I do not own Naruto. I only own certain original characters. Also don't forget to check out my website set up just for fanfiction reply and more: www. freewebs. com/ animemangafanatic. You can catch my news there.

Tsuki happily skipped ahead of Sakura and Itachi. Villagers stopped to take a look at Itachi's companion. Some shied away from her upon hearing that she was Konoha's infamous Haruno, Sakura. Itachi had raised an eyebrow. He might have been underestimating her, after all. Also, she easily took on Hidan and didn't break a sweat. That was not an easy feat, no matter how much of an ass Hidan was.

Itachi watched her from the corner of his eye. Sakura was so absorbed in her book, Sakura didn't notice Itachi's sideway glances. He watched her stop as a stand owner dumped water onto the ground in front of her. She turned sideways to avoid a run-in with a mother shopping at a stall. Itachi faintly thought of Kakashi. He was her first sensei, so some of his behavior had to have rubbed off. Itachi was just grateful she didn't get his pervert habits.

They walked into the compound. The large iron gates closed with a large bang. Multiple locks tumbled closed. Sakura snapped the book closed after reading the last page. Tsuki ran straight into the kitchen. Sakura slowly followed behind. Itachi left to dump his stuff off in his room. He walked passed the garden and saw Kisame, who returned earlier than him, sitting and watching Sasori tinker with a doll. He passed by Deidara, who in return gave him a very stern look. Itachi continued walking to his room. As he turned the corner, Itachi passed Fujiwaru. The other man had stiffened from Itachi's presence. That didn't surprise him since it happened every time. However, Itachi could sense fear from the man. He raised an eyebrow as he left. Fujiwaru did fear him as much as any other Akatsuki member, but never that much.

Itachi entered his room and immediately threw his cloak onto the chinese bench. He tossed the scroll he took from the villager leader onto the bed. As he began to untie his katana, a knock came and Deidara entered. Itachi looked at him from the corner of his eye over his shoulder. Acknowledging his presence, Itachi went back to unpacking.

"He touched her, yeah."

Deidara made the mistake of telling him then. Itachi had been unpacking his weapon's pouch. Deidara was pushed up against the wall with a kunai to his throat. He nervously chuckled as he held up his hands.

"Now, don't take your anger out on me, yeah?"

Itachi's eyes had reverted to full mangekyou sharingan status. Deidara nervously chuckled again.

"She's fine, yeah. He didn't do anything, yeah. I made sure, yeah."

"What did he do?"

"He might have kissed her, yeah. He also might have stuck his hand under her shirt too, yeah."

Itachi quickly went for the door.

"I'm going to kill him."

Deidara sighed.

"I knew you would, yeah."

Before Itachi's hand reached the door, it slid open. Itachi looked down and locked eyes with Sakura. She had been escorted by both Sasori and Kisame. She tilted her head in confusion. Sakura reached up and touched his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Itachi took her by the arm and pulled her inside. He turned to Deidara.

"Leave now."

Deidara left the room and they heard a loud clicking sound. All three men looked at each other before quietly putting their ears to the door.

"Hey!"

All three men scrambled up and ran away from Tsuki. She stood with her hands on hip. She puffed her cheeks out in anger.

"Honestly..."

A knock came to the door, and Shinrai stood from the dining room table to answer the door. He opened the door to Naruto and Sasuke. Naruto smiled broadly as Sasuke stood next to him brooding. Shinrai smiled at Naruto and stood to the side to invite them in. They took their shoes off at the door, and walked over to the dining room table. The three boys sat as Yuu came out of the kitchen with food. She smiled at the newly arrived boys, not bothered by their appearance at all.

"Hi Yuu Hime-sama!"

Sasuke just nodded at her.

"Good morning, Naruto-san and Sasuke-san."

Yuu put down breakfast for the other boys as well.

"Thanks Yuu Hime-sama. I'm starved."

Yuu giggled.

"We need to get to Tsunade after this."

Naruto nodded his head in understanding while swallowing a mouthful of ramen noodles. Sasuke shook his head in disgust. He then turned to Shinrai, who looked at him in confusion.,

"You too. Tsunade wants to see you as well. She said something about a scroll Sakura left behind for you."

