Fuyuhana

By: Wounded angel

Un-betad version.

It was at that time in the morning when the first rays of sunlight can be sighted above the horizon as the beginning of a new day. At that moment, when neither the nocturnal nor diurnal wildlife bustle around and when everything is quiet in the anticipation of the day to come. It was at that moment that Sakura found herself sitting in the midst of disarrayed sheets, yukata and hair askew and perspiration layering her forehead as she stared with anguish-filled eyes at the darkened wall in front of her.

Spending a few moments realising that it had been another dream that she was awake now and… She halted in her thoughts. And what? Everything was okay? That it had been just an awful speck of imagination and wasn't real? Feeling her posture ease somewhat she leaned her arm on her thigh while running a hand through her disarrayed locks, feverishly trying to ban the scenes from her nightmare from flashing before her eyes.

The blood. His.

The question. Why?

The guilt. Hers.

The plea. Stop!

Feeling bile rise in her throat she rushed over to the toilet to empty her stomach. The gall burned her throat and mouth and every heave brought her eyes to water. After emptying the non-existent contents of her stomach, she dragged herself over to the sink to wash her mouth from the foul and bitter taste. She took the opportunity to splash some cold water onto her face and neck and gave a contented sigh as her heated skin was cooled.

Closing the tap, she leaned against the sink, staring through half-lidded eyes at the drain. How long was this going to carry on? She didn't know how many more of these nights she could cope with.

The dreams will pass, as all things do.

Hearing his words repeat in her mind, Sakura scowled. Her anger might have calmed but thinking back on yesterday evening still brought a familiar rush of heat to travel trough her veins. That man sure knew how to vex her like nothing else did. Her scowl died down at the thought as she reached for the towel with a sombre look on her face. That might, on second thought, not be entirely true, she conceded while drying herself off.

Suddenly feeling a cold touch to her shoulder, Sakura dropped the towel and caught a glimpse crimson red in the mirror's surface. Feeling her heart fly up in her throat, she whirled around so fast she had to grip the sink to keep from falling to the tiled floor. Eyes that were searching for the embodiment of her nemesis slowly came to rest upon a piece of red cloth hung over the shower stall flapping eerily in an invisible gust. Heart still beating erratically in her chest she ripped the towel from its perch and threw it into the shower before sliding the glass door shut with a 'slam'. Slowly the incessant beating of her heart calmed to a healthier pace as her breathing evened out and she rested a hand on her shoulder. Raising the same hand to her face she rubbed across her eyes, reprimanding herself for over reacting. The sleep deprivation and stress must be causing her an overactive imagination.

Leaving the bathroom, she crawled back between the sheets of her futon and gave an exhausted sigh. Cocooning herself inside her blanket her tired gaze fell on the window across the room and she saw that the first rays of sunlight had already found their way inside the dark room. Faintly she could pick up the singing of birds from outside. Letting her eyes slide shut, she felt the faint light caress her skin as she let her thoughts drift. Flashes of Shiro, Konoha and Tsunade, Shizune and Naruto filled up the chasm her nightmares had left behind and she found herself soothed by the memories of them. Thinking about her mischievous lad, an affectionate smile pulled at her lips. Oh, how she missed him, maybe even more so than any of the others.

The moment of peace was short-lives, however, as she thought about how long it would still be until she could see him again. Every delay in finding the Brothers had the time when she would finally be able to reunite with him again moving further away. In her heavy heart she felt the longing churning.

It seemed that trying to forget one pain, always brought forth another.

