Hey guys I'm sorry for the super late update. The only reason I'm even updating now is I got this review from Guest (authoress). It was so nice that I thought 'hey I already finished the story I had to post today (that's right two updates on the same day, I'm on a roll) why not write this one too'. But yeah didn't have a lot of inspiration for this one I'm still pleased with how it turned out though. Thank-you to Anjuhime, Anonymous, SasuLovesSaku4Ever(it's ok I don't always log in), theblackunend, Starberryblossom, Guest, Kyuubi's angel of darkness, The Ashen Sun, SupremeOverlordLetters, SamehJay, and of course Guest(authoress). Thanks and enjoy.
Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto
Chapter Ten
"Good you're here now we can begin practice", I smirked as Sakura blanched. Gemna patted her on the back before stretching his arms out.
"Don't worry Sakura-chan it will be over before you know it", Gemna assured her. She frowned and glared at him making him take a step a back.
"Yeah it will end really quickly after the two of you kill me", she screeched hitting him in the back of the head. The senbon user winced and nearly swallowed his senbon.
"Watch it these are prized goods you're damaging here", Gemna protested rubbing his now bruised head. Sakura scoffed and the ANBU operative actually looked offended.
"Hey what's that supposed to mean", he asked his voice whiny. Sakura looked at him almost as if she pitied him.
"Well according to Shizune the goods aren't that good", she said sympathetically. Gemna face blanched and had I not been on the same team with him during his playboy days I would have felt sorry for him.
"W-what", he stammered and I realized he was actually worried about his lovers opinion of him. The idiot had never been self conscious before he must actually like this woman. I almost feel bad for her.
"Yeah she said that Raido wa-
"Raido that bastard I'll kill him", Gemna growled his senbon snapping in half in between his teeth. Sakura looked like she was trying not to laugh but Gemna was too busy being clueless to notice.
"Thinks he's so great just because he's part of the Hokage's private guard. Hn I'm part of ANBU squad one take that you uptight son of a bi-
"Gemna", I said sternly. The elder man huffed before looking away still mumbling. I gave Sakura a raised eyebrow but she just shrugged looking as innocent as ever. That pink hair of hers was a dangerous weapon not to mention her childlike eyes. If I hadn't watched the whole thing happen I might even be inclined to think she's innocent. She might make it in this business after all.
"What, some of us actually have hormones you know. And the testosterone is telling me to go kick that mans ass", Gemna scowled and I was slightly amazed at how worked up the usually relaxed senbon user was. I'd never seen him this worked up before it was rather amusing.
"Gemna", Sakura started but the enraged man just carried on.
"How dare he. I mean I know they're good friends and of course Shizune is a great medic and the sweetest person that ever existed and man the things she can do with her tongu-
"Gemna", Sakura snapped and he turned to the young medic confused while she looked like she was trying not to puke.
"I was just kidding. I thought your ego needed to be taken down a peg", she admitted as she shivered. I didn't blame her I too was disgusted but I had been the man's teammate for years, I was no stranger to his bedtime tales.
"That's cruel", Gemna told her frowning at her. Sakura just grinned sheepishly scratching the back of her head. The two continued their awkward stare off until a small cough reminded them of my presence. The two jumped to attention and I smirked as Gemna shot her one last glare.
"Ok now we're going to warm up with five laps around the village border", I told them placing some of my equipment on that I had taken off at some point.
"What are you doing", Sakura asked as I strapped on my best and attached a few kunai pouches to my legs.
"We are running in our gear. It's the best way to make this a more realistic practice", I told her and she groaned before looking around the field.
"Wait I don't have any gear", she told me frowning as Gemna pulled on all of his gear while shooting the pinkette the occasional glare followed by some indistinct mumblings.
"I know I brought you this bag it should work until you're gear arrives", I told her handing a small green bag over to her. She looked at it curiously obviously wondering how the backpack was equal to all the gear we had on. She just shrugged and grabbed it and nearly dropped it.
