A/N: I love this one - writing Itachi is way more fun than I originally thought. ^^ Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it, and please - do review. That little button at the bottom feels so lonely, and I don't feel near as warm and fuzzy if you don't! Shoutout to Herbblade, my awesome betareader. Kudos for all the top-notch work she does!

Fourteen - Smile - Sasoritachi

The forest clearing was the perfect picture of peacefulness. Green grass, sun-dappled shadow cast by a thick canopy overhead, a light breeze moving through the trees. The only thing to mar the scene was the two shinobi facing each other, each seemingly relaxed yet more tense than a spring would too tightly.

"It's been a while since you and I met like this, Itachi," Sasori commented, his voice sounding deep and gravelly from inside the protective shell Hiruko afforded. "I trust you haven't fallen out of practice?"

"A shame if I have," the other commented. "Else our little session today would be a waste of time."

"Agreed." Bracing his hands against the soft grass, Sasori readied himself. "Then let's begin, shall we?" Without waiting for a reply, he sent the poison-tipped tail hurtling through the air toward his opponent.

A black blur shot up and to the left from where Itachi had been, coming to a halt on a branch several metres above the ground. "Hn. Predictable." Hands moving quickly, he set two fingers against his chin, inhaling deeply. On the exhale, a steady stream of fire came whooshing out, heading directly for Sasori, expanding as it came.

Dodging aside, the puppetmaster laughed hollowly, the sound ominous. "You'll have to be quicker than that. Where's that legendary speed of yours?"

Hiruko's left arm extended forward, the projectiles around its wrist flying out toward Itachi. A split-second later, the wooden carriers split open, disgorging their cargoes of deadly senbon. The thin needles sliced into the younger man's body and through his cloak; as if in slow motion, he fell backward off the branch on which he stood.

When the body was only metres from the ground, it disappeared in a billow of smoke, and a needle-pierced log thudded onto the grass. Sasori was already on the lookout; Itachi was simply too good to be taken out by a simple senbon attack. He must've used a substitution jutsu while Sasori was still occupied with dodging the fire attack.

"Clever, as usual."

"I'm flattered." The voice came from behind him; Sasori turned, but Itachi was nowhere in sight. "However, it will get you nowhere."

A lone crow launched itself like a feathered kunai from the dense foliage of a nearby tree, zeroing in on Hiruko's left eye. The tail whipped around in defense, the bird's beak making a loud ping! as it glanced off the metal. Seconds later, the long appendage had wrapped around the crow's body. A tight squeeze and an audible crack later, the creature went limp.

Dropping the lifeless thing, Sasori chuckled again. "Child's play," he said dismissively as Itachi stepped into view from behind a large, jagged rock. The puppetmaster was careful not to look directly at Itachi's face - he knew from listening to Deidara what could happen if he did.

"Then perhaps I should stop playing." Itachi's right hand rose, finger pointing at his opponent. "Be ready, Sasori."

Preparing for an attack, Sasori watched, but Itachi merely lowered his hand again and remained still. He could tell the younger man was watching him intently - perhaps waiting for him to make the first move? Very well.

Reaching up to remove Hiruko's facemask, Sasori paused as something scuttled across the puppet's hand. A brilliantly red scorpion stood poised on the projectile gauntlet. It was joined by another . . . and another . . . . Scuttling noises sounded across the puppet's back, tail, legs . . . . The little arachnids were everywhere. Sasori flinched as one climbed slowly onto his foot, beginning it's ascent toward his heart . . . .

Itachi watched as Hiruko shuddered violently from the actions of its master within. How unfortunate - Deidara must have neglected to mention Itachi's ability to cast a genjutsu without making eye contact. And now Sasori was paying for it with visions of deadly fire scorpions . . . . Most unfortunate.

He allowed his eyes to revert from the Sharingan to their natural dark gray. Behind the high collar of his cloak, one corner of Itachi's mouth curled upward in a smirk.