I never expected that much reviews. Thank you very much for reading. The reviews are all really constructive criticism and I just wanna say thank you! Also, i would like to say thank you to m y new co-editor/writer xxMinaxx! pulls Mina hiding in a closet we're now the "bestest" e-mail buddies! this is of course, dedicated to her... gives Mina a chibi hug yay! now on with the fic!

Disclaimer: I do not own them.

Two:

Willing her feet to go in fast pace, she sped on the rooftops of Konoha with great agility. In the dead of the night, she was nothing more but a mere breeze. The night was cold, and the full moon was hidden by a tuft of dark cloud hovering over it. It was a serene normal night, perfect for Sakura to meet up with Itachi.

She reached her destination, a satisfied look displayed on her face as she walked towards the figure hidden in the shadows.

"How was your first day at Konoha, Sakura?"

The deep voice made Sakura at ease. She nodded her head slightly, now standing beside Itachi in the shadow of a tree while gazing at the area of Konoha. "They remain fools…" she said nonchalantly, tilting her head to see Itachi's face better. "Is this about my Sand mission?"

Itachi looked at her sideways, marveling at the way the pale moonlight that escaped from the thick clouds illuminate her cheery face. Yet her eyes betray her look of innocence. Who knew that this woman who holds a face so demure can kill so mercilessly?

He inwardly laughed at his thought. He could see her lips twitching in impatience as she waited for his reply. He reached for something inside his cloak and held it to Sakura. "You'll leave the day after tomorrow. You'll be picking up your new partner. The details are there in the scroll."

Sakura looked at the scroll clutched in her right hand and looked at it. She had always wanted to perform missions with Itachi, just as she had always did with kisame also when she had just been included in the Akatsuki list. Was this the right time to part ways with him?

"Ah, Sakura. Is that disappointment I see?" he whispered, placing his hand below her chin and tilting it so he could see her face clearer. "Do you not want have another companion besides me?"

The way he had asked his question made a warm feeling course through her body. "I am at ease with you." She answered plainly.

Itachi pulled his hand back, but his eyes continue to interrogate her. "Of course. We have shared a few years together."

They were soon enveloped with silence. Sakura placed the scroll inside her small bag and waited for Itachi to say something. "I must go. I can't be here for a long time." He said, without returning a look at her.

Somehow, it made Sakura disappointed once again.

She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze. "I'll remain as your sensei." He concluded wearing his straw hat once again then disappeared.

With a small hint of dismay on her face, Sakura immediately returned to her apartment. She landed on the railing then jumped down on the floor, looking around if someone's watching her. Sensing nothing suspicious, she looked at the scroll once again. He better be a worthy companion. She thought as she reached for her doorknob.

Suddenly, she turned her head at the far end of the building where the stairs are. She listened closely. Sure enough, she could hear faint footsteps. She instinctively reached for her kunai in her weapon pouch. She was the only one on this floor. Who would visit her at 1 in the morning?

The footsteps were drawing closer and she gripped her kunai, ready to be thrown.

Sure enough, a figure appeared by the stairs and stopped upon seeing her. She was about to throw her kunai when the figure spoke.

"Sakura? You're still awake?"

The familiarity of the voice made her suspicions ebb down. "Sasuke? What are you doing here?"

The figure soon stepped out of the shadows. Sure enough, it was Sasuke. He walked up towards her and stared at the kunai she was holding. "Were you about to kill me with that?" he asked, the look on his face made her think he was making her a joke.

She smiled sardonically and put the kunai back in her pouch. "I'm not that stupid to think I'll be able to kill you with such a weapon." She replied, reaching for her doorknob again.

He grabbed her arm suddenly and restrained her from opening it. Sakura looked back at his face. Funny, it seems… after years of not seeing him, she wouldn't be surprise to know that his physical appearance changed. Her eyes then stared into his black ones. Would it be silly to think that his eyes are saying something to her?

She shook her head of such silly thoughts and freed from Sasuke's hold. "If you mind, I'd rather retire to my room than hear you criticize me."

"I'm not here to criticize you." He said, the tone of his voice made her stay put in her place. "I want to know…" he said in a hush tone while looking at her.

"I want to know what happened to you? What made you leave so suddenly? And why return just now after making us worried!"

Sakura had to laugh, making Sasuke stare at her in puzzlement. She couldn't take it. It sounded so cheesy and hearing it from Sasuke… ha! Can time really change people that much?

"Sorry about that Sasuke. I'm just not used at hearing you say that." she said after eliciting her laughter. "You're worried about me? Why? Do you not think I'll survive the world? Don't you think I'm capable enough?" she replied coyly, wrapping her arms around his neck and stared at his face, inches away from her own.

Sasuke felt a rush of electricity run inside him as she stared at this new Sakura. She was so different than before…

"Of course, you're capable enough." He answered.

