Title: Musical Culture

Author: AppleL0V3R

Beta-reader: SymphoniaFreak

Fandom: Naruto

Pairing: Uchiha Itachi and Haruno Sakura

Other Characters: N/A

Chapter: Fourteen – More than You

Song Used: Anything but Ordinary by Avril Lavigne

Summary: Twisted meme music challenge (rules not followed). 14. She didn't care what path she took so long as she was never forced to change; he cherished that about her.

Word Count: 675

Rating: T

Type: Drabble Collection – Incomplete

Genre: Romance, philosophical

Warnings: N/A

Disclaimer: If you've heard of it before, then it's obviously not mine.

Started: November 23, 2012

Completed: November 23, 2012

Last Edited: January 7, 2013

Note: I will take requests for any song, so long as it's clear that they will be drabbles.

Requested by: Nijakitty

Sakura would say her reckless and headstrong behavior was Naruto's fault, if anyone ever got close enough and stayed long enough thereafter to ask. Itachi knew there was truth to that, but it did not explain all of it. He knew part of it was her upbringing, part of it was her chosen lifestyle as a shinobi, but most of it was her unique perspective.

At first, he had found it foolhardy, like she was just asking to get herself killed. And back then, she arguably had been- going toe-to-toe with him, knowing full well he was out of her league but still unwilling to back down. In her mind, her team and her village were more important than her life. The team that had betrayed her, left her die. The corrupt village that was more than willing to label her collateral damage. When he pointed out to those details her, she did not dispute his accusations, did not bother to defend either of the two. Because to her, the fact that they were worth dying for was all she needed to pull careless, gutsy moves like she had.

Later he would learn that, while his first impression was true, it was only one part of her precious philosophy. Sakura was a powerful, obedient, supportive shinobi. But she would bend over backwards for her team, even at the cost of loyalty to her village. The fact of the matter was, no matter how important her career as a ninja was to her, the human connections that push to her forwards and made her weak were higher up in her priorities.

She could justify it in three simple words: I am human. And because of it, she refused to let others tell her what to believe or think or do. She wanted to know for herself what her life was worth, and how far she could go. She was curious and dogged, and she hated to forcibly repress that aspect of her personality.

And for that, Itachi would always be silently thankful. If she had not been curious enough to stand down and hear what he had to say the first time they'd met, then one or both of them would be dead now. If she had not been so full of compassion and sympathy, then she would not have been willing to do what it took to fulfill her end of their deal, or even to make one at all.

Their twined story had started with a chance encounter, an almost battle, and deal to save Sasuke and keep Konoha safe. Because she was willing to take a chance, because she was willing to prioritize her loved ones over her loyalty to her home, he had gotten a second chance at life. He had gotten a second chance at living that life.

So when he felt her chakra signature unexpectedly, he wasted no time in seeking her out.

Sakura was reckless and headstrong, but she was curious and compassionate. And her unorthodox nature had been exactly what he had needed, although he'd not known it. So he could not find it within himself to be angry for long when she did something foolish or when she was more human than she should be.

Because those traits are why he is not just breathing, but genuinely happy.