I Do Not Own Naruto

Chapter 34

Itachi frowned as he stared at the team of nine Leaf ninja through his ravens. They weren't moving, hell, if anything they were sitting still too long. Weren't they worried? His brother had their precious pink comrade and he knew she mattered to them. Just look at the nine of them there! It was obvious the pinkette mattered to a lot of folks.

Still, he was more curious about Sakura than he cared for. It was rare for him to meet a person, let alone a woman who was willing to take him head on. Yes, he was beginning to remember the few times he had taken her on, the few times he had tangled with her. They were rare, they were few but even so she would fearlessly stand between him and the jinchūriki he desired most. The vessel for Kurama was what he desired most, releasing Kurama would ensure the destruction he desired most. Still there was that infuriating, determined, pinkette who had always stared him down fearlessly even when he was throwing the most difficult genjutsu short of a few at her and it never phased her. He wondered why. He also wondered about her true abilities and why she was the one Sasuke had taken with him out of all his partners surely there were stronger ones.

Then again, the pink haired medic had a strength he had only seen in a blonde Hokage currently running the Leaf. Itachi wondered why this girl, why Sakura? Was she special to his brother in some way? Was she Sasuke's lover?

It was most frustrating to him not to know what was going on in Sasuke's life because Sasuke worked hard to keep himself a secret. Which was good but it was also aggravating. There were always sighting of Sasuke, and his younger brother cut through his external organization with determination and an old pathetic katana from their father, but other than when Sasuke attacked he had no idea what Sasuke was doing. And worse, he had no idea where Sasuke was hiding. Nothing seemed able to track his younger brother, hell, even the great Kakashi had difficulty tracking Sasuke because when Sasuke vanished it was like his brother was wind.

Sasuke would freely admit he was not the stay around for the morning after sort of guy; hey he was a wanted man and he wasn't sticking around! So imagine his shock when he woke up with a soft, warm pillow wrapped around him. Opening his eyes he found himself using Sakura's breasts as his frickin' pillow and her wrapped securely around him. And even more shocking was the fact he was holding her close to, his arms were around her and everything! Ach! Was his first thought, his second thought was to stay right where he was because he was comfortable, and his third thought was she had drooled on him because his hair felt a little damp.

Sasuke settled in for being content for a moment because being content or even peaceful was rare for him. Very rare. But this had been the first night in about twenty or so years where he hadn't had a nightmare about the massacre or his sins or Itachi coming after him. He kind of liked having dreamless nights, he really liked it when not only were his nights dreamless but comfortable. So this contentment was odd for him as he drifted into a light sleep.

He felt Sakura wake first, she yawned, let him go, he didn't let her waist go though, she stretched he cracked an eye open to watch her closely. This was apparently not odd to her as she shimmied out of his grasp then disappeared in a hobble for the bathroom. Sasuke smirked when he heard her groan then he rolled onto his stomach to relax a bit. There was a flush, then she stumbled back into his room, she fell onto his back with a moan and sighed. He grunted from the impact as he turned his head to study her. She was staring at the ceiling.

"You know you really over did your training when it hurts to pee," she grumbled. He just lifted a brow at his pink companion's comment but didn't reply. Both enjoyed the silence and the sound of the ocean and wind. To him this was truly paradise and in ways he couldn't even explain this was perfect to him and forghien at the same time. Her hand was absently playing with his black hair and he had to admit he liked the feel of it.

"I can't believe it," she breathed.

"Believe what?" he asked mostly because he was curious as to what Haruno Sakura could not believe.

"I'm a missing-nin," she replied. He merely turned his head a bit to look over his shoulder at her. She was staring at the ceiling and using his back as her pillow.

"Not until they figure out you're with me," he reminded her. Because honestly who'd think of Sakura as a rogue ninja? She was just too loyal to Team 7, the Rookie 9 and her village, not to mention her sensei and the Hokage who had taught her to be a medic. To think someone like Sakura was a missing-nin would be hard for her friends, family and team. More than likely they'd claim he abducted her; which he had for a purpose; and call her his hostage. It was truly doubtful that anyone would know the decade of them working together in the shadow. True he hadn't taken her on his missions but he had always come to her for aid, Sakura loved him enough to always help him so it wasn't all bad.

"They will, Kakashi-sensei is the best tracker ever," she sighed.

"It'll be alright," he lied. She smiled a bittersweet smile.

"You know, strangely I don't mind, I know I'm betraying everything I stand for but I've been lying for a decade. It's kind of a relief to let it be known I know and aid you, but I know I'm hurting everyone by being selfish. Also I'm not doing this for revenge, or because I hate my village or even that I want money, I'm doing this because I happen to know many jinchūriki and love Naruto like he's my brother. I'd do anything for my family, even betray the village. Sad isn't it?" Sakura asked.

"No, loyal," he decided. She was still loyal to her home, her village and her people, but it was because she was loyal that she was willing to come with him and betray them. She loved them, and she'd betray them because she loved them and desired to protect them. To him it was admirable. To them it was probably incomprehensible. She sighed then smiled.

"At least we won't fail, maybe after all this I can go home and explain what happened."

"Hn," he replied. After this he'd still be hunting because he was certain Itachi had had help the night he had eradicated the Uchiha clan. After this though Sakura would be free to do as she pleased, he'd leave her alone if she survived. But after Itachi he'd be going after Root and who ever else was involved in the massacre of his clan, it was the path he had chosen as a child and it was his fate to die at the end of all this. He'd truly be the Last Uchiha.

Still as he looked at the pinkette smiling slightly with her eyes closed he couldn't help but hope. But what was he hoping for?

Hey, wow did I write a lot today, 1 Chapter of 36 Weeks & Counting, 1 Chapter of Because I Love You, 1 Chapter of Until the Day I Die, and 2 Chapters of Healing Pain, plus the Teaser Opening of Never Be the Same: Part III: Mysteries of You. I've been busy today...

Now I'm going to watch a movie and if one more person tries to get me to find something for them or get something for them I'm going to move outside for peace and quiet and solitude! Seriously! Does my family think I know where everything is!? NO! I don't and it's not my job to keep track of everyone's crap! On Top Of That They Asked Me to Find Something THAT Does Not Exist In This House And I Know That For A Fact! Then they wondered why I was mad! All I wanted to do was sleep, relax a bit and read before I fell asleep but nope I had to help them find that nonexistent thing and looked for an hour before they finally believed me and admitted that we don't own it! I know I sound like a whiny brat but sleep, real sleep is rare for me because I have sleep habits like my dad, I sleep for a few hours then run around all day, sleep for a few hours get up really early and start running around all over. Sorry for the bratty rant but I just want to be left alone for some sleep! Now I can't sleep though because I'm frustrated with them. I know that's stupid but that's family for you, irritating and annoying but you love them anyways.

That's all for now folks.

Night.

Enjoy Healing Pain, I'm going to try and go to bed.