Sakura replaced her kunai and got to her feet. The man was lying sprawled on the ground at her feet. She healed her sliced up arm and looked to the sky, the sun was beaming down on her.
"I can't believe I had to do this in broad daylight." She moaned before completing a number of hand seals, "Sakura-Kuro concealment jutsu." She whispered. The grass grew over the body and strangled it until it broke apart into tiny pieces and disappeared into the ground.
Sakura sat against the tree; she was almost out of chakra. Her long pink hair was down to her lower back. The only thing that kept the long strands out of her face was a black bandana. S
he didn't wear the Akatsuki uniform, instead she wore a black short dress, which had slits up the sides of it; much like the one she used to wear back in Konoha. On the back was a hot pink symbol for Akatsuki. She also wore long black ninja boots.
She took a deep breath and jumped from the tree, landing effortlessly on the ground. She stood up and walked into the thick of the forest, "I need to go to a spa." She muttered.
The hot water made her feel far more relaxed as Sakura felt her chakra return to her. She sighed and wrapped her arms behind her head; "I've needed this for a while." She said. Her hair was tied in a bun and secured with chopsticks,
"Glad you're enjoying yourself." Said a male voice from behind her. Sakura gasped and spun around, making sure she was sill concealed in the water. Sitting a few feet away from her was Itatchi and Kisame.
"Damn it guys!" she shouted reaching for a towel. She was part red with embarrassment and partly red with rage. "What the hell do you think you're doing in here?" she bellowed, wrapping the towel around herself and stepping out of the water, "This is the GIRLS spa!"
Itatchi smirked, "We were just passing by and sensed you nearby so we thought we'd drop in and see how the mission went."
"Fine, but that's no excuse for you to walk in here when I'm… well…. Not dressed appropriately!" Kisame laughed, "As if we haven't accidentally walked in your room after you just got the shower enough to know what you look…"
A wooden shoe hit the side of his head. He fell over rubbing the lump that had formed under his blue hair, "And don't you think I'll heal that either you pervert!" she shouted.
Itachi dodged the second shoe and picked his hands up in defence, "Sorry Haruno." He said before she found something else to throw at him, "Why are you in here anyway? You should have gone straight back." Sakura calmed a little, "I was low an chakra so I thought I'd relax a little."
Kisame sat up, "If you're done do you want to go back together? It's better than being on your own." Sakura sighed, "Fine, but will you get out please?" Itatchi and Kisame nodded and disappeared.
The three made it back to the base to meet Deidara and Sasori at the door. "Oh Yey!" shouted Deidara running up to Sakura and hugging her, "I missed you Saku-chan." Sakura hugged him back, "Me too Barbie-chan." Sasori nodded to her.
"Hey!" objected Kisame angrily, "How come you didn't greet us like that?" he demanded. Sakura turned to face him, "Because," she said, "Deidara didn't sneak up on me when I was at the spa!" she shook her fist angrily and Itatchi smirked, "How were we supposed to know you were undressed." Sakura growled and stomped out of the room.
"You guys really are perverts." Said Sasori. Kisame tried to object but failed, Itatchi shrugged, "We didn't know she'd be naked or anything so I see it as completely innocent."
"Yeah you would." Sasori said before walking towards his room. Deidara stared for a moment then perked up as an idea crossed his mind, "Hey, Saku-chan!" he called, "Do you want to do some training?" Itatchi and Kisame shrugged at each other.
Sakura unpacked her backpack into her draws and went in the shower. She stepped out and got dressed. She dried her hair and did her make-up. She was wearing a similar black dress to the one she'd worn on the mission. She fastened her bandana and looked to her window as she saw a figure rush passed it. She frowned and stepped closer to the glass.
Suddenly the glass smashed inwards and a pair of hands grasped her and dragged her through the window. Sakura screamed from shock before she hit the ground and rolled a couple of feet. She stood up quickly, "What the hell?" she shouted angrily as she subconsciously healed her wounds. She paused.
The figure before her had medium length black hair and wore a black shirt; a few buttons were left open at the top to reveal a scarred chest. His dark eyes were staring in shock. "S-Sasuke?" she whispered. Sasuke and Sakura stood in the silence for a few seconds before Sasuke opened his mouth, "Why are you here? I heard you were dead."
