- Aiyah!!!! I'm SO sorry for the enormous delay! I really am. I haven't given up on this story, I've just been really busy taking my Japanese exchange student around the place and yeahh...so basically the main reason is that i haven't found time. Sorry, once again. OmG...we (my Japanese buddies and I) had so much fun, we went shopping at...ok, ok you probably want to read the story rather than hear me go on... EnjoY! -

------ Chapter 9 -------

"Sakura? Are you in there?" the voice called again. Sakura bolted up from her bed.

"Uhhh...yeah mum, I'm in here." she cried while leaping out of bed. "I'm opening the door. Hang on!" Sakura grimaced as she passed her bedroom mirror. Her hair was messy and her skirt was crumpled. Hastily she brushed stray hair out of her face and smoothed down her clothes. She opened the door.

Sakura's mother inspected Sakura with one long glance. "What have you been doing?" she asked with distain.

Sakura sighed inwardly. Her mother always expected her to look her best. "Nothing Mother, I'm fine." she replied indignantly, "If you've forgotten, I'm just back from the first test."

"Sakura, Sakura." Her mother said, shaking her head. "Of course I remembered! But I would've thought you would clean yourself up a bit."

"Ohhh...well I was feeling tired so I couldn't be bothered." Lied Sakura, quickly. Sakura's mother gave her a pitiful glance.

She couldn't see why her daughter had wanted to become a ninja when there were so many other professions that didn't envolve risking your life everyday.

"I made you some dinner, if you're hungry...?" she offered. Sakura only gave her a hug and said, "No I'm fine, I just need some rest that's all." With a cheerful smile Sakura gently closed her bedroom door behind her.

On the other side her mother stared sadly at the door. Sakura's growing up, she thought to herself. She no longer tells me of her problems like she use to.

(flashback)

"Mummy!" sniff

"Honey? What's wrong?"

"Wahhhhahahaa!"

"Was it something at school? Tell mummy what happened. "

"I don't wanna go to school ever again!"

"Why not?"

"Because the other kids tease me!" sniff

"Now there, Sakura. Why would they do that?"

"They say I have a big forehead!" hiccup sniff

"There, there. No need to cry. You'll always be my special girl..."

(Another flashback)

"Mum! Mum! Guess what?"

"What darling?"

"I meet a really nice girl today! She's the first person that hasn't made fun of my forehead."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah and she gave me this ribbon! See?"

"It's lovely. What's her name?"

"Yamanaka Ino!"

"Well why don't you go outside to play with her then?"

"Ok!"

(end of flashback)

Sakura's mother sighed. As the years passed Sakura became more and more closed about her life. She was hardly ever home and when she was she rarely spoke and stayed inside her room. Sakura's mother blinked away her sudden tears and walked towards the kitchen.

Sakura leaned on her closed door as she replayed what had just happened between her and Itachi. Slowly she walked towards her open window and looked out. All she saw was the darkness of the night and nothing else. A bit disappointed she slowly shut the windows.

She changed into her nightgown and brushed out her shoulder length hair. As last she got into bed. Just as she reached out to turn off her bedside light, she knocked something down. She propped herself on one elbow and found what she had knocked over.

It was a picture of her, Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi sensei, a day after they had passed Kakashi's "get-the-bell-test." Her eyes lingered over the faces and stopped on Sasuke's. Her mind instantly formed pictures, showing her the previous three days.

Sakura's chest tightened. Her eyes began to fill with tears. No! She thought furiously to herself. I WON'T cry anymore. Not over him!

But she couldn't control it. Tears began streaming down her face. With one hand she flipped the frame over so she couldn't see the photo. Burying her face in her pillow, Sakura cried herself to sleep.

Itachi ran over rooftops. With every step he took he cursed.

"Damn it! I was so close!"

"What happened master?" asked a slimly voice to Itachi's left.

"None of your business, Zukono." Snapped Itachi.

(For those people who don't remember who Zukono is, he is a character I made up. He's the blob monster that team one encounters in the tunnels.)

"If we are to work on this together, then you have to tell me what's going on!"

Itachi's eyes flashed in annoyance. Zukono noticed and fell silent.

"Ok, I'll tell you what's going on. I need the girl to help me get Sasuke, as soon as possible. I just need to convince her to that's all. I would've succeeded tonight if it weren't for some meddling people."

"But Master- we're running out of time! If you don't get Sasuke's body soon-"

"Shut up!" growled Itachi menacingly, turning his blood red eyes on Zukono. "I don't need you to tell me what I already know! Now fck off. I need to think."

Without a sound, Zukono disappeared into the shadows of the night. Itachi fumed in annoyance.

That stupid piece of...! I wouldn't have brought him along if he hadn't his uses. Oh well, he thought, once I get Sasuke, I can get rid of him once and for all, but for now I need him. Zukono is the only thing that can stop Orochimaru from getting his hands on the Uchiha secrets.

(flashback)

"Itachi, as an order from the Akatsuki, I want you to get rid of Sasuke."

"You mean my childish little brother? How can a weak being like him threaten us?"

"It is not him as the enemy. It's a former Akatsuki member."

"Orochimaru."

"Yes and he wants to take the Sharingan for himself."

"What did you say?"

"Orochimaru gave Sasuke a curse seal. We have received sources that Orochimaru will soon take over Sasuke's whole body and learn the secrets of the Uchiha clan. Then he will come and destroy the Akatsuki."

Itachi stiffened

"So, you want me to get rid of Sasuke, like a nin-hunter, yes?"

"That's correct."

"Why don't you have a trained person go?"

"Oh, you will have someone to accompany you of course. Let me introduce him to you."

"Ohhhh...?"

"He isn't exactly human but his body can digest anything. He will be useful in destroying any evidence of the Uchiha clan."

(end of flashback)

- heheehe. that chapter was a bit boring, but the nxt will be betteR, I promise! And I'll update chapter 10 in like... four or five days time. maybe even sooner. n.n -