Sakura smile then faltered as she stepped away from him. "Good. Then stop following me around." She retorted, opening her door and closing it, leaving Sasuke with an agape expression on his face.

It was early in the morning when Hyuuga Neji had just finished her training in the woods. He wiped some perspiration on his face as he slumped down on the ground and watch the lake glittered under the morning sun. He had always liked this area. Not too many people come here. It was the best place to cater his needed solitude.

He was about to change into his yukata when he heard some rustling nearby. He stood up and went to check who the intruder was. Seeing who it was, Neji walked out from his shaded area and greeted her.

"Sakura."

Hearing her name, she turned around and saw the Hyuuga prodigy, holding a white towel and looking at her with curiosity. "I didn't know someone else knew this place." She said, laughing. Sakura placed her bag down beneath a tree and turned to Neji.

"Training?" she asked.

Neji nodded his head, grabbing his bag underneath a bush. "Just finished. I've been training here for a long time."

Sakura gave a short cheery laugh then said, "I've discovered this place before you." She said, walking past him and stepped through the bushes to look at the lake. "I've discovered this place when I was five. And look! The place didn't change a bit."

Neji stood a few feet beside he at lake too. "It may not be obvious but it changed. Places are like people. They change. We change. May it be obvious or not."

Sakura nodded her head as if in a trance. Truly, his words were true. She looked at him again and smiled. "Why don't we have a little sparring?"

Neji looked at the woman with interest. "Are you sure? Don't you want to train alone?"

Sakura gave a little thought on what he said as she busied herself with tying her pink hair into a bun. "It would be more interesting to spar with you. Just light sparring."

She poised herself away from him. "Don't kill me yet though. I still have a lot of unfinished business."

Neji gave a smirk and stood in his position, accepting her invitation. "After disappearing for so long, would you mind if I ask what have you been doing over those past years?" he asked, activating his Byakugan.

She laughed and looked at him. "If you're that interested…" She started making hand signs and clones started appearing. "I've been studying medicine and training other jutsu." She answered as Neji evaded her clones attack with ease.

Neji looked at this woman. It seems that she's been hiding her real reason. He smirk yet again. Behind that cheery face and that pretty smile of hers, he knows there's something suspicious.

With great speed, he had appeared behind her and tapped her shoulder when she disappeared in a puff of smoke. He silently cursed himself. "Bunshin…"

He immediately turned around and saw senbons being thrown at him from every direction. They were too many to evade. He slowly turned around and does his Heavenly Spin technique.

The senbons landed on the ground while Neji looked around for Sakura's sign. "I had always loved that technique of yours." He heard as Sakura appeared behind him. But he was fast enough so he jumped away from her.

"Really?" he asked sardonically as he sped up to her. The look on her face say she was surprised at the burst of his speed as he grab her arm and turned her so her back was facing him; her hand locked with his grip. Sakura shook her head and laughed. "I should have had taken this seriously." She said.

Her hair had suddenly become untied and it fell right in front of Neji's face. The scent… it was enthralling. It felt good…

Just then Neji felt his right arm, the one holding Sakura's hand, go numb and it suddenly felt weak. He released her hold of Sakura's arm.

She leapt away from him with a smile on her face. "Through out my medicine study, I have knownall the weak spots of the human body. All their vitalities and role. It's like actually having your eyes Neji. But in a different way." She explained, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

Neji gave her a look while cradling his arm. "What did you do?" He was caught by surprise. He didn't feel any weapon or anything touch his arm.

"I let chakra flow into my hair then pulled one. The chakra made it more solid, like that of a thin needle." She explained, walkeing towards him and examining his arm.

"I had targeted your wrist." She said, pointing at a spot. "I had triggered the nerve here."

He looked at her, surprised to see she was staring at him with interest. "If the impact of my hair had gone deeper, you wouldn't be able to use your arm for years." She whispered, eyeing his face.

Indeed, this woman had changed. But for what? What was the purpose of her sudden power?

"It won't last long. Give it fifteen minutes and it'll be okay." She said, clapping her hands as if remembering something. "Oh dear! I forgot I was supposed to meet Naruto today!"

She ran towards her bag and swung it over her shoulder. "See you around then Neji." She said, bidding him goodbye and running at fast speed.

He was about to grab his bag and leave too when something flashed at the corner of his eye. Curious of what it was, Neji walked up to it and saw a headgear protector.

Thinking it was Sakura's he picked it up and was about to pocket it when something strange caught his eye.

He studied it closer and made Neji's head swam in thoughts.

He had found the answer.

"Of course…" he muttered as he trailed a gash of line that went through the middle of the Konoha symbol on the headgear protector. "Of course…" he said again, looking back at Sakura's retreating figure.