Musical Partners

Naruto is NOT mine. If it was I would not be writing fanfiction, and would more than likely be

on a yacht in the South Pacific.


Last Time:

"I see you've been going through my nightstand. Find anything interesting?"

"Yes actually, you seem to posses an abundance of eye products. Care to explain what they're for?"

"I fail to see why that concerns you."

"Your my partner, if it concerns you it concerns me by association."

"Those eye products are medicated. They're supposed to delay my impending condition."

"And what is that condition?"

"Blindness."


Temari just stared in shock. "What?"

"I'm going blind. The prolonged use of my Mangekyo Sharingan is taking its toll on my eyes."

"Wouldn't it make sense to stop using your Mangekyo Sharingan then?"

"I can't. It is my most effective and dangerous power."

"I'm sorry," Temari began before Itachi cut her off.

"Don't be, I don't need your pity."

The two sat quietly for a moment, intently avoiding making eye contact.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked suddenly.

"For the same reason I just said, I neither want nor need your pity."

"I don't pity you. Pity is not in my nature, my father pounded it out of me and my siblings long ago."

The two slipped back in to an awkward silence, Temari bit nervously at her cuticles.

"Am I the only one who knows?" she inquired.

"Yeah, and I'd like it to remain that way." the Uchiha said sullenly.

"Itachi... I..." Temari stuttered as the door to the room was flung open by a very excited Tobi.

"Itachi-sama, Temari-chan! Leader-sama sent me to get you! And Tobi is a good boy, so he did." the masked man chirped loudly.

"Tobi, shut the hell up!" Hidan screamed from the neighboring room "I'm busy ritually sacrificing virgins, and you're breaking my concentration."

Temari shot Itachi a bewildered look, she'd known the religious man was twisted, but this news was slightly alarming.

Tobi grinned at the Suna kunoichi "Don't worry Temari-chan, he won't sacrifice you. Tobi knows you're not a virgin." he said as he backed out the door, still grinning like an idiot.

Temari wrinkled her forehead. Tobi it seemed, knew a little too much. She was tempted to dart after him and demand information, but Itachi snapped her back to reality. "Temari, I've got to get dressed, wait for me in the hall. And remember, this conversation stays between the two of us."

She nodded, and exited the room. Temari paced up and down the hall as she waited for her partner to appear. The door to Itachi's room creaked open, and he stepped out in to the flourescently lit hallway. They walked silently side by side down the winding corridors toward the Leader's chamber. "Enter" a voice said before Temari could even knock on the door.

The duo obeyed, and stepped in to the room. Leader-sama sat behind his screen, just a shadow. "Itachi, Temari, due to you're failure to retrieve the Kyuubi, I am assigning you both new partners. Temari- you will be working with Deidara. Itachi- Kisame is your partner again."

"But Leader-sama..." Temari started to protest, before Itachi cut in, "Yes sir." the Uchiha said before he pulled the girl out of the room.

Deidara and Kisame were both standing in the hall, waiting for their new partner's. Upon seeing Temari, the blond man pounced.

"Oh my God! I'm so excited Temari-chan! We get to be partners now! We can hang out all the time, and do each other's nails, and bake cookies! I can't wait!" he cried happily.

"I'm excited too Deidara!" Temari lied, with a forced smile as she tried to hide her disappointment. She waved a goodbye to Itachi and Kisame as she allowed herself to be steered down the hall toward Deidara's room.

Kisame raised an eyebrow at Itachi, "Wow, try to contain your enthusiasm. I'm glad to see you're so thrilled to be partners again."

Itachi sighed, "It's not like that Kisame. I've just gotten used to having her around. It's going to be strange to be able to hear myself think again. It'll just be an adjustment. That's all."

"If you say so." the blue man said with a shrug.


I am so inexplicably sorry for not updating in months. I would like to have a good excuse, but I don't- unless you consider laziness good. I'm also sorry this chapter is short. I just wanted to get an update out there. I'm also sorry this chapter completely sucked. But for all of you who reviewed- THANKS SO MUCH!!! They made me sooooooo happy, and motivated me to update. Give yourselves a pat on the back!