Disclaimer: I'm looking for a place to build that bilboard...

Chapter 37: Before the Festival

Sakura came back to find Shisui and Itachi talking about some upcoming festival. When they saw her, however, they broke off their conversation. Shisui waved and called out, "A message came for you while you were gone!" Sakura noticed Itachi take a scroll out of his pocket. He handed it to her and she thanked him before she opened it.

Sakura quickly read the letter, then closed it and smiled. She said before anyone could ask, "It's form Hanako; she wants me to come over for a girls day out…whatever that means."

Shisui was the one to speak first, as jubilant as ever, "I bet I know why! There's going to be a festival tonight, I bet it's got something to do with that!" Itachi just nodded in agreement. Shisui continued, "Well, if it's a girl's day out, that means we're not invited."

He pouted as if he was sad, but then his smile returned as he said, "So I think I'll take the day off from my normal routine to keep Itachi company and stop him from- Ow, ow, ow!" Itachi was poking Shisui with a kunai. Shisui finally yelled, "Fine, I get it: No Talky!…Fine!…Stop poking me!" Itachi poked him one more time before putting the Kunai away.

Sakura giggled, his resemblance to Naruto would have been perfect if only he had blond hair and blue eyes and wasn't an Uchiha. Sakura noticed that there were a few small dots of blood starting to well up from a few of the places the kunai had touched. Sakura raised a hand and just barely touched him, still giggling, and his small puncture wounds disappeared. She giggled again, thinking that Shisui seemed uncomfortable for some reason.

She then noticed that Itachi had shifted and Sakura couldn't help but think that it would be funny if he was jealous. The way Shisui looked between her and Itachi, she knew he probably was thinking the same thing…only he wasn't finding the idea of a jealous Itachi breathing down his neck funny. Sakura guessed that Itachi had probably told him that they were going out, and now poor Shisui was afraid that Itachi would think he was trying to steal his girlfriend.

Sakura moved over to Itachi and rose on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek, then as she went back to having both feet flat on the floor she said, "I'll see you around, Itachi, but I'd best go now." She turned to say goodbye to Shisui, and found he was staring at her like he couldn't believe his eyes. Sakura smiled and waved goodbye, sure he was just trying to get his mind around the idea that Itachi had let her do that.

Sakura hurried to the Hyuuga compound, wondering what today would bring. When she got there, she found Hanako, Inuka and Hinata waiting for her. Inuka asked loudly, "What took you so long?"

"Sorry, I had to drop Sasuke off at the academy, so I didn't find out until I got back." Sakura hugged Inuka and Hanako, then waved to the shy Hinata, who was hiding behind her mother. "But now that I'm here, what are we going to do? All the note said was that we were going to have a girls day out."

Inuka rubbed her hands excitedly as she said exuberantly, "We're going to do a lot today!"

Hanako then spoke, "The first thing I was planning on having us do was go shopping." Inuka groaned and Hanako glared at her before she continued, "As I was saying, we'll go shopping and figure out what we'll be wearing to the festival tonight. I need to get Hinata a new Yukata since she's outgrown her old one, and Sakura, you don't have one, so we'll need to get you one too. Inuka, I know you have a few, but you will be coming with us whether you want to go shopping or not."

Inuka muttered something, but Hanako ignored her as she took Hinata's hand and said, "Let's get going, we can talk as we walk." They left the Hyuuga compound and entered the busy Konoha streets, heading to the market. As they walked, Hanako continued to say what all they were going to do, "After we find you and Hinata a Yukata we'll go and find you other necessary things for the festival."

Hanako paused before continuing, "After we get everything we need, we'll go to one of my families hot springs and relax for a while. After that…we'll just have to see." As they walked into the busy market Sakura noticed Inuka trying to sneak off to look at a weapons shop's merchandise. Hanako also must have noticed, because she grabbed Inuka's ear in her free hand and gave it a tug, saying, "We're here to shop for clothing, not weapons, Inuka. We can do that some other time, but for now, deal with it."

Inuka seemed to be distressed as Hanako released her ear only to grab her hand and drag her into a clothing store. Sakura just smiled and followed. Hanako was treating Inuka like she was a child, but then again, Inuka was acting like a child…so that may have been a good thing. They scoured about ten shops before Hanako found a Yukata that she liked for Hinata. It took five more shops for them to find a Yukata for Sakura that everyone agreed on.

By that time, even Sakura wanted to get out of the crowded clothing shops, but she wasn't free from shopping just yet. Hanako then dragged them into many other shops, looking for who knows what. After three hours of shopping, Hanako finally seemed to be happy with their purchases, and allowed them to escape the crowded market.