"Holy shit", she gasped pulling it onto her back. I saw her chakra flare up and I tossed a kunai at her making her glare at me.
"What was that about", she asked me glaring as I twirled another kunai between my fingers.
"You can't use chakra to carry it. You'll waste chakra that you'll need later", I told her and her chakra depleted and I saw her struggling to hold the bag.
"So what I'm supposed to carry this without any of my strength", she asked me and I nodded.
"If you have to use chakra it's not your strength, it's your chakras. I'm already aware of how strong your chakra is, I want to see what you are capable of", I told her and she sighed before standing up. Shaking a bit at the weight of the bag.
"Ok let's go", she said and I nodded.
"Yes let's"
As we finished the last lap I was quite aware of Sakura's struggles. She had tried to keep up with me and Gemna's pace but had struggled after the first three laps. Gemna had already finished and I ran slightly ahead of the pinkette to keep an eye on her. I was curious to how she would do later considering this was just the warm up.
"Finally I'm done", she panted as she ran into the clearing. Gemna tossed her a water bottle which she eagerly downed. I took more reserved sips of my own bottle while I waited for her to catch her breath.
"Alright now it's time to begin practice", I said and Sakura blanched.
"What? Wasn't the 15 mile run part of practice", she asked me and I wondered what exactly it was that her team did for practice. Whenever I had showed up it was my otouto fighting with the Kyuubi container and Sakura either healing them or beating them up even more. Not a very productive training session in my opinion.
"Tch that was just a warm up pinkie", Gemna said grinning. Sakura glared at him and he backed away his hands blocking his 'goods'.
"Shut up", she hissed and Gemna continued backing away until he was on the other side of the clearing.
"If you two are finished I'd like to start practice", I told them and they both shot the other a glance. One of anger and the other of terror.
"We're done Taichou", they chorused and I nodded before pulling off my gear. Sakura and Gemna went to do the same thing but I held up my hand.
"You to have to keep yours on", I told them and Sakura frowned.
"It's part of the exercise", I explained before she could ask. She just nodded and I was glad she didn't question me. Questions make the whole process go so much slower.
"Alright here's your objective. I have a scroll that you must collect. Do so in under thirty minutes or you fail. Any questions", I asked they both shook their heads and I placed the scroll on my belt before pushing some chakra to my feet.
"Ok then let's begin", with that I ran off into the trees and I could hear them desperately trying to catch up. I was faster than both of them so I hoped they weren't foolish enough to think they were going to win by catching up to me.
The run was pretty peaceful considering all the space between myself and my teammates. The peace was ruined however when a projectile of some sort tried to hit me in the face. I moved to the side and was puzzled at what it was.
"A slug", I asked aloud but I didn't have time to ponder it because the thing and the audacity to spit at me. I dodged it easily and felt rather irked until I heard a fizzling noise from behind me. I turned around to see a hole being worn away inside the trunk of the tree the slug's spit had hit. I looked at the slug warily as it puffed up apparently preparing to once again try to burn me alive. I flitted off before it could but I heard it easily keeping pace behind me. The damn thing was fast. I cursed as I felt the presence of four more cornering me. I hopped up into the air and quickly summoned a few crows to dispose of them. The crows dive bombed towards the slugs but let out loud squawks as the edges of their beaks were burned from the slug's acidic saliva.
The birds circled around them apparently trying to think of a strategy but I used the diversion to escape away unnoticed. I could feel the slug's attempt to follow but my crows distracted them giving me some time to put more distance between me and my approaching teammates.
Once they were once again a good distance behind me I dispelled my crows as to not ate precious chakra. The distance continued to grow and I could feel the slugs begin t catch up but I wasn't too concerned with the thirty minutes almost being up.
I slid down into a clearing to face the upcoming slugs and was surprised that instead of attack me they got together to form an almost star shape. A torrent of fog whipped through the clearing and I wasn't too worried. I could fight perfectly fine with my eyes closed. Or that's what I thought until the burning started.
