Chapter 1

Edited 10.12.2015

Dango

The first step through the gates was the hardest.

He couldn't help himself as he kept glancing left and right to ensure that no one was eying him suspiciously. Izumo and Kotetsu hardly lifted a hand in greeting as he passed them and that made him frown a little. The Jounin guards didn't question his presence, probably too used to the sight of Anbu at the gates. They didn't seem to know what a security risk that was.

That was fine with him, for now.

When he passed the gates and walked the main road of Konoha, the one that goes straight to the Hokage tower, he couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic. It has been too long since he had last walked freely and without any fearful glances. He was a pacifist by nature and contrast to popular belief, being feared bought him no pleasure at all.

After that faithful mission Danzo gave him 7 years ago, he hadn't had a place to call home. So it was no surprise that walking these familiar roads felt good to him. He tried to remind himself not to get used to the feeling.

This was not his home anymore, hadn't been in a long time.

With a sight he slowed his leisure pace to a stop after crossing the bridge. He looked left to see if his favorite dango shop was still there. Pleased to find that it was, indeed, still open, Itachi thought if he should indulge himself, just this once.

Coming quickly to the conclusion that yes, he was allowed to do so. It has been such a long time –five days, he had some in Ame before crossing the border- since he last had any dango. With this in mind, he walked towards the familiar shop with a small, but pleased grin behind his mask.

…

'This has to be the most boring day of my life!' Sakura, our pink haired medic, thought sulkily.

The weather was way too hot for training, Naruto was out on a mission with Sai and Tsunade pretty much threw her out of the hospital, saying that 'she worked way too much' and telling her to 'let Shizune take care of things' for once. She wasn't too happy with that to say the least.

She wasn't there that much! It just seemed that whenever she tried to leave, a new patient came rushing in or someone needed her guidance in healing. After Tsunade gave her the responsibility to look after the hospital mostly on her own, Shizune was mostly helping the Hokage now days, Sakura hardly had any free time. Not that she was complaining, it was a huge honor and something to do.

Which she didn't have at the moment, might she add!

After noticing that she had nothing to do, Sakura tried to bother Kakashi. That didn't go too well, as the new Icha Icha "Accident" had just been published. She hardly got a word out of him and if she did, the sentence usually ended with a giggle. She didn't know if Kakashi did it on purpose to get rid of her, but damn if it wasn't effective!

'How creepy is that,' Sakura thought with a shudder. There was seriously something wrong about adult men who giggled.

So, here she was, with nothing to do and bored out of her life.

Sakura was walking towards the main roads bridge, moaning every once in a while about her boring life, when she saw her favorite dango shop. They made the best sweets around Konoha and with a quiet hum she decided that dango was just what she needed at the moment.

Maybe after having some dango she would have the energy to train a little too, assuming that the weather cooled a little towards the evening. She could always train near the river in case she got too hot.

With her mind made up, she skipped towards the shop with a happy grin.

She always did love dango after all.

…

When Sakura opened the sliding door with a quiet tinkle from the wind chimes, she got the foreboding feeling of being watched. With a quick glance towards the back of the room, she noticed that it was only an Anbu that was looking her way. She sighed in relief and after that made her way to the smiling old woman. The woman smiled widely as she saw Sakura enter her shop, quickly beckoning Sakura to walk closer with her small, wrinkly hands

"Suzumi-san," Sakura greeted with a happy grin as she stopped at the counter.

"Sakura-Sensei, my, what a pleasant surprise!" the old woman exclaimed happily and took the younger girls hands in her own fragile ones.

"Is your back still bothering you? I can give you another session if it is," Sakura asked worriedly and patted Suzumis hands gently.

"Oh, no, after your last session, it has been much better," Suzumi said thankfully and with a last squeeze, released Sakuras hands. Sakura smiled, pleased that she had been of help.

"So, what can I get for you dear? Hanami dango as usual?" Suzumi asked grinning. She knew Sakuras weakness to dango, especially to hanami, and liked to tease her about it as often as she could.

Even though hanami dango was usually only served as a seasonal sweet, she kept it on her list mostly for Sakura. As a 'thank you' for healing her always sore back.

"And some green tea, please," Sakura said, not the least bit embarrassed about her sweet teeth.

With a smile, Suzumi gesture for her to sit while she waited, once again refusing Sakuras payment with a wave of her hand, she went to make her order.

Choosing to sit at the table that was next to where the Anbu was sitting, she crossed her hands and leaned on them as she waited her dango.

After a while she got curious and glanced to her right to look at the mysterious Anbu.

He was wearing the standard armor and the mask, but what drew her eyes was his –she was pretty sure it was a he- long black hair that was neatly pulled in a high ponytail. It looked really soft and she almost wished to run her fingers thought it to check its texture.

She always was jealous of men with thick and shiny hair.

Sakura was pretty sure she hadn't seen this Anbu before, at least the mask was new to her, but it escaped her mind when he turned his head to look slightly at her. She could almost sense his eyebrow going up in question, his dark eyes smirking at her from the holes in his mask. Embarrassed that she had been catch staring at him, she smiled awkwardly at him and turned quickly to look if Suzumi was ready yet.

No such luck.

The Anbu seemed to sense her displeasure as he chuckled quietly and pushed his half-finished plate towards her.

"Have some of mine," he said quietly, making Sakura look his way doubtfully, but not one to say 'no' to sweets, took one dango stick anyway with a shy 'thank you'. After clearing her throat quietly, she looked his way again.

"I haven't seen you around before. I'm pretty sure I have healed every Anbu in Konoha at least once," Sakura said curiously and took a bite of her –previously his- dango.

Itachi smirked to himself; of course she hadn't seen him, or healed him.

"I have been on a… mission, for a while now. I don't usually spend much time in Konoha," well, that was an understatement; he would be captured in sight if he walked around Konoha in his Akatsuki cloak.

"Oh, well, that explains it," Sakura nodded to herself and finished her treat. "I am Sakura by the way." she said and looked longingly at the last dango on his plate. After the Anbu gestured her to go ahead, she did so happily, making him chuckle.

"It is a pleasure," he said and nodded at her, he wasn't one to forget his manners after all.

As Sakura looked at him expectantly, he guessed he should introduce himself. Good thing that he already had a false name in mind, it was simple and close to his own name, making it easy to remember and respond to naturally.

"I am called Tachi."

…

So, they finally met!

In the next chapter, Sakura goes to her training session and our "Tachi" sees her skills.

I wonder what he'll think (;

As always, thank you for reading and have a nice day!

R&R

TY

-Hana