Humming a cheery tune under his breath, the Haruno family's resident ghost freeloader watched the youngest Haruno make the homework she would be missing during her little leave.

Sakura didn't even seem like she had any difficulty making those homework, or maybe that was Shisui's ego talking. He was prideful about his first student after all. Itachi didn't count since it was like a mutual partnership, wherein they both improved by him teaching Itachi new stuff and Itachi keeping him from lazing around.

With Sakura though, it was different. He did improve himself, but not in the training sense. More like the human sense? It didn't really make sense. Sakura taught him what it's like to be a kid. He didn't really have much of a childhood considering he was born during the Third Shinobi War, and had participated towards the end of it. Unlike Sakura, he never got the chance to experience a peaceful childhood. Yet he wouldn't change that fact even if he could, because he had helped his village, and ensured that Sakura and her friends could enjoy the peace he couldn't.

That was worth not experiencing a childhood.

"Shisui, do you trust me?"

Shisui blinked at Sakura's intense look. His characteristic onyx eyes staring at Sakura's emerald colored eyes.

"Yes, I do." Shisui answered without any real thought.

Of course he trusted Sakura, if he hadn't then he wouldn't be teaching her nor allowing her to ensure he meets up with Itachi. Heck, if he didn't trust her he wouldn't even be freeloading at her place.

She didn't give him any reason to not trust her.

Sakura didn't look satisfied with his answer, and instead she frowned at him.

"Liar." She accused in a hurt tone.

Shisui's face flashed in confusion, and a part of him felt bad despite not knowing what he had done, "What?" He asked.

"You don't trust me."

"I do trust you Sakura, what would make you think I don't?" It was his turn to frown at her.

"You haven't told me the truth."

Shisui didn't need her to explain what the truth was, he knew she was talking about the massacre and what really happened that day. But he couldn't tell her, ignorance was a bliss, and he didn't want her to get too deeply involved. He was practically painting a target on her back already by meeting with Itachi, he didn't need Sakura doing something reckless like trying to confront Danzo or something.

'But she wouldn't.' His mind told him.

He didn't want to ruin her childhood by getting her involved. He didn't want her to know, because if she knew, she would undeniably never see Konoha in the same light. And he'd rather she still see Konoha in an innocent light.

He didn't want her smile to disappear.

But the hurt look she was giving him was absolutely heart-wrenching, the look hurt always is when it comes to children. They were so innocent that they could make you feel bad about anything really, and this wasn't just any kid, this was Sakura, his...student. His friend.

However, he couldn't be selfish anymore. She deserved the truth, maybe not as much as Sasuke did, but she was up there in the list.

"Are you sure you want to know the truth?" He seriously asked.

He wished she would say no.

But Sakura's always been the curious type of girl.

"Yes."

Shisui nodded at Sakura's determined look.

That afternoon, Sakura Haruno found out the whole truth about the Uchiha Massacre, and everyone's involvement in it. Her view of Konoha was utterly shattered, and she could never see Konoha with rose tinted glasses again.

"Do you regret knowing the truth?" Shisui asked her when he was done.

Despite how shaken she was, she quickly shook her head. "No, I don't..." She looked at him, her voice gaining more confidence. "Konoha needs to change."

Shisui's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"A village blaming a clan for something they wouldn't do...that's messed up. Why couldn't the Hokage just ask the Yamanaka clan to find out the truth? It would complicate things, but it would have avoided a senseless massacre. A village shouldn't be so biased towards a clan nor discriminating towards one single child."

Her emerald eyes gained a determined steel to them.

"This village needs to change." She repeated. "And I will make sure it changes."

Shisui didn't know what to say, for once he was at a loss for words.

Konoha changing for the better?

A village where clans aren't biased and the children could be genuinely happy?

It sounded...so surreal. Yet so nice.

But did Konoha really need to change?

.o0o.o0o.

"Sakura-chan, it's time to leave!" Mebuki Haruno called out.

Sakura looked at Shisui. For the first time ever, he seemed nervous. Usually it was her that was nervous, but she did understand why Shisui was so nervous. It wasn't every day you turned into a ghost and meet up with someone who thinks you're dead after all.

