Goodday, one and all. Sorry for taking so long. I really had hoped to have this and the next chapter done by now, but my teachers saw fit to do otherwise. And as this is the week of my spring break, I was able to finish up this chapter and start working a little on the other story that has been in my head for a while. So they will prolly come as they may.

My Disclaimers: I do not in any fashion own naruto, as awesome as it is. Also if you can figure out my spelling (since it has always one of my worse subjects), then I promise I didn't mean to misspell it, but I'm not going to go in and fix it in chapters already posted. But I do appreciate the caring. But enough of the seriousness. I have like five million more things to do today, so enjoy!

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"Oh, I was able to complete all of you tasks without even having to stop to catch my breath, so I took to sparring against Naruto and Sasuke at the same time. It didn't work out too well on my side, but I'm getting better. The fight lasted for about four hours before we all stopped."

Stunned that she would be able to do so much so quickly, he just stood there looking at her.

"So, how did the testing go?"

"Oh, um ... it went ok, I guess. They'll have the results for me tomorrow to let me know if I'm getting the boot or if I'll continue the testing."

"Who's 'grading' your test?"

"Shikumaru. He's your age, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is dating Ino, they just moved in together. They've been together for a few years now. You should remember her, she used to be my 'rival,' but we're back to being best friends again. Anyway, I should probably let you get back to whatever it is you need to do, I just wanted to see how your testing went these last couple of days. Good luck on your tests coming up, not that you need it." Grinning, Sakura ran off in the direction from which she had come and made a big wave towards him.

'Well, that was definately an interesting meeting.' Continuing on to the market, Itachi picked up some vegitables and a couple of steaks thinking that it would hold him for a few days atleast.

Sakura rounded the corner and stopped fast enough to startle a couple of passersby on the sidewalk. She just stood there, why in the hell had she run off like that? Better question, why in the hell did he set her nerves on end like that? He made her nervous, and not a bad kind of nervous. She just didn't know what to do about him. She had come to know him some over the meals that the four of them had spent together and had also come to understand some of how he thought. He intrigued her.

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Itachi stood there trying to figure out what exactly had just happened. She was becoming more and more of a mystery as he got to know her. Tsunade informed him that she wanted to see him as soon as he finished his testing, believing without a doubt that he would pass with flying colors.

'Well, tomorrow's another day,' he thought to himself, 'with even more testing to come. Next would be his weapons test, a day of testing for that, and then two days of jutsu testing.'

After getting through in the market with dinner in hand, he headed back to his apartment, all the while still pondering Sakura's behavior earlier. Getting back to his apartment without running into anyone else to disturb his thoughts was easier than he would have thought. He quietly cooked his dinner and thought about what he was going to do once he was finished with his testing. Thinking going out with his brother and Sasuke's friends seemed like it would be fun. Deciding he would call him later tonight, he ate his dinner and found the book he had been reading recently, hoping to finish it soon.

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Sakura sat at her vanity looking at her reflection. Irritated with her appearance, she picked up the brush and started brushing through her pink locks. She was tired mentally and physically. She couldn't get Itachi out of her mind and she had realized this afternoon, after her run in with him, that she had started to develop feelings for him. She didn't know what to do anymore. Life was just too damn confusing sometimes. Her parents were gone on a mission, they were rarely there, being one of the best two people teams that Kohona had, but she really didn't mind; well, not as she got older anyway. She enjoyed the quiet, being on her. She loved her family, but she didn't crave the kind of attention that she used to. She had learned to be self suffient, and reminding herself that self suffient meant getting to her duties on time, which meant she needed sleep, she slipped into bed and quickly fell asleep.

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The next morning, Itachi arrived at the ANBU headquarters to await the results of the mental part of the test. He walked into the building and immideatly he was greeted by Shikumaru.

"Good morning, Itachi."

"Good morning. So does this your greeting me again mean I pass or that you're about to kick me out of the building," Itachi replied, smiling so it was known he was joking.

"You passed it, with flying colors. So congrats on that part. It's the hardest for most and the most troublesome for me. Today you will do your weapons testing with Tenten. She will test you on weapons, of course, but also on hand to hand combat. She will be the deciding factor this time to see if you will continue to your testing. Good luck, you'll need it." Smirking, Shikumaru left Itachi to wait on Tenten to show up.

Tenten walked in the door about five minutes after Itachi was left to his own devices in the ANBU headquarters.

"Hello, Itachi, I'm Tenten, I'll be testing your weapons and hand-to-hand combat skills. I'm sure you already figured that out if you weren't told."

"Yes, ma'am. And I didn't know that weapon masters could be so pretty," Itachi replied grinning.

"Flattery won't get you anyway, well, not too far, anyway," Tenten replied with a grin of her own. "Now if you'll follow me, we're going to go into the woods for this part so that we won't get in anyone's way." Turning towards the door, Tenten started to walk out of the building, leading the way to the clearing of her choice.

