I dont know Narutooooooo
With a full stomach and a cheerful goodbye Sakura left Ichiraku's and began her walk to her apartment. It had been a much-needed evening full of friendship and socialization, something the kunoichi had needed for a long time. Sakura giggled lightly remembering how the eventful training session ended up. Watching an obviously disgruntled Neji have to pay for six orders of ramen was easily the second highlight of the night. Perhaps the primary highlight was watching Neji be tricked by Sakura's earth clone, its perfect chakra network made the Hyuga hesitate just long enough for Sakura to copy an old trick of Naruto's, tunneling under ground and nailing him in the jaw at a disturbing force once he was distracted.
"Neji-san that was most shameful!" Lee cried enthusiastically "To be defeated by the same trick of team Hatake! Guy-sensei would be most-"
"Don't you mention this to him, Lee!" Tenten immediately jumped in, setting her chopsticks down in her bowl "We'll be running laps for weeks!"
"A most useful joy of-"
"No one thinks its joyful Lee! Only you and our sadistic sensei!"
The bickering lead to many of the other ninja busting out in laughter and for once Sakura felt at ease in her village. Her home and friends were safe, with only team Asuma to worry about at the border.
"Mah, mah Neji you better watch out! Enemies might soon learn your weakness of the 'mole no jutsu'!"
Sakura slowly reached her building, taking precautions and adding 10 minutes to her walk to ensure the way she got home was not easy to track. The side alleys of the industrial district she lived in provided for many hiding places and routinely confused even Konoha natives due to its tricky navigation and seemingly senseless routes. Sakura made a brief stop at the building mailbox and reached into hers hoping to see letters from Ino or even a magazine instead of the bills she knew would be due soon.
Dainty fingers grasped crisp envelops and with a slight crinkle in the silent night air Sakura pulled out three bills and finally her long awaited Ino update. With a purpose in her step Sakura bolted up the stairs to the fourth floor and unlocked the many genjutsu traps and locks that secured her apartment from being tampered with. The final fizz of a chakra string being broken by her indicated the locks were all undone and Sakura eagerly moved inside, now excited to see what ideas Ino could update her about.
The virus HH45 shows an inability to reproduce in select populations of people but a clear indicator of the genetic resistance is not yet known. Currently we are working on data analysis-
Interesting! A potential resistance for a virus what increasingly rare due to their ability to adapt. Hopefully this was not a temporary fix.
The pinkette redid her traps and tossed the bills on her kitchen counter next to the disregarded Hannya mask Naruto was too lazy to put up. Green eyes glared at the object in irritation at the ninja's carelessness. Honestly had he no respect for someone else's property? With a sigh Sakura gently grasped the dark mask in her hand and made her way to her bedroom, intent on hiding the bodysuit as well. Kakashi had a habit of showing up uninvited and if he recognized the stolen ANBU technology then Sakura would be easily caught, no questions about it.
Sakura made her way across the small bedroom to her dresser and shoved the Onryō outfit in her underwear drawer, lazily covering the black with different fabrics of pastels, laces, silks, and bras. Sure, her boys were perverts, but they weren't stupid enough to dare ruffle through her underwear drawer. This was the only sacred place in her entire apartment that they wouldn't dare invade. The kitchen was often ransacked for food and free beer, her tub had been destroyed many times when took over the bathroom after a long, hard, often times muddy and bloody mission, and the living room was practically a dormitory for the stray men of team 7.
With a smirk Sakura gently closed the dark dresser's drawer and opened another drawer next to it for something to sleep in. Early to bed early to rise, however, calling it a night at nearly 10pm was late for normal people. A light sigh left her lips as she stripped down out of her garments and lazily tossed them to the bedroom floor, she would tidy up after a nice long shower anyways.
As Sakura removed her chest bindings, she massaged the sore spot where they had been too tight and tried to lessen the slight pain in her breasts. Nothing a warm shower couldn't fix. The water thankfully heated up relatively fast in this building and Sakura hoped under the gentle spray as it caressed her skin and washed away the grime from her sparring. Pink locks were massaged with shampoo and conditioner specifically meant to be scentless and proved to be useful more than once, especially against sensory ninjas such as Kiba. A quick rinse and she carelessly twist the knob, immediately stopping the water, and stepped out to get dressed when Sakura felt a trap go off in her living room.
Her pulse quickened and Sakura quickly yanked her panties and shirt on, ignoring the droplets from her hair as they dampened the shoulders of her thread bare tee. Kunai in hand she twisted the door handle with expert precision and gracefully stepped over the bathroom threshold, avoiding the squeaky spot she knew existed there. Her eyes narrowed as she took a few silent steps toward her open bedroom door when suddenly the hairs on the back of her neck rose in distress. Instinct overrode thought and Sakura aggressively twisted her kunai to meet the blade aimed for her neck. Though successful, Sakura cursed her luck; this was not an enemy she could feign ignorance with easily and the move she just executed was easily considered a high tier ANBU skill, just as the man before her once was.