Wanting to ease some of her hurting, she burrowed her face in her pillow and focused on all the little things that made Naruto…well Naruto. Smiling she remembered his winning grins (one she could really need right now), smiling blue eyes and sun kissed cheeks with their little whisker marks. She slowly relaxed while thinking about his bright blond hair, his affinity for ramen, that silly sleeping cap he still hadn't been able to let go of and his indestructible will that never seemed to waver. She burrowed further into the blanket, feeding of the warmth she felt as she recalled his sense for justice, camaraderie, faithfulness and kindness that were like a lighting torches in his live. His loudness that always announced his presence no matter where he was, how he always spoke his opinion, whether it was wanted or not and refusal of oppression…

The list seemed to turn into a cornucopia as she found hidden strength from his little quirks and antiques. And suddenly, before she knew it, she was fast asleep, for the first time in days with a peaceful state of mind and smile on her lips.

Jiraya sat unmoving on the tree branch, completely concealed by the leaves and other branches of the tree crown. With a grim set to his jaws and hard look in his eyes he observed the boy on the training ground beneath him. The boy had done remarkable progress during the last few weeks that he had been without the Kyuubi. Of course there were still many new facts he had to come to terms with, such as when he got hurt it would take more than a few moments for him to heal. The lack of the chakra reserves had also been another drawback, still Naruto didn't even for one fleeting moment wish –at least out loud- that he had the Kyuubi back. Besides, the only drawback the latter caused was the inability to summon Gamabunta and ridiculous amounts of Kage Bushin.

He had undoubtedly though been placed at a slight disadvantage compared to the other Genin his age. But he had trained hard to catch up to his friends—almost a little too hard. It seemed he lived to train and excel expectations nowadays, driven by a strong desire fused by something that even Jiraya didn't know exactly what it was.

Observing the blond on the ground, he noticed to his relief that he was finally taking a break. 'About, bloody time.'

Naruto fell back onto the frost covered ground, a muffled crunch reaching his ears as his body hit the grass. His breathing was laboured and fogging the air in front of him. Closing his eyes he could feel the once scorching intensity of the summer rays spreading gentle warmth from the autumn sun on his face.

A chilly wind tossed his golden locks about and strung his cheeks to crimson while he listened to the soothing rustling of the multi-coloured leaves as the playful wind blew through them. When no longer feeling as though his lungs were on the verge of exploding out of his chest, he opened his eyes to stare up at the pale grey sky. Raising his hands he took in the calluses, sores and cuts that made seem as though belonging to someone older. The many hours spent hurling kunai, senbon and shuriken had left its mark and already could he make out the ones stemming from today. It was gratifying to see the first fruits of his efforts; today he had hit four out of six bull's eyes and managed to throw three senbon successfully at once.

Flexing his fingers he winched. It hurt, but at the same time it felt good because it testified how hard he wanted to improve. Staring at his hands a smile grew wider on his lips the longer the red ominous chakra kept from seeping out of his wounds to heal them. He would rather feel this pain a thousand fold than take back the numbness the Kyuubi would grant him. Not for anything in the world would he give up this newfound freedom. At the thought his eyes saddened and he lowered his arms back to his sides.

Well, one thing could get him to wear the shackles from which he had just been freed. For one person he'd damn himself again, this time willingly.

Reaching inside his jacket he fumbled around the inner pockets for a moment. Reaching past the itching powder and firecrackers he took out a small bunch of papers. They were the three things he had come to treasure most, even more than his sleeping cap and maybe even ramen. Smoothing out the folded corners of the photo he stared at the captured moment with wrenching longing. Taken during the trip to Otafuku it showed a laughing Sakura leaning forward and hugging him from behind while he crouched down beside Yami, a grin on his face as they both flashed the victory sign. Even Jiraya, who had functioned as the photographer, had managed to get onto the picture—or at least part of him had, since his fingers could be seen in the upper corner of the photo.

Smiling despite himself, he lowered the picture to his chest and took up the two remaining pieces of paper, wrinkled and worn from him reading them probably a hundred times already. In one hand he held Sakura's secret ramen recipe that he had made whenever the longing became unbearable and in the other her parting letter. Lowering the recipe onto the photo, he grasped the letter with both hands, eyes scanning over the elegant writing, not needing to read the words for already knowing them by heart. Still, his eyes stopped by the last part and he read the paragraph, lips forming the words had already carved themselves into his very soul.