Shinrai just stared at Sasuke for a bit before nodding his head in understanding.

"We'll go as soon as we finish breakfast."

Sasuke nodded his head in agreement.

"This ramen is the best ever!"

Sasuke knocked him in the back of the head for being loud.

"Dobe, be quiet and eat."

Naruto mumbled something.

"What?"

Sasuke glared at the poor fox boy.

"...Nothing."

"That's what I thought."

They ate the rest of the meal in silence.

Itachi sat Sakura on the bed. His angry expression turned onto her. His grip tightened on her arms and Sakura winced in pain. His hands didn't let up and she knew that she would have bruises in the morning.

"What's your problem?"

"What did he do to you?"

"Huh?"

"What the hell happened with Fujiwaru?"

Sakura's eyes opened in surprise. They didn't because he found out, it was because he was yelling. She could see his eyes were slowly beginning to spin. It was a sign he was really angry.

"Fujiwaru-san?"

"Ah."

Sakura looked off to the side bored.

"Oh, that bastard..."

Itachi waited for her to continue. Seeing as she was recalling the experience but not saying anything, Itachi spoke.

"Cherry Blossom..."

Sakura snapped out of it by his growl.

"Oh... He disguised himself as you."

"What?!"

Sakura now looked at him bored.

"You heard me."

"How far did he get?"

"Well, he kissed me, threw me onto the bed, then reached under my shirt..."

Itachi's hand tightened into a fist.

"Then, I kneed him."

Itachi couldn't help the smirk that came. He slowly let go. Sakrua sighed in thanks as she rubbed the soreness. Itachi stood up more and chuckled. Sakura looked at him in confusion. Itachi couldn't help but think that he deserved it. He knew first hand what it felt like being kneed there.

"You're acting jealous."

Itachi stared at her for five minutes before scoffing the thought off.

"Don't be ridiculous."

Itachi began to toss off articles of clothing as he stepped into the bathroom.

"I didn't think so."

Sakura said as she relaxed back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Tsunade Obaa-chan!"

A scroll was thrown through the air and hit Naruto square in the head. He tipped over by the force alone. Sasuke, Yuu, and Shinrai just watched him fall back onto the floor with a loud bang. Tsunade sat on top of a tall ladder in the library Shizune brought them to. She was currently shuffling through scrolls and books at the top. On the floor laid sprawled out several unraveled scrolls and open books. Some looked really old. Tsunade's hair was disshelved as well. Naruto quickly stood and pointed an accussing finger at the woman, who was currently ignoring them.

"What the hell was that for Obaa-chan?!"

Another scroll hit him by Tsunade, who acted like it was nothing. Once again, Naruto was forced to the ground by the power of Tsunade's attack. The other three began to sweat drop. Shizune came back in with a tray of tea. She cleared off a table and some chairs. Yuu and Shinrai sat next to each other, while Sasuke leaned against a wall. They ignored the recovering Naruto on the floor. He finally stood and glared at Sasuke.

"Why didn't you help me?"

"Hn."

"Teme!"

"Be quiet!"

Another scroll hit him in the back of the head making him go face first into the carpet. Tsunade came down from the ladder after have thrown a scroll onto the floor. As she sat down in the chair opposite of Shinrai and Yuu. Sasuke noticed the tag that was closing the scroll. It indicated it was a holy scroll. Tsunade looked at Sasuke and Naruto. She looked ticked off at them.

"What are you doing here?"

"You called us here, remember?"

Naruto shouted. A lightbulb went off in her head.

"Oh, yeah... that... I need you two to go train with Sai."

"Why?"

Naruto whined like a child. Sasuke hit him in the back of the head.

"Be quiet dobe."

Naruto pouted. Tsunade gave them a very stern look.

"Sakura-chan is not here."

"She's coming back!"

"Sakura-chan is not here."

Tsunade emphasized every word. Yuu and Shinrai looked unnerved by their arguing.

"Even 'when' she does, Sakura-chan is an Anbu captain. I cannot derank her just for your convience."

Naruto looked down in shame. Sasuke looked off to the side uncaring.