"Interesting choice of security," Sakura swore internally as she caught the brief flicker of red eyes wandering her body, why of all nights did she forgo the pajama bottoms tonight.
"Get the hell out of my apartment you-" Sakura began but suddenly jumped back when he withdrew his kunai and sheathed it, the move startling her like a frightened deer. The smallest hint of a smirk graced his face and Sakura glared with all her might, not quite trusting an Akatsuki in her village, especially inside her own home.
He took his time turning his back on her, dropping strong arms to his side perhaps in an attempt to make Sakura lower her guard. "It seems you listened to your Hokage about increasing your protection," He trailed closer to her dresser seemingly taking interest in the dusty picture of Team 7 residing behind a vase of long dead flowers. The crimson of his eyes seemingly glowed in the dark of her room, but Sakura fought to keep her vision at his neckline. An Akatsuki was in her room and had basically threatened to remove her from Konoha should they prove unable to protect her…a feat he had just proven….
She praised Kami she had hidden the Onryō earlier. Had Akatsuki learned of her secret she was sure her life would end; they could kill two birds with one stone and pretend it was for the better of the world.
"A subconscious genjutsu floor trigger covering an entire floor plan is certainly a troublesome trick to pull off for a Chūnin….. I'm impressed." His tone floated in the air as he turned his head toward the half-dressed pinkette, studying her response with curiosity.
Fuck.
"Fuckkkk fuck fuck fuck!" Sakura racked her brain for an excuse, anything, to prevent the Uchiha from piecing together things he had no business in. The last thing she wanted was for Itachi to go snooping around about who Haruno Sakura was and what she knew how to do. Officially Sakura had zero ANBU training…
Though she was unnerved her fear did not translate on her face. Frown still in place she relaxed her stance slightly, cocking a hip and placing one hand on it "Kakashi-sensei is an excellent teacher, but I'm sure I don't have to tell you that. He said you were quite the little underling in ANBU." Throw him off the trail, that's the only thing she could think of. Why else would a 'clan-less' kunoichi know such high level jutsu? The emphasis on underling was said with a slight venom that the raven-haired man did not appreciate. Her insult was a hiss accompanied by the slight sneer in her full lips.
"Indeed," his eyes wandered over her frame once more before approaching her causing Sakura to tense. He glanced once more into emerald eyes that would not meet his own and swept past her into her living room, noting the rows of books lining her shelves and flooding over onto the various surface tops throughout the room. His eyes caught a scroll partially unraveled on a desk and the furious scribbling in the tea stained notebook beside it held his attention "You are researching the Sharingan in your spare time?"
Sakura huffed, no longer caring that she was pants less with a mass murderer in her home, his nosey nature had overstayed his welcome and fear was quickly being replaced with irritation. Long strides carried her over to the study space in her living room and snapped her materials shut with a glare. "The Uchiha are a problem, I intend to fix that." With her chin held high Sakura glared at his own chin, noting the smirk on his mouth with distaste.
"Ah. A great asset for Akatsuki as well-."
"An even better asset for Konoha if I can manage to do my job to my satisfaction."
The dark-haired man paused only briefly in his observations of her dutiful work, longer fingers gliding over a wrinkled page to smooth it out. "You will need to learn to put aside hatred in order for this alliance to work," He said simply, brushing aside the harsh words from her mouth as if they meant nothing. "Other Akatsuki will not respond well to your petty antics."
His warning was unwelcomed and caused Sakura the stiffen. This man had not known her more than 5 minutes and he was already telling her how to behave. "I'll act how I want Uchiha-san and I would appreciate it if you gave up on this notion that Konoha is willing to partner with criminal organizations. We are perfectly capable of protecting ourselves."
She hadn't blinked before a lone arm slid around her waist and drew her back into a well-endowed chest, securing her in place with a hand sliding up her chest and grasping her jaw ever so lightly. For a moment Sakura forgot how to breath. How could she be so stupid to stop observing her surroundings? Her pulse increased and she thrashed her body to escape the iron grip that held her relatively still. Going all out at training had decreased her chakra and the medic nin became to panic ever so slightly as Itachi walked toward her in slow strides.
"It is not Konoha's protection that is at question," a warm, calloused hand reached forward to grasp a long, wet strand of pink locks and gently twist it around a pale finger in curiosity "Cherry blossom's are not known for many things, but longevity is not one of them. Only a skilled gardener can dare fight off the dangers of the environment and protect a blossom from its end."
She tried to yank her head away and caught a glimpse of an Itachi clone behind her holding her still for the original. "I do not appreciate being caged like an animal, release me and I can show you just how well I can protect myself and my village!" How dare this man doubt her ability, her talent as a kunoichi of Konoha. It was the same thought process that resulted in the Akatsuki's puppet master being 6 feet under and if the opportunity came around, she would do the same to him, Sasuke's revenge be damned.
