I'm so sorry for the late update but I had a bit of a crisis. The notebook I write most of this in fell behind my bed and I didn't end up finding it until the morning before I left for vacation. Unfortunately, my grandma doesn't have internet, (I know, poor me!) so I couldn't update until I got back, which was last night.

sigh

So, here's the next chapter.

Read on!

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8pm, Somewhere in the Fire Country

"So, uh, Naruto… Where exactly are we going?" Kakashi asked the blonde. He was hoping that Naruto had a plan, but then, Naruto wasn't one to think things through.

Surprisingly though, this time, he did have a plan.

Naruto stopped, and pulled out a map from his backpack.

"We're going to the Earth Country." He pointed to said state on his map. "I reckon that the Akatsuki have had Sakura for about a week and a half. And since the last we saw of them was in Suna, they're probably far away from the Sand. Plus, Tsunade-ba-chan told me a while ago that their Leader has a base near the Village Hidden in the Rock…" Naruto shrugged. "Anyway, I figure it's worth a try to go there."

Kakashi's visible eye widened. He was deeply impressed. Normally, Naruto was not this organized. Unfortunately, he couldn't ignore the fact that the Akatsuki could be doing this just to lure Naruto into their lair.

He shrugged to himself. They'd just have to be extra careful.

"Then, the Earth Country, it is."

Same time, Somewhere in the Wind Country

"So, uh… Where are we going?" Sakura asked Itachi. He glanced at her, and for a moment, Sakura didn't think he would tell her. Then, he looked ahead again and spoke softly.

"We're going to the Village Hidden in the Rock. Leader is based in the surrounding countryside."

Sakura nodded absently and kept step behind him, while Kisame brought up the rear.

They were traveling at a very fast pace, and Kisame had said earlier that they would probably arrive at Leader's base within five days.

Sakura was reluctant to go; she didn't know what 'Leader' would do to her, but she did know that Itachi would protect her, so she went along anyway. Besides, where else could she go?

A few hours later, they made camp and, with Itachi's permission, a small fire.

While dinner was cooking, Sakura looked at Itachi intently. As if he could feel her gaze on him, the Uchiha swung his head around and looked at her.

"What?"

Sakura shook her head. "It's just, that… Well, most the time you're so nice to me… and I like you a lot, but…" She trailed off.

Itachi cocked his head. "But…?" he prompted.

"I can't help but remember... You were the one that killed Sasuke, you almost killed Neji… And you slaughtered your whole clan!" Itachi sighed when he saw the glisten of tears in her eyes. "I can't forget… So… Why'd you do it?"

Kisame chuckled unexpectedly. "The age-old question. Why did Itachi kill his clan? And why did he let Sasuke live, only to come back and kill him five years later?" The blue man shook his head. "I don't think even Itachi himself knows anymore."

Itachi stared impassively at the fire. Then quietly, so that Sakura almost didn't hear him, he said, "To feel."

Sakura frowned, but he went on before she could speak up.

"I tried to kill the Hyuuga kid because I had orders to kill him if he turned out to be a trap. I killed my clan so that I could use my Mangeku Sharingan. And I killed Sasuke because he was weak and had not fulfilled my expectations. But the real reason I killed… was to feel something. Like a cutter cuts to feel they are alive, I killed to feel alive. But I have too many enemies now, and so I must keep killing, or I will be killed."

Kisame gaped at him. He had never heard Itachi speak so much at one time. Sakura looked at him pityingly. She knew she could never understand his pain, and so she just took his hand comfortingly.

"Well, you have me, now."

3 days later, 5pm, Outskirts of the Earth Country

Kakashi and Naruto had camped for the past two days, and both were very glad when they came upon a small village. After restocking their supplies, they checking into a tiny inn called 'The Spring Chicken.' Kakashi paid for a room and they sat down to dinner in the downstairs tavern.

After an hour or so, Naruto yawned sleepily and excused himself. Kakashi waved him up stairs, saying that he'd stay a bit longer. The blonde jonin nodded, and walked off.

Kakashi flagged a waitress and asked for a drink. Then, he sat back and watched.

An hour earlier, Outskirts of the Earth Country

"Look, it's a town! Can we stop there, please?!" Sakura pleaded Itachi. He frowned at her.

"It would be risky."

"Oh, come on! Just one night! I want to sleep in a bed! And I promise not to run away!" Sakura made puppy eyes at him.

Itachi sighed and looked at Kisame. The blue man shrugged and grinned.

"It would be nice."

"Fine," Itachi relented. "But be inconspicuous."

The three found an inn called 'The Spring Chicken' and checked into a room. They went up to the room and discovered, to their dismay, that there were only two beds.

"Well, I'm not sleeping with Itachi!" Kisame said quickly.

Itachi glared at him.

"We'll get a cot, okay?" Sakura interrupted them before they started fighting.

The konoichi skipped downstairs before either could protest, and she went up to the counter. Sakura noticed with a pang that most people were eating and the smells were making her nearly light-headed with hunger. She vowed that she would ask for dinner after this.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" Sakura asked the woman at the counter. She looked up. "Do you think I could get a cot in room 4?"

The woman sighed wistfully at her, and spoke with a country accent.

"Sorry, girl. We don't got no cots left."

Same time, 'The Spring Chicken,' Downstairs tavern

Kakashi sighed, sipping his wine with dignity and scanning the small crowd.

Then, a familiar voice broke through his thoughts.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" the voice said. Kakashi's visible eye widened with shock. The voice sounded exactly like Sakura!

The Copy Ninja spun around wildly and spotted the pink-haired girl talking to the check-in woman.

Kakashi stood up and walked briskly across the room, sweeping the girl up in a huge hug.

The girl screamed shrilly but stopped when she saw the silver hair that flowed over her shoulder.

"K-K-Kakashi?!" Sakura stuttered.

"Sakura!" Kakashi pulled away a bit. "What the hell are you doing here?" His voice was thick with emotion.

Sakura just stared at him. All kinds of thoughts raced through her mind. But most of all, she knew that she could not tell Kakashi who she was here with, nor could she tell him where she was going.

Sakura smiled slightly, and tried to look convincing. "I… I'm alone."

Kakashi looked skeptical. "Then why do you need a cot?" he asked.

Sakura looked at him and burst into tears.

"I'm so s-s-sorry, Kakashi! I d-d-didn't mean to… And then h-h-he… I'm s-s-so sorry!"

Kakashi hugged her again.

"Shhh… What's wrong?" He looked at her. "Why don't you come up to my room and we can talk privately?" Kakashi asked, seeing that some people were looking at them weirdly.

Sakura shook her head. "He'll th-th-think I've run a-away…" she said, looking at her feet. "I… I'll meet you here tonight… At eleven, okay?" Then, Sakura hugged Kakashi once more and turned to leave.

Kakashi grabbed her arm.

"What's going on, Sakura?"

"I-I'll talk to you tonight!" Sakura said, pulling away. Kakashi frowned at her retreating form and scratched his head. He'd just have to wait until tonight.

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Heh, like the name of the inn? 'The Spring Chicken.' Lol.

Conflict! Get your popcorn out again, cuz the next few chapters are full of it!

Keep reading and review!