A/N Hey,everyone, I'm back….Sorry for the long update….Here! Enjoy!

Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. This is simply a fan fic.

kawaii kitsune-kun – ahaha! Sorry 'bout the late update, anyway thanks for your support

Lady Light – yup…..

AnimeSenko – Ok….here…enjoy! Sorry bout the late update.

Sakura-angel113 – Thanks!

Hao'sAnjul – Thanks….

Waterfox96 – sorry, not much sakuita but later chaps…..

iuvanime493 – thank u..

xx-Tsumi-Chan-xx - thanks..

Maya Amano – I think so too! Enjoy!

sara-chan – not in this chap but later…

joann – updated!

Yokaigurl – thanks..they will…someday….

Cruisegirl96 – hmm……they will soon.

kittiekag – u are? Thanks…

Jenny – Updated!

Narumeblue – Lol, hypnotized…….

The dim morning rays crept through the dark room, illuminating a pink haired figure staring out towards the rising sun. Knocking slightly on the door to alert her of his presence, Itachi silently entered the room. Finding her staring blindly at the window pane, lost in her own thoughts, he gently placed a cup of water in her hands. "Here."

"Huh? Oh…thank you,"she said finally noticing his presence. " I should leave you to get some rest," he said swiftly as he made for the door. "Itachi….." Sakura called out softly.The cup in her hands fell to the ground and shattered on the wooden floor.

Stopping dead in his tracks, he turned around to find Sakura holding her hands to her chest. Rushing to her side, he gently held her against him. Her face was ghastly pale and her eyes were closed tightly in pain. Holding her close, he whispered softly in her ear" It's alright Sakura. Everything's fine, I'm right here….." as he activated the healing justu.

(space)(space)(space)

Hearing the sudden shatter, Sasuke ran into the cabin. Opening the bedroom door, he found Itachi holding Sakura in his arms as he green chakura flowed freely from his hands. " What's wrong?" he asked softly. "What happened ?" he asked again , concern written in his expression. " She dropped the cup after having a sudden seizure," Itachi answered indicating to the shattered bits and pieces lying on the floor.

Gently, Itachi lowered the now sleeping Sakura on the bed. "We should let her get some rest. She still hasn't recovered fully yet," he said to Sasuke as they both made their way out the door.

Reluctantly, Sasuke closed the door behind him after having a last peek at Sakura's sleeping form. Many events had passed during the past few days, it plagued and confused him. Everything that he once saw one way, he now saw another.

It seemed that they all needed to get used to how things were now. The truth that was hidden from them,was now finally revealed. This new information had taken quite an effect on all of them and in time they would finally make their decision on what path they would take next.

(flashback)

Walking into the cabin with Sakura in his arms, he gently laid her on the mattress. " Does it still hurt?" he asked her softly. "No," she simply stated, trying to hide her blush. Being so close to Itachi was making her nervous.

The blush did not go unnoticed by Itachi. "You should get some rest," he said with a smirk. "Itachi….what were you going to tell us?" she asked softly. " That can wait, but right now I have some business to take care of,"he answered her. "You won't just leave would you?" he heard her say as he smirked again. Sakura can really sound like a child when she says that. "No, I won't. I won't run anymore,"he said to her again as he slipped out the door, leaving a confused Sakura behind.

Walking towards the cabin door, a kunai flew past him, hitting a nearby wall. "Where are you going bastard?" questioned an annoyed Sasuke. 'What is he planning? If he hurts Sakura, I'll……..'Sasuke's trail of thoughts were cut off when Itachi cut him off." I won't harm her," Itachi said as though reading Sasuke's thoughts.

" You don't have to glare at me as though I just broke your favourite toy," Itachi added seeing the pure look of hatred emitting from Sasuke. With that, Itachi exited the cabin, walking out into the dazzling afternoon sun.

Behind him trailed Sasuke, " Answer me,what are you planning to do!" " Stay here and look after Sakura. I'll be back by nightfall," said Itachi ignoring Sasuke's question.