'[…] Remember this in dark times, remember this when all seems lost, remember this when there seems to be no hope and when no one seems to care, remember this: I love you and this will never change. [...]'

Running a thumb over the signed name, his eyes misted over. 'Kaasan.'

Jiraya sighed heavily from his perch. Watching the blatant sadness and longing on the boy's face made pity swirl in his chest. It was so out of place to see such a sad look on the otherwise hyper kid's features and he was afraid that, with the way the chap was coping with the feeling right now, he wouldn't last much longer.

In his training, Jiraya had made it important to praise Naruto properly for his accomplishments, but it all seemed to come to naught. As soon as one exercise was mastered, his eager apprentice was already asking what they would then, which mountain would be the next to conquer. When he would then from time to time refuse to move on to the next task, saying the boy needed rest, the little weasel would just run off to one of the Konoha Nine or their instructors and ask them for help. When that failed, undeterred he'd simply come up with his own training challenges.

It was hopeless.

"He's at it again I see."

Jiraya's eyes hardened. "Yes, that idiot brat is going to get himself killed and then Tsunade and Sakura will be after my blood." He clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth in irritation. "He always listens so attentively when I'm teaching him something but as soon as I bring up his inhumane amount of training, he ignores me."

"Aa," Kakashi agreed, knowing from own experiences how any and all urgencies and heeding fell on deaf ears. Letting his Icha Icha Paradise hang limply between his legs he crouched down on the branch above Jiraya. They both watched in displeasure as Naruto started training from where he'd left off. "I've asked Godaime-sama to have a talk with him. She agreed but didn't think it'd have much of an affect. I must consent to her opinion of him being like a force of nature when he chooses to."

Jiraya grunted in acknowledgement and annoyance at their helpless situation. Naruto truly bore a bonehead on his shoulders.

After having watched their joined student work out for a couple of minutes, the teachers' attention was suddenly drawn to the other end of the training field when a fourth chakra approached.

"Sasuke?" Kakashi murmured in slight surprise "What's he doing here?"

Jiraya remained silent and focused intently on the scene unfolding before them.

Naruto yanked another kunai from the board as he heard the light footsteps approaching. A scowl marred his face as he thought it was Kakashi or Jiraya coming to tell him to take it easy. Surprise overtook his features, however, when he saw the Uchiha prodigy standing there watching him. The telltale Noah mask was in place and with hands shoved down his pockets and he looked every bit like the arrogant ass he had come to know and hate. Still it felt peculiar to have his rival stand there, without chakra, and for once weaker than himself. Heart hardened Naruto waited for Sasuke to explain why he'd come. He had a hunch but for once he'd force the Uchiha to take the first step; he owed him that much.

Sasuke's eyes rose to meet Naruto's uncharacteristically guarded stare. No words passed between them; what was there to say? Sasuke had had every intention of leaving for Oto on that day. He had betrayed everyone who had cared about him and cast everything aside for power and revenge. What was there still to hope for?

Sasuke knew how severely his actions had torn at the bonds to his team and the one who had been the closest to a best friend he had ever had. But despite this, he couldn't say he regretted his actions; had he been able to defeat Naruto he would've undoubtedly left for Oto and never looked back. However, his plan failed and upon his return the adoration and admiration had changed to disappointment and hate.

Nevertheless, it wasn't the cold greeting from the citizens who had once adored him that kept him awake at night. He had after all weighed the consequences of his actions heavily before finally carrying through with them. Moreover, the people of Konoha had never really known him, only seen what they had wanted to see: a glorified sole survivor from the massacre of a grand clan. Ultimstely he felt that these people really had nothing to feel betrayed or angry about.

The disappointment and betrayal in his team-mates eyes had been a whole other matter, though.

