A/N: The person who left a review about Hiruzen -I agree, he was a terrible Hokage! Though, I'm trying to decide if I want to redeem him or let it play out like it did in the anime.
Another chapter between work and feeling confused about my choices in life. But I still love my reviewers and readers! Thank you for sticking with me.
If the words are like this: HEYYYY
It is a memory. In this case a dream.
Far away from the ruckus blooming in spite of the enclosed space did they hide away from the sound of bombs.
"Sai, this is not the best timing."
Ino's voice broke Sakura's concentration making her look across the small bunker (abandoned building) to the other side by a window. The male in question was holding a black velvet box in one palm with a paint brush in the other. Small splotches of black ink covered the floor from where and when it has been created not even a second ago. The wry in Ino's gaze overturned the happiness that should have been there.
"In a book I've read, if you love someone, to spend a life time with them their significant other needs to propose." His answer was matter-of-fact.
Usually any action used to entice Ino was followed by uncertainty on Sai's part. He always figured out different ways to please the ever loud and bossy Yamanaka heiress. Ever since Ino rescued him during the mission to defeat Gengo's gengutsu, it's been this way.
In his own emotionally inept way Sai didn't want to let Ino go. Unlike multiple times when he reached for the blond's hand to give her comfort, before the war took a nasty turn, Sai placed the small box in Ino's palm moving away. An effective reaction would have made the ink nin's heart escalate, yet Ino stared at the small box with disbelief. Another detonation nearby quaked the soil under their sandals.
Snapping out her revere Ino used a thumb flicking the top of the box open. A half quart diamond set on top of a silver band with smaller diamonds encircling the larger portion.
"When you're ready - give me an answer. We can speak after the war is over."
Sai's words snapped the young woman's head his way. Words could not define the expression altering Ino's appearance in all sorts of ways. A hand snatched the front of Sai's shirt tugging the nin into an embrace.
A trickle of tears fractured the soft features of Sakura's slack face.
Itachi swung a leg over the other in his seat by the open window. Observing his charge would become a new hobby in no time per the secrets she kept.
After a few hours at the lake the Uchiha heir deemed it satisfactory to go home. It was nearing lunch time when the bunch stepped into the quiet household where the Patriarch was no where to be found. After some searching Mikoto was found in the kitchen putting ingredients for lunch in a pot. A genuine smile reached her eyes, but did not distract her eldest son from noticing the gauze wrapped around her right hand. It gripped the pot handle lightly at the edge. Shisui didn't say a word trailing out the back door. Sasuke was the only one to question his mother's hand. Another excuse could be heard down the hall when Itachi walked away. He stopped asking about the random scratches and bruises years ago.
His charge had entered her room again. Sakura spoke of 'alone time' and 'stupid Uchiha's like Shisui' soon after closing her door. Itachi managed to get two hours of meditation in. Usually it was thirty minutes before Sasuke made an entrance demanding they train together or hang out. A small knock on the door indicated that lunch was ready to be served. The footsteps outside his door hesitated then walked away. The teen was used to this. Every time Mikoto was hurt she never interacted with Itachi unless necessary. He saw through his mother's happy façade. He saw the fractured spirit left in Fugaku's wake.
Climbing off the floor less graceful than before Itachi opened the door to his room stepping out into the hall. As usual the lights were low casting shadows, he didn't dwell on the thought of what were in those shadows as a child. Walking across the hall he knocked on Sakura's door. When she didn't answer Itachi knocked again receiving no answer. He slid the door open peaking into the dark room. He couldn't feel her chakra. Even if she couldn't access it the girl could still be felt a room away. Stepping inside he switched on the light to his left. It illuminated each corner until Itachi caught what he was looking for. Sakura was in her futon curled on the edge of the the futon shivering under a thick blanket.
His first reaction was to approach his charge and wake her from a fitful sleep, but the memory of those tiny fist caused Itachi to glide to the other side of the room. He learned a valuable lesson last time. Do not attempt to wake a sleeping lion, in this case, it would be Sakura. Sitting in a chair by the window Itachi waited.
Now, this is where he found himself after half an hour still waiting for Sakura to wake up. Mikoto had peaked in on the two a few minutes before. Itachi made a quick excuse of the situation. For a moment Mikoto stared then closed the door with a soft click. Alone again, he waited.
"Check your six!"
A kunai whizzed past Kakashi's head hitting a dead man from behind. The Shinobi Alliance was scattered in different sections of Konoha. The unfortunate part about fighting against people of the undead is when they killed a fellow ally. Choji had discovered too late when his father took a sword in the back for him the undead connect a stream of chakra to the person they kill. This enables Madara's jutsu to take control of the body once that person dies. Not only were they fighting their ancestors but recent friends and relatives. Choji was able to communicate this information over the intercom albeit receiving various responses at once. He never answered them.
