Moroha Katana (Double-Edged Blade)

Story # 0001

by Kaline Reine

Author's Note: This is the very first Naruto fanfiction story that I ever planned out. It came to me one day when I first started watching the show, and I was really bored. Over time, I have added many ideas to this one. It's really important to me, and I will try very hard not to mess it up. I know some of you don't like Sakura but this story involves her in the plot. It also has Sasuke, Itachi, and other important people. So deal.

WARNINGS: I have no idea what this story may contain. It may include, but is not limited to, sex violence, rape, abuse, angst, and just suffering in general. There is craziness and a really wild plot. So bear with me. Main pairing is ItachiXSakura.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Naruto series, or any of the related characters or setting. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I just like to write about them.

Chapter 25:

The next day, true to his word, Itachi told her where the third scroll was.

"The Hidden Mist Village has the third scroll. She will have to talk to the Mizukage about it. They'd probably be willing to negotiate a trade or payment of some sort. All Konoha would have to do is send someone to get it."

Sakura sighed. It was too early for her to process all this information. "We need to tell Hokage-sama about this before work, so she can start the negotiations."

They had already been on their way to the hospital when he told her. The girls' pink hair swayed back and forth, tangling viciously in the wind. She led the way to Tsunade's office, where one of the guards let them in. She noticed they had raised security for some reason…

"Tsunade-sama, I have news of the third scroll."

"Do tell," Tsunade seemed to be patiently waiting for it.

"It's in Kirigakure. Itachi-san said the Mizukage has it?"

"I know just the thing," She pulled out a key from her desk, and gave it to her assistant. "Shizune, go get the special scroll, the one Mist was after that time."

"Hai."

In a few moments, the woman came back. Sakura noticed Itachi's eyes wandering to places they shouldn't on both women. The Hokage couldn't care less, but Shizune certainly seemed to notice. She pulled her kimono a little more tightly around herself.

Itachi smirked. She didn't realize that it made her curves all that much more visible. He huffed when Sakura elbowed him in the ribs. He'd be sure to ask her about it later. For now he just stopped.

Shizune gave Tsunade the scroll, and the Hokage looked at it, putting the key away. It still had a seal on it. "We're a bit short handed with Shinobi right now. Sakura-chan, could I ask the two of you to deliver this scroll and exchange it with the other one? The Mizukage would do anything to get her hands on this. I will send a message to let her know you're coming."

Sakura looked hesitant for a minute, glancing at Itachi who stood beside her, and blushing. She never thought she'd be asked to go on an actual mission with him, especially somewhere like that.

Reluctantly, she answered. "Hai, I'll go." Itachi just nodded his own consent too.

"Very well, you are to leave at once," The Hokage glared at Itachi. "And you… If you harm so much as one hair on her body- anywhere on her body- I will personally see to it that you take your very last breath with my hands around your throat. And I'm told I have a very crushing grip."

Even he had heard about the woman who could channel chakra anywhere in her body to make herself stronger. He'd seen Sakura do it before, too. He had no doubts that her threats were real.

"Of course."

Once the two had been given the scroll, and left for their mission, Shizune turned to her. "Are you sure it's wise to leave him alone with her? Especially that far away from the Leaf Village?"

Tsunade laughed heartily. "Oh poor Shizune, don't you know anything about love?"

Her assistant blinked. She was surprised, to say the least. "Love? Those two? Tsunade-sama, you don't really think-"

"It's not for me to decide."

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The two figures were headed back toward the city.

"So…" The Uchiha began. "Can't stand for me to look at other women, ne?"

"That isn't it at all! I just think it's disgusting the way you ogle people all the time."

"Only when it isn't you," he made a show of once again examining her from head to toe.

She should be used to this by now. Sakura rolled her eyes. She always felt like she was being constantly scrutinized whenever she was in his presence. It was really nerve-wracking.

"We have to pack for our mission," She snarled angrily. "Let's just go."

Itachi was silent.

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It didn't take long for them to be on their way. No one stopped them on the way out, as they usually did to tell Sakura goodbye. Everyone in the village still avoided Itachi like the plague or something. The girl was almost grateful that she didn't have to deal with anyone bothering her. She was not in the mood today. Soon they were traveling at high speeds, rushing through the trees Ninja-style.

It had taken her too long to change out of her work clothes, and back into normal Ninja gear. But the feel of her normal work clothes felt so familiar and good… She could almost forgive Itachi for being such an ass, if she got to get away from the monotony of the village for a while.

"Can we stop for a bit?" Itachi asked. "I'm getting thirsty."

"What? Are you serious?"

She looked back at him. He looked serious. She jumped down from the trees, near a small stream. He filled a canteen, before tucking it back away into his Akatsuki cloak.

Sakura could not believe he was actually wearing it. Even after all of this… The man had to be insane. Or maybe…

'Oh no, what if he is still in Akatsuki? What if he could have lied somehow? Tsunade didn't check first to see if the Mizukage really had the scroll we're going after…' The realization hit her suddenly, nearly as solidly a rock hitting her in the forehead. 'He could be planning to kidnap me again. No one else is with us. He could… do whatever he wanted… with me…'

Fear and panic began to settle again, even as his back was turned to her. Sakura gulped and took this chance to fill her canteen too. They still had a long way to go, if this was even the mission she thought it was supposed to be. She felt like it was some sort of mistake. After what he did, Itachi was being allowed to escort her on a mission? This was insane!

