"Sasori-sama?"

Sasori stopped what he was doing and turned to face his pink-haired visitor.

"I came to tell you that Deidara had returned safely with the shot glasses."

"Thank you for informing me," and with that, Sasori turned back to working on his precious puppets.

Sakura took this as a sign of Sasori clearly wanting to be alone and not bothered by her presence. Turning around, the kuniochi decided to go back to the party and take care of her drunk friends, although she was 100% sober.

But a monotonous voice stopped her dead in her tracks, "You can stay if you'd like."

Surprised by this sudden offer, Sakura turned around to face the redhead, who wasn't even facing her as he continued to fix his puppets.

Still not turning his attention to her, he continued, "I rarely get visitors and it's too quiet around here. Would you care to engage in conversation?"

"Um, sure" smiled Sakura as she slowly sat down in one of the wooden chairs on the tall dark grass.

"The colour of your hair is very similar to mine," stated Sasori, sounding slightly amused.

"Yes it is," Sakura softly chuckled, "It's a paler shade but it's close"

"Konoha, right?"

"Yes," Sakura nodded, although Sasori's eyes were fixed on his puppets.

"So tell me about your village," suggested Sasori.

The two engaged in a rather casual conversation.

"Will she like Lilacs or Lillies?" Itachi thought out loud, as he pondered which flowers Sakura would be more interested in.

Shrugging, he picked them both up and added them to the collection in his right hand.

Meanwhile, Kiba and Hinata had left the boisterous party to chill and look at the stars.

Lying down on their backs, Hinata pointed at her favourite constellation, "Isn't it beautiful?"

"Yeah," smiled Kiba as he turned his head to face the pale beauty, "I never actually took notice of the stars until you pointed them out"

Hinata blushed under his gaze.

"So, Hinata? Have you taken any of these chances to uhh… you know?"

"Hm?" Hinata raised her eyebrows in confusion.

"Do it with anyone?"

"Do what?"

"Do it?" the dog-lover nervously laughed, as he quickly regretted asking his overly personal question.

"Oh," the Hyuuga blushed even harder than before, "Well no, I haven't" She looked away, slightly embarrassed.

"Hey, don't worry," smiled Kiba as took her fragile hand in his, "I haven't either."

"Really?"

"Yeah, no worries. I'm in no rush. I don't want kids anytime soon," he chuckled, looking back up at the sky.

"Me too"

Concerned that Hinata might have misunderstood what he said and assume that he was a virgin like her, he dismissed the possible assumption, "I mean, I haven't done anything here. Like since the operation," he awkwardly laughed, ruffling his gorgeous brown hair.

"I know, silly" she giggled.

He smiled at her, feeling so comfortable in her presence.

"I feel like this whole experiment thing is so rushed," Hinata confided in her companion.

"I agree"

That's when the Hyuuga went on this soft rant about how the whole operation made her a little uncomfortable. Kiba felt so blessed that he was able to witness one of the rarest things ever – Hinata freely talking. With sparkling eyes, he looked at her and carefully listened to every word she had to say.

….

"You did that with Itachi?" for once Sasori's face wasn't expressionless.

Sakura nervously nodded, "Is that wrong?"

"No," Sasori quickly attempted to dismiss her discomfort, "no, of course not. It's natural. Don't ever let anyone tell you that it's weird. After all, that's what the experiment is for. You're doing your job as a participant."

She suddenly felt as ease, knowing that her new friend was not a judgmental prude.

"So?" started Sasori.

"Yes"

"Is that all?"

"Well, no," Sakura admitted, "I mean, yes he was my first kiss and yes he took my virginity. But we obviously engaged in foreplay."

"Like what, exactly?"

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"I'm just curious, that's all," he raised his arms and shook them lightly in defense.

She let out a soft laugh, "He fingered me and performed oral"

It had been years since Sasori had joined the Akatsuki, which also means it has been years since he had actually fingered a woman.

"Do you mind if I touch you?" he monotonously asked the female ninja.

"Um," Sakura stuttered, "I don't mind, I guess."

"Okay," Sasori stepped closer to her until he lifted her up and gently placed her on his desk.

She was sitting on the cold wooden surface as she looked down on him.

"You know, it's been a while since I made a female puppet," he confided as he took his unfinished puppet off the desk and placed it on the grass, "This one was specifically requested by the Hokage to use for an experiment in another village."

"Oh, that's actually cool!"

"Yes it is, and I was wondering if you could help me with the adjustments."

Sakura knew where this was going and she was beyond excited. Still, she wanted to play the innocent role.

"Well, what do you want me to do Sasori-sama?" she asked, as she tucked a strand of pink hair behind her ear and emphasised that last honorific.

"Spread your legs open," he stated monotonously as ever.

She complied.

He, then, looked into her eyes, for approval, "May I undress you?"

She nodded.

Sasori softly pulled away her underwear and spread her legs open even wider.

She helped him as he took her dress off of her shoulder, leaving her in nothing but a bra.

Sasori glanced at her bra and then back at her, with his eyes commanding her what to do next.

She knew what this glance was telling her to do, as she unclasped her bra, letting it fall down to the desk.