"What?"demanded an annoyed Sasuke. Ofcourse he'd look after Sakura ,but that coming from his brother was annoying him.

"Oh…and Sasuke..Keep your hands to yourself, no touching her," Itachi said again as he sped off.

"WHAT!"yelled a pissed off Sasuke.

(space)(space)(space)

Speeding off towards town, Itachi chuckled slightly recalling the annoyed expression on Sasuke's face when he was asked to keep his hands off Sakura. 'Just like old times….' thought Itachi as he made his way secretly towards the palace.

Guards were stationed everywhere around the palace walls, but in a matter of second, Itachi had slipped past the guards. Making his way swiftly trough the palace walls, he found what he was looking for.

(space)(space)(space)

" Any news from the rescue team about Sakura?"asked a timid voice. " No, they haven't found her yet,"replied a blonde figure standing against the window, looking down towards town, where people were about doing their daily routines.

" Not even a trace of where she might have gone?"asked Hinata again, playing nervously with the hem of her jacket. "No, it's like she just disappeared,"Ino answered, looking sadly out the window. " I hope she's safe," Ino said again with a sigh.

" Don't worry, she's perfectly safe," said Itachi as he stepped out of the shadows.

(space)(space)(space)

"Who are you?"demanded Ino as she and Hinata both raised their kunai's, ready to strike.

"My identity is none of your concern," replied Itachi coldly.

"What do you want?" Ino demanded again. 'He's no ordinary ninja. We couldn't even sense him,' thought Ino, analyzing the situation.

" I have a message for your Hokage," replied Itachi as he took out a small scroll and tossed it to Hinata. " What about Sakura? You said that she was fine earlier," Hinata asked as she caught the scroll.

Ignoring the question, Itachi turned and started walking out the door. "Wait, where's Sakura?" demanded Ino. " If she's harmed, I'll….."

Ignoring the threat, Itachi replied " Do not tell anyone that I was here. Go straight back to Konoha and hand the scroll to your Hokage. She will know what to do."

Dissapearing once more into the shadows, he left the palace.

(space)(space)(space)

" Ino, what should we do?" asked Hinata worriedly. " I think we had better head back to Konoha. It's the least we could do now for Sakura,"replied Ino.

" But how do we know that this isn't a trap? Sakura could be in danger," asked Hinata timidly again. " I don't know. Call it woman's intuition but I have a strange feeling that whoever that was, wouldn't hurt Sakura,' replied Ino, deep in thought.

" I hope your intuition's right," Hinata said as they both started packing. " I hope so too," replied Ino. 'I hope so too'

(space)(space)(space)

'Damn, where the heck is that bastard!' Sasuke asked himself as he paced up and down in the cabin.

Hearing a slight creak behind him, Sasuke turned around to find Sakura desperately trying to make her way towards the kitchen. Rushing to her side, he slid an arm around her waist to support her.

" You shouldn't be up and about just yet," he said gently to her as he supported her towards the kitchen. " Sorry, but I wanted to get something to eat,"she said rather shyly.

' This isn't fair….why is my heart beating so rapidly?' she asked herself.

' I mean who wouldn't? You're alone in a cabin with your long time crush, who currently has his arm around your waist,' answered her inner mind with a smirk.

' Oh, and did I mention that he's other hand is brushing slightly against your lower hips?' her inner mind asked mischieviously again.

' Shut up! I don't want to hear anymore!'Sakura retorted back to her inner mind.

' That's right….You want to 'feel' more, don't you?' her inner mind snickered back to her again.

" Sakura, is something the matter?" Sasuke asked her when he noticed her spacing out a minute ago. " Erm…no…" Sakura replied as her cheeks began to colour.

"Here, I made some onigiri( Japanese rice balls) when you were sleeping," Sasuke said as he handed her an onigiri.

"Thanks,"she replied. " Wow, these are good. I didn't know that you could cook? "she asked him. " I was hungry," he simply stated. " Oh…okay," she said again as realizing that Sasuke still had an arm around her waist.

