Itonami: Whoa, do my eyes deceive me or does that number beside the word 'reviews' go over 100! Gosh, I never thought I would get over a hundred reviews for this. THANK YOU ALL, SO SO SO VERY MUCH! I love you all!

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Naruto.

Chapter 7

A sole leaf was whisked past two sleeping forms by the wind.

Sasuke and Sakura eyes snapped open and they sprang apart from each other, one with a kunai and the other with a shuriken. The pair was breathing heavily in panic and defensively, each holding their weapons tightly. It was two seconds before they realized that it was not a complete stranger.

"You scared me." Lowing the kunai as he lowered his, she looked up at the sky, and judged the sun's position above them. It was early afternoon. "I overslept." She muttered under her breath.

Sasuke gazed around his surroundings and he did not feel any foreign chakra. He pocketed the weapon in his hand and looked at the young kunoichi before him. Her hair was messy and her clothes didn't look any better. He let out a heavy sigh and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Follow me." He said bluntly.

Sakura's instincts made her suspicious. Her usually wide apple green eyes narrowed at his retreating figure. He threw her a casual, bored glance over his shoulder. "Don't worry, I don't bite."

The jounin hesitated and followed him, keeping her senses alert and awake as her sleep instantly disappeared. As they walked, there were no words exchanged between them. Soon, she could hear the sound of gently running water. Her heart jumped in excitement. Following the noise of the gurgling water, she quickly rushed in front of him and spotted a river.

Although she wanted to just jump in without worrying about her clothes, but she still gracefully took her time getting there. Sakura knowingly turned around and Sasuke was sitting behind a boulder checking his equipment. She quickly dispensed her clothes and stepped in the cool rush of water, letting her body get used to its temperature before excitedly submerging underneath the river's surface. Under water, she combed her fingers through her hair and let flow around her.

Splashing her face with water, she relaxed quietly and allowing her mind to drift away for a moment. A soft spoken voice interrupted her. "If you don't come out of there soon, you'll become a raisin. I'd be careful." Her eyes traveled to the person who spoke and he was still lazily sitting against the rock, facing away from the river.

"But…" Sakura didn't have any clothes besides the ones that she escaped in, and there was no way in heaven or hell that she was going to wear it again. Again, the Uchiha interrupted with a languid gesture. She followed it to see a neat pile of clothes on the river bank. Slowly going towards them, she picked them up and saw that they were his. A loose white shirt that could easily reach her thighs was folded on top of black shorts that could fall to her shins. But that was better than the ones that floated down the river by the current a long time ago. "Thank you."

She dressed swiftly in her new clothes, rather wet from the water. Not satisfied with the sagging sleeves and hem, she tightly tied the shirt's bottom around the curve of her waist, half way showing her flat stomach. Squeezing excess water from her hair, the freshly cleaned jounin joined the brooding Sasuke behind the boulder.

"You have been searching for him, haven't you?" She whispered.

The shades of the trees feel nice. Yes, they feel very nice.

"Yes." He answered, slowly packing up his weapons again.

"I really don't know where he is, Sasuke. I just ran out of there as fast as I could. I didn't really bother with directions." Her voice trailed off, leaving a comfortable silence between them.

The birds are singing, Sasuke. Do you hear them?

"Did he…hurt you?" He asked hesitantly.

Sakura looked at him and shook her head. "No, he just kept me in his room. I don't know what he wanted with me. Sasuke, I—"

The wind likes to tease, doesn't it?

Sasuke rewrapped the weapon holster around his leg and stood up. His obsidian eyes gazed at her, making something stir inside the ANBU medic nin. Slipping one hand inside his pocket, he thrust out his hand awkwardly. She grinned and took it. He pulled her up gently, his gaze brushing along her exposed abdomen.

"When was the last time you ate?" He asked, turning around to lead her somewhere. Sakura matched his pace.

"I don't know. I lost track." She said, remembering how hungry she was now. She rubbed a hand on her stomach. Sakura couldn't help but think of food.