Sakura noticed that Hinata looked like she was about to faint from seeing and being seen by so many people. Sakura was about to say something when she heard a small growl be issued from Hinata's stomach. The shy girl tried to hide behind her mother, but Hanako would have none of it. She moved out of Hinata's reach as she asked kindly, "Are you hungry? I guess it's that time of day."

It was Inuka who responded, "I'm starved! let's eat!" Sakura shook her head, as did Hanako. Hinata tried to hide behind Hanako again, but once again Hanako moved so that she couldn't. Hinata looked devastated to be left out in the open, unable to hide.

Sakura gave the shy girl a reassuring smile and offered her her hand. Hinata took it and pressed close to her, as if that could hide her from the sight of everyone. Sakura looked up and noticed that Hanako had her hand on her head and an annoyed look on her face. She quickly ironed the annoyance off her face, but Sakura knew it was just hidden, not gone.

Inuka ran off in the direction of the ramen stand, forcing Hanako, Sakura, and Hinata to follow or be left in her dust. Hanako walked with dignity and took back Hinata's hand. Hinata took her mothers hand, but at the same time, she didn't seem to want to let go of Sakura's, so now she was holding both of their hands.

Hanako spoke, "I'm trying to get her to be more comfortable around other, Sakura. She can't always hide from people, she's the heir, after all. Beyond that, she's five, she should have boundless energy and be causing problems, like most children her age. I hate to admit it, but I'd feel better if she acted more like that troublesome Uzumaki than how she does now. At least he isn't introverted."

Hanako shook her head sadly as they entered the ramen stand where Inuka was already ordering. Sakura ordered for herself, then Hanako ordered for herself and Hinata, then all four of them sat down. Sakura looked at Hinata who was sitting between her and Hanako and noticed that she looked sad as well as embarrassed. Sakura reached over and squeezed her hand and smiled. Then their food came and they ate.

Inuka and Hanako stayed back to pay, telling Sakura and Hinata to wait outside. She and Hinata had just left the stand when Sakura heard a commotion somewhere nearby. She took Hinata's hand and decided to go check out what was going on. They followed the sound until she found a crowd of people. Sakura's blood went cold when she heard whispers of, 'that boy', 'deserves it', and 'should have been killed'.

Sakura didn't wait for an opening; she made one of her own, pushing through the crowd, not caring if she hurt someone. Once she got through the crowd she saw what she'd feared she'd see. There was Naruto, his face already sprouting a black eye and a cut lip, not to mention an assortment of other wounds. In front of him stood five men in their early twenties, and Sakura could tell that one of them was about to hit Naruto again.

In one quick motion Sakura picked Hinata up into one arm, and then appeared in the blink of an eye in the way of the men and their prey. Sakura put Hinata back down by Naruto, pretending to ignore the men, though in reality she was aware of their every movement. If she could end this without fighting, she would, but if they insisted on it…lets just say it wouldn't end well for them.

One of the men went to grab her shoulder; she easily sidestepped just enough to let his arm slide uselessly past her. She still ignored them as she told Hinata, "Stay here, with Naruto, Hinata. Your mother and Inuka should be coming soon, so don't move."

The man who had tried to grab her tried again, this time she knew he was going to try and hurt her. She dodged again, but this time helping him fall flat on his face. The man quickly shot back up to his feet, his face bright red. Sakura slowly turned to face the men as if she hadn't just sent one of them face first into the ground.

Sakura put a smile on her face, though she felt like cussing at them, and said as if one of them hadn't just tried to attack her, "Gentlemen, I hope that this could only be called an accident." her voice was sweet, her eyes were not, "If I were to find out that five men such as yourselves would lower yourself to hitting a child…" Her smile faded as she took out a kunai and fingered it, her cold eyes never leaving them, "then I'd have to do something to teach you a lesson on manners."

Sakura noticed that two of the five looked almost ashamed, but the other three, including the one who had attacked her twice, looked like they weren't happy about being lectured by a child. Two of the men rushed her at once, and she noticed the other one disappear. Sakura easily avoided the two that rushed her, making them run into each other. Then she hit the ground just hard enough to make the man who had been using an earth Jutsu appear. She punched him in the chin, sending him flying. He hit the ground with a thud and didn't get up.

Sakura smirked as she prepared for whatever the other two would do, knowing that the man who had tried the Jutsu wouldn't be waking up any time soon, she'd hit a pressure point. She distantly noticed that the two men who hadn't attacked had run away, but her attention was on the two who were preparing to attack again. She also noticed that the crowd was growing, and if things continued like this, someone would get hurt other than her attackers.

Sakura put her kunai back; it was too risky to use weapons with the growing crowd. Then she saw something that made her feel like beating the two men to a pulp and then some. They were about to use a Jutsu that would endanger not only her but everyone else. What were they thinking? Sakura's eyebrows snapped together, she would have to end this now, before their stupidity got someone hurt.