Blushing slightly she said " Ehm…Sasuke….you can let go now." " But what if I don't want to?" Sasuke asked mischieviously. "Huh?" asked Sakura blushing furiously. " You still have some rice on the side of your mouth," Sasuke said as he lowered his lips closer to her mouth and licked the small piece of rice off.

Turning into the colour of a beetroot would be an understatement for the condition Sakura was in right at that moment.

" Having fun are we not, little brother? Itachi asked dangerously. " Itachi!" Sakura gasped. " What do you want now bastard?" asked Sasuke grinning slightly. " I want you to get your hands off her," Itachi replied even more dangerously.

" Or what? It doesn't say anywhere that she belongs to you?" Sasuke asked again in an equally dangerous tone.

Realizing that now was a good time to get out of Sauke's reach, Sakura pushed herself against the wall and held on to the nearest table.

" Ehm…Sasuke was just helping me to get some food…" Sakura tried explaining. " ..off your mouth? " continued Itachi in a dangerously low tone.

" No…he was just.." answered Sakura. " You don't have to explain anything to him Sakura," Sasuke said, staring daggers at Itachi who was glaring dangerously at him.

They were both still in a glaring contest when a slight bump broke the silence.

They both turned to find Sakura lying on the floor. "Sakura!" said Sasuke as he rushed to pick her but he immediately stopped in his tracks when Itachi had reached her first.

" Sorry…slipped…." Sakura said in a muffled voice.

(space)(space)(space)

Carrying Sakura gently in his arms, with a glaring Sasuke behind him, he laid her down onto a chair. " I think now's the time to explain myself," Itachi said softly.

" Sasuke, do you remember what happened the night I left Konoha?" Itachi asked his sibling, standing behind him.

" You mean the day you murdered the whole clan? Oh,I totally forgot!" Sasuke replied sarcastically. With a sigh, Itachi continued his explanation.

" I didn't kill the clan," Itachi replied. " Yeah,and pigs have wings,"Sasuke retorted back.

" Sasuke, I'm not the murderer. I simply told you that I was the murderer so that you would come to me seeking for revenge. The real killer is a lot tougher to handle than me," Itachi said again.

" What are you talking about bastard!" asked Sasuke furiously. " The night the clan was murdered, I had a mission remember? I came back to find everyone slaughtered and I caught a glimpse of him. I ran after him hoping to get my revenge but at that time, I wasn't strong enough and I couldn't defeat him," replied Itachi rergretfully.

" What…but why kill the clan?" Sasuke asked again. " Because of this," answered Itachi, holding out the small parcel that they had been after. " What is in it?" asked Sakura who up till now had been silent. " A forbidden scroll. There was a legend of old, about the five forbidden scrolls. Each one carried it's own power and they were produced by the first five leaders of the great shinobi clans," said Itachi.

" You mean, hidden leaf, hidden sand, hidden mist, hidden rain, and hidden grass right?" asked Sakura again. " Yes, the first leaders of the villages created these scrolls that consisted of all the forbidden jutsu's in their village in order to seal them up and never to be used again," said Itachi as he too sat on a chair next to Sakura.

" So why are the scrolls here now?" asked Sakura again." The scrolls were kept in secret and given to different families in their said villages to be protected. The night the Uchiha clan was killed, the scroll that our clan had been guarding in secret, was taken by the murderer. I have been following his movements for some time now, discovering that he had collected three of the scrolls," Itachi continued.

" So, why did you tell me that you were the one who had killed the clan?" Sasuke asked in a quiet tone. " To protect you," Itachi answered. " You are still my brother,"Itachi said again in a soft tone.

" How can I trust you?" Sasuke asked in a muffled voice. " You don't have to, you can believe what ever you want,"Itachi said again.

" I need some time to digest this," Sasuke replied, leaving the room.

A/N So, how was it? I'm sooo( x infinity) sorry I haven't been updating…..Sorry, I just had my mid term exams and my house it undergoing a huge renovation so I can hardly get through anything in this mess. I'm not to sure when my next update will be but I'll try my best. Please review and I thank all of you for all your support….. Please say, you haven't forgotten about me Until next time, ja ne..