Chapter 5: Tease

He told her to "behave," in that supercilious tone of his. She was dressed as a civilian, sitting in the corner of a dumpling shop. Kakashi was far too recognizable, even outside their village, to go unnoticed. So, here she was by herself. She was surprised he even entrusted her with this much, without him hovering around her like a glorified bodyguard. He disapproved of her choice in clothing considering the way he openly looked at her shorts with enmity. They weren't THAT much different from her normal ninja attire; except they were a bit shorter. He thankfully didn't say anything against it, but she supposed that was where the comment to 'behave' came from, as he left her to gather intel.

She laughed ironically to herself because she was finally on the type of mission she had been requesting, one she could finally prove herself on. And now, she had to admit she was eager to return home when it was over. At home she had distractions, and she didn't have to spend all her time with Kakashi if she didn't want to. He was too intense and way too aware of his own power. He was on their side, but he didn't play by the same set of rules as everyone else, which he openly said. And whatever he was doing, when it came to her, was alarming.

She noticed out of the corner of her eye someone come in through a separate entrance. His face was obscured from the hat he wore, but she noted the cloak. It was exactly like Kabuto's. Her eyes followed him as he walked over to the other side of the shop and sat across from someone. How did she not notice him until now?! He was wearing the exact same cloak as his counterpart, but his built wasn't nearly as intimidating. The man that sat easily towered over Kakashi, while the other looked about 5'10". She was on her feet, her footsteps soft as she tried to not draw attention to herself. She knew Kakashi would not appreciate her attempting to confront them, especially because she had an inkling at one's identity. She kept her chakra masked and just when she thought she was in the clear the massive one stepped in front of her.

"Hey pinky, why don't you join us over there?" His tone was deceptively casual.

She looked over at his companion who was watching them. Her eyes went back to the man in front of her, taking in his muscular arms and the massive sword at his waist. She didn't want to assume and cause a scene, perhaps he was just hitting on her. She didn't look like a ninja and did nothing that would have made them overly suspicious of her. This was an opportunity to get information. She nodded hesitantly and followed him.

When she got to the table, she realized she miscalculated. They definitely knew who she was. She looked at the face of a nearly identical version of Sasuke's. He was very handsome and though his tear-trough lines were incredibly pronounced for one so young, it did nothing to detract from his looks. His face didn't show any sign of interest in her at all, merely aloofness. She raised her eyes to the other and nearly stepped back in alarm, he didn't even look completely human. His face almost resembled a shark and he looked at her the way Kakashi did ripping out Kabuto's heart. He grinned in dark amusement at her blatant fear of him. Her eyes darted to the door, and she wondered if she'd be fast enough to make it out. The bigger guy's hand came down and grabbed her bicep with ridiculous strength. She tried to pull away but he clamped down harder, and she felt he would pull her arm out of its socket if he used anymore force to hold her.

"Kisame, stop it." His voice was soft but held a commanding tone.

She felt the bruising fingers unclench from her arm, but he still stood menacingly behind her, barring her exit.

"Sakura Haruno, please have a seat." He gestured to the empty chair across from him. Seeing no choice in the matter, given her clear disadvantage, she sat across from him. "Forgive my partner's abrasiveness."

"You're Itachi Uchiha," she said, not feeling the need to beat around the bush. There was no point in pretending not to know his identity.

He smiled, "I am, I take it Sasuke has talked about me before? You were his teammate for a time."

How did he know that and why was he talking about Sasuke in such a manner? He acted as if he wasn't the same brother that killed their entire clan.

"I take it you've evaded Sasuke this whole time? He left our village a long time ago, as I'm sure you know, in pursuit of you."

His mask was nearly as unreadable as Kakashi's, so she had no idea what he was thinking. "He isn't ready to face me yet," he said cryptically.

"Why are you looking for jinchuriki?" She demanded, changing tactics.

"A complicated question, and one that will take too long to answer."

"Why are you wasting our time with her Itachi?" The man called Kisame said behind her. It was like he was on a thin leash held by Itachi, waiting to be released. He looked at her like he wanted nothing more than to cut her up to ribbons with that sword of his.

She started tensing and Itachi noticed. "Please Sakura, keep your chakra calm, or you'll alert the copy ninja."

"Why should I do that? Aren't you planning on killing me?"

"No." She didn't know what to make of his response, and Kisame huffed in annoyance – presumably because she wasn't brought over here to sake his bloodlust.

"You're not going to kill me?"