She gave him an encouraging smile. "It'll be fine." She stated.

If it was possible Shisui seemed more worried. "But what if it won't be?" He mumbled.

"It'll be fine." Sakura repeated.

Shisui frowned. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I trust you enough to trust my life in your hands."

"But I don't trust myself." Shisui admitted.

"Then do you trust me?" Sakura smiled at him.

Shisui nodded without hesitation.

"You'll meet up with Itachi, you'll talk to him, he'll be glad to see you, you two will scheme up something or another, and everything will be fine. Want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because I said so." Sakura confidently said as she walked over to Shisui. "So trust me."

Shisui's eyes widened before he smiled. Sakura really had changed from the meek crybaby he first met, now she was more confident and mature.

"All that's left is to wish you a safe trip." Sakura smiled softly at Shisui.

Shisui took her by surprise as he engulfed her into a hug. But that wasn't the only thing that shocked her.

"You...I can feel you..." Sakura mumbled returning the hug. She could actually touch him!

But how?

'No time to wonder about that, for now we have to concentrate at the task at hand. We can dwell on this later.' Inner sighed feeling a headache coming on for her.

"Wish me luck."

"Good luck."

.o0o.o0o.

"Rin-san, could you look after my friends for me while I'm gone, please?"

Rin Nohara smiled at her late sensei's son.

As usual, Naruto Uzumaki was causing trouble for his peers and elders, but Rin wouldn't expect anything less. Besides, she was actually enjoying how energetic Naruto was.

"Naruto Uzumaki! Honestly," Naruto's teacher, Iruka Umino, dragged Naruto by the ear to his seat ignoring the how the other kids were snickering. "It's been a while since you've acted up like this, what happened?"

"I'm just killing time till Sakura-chan gets back." Naruto grumbled crossing his arms. "Besides, she promised we'd pull off a super duper awesome prank when she gets back, so I'm training."

Iruka couldn't decide whether he found Naruto's statement endearing or if he was pissed off at how casual Naruto played his pranks to be.

"Detention."

"Ehh?! Why!" Naruto yelled in protest.

Iruka ignored Naruto's protest, inwardly knowing he would end up treating Naruto to ramen later, made Naruto sit down, and caught Shikamaru sleeping in class.

"Shikamaru! Detention for you too!" He yelled.

Shikamaru startled before mumbling a troublesome under his breath.

What Iruka didn't know was that he would end up treating Naruto, Shikamaru, Chouji, Ino, and Kiba to ramen.

Rin giggled at the scene.

'It seems like they already have someone looking out for them Sakura, but a promise is a promise.'

.o0o.o0o.

Shisui ducked down just in time to avoid a kunai to Sakura's head.

Despite how inconvenient the kimono Mebuki had given him to wear was, he was still able to effortlessly dodge four more kunai.

"Who's there?" He called out in Sakura's voice taking out a few kunai of his own, Sakura never left without a weapon on her person after all.

The answer to his question came in another kunai.

He deflected it back towards the direction it came from and he stepped back to avoid a blade swinging at him.

"Answer me or I'll have to fight back." He calmly said taking another step back as his eyes darted around the alley he was in.

It suddenly got too quiet for his liking.

'Kai!' He inwardly yelled immediately recognizing that he was in a Genjutsu.

He broke out of it just in time to avoid another kunai, but this time as he stepped back he had triggered a trap. Shuriken and kunai came flying at him from every direction.

"I trust you."

He body flickered quickly towards the direction the previous kunai came from and brought down Sakura's kunai towards their attacker. His kunai met its target, only for the body of his attacker to deform into various crows.

"Caw, caw..." The crows cawed as they flew away and revealed a familiar person.

"Itachi..."

.o0o.o0o.

Chapter End

.o0o.o0o.

Author's Note: It's been a while since I updated, eh? Sorry about that! Actually it's thanks to Xx Onyx Pearl xX that I even updated, so this chapter is dedicated to her:)

Questions:

1. What summon would Sakura have?

2. What do you think Itachi will think in the next chapter?