Sasuke was debating in his mind of what to do. His right hand fidgeted slightly as he was constantly aware of her quiet presence beside him. He was quite used to perfection; he strived for it everyday. But this kind of perfection was unexpected. It felt like the world was right side up and the small, nimble body seemed to have been made for him to walk beside.

"Sakura, where is your team? Do you know?" He inquired carefully without injecting any concern in them. He remained his stoic self. Damn, he hated contradicting himself.

Sakura racked her brain quickly. How did he know that she was with a team? She hurriedly thought of something else to challenge him. "I'm by myself, Sasuke. I didn't come with a team." What a wonderful time to not have the transmitter, she thought bitterly.

The Sharingan user blatantly looked at her, one of his dark brows cocked up questioningly. "I think you underestimate me, Sakura. You are with a team. You must be with that ANBU that told me you were taken by Itachi."

She mentally kicked herself. Of course! How could she have forgotten about Tenten? The jounin shot the man a look. "Your brother took my radio contactor. I don't have a way to reach my team."

"Aa, then we'll just have to find them."

Another silence dominated them.

Sasuke looked at her. He thought about the things that the last Akatsuki had told him. Did his brother really do something of the sort? His brows furrowed deeply. The answer to that question was undoubtedly yes. If he didn't hesitate to annihilate his clan, he wouldn't even flinch at raping a girl. His fists tightened compulsively from anger.

"Sakura," he said, his voice curt, "did Itachi rape you?"

Sakura gasped and stopped dead in her tracks. "No, no, no, Sasuke. I would never let him. I escaped without ever giving him such a chance. Sasuke, please don't think like that. Please…" It was a possibility that it could have happened. It was suddenly frightening to think about. She couldn't believe that it could have happened. Never did she think such a thing, and there he was, the great Uchiha Sasuke asking if she had been forced to lose her virginity.

Sasuke turned to face her. He could see the tear collecting in her eyes, the same eyes that never failed to display at least one kind of emotion. He wanted to take back what he said, but he wanted to know. It would have mounted to his anger. But the anger had now subsided when he looked at her face, weary and tired, with her eyes begging him to understand. He turned away quickly, so that she couldn't see the confused way his eyebrows creased. "There's a village nearby here. We can get some food there."

The pair of them walked, making fast progress to the village that Sasuke mentioned. It was bustling with noise and people, and the air was perfumed with delicious aromas that made both of their mouths water.

"An apple for such a beautiful lady!" A gruff voice cried from a fruit stand. He fought his way through the horde of people to where the two ninjas were as he handed Sakura a shiny green apple.

She blushed prettily and smiled apologetically. "Oh, sir, I'm afraid I don't have any money."

The man insisted and pressed the fruit into her palms "No, no, please take it. It's not often that an old man like me gets to see someone so pretty. Go ahead, and I'll be out of your way since your man looks like he can crush my head using a finger."

He quickly dodged out from her sight as she protested. "But, but, he's…not my man…" she muttered hastily to no one in particular. Sakura looked up to see Sasuke eyeing the apple rather distrustfully.

"I don't think you should eat that apple." He stated quietly, as he started to walk again.

She understood and nodded. "But, I think I'll keep it. It's a pretty apple, don't you think?"

The color of the fruit matched her eyes, but he thought that she was prettier than the stupid apple. A little, mischievous pang of jealousy made its way up and down his body. His eyes gleamed curiously in the sunlight.

"Sasuke, can we go there?" She gently tugged on his shirt and pointed. It was a ramen stand. A feeling of uncertainty overcame him as his eyes narrowed considerably before returning to their normal sizes.

"No."

The young kunoichi looked bewildered. "Ne? Why not?"

"I said no. You don't need a further reason." Sasuke turned and grasped her by the wrist to go to the tempura shop right next to it. He motioned to a seat and sat her down first before sitting next to her. He ordered for the both of them, something light and non greasy. She seemed satisfied with his orders.