"So get to know Sai. You need to be able to act as a team with him, or your team will fall. When Sakura-chan gets back, she'll be you all into the ground."

Sasuke scoffed.

"Be assured. Now leave."

Naruto and Sasuke both bowed politely before leaving the room. Tsunade turned to Shinrai.

"Now it's time for you."

Tsunde ripped off the holy seal.

Itachi looked to his side to see Sakura fast asleep. He slowly and carefully crawled out of the bed. She didn't notice the shift of weight on the bed. Itachi slipped out of the room. He walked the opposite direction than he would normally take. He traveled down a long, stony staircase. Once at the bottom, Itachi walked through the wooden door before him. He entered a dungeon, then walked right, then through a metal door, and entered a torture room. Fujiwaru stood waiting for him.

"What's the meaning of this, Uchiha-san?"

Itachi's sharingan began to slowly spin.

"Did you honestly think I wouldn't find out?"

Fujiwaru felt fear spike through his body involuntarily.

"Haruno, Sakura has been branded as mine. Not even the gods could reverse that."

"You think to highly of yourself, Uchiha-san."

Itachi's glare intensified on the ignorant Akatsuki member.

"I only speak the truth."

Fujiwaru found some courage to speak the next sentence. The sentence that would spell his demise if Itachi asked the Leader for it.

"Don't be greedy, Uchiha-san. Why not share that delicious tasting flower with everyone?"

Without realization or sensing, Itachi pushed Fujiwaru hard into the brick wall. A kunai was placed roughly against his throat.

"Don't even think about touching her."

Itachi growled out.

"She maybe appetizing, but she's not yours."

"Possessive, aren't we? The only problem you have with sharing her is because you don't want anyone else to get a taste of her sweet innocent..."

Itachi punched Fujiwaru square in the face. There was a sickening crunch. Blood ran down Fujiwaru's face. The man's glare was cut short seeing Itachi's menacing face.

"You are too good for death."

Fujiwaru scoffed.

"What are you going to do, Uchiha-san? Your sharingan is no good against me."

Itachi smirked and Fujiwaru wondered what he was planning. Itachi's body slowly began to fade away. The next second, Fujiwaru fell to the ground clutching his head. Itachi smirked down at him. He began to leave the room. He turned back at the door.

"You were caught in my tsukuyomi when I first stepped into the room, Fujiwaru-san."

With that said, Itachi walked out of the room.

Itachi walked back into the room. Sakura was sitting up in bed waiting for him. She had his old cloak wrapped around her to fight off the fall chill. Itachi slowly made his way over to the bed.

"What were you doing?"

Itachi thought to the screaming Fujiwaru, down in the basement, where no one could hear him.

"Water."

"It took you a while to get water."

So she did take notice of him leaving.

"Hn."

"Uchihas and their vocabularies are frustrating."

Itachi crawled back into bed since it was only about two in the morning. Sakura continued to watch him.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Hn."

"Ass."

Sakura angrily flopped back down. Itachi cracked open his eye to observe her. She was glaring at the ceiling and he smirked in respone. Knowing that Fujiwaru was suffering, Itachi fell asleep. If that man ever touched her again, he would cut off his limb.

Hearing his breathing even out, Sakura turned her head to observe him. She whispered his name, but received no response. Sakura slowly turned her body to the side, and redjusted to where she was comfortable. The movement didn't stir Itachi. She faintly wondered if she moved in her sleep, as to why he didn't wake. She lightly traced his smooth cheek with her fingertip. He still did not stir. She momentarily retrieved her hand before placing at his temple. She pushed chakra into his body.

"Idiot, you just love to undo all my hard work."

Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi were walking down the path. They came across Sai and Yamato. All three men joined on their way to Tsunade's office. Naruto was ahead of the rest. He barged into the office without an invitation. Tsunade's office was cleared out completely and covered in kanjis written in blood. Shinrai sat in the middle of the room, also covered in kanjis. Yuu and Shizune sat off to the side watching Tsunade work. In every corner of the room, a pack of incenses was burning. Four girls sat on the other side, dressed in formal temple wear. Each of them carried an incense lantern. Tsunade stood carefully in front of Shinrai writing one more kanji. She looked at the scroll in her hand before nodded her head. She avoided all the kanjis on the ground and came over to the small group. Tsunade looked ticked.