After his hearing a sentence had been delivered that no matter how degrading he found, couldn't complain about. He deserved it and probably much worse but being a first time offender and golden boy of the council had saved his neck. After that the quiet company of an ANBU was the only human contact he had for the following two weeks. Only when he started carrying out his sentence were visitors allowed. Having expected no one to take this opportunity into use, he had been surprised yet inwardly glad when Kakashi and Sai started turning up on his doorstep for the occasional visit. It had been encouraging and eased some of the guilt he was grudgingly admitting he felt.

With all that he had been granted thus far, he should've been thanking the Gods on bended knees, but he wasn't exactly known for his gratitude. Besides, there had been one thing missing: Naruto had never accompanied either of his team-mates. What irritated him even more though was that he, Uchiha Sasuke, actually wanted the dobe to visit.

It seemed entirely irrational to him at first. He had after all despised Naruto from the very first day in the Academy due to the loudness, obnoxiousness and pride that made him annoying right down to his shoelaces. The blond had always represented everything Sasuke wasn't by being an underachiever, hated and expressive. On the other hand, he was just as ambiguous and stubborn as he was, even sharing his dream for power. The last one differed only in the way they wanted to use it, like the two sides of the same coin.

Be it how it may, through their time spent together as part of team seven a gnawing realisation had with time become apparent to him. Uzumaki Naruto –the dark stain on the village's reputation— had more things in common with him – the prodigy and pride of Konoha— than anyone else and the fact had irked and agitated him beyond imagination. As time passed he acknowledged with gritted teeth that there were more things pulling the two of them together than setting them further apart.

Days passed, missions came and went, bonds that were never supposed to form strengthened and so bit by bit the resentment born from this notion lessened until eventually he didn't mind it that much anymore. But then everything went straight down to hell and all that they had worked so hard to achieve was demolished in the blink of an eye and that was the festering core of his unease. Because he was the one who had so savagely torn one of the few friendships he had, and probably the most important one at that, beyond repair.

The desire to make things right steadily grew with each passing day, but his pride prevented him from somehow trying to make things right. He tried closing his eyes to the whole problem but when he kept repeatedly catching himself pondering what he could do to repair the damage done, he stopped trying to divert his train of thought.

He realised that an apology was probably called for; a long speech that would explain how he justified his actions and a thorough pour-out of his blood-filled past. Naruto if anyone had the right to all this, and probably a lot more; and yet he could not give it. Whatever such an act would require had been slaughtered along with his family and the remains washed away by the shame and hatred that followed.

Finally, having swallowed enough of his pride to seek out his team-mate, he now stood here, at loss for words and somewhat surprised by the apathetic greeting that could have passed as his own. Tightening his already clenched fists inside his pockets, Sasuke pressed his lips firmly together. Why had he even come? What had he expected? For everything to be like before? A friendly pat on the back and a forgiving grin? His eyes hardened. No, he didn't want nor need anyone's forgiveness.

But if not that, then what did he want?

Averting his eyes, he stared at the kunai still lodged in the target, light reflecting from the cold steel. He should just turn around and leave the same way he came, let the fragile threads remaining of their severed bond of brotherhood waste away and let all things return to what they were before the founding of team seven, the way it was supposed to be all along. That uncomplicated existence before he became part of a team he now found he cared too much about.

Making his decision Sasuke shrugged off some of the chill and turned away from Naruto. Keeping his gaze on the ground he was fully intent on making his way out of there, go back to the compound and reprimand himself for his stupidity in thinking that there was actually anything left to save.

He faltered in his steps when a hand roughly seized his shoulder and jerked him around, only to deliver a hard punch to the jaw. Stumbling back a few steps by the force of the blow, the hand on his shoulder disappeared and left a dull throbbing in its wake. Wordlessly Sasuke spat out the blood before straightening like nothing had happened.

Blandly he met Naruto's stare and raised fist. "Satisfied?" he asked with coldness that Naruto hadn't heard him use in a long time.

Gritting his teeth Naruto's blue eyes flared. "No" he said and slashed one of his kunai at him. Sasuke jerked the kunai still lodged in the target loose and used it to parry the attack. Naruto smiled mockingly. "Nice to know all those D-rank missions haven't left you all that rusted teme."