All across my body it felt like my skin was being worn away, not enough for it to be agonizing but enough for it to be painful and uncomfortable. It felt like it was melting away the first layer of my skin and I tried not to breath too much because the fumes were burning the inside of my nose and mouth making it difficult to breath and smell. It was even burning my ears.
I let out a sigh of relief as the vapor began to fade and the burning gradually ceased but I still had enough to sense to look for the slugs responsible. I didn't see any slugs in the clearing but I felt a chakra signature under my feet. I sent a chidori into the ground and the person jumped out unharmed oddly enough.
"I should have supposed you were the one to summon the slugs, you are the Godaime's apprentice after all", I told her as Sakura landed gracefully in front of me. She appeared completely unharmed and it was obvious that whatever that vapor was it didn't affect her at all. She gave me a small smile and I noticed she had no weapon pouches on and she had sent her slugs away leaving her defenseless except for those chakra punches of hers. Not that they were anything to scoff at.
"I'm impressed that you made it here so quickly, you're even more clever than I thought", I admitted and she smiled proudly as she walked closer to me. I felt on edge but I made no move to attack her. If she tried to grab the scroll I could evade her easily.
"Thank-you that means a lot coming from someone of your standings", she told me. I repressed the urge to step back as she came closer. She was still several feet away but it still seemed close.
"Well my rank shouldn't mean too much, I'm not too much higher than you now", I reminded her and she smiled.
"Perhaps but you're still much farther than myself", she told him.
"Besides I wouldn't be here if not for your recommendation", she said almost bitterly.
"That isn't true, over the years you have gained the respect of many former and present ANBU members, myself included", I told her and she looked up at me tears in her eyes and before I could flinch her arms were wrapped around me and I felt the hot tricks of tears on her face run down my neck.
"Thank-you, it's just lately it's with Sasuke acting the way he is I just keep doubting myself but you, you always make me feel better. You're there for me more than my own teammate", she told me and I gingerly placed my own arms around her waist and she pulled away to look up at me.
"I'm your teammate now", I told her and she beamed up at me before giving me another squeeze much to my discomfort.
"You are my teammate. My strong, dependable, smart, gullible teammate", she said and as the words registered she backed away laughing five snails on her shoulders. She reached into her back pocket and took out the scroll and did a little victory dance. I stood there in shock for a second while she laughed.
"Man, I did it haha. I WON!", she screamed and she whooped a little until a disgruntled figure made his way into the clearing.
"Geez, sorry I don't have a summon that lets me cheat", Gemna pouted but I could see he was fighting down a smile.
"Hey at least we won", Sakura said and Gemna raised a brow.
"We won", he asked and Sakura nodded.
"If I win then you did, we're on the same team after all", she said and Gemna smiled and placed his arm around her shoulder.
"You're right, we won so don't you think that as the loser, our precious Taichou should pay the bill for lunch", Gemna asked smirking and I glared at him.
"Hm I think you're right. You up for it Itachi-san", she asked me and I knew I was getting roped in whether I wanted to or not.
"Sure", I agreed and I walked up ahead of them while Sakura thanked her slugs.
"So tell me how exactly Sakura got the scroll. Did she use her feminine wiles on you", Gemna questioned his face in a familiar leer. I didn't answer and Gemna gasped.
"She did didn't she. Wow Taichou, never thought I'd see the day where you lost because you got distracted by a pretty face", Gemna said in wonder and I winded.
"She was crying", I told him and Gemna hissed on my account.
"Harsh dude that's one of the most brutal moves a woman can pull on you", he said sympathetically. I had a feeling that he knew that first hand. And I had to agree it was a dirty trick.
"Hey guys ready to go", Sakura chirped her smile broad and face lacking any form of sadness at all despite her previous tears. The girl was an interesting creature.
Very interesting.
That's right guys be scared Itachi is starting to have emotions *gasp*. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and please check out my profile and immerse yourselves in my other works. Please review it motivates me.
-Sakura478