Possible titles for chapter nine for Beta-Chan to look at :D

Imperfection, igneous, ignite, impalpable, illustrative, illusion, immobility, immaculate, initiative, imperious, impetus, imprecate, infuriate, infringe. Usually, I choose to end the chapter with the basis on its namesake, so whichever you choose shall set the pathway for the ending paragraph. :333 Also could you do your corrections in a different color than black, so I can look them over more closely and praise them 3 –S.s

As it stood, Sakura or rather Haruna was left carrying a rather drunken Naruto back to his hotel. After consuming several bowls of Raman, Naruto drank thirteen consecutive cups of sake. To the untrained eye, most would call what Naruto possessed depression. But Sakura knew better because it was her who had caused his downfall. It was hard to protect from afar, but Sakura would be damned if that'd stop her.

In the book, drunkards for dummies, Sakura categorized Naruto easily. He was the happy-go-lucky-sage-touchy-feely drunk. What a mouthful to say, but Sakura managed. She was thankful, she had never even touched sake before, it seemed like a useless drink. His breath fanned across her neck awkwardly as he clung hazardly to her back. She was constantly shrugging him upright as he was comfortable enough to tilt his unruly locks back to gaze at the stars overhead.

He talked about everything from the color he imagined his Sakura-Chan's panties were to whether Kakashi had buck teeth. If she had been Sakura, not Haruna she would have decked the blonde dobe. But she was content and at peace to listen to his wild ramblings, because it was him. She loved that idiot like the brother she never had. They had been inseperable since their teens and survived so much together.

Taking a slight break, she lowered him to the ground in a nearby park, three blocks away from the flea ridden hovel of his hotel. His bright eyes had been drifting sleepily, so she took to a nearby swing, plowing her feet into the ground absentmindedly. She was startled out of her dreary motions by his suddenly clear voice, "Your pretty strong ya know? Strong like Sakura-Chan used to be. Before teme…"

Sakura puzzled over this flippant comment as she gawked at the two gigantic mounds of sand that were located next to her feet. There lay two holes each around five feet deep, done without a thought. It was flattering that Naruto though her strong once, she wondered when she stopped being strong. When had she become so ruthless?

"I'm sure Sakura-Chan is doing her best even though she's gone, Uzamaki-Kun." Her voice was higher and more feminine as she strove to differentiate herself from the entity of Sakura. Honestly she was doing her best with the lemons that Naruto kept squeezing in her eyes. The salt that was rubbed into her wounds repeatedly was a bit more difficult to mangae, but she kept coming back for more. Such a pinkette masochist.

The moonlight fell over another shadow which had been steadily creeping upon their conversation. Stepping into the moon's light was none other than Sai, his face unreadable as he took in their circumstances with a grain of salt. Naruto had conked after hearing her last statement, so she was left to the undressing of the eyes that the ink master was giving her. She was sure he was suspicious or at the very least, wary of her presence.

"Dickless is such a pansy, can't hold any booze, I swear. I'll be taking him from here, Haruna-San." Not one to wait for consent, he heaved Naruto over his broad shoulders like a grain of rice. He turned to go only to toss a scroll flippantly at her, her reflexes caught the object. At her questioning glance, he replied flippantly, "Just a doodle I did of this girl I once loved, but then lost. I suppose you remind me of her. I doubt I'll see her face for quite some time." With a brisk wave, he took off into a run; the last Sakura saw was that of Naruto's lifeless body.

She returned to her hotel, creeping as quietly into the room as she could manage. But apparently not silent enough by the full scale glare from one Uchiha of the killer brand. At first Sakura would have called it a glare but it was far too piercing for that. "If looks could kill, I'm sure we'd be full of kunai holes. What got his panties twisted in a knot?" Another lovely image via her inner self. "What if he doesn't wear underwear, wouldn't that be sweet?" Releasing her henge jutsu, Sakura faced the eyes that had slaughtered so many.

"Fraternizing with the enemy, Haruno-San? You have such poor taste." Itachi's voice was even but the aura that he gave off, gave Sakura instantaneous goosebumps.

"I was only being courteous, Uchiha-San, towards those who actually deserve it." With this said Sakura flipped onto her futon to unroll the scroll from Sai.

Inside was painting with the softest hues capturing a young maiden. The woman had long wavy pinks locks, long lashed eyes held in absolute bliss. Her long slender legs were dangled over the edge of a pool of water; a few toes feeding the koi that swam below. Her arms were draped over a branch in the crook of the Sakura tree where she slept in ethereal wonder. Sakura felt herself be pulled along with the mood of the painting in complete reverence. The last dryad of Sakura, was scribbled neatly in the left-hand corner. Words failed Sakura as she saw that dryad girl who would never dance again upon Konoha's waters.

Deidara returned a few hours later, the smell of booze sending Sakura's stomach reeling in agony. Pinching the bridge of her nose delicately she grasped female Deidara by the arm to flip him onto his futon. Itachi saw the upcoming battle and smartly left the vicinity. If he too came back drunk, Sakura would smash his lovely prodigy brain in with her bare hands. At least she could try to.