Sakura looked around her as they waited for the food, at the villagers happy and untouched by the Akatsuki. She remembered when Konoha used to be such a village. It made her feel more welcome. Shifting her attention to the slight stirring beside her, she watched Sasuke closely. He seemed quite unnerved.

"Sasuke, what's wrong?" She rested her hand on his. He flinched in surprise at the touch.

"Nothing." He lied, taking away his hand. Sasuke looked very uncertain and his eyes kept traveling to the ramen stand.

"Naruto still loves ramen, you know. But instead of going to the Ichiraku place, he goes over to the Hyuugas'. He told me once, when I asked him why he went to Hinata's if he wanted ramen, and he said, 'That way, I get to see both of the things I love. Ramen and Hinata.'" Sakura smiled fondly at the memory, "I never knew he could be so sweet until then. I've tasted Hinata's ramen, and it's wonderful."

The Uchiha did not speak, only listened to her words, taking in what she said and her voice. Her tone was happy but he got the feeling that something was missing and she was longing for it. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him, and then her gaze fell to his hands.

"Sakura, our food is here." He said, handing her a plate full of their orders.

She ate heartily, filling her stomach carefully and patiently so that her stomach could get used to the sudden access to food. Sasuke ate slowly also.

Sasuke was done first and he waited for his companion to finish. He accompanied her to the market as she window-shopped, the next best thing to actually buying something. He was surprised to find himself not agitated nor bored or irritated to follow her around. In fact, he was glad for it. He finally wasn't thinking about his revenge for once, just watching her smile and talk to the vendors was enough for him to feel like he was someone else than an avenger.

"Sasuke, what do you think of that?" She pointed to a dagger with a handsomely carved handle. He could only nod in approval.

Soon, Uchiha Sasuke found himself glaring dangerously at other men that ventured just a little too close for his comfort or eyed her body appreciatively, and thus, trailed the pretty pink haired woman closer than he was before. She would look at him inquisitively from time to time when his arm accidentally brushed against hers or when his eyes would flash crimson at a man walking by. She would show him the little things that she liked or thought that he would like, and secretly, thought he never said so, he liked them too.

All of the walking around had to stop due to the sky darkening with clouds, threatening with a storm. Sasuke quickly led Sakura to an inn and he rented two rooms. He gave one key to her and he led her upstairs to the location of their rooms.

The missing nin unlocked his door and went inside, without bothering to say good night to Sakura. He shut the door behind him and rested against it, letting out a breath. He heard a pause then a shuffle of feet as he heard her knob turn and the door quietly close. He threw off his shirt, as if it was the source of his frustration, and seated himself on the ledge of his windowsill, looking out at the stormy sky.

Sakura was still standing with her back to the door, wondering what had happened. She hadn't said anything, nor acted in any strange way. Maybe it was because she hadn't said anything or acted strangely. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. That didn't make sense. The jounin played with the metallic key with her fingers, pondering what she had done wrong.

Sighing with confusion, she made up her mind. And before her mind could argue, she opened her door again and walked a short distance, stopping at Sasuke's door. Hesitating for only a slight second, she twisted the knob and entered.

What her eyes beheld was striking.

A half-naked Sasuke was sitting on the windowsill lazily, his arm resting on his knee and he was looking out of his window. Lightning that flashed stunningly outside illuminated his sleek form, light dancing on his firm skin. But what drew her eyes were the numerous scars that marred the skin. Without thinking she stepped closer and reached out, her gentle fingers landing on a particularly jagged one.

His voice was soft, scarcely a notch above a whisper, and he was still facing the window. "A group of Mist jounins ambushed me few months later I joined Orochimaru."

Sakura's fingers traveled to a lower one that was in a peculiar circular shape. "Orochimaru stabbed a kunai there when I rebelled."

In awe, the medic-nin traced a long one that started from his shoulder to the middle of his back. "An unknown assassin from the Sand grazed me with a katana."

There were more than she could count, but they continued steadily until the last one remained. She barely even touched it. Sakura's fingertips grazed over two small, smooth ones at the base of his neck. "It happened a month ago when I was training. It was a careless mistake. I don't have anymore scars."

