The morning dawned grey and overcast, a perfect reflection of Sakura's despondent spirits. Heavy fog shrouded the tree-lined mountaintops in a hazy veil, while drifts of silvery mist licked at the red torii gates looming before her and Itachi. After bowing their heads respectfully at the gates, they skirted around the painted pillars and slowly climbed the steep stone steps that led up to the Byakugan Shrine.

A diminutive figure, dressed in the traditional, pressed red-and-white garb of a shrine maiden, was sweeping the path leading to the main hall of worship. Sakura smiled, her steps quickening in the young woman's direction. "Hinata!"

The miko turned at the sound of her name, her pearly, moon-touched eyes luminous beneath thick, blunt-cut bangs. A shy smile spread across her face. "Good morning, Sakura," she returned softly.

Sakura nudged Itachi forward with a light hand on his forearm. "This is Itachi. He's a new…" her voice trailed off, finding herself at a momentary loss for an appropriate descriptor to sum up their rather unconventional relationship. She darted an uncertain glance up at the stoic assassin. "...friend." she finished lamely.

Itachi stiffened, head jerking in Sakura's direction. It was evident from his surprise and clear discomfort that it had been a long, long time since someone had called him 'friend'. Sakura bit her lip, a twinge of pity curling in her stomach.

The strangely loaded moment was interrupted by Hinata's sweet, mellifluous voice. "Thank you for visiting the Byakugan shrine, Mr. Itachi," she greeted formally, after executing a perfect, graceful bow. It was only her slightly unfocused gaze, and the way her cloudy eyes didn't quite meet Itachi's, that betrayed the fact she was partially – if not fully – blind. "My name is Hyuuga Hinata, the priestess of this shrine. Please accept my humble welcome."

Itachi returned her bow with a polite, flawlessly executed one of his own. "Thank you, Priestess."

Perfunctories over, Sakura grasped Hinata's hand in entreaty, ignoring her soft squeak of surprise. "Hinata, we've come with a somewhat unorthodox request. You know how to perform rites of ritual purification, right?"

Hinata nodded hesitantly. "Is there somewhere you would like purified?"

Sakura shot another look at Itachi.

"Not somewhere. Someone."