Power attracted power, Tsunade liked to say.
This was one of those occasions Sakura had to question her Hokage's insight into human nature. Had this been true, these men could never gather together in one place, their power levels were so drastically different.
She did not have to know their social status or military rank; she could feel their chakra's oozing off their skin, and from certain chairs, she felt nothing, which was a dead giveaway that someone gut-wrenchingly powerful sat there. Concealing your chakra was more difficult to do so than most people would have suspected since your tiniest vital signs were waved through by your chakra.
Sakura blinked, refocusing on the still-beating heart that was laid out in front of her on a tiny metal tray, and made a precise cut on it. She was receiving medical training at Tsunade's office, and now the meeting that the Hokage held for the representatives of different military organizations and noble clans was playing out in front of her eyes.
'I am grateful for your cooperation, gentlemen,' Tsunade appeared in the door, holding it for the guests.
Ninjas started flowing out of the room and Sakura was reminded by Tsunade's formal behavior that these were noble, respected people who expected a certain treatment. She watched them as one watches a different animal species; with mild curiosity, with a healthy dose of fear.
'And you, Itachi, you favorite son of the gods,' Tsunede ran her hand flirtingly through her blonde hair, Sakura now watching the scene with picked-up curiosity.
'I am glad Fugaku could convince you to join us today.'
'He did not. It was my mother. She is really keen on maintaining a good relationship with you.'
Sakura suppressed a smile, knowing that it must hurt Tsunade's ego that the man indirectly compared her meeting to an obligatory tea party.
She did not look up from her notes when she felt him pass her, his tall figure blocking the light. She got used to avoiding male attention in the last months, even if it came from an almost inhuman creature who only lived like a story in the back of her mind; his flesh and blood reality never reaching her.
'Sasuke never mentioned that he had friends working for the Hokage.'
The scalpel froze in her hands. Why was he talking to her?
'Because he does not.'
He was looking down at her, his face the sharper, more elegant version of Sasuke's features; less androgynous, an almost cruel beauty. Sakura now understood Tsunade losing her composure facing him. He stirred up so something inside you, something self-destructing, something heavy and uncomfortable.
'That kid is good at losing alliances,' his lips picked up at the corner.
'I am so sorry, do I even supposed to know you?' she asked, not about to discuss Sasuke with him, with anyone, ever.
'Do you want to pretend that you don't?' Itachi frowned uncomprehendingly.
'I don't know you,' she said firmly.
' My brother must have talked about me all the time. Admittedly, I am one of his favorite topics.'
Sakura stood up, the top of her head barely reaching his shoulders.
' Can I be excused, Tsunade?' she called out to her who still lingered in the background.
' Be nicer to Itachi, Sakura. He makes us a huge favor by supporting our coalition.'
' Am I training to be nice? To be a geisha? Wasn't aware.'
' This developed quickly,' Itachi remarked and Sakura's eyes flashed at him, for a second forgetting his presence.
' Your chakra control is excellent,' she said with unwilling admiration.
' Thank you,' he said, something deep in his eyes laughing at her.
' Don't be so dense Sakura, it is not like you. Of course, his chakra control is excellent, do you even know who you are talking to?' Tsunade frowned at her disapprovingly.
' Do you?' Itachi repeated Tsunade's question, and Sakura, despite her best effort to suppress it, broke into a smile.
' You continue to act like a distracted scientist, you're too young for that, ' Tsunade marveled.' Maybe it would do you good if I sent you on a mission.'
Her muscles tensed up. She did not want to go, she didn't finish her work here yet.
' Let me talk to you on your way out,' Tsunade turned to Itachi and they walked out of the room, not wasting more time on Sakura.
Her phone vibrated on her tight, Naruto's messages blowing up the device. He had this idea that Sakura needed surveillance since Sasuke denounced them. Sakura did not have the courage to tell him that Naruto himself was more distraught by his betrayal than Sakura.
Naruto was a better person than her, his intentions and feelings carrying a purity Sakura lacked. He missed Sasuke, was angry with him, while Sakura was bitter, dismissive, starting to hate. She closed her eyes, trying to recall Sasuke, seeing him through the lens of love, or at least, objectively.
But the memory of Itachi's seemed to burn into her eyelids, distracting her, washing Sasuke away, muddying the lines of his face. With a frustrated sigh, she started to pack up for the day when the silver glinting of the scalp caught her eyes.
She froze in thought, thirsting to channel her brainpower into something productive. With a quick decision, she went to the storage unit maintained for the medical ninjas, getting a Tupperware developed for the containment of organs, with gloved hands putting the heart into the box.
She did not even feel the rush of crossing lines, her heart tired and dark, only looking for distractions.