38. Quite excited to be posting this: The first chapter of Links has been up for a month :)

To those coming back after the month, Links is the official name of the Chains!AU collection. First on the list is a Civilian!AU, do head over, check it out and let me know what you think.

If there's enough demand, I'll eventually do that Shikaku/Sakura one people seem to keep asking for lol but for now enjoy the extended synopsis and snapshot-style of writing there. I don't have many words to condense all my ideas for such a story in, I hope the general idea and feeling is conveyed well.

I've been gone for a while, had exams recently and haven't been writing so this is for me to get my groove back.

Dear Evanelle,

Good to see you again :) Yes, Shika is very cute hehe, don't worry I'll write another interlude chapter with cuteness another time soon.

Keep all your questions coming, and hope that this chapter helps to pull all our bits together into a coherent storyline. I'm always, always improving based on what you all tell me: Now, here we go again!


"Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama do not know the truth. We ask that you keep our secret, Sakura-san."

She frowns lightly, "Not that I have much of a choice, Itachi-san. If Sasuke wants to keep you and Naruto Nagato-san then I can only go along."

She acts nonchalant, but I can tell she is uncomfortable with the thought – I open my mouth and ask, but it comes out so warm, "What are you afraid of, Sakura?"

Sakura frowns harder.

"It worries me that I have let not two criminals but four into the village. Four is a bad number. Five would be better – that or three. Four is a bad omen."

The door opened and Hatake-senpai strode in, turning a closed, critical eye on me.

"Sakura," his voice is sharp with an almost reprimand and the child's shoulders square – ah he was listening.

She looks away, voice low but barely shaking, "I'm glad to see you whole and alive, Hatake-sama."

His eye opens, black and piercing, "Sakura," not respecting the formality she uses to distance them.

I dip my head before asking to be excused.

"Haruno-sama and I will be going to see the Amekage, pardon us."

Gently taking her by the hand and she allows herself to be led.

I let her use me as her shield.

She sighs before she leaves the room, murmuring loud enough to be bitter and sarcastic about it.

"If sensei got to me and Sasuke-chan earlier things wouldn't have been like this."

I am quiet though senpai flinches.

When we reach the doors of the hospital – Sakura has waved off all the medics claiming that she will return soon enough – I tell her.

"I got to Hatake-san first, Sakura. You should have seen the stricken look on his face when I told him I was going to take you away. I left him awake in the dark for hours. He was so alone."

Her face is hard but her chakra has stuttered, where are her chains?, she looks away but I know she feels guilty for being snarky.

She walks a little faster, commenting that I "make things hard for her".

I trot by her side, keeping pace with strides that are much to wide for her to be comfortable.

"I should think that my Genjutsu skills are good, Sakura-sama."

She cracks a smile at that.

"I was happy to be strong for once, Itachi-san, but the lack of pain was a good reprieve. I'd feel like I was part of a game."

"Life's a game, Sakura-sama."

An odd look covers her face.

She's staring at Nagato-san who has just come into view.

For a moment, I thought she looked at me with mismatched eyes – one purple but I blink, and it's gone.

I note the purple flower out of the corner of my eye.

"And who is the game master, Itachi-san?"

Before I reply she has walked off, her strides easy and confident – light as if she is in control.

To an extent, she is.


Sakura makes for interesting observation.

Even before, as we watched her through my crows to first build up the simulation genjutsu we would test her with, she was interesting.

She may act like an adult most of the time, but she is more of a child than an adult.

Too soft, too idealistic, too… trusting.

Sakura keeps all kinds of people close.

Of all the people she would trust, her ANBU watcher.

The Wood Style-user, the Hokage's most loyal.

Him, a mass murderer.

Orochimaru's spy.

Ridiculous.

She gives the ANBU a set of keys to her home, and she laughs, "Because you might as well shift in with me, Tenzo."

The ANBU doesn't sleep in the home of course, he's protecting her from external threats.

Instead, that ANBU becomes her friend.

He took off his mask for her – and ANBU aren't supposed to do that.

Itachi knows that 'Tenzo' has been compromised.

Less of the wooden puppet doll but a living breathing human.

Sakura brings out that aspect in people.

First in Orochimaru's spy. Now in the last Mokuton user, then in him.

How was she able to convince me not to kill her then, again?

When I knew… I knew she would become trouble.

Sakura cooks for her team, 'Tenzo' hangs around outside.

She leaves him a portion on the kitchen table and he eats slowly.

As she washes the dishes, he eats.

Like in fable and fairy tales, she's been chided not to notice him but then again, he has entered her home.

Itachi watches from the window, the child peeps from the door frame to catch a look at her mysterious guard.

'Tenzo' disappears once she tries.

She complains to the silence, "Ahh so he eats and leaves the cutlery unwashed."

'Tenzo' is too far to hear her.

That night, Itachi does up the rest of her dishes and is displeased to see how much friendlier her greeting to her ANBU watcher is.


Pain-sama gave him simple instructions. Watch Haruno Sakura.