Sasuke's eyes widened briefly in recognition and disbelief of what he read in his team-mate's eyes. Slowly the knot in his abdomen unwound and a smirk drew on his lips as he forced the locked kunai away from him in recognition the unvoiced challenge. The adrenaline was starting to spread throughout his body in anticipation of the battle to come as fragile, desperate, vital hope flickered alive. "Let's see if I can say the same about you…dobe."

Giving a playful scowl the blond aimed another punch before kicking at him. "Haven't I told you to stop calling me that?" he asked with his eyebrow twitching.

Sasuke, having crossed his arms over his chest to block the kick, smirked wider. "You might have, dead-last" he said and shoved the leg away from him.

Naruto deflected the kunai that accompanied the words and growled. "I'll beat you into next year Sasuke-bastard!" he threatened while shaking his kunai at his team-mate threateningly.

Crouching down into a fighting position Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "I'd like to see you try, baka."

Kakashi observed the violent interaction between the two rivals for a few more minutes before lowering his attention back to his book. Jiraya had gone off to get rid the ANBU looking after Sasuke; just for a few hours but long enough for the two of them to carry through with beating the shit out of one another. It was the best therapy for both knuckleheads and something they needed. After all, they had always had their own ways of dealing with things.

He had honestly never thought that Sasuke would be the one to seek out Naruto first and not the other way around. It was an unexpected but welcome surprise. This abnormal act didn't fool him into believing that Sasuke's plans for revenge had changed, but perhaps he was prepared for another approach, one that didn't involve bearing the burden alone in isolation. Uchiha had often been very set in their ways due to their pride, convinced that their way was the only right one; it was encouraging to see that the habit, although seemingly genetic, could be broken.

He had to give some credits to Naruto too. Sasuke was not used to emotional displays and thoroughly alienated with any other feelings than pride, hate, longing and shame. He had truly placed himself in the line of fire today and it had been admirable for Naruto to see this and not seal any path leading to retribution for the Uchiha closed. The boy could behave incredibly grown-up when he chose to. But there was still a long way to go for the bonds of team seven to be fully restored, maybe even longer for the camaraderie to be back to its former glory between Naruto and Sasuke; but this was a start. He glanced at the battling duo and caught sight of Sai on one of the branches with a first-aid kit beside him as he sketched away on a sheet of paper. Underneath his mask a smirk played on his lips. A very good start.

Changing the page he calmly leaned back against the tree trunk and let his eyes scan along the lines of the latest edition of his favourite novel series. Everything might turn our just fine after all; there was still hope for the two squirts down there.

'Minato-sensei, Rin, Obito; I might just make you lot proud of me.'

Sakura trudged along reluctantly, really not up for whatever shenanigans Kisame had planned for her. After a semi-proper dose of sleep, she had felt more rejuvenated than she had in days and gone through Deidara's healing and his antiques with a vigour she thought lost to her. But then like clouds on a sunny day Kisame had hijacked her just after Deidara's healing session and was now taking her somewhere to do something. The grin that hadn't left his face even for a second during his kidnap-manoeuvre was giving her increasingly stronger hunches that she wouldn't like whatever he had planned; not one bit.

"For the hundredth time, Kisame, where are you taking me?" she asked irritated when he gave an impatient shove from behind her.

"For the hundredth time, hakucho, patience is a virtue" he said with a calm that seemed so uncharacteristic of a man like him.

She frowned slightly. "Hakucho" she mumbled "Do I look like a bird to you?"

Kisame imitated a cat's angry meow, a sound that became so ridiculous with his baritone voice that Sakura couldn't help but smile. "Someone's in a bad mood today" he teased. "Stairs."

Climbing the two small steps Sakura continued on blindly. Why ever she needed to be blindfolded for this, she had a hard time understanding. "I was having an exceptionally good day and then you come and cramp my style by whisking me away to—ouch!—somewhere. Couldn't you warn me about that?"