"No," she whispered, and she tenderly placed her hand over his heart. "You have so many in here." The aqua green sea met the midnight black sky.

He had never known such relief from her simple understanding. Sasuke bowed his head, his bangs hiding his eyes. His eyes concentrated on her hand on his chest, heat and warmth flowing through him.

"Sakura…why?" He asked painfully, his voice strained. His own hand was positioned over hers, grasping it lightly, as if he was afraid to break it.

Sakura used her free hand to lift his chin. His eyes revealed emotion for the first time. She felt her heart break. "I don't know." She honestly answered.

The answer surprisingly satisfied him. He slid off from where he was perched and looked away from her, almost shyly. "Thank you."

And this time, she smiled.

Naruto and his team was situated in a cozy room that they rented from a very nice old woman, who was kind enough to provide a shelter from the onslaught of rain.

Neji was currently dozing off with Tenten firmly in his arms, with a warm, fleece blanket surrounding them.

"Neji, are you sleeping?" The woman in his embrace whispered quietly.

The Hyuuga did not open his eyes, but gave a simple grunt of acknowledgement.

"I can't stop worrying about Sakura. What if something has happened to her?" She refused to let the fear break her. Tenten tightened her grip on Neji's arms.

Neji actually couldn't stop worrying about the mission as a whole. If Haruno Sakura was dead, then the mission would be hard to accomplish. Almost impossible. But Naruto had always been able to overcome such impossible odds. "Tenten, it does not do any good to worry so much." His voice was that emotionless voice.

Tenten nodded, trying to believe his words. She shuddered involuntarily, even though she was warm enough. "What if Itachi has done something terrible to her? And Sasuke, what will Sasuke do? Sakura might still go in a mental break down. You saw through her tough act with your eyes. Her emotional and mental condition isn't as stable as Tsunade-sama would have liked it."

The Byakugan user tried to force down a sigh. "Worrying still won't make the situation any better."

"But it's not making things worse, is it?" Tenten retorted, just a little unsettled by his lack of concern for his ANBU teammate.

Neji knew that Tenten wasn't the type to worry, so he guessed that the predicament at hand was far worse than he could have liked to admit. He watched the glow of the fire, the jolly crackle of the flames as they danced haphazardly in the fireplace. They played with the lighting of Tenten's face.

"Tenten, I rather not see you with so much worry."

The weapon specialist turned her head sideways to awkwardly meet the side of his face. Her lips brushed against his cheek and she smiled a small smile. "Really?"

"You shouldn't worry too much. I heard it's not very good for your complexion."

Tenten scoffed. "Since when did I think about my complexion?"

"Never, but I did and still do." His hand slipped out from underneath the blanket to stroke a thumb over her cheek. She closed her eyes at his touch.

A time later, she fell asleep, her head resting against his shoulder.

And he became deeply submerged in his thoughts.

Uchiha Itachi arrived at the riverside. He picked up ragged cloths of silk that had washed up on a rock. His red eyes traveled upstream. A large boulder could be seen and he went behind it, to find two softly indented spots in the dirt. He looked around and found that the trail led through the forest again. He tracked the two of them walking and soon arrived at a deathly silent village. The quietness settled around him.

He looked far, his eyes searching for anything. Nothing.

Then he would wait patiently until morning for her to wake up. Itachi threw a kunai at the ground, its tip buried deep in the dirt.

I'll come back, Sakura-san.

The elder Uchiha disappeared to lead the Akatsuki into the village.

Author's Notes: I humbly apologize for being so late! I've been quite busy with school and I haven't got the time to write so often. But here is Chapter 7 with a LOT of Sasuke x Sakura. I think you all can see what the pairing will end up as, but I'll have Itachi not let go without a grand fight. I hope you're satisfied with this chapter. It's more focused on Sasuke x Sakura now, rather than Neji x Tenten and Naruto x Hinata. Keep up your reviews! Thank you!