Technically, perhaps it was already Nagato-sama. Considering that Sakura was for Nagato's own selfish desire to live rather than for world peace.

He watched and learned for a year and determines the six people that will most thoroughly break Sakura.

But he can't let them touch Sasuke.

He can't.

They throw in her closest political ally, throw in the person who might be a parental figure – then they realise there isn't a spot for Hatake.

Sakura has convoluted relationships.

Itachi looks over the child like a perplexed observer.

Of course, he crafted the best genjutsu – he spent weeks studying the actions of various characters around Sakura so he could get even the mannerism right.

One thing he appeared to have overestimated was her acuity.

She isn't very aware. [then again, there's always that aspect of wanting to live that dream]

The villages across the nations are all tied up in her merchant guild, tied up by her.

He finds himself confused at times, but he knows exactly which buttons to push.

He succeeds spectacularly – the child's drive was broken the moment she saw those six bodies.

That said he was not expecting such a cold response to her sensei.

From observance, it always seemed as if Hatake was one of the people capable of looking out for her.

She must have been acting – he hears the bitterness in her voice and then second guesses himself.

Does she or does she not care for Hatake-senpai?

Even now he is watching her, watching carefully as they walk to their non-existent meeting.


Konan meets them at the low gate, surprised to see them, "Oh, Itachi, Sakura-sama, I wasn't expecting you," in a domestic outfit – apron and cleaning up the guest home.

Sakura takes over from him as he opens his mouth to explain that they didn't mean to come here exactly, "I wanted to see how you all were settling, and if you all were okay with this home being turned into the Rain-Konoha Embassy later on. Itachi-san brought me."

Konan smiles gently, "Yes, it's a lovely home. There's paper everywhere, I'm guessing that must have been Sakura-sama's decision?"

The girl smiles, and Itachi notes – she did not have long, she barely saw Konan attack, yet, she makes such an option available?

"Of course. Konan-san's ability is unique, it stuck in my memory. I was hoping you would stay and be our ambassador, I've love to see more of your paper art. You remind me a little of a Crystal-user I once met. Deadly, but still, so beautiful."

Itachi takes a moment to critically assess the whimsical child – Konan's cheeks have tinted, now because she is an ally not enemy Konan's guard is so low.

He notes again.

Sakura is a child and children have always been disarming.

"I would like to show you more as well, I think we could be good friends, Sakura-sama."

They bask in the quiet of the little garden which has paper lanterns in streams and paper cords for fences.

Konan hands Sakura an origami lily, "A token of friendship. For when you need it most," she says cryptically – Itachi assumes that it has some form of protective quality.

Sakura cradles the flower, deep in thought, Itachi sometimes wonders how much of her surface is true

She holds out a hand and her chains materialise, ah they're there again

She concentrates, and a link detaches itself.

Solemnly, she extends it out to Konan and replies, "A token of friendship."

Itachi doesn't miss the look of surprise that flits across Konan's face.

Ah, so she has the same concerns as I do.

But Sakura's eyes are warm as they were cold before, warm beyond his comprehension – I do not understand.

How is she so conflicted? Nagato may be meeting Naruto, Konan is the only one here, why is she doing this?


Quietly, as they leave, he asks if she's okay.

Sakura looks ahead and asks, "You must be wondering why Konan-san and I are so warm to one another."

He inclines his head.

"Naruto has Nagato-san. You have Sasuke. But we don't have pre-existing ties. It would be good for both of us if it worked out. We share no blood but we both understand what it means to be alone."

It's a clinical dissection of an emotional situation, she speaks of abandonment and neglect as if it were the weather, as if he ought not feel guilt.

But he should, yes?

Itachi cannot help that he feels that much stronger for Sasuke, but he can at least pretend that he cares for the child who walks beside him.

"I wish to see Sasuke."

She walks on without looking at him.

"I'm sure Sasuke-chan would love to see you more, Itachi-san."

He stops because Sasuke's home is in the opposite direction.

Sakura does not turn to look at him, melting into the crowd and out of his sight.

Casually, he summons a crow to shadow her.

He does not follow, Sasuke is waiting.

Kakashi know it's been a long time since forever Sakura has held that grudge.

He is not sure what he ought to do. Life as a dog is classified, all her suspicions cannot be confirmed or denied.

Because of that he cannot justify himself.

Cannot hold her trust.

Sakura is in the market, he can see her distinctive hair colour among the sea of browns.

Why is she here and not at the gate with Nagato-san?

He wants to grab hold of her, shake her and ask her if she's mad to have allowed so many criminals into Konoha.

He does none of those, pretending not to see her so things are less awkward.

Kakashi assumes that she must have used Itachi and Nagato as a reason to stay out of his presence. He wants to respect that. He stays away –

but how can he not look when her hair is like a bouquet of flowers, among the brown like a bunch of flowers abandoned in the dirt?

Her smile is patient, distant – he stands there in the middle of the road as people gently ease past him in the correct flow of traffic.

Then grey hair enters his view, there's only one person here that would look for Sakura, and the festering doubt and insecurities of his rear their head.