Straddling Deidara, she pressed two chakra laden fingers to each temple. After gaining control of his body's movements, she diluted the alcohol toxicity in his system, slowly. After thirty minutes the booze was mostly flushed from his body. The procedure was one she often used on Tsunade, and simple enough but time consuming. During her ministrations the blonde Akatsuki was strangely silent after returning to his masculine form with considerable effort.

After she stood up, dusting herself off, Sakura proceeded to sit wearily upon her own bedroll. Deidara tossed a hard object at her head with the force that easily caused damage, but Sakura merely caught it. Looking at the item in hands Sakura discovered it to be a book, with some fairly recent blood stains on the front cover. Gross, couldn't men ever ask for anything in a civilized manner? Snorting with mild exasperation Sakura propped open the book, and steadied herself for a long read.

"Long long ago Tenkou the sky god had a daughter named Orihime. She wove special cloths for the Gods. She weaved endlessly, and so concern rooted deep with Tenkou's mind. To ease her work, he introduced her to a male who lived on the other side of the river, Amanogawa Hikoboshi the kengyu or the man who worked constantly as a cow herder. Upon meeting they fell instantly and hopelessly in love. So deep was thier love that they spent all of thier time together."

Deidara's voice was slightly slurred as he gave his two cents worth, "No one honestly falls in love at first sight. That's utter bullshit." Sakura, had she been more motivated would disagree with him, but for now she continued the story of the Tanabata.

"Suddenly the cows fell ill and began dying, this angered Tenkou greatly. He separated the two lovers by ways of the river. So profound was their sorrow that he allowed for a secret meeting to commence between the two once a year. Only if they worked hard, would they see their other half on July 7th. So great was their love, the days flew by and to this day, the star crossed lovers meet among the starry heaven amongst the Milky Way."

After satisfied with the ending, Deidara had fallen asleep, his head resting on her lap. Careful not to wake the slumbering blonde, she placed his head upon his own futon and tucked the covers around his prone form. It seemed each story she read she found herself more sympathetic with the proclaimed art fanatic. In many ways he was still very childlike. When had she stopped being a child?

Itachi with almost perfect timing arrived moments after Sakura had changed into her sleeping attire. He had obviously been off training, the bare flesh of his chest telltale. "I think those eyes were undressing you with their kinky prowers! I want me some of that." Sometimes Sakura wished that her inner self had an off button. She would have to gouge her eyes out later if she remembered.

He noticed her stare, and met it with a dark look of his own, his voice rough as he bit out, "Don't waste my time, tomorrow, the Daimyo's head, the next my eyes." Sakura was left at odds with his sudden cross attitude till she noticed Deidara fingers entwined in her own. Why would this bother him?

Sakura mulled this over before slipping off into a dreamless sleep where the nights were long and starless. She felt cold, so very cold in that bleak oblivion. For now she would let the dust settle where it may.

The sun that drifted upon her face was a unwelcome wake-up call. Nevertheless she stretched her limbs languidly with cat-like quality, popping every joint till perfection of movement. After a quick shower, she was dressed in her ninja apparel with her henge jutsu in effect. After grabbing a single roll from the downstairs dining hall to ease her queasy stomach, she joined her comrades at the center of town.

They like her in were in disguise of the feminine kind. The local Daimyo, Lord Akiboshi was a well known lecher. If ninja were taught one thing it was to use you body as your last but most powerful weapon. The plan was simple, Sakura would keep his mind preoccupied, while Itachi and Deidara reclaimed some stolen artifacts. The final stage would be his death, dealt by his favorite pastime; women.

Slime balls like Akiboshi disgusted Sakura to no end. She was only too eager to remove his wandering hands via kunai. That would be super easy, besides she was forbidden from the glory of the kill. That apparently was reserved for the greatness of one Itachi Uchiha. Guys always got the good jobs, Sakura decided.

Carting one Daimyo's head back to the hotel was her job. Because Itachi was above carrying the dead flesh of his victims. The Akatsuki leader was really a disturbing man if he collected people's heads, but Sakura would go with it for now. Really, there were worse things then gathering bloody body parts. Sakura just couldn't bring one to her mind at that precise moment. Shame too.

After the day's deed was done, she was given the rest of the day to herself, before she began work on Itachi's eyes. A visit to the local Library was deemed necessary, right after a social visit to one Inuzuka. Sakura was sure she had spotted him near a very tasteless nightclub. He was going to be a horrible father, but Sakura was bound by friendship to bear the news. Hinata would not be pleased, but she'd get over it.

Immediately after the nightclub, she was assaulted not twice but four times before making it over to the bar. She ordered herself some frou frou drink that the locals loved, but she found it weak at the moment. Straining her eyes she recognized the Inuzuka male, with half a dozen scantily-clad females draped over him like cats. "Horny bastard! I'll gut his useless spine!!!!" As much as she was inclined to agree with her inner self, she would have to deal with it calmy. Well, mostly.

Pushing her way through the drunken crowd, she reached Kiba's table and dragged him off, her fingers pinching his sensitive ears painfully. Racking her brain slightly, she tried to remember how many bones she could break with one fist. There's nothing like experimentation on a new specimen, Sakura mused turning the unsuspecting Inuzuka.