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Itachi spent all day throughing kunei, shuriken and any other weapon he could find. He had to aim at targets and at Tenten's replications. He nailed every one perfectly. He then had to fight hand-to-hand with her; no weapons and no offensive jutsu's. It was a test of his taijutsu abilities.

As the sun started to set, Tenten finally called a halt to the test and the two walked back to the ANBU headquarters.

"Itachi, I'll inform Shikumaru that you passed this part of the test. I'll see him later at dinner anyway. You know Ino, she likes for all of us that went to the Achedemy together to have dinner once in a while; and she's rather insistant about it." Grinning, Tenten left him in the office before he could thank her.

Leaving the ANBU headquarters, Itachi slowly walked back to his apartment. He was tired and it had been a long day of hard fighting. Tenten may look like a push over, but that was the farthest thing from the truth, she may be small, but man could she fight. He had been wondering if he was going to pass her test, she was demanding, but she knew her stuff.

Getting to his apartment, he unlocked the door and walked inside. He still had nothing but the bare furniture.

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Sakura sat in a restaurant with Ino, who was, as usual, going on about guys, in general, Shikumaru in particular. She had zoned out after the fifth 'Shikumaru says.'

After an hour of listening to Ino, Sakura made her excuses to leave and walked out of the restaurant with Ino. Sakura turned toward the park with the memorial, she liked to be there and just sit and meditate sometimes. To gather her thoughts in the hectic life that she lived. She needed to meditate now. Thoughts of Itachi were coming too quickly and too frequently. Ino was headed in the other direction, thankfully. After an hour of listening to her, Sakura was ready to just get away from people.

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Upon reaching the memorial park, Sakura found the tree that seemed to have built it's roots just for her, it was the perfect tree for the arch of her back and around her thighs. She sat down, and settled herself. The tree faced the memorial, reminding her of those who had died to save others. Their selflessness being nothing short of amazing. She admired them, wishing that if her time came for that, she would be able to make the same sacrafice without a second thought. She loved Kohona, and loving being a shinobi. But life wasn't easy. She was sure that one day, she would be asked to lay her life on the line for everyone and everything that she loved.

Closing her eyes, she focused her thoughts, focused her chakra, and focused her breathing.

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Itachi came to the memorial to think about how hectic life had been since his return. He had not moved in with his parents, and he doubted he ever would. He had become too antisocial to live with anyone again. He had been gone in the wilderness for so many years that it was nothing short of amazing he could still function normally in society.

Upon gaining the memorial, Itachi saw he was not alone. From the looks of it, Sakura had fallen asleep by up against a tree, her breathing was even and her chakra wasn't doing anything abnormal either. He prepared to move closer to see if she was asleep or was just wanting some privacy.

"Itachi-kun, what are you doing here?" The voice startled him out of his thoughts and he looked up to see Sakura still sitting there with her eyes closed and her breathing even. She hadn't spoken loudly, but he could hear her clearly from several meters away.

"Itachi-kun, I know you're there, please answer me." Her voice was beginning to show irritation from something. He wasn't sure if it was because he was there or if it was because he hadn't immidetly answered.

"Sakura, sorry, I didn't realize anyone else was here."

"You're not here to check on me, are you?"

"No, why would I? You seem to be perfectly capable of handling and taking care of yourself."

"Naruto and Sasuke worry about me, and occasionally get other people to check on me when I meditate or when they haven't seen me for a few days. They don't understand that I'm not who I was a couple of years ago. Sasuke in particular doesn't understand that."

"Why do you say that?"

"I've rejected every advance he has tried to make. He still thinks I should be in love with him. It was a childhood crush, nothing more, nothing less."

"My, my, aren't you the cynical one."

"Well," Itachi had been walking slowly towards her as they talked and now stood about 2 meters away from her, "to them, it's sorry to say, that you're still the little girl that they used to know. They probably just want to protect you."

"Yeah, I know, that's why I don't let it bother me too much. They only act the way they do because they care. I just wish they would see that I'm not twelve years old anymore, but 19. I haven't told them yet, but I'm planning on joining ANBU. Will you endorse me?"

"Yeah, sure. I've seen your skills, you'll definately make the cut; you've got the skills and too much guts not to."

"Tsuande is going to endorse me as my Sensai. I thought about asking Kakashi, but I couldn't find him. So, oh, well."

"Well, good luck with it, but I think you'll do well." Itachi looked at her as he said this last part to see what her reaction would be. For some reason it was important for her to know that he had faith in her abilities.

"Thank you," was the only stoic response he got from her. Turning to leave he thought he saw a smile grace her lips for a split second before it was replaced with her blank facial expression once again.

Itachi left with him mind running in circles about the pink haired beauty that haunted his thoughts without remorse. He was unsure about what to do with her. One minute he was ready to get to know her better than anyone else ever has, and the next he wanted to get as far from her as possible. Approaching that ANBU headquarters, he went in to talk to Shikamoru about Sakura possibly joining the ANBU and announcing that he would endorse her.