Sakura used chakra to give her a burst of speed and got behind them. They only just had time to see that she had disappeared before she hit both of them in quick succession on the pressure point on the back of their heads. They both fell to the ground unconscious. "Idiots…" Sakura mumbled as she stepped over their bodies and walked back to the children.

She ignored the stares of the crowd; she wasn't in the mood to deal with them right now. She reached the children and found Inuka and Hanako with them. Hanako was holding Hinata close to her and Sakura saw that Hinata looked like she was about to cry. Inuka was holding Naruto, whose eyes didn't seem to be focused and looked like he was going to be sick.

Sakura quickly bent down, taking Naruto from Inuka she turned him on his side and then put her glowing green hand to his head, knowing what she'd find: a concussion. Sakura healed what she could of the concussion, and then healed his other wounds. When she finished, she blinked and looked around her, noticing that there was still a crowd.

Sakura felt anger boil in her veins and she barely held her voice in check as she said loudly to the crowd, "You should all be ashamed of yourselves! You all just stood back and watched as a child was beaten by five grown men!" She glared at everyone in the crowd, watching their different expressions. Some looked shamed but most, however, looked like they were glad Naruto had been hurt.

Sakura clenched her fist, reminding herself not to start a fight. Sakura, though, had to try once more to get it through their thick heads that what they'd done, or more to the point, had not done, was wrong, "How would you feel if you, your siblings, or even your own child was treated like that and no one came to their help? If instead people gathered around and watched as if it was a display meant for their enjoyment? How would you feel then? You'd feel awful, that's what. Go about your day and think about it…what if next time it's you or someone you care about?"

Sakura glared at the crowd, as did Hanako and Inuka. The crowd dispersed with varying reactions to what Sakura had said. Sakura turned her attention back to Naruto and found him staring at her wide eyed. She was glad that his eyesight seemed to have focused, that meant her healing had been enough. She helped him sit up and noticed that he was still pale and a little shaky, but other than that, fine.

She smiled, then looked at Hanako and Hinata and found that Hinata was looking at Naruto with a red face. Sakura smiled and said, "Hey, Hanako…I know this was supposed to be a girls day out, but would you mind if I have Naruto tag along for a while? I want to make sure that he's ok."

Hanako shrugged and put Hinata back down on the ground. Hinata tried to hide, but once again Hanako wouldn't let her. Sakura decided to do something, "Hinata, why don't you come over here and help Naruto walk? He'll be a little unsteady for a while still." Sakura was amused as Hinata's already red face got even redder. Hanako gave Hinata a little push and Hinata trotted up to Sakura and Naruto.

From there, they went to the hot springs, with one additional person in tow. Sakura was happy with herself for finding a way to make both Hinata and her mother happy. Hanako was happy that Hinata was not hiding behind someone and was even doing something that could be considered sociable. Hinata was happy (and embarrassed) to be helping Naruto, who Sakura could already tell she had a crush on. So they were both happy.

They spent a lot of time in the hot springs. Naruto dogpaddled around the hot springs while Hinata tried to hide from him, her face bright red. Sakura, Hanako, and Inuka watched them while they talked. The main thing they talked about was Hanako's baby. Inuka wanted it to be a boy, Hanako really didn't care, and Sakura said that she wanted it to be a girl (she couldn't say that she knew it was a girl because it was still too early in the pregnancy for a healer to be able to tell the gender).

Finally Hanako decided that the children should get out. Hanako left and took the children with her. Sakura and Inuka stayed quiet until Hanako returned without the children. After she got back into the water, Hanako said, "They fell asleep as soon as they laid down." She shook her head but didn't say anything else.

Now that it was finally just the three of them Sakura decided to tell them about her and Itachi. "Hey, Hanako, Inuka." They both turned to look at her, "I have a feeling that this won't come as much of a surprise to you, but…well, you know my birthday…well, um…when we got home…Itachi kind of…kissed me…"

Sakura watched as Inuka opened her mouth and Hanako covered it, muffling whatever it was that she was yelling. Once Hanako released Inuka, Inuka squealed, "It took him long enough!"

Hanako hit her over the head then said to Sakura, "You're right, it's not that surprising…so, what have you decided?"

Sakura knew her face was red as she answered, "I agreed to be his girlfriend."

Hanako didn't move fast enough to stop Inuka from shouting, "Itachi's girlfriend?" Hanako instead pushed Inuka's head into the water and held it under for a few seconds before letting her come up for air.