"Did you hear that?" Sakura questioned, striking another undead in the face. With a second to spare she turned towards her partner. Kakashi finished the nin in front of him with a kunai to the throat. Emerald squinted through the smoke wafting around them. The various buildings on fire gave them some hints to how far out they were from other fights.
" Choji, can you hear me? "Kakashi pressed the ear piece twice. His teeth grind together when multiple voices at once answered him. Ripping the device from its place it hung on the collar of his jonin vest. A hand pulled at dirty silver strands in stress.
"Dammit, we need to get closer to the inner circle of the city." His tone was resolute.
Sakura and Kakashi had been pushed to the furthest part of Konoha near the forest in an old civilian district. The ashy texture of their surroundings reminded the youngest of the two how easily everything changed - could change. Sakura tugged at the gloves on her hands readying herself for another battle. Kakashi inspected the best route nodding to himself. Avoiding the top of buildings would be best, Madara's army expects an attack from the roof tops. Staying low to the ground, possibly playing hide and seek would be their best bet. Once he told Sakura of his plan she nodded. She trusted Kakashi to know what he was doing.
"Ready?" He asked, checking their surroundings once more.
"Can't even tell you how much I'm not." Sakura lightly joked walking in the direction Kakashi pointed out. A moment later they broke into a semi-jog stooping behind a broken-down wall. This continued a few buildings into another district closer to the inner city. They ducked, huddled together, when a clay bomb dropped near their location. Kakashi's arm slid around Sakura's waist pulling her close. The loud thump of their hearts nearly beating out of their chest is all they could hear.A sigh of relief left both of them when the dust settled around them. Shifting a knee between Kakashi's legs Sakura turned awkwardly peaking over the chipped stone. Among the smoke, crumpled buildings, and fire burning, her sharp eyes saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"It's all clear."
Yet, the arm around her waist and the creeping hand on her thigh refused to move. Shifting to look at him a lightning bolt of shock penetrated every area of her frame. Kakashi's lips quirked at the reaction. His mask was nestled down around his neck.
A soft call passed Sakura lips in her sleep. Whispering a name so tenderly Itachi thought he misheard it. Whatever his charge was dreaming about caused uneasiness to settle in. For a brief moment Itachi thought of activating his Sharigan. Invading her dreams would give him some insight on her life. Or it would be a large invasion of privacy the mysterious nin would find out about later. Upon debating his options Itachi heard a name he was vaguely familiar with. A name not many said in such a manner that harbored feelings. No, many referred to the anbu in terror.
"Kakashi…"
His lips were soft and firm. Sakura's didn't recuperate the kiss immediately. Even if Kakashi leaned in further watching with coal eyes that didn't blink, Sakura felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck. A tongue flicked a soft bottom lip while the older nin pulled away. He appreciated his ex-student's open-ended expression. Grabbing the edge of his mask the dark fabric was tugged over half of his face once more.
"I never lie. Remember that."
And the pair was on their way again. Sakura couldn't say she didn't enjoy it. Rather, she never thought he would give in.
Grumbling in her sleep a hand pushed a sheet down bunched around her legs. Sakura turned then rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Remembering the last remnants of the day both legs stretched to the edge of the futon. What she failed to see was a shadow moving by the window.
"You missed lunch." A soft-spoken male, all too knowing the spark of fear it would put in the pink-haired girl, called out to her.
When Sakura looked in Itachi's direction a spark of fear did enter her eyes. The Sharigan reflected in darkness stared back.
"Itachi, what are you doing in my room?" Her thoughts were erratic. Heart beat thumping loudly she had to strain her hearing for his next words.
"You did not wake up for lunch. I decided to wait for you instead."
Itachi's voice hinted at the last time he tried waking her. Sakura grimaced. She didn't want another seal on her body. Surprisingly she didn't feel bad about hitting him though.
" Thank you for coming to wake me up." Sakura secured a sheepish smile that didn't reach her eyes. The whole situation put her on edge. Itachi didn't remove himself from the shadows. Sakura recalls his blaring eyes being further away a moment ago.
"I appreciate it."
"Do you appreciate Kakashi as much?"
Itachi observed her frame; It was rigid bracing for impact. He had to stop a smirk from emerging. His intuition was never wrong. The Sharigan lazily spiraled into the Mangekyou Sharigan. Sakura could feel the last strain of confidence within her dissipate.
A/N:
Andddd Itachi is my man! Go get those answers! Sakura on the other hand – I would not want to be her.
What do you guys think?
Also, to answer a question, there is definitely another Sakura in this time.
Enjoy Lovelies!
-NuteWelt01