"You were too busy having a pity party for me to get a word in. So save your complaints to someone who'll actually listen and shut up so that I can get you to our destination in one piece."

Smiling despite herself, Sakura decided to humour him and kept silent for the remainder of their journey. She had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that Kisame's capriciousness was a welcome deviation from her otherwise rather dull and monotonous existence at the moment. It brought a more playful element to an otherwise rather hostile and tense situation.

Her line of thought was broken when she stumbled on another tree root. Sending a blind glare in the general direction to where Kisame was, she only got an amused laugh that got even louder as she stumbled anew.

'Scratch that; I hate him.'

"Aha! Here we are!" Kisame exclaimed triumphantly.

"Thank God. I don't think I could've handled another 'delayed' warning" Sakura moaned while rubbing her shin.

"Oh, quit whining. It's just a few bumps and bruises" Kisame dismissed while working on the knot, ignoring the snort that emerged in response to his words. Feeling the blindfold fall from her eyes, Sakura blinked a few times to adjust her eyes to the sunlight. The sight before her left her momentarily speechless and it took her a moment to find her voice.

"…You blindfolded me and stole me away from more important matters to take me to the training grounds?" she dead-panned once finding her voice.

Kisame snorted as he tied his headband back in place. "Now that'd just be stupid. I blindfolded you and saved you from sure boredom in order to fight you."

"Fight me?" she echoed as she stared at him curiously.

"I've wanted to test the real deal ever since I fought your bushin in Otafuku. Now's my chance" he said with an excited grin.

Sakura furrowed her eyebrows. "Okay, but why blindfold me?"

The Mizunin shrugged. "Impulse decision, I thought it might be fun." Cracking another grin he turned to walk to one end of the training grounds. "And it sure was."

"Yeah, because your lousy at giving directions and heads-ups" Sakura jabbed as she moved in the opposite direction to her opponent. Secretly she was pleased to have a go with a sparring partner and Kisame could prove to be a refreshing challenge.

Grasping Samehada, Kisame leaned it onto his shoulder and smiled mischievously which on his face looked truly diabolic. "Maybe, but this time it was all entirely intentional."

Tensing and hands fisting at her sides, Sakura sent a killing glare his way. "You mean you abused my shins and toes just for the heck of it? Oh, you're going down fish stick and without mercy" she said crouching into her fighting position.

Licking his upper-row of teeth, Kisame mimicked her actions and grinned. "Bring it on."

Barely had the words left his mouth before Sakura's fist dug into the ground before her, making it rise in a wall of debris and stone. Smirking in outward show of the cumulating excitement, Kisame dashed headlong through the dust while evading the falling boulders and rocks. Not being able to see anything, he kept his chakra senses on high alert for any signs of his new playmate.

A flicker of chakra had him swing around, with Samehada out and ready. "Found you!" he exclaimed ecstatically as he saw a shadowed form duck under the jagged blade. Changing the course of his swing with a talent found only in the best sword wielders, Samehada came down in a sharp arch at the crouched figure. The hit stirred up even more debris into the air but Kisame hardly noticed as he turned around and grabbed a fist aiming for his face. He regretted his action when he felt the power of the punch that left his hand aching and sore.

Swearing loudly he grabbed the sword that protruded from the ground and leaped out of the cloud of dust. 'Suiton: Suigadan (Water Release: Water Fang Bullet)!' As the water hit the dust it settled in a muddy layer to reveal a somewhat damp Sakura on the otherside.A brief moment passed between them and they both smirked in excitement.

Kisame saw what looked like a chakra-blade protruding from her fingertips. "You any good with that?" he questioned with a mocking smile. In response Sakura flashed from her previously occupied spot to appear right in front of him. Reacting instantly, Samehada came swinging towards her, forcing her to move back. Feeling a small stinging in his chest Kisame glanced down and with surprise and awe took in the three incisions. During that short time span she had managed to cut him three times and he hadn't picked up on a single of those moves. Touching one of the bleeding cuts he grinned as blood coated his fingers. 'She's fast'.