Sasori used his skillful finger to play with her clit, as he never broke eye contact with the kuniochi.

"Is this what Itachi did to you?"

"Yes, but then he actually put it-"

"Like this?" Sasori asked in his usual non-expressive tone, as he gently inserted one finger inside her.

"Yes, ah" she held back her moans, directly looking at Sasori as he still had his gaze locked in her eyes.

"Tell me if it hurts,"

"Hai," she replied.

….

"And that's why I didn't even want to go outside," Hinata finished her long rant, as Kiba eagerly listened.

"Well," he started to give her advice, "If a guy can't respect your decision to take things slow, then clearly, he isn't right for you."

"How do I tell him that, though?"

"You tell him straight up and if he doesn't like it, then that's his loss," he flashed her a comforting smile.

"You really t-think so?" she stuttered, as Kiba's last three words had made her almost speechless.

"Yeah, of course," he replied, "Hinata, I've known you for like 15 years now. You're kind, sweet, and beautiful. If a guy wants to lose all of that just for a hook up, he's stupid."

Hinata couldn't help but smile (and blush madly) as she let Kiba's honest words sink in.

"You said Itachi also used his tongue on you, correct?"

"nngggghhh, aah, yes!" Sakura was trying so hard to suppress her sounds of pleasure.

"Like this?" Sasori nonchalantly asked as his cold tongue made contact with her warm womanhood.

"Mmmhh, ah yes," she stifled.

"You don't have to be quiet," Sasori rolled his eyes.

"Um,"

"Let it out, or you won't feel comfortable."

Sakura nodded, as she let the night sky be filled with the sound of her soft moans and the sound of the river moving.

"Temari, I think you've had enough to drink for the night," giggled Ino, as she suggested that her friend get some rest.

"I don't know, Ino," Temari's words slurred as she gulped down two more shots, "the night has just started and I don't wanna miss out!"

"I think you've had enough fun for tonight," Ino playfully winked, as she gently pulled her friend towards the tent area.

"Temari, at least tell your friends goodnight!" shouted Rock Lee, with a whole jug of sake in his youthful hand.

"Goodnight friends!" the way that Temari's words came out of her mouth were enough to tell you that she shouldn't drink anymore, or she might say something embarrassing.

"Goodnight Deidara's dick!" Oops too late.

"Haha, my man!" laughed Deidara, as he went over to give Temari a highfive.

Ino quickened her pace as she took Temari back to the tent, leaving the numerous surprised gasps of the male ninjas who were giving props to Deidara for getting some action in the forest.

Irritated by Temari's intoxicated outburst, Shikamaru left the group of ninjas and went back to his own tent, calling it a night.

"Hello, maybe we should talk about that night – no, too direct," Itachi practiced how he should approach the girl who unknowingly took his virginity.

"I think we met on the wrong terms – no, um – Should we get to know each other first?"

He couldn't think of what to say. Maybe I'll just wing it, he thought, as he walked towards the stream to pick more flowers. Inhaling the fresh scent of flowers, and calming his nerves, nothing could prepare him for what he saw next.

He dropped the flowers, as he saw Sakura riding Sasori on the grass. His Sakura. No, Itachi, don't just assume that it's serious. It was just a casual hook up! He thought to himself. But still, his Uchiha pride made him at least a little bit jealous. What? He couldn't help his genes. He stayed there for a few more seconds, feeling a little betrayed, but then regained his composure, picked up the flowers and retreated back to the party. The cherry-haired duo were too busy to even take notice of his short presence so he knew it wouldn't be awkward to see them later.

"Just like that, Sakura," encouraged Sasori, as he looked up at the beautiful ninja bucking her hips back and forth.

Itachi arrived back to the campsite and put the flowers in his tent.

"Why the long face, Itachi?" asked Deidara, drunkenly as he handed his friend a shot.

Itachi doesn't drink. He usually has no desire to. But he desperately wanted to forget what he had just seen.

Accepting the shot, he answered his crazy blonde comrade, "Nothing to worry about, Deidara."

"Whatever you say, my man!"

They both drank to their heart's content.

"Has anyone seen Sasori?" asked Pein to the group of younger Konoha ninjas.

"Nope" was the only response he got.

"Come to think of it, my man, I haven't seen Sakura-chan either!" exclaimed Rock Lee, using a new vocabulary that he picked up from Deidara.

"That's odd," Pein muttered confused, as he continued to look for his comrade.

"Do the two of you know where Sasori is?" Pein asked Itachi and Deidara.

Itachi was the furthest thing from lightweight, as he tried so hard to get drunk before having to answer Pein's painful question.

His heart constricted at the inquiry, as he took another shot, "Yeah, he's near the stream but he should be returning soon."

Half an hour later, the cherry-haired duo arrived on the scene.

"Hey Sakura!" called TenTen, who was stumbling.

"TenTen, be careful with your alcohol intake," warned Neji as he showed so much concern for her.

"I'm fine! I'm FIIIIINE!" yelled TenTen, followed by a fit of laughter.