"I have no reason to."

He had no reason to?! Did he have a reason when he slaughtered his entire family years ago?

"Are you going to try and kill Kakashi then?"

"Not unless I have no choice. I detest unnecessary violence." He…what? "You, you aren't what I expected," she said. The biggest understatement. "You murdered your entire clan in cold blood. That's why Sasuke sought revenge, isn't it?" She was trying to match this polite, soft-spoken man with the horror stories of his ruthlessness.

"I did." But she couldn't help but notice he looked almost, sad. "Was there a reason behind it?" She couldn't help but ask. His gaze hardened and he replied, "this conversation is over Sakura."

She picked up something from his expression, he was hiding… something. "There was a reason, wasn't there? You didn't just do it to test your own abilities, like you made everyone believe," she guessed.

"You're clever Sakura," he complimented. "And you're quite beautiful. My little brother was foolish to leave you behind. You could have helped him. I suppose his folly is my own doing though."

She blushed a little at someone like Itachi calling her beautiful, even if he said it in a detached way.

"I must offer my apologies Sakura, but we will need your assistance to avoid a battle with Kakashi."

How was she supposed to do that, even if she would be willing? Kakashi wouldn't just let them go. Itachi smirked at the confusion that must have shown on her face. "Again, I'm sorry Sakura. I hope we meet again."

Before she knew what was happening Kisame had her wrists pinned behind her as he held her against him.

"Don't overdo it," Itachi warned him. She struggled against him, this time calling forth her chakra, but he was…strong. Frightfully so. He kept her to him without too much effort, even with her enhanced strength fighting him. He was also much faster than his large form would indicate. One second, they were in the shop and the next they were running out the side entrance at an astounding speed. Her feet were dangling in front of her as he carried her much shorter frame with minimal effort. And just as suddenly as they started, his body halted, and she was jarred against his chest. She put forth all her strength and finally succeeded in arching her back enough that she was no longer pressed against him. She had no time to commend herself on her small victory when he yanked her back with so much force her wrists snapped. The break caused her to cry out involuntarily.

"Kisame," Itachi admonished angrily.

"Whoops, sorry about that. The pipsqueak is stronger than she looks, I must have used too much strength to hold her." She could tell even if he didn't do it on purpose, he wasn't broken up about it. She pushed her healing chakra into the bones and felt the pain slowly dissipating as she mended them. When she focused on what was in front of her, she nearly recoiled more into Kisame's chest.

He was terrifying, even more forbidding than his brief confrontation with Kabuto. He appeared as if he was contemplating wiping them all out as his lethal chakra pulsated through the air a few meters from them. She never saw his chakra so out of control before.

"Kakashi, it's been a long time."

"You have something of mine." His aura was so cold it was almost tangible, and she shivered in response.

"Oh, pinky here? You probably should take better care of her, she's a bit fragile." Sakura couldn't believe Kisame had the audacity to mock Kakashi when he looked like that.

Kakashi's resounding laugh in return made him look quite mad. "I will bathe myself in your blood."

"Kisame, get ready," Itachi ordered.

She felt herself hurled through the air and then smashing into the ground at Kakashi's feet. The impact took off a lot of the skin of her uncovered legs, and the side of her face was gushing blood. She supposed it could be a lot worse though. She heard Kakashi snarl like some kind of animal before picking her up with much more care than she thought him capable of in the moment. His hands were mindful of the raw skin of her legs as he cradled her body to his chest. She turned her head and saw a wall of black flames where Itachi and Kisame once were. She'd never seen anything like them before.

"Kamui!" She saw the flames appear to be sucked into oblivion and disappear altogether. Kakashi's abilities were uncanny sometimes. He wasn't even an Uchiha, but he has such a mastery of the Sharingan, and he only had it in his left eye. Whatever those flames were, they did the job at allowing them to escape. She guessed that was Itachi's plan all along, and her purpose was to distract Kakashi for only a moment.

Itachi… There was definitely more to him than what she thought, than what they all thought. In the moments she spent with him he showed no signs of being violent to her, and he even admitted not wanting a battle with Kakashi. She was missing something. She knew there was more to the story for why he butchered his entire clan, but she had no idea what it could be. What possible reason would someone have to do that? And why did he spare only Sasuke? If he was only interested in testing the limits of his own power, he wouldn't have hesitated about a confrontation with Kakashi. Kakashi would be more than a challenge for him. Itachi Uchiha was an enigma, and she wasn't sure now he did deserve to die after all.

