind enough to fill in for Sometime.Usagi, who for work-related issues had to step down of the beta position. I love her anyway, haha! The Bunny Lady knows this is mainly for her, so I hope she appreciates this effort, hehe. Give Music Lady a good shout out!

Thanks for reading, anyway!