Sakura greeted her friend with a warm hug as Sasori parted ways with her to meet up with Deidara.

Upon seeing Sasori's face, Itachi excused himself and left to his tent. It was getting pretty late, after all.


[The next morning]

The sensei-jonins knew, right away, that the ninjas had gotten drunk as the strong scent of alcohol attacked their nostrils. "It's better that we don't wake them up," suggested Kurenai as the sensei-jonins allowed their sleepy little shinobi rest for the day.

However in the afternoon, the sensei-jonins couldn't help but notice the odd tension between certain ninjas. Gai called them over and announced the plans for the day. "Ninjas! Take it easy today to replenish your youth, but we will not let your silly little bickers stop us from conducting our experiments! Please take the day to apologize for whatever could have happened last night and make amends. That is all."

Groaning, Shikamaru went back to his tent to sleep some more. Unaware of the apparent tension, the girls decided to pick flowers together, in the open space between the tent area and the other cabins.

They spilled the beans and gossiped to their heart's content.

"So Sakura," said Ino slyly, "I've just been dying to know, does the carpet match the drapes?"

"Hm," Sakura rubbed her chin, "good question. I guess I wouldn't know" She casually shrugged.

But Ino was not letting her off the hook so easily. "What do you mean you don't know?" her mouth gaped, "Didn't you have sex with him!?"

Her loud voice echoed to the other side of the campsite, where Itachi picked up on her voice. Rolling his eyes, he diverted his attention back to playing cards with Deidara, Sasuke, Naruto, Rock Lee and Gaara.

"Shh Ino! Not so loud," hushed Sakura, "Well, he does a perfect shaving job because I honestly couldn't see any signs of colour or whatever"

"Damn!"

After winning for the fifth time in a row, Itachi politely excused himself as he always does, and went to his tent. Gathering the flowers that he had picked the night before, he headed to find Sakura and break this awkward tension.

"Hello Sakura," he greeted her as the mouths dropped from every other female ninja sitting around, other than Konan, of course.

"Itachi?"

"I was wondering if I could speak with you," he requested, "alone."

"Of course," she answered as she got up and followed him to a secluded area near the cabins.

"I just wanted to check up on you since the other night. How have you been?" he asked politely as ever, handing her the lovely flowers which he had hand-picked the night before.

Itachi's concern touched Sakura's heart – Sasori hasn't even said a word to her since their casual hook up.

"I've been well," she blushed as she tucked away a few strands of hair, behind her ear and accepted the gift.

"That's good to hear," Itachi genuinely smiled, "If it is alright with you of course, I was thinking that maybe we should go on a walk tonight. Just to talk, nothing more."

His gentleman-ness had her blushing like crazy.

"I'd really like to get to know you, Sakura"

"Sure, why not?" she smiled at the Raven.

"How about right after dinner?" he suggested as he walked her back to her group of friends.

"That sounds good"

Sakura and Itachi said their goodbyes, as Itachi kindly waved at the rest of the Kuniochi, who were sitting in a beautiful field of flowers.

Sakura couldn't help but notice that one of her friends was missing, "Where did Temari go?"

"Shikamaru stole her away, to talk to her about something," answered Ino, nonchalantly.

"That's unusual of him," stated Sakura, raising an eyebrow.

"I was thinking that we should stick together," suggested Shikamaru to Temari, "it's troublesome for me, I know. But this is in our best interest." He let out a fake sigh.

"What do you mean?" a confused Temari asked him.

"It is our only hope of making it out alive from this drag of an experiment," he used his fingers to air-quote the word "experiment".

"Um, to be honest," Temari blushed, while slightly looking down, "I kinda like the experiments."

"You mean to tell me that you actually want to participate in this annoying excuse of an operation?" he pretended to be taken aback by her statement.

"Well, what did you even have in mind?"

"I was gonna say that we should form a pact and swear an oath to not participate in this drag"

"Sasuke," said Itachi in his calm deep voice, "we need to talk."

Sasuke rolled his eyes but he knew better than to defy his brother's authority.

Getting up, he followed Itachi to the cabin area.

Before Sasuke could open his mouth to question his older brother, Itachi interrupted him, "I know, little brother."

"What?"

"About you and Naruto," he stated in a very understanding manner.

Damn, thought Sasuke, I can't find a way out of this. Should I at least try to deny it?

"Don't bother denying it," Itachi said as if he could read his little brother's mind, "I saw you both in the forest, two nights ago."

"Okay?"

"I just wanted to let you know that you should put aside this whole revenge scheme for the time being. You're not strong enough to defeat me now so don't even bother. Train harder after the operation is over. But for now, let us maintain a peaceful relationship."

"Fine," grumbled the younger Uchiha.

"Sasuke," he said making deep eye contact with his brother, "I want you to be able to tell me anything or ask me for advice. Whatever's said and done, at the end of the day, I will always be your older brother. Whatever you choose to do with your intimate life, I will support you and accept you the same," he said.

This actually caused Sasuke to feel more relieved, "okay nii-san," he smiled, "I do have a few questions."

Itachi smiled as the two brothers started on a walk, talking about things they had never mentioned to each other before.