"Sakura, are you alright?" Kakashi's voice held restraint.

"Yes, my injuries are superficial, don't worry." As she said that she already began to heal the broken skin on her legs and face with her chakra. His eyes watched as new skin reformed itself, but he didn't look appeased.

"This is my fault, I didn't think they'd have the nerve to touch you, knowing I was nearby." She gasped because that was basically an apology, and Kakashi didn't do apologies in all the time she's known him.

"Sensei, you couldn't have known that. We didn't even know they were going to be here. Besides, they didn't really hurt me. They could have killed me if they wanted to, but they didn't."

"They'll pay Sakura," he said quietly.

She didn't have the courage to say anything else to him when he was like this. She didn't even want to tell him that he didn't need to keep carrying her. She was silent as he walked with her in his arms. She felt the hard muscles of his chest rippling against her. She chanced a glance up at his face and his expression still hadn't changed. He wanted blood. When he finally remembered himself, he sat her down on her feet, but his arm was wrapped around her waist.

"I shouldn't allow you on another mission like this again." She protested in outrage at that. "You can't do that sensei! I didn't do anything wrong!"

"That shouldn't have happened before. You got hurt, and it doesn't sit well with me. You're a medical ninja, you're safer in the village than out on these types of missions. Even I can't protect you completely."

"You have no say in what I do! I'll transfer teams if you have such an issue with it!" She snarled as she tried to pull free from his arm around her.

"You know that won't happen Sakura. The Hokage will never oppose me."

He was right and at that her anger deflated. If he willed it, he could keep her caged in the village. She blinked back tears. Was this it? Everything she worked for, all the training she put herself through. Only for him to make the call for her.

"Sensei, please, don't do this to me. I'm a ninja, I've spent my whole life training for this."

He didn't respond and watched her calculatingly. "I know you didn't like to see me get hurt, but don't you remember how I used to be? I was a waste of a kunoichi as a girl, barely passable. I'm strong now, I can heal myself from injuries as well. And I'll get even stronger, I'll train even harder. Just please, Kakashi-sensei, don't change your mind."

"You'd be unhappy if you were to remain in the village, working in the hospital as a medical ninja?"

"Yes."

"You're an exceptional medical ninja Sakura."

"That's not enough for me."

He chuckled in amusement and cupped her cheek with his other hand. "I suppose it isn't Sakura. You would never be content. I'm a selfish man and I'm almost tempted to face your displeasure to ensure your safety." She waited as his mismatched eyes stared her down. "But you're special. You have both the power to heal and take life with your hands."

She didn't realize that's how he saw her, and even though his dark domineering persona frightened her, she wrapped her arms around him in gratitude. He wouldn't take this from her, that was basically an admission.

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."

She relayed her thoughts on Itachi to Tsunade-sama when they returned home from the mission.

"He could have easily killed me, or let his partner, but he didn't. He was… well-mannered and decent to me," she said sheepishly, for lack of a better explanation.

Her mentor didn't look overly impressed by Sakura's assessment. "I know he's a rogue-nin, and I know he killed his clan, but I really think we should investigate this. He may not be as bad as we think, what if there really is more to it?"

"I'm not sure this is really anything to go on Sakura, but I'll give what you said some thought."

"I just want to be sure he's really the bad guy we think he is, that's all my lady."

She thought back to what Kakashi said when she tried to tell him about her conversation with Itachi. "He could be a hero of this village and that still won't stop me from killing him and his partner," he had said. She knew there was no reasoning with him.

"How was your mission other than that Sakura?

"A warning may have been nice about Kakashi-sensei," she admitted softly.

"Yes, well, I'm not sure that would adequately cover him," Lady Tsunade laughed without humor.

"I'm guessing there's nothing you can do about that?"

"No, Sakura. He's not a danger to the village, so that's all I can really ask for."

"You think you have him under control?"

The Hokage never answered her question, and she really didn't expect her to. The answer was that no one, not even Lady Tsunade herself, controlled him. That's why Naruto toed the line, that's why Kakashi had the reputation he had, and that's why she didn't even know how to act around him. Kakashi was 'softer' when it came to her, but she wasn't sure how far that patience went.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the pounding on her door. "Sakura, are you ready? We're going out, and don't even think you can get out of it!" Sakura sighed in annoyance as Ino continued to knock on her door incessantly.

"Ino, I just got back! You couldn't give me a day?" She asked exasperatedly as she opened the door for Ino to come in.