What is the girl whom I have watched for so many years?

He called out.

If only to spite Orochimaru's servant, then so be it.

If he put Sakura on the spot, then so be it.

"Sakura!"

She whirls around, creating space around her, her dark blue yukata twirling in the wind (he remembers off her file, the child is trained in dancing).

His voice has carried, the street pauses momentarily.

(Kakashi thinks he might be going a little crazy, but why is it that Sakura happened to be in so perfect a position to allow such people into the village and keep them under immunity?)

(She is a civilian child who shouldn't have been such a danger, shouldn't have become like this at any rate.)

Obediently, his student goes as he beckons.

Around them, murmurs and questions of, Hatake-sama and Haruno-sama.

It's not common knowledge, he supposes, that Sakura is his student, considering she hasn't made that big a name.

They think 'politics' before 'ninja'. predictable.

(That's the one thing Sakura is not so much, and it drives him crazy.)

A gentle tap on his forearm brings him back to the street.

Sakura looks up at him, green eyes clear, expression open and curious, a soft, "Kaka-sensei?"

(He confesses, he does not know if Sakura trusts him at all. He does not know if she considers him well.)

He places a hand on her shoulder and shunshins them away.

(He assumes she must trust him,) Sakura does not protest, nor does her chakra resist.


He brought her to their usual training ground and promptly sat on the grass, patting the spot beside him, under a shady tree.

Sakura blinks, a little confused but she complies, gracelessly flopping to the ground, yukata crinkling.

Kakashi pats her on the head.

"I'm glad you're safe, Sakura-chan."

"I'm sorry about earlier," she blurts out and Kakashi lets out a little huff of breath, he pats her on her head again.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan, I'm glad you're safe." I'm sorry I was late.

He says everything and nothing and all the things in between.

Sakura tucks her knees in and hugs them to her chest – she still has the hospital pyjamas on.

"Are you angry with me, Sakura-chan?"

She hums.

"A little bit."

Her sensei looks down at her with no little surprise.

I'm glad you're honest, he almost seems to say.

"Would you like to spar with me? Hitting me might make you feel better."

Sakura laughs.

"If I hit sensei, then sensei is getting rusty. That or going easy on me."

"A no chakra spar then, Sakura-chan. Would you like to bet something?"

She stands, extending him a hand to pull him up, tacit agreement.

Sakura chooses not to take off her yukata, instead tying it closed, Kakashi drops his pouch on the ground.

They dart around trees, preferring to spar in the limited shade – Kakashi's kick clips a branch and breaks it.

Sakura catches a fist with both hands, leg coming from below to sweep him, but sensei is faster in breaking from her grasp and retreating two steps.

She doesn't initiate and Kakashi lunges into her safety zone, she ducks under his kick and attempts to sweep his other foot out, but instead, he hops over her leg.

He chuckles, "If you never attack me, you will not touch me, Sakura-chan."

Not rising to his bait, she hangs back cautiously, watching for his movements.

She has only blinked, and sheer instinct convinces her to slant her head aside, a fist moving fast enough to cause her hair to come untucked.

She brings two arms down on the follow-up fist that nearly buries itself in her sternum, once again on the defensive.

Hitting into a tree, stumbling out of the way as those relentless fists splinter bark and tear their own skin.

(Sakura is not fighting back.)

"Sensei why are you so angry?"

Kakashi does not reply, focussing on striking out again at an unseen enemy, she re-learns what it means to contort her body.

Flowing and weaving in and out, around trees and between punches and kicks, she has yet to score a hit of her own.

"We're both kind of angry, huh, sensei?"

She twists out of reach, his finger tips skimming the edge of her yukata.

With a flourish, undoing the knot and allowing the robe to flutter free, causing Kakashi to misjudge the size of her frame.

His fist connects with air and he's sent stumbling.

(Sensei's heart isn't in it.)

Sakura slides her yukata sleeves off and promptly drapes it over Sensei as he attacks again.

Tangling them both together, like a net and they fell to the ground like birds with clipped wings.

Beneath the fabric, Sakura traces the outline of sensei's face as he chuckles, "I guess we both are, Sakura-chan."

Their match has ended in a tie, not quite a spar as much an express-your-emotions fight.

Sakura has no desire to fight anymore, tugging her yukata off her sensei who is content to lie on the grass.

She lies down by sensei's side, murmuring, "Kaka-sensei," a child's pre-amble, seeking comfort and Kakashi hums.

"Yes, Sakura-chan?"

"I get scared and question my decisions sometimes."

Kakashi smiles behind his mask, her tacit awareness that he is not happy with her decision to admit so many criminals into Konoha suddenly.

"That's okay. As long as nothing bad happens from those decisions."


Hi! So hope this sets things up well and helps clear up the Sakura-Kakashi situation.

As mentioned, the first chapter of Links is up! Sorry this is a little bit late, hope you all enjoy. Also drop me reqs for Links chapters in the reviews everywhere, as always, will see y'all in PMs again

Kayo