"What?"

"We just came to see what Sakura-chan left behind."

Kakashi answered over the rim of his book. He closed it with a snap and whistled at all the hard work.

"So what's it say?"

Tsunade just continued to stare at them.

"Leave."

"Why?"

Sasuke hit Naruto for his whining.

"Stop that dobe."

"Let me make this clear."

Tsunade glared hard at them, which sent shivers down their spines.

"I said to leave. This information is not to leave those already here. I haven't even explained this fully to Shizune and Yuu Hime-sama. Now leave."

"Fine."

Naruto went off in a huff. Kakashi followed behind with a chuckle. The other three came along. Kakashi slowly lagged behind a bit and gave Tsunade a look she understood. Sasuke was the only one who caught it. Tsunade closed the door and locked it. She turned back to Shinrai.

"Let's get back to work."

Itachi woke and rubbed the grogginess from his eyes. Something seemed different but he couldn't put his finger on it. He walked into the bathroom to shower. Tossing his pants in the corner, Itachi turned on the hot water. He stepped under the hot spray as the water washed over him. After fifteen minutes of washing, he stepped out and finished his daily cleansing.

Once he put on the new pair of pants, he stepped out while rubbing his hair dry. Itachi could feel some water run over his bare chest. He looked up to see Sakura sitting at the table cradling a cup of tea. She looked like she was currently somewhere else. Her eyes were blank, and her eyebrows were pointed down, like when she was in deep thought.

"Cherry Blossom."

Sakura snapped out of it and looked over at Itachi. He approached her and looked down in examination. He noticed he could see down her gown. Itachi growled in a very threatening way.

"Who brought this?"

Itachi's thumb was pointing to the food on the table.

"Who else? Tsuki-san brought it while you were showering."

Accepting that answer, Itachi sat to eat breakfast. Sakura watched him for a second before going back to her tea cup and thinking. Itachi ate without a single word. They spent the rest of the meal like this.

Naruto dropped to the ground avoiding a slash from one of Sai's tiger paintings. He then ran as fast as he could away. He was screaming his head off, while Kakashi, Yamato, and Sasuke stood nearby sweat dropping. Sai sat across the field with a paint brush and open scroll. His usual fake smile was on his face. The tiger was gaining ground and Naruto looked over his shoulder to see it. He pushed some chakra into his feet and gained speed. They went around in circles around the field.

"This is pathetic."

Kakashi and Yamato couldn't help but agree with Sasuke.

"Ready to give up yet Dickless?"

"Hell no!"

"That's it..."

Sasuke went in to the fight using his katana to totally blow the painting away. Sai just continued to smile. He drew a dragon and Naruto gulped.

"You just had to piss him off Teme."

"How do you know he's pissed?"

Sasuke pointed to Sai.

"He doesn't show anything but that stupid smile."

"Just like you with your scowl..."

Sasuke glared at Naruto's mumbling. Then he smirked at the boy.

"Ready to show this idiot what we're really made of?"

"Yeah..."

Naruto rolled up his sleeves.

"I think I'm warmed up good enough."

"Dickless and Pointless need to come or my dragon will tear you to shreds."

"This guy pisses me off!"

Naruto easily defeated the dragon. The impact of Naruto's fist made the dragon burst. Sai didn't have time to make anymore drawings, because Sasuke appeared and his katana met ground. Sai had rolled away. He reached behind into his pouch. He pulled out a kunai. It met with Naruto's that came from behind. Kakashi whistled.

"Nice."

Yamato nodded his head in agreement.

"Sai has good instinct."

"Well Tsunade-sama did say that she personally advised you two. So you two had to have something amazing to come join us. Sasuke is a prodigy. Naruto can make anything happen. Sakura is Konoha's number one Anbu Captain. So there had to be something."

Yamato gave him a look.

"You're quite proud."

Kakashi smiled.

"Of course, they're like my children."

Kakashi then got very serious.