"No, we haven't gone out since your birthday! Shikamaru is going to meet us too!" So, why Sakura had to go she had no idea. She was basically going to be a third wheel for those two.

"I brought you some of my clothes to wear too! You're going to be the second hottest girl there, after me of course!"

"I have my own clothes pig," she argued.

"Not sexy enough! You need to show everyone that body of yours! You finally grew boobs, but barely anyone has noticed since you hide them!"

Sakura blushed in embarrassment as her friend started pulling off the lounge clothes she was wearing aggressively. She threw a pile of clothes in her arms and ordered her to change.

The clothes Ino picked were far out of her comfort zone. A halter top that came just above her belly button, showing off her toned abs. That wouldn't have been so bad except the cut of the top showed A LOT of cleavage, far more than she was used to seeing on herself. The shorts were made of a soft material, and they weren't terribly short. They came to about mid-thigh, but when she turned to the side, she noticed how they seemed to hug the curves of her ass.

"Damn Sakura, I really outdid myself!" Her friend slapped her ass playfully, and Sakura growled at her in discomfort.

"Ugh, do I have to wear this?"

"Yes! Now, come on!" And at that, Sakura felt herself being dragged along to the bar.

Two hours later and Sakura was really loosened up after a few shots of sake – okay more than a few. She was giggling and trying to help Ino get Shikamaru to dance, who looked far less amused. 'I think I'm a little drunk,' she thought to herself. The alcohol was relaxing her body and she felt slightly light-headed. It felt wonderful when she started dancing around, letting herself feel the music.

Ino watched Sakura with laughing eyes as she sashayed around the dance floor by herself. She looked and saw plenty of men looking at her, probably contemplating if they could approach or not. Sakura wasn't exactly the easiest woman to talk to during the day, but her lowered inhibitions may tempt one or two guys now. As her eyes scanned the room while Shikamaru ordered them another round of drinks she spotted him. He was sitting on the other end of the bar table, arms crossed, and eye focused on her pink haired friend. He wore a dark shirt that covered his face and showed off his rather muscular arms. He was scary, but damn he was also sexy.

'Not good,' Ino thought to herself, looking at her friend. Sakura didn't drink too often, but when she did, Ino could say she was a flirt. A drunk, flirtatious Sakura was probably not a good combination with him here. She already saw firsthand his possessiveness, and looking at him now, he was watching her friend with a hungry expression.

She felt eyes on her. In her buzzed state she tried to focus and locate who was watching her. She spotted her sensei lounging lazily on a barstool, his arms crossed over his chest. She wasn't sure why she was normally nervous around him; he didn't seem all that intimidating to her now.

"Sensei! What are you doing here?" She was proud she managed to not slur her words. She stepped between his open legs carelessly, and in her drunken state, didn't notice the predatory gaze on his face. His eye crinkled at her to indicate he was smiling. "Keeping an eye on you." She laughed at what she interpreted as a joke. "You're way less scary when you're home."

"Is that so?"

"Mhm, say, you want to get me a drink?" She asked boldly.

"Are you sure you need any more Sakura?"

"Hey! I'm not even drunk." He didn't look like he believed her, and she lightly smacked his chest. "Fine, alright maybe I am a little bit. It was Ino's fault!"

As she tried to defend her inebriated state, she didn't notice that his hands were on the sides of her thighs, playing with the hem of her shorts. "Interesting outfit choice," he commented.

"Does it look bad?" She asked in mortification.

"No." He had a dark expression on his face, and she felt his fingers lightly dance underneath the shorts. Her skin tingled where his fingers brushed. His face was nearly level with her in his sitting position, and she wished she could see more of it.

"Sakura!" She jumped as Ino interrupted and she would have fell if not for the hands holding her. "We've been looking for you. Quit bothering Kakashi-sensei and let's get another round of shots," Ino tempted.

Sakura's brow furrowed before she turned and perched herself on one of his thighs. "Am I bothering you Kakashi-sensei?"

"Of course not, she's fine."

"She's drunk," Ino bravely pointed out to him.

"She's safe with me." His gaze was hard as he said that. Ino bit her lip and wanted to protest, but she could see in his face he wasn't letting Sakura go.

The song, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" came on and Sakura squealed in excitement, jumping up.

"I love this song!" She exclaimed before running onto the dance floor, Kakashi watching in amusement. It was strange how much his mood shifted. He went from being positively intimidating, to finding her friend the funniest thing in the world. He looked at her as he stood up to follow Sakura.