"Did you really hear that or was it just wishful thinking?" she asked. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "You joined Akatsuki? You were the last person I'd expect to become a missing Nin."
"Times change Uchiha, so do people." Sasuke pulled out a kunai; "Naruto's been looking for you everywhere."
"Well, he wont find me." She replied moving into a fighting stance. Sasuke sighed, "I didn't expect to be fighting you here, but I suppose a warm up match before Itatchi wont hurt."
Sakura started to laugh, "You actually think you have a chance against either of us?" she asked. Sasuke sneered and threw the kunai. Sakura stepped away from it and appeared behind Sasuke. She stabbed a kunai towards him. Sasuke completed a series of hand seals and blew fire at her. Sakura back flipped out of the way and made two shadow clones of herself.
Each clone threw shuriken at him. Sasuke jumped away from them and landed just in time to notice Sakura's shadow above him. He dodged her downward punch and backed up. He spat another load of fire at her and Sakura stood against it.
As Sasuke lowered his hand he felt another hand clasp his wrist. He gasped as the burnt Sakura healed herself and tightened her grip, slowly crushing Sasuke's hand.
Sasuke yelped in pain. He stabbed a kunai towards her and Sakura let go of his hand. She dodged the kunai and back flipped out of his way. She slammed her hand on the ground, "Sakura-Kuro flytrap!" she called.
Grass cocooned Sasuke, except for his head. He narrowed his eyes. Sakura stood up. "Saku-chan!" called Deidara. He ran towards her and paused at the sight of the boy trapped in her jutsu. Sakura turned to face him, "Took your time." She muttered, "I almost had to use up a lot of chakra." Sasori and Kisame both appeared at the same time either side of Sakura.
"Did he drag you out here? We heard you scream and then went looking for you." Said Kisame about to pull out his sword. Sasori raised an eyebrow, "Do you want us to kill him painfully or torture him then kill him painfully?" he asked darkly. "We should ask Uchiha before we do anything to him." Said Sakura.
Deidara circled Sasuke; he was fighting against the technique, "You know if you fight too much Saku-chan will tighten it and cut you up." Sasuke looked straight at Sakura, "Why would you ask me what you should do to me?" he questioned. Sakura sighed as Deidara backslapped Sasuke. "Barbie-chan…" she warned. "Sorry." Replied Deidara quickly.
"I wasn't talking about you." Sakura explained before shouting, "Uchiha! Get you're ass out here now!"
Itatchi appeared next to her, "Do you have to shout?" he asked monotonously. Sakura nodded, "You're little bratty brother decided to drag me through a window." She explained in an irritated voice, "What do you want to do with him?" Itachi raised an eyebrow, "It's up to you Haruno."
Sakura nodded slowly. "Ok." She said, "Sasuke, if I let you go I trust you'll leave, right?" Sasuke shook his head, "I'm going to avenge my family!" he shouted. Itatchi laughed, "Little brother, if Haruno defeats you so easily then you don't have any hope against me."
"Liar." Muttered Sakura, "I beat you the last three training matches." Itatchi looked to her, "I let you win." He seemed annoyed. Sakura and Itatchi started arguing over who wan the match.
Deidara sighed, "Guys, we have a prisoner here!" he shouted over their voices. Sasori stepped away from them and over to Sasuke, "They're going to be like this for days." He muttered. Kisame stepped between them, "Sakura-chan, what do you want to do with the prisoner?" Sakura glared at him, "Let him go, obviously."
"Why not kill him, he could stand a threat and tell others where we are." Questioned Sasori.
"He won't." Replied Sakura sharply, "He's a loner, the only people that he can get to attack us will be Orochimaru's village and I'd enjoy that too much to let the idea slip away." Sasori and Deidara sighed in unison. "You and your blood lust." Stated Sasori.
"Leader wont be too happy with you if you let a possible threat run off." Said Itatchi.
Sakura looked to the ground, Sasuke noticed the sorrow cross her face. "Good." She said finally. She turned away and took a step away from them, "Sakura…" started Kisame. "What?" asked Sakura turning to face him, "You're ok right?" he was serious and worried.
Sakura nodded, "I'm fine," She clenched her fist and turned away from the group, her hair swinging around her face as she did so. The jutsu on Sasuke broke and he was sent falling to the ground. Deidara frowned at him, "I haven't seen her that depressed since she joined." He said. Itatchi turned away and walked after them, "I'll make sure she's alright." He declared monotonously.