As Inuka gasped for breath Hanako chided, "Inuka, all of Konoha probably heard you. This is a hot springs, you shouldn't be yelling at the top of your lungs that Sakura is Itachi's girlfriend." They all heard a gasp and the scuffle of feet trying to be silent. Someone had overheard. Sakura let her head slip beneath the water…she had a feeling that the news would be all around Konoha within an hour.

Inuka pulled her back up, saying, "Don't worry, people have been speculating that this might happen for a while now. Why do you think Itachi's fan girls were so against you? They feared this was going to happen." Sakura tried to slip back under the water, but Inuka wouldn't let her. "Nope, sorry Sakura, but if you plan to do that, we'll just have to get out." Sakura was annoyed as Inuka easily picked her up and handed her to Hanako who had already gotten out and was now wrapping a towel around Sakura's shoulders.

Sakura sighed as she followed them back to the room they were using. There they got dressed in their Yukata's and woke up Hinata and Naruto. After Hanako found a small Yukata that would fit Naruto she helped him put it on while Inuka did the same for Hinata, whose face was still bright red. Sakura meanwhile was in the bathroom, changing the now soaked bandage that covered her mark.

When she looked at the mark, she felt her heart sink. She bit her lip, then wrapped a new linen bandage around it. She didn't have much time left…she shook her head, there was nothing she could do about it. She came out of the bathroom wearing her new Yukata and fingering the necklace Itachi had given her.

Her Yukata was white with a cheery blossom design on it (it was the only thing that Hanako and Inuka agreed on). Hanako's was a dull blue with a lighter blue trim. Inuka's was dark red with orange swirls that reminded Sakura of fire. Hinata's was bright purple with little pink triangles on it. Naruto's was bright orange, very bright orange, with equally bright yellow poke-a-dots (they wouldn't be able to lose him in the crowd, even if they tried).

Once they were ready, they headed to where the festival would be held. As they walked, Sakura felt people looking at her, and it made her uncomfortable. But Inuka smiled and took her arm, dragging her, as she said, "Ignore them, they're just jealous." Sakura wished she could, but it was hard to ignore what felt like thousands of eyes boring into her.

As they neared the place where the festival was to be held, Sakura felt a new presence behind her and Inuka released her arm, going instead to walk with Hanako and the children. The eyes she had felt bore into her intensified ten fold with the appearance of this new presence. Sakura knew who was behind her and was about to slow down so that she could walk beside him when suddenly she felt his arms wrap around her possessively, forcing her to stop walking. She blushed.

The stares all but disappeared in a second, and Sakura knew that Itachi's glare had gotten rid of the spectators. Her blush deepened when he kissed her cheek, then whispered, "If they bother you, let me know." He then released her and they continued on their way, side by side.

Then Sakura decided to be brave, she reached out and held his hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze as they continued on their way, that smirk/smile on his face.

I hope you liked it! I may or may not update tomorow (Aug 11)...I'm not sure yet...I may have to go to my grandpa's.

Reviews and constructive criticisms are welcome...and I told you not to ask about the lemon water...oh well, on to the pretty list!

Thanks to: Rangerette, Challa, DeidaraAddiction, Tsubasa-Angel, Dreamergirl92813, oOfunkyrainbowOo, Twilight Kunoichi, Corrupt Blossom, Misery's-Toll, Black Amber, cherryblossomsky, tonnora, Crazy Neko Girl (you'll find out soon), sage, XxPinkCherryBlossoms4, baka-chan (my cousin's finance just got a puppy of that breed too), MissSakuraUchiha, SpeedDemon315, xo Misunderstood kunoichi ox, Could-Careless, XxKayxKayxX, Gothic Saku-chan, sakura-angel113, Starlight - Wild Koneko, inn0centdr3ameR, Shadow Ninja, Chibi Kabuto, chikarubunny (her eyes turn blue when she uses her Kekkei Genkai, like how when the Sharingan is used, the eyse go red. As to being bad at taijutsu, it's because she doesn't use any Chakra during these matches, so she can't use her super strength.), Cute-killer-Gurl, CosenAngel, Mittelan, crystl (it doesn't have a name, only the title that the Hoshi's call themselves when they talk about it), demon-lulu, Quiet Moon (I didn't know when I had begun writing this, and though I found out when I was working on about chapter 20...I felt it was a little too late, so we'll just say he's five), gaarsaku4ever, S. T. Nickolian, meisi, RoseMcGee, Gothic Raven, Jax9, Alone in a Blizzard, Cnguyen456, Nibi no NEKO, reader ninja, animelover123456, Name, PhAnToM SpEaKeR, SilverMononoke (you'll just have to wait and see), Sadistic Uchiha, Kakurine IL, Synogiok, NARUTARDMJR14, xnarutoxrocksx, & badbunny1818 for reviewing!