Itachi sighs.
It's been a long day, despite the clock telling him it's only been three hours. A long day. A very long day.
"It's a necessary risk," one of the other strategy officers argues, not for the first time. "Cloud has always been our enemy, and this new faction–"
"We are already keeping tabs on it," another officer snaps, crossing her arms. "We have it from a reliable source that this new faction will be quashed soon, and–"
Itachi sighs again and rubs his face. The two officers have been arguing the same matter for the past two and a half hours – the last week, in fact – and Itachi is ready for a break. Anything to leave the office.
As if to answer his prayers, there is the tiniest poof of smoke on the table in front of him and small slug appears, waving its eyestalks merrily. The two officers are too busy arguing to notice.
Itachi never thought he would be so excited to see a slug. There is a small note on the slug's back, held there by slime. He picks it up carefully and smiles at the sight of Sakura's familiar handwriting.
How are you going?
He hastily scrawls back a reply (Awful. How are you?) and lays the paper onto the slug with a small nod to acknowledge its service. The slug waves its eyestalks again in response and poofs out of existence.
"–just listen and acknowledge that we already have–"
"–there is no such thing as enough information, we will always–"
Another poof. Small eyestalks greet him cheerily.
A little busy. Do you need a break?
Desperately.
Poof. The slug vanishes into smoke.
"–why don't you trust our operatives to have reliable–"
"Oh, so it's our operatives now? Where was this when–"
Poof. Waving eyestalks.
Let's get lunch in 10 minutes. Will you survive until then?
Barely. Sukiyaki?
Poof. Smoke.
"–believe you have the gall to say that I don't trust–"
"–because you don't trust anyone! How are we supposed–"
Poof. Eyestalks wiggle.
Sounds great, I'll see you then. Love you!
I love you too.
Poof. Smoke.
Silence.
The last of the smoke vanishes and Itachi is aware that his lips have curved into the soft, private smile that always happens when he thinks of Sakura. He drops it immediately, rearranging his features into a more intimidating expression as he looks up at the two officers, who are gaping at him. "Are you two finished?" he asks icily.
"Um," one of them answers lamely. They glance at each other, for once in a blissfully silent agreement.
Well, Itachi isn't going to waste the opportunity. "We will continue to rely on Operative Rat for three weeks," he says decisively. "We will re-evaluate the need for another operative if there is any new information. Any questions?"
The officers continue to stare.
"Very well," Itachi says crisply, and gathers the documents in front of him into a neat pile. "I'll see you after lunch." He sweeps out of the room.
"What the f–" is all he hears before the door closes behind him.
bonus
"But it's only 10:30," one of the officers said blankly.