"Leave us, I'll make sure she gets home." She noted that was an order. She knew it wasn't a good idea though, and she knew when Sakura sobered up, she would more than agree. She felt Shikamaru grab her elbow gently and signal for her to come with him.

"Ino, there's nothing you can do about that. I saw how he looked at her."

"But…but Sakura doesn't know what she's doing! She doesn't see him that way."

"Well, she can deal with the repercussions then, but I'm sure not involving us in such a troublesome situation."

She was having more fun than she's had in a while. The hands on her hips felt comforting and warm as she swayed to the song. The sake she consumed was really hitting her at this point, and she was barely aware of the fact it was her sensei with his hands on her – the same dark, sadistic sensei that licked a dead man's blood off his fingers.

She pushed herself back into him slightly and felt him tense. She did it again, and he growled lowly. "Sakura, stop it," he warned. She giggled because she could tell she was affecting him, and it made her feel powerful. So, she foolishly kept grinding her ass against him until she felt something hard.

"You're playing with fire little girl," he lowly said in her ear. She did indeed feel hot and noticed the room was starting to spin.

"Kaka-sensei, I, I think I need to go home," she managed to say as she leaned back against him.

"Come, I'll take you Sakura."

She felt him grab her hand and she sighed in relief when cool air hit her face outside. The walk back was slow, and though she felt a lot less overheated, she was far from coherent. When she opened the door to her apartment, she absentmindedly pulled him along after her.

She turned and he was watching her intently. The shadows of the room played over his face and his scent hit her nose. He smelled good, like a forest after it just rained. She moved closer as she breathed in his scent. "You were teasing me tonight, Sakura."

"Was I?"

"I'm not a man you can play these games with," he warned darkly.

Her hand lightly came on his abdominals, which flexed in response. In the back of her drunken mind, she knew she should stop. She was in dangerous territory, he wasn't like the other men in the village, not even close. To flirt with him like she's done all night was asking for problems, especially with the way he's been acting with her.

"What do you want?"

What did she want? In her stupor one thought came to mind, "to see your face."

"That's what you want?"

"Yes," she looked up at him. "Will you show me?"

He didn't answer verbally but moved his hands up to his face. Her eyes watched as he slowly inched down the mask, past the tip of his nose, to his lips, until it pooled around the base of his neck. She took in his high cheekbones, his chiseled jawline, straight nose, and perfect lips. God, he even had a beauty mark. He was beautiful, there was nothing else to say. His features always hinted at handsomeness, but this was another level. He was better looking than Sasuke…

Her cheeks grew red as she became flustered and he noticed and smirked. Except this smirk was devoid of his mask, and a smile on his face made him even more devastating to look at. Even his teeth were perfect.

In her intoxicated state she felt the urge to press her lips to his kissable looking mouth, so she did. At first, he didn't respond as she felt a man's lips for the first time. And then, he did, and it felt glorious. He alternated between firm and soft strokes and when he bit her bottom lip, and sucked the flesh into his mouth, she realized she must really like that because she moaned.

His eyes opened and whatever he saw in her gaze made him step back from her, his body shaking with restraint. "We can't continue Sakura, not while you're like this."

"Like what," but even as she said that she noticed her body felt heavy. She started wobbling as she realized her legs didn't feel as steady as they should. He moved to catch her, and she registered the weightlessness of her body as he took her to her room. Her eyes were glazed as he laid her on her bed and tugged a blanket over her.

"I'll sleep on the couch."

She wanted to ask why he would do that, but her eyes felt heavy, and she didn't manage anything more than a 'hm' before dozing off.

When she woke in the morning to a rolling stomach and pounding headache, she would realize her hangover was the least of her worries. She really made a terrible mistake last night.

I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, it was a lot of fun to write!

For anyone wondering, no, Sakura hasn't had a change of heart. This was me playing with a drunk Sakura as a character, because even if Kakashi's terrifying he's also really sexy. He is a lot more 'controlled' in the village than on missions obviously. He's still a very dark person but he's also a bit of a playful character at times, and I didn't want that part of his personality to be lost in my story. No one is only black or white. Regardless, this is a slow burn story so she hasn't suddenly fallen for him. I bet she'll hate herself in the next chapter though, because her intoxicated self definitely made things worse for her lol.

Please review! I'm much more inclined to update if I know people are enjoying the story :)