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Disclaimer:… *goes on top of the highest building possible* I DON'T OWN NARUTO!!!!!!


Chapter 9

"If you position some chakra pumped scrolls along the sides of your wall it may be able to hold a bit longer for an oncoming attack while nin go in and eliminate any enemy that you have trapped in your genjutsu mine field." She pointed out, tracing the outer walls of the blue printed map before her, helping for the most part set up inventive traps to protect Konoha while team seven and Itachi were away with her at the palace. "You can put a safety mechanism on the outer seals, that if ripped off turns into the person who ripped it off and equal in strength, it might be beneficial if we could put some sort of nanobite that could instill some nin movements and chakra to defeat them and many more."

She tapped the side of her head, running off ideas while Itachi wrote them down and did mental calculations to the how and when. So far since coming to his workshop they had completed around three different trap designs each varying in chakra use, they had made others but it took too much chakra, and was based on the nins ability to control charka, since there weren't too many who could do it properly they had put them away. They were working on projects that nins with average abilities could trigger or even something a civilian could do to aid the protection of the village.

"Do you think we can create specific weapons made to enhance houses abilities?" she asked suddenly on a new tangent of thought. "If we do something to let them use their abilities to the fullest even with the smallest amount of chakra it would be easy to defend the village from any attack. I wonder if we can incorporate it into seals and-" "Sakura." He told her, she almost jumped out of her skin; it seemed that she had begun rambling; it was something she always did when her mind was in full swing, only she was saying it all aloud. She looked to him, a small trace of his eyebrow raising.

A slight smirk made its way to his face. "What?" she asked, a little shy to the new development, he was showing her more emotions, of course that didn't mean she got to learn anything particularly important pertaining to him. "Nothing Ma-Cherie, I didn't know you were an enthusiast for creating traps" She huffed, then cracked a smile she leaned across the table to go face to face with him, "Oh? Then instead of talking about one shall I make one? I'll make it specifically for you Weasel dear."

He leaned forward close enough to kiss but not close enough, "I'd like to see you try Ma-Cherie." She wondered what would happen if she kissed him it was an interesting notion, would he balk and blush?... Balk maybe but definitely never blush, even so she wanted to see the expression in his eyes when she did. "You'll find my Weasel dear that once I find a challenge I won't let it go until I win." He returned her look a spark in his eyes his predatory glance matching hers, "You forget who you're up against Ma-Cherie. You'll never be able to top me. "

"Even though I'm the one choosing the game?" She closed in for a kiss planting one on his lips before pulling away. "Are you sure you know how to play?" she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear sitting snugly back in her chair. He smirked. "You've been forewarned Ma-Cherie. I'll be the one to win this game." She began to make outlines to her thoughts on traps, smiling as she did, "Just remember, Weasel dear. I play for keeps." She got no answer and she didn't expect one, but she did know that she was going to win this game; she was going to be the first to figure him out and the first to catch him in her lovely little trap.

~(Itachi)~

She was more open about herself than he could have ever expected, then again in return for the kindness he showed more sides of him as well. The kiss had surprised him, but he learned to cope with her unpredictable movements that defined her as a human being. He was well aware that Haruno, Sakura wasn't someone he could easily fool around with, and she knew that policy applied to him as well. They both knew the terms when they began their game when originally it was just to watch out for each other.

It seemed that they had instinctively picked one another, and it seems that he fell in love first sight from her suspicious profile and her handling of his brother, amazing what the senses could pick up, even more amazing that he didn't realize until halfway into the game. He took a strand of her hair in his hand as she wrote down all of her ideas, He glanced over them, the complex formulas used to measure how much chakra can and would be invested into such a trap, right now she was working on he previous idea to making special weapons that could integrate with a clans special idea, he had to admit it was an incredibly original idea.

Kekkai genkai and blood limit powers were already considered weapons by making something that utilizes them even more was unthought-of since they were already thought of as weapons. "Something particularly interesting about my hair today Weasel dear?" she asked him her pen never stopping even when he touched her hair and looked at her work over her shoulder double checking her already perfect work. Amazing that she didn't blush and balk like all of the other women he knew would do if he did this. "I am working on our relationship Ma-Cherie, we are supposed to be fiancées are we not?"

Her pen paused indicating contemplative thoughts; she turned to him bringing her face in close proximity to his. Her look turned from thoughtful to a devilish smile, a change that even now made his heart pound. She snaked her arms around his neck, and he let her, she was trying to gain ground in their little game, and he wanted to see how far he would take it, "We're going to have to be much more convincing than that Weasel dear. You're only a candidate fiancée there might be a chance that you'll be overridden by any other young noblemen." She stood on her toes to bring her face closer to him, it was an intimidation tactic most women used on men, it wouldn't work on him.

He wrapped his arms around her waist bringing her closer. "You know very well Ma-Cherie the chances of that happening is absolute zero." A knock at the door, made her sigh softly before withdrawing from him, although he wanted to mess with her by keeping her there in his arms this was business and business was never to mix with their personal lives, he knew that she knew that very well. "Enter."

As his chakra had indicated, in entered his little brother, his eyes full of suspicion as they glanced in Sakura's direction as she worked on the development of her new weapon, they were to leave tomorrow. All informed and prepped, team seven had to merely rest and prepare. "Nii-san, mother calls for you." The younger man told him regarding Sakura with different looks of confusion, Itachi knew she could feel the looks he was showing her, and immersed herself in her work. She was good at reading, stupendously well; she knew to let him digest the information before talking to him knowing that it took him time to adjust.

It was an unfortunate habit Sasuke had learned since Kaguya had been hospitalized. Itachi found that the youth overanalyzed a situation and double guess himself a little too much. Although it was a good feature for an aspiring nin to have. Sasuke was doing it too much and it was quickly beginning to annoy Itachi to no end. He did love his brother but there were limits to patience even his. The only reason Itachi didn't pull him aside was the fact that his performance in missions didn't drop, instead they had risen, in Itachi's opinion it was the only good thing that had come out of Kaguya's hospitalization.

"I see," he said in response turning to Sakura who still scribbled on the paper her thoughts, "I'll be back." He told her his voice a low monotone, he knew better than to flaunt their relationship in front of his sort-of broken brother, already he and Sakura did not initially get along too well. It had been that way from the beginning due to Sasuke's reluctance to take on a different teammate, although he handled everything with diplomatic care, Itachi knew he occasionally let biting words slip out.

Knowing her slight temper, Itachi would have expected her to bite back with equal force, if not even harder but she remained innately impassive which saved him a great deal of headache. He walked down the path, easily locating his mother's in the kitchen, from the calmness of it she had something to discuss with him. He slid open the door, "You called mother?" She turned to him, her eyes searching; it meant that the conversation would be meaningful. "Itachi! Is it true that you're considering a partnership with the Haruno girl?"

The question caught him off guard it wasn't something he had exactly expected, although he was sure that the mission details hadn't gotten out, there was a slight chance that they did. But, Itachi was one hundred percent sure that his mother came to this conclusion because Sakura had been spending a considerable amount of time together. "Is that bad? Mother?" She sighed, and rubbed her face, "The clan elders won't be happy Itachi." He gave his mother a smile, causing her to sigh yet again, "That's right you don't care… Sorry for bothering you, but tell me my son… What makes her so special?" Itachi took his place at the dining table keeping mental tabs on the chakra around them; he didn't want anyone listening on their conversation.

It was rare that he verbalized any of his thoughts, and this was one of those times that he wanted no one to accidently hear. "She is… interesting." He said as truthfully as he could while still managing a straight face. He thought of all the tactical games they played all the mind games she brought up, all of the refreshing mental stimulation she gave him. She more interesting than a good book, which was a feat in itself since most women he found to be boring and air headed, the Yamanaka girl was a good example. He felt the eyes of his mother examine him, something she often did when she believed that she was only getting part of the story.

A predatory smile much like his own appeared on her face, it made Itachi remember who was the one who had instilled all of those tricks into his brain, the mentor who had encouraged an protected him for so long had to be someone with considerable skills as a master trickster. Although he had surpassed his mother in terms of trickery and trap laying it didn't make her any less of a formidable person. He saw an all-too familiar glint in her eyes that could only spell trouble. "Really now?" he gave a nod in conformation; he had a relative idea to what she was going to do. It seemed that Uchiha, Mikoto would make her first debut as a possible mother-in-law.

"Itachi, go take your brother and… do something." He tilted his head to the side, as if to ask 'Do what mother?' she smiled, "Since my oldest son is going on a mission with his little brother shouldn't you two get more in synch? I want you two to be able to work as a functioning team, why not visit Kaguya to lift his spirits a bit? Or maybe get together with Kakashi and his friend Naruto, and do some team planning?" He couldn't argue with her logic. Lately his brother had grated on his nerves might as well get used to the new brooding Sasuke they were going on what seemed like a long term mission and they had to show no weaknesses. Although he doubted Sasuke would ever do such a thing, it was better to be safe than sorry, also, he wanted to make sure his mother approved before he tried anything.

Plus he wanted to see what would happen if Sakura was blindsided it was an experiment worth looking into. Plus, he couldn't begrudge his mother this one thing could he? "Very well." He said, turning to go fetch his brother and whisk him off to do something that would aloe his mother and favorite puzzle of the day play together. "Oh Itachi, send in your lovely partner there's a recipe I want to give her." He paused and nodded before he made his way up the path toward where Sasuke was still lingering around Sakura. Wondering if he should tell the girl or not, if she should watch out.

~(Sakura)~

She looked at the woman across from her, both of them sipped at their tea in comfortable silence. She was beautiful, long black hair pulled back into a low hanging pony tail that much resembled the way Itachi wore his hair. Her black eyes looked at Sakura with equal interest. Itachi had failed to mention that the 'person' who had wanted to talk to her was his mother. Really… What was he thinking? It was a mystery but she had a vague feeling that he was trying to test her, in her opinion it was a weird way to do so, but she couldn't fault him for originality. This was certainly…unexpected, on so many different levels. It was a good move in their little game, because… she had no idea what to do.

"I hear that you and Itachi are dating." Sakura choked on her tea. Ok, she had DEFINITELY not expected that. She cleared her throat as she looked at the older woman almost at a loss of words to say. "So tell me what do you like about my son?" Sakura saw a familiar glint in the older woman's eyes… So that's where Itachi had gotten his techniques. Sakura wanted to sigh in exasperation. The older woman was like another Itachi, only about 100 times more diluted, that didn't means he could let her guard down. Even so it was so like the little ferret to sic his mother on her. "He's…interesting." She said after a little bit of considering not completely sure what the woman wanted out of her.

She saw the woman's eyes light up in understanding, glad that Sakura was able to read her much more easily then Itachi, which gave her a better advantage. "Strange, Itachi says the same about you." What did she mean by that statement? Sakura wondered to herself before giving the older woman a smile and replying. "I see, well it's nice to know that Weasel dear holds me in high regards." Sakura was amused at the way the woman's brow shot up at the pet name, a little smile appearing on her face. "Weasel dear?" she asked amused, Sakura smiled, "Yes, Weasel dear."

"How befitting of my son." Sakura gave the older woman a smirk quickly conforming to the situation. "I know." Sakura drew circles on the table looking at the invisible swirls while keeping an ear out for the older woman's words, "Welcome to the family Haruno-san you've got my full backing." Sakura lifted the tea to her lips covering a smile before she replied, "You have no idea how grateful I am, and call me Sakura, we should be friendly as daughter and mother in law shouldn't we? Mikoto-san?" She held out a hand in agreement, and was met with a firm grip.

They made eye contact and what seemed to be an identical look of malicious trickery reflected in both of their eyes. It seems that Sakura had found a kindred spirit. It seemed Itachi had just unknowingly dropped the greatest weapon against him in her lap. And she didn't even break a sweat. It seemed today was getting better and better, "You're right Sakura, so very right. Now that business is over let's talk a little I'll tell you anything you want about Itachi, since he's such a closed mouthed child of mine." She picked up her tea, and Sakura did the same taking a small dango stick from the plate in the middle of the table "Wonderful! Then where shall we start? Hmm… Oh! I know! Why don't you tell me a bit about Weasel dear's younger days?"

~(Itachi)~

The moment he saw his mother and Sakura talking avidly he suspected something. The minute he approached and saw their knowing smiles directed toward him, he almost had the sinking feeling that he had just signed his life away. It seemed Sakura had managed to charm his mother in record time; he had only been gone for three hours. When he got to the table Sakura held out a hand toward his mother and to his surprise his mother shook it back. He hadn't gotten his reclusiveness from just solely being a genius.

For the most part he had gotten most of his features from his mother, only he was a bit more magnified on those features then her. The fact that his mother was plotting against him with his possible to-be was never a good thing. At least he had learned that anyone who plotted with his mother were dangerous, he would know a majority of Mikoto's plots were made with him. Knowing that Sakura was a dangerous element in herself, it did nothing to reassure him that the two were not up to no good.

Thinking more deeply into the subject his mother and Sakura were increasingly alike in the need to play tricks and mind games. Itachi wanted to sigh in exasperation, he had potentially put himself in a dangerous situation. Although his mother was an Alpha in most situations Sakura was more so and Itachi could clearly see that his mother was bonding with the girl, they would make a dangerous combination in the future. Itachi was only glad that he wasn't one of the clan elders who would get most of the backlash from the two, from what he had learned about the girl, the more you tried to chain her to reform to your ideas the more she resisted. If you simply didn't let go she wouldn't hesitate to destroy you.

He watched as Sakura got up and walked toward him a glint in her eye that spelled trouble. "C'mon Weasel dear, we have to go to sleep tomorrow, it's a long ways to where we're going." She said to him in a honey covered tone that made his skin crawl. "And you my dear are going to bring me home are you not?" Itachi nodded once in confirmation as she wrapped an arm around his, She turned slightly to wave at his mother who waved back. It seemed that the trip to the Fire Lord's would be a bit more tortuous then he imagined, from the tone of the girls voice, he was in for a very long, uncomfortable trip. "Hey weasel dear, is it true that when you were three, you got into your mothers makeup and started putting it on?" And the torture begins.

XD I couldn't help myself, since Sakura will probably eventually be marrying Itachi she should meet his mommy right? XD

Sorry for the late update! I had a major brain distraction when I got side tracked with a visual art project and another story idea that had nothing to do with my Itasaku work ^.^

To my reviewers!

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To Wow:

Sorry I didn't talk to you in the last chapter… It sort of slipped my mind as I entered the chapter around 12 o clock at night on a school night XD. Yes, this can and will be a long series because… I don't see it ending any time soon… ^.^' I am for the most part proud of my work, but my parents don't like the fact that I write, and sometimes find it troublesome that my span of imagination is so broad its hard for me to concentrate on something resulting in B's in school… sigh oh well that's my life. I will continue writing this story with enthusiasm! (either that or die trying XD) THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!

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To Megami_Tsunami:

Thanks and yes.. My grammar and punctuation needs work still ^.^, but trust me when I say it's a whole lot better than last year when I was a sophomore… Then… it was no better than someone in elementary school… well actually we (me and my parents) think that it might have been worse XD. Thanks for reviewing!

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To angel897:

Can and will do!