-Sorry for the delay but I made this Chpater extRA long. ENjOY!-
----- Chapter 8 -----
Shino spun around, kunai in one hand. "Who's there?" he asked. Shikamaru, Hinata and Naruto turned to see what Shino was looking at. They all stared at the tree. There was silence then suddenly a voice behind them said-
"Well done passing the first test- Naruto, Shikamaru, Shino, Hinata."
Naruto jumped up and yelped. "Granny Tsunade! Don't scare us like that!!"
Shikamaru sank to the ground, one hand pressed against his chest, which was beating abnormally fast. Shino lowered his kunai slowly and frowned. He certainly didn't like being snuck up on. Hinata was still frozen in place. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself and with one hand brushed away the sweat on her forehead. Then following Shikamaru's lead, she sat down on the floor. She stayed there as if mesmerised by the dirt ground.
Naruto and Shikamaru both noticed Hinata's shock. They both glared at the fifth Hokage in digust and ran to Hinata's side.
'Are you ok Hinata?" asked Shikamaru, offering her a flask of water.
"You're not hurt are you?" asked Naruto at the same time, also offering her a flask of water.
Naruto and Shikamaru both threw at each other. Their eyes sparked electricity.
Shino and Tsunade grinned at the amusing scene before them. Naruto was on Hinata's left and Shikamaru on the right. Both were attempting to give Hinata their flask of water. Hinata was still gazing at the ground, and since she was right-handed she took Shikamaru's flask and drank from it.
Shikamaru grinned evily at Naruto, obviously triumphant. Naruto was pissed now. He jammed the lid back on his own flask and stood up. After giving Shikamaru another look of hostility, he stalked off to sulk behind some trees .
After he was gone, Shikamaru sat down beside Hinata.
"You ok?"he asked quietly. She looked up, just realizing he was there.
She smiled and nodded. "I'm over the shock now."
Shikamaru, relieved that she was alright, sighed. He raised his hands then hesitated. Slowly he put his arms around Hinata's waist. Hinata's eyes widened. "Shikamaru? What are you doing...?"she whispered.
Naruto planted himself behind a tree, were he could fume alone. Stupid Shikamaru! he thought while pounding the dirt with his fist. Stupid. Stupid. STUPID! Why is there always someone better than me? First it was Sasuke! Then Shikamaru! He anger raged on.
"I wonder what they're doing now?" he muttured to himself, after awhile. He leened a bit to his right, peering from behind the tree to see. Choke o.O# Naruto whipped back behind the tree.
"What is Shikamaru doing, with his hands on her hips!" hissed Naruto, really, really pissed off now. "He sure has quick hands...the moment I'm gone too...Damn that bastard!"
"What are you doing, Shikamaru?" asked Hinata, meekly.
"I'm helping you up, Hinata-chan." replied Shikamaru, innocently. He grinned at her.
Hinata blushed and ducked her head. "Ohhh..."
Slowly, Shikamaru helped Hinata on her feet. He let go of her just when Naruto stormed out from behind the tree.
Oh so you've got your filthy hands off my girl have you? Naruto thought aggressively, while giving Shikamaru glares of hatred.
Hinata noticed the tension between the two guys but didn't know the cause. "Uhhh, Naruto-kun? Whats wrong?" she asked anxiously. Naruto's expression changed in a blink of an eye. He smiled sweetly at her.
"Nothing's wrong, Hinata."
"Ohhh well you seemed kinda peeved at Shikamaru, so I was just wondering...that's all."
"Why would I be angry at Shikamaru?" Naruto said with another strained smile, reassuring Hinata, "After all...he just saved my life."
Inner Naruto - huh yeah right, I'll rather die back there than see him touch my girl!!!!
As all this was unfolding, Tsunade and Shino were standing shocked. Tsunade giggled like a school girl and Shino tried hard to repress a grin. Competition for Hinata? mused Tsunade, this will be interesting.
Then, nearly forgetting what she was there to do, she gave herself a mental slap. Snap out of it Tsunade, you've got something to do here.
"Well, now that everyone has come out of the caves, you can go home and rest." Tsunade said, raising her voise so that Shikamaru and Naruto would hear. They both turned to look.
"Everyone?" repeated Shino. "Has the other team come out already?"
"That's right." Tsuande answered, nodding her head. "They came out an hour or so before you guys."
So Sasuke made it out, thought Naruto unsurprised. Then he rememebered Sakura.
"Is Sakura alright?" he asked eyes wide. "We heard a scream in the caves, we weren't sure if it was her or not.."
Tsunade looked surprised but she said "She's fine. I'm sure it was nothing serious."
Naruto sighed, relieved. So Sasuke saved her after all...
"Well now that you've completed your first task, you will have one month to train for the second task." continued Tsunade, seeing as everyone was getting ready to leave. Shikamaru stopped. "What's the next task?"he asked.
Tsunade gave them all a mysterious smile. "You'll find out on the day." And with that she disappeared.
With Tsunade gone, they all decided to head home. With one last look at the caves they walked down the narrow path that lead them to the edge of Konoha village. When they got to the gate, they split up walking in different directions. Both Shikamaru and Naruto offered to walk Hinata home, but she said she could manage on her own. Saying their goodbyes, they departed, with Shikamaru and Naruto gazing longingly at Hinata's retreating back.