"Temper, temper…." That damn smirk graced his lips once more and it took all of Sakura's will power to not want to learn into the intoxicating musk of the man before her. Instead she pulled back into the clone, favoring the fake over the real before her. Its arm tightened around her waist once more as if preparing for her to launch an attack, but his fingers lingered over her hip bone, distracting Sakura briefly enough for the real Itachi to lean in uncomfortably close. In the dark she prayed the heat on her cheeks had not shown, but nothing escapes the sharingan eyes that were searching her face now.
"Fix the security, perhaps Kakashi has more ANBU secrets he is willing to share with his favorite little underling." And before she could retort back the man and his clone vanished in a puff of black smoke and crow feathers.
"- a complete lack of internal security-"
There was not enough sake in the world that would make dealing with the currently rampant pinkette any better Tsunade bitterly huffed as she shuffled around in a kitchen cabinet in her home.
"-declaration of war on Konoha soil and violating-"
Honestly, where had Shizune hidden it this time?
"-a mandatory lockdown and execution of the Uchiha for trespassing, violating-"
Sakura slammed her fist on the granite countertop of the kitchen and Tsunade raised a delicate eyebrow, she had never seen Sakura this bothered, and her temper was beginning to distract the sleep deprived Hokage from her mission. "Break that counter and I'll dock your pay and place you on Academy duty."
Dainty hands quickly brushed over the counter, sweeping for any signs of damage before crossing in front of her torso with irritation. "Shisou, the Akatsuki just waltzed into my home and you don't even care! I'm not safe-"
Ha! Finally, the supplies she needed to deal with this hissy fit. Tsunade withdrew a bottle of fine mist sake and two cups which Sakura glared at with vehemence. Turning off the light in her kitchen Tsunade left Sakura in the darkness and went to the living room to get comfortable. A pissy Sakura tended to be a chatty one and if she was going to endure this night then she would at least make herself at home. "Just what happened to make you so riled up? Did he threaten you?"
"Well…um.."
"Attack you?"
"No I-"
"Did he have sex with you?"
"Shishou!"
The snicker that left the older woman's mouth could not be contained, this poor, riled little mednin certainly was wound a little too tight and practically radiated sexual tension. Tsunade plopped down on the lavish couch and patted the spot next to her for her apprentice. Sakura took the cue and shuffled to the unoccupied section on the couch, a faint sense of security and home enveloping her senses and calming her distressed mind. She accepted the small ceramic cup and shot back the smooth liquid, knowing full well that Tsunade's home was easily the safest place in the world and nothing could touch her here, not even-
"The Uchiha will cause you no harm Sakura, and he makes an excellent point. Perhaps your security should be improved." Tsunade murmured around the cup she drank from.
"I have! Unless you want to spare an ANBU unit or three I can't improve my security any more or I'll get caught outside my house! Maybe the Hyūga would be willing to adopt me in exchange for an onsite mednin-" suddenly Sakura felt as if a lightbulb had finally switched on in her brain and gleefully she jumped from the soft couch, causing Tsunade to curse as the sake in her cup spilled. "Let me go south to Ino's encampment! With us partnered together we could finalize a vaccine for HH45! I can run trial-"
A scoff from the honey eyed shut Sakura up instantly "My my, since when does my apprentice run away from trouble? I feel as though this isn't about the invasion of privacy, but who invaded your privacy Sakura." Damn old woman and her need to stir up nonsense.
Sakura gaped at her mentor like a fish out of water, was she seriously insinuating that?! "Tsunade-sama this is Uchiha Itachi. He could fillet me in a second and there would be shit I could do about it. This is a complete breach of security and if Shizune were here she would agree! Put a rumor out there that ANBU secured me in headquarters to heal a new interrogation prisoner while I'm really out helping Ino! I-"
"That's a far reach and you know it," Tsunade began as she poured another cup for them "It doesn't take a genius to know that you want to be on the HH45 front line developing a cure. I'm sure Orochimaru has thought of that and has people spreading the disease right now to try and lure you out. I can't let you get that far from me, it's just not safe."
"Shishou I'm not safe now! Itachi and Akatsuki can get in my home any time they feel like-"
"You could do a lot worse, apparently s-class ninja are required to be handsome."
Kami she was useless.
"I am not interested in criminals Tsunade and as Hokage you can't be interested either." Sakura deadpanned as she watched the blonde scowl at the now empty sake bottle.
"You may stay here for the evening if you're so worried about your home, but first thing in the morning I'm telling Kakashi everything and you will have to deal with his nagging." Unfortunately, this was probably the most time efficient strategy and Sakura's shoulders sagged. The last thing she wanted was for her old sensei to have to play babysitter, but surely that would discourage Itachi from poking his head around any time soon.
"Hai Shishou." Sakura began setting up her new bed and snuggled into the lush throw blankets Tsunade had, enjoying their soft embrace as sleep slowly claimed her mind. " G'night…"