Redirecting his attention back at his opponent he noticed that she had gone to hide somewhere in the surrounding foliage. Licking the blood off of his fingers he readied Samehada in his uninjured hand he gathered chakra in his legs. 'Time to return the favour' he decide with a grin as he flashed out of view.

Sakura kept her hands in the serpent seal as she watched Kisame on the opposite side of the field. Her genjutsu had been successful, just as she had thought it would. Her modified version of the Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu (Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique) was a mere D-rank, but if used correctly an effective technique, even on stronger enemies with a weak sense for genjutsu. The fact that Kisame was paired up with Itachi only confirmed what her clones had already suspected; with one water-user, weak in the area of genjutsu and another fire-user and genjutsu master, they made up a powerful team. Kisame's defeat had in all reality come in that exact moment he had dashed into the debris and she knew for a fact that he would be pissed once he figured it out; in fact she was counting on it.

Following the fighting going on in her illusion she smiled lightly. Revenge was indeed sweet.

The smile abruptly fell from her face when her senses registered an all too familiar presence in the area. Hoping he was simply passing by, she suppressed a scowl when she noticed he was heading directly for them. Why did he have to seek her out now when she wanted to see neither hide nor hair of him? Although she had had the opportunity to calm down from their spat yesterday she was still nowhere close to compliant when it came to him and his questions. For Kami's sake, she wasn't some damn encyclopaedia! She might be indebted to him but that didn't mean he could exploit that notion limitlessly.

Keeping her eyes firmly directed at Kisame to hold the jutsu in effect, she more felt than saw when Itachi ultimately appeared by the edges of the training grounds.

"Come to ask more questions?" she questioned, voice level.

Itachi watched the kunochi partially engrossed in her genjutsu. He had expected a much colder greeting but apparently she had calmed down more than he had thought. Still he was well aware that what he had come to say just might kindle that fire alive again. Mirth twinkled briefly in his eyes at the thought before he answered her question.

"Due to the abrupt end of our conversation yesterday I thought it best to continue now that exaggerated feelings have had a chance to cool." Sakura felt her eyebrow twitch. Leave it to an Uchiha to even make an insult sound polite. "What gave you the deluded impression that your quota of questions hasn't already been filled?" she countered.

Itachi lowered his head a fraction and felt a smirk pulling at his lips. "I suspected that you might be difficult after our talk." Pocketing his hands nonchalantly he approached her in calm strides. "That's why I come with a proposition for you."

A snort escaped her; she should have known he would come prepared. "And what exactly would this proposition entail?" she asked while her visual attention remained directed at Kisame.

"A fight using only a basic weapons set, our skills and knowledge. Nothing more and nothing less." He stopped by the edge of her peripheral vision and looked over at his partner. Sakura silently toyed with the prospect of a fight with him in her mind. His wording hinted at a limited use of chakra that would be profitable for her since her reserves were not replenished enough for a vide set of advanced jutsu. "Only taijutsu then?"

"If you prefer."

"And the stakes?"

"Should you win, I'll ask no more questions and you will owe me nothing more than what you have already given me. On the other hand, should I win, you will answer any and all inquisitions that I may have until I'm satisfied." He returned his attention to her and challenge reflected in his eyes as he tilted his head slightly side-ways. "You game?"

Her jaw worked thoughtfully as she mulled the thought over. The deal seemed suspiciously beneficial on her part. Smelling a rat she tried to fool-proof the proposition for any loopholes but to her irritation found none. Still that didn't mean that they weren't there though. "If I refuse?"

"Then you still owe me answers" he replied simply.

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What's in it for you?"

"An easier job in gaining my answers, as well as a chance to see what level you're currently at" he replied bluntly. Glancing at Kisame anew, who was still under the effects of the genjutsu, he continued, "Which I'm expecting to be quite high if this... fight is anything to go by."

