Hullo!!!!!!! Some people have told me that my chapters are too short. I'm sorry!!!!! Hopefully the following chapters will be longer. Let me know! Anyways, enjoy!

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A shooting star! Inner Sakura cried; Sakura looked, and sure enough, there was a flash of light across the darkened sky. C'mon, wish! Wish!

You believe in that wishing thing? she snorted at her inner.

No, but do it anyway! I have a feeling that something will happen! Inner Sakura urged.

Sakura sighed, placed her arms on the windowsill, and closed her eyes. "Fine, then. I wish that somebody would help me become stronger, so that my teammates would acknowledge me," she muttered half-heartedly.

"That can be arranged," a deep, masculine voice spoke up from behind her. Before she could react, a set of arms rested themselves on her back, preventing her from seeing the one who had slipped into her house without her noticing. Glancing down, she saw red clouds on the intruder's cloak. But they're all supposed to be dead!

"Akatsuki!" she exclaimed softly. "Who are you?"
A deep laugh. "Clever kunoichi. I saw you making those… holes… out back, and I think that such talent would be wasted if not carefully taught. Would you like me to train you?" He increased the pressure on her back slowly. "Think carefully, little kunoichi."

Sakura squeaked. "Would… would you really?" she stammered disbelievingly. "I don't know – am I good enough?" The last sentence held bitterness. The pressure on her back stopped, and the person straightened up.

"What has my otouto done to you?" he murmured. "Tsk, Sasuke. So careless…"

Wait – otouto – Sasuke –

"Uchiha Itachi?!" she choked out, whipping around – and met those infamous red and black wheels of the Mangekyou Sharingan. Black hair was tied neatly in a ponytail and tossed over his black-clad shoulder carelessly. "Why are you here?" She avoided his eyes.

He chuckled softly, taking hold of her chin and forcing her to look him in the eye. "I'm not here to hurt you – or Sasuke," he added on an impulse. Sakura's eyes narrowed and she stopped struggling.

"And how do I know you're not lying?" she hissed suspiciously. "I don't trust you."

He smirked; she shuddered at the predetorial expression as he leaned closer to her. "Smart girl," he answered. "It would be very foolish to trust me… Very foolish indeed…" Stopping his mouth mere inches away from her face, he repeated, "Would you like me to train you – help you to become stronger like you wanted?"

The bewildered kunoichi swallowed nervously. "C-can I ask Tsunade-sama? I don't want to be on her bad side because a missing-nin is teaching me…"

To her relief and astonishment, he nodded. "If you sear to fully commit yourself to doing as I say, I will turn myself in," he told her. "You sow promise, and there is nowhere else for me to go."

Is he serious?!

"Are – are you serious?" she whispered in shock. All because of me?

"I don't lie, kunoichi," Itachi growled. "Let's go see the Hokage." Obediently, the girl stood and grabbed her weapons pouch.

- - -

"Tsunade-sama," Sakura called to the Hokage. Please don't let her be drunk… Please don't let her be drunk, she pleaded in her head. Shizune pulled the door open, to reveal a (thankfully) sober Tsunade.

"Come in, Sakura! What is it?" the blonde called. Sakura thanked the gods that the insanely strong woman was like a mother to her – perhaps Itachi's offer stood a chance. She really did want to accept and become stronger.

Besides, Inner Sakura laughed wickedly, won't it be a shock for dear Sasuke-kun to see his brother teaching us?

"Well, Tsunade-sama…" she began awkwardly. "I asked Kakashi-sensei to teach me a new jutsu today, and he said that I was too weak to be a kunoichi, and that training me would be a waste of time." She ignored the muffled sound of outrage from the other woman, continuing, "When I got home, I vented my anger on my backyard and went upstairs to sleep. I saw a shooting star and – " she shrugged sheepishly " – I wished that I could become stronger. All of a sudden, he showed up."

"Who?" Tsunade demanded sharply.

"I believe that she is referring to me," an amused voice said. Itachi stepped out from behind the trembling girl. "Hokage-sama."

"Uchiha… Itachi?" Tsunade whispered, shocked. "What are you doing here?!"

"I have offered to train – Sakura, did you say? I saw her turn her backyard to piles of dirt in three hours, and her team does not help her. Such talent and power would be wasted if not channeled and disciplined. If you allow me to teach her, I will willing turn myself in." Seeing her mouth tighten, he added, "If you call ANBU now, I will be gone before they get here – and take Sakura with me."

What the –

"Please, Tsunade-sama," the pink-haired girl pleaded. "I want somebody to teach me!"

The Fifth Hokage's glare softened. She sighed reluctantly, massaging her temples. "Fine. But I will place a seal on you, Itachi, that will enable me to find and even kill you in a split second. If you take it off, I will know, and you will be hunted down. Do you understand?"

Itachi nodded silently, baring his shoulder. Tsunade went through a set of complicated seals and placed her fingers on the pale, marble skin. Once the hand left his body, they all glanced down at the glowing mark, which faded quickly.

"And if you don't mind, Itachi, I'd like to borrow your student for a couple of hours each day," the Hokage told Itachi. "I think I can help with her… strange strength." Itachi nodded curtly.

"Well," Tsunade smiled at Sakura, who managed a weak one in return. "Congratulations, Sakura! You now have a former S-class criminal teaching you."

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I know, it was also short – but it's one page longer than the first one! Tell me what you think of the length! If it's too short, gomen. Gomen! I'll try combining two chapters if somebody thinks it's still too short. Ja!