"I will kill whoever hurts them."

Yamato knew Kakashi was thinking of the one Uchiha, Itachi.

"Do you have any missions today?"

Sakura asked once done with her book for a third time.

"No, I don't have any today."

"That's good."

Itachi looked up from his own book, at the window seat, to look at her in question.

"Why's that?"

Sakura smirked from her sprawled position on the bed. She used her finger to gesture him over. He stood with a sigh and made his way over.

"This better do with the sex we've been missing."

Sakura rolled her eyes. She pulled him down onto the bed. Sakura straddled his waist. Itachi looked up at her.

"I don't mind you being on top this time."

Sakura swapped his arm.

"It's not about that."

"Then what is it?"

Sakura placed her fingers at his temples.

"You're going to be out of it for a while."

Itachi looked at her in confusion. Sakura immediately pushed chakra into him, which in return passed him out. Her chakra quickly rolled around in his eyes. Sakura's brow was knitted in concentration. All the research that she had been doing was helping her greatly with his eyes. Then again, Tsunade had always told her, after she had learned the basics, the rest would come. Sakura hated herself for breaking her promise to her teacher and leader. Sakura had swore to serve the Hokage, no matter what. Moisture briefly came to her, before she pushed it back. Sakura looked sadly down at Itachi.

"Do you realize what you made me break? Did you even take notice what I was doing?"

Itachi felt someone outside of his sleep call to him. He pushed it off, but faintly thought it sounded like Sakura. Itachi then realized something inside his dream world. The thing that had been different earlier in the morning, was his eyesight had been much better.

Tsunade looked at Shinrai very seriously.

"Are you prepared for this?"

Shinrai nodded his head.

"Yeah... Pretty much."
Tsunade turned to Shizune and Yuu. The dancers had already left after doing the traditional god offering dance.

"I'm sorry, but you two need to leave."

"Why?"

Yuu stood worried something bad might happen. Tsunade sighed and looked at Yuu with a soft look.

"It is orders by Sakura-chan. After I do what I need to do next, I must leave as well."

Shizune stood and left in understanding. Yuu began to leave but looked back a bit worried. Shinrai smiled at her and gave her a nod in okay. Yuu smiled back and left. The door closed with a click. Tsunade looked back at him. She handed him a worn picture taken a long time ago. Shinrai looked down at it in confusion but then surprise. It was taken a long time ago. A picture that Shinrai and everyone took the summer Kei died. It was one of Sakura's last smiles. Smiles that came from the bottom of her heart.

"Why?"

"All she wrote was that it will help you."

Shinrai looked at the picture tenderly.

"I miss this time. Everything was so simple, it's almost impossible to believe that."

Tsunade seemed sad as well.

"I know what you mean."

Tsunade sighed.

"Ready?"

"Yeah..."

Shinrai clutched the picture tightly.

"Let's do this."

Tsunade made several hand seals then chakra wrapped around her hands. She pushed it into a kanji on Shinrai's back. Tsunade quickly disappeared and appeared back outside the door. She surprised Shizune and Yuu.

"Everything okay?

Tsunade shrugged.

"I don't know. That's up to Shinrai-san."

Yuu looked at the door worried.

Sakura stood from the bed. She looked back at Itachi's unconcious body. Sakura walked over to the window. She wrapped Itachi's cloak closer. She looked out onto the sky.

"Shin-kun..."

Shinrai woke with a pain in his back. He thought he heard someone call his voice. He didn't know who it was, but she felt familiar.

"Who are you?"

Shinrai turned to the powerful voice.

"What the...?"

"I'll ask again."

Shinrai sat in front of a huge tiger. He did not look pleased.

"Who are you?"

Shinrai lost his voice.

"I... I dont know."

Shinrai looked down in confusion. Maybe it didn't help that they were in a completely blacked out place. It seemed everywhere went on forever. Byakko's golden eyes watched the poor boy in front of him. He seemed to understand Shinrai's memory loss.

"I am Byakko."

His power voice spoke. The roar behind it shook the area. Shinrai felt chills run throughout his body. He didn't understand it, but he knew he sat before his respective god.