But she couldn't let her fear show. She couldn't let him know that she was onto him, and-

"Sakura-chan? Are you okay?"

"Eeek!" She screeched when he tapped her shoulder, nearly falling into the creek before he grabbed her. "Ah! Let me go!"

The Kunoichi managed to fight him off of her. Itachi looked stunned. "What happened?"

"Nothing, I'm fine. Let's go."

In a sudden burst of chakra, she jumped back into the trees, aiming high. The Uchiha shrugged and followed her.

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He really wished he knew what was eating away at Sakura. They were almost to the village now, and still she was very tense. They'd had to sleep outside on the cold ground yesterday. But at least it was only a one and a half day journey to Kirigakure.

In a rare moment of mercy, he'd let her sleep peacefully last night. They'd had to share a sleeping bag, since Sakura only had one… It was the one that she had forgotten on her previous mission. Whenever Itachi thought of that mission, and the way that she'd had to share a sleeping bag with Sasuke, his blood boiled. He did not like the thought of his little brother touching her, or worse, of her liking it. In a way, this made him glad that Sasuke was not allowed anywhere near him right now.

Sakura still looked shaken up this morning, and it made him wonder if it was something he had done. Then again, perhaps she was always like this on her missions. She seemed different from the way she'd been on the last and only one he'd ever seen her on… But still.

"There it is," She said, stopping short. "The Great Naruto Bridge."

"From what I understand, you and your team played a large role in assisting them with it."

He was trying to change the subject, but he saw that he'd failed when little tears fell from her eyes. As much as he didn't want to admit it, it hurt him to see Sakura cry. That was something so awful… She was a Shinobi and they didn't cry for no reason. It was considered a weakness to show emotions. So then why…?

"Sakura, I'm sorry," Itachi moved up behind her, and gently nuzzled the back of her neck. "I know it's not easy to deal with it. But just think, as soon as we're done with this, you can have your friend back.

She hated the way even the name of this bridge upset her. It made her think of her lost friend. But even more tan that, she hated the way Itachi's breath on her neck caused goosebumps. So she did the only feasible thing- She harshly shoved him away.

"You'd better not be lying! Bastard!"

Before he could regain his balance, and get over his initial shock of what the girl had done, she was walked hurriedly toward the entrance to the bridge.

Sakura was feeling a little better about the situation, now that they'd made it to the Mist Village. The bridge was left unguarded, as the two Shinobi walked onto it. Normally there would be lots of people going to and from the Mist Village. There was no one here, it was early morning still. They had made it in shorter time than they had hoped for. The trip had taken less than a day for them.

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The Mizukage had welcomed them into her office. "I received the letter from your Hokage late last night. I have the scroll you seek. Here."

She simply gave it to them, with a smile. She was awfully trusting… Sakura was surprised Itachi wasn't staring at her, the way he had with Tsunade and Shizune before. Had he really only done that to irk her?

The Mizukage was an attractive woman. She had a great figure, and long hair that swept around her face, down her back, and even over her neck, in some sort of crisscross or zigzag pattern, then came to a messy sort of tie on top. It was kind of neat to look at. Her clothing was no different from any female Mist Ninja. Prior to this mission, she hadn't even known that the Mizukage was a woman.

Sakura handed over the scroll that Tsunade had given her. Itachi just stood silently, as both of the girls examined the scrolls they had traded. The Leaf Kunoichi was ashamed that she couldn't tell if it were legitimate or not.

"Is this real?" She asked Itachi, giving the scroll to him.

He looked at it for a minute before answering. "Hai."

"Alright," She turned to face Kirigakure's leader. "May we go?"

"Of course. I have no doubts that this scroll is the real deal. Do you require escorts upon leaving? Kirigakure isn't always the safest place."

Sakura felt uneasy. Something seemed kind of off about this, but… 'Maybe I'm just being paranoid again.' She had heard some kind of rumor about people being escorted out of Kirigakure and then their villages getting a huge bill with fees for those services later. It could have just been a rumor, though.

She bowed, while Itachi did the same, and they turned to leave. "No thank you, that won't be necessary. Bye."

"Farewell."

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They were walking along the bridge, when Itachi seemed to sense that something dangerous was coming. The Kunoichi had felt it too. There were some other Ninja coming up behind them. And judging from the way they carried on, they were native to Kirigakure.

"Great, just what we need…" Sakura sighed.

The Uchiha smirked. "Hn."

He turned to face them in what was clearly a fighting stance. The Mist Shinobi just looked at him. Two of them started to laugh. One of them appeared out of the water and materialized behind them. Sakura kicked out with her leg, without even turning around, causing him to fall flat on his face.

"You'll pay for that!" He yelled, getting up.

She still didn't turn around. She had to keep her eyes on the others.

"I've got them," Itachi muttered, where only she could hear. "You take him on."

"Right!"

The girl was looking for a good fight anyway. She needed to work on her fighting skills, so they didn't get rusty over time. This was a battle she was sure to enjoy. Itachi seemed like he had been looking forward to it too, but it didn't show as much behind his mask of stone.

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A/N: I am soooo sorry for taking forever to update this again! That really isn't like me. I haven't lost interest in this pairing, either… I've just been busy with other things. But I really want to finish this, and it's not on hold or anything, just taking my time with it. I'll try to keep you waiting too long this time around, though. And… I fail at fighting and action scenes. XD

-Kaline Reine