Shino and Shikamaru, heading home straight away, but Naruto ambled towards his favourite place, in all of Konoha. The ramen bar. He arrived and shouted a greeting to the old man and lady who wroked there.
"One miso ramen, please!" he shouted. He stomach rumbled loudly. "Actually, make it two!"
"No problem Naruto!" replied the owner, with a hearty smile. "And since you're my favourite customer, I'll make the second one, on the house!"
Naruto's face, which was clouded with thoughts about Shikamaru and Hinata, lit up immediately. "Thank you, old man! You've really made my day!"
Soon, Naruto's ramen was in front of him. It smelt delicious and his stomach grumbled even louder. He put his hands together. "Itadakimasu!" (something Japanese people say before meals)
And with that he gobbled down his food. After finishing another 4 more bowls of ramen, Naruto licked his chops, his belly satisfied. He payed for his food and waved goodbye to the old man.
It was dark and Naruto was heading home when he walked around the corner and bumped into someone. bang ooFFF
"Ouch! I'm sorry." said a familiar voice.
"Who is it?" asked Naruto, trying to see through the darkness. The stranger looked up and Naruto gasped in surprise.
"Saukra?!?"
"Huh? Naruto? What are you doing here?" she exclaimed. Without waiting for an answer she flung her arms around Naruto. He hugged her back, relieved to see her unharmed.
"Sakura..I thought I heard you scream in the caves...was that you? Are you ok? What happened?" asked Naruto asked, bombarding Sakura with questions.
Not wanting to tell Naruto the whole story, Sakura shrugged dimissively. "Ohh, nothing much. We just ran into some unexpected trouble, but everything is alright now."
"What about Sasuke?" wondered Naruto. Little did he now about the last three days, so he was surprised when Sakura froze. Naruto, interperting a different meaning to Sakura's silence asked, "What happened to him? Is he injured?"
Sakura forced a smile on her face. "Sasuke? No, he's fine." Giving Naruto another falsely cheerful smile she said, "Ahh, well I'll see you around Naruto-kun." She walked away. Naruto sratched his head. Sakura seems...strange, he thought to himself.
He shrugged. Oh well, I'll better get home, get some sleep and wake up early tomorrow to train! With that Naruto headed home.
Sakura stumbled into a deserted alley. She had to get her heart under control. Whenever someone mentioned Sasuke, her chest would fill with pain and she would feel lightheaded. Sakura bit her lip. It would be so much better if someone just ripped my heart out, she thought, bitterly.
She could not stop thinking of Sasuke, but whenever she did heart heart seemed to swell up, and she found it hard to breathe.
Each time it happened, Evil Sakura and Inner Sakura appeared. Each time it happened, Evil Sakura would convince her that she truely loved Itachi and Sasuke was a nobody. But it made her wonder, Where was Itachi? He did say he would come and find her but there was no sign of him anywhere. Had he deserted her?
She had walked around the village all day, but there was no trace of Itachi. Her heart sinking,she walked home. When she got home, her parent were out. Sakura walked straight into her room and closed the door. She fumbled for the light switch. With a click she turned the light on.
Leaning against her window sill was a dark figure, dressed in black. Slowly he looked up at her. Sakura squelled in delight.
"Itachi- sama!"
He spoke, voice calm and soothing. "I told you not to call me Itachi-sama." He strode across the room, towards Sakura. Embracing her tight, he whispered into her ear, " I've missed you."
Sakura felt her legs turn to jelly. Now she knew that her heart truely loved Itachi. It only hurt when she thought of Sasuke because she loathed him. "I missed you too." she whispered back. Itachi cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. Without thinking Sakura stood on tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. He returned the kiss. Itachi ran his fingers through Sakura flowing pink hair.
Itachi gently broke the kiss. Still touching Sakura's hair he asked her voice low, "Do you love me, Sakura?" Sakura's eyes widened at the question. She blushed and hid her face. Itachi put his hands under her chin and lifted her face up. "Well do you?"
"Ye- yes. I love you Itachi." stuttered Sakura. "I belong to you."
Itachi raised his eyes in amusement. "Are you saying that you intend to give me your heart and soul?"
Sakura nodded.
"Even your body..?" Itachi went on. Sakura got goosebumps as she realised where their conversation was going.
She nodded.
"Very well, then." Itachi pushed Sakura onto her bed. "Lets see how true your words are..." Sakura gasped in shock, but before she could object, Itachi sat on the bed and covered her mouth with his hand. "You said you'll give me your body didn't you? You aren't going to break your promise straight away are you?"
After a moments hesitation, Sakura shook her head. Itachi moved his hand away from her mouth. Leaning over, he replaced his hand with his lips. Slowly he climbed on top of her body. Still kissing her, dragged his hand from her face, down her her neck then down further till they reached her breast. Sakura cringed but Itachi seemed not to notice.
Itachi then placed his hands on Sakura's thighs. With one quick movement he slashed her bandages and pulled them off. Using his other hand he started unbottoning the top half of her dress.
Suddenly he stopped. There was a knock on the door. In a blink of an eye he disappeared.
"Sakura?" a voice called from outside.
- Ermmm... heh. I wasn't sure if that was R rated or not . So what did you think of that? You guys did tell me to put more Itachi/Sakura scenes...was that too much or too little?...hehehe till nxt time P -