It was tempting to accept his little game. Should she win an enormous burden would be hefted but should she lose she would be in even deeper trouble. In addition Itachi was no easy opponent; it would be a tight race, one that would require her to be at her very best. It seemed as though they were on somewhat similar levels, but still, it was a gamble. But no matter how she turned it and analyzed it, it was a good offer.

No apparent catch or loopholes just a simple gamble. Still, part of her was screaming itself hoarse not to get into his games, not to make a deal with the devil. But it was a too good an offer to let up and the damn Uchiha was well aware of that little fact. She would bet her right hand that if she would look into his eyes at this very moment, she would see the confidence and certainty of the fact that she would play right into his hands. Sneaky bastard.

After a few minutes of thinking it over Sakura pressed her lips tightly together as she reached her decision. With a mental prayer that her luck wasn't as lousy as her mentors she gave a quick, sharp nod. When the smirk spread on Itachi's lips in response to her answer, she found herself sincerely hoping that the house didn't always win.

A/N: Chapter 26 is up! I know I'm late but at least it didn't take as long as last time -.-" So, a fight between Itachi and Sakura, huh? Wonder how that'll turn out XD We got a glance at how the people in Konoha are doing which I'm glad I got in. I hope I made the part with Sasuke believable; I myself am quite satisfied with it. I know the fight with Kisame was extremely short but I decided to save up on the goodies until the next chapter.

Otherwise I hope you liked the chapter. Not that much happening but its building up now, just wait and see, all your patience shall be rewarded!

And one big thank you to SpiritSeer for betaing his chapter! Hugs!

Review status:1154

tsuki-kage(Thank YOU for reviewing and for all your kind words, I'm touched :)), iAmACupOfJello, Azera-v (Let's just wait and see XD), sendo-tenshi, aznkitty180, Shoujixyo-chan (Thanks for the info and advice! I do have some improved versions of the earlier chapters set up, I haven't gotten them up yet. I wanted to update first :D), Crescent Vampiress, harunosakua, AnImEwIlLRuLe (I LOVE YOU TOO! XD), Lady Recondite, BlackBaccaraRose, SpeedDemon315 (No worries :) No I must say they are not the easiest pair to write. Sometimes you want to make Itachi do or say something but it just would fit his character. But at the same time it's a nice challange.), crystalwolfberri (Thanks to you for reviewing ;) I believe the next chapter will answer at least one of your questions X)), cocomochinut (Thanks for the info!), Edwardlova12, sakura8, 7thDwarf, deadpeace6868, ObsidianEbony(Thanks, it's a nice challange trying to keep them all IC, nice to know I'm succeeding :D), Xx Sakura Hana xX, vikkaayBYAH, Otaku Addicted Dweeb, haru no hana (Yeah, their complicated in that way but I believe love is never simple. Also Sakura's fighting between her feelings and reason, what she should do and what she wants to do. But perhaps it'll get clearer in the coming chapters :)), Antanique013, Lady Recondite, MarzSpy, akatsuki's hikari (I was helping an old woman across the streets, that's why I was late ;D NOO, only half of the delicious, choco-dream, and creamy cake-ness! T.T), NorthernLights25, SilentRain21, bluerosemisstress1069 (I can promise you that I will promise this story, although it is currently going a little slow, but bear with me!), Yorokobi-Karasu(Thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot :)), a thousand cranes, Bloodied-Cheery-Blossom(I won't!), Neko4(Well, we'll just have to wait and see ;D), Kunochi-wolfDemon (Yeah), LillithWinter, ZayZay1221, Geniusly-Unique, Moonflower1993(Thanks for the info!)

Thank you all big time for the wonderful reviews. They really keep me going :D I know I said this last time, but I'll say it again: I WILL finish this story, one way or another! YOSH!

See you all next time and don't forget to review! ;)

Hugs,

-Wounded angel.