Sasori glared at the boy in front of them, "Get lost kid." He said, "Before I make you regret staying." Sasuke stood up and disappeared.
Sakura was walking towards an area a few meters from the training grounds; it was a square garden full of cherry blossoms. "Haruno!" called Itatchi hurriedly stepping after her. Sakura ignored him. "Sakura, wait a minute!" Sakura paused at the sound of her first name. She turned slowly, "What?" she asked. Her voice was hoarse as though she were about to cry.
Itatchi stopped a few meters from her so that the pollen from the trees wouldn't bother him. "What's going on with you?" asked Itatchi. Sakura looked to the ground, "I wasn't expecting to see him." She replied, "That's all." Itatchi shook his head, "That's not it Haruno, what's going on?"
"Nothing." Sakura turned and walked into the sanctuary of the cherry blossoms, where she knew Itatchi wouldn't follow her.
Itatchi took a deep breath, "Sakura!" he called, "Come on, talk to me!" When he got no reply, Itatchi covered his face with his sleeve and walked into the blossoms after her.
Sakura felt Itatchi's hand wrap around her wrist, she turned to see Itatchi with closed eyes griping her wrist tightly. He dragged her from the protection of the cherry blossoms and back into the open air.
He rubbed his sore eyes before letting go of her wrist. "Talk to me." He repeated. Sakura had tears in her eyes. "Uchiha…" she whispered. She looked down, "I miss them." She replied, "I miss every single one of them, seeing Sasuke just made memories come flooding back and I…" she sobbed, "I miss them so much." She stepped forwards and into Itatchi.
Itatchi hesitated a moment as she cried into his Akatsuki uniform. He slowly wrapped his arms around her. His eyes were narrowed slightly, he didn't know what to do; he was shocked enough just by seeing her crying let alone embracing him. He wanted to say something that would make her feel better but nothing came to mind.
Sasuke clenched his fist. Why is she hugging HIM? He's evil, he killed my family and she hugs him and cries to him. She'll pay for that! I'll take her away from him! He can't have her. He will never have her. Never! He thought before disappearing.
Sakura stepped away from Itatchi and wiped her eyes, "I'm sorry." She muttered as she composed herself, "I didn't mean to…"
"Don't worry, I wont tell the boys you cried." Sakura nodded slowly. "Thank you." She muttered before stepping back towards the cherry blossoms. Itatchi sneezed and walked back towards the indoor base, "Where did I put my allergy medicine?" he asked himself.
After taking his allergy medicine Itatchi went into the living quarters to sit on the couch. He stared at the floor in deep thought. "How is she?" Asked a voice from the doorway. Itatchi looked up for a moment, he raised an eyebrow at Kisame then looked to the ground, "Better." Kisame moved to sit next to him, "You're getting pretty close to her; you'd better be careful Itatchi."
Itatchi looked up at Kisame, "Why?" he asked quietly. Kisame patted him on the back "Well, I'd hate to see you fall in love with her and her not return the feeling." Explained Kisame before standing up, "Remember why she's here Itatchi, so we don't kill her friend, we don't know what she really feels for any of us." Itatchi's gaze remained fixed to the ground, "True." He replied emotionlessly.
Sakura sighed and looked out of the smashed window, "You'd better not tell him I'm alive Sasuke." She muttered.
Naruto leaped to the next tree, he was behind Neji; "Sasuke was seen around here somewhere." Muttered Neji clearly surveying the area with his Byakogan. Naruto nodded.
He was taller than Neji and was on the same rank as him, the two had been sent on a mission to find Sasuke in hopes of him leading them towards Orochimaru. Konoha was still being re-built but it was close to completion, only a few buildings were still destroyed. A lot of survivors were found after the attack and were brought to the sand village until houses could be re-built. Naruto and Neji were a team when it came to finding Sasuke and they were both ANBU. Naruto wore a dog mask and Neji wore a cat mask. The two made it to a clearing where Sasuke was standing with his arms crossed, he was clearly angry.
"Sasuke!" shouted Naruto landing on the ground the same time as Neji. Sasuke smiled slightly, his anger melted away, "I'm not here to fight." He said casually, "I have some information you might be interested